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PURE ONE CORPORATION LIMITED — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2016
Nov 20, 2016
65518_rns_2016-11-20_7bac04b3-6220-4ac5-9675-670a80c38338.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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STRATA-X ENERGY LTD.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
and
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held in Denver, Colorado, USA December 9, 2016
November 14, 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS .................................. 3 GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................................ 4 PROXY INSTRUCTIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Solicitation of Proxies .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Appointment of Proxy.............................................................................................................................................. 4 Voting by Proxy ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Completion and Return of Proxies (for holders of TSX-V Common Shares) .......................................................... 5 Instructions for holders of CHESS Depository Interests (CDI’s) are set out on the next page. ............................... 5 Revocation of Proxies .............................................................................................................................................. 5 BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES ................................................................................................... 5 Non-Registered Holders Other Than CDI Holders ..................................................................................................... 6 CDI HOLDERS MAY GIVE INSTRUCTION TO CDN ............................................................................................. 6 APPLICATION OF CANADIAN CORPORATE AND SECURITIES LAW - NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF CDIS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Chapters 6, 6A, 6B and 6C of the Australian Corporations Act .............................................................................. 7 Summary of Canadian Legal Requirements Respecting the Acquisition of Securities of the Corporation ............. 7 Reporting by Substantial Shareholders and Insiders ................................................................................................ 8 Waivers Granted by the ASX................................................................................................................................... 8 INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON .......................................................... 8 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINICIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES .................................................. 8 Record Date ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Voting Securities ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Principal Shareholders ............................................................................................................................................. 9 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ................................................................................................................................... 9 Board of Directors ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Directorships .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Meetings of Independent Directors ........................................................................................................................ 10 Attendance ............................................................................................................................................................. 10 Board Mandate ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 Position Descriptions ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Orientation and Continuing Education .................................................................................................................. 11 Ethical Business Conduct ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Nomination of Directors ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Compensation ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Other Board Committees ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Assessments ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 Audit Committee Disclosure Required Pursuant to Nl 52-110 .............................................................................. 13 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ............................................................................................................................... 13 Compensation Discussion and Analysis .................................................................................................................. 13 Performance Graph ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Summary Compensation Table ............................................................................................................................... 17 Incentive Plan Awards - Named Executive Officers ................................................................................................ 17 Pension Plan Benefits .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Termination of Employment, Change in Responsibilities and Employment Contracts.............................................. 19 Compensation of Directors ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Incentive Plan Awards: Directors ............................................................................................................................ 19
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SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS ........................... 21 INDEBTENESS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ................................................................................................ 21 INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS .......................................................... 21 MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS ................................................................................................................................ 21 PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ................................................................................................ 21 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (Resolutions 1 through 7) ........................................................................................... 22 Information Concerning Directors ......................................................................................................................... 22 Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies and Sanctions .................................................................................................. 23 APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS (Resolution 8) ...................................................................................................... 24 RATIFICATION OF ISSUE OF UP TO 8,700,000 CDIS TO SOPHISTICATED OR PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS (Resolution 9) .................................................................................................................................. 26 PARTICIPATION OF MR RON PREFONTAINE IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT (Resolution 10) ....................... 27 PARTICIPATION OF MR TIM HOOPS IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT (Resolution 11) ...................................... 28 FUTURE ISSUE OF CDI’S BY WAY OF PLACEMENT (TRANCHE 2) (Resolution 12) ..................................... 29 APPROVE THE ISSUE OF CONSULTANT OPTIONS (Resolution 13) ................................................................. 31 ASX Listing Rule 7.1 ............................................................................................................................................. 31 APPROVAL OF STOCK OPTION PLAN (Resolution 14) ....................................................................................... 33 Summary of the Stock Option Plan ........................................................................................................................ 34 Board of Directors' Recommendation ...................................................................................................................... 35 OTHER BUSINESS .................................................................................................................................................... 43 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................... 43 DIRECTORS' APPROVAL ........................................................................................................................................ 44 APPENDIX A – Change of Auditor Package
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STRATA-X ENERGY LTD.
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD December 9, 2016
The board of directors of STRATA-X ENERGY LTD. (the "Corporation") invites you to attend the annual and extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation (the " Meeting ") to be held at 1624 Market St. Suite #302, Denver, Colorado, USA 80202, on December 9, 2016, at 10:00a.m. (Denver time), for the following purposes:
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to receive the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended June 30, 2016, and the auditor's report thereon;
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to fix the number of directors to be elected at the Meeting for the ensuing year at six (Resolution 1) ;
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to elect the directors for the ensuing year (Resolution 2 through 7) ;
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to appoint the auditors of the Corporation and authorize the directors to fix their remuneration (Resolution 8) ;
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to ratify the issuance of up to 8,700,000 Chess Depository Units (CDIs) to sophisticated and professional investors for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.4 and for all other purposes (Resolution 9) ;
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to approve the issuance of a maximum of 12,000,000 CDIs in the Placement to Mr Ron Prefontaine for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 10.11 and for all other purposes (Resolution 10) ;
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to approve the issuance of a maximum of 1,000,000 CDIs in the Placement to Mr Tim Hoops for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 10.11 and for all other purposes (Resolution 11) ;
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to approve the issuance of a maximum of 34,300,000 Chess Depository Units (CDIs) to sophisticated and professional investors for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and for all other purposes (Resolution 12) ;
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to approve the issue of consultant options for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and for all other purposes (Resolution 13);
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to approve the Corporation’s stock option plan for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.2 exception 9(b) and for all other purposes (Resolution 14) ;
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to approve the Corporation’s ability to issue an additional 10% of the issued capital of the Corporation over a 12 month period pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1A (Resolution 15) ;
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to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment of the Meeting,
all as more particularly set out in the attached information circular. The audited financial statements, auditor’s report and management’s discussion and analysis have been delivered to those shareholders who indicated to the Corporation that they wished to receive copies of same.
All holders of common shares are invited to attend the Meeting. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on October 18, 2016, are entitled to vote at the Meeting.
A shareholder who is unable to attend the Meeting in person and who wishes to ensure that their shares will be voted at the Meeting, is requested to complete, date and execute the enclosed form of Proxy and deliver it to the Company’s transfer agent: Computershare Investor Services Inc, Proxy Department, 100 University Avenue, 8[th] Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, by fax to 1-866-249-7775, hand or by mail in accordance with the instructions set out in the form of Proxy and Management Information Circular. ASX CDI holders need to return their voting instructions forms to Link Market Services no later than 5:00 pm (Sydney time) on December 7, 2016.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, November 14, 2016.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(signed) "Tim Hoops" President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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STRATA-X ENERGY LTD.
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR
GENERAL INFORMATION
This management proxy circular (" Circular ") is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the management of Strata-X Energy Ltd. (" Strata-X " or the " Corporation ") for use at the annual and extraordainry meeting (the " Meeting ") of holders of common shares of the Corporation to be held on December 9, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. (Denver time) at 1624 Market St. Suite #302, Denver, Colorado, USA 80202, and at any adjournment of the Meeting, for the purposes set out in the accompanying Notice of Annual General and Extraordinary Meeting (the " Notice of Meeting ") and at any adjournment thereof.
Except as otherwise stated, the information in this Circular is given as of November 14, 2016.
All amounts in this Circular are recorded in United States dollars unless specified otherwise.
PROXY INSTRUCTIONS
Solicitation of Proxies
The proxy solicitation is made on behalf of the management of the Corporation. Mailing of this Circular and the form of proxy (" Proxy Form ") will commence on or about November 18, 2016. The costs incurred in the preparation and mailing of the Proxy Form, Notice of Meeting and this Circular will be borne by Strata-X. In addition to solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited personally, by telephone or other means of communication, by directors, officers and employees of the Corporation, who will not be specifically remunerated for such solicitations. The Corporation has arranged for intermediaries to forward meeting materials to beneficial owners of the shares held of record by those intermediaries and may reimburse the intermediaries for their reasonable fees and disbursements in that regard.
Appointment of Proxy
The purpose of a proxy is to designate persons who will vote the proxy on a shareholder’s behalf in accordance with the instructions given by the shareholder in the proxy.
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed by the shareholder or their attorney authorized in writing or, if the shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer or attorney of such corporation duly authorized.
The persons named in the enclosed Proxy Form are directors and/or officers of Strata-X (the “ Management Proxyholders ”). Each shareholder has the right to appoint a proxy holder other than the Management Proxyholders, who need not be a shareholder, to attend and to act for them and on their behalf at the Meeting. To exercise such right, the names of the Management Proxyholders should be crossed out and the name of the shareholder's appointee should be legibly printed in the blank space provided.
Voting by Proxy
Only registered shareholders or duly appointed proxyholders are permitted to vote at the Meeting. Holders of CDIs are not registered holders and should refer to the section entitled “CDI Holders May Give Instruction to CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty. Ltd. (“CDN”).” Shares represented by a properly executed proxy will be voted or be withheld from voting on each matter referred to in the Notice of Meeting 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.
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If a shareholder does not specify a choice and the shareholder has appointed one of the Management Proxyholders as proxyholder, the Management Proxyholder will vote on the matter as described under each item of business in this Information Circular.
The enclosed form of proxy also gives discretionary authority to the person named therein as proxyholder with respect to amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of the Meeting and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. At the date of this Circular, management of the Corporation knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting.
Completion and Return of Proxies (for holders of TSX-V Common Shares)
The completed instrument of PROXY must be dated and signed and the duly completed instrument of proxy must be deposited at the Company's Transfer Agent, COMPUTERHSARE INVESTOR SERVICES INC. no later than forty eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) prior to the time of the Meeting, or adjournment thereof or may be accepted by the Chairman of the Meeting prior to the commencement of the Meeting. The mailing address for proxies is:
Computershare Investor Services Inc. 100 University Avenue, 9th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1 Fax number: 1-866-249-7775 Vote by Phone: Registered Shareholders: 1-866-732-VOTE (8683) Beneficial Shareholders: 1-866-734-VOTE (8683)
Vote Online: www.investorvote.com
The instrument of proxy must be signed by the shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney. If signed by a duly authorized attorney, the instrument of proxy must be accompanied by the original power of attorney or a notarially certified copy thereof. If the shareholder is a corporation, the instrument of proxy must be signed by a duly authorized attorney, officer, or corporate representative, and must be accompanied by the original power of attorney or document whereby the duly authorized officer or corporate representative derives his power, as the case may be, or a notarially certified copy thereof.
Instructions for holders of CHESS Depository Interests (CDI’s) are set out on the next page.
Revocation of Proxies
A shareholder who has submitted a proxy may revoke it at any time up to and including the close of business on the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment of the Meeting, by signing a statement in writing (or having your attorney, as authorized in writing, sign a statement) to this effect and delivering it to the Corporation at its registered office at Suite 2080-777 Hornby Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1S4, Attention: Shauna Hartman or the Corporation’s transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc.,100 University Avenue, 9th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y. If a person who has given a proxy attends personally at the Meeting at which such proxy is to be voted, such person may revoke the proxy at the Meeting and vote in person. In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a proxy may also be revoked by depositing such written statement with the Chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment of the Meeting.
BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES
The information set out in this section is of significant importance to many shareholders who do not hold their common shares in their own name. Only proxies deposited by shareholders whose names appear on the register of the Corporation as the registered holders of common shares can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. Most shareholders of the Corporation are “non-registered” shareholders because the shares they own are not registered in their names but instead are registered in the name of a nominee such as a brokerage firm through which they purchased the shares; a bank, trust company, trustee or administrator of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs and similar plans; or a clearing agency (each a “Nominee”) such as CDS Clearing and Depositary Services Inc., or, in Australia, CDN. If you purchased your shares through a broker, you are likely an unregistered holder. Common shares held by your broker or
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their nominee can only be voted upon based on your instructions. Without specific instructions, your broker or their nominee is prohibited from voting your shares. Therefore, beneficial shareholders should ensure that instructions respecting the voting of their common shares are communicated to the appropriate person or entity.
Non-Registered Holders Other Than CDI Holders
Applicable regulatory policy requires your broker to seek voting instructions from you in advance of the Meeting. Every broker has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions, which you should carefully follow in order to ensure that your shares are voted at the Meeting. Often, the form of proxy supplied by your broker is identical to the Proxy Form provided to registered shareholders. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the registered shareholder how to vote on your behalf. The majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge. Broadridge mails a scanable voting instruction form in lieu of the Proxy Form provided by Strata-X. You are asked to complete and return the voting instruction form to them by mail or facsimile. Alternately, you can call their toll-free telephone number, 1-888-237-1900, or access Broadridge's internet website at www.broadridge.com to vote your common shares. They then tabulate the results of all instructions received and provide appropriate instructions respecting the voting of the common shares to be represented at the Meeting. If you receive a voting instruction form from Broadridge it cannot be used as a proxy to vote shares directly at the Meeting as the voting instruction form must be returned to Broadridge well in advance of the Meeting in order to have your common shares voted or to appoint an alternative representative to attend at the Meeting in person to vote such common shares.
If you arc a beneficial shareholder and wish to vote in person at the Meeting, you should insert your own name in the space provided on the voting instruction form provided to you by your nominee and return the completed form to Broadridge. Do not complete the voting section of the form as your vote will be taken at the Meeting.
In addition, Canadian securities legislation now permits the Corporation to forward meeting materials directly to “non objecting beneficial owners”. If the Corporation or its agent has sent these materials directly to you (instead of through a Nominee), your name and address and information about your holdings of securities have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the Nominee holding on your behalf. By choosing to send these materials to you directly, the Corporation (and not the Nominee holding on your behalf) has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering these materials to you and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions. Please return your voting instructions as specified in the “Completion and Return of Proxy” section above. The Corporation does not intend to pay for intermediaries to forward materials to “objecting beneficial owners” under NI 54-101, and as a result such “objecting beneficial owner” will not receive this Circular or a proxy form unless the “objecting beneficial owner’s” intermediary assumes the cost of delivery.
CDI HOLDERS MAY GIVE INSTRUCTION TO CDN
A “ CDI ” is a CHESS Depositary Interest representing an uncertificated unit of beneficial ownership in the common shares of the Corporation registered in the name of CDN. One CDI represents one underlying common share of the Corporation. “ CHESS ” refers to the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System, which is the electronic system pursuant to which CDIs of the Corporation trade on the Australian Securities Exchange (the “ ASX ”).
Holders of CDIs are non-registered or beneficial owners of the underlying common shares, which underlying shares are registered in the name of CDN. As holders of CDIs are not the legal owners of the underlying common shares, CDN is entitled to vote at meetings of shareholders on the instruction of the registered holder of the CDIs.
As a result, registered holders of CDIs can expect to receive a voting instruction form (a “ VIF ”), together with the Meeting materials, from Link Market Services Ltd (“ Link ”), the CDI Registry in Australia. These VIFs are to be completed by holders of CDIs who wish to vote at the Meeting and returned to Link in accordance with the instructions contained therein. Completed VIF forms must be returned to Link by 5.00pm (Sydney time) on December 7, 2016 or no later than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, prior to the cut-off time for the receipt of proxies before any adjourned or postponed Meeting.
