EX-3.1 2 ea022237201ex3-1_encore.htm ARTICLES OF ENCORE ENERGY CORP., AS AMENDED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Exhibit 3.1

 

Section 11.3 of the attached Articles of the Company was altered on November 6, 2024 as authorized by directors’ resolutions dated October 31, 2024.

 

11.3Quorum

 

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 of the Company is at least one shareholder present in person or by proxy at the meeting who hold, or who are otherwise permitted to vote shares of the Company at a meeting of shareholders representing, in the aggregate at least thirty three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the issued shares entitled to be voted at the meeting.

 

 

 

 

ADOPTED on October 28, 2020.

 

“William Sheriff”

 

Authorized Signatory

 

Incorporation Number:          

BC0865149

 

 Articles

 

Of

 

ENCORE ENERGY CORP.

 

1. Interpretation 6
       
  1.1 Definitions 6
  1.2 Business Corporations Act and Interpretation Act Definitions Applicable 6
       
2. Shares and Share Certificates 6
       
  2.1 Authorized Share Structure 6
  2.2 Form of Share Certificate 6
  2.3 Shareholder Entitled to Certificate or Acknowledgment 7
  2.4 Delivery by Mail 7
  2.5 Replacement of Worn Out or Defaced Certificate or Acknowledgement 7
  2.6 Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificate or Acknowledgment 7
  2.7 Splitting Share Certificates 7
  2.8 Certificate Fee 7
  2.9 Recognition of Trusts 7
       
3. Issue of Shares 8
       
  3.1 Directors Authorized 8
  3.2 Commissions and Discounts 8
  3.3 Brokerage 8
  3.4 Conditions of Issue 8
  3.5 Share Purchase Warrants and Rights 8
       
4. Share Registers 8
       
  4.1 Central Securities Register 8
  4.2 Closing Register 9
       
5. Share Transfers 9
     
  5.1 Private Issuer Restrictions 9
  5.2 Registering Transfers where Certificate or Acknowledgement 9
  5.3 Registering Transfers where no Certificate or Acknowledgement 9
  5.4 Form of Instrument of Transfer 9
  5.5 Transferor Remains Shareholder 9
  5.6 Signing of Instrument of Transfer 10
  5.7 Enquiry as to Title Not Required 10
  5.8 Transfer Agent 10
  5.9 Transfer Fee 10
       
6. Transmission of Shares 10
     
  6.1 Legal Personal Representative Recognized on Death 10
  6.2 Rights of Legal Personal Representative 10
  6.3 Registration of Legal Personal Representative 10
       
7. Purchase and Redemption of Shares 11
     
  7.1 Company Authorized to Purchase or Redeem Shares 11
  7.2 Purchase When Insolvent 11
  7.3 Sale and Voting of Purchased Shares 11

 

Page 1 of 40

 

 

8. Borrowing Powers 11
     
9. Alterations 12
  9.1 Alteration of Authorized Share Structure 12
  9.2 Special Rights and Restrictions 12
  9.3 Change of Name 13
  9.4 Other Alterations 13
       
10. Meetings of Shareholders 13
     
  10.1 Annual General Meetings 13
  10.2 Consent Resolution Instead of Meeting of Shareholders 13
  10.3 Calling of Meetings of Shareholders 13
  10.4 Notice for Meetings of Shareholders 13
  10.5 A Notice of Resolution to Which Shareholders May Dissent 14
  10.6 Record Date for Notice 14
  10.7 Record Date for Voting 14
  10.8 Failure to Give Notice and Waiver of Notice 14
  10.9 Notice of Special Business at Meetings of Shareholders 14
  10.10 Location of Meetings of Shareholders 15
       
11. Proceedings at Meetings of Shareholders 15
     
  11.1 Special Business 15
  11.2 Majority Required for a Special Resolution 15
  11.3 Quorum 15
  11.4 Other Persons May Attend 15
  11.5 Requirement of Quorum 16
  11.6 Lack of Quorum 16
  11.7 Lack of Quorum at Succeeding Meeting 16
  11.8 Chair 16
  11.9 Selection of Alternate Chair 16
  11.10 Adjournments 16
  11.11 Notice of Adjourned Meeting 17
  11.12 Decisions by Show of Hands, Verbal Statements, or Poll 17
  11.13 Declaration of Result 17
  11.14 Motion Need Not be Seconded 17
  11.15 Casting Vote 17
  11.16 Manner of Taking Poll 17
  11.17 Demand for Poll on Adjournment 17
  11.18 Chair Must Resolve Dispute 18
  11.19 Casting of Votes 18
  11.20 No Demand for Poll on Election of Chair 18
  11.21 Demand for Poll Not to Prevent Continuance of Meeting 18
  11.22 Retention of Ballots and Proxies 18
       
12. Votes of Shareholders 18
     
  12.1 Number of Votes by Shareholder or by Shares 18
  12.2 Votes of Persons in Representative Capacity 18
  12.3 Votes by Joint Holders 18
  12.4 Legal Personal Representatives as Joint Shareholders 19
  12.5 Representative of a Corporate Shareholder 19
  12.6 Proxy Provisions Do Not Apply to All Companies 19
  12.7 Appointment of Proxy Holders 19
  12.8 Alternate Proxy Holders 19

 

Page 2 of 40

 

 

  12.9 When Proxy Holder Need Not Be Shareholder 20
  12.10 Deposit of Proxy 20
  12.11 Validity of Proxy Vote 20
  12.12 Form of Proxy 20
  12.13 Revocation of Proxy 21
  12.14 Revocation of Proxy Must Be Signed 21
  12.15 Production of Evidence of Authority to Vote 21
       
13. Directors 21
     
  13.1 First Directors; Number of Directors 21
  13.2 Change in Number of Directors 22
  13.3 Directors’ Acts Valid Despite Vacancy 22
  13.4 Qualifications of Directors 22
  13.5 Remuneration of Directors 22
  13.6 Reimbursement of Expenses of Directors 22
  13.7 Special Remuneration for Directors 22
  13.8 Gratuity, Pension or Allowance on Retirement of Director 22
       
14. Election and Removal of Directors 23
     
  14.1 Election at Annual General Meeting 23
  14.2 Consent to be a Director 23
  14.3 Failure to Elect or Appoint Directors 23
  14.4 Places of Retiring Directors Not Filled 23
  14.5 Directors May Fill Casual Vacancies 24
  14.6 Remaining Directors’ Power to Act 24
  14.7 Shareholders May Fill Vacancies 24
  14.8 Additional Directors 24
  14.9 Ceasing to be a Director 24
  14.10 Removal of Director by Shareholders 24
  14.11 Removal of Director by Directors 25
  14.12 Nominations Of Directors 25
       
15. Alternate Directors 27
     
  15.1 Appointment of Alternate Director 27
  15.2 Notice of Meetings 27
  15.3 Alternate for More Than One Director Attending Meetings 27
  15.4 Consent Resolutions 27
  15.5 Alternate Director Not an Agent 28
  15.6 Revocation of Appointment of Alternate Director 28
  15.7 Ceasing to be an Alternate Director 28
  15.8 Remuneration and Expenses of Alternate Director 28
       
16. Powers and Duties of Directors 28
     
  16.1 Powers of Management 28
  16.2 Appointment of Attorney of Company 28
  16.3 Setting the Remuneration of Auditors 28

 

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17. Disclosure of Interests Of Directors And Officers 29
     
  17.1 Obligation to Account for Profits 29
  17.2 Restrictions on Voting by Reason of Interest 29
  17.3 Interested Director Counted in Quorum 29
  17.4 Disclosure of Conflict of Interest or Property 29
  17.5 Director Holding Other Office in the Company 29
  17.6 No Disqualification 29
  17.7 Professional Services by Director or Officer 29
  17.8 Director or Officer in Other Corporations 29
       
