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Surface Metals Inc. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2024
Apr 23, 2024
47518_rns_2024-04-23_4caefe26-e86f-42b5-87f2-56e643574a61.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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INFORMATION CIRCULAR
FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 17, 2024
This information is given as of April 12, 2024 unless otherwise noted.
PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION
This Information Circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the management of ACME Lithium Inc. (the “Company”) for use at the Annual General Meeting (the “Meeting”) of the shareholders of the Company, to be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 , at the time and location and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting (the “Notice”) and at any adjournment thereof.
Except as noted below, the Company has distributed or made available for distribution, copies of the Notice, the Information Circular and form of proxy or voting instruction form (“VIF”) (if applicable) (the “Meeting Materials”) to clearing agencies, securities dealers, banks and trust companies or their nominees (collectively, the “Intermediaries”) for distribution to Beneficial Shareholders (as defined below) whose common shares are held by or in custody of such Intermediaries. Such Intermediaries are required to forward such documents to Beneficial Shareholders unless a Beneficial Shareholder has waived the right to receive them. The Company is sending proxyrelated materials indirectly to NOBOs (as defined below), through the Intermediaries. The solicitation of proxies from Beneficial Shareholders will be carried out by the Intermediaries or by the Company if the names and addresses of the Beneficial Shareholders are provided by Intermediaries. The Company will pay the permitted fees and costs of Intermediaries incurred in connection with the distribution of the Meeting Materials. The Company is not relying on the notice-and-access provisions of securities laws for delivery of the Meeting Materials to registered shareholders or Beneficial Shareholders.
APPOINTMENT AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are directors and/or officers of the Company. A shareholder has the right to appoint a person (who need not be a shareholder) to attend and act for such shareholder and on his, her or its behalf at the Meeting other than the persons designated in the enclosed form of proxy. Such right may be exercised by inserting in the blank space provided for that purpose the name of the desired person or by completing another proper form of proxy and, in either case, delivering the completed and executed proxy to the Company’s transfer agent and registrar, Odyssey Trust Company, by (i) vote online to https://vote.odysseytrust.com (click on LOGIN and use the control number printed with your address to the right on your proxy form), or (ii) by fax at 1-800-517-4553 (toll-free within Canada and the U.S.) or 416-263-9524 (international), or (iii) by mail to Odyssey Trust Company, Attn: Proxy Department, Suite 702, 67 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario M5E 1J8, to be received not later than forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time fixed for the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, or (iv) delivering it to the chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof prior to the time of voting. A proxy must be executed by the registered shareholder or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing or, if the shareholder is a corporation, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized.
Proxies given by shareholders for use at the Meeting may be revoked prior to their use:
- (a) by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by such shareholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing or, if the shareholder is a corporation, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized indicating the capacity under which such officer or attorney is signing:
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(i) at the registered office, Suite 2900 – 733 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 0S6, at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or if adjourned, any reconvening thereof; or
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(ii) with the chair of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof; or
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(b) in any other manner permitted by law.
EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY PROXIES
The persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote the common shares in respect of which they are appointed in accordance with the direction of the shareholders appointing them. The common shares represented by the proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and, if the shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the common shares will be voted accordingly. In the absence of such direction, where the management nominees are appointed as proxyholder, such common shares will be voted in favour of the passing of the matters set out in the Notice. The form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. At the time of the printing of this Information Circular, the management of the Company knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting other than the matters referred to in the Notice. However, if any other matters which at present are not known to the management of the Company should properly come before the Meeting, the proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the named proxies.
ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS
Shareholders should note that only proxies deposited by shareholders whose names appear on the records of the Company as the registered holders of common shares, or non-objecting beneficial owners (“NOBOs”) whose names have been provided to the Company’s registrar and transfer agent, can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. The information set forth in this section is therefore of significant importance to a substantial number of shareholders who do not hold their common shares in their own name (“Beneficial Shareholders”). If common shares are listed in an account statement provided to a shareholder by an Intermediary, then in almost all cases those common shares will not be registered in such shareholder’s name on the records of the Company. Such common shares will more likely be registered under the name of the shareholder’s Intermediary or an agent of that Intermediary. In Canada, the vast majority of such common shares are registered under the name of CDS & Co., as nominee for CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc., which acts as a depository for many Canadian Intermediaries. Common shares held by Intermediaries or their nominees can only be voted for or against resolutions upon the instructions of the Beneficial Shareholder. Without specific instructions, Intermediaries are prohibited from voting common shares for their clients.
Applicable regulatory policy requires Intermediaries to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of shareholders’ meetings. Every Intermediary has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions, which should be carefully followed by Beneficial Shareholders in order to ensure that their common shares are voted at the Meeting. Often the form of proxy supplied to a Beneficial Shareholder by its Intermediary is identical to the form of proxy provided by the Company to the Intermediaries. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the Intermediary how to vote on behalf of the Beneficial Shareholder. The majority of Intermediaries now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). Broadridge typically mails the VIFs or proxy forms to the Beneficial Shareholders and asks the Beneficial Shareholders to return the VIFs or proxy forms to Broadridge. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of common shares to be represented at the Meeting. A Beneficial Shareholder receiving a proxy or VIF from Broadridge cannot use that proxy to vote common shares directly at the Meeting - the proxy must be returned to Broadridge well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the common shares voted.