CDN is required to follow the voting instructions properly received from registered holders of CDIs. If you hold your interest in CDIs through a broker, dealer or other intermediary, you will need to follow the instructions of your intermediary.
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A registered holder of a CDI can request CDN to appoint the holder (or a person nominated by the registered holder) as proxy to exercise the votes attaching to the underlying common shares represented by the holders of CDIs. In such case, a holder the CDI may, as proxy, attend and vote in person at the Meeting.
If you hold your interest in CDIs through a broker, dealer or other intermediary, you will need to follow the instructions of your intermediary and request a form of legal proxy which will grant you the right to attend the Meeting and vote in person.
Registered holders of CDIs that wish to change their vote must in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting contact Link to arrange to change their vote. If you hold your interest in CDIs through a broker, dealer or other intermediary, you must in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting arrange for your intermediary to change its vote through Link in accordance with the revocation procedure set out above.
APPLICATION OF CANADIAN CORPORATE AND SECURITIES LAW - NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF CDIS
The Corporation is an oil and gas company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (“ TSX - V ”) (under the symbol SXE), on the ASX (under the symbol SXA). The Corporation was continued into and currently exists under and is governed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (“ BCBCA ”) and the provisions of the Corporation’s Notice of Articles and Articles. The Corporation is registered as a foreign company in Australia pursuant to the Australian Corporations Act (2001) (Cth) (the “ Corporations Act ”).
Chapters 6, 6A, 6B and 6C of the Australian Corporations Act
The Corporation is not subject to Chapters 6, 6A, 6B and 6C of the Corporations Act dealing with the acquisition of shares (i.e. substantial holdings and takeovers).
Summary of Canadian Legal Requirements Respecting the Acquisition of Securities of the Corporation
Applicable Canadian laws, like their Australian equivalent, are very technical. Accordingly, shareholders should consult their own Canadian legal advisors with respect to Canadian legal requirement matters, rather than relying upon this general summary.
In general, subject to compliance with applicable Canadian securities laws, a holder of shares in the capital of a corporation incorporated under the BCBCA is entitled to transfer his, her or its shares to anyone else upon compliance with the provisions of the BCBCA and the articles of the corporation.
Canadian securities laws impose certain limitations on the acquisition of securities. The issuance to the public and trading of securities in Canada is regulated at the provincial/territorial level by securities legislation administered by the relevant provincial or territorial securities commission.
Takeover bids are regulated primarily by provincial and territorial securities legislation and, to a limited extent, the corporate statutes under which the target company is incorporated. Under provincial or territorial securities regulations, an offer to acquire shares of an issuer by a “control person” of that issuer may constitute a formal takeover bid. Under the Securities Act (British Columbia), a “control person” is generally defined as any person, company or combination of persons or companies whose holdings represent a sufficient number of securities of the issuer to materially affect the control of that issuer. A holding of more than 20%, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is deemed to materially affect control of the issuer. In addition, any offer to acquire voting or equity securities where such securities together with the offeror’s securities represent an aggregate of 20% or more of the outstanding securities of that class will constitute a take-over bid.
Unless an exemption from formal take-over bid requirements under applicable Canadian securities legislation can be obtained, persons or companies seeking to make a take-over bid must comply with detailed rules governing bids prescribed by applicable provincial or territorial securities laws. For example, under the applicable securities legislation, exempt bids include bids made over the facilities of the TSX-V and a bid for not more than 5% of the outstanding securities of a class of securities, so long as the aggregate number of securities of that class acquired by
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the offeror and any person acting jointly or in concert with the offerer in the previous twelve months is not greater than 5% of the class and the bid is for a price not in excess of the market price for those securities.
Reporting by Substantial Shareholders and Insiders
Under the insider reporting and trading rules of applicable Canadian securities legislation, reporting obligations and trading restrictions are placed on substantial shareholders. A reporting “insider” generally includes any person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities, or who exercises control or direction over voting securities or a reporting issuer or a combination of both, carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting securities.
Shareholders who become insiders must file an “Insider Profile” in the prescribed form under National Instrument 55-102 – System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (“SEDI”). Further insider reports must be filed within five calendar days of any change in the ownership or control or direction over securities of the Corporation of that insider. Insider reports must be filed electronically on SEDI at www.sedi.ca.
Waivers Granted by the ASX
CDI holders should note that the Corporation has been granted waivers from certain Listing Rules of the ASX. In particular, the Corporation has received a waiver from ASX Listing Rule 14.2.1 which requires that a form of proxy allow a securityholder to vote for or against each resolution.
Under applicable Canadian securities laws, the form of proxy to be provided must only allow securityholders to vote in favour of or to withhold their vote in respect of a resolution to elect a director or appoint an auditor, but not to vote against it. The Corporation’s waiver from ASX Listing Rule 14.2.1 only applies to the extent necessary to permit it to comply with the proxy requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws and for so long as such laws prevent the Corporation from permitting Shareholders to vote against a resolution to elect a director or appoint an auditor.
The Corporation has also received a waiver from ASX Listing Rule 14.3 to the extent necessary to permit the Corporation to accept nominations for the election of directors in accordance with Canadian securities laws. Under ASX Listing Rule 14.3, an ASX listed entity must accept nominations for the election of directors up to 35 business days (or in the case of a meeting that securityholders have requested directors to call, 30 business days) before the date of the meeting at which directors may be elected, unless the entity’s constitution provides otherwise. Part 5, Division 7 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) provides a mechanism for Shareholders to submit proposals for consideration at an annual meeting, including nominations for election of directors, up to 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous annual meeting. If the proposal includes a nomination for election, the proposal must be signed by one or more holders of shares representing an aggregate of not less than 5% of the voting shares. A Shareholder who is entitled to submit a proposal is also entitled to discuss at an annual meeting any subject, including nominations for election of directors, in respect of which they would be entitled to make a proposal. In this manner, nominations for election of directors may be made at the meeting, and it is possible that a person could be elected director without his or her nomination disclosed prior to the date of the meeting.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None of the directors, officers or nominees for election as a director of the Corporation, or any of their associates or affiliates, has or has had any interest, direct or indirect, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting other than as set out in this Circular.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINICIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
Record Date
The board of directors of Strata-X has fixed October 18, 2016 (the "Record Date") , as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive the Notice of Meeting and vote at the Meeting. Each shareholder as at the record date is entitled to one vote for each common share of Strata-X held. Shareholders of record will be entitled to vote those shares included in the list of shareholders entitled to vote at the Meeting prepared as at the Record Date, unless any such shareholder transfers their shares after the Record Date and the transferee of those shares establishes that they own
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the shares and demands, not later than the close of business on the date ten days before the Meeting, that the transferee's name be included in the list of shareholders entitled to vote at the Meeting, in which case such transferee shall be entitled to vote such shares at the Meeting.
Voting Securities
The Corporation has only two classes of shares, being the common and preferred shares.
The authorized capital of the Corporation consists of an unlimited number of common shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. As of October 18, 2016 , there were 176,325,585 common shares issued and outstanding and no preferred shares issued and outstanding. Of such issued and outstanding common shares, 108,322,641 were held by CDN on behalf of holders of CDIs. All references to outstanding shares (or common shares) in this Circular include the shares held by CDN (“ Shares ”) and all references to holders of shares includes both holders of common shares and holders of CDIs (“ Shareholders”) .
Each common share carries the right to one vote. A quorum will be present at the Meeting if there is at least one person present holding or representing by proxy in the aggregate not less than 5% of the shares entitled to be voted at the Meeting.
The Corporation’s common shares are listed and traded in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “SXE.V”. The CDIs are listed on the ASX under the symbol “SXA”.
Principal Shareholders
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, as of the date of this Information Circular, only the following beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or exercise control or direction over, 10% or more of the common shares of the Company.
mon shares of the Company. |
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|---|---|---|
| Name | Number of Shares | Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Shares |
| Ron Prefontaine | 19,018,100(1) | 10.79% |
(1) Of which 7,406,539 Shares are held by Prepet Pty Ltd., a private company owned and controlled by Mr. Prefontaine and 11,611,561 Shares which are held indirectly through Mr. Prefontaine’s Superfund account.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors
Corporate governance relates to the activities of the board of directors (the “ Board ”), the members of which are elected by and are accountable to Shareholders, and takes into account the role of the individual members of management who are appointed by the Board and who are charged with the day-to-day management of the Corporation. The Board is committed to a high standard of corporate governance practices. The Board believes that this commitment is not only in the best interests of the shareholders but that it also promotes effective decision-making at the board level. The Board is of the view that its approach to corporate governance is appropriate and complies with the objectives and guidelines relating to corporate governance set out in National Instrument 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board itself is vested with the responsibilities of corporate governance and nomination of directors. The Board has developed and approved a complete Corporate Governance Charter (the “ Charter ”), a copy of which is available on the Corporation’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, the Corporation’s website at www.strata-x.com and at the request of any shareholder to the Corporation’s Canadian corporate secretary, Shaun Maskerine, at [email protected].
As described in 'Information on Matters to be Acted Upon At the Meeting - Election of Directors' , there are currently six directors on the Board. Currently, Mr. Greg Hancock, Mr. Dennis Nerland and Mr. Bohdan Romaniuk are independent directors (under National Instrument 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines) . They have no direct or indirect material relationship with the Corporation, including any business or other relationship, which could reasonably be expected to interfere with their ability to act with a view to the best interests of the Corporation or which could reasonably be expected
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to interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment. The other directors, Messrs. Prefontaine, Bradley and Hoops are not independent (under National Instrument 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines ). Mr. Prefontaine is currently Chairman, Mr. Hoops is currently President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Bradley is the Former Chief Financial Officer.
The Corporation does not currently have a lead director but provides leadership to its independent directors through its chairman, who is tasked with the responsibility of seeking to ensure that appropriate structures and procedures are in place so that the Board is able to function independently.
Directorships
The following directors of the Corporation currently serve as directors of other reporting issuers (or equivalent).
| Name | Other Reporting Issuers | Position | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Romaniuk | Avagenesis Corp. (TSXV) Acceleware Ltd.(TSXV) |
Director/Chairman Director/Chairman |
Dec 2013 – present Dec 2004 -present |
| Dennis Nerland | Avagenesis Corp. (TSXV) Acceleware Ltd.(TSXV) Arkadia Capital Corp.(TSXV) Crew Energy Inc.(TSX) Critical Control Solutions Corp (TSX) Granite Oil Corp. (TSX) Manitok Energy Inc. (TSXV) Avapecia Life Sciences Corp. (CSE) Olympia Financial Group Inc. (TSX) Westshire Capital II Corp. (TSXV) |
Director Director Director/Pres/CEO/CFO Director Director Director Director Director Director Director |
Dec 2010 – present Apr 2011 – present Jul 2011 – present Sept 2003 - present May 2001 – present May 2015 – present Jun 2014 – present Dec 2014 – present Oct 2015 – present May 2016- present |
Meetings of Independent Directors
The Board holds meetings as needed. The Board has not established any required attendance levels for Board and committee meetings. The Board facilitates its exercise of independent judgment in carrying out its responsibilities by carefully examining issues and consulting with outside counsel and other advisors in appropriate circumstances. The Board requires management to provide complete and accurate information with respect to the Corporation’s activities and to provide relevant information concerning the industry in which the Corporation operates in order to identity and manage risks. The Board is responsible for monitoring the Corporation’s officers, who in turn are responsible for the maintenance of internal controls and management information systems. The independent directors are, however, able to meet at any time without any members of management, including any non-independent directors, being present. Further supervision is performed through the Audit Committee which is composed entirely of independent directors who are also able to meet with the Corporation’s auditors without management being in attendance. Additionally, the Corporation has a Corporate Governance Committee, a Remuneration Committee and a Nominations Committee each of which is also composed of a majority of independent directors who meet without management being in attendance.
Attendance
During the Corporation’s financial year ended June 30, 2016, there were 7 meetings of the Board, 1 meetings of the Audit Committee and no meetings of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. The attendance record of each of the Corporation’s directors at these meetings during the time the director held office (as applicable) is set out below:
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| Directors in Attendance |
Board | Audit and Risk | ~~Remuneration~~ |
~~Overall Attendance~~ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management | Committee | |||
Committee |
||||
| Ron Prefontaine | 6/7(86%) | N/A | N/A | 6/7 (86%) |
| TimothyHoops | 7/7(100%) | N/A | 0/0 | 7/7(100%) |
| TimothyBradley | 6/7(86%) | N/A | N/A | 6/7(86%) |
| Bohdan Romaniuk | 7/7(100%) | 1/1(100%) | 0/0 | 8/8(100%) |
| GregHancock | 7/7(100%) | 1/1(100%) | 0/0 | 8/8(100%) |
| Dennis Nerland | 5/7(71%) | 1/1(100%) | N/A | 6/8(75%) |
Board Mandate
The mandate of the Board is to act in the best interests of the Corporation and to supervise management. The Board is responsible for approving long-term strategic plans and annual operating budgets recommended by management. Board consideration and approval is also required for material contracts and business transactions and all debt and equity financing transactions. Any responsibility which is not delegated to management or to the committees of the Board remains with the Board. A copy of the Board's written mandate is found at Section A – Principles of Corporate Governance of the Charter, a copy of which is available on the Corporation’s website at www.strata-x.com.
Position Descriptions
The Board has developed written position descriptions for its Chief Executive Officer and its Chairman which mandate can be found at Sections A3 and A2, respectively of the Charter, a copy of which is available on the Corporation’s website at www.strata-x.com. However, the Board has not developed written position descriptions for chair of any Board committees. The Board has determined that given the size of the Board, the stage of development of the Corporation and the fact that each committee has a comprehensive written charter, a written position description for the chairman of each committee is not required at this time. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing the position descriptions and recommending any changes to the Board.
Orientation and Continuing Education
The Corporation has not adopted a formalized process of orientation for new Board members. However, all directors have been provided with a base line of knowledge about the Corporation which serves as a basis for informed decisionmaking and three of the five directors have prior public company experience.
Directors are kept informed as to matters affecting, or which may affect, the Corporation's operations through reports and presentations at board of directors meetings. Special presentations on specific business operations are also provided to the board of directors.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Corporation has adopted a Corporate Code of Conduct and a Corporate Ethics Policy, which are found at Section A4 and G, respectively of the Charter, a copy of which can be located on the Corporation’s website, www.strata-x.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The objective of these policies is to provide guidelines for maintaining the integrity, reputation, honesty, objectivity and impartiality of the Corporation, its subsidiaries and business units. These policies address conflicts of interest, protecting the Corporation’s assets, confidentiality, fair dealing with securityholders, customers, suppliers, competitors and employees, insider trading, compliance with laws and reporting any illegal or unethical behaviour. A copy of the Charter is provided to each director, officer and employee on an annual basis.
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Specific issues of note are summarised below:
Directors’ conflicts of interest - directors of the Corporation must keep the Board advised, on an ongoing basis, of any material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the Corporation. Where a director has a material personal interest in a matter, the director concerned will absent himself from Board discussions of the matter and will not cast a vote in relation to the matter.
