EX-99.2 3 exh_992.htm EXHIBIT 99.2

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

 

 

 

EQUINOX GOLD CORP.

 

 

 

AND

 

 

 

ORLA MINING LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

DATED May 12, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Page

 

Article 1 INTERPRETATION 1
1.1 Definitions 1
1.2 Interpretation Not Affected by Headings 17
1.3 Number and Gender 17
1.4 Date for Any Action 17
1.5 Currency 18
1.6 Accounting Matters 18
1.7 Knowledge 18
1.8 Schedules 18
     
Article 2 THE ARRANGEMENT 18
2.1 Arrangement and Meetings 18
2.2 Approvals 18
2.3 Court Orders 19
2.4 Company Meeting 21
2.5 Company Circular 21
2.6 Acquiror Meeting 23
2.7 Acquiror Circular 23
2.8 Solicitation of Proxies 25
2.9 Final Order 25
2.10 Court Proceedings 25
2.11 Payment of Consideration 25
2.12 Closing 26
2.13 Announcement and Shareholder Communications 26
2.14 Withholding Taxes 26
2.15 U.S. Securities Law Matters 27
2.16 U.S. Tax Matters 28
2.17 Company Convertible Securities 28
2.18 Governance 28
     
Article 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES Of Company 28
3.1 Representations and Warranties 28
3.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties 46
     
Article 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF Acquiror 46
4.1 Representations and Warranties 46
4.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties 64
     
Article 5 COVENANTS 64
5.1 Covenants of Company Regarding the Conduct of Business 64
5.2 Covenants of Acquiror Regarding the Conduct of Business 68
5.3 Covenants of Company Relating to the Arrangement 71
5.4 Covenants of Acquiror Relating to the Arrangement 71
5.5 Mutual Covenants 72
5.6 Covenants Relating to Key Regulatory Approvals 74
5.7 Pre-Closing Reorganization 76
5.8 Tax Rollover 78
     
Article 6 CONDITIONS 78
6.1 Mutual Conditions Precedent 78
6.2 Additional Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Acquiror 79
6.3 Additional Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Company 80
6.4 Satisfaction of Conditions 81
     
Article 7 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS 81
7.1 Notice and Cure Provisions 81
7.2 Non-Solicitation 81

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

Page

 

 

7.3 Superior Proposals and Right to Match 84
7.4 Expenses and Termination Fees 86
7.5 Access to Information; Confidentiality 89
7.6 Insurance and Indemnification 89
     
Article 8 TERM, TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER 90
8.1 Term 90
8.2 Termination 90
8.3 Amendment 92
8.4 Waiver 92
     
Article 9 GENERAL PROVISIONS 92
9.1 Privacy 92
9.2 Notices 93
9.3 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial 94
9.4 Injunctive Relief 94
9.5 Time of Essence 94
9.6 Entire Agreement, Binding Effect and Assignment 94
9.7 Severability 94
9.8 Counterparts, Execution 95
9.9 Language 95

 

 

SCHEDULE A  PLAN OF ARRANGEMENT
    
SCHEDULE B  ARRANGEMENT RESOLUTION
    
SCHEDULE C  ACQUIROR RESOLUTION
    
SCHEDULE D  KEY REGULATORY APPROVALS
    
SCHEDULE E  ACQUIROR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ii

 

ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT dated May 12, 2026

 

B E T W E E N:

 

EQUINOX GOLD CORP., a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia (“Acquiror”)

 

AND:

 

ORLA MINING LTD., a corporation existing under the laws of Canada (“Company”)

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.The Acquiror proposes to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Company Shares pursuant to the Arrangement, as provided in this Agreement.

 

B.The Company Board, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors and reviewing the Company Fairness Opinions and following the receipt and review of a unanimous recommendation from the Company Special Committee, has (i) unanimously determined that the business combination between Company and Acquiror to be effected by way of the Plan of Arrangement is in the best interests of Company, (ii) approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (iii) unanimously determined to recommend approval of the Plan of Arrangement by the Company Shareholders.

 

C.The Acquiror Board, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors and reviewing the Acquiror Fairness Opinions, has (i) unanimously determined that the business combination between Company and Acquiror to be effected by way of the Plan of Arrangement is in the best interests of Acquiror, (ii) approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (iii) unanimously determined to recommend approval of the issue of the Consideration Shares and the payment of the Cash Consideration pursuant to the Arrangement by the Acquiror Shareholders.

 

D.In furtherance of such business combination between Company and Acquiror, the Company Board has agreed to submit the Plan of Arrangement to the Company Shareholders and the Court for approval as contemplated hereby, and the Acquiror Board has agreed to submit the issue of the Consideration Shares and the payment of the Cash Consideration as contemplated hereby to the Acquiror Shareholders for approval.

 

THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES THAT in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged), the Parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

Article 1
INTERPRETATION

 

1.1Definitions

 

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

Acquiror” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals;

 

 

 

Acquiror Benefit Plans” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(ee);

 

Acquiror Board” means the board of directors of Acquiror as the same is constituted from time to time;

 

Acquiror Board Recommendation” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b)(ii);

 

Acquiror Circular” means the notice of the Acquiror Meeting and accompanying management information circular, including all schedules, appendices and exhibits thereto, to be sent to the Acquiror Shareholders in connection with the Acquiror Meeting, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement;

 

Acquiror Convertible Notes” means, collectively, the 2023 Convertible Notes and the 2025 Convertible Notes, as amended, each as defined in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record;

 

Acquiror Data Room Information” means the information contained in the files, reports, data, documents and other materials relating to Acquiror and its subsidiaries as provided in the electronic data rooms hosted by Acquiror in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby as of May 12, 2026;

 

Acquiror Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter executed by Acquiror and delivered to Company in connection with the execution of this Agreement;

 

Acquiror DSU” means a deferred share unit issued pursuant to the Acquiror DSU Plan;

 

Acquiror DSU Plan” means the deferred share unit plan of Acquiror effective May 15, 2020;

 

Acquiror Expense Reimbursement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.4.10;

 

Acquiror Fairness Opinion” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b)(i);

 

Acquiror Financial Statements” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(i);

 

Acquiror Locked-up Shareholders” means each of the senior officers and directors of Acquiror;

 

Acquiror Material Contracts” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(y);

 

Acquiror Material Permits” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(z);

 

Acquiror Meeting” means the special meeting of the Acquiror Shareholders, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, to be called and held to consider and, if thought appropriate, approve the Acquiror Resolution;

 

Acquiror Options” means the outstanding options to purchase Acquiror Shares granted under the Calibre Mining Corp. stock option plan and Marathon Gold Corporation stock option plan;

 

Acquiror Properties” means Mesquite Gold Mine, Castle Mountain Gold Project, Los Filos Mining Complex, El Limon Complex, La Libertad Complex, Valentine Gold Mine and Greenstone Gold Mine, each as more particularly described in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record;

 

Acquiror PSU” means a performance-based restricted share unit issued pursuant to the Acquiror Restricted Share Unit Plan;

 

 2

 

Acquiror Public Disclosure Record” means all documents and information required to be filed or furnished, as applicable, by Acquiror under applicable Securities Laws on SEDAR+ or pursuant to the U.S. Exchange Act, during the three years prior to the date hereof;

 

Acquiror Regulatory Authorities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(dd);

 

Acquiror Regulatory Authorizations” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(dd);

 

Acquiror Resolution” means the ordinary resolution of the holders of outstanding Acquiror Shares approving the issue of the Consideration Shares pursuant to the Arrangement, substantially in the form and content attached hereto as Schedule C;

 

Acquiror Restricted Share Unit Plan” means the restricted share unit plan of Acquiror adopted by the Acquiror Shareholders on May 1, 2025, as amended;

 

Acquiror RSU” means a restricted share unit issued pursuant to the Acquiror Restricted Share Unit Plan;

 

Acquiror Shareholder Approval” means the approval of the Acquiror Resolution by a simple majority of the votes cast in respect of the Acquiror Resolution by Acquiror Shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Acquiror Meeting, as required by the rules of the TSX;

 

Acquiror Shareholders” means the holders of outstanding Acquiror Shares;

 

Acquiror Shares” means the common shares in the capital of the Acquiror;

 

Acquiror Termination Fee Event” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.4.6;

 

Acquiror Voting Agreements” means the voting agreements (including all amendments thereto) between Company and the Acquiror Locked-up Shareholders setting forth the terms and conditions upon which they agree to vote their Acquiror Shares in favour of the Acquiror Resolution;

 

Acquiror Warrant Certificates” means the warrant certificates, as amended, each dated March 4, 2025, representing the common share purchase warrants previously issued by Calibre Mining Corp. and assumed as part of the Acquiror’s acquisition of Calibre Mining Corp.;

 

Acquiror Warrants” means the Acquiror Share purchase warrants issued under the terms of the Acquiror Warrant Certificates;

 

Acquisition Proposal” means, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any offer, proposal, expression of interest, or inquiry, whether oral or written, from, or public announcement of intention by, any person (other than a Party or any of its affiliates) made after the date hereof relating to: (i) any acquisition, sale, disposition, lease, license, joint venture, royalty, stream, long-term supply agreement or other arrangement having the same economic effect as an acquisition, sale or disposition, direct or indirect, of: (a) the assets of a Party and/or one or more of its subsidiaries (including shares of subsidiaries of such Party) that, individually or in the aggregate, constitute 20% or more of the fair market value of the consolidated assets of such Party and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or which contribute 20% or more of the consolidated revenue of the Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (in each case based upon the most recent publicly available consolidated financial statements of the Party); or (b) 20% or more of any voting or equity securities (and/or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for such voting or equity securities) of a Party or any of its subsidiaries whose assets, individually or in the aggregate, constitute 20% or more of the fair market value of the consolidated assets of such Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or which contribute 20% or more of the consolidated revenue of the Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (in each case based upon the most recent publicly available consolidated financial statements of the Party); (ii) any take-over bid, tender offer, treasury issuance, exchange offer or other offer for any class of voting or equity securities of a Party that, if consummated, would result in such person or group of persons beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of voting or equity securities (and/or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for voting or equity securities) of a Party; or (iii) a plan of arrangement, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving a Party or any of its subsidiaries whose assets, individually or in the aggregate, constitute 20% or more of the fair market value of the consolidated assets of such Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or which contribute 20% or more of the consolidated revenue of the Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (in each case based upon the most recent publicly available consolidated financial statements of the Party);

 

 3

 

Advance Ruling Certificate” means an advance ruling certificate issued by the Commissioner pursuant to section 102 of the Competition Act with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, such advance ruling certificate having not been modified or withdrawn prior to the Effective Time;

 

affiliate” except where otherwise indicated, has the meaning ascribed thereto in NI 45-106, in force as of the date of this Agreement;

 

Agreement” means this arrangement agreement, including all schedules annexed hereto, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof;

 

Arrangement” means the arrangement under Section 192 of the CBCA on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Plan of Arrangement, subject to any amendments or variations thereto in accordance with Section  8.3 hereof, or the Plan of Arrangement, or at the direction of the Court in the Final Order with the prior written consent of Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably;

 

Arrangement Resolution” means the special resolution of the Company Shareholders approving the Arrangement to be considered at the Company Meeting, substantially in the form and content of Schedule B hereto;

 

Articles of Arrangement” means the articles of arrangement to be filed in connection with the Arrangement and required by subsection 192(6) of the CBCA, such articles to be filed with the Director after the Final Order has been granted, giving effect to the Arrangement, and which shall be in a form and content satisfactory to Acquiror and Company, each acting reasonably;

 

associate” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Act;

 

BCSC” means the British Columbia Securities Commission;

 

Board” means, in respect of Company, the Company Board and in respect of Acquiror, the Acquiror Board;

 

Board Recommendation” means, in respect of Company, the Company Board Recommendation and, in respect of Acquiror, the Acquiror Board Recommendation;

 

 4

 

business day” means any day, other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a statutory or civic holiday in Vancouver, British Columbia or Toronto, Ontario;

 

Camino Rojo Project” means the Camino Rojo oxide gold mine and the Camino Rojo sulfide development project located in Zacatecas, Mexico, owned and operated by Minera Camino Rojo S.A. de C.V., a wholly-owned Material Subsidiary of the Company;

 

Canadian Competition Approval” means that, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, either (a) the applicable waiting period under section 123(1) of the Competition Act shall have expired or have been terminated in accordance with subsection 123(2) of the Competition Act or the obligation to provide a pre-merger notification in accordance with Part IX of the Competition Act shall have been waived in accordance with subsection 113(c) of the Competition Act, and the Commissioner shall have issued a No Action Letter, or (b) the Commissioner shall have issued an Advance Ruling Certificate;

 

Cash Consideration” means $0.0001 per Company Share, without interest;

 

Castle Mountain Gold Project” means Acquiror’s 100%-owned development stage Castle Mountain Gold Mine in California, USA;

 

CBCA” means the Canada Business Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-44, as amended;

 

Certificate of Arrangement” means the certificate of arrangement to be issued by the Director pursuant to Section 192(7) of the CBCA in respect of the Articles of Arrangement;

 

Change in Recommendation” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.2.1;

 

Circular” means, in respect of Company, the Company Circular and, in respect of Acquiror, the Acquiror Circular;

 

CNA” means the National Antimonopoly Commission (Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio);

 

CNA Approval” means the unconditional approval or clearance of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement issued by CNA, or its tacit approval (due to the statutory term for purposes of issuing the approval elapsing) pursuant to the provisions set forth in Mexican Antitrust Law, having not been modified or withdrawn prior to the Effective Time;

 

Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Competition appointed under subsection 7(1) of the Competition Act or any person duly authorized to exercise the powers and perform the duties on behalf of the Commissioner of Competition, and shall include the Competition Bureau;

 

Company” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals;

 

Company Benefit Plans” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(ee)(i);

 

Company Board” means the board of directors of Company as the same is constituted from time to time;

 

Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a)(ii);

 

Company Bonus Share Agreement” means the bonus share agreement dated July 14, 2017 between the Company and Charles Jeannes;

 

 5

 

Company Bonus Shares” means 500,000 Company Shares issuable pursuant to the Company Bonus Share Agreement;

 

Company Circular” means the notice of the Company Meeting and accompanying management information circular, including all schedules, appendices and exhibits thereto, to be sent to the Company Shareholders in connection with the Company Meeting, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time;

 

Company Convertible Securities” means Company Options, Company Warrants, Company RSUs, Company PSUs, Company DSUs, Company Notes and Company Bonus Shares;

 

Company Data Room Information” means the information contained in the files, reports, data, documents and other materials relating to Company and its subsidiaries as provided in the electronic data rooms hosted by Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby as of May 12, 2026;

 

Company Director Nominees” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.18;

 

Company Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter executed by Company and delivered to Acquiror in connection with the execution of this Agreement;

 

Company DSU” means a deferred share unit issued pursuant to the Company DSU Plan;

 

Company DSU Plan” means the deferred share unit plan of Company effective June 27, 2018 and amended June 12, 2019;

 

Company Expense Reimbursement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.4.9;

 

Company Fairness Opinion” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a)(i);

 

Company Financial Statements” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(i);

 

Company Incentive Securities” means Company Options, Company RSUs, Company DSUs and Company PSUs;

 

Company Locked-up Shareholders” means each of the senior officers and directors of Company and certain other Company Shareholders identified in the Company Disclosure Letter;

 

Company Material Contracts” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(y);

 

Company Material Permits” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(z);

 

Company Meeting” means the special meeting of the Company Shareholders, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, to be called and held in accordance with the Interim Order to consider and, if thought appropriate, approve the Arrangement Resolution;

 

Company Notes” means the outstanding 5-year unsecured convertible notes issued by Company on February 28, 2025;

 

Company Optionholders” means the holders of Company Options;

 

Company Options” means the outstanding options to purchase Company Shares granted under the Company Stock Option Plan;

 

 6

 

Company Private Placement Warrants” means the Company Share purchase warrants issued on February 28, 2025 by the Company in connection with the private placement of the Company Notes;

 

Company Properties” means Camino Rojo Project, Musselwhite Mine and South Carlin Complex (including the South Railroad Project), each as more particularly described in the Company Public Disclosure Record;

 

Company PSU” means a performance share unit issued pursuant to the Company PSU Plan;

 

Company PSU Plan” means the performance share unit plan of the Company effective March 27, 2023 and amended March 30, 2024 and December 18, 2025;

 

Company Public Disclosure Record” means all documents and information required to be filed or furnished, as applicable, by Company under applicable Securities Laws on SEDAR+ or pursuant to the U.S. Exchange Act, during the three years prior to the date hereof;

 

Company Regulatory Authorities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(dd);

 

Company Regulatory Authorizations” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(dd);

 

Company RSU” means a restricted share unit issued pursuant to the Company RSU Plan;

 

Company RSU Plan” means the restricted share unit plan of Company effective April 2, 2020 and amended June 24, 2025;

 

Company Shareholders” means the holders of the Company Shares;

 

Company Shares” means the common shares in the capital of the Company;

 

Company Special Committee” means the special committee of independent members of the Company Board;

 

Company Stock Option Plan” means the stock option plan of the Company effective December 6, 2016 and amended May 24, 2018, June 12, 2019 and June 24, 2025;

 

Company Termination Fee Event” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.4.5;

 

Company Voting Agreements” means the voting agreements (including all amendments thereto) between Acquiror and the Company Locked-up Shareholders setting forth the terms and conditions upon which they agree to vote their Company Shares in favour of the Arrangement Resolution;

 

Company Warrant Certificates” means (i) the warrant certificates, as amended, each dated February 28, 2025, representing the Company Private Placement Warrants; and (ii) the warrant certificates, as amended, each dated December 18, 2019, representing the Trinity Warrants;

 

Company Warrants” means Company Share purchase warrants issued under the terms of the Company Warrant Certificates;

 

Competition Act” shall mean the Competition Act (Canada) and the regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

 7

 

Concession” means any mining concession, claim, lease, licence, permit or other right to explore for, exploit, develop, mine or produce minerals or any interest therein which a Party or any of its subsidiaries owns or has a right or option to acquire or use;

 

Confidentiality Agreement” means the agreement between Acquiror and Company dated February 27, 2026 pursuant to which Acquiror has been provided with access to confidential information of Company and Company has been provided with access to confidential information of Acquiror;

 

Consideration” means the consideration to be received pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement for each Company Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, consisting of the Consideration Shares and the Cash Consideration;

 

Consideration Shares” means the Acquiror Shares to be issued as Consideration pursuant to the Arrangement;

 

Contract” means any contract, agreement, license, franchise, lease, arrangement or other right or obligation to which Company or Acquiror or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which Company or Acquiror or any of their respective subsidiaries is bound or affected or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject;

 

Control” of an entity means, for purposes of the Sanctioned Person definition, that (a) a person holds, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the shares or ownership interests in the entity or 50% or more of the voting rights in the entity, (b) a person is able, directly or indirectly, to (i) appoint or remove, or has appointed or removed, a majority of the members of the entity’s board of directors or similar governing body, (ii) alter the powers of the entity’s board of directors or similar governing body, or (iii) for purposes of the Special Economic Measures Act (Canada) only, change the composition or powers of the entity’s board of directors or (c) it is reasonable to conclude, having regard to all the circumstances, that a Person is able, directly or indirectly and through any means, to direct the entity’s activities;

 

Corrupt Practices Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq.), the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) (and the regulations promulgated thereunder), the Mexican Anticorruption System Law (Ley General del Sistema Nacional Anticorrupción), the Mexican General Administrative Liabilities Law (Ley General de Responsabilidades Administrativas), the Federal Law for the Prevention and Identification of Operations with Resources of Illicit Origin (Ley Federal para la Prevención e Identificación de Operaciones con Recursos de Procedencia Ilícita), and the Federal Penal Code (Código Penal Federal), as amended from time to time, or any applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption Laws;

 

Court” means the Supreme Court of British Columbia;

 

DC&P” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(j);

 

Depositary” means any trust company, bank or financial institution agreed to in writing between Acquiror and Company (each acting reasonably) to act as depositary in relation to the Arrangement;

 

Director” means the Director appointed pursuant to Section 260 of the CBCA;

 

Dissent Rights” means the rights of dissent in respect of the Arrangement described in Section 4.1 of the Plan of Arrangement;

 

 8

 

Effective Date” means the date shown on the Certificate of Arrangement giving effect to the Arrangement;

 

Effective Time” means 12:01 a.m. (Vancouver time) on the Effective Date, unless a different time on the Effective Date is agreed to by the Parties and set out in an instrument in writing for that purpose that is executed by the Parties;

 

El Limon Complex” means Acquiror’s 100%-owned El Limon underground and open pit gold mining operations located in northwestern Nicaragua, approximately 100 km northwest of Managua;

 

Eligible Holder” means a beneficial owner of Company Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than a Company Shareholder that duly and validly exercises Dissent Rights in respect of all Company Shares held by that Company Shareholder and has not withdrawn or been deemed to have withdrawn such Dissent Rights) who is: (a) a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act and any applicable income tax treaty (other than a Tax Exempt Person), (b) an Eligible Non-Resident, or (c) a partnership any member of which is described in (a) or (b);

 

Eligible Non-Resident” means a beneficial owner of Company Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than a Company Shareholder that duly and validly exercises Dissent Rights in respect of all Company Shares held by that Company Shareholder and has not withdrawn or been deemed to have withdrawn such Dissent Rights) who is not, and is not deemed to be, a resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act and any applicable income tax treaty and whose Company Shares constitute “taxable Canadian property” (as defined in the Tax Act) and are not “treaty-protected property” (as defined in the Tax Act);

 

Environment” means the air, water (surface or ground water), land (including the surface soils and surficial materials) and all living organisms and the interacting natural systems that include components of the air, land, water and inorganic matters and living organisms, and the environment or natural environment as defined in any Environmental Law, and “Environmental” shall have a corresponding meaning;

 

Environmental Laws” means all applicable federal, provincial, state, local and foreign Laws, imposing liability or standards of conduct for, or relating to, the regulation of activities or Hazardous Substance in connection with, or for, or to, the protection of human health safety, as either relate to exposure to Hazardous Substances, the Environment or the conservation of use and protection of natural resources;

 

Environmental Liabilities” means, with respect to any person, all liabilities, remedial, rehabilitation, closure, and removal costs, investigation costs, capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, losses, damages, (including punitive damages, property damages, consequential damages, environmental damages, and treble damages), costs and expenses, fines, penalties, cost of environmental compensation and sanctions incurred as a result of, or related to, any claim, suit, action, administrative order, closure plan, investigation, proceeding or demand by any person, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute or common law arising under, or related to, any Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits, or in connection with any Release or threatened Release whether on, at, in, under, from or about or in the vicinity of any real or personal property;

 

Environmental Permits” means all permits, waivers, consents, regulatory agreements, licenses, written authorizations, concessions, certificates, approvals, program participation requirements, sign-offs or registrations required by or available with or from any Governmental Entity under any Environmental Laws;

 

 9

 

Exchange Ratio” means 1.00 of an Acquiror Share for each Company Share;

 

Exchanges” means the TSX and the NYSE American, as applicable;

 

Final Order” means the final order of the Court pursuant to Section 192 of the CBCA, approving the Arrangement, in form and substance acceptable to Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably, after a hearing upon the procedural and substantive fairness of the terms and conditions of the Arrangement, as such order may be affirmed, amended, modified, supplemented or varied by the Court at any time prior to the Effective Date (provided that any such amendment, modification, supplementation or variation is acceptable to both Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably), or, if appealed, then, unless such appeal is withdrawn or denied, as affirmed or as amended on appeal (provided that any such amendment is acceptable to both Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably);

 

Governmental Entity” means: (a) any multinational, federal, provincial, state, regional, municipal, local or other government, governmental or public department, central bank, court, tribunal, arbitral body, commission, board, bureau or agency, domestic or foreign; (b) any subdivision, agent, commission, bureau, board or authority of any of the foregoing; (c) any quasi-governmental or private body, including any tribunal, commission, regulatory agency or self-regulatory organization, exercising any regulatory, expropriation or taxing authority under or for the account of any of the foregoing; (d) any stock exchange, including the Exchanges; or (e) any government-run, government-owned, or government-controlled entity;

 

Government Official” means (i) any official, employee, agent or representative of, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of, any Governmental Entity, (ii) any official, employee, agent or representative of, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of, a company, business, enterprise or other entity owned, in whole or in part, or controlled by any Governmental Entity or (iii) any official, employee, agent or representative of, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of, a public international organization;

 

Greenstone Gold Mine” means Acquiror’s 100%-owned producing Greenstone Gold Mine in Ontario, Canada;

 

Hazardous Substance” means any solid, liquid, gas, substance, radiation, vibration, heat, or material, including constituent components, such as a pollutant, contaminant, waste, chemical, toxic, flammable, explosive, infectious, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, tailings, reactive, dangerous, designated, residual or otherwise hazardous or deleterious substance, as each may be regulated, identified, or defined under any Environmental Laws;

 

IAS 34” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(i);

 

ICFR” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(j);

 

IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards, at the relevant time, prepared on a consistent basis;

 

including” means including without limitation, and “include” and “includes” each have a corresponding meaning;

 

Intellectual Property” means any licenses for or other rights to use, any inventions, patent applications, patents, trade-marks (both registered and unregistered), trade names, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information of a Party or a Material Subsidiary;

 