18. Proceedings of Directors 30
     
  18.1 Meetings of Directors 30
  18.2 Voting at Meetings 30
  18.3 Chair of Meetings 30
  18.4 Meetings by Telephone or Other Communications Medium 30
  18.5 Calling of Meetings 30
  18.6 Notice of Meetings 30
  18.7 When Notice Not Required 31
  18.8 Meeting Valid Despite Failure to Give Notice 31
  18.9 Waiver of Notice of Meetings 31
  18.10 Quorum 31
  18.11 Validity of Acts Where Appointment Defective 31
  18.12 Consent Resolutions in Writing 31
       
19. Executive and Other Committees 32
     
  19.1 Appointment and Powers of Executive Committee 32
  19.2 Appointment and Powers of Other Committees 32
  19.3 Obligations of Committees 32
  19.4 Powers of Board 32
  19.5 Committee Meetings 33
       
20. Officers 33
       
  20.1 Directors May Appoint Officers 33
  20.2 Functions, Duties and Powers of Officers 33
  20.3 Qualifications 33
  20.4 Remuneration and Terms of Appointment 33
       
21. Indemnification 33
     
  21.1 Definitions 33
  21.2 Mandatory Indemnification of Eligible Parties 34
  21.3 Indemnification of Other Persons 34
  21.4 Non-Compliance with Business Corporations Act 34
  21.5 Company May Purchase Insurance 34
       
22. Dividends 35
       
  22.1 Payment of Dividends Subject to Special Rights 35
  22.2 Declaration of Dividends 35
  22.3 No Notice Required 35
  22.4 Record Date 35
  22.5 Manner of Paying Dividend 35
  22.6 Settlement of Difficulties 35
  22.7 When Dividend Payable 35
  22.8 Dividends to be Paid in Accordance with Number of Shares 35
  22.9 Receipt by Joint Shareholders 35
  22.10 Dividend Bears No Interest 36
  22.11 Fractional Dividends 36
  22.12 Payment of Dividends 36
  22.13 Capitalization of Retained Earnings or Surplus 36

 

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23. Documents, Records and Reports 36
       
  23.1 Recording of Financial Affairs 36
  23.2 Inspection of Accounting Records 36
       
24. Notices 36
     
  24.1 Method of Giving Notice 36
  24.2 Deemed Receipt of Mailing 37
  24.3 Certificate of Sending 37
  24.4 Notice to Joint Shareholders 37
  24.5 Notice to Legal Personal Representatives and Trustees 37
  24.6 Undelivered Notices 38
       
25. Seal 38
       
  25.1 Who May Attest Seal 38
  25.2 Sealing Copies 38
  25.3 Mechanical Reproduction of Seal 38
       
26. Mechanical Reproductions of Signatures 39
       
  26.1 Instruments may be Mechanically Signed 39
  26.2 Definitions of Instruments 39
       
27. Prohibitions 39
       
  27.1 Definitions 39
  27.2 Application 39
  27.3 Consent Required for Transfer of Shares or Designated Securities 40
       
28. Special Rights and Restrictions 40
       
  28.1 Common Shares 40
  28.2 Preferred Shares 40

 

Page 5 of 40

 

 

Province of British Columbia

 

Business Corporations Act

 

Articles of enCore Energy Corp.

 

(the “Company”)

 

1.Interpretation

 

1.1Definitions

 

In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)“board of directors”, “directors” and “board” mean the directors or sole director of the Company for the time being;

 

(b)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;

 

(c)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;

 

(d)“legal personal representative” means the personal or other legal representative of the shareholder;

 

(e)“registered address” of a shareholder means the shareholder’s address as recorded in the central securities register;

 

(f)“seal” means the seal of the Company, if any;

 

(g)“solicitor of the Company” means any partner, associate or articled student of the law firm retained by the Company in respect of the matter in connection with which the term is used.

 

1.2Business 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 and form a part of these Articles. If there is a conflict between a definition in the Business Corporations Act and a definition or rule in the Interpretation Act relating to a term used in these Articles, the definition in the Business Corporations Act will prevail in relation to the use of the term in these Articles. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between these Articles and the Business Corporations Act, the Business Corporations Act will prevail.

 

2.Shares and Share Certificates

 

2.1Authorized Share Structure

 

The authorized share structure of the Company consists of shares of the class or classes and series, if any, described in the Notice of Articles of the Company.

 

2.2Form of Share Certificate

 

Each share certificate issued by the Company shall be in such form as the directors may determine and approve and must comply with, and be signed as required by, the Business Corporations Act.

 

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2.3Shareholder Entitled to Certificate or Acknowledgment

 

Shares may be issued without a share certificate or written acknowledgment. Upon request, however, each shareholder is entitled, without charge, to (a) one share certificate representing the shares of each class or series of shares registered in the shareholder’s name or (b) a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain such a share certificate, provided that in respect of a share held jointly by several persons, the Company is not bound to issue more than one share certificate or acknowledgement and delivery of a share certificate or acknowledgement to one of several joint shareholders or to a duly authorized agent of one of the joint shareholders will be sufficient delivery to all.

 

2.4Delivery by Mail

 

Any share certificate or non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate may be sent to the shareholder by mail at the shareholder’s registered address and neither the Company nor any director, officer or agent of the Company is liable for any loss to the shareholder because the share certificate or acknowledgement is lost in the mail or stolen.

 

2.5Replacement of Worn Out or Defaced Certificate or Acknowledgement

 

If the directors are satisfied that a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is worn out or defaced, they must, on production to them of the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, and on such other terms, if any, as they think fit:

 

(a)order the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, to be cancelled; and

 

(b)issue a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be.

 

2.6Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificate or Acknowledgment

 

If a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, must be issued to the person entitled to that share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, if the directors receive:

 

(a)proof satisfactory to them that the share certificate or acknowledgment is lost, stolen or destroyed; and

 

(b)any indemnity the directors consider adequate.

 

2.7Splitting Share Certificates

 

If a shareholder surrenders a share certificate to the Company with a written request that the Company issue in the shareholder’s name two or more share certificates, each representing a specified number of shares and in the aggregate representing the same number of shares as the share certificate so surrendered, the Company must cancel the surrendered share certificate and issue replacement share certificates in accordance with that request.

 

2.8Certificate 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.

 

2.9Recognition of Trusts

 

Except as required by law or statute or these Articles, no person will be recognized by the Company as holding any share upon any trust, and the Company is not bound by or compelled in any way to recognize (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or fraction of a share or (except as required by law or statute or these Articles or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the shareholder.

 

Page 7 of 40

 

 

3.Issue of Shares

 

3.1Directors Authorized

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act and the rights, if any, of the holders of issued shares of the Company, the Company may issue, allot, sell or otherwise dispose of the unissued shares, and issued shares held by the Company, at the times, to the persons, including directors, in the manner, on the terms and conditions and for the issue prices (including any premium at which shares with par value may be issued) that the directors may determine. The issue price for a share with par value must be equal to or greater than the par value of the share.

 

3.2Commissions and Discounts

 

The Company may at any time pay a reasonable commission or allow a reasonable discount to any person in consideration of that person purchasing or agreeing to purchase shares of the Company from the Company or any other person or procuring or agreeing to procure purchasers for shares of the Company.

 

3.3Brokerage

 

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.

 

3.4Conditions 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:

 

(a)consideration is provided to the Company for the issue of the share by one or more of the following:

 

(1)past services performed for the Company;

 

(2)property; or

 

(3)money; and

 

(b)the value of the consideration received by the Company equals or exceeds the issue price set for the share under Article 3.1.

 

3.5Share Purchase Warrants and Rights

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the Company may issue share purchase warrants, options and rights upon such terms and conditions as the directors determine, which share purchase warrants, options and rights may be issued alone or in conjunction with debentures, debenture stock, bonds, shares or any other securities issued or created by the Company from time to time.

