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Usha Resources Ltd. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2021
Sep 2, 2021
47617_rns_2021-09-01_b98ccbdb-3c2b-4bc9-9fec-d2f595aeeb95.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
(Containing information as at August 23, 2021 unless indicated otherwise)
This Management Information Circular (the “ Circular ”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the management of Usha Resources Ltd . (the “ Company ”) for use at the annual general meeting (the “ Meeting ”) of its shareholders to be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of the Meeting.
In this Circular, references to “the Company”, “we” and “our” refer to Usha Resources Ltd . “common shares” means common shares without par value in the capital of the Company. “Beneficial Shareholders” means shareholders who do not hold common shares in their own name and “intermediaries” refers to brokers, investment firms, clearing houses and similar entities that own securities on behalf of Beneficial Shareholders.
In order to comply with measures imposed by the federal and provincial governments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mitigate risks to the health and safety of the Company’s shareholders and the community, unless we advise otherwise by way of a news release, the Meeting will be held in virtual only format , which will be conducted via telephone conference. Registered shareholders and validly appointed proxyholders may attend the Meeting by calling 1-888-299-2873 (toll free in Canada) and 1-888-585-9008 (toll-free in the United States) ( conference room #: 448-444-850). Dial in for any other countries, please contact the Company at 604.737.2303 prior to the Meeting date for dial in particulars. Registered Shareholders who attend the Meeting will have an opportunity to participate at the Meeting, regardless of their geographic location.
GENERAL PROXY INFORMATION
Solicitation of Proxies
The solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, but proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company. The Company will bear all costs of this solicitation. We have arranged for intermediaries to forward the meeting materials to beneficial owners of common shares held as of record by those intermediaries and we may reimburse the intermediaries for their reasonable fees and disbursements in that regard.
In order to comply with measures imposed by the federal and provincial governments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mitigate risks to the health and safety of the Company’s shareholders and the community, unless we advise otherwise by way of a news release, the Meeting will be held in virtual only format, which will be conducted via telephone conference. Registered Shareholders who attend the Meeting will have an opportunity to participate at the Meeting, regardless of their geographic location.
Appointment of Proxyholders
The individuals named in the accompanying form of proxy (the “ Proxy ”) are officers and directors of the Company. If you are a shareholder entitled to vote at the Meeting, you have the right to appoint a person or company other than either of the persons designated in the Proxy, who need not be a shareholder, to attend and act for you on your behalf at the Meeting. You may do so either by inserting the name of that other person in the blank space provided in the Proxy or by completing and delivering another suitable form of proxy.
The only methods by which you may appoint a person as proxy are submitting a Proxy by mail, hand delivery or fax.
Voting by Proxyholder
The persons named in the Proxy will vote or withhold from voting the common shares represented thereby in accordance with your instructions on any ballot that may be called for. If you specify a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, your common shares will be voted accordingly. The Proxy confers discretionary authority on persons named therein with respect to:
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(a) each matter or group of matters identified therein for which a choice is not specified, other than the appointment of an auditor and the election of directors,
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(b) any amendment to or variation of any matter identified therein, and
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(c) any other matter that properly comes before the Meeting.
In respect of a matter for which a choice is not specified in the Proxy, or where both choices have been specified, in favour or all matters described herein, the persons named in the Proxy will vote the common shares represented by the Proxy for the approval of such matter.
Notice and Access
The Company is not sending this Circular to registered or beneficial shareholders using “notice-and-access” as defined under National Instrument 54-101 (“ NI 54-101 ”).
Registered Shareholders
If you are a Registered Shareholder and wish to have your common shares voted at the Meeting, you will be required to submit your vote by proxy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and issues related to the verification of shareholder identity via teleconference, in person voting will not be permitted at the Meeting . Registered Shareholders electing to submit a proxy may do so by completing, dating and signing the Proxy and returning it to the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc. (“ Computershare ”), in accordance with the instructions on the Proxy. Alternatively, Registered Shareholders may vote their common shares via the internet or by telephone as per the instructions provided on the Proxy.
In all cases you should ensure that the Proxy is received at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the Meeting or the adjournment thereof at which the Proxy is to be used.
Registered Shareholders electing to submit a Proxy may do so by:
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(a) Internet . Vote online at www.investorvote.com using the Proxy control number found in the enclosed Proxy.
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(b) Telephone . Using a touch-tone phone to transmit voting choices to the toll-free number given in the Proxy. Registered Shareholders who choose this option must follow the instructions of the voice response system and refer to the enclosed Proxy for the toll-free number, the holder’s account number and the Proxy Control Number.
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(c) Mail . Completing, dating and signing the enclosed Proxy and returning it to Computershare, by fax within North America at 1-866-249-7775, or by mail or hand delivery at 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, Canada.
In all cases ensuring that the Proxy is received at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the Meeting or the adjournment thereof at which the Proxy is to be used.
