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Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2024
Dec 13, 2024
46045_rns_2024-12-13_b3beaae1-fc30-4fb3-ae9f-a73c99087e6b.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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14903485.4
PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC.
724 Sarcee Street East
Kamloops, BC V6H 1E7
Tel: 1-800-910-3072
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
Solicitation of Proxies
This information circular (the "Information Circular") is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the management of Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. (the "Company") for use at the annual general meeting of shareholders (the "Shareholders") of the Company (the "Meeting") to be held at 700-401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5A1, on January 9th, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) and any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
The solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, but proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company. All costs of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. The Company has made arrangements for intermediaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the Common Shares held of record by those intermediaries and the Company may reimburse the intermediaries for reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by them in so doing.
Notice of the Meeting was provided to the securities commissions in each jurisdiction where the Company is a reporting issuer under applicable securities laws.
In this Information Circular, references to the "Company", "we" and "our" refer to Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. "Common Shares" means common shares in the authorized share structure of the Company. "Beneficial Shareholders" means Shareholders who do not hold Common Shares in their own name and "intermediaries" refers to brokers, investment firms, clearing houses and similar entities that own securities on behalf of Beneficial Shareholders.
Date of Information Circular
Information contained in this Information Circular is given as at November 15, 2024, unless otherwise indicated.
GENERAL PROXY INFORMATION
Revocability of Proxies
In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a registered shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it by either:
(a) executing a proxy bearing a later date; or
(b) executing a valid notice of revocation, either of the foregoing to be executed by the registered shareholder or the shareholder's authorized attorney in writing, or, if the shareholder is a company, under its corporate seal by an officer or attorney duly authorized, and by depositing the Proxy bearing a later date with Computershare Investor Services Inc., or at the address of the registered office of the Company at 700 – 401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5A1, at any time up to and including the last business day that precedes the day of the Meeting or, if the Meeting is adjourned, the date that precedes any reconvening thereof, or to the chair of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any reconvening thereof, or in any other manner provided by law; or
(c) by the registered shareholder personally attending the Meeting and voting the registered shareholder's Common Shares.
A revocation of a proxy will not affect a matter on which a vote is taken before the revocation.
Appointment of Proxyholders
A shareholder entitled to vote at the Meeting may, by means of a proxy, appoint a proxyholder or one or more alternate proxyholders, who need not be Shareholders, to attend and act at the Meeting for the shareholder on the shareholder’s behalf.
The individuals named in the accompanying form of proxy (the “Proxy”) are directors and/or officers of the Company (the “Management Designees”). If you are a shareholder entitled to vote at the Meeting, you have the right to appoint a person, who need not be a shareholder, to attend and act for you and on your behalf at the Meeting other than either of the Management Designees. You may do so either by inserting the name of that other person in the blank space provided in the Proxy or by completing and delivering another suitable form of proxy.
A proxy will not be valid unless the completed, signed and dated form of proxy is delivered to the office of Computershare Investor Services Inc., at 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, or by fax within North America to 1-866-249-7775 and outside North America to (416) 263-9524, or by telephone to 1-866-732-VOTE (8683) or internet at www.investorvote.com not less than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the Meeting or the adjournment thereof at which the Proxy is to be used.
Exercise of Discretion
The Management Designees named in the Proxy will vote or withhold from voting the shares represented thereby in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder on any ballot that may be called for. The Proxy will confer discretionary authority on the nominees named therein with respect to:
(a) each matter or group of matters identified therein for which a choice is not specified other than the appointment of an auditor and the election of directors,
(b) any amendment to or variation of any matter identified therein, and
(c) any other matter that properly comes before the Meeting.
In respect of a matter for which a choice is not specified in the Proxy, the Management Designees will vote the Common Shares represented by the Proxy at their own discretion for the approval of such matter.
As of the date of this Information Circular, management of the Company knows of no amendment, variation or other matter that may come before the Meeting, but if any amendment, variation or other matter properly comes before the Meeting, each Management Designee intends to vote thereon in accordance with the Management Designee’s best judgment.
Proxy Voting Options
If you are a registered Shareholder, you may elect to submit a proxy in order to vote whether or not you are able to attend the Meeting in person. In order to vote by mail, you must complete, date and sign the Proxy and return it to the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., at 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, or by fax within North America to 1-866-249-7775 and outside North America to (416) 263-9524, or by telephone to 1-866-732-VOTE (8683) or internet at www.investorvote.com at any time up to and including 1:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on January 7, 2025.
14903485.4
Advice to Beneficial Holders of Common Shares
The information set forth in this section is of significant importance to many Shareholders, as a substantial number of Shareholders do not hold Common Shares in their own name. Beneficial Shareholders should note that only Proxies deposited by Shareholders whose names appear on the records of the Company as the registered holders of Common Shares can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting.
If Common Shares are listed in an account statement provided to a shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those Common Shares will not be registered in the shareholder's name on the records of the Company. Such Common Shares will more likely be registered under the names of the shareholder's broker or an agent of that broker. In the United States, the vast majority of such shares are registered under the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depositary Trust Company (which acts as depositary for many U.S. brokerage firms and custodian banks), and in Canada under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms).
Intermediaries are required to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of Shareholders' meetings unless the Beneficial Shareholders have waived the right to receive meeting material. Every intermediary has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients, which should be carefully followed by Beneficial Shareholders in order to ensure that their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting.