 

4.Share Registers

 

4.1Central Securities Register

 

The Company must maintain a central securities register in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act. The directors may, subject to the Business Corporations Act, appoint an agent to maintain the central securities register. The directors may also appoint one or more agents, including the agent which keeps the central securities register, as transfer agent for its shares or any class or series of its shares, as the case may be, and the same or another agent as registrar for its shares or such class or series of its shares, as the case may be. The directors may terminate such appointment of any agent at any time and may appoint another agent in its place.

 

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4.2Closing Register

 

The Company must not at any time close its central securities register.

 

5.Share Transfers

 

5.1Private Issuer Restrictions

 

The provisions of Article 27 shall apply to any proposed transfer of a share of the Company.

 

5.2Registering Transfers where Certificate or Acknowledgement

 

A transfer of a share of the Company for which a share certificate has been issued or for which the shareholder has received a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate must not be registered unless the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the class or series of share to be transferred has received:

 

(a)an instrument of transfer, duly executed by the transferor or a duly authorized attorney of the transferor, in respect of the share;

 

(b)if a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that share certificate;

 

(c)if a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that acknowledgment; and

 

(d)such other evidence, if any, as the directors or the transfer agent may require to prove the title of the transferor or his duly authorized attorney or the right to transfer the shares, and the right of the transferee to have the transfer registered.

 

5.3Registering Transfers where no Certificate or Acknowledgement

 

A transfer of a share of the Company for which a share certificate has not been issued or for which the shareholder has not received a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate (for example, where shares are issued in book-only form), must not be registered unless the requirements for transfer as approved by the directors have been met.

 

5.4Form of Instrument of Transfer

 

The instrument of transfer in respect of any share of the Company must be either in the form, if any, on the back of the Company’s share certificates or in any other form that may be approved by the directors from time to time.

 

5.5Transferor 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.

 

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5.6Signing of Instrument of Transfer

 

If a shareholder, or his or her duly authorized attorney, signs an instrument of transfer in respect of shares registered in the name of the shareholder, the signed instrument of transfer constitutes a complete and sufficient authority to the Company and its directors, officers and agents to register the number of shares specified in the instrument of transfer or specified in any other manner, or, if no number is specified, all the shares represented by the share certificates or set out in the written acknowledgments deposited with the instrument of transfer:

 

(a)in the name of the person named as transferee in that instrument of transfer; or

 

(b)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.

 

5.7Enquiry 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.

 

5.8Transfer Agent

 

The Company may appoint one or more trust companies or agents as its transfer agent for the purpose of issuing, countersigning, registering, transferring and certifying the shares and share certificates of the Company.

 

5.9Transfer 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

 

6.1Legal Personal Representative Recognized on Death

 

In case of the death of a shareholder, the legal personal representative of the shareholder, in the case of shares registered in the shareholders’ name and the name of another person in joint tenancy, the surviving joint holder, will be the only person recognized by the Company as having any title to the shareholder’s interest in the shares. Before recognizing a person as a legal personal representative of a shareholder, 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.

 

6.2Rights of Legal Personal Representative

 

Subject to Article 6.1, on death or bankruptcy, the legal personal representative of a shareholder 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.

 

6.3Registration of Legal Personal Representative

 

Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a shareholder shall, upon such documents and evidence being produced to the Company as the Business Corporations Act requires, or who becomes entitled to a share as a result of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a statute, has the right either to be registered as a shareholder in his representative capacity in respect of such share, or, if he is a personal representative, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the share as the deceased or bankrupt person could have made; but the directors shall, as regards a transfer by a personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy, have the same right, if any, to decline or suspend registration of a transferee as they would have in the case of a transfer of a share by the deceased or bankrupt person before the death or bankruptcy.

 

Page 10 of 40

 

 

7.Purchase and Redemption of Shares

 

7.1Company Authorized to Purchase or Redeem Shares

 

Subject to Article 7.2, the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series and the Business Corporations Act, the Company may, if authorized by the directors, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares at the price and upon the terms the directors determine. The Company may, by a resolution of directors, cancel any of its shares purchased by the Company, and upon the cancellation of such shares the number of issued shares shall be reduced accordingly.

 

7.2Purchase When Insolvent

 

The Company must not make a payment or provide any other consideration to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that:

 

(a)the Company is insolvent; or

 

(b)making the payment or providing the consideration would render the Company insolvent.

 

7.3Sale and Voting of Purchased Shares

 

If the Company retains a share purchased, redeemed 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:

 

(a)is not entitled to vote the share at a meeting of its shareholders;

 

(b)must not pay a dividend in respect of the share; and

 

(c)must not make any other distribution in respect of the share.

 

8.Borrowing Powers

 

The Company, if authorized by the directors, may:

 

(a)borrow money in the manner and amount, on the security, from the sources and on the terms and conditions that they consider appropriate;

 

(b)issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations either outright or as security for any liability or obligation of the Company or any other person and at such discounts or premiums and on such other terms as they consider appropriate;

 

(c)guarantee the repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person; and

 

(d)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.

 

Any bonds, debentures or other debt obligations of the Company may be issued at a discount, premium or otherwise, and with any special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawings, allotment of or conversion into or exchange for shares or other securities, attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment of directors or otherwise and may by their terms be assignable free from any equities between the Company and the person to whom they were issued or any subsequent holder thereof, all as the directors may determine.

 

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9.Alterations

 

9.1Alteration of Authorized Share Structure

 

Subject to Article 9.2 and the Business Corporations Act, the Company may:

 

(a)either by directors’ resolution or by ordinary resolution, at the election of the directors in their sole discretion:

 

(1)create one or more classes or series of shares or, if none of the shares of a class are allotted or issued, eliminate that class of shares;

 

(2)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;

 

(3)subdivide or consolidate all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares;

 

(4)if the Company is authorized to issue shares of a class of shares with par value:

 

idecrease the par value of those shares; or

 

iiif none of the shares of that class of shares are allotted or issued, increase the par value of those shares;

 

(5)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;

 

(6)alter the identifying name of any of its shares;

 

(7)otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure when required or permitted to do so by the Business Corporations Act; or

 

(b)by ordinary resolution otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure;

 

and alter its Articles and Notice of Articles accordingly.

 

9.2Special Rights and Restrictions

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the Company may by ordinary resolution:

 

(a)create special rights or restrictions for, and attach those special rights or restrictions to, the shares of any class or series of shares, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued; or

 

(b)by ordinary resolution vary or delete any special rights or restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued

 

and alter its Articles and Notice of Articles accordingly.

 

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9.3Change of Name

 

The Company may by directors’ resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, authorize an alteration of its Notice of Articles in order to change its name.

 

9.4Other Alterations

 

The Company, save as otherwise provided by these Articles and subject to the Business Corporations Act, may:

 

(a)by directors’ resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, authorize alterations to the Articles that are procedural or administrative in nature or are matters that pursuant to these Articles are solely within the directors’ powers, control or authority; and

 

(b)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 ordinary resolution alter these Articles.

 

10.Meetings of Shareholders

 

10.1Annual General Meetings

 

Unless an annual general meeting is deferred or waived in accordance with the Business Corporations Act, the Company must hold its first annual general meeting within 18 months after the date on which it was incorporated or otherwise recognized, and thereafter 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.

 

10.2Consent Resolution Instead of Meeting of Shareholders

 

If all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting consent by a unanimous resolution under the Business Corporations Act to all of the business that is required to be transacted at that annual general meeting, the annual general meeting is deemed to have been held on the date of the unanimous resolution. The shareholders must, in any unanimous resolution passed under this Article 10.2, select as the Company’s annual reference date a date that would be appropriate for the holding of the applicable annual general meeting.

 

10.3Calling of Meetings of Shareholders

 

The directors may, whenever they think fit, call a meeting of shareholders.

