As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2012.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
DEJOUR ENERGY INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
British Columbia (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
999 Canada Place, Suite # 598,
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3E1
Canada
(Address of Principal Executive
Offices)
2009 Stock Option Plan
(Full title of the plan)
DL Services, Inc.
Columbia Center
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6100
Seattle, Washington 98104-7043
(206) 903-8800
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ |
Non-accelerated filer x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities
To Be Registered |
Amount To Be
Registered (1) |
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per Share |
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of
Registration Fee |
||||||||||
Common Shares, no par value | 15,000,000 shares | $ | 0.4453 | $ | 6,679,500 | $ | 766 |
(1) | Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate number of common shares that may from time to time be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock dividends, stock splits or similar transactions. |
(2) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the high and low selling price per share of the common shares of the registrant as reported on the NYSE Amex on February 13, 2012. |
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements, pursuant to the Note to Part I of Form S-8 and Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933. The information required in the Section 10(a) prospectus is included in documents being maintained and delivered by Dejour Energy Inc. as required by Part I of Form S-8 and by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. | Incorporation Of Documents By Reference. |
The following documents which have been and will in the future be filed by us with the SEC are incorporated in this registration statement by reference:
(a) | Our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on June 30, 2011. | |
(b) | Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3 to our Reports of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on April 4, 2011; June 14, 2011; August 12, 2011; and November 14, 2011, each as amended to the date hereof; | |
(c) | Our Report of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on February 6, 2012; | |
(c) | All other reports filed by our company under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since December 31, 2010; and | |
(d) | The description of our common shares set forth in the amendment to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on February 15, 2012, including any further amendment or report to such registration statement filed for the purpose of amending such description. |
In addition, all reports and documents filed by us under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities being offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, and any Form 6-K furnished by us during such period or portions thereof that are identified in such Form 6-K as being incorporated by reference into this registration statement, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in and to be part of this registration statement from the date of filing of each such document.
Item 4. | Description of Securities. |
Not applicable. |
Item 5. | Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
Not applicable. |
Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
We are subject to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Act”). Under Section 160 of the Act, we may, subject to Section 163 of the Act, indemnify an individual who:
· is or was a director or officer of our company;
· is or was a director or officer of another corporation (i) at a time when such corporation is or was an affiliate of our company; or (ii) at our request, or
· at our request, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity,
and includes, the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of that individual (collectively, an “eligible party”), against a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, a proceeding (an “eligible penalty”) in which an eligible party or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of our company or an associated corporation, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, our company or an associated corporation (a) is or may be joined as a party, or (b) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding (an “eligible proceeding”) to which the eligible party is or may be liable and we may, subject to section 163 of the Act, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding.
Under Section 161 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, we must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding if the eligible party (a) has not been reimbursed for those expenses, and (b) is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding.
Under Section 162 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, we may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of the proceeding, provided that we must not make such payments unless we first receive from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited under Section 163, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.
Under Section 163 of the Act, we must not indemnify an eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable or pay the expenses of an eligible party in respect of that proceeding under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, if any of the following circumstances apply:
· if the indemnity or payment is made under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the agreement to indemnify or pay expenses was made, we were prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by our memorandum or articles;
· if the indemnity or payment is made otherwise than under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the indemnity or payment is made, we are prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by our memorandum or articles;
· if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of our company or the associated corporation, as the case may be; or
· in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party’s conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful.
If an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of our company or by or on behalf of an associated corporation, we must not either indemnify the eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable, or pay the expenses of the eligible party under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, in respect of the proceeding.
Under Section 164 of the Act, the Supreme Court of British Columbia may, on application of our company or an eligible party:
· order us to indemnify an eligible party against any liability incurred by the eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;
· order us to pay some or all of the expenses incurred by an eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;
· order the enforcement of, or payment under, an agreement of indemnification entered into by us;
· order us to pay some or all of the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any person in obtaining an order under Section 164 of the Act; or
· make any other order the court considers appropriate.
Section 165 of the Act provides that we may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an eligible party or the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party against any liability that may be incurred by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, our company or an associated corporation.
Under the Act, the articles of our company may affect our power or obligation to give an indemnity or pay expenses to the extent that the articles prohibit giving the indemnity or paying the expenses. As indicated above, this is subject to the overriding power of the Supreme Court of British Columbia under Section 164 of the Act.
Article 21 of our articles provides for the mandatory indemnification of our directors, former directors, and alternate directors, as well as his or her heirs and legal personal representatives, or any other person, to the greatest extent permitted by the Act. The indemnification includes the mandatory payment of expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. The failure of a director, alternate director, or officer to comply with the Act or our articles of incorporation does not invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled. Under our articles, we may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any eligible person who:
· is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of our company;
· is or was a director, alternate director, officer employee or agent of a corporation at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of our company;
· at our request, is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity; or
· at our request, holds or held a position equivalent to that of a director, alternate director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity;
against any liability incurred by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 7. | Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
Not applicable. | |
Item 8. | Exhibits. |
A list of exhibits included as part of this registration statement is set forth in the Exhibit Index to this registration statement.
Item 9. | Undertakings |
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference into this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on this 15th day of February, 2012.
DEJOUR ENERGY INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Robert L. Hodgkinson | |
Name: Robert L. Hodgkinson | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert L. Hodgkinson and Mathew Wong, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with the powers of substitution and revocation, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on February 15, 2012.
Signature | Title | |
/s/ Robert L. Hodgkinson | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman | |
Robert L. Hodgkinson | (principal executive officer) | |
/s/ Mathew Wong | Chief Financial Officer | |
Mathew Wong | (principal financial and accounting officer) | |
/s/ Craig Sturrock | Director | |
Craig Sturrock | ||
/s/ Richard Patricio | Director | |
Richard Patricio |
/s/ Robert Holmes | Director | |
Robert Holmes | ||
/s/ Harrison Blacker | Director | |
Harrison Blacker | ||
/s/ Darren Devine | Director | |
Darren Devine | ||
/s/ Stephen R. Mut | Director | |
Stephen R. Mut |
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this registration statement, solely in the capacity of the duly authorized representative of Dejour Energy Inc. in the United States, on February 15, 2012.
DEJOUR ENERGY (USA) CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Harrison Blacker | |
Name: Harrison Blacker | ||
Title: President |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | Description of Exhibit | |
4.1 | Dejour Enterprises Ltd. 2009 Stock Option Plan. | |
4.2 | Dejour Enterprises Ltd. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (“Sub-Plan”), as amended. | |
4.3 | Form of Stock Option Agreement (included in Exhibit 4.1). | |
4.4 | Articles. | |
4.5 | Notice of Articles. | |
4.6 | Certificate of Continuation. | |
4.7 | Certificate of Name Change (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.7 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, filed on June 30, 2011 (File No. 133491)). | |
4.8 | Amendment to Articles to Include Special Rights. | |
4.9 | Notice of Alteration. | |
5.1 | Opinion of Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP. | |
23.1 | Consent of BDO Canada LLP. | |
23.2 | Consent of Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP. | |
23.2 | Consent of Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
23.3 | Consent of GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. | |
23.4 | Consent of Gustavson Associates LLC. | |
24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this registration statement). |
DEJOUR ENTERPRISES LTD.
2009 STOCK OPTION PLAN
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions : For purposes of the Plan, unless such word or term is otherwise defined herein or the context in which such word or term is used herein otherwise requires, the following words and terms with the initial letter or letters thereof capitalized shall have the following meanings:
(a) | " Black-Out Period " means a period of time during which, pursuant to the policies of the Corporation, trading in Common Shares or Options is prohibited or restricted (except where such prohibition or restriction is the result of a cease trade order, or equivalent, imposed by a securities commission or other applicable regulatory authority); |
(b) | " Change of Control " means the acquisition by any person or by any person and all Joint Actors, whether directly or indirectly, of voting securities (as defined in the Securities Act) of the Corporation, which, when added to all other voting securities of the Corporation at the time held by such person or by such person and a Joint Actor, totals for the first time not less than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation or the votes attached to those securities are sufficient, if exercised, to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation ; |
(c) | " Committee " shall mean the Directors or, if the Directors so determine in accordance with section 2.03 of the Plan, the committee of the Directors authorized to administer the Plan; |
(d) | " Common Shares " shall mean the common shares of the Corporation, as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of Article Six of the Plan; |
(e) | " Corporation " shall mean Dejour Enterprises Ltd., a corporation existing pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia); |
(f) | " Directors " shall mean the directors of the Corporation from time to time; |
(g) | " Eligible Insiders " shall mean the Insiders of the Corporation or of any subsidiary of the Corporation from time to time who, by the nature of their positions are, in the opinion of the Committee, in a position to contribute to the success of the Corporation; |
(h) | " Eligible Employees " shall mean employees, including officers, whether Directors or not, and including both full-time and part-time employees, of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation who, by the nature of their positions or jobs are, in the opinion of the Committee, in a position to contribute to the success of the Corporation; |
(i) | “ Expiry Date ” means the later of the date set by the Committee under Section 3.02 as the last date on which an Option may be exercised and, if such date falls during or within five (5) trading days after the end of a Black-Out Period, the date that is ten (10) trading days following the date on which such Black-Out Period ends (the " Extension Period "); provided that if an additional Black-Out Period is subsequently imposed during the Extension Period, then such Extension Period shall be deemed to commence following the end of such additional Black-Out Period to enable the exercise of such Option within ten (10) trading days following the end of the last imposed Black-Out Period; |
(j) | “ Insider ” means an insider as defined in the Securities Act; |
(k) | " Joint Actor " means a person acting “jointly or in concert with” another person as that phrase is interpreted in Multilateral Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids ; |
(l) | " Market Price " means the last closing price per Share on the trading day immediately preceding the day the options are granted (“Grant Date”), or if the Shares are not listed on any stock exchange, “Market Price” of Shares means the price per Share on the over-the-counter market determined by dividing the aggregate sale price of the Shares sold by the total number of such Shares so sold on the applicable market for the last day prior to the Grant Date. |
(m) | " Option " shall mean an option to purchase Common Shares granted pursuant to, or governed by, the Plan; |
(n) | " Option Agreement" means an agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule “A”, with such additions there to or modifications thereof as may be approved by the Corporation prior to or at the time an Option is granted, whereby the Corporation grants to an Optionee an Option; |
(o) | " Optionee " means a Participant to whom an Option has been granted pursuant to the Plan; |
(p) | " Option Period " for a particular Option shall mean the period of time commencing on the date of grant of such Option and ending at the Expiry Time (as defined in Section 4.04); |
(q) | " Option Shares " means the aggregate number of Common Shares which an Optionee may purchase under an Option; |
(r) | " Participant " means a person eligible to be issued Options under the Plan by virtue of being either an Eligible Insider, Eligible Employee or Service Provider; |
(s) | " Plan " shall mean this stock option plan; |
(t) | " Securities Act " means the Securities Act (British Columbia), as may be amended from time to time; |
(u) | " Service Provider " shall mean any person or corporation, other than an Eligible Employee or Eligible Insider, engaged to provide services for the Corporation or for any entity controlled by the Corporation for an initial, renewable or extended period of twelve months or more (or such lesser period of time as may be approved by the Committee and acceptable to TSX on a case by case basis), and shall also include any individuals employed by such person or corporation; |
(v) | " TSX " shall mean The Toronto Stock Exchange; |
(w) | " Unissued Option Shares " means the number of Common Shares, at a particular time, which have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of an Option but which have not been issued, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Article 6, such adjustments to be cumulative; and |
- 2 - |
(x) | " Vested " means that an Option has become exercisable in respect of Options held by an Optionee. |
Section 1.02 Securities Definitions : In the Plan, the terms "associate", "subsidiary" and "insider" shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Securities Act.
Section 1.03 Headings : The headings of all articles, sections, and paragraphs in the Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of the Plan.
Section 1.04 Context, Construction : Whenever the singular or masculine are used in the Plan, the same shall be construed as being the plural or feminine or neuter or vice versa where the context so requires.
Section 1.05 References to the Plan : The words "herein", "hereby", "hereunder", "hereof" and similar expressions mean or refer to the Plan as a whole and not to any particular article, section, paragraph or other part hereof.
Section 1.06 Canadian Funds : Unless otherwise specifically provided, all references to dollar amounts in the Plan are references to lawful money of Canada.
ARTICLE TWO
PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
Section 2.01 Purpose of the Plan : The Plan provides for the grant of Options to Participants for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Corporation through the motivation, attraction and retention of key employees and directors of the Corporation and subsidiaries of the Corporation and to secure for the Corporation and the shareholders of the Corporation the benefits inherent in the ownership of Common Shares by key employees and directors of the Corporation and subsidiaries of the Corporation, it being generally recognized that stock option plans aid in attracting, retaining and encouraging employees and directors due to the opportunity offered to them to acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation.
Section 2.02 Administration of the Plan : The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Committee shall have full authority to administer the Plan including the authority to interpret and construe any provision of the Plan and to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations for administering the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the Plan. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee in good faith shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding on the Participants and the Corporation. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action taken or determination or interpretation made in good faith in connection with the Plan and all members of the Committee shall, in addition to their rights as Directors, be fully protected, indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation with respect to any such action taken or determination or interpretation made. The appropriate officers of the Corporation 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 the Plan and of the rules and regulations established for administering the Plan. All costs incurred in connection with the Plan shall be for the account of the Corporation.
- 3 - |
Section 2.03 Delegation to Committee : All of the powers exercisable hereunder by the Directors may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by resolution of the Directors, be exercised by a committee of the Directors comprised of not less than three Directors.
Section 2.04 Record Keeping : The Corporation shall maintain a register in which shall be recorded:
(a) | the name and address of each Optionee; |
(b) | the number of Common Shares subject to Options granted to each Optionee; and |
(c) | the aggregate number of Common Shares subject to Options. |
Section 2.05 Previously Granted Options : As set forth in Section 8.01, the Plan is to be implemented and effective upon TSX approval of the Plan and the approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Corporation (with the later of the date of TSX approval and the date of shareholder approval to be hereinafter referred to as the “ Effective Date ”). In the event that on the Effective Date there are outstanding stock options (the “ Pre-Existing Options ”) that were previously granted by the Corporation pursuant to any stock option plan (a “ Pre-Existing Plan ”) in place prior to the Effective Date, all such Pre-Existing Options shall, effective as of the Effective Date, be governed by and subject to the terms of the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein, a person holding Pre-Existing Options shall be deemed to satisfy the criteria necessary to be a Participant under the Plan in respect of its eligibility under the Plan to have been granted and hold the Pre-Existing Options.