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Interim Order” means the interim order of the Court, after being informed of the intention to rely upon the exemption from the registration requirements under Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act with respect to the issuance of the Acquiror Shares issuable as Consideration pursuant to the Arrangement, made pursuant to Section 192 of the CBCA, following the application contemplated by Section 2.3(a) hereof, in form and substance acceptable to both Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably, providing for, among other things, declarations and directions in respect of the notice to be given in respect of, and the calling and holding of the Company Meeting, as the same may be affirmed, amended, modified, supplemented or varied by the Court (with the consent of Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably);

 

International Trade Laws” means any of the following: (a) any Laws concerning the importation of merchandise and other items (including technology, services, and software), including but not limited to those administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, (b) any Laws concerning the exportation or re-exportation of items (including technology, services, and software), including but not limited to those administered by Canada, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, or any other applicable export controls regime, or (c) any economic sanctions administered by Canada, including but not limited to the Special Economic Measures Act (Canada) (and the regulations promulgated thereunder), the United Nations Act (Canada) (and the regulations promulgated thereunder), the Criminal Code (Canada) (and the regulations promulgated thereunder), the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Canada) (and the regulations promulgated thereunder), or the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Canada) (and the regulations promulgated thereunder), the United States, including but not limited to the OFAC or the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, or any other applicable economic sanctions regimes (“Sanctions Laws”);

 

Investment Canada Act” means the Investment Canada Act (Canada) and the regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

Key Regulatory Approvals” means the Canadian Competition Approval, the CNA Approval and the other Regulatory Approvals described in Schedule D hereto;

 

La Libertad Complex” means Acquiror’s 100%-owned La Libertad underground and open pit gold mining operations, with ore processing at the processing plant located 110 km due east of Managua, Nicaragua;

 

Law” or “Laws” means all laws (including common law), by-laws, statutes, rules, regulations, principles of law and equity, orders, rulings, ordinances, judgments, injunctions, determinations, awards, decrees or other requirements, whether domestic or foreign, and the terms and conditions of any grant of approval, permission, authority or license of any Governmental Entity or self-regulatory authority (including the Exchanges), and the term “applicable” with respect to such Laws and in a context that refers to one or more Parties, means such Laws as are applicable to such Party or its business, undertaking, property or securities and emanate from a person having jurisdiction over the Party or Parties or its or their business, undertaking, property or securities;

 

Liens” means any hypothecs, mortgages, pledges, assignments, liens, charges, security interests, encumbrances and adverse rights or claims, whether contingent or absolute, and any agreement, option, right or privilege (whether by Law, contract or otherwise) capable of becoming any of the foregoing, other than Permitted Liens;

 

Los Filos Mining Complex” means Acquiror’s 100%-owned Los Filos Mine Complex in Guerrero State, Mexico;

 

 11

 

Material Adverse Effect” means in respect of Company or Acquiror, as applicable, any change, effect, event, occurrence or state of facts that either individually or in the aggregate with other such changes, effects, events, occurrences or states of fact, is, or would reasonably be expected to be, material and adverse to the business, operations, results of operations, assets, properties, financial condition or liabilities of that person and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, except any change, effect, event, occurrence or state of facts resulting from or relating to: (i) the execution, announcement or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the impact of any of the foregoing on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of such Party with its customers, suppliers, service providers and employees); (ii) changes in general economic, securities, financial, banking or currency exchange markets including, without limitation, the imposition or adjustment of tariffs provided that such changes do not have a materially disproportionate effect on that person relative to comparable gold mining companies; (iii) any change in IFRS or changes in applicable regulatory accounting requirements applicable to the industries in which such Party conducts business, or that results from any action taken for the purpose of complying with any of the foregoing; (iv) any natural disaster provided that it does not have a materially disproportionate effect on that person relative to comparable gold mining companies; (v) changes or developments affecting the gold mining industry generally or gold prices (on a current or forward basis), provided that such changes do not have a materially disproportionate effect on that person relative to comparable gold mining companies; (vi) generally applicable changes in applicable Law provided that it does not have a materially disproportionate effect on that person relative to comparable gold mining companies; (vii) the commencement or continuation of any war, armed hostilities or acts of terrorism provided that it does not have a materially disproportionate effect on that person relative to comparable gold mining companies; (viii) changes in political or civil conditions in any jurisdiction in which such person’s assets and/or its business and operations are located provided that such changes do not have a materially disproportionate effect on that person relative to comparable gold mining companies; (ix) any change or development in political policy conditions in Canada, U.S., Mexico or Nicaragua provided that it does not have a materially disproportionate effect on that person relative to comparable gold mining companies; (x) any decrease in the market price or any decline in the trading volume of that person’s common shares on the Exchanges (it being understood that the causes underlying such change in market price or trading volume (other than those in items (i) to (ix) above) may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred); (xi) any actions taken or omitted to be taken by such person pursuant to this Agreement to obtain any approvals, consents, registrations, permits, or authorizations for the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (xii) any other changes agreed in writing by the Parties, provided, however, that references in certain sections of this Agreement to dollar amounts are not intended to be, and shall not be deemed to be, illustrative or interpretive for purposes of determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred;

 

Material Contract” means, in respect of any person, any Contract entered into outside the ordinary course of business of such person (except for any earn-in, option, joint venture or similar agreement not relating to the Acquiror Properties or the Company Properties, as applicable) to which such person is party: (i) that if terminated or modified or if it ceased to be in effect, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) under which such person or any of its subsidiaries has directly or indirectly guaranteed any liabilities or obligations of a third party (other than ordinary course endorsements for collection) in excess of $20 million in the aggregate; (iii) relating to indebtedness for borrowed money, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset, with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $20 million; (iv) providing for the establishment, organization or formation of any joint venture that is material to it; (v) under which such person or any of its subsidiaries is obligated to make or expects to receive payments in excess of $20 million over the remaining term of the Contract; (vi) that limits or restricts such person or any of its subsidiaries from engaging in any line of business or any geographic area in any material respect; or (vii) that is otherwise material to such person and its subsidiaries, considered as a whole; and, for greater certainty, with respect to Company, includes the Material Contracts listed in Schedule 3.1(y) of the Company Disclosure Letter and, with respect to Acquiror, includes the Material Contracts listed in Schedule 4.1(y) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter;

 

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Material Employees” means senior management and executive officers as set out in the Acquiror Disclosure Letter and the Company Disclosure Letter, as applicable;

 

material fact” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Act provided, that with respect to any documents filed or furnished by Acquiror or the Company with or to the SEC, “material fact” means a fact that is “material”, where “material” has the meaning ascribed thereto under the U.S. Exchange Act;

 

Material Subsidiary” means, in the case of Company, those subsidiaries of Company described in Schedule 3.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter as being Material Subsidiaries of Company and, in the case of Acquiror, those subsidiaries of Acquiror described in Schedule 4.1(g) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter as being Material Subsidiaries of Acquiror;

 

Mesquite Gold Mine” means Acquiror’s 100%-owned producing Mesquite Gold Mine in California, USA;

 

Mexican Antitrust Law” means the Mexican Federal Economic Competition Law (Ley Federal de Competencia Económica) or the applicable Mexican Law that replaces it;

 

Mexico” means the United Mexican States;

 

MI 61-101” means Multilateral Instrument 61-101 — Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions of the Canadian Securities Administrators;

 

Musselwhite Mine” means Company’s 100%-owned Musselwhite gold mine, an underground mine in Ontario, Canada;

 

NI 45-106” means National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators;

 

No Action Letter shall mean written confirmation from the Commissioner that he or she does not, at that time, intend to make an application under section 92 of the Competition Act in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, such written confirmation having not been modified or withdrawn prior to the Effective Time;

 

NYSE American” shall mean the NYSE American Stock Exchange;

 

OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control;

 

ordinary course of business”, “ordinary course of business consistent with past practice”, or any similar reference, means, with respect to an action taken by a person, that such action is consistent with the past practices of such person and is taken in the ordinary course of the normal day-to-day business and operations of such person; provided that in any event such action is not unreasonable or unusual;

 

Outside Date” means November 12, 2026 or such later date as may be agreed to by the Parties and set out in an instrument in writing for that purpose that is executed by the Parties;

 

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Party” means any of Company or Acquiror, as the case may be, and “Parties” means both of them, collectively;

 

Permit” means any license, permit, certificate, consent, order, grant, approval, classification, registration or other authorization of and from any Governmental Entity;

 

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to Company, the Permitted Liens identified in the Company Disclosure Letter and, with respect to Acquiror, the Permitted Liens identified in the Acquiror Disclosure Letter;

 

person” includes an individual, partnership, association, body corporate, trustee, executor, administrator, legal representative, government (including any Governmental Entity) or any other entity, whether or not having legal status;

 

PFIC” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(s)(xxi);

 

Plan of Arrangement” means the plan of arrangement, substantially in the form of Schedule A hereto, and any amendments or variations thereto made in accordance with Section 8.3 hereof or the Plan of Arrangement or at the direction of the Court with the consent of the Parties, each acting reasonably;

 

Pre-Closing Reorganization” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.7;

 

Qualified Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators;

 

Receiving Party” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.3.1(a);

 

Regulatory Approvals” means sanctions, rulings, consents, orders, exemptions, permits, waivers, early termination authorizations, clearances, written confirmations of no intention to initiate legal proceedings and other approvals (including the lapse, without objection, of a prescribed time under a statute or regulation that states that a transaction may be implemented if a prescribed time lapses following the giving of notice without an objection being made) of Governmental Entities required in relation to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Key Regulatory Approvals but excluding the Interim Order and Final Order;

 

Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, escape, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping or leaching of Hazardous Substance into the Environment;

 

Representatives” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.2.1;

 

Responding Party” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.3.1(a);

 

Response Period” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.3.1(b);

 

Returns” means all reports, forms, elections, declarations, designations, notices, filings, information statements and returns, including any amended filings, schedules, attachments, supplements, appendices and exhibits thereto, that are filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Entity in connection with any Taxes, and whether in tangible or electronic form;

 

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Sanctioned Country” means any country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions Laws (as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region, and the so-called People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine and the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions);

 

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any person that is the target of Sanctions Laws, including (a) the government or government agency of a Sanctioned Country; (b) any person domiciled, organized or resident under the laws of, or determined to be resident in, a Sanctioned Country; (c) any person identified in any Sanctions Laws-related list of listed, designated, blocked or denied persons maintained by the United States (including OFAC and the United States Department of State), Canada (including Global Affairs Canada and Public Safety Canada), the United Kingdom (including His Majesty’s Treasury), United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or any European Union member state; or (d) any person directly or indirectly owned (50% or more) or Controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, or at the direction of, any such person or persons described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c);

 

Sanctions Laws” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition “International Trade Laws”;

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

Section 3(a)(10) Exemption” means the exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof;

 

Section 85 Election” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.8;

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act (British Columbia) and the rules, regulations and published policies made thereunder, as now in effect and as they may be promulgated or amended from time to time;

 

Securities Authorities” means the BCSC and the applicable securities commissions and other securities regulatory authorities in each of the other provinces and territories of Canada;

 

Securities Laws” means the Securities Act, together with all other applicable provincial securities laws, rules and regulations and published policies thereunder, as now in effect and as they may be promulgated or amended from time to time;

 

SEDAR+” means the System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval+ described in National Instrument 13-101 – System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval of the Canadian Securities Administrators and available for public view at www.sedarplus.ca;

 

South Railroad Project” means Company’s 100%-owned South Railroad project, an open-pit heap leach project in Nevada, USA, which consists of the Dark Star and Pinion deposits situated within the land package called the “South Carlin Complex”;

 

subsidiary” means, with respect to a specified body corporate, any body corporate of which more than 50% of the outstanding shares ordinarily entitled to elect a majority of the board of directors thereof (whether or not shares of any other class or classes shall or might be entitled to vote upon the happening of any event or contingency) are at the time owned directly or indirectly by such specified body corporate and shall include any body corporate, partnership, joint venture or other entity over which such specified body corporate exercises direction or control or which is in a like relation to a subsidiary;

 

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Supplemental Notes” means supplemental notes, or other appropriate instruments evidencing adjustments to the Company Notes, to be entered into by Acquiror in connection with the Company Notes;

 

Supplemental Warrant Certificates” means supplemental certificates, or other appropriate instruments evidencing adjustments to the Company Warrants, to be entered into by Acquiror in connection with the Company Warrants;

 

Superior Proposal” means any bona fide, unsolicited, written Acquisition Proposal made by a third party or third parties acting jointly or in concert with one another after the date of this Agreement that relates to the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding voting shares of a Party (the “Target”) (other than voting shares owned by the person making the Superior Proposal) or all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Target and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole that is not obtained in violation of this Agreement, or any agreement between the person making such Superior Proposal and the Target; and (i) complies with all applicable Laws; (ii) that is reasonably capable of being completed without undue delay, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal and the person making such proposal; (iii) that, in the case of an Acquisition Proposal to acquire 100% of the outstanding voting shares of the Target, is made available to all shareholders of the Target on the same terms and conditions; (iv) that is not subject to a due diligence or access condition (but, for greater certainty, may include a customary access covenant); (v) that is not subject to a financing condition; and (vi) in respect of which the Target’s board of directors determines, in its good faith judgment, after receiving the advice of its outside legal and financial advisors, that having regard for all of its terms and conditions, and such other factors deemed to be relevant by the board of directors of the Target, including certainty of financing, likelihood of obtaining regulatory approvals and the expected timing and likelihood of consummation, such Acquisition Proposal, would, if consummated in accordance with its terms, result in a transaction more favourable to the holders of its voting shares from a financial point of view than the Arrangement;

 

Superior Proposal Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.3.1;

 

Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time;

 

Taxes” means, with respect to any person, all supranational, national, federal, provincial, state, local or other taxes, including income taxes, branch taxes, profits taxes, capital gains taxes, gross receipts taxes, digital services taxes, windfall profits taxes, value added taxes, severance taxes, ad valorem taxes, property taxes, capital taxes, net worth taxes, production taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, licence taxes, excise taxes, franchise taxes, environmental taxes, ecological taxes, transfer taxes, withholding or similar taxes, payroll taxes, employment taxes, employer health taxes, government pension plan premiums and contributions, social security premiums, workers’ compensation premiums, employment/unemployment insurance or compensation premiums and contributions, stamp taxes, occupation taxes, premium taxes, alternative or add-on minimum taxes, global minimum or “Pillar 2” taxes, goods and service taxes, harmonized sales taxes, mining duties (whether assessed on explored or exploited surface area, related to mining or non-mining activities, based on sales, profits, production, volume or otherwise measured in any manner under applicable Law), contributions, duties, government charges or fees (aprovechamientos), tariffs, customs duties, surtaxes or other taxes of any kind whatsoever imposed or charged by any Governmental Entity, any requirement to pay or repay any amount to a Governmental Entity in respect of a tax credit, refund, rebate, governmental grant or subsidy, overpayment, or similar adjustment of Taxes, and any instalments in respect thereof, together with any interest, penalties, or additions with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties, and whether disputed or not, and “Tax” means any one of such Taxes;

 

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Tax Exempt Person” means a person who is generally exempt from Tax on that person’s taxable income under Part I of the Tax Act;

 

Termination Fee” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.4.4;

 

Transaction Personal Information” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.1;

 

Transmittal Letter” means the letter of transmittal sent to holders of Company Shares for use in connection with the Arrangement;

 

Trinity Loan Agreement” means the loan agreement dated December 18, 2019 among the Company, Trinity Capital Partners Corporation and a syndicate of other lenders;

 

Trinity Warrants” means the Company Share purchase warrants issued by Company in connection with the Trinity Loan Agreement;

 

TSX” means the Toronto Stock Exchange;

 

United States” means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia;

 

U.S. Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

U.S. Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

U.S. Tax Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

 

Valentine Gold Mine” means Acquiror’s 100%-owned Valentine gold mine, an open pit mining and conventional milling operation located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

 

1.2Interpretation Not Affected by Headings

 

The division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs and Schedules, and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Unless the contrary intention appears, references in this Agreement to an Article, Section, subsection, paragraph or Schedule by number or letter or both refer to the Article, Section, subsection, paragraph or Schedule, respectively, bearing that designation in this Agreement.

 

1.3Number and Gender

 

In this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words importing gender include all genders.

 

1.4Date for Any Action

 

If the date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by a Party is not a business day, such action shall be required to be taken on the next succeeding day which is a business day.

 

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1.5Currency

 

Unless otherwise stated, all references in this Agreement to sums of money are expressed in lawful money of the United States and “$” refers to United States dollars.

 

1.6Accounting Matters

 

Unless otherwise stated, all accounting terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings attributable thereto under IFRS and all determinations of an accounting nature required to be made shall be made in a manner consistent with IFRS, consistently applied.

 

1.7Knowledge

 

In this Agreement, references to “the knowledge of Company” means the actual knowledge of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, in each case after reasonable enquiry within Company and its subsidiaries and references to “the knowledge of Acquiror” means the actual knowledge of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy & Risk Officer and General Counsel, in each case after reasonable enquiry within Acquiror and its subsidiaries.

 

1.8Schedules

 

The following Schedules are annexed to this Agreement and are incorporated by reference into this Agreement and form a part hereof:

 

Schedule A ¾ Plan of Arrangement
Schedule B ¾ Arrangement Resolution

Schedule C ¾ Acquiror Resolution
Schedule D ¾ Key Regulatory Approvals

Schedule E ¾ Acquiror Executive Officers

 

Article 2
THE ARRANGEMENT

 

2.1Arrangement and Meetings

 

(a)Company and Acquiror agree that the Arrangement will be implemented in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement.

 

(b)Company and Acquiror agree that the Company Meeting and the Acquiror Meeting shall be held on the same day and at the same time, and agree to take such actions from time to time as may be necessary in order to ensure that this occurs. In the event either the Company Meeting or the Acquiror Meeting is postponed or adjourned in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company Meeting or the Acquiror Meeting, as applicable, shall also be adjourned or postponed in order to ensure that the Company Meeting and Acquiror Meeting occur on the same day.

 

2.2Approvals

 

(a)Company represents and warrants to Acquiror that:

 

(i)the Company Board and the Company Special Committee has each received an oral opinion to be subsequently confirmed in writing (each, a “Company Fairness Opinion”) from each of Scotia Capital Inc. and Fort Advisory Partners, respectively, that, as of the date of each such opinion and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out therein, the Consideration to be received by Company Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company Shareholders;

 

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(ii)the Company Board, after receiving financial and legal advice, the Company Fairness Opinions and the recommendation of the Company Special Committee, has unanimously: (A) determined that the Arrangement is fair and reasonable to the Company Shareholders and in the best interests of Company, and (B) resolved to recommend that the Company Shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement Resolution (the “Company Board Recommendation”);

 

(b)Acquiror represents and warrants to Company that:

 

(i)the Acquiror Board has received the oral opinion to be subsequently confirmed in writing (each, a “Acquiror Fairness Opinion”) from each of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and CIBC World Markets Inc., respectively, that, as of the date of each such opinion and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out therein, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to Acquiror;

 

(ii)the Acquiror Board, after evaluating the Arrangement in consultation with Acquiror’s management and legal and financial advisors, has unanimously: (A) determined that the entering into of this Agreement is in the best interests of Acquiror and the Acquiror Shareholders; and (B) has resolved to recommend that the Acquiror Shareholders vote in favour of the Acquiror Resolution (the “Acquiror Board Recommendation”).

 

2.3Court Orders

 

Company shall apply to the Court, in a manner acceptable to Acquiror, acting reasonably, pursuant to the CBCA for the Interim Order and the Final Order as follows:

 

(a)As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of execution of this Agreement, Company shall file, proceed with and diligently pursue an application to the Court for the Interim Order which shall provide, among other things:

 

(i)for each class of persons to whom notice is to be provided in respect of the Arrangement and the Company Meeting and the manner in which such notice is to be provided;

 

(ii)for confirmation of the record date for the Company Meeting (the “Record Date”), for the purposes of determining the Company Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Company Meeting;

 

(iii)that the Company Meeting may be held as a virtual or hybrid meeting, and that Company Shareholders that participate in the Company Meeting through virtual means, if applicable, will be deemed to be present at the Company Meeting;

 

(iv)for the calling and holding of the Company Meeting for the purpose of considering and, if deemed advisable, approving the Arrangement;

 

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(v)that the requisite approval for the Arrangement Resolution shall be the affirmative vote of at least:

 

(A) 66⅔% of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by the Company Shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Company Meeting and voting as a single class; and

 

(B) if, and only to the extent, required by MI 61-101, a simple majority of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by the Company Shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Company Meeting, voting as a single class, excluding, for this purpose, the votes cast by those persons whose votes are required to be excluded by MI 61-101 (collectively, the “Company Shareholder Approval”);

 

(vi)that in all other respects, other than as ordered by the Court in the Interim Order, the terms, conditions and restrictions of Company’s constating documents, including quorum requirements and other matters, shall apply in respect of the Company Meeting;

 

(vii)for the grant of Dissent Rights to the Company Shareholders who are registered holders of Company Shares as of the Record Date;

 

(viii)that each Company Shareholder shall have the right to appear before the Court at the hearing of the Court to approve the application for the Final Order, provided that they submit a response by the time and in the manner stipulated in the Interim Order;

 

(ix)that the Company Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time by Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or as otherwise agreed to by the Parties, without the need for additional approval of the Court and without the necessity of first convening the Company Meeting or first obtaining any vote of the Company Shareholders respecting the adjournment or postponement, and notice of any such adjournment(s) or postponement(s) shall be given by such method as the Company Board may determine is appropriate in the circumstance;

 

(x)that the Record Date for Company Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Company Meeting shall not change in respect of any adjourned or postponed Company Meeting(s) or any other change unless required by the Court or by Law;

 

(xi)that the Parties intend to rely upon the Section 3(a)(10) Exemption, subject to and conditioned on the Court’s determination that the Arrangement is substantively and procedurally fair to the Company Shareholders, with respect to the issuance of the Consideration Shares to the Company Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement, to implement the transactions contemplated hereby in respect of the Company Shareholders;

 

(xii)for the notice requirements with respect to the application to the Court for the Final Order; and

 

(xiii)for such other matters Acquiror or Company may reasonably require, subject to obtaining the prior written consent of the other Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned.

 

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2.4Company Meeting

 

Subject to receipt of the Interim Order and the terms of this Agreement:

 

(a)Company agrees to convene and conduct the Company Meeting in accordance with the Interim Order, Company’s constating documents, Section 2.1(b) hereof and applicable Laws on or before August 15, 2026 and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to schedule the Company Meeting on the same date and at the same time as the date and time of the Acquiror Meeting.

 

(b)Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to solicit proxies in favour of the approval of the Arrangement Resolution, including, if so requested by Acquiror and determined by Company to be prudent in the circumstances, using proxy solicitation services, provided that Company shall not be required to solicit from the Company Shareholders proxies in favour of the approval of the Arrangement Resolution, or take any other actions under this Section 2.4(b), if a Change in Recommendation has been made in accordance with Section 7.2.1.

 

(c)Company will advise Acquiror as Acquiror may reasonably request, and at least on a daily basis on each of the last ten business days prior to the date of the Company Meeting, as to the tally of the proxies received by Company in respect of the Arrangement Resolution.

 

(d)Except to comply with applicable Law, judgment, decree or order of any Governmental Entity, Section 2.1(b) or Section 7.3.5 hereof, Company will not adjourn (other than due to a lack of quorum), postpone or cancel the Company Meeting without the prior written consent of Acquiror and the obligations of Company under this Section 2.4(d) will not be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communications to Company or another person of any Acquisition Proposal relating to Company.

 

(e)Company will promptly advise Acquiror of any communication (written or oral) from any person in opposition to the Arrangement Resolution or notice of dissent or purported exercise (written or oral) by any Company Shareholder of Dissent Rights received by Company in relation to the Arrangement Resolution and any withdrawal of Dissent Rights received by Company and any written communications sent by or on behalf of Company to any Company Shareholder exercising or purporting to exercise Dissent Rights in relation to the Arrangement Resolution.

 

(f)Promptly upon the request of Acquiror, Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare or cause to be prepared and provide to Acquiror a list of holders of the securities of the Company of all classes, as well as a security position listing from each depositor of its securities, including CDS Clearing and Depositary Services Inc., and will obtain and will deliver to Acquiror thereafter on request (acting reasonably) supplemental lists setting out any changes thereto, all such deliveries to be in printed form and, if available, in computer-readable format.

 

2.5Company Circular

 

(a)Company shall prepare the Company Circular in compliance with applicable Securities Laws and, as soon as reasonably practicable after obtaining the Interim Order (subject to Acquiror providing to Company all information contemplated in Section 2.5(c) in final form), file the Company Circular in all jurisdictions where the same is required to be filed and mail the same as required by the Interim Order and in accordance with all applicable Laws, in all jurisdictions where the same is required, complying in all material respects with all applicable Laws on the date of mailing thereof.

 

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(b)Company shall ensure that the Company Circular complies in all material respects with all applicable Laws, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that the Company Circular will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they are made (other than in each case with respect to any information relating to Acquiror and its affiliates) and shall provide the Company Shareholders with information in sufficient detail to permit them to form a reasoned judgment concerning the matters to be placed before them at the Company Meeting. Subject to Section 7.2, the Company Circular will include the unanimous recommendation of the Company Board that the Company Shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement Resolution, and a statement that each director of Company intends to vote all of such director’s Company Shares (including any Company Shares issued upon the exercise of any Company Convertible Securities) in favour of the Arrangement Resolution, subject to the other terms of this Agreement and the Company Voting Agreements.

