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Turnium Technology Group Inc. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2024
Sep 11, 2024
47515_rns_2024-09-10_ff87ebd1-ed18-4264-a895-882ed948f755.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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NOTICE OF MEETING
AND
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
FOR THE
ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. To be held on Friday, October 4, 2024
Dated: August 26, 2024
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General and Special meeting (the “ Meeting ”) of TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. (the “ Company ”) will be held at Suite 1100 – 1111 Melville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) for the following purposes:
-
to receive the audited financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended September 30, 2023, together with the auditor’s report thereon;
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to fix the number of directors at six (6);
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to elect directors for the ensuing year;
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to appoint Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the Company’s auditor for the ensuing year, and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor;
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to consider and, if thought fit, pass an ordinary resolution of disinterested shareholder to ratify, confirm and approve the Company’s 20% Fixed Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as more particularly described in the attached management information circular, and
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to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The accompanying information circular (the “ Information Circular ”) provides additional information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting and is deemed to form part of this Notice. No other matters are contemplated, however, any permitted amendment to or variation of any matter identified in this Notice may properly be considered at the Meeting. The Meeting may also consider the transaction of such further and other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The consolidated audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023, the report of the auditor and the related management discussion and analysis will be made available at the Meeting and are available on www.sedarplus.ca.
Registered shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting in person and who wish to ensure that their shares will be voted at the Meeting are requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed form of proxy, or another suitable form of proxy and deliver it in accordance with the instructions set out in the form of proxy and in the Information Circular.
Non-registered shareholders who plan to attend the Meeting must follow the instructions set out in the form of proxy or voting instruction form to ensure that their shares will be voted at the Meeting. If you hold your shares in a brokerage account, you are a non-registered shareholder.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 26[th] day of August, 2024 .
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
Signed: “Ralph Garcea” RALPH GARCEA Chairman
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
as at August 26, 2024
(except as otherwise indicated)
THIS INFORMATION CIRCULAR (THE “INFORMATION CIRCULAR”) ACCOMPANIES THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING (THE “NOTICE”) AND IS FURNISHED TO SHAREHOLDERS (THE “SHAREHOLDERS”) HOLDING CLASS “A” COMMON SHARES (THE “SHARES”) IN THE CAPITAL OF TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. (THE “COMPANY”) IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY OF PROXIES TO BE VOTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING (THE “MEETING”) OF THE SHAREHOLDERS.
GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS
The following is a glossary of certain defined terms used in this Information Circular:
“ Board of Directors ” or “ Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporation.
“ BCBCA” means Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).
“ Common Shares ” means the voting Class “A” common shares in the capital of the Company.
“ Computershare ” means Computershare Investor Services Inc., transfer agent of the Company.
“ Company ” means Turnium Technology Group Inc., a corporation governed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).
“ Directors ” means the directors elected or appointed to the Board of Directors.
“ Information Circular ” or “ Circular ” means this management proxy information circular, together with all appendices and attachments hereto.
“ Management ” means the senior executive officers of the Company.
“ Meeting ” means the annual and special general meeting of the Shareholders to be held at will be held at 3:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Friday, October 4, 2024 at Suite 1100 – 1111 Melville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6E 3V6, or at any continuation of the Meeting following an adjournment or postponement thereof.
“ Notice of Meeting ” means the Notice of the Meeting dated August 26, 2024.
“ Record Date ” means August 23, 2024, the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting.
“ Shareholders ” means the registered holders of Common Shares.
“ TSXV ” means the TSX Venture Exchange.
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PROXIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
MANAGEMENT SOLICITATION
The solicitation of proxies by management of the Company will be conducted by mail and may be supplemented by telephone or other personal contact to be made without special compensation by the directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Company does not reimburse Shareholders, nominees or agents for costs incurred in obtaining from their principals’ authorization to execute forms of proxy, except that the Company has requested brokers and nominees who hold stock in their respective names to furnish this proxy material to their customers, and the Company will reimburse such brokers and nominees for their related out-of-pocket expenses. No solicitation will be made by specifically engaged employees or soliciting agents. The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Information Circular in connection with the solicitation of proxies. If given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The delivery of this Information Circular shall not create, under any circumstances, any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth herein since the date of this Information Circular. This Information Circular does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making such solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer of solicitation.
NOTICE-AND-ACCESS
The Company is not relying on the “Notice and Access” delivery procedures outlined in National Instrument 54101 - Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“ NI 54-101 ”), to distribute copies of proxy-related materials in connection with the Meeting by posting them on a website.
APPOINTMENT OF PROXY
Registered Shareholders are entitled to vote at the Meeting. A Shareholder is entitled to one vote for each Share that such Shareholder holds on the record date of August 23, 2024 (the “ Record Date ”) on the resolutions to be voted upon at the Meeting, and any other matter to come before the Meeting.
The persons named as proxyholders (the “ Designated Persons ”) in the enclosed form of proxy are directors and/or officers of the Company.
A SHAREHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT A PERSON OR COMPANY (WHO NEED NOT BE A SHAREHOLDER) TO ATTEND AND ACT FOR OR ON BEHALF OF THAT SHAREHOLDER AT THE MEETING, OTHER THAN THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY.
TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT, THE SHAREHOLDER MAY DO SO BY STRIKING OUT THE PRINTED NAMES AND INSERTING THE NAME OF SUCH OTHER PERSON AND, IF DESIRED, AN ALTERNATE TO SUCH PERSON, IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED IN THE FORM OF PROXY. SUCH SHAREHOLDER SHOULD NOTIFY THE NOMINEE OF THE APPOINTMENT, OBTAIN THE NOMINEE’S CONSENT TO ACT AS PROXY AND SHOULD PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO THE NOMINEE ON HOW THE SHAREHOLDER’S COMMON SHARES SHOULD BE VOTED. THE NOMINEE SHOULD BRING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TO THE MEETING.
Those Shareholders desiring to be represented at the Meeting by proxy must deposit their respective forms of proxy with the Company’s registrar and transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada by: (a) mail addressed to Computershare Trust Company of Canada, (“ Computershare ”), by fax within North America at 1- 866-249-7775, outside North American at (416) 263-9524, or by mail to the 8[th] Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1, or by hand delivery to 3[rd] Floor, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3B9, or (d) electronically by following the instructions in the form of proxy. If you vote through the internet, you may also appoint another person to be your proxyholder. Please go to www.investorvote.com and follow the instructions. You will require your account number and control number found on your form of proxy.
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A proxy may not be valid unless it is dated and signed by the Shareholder who is giving it or by that Shareholder’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized by that Shareholder in writing or, in the case of a corporation, dated and executed by a duly authorized officer or attorney-in-fact for the corporation. If a form of proxy is executed by an attorney-in-fact for an individual Shareholder or joint Shareholders, or by an officer or attorneyin-fact for a corporate Shareholder, the instrument so empowering the officer or attorney-in-fact, as the case may be, or a notarized certified copy thereof, must accompany the form of proxy.
REVOCATION OF PROXIES
A registered Shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by an instrument in writing: (a) executed by that Shareholder or by that Shareholder’s attorney-in-fact authorized in writing or, where the Shareholder is a corporation, by a duly authorized officer of, or attorney-in-fact for, the corporation; and (b) delivered either: (i) to Computershare Trust Company of Canada, 3[rd] Floor, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3B9, at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned, any reconvening thereof, or (ii) to the Chair of the Meeting prior to the vote on matters covered by the proxy on the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, or (iii) in any other manner provided by law.
Also, a proxy will automatically be revoked by either: (a) attendance at the Meeting and participation in a poll (ballot) by a Shareholder, or (b) submission of a subsequent proxy in accordance with the foregoing procedures. A revocation of a proxy does not affect any matter on which a vote has been taken prior to any such revocation.
VOTING OF COMMON SHARES AND PROXIES AND EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY DESIGNATED PERSONS
A Shareholder may indicate the manner in which the Designated Persons are to vote with respect to a matter to be voted upon at the Meeting by marking the appropriate space. If the instructions as to voting indicated in the proxy are certain, the Common Shares represented by the proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions given in the proxy. If the Shareholder specifies a choice in the proxy with respect to a matter to be acted upon, then the Common Shares represented will be voted or withheld from the vote on that matter accordingly. The Common Shares represented by a proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the Shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and if the Shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the Common Shares will be voted accordingly.
IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY WITH RESPECT TO A MATTER TO BE ACTED UPON, THE PROXY CONFERS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO THAT MATTER UPON THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE FORM OF PROXY. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE DESIGNATED PERSONS WILL VOTE THE COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY IN FAVOUR OF EACH MATTER IDENTIFIED IN THE PROXY.
The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting, including any amendments or variations to any matters identified in the Notice, and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. At the date of this Information Circular, management of the Company is not aware of any such amendments, variations, or other matters to come before the Meeting.
In the case of abstentions from, or withholding of, the voting of the Common Shares on any matter, the Common Shares that are the subject of the abstention or withholding will be counted for determination of a quorum but will not be counted as affirmative or negative on the matter to be voted upon.
ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS (NON-REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS)
The following information is of significant importance to Shareholders who do not hold Common Shares in their own name (“Beneficial Shareholders”). Beneficial Shareholders should note that the only proxies that can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting are those deposited by registered Shareholders (those whose names appear on the records of the Company as the registered holders of Common Shares) or as set out in the following disclosure.
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If Common Shares are listed in an account statement provided to a Shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those Common Shares will not be registered in the Shareholder’s name on the records of the Company. Such Common Shares will more likely be registered under the names of the Shareholder’s broker or an agent of that broker. In Canada the vast majority of such Common Shares are registered under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited), which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms, and in the United States (the “ U.S. ”) under the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, which acts as depositary for many U.S. brokerage firms and custodian banks.
Intermediaries are required to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of shareholder meetings. Every intermediary has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients.
You should carefully follow the instructions of your broker or intermediary in order to ensure that your Common Shares are voted at the Meeting.
The form of proxy supplied to you by your broker will be similar to the Proxy provided to registered Shareholders by the Company. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the intermediary on how to vote your Common Shares on your behalf. Most brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to firms such as Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“ Broadridge ”) in Canada and in the U.S. Broadridge mails a voting instruction form (a “ VIF ”) in lieu of a Proxy provided by the Company. The VIF will name the same persons as the Company’s Proxy to represent your Common Shares at the Meeting. You have the right to appoint a person (who need not be a Beneficial Shareholder of the Company), other than any of the persons designated in the VIF to represent your Common Shares at the Meeting and that person may be you. To exercise this right, insert the name of the desired representative (which may be you), in the blank space provided in the VIF. The completed VIF must then be returned to Broadridge by mail or facsimile or given to Broadridge by phone or over the internet, in accordance with Broadridge’s instructions. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting voting of Common Shares to be represented at the Meeting. If you receive a VIF from Broadridge (or such other service company) the VIF must be completed and returned to Broadridge (or such other service company), in accordance with the instructions therein, well in advance of the Meeting in order to have your Common Shares voted at the Meeting, or to have an alternate representative duly appointed to attend the Meeting and vote your Common Shares.
NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS IN THE UNITED STATES
The solicitation of proxies involves securities of an issuer located in Canada and is being effected in accordance with the corporate laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, and securities laws of the provinces of Canada. The proxy solicitation rules under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , as amended, are not applicable to the Company or this solicitation, and this solicitation has been prepared in accordance with the disclosure requirements of the securities laws of the provinces of Canada. Shareholders should be aware that disclosure requirements under the securities laws of the provinces of Canada differ from the disclosure requirements under United States securities laws.
The enforcement by Shareholders of civil liabilities under United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that the Company is incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (“ BCBCA ”), as amended, certain of its directors and its executive officers are residents of Canada and a substantial portion of its assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. Shareholders may not be able to sue a foreign company or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of United States federal securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a foreign company and its officers and directors to subject themselves to a judgement by a United States court.
VOTING COMMON SHARES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
VOTING OF COMMON SHARES
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Class “A” common shares without par value and without special rights or restrictions attached (the “ Common Shares ”). As at the Record Date, determined by the Board to be the close of business on August 23, 2024, a total of 163,962,446 Common Shares were issued and outstanding were issued and outstanding.
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Only registered Shareholders as at the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting or at the continuation of the Meeting following any adjournment or postponement thereof. 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. Each Shareholder is entitled to one vote for each Share registered in his or her name.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES
To the knowledge of the Company’s directors and executive officers, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Shares of the Company.
QUORUM
Pursuant to the Company’s Articles, subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares and save as otherwise provided, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is two shareholders, or one or more proxyholders representing two members, or one member and a proxyholder representing another member.
THE BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
MANAGEMENT KNOWS OF NO OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING OTHER THAN THOSE REFERRED TO IN THE NOTICE. HOWEVER, IF ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE NOT KNOWN TO MANAGEMENT SHOULD PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THE ACCOMPANYING FORM OF PROXY CONFERS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY UPON THE PERSONS NAMED THEREIN TO VOTE ON SUCH MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGEMENT.
Additional details regarding each of the matters to be acted upon at the Meeting are set forth below.
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended September 30, 2023, together with the auditor’s report thereon (collectively, the “ Financial Statements ”), will be presented to Shareholders at the Meeting.
Copies of these documents will be available at the Meeting and may also be obtained by a Shareholder upon request without charge from the Company, 3355 Grandview Hwy, Unit 2, Vancouver, BC V5M 1Z5, or via email to [email protected]. These documents are also available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company’s profile.
Management will review the Company’s financial results at the Meeting and Shareholders and proxyholders will be given an opportunity to discuss these results with management. No approval or other action needs to be taken at the Meeting in respect of the Financial Statements.
2. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Number of Directors
The directors of the Company are elected at each annual meeting and hold office until the next annual meeting, or until their successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with the Company’s Articles or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to set the number of directors of the Company for the ensuing year at six (6) . The number of directors will be approved if the majority of Common Shares present or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote are voted in favour of setting the number of directors at six (6) .
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Management recommends Shareholders vote in favour of the resolution setting the number of directors at six (6). Unless you provide instructions otherwise, the Designated Persons intend to vote FOR the resolution setting the number of directors at six (6).
Nominees for Election
Management of the Company proposes to nominate the persons named in the table below for election by the Shareholders as directors of the Company. All of the nominees are current members of the Board and each has agreed to stand for election. Management of the Company does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director.
The following disclosure sets out the names of management’s six nominees for election as directors, all major offices and positions with the Company and any of its significant affiliates each now holds, each nominee’s principal occupation, business or employment for the five preceding years for new director nominees, the period of time during which each has been a director of the Company and the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by each, directly or indirectly, or over which each exercised control or direction, as at the Record Date:
| Name and place of residence(1) |
Principal occupation for thepast fiveyears(1) | Director since |
Number of shares(2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Garcea Director, Chairman Caledon, Ontario |
Co-founded Focus Merchant Group in September 2018; after more than 22 years experience in senior positions at major domestic, international, and boutique investment firms He currently serves as a Director on the board of TSX-listed Converge Technology Solutions and TSXV-listed Edgewater Wireless Systems. |
Nov 19, 2021 |
500,000 0.48% |
| Johan Arnet (4) Director North Vancouver, BC |
Former CEO, and Interim Office of the CEO, TTGI. |
June 16, 2022 |
15,296,201(5) 9.33% |
| Erin Campbell(3) Director Vancouver, BC |
Over 25 years as entrepreneur and business advisor experience with board and corporate governance in growth and rapidly evolving technology and industrial companies; founding partner of Moneta Partners, an organization providing capital markets and corporate finance advisory services. |
November 16, 2022 |
NIL |
| Jim Lovie(3)(4) Director Toronto, Ontario |
Interim Office of the CEO, TTGI. Director of TTGI. |
June 16, 2022 |
2,436,880 1.49% |
| Doug Childress Chief Executive Officer, Director Perth, Western Australia |
Doug Childress is an experienced company |
August 22, | 15,604,400(6) 9.52% |
| director with over 37 years’ experience as an IT |
2024 | ||
| & Telecommunications specialist, having spent his past 26 years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Childress is currently a director of Intelligent IP Hosting Pty Ltd (appointed 17 May 2017). Mr. Childress was previously a director of Intelligent IP Communications Pty Ltd (appointed 1 September 2005). He has not held any other listed directorships in the past three years. |
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| Name and place of residence(1) |
Principal occupation for thepast fiveyears(1) | Director since |
Number of shares(2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Pentland(3) (4) Director Perth, Western Australia |
Craig Pentland is an experienced company director with over 25 years’ experience working within the public accounting industry. He is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Practicing Accountant, Chartered Tax Adviser and holds an MBA. Mr. Pentland is currently a director of SLS Advisory, a boutique chartered accounting practice (appointed 10 May 2011). Mr. Pentland is a director of Margosa Graphite Ltd, a publicly unlisted graphite resource company; and CGS Australia Ltd, a publicly unlisted silica quartz resource company. He has not held any other listed directorships in the past three years |
August 22, 2024 |
2,964,114(7) 1.81% |
NOTES:
(1) Information has been provided by the respective directors or nominees, as applicable.
