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Trident Resources Corp. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2025
Feb 12, 2025
43917_rns_2025-02-12_0c7e6892-4165-4161-9de0-76af7251aaab.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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EROS RESOURCES CORP.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The board of directors of Eros Resources Corp. (“Eros” or the “Corporation”) invites you to attend the special meeting of the shareholders (“Shareholders”) of the Corporation (the “Meeting”) to be held on March 25, 2025 at the Corporation’s offices at Suite 1030-505 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V7X 1M5, at 10:00 A.M. (Vancouver time) for the following purposes:
- to consider, and if deemed appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, a special resolution, to repeal the existing articles of the Corporation and approve the adoption of new articles of the Corporation (the “Articles of Amendment Resolution”), as more particularly described in the accompanying management information circular of the Corporation dated February 10, 2025 (the “Information Circular”);
- to consider, and if deemed appropriate, to approve, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution to approve the adoption by the Corporation of a new long term incentive plan, to supersede and replace the Corporation’s existing stock option plan, the full text of which resolution is set out in the accompanying Information Circular (the “Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution”); and
- to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment of the Meeting.
Eros intends to hold the Meeting in person. Access to the Meeting will, subject to the articles of the Corporation, be limited to essential personnel and registered Shareholders and proxyholders entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting.
Each common share of the Corporation will entitle the holder thereof to one vote at the Meeting. The Articles of Amendment Resolution must be approved by at least 66⅔% of the votes cast by Shareholders eligible to vote on the subject matter thereof present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. The Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution must be approved by a majority of the votes cast by Shareholders eligible to vote on the subject matter thereof present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting.
The board of directors of the Corporation has fixed the close of business on February 4, 2025 (the “Record Date”) as the record date for determining the Shareholders who are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Only registered Shareholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to attend and vote at the Meeting.
The Information Circular contains the full text of the Articles of Amendment Resolution, and provides additional information relating to such resolution and the subject matter of the Meeting, and is deemed to form part of this notice of special meeting (this “Notice”)
Eros is using notice-and-access to provide Shareholders with electronic access to this Notice and the Information Circular (collectively, the “Meeting Materials”), instead of mailing paper copies. The Meeting Materials are available on Eros’ profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on Eros’ website (www.erosresourcescorp.com). Shareholders will receive a notice in the mail giving instructions on how to request a paper copy of the Information Circular free of charge.
Notwithstanding the Meeting will be held in person, Eros encourages Shareholders to date and sign the form of proxy and return it in the envelope provided, or, alternatively, to vote by telephone, or over the internet, in each case in accordance with the enclosed instructions. To be used at the Meeting, the completed proxy form must be deposited at the office of Computershare Investor Services Inc. (“Computershare”),
(i)
Proxy Department, 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1 (Fax: 1-866-249-7779 (toll free within North America) or (416) 263-9524 (outside North America)) in accordance with the instructions included thereon. Non-registered Shareholders who receive these materials through their broker or other intermediary should complete and send the form of proxy or voting instruction form in accordance with the instructions provided by their broker or intermediary. To be effective, a proxy or voting instructions form, as applicable, must be received by Computershare not later than 10:00 A.M (Vancouver time) on March 21, 2025 or in the case of any postponement or adjournment of the Meeting, not less than 48 hours, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excepted, prior to the time of the postponed or adjourned Meeting. Late proxies may be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the Chair of the Meeting, provided that the Chair of the Meeting is under no obligation to accept or reject any particular late proxy.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, February 10, 2025.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Jonathan Wiesblatt"
Jonathan Wiesblatt
Chief Executive Officer
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EROS RESOURCES CORP.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
(Containing information as at February 10, 2025, unless indicated otherwise)
VOTING AND PROXY RELATED INFORMATION
Solicitation of Proxies
This management information circular (“Information Circular”) is provided in connection with the solicitation of proxies by management of Eros Resources Corp. (“Eros” or the “Corporation”) for a special meeting of shareholders (“Shareholders”) of the Corporation (the “Meeting”) to be held on March 25, 2025 at the Corporation’s offices at Suite 1030-505 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V7X 1M5, at 10:00 A.M. (Vancouver time), and at any adjournment of the Meeting, for the purposes set out in the accompanying Notice of the Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Notice”).
Solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, but may be supplemented by solicitation personally by directors, officers and employees of Eros without additional compensation. In accordance with National Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners (“NI 54-101”), arrangements have been made with brokerage houses and other intermediaries, clearing agencies, custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of common shares of the Corporation (“Common Shares”) held by such persons and the Corporation may reimburse such person for reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by them in doing so. The cost of such solicitation will be borne by the Corporation.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this Information Circular and, if given or made, such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Corporation. The delivery of this Information Circular shall not, under any circumstances, create an implication that there has not been any change in the information set forth herein since the date thereof.
Notice-and-Access
Eros is using notice-and-access to provide Shareholders with electronic access to the Notice and this Information Circular (collectively, the “Meeting Materials”) pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”) and NI 54-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Pursuant to the notice-and-access provisions, registered Shareholders and non-registered Shareholders will be sent a notice package explaining how to access the Meeting Materials and containing a form of proxy or voting instruction form, as applicable. The Meeting Materials are available on Eros’ profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on Eros’ website (www.erosresourcescorp.com). Shareholders will receive a notice in the mail giving instructions on how to request a paper copy of the Information Circular free of charge.
Voting of Proxies
The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are directors and/or officers of the Corporation (“Management Designees”) and have indicated their willingness to represent, as proxy, the Shareholder who appoints them. Each Shareholder may instruct his proxy how to vote or withhold from voting his Common Shares by completing the form of proxy.
If you have appointed a Management Designee to act and vote on your behalf as provided in the enclosed form of proxy and you do not provide any instructions concerning a matter identified in the Notice, the Common Shares represented by such proxy will be voted FOR the Articles of Amendment Resolution (as defined herein).
The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the person indicated in the form 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. At the time of printing of the Information Circular, the management of the Corporation knows of no such amendments, variations, or other matters to come before the Meeting other than the matters referred to in the Notice and the Information Circular. If any matters which are not now known to the directors and senior officers of the Corporation should properly come before the Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
Registered Shareholder Voting
You are a registered Shareholder if your Common Shares are held in your name and your name is entered in Eros' register of Common Shares.
Voting Options
- In person at the Meeting (not recommended - see below);
- By form of proxy (see below and instructions on the form of proxy);
- By telephone (see instructions on the form of proxy); or
- By internet (see instructions on the form of proxy).
Voting in Person
Eros encourages Shareholders to date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it in the envelope provided, or, alternatively, to vote by telephone, or over the internet, in each case in accordance with the enclosed instructions. To be used at the Meeting, the completed proxy form must be deposited at the office of Computershare Investor Services Inc., Proxy Department, 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1 (Fax: 1-866-249-7779 (toll free within North America) or (416) 263-9524 (outside North America)) in accordance with the instructions included thereon. To be effective, a proxy or voting instructions form, as applicable, must be received by Computershare by 10:00 A.M. (Vancouver time) on March 21, 2025 or in the case of any postponement or adjournment of the Meeting, not less than 48 hours, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excepted, prior to the time of the postponed or adjourned Meeting. Late proxies may be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the Chair of the Meeting, provided the Chair of the Meeting is under no obligation to accept or reject any particular late proxy.
If you plan to attend the Meeting and wish to vote your shares in person, do not complete or return the enclosed form of proxy. Your vote will be taken and counted at the Meeting. Please register with the scrutineer when you arrive at the Meeting.
Eros encourages Shareholders to vote in advance of the Meeting using the voting instruction form or the form of proxy mailed to them with the Meeting Materials.
Voting by Proxy
Whether or not you attend the Meeting, you can appoint someone else to attend and vote as your proxyholder. You can use the enclosed form of proxy or any other proper form of proxy to do this. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are officers of the Corporation. You can also choose another person to be your proxyholder by printing that person's name in the space provided. Then complete the rest of the form of proxy, sign it and return it. You may also appoint a proxyholder via internet by following the instructions on the accompanying form of proxy. Your votes can only be counted if the person you appointed attends the Meeting and votes on your behalf. If you have voted by proxy, you may not vote in person at the Meeting, unless you revoke your proxy.
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Unless you have appointed your proxyholder via telephone or the internet, return your completed form of proxy in the envelope provided or fax it so that it arrives by 10:00 A.M. (Vancouver time) on March 21, 2025 or if the Meeting is adjourned at least 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) before the time set for the Meeting to resume.
Revoking Your Proxy
You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Meeting. If you or the person you give your proxy to personally attends the Meeting, you or such person may revoke the proxy and vote in person. In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a proxy may be revoked by an instrument in writing executed by you or your attorney authorized in writing or, if you are a corporation, under your corporate seal or by a duly authorized officer or attorney of the corporation. To be effective the instrument in writing must be deposited either at: (i) Suite 1030-505 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V7X 1M5, at any time up to and including the last business day before the day of the Meeting, or (ii) any adjournment thereof, at which the proxy is to be used, or with the Chair of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof.
Beneficial Shareholder Voting
Most of Eros' Shareholders are beneficial Shareholders. You are a beneficial Shareholder if the Common Shares you own are registered in the name of an intermediary or nominee such as a bank, trust company, securities broker, trustee or other nominee, and not in your name. The Meeting Materials are being sent to both registered and non-registered Shareholders.
There are two kinds of beneficial Shareholders: those who object to their names being made known to Eros, referred to as objecting beneficial owners ("OBOs"), and those who do not object to the Corporation knowing who they are, referred to as non-objecting beneficial owners ("NOBOs"). If you are not a registered Shareholder, and Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. ("Broadridge" - Eros's agent) has sent these materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of securities have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the intermediary holding on your behalf. By choosing to send these materials to you directly, the intermediary holding on your behalf has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering these materials to you, and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions. Please return your voting instructions as specified in the request for voting instructions.
The Meeting Materials for OBOs will be distributed through clearing houses and intermediaries, who often use a service company such as Broadridge to forward Meeting Materials to non-registered Shareholders.
Voting Options
- In person at the Meeting (not recommended - see below);
- By voting instruction (see below and instructions on the voting instruction form);
- By telephone (see instructions on the voting instruction form); or
- By internet (see instructions on the voting instruction form).
Voting in Person
Eros encourages Shareholders to date and sign the enclosed form of proxy or voting instruction form and return it in the envelope provided, or, alternatively, to vote by telephone, or over the internet, in each case in accordance with the enclosed instructions. Non-registered Shareholders who receive these materials through their broker or other intermediary should complete and send the form of proxy or voting instruction form in accordance with the instructions provided by their broker or intermediary. Late proxies may be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the Chair of the Meeting, provided the Chair of the Meeting is under no obligation to accept or reject any particular late proxy.
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If you plan to attend the Meeting and wish to vote your Common Shares in person, insert your own name in the space provided on the enclosed form of proxy or voting instruction form. Then follow the signing and return instructions provided by your nominee. Your vote will be taken and counted at the Meeting, so do not complete the voting instructions on the form. Please register with the scrutineer when you arrive at the Meeting.
Voting Instructions
Whether or not you attend the Meeting you can appoint someone else to attend and vote as your proxyholder. Use the enclosed form of proxy or voting instruction form to do this. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy or voting instruction form are directors and/or officers of the Corporation. You can also choose another person to be your proxyholder by printing that person's name in the space provided or, if provided for in the accompanying form of proxy or voting instruction form, by appointing a proxy via the internet in accordance with the instructions thereon. Then complete the rest of the form of proxy or voting instruction form, sign it and return it. Your votes can only be counted if the person you appoint attends the Meeting and votes on your behalf. If you have sent in your form of proxy or voting instruction form, you may not vote again at the Meeting unless you revoke your instructions.
Revoking Voting Instructions
Follow the procedure provided by your nominee. Your nominee must receive your request to revoke the instructions prior to 10:00 A.M. (Vancouver time) on March 21, 2025. This will give your nominee time to submit the revocation to Eros.
Voting Shares and Principal Holders
The directors of the Corporation have fixed February 4, 2025, as the record date for determination of the persons entitled to receive notice of the Meeting (the "Record Date"). The authorized capital of Eros consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares (the "Preferred Shares"), of which 232,190,429 Common Shares and 2,352,000 Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding as of the Record Date.
Each Common Share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters to come before the Meeting. The Preferred Shares do not carry voting rights. No group of Shareholders has the right to elect a specified number of directors nor are there cumulative or similar voting rights attached to the Common Shares.
Shareholders as of the Record Date are entitled to vote their Common Shares except to the extent that they have transferred the ownership of any of their shares after the Record Date. The transferees of those Common Shares must produce properly endorsed share certificates or otherwise establish that they own the shares, and demand, not later than 10 days before the Meeting, that their name be included in the Shareholder list before the Meeting, in which case the transferees are entitled to vote their Common Shares at the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Corporation, there are no persons beneficially owning, directly or indirectly, shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all shares of Eros as of the date of this Information Circular.
Quorum for Meeting
At the Meeting, a quorum shall consist of one or more persons either present in person or represented by proxy and representing in the aggregate not less than 5% of the outstanding Common Shares. If a quorum is not present at the time appointed for the Meeting or within a reasonable time thereafter that the Shareholders may determine, the Shareholders present or represented may adjourn the Meeting to a fixed time and place but may not transact any other business.
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INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CORPORATION
The Corporation’s head office and registered office is located at 420-789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 1H2. The Corporation was incorporated in British Columbia on March 26, 1981 as “Cora Resources Ltd.”. On November 19, 2003, the Corporation changed its name to “Boss Gold Corp.”. On July 11, 2005, the Corporation changed its name to “Boss Gold International Corp.”. On June 14, 2007, the Corporation changed its name to “Boss Power Corp.”. On July 21, 2015, the Corporation changed its name to its current name, “Eros Resources Corp.”. The Common Shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) under the symbol “ROCK”.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No director or executive officer of the Corporation, or any of their respective associates or affiliates, is or has at any time since the commencement of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, been indebted to the Corporation or to any other entity, or at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year is, or 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 the Joint Circular (as defined herein), under the heading titled “Interests of Certain Persons in the Transaction”, which is incorporated by reference herein, no “informed person” (as defined in NI 51-102) of the Corporation nor any of their associates or affiliates, has or has had any interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Corporation’s last financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Corporation. A copy of the Joint Circular can be found on the Corporation’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Upon request, the Corporation will provide a copy of the Joint Circular at no cost to the Shareholder.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None of the directors or officers 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 Information Circular.
AUDITOR
The current auditor of the Corporation is Kenway Mack Slusarchuk Stewart LLP (“KMSS”), Chartered Professional Accountants with its office located at 150 13 Avenue SW, Suite 300, Calgart, Alberta T2R 0V2. KMSS is independent of the Corporation within the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. KMSS was first appointed as an independent auditor of the Corporation on January 8, 2024.
INFORMATION ON MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING
Approval of New Articles
The Corporation wishes to adopt new articles of the Corporation, which will replace the Corporation’s existing articles in their entirety, to better align the Corporation’s articles with the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”). The new articles of the Corporation (the “New Articles”) are attached as Schedule “A” hereto.
The New Articles permit the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) to, among other things, subdivide or consolidate all or any of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation and change the name of the Corporation. This is not intended to be a complete summary of the New Articles and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the New Articles attached as Schedule “A” hereto.
On January 24, 2025, the Corporation completed its previously announced three-way merger transaction with MAS Gold Corp. (“MAS”) and Rockridge Resources Ltd. (“ROCK”), whereby it acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MAS and ROCK (the “Transaction”), pursuant to a business combination agreement dated September 30, 2024, among the Corporation, MAS and ROCK (the “Business Combination Agreement”), all as further detailed in the joint management information circular of the Corporation, MAS and ROCK dated November 26, 2024 (the “Joint Circular”). A copy of the Joint Circular can be found on the Corporation’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Further to the Business Combination Agreement and the completion of the Transaction, the adoption of the New Articles would permit the Corporation to complete the previously disclosed consolidation of the Common Shares on the basis of (10) pre-consolidation Common Shares for every one (1) post-consolidation Common Share (the “Consolidation”), as further described in the Joint Circular, and to change the name of the Corporation to “Trident Resources Corp.”, or such other name as the Board, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate (the “Name Change”). The Corporation intends to complete the Consolidation and Name Change as soon as reasonably practicable following adoption of the New Articles.
The Board believes it is in the best interests of the Corporation to repeal the existing articles and adopt the New Articles. At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, approve a special resolution to approve the New Articles (the “Articles of Amendment Resolution”), in substantially the form set forth below:
“BE IT RESOLVED as a special resolution that:
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Eros Resources Corp. (the “Corporation”) be and is hereby authorized to repeal in their entity the existing articles of the Corporation, and the form of articles attached as Schedule “A” (the “New Articles”) to the management information circular of the Corporation dated February 10, 2025 be adopted as the new articles of the Corporation, in substitution for, and to the exclusion of the existing articles;
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the board of directors of the Corporation is hereby authorized to make any technical or clerical amendments, deletions or alterations to the New Articles, as may be considered necessary or advisable by any officer or director of the Corporation, including in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia);
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any director or officer of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed, acting for, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, to execute or cause to be executed, to deliver or cause to be delivered and to file or cause to be filed, all such notices, documents and instruments (including the New Articles), and to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things, as may in the opinion of such director or officer be necessary or desirable to carry out this resolution; and
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notwithstanding the approval of this special resolution by the shareholders of the Corporation, the board of directors of the Corporation is authorized and empowered to revoke this resolution at any time before giving effect to the adoption of the New Articles and to determine not to proceed with the adoption of the New Articles without further approval, ratification or confirmation by the shareholders of the Corporation.
In order to be effective, the Articles of Amendment Resolution must be approved by not less than 66⅔% of the votes cast by those Shareholders of the Corporation, entitled to do so, in person or by proxy at the Meeting in respect of the Articles of Amendment Resolution.
Proxies received in favour of management will be voted FOR the Articles of Amendment Resolution, unless the Shareholder has specified in the proxy that his, her or its Common Shares are to be withheld or voted against such resolution.
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Approval of New Long Term Incentive Plan
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution to approve the adoption by the Corporation of a new long term incentive plan (the “Long-Term Incentive Plan”), substantially in the form attached as Schedule “B” to this Information Circular, in accordance with the applicable policies of the TSXV. The Long-Term Incentive Plan will supersede and replace the Corporation’s existing stock option plan. The full text of the resolution in respect of the approval of the Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution”) is set forth below under the heading “Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution”.
Currently, the sole security-based compensation plan which the Corporation has available to attract, retain and motivate directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation or the Corporation’s subsidiaries, is the Corporation’s stock option plan last approved by Shareholders at the shareholders’ meeting held on September 24, 2024 (the “Stock Option Plan”). Assuming the Long-Term Incentive Plan becomes effective, any existing stock options of the Corporation (“Options”) granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan will continue to be outstanding as Options granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, provided however, that all such Options will remain in force in accordance with their existing terms.
The Long-Term Incentive Plan will become effective upon receipt of Shareholder and TSXV approval. At such time, the Long-Term Incentive Plan will supersede the Stock Option Plan and Options will no longer be granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan and will only be granted pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Long-Term Incentive Plan has been conditionally approved by the TSXV and is subject to confirmation and approval by the Shareholders of the Corporation and satisfying the requirements of the TSXV, including the filing of applicable documentation. The Long-Term Incentive Plan is a “rolling up to 10%” plan, as such term is defined in TSXV Policy 4.4, and at all times when the Corporation is listed on the TSXV, the Corporation must seek annual TSXV and Shareholder approval for the Long-Term Incentive Plan in conformity with TSXV Policy 4.4.
The Board believes it is in the best interests of the Corporation to adopt the Long-Term Incentive Plan, which will provide the Board with the ability and flexibility to make broader and different forms of equity awards as part of its strategy to maintain a competitive compensation structure for its directors, officers, employees and consultants and other eligible service providers providing ongoing services to the Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Participants”). The following awards may be granted pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan: (i) Options; (ii) restricted share units (“RSUs”); (iii) deferred share units (“DSUs”); (iv) performance share units (“PSUs”); and (v) other share-based awards (the “Other Share-Based Awards”, and together with the Options, RSUs, DSUs and PSUs, the “Awards”). Only Common Shares may be subject to Awards. The following table is a summary of the Long-Term Incentive Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Long-Term Incentive Plan attached as Schedule “B” to this Information Circular. Any capitalized term not otherwise defined in this summary has the meaning ascribed to it in the Long-Term Incentive Plan.
| Eligible Participants | For all Awards, any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation who is eligible to receive Awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. |
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| Types of Awards | Options, PSUs, RSUs and DSUs. |
| Number of Securities Issued and Issuable | The aggregate number of common shares of the Corporation (the “Shares”) to be reserved and set aside for issue upon the exercise or redemption and settlement for all Awards granted under this Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with all other established security-based compensation arrangements of the Corporation, shall not exceed 10% of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding Shares as at the date of the applicable grant. In respect of PSUs, the maximum |
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Plan Limits
Shares issuable under the grant shall be included in the calculation for such purposes.