Should you wish to contact Computershare, please refer to the following:
General Shareholder Inquiries:
By phone: 1-800-564-6253 By fax: 1-866-249-7775 By email: [email protected] By regular mail: Computershare Investor Services Inc. 100 University Avenue, 8[th] Floor Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1
Beneficial Shareholders
The following information is of significant importance to shareholders who do not hold common shares in their own name. 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).
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These securityholder materials are being sent to both registered and non-registered owners of the securities of the Company. If you are a non-registered owner, and the Company or its agent has sent these materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of securities, have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the intermediary holding on your behalf. By choosing to send these materials to you directly, the Company (and not the intermediary holding on your behalf) has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering these materials to you, and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions. Please return your voting instructions as specified in your request for voting instructions.
If common shares are listed in an account statement provided to a shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those common shares will not be registered in the shareholder’s name on the records of the Company. Such common shares will more likely be registered under the names of the shareholder’s broker or an agent of that broker. In the United States, the vast majority of such common shares are registered 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), and in Canada, under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms).
There are two kinds of beneficial owners - those who object to their name being made known to the issuers of securities which they own (called “ OBOs ” for “ Objecting Beneficial Owners ”) and those who do not object to the issuers of the securities they own knowing who they are (called “ NOBOs ” for “ Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners ”).
Pursuant to National Instrument 54-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Company is sending proxyrelated materials directly to NOBOs, which materials will include a scannable Voting Instruction Form (a “ VIF ”). These VIFs are to be completed and returned to Computershare in the envelope provided or by facsimile. In addition, Computershare provides both telephone voting and Internet voting as described on the VIF itself which contain complete instructions. Computershare will tabulate the results of the VIFs received from NOBOs and will provide appropriate instructions at the Meeting with respect to the common shares represented by the VIFs they receive.
Management of the Company does not intend to pay for intermediaries to forward to OBOs under National Instrument 54-101 the proxy-related materials and Form 54-101F7 Request for Voting Instructions Made by Intermediary , and, in the case of an OBO, the OBO will not receive the materials unless the OBO’s intermediary assumes the cost of delivery.
Every intermediary that mails proxy-related materials to Beneficial Shareholders has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients. Beneficial Shareholders should follow the instructions of their intermediary carefully to ensure that their common shares are voted at the Meeting.
Most brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“ Broadridge ”) in the United States and in Canada. Broadridge mails a voting instruction form (the “ Broadridge VIF ”) which 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 on your behalf. The Broadridge VIF will appoint the same persons as the Company’s Proxy to represent you at the Meeting. You have the right to appoint a person (who need not be a shareholder of the Company), other than the persons designated in the Broadridge VIF, to represent you at the Meeting. To exercise this right, you should insert the name of the desired representative in the blank space provided in the Broadridge VIF. The completed Broadridge 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 the voting of common shares to be represented at the Meeting. If you receive a Broadridge VIF, you cannot use it to vote common shares directly at the Meeting – the Broadridge VIF must be completed and returned to Broadridge, in accordance with its instructions, well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the common shares voted.
Although as a Beneficial Shareholder you may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting common shares registered in the name of your broker, you, or a person designated by you, may attend at the Meeting as proxyholder for your broker and vote your common shares in that capacity. If you wish to attend at the Meeting and indirectly vote your common shares as proxyholder for your broker, or have a person designated by you do so, you should enter your own name, or the name of the person you wish to designate, in the blank space on the voting instruction form provided to you and return the same to your broker in accordance with the instructions provided by such broker, well in advance of the Meeting.
Alternatively, you can request in writing that your broker send you a legal Proxy which would enable you, or a person designated by you, to attend at the Meeting and vote your common shares.
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Voting by Proxy Generally
Proxyholders other than the individuals named in the accompanying Proxy will be required to identify themselves by notice in writing to the Company by 4:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on Monday, September 27, 2021 so that the Company can confirm their identity prior to the Meeting and facilitate their voting of the Proxies that they hold at the Meeting. Notice may be provided by mail to the Company at Suite 400 – 1681 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 4M6. Proxies will not be accepted at the Meeting. All Proxies must be submitted to Computershare by 11:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on Monday, September 27, 2021 (the “Proxy Deadline”).
As there will be no in person attendance or voting at the Meeting, votes received by the Proxy Deadline for each matter set out in the notice of meeting will be tabulated in advance of the Meeting by Computershare and compiled in a proxy report respecting Proxies held by the individuals named in the accompanying Proxy or voting instruction form and an appointee summary respecting proxies held by non-management proxyholders (collectively, the “ Proxy Report ”). The determination as to whether a particular matter has been approved, a particular individual has been appointed or a particular resolution has been passed will be made solely on the basis of the voting results set out in the Proxy Report. Since no in person voting will be permitted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and voting results respecting matters set out in the notice of meeting will be determined solely on the basis of the voting results set out in the Proxy Report, no ballots will be permitted at the Meeting. All results will be determined by reference to the Proxy Report. Management will advise at the Meeting the voting results for each matter set out in the Proxy Report and shareholders will be entitled to request a copy of the Proxy Report from management after the Meeting.