(2) Information as to shares beneficially owned, has been furnished by the respective person, has been extracted from the list of registered shareholders maintained by the Company’s transfer agent, has been obtained from insider reports filed by respective person and available through the Internet at the Canadian System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (SEDI) or has been obtained from early warning report and alternative monthly reports filed by the respective person and available through the Internet at the Canadian System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+).
(3) Member of the Audit Committee. Erin Campbell is the chair.
(4) Member of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee. Jim Lovie is the chair.
(5) Mr. Arnet holds these shares in Thinsolution Inc., a company he wholly-owns.
(6) These shares are held indirectly in Childress Investment Pty Ltd, Upperclass Investments Pty Ltd, and Childress Super Pty Ltd., companies wholly-owned by Mr. Childress.
(7) These shares are held by Craig and Kylie Pentland as trustees for the Pentland Investment Trust.
None of the proposed nominees for election as a director of the Company are proposed for election pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between the nominee and any other person, except the directors and senior officers of the Company acting solely in such capacity.
Biographies
The following biographies provide information in respect of the directors and officers of the Company.
Doug Childress – Chief Executive Officer, Director
Doug Childress is an experienced company director with over 37 years’ experience as an IT & Telecommunications specialist, having spent his past 26 years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Childress is currently a director of Intelligent IP Hosting Pty Ltd (appointed 17 May 2017). Mr. Childress was previously a director of Intelligent IP Communications Pty Ltd (appointed 1 September 2005). He has not held any other listed directorships in the past three years.
Ralph Garcea – Chairman, Director
Mr. Garcea has an MBA from York University and an Engineering degree University of Toronto and worked for many years in the public markets as a technology analyst for Scotia Capital, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Haywood. Later in his career he worked as Managing Director for Northland Capital Partners, Global Maxfin Capital, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Echelon Wealth Partners. He is currently a board member with Converge Technologies and Managing Partner of Focus Merchant Group. He holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Engineering Science (Aerospace) from the University of Toronto and an M.B.A. (Honours) from the Schulich School of Business at York University. Ralph is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
Johan Arnet - Director
Mr. Arnet has founded and grown six IT, Internet and telecom companies since 1995. He began developing the proprietary software that is now TTGI’s Multapplied-branded SD-WAN platform in 2009 and incorporated
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Multapplied Networks Inc. (now a wholly owned subsidiary of TTGI) in 2012. Mr. Arnet studied computer science at Simon Fraser University. Mr. Arnet founded Rocket Networks, an Internet service provider business in 2009 and sold it to TeliPhone Navigata in 2014. In addition to Multapplied Networks Inc., Mr. Arnet is co - founder of Plait Networks Inc. (a predecessor of TTGI) and a co-founder of TTGI. Mr. Arnet also owns IntrinsIQ Technology Group Inc., a Vancouver-based IT value-added reseller and professional services company.
Jim Lovie - Director
Mr. Lovie is the former EVP of Sales for Rogers Communications Canada. He has also held senior executive roles with Xerox, Bell Canada.
Erin Campbell - Director
Erin Campbell, ICD.D has over 25 years as an entrepreneur and business advisor experience with board and corporate governance in growth and rapidly evolving technology and industrial companies. Erin has led financing, corporate transactions, re-structuring, M&A for private and public companies operating in Canada and US. Erin is the founding partner of Moneta Partners, an organization providing capital markets and corporate finance advisory services. Erin has led financing, corporate transactions, re-structuring, M&A for private and public companies operating in Canada and US.
Craig Pentland - Director
Craig Pentland is an experienced company director with over 25 years’ experience working within the Public accounting industry. He is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Practicing Accountant, Chartered Tax Adviser and holds an MBA. Mr. Pentland is currently a director of SLS Advisory, a boutique chartered accounting practice (appointed 10 May 2011). Mr. Pentland is a director of Margosa Graphite Ltd, a publicly unlisted graphite resource company and CGS Australia Ltd, a publicly unlisted silica quartz resource company. He has not held any other listed directorships in the past three years.
CORPORATE CEASE TRADE ORDERS, BANKRUPTCIES, PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Except as set forth below, to the knowledge of the management of the Company, no proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company:
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(a) is, at the date of this Information Circular, or has been within 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Company) that,
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(i) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order, or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (an “ Order ”) that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
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(ii) was subject to an Order that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer,
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(b) is, at the date of this Information Circular, or has been within 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets,
-
(c) has, within the 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director, or
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- (d) has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority or has been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would be likely to be considered important to a reasonable shareholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
On January 31, 2023, the British Columbia Securities Commission (the “ BCSC ”) issued a management cease trade order against the acting chief executive officer and acting chief financial officer of Turnium for failure to file its interim financial statements for the financial year ended September 20, 2022, accompanying management’s discussion and analysis, and management certifications. The management cease trade order was revoked on March 8, 2023 once the required filings were made.
A Shareholder can vote for all of the above nominees, vote for some of the above nominees and withhold for other of the above nominees, or withhold for all of the above nominees. Management recommends Shareholders vote in favour of the election of each of the nominees listed above for election as directors of the Company for the ensuing year. Unless you provide instructions otherwise, the Designated Persons intend to vote FOR the above nominees.
3. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to vote for the appointment of Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Accountants, located at 201 Bridgeland Avenue, Toronto ON M6A 1Y7, as auditor of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of Shareholders, or until a successor is appointed, and to authorize the directors of the Company to fix the auditor’s remuneration.
On November 28, 2023, the Audit Committee recommended the engagement with Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, located at Suite 1500, 9888 Jasper Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5C6, to be the Company’s auditor. Kingston resigned as the Company’s auditor effective August 28, 2024.
See Section 6 – Audit Committee – External Auditor Service Fees. Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, replaced Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditor of the Company effective November 28, 2023. See Schedule “B” – Change of Auditor package .
Management recommends Shareholders vote in favour of the appointment of Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and authorize the Board to fix the auditor’s remuneration. Unless you provide instructions otherwise, the Designated Persons intend to vote FOR the appointment of Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the Company’s auditor until the close of its next annual meeting and to authorize the Board to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor.
4. APPROVAL OF OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company’s current stock option plan, (the “ Current Plan ”) is a 20% “fixed” stock option plan, whereby the maximum number of Shares that may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options is 19,963,048, which equals 20% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company on June 9, 2023, as last approved by shareholders of the Company.
In November 2021, the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ Exchange ”) amended Policy 4.4 with respect to equitybased compensation to allow for a greater variety of security based compensation plans. In light of the amendments to Policy 4.4, the Board is recommending that the Current Plan be replaced by a new omnibus equity incentive plan (the “ New Plan ”), which will be a fixed 20% plan for Awards (as defined below), including options, as permitted under Exchange Policy 4.4.
The purpose of the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) is to provide the Company with a mechanism to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees, consultants, directors and management whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company and it’s subsidiaries, if any, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through share-based awards.
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- (d) has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority or has been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would be likely to be considered important to a reasonable shareholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
On January 31, 2023, the British Columbia Securities Commission (the “ BCSC ”) issued a management cease trade order against the acting chief executive officer and acting chief financial officer of Turnium for failure to file its interim financial statements for the financial year ended September 20, 2022, accompanying management’s discussion and analysis, and management certifications. The management cease trade order was revoked on March 8, 2023 once the required filings were made.
A Shareholder can vote for all of the above nominees, vote for some of the above nominees and withhold for other of the above nominees, or withhold for all of the above nominees. Management recommends Shareholders vote in favour of the election of each of the nominees listed above for election as directors of the Company for the ensuing year. Unless you provide instructions otherwise, the Designated Persons intend to vote FOR the above nominees.
3. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to vote for the appointment of Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Profession Accountants, located at 201 Bridgeland Avenue, Toronto ON M6A 1Y7, as auditor of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of Shareholders, or until a successor is appointed, and to authorize the directors of the Company to fix the auditor’s remuneration.
On November 28, 2023, the Audit Committee recommended the engagement with Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, located at Suite 1500, 9888 Jasper Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5C6, to be the Company’s auditor. Kingston resigned as the Company’s auditor effective August 28, 2024.
See Section 6 – Audit Committee – External Auditor Service Fees. Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, replaced Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Professional, as auditor of the Company effective November 28, 2023. See Schedule “B” – Change of Auditor package .
Management recommends Shareholders vote in favour of the appointment of Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and authorize the Board to fix the auditor’s remuneration. Unless you provide instructions otherwise, the Designated Persons intend to vote FOR the appointment of Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company’s auditor until the close of its next annual meeting and to authorize the Board to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor.
4. APPROVAL OF OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company’s current stock option plan, (the “ Current Plan ”) is a 20% “fixed” stock option plan, whereby the maximum number of Shares that may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options is 19,963,048, which equals 20% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company on June 9, 2023, as last approved by shareholders of the Company.
In November 2021, the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ Exchange ”) amended Policy 4.4 with respect to equitybased compensation to allow for a greater variety of security based compensation plans. In light of the amendments to Policy 4.4, the Board is recommending that the Current Plan be replaced by a new omnibus equity incentive plan (the “ New Plan ”), which will be a fixed 20% plan for Awards (as defined below), including options, as permitted under Exchange Policy 4.4.
The purpose of the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) is to provide the Company with a mechanism to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees, consultants, directors and management whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company and it’s subsidiaries, if any, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through share-based awards.
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At the Meeting, disinterested shareholders will be asked to approve an ordinary resolution to adopt the Incentive Plan. The following is a summary of the Incentive Plan. The summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Incentive Plan as attached as Schedule “C” of this Information Circular. The Incentive Plan remains subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Summary of Incentive Plan
Description of the New Plan
All employees, consultants, consultant companies, officers, management company employees and directors (each a “ Participant ”) are eligible to participate in the New Plan. Eligibility to participate does not confer upon any participant any right to receive any grant of an Award pursuant to the New Plan.
The New Plan allows the Board to grant an Award to eligible employees, directors, management and consultants for their contribution to the Company. An Award means any Option (including incentive stock option), Restricted Share Unit, Performance Share Unit or Deferred Share Unit (as these terms are defined in the New Plan attached as Schedule “C” to this Information Circular).
The New Plan will be administered by the Board who has sole and complete authority, in its discretion, among other things, to: determine individuals eligible for Awards; make grants of Awards under the New Plan, including the time of Award grant, number of shares covered by an Award, the price, if any, to be paid by a Participant in connection with the purchase of Shares covered by Awards, establish the form(s) of Award Agreements and cancel, amend, adjust or otherwise change any Award under such circumstances as the Board may consider appropriate in accordance with the New Plan.
Subject to adjustment and any subsequent amendment to the New Plan, the aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to all Awards, including Options, granted under the New Plan shall not exceed 32,792,489 Awards, less 16,575,440 Options which are currently issued and outstanding under the Current Plan. Each Award under the New Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement and the Awards are nontransferable.
Participation Limits
The New Plan provides that:
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(a) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to insiders under the New Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to insiders under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements (as defined in the New Plan), shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant and in accordance with the policies of the Exchange (the “ Exchange Policies ”));
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(b) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to insiders under the New Plan, at any point in time, together with Shares reserved for issuance to insiders under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares;
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(c) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any participant (as defined in the New Plan) under the New Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to such participant (and to Companies whollyowned by that participant) under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant);
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(d) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any one consultant (as defined in the New Plan) under the New Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares issuable to such consultant under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant); and
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(e) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to grants of Options to all investor relation service providers performing investor relations activities under the New Plan, within any 12 month period, shall not in aggregate exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the
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date of any grant). For the avoidance of doubt, persons performing investor relations activities are only eligible to receive Options under the New Plan; they are not eligible to receive any Performance-Based Award or other type of securities based compensation under the New Plan.
Administration of the New Plan
The New Plan shall be administered by the Board and the Board has full authority to administer the New Plan, including the authority to interpret and construe any provision of the New Plan and to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations for administering the New Plan as the Board may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the New Plan.
Eligible Persons under the New Plan
When used in connection with the grant of Options, all officers, directors, employees, management company employees and consultants of the Company are eligible to participate in the New Plan. When used in connection with the grant of Performance-Based Awards, all officers, directors, employees, management company employees and consultants of the Company that do not perform investor relations activities are eligible to participate in the New Plan. The extent to which any such individual is entitled to receive a grant of an award pursuant to the New Plan will be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board. Each person who receives a grant under the New Plan is referred to as a “Participant”.
Types of Awards
Awards of Options, RSUs, PSUs and DSUs may be made under the New Plan, provided, however, that for so long as the Company is listed on NEX, it is only permitted to grant or issue Options. All of the awards described below are subject to the conditions, limitations, restrictions, exercise price, vesting, settlement and forfeiture provisions determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, subject to such limitations provided in the New Plan, and will generally be evidenced by an award agreement.
Options
An Option entitles a holder thereof to purchase a prescribed number of Shares at an exercise price determined by the Board at the time of the grant of the Option, provided that the exercise price of an Option granted under the New Plan shall not be less than the Discounted Market Price (as defined in the Exchange Policies), provided that if an Option is proposed to be granted by the Company after the Company has just been recalled for trading following a suspension or halt, the Company must wait at least ten trading days since the day on which trading in the Company’s securities resumes before setting the exercise price for and granting the Option. Each Option shall, unless sooner terminated, expire on a date to be determined by the Board which will not exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant of the Option. The Board may, in its absolute discretion, upon granting Options under the New Plan, specify different time periods following the dates of granting the Options during which the Participant may exercise their Options to purchase Shares and may designate different exercise prices and numbers of Shares in respect of which each Participant may exercise Options during each respective time period. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Options granted to a Participant under the New Plan shall vest as determined by the Board on the date of grant of such Options. If the Board does not specify a vesting schedule at the date of grant, then Options granted to persons, other than those conducting investor relations activities, shall vest fully on the date of grant, and in any event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange. Options issued to persons conducting investor relations activities must vest (and shall not otherwise be exercisable) in stages over a minimum of 12 months such that:
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(a) no more than 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than three months after the date of grant (the “ Grant Date ”);
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(b) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than six months after the Grant Date;
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(c) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than nine months after the Grant Date; and
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(d) the remainder of the Options vest no sooner than 12 months after the Grant Date.
If the award agreement for the grant of Options so provides, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the New Plan), all Options granted to a Participant that ceases to be an Eligible Person shall become fully vested
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and shall become exercisable by the Participant in accordance with the terms of such award agreement and the New Plan. No acceleration of the vesting of any Options shall be permitted without prior Exchange review and acceptance for Options issued to persons conducting investor relations activities.
Other than as may be set forth in the award agreement for the grant of Options, upon the death of a Participant, any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect; and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant’s estate in accordance with the New Plan and may be exercised by the Participant’s estate within one year of the death of the Participant.
Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a subsidiary for cause, all Options granted to the Participant under the New Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date.
Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to retirement by the Participant, such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an eligible person, all Options granted to the Participant under the New Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date; provided, however, that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or Retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with the New Plan and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the Participant ceased to be an eligible person, or such longer period as may be provided for in the award agreement or as may be determined by the Board provided such period does not exceed 12 months after the termination date.
Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a disability, all Options granted to the Participant under the New Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Options; provided, however, that no Options may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant’s relationship is terminated due to disability such that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, all Options granted to the Participant under this New Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date; provided, however, that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the termination of the Participant’s relationship with the Company due to disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable award agreement, will accrue to the Participant in accordance with the New Plan and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the termination date, or such longer period as may be provided for in the award agreement or as may be determined by the Board.
Restricted Share Units
A RSU is a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a director or officer, to receive for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, and subject to the terms and conditions of the New Plan and the applicable award agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares. The number of RSUs to be credited to each participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with the New Plan. All RSUs will vest and become payable by the issuance of Shares at the end of the restriction period if all applicable restrictions have lapsed, as such restrictions may be specified in the award agreement.
RSUs shall be subject to such restrictions as the Board, in its sole discretion, may establish in the applicable award agreement, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times and on such terms, conditions and satisfaction of objectives as the Board may, in its discretion, determine at the time a RSU is granted. The Board shall determine any vesting terms applicable to the grant of RSUs, however, no RSUs may vest before the date that is one (1) year following the date of the award.
If the award agreement so provides, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the New Plan) and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all restrictions upon any RSUs held by such Participant shall lapse immediately and all such RSUs shall become fully vested in such Participant in accordance with the New Plan.
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Other than as may be set forth in the applicable award agreement, upon the death of a Participant, any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will be immediately and automatically forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant’s estate in accordance with the New Plan.
Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a subsidiary for cause, all RSUs granted to the Participant under this New Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date.
Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to retirement by the Participant, all RSUs granted to the Participant under the New Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with the New Plan.
Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a disability, all RSUs granted to the Participant under the New Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such RSUs; provided, however, that no RSUs may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant’s relationship is terminated due to disability such that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, all RSUs granted to the Participant under the New Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s termination due to disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with New Plan.
As soon as practicable after each vesting date of a RSU, the Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either: (a) issue to the Participant from treasury the number of Shares equal to the number of RSUs that have vested; or (b) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price (as defined in the New Plan) on the next trading day after the vesting date of the RSUs, net of applicable withholdings.
Performance Share Units
A PSU is a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a director or officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified performance and vesting criteria being satisfied, subject to the terms and conditions of the New Plan and the applicable award agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares. No PSUs may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
Subject to the provisions of the New Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant awards of PSUs to eligible persons that do not perform investor relations activities. The number of PSUs to be awarded to any Participant shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, in accordance with the New Plan. Each PSU shall, contingent upon the attainment of the performance criteria within the performance cycle, represent one Share.
The Board will select, settle and determine the performance criteria (including without limitation the attainment thereof), for purposes of the vesting of the PSUs, in its sole discretion. An award agreement may provide the Board with the right to revise the performance criteria and the award amounts if unforeseen events (including, without limitation, changes in capitalization, an equity restructuring, an acquisition or a divestiture) occur which have a substantial effect on the financial results and which in the sole judgment of the Board make the application of the performance criteria unfair unless a revision is made.
All PSUs will vest and become payable to the extent that the performance criteria set forth in the award agreement are satisfied in the performance cycle, the determination of which satisfaction shall be made by the
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Board on the determination date. No PSU may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the award.
If the award agreement so provides, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the New Plan) and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all PSUs granted to such Participant shall become fully vested in such Participant (without regard to the attainment of any performance criteria) and shall become payable to the Participant in accordance with the New Plan.
Other than as may be set forth in the applicable award agreement and below, upon the death of a Participant, all PSUs granted to the Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will immediately and automatically be forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant’s PSUs that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed.
Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a subsidiary for cause, all PSUs granted to the Participant under the New Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date. Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to retirement by the Participant, all PSUs granted to the Participant which have not vested will, unless the award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant’s PSUs that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable performance have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed.
Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a disability, all PSUs granted to the Participant under the New Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such PSUs; provided, however, that no PSUs may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant’s relationship is terminated due to disability such that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, all PSUs granted to the Participant under the New Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant’s PSUs that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed.
Payment to Participants in respect of vested PSUs shall be made after the determination date for the applicable award and in any case within ninety-five (95) days after the last day of the performance cycle to which such award relates. the Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either: (a) issue to the Participant the number of Shares equal to the number of PSUs that have vested on the Determination Date; or (b) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price (as defined in the New Plan) on the next trading day after the determination date of the PSUs that have vested, net of applicable withholdings.
Deferred Share Units
A DSU is a right granted to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a director or officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company on a deferred basis upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, subject to the terms and conditions of the New Plan and the applicable award agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares. DSUs may not be granted to any Participant performing investor relation activities.
Subject to the provisions of the New Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant awards of DSUs to directors in lieu of fees (including annual Board retainers, chair fees, meeting attendance fees or any other fees payable to a director) or to other eligible persons as compensation for employment or consulting services. The number of DSUs to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with the New Plan.
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The number of DSUs shall be specified in the applicable award agreement. Each director may elect to receive any or all of his or her fees in DSUs under this New Plan. The number of DSUs shall be calculated by dividing the amount of Fees selected by a director by the Market Unit Price (as defined in the New Plan) on the grant date (or such other price as required under the Exchange Policies) which shall be the 10th business day following each financial quarter end. Any fractional DSU shall be rounded down and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to the fractional DSU.
No Deferred Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the award of the DSU.
Each participant shall be entitled to receive, after the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person for any reason, on a day designated by the Participant and communicated to the Company by the Participant in writing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the designated day (or such earlier date after the participant ceases to be an eligible person as the participant and the Company may agree, which date shall be no later than one year after the date upon which the participant ceases to be an eligible person) and if no such notice is given, then on the first anniversary of the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, at the sole discretion of the Board, either: (a) that number of Shares equal to the number of vested DSUs credited to the participant’s account, such Shares to be issued from treasury of the Company; or (b) a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next trading day after the Participant ceases to be an eligible person of the vested DSUs, net of applicable withholdings.
In the event that the value of a DSU would be determined with reference to a period commencing at a fiscal quarter-end of the Company and ending prior to the public disclosure of interim financial statements for the quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter), the cash payment of the value of the DSUs will be made to the Participant with reference to the five (5) trading days immediately following the public disclosure of the interim financial statements for that quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter).
Upon death of a Participant holding DSUs that have vested, the Participant’s estate shall be entitled to receive, within 120 days after the Participant’s death and at the sole discretion of the Board, a cash payment or Shares that would have otherwise been payable in accordance with the New Plan to the Participant upon such Participant ceasing to be an eligible person.
General Provisions of the New Plan
Non-Transferability
No Option or Performance-Based Award and no right under any such Option or Performance-Based Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable, or transferable by a participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and only then if permitted by the Exchange Policies. No Option or Performance-Based Award and no right under any such Option or Performance-Based Award, may be pledged, alienated, attached, or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment, or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.
Black-out Periods
In the event that the date provided for expiration, redemption or settlement of an award falls within a blackout period imposed by the Company pursuant to a trading policy as the result of the bona fide existence of undisclosed material information, the expiry date, redemption date or settlement date, as applicable, of the award shall automatically be extended to the date that is ten (10) business days following the date of expiry of the blackout period which shall occur promptly following general disclosure of the undisclosed material information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be no extension of any award if the Company (or the Participant) is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under applicable law. Deductions Whenever cash is to be paid in respect of DSUs, RSUs or PSUs, the Company shall have the right to deduct from all cash payments made to a Participant any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. the Company is authorized to withhold any payment due under any Award or under the New Plan until the Participant has paid or made arrangements for the payment of the amount of any withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment under such Award or under this New Plan. At the sole discretion of the Board, a Participant may be permitted to satisfy the foregoing requirement by, all in accordance with the Exchange Policies by delivering an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or a portion of the Shares and deliver to the Company from the sales proceeds an amount sufficient to pay the required withholding taxes.
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Amendments to the New Plan
The Board may at any time or from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of Shareholders, amend, suspend, terminate or discontinue the New Plan and may amend the terms and conditions of any Options or Performance-Based Awards granted hereunder, subject to:
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(i) any required disinterested shareholder approval to (A) reduce the exercise price of an Award issued to an insider or (B) extend the term of an Option granted to an insider, in either event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange;
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(ii) any required approval of any applicable regulatory authority or the Exchange; and
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(iii) any approval of Shareholders as required by the Exchange Policies or applicable law, provided that Shareholder approval shall not be required for the following amendments and the Board may make any changes which may include but are not limited to (except that the Exchange may require approval of the Shareholders for amendments pursuant to Sections C to G below):
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A. amendments of a “housekeeping nature”;
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B. amendments for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, error or omission in the New Plan or to correct or supplement any provision of the New Plan that is inconsistent with any other provision of the New Plan;
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C. amendments which are necessary to comply with applicable law or the requirements of the Exchange;
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D. amendments respecting administration and eligibility for participation under the New Plan;
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E. amendments to the terms and conditions on which Option or Performance-Based Awards may be or have been granted pursuant to the New Plan including amendments to the vesting provisions and terms of any Options or Performance-Based Awards;
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F. with the exception of Options granted to persons performing investor relations activities, amendments which alter, extend or accelerate the terms of vesting applicable to any Options or Performance-Based Awards; and
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G. changes to the termination provisions of an Option, Performance-Based Award or the New Plan which do not entail an extension beyond the original fixed term.
Term
The New Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in the New Plan.
Obtaining a copy of the New Plan
A copy of the New Plan is attached to this Information Circular as Schedule “C” and is available for review at the Company’s office located at 3355 Grandview Hwy, Vancouver, BC V5M 1Z5, during normal business hours up to and including the date of the Meeting. Accordingly at the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider, and if thought fit, approve the following ordinary resolution ratifying, approving and confirming the adoption of the New Plan:
“BE IT RESOLVED, AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION, THAT:
-
the Company’s new 20% fixed omnibus incentive plan be set at 32,792,489 common shares for options and, performance-based awards of restricted share units, performance share units and deferred share units, adopted by the board of directors of the Company effective as of August 28, 2024 (the “ New Plan ”), in the form attached as Schedule “C” to the management information circular of the Company dated August 27, 2024, be and is hereby confirmed, ratified and approved, and the Company has the ability to grant awards under the New Plan;
-
the board of directors (the “ Board ”) of the Company is hereby authorized to make such amendments to the New Plan from time to time, as may be required by the applicable regulatory
Page | 16
authorities, or as may be considered appropriate by the Board, in its sole discretion, provided always that such amendments be subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities, if applicable, and in certain cases, in accordance with the terms of the New Plan, the approval of the Shareholders; and
- any one director or officer of the Company is hereby authorized and directed, acting for, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, to execute or cause to be executed, under the seal of the Company or otherwise and to deliver or to cause to be delivered, all such other deeds, documents, instruments and assurances and to do or cause to be done all such other acts as, in the opinion of such director or officer of the Company, may be necessary or desirable to carry out the terms of the foregoing resolutions.”
To be effective, the resolution must be passed by a majority of votes cast by disinterested shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, and be accepted for filing by the TSXV. If the resolution does not pass, the Company will ask shareholders to re-approve the Current Plan.
Management and the Board of Directors of the Company believes the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan is in the best interests of the Company and is fair to the Company and its shareholders. The Company’s management and the Board of Directors recommend that shareholders vote FOR the resolution approving the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. Unless you provide instructions to the contrary, the Management Proxyholders intend to vote FOR the resolution to approve the Omnibus Long Term Incentive Plan.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
The Company will consider and transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. Management of the Company knows of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. Should any other matters properly come before the Meeting the common shares represented by the proxies solicited hereby will be voted on such matter in accordance with the best judgement of the persons voting by proxy.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
GENERAL
For the purpose of this Statement of Executive Compensation:
“Company” means Turnium Technology Group Inc.;
“compensation securities” includes stock options, convertible securities, exchangeable securities and similar instruments including stock appreciation rights, deferred share units and restricted stock units granted or issued by the company or one of its subsidiaries for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the company or any of its subsidiaries;
“ external management company ” includes a subsidiary, affiliate or associate of the external management company;
“ NEO ” or “ named executive officer ” means each of the following individuals:
-
(a) each individual who, in respect of the Company, during any part of the most recently completed financial year, served as chief executive officer (“ CEO ”), including an individual performing functions similar to a CEO;
-
(b) each individual who, in respect of the Company, during any part of the most recently completed financial year, served as chief financial officer (“ CFO ”), including an individual performing functions similar to a CFO;
-
(c) in respect of the Company and its subsidiaries, the most highly compensated executive officer other than the individuals identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) at the end of the most recently completed
Page | 17
financial year ended September 30, 2023, whose total compensation was more than $150,000 for that financial year; and
- (d) each individual who would be a named executive officer under paragraph © but for the fact that the individual was not an executive officer of the Company, and was not acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year;
“ plan ” includes any plan, contract, authorization, or arrangement, whether or not set out in any formal document, where cash, compensation securities or any other property may be received, whether for one or more persons;
“ underlying securities ” means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
Based on the foregoing definitions, during the most recently completed financial year ended September 30, 2023, the Company had two (2) NEOs, namely:
-
Derek Spratt, Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer [Derek retired as CFO on November 29, 2023, and retired as CEO on February 29, 2024. Mr Spratt also resigned from the Board of Directors on August 22, 2024], and
-
Aaron Patton, President of Tenacious Networks, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
From the year end of September 30, 2023, to present, the Company’s NEOs are:
-
Konstantin Lichtenwald – CFO [appointed on November 29, 2023],
-
Doug Childress – CEO [appointed on August 22, 2024]
-
Johan Arnet – Co-CEO [appointed February 29, 2024, and resigned on August 22, 2024],
-
Jim Lovie – Co-CEO [appointed February 29, 2024, and resigned on August 22, 2024], and
-
Aaron Patton, President of Tenacious Networks, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
DIRECTOR AND NEO COMPENSATION
Director and NEO compensation, excluding options and compensation securities
The following table sets forth all compensation paid, payable, awarded, granted, given, or otherwise provided, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its subsidiary, to each NEO and director of the Company, in any capacity, including, for greater certainty, all plan and non-plan compensation, direct and indirect pay, remuneration, economic or financial award, reward, benefit, gift or perquisite paid, payable, awarded, granted, given or otherwise provided to the NEO or a director of the Company for services provided and for services to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company or its subsidiary.
| Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position |
Year Ended(1) |
Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or meeting fees ($) |
Value of perquisites ($) |
Value of all other compensation ($) |
Total compensation ($) |
| Ralph Garcea(2) Chairman, Director |
2023 2022 |
NIL 20,000 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
45,388 NA |
45,388 20,000 |
| Jim Lovie(3) Co-CEO, Director |
2023 2022 |
43,500 NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA | 43,500 NA |
Page | 18
| Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position |
Year Ended(1) |
Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or meeting fees ($) |
Value of perquisites ($) |
Value of all other compensation ($) |
Total compensation ($) |
| Johan Arnet(4) Co-CEO, Director |
2023 2022 |
183,707 275,000 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
16,506 NA |
200,212 275,000 |
| Konstantin Lichtenwald(5) CFO |
2023 2022 |
248,914 NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
19,262 NA |
268,177 NA |
| Erin Campbell(6) Director |
2023 2022 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
| Aaron Patton(9) President, Tenacious Networks, Inc. |
2023 2022 |
197,296 150,000 |
70,838 125,650 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
70,838 NA |
268,134 275,650 |
| Peter Smyrniotis(7) Former Director |
2023 2022 |
34,000 NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
34,000 NA |
| Derek Spratt(8) Former Director |
2023 2022 |
97,470 202,000 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA Nil |
4,816 NA |
102,286 202,000 |
| Peter Green(10) Former Director |
2023 2022 |
80,500 30,000 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
45,388 NA |
125,888 30,000 |
| Evelyn Bailey(11) Former Director |
2023 2022 |
42,500 NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
42,500 NA |
| Geoff Hultin CCO |
2023 2022 |
141,213 NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
26,859 NA |
168,071 NA |
| John Michael Hutchison(12) _Former_Director |
2023 2022 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
| Vassilios (Bill) Mitoulas(13) _Former_Director |
2023 2022 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
| Robin Bruce Hutchison(14) Former CEO, Former Director |
2023 2022 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
| Judi Dalling(15) Former_CFO_ |
2023 2022 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
| Juliet Jones(16) Former CFO |
2023 2022 |
NA 198,000 |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA NA |
NA 198,000 |
NOTES:
(1) Year End is September 30
(2) Mr. Garcea appointed as director on November 19, 2021, and Chair effective March 6, 2023.