 

(c)Acquiror will furnish to Company all such information regarding Acquiror, its affiliates and the Consideration Shares, as may be reasonably required by Company in the preparation of the Company Circular and other documents related thereto. Acquiror shall also use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary consents from Qualified Persons and its auditors to the use of any financial or technical information required to be included in the Company Circular. Acquiror shall ensure that no such information will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in the Company Circular in order to make any information so furnished or any information concerning Acquiror not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it is disclosed and shall constitute full, true and plain disclosure of such information concerning Acquiror.

 

(d)Acquiror and its legal counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Company Circular, prior to the Company Circular being printed and mailed to the Company Shareholders and filed with the Securities Authorities, and reasonable consideration shall be given to any comments made by Acquiror and its counsel, provided that all information relating solely to Acquiror included in the Company Circular shall be in form and content satisfactory to Acquiror, acting reasonably. Company shall provide Acquiror with a final copy of the Company Circular prior to mailing to the Company Shareholders.

 

(e)Company and Acquiror shall each promptly notify the other if at any time before the Effective Date it becomes aware (in the case of Company only with respect to Company and in the case of Acquiror only with respect to Acquiror) that the Company Circular contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they are made, or that otherwise requires an amendment or supplement to the Company Circular, and the Parties shall co-operate in the preparation of any amendment or supplement to the Company Circular, as required or appropriate, and Company shall promptly mail or otherwise publicly disseminate any amendment or supplement to the Company Circular to the Company Shareholders and, if required by the Court or applicable Laws, file the same with the Securities Authorities and as otherwise required.

 

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(f)Company shall keep Acquiror informed of any requests or comments made by Securities Authorities in connection with the Company Circular.

 

2.6Acquiror Meeting

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement:

 

(a)Acquiror agrees to convene and conduct the Acquiror Meeting in accordance with Acquiror’s constating documents, Section 2.1(b) hereof and applicable Laws on or before August 15, 2026 and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to schedule the Acquiror Meeting on the same date and at the same time as the date and time of the Company Meeting.

 

(b)Acquiror will use its commercially reasonable efforts to solicit proxies in favour of the approval of the Acquiror Resolution, including, if so requested by Company and determined by Acquiror to be prudent in the circumstances, using proxy solicitation services, provided that Acquiror shall not be required to solicit from the Acquiror Shareholders proxies in favour of the approval of the Acquiror Resolution, or take any other actions under this Section 2.6(b), if a Change in Recommendation has been made in accordance with Section 7.2.1.

 

(c)Acquiror will advise Company as Company may reasonably request, and at least on a daily basis on each of the last ten business days prior to the date of the Acquiror Meeting, as to the tally of the proxies received by Acquiror in respect of the Acquiror Resolution.

 

(d)Except to comply with applicable Law, judgment, decree or order of any Governmental Entity, Section 2.1(b) or Section 7.3.5 hereof, Acquiror will not adjourn (other than due to a lack of quorum), postpone or cancel the Acquiror Meeting without the prior written consent of Company and the obligations of Acquiror under this Section 2.6(d) will not be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communications to Acquiror or another person of any Acquisition Proposal relating to Acquiror.

 

(e)Acquiror will promptly advise Company of any communication (written or oral) from any person in opposition to the Acquiror Resolution received by Acquiror in relation to the Arrangement Resolution and any written communications sent by or on behalf of Acquiror to any Acquiror Shareholder in relation to the Acquiror Resolution.

 

(f)Promptly upon the request of Company, Acquiror will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare or cause to be prepared and provide to Company a list of Acquiror Shareholders of all classes, as well as a security position listing from each depositor of its securities, including CDS Clearing and Depositary Services Inc., and will obtain and will deliver to Company thereafter on demand supplemental lists setting out any changes thereto, all such deliveries to be in printed form and, if available, in computer-readable format.

 

2.7Acquiror Circular

 

(a)Acquiror shall prepare the Acquiror Circular in compliance with applicable Securities Laws and as soon as reasonably practicable (subject to Company providing to Acquiror all information contemplated in Section 2.7(c) in final form), file the Acquiror Circular in all jurisdictions where the same is required to be filed and mail the same in accordance with all applicable Laws, in all jurisdictions where the same is required, complying in all material respects with all applicable Laws on the date of mailing thereof.

 

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(b)Acquiror shall ensure that the Acquiror Circular complies in all material respects with all applicable Laws, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that the Acquiror Circular will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they are made (other than in each case with respect to any information relating to Company and its affiliates) and shall provide Acquiror Shareholders with information in sufficient detail to permit them to form a reasoned judgment concerning the matters to be placed before them at the Acquiror Meeting. Subject to Section 7.2, the Acquiror Circular will include the unanimous recommendation of the Acquiror Board that Acquiror Shareholders vote in favour of the Acquiror Resolution, and a statement that each director of Acquiror intends to vote all of such director’s Acquiror Shares (including any Acquiror Shares issued upon the exercise of any Acquiror Options) in favour of the Acquiror Resolution, subject to the other terms of this Agreement and the Acquiror Voting Agreements.

 

(c)Company will furnish to Acquiror all such information regarding Company, its affiliates and the Company Shares as may be reasonably required by Acquiror in the preparation of the Acquiror Circular and other documents related thereto. Company shall also use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary consents from Qualified Persons and its auditors to the use of any financial or technical information required to be included in the Acquiror Circular. Company shall ensure that no such information will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in the Acquiror Circular in order to make any information so furnished or any information concerning Company not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it is disclosed and shall constitute full, true and plain disclosure of such information concerning Company.

 

(d)Company and its legal counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Acquiror Circular, prior to the Acquiror Circular being printed and mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders and filed with the Securities Authorities, and reasonable consideration shall be given to any comments made by Company and its counsel, provided that all information relating solely to Company included in the Acquiror Circular shall be in form and content satisfactory to Company, acting reasonably. Acquiror shall provide Company with a final copy of the Acquiror Circular prior to mailing to the Acquiror Shareholders.

 

(e)Company and Acquiror shall each promptly notify the other if at any time before the Effective Date it becomes aware (in the case of Company only with respect to Company and in the case of Acquiror only with respect to Acquiror) that the Acquiror Circular contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they are made, or that otherwise requires an amendment or supplement to the Acquiror Circular, and the Parties shall co-operate in the preparation of any amendment or supplement to the Acquiror Circular, as required or appropriate, and Acquiror shall promptly mail or otherwise publicly disseminate any amendment or supplement to the Acquiror Circular to the Acquiror Shareholders and, if required by applicable Laws, file the same with the Securities Authorities and as otherwise required.

 

(f)Acquiror shall keep Company informed of any requests or comments made by Securities Authorities and Exchanges in connection with the Acquiror Circular.

 

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2.8Solicitation of Proxies

 

Acquiror may, at any time, directly or through a soliciting dealer or proxy solicitation agent, actively solicit proxies in favour of the Arrangement Resolution. Company may, at any time, directly or through a soliciting dealer or proxy solicitation agent, actively solicit proxies in favour of the Acquiror Resolution.

 

2.9Final Order

 

If: (i) the Interim Order is obtained; (ii) the Company Shareholder Approval is obtained at Company Meeting by the Company Shareholders as provided for in the Interim Order and as required by applicable Law; and (iii) the Acquiror Shareholder Approval is obtained, subject to the terms of this Agreement, Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter and in any event within four business days thereafter, take all steps necessary or desirable to submit the Arrangement to the Court and diligently pursue an application for the Final Order pursuant to Section 192 of the CBCA, which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Company and Acquiror, both acting reasonably.

 

2.10Court Proceedings

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Company will diligently pursue both the Interim Order and the Final Order, and Acquiror will cooperate with, assist and consent to Company seeking the Interim Order and the Final Order, including by providing Company on a timely basis information reasonably required to be supplied by Acquiror in connection therewith. Company will provide legal counsel to Acquiror with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon drafts of all material to be filed with the Court in connection with the Arrangement, and will give due consideration to all such comments. Company will also provide legal counsel to Acquiror on a timely basis with copies of any response to petition and any evidence or other documents served on Company or its legal counsel in respect of the application for the Interim Order or the Final Order or any appeal therefrom. Subject to applicable Law, Company will not file any material with the Court in connection with the Arrangement or serve any such material, and will not agree to modify or amend materials so filed or served, except with Acquiror’s prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided that nothing herein shall require Acquiror to agree or consent to any increase in the consideration or other modification or amendment to such filed or served materials that expands or increases Acquiror’s obligations set forth in this Agreement.

 

In addition, Company will not object to Acquiror’s legal counsel making such submissions on the hearing of the motion for the Interim Order and the application for the Final Order as such counsel considers appropriate; provided that Company is advised of the nature of any such submissions with reasonably sufficient time prior to such hearing and such submissions are consistent with this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement. Company will also consult with Acquiror with respect to the defence or settlement of any securityholder of the Company or derivative proceeding relating to the Arrangement or transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall not settle in respect of any such proceeding without Acquiror’s prior written consent.

 

2.11Payment of Consideration

 

Following receipt of the Final Order and at least one business day prior to the Effective Time, Acquiror will deposit Consideration Shares and Cash Consideration, in each case in escrow (the terms and conditions of such escrow to be satisfactory to the Depositary and the Parties, acting reasonably) and sufficient to satisfy the aggregate Consideration payable to the Company Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement. All payment of any kind in settlement or satisfaction of the rights of any Company Shareholder exercising Dissent Rights will be made by, and from the funds set aside prior to the Effective Time by, Company.

 

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2.12Closing

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on or prior to the Effective Date, the Articles of Arrangement shall be filed by the Company with the Director, and the Effective Date shall occur not later than the third business day after the satisfaction or, where not prohibited, the waiver of the conditions (excluding conditions that, by their terms, cannot be satisfied until the Effective Date or as of another specified date, but subject to the satisfaction or, where not prohibited, the waiver of those conditions as of the Effective Date) set forth in Article 6, unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the Parties. From and after the Effective Time, the steps to be carried out pursuant to the Arrangement shall become effective in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement. The closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Plan of Arrangement will take place by exchange of electronic documents on the Effective Date, or at such other time on the Effective Date or such other place as may be agreed to by the Parties.

 

2.13Announcement and Shareholder Communications

 

Acquiror and Company shall each publicly announce the transactions contemplated hereby promptly following the execution of this Agreement by Acquiror and Company, the text and timing of each such announcement to be approved by Acquiror and Company in advance, acting reasonably. Acquiror and Company agree to co-operate in the preparation of presentations, if any, to the Company Shareholders and the Acquiror Shareholders regarding the Plan of Arrangement, and neither Company nor Acquiror shall: (i) issue any news release or otherwise make public announcements with respect to this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement without the consent of the other Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (ii) issue any news release or otherwise make public announcements with respect to guidance in relation to anticipated gold production or any amendment to existing publicly available guidance in relation to anticipated gold production; or (iii) make any filing with any Governmental Entity or with any Exchange with respect thereto without prior consultation with the other Party; provided, however, that the foregoing shall be subject to each Party’s overriding obligation to make any disclosure or filing required under applicable Laws or Exchange rules, and the Party making such disclosure shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to give prior oral or written notice to the other Party and reasonable opportunity to review or comment on the disclosure or filing, and if such prior notice is not possible, to give such notice immediately following the making of such disclosure or filing.

 

2.14Withholding Taxes

 

Acquiror, Company, the Depositary, and their respective agents, as applicable (in this paragraph, the “payor”), shall each be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable (whether in cash or in kind, and including for avoidance of doubt the Consideration Shares) or otherwise deliverable to any person under this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement (including any payment to Company Shareholders who have duly and validly exercised their Dissent Rights) such amounts as the payor is required to deduct or withhold therefrom under any applicable Law in respect of Taxes. For the purposes hereof and the Plan of Arrangement, all such deducted or withheld amounts shall be treated as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made on account of the obligation to make payment to such person thereunder, provided that such deducted or withheld amounts are actually remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity when required by Law by, or on behalf of, the payor. Each payor is hereby authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of, on behalf of such person in respect of which a deduction or withholding was made, such portion of any Consideration Shares or other security deliverable to such person as is necessary to provide sufficient funds (after deducting all reasonable commissions, fees and other reasonable expenses in respect of such sale) to the payor to enable it to comply with such deduction or withholding requirement and the payor shall notify such person thereof and remit the applicable portion of the net proceeds of such sale to the appropriate Governmental Entity and, if applicable, any portion of such net proceeds that is not required to be so remitted shall be paid to such person. Any such sale will be made in accordance with applicable Laws and at prevailing market prices, and no payor shall be under any obligation to obtain a particular price, or indemnify any person, in respect of a particular price, for the portion of the Consideration Shares or other securities, as applicable, so sold. No payor will be liable for any loss arising out of any such sale.

 

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2.15U.S. Securities Law Matters

 

The Parties intend that the Arrangement shall be carried out such that the issuance of the Consideration Shares to Company Shareholders in exchange for Company Shares qualifies for the exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act provided by the Section 3(a)(10) Exemption and applicable U.S. state securities laws in reliance upon similar exemptions under applicable U.S. state securities laws. Each Party agrees to act in good faith, consistent with the intent of the Parties and the intended treatment of the Arrangement as set forth in this Section 2.15. In order to ensure the availability of the Section 3(a)(10) Exemption, the Parties agree that the Arrangement will be carried out on the following basis:

 

(a)the Arrangement will be subject to the approval of the Court;

 

(b)the Court will be advised as to the intention of the Parties to rely on the Section 3(a)(10) Exemption prior to the Court hearing required to issue the Interim Order;

 

(c)the Court will be required to satisfy itself as to the substantive and procedural fairness of the Arrangement to the Company Shareholders;

 

(d)the Court will hold a hearing before approving the procedural and substantive fairness of the terms and conditions of the Arrangement;

 

(e)the Final Order will expressly state that the Arrangement is approved by the Court as being substantively and procedurally fair to the Company Shareholders to whom Consideration Shares will be issued;

 

(f)the Parties will ensure that each Company Shareholder entitled to receive Consideration Shares on completion of the Arrangement will (i) be given adequate notice advising them of their right to attend the Court hearing and providing them with sufficient information necessary for them to exercise that right and (ii) be advised that the Consideration Shares issuable pursuant to the Arrangement have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and will be issued by Acquiror in reliance on the Section 3(a)(10) Exemption, and that certain restrictions on resale under the securities laws of the United States, including, as applicable, Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act, may be applicable with respect to securities issued to affiliates of Acquiror;

 

(g)the Interim Order will specify that each Company Shareholder entitled to receive Consideration Shares on completion of the Arrangement will have the right to appear before the Court at the Court hearing on the Final Order so long as such Company Shareholder enters an appearance within a reasonable time and in accordance with the requirements of the Section 3(a)(10) Exemption; and

 

(h)Acquiror will request that the Final Order include a statement to substantially the following effect: “This Order will serve as a basis of a claim to an exemption, pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, from the registration requirements otherwise imposed by that act, regarding the distribution of securities of Acquiror, pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement.”

 

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2.16U.S. Tax Matters

 

The Arrangement is intended to qualify as a tax-deferred reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the U.S. Tax Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and this Agreement, together with the Plan of Arrangement, is intended to be, and is hereby adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 368 of the U.S. Tax Code. Each Party agrees to treat the Arrangement as a tax-deferred reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the U.S. Tax Code for all United States federal income tax purposes, to treat this Agreement, together with the Plan of Arrangement, as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 368 of the U.S. Tax Code, and to not take any position on any Tax return or otherwise take any Tax reporting position inconsistent with such treatment, unless otherwise required by a good faith resolution of a Tax contest or a change in applicable Law. Within forty-five days following the Effective Date, Acquiror shall prepare and file in accordance with Treasury Regulations (including by posting a copy on the investor relations section of its website) a properly completed IRS Form 8937 reporting the Arrangement as a tax-deferred reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each Party agrees to act in good faith, consistent with the intent of the Parties and the intended treatment of the Arrangement as set forth herein and to use commercially reasonable efforts to not take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, if such action or failure to act would reasonably be expected to prevent the Arrangement from qualifying as a tax-deferred reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the U.S. Tax Code.

 

2.17           Company Convertible Securities

 

The Parties agree that all Company Convertible Securities that are not exercised or converted prior to the Effective Time shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of the indenture or other instrument governing such securities and the Plan of Arrangement, and the Parties shall take all such reasonable steps as may be necessary or desirable to give effect to the foregoing including, without limitation, the execution of supplemental indentures, joinder agreements or other instruments.

 

2.18Governance

 

(a)As of the Effective Time, Acquiror shall: (i) fix the number of directors of the Acquiror Board at 11; (ii) cause the members of the Acquiror Board that will not continue as a member of the Acquiror Board following the Effective Time to deliver resignations from the Acquiror Board; and (iii) appoint 5 members of the Company Board as members of the Acquiror Board (the “Company Director Nominees”), provided that (a) the Company Director Nominees meet any applicable qualification requirements to serve as directors under applicable Laws, and (b) the Company Director Nominees have delivered to Acquiror a consent to act as a director of Acquiror.

 

(b)Acquiror shall implement Schedule E, subject to the consent of the applicable individuals, with effect as and from the Effective Time.

 

Article 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES Of Company

 

3.1Representations and Warranties

 

Company hereby represents and warrants to and in favour of Acquiror as follows, except to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by the Company Disclosure Letter and acknowledges that Acquiror is relying upon such representations and warranties in connection with the entering into of this Agreement that:

 

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(a)Board Approval. As of the date hereof, the Company Board, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors, has determined that the Plan of Arrangement is in the best interests of Company and that the Consideration to be received by the Company Shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view, and has resolved unanimously to recommend to the Company Shareholders that they vote in favour of the Arrangement Resolution. The Company Board has approved the Arrangement pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement and the execution and performance of this Agreement.

 

(b)Organization and Qualification. Company and each of its subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated or an entity duly created and validly existing under the applicable Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, continuance or creation and has all necessary corporate or other power and capacity to own its property and assets as now owned and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Company and each of its subsidiaries: (A) has all Permits necessary to conduct its business substantially as now conducted, as such business is disclosed in the Company Public Disclosure Record, except where the failure to have such Permit would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company; and (B) is duly registered or otherwise authorized and qualified to do business and each is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of its properties, owned, leased, licensed or otherwise held, or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so registered or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

 

(c)Authority Relative to this Agreement. Company has the requisite corporate power and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Company and the performance by Company of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company Board and except for the Interim Order, the Final Order, approval of the Company Circular by the Company Board and Company Shareholder Approval, no other corporate proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Arrangement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Company, enforceable against Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general application relating to or affecting rights of creditors and that equitable remedies, including specific performance, are discretionary and may not be ordered.

 

(d)No Violation. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Company nor the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Arrangement, nor the performance of its obligations thereunder, nor compliance by Company with any of the provisions of this Agreement will:

 

(1)violate, conflict with, or result (with or without notice or the passage of time) in a violation or breach of any provision of, or require, other than the Key Regulatory Approvals that relate to Company, any consent, approval or notice under, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) or result in a right of termination or acceleration of indebtedness under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon, any of the properties or assets of Company or any of its subsidiaries, or cause any indebtedness to come due before its stated maturity or cause any credit commitment to cease to be available or cause any payment or other obligation to be imposed on Company or any of its subsidiaries, under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of:

 

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(A)their respective articles, charters or by-laws or other comparable organizational documents; or

 

(B)any Permit or Material Contract to which Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of them, or any of their respective properties or assets, may be subject or by which Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound; or

 

(2)subject to obtaining the Key Regulatory Approvals,

 

(A)result (with or without notice or the passage of time) in a violation or breach of or constitute a default under any provisions of any Laws applicable to Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets; or

 

(B)cause the suspension or revocation of any Permit currently in effect relating to Company or any of its subsidiaries,

 

(except, in the case of each of clauses (1) and (2) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations, creations of Liens, suspensions or revocations which, or any consents (expressly excluding the Key Regulatory Approvals), approvals or notices which if not given or received, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have any Material Adverse Effect on Company);

 

(3)give rise to any rights of first refusal or trigger any change in control provisions, rights of first offer or first refusal or any similar provisions or any restrictions or limitation under any such note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, license, franchise or Permit.

 

(e)Capitalization. The authorized share capital of Company consists of an unlimited number of Company Shares without par value and an unlimited number of Class A preferred shares. As of the close of business on May 12, 2026, 345,991,997 Company Shares were issued and outstanding, nil Class A preferred shares were issued and outstanding, an aggregate of up to 2,241,744 Company Shares were issuable upon the exercise of Company Options, an aggregate of up to 30,909,528 Company Shares were issuable upon the exercise of Company Warrants, an aggregate of up to 32,129,106 Company Shares were issuable upon the conversion of Company Notes, an aggregate of up to 844,875 Company Shares were issuable upon the settlement of Company RSUs, an aggregate of up to 878,764 Company Shares were issuable upon the settlement of Company DSUs, an aggregate of up to 500,000 Company Shares were issuable upon vesting of the Company Bonus Shares and an aggregate of 579,029 Company PSUs are outstanding evidencing the right to receive a cash payment. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no other options, warrants, conversion privileges or other rights, shareholder rights plans, agreements, arrangements or commitments (pre-emptive, contingent or otherwise) of any character whatsoever requiring or which may require the issuance, sale or transfer by Company of any securities of Company (including Company Shares), or any securities or obligations convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise evidencing a right or obligation to acquire, any securities of Company (including Company Shares) or any Material Subsidiary of Company. All outstanding Company Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and all Company Shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of the Company Convertible Securities in accordance with their respective terms have been duly authorized and, upon issuance, will be validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable, and are not and will not be subject to, or issued in violation of, any pre-emptive rights. All securities of Company (including the Company Shares and the Company Convertible Securities) have been issued in compliance with all applicable Laws and Securities Laws. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no securities of Company or of any of its subsidiaries outstanding which have the right to vote generally (or are convertible into or exchangeable for securities having the right to vote generally) with the Company Shareholders on any matter. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of Company or any subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of Company’s securities or with respect to the voting or disposition of any outstanding securities of any of its subsidiaries. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness of Company or any of its subsidiaries having the right to vote with the holders of the outstanding Company Shares on any matters.

 

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(f)Reporting Status and Securities Laws Matters. Company is a “reporting issuer” and not on the list of reporting issuers in default under applicable Securities Laws in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The Company Shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the U.S. Exchange Act. No delisting, suspension of trading in or cease trading order with respect to any securities of Company and, to the knowledge of Company, no inquiry or investigation (formal or informal) of any Securities Authority, the SEC or the Exchanges, is in effect or ongoing or, to the knowledge of Company, expected to be implemented or undertaken with respect to the foregoing. The Company Shares are listed on the Exchanges and, except for such listings, no securities of Company are listed or quoted for trading on any other stock or securities exchange or market or registered under any Securities Laws.

 

(g)Ownership of Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter includes a complete and accurate list of all subsidiaries owned, directly or indirectly, by Company. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock and other ownership interests in such subsidiaries of Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and, where the concept exists, non-assessable, and, except as set out in Schedule 3.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all such shares and other ownership interests held directly or indirectly by Company are legally and beneficially owned free and clear of all Liens, and there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights, entitlements, understandings or commitments (contingent or otherwise) regarding the right to purchase or acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, any such shares of capital stock or other ownership interests in or material assets or properties of any of the subsidiaries of Company or any contributions for future capital increases (aportaciones para futuros aumentos de capital). Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no contracts, commitments, agreements, understandings, arrangements or restrictions which require any subsidiaries of Company to issue, sell or deliver any shares in its share capital or other ownership interests, including pursuant to any contributions for future capital increases (aportaciones para futuros aumentos de capital) or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of its share capital or other ownership interests. There are no outstanding options, rights, entitlements, understandings or commitments (contingent or otherwise) providing to any third party the right to acquire any shares or other ownership interests in any subsidiaries of Company. All ownership interests of Company and its subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens of any kind or nature whatsoever held by third parties. Schedule 3.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter includes a complete and accurate list of all securities owned by Company of another corporate person, other than its subsidiaries.

 

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(h)Public Filings. Company has filed or furnished, as applicable, all documents required to be filed or furnished by it in accordance with applicable Securities Laws, the U.S. Exchange Act and U.S. Securities Act, with the Securities Authorities, the SEC or the Exchanges. All such documents and information comprising the Company Public Disclosure Record, as of their respective dates (and the dates of any amendments thereto): (i) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; and (ii) complied in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Securities Laws, the U.S. Exchange Act and the U.S. Securities Act, and any amendments to the Company Public Disclosure Record required to be made have been filed on a timely basis with the Securities Authorities or the Exchanges. Company has not filed any confidential material change report with any Securities Authorities or the SEC that at the date of this Agreement remains confidential. There has been no change in a material fact or a material change (as such terms are defined under the Securities Act) in any of the information contained in the Company Public Disclosure Record, except for changes in material facts or material changes that are reflected in a subsequently filed document included in the Company Public Disclosure Record.