Although Beneficial Shareholders may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting common shares registered in the name of their Intermediary, a Beneficial Shareholder may attend the Meeting as proxyholder for the Intermediary and vote their common shares in that capacity.
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Should a NOBO wish to attend and vote at the Meeting in person, the NOBO must insert his or her name (or the name of the person that the NOBO wants to attend and vote on the NOBO’s behalf) in the space provided on the VIF and return it to the Company or its transfer agent. If the Company receives a written request that the NOBO or its nominee be appointed as proxyholder, if management is holding a proxy with respect to common shares beneficially owned by such NOBO, the Company will arrange, without expense to the NOBO, to appoint the NOBO or its nominee as proxyholder in respect of those common shares. Under NI 54-101, unless corporate law does not allow it, if the NOBO or its nominee is appointed as proxyholder by the Company in this manner, the NOBO or its nominee, as applicable, must be given the authority to attend and vote the applicable shares in respect of all matters that come before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. If the Company receives such instructions at least one business day before the deadline for submission of proxies, it is required to deposit the proxy within that deadline, in order to appoint the NOBO or its nominee as proxyholder. If a NOBO requests that the NOBO or its nominee be appointed as proxyholder, the NOBO or its appointed nominee, as applicable, will need to attend the meeting in person in order for the NOBOs vote to be counted.
NOBOs that wish to change their vote must in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting contact their Intermediary to arrange to change their vote. NOBOs should carefully follow the instructions of their Intermediaries, including those regarding when and where to complete the VIF’s that are to be returned to their Intermediaries.
Should an objecting beneficial owner (an “OBO”) wish to attend and vote at the Meeting in person, the OBO should insert his or her name (or the name of the person the OBO wants to attend and vote on the OBO’s behalf) in the space provided for that purpose on the request for VIF and return it to the OBO’s Intermediary or send the Intermediary another written request that the OBO or its nominee be appointed as proxyholder. The Intermediary is required under NI 54-101 to arrange, without expense to the OBO, to appoint the OBO or its nominee as proxyholder in respect of the OBO’s common shares. Under NI 54-101, unless corporate law does not allow it, if the Intermediary makes an appointment in this manner, the OBO or its nominee, as applicable, must be given authority to attend, vote and otherwise act for and on behalf of the Intermediary (who is the registered shareholder) in respect of all matters that come before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. An Intermediary who receives such instructions at least one business day before the deadline for submission of proxies is required to deposit the proxy within that deadline, in order to appoint the OBO or its nominee as proxyholder. If an OBO requests that an Intermediary appoint the OBO or its nominee as proxyholder, the OBO or its appointed nominee, as applicable, will need to attend the meeting in person in order for the OBOs vote to be counted.
OBOs should carefully follow the instructions of their Intermediary, including those regarding when and where the completed request for voting instructions is to be delivered. Only registered shareholders have the right to revoke a proxy. OBOs who wish to change their vote must in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting, arrange for their respective intermediaries to change their vote and if necessary revoke their proxy in accordance with the revocation procedures set out above.
Shareholders with questions respecting the voting of shares held through an Intermediary should contact that Intermediary for assistance.
All references to shareholders in this Information Circular and the accompanying form of proxy and Notice are to shareholders of record unless specifically stated otherwise.
NOTE TO NON-OBJECTING BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The Meeting Materials are being sent to both registered shareholders and NOBOs. If you are a NOBO, and the Company or its agent has sent the Meeting Materials directly to you, it means your name, address and information about your holdings of common shares have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the Intermediary holding on your behalf. By choosing to send the Meeting Materials to you directly, the Company (and not the Intermediary holding on your behalf) has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering the Meeting Materials to you, and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions. Please return your voting instructions as specified in the request for voting instructions.
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VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of common shares without par value.
The Company has fixed the close of business on April 12, 2024 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the purposes of determining shareholders entitled to receive the Notice and vote at the Meeting. As at the Record Date, 75,722,727 common shares were issued and outstanding. At a general meeting of the Company, on a show of hands, every shareholder present in person shall have one vote and, on a poll, every shareholder shall have one vote for each common share of which he, she or it is the holder. The Company has no other classes of voting securities.
In accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), the Company will prepare a list of the holders of common shares on the Record Date. Each holder of common shares named on the list will be entitled to vote the common shares shown opposite his, her or its name on the list at the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Company, as of the Record Date, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly or exercises control or direction over, shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding shares of the Company.