Revocation of Proxies
In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a Registered Shareholder who has given a Proxy may revoke it by:
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(a) executing a Proxy bearing a later date or by executing a valid notice of revocation, either of the foregoing to be executed by the Registered Shareholder or the Registered Shareholder’s authorized attorney in writing, or, if the shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal by an officer or attorney duly authorized, and by delivering the Proxy bearing a later date to Computershare or at the address of the head office of the Company at Suite 400 – 1681 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 4M6, at any time up to and including the last business day that precedes the day of the Meeting or, if the Meeting is adjourned, the last business day that precedes any reconvening thereof, or to the chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any reconvening thereof, or in any other manner provided by law; or
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(b) personally attending the Meeting and voting the Registered Shareholder’s common shares.
A revocation of a Proxy will not affect a matter on which a vote is taken before the revocation.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No director or executive officer of the Company, nor any person who has held such a position since the beginning of the last completed financial year end of the Company, nor any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, nor any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons, has any substantial or material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the Meeting other than the election of directors, the appointment of the auditor and as set out herein.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The board of directors (the “ Board ”) of the Company has fixed August 23, 2021 as the record date (the “ Record Date ”) for determination of persons entitled to receive notice of the Meeting. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date who either attend the Meeting personally or complete, sign and deliver a form of Proxy in the manner and subject to the provisions described above will be entitled to vote or to have their common shares voted at the Meeting.
As at the Record Date, there were 15,089,270 common shares issued and outstanding, each carrying the right to one vote.
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On a show of hands, every individual who is present and is entitled to vote as a shareholder or as a representative of one or more corporate shareholders will have one vote, and on a poll every shareholder present in person or represented by a Proxy and every person who is a representative of one or more corporate shareholders, will have one vote for each Common Share registered in that shareholder’s name on the list of shareholders as at the Record Date, which is available for inspection during normal business hours at Computershare and will be available at the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, as at the Record Date, no person or corporation beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, voting securities of the Company carrying 10% or more of the voting rights attached to any class of outstanding voting securities of the Company, except as follows:
| Name of Shareholder | Number of Common Shares Held |
Percentage of Common Shares Outstanding(1) |
|---|---|---|
| Navin Varshney | 1,540,800 | 10.21% |
(1) Based on 15,089,270 common shares issued and outstanding as at the Record Date.
SETTING NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The persons named in the enclosed Proxy intend to vote in favour of fixing the number of directors at five (5). The Board proposes that the number of directors be fixed at five (5). Shareholders will therefore be asked to approve an ordinary resolution that the number of directors elected be fixed at five (5).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The term of office of each of the current directors expires at the conclusion of the Meeting. Unless the director’s office is earlier vacated in accordance with the provisions of the BC Business Corporations Act (the “ BCBCA ”) , each director elected will hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, or if no director is then elected, until a successor is elected.
The following table sets out the names of management’s nominees for election as a director (a “ proposed director ”), the province and country in which he is ordinarily resident, 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 of the Company beneficially owned by each, directly or indirectly, or over which each exercised control or direction, as at the Record Date.
| Name of Nominee; Current Position with the Company and Province or State and Country of Residence |
Occupation, Business or Employment(1) |
Director Since | Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepak Varshney, P. Geo. British Columbia, Canada CEO and Director |
Professional Geologist. | February 26, 2018 | 1,213,400 |
| Navin Varshney, P. Eng.(2) British Columbia, Canada Director |
President of N.K.V. Engineering & Consulting Ltd. |
February 26, 2018 | 1,540,800 |
| David Ellett(2) Arizona, USA Director |
Mortgage loan originator. | February 26, 2018 | 200,000 |
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| Name of Nominee; Current Position with the Company and Province or State and Country of Residence |
Occupation, Business or Employment(1) |
Director Since | Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leif Smither British Columbia, Canada Director |
Former President and director of Jaxon Minerals Inc. Former director of Earny Resources Ltd. (now Orchid Ventures Inc.) |
August 17, 2018 | 100,000 |
| Adrian Smith(2) British Columbia, Canada Director |
CEO of ArcPacific Resources Corp. and President and Director of M3 Metals Corp. |
August 25, 2021 | Nil |
(1) The information as to principal occupation, business or employment and common shares beneficially owned or controlled is not within the knowledge of the management of the Company and has been furnished by the respective nominees.
(2) Denotes member of Audit Committee.
None of the proposed nominees for election as a director of the Company are proposed for election pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between the nominee and any other person, except the directors and senior officers of the Company acting solely in such capacity.