When combined with all of the Corporation’s other previously established security-based compensation arrangements, including the limitation imposed on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to the exercise or redemption and settlement of DSUs, PSUs and RSUs set out above, the Long-Term Incentive Plan shall not result in the grant:
- to any one person in any 12 month period which could, when exercised, result in the issuance of Shares exceeding five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation, calculated at the date of grant, unless the Corporation has obtained the requisite disinterested shareholder approval to the grant;
- to any one consultant in any 12 month period which could, when exercised, result in the issuance of Shares exceeding 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation, calculated at the date of grant;
- in any 12 month period, to any Investor Relations Service Provider, which could, when exercised, result in the issuance of Shares exceeding, in aggregate, 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation, calculated at the date of grant, provided that for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the Exchange, persons employed or engaged by the Corporation to perform Investor Relations Activities may not receive any Award other than Options;
- unless the Corporation has obtained Disinterested Shareholder approval, in any 12 month period, of a number of Shares issued or granted to Insiders exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation, calculated as at the date any Awards are granted or issued to any Insider; and
- unless the Corporation has obtained Disinterested Shareholder approval, where the aggregate number of Shares issuable to Insiders at any time exceeds 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares.
Definition of Market Price
“Market Price” means at any date in respect of the Shares shall be the last closing trading price of the Shares on the Exchange immediately preceding the Grant Date (or, if such Shares are not then listed and posted for trading on the Exchange, on such stock exchange on which the Shares are listed and posted for trading as may be selected for such purpose by the Board); provided that, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the Exchange, the Market Price shall not be less than the Market Price as defined in Policy 1.1; and provided, further, that with respect to an Option granted to a U.S. Taxpayer, such Participant and the number of Shares subject to such Award shall be identified by the Board or a committee of the Board prior to the start of the applicable five (5) trading day period. In the event that such Shares are not listed and posted for trading on any Exchange, the Market Price shall be the fair market value of such Shares as determined by the Board in its sole discretion and, with respect to an Award made to a U.S. Taxpayer, in accordance with Section 409A of the United
States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including any regulations promulgated thereunder.
Non-Assignability and Transfers of Awards
Except to the extent that certain rights may pass to a beneficiary or legal representative upon death of a Participant, by will or as required by law, no assignment or transfer of Awards, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, vests any interest or right in such Awards whatsoever in any assignee or transferee and immediately upon any assignment or transfer, or any attempt to make the same, such Awards will terminate and be of no further force or effect. To the extent that certain rights to exercise any portion of an outstanding Award pass to a beneficiary or legal representative upon death of a Participant, the period in which such Award can be exercised by such beneficiary or legal representative shall not exceed one year from the Participant’s death.
Amending Procedures
Discretion to Amend the Plan and Awards. The Board may, subject to any rules of the Exchange and approval rights of the Exchange, amend the Plan or Awards at any time without obtaining shareholder approval, provided, however, that no such amendment may materially and adversely affect any Award previously granted to a Participant without the consent of the Participant, except to the extent required by applicable law (including Exchange requirements). Any amendment under this Section shall be subject to all necessary regulatory approvals. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to such matters that require shareholder approval as set out under Amendments Requiring Shareholder Approval, the Board may, without shareholder approval, at any time or from time to time, amend the Plan for the purposes of:
(a) making any amendments to the general vesting provisions of each Award;
(b) making any amendments to add covenants of the Corporation for the protection of Participants, as the case may be, provided that the Board shall be of the good faith opinion that such additions will not be prejudicial to the rights or interests of the Participants, as the case may be;
(c) making any amendments not inconsistent with the Plan as may be necessary or desirable with respect to matters or questions which, in the good faith opinion of the Board, having in mind the best interests of the Participants, it may be expedient to make, including amendments that are desirable as a result of changes in law in any jurisdiction where a Participant resides, provided that the Board shall be of the opinion that such amendments and modifications will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Participants and directors; or
(d) making such changes or corrections which, on the advice of counsel to the Corporation, are required for the purpose of curing or correcting any ambiguity or defect or inconsistent provision or clerical omission or mistake or manifest error, provided that the Board shall be of the opinion that such changes or corrections will not be prejudicial to the rights and interests of the Participants.
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Amendments Requiring Shareholder Approval. Notwithstanding the above, and subject to any rules of the Exchange and approval rights of the Exchange, no amendments to the Plan or Awards to:
(a) increases the percentage of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding Shares from time to time that can be reserved for issuance under the Plan, except pursuant to the provisions in the Plan which permit the Board to make equitable adjustments in the event of transactions affecting the Corporation or its capital;
(b) increases or removes the 10% limits on Shares issuable or issued to Insiders;
(c) reduces the exercise price of an Award (for this purpose, a cancellation or termination of an Award of a Participant prior to its expiry date for the purpose of reissuing an Award to the same Participant with a lower exercise price shall be treated as an amendment to reduce the exercise price of an Option Award) except pursuant to the provisions in the Plan which permit the Board to make equitable adjustments in the event of transactions affecting the Corporation or its capital;
(d) extends the term of an Award beyond the original expiry date (except where an expiry date would have fallen within a Blackout Period applicable to the Participant);
(e) permits an Award to be exercisable beyond 10 years from its Grant Date (except where an expiry date would have fallen within a Blackout Period of the Corporation);
(f) increases or removes the limits on the participation of directors;
(g) permits Awards to be transferred to a Person;
(h) changes the eligible participants of the Plan;
(i) is a matter expressly subject to approval of the holders of Shares pursuant to the applicable rules of the Exchange;
(j) deletes or reduces the range of amendments which require approval of shareholders under this Section 13.2; or
(k) any other change that requires Disinterested Shareholder approval pursuant to Exchange Policy 4.4,
shall be made without obtaining approval of the shareholders or Disinterested Shareholders, of the Corporation, as applicable, in accordance with the requirements of the Exchange.
Financial Assistance The Corporation will not provide financial assistance to participants under the Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Other In the event of a change in control, the Board shall have the right, but not the obligation, to permit each participant to exercise all of the participant’s outstanding Options and to settle all of the participant’s outstanding PSUs, RSUs
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and DSUs, subject to any required approval of the Exchange and subject to completion of the change in control, and has the discretion to accelerate vesting
The Long-Term Incentive Plan further provides that if the expiry date or vesting date of Options is during a blackout period, the expiry date or vesting date, as applicable, will be automatically extended for a period of ten trading days following the end of the blackout period, subject to certain requirements of the Exchange, as set out in the Long-Term Incentive Plan. In the case of PSUs, RSUs and DSUs, any settlement that is effected during a blackout period shall be in the form of a cash payment.
Description of Awards
A. Stock Options
Stock Option Terms and Exercise Price
The number of shares subject to each Option grant, exercise price, vesting, expiry date and other terms and conditions are determined by the Board. The exercise price shall in no event be lower than the Market Price of the shares at the date of grant, less any allowable discounts.
Term
Options shall be for a fixed term and exercisable as determined by the Board, provided that no Option shall have a term exceeding ten years.
Vesting
All Options granted pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan will be subject to such vesting requirements as may be imposed by the Board, with all Options issued to any Investor Relations Service Providers vesting in stages over at least 12 months with no more than 1/4 of the Options vesting in any three-month period.
Exercise of Option
The participant may exercise Options by payment of the exercise price per share subject to each Option.
| Circumstances Involving Cessation of Entitlement to Participate | Reasons for Vesting | Expiry of Vested Options |
|---|---|---|
| Death | Unvested Options automatically vest as of the date of death. | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date of the Option and one year following the date of death. |
| Disability | Unvested Options automatically vest on the date the holder is determined to be disabled. | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date of the Option and one year following the date of disability. |
| Retirement | Unvested Options automatically vest on the date of retirement. | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date of the Option and one year following the date of retirement. |
| Resignation | Unvested Options as of the date of resignation | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date |
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| automatically terminate and shall be forfeited. | of the Option and 90 days following the date of resignation. | |
|---|---|---|
| Options granted to Investor Relations Service Providers expire on the scheduled expiry date of the Option and 30 days following the date of resignation, or as otherwise allowed by the Board. | ||
| Termination without Cause/Constructive Dismissal (No Change in Control) | Unvested Options automatically vest as of the termination date. | Options expire on the earlier of scheduled expiry date of the Option and 90 days following the termination date, or as otherwise allowed by the Board. |
| Change in Control | Options granted prior to the Effective Date shall vest and become immediately exercisable. | Expiry Date will be at the discretion of the Board. |
| Termination with Cause | Options whether vested or unvested as of the termination date, automatically terminate and shall be forfeited. | Options whether vested or unvested as of the termination date, automatically terminate and shall be forfeited. |
B. Performance Share Units
| PSU Terms | A PSU is a notional security but, unlike other equity-based incentives, vesting is contingent upon achieving certain performance criteria, thus ensuring greater alignment with the long-term interests of shareholders. The terms applicable to PSUs under the Long-Term Incentive Plan (including the performance cycle, performance criteria for vesting and whether dividend equivalents will be credited to a participant’s PSU account) are determined by the Board at the time of the grant |
|---|---|
| Vesting | PSUs do not vest, and cannot be paid out (settled), until the completion of the performance cycle. The performance cycle shall in no case end later than December 31 of the calendar year that is three years after the grant date and provided that in all cases, no PSUs may vest before the date that is one year following the Grant Date. |
| Settlement | At the grant date, the Board shall stipulate whether the PSUs are paid in cash, shares, or a combination of both, in an amount equal to the Market Value of the notional shares represented by the PSUs in the holders’ account. |
C. Restricted Share Units
| RSU Terms | An RSU is a notional security that entitles the recipient to receive cash or shares at the end of a vesting period. The terms applicable to RSUs under the Long-Term Incentive Plan (including the vesting schedule and whether dividend equivalents |
|---|---|
will be credited to a participant’s RSU account) are determined by the Board at the time of the grant.
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| Credit to RSU Account | As dividends are declared, additional RSUs may be credited to RSU holders in an amount equal to the greatest whole number which may be obtained by dividing (i) the value of such dividend or distribution on the record date established therefore by (ii) the Market Price of one share on such record date. |
|---|---|
| Vesting | RSUs vest upon lapse of the applicable restricted period. For employees, vesting generally occurs in three equal instalments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date. For directors, one third of the Award may be immediately vesting, with the balance vesting equally over the first two anniversaries of the grant date, provided that no RSUs may vest before the date that is one year following the Grant Date. |
| Settlement | At the grant date, the Board shall stipulate whether the RSUs are paid in cash, shares, or a combination of both, in an amount equal to the Market Value of the notional shares represented by the RSUs in the holders’ account |
| D. Deferred Share Units | |
| --- | --- |
| DSU Terms | A DSU is a notional security that entitles the recipient to receive cash or shares upon resignation from the Board (in the case of directors) or at the end of employment. The terms applicable to DSUs under the Long-Term Incentive Plan (including whether dividend equivalents will be credited to a participant’s DSU account) are determined by the Board at the time of the grant. |
| Typically, DSUs have been granted (i) as a component of a director’s annual retainer, or (ii) as a component of an officer’s annual incentive grant. The deferral feature strengthens alignment with the long-term interests of shareholders. | |
| Credit to DSU Account | As dividends are declared, additional DSUs may be credited to DSU holders in an amount equal to the greatest whole number which may be obtained by dividing (i) the value of such dividend or distribution on the record date established therefore by (ii) the Market Price of one share on such record date. |
| Vesting | DSUs vest either in accordance with the DSU Award Agreement, or immediately at the time it is credited to the Participant’s DSU Account, as applicable, provided that no DSU may vest before the date that is one year following the Grant Date. |
| Settlement | DSUs may only be settled after the date on which the holder ceases to be a director, officer or employee of the Corporation. At the grant date, the Board shall stipulate whether the DSUs are paid in cash, shares, or a combination of both, in an amount equal to the Market Value of the notional shares represented by the DSUs in the holders’ account. |
E. PSUs, RSUs and DSUs
| Circumstances Involving Cessation of | Reason for Termination | Treatment of Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Death | All outstanding PSUs, RSUs and DSUs shall vest as of the date of death and be available for settlement. |
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| Entitlement Participate | to | Retirement or Disability | or | All outstanding PSUs, RSUs and DSUs that were vested on or before the date of Retirement or Disability shall be available for settlement. All outstanding PSUs, RSUs and DSUs that were not vested on or before the date of Retirement or Disability shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms and, if any such PSUs, RSUs or DSus vest be shall be available for settlement. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resignation | Outstanding PSUs, RSUs and DSUs that were vested on or before the date of resignation shall be available for settlement as of the date of resignation, after which time all remaining PSUs, RSUs and DSUs shall in all respects terminate. | |||
| Termination without Cause/Constructive Dismissal (No Change in Control) | Outstanding PSUs, RSUs and DSUs that were vested on or before the termination date shall be available for settlement as of the termination date. Outstanding PSUs, RSUs and DSUs that would have vested on the next vesting date following the termination date shall be available for settlement as of such vesting date. Subject to the foregoing, any remaining PSUs, RSUs and DSUs shall in all respects terminate as of the termination date. | |||
| Change in Control plus Termination without Cause / Constructive Dismissal within 12 months of Change in Control | PSUs, RSUs and DSUs shall vest immediately prior to the termination date and be available for settlement. | |||
| Termination with Cause | Outstanding PSUs, RSUs and DSUs (whether vested or unvested) shall automatically terminate on the termination date and be forfeited. |
Any shares subject to an Award which for any reason expires without having been exercised or is forfeited or terminated shall again be available for future Awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan and any shares subject to an Award that is settled in cash and not shares shall again be available for future Awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution
To be approved, the Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution must be passed by a majority of the votes cast thereon at the Meeting. Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to consider and, if thought advisable, pass, the Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution in the following form:
"BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
- the adoption of the long-term incentive plan (the "Long-Term Incentive Plan"), substantially in the form attached as Schedule "B" to the management information circular of Eros Resources Copr. (the "Corporation") dated February 10, 2025, superseding and replacing the Corporation's
existing stock option plan, be and is hereby approved, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange;
-
the form of the Long-Term Incentive Plan may be amended in order to satisfy the requirements or requests of any regulatory authorities, including but not limited to the TSX Venture Exchange, without requiring further approval of the shareholders of the Corporation;
-
the total number of Common Shares of the Corporation which may be reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan and all other Security Based Compensation Plans (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) of the Corporation shall not exceed 10% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation at the date of grant;
-
all unallocated awards, rights and other entitlements available for issuance under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, are hereby authorized and approved; and
-
any director or officer of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed, acting for, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, to execute or cause to be executed, to deliver or cause to be delivered and to file or cause to be filed, all such notices, documents and instruments, and to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things, as may in the opinion of such director or officer be necessary or desirable to carry out this resolution."
In the event that the Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution is not passed by a majority of the votes cast by Shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, the Long-Term Incentive Plan will not be adopted by the Corporation.
Proxies received in favour of management will be voted FOR the Long-Term Incentive Plan Resolution, unless the Shareholder has specified in the proxy that his, her or its Common Shares are to be withheld or voted against such resolution.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management is not aware of any matters to come before the Meeting other than those set out in the Notice. 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 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 December 31, 2023. Copies of this Information Circular, the Corporation's audited financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and the auditor's report 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 www.sedarplus.ca and may also be obtained without charge by writing to Eros Resources Corp., 420-789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 1H2. Additional information relating to the Corporation may also be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, February 10, 2025.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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"Jonathan Wiesblatt"
Jonathan Wiesblatt
Chief Executive Officer
A-1
SCHEDULE "A"
NEW ARTICLES
Please see attached.
Registration number: ____
EROS RESOURCES CORP.
(the "Company")
The Company has as its articles the following articles.
ARTICLES
- INTERPRETATION...2
- SHARES AND SHARE CERTIFICATES...2
- ISSUE OF SHARES...4
- SHARE REGISTERS...5
- SHARE TRANSFERS...5
- TRANSMISSION OF SHARES...7
- PURCHASE OF SHARES...7
- BORROWING POWERS...8
- ALTERATIONS...9
- MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS...10
- PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS...12
- VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS...16
- DIRECTORS...20
- ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS...22
- ALTERNATE DIRECTORS...24
- POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS...26
- INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS...26
- PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS...27
- EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES...30
- OFFICERS...32
- INDEMNIFICATION...32
- DIVIDENDS...34
- ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND AUDITORS...35
- NOTICES...36
- SEAL...38
- PROHIBITIONS...39
- ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS...40
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1. INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions
In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "board of directors", "directors" and "board" mean the directors or sole director of the Company for the time being;
(2) "Business Corporations Act" means the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) from time to time in force and all amendments thereto and includes all regulations and amendments thereto made pursuant to that Act;
(3) "Interpretation Act" means the Interpretation Act (British Columbia) from time to time in force and all amendments thereto and includes all regulations and amendments thereto made pursuant to that Act;
(4) "legal personal representative" means the personal or other legal representative of a shareholder;
(5) "registered address" of a shareholder means the shareholder's address as recorded in the central securities register;
(6) "seal" means the seal of the Company, if any.
1.2 Business Corporations Act and Interpretation Act Definitions Applicable
The definitions in the Business Corporations Act and the definitions and rules of construction in the Interpretation Act, with the necessary changes, so far as applicable, and unless the context requires otherwise, apply to these Articles as if they were set out herein. If there is a conflict between a definition in the Business Corporations Act and a definition or rule in the Interpretation Act relating to a term used in these Articles, the definition in the Business Corporations Act will prevail in relation to the use of the term in these Articles. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between these Articles and the Business Corporations Act, the Business Corporations Act will prevail.
2. SHARES AND SHARE CERTIFICATES
2.1 Authorized Share Structure
The authorized share structure of the Company consists of shares of the class or classes and series, if any, described in the Notice of Articles of the Company.
2.2 Form of Share Certificate
Each share certificate issued by the Company must comply with, and be signed as required by, the Business Corporations Act.
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2.3 Shareholder Entitled to Certificate or Acknowledgment or Written Notice
Unless the shares of which a shareholder is the registered owner are uncertificated shares, each shareholder is entitled, on request and at the shareholder’s option, without charge, to (a) one share certificate representing the shares of each class or series of shares registered in the shareholder’s name or (b) a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain such a share certificate, provided that in respect of a share held jointly by several persons, the Company is not bound to issue more than one share certificate or acknowledgment and delivery of a share certificate or acknowledgment to one of several joint shareholders or to a duly authorized agent of one of the joint shareholders will be sufficient delivery to all. Within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of a share that is an uncertificated share, the Company must send to the shareholder a written notice containing the information required by the Business Corporations Act.
2.4 Delivery by Mail
Any share certificate, non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate or written notice of the issue or transfer of an uncertificated share may be sent to the shareholder by mail at the shareholder’s registered address and neither the Company nor any director, officer or agent of the Company is liable for any loss to the shareholder because the share certificate, acknowledgment or written notice is lost in the mail or stolen.
2.5 Replacement of Worn Out or Defaced Certificate or Acknowledgement
If the directors are satisfied that a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is worn out or defaced, they must, on production to them of the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, and on such other terms, if any, as they think fit:
(1) order the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, to be cancelled; and
(2) issue a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be.
2.6 Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificate or Acknowledgment
If a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, must be issued to the person entitled to that share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, provided such person has complied with the requirements of the Business Corporations Act.
2.7 Splitting Share Certificates
If a shareholder surrenders a share certificate to the Company with a written request that the Company issue in the shareholder’s name two or more share certificates, each representing a specified number of shares and in the aggregate representing the same number of shares as the share certificate so surrendered, the Company must cancel the surrendered share certificate and issue replacement share certificates in accordance with that request.
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2.8 Certificate Fee
There must be paid as a fee to the Company for the issuance of any share certificate under Articles 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7, the amount, if any, determined by the directors, which must not exceed the amount prescribed under the Business Corporations Act.
2.9 Recognition of Trusts
Except as required by law or statute or these Articles, no person will be recognized by the Company as holding any share upon any trust, and the Company is not bound by or compelled in any way to recognize (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or fraction of a share or (except as required by law or statute or these Articles or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the shareholder.
3. ISSUE OF SHARES
3.1 Directors Authorized
Subject to the Business Corporations Act and the rights, if any, of the holders of issued shares of the Company, the Company may issue, allot, sell or otherwise dispose of the unissued shares, and issued shares held by the Company, at the times, to the persons, including directors, in the manner, on the terms and conditions and for the issue prices (including any premium at which shares with par value may be issued) that the directors may determine. The issue price for a share with par value must be equal to or greater than the par value of the share.