(3) Mr. Lovie was appointed as director on June 16, 2022, and as co-CEO on February 29, 2024.
(4) Mr. Arnet was appointed as director on June 16, 2022. Mr. Arnet acted as CEO from June 16, 2022, to August 29, 2022. Mr. Arnet was appointed as co-CEO on February 29, 2024.
(5) Mr. Lichtenwald was appointed as CFO effective November 29, 2023.
(6) Ms. Campbell was appointed as director on November 16, 2022.
Page | 19
-
(7) Mr. Smyrniotis was appointed as director on November 16, 2022 and resigned from the Board effective August 22, 2024.
-
(8) Mr. Spratt was appointed as director on June 16, 2022, and acted as CEO from August 29, 2022, and as Interim CFO since January 16, 2023. Mr Spratt resigned as CFO on November 29, 2023, and as CEO on February 29, 2024. Mr. Spratt resigned from the Board effective August 22, 2024.
-
(9) Mr. Patton has acted as President of Tenacious Networks, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, since June 28, 2020.
-
(10) Mr. Green was appointed as director on June 16, 2022, and ceased to be a director on September 15, 2023.
-
(11) Ms. Bailey was appointed as director on June 16, 2022, and ceased to be a director on September 15, 2023.
-
(12) Mr. Hutchison was appointed as director on October 17, 2017, and ceased to be a director on June 17, 2022.
-
(13) Mr. Mitoulas was appointed as director on November 19, 2021, and ceased to be a director on June 17, 2022.
(14) Mr. Hutchison was appointed as director and acted as CEO and President on October 17, 2017, and ceased to be director, CEO and President on June 17, 2022.
-
(15) Ms. Dalling acted as CFO from October 17, 2017, to June 16, 2022.
-
(16) Ms. Jones acted as CFO from November 1, 2021 to November 28, 2022.
Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee
The Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for ensuring an appropriate plan for executive compensation is in place and for making recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers. The Board will ensure that the total compensation paid to all Named Executive Officers is fair and reasonable and is consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy. This compensation philosophy is intended to ensure that executive compensation is reflective of prevailing market rates and is designed to create incentives to executive performance to achieve the strategic objectives and increase the value to shareholders.
The Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews the compensation paid to the directors and executive officers and ensures that the total compensation paid to all of the Named Executive Officers is fair, reasonable and competitive with the industry and is consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy and is aligned with the overall business objectives and with shareholders’ interests.
The Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for the review and assessment of compensation arrangements for the Company’s executive officers and is authorized to approve terms of employment, salaries, bonuses, option grants and other incentive arrangements for the executive officers, and, where appropriate, any severance arrangements. The Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee reviews and assesses the performance of executive officers in accordance with the Company’s compensation policies and practices. In addition to informal industry comparables from publicly available information, the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee considers a variety of factors when determining both compensation policies and programs, and individual compensation levels. These factors include the long-range interests of the Company and its shareholders, overall financial and operating performance and the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee’s assessment of each executive’s individual performance and contribution toward meeting corporate objectives. The Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee and Board of Directors considers annually the risks associated with the compensation policies and practices including such risks as the retention of qualified executive staff during an economic downturn in the market. The CEO together with the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee, reviews and discusses on an annual base the risks and provide oversight of the compensation policies and practices, and discusses with the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee any additional practices that the Company may use to identify and mitigate compensation policies and practices that could encourage an NEO or individual at a principle business unit or division to take inappropriate or excessive risks. The Company also has each NEO and employee annually review and sign off on the Company’s corporate policies and procedures, including anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies and procedures. As part of this annual review, the CEO will discuss with the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee any risks arising from the Company’s compensation policies and practices that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The members of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee are Jim Lovie (Chair), Ralph Garcea and Craig Pentland. The Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee have direct experience in their past executive and board positions that are relevant to their responsibilities as members of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee.
Page | 20
External Management Companies
Aaron Patton, President of Tenacious Networks, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“ Tenacious ”), is not an employee of the Company. Mr. Patton provides his services to Tenacious as an independent contractor through Tenacious Services Inc. (the “ Contractor ”). Tenacious is party to an independent contractor agreement dated April 1, 2023, with the Contractor (the “ Independent Contractor Agreement ”). Pursuant to the Independent Contractor Agreement, Tenacious has engaged the Contractor as President of Tenacious (such services as President referred to as the “ Services ”) and will pay the Contractor at the rate of CAD$16,666 per month plus applicable GST for the Services. Under the Independent Contractor Agreement, Tenacious has agreed to pay to the Contractor a commission based on the gross revenue received to Tenacious on an annual basis during the term of the Independent Contractor Agreement as follows: (i) for the gross revenue received by Tenacious up to $2,000,000 during the fiscal year, the Contractor will be paid 5% (i.e., $100,000 if Tenacious’ gross revenue is $2,000,000; the total paid out will be offset by the $50,000 annual increase to the monthly management fee); and (ii) for the gross revenue received by Tenacious above two million and one dollars ($2,000,001) during a fiscal year, the Contractor will be paid 7%. The Contractor understands and has agreed that it will bear sole responsibility and liability for any costs or expenses incurred while performing the Services .
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each director and NEO by the Company or by any subsidiary thereof in the year ended September 30, 2023, for services provided, or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any subsidiary thereof.
| Compensation Securities | |||||||
| Name and position |
Type of compensation security |
Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class |
Date of issue or grant |
Issue, conversion or exercise price ($) |
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant ($) |
Closing price of security or underlying security at Year Ended September 30, 2023 ($) |
Expiry Date |
| Konstantin Lichtenwald CFO |
Stock Options | 200,000 options 200,000 common shares |
Apr 13, 2023 |
0.15 | 0.155 | 0.09 | Apr 13, 2028 |
| Geoff Hultin CCO |
Stock Options | 50,000 options 50,000 common shares |
Apr 13, 2023 |
0.15 | 0.155 | 0.09 | Apr 13, 2028 |
| Aaron Patton President, Tenacious Networks, Inc. |
Stock Options | 50,000 options 50,000 common shares |
Apr 13, 2023 |
0.15 | 0.155 | 0.09 | Apr 13, 2028 |
| Derek Spratt(1) Former Director |
Stock Options | 50,000 options 50,000 common shares |
Apr 13, 2023 |
0.15 | 0.155 | 0.09 | Apr 13, 2028 |
Note:
(1) Messrs. Spratt and Smyrniotis resigned from the Board of Directors effective August 22, 2024.
Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs
There were no compensation securities exercised by a director or NEO during the financial year ended September 30, 2023.
Page | 21
Stock Option Plans and Other Incentive Plans
On June 16, 2022, the Board of Directors adopted a 20% Fixed stock option plan (the “ Option Plan ”) under which Options may be granted to the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants. The full text of the Option Plan is attached as Schedule “C” to the Information Circular dated August 11, 2023, and filed on SEDAR+ on August 25, 2023. The shareholders approved an amendment to the Option Plan on September 15, 2023, increasing the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance from 13,708,016 to 19,963,048, representing 20% of the Common Shares then issued and outstanding.
The Option Plan provides that the board of directors may, from time to time, in its discretion, and in accordance with TSX-V requirements, grant to directors, officers, employees and consultants to the Company, nontransferable options to purchase Common Shares, provided that the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance will not exceed that number of Common Shares which is equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.
Options will be exercisable for a period of up to ten years from the date of grant. The number of Common Shares reserved for issuance to:
(a) any individual, will not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares; and
(b) all consultants, will not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. In addition, the Option Plan will provide that no more than 5% of the issued Common Shares will be granted to any individual in any 12-month period, unless disinterested shareholder approval is obtained; no more than 2% of the issued Common Shares will be granted to any one consultant in any 12-month period; and no more than an aggregate of 2% of the issued Common Shares will be granted to all Persons conducting investor relations activities in any 12 month period.
Subject to TSX-V requirements, vesting is at the discretion of the Board of Directors at the time of grant. Options may be exercised for a period of 90 days following cessation of the optionee’s position with the Company, provided that if the cessation of office, employment, directorship, or consulting arrangement was by reason of death, the option may be exercised within a maximum period of one year after such death, subject to the expiry date of such option. The exercise price of each Option will be determined by the Board of Directors at the time any option is granted. In no event shall such exercise price be lower than the exercise price permitted by the TSX-V.
Employment, consulting and management agreements
In addition to the Independent Contractor Agreement disclosed above under “External Management Companies”, the Company and Derek Spratt (the “ Executive ”) entered into an employment agreement dated effective September 1, 2022 (the “ CEO Employment Agreement ”). Pursuant to the CEO Employment Agreement, the Company engaged the Executive as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and was paid an annual base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of CAD$300,000, subject to increases at the Board’s discretion, with any salary or bonuses above CAD$10,000 per month being accrued until at least $1 million in net new debt or equity financing is secured by the Company or completes a change of control transaction. The Executive was also granted 50,000 stock options under the terms of the Company’s stock option plan. The Executive was further eligible for a CAD$100,000 discretionary bonus during the 2023 fiscal year and each subsequent fiscal year upon achieving certain key performance indicators including revenue and EBITDA targets, financing transaction targets and M&A transaction targets. On March 1, 2024, the Company entered into a Professional Services Agreement with Derek Spratt to provide assistance with the integration of Claratti and other possible acquisitions. Mr. Spratt will be paid $100,000 in aggregate [$6,250 per month] plus benefits until June 2025.
Termination and Change of Control Benefits
The Company does not have any plan or arrangement with respect to compensation to its executive officers which would result from the resignation, retirement or any other termination of employment of the executive officers' employment with the Company. With regards to a change of control, all executives will have an M&A bonus equal to their total annual compensation net of the value of their incentive stock options to be paid out in 12 monthly installments post transaction; unless they are terminated post transaction in which case, they will be paid out fully at that time.
Page | 22
Oversight and description of director and named executive officer compensation
Compensation of Directors
The Company does not have a compensation program other than paying consulting fees and incentive bonuses. The compensation of the executive officers is determined by the Board, based in part on recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer. The Board recognizes the need to provide a compensation package that will attract and retain qualified and experienced executives, as well as align the compensation level of each executive to that executive’s level of responsibility. The objectives of the Company’s compensation policies and practices are:
-
to reward individual contributions in light of the Company’s performance;
-
to be competitive with the companies with whom the Company competes for talent;
-
to align the interests of the executives with the interests of the shareholders; and
-
to attract and retain executives who could help the Company achieve its objectives.
The objectives of management fees are to recognize market pay and acknowledge the competencies and skills of individuals. The rate established for each executive officer is intended to reflect each individual’s responsibilities, experience, prior performance and other discretionary factors deemed relevant by any compensation committee that may be formed in future. In deciding on the management fee portion of the compensation of the executive officers, major consideration is given to the fact that the Company is an early stage exploration company and does not generate any material revenue and must rely exclusively on funds raised from equity financings. In the future, the objectives of incentive bonuses in the form of cash payments will be designed to add a variable component of compensation, based on corporate and individual performances for executive officers and employees. The objectives of the stock option will be to reward achievement of long-term financial and operating performance and focus on key activities and achievements critical to the ongoing success of the Company. The Company has no other forms of compensation, other than payments made from time to time to individuals or companies they control for the provision of consulting services. Such consulting services are paid for by the Company, to the best of its ability, at competitive industry rates for work of a similar nature by reputable arm’s length service providers. Actual compensation will vary based on the performance of the executives relative to the achievement of goals and the price of the Company’s securities, as well as the financial condition of the Company.
The Board evaluates individual executive performance with the goal of setting compensation at levels that it believes is comparable with executives in other companies of similar size and stage of development operating in the same industry. In connection with setting appropriate levels of compensation, members of the Board base their decisions on their general business and industry knowledge and experience and publicly available information of comparable companies while also taking into account the Company’s relative performance and strategic goals.
In the course of its deliberations, the Board considered the implications of the risks associated with adopting the compensation practices currently in place. The Board does not believe that its current compensation practices create a material risk that the NEOs or any employee would be encouraged to take inappropriate or excessive risks, and no such risks have been detected to date. The Board will continue to include this consideration in its deliberations and believes that it would detect actions of management and employees of the Company that constitute or would lead to inappropriate or excessive risks.
Pension disclosure
The Company does not have any pension, defined benefit, defined contribution or deferred compensation plans currently in place or proposed at this time.
Page | 23
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
The text of the Company’s Audit Committee Charter is attached as Schedule “A” to this Information Circular.
COMPOSITION OF AUDIT COMMITTEE
As at the date hereof, the Company’s audit committee is comprised of three (3) directors, namely Erin Campbell (Chair), Jim Lovie and Craig Pentland.
NI 52-110 provides that a member of an audit committee is “independent” if the member has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company, which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of the member’s independent judgment. Of the Company’s current audit committee members, all members are considered “independent” within the meaning of NI 52-110.
All of the Audit Committee members are financially literate, as defined in NI 52-110, as all have the industry experience necessary to understand and analyze financial statements of the Company, as well as an understanding of internal controls and procedures necessary for financial reporting. NI 52-110 provides that an individual is financially literate if they have the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements.
Mandate and Responsibilities of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee’s mandate and responsibilities include: (i) reviewing and recommending for approval to the Board the financial statements, accounting policies that affect the statements, annual MD&A and associated press releases; (ii) being satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Company’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Company’s financial statements and periodically assessing those procedures; (iii) establishing and maintaining complaint procedures regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; (iv) overseeing the work of the external auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditor’s report or performing such other audit, review or attest services for the Company, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting; (v) pre-approving all non-audit services to be provided to the Company or its subsidiary entities by the external auditor; (vi) reviewing and monitoring the processes in place to identify and manage the principal risks that could impact the financial reporting of the Company; and (vii) reviewing and approving the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees, and former partners and employees of the present and former external auditor of the Company.
The Audit Committee is to meet at least quarterly to review financial statements and MD&A and to meet with the Company’s external auditors at least once a year.
RELEVANT EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Each member of the Company’s present Audit Committee and the proposed Audit Committee following the Meeting are senior-level businesspeople with experience in financial matter and have adequate education and experience that is relevant to their performance as an Audit Committee member and, in particular the requisite education and experience that have provided the member with:
-
(a) an understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements and the ability to assess the general application of those principles in connection with estimates, accruals and reserves;
-
(b) experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements or experience actively supervising individuals engaged in such activities; and
Page | 24
(c) an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.
Erin Campbell - Chair
Erin Campbell, ICD.D has over 25 years as an entrepreneur and business advisor experience with board and corporate governance in growth and rapidly evolving technology and industrial companies. Erin has led financing, corporate transactions, re-structuring, M&A for private and public companies operating in Canada and US. Erin is the founding partner of Moneta Partners, an organization providing capital markets and corporate finance advisory services. Erin has led financing, corporate transactions, re-structuring, M&A for private and public companies operating in Canada and US.
Jim Lovie
Mr. Lovie is the former EVP of Sales for Rogers Communications Canada. He has also held senior executive roles with Xerox, Bell Canada.
Craig Pentland
Mr. Pentland is an experienced company director with over 25 years’ experience working within the public accounting industry. He is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Practicing Accountant, Chartered Tax Adviser and holds an MBA.
AUDIT COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year end was a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor not adopted by the Board of the Company.
RELIANCE ON CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year end, has the Company relied on the exemption in section 2.4 of National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees (De Minimis Non-audit Services) , the exemption in section 6.1.1(4) ( Circumstance Affecting the Business or Operations of the Venture Issuer) , the exemption in subsection 6.1.1(5) ( Events Outside Control of Member ), the exemption in subsection 6.1.1(6) ( Death, Incapacity or Resignation ), or an exemption, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of National Instrument 52-110.
As the Company is a “Venture Issuer” pursuant to relevant securities legislation, the Company is relying on the exemption in section 6.1 of National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees , from the requirement of Parts 3 ( Composition of the Audit Committee ) and 5 ( Reporting Obligations ) of National Instrument 52-110.
PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR NON-AUDIT SERVICES
The Audit Committee is authorized by the Board of Directors to review the performance of the external auditors and approve in advance provision of services other than auditing and to consider the independence of the external auditors, including a review of the range of services provided in the context of all consulting services. The Audit Committee is authorized to approve in writing any non-audit services or additional work which the Chairman of the Audit Committee deems is necessary, and the Chairman will notify the other members of the Audit Committee of such non-audit or additional work and the reasons for such non-audit work for the Committee’s consideration, and if thought fit, approval in writing.
EXTERNAL AUDITOR SERVICE FEES (BY CATEGORY)
The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s external auditor in each of the last financial years for audit fees are as follows:
Page | 25
| Financial Year Ending September 30 |
Audit Fees(1)($) |
Audit- related Fees(2)($) |
Tax Fees(3)($) |
All Other Fees(4)($) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auditor | |||||
| Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP(5) |
2023 | 260,000 | - | - | - |
| Manning Elliott LLP | 2022 | 626,350 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NOTES:
-
“Audit Fees” includes fees necessary to perform the annual audit of the Company’s financial statements. Audit Fees include fees for review of tax provisions and for accounting consultations on matters reflected in the financial statements. Audit Fees also include audit or other attest services required by legislation or regulation, such as comfort letters, consents, reviews of securities filings and statutory audits. 2. “Audit-Related Fees” include services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required by legislation or regulation.
-
“Tax Fees” include fees for all tax services other than those included in “Audit Fees” and “Audit-Related Fees”. This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities.
-
“All Other Fees” include review of the Prospectus and all other non-audit services.
-
Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP appointed as Company’s auditor effective November 28, 2023.
- SECTION 7 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
GENERAL
Pursuant to National Instrument 58-101 - Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (“ NI 58-101 ”), the Company is required to disclose its corporate governance practices. Corporate governance relates to the activities of the Board, the members of which are elected by and are accountable to Shareholders, and takes into account the role of the individual members of management who are appointed by the Board and who are charged with the day-to-day management of the Company. The Board is committed to sound corporate governance practices, which are in the interest of its Shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient decision-making.
National Policy 58-201 - Corporate Governance Guidelines (“ NP 58-201 ”) establishes corporate governance guidelines which apply to all public companies. These guidelines are not intended to be prescriptive but to be used by issuers in developing their own corporate governance practices. The Board is committed to sound corporate governance practices and believes the Company’s corporate governance practices are appropriate and effective for the Company given its current size.
National Instrument 58-101 – Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices - mandates disclosure of corporate governance practices in Form 58-101Fs, which disclosures is set out below.
COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The mandate of the Board of the Company, as prescribed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (“ BCBCA ”), is to manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Company and to act with a view to the best interests of the Company. In doing so, the Board oversees the management of the Company’s affairs directly and through its committees. The Board will facilitate its exercise of independent supervision over the Company’s management through frequent meetings of the Board.
The independent members of the Board of Directors are Jim Lovie, Erin Campbell, Johan Arnet and Craig Pentland.
Directors are expected to attend Board meetings and meetings of committees on which they serve and to spend the time needed and meet as frequently as necessary to properly discharge their responsibilities.
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MANDATE OF THE BOARD
The Board is elected by and accountable to the Shareholders of the Company. The mandate of the Board is to continually govern the Company and to protect and enhance the assets of the Company in the long-term best interests of the Shareholders. The Board will annually assess and approve a strategic plan which takes into account, among other things, the opportunities and the identification of the principal risks of the issuer’s business, and ensuring the implementation of appropriate systems to manage these risks.
DIRECTORSHIPS IN OTHER PUBLIC COMPANIES
Certain of the board nominees are also directors or officers of other reporting issuers (or equivalent) in a jurisdiction or a foreign jurisdiction as follows:
| Name of Director | Other reporting issuer (or equivalent in a foreign jurisdiction)(1) |
|---|---|
| Ralph Garcea | Converge Technology Solutions Corp. – TSX Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc. – TSXV |
| Erin Campbell | Global Energy Metals Corp. - TSXV H2 Ventures 1 Inc. - TSXV |
NOTES:
(1) Information not being within our knowledge has been furnished by the respective person or has been obtained from insider reports filed by respective person and available through the Internet at the Canadian System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (www.sedi.ca).
ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
New Board members receive an orientation package which includes reports on operations and results, and public disclosure filings. Board meetings may sometimes be held at the Company’s offices and, from time to time, may be combined with presentations by the Company’s management to give the directors additional insight into the business. In addition, management of the Company makes itself available for discussion with all board members.
ETHICAL BUSINESS CONDUCT
The board of directors believe that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual director’s participation in decisions of the board in which the director has an interest will be sufficient to ensure that the board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
The Board will, in each year, consider its size when it considers the number of directors to recommend to the shareholders for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, taking into account the number required to carry out the Board’s duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of view and experience. The Company does not have a nominating committee, and these functions will be performed by the Board as a whole.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Company also has a Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee, which is responsible for, among other things, evaluating the performance of the Company’s executive officers, determining or making recommendations with respect to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, making recommendations with respect to director compensation, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, making recommendations with respect to the compensation policy for the employees of the Company or its subsidiaries and ensuring that the Company is in compliance with all legal requirements with respect to compensation disclosure. In performing its duties, the board will have the authority to engage such advisors, including executive compensation consultants, as it considers necessary.
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All members of the board are experienced participants in business or finance and have sat on the board of directors of other companies, charities or business associations.
The Board will conduct reviews with regard to directors’ and officers’ compensation at least once a year. For information regarding the steps taken to determine compensation for the directors and executive officers, see “Section 5 - Executive Compensation” .
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board has two committees: the Audit Committee (the “ Audit Committee ”). The members of the Audit Committee are Erin Campbell (chair), Jim Lovie and Craig Pentland. A description of the function of the Audit Committee can be found in this Information Circular under “Section 6 - Audit Committee” .
In addition to the Audit Committee, the Board has a Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee, the members of which are Jim Lovie (chair), Johan Arnet and Craig Pentland.
ASSESSMENTS
Due to the size of the Company’s board of directors, there is no formal policy established to monitor the effectiveness of the directors, the board or its committees.
Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets out information with respect to all compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance as of the Record Date of August 23, 2024.
| Equity Compensation Plan Information | Equity Compensation Plan Information | Equity Compensation Plan Information | Equity Compensation Plan Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
| Equity compensation plans approved by Securityholders |
44,001,263 warrants 16,575,440 options |
$0.15 $0.19 |
5,287,608 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by securityholders |
NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Total | 60,576,703 | - | 5,287,608 |
NOTES:
(1) Represents the number of common shares available under the Stock Option Plan, which reserves a number of common shares for issuance, pursuant to the exercise of stock options, that is equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding common shares from time to time.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Other than "routine indebtedness" as defined in applicable securities legislation, since the beginning of the financial year ended September 30, 2023, none of:
-
(a) the executive officers, directors, employees and former executive officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
-
(b) the proposed nominees for election as a director of the Company; or
-
(c) any associates of the foregoing persons;
Page | 28
is or has been indebted to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has been indebted to any other entity where that indebtedness was the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and which was not entirely repaid on or before the date of this Information Circular.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Other than as set forth in this Information Circular, no person who has been a director of executive officer of the Company at any time since the beginning of the last financial year ended September 30, 2023, nor any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, nor any associated or affiliate of any of the foregoing, has any material interest, directly or indirectly, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon other than the election of directors or the appointment of auditors.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Applicable securities legislation defines “ informed person ” to mean any of the following: (a) a director or executive officer of a reporting issuer; (b) a director or officer of a person or company that is itself an informed person or subsidiary of a reporting issuer; (c) any person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities of a reporting issuer or who exercises control or direction over voting securities of a reporting issuer or a combination of both carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting securities of the reporting issuer other than voting securities held by the person or company as underwriter in the course of a distribution; and (d) a reporting issuer that has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its securities, for so long as it holds any of its securities.
Except as disclosed herein or in the Company’s financial statements, no informed person of the Company, or proposed director of the Company, or any associate or affiliate of any informed person or proposed director, had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year ended September 30, 2023, or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
Except as disclosed under Section 5 – Executive Compensation, the Company has no management agreements or arrangements under which the management functions of the Company are performed other than by the Company’s directors and executive officers.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Financial information about the Company is included in the Company’s financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the financial year ended September 30, 2023, which have been electronically filed with regulators and are available through the Internet on the Canadian System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca. Copies may be obtained without charge upon request to the Company by email at [email protected] or by mail at 3355 Grandview Hwy, Vancouver, BC V5M 1Z5. You may also access the Company’s public disclosure documents through the Internet on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
DIRECTOR APPROVAL
The contents of this Information Circular have been approved and the delivery of it to each Shareholder of the Company entitled thereto and to the appropriate regulatory agencies has been authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 26[th] day of August, 2024.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
Signed: “Ralph Garcea” RALPH GARCEA Chairman
Page | 29
SCHEDULE “A” AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. (the “Company”)
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SCHEDULE “B” CHANGE OF AUDITOR PACKAGE
NOTICE OF CHANGE OF AUDITOR
-
To: Alberta Securities Commission
-
British Columbia Securities Commission
Ontario Securities Commission
Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP
- Zeifmans LLP
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, on the advice of the audit committee of Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the "Company"), the board of directors of the Company resolved on August 28 , 2024 that:
-
a) The ceasing of services provided by Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP,, Chartered Professional Accountants, to be effective August 28, 2024, as auditors of the Company be accepted, and
-
b) Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants be appointed as auditors of the Company to be effective August 28, 2024, to hold office until the next annual meeting at remuneration to be fixed by the directors.
In accordance with National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (" NI 51102 ") we confirm that:
-
a) Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP resigned as auditor of the Company;
-
b) Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP have not expressed any reservation in its reports for the fiscal years prepared and filed for the years ended September 30, 2023, of the Company;
-
c) the resignation of Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, and appointment of Zeifmans LLP, as auditors of the Company were both considered by the audit committee and approved by the board of directors of the Company;
-
d) in the opinion of the Company, and the Board of Directors of the Company, there have been no “Reportable Events” as defined in NI 51-102 in connection with the audits for the years ended September 30, 2023 for the Company; and
-
e) the notice, resignation, and letters of the auditors have been reviewed by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.
Dated August 28, 2024
Per: signed "Erin Campbell" DIRECTOR and AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
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August 29, 2024
Ontario Securities Commission British Columbia Securities Commission Alberta Securities Commission
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC. - NOTICE OF CHANGE OF AUDITORS
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
We acknowledge receipt of a Notice of Change of Auditor (the “Notice”) dated August 29, 2024 delivered to us by the Corporation in respect of the change of auditor of the Corporation. In accordance with section 4.11 of National Instrument 51-102 — Continuous Disclosure Obligations, we have reviewed the information contained in the Notice and we agree with each of the statements contained therein pertaining to our firm. We advise that we have no basis to agree or disagree with the comments in the Notice issued by Zeifmans LLP
Yours truly,
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Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP Charted Professional Accountants
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August 29, 2024
Alberta Securities Commission British Columbia Securities Commission Ontario Securities Commission
Dear Sirs/Mesdames,
– “ ” Re: Notice of Change of Auditor Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the Company )
Pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations, we have reviewed the information continued in the Notice of Change of Auditor of the Company dated August 29, 2024 (the “Notice”) and, based on our knowledge of such information at this time, we agree with the statements made in the Notice pertaining to our firm. We advise that we have no basis to agree or disagree with the comments in the Notice relating to Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP.
Yours truly,
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Chartered Professional Accountants Licensed Public Accountants
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Zeifmans LLP is a member of Nexia International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and consulting firms.
zeifmans.ca T: 416.256.4000
201 Bridgeland Avenue | Toronto Ontario | M6A 1Y7 | Canada
NOTICE OF CHANGE OF AUDITOR
- To: Alberta Securities Commission British Columbia Securities Commission Ontario Securities Commission Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP Zeifmans LLP
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, on the advice of the audit committee of Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the "Company"), the board of directors of the Company resolved on August 28 , 2024 that:
-
a) The ceasing of services provided by Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP,, Chartered Professional Accountants, to be effective August 28, 2024, as auditors of the Company be accepted, and
-
b) Zeifmans LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants be appointed as auditors of the Company to be effective August 28, 2024, to hold office until the next annual meeting at remuneration to be fixed by the directors.
In accordance with National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (" NI 51102 ") we confirm that:
-
a) Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP resigned as auditor of the Company;
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b) Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP have not expressed any reservation in its reports for the fiscal years prepared and filed for the years ended September 30, 2023, of the Company;
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c) the resignation of Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, and appointment of Zeifmans LLP, as auditors of the Company were both considered by the audit committee and approved by the board of directors of the Company;
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d) in the opinion of the Company, and the Board of Directors of the Company, there hav e been no “Reportable Events” as defined in NI 51-102 in connection with the audits for the years ended September 30, 2023 for the Company; and
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e) the notice, resignation, and letters of the auditors have been reviewed by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.
Dated August 28, 2024
Per: signed "Erin Campbell" DIRECTOR and AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
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November 28, 2023
British Columbia Securities Commission 701 West Georgia Street P.O. Box 10142 Pacific Centre Vancouver, BC V7Y 1L2 Attention: Financial Reporting
Alberta Securities Commission 4th Floor, 300 - 5th Avenue S.W. Calgary, AB T2P 3C4 Attention: Executive Director
Ontario Securities Commission 20 Queen Street West 20th Floor Toronto ON, M5H 3S8
TSX Venture Exchange P.O. Box 11633 #2700, 650 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6B 4N9
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
Re: Noticeof Change ofAuditorsfor Turnium Technology Group Inc., ("the Company")
In accordance with National Instrument 51-102 we have read the Company's Notice of Change of Auditor dated November 28, 2023, and are in agreement with the statements contained in such Notice, except that we are not in a position to agree or disagree with the Company's statement that there are no reportable events between the Company and Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants.
Yours very truly,
KINGSTON ROSS PASNAK LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
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December 22, 2023
British Columbia Securities Commission Alberta Securities Commission Ontario Securities Commission TSX Venture Exchange
Attention: Continuous Disclosure
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
Re: Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the “Company”) Notice Pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 – Change of Auditor
We have been provided with and read the Notice of Change of Auditor dated November 28, 2023 (the “ Notice ”) with respect to our resignation as auditors of the Company provided as required under National Instrument 51-102 (the “ Instrument ”). Our receipt and reading of the Notice occurred subsequent to the Company first having filed such with the above-noted parties. In this regard, we have not previously provided our response pursuant to section 4.11, paragraph (5)(a)(ii)(B) of the Instrument.
Pursuant to section 4.11, paragraph (5)(a)(ii)(B) of the Instrument, we confirm:
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In relation to Item (a) of the Notice, we acknowledge having resigned as the Company’s auditor effective November 27, 2023.
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In relation to Item (b) of the Notice, we are in agreement.
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In relation to Items (c) and (e) of the Notice, we have no basis to agree or disagree.
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In relation to Item (d) of the Notice, we disagree with the statement. With reference to section 4.11, paragraph (7)(e)(iii) of the Instrument, we advise of a reportable event for an unresolved issue with the Company as follows:
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(A) The Company has not paid our Firm’s audit fees pertaining to our audit of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2022, for which we issued an auditors’ report dated February 23, 2023.
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(B) We have discussed the issue outlined at (A) with the Company’s audit committee of the board of directors.
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(C) We are not aware of whether the Company has authorized our Firm to respond fully to inquiries by any successor auditor concerning the issue outlined at (A).
This confirmation is based on our knowledge of the information as at the date of this letter.
Yours truly,
MANNING ELLIOTT LLP
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cc: Turnium Technology Group Inc.
NOTICE OF CHANGE OF AUDITOR
-
To: Alberta Securities Commission
-
British Columbia Securities Commission
Ontario Securities Commission
Manning Elliott LLP Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, on the advice of the audit committee of Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the "Company"), the board of directors of the Company resolved on November 28, 2023 that:
-
a) The ceasing of services provided by Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, to be effective November 27, 2023, as auditors of the Company be accepted, and
-
b) Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants be appointed as auditors of the Company to be effective November 28 ,2023 to hold office until the next annual meeting at remuneration to be fixed by the directors.