Bankruptcies, Orders and Management Cease Trade Orders
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, as at the date of this Circular, and within the last 10 years before the date of this Circular, no proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company (or any of their personal holding companies) was a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) acted in that capacity for a company that was:
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(a) subject to a cease trade or similar order or an order denying the relevant company access to any exemptions under securities legislation, for more than 30 consecutive days;
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(b) subject to an event that resulted, after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director or executive officer, in the company being the subject of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under the securities legislation, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days;
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(c) within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or has 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;
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(d) 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
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(e) subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or a regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, of Suite 1270, 609 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7Y 1G6, will be nominated at the Meeting for re-appointment as auditor of the Company.
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AUDIT COMMITTEE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH AUDITOR
National Instrument 52-110 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“ NI 52-110 ”) requires the Company, as a venture issuer, to disclose annually in its Circular certain information concerning the constitution of its Audit Committee and its relationship with its independent auditor, as set forth in the following:
The Audit Committee’s Charter
The Audit Committee has a charter. A copy of the Audit Committee charter is attached hereto as Schedule “A”.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee are David Ellett (Chair), Navin Varshney and Adrian Smith. Mr. Ellett and Mr. Smith are independent members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Varshney, was an executive officer of the Company, resigning from his position as CEO, CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company on December 6, 2019, and is not considered to be an independent member of the Audit Committee, pursuant to section 1.4(2) and (3) of NI 52-110.
All members of the Audit Committee are considered to be financially literate. The Company will reconstitute the Audit Committee at such time as an additional independent director is appointed to satisfy the independent director requirement of NI 52-110.
Relevant Education and Experience
Navin Varshney, P. Eng.
Navin Varshney is a co-founder and director of the Company who has had a four-decade career in analyzing and speculating in the metals, mining and technology sectors. Since 2008, he has been instrumental in the creation of several Initial Public Offerings / Capital Pool Companies, successfully closing deals for all of them. He has served on many public company boards, holding various positions from President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial officer, and director. In his capacity as a professional engineer, Mr. Varshney has also led N.K.V. Engineering & Consulting Ltd., a successful boutique structural and engineering consulting firm that has provided services throughout British Columbia for the past 29 years.
David Ellett
David “Dave” Ellett is a former defenseman in the National Hockey League who enjoyed a successful 16-year career primarily playing for the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs. During his NHL career, he co-founded ProIce Management, a wealth management company geared towards professional athletes. After his retirement from the NHL, he continued with ProIce and other business ventures which included owning and managing an automotive dealership, a CHL franchise and working in the mining industry as a director of a number of junior mining companies with a focus on logistics, fundraising, and project acquisition.
Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith is presently CEO of ArcPacific Resources Corp. and President and Director at M3 Metals Corp. Mr. Smith is a professional geologist with over a decade of experience in the capital markets and mineral exploration and development sector. He has successfully executed multiple exploration programs and corporate strategies, including the acquisition, development and optioning of the Mohave Gold project in Arizona, USA during his time as CEO of M3 Metals.
Each member of the Audit Committee has:
- 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;
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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 be reasonably expected to be raised by the issuer’s financial statements, or experience actively supervising individuals engaged in such activities; and
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an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.
Audit Committee Oversight
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year has the Audit Committee made any recommendations to the Board to nominate or compensate its auditor which were not adopted by the Board.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year has the Company relied on the exemption in Section 2.4 of NI 52-110 De Minimis Non-Audit Services or an exemption from NI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of NI 52-110. Part 8 permits a company to apply to a securities regulatory authority for an exemption from the requirements of NI 52-110, in whole or in part.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
All services to be performed by the independent auditor of the Company must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provisions of services other than audit services is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence and has adopted a policy governing the provision of these services. This policy requires that pre-approval by the Audit Committee of all audit and non-audit services provide by any external auditor, other than any de minimus non-audit services allowed by applicable law or regulation.
External Auditor Service Fees
The Audit Committee has reviewed the nature and amount of the non-audited services provided by Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, for the years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 to the Company to ensure auditor independence. Fees billed for audit and non-audit services in the last two fiscal years for audit fees are outlined in the following table:
| Nature of Services | Fees Paid to Auditor in Year Ended March 31, 2021 |
Fees Paid to Auditor in Year Ended March 31, 2021 |
Fees Paid to Auditor in Year Ended March 31, 2020 |
Fees Paid to Auditor in Year Ended March 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Fees(1) | $18,500 | $8,000 | ||
| Audit-Related Fees(2) | Nil | Nil | ||
| Tax Fees(3) | Nil | Nil | ||
| All Other Fees(4) | Nil | Nil | ||
| Total: | $18,500 | $8,000 |
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(1) “Audit Fees” include fees necessary to perform the annual audit and quarterly reviews of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and 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.
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(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.
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(3) “Tax Fees” include fees for all tax services other than those included in “Audit Fees” and “Audit-Related Fees”. This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice
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related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities.
(4) “All Other Fees” include all other non-audit services.