3.2 Commissions and Discounts
The Company may at any time, pay a reasonable commission or allow a reasonable discount to any person in consideration of that person purchasing or agreeing to purchase shares of the Company from the Company or any other person or procuring or agreeing to procure purchasers for shares of the Company.
3.3 Brokerage
The Company may pay such brokerage fee or other consideration as may be lawful for or in connection with the sale or placement of its securities.
3.4 Conditions of Issue
Except as provided for by the Business Corporations Act, no share may be issued until it is fully paid. A share is fully paid when:
(1) consideration is provided to the Company for the issue of the share by one or more of the following:
(a) past services performed for the Company;
(b) property;
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(c) money; and
(2) the directors in their discretion have determined that the value of the consideration received by the Company is equal to or greater than the issue price set for the share under Article 3.1.
3.5 Share Purchase Warrants and Rights
Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the Company may issue share purchase warrants, options, convertible debentures and rights upon such terms and conditions as the directors determine, which share purchase warrants, options, convertible debentures and rights may be issued alone or in conjunction with debentures, debenture stock, bonds, shares or any other securities issued or created by the Company from time to time.
4. SHARE REGISTERS
4.1 Central Securities Register and Any Branch Securities Register
As required by and subject to the Business Corporations Act, the Company must maintain a central securities register and may maintain a branch securities register. The directors may, subject to the Business Corporations Act, appoint an agent to maintain the central securities register or any branch securities register. The directors may also appoint one or more agents, including the agent which keeps the central securities register, as transfer agent for its shares or any class or series of its shares, as the case may be, and the same or another agent as registrar for its shares or such class or series of its shares, as the case may be. The directors may terminate such appointment of any agent at any time and may appoint another agent in its place.
4.2 Closing Register
The Company must not at any time close its central securities register.
5. SHARE TRANSFERS
5.1 Registering Transfers
A transfer of a share of the Company must not be registered unless the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the class or series of share to be transferred has received:
(1) a duly signed instrument of transfer in respect of the share;
(2) if a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that share certificate;
(3) if a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder's right to obtain a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that acknowledgment; and
(4) such other evidence, if any, as the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the class or series of share to be transferred may require to prove the title of the transferor or the
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transferor's right to transfer the share, the due signing of the instrument of transfer and the right of the transferee to have the transfer registered.
For the purpose of this Article, delivery or surrender to the transfer agent or registrar which maintains the Company's central securities register or a branch securities register, if applicable, will constitute receipt by or surrender to the Company.
5.2 Form of Instrument of Transfer
The instrument of transfer in respect of any share of the Company must be either in the form, if any, on the back of the Company's share certificates or in any other form that may be approved from time to time by the directors or the transfer agent or registrar for the class or series of share to be transferred.
5.3 Transferor Remains Shareholder
Except to the extent that the Business Corporations Act otherwise provides, the transferor of shares is deemed to remain the holder of the shares until the name of the transferee is entered in a securities register of the Company in respect of the transfer.
5.4 Signing of Instrument of Transfer
If a shareholder, or his or her duly authorized attorney, signs an instrument of transfer in respect of shares registered in the name of the shareholder, the signed instrument of transfer constitutes a complete and sufficient authority to the Company and its directors, officers and agents to register the number of shares specified in the instrument of transfer or specified in any other manner, or, if no number is specified, all the shares represented by the share certificate(s) or set out in the written acknowledgments deposited with the instrument of transfer or, if the shares are uncertificated shares, then all of the uncertificated shares registered in the name of the shareholder:
(1) in the name of the person named as transferee in that instrument of transfer; or
(2) if no person is named as transferee in that instrument of transfer, in the name of the person on whose behalf the instrument is deposited for the purpose of having the transfer registered.
5.5 Enquiry as to Title Not Required
Neither the Company nor any director, officer or agent of the Company is bound to inquire into the title of the person named in the instrument of transfer as transferee or, if no person is named as transferee in the instrument of transfer, of the person on whose behalf the instrument is deposited for the purpose of having the transfer registered or is liable for any claim related to registering the transfer by the shareholder or by any intermediate owner or holder of the shares, of any interest in the shares, of any share certificate representing such shares or of any written acknowledgment of a right to obtain a share certificate for such shares.
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5.6 Transfer Fee
There must be paid as a fee to the Company, in relation to the registration of any transfer, the amount, if any, determined by the directors.
6. TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
6.1 Legal Personal Representative Recognized on Death
In case of the death of a shareholder, the legal personal representative of the shareholder, or, in the case of shares registered in the shareholder's name and the name of another person in joint tenancy, the surviving joint holder will be the only person recognized by the Company as having any title to the shareholder's interest in the shares. Before recognizing a person as a legal personal representative of the shareholder, the directors may require a declaration of transmission made by the legal personal representative stating the particulars of the transmission, proof of appointment by a court of competent jurisdiction, a grant of letters probate, letters of administration or such other evidence or documents as the directors consider appropriate.
6.2 Rights of Legal Personal Representative
The legal personal representative of a shareholder has the same rights, privileges and obligations with respect to the shares as were held by the shareholder, including the right to transfer the shares in accordance with these Articles, provided the documents required by the Business Corporations Act and the directors have been deposited with the Company. This Article 6.2 does not apply in the case of the death of a shareholder with respect to shares registered in the shareholder's name and the name of another person in joint tenancy.
7. PURCHASE OF SHARES
7.1 Company Authorized to Purchase Shares
Subject to Article 7.2, the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series and the Business Corporations Act, the Company may, if authorized by resolution of the directors, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares at the price and upon the terms determined by the directors.
7.2 Purchase When Insolvent
The Company must not make a payment or provide any other consideration to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that:
(1) the Company is insolvent; or
(2) making the payment or providing the consideration would render the Company insolvent.
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7.3 Redemption of Shares
If the Company proposes to redeem some but not all of the shares of any class, the directors may, subject to any special rights and restrictions attached to such class of shares, determine the manner in which the shares to be redeemed shall be selected.
7.4 Sale and Voting of Purchased Shares
If the Company retains a share which it has redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired, the Company may sell, gift or otherwise dispose of the share, but, while such share is held by the Company, it:
(1) is not entitled to vote the share at a meeting of its shareholders;
(2) must not pay a dividend in respect of the share; and
(3) must not make any other distribution in respect of the share.
8. BORROWING POWERS
8.1 Powers of the Company
The Company, if authorized by the directors, may:
(1) borrow money in the manner and amount, on the security, from the sources and on the terms and conditions that the directors consider appropriate;
(2) issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations either outright or as security for any liability or obligation of the Company or any other person and at such discounts or premiums and on such other terms as they consider appropriate;
(3) guarantee the repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person; and
(4) mortgage, charge, whether by way of specific or floating charge, grant a security interest in, or give other security on, the whole or any part of the present and future assets and undertaking of the Company.
8.2 Bonds, Debentures, Debt
Any bonds, debentures or other debt obligations of the Company may be issued at a discount, premium or otherwise, or with special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawing, allotment of or conversion into or exchange for shares or other securities, attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment of directors or otherwise and may, by their terms, be assignable free from any equities between the Company and the person to whom they were issued or any subsequent holder thereof, all as the directors may determine.
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9. ALTERATIONS
9.1 Alteration of Authorized Share Structure
Subject to Article 9.2 and the Business Corporations Act, the Company may:
(1) by directors' resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors:
(a) create one or more classes or series of shares or, if none of the shares of a class or series of shares are allotted or issued, eliminate that class or series of shares;
(b) increase, reduce or eliminate the maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue of any class or series of shares or establish a maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares for which no maximum is established;
(c) subdivide or consolidate all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares;
(d) if the Company is authorized to issue shares of a class of shares with par value:
(i) decrease the par value of those shares; or
(ii) if none of the shares of that class of shares are allotted or issued, increase the par value of those shares;
(e) change all or any of its unissued shares with par value into shares without par value or any of its unissued shares without par value into shares with par value or change all or any of its fully paid issued shares with par value into shares without par value; or
(f) alter the identifying name of any of its shares; and
(2) by ordinary resolution otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure;
and, if applicable, alter its Notice of Articles and, if applicable, alter its Articles accordingly.
9.2 Special Rights and Restrictions
Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the Company may:
(1) by directors' resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, create special rights or restrictions for, and attach those special rights or restrictions to, the shares of any class or series of shares if none of those shares have been issued; or vary or delete any special rights or restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares if none of those shares have been issued; and
(2) by special resolution of the shareholders of the class or series affected, do any of the acts in (1) above if any of the shares of the class or series of shares have been issued,
and alter its Notice of Articles and Articles accordingly.
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9.3 Change of Name
The Company may by directors' resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, authorize an alteration of its Notice of Articles in order to change its name and may, by directors' resolution or ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, adopt or change any translation of that name.
9.4 Other Alterations
If the Business Corporations Act does not specify the type of resolution and these Articles do not specify another type of resolution, the Company may by directors' resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, alter these Articles.
10. MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
10.1 Annual General Meetings
Unless an annual general meeting is deferred or waived in accordance with the Business Corporations Act, the Company must hold its first annual general meeting within 18 months after the date on which it was incorporated or otherwise recognized, and after that must hold an annual general meeting at least once in each calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last annual reference date at such time and place as may be determined by a resolution of the directors.
10.2 Resolution Instead of Annual General Meeting
If all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting consent by a unanimous resolution to all of the business that is required to be transacted at that annual general meeting, the annual general meeting is deemed to have been held on the date of the unanimous resolution. The shareholders must, in any unanimous resolution passed under this Article 10.2, select as the Company's annual reference date a date that would be appropriate for the holding of the applicable annual general meeting.
10.3 Calling of Meetings of Shareholders
The directors may, at any time, call a meeting of shareholders.
10.4 Location of Meetings of Shareholders
A meeting of the Company may be held:
(1) in the Province of British Columbia;
(2) at another location outside British Columbia if that location is:
(a) approved by resolution of the directors before the meeting is held; or
(b) approved in writing by the Registrar of Companies before the meeting is held.
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10.5 Notice for Meetings of Shareholders
Subject to Article 10.2, the Company must send notice of the date, time and location of any meeting of shareholders (including, without limitation, any notice specifying the intention to propose a resolution as an exceptional resolution, a special resolution or a special separate resolution, and any notice to consider approving an amalgamation into a foreign jurisdiction, an arrangement or the adoption of an amalgamation agreement, and any notice of a general meeting, class meeting or series meeting), in the manner provided in these Articles, or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by directors' resolution (whether previous notice of the resolution has been given or not), to each shareholder entitled to attend the meeting, to each director and to the auditor of the Company, unless these Articles otherwise provide, at least the following number of days before the meeting:
(1) if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days;
(2) otherwise, 10 days.
10.6 Notice of Resolution to which Shareholders May Dissent
The Company must send to each of its shareholders, whether or not their shares carry the right to vote, a notice of any meeting of shareholders at which a resolution entitling shareholders to dissent is to be considered specifying the date of the meeting and containing a statement advising of the right to send a notice of dissent together with a copy of the proposed resolution at least the following number of days before the meeting:
(1) if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days; or
(2) otherwise, 10 days.
10.7 Record Date for Notice
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting of shareholders. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is to be held by more than two months or, in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders under the Business Corporations Act, by more than four months. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is held by fewer than:
(1) if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days; or
(2) otherwise, 10 days.
If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.
10.8 Record Date for Voting
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders. The record date must not precede the date on which the
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meeting is to be held by more than two months or, in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders under the Business Corporations Act, by more than four months. If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.
10.9 Failure to Give Notice and Waiver of Notice
The accidental omission to send notice of any meeting of shareholders to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any of the persons entitled to notice does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting. Any person entitled to notice of a meeting of shareholders may, in writing or otherwise, waive that entitlement or may agree to reduce the period of that notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting of shareholders is a waiver of entitlement to notice of the meeting unless that person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
10.10 Notice of Special Business at Meetings of Shareholders
If a meeting of shareholders is to consider special business within the meaning of Article 11.1, the notice of meeting or a circular prepared in connection with the meeting must:
(1) state the general nature of the special business; and
(2) if the special business includes considering, approving, ratifying, adopting or authorizing any document or the signing of or giving of effect to any document, have attached to it a copy of the document or state that a copy of the document will be available for inspection by shareholders:
(a) at the Company's records office, or at such other reasonably accessible location in British Columbia as is specified in the notice; and
(b) during statutory business hours on any one or more specified days before the day set for the holding of the meeting.
11. PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
11.1 Special Business
At a meeting of shareholders, the following business is special business:
(1) at a meeting of shareholders that is not an annual general meeting, all business is special business except business relating to the conduct of or voting at the meeting;
(2) at an annual general meeting, all business is special business except for the following:
(a) business relating to the conduct of or voting at the meeting;
(b) consideration of any financial statements of the Company presented to the meeting;
(c) consideration of any reports of the directors or auditor;
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(d) the setting or changing of the number of directors;
(e) the election or appointment of directors;
(f) the appointment of an auditor;
(g) the setting of the remuneration of an auditor;
(h) business arising out of a report of the directors not requiring the passing of a special resolution or an exceptional resolution; and
(i) any other business which, under these Articles or the Business Corporations Act, may be transacted at a meeting of shareholders without prior notice of the business being given to the shareholders.
11.2 Special Majority
The majority of votes required for the Company to pass a special resolution at a general meeting of shareholders is two-thirds of the votes cast on the resolution.
11.3 Quorum
Subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is one person present or represented by proxy.
11.4 Persons Entitled to Attend Meeting
In addition to those persons who are entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders, the only other persons entitled to be present at the meeting are the directors, the president (if any), the secretary (if any), the assistant secretary (if any), any lawyer for the Company, the auditor of the Company, any persons invited to be present at the meeting by the directors or by the chair of the meeting and any persons entitled or required under the Business Corporations Act or these Articles to be present at the meeting; but if any of those persons does attend the meeting, that person is not to be counted in the quorum and is not entitled to vote at the meeting unless that person is a shareholder or proxyholder entitled to vote at the meeting.
11.5 Requirement of Quorum
No business, other than the election of a chair of the meeting and the adjournment of the meeting, may be transacted at any meeting of shareholders unless a quorum of shareholders entitled to vote is present at the commencement of the meeting, but such quorum need not be present throughout the meeting.
11.6 Lack of Quorum
If, within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of a meeting of shareholders, a quorum is not present:
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(1) in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders, the meeting is dissolved, and
(2) in the case of any other meeting of shareholders, the meeting stands adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place.
11.7 Lack of Quorum at Succeeding Meeting
If, at the meeting to which the meeting referred to in Article 11.6(2) was adjourned, a quorum is not present within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of the meeting, the meeting shall be terminated.
11.8 Chair
The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of shareholders:
(1) the chair of the board, if any; or
(2) if the chair of the board is absent or unwilling to act as chair of the meeting, the president, if any.
11.9 Selection of Alternate Chair
If, at any meeting of shareholders, there is no chair of the board or president willing to act as chair of the meeting or present within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting, or if the chair of the board and the president have advised the secretary, if any, or any director present at the meeting, that they will not be present at the meeting, the directors present must choose a director, officer or corporate counsel to be chair of the meeting or if none of the above persons are present or if they decline to take the chair, the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting who are present in person or by proxy may choose any person present at the meeting to chair the meeting.
11.10 Adjournments
The chair of a meeting of shareholders may, and if so directed by the meeting must, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business may be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
11.11 Notice of Adjourned Meeting
It is not necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting of shareholders or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting of shareholders except that, when a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given as in the case of the original meeting.
11.12 Decisions by Show of Hands or Poll
Subject to the Business Corporations Act, every motion put to a vote at a meeting of shareholders will be decided on a show of hands unless a poll, before or on the declaration of the result of the vote by
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show of hands, is directed by the chair or demanded by any shareholder entitled to vote who is present in person or by proxy.
11.13 Declaration of Result
The chair of a meeting of shareholders must declare to the meeting the decision on every question in accordance with the result of the show of hands or the poll, as the case may be, and that decision must be entered in the minutes of the meeting. A declaration of the chair that a resolution is carried by the necessary majority or is defeated is, unless a poll is directed by the chair or demanded under Article 11.12, conclusive evidence without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
11.14 Motion Need Not be Seconded
No motion proposed at a meeting of shareholders need be seconded unless the chair of the meeting rules otherwise, and the chair of any meeting of shareholders is entitled to propose or second a motion.
11.15 Casting Vote
In case of an equality of votes, the chair of a meeting of shareholders, either on a show of hands or on a poll, does not have a second or casting vote in addition to the vote or votes to which the chair may be entitled as a shareholder.
11.16 Manner of Taking Poll
Subject to Article 11.17, if a poll is duly demanded at a meeting of shareholders:
(1) the poll must be taken:
(a) at the meeting, or within seven days after the date of the meeting, as the chair of the meeting directs; and
(b) in the manner, at the time and at the place that the chair of the meeting directs;
(2) the result of the poll is deemed to be the decision of the meeting at which the poll is demanded; and
(3) the demand for the poll may be withdrawn by the person who demanded it.
11.17 Demand for Poll on Adjournment
A poll demanded at a meeting of shareholders on a question of adjournment must be taken immediately at the meeting.
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11.18 Chair Must Resolve Dispute
In the case of any dispute as to the admission or rejection of a vote given on a poll, the chair of the meeting must determine the dispute, and his or her determination made in good faith is final and conclusive.
11.19 Casting of Votes
On a poll, a shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not cast all the votes in the same way.
11.20 No Demand for Poll on Election of Chair
No poll may be demanded in respect of the vote by which a chair of a meeting of shareholders is elected.
11.21 Demand for Poll Not to Prevent Continuance of Meeting
The demand for a poll at a meeting of shareholders does not, unless the chair of the meeting so rules, prevent the continuation of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which a poll has been demanded.
11.22 Retention of Ballots and Proxies
The Company must, for at least three months after a meeting of shareholders, keep each ballot cast on a poll and each proxy voted at the meeting, and, during that period, make them available for inspection during normal business hours by any shareholder or proxy holder entitled to vote at the meeting. At the end of such three month period, the Company may destroy such ballots and proxies.
12. VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS
12.1 Number of Votes by Shareholder or by Shares
Subject to any special rights or restrictions attached to any shares and to the restrictions imposed on joint shareholders under Article 12.3:
(1) on a vote by show of hands, every person present who is a shareholder or proxy holder and entitled to vote on the matter has one vote; and
(2) on a poll, every shareholder entitled to vote on the matter has one vote in respect of each share entitled to be voted on the matter and held by that shareholder and may exercise that vote either in person or by proxy.
12.2 Votes of Persons in Representative Capacity
A person who is not a shareholder may vote at a meeting of shareholders, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and may appoint a proxy holder to act at the meeting, if, before doing so, the person satisfies the chair of the meeting, or the directors, that the person is a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy for a shareholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting.
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12.3 Votes by Joint Holders
If there are joint shareholders registered in respect of any share:
(1) any one of the joint shareholders may vote at any meeting of shareholders, either personally or by proxy, in respect of the share as if that joint shareholder were solely entitled to it; or
(2) if more than one of the joint shareholders is present at any meeting of shareholders, personally or by proxy, and more than one of them votes in respect of that share, then only the vote of the joint shareholder present whose name stands first on the central securities register in respect of the share will be counted.
12.4 Legal Personal Representatives as Joint Shareholders
Two or more legal personal representatives of a shareholder in whose sole name any share is registered are, for the purposes of Article 12.3, deemed to be joint shareholders registered in respect of that share.
12.5 Representative of a Corporate Shareholder
If a corporation, that is not a subsidiary of the Company, is a shareholder, that corporation may appoint a person to act as its representative at any meeting of shareholders of the Company, and:
(1) for that purpose, the instrument appointing a representative must be received:
(a) at the registered office of the Company or at any other place specified, in the notice calling the meeting, for the receipt of proxies, at least the number of business days specified in the notice for the receipt of proxies, or if no number of days is specified, two business days before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting; or
(b) by the chair of the meeting at the meeting or adjourned meeting or by a person designated by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting;
(2) if a representative is appointed under this Article 12.5:
(a) the representative is entitled to exercise in respect of and at that meeting the same rights on behalf of the corporation that the representative represents as that corporation could exercise if it were a shareholder who is an individual, including, without limitation, the right to appoint a proxy holder; and
(b) the representative, if present at the meeting, is to be counted for the purpose of forming a quorum and is deemed to be a shareholder present in person at the meeting.
Evidence of the appointment of any such representative may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a corporation that is a shareholder may appoint a proxy holder.
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12.6 Proxy Provisions Do Not Apply to All Companies
Articles 12.7 to 12.15 do not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a public company or a pre-existing reporting company which has the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions as part of its Articles or to which the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions apply.