If you are a Beneficial Shareholder, the form of proxy supplied to you by your broker (or its agent) is similar to the form of Proxy provided to registered Shareholders by the Company. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the intermediary how to vote on your behalf. The majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Communications Solutions Canada ("Broadridge") in the United States and in Canada. Broadridge mails a voting instruction form in lieu of a proxy provided by the Company. The voting instruction form will name the Management Designees to represent you at the Meeting. You have the right to appoint a person (who need not be a shareholder of the Company), other than the persons designated in the voting instruction form, to represent you at the Meeting. To exercise this right, you should insert the name of the desired representative in the blank space provided in the voting instruction form. The completed voting instruction form must then be returned to Broadridge by mail or facsimile or given to Broadridge by phone or over the internet, in accordance with Broadridge's instructions. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of Common Shares to be represented at the Meeting. If you receive a voting instruction form from Broadridge, you cannot use it to vote Common Shares directly at the Meeting. It must be returned to Broadridge well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the Common Shares voted.
Although, as a Beneficial Shareholder, you may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting Common Shares registered in the name of your broker (or agent of your broker), you may attend at the Meeting as proxyholder for your broker and vote the Common Shares in that capacity. If you wish to attend at the Meeting and indirectly vote your Common Shares as proxyholder for your broker or have a person designated by you to do so, you should enter your own name, or the name of the person you wish to designate, in the blank space on the voting instrument form provided to you and return the same to your broker (or your broker's agent) in accordance with the instructions provided by your broker (or agent), well in advance of the Meeting.
Alternatively, you may request in writing that your broker send you a legal Proxy which would enable you, or a person designed by you, to attend at the Meeting and vote your Common Shares.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None of the directors or executive officers of the Company, nor any person who has held such a position since the beginning of the last completed financial year end of the Company, nor any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, nor any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the Meeting other than as disclosed herein.
14903485.4
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company has fixed November 15, 2024, as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determination of persons entitled to receive notice of the Meeting. Only Shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date who either attend the Meeting personally or complete, sign and deliver a form of proxy in the manner and subject to the provisions described above will be entitled to vote or to have their Common Shares voted at the Meeting.
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares without par value of the Company. As of November 15, 2024, the Company had outstanding 109,761,943 fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares without par value, each carrying the right to one vote. The Company has no other classes of voting securities.
To the knowledge of the Directors and executive officers of the Company, only the following shareholder owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, shares carrying more than 10% of the outstanding voting rights of the Company:
| Shareholder Name | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed, Directly or Indirectly^{(1)(2)} | Percentage of Outstanding Shares |
|---|---|---|
| George David Richardson | 27,553,449 | 25.1% |
(1) This information was supplied to the Company from insider reports and beneficial ownership reports filed on SEDI, and from the beneficial shareholders themselves.
(2) The holdings represent registered and beneficial ownership, and for the purposes hereof, beneficial ownership is presumed where sole voting and dispositive power is declared without disclaiming ownership.
(3) George David Richardson controls or is deemed to control indirectly 25,953,499 Common Shares through Countryman Investments Limited, a private company in which Mr. Richardson is a principal.
VOTES NECESSARY TO PASS RESOLUTIONS
Except at otherwise described in this Information Circular, a simple majority of affirmative votes cast at the Meeting is required to pass the resolutions described herein. At least a two-thirds majority of affirmative votes cast by disinterested shareholders at the Meeting are required to pass the special resolutions described herein. If there are more nominees for election as directors or appointment of the Company’s auditor than there are vacancies to fill, those nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected or appointed, as the case may be, until all such vacancies have been filled. If the number of nominees for election or appointment is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled all such nominees will be declared elected or appointed by acclamation.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of all resolutions.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board currently consists of four directors. Management proposes to fix the number of directors of the Company at four (4) and to nominate the persons listed below for election as directors.
The term of office of each of the current directors will end at the conclusion of the Meeting. Unless the director’s office is earlier vacated in accordance with the provisions of the British Columbia Business Corporations Act or the Articles of the Company, each director elected will hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, or if no director is then elected, until a successor is elected.
14903485.4
Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director. In the event that prior to the Meeting any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees herein listed, it is intended that discretionary authority shall be exercised by the person named in the proxy as nominee to vote the Common Shares represented by proxy for the election of any other person or persons as directors.
The following table sets out the names of the management nominees; their positions and offices in the Company; principal occupations; the period of time that they have been directors of the Company; and the number of Common Shares of the Company which each beneficially owns or over which control or direction is exercised:
| Nominee Position with the Company and Province/State and Country of Residence | Occupation, Business or Employment(1) | Director of the Company Since | Committee Membership | Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Directly or Indirectly, or Over Which Control of Direction is Exercised(2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Harpur Director | ||||
| British Columbia, Canada | Chartered Professional Accountant; Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since March 20, 2018; President from January 2018 to June 2023. | January 1, 2018 | Audit Committee | 2,355,335 |
| Edward Beggs Director | ||||
| British Columbia, Canada | Self-employed entrepreneur and part time university instructor in sciences. | February 20, 2018 | Audit Committee | 277,033 |
| Suzanne Davis-Hall Director | ||||
| Alberta, Canada | A global leader in sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy development and implementation with 25-years of hands-on experience across multiple industries. | March 27, 2023 | None | Nil |
| Randall C. Gue Director | ||||
| British Columbia, Canada | Over 40 years of industrial hands-on work in the fields of landfill diversion to resource recovery, renewable energies, clean technologies and development of sustainability projects. | May 11, 2023 | Audit Committee | 80,000 |
(1) The information as to principal occupation, business or employment and Common Shares beneficially owned or controlled is not within the knowledge of the management of the Company and has been furnished by the respective nominees. Each nominee has held the same or a similar principal occupation with the organization indicated or a predecessor thereof for the last five years unless otherwise indicated.
(2) The number of Common Shares beneficially owned by the above nominees for directors, directly or indirectly, is based on information furnished by Computershare Investor Services Inc., the registrar and transfer agent of the Company, insider reports filed on SEDI and by the nominees themselves.
