As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
British Columbia | N/A | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S Employer Identification No.) |
3204 - 4464 Markham Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 7X8
(250) 483-0308
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. Stock Option Plan, as amended
(Full title of the plan)
ImmunoPrecise Antibodies (USA), Ltd.
4837 Amber Valley Parkway Suite 11
Fargo, ND 58104
(701) 353-0022
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Brian P. Fenske
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Fulbright Tower
1301 McKinney, Suite 5100
Houston, Texas 77010
Telephone: (713) 651-5557
Facsimile: (713) 651-5246
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||||||
Title of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered(1) |
Proposed
maximum
per share |
Proposed maximum
aggregate
|
Amount of
registration fee |
||||
Common Shares, without par value (2) |
1,460,400 | $6.55(4) | $9,565,620.00(4) | $1,043.61 | ||||
Common Shares, without par value (3) |
460,840 | $8.21(5) | $3,783,496.40(5) | $412.78 | ||||
Total |
1,921,240 | $13,349,116.40 | $1,456.39 | |||||
|
||||||||
|
(1) |
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional common shares (without par value) (Common Shares) of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. (the Company) that may be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock dividends, stock splits or similar transactions. |
(2) |
Covers 1,460,400 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options previously granted under the ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. Stock Option Plan, as amended (the Plan). |
(3) |
Covers 460,840 Common Shares issuable pursuant to stock options that may be granted in the future under the Plan. |
(4) |
Pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee. The price of $6.55 per Common Share represents the weighted average of the exercise price for outstanding options as of June 2, 2021 under the Plan (with prices in Canadian dollars converted to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of C$1.00=US$0.8306, the Bank of Canada daily average exchange rate on June 1, 2021). |
(5) |
Pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee and are based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Shares as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 27, 2021. |
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information specified by Part I, Items 1 and 2, of Form S-8 have been or will be delivered to participants in the ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. Stock Option Plan, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and the instructions to Form S-8. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of the Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. (the Company or the Registrant) hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents and information previously filed with the Commission:
|
The Companys Registration Statement on Form 40-F, filed with the Commission on September 16, 2020, as amended on October 2, 2020, November 4, 2020, December 22, 2020 and December 28, 2020; |
|
The Companys Reports on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on December 30, 2020, January 6, 2021, January 7, 2021, February 3, 2021, February 4, 2021, February 8, 2021, February 11, 2021, February 19, 2021, March 16, 2021, March 18, 2021, March 25, 2021, and April 8, 2021; |
|
The description of the Companys Common Shares contained in its Registration Statement on Form 40-F filed with the Commission on September 16, 2020, as amended on October 2, 2020, November 4, 2020, December 22, 2020 and December 28, 2020. |
Each document filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of any post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. In addition, any Form 6-K furnished by the registrant during such period or portions thereof, in each case 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 into and to be part of this registration statement from the date of filing of each such document.
Any statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Sections 160 to 163 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) provide as follows:
160 |
Subject to section 163, a company may do one or both of the following: |
(a) |
indemnify an eligible party against all eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable; |
(b) |
after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding. |
161 |
Subject to section 163, a company must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the 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. |
162 (1) |
Subject to section 163 and subsection (2) of this section, a company 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 that proceeding. |
(2) |
A company must not make the payments referred to in subsection (1) unless the company first receives from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited by section 163, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced. |
163 (1) |
A company must not indemnify an eligible party under section 160(a) or pay the expenses of an eligible party under section 160(b), 161 or 162 if any of the following circumstances apply: |
(a) |
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, the company was prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles; |
(b) |
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, the company is prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles; |
(c) |
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 the company or the associated corporation, as the case may be; |
(d) |
(d) 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 partys conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful. |
(2) |
If an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of the company or by or on behalf of an associated corporation, the company must not do either of the following: |
(a) |
indemnify the eligible party under section 160(a) in respect of the proceeding; |
(b) |
pay the expenses of the eligible party under section 160(b), 161 or 162 in respect of the proceeding. |
Article 21 of the Articles of the Registrant provides as follows:
21.2 |
Mandatory Indemnification of Directors and Officers and Former Directors and Officers |
The Company must indemnify a director, officer, former director or officer or alternate director of the Company and their heirs and legal personal representatives, as set out in the Business Corporations Act, against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Company must indemnify, 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, officer, former director or officer or alternate director is deemed to have contracted with the Company on the terms of the indemnity contained in this Article 21.2 in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding in accordance with, and to the fullest extent and in all circumstances permitted by, the Business Corporations Act.
21.3 |
Mandatory Advancement of Expenses |
The company must 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 that proceed but the Company must first receive from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited by the Business Corporations Act, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.
21.4 |
Indemnification of Other Persons |
The Company may indemnify any other person in accordance with the Business Corporations Act.
21.5 |
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 they are entitled under this Part.
21.6 |
Company May Purchase Insurance |
The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or their 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 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 them as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.
To the extent permitted by law, the Company has entered into an indemnification agreement with its directors for liabilities incurred while performing their duties. The Company also maintains directors & officers liability insurance which protects individual directors and officers and the Company against claims made, provided they acted in good faith on behalf of the Company, subject to policy restrictions.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
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;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section 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 Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the 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 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 Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 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 Victoria, Province of British Columbia, Country of Canada on June 2, 2021.
IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD | ||
By: |
/s/ Jennifer Bath |
|
Jennifer Bath | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below, the undersigned officers and directors of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd., hereby severally constitute and appoint Jennifer Bath and Lisa Helbling, and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them for him and in his name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said 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 all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ Jennifer Bath |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
June 2, 2021 | ||
Jennifer Bath | ||||
/s/ Lisa Helbling |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
June 2, 2021 | ||
Lisa Helbling | ||||
/s/ James Kuo |
Director | June 2, 2021 | ||
James Kuo | ||||
/s/ Greg Smith |
Director | June 2, 2021 | ||
Greg Smith | ||||
/s/ Robert Burke |
Director | June 2, 2021 | ||
Robert Burke | ||||
/s/ Paul Andreola |
Director | June 2, 2021 | ||
Paul Andreola | ||||
/s/ Brian Lundstrom |
Director | June 2, 2021 | ||
Brian Lundstrom |
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned certifies that it is the duly authorized United States representative of the Registrant and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the United States on June 2, 2021.
IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES (USA), LTD. | ||
By: |
/s/ Jennifer Bath |
|
Name: | Jennifer Bath | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 4.1
DUPLICATE
|
Number: C1088362 |
CERTIFICATE
OF
CHANGE OF NAME
BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT
I Hereby Certify that TANQUERAY EXPLORATION LTD. changed its name to IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD. on December 21, 2016 at 10:06 AM Pacific Time.
|
Issued under my hand at Victoria, British Columbia On December 21, 2016
CAROL PREST Registrar of Companies Province of British Columbia Canada |
DUPLICATE
|
Number: C1088362 |
CERTIFICATE
OF
CONTINUATION
BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT
I Hereby Certify that TANQUERAY RESOURCES LTD., which was duly registered as an extraprovincial company under the laws of British Columbia with certificate number A0067246, has continued into British Columbia from the Jurisdiction of ALBERTA, under the Business Corporations Act, with the name TANQUERAY EXPLORATION LTD. on September 2, 2016 at 10:54 AM Pacific Time.
|
Issued under my hand at Victoria, British Columbia On September 2, 2016
CAROL PREST Registrar of Companies Province of British Columbia Canada |
Articles
of
TANQUERAY EXPLORTAION LTD.
Incorporation number: C1088362
TABLE OF-CONTENTS
Page No. | ||||||
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 |
24 | ||||
18. |
Proceedings of Directors |
25 | ||||
19. |
Executive and Other Committees |
27 | ||||
20. |
Officers |
29 | ||||
21. |
Indemnification |
30 | ||||
22. |
Dividends |
31 | ||||
23. |
Documents, Records and Reports |
33 | ||||
24. |
Notices |
33 | ||||
25. |
Seal |
34 |
1. INTERPRETATION
1.1 |
Definitions |
In these Articles, the following words and phrases have the meanings set out beside them:
(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) |
Company means the company whose name is set out at the top of page 1, being the company which has adopted these Articles; |
(4) |
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 shareholders 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 an enactment. 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 kinds, classes and, if any, series 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
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 shareholders name or (b) a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholders right to obtain such a share certificate, but 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 for a share to one of several joint shareholders or to one of the shareholders duly authorized agents will be sufficient delivery to all.
2.4 |
Delivery by Mail |
Any share certificate or non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholders right to obtain a share certificate may be sent to the shareholder by mail at the shareholders 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 shareholders 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 shareholders 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 shareholders 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.
3
2.8 |
Certificate Fee |
There must be paid to the Company, in relation to the issue of any share certificate under Articles 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7, the amount, if any and which must not exceed the amount prescribed under the Business Corporations Act, determined by the directors.
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.
3. ISSUE OF SHARES
3.1 |
Directors Authorized |
Subject to the rights of the holders of issued shares of the Company, the Company may allot, sell, issue and 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 pay at any time 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 |
4
(2) |
the value of the consideration received by the Company equals or exceeds the issue price set for the share under Article 3.1. |
3.5 |
Share Purchase Warrants and Rights |
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.
4. SHARE REGISTERS
4.1 |
Central Securities Register |
The Company must maintain in British Columbia a central securities register as required by the Business Corporations Act. The directors may appoint:
(1) |
an agent to maintain the central securities register; and |
(2) |
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. |
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 shareholders 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. |
5
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 Companys 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 of the Company in respect of the transfer.
5.4 |
Signing of Instrument of Transfer |
If a shareholder, or their duly authorized attorney, signs an instrument of transfer in respect of shares registered in the name of the shareholder, the signed instrument of transfer constitutes a complete and sufficient authority to the Company and its directors, officers and agents to register the number of shares specified in the instrument of transfer or specified in any other manner, or, if no number is specified, all the shares represented by the share certificates or set out in the written acknowledgments deposited with the instrument of transfer:
(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 to the Company, in relation to the registration of any transfer, the amount, if any, determined by the directors.
6. TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
6.1 |
Legal Personal Representative Recognized on Death |
In case of the death of a shareholder, the legal personal representative, 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 shareholders interest in the shares. Before recognizing a person as a legal personal representative, the directors may require 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.
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6.2 |
Rights of Legal Personal Representative |
The legal personal representative has the same rights, privileges and obligations that attach to the shares 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.
7. PURCHASE OF SHARES
7.1 |
Company Authorized to Purchase Shares |
Subject to Article 7.2 and the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series, the Company, if authorized by the directors, may purchase 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 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 |
Sale and Voting of Purchased Shares |
If the Company retains a share redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by it, 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
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 tenns and conditions that they consider appropriate; |
(2) |
issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations either outright or as security for any liability or obligation of the Company or any other person and at such discounts or premiums and on such other tenns as they consider appropriate; |
7
(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. |
9. ALTERATIONS
9.1 |
Alteration of Authorized Share Structure |
Subject to Article 9.2, the Company may by:
(1) |
a resolution of its board of directors |
(a) |
increase, reduce or eliminate the maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue out 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; |
(b) |
change all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares with par value into shares without par value or any of its unissued shares without par value into shares with par value; |
(c) |
alter the identifying name of any of its shares; and |
(d) |
subdivide or consolidate all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares. |
(2) |
an ordinary resolution: |
(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; and |
(b) |
if the Company is authorized to issue shares of a class of shares with par value: |
(i) |
decrease the par value of those shares; and |
(ii) |
if none of the shares of that class of shares are allotted or issued, increase the par value of those shares. |
(3) |
a special resolution, otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure when required or permitted to do so by the Business Corporations Act. |
9.2 |
Special Rights and Restrictions |
The Company may by ordinary resolution:
(1) |
create special rights or restrictions for, and attach those special rights or restrictions to, the shares of any class or series of shares, unless any of those shares have been issued in which case the Company may do so only by special resolution; or |
8
(2) |
vary or delete any special rights or restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, unless any of those shares have been issued in which case the Company may do so only by special resolution. |
9.3 |
Change of Name |
The Company may by a resolution of its board of directors authorize an alteration of its Notice of Articles to change its name or adopt or change any translation of that name.
9.4 |
Other Alterations |
If the Business Corporations Act does not specify the type of resolution and these Articles do not specify another type of resolution, the Company may by resolution of its board of directors alter these Articles.
10. MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
10.1 |
Annual General Meetings |
The Company must, unless an annual general meeting is deferred or waived in accordance with the Business Corporations Act, hold its first annual general meeting following incorporation, amalgamation or continuation within 18 months after the date on which it was incorporated or otherwise created and recognized, and after that must hold an annual general meeting at least once in each calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last annual reference date at such time and place as may be determined by the directors; and
10.2 |
Resolution Instead of Annual General Meeting |
If all the shareholders entitled to vote at an annual general meeting consent by a unanimous resolution under the Business Corporations Act to all of the business required to be transacted at that annual general meeting, the 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 Companys annual reference date a date that would be appropriate for the holding of the applicable annual general meeting.
10.3 |
Calling and Location of Meetings of Shareholders |
The directors may, whenever they think fit, call a meeting of shareholders to be held in British Columbia, Calgary, Alberta or Toronto, Ontario or at such other location as may be approved by the Regis tar of Companies at such time and place as may be determined by the directors.