12.7 Appointment of Proxy Holders
Every shareholder of the Company, including a corporation that is a shareholder but not a subsidiary of the Company, entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders may, by proxy, appoint up to two proxy holders to attend and act at the meeting in the manner, to the extent and with the powers conferred by the proxy.
12.8 Alternate Proxy Holders
A shareholder may appoint one or more alternate proxy holders to act in the place of an absent proxy holder.
12.9 When Proxy Holder Need Not Be Shareholder
A person must not be appointed as a proxy holder unless the person is a shareholder, although a person who is not a shareholder may be appointed as a proxy holder if:
(1) the person appointing the proxy holder is a corporation or a representative of a corporation appointed under Article 12.5;
(2) the Company has at the time of the meeting for which the proxy holder is to be appointed only one shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting; or
(3) the shareholders present in person or by proxy at and entitled to vote at the meeting for which the proxy holder is to be appointed, by a resolution on which the proxy holder is not entitled to vote but in respect of which the proxy holder is to be counted in the quorum, permit the proxy holder to attend and vote at the meeting.
12.10 Deposit of Proxy
A proxy for a meeting of shareholders must:
(1) be received at the registered office of the Company or at any other place specified, in the notice calling the meeting, for the receipt of proxies, at least the number of business days specified in the notice, or if no number of days is specified, two business days before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting; or
(2) unless the notice provides otherwise, be received, at the meeting or any adjourned meeting, by the chair of the meeting or any adjourned meeting or by a person designated by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting.
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A proxy may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages.
12.11 Validity of Proxy Vote
A vote given in accordance with the terms of a proxy is valid notwithstanding the death or incapacity of the shareholder giving the proxy and despite the revocation of the proxy or the revocation of the authority under which the proxy is given, unless notice in writing of that death, incapacity or revocation is received:
(1) at the registered office of the Company, at any time up to and including the last business day before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting at which the proxy is to be used; or
(2) at the meeting or any adjourned meeting by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting, before any vote in respect of which the proxy has been given or has been taken.
12.12 Form of Proxy
A proxy, whether for a specified meeting or otherwise, must be either in the following form or in any other form approved by the directors or the chair of the meeting:
[name of company]
(the "Company")
The undersigned, being a shareholder of the Company, hereby appoints [name] or, failing that person, [name], as proxy holder for the undersigned to attend, act and vote for and on behalf of the undersigned at the meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on [month, day, year] and at any adjournment of that meeting.
Number of shares in respect of which this proxy is given (if no number is specified, then this proxy is given in respect of all shares registered in the name of the undersigned):
Signed [month, day, year]
[Signature of shareholder]
[Name of shareholder—printed]
12.13 Revocation of Proxy
Subject to Article 12.14, every proxy may be revoked by an instrument in writing that is received:
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(1) at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting at which the proxy is to be used; or
(2) at the meeting or any adjourned meeting, by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting, before any vote in respect of which the proxy has been given has been taken.
12.14 Revocation of Proxy Must Be Signed
An instrument referred to in Article 12.13 must be signed as follows:
(1) if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is an individual, the instrument must be signed by the shareholder or his or her legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy;
(2) if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is a corporation, the instrument must be signed by the corporation or by a representative appointed for the corporation under Article 12.5.
12.15 Production of Evidence of Authority to Vote
The chair of any meeting of shareholders may, but need not, inquire into the authority of any person to vote at the meeting and may, but need not, demand from that person production of evidence as to the existence of the authority to vote.
13. DIRECTORS
13.1 First Directors; Number of Directors
The first directors are the persons designated as directors of the Company in the Notice of Articles that applies to the Company when it is recognized under the Business Corporations Act. The number of directors, excluding additional directors appointed under Article 14.8, is set at:
(1) subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the number of directors that is equal to the number of the Company's first directors;
(2) if the Company is a public company, the greater of three and the most recently set of:
(a) the number of directors elected by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and
(b) the number of directors set under Article 14.4;
(3) if the Company is not a public company, the most recently set of:
(a) the number of directors elected by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and
(b) the number of directors set under Article 14.4.
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13.2 Change in Number of Directors
If the number of directors is set under Articles 13.1(2)(a) or 13.1(3)(a):
(1) the shareholders may elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number;
(2) if the shareholders do not elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number contemporaneously with the setting of that number, then the directors, subject to Article 14.8, may appoint, or the shareholders may elect or appoint, directors to fill those vacancies.
13.3 Directors' Acts Valid Despite Vacancy
An act or proceeding of the directors is not invalid merely because fewer than the number of directors set or otherwise required under these Articles is in office.
13.4 Qualifications of Directors
A director is not required to hold a share in the capital of the Company as qualification for his or her office but must be qualified as required by the Business Corporations Act to become, act or continue to act as a director.
13.5 Remuneration of Directors
The directors are entitled to the remuneration for acting as directors, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine. If the directors so decide, the remuneration of the directors, if any, will be determined by the shareholders. That remuneration may be in addition to any salary or other remuneration paid to any officer or employee of the Company as such, who is also a director.
13.6 Reimbursement of Expenses of Directors
The Company must reimburse each director for the reasonable expenses that he or she may incur in and about the business of the Company.
13.7 Special Remuneration for Directors
If any director performs any professional or other services for the Company that in the opinion of the directors are outside the ordinary duties of a director, or if any director is otherwise specially occupied in or about the Company's business, he or she may be paid remuneration fixed by the directors, or, at the option of that director, fixed by ordinary resolution, and such remuneration may be either in addition to, or in substitution for, any other remuneration that he or she may be entitled to receive.
13.8 Gratuity, Pension or Allowance on Retirement of Director
Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any director or to his or her spouse or
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dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.
14. ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
14.1 Election at Annual General Meeting
At every annual general meeting and in every unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2:
(1) the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual general meeting for the election of directors must elect, or in the unanimous resolution appoint, a board of directors consisting of the number of directors for the time being set under these Articles; and
(2) those directors whose term of office expires at the annual general meeting cease to hold office immediately before the election or appointment of directors under paragraph (1), but are eligible for re-election or re-appointment.
14.2 Consent to be a Director
No election, appointment or designation of an individual as a director is valid unless:
(1) that individual consents to be a director in the manner provided for in the Business Corporations Act;
(2) that individual is elected or appointed at a meeting at which the individual is present and the individual does not refuse, at the meeting, to be a director; or
(3) with respect to first directors, the designation is otherwise valid under the Business Corporations Act.
14.3 Failure to Elect or Appoint Directors
If:
(1) the Company fails to hold an annual general meeting, and all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting fail to pass the unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2, on or before the date by which the annual general meeting is required to be held under the Business Corporations Act; or
(2) the shareholders fail, at the annual general meeting or in the unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2, to elect or appoint any directors;
then each director then in office continues to hold office until the earlier of:
(3) when his or her successor is elected or appointed; and
(4) when he or she otherwise ceases to hold office under the Business Corporations Act or these Articles.
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14.4 Places of Retiring Directors Not Filled
If, at any meeting of shareholders at which there should be an election of directors, the places of any of the retiring directors are not filled by that election, those retiring directors who are not re-elected and who are asked by the newly elected directors to continue in office will, if willing to do so, continue in office to complete the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles until further new directors are elected at a meeting of shareholders convened for that purpose. If any such election or continuance of directors does not result in the election or continuance of the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles, the number of directors of the Company is deemed to be set at the number of directors actually elected or continued in office.
14.5 Directors May Fill Casual Vacancies
Any casual vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by the directors.
14.6 Remaining Directors' Power to Act
The directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the board of directors, but if the Company has fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the directors may only act for the purpose of appointing directors up to that number or of calling a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of filling any vacancies on the board of directors or, subject to the Business Corporations Act, for any other purpose.
14.7 Shareholders May Fill Vacancies
If the Company has no directors or fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the shareholders may elect or appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the board of directors.
14.8 Additional Directors
Notwithstanding Articles 13.1 and 13.2, between annual general meetings or unanimous resolutions contemplated by Article 10.2, the directors may appoint one or more additional directors, but the number of additional directors appointed under this Article 14.8 must not at any time exceed:
(1) one-third of the number of first directors, if, at the time of the appointments, one or more of the first directors have not yet completed their first term of office; or
(2) in any other case, one-third of the number of the current directors who were elected or appointed as directors other than under this Article 14.8.
Any director so appointed ceases to hold office immediately before the next election or appointment of directors under Article 14.1(1), but is eligible for re-election or re-appointment.
14.9 Ceasing to be a Director
A director ceases to be a director when:
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(1) the term of office of the director expires;
(2) the director dies;
(3) the director resigns as a director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a lawyer for the Company; or
(4) the director is removed from office pursuant to Articles 14.10 or 14.11.
14.10 Removal of Director by Shareholders
The Company may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office by special resolution. In that event, the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill the resulting vacancy. If the shareholders do not elect or appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy contemporaneously with the removal, then the directors may appoint or the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill that vacancy.
14.11 Removal of Director by Directors
The directors may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office if the director is convicted of an indictable offence, or if the director ceases to be qualified to act as a director of a company and does not promptly resign, and the directors may appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy.
15. ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
15.1 Appointment of Alternate Director
Any director (an "appointor") may by notice in writing received by the Company appoint any person (an "appointee") who is qualified to act as a director to be his or her alternate to act in his or her place at meetings of the directors or committees of the directors at which the appointor is not present unless (in the case of an appointee who is not a director) the directors have reasonably disapproved the appointment of such person as an alternate director and have given notice to that effect to his or her appointor within a reasonable time after the notice of appointment is received by the Company.
15.2 Notice of Meetings
Every alternate director so appointed is entitled to notice of meetings of the directors and of committees of the directors of which his or her appointor is a member and to attend and vote as a director at any such meetings at which his or her appointor is not present.
15.3 Alternate for More Than One Director Attending Meetings
A person may be appointed as an alternate director by more than one director, and an alternate director:
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(1) will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of directors once for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, once more in that capacity;
(2) has a separate vote at a meeting of directors for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, an additional vote in that capacity;
(3) will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of a committee of directors once for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a director, once more in that capacity; and
(4) has a separate vote at a meeting of a committee of directors for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a director, an additional vote in that capacity.
15.4 Consent Resolutions
Every alternate director, if authorized by the notice appointing him or her, may sign in place of his or her appointor any resolutions to be consented to in writing.
15.5 Alternate Director Not an Agent
Every alternate director is deemed not to be the agent of his or her appointor.
15.6 Revocation of Appointment of Alternate Director
An appointor may at any time, by notice in writing received by the Company, revoke the appointment of an alternate director appointed by him or her.
15.7 Ceasing to be an Alternate Director
The appointment of an alternate director ceases when:
(1) his or her appointor ceases to be a director and is not promptly re-elected or re-appointed;
(2) the alternate director dies;
(3) the alternate director resigns as an alternate director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a lawyer for the Company;
(4) the alternate director ceases to be qualified to act as a director; or
(5) his or her appointor revokes the appointment of the alternate director.
15.8 Remuneration and Expenses of Alternate Director
The Company may reimburse an alternate director for the reasonable expenses that would be properly reimbursed if he or she were a director, and the alternate director is entitled to receive from
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the Company such proportion, if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to the appointor as the appointor may from time to time direct.
16. POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
16.1 Powers of Management
The directors must, subject to the Business Corporations Act and these Articles, manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Company and have the authority to exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by the Business Corporations Act or by these Articles, required to be exercised by the shareholders of the Company.
16.2 Appointment of Attorney of Company
The directors may from time to time, by power of attorney or other instrument, under seal if so required by law, appoint any person to be the attorney of the Company for such purposes, and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the directors under these Articles and excepting the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors, to remove a director, to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors, to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors and to declare dividends) and for such period, and with such remuneration and subject to such conditions as the directors may think fit. Any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection or convenience of persons dealing with such attorney as the directors think fit. Any such attorney may be authorized by the directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in him or her.
17. INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
17.1 Obligation to Account for Profits
A director or senior officer who holds a disclosable interest (as that term is used in the Business Corporations Act) in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter is liable to account to the Company for any profit that accrues to the director or senior officer under or as a result of the contract or transaction only if and to the extent provided in the Business Corporations Act.
17.2 Restrictions on Voting by Reason of Interest
A director who holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter is not entitled to vote on any directors' resolution to approve that contract or transaction, unless all the directors have a disclosable interest in that contract or transaction, in which case any or all of those directors may vote on such resolution.
17.3 Interested Director Counted in Quorum
A director who holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter and who is present at the meeting of directors at which the contract or
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transaction is considered for approval may be counted in the quorum at the meeting whether or not the director votes on any or all of the resolutions considered at the meeting.
17.4 Disclosure of Conflict of Interest or Property
A director or senior officer who holds any office or possesses any property, right or interest that could result, directly or indirectly, in the creation of a duty or interest that materially conflicts with that individual's duty or interest as a director or senior officer, must disclose the nature and extent of the conflict as required by the Business Corporations Act.
17.5 Director Holding Other Office in the Company
A director may hold any office or place of profit with the Company, other than the office of auditor of the Company, in addition to his or her office of director for the period and on the terms (as to remuneration or otherwise) that the directors may determine.
17.6 No Disqualification
No director or intended director is disqualified by his or her office from contracting with the Company either with regard to the holding of any office or place of profit the director holds with the Company or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, and no contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which a director is in any way interested is liable to be voided for that reason.
17.7 Professional Services by Director or Officer
Subject to the Business Corporations Act, a director or officer, or any person in which a director or officer has an interest, may act in a professional capacity for the Company, except as auditor of the Company, and the director or officer or such person is entitled to remuneration for professional services as if that director or officer were not a director or officer.
17.8 Director or Officer in Other Corporations
A director or officer may be or become a director, officer or employee of, or otherwise interested in, any person in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder or otherwise, and, subject to the Business Corporations Act, the director or officer is not accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him or her as director, officer or employee of, or from his or her interest in, such other person.
18. PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
18.1 Meetings of Directors
The directors may meet together for the conduct of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit, and meetings of the directors held at regular intervals may be held at the place, at the time and on the notice, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine.
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18.2 Voting at Meetings
Questions arising at any meeting of directors are to be decided by a majority of votes and, in the case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting does not have a second or casting vote.
18.3 Chair of Meetings
The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of directors:
(1) the chair of the board, if any;
(2) in the absence of the chair of the board or if designated by the chair, the president, a director or other officer; or
(3) any other director or officer chosen by the directors if:
(a) neither the chair of the board nor the president is present at the meeting within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting;
(b) neither the chair of the board nor the president is willing to chair the meeting; or
(c) the chair of the board and the president have advised the secretary, if any, or any other director, that they will not be present at the meeting.
18.4 Meetings by Telephone or Other Communications Medium
A director may participate in a meeting of the directors or of any committee of the directors:
(1) in person;
(2) by telephone; or
(3) with the consent of all directors who wish to participate in the meeting, by other communications medium;
if all directors participating in the meeting, whether in person or by telephone or other communications medium, are able to communicate with each other. A director who participates in a meeting in a manner contemplated by this Article 18.4 is deemed for all purposes of the Business Corporations Act and these Articles to be present at the meeting and to have agreed to participate in that manner.
18.5 Calling of Meetings
A director may, and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company, if any, on the request of a director must, call a meeting of the directors at any time.
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18.6 Notice of Meetings
Other than for meetings held at regular intervals as determined by the directors pursuant to Article 18.1, reasonable notice of each meeting of the directors, specifying the place, day and time of that meeting must be given to each of the directors and the alternate directors by any method set out in Article 24.1 or orally or by telephone.
18.7 When Notice Not Required
It is not necessary to give notice of a meeting of the directors to a director or an alternate director if:
(1) the meeting is to be held immediately following a meeting of shareholders at which that director was elected or appointed, or is the meeting of the directors at which that director is appointed; or
(2) the director or alternate director, as the case may be, has waived notice of the meeting.
18.8 Meeting Valid Despite Failure to Give Notice
The accidental omission to give notice of any meeting of directors to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any director or alternate director, does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting.
18.9 Waiver of Notice of Meetings
Any director or alternate director may send to the Company a document signed by him or her waiving notice of any past, present or future meeting or meetings of the directors and may at any time withdraw that waiver with respect to meetings held after that withdrawal. After sending a waiver with respect to all future meetings and until that waiver is withdrawn, no notice of any meeting of the directors need be given to that director and, unless the director otherwise requires by notice in writing to the Company, to his or her alternate director, and all meetings of the directors so held are deemed not to be improperly called or constituted by reason of notice not having been given to such director or alternate director. Attendance of a director or alternate director at a meeting of directors is a waiver of notice of the meeting unless that director or alternate director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
18.10 Quorum
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the directors may be set by the directors and, if not so set, is deemed to be set at a majority of directors or, if the number of directors is set at one, is deemed to be set at one director, and that director may constitute a meeting.
18.11 Validity of Acts Where Appointment Defective
Subject to the Business Corporations Act, an act of a director or officer is not invalid merely because of an irregularity in the election or appointment or a defect in the qualification of that director or officer.
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18.12 Consent Resolutions in Writing
A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors may be passed without a meeting:
(1) in all cases, if each of the directors entitled to vote on the resolution consents to it in writing; or
(2) in the case of a resolution to approve a contract or transaction in respect of which a director has disclosed that he or she has or may have a disclosable interest, if each of the other directors who have not made such a disclosure consents in writing to the resolution.
A consent in writing under this Article may be by signed document, fax, e-mail or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages. A consent in writing may be in two or more counterparts which together are deemed to constitute one consent in writing. A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors passed in accordance with this Article 18.12 is effective on the date stated in the consent in writing or on the latest date stated on any counterpart and is deemed to be a proceeding at a meeting of directors or of the committee of the directors and to be as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors that satisfies all the requirements of the Business Corporations Act and all the requirements of these Articles relating to meetings of the directors or of a committee of the directors.
19. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES
19.1 Appointment and Powers of Executive Committee
The directors may, by resolution, appoint an executive committee consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate, and this committee has, during the intervals between meetings of the board of directors, all of the directors' powers, except:
(1) the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors;
(2) the power to remove a director;
(3) the power to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors; and
(4) such other powers, if any, as may be set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors' resolution.
19.2 Appointment and Powers of Other Committees
The directors may, by resolution:
(1) appoint one or more committees (other than the executive committee) consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate;
(2) delegate to a committee appointed under paragraph (1) any of the directors' powers, except:
(a) the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors;
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(b) the power to remove a director;
(c) the power to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors; and
(d) the power to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors; and
(3) make any delegation referred to in paragraph (2) subject to the conditions set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors' resolution.
19.3 Obligations of Committees
Any committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2, in the exercise of the powers delegated to it, must:
(1) conform to any rules that may from time to time be imposed on it by the directors; and
(2) report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers at such times and in such manner and form as the directors may require.
19.4 Powers of Board
The directors may, at any time, with respect to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2:
(1) revoke or alter the authority given to the committee, or override a decision made by the committee, except as to acts done before such revocation, alteration or overriding;
(2) terminate the appointment of, or change the membership of, the committee; and
(3) fill vacancies in the committee.
19.5 Committee Meetings
Subject to Article 19.3(1) and unless the directors otherwise provide in the resolution appointing the committee or in any subsequent resolution, with respect to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2:
(1) the committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper;
(2) the committee may elect a chair of its meetings but, if no chair of a meeting is elected, or if at a meeting the chair of the meeting is not present within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting, the directors present who are members of the committee may choose one of their number to chair the meeting;
(3) a majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum of the committee; and
(4) questions arising at any meeting of the committee are determined by a majority of votes of the members present, and in case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting does not have a second or casting vote.
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20. OFFICERS
20.1 Directors May Appoint Officers
The directors may, from time to time, appoint such officers, if any, as the directors determine and the directors may, at any time, terminate any such appointment.
20.2 Functions, Duties and Powers of Officers
The directors may, for each officer:
(1) determine the functions and duties of the officer;
(2) entrust to and confer on the officer any of the powers exercisable by the directors on such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as the directors think fit; and
(3) revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of the functions, duties and powers of the officer.
20.3 Qualifications
No officer may be appointed unless that officer is qualified in accordance with the Business Corporations Act. One person may hold more than one position as an officer of the Company. Any person appointed as the chair of the board or as the managing director must be a director. Any other officer need not be a director.
20.4 Remuneration and Terms of Appointment
All appointments of officers are to be made on the terms and conditions and at the remuneration (whether by way of salary, fee, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) that the directors thinks fit and are subject to termination at the pleasure of the directors, and an officer may in addition to such remuneration be entitled to receive, after he or she ceases to hold such office or leaves the employment of the Company, a pension or gratuity.