To the knowledge of the Company, no proposed director is, or has, within the 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, been a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that,
(a) was subject to an order that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
(b) was subject to an order that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
14903485.4
To the knowledge of the Company, no proposed director of the Company was, as at the date of the Information Circular, or has been within 10 years before the date of the Information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including Progressive Planet Solutions Inc.) 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.
No proposed director of the Company has, within the 10 years before the date of the 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.
No proposed director of the Company has been subject to (i) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a security regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority, or (ii) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for that proposed director.
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
General
The following information of the Company is provided in accordance with Form 51-102F6V - Statement of Executive Compensation - Venture Issuers.
For the purposes of this Statement of Executive Compensation:
“compensation securities” includes stock options, convertible securities, exchangeable securities and similar instruments including stock appreciation rights, deferred share units and restricted stock units granted or issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries
“NEO” or “named executive officer” means each of the following individuals:
(a) each individual who, in respect of the Company, during any part of the most recently completed financial year, served as chief executive officer (“CEO”), including an individual performing functions similar to a CEO;
(b) each individual who, in respect of the Company, 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 Company in 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 for that financial year;
(d) each individual who would be a NEO under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individuals was not an executive office of the Company, and was not acting in a similar capacity at the end of that financial year;
“plan” includes any plans, contract, authorization or arrangement, whether or not set out in any formal document, where cash, compensation securities or any other property may be received, whether for one or more persons; and
“underlying securities” means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
14903485.4
Director and NEO Compensation, excluding Compensation Securities
The Board as a whole has the responsibility of determining the compensation for the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and the Chief Financial Officer (the "CFO") and of determining compensation for directors and senior management.
The Company's compensation objectives include the following:
- to assist the Company in attracting and retaining highly-qualified individuals;
- to create among directors, officers, consultants and employees a sense of ownership in the Company and to align their interests with those of the shareholders; and
- to ensure competitive compensation that is also financially affordable for the Company.
The compensation program is designed to provide competitive levels of compensation. The Company recognizes the need to provide a total compensation package that will attract and retain qualified and experienced executives as well as align the compensation level of each executive to that executive's level of responsibility. In general, the Company's NEOs (defined below) may receive compensation that is comprised of three components:
- Salary, wages or contractor payments;
- Stock option grants; and/or
- Bonuses.
The objective and reason for this system of compensation is to allow the Company to remain competitive compared to its peers in attracting experienced personnel. The base salary of an NEO is intended to attract and retain executives by providing a reasonable amount of non-contingent remuneration.
The base salary review of each NEO takes into consideration the current competitive market conditions, experience, proven or expected performance, and the particular skills of the NEO. Base salary is not evaluated against a formal "peer group". The Compensation Committee relies on the general experience of its members in setting base salary amounts.
Stock option grants are designed to reward the NEOs for success on a similar basis as the shareholders of the Company, although the level of reward provided by a particular stock option grant is dependent upon the volatile stock market.
Any bonuses paid to the NEOs are allocated on an individual basis related to the review by the Board of the work planned during the year and the work achieved during the year, including work related to mineral exploration, administration, financing, shareholder relations and overall performance. The bonuses are paid to reward work done above the base level of expectations set by the base salary, wages or contractor payments.
During the financial year ended April 30, 2024, the directors of the Company who were not also NEOs were Edward Beggs, Suzanne Davis-Hall.
The following table sets forth all direct and indirect compensation paid, payable, given or otherwise provided directly or indirectly, by the Company to each NEO and each director of the Company as of the financial years ended April 30, 2024, April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022:
14903485.4
Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) | Bonus ($) | Committee or meeting fees ($) | Value of perquisites ($) | Value of all other compensation ($) | Total Compensation ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Harpur(1) | |||||||
| CEO, former President and Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | 193,967 | ||||||
| 172,420 | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| 100,000 | |||||||
| 126,000 | Nil | ||||||
| 272,420 | |||||||
| 126,000 | 193,967 | ||||||
| 272,420 | |||||||
| 126,000 | |||||||
| Steve Gurney(2) | |||||||
| President | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | 178,385 | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | 178,385 | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| Chris Halsey-Brandt(3) | |||||||
| CFO | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| 146,000 | |||||||
| 72,000 | 99,280 | ||||||
| 146,000 | |||||||
| 72,000 | 99,280 | ||||||
| 146,000 | |||||||
| 72,000 | |||||||
| David Allen Cross(4) | |||||||
| Former CFO | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | N/A | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| 30,000 | N/A | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| 30,000 | N/A | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| 30,000 | |||||||
| Edward Beggs | |||||||
| Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | 15,053 | ||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| 6,000 | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | 15,053 | ||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| Suzanne Davis-Hall(5) | |||||||
| Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | 15,053 | ||||||
| 500 | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| N/A | 15,053 | ||||||
| 500 | |||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| Randall C. Gue(6) | |||||||
| Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | 15,053 | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | Nil | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | 15,053 | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| Dwayne L. Melrose(7) | |||||||
| Former Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | N/A | ||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| 6,000 | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| Peter Lacey(8) | |||||||
| Former Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | N/A | ||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| 3,500 | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| 6,000 | |||||||
| 3,500 | |||||||
| Scott Jenkins(9) | |||||||
| Former Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| 2022 | N/A | ||||||
| 3,000 | |||||||
| 6,000 | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | |||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| 3,000 | |||||||
| 6,000 |
Notes:
(1) Stephen Harpur was President of the Company from January 1, 2018 to June 22, 2023.
(2) Steve Gurney was appointed as President of the Company on June 22, 2023.
(3) Chris Halsey-Brandt was appointed as CFO on May 12, 2021. Prior to being appointed as CFO, Mr. Halsey-Brandt was a member of the Company's advisory board.
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(4) David Cross resigned as CFO on May 11, 2021.
(5) Suzanne Davis-Hall was appointed as a director of the Company on March 27, 2023.
(6) Randall C. Gue was appointed a director of the Company on May 11, 2023.