In addition, on the Effective Date the Company’s U.S. Stock Incentive Plan that serves as a sub-plan to the current Pre-Existing Plan shall thereafter be a sub-plan to the Plan.
ARTICLE THREE
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
IN THE PLAN AND GRANT OF OPTIONS
Section 3.01 Eligibility : Options shall only be granted to Participants.
Section 3.02 Determination of Option Recipients and Option Terms : The Committee shall from time to time determine the Participants to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Common Shares to be made subject to and the Expiry Date of each Option granted to each Participant and the other terms of each Option granted to each Participant including any vesting provisions that may be applicable, all such determinations to be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, and the Committee may take into consideration the present and potential contributions of and the services rendered by the particular Participant to the success of the Corporation and any other factors which the Committee deems appropriate and relevant. Each Option granted to a Participant shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement containing terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan, which terms and conditions need not be the same in each case. No Participant who is a Director shall vote on any motion considered by the Directors granting any Option to such Director.
ARTICLE FOUR
NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES SUBJECT TO THE
PLAN, EXERCISE PRICE AND TERM OF OPTIONS
Section 4.01 Number of Shares : At the time of grant of any Option, the aggregate number of Common Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan which may be made subject to Options at any time and from time to time (including those issuable upon the exercise of Pre-Existing Options) together with those Common Shares reserved for issuance at such time under any other established or proposed share compensation arrangement of the Corporation shall not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Common Shares, on a non-diluted basis, as constituted on the date of grant of such Option. Any Common Shares subject to an Option which has been granted under the Plan and which has been subsequently cancelled or terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan, without having been exercised, will again be available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of Options granted under the Plan.
- 4 - |
Section 4.02 Limits on Grants to Insiders : With respect to Options granted to Insiders:
(a) | the number of Common Shares issuable to Insiders at any time under all security based compensation arrangements shall not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis at such time; and |
(b) | the number of Common Shares issued to Insiders as a group within a one year period under all security based compensation arrangements shall not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares as at the end of such one year period. |
Section 4.03 Exercise Price : The price per share at which any Common Share which is the subject of an Option may be purchased (the “ Exercise Price ”) shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted, provided that such price shall be not less than the Market Price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the date of grant or, if the Common Shares are not then listed on the TSX, on the most senior of any other exchange on which the Common Shares are then traded, on the last trading day immediately preceding the date of grant of such Option.
Section 4.04 Term of Options : The Option Period for each Option shall be such period of time as shall be determined by the Committee, provided that no Option Period shall exceed 10 years except in the event that an Extension Period (as defined in Section 1.01(i)) is applicable. An Option Period shall expire at 4:00PM (Vancouver time) on the Expiry Date (the “ Expiry Time ”). The Committee may determine the number or percentage of Common Shares which may be purchased by an Optionee pursuant to the exercise of Options during any particular time period within the Option Period.
Section 4.05 Vesting : The Committee may, at its discretion, determine and impose terms upon which each Option shall become Vested. In the event that the Committee imposes a vesting schedule in respect of any Options granted to an Optionee, at any point in time the Optionee will only be entitled to exercise those Options which are Vested at such point in time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Pre-Existing Plan imposed vesting requirements on a Pre-Existing Option, such vesting requirements must be satisfied before any such Pre-Existing Options shall become Vested.
ARTICLE FIVE
EXERCISE OF OPTION, EFFECT OF DEATH AND
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND WITHHOLDING TAXES
Section 5.01 Exercise of Option : Subject to: (i) any restriction (including vesting requirements) on the number or percentage of Common Shares which may be purchased by the Optionee during any particular time period within the Option Period as determined by the Committee; (ii) any restriction on the exercise of Options pursuant to the requirements of TSX or any regulatory authority having jurisdiction; and (iii) termination of the Option in accordance with the terms of the Plan, an Option may be exercised by the Optionee in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, during the Option Period. An Option shall be exercisable by delivering to the Corporation written notice specifying the number of Common Shares in respect of which the Option is exercised together with payment in full of the Exercise Price for each Option exercised.
- 5 - |
The Company shall have discretion to determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, cheques that are not certified, foreign currency, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the applicable exercise price) in which, payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.
If the Optionee’s cheque is not honoured by the financial institution, the Company has the right to collect the payment from the Optionee and has the right to cancel the Shares issued upon exercise. The Company may charge an administration fee up to $50.00 for any dishonoured cheque.
Upon receipt of such notice and payment by the Corporation, there will be a binding contract for the issue of the Common Shares in respect of which the Option is exercised, upon and subject to the provisions of the Plan. Upon an Optionee exercising an Option and paying the Corporation the aggregate purchase price for the Common Shares in respect of which the Option has been exercised, the Corporation shall as soon as practicable issue and deliver a certificate representing the Common Shares so purchased.
Section 5.02 Effect of Death : If a Participant shall die while an Optionee, any Option held by such Optionee at the date of death shall be exercisable in whole or in part only by the person or persons to whom the rights of the Optionee under the Option shall pass by the will of the Optionee or the laws of descent and distribution for a period of one year after the date of death of the Optionee or prior to the Expiry Time in respect of the Option, whichever is sooner, and then only to the extent that such Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death of such Optionee.
Section 5.03 Effect of Ceasing to be a Participant – For Cause : If an Optionee shall cease to meet the criteria necessary to be a Participant as a result of termination for cause, as that term is interpreted by the courts of the jurisdiction in which the Optionee is employed or engaged, any outstanding Options held by such Optionee on the date of such termination, whether Vested or not, shall be cancelled as of that date.
Section 5.04 Effect of Ceasing to be a Participant – For Reasons Other than For Cause : If an Optionee shall cease to meet the criteria necessary to be a Participant for reasons other than termination for cause or by virtue of death, any Option held by such Optionee at such time shall remain exercisable in full at any time, and in part from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of the Expiry Time and six (6) months after the date on which the Optionee ceases to be a Participant, and then only to the extent that such Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.04, the Committee may, on a case by case basis, allow Options held by an Optionee that ceases to meet the criteria necessary to be a Participant for reasons other than termination for cause or by virtue of death, to remain exercisable in full at any time, and in part from time to time, until the Expiry Time (subject to any remaining vesting requirements) where such Expiry Time is more than six (6) months after the date on which the Optionee ceases to be a Participant.
Section 5.05 Withholding Taxes : The Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation may take such steps as are considered necessary or appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation is required by any law or regulation of any governmental authority whatsoever to withhold in connection with any Option including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the withholding of all or any portion of any payment or the withholding of the issue of Common Shares to be issued upon the exercise of any Option until such time as the Optionee has paid the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation for any amount which the Corporation or subsidiary of the Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such taxes.
- 6 - |
ARTICLE SIX
CAPITAL CHANGES
Section 6.01 Share Reorganization : Whenever the Corporation issues Common Shares to all or substantially all holders of Common Shares by way of a stock dividend or other distribution, or subdivides all outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common Shares, or combines or consolidates all outstanding Common Shares into a lesser number of Common Shares (each of such events being herein called a " Share Reorganization ") then effective immediately after the record date for such dividend or other distribution or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or consolidation:
(a) | for each Option the Exercise Price will be adjusted to a price per Common Share which is the product of: |
(i) | the Exercise Price in effect immediately before that effective date or record date; and |
(ii) | a fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of Common Shares outstanding on that effective date or record date before giving effect to the Share Reorganization, and the denominator of which is the total number of Common Shares that are or would be outstanding immediately after such effective date or record date after giving effect to the Share Reorganization; and |
(b) | the number of Unissued Option Shares will be adjusted by multiplying (i) the number of Unissued Option Shares immediately before such effective date or record date by (ii) a fraction which is the reciprocal of the fraction described in subsection (a)(ii). |
6.02 Special Distribution : Subject to the prior approval of the TSX, whenever the Corporation issues by way of a dividend or otherwise distributes to all or substantially all holders of Common Shares;
(a) | shares of the Corporation, other than the Common Shares; |
(b) | evidences of indebtedness; |
(c) | any cash or other assets, excluding cash dividends (other than cash dividends which the Directors have determined to be outside the normal course); or |
(d) | rights, options or warrants; |
then to the extent that such dividend or distribution does not constitute a Share Reorganization (any of such non-excluded events being herein called a " Special Distribution "), and effective immediately after the record date at which holders of Common Shares are determined for purposes of the Special Distribution, for each Option the Exercise Price will be reduced, and the number of Unissued Option Shares will be correspondingly increased, by such amount, if any, as is determined by the Directors in their sole and unfettered discretion to be appropriate in order to properly reflect any diminution in value of the Option Shares as a result of such Special Distribution.
6.03 Corporate Reorganization : Whenever there is:
(a) | a reclassification of outstanding Common Shares, a change of Common Shares into other shares or securities, or any other capital reorganization of the Corporation, other than as described in Sections 6.01 or 6.02; |
- 7 - |
(b) | a consolidation, merger or amalgamation of the Corporation with or into another corporation resulting in a reclassification of outstanding Common Shares into other shares or securities or a change of Common Shares into other shares or securities; |
(c) | an arrangement or other transaction under which, among other things, the business or assets of the Corporation become, collectively, the business and assets of two or more companies with the same shareholder group upon the distribution to the Corporation's shareholders, or the exchange with the Corporation's shareholders, of securities of the Corporation, or securities of another company, or both; or |
(d) | a transaction whereby all or substantially all of the Corporation’s undertaking and assets become the property of another corporation; |
(any such event being herein called a " Corporate Reorganization ") the Optionee will have an option to purchase (at the times, for the consideration, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Plan) and will accept on the exercise of such option, in lieu of the Unissued Option Shares which he would otherwise have been entitled to purchase, the kind and amount of shares or other securities or property that he would have been entitled to receive as a result of the Corporate Reorganization if, on the effective date thereof, he had been the holder of all Unissued Option Shares or if appropriate, as otherwise determined by the Directors.
6.04 Determination of Exercise Price and Number of Unissued Option Shares : If any questions arise at any time with respect to the Exercise Price or number of Unissued Option Shares deliverable upon exercise of an Option following a Share Reorganization, Special Distribution or Corporate Reorganization, such questions shall be conclusively determined by the Corporation’s auditor, or, if they decline to so act, any other firm of Chartered Accountants in Vancouver, British Columbia, that the Directors may designate and who will have access to all appropriate records and such determination will be binding upon the Corporation and all Optionees.
6.05 Regulatory Approval : Any adjustment to the Exercise Price or the number of Unissued Option Shares purchasable under the Plan pursuant to the operation of any provision of this Article Six is subject to the approval of the TSX and any other governmental authority having jurisdiction.
ARTICLE SEVEN
TAKE-OVER BIDS AND CHANGES OF CONTROL
7.01 Effect of a Take-Over Bid : If a bona fide offer (an " Offer ") for Common Shares is made to an Optionee or to shareholders of the Corporation generally or to a class of shareholders which includes the Optionee, which Offer, if accepted in whole or in part, would result in the offeror becoming a control person of the Corporation, within the meaning of subsection 1(1) of the Securities Act, the Corporation shall, immediately upon receipt of notice of the Offer, notify each Optionee of full particulars of the Offer, whereupon all Common Shares subject to such Option will become Vested and the Option may be exercised in whole or in part by the Optionee so as to permit the Optionee to tender the Common Shares received upon such exercise, pursuant to the Offer. However, if:
(a) | the Offer is not completed within the time specified therein; or |
(b) | all of the Common Shares tendered by the Optionee pursuant to the Offer are not taken up or paid for by the offeror in respect thereof, |
- 8 - |
then the Common Shares received upon such exercise, or in the case of clause (b) above, the Common Shares that are not taken up and paid for, may be returned by the Optionee to the Corporation and reinstated as authorized but unissued Common Shares and with respect to such returned Common Shares, the Option shall be reinstated as if it had not been exercised and the terms upon which such Common Shares were to become Vested pursuant to this section shall be reinstated. If any Common Shares are returned to the Corporation under this Section 7.01, the Corporation shall immediately refund the Exercise Price to the Optionee for such Common Shares.
7.02 Acceleration of Expiry Time : If, at any time when an Option granted under the Plan remains unexercised, an Offer is made by an offeror, the Directors may, upon notifying each Optionee of the full particulars of the Offer, declare all Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of Options granted under the Plan, Vested, and declare that the Expiry Time for the exercise of all unexercised Options granted under the Plan is accelerated so that all Options will either be exercised or will expire prior to the date upon which Common Shares must be tendered pursuant to the Offer, provided such Offer is completed.
7.03 Effect of a Change of Control : If a Change of Control occurs, all Common Shares subject to each outstanding Option will become Vested, whereupon such Option may be exercised in whole or in part by the respective Optionee.
ARTICLE EIGHT
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN, AMENDMENT
OF PLAN AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
Section 8.01 Effective Date of Plan : The Plan is to be implemented and effective upon TSX approval of the Plan and the approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Corporation. Such shareholder approval must be given by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Common Shares represented at the meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation at which a motion to approve the Plan is presented.
Section 8.02 Amendment of Plan : The Directors may from time to time, without shareholder approval and subject to applicable law and to the prior approval, if required, of TSX or any other regulatory body having authority over the Corporation or the Plan, suspend, terminate or discontinue the Plan at any time, or amend or revise the terms of the Plan or of any Option granted under, or otherwise governed by, the Plan to:
(a) | make amendments of a clerical or typographical nature and to include clarifying provisions in the Plan; |
(b) | implement features or requirements that are necessary or desirable under applicable tax and securities laws; |
(c) | change vesting provisions; |
(d) | change termination provisions for an Insider provided that the Expiry Time does not extend beyond the original Expiry Time under the Plan; |
(e) | change termination provisions for an Optionee who is not an Insider beyond the original Expiry Time; |
(f) | reduce the Exercise Price of an Option for an Optionee who is not an Insider; and |
(g) | implement a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or securities; |
provided that no such amendment, revision, suspension, termination or discontinuance shall in any manner adversely affect any Option previously granted to an Optionee under the Plan without the consent of that Optionee. Any other amendments to the Plan or Options granted thereunder (or Options otherwise governed thereby) will be subject to the approval of the shareholders.
- 9 - |
Section 8.03 Termination of the Plan : The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Directors. Notwithstanding the termination of the Plan, any Option outstanding under the Plan at the time of termination shall remain in effect until such Option has been exercised, has expired, has been surrendered to the Corporation or has been terminated.