Exemption
The Company is relying upon the exemption in section 6.1 of NI 52-110 in respect of the composition of its Audit Committee and in respect of its reporting obligations under NI 52-110 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. This exemption exempts a “venture issuer” from the requirements of Part 3 (Composition of the Audit Committee ) and Part 5 (Reporting Obligations) of that instrument, as would otherwise be required by NI 52-110.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
General
Corporate governance refers to the policies and structure of the Board of a company whose members are elected by and are accountable to the shareholders of the company. Corporate governance encourages establishing a reasonable degree of independence of the Board from executive management and the adoption of policies to ensure the Board recognizes the principles of good management. The Board is committed to sound corporate governance practices, as such practices are both in the interests of shareholders and help to contribute to effective and efficient decision-making.
Effective June 30, 2005, National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (“ NI 58-101 ”) and National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines (“ NP 58-201 ”) were adopted in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. NI 58-101 requires issuers to disclose the corporate governance practices that they have adopted. NP 58-201 provides guidance on corporate governance practices. This section sets out the Company’s approach to corporate governance and addresses the Company’s compliance with NI 58-101.
Board of Directors
Directors are considered to be independent if they have no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A “material relationship” is a relationship which could, in the view of the Company’s Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a director’s independent judgment.
The Board facilitates its independent supervision over management by ensuring certain members of the Board are independent.
The current independent members of the Board are David Ellett, Leif Smither and Adrian Smith. The non-independent members of the Board are Deepak Varshney, the CEO and Corporate Secretary of the Company and Navin Varshney, the former CEO, CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company.
Directorships
Deepak Varshney is a director of Xander Resources Inc.
Leif Smither is a director of Golcap Resources Corp.
Adrian Smith is a director of ArcPacific Resources Inc., Flow Metals Corp., Go Metals Corp. and M3 Metals Corp.
Orientation and Continuing Education
When new directors are appointed, they receive orientation, commensurate with their previous experience, on the Company’s business and industry and on the responsibilities of directors.
Board meetings may also include presentations by the Company’s management and employees to give the directors additional insight into the Company’s business.
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Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’s governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual directors’ participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
Nomination of Directors
The Board considers its size each year when it considers the number of directors to recommend to the shareholders for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, taking into account the number required to carry out the Board’s duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of views and experience.
The Board does not have a nominating committee, and these functions are currently performed by the Board as a whole. However, if there is a change in the number of directors required by the Company, this policy will be reviewed.
Compensation
The Board as a whole determines compensation for the directors and the CEO.
Other Board Committees
At present, the only Board committee is the Audit Committee.
Assessments
The Board monitors the adequacy of information given to directors, communication between the Board and management and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and the Board committee.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation
In this section “Named Executive Officer” (“ NEO ”) means the CEO, the CFO and each of the three most highly compensated executive officers, other than the CEO and the CFO, who were serving as executive officers at the end of the most recently completed fiscal year and whose total compensation exceeds $150,000, as well as any additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided except that the individual was not serving as an officer of the Company at the end of the most recently completed financial year end.
Deepak Varshney, the CEO and Corporate Secretary, Khalid Naeem, the CFO of the Company and Navin Varshney, the former CEO, CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company are currently each an NEO of the Company for the purposes of the following disclosure.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The Board has not yet appointed a Compensation Committee. The Board assumes responsibility for reviewing and monitoring the long-range compensation strategy for the Company’s senior management, with a view to fulfilling its responsibilities concerning executive and director compensation, reviewing director compensation, overseeing the Company’s base compensation structure and equity-based compensation programs, recommending compensation of the Company’s officers and employees, and evaluating the performance of officers generally, all in light of the Company’s annual goals and objectives.
The Company intends to formalize its compensation policies and practices and will take into consideration the implications of any risks associated with the Company’s compensation program.
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Philosophy and Objectives
The compensation program for the Company’s senior management is designed to ensure that the level and form of compensation achieves certain objectives, including:
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(a) attracting and retaining talented, qualified and effective executives; and
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(b) motivating the short and long-term performance of these executives.
Equity Participation
The Company believes that encouraging its executives and employees to become shareholders is the best way of aligning their interests with those of its shareholders. Equity participation is accomplished through the Company’s stock option plan. Stock options are granted to executives and employees taking into account a number of factors, including the amount and term of options previously granted and competitive factors. The amounts and terms of options granted are determined by the Board.
Given the evolving nature of the Company’s business, the Board will continue to review the overall compensation plan for senior management so as to continue to address the objectives identified above.
Option-Based Awards
At the annual general meeting of the Company held on November 12, 2020, the shareholders of the Company reapproved the Company’s 10% rolling stock option plan (the “ Plan ”) as previously approved by the Board on April 18, 2018.
The Plan provides incentive to qualified parties to increase their proprietary interest in the Company and thereby encourage their continuing association with the Company. Management proposes stock option grants to the Board based on such criteria as performance, previous grants, and hiring incentives. All stock option grants require approval of the Board.