21. INDEMNIFICATION
21.1 Definitions
In this Article 21:
(1) "eligible penalty" means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding;
(2) "eligible proceeding" means a legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed, in which a director, former director or alternate director of the Company (an "eligible party") or any of the heirs and legal personal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or alternate director of the Company:
(a) is or may be joined as a party; or
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(b) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding;
(3) "expenses" has the meaning set out in the Business Corporations Act.
21.2 Mandatory Indemnification of Eligible Parties
Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the Company must indemnify a director, former director or alternate director of the Company and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Company must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each director and alternate director is deemed to have contracted with the Company on the terms of the indemnity contained in this Article 21.2.
21.3 Indemnification
Subject to any restrictions in the Business Corporations Act and these Articles, the Company may indemnify any person.
21.4 Non-Compliance with Business Corporations Act
The failure of a director, alternate director or officer of the Company to comply with the Business Corporations Act or these Articles or, if applicable, any former Companies Act or former Articles, does not invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under this Part.
21.5 Company May Purchase Insurance
The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives) who:
(1) is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of the Company;
(2) is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the Company;
(3) at the request of the Company, is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity; or
(4) at the request of the Company, holds or held a position equivalent to that of a director, alternate director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity;
against any liability incurred by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.
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22. DIVIDENDS
22.1 Payment of Dividends Subject to Special Rights
The provisions of this Article 22 are subject to the rights, if any, of shareholders holding shares with special rights as to dividends.
22.2 Declaration of Dividends
Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the directors may from time to time declare and authorize payment of such dividends as they may deem advisable.
22.3 No Notice Required
The directors need not give notice to any shareholder of any declaration under Article 22.2.
22.4 Record Date
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend. The record date must not precede the date on which the dividend is to be paid by more than two months. If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the date on which the directors pass the resolution declaring the dividend.
22.5 Manner of Paying Dividend
A resolution declaring a dividend may direct payment of the dividend wholly or partly in money or by the distribution of specific assets or of fully paid shares or of bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company or any other corporation, or in any one or more of those ways.
22.6 Settlement of Difficulties
If any difficulty arises in regard to a distribution under Article 22.5, the directors may settle the difficulty as they deem advisable, and, in particular, may:
(1) set the value for distribution of specific assets;
(2) determine that money in substitution for all or any part of the specific assets to which any shareholders are entitled may be paid to any shareholders on the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties; and
(3) vest any such specific assets in trustees for the persons entitled to the dividend.
22.7 When Dividend Payable
Any dividend may be made payable on such date as is fixed by the directors.
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22.8 Dividends to be Paid in Accordance with Number of Shares
All dividends on shares of any class or series of shares must be declared and paid according to the number of such shares held.
22.9 Receipt by Joint Shareholders
If several persons are joint shareholders of any share, any one of them may give an effective receipt for any dividend, bonus or other money payable in respect of the share.
22.10 Dividend Bears No Interest
No dividend bears interest against the Company.
22.11 Fractional Dividends
If a dividend to which a shareholder is entitled includes a fraction of the smallest monetary unit of the currency of the dividend, that fraction may be disregarded in making payment of the dividend and that payment represents full payment of the dividend.
22.12 Payment of Dividends
Any dividend or other distribution payable in money in respect of shares may be paid by cheque, made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent, and mailed to the registered address of the shareholder, or in the case of joint shareholders, to the registered address of the joint shareholder who is first named on the central securities register, or to the person and to the address the shareholder or joint shareholders may direct in writing. The mailing of such cheque will, to the extent of the sum represented by the cheque (plus the amount of the tax required by law to be deducted), discharge all liability for the dividend unless such cheque is not paid on presentation or the amount of tax so deducted is not paid to the appropriate taxing authority.
22.13 Capitalization of Retained Earnings or Surplus
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, the directors may from time to time capitalize any retained earnings or surplus of the Company and may from time to time issue, as fully paid, shares or any bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company as a dividend representing the retained earnings or surplus so capitalized or any part thereof.
23. ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND AUDITORS
23.1 Recording of Financial Affairs
The directors must cause adequate accounting records to be kept to record properly the financial affairs and condition of the Company and to comply with the Business Corporations Act.
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23.2 Inspection of Accounting Records
Unless the directors determine otherwise, or unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, no shareholder of the Company is entitled to inspect or obtain a copy of any accounting records of the Company.
23.3 Remuneration of Auditors
The directors may set the remuneration of the auditors. If the directors so decide, the remuneration of the auditors will be determined by the shareholders.
24. NOTICES
24.1 Method of Giving Notice
Unless the Business Corporations Act or these Articles provides otherwise, a notice, statement, report or other record (for the purposes of this Article 24, a "record") required or permitted by the Business Corporations Act or these Articles to be sent by or to a person may be sent by any one of the following methods:
(1) mail addressed to the person at the applicable address for that person as follows:
(a) for a record mailed to a shareholder, the shareholder's registered address;
(b) for a record mailed to a director or officer, the prescribed address for mailing shown for the director or officer in the records kept by the Company or the mailing address provided by the recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; or
(c) in any other case, the mailing address of the intended recipient;
(2) delivery at the applicable address for that person as follows, addressed to the person:
(a) for a record delivered to a shareholder, the shareholder's registered address;
(b) for a record delivered to a director or officer, the prescribed address for delivery shown for the director or officer in the records kept by the Company or the delivery address provided by the recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; or
(c) in any other case, the delivery address of the intended recipient;
(3) sending the record by fax to the fax number provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;
(4) sending the record by email to the email address provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;
(5) making the record available for public electronic access in accordance with the procedures referred to as "notice-and-access" under National Instrument 54-101 and National
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Instrument 51-102, as applicable, of the Canadian Securities Administrators, or in accordance with any similar electronic delivery or access method permitted by applicable securities legislation from time to time; or
(6) physical delivery to the intended recipient.
24.2 Deemed Receipt
A notice, statement, report or other record that is:
(1) mailed to a person by ordinary mail to the applicable address for that person referred to in Article 24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was mailed on the day (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excepted) following the date of mailing;
(2) faxed to a person to the fax number provided by that person referred to in Article 24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was faxed on the day it was faxed;
(3) e-mailed to a person to the e-mail address provided by that person referred to in Article 24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was e-mailed on the date it was e-mailed; and
(4) made available for public electronic access in accordance with the "notice-and-access" or similar delivery procedures referred to in Article 24.1(5) is deemed to be received by a person on the date it was made available for public electronic access.
24.3 Certificate of Sending
A certificate signed by the secretary, if any, or other officer of the Company or of any other corporation acting in that capacity on behalf of the Company stating that a notice, statement, report or other record was sent in accordance with Article 24.1 is conclusive evidence of that fact.
24.4 Notice to Joint Shareholders
A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the joint shareholders of a share by providing such record to the joint shareholder first named in the central securities register in respect of the share.
24.5 Notice to Legal Personal Representatives and Trustees
A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or incapacity of a shareholder by:
(1) mailing the record, addressed to them:
(a) by name, by the title of the legal personal representative of the deceased or incapacitated shareholder, by the title of trustee of the bankrupt shareholder or by any similar description; and
(b) at the address, if any, supplied to the Company for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled; or
(2) if an address referred to in paragraph (1)(b) has not been supplied to the Company, by giving the notice in a manner in which it might have been given if the death, bankruptcy or incapacity had not occurred.
24.6 Undelivered Notices
If on two consecutive occasions, a notice, statement, report or other record is sent to a shareholder pursuant to Article 24.1 and on each of those occasions any such record is returned because the shareholder cannot be located, the Company shall not be required to send any further records to the shareholder until the shareholder informs the Company in writing of his or her new address.
25. SEAL
25.1 Who May Attest Seal
Except as provided in Articles 25.2 and 25.3, the Company's seal, if any, must not be impressed on any record except when that impression is attested by the signatures of:
(1) any two directors;
(2) any officer, together with any director;
(3) if the Company only has one director, that director; or
(4) any one or more directors or officers or persons as may be determined by the directors.
25.2 Sealing Copies
For the purpose of certifying under seal a certificate of incumbency of the directors or officers of the Company or a true copy of any resolution or other document, despite Article 25.1, the impression of the seal may be attested by the signature of any director or officer or the signature of any other person as may be determined by the directors.
25.3 Mechanical Reproduction of Seal
The directors may authorize the seal to be impressed by third parties on share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company as they may determine appropriate from time to time. To enable the seal to be impressed on any share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company, whether in definitive or interim form, on which facsimiles of any of the signatures of the directors or officers of the Company are, in accordance with the Business Corporations Act or these Articles, printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced, there may be delivered to the person employed to engrave, lithograph or print such definitive or interim share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities one or more unmounted dies reproducing the seal and such persons as are authorized under Article 25.1 to attest the Company's seal may in writing authorize such person to cause the seal to be impressed on such definitive or interim share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities by the use of such dies. Share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities
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to which the seal has been so impressed are for all purposes deemed to be under and to bear the seal impressed on them.
26. PROHIBITIONS
26.1 Definitions
In this Article 26:
(1) "designated security" means:
(a) a voting security of the Company;
(b) a security of the Company that is not a debt security and that carries a residual right to participate in the earnings of the Company or, on the liquidation or winding up of the Company, in its assets; or
(c) a security of the Company convertible, directly or indirectly, into a security described in paragraph (a) or (b);
(2) "security" has the meaning assigned in the Securities Act (British Columbia);
(3) "voting security" means a security of the Company that:
(a) is not a debt security, and
(b) carries a voting right either under all circumstances or under some circumstances that have occurred and are continuing.
26.2 Application
Article 26.3 does not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a public company or a pre-existing reporting company which has the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions as part of its Articles or to which the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions apply.
26.3 Consent Required for Transfer of Shares or Designated Securities
No share or designated security may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without the consent of the directors and the directors are not required to give any reason for refusing to consent to any such sale, transfer or other disposition.
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27. ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS
27.1 Definitions
In this Article 27:
(1) "Applicable Securities Laws" means the applicable securities legislation of each relevant province and territory of Canada, as amended from time to time, the written rules, regulations and forms made or promulgated under any such legislation and the published national instruments, multilateral instruments, policies, bulletins and notices of the securities commissions and similar regulatory authorities of each province or territory of Canada;
(2) "Close of Business" means 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on a business day in that city;
(3) "Meeting Notice Date" means the date on which the first notice to the shareholders or first Public Announcement of the date of the meeting was issued by the Company;
(4) "Public Announcement" means disclosure in (a) a press release reported in a national news service in Canada; or (b) a document publicly filed by the Company or its transfer agent and registrar under the Company's profile on SEDAR+; and
(5) "SEDAR+" means the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedarplus.ca.
27.2 Subject to the Business Corporations Act, Applicable Securities Laws and the Articles of the Company, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Company:
a) by or at the direction of the board, including pursuant to a notice of meeting;
b) by or at the direction or request of one or more shareholders pursuant to a proposal made in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act, or a requisition of a meeting of shareholders by one or more of the shareholders made in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act; or
c) by any person (a "Nominating Shareholder") who:
i. at the Close of Business on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in the Articles of the Company and on the record date for notice of such meeting, is entered in the securities register as a holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting or who has beneficial ownership of shares pursuant to the Business Corporations Act that are entitled to be voted at such meeting and provides evidence of such beneficial ownership to the Company; and
ii. complies with the notice procedures set forth below in this Article 27.
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27.3 A Nominating Shareholder must give written notice of its director nominations, the contents of which notice are set out in Article 27.5 and Article 27.6 (such notice, a "Nomination Notice"), to the secretary of the Company even if such matter is already the subject of a notice to the shareholders; (ii) a press release reported in a national news service in Canada; or a Public Announcement. The Nomination Notice must be received by the Company:
a) in the case of an annual meeting (or an annual and special meeting), not less than 30 days and not more than 65 days before the date of such meeting (except that, if the meeting is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the Meeting Notice Date, notice by the Nominating Shareholder shall be made not less than the Close of Business on the 10th day after the Meeting Notice Date); and
b) in the case of a special meeting (which is not an annual and special meeting) called for the purpose of electing directors (whether or not also called for the purpose of conducting other business) not later than the Close of Business on the 15th day after the Meeting Notice Date.
27.4 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles of the Company, a Nominating Shareholder shall deliver the Nomination Notice to the Company's registered office. A Nomination Notice shall be delivered by personal delivery, nationally recognized overnight courier (with all fees prepaid), facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) or certified or registered mail (in each case, return receipt requested, postage prepaid); provided that if such delivery or electronic communication is made on a day which is not a business day or later than Close of Business on a day which is a business day, then such delivery or electronic communication shall be deemed to have been made on the subsequent day that is a business day.
27.5 A Nomination Notice must include the following information respecting each of the Nominating Shareholder's nominees:
a) each nominee's name, age, business address and residential address;
b) each nominee's present principal occupation, business or employment;
c) each nominee's principal occupation, business or employment for the five years preceding the notice;
d) the number of securities of each class or series of shares of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) beneficially owned, or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by each nominee, as of the record date for the meeting (provided that such date shall have then have been made publicly available and shall have occurred) and as of the date of such Nomination Notice;
e) a description of any relationship, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including financial, compensation or indemnity related or otherwise) between each nominee and the Nominating Shareholder, or any affiliates or associates of, or any person or entity acting jointly or in concert with, each nominee or the Nominating Shareholder, in connection with each nominee's nomination and election as a director;
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f) whether each nominee is a party to any existing or proposed relationship, agreement, arrangement or understanding with any competitor, supplier, officer, employee or other person having or involved in any contractual or fiduciary relationship with the Company or any affiliate thereof or any third party which may give rise to an actual or perceived conflict of interest between the interest of the nominee and the interests of the Company or any affiliate thereof;
g) any other information relating to each nominee that would be required to be disclosed in a dissident's proxy circular or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Business Corporations Act or any Applicable Securities Laws;
h) the consent of each nominee to being named in the information circular to serve as a director if elected; and
i) any such other information as the Company may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of each nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder's understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of each nominee.
27.6 A Nomination Notice must include the following information respecting the Nominating Shareholder:
a) the name, business address and residential address of the Nominating Shareholder;
b) the number of securities of each class and series of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) beneficially owned, or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by the Nominating Shareholder or any other person with whom such Nominating Shareholder is acting jointly or in concert with respect to the Company or any of its securities, as of the record date for the meeting (provided that such date shall have been made publicly available and shall have occurred) and as of the date of the Nomination Notice;
c) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between or among the Nominating Shareholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing relating to the Nominating Shareholder's director nominations;
d) full particulars of any direct or indirect interest of the Nominating Shareholder in any contract or transaction (existing or proposed) with the Company or any affiliate thereof;
e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Nomination Notice by, or on behalf of, the Nominating Shareholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Nominating Shareholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of the Company;
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f) a representation that the Nominating Shareholder is a registered or beneficial shareholder of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the individual or individuals specified in the Nomination Notice;
g) a representation whether the Nominating Shareholder intends to deliver an information circular or form of proxy to holders of the Company’s outstanding shares or otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of its director nominations; and
h) any other information relating to the Nominating Shareholder that would be required to be made in a dissident's proxy circular or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors under the Business Corporations Act or any Applicable Securities Laws.
27.7 In addition, to be considered timely and in proper written form, a Nomination Notice shall be promptly updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting.
27.8 Notwithstanding anything in the Articles of the Company to the contrary: (i) no director nominations shall be made at any meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article 27.
27.9 The requirements of this Article 27 shall apply to any director nominations to be brought before a meeting by a shareholder whether such director nominations are to be included in the Company’s management information circular under the Business Corporations Act and National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations or presented to shareholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. The requirements of this Article 27 are included to provide the Company notice of a shareholder’s intention to bring one or more director nominations before a meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any shareholder the requirement to seek approval from the Company as a condition precedent to make such director nominations before a meeting.
27.10 The board may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirement in this Article 27.
B-1
SCHEDULE "B"
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Please see attached.
EROS RESOURCES CORP.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
- PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is (i) to attract, retain and motivate persons of training, experience and leadership as directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, (ii) to advance the long-term interests of the Corporation by providing such persons with the opportunity and incentive, through equity-based compensation, to acquire an ownership interest in the Corporation, and (iii) to promote a greater alignment of interests between such persons and shareholders of the Corporation.
- DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
2.1 Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
"Addendum" means the addendum for US Taxpayers (as defined in the Addendum) attached hereto as Addendum A - Special Provisions Applicable to US Taxpayers and forming part of the Plan;
"affiliate" means an "affiliated company" as determined in accordance with the Securities Act and also includes those entities that are similarly related, whether or not any of the entities are corporations, companies, partnerships, limited partnerships, trusts, income trusts or investment trusts or any other organized entity issuing securities;
"associate" means an "associate" as determined in accordance with the Securities Act;
"Award" means an Option, Performance Share Unit, Restricted Share Unit and/or Deferred Share Unit granted under the Plan (as applicable);
"Award Agreement" means an Option Award Agreement, a PSU Award Agreement, a RSU Award Agreement and/or a DSU Award Agreement (as applicable);
"Blackout Period" means an interval of time during which (a) trading in securities of the Corporation is restricted in accordance with the policies of the Corporation; or (b) the Corporation has otherwise determined that one or more Participants may not trade in securities of the Corporation because they may be in possession of undisclosed material information (as defined under applicable securities laws);
"Board" means the board of directors of the Corporation or, if established and duly authorized to act, a committee of the board of directors of the Corporation;
"Business Day" means any day, other than Saturday, Sunday or any statutory holiday in the Province of British Columbia, Canada;
"Canadian Taxpayer" means a Participant (other than a consultant) liable to pay income taxes in Canada as a result of the receipt of an Award or the settlement thereof;
"Change in Control" means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:
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(a) a consolidation, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization or acquisition involving the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries and another corporation or other entity, as a result of which the holders of Shares prior to the completion of the transaction hold less than 50% of the votes attached to all of the outstanding voting securities of the successor corporation or entity after completion of the transaction;
(b) a resolution is adopted to wind-up, dissolve or liquidate the Corporation;
(c) any person, entity or group of persons or entities acting jointly or in concert (the "Acquiror") acquires, or acquires control (including the power to vote or direct the voting) of, voting securities of the Corporation which, when added to the voting securities owned of record or beneficially by the Acquiror or which the Acquiror has the right to vote or in respect of which the Acquiror has the right to direct the voting, would entitle the Acquiror and/or associates and/or affiliates of the Acquiror to cast or direct the casting of 20% or more of the votes attached to all of the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities which may be cast to elect directors of the Corporation or the successor corporation (regardless of whether a meeting has been called to elect directors);
(d) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation;
(e) as a result of or in connection with:
(i) the contested election of directors; or
(ii) a transaction referred to in paragraph (a) of this definition of "Change in Control",
the nominees named in the most recent management information circular of the Corporation for election to the board of directors of the Corporation shall not constitute a majority of the directors;
(f) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that a transaction or series of transactions involving the Corporation or any of its affiliates that has occurred or is imminent is a Change in Control,
and for purposes of the foregoing, "voting securities" means the Shares and any other shares entitled to vote for the election of directors, and shall include any securities which are not shares entitled to vote for the election of directors but which are convertible into or exchangeable for shares which are entitled to vote for the election of directors, including any options or rights to purchase such shares or securities;
"consultant" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual;
"Corporation" means Eros Resources Corp., a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia;
"Deferred Annual Amount" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.1(b);
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"Deferred Share Unit" or "DSU" means a deferred share unit granted in accordance with Section 8.1, the value of which on any particular date shall be equal to the Market Price of one Share, and that represents the right to receive cash and/or Shares equal to the Market Price of one Share on settlement of the Deferred Share Unit;
"Disability" means a medical condition that would qualify a Participant for benefits under a long-term disability plan of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation;
"Disinterested Shareholder Approval" means approval by a majority of the votes cast by all the Corporation's shareholders at a duly constituted shareholders' meeting excluding, as applicable in accordance with policies of the Exchange and the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual, (i) votes attached to shares of the Corporation beneficially owned by Insiders to whom Awards may be granted under the Plan and their associates and affiliates, or (ii) Persons that hold or will hold Awards subject to the grant, issue, or amendment, as the case may be, of Awards and their associates and affiliates;
"Dividend Equivalents" means the right, if any, granted under Section 14, to receive payments in cash or in Shares, based on dividends declared on Shares;
"DSU Account" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.3;
"DSU Award Agreement" means a written confirmation agreement, substantially in the form of Schedule D – DSU Award Agreement, setting out the terms and conditions relating to a Deferred Share Unit and entered into in accordance with Section 8.2;
"DSU Separation Date" means, with respect to Deferred Share Units granted to a Participant, the date on which the Participant ceases to be a director, officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation for any reason, without regard to any agreed or otherwise binding severance or notice period (whether express, implied, contractual, statutory or at common law);
"Effective Date" means XX, 2025;
"Eligible Person" means any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation who is eligible to receive Awards under the Plan;
"Exchange" means the TSXV or the Toronto Stock Exchange (at such time as the Corporation graduates from the TSXV to the Toronto Stock Exchange) or, if the Shares are no longer listed for trading on the TSXV or the Toronto Stock Exchange, as applicable, such other exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted for trading;
"Exchange Corporate Finance Manual" means the corporate finance manual published by the Exchange, as amended from time to time, or if the Shares are no longer listed for trading on the Exchange, the policies of such other exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted for trading;
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"Grant Date" means the date on which an Award is made to an Eligible Person in accordance with the provisions thereof;
"Insider" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Policy 1.1 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual provided, however, that at such time as the Corporation graduates from the TSX Venture Exchange to the Toronto Stock Exchange, "Insider" shall have the meaning as set out in the Toronto Stock Exchange Company Manual;
"Investor Relations Service Provider" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Policy 1.1 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual;
"Management Corporation Employee" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Policy 1.1 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual;
"Market Price" means at any date in respect of the Shares shall be the last closing trading price of the Shares on the Exchange immediately preceding the Grant Date (or, if such Shares are not then listed and posted for trading on the Exchange, on such stock exchange on which the Shares are listed and posted for trading as may be selected for such purpose by the Board); provided that, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the Exchange, the Market Price shall not be less than the Market Price as defined in Policy 1.1; and provided, further, that with respect to an Option granted to a U.S. Taxpayer, such Participant and the number of Shares subject to such Award shall be identified by the Board or a committee of the Board prior to the start of the applicable five (5) trading day period. In the event that such Shares are not listed and posted for trading on any Exchange, the Market Price shall be the fair market value of such Shares as determined by the Board in its sole discretion and, with respect to an Award made to a U.S. Taxpayer, in accordance with Section 409A of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including any regulations promulgated thereunder;
"Option" means an option to purchase Shares granted under Section 5.1;
"Option Award Agreement" means a written award agreement, substantially in the form of Schedule A – Option Award Agreement, setting out the terms and conditions relating to an Option and entered into in accordance with Section 5.2;
"Option Price" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.2(a);
"Participant" means an Eligible Person selected by the Board to participate in the Plan in accordance with the Plan, or his or her Personal Representatives, as the context requires;
"Performance Share Unit" or "PSU" means a performance share unit granted in accordance with Section 6.1, the value of which on any particular date shall be equal to the Market Price of one Share, and that represents the right to receive cash and/or Shares equal to the Market Price of one Share on settlement of the Performance Share Unit;
"Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or partnership, unlimited liability company, joint stock company, association, trust, trustee, executor, administrator, legal or personal representative, government, governmental body, entity
- 5 -
or authority, group, body corporate, corporation, unincorporated organization or association, syndicate, joint venture or any other entity, whether or not having legal personality, and any of the foregoing in any derivative, representative or fiduciary capacity and pronouns have a similar meaning;
“Personal Representative” means, in the case of a deceased Participant, the executor or administrator of the deceased duly appointed by a court or public authority having jurisdiction to do so;
“Plan” means this Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended or amended and restated from time to time;
“PSU Account” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.3;
“PSU Award Agreement” means a written confirmation agreement, substantially in the form of Schedule B – PSU Award Agreement, setting out the terms and conditions relating to a Performance Share Unit and entered into in accordance with Section 6.2;
“PSU Vesting Date” means, with respect to Performance Share Units granted to a Participant, the date determined in accordance with Section 6.4, which date, for Canadian Taxpayers, shall not be later than the date referred to in Section 6.2(b);
“Restricted Share Unit” or “RSU” means a restricted share unit granted in accordance with Section 7.1, the value of which on any particular date shall be equal to the Market Price of one Share, and that represents the right to receive cash and/or Shares equal to the Market Price of one Share on settlement of the Restricted Share Unit;
“Retirement” means:
(a) Age 62; or
(b) Age 55 and 10 years Service; or
(c) Age plus Service is equal to 70,
Or the Board agrees to treat the Participant as a retiree for the purposes of this Plan. Notwithstanding the forgoing, such a determination by the Board does not extend beyond the purposes of this Plan
“RSU Account” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.3;
“RSU Award Agreement” means a written confirmation agreement, substantially in the form of Schedule C – RSU Award Agreement, setting out the terms and conditions relating to a Restricted Share Unit and entered into in accordance with Section 7.2;
“RSU Vesting Date” means, with respect to Restricted Share Units granted to a Participant, the date determined in accordance with Section 7.4, which date, for Canadian Taxpayers, shall not be later than the date referred to in Section 7.2(b);
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"Securities Act" means the Securities Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c.418, as amended, as at the date hereof;
"Security-Based Compensation Plan" has the meaning given to it in Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual.