Trading policy – The Corporation has also adopted a comprehensive trading policy, which applies to all directors, employees and contractors. The policy prohibits trading in the Corporation’s securities by directors, employees or contractors at any time when they are in possession of price sensitive information that is not generally available to the market. In addition, the policy places a total embargo on short term trading by directors and senior employees at all times. The policy further identifies “blackout” periods where directors and senior management are embargoed from dealing in the Corporation’s securities. An internal disclosure procedure applies to directors and senior employees wishing to buy or sell Corporation securities or exercise options over Corporation securities. Directors also have specific disclosure obligations under laws and regulations applicable in Australia and Canada.
In accordance with ASX Listing Rule 12.9, a copy of the Corporation’s Trading Policy was lodged with the ASX. A copy of the trading policy is also available on the Corporation’s website at www.strata-x.com.
Nomination of Directors
The board of directors does not currently have a stand-alone nominating committee as the Board considers that the Company is not of a size nor are its affairs of such complexity as to justify the formation of a separate committee at this time. The Board itself carries out this responsibility and is able to addresse these issues as guided by a nominations charter found at Section E of the Charter, a copy of which is available on the Corporation’s website at www.stratax.com. The Board periodically examines its size and composition, with a view to determining the impact of the number of directors upon effectiveness and determining the appropriate number of directors which facilitates more effective decision making. The Board will review its position annually and determine if a separate committee need be established.
Compensation
The Corporation has established a Remuneration Committee, which is, among other things, responsible for determining all forms of compensation to be granted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and other senior management and executive officers of the Corporation, for evaluating the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of the corporate goals and objectives set for him/her, for reviewing the adequacy and form of the compensation and benefits of the directors in their capacity as directors of the Corporation to ensure that such compensation realistically reflects the responsibilities and risks involved in being an effective director, and for reviewing and making periodic recommendations to the board of directors as to the general compensation and benefits policies and practices of the Corporation, including incentive compensation plans and equity based plans. The Remuneration Committee has a charter which can be found at Section D of the Charter, a copy of which is available on the Corporation’s website at www.strata-x.com. The members of the Remuneration Committee are Bohdan Romaniuk, Greg Hancock and Timothy Hoops, of which Mssrs. Romaniuk and Hancock are considered independent members.
Other Board Committees
Other than the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee as described above, the Corporation has not established any other committees at this time. The Board has established a charter for a corporate governance committee, which can be found at Section B of the Charter, and a copy of which is available on the Corporation’s website at www.stratax.com, but does not currently consider that the Company is of a size where the establishment of such a committee is necessary. This notwithstanding, the Board is guided by the principles set forth in the corporate governance charter.
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Assessments
To date, neither the Board nor the Nominations Committee has formally assessed any individual director with respect to their effectiveness and contribution to the Corporation in their capacity as a director. Instead, members of the Board have relied on informal conversations among themselves to adequately cover such matters. The Board does not consider that formal assessments would be useful at this stage of the Corporation’s development.
Audit Committee Disclosure Required Pursuant to Nl 52-110
The Corporation is subject to National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees, which prescribes rules regarding the responsibilities, composition and authority of an issuer's Audit Committee. For detailed disclosure of information relating to the Corporation’s Audit Committee, please see the Company's Annual Information Form for the year-ended June 30, 2016, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
In this section, Named Executive Officer ("NEO") means the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation ("CEO"), the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation ("CFO"), each of the Corporation's three most highly compensated executive officers, or the three most highly compensated individuals acting in a similar capacity, other than the CEO and CFO, who were serving as executive officers at June 30, 2016 and whose total compensation exceeded $150,000, as well as any additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided except that the individual was not serving as a NEO of Strata-X at June 30, 2016.
For the most recently completed financial year, Strata-X had three NEOs: Timothy Hoops, President and CEO, David Hettich, CFO, and Ira Pasternack, Vice President, Exploration. No other individuals are considered “Named Executive Officers” as such term is defined in Form 51-102F6 – Statement of Executive Compensation for the year ended June 30, 2016.
All currency references in this “Executive Compensation” section refer to amounts in United States dollars.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This compensation discussion and analysis describes and explains the Corporation’s policies and practices with respect to the 2016 compensation of its Named Executive Officers.
Executive compensation is based upon the need to provide a compensation package that will allow the Corporation to attract and retain qualified and experienced executives, balanced with a pay-for performance philosophy. Compensation for this financial year and prior financial years has historically been based upon a negotiated salary, with stock options and bonuses potentially being issued and paid as an incentive for performance.
The Board has established a Remuneration Committee, the members of which are Bohdan Romaniuk, Greg Hancock and Timothy Hoops. The function of the Remuneration Committee is to review, on an annual basis, the compensation paid to the Corporation’s executive officers and to the directors, to review the performance and compensation paid to the Corporation’s executive officers and to make recommendations on compensation to the Board. In addition, the committee reviews annually the compensation plans for the Corporation’s non-executive staff.
Executive officers of the Corporation receive compensation consisting primarily of four elements: base salary, benefits package, annual bonus and long-term equity incentives. Each element of compensation is described below in more detail.
Base Salary
Base salaries for the Corporation’s executive officers are established based on the scope of their responsibilities and their prior relevant experience, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by other companies in the Corporation’s industry for similar positions and the overall market demand for such executives.
An executive officer’s base salary will also be determined by reviewing the executive officer’s other compensation to ensure that the executive officer’s total compensation is in line with the Corporation’s overall compensation philosophy.
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Base salaries are reviewed annually and increased for merit reasons, based on the executive officers’ success in meeting or exceeding individual performance goals, as well as contribution to achieving company performance goals. Additionally, the Corporation adjusts base salaries as warranted throughout the year for promotions or other changes in the scope or breadth of an executive officer’s role or responsibilities.
Benefits Package
In April 2013, the Board adopted and implemented an employee benefits plan (the “ Benefits Plan ”) intended to provide employees with competitive benefits on a non-discriminatory basis. Under the Benefits Plan, the Corporation has allocated 14% of each employee’s base compensation to fund employee benefits tailored to each employee which may be utilized by an employee towards certain specified benefits, on a pre-tax basis, or added to the employee’s base pay on a post-tax basis in lieu of benefits. The Benefits Plan in part operates in lieu of employer-sponsored health care, which the Corporation does not currently offer.
Long-Term Equity Incentives
The Corporation believes that equity based awards will allow it to reward executive officers for their sustained contributions to the Corporation. The Corporation believes that equity awards also reward continued employment by an executive officer, with an associated benefit to the Corporation of employee continuity and retention. The Board believes that incentive stock options (“options”) provide management with a strong link to long-term corporate performance and the creation of shareholder value. The Corporation’s stock option plan (the “ Options Plan ”) allows the Corporation the opportunity to grant options to purchase common shares. The Board will not award options according to a prescribed formula or target, but rather will take into account the individual’s position, scope of responsibility, ability to affect profits, the individual’s historic and recent performance, and the value of the awards in relation to other elements of the executive’s total compensation. The Board takes previous grants of options into consideration when considering new grants of options under the Options Plan.
The CEO will provide a recommendation to the Remuneration Committee upon an employee’s hiring and on an annual basis thereafter. The recommended awards will be a balanced reflection of an employee’s contribution in the past and expected performance moving forward. All employee option grants will have a two year vesting period according to the following schedule: 25% to vest after 6 months and 25% to vest every 6 months thereafter.
For additional information concerning the Corporation’s Options Plan, please see “Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon – Approval of Stock Option Plan ”
Mitigation of Compensation Risks
The Remuneration Committee believes that the executive compensation program of the Corporation should not raise its risk profile. Accordingly, the Corporation’s compensation programs include safeguards designed to mitigate compensation risks. To avoid excessive or inappropriate risk-taking or payments an annual review of the Corporation’s short, medium and long-term incentive plans and corresponding performance objectives is considered to ensure continued relevance, applicability and peer group competitiveness.
Purchase of Financial Hedge Instruments
The Corporation’s Trading Policy permits a “restricted person” (as defined therein) to enter into a margin loan or similar funding arrangement in respect of any of the Corporation’s securities, but such person must disclose the existence, nature and terms of those arrangements to a clearance officer, being one of the corporate secretary, chairman or CEO who will notify the Board, which in turn will disclose any such arrangements which require disclosure under applicable securities laws or stock exchange policies. In the event such an arrangement involves 5% or more of the Corporation’s shares, the Board and company secretary will make appropriate disclosures to the market of the key terms of same.
Compensation Governance
A copy of the Remuneration Committee’s charter can be found at Section D of the Charter, a copy of which is available on the Corporation’s website at www.strata-x.com. The members of the Remuneration Committee are Bohdan Romaniuk, Greg Hancock and Timothy Hoops, of which Mssrs. Romaniuk and Hancock are considered independent members. While the Corporation’s CEO, Timothy Hoops, is a member of the Remuneration Committee, he is not
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involved in compensation matters relating to his position as CEO. Each of the independent members of the Remuneration Committee has direct experience relating to executive compensation matters (having served on compensation committees) of publicly traded companies.
The Remuneration Committee’s responsibilities, pursuant to its charter, are as follows:
The Committee is responsible for reviewing the remuneration policies and practices of the Company and making recommendations to the Board in relation to:
-
(1) Management remuneration and incentive plans:
-
(A) including, but not limited to, pension and superannuation rights and compensation payments and any amendments to that policy proposed from time to time by Management;
-
(B) review of the on-going appropriateness and relevance of the Management remuneration policy and other Management benefit programs;
-
(C) consideration of whether to seek shareholder approval of the Management remuneration policy;
-
(D) overseeing the implementation of the remuneration policy;
-
(E) review and approval of the total proposed payments from each member of Management;
If the Committee includes an executive Director, the executive Director should not be involved in deciding their own remuneration and should be cognisant of any potential conflict of interest if they are involved in setting remuneration for other executives that may indirectly affect their own remuneration.
In respect of such Management remuneration, review the competitiveness of the Company's Management compensation programmes to ensure:
-
(A) the programmes are attractive, with a view to ensuring the retention of the Company’s Management;
-
(B) the motivation of the Company’s Management to achieve the Company's business objectives; and
-
(C) the alignment of the interests of key leadership with the long term interests of the Company's shareholders.
-
(2)
-
the remuneration packages for Management:
-
(A) consider and make recommendations to the Board on the entire specific remuneration for each member of Management (including fixed remuneration, performance based remuneration, equity based remuneration, termination benefits, retirement rights, service contracts and superannuation), having regard to the Management remuneration policy; and
-
(B) consider whether shareholder approval will be required.
-
(3)
-
non-executive Director remuneration:
-
(A) the Company’s remuneration framework for non-executive Directors, including the process by which any pool of non-executive Directors’ fees approved by shareholders are allocated to non-executive Directors;
-
(B) in developing the structure, consider matters including that:
-
(i) non-executive Directors should normally be remunerated by way of fees (in the form of cash, non-cash benefits or superannuation contributions);
-
16 -
-
(ii) levels of fixed remuneration for non-executive directors should reflect the time commitment and responsibilities of the role;
-
(iii) non-executive Directors should not receive performance based remuneration;
-
(iv) non-executive Directors may receive Securities as part of their remuneration, however, they should not receive options with performance hurdles attached or performance rights as part of their remuneration; and
-
(v) non-executive directors should not be provided with retirement benefits (other than statutory superannuation),
whilst at the same time also taking into consideration the fact that Recommendation 8.2 of the Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations and associated commentary is inconsistent with the common practice in the Company’s jurisdiction of registration;
-
(C) ensure that the fees for non-executive members of the Board are within the aggregate amount approved by shareholders; and
-
(D) provide, in the Corporate Governance Statement, any departures from Recommendation 8.2 if necessary;
-
(4) the Company’s recruitment, retention and termination policies and procedures for senior management;
-
(5) incentive plans (equity and cash based):
-
(A) review and approve the design of all equity based plans;
-
(B) keep all plans under review in light of legislative, regulatory and market developments;
-
(C) for each equity-based plan, determine each year whether awards will be made under that plan;
-
(D) ensure that the equity-based executive remuneration is made in accordance with the thresholds set in plans approved by shareholders;
-
(E) review and approve total proposed awards under each plan;
-
(F) in addition to considering awards to executive Directors and direct reports to the Managing Director, review and approve proposed awards under each plan on an individual basis for executives as required under the rules governing each plan or as determined by the Committee; and
-
(G) review, approve and keep under review performance hurdles for each equity-based plan;
-
(6) superannuation arrangements;
-
(7) remuneration of members of other Committees of the Board; and
-
(8) whether there is any gender or other inappropriate bias in remuneration for Directors, Management or other employees of the Company.
At this point the Remuneration Committee does not anticipate making any significant changes to its compensation policies and practices in the next financial year, but expects to review best practice developments in this regard to ensure that current practices do not create undue risk to the Corporation and to continue to ensure the alignment of compensation packages with the objective of enhancing shareholder value.
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Performance Graph
The following chart compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on the common shares of the Corporation against the cumulative total shareholder return of the S&P/TSX Composite Index for the fiscal years 2011 through 2016.
==> picture [470 x 181] intentionally omitted <==
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth all annual and long-term compensation for services in all capacities to the Corporation for the most recently completed financial year ended June 30, 2016. All amounts are expressed in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
| Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
Summary Compensation Table For Financial Year Ending June 30, 2016 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Principal Position |
Year Ended June 30 |
Salary ($) |
Share- based awards ($) |
Option- based awards ($)(1) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation |
Pension value ($) |
All other compensation ($) |
Total compensation ($) |
|
| Annual incentive plans ($) |
Long term incentive plans($) |
||||||||
| Timothy Hoops, President, CEO and Director |
2016 | $113,033 | Nil | $49,833 | Nil | Nil | Nil | $17,621 | $180,487 |
| 2015 | $205,000 | Nil | $99,190 | Nil | Nil | Nil | $34,884 | $339,274 | |
| 2014 | $204,000 | Nil | $85,250 | Nil | Nil | Nil | $34,680 | $323,930 | |
| David Hettich, CFO |
2016 | $105,248 | Nil | $39,357 | Nil | Nil | Nil | $13,552 | $158,157 |
| 2015 | $127,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $21,590 | $148,590 | |
| 2014 | $120,000 | Nil | $17,960 | $25,000 | Nil | Nil | $20,400 | $183,360 | |
| Ira Pasternack, VP |
2016 | $65,533 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $9,036 | $74,569 |
| 2015 | $204,000 | Nil | Nil | NIl | Nil | Nil | $36,705 | $240,705 | |
| Exploration(2) | 2014 | $17,500 | Nil | $10,424 | Nil | Nil | Nil | $2,975 | $30,899 |
Notes:
1 The value of the option-based award was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
2 Mr. Pasternack resigned on December 31, 2015.
Incentive Plan Awards - Named Executive Officers
Outstanding Share-Based Awards and Option-Based Awards
The following table sets forth information concerning all awards outstanding under share-based or option-based incentive plans of the Corporation as at June 30, 2016, including awards granted prior to the most recently completed financial year to each of the Named Executive Officers. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars.