(7) Dwayne Melrose was appointed a director of the Company on August 7, 2018 and subsequently resigned on May 11, 2023.
(8) Peter Lacey was appointed a director of the Company on September 9, 2021 and subsequently resigned on March 27, 2023.
(9) Scott Jenkins was appointed a director of the Company on May 14, 2020 and resigned on October 20, 2022.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
The Company has an incentive stock option plan in place for the granting of stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the company. The purpose of granting such options is to assist the Company in compensating, attracting, retaining and motivating such persons and to closely align the personal interest of such persons to that of the Company's shareholders.
The Company's share option plan (the "Plan") was amended and approved by the board of directors (the "Board") of the Company in its current form on October 3, 2022. Under the Plan, options totaling a maximum of 10% of the Common Shares outstanding from time to time are available for grant. The Plan is a 10% maximum rolling plan. Options granted under the Plan are not exercisable for a period longer than 10 years and the exercise price must be paid in full upon exercise of the option.
Options granted under the plan are non-assignable and non-transferable, and can only be exercised by the optionee as long as the optionee remains eligible pursuant to the Plan, or within the time period outlined in the Plan after ceasing to be an eligible optionee.
Subject to necessary approvals as may be required under the Plan, the Board may from time to time amend or revise the terms of the Plan, or may terminate the Plan at any time.
No other types of securities were granted as compensation.
The following table sets forth incentive stock options pursuant to the Plan that were outstanding to NEOs as well as directors of the Company who were not NEOs during the financial year ended April 30, 2024.
| Name and Position | Number of stock options, number of underlying securities and percentage of class(1) | Date of Issue or Grant | Option exercise price ($) | Closing price of underlying security on date of grant ($) | Closing price of underlying security at year end ($) | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Harpur(2) | ||||||
| CEO, former President and Director | 1,000,000 | |||||
| 400,000 | ||||||
| 1,600,000 | ||||||
| (2.67%) | Apr. 5, 2022 | |||||
| June 13, 2023 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2024 | 0.345 | |||||
| 0.275 | ||||||
| 0.18 | 0.335 | |||||
| 0.205 | ||||||
| 0.11 | 0.115 | Apr. 5, 2025 | ||||
| June 13, 2026 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2029 | ||||||
| Steve Gurney(3) | ||||||
| President | 150,000 | |||||
| 10,000 | ||||||
| 400,000 | ||||||
| 190,000 | ||||||
| (0.67%) | Mar 14, 2022 | |||||
| April 5, 2022 | ||||||
| June 13, 2023 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2024 | 0.40 | |||||
| 0.345 | ||||||
| 0.275 | ||||||
| 0.18 | 0.40 | |||||
| 0.335 | ||||||
| 0.205 | ||||||
| 0.11 | 0.115 | Mar 14, 2025 | ||||
| April 5, 2025 | ||||||
| June 13, 2026 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2029 | ||||||
| Chris Halsey-Brandt(4) | ||||||
| CFO | 150,000 | |||||
| 200,000 | ||||||
| 350,000 | ||||||
| (0.53%) | Apr. 5, 2022 | |||||
| June 13, 2023 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2024 | 0.345 | |||||
| 0.275 | ||||||
| 0.18 | 0.335 | |||||
| 0.205 | ||||||
| 0.11 | 0.115 | Apr. 5, 2025 | ||||
| June 13, 2026 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2029 | ||||||
| Edward Beggs | ||||||
| Director | 100,000 | |||||
| 200,000 | ||||||
| 600,000 | ||||||
| (0.80%) | Apr. 5, 2022 | |||||
| June 13, 2023 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2024 | 0.345 | |||||
| 0.275 | ||||||
| 0.18 | 0.335 | |||||
| 0.205 | ||||||
| 0.11 | 0.115 | Apr. 5, 2025 | ||||
| June 13, 2026 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2029 |
14903485.4
| Name and Position | Number of stock options, number of underlying securities and percentage of class^{(1)} | Date of Issue or Grant | Option exercise price ($) | Closing price of underlying security on date of grant ($) | Closing price of underlying security at year end ($) | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Davis-Hall^{(5)} | ||||||
| Director | 300,000 | |||||
| 100,000 | ||||||
| 100,000 | ||||||
| (0.44%) | Mar. 27, 2023 | |||||
| June 13, 2023 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2024 | 0.35 | |||||
| 0.275 | ||||||
| 0.18 | 0.305 | |||||
| 0.205 | ||||||
| 0.11 | 0.115 | Mar. 27, 2026 | ||||
| June 13, 2026 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2029 | ||||||
| Randall C. Gue^{(6)} | ||||||
| Director | 300,000 | |||||
| 100,000 | ||||||
| 100,000 | ||||||
| (0.44%) | May 11, 2023 | |||||
| June 13, 2023 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2024 | 0.35 | |||||
| 0.275 | ||||||
| 0.18 | 0.22 | |||||
| 0.205 | ||||||
| 0.11 | 0.115 | May 11, 2026 | ||||
| June 13, 2026 | ||||||
| Mar. 14, 2029 |
Notes:
(1) Percentage of options issued compared to the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company as at April 30, 2024, being 112,496,943
(2) Stephen Harpur was President of the Company from January 1, 2018 to June 22, 2023.
(3) Steve Gumey was appointed as President of the Company on June 22, 2023.
(4) Chris Halsey-Brandt was appointed as CFO on May 12, 2021. Prior to being appointed as CFO, Mr. Halsey-Brandt was a member of the Company's advisory board.
(5) Suzanne Davis-Hall was appointed as a director of the Company on March 27, 2023.
(5) Randall C. Gue was appointed a director of the Company on May 11, 2023.
No stock options were exercised by a director or NEO of the Company during the financial year ended April 30, 2024.