 

(i)Company Financial Statements. Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2026, including the notes thereto (collectively, the “Company Financial Statements”) were prepared in accordance with IFRS consistently applied (except as otherwise indicated in such financial statements and the notes thereto). The Company Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Company and its subsidiaries as at the respective dates and periods thereof and for the periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements, to normal period-end adjustments). The Company Financial Statements reflect all reserves required by IFRS in respect of all material contingent liabilities, if any, of Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The condensed interim consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2026, have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 “Interim Financial Reporting” (“IAS 34”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. There has been no material change in Company’s accounting policies since December 31, 2025, except as disclosed in the notes to the Company Financial Statements.

 

(j)Internal Controls and Financial Reporting. Company has designed such disclosure controls and procedures (“DC&P”), or caused them to be designed under the supervision of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Company in its annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed or submitted under securities legislation is accumulated and communicated to Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Company maintains systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (“ICFR”) that have been designed by, or under the supervision of, its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. Company has disclosed in its management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2025 that the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have limited the scope of the design of Company’s DC&P and ICFR to exclude controls, policies and procedures of Musselwhite Mine Ltd. as it was acquired not more than 365 days before the end of December 31, 2025. Since January 1, 2026, Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board have not been advised of: (A) any deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting, or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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(k)Corrupt Practices Legislation. Neither Company, its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors, or employees, nor to the knowledge of Company, any agents or representatives acting for or on behalf of Company or any of its subsidiaries is taking or to the knowledge of Company has within the past five (5) years taken, been engaged in or is alleged to have engaged in any action which would cause Company or any of its subsidiaries to be in violation of applicable Corrupt Practices Laws. Without limiting any of the foregoing, neither Company, its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors, or employees, or to the knowledge of Company, any agents or representatives acting for or on behalf of Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) paid, offered, promised, or authorized the payment of money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official, any political party, or any other person for the purpose of influencing any act or decision or to secure any improper advantage in violation of Corrupt Practices Laws or (ii) received from any Governmental Entity or any other person any written notice of any actual, suspected, or potential violation of any Corrupt Practices Laws, or conducted an internal investigation with respect to, or made any voluntary or involuntary disclosure to a Governmental Entity concerning any actual, suspected, or potential violation of any Corrupt Practices Laws.

 

(l)International Trade Laws. Neither Company, its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, or to the knowledge of Company, its agents or representatives acting on behalf of Company (i) is a Sanctioned Person or organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country; (ii) is or has been in the past five (5) years engaged in taking any action or alleged to have engaged in taking any action in violation of applicable International Trade Laws or which would cause Company or any of its subsidiaries to be in violation of applicable International Trade Laws; (iii) has received from any Governmental Entity or any other person any written notice of any violation of any applicable International Trade Law, or conducted an internal investigation with respect to, or made any voluntary or involuntary disclosure to a Governmental Entity concerning any actual, suspected, or alleged violation of any applicable International Trade Law. In addition, no counterparty to any streaming agreement or royalty agreement in respect of any mining property or mineral interest of Company or its subsidiaries (i) is a Sanctioned Person or located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, and (ii) no such streaming agreement, royalty agreement, mining property or mineral interest is itself the subject of Sanctions Laws.

 

(m)International Trade and Corrupt Practices Compliance and Policies. Company and its subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of Company, its respective officers, directors, and employees are in compliance with all applicable International Trade Laws and applicable Corrupt Practices Laws. Company and its subsidiaries have adopted, implemented and maintained policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance with International Trade Laws and Corrupt Practices Laws, to the extent applicable.

 

(n)Books and Records. The financial books, records and accounts of Company and its Material Subsidiaries, have in all material respects, been maintained in accordance with applicable Law, in accordance with IFRS and, in each case, are stated in reasonable detail and accurately and fairly reflect the material transactions and dispositions of the assets of Company and its Material Subsidiaries and accurately and fairly reflect the basis for the Company Financial Statements.

 

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(o)Minute Books. The minute books of Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries are true and correct in all material respects; they contain the duly signed minutes of all meetings of the boards of directors and shareholders and all resolutions passed by the boards of directors and the shareholders thereof except for minutes relating to the proposed transaction between Acquiror and Company; provided that minutes for recent meetings of the Company Board and committees thereof which have not been finalized as of the date hereof will be finalized and included in the minute books in accordance with Company’s past practice.

 

(p)No Undisclosed Liabilities. Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis have no material outstanding indebtedness or liabilities and are not party to or bound by any suretyship, guarantee, indemnification or assumption agreement, or endorsement of, or any other similar commitment with respect to the obligations, liabilities or indebtedness of any person, that are material to Company, other than those specifically identified in the Company Financial Statements, Schedule 3.1(p) of the Company Disclosure Letter or incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent Company Financial Statements.

 

(q)No Material Change. Except as disclosed in the Company Public Disclosure Record, since December 31, 2025 (i) there has been no material change in respect of Company and its Material Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and the debt, business and material property of Company and its Material Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Company Public Disclosure Record; (ii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by Company on any Company Shares; (iii) there has not been a material change in the assets, liabilities, obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), business, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of Company and its Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iv) Company and its Material Subsidiaries have carried on business in the ordinary course.

 

(r)Litigation. Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(r) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no material claims, actions, suits, grievances, complaints or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened affecting Company or any of its subsidiaries or affecting any of their respective property or assets at law or in equity before or by any Governmental Entity, including matters arising under Environmental Laws. Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(r) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries nor their respective assets or properties is subject to any outstanding material judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree.

 

(s)Taxes. Except as provided for in the Company Financial Statements or as set out in Schedule 3.1(s) of the Company Disclosure Letter,

 

(i)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed all material Returns required to be filed by it with the appropriate Governmental Entity prior to the date hereof and all such material Returns are complete and correct in all material respects.

 

(ii)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has paid on a timely basis all material Taxes which are due and payable, including instalments on account of Taxes for their current taxation year, all assessments and reassessments, in each case, other than those which are being or have been contested in good faith and in respect of which reserves have been provided in the most recently published Company Financial Statements, except where the failure to do so would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(iii)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has established reserves on its books and records, in the case of Company in accordance with IFRS, and in the case of its Material Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of their respective governing jurisdictions, adequate for the payment of any Taxes not yet due and payable and will continue doing so until the Effective Date.

 

(iv)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has maintained and continues to maintain, in the place and manner prescribed by applicable Law, all records and books of account required to be maintained under applicable Laws with respect to Taxes.

 

(v)No material deficiencies, litigation, proposed adjustments or matters in controversy exist or have been asserted, in any case in writing, with respect to Taxes of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, and neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party to any action or proceeding for assessment or collection of Taxes and no such event has been asserted or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened, in any case in writing, against Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(vi)To the knowledge of Company, no written claim has been made by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries does not file Returns that Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is or may be subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(vii)There are no material Liens for unpaid Taxes (other than in respect of Taxes not yet due and payable or Liens for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings pursuant to applicable Laws) upon any of the assets of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

 

(viii)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has duly and timely withheld all material Taxes and other amounts required by Law to be withheld by it (including Taxes and other amounts required to be withheld by it in respect of any amount paid or credited or deemed to be paid or credited by it to or for the account or benefit of any person, including employees, officers or directors and any person who is a non-resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act) and has duly and timely remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity such Taxes and other amounts required by Law to be remitted by it, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect to Company.

 

(ix)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has duly and timely collected all material amounts on account of any sales or use taxes, including goods and services, harmonized sales and provincial or territorial sales taxes, required by Law to be collected by it and has duly and timely remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity any such amounts required by Law to be remitted by it, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect to Company.

 

(x)To the knowledge of Company, there are no outstanding written agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment or reassessment of, Taxes due from Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries for any taxable period (other than, to the extent applicable, automatic six-month extensions for U.S. federal and applicable state income Returns) and no request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending.

 

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(xi)All the Returns, audit reports and assessments in the Company Data Room Information were true, correct and complete copies of such Returns, audit reports and assessments.

 

(xii)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries, if legally required to do so, is duly registered under subdivision (d) of Division V of Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) with respect to the goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax.

 

(xiii)Neither Company nor any Material Subsidiary of Company has applied for any Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy or Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, in each case as provided for under section 125.7 of the Tax Act.

 

(xiv)Neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has acquired property from a non-arm’s length person, within the meaning of the Tax Act, for consideration, the value of which is less than the fair market value of the property acquired in circumstances which could subject it to a liability under section 160 of the Tax Act.

 

(xv)Each of Company and its Material Subsidiaries has substantially complied with the transfer pricing provisions of each applicable Law relating to Taxes, including (if applicable) the contemporaneous documents and disclosure requirements thereunder.

 

(xvi)There are no circumstances existing which could result in the application of section 17, section 78, section 79 or sections 80 to 80.04 of the Tax Act (or any equivalent provision of the taxation legislation of any province or any other jurisdiction) to Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

 

(xvii)None of Company or its Material Subsidiaries has had an obligation to file an information return in respect of any transaction that is a “reportable transaction” or “notifiable transaction” as defined for purposes of section 237.3 or 237.4 of the Tax Act (or any equivalent provision of the taxation legislation of any province or any other jurisdiction).

 

(xviii)The Company Shares are “excluded property” as defined in subsection 116(6) of the Tax Act.

 

(xix)Company is a “taxable Canadian corporation” for purposes of the Tax Act.

 

(xx)Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries (other than its Material Subsidiaries that are incorporated, formed or continued under the laws of the United States) is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and has not taken the position for U.S. federal income tax purposes that it is classified as a surrogate foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 7874(a) or a U.S. domestic corporation under Section 7874(b) of the U.S. Tax Code

 

(xxi)Company does not believe that it was classified as a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the U.S. Tax Code (“PFIC”) for its most recently completed Tax year and, based upon current business plans and financial expectations, Company believes it will not be a PFIC for its current tax year or future tax years.

 

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(xxii)Company is not aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent the Arrangement from qualifying as a tax-deferred reorganization under Section 368(a) of the U.S. Tax Code.

 

(xxiii)During the two (2) year period ending on the date of this Agreement, the Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (in each case, within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the U.S. Tax Code) in a distribution intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the U.S. Tax Code.

 

(t)Operational Matters. All material rentals, royalties (whether statutory or contractual), overriding royalty interests, production payments, net profits, earnouts, streaming agreements, metal pre-payment or similar agreements, interest burdens, payments and obligations due and payable, or performable, as the case may be, on or prior to the date hereof under, with respect to, or on account of, any direct or indirect assets of Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, have been, in all material respects: (i) duly paid; (ii) duly performed; and (iii) no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing thereunder.

 

(u)Property. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(u) of the Company Disclosure Letter:

 

(i)The Company Properties are accurately described in the Company Public Disclosure Record.

 

(ii)The Company Public Disclosure Record together with the Company Data Room Information discloses all material real and immoveable property legally or beneficially owned, licensed, or leased by Company or its Material Subsidiaries, or in respect of which Company or its Material Subsidiaries enjoy the benefit of rights of way, surface rights, easements and Permits for the use of real and immoveable property, and there is no other material real and immoveable property in respect of which Company or its Material Subsidiaries has any interest.

 

(iii)The Concessions relating to the Company Properties are the only mining concessions, claims, leases, licenses, Permits or other rights that are required to conduct the activities of Company or its Material Subsidiaries on the Company Properties as currently conducted.

 

(iv)Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect to Company or as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 3.1(u) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) each Concession relating to the Company Properties is in full force and effect and in good standing and (ii) the interests of Company or its Material Subsidiaries in each Concession relating to the Company Properties is held free and clear of all Liens. The Company Public Disclosure Record together with the Company Data Room Information accurately describes, in all material respects: (A) the interests of Company and its Material Subsidiaries in each of the material Concessions relating to the Company Properties; and (B) the agreement or document pursuant to which Company or its Material Subsidiaries holds its interest in each material Concession relating to the Company Properties. Company or its Material Subsidiaries are lawfully authorized to hold their respective interests in the material Concessions relating to the Company Properties.

 

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(v)Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect to Company or as otherwise disclosed in the Schedule 3.1(u) of the Company Disclosure Letter:

 

(A)each Concession relating to the Company Properties comprises an active and subsisting mineral claim or concession, in each case in all material respects, and Company or its Material Subsidiaries enjoys legally enforceable access to the Company Properties as may be required to conduct the activities of Company or its Material Subsidiaries as currently conducted;

 

(B)to the knowledge of Company any and all applicable assessment work required to be performed and filed in respect of the Company Properties or under the Concessions relating to the Company Properties has been performed and filed;

 

(C)any and all Taxes and other payments required to be paid in respect of the Company Properties and the Concessions relating to the Company Properties and all rental or royalty payments required to be paid in respect of the Concessions relating to the Company Properties have been paid;

 

(D)any and all filings required to be filed in respect of the Company Properties and the Concessions relating to the Company Properties have been filed;

 

(E)Company or its Material Subsidiaries have the exclusive right to deal with the Company Properties and the Concessions relating to the Company Properties;

 

(F)no other person has any material interest in the Company Properties or the Concessions relating to the Company Properties or any right to acquire any such interest;

 

(G)there are no back-in rights, earn-in rights, rights of first refusal, royalty rights or similar provisions that would materially affect the interests of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries in the Company Properties or the Concessions relating to the Company Properties; and

 

(H)neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries have received any notice, whether written or oral from any Governmental Entity or any person with jurisdiction or applicable authority of any revocation or intention to revoke the interests of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries in the Company Properties or the Concessions relating to the Company Properties.

 

(vi)Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect to Company, all work and activities carried out on the Company Properties and the Concessions relating to the Company Properties by Company or its Material Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Company, by any other person appointed by Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries have been carried out in all material respects in compliance with all applicable Laws, and neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of Company, any other person, has received any notice of any material breach of any such applicable Laws.

 

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(v)First Nations or Aboriginal Claims. Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(v) of the Company Disclosure Letter:

 

(i)Company has not received any first nations or aboriginal claims which affects Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of Company, has any first nations or aboriginal claims been threatened which relates to any of the Company Properties, any Permits or the operation by Company or any of its subsidiaries of its businesses in the areas in which such operations are carried on or in which any of the Company Properties are located;

 

(ii)Company and its subsidiaries have no outstanding agreements, memorandums of understanding or similar arrangements with any first nations or aboriginal group;

 

(iii)there are no ongoing or outstanding discussions, negotiations, or similar communications with or by any first nations or aboriginal group concerning Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective business, operations or assets; and

 

(iv)no first nations or aboriginal blockade, occupation, illegal action or on-site protest has occurred or, to the knowledge of Company, has been threatened in connection with the activities on the Company Properties.

 

(w)NGOs and Community Groups. No material dispute between Company or any of its subsidiaries and any non-governmental organization, ejido, agrarian community, indigenous community, community, or community group exists or, to the knowledge of Company, is threatened or imminent with respect to any of the Company Properties or operations.

 

(x)Title and Rights re: Other Assets. Other than the Company Properties and the Company Material Permits, Company and its Material Subsidiaries, as applicable, have (i) good and valid title to, or valid rights to use, all material properties and material assets reflected in the Company Financial Statements, free and clear of all Liens, and (ii) valid leasehold or licence interests in all material properties and material assets not reflected in the Company Financial Statements but used by Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; except where failure, in each case, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

 

(y)Contracts. Schedule 3.1(y) of the Company Disclosure Letter includes a complete and accurate list of all Material Contracts to which Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party and that are currently in force (the “Company Material Contracts”). All Company Material Contracts are in full force and effect, and Company or its Material Subsidiaries are entitled to all rights and benefits thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof, including all rights necessary to conduct their business as currently conducted. Company has made available to Acquiror for inspection true and complete copies of all of the Company Material Contracts. All of the Company Material Contracts are valid and binding obligations of Company or a Material Subsidiary of Company as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to the qualification that equitable remedies may only be granted in the discretion of a court of competent jurisdiction. Company and its Material Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all terms of the Company Material Contracts, have paid all amounts due thereunder, as and when due, have not waived any rights thereunder and no material default or breach exists in respect thereof on the part of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Company, on the part of any other party thereto, and no event has occurred which, after the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach or trigger a right of termination of any of the Company Material Contracts. As at the date hereof, neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has received written notice that any party to a Company Material Contract intends to cancel, terminate or otherwise modify or not renew such Company Material Contract, and to the knowledge of Company, no such action has been threatened. Neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party to any Material Contract that contains any non-competition obligation or otherwise restricts in any material way the business of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

 

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(z)Permits. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(z) of the Company Disclosure Letter, Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has obtained and is in compliance in all material respects with all material Permits required by applicable Laws, necessary to conduct its current business as now being conducted, except where such non-compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company (the “Company Material Permits”). Schedule 3.1(z) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets out a list of Company Material Permits. To the knowledge of Company, there are no facts, events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a failure to obtain or be in compliance with such Company Material Permits as are necessary to conduct its business as it is currently being conducted as set forth in the Company Public Disclosure Record.

 

(aa)Intellectual Property. There is no action, suit, proceeding or claim pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened by others challenging Company’s or any of its Material Subsidiaries’ rights in or to any Intellectual Property used in the conduct of the business of Company and its Material Subsidiaries as currently carried on, as set forth in the Company Public Disclosure Record.

 

(bb)Environmental Matters. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(bb) of the Company Disclosure Letter, each of Company and its Material Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets, property interests and operations:

 

(i)is in material compliance with all Environmental Laws and all terms and conditions of all Environmental Permits necessary to operate Company and its Material Subsidiaries’ business;

 

(ii)have obtained and/or are subject to all Environmental Permits necessary to carry on the business of Company as currently conducted, and each Environmental Permit is valid, subsisting, and in good standing and to the knowledge of the Company, there are no outstanding proceedings to revoke or limit any Environmental Permit;

 

(iii)has not received any written order, request or notice from any person alleging a material violation of any Environmental Law, which in any event remains unresolved;

 

(iv)(i) is not a party to any litigation or administrative proceeding, nor is any litigation or administrative proceeding threatened against it or its property or assets, which in either case asserts, alleges, or claims the Company and/or its Material Subsidiaries are responsible for Environmental Liabilities, and (ii) is not subject to any judgment, decree, order or citation related to or arising out of applicable Environmental Law and has not been named or listed in an order issued by any Governmental Entity arising under any Environmental Laws;

 

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(v)is not involved in any remediation, reclamation or other environmental operations outside the ordinary course of business and does not know of any facts, circumstances or conditions, including any Release of Hazardous Substances that are not in material compliance with Environmental Laws, that would reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liabilities; and

 

(vi)except in material compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, is not using or is not being used, as the case may be to generate, manufacture, process, distribute, use, treat, store, dispose of, transport, or handle any Hazardous Substance,

 

except in each case as disclosed in the Company Public Disclosure Record or where it would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

 

(cc)Mineral Reserves and Resources. The estimated proven and probable mineral reserves and estimated indicated, measured and inferred mineral resources disclosed in the Company Public Disclosure Record have been prepared and disclosed in all material respects in accordance with all applicable Laws. The information provided by Company to the Qualified Persons in connection with the preparation of such estimates was complete and accurate at the time such information was furnished. There has been no material reduction in the aggregate amount of estimated mineral reserves or estimated mineral resources of Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from the amounts disclosed in the Company Public Disclosure Record.

 

(dd)Regulatory.

 

(i)Company and its Material Subsidiaries have operated and are currently operating in material compliance with all applicable Laws, including all applicable published rules, regulations, guidelines and policies of any regulatory or governmental agency having jurisdiction over Company or its Material Subsidiaries or their respective activities (collectively, the “Company Regulatory Authorities”); and

 

(ii)Company and its Material Subsidiaries are currently operating their respective businesses in compliance with all licenses, Permits, authorizations, approvals registrations and consents of the Company Regulatory Authorities (the “Company Regulatory Authorizations”) in all material respects and have made all requisite material declarations and filings with the Company Regulatory Authorities. Company and its Material Subsidiaries have not received any written notices or other correspondence from the Company Regulatory Authorities regarding any circumstances that have existed or currently exist which would lead to a loss, suspension, or modification of, or a refusal to issue, any material Company Regulatory Authorization relating to its activities which would reasonably be expected to restrict, curtail, limit or adversely affect the ability of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries to operate their respective businesses in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

 

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(ee)Employee Benefits.

 

(i)Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has complied, in all material respects, with the terms of all employee benefit, health, welfare, dental, supplemental unemployment benefit, bonus, incentive, profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock compensation, stock option, disability, life insurance, pension or retirement plans, group registered retirement savings and other employee compensation or benefit plans, policies, arrangements, practices or undertakings, whether oral or written, formal or informal, funded or unfunded, registered or unregistered, insured or self-insured which are sponsored, administered or maintained by or contributed to or required to be contributed to by, or which are otherwise binding upon, Company or any such Material Subsidiary or in respect of which Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries has any actual or potential liability (collectively, the “Company Benefit Plans”) and with all applicable Laws and any collective bargaining agreements relating thereto.

 

(ii)Schedule 3.1(ee) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all Company Benefit Plans of Company and all material Company Benefit Plans of Company’s Material Subsidiaries and Company has furnished to Acquiror true, correct, up-to-date and complete copies of such Company Benefit Plans as amended as of the date hereof together with all related documentation, including trust agreements, insurance contracts or other funding arrangements, the most recent financial statements, any material correspondence with a Governmental Entity, any filings, plan summaries, employee booklets and personnel manuals. The plan summaries, employee booklets and personnel manuals prepared for, and circulated to the employees and the former employees of Company and their beneficiaries concerning such Company Benefit Plans, accurately describe the benefits provided under each such Company Benefit Plan referred to therein. For any such Company Benefit Plan that is not set out in writing, a written summary of its material terms has been provided in the Company Data Room Information.

 

(iii)Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(ee) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Benefit Plan is a “registered pension plan” as that term is defined in Section 248(1) of the Tax Act or a “multi-employer pension plan” or a “multi-employer plan” as those terms (or equivalent terms) are used in applicable provincial pension standards legislation and Company and its Material Subsidiaries have never maintained, sponsored or contributed to any such “registered pension plan”, “multi-employer pension plan”, “multi-employer plan” on behalf of the employees or former employees of Company and its Material Subsidiaries.

 

(iv)Each Company Benefit Plan is and has been established, registered (if required), qualified, invested and administered, in all material respects, in compliance with the terms of such Company Benefit Plan (including the terms of any documents in respect of such Company Benefit Plan), all applicable Laws, and any collective bargaining agreement relating thereto and there exists no condition or set of circumstances in connection with which Company or Acquiror could incur, directly or indirectly, any liability or expense (other than for routine contributions or benefit payments) under the terms of the Company Benefit Plan or applicable Laws.

 

(v)All obligations of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries regarding the Company Benefit Plans have been satisfied in all material respects or having been properly accrued for in Company’s financial records and no Taxes are owing or exigible under any of the Company Benefit Plans by Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries. All employer payments, contributions and premiums required to be remitted, paid to or in respect of each Company Benefit Plan have been paid or remitted in a timely fashion in accordance with its terms and all applicable Laws.

 

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(vi)Each Company Benefit Plan is insured or funded in compliance with the terms of such Company Benefit Plan, all applicable Laws and any collective bargaining agreement relating thereto and is in good standing with such Governmental Entities as may be applicable and, as of the date hereof, no currently outstanding notice of under-funding, non-compliance, failure to be in good standing or otherwise has been received by Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries from any such Governmental Entities.

 

(vii)To the knowledge of Company: (A) no Company Benefit Plan is subject to any pending investigation, examination or other proceeding, action or claim initiated by any Governmental Entity, or by any other party (other than routine claims for benefits); and (B) there exists no state of facts which after notice or lapse of time or both would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such investigation, examination or other proceeding, action or claim or to affect the registration or qualification of any Company Benefit Plan required to be registered or qualified.

 

(viii)Company and its Material Subsidiaries have no formal plan and have made no promise or commitment, whether legally binding or not, to create any additional Company Benefit Plan or to improve or change the benefits provided under any Company Benefit Plan.

 

(ix)There is no entity other than Company and any of its Material Subsidiaries participating in any Company Benefit Plan.

 

(x)Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(ee) of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Company Benefit Plans provide benefits beyond retirement or other termination of service to employees or former employees or to the beneficiaries or dependants of such employees, except as required by Law.

 

(xi)Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(ee) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as set out in the applicable Company Benefit Plan, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Company nor completion of the Arrangement pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement nor compliance by Company with any of the provisions hereof shall result in any payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, bonuses or otherwise) becoming due to any director or employee of Company or any of its subsidiaries or result in any increase or acceleration of contributions, liabilities or benefits or acceleration of vesting or an obligation to fund or secure benefits, in whole or in part, under any Company Benefit Plan.

 

(xii)All data necessary to administer each Company Benefit Plan is in the possession of Company or one of its Material Subsidiaries or their respective agents and is in a form which is sufficient for the proper administration of the Company Benefit Plan in accordance with its terms and all applicable Laws and such data is complete and correct.

 

(ff)Labour and Employment.

 

(i)No Material Employees of Company are on long-term disability leave, extended absence, authorized unpaid leave of absence (including maternity or parental leave or unpaid sick leave) or worker’s compensation leave. As of the date of this Agreement, no Material Employees of Company or its Material Subsidiaries have provided written notice to Company or its Material Subsidiaries indicating an intention to resign or otherwise terminate their employment. All current assessments under applicable workers’ compensation legislation in relation to the employees of Company and its Material Subsidiaries have been paid or accrued by Company and its Material Subsidiaries, as applicable, and Company and its Material Subsidiaries are not subject to any special or penalty assessment under such legislation which has not been paid.