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| Option-based Awards | Option-based Awards | Share-based Awards | Share-based Awards | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) |
Option | Option | Value of | Number of | Market or |
| exercise | expiration date | unexercised in- |
shares or units | payout value of | |
| price | the-money | of shares that | share-based | ||
| ($) | options | have not vested | awards that | ||
| ($)(1) | (#) | have not vested | |||
| ($) | |||||
| 1,500,000 | $0.30 | Dec 3, 2019 | Nil | N/A | N/A |
| 1,000,000 300,000 600,000 2,500,000 |
$0.30 | Sept 22, 2021 | |||
| $0.34 | Sept 22, 2022 | ||||
| $0.41 | Oct 22, 2018 | ||||
| $0.12 | Oct 19, 2020 | ||||
| 100,000 | $0.30 | Jan 5, 2022 | Nil | N/A | N/A |
| 250,000 200,000 2,000,000 |
$0.34 | Sept 22, 2022 | |||
| $0.30 | May 21, 2023 |
||||
| $0.12 | Sept 11, 2020 |
||||
| Nil | N/A | N/A | Nil | N/A | N/A |
(1) This amount is the excess of the market value of the Corporation’s shares on June 30, 2016 over the exercise price of the options. The last trading price of the Corporation’s shares on the TSX-V at its financial year ended June 30, 2016 was $0.03, which was the closing price of the Corporation’s shares on the TSX-V on June 30, 2016, being the last date the Corporation’s shares traded on the TSX-V during the financial year ended June 30, 2016.
(2) Mr. Pasternack resigned on December 31, 2015. All options issued to Mr. Pasternack expired on March 31, 2016.
Value Vested or Earned During the Year
The following table sets forth information concerning all awards outstanding under share-based or option-based incentive plans of the Corporation at the end of the financial year ended June 30, 2016 to each of the Named Executive Officers. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars.
| Name | Option-based awards – Value vested during the year(1) ($) |
Share-based awards – Value vested during the year ($) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation – Value earned during the year ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TimothyHoops | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| DavidHettich | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| IraPasternack | Nil | Nil | Nil |
(1) Dollar value that would have been realized is calculated by determining the difference between the market price of the underlying securities on the vesting date and the exercise or base price of the options under the option-based award.
Re-Pricing and Exercises of Options
There were no options exercised and no re-pricing of options granted under the Corporation’s stock option plan or otherwise during the financial year ended June 30, 2016.
Pension Plan Benefits
The Corporation does not have a pension plan that provides for payments or benefits to the Named Executive Officers at, following, or in connection with retirement.
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Termination of Employment, Change in Responsibilities and Employment Contracts
The Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Peak Resources Management Inc. and Timothy Hoops dated November 1, 2012 whereby Mr. Hoops agrees to act as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The agreement has a three-year term and provides for a base compensation of US$204,000 per annum and incentive stock options pursuant to the Options Plan. The agreement also provides for an additional US$3,000 per month in benefits compensation. On September 1, 2015, Peak Resource Management Inc. and Timothy Hoops reduced their base compensation to US$94,600 per annum and monthly benefits compensation to US$1,283.
The Company concurrently entered into a Change of Control Agreement with Peak Resources Management Inc. and Timothy Hoops dated November 1, 2012. Following a change of control (as defined therein) should the Consutling Agreement be terminated by the Company or the Consultant for reasons other than cause (as defined therein) the consultant shall be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to 12 months’ base compensation and benefits plus other sums owed for arrears of compensation and any bonus, if awared. Further, all incentive stock options granted to Mr. Hoops outstanding at the time of termination under the change of control clause will vest immediately and will be fully exercisable by Mr. Hoops under the terms of the agreement(s) under which such options were granted.
All of these agreements are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado and the laws of the United States applicable therein.
Compensation of Directors
The following table sets forth all amounts of compensation provided to directors who were not Named Executive Officers of the Corporation during the Corporation’s financial year ended June 30, 2016. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
| Name(1) | Fees Earned ($) |
Share-Based Awards ($) |
Option-Based Awards ($)(2) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Pension Value ($) |
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total Compensation ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Prefontaine | Nil | Nil | C$ | Nil | Nil | Nil | A$ |
| Bohdan Romaniuk |
Nil | Nil | C$ | Nil | Nil | Nil | C$ |
| Dennis Nerland | Nil | Nil | C$ | Nil | Nil | Nil | C$ |
| Greg Hancock | Nil | Nil | C$ | Nil | Nil | Nil | C$ |
| Timothy Bradley |
Nil | Nil | C$ | Nil | Nil | US$ | C$ US$ |
Notes:
(1) As noted above, this table does not include directors that are also NEOs. Disclosure of compensation paid to NEOs who are also directors of the Corporation and receive compensation for their services as a director are reflected in the Summary Compensation table above.
(2) The value of the option-based award was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
(3) Fees paid to Bradley Consulting, a company controlled by Mr. Bradley, for accounting services.
Incentive Plan Awards: Directors
Outstanding share-based awards and option-based awards
The following table sets forth information concerning all awards outstanding under share-based or option-based incentive plans of the Corporation as at June 30, 2016, including awards granted prior to the most recently completed financial year to each of the Directors of the Company who were not Named Executive Officers. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars.
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| Name | Option-based Awards | Option-based Awards | Share-based Awards | Share-based Awards | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of | Option | Option | Value of | Number of | Market or | |
| securities | exercise | expiration date | unexercised in- |
shares or units | payout value of | |
| underlying | price | the-money | of shares that | share-based | ||
| unexercised | ($) | options | have not vested | awards that | ||
| options | ($)(1) | (#) | have not vested | |||
| (#) | ($) | |||||
| Ron Prefontaine, Director |
200,000 | $0.30 | Sept 22, 2021 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| 500,000 | $0.12 | Oct 19, 2020 |
||||
| Greg Hancock, Director |
500,000 | $0.12 | Oct 19, 2020 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Bohdan Romaniuk, Director |
100,000 | $0.30 | Dec 3, 2019 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| 50,000 | $0.30 | Jan 5, 2022 | ||||
| 100,000 | $0.34 | Sept 22, 2022 | ||||
| 100,000 | $0.41 | Oct 22 2018 |
||||
| 500,000 | $012 | , Oct 19, 2020 |
||||
| Timothy Bradley, Director |
50,000 | $0.30 | Dec 3, 2019 | Nil | Nil | NIl |
| 200,000 | $0.30 | Sept 22, 2021 | ||||
| 100,000 | $0.34 | Sept 22, 2022 |
||||
| 50,000 | $0.41 | Oct 22 2018 |
||||
| 500,000 | $0.12 | , Oct 19,2020 |
||||
| Dennis Nerland, Director |
100,000 | $0.30 | Dec 3, 2019 | Nil | NIl | Nil |
| 500,000 | $0.12 | Oct 19, 2020 | ||||
(1) This amount is the excess of the market value of the Corporation’s shares on June 30, 2016 over the exercise price of the options. The last trading price of the Company’s shares at its financial year ended June 30, 2016 was $0.03, which was the closing price of the Corporation’s shares on June 30, 2016, being the last date the Corporation’s shares traded during the financial year ended June 30, 2016.
Value Vested or Earned During the Year
The following table sets forth information concerning all awards outstanding under share-based or option-based incentive plans of the Corporation at the end of the financial year ended June 30, 2016 to each of the non-executive directors. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars.
| Name (a) |
Option-based awards – | Share-based awards – Value | Non-equity incentive plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value vested during the | vested during the year |
compensation – Value earned | |
| year(1) | ($) | during the year | |
| ($) | ($) | ||
| (c) | (d) | ||
| (b) | |||
| Ron Prefontaine | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Bohdan Romaniuk | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| GregHancock | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Dennis Nerland | Nil | Nil | NIl |
| TimothyBradley | Nil | Nil | NIl |
(1) Dollar value that would have been realized is calculated by determining the difference between the market price of the underlying securities at exercise and the exercise or base price of the options under the option-based award on the vesting date.
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SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
Strata-X has a stock option plan authorizing the grant of options to designated participants (being directors, officers, employees or consultants). The following table sets out information with respect to the options outstanding under the stock option plan as at June 30, 2016.
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column(a) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved bysecurityholders |
14,870,000 | $0.20 | 2,762,559 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved bysecurityholders |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total | 14,870,000 | $0.20 | 2,762,559 |
(1) Strata-X has a 'rolling' stock option plan, whereby the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of options granted under the plan may not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding common shares at the time the options are granted.
INDEBTENESS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
No director or officer, or any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation, or any of their respective associates or affiliates, is or has at any time since the commencement of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, been indebted to the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation or to any other entity which is, or at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year has been, the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Corporation.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Other than as disclosed in this Circular, no informed person of the Corporation or any associate or affiliate of the foregoing had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction or proposed transaction since June 30, 2016, which has materially affected or would materially affect the Corporation.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
There are no management functions of the Corporation, which are to any substantial degree performed by a person or company other than the directors or senior officers of the Corporation.
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of Strata-X for the year ended June 30, 2016, and the report of the auditors thereon, will be placed before the Meeting. No vote by the shareholders with respect to the audited financial statements is required. The audited financial statements were audited by Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP, Chartered Accountants, and approved by the board of directors.
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INFORMATION ON MATTERS TO BE ACTED ON AT THE MEETING
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (Resolutions 1 through 7)
There are currently six directors of Strata-X. Accordingly, the Strata-X shareholders will, at the Meeting, be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, to fix the number of the board of directors at six and to elect the directors set out below to hold office until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed.
For each of the persons nominated for election as directors, the names and municipalities of residence, the number of Strata-X common shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which each exercises control or direction, the offices held by each in Strata-X and the principal occupation for the previous five years are set out below. The information as to shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly or over which control or direction is exercised, is based upon information furnished to Strata-X by the nominees.
If any proposed nominee becomes incapable or unwilling to stand for election prior to the Meeting, it is the intention of management to vote in favour of the election of any substitute nominee and in favour of the remaining proposed nominees, unless expressly instructed to the contrary in the Proxy Form. Each of the proposed nominees listed below has indicated that he is willing to serve as a director, if elected. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director.
Information Concerning Directors
| Name of Nominee, Municipality and Present Offices Held |
Present Principal Occupation(1) | Date of Appointment as Director or Officer |
Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled (Number )(2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Hoops(4) Golden, Colorado, USA President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Chief Executiver Officer of the Company since 2011; Chief Executive Officer and President of a wholly owned subsidiary of Strata-X since June 2009, Vice President of Victoria Petroleum, USA, from 1998 to 2008. President of Peak Resource Management Inc., a private oil and gas exploration company since1984. |
September 22, 2011 |
13,155,825(5)(7) |
| Tim Bradley Golden, Colorado, USA Director |
Principal of Stratagem (formerly Bradley Consulting Group), a private business consulting company since1983. |
September 22, 2011(10) |
2,688,500(6)(7) |
| Bohdan Romaniuk(3)(4) Calgary, Alberta, Canada Director |
Independent business consultant and President of 944133 Alberta Ltd., a private investment and consulting company, since 2001. Part-time Commissioner of the Alberta Utilities Commission since October 2012. |
August 24, 2010 |
1,039,129(8) |
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| Name of Nominee, Municipality and Present Offices Held |
Present Principal Occupation(1) | Date of Appointment as Director or Officer |
Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled (Number )(2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Prefontaine Brisbane, Queensland Australia, Director |
Oil and gas consultant/managing director and geophysicist since 1994 employed by Prepet Pty Ltd. and Prefontaine Consulting, both private companies supplying technical and management services to the petroleum industry. |
June 18, 2007 | 19,018,100(9) |
| Greg Hancock(3)(4) South Premantle, Western Australia, Australia, Director |
Managing Director of Hancock Corporate Investments, a corporate finance practice since 2011, Chairman of Ausquest Limited and previously Exeuctive DirectorofCooper Energy. |
July 2, 2015 | 200,000(11) |
| Dennis Nerland(3) Calgary, Alberta, Canada Director |
Partner at Shea Nerland Calnan LLP since 1990 |
July 24, 2014 | 2,694,842(12) |
Notes:
-
(1) The information as to principal occupation, business or employment and Shares beneficially owned or controlled is not within the knowledge of the management of Strata-X and has been furnished by the individual. Each director or officer has held the same or similar principal occupation with the organization indicated or a predecessor thereof for the last five years.
-
(2) The approximate number of Shares of Strata-X carrying the right to vote in all circumstances beneficially owned directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised by each individual as at the date hereof is based on information furnished by the transfer agent of the Company and by the director/officer.
-
(3) Member of the Audit Committee.
-
(4) Member of the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee
-
(5) Of which 6,535,714 Shares are held through Peak Resource Management, Inc., a private company of which Mr. Hoops is the director and majority shareholder, and 3,624,000 Shares of which are beneficially held through R&M Oil & Gas, LLP. a private company of which Peak Resource Management, Inc. holds 60.4% of the shares.
-
(6) 2,376,000 Shares are held through R&M Oil & Gas, LLP, a private company of which Mr. Bradley holds 39.6% of the outstanding shares.
-
(7) R&M Oil and Gas, LLP holds an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares which are represented above by apportioning the total shares held by R&M Oil and Gas LLP between its two shareholders.
-
(8) Of which 664,286 Shares are held through 944133 Alberta Ltd., a private company of which Mr. Romaniuk is the President and all the shares of which are held by The Romaniuk Family Trust, 50,000 Shares are held indirectly through Mr. Romaniuk’s RRSP account, and 164,876 are held through Mr. Romaniuk’s LIRA account.
-
(9) Of which 7,406,539 Shares are held by Prepet Pty Ltd., a private company owned and controlled by Mr. Prefontaine and 11,611,561 shares of which are held indirectly through Mr. Prefontaine’s Superfund account.
-
(10) Mr. Bradley resigned as Chief Financial Officer on May 17, 2013. Mr. Bradley remains a director of the Company.
-
(11) Of which 100,000 shares are held by GG Hancock Pty Ltd.
-
(12) Of which 1,175,000 shares are held through 1644435 Alberta Ltd., a private company owned and controlled by Mr. Nerland.
At the Meeting, shareholders will also be asked to fix the number of directors to be elected at the Meeting at six.
Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies and Sanctions
Except as disclosed in the paragraphs below, none of the directors or proposed directors of the Corporation or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of the Corporation to affect materially the control of the Corporation is, as at the date of this Information Circular, or within the ten years prior to the date of this Information Circular has been, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any issuer (including the Corporation) that:
-
(a) was the subject of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the issuer access to any statutory
-
24 -
exemptions under applicable securities legislation for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (in this section an “order”) that was issued while the director or proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of such issuer; 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 of such issuer 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 of such issuer; or
-
(c) while that director or proposed director was acting in the capacity of director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of such issuer, 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.