In accordance with National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (" NI 51102 ") we confirm that:
-
a) Manning Elliott LLP resigned as auditor of the Company;
-
b) Manning Elliott LLP have not expressed any reservation in its reports for the fiscal years prepared and filed for the years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, of the Company;
-
c) the resignation of Manning Elliott LLP, and appointment of Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, as auditors of the Company were both considered by the audit committee and approved by the board of directors of the Company;
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d) in the opinion of the Company, and the Board of Directors of the Company, there have been no “Reportable Events” as defined in NI 51-102 in connection with the audits for the years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021 for the Company; and
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e) the notice, resignation, and letters of the auditors have been reviewed by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.
Dated November 28,2023
Per: signed "Erin Campbell" DIRECTOR and AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. (the “ Company ”)
OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1 ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this equity incentive plan (the “ Plan ”) is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of shareholder value by: (i) encouraging the attraction and retention of Eligible Persons; (ii) encouraging such Eligible Persons to focus on critical long-term objectives; and (iii) promoting greater alignment of the interests of such Eligible Persons with the interests of the Company.
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions
As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
-
(a) “ Award ” means any award of Options, RSUs, PSUs or DSUs granted under this Plan;
-
(b) “ Award Agreement ” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document, including an electronic communication, as may from time to time be designated by the Company as evidencing any Award granted under this Plan;
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(c) “ Blackout Period ” means a period of time during which the Company prohibits Participants from exercising, redeeming or settling an Award due to the existence of undisclosed material information and pursuant to a formal notice provided by the Company under a trading policy, which Blackout Period must expire promptly following general disclosure of the undisclosed material information;
-
(d) “ Board ” means the board of directors of the Company or, if the context permits, any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable;
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(e) “ Change of Control ” means the acquisition by any person or by any person and a joint actor, whether directly or indirectly, of voting securities (as such terms are interpreted in the Securities Act ) of the Company, which, when added to all other voting securities of the Company at the time held by such person or by such person and a person “acting jointly or in concert” with another person, as that phrase is interpreted in National Instrument 62-103, totals for the first time not less than fifty (50%) percent of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or the votes attached to those securities are sufficient, if exercised, to elect a majority of the Board;
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(f) “ Company ” means TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC., a company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), and any of its successors or assigns.
-
(g) “ Consultant ” means a Person (other than a Director, Officer or Employee) that:
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(i) is engaged to provide, on an ongoing bona fide basis, consulting, technical, management or other services to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
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other than services provided in relation to a distribution (as defined in the Securities Act );
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(ii) provides the services under a written contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Person, as the case may be; and
-
(iii) in the reasonable opinion of the Company, spends or will spend a significant amount of time on the affairs and business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
and includes:
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(iv) for a Person that is an individual, a corporation of which such individual is the sole shareholder;
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(h) “Deferred Share Unit” or “DSU” means a right granted to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company on a deferred basis upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, all as provided in Section 5.4 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares;
-
(i) “ Determination Date ” means a date determined by the Board in its sole discretion but not later than 90 days after the expiry of a Performance Cycle;
-
(j) “ Director ” means a member of the Company’s Board or the Board of any of its Subsidiaries;
-
(k) “ Discounted Market Price ” means the Market Price less the discount set forth below, subject to a minimum price of $0.10:
| Closing Price up to $0.50 $0.51 to $2.00 above $2.00 |
Discount |
|---|---|
| 25% 20% 15% |
-
(l) “ Disability ” means any medical condition which qualifies a Participant for benefits under a long-term disability plan of the Company or Subsidiary;
-
(m)
-
“ Effective Date ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8;
-
(n) “Election Form” means the form to be completed by a Director specifying the amount of Fees he or she wishes to receive in DSUs under this Plan;
-
(o) “ Eligible Person ”, when used in connection with Options, means Officers, Directors, Employees, Management Company Employees and Consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries but, when used in connection with PSUs, RSUs or DSUs, means only Officers, Directors, Employees, Management Company Employees and Consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that do not perform Investor Relations Activities;
-
(p) “Employee” means:
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-
(i) an individual who is considered an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and for whom income tax, employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan deductions must be made at source;
-
(ii) an individual who works full-time for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and direction by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source; or
-
(iii) an individual who works for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on a continuing and regular basis for a minimum amount of time per week acceptable to the Exchange, who provides services normally provided by an employee and is subject to the same control and direction by the Company or its Subsidiary over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source;
-
(q) “ Exchange ” means the TSX Venture Exchange, or such other exchange upon which the Shares of the Company may become listed for trading;
-
(r) “Fees” means the annual Board retainer, chair fees, meeting attendance fees or any other fees payable to a Director;
-
(s) “ Grant Date ” means, for any Award, the date specified by the Board as the grant date at the time it grants the Award or, if no such date is specified, the date upon which the Award was actually granted;
-
(t)
-
“ Insider ” has the meaning attributed to it in the Securities Act;
-
(u) “ Investor Relations Activities ” means any activities, by or on behalf of the Company or a shareholder of the Company, that promote or reasonably could be expected to promote the purchase or sale of securities of the Company, but does not include:
-
(i) the dissemination of information provided, or records prepared, in the ordinary course of business of the Company:
-
(A) to promote the sale of products or services of the Company; or
-
(B) to raise public awareness of the Company, that cannot reasonably be considered to promote the purchase or sale of securities of the Company;
-
-
(ii) activities or communications necessary to comply with the requirements of:
-
(A) applicable securities laws; or
-
(B) Exchange requirements or the by-laws, rules or other regulatory instruments of any other self-regulatory body or exchange having jurisdiction over the Company;
-
-
(iii) communications by a publisher of, or writer for, a newspaper, magazine or business or financial publication, that is of general and regular paid circulation, distributed only to subscribers to it for value or to purchasers of it, if:
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- (A) the communication is only through the newspaper, magazine or publication; and
- (B) the publisher or writer receives no commission or other consideration other than for acting in the capacity of publisher or writer; or
-
(iv) activities or communications that may be otherwise specified by the Exchange;
-
(v) “Investor Relations Service Provider” includes any Consultant that performs Investor Relations Activities and any Director, Officer, Employee or Management Company Employee whose role and duties primarily consist of Investor Relations Activities
-
(w) “Management Company Employee” means an individual employed by a company providing management services to the Company, which services are required for the ongoing successful operation of the Company’s business enterprise;
-
(x) “ Market Price ” means, subject to the exceptions prescribed by the Exchange from time to time, the last closing price of the Company’s shares before the issuance of the required news release disclosing the grant of Awards (but, if the policies of the Exchange provide an exception to such news release, then the last closing price of the Company’s shares before the Grant Date);
-
(y) “Market Unit Price” means the value of a Share determined by reference to the five-day volume-weighted average closing price of a Share for the five Trading Day period immediately preceding the relevant date;
-
(z) “Officer” means an officer (as defined in the Securities Act or, where the Securities Act does not apply, by other applicable securities laws) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
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(aa) “ Option ” means incentive share purchase options entitling the holder thereof to purchase Shares at a specified price for a specified period of time;
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(bb) “ Participant ” means any Eligible Person to whom Awards under this Plan are granted;
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(cc) “ Participant’s Account ” means a notional account maintained for each Participant’s participation in this Plan which will show any RSUs, PSUs and/or DSUs credited to a Participant from time to time;
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(dd) “ Performance-Based Award ” means, collectively or as applicable, Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units;
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(ee) “ Performance Criteria ” means criteria established by the Board which, without limitation, may include criteria based on the Participant’s personal performance and/or financial performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and that are to be used to determine the vesting of Performance Share Units;
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(ff) “ Performance Cycle ” means the applicable performance cycle of the Performance Share Units as may be specified by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement;
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(gg) “ Performance Share Unit ” or “ PSU ” means a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, all as provided in Section 5.3 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares;
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(hh) “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or governmental authority or body;
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(ii) “ Restriction Period ” means the time period between the Grant Date and the Vesting Date of an Award of Restricted Share Units specified by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement, which period shall be no less than 12 months;
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(jj) “ Restricted Share Unit ” or “ RSU ” means a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer, to receive for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, all as provided in Section 5.2 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares;
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(kk) ‘‘ Retirement ” means retirement from active employment with the Company or a Subsidiary with the consent of an officer of the Company or the Subsidiary;
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(ll) “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act (British Columbia), as amended, from time to time;
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(mm) “ Security-Based Compensation Arrangement ” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the rules and policies of the Exchange, or in the event that such term is not defined in the rules and policies of the Exchange, shall mean a stock option plan, including the Plan, employee stock purchase plan, long-term incentive plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares to one or more full-time employees, officers, Insiders, service providers or Consultants of the Company or a Subsidiary;
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(nn) “ Shares ” means the common shares of the Company;
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(oo) “ Subsidiary ” means a corporation, company or partnership that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
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(pp) “ Termination Date ” means, as applicable:
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(i) in the event of a Participant’s Retirement, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or termination of employment as a result of a Disability, the date on which such Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary; and
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(ii) in the event of termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, the date on which such Participant is advised by the Company or a Subsidiary, in writing or verbally, that his or her services are no longer required;
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(qq) “Trading Day” means any day on which the Exchange is open for trading; and
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(rr) “ Vesting Date ” means in respect of any Award, the date when the Award is fully vested in accordance with the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Board to Administer Plan
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Plan shall be administered by the Board of the Company (and, for clarity, not by the Board of any subsidiary of the Company) and the Board of the Company
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shall have full authority to administer this Plan, including the authority to interpret and construe any provision of this Plan and to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations for administering this Plan as the Board of the Company may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of this Plan.
3.2 Delegation to Committee
All of the powers exercisable hereunder by the Board may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by resolution of the Board, be delegated to and exercised by such committee as the Board may determine.
3.3 Interpretation
All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made or approved by the Board in good faith shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding on the Participants and the Company.
3.4 No Liability
No Director shall be personally liable for any action taken or determination or interpretation made or approved in good faith in connection with this Plan and the Directors shall, in addition to their rights as Directors, be fully protected, indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action taken or determination or interpretation made. The appropriate officers of the Company are hereby authorized and empowered to do all things and execute and deliver all instruments, undertakings and applications and writings as they, in their absolute discretion, consider necessary for the implementation of this Plan and of the rules and regulations established for administering this Plan. All costs incurred in connection with this Plan shall be for the account of the Company.
SECTION 4 SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS
4.1 Limitations on Shares Available for Issuance
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(a) The aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to all Awards, including Options, granted under the Plan, together with any other Security Based Compensation Arrangement, shall not exceed 32,792,489, being 20% of the number of Shares issued and outstanding, at the time and in accordance with the Policies of the Exchange.
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(b)
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So long as it may be required by the rules and policies of the Exchange:
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(i) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any Participant under this Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to such Participant (and to Companies wholly-owned by that Participant) under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed five (5%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant);
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(ii) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to Insiders under this Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to Insiders under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant);
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(iii) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to Insiders under this Plan, at any point in time, together with Shares reserved for issuance to Insiders under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares; and
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(iv) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any one Consultant, within any 12 month period, together with Shares issuable to such Consultant under all of the Company’s other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed two (2%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant); and
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(v) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to grants of Options to all Investor Relation Service Providers performing Investor Relations Activities, within any 12 month period, shall not in aggregate exceed two (2%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant). For the avoidance of doubt, Persons performing Investor Relations Activities are only eligible to receive Options under this Plan; they are not eligible to receive any PerformanceBased Award or other type of securities based compensation under this Plan.
4.2 Accounting for Awards
For purposes of this Section 4:
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(a) if an Award is denominated in Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, shall be counted on the Grant Date of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under this Plan; and
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(b) notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Shares related to Awards which terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such Shares, or are exchanged with the Board’s permission, prior to the issuance of Shares, for Awards not involving Shares, shall be available again for granting Awards under this Plan.
4.3 Anti-Dilution
If the number of outstanding Shares is increased or decreased as a result of a stock split, consolidation or recapitalization and not as a result of the issuance of Shares for additional consideration or by way of stock dividend, the Board may, subject to the prior acceptance of the Exchange in the case of a recapitalization, make appropriate adjustments to the number and price (or other basis upon which an Award is measured) of Options, RSUs, PSUs or DSUs credited to a Participant. Any determinations by the Board as to the required adjustments shall be made in its sole discretion and all such adjustments shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes under this Plan.
SECTION 5 AWARDS
5.1 Options
- (a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Options to Eligible Persons. Options granted to an Eligible Person shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant’s Account. The number of Options to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with this
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Plan. Each Option shall, contingent upon the lapse of any restrictions, represent one (1) Share. The number of Options granted pursuant to an Award shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
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(b) Exercise Price - The exercise price of an Option granted under this Plan shall not be less than the Discounted Market Price, provided that if an Option is proposed to be granted by the Company which has just been recalled for trading following a suspension or halt, the Company must wait at least ten Trading Days since the day on which trading in the Company’s securities resumes before setting the exercise price for and granting the Option.
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(c) Expiry Date - Each Option shall, unless sooner terminated, expire on a date to be determined by the Board which will not exceed 10 years from the Grant Date.
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(d) Different Exercise Periods, Prices and Number - The Board may, in its absolute discretion, upon granting Options under this Plan, specify different time periods following the dates of granting the Options during which the Participant may exercise their Options to purchase Shares and may designate different exercise prices and numbers of Shares in respect of which each Participant may exercise his option during each respective time period.
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(e) Vesting - Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Options granted to a Participant under this Plan shall vest as determined by the Board on the Grant Date of such Options. If the Board does not specify a vesting schedule at the Grant Date, then Options granted to persons other than those conducting Investor Relations Activities shall vest fully on the Grant Date, and in any event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange. Options issued to Persons conducting Investor Relations Activities must vest (and shall not otherwise be exercisable) in stages over a minimum of 12 months such that:
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(i) no more than 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than three months after the Grant Date;
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(ii) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than six months after the Grant Date;
-
(iii) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than nine months after the Grant Date; and
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(iv) the remainder of the Options vest no sooner than 12 months after the Grant Date.
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(f) Change of Control – If the Award Agreement so provides, in the event of a Change of Control, all Options granted to a Participant who ceases to be an Eligible Person shall become fully vested in such Participant and shall become exercisable by the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award Agreement and Section 5.1(l) hereof. If the Participant provides Investor Relations Activities, no acceleration of the vesting of any Options shall be permitted without prior Exchange review and acceptance.
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(g) Death - Other than as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the death of a Participant, any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect; and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant’s estate in accordance with Section 5.1(l) hereof.
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(h) Termination of Participant’s Relationship with the Company
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(i) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for cause, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date.
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(ii) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to Retirement by the Participant, such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date; provided, however , that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or Retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.1(l) hereof and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the Participant ceased to be an Eligible Person, or such longer period as may be provided for in the Award Agreement or as may be determined by the Board provided such period does not exceed 12 months after the Termination Date.
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(iii) Upon termination of a Participant’s relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, the Participant’s eligibility to receive further grants of Awards of Options under this Plan shall cease as of the Termination Date.
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(i) Disability - Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a Disability, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Options; provided, however , that no Options may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant’s relationship is terminated due to Disability such that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date; provided, however , that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the termination of the Participant’s relationship with the Company due to Disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable Award Agreement, will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.1(l) hereof and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the Termination Date, or such longer period as may be provided for in the Award Agreement or as may be determined by the Board.
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(j) Hold Period - In addition to any resale restrictions under applicable legislation or regulation, all Options granted hereunder and all Shares issued on the exercise of such Options will, if applicable under the policies of the Exchange, be subject to a four month Exchange hold period from the date the options are granted, and the stock option agreements and the certificates representing such Shares will bear the following legend:
“Without prior written approval of the Exchange and compliance with all applicable securities legislation, the securities represented by this certificate may not be sold, transferred, hypothecated or
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otherwise traded on or through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange or otherwise in Canada or to or for the benefit of a Canadian resident until [insert date].”