ARTICLE NINE
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 9.01 Non-Assignable : No rights under the Plan and no Option awarded pursuant to the provisions of the Plan are assignable or transferable by any Participant other than pursuant to a will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Section 9.02 Rights as a Shareholder : No Optionee shall have any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to any Common Shares which are the subject of an Option. No Optionee shall be entitled to receive, and no adjustment shall be made for, any dividends, distributions or other rights declared for shareholders of the Corporation for which the record date is prior to the date of exercise of any Option.
Section 9.03 No Contract of Employment : Nothing contained in the Plan shall confer or be deemed to confer upon any Participant the right to continue in the employment of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation nor interfere or be deemed to interfere in any way with any right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to discharge any Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
Section 9.04 Exclusion From Severance Allowance, Retirement Allowance or Termination Settlement : If an Optionee retires, resigns or is terminated from employment or engagement with the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, the loss or limitation, if any, pursuant to the Option Agreement with respect to the right to purchase Option Shares which were not Vested at that time or which, if Vested, were cancelled, shall not give rise to any right to damages and shall not be included in the calculation of nor form any part of any severance allowance, retiring allowance or termination settlement of any kind whatsoever in respect of such Optionee.
Section 9.05 Necessary Approvals : The obligation of the Corporation to grant any Option pursuant to the Plan and to issue, sell and deliver any Common Shares on the exercise of an Option is subject to the approval of any governmental authority or regulatory body required in connection with the grant of such Option or the issue, sale and delivery of such Common Shares by the Corporation. Any Options granted prior to the Corporation’s receipt of such required approvals shall be conditional upon such approval being given and no Options may be exercised unless such approval has been being given.
In the event that any Common Shares cannot be issued to any Optionee pursuant to the exercise of an Option for any reason whatsoever including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the failure to obtain any required approval, then the obligation of the Corporation to issue such Common Shares shall terminate and any money paid to the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such Option shall be returned to the Optionee without interest or deduction.
Section 9.06 Form of Notice : A notice given to the Corporation shall be in writing, signed by the Optionee and delivered to the head business office of the Corporation.
- 10 - |
Section 9.07 Conflict : In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Plan and an Option Agreement, the provisions of this Plan shall govern.
Section 9.08 Time of Essence : Time is of the essence of this Plan and of each Option Agreement. No extension of time will be deemed to be or to operate as a waiver of the essentiality of time.
Section 9.09 Entire Agreement : This Plan and the applicable Option Agreement set out the entire agreement between the Corporation and the applicable Optionee relative to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, undertakings and understandings, whether oral or written.
Section 9.10 No Representation or Warranty : The Corporation makes no representation or warranty as to the value of any Option granted pursuant to the Plan or as the future value of any Common Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of any Option.
Section 9.11 Compliance with Applicable Law : If any provision of the Plan or any Option contravenes any law or any order, policy, by-law or regulation of any regulatory body having jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be amended to the extent necessary to bring such provision into compliance therewith.
Section 9.12 Applicable Law : The Plan and all of the rights and obligations arising herefrom shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia.
Plan approved by the Board of Directors effective December 17, 2009.
Plan approved by the shareholders of the Corporation effective December 17, 2009.
Effective Date of Plan: December 17, 2009.
- 11 - |
SCHEDULE "A"
DEJOUR ENTERPRISES LTD.
STOCK OPTION PLAN - OPTION AGREEMENT
This Option Agreement is entered into between Dejour Enterprises Ltd. (the “ Corporation ”) and the Optionee named below pursuant to the Corporation’s Stock Option Plan (the " Plan "), a copy of which is attached hereto, and confirms that:
1. | on · , 200 · (the " Grant Date "); |
2. | · (the " Optionee "); |
3. | was granted the option (the “ Option ”) to purchase · Common Shares (the " Option Shares ") of the Corporation; |
4. | for the price (the " Option Price ") of $ · per share; |
5. | which shall be exercisable in full upon approval [OR set forth applicable vesting schedule such as: which shall vest as to one-twelfth (1/12) of the Option at the end of each calendar month with the first 1/12 of the Option vesting on · and with the Company being permitted to unilaterally waive the vesting requirement at its discretion]; |
6. | terminating on the [earlier of: (a)] · , 200 · (the " Expiry Date ")[, and (b) at the Company’s discretion upon the Company providing 30 days written notice to the Optionee of the termination of the Option which notice may only be provided if the Option has vested or the Company has waived the vesting requirement]; |
all on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Plan. For greater certainty, Option Shares continue to be exercisable until the termination or cancellation thereof as provided in this Option Agreement and the Plan.
By signing this Option Agreement, the Optionee acknowledges that the Optionee has read and understands the Plan and agrees to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.
Acknowledgement – Personal Information
The undersigned hereby acknowledges and consents to:
(a) | the disclosure to all regulatory authorities of all personal information of the undersigned obtained by the Corporation; and |
(b) | the collection, use and disclosure of such personal information by the all regulatory authorities in accordance with their requirements, including the provision to third party service providers, from time to time. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Option Agreement as of the · day of · , 200 · .
DEJOUR ENTERPRISES LTD. | |||
Per: | |||
Signature | Authorized Signatory | ||
Print Name | |||
Address |
Appendix A
DEJOUR ENTERPRISES LTD.
2009 U.S. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (“Sub-plan”)
(As Amended on JANUARY 6, 2012)
Section 1. Purpose .
This Sub-Plan is an appendix to and is part of the Canadian Plan. Any option granted under this Plan is also subject to the terms and conditions of the Canadian Plan. Unless otherwise explicitly provided in this Sub-Plan or an applicable Award Agreement, where there is a conflict between the terms and conditions of this Sub-Plan and the terms and conditions of the Canadian Plan, the terms and conditions of the Canadian Plan shall govern.
The purpose of this Sub-Plan is to promote the interests of Dejour Enterprises Ltd. (the “Company”) and its stockholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining employees, officers, consultants, independent contractors, advisors and non-employee Directors capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such persons incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business and to compensate such persons through various stock-based arrangements and provide them with opportunities for stock ownership in the Company, thereby aligning the interests of such persons with the Company’s stockholders.
Section 2. Definitions .
As used in the Sub-Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) “Administrator” shall mean the Board or such director or other senior officer or employee of the Company or its Affiliate, as may be designated as Administrator by the Board or Committee from time to time.
(b) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee.
(c) “Award” shall mean any Option granted under the Sub-Plan.
(d) “Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award granted under the Sub-Plan. An Award Agreement may be in an electronic medium and need not be signed by a representative of the Company or the Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Canadian Plan, the Sub-Plan and any other terms and conditions (not inconsistent with the Canadian Plan and the Sub-Plan) determined by the Committee.
(e) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f) “Canadian Plan” shall mean the Dejour Enterprises Ltd. Stock Option Plan as adopted by the Board on November 3, 2009, as it may be amended from time to time.
(g) “Change in Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in an Award Agreement, or any other applicable employment, severance or change in control agreement between the Participant and the Company.
(h) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(i) “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or any successor committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Sub-Plan. If the Company does not have a Compensation Committee, it will mean the majority of the independent directors. The Committee shall be comprised of not less than such number of Directors as shall be required to permit Awards granted under the Sub-Plan to qualify under Rule 16b-3, and each member of the Committee shall be a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m). The Company expects to have the Sub-Plan administered in accordance with the requirements for the award of “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m).
(j) “Company” shall mean Dejour Enterprises Ltd., a British Columbia corporation, or any successor corporation.
(k) “Director” shall mean a member of the Board.
(l) “Eligible Person” shall mean any employee, officer, consultant, independent contractor, advisor or non-employee Director providing services to the Company or any Affiliate whom the Committee determines to be an Eligible Person, provided that in any case an Eligible Person must also satisfy the criteria necessary to be a “Participant” (as defined in the Canadian Plan) and an Eligible Person must be a natural person who is resident in the United States, a United States citizen, or who is otherwise subject to United States tax law as determined by the Committee.
(m) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(n) “Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to any property (including, without limitation, any Shares or other securities), the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of Shares on a given date for purposes of the Sub-Plan shall be the “Market Price” (as defined in the Canadian Plan).
(o) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Sub-Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
(p) “Insider” means an “Insider” as defined in the TSX Policies.
(q) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Sub-Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(r) “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(s) “Participant” or “Optionee” shall mean an Eligible Person designated to be granted an Award under the Sub-Plan.
(t) “Person” shall mean any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or trust.
(u) “Sub-Plan” shall mean this Appendix A to the Canadian Plan, Dejour Enterprises Ltd. 2009 US Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
(v) “Qualifying Termination” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in any applicable Award Agreement, and, if not defined in any applicable Award Agreement, shall mean termination of employment under circumstances that, in the judgment of the Committee, warrant acceleration of the exercisability of Options . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Qualifying Termination may apply to large scale terminations of employment relating to the disposition or divestiture of business or legal entities or similar circumstances.
(w) “Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation.
(x) “Section 162(m)” shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision, and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(y) “Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code, or any successor provision, and applicable Treasury Regulations and other applicable guidance thereunder.
(z) “Shares” shall mean the common shares in the capital of the Company or such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Sub-Plan.
(aa) “Specified Employee” shall mean a specified employee as defined in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B) or applicable proposed or final regulations under Code Section 409A.
(bb) “TSX Policies” means the applicable policies included in the TSX Company Manual and “TSX Policy” means any one of them.
Section 3. Administration .
(a) Power and Authority of the Committee and Administrator . The Sub-Plan shall be administered by the Committee or an Administrator on the instructions of the Board or Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Canadian Plan, the Sub-Plan and to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Sub-Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or the method by which payments or other rights are to be calculated in connection with) each Award; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement, including any terms relating to the forfeiture of any Award and the forfeiture, recapture or disgorgement of any cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to any Award; (v) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement, provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(c) hereof, the Committee shall comply with TSX Policies on any reprice, adjust or amend the exercise price of Options previously awarded to any Participant; (vi) accelerate the exercisability of any Award or the lapse of restrictions relating to any Award; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended; (viii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Sub-Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder of the Award or the Committee; (ix) interpret and administer the Sub-Plan and any instrument or agreement, including any Award Agreement, relating to the Sub-Plan; (x) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Sub-Plan; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Sub-Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Sub-Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Sub-Plan or any Award or Award Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee or Administrator, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award or Award Agreement, and any employee of the Company or any Affiliate.
(b) Power and Authority of the Board of Directors . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Sub-Plan, unless the exercise of such powers and duties by the Board would cause the Sub-Plan not to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m).
Section 4. Shares Available for Awards .
(a) Shares Available . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Sub-Plan, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under all Awards under the Sub-Plan shall be 12,800,000 minus such number of Shares as are issued under the Canadian Plan. Shares to be issued under the Sub-Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or treasury shares . If an Award terminates or is forfeited or cancelled without the issuance of any Shares, or if any Shares covered by an Award or to which an Award relates are not issued for any other reason, then the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Sub-Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such termination, forfeiture, cancellation or other event, shall again be available for granting Awards under the Sub-Plan. Shares that are withheld in full or partial payment to the Company of the purchase or exercise price relating to an Award or in connection with the satisfaction of tax obligations relating to an Award shall not be available for granting Awards under the Sub-Plan.
(b) Accounting for Awards . For purposes of this Section 4, if an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Sub-Plan.
(c) Adjustments . The adjustment provisions set forth in the Canadian Plan, specifically Article Six of the Canadian Plan, shall apply to the Options.
(d) Award Limitations Under the Sub-Plan .
(i) Section 162(m) Limitation for Certain Types of Awards . No Eligible Person may be granted Options or any other Award or Awards under the Sub-Plan, the value of which Award or Awards is based solely on an increase in the value of the Shares after the date of grant of such Award or Awards, for more than 5% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Sub-Plan) in the aggregate in any 12 month period.
(ii) Limitation on Awards Granted to Certain Persons . The number of Shares which may be issuable under the Sub-Plan and all of the Company’s other previously established or proposed share compensation arrangements, within a one-year period: (a) to any one Participant, shall not exceed 5% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date on a non-diluted basis; (b) to Insiders as a group shall not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date on a non-diluted basis.
Section 5. Eligibility .
Any Eligible Person shall be eligible to be designated a Participant. In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of any Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Eligible Persons, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to full-time or part-time employees (which term as used herein includes, without limitation, officers and Directors who are also employees), and an Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to an employee of an Affiliate unless such Affiliate is also a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor provision. Further, notwithstanding the foregoing, Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be granted to an Eligible Person providing direct services to an Affiliate unless the Company has a “controlling interest” in such Affiliate within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E)(1).
Section 6. Awards .
(a) Options . The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Sub-Plan as the Committee shall determine:
(i) Exercise Price . The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.
(ii) Option Term . The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee but shall not be longer than 10 years from the date of grant and in no event will an Incentive Stock Option be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date such option is granted notwithstanding anything contained in sections 1.01(i) and 4.04 of the Plan arguably to the contrary. The option term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an individual owning more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation and related corporations as described in Treas. Reg. 1.422-2(f) shall not be longer than 5 years from the date of grant and, notwithstanding anything in the Plan arguably to the contrary, in no event will such an option be exercisable after the expiration of 5 years from the date such option is granted.
(iii) Time and Method of Exercise . The Option shall be exercisable by delivering to the Company a notice specifying the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is exercised together with payment in full of the Option Price for each such Share. Upon notice and payment there will be a binding contract for the issue of the Shares in respect of which the Option is exercised, upon and subject to the provisions of the Plan.
Option Exercise is settled in Canadian dollar by certified cheque or wire transfer. Nevertheless, the Committee or Administrator shall have discretion to determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, foreign currency, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the applicable exercise price) in which, payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.
If the Participant’s cheque is not honoured by the financial institution, the Company has the right to collect the payment from the Participant and has the right to cancel the Shares issued upon exercise. The Company can charge an administration fee of $35.00 for any dishonoured cheque.
(b) General .
(i) Consideration for Awards . Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or for any cash or other consideration as may be determined by the Committee or required by applicable law.
(ii) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together . Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, 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 plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
(iii) Forms of Payment under Awards . Subject to the terms of the Sub-Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee.
(iv) Term of Awards . The term of each Award shall be for a period not longer than 10 years from the date of grant.
(v) Limits on Transfer of Awards . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(b)(v), no Award and no right under any such Award shall be transferable by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may establish procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a Person or Persons, as beneficiary or beneficiaries, to exercise the rights of the Participant and receive any property distributable with respect to any Award in the event of the Participant’s death. The Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it determines, may permit a Participant to transfer a Non-Qualified Stock Option to any “family member” (as such term is defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 (or any successor to such Instructions or such Form) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) at any time that such Participant holds such Option, provided that such transfers may not be for value (i.e., the transferor may not receive any consideration therefor) and the family member may not make any subsequent transfers other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Each Award under the Sub-Plan or right under any such Award shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant (except as provided herein or in an Award Agreement or amendment thereto relating to a Non-Qualified Stock Option) or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. No Award or 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 or any Affiliate.