 

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(ii)Other than as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(ff) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as provided for or permitted by this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement, neither Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has entered into any written or oral agreement providing for employment, severance, retention, bonus, golden parachute, change of control, or termination payments or entitlements, to any current or former Material Employee of Company, including increases to any benefit otherwise payable under any pension or benefit plan of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries and acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits, in connection with the termination of their position or their employment with Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, in connection with the consummation of the Arrangement, or as a result of a change in control of Company.

 

(iii)Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(ff) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding or, to the knowledge of Company, pending or threatened labour proceedings, investigations, audits or claims of any kind, including unfair labour practice proceedings, right to organize and collective bargaining or any proceedings which could result in certification of a trade union or employee association as bargaining agent for any employees of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of Company, there are no threatened or apparent organizing activities by a trade union or employee association involving employees of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, except as set out in Schedule 3.1(ff) of the Company Disclosure Letter. Company and its Material Subsidiaries are not certified to or entered into a voluntary recognition arrangement with a trade union or employee association and are not party to a collective agreement (whether or not the expiry date of such collective agreement has passed). Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(ff) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no, and in the past five (5) years there has not been any, labor strike, strike notice, call for strike, slowdown, stoppage, picketing, interruption of work, labor dispute, union certification process, union representation claim, or lockout, labor grievances or disputes, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or its Material Subsidiaries, threatened against or involving the Company or its Material Subsidiaries and no event has occurred or circumstance exists that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any such actions.

 

(iv)Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(ff) of the Company Disclosure Letter, Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries has complied, in all material respects, with the terms of all collective bargaining agreements and there are no material grievances or arbitration proceedings under such collective bargaining agreements.

 

(v)The Company Financial Statements include adequate accruals or reserves determined in accordance with IFRS for all accrued and unpaid salaries, wages, bonuses or other remuneration, vacation pay, Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, Worker’s Compensation Remittances, Company Benefit Obligations, and other employee-related accruals including for any severance or termination payments in respect of employees whose employment was terminated before the date of such statements.

 

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(gg)Compliance with Laws. Company and its Material Subsidiaries have complied with and are not in violation of any applicable Laws, other than non-compliance or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

 

(hh)Absence of Cease Trade Orders. No order ceasing or suspending trading in the Company Shares (or any of them) or any other securities of Company is outstanding and no proceedings for this purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of Company, are pending, contemplated or threatened.

 

(ii)Related Party Transactions. Other than as disclosed in the Company Financial Statements, there are no Contracts or other transactions currently in place between Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and: (i) to the knowledge of Company, any officer or director of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; (ii) to the knowledge of Company, any holder of record or, to the knowledge of Company, beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Company Shares; and (iii) to the knowledge of Company, any affiliate or associate of any such, officer, director, holder of record or beneficial owner, on the other hand.

 

(jj)Registration Rights. No Company Shareholder has any right to compel Company to register or otherwise qualify the Company Shares (or any of them) for public sale or distribution.

 

(kk)Rights of Other Persons. Except as set out in Schedule 3.1(kk) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no person has any right of first refusal or option to purchase or any other right of participation in any of the material properties, assets or interests owned by Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or any part thereof.

 

(ll)Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no arbitral award, judgment, injunction, constitutional ruling, order or decree binding upon Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries that has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting, restricting, or impairing any business practice of any of them, any acquisition or disposition of property by any of them, or the conduct of the business by any of them as currently conducted, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

 

(mm)Brokers. Schedule 3.1(mm) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of any broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Company, and the aggregate amount of such fees that may become payable in respect of all such arrangements is set out in Schedule 3.1(mm) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

(nn)Insurance. As of the date hereof, Company and its Material Subsidiaries have such policies of insurance as are listed in Schedule 3.1(nn) of the Company Disclosure Letter. All insurance maintained by Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is in full force and effect and in good standing and neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default, whether as to payment of premium or otherwise, under the terms of any such insurance nor has Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries failed to give any notice or present any material claim under any such insurance in a due and timely fashion or received notice or otherwise become aware of any intent of an insurer to either claim any default on the part of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or not to renew any policy of insurance on its expiry or to increase any deductible or cost, except where such failure or default or other event would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

 

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(oo)United States Securities Laws.

 

(i)Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the U.S. Exchange Act; and

 

(ii)Company is not registered or required to be registered as an “investment company” under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(pp)CNA. Company and its subsidiaries have complied with and are not in violation of Mexican Federal Economic Competition Law (Ley Federal de Competencia Económica) nor with any other applicable economic competition Laws or regulations in Mexico.

 

(qq)Use of Short Form Prospectus. Company meets the general eligibility requirements for use of a short form prospectus under National Instrument 44-101 – Short Form Prospectus Distributions of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

 

(rr)Arrangements with Shareholders. Other than the Acquiror Voting Agreements and this Agreement, Company does not have any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with respect to Acquiror or any of its securities, businesses or operations with any shareholder of Acquiror, any interested party of Acquiror or any related party of any interested party of Acquiror, or any joint actor with any such persons (and for this purpose, the terms “interested party”, “related party” and “joint actor” shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in MI 61-101).

 

3.2Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

The representations and warranties of Company contained in this Agreement shall not survive the completion of the Arrangement and shall expire and be terminated on the earlier of the Effective Time and the date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.

 

Article 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF Acquiror

 

4.1Representations and Warranties

 

Acquiror hereby represents and warrants to and in favour of Company as follows, except to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by the Acquiror Disclosure Letter and acknowledges that Company is relying upon such representations and warranties in connection with the entering into of this Agreement that:

 

(a)Board Approval. As of the date hereof, the Acquiror Board, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors, has determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Acquiror and has resolved unanimously to recommend to the Acquiror Shareholders that they vote in favour of the Acquiror Resolution. The Acquiror Board has approved the Arrangement pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement and the execution and performance of this Agreement.

 

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(b)Organization and Qualification. Acquiror and each of its subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated or an entity duly created and validly existing under the applicable Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, continuance or creation and has all necessary corporate or other power and capacity to own its property and assets as now owned and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Acquiror and each of its subsidiaries: (A) has all Permits necessary to conduct its business substantially as now conducted, as such business is disclosed in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record, except where the failure to have such Permit would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror; and (B) is duly registered or otherwise authorized and qualified to do business and each is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of its properties, owned, leased, licensed or otherwise held, or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so registered or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

 

(c)Authority Relative to this Agreement. Acquiror has the requisite corporate power and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Acquiror and the performance by Acquiror of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Acquiror Board and except for the Acquiror Shareholder Approval, no other corporate proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Arrangement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Acquiror and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Acquiror enforceable against Acquiror in accordance with its terms, subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general application relating to or affecting rights of creditors and that equitable remedies, including specific performance, are discretionary and may not be ordered.

 

(d)No Violation. Neither the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Acquiror nor the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Arrangement, nor the performance of its obligations thereunder, nor compliance by Acquiror with any of the provisions of this Agreement will:

 

(1)violate, conflict with, or result (with or without notice or the passage of time) in a violation or breach of any provision of, or require, other than the Key Regulatory Approvals that relate to Acquiror, any consent, approval or notice under, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) or result in a right of termination or acceleration of indebtedness under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon, any of the properties or assets of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries, or cause any indebtedness to come due before its stated maturity or cause any credit commitment to cease to be available or cause any payment or other obligation to be imposed on Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries, under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of:

 

(A)their respective articles, charters or by-laws or other comparable organizational documents; or

 

(B)any Permit or Material Contract to which Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of them, or any of their respective properties or assets, may be subject or by which Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries is bound;

 

(2)subject to obtaining the Key Regulatory Approvals ,

 

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(A)result (with or without notice or the passage of time) in a violation or breach of or constitute a default under any provisions of any Laws applicable to Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets; or

 

(B)cause the suspension or revocation of any Permit currently in effect relating to Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries,

 

(except, in the case of each of clauses (1) and (2) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations, creations of Liens, suspensions or revocations which, or any consents (expressly excluding the Key Regulatory Approvals), approvals or notices which if not given or received, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have any Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror); or

 

(3)give rise to any rights of first refusal or trigger any change in control provisions, rights of first offer or first refusal or any similar provisions or any restrictions or limitation under any such note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, license, franchise or Permit.

 

(e)Capitalization. The authorized share capital of Acquiror consists of an unlimited number of Acquiror Shares. As of the close of business on May 12, 2026, 789,112,450 Acquiror Shares were issued and outstanding, an aggregate of up to 6,534,850 Acquiror Shares were issuable upon the exercise of Acquiror Options, an aggregate of up to 1,888,136 Acquiror Shares were issuable upon the settlement of Acquiror RSUs, an aggregate of up to 2,008,141 Acquiror Shares were issuable upon the settlement of Acquiror PSUs, an aggregate of up to 31,496,213 Acquiror Shares were issuable upon the conversion of Acquiror Convertible Notes, aggregate of up to 3,075,271 Acquiror Shares were issuable upon the exercise of Acquiror Warrants, and an aggregate of 314,351 Acquiror DSUs are outstanding evidencing the right to receive a cash payment. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(e) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, there are no other options, warrants, conversion privileges or other rights, shareholder rights plans, agreements, arrangements or commitments (pre-emptive, contingent or otherwise) of any character whatsoever requiring or which may require the issuance, sale or transfer by Acquiror of any securities of Acquiror (including Acquiror Shares), or any securities or obligations convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise evidencing a right or obligation to acquire, any securities of Acquiror (including Acquiror Shares) or any Material Subsidiary of Acquiror. All outstanding Acquiror Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and all Acquiror Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Acquiror Options in accordance with their respective terms have been duly authorized and, upon issuance, will be validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable, and are not and will not be subject to, or issued in violation of, any pre-emptive rights. All securities of Acquiror (including the Acquiror Shares and the Acquiror Options) have been issued in compliance with all applicable Laws and Securities Laws. There are no securities of Acquiror or of any of its subsidiaries outstanding which have the right to vote generally (or are convertible into or exchangeable for securities having the right to vote generally) with the Acquiror Shareholders on any matter. There are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of Acquiror or any subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of Acquiror’s securities or with respect to the voting or disposition of any outstanding securities of any of its subsidiaries. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries having the right to vote with the holders of the outstanding Acquiror Shares on any matters.

 

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(f)Reporting Status and Securities Laws Matters. Acquiror is a “reporting issuer” and not on the list of reporting issuers in default under applicable Securities Laws in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The Acquiror Shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the U.S. Exchange Act. No delisting, suspension of trading in or cease trading order with respect to any securities of Acquiror and, to the knowledge of Acquiror, no inquiry or investigation (formal or informal) of any Securities Authority, the SEC or the Exchanges, is in effect or ongoing or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, expected to be implemented or undertaken with respect to the foregoing. The Acquiror Shares are listed on the Exchanges and, except for such listings, no securities of Acquiror are listed or quoted for trading on any other stock or securities exchange or market or registered under any Securities Laws.

 

(g)Ownership of Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.1(g) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter includes a complete and accurate list of all subsidiaries owned, directly or indirectly, by Acquiror. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock and other ownership interests in such subsidiaries of Acquiror are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and, where the concept exists, non-assessable, and all such shares and other ownership interests held directly or indirectly by Acquiror are legally and beneficially owned free and clear of all Liens, and there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights, entitlements, understandings or commitments (contingent or otherwise) regarding the right to purchase or acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, any such shares of capital stock or other ownership interests in or material assets or properties of any of the subsidiaries of Acquiror or any contributions for future capital increases (aportaciones para futuros aumentos de capital). There are no contracts, commitments, agreements, understandings, arrangements or restrictions which require any subsidiaries of Acquiror to issue, sell or deliver any shares in its share capital or other ownership interests, including pursuant to any contributions for future capital increases (aportaciones para futuros aumentos de capital), or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of its share capital or other ownership interests. There are no outstanding options, rights, entitlements, understandings or commitments (contingent or otherwise) providing to any third party the right to acquire any shares or other ownership interests in any subsidiaries of Acquiror. All ownership interests of Acquiror and its subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens of any kind or nature whatsoever held by third parties. Schedule 4.1(g) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter includes a complete and accurate list of all securities owned by Acquiror of another corporate person, other than its subsidiaries.

 

(h)Public Filings. Acquiror has filed or furnished, as applicable, all documents required to be filed or furnished by it in accordance with applicable Securities Laws, the U.S. Exchange Act and U.S. Securities Act, with the Securities Authorities, the SEC or the Exchanges. All such documents and information comprising the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record, as of their respective dates (and the dates of any amendments thereto): (i) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; and (ii) complied in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Securities Laws, the U.S. Exchange Act and the U.S. Securities Act, and any amendments to the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record required to be made have been filed on a timely basis with the Securities Authorities or the Exchanges. Acquiror has not filed any confidential material change report with any Securities Authorities or the SEC that at the date of this Agreement remains confidential. There has been no change in a material fact or a material change (as such terms are defined under the Securities Act) in any of the information contained in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record, except for changes in material facts or material changes that are reflected in a subsequently filed document included in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record.

 

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(i)Acquiror Financial Statements. Acquiror’s audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2026, including the notes thereto (collectively, the “Acquiror Financial Statements”) were prepared in accordance with IFRS consistently applied (except as otherwise indicated in such financial statements and the notes thereto). The Acquiror Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Acquiror and its subsidiaries as at the respective dates and periods thereof and for the periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements, to normal period-end adjustments). The Acquiror Financial Statements reflect all reserves required by IFRS in respect of all material contingent liabilities, if any, of Acquiror and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The condensed interim consolidated financial statements of the Acquiror as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2026, have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34. There has been no material change in Acquiror’s accounting policies since December 31, 2025, except as disclosed in the notes to the Acquiror Financial Statements.

 

(j)Internal Controls and Financial Reporting. Acquiror has designed such DC&P, or caused them to be designed under the supervision of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Acquiror in its annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed or submitted under securities legislation is accumulated and communicated to Acquiror’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Acquiror maintains systems of “internal control over financial reporting” that have been designed by, or under the supervision of, its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. Except as set out in Schedule 4.1(j) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, since January 1, 2026, Acquiror’s auditors and the audit committee of the Acquiror Board have not been advised of: (A) any deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting, or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Acquiror’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(k)Corrupt Practices Legislation. Neither Acquiror, its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors or employees, nor to the knowledge of Acquiror any agents or representatives acting for or on behalf of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries is taking or to the knowledge of Acquiror has within the past five (5) years taken, been engaged in or alleged to have engaged in any action which would cause Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries to be in violation of applicable Corrupt Practices Laws. Without limiting any of the foregoing, neither Acquiror, its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors, or employees, or to the knowledge of Acquiror, any agents or representatives acting for or on behalf of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries has (i) paid, offered, promised, or authorized the payment of money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official, any political party, or any other person for the purpose of influencing any act or decision or to secure any improper advantage in violation of Corrupt Practices Laws or (ii) received from any Governmental Entity or any other person any written notice of any actual, suspected, or potential violation of any Corrupt Practices Laws, or conducted an internal investigation with respect to, or made any voluntary or involuntary disclosure to a Governmental Entity concerning any actual, suspected, or potential violation of any Corrupt Practices Laws.

 

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(l)International Trade Laws. Neither Acquiror, its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, or to the knowledge of Acquiror, its agents or representatives acting on behalf of Acquiror (i) is a Sanctioned Person or organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country; (ii) is or has been in the past five (5) years engaged in taking any action or alleged to have engaged in taking any action in violation of applicable International Trade Laws or which would cause Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries to be in violation of applicable International Trade Laws; (iii) has received from any Governmental Entity or any other person any written notice of any violation of any applicable International Trade Law, or conducted an internal investigation with respect to, or made any voluntary or involuntary disclosure to a Governmental Entity concerning any actual, suspected, or alleged violation of any applicable International Trade Law. In addition, no counterparty to any streaming agreement or royalty agreement in respect of any mining property or mineral interest of Acquiror or its subsidiaries (i) is a Sanctioned Person or located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, and (ii) no such streaming agreement, royalty agreement, mining property or mineral interest is itself the subject of Sanctions Laws. The obtaining of funds or any financing in connection with the provision of any Cash Consideration (i) will be conducted in all respects in compliance with applicable Sanctions Laws, and (ii) will not cause or result in the violation of Sanctions Laws by any Party. Neither Acquiror nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any direct or indirect transaction, dealing, relationship, or arrangement in connection with the Nicaraguan operations with any Sanctioned Person, nor to their knowledge has any binding commitment or reasonably foreseeable plan to engage in such dealings.

 

(m)International Trade and Corrupt Practices Compliance and Policies. Acquiror and its subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of Acquiror, its respective officers, directors, and employees are in compliance with all applicable International Trade Laws and applicable Corrupt Practices Laws. Acquiror and its subsidiaries have adopted, implemented and maintained policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance with International Trade Laws and Corrupt Practices Laws, to the extent applicable.

 

(n)Books and Records. The financial books, records and accounts of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries, have in all material respects, been maintained in accordance with applicable Law, in accordance with IFRS and, in each case, are stated in reasonable detail and accurately and fairly reflect the material transactions and dispositions of the assets of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries and accurately and fairly reflect the basis for the Acquiror Financial Statements.

 

(o)Minute Books. The minute books of Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries are true and correct in all material respects; they contain the duly signed minutes of all meetings of the boards of directors and shareholders and all resolutions passed by the boards of directors and the shareholders thereof except for minutes relating to the proposed transaction between Acquiror and Company; provided that minutes for recent meetings of the Acquiror Board and committees thereof which have not been finalized as of the date hereof will be finalized and included in the minute books in accordance with Acquiror’s past practice.

 

(p)No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set out in Schedule 4.1(p) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, Acquiror and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis have no material outstanding indebtedness or liabilities and are not party to or bound by any suretyship, guarantee, indemnification or assumption agreement, or endorsement of, or any other similar commitment with respect to the obligations, liabilities or indebtedness of any person that are material to Acquiror, other than those specifically identified in the Acquiror Financial Statements, or incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent Acquiror Financial Statements.

 

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(q)No Material Change. Except as disclosed in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record, since December 31, 2025 (i) there has been no material change in respect of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and the debt, business and material property of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record; (ii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by Acquiror on any Acquiror Shares; (iii) there has not been a material change in the assets, liabilities, obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), business, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iv) Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have carried on business in the ordinary course.

 

(r)Litigation. Except as set out in Schedule 4.1(r) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, there are no material claims, actions, suits, grievances, complaints or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened affecting Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries or affecting any of their respective property or assets at law or in equity before or by any Governmental Entity, including matters arising under Environmental Laws. Neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries nor their respective assets or properties is subject to any outstanding material judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree.

 

(s)Taxes. Except as provided for in the Acquiror Financial Statements or as set out in Schedule 4.1(s) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter,

 

(i)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed all material Returns required to be filed by it with the appropriate Governmental Entity prior to the date hereof and all such material Returns are complete and correct in all material respects.

 

(ii)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has paid on a timely basis all material Taxes which are due and payable, including instalments on account of Taxes for their current taxation year, all assessments and reassessments, in each case, other than those which are being or have been contested in good faith and in respect of which reserves have been provided in the most recently published Acquiror Financial Statements, except where the failure to do so would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(iii)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has established reserves on its books and records, in the case of Acquiror in accordance with IFRS, and in the case of its Material Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of their respective governing jurisdictions, adequate for the payment of any Taxes not yet due and payable and will continue doing so until the Effective Date.

 

(iv)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has maintained and continues to maintain, in the place and manner prescribed by applicable Law, all records and books of account required to be maintained under applicable Laws with respect to Taxes.

 

(v)No material deficiencies, litigation, proposed adjustments or matters in controversy exist or have been asserted, in any case in writing, with respect to Taxes of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries, and, neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party to any action or proceeding for assessment or collection of Taxes and no such event has been asserted or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened, in any case in writing, against Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(vi)To the knowledge of Acquiror, no written claim has been made by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where Acquiror and any of its Material Subsidiaries does not file Returns that Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries is or may be subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(vii)There are no material Liens for unpaid Taxes (other than in respect of Taxes not yet due and payable or Liens for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings pursuant to applicable Laws) upon any of the assets of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

 

(viii)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has duly and timely withheld all material Taxes and other amounts required by Law to be withheld by it (including Taxes and other amounts required to be withheld by it in respect of any amount paid or credited or deemed to be paid or credited by it to or for the account or benefit of any person, including employees, officers or directors and any person who is a non-resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act) and has duly and timely remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity such Taxes and other amounts required by Law to be remitted by it, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect to Acquiror.

 

(ix)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has duly and timely collected all material amounts on account of any sales or use taxes, including goods and services, harmonized sales and provincial or territorial sales taxes, required by Law to be collected by it and has duly and timely remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity any such amounts required by Law to be remitted by it, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect to Acquiror.

 

(x)To the knowledge of Acquiror, there are no outstanding written agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment or reassessment of, Taxes due from Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries for any taxable period (other than, to the extent applicable, automatic six-month extensions for U.S. federal and applicable state income Returns) and no request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending.

 

(xi)All the Returns, audit reports and assessments in the Acquiror Data Room Information were true, correct and complete copies of such Returns, audit reports and assessments.

 

(xii)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries, if legally required to do so, is duly registered under subdivision (d) of Division V of Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) with respect to the goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax.

 

(xiii)Neither Acquiror nor any Material Subsidiary of Acquiror has applied for any Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy or Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, in each case as provided for under section 125.7 of the Tax Act.

 

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(xiv)Neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has acquired property from a non-arm’s length person, within the meaning of the Tax Act, for consideration, the value of which is less than the fair market value of the property acquired in circumstances which could subject it to a liability under section 160 of the Tax Act.

 

(xv)Each of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries has substantially complied with the transfer pricing provisions of each applicable Law relating to Taxes, including (if applicable) the contemporaneous documents and disclosure requirements thereunder.

 

(xvi)There are no circumstances existing which could result in the application of section 17, section 78, section 79 or sections 80 to 80.04 of the Tax Act (or any equivalent provision of the taxation legislation of any province or any other jurisdiction) to Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

 

(xvii)None of Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries has had an obligation to file an information return in respect of any transaction that is a “reportable transaction” or “notifiable transaction” as defined for purposes of section 237.3 or 237.4 of the Tax Act (or any equivalent provision of the taxation legislation of any province or any other jurisdiction).

 

(xviii)Acquiror is a “taxable Canadian corporation” for purposes of the Tax Act.

 

(xix)The Consideration Shares are listed on a “designated stock exchange”, as that term is defined in Section 248(1) of the Tax Act.

 

(xx)Each of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries (other than its Material Subsidiaries that are incorporated, formed or continued under the laws of the United States) is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and has not taken the position for U.S. federal income tax purposes that it is classified as a surrogate foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 7874(a) or a U.S. domestic corporation under Section 7874(b) of the U.S. Tax Code.

 

(xxi)Acquiror does not believe that it was classified as a PFIC for its most recently completed Tax year and, based upon current business plans and financial expectations, Acquiror believes it will not be a PFIC for its current tax year or future tax years.

 

(xxii)Acquiror is not aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent the Arrangement from qualifying as a tax-deferred reorganization under Section 368(a) of the U.S. Tax Code.

 

(xxiii)During the two (2) year period ending on the date of this Agreement, Acquiror has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (in each case, within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the U.S. Tax Code) in a distribution intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the U.S. Tax Code.

 

(t)Operational Matters. All material rentals, royalties (whether statutory or contractual), overriding royalty interests, production payments, net profits, earnouts, streaming agreements, metal pre-payment or similar agreements, interest burdens, payments and obligations due and payable, or performable, as the case may be, on or prior to the date hereof under, with respect to, or on account of, any direct or indirect assets of Acquiror and its subsidiaries and affiliates, have been, in all material respects: (i) duly paid; (ii) duly performed; and (iii) no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing thereunder.

 

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(u)Property.

 

(i)The Acquiror Properties are accurately described in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record.

 

(ii)The Acquiror Public Disclosure Record together with the Acquiror Data Room Information discloses all material real and immoveable property legally or beneficially owned, licensed, or leased by Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries, or in respect of which Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries enjoy the benefit of rights of way, surface rights, easements and Permits for the use of real and immoveable property, and there is no other material real and immoveable property in respect of which Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries has any interest.

 

(iii)The Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties are the only mining concessions, claims, leases, licenses, Permits or other rights that are required to conduct the activities of Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries on the Acquiror Properties as currently conducted.

 

(iv)Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect to Acquiror (i) each Concession relating to the Acquiror Properties is in full force and effect and in good standing and (ii) the interests of Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries in each Concession relating to the Acquiror Properties is held free and clear of all Liens. The Acquiror Public Disclosure Record together with the Acquiror Data Room Information accurately describes, in all material respects: (A) the interests of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries in each of the material Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties; and (B) the agreement or document pursuant to which Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries holds its interest in each material Concession relating to the Acquiror Properties. Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries are lawfully authorized to hold their respective interests in the material Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties.