"Service Agreement" means any written agreement between a Participant and the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation (as applicable), in connection with that Participant's employment, service or engagement as a director, officer, employee or consultant or the termination of such employment, service or engagement, as amended, replaced or restated from time to time;
"Shares" mean common shares of the Corporation;
"subsidiary" means a "subsidiary" determined in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions;
"Termination Date" means:
(a) for Awards granted before the Effective Date, the date on which a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person; and
(b) for Awards granted on and after the Effective Date, the date on which the Participant ceases to be actively employed by, ceases to actively perform services to, or ceases to be actively engaged by the Corporation and/or any subsidiary of the Corporation (and not, for greater certainty, the date that is the end of any agreed or otherwise binding severance or notice period (whether express, implied, contractual, statutory or at common law)), without regard to whether the Participant continues thereafter to receive any compensatory payments or other amounts from the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation;
"TSXV" means the TSX Venture Exchange;
"U.S. Taxpayer" shall mean a Participant who, with respect to an Award, is subject to taxation under the applicable U.S. tax laws.]
2.2 Headings. The headings of all articles, sections, and paragraphs in the Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of the Plan.
2.3 Construction. Whenever the singular or masculine are used in the Plan, the same shall be construed as being the plural or feminine or neuter or vice versa where the context so requires.
2.4 Statutes. Any reference to a statute, regulation, rule, instrument, or policy statement shall refer to such statute, regulation, rule, instrument, or policy statement as the same may be amended, replaced or re-enacted from time to time.
2.5 Canadian Funds. Unless otherwise specifically provided, all references to dollar amounts in the Plan are references to lawful money of Canada. Any amounts paid on exercise or in settlement of an Award shall be paid in Canadian dollars.
2.6 Addendum. The following addendum is attached to, forms part of, and shall be deemed to be incorporated in, the Plan:
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| Addendum | Title |
|---|---|
| Addendum A | Special Provisions Applicable to US Taxpayers |
2.7 Schedules. The following schedules are attached to, form part of, and shall be deemed to be incorporated in, the Plan:
| Schedule | Title |
|---|---|
| A | Option Award Agreement |
| (including Schedule 1 - Notice of Exercise of Option) | |
| B | PSU Award Agreement |
| (including Schedule 1 - Notice of Settlement of Performance Share Units) | |
| C | RSU Award Agreement |
| (including Schedule 1 - Notice of Settlement of Restricted Share Units) | |
| D – 1 | Deferred Share Unit Election Notice |
| D – 2 | DSU Award Agreement |
| (including Schedule 1 - Notice of Settlement of Deferred Share Units) |
3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
3.1 The Plan shall be administered by the Board.
3.2 The Board shall have the power, where consistent with the general purpose and intent of the Plan and subject to the specific provisions of the Plan:
(a) to establish policies and to adopt rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes, provisions and administration of the Plan and to amend or revoke such policies, rules and regulations;
(b) to interpret and construe the Plan and to determine all questions arising out of the Plan and any Award awarded pursuant to the Plan, and any such interpretation, construction or determination made by the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes;
(c) to determine the time or times when Awards will be awarded, subject to the requirements of applicable securities laws and regulatory requirements;
(d) to determine which Eligible Persons should be granted Awards;
(e) to determine the number of Awards to be awarded to Eligible Persons;
(f) to determine the term of Awards and the vesting criteria applicable to Awards (including performance vesting, if applicable);
(g) to determine if Shares which are subject to an Award will be subject to any restrictions upon the exercise or vesting of such Award;
(h) to prescribe the form of the instruments relating to the grant, exercise and other terms of Awards including the form of Option Award Agreements, RSU Award Agreements, DSU
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Award Agreements and all ancillary documents and instruments related to the Plan and Awards; and
(i) subject to Section 13, to make all other determinations under, and such interpretations of, and to take all such other steps and actions in connection with the proper administration of the Plan as it, in its sole discretion, may deem necessary or advisable.
The Board’s guidelines, rules, regulation, interpretations and determinations shall be conclusive and binding upon the Corporation and all other Persons.
Prior to its implementation by the Corporation, the Plan is subject to approval by the Exchange.
3.3 Delegation. The Board may delegate to any director, officer or employee of the Corporation, including but not limited to a committee of the Board, such of the Board’s duties and powers relating to the Plan as the Board may see fit, subject to applicable law.
3.4 Use of Administrative Agent. The Board may in its sole discretion appoint from time to time one or more entities to act as administrative agent to administer Awards granted under the Plan and to act as trustee to hold and administer the Plan and the assets that may be held in respect of Awards granted under the Plan, the whole in accordance with the terms and conditions determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
3.5 Limitation of Liability and Indemnification. No member of the Board or a Committee of the Board will be liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Awards granted thereunder and each such member shall be entitled to indemnification by the Corporation with respect to any such action or determination in the manner provided for by the Board or a Committee of the Board.
3.6 Hold Period
All Awards and any Shares issued on the exercise of Awards may be subject to and legended with a four month hold period commencing on the date the Awards were granted pursuant to the rules of the Exchange and applicable securities laws. Any Shares issued on the exercise of Awards may be subject to resale restrictions contained in National Instrument 45-102 – Resale of Securities which would apply to the first trade of the Shares. Awards granted to U.S. Award Holders and any Shares issued on the exercise of such Awards may be subject to additional resale restrictions as outlined in the Award Agreement.
- SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND PARTICIPATION LIMITS
4.1 Shares Subject to Awards. Subject to adjustment under the provisions of Section 10, the aggregate number of Shares to be reserved and set aside for issue upon the exercise or redemption and settlement for all Awards granted under this Plan, together with all other established Security-Based Compensation Plans of the Corporation, shall not exceed 10% of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding common shares as at the date of the grant. In respect of Performance Share Units, the maximum Shares issuable under the grant shall be included in the calculation for purposes of this Section 4.1.
4.2 Shares Available for Future Grants. Any Shares subject to an Award which for any reason expires without having been exercised or is forfeited or terminated shall again be available for future Awards under the Plan and any Shares subject to an Award that is settled in cash and not
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Shares shall again be available for future Awards under the Plan.
4.3 Participation Limits
The Plan, when combined with all of the Corporation’s other previously established Security Based Compensation Arrangements, including the limitation imposed on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to the exercise or redemption and settlement of DSUs, PSUs and RSUs set out in Section 4.1 above, shall not result at any time in the grant of an Award:
(a) to any one Person in any 12 month period which could, when exercised, result in the issuance of Shares exceeding 5% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation, calculated at the Award Date, unless the Corporation has obtained the requisite Disinterested Shareholder Approval to the grant;
(b) to any one Consultant in any 12 month period which could, when exercised, result in the issuance of Shares exceeding 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation, calculated at the Award Date;
(c) in any 12 month period, to any Investor Relations Service Provider which could, when exercised, result in the issuance of Shares exceeding, in aggregate, 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation, calculated at the Award Date, provided that for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the Exchange, Investor Relations Service Providers may not receive any Award other than Options;
(d) unless the Corporation has obtained Disinterested Shareholder approval, where the aggregate number of Shares issuable to Insiders at any time exceeds 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares; and
(e) unless the Corporation has obtained Disinterested Shareholder approval, in any 12 month period, of a number of Shares issued or granted to Insiders exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation, calculated as at the date any Awards are granted or issued to any Insider.
4.4 Fractional Shares
No fractional Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of Options or the settlement of Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Units in Shares, and the Board may determine the manner in which fractional share value shall be treated.
5. OPTIONS
5.1 Grant
Options may be granted to Eligible Persons and Management Corporation Employees at such time or times as shall be determined by the Board by resolution. The Grant Date of an Option for purposes of the Plan will be the date on which the Option is awarded by the Board, or such later date determined by the Board, subject to applicable securities laws and regulatory requirements.
5.2 Terms and Conditions of Options
Options shall be evidenced by an Option Award Agreement, which shall specify such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including:
(a) the number of Shares to which the Options to be awarded to the Participant pertain;
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(b) the exercise price per Share subject to each Option (the “Option Price”), which shall in no event be lower than the Market Price at the Grant Date. Options may not be awarded unless and until the Options have been allocated to specific Persons, and then, once allocated, a minimum Option Price can be established;
(c) the Option’s scheduled expiry date, which shall not exceed ten years from the Grant Date (provided that if no specific determination as to the scheduled expiry date is made by the Board, the scheduled expiry date shall be ten years from the Grant Date); and
(d) such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters.
For greater certainty, each Option Award Agreement may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.
5.3 Vesting. Subject to Section 12, all options granted pursuant to the Plan will be subject to such vesting requirements as may be imposed by the Board or unless otherwise specified in the Participant’s Service Agreement. The Option Award Agreement representing any such Option will disclose any vesting conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options issued to Investor Relations Service Providers will vest in stages over at least 12 months with no more than 1/4 of the Options vesting in any three month period.
5.4 Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised only to the extent vested. Options may be exercised by the Participant by delivering to the Corporation a notice of exercise, substantially in the form attached as “Schedule 1 - Notice of Exercise of Option” attached to the Option Award Agreement, specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised. Payment of the Option Price may be made in cash, by certified cheque made payable to the Corporation, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or other instrument acceptable to the Board.
No certificates for Shares so purchased will be issued to the Participant until the Participant and the Corporation have each completed all steps required by law to be taken in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares, including receipt from the Participant of payment or provision for all withholding taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Option. For greater certainty, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSXV, this Section 5.4 shall not be applied in any manner that is inconsistent with any of the requirements of Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual or result in any amendment to the Option Price of any Option. The delivery of certificates representing the Shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option will be contingent upon receipt from the Participant by the Corporation of the full purchase price for such Shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Option Award Agreement or applicable provisions of laws.
5.5 Termination of Option Due to Termination of Employment, Service or Engagement. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, or unless otherwise provided in the Participant’s Service Agreement or Option Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment, service or engagement terminates in any of the following circumstances, subject to Section 12, Options shall be treated in the manner set forth below (provided that, notwithstanding anything else in this Section 5.5, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSXV no accelerated vesting of Options held by an Investor Relations Service Provider is permitted without the prior approval of the TSXV):
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| Reason for Termination | Vesting | Expiry of Option |
|---|---|---|
| Death | Unvested Options automatically vest as of the date of death. | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date of the Option and one year following the date of death. |
| Disability | Unvested Options automatically vest on the date Participant is determined to be disabled. | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date of the Option and one year following the date of Disability. |
| Retirement | Unvested Options automatically vest on the date of Retirement. | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date of the Option and one year following the date of Retirement. |
| Resignation | Unvested Options as of the date of resignation automatically terminate and shall be forfeited. | Options expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiry date of the Option and 90 days following the date of resignation. |
| Options granted to Investor Relations Service Providers expire on the scheduled expiry date of the Option and 30 days following the date of resignation, or as otherwise allowed by the Board. | ||
| Termination without Cause/Constructive Dismissal - No Change in Control Involved | Unvested Options automatically vest as of the Termination Date | Options expire on the earlier of scheduled expiry date of the Option and 90 days following the Termination Date, or as otherwise allowed by the Board. |
| Change in Control | Options shall vest and become immediately exercisable. | Expiry Date to be determined in accordance with Section 12. |
| Termination with Cause | Options, whether vested or unvested as of the Termination Date, automatically terminate and shall be forfeited. | Options, whether vested or unvested as of the Termination Date, automatically terminate and shall be forfeited. |
6. PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS
6.1 Grant. Performance Share Units may be granted to Eligible Persons, other than any Investor Relations Service Provider, at such time or times as shall be determined by the Board by resolution, pursuant to recommendations of the Board from time to time. The Grant Date of a Performance Share Unit for purposes of the Plan will be the date on which the Performance Share Unit is awarded by the Board, or such later date determined by the Board, subject to applicable securities laws and regulatory requirements.
6.2 Terms and Conditions of Performance Share Units. Performance Share Units shall be evidenced by a PSU Award Agreement, which shall specify such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including:
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(a) the number of Performance Share Units to be awarded to the Participant;
(b) the performance cycle applicable to each Performance Share Unit, which shall be the period of time between the Grant Date and the date on which the performance criteria specified in Section 6.2(c) must be satisfied before the Performance Share Unit is fully vested and may be settled by the Participant, before being subject to forfeiture or termination, which period of time, for Canadian Taxpayers, shall in no case end later than December 31 of the calendar year which is three years after the calendar year in which the Grant Date occurs;
(c) the performance criteria, which may include criteria based on the Participant’s personal performance and/or the performance of the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries, that shall be used to determine the vesting of the Performance Share Units;
(d) whether and to what extent Dividend Equivalents will be credited to a Participant’s PSU Account in accordance with Section 14; and
(e) such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters.
For greater certainty, each PSU Award Agreement may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan. No Shares will be issued on the Grant Date and the Corporation shall not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Awards.
6.3 PSU Accounts. A separate notional account shall be maintained for each Participant with respect to Performance Share Units granted to such Participant (a “PSU Account”) in accordance with Section 15.3. Performance Share Units awarded to the Participant from time to time pursuant to Section 6.1 shall be credited to the Participant’s PSU Account and shall vest in accordance with Section 6.4. On the vesting of the Performance Share Units pursuant to Section 6.4 and the corresponding issuance of cash and/or Shares to the Participant pursuant to Section 6.5, or on the forfeiture or termination of the Performance Share Units pursuant to the terms of the Award, the Performance Share Units credited to the Participant’s PSU Account will be cancelled.
6.4 Vesting. Subject to Section 12, unless otherwise determined by the Board in accordance with the provisions hereof, or unless otherwise specified in the Participant’s Service Agreement or PSU Award Agreement, each Performance Share Unit shall vest and shall be settled as at the date that is the end of the performance cycle (which shall be the “PSU Vesting Date”), subject to any performance criteria having been satisfied, and provided that in all cases, no PSUs may vest before the date that is one year following the Grant Date.
6.5 Settlement.
(a) The Performance Share Units may be settled by delivery by the Participant to the Corporation of a notice of settlement, substantially in the form attached as Schedule 1 - Notice of Settlement of Performance Share Units attached to the PSU Award Agreement, acknowledged by the Corporation. On settlement, the Corporation shall, for each vested Performance Share Unit being settled, deliver to the Participant a cash payment equal to the Market Price of one Share as of the PSU Vesting Date, one Share, or any combination of cash and Shares equal to the Market Price of one Share as of the PSU Vesting Date, in the sole discretion of the Board. No certificates for Shares issued in settlement will be
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issued to the Participant until the Participant and the Corporation have each completed all steps required by law to be taken in connection with the issuance of the Shares, including receipt from the Participant of payment or provision for all withholding taxes due as a result of the settlement of the Performance Share Units. For greater certainty, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSXV, this Section 6.5(a) shall not be applied in any manner that is inconsistent with any of the requirements of Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual. The delivery of certificates representing the Shares to be issued in settlement of Performance Share Units will be contingent upon the fulfillment of any requirements contained in the PSU Award Agreement or applicable provisions of laws.
(b) A Participant may elect to defer the date of settlement following the PSU Vesting Date by providing written notice to the Corporation of the deferred settlement dates not later than five days prior to the PSU Vesting Date. For greater certainty, for Canadian Taxpayers, in no event shall such deferred settlement date be later than the period of time specified in Section 6.2(b).