QUORUM AND VOTES NECESSARY TO PASS RESOLUTIONS
Under the Company’s Articles, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is two shareholders who are present in person or represented by proxy. A simple majority of the votes of those shareholders who are present and vote either in person or by proxy at the Meeting is required in order to pass an ordinary resolution. A majority of two-thirds of the votes of those shareholders who are present and vote either in person or by proxy at the Meeting is required to pass a special resolution. There are no special resolutions proposed at this Meeting.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this Information Circular, none of the current directors or executive officers, no proposed nominee for election as a director, none of the persons who have been directors or executive officers since the commencement of the last completed financial year and no associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing persons has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting, save and except for those matters pertaining to the election of directors and the Company’s stock option plan.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
For the purpose of this Information Circular:
“ CEO ” means each individual who acted as chief executive officer of the Company or acted in a similar capacity for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“ CFO ” means each individual who acted as chief financial officer of the Company or acted in a similar capacity for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“ COO ” means chief operating officer; and
“ Named Executive Officer ” or “ NEO ” means: (a) a CEO; (b) a CFO; (c) a COO; (d) the Company’s most highly compensated executive officers, including any of the Company’s subsidiaries, or the most highly compensated individuals acting in a similar capacity, other than the CEO, CFO and COO, at the end of the most recently completed financial year and whose total compensation was, individually, more than $150,000 as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(5) of Form 51-102F6V Statement of Executive Compensation – Venture Issuers , for that financial year; and (e) each individual who would be a NEO under paragraph (d) but for the fact that the individual was neither an executive officer of the Company, nor acting in a similar capacity at the end of the most recently completed financial year.
As of the financial year ended September 30, 2023, the Company had two Named Executive Officers, namely Stephen Hanson, CEO; and Zara Kanji-Aquino, CFO.
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All dollar amounts referenced herein are Canadian Dollars unless otherwise specified.
Oversight and Description of Director and NEO Compensation
The Company provides a blend of base salaries, bonuses and equity incentive components in the form of stock options to further align the interests of management with the interests of the Company’s Shareholders.
The Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) does not presently have a Compensation Committee. Compensation of NEOs is reviewed annually and determined by the Board. When determining compensation policies and individual compensation levels for the Company’s executive officers, the Company takes into consideration a variety of factors, including the overall financial and operating performance of the Company, and the Board’s overall assessment of:
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(a) each executive officer’s individual performance and contribution towards meeting corporate objectives;
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(b) each executive officer’s level of responsibility,
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(c) each executive officer’s length of service; and
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(d) industry comparables.
In the Board’s view, there is, and has been, no need for the Company to design or implement a formal compensation program for NEOs.
Base Salary and Consulting Fees
Base salary and consulting fee levels reflect the fixed component of pay that compensates executives for fulfilling their roles and responsibilities and assists in the attraction and retention of highly qualified executives. Base salaries are reviewed annually to ensure they reflect each respective executive’s performance and experience in fulfilling his or her role and to ensure executive retention. Currently base salaries and consulting fees are set at below industry standard levels to make more capital available for development of the Company’s business. Compensation is made up with the provision of stock options (see below for description). Salary and consulting fee levels will be reviewed and revised as the Company grows.
Stock Options
Performance-based incentives are granted by way of stock options. The awards are intended to align executive interests with those of shareholders by tying compensation to share performance and to assist in retention through vesting provisions.
In determining the number of stock options to be granted to the executive officers and directors, the Board takes into account the number of stock options, if any, previously granted to each executive officer and director and the exercise price of any outstanding options to ensure that such grants are in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”).
The number of stock options granted to officers and directors is also dependent on each officer’s and director’s level of responsibility, authority and importance to the Company and to the degree to which such officer’s or director’s long term contribution to the Company will be key to its long term success.
In monitoring or adjusting the option allotments, the Board takes into account its own observations on individual performance (where possible), its assessment of individual contribution to shareholder value and previous option grants . The scale of options is generally commensurate to the appropriate level of base compensation for each level of responsibility. The Board will make these determinations subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option Plan.
Director and NEO Compensation
The following table (presented in accordance with National Instrument Form 51-102F6V – Statement of Executive Compensation – Venture Issuers) sets forth all annual and long term compensation for services paid to or earned by each NEO and director for the two most recently completed financial years ended September 30, 2023, excluding compensation securities.
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Table of Compensation excluding Compensation Securities
| Name and position | Year Ended 30/09 |
Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission |
Bonus | Committee or meeting fees |
Value of perquisites |
Value of all other compen- sation |
Total compen- sation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ||
| Stephen Hanson CEO and President |
2023 2022 |
212,000 211,000 |
nil n/a |
nil n/a |
nil n/a |
nil n/a |
212,000 211,000 |
| Vivian Katsuris Director |
2023 2022 |
30,000 nil |
nil nil |
nil nil |
nil nil |
nil nil |
30,000 nil |
| Ioannis Tsitos Director |
2023 2022 |
30,000 7,500 |
nil nil |
nil nil |
nil nil |
nil nil |
30,000 7,500 |
| Zara Kanji-Aquino _CFO(1) _ |
2023 2022 |
90,000 76,750 |
nil n/a |
nil n/a |
nil n/a |
59,492 43,157 |
149,492 119,907 |
Note:
(1) Other compensation refers to accounting fee paid to Zara Kanji & Associates, a company controlled by the CFO.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
During the financial year ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued no stock options (2,225,000 options were granted during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022).