On December 9, 2013, Alston Energy Inc. ("Alston"), a corporation of which Mr. Dennis Nerland is a director, filed for protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) ("CCAA"). The CCAA order remains in effect as at the date hereof. On May 6, 2014, and May 8, 2014, the common shares of Alston were cease traded by the Alberta Securities Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission, respectively, as a result of the failure by Alston to file audited annual financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis for the period ended December 31, 2013, together with the related certification of filings. On May 9, 2014, Alston announced that a receiver has been appointed by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta. All of the directors and officers of Alston, including Mr. Nerland, resigned on May 9, 2014.
No director or proposed director is, as at the date of this Information Circular, or within the ten years prior to the date of this Information Circular has been, 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 the assets of the directoror or proposed director.
No director or proposed director has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to Canadian securities legislation or by a Canadian securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a Canadian securities regulatory authority; or been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS (Resolution 8)
The board of directors recommends that Collins Barrow Calgary LLP, Chartered Accountants, be appointed as StrataX’s auditors to hold office until the close of the next annual and general meeting and that the directors be authorized to fix their remuneration. Unless otherwise directed, it is management's intention to vote in favour of an ordinary resolution to re-appoint Collins Barrow Calgary LLP. Collins Barrow Calgary LLP was first appointed as auditors of the Corporation on November 18, 2015.
Three regulatory documents required to effect the change of auditor are shown in Appendix A ( Change of Auditor Package ).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO RESOLUTIONS 9 TO 13. – THE CORPORATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT IN RELATION TO CONSOLIDATION, PLACEMENT AND BOTSWANA CSG PROJECT FARMIN
On November 15, 2016, the Corporation announced that:
-
it had resolved to undertake a 1 for 3 consolidation of it’s securities ( Consolidation );
-
it had resolved to undertake a private placement to raise up to AUD$2,500,000 by issuing up to 50,000,000 CDIs to Sophisticated and Professional Investors at an issue price of AUD$0.05 per CDI, on a post-consolidation basis ( Placement ); and
-
25 -
-
it had entered into an agreement with Magnum Gas and Power ( ASX :MPE) for a staged farmin to earn up to 75% of the Serowe CSG project located on the Kalahari Basin CSG Fairway in Botswana, Africa. The farmin is in three stages, each earning Starta-X Energy 25%:
-
Stage 1 is a firm commitment estimated to cost A$1.1million involving the desorption analysis of three CSG core wells as required for continued gas resource certification, one well will be completed and production tested.
-
Stages 2 and 3 are optional and the decision to proceed to these stages will be based on the results of the prior stages. Stages 2 and 3 are estimated to cost approximately A$1.5 million and A$3.5 million respectfully depending on the success of new completion and production methods to be trialled.
Consolidation
Under the timetable contained in the announcement issued on November 15, 2016, the effective date of the Consolidation will be 17 November 2016 and holding statements will begin to be circulated to Shareholders from 21 November 2016.
| The capital structure of the Corporation post-Consolidation will be as follows: | The capital structure of the Corporation post-Consolidation will be as follows: | The capital structure of the Corporation post-Consolidation will be as follows: |
|---|---|---|
| Current | Post-Consolidation | |
| Shares (including CDI’s) | 176,325,585 | 58,775,195 |
| Quoted options | 7,283,125 | 2,427,709 |
| Unquoted warrants/options | 16,622,850 | 5,540,951 |
| The capital structure of the Corporation post-Consolidation will be as follows: | The capital structure of the Corporation post-Consolidation will be as follows: | The capital structure of the Corporation post-Consolidation will be as follows: |
|---|---|---|
| Current | Post-Consolidation | |
| Shares (including CDI’s) | 176,325,585 | 58,775,195 |
| Quoted options | 7,283,125 | 2,427,709 |
| Unquoted warrants/options | 16,622,850 | 5,540,951 |
Accordingly, as at the date of this Notice of Meeting, the Consolidation has not been completed. However it will have been completed by the date of the AGM.
ACCORDINGLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED ALL REFERENCES TO NUMBER AND PRICES OF SECURITIES WHEN EXPLAINING RESOLUTIONS 9 TO 13 WILL BE EXPRESSED ON A POSTCONSOLIDATION BASIS .
Placement
The Placement comprises:
-
the issue before the Meeting of 8,700,000 CDIs to raise AUD$435,000 within the Corporation’s 15% limit (pursuant to ASX listing Rule 7.1)( Tranche 1 CDIs )(for which ratification is sought under Resolution 9);
-
the issue of a minimum of 6,000,000 CDIs and a maximum of 12,000,000 CDIs to Mr Ron Prefontaine, a Director of the Corporation, to raise a minimum of AUD$300,000 and a maximum of AUD$600,000 ( Prefontaine CDIs ). The Prefontaine CDIs require share holder approval pursuant to the ASX Listing Rules (Resolution 10) ;
-
the issue of 1,000,000 CDIs to Mr Tim Hoops, a Director of the Corporation, to raise AUD$50,000 ( Hoops CDIs ). The Hoops CDIs require share holder approval pursuant to the ASX Listing Rules (Resolution 11); and
-
the issue of up to 34,300,000 CDIs to raise up to AUD$1,715,000 ( Tranche 2 CDIs ) (Resolution 12).
Although the sum of the approvals sought in Resolutions 9 to 12 will result in the maximum number of CDIs being approved for issue of 56,000,000 (AUD$2,800,000), the Corporations current intention is to issue a maximum of 50,000,000 CDIs. The maximum number of CDIs being sought for approval in Resolution 12 includes enough CDIs to accept up to a total of 50,000,000 CDIs for the Placement in the event that Ron Prefontaine subscribes for the minimum number of CDIs prusaunt to Resolution 10 (ie. 6,000,000 CDIs).
As at the date of this Notice of Meeting, none of the Placement CDIs have been issued. However, by the date of the AGM, the Corporation will have issued the 8,700,000 Tranche 1 CDIs to Sophisticated and Professional Investors at an issue price of AUD$0.05 per CDI (rasing AUD$435,000), on a post-consoldiation basis, within the 15% limit under ASX Listing Rule 7.1.
The Corporation also resolved to issue up to 5,000,000 options to a consultant in relation to the Placement (Resolution 13).
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RATIFICATION OF ISSUE OF UP TO 8,700,000 CDIS TO SOPHISTICATED OR PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS (Resolution 9)
Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution with or without amendment:
“That for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.4 and for all other purposes, Shareholders ratify the previous issue of up to 8,700,000 CDIs ( Tranche 1 CDIs ) in the Corporation, to Sophisticated Investors and Professional Investors (having the meaning ascribed to those terms in the Corporations Act (“ Sophisticated and Professional Investors ”) on the terms and conditions set out in this Circular”.
The Corporation will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by any person who participated in the issue of the Tranche 1 CDIs and any Associate (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act) of such a person or persons, however the Corporation need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the proxy form, or it is cast by the person chairing the Meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the direction on the proxy form to vote as the proxy decides.
As noted previously in this Notice, on 15 November 2016, the Corporation announced an issue of up to 50,000,000 CDI’s under the Placement (on a post-Consolidation basis), with 8,700,000 of these Placement CDI’s to be issued immediately using the Corporation’s existing 15% limit under Listing Rule 7.1. As at the date of this Notice of Meeting, none of these Placement CDIs have been issued, however by the date of the AGM, the Corporation will have issued the 8,700,000 Tranche 1 CDIs to Sophisticated and Professional Investors at an issue price of AUD$0.05 per CDI (raising AUD$435,000).
ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A provide that an ASX listed corporation must not, subject to certain exceptions, issue or agree to issue new equity securities (which includes CDIs) equivalent in number to more than 15% (LR7.1) or a further 10% (LR7.1A) of its capital in any 12 month period without the prior approval of its shareholders. However, equity securities issued with shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 or 7.4 do not count towards the 15% or 10% limit.
ASX Listing Rule 7.4 provides that an issue of equity securities made without prior approval under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and/or 7.1A can be treated as having been made with that approval if shareholders subsequently approve it and if the issue did not breach the 15% or 10% limit. The issue of the Tranche 1 CDIs did not breach the 15% or 10% limit.
The Corporation is seeking Shareholder approval under this resolution to ratify the issue of the Tranche 1 CDIs so as to preserve its capacity to issue further equity securities in the next 12 months without the need to obtain further Shareholder approval (subject to the Exchange Rules and the ASX Listing Rules).
For the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.5 the Corporation advises as follows (with all share numbers and share prices stated on a post-Consolidation basis):
(a) Number of securities alloted
The number of Tranche 1 CDIs having been issued will be 8,700,000 CDIs. The securities are issued within the LR7.1 15% limit.
(b) Price at which the Tranche 1 CDIs were issued
The Tranche 1 CDIs have an issue price of AUD$0.05 per CDI.
(c) Terms of Tranche 1 CDIs
The underlying shares for the Tranche 1 CDIs rank equally with all other common shares and the holder of the Tranche 1 CDIs have the same rights as all other CDI holders.
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(d) Recipients of the Tranche 1 CDIs
The recipients of Tranche 1 CDIs are Sophisticated Investors and Professional Investors (having the meaning ascribed to those terms in the Corporations Act).
(e) Use of funds
The funds raised by the issue of the Palcment CDIs (including the Tranche 1 CDIs) will be used to:
-
Fund Stage 1 of the farmin agreement with Magnum Power Energy to core and analyse 3 wells in the Serowe Coal Seam Gas Project in Botswana, Africa. Additionally, one well will be production tested.
-
Administration, salaries, general overheads through 2017.
-
Illinois Basin lease maintenance and general working capital purposes.
PARTICIPATION OF MR RON PREFONTAINE IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT (Resolution 10)
Shareholder approval will be sought to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution with or without amendment:
“ That for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.11 and for all other purposes, approval is given to issue up to 12,000,000 CDIs in a private placement to Mr Ron Prefontaine (or his nominee) on the terms and conditions set out in this Circular.”
The Corporation will disregard any votes cast on this ordinary resolution by Mr Ron Prefontaine or his nominee and any Associate (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act) of Mr Ron Prefontaine or his nominee. However, the Corporation need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form or it is cast by the person chairing the meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides.
The Directors have resolved to refer to members for approval the issue of up to 12,000,000 CDIs in the Corporation to Mr Ron Prefontaine, a Director of the Corporation, or his respective nominee under the Placement ( Prefontaine CDIs ).
The Prefontaine CDIs will be issued at an issue price of AUD$0.05 per CDI.
Approval for the issue of the Profontaine CDIs is sought in accordance with the provisions of ASX Listing Rule 10.11. In accordance with Listing Rule 7.2 (exception 14), if approval is given under ASX Listing Rule 10.11, approval will not be required under ASX Listing Rule 7.1.
ASX Listing Rule 10.11 requires an entity to obtain the approval of Shareholders to an issue of securities to a related party. Mr Ron Prefontaine, a Director of the Corporation, is a related party of the Corporation. Accordingly, because the issue of the CDIs will result in the Corporation issuing securities to a related party, approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.11 is required.
For the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.13, the Corporation advises as follows (with all share numbers and pricing stated on a post-Consolidation basis):
(a) Maximum number of securities to be issued
The maximum number of CDIs to be issued to Mr Ron Prefontaine is 12,000,000 CDI’s. Mr Prefontaine has committed to subscribing to a minimum of 6,000,000 CDIs in the Placement.
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(b) Date by which the entity will issue the Units
The Prefontaine CDIs will be issued no later than 1 month after the date of the Meeting (or such later date to the extent permitted by any ASX waiver or modification of the ASX Listing Rules).
(c) Price at which the Units are to be issued
The price of each Prefontaine CDI to be issued to Mr Prefontaine will be A$0.05.
(d) Terms of securities to be issued
The underlying shares for the Prefontaine CDIs rank equally with all other common shares and the holder of the Prefontaine CDIs have the same rights as all other CDI holders
Use of funds
The funds raised by the issue of the Placement CDIs, including the funds raised from the Prefontaine CDIs, will be used for:
-
Fund Stage 1 of the farmin agreement with Magnum Power Energy to core and analyse 3 wells in the Serowe Coal Seam Gas Project in Botswana, Africa. Additionally, one well will be production tested.
-
Administration, salaries, general overheads through 2017.
-
Illinois Basin lease maintenance and general working capital purposes.
A summary of the securities held by Mr Ron Prefontaine in the Corporation as at the date of this Circualr is set out in the Executive Compensation section of this Circular.
PARTICIPATION OF MR TIM HOOPS IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT (Resolution 11)
Shareholder approval will be sought to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution with or without amendment:
“ That for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.11 and for all other purposes, approval is given to issue up to up to 1,000,000 CDIs in a private placement to Mr Tim Hoops (or his nominee) on the terms and conditions set out in this Circular.”
The Corporation will disregard any votes cast on this ordinary resolution by Mr Tim Hoops or his nominee and any Associate (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act) of Mr Tim Hoops or his nominee. However, the Corporation need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form or it is cast by the person chairing the meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides.
The Directors have resolved to refer to members for approval the issue of up to 1,000,000 CDIs in the Corporation to Mr Tim Hoops, a Director of the Corporation, or his respective nominee under the Placement ( Hoops CDIs ).
The Hoops CDIs will be issued at an issue price of AUD$0.05 per CDI.
Approval for the issue of the Hoops CDIs is sought in accordance with the provisions of ASX Listing Rule 10.11. In accordance with Listing Rule 7.2 (exception 14), if approval is given under ASX Listing Rule 10.11, approval will not be required under ASX Listing Rule 7.1.
- 29 -
ASX Listing Rule 10.11 requires an entity to obtain the approval of Shareholders to an issue of securities to a related party. Mr Tim Hoops, a Director of the Corporation, is a related party of the Corporation. Accordingly, because the issue of the CDIs will result in the Corporation issuing securities to a related party, approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.11 is required.
For the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.13, the Corporation advises as follows (with all share numbers and pricing stated on a post-Consolidation basis):
(e) Maximum number of securities to be issued
The maximum number of CDIs to be issued to Mr Tim Hoops is 1,000,000 CDI’s.
- (f) Date by which the entity will issue the Units
The Hoops CDIs will be issued no later than 1 month after the date of the Meeting (or such later date to the extent permitted by any ASX waiver or modification of the ASX Listing Rules).
(g) Price at which the Units are to be issued
The price of each Hoops CDI to be issued to Mr Hoops will be A$0.05.
- (h) Terms of securities to be issued
The underlying shares for the Hoops CDIs rank equally with all other common shares and the holder of the Hoops CDIs have the same rights as all other CDI holders
Use of funds
The funds raised by the issue of the Placement CDIs, including the funds raised from Mr Hoops, will be used for:
-
Fund Stage 1 of the farmin agreement with Magnum Power Energy to core and analyse 3 wells in the Serowe Coal Seam Gas Project in Botswana, Africa. Additionally, one well will be production tested.
-
Administration, salaries, general overheads through 2017.
-
Illinois Basin lease maintenance and general working capital purposes.
A summary of the securities held by Mr Tim Hoops in the Corporation as at the date of this Circualr is set out in the Executive Compensation section of this Circular.