Termination of Employment, Change in Responsibilities and Employment Contracts
There are no employment contracts between the Company and the Named Executive Officers except as described under the heading "Management Contracts".
There are no compensatory plans, contracts or arrangements between the Company and any Named Executive Officer, where the Named Executive Officer is entitled to receive more than $50,000 from the Company, including periodic payments or instalments, in the event of:
(a) the resignation, retirement or any other termination of employment of the Named Executive Officer's employment with the Company;
(b) a change of control of the Company; or
(c) a change of the Named Executive Officer's responsibilities following a change in control.
Pension Arrangements
The Company does not have any pension arrangements in place for the Named Executive Officers.
14903485.4
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The only equity compensation plan that the Company has in place is its October 3, 2022 amended and restated stock option plan, as approved by shareholders on December 1, 2022 (the “Plan”). The Plan was established to provide an incentive to qualified parties to increase their proprietary interest in the Company and thereby encourage their continuing association with the Company. The Plan is administered by the directors of the Company. The Plan provides that options will be issued pursuant to option agreements with directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. The Plan provides that the number of Common Shares issuable under the Plan, together with all of the Company’s other previously established or proposed share compensation agreements, may not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant. All options expire on a date not later than five years after the issuance of such option.
The following table sets forth securities of the Company that are authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans as at the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year:
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (1)
(a) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(b) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders | 8,600,000 | $0.26 | 2,649,694 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by securityholders | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total | 8,600,000 | $0.26 | 2,649,694 |
Note:
(1) The Company issued to Officers, Directors, Employees and Consultants of the Company the following options: 300,000 stock options exercisable at $0.40 on March 14, 2022 expiring March 14, 2025, 1,830,000 stock options exercisable at $0.345 on April 5, 2022 expiring April 5, 2025, 50,000 stock options exercisable at $0.35 on July 27, 2022 expiring July 27, 2025, 300,000 stock options exercisable at $0.29 on February 17, 2023 expiring on February 17, 2025, 150,000 stock options exercisable at $0.25 on January 25, 2023 expiring January 25, 2026, 300,000 stock options exercisable at $0.35 on March 27, 2023 expiring on March 27, 2026, 300,000 stock options exercisable at $0.35 on May 11, 2023 expiring on May 11, 2026, 2,475,000 options exercisable at $0.275 on June 13, 2023 expiring on June 13, 2026, 100,000 options exercisable at $0.275 on June 13, 2023 expiring on June 13, 2025, and 3,505,000 stock options exercisable at $0.18 on March 14, 2024 expiring on March 14, 2029, respectively, for an aggregate total of 9,310,000 stock options granted. As of the date of this circular there are 8,600,000 options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $0.26 per share.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No director, executive officer, employee or former director, executive officer or employee of the Company was indebted to the Company as at the date hereof or at any time during the most recently completed financial year of the Company. None of the proposed nominees for election as a director of the Company, or any associate of any director, executive officer or proposed nominee, was indebted to the Company as at the date hereof or at any time during the most recently completed financial year of the Company.
The Company has not provided any guarantees, support agreements, letters of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding for any indebtedness of any of the Company’s directors, executive officers, proposed nominees for election as a director, or associates of any of the foregoing individuals as at the
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date hereof or at any time during the most recently completed financial year of the Company.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
An “informed person” means: (a) a director or executive officer of the Company; (b) a director or executive officer of a person or company that is itself an informed person or subsidiary of the Company; (c) any person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities of the company or who exercises control or direction over voting securities of the Company 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 Company itself, if and for so long as it has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its shares.
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, no informed person of the Company, nominee for director or any associate or affiliate of an informed person or nominee, had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction, in any transaction or any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
Management recommends that Shareholders vote to re-appoint MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants of 2200 - 1021 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 0C3 as auditors for the Company and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration. MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants were first appointed as auditors for the Company on December 19, 2023. See "External Auditor Service Fees" under "Audit Committee And Relationship With Auditor".
Attached herein as Schedule “B” is, the reporting package for the change of auditor that occurred as of December 19, 2023, as required pursuant to Section 4.11 of National Instrument 51-102, which includes the notice of change of auditor, the letter from the former auditor and the letter from the successor auditor, all of which were filed on SEDAR+ on January 23, 2024.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
There are no management functions of the Company, which are to any substantial degree performed by a person or company other than the directors or executive officers of the Company.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
General
National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (“NI 58-101”) requires issuers to disclose the corporate governance practices that they have adopted according to guidance provided pursuant to National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines (“NP 58-201”).
The Board believes that good corporate governance improves corporate performance and benefits all Shareholders. The Canadian Securities Administrators (the “CSA”) have adopted NP 58-201, which provides non-prescriptive guidelines on corporate governance practices for reporting issuers. In addition, the CSA have implemented NI 58-101, which prescribes certain disclosure by reporting issuers of its corporate governance practices. This section sets out the Company’s approach to corporate governance and addresses the Company’s compliance with NI 58-101.
Board of Directors
Directors are considered to be independent if they have no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A “material relationship” is a relationship which could, in the view of the Company’s Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a director’s independent judgment.
The current independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company are Edward Beggs, Suzanne Davis-Hall and Randall C. Gue. The non-independent director is Stephen Harpur, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
14903485.4
14903485.4
- 13 -
Directorships
The participation of the directors in other reporting issuers is described in the following table:
| Name of Director | Names of Other Reporting Issuers of which the Director is a Director |
|---|---|
| Stephen Harpur | None |
| Edward Beggs | None |
| Suzanne Davis-Hall | None |
| Randall C. Gue | None |
Orientation and Continuing Education
When new directors are appointed, they receive orientation, commensurate with their previous experience, on the Company's properties and on director responsibilities.