 

10.4Notice for Meetings of Shareholders

 

The Company must send notice of the date, time and location of any meeting of shareholders (including, without limitation, any notice specifying the intention to propose a resolution as an exceptional resolution, a special resolution or a special separate resolution and any notice of a general meeting, class meeting or series meeting or to consider approving the adoption of an amalgamation agreement, the approval of any amalgamation into a foreign jurisdiction or the approval of any arragement), in the manner provided in these Articles, or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by directors’ resolution (whether previous notice of the resolution has been given or not), to each shareholder entitled to attend the meeting, to each director and to the auditor of the Company, unless these Articles otherwise provide, at least the following number of days before the meeting:

 

(a)if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days;

 

(b)otherwise, 10 days.

 

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10.5A Notice of Resolution to Which Shareholders May Dissent

 

The Company must send to each of its shareholders, whether or not their shares carry the right to vote, a notice of any meeting of shareholders at which a resolution entitling shareholders to dissent is to be considered specifying the date of the meeting and containing a statement advising of the right to send a notice of dissent and a copy of the proposed resolution at lease the following number of days before the meeting:

 

(a)if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days;

 

(b)otherwise, 10 days.

 

10.6Record 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:

 

(a)if and for so long as the Company is a public company, 21 days;

 

(b)otherwise, 10 days.

 

If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.

 

10.7Record 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.

 

10.8Failure to Give Notice and Waiver of Notice

 

The accidental omission to send notice of any meeting of shareholders to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any of the persons entitled to notice does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting. Any person entitled to notice of a meeting of shareholders may, in writing or otherwise, waive or reduce the period of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting of shareholders is a waiver of entitlement to notice of the meeting unless that person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.

 

10.9Notice 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:

 

(a)state the general nature of the special business; and

 

(b)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:

 

(1)at the Company’s records office, or at such other reasonably accessible location in British Columbia as is specified in the notice; and

 

(2)during statutory business hours on any one or more specified days before the day set for the holding of the meeting.

 

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10.10Location of Meetings of Shareholders

 

The Company will hold meetings of shareholders in British Columbia, subject to the directors, by resolution, approving a location for such meetings outside of British Columbia.

 

11.Proceedings at Meetings of Shareholders

 

11.1Special Business

 

At a meeting of shareholders, the following business is special business:

 

(a)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;

 

(b)at an annual general meeting, all business is special business except for the following:

 

(1)business relating to the conduct of or voting at the meeting;

 

(2)consideration of any financial statements of the Company presented to the meeting;

 

(3)consideration of any reports of the directors or auditor;

 

(4)the setting or changing of the number of directors;

 

(5)the election or appointment of directors;

 

(6)the appointment of an auditor;

 

(7)the setting of the remuneration of an auditor;

 

(8)business arising out of a report of the directors not requiring the passing of a special resolution or an exceptional resolution;

 

(9)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.

 

11.2Majority Required for a Special Resolution

 

The majority of votes required for the Company to pass a special resolution at a general meeting of shareholders is two-thirds of the votes cast on the resolution.

 

11.3Quorum

 

Subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is one person who is a shareholder, or who is otherwise permitted to vote shares of the Company at a meeting of shareholders pursuant to these articles, present in person or by proxy.

 

11.4Other Persons May Attend

 

The directors, the president (if any), the secretary (if any), the assistant secretary (if any), any solicitor 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.

 

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11.5Requirement 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.

 

11.6Lack of Quorum

 

If, within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of a meeting of shareholders, a quorum is not present:

 

(a)in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders, the meeting is dissolved, and

 

(b)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.

 

11.7Lack of Quorum at Succeeding Meeting

 

If, at the meeting to which the meeting referred to in Article 11.6(b) 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.

 

11.8Chair

 

The following individuals are entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of shareholders:

 

(a)the chair of the board, if any; or

 

(b)if no chair of the board exists or is present and willing to act as chair of the meeting, the president of the Company; or

 

(c)if the chair of the board, and the president of the Company are absent or unwilling to act as chair of the meeting, the solicitor of the Company.

 

11.9Selection of Alternate Chair

 

If, at any meeting of shareholders, there is no chair of the board or president 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, and the solicitor of the Company is absent or unwilling to act as chair of the meeting, 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.

 

11.10Adjournments

 

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.

 

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11.11Notice of Adjourned Meeting

 

It is not necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting of shareholders or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting of shareholders except that, when a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given as in the case of the original meeting.

 

11.12Decisions by Show of Hands, Verbal Statements, or Poll

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act, every motion put to a vote at a meeting of shareholders will be decided on a show of hands unless a poll, before or on the declaration of the result of the vote by show of hands, is directed by the chair or demanded by at least one shareholder entitled to vote who is present in person or by proxy. In determining the result of a vote by show of hands, shareholders present by telephone or other communications medium in which all shareholders and proxy holders entitled to attend and participate in voting at the meeting are able to communicate with each other, may indicate their vote verbally or, otherwise in such manner as clearly evidences their vote and is accepted by the chair of the meeting.

 

11.13Declaration of Result

 

The chair of a meeting of shareholders must declare to the meeting the decision on every question in accordance with the result of the show of hands or the poll, as the case may be, and that decision must be entered in the minutes of the meeting. A declaration of the chair that a resolution is carried by the necessary majority or is defeated is, unless a poll is directed by the chair or demanded under Article 11.12, conclusive evidence without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.

 

11.14Motion 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.

 

11.15Casting Vote

 

In case of an equality of votes either on a show of hands or on a poll, the chair of a meeting of shareholders will not have a second or casting vote in addition to the vote or votes to which the chair may be entitled as a shareholder.

 

11.16Manner of Taking Poll

 

Subject to Article 11.18, if a poll is duly demanded at a meeting of shareholders:

 

(a)the poll must be taken:

 

(1)at the meeting, or within seven days after the date of the meeting, as the chair of the meeting directs; and

 

(2)in the manner, at the time and at the place that the chair of the meeting directs;

 

(b)the result of the poll is deemed to be the decision of the meeting at which the poll is demanded; and

 

(c)the demand for the poll may be withdrawn by the person who demanded it.

 

11.17Demand for Poll on Adjournment

 

A poll demanded at a meeting of shareholders on a question of adjournment must be taken immediately at the meeting.

 

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11.18Chair Must Resolve Dispute

 

In the case of any dispute as to the admission or rejection of a vote given on a poll, the chair of the meeting must determine the dispute, and his or her determination made in good faith is final and conclusive.

 

11.19Casting of Votes

 

On a poll, a shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not cast all the votes in the same way.

 

11.20No Demand for Poll on Election of Chair

 

No poll may be demanded in respect of the vote by which a chair of a meeting of shareholders is elected.

 

11.21Demand 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.

 

11.22Retention of Ballots and Proxies

 

The Company must, for at least three months after a meeting of shareholders, keep each ballot cast on a poll and each proxy voted at the meeting, and, during that period, make them available for inspection during normal business hours by any shareholder or 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

 

12.1Number 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:

 

(a)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

 

(b)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.

 

12.2Votes 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.

 

12.3Votes by Joint Holders

 

If there are joint shareholders registered in respect of any share:

 

(a)any one of the joint shareholders may vote at any meeting of shareholders, either personally or by proxy, in respect of the share as if that joint shareholder were solely entitled to it; or

 

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(b)if more than one of the joint shareholders is present at any meeting of shareholders, personally or by proxy, and more than one of them votes in respect of that share, then only the vote of the joint shareholder present whose name stands first on the central securities register in respect of the share will be counted.

 

12.4Legal Personal Representatives as Joint Shareholders

 

Two or more legal personal representatives of a shareholder in whose sole name any share is registered are, for the purposes of Article 12.3, deemed to be joint shareholders registered in respect of that share.