10.4 |
Notice for Meetings of Shareholders |
The Company must 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 ordinary 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; |
9
(2) |
otherwise, 10 days. |
10.5 |
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, it is 5:00 p.m. on the business day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.
10.6 |
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.
10.7 |
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.
10.8 |
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 must:
(1) |
state the general nature of the special business; and |
(2) |
if the special business includes considering, approving, ratifying, adopting or authorizing any document or the signing of or giving of effect to any document, have attached to it a copy of the document or state that a copy of the document will be available for inspection by shareholders: |
(a) |
at the Companys records office, or at such other reasonably accessible location in British Columbia as is specified in the notice; and |
(b) |
during statutory business hours on any one or more specified days before the day set for the holding of the meeting. |
10
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; and |
(i) |
any other business which, under these Articles or the Business Corporations Act, may be transacted at a meeting of shareholders without prior notice of the business being given to the shareholders. |
11.2 |
Special Majority |
The majority of votes required for the Company to pass a special resolution at a 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 two shareholders who are present in person or represented by proxy.
11.4 |
One Shareholder May Constitute Quorum |
If there is only one shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders:
(1) |
the quorum is one person who is, or who represents by proxy, that shareholder, and |
(2) |
that shareholder, present in person or by proxy, may constitute the meeting. |
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11.5 |
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.
11.6 |
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.
11.7 |
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 stands adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place. |
11.8 |
Lack of Quorum at Succeeding Meeting |
If, at the meeting to which the meeting referred to in Article 11.7(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 constitute a quorum.
11.9 |
Chair |
The following individuals are 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 first of the following individuals to agree to act as chair: the president, if any. |
11.10 |
Selection of Alternate Chair |
If, at any meeting of shareholders, the chair of the board or president are not present within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting, or if the chair of the board and the president are unwilling to act as chair of 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, one of the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, a vice-president, the secretary or the Companys legal counsel may act as chair of the meeting and, failing them, the directors present must choose one of their number to be chair of the meeting or if all of the directors present decline to take the chair or fail to so choose or if no director is present, 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.
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11.11 |
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.
11.12 |
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.
11.13 |
Decisions by Show of Hands or Poll |
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.
11.14 |
Declaration of Result |
The chair of a meeting of shareholders must declare to the meeting the decision on every question in accordance with the result of the show of hands or the poll, as the case may be, and that decision must be entered in the minutes of the meeting. A declaration of the chair that a resolution is carried by the necessary majority or is defeated is, unless a poll is directed by the chair or demanded under Article 11.13, conclusive evidence without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
11.15 |
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.
11.16 |
Casting Vote |
In case of an equality of votes, the chair of a meeting of shareholders does not, either on a show of hands or on a poll, have a second or casting vote in addition to the vote or votes to which the chair may be entitled as a shareholder.
11.17 |
Manner of Taking Poll |
Subject to Article 11.18, 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 |
13
(b) |
in the manner, at the time and at the place that the chair of the meeting directs; |
(2) |
the result of the poll is deemed to be the decision of the meeting at which the poll is demanded; and |
(3) |
the demand for the poll may be withdrawn by the person who demanded it. |
11.18 |
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.
11.19 |
Chair Must Resolve Dispute |
In the case of any dispute as to the admission or rejection of a vote given on a poll, the chair of the meeting must determine the dispute, and their determination made in good faith is final and conclusive.
11.20 |
Casting of Votes |
On a poll, a shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not cast all the votes in the same way.
11.21 |
Demand for Poll |
No poll may be demanded in respect of the vote by which a chair of a meeting of shareholders is elected.
11.22 |
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.
11.23 |
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 at its records office, and, during that period, make them available for inspection during normal business hours by any shareholder or proxyholder 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 |
14
(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.
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 personally or by proxy, in respect of the share as if that joint shareholder were solely entitled to it; or |
(2) |
if more than one of the joint shareholders is present at any meeting, personally or by proxy, and more than one of them votes in respect of that share, then only the vote of the joint shareholder present whose name stands first on the central securities register in respect of the share will be counted. |
12.4 |
Legal Personal Representatives as Joint Shareholders |
Two or more legal personal representatives of a shareholder in whose sole name any share is registered are, for the purposes of Article 12.3, deemed to be joint shareholders.
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) |
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. |
15
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.
12.6 |
Proxy Provisions Do Not Apply to All Companies |
Articles 12.9 and 12.12 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 one or more (but not more than five) 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 |
Subject to Article 12.6, 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.
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12.11 |
Validity of Proxy Vote |
A vote given in accordance with the terms of a proxy is valid notwithstanding the death or incapacity of the shareholder giving the proxy and despite the revocation of the proxy or the revocation of the authority under which the proxy is given, unless notice in writing of that death, incapacity or revocation is received:
(1) |
at the registered office of the Company, at any time up to and including the last business day before the day set for the holding of the meeting 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 |
Subject to Article 12.6, 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 shareholderprinted] |
12.13 |
Revocation of Proxy |
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 their legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy; |
17
(2) |
if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is a corporation, the instrument must be signed by the corporation or by a representative appointed for the corporation under Article 12.5. |
12.15 |
Production of Evidence of Authority to Vote |
The chair of any meeting of shareholders may, but need not, inquire into the authority of any person to vote at the meeting and may, but need not, demand from that person production of evidence as to the existence of the authority to vote.
13. DIRECTORS
13.1 |
First Directors; Number of Directors |
The directors, or the first directors after the Company being incorporated, amalgamated or continued, are the persons designated as directors of the Company in the Notice of Articles that applies to the Company when it is recognized under the Business Corporations Act. The number of directors, excluding additional directors appointed under Article 14.8, is set at:
(1) |
subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the number of directors that is equal to the number of the Companys first directors; |
(2) |
if the Company is a public company, the greater of three and the most recently set of: |
(a) |
the number of directors set by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and |
(b) |
the number of directors set under Article 14.4; |
(3) |
if the Company is not a public company, the most recently set of: |
(a) |
the number of directors set by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and |
(b) |
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)(a) or 13.1(3)(a):
(1) |
the shareholders may elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number; |
(2) |
if the shareholders do not elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number contemporaneously with the setting of that number, then the directors may appoint, or the shareholders may elect or appoint, directors to fill those vacancies. |
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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 their office but must be qualified as required by the Business Corporations Act to become, act or continue to act as a director.
13.5 |
Remuneration of Directors |
The directors are entitled to the remuneration for acting as directors, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine. If they so decide, the remuneration, if any, of the directors will be determined by the shareholders. That remuneration may be in addition to any salary or other remuneration paid to any officer or employee of the Company as such, who is also a director.