The following table sets forth all compensation securities held by each NEO and director by the Company as of September 30, 2023:
| Name and position | Type of compen- sation security |
Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class |
Date of issue or grant |
Issue, conversion or exercise price |
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant |
Closing price of security or underlying security at year end |
Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (#) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ||||
| Stephen Hanson CEO and President |
Stock Options |
500,000 750,000 |
July 9, 2021 April 14, 2022 |
0.80 1.28 |
0.80 1.28 |
1.10 | July 9, 2026 April 14, 2027 |
| Vivian Katsuris Director |
Stock Options |
250,000 250,000 |
July 9, 2021 April 14, 2022 |
0.80 1.28 |
0.80 1.28 |
1.10 | July 9, 2026 April 14, 2027 |
| Ioannis Tsitos Director |
Stock Options |
250,000 250,000 |
July 9, 2021 April 14, 2022 |
0.80 1.28 |
0.80 1.28 |
1.10 | July 9, 2026 April 14, 2027 |
| Zara Kanji-Aquino CFO |
Stock Options |
250,000 250,000 |
July 9, 2021 April 14, 2022 |
0.80 1.28 |
0.80 1.28 |
1.10 | July 9, 2026 April 14, 2027 |
Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs
No compensation securities were exercised by any directors or NEOs during the financial years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
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Stock Option Plans and Other Incentive Plans
The only stock option plan or other incentive plan the Company currently has in place is a 10% “rolling” stock option plan (the “Plan”), which authorizes the Board to grant options to directors, officers, employees and consultants to acquire up to 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, from time to time. The underlying purpose of the Plan is to attract and motivate the directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and to advance the interests of the Company by affording such persons with the opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company through rights granted under the Plan.
For details of the Plan, see “Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon –Ratification of Stock Option Plan” below.
The Company has no other form of compensation plan under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance to employees or non-employees in exchange for consideration in the form of goods and services.
Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
The material terms of each agreement or arrangement under which compensation was provided during the most recently completed financial year or is payable in respect of services provided to the Company or any of its subsidiaries that were: (a) performed by a director or NEO; or (b) performed by any other party but are services typically provided by a director or NEO are as follows:
Zara Kanji-Aquino, (CFO and Corporate Secretary) - During the year-ended September 30, 2023, Ms. Kanji-Aquino earned $7,500 per month as CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company. Her contract can be terminated by the Company at any time by providing written notice and payment of any outstanding fees and expenses.
Stephen Hanson, (CEO and President) - During the year-ended September 30, 2023, Stephen Hanson earned $18,000 per month as CEO of the Company. His contract can be terminated by the Company at any time by providing thirty (30) days written notice and he will be entitled to six (6) months compensation if terminated by the company and and payment of any outstanding fees and expenses.
Other than disclosed above, there were no other agreements or arrangement containing provisions with respect to change of control, severance, termination or constructive dismissal for directors or NEOs.
Pension disclosure
The Company does not provide any form of pension to any of its directors or NEOs.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table provides information regarding the number of common shares to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options and the weighted-average exercise price of the outstanding options in connection with the Stock Option Plan as at September 30, 2023:
| Plan Category | Number of Common Shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options |
Number of Common Shares remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| # | $ | # | |
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
3,550,000 | $1.10 | 2,362,106 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Total | 3,550,000 | $1.10 | 2,362,106 |
- Based on there being 59,121,067 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2023.
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INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
At no time during the last completed financial year was any current director, executive officer or employee or any former director, executive officer or employee of the Company, or any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company (i) indebted to the Company; or (ii) indebted to another entity where such indebtedness is the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company, other than routine indebtedness.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
The term “informed person” as defined in National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations means a director or executive officer of the Company, or any person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities of the Company or who exercises control or direction over voting securities of the Company carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting securities of the Company, other than voting securities held by the person or company as underwriter in the course of a distribution.
Except as disclosed below or in the Notes to the Company’s financial statements for the financial year ended September 30, 2023, no informed person or nominee for election as a director of the Company, or any associate or affiliate of an informed person or proposed director, has or had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company's most recently completed financial year or in a proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Pursuant to the policies of the CSE and the provisions of section 224 of the Business Corporations Act of British Columbia, the Company is required to have an Audit Committee comprised of at least three directors, the majority of which must not be officers or employees of the Company.
The Company must also, pursuant to the provisions of National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees (“NI 52-110”), have a written charter, which sets out the duties and responsibilities of its Audit Committee. In providing the following disclosure, the Company is relying on the exemption provided under NI 52-110, which allows for the short form disclosure of the audit committee procedures of venture issuers.