 

12.5Representative 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:

 

(a)for that purpose, the instrument appointing a representative 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 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

 

(2)be provided, at the meeting, to the chair of the meeting or to a person designated by the chair of the meeting;

 

(b)if a representative is appointed under this Article 12.5:

 

(1)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

 

(2)the representative, if present at the meeting, is to be counted for the purpose of forming a quorum and is deemed to be a shareholder present in person at the meeting.

 

Evidence of the appointment of any such representative may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages.

 

12.6Proxy Provisions Do Not Apply to All Companies

 

Articles 12.7 to 12.15 do not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a public company or a pre-existing reporting company which has the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions as part of its Articles or to which the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions apply.

 

12.7Appointment of Proxy Holders

 

Every shareholder of the Company, including a corporation that is a shareholder but not a subsidiary of the Company, entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders may, by proxy, appoint 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.

 

12.8Alternate Proxy Holders

 

A shareholder may appoint one or more alternate proxy holders to act in the place of an absent proxy holder.

 

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12.9When Proxy Holder Need Not Be Shareholder

 

A person must not be appointed as a proxy holder unless:

 

(a)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 company or a representative of a company 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; or

 

(b)the person is a director, officer or the solicitor of the Company.

 

12.10Deposit of Proxy

 

A proxy for a meeting of shareholders 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, or if no number of days is specified, two business days before the day set for the holding of the meeting; or

 

(b)unless the notice provides otherwise, be provided, at the meeting, to the chair of the meeting or to a person designated by the chair of the meeting.

 

A proxy may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages.

 

12.11Validity 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:

 

(a)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

 

(b)by the chair of the meeting, before the vote is taken.

 

12.12Form of Proxy

 

A proxy, whether for a specified meeting or otherwise, must be either in the following form or in any other form approved by the directors or the chair of the meeting:

 

[name of company]
(the “Company”)

 

The undersigned, being a shareholder of the Company, hereby appoints [name] or, failing that person, [name], as proxy holder for the undersigned to attend, act and vote for and on behalf of the undersigned at the meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on [month, day, year] and at any adjournment of that meeting.

 

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Number of shares in respect of which this proxy is given (if no number is specified, then this proxy if given in respect of all shares registered in the name of the shareholder): _____________________

 

Signed [month, day, year]

 

______________________ 

[Signature of shareholder]

 

______________________ 

[Name of shareholder—printed]

 

12.13Revocation of Proxy

 

Subject to Article 12.14, every proxy may be revoked by an instrument in writing that is:

 

(a)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

 

(b)provided, at the meeting, to the chair of the meeting.

 

12.14Revocation of Proxy Must Be Signed

 

An instrument referred to in Article 12.13 must be signed as follows:

 

(a)if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is an individual, the instrument must be signed by the shareholder or his or her legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy;

 

(b)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.

 

12.15Production 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

 

13.1First Directors; Number of Directors

 

If the Company is not a pre-existing company under the Business Corporations Act, the first directors are the persons designated as directors of the Company in the Notice of Articles that applies to the Company when it is recognized under the Business Corporations Act. The number of directors, excluding additional directors appointed under Article 14.8, is set at:

 

(a)subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the number of directors that is equal to the number of the Company’s first directors if applicable;

 

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(b)if the Company is a public company, the greater of three and the most recently set of:

 

(1)the number of directors set by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and

 

(2)the number of directors set under Article 14.4;

 

(c)if the Company is not a public company, the most recently set of:

 

(1)the number of directors set by ordinary resolution (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and

 

(2)the number of directors set under Article 14.4.

 

13.2Change in Number of Directors

 

If the number of directors is set under Articles 13.1(b)(1) or 13.1(c)(1):

 

(a)the shareholders may contemporaneously elect or appoint the directors up to that number; and

 

(b)subject to Article 14.8, if the shareholders do not contemporaneously elect or appoint the number of directors set resulting in vacancies, then the directors may appoint, or failing which the shareholders may elect or appoint, directors to fill those vacancies.

 

13.3Directors’ 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.

 

13.4Qualifications of Directors

 

A director is not required to hold a share in the capital of the Company as qualification for his or her office but must be qualified as required by the Business Corporations Act to become, act or continue to act as a director.

 

13.5Remuneration of Directors

 

The directors are entitled to the remuneration for acting as directors, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine. If the directors so decide, the remuneration of the directors, if any, will be determined by the shareholders. That remuneration may be in addition to any salary or other remuneration paid to any officer or employee of the Company as such, who is also a director.

 

13.6Reimbursement of Expenses of Directors

 

The Company must reimburse each director for the reasonable expenses that he or she may incur in and about the business of the Company.

 

13.7Special Remuneration for Directors

 

If any director performs any professional or other services for the Company that in the opinion of the directors are outside the ordinary duties of a director, or if any director is otherwise specially occupied in or about the Company’s business, he or she may be paid remuneration fixed by the directors, or, at the option of that director, fixed by ordinary resolution, and such remuneration may be either in addition to, or in substitution for, any other remuneration that he or she may be entitled to receive.

 

13.8Gratuity, 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 his or her spouse or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.

 

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14.Election and Removal of Directors

 

14.1Election at Annual General Meeting

 

At every annual general meeting and in every unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2:

 

(a)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 set under these Articles from time to time; and

 

(b)all the directors cease to hold office immediately before the election or appointment of directors under paragraph (a), but are eligible for re-election or re-appointment.

 

14.2Consent to be a Director

 

No election, appointment or designation of an individual as a director is valid unless:

 

(a)that individual consents to be a director in the manner provided for in the Business Corporations Act;

 

(b)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

 

(c)with respect to first directors, the designation is otherwise valid under the Business Corporations Act.

 

14.3Failure to Elect or Appoint Directors

 

If:

 

(a)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

 

(b)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:

 

(a)when his or her successor is elected or appointed; and

 

(b)when he or she otherwise ceases to hold office under the Business Corporations Act or these Articles.

 

14.4Places of Retiring Directors Not Filled

 

If, at any meeting of shareholders at which there should be an election of directors, the places of any of the retiring directors are not filled by that election, those retiring directors who are not re-elected and who are asked by the newly elected directors to continue in office will, if willing to do so, continue in office to complete the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles until further new directors are elected at a meeting of shareholders convened for that purpose. If any such election or continuance of directors does not result in the election or continuance of the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles, the number of directors of the Company is deemed to be set at the number of directors actually elected or continued in office.

 

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14.5Directors May Fill Casual Vacancies

 

Any casual vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by the directors.

 

14.6Remaining Directors’ Power to Act

 

The directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the board of directors, but if the Company has fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the directors may only act for the purpose of appointing directors up to that number or of calling a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of filling any vacancies on the board of directors or, subject to the Business Corporations Act, for any other purpose.

 

14.7Shareholders 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, then failing the filling of any vacancies as set forth in Article 14.6, the shareholders may elect or appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the board of directors.

 

14.8Additional Directors

 

Notwithstanding Articles 13.1 and 13.2, between annual general meetings or 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:

 

(a)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

 

(b)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.

 

14.9Ceasing to be a Director

 

A director ceases to be a director when:

 

(a)the term of office of the director expires;

 

(b)the director dies;

 

(c)the director resigns as a director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a solicitor for the Company; or

 

(d)the director is removed from office pursuant to Articles 14.10 or 14.11.

 

14.10Removal of Director by Shareholders

 

The Company may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office by special resolution. In that event, the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill the resulting vacancy. If the shareholders do not elect or appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy contemporaneously with the removal, then the directors may appoint or the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill that vacancy.

 

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14.11Removal of Director by Directors

 

The directors may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office if the director is convicted of an indictable offence, or if the director ceases to be qualified to act as a director of a company and does not promptly resign, and the directors may appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy.

 

14.12Nominations Of Directors

 

(a)This Article 14.12 only applies to the Company if and for so long as it is a public company.