13.6 |
Reimbursement of Expenses of Directors |
The Company must reimburse each director for the reasonable expenses they may incur in and about the business of the Company.
13.7 |
Special Remuneration for Directors |
If any director performs any professional or other services for the Company that in the opinion of the directors are outside the ordinary duties of a director, or if any director is otherwise specially occupied in or about the Companys business, they 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 they may be entitled to receive.
13.8 |
Gratuity, Pension or Allowance on Retirement of Director |
Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any director who has held any salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to their 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 |
19
(2) |
all the directors cease to hold office immediately before the election or appointment of directors under paragraph (1), but are eligible for re-election or re-appointment. |
14.2 |
Consent to be a Director |
No election, appointment or designation of an individual as a director is valid unless:
(1) |
that individual consents to be a director in the manner provided for in the Business Corporations Act; |
(2) |
that individual is elected or appointed at a meeting at which the individual is present and the individual does not refuse, at the meeting, to be a director; or |
(3) |
with respect to first directors, the designation is otherwise valid under the Business Corporations Act. |
14.3 |
Failure to Elect or Appoint Directors |
If:
(1) |
the Company fails to hold an annual general meeting, and all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting fail to pass the unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2, on or before the date by which the annual general meeting is required to be held under the Business Corporations Act; or |
(2) |
the shareholders fail , at the annual general meeting or in the unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2, to elect or appoint any directors; |
then each director then in office continues to hold office until the earlier of:
(3) |
the date on which their successor is elected or appointed; and |
(4) |
the date on which they otherwise cease 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 reelected 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.
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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 for any other purpose.
14.7 |
Shareholders May Fill Vacancies |
If the Company has no directors or fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the shareholders may elect or appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the board of directors.
14.8 |
Additional Directors |
Notwithstanding Articles 13.1 and 13.2, between annual general meetings or unanimous resolutions contemplated by Article 10.2, the directors may appoint one or more additional directors, but the number of additional directors appointed under this Article 14.8 must not at any time exceed:
(1) |
one-third of the number of first directors, if, at the time of the appointments, one or more of the first directors have not yet completed their first term of office; or |
(2) |
in any other case, one-third of the number of the current directors who were elected or appointed as directors other than under this Article 14.8. |
Any director so appointed ceases to hold office immediately before the next election or appointment of directors under Article 14.1(1), but is eligible for re-election or re-appointment.
14.9 |
Ceasing to be a Director |
A director ceases to be a director when:
(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 their 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.
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14.11 |
Removal of Director by Directors |
The directors may remove any director before the expiration of their term of office if the director is convicted of an indictable offence, convicted by a court of an offence under or found in breach and sanctioned by a securities regulatory authority of any Canadian or United States securities legislation, or if the director ceases to be qualified to act as a director of a company and does not promptly resign, and the directors may appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy.
15. ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
15.1 |
Appointment of Alternate Director |
Any director (an appointor) may by notice in writing received by the Company appoint any person (an appointee) who is qualified to act as a director to be their alternate to act in their 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 the 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 their appointor is a member and to attend and vote as a director at any such meetings at which their 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 their 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 their 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 their 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 their 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. |
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15.4 |
Consent Resolutions |
Every alternate director, if authorized by the notice appointing them, may sign in place of their 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 their 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 them.
15.7 |
Ceasing to be an Alternate Director |
The appointment of an alternate director ceases when:
(1) |
their 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) |
their appointor revokes the appointment of the alternate director. |
15.8 |
Remuneration and Expenses of Alternate Director |
The Company must reimburse an alternate director for the reasonable expenses that would be properly reimbursed if they 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 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,
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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 them.
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.
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 individuals 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 their 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 their office from contracting with the Company either with regard to the holding of any office or place of profit the director holds with the Company or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, and no contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which a director is in any way interested is liable to be voided for that reason.
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17.7 |
Professional Services by Director or Officer |
A director or officer, or any person in which a director or officer has an interest, may act in a professional capacity for the Company, except as auditor of the Company, and the director or officer or such person is entitled to remuneration for professional services as if that director or officer were not a director or officer.
17.8 |
Director or Officer in Other Corporations |
A director or officer may be or become a director, officer or employee of, or otherwise interested in, any person in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder or otherwise, and the director or officer is not accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by them as director, officer or employee of, or from their 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 does not have a second or casting vote.
18.3 |
Chair of Meetings |
The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of directors:
(1) |
the chair of the board, if any; |
(2) |
in the absence of the chair of the board, the president, if any, if the president is a director; or |
(3) |
any other director chosen by the directors if: |
(a) |
neither the chair of the board nor the president, if a director, 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, if a director, is willing to chair the meeting; or |
(c) |
the chair of the board and the president, if a director, have advised the secretary, if any, or any other director, that they will not be present at the meeting. |
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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.
18.5 |
Calling of Meetings |
A director may, and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company, if any, on the request of a director must, call a meeting of the directors at any time.
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.
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 them 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 their 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.
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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 two 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 |
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.
18.12 |
Consent Resolutions in Writing |
A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors may be passed without a meeting:
(1) |
in all cases, if each of the directors entitled to vote on the resolution consents to it in writing; or |
(2) |
in the case of a resolution to approve a contract or transaction in respect of which a director has disclosed that they have or may have a disclosable interest, if each of the other directors who are entitled to vote on the resolution consents to it in writing. |
A consent in writing under this Article may be by signed document, fax, e-mail or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages. A consent in writing may be in two or more counterparts which together are deemed to constitute one consent in writing. A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors passed in accordance with this Article 18.12 is effective on the date stated in the consent in writing or on the latest date stated on any counterpart and is deemed to be a proceeding at a meeting of directors or of the committee of the directors and to be as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors that satisfies all the requirements of the Business Corporations Act and all the requirements of these Articles relating to meetings of the directors or of a committee of the directors.
19. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES
19.1 |
Appointment and Powers of Executive Committee |
The directors may, by resolution, appoint an executive committee consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate, and this committee has, during the intervals between meetings of the board of directors, all of the directors powers, except:
(1) |
the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors; |
(2) |
the power to remove a director; |
(3) |
the power to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors; and |
(4) |
such other powers, if any, as may be set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors resolution. |
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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 |
In the exercise of the powers delegated to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19 .2, the committee must:
(1) |
conform to any rules that may from time to time be imposed on it by the directors; and |
(2) |
report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers at such times 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; |
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(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. |
20.3 |
Qualifications |
An officer is not required to hold a share in the capital of the Company as qualification for their office but must be qualified as required by the Business Corporations Act to become, act or continue to act as an officer. 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 a 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 think fit and are subject to termination at the pleasure of the directors, and an officer, in addition to such remuneration, may receive, after they cease to hold such office or leaves the employment of the Company, a pension or gratuity.