(vi) Restrictions; Securities Exchange Listing . All Shares or other securities delivered under the Sub-Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Sub-Plan, applicable federal or state securities laws and regulatory requirements, and the Committee may cause appropriate entries to be made or legends to be placed on the certificates for such Shares or other securities to reflect such restrictions. If the Shares or other securities are traded on a securities exchange, the Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless and until such Shares or other securities have been admitted for trading on such securities exchange.
(vii) Section 409A Provisions . Notwithstanding anything in the Sub-Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that constitutes “deferred compensation” to a Participant under Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder is otherwise payable or distributable to a Participant under the Sub-Plan or any Award Agreement solely by reason of the occurrence of a Change in Control or due to the Participant’s disability or “separation from service” (as such term is defined under Section 409A), such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the Participant by reason of such circumstance unless the Committee determines in good faith that (i) the circumstances giving rise to such Change in Control, disability or separation from service meet the definition of a change in ownership or control, disability, or separation from service, as the case may be, in Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Code and applicable proposed or final regulations, or (ii) the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Section 409A by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise. Any payment or distribution that otherwise would be made to a Participant who is a Specified Employee (as determined by the Committee in good faith) on account of separation from service may not be made before the date which is 6 months after the date of the Specified Employee’s separation from service (or if earlier, upon the Specified Employee’s death) unless the payment or distribution is exempt from the application of Section 409A by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise.
Section 7. Amendment and Termination; Corrections .
(a) Amendments to the Sub-Plan . The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Sub-Plan at any time without the approval of the stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Sub-Plan or any Award Agreement, prior approval of the stockholders of the Company shall be required for any amendment to the Sub-Plan that:
(i) requires stockholder approval under the applicable rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the American Stock Exchange, TSX Policies or any other securities exchange that are applicable to the Company;
(ii) increases the number of shares authorized under the Sub-Plan as specified in Section 4(a) of the Sub-Plan;
(iii) increases the number of shares subject to the limitations contained in Sections 4(d)(i), (iii) and (iv) of the Sub-Plan or the dollar amount subject to the limitation contained in Section 4(d)(ii) of the Sub-Plan;
(iv) reduce the exercise price of Options to Insider, unless such repricing does not required stockholders approval according to TSX Policies;
(v) permits the award of Options at a price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right; and
(vi) would cause Section 162(m) to become unavailable with respect to the Sub-Plan.
(b) Amendments to Awards . Subject to the provisions of the Sub-Plan, the Committee or Administrator may waive any conditions of or rights of the Company under any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively. Except as otherwise provided in the Sub-Plan, the Committee or Administrator may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, but no such action may adversely affect the rights of the holder of such Award without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary thereof. The Company intends that Awards under the Sub-Plan shall satisfy the requirements of Section 409A to avoid any adverse tax results thereunder, and the Committee shall administer and interpret the Sub-Plan and all Award Agreements in a manner consistent with that intent. If any provision of the Sub-Plan or an Award Agreement would result in adverse tax consequences under Section 409A, the Committee may amend that provision (or take any other action reasonably necessary) to avoid any adverse tax results and no action taken to comply with Section 409A shall be deemed to impair or otherwise adversely affect the rights of any holder of an Award or beneficiary thereof.
(c) Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies . The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Sub-Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to implement or maintain the effectiveness of the Sub-Plan.
Section 8. Income Tax Withholding .
In order to comply with all applicable federal, state, local or foreign income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state, local or foreign payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of a Participant, are withheld or collected from such Participant. In order to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the applicable taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (a) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes or (b) delivering to the Company Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes. The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.
Section 9. General Provisions .
(a) No Rights to Awards . No Eligible Person, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Sub-Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons, Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Sub-Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect to different Participants.
(b) Award Agreements . No Participant shall have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Company and, if requested by the Company, signed by the Participant, or until such Award Agreement is delivered and accepted through any electronic medium in accordance with procedures established by the Company.
(c) No Rights of Stockholders . Except with respect to Restricted Stock and Stock Awards, neither a Participant nor the Participant’s legal representative shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable upon the exercise or payment of any Award, in whole or in part, unless and until the Shares have been issued.
(d) No Limit on Other Compensation Plans or Arrangements . Nothing contained in the Sub-Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation plans or arrangements, and such plans or arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
(e) No Right to Employment or Directorship . The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Affiliate, or a Director to be retained as a Director, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Participant’s employment at any time, with or without cause. In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment free from any liability or any claim under the Sub-Plan or any Award, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Sub-Plan or in any Award Agreement.
(f) Governing Law . The internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Delaware, shall govern all questions concerning the validity, construction and effect of the Sub-Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Sub-Plan or any Award.
(g) Severability . If any provision of the Sub-Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Sub-Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Sub-Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the Sub-Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(h) No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Sub-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 or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
(i) No Fractional Shares . No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Sub-Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Share or whether such fractional Share or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.
(j) Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Sub-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 the Sub-Plan or any provision thereof.
Section 10. Effective Date of the Sub-Plan; Effect on Prior Sub-Plan .
The Sub-Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company at the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held after January 6, 2012 and the Sub-Plan shall be effective as of the date of such stockholder approval. In addition, the increase in the number of Shares from 9,579,104 to 12,800,000 that may be issued under the Sub-Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company and such increase under the Sub-Plan shall be effective as of the date of such stockholder approval.
Section 11. Term of the Sub-Plan .
The Sub-Plan shall terminate at midnight on January 5, 2022, unless terminated before then by the Board. Awards may be granted under the Sub-Plan until the Sub-Plan terminates or until all Shares available for Awards under the Sub-Plan have been purchased or acquired; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may not be granted following the 10-year anniversary of the Board’s adoption of the Sub-Plan. As long as any Awards are outstanding under the Sub-Plan, the terms of the Sub-Plan shall govern such Awards.
Adopted by Board and shareholders on December 17, 2009 and amended by Board on January 6, 2012.
EFFECTIVE | ||
DATE OF | ||
ARTICLES | August 16, 2005 |
The Company has as its articles the following articles.
Full name and signature of authorized signatory | Date of signing | |
Douglas W. Cannaday /s/ Douglas W. Cannaday | August 16, 2005 | |
[Full name of director] |
Incorporation number: C732616
DEJOUR
ENTERPRISES LTD.
(the “Company”)
ARTICLES
1. | Interpretation | 2 |
2. | Shares and Share Certificates | 2 |
3. | Issue of Shares | 4 |
4. | Share Registers | 5 |
5. | Share Transfers | 5 |
6. | Transmission of Shares | 6 |
7. | Purchase of Shares | 7 |
8. | Borrowing Powers | 7 |
9. | Alterations | 8 |
10. | Meetings of Shareholders | 9 |
11. | Proceedings at Meetings of Shareholders | 11 |
12. | Votes of Shareholders | 14 |
13. | Directors | 18 |
14. | Election and Removal of Directors | 19 |
15. | Alternate Directors | 22 |
16. | Powers and Duties of Directors | 23 |
17. | Disclosure of Interest of Directors | 23 |
18. | Proceedings of Directors | 25 |
19. | Executive and Other Committees | 27 |
20. | Officers | 28 |
21. | Indemnification | 29 |
22. | Dividends and Reserves | 30 |
23. | Documents, Records and Reports | 32 |
24. | Notices | 32 |
25. | Seal | 33 |
26. | Prohibitions | 34 |
DuMoulin Black
|
1. | Interpretation |
1.1 | Definitions |
In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) | “board of directors”, “directors” and “board” mean the directors or sole director of the Company for the time being; |
(2) | “ Business Corporations Act ” means the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) from time to time in force and all amendments thereto and includes all regulations and amendments thereto made pursuant to that Act; |
(3) | “ Interpretation Act ” means the Interpretation Act (British Columbia) from time to time in force and all amendments thereto and includes all regulations and amendments thereto made pursuant to that Act; |
(4) | “legal personal representative” means the personal or other legal representative of the shareholder; |
(5) | “registered address” of a shareholder means the shareholder’s address as recorded in the central securities register; |
(6) | “seal” means the seal of the Company, if any. |
1.2 | Business Corporations Act and Interpretation Act Definitions Applicable |
The definitions in the Business Corporations Act and the definitions and rules of construction in the Interpretation Act , with the necessary changes, so far as applicable, and unless the context requires otherwise, apply to these Articles as if they were set out herein. If there is a conflict between a definition in the Business Corporations Act and a definition or rule in the Interpretation Act relating to a term used in these Articles, the definition in the Business Corporations Act will prevail in relation to the use of the term in these Articles. If there is a conflict between these Articles and the Business Corporations Act , the Business Corporations Act will prevail.
2. | Shares and Share Certificates |
2.1 | Authorized Share Structure |
The authorized share structure of the Company consists of shares of the class or classes and series, if any, described in the Notice of Articles of the Company.
2.2 | Form of Share Certificate |
Each share certificate issued by the Company must comply with, and be signed as required by, the Business Corporations Act .
2.3 | Shareholder Entitled to Certificate or Acknowledgment |
Each shareholder is entitled, without charge, to (a) one share certificate representing the shares of each class or series of shares registered in the shareholder’s name or (b) a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain such a share certificate, provided that in respect of a share held jointly by several persons, the Company is not bound to issue more than one share certificate and delivery of a share certificate to one of several joint shareholders or to one of the shareholders’ duly authorized agents will be sufficient delivery to all.
DuMoulin Black
2 |
2.4 | Delivery by Mail |
Any share certificate or non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate may be sent to the shareholder by mail at the shareholder’s registered address and neither the Company nor any director, officer or agent of the Company is liable for any loss to the shareholder because the share certificate or acknowledgement is lost in the mail or stolen.
2.5 | Replacement of Worn Out or Defaced Certificate or Acknowledgement |
If the directors are satisfied that a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is worn out or defaced, they must, on production to them of the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, and on such other terms, if any, as they think fit:
(1) | order the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, to be cancelled; and |
(2) | issue a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be. |
2.6 | Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificate or Acknowledgment |
If a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, must be issued to the person entitled to that share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, if the directors receive:
(1) | proof satisfactory to them that the share certificate or acknowledgment is lost, stolen or destroyed; and |
(2) | any indemnity the directors consider adequate. |
2.7 | Splitting Share Certificates |
If a shareholder surrenders a share certificate to the Company with a written request that the Company issue in the shareholder’s name two or more share certificates, each representing a specified number of shares and in the aggregate representing the same number of shares as the share certificate so surrendered, the Company must cancel the surrendered share certificate and issue replacement share certificates in accordance with that request.
2.8 | Certificate Fee |
There must be paid as a fee to the Company for issuance of any share certificate under Articles 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7, the amount, if any determined by the directors, which must not exceed the amount prescribed under the Business Corporations Act .
2.9 | Recognition of Trusts |
Except as required by law or statute or these Articles, no person will be recognized by the Company as holding any share upon any trust, and the Company is not bound by or compelled in any way to recognize (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or fraction of a share or (except as by law or statute or these Articles provided or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the shareholder.
DuMoulin Black
3 |
3. | Issue of Shares |
3.1 | Directors Authorized |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act and the rights of the holders of issued shares of the Company, the Company may issue, allot, sell or otherwise dispose of the unissued shares, and issued shares held by the Company, at the times, to the persons, including directors, in the manner, on the terms and conditions and for the issue prices (including any premium at which shares with par value may be issued) that the directors may determine. The issue price for a share with par value must be equal to or greater than the par value of the share.
3.2 | Commissions and Discounts |
The Company may at any time, pay a reasonable commission or allow a reasonable discount to any person in consideration of that person purchasing or agreeing to purchase shares of the Company from the Company or any other person or procuring or agreeing to procure purchasers for shares of the Company.
3.3 | Brokerage |
The Company may pay such brokerage fee or other consideration as may be lawful for or in connection with the sale or placement of its securities.
3.4 | Conditions of Issue |
Except as provided for by the Business Corporations Act , no share may be issued until it is fully paid. A share is fully paid when:
(1) | consideration is provided to the Company for the issue of the share by one or more of the following: |
(a) | past services performed for the Company; |
(b) | property; |
(c) | money; and |
(2) | the directors in their discretion have determined that the value of the consideration received by the Company is equal to or greater than the issue price set for the share under Article 3.1. |
3.5 | Share Purchase Warrants and Rights |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act , the Company may issue share purchase warrants, options and rights upon such terms and conditions as the directors determine, which share purchase warrants, options and rights may be issued alone or in conjunction with debentures, debenture stock, bonds, shares or any other securities issued or created by the Company from time to time.
DuMoulin Black
4 |
4. | Share Registers |
4.1 | Central Securities Register and any Branch Securities Register |
As required by and subject to the Business Corporations Act , the Company must maintain a central securities register and may maintain a branch securities register. The directors may, subject to the Business Corporations Act , appoint an agent to maintain the central securities register or any branch securities register. The directors may also appoint one or more agents, including the agent which keeps the central securities register, as transfer agent for its shares or any class or series of its shares, as the case may be, and the same or another agent as registrar for its shares or such class or series of its shares, as the case may be. The directors may terminate such appointment of any agent at any time and may appoint another agent in its place.
4.2 | Closing Register |
The Company must not at any time close its central securities register.
5. | Share Transfers |
5.1 | Registering Transfers |
A transfer of a share of the Company must not be registered unless:
(1) | a duly signed instrument of transfer in respect of the share has been received by the Company; |
(2) | if a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that share certificate has been surrendered to the Company; and |
(3) | if a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that acknowledgment has been surrendered to the Company. |
For the purpose of this Article, delivery or surrender to the agent which maintains the Company's central securities register or a branch securities register, if applicable, will constitute receipt by or surrender to the Company.
5.2 | Form of Instrument of Transfer |
The instrument of transfer in respect of any share of the Company must be either in the form, if any, on the back of the Company’s share certificates or in any other form that may be approved by the directors from time to time.
5.3 | Transferor Remains Shareholder |
Except to the extent that the Business Corporations Act otherwise provides, the transferor of shares is deemed to remain the holder of the shares until the name of the transferee is entered in a securities register or branch securities register, if applicable, of the Company in respect of the transfer.