 

(b)Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Company. Nominations of persons for election to the board may be made at any annual meeting of shareholders, or at any special meeting of shareholders if one of the purposes for which the special meeting was called was the election of directors:

 

(1)by or at the direction of the board, including pursuant to a notice of meeting;

 

(2)by or at the direction or request of one or more shareholders pursuant to a proposal made in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act, or a requisition of the shareholders made in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act; or

 

(3)by any person who:

 

(i)at the close of business on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Article 14.12 and on the record date for notice of such meeting, is entered in the securities register as a holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting or who beneficially owns one or more shares that are entitled to be voted at such meeting; and

 

(ii)complies with the notice procedures set forth below in this Article 14.12,

 

(a “Nominating Shareholder”).

 

(c)In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a Nominating Shareholder, the Nominating Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the secretary of the Company, if any, or such other officer of the Company acting in that capacity, at the principal executive offices of the Company.

 

(d)To be timely, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice under Article 14.12(c) must be made:

 

(1)in the case of an annual meeting of shareholders, not less than 30 nor more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of shareholders, provided that (i) if the Company chooses to use notice and access to deliver meeting materials, the time frame will be not less than 40 and no more than 65 days; and (ii) if the annual meeting of shareholders is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date on which the first public announcement of the date of the meeting was made (the “Notice Date”), notice by the Nominating Shareholder may be made not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the Notice Date; and

 

(2)in the case of a special meeting of shareholders which is not also an annual meeting, and is called for the purpose of electing directors (whether or not called for other purposes), not later than the close of business on the fifteenth (15th) day following the Notice Date.

 

In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a meeting of shareholders, or the announcement of an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period for the giving of a Nominating Shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(e)To be in proper written form, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice under Article 14.12(c) must set forth:

 

(1)for each person whom the Nominating Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director:

 

(i)the name, age, business address and residential address of the person;

 

(ii)the principal occupation or employment of the person;

 

(iii)the class or series and number of shares in the capital of the Company which are controlled or which are owned beneficially or of record by the person as of the date of the notice and as of the record date for the meeting of shareholders (if such date shall then have been made publicly available and shall have occurred); and

 

(iv)any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a dissident’s proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Business Corporations Act and Applicable Securities Laws (as defined below); and

 

(2)for the Nominating Shareholder giving the notice, any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Nominating Shareholder has a right to vote any shares of the Company and any other information relating to such Nominating Shareholder that would be required to be made in a dissident’s proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Business Corporations Act and Applicable Securities Laws (as defined below).

 

(f)The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.

 

(g)No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Article 14.12, provided, however, that nothing in this Article 14.12 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by a shareholder at a meeting of shareholders of any matter, other than the nomination of directors, in respect of which the shareholder would have been entitled to submit a proposal pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act. The chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article 14.12 and, if any proposed nomination is not in compliance with this Article 14.12, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

(h)For purposes of this Article 14.12:

 

(1)“public announcement” shall mean disclosure in:

 

(i)a press release reported by a national news service in Canada; or

 

(ii)a document publicly filed by the Company under its profile on the System of Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR), or such other electronic disclosure service as the Company is required to utilize for the filing of continuous disclosure documents pursuant to Applicable Securities Laws; and

 

(2)“Applicable Securities Laws” means the applicable securities legislation of each relevant province and territory of Canada, as amended from time to time, the rules, regulations and forms made or promulgated under any such legislation, and the published national instruments, multilateral instruments, policies, bulletins and notices of the securities commission and similar regulatory authority of each province and territory of Canada.

 

(i)Notice given under Article 14.12(c) may only be given by personal delivery, facsimile transmission or email, and shall be deemed to have been given and made at the time it is sent to the secretary of the Company, if any, or such other officer of the Company acting in that capacity, by:

 

(1)personal delivery to the address of the principal executive offices of the Company;

 

(2)facsimile transmission, at such facsimile number as stipulated from time to time for the purposes of this notice by the secretary of the Company, if any, or such other officer of the Company acting in that capacity, and provided that receipt of confirmation of such transmission has been received; or

 

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(3)email, at such email address as stipulated from time to time for the purposes of this notice by the secretary of the Company, if any, or such other officer of the Company acting in that capacity, and provided that receipt of confirmation of such transmission has been received.

 

If such delivery or electronic communication is made on a day which is a not a business day in Vancouver, British Columbia, or later than 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on a day which is a business day, then such delivery or electronic communication shall be deemed to have been made on the subsequent day that is a business day.

 

(j)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 14.12, the board may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirement of this Article 14.12.

 

15.Alternate Directors

 

15.1Appointment of Alternate Director

 

Any director (an “appointor”) may by notice in writing received by the Company appoint any person (an “appointee”) who is qualified to act as a director to be his or her alternate to act in his or her place at meetings of the directors or committees of the directors at which the appointor is not present unless (in the case of an appointee who is not a director) the directors have reasonably disapproved the appointment of such person as an alternate director and have given notice to that effect to his or her appointor within a reasonable time after the notice of appointment is received by the Company.

 

15.2Notice of Meetings

 

Every alternate director so appointed is entitled to notice of meetings of the directors and of committees of the directors of which his or her appointor is a member and to attend and vote as a director at any such meetings at which his or her appointor is not present.

 

15.3Alternate 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:

 

(a)will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of directors once for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, once more in that capacity;

 

(b)has a separate vote at a meeting of directors for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, an additional vote in that capacity;

 

(c)will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of a committee of directors once for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a director, once more in that capacity;

 

(d)has a separate vote at a meeting of a committee of directors for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a director, an additional vote in that capacity.

 

15.4Consent Resolutions

 

Every alternate director, if authorized by the notice appointing him or her, may sign in place of his or her appointor any resolutions to be consented to in writing.

 

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15.5Alternate Director Not an Agent

 

Every alternate director is deemed not to be the agent of his or her appointor.

 

15.6Revocation of Appointment of Alternate Director

 

An appointor may at any time, by notice in writing received by the Company, revoke the appointment of an alternate director appointed by him or her.

 

15.7Ceasing to be an Alternate Director

 

The appointment of an alternate director ceases when:

 

(a)his or her appointor ceases to be a director and is not promptly re-elected or re-appointed;

 

(b)the alternate director dies;

 

(c)the alternate director resigns as an alternate director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a solicitor for the Company;

 

(d)the alternate director ceases to be qualified to act as a director; or

 

(e)his or her appointor revokes the appointment of the alternate director.

 

15.8Remuneration and Expenses of Alternate Director

 

The Company may reimburse an alternate director for the reasonable expenses that would be properly reimbursed if he or she were a director, and the alternate director is entitled to receive from the Company such proportion, if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to the appointor as the appointor may from time to time direct.

 

16.Powers and Duties of Directors

 

16.1Powers of Management

 

The directors must, subject to the Business Corporations Act and these Articles, manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Company and have the authority to exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by the Business Corporations Act or by these Articles, required to be exercised by the shareholders of the Company.

 

16.2Appointment of Attorney of Company

 

The directors may from time to time, by power of attorney or other instrument, under seal if so required by law, appoint any person to be the attorney of the Company for such purposes, and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the directors under these Articles and excepting the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors, to remove a director, to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors, to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors and to declare dividends) and for such period, and with such remuneration and subject to such conditions as the directors may think fit. Any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection or convenience of persons dealing with such attorney as the directors think fit. Any such attorney may be authorized by the directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in him or her.

 

16.3Setting the Remuneration of Auditors

 

The directors may from time to time set the remuneration of the auditors of the Company.

 

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17.Disclosure of Interests Of Directors And Officers

 

17.1Obligation 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.

 

17.2Restrictions 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.

 

17.3Interested 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.

 

17.4Disclosure of Conflict of Interest or Property

 

A director or senior officer who holds any office or possesses any property, right or interest that could result, directly or indirectly, in the creation of a duty or interest that materially conflicts with that individual’s duty or interest as a director or senior officer, must disclose the nature and extent of the conflict as required by the Business Corporations Act.