Board meetings may also include presentations by the Company's management and employees to give the directors additional insight into the Company's business. In addition, management of the Company makes itself available to discussions with all Board members.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company's governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual director's participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
Nomination of Directors
The Board considers its size each year when it considers the number of directors to recommend to the Shareholders for election at the annual meeting of Shareholders, taking into account the number required to carry out the Board's duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of views and experience.
The Board does not have a nominating committee, and these functions are currently performed by the Board as a whole. However, if there is a change in the number of directors required by the Company, this policy will be reviewed.
Other Board Committees
The Board has no committees other than the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee provides an open avenue of communication between management, the Company's independent auditors and the Board and to assist the Board in its oversight of:
(a) the integrity, adequacy and timeliness of the Company's financial reporting and disclosure practices;
(b) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to financial reporting; and
(c) the independence and performance of the Company's independent auditors.
The Audit Committee also performs any other activities consistent with the Audit Committee Charter, the Company's Articles and governing laws as the Audit Committee or Board deems necessary or appropriate. See "Audit Committee and Relationship with Auditor".
14903485.4
Assessments
The Board monitors the adequacy of information given to directors, communication between the Board and management, and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and the Audit Committee.
Compensation
The Board is not compensated for acting as directors, except for being granted incentive stock options pursuant to the policies of the TSX-V and the Company's stock option plan. The Board acts as a whole to determine and approve the final stock grants and compensation amounts.
AUDIT COMMITTEE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH AUDITOR
National Instrument 52-110 of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 52-110") requires the Company, as a venture issuer, to disclose annually in its Information Circular certain information concerning the constitution of its audit committee (the "Audit Committee") and its relationship with its independent auditors, as set forth in the following.
Charter
The Company has adopted a charter (the "Charter") of the Audit Committee of the Board, which is attached as Schedule "A" to this Information Circular.
Composition
The current members of the Audit Committee are Stephen Harpur, Edward Beggs and Randall Gue. Messrs. Beggs and Gue are independent members of the Audit Committee and Mr. Harpur is not independent. All of the members of the Audit Committee are considered to be financially literate.
Relevant Education and Experience
Edward Beggs
Edward (Ed) Beggs has a background in agriculture, commercial/industrial/agricultural construction sales and project management, international web-based sales and distribution of specialized building and renewable energy products, and new product development and sales in the clean tech sector. He obtained a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree from the University of Waterloo and a M.Sc. in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University, where he has also served as Associate Faculty for over a decade.
Stephen Harpur
Stephen Harpur is a Chartered Professional Accountant. After graduating from business school, Mr. Harpur joined Richardson Greenshields in 1993 and spent the next six years as an investment advisor. Since 1993, Mr. Harpur has raised equity for many small cap companies, both public and private. He has extensive experience in project management working for both himself and in a management position with a corporate restructuring and insolvency firm.
Randall C. Gue
Randall Gue holds an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Mr. Gue continues to work as a consultant in the fields of landfill diversion to resource recovery, renewable energies, clean technologies and development of sustainable projects. Mr Gue has also published 2 books on the topic of stock trading and investing.
- 14 -
Audit Committee Oversight
At no time since the commencement of the Company's most recently completed financial year was a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor not adopted by the Board of Directors.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services as described in the Company's Audit Committee Charter.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
The Company relies on the exemption granted under Part 8 of NI 52-110 with respect to the composition requirements of Part 2 of that Instrument.
External Auditor Service Fees
As at April 30, 2024, the Company's auditors were MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants and KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, was the Company's previous auditor for the year ended April 30, 2023. The Company intends to re-appoint MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as its successor auditors for the ensuring year.
When required, the Audit Committee reviews the nature and amount of the non-audited services provided to the Company by its auditors to ensure auditor independence. Fees incurred for audit and non-audit services in the last two fiscal years are outlined in the table below. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, the fees were paid to MNP LLP and KPMG LLP. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023, the fees were all paid to the Company's former auditors, KPMG LLP.
| Nature of Services | Fees Paid to Auditor in Year Ended April 30, 2024 | Fees Paid to Auditor in Year Ended April 30, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Audit Fees^{(1)} | $229,105 | $160,500 |
| Audit-Related Fees^{(2)} | $Nil | $48,150 |
| Tax Fees^{(3)} | $Nil | $Nil |
| All Other Fees^{(4)} | $Nil | $Nil |
| Total | $229,105 | $208,650 |
(1) "Audit Fees" include fees necessary to perform the annual audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements. Audit Fees include fees for review of tax provisions and for accounting consultations on matters reflected in the financial statements. Audit Fees also include audit or other attest services required by legislation or regulation, such as comfort letters, consents, reviews of securities filings and statutory audits.
(2) "Audit-Related Fees" include services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required by legislation or regulation.
(3) "Tax Fees" include fees for all tax services other than those included in "Audit Fees" and "Audit-Related Fees". This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities.
(4) "All Other Fees" include all other non-audit services.
Exemption in Section 6.1 of NI 52-110
The Company is relying on the exemption in Section 6.1 of NI 52-110 from the requirement of Parts 3 (Composition of the Audit Committee) and 5 (Reporting Obligations).
14903485.4
NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID
Effective June 7, 2024, the TSX-V accepted the Company's notice of its intention to commence a normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB") through the facilities of the TSX-V and other alternative Canadian trading systems (the "Notice"). Under the NCIB, the Company may purchase up to 5,624,847 Common Shares at the prevailing market price. Purchases under the NCIB may occur up until June 6, 2025. The Company may not purchase more than 2,249,938 Common Shares during any 30-day period. In conjunction with the NCIB the Company entered into a normal course issuer broker agreement, effective June 7, 2024 with a designated broker to affect the purchases of the Common Shares under the NCIB. As of November 15, 2024 the Company has acquired an aggregate of 2,735,000 Common Shares under the NCIB at an average price of $0.1025 per Common Share. Common Shares purchased during the NCIB will be cancelled, reserved for issuance, or otherwise dealt with in accordance with applicable corporate and securities laws. Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Notice, without charge, by contacting the CEO of the Company.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Approval of Stock Option Plan
The Company's 10% Plan, was first approved by the Company shareholders on November 20, 2006 and amended on September 1, 2010 and amended and restated on October 3, 2022. The TSX-V requires listed companies that have "rolling" stock option plans in place receive Shareholder approval of such plans on a yearly basis and the Plan was last approved at the annual general meeting held on December 19, 2023. Accordingly, Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to ratify and approve the Plan.