5.4 | Signing of Instrument of Transfer |
If a shareholder, or his or her duly authorized attorney, signs an authorized instrument of transfer in respect of shares registered in the name of the shareholder, the signed instrument of transfer constitutes a complete and sufficient authority to the Company and its directors, officers and agents to register the number of shares specified in the instrument of transfer or specified in any other manner, or, if no number is specified, all the shares represented by the share certificates or set out in the written acknowledgments deposited with the instrument of transfer:
DuMoulin Black
5 |
(1) | in the name of the person named as transferee in that instrument of transfer; or |
(2) | if no person is named as transferee in that instrument of transfer, in the name of the person on whose behalf the instrument is deposited for the purpose of having the transfer registered. |
5.5 | Enquiry as to Title Not Required |
Neither the Company nor any director, officer or agent of the Company is bound to inquire into the title of the person named in the instrument of transfer as transferee or, if no person is named as transferee in the instrument of transfer, of the person on whose behalf the instrument is deposited for the purpose of having the transfer registered or is liable for any claim related to registering the transfer by the shareholder or by any intermediate owner or holder of the shares, of any interest in the shares, of any share certificate representing such shares or of any written acknowledgment of a right to obtain a share certificate for such shares.
5.6 | Transfer Fee |
There must be paid as a fee to the Company, registration of any transfer, the amount, if any, determined by the directors.
6. | Transmission of Shares |
6.1 | Legal Personal Representative Recognized on Death |
In case of the death of a shareholder, the legal personal representative, or if the shareholder was a joint holder, the surviving joint holder, will be the only person recognized by the Company as having any title to the shareholder’s interest in the shares. Before recognizing a person as a legal personal representative, the directors may require a declaration of transmission made by the legal personal representative stating the particulars of the transmission, proof of appointment by a court of competent jurisdiction, a grant of letters probate, letters of administration or such other evidence or documents as the directors consider appropriate.
6.2 | Trustee in Bankruptcy Recognized on Bankruptcy |
In the case of bankruptcy of a shareholder, the trustee in bankruptcy will be the only person recognized by the Company as having any title to the shareholder’s interest in the shares. Before recognizing a person as a trustee in bankruptcy, the directors may require a declaration of transmission made by the trustee in bankruptcy stating the particulars of the transmission, proof of appointment by a court of competent jurisdiction, a copy of the court order or of the assignment in bankruptcy and a copy of the instrument appointing the trustee in bankruptcy or such other evidence or documents as the directors consider appropriate.
6.3 | Rights of Legal Personal Representative or Trustee in Bankruptcy |
The legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy has the same rights, privileges and obligations with respect to the shares as were held by the shareholder, including the right to transfer the shares in accordance with these Articles, provided the documents required by the Business Corporations Act and the directors have been deposited with the Company.
DuMoulin Black
6 |
7. | Purchase of Shares |
7.1 | Company Authorized to Purchase Shares |
Subject to Article 7.2, the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series and the Business Corporations Act , the Company may, if authorized by resolution of the directors, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares at the price and upon the terms specified in such resolution.
7.2 | Purchase When Insolvent |
The Company must not make a payment or provide any other consideration to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that:
(1) | the Company is insolvent; or |
(2) | making the payment or providing the consideration would render the Company insolvent. |
7.3 | Redemption of Shares |
If the Company proposes to redeem some but not all of the shares of any class, the Directors may, subject to any special rights and restrictions attached to such class of shares, decide the manner in which the shares to be redeemed shall be selected.
7.4 | Sale and Voting of Purchased Shares |
If the Company retains a share which it has redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired, the Company may sell, gift or otherwise dispose of the share, but, while such share is held by the Company, it:
(1) | is not entitled to vote the share at a meeting of its shareholders; |
(2) | must not pay a dividend in respect of the share; and |
(3) | must not make any other distribution in respect of the share. |
8. | Borrowing Powers |
8.1 | The Company, if authorized by the directors, may: |
(1) | borrow money in the manner and amount, on the security, from the sources and on the terms and conditions that the directors consider appropriate; |
(2) | issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations either outright or as security for any liability or obligation of the Company or any other person and on such other terms as they consider appropriate; |
(3) | guarantee the repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person; and |
(4) | mortgage, charge, whether by way of specific or floating charge, grant a security interest in, or give other security on, the whole or any part of the present and future assets and undertaking of the Company. |
DuMoulin Black
7 |
8.2 | Any bonds, debentures or other debt obligations of the Company may be issued at a discount, premium or otherwise, or with special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawing, allotment of or conversion into or exchange for shares or other securities, attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment of Directors or otherwise and may, by their terms, be assignable free from any equities between the Company and the person to whom they were issued or any subsequent holder thereof, all as the Directors may determine. |
9. | Alterations |
9.1 | Alteration of Authorized Share Structure |
Subject to Article 9.2 and the Business Corporations Act , the Company may:
(1) | by directors' resolution or ordinary resolution, in each case determined by the directors, to: |
(a) | create one or more classes or series of shares or, if none of the shares of a class or series of shares are allotted or issued, eliminate that class or series of shares; |
(b) | increase, reduce or eliminate the maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue of any class or series of shares or establish a maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares for which no maximum is established; |
(c) | subdivide all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares; |
(d) | if the Company is authorized to issue shares of a class of shares with par value: |
(i) | decrease the par value of those shares; or |
(ii) if none of the shares of that class of shares are allotted or issued, increase the par value of those shares;
(e) | change all or any of its unissued shares with par value into shares without par value or any of its unissued shares without par value into shares with par value or change all or any of its fully paid issued shares with par value into shares without par value; or |
(f) | alter the identifying name of any of its shares; and |
(2) | by ordinary resolution otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure. |
9.2 | Special Rights and Restrictions |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act , the Company may:
(1) | by directors' resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, create special rights or restrictions for, and attach those special rights or restrictions to, the shares of any class or series of shares, if none of those shares have been issued; or vary or delete any special rights or restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, if none of those shares have been issued; and |
(2) | by special resolution of the shareholders of the class or series affected, do any of the acts in (1) above if any of the shares of the class or series of shares have been issued. |
DuMoulin Black
8 |
9.3 | Change of Name |
The Company may by resolution of its directors or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, authorize an alteration of its Notice of Articles in order to change its name.
9.4 | Other Alterations |
The Company, save as otherwise provided by these Articles and subject to the Business Corporations Act , may:
(1) | by directors' resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, authorize alterations to the Articles that are procedural or administrative in nature or are matters that pursuant to these Articles are solely within the directors' powers, control or authority; and |
(2) | if the Business Corporations Act does not specify the type of resolution and these Articles do not specify another type of resolution, by ordinary resolution alter these Articles. |
10. | Meetings of Shareholders |
10.1 | Annual General Meetings |
Unless an annual general meeting is deferred or waived in accordance with the Business Corporations Act , the Company shall hold its first annual general meeting within 18 months after the date on which it was recognized, and after that shall hold an annual general meeting at least once in each calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last annual reference date at such time and place as may be determined by the directors.
10.2 | Resolution Instead of Annual General Meeting |
If all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting consent by a unanimous resolution under the Business Corporations Act to all of the business that is required to be transacted at that annual general meeting, the annual general meeting is deemed to have been held on the date of the unanimous resolution. The shareholders must, in any unanimous resolution passed under this Article 10.2, select as the Company’s annual reference date a date that would be appropriate for the holding of the applicable annual general meeting.
10.3 | Calling of Meetings of Shareholders |
The directors may, whenever they think fit, call a meeting of shareholders.
10.4 | Location of Meetings of Shareholders and Meetings by Telephone or Other Electronic Means |
A meeting of the Company may be held:
(1) | at a location outside British Columbia if that location is: |
(a) | approved by resolution of the directors before the meeting is held; or |
(b) | approved in writing by the Registrar of Companies before the meeting is held; and |
(2) entirely or in part by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting, if approved by directors’ resolution prior to the meeting and subject to the Business Corporations Act
DuMoulin Black
9 |
10.5 | Notice for Meetings of Shareholders |
Subject to Article 10.2, the Company shall send notice of the date, time and location of any meeting of shareholders, in the manner provided in these Articles, or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by directors' resolution (whether previous notice of the resolution has been given or not), to each shareholder entitled to attend the meeting, to each director and to the auditor of the Company, unless these Articles otherwise provide, at least the following number of days before the meeting:
(1) | if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days; |
(2) | otherwise, 10 days. |
10.6 | Record Date for Notice |
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting of shareholders. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is to be held by more than two months or, in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders under the Business Corporations Act , by more than four months. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is held by fewer than:
(1) | if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days; |
(2) | otherwise, 10 days. |
If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.
10.7 | Record Date for Voting |
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is to be held by more than two months or, in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders under the Business Corporations Act , by more than four months. If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.
10.8 | Failure to Give Notice and Waiver of Notice |
The accidental omission to send notice of any meeting to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any of the persons entitled to notice does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting. Any person entitled to notice of a meeting of shareholders may, in writing or otherwise, waive or reduce the period of notice of such meeting.
10.9 | Notice of Special Business at Meetings of Shareholders |
If a meeting of shareholders is to consider special business within the meaning of Article 11.1, the notice of meeting or a circular prepared in connection with the meeting must:
(1) | state the general nature of the special business; and |
(2) | if the special business includes considering, approving, ratifying, adopting or authorizing any document or the signing of or giving of effect to any document, have attached to it a copy of the document or state that a copy of the document: |
DuMoulin Black
10 |
(a) | will be available for inspection by shareholders at the Company’s records office, or at such other reasonably accessible location in British Columbia as is specified in the notice during statutory business hours on any one or more specified days before the day set for the holding of the meeting; and |
(b) | may provide that the document is available by request from the Company or accessible electronically or on a website as determined by the directors. |
11. | Proceedings at Meetings of Shareholders |
11.1 | Special Business |
At a meeting of shareholders, the following business is special business:
(1) | at a meeting of shareholders that is not an annual general meeting, all business is special business except business relating to the conduct of or voting at the meeting; |
(2) | at an annual general meeting, all business is special business except for the following: |
(a) | business relating to the conduct of or voting at the meeting; |
(b) | consideration of any financial statements of the Company presented to the meeting; |
(c) | consideration of any reports of the directors or auditor; |
(d) | the setting or changing of the number of directors; |
(e) | the election or appointment of directors; |
(f) | the appointment of an auditor; |
(g) | the setting of the remuneration of an auditor; |
(h) | business arising out of a report of the directors not requiring the passing of a special resolution or an exceptional resolution; |
(i) | any other business which, under these Articles or the Business Corporations Act , may be transacted at a meeting of shareholders without prior notice of the business being given to the shareholders. |
11.2 | Special Majority |
The majority of votes required for the Company to pass a special resolution at a meeting of shareholders is two-thirds of the votes cast on the resolution.
11.3 | Quorum |
Subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is one shareholder present in person or represented by proxy.
DuMoulin Black
11 |
11.4 | Other Persons May Attend |
The directors, the president (if any), the secretary (if any), the assistant secretary (if any), any lawyer for the Company, the auditor of the Company and any other persons invited by the directors are entitled to attend any meeting of shareholders, but if any of those persons does attend a meeting of shareholders, that person is not to be counted in the quorum and is not entitled to vote at the meeting unless that person is a shareholder or proxy holder entitled to vote at the meeting.
11.5 | Requirement of Quorum |
No business, other than the election of a chair of the meeting and the adjournment of the meeting, may be transacted at any meeting of shareholders unless a quorum of shareholders entitled to vote is present at the commencement of the meeting, but such quorum need not be present throughout the meeting.
11.6 | Lack of Quorum |
If, within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of a meeting of shareholders, a quorum is not present:
(1) | in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders, the meeting is dissolved, and |
(2) | in the case of any other meeting of shareholders, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the next business day. |
11.7 | Lack of Quorum at Succeeding Meeting |
If, at the meeting to which the meeting referred to in Article 11.6(2) was adjourned, a quorum is not present within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of the meeting, the person or persons present and being, or representing by proxy, one or more shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum.
11.8 | Chair |
The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of shareholders:
(1) | the chair of the board, if any; or |
(2) | if the chair of the board is absent or unwilling to act as chair of the meeting, the president, if any. |
11.9 | Selection of Alternate Chair |
If, at any meeting of shareholders, there is no chair of the board or president willing to act as chair of the meeting or present within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting, or if the chair of the board and the president have advised the secretary, if any, or any director present at the meeting, that they will not be present at the meeting, the directors present shall choose a director, officer or corporate counsel to be chair of the meeting or if none of the above persons are present or if they decline to take the chair, the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting who are present in person or by proxy may choose any person present at the meeting to chair the meeting.
DuMoulin Black
12 |
11.10 | Adjournments |
The chair of a meeting of shareholders may, and if so directed by the meeting must, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business may be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
11.11 | Notice of Adjourned Meeting |
It is not necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting of shareholders except that, when a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given as in the case of the original meeting.
11.12 | Decisions by Show of Hands or Poll |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act , every motion put to a vote at a meeting of shareholders will be decided on a show of hands unless a poll, before or on the declaration of the result of the vote by show of hands, is directed by the chair or demanded by at least one shareholder entitled to vote who is present in person or by proxy.
11.13 | Declaration of Result |
The chair of a meeting of shareholders shall declare to the meeting the decision on every question in accordance with the result of the show of hands or the poll, as the case may be, and that decision must be entered in the minutes of the meeting. A declaration of the chair that a resolution is carried by the necessary majority or is defeated is, unless a poll is directed by the chair or demanded under Article 11.12, conclusive evidence without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
11.14 | Motion Need Not be Seconded |
No motion proposed at a meeting of shareholders need be seconded unless the chair of the meeting rules otherwise, and the chair of any meeting of shareholders is entitled to propose or second a motion.
11.15 | Casting Vote |
In case of an equality of votes, the chair of a meeting of shareholders, either on a show of hands or on a poll, has a second or casting vote in addition to the vote or votes to which the chair may be entitled as a shareholder or proxy holder and this provision shall apply not withstanding the Chair is interested in the subject matter of the resolution.
11.16 | Manner of Taking Poll |
Subject to Article 11.17, if a poll is duly demanded at a meeting of shareholders:
(1) | the poll must be taken: |
(a) | at the meeting, or within seven days after the date of the meeting, as the chair of the meeting directs; and |
(b) | in the manner, at the time and at the place that the chair of the meeting directs; |
(2) | the result of the poll is deemed to be the decision of the meeting at which the poll is demanded; and |
DuMoulin Black
13 |
(3) | the demand for the poll may be withdrawn by the person who demanded it. |
11.17 | Demand for Poll on Adjournment |
A poll demanded at a meeting of shareholders on a question of adjournment must be taken immediately at the meeting.
11.18 | Chair Must Resolve Dispute |
In the case of any dispute as to the admission or rejection of a vote given on a poll, the chair of the meeting shall determine the dispute, and his or her determination made in good faith is final and conclusive.