Audit Committee’s Charter
The Board has adopted an Audit Committee Charter, which sets out the Audit Committee’s mandate, organization, powers and responsibilities. The Audit Committee’s Charter is attached as Schedule A to this Information Circular.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The following were the members of the Company’s Audit Committee during the financial year ended September 30, 2023:
| Ioannis Tsitos(Chair) | Independent1 | Financiallyliterate1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vivian Katsuris | Independent1 | Financiallyliterate1 |
| Stephen Hanson | Not Independent1 | Financiallyliterate1 |
- As defined by NI 52-110.
Relevant Education and Experience
In addition to each member’s general business experience, the education and experience of each Audit Committee member that is relevant to the performance of his/her responsibilities as an Audit Committee member is as follows:
Ioannis Tsitos - President & Director of Goldsource Mines Inc., a TSXV listed company with mineral property interests in Guyana. Director and Audit Committee Chair of Soma Gold Corp., a TSXV listed company with a producing gold mine and other mineral property interests in Colombia. Director and member of the Audit
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Committees of both Colossus Resources Corp (TSXV) and Altamira Gold Corp (TSXV). New Business Manager for the Global Mineral Exploration team for BHP till 2009
Vivian Katsuris – Ms. Katsuris has over 30 years’ experience as an investment advisor having worked for Global Securities Corporation from 2003 to 2013 and Canaccord Capital Corp. (now Canaccord Genuity) from 1993 to 2003. President of Vivkor Holdings Inc. since August 2014, a private company that provides corporate and administrative services to public and private companies. She has been Director, Officer , and Audit Committee member of several TSXV and CSE issuers since 2014.
Stephen Hanson – Director and CEO of the Company since November 6, 2020. President of Channel Capital since 2002, a private venture capital consulting firm. Independent Director of International Frontier Resources Corp., a public company that holds oil and gas assets in Mexico; Previously executive, director and advisor of several private and public resource companies. Previously Chairman and Managing Director of Van Arbor Asset Management, a money management firm, from 2004 until 2008, which he founded in 2003..
Audit Committee Oversight
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recent completed financial year was a recommendation of the Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor not adopted by the Board.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year has the Company relied on the exemption in Section 2.4 of NI 52-110 (De Minimis Non-audit Services) , or an exemption from NI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of NI 52-110.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Committee has adopted specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services as described above under the heading “External Auditors Service Fees”.
External Auditor Service Fees (By Category)
The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s external auditors in each of the last two fiscal years for audit fees are as follows:
| Financial Year Ending |
Audit Fees | Audit Related Fees1 | Tax Fees2 | All Other Fees3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 2022 |
$35,175 $33,500 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
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Fees charged for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of an audit, and not included under “Audit Fees”.
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Fees charged for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services.
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Fees for services other than disclosed in any other column.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Corporate governance relates to the activities of the Board, the members of which are elected by and are accountable to the 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 Company. National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines establishes corporate governance guidelines which apply to all public companies. These guidelines are not intended to be prescriptive but to be used by issuers in developing their own corporate governance practices. The Board is committed to sound corporate governance practices, which are both in the interest of its shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient decision making.
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Pursuant to National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (“NI 58-101”) the Company is required to disclose its corporate governance practices, as summarized below. The Board will continue to monitor such practices on an ongoing basis and when necessary implement such additional practices as it deems appropriate.
Board of Directors
The Board is currently composed of three directors, namely Stephen Hanson, Vivian Katsuris, and Ioannis Tsitos. All of the current directors will be standing for re-election as directors at the Meeting.
NI 58-101 suggests that the Board of a public company should be constituted with a majority of individuals who qualify as “independent” directors. An “independent” director is a director who is independent of management and is free from any interest and any business or other relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to materially interfere with the director’s ability to act with a view to the best interests of the Company, other than interests and relationships arising from shareholding. In addition, where a company has a significant shareholder, NP 58-101 suggests that the Board should include a number of directors who do not have interests in either the company or the significant shareholder. Of the proposed nominees, Vivian Katsuris, and Ioannis Tsitos are considered by the Board to be “independent” within the meaning of NP 58-101, and Stephen Hanson (CEO) is considered to be “nonindependent”.
The independent directors exercise their responsibilities for independent oversight of management and meet independently of management whenever deemed necessary.
Each member of the Board understands that he or she is entitled, at the cost of the Company, to seek the advice of an independent expert if he or she reasonably considers it warranted under the circumstances. No director found it necessary to do so during the financial year ended September 30, 2023.
Directorships
The Company’s directors are not directors of other reporting companies, except as follows:
Stephen Hanson – is a director of International Frontier Resources Corp.
Ioannis Tsitos – is a director of each of Goldsource Mines Inc.; Soma Gold Corp.; Colossus Resources Corp.; and Altamira Gold Corp.
Vivian Katsuris – is a director of each of Colossus Resources Corp; and Zenith Capital Corporation;
Orientation and Continuing Education
New directors are briefed on the Company’s overall strategic plans, short, medium- and long-term corporate objectives, financials status, general business risks and mitigation strategies, and existing company policies. There is no formal orientation for new members of the Board. This is considered to be appropriate, given the Company’s size and current level of operations, the ongoing interaction amongst the directors and the low director turn-over. However, if the growth of the Company’s operations warrants it, a formal orientation process will be implemented.