FUTURE ISSUE OF CDI’S BY WAY OF PLACEMENT (TRANCHE 2) (Resolution 12)
Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution with or without amendment:
“That for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve the issue of up to 34,300,000 CDIs ( Tranche 2 CDIs ) in the Corporation, to Sophisticated Investors and Professional Investors (having the meaning ascribed to those terms in the Corporations Act (“ Sophisticated and Professional Investors ”) on the terms and conditions set out in this Circular)”
The Corporation will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by any person who any person who might obtain a benefit, except a benefit solely in the capacity of a shareholder of the Company, if the resolution is passed and any Associate (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act) of such a person or persons. However the Corporation need
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not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the proxy form, or it is cast by the person chairing the Meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the direction on the proxy form to vote as the proxy decides.
At the date of the Notice, the proposed allottees of the Tranche 2 CDIs are not as yet known or identified. In these circumstances (and in accordance with the note set out in ASX Listing Rule 14.11.1 relating to ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A), for a person’s vote to be excluded, it must be known that that person will participate in the proposed issue. Where it is not known who will participate in the proposed issue (as is the case in respect of the Tranche 2 CDIs), Shareholders must consider the proposal on the basis that they may or may not get a benefit and that it is possible that their holding will be diluted and there is no reason to exclude their votes.
As noted previously in this Notice, on 15 November 2016, the Corporation announced an issue of up to 50,000,000 CDI’s under the Placement (on a post-Consolidation basis). After the issue of the initial 8,700,000 Placement CDI’s prior to the Meeting using the Corporation’s existing 15% limit under Listing Rule 7.1 (the subject of Resolution 9) and the issue of up to 12,000,000 to Mr Prefontaine and Mr Hoops (the subject of Resolutions 10 and 11), the issue of the balance 34,300,000 are subject to the Corporation obtaining shareholder approval. Although the sum of the approvals sought in Resolutions 9 to 12 will result in the maximum number of CDIs being approved for issue of 56,000,000 (AUD$2,800,000), the Corporation current intention is to issue a maximum of 50,000,000 CDIs. The maximum number of CDIs being sought for approval in Resolution 12 includes enough CDIs to accept up to a total of 50,000,000 CDIs for the Placement in the event that Ron Prefontaine subscribes for the minimum number of CDIs pursuant to Resolution 10 (ie. 6,000,000 CDIs).
ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A provide that an ASX listed corporation must not, subject to certain exceptions, issue or agree to issue new equity securities (which includes CDIs) equivalent in number to more than 15% (LR7.1) or a further 10% (LR7.1A) of its capital in any 12 month period without the prior approval of its shareholders. However, equity securities issued with shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 or 7.4 do not count towards the 15% or 10% limit.
The Corporation is seeking Shareholder approval under this resolution to approve the issue of the Tranche 2 CDIs so as to preserve its capacity to issue further equity securities in the next 12 months without the need to obtain further Shareholder approval (subject to the Exchange Rules and the ASX Listing Rules).
For the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.3 the Corporation advises as follows (with all share numbers and share prices stated on a post-Consolidation basis):
(a) Maximum number of securites to be issued
The maximum number of Tranche 2 CDIs which will be issued is 34,400,000 CDIs.
(b) Date by which the entity will issue the Tranche 2 CDIs
The Corporation will issue the Tranche 2 CDIs as soon as reasonably practicable after the Meeting and not later than three months after the date of the Meeting.
(c) Price at which the Tranche 2 CDIs are to be issued
The Tranche 2 CDIs will be issued at an issue price of AUD$0.05 per CDI.
(d) Recipients of the Tranche 2 CDIs
The Tranche 2 CDIs will be issued to subscribers under the Placement, being Sophisticated Investors and Professional Investors (having the meaning ascribed to those terms in the Corporations Act), who are currently not known or identified.
(e) Terms of Tranche 2 CDIs
The underlying shares for the Tranche 2 CDIs will rank equally with all other common shares and the holder of the Tranche 2 CDIs have the same rights as all other CDI holders.
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(f) Use of funds
The funds raised by the issue of the Placmeent CDIs, which will include the Tranche 2 CDIs, will be used to:
-
Fund Stage 1 of the farmin agreement with Magnum Power Energy to core and analyse 3 wells in the Serowe Coal Seam Gas Project in Botswana, Africa. Additionally, one well will be production tested.
-
Administration, salaries, general overheads through 2017.
-
Illinois Basin lease maintenance and general working capital purposes.
APPROVE THE ISSUE OF CONSULTANT OPTIONS (Resolution 13)
Shareholder approval will be sought to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution with or without amendment:
“That for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve the issue of 5,000,000 options to Bizzell Capital Partners Pty Ltd or its nominee ( Consultant ), a consultant of the Corporation exercisable at A$0.07 each expiring three years after the date of issue (“ Consultant Options”)”.
The Corporation will disregard any votes cast on this ordinary resolution by the Consultant or its nominee of the Consultant and any other person who might obtain a benefit, except a benefit solely in the capacity of a shareholder of the Company, if the resolution is passed and any Associate (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act) of such person or persons. However, the Corporation need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form or it is cast by the person chairing the meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides.
This resolution seeks the approval by Shareholders of the issue of 5,000,000 Consultant Options. Upon exercise each Consultant Option will entitle the consultant to acquire one fully paid CDI in the Corporation.
ASX Listing Rule 7.1
ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A provide that an ASX listed corporation must not, subject to certain exceptions, issue or agree to issue new equity securities (which includes CDIs) equivalent in number to more than 15% (LR7.1) or a further 10% (LR7.1A) of its capital in any 12 month period without the prior approval of its shareholders. However, equity securities issued with shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 does not count towards the 15% or 10% limit.
The Corporation is seeking Shareholder approval under this resolution to approve the issue of the Consultant Options so as to preserve its capacity to issue further equity securities in the next 12 months without the need to obtain further Shareholder approval (subject to the Exchange Rules and the ASX Listing Rules).
For the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.3 the Corporation provides the following information:
-
(a) The number of Consultant Options to be issued is 5,000,000;
-
(b) The Consultant Options will be issued and allotted no later than 3 months after the date of the AGM (or such later date as permitted by the Listing Rules) and it is intended that allotment will occur on one date.
-
(c) The Consultant Options will be issued for nil cash consideration at an exercise price of A$0.07 and will expire three years after the date of issue;
-
(d) The Consultant Options will issued be to Bizzell Capital Partners Pty Ltd (who is not a Related Party or Associate of the Corporation), or their nominee/s, as a fee payable for their role as Lead Manager of the Placement;
-
(e) No funds were directly raised from the issue of the Consultant Options;
-
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-
(f) The funds raised from exercise of the Consultant Options will be used as working capital.; and
-
(g) A summary of the other material terms of the Consultant Options is set out below:
-
The securities issued to the Consultant are options to subscribe for CDIs .
-
The Consultant Options are to be issued as partial consideration for services.
-
The Consultant Options vest immediately.
-
The Options will expire and be forfeited (if the Options have not already been forfeited) three years after the date of issue.
-
CDIs issued on exercise of the Consultant Options will rank pari passu with all existing CDIs from the date of issue.
-
The Consultant Options may be exercised wholly or in part by notice in writing to the Corporation received at any time on or before the Expiry Date together with a cheque for the Exercise Price of the Consultant Option multiplied by the number of CDIs in respect of which Consultant Options are being exercised.
-
The Consultant Options shall be unlisted and are non-transferable.
-
Upon allotment of CDIs pursuant to the exercise of Consultant Options, the CDIs will be quoted and listed on the ASX.
-
In respect of the Consultant Options, the Consultant does not have any right to participate in new issues of securities in the Corporation made to Shareholders generally. The Corporation will, where required pursuant to the ASX Listing Rules, provide the Consultant with notice prior to the books record date (to determine entitlements to any new issue of securities made to Shareholders generally) to exercise the Consultant Options, in accordance with the requirements of the ASX Listing Rules.
-
In respect of the Consultant Options, the Consultant will not participate in dividends or in bonus issues unless the Consultant Options are exercised and the resultant CDIs of the Corporation are issued prior to the record date to determine entitlements to the dividend or bonus issue.
-
In the event of any reconstruction (including consolidation, subdivision, reduction or return) of the issued capital of the Corporation:
-
(a) the number of Consultant Options, the exercise price, or both will be reconstructed (as appropriate) in a manner consistent with the ASX Listing Rules, but with the intention that such reconstruction will not result in any benefits being conferred on the Consultant which are not conferred on Shareholders; and
-
(b) subject to the provisions with respect to rounding of entitlements as sanctioned by a meeting of Shareholders of the Corporation approving a reconstruction of capital, in all other respects the terms for the exercise of the Consultant Options will remain unchanged.
-
-
If there is a bonus issue to the Shareholders, the number of Shares over which a Consultant Option is exercisable will be increased by the number of Shares which the Consultant would have received if the Consultant Options had been exercised before the record date for the bonus issue.
-
If, during the life of any Consultant Option, there is a pro rata issue (except a bonus issue), the exercise price of a Consultant Option may be reduced in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules.
-
The terms of the Consultant Options shall only be changed if Shareholders (whose votes are not to be disregarded) approve of such a change. However, the terms of the Consultant Options shall not be changed to reduce the exercise price, increase the number of Consultant Options or change any period for exercise of the Consultant Options.
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APPROVAL OF STOCK OPTION PLAN (Resolution 14)
Shareholder approval will be sought to consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
“That for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.2 Exception 9(b) and the TSX Venture Exchange and for all other purposes approval is given for the renewal of the Corporation’s Stock Option Plan (as amended) and that the issue of options under the Stock Option Plan be an exception to ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A within three years from the date of this Resolution.”
The Corporation will disregard any votes cast on the approval of the Corporation’s Stock Option Plan by a Director and any of their Associates (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act). However, the Corporation need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form or it is cast by the person chairing the meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides.
As required by TSX Venture Exchange rules, management is requesting that shareholders provide their approval of the Corporation's stock option plan (the " Plan "). The purpose of the Plan is to attract, retain and motivate directors, officers, employees and consultants by providing them with the opportunity, through options, to acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation and to benefit from its growth. In determining the number of options to be granted to executive officers, the Board takes into account the level of responsibility of the executive, his or her contribution to the long-term operating viability of the Corporation and the number of options, if any, previously granted.
In addition, the Company is seeking Shareholder approval to issue securities in the future under the Stock Option Plan as an exception to Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A.
Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A
ASX Listing Rule 7.1 provides that a listed company must not, subject to certain exceptions, issue or agree to issue new equity securities (which includes Shares and CDIs and option or warrants in respect of them) equivalent in number to more than 15% of its capital in any 12-month period without the prior approval of its shareholders ( 15% Capacity ).
Additionally, as described in greater detail above, under Listing Rule 7.1A entities are able to issue up to a further 10% of their capital in certain circumstances ( Additional 10% Capacity ).
Exception 9 of Listing Rule 7.2
An exception to Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A exists for issues under employee incentive schemes such as the Stock Option Plan. If the exception applies, then options issued under the Stock Option Plan will not count towards the equity securities that the Company may issue as part of its 15% Capacity or, if applicable, Additional 10% Capacity.
Pursuant to Exception 9 of Listing Rule 7.2, options issued under the Stock Option Plan will not fall within 15% Capacity or the Additional 10% Capacity (if applicable) if Shareholders have approved the Stock Option Plan within the last 3 years and the Notice of Meeting contains:
-
a summary of the terms of the scheme;
-
the number of securities issued under the scheme since the date of the last approval; and
-
a voting exclusion statement.
Accordingly, Shareholder approval of the Stock Option Plan is sought under Exception 9 of Listing Rule 7.2 so that any issue of options under the Stock Option Plan over the next 3 years is disregarded when determining the 15% Capacity and the Additional 10% Capacity (if applicable). For this purpose, in accordance with Exception 9 of Listing Rule 7.2, the Corporations advises that:
-
a summary of the terms and conditions of the Stock Option Plan is set out below;
-
the total number of options issued under the Stock Option Plan since the date of the last approval (i.e., at the 2015 Annual General Meeting on October 19, 2015) is 5,000,000 (pre-Consolidation); and
-
a voting exclusion statement is set out above.
-
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Summary of the Stock Option Plan
The terms of the Plan are summarized as follows:
Options may be granted under the Plan only to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries or to personal holding companies wholly owned or controlled by the participant (“ Eligible Person ”), subject to the rules and regulations of applicable regulatory authorities and any stock exchange upon which the corporation’s securities may be listed or may trade from time to time. The Board has discretion to set the terms of the vesting schedule for all options granted.
Options granted pursuant to the Plan will not exceed a term of ten years and are granted at an option price and on other terms which the directors determine is necessary to achieve the goal of the Plan and in accordance with regulatory policies. The option price may be at a discount to market price, which discount will not, in any event, exceed that permitted by any stock exchange on which the Corporation's common shares are listed for trading. The option price may not be reduced at any time unless permitted under the ASX Listing Rules.
Options granted under the Plan are non-assignable and non-transferable. The number of options granted under the Plan shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares, subject to adjustment in the event of an alteration in capital and further subject to the applicable rules and regulations of all regulatory authorities to which the Corporation is subject, including the TSX-V and the ASX. The number of options issued under the Plan to any one individual in any 12-month period will not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares, unless the Corporation has obtained disinterested shareholder approval. The number of options granted to any one consultant in any 12-month period will not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding common shares. The aggregate number of options granted to persons employed to provide investor relations activities must not exceed 2% of the issued common shares in any 12 month period, calculated at the date the option was granted. The maximum number of options which may be issued to an insider (including any associate of an insider) within any 12-month period may not exceed 5% of the number of issued common shares. Should a participant cease to be eligible due to the loss of corporate office (being that of an officer or director), employment or consulting engagement, the option shall terminate at the end of that period being the earlier of (i) the expiry date of the option, and (b) the expiry of a reasonable period as set out in an individual option agreement following the date a participant ceases to be in that role, provided that such period shall not exceed 90 days. Loss of eligibility for consultants is regulated by specific rules imposed by the directors when the option is granted to the appropriate consultant. Options granted to persons engaged in investor relations activities shall terminate on the earlier of the expiry date of the option or the expiry of the period not exceeding 30 days as prescribed at the time of grant following the date the person ceases to provide ongoing investor relations activities. The Plan also provides that estates of deceased participants can exercise their options for a period not exceeding one year following death.
The holder of options issued under the Plan do not have any right to participate in new issues of securities in the Corporation made to holders of Common Shares or CDIs. The Corporation will, where required pursuant to the ASX Listing Rules, provide option holders with notice prior to the books record date (to determine entitlements to any new issue of securities made to holders of Common Shares or CDIs) to allow the option holder to exercise the options, in accordance with the requirements of the ASX Listing Rules. The option holder shall not have the right to participate in any dividends unless the options are exercised and the resultant shares or CDIs of the Company are issued prior to the record date to determine entitlements to the dividend.
A bonus issue of securities will not confer any rights the option holder has to the number of shares or CDIs over which the options may be exercised.
If, during the life of any option granted under the Plan, the Corporation makes a pro rata issue of securities, the exercise price of the options may be adjusted in accordance with the formula set out in ASX Listing Rule 6.22.2, provided that any such adjustment is also compliant with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, which may prohibit any such adjustment.