 

(v)Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect to Acquiror:

 

(A)each Concession relating to the Acquiror Properties comprises an active and subsisting mineral claim or concession, in each case in all material respects, and Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries enjoys legally enforceable access to the Acquiror Properties as may be required to conduct the activities of Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries as currently conducted;

 

(B)to the knowledge of Acquiror, any and all applicable assessment work required to be performed and filed in respect of the Acquiror Properties or under the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties has been performed and filed;

 

(C)any and all Taxes and other payments required to be paid in respect of the Acquiror Properties and the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties and all rental or royalty payments required to be paid in respect of the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties have been paid;

 

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(D)any and all filings required to be filed in respect of the Acquiror Properties and the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties have been filed;

 

(E)Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries have the exclusive right to deal with the Acquiror Properties and the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties;

 

(F)no other person has any material interest in the Acquiror Properties or the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties or any right to acquire any such interest;

 

(G)there are no back-in rights, earn-in rights, rights of first refusal, royalty rights or similar provisions that would materially affect the interests of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries in the Acquiror Properties or the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties; and

 

(H)neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries have received any notice, whether written or oral from any Governmental Entity or any person with jurisdiction or applicable authority of any revocation or intention to revoke the interests of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries in the Acquiror Properties or the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties.

 

(vi)Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect to Acquiror, all work and activities carried out on the Acquiror Properties and the Concessions relating to the Acquiror Properties by Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, by any other person appointed by Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries have been carried out in all material respects in compliance with all applicable Laws, and neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of Acquiror, any other person, has received any notice of any material breach of any such applicable Laws.

 

(v)First Nations or Aboriginal Claims. Except as set out in Schedule 4.1(v) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter:

 

(i)Acquiror has not received any first nations or aboriginal claims which affects Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of Acquiror, has any first nations or aboriginal claims been threatened which relates to any of Acquiror Properties, any Permits or the operation by Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries of its businesses in the areas in which such operations are carried on or in which any of the Acquiror Properties are located;

 

(ii)Acquiror and its subsidiaries have no outstanding agreements, memorandums of understanding or similar arrangements with any first nations or aboriginal group;

 

(iii)there are no ongoing or outstanding discussions, negotiations, or similar communications with or by any first nations or aboriginal group concerning Acquiror, any of its subsidiaries or their respective business, operations or assets; and

 

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(iv)no first nations or aboriginal blockade, occupation, illegal action or on-site protest has occurred or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, has been threatened in connection with the activities on the Acquiror Properties.

 

(w)NGOs and Community Groups. Except as set out in Schedule 4.1(w) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, no material dispute between Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries and any non-governmental organization, ejido, agrarian community, indigenous community, community, or community group exists or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, is threatened or imminent with respect to any of the Acquiror Properties or operations.

 

(x)Title and Rights re: Other Assets. Other than Acquiror Properties and the Acquiror Material Permits, Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries, as applicable, have (i) good and valid title to, or valid rights to use, all material properties and material assets reflected in the Acquiror Financial Statements, free and clear of all Liens, and (ii) valid leasehold or licence interests in all material properties and material assets not reflected in the Acquiror Financial Statements but used by Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries; except where failure, in each case, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

 

(y)Contracts. Schedule 4.1(y) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter includes a complete and accurate list of all Material Contracts to which Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party and that are currently in force (the “Acquiror Material Contracts”). All Acquiror Material Contracts are in full force and effect, and Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries are entitled to all rights and benefits thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof, including all rights necessary to conduct their business as currently conducted. Acquiror has made available to Company for inspection true and complete copies of all of the Acquiror Material Contracts. All of the Acquiror Material Contracts are valid and binding obligations of Acquiror or a Material Subsidiary of Acquiror as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to the qualification that equitable remedies may only be granted in the discretion of a court of competent jurisdiction. Except as set out in Schedule 4.1(y) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all terms of the Acquiror Material Contracts, have paid all amounts due thereunder, as and when due, have not waived any rights thereunder and no material default or breach exists in respect thereof on the part of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, on the part of any other party thereto, and no event has occurred which, after the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach or trigger a right of termination of any of the Acquiror Material Contracts. As at the date hereof, neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has received written notice that any party to an Acquiror Material Contract intends to cancel, terminate or otherwise modify or not renew such Acquiror Material Contract, and to the knowledge of Acquiror, no such action has been threatened. Neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party to any Material Contract that contains any non-competition obligation or otherwise restricts in any material way the business of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

 

(z)Permits. Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has obtained and is in compliance in all material respects with all material Permits required by applicable Laws, necessary to conduct its current business as now being conducted, except where such non-compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror (the “Acquiror Material Permits”). Schedule 4.1(z) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter sets out a list of Acquiror Material Permits. To the knowledge of Acquiror, there are no facts, events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a failure to obtain or be in compliance with such Acquiror Material Permits as are necessary to conduct its business as it is currently being conducted as set forth in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record.

 

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(aa)Intellectual Property. There is no action, suit, proceeding or claim pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened by others challenging Acquiror’s or any of its Material Subsidiaries’ rights in or to any Intellectual Property used in the conduct of the business of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries as currently carried on, as set forth in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record.

 

(bb)Environmental Matters. Other than as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(bb) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, each of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets, property interests, and operations:

 

(i)is in material compliance with all Environmental Laws and all terms and conditions of all Environmental Permits necessary to operate Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries’ business;

 

(ii)have obtained and/or are subject to all Environmental Permits necessary to carry on the business of Acquiror as currently conducted, and each Environmental Permit is valid, subsisting, and in good standing, and to the knowledge of the Acquiror, there are no outstanding proceedings to revoke or limit any Environmental Permit

 

(iii)has not received any written order, request or notice from any person alleging a material violation of any Environmental Law, which in any event, remains unresolved;

 

(iv)(i) is not a party to any litigation or administrative proceeding, nor is any litigation or administrative proceeding threatened against it or its property or assets, which in either case asserts, alleges, or claims the Acquiror and/or its Material Subsidiaries are responsible for Environmental Liabilities, and (ii) is not subject to any judgment, decree, order or citation related to or arising out of applicable Environmental Law and has not been named or listed in an order issued by any Governmental Entity arising under any Environmental Laws;

 

(v)is not involved in any remediation, reclamation or other environmental operations outside the ordinary course of business and does not know of any facts, circumstances or conditions, including any Release of Hazardous Substances that are not in material compliance with Environmental Laws, that would reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liabilities; and

 

(vi)except in material compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, is not using or is not being used, as the case may be to generate, manufacture, process, distribute, use, treat, store, dispose of, transport, or handle any Hazardous Substance,

 

except, in each case as disclosed in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record or where it would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

 

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(cc)Mineral Reserves and Resources. The estimated proven and probable mineral reserves and estimated indicated, measured and inferred mineral resources disclosed in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record have been prepared and disclosed in all material respects in accordance with all applicable Laws. The information provided by Acquiror to the Qualified Persons in connection with the preparation of such estimates was complete and accurate at the time such information was furnished. There has been no material reduction in the aggregate amount of estimated mineral reserves or estimated mineral resources of Acquiror and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from the amounts disclosed in the Acquiror Public Disclosure Record.

 

(dd)Regulatory.

 

(i)Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have operated and are currently operating in material compliance with all applicable Laws, including all applicable published rules, regulations, guidelines and policies of any regulatory or governmental agency having jurisdiction over Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries or their respective activities (collectively, the “Acquiror Regulatory Authorities”); and

 

(ii)Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries are currently operating their respective businesses in compliance with all licenses, Permits, authorizations, approvals registrations and consents of the Acquiror Regulatory Authorities (the “Acquiror Regulatory Authorizations”) in all material respects and have made all requisite material declarations and filings with the Acquiror Regulatory Authorities. Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have not received any written notices or other correspondence from the Acquiror Regulatory Authorities regarding any circumstances that have existed or currently exist which would lead to a loss, suspension, or modification of, or a refusal to issue, any material Acquiror Regulatory Authorization relating to its activities which would reasonably be expected to restrict, curtail, limit or adversely affect the ability of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries to operate their respective businesses in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

 

(ee)Employee Benefits.

 

(i)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has complied, in all material respects, with the terms of all employee benefit, health, welfare, dental, supplemental unemployment benefit, bonus, incentive, profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock compensation, stock option, disability, life insurance, pension or retirement plans, group registered retirement savings and other employee compensation or benefit plans, policies, arrangements, practices or undertakings, whether oral or written, formal or informal, funded or unfunded, registered or unregistered, insured or self-insured which are sponsored, administered or maintained by or contributed to or required to be contributed to by, or which are otherwise binding upon, Acquiror or any such Material Subsidiary or in respect of which Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries has any actual or potential liability (collectively, the “Acquiror Benefit Plans”) and with all applicable Laws and any collective bargaining agreements relating thereto.

 

(ii)Schedule 4.1(ee) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter lists all Acquiror Benefit Plans of Acquiror and all material Acquiror Benefit Plans of Acquiror’s Material Subsidiaries and Acquiror has furnished to Company true, correct, up-to-date and complete copies of such Acquiror Benefit Plans as amended as of the date hereof together with all related documentation, including trust agreements, insurance contracts or other funding arrangements, the most recent financial statements, any material correspondence with a Governmental Entity, any filings, plan summaries, employee booklets and personnel manuals. The plan summaries, employee booklets and personnel manuals prepared for, and circulated to the employees and the former employees of Acquiror and their beneficiaries concerning such Acquiror Benefit Plans, accurately describe the benefits provided under each such Acquiror Benefit Plan referred to therein. For any such Acquiror Benefit Plan that is not set out in writing, a written summary of its material terms has been provided in the Acquiror Data Room Information.

 

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(iii)No Acquiror Benefit Plan is a “registered pension plan” as that term is defined in Section 248(1) of the Tax Act or a “multi-employer pension plan” or a “multi-employer plan” as those terms (or equivalent terms) are used in applicable provincial pension standards legislation and Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have never maintained, sponsored or contributed to any such “registered pension plan”, “multi-employer pension plan”, “multi-employer plan” on behalf of the employees or former employees of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries.

 

(iv)Each Acquiror Benefit Plan is and has been established, registered (if required), qualified, invested and administered, in all material respects, in compliance with the terms of such Acquiror Benefit Plan (including the terms of any documents in respect of such Acquiror Benefit Plan), all applicable Laws, and any collective bargaining agreement relating thereto and there exists no condition or set of circumstances in connection with which Acquiror could incur, directly or indirectly, any liability or expense (other than for routine contributions or benefit payments) under the terms of the Acquiror Benefit Plan or applicable Laws.

 

(v)All obligations of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries regarding the Acquiror Benefit Plans have been satisfied in all material respects or having been properly accrued for in Acquiror’s financial records and no Taxes are owing or exigible under any of the Acquiror Benefit Plans by Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries. All employer payments, contributions and premiums required to be remitted, paid to or in respect of each Acquiror Benefit Plan have been paid or remitted in a timely fashion in accordance with its terms and all applicable Laws.

 

(vi)Each Acquiror Benefit Plan is insured or funded in compliance with the terms of such Acquiror Benefit Plan, all applicable Laws and any collective bargaining agreement relating thereto and is in good standing with such Governmental Entities as may be applicable and, as of the date hereof, no currently outstanding notice of under-funding, non-compliance, failure to be in good standing or otherwise has been received by Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries from any such Governmental Entities.

 

(vii)To the knowledge of Acquiror: (A) no Acquiror Benefit Plan is subject to any pending investigation, examination or other proceeding, action or claim initiated by any Governmental Entity, or by any other party (other than routine claims for benefits); and (B) there exists no state of facts which after notice or lapse of time or both would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such investigation, examination or other proceeding, action or claim or to affect the registration or qualification of any Acquiror Benefit Plan required to be registered or qualified.

 

(viii)Other than as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(ee) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have no formal plan and have made no promise or commitment, whether legally binding or not, to create any additional Acquiror Benefit Plan or to improve or change the benefits provided under any Acquiror Benefit Plan.

 

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(ix)There is no entity other than Acquiror and any of its Material Subsidiaries participating in any Acquiror Benefit Plan.

 

(x)Other than as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(ee)(x) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, none of the Acquiror Benefit Plans provide benefits beyond retirement or other termination of service to employees or former employees or to the beneficiaries or dependants of such employees, except as required by Law.

 

(xi)Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Acquiror nor completion of the Arrangement pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement nor compliance by Acquiror with any of the provisions hereof shall result in any payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, bonuses or otherwise) becoming due to any director or employee of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries or result in any increase or acceleration of contributions, liabilities or benefits or acceleration of vesting or an obligation to fund or secure benefits, in whole or in part, under any Acquiror Benefit Plan.

 

(xii)All data necessary to administer each Acquiror Benefit Plan is in the possession of Acquiror or one of its Material Subsidiaries or their respective agents and is in a form which is sufficient for the proper administration of the Acquiror Benefit Plan in accordance with its terms and all applicable Laws and such data is complete and correct.

 

(ff)Issuance of Consideration Shares. The Consideration Shares to be issued will, when issued pursuant to the Arrangement, be duly and validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable common shares in the capital of Acquiror and (i) the Acquiror Shares issuable in relation to the Company Options will, at the Effective Time, be duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance and, upon issuance thereof in accordance with the terms of the Company Option, and such Acquiror Shares will be duly and validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable Acquiror Shares; (ii) the Acquiror Shares underlying the Company Warrants will, at the Effective Time, be duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance and, upon issuance thereof in accordance with the terms of the Company Warrant Certificates (as supplemented by the Supplemental Warrant Certificates, as necessary) and receipt by Acquiror of the exercise price therefor, such Acquiror Shares will be duly and validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable Acquiror Shares; (iii) the Acquiror Shares underlying the Company Notes will, at the Effective Time, be duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance and, upon issuance thereof in accordance with the terms of the Company Notes (as supplemented by the Supplemental Notes, as necessary), such Acquiror Shares will be duly and validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable Acquiror Shares; and (iv) the Acquiror Shares underlying the Company Bonus Shares will, at the Effective Time, be duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance and, upon issuance thereof in accordance with the terms of the Company Bonus Share Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement, such Acquiror Shares will be duly and validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable Acquiror Shares.

 

(gg)Labour and Employment.

 

(i)No Material Employees of Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries are on long-term disability leave, extended absence, authorized unpaid leave of absence (including maternity or parental leave or unpaid sick leave) or worker’s compensation leave. As of the date of this Agreement, no Material Employees of Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries have provided written notice to the Company or its Material Subsidiaries indicating an intention to resign or otherwise terminate their employment. All current assessments under applicable workers’ compensation legislation in relation to the employees of Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have been paid or accrued by Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries, as applicable, and Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries are not subject to any special or penalty assessment under such legislation which has not been paid.

 

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(ii)Other than as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(gg) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter or as provided for or permitted by this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement, neither Acquiror nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has entered into any written or oral agreement providing for employment, severance, retention, bonus, golden parachute, change of control, or termination payments or entitlements to any current or former Material Employee of Acquiror, including increases to any benefit otherwise payable under any pension or benefit plan of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries and acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits, in connection with the termination of their position or their employment with Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries, in connection with the consummation of the Arrangement, or as a result of a change in control of Acquiror.

 

(iii)There are no outstanding or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, pending or threatened labour proceedings, investigations, audits or claims of any kind, including unfair labour practice proceedings, right to organize and collective bargaining or any proceedings which could result in certification of a trade union or employee association as bargaining agent for any employees of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of Acquiror, there are no threatened or apparent organizing activities by a trade union or employee association involving employees of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries. Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries are not certified to or entered into a voluntary recognition arrangement with a trade union or employee association and are not party to a collective agreement (whether or not the expiry date of such collective agreement has passed.). There is no, and in the past five (5) years there has not been any, labor strike, strike notice, call for strike, slowdown, stoppage, picketing, interruption of work, labor dispute, union certification process, union representation claim, or lockout, labor grievances or disputes, pending or, to the knowledge of the Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries, threatened against or involving the Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries and no event has occurred or circumstance exists that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any such actions.

 

(iv)Acquiror and each of its Material Subsidiaries has complied, in all material respects, with the terms of all collective bargaining agreements and there are no material grievances or arbitration proceedings under such collective bargaining agreements.

 

(v)The Acquiror Financial Statements include adequate accruals or reserves determined in accordance with IFRS for all accrued and unpaid salaries, wages, bonuses or other remuneration, vacation pay, Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance and other employee-related accruals including for any severance or termination payments in respect of employees whose employment was terminated before the date of such statements.

 

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(hh)Compliance with Laws. Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have complied with and are not in violation of any applicable Laws, other than non-compliance or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

 

(ii)Absence of Cease Trade Orders. No order ceasing or suspending trading in Acquiror Shares (or any of them) or any other securities of Acquiror is outstanding and no proceedings for this purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, are pending, contemplated or threatened.

 

(jj)Related Party Transactions. There are no Contracts or other transactions currently in place between Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and: (i) to the knowledge of Acquiror, any officer or director of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries; (ii) to the knowledge of Acquiror, any holder of record or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Acquiror Shares; and (iii) to the knowledge of Acquiror, any affiliate or associate of any such, officer, director, holder of record or beneficial owner, on the other hand.

 

(kk)Registration Rights. No Acquiror Shareholder has any right to compel Acquiror to register or otherwise qualify the Acquiror Shares (or any of them) for public sale or distribution.

 

(ll)Rights of Other Persons. Except as set out in Schedule 4.1(ll) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, no person has any right of first refusal or option to purchase or any other right of participation in any of the material properties, assets or interests owned by Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or any part thereof.

 

(mm)Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no arbitral award, judgment, injunction, constitutional ruling, order or decree binding upon Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries that has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting, restricting, or impairing any business practice of any of them, any acquisition or disposition of property by any of them, or the conduct of the business by any of them as currently conducted, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

 

(nn)Brokers. Schedule 4.1(nn) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of any broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Acquiror, and the aggregate amount of such fees that may become payable in respect of all such arrangements is set out in Schedule 4.1(nn) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter.

 

(oo)Insurance. As of the date hereof, Acquiror and its Material Subsidiaries have such policies of insurance as are listed in Schedule 4.1(oo) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter. All insurance maintained by Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries is in full force and effect and in good standing and neither Acquiror nor any of its subsidiaries is in default, whether as to payment of premium or otherwise, under the terms of any such insurance nor has Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries failed to give any notice or present any material claim under any such insurance in a due and timely fashion or received notice or otherwise become aware of any intent of an insurer to either claim any default on the part of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries or not to renew any policy of insurance on its expiry or to increase any deductible or cost, except where such failure or default or other event would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

 

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(pp)United States Securities Laws.

 

(i)Acquiror is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the U.S. Exchange Act; and

 

(ii)Acquiror is not registered or required to be registered as an “investment company” under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(qq)CNA. Acquiror and its subsidiaries have complied with and are not in violation of Mexican Federal Economic Competition Law (Ley Federal de Competencia Económica) nor with any other applicable economic competition Laws or regulations in Mexico.

 

(rr)Use of Short Form Prospectus. Acquiror meets the general eligibility requirements for use of a short form prospectus under National Instrument 44-101 – Short Form Prospectus Distributions of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

 

(ss)Arrangements with Shareholders. Other than the Company Voting Agreements and this Agreement, Acquiror does not have any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with respect to Company or any of its securities, businesses or operations with any shareholder of Company, any interested party of Company or any related party of any interested party of Company, or any joint actor with any such persons (and for this purpose, the terms “interested party”, “related party” and “joint actor” shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in MI 61-101).

 

(tt)Investment Canada Act. Acquiror is not a “non-Canadian” within the meaning of the Investment Canada Act.

 

4.2Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

The representations and warranties of Acquiror contained in this Agreement shall not survive the completion of the Arrangement and shall expire and be terminated on the earlier of the Effective Time and the date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.

 

Article 5
COVENANTS

 

5.1Covenants of Company Regarding the Conduct of Business

 

Company covenants and agrees that, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the time that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, except as required or permitted by this Agreement, applicable Laws or any Governmental Entities or consented to by Acquiror in writing, Company shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to (i) conduct its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (ii) to preserve, in all material respects, its business operations, organization and material business relationships; (iii) defend, in good faith, all material lawsuits against Company or its Material Subsidiaries; and (iv) maintain and preserve the reputation and goodwill of Company and any Material Subsidiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the time that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, except as required or permitted by this Agreement, as required by applicable Law or Governmental Entity, or as set out in Schedule 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Acquiror (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):

 

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(a)(i) amend its articles, charter or by-laws or other comparable organizational documents; (ii) split, combine or reclassify any shares in the capital of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or, except as set forth in Schedule 5.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution or payment (whether in cash, securities or property or any combination thereof) in respect of the Company Shares owned by any person or the securities of any subsidiary owned by a person other than Company, other than, in the case of any subsidiary wholly-owned by Company, any dividends payable to Company or any other wholly-owned subsidiary of Company, other than regular quarterly dividends declared from time to time by the Company Board in the ordinary course provided that the quarterly dividend per Company Share is not increased after the date hereof; (iii) issue, grant, deliver, sell or pledge, or agree to issue, grant, deliver, sell or pledge, any Company Shares or shares of Company’s Material Subsidiaries, or any rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise evidencing a right to acquire, Company Shares or other securities of Company or its Material Subsidiaries, other than the following which shall not require the prior consent of Acquiror: (A) the issuance of the Company Shares pursuant to the terms of the outstanding Company Convertible Securities, including for certainty, the issuance of Company Shares to settle outstanding Company RSUs and Company DSUs up to five (5) business days prior the Effective Date; (B) the issuance of Company Incentive Securities pursuant to grants for new employee hires from time to time by the Company in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with its long-term incentive program; (C) transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices between two or more Company subsidiaries or between Company and a Company subsidiary; and (D) as required under applicable Law or existing Material Contracts set forth in Schedule 3.1(y) of the Company Disclosure Letter; (iv) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, or offer to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any outstanding securities of Company or any of its subsidiaries, (v) amend the terms of any of its securities; (vi) adopt a plan of liquidation or resolution providing for the liquidation or dissolution of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; (vii) amend its accounting policies or adopt new accounting policies, in each case except as required in accordance with IFRS; or (viii) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing;

 

(b)except as set forth in Schedule 5.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise provided for in this Arrangement Agreement: (i) sell, pledge, hypothecate, lease, license, sell and lease back, mortgage, dispose of or encumber or otherwise transfer, any assets, securities, properties, interests or businesses of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries for an amount greater than $30 million, in the aggregate, other than as required under applicable Law or existing Material Contracts set forth in Schedule 3.1(y) of the Company Disclosure Letter; (ii) acquire (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or acquisition of shares or assets or otherwise), directly or indirectly, any assets, securities, properties, interests, businesses, corporation, partnership or other business organization or division thereof, or make any investment either by the purchase of securities, contribution of capital, property transfer, or purchase of any other property or assets of any other person, for an amount greater than $15 million, in the aggregate, other than intercompany cash transfers to or between its subsidiaries consistent with past practice; (iii) other than such transactions contemplated in Schedule 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter and borrowings under existing Material Contracts set forth in Schedule 3.1(y) of the Company Disclosure Letter, incur, create, assume or otherwise become liable for, any indebtedness for borrowed money or any other liability or obligation or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other person; (iv) pay, discharge or satisfy any material liabilities or obligations; (v) waive, release, grant or transfer any rights of material value; (vi) enter into new commitments of a capital expenditure nature in excess of $30 million, in the aggregate, except in accordance with current approved budgets that have been disclosed to Acquiror; or (vii) authorize or propose any of the foregoing, or enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing;

 

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(c)except as set forth in Schedule 5.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise necessary to comply with applicable Laws or Contracts, or in accordance with the Company Benefit Plans: (i) grant to any officer, Material Employee or director of Company or any of its subsidiaries an increase in compensation in any form, or grant any general salary increase; (ii) make any loan to any officer, Material Employee, or director of Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) take any action with respect to the grant of any severance, change of control, bonus or termination pay to, or enter into any employment agreement, deferred compensation or other similar agreement (or amend any such existing agreement) with any officer, Material Employee, director or new employee hires of Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than the declaration and payment of cash bonuses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the cash settlement of outstanding Company PSUs by the Company up to five (5) business days prior the Effective Date; (iv) increase any benefits payable under any existing severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements, or adopt or materially amend or make any contribution to any Company Benefit Plan or other bonus, profit sharing, option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, insurance, incentive compensation, compensation or other similar plan, agreement, trust, fund or arrangement for the benefit of directors, officers or Material Employees or former directors, officers, Material Employees of Company or any of its subsidiaries; (v) increase bonus levels or other benefits payable to any director, officer or Material Employee of Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (vi) establish or amend (except as required by applicable Law) any collective bargaining agreement or similar agreement;

 

(d)except as contemplated in the Plan of Arrangement, and except as required for the Company to settle all outstanding Company RSUs, Company DSUs and Company PSUs up to five (5) business days prior the Effective Date, provide for accelerated vesting, redemption or settlement, removal of restrictions on exercise or conversion, as applicable, of Company Convertible Securities (including stock options, deferred share units, performance units, restricted share awards and convertible notes), including upon a change of control occurring on or prior to the Effective Time;

 

(e)except as agreed in writing by the Parties or as provided for in the Company Financial Statements, settle, pay, discharge, satisfy, compromise, waive, assign or release, in an amount greater than $25 million, (i) any material action, claim or proceeding brought against Company and/or any of its subsidiaries; or (ii) any action, claim or proceeding brought by any present, former or purported holder of its securities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement;

 

(f)enter into any agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts in any material respect Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any successor thereto, or that would, after the Effective Time, limit or restrict in any material respect Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries from competing in any manner;

 

(g)waive, release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits of Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries;

 

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(h)enter into any agreement that if entered into prior to the date hereof would be a Material Contract; or modify, amend in any material respect, transfer or terminate any Material Contract, or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims thereto or thereunder;

 

(i)except in the ordinary course of business, as provided for in the Company Financial Statements or as set out in Schedule 5.1(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, other than any election that has yet to be made in respect of any event or circumstance occurring prior to the date of the Agreement and which will be made in a manner consistent with the past practice of Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable, (ii) materially amend any Return that has been filed on or before the Effective Date, or change any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or accounting for income Tax purposes from those employed in the preparation of Returns for the most recently ended taxation year, except as may be required by applicable Laws, (iii) settle, offer to settle, or compromise any material claim, audit, proceeding, re-assessment or other Tax liability, (iv) agree to an extension or waiver of the limitation period with respect to the assessment, reassessment or determination of Taxes (other than, to the extent applicable, automatic six-month extensions for U.S. federal and applicable state income Returns), (v) enter into any closing agreement with respect to any material Tax or surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, (vi) enter into any Tax sharing, Tax allocation or Tax indemnification agreement, (vii) make a request for a Tax ruling to any Governmental Entity, or (viii) take any action inconsistent with past practice relating to the filing of any Return or the withholding, collecting, remitting and payment of any Tax;

 

(j)take any action or fail to take any action which action or failure to act would result in the material loss, expiration or surrender of, or the loss of any material benefit under, or reasonably be expected to cause any Governmental Entity to institute proceedings for the suspension, revocation or limitation of rights under, any material Permits, Concessions, or any approvals of or from any Governmental Entity necessary to conduct its businesses as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted; or fail to prosecute with commercially reasonable due diligence any pending applications to any Governmental Entities for approvals;

 

(k)take any action or fail to take any action that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay or materially impede the ability of Company to consummate the Arrangement or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or

 

(l)agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the current insurance (or re-insurance) policies maintained by Company or any of its subsidiaries, including directors’ and officers’ insurance, not to be cancelled or terminated or any of the coverage thereunder to lapse, unless simultaneously with such termination, cancellation or lapse, replacement policies underwritten by insurance or re-insurance companies of nationally recognized standing having comparable deductions and providing coverage equal to or greater than the coverage under the cancelled, terminated or lapsed policies for substantially similar premiums are in full force and effect; provided that, subject to Section 7.6, none of Company or any of its subsidiaries shall obtain or renew any insurance (or re-insurance) policy for a term exceeding 12 months from the date such insurance (or re-insurance) policy is obtained or renewed.