11.19 | Casting of Votes |
On a poll, a shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not cast all the votes in the same way.
11.20 | Demand for Poll |
No poll may be demanded in respect of the vote by which a chair of a meeting of shareholders is elected.
11.21 | Demand for Poll Not to Prevent Continuance of Meeting |
The demand for a poll at a meeting of shareholders does not, unless the chair of the meeting so rules, prevent the continuation of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which a poll has been demanded.
11.22 | Retention of Ballots and Proxies |
The Company must, for at least three months after a meeting of shareholders, keep each ballot cast on a poll and each proxy voted at the meeting, and, during that period, make them available for inspection during normal business hours by any shareholder or proxy holder entitled to vote at the meeting. At the end of such three month period, the Company may destroy such ballots and proxies.
12. | Votes of Shareholders |
12.1 | Number of Votes by Shareholder or by Shares |
Subject to any special rights or restrictions attached to any shares and to the restrictions imposed on joint shareholders under Article 12.3:
(1) | on a vote by show of hands, every person present who is a shareholder or proxy holder and entitled to vote on the matter has one vote; and |
(2) | on a poll, every shareholder entitled to vote on the matter has one vote in respect of each share entitled to be voted on the matter and held by that shareholder and may exercise that vote either in person or by proxy. |
12.2 | Votes of Persons in Representative Capacity |
A person who is not a shareholder may vote at a meeting of shareholders, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and may appoint a proxy holder to act at the meeting, if, before doing so, the person satisfies the chair of the meeting, or the directors, that the person is a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy for a shareholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting.
DuMoulin Black
14 |
12.3 | Votes by Joint Holders |
If there are joint shareholders registered in respect of any share:
(1) | any one of the joint shareholders may vote at any meeting, either in person or by proxy, in respect of the share as if that joint shareholder were solely entitled to it; or |
(2) | if more than one of the joint shareholders is present at any meeting, in person or by proxy, and more than one of them votes in respect of that share, then only the vote of the joint shareholder present whose name stands first on the central securities register in respect of the share will be counted. |
12.4 | Legal Personal Representatives as Joint Shareholders |
Two or more legal personal representatives of a shareholder in whose sole name any share is registered are, for the purposes of Article 12.3, deemed to be joint shareholders.
12.5 | Representative of a Corporate Shareholder |
If a corporation that is not a subsidiary of the Company is a shareholder that corporation may appoint a person to act as its representative at any meeting of shareholders of the Company, and:
(1) | for that purpose, the instrument appointing a representative must: |
(a) | be received at the registered office of the Company or at any other place specified in the notice calling the meeting for the receipt of proxies, at least the number of business days specified in the notice for the receipt of proxies, or if no number of days is specified, two business days before the day set for the holding of the meeting; or |
(b) | at the discretion of the chair of the meeting, be provided at the meeting to the chair of the meeting or to a person designated by the chair of the meeting; |
(2) | if a representative is appointed under this Article 12.5: |
(a) | the representative is entitled to exercise in respect of and at that meeting the same rights on behalf of the corporation that the representative represents as that corporation could exercise if it were a shareholder who is an individual, including, without limitation, the right to appoint a proxy holder; and |
(b) | the representative, if present at the meeting, is to be counted for the purpose of forming a quorum and is deemed to be a shareholder present in person at the meeting. |
Evidence of the appointment of any such representative may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a corporation that is a shareholder may appoint a proxy holder.
DuMoulin Black
15 |
12.6 | Proxy Provisions Do Not Apply to All Companies |
Articles 12.7 to 12.15 do not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a public company or a pre-existing reporting company which has the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions as part of its Articles or to which the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions apply.
12.7 | Appointment of Proxy Holders |
Every shareholder of the Company, including a corporation that is a shareholder but not a subsidiary of the Company, entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders of the Company may, by proxy, appoint up to two proxy holders to attend and act at the meeting in the manner, to the extent and with the powers conferred by the proxy.
12.8 | Alternate Proxy Holders |
A shareholder may appoint one or more alternate proxy holders to act in the place of an absent proxy holder.
12.9 | When Proxy Holder Need Not Be Shareholder |
A person must not be appointed as a proxy holder unless the person is a shareholder, although a person who is not a shareholder may be appointed as a proxy holder if:
(1) | the person appointing the proxy holder is a corporation or a representative of a corporation appointed under Article 12.5; |
(2) | the Company has at the time of the meeting for which the proxy holder is to be appointed only one shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting; or |
(3) | the shareholders present in person or by proxy at and entitled to vote at the meeting for which the proxy holder is to be appointed, by a resolution on which the proxy holder is not entitled to vote but in respect of which the proxy holder is to be counted in the quorum, permit the proxy holder to attend and vote at the meeting. |
12.10 | Deposit of Proxy |
A proxy for a meeting of shareholders must:
(1) | be received at the registered office of the Company or at any other place specified, in the notice calling the meeting, for the receipt of proxies, at least the number of business days specified in the notice, or if no number of days is specified, two business days before the day set for the holding of the meeting; or |
(2) | unless the notice provides otherwise, be provided, at the meeting, to the chair of the meeting or to a person designated by the chair of the meeting. |
A proxy may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages.
12.11 | Validity of Proxy Vote |
A vote given in accordance with the terms of a proxy is valid notwithstanding the death or incapacity of the shareholder giving the proxy and despite the revocation of the proxy or the revocation of the authority under which the proxy is given, unless notice in writing of that death, incapacity or revocation is received:
DuMoulin Black
16 |
(1) | at the registered office of the Company, at any time up to and including the last business day before the day set for the holding of the meeting at which the proxy is to be used; or |
(2) | by the chair of the meeting, before the vote is taken. |
12.12 | Form of Proxy |
A proxy, whether for a specified meeting or otherwise, must be either in the following form or in any other form approved by the directors or the chair of the meeting:
[name
of company]
(the “Company”)
The undersigned, being a shareholder of the Company, hereby appoints [name] or, failing that person, [name] , as proxy holder for the undersigned to attend, act and vote for and on behalf of the undersigned at the meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on [month, day, year] and at any adjournment of that meeting.
Number of shares in respect of which this proxy is given (if no number is specified, then this proxy if given in respect of all shares registered in the name of the shareholder): _____________________
Signed [month, day, year] | |
[Signature of shareholder] | |
[Name of shareholder—printed] |
12.13 | Revocation of Proxy |
Subject to Article 12.14, every proxy may be revoked by an instrument in writing that is:
(1) | received at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day before the day set for the holding of the meeting at which the proxy is to be used; or |
(2) | provided, at the meeting, to the chair of the meeting. |
12.14 | Revocation of Proxy Must Be Signed |
An instrument referred to in Article 12.13 must be signed as follows:
(1) | if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is an individual, the instrument must be signed by the shareholder or his or her legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy; |
(2) | if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is a corporation, the instrument must be signed by the corporation or by a representative appointed for the corporation under Article 12.5. |
DuMoulin Black
17 |
12.15 | Production of Evidence of Authority to Vote |
The chair of any meeting of shareholders may, but need not, inquire into the authority of any person to vote at the meeting and may, but need not, demand from that person production of evidence as to the existence of the authority to vote.
12.16 | Electronic Meetings and Voting |
The directors may determine that a meeting of shareholders shall be held entirely by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate with each other during the meeting, and any vote at that meeting of shareholders shall be held entirely by means of that communication facility. A meeting of shareholders may also be held at which some, but not all, persons entitled to attend may participate and vote by means of such a communication facility, if the directors determine to make one available. A person participating in a meeting by such means is deemed to be present at the meeting. Any vote at a meeting of shareholders may be also held entirely by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility, if the directors determine to make one available, even if none of the persons entitled to attend otherwise participates in the meeting by means of a communication facility. For the purpose of voting, a communication facility that is made available by the Company must enable the votes to be gathered in a manner that adequately discloses the intentions of the shareholders and permits a proper tally of the votes to be presented to the Company. The instructing of proxy holders may be carried out by means of telephonic, electronic or other communication facility in addition to or in substitution for instructing proxy holders by mail.
13. | Directors |
13.1 | Number of Directors |
The number of directors, excluding additional directors appointed under Article 14.8, is set at:
(1) | subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the number of directors that is equal to the number of the Company’s first directors; |
(2) | if the Company is a public company, the greater of three and: |
(a) | the number of directors elected by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and |
(b) | the number of directors set under Article 14.4; |
(3) | if the Company is not a public company: |
(a) | the number of directors elected by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and |
(c) | the number of directors set under Article 14.4. |
13.2 | Change in Number of Directors |
If the number of directors is set under Articles 13.1(2) or 13.1(3):
(1) | the shareholders may elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number; |
DuMoulin Black
18 |
(2) | if the shareholders do not elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number contemporaneously with the setting of that number, then the directors may appoint, or the shareholders may elect or appoint, directors to fill those vacancies. |
13.3 | Directors’ Acts Valid Despite Vacancy |
An act or proceeding of the directors is not invalid merely because fewer than the number of directors set or otherwise required under these Articles is in office.
13.4 | Qualifications of Directors |
A director is not required to hold a share in the capital of the Company as qualification for his or her office but must be qualified as required by the Business Corporations Act to become, act or continue to act as a director.
13.3 | Remuneration of Directors |
The directors are entitled to the remuneration for acting as directors, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine. If the directors so decide, the remuneration of the directors, if any, will be determined by the shareholders. That remuneration may be in addition to any salary or other remuneration paid to any officer or employee of the Company as such, who is also a director.
13.4 | Reimbursement of Expenses of Directors |
The Company must reimburse each director for the reasonable expenses that he or she may incur in and about the business of the Company.
13.5 | Special Remuneration for Directors |
If any director performs any professional or other services for the Company that in the opinion of the directors are outside the ordinary duties of a director, or if any director is otherwise specially occupied in or about the Company’s business, he or she may be paid remuneration fixed by the directors, or, at the option of that director, fixed by ordinary resolution, and such remuneration may be either in addition to, or in substitution for, any other remuneration that he or she may be entitled to receive.
13.6 | Gratuity, Pension or Allowance on Retirement of Director |
Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any director or to his or her spouse or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.
14. | Election and Removal of Directors |
14.1 | Election at Annual General Meeting |
At every annual general meeting and in every unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2:
(1) | the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual general meeting for the election of directors must elect, or in the unanimous resolution appoint, a board of directors consisting of the number of directors for the time being set under these Articles; and |
DuMoulin Black
19 |
(2) | those directors whose term of office expires at the annual general meeting cease to hold office immediately before the election or appointment of directors under paragraph (1), but are eligible for re-election or re-appointment. |
14.2 | Consent to be a Director |
No election, appointment or designation of an individual as a director is valid unless:
(1) | that individual consents to be a director in the manner provided for in the Business Corporations Act ; or |
(2) | that individual is elected or appointed at a meeting at which the individual is present and the individual does not refuse, at the meeting, to be a director. |
14.3 | Failure to Elect or Appoint Directors |
If:
(1) | the Company fails to hold an annual general meeting, and all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting fail to pass the unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2, on or before the date by which the annual general meeting is required to be held under the Business Corporations Act ; or |
(2) | the shareholders fail, at the annual general meeting or in the unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2, to elect or appoint any directors; |
then each director then in office continues to hold office until the earlier of:
(3) | the date on which his or her successor is elected or appointed; and |
(4) | the date on which he or she otherwise ceases to hold office under the Business Corporations Act or these Articles. |
14.4 | Places of Retiring Directors Not Filled |
If, at any meeting of shareholders at which there should be an election of directors, the places of any of the retiring directors are not filled by that election, those retiring directors who are not re-elected and who are asked by the newly elected directors to continue in office will, if willing to do so, continue in office to complete the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles until further new directors are elected at a meeting of shareholders convened for that purpose. If any such election or continuance of directors does not result in the election or continuance of the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles, the number of directors of the Company is deemed to be set at the number of directors actually elected or continued in office.
14.5 | Directors May Fill Casual Vacancies |
Any casual vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by the directors.
14.6 | Remaining Directors Power to Act |
The directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the board of directors, but if the Company has fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the directors may only act for the purpose of appointing directors up to that number or of summoning a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of filling any vacancies on the board of directors or, subject to the Business Corporations Act , for any other purpose.
DuMoulin Black
20 |
14.7 | Shareholders May Fill Vacancies |
If the Company has no directors or fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the shareholders may elect or appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the board of directors.
14.8 | Additional Directors |
Notwithstanding Articles 13.1 and 13.2, between annual general meetings or unanimous resolutions contemplated by Article 10.2, the directors may appoint one or more additional directors, but the number of additional directors appointed under this Article 14.8 must not at any time exceed one-third of the number of the current directors who were elected or appointed as directors other than under this Article 14.8.
Any director so appointed ceases to hold office upon the next election or appointment of directors under Article 14.1(1), but is eligible for re-election or re-appointment.
14.9 | Ceasing to be a Director |
A director ceases to be a director when:
(1) | the term of office of the director expires; |
(2) | the director dies; |
(3) | the director resigns as a director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a lawyer for the Company; or |
(4) | the director is removed from office pursuant to Articles 14.10 or 14.11. |
14.10 | Removal of Director by Shareholders |
The Company may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office by special resolution. In that event, the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill the resulting vacancy. If the shareholders do not elect or appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy contemporaneously with the removal, then the directors may appoint or the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill that vacancy.
14.11 | Removal of Director by Directors |
The directors may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office if the director is convicted of an indictable offence, or if the director ceases to be qualified to act as a director of a company and does not promptly resign, and the directors may appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy.
DuMoulin Black
21 |
15. | Alternate Directors |
15.1 | Appointment of Alternate Director |
Any director (an “appointor”) may by notice in writing received by the Company appoint any person (an “appointee”) who is qualified to act as a director to be his or her alternate to act in his or her place at meetings of the directors or committees of the directors at which the appointor is not present unless (in the case of an appointee who is not a director) the directors have reasonably disapproved the appointment of such person as an alternate director and have given notice to that effect to his or her appointor within a reasonable time after the notice of appointment is received by the Company.
15.2 | Notice of Meetings |
Every alternate director so appointed is entitled to notice of meetings of the directors and of committees of the directors of which his or her appointor is a member and to attend and vote as a director at any such meetings at which his or her appointor is not present.
15.3 | Alternate for More Than One Director Attending Meetings |
A person may be appointed as an alternate director by more than one director, and an alternate director:
(1) | will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of directors once for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, once more in that capacity; |
(2) | has a separate vote at a meeting of directors for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, an additional vote in that capacity; |
(3) | will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of a committee of directors once for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a director, once more in that capacity; |
(4) | has a separate vote at a meeting of a committee of directors for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a director, an additional vote in that capacity. |
15.4 | Consent Resolutions |
Every alternate director, if authorized by the notice appointing him or her, may sign in place of his or her appointor any resolutions to be consented to in writing.