The purpose of the Plan is to provide certain directors, officers and key employees of, and certain other persons who provide services to the Company and any subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Shares of the Company and benefit from any appreciation in the value of the Company's Common Shares. This will provide an increased incentive for these individuals to contribute to the future success and prosperity of the Company, thus enhancing the value of the Common Shares for the benefit of all the Shareholders and increasing the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain skilled and motivated individuals in the service of the Company.
The Plan provides for a floating maximum limit of 10% of the outstanding Common Shares, as permitted by the policies of the TSX-V. As at November 15, 2024 this represents 10,976,194 Common Shares available under the Plan, of which 8,600,000 are issued and 2,375,194 are reserved and available for issuance under the Plan.
Under the Plan, the option price must not be less than the exercise price permitted by the TSX-V. The current policies of the TSX-V state that the option price must not be less than the closing prices of the Common Shares listed on the TSX-V on the day immediately preceding the date of grant, less the applicable discount permitted by the policies of the TSX-V. An option must be exercised within a period of ten years from the date of granting. Within this ten-year period, the Board may determine the limitation period during which an option may be exercised. Any amendment to the Plan requires the approval of the TSX-V and may require Shareholder approval.
The material terms of the Plan are as follows:
-
Options may be granted to Directors, Officers, Consultants and Employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, and to Management Companies and Management Company Employees, as such terms are defined in the Plan.
-
The term of any options granted under the Plan will be fixed by the Board at the time such options are granted, provided that options will not be permitted to exceed a term of ten years.
-
The exercise price of any options granted under the Plan will be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, but shall not be less than the closing price of the Company's Common Shares on the day preceding the date on which the directors grant such options, less any discount permitted by the TSX-V or such other price as may be required by the TSX-V, to a minimum of $0.05 per
14903485.4
share.
-
No vesting requirements will apply to options granted under the Plan other than as required by TSX-V policies; however, a four-month hold period may apply to shares issued under the option.
-
All options will be non-assignable and non-transferable except in the case of the death of an Optionee, and subject to restrictions.
-
No more than (i) 5% of the issued Common Shares may be granted to any one individual in any 12-month period; and (ii) 2% of the issued Common Shares may be granted to a consultant, or an employee performing investor relations activities, in any 12-month period.
-
If the option holder ceases to be a director of the Company or ceases to be employed by the Company (other than by reason of death or disability), as the case may be, then the option granted shall expire on no later than the 60th day following the date that the option holder ceases to be a director or ceases to be employed by the Company, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Plan.
-
Disinterested shareholder approval must be obtained for (i) any reduction in the exercise price of an outstanding option, if the option holder is an insider; (ii) any grant of options to insiders, within a 12-month period, exceeding 10% of the Company's issued Common Shares; (iii) any grant of options to any one individual, within a 12-month period, exceeding 5% of the Company's issued Common Shares; (iv) the grant of security based compensation to Insiders exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company; and (v) any extension to options granted to Insiders of the Company at the time of the proposed extension.
-
Options will be reclassified in the event of any consolidation, subdivision, conversion or exchange of the Company's Common Shares.
The Plan is subject to annual shareholder approval and TSX-V acceptance to its filing. Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to consider, and if thought fit, approve an ordinary resolution ratifying and approving the Plan.
The full text of the Plan, when approved will be made available at the registered and records offices of the Company, Suite 700 – 401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5A1, until 4 p.m. on the business day immediately preceding the date of the Meeting.
Shareholder Approval
Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to approve with or without variation the following resolution:
“RESOLVED THAT the Company’s amended and restated stock option plan be and is hereby approved, and that in connection therewith a maximum of 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the time of each grant be approved for granting as options and that the board of directors be and are hereby authorized, without further shareholder approval, to make such changes to the amended and restated stock option plan as may be required or approved by regulatory authorities.”
Other Matters
As of the date of this Information Circular, management knows of no other matters to be acted upon at the Meeting. However, should any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the Common Shares represented by the Proxy solicited hereby will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting the Common Shares represented by the Proxy.
14903485.4
Additional Information
Additional information relating to the Company is available through the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.
Financial information on the Company is provided in the Company's comparative financial statements and management discussion and analysis of the most recently completed financial year ended April 30, 2024. Copies of the Company's financial statements and management discussion and analysis may be obtained upon request from the Company to the attention of Kelly Gill at 250 - 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2T7, T: 604-558-4300.
APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION
The contents of this Information Circular have been approved and this mailing has been authorized by the Directors of the Company.
Where information contained in this Information Circular, rests specifically within the knowledge of a person other than the Company, the Company has relied upon information furnished by such person.
The foregoing contains no untrue statement of material fact and does not omit to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in the light of the circumstances in which it was made.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 15th day of November 2024.
"Stephen Harpur"
Stephen Harpur
CEO and Director
14903485.4
14903485.4
SCHEDULE A
PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC.
(the "Company")
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Purpose of the Committee
The purpose of the Audit Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of the Company is to provide an open avenue of communication between management, the Company's independent auditors and the Board and to assist the Board in its oversight of:
(a) the integrity, adequacy and timeliness of the Company's financial reporting and disclosure practices;
(b) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to financial reporting; and
(c) the independence and performance of the Company's independent auditors.