 

17.5Director Holding Other Office in the Company

 

A director may hold any office or place of profit with the Company, other than the office of auditor of the Company, in addition to his or her office of director for the period and on the terms (as to remuneration or otherwise) that the directors may determine.

 

17.6No Disqualification

 

No director or intended director is disqualified by his or her office from contracting with the Company either with regard to the holding of any office or place of profit the director holds with the Company or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, and no contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which a director is in any way interested is liable to be voided for that reason.

 

17.7Professional Services by Director or Officer

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act, a director or officer, or any person in which a director or officer has an interest, may act in a professional capacity for the Company, except as auditor of the Company, and the director or officer or such person is entitled to remuneration for professional services as if that director or officer were not a director or officer.

 

17.8Director or Officer in Other Corporations

 

A director or officer may be or become a director, officer or employee of, or otherwise interested in, any person in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder or otherwise, and, subject to the Business Corporations Act, the director or officer is not accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him or her as director, officer or employee of, or from his or her interest in, such other person.

 

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18.Proceedings of Directors

 

18.1Meetings 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.

 

18.2Voting 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.

 

18.3Chair of Meetings

 

The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of directors:

 

(a)the chair of the board, if any;

 

(b)in the absence of the chair of the board, the president, if any, if the president is a director; or

 

(c)any other director chosen by the directors if:

 

(1)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;

 

(2)neither the chair of the board nor the president, if a director, is willing to chair the meeting; or

 

(3)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.

 

18.4Meetings by Telephone or Other Communications Medium

 

A director may participate in a meeting of the directors or of any committee of the directors:

 

(a)in person;

 

(b)by telephone; or

 

(c)with the consent of all directors, by other communications medium;

 

if all directors participating in the meeting, whether in person or by telephone or other communications medium, are able to communicate with each other. A director who participates in a meeting in a manner contemplated by this Article 18.4 is deemed for all purposes of the Business Corporations Act and these Articles to be present at the meeting and to have agreed to participate in that manner.

 

18.5Calling of Meetings

 

A director may, and the president, 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.

 

18.6Notice of Meetings

 

Other than for meetings held at regular intervals as determined by the directors pursuant to Article 18.1, reasonable notice of each meeting of the directors, specifying the place, day and time of that meeting must be given to each of the directors and the alternate directors by any method set out in Article 24.1 or orally or by telephone.

 

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18.7When Notice Not Required

 

It is not necessary to give notice of a meeting of the directors to a director or an alternate director if:

 

(a)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

 

(b)the director or alternate director, as the case may be, has waived notice of the meeting.

 

18.8Meeting 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.

 

18.9Waiver of Notice of Meetings

 

Any director or alternate director may send to the Company a document signed by him or her waiving notice of any past, present or future meeting or meetings of the directors and may at any time withdraw that waiver with respect to meetings held after that withdrawal. After sending a waiver with respect to all future meetings and until that waiver is withdrawn, no notice of any meeting of the directors need be given to that director and, unless the director otherwise requires by notice in writing to the Company, to his or her alternate director, and all meetings of the directors so held are deemed not to be improperly called or constituted by reason of notice not having been given to such director or alternate director. Attendance of a director or alternate director is a waiver of notice of the meeting unless that director or alternate director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.

 

18.10Quorum

 

The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the directors may be set by the directors and, if not so set, is no less than half of the directors then in office 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.

 

18.11Validity of Acts Where Appointment Defective

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act, an act of a director or officer is not invalid merely because of an irregularity in the election or appointment or a defect in the qualification of that director or officer.

 

18.12Consent Resolutions in Writing

 

A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors consented to in writing by all of the directors entitled to vote on it, whether by signed document, fax, e-mail or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages, is as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors duly called and held. Such resolution may be in two or more counterparts which together are deemed to constitute one resolution in writing. A resolution passed in that manner is effective on the date stated in the resolution or on the latest date stated on any counterpart. A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors passed in accordance with this Article 18.12 is deemed to be a proceeding at a meeting of directors or of the committee of the directors and to be as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors that satisfies all the requirements of the Business Corporations Act and all the requirements of these Articles relating to meetings of the directors or of a committee of the directors.

 

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19.Executive and Other Committees

 

19.1Appointment 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:

 

(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)such other powers, if any, as may be set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors’ resolution.

 

19.2Appointment and Powers of Other Committees

 

The directors may, by resolution:

 

(a)appoint one or more committees (other than the executive committee) consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate;

 

(b)delegate to a committee appointed under paragraph (a) any 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)the power to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors; and

 

(c)make any delegation referred to in paragraph (b) subject to the conditions set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors’ resolution.

 

19.3Obligations of Committees

 

Any committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2, in the exercise of the powers delegated to it, must:

 

(a)conform to any rules that may from time to time be imposed on it by the directors; and

 

(b)report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers at such times as the directors may require.

 

19.4Powers of Board

 

The directors may, at any time, with respect to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2:

 

(a)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;

 

(b)terminate the appointment of, or change the membership of, the committee; and

 

(c)fill vacancies in the committee.

 

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19.5Committee Meetings

 

Subject to Article 19.3(a) 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:

 

(a)the committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper;

 

(b)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;

 

(c)a majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum of the committee; and

 

(d)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

 

20.1Directors 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.

 

20.2Functions, Duties and Powers of Officers

 

The directors may, for each officer:

 

(a)determine the functions and duties of the officer;

 

(b)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

 

(c)revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of the functions, duties and powers of the officer.

 

20.3Qualifications

 

No officer may be appointed unless that officer is qualified in accordance with the Business Corporations Act. One person may hold more than one position as an officer of the Company. Any person appointed as the chair of the board or as a managing director must be a director. Any other officer need not be a director.

 

20.4Remuneration 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 may in addition to such remuneration be entitled to receive, after he or she ceases to hold such office or leaves the employment of the Company, a pension or gratuity.

 

21.Indemnification

 

21.1Definitions

 

In this Article 21:

 

(a)“eligible penalty” means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding;

 

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(b)“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:

 

(1)is or may be joined as a party; or

 

(2)is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding;

 

(c)“expenses” has the meaning set out in the Business Corporations Act.

 

21.2Mandatory Indemnification of Eligible Parties

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the Company must indemnify a director, former director or alternate director of the Company and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Company must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each director and alternate director is deemed to have contracted with the Company on the terms of the indemnity contained in this Article 21.2.

 

21.3Indemnification of Other Persons

 

Subject to any restrictions in the Business Corporations Act, the Company may indemnify any person.

 

21.4Non-Compliance with Business Corporations Act

 

The failure of a director, alternate director or officer of the Company to comply with the Business Corporations Act or, these Articles or, if applicable, any former Companies Act or former Articles does not invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under this Part.

 

21.5Company May Purchase Insurance

 

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives) who:

 

(a)is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of the Company;

 

(b)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;

 

(c)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;

 

(d)at the request of the Company, holds or held a position equivalent to that of a director, alternate director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity;

 

against any liability incurred by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.

 

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22.Dividends

 

22.1Payment 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.

 

22.2Declaration of Dividends

 

Subject to the Business Corporations Act, the directors may from time to time declare and authorize payment of such dividends as they may deem advisable.

 

22.3No Notice Required

 

The directors need not give notice to any shareholder of any declaration under Article 22.2.

 

22.4Record Date

 

The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend. The record date must not precede the date on which the dividend is to be paid by more than two months. If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the date on which the directors pass the resolution declaring the dividend.

 

22.5Manner of Paying Dividend

 

A resolution declaring a dividend may direct payment of the dividend wholly or partly in money or by the distribution of specific assets or of fully paid shares or of bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company or any other corporation, or in any one or more of those ways.

 

22.6Settlement 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:

 

(a)set the value for distribution of specific assets;

 

(b)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

 

(c)vest any such specific assets in trustees for the persons entitled to the dividend.