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(k) Notice - Options shall be exercised only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Award Agreements under which they are respectively granted and shall be exercisable only by notice in writing to the Company at its principal place of business.
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(l) Payment of Award - Subject to any vesting or other limitations described in each individual Award Agreement, Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to their lapse or termination, by the Participant, or if Section 5.1(g) applies, by the Participant’s estate within one year of the death of the Participant, into such number of Shares equal to the number of Options credited to the Participant’s Account that become exercisable on the Vesting Date. The exercise price of all Options must be paid in cash. Shares purchased by a Participant on exercise of an Option shall be paid for in full at the time of their purchase (i.e. concurrently with the giving of the requisite notice).
5.2 Restricted Share Units
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(a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Restricted Share Units to Eligible Persons that do not perform Investor Relations Activities. Restricted Share Units granted to a Participant shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant’s Account. The number of Restricted Share Units to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with this Plan. Each Restricted Share Unit shall, contingent upon the lapse of any restrictions, represent one (1) Share. The number of Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to an Award and the Restriction Period in respect of such Restricted Share Units shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
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(b) Restrictions - Restricted Share Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Board, in its sole discretion, may establish in the applicable Award Agreement, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times and on such terms, conditions and satisfaction of objectives as the Board may, in its discretion, determine at the time an Award is granted.
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(c) Vesting - All Restricted Share Units will vest and become payable by the issuance of Shares at the end of the Restriction Period if all applicable restrictions have lapsed, as such restrictions may be specified in the Award Agreement. No Restricted Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
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(d) Change of Control – If the Award Agreement so provides, in the event of a Change of Control and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all restrictions upon any Restricted Share Units shall lapse immediately and all such Restricted Share Units shall become fully vested in the Participant and will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.2(h) hereof.
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(e) Death - Other than as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the death of a Participant, any Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will be immediately and automatically forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death,
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had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant’s estate in accordance with Section 5.2(h) hereof.
(f) Termination of a Participant’s Relationship with the Company
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(i) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for cause, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date.
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(ii) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to Retirement by the Participant, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however , that any Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or Retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.2(h) hereof.
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(iii) Upon termination of a Participant’s relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, the Participant’s eligibility to receive further grants of Awards of Restricted Share Units under this Plan shall cease as of the Termination Date.
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(g) Disability - Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a Disability, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Restricted Share Units; provided, however , that no Restricted Share Units may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant’s relationship is terminated due to Disability such that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however , that any Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s termination due to Disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.2(h) hereof.
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(h) Payment of Award - As soon as practicable after each Vesting Date of an Award of Restricted Share Units, the Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either:
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(i) issue to the Participant, or if Section 5.2(e) applies, to the Participant’s estate, from treasury the number of Shares equal to the number of Restricted Share Units credited to the Participant’s Account that have vested and become payable on the Vesting Date; or
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(ii) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next Trading Day after the Vesting Date of the Restricted Share Units credited to a
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Participant’s Account that have vested and become payable, net of applicable withholdings.
As of the Vesting Date, the Restricted Share Units in respect of which such Shares are issued or cash payment made shall be cancelled and no further payments shall be made to the Participant under this Plan in relation to such Restricted Share Units.
5.3 Performance Share Units
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(a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Performance Share Units to Eligible Persons that do not perform Investor Relations Activities. Performance Share Units granted to a Participant shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant’s Account. The number of Performance Share Units to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, in accordance with this Plan. Each Performance Share Unit shall, contingent upon the attainment of the Performance Criteria within the Performance Cycle, represent one (1) Share. The number of Performance Share Units granted pursuant to an Award, the Performance Criteria which must be satisfied in order for the Performance Share Units to vest and the Performance Cycle in respect of such Performance Share Units shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement. No Performance Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
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(b) Performance Criteria - The Board will select, settle and determine the Performance Criteria (including without limitation the attainment thereof), for purposes of the vesting of the Performance Share Units, in its sole discretion. An Award Agreement may provide the Board with the right, during a Performance Cycle or after it has ended, to revise the Performance Criteria and the Award amounts if unforeseen events (including, without limitation, changes in capitalization, an equity restructuring, an acquisition or a divestiture) occur which have a substantial effect on the financial results and which in the sole judgment of the Board make the application of the Performance Criteria unfair unless a revision is made. Notices will be provided by the Company to applicable regulatory authorities or stock exchanges as may be required with respect to the foregoing.
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(c) Vesting - All Performance Share Units will vest and become payable to the extent that the Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement are satisfied in the Performance Cycle, the determination of which satisfaction shall be made by the Board on the Determination Date. No Performance Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
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(d) Change of Control – If the Award Agreement so provides, in the event of a Change of Control and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Performance Share Units granted to a Participant shall become fully vested in such Participant (without regard to the attainment of any Performance Criteria) and shall become payable to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.3(h) hereof.
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(e) Death - Other than as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and below, upon the death of a Participant, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will immediately and automatically be forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however , the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant’s Performance Share Units that will vest based on the extent to which the
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applicable Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement have been satisfied in that portion of the Performance Cycle that has lapsed. The Performance Share Units that the Board determines to have vested shall become payable in accordance with Section 5.3(h) hereof.
(f) Termination of a Participant’s Relationship with the Company
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(i) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for cause, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date.
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(ii) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to Retirement by the Participant, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant which have not vested will, unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however , the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant’s Performance Share Units that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement have been satisfied in that portion of the Performance Cycle that has lapsed. The Performance Share Units that the Board determines to have vested shall become payable in accordance with Section 5.3(h) hereof.
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(iii) Upon termination of a Participant’s relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, the Participant’s eligibility to receive further grants of Awards of Performance Share Units under this Plan shall cease as of the Termination Date.
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(g) Disability - Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a Disability, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Performance Share Units; provided, however , that no Performance Share Units may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant’s relationship is terminated due to Disability such that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however , that the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant’s Performance Share Units that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement have been satisfied in that portion of the Performance Cycle that has lapsed. The Performance Share Units that the Board determines to have vested shall become payable in accordance with Section 5.3(h) hereof.
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(h) Payment of Award - Payment to Participants in respect of vested Performance Share Units shall be made after the Determination Date for the applicable Award and in any case within ninety-five (95) days after the last day of the Performance Cycle to which such Award relates. The Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either:
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(i) issue to the Participant or if Section 5.3(e) applies, to the Participant’s estate, the number of Shares equal to the number of Performance Share Units credited to the Participant’s Account that have vested on the Determination Date; or
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(ii) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next Trading Day after the Determination Date of the Performance Share Units credited to a Participant’s Account that have vested, net of applicable withholdings.
As of the Vesting Date, the Performance Share Units in respect of which such Shares are issued or cash payment made shall be cancelled and no further payments shall be made to the Participant under this Plan in relation to such Performance Share Units.
5.4 Deferred Share Units
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(a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Deferred Share Units to Directors that do not perform Investor Relations Activities in lieu of Fees or to other Eligible Persons that do not perform Investor Relations Activities as compensation for employment or consulting services. Deferred Share Units granted to a Participant in accordance with Section 5.4 hereof shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant’s Account. The number of Deferred Share Units to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with this Plan. The number of Deferred Share Units shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
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(b) Election - Each Director may elect to receive any or all of his or her Fees in Deferred Share Units under this Plan. Elections by Directors regarding the amount of their Fees that they wish to receive in Deferred Share Units shall be made no later than 90 days after this Plan is adopted by the Board, and thereafter no later than December 31 of any given year with respect to Fees for the following year. Any Director who becomes a Director during a calendar year and wishes to receive an amount of his or her Fees for the remainder of that year in Deferred Share Units must make his or her election within 60 days of becoming a Director.
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(c) Calculation of Deferred Share Units Granted in Lieu of Fees - The number of Deferred Share Units to be credited to a Participant’s Account where the Participant is a Director who has elected to receive Deferred Share Units in lieu of Fees shall be calculated by dividing the amount of Fees selected by a Director in the applicable Election Form by the Market Unit Price on the Grant Date (or such other price as required under Exchange policies) which shall be the 10th business day following each financial quarter end. If, as a result of the foregoing calculation, a Participant that is a Director shall become entitled to a fractional Deferred Share Unit, the Participant shall only be credited with a full number of Deferred Share Units (rounded down) and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to the fractional Deferred Share Unit.
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(d) Vesting - No Deferred Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
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(e) Payment of Award - Each Participant shall be entitled to receive, after the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person for any reason, on a day designated by the Participant and communicated to the Company by the Participant in writing at least 15 days prior to the designated day (or such earlier date after the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person as the Participant and the Company may agree, which date shall be no later than one
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year after the date upon which the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person) and if no such notice is given, then on the first anniversary of the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, at the sole discretion of the Board, either:
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(i) that number of Shares equal to the number of vested Deferred Share Units credited to the Participant’s Account, such Shares to be issued from treasury of the Company (provided that such issuance will not result in the number specified in Section 4.1(b) being exceeded); or
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(ii) a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next Trading Day after the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person of the vested Deferred Share Units credited to a Participant’s Account, net of applicable withholdings.
-
(f) Exception - In the event that the value of a Deferred Share Unit would be determined with reference to a period commencing at a fiscal quarter-end of the Company and ending prior to the public disclosure of interim financial statements for the quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter), the cash payment of the value of the Deferred Share Units will be made to the Participant with reference to the five (5) Trading Days immediately following the public disclosure of the interim financial statements for that quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter).
-
(g) Death - Upon death of a Participant holding Deferred Share Units that have vested, the Participant’s estate shall be entitled to receive, within 120 days after the Participant’s death and at the sole discretion of the Board, a cash payment or Shares that would have otherwise been payable in accordance with Section 5.4(e) hereof to the Participant upon such Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Person.
5.5 General Terms Applicable to Awards
-
(a) Forfeiture Events - The Board will specify in an Award Agreement at the time of the Award that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events shall include, but shall not be limited to, termination of a relationship for cause, violation of material Company policies, fraud, breach of non-competition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company.
-
(b) Awards May be Granted Separately or Together - Awards may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any other Security-Based Compensation Arrangement of the Company. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards, or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other Security-Based Compensation Arrangement of the Company, may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
-
(c) Non-Transferability of Awards - No Award and no right under any such Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable, or transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and only then if permitted by the Policies of the Exchange. No Award and no right under any such Award, may be pledged, alienated, attached, or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment, or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.
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-
(d) Conditions and Restrictions Upon Securities Subject to Awards - The Board may provide that the Shares issued under an Award shall be subject to such further agreements, restrictions, conditions or limitations as the Board in its sole discretion may specify, including without limitation, conditions on vesting or transferability and forfeiture or repurchase provisions or provisions on payment of taxes arising in connection with an Award. Without limiting the foregoing, such restrictions may address the timing and manner of any resales by the Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Shares issued under an Award, including without limitation:
-
(i) restrictions under an insider trading policy or pursuant to applicable law;
-
(ii) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales by Participant and holders of other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements; and
-
(iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers.
-
(e) Blackout Periods – In the event that the date provided for expiration, redemption or settlement of an Award falls within a Blackout Period imposed by the Company pursuant to a trading policy as the result of the bona fide existence of undisclosed Material Information, the expiry date, redemption date or settlement date, as applicable, of the Award shall automatically be extended to the date that is ten (10) business days following the date of expiry of the Blackout Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be no extension of any Award if the Company (or the Participant) is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under applicable law).
-
(f) Share Certificates - All Shares delivered under this Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under this Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of any securities commission, the Exchange, and any applicable securities legislation, regulations, rules, policies or orders, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
-
(g) Conformity to Plan - In the event that an Award is granted which does not conform in all particulars with the provisions of this Plan, or purports to grant an Award on terms different from those set out in this Plan, the Award shall not be in any way void or invalidated, but the Award shall be adjusted to become, in all respects, in conformity with this Plan.
-
(h) Deductions - Whenever cash is to be paid in respect of Deferred Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Performance Share Units, the Company shall have the right to deduct from all cash payments made to a Participant any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. Whenever Shares are to be delivered in respect of Deferred Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Performance Share Units, the Company shall have the right to deduct from any other amounts payable to the Participant any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such delivery of Shares, or if any payment due to the Participant is not sufficient to satisfy the withholding obligation, to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any taxes required by law to be withheld. At the sole discretion of the Board, a Participant may be permitted to satisfy the foregoing requirement by, all in accordance with the Policies of the Exchange, delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or a portion of the Shares and deliver to the Company from the sales proceeds an amount sufficient to pay the required withholding taxes.
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-
(i) Evergreen Plan - Shares that were the subject of any Award made under this Plan that has been settled in cash, or that has been cancelled, terminated, surrendered, forfeited or has expired without being exercised, and pursuant to which no securities have been issued, may continue to be issuable under this Plan.
-
(j) No Performance-Based Awards While on NEX – Notwithstanding anything else in this Plan, the Company may not grant or issue any Awards other than Options if, and for so long as, the Company is listed on the NEX board of the Exchange.
5.6 General Terms Applicable to Performance-Based Awards
-
(a) Performance Evaluation; Adjustment of Goals - At the time that a Performance-Based Award is first issued, the Board, in the Award Agreement or in another written document, shall specify whether performance will be evaluated including or excluding the effect of any of the following events that occur during the Performance Cycle or Restriction Period, as the case may be:
-
(i) judgments entered or settlements reached in litigation;
-
(ii) the write-down of assets;
-
(iii) the impact of any reorganization or restructuring;
-
(iv) the impact of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, regulatory actions or other laws affecting reported results;
-
(v) extraordinary non-recurring items as may be described in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the applicable financial year;
-
(vi) the impact of any mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs or other divestitures; and
-
(vii) foreign exchange gains and losses.
-
(b) Adjustment of Performance-Based Awards - The Board shall have the sole discretion to adjust the determinations of the degree of attainment of the pre-established Performance Criteria or restrictions, as the case may be, as may be set out in the applicable Award Agreement governing the relevant Performance-Based Award. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Board may not make any adjustment or take any other action with respect to any Performance-Based Award that will increase the amount payable under any such Award. The Board shall retain the sole discretion to adjust PerformanceBased Awards downward or to otherwise reduce the amount payable with respect to any Performance-Based Award.
SECTION 6 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
6.1 Amendments and Termination of this Plan
The Board may at any time or from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of shareholders of the Company, amend, suspend, terminate or discontinue this Plan and may amend the terms and conditions of any Awards granted hereunder, subject to:
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-
(a) any required disinterested shareholder approval to (i) reduce the exercise price of an Award issued to an Insider or (ii) to extend the term of an Option granted to an Insider, in either event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange while the Shares are listed on the Exchange;
-
(b) any required approval of any applicable regulatory authority or the Exchange; and
-
(c) any approval of shareholders of the Company as required by the rules of the Exchange or applicable law, provided that shareholder approval shall not be required for the following amendments and the Board may make any changes which may include but are not limited to (except that the Exchange may require approval of the shareholders of the Company for amendments pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(iii) to (vii)):
-
(i) amendments of a “housekeeping nature”;
-
(ii) amendments for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, error or omission in this Plan or to correct or supplement any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with any other provision of this Plan;
-
(iii) amendments which are necessary to comply with applicable law or the requirements of the Exchange;
-
(iv) amendments respecting administration and eligibility for participation under this Plan;
-
(v) amendments to the terms and conditions on which Awards may be or have been granted pursuant to this Plan including amendments to the vesting provisions and terms of any Awards;
-
(vi) with the exception of Options granted to Persons performing Investor Relations Activities, amendments which alter, extend or accelerate the terms of vesting applicable to any Awards; and
-
(vii) changes to the termination provisions of an Award or this Plan which do not entail an extension beyond the original fixed term.
If this Plan is terminated, prior Awards shall remain outstanding and in effect in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions.
6.2 Amendments to Awards
The Board may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate, any Awards theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively. No such amendment or alteration shall be made which would impair the rights of any Participant, without such Participant’s consent, under any Award theretofore granted, provided that no such consent shall be required with respect to any amendment or alteration if the Board determines in its sole discretion that such amendment or alteration either:
-
(a) is required or advisable in order for the Company, this Plan or the Award to satisfy or conform to any law or regulation or to meet the requirements of Policy of the Exchange or any accounting standard; or
-
(b) is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under such Award.