The Committee shall also perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company's Articles and governing laws as the Committee or Board deems necessary or appropriate.
The Committee shall consist of at least three directors. Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board and may be removed by the Board in its discretion. The members of the Committee shall elect a Chair from among their number. A majority of the members of the Committee must not be officers or employees of the Company or of an affiliate of the Company. The quorum for a meeting of the Committee is a majority of the members who are not officers or employees of the Company or of an affiliate of the Company. With the exception of the foregoing quorum requirement, the Committee may determine its own procedures.
The Committee's role is one of oversight. Management is responsible for preparing the Company's financial statements and other financial information and for the fair presentation of the information set forth in the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management is also responsible for establishing internal controls and procedures and for maintaining the appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and all applicable laws and regulations.
The independent auditors' responsibility is to audit the Company's financial statements and provide their opinion, based on their audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in accordance with GAAP.
The Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board the independent auditors to be nominated for the purpose of auditing the Company's financial statements, preparing or issuing an auditor's report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, and for reviewing and recommending the compensation of the independent auditors. The Committee is also directly responsible for the evaluation of and oversight of the work of the independent auditors. The independent auditors shall report directly to the Committee.
Authority and Responsibilities
In addition to the foregoing, in performing its oversight responsibilities the Committee shall:
- Monitor the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board.
-
A 2 -
-
Review the appointments of the Company's Chief Financial Officer and any other key financial executives involved in the financial reporting process.
-
Review with management and the independent auditors the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company's accounting and financial controls and the adequacy and timeliness of its financial reporting processes.
-
Review with management and the independent auditors the annual financial statements and related documents and review with management the unaudited quarterly financial statements and related documents, prior to filing or distribution, including matters required to be reviewed under applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
-
Where appropriate and prior to release, review with management any news releases that disclose annual or interim financial results or contain other significant financial information that has not previously been released to the public.
-
Review the Company's financial reporting and accounting standards and principles and significant changes in such standards or principles or in their application, including key accounting decisions affecting the financial statements, alternatives thereto and the rationale for decisions made.
-
Review the quality and appropriateness of the accounting policies and the clarity of financial information and disclosure practices adopted by the Company, including consideration of the independent auditors' judgment about the quality and appropriateness of the Company's accounting policies. This review may include discussions with the independent auditors without the presence of management.
-
Review with management and the independent auditors significant related party transactions and potential conflicts of interest.
-
Pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided to the Company by the independent auditors.
-
Monitor the independence of the independent auditors by reviewing all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company and all non-audit work performed for the Company by the independent auditors.
-
Establish and review the Company's procedures for the:
(a) receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, financial disclosure, internal controls or auditing matters; and
(b) confidential, anonymous submission by employees regarding questionable accounting, auditing and financial reporting and disclosure matters.
-
Conduct or authorize investigations into any matters that the Committee believes is within the scope of its responsibilities. The Committee has the authority to retain independent counsel, accountants or other advisors to assist it, as it considers necessary, to carry out its duties, and to set and pay the compensation of such advisors at the expense of the Company.
-
Perform such other functions and exercise such other powers as are prescribed from time to time for the audit committee of a reporting company in Parts 2 and 4 of National Instrument 52-110 of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the British Columbia Business Corporations Act and the Articles of the Company.
14903485.4
14903485.4
SCHEDULE B
Reporting Package
Please see attached.
13479214.2
PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC.
(the "Company")
CHANGE OF AUDITORS
TO: British Columbia Securities Commission
Alberta Securities Commission
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
Ontario Securities Commission
AND TO: KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants
MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants
This notice is given pursuant to Section 4.11 of National Instrument 51-102 ("NI 51-102").
The Company hereby confirms:
(a) the effective date of the resignation of KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants (the "Former Auditors") as auditor of the Company is January 19, 2024;
(b) the Former Auditors resigned on its own initiative;
(c) the resignation of the Former Auditors and the appointment of MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants (the "Successor Auditor") on January 19, 2024 as auditors of the Company until the Company's next annual general meeting have been considered and approved by the Company's Board of Directors;
(d) The Former Auditors have not issued any modifications of opinion in the auditor reports on the Company's financial statements to date; and
(e) there are no "reportable events", as defined in NI 51-102, which occurred in connection with the audit of the two most recently completed fiscal years or for any period subsequent to the most recently completed fiscal period for which an auditor's report was issued.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 19th day of January, 2024.
PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC.
By: "Stephen Harpur"
Stephen Harpur
Chief Executive Officer
KPMG
KPMG LLP
777 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC V7Y 1K3
Canada
Tel 604-691-3000
Fax 604-691-3031
www.kpmg.ca
To:
British Columbia Securities Commission
Alberta Securities Commission
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
Ontario Securities Commission
January 19, 2024
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: Notice of Change of Auditors of Progressive Planet Solutions Inc.
We have read the Change of Auditors Notice of Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. dated January 19, 2024 (the "Notice") and are in agreement with the statements contained in such Notice.
Yours very truly,

Chartered Professional Accountants
KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP.
MNP
January 22, 2024
TO: Alberta Securities Commission
British Columbia Securities Commission
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
Ontario Securities Commission
Dear Sirs/Madams:
Re: Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. (the "Company")
Pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations, we have reviewed the information contained in the Notice of Change of Auditor of the Company dated January 19, 2024 ("the Notice") and, based on our knowledge of such information at this time, we agree with the statements made in the Notice pertaining to our firm. We advise that we have no basis to agree or disagree with the comments in the Notice relating to KPMG LLP.
Yours very truly,
MNP LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
MNP LLP
Suite 2200 MNP Tower, 1021 West Hastings Street, Vancouver B.C., V6E 0C3
1.877.688.8408 T: 604.685.8408 F: 604.685.8594
PRAXITY®
MNP.ca