 

Company shall keep Acquiror fully informed as to all material decisions or actions required to be made with respect to the operations of the business of Company; provided, however, that the failure to do so shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement that, in and of itself, may lead to termination of this Agreement.

 

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Company shall promptly notify Acquiror in writing of any circumstance or development that, to the knowledge of Company, is or would reasonably be expected to constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.2Covenants of Acquiror Regarding the Conduct of Business

 

Acquiror covenants and agrees that, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the time that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, except as required or permitted by this Agreement, applicable Laws or any Governmental Entities or consented to by Company in writing, Acquiror shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to (i) conduct its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (ii) to preserve, in all material respects, its business operations, organization and material business relationships; (iii) defend, in good faith, all material lawsuits against Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries; and (iv) maintain and preserve the reputation and goodwill of Acquiror and any Material Subsidiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the time that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, except as required or permitted by this Agreement, as required by applicable law or Governmental Entity, or as set out in Schedule 5.2 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, Acquiror shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):

 

(a)(i) amend its articles, charter or by-laws or other comparable organizational documents; (ii) split, combine or reclassify any shares in the capital of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or, except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(a) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution or payment (whether in cash, securities or property or any combination thereof) in respect of the Acquiror Shares owned by any person or the securities of any subsidiary owned by a person other than Acquiror other than, in the case of any subsidiary wholly-owned by Acquiror, any dividends payable to Acquiror or any other wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror, other than regular quarterly dividends declared from time to time by the Acquiror Board in the ordinary course provided that the quarterly dividend per Acquiror Share is not increased after the date hereof; (iii) issue, grant, deliver, sell or pledge, or agree to issue, grant, deliver, sell or pledge, any Acquiror Shares or shares of its Material Subsidiaries, or any rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise evidencing a right to acquire, Acquiror Shares or other securities of Acquiror or its Material Subsidiaries, other than the following which shall not require prior consent of Company: (A) the issuance of the Acquiror Shares pursuant to the terms of the outstanding Acquiror Options, Acquiror RSUs, Acquiror PSUs, Acquiror Convertible Notes or Acquiror Warrants; (B) the issuance of Acquiror RSUs or Acquiror PSUs pursuant to grants for new employees hired from time to time by Acquiror in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with Acquiror’s long term incentive program; (C) transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices between two or more Acquiror subsidiaries or between Acquiror and an Acquiror subsidiary; and (D) as required under applicable Law or existing Material Contracts set forth in Schedule 4.1(y) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter; (iv) except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(a) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, or offer to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any outstanding securities of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries, (v) amend the terms of any of its securities; (vi) adopt a plan of liquidation or resolution providing for the liquidation or dissolution of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries; or (vii) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing;

 

(b)except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(b) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise provided for in this Arrangement Agreement: (i) sell, pledge, hypothecate, lease, license, sell and lease back, mortgage, dispose of or encumber or otherwise transfer, any assets, securities, properties, interests or businesses of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries for an amount greater than $30 million, in the aggregate, other than as required under applicable Law or existing Material Contracts set forth in Schedule 4.1(y) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter; (ii) acquire (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or acquisition of shares or assets or otherwise), directly or indirectly, any assets, securities, properties, interests, businesses, corporation, partnership or other business organization or division thereof, or make any investment either by the purchase of securities, contribution of capital, property transfer, or purchase of any other property or assets of any other person, for an amount greater than $15 million, in the aggregate, other than intercompany cash transfers to or between its subsidiaries consistent with past practice; (iii) other than such transactions contemplated in Schedule 5.2 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter and borrowings under existing Material Contracts set forth in Schedule 4.1(y) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, incur, create, assume or otherwise become liable for, any indebtedness for borrowed money or any other liability or obligation or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other person; (iv) pay, discharge or satisfy any material liabilities or obligations; (v) waive, release, grant or transfer any rights of material value; (vi) enter into new commitments of a capital expenditure nature in excess of $30 million, in the aggregate, except in accordance with current approved budgets that have been disclosed to Acquiror; or (vii) authorize or propose any of the foregoing, or enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing;

 

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(c)except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(c) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise necessary to comply with applicable Laws or Contracts, or in accordance with the Acquiror Benefit Plans: (i) grant to any officer, Material Employee or director of Acquiror an increase in compensation in any form, or grant any general salary increase; (ii) make any loan to any officer, Material Employee or director of Acquiror; (iii) take any action with respect to the grant of any severance, change of control, bonus or termination pay to, or enter into any employment agreement, deferred compensation or other similar agreement (or amend any such existing agreement) with any officer, Material Employee, director or new employee hires of Acquiror, other than the declaration and payment of cash bonuses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (iv) increase any benefits payable under any existing severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements, or adopt or materially amend or make any contribution to any Acquiror Benefit Plan or other bonus, profit sharing, option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, insurance, incentive compensation, compensation or other similar plan, agreement, trust, fund or arrangement for the benefit of directors, officers or Material Employees or former directors, officers, Material Employees of Acquiror; (v) increase bonus levels or other benefits payable to any director, officer or Material Employee of Acquiror; or (vi) except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(c) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, establish or amend (except as required by applicable Law) any collective bargaining agreement or similar agreement;

 

(d)except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(d) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, provide for accelerated vesting, redemption or settlement, removal of restrictions on exercise or conversion, as applicable, of any stock based or stock related awards (including stock options, stock appreciation rights, deferred share units, performance units and restricted share awards), including upon a change of control occurring on or prior to the Effective Time;

 

(e)except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(e) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter or as provided for the in Acquiror Financial Statements, settle, pay, discharge, satisfy, compromise, waive, assign or release, in an amount greater than $25 million, (i) any material action, claim or proceeding brought against Acquiror and/or any of its subsidiaries; or (ii) any action, claim or proceeding brought by any present, former or purported holder of its securities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement;

 

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(f)enter into any agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts in any material respect Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any successor thereto, or that would, after the Effective Time, limit or restrict in any material respect Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries from competing in any manner;

 

(g)waive, release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits of Acquiror or any of its Material Subsidiaries;

 

(h)except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(h) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, enter into any agreement that if entered into prior to the date hereof would be a Material Contract; or modify, amend in any material respect, transfer or terminate any Material Contract, or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims thereto or thereunder;

 

(i)take any action or fail to take any action which action or failure to act would result in the material loss, expiration or surrender of, or the loss of any material benefit under, or reasonably be expected to cause any Governmental Entity to institute proceedings for the suspension, revocation or limitation of rights under, any material Permits or any approvals of or from any Governmental Entity necessary to conduct its businesses as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted; or fail to prosecute with commercially reasonable due diligence any pending applications to any Governmental Entities for approvals;

 

(j)except in the ordinary course of business, as provided for in the Acquiror Financial Statements or as set out in Schedule 5.2(j) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, (i) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, other than any election that has yet to be made in respect of any event or circumstance occurring prior to the date of the Agreement and which will be made in a manner consistent with the past practice of Acquiror and its subsidiaries, as applicable, (ii) materially amend any Return that has been filed on or before the Effective Date, or change any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or accounting for income Tax purposes from those employed in the preparation of Returns for the most recently ended taxation year, except as may be required by applicable Laws, (iii) settle, offer to settle, or compromise any material claim, audit, proceeding, re-assessment or other Tax liability, (iv) agree to an extension or waiver of the limitation period with respect to the assessment, reassessment or determination of Taxes (other than, to the extent applicable, automatic six-month extensions for U.S. federal and applicable state income Returns), (v) enter into any closing agreement with respect to any material Tax or surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, (vi) enter into any Tax sharing, Tax allocation or Tax indemnification agreement; (vii) make a request for a Tax ruling to any Governmental Entity, or (viii) take any action inconsistent with past practice relating to the filing of any Return or the withholding, collecting, remitting and payment of any Tax;

 

(k)take any action or fail to take any action that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay or materially impede the ability of Acquiror to consummate the Arrangement or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or

 

(l)agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

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Acquiror shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the current insurance (or re-insurance) policies maintained by Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries, including directors’ and officers’ insurance, not to be cancelled or terminated or any of the coverage thereunder to lapse, unless simultaneously with such termination, cancellation or lapse, replacement policies underwritten by insurance or re-insurance companies of nationally recognized standing having comparable deductions and providing coverage equal to or greater than the coverage under the cancelled, terminated or lapsed policies for substantially similar premiums are in full force and effect; provided that, subject to Section 7.6, none of Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries shall obtain or renew any insurance (or re-insurance) policy for a term exceeding 12 months.

 

Acquiror shall keep Company fully informed as to all material decisions or actions required to be made with respect to the operations of the business of Acquiror; provided, however, that the failure to do so shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement that, in and of itself, may lead to termination of this Agreement.

 

Acquiror shall promptly notify Company in writing of any circumstance or development that, to the knowledge of Acquiror, is or would reasonably be expected to constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.3Covenants of Company Relating to the Arrangement

 

Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, perform all obligations required or desirable to be performed by Company or any of its subsidiaries under this Agreement, co-operate with Acquiror in connection therewith, and do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable in order to consummate and make effective, as soon as reasonably practicable, the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Company shall and, where applicable, shall cause its subsidiaries to:

 

(a)use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, as soon as practicable following execution of this Agreement, all third-party consents, approvals and notices required under, and shall obtain all amendments reasonably requested by Acquiror in respect of any of the Material Contracts, all as set out in the Company Disclosure Letter;

 

(b)use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Acquiror in making the necessary arrangements to restructure, payout or otherwise deal with Acquiror’s and Company’s indebtedness; and

 

(c)until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement, Company shall, subject to applicable Law, make available and cause to be made available to Acquiror, and the agents and advisors thereto, information reasonably requested by Acquiror for the purposes of preparing and considering integration plans for the combined businesses of Acquiror and Company following the Effective Date and confirming the representations and warranties of Company set out in this Agreement.

 

5.4Covenants of Acquiror Relating to the Arrangement

 

Acquiror shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, perform all obligations required to be performed by Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries under this Agreement, co-operate with Company in connection therewith, and do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable in order to consummate and make effective, as soon as reasonably practicable, the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Acquiror shall and, where appropriate, shall cause its subsidiaries to:

 

(a)subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Plan of Arrangement and applicable Laws, (i) prior to the Effective Time, allot and reserve for issuance a sufficient number of Acquiror Shares to meet the obligations of Acquiror under the Plan of Arrangement and (ii) pursuant to the Arrangement at the time provided herein issue the Consideration Shares to be issued and pay the Cash Consideration;

 

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(b)subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Plan of Arrangement and applicable Laws, Acquiror shall do all things necessary (including, if required, entering into the Supplemental Warrant Certificates and Supplemental Notes) to provide for the application of the provisions set forth in the Plan of Arrangement with respect to the applicable Company Convertible Securities;

 

(c)as necessary, register the Acquiror Shares issuable upon exercise of the Company Options with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Act on Form S-8 or another applicable form, and use its reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement for as long as any Company Options remain outstanding;

 

(d)use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Company in making the necessary arrangements to restructure, payout or otherwise deal with Acquiror’s and Company’s indebtedness;

 

(e)the Acquiror shall: (i) apply for and use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain approval of the listing for trading on the TSX and NYSE American by the Effective Time of the Consideration Shares issuable pursuant to the Arrangement, which for includes certainty the Acquiror Shares issuable for Company Shares issued on settlement of Company DSUs and Company RSUs pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, subject to customary listing conditions of the TSX; and (ii) apply for and use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain approval of the listing for trading on the TSX and NYSE American by the Effective Time of the Acquiror Shares issuable upon exercise, vesting or conversion, as applicable, of the Company Options, the Company Notes, the Company Warrants and the Company Bonus Shares, subject to customary listing conditions of the TSX;

 

(f)use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, as soon as practicable following execution of this Agreement, all third-party consents, approvals and notices required under any of the Material Contracts, all as set out in the Acquiror Disclosure Letter; and

 

(g)until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement, Acquiror shall, subject to applicable Law, make available and cause to be made available to Company, and the agents and advisors thereto, information reasonably requested by Company for the purposes of preparing and considering integration plans for the combined businesses of Acquiror and Company following the Effective Date and confirming the representations and warranties of Acquiror set out in this Agreement.

 

5.5Mutual Covenants

 

Other than in connection with the Key Regulatory Approvals (which shall be governed by Section 5.6), each of the Parties covenants and agrees that, except as contemplated in this Agreement, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the time that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms:

 

(a)it shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy (or cause the satisfaction of) the conditions precedent to its obligations hereunder as set forth in Article 6 to the extent the same is within its control and to take, or cause to be taken, as promptly as practicable, all other action and to do, or cause to be done, all other things necessary and commercially reasonable to permit the completion of the Arrangement in accordance with its obligations under this Agreement, the Plan of Arrangement and applicable Laws and cooperate with the other Party in connection therewith, including using its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) effect or cause to be effected all necessary registrations, filings and submissions of information requested by Governmental Entities required to be effected by it in connection with the Arrangement, (ii) fulfill all conditions and satisfy all provisions of this Agreement and the Arrangement; and (iii) cooperate with the other Party in connection with the performance by it of its obligations hereunder;

 

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(b)it shall use commercially reasonable efforts not to take or cause to be taken any action, or refrain from taking any commercially reasonable action, which is inconsistent with this Agreement or (with the exception of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) which would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Arrangement or the other transactions contemplated herein including, for the avoidance of doubt, the taking of any action (including any discussions or negotiation) or the entering into of any transaction not contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c)it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to: (i) defend all lawsuits or other legal, regulatory or other proceedings against itself or any of its subsidiaries challenging or affecting this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) appeal, overturn or have lifted or rescinded any injunction or restraining order or other order relating to itself or any of its subsidiaries which may materially adversely affect the ability of the Parties to consummate the Arrangement; and (iii) appeal or overturn or otherwise have lifted or rendered non-applicable in respect of the Arrangement, any Law that makes consummation of the Arrangement illegal or otherwise prohibits or enjoins either of the Parties from consummating the Arrangement;

 

(d)it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Section 3(a)(10) Exemption is available for the issuance of Consideration Shares to the Company Shareholders in exchange for their Company Shares pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, which for certainty includes the Acquiror Shares issuable for Company Shares issued on settlement of Company DSUs and Company RSUs pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement;

 

(e)promptly notify the other Party of:

 

(i)any communication from any person alleging that the consent of such person (or another person) is or may be required in connection with the Arrangement (and the response thereto from such Party, its subsidiaries or its Representatives);

 

(ii)any communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with the Arrangement and the Key Regulatory Approvals (and the response thereto from such Party, its subsidiaries or its Representatives); and

 

(iii)any litigation threatened or commenced against or otherwise affecting such Party or any of its subsidiaries that is related to the Arrangement; and

 

(f)it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to execute and do all acts, further deeds, things and assurances as may be required in the reasonable opinion of the other Party’s legal counsel to permit the completion of the Arrangement.

 

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5.6Covenants Relating to Key Regulatory Approvals

 

Each Party, as applicable to that Party, covenants and agrees with respect to obtaining all Key Regulatory Approvals required for the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, until the earlier of the Effective Time and the time that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms:

 

(a)in respect of the Canadian Competition Approval,

 

(i)within ten (10) business days after the date of this Agreement or such other date as the Parties may reasonably agree, Acquiror shall file with the Commissioner a submission requesting an Advance Ruling Certificate or, in the alternative, a No Action Letter; and

 

(ii)if an Advance Ruling Certificate or No Action Letter shall not have been obtained within sixteen (16) calendar days following filing of that submission, either Party may at any time thereafter, acting reasonably, notify the other Party that it intends to file a notification pursuant to subsection 114(1) of the Competition Act, in which case the Parties shall each file their respective notifications pursuant to subsection 114(1) of the Competition Act, as promptly as practicable but in any event within ten (10) business days following the date a Party notified the other Party of its intention to file a notification.

 

(b)In respect of the CNA Approval, within fifteen (15) business days after the date of this Agreement or such other date as the Parties may reasonably agree, the Parties shall submit a notification to CNA on behalf of the Parties to obtain the CNA Approval. The Parties agree that the Acquiror shall appoint the common representative in such notification to CNA.

 

(c)The Parties shall, and shall cause their respective subsidiaries, as applicable, to, file, as promptly as practicable but in any event within fifteen (15) business days after the date of this Agreement or such other date as the Parties may reasonably agree, any other filings or notifications under any other applicable federal, provincial, state or foreign Law required to obtain any other Key Regulatory Approvals.

 

(d)All filing fees (including any Taxes thereon) in respect of any filing made to any Governmental Entity in respect of any Key Regulatory Approvals shall be paid by the Parties, shared equally.

 

(e)The Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(i)obtain the Key Regulatory Approvals at the earliest reasonably practicable date;

 

(ii)respond promptly to any request for additional information or documentary materials made by any Governmental Entity in connection with the Key Regulatory Approvals; and

 

(iii)make such further filings as may be necessary, proper or advisable in connection therewith.

 

(f)With respect to obtaining the Key Regulatory Approvals, each of the Parties shall cooperate with the other Party and shall provide such assistance as each other Party may reasonably request in connection with obtaining the Key Regulatory Approvals. Each Party shall keep the other Party reasonably informed as to the progress of obtaining the Key Regulatory Approvals. In particular:

 

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(i)no Party shall extend or consent to any extension of any applicable waiting or review period or enter into any agreement with a Governmental Entity to not consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except upon the prior written consent of the other Party, and which shall not be unreasonably denied, particularly if necessary for purposes of obtaining Key Regulatory Approvals;

 

(ii)the Parties shall exchange drafts of all submissions, correspondence, filings, presentations, applications, plans, consent agreements and other documents to be made or submitted to or filed with any Governmental Entity in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provide the other Party with the opportunity for review in advance of any submission or filing, and will consider in good faith any suggestions made by a Party and its counsel and will provide each of the other Party and its counsel with final copies of all such submissions, correspondence, filings, presentations, applications, plans, consent agreements and other documents, and all pre-existing business records or other documents, submitted to or filed with any Governmental Entity in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that, subject to Section 5.6(g), information indicated by a Party to be competitively sensitive shall be provided on an external counsel-only basis;

 

(iii)each Party shall keep the other Party and its counsel fully apprised of all material written (including email) and oral communications and all meetings with any Governmental Entity and their staff in respect of the Key Regulatory Approvals, and unless participation by a Party is prohibited by applicable Law or by such Governmental Entity, will not participate in such communications or meetings without giving each other Party, and its counsel the opportunity to participate therein; provided, however, that, subject to Section 5.6(g), where competitively sensitive information may be discussed or communicated, the external legal counsel of each other Party shall be provided with any such communications or information on an external counsel-only basis and, unless participation by a Party is prohibited by applicable Law or by such Governmental Entity, shall have the right to participate in any such meetings on an external counsel-only basis; and

 

(iv)each Party shall keep the other Party reasonably informed on a timely basis of developments which are material or reasonably likely to be material to obtaining the Key Regulatory Approvals required for the completion of the Arrangement in sufficient time to enable the Effective Date to occur on or before the Outside Date.

 

(g)With respect to Sections 5.6(f)(ii) and (iii) above, where a Party provides any submissions, communications, information, correspondence, filings, presentations, applications, plans, consent agreements or other documents to another Party on an external counsel-only basis, the Party disclosing the documents shall also provide the Party receiving such documents with a redacted version of any such submissions, communications, information, correspondence, filings, presentations, applications, plans, consent agreements or other documents.

 

(h)With the exception of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, neither of the Parties shall enter into any transaction, investment, agreement, arrangement or joint venture or take any other action, the effect of which would reasonably be expected to make obtaining the Key Regulatory Approvals materially more difficult or challenging, or reasonably be expected to materially delay the obtaining of the Key Regulatory Approvals.

 

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(i)The Parties shall use (and shall cause their respective subsidiaries to use) their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions necessary or advisable on their respective parts to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, Section 5.5 and this Section 5.6 shall not require either of the Parties to propose, negotiate, accept, agree to and/or effect, by consent agreement or otherwise, (A) the sale, assignment, amendment, license, separate holding, divestiture, disposition or termination of any assets, properties, products, businesses, contracts, licenses or financing arrangements of either the Acquiror or any of its affiliates, or the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (B) any behavioral or other remedy or undertaking imposing conditions, restraints, amendments, or limitations on the assets, properties, products, businesses, contracts, licenses or financing arrangements of either the Acquiror or any of its affiliates, or the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

5.7Pre-Closing Reorganization

 

(a)Subject to Section 5.7(b), Company agrees that, upon request of Acquiror, Company shall (i) perform such reorganizations of its corporate structure, capital structure, business, operations and assets or such other transactions as Acquiror may request, acting reasonably (each a “Pre-Closing Reorganization”), and (ii) cooperate with Acquiror and its advisors to determine the nature of the Pre-Closing Reorganizations that might be undertaken and the manner in which they would most effectively be undertaken; and (iii) cooperate with Acquiror and its advisers to seek to obtain any consents, approvals, waivers or similar authorizations which are reasonably required by Acquiror (based on the terms of any Contract) in connection with the Pre-Closing Reorganizations, if any.

 

(b)Company will not be obligated to participate in any Pre-Closing Reorganization under Section 5.7(a) unless such Pre-Closing Reorganization, in the opinion of Company:

 

(i)cannot reasonably be expected to result in any Taxes being imposed on, or any adverse Tax consequences to Company or the Company Shareholders incrementally greater than the Taxes to such party in connection with the consummation of the Arrangement in the absence of any Pre-Closing Reorganization;

 

(ii)does not require Company to obtain the approval of securityholders of Company or proceed absent any required consent of any third party (including any Key Regulatory Approvals);

 

(iii)does not unreasonably interfere with Company’s material operations prior to the Effective Time;

 

(iv)does not prevent the Arrangement from qualifying as a tax-deferred reorganization under Section 368(a) of the U.S. Tax Code;

 

(v)does not require Company or its subsidiaries to contravene or unreasonably interfere with any Contract, Key Regulatory Approvals or applicable Laws, or its organization documents;

 

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(vi)can be completed as close as reasonably practicable prior to the Effective Date, and can be unwound in the event the Arrangement is not consummated without adversely affecting Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries in any material manner;

 

(vii)is not prejudicial to Company, any of its Material Subsidiaries or the Company Shareholders in any material respect;

 

(viii)does not violate, conflict with, or result (with or without notice or the passage of time) in a violation or breach of any provision of, or require any consent, approval or notice under, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) or result in a right of termination or acceleration of indebtedness under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon, any of the properties or assets of Company or any of its subsidiaries, or cause any indebtedness to come due before its stated maturity or cause any credit commitment to cease to be available or cause any payment or other obligation to be imposed on Company or any of its subsidiaries; or

 

(ix)does not impair the ability of Company to consummate, and will not materially delay the consummation of, the Arrangement.