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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 Officers and Former Directors and Officers |
The Company must indemnify a director, officer, former director or officer or alternate director of the Company and their heirs and legal personal representatives, as set out in the Business Corporations Act, 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, officer, former director and officer 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 |
Mandatory Advancement of Expenses |
The Company must 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 that proceeding but the Company must first receive from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited by the Business Corporations Act, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.
21.4 |
Indemnification of Other Persons |
The Company may indemnify any other person in accordance with the Business Corporations Act.
21.5 |
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 they are entitled under this Part.
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21.6 |
Company May Purchase Insurance |
The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or their 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 them 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 |
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 5:00 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.
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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.
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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) |
prepaid mail addressed to the person at the applicable address for that person as follows : |
(a) |
for a record mailed to a shareholder, the shareholders 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 shareholders 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) |
fax to the fax number provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; |
(4) |
e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class; or |
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(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. A record that is delivered to a person or their applicable address is deemed to be received by the person on receipt by that person or delivery to that address. A record that is sent to a person by fax or e-mail is deemed to be received by the person on transmission if sent during business hours at the place of intended receipt by that person and, if not sent during their business hours, on the next business day of the place of intended receipt of that person.
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, and 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 (l)(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 Companys seal, if any, must not be impressed on any record except when that impression is attested by the signatures of:
(1) |
any two directors; |
34
(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.
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 |
35
(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 its designated securities are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by more than 50 persons or companies, counting any two or more joint registered owners as one beneficial owner, and not counting employees and former employees of the Company or its affiliates.
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 arc not required to give any reason for refusing to consent to any such sale, transfer or other disposition.
The Company has adopted as its Articles the foregoing provisions:
Full name and Signature of a Director | Date | |
|
September 1, 2016 | |
MARK WAYNE |
36
Exhibit 4.2
New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA)
|
Mailing Address: PO Box 9431 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9V3 www.corporateonline.gov.bc.ca |
Location: 2nd Floor - 940 Blanshard Street Victoria BC 1 877 526-1526 |
||
Cover Sheet
IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD.
Confirmation of Service
Form Filed: | Notice of Change of Directors | |
Date and Time of Filing: | April 7, 2021 02:27 PM Pacific Time | |
Name of Company: | IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD. | |
Incorporation Number: | C1088362 |
This package contains:
|
Certified Copy of the Notice of Articles |
Check your documents carefully to ensure there are no errors or omissions. If errors or omissions are discovered, please contact the Corporate Registry for instructions on how to correct the errors or omissions.
Page: 1 of 1
|
Mailing Address: PO Box 9431 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9V3 www.corporateonline.gov.bc.ca |
Location: 2nd Floor - 940 Blanshard Street Victoria BC 1 877 526-1526 |
||
CERTIFIED COPY Of a Document filed with the Province of British Columbia Registrar of Companies
CAROL PREST |
||||
Notice of Articles | ||||
BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT |
This Notice of Articles was issued by the Registrar on: April 7, 2021 02:27 PM Pacific Time | ||
Incorporation Number: | C1088362 | |
Recognition Date and Time: Continued into British Columbia on September 2, 2016 10:54 AM Pacific Time |
NOTICE OF ARTICLES
Name of Company: | ||
IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD. |
REGISTERED OFFICE INFORMATION
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
1800 - 510 WEST GEORGIA STREET | 1800 - 510 WEST GEORGIA STREET | |
VANCOUVER BC V6B 0M3 | VANCOUVER BC V6B 0M3 | |
CANADA | CANADA |
RECORDS OFFICE INFORMATION
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
1800 - 510 WEST GEORGIA STREET | 1800 - 510 WEST GEORGIA STREET | |
VANCOUVER BC V6B 0M3 | VANCOUVER BC V6B 0M3 | |
CANADA | CANADA |
Page: 1 of 3
DIRECTOR INFORMATION | ||
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: | ||
ANDREOLA, GIANPAOLO | ||
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | |
VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | |
CANADA
|
CANADA | |
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: | ||
BURKE, ROBERT | ||
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | |
VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | |
CANADA
|
CANADA | |
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: | ||
LUNDSTROM, BRIAN | ||
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
4837 AMBER VALLEY PKWY, SUITE 11 | 4837 AMBER VALLEY PKWY, SUITE 11 | |
FARGO ND 58104 | FARGO ND 58104 | |
UNITED STATES
|
UNITED STATES | |
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: | ||
SMITH, GREG | ||
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | |
VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | |
CANADA
|
CANADA | |
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: | ||
KUO, JAMES | ||
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
4837 AMBER VALLEY PKWY, SUITE 11 | 4837 AMBER VALLEY PKWY, SUITE 11 | |
FARGO ND 58104 | FARGO ND 58104 | |
UNITED STATES
|
UNITED STATES | |
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: | ||
BATH, JENNIFER | ||
Mailing Address: | Delivery Address: | |
UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | UNIT 3204, 4464 MARKHAM STREET | |
VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | VICTORIA BC V8Z 7X8 | |
CANADA | CANADA |
Page: 2 of 3
AUTHORIZED SHARE STRUCTURE
1. | No Maximum | Common Shares | Without Par Value | |||
Without Special Rights or Restrictions attached |
Page: 3 of 3
Exhibit 4.3
IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. |
PURPOSE OF PLAN |
1.1 Purpose. The purpose of the Stock Option Plan (the Plan) of IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD., a company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), (the Company) is to advance the interests of the Company by encouraging the directors, officers, employees, management company employees and consultants of the Company, and of its subsidiaries and affiliates, if any, to acquire common shares in the share capital of the Company, thereby increasing their proprietary interest in the Company, encouraging them to remain associated with the Company and furnishing them with additional incentive in their efforts on behalf of the Company in the conduct of its affairs.