The holder of Options issued under the Plan shall not have the right to participate in any dividends unless the Options are exercised and the resultant shares or CDIs of the Company are issued prior to the record date to determine entitlements to the dividend.
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In the event of any re-organisation (including consolidation, sub-division, reduction or return) of the issued capital of the Corporation at any time before the expiry date of the Options, all rights of the option holder may, at the discretion of the Corporation, be changed in a manner consistent with the ASX Listing Rules and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Board retains the discretion to impose vesting periods on any options granted. The Board may from time to time make rules, regulations and amendments to the Plan, provided that no such amendment may, without the consent of the option holders thereunder, alter or impair any option previously granted under the Plan and further that any amendment to the Plan shall require the prior consent of any stock exchange on which the Corporation’s shares are listed for trading.
In the event the Corporation undergoes a "change of control" (as that term is defined in the Exchange Corporate Finance Policies), the Options, assuming it is subject to a vesting schedule, shall be deemed to vest immediately upon the completion of the transaction causing the change of control.
Notwithstanding any terms of any Options or any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, Options may only be issued within the limitations imposed by the Corporations Act and the rules of any applicable stock exchange on which the Company’s Common Shares or CDIs are then listed (including the Exchange and the ASX).
The full text of the Plan will be available at the Meeting and may be requested at any time from Shaun Maskerine, the Corporation’s corporate secretary at [email protected].
Board of Directors' Recommendation
The board of directors of Strata-X unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the resolution adopting and approving the Stock Option Plan.
THE MANAGEMENT DESIGNEE APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING, IF NAMED AS PROXY, INTENDS TO VOTE THE COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED BY ANY SUCH PROXY IN FAVOUR OF THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND APPROVING THE STOCK OPTION PLAN.
APPROVAL FOR THE CORPORATION TO ISSUE AN ADDITIONAL 10% OF THE ISSUED CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD PURSUANT TO ASX LISTING RULE 7.1A (Resolution 15)
Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following special resolution with or without amendment, as a resolution that is required to be passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by Shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution:
“That, pursuant to and in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 7.1A, and for all other purposes, the Shareholders approve the issue of securities of up to 10% of the issued capital of the Corporation (at the time of issue) calculated in accordance with the formula prescribed in ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2, over a 12 month period from the date of this Meeting, at a price not less than that determined pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.3 (“ 10% Securities ”).”
The Corporation will disregard any votes cast on this resolution by a person who may participate in the issue of the 10% Securities or who might obtain a benefit if this resolution is passed, except a benefit solely in their capacity as a holder of Shares if the resolution is passed and any Associates (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act) of that person or persons. However, the Corporation need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form or it is cast by the person chairing the meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides.
At the date of the Notice, the proposed allottees of any 10% Securities are not as yet known or identified. In these circumstances (and in accordance with the note set out in ASX Listing Rule 14.11.1 relating to ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A), for a person’s vote to be excluded, it must be known that that person will participate in the proposed issue. Where it is not known who will participate in the proposed issue (as is the case in respect of the 10% Securities),
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Shareholders must consider the proposal on the basis that they may or may not get a benefit and that it is possible that their holding will be diluted and there is no reason to exclude their votes.
Introduction
The Corporation is seeking Shareholder approval to issue an additional 10% of issued capital over a 12 month period in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 7.1A. If passed, this resolution will allow the Company to issue and allot up to 17,632,558 securities (based on the total number of Shares currently on issue) each at an issue price of at least 75% of the volume weighted average price (“ VWAP ”) of the Company’s CDIs on ASX (calculated over the last 15 days on which trades in the CDIs are recorded, immediately before either the date on which the price at which the 10% Securities are to be issued is agreed, or if the 10% Securities are not issued within 5 trading days of that date, the date on which the 10% Securities are issued) (“ Issue Price ”), subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A, small and mid-cap listed entities that meet the eligibility threshold and have obtained the approval of their ordinary Shareholders by special resolution at the annual general meeting (“ AGM ”), are permitted to issue an additional 10% of the Company’s securites over a 12 month period from the date of the AGM (“ Additional 10% Issue ”). The Additional 10% Issue under Listing Rule 7.1A is in addition to the ability of the Company to issue 15% of its issued capital without Shareholder approval over a 12 month period pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1. The Corporation may issue the 10% Securities to raise funds for the Company and as non-cash consideration (further details of which are set out below).
Funds raised from the issue of 10% Securities are intended to be used as follows:
-
Illinois Basin lease maintenance and general working capital purposes.
-
Acceleration of , or acquisition of further suitable opportunities complimentary to, the Serowe Coal Seam Gas Project in Botswana, Africa.
-
Additional projects, that are currently unidentified, that may fit the scope of the company program.
ASX Listing Rule 7.1A
Eligibility
An entity is eligible to undertake an Additional 10% Issue if at the time of its AGM it has a market capitalisation of A$300 million or less and it is not included in the S&P/ASX300 Index.
As required by the ASX Listing Rules, the Corporation’s market capitalisation will be based on the closing price of the Corporation’s CDIs on ASX, on the last Trading Day on which trades in the CDIs were recorded before the date of the AGM, multiplied by the total number of Shares on issue, but excluding restricted securities and securities quoted on a deferred settlement basis.
For illustrative purposes only, on November 7, 2016 (before Consolidation) the Corporation’s market capitalisation was A$4,408,140 based on the closing price of the Corporation’s CDIs on ASX on that date and the total of 176,325,558 Shares on issue.
The Corporation is not included in the S&P/ASX300 Index as at the time of issue of this Notice of Meeting and the Corporation does not expect that it will be included in the S&P/ASX300 Index at the date of the Meeting.
The Corporation is therefore an eligible entity and able to undertake an Additional 10% Issue under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.
In the event that the Corporation is no longer an eligible entity to undertake an Additional 10% Issue after the Corporation has already obtained ordinary security holders’ approval, the approval obtained will not lapse and the Corporation will still be entitled to undertake the Additional 10% Issue.
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Shareholder Approval
The ability to issue the 10% Securities under the Additional 10% Issue is conditional upon the Corporation obtaining Shareholder approval by way of aSpecial Resolution at the Meeting requiring 75% of votes cast in favour. Pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1A, no 10% Securities will be issued until and unless this Special Resolution is passed at the Meeting.
Issue Period – ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.1
Shareholder approval of the Additional 10% Issue under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A is valid from the date of the Meeting at which the approval is obtained and expires on the earlier to occur of:
-
(a) the date that is 12 months after the date of the Meeting at which the approval is obtained; or
-
(b) the date of the approval by Shareholders of a transaction under ASX Listing Rule 11.1.2 (a significant change to the nature or scale of activities) or ASX Listing Rule 11.2 (disposal of main undertaking),
or such longer period if allowed by ASX.
If approval is given for the Additional 10% Issue at the Meeting on December 9, 2016 then the approval will expire on December 9, 2017 unless there is a significant change to the Corporation’s business prior to that date.
Calculation of Additional 10% Issue – ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2
ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2 provides that eligible entities which have obtained Shareholder approval at an AGM may issue or agree to issue, during the 12 month period after the date of the AGM, a number of securities calculated in accordance with the following formula:
(A x D) – E
A is the number of Shares (including CDIs) on issue 12 months before the date of issue or agreement:
-
plus the number of Shares (including CDIs) issued in the 12 months under an exception in ASX Listing Rule 7.2;
-
plus the number of partly paid Shares that became fully paid in the 12 months;
-
plus the number of Shares (including CDIs) issued in the 12 months with approval of holders of Shares under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.4. This does not include an issue of Shares under the entity’s 15% placement capacity without Shareholder approval;
-
less the number of Shares (including CDIs) cancelled in the 12 months.
-
D is 10 percent.
E is the number of securites issued or agreed to be issued under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2 in the 12 months before the date of the issue or agreement to issue that are not issued with the approval of Shareholders under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 or 7.4.
ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.3
Class of Securities
Securities issued under the Additional 10% Issue must be in the same class as an existing quoted class of securities of the Company on the ASX.
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Minimum Issue Price
The issue price for the 10% Securities issued under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A must be not less than 75% of the VWAP of CDIs calculated over the 15 Trading Days immediately before:
- a) the date on which the price at which the 10% Securities are to be issued is agreed; or
b) if the 10% Securities are not issued within 5 Trading Days of the date in paragraph (A) above, the date on which the 10% Securities are issued.
Information to be given to ASX – ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.4
If the Resolution is passed and the Corporation issues any 10% Securities under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A, the Corporation will give to ASX:
-
a list of allottees of the 10% Securities and the number of 10% Securities allotted to each (this list will not be released to the market); and
-
the following information required by ASX Listing Rule 3.10.5A, will be released to the market on the date of issue:
-
A. details of the dilution to the existing holders of Shares caused by the issue;
-
B. where the securities are issued for cash consideration, a statement of the reasons why the Corporation issued the securities as a placement under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A and not as (or in addition to) a pro rata issue or other type of issue in which existing Shareholders would have been eligible to participate;
-
C. details of any underwriting arrangements, including any fees payable to the underwriter; and
-
D. any other fees or costs incurred in connection with the issue.
ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A
The ability of an entity to issue securities under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A is in addition to the entity’s 15% placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1.
At the date of this Notice, the Corporation has on issue 176,325,585 Shares (including CDIs), and therefore, assuming full capacity is available under Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A, has the capacity to issue:
-
26,448,837 securities (on a pre- Consolidation basis or 8,816,279 on a post-Consolidation basis) under Listing Rule 7.1; and
-
subject to shareholder approval being obtained under this Resolution, 17,632,558 securities (on a preConsolidation basis or 5,877,519 on a post-Consolidation basis) under Listing Rule 7.1A.
The actual number of securities that the Corporation will have the capacity to issue under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A will be calculated at the date of issue of the securities in accordance with the formula prescribed in ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2 (as above).
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Specific Information required by ASX Listing Rule 7.3A
Minimum Price of securities issued under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A – ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.1
Pursuant to and in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.1, the 10% Securities issued pursuant to approval under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A must have an issue price of not less than 75% of the VWAP of the Corporation’s CDIs over the 15 Trading Days immediately before:
-
the date on which the price at which the 10% Securities are to be issued is agreed; or
-
if the 10% Securities are not issued within 5 Trading Days of the date in paragraph (1) above, the date on which the 10% Securities are issued.
The pricing of the Securities will also be subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.
The Company will disclose to the ASX the issue price on the date of issue of the 10% Securities.
Risk of economic and voting dilution – ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.2
As provided by ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.2, if Shareholders approve the issue of the 10% Securities and the Corporation subsequently issues the 10% Securities, there is a risk of economic and voting dilution to the existing ordinary security holders of the Corporation. The Corporation currently has on issue 176,325,585 Shares. Upon the issue of the 10% Securities, the Corporation will, on a pre-Consolidation basis, have approval to issue 17,632,558 securities. On a postConsolidation basis, the Corporation will have on issue 58,775,195 and approval to issue 5,877,519 securities (The exact number of securities to be issued under the Additional 10% Issue will be calculated in accordance with the formula contained in ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2 and set out above). Any issue of 10% Securities will have a dilutive effect on existing Shareholders.
There is a specific risk that:
-
the market price for the Corporation’s CDIs may be significantly lower on the date of the Issue than it is on the date of the AGM; and
-
the 10% Securities may be issued at a price that is at a discount to the market price for the Corporation’s CDIs on the issue date,
which may have an effect on the amount of funds raised by the issue of the 10% Securities.
As required by ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.2, Table 1 below shows the economic and voting dilution effect, in circumstances where the issued capital has doubled and the Market Price of the CDIs has halved. Table 1 also shows additional scenarios in which the issued capital has increased (by both 50% and 100%) and the Market Price of the CDIs has:
-
decreased by 50%; and
-
increased by 100%.
-
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Table 1 – Pre-Consolidation basis
| ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2 | Dilution | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUD$0.0125 50% decrease in Market Price |
AUD$0.0250 Market Price |
AUD$0.0500 100% increase in Market Price |
||
| Current Issued Capital 176,325,585 Shares (pre- Consolidation) |
10% Voting Dilution Funds raised |
17,732,559 Shares $220,407 |
17,732,559 Shares $440,814 |
17,732,559 Shares $881,628 |
| 50% increase in current Issued Capital 264,488,378 Shares (pre- Consolidation) |
10% Voting Dilution Funds raised |
26,448,838 Shares $330,610 |
26,448,838 Shares $661,221 |
26,448,838 Shares $1,322,442 |
| 100% increase in current Issued Capital 352,651,170 Shares (pre- Consolidation) |
10% Voting Dilution Funds raised |
35,265,117 Shares $440,814 |
35,265,117 Shares $881,628 |
35,265,117 Shares $1,763,256 |
Assumptions and explanations
-
The table assumes that there are 176,325,585 Shares (including CDI’s) on issue (pre-Consolidation).
-
The Market Price is based on the closing price of the CDIs on ASX on November 7, 2016. Funds raised are expressed in Australian Dollars.
-
The above table only shows the dilutionary effect based on the Additional 10% Issue and not the 15% capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
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The 10% voting dilution reflects the aggregate percentage dilution against the issued share capital at the time of issue.
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It is assumed that no options or warrants are exercised, in to Shares or CDIs before the date of issue of the 10% securities.
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The Corporation issues the maximum number of 10% Securities available to it under the Additional 10% Issue.
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The Issued Capital in Table 1 has been calculated in accordance with variable “A” in the formula in ASX Listing Rule 7.1A(2) as at November 7, 2016 prior to the Consolidation and proposed Placement. Refer to Table 2 below with regards to the effect on the Issued Capital by the Consolidation and the Placement.
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The issue price of the 10% Securities used in the table does not take into account the discount to the Market Price (if any).
The Company announced on November 15, 2016 that it will undertake a one for three consolidation of its securities ( Consolidation ), which will be completed before the Meeting. together with a proposed placement to sophisticated investors of up to 50,000,000 CDIs on a post-consolidation basis ( Placement ) with 8,700,000 CDI’s to be issue prior to the Meeting and the balance 41,300,000 to be issued after the Meeting (subject to the approval of Resolutions 12 to 14). Accordingly, the directors consider it prudent to also illustrate to Shareholders the potential voting dilution
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based on the projected share capital of the Company should the Consolidation proceed and the proposed Placement proceed to the maximum level (“ Post Consolidation and Placement Issued Capital” ). Table 2 below shows the economic and voting dilution effect, in circumstances where the Post Consolidation and Placement Issued Capital has doubled and the Market Price of the CDIs has halved. Table 2 also shows additional scenarios in which the Post Consolidation and Placement Issued Capital has increased (by both 50% and 100%) and the Market Price of the CDIs has:
-
decreased by 50%; and
-
increased by 100%.