15.5 | Alternate Director Not an Agent |
Every alternate director is deemed not to be the agent of his or her appointor.
15.6 | Revocation of Appointment of Alternate Director |
An appointor may at any time, by notice in writing received by the Company, revoke the appointment of an alternate director appointed by him or her.
15.7 | Ceasing to be an Alternate Director |
The appointment of an alternate director ceases when:
DuMoulin Black
22 |
(1) | his or her appointor ceases to be a director and is not promptly re-elected or re-appointed; |
(2) | the alternate director dies; |
(3) | the alternate director resigns as an alternate director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a lawyer for the Company; |
(4) | the alternate director ceases to be qualified to act as a director; or |
(5) | his or her appointor revokes the appointment of the alternate director. |
15.8 | Remuneration and Expenses of Alternate Director |
The Company may reimburse an alternate director for the reasonable expenses that would be properly reimbursed if he or she were a director, and the alternate director is entitled to receive from the Company such proportion, if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to the appointor as the appointor may from time to time direct.
16. | Powers and Duties of Directors |
16.1 | Powers of Management |
The directors must, subject to the Business Corporations Act and these Articles, manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Company and have the authority to exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by the Business Corporations Act or by these Articles, required to be exercised by the shareholders of the Company.
16.2 | Appointment of Attorney of Company |
The directors may from time to time, by power of attorney or other instrument, under seal if so required by law, appoint any person to be the attorney of the Company for such purposes, and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the directors under these Articles and excepting the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors, to remove a director, to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors, to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors and to declare dividends) and for such period, and with such remuneration and subject to such conditions as the directors may think fit. Any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection or convenience of persons dealing with such attorney as the directors think fit. Any such attorney may be authorized by the directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in him or her.
17. | Disclosure of Interest of Directors |
17.1 | Obligation to Account for Profits |
A director or senior officer who holds a disclosable interest (as that term is used in the Business Corporations Act ) in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter is liable to account to the Company for any profit that accrues to the director or senior officer under or as a result of the contract or transaction only if and to the extent provided in the Business Corporations Act .
DuMoulin Black
23 |
17.2 | Restrictions on Voting by Reason of Interest |
A director who holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter is not entitled to vote on any directors’ resolution to approve that contract or transaction, unless all the directors have a disclosable interest in that contract or transaction, in which case any or all of those directors may vote on such resolution.
17.3 | Interested Director Counted in Quorum |
A director who holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter and who is present at the meeting of directors at which the contract or transaction is considered for approval may be counted in the quorum at the meeting whether or not the director votes on any or all of the resolutions considered at the meeting.
17.4 | Disclosure of Conflict of Interest or Property |
A director or senior officer who holds any office or possesses any property, right or interest that could result, directly or indirectly, in the creation of a duty or interest that materially conflicts with that individual’s duty or interest as a director or senior officer, must disclose the nature and extent of the conflict as required by the Business Corporations Act .
17.5 | Director Holding Other Office in the Company |
A director may hold any office or place of profit with the Company, other than the office of auditor of the Company, in addition to his or her office of director for the period and on the terms (as to remuneration or otherwise) that the directors may determine.
17.6 | No Disqualification |
No director or intended director is disqualified by his or her office from contracting with the Company either with regard to the holding of any office or place of profit the director holds with the Company or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, and no contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company is invalid merely because:
(1) | a director or senior officer of the company has an interest, direct or indirect, in the contract or transaction; |
(2) | a director of senior officer of the company has not disclosed an interest he or she has in the contract or transaction; or |
(3) | the directors or shareholders of the company have not approved the contract or transaction in which a director or senior officer of the company has an interest. |
17.7 | Professional Services by Director or Officer |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act , a director or officer, or any person in which a director or officer has an interest, may act in a professional capacity for the Company, except as auditor of the Company, and the director or officer or such person is entitled to remuneration for professional services as if that director or officer were not a director or officer.
DuMoulin Black
24 |
17.8 | Director or Officer in Other Corporations |
A director or officer may be or become a director, officer or employee of, or otherwise interested in, any person in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder or otherwise, and, subject to the Business Corporations Act , the director or officer is not accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him or her as director, officer or employee of, or from his or her interest in, such other person.
18. | Proceedings of Directors |
18.1 | Meetings of Directors |
The directors may meet together for the conduct of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit, and meetings of the directors held at regular intervals may be held at the place, at the time and on the notice, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine.
18.2 | Voting at Meetings |
Questions arising at any meeting of directors are to be decided by a majority of votes and, in the case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting has a second or casting vote.
18.3 | Chair of Meetings |
The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of directors:
(1) | the chair of the board, if any; |
(2) | in the absence of the chair of the board or if designated by the chair, the president, a director or other officer; or |
(3) | any other director or officer chosen by the directors if: |
(a) | neither the chair of the board nor the president is present at the meeting within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting; |
(b) | neither the chair of the board nor the president is willing to chair the meeting; or |
(c) | the chair of the board and the president have advised the secretary, if any, or any other director, that they will not be present at the meeting. |
18.4 | Meetings by Telephone or Other Communications Medium |
A director may participate in a meeting of the directors or of any committee of the directors in person or by telephone if all directors participating in the meeting, whether in person or by telephone or other communications medium, are able to communicate with each other. A director may participate in a meeting of the directors or of any committee of the directors by a communications medium other than telephone if all directors participating in the meeting, whether in person or by telephone or other communications medium, are able to communicate with each other and if all directors who wish to participate in the meeting agree to such participation. A director who participates in a meeting in a manner contemplated by this Article 18.4 is deemed for all purposes of the Business Corporations Act and these Articles to be present at the meeting and to have agreed to participate in that manner .
DuMoulin Black
25 |
18.5 | Calling of Meetings |
A director may, and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company, if any, on the request of a director shall, call a meeting of the directors at any time.
18.6 | Notice of Meetings |
Other than for meetings held at regular intervals as determined by the directors pursuant to Article 18.1, reasonable notice of each meeting of the directors, specifying the place, day and time of that meeting must be given to each of the directors and the alternate directors by any method set out in Article 24.1 or orally or by telephone.
18.7 | When Notice Not Required |
It is not necessary to give notice of a meeting of the directors to a director or an alternate director if:
(1) | the meeting is to be held immediately following a meeting of shareholders at which that director was elected or appointed, or is the meeting of the directors at which that director is appointed; or |
(2) | the director or alternate director, as the case may be, has waived notice of the meeting. |
18.8 | Meeting Valid Despite Failure to Give Notice |
The accidental omission to give notice of any meeting of directors to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any director or alternate director, does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting.
18.9 | Waiver of Notice of Meetings |
Any director or alternate director may send to the Company a document signed by him or her waiving notice of any past, present or future meeting or meetings of the directors and may at any time withdraw that waiver with respect to meetings held after that withdrawal. After sending a waiver with respect to all future meetings and until that waiver is withdrawn, no notice of any meeting of the directors need be given to that director and, unless the director otherwise requires by notice in writing to the Company, to his or her alternate director, and all meetings of the directors so held are deemed not to be improperly called or constituted by reason of notice not having been given to such director or alternate director.
18.10 | Quorum |
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the directors may be set by the directors and, if not so set, is deemed to be set at a majority of the directors or, if the number of directors is set at one, is deemed to be set at one director, and that director may constitute a meeting.
18.11 | Validity of Acts Where Appointment Defective |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act , an act of a director or officer is not invalid merely because of an irregularity in the election or appointment or a defect in the qualification of that director or officer.
DuMoulin Black
26 |
18.12 | Consent Resolutions in Writing |
A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors consented to in writing by all of the directors entitled to vote on it, whether by signed document, fax, email or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages, is as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors duly called and held. Such resolution may be in two or more counterparts which together are deemed to constitute one resolution in writing. A resolution passed in that manner is effective on the date stated in the resolution or on the latest date stated on any counterpart. A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors passed in accordance with this Article 18.12 is deemed to be a proceeding at a meeting of directors or of the committee of the directors and to be as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors that satisfies all the requirements of the Business Corporations Act and all the requirements of these Articles relating to meetings of the directors or of a committee of the directors.
19. | Executive and Other Committees |
19.1 | Appointment and Powers of Executive Committee |
The directors may, by resolution, appoint an executive committee consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate, and this committee has, during the intervals between meetings of the board of directors, all of the directors’ powers, except:
(1) | the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors; |
(2) | the power to remove a director; |
(3) | the power to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors; and |
(4) | such other powers, if any, as may be set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors’ resolution. |
19.2 | Appointment and Powers of Other Committees |
The directors may, by resolution:
(1) | appoint one or more committees (other than the executive committee) consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate; |
(2) | delegate to a committee appointed under paragraph (1) any of the directors’ powers, except: |
(a) | the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors; |
(b) | the power to remove a director; |
(c) | the power to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors; and |
(d) | the power to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors; and |
(3) | make any delegation referred to in paragraph (2) subject to the conditions set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors’ resolution. |
19.3 | Obligations of Committees |
Any committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2, in the exercise of the powers delegated to it, must:
(1) | conform to any rules that may from time to time be imposed on it by the directors; and |
DuMoulin Black
27 |
(2) | report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers at such times and in such manner and form as the directors may require. |
19.4 | Powers of Board |
The directors may, at any time, with respect to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2:
(1) | revoke or alter the authority given to the committee, or override a decision made by the committee, except as to acts done before such revocation, alteration or overriding; |
(2) | terminate the appointment of, or change the membership of, the committee; and |
(3) | fill vacancies in the committee. |
19.5 | Committee Meetings |
Subject to Article 19.3(1) and unless the directors otherwise provide in the resolution appointing the committee or in any subsequent resolution, with respect to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2:
(1) | the committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper; |
(2) | the committee may elect a chair of its meetings but, if no chair of a meeting is elected, or if at a meeting the chair of the meeting is not present within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting, the directors present who are members of the committee may choose one of their number to chair the meeting; |
(3) | a majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum of the committee; and |
(4) | questions arising at any meeting of the committee are determined by a majority of votes of the members present, and in case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting does not have a second or casting vote. |
20. | Officers |
20.1 | Directors May Appoint Officers |
The directors may, from time to time, appoint such officers, if any, as the directors determine and the directors may, at any time, terminate any such appointment.
20.2 | Functions, Duties and Powers of Officers |
The directors may, for each officer:
(1) | determine the functions and duties of the officer; |
(2) | entrust to and confer on the officer any of the powers exercisable by the directors on such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as the directors think fit; and |
(3) | revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of the functions, duties and powers of the officer. |
DuMoulin Black
28 |
20.3 | Qualifications |
No officer may be appointed unless that officer is qualified in accordance with the Business Corporations Act . One person may hold more than one position as an officer of the Company. Any person appointed as the chair of the board or as the managing director must be a director. Any other officer need not be a director.
20.4 | Remuneration and Terms of Appointment |
All appointments of officers are to be made on the terms and conditions and at the remuneration (whether by way of salary, fee, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) that the directors thinks fit and are subject to termination at the pleasure of the directors, and an officer may in addition to such remuneration be entitled to receive, after he or she ceases to hold such office or leaves the employment of the Company, a pension or gratuity.
21. | Indemnification |
21.1 | Definitions |
In this Article 21:
(1) | “eligible penalty” means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding; |
(2) | “eligible proceeding” means a legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed, in which a director, former director or alternate director of the Company (an “eligible party”) or any of the heirs and legal personal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or alternate director of the Company: |
(a) | is or may be joined as a party; or |
(b) | is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding; |
(3) | “expenses” has the meaning set out in the Business Corporations Act . |
21.2 | Mandatory Indemnification of Directors and Former Directors |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act , the Company must indemnify a director, former director or alternate director of the Company and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Company must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each director and alternate director is deemed to have contracted with the Company on the terms of the indemnity contained in this Article 21.2.
21.3 | Indemnification of Other Persons |
Subject to any restrictions in the Business Corporations Act and these Articles , the Company may indemnify any person.
DuMoulin Black
29 |
21.4 | Non-Compliance with Business Corporations Act |
The failure of a director, alternate director or officer of the Company to comply with the Business Corporations Act or these Articles does not invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under this Part.
21.5 | Company May Purchase Insurance |
The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives) who:
(1) | is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of the Company; |
(2) | is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the Company; |
(3) | at the request of the Company, is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity; |
(4) | at the request of the Company, holds or held a position equivalent to that of a director, alternate director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity; |
against any liability incurred by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.
22. | Dividends |
22.1 | Payment of Dividends Subject to Special Rights |
The provisions of this Article 22 are subject to the rights, if any, of shareholders holding shares with special rights as to dividends.
22.2 | Declaration of Dividends |
Subject to the Business Corporations Act , the directors may from time to time declare and authorize payment of such dividends as they may deem advisable.
22.3 | No Notice Required |
The directors need not give notice to any shareholder of any declaration under Article 22.2.
22.4 | Record Date |
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend. The record date must not precede the date on which the dividend is to be paid by more than two months. If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the date on which the directors pass the resolution declaring the dividend.
22.5 | Manner of Paying Dividend |
A resolution declaring a dividend may direct payment of the dividend wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets or of fully paid shares or of bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company, or in any one or more of those ways.
DuMoulin Black
30 |
22.6 | Settlement of Difficulties |
If any difficulty arises in regard to a distribution under Article 22.5, the directors may settle the difficulty as they deem advisable, and, in particular, may:
(1) | set the value for distribution of specific assets; |
(2) | determine that cash payments in substitution for all or any part of the specific assets to which any shareholders are entitled may be made to any shareholders on the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties; and |
(3) | vest any such specific assets in trustees for the persons entitled to the dividend. |
22.7 | When Dividend Payable |
Any dividend may be made payable on such date as is fixed by the directors.
22.8 | Dividends to be Paid in Accordance with Number of Shares |
All dividends on shares of any class or series of shares must be declared and paid according to the number of such shares held.
22.9 | Receipt by Joint Shareholders |
If several persons are joint shareholders of any share, any one of them may give an effective receipt for any dividend, bonus or other money payable in respect of the share.
22.10 | Dividend Bears No Interest |
No dividend bears interest against the Company.
22.11 | Fractional Dividends |
If a dividend to which a shareholder is entitled includes a fraction of the smallest monetary unit of the currency of the dividend, that fraction may be disregarded in making payment of the dividend and that payment represents full payment of the dividend.