2. |
DEFINITIONS |
2.1 Definitions. In this Plan the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, namely:
(a) |
Blackout Period means a period during which there is a prohibition on trading in the Companys securities imposed by the Company on Insiders. |
(b) |
Board means the board of directors of the Company or, if the Board so elects, a committee of directors (which may consist of only one director) appointed by the Board to administer this Plan. |
(c) |
Company means ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. |
(d) |
Consultant means an individual who (or a corporation or partnership (a Consultant Company) of which the individual is an employee, shareholder or partner which): |
(i) |
is engaged to provide, on an ongoing bona fide basis, consulting, technical, management or other services to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company other than in relation to a distribution of the Companys securities; |
(ii) |
provides the services under a written contract between the Consultant or Consultant Company and the Company or subsidiary; |
(iii) |
in the reasonable opinion of the Company, spends or will spend a significant amount of time and attention on the business and affairs of the Company or subsidiary of the Company; and |
(iv) |
has a relationship with the Company or subsidiary of the Company that enables the individual to be knowledgeable about the business and affairs of the Company or subsidiary. |
(e) |
Director means a director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. |
(f) |
Employee means: |
(i) |
an individual who is considered an employee of the Company or its subsidiary under the Income Tax Act (Canada)(and for whom income tax, employment insurance and CPP deductions must be made at source); |
(ii) |
an individual who works full-time for the Company or its subsidiary providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and direction by the Company over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source; or |
(iii) |
an individual who works for the Company or its subsidiary on a continuing and regular basis providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and discretion by the Company over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source. |
(g) |
Exchange means whichever stock exchange on which the Shares are listed for trading being either the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSX-V) or Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX). |
(h) |
Insider means: (i) Director or Officer; (ii) a director or officer of a subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) a person that beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Shares of the Company. |
(i) |
Management Company Employee means an individual employed by a person providing management services to the Company, which are required for the ongoing successful operation of the business enterprise of the Company, but excluding a person engaged in investor relations. |
(j) |
Market Price means the price at which the last recorded sale of a board lot of Shares took place on the Exchange during the trading day immediately preceding the date of granting the Option and, if there was no such sale, the closing price on the preceding trading day during which there was such a sale. |
(k) |
Officer means a chair or vice-chair of the Board, a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or an individual designated as an officer by a resolution of the Board or the constating documents of the Company. |
(l) |
Option means an option to purchase Shares granted to an Optionee under this Plan. |
(m) |
Optionee means a Director, Officer, Employee, Management Company Employee or Consultant granted an Option or a corporation, other than a Consultant Company, granted an Option where the corporations only shareholder is a Director, Officer or Employee. |
(n) |
Plan means this stock option plan as amended, supplemented or restated. |
(o) |
Shares means common shares of the Company. |
3. |
GRANTING OF OPTIONS |
3.1 Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Board.
3.2 Grant by Resolution. The Board may determine by resolution those Employees, Management Company Employees, Consultants, Officers and Directors to whom Options should be granted and grant to them such Options as the Board determines to be appropriate.
3.3 Representations to Employees, Consultants, and Management Company Employees. Every instrument evidencing an Option granted to an Employee, Consultant or Management Company Employee shall contain a representation by the Company and the Optionee that the Optionee is a bona fide Employee, Consultant or Management Company Employee.
3.4 No Grants if Listed on NEX. The Board shall not grant any Options if the Shares are listed on the NEX Board of the TSX-V or the Company has been given notice that its listing will or might be transferred to NEX.
3.5 Terms of Option. The Board shall determine and specify in its resolution the number of Shares that should be placed under Option to each such Employee, Management Company Employee, Consultant, Officer or Director, the price per Share to be paid for such Shares upon the exercise of each such Option, and the period during which such Option may be exercised.
3.6 Written Agreement. Every Option shall be evidenced by a written agreement between the Company and the Optionee. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of the agreement and this Plan the terms of this Plan shall govern.
4. |
CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE GRANTING & EXERCISING OF OPTIONS |
4.1 Agreements must specify Exercise Period and Price, Vesting and Number of Shares. In granting an Option, the Board must specify a particular time period or periods during which the Option may be exercised, the exercise price required to purchase the Shares subject to the Option and any vesting terms and conditions of the Option, including the number of Shares in respect of which the Option may be exercised during each such time period.
4.2 Minimum Exercise Price of Options. The exercise price of an Option shall not be less than the Market Price, less, if the Shares are listed on the TSX-V, the maximum discount permitted by the Exchange, at the time of granting the Option. If the Shares are listed on the TSX-V, no Options shall be granted which are exercisable at a price of less than $0.05 per Share.
4.3 Number of Shares subject to Option. The number of Shares reserved for issuance to an Optionee pursuant to an Option, together with all other stock options granted to the Optionee in the previous 12 months, shall not exceed, at the time of granting of the Option:
(a) |
5% of the outstanding Shares, unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval or the Shares are listed on the TSX; |
(b) |
2% of the outstanding Shares, if the Optionee is a Consultant and the Shares are listed on the TSX-V; or |
(c) |
2% of the outstanding Shares (including all other Shares reserved for issuance to all Optionees providing investor relations services to the Company), if the Optionee is engaged in providing investor relations services to the Company and the Shares are listed on the TSX-V. |
4.4 Vesting of Options. Subject to further vesting requirements required by the Board on granting of an Option, all Options shall vest and be exercisable on the following terms:
(a) |
If Optionee is Providing Investor Relations Services: If the Optionee is a Consultant providing investor relations services to the Company and the Shares are listed on the TSX-V, any Option granted to the Consultant must vest in stages over at least 12 months with no more than one quarter of the Option vesting in any three month period. |
(b) |
If there is a Change of Control: If a Change of Control is agreed to by the Company or events which might lead to a Change of Control are commenced by third parties, all Options, subject to the Exchanges approval (if required), shall vest immediately and be fully exercisable notwithstanding the terms thereof. For the purposes hereof Change of Control shall mean: |
(i) |
any transaction or series of related transactions as a result of which any person, entity or group acquires ownership, after the date of an Option, of at least 20% of the Shares and they or their representatives become a majority of the Board or assume control or direction over the management or day-to-day operations of the Company; or |
(ii) |
an amalgamation, merger, arrangement, business combination, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company with another entity or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, as a result of either of which the Company ceases to exist, be publicly traded or the management of the Company or Board do not comprise a majority of the management or a majority of the board of directors, respectively, of the resulting entity, |
and to permit Optionees to participate in any of the foregoing, the Board may make appropriate provision for the exercise of Options conditional upon the Shares so issued being taken-up and paid for pursuant to any of the foregoing.
Subject to the approval of the Exchange if the Optionee is a Consultant providing investor relations services for the Company, the Board may advance, at any time, the dates upon which any or all Options shall vest and become exercisable, regardless of the terms of vesting set out in this Plan or the agreement.
4.5 [Intentionally left blank]
4.6 Expiry of Options. Each Option shall expire not later than 10 years from the day on which the Option is granted.
4.7 Expiry of Options during or immediately after Trading Blackout Periods. If an Option expires during, or within five trading days after, a Blackout Period then, notwithstanding Section 4.6 or the terms of the Option, the term of the Option shall be extended and the Option shall expire 10 trading days after the termination of the Blackout Period.
4.8 Death or Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee dies or suffers a Disability prior to the expiry of an Option, the Optionees legal representatives, before the earlier of the expiry date of the Option and the first anniversary of the Optionees death or Disability, may exercise that portion of an Option which has vested as at the date of death or Disability. For the purposes hereof Disability shall mean any inability of the Optionee arising due to medical reasons which the Board considers likely to permanently prevent or substantially impair Optionee being an Employee, Management Company Employee, Consultant, Officer or Director.