Table 2 – Post-Consolidation basis
| ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.2 | Dilution | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUD$0.0375 50% decrease in Market Price |
AUD$0.0750 Market Price |
AUD$0.1500 100% increase in Market Price |
||
| Post Consolidation and Placement Issued Capital108,775,195 Shares |
10% Voting Dilution Funds raised |
10,877,520 Shares $407,907 |
10,877,520 Shares $815,814 |
10,877,520 Shares $1,631,628 |
| 50% increase in Post Consolidation and Placement Issued Capital 163,162,793 Shares |
10% Voting Dilution Funds raised |
16,316,279 Shares $611,860 |
16,316,279 Shares $1,223,721 |
16,316,279 Shares $2,447,442 |
| 100% increase in Post Consolidation and Placement Issued Capital 217,550,390 Shares |
10% Voting Dilution Funds raised |
21,755,039 Shares $815,814 |
21,755,039 Shares $1,631,628 |
21,755,039 Shares $3,263,256 |
Assumptions and explanations
-
Table 2 reflects the Post Consolidation and Placement Issued Capital of the Company (including CDI’s) of 108,775,195 Shares on the basis of:
-
176,325,585 existing Shares (including CDI’s) on issue as at the date of this Notice of Meeting;
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A one for three consolidation of securities takes place before the Meeting, resulting in 58,775,195 Shares (including CDI’s) on issue post-consolidation and prior to the Placement; and
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a total of 50,000,000 CDIs are issued under the Placement (described in detail in resolutions 9 to 12).
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The Market Price is based on the closing price of the CDIs on ASX on November 7, 2016 of $0.025 (post Consolidation = $0.075).
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Funds raised are expressed in Australian Dollars.
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The above table only shows the dilutionary effect based on the Additional 10% Issue and not the 15% capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
-
42 -
-
The 10% voting dilution reflects the aggregate percentage dilution against the issued share capital at the time of issue.
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It is assumed that no options or warrants are exercised into Shares or CDIs before the date of issue of the 10% Securities.
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The Corporation issues the maximum number of 10% Securities available to it under the Additional 10% Issue.
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The issue price of the 10% Securities used in the table does not take into account the discount to the Market Price (if any).
Final date for issue – ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.3
As required by ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.3, the Corporation will only issue and allot the 10% Securities during the 12 months after the date of this Meeting, which the Corporation anticipates will end on December 9, 2017. The approval under this resolution for the issue of the 10% Securities will cease to be valid in the event that Shareholders approve a transaction under ASX Listing Rule 11.1.2 (a significant change to the nature or scale of activities of the Corporation) or ASX Listing Rule 11.2 (the disposal of the main undertaking of the Corporation) before the anniversary of the Meeting.
Purpose – ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.4
As noted above, the purposes for which the 10% Securities may be issued include raising funds for the Corporation and being used as non-cash consideration (further details of which are set out below). Funds raised from the issue of 10% Securities are intended to be used as follows:
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Illinois Basin lease maintenance and general working capital purposes.
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Acceleration of , or acquisition of further suitable opportunities complimentary to, the Serowe Coal Seam Gas Project in Botswana, Africa.
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Additional projects, that are currently unidentified, that may fit the scope of the company program.
Securities Issued for Non-cash consideration – ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.4
The Corporation may issue 10% Securities for non-cash consideration, such as the acquisition of new assets or investments. If the Corporation issues securities for non-cash consideration, the Corporation will release to the market a valuation of the non-cash consideration that demonstrates that the issue price of the securities complies with ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.3.
Corporation’s Allocation Policy – ASX Listing Rule 7.3A.5
The Corporation’s allocation policy is dependent on the prevailing market conditions at the time of any proposed issue of 10% Securities pursuant to the Additional 10% Issue. The identity of the allottees of 10% Securities will be determined on a case-by-case basis having regard to factors including but not limited to the following:
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the methods of raising funds that are available to the Corporation, including but not limited to, rights issues or other issues in which existing Shareholders can participate;
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the effect of the issue of the 10% Securities on the control of the Corporation;
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the financial situation and solvency of the Corporation; and
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advice from corporate, financial and broking advisers (if applicable).
-
43 -
The allottees of the 10% Securities under the Additional 10% Issue have not been determined as at the date of this Notice but may include existing substantial shareholders and/or new Shareholders who are not related parties or associates of a related party of the Corporation.
Further, if the Corporation is successful in acquiring new assets or investments, it is likely that the allottees under the Additional 10% Issue will be the vendors of the new assets or investments.
Shareholder approval previously obtained under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A
The Corporation obtained Shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A at the 2015 annual and extraordinary meeting but has not issued any securities under this authority.
As the Company has previously obtained Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1A, the following information is provided to Shareholders, in accordance with Listing Rule 7.3A.6, regarding the securities (quoted and unquoted) issued in the previous 12 months preceding the date of the AGM (that is, since 9 December 2015)
Equity Securities 176,325,585 Shares (including CDIs) 7,283,125 quoted options Number of securities on issue at commencement of 12 month 17,301,250 unquoted options period (being December 9, 2015) [Pre-Consolidation] 11,304,754 unquoted warrants 212,214,714 = Total number of securities NIL securites issued in prior 12 months Note: the following options and warrants Securities issued in prior 12 month period [Pre-Consolidation] expired (unexercised) in the prior 12 months: 900,000 unquoted options 11,083,154 unquoted warrants 11,983,154 = Total number of securities Percentage previous issues represent of total number of securities N/A on issue at commencement of 12 month period
Pursuant to Listing Rule 7.3A.6(b), details of securities issued in previous 12 months are as follows: NIL
Voting Exclusion Statement
A voting exclusion statement is included in this Notice.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management is not aware of any matters to come before the Meeting other than those set out in the Notice of Meeting. If other matters properly come before the Meeting, or any adjournment of the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the Proxy Form to vote the same in accordance with their best judgment in such matters.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Financial information relating to the Corporation is provided in the Corporation's audited financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of financial and operating results as at and for the year ended June 30, 2016. Copies of this Circular, the Financial Statements, Management Discussion and Analysis and the Auditor's Report thereon for the Corporation's most recently completed financial year, any interim financial statements of the Corporation subsequent to those statements, as filed with the applicable Canadian regulatory authorities, are available on SEDAR at
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www.sedar.com and may also be obtained without charge by writing to Strata-X Ltd. at 1550 Larimer St #263, Denver, CO USA 80202.
Additional information relating to the Corporation may also be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
DIRECTORS' APPROVAL
The contents of this Circular and the sending of this Circular to shareholders entitled to receive notice of the Meeting, to each director, to the auditors of Strata-X and to the appropriate governmental agencies, have been approved by the board of directors.
APPENDIX A Change of Auditor Package
STRATA X ENERGY LTD.
1550 Larimer St #263 Denver, CO 80202 USA
NOTICE OF CHANGE OF AUDITOR
- TO: B.C. Securities Commission Alberta Securities Commission Ontario Securities Commission TSX Venture Exchange
Strata-X Energy Ltd. (the “ Company ”), provides this notice pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 (“ NI 51-102 ’):
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Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP resigned as the auditor of the Company at the Company’s request effective as at November 18, 2015.
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Collins Barrow Calgary LLP have been appointed to act as the Company’s auditor commencing on November 18, 2015. Pursuant to Section 204(4) of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), the directors of the Company are entitled to fill in casual vacancy in the office of the auditor.
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The resignation of, Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP as the former auditor of the Company and the appointment of Collins Barrow Calgary LLP as the successor auditor of the Company, along with this notice, have been approved by the audit committee and the board of directors of the Company.
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There are no reservations in connection with the audits of the two most recently completed financial years of the Company nor any period from the most recently completed period for which Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP issued an audit report in respect of the Company and the date of this notice.
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In the opinion of the board of directors of the Company, no “reportable event” as defined in NI 51-102 has occurred in connection with the auditors of the two most recently completed financial years of the Company, nor any period from the most recently completed period or which Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP issued an audit report in respect of the Company and the date of this notice.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 18[th] day of November, 2015.
STRATA-X ENERGY LTD.
“Shaun Maskerine” Shaun Maskerine Corporate Secretary
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Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP 2380 Commerce Place 10155 – 102 Street N.W. Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4G8 Canada T. 780.428.1522 F. 780.425.8189
www.collinsbarrow.com
November 18, 2015
Alberta Securities Commission 600, 250 - 5 Street SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
British Columbia Securities Commission 701 West Georgia Street Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1l2
Ontario Securities Commission Suite 1903, Box 55, 20 Queen Street West Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S8
TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 10[th] Floor, 300 – 5[th] Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 3C4
Strata-X Energy Ltd. 1550 Larimer St. #263 Denver, CO 80202 U.S.A.
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
Re: Strata-X Energy Ltd. (the “Corporation”)
As required by Section 4.11 of National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations , we have reviewed the information contained in the Corporation’s Notice of Change of Auditor dated November 18, 2015 (the “Notice”). Based on our knowledge at the date hereof, we confirm that we are in agreement with the statements contained in the Notice as they relate to us.
Yours truly,
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COLLINS BARROW EDMONTON LLP
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This office is independently owned and operated by Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP The Collins Barrow trademarks are used under License.
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Collins Barrow Calgary LLP 1400 First Alberta Place 777 – 8[th] Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3R5
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T. 403.298.1500 F. 403.298.5814 e-mail: [email protected]
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This office is independently owned and operated by Collins Barrow Calgary LLP. The Collins Barrow trademarks are used under license.
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Strata-X Energy Limited
ARBN 160 885 343
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LODGE YOUR VOTE
ONLINE
www.linkmarketservices.com.au
BY MAIL
Strata-X Energy Limited
C/- Link Market Services Limited
Locked Bag A14
Sydney South NSW 1235 Australia
BY FAX
+61 2 9287 0309
BY HAND
Link Market Services Limited
1A Homebush Bay Drive, Rhodes NSW 2138
ALL ENQUIRIES TO
Telephone: +61 1300 554 474
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LODGEMENT OF A CDI VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM
This CDI Voting Instruction Form (and any Power of Attorney under which it is signed) must be received at an address given above by 5:00pm (Sydney time) on Wednesday, 7 December 2016 . Any CDI Voting Instruction Form received after that time will be invalid. CDI Voting Instruction Forms may be lodged using the reply paid envelope or:
ONLINE
www.linkmarketservices.com.au
Login to the Link website using the holding details as shown on the CDI Voting Instruction Form. Select ‘Voting’ and follow the prompts to lodge your vote. To use the online lodgement facility, stockholders will need their “Holder Identifier” (Securityholder Reference Number (SRN) or Holder Identification Number (HIN) as shown on the reverse of this CDI Voting Instruction Form).
HOW TO COMPLETE THIS CDI VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS
This is your name and address as it appears on the Company’s CDI register. If this information is incorrect, please make the correction on the form. CDI Holders sponsored by a broker should advise their broker of any changes. Please note: you cannot change ownership of your CDIs using this form.
DIRECTION TO CHESS DEPOSITARY NOMINEES PTY LTD
Each CHESS Depositary Interest (CDI) is evidence of an indirect ownership in the Company’s shares of common stock (Shares). The underlying Shares are registered in the name of CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Ltd (CDN). As holders of CDIs are not the legal owners of the Shares, CDN is entitled to vote at the Meetings of stockholders on the instruction of the registered holders of the CDIs.
APPOINTMENT OF A PROXY
If you wish to attend the Meeting in person or appoint some person or company other than CDN, who need not be a stockholder, to attend and act on your behalf at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, please insert your name(s) or the name of your chosen appointee in the box in Step 2. Link will then send you a legal form of proxy which will grant you or the person specified by you the right to attend and vote at the Meeting. Please remember that a legal proxy is subject to all terms and conditions that apply to proxies as outlined in the Notice of Annual General Meeting including any cut off time for receipt of valid proxies.
SIGNING INSTRUCTIONS
You must sign this form as follows in the spaces provided:
Individual: where the holding is in one name, the holder must sign.
Joint Holding: where the holding is in more than one name, either holder may sign.
Power of Attorney: to sign under Power of Attorney, you must lodge the Power of Attorney with Link. If you have not previously lodged this document for notation, please attach a certified photocopy of the Power of Attorney to this form when you return it.
Companies: with respect to an Australian company, where the company has a Sole Director who is also the Sole Company Secretary, this form must be signed by that person. If the company (pursuant to section 204A of the Corporations Act 2001 ) does not have a Company Secretary, a Sole Director can also sign alone. Otherwise this form must be signed by a Director jointly with either another Director or a Company Secretary. Please indicate the office held by signing in the appropriate place. With respect to a U.S. company or other entity, this form may be signed by one officer. Please give full name and title under the signature.
NAME SURNAME ADDRESS LINE 1 ADDRESS LINE 2 ADDRESS LINE 3 ADDRESS LINE 4 ADDRESS LINE 5 ADDRESS LINE 6
X99999999999
X99999999999
CDI VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM
DIRECTION TO CHESS DEPOSITARY NOMINEES PTY LTD
I/We being a holder of CHESS Depositary Interests ( CDIs ) of Strata-X Energy Limited ( Company ) hereby direct CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Ltd ( CDN ) to vote the shares underlying my/our CDI holding at the Annual General Meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held at 10:00am (Denver time) on Friday, 9 December 2016 at 1624 Market St. Suite #302, Denver, Colorado, USA 80202, and at any adjournment or postponement of that Meeting, in accordance with the following directions. By execution of this CDI Voting Instruction Form the undersigned hereby authorises CDN to appoint such proxies or their substitutes in their discretion to vote in accordance with the directions set out below.
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
Voting instructions will only be valid and accepted by CDN if they are signed and received no later than 5:00pm (Sydney time) on Wednesday, 7 December 2016. Please read the voting instructions overleaf before marking any boxes with an T
Resolutions
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1 Fix the number of directors to be elected at six
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2 To elect Tim Hoops as a Director
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3 To elect Tim Bradley as a Director
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4 To elect Bohdan Romaniuk as a Director
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5 To elect Ron Prefontaine as a Director
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6 To elect Greg Hancock as a Director
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7 To elect Dennis Nerland as a Director
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8 Appointment of Auditors and authorise the directors to fix their remuneration
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9 To ratify the issuance of up to 8,700,000 Chess Depository Units (CDIs) to sophisticated and professional investors for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.4 and for all other purposes
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10 To approve the issuance of a maximum of 12,000,000 CDIs in the Placement to Mr Ron Prefontaine for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 10.11 and for all other purposes
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11 To approve the issuance of a maximum of 1,000,000 CDIs in the Placement to Mr Tim Hoops for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 10.11 and for all other purposes
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12 To approve the issuance of a maximum of 34,300,000 Chess Depository Units (CDIs) to sophisticated and professional investors for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and for all other purposes
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13 To approve the issue of consultant options for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and for all other purposes
14 To approve the Company’s stock option plan for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.2 exception 9(b) and for all other purposes
15 To approve the Company’s ability to issue an additional 10% of the issued capital of the Company over a 12 month period pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1A
For Against Abstain *
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* If you do not mark the “For”, “Against” or “Abstain” box your vote will not be counted.
SIGNATURE OF CDI HOLDERS – THIS MUST BE COMPLETED
CDI Holder 1 (Individual) Joint CDI Holder 2 (Individual) Joint CDI Holder 3 (Individual) Sole Director and Sole Company Secretary Director/Company Secretary (Delete one) Director This form should be signed by the CDI Holder in accordance with the instructions overleaf.
SXA PRX1601N