22.12 | Payment of Dividends |
Any dividend or other distribution payable in cash in respect of shares may be paid by cheque, made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent, and mailed to the address of the shareholder, or in the case of joint shareholders, to the address of the joint shareholder who is first named on the central securities register, or to the person and to the address the shareholder or joint shareholders may direct in writing. The mailing of such cheque will, to the extent of the sum represented by the cheque (plus the amount of the tax required by law to be deducted), discharge all liability for the dividend unless such cheque is not paid on presentation or the amount of tax so deducted is not paid to the appropriate taxing authority.
22.13 | Capitalization of Surplus |
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, the directors may from time to time capitalize any surplus of the Company and may from time to time issue, as fully paid, shares or any bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company as a dividend representing the surplus or any part of the surplus.
DuMoulin Black
31 |
23. | Documents, Records and Reports |
23.1 | Recording of Financial Affairs |
The directors must cause adequate accounting records to be kept to record properly the financial affairs and condition of the Company and to comply with the Business Corporations Act .
23.2 | Inspection of Accounting Records |
Unless the directors determine otherwise, or unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, no shareholder of the Company is entitled to inspect or obtain a copy of any accounting records of the Company.
24. | Notices |
24.1 | Method of Giving Notice |
Unless the Business Corporations Act or these Articles provides otherwise, a notice, statement, report or other record required or permitted by the Business Corporations Act or these Articles to be sent by or to a person may be sent by any one of the following methods:
(1) | mail addressed to the person at the applicable address for that person as follows: |
(a) | for a record mailed to a shareholder, the shareholder’s registered address; |
(b) | for a record mailed to a director or officer, the prescribed address for mailing shown for the director or officer in the records kept by the Company or the mailing address provided by the recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; |
(c) | in any other case, the mailing address of the intended recipient; |
(2) | delivery at the applicable address for that person as follows, addressed to the person: |
(a) | for a record delivered to a shareholder, the shareholder’s registered address; |
(b) | for a record delivered to a director or officer, the prescribed address for delivery shown for the director or officer in the records kept by the Company or the delivery address provided by the recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; |
(c) | in any other case, the delivery address of the intended recipient; |
(3) | sending the record by fax to the fax number provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; |
(4) | sending the record by email to the email address provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; |
(5) | physical delivery to the intended recipient. |
24.2 | Deemed Receipt of Mailing |
A record that is mailed to a person by ordinary mail to the applicable address for that person referred to in Article 24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was mailed on the day, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excepted, following the date of mailing.
DuMoulin Black
32 |
24.3 | Certificate of Sending |
A certificate signed by the secretary, if any, or other officer of the Company or of any other corporation acting in that behalf for the Company stating that a notice, statement, report or other record was addressed as required by Article 24.1, prepaid and mailed or otherwise sent as permitted by Article 24.1 is conclusive evidence of that fact.
24.4 | Notice to Joint Shareholders |
A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the joint shareholders of a share by providing the notice to the joint shareholder first named in the central securities register in respect of the share.
24.5 | Notice to Trustees |
A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or incapacity of a shareholder by:
(1) | mailing the record, addressed to them: |
(a) | by name, by the title of the legal personal representative of the deceased or incapacitated shareholder, by the title of trustee of the bankrupt shareholder or by any similar description; and |
(b) | at the address, if any, supplied to the Company for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled; or |
(2) | if an address referred to in paragraph (1)(b) has not been supplied to the Company, by giving the notice in a manner in which it might have been given if the death, bankruptcy or incapacity had not occurred. |
25. | Seal |
25.1 | Who May Attest Seal |
Except as provided in Articles 25.2 and 25.3, the Company’s seal, if any, must not be impressed on any record except when that impression is attested by the signatures of:
(1) | any two directors; |
(2) | any officer, together with any director; |
(3) | if the Company only has one director, that director; or |
(4) | any one or more directors or officers or persons as may be determined by the directors. |
25.2 | Sealing Copies |
For the purpose of certifying under seal a certificate of incumbency of the directors or officers of the Company or a true copy of any resolution or other document, despite Article 25.1, the impression of the seal may be attested by the signature of any director or officer.
DuMoulin Black
33 |
25.3 | Mechanical Reproduction of Seal |
The directors may authorize the seal to be impressed by third parties on share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company as they may determine appropriate from time to time. To enable the seal to be impressed on any share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company, whether in definitive or interim form, on which facsimiles of any of the signatures of the directors or officers of the Company are, in accordance with the Business Corporations Act or these Articles, printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced, there may be delivered to the person employed to engrave, lithograph or print such definitive or interim share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities one or more unmounted dies reproducing the seal and the chair of the board or any senior officer together with the secretary, treasurer, secretary-treasurer, an assistant secretary, an assistant treasurer or an assistant secretary-treasurer may in writing authorize such person to cause the seal to be impressed on such definitive or interim share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities by the use of such dies. Share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities to which the seal has been so impressed are for all purposes deemed to be under and to bear the seal impressed on them.
26. | Prohibitions |
26.1 | Definitions |
In this Article 26:
(1) | “designated security” means: |
(a) | a voting security of the Company; |
(b) | a security of the Company that is not a debt security and that carries a residual right to participate in the earnings of the Company or, on the liquidation or winding up of the Company, in its assets; or |
(c) | a security of the Company convertible, directly or indirectly, into a security described in paragraph (a) or (b); |
(2) | “security” has the meaning assigned in the Securities Act (British Columbia); |
(3) | “voting security” means a security of the Company that: |
(a) | is not a debt security, and |
(b) | carries a voting right either under all circumstances or under some circumstances that have occurred and are continuing. |
26.2 | Application |
Article 26.3 does not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a public company or a pre-existing reporting company which has the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions as part of its Articles or to which the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions apply.
26.3 | Consent Required for Transfer of Shares or Designated Securities |
No share or designated security may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without the consent of the directors and the directors are not required to give any reason for refusing to consent to any such sale, transfer or other disposition.
DuMoulin Black
34 |
SCHEDULE A
PART 27
SPECIAL RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS
27.1 In this Article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) | Common shares without par value shall hereinafter be referred to as “Common Shares”. |
(b) | Preferred shares without par value shall hereinafter be referred to as “Preferred Shares”. |
(c) | Series 1 Preferred shares without par value shall hereinafter be referred to as “Series 1 Preferred Shares”. |
27.2 The holders of the Common Shares shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and be heard at any meeting of shareholders of the Company, excepting a meeting of the holders of shares of another class, as such, and excepting a meeting of the holders of a particular series, as such. Unless provided otherwise in any rights which may be attached to any series of the Preferred Shares, including the Series 1 Preferred Shares, the holders of the Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Company.
27.3 With respect to the declaration and payment of dividends, the holders of Preferred Shares, including the Series 1 Preferred Shares, shall rank prior to the holders of the Common Shares, or any other shares of the Company ranking junior to the Preferred Shares.
27.4 In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or other distribution of the property or assets of the Company among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs:
(a) | the holders of the Preferred Shares, including the Series 1 Preferred Shares, shall be entitled to receive, for each Preferred Share held, from the property and assets of the Company, a sum equivalent to the amount paid up thereon together with the premium (if any) thereon and any dividends declared thereon before any amount shall be paid or any property or asset of the Company is distributed to the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Preferred Shares with respect to repayment of capital. After payment to the holders of the Preferred Shares of the amount so payable to them, the holders of the Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to share in any further distribution of the property or assets of the Company except as specifically provided in special rights and restrictions attached to any particular series of Preferred Shares; and |
(b) | the holders of the Common Shares shall be entitled to receive the remaining property of the Company after payment to the holders of the Preferred Shares or any other shares ranking senior to the Common Shares. |
Preferred Shares
27.5 Preferred Shares may, at any time and from time to time, be issued in one or more series, and, subject to paragraph 27.6 below, the Company may, by directors’ resolution or ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, do one or more of the following:
(a) | determine the maximum number of shares of any of those series of Preferred Shares that the Company is authorized to issue, determine that there is no maximum number or alter any determination made, under this paragraph or otherwise, in relation to a maximum number of those shares, and authorize the alteration of the Notice of Articles accordingly; |
(b) | alter these Articles, and authorize the alteration of the Notice of Articles, to create an identifying name by which the shares of any of those series of Preferred Shares may be identified or to alter any identifying name created for those shares; and |
(c) | alter these Articles, and authorize the alteration of the Notice of Articles, to attach special rights or restrictions to the shares of any of those series of Preferred Shares or to alter any special rights or restrictions attached to those shares, subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the Preferred Shares by this Article 27. |
27.6 If the alterations, determinations or authorizations contemplated by paragraph 27.5 above are to be made in relation to a series of shares of which there are issued shares, those alterations, determinations or authorizations may be made by ordinary resolution.
27.7 The special rights and restrictions that may be attached to a series of Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph 27.5(c) above may include, without in any way limiting or restricting the generality of such paragraph, rights and restrictions respecting the following:
(a) | the rate or amount of dividends, whether cumulative, non-cumulative or partially cumulative, the dates, places and currencies of payment thereof; |
(b) | the consideration for, and the terms and conditions of, any purchase for cancellation or redemption thereof, including redemption after a fixed term or at a premium, conversion or exchange rights; |
(c) | the terms and conditions of any share purchase plan or sinking fund; |
(d) | the restrictions respecting the payment of dividends on, or the repayment of capital in respect of, any other shares of the Company; |
(e) | voting; and |
(f) | the issuance of any shares of any other class or series of shares of the Company or any evidences of indebtedness or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares. |
27.8 No special rights or restrictions attached to a series of Preferred Shares shall confer on the series of Preferred Shares priority over another series of Preferred Shares respecting:
(a) | dividends; or |
(b) | a return of capital: |
(i) | on the dissolution of the Company; or |
(ii) | on the occurrence of any other event that entitles the shareholders holding the shares of all series of the Preferred Shares to a return of capital. |
Series 1 Preferred Shares
27.9 The Company may, at any time and from time to time, issue Series 1 Preferred Shares. The Company may, by directors’ resolution or ordinary resolution passed before the issue of any Series 1 Preferred Shares, in each case as determined by the directors or, if there are issued Series 1 Preferred Shares, by ordinary resolution, do one or more of the following:
(a) | determine the maximum number of the Series 1 Preferred Shares that the Company is authorized to issue, determine that there is no maximum number or alter any determination made, under this paragraph or otherwise, in relation to a maximum number of those shares, and authorize the alteration of the Notice of Articles accordingly; |
(b) | alter these Articles, and authorize the alteration of the Notice of Articles, to alter the name of the Series 1 Preferred Shares; and |
(c) | alter these Articles, and authorize the alteration of the Notice of Articles, to attach special rights or restrictions to the Series 1 Preferred Shares or to alter any special rights or restrictions attached to those shares, subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the Preferred Shares by this Article 27. |
27.10 The special rights and restrictions that may be attached to the Series 1 Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph 27.9(c) above may include, without in any way limiting or restricting the generality of such paragraph, rights and restrictions respecting the following:
(a) | the rate or amount of dividends, whether cumulative, non-cumulative or partially cumulative and the dates, places and currencies of payment thereof; |
(b) | the consideration for, and the terms and conditions of, any purchase for cancellation or redemption thereof, including redemption after a fixed term or at a premium, conversion or exchange rights; |
(c) | the terms and conditions of any share purchase plan or sinking fund; |
- 2 - |
(d) | the restrictions respecting the payment of dividends on, or the repayment of capital in respect of, any other shares of the Company; |
(e) | voting rights; and |
(f) | the issuance of any shares of any other class or series of shares of the Company or any evidences of indebtedness or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares. |
27.11 No special rights or restrictions attached to the Series 1 Preferred Shares shall confer on the Series 1 Preferred Shares priority over another series of Preferred Shares respecting:
(a) | dividends; or |
(b) | a return of capital: |
(i) | on the dissolution of the Company; or |
(ii) | on the occurrence of any other event that entitles the shareholders holding the shares of all series of the Preferred Shares to a return of capital. |
- 3 - |
February 15, 2012
Dejour Energy Inc.
598 – 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 3E1
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
Re: |
Dejour Energy Inc. (the "Corporation")
Common Shares Reserved for Issuance Pursuant to Options Governed by the Corporation’s 2009 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) |
We have acted as corporate counsel to the Corporation, a company governed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “ BCBCA ”) , in connection with the registration by the Corporation pursuant to a registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), related to the issuance by the Corporation of 15,000,000 common shares of the Corporation (the “ Option Shares ”) pursuant to the exercise of options (the “ Options ”) under the Plan. This opinion is being delivered in connection with the Registration Statement, to which this opinion appears as an exhibit.
We have considered such questions of law and examined such statutes and regulations, corporate records, certificates and other documents, including certificates and other documents of public officials and officers of the Corporation, and have made such other examinations, searches and investigations as we have considered necessary and appropriate, as the basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or facsimile transmissions (including commercial reproductions or documents obtained from SEDAR, the electronic filing system of the securities regulatory authorities in Canada) and the completeness and accuracy of the Corporation's corporate records in our possession as of the date hereof. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Corporation, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements or instruments are the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. We have further assumed that all Options will be granted in accordance with the Plan, including the requirement that at the time of grant of any Option, the aggregate number of common shares reserved for issuance under the Plan at such time together with those common shares reserved for issuance at such time under any other established or proposed share compensation arrangement of the Corporation, will not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding common shares, on a non-diluted basis, as constituted on the date of grant of such Option. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon a certificate of a senior officer of the Corporation and we have assumed that each of the statements made and certified in such certificate were true and correct when made, have at no time since being made and certified become untrue or incorrect, and remain true and correct on the date hereof. We have not undertaken any independent investigation to verify the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing assumptions.
We are qualified to express opinions only with respect to the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein (the “ Applicable Law ”). We express no opinion on the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada therein.
Based and relying upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Option Shares, if and when issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Option, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
This opinion is being furnished to you solely, for your benefit, and may not be used or relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose, nor quoted from or referred to in any other document and copies may not be delivered to any other person without our prior written consent. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in Applicable Law.
Yours truly,
“Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP”
Dejour Energy Inc.
999 Canada Place, Suite #598
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3E1
Consent of Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton LaBonte LLP
We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement on Form S-8 in of our audit report dated March 26, 2010 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Dejour Energy Inc., appearing in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Dejour Energy Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2009, which is incorporated by reference into this registration statement on Form S-8.
Yours truly,
“DMCL”
DALE MATHESON CARR-HILTON LABONTE LLP
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Vancouver, B.C.
February 14, 2012