 

22.7When Dividend Payable

 

Any dividend may be made payable on such date as is fixed by the directors.

 

22.8Dividends 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.

 

22.9Receipt 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.

 

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22.10Dividend Bears No Interest

 

No dividend bears interest against the Company.

 

22.11Fractional 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.

 

22.12Payment 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 registered address of the shareholder, or in the case of joint shareholders, to the registered address of the joint shareholder who is first named on the central securities register, or to the person and to the registered 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.

 

22.13Capitalization of Retained Earnings or Surplus

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, the directors may from time to time capitalize any retained earnings or surplus of the Company and may from time to time issue, as fully paid, shares or any bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company as a dividend representing the retained earnings or surplus so capitalized or any part thereof.

 

23.Documents, Records and Reports

 

23.1Recording 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.

 

23.2Inspection 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

 

24.1Method 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:

 

(a)mail addressed to the person at the applicable address for that person as follows:

 

(1)for a record mailed to a shareholder, the shareholder’s registered address;

 

(2)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;

 

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(3)in any other case, the mailing address of the intended recipient;

 

(b)delivery at the applicable address for that person as follows, addressed to the person:

 

(1)for a record delivered to a shareholder, the shareholder’s registered address;

 

(2)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;

 

(3)in any other case, the delivery address of the intended recipient;

 

(c)sending the record by fax to the fax number provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;

 

(d)sending the record by email to the email address provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;

 

(e)physical delivery to the intended recipient; and

 

(f)delivery in such other manner as may be approved by the directors and reasonably evidenced.

 

24.2Deemed Receipt of Mailing

 

A notice, statement, report or other record that is:

 

(a)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;

 

(b)faxed to a person to the fax number provided by that person referred to in Article 24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was faxed on the day it was faxed; and

 

(c)e-mailed to a person to the e-mail address provided by that person referred to in Article 24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was e-mailed on the day it was e-mailed.

 

24.3Certificate of Sending

 

A certificate signed by the secretary, if any, or other officer of the Company or of any other corporation acting in that capacity on behalf of the Company stating that a notice, statement, report or other record was sent in accordance with Article 24.1 is conclusive evidence of that fact.

 

24.4Notice 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.

 

24.5Notice to Legal Personal Representatives and Trustees

 

A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or incapacity of a shareholder by:

 

(a)mailing the record, addressed to them:

 

(1)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

 

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(2)at the address, if any, supplied to the Company for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled; or

 

(b)if an address referred to in paragraph (a)(2) has not been supplied to the Company, by giving the notice in a manner in which it might have been given if the death, bankruptcy or incapacity had not occurred.

 

24.6Undelivered Notices

 

If any record sent to a shareholder pursuant to Article 24.1 is returned on two consecutive occasions because the shareholder cannot be located, the Company shall not be required to send any further records to the shareholder until the shareholder informs the Company in writing of his or her new address.

 

25.Seal

 

25.1Who May Attest Seal

 

Except as provided in Articles 25.2 and 25.3, the Company’s seal, if any, must not be impressed on any record except when that impression is attested by the signatures of:

 

(a)any two directors;

 

(b)any officer, together with any director;

 

(c)if the Company only has one director, that director; or

 

(d)any one or more directors or officers or persons as may be determined by the directors.

 

25.2Sealing Copies

 

For the purpose of certifying under seal a certificate of incumbency of the directors or officers of the Company or a true copy of any resolution or other document, despite Article 25.1, the impression of the seal may be attested by the signature of any director or officer or the signature of any other person as may be determined by the directors.

 

25.3Mechanical 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.

 

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26.Mechanical Reproductions of Signatures

 

26.1Instruments may be Mechanically Signed

 

The signature of any officer, director, registrar, branch registrar, transfer agent or branch transfer agent of the Company, unless otherwise required by the Business Corporations Act or by these Articles, may, if authorized by the directors, be printed, lithographed, engraved or otherwise mechanically reproduced upon all instruments executed or issued by the Company or any officer thereof; and any instrument on which the signature of any such person is so reproduced shall be deemed to have been manually signed by such person whose signature is so reproduced and shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if such instrument had been signed manually, and notwithstanding that the person whose signature is so reproduced may have ceased to hold the office that he is stated on such instrument to hold at the date or issue of such instrument.

 

26.2Definitions of Instruments

 

The term “instrument” as used in Article 26.1 shall include deeds, mortgages, hypothecs, charges, conveyances, transfers and assignments of property, real or personal, agreements, releases, receipts and discharges for the payment of money or other obligations, shares and share warrants of the Company, bonds, debentures and other debt obligations of the Company, and all paper writings.

 

27.Prohibitions

 

27.1Definitions

 

In this Article 27:

 

(a)“designated security” means:

 

(1)a voting security of the Company;

 

(2)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

 

(3)a security of the Company convertible, directly or indirectly, into a security described in paragraph (a) or (b);

 

(b)“security” has the meaning assigned in the Securities Act (British Columbia);

 

(c)“voting security” means a security of the Company that:

 

(1)is not a debt security, and

 

(2)carries a voting right either under all circumstances or under some circumstances that have occurred and are continuing.

 

27.2Application

 

Article 27.3 does not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a:

 

(a)public company; or

 

(b)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.

 

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27.3Consent Required for Transfer of Shares or Designated Securities

 

No share or designated security may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without the consent of the directors and the directors are not required to give any reason for refusing to consent to any such sale, transfer or other disposition.

 

28.Special Rights and Restrictions

 

28.1Common Shares

 

The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares (the “Common Shares”) of the Company without nominal or par value, which will have the following rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions:

 

(a)the holders of the Common Shares will be entitled to receive notice of, and attend at, and to vote in person or by proxy at general meetings of shareholders of the Company and will be entitled to one vote for each such Common Share held;

 

(b)subject to the rights of the Preferred Shares as determined by the directors and in accordance with these Articles, the directors may, in their discretion, at any time and from time to time declare and cause the Company to pay dividend on the Common Shares; and

 

(c)subject to the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Preferred Shares, in the event of liquidation or dissolution of the Company or other distribution of assets of the Company among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Common Shares will be entitled to share equally, share for share, in the distribution of the remaining property and assets of the Company.

 

28.2Preferred Shares

 

The preferred shares (the “Preferred Shares”) of the Company, as a class, will have attached thereto the followings rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions:

 

(a)the Preferred Shares may from time to time be issued in one or more series and subject to the following provisions, the directors may fix from time to time before such issue the number of shares which is to comprise each series and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to each series of Preferred Shares including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rate or amount of dividends or the method of calculating dividends, the dates of payment thereof, the redemption purchase and/or conversion prices and terms and conditions of redemption, purchase and/or conversion, and any sinking fund or other provisions, and the directors may, by resolution, authorize and cause the Company to alter its Notice of Articles to reflect any creation of one or more series or other change in the authorized shares structure of the Company pursuant to this Article 28 or otherwise;

 

(b)the Preferred Shares of each series will, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets or return of capital in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other return of capital or distribution of the assets of the Company among its shareholders for the purposes of winding-up its affairs, rank on the parity with the Preferred Shares of every other series and be entitled to preference over the Common Shares and over any other shares of the Company ranking junior to the Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares of any series may also be given such other preferences, not inconsistent with these Articles, over the Common Shares and any other shares of the Company ranking junior to such Preferred Shares as may be fixed in accordance with Article 28.1(a);

 

(c)if any cumulative dividends or amounts payable on the return of capital in respect of a series of Preferred Shares are not paid in full, all series of Preferred Shares will participate rateably in respect of accumulative dividends and return of capital; and

 

(d)unless the directors otherwise determine in the Articles or Notice of Articles designating a series, the holder of each shares of a series of Preferred Shares will not, except as otherwise specifically provided in the Business Corporations Act, be entitled to receive notice of or vote at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company.

 

 

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