The skills and knowledge of the Board as a whole is such that no formal continuing education process is currently deemed required. Board members are encouraged to communicate with management and auditors to keep themselves current with industry trends and developments and changes in legislation, with management’s assistance. The directors are advised that, if a director believes that it would be appropriate to attend any continuing education event for corporate directors, the Company will pay for the cost thereof. Board members have full access to the Company’s records. Reference is made to the table under the heading “Election of Directors” for a description of the current principal occupations of the members of the Board.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has not adopted a written Code of Ethical Conduct for its directors, officers and employees at this time. The Board monitors the ethical conduct of the Company and ensures that it complies with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, such as those of relevant securities commissions and stock exchanges. The Board has found
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that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by governing corporate legislation and the common law, as well as the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on the individual director’s participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest, have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
In addition, as some of the directors of the Company also serve as directors and officers of other companies engaged in similar business activities, the Board must comply with the conflict of interest provisions of the British Columbia Business Corporations Act , as well as the relevant securities regulatory instruments, in order to ensure that directors exercise independent judgment in considering transactions and agreements in respect of which a director or officer has a material interest. Any interested director would be required to declare the nature and extent of his interest and would not be entitled to vote at meetings of directors which evoke any such conflict.
Nomination of Directors
The Company’s management is continually in contact with individuals and reporting issuers involved in the both the agricultural industry and technology driven companies. From these sources the Company has made numerous contacts and in the event that the Company were in a position to nominate any new directors, such individuals would be brought to the attention of the Board. The Company conducts the due diligence, reference and background checks on any suitable candidate. New nominees must have a track record in general business management, special expertise in an area of strategic interest to the Company, the ability to devote the time required and a willingness to serve the Company.
Board Committees
The Company currently has only an Audit Committee in place.
Assessments
Neither the Company nor the Board has determined formal means or methods to regularly assess the Board, its committees or the individual directors with respect to their effectiveness and contributions. Effectiveness is subjectively measured by comparing actual corporate results with stated objectives. The contributions of any individual director are informally monitored by the other Board members, having in mind the business strengths of the individual and the purpose of originally nominating the individual to the Board.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
Management functions of the Company are generally performed by directors and senior officers of the Company and not, to any substantial degree, by any other person to whom the Company has contracted.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
A. Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the reports of the auditor, and related management discussion and analysis (together, the “financial statements”) will be placed before the Meeting for discussion. No formal action will be taken at the Meeting to approve the financial statements.
B. Election of Directors
Although Management is only nominating three individuals to stand for election, the names of further nominees for directors may come from the floor at the Meeting.
The directors of the Company are elected annually and hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed. Management proposes to nominate the persons listed below for election as directors of the Company to serve until their successors are elected or appointed. In the absence
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of instructions to the contrary, Proxies given pursuant to the solicitation by Management will be voted for the nominees listed in this Information Circular. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director.
The following table sets out the names of the persons to be nominated for election as directors, the positions and offices which they presently hold with the Company, their respective principal occupations or employments during the past five years if such nominee is not presently an elected director and the number of shares of the Company which each beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised as of the date of this Information Circular:
| Name, Province/State and Country of Residence and Other Positions, if any, held with the Company |
Date First Became a Director |
Principal Occupation | Number of Shares1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN HANSON2 British Columbia, Canada CEO, President and Director |
Nov. 6, 2020 | Director and CEO of the Company. President of Channel Capital since 2002, a private venture capital consulting firm. Independent director of International Frontier Resources Corp., a public company that operates oil and gas assets in Mexico; Executive, director and advisor of several private and public resource companies. Previously Chairman and Managing Director of Van Arbor Asset Management, a money management firm, from 2004 until 2008, which he founded in 2003. |
5,475,000 |
| VIVIAN KATSURIS2 British Columbia, Canada Director2 |
Nov. 6, 2020 | President of Vivkor Holdings Inc. since August 2014, a private company that provides corporate and administrative services to public and private companies. Prior thereto, an Investment Advisor at Global Securities Corp., a brokerage firm, for 10 years and Canaccord Capital, a brokerage firm (US and CDN divisions) for 10 years. |
1,050,000 |
| IOANNIS TSITOS2 British Columbia, Canada Director |
Dec. 21, 2020 | President & Director of Goldsource Mines Inc., a TSXV listed company with mineral property interests in Guyana. Director and Audit Committee Chair of Soma Gold Corp., a TSXV listed company with a producing gold mine and other mineral property interests in Colombia. Director and member of the Audit Committees of both Colossus Resources Corp (TSXV) and Altamira Gold Corp (TSXV). New Business Manager for the Global Mineral Exploration team for BHP till 2009 |
NIL |
-
Information as to voting shares beneficially owned, not being within the knowledge of the Company, has been furnished by the respective nominees individually.
-
Member of Audit Committee.