6.6 Termination of Performance Share Unit Due to Termination of Employment, Service or Engagement. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, or unless otherwise provided in the Participant's Service Agreement or PSU Award Agreement, if a Participant's employment, service or engagement terminates in any of the following circumstances, Performance Share Units shall be treated in the manner set forth below:
| Reason for Termination | Treatment of Performance Share Units |
|---|---|
| Death | All outstanding Performance Share Units shall vest as of the date of death and be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5. |
| Retirement or Disability | All outstanding Performance Share Units that were vested on or before the date of Retirement or Disability shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5 as of the date of Retirement or Disability. All outstanding Performance Share Units that that have not vested as of the date of Retirement or Disability shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms and, if any such Performance Share Units vest shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5. |
| Resignation | Outstanding Performance Share Units that were vested on or before the date of resignation shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5 as of the date of resignation, after which time all remaining unvested Performance Share Units shall in all respects terminate. |
| Termination without Cause/Wrongful Dismissal - No Change in Control Involved | Outstanding Performance Share Units that were vested on or before the Termination Date shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5 as of the Termination Date. Outstanding Performance Share Units that would have vested on the next vesting date following the Termination Date, shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5 as of such vesting date. Subject to the foregoing, any remaining Performance Share Units shall in all respects terminate as of the Termination Date. |
| Change in Control and | All outstanding Performance Share Units shall vest as of termination date and shall be |
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| Reason for Termination | Treatment of Performance Share Units |
|---|---|
| Participant’s employment, service or engagement is terminated without Cause within 12 months of Change in Control | available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5 |
| Termination of the Participant for Cause | All outstanding Performance Share Units, whether vested or unvested, shall automatically terminate on the Termination Date and be forfeited. |
7. RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
7.1 Grant. Restricted Share Units may be granted to Eligible Persons, other than any Investor Relations Service Provider, at such time or times as shall be determined by the Board by resolution, pursuant to recommendations of the Board from time to time. The Grant Date of a Restricted Share Unit for purposes of the Plan will be the date on which the Restricted Share Unit is awarded by the Board, or such later date determined by the Board, subject to applicable securities laws and regulatory requirements.
7.2 Terms and Conditions of Restricted Share Units. Restricted Share Units shall be evidenced by an RSU Award Agreement, which shall specify such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including:
(a) the number of Restricted Share Units to be awarded to the Participant;
(b) the period of time between the Grant Date and the date on which the Restricted Share Unit is fully vested and may be settled by the Participant, before being subject to forfeiture or termination, which period of time, for Canadian Taxpayers, shall in no case be later than December 31 of the calendar year which is three years after the calendar year in which the Grant Date occurs;
(c) whether and to what extent Dividend Equivalents will be credited to a Participant’s RSU Account in accordance with Section 14;
(d) in the case of a Canadian Taxpayer, in respect of each Restricted Share Unit that may be awarded under the RSU Award Agreement, the year in which the services to which the Restricted Share Unit relates were rendered; and
(e) such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters.
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For greater certainty, each RSU Award Agreement may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan and, if applicable, the Addendum. No Shares will be issued on the Grant Date and the Corporation shall not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Awards.
7.3 RSU Accounts. A separate notional account shall be maintained for each Participant with respect to Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant (an “RSU Account”) in accordance with Section 15.3. Restricted Share Units awarded to the Participant from time to time pursuant to Sections 7.1 shall be credited to the Participant’s RSU Account and shall vest in accordance with Section 7.4. On the vesting of the Restricted Share Units pursuant to Section 7.4 and the corresponding issuance of cash and/or Shares to the Participant pursuant to Section 7.5, or on the forfeiture or termination of the Restricted Share Units pursuant to the terms of the Award, the Restricted Share Units credited to the Participant’s RSU Account will be cancelled.
7.4 Vesting. Subject to Section 12, unless otherwise determined by the Board in accordance with the provisions hereof, or unless otherwise specified in the Participant’s Service Agreement or RSU Award Agreement, each Restricted Share Unit shall vest and shall be settled when all applicable restrictions shall have lapsed (which shall be the “RSU Vesting Date”). Unless otherwise determined by the Board in accordance with the provisions hereof, or unless otherwise specified in the Participant’s Service Agreement or RSU Award Agreement, each Restricted Share Unit shall vest and shall be settled in three approximately equal instalments on the first three anniversaries of the Grant Date, provided that no RSUs may vest before the date that is one year following the Grant Date.
7.5 Settlement.
(a) The Restricted Share Units may be settled by delivery by the Participant to the Corporation of a notice of settlement, substantially in the form attached as Schedule 1 - Notice of Settlement of Restricted Share Units attached to the RSU Award Agreement, acknowledged by the Corporation. On settlement, the Corporation shall, for each vested Restricted Share Unit being settled, deliver to the Participant a cash payment equal to the Market Price of one Share as of the RSU Vesting Date, one Share, or any combination of cash and Shares equal to the Market Price of one Share as of the RSU Vesting Date, in the sole discretion of the Board.¹ No certificates for Shares issued in settlement will be issued to the Participant until the Participant and the Corporation have each completed all steps required by law to be taken in connection with the issuance of the Shares, including receipt from the Participant of payment or provision for all withholding taxes due as a result of the settlement of the Restricted Share Units. For greater certainty, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSXV, this Section 7.5(a) shall not be applied in any manner that is inconsistent with any of the requirements of Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual. The delivery of certificates representing the Shares to be issued in settlement of Restricted Share Units will be contingent upon the fulfillment of any requirements contained in the RSU Award Agreement or applicable provisions of laws.
(b) For greater certainty, for Canadian Taxpayers, in no event shall such settlement be later than the period of time specified in Section 7.2(b).
¹ For Participants who are US Taxpayers, settlements shall take place in accordance with such further limitations as may be prescribed by the Addendum.
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7.6 Termination of Restricted Share Unit Due to Termination of Employment, Service or Engagement. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, or unless otherwise provided in the Participant's Service Agreement or RSU Award Agreement, if a Participant's employment, service or engagement terminates in any of the following circumstances, Restricted Share Units shall be treated in the manner set forth below:
| Reason for Termination | Treatment of Restricted Share Units |
|---|---|
| Death | All outstanding Restricted Share Units shall vest as of the date of death and be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5. |
| Retirement or Disability | All outstanding Restricted Share Units that were vested on or before the date of Retirement or Disability shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5 as of the date of Retirement or Disability. All outstanding Restricted Share Units that that have not vested as of the date of Retirement or Disability shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms and, if any such Restricted Share Units vest shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5. |
| Resignation | Outstanding Restricted Share Units that were vested on or before the date of resignation shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5 as of the date of resignation, after which time all remaining unvested Restricted Share Units shall in all respects terminate. |
| Termination without Cause/Wrongful Dismissal - No Change in Control Involved | Outstanding Restricted Share Units that were vested on or before the Termination Date shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5 as of the Termination Date. Outstanding Restricted Share Units that would have vested on the next vesting date following the Termination Date, shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5 as of such vesting date. Subject to the foregoing, any remaining Restricted Share Units shall in all respects terminate as of the Termination Date. |
| Change in Control and Participant's employment, service or engagement is terminated without Cause within 12 months of Change in Control | All outstanding Restricted Share Units shall vest as of termination date and shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5. |
| Termination of the Participant for Cause | All outstanding Restricted Share Units, whether vested or unvested, shall automatically terminate on the Termination Date and be forfeited. |
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| Section | Description |
|---|---|
8. DEFERRED SHARE UNITS
8.1 Grant.
(a) Discretionary Deferred Share Units. Deferred Share Units may be granted to Eligible Persons, other than any Investor Relations Service Provider, at such time or times as shall be determined by the Board by resolution, pursuant to recommendations of the Board from time to time. The Grant Date of a Deferred Share Unit for purposes of the Plan will be the date on which the Deferred Share Unit is awarded by the Board, or such later date determined by the Board, subject to applicable securities laws and regulatory requirements.
(b) Mandatory or Elective Deferred Share Units. In addition to the foregoing, on fixed dates established by the Board and subject to such terms and conditions and other procedures as the Board shall determine, pursuant to recommendations of the Board, the Board may require a Participant to defer, or may permit a Participant to elect to defer, receipt of all or a portion of the following amounts payable by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation:
(i) Director’s Retainer - in the case of a member of the Board who is not also an officer or employee of the Corporation, an amount equal to all or a portion of his or her annual directors’ retainer payable on account of his or her services as a member of the Board (which amount shall not include committee chairperson retainers, committee members retainers, Board or committee meeting fees, or special remuneration for ad hoc services rendered to the Board); or
(ii) Officers’ and Employees’ Annual Incentive - in the case of an officer or employee of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, an amount equal to all or a portion of his or her annual incentive bonus for a calendar year,
(the “Deferred Annual Amount”), and receive in lieu thereof an Award of Deferred Share Units equal to the greatest whole number which may be obtained by dividing (i) the amount of the Deferred Annual Amount, by (ii) the Market Price of one Share on the date of payment of such Deferred Annual Amount. For elective Deferred Share Units,
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the form of election shall be substantially in the form of the form of “Schedule D - 1 - DSU Election Notice”.
8.2 Terms and Conditions of Deferred Share Units. Deferred Share Units shall be evidenced by a DSU Award Agreement, which shall specify such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including:
(a) the number of Deferred Share Units to be awarded to the Participant;
(b) for Deferred Share Units awarded under Section 8.1(a):
(i) the period of time between the Grant Date and the date on which the Deferred Share Unit is fully vested and may be settled by the Participant, before being subject to forfeiture or termination, subject to Section 8.5(b) for Canadian Taxpayers;
(ii) any performance criteria, which may include criteria based on the Participant’s personal performance and/or the financial performance of the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries, that may be used to determine the vesting of the Deferred Share Units (if applicable); and
(iii) such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters;
(c) in the case of Deferred Share Units awarded to a Canadian Taxpayer, such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the requirements of paragraph 6801(d) of the Regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada); and
(d) in the case of Deferred Share Units awarded to a US Taxpayer, such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the requirements of US Code Section 409A (as defined in the Addendum).
For greater certainty, each DSU Award Agreement may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan and, if applicable, the Addendum. No Shares will be issued on the Grant Date and the Corporation shall not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Awards.
8.3 DSU Accounts. A separate notional account shall be maintained for each Participant with respect to Deferred Share Units granted to such Participant (a “DSU Account”) in accordance with Section 15.3. Deferred Share Units awarded to the Participant from time to time pursuant to Section 8.1 shall be credited to the Participant’s DSU Account and shall vest in accordance with Section 8.4. On the vesting of the Deferred Share Units pursuant to Section 8.4 and the corresponding issuance of cash and/or Shares to the Participant pursuant to Section 8.5, or on the forfeiture and termination of the Deferred Share Units pursuant to the terms of the Award, the Deferred Share Units credited to the Participant’s DSU Account will be cancelled.
8.4 Vesting. Subject to Section 12, unless otherwise determined by the Board in accordance with the provisions hereof, or unless otherwise specified in the Participant’s Service Agreement or DSU Award Agreement:
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(a) each Deferred Share Unit awarded under Section 8.1(a) shall vest in accordance with the DSU Award Agreement; and
(b) each Deferred Share Unit awarded under Section 8.1(b) shall immediately vest at the time it is credited to the Participant’s DSU Account;
provided that no DSUs may vest before the date that is one year following the Grant Date.
8.5 Settlement.
(a) The Deferred Share Units may be settled by delivery by the Participant to the Corporation of a notice of settlement, substantially in the form attached as “Schedule 1 - Notice of Settlement of Deferred Share Units” attached to the DSU Award Agreement, acknowledged by the Corporation. On settlement, the Corporation shall, for each such vested Deferred Share Unit, deliver to the Participant a cash payment equal to the Market Price of one Share as of the DSU Separation Date, one Share, or any combination of cash and Shares equal to the Market Price of one Share as of the DSU Separation Date, in the sole discretion of the Board. No certificates for Shares issued in settlement will be issued to the Participant until the Participant and the Corporation have each completed all steps required by law to be taken in connection with the issuance of the Shares, including receipt from the Participant of payment or provision for all withholding taxes due as a result of the settlement of the Deferred Share Units. For greater certainty, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSXV, this Section 8.5(a) shall not be applied in any manner that is inconsistent with any of the requirements of Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual. The delivery of certificates representing the Shares to be issued in settlement of Deferred Share Units will be contingent upon the fulfillment of any requirements contained in the DSU Award Agreement or applicable provisions of laws.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, all settlements of Deferred Share Units granted to a Participant who is a Canadian Taxpayer shall take place (i) after the DSU Separation Date; and (ii) by December 31 of the first calendar year that commences after such time.
8.6 Termination of Deferred Share Unit Due to Termination of Employment, Service or Engagement.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, or unless otherwise provided in the Participant’s Service Agreement or DSU Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment, service or engagement terminates in any of the following circumstances, Deferred Share Units shall be treated in the manner set forth below:
| Reason for Termination | Treatment of Deferred Share Units |
|---|---|
| Death | All outstanding Deferred Share Units shall vest as of the date of death and be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5. |
| Retirement or Disability | All outstanding Deferred Share Units that were vested on or before the date of Retirement or Disability shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 6.5 as of the date of Retirement or Disability. All outstanding Deferred Share Units that that have not vested as of the date of Retirement or Disability shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms and, if any such Deferred Share Units vest shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5. |
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| Reason for Termination | Treatment of Deferred Share Units |
|---|---|
| Resignation | Outstanding Deferred Share Units that were vested on or before the date of resignation shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5 as of the date of resignation, after which time all remaining unvested Deferred Share Units shall in all respects terminate. |
| Termination without Cause/Wrongful Dismissal - No Change in Control Involved | Outstanding Deferred Share Units that were vested on or before the Termination Date shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5 as of the Termination Date. Outstanding Deferred Share Units that would have vested on the next vesting date following the Termination Date, shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5 as of such vesting date. Subject to the foregoing, any remaining Deferred Share Units shall in all respects terminate as of the Termination Date. |
| Change in Control and Participant’s employment, service or engagement is terminated without Cause within 12 months of Change in Control | All outstanding Deferred Share Units shall vest as of termination date and shall be available for settlement in accordance with Section 7.5. |
| Termination of the Participant for Cause | All outstanding Deferred Share Units, whether vested or unvested, shall automatically terminate on the Termination Date and be forfeited. |
- NON-ASSIGNABILITY AND NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS
Except to the extent that certain rights may pass to a beneficiary or legal representative upon death of a Participant, by will or as required by law, no assignment or transfer of Awards, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, vests any interest or right in such Awards whatsoever in any assignee or transferee and immediately upon any assignment or transfer, or any attempt to make the same, such Awards will terminate and be of no further force or effect. To the extent that certain rights to exercise any portion of an outstanding Award pass to a beneficiary or legal representative upon death of a Participant, the period in which such Award can be exercised by such beneficiary or legal representative shall not exceed one year from the Participant’s death.
- ADJUSTMENTS
10.1 Should the Corporation effect a subdivision or consolidation of Shares or any similar capital reorganization or a payment of a stock dividend (other than a stock dividend that is in lieu of a cash dividend), or should any other change be made in the capitalization of the Corporation that
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does not constitute a Change in Control and that would warrant the amendment or replacement of any existing Awards in order to adjust the number of Shares that may be acquired on the vesting of outstanding Awards and/or the terms of any Award in order to preserve proportionately the rights and obligations of the Participants holding such Awards, the Board will, subject to the prior approval of the Exchange, authorize such steps to be taken as it may consider to be equitable and appropriate to that end.
10.2 In the event of an amalgamation, combination, arrangement, merger or other transaction or reorganization involving the Corporation and occurring by exchange of Shares, by sale or lease of assets or otherwise, that does not constitute a Change in Control and that warrants the amendment or replacement of any existing Awards in order to adjust the number and/or type of Shares that may be acquired on the vesting of outstanding Awards or by reference to which such Awards may be settled (as applicable), and/or the terms of any Award in order to preserve proportionately the rights and obligations of the Participants holding such Awards, the Board will, subject to the prior approval of the Exchange, authorize such steps to be taken as it may consider to be equitable and appropriate to that end.
10.3 If at any time the Corporation grants to its shareholders the right to subscribe for and purchase pro rata additional securities of any other corporation or entity, there shall be no adjustments made to the Shares or other securities subject to an Award in consequence thereof and the Awards shall remain unaffected.
10.4 The adjustments provided for in this Section 10 shall be cumulative.
10.5 On the happening of each and every of the foregoing events, the applicable provisions of the Plan shall be deemed to be amended accordingly and the Board shall take all necessary action so as to make all necessary adjustments in the number and kind of securities subject to any outstanding Award (and the Plan) and, with respect to Options, the Option Price.
- PRIORITY OF AGREEMENTS
11.1 Priority of Agreements. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of a Participant's Award Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall prevail with respect to such Participant. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of (i) the Plan and/or a Participant's Award Agreement, and (ii) a Participant's Service Agreement, the provisions of the Participant's Service Agreement shall prevail with respect to such Participant unless the terms of the Participant's Service Agreement would either (i) cause a violation of US Code 409A in respect of a US Taxpayer (as defined in the Addendum) or (ii) cause the Plan to be a "salary deferral arrangement" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) in respect of a Participant that is a Canadian Taxpayer, in which case the terms of the Plan shall prevail.
11.2 Vesting and Termination Provisions in Service Agreements. In the event that a Participant's Service Agreement contains provisions respecting the vesting of the dates upon which any or all outstanding Awards shall be exercisable or settled, without regard to whether such Awards have otherwise vested in accordance with their terms, or provisions respecting the expiry, forfeiture and termination of such Awards, the vesting or expiry, forfeiture and termination of such Awards, as applicable, shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Participant's Service Agreement with respect to such Participant.
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12. CHANGE IN CONTROL - TREATMENT OF AWARDS
12.1 Change in Control
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, or unless otherwise provided in the Participant’s Service Agreement or Award Agreement, if a Change in Control shall conclusively be deemed to have occurred, then there shall be immediate full vesting of each outstanding Award granted subject to any required approval of the Exchange, which may be exercised and settled, in whole or in part, even if such Award is not otherwise exercisable or vested by its terms.
In addition, if the Board determines that a Change of Control is imminent the Board, in its discretion, may authorize and implement any one or more of the following additional courses of action:
(a) terminate without any payment or consideration, any Awards not exercised, settled or surrendered by the effective time of the Change of Control;
(b) cause the Corporation to offer to acquire from each Award holder his or her Awards for a cash payment, and any Awards not so acquired, surrendered or exercised by the effective time of the Change of Control will be deemed to have expired; and
(c) cause an option granted under this Plan to be exchanged for an option to acquire for the same exercise price, the number and type of securities as would be distributed to the Option holder in respect of the Shares to be issued to the Option holder had he or she exercised the Option prior to the effective time of the Change of Control, provided that any such replacement option must provide that it survives for a period of not less than one year from the effective time of the Change of Control regardless of the continuing directorship, officership or employment of the holder.
12.2 Change in Control
Notwithstanding Section 12.1, in the event of a Change in Control, the Board shall have the right, but not the obligation, and without the consent of any Participant, to permit each Participant, within a specified period of time prior to the completion of the Change in Control as determined by the Board, to exercise all of the Participant’s outstanding Options and to settle all of the Participant’s outstanding Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units (to the extent then vested and exercisable, including by reason of acceleration by the Board pursuant to Section 12.3 or in accordance with the Award Agreement) but subject to and conditional upon the completion of the Change in Control and any required approval of the Exchange.
12.3 Discretion to Accelerate Awards
Notwithstanding Section 12.1, and subject to any required approval of the Exchange, in the event of a Change in Control, the Board may accelerate the dates upon which any or all outstanding Awards shall vest and be exercisable or settled, without regard to whether such Awards have otherwise vested in accordance with their terms.
12.4 Termination of Awards on Change in Control
Subject to and conditional upon completion of the Change in Control event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards, vested and unvested, shall be deemed to be terminated, without further act or formality, except to the extent required under Sections 12.1 and 16.1, if applicable.
12.5 Further Assurances on Change in Control
The Participant shall execute such documents and instruments and take such other actions, including exercise or settlement of Awards vesting
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pursuant to Section 12.2 or the Award Agreement, as may be required consistent with the foregoing; provided, however, that the exercise or settlement of Awards vesting pursuant to Section 12.2 or the Award Agreement shall be subject to the completion of the Change in Control event.
12.6 Awards Need Not be Treated Identically
In taking any of the actions contemplated by this Section 12, the Board shall not be obligated to treat all Awards held by any Participant, or all Awards in general, identically.
12.7 Canadian Taxpayer
In the case of a Deferred Share Unit held by a Participant that is a Canadian Taxpayer, and subject to any further limitations provided in any Award Agreement, (i) no payment settlement shall be made to the Participant under this Section 12 until after the time that the Participant ceases to be a Director of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation / an Employee or consultant of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation for any reason, without regard to any agreed or otherwise binding severance or notice period (whether express, implied, contractual, statutory or at common law); and (ii) all settlements to such Participant under this Section 12 shall be made by December 31 of the first calendar year that commences after such time.
13. AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF PLAN AND AWARDS
13.1 Discretion to Amend the Plan and Awards
The Board may, subject to any rules of the Exchange and approval rights of the Exchange, amend the Plan or Awards at any time without obtaining shareholder approval, provided, however, that no such amendment may materially and adversely affect any Award previously granted to a Participant without the consent of the Participant, except to the extent required by applicable law (including Exchange requirements). Any amendment under this Section shall be subject to all necessary regulatory approvals. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to Section 13.2, the Board may, without shareholder approval, at any time or from time to time, amend the Plan for the purposes of:
(a) making any amendments to the general vesting provisions of each Award;
(b) making any amendments to add covenants of the Corporation for the protection of Participants, as the case may be, provided that the Board shall be of the good faith opinion that such additions will not be prejudicial to the rights or interests of the Participants, as the case may be;
(c) making any amendments not inconsistent with the Plan as may be necessary or desirable with respect to matters or questions which, in the good faith opinion of the Board, having in mind the best interests of the Participants, it may be expedient to make, including amendments that are desirable as a result of changes in law in any jurisdiction where a Participant resides, provided that the Board shall be of the opinion that such amendments and modifications will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Participants and directors; or
(d) making such changes or corrections which, on the advice of counsel to the Corporation, are required for the purpose of curing or correcting any ambiguity or defect or inconsistent provision or clerical omission or mistake or manifest error, provided that the Board shall be of the opinion that such changes or corrections will not be prejudicial to the rights and interests of the Participants.
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13.2 Amendments Requiring Shareholder Approval. Notwithstanding Section 13.1 and subject to any rules of the Exchange and approval rights of the Exchange, no amendments to the Plan or Awards to:
(a) increases the percentage of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding Shares from time to time that can be reserved for issuance under the Plan, except pursuant to the provisions in the Plan which permit the Board to make equitable adjustments in the event of transactions affecting the Corporation or its capital;
(b) increases or removes the 10% limits on Shares issuable or issued to Insiders as set forth in Subsections 4.3(d) and 4.3(e);
(c) reduces the exercise price of an Award (for this purpose, a cancellation or termination of an Award of a Participant prior to its expiry date for the purpose of reissuing an Award to the same Participant with a lower exercise price shall be treated as an amendment to reduce the exercise price of an Option Award) except pursuant to the provisions in the Plan which permit the Board to make equitable adjustments in the event of transactions affecting the Corporation or its capital;
(d) extends the term of an Award beyond the original expiry date (except where an expiry date would have fallen within a Blackout Period applicable to the Participant);
(e) permits an Award to be exercisable beyond 10 years from its Grant Date (except where an expiry date would have fallen within a Blackout Period of the Corporation);
(f) increases or removes the limits on the participation of directors;
(g) changes the eligible participants of the Plan;
(h) is a matter expressly subject to approval of the holders of Shares pursuant to the applicable rules of the Exchange;
(i) deletes or reduces the range of amendments which require approval of shareholders under this Section 13.2; or
(j) any other change that requires Disinterested Shareholder approval pursuant to Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual,
shall be made without obtaining approval of the shareholders or Disinterested Shareholders, of the Corporation, as applicable, in accordance with the requirements of the Exchange.
13.3 Amendment, Suspension or Discontinuance. No amendment, suspension or discontinuance of the Plan or of any Award may contravene the requirements of the Exchange or any securities commission or other regulatory body to which the Plan or the Corporation is now or may hereafter be subject to. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the ability of the Board to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
13.4 Tax Provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a) no amendment to the Plan shall cause the Plan or Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Units granted to a Canadian Taxpayer hereunder to be made without the consent of such Canadian Taxpayer if the result of such amendment would be to cause the Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Units to be a “salary deferral arrangement” under the Income Tax Act (Canada); and
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(b) no amendment to the Plan shall cause the Plan or Deferred Share Units granted to a Canadian Taxpayer hereunder to cease to meet the conditions of paragraph 6801(d) of the Regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) without the consent of such Canadian Taxpayer.
For greater certainty, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSXV, this Section 13.4 shall not be applied in any manner that is inconsistent with any of the requirements of Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual or result in any amendment to the Option Price of any Option.
14. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
The Board may determine whether and to what extent Dividend Equivalents will be credited to a Participant’s PSU Account, RSU Account and DSU Account with respect to Awards of Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Units. Dividend Equivalents to be credited to a Participant’s PSU Account, RSU Account or DSU Account shall be credited as follows:
(a) any cash dividends or distributions credited to the Participant’s PSU Account, RSU Account or DSU Account shall be deemed to have been invested in additional Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Units, as applicable, on the record date established for the related dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the greatest whole number which may be obtained by dividing (i) the value of such dividend or distribution on the record date by (ii) the Market Price of one Share on such record date, and such additional Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Unit or Deferred Share Unit, as applicable, shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as are applicable in respect of the Performance Share Unit, Restricted Share Unit or Deferred Share Unit, as applicable, with respect to which such dividends or distributions were payable; and
(b) if any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares or other securities, such Shares and other securities shall be subject to the same vesting, performance and other restrictions as apply to the Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Unit, as applicable, with respect to which they were paid.
No Dividend Equivalent will be credited to or paid on Awards of Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Deferred Share Units that have expired or that have been forfeited or terminated.
For clarity, any Dividend Equivalents granted shall be included in calculating the limits set forth in Section 4.
15. MISCELLANEOUS
15.1 No Rights as a Shareholder. Nothing contained in the Plan nor in any Award granted hereunder shall be deemed to give any Person any interest or title in or to any Shares or any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation or any other legal or equitable right against the Corporation whatsoever with respect to Shares issuable pursuant to an Award until such Person becomes the holder of record of Shares.
15.2 Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to employment or continued employment or the right to continue to serve as a Director or a consultant as the case may be, or interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation to
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terminate such employment or service at any time. Participation in the Plan by an Eligible Person is voluntary. The Corporation and the Participant shall be responsible for ensuring and confirming that the Participant is a bona fide director, officer, Employee, Consultant or Management Corporation Employee, as the case may be.
15.3 Record Keeping. The Corporation shall maintain appropriate registers in which shall be recorded all pertinent information with respect to the granting, amendment, exercise, vesting, expiry, forfeiture and termination of Awards. Such registers shall include, as appropriate:
(a) the name and address of each Participant;
(b) the number of Awards credited to each Participant’s account;
(c) any and all adjustments made to Awards recorded in each Participant’s account; and
(d) such other information which the Corporation considers appropriate to record in such registers.
15.4 Income Taxes. As a condition of and prior to participation in the Plan, an Eligible Person shall authorize the Corporation in written form to withhold from any payment otherwise payable to such Eligible Person any amounts required by any taxing authority to be withheld for taxes of any kind as a consequence of such participation in the Plan, the issuance of any Shares pursuant to the Plan or the settlement in cash and/or Shares of any Awards under the Plan. In addition, as a condition for the exercise of an Option, the Corporation may require a Participant to deliver to the Corporation all or a portion of the taxes required to be withheld or remitted by the Corporation under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any applicable Canadian provincial taxation statute as a result of the exercise of the Option. For greater certainty, for so long as the Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSXV, this Section 15.4 shall not be applied in any manner that is inconsistent with any of the requirements of Policy 4.4 of the Exchange Corporate Finance Manual or result in any amendment to the Option Price of any Option.
15.5 No Representation or Warranty. The Corporation makes no representation or warranty as to the future market value of any Shares issued pursuant to the Plan.
15.6 Direction to Transfer Agents. Upon receipt of a certificate of an authorized officer of the Corporation directing the issue of Shares issuable under the Plan, the transfer agent of the Corporation is authorized and directed to issue and countersign share certificates for the Shares subject to the applicable Award in the name of such Participant or as may be directed in writing by the Participant.
15.7 Unfunded Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Plan shall be unfunded. To the extent any Participant or his or her estate holds any rights by virtue of a grant of Awards under the Plan, such rights (unless otherwise determined by the Board) shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured creditor of the Company.
- TERM OF AWARD, EXPIRY, FORFEITURE AND TERMINATION OF AWARDS / BLACKOUT PERIODS
16.1 Expiry, Forfeiture and Termination of Awards. If for any reason an Award expires without having been exercised or is forfeited or terminated, and subject to any extension thereof in
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accordance with the Plan, such Award shall forthwith expire and be forfeited and shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.
16.2 Blackout Periods. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, except as provided in Section 2.2 of the Addendum, if the expiry date or vesting date of an Award, other than a Performance Share Unit, Restricted Share Unit or Deferred Share Unit awarded to a Canadian Taxpayer, as applicable, is during a Blackout Period, the expiry date or vesting date, as applicable, will be automatically extended for a period of ten Trading Days following the end of the Blackout Period, provided that the following requirements are satisfied:
(a) the Blackout Period must be formally imposed by the Corporation pursuant to its internal trading policies;
(b) the Blackout Period must expire upon the general disclosure of the undisclosed Material Information; and
(c) the automatic extension of a Participant’s Award will not be permitted where the Participant or the Corporation is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under securities laws) in respect of the Corporation’s securities.
In the case of a Performance Share Unit, Restricted Share Unit or Deferred Share Unit awarded to a Canadian Taxpayer or US Taxpayer (as defined in the Addendum), any settlement that is effected during a Blackout Period in order to comply with Section 13.4 in the case of a Canadian Taxpayer or the Addendum in the case of a US Taxpayer shall (subject to the requirements of applicable law) be settled in cash, notwithstanding any other provision thereof.
- GOVERNING LAW
The Plan shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the laws of British Columbia and shall be deemed to have been made therein.
- REGULATORY AND SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL
18.1 The Plan shall be subject to the approval of any relevant regulatory authority whose approval is required. Any Awards granted prior to such approval and acceptance shall be conditional upon such approval and acceptance being given and no such Awards may be exercised or shall vest unless such approval and acceptance is given.
18.2 The Plan shall be subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation (or if required, Disinterested Shareholder Approval) to be sought at the Corporation’s next duly called annual general meeting.
- EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN
The Plan is dated as of the Effective Date as on XX, 2025.
ADDENDUM A
SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO US TAXPAYERS
This Addendum sets forth special provisions of the Plan that apply to US Taxpayers (as defined below) and forms part of the Plan. All capitalized terms, to the extent not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 For the purposes of this Addendum:
“Change of Control” has the meaning ascribed to that term in US Code Section 409A;
“Disability” means “disability” as defined in US Code Section 409A;
“Fair Market Price” shall be last closing price of the Issuer’s Shares before either the issuance of a press release or the filing with the Exchange of a price reservation form (Form A) required to fix the price at which the Shares are to be issued, less any applicable discount or, if the Shares are not listed on the Exchange, on such other principal stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Shares are listed or quoted, as the case may be. If the Shares are not publicly traded or quoted, then the “Fair Market Price” shall be the fair market value of the Shares, as determined by the Board, on the Grant Date. In the resolution allocating any Option, the Board may determine that the Grant Date shall be a future date determined in the manner specified in such resolution, in which case, for the purpose of this definition, “Fair Market Price” shall be deemed to be the last closing price of the Issuer’s Shares before either the issuance of a press release or the filing with the Exchange of a price reservation form (Form A) required to fix the price at which the Shares are to be issued, less any applicable discount, or, if the Shares are not listed on the Exchange, on such other principal stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Shares are listed or quoted, as the case may be, or, if the Shares are not publicly traded or quoted, then the “Market Price” shall be the fair market value of the Shares, as determined by the Board, on the Grant Date; and “Fair Market Price” with respect to a Non-Qualified Stock Option will be the fair market value determined by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, within the meaning of US Code Section 409A;
“Incentive Stock Option” means any Award designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the US Code;
“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Award that is not an Incentive Stock Option;
“Separation From Service” shall mean that employment with the Corporation and any entity that is to be treated as a single employer with the Corporation for purposes of United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) terminates such that it is reasonably anticipated that no further services will be performed;
“Specified Employee” means a US Taxpayer who meets the definition of “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the US Code;
“subsidiary corporation” means “subsidiary corporation” as defined in Section 424(f) of the US Code;
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"Ten Percent Owner" means a US Taxpayer who, at the time an Award is granted, owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the US Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or any parent or subsidiary corporation, within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the US Code;
"US Code" means the United States Internal Revenue US Code of 1986 and any applicable United States Treasury Regulations and other binding regulatory guidance thereunder;
"US Code Section 409A" means Section 409A of the US Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder;
"US Code Section 409A Award" means an Award that is "nonqualified deferred compensation" within the meaning of US Code Section 409A;
"US Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations thereunder;
"US Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
"US Taxpayer" means a Participant who is a citizen or resident of the United States for purposes of the US Code, or whose Awards under the Plan are subject, or would be subject, absent an exemption, to US Code Section 409A.
2. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
2.1 Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Stock Options. Awards granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Notwithstanding Sections 3.2 and 5.1 of the Plan, Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to an Eligible Person who is an employee of the Corporation or a subsidiary corporation. To the extent that any Award does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
2.2 Term of Option. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan arguably to the contrary:
(a) in no circumstances shall the term of an Option exceed ten years from the Grant Date or be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the Grant Date; and
(b) in no circumstances shall the term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner exceed five years from the Grant Date or be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date.
2.3 Plan Limit on Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan and Sections 422 and 424 of the US Code, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan and which may be made subject to Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed 1,500,000.
2.4 Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for "incentive stock option" treatment under Section 422(d) of the US Code, the aggregate Market Price (determined as of the Grant Date) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and any other plan of the Corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations that become
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exercisable or vest for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year shall not exceed US$100,000 or such other limit as may be in effect from time to time under Section 422 of the US Code. To the extent that any Award exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
3. OPTIONS
3.1 Option Price
In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the Option Price of such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Price of the Shares determined as of the Grant Date. For all other US Taxpayers, the Option Price of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Price of the Shares determined as of the Grant Date. The Option Price of a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Price of the Shares as determined as of the Grant Date.
3.2 Method of Exercise of Options
Section 5.4 of the Plan shall not be available if the Option being exercised is an Incentive Stock Option.
3.3 Option Award Agreement
The Option Award Agreement for US Taxpayers shall specify whether such Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. If no such specification is made, the Option will be (a) an Incentive Stock Option if all of the requirements under the US Code are satisfied, and (b) in all other cases, a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
4. PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS AND RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
4.1 Settlement of Performance Share Units for US Taxpayers
Notwithstanding the timing of settlement described in Sections 6.5 and 6.6 of the Plan, but subject to Section 7.4 of this Addendum, for US Taxpayers, all settlements of Performance Share Units credited to a US Taxpayer’s PSU Account shall take place within 30 days of the date such Performance Share Units vest without receipt of the Notice of Settlement of Restricted Share Units from the US Taxpayer.
4.2 Settlement of Restricted Share Units for US Taxpayers
Notwithstanding the timing of settlement described in Sections 7.5 and 7.6 of the Plan, but subject to Section 7.4 of this Addendum, for US Taxpayers, all settlements of Restricted Share Units credited to a US Taxpayer’s RSU Account shall take place within 30 days of the date such Restricted Share Units vest without receipt of the Notice of Settlement of Restricted Share Units from the US Taxpayer.
5. DEFERRED SHARE UNITS
5.1 Elections for US Taxpayers
Section 8.1(b) of the Plan shall be applied in a manner consistent with United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(a). Except as otherwise permitted under such regulation, a Participant’s election to defer a Deferred Annual Amount must be made by the end of the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which services giving rise to the right to payment of such amounts are to be performed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during a US Taxpayer’s first calendar year of eligibility in the Plan (as described in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(a)(7)) such US Taxpayer may, within 30 days of becoming eligible, elect to participate in the Plan for such calendar year solely with respect to compensation to be paid for services to be performed after the date such election is made.
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5.2 Distribution Date for Settlement of DSUs Held By US Taxpayers
Notwithstanding the timing of settlement described in Sections 8.5 or 8.6 of the Plan, but subject to Section 7.4 of this Addendum, for US Taxpayers, all settlements of Deferred Share Units credited to a US Taxpayer’s DSU Account shall take place within 30 days of the date of the US Taxpayer’s Separation From Service without receipt of the Notice of Settlement of Deferred Share Units from the US Taxpayer, unless a different fixed settlement date was specified in the applicable DSU Award Agreement at the time of grant of the Deferred Share Units (the “distribution date”). Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan arguably to the contrary (including Sections 12.2 and 13 of the Plan), any acceleration of the vesting of Deferred Share Units held by US Taxpayers will not result in the acceleration of the distribution date for such Deferred Share Units unless permitted under US Code Section 409A.
5.3 Special Limitation Applicable to Eligible Persons Who Are Both a Canadian Taxpayer and a US Taxpayer
If the Deferred Share Units of a US Taxpayer are subject to tax under the income tax laws of Canada and also are subject to tax under US Code Section 409A, the following special rules regarding forfeiture will apply. For greater clarity, these forfeiture provisions are intended to avoid adverse tax consequences under US Code Section 409A and/or under paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada), that may result because of the different requirements as to the time of distribution of Deferred Share Units (and thus the time of taxation) with respect to a US Taxpayer’s separation from service (under US tax law) and his retirement or loss of office (under Canadian tax law). The intended consequence of this Section 5.3 of the Plan is that distributions to US Taxpayers in payment of Deferred Share Units only will occur if such US Taxpayer experiences both a Separation From Service under US Code Section 409A and a retirement or loss of office within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada). If a US Taxpayer otherwise would be entitled to payment with respect to Deferred Share Units in any of the following circumstances, such Deferred Share Units shall instead be immediately and irrevocably forfeited, unless the relevant taxation authorities have provided guidance that the payment with respect to Deferred Share Units in such circumstances would not result in adverse tax consequences to the Eligible Person or the Corporation under either the Income Tax Act (Canada) or the US Code, or that compliance with the tax rules of only one jurisdiction would not cause a failure to comply with the rules of the other taxing jurisdiction:
(a) a US Taxpayer experiences a Separation From Service as a result of a permanent decrease in the level of services such US Taxpayer provides to the Corporation and its affiliates to less than 20% of his past service, but such US Taxpayer continues to provide some level of service to the Corporation or an affiliate such that he has not had a retirement from, or loss of office or employment with, the Corporation or a corporation related thereto, within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada); or
(b) a US Taxpayer experiences a Separation From Service for purposes of a distribution required under US Code Section 409A as a result of ceasing to be a member of the Board, but such person continues providing services as an employee or as a member of the board of an affiliate, and as a result he has not experienced a retirement from, or loss of office or employment with, the Corporation or a corporation related thereto, within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada); or
(c) a US Taxpayer experiences a retirement from, or loss of office or employment with, the Corporation or a corporation related thereto, within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada), by virtue of ceasing employment as
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both an employee and as a director, but he continues to provide services as an independent contractor such that he has not experienced a Separation from Service.
6. TAXES
6.1 Payment of Taxes.
Each US Taxpayer is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of such US Taxpayer in connection with the Plan or any other plan maintained by the Corporation (including any taxes and penalties under US Code Section 409A), and neither the Corporation nor any subsidiary of the Corporation shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such US Taxpayer (or any Participant) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.
6.2 Tax Withholding.
A US Taxpayer shall be required to pay to the Corporation, and the Corporation shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash or other compensation payable under the Plan, or from any other compensation or amounts owing to the US Taxpayer, the amount of any required withholding taxes in respect of amounts paid under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Corporation to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding and taxes.
7. MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 Non-Assignability.
Section 9 of the Plan shall only be available to US Taxpayers if the Option to be transferred is a Non-Qualified Stock Option and to the extent permissible under US law. No Incentive Stock Option shall be transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and all Incentive Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant, or by the Participant’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the Participant’s Disability. Section 9 of the Plan shall only be available to US Taxpayers with respect to Performance Share Units, Deferred Share Units and Restricted Share Units to the extent permissible under US law.
7.2 Amendments.
In addition to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, to the extent determined by the Board to be required either by the US Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the US Code or otherwise, Plan amendments as they relate to or affect US Taxpayers shall be subject to approval by the Corporation shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders. An amendment to increase the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan and which may be made subject to Incentive Stock Options as set forth in Section 2.3 of this Addendum must be approved by shareholders within 12 months of adoption of such amendment. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, no amendment in respect of an Award to a US Taxpayer shall be made without the consent of such US Taxpayer if the result of such amendment would be to cause the Award to violate the requirements of US Code Section 409A.
7.3 Effective Date; Shareholder Approval.
The Plan including the Addendum shall become effective upon the Effective Date. Awards may be granted under this Addendum from and after the Effective Date; provided however that if Corporation’s shareholders fail to approve the Plan and this Addendum within 12 months of the Effective Date, any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan to a US Taxpayer from and after the Effective Date to the date that is 12 months of the Effective Date shall be deemed to be Non-Qualified Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the Effective Date or the date the Plan including the Addendum are approved by the Corporation’s shareholders.
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7.4 US Code Section 409A Awards. If an Award is determined to constitute a US Code Section 409A Award, the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Board from time to time in order to comply with US Code Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a US Code Section 409A Award is payable upon a Separation From Service to a Participant who is considered a Specified Employee, then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Participant's date of Separation From Service, or (ii) the Participant's death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to US Code Section 409A.
7.5 Priority. Except as specifically provided in this Addendum, the provisions of the Plan and the Participant's Award Agreement shall govern. For Participants who are US Taxpayers, in the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of (i) the Plan and/or a Participant's Award Agreement, and (ii) this Addendum, the terms of this Addendum shall prevail.