4.9 Cessation as an Optionee (With Cause). If an Optionee ceases to be a Director, Officer, Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee by reason of termination or removal for cause any Option shall terminate immediately on such termination or removal and not be exercisable by the Optionee unless otherwise determined by the Board.
4.10 Cessation as an Optionee (Without Cause). If an Optionee ceases to be any of a Director, Officer, Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee for any reason except as provided in sections 4.8 or 4.9, any Option shall be exercisable to the extent that it has vested and was exercisable as at the date of such cessation, unless further vesting is permitted by the Board, and must terminate on the earlier of the expiry date of the Option and the 90th day after the Optionee ceased to be any of a Director, Officer, Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee, or such other date as may be reasonably determined by the Board.
4.11 No Assignment of Options. No Option or any right thereunder or in respect thereof shall be transferable or assignable otherwise than by will or pursuant to the laws of succession except that, if permitted by the rules and policies of the Exchange, an Optionee shall have the right to assign any Option to a corporation wholly-owned by them.
4.12 Restriction on Resale of Shares Issued on Exercise of an Option. If the Optionee is an Insider or the Option is exercisable for a price less than the Market Price at the time the Option is granted, the Shares issued upon the exercise of the Option shall be subject to a four month hold period from the time the Option was granted and the certificates representing such Shares shall be legended accordingly.
4.13 Notice of Exercise of an Option. Options shall be exercised only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreements under which they are respectively granted and shall be exercisable only by notice in writing to the Company.
4.14 Payment on Exercise of an Option. Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to their lapse or termination. Shares purchased by an Optionee on exercise of an Option shall be fully paid for in cash or by certified cheque, bank draft or money order at the time of their purchase.
4.15 Condition to Issuance of Shares. The Board may require, as a condition of the issuance of Shares or delivery of certificates representing such Shares upon the exercise of any Option and to ensure compliance with any applicable laws, regulations, rules, orders and requirements that the Optionee or the Optionees heirs, executors or other legal representatives, as applicable, make such covenants, agreements and representations as the Board deems necessary or desirable.
4.16 Withholding or Deductions of Taxes. The Company may deduct, withhold or require an Optionee, as a condition of exercise of an Option, to withhold, pay, remit or reimburse any taxes or similar charges, which are required to be paid, remitted or withheld in connection with the exercise of any Option.
4.17 Cashless Exercise of Options. If the Shares are listed on the TSX, an Optionee may elect by notice in writing to the Company to surrender to the Company all or part of an Option, to the extent that the Option has vested and remains unexercised, in consideration of an amount equal to the difference between the aggregate fair market value (based on the weighted average trading price of the Shares on the TSX during the 10 trading days preceding the date of surrender) of the Shares which could have otherwise been purchased upon the exercise of the Option and the aggregate exercise price which the Optionee would have paid upon such exercise. The Company, in its sole discretion, may:
(a) |
satisfy such amount due to the Optionee by payment in cash or issuance of Shares using such fair market value of the Shares as the issuance price; or |
(b) |
refuse to accept such surrender, whereupon the Option shall remain in full force and effect. |
5. |
RESERVATION OF SHARES FOR OPTIONS |
5.1 Sufficient Authorized Shares to be Reserved. Whenever the constating documents of the Company limit the number of authorized Shares, a sufficient number of Shares shall be reserved by the Board to satisfy the exercise of Options. Shares that were the subject of Options that have lapsed or terminated shall thereupon no longer be in reserve and may once again be subject to an Option.
5.2 Maximum Number of Shares to be Reserved Under Plan. The aggregate number of Shares which may be subject to issuance pursuant to Options and any stock options granted under any other previous or current stock option plan or security compensation arrangement shall be 10% of the outstanding Shares at the time of granting the Options. If any Option expires or otherwise terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full, the number of Shares in respect of such expired or terminated Option shall again be available for the purposes of granting Options pursuant to this Plan.
5.3 Maximum Number of Shares Reserved for Insiders. All Options, together with all of the Companys other previously granted stock options, stock option plans, employee stock purchase plans or any other compensation or incentive mechanisms involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares, shall not result, at the time of granting, in:
(a) |
the number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Options granted to Insiders exceeding 10% of the Shares outstanding; |
(b) |
the issuance to Insiders, within a one year period, of Shares totalling in excess of 10% of the Shares outstanding; or |
(c) |
the issuance to any one individual, within a one year period, of Shares totalling in excess of 5% of the Shares outstanding, |
unless the disinterested shareholders have approved thereof.
6. |
CAPITAL REORGANIZATIONS |
6.1 Share Consolidation or Subdivision. If the Shares are at any time subdivided or consolidated, the number of Shares reserved for Options shall be similarly increased or decreased and the price payable for any Shares that are then subject to issuance shall be decreased or increased proportionately, as the case may require, so that upon exercising each Option the same proportionate shareholdings at the same aggregate purchase price shall be acquired after such subdivision or consolidation as would have been acquired before.
6.2 Stock Dividend. If the Shares are at any time changed as a result of the declaration of a stock dividend thereon, the number of Shares reserved for Options shall be increased proportionately and the price payable for any Shares that are then subject to issuance shall be decreased proportionately so that upon exercising each Option the same proportionate shareholdings at the same aggregate purchase price shall be acquired after such stock dividend as would have been acquired before.
6.3 No Fractional Shares. No adjustment made pursuant to this Part shall require the Company to issue a fraction of a Share and any fractions of a Share shall be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number, with one-half a Share being rounded up to one Share.
6.4 No Adjustment for Cash Dividends or Rights Offerings. No adjustment shall be made to any Option pursuant to this Part in respect of the payment of any cash dividend or the distribution to the shareholders of the Company of any rights to acquire Shares or other securities of the Company.
7. |
EXCHANGES RULES & POLICIES GOVERN & APPLICABLE LAW |
7.1 Exchanges Rules and Policies Apply. This Plan and the granting and exercise of any Options are also subject to such other terms and conditions as are set out in the rules and policies on stock options of the Exchange and any securities commission having authority and such rules and policies shall be deemed to be incorporated into and become a part of this Plan. If there is an inconsistency between the provisions of such rules and policies and of this Plan, the provisions of such rules and policies shall govern.