The Plan is administered by the Board and provides that options will be issued to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
See Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon – Re-approval of 10% Rolling Stock Option Plan for further information on the Company’s Plan.
Summary Compensation Table
| Name and principal position |
Yea r (1) |
Salary ($) |
Share- based awards ($) |
Option- based awards ($) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation |
Pension value ($) |
All other compensa tion ($) |
Total compensa- tion ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual incentive plans ($) |
Long- term incentive plans ($) |
||||||||
| Deepak Varshney(2) CEO & Corporate Secretary |
2021 2020 2019 |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
| Khalid Naeem(3) CFO |
2021 2020 2019 |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
| Navin Varshney(4) Former CEO, CFO & Corporate Secretary |
2021 2020 2019 |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
(1) Financial year ended March 31.
(2) Deepak Varshney has served as CEO and Corporate Secretary of the Company since December 6, 2019.
(3) Khalid Naeem has served as CFO of the Company since December 6, 2019.
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- (4) Navin Varshney served as CEO, CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company from February 26, 2018 to December 6, 2019.
Outstanding Option-Based Awards
Pursuant to the Plan, the Company may grant up to 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. As at the Record Date, there were no stock options granted and outstanding under the Plan.
The following table sets out all option-based awards outstanding as at March 31, 2021 for each NEO. There were no share-based awards granted to any of the NEOs:
| Name | Number of Common Shares Under Option |
Exercise Price Per Common Share |
Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepak Varshney | 147,500 127,700 |
$0.10 $0.20 |
October 12, 2023 September 17, 2025 |
| Khalid Naeem | Nil | N/A | N/A |
| Navin Varshney | 147,500 125,000 |
$0.10 $0.20 |
October 12, 2023 September 17, 2025 |
| Total: | 547,700 |
Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Year
The following table sets out the value vested during the financial year ended March 31, 2021 for options awarded under the Plan for the NEO, as well as the value earned under non-equity incentive plans for the same period
| Name | Option-based awards- Value vested during the year ($) |
Share-based awards - Value vested during the year ($) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation Value earned during the year ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepak Varshney | 36,766 | N/A | N/A |
| Khalid Naeem | Nil | N/A | N/A |
| Navin Varshney | 36,550 | N/A | N/A |
| Total: | 73,316 |
(1) Based on the closing market price of the Company’s common shares on March 31, 2021, being $0.28.
Termination and Change of Control Benefits
There are no compensatory plans or arrangements with respect to any NEO resulting from the resignation, retirement or any other termination of employment of the officer’s employment or from a change of an NEO’s responsibilities following a change in control.
Director Compensation
There are no arrangements under which directors were compensated by the Company and its subsidiaries during the most recently completed financial year for their services in their capacity as directors or consultants.
Company compensates its directors through option grants. NEOs do not receive additional compensation for serving as directors.
Outstanding Option-based Awards
The following table sets forth for each director, other than those who are also NEOs of the Company, all awards outstanding at the end of the most recently completed financial year ended March 31, 2021, including awards granted before the most recently completed financial year.
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| Name | Number of Common Shares Under Option |
Exercise Price Per Common Share |
Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Ellett | 75,000 100,000 |
$0.10 $0.20 |
October 12, 2023 September 17, 2025 |
| Leif Smither | 50,000 50,000 |
$0.10 $0.20 |
October 12, 2023 September 17, 2025 |
| Brian Moore | 50,000 | $0.20 | September 17, 2025 |
| Total: | 325,000 |
Aggregated Options – Value Vested or Earned during the Most Recently Completed Financial Year
The following table sets forth, for each director, other than those who are also NEOs of the Company, the value of all incentive plan awards vested during the financial year ended March 31, 2021:
| Name | Option-based awards- Value vested during the year ($) |
Share-based awards - Value vested during the year ($) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation Value earned during the year(1) ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Ellett | 21,500 | N/A | N/A |
| Leif Smither | 13,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Brian Moore | 4,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Total: | 38,500 |
(1) Based on the closing market price of the Company’s common shares on March 31, 2021, being $0.28.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The Company has only one equity compensation plan in place being the Plan dated April 18, 2018. See disclosure under the heading “ Particulars of Other Matters to be Acted Upon – Re-approval of 10% Stock Option Plan” below.The following table sets out equity compensation plan information as at the Company’s financial year ended March 31, 2021.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Category | (a) | (b) | (c) |
| Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders - (the stock option plan) |
1,072,700 | $0.10 | 436,227 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by securityholders |
N/A | N/A | |
| Total: | 1,072,700 | 436,227 |
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No directors, proposed nominees for election as directors, executive officers or their respective associates or affiliates, or other management of the Company were indebted to the Company as of the end of the most recently completed financial year or as at the date hereof.