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SECTION 7 GENERAL PROVISIONS
7.1 No Rights to Awards
No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under this Plan, or, having been selected to receive an Award under this Plan, to be selected to receive a future Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons or Participants or beneficiaries of Awards under this Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant. The Company and each Eligible Person qualifying for an Award are and shall be responsible for ensuring and confirming that each recipient of an Award is a bona fide Eligible Person that qualifies to receive the applicable Award.
7.2
Withholding
The Company shall be authorized to withhold any payment due under any Award or under this Plan until the Participant has paid or made arrangements for the payment of the amount of any withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment under such Award or under this Plan.
7.3 No Limit on Other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements
Subject to the limits set forth in Section 4.1 of this Plan, nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Company or a Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in effect other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
7.4 No Right to Employment
The grant of an Award shall neither constitute an employment contract nor be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, or to any other relationship with the Company. Further, the Company may at any time dismiss a Participant, free from any liability, or any claim under this Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in this Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement.
7.5 No Right as Shareholder
Neither the Participant nor any representatives of a Participant’s estate shall have any rights whatsoever as shareholders in respect of any Shares covered by such Participant’s Options, RSUs, PSUs and/or DSUs until the date of issuance of a share certificate to such Participant or representatives of a Participant’s estate for such Shares.
7.6 Governing Law
This Plan and all of the rights and obligations arising hereunder shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
7.7 Severability
If any provision of this Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify this Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without,
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in the determination of the Board, materially altering the intent of this Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award, and the remainder of this Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
7.8
No Trust or Fund Created
Neither this Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company.
7.9 No Fractional Shares
No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award, and the Board shall determine whether cash, or other securities shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares, or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
7.10 Headings
Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.
7.11 No Representation or Warranty
The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the value of any Award granted pursuant to this Plan or as to the future value of any Shares issued pursuant to any Award.
7.12 No Representations or Covenant with Respect to Tax Qualification
Although the Company may, in its discretion, endeavor to (i) qualify an Award for favourable Canadian tax treatment or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment, the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment. The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on holders of Awards under this Plan.
7.13
Conflict with Award Agreement
In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the Policies of the Exchange, this Plan and an Award Agreement, the Policies of the Exchange shall govern for all purposes. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of this Plan and an Award Agreement, the provisions of this Plan shall govern for all purposes.
7.14 Compliance with Laws
The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, as well as the Policies of the Exchange as in effect from time-to-time, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or stock exchanges on which the Company is listed as may be required. The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under this Plan prior to:
- (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and
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- (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable or at a time when any such registration or qualification is not current, has been suspended or otherwise has ceased to be effective.
The inability or impracticability of the Company to obtain or maintain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
SECTION 8 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PLAN
8.1 Effective Date
This Plan shall become effective upon the date (the “ Effective Date ”) of approval by the Board.
SECTION 9 TERM OF THIS PLAN
9.1 Term
This Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 6 hereof.
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EXHIBIT “A”
TO OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN OF TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
FORM OF OPTION AGREEMENT
This Option Agreement is entered into between Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the " Corporation ") and the Participant named below, pursuant to the Corporation's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the " Plan "), a copy of which is attached hereto, and confirms that on:
-
(the " Grant Date "),
-
(the " Participant ")
-
was granted options (" Options ") to purchase common shares of the Corporation (each, a " Share "), in accordance with the terms of the Plan, which Options will bear the following terms:
-
(a) Exercise Price and Expiry. Subject to the vesting conditions specified below, the Options will be exercisable by the Participant at a price of CAD$● per Share (the " Option Price ") at any time prior to expiry on ● (the " Expiration Date ").
-
(b) Vesting; Time of Exercise. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Options shall vest and become exercisable as follows:
Number of Options
Vested On
If the aggregate number of Shares vesting in a tranche set forth above includes a fractional Share, the aggregate number of Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Options shall expire on the Expiration Date set forth above and must be exercised, if at all, on or before the Expiration Date. Options are denominated in Canadian dollars (CAD$).
-
The Options shall be exercisable only by delivery to the Corporation of a duly completed and executed notice in the form attached to this Option Agreement (the " Exercise Notice "), together with (a) payment of the Option Price for each Share covered by the Exercise Notice, and (b) payment of any withholding taxes as required in accordance with the terms of the Exercise Notice. Any such payment to the Corporation shall be made by certified cheque or wire transfer in readily available funds.
-
Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Options specified in an Exercise Notice shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Corporation of such written Exercise Notice, together with the payment of all amounts required to be paid by the Participant to the Corporation pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Option Agreement.
-
The Participant hereby represents and warrants (on the date of this Option Agreement and upon each exercise of Options) that:
-
(a) the Participant has not received any offering memorandum, or any other documents (other than annual financial statements, interim financial statements or any other document the content of which is prescribed by statute or regulation, other than an offering memorandum) describing the business and affairs of the Corporation that has been prepared for delivery to, and review by, a prospective purchaser in order to assist it in making an investment decision in respect of the Shares;
-
(b) the Participant is acquiring the Shares without the requirement for the delivery of a prospectus or offering memorandum, pursuant to an exemption under applicable securities legislation and, as a consequence, is restricted from relying upon the civil remedies otherwise available under applicable securities legislation and may not receive information that would otherwise be required to be provided to it;
-
(c) the Participant has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Corporation and does not desire to utilize a registrant in connection with evaluating such merits and risks;
-
(d) the Participant acknowledges that an investment in the Shares involves a high degree of risk, and represents that it understands the economic risks of such investment and is able to bear the economic risks of this investment;
-
(e) the Participant acknowledges that he or she is responsible for paying any applicable taxes and withholding taxes arising from the exercise of any Options, as provided in the Plan;
-
(f) this Option Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Participant, enforceable against him or her in accordance with its terms; and
-
(g) the execution and delivery of this Option Agreement and the performance of the obligations of the Participant hereunder will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Shares.
The Participant acknowledges that the Corporation is relying upon such representations and warranties in granting the Options and issuing any Shares upon exercise thereof.
-
The Participant: (a) acknowledges and represents that the Participant fully understands and agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Option Agreement and the Plan; (b) agrees and acknowledges that the Participant has received a copy of the Plan and that the terms of the Plan form part of this Option Agreement, and (c) hereby accepts these Options subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof and of the Plan. To the extent of any inconsistency between the terms of this Option Agreement and those of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. The Participant has reviewed this Option Agreement and the Plan, and has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement.
-
This Option Agreement and the terms of the Plan incorporated herein (with the Exercise Notice, if the Option is exercised) constitutes the entire agreement of the Corporation and the Participant (collectively, the " Parties ") with respect to the Options and supersedes in its entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant's interest except by means of a writing signed by the
Parties. This Option Agreement and the terms of the Plan incorporated herein are to be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario. Should any provision of this Option Agreement or the Plan be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent allowed by law and the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.
- In accordance with Section 8.3(5) of the Plan, if the Options and the underlying Shares are not registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act "), or any state securities laws, the Options may not be exercised in the "United States" or by "U.S. Persons" (each as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Any Shares issued to Option holders in the United States that have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act will be deemed "restricted securities" (as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) of the U.S. Securities Act) and bear a restrictive legend to such effect.
All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Page Follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Corporation and the Participant have executed this Option Agreement as of , 20 .
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
Per: Authorized Signatory EXECUTED by ● in the presence of: ) ) ) Signature ) ) ) Print Name ) [NAME OF PARTICIPANT] ) ) Address ) ) ) ) Occupation )
Note to Plan Participants
This Agreement must be signed where indicated and returned to the Corporation within 30 days of receipt. Failure to acknowledge acceptance of this grant will result in the cancellation of your Options.
EXHIBIT "B" TO OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN OF TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
FORM OF OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE
TO: TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
This Exercise Notice is made in reference to the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the " Plan ") of Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the " Corporation ").
The undersigned (the " Participant ") holds options (" Options ") under the Plan to purchase ● common shares of the Corporation (each, a " Share ") at a price per Share of CAD$ ● (the " Option Price ") pursuant to the terms and conditions set out in that certain option agreement between the Participant and the Corporation dated ● (the " Option Agreement "). The Participant confirms the representations and warranties contained in the Option Agreement.
The Participant hereby:
Irrevocably gives notice of the exercise of Options held by the Participant pursuant to the Option Agreement at the Option Price, for an aggregate exercise price of CAD$ (the “Aggregate Option Price”), on the terms specified in the Option Agreement and encloses herewith a certified cheque payable to the Corporation or evidence of wire transfer to the Corporation in full satisfaction of the Aggregate Option Price.
The Participant acknowledges and agrees that: (i) in addition to the Aggregate Option Price, the Corporation may require the Participant to also provide the Corporation with a certified cheque or evidence of wire transfer equal to the amount of any applicable withholding taxes associated with the exercise of such Options, before the Corporation will issue any Shares to the Participant in settlement of the Options; and (ii) the Corporation shall have the sole discretion to determine the amount of any applicable withholding taxes associated with the exercise of such Options, and shall inform the Participant of such amount as soon as reasonably practicable upon receipt of this completed Exercise Notice.
Registration:
The Shares issued pursuant to this Exercise Notice are to be registered in the name of the undersigned and are to be delivered, as directed below:
Name:
Address:
Date
Name of Participant
Signature of Participant
EXHIBIT "C" TO OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN OF TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
FORM OF SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT
This Share Unit Agreement is entered into between Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the " Corporation ") and the Participant named below, pursuant to the Corporation's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the " Plan "), a copy of which is attached hereto, and confirms that on:
-
(the " Grant Date "),
(the " Participant ")
- was granted Share Units (" Share Units "), in accordance with
the terms of the Plan, which Share Units will vest as follows:
Number of Units Time Vesting Conditions Performance Vesting Conditions
all on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Plan.
-
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the performance period for any performance-based Share Units granted hereunder commences on the Grant Date and ends at the close of business on (the " Performance Period "), while the restriction period for any time-based Share Units granted hereunder commences on the Grant Date and ends at the close of business on ● (the " Restriction Period "). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Share Units will be redeemed and settled fifteen days after the applicable Vesting Date, all in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
-
By signing this Share Unit Agreement, the Participant:
-
(a) acknowledges that he or she has read and understands the Plan and agrees with the terms and conditions thereof, which terms and conditions shall be deemed to be incorporated into and form part of this Share Unit Agreement (subject to any specific variations contained in this Share Unit Agreement);
-
(b) acknowledges that, subject to the vesting and other conditions and provisions in this Share Unit Agreement, each Share Unit awarded to the Participant shall entitle the Participant to receive on settlement an aggregate cash payment equal to the Market Value of a Share or, at the election of the Corporation and in its sole discretion, one Share of the Corporation. For greater certainty, no Participant shall have any right to demand to be paid in, or receive, Shares in respect of any Share Unit, and, notwithstanding any discretion exercised by the Corporation to settle any Share Unit, or portion thereof, in the form of Shares, the Corporation reserves the right to change such form of payment at any time until payment is actually made;
-
(c) acknowledges that he or she is responsible for paying any applicable taxes and withholding
taxes arising from the vesting and redemption of any Share Unit, as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion;
-
(d) agrees that a Share Unit does not carry any voting rights;
-
(e) acknowledges that the value of the Share Units granted herein is denominated in Canadian dollars (CAD$), and such value is not guaranteed; and
-
(f) recognizes that, at the sole discretion of the Corporation, the Plan can be administered by a designee of the Corporation by virtue of Section 2.2 of the Plan and any communication from or to the designee shall be deemed to be from or to the Corporation.
-
The Participant: (a) acknowledges and represents that the Participant fully understands and agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Share Unit Agreement and the Plan; (b) agrees and acknowledges that the Participant has received a copy of the Plan and that the terms of the Plan form part of this Share Unit Agreement, and (c) hereby accepts these Share Units subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof and of the Plan. To the extent of any inconsistency between the terms of this Share Unit Agreement and those of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. The Participant has reviewed this Share Unit Agreement and the Plan, and has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Share Unit Agreement.
-
This Share Unit Agreement and the terms of the Plan incorporated herein constitutes the entire agreement of the Corporation and the Participant (collectively, the " Parties ") with respect to the Share Units and supersedes in its entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Parties. This Share Unit Agreement and the terms of the Plan incorporated herein are to be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario. Should any provision of this Share Unit Agreement or the Plan be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent allowed by law and the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.
-
In accordance with Section 8.3(5) of the Plan, unless the Shares that may be issued upon the settlement of vested Share Units granted pursuant to this Share Unit Agreement are registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act "), and any applicable state securities laws, such Shares may not be issued in the "United States" or to "U.S. Persons" (each as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Any Shares issued to a Participant in the United States that have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act will be deemed "restricted securities" (as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) of the U.S. Securities Act) and bear a restrictive legend to such effect.
All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Page Follows.]
EXHIBIT “D” TO OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN OF TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. FORM OF DSU AGREEMENT
This DSU Agreement is entered into between Turnium Technology Group Inc. (the “Corporation”) and the Participant named below, pursuant to the Corporation’s Omnibus Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which is attached hereto, and confirmed that on:
-
(the “Grant Date”);
(the “Participant”);
-
Was granted deferred share units (“DSUs”), in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
-
The DSUs subject to this DSU Agreement (are fully vested) (will become vested as follows:
)
-
Subject to the terms of the Plan, the settlement of the DSUs, in cash (or, at the election of the Corporation, in Shares or a combination of cash and Shares), shall be payable to you, net of any applicable withholding taxes in accordance with the Plan, not later than December 15[th] of the first calendar year commencing immediately after the Termination Date, provided that if you are a U.S. taxpayer, the settlement will be as soon as administratively feasible following your Separation from Service. If the Participant is both a U.S. Taxpayer and a Canadian Participant, the settlement of the DSUs will be subject to the provisions of Section 5.4(1) of the Plan.
-
By signing this agreement, the Participant:
-
a. acknowledges that he or she has read and understands the Plan and agrees with the terms and conditions thereof, which terms and conditions shall be deemed to be incorporated into and form part of this DSU Agreement (subject to any specific variations contained in this DSU Agreement);
-
b. acknowledges that he or she is responsible for paying any applicable taxes and withholding taxes arising from the vesting and redemption of any DSU, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion;
-
c. agrees that a DSU does not carry any voting rights;
-
d. acknowledges that the value of the DSUs granted herein is denominated in Canadian dollars (CAD$), and such value is not guaranteed; and
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e. recognizes that, at the sole discretion of the Company, the Plan can be administered by a designee of the Company by virtue of Section 2.2 of the Plan and any communication from or to the designee shall be deemed to be from or to the Company.
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The Participant: (a) acknowledges and represents that the Participant fully understands and agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of this DSU Agreement and the Plan; (b) agrees
and acknowledges that the Participant has received a copy of the Plan and that the terms of the Plan form part of this DSU Agreement, and (c) hereby accepts these DSUs subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof and of the Plan. To the extent of any inconsistency between the terms of this DSU Agreement and those of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. The Participant has reviewed this DSU Agreement and the Plan, and has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this DSU Agreement.
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This DSU Agreement and the terms of the Plan incorporated herein constitutes the entire agreement of the Company and the Participant (collectively, the " Parties ") with respect to the DSUs and supersedes in its entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Parties. This DSU Agreement and the terms of the Plan incorporated herein are to be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta. Should any provision of this DSU Agreement or the Plan be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent allowed by law and the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.
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In accordance with Section 8.3(5) of the Plan, unless the Shares that may be issued upon the settlement of the DSUs are registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act "), and any applicable state securities laws, such Shares may not be issued in the "United States" or to "U.S. Persons" (each as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Any Shares issued to a Participant in the United States that have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act will be deemed "restricted securities" (as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) of the U.S. Securities Act) and bear a restrictive legend to such effect.
All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Corporation and the Participant have executed this DSU Agreement as of the ______ day of , 20 .
TURNIUM TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
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Per:
Authorized Signatory
EXECUTED by ● in the presence of: )
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Print Name ) [NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
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Note to Plan Participants
This Agreement must be signed where indicated and returned to the Corporation within 30 days of receipt. Failure to acknowledge acceptance of this grant will result in the cancellation of your DSUs.