None of the proposed nominees for election as a director of the Company are proposed for election pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between the nominee and any other person, except the directors and senior officers of the Company acting solely in such capacity.
Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions
No proposed director is, as at the date of this Information Circular, or has been within 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Company) that:
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-
(a) was subject to an order that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
-
(b) was subject to an order that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
For the purposes hereof, the term “order” means:
-
(a) a cease trade order;
-
(b) an order similar to a cease trade order; or
-
(c) an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation,
that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
No proposed director:
-
(a) is, as at the date of this Information Circular, or has been within the 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while such person was acting in such capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver-manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or
-
(b) has, within 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or has a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director.
Except as disclosed herein, no proposed director has been subject to:
-
(a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or
-
(b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
C. Appointment of Auditor
Management of the Company has recommended to the Board that the Company propose Charlton & Company, Chartered Professional Accountants, the incumbent auditors, to the shareholders for re-election as the Company’s auditors. Accordingly, unless such authority is withheld, the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote for the reappointment of Charlton & Company, as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year, until the close of the next annual general meeting of shareholders, at a remuneration to be fixed by the directors. Charlton & Company was appointed to the position of auditor of the Company on or about January 24, 2020.
OTHER MATTERS
Management knows of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. Should any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the shares represented by the Proxy solicited hereby will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting by proxy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information regarding the Company and its business activities is available on the SEDAR+ website located at www.sedarplus.ca under “Company Profiles – ACME Lithium Inc.”. The Company’s audited financial statements and management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) for the financial year ended September 30, 2023 are available for review under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+. Shareholders may contact the Company to request copies of
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the financial statements and MD&A by mail to Corporate Secretary, at 318 - 1199 W Pender Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2R1.
BOARD APPROVAL
The contents of this Information Circular have been approved and its mailing authorized by the directors of the Company.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 12[th] day of April, 2024.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Stephen Hanson”
Stephen Hanson Chief Executive Officer
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APPENDIX I
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
ACME LITHIUM INC.
(“ ACME ” or the “ Company ”)
Purpose and Composition
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is responsible to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company in fulfilling the Board’s obligations and oversight responsibilities relating to financial planning, the audit process, the external Auditor, financial reporting, the system of corporate controls and risk management, and when required, to make recommendations to the full Board for approval. The Committee is accountable to the Board.
Management is responsible for the preparation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the related reports and the related disclosures and for maintaining appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and internal controls and procedures designed to ensure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
The external Auditor is responsible for planning and carrying out, in accordance with professional standards, an audit of ACME’s annual financial statements and where applicable internal controls over financial reporting. The external Auditor will report directly to ACME’s Audit Committee.
In the process of overseeing ACME’s audit procedures, the Audit Committee will have unrestricted access to ACME’s personnel and documents, and will be provided with the resources necessary to carry out its responsibilities, including the authorization to engage and set the pay of independent counsel and other advisors.
Procedural Matters
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I. Composition and Quorum
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a. The Committee will be composed of a minimum of three directors and no more than five directors.
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b. The majority of the Audit Committee members must not have any direct or indirect association with ACME which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of the member’s independent judgement.
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c. The Audit Committee members must not have any direct or indirect association with the external Auditors, which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of the member’s independent judgement.
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d. The Board, on the recommendation of the Board Chair, appoints the Committee Chair (the “Chair”) and members who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board until their successors are duly appointed.
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e. Committee members shall have a degree of financial literacy deemed appropriate by the Board. Financial literacy is a committee member’s ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the ACME’s financial statements.
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f. In addition, at least one member of the Committee should have a financial designation or relevant financial management expertise.
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g. A majority of independent members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
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h. The Committee may, from time to time, delegate to its Chair certain powers or responsibilities that the Committee itself may have hereunder.
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II. Meetings
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a. The Committee shall meet a minimum of four times per year.
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b. The Committee may choose to hold additional meetings if considered necessary for it to carry out its responsibilities effectively.
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c. The Chair shall prepare an agenda for each meeting based on the Committee work calendar developed in response to the Committee Charter.
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d. The agenda and any pre-reading material for each meeting will be circulated to the members in advance as outlined in the work calendar.
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e. Minutes of each meeting must be prepared and circulated to the Board. When a Board meeting closely follows a Committee meeting, the Chair will provide a verbal report to the Board and the minutes will be circulated in advance of the next Board meeting.
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f. The Chair shall:
-
i. confer with one or more Committee members on any matter to be discussed at a Committee meeting, if in the Chair’s opinion, the discussion of that matter at the Committee meeting would probably be thereby enhanced;
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ii. ensure the Committee has the opportunity to meet in separate closed sessions with internal personnel or outside advisors, as needed or appropriate;
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iii. schedule regular sessions of the non-executive directors without the presence of management;
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iv. use his/her best efforts to provide or to cause to be provided to the Board a reasonable time in advance of each Board meeting all reasonably required and available information relating to each matter to be dealt with by the Board at that meeting; and
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v. approve the general nature and length of all presentations to be made at each Board meeting and review every written presentation to be made to the Board or to any committee of the Board before such written presentation is provided to Directors.