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INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
To the knowledge of the Company’s management, no informed person (a director, officer or holder of 10% or more of the common shares) or nominee for election as a director of the Company or any associate or affiliate of any informed person or proposed director had any interest in any transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries during the financial year ended March 31, 2021, or has any interest in any material transaction in the current year.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
The management functions of the Company are not to any substantial degree performed by any person other than the executive officers and directors of the Company.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Re-Approval of Stock Option Plan
TSXV policy requires all of its listed companies to have a stock option plan if the company intends to grant options. On April 18, 2018, the Board approved the adoption of the Plan of the Company in order to comply with regulatory requirements of the TSXV. The Plan is a 10% maximum rolling plan.
Under TSXV policy, the approval of the Plan requires annual shareholder approval at each annual meeting of the Company by ordinary resolution. The Board is of the view that the Plan provides the Company with the flexibility to attract and maintain the services of executives, employees and other service providers in compensation with other companies in the industry.
The Plan is subject to the following restrictions (with defined terms as defined under the Plan):
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(a) The maximum number of Options which may be granted to any one Person under the Plan within any 12-month period shall be 5% of the Outstanding Issue;
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(b) The maximum number of Options which may be granted to any one Consultant within any 12-month period must not exceed 2% of the Outstanding Issue; and
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(c) The maximum number of Options which may be granted within any 12-month period to Employees or Consultants engaged in investor relations activities must not exceed 2% of the Outstanding Issue.
Material Terms of the Plan
The following is a summary of the material terms of the Plan:
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(a) Persons who are Service Providers to the Company or its affiliates, or who are providing services to the Company or its affiliates, are eligible to receive grants of Options under the Plan;
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(b) Options granted under the Plan are non-assignable and non-transferable and are issuable for a period of up to 5 years;
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(c) For options granted to Service Providers, the Company must ensure that the proposed Optionee is a bona fide Service Provider of the Company or its affiliates;
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(d) The exercise price of an Option may not be set at less than the Discounted Market Price;
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(e) The Options may be exercisable for a period of up to 5 years (subject to an extension where the expiry date falls within a “blackout period”);
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(f) Disinterested shareholder approval will be obtained for any reduction in the exercise price if the Option is an Insider of the Company at the time of the proposed amendment.
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(g) For stock options granted to Employees, Consultants or Management Company Employees, the Company and the Optionee are responsible for ensuring and confirming that the Optionee is a bona fide Employee, Consultant or Management Company Employee, as the case may be; and
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(h) Options granted to any Optionee who is a Director, Employee, Consultant or Management Company Employee must expire within a reasonable period following the date the Optionee ceases to be in that role (in general, the TSXV considers anything not exceeding 12 months to be a reasonable period for these purposes).
Shareholder Approval
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to pass the following resolution:
“UPON MOTION DULY MADE, IT WAS RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION THAT:
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The Stock Option Plan (the “ Plan ”), as approved by the Company’s board of directors on April 18, 2018, as more particularly described in the information circular of the Company dated August 23, 2021, be ratified and approved.
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To the extent permitted by law, the Company be authorized to abandon all or any part of the Plan if the board of directors deems it appropriate and in the best interests of the Company to do so.
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Any one or more of the directors and officers of the Company be authorized to perform all such acts, deeds and things and execute, under seal of the Company or otherwise, all such documents as may be required to give effect to these resolutions.”
An ordinary resolution is a resolution passed by the shareholders of the Company at a general meeting by a simple majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy.
The Board recommends that you vote in favour of the above ordinary resolution. In the absence of a contrary instruction, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote in favour of the resolution.
The Board is of the view that the Plan provides the Company with the flexibility to attract and maintain the services of executives, employees and other service providers in competition with other companies in the industry. A copy of the Plan will be available for inspection at the Meeting. A shareholder may also obtain a copy of the Plan by contacting the Corporate Secretary of the Company at telephone number (604) 737-2303.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2021 and the related management discussion and analysis (the “ Financial Materials ”) were filed on SEDAR on July 29, 2021 at www.sedar.com and will be placed before the Meeting.
Shareholders may request copies of the Financial Materials without charge from the Corporate Secretary of the Company at Suite 400 – 1681 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 4M6, telephone: 604.737.2303; fax 604.737.1140.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board is not aware of any other matters which it anticipates will come before the Meeting as of the date of this Circular.
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SCHEDULE A
USHA RESOURCES LTD. AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
MANDATE
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Usha Resources Ltd. (the “Company”) shall assist the Board in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities. The Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities under this mandate are to serve as an independent and objective party to monitor:
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The quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements and other financial information;
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The compliance of such statements and information with legal and regulatory requirement;
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The qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent external auditor (the “Auditor”); and
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The performance of the Company’s internal accounting procedures and Auditor.
I. STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS
A. Composition
The Committee shall be comprised of three or more members.
B. Qualifications
Each member of the Committee must be a member of the Board.
Each member of the Committee must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.