7.2 Compliance With Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obliged to cause any Shares to be issued or certificates evidencing Shares to be delivered pursuant to this Plan, where issuance and delivery is not, or would result in the Company not, being in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, rules, orders of governmental or regulatory authorities and the requirements of the Exchange. If any provision of this Plan, any Option or any agreement entered into pursuant to this Plan contravenes any applicable law, rule, regulation or order, or any policy, bylaw or regulation of the Exchange or any regulatory body having authority over the Company or this Plan, such provision shall be deemed to be amended to the extent required to bring such provision into compliance therewith, but the Company shall not be responsible to pay and shall not incur any penalty, liability or further obligation in connection therewith.
7.3 No Obligation to File Prospectus. The Company shall not be liable to compensate any Optionee and in no event shall it be obliged to take any action, including the filing of any prospectus, registration statement or similar document, in order to permit the issuance and delivery of any Shares upon the exercise of any Option in order to comply with any applicable laws, regulations, rules, orders or requirements of any securities regulatory authority.
7.4 Governing Law. This Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
8. |
AMENDMENT OF PLAN & OPTIONS |
8.1 Board May Amend Plan or Options. The Board may amend or terminate this Plan or any Options but no such amendment or termination, except with the written consent of the Optionees concerned or unless required to make this Plan or the Options comply with the rules and policies of the Exchange, shall affect the terms and conditions of Options which have not then been exercised or terminated.
8.2 Shareholder Approval. The approval of disinterested shareholders for an amendment to this Plan or any Option shall be required in respect of Options granted to Insiders involving:
(a) |
a reduction of the exercise price, including a reduction effected by cancelling an existing Option and granting a new Option exercisable at a lower price within the subsequent one year period, if the Shares are listed on the TSX-V, or three month period, if the Shares are listed on the TSX; or |
(b) |
an extension of the exercise period, if the Shares are listed on the TSX, unless the extension arises from a Blackout Period. |
Approval by all holders of Shares, whether the holders are disinterested shareholders or not, is required for:
(a) |
an increase in the number of Shares, or percentage of the outstanding Shares, reserved for issuance under this Plan; or |
(b) |
a change from a fixed number to a fixed percentage of the outstanding Shares, or from a fixed percentage to a fixed number, in the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan. |
No approval by any holders of Shares is required for:
(a) |
an amendment to comply with applicable law or rules of the Exchange or of a housekeeping nature required to correct typographical and similar errors; |
(b) |
a change to the vesting provisions; |
(c) |
a change to the termination provisions, other than an extension of an Option to a new expiry date that falls outside the maximum term currently permitted by this Plan when the Option was first granted; |
(d) |
a reduction of the exercise price of an Option, including a reduction effected by cancelling an existing Option and granting a new Option exercisable at a lower price, or an extension of the exercise period, if the Optionee is not an Insider; and |
(e) |
any change in those persons who may be Optionees if such new Optionees are Insiders. |
8.3 Exchange Approval Required. Any amendment to this Plan or Options shall not become effective until such amendments have been accepted for filing by the Exchange.
9. |
PLAN DOES NOT AFFECT OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS |
9.1 Other Plans Not Affected. This Plan shall not in any way affect the policies or decisions of the Board in relation to the remuneration of Directors, Officers, Consultants, Employees and Management Company Employee.
10. |
OPTIONEES RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER |
10.1 No Rights Until Option Exercised. An Optionee shall be entitled to the rights pertaining to share ownership, such as to dividends, only with respect to Shares that have been fully paid for and issued to the Optionee upon exercise of an Option.
11. |
EFFECTIVE DATE & EXPIRY OF PLAN |
11.1 Effective Date. This Plan has been adopted by the Board subject to the approval of the Exchange and if so approved, subject to the discretion of the Board, the Plan shall become effective upon such approvals being obtained. Thereafter this Plan shall be approved by the holders of the Shares annually, if the Shares are listed on the TSX-V, or tri-annually, if the Shares are listed on the TSX. If such annual approvals are not obtained, Options may no longer be granted. Options may be granted, but cannot be exercised, prior to the receipt of such approvals.
11.2 Termination. This Plan shall terminate upon a resolution to that effect being passed by the Board. Any Options shall continue to be exercisable according to their terms after the termination of this Plan.
Adopted by the Board of Directors on May 4, 2021.
Exhibit 5.1
|
||
June 2, 2021 | ||
ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. | Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP | |
3204 - 4464 Markham Street | 222 Bay Street, Suite 3000, P.O. Box 53 | |
Victoria, BC | Toronto, Ontario M5K 1E7 Canada | |
V8Z 7X8 |
F: +1 416.216.3930 nortonrosefulbright.com |
Re: Registration Statement of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. on Form S-8
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
We have acted as counsel to ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. (the Company), a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, in connection with the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the Registration Statement), filed on or about the date hereof with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), of up to an aggregate of 1,921,240 common shares of the Company (the Common Shares) which are issuable by the Company to eligible participants pursuant to stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended, (the Stock Option Plan).
As counsel, we have made such investigations and examined the originals, or duplicate, certified, conformed, telecopied or photostatic copies of such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have considered necessary or relevant for the purposes of this opinion, including:
a) |
the Registration Statement and the Stock Option Plan; |
b) |
the articles and notice of articles of the Company; |
c) |
certain resolutions of the Companys board of directors; and |
d) |
a Certificate of Good Standing dated June 1, 2021 issued by the Registrar of Companies in British Columbia. |
With respect to the accuracy of factual matters material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents and representations of public officials and of officers of the Company and have not performed any independent check or verification of such factual matters.
In giving this opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates, certified, conformed, telecopied or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have also assumed that the Certificate of Good Standing referred to above will continue to be accurate as at the date of issuance of any Common Shares issued under the Registration Statement.
The opinion set forth below is limited to the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, in each case in effect on the date hereof. Our opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you of changes in law or fact (or the effect thereof on the opinions expressed herein) that hereafter may come to our attention.
Where our opinion below refers to the Common Shares as being fully-paid and non-assessable, such opinion assumes that all required consideration (in whatever form) has been or will be paid or provided. No opinion is expressed as to the adequacy of any consideration received.
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Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that upon issuance and delivery of and payment for such Common Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Registration Statement and the Stock Option Plan, such Common Shares being issued by the Company, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares in the share capital of the Company.
This opinion has been prepared for your use in connection with the Registration Statement and is expressed as of the date hereof. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the Registration Statement or the Common Shares.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. This opinion may not be quoted from or referred to in any documents other than the Registration Statement as provided for herein without our prior written consent.
Yours truly,
/s/ Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
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Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. (the Company) of our report dated August 28, 2020 relating to the Companys consolidated financial statements for the years ended April 30, 2020 and 2019 and of our report dated August 28, 2019 related to the Company consolidated financial statements for the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018 which are incorporated by reference in the Companys Registration Statement on Form 40-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2020, as amended which Form 40-F is incorporated by reference in this Form S-8.
/s/ Crowe MacKay LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
June 2, 2021