Duties and Responsibilities
III. Financial Planning
The Committee will review and make recommendations to the Board in respect of:
-
a) financial plans and budgets forwarded to the Board for approval;
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b) the appropriateness and validity of any material assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of such plans or budgets; and
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c) the consistency of the plans and budgets with strategic plans and initiatives approved by the Board.
IV. Financial Reporting
The Committee will perform the following duties:
-
a) maintain oversight of the selection of accounting policies, estimates and judgements used in preparation of the financial statements, including consideration of relevant alternatives and nonGAAP measures used in the preparation of the management discussion and analysis;
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b) review and approve internal financial statements and report to the Board;
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c) review and recommend to the Board for approval the:
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i. annual audited financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto;
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ii. management discussion and analysis that accompanies the audited financial statements;
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iii. significant financial reports made publicly available or required by legislation or the government; and
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iv. news releases disclosing any annual or interim financial results or other significant financial information that has not been previously released to the public.
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V. External Audit
The Committee will:
-
a) recommend to the Board the re-appointment of the external Auditor on an annual basis by performing an annual review of the external review,
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b) complete a comprehensive review of the external Auditor at least every five years,
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c) in the event the Committee does not recommend re-appointment or the external Auditor is unable to accept re-appointment, will oversee the steps for an orderly transition to new auditors;
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d) review the terms of engagement of the external Auditor and the reasonableness of proposed fees;
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e) review and recommend on an annual basis the actual fees paid to the external Auditor;
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f) review and approve the annual audit plan;
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g) confirm the independence of the external Auditor, including;
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i. receiving from the external Auditors on a periodic basis a statement delineating all relationships between ACME and the external auditors consistent with Canadian professional standards for auditors;
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ii. Reviewing and discussing annually with the Board, and the external Auditor, any relationship or services between ACME and the external Auditor that may impact their objectivity and independence;
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iii. Confirming the external Auditor is not registered as a participating audit firm and is independent from any other participating audit firm.
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h) discuss with the external auditor any problems experienced in conducting the audit including any issues with management’s co-operation or disagreements with management regarding the financial statements or disclosure;
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i) discuss with the external Auditor any significant findings and recommendations;
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j) meet with the external Auditor at least once per year without management present;
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k) review and approve any non-audit services with the external firm and with any participating audit firms in excess of the lower of 5% of previous year audit fees or $5,000.
VI. Internal Controls
The Committee will:
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a) through discussions with management and the external Auditors, obtain reasonable assurance that ACME has implemented appropriate systems of internal control:
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i. over financial reporting and that these systems are operating effectively;
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ii. to ensure compliance with its policies and procedures and that these systems are operating effectively; and
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iii. to identify, monitor, mitigate and report significant financial or operational risk exposures and that these systems are operating effectively;
-
-
b) review with management on at least an annual basis any legal matters that could have a significant impact on ACME’s financial statements;
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c) review the evaluation of internal controls by the external Auditor, where applicable, including any recommendations for improvement of ACME’s accounting procedures and internal controls, together with management’s response; and
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d) direct the external Auditor’s examinations to any particular areas of concern with respect to internal controls.
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VII. Risk Management
The Committee will:
- a) review on a quarterly basis management’s assessment of any material changes to the risk matrix of financial and non-financial risks to the organization including any changes in the probability of these risks;
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b) review on a quarterly basis the results of management’s assessment of the protocols governing the active extremely high-risk situations (the ““Watch List”), and management’s updates to the “Watch List” on a non-disclosure basis;
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c) review environmental risks and controls including disaster recovery plans;
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d) review the Company’s controls over confidential and private information;
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e) review insurance coverage for material business risks annually; and
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f) review director and officer insurance coverage annually.
VIII.
Whistleblower Policy
The Committee will establish, review and assess procedures for receipt (including confidential) retention and treatment of submissions of concerns in relation to questionable accounting, auditing, financial reporting, disclosure or other financially related improprieties by ACME employees and Directors. The Committee should ensure that employees will not suffer any recourse for acting in good faith when making such claims.
IX. Performance Evaluation
The performance evaluation for the Board and its Committees will be evolve to suit the complexity, size and scope of the business. Notwithstanding, the Committee Chair and the members will complete an annual selfevaluation for the committee and themselves as individual committee members.
X. Other Responsibilities
The Committee will:
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a) annually evaluate the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board;
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b) Review the appointment of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and any other key financial executive involved in the financial reporting process;
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c) Review the Chief Financial Officer position with Chief Executive Officer - review of annual salary, annual performance and any changes in roles/responsibilities;
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d) Annually review performance of Audit Committee Chair;
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e) Review and approve expense limits of Board, Management and Employees;
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f) Review compliance with withholding and remittance obligations with respect to employees;
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g) Review and approve the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and form external auditor of the Company; and
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h) Perform such other functions and exercise such other powers as prescribed from time to time for the audit committee of a reporting company in Parts 2 and 4 of National Instrument 52-110 of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the articles of the Company.
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