C. Appointment and Removal
In accordance with the Articles of the Company, the members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve until such member’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such member’s earlier resignation or removal. Any member of the Committee may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Board.
D. Chair
Unless the Board shall select a Chair, the members of the Committee shall designate a Chair by the majority vote of all of the members of the Committee. The Chair shall call, set the agendas for and chair all meetings of the Committee.
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E. Meetings
The Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate. The Auditor shall be given reasonable notice of, and be entitled to attend and speak at, each meeting of the Committee concerning the Company’s annual financial statements and, if the Committee feels it is necessary or appropriate, at every other meeting. On request by the Auditor, the Chair shall call a meeting of the Committee to consider any matter that the Auditor believes should be brought to the attention of the Committee, the Board or the shareholders of the Company.
At each meeting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of members that are not officers or employees of the Company or of an affiliate of the Company.
As part of its goal to foster open communication, the Committee may periodically meet separately with each of management and the Auditor to discuss any matters that the Committee or any of these groups believes would be appropriate to discuss privately. In addition, the Committee should meet with the Auditor and management annually to review the Company’s financial statements in a manner consistent with Section III of this Charter.
The Committee may invite to its meetings any director, any manager of the Company, and any other person whom it deems appropriate to consult in order to carry out its responsibilities. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any person it deems appropriate to exclude in order to carry out its responsibilities.
II. DUTIES
A. Introduction
The following functions shall be the common recurring duties of the Committee in carrying out its purposes outlined in Section I of this Charter. These duties should serve as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may fulfill additional duties and adopt additional policies and procedures as may be appropriate in light of changing business, legislative, regulatory or other conditions. The Committee shall also carry out any other responsibilities and duties delegated to it by the Board from time to time related to the purposes of the Committee outlined in Section I of this Charter.
The Committee, in discharging its oversight role, is empowered to study or investigate any matter of interest or concern which the Committee in its sole discretion deems appropriate for study or investigation by the Committee.
The Committee shall be given full access to the Company’s internal accounting staff, managers, other staff and Auditor as necessary to carry out these duties. While acting within the scope of its stated purpose, the Committee shall have all the authority of, but shall remain subject to, the Board.
B. Powers and Responsibilities
The Committee will have the following responsibilities and, in order to perform and discharge these responsibilities, will be vested with the powers and authorities set forth below, namely, the Committee shall:
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Independence of Auditor
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1) Review and discuss with the Auditor any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Auditor and, if necessary, obtain a formal written statement from the Auditor setting forth all relationships between the Auditor and the Company.
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2) Take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the Auditor.
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3) Require the Auditor to report directly to the Committee.
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4) Review and approve the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the Auditor and former independent external auditor of the Company.
Performance & Completion by Auditor of its Work
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Be directly responsible for the oversight of the work by the Auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the Auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, including resolution of disagreements between management and the Auditor regarding financial reporting.
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Review annually the performance of the Auditor and recommend the appointment by the Board of a new, or re-election by the Company’s shareholders of the existing, Auditor for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditor’s report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company.
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Recommend to the Board the compensation of the Auditor.
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Pre-approve all non-audit services, including the fees and terms thereof, to be performed for the Company by the Auditor.
Internal Financial Controls & Operations of the Company
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Establish procedures for:
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(a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and
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(b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
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Preparation of Financial Statements
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Discuss with management and the Auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles, any major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies.
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Discuss with management and the Auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any employee complaints or published reports which raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies.
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Discuss with management and the Auditor the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives as well as off-balance sheet structures on the Company’s financial statements.
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Discuss with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies.
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Discuss with the Auditor the matters required to be discussed relating to the conduct of any audit, in particular:
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1) The adoption of, or changes to, the Company’s significant auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the Auditor, internal auditor or management.
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2) The management inquiry letter provided by the Auditor and the Company’s response to that letter.
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3) Any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management.
Public Disclosure by the Company
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Review the Company’s annual and interim financial statements, management discussion and analysis (MD&A) and earnings press releases before the Board approves and the Company publicly discloses this information.
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Review the Company’s financial reporting procedures and internal controls to be satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Company’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from its financial statements, other than disclosure described in the previous paragraph, and periodically assessing the adequacy of those procedures.
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Review disclosures made to the Committee by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during their certification process of the Company’s financial statements about any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls or material weaknesses therein and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.
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Manner of Carrying Out its Mandate
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Consult, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, with the Auditor, but without the presence of management, about the quality of the Company’s accounting principles, internal controls and the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements.
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Request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or Auditor to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee.
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Meet, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, with management, any internal auditor and the Auditor in separate executive sessions.
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Have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain special independent legal, accounting or other consultants to advise the Committee advisors.
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Make regular reports to the Board.
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Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
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Annually review the Committee’s own performance.
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Provide an open avenue of communication among the Auditor, the Company’s financial and senior management and the Board.
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Not delegate these responsibilities.
C. Limitation of Audit Committee’s Role
While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the Auditor.