 

(c)Acquiror must provide written notice to Company of any proposed Pre-Closing Reorganization at least fifteen (15) business days prior to the Effective Date. Upon receipt of such notice, Company and Acquiror shall work cooperatively and use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare prior to the Effective Time all documentation necessary and do such other acts and things as are necessary to give effect to such Pre-Closing Reorganization, including any amendment to this Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement and shall seek to have any such Pre-Closing Reorganization made effective as of the last moment of the business day ending immediately prior to the Effective Date (but after Acquiror has waived or confirmed that all of the conditions set out in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 have been satisfied).

 

(d)Acquiror agrees that it will be responsible for all costs and expenses including professional fees and expenses and Taxes associated with any Pre-Closing Reorganization to be carried out at its request and shall indemnify and save harmless Company and its affiliates and Representatives and Company Shareholders from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, Taxes, claims, costs, expenses (including actual out-of-pocket cost and expense for filing fees and external counsel), interest awards, judgements and penalties suffered or incurred by any of them in connection with or as a result of any such Pre-Closing Reorganization (including in respect of any reversal, modification or termination of a Pre-Closing Reorganization) and that any Pre-Closing Reorganization will not be considered in determining whether a representation or warranty of Company under this Agreement has been breached (including where any such Pre-Closing Reorganization requires the consent of any third party under a Contract). For greater certainty, this indemnity shall not apply to any transactions undertaken by Company or its subsidiaries in connection with the Arrangement that have not been expressly requested by Acquiror in writing and the consent of Acquiror to any such transaction shall not constitute an express request by Acquiror. The obligation of Acquiror to reimburse Company for all costs and expenses and to indemnify Company and its affiliates and Representatives, from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, Taxes, claims, costs, reasonable expenses (including actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses for filing fees and external counsel), interest awards, judgements and penalties as set out in this Section, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

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5.8Tax Rollover

 

(a)An Eligible Holder who is entitled to receive Acquiror Shares pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement shall be entitled to make a joint income tax election with Acquiror, pursuant to Section 85 of the Tax Act (and any analogous provision of provincial income tax law) (a “Section 85 Election”) with respect to the disposition of Company Shares pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement by providing the necessary information in accordance with the procedures set out in the tax instruction letter on or before 120 days following the Effective Date. Acquiror shall, within 60 days of receipt thereof, sign and return validly completed election forms which are in compliance with the provisions of the Tax Act (and applicable provincial tax law) and the procedures in the tax instruction letter and which are received within 120 days following the Effective Date to the relevant Eligible Holders for filing with the Canada Revenue Agency (or applicable provincial tax authority). Other than the foregoing obligation, neither the Company, Acquiror nor any successor corporation shall be responsible for the proper completion of any election form, nor for any Taxes, interest or penalties resulting from the failure of an Eligible Holder to properly complete or file such joint election forms in the form and manner and within the time prescribed by the Tax Act (or any applicable provincial legislation). In its sole discretion, Acquiror or any successor corporation may choose to sign and return a joint election form received by it more than 120 days following the Effective Date, but will have no obligation to do so.

 

(b)Upon receipt of a Transmittal Letter in which the Eligible Holder has indicated that such holder wishes to receive a tax instruction letter, Acquiror will promptly deliver a tax instruction letter to such holder. The tax instruction letter will provide general instructions on how to make the Section 85 Election with Acquiror in order to obtain a full or partial tax-deferred rollover for Canadian income tax purposes (subject to the applicable provisions of the Tax Act and applicable provincial tax law) in respect of the sale of the Eligible Holder’s Company Shares.

 

Article 6
CONDITIONS

 

6.1Mutual Conditions Precedent

 

The obligations of the Parties to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Effective Time, of each of the following conditions precedent, each of which may only be waived with the mutual consent of the Parties:

 

(a)the Interim Order and the Final Order shall each have been obtained on terms consistent with this Agreement, and shall not have been set aside or modified in a manner unacceptable to Company or Acquiror, acting reasonably, on appeal or otherwise;

 

(b)the Court shall have determined that the terms and conditions of the exchange of Company Shares for Consideration Shares, pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, are procedurally and substantively fair to holders of Company Shares, and the Final Order shall have been granted in a form satisfactory to Company and Acquiror, acting reasonably;

 

(c)the Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained at the Company Meeting in accordance with the Interim Order;

 

(d)the Acquiror Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained at the Acquiror Meeting;

 

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(e)there shall not exist any prohibition at Law, including a cease trade order, injunction or other prohibition or order at Law or under applicable legislation, against Acquiror or Company which shall prevent the consummation of the Arrangement;

 

(f)the Key Regulatory Approvals shall have been obtained and shall not have been modified or withdrawn prior to the Effective Time;

 

(g)this Agreement shall not have been terminated in accordance with its terms; and

 

(h)the distribution of the securities pursuant to the Arrangement shall be exempt from the prospectus and registration requirements of applicable Securities Laws either by virtue of exemptive relief from the securities regulatory authorities of each of the provinces and territories of Canada or by virtue of applicable exemptions under Securities Laws and shall not be subject to resale restrictions under applicable Securities Laws (other than as applicable to control persons or pursuant to Section 2.6 of National Instrument 45-102 – Resale of Securities of the Canadian Securities Administrators).

 

6.2Additional Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Acquiror

 

The obligations of Acquiror to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall also be subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions precedent (each of which is for the exclusive benefit of Acquiror and may be waived by Acquiror):

 

(a)all covenants of Company under this Agreement to be performed on or before the Effective Time which have not been waived by Acquiror shall have been duly performed by Company in all material respects, and Acquiror shall have received a certificate of Company addressed to Acquiror and dated the Effective Time, signed by two executive officers on behalf of Company (on Company’s behalf and without personal liability), confirming the same as at the Effective Date;

 

(b)(i) the representations and warranties of Company set forth in this Agreement (other than as contemplated in clauses (ii) and (iii)) shall be true and correct in all respects, without regard to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained in them, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such date or time (except for representations and warranties made as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date), except where the failure or failures of all such representations and warranties to be so true and correct in all respects would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the representations and warranties of Company set forth in Sections 3.1(b) [Organization and Qualification], 3.1(c) [Authority Relative to this Agreement] and 3.1(d)(1)(A) [No Violation] shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such date or time, and (iii) the representations and warranties of Company set forth in Sections 3.1(e) [Capitalization], 3.1(g) [Ownership of Subsidiaries] and 3.1(mm) [Brokers] shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies and as a result of transactions, changes, conditions, events or circumstances permitted hereunder) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such date or time (except for representations and warranties made as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date), and Acquiror shall have received a certificate of Company addressed to Acquiror and dated the Effective Date, signed on behalf of Company by a senior executive officer of Company (on Company’s behalf and without personal liability), confirming the same;

 

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(c)since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any event, occurrence, development or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company that is continuing as of the Effective Time; and

 

(d)holders of no more than 5% of the Company Shares shall have exercised Dissent Rights.

 

The foregoing conditions will be for the sole benefit of Acquiror and may be waived by it in whole or in part at any time.

 

6.3Additional Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Company

 

The obligations of Company to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall also be subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions precedent (each of which is for the exclusive benefit of Company and may be waived by Company):

 

(a)all covenants of Acquiror under this Agreement to be performed on or before the Effective Time which have not been waived by Company shall have been duly performed by Acquiror in all material respects, and Company shall have received a certificate of Acquiror, addressed to Company and dated the Effective Time, signed on behalf of Acquiror by two executive officers of Acquiror (on Acquiror’s behalf and without personal liability), confirming the same as of the Effective Date;

 

(b)(i) the representations and warranties of Acquiror set forth in this Agreement (other than as contemplated in clauses (ii) and (iii)) shall be true and correct in all respects, without regard to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained in them, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such date or time (except for representations and warranties made as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date), except where the failure or failures of all such representations and warranties to be so true and correct in all respects would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the representations and warranties of Acquiror set forth in Sections 4.1(b)[Organization and Qualification], 4.1(c) [Authority Relative to this Agreement] and 4.1(d)(1)(A) [No Violation] shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such date or time, and (iii) the representations and warranties of Acquiror set forth in Sections 4.1(e) [Capitalization], 4.1(g) [Ownership of Subsidiaries] and 4.1(nn) [Brokers] shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies and as a result of transactions, changes, conditions, events or circumstances permitted hereunder) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such date or time (except for representations and warranties made as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date), and Company shall have received a certificate of Acquiror addressed to Company and dated the Effective Date, signed on behalf of Acquiror by a senior executive officer of Acquiror (on Acquiror’s behalf and without personal liability), confirming the same;

 

(c)since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any event, occurrence, development or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror that is continuing as of the Effective Time;

 

(d)Acquiror shall have delivered evidence satisfactory to Company of the approval of the listing and posting for trading on the TSX and the NYSE American, in the case of the TSX, subject only to satisfaction of the standard listing conditions, of the Consideration Shares, the Acquiror Shares underlying the Company Options, the Company Notes, the Company Warrants and the Company Bonus Shares, at the Effective Time;

 

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(e)the Acquiror Board shall be comprised in accordance with Section 2.18, with effect as of and from the Effective Time;

 

(f)Schedule E, in accordance with Section 2.18, will be in effect as of and from the Effective Time; and

 

(g)Acquiror shall have complied with its obligations under Section 2.11 and the Depositary shall have confirmed receipt of the Consideration Shares contemplated thereby.

 

The foregoing conditions will be for the sole benefit of Company and may be waived by it in whole or in part at any time.

 

6.4Satisfaction of Conditions

 

The conditions precedent set out in Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 shall be conclusively deemed to have been satisfied, waived or released at the Effective Time.

 

Article 7
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

7.1Notice and Cure Provisions

 

7.1.1          Each Party will give prompt notice to the other of the occurrence, or failure to occur, at any time from the date hereof until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement and the Effective Time of any event or state of facts which occurrence or failure would, or would be likely to:

 

(a)cause any of the representations or warranties of any Party contained herein to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect on the date hereof or at the Effective Time; or

 

(b)result in the failure to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by any Party hereunder prior to the Effective Time.

 

7.1.2          Acquiror may not exercise its rights to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section  8.2.1(c)(iii) and Company may not exercise its right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2.1(d)(iii) unless the Party intending to rely thereon has delivered a written notice to the other Party specifying in reasonable detail all breaches of covenants, representations and warranties or other matters which the Party delivering such notice is asserting as the basis for the non-fulfilment or the applicable condition or termination right, as the case may be. If any such notice is delivered, provided that a Party is proceeding diligently to cure such matter and such matter is capable of being cured, no Party may terminate this Agreement until the expiration of a period of ten business days from such notice, and then only if such matter has not been cured by such date. If such notice has been delivered prior to the making of the application for the Final Order, such application and such filing shall be postponed until the expiry of such period. For greater certainty, in the event that such matter is cured within the time period referred to herein without a Material Adverse Effect, this Agreement may not be terminated as a result of the cured breach.

 

7.2Non-Solicitation

 

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7.2.1          Except as expressly provided in this Section 7.2, until the earlier of the Effective Time or date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.2, neither Party shall, directly or indirectly, through any officer, director, employee, representative (including any financial or other advisor) or agent of such Party or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Representatives”): (i) make, solicit, assist, initiate, promote, facilitate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing information or entering into any form of agreement, arrangement or understanding) any inquiries or proposals regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) participate, directly or indirectly, in any discussions or negotiations with any person (other than the other Party or any of its affiliates) regarding, or furnish to any person any information or otherwise co-operate with, respond to, assist or participate in, an Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, a Party may communicate with any person making an Acquisition Proposal for the purpose of: (A) advising such person of the restrictions in this Agreement, (B) clarifying the terms of any inquiry, proposal or offer in order to determine if it may reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal, or (C) for the purpose of advising such person that the Acquisition Proposal could not reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal; (iii) approve, accept, endorse or recommend, or propose publicly to accept, approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, (iv) accept or enter into or publicly propose to accept or enter into, any letter of intent, agreement in principle, agreement, understanding, undertaking or arrangement or other contract in respect of an Acquisition Proposal, or requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Arrangement, or providing for the payment of any break, termination or other fees or expenses to any person in relation to an Acquisition Proposal; (v) withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, or otherwise publicly propose to withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to the other Party, such Party’s Board Recommendation; (vi) if an Acquisition Proposal has been publicly disclosed in respect of a Party, that Party fails to publicly recommend against such Acquisition Proposal within five (5) business days after the other Party’s written request that the Party or the Party’s Board do so (or subsequently withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify (or publicly propose to do so), in a manner adverse to such Party, such rejection of such Acquisition Proposal) and reaffirm the Party’s Board Recommendation within such five (5) business day period (or, with respect to any Acquisition Proposals or material amendments, revisions or changes to the terms of any such previously publicly disclosed Acquisition Proposal that are publicly disclosed within the last five (5) days prior to the Company Meeting (in the case of an Acquisition Proposal in respect of Company) or the Acquiror Meeting (in the case of an Acquisition Proposal in respect of Acquiror), as applicable, the Party in respect of which the Acquisition Proposal is made fails to take the actions referred to in this clause (vi), with references to the applicable five (5) business day prior being replaced with three (3) business days), (vii) fail to include the Party’s Board Recommendation in that Party’s Circular, (viii) make any public announcement or take any other action inconsistent with the recommendation of the Acquiror Board to approve the Arrangement, in the case of Acquiror, or the Company Board, in the case of Company, (ix) approve or authorize, or cause or permit the Party or its subsidiaries to enter into, any merger agreement, acquisition agreement, reorganization agreement, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or similar agreement or document relating to, or any other agreement or commitment providing for, any Acquisition Proposal (other than an acceptable confidentiality agreement entered into in accordance with Section 7.2.3); or (x) commit or agree to do any of the foregoing (any act by a Party described in clauses (iii) to (x) inclusive (to the extent related to the foregoing clauses (iii) to (ix) inclusive), a “Change in Recommendation”).

 

7.2.2          Each Party shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries and Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation with any persons conducted heretofore by it, its subsidiaries or any Representatives with respect to any inquiry, proposal or offer that constitutes or may reasonably be expected to constitute or lead to an Acquisition Proposal, and, in connection therewith, such Party will discontinue access to any of its confidential information (and not establish or allow access to any of its confidential information, or any data room, virtual or otherwise) and shall as soon as possible request, to the extent that it is entitled to do so (and use commercially reasonable efforts to exercise all rights it has to require) the return or destruction of all confidential information regarding such Party and its subsidiaries previously provided to any such person or any other person and will request (and use commercially reasonable efforts to exercise all rights it has to require) the destruction of all material including or incorporating or otherwise reflecting any confidential information regarding such Party and its subsidiaries and use its commercially reasonable efforts to confirm that such requests are complied with in accordance with the terms of such rights. Each Party agrees that neither it, nor any of its subsidiaries, shall terminate, waive, amend or modify any provision of any existing confidentiality agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal or any standstill agreement to which it or any of its subsidiaries is a party (it being acknowledged and agreed that the automatic termination of any standstill provisions of any such agreement as the result of the entering into and announcement of this Agreement, pursuant to the express terms of any such agreement, shall not be a violation of this Section 7.2.2) and each Party undertakes to use commercially reasonable efforts to enforce all standstill, non-disclosure, non-disturbance, non-solicitation and similar covenants that it or any of its subsidiaries have entered into prior to the date hereof.

 

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7.2.3          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time following the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval, in the case of Company, or the Acquiror Shareholder Approval, in the case of Acquiror, a Party receives a bona fide, written Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of Section 7.2.1 or 7.2.2 and that the board of directors of such Party determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, constitutes or, if consummated in accordance with its terms, would reasonably be expected to constitute or lead to a Superior Proposal, then, and only in such case, such Party may subject to compliance with Section 7.2.4:

 

(a)furnish, or provide access to, information with respect to such Party and its subsidiaries to the person making such Acquisition Proposal; and/or

 

(b)enter into, participate, facilitate and maintain discussions or negotiations with, and otherwise cooperate with or assist, the person making such Acquisition Proposal,

 

provided that such Party shall not, and shall not allow its Representatives to, disclose any non-public information to such person: (i) if such non-public information has not been previously provided to, or is not concurrently provided to, the other Party hereto; and (ii) without entering into an agreement with such person (and providing a true copy of such agreement to the other Party) substantially in the form of the Confidentiality Agreement containing terms that are no more favourable to such person than those found in the Confidentiality Agreement; provided, however, that any such agreement shall not preclude such person from making an Acquisition Proposal or prohibit a Party from providing any information to the other Party in accordance with, or otherwise complying with, this Section 7.2.3.

 

7.2.4          Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party, at first orally and then as soon as reasonably practical thereafter in writing (and, in any event, within 24 hours) of receipt of any Acquisition Proposal (whether or not in writing), any inquiry received that could reasonably be expected to constitute or lead to an Acquisition Proposal, or any request received for non-public information in connection with an Acquisition Proposal or for access to the properties, books or records of such Party by any person that informs such Party that it is considering making an Acquisition Proposal, including a copy of any written Acquisition Proposal, a description of the material terms and conditions thereof, and the identity of the person or persons making the Acquisition Proposal, inquiry or request, and shall provide the other Party with a copy of any such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry, or request, a copy of any Superior Proposal Agreement proposed to be entered into in accordance with Section 7.3 hereof and a copy of any other agreements (including material financing documents), substantive correspondence or documents which relate to the Acquisition Proposal, or any amendment to any of the foregoing. The Party receiving the Acquisition Proposal shall thereafter also provide such other details of such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry, or request, or any amendment to any of the foregoing, as the other Party may reasonably request and shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) keep the other Party fully informed as to the status, including any changes to the material terms, of such proposal, inquiry, offer or request, or any amendment to any of the foregoing, and shall respond promptly to all inquiries from the other Party with respect thereto.

 

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7.2.5          Subject to Section  7.3, (i) at any time following the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval, if Company receives an Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section 7.2 and which the Company Board concludes in good faith constitutes a Superior Proposal, it may, subject to compliance with the procedures set forth in Sections 7.3, 7.3.4 and 8.2, terminate this Agreement and enter into an agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to such Superior Proposal, and (ii) at any time following the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the Acquiror Shareholder Approval, if Acquiror receives an Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section 7.2 and which the Acquiror Board concludes in good faith constitutes a Superior Proposal, it may, subject to compliance with the procedures set forth in Sections 7.3, 7.3.4 and 8.2, terminate this Agreement and enter into an agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to such Superior Proposal.

 

7.2.6          Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit either Party from responding through a directors’ circular or otherwise as required by applicable Securities Laws to an Acquisition Proposal if: (i) such Party provides the other Party and its legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the form and content of any such disclosure, including but not limited to the directors’ circular or otherwise, and (ii) such Party considers all reasonable amendments to such disclosure as requested by the other Party and its legal counsel, acting reasonably. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Party’s Board from (A) calling and holding a meeting of shareholders validly requisitioned by that Party’s shareholders in accordance with applicable Law, or (B) calling and holding a meeting of shareholders ordered to be held by a court in accordance with Law.

 

7.2.7          Each Party shall ensure that its Representatives are aware of the provisions of this Section 7.2, and it shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 7.2 by its Representatives.

 

7.3Superior Proposals and Right to Match

 

7.3.1          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement if a Party receives a written Acquisition Proposal prior to the approval of the Arrangement Resolution (in respect of an Acquisition Proposal for Company) or the Acquiror Resolution (in respect of an Acquisition Proposal for Acquiror), as applicable, in each case, that such Party’s Board determines in good faith constitutes a Superior Proposal, then such Party’s Board may make a Change in Recommendation and/or enter into an agreement, understanding or arrangement in respect of such Superior Proposal (a “Superior Proposal Agreement”) if and only if:

 

(a)the Party receiving such proposal (the “Receiving Party”) has complied with its obligations under Section  7.2 in all material respects and has provided the other Party (the “Responding Party”) with a copy of the Superior Proposal and all related documentation described in Section 7.2.4 as well as the value or range of values in financial terms that the Party’s Board has, in consultation with financial advisors, determined should be ascribed to any non-cash consideration offered under such Superior Proposal;

 

(b)a period (the “Response Period”) of five business days has elapsed from the date that is the later of: (x) the date on which the Responding Party receives written notice from the Receiving Party that it has determined, subject only to compliance with this Section  7.3, to make a Change of Recommendation and/or enter into a Superior Proposal Agreement; and (y) the date the Responding Party receives a copy of the Superior Proposal Agreement, all related documents described in Section 7.2.4 and, if applicable, the written notice with respect to the value or range in Section 7.3.1(a) above;

 

(c)after the Response Period, the Receiving Party (after consultation with its legal and financial advisors) has determined in good faith that such Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal compared to any proposed amendments to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement by the Responding Party; and

 

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(d)prior to or concurrently with entering into such Superior Proposal Agreement, the Receiving Party shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2.1(c)(ii) (where Company is the Receiving Party) or Section 8.2.1(d)(ii) (where Acquiror is the Receiving Party) and the Receiving Party shall have paid Responding Party the applicable Termination Fee.

 

7.3.2          During the Response Period, the Responding Party will have the right, but not the obligation, to offer to amend this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement, including modification of the consideration. The Receiving Party shall review any such offer by the Responding Party to amend this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement to determine in good faith whether the Acquisition Proposal to which the Responding Party is responding would continue to be a Superior Proposal when assessed against the Arrangement as it is proposed in writing by the Responding Party to be amended. The Receiving Party shall negotiate in good faith with the Responding Party to enable the Responding Party to make such amendments to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement as would enable the Responding Party to proceed with the Arrangement and any related transactions on such amended terms. The Receiving Party agrees that, subject to the Receiving Party’s disclosure obligations under applicable Securities Laws, the fact of the making of, and each of the terms of, any such proposed amendments shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person (including without limitation, the person having made the Superior Proposal), other than the Receiving Party’s Representatives, without the prior written consent of the Responding Party. If the Receiving Party, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, determines that the Acquisition Proposal would cease to be a Superior Proposal, when assessed against this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement as they are proposed to be amended by the Responding Party, the Receiving Party will cause it to enter into an amendment to this Agreement with the Responding Party incorporating the amendments to the Agreement and Plan of Arrangement as set out in the written offer to amend. If the Receiving Party’s Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition Proposal remains a Superior Proposal and therefore rejects the Responding Party’s offer to amend this Agreement and the Arrangement, if any, the Receiving Party may, subject to compliance with the other provisions hereof, make a Change in Recommendation and/or enter into an Superior Proposal Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal.

 

7.3.3          The Receiving Party will promptly reaffirm its Board Recommendation by the prompt issuance of a press release after: (i) any Acquisition Proposal which the Receiving Party determines not to constitute a Superior Proposal is publicly announced; or (ii) the Receiving Party’s Board determines that a proposed amendment to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement pursuant to Section 7.3.2 would result in any Acquisition Proposal that has been publicly announced to cease to be a Superior Proposal. The Responding Party and its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the form and content of any such press release, recognizing that whether or not such comments are appropriate will be determined by the Receiving Party, acting reasonably.

 

7.3.4          Each successive amendment to any Acquisition Proposal that results in an increase in, or modification of, the consideration (or value of such consideration) to be received by the holders of the Receiving Party’s securities shall constitute a new Acquisition Proposal for the purposes of this Section  7.3 and the Responding Party shall be afforded a new Response Period and the rights afforded in Section 7.3.2 in respect of each such Acquisition Proposal.

 

7.3.5          Where at any time within ten days before the Company Meeting or the Acquiror Meeting, as applicable, the Receiving Party has provided the Responding Party with a notice under Section 7.3.1 hereof, an Acquisition Proposal has been publicly disclosed or announced, and the Response Period has not elapsed, then, subject to applicable Laws, at the Responding Party’s request, the Receiving Party may, and upon request of the Responding Party, shall, postpone or adjourn the Company Meeting or the Acquiror Meeting, as applicable, to a date acceptable to the Responding Party, acting reasonably, which shall not be later than ten days after the scheduled date of the Company Meeting or the Acquiror Meeting, as applicable, and shall, in the event that the Parties amend the terms of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3.2, ensure that the details of such amended Agreement are communicated to the shareholders of the Receiving Party prior to the resumption of the postponed or adjourned meeting.

 

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7.4Expenses and Termination Fees

 

7.4.1          Except as otherwise provided herein, all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees, costs or expenses.

 

7.4.2          If a Company Termination Fee Event occurs, Company shall pay Acquiror or as Acquiror may direct (by wire transfer of immediately available funds) the Termination Fee.

 

7.4.3          If an Acquiror Termination Fee Event occurs, Acquiror shall pay Company or as Company may direct (by wire transfer of immediately available funds) the Termination Fee.

 

7.4.4          For the purposes of this Agreement, “Termination Fee” means $250 million, in respect of a Company Termination Fee Event and $475 million in respect of an Acquiror Termination Fee Event.

 

7.4.5          For the purposes of this Agreement, “Company Termination Fee Event” means the termination of this Agreement:

 

(a)by Acquiror pursuant to Section  8.2.1(c)(i) [Change in Recommendation]

 

(b)by Acquiror pursuant to Section 8.2.1(c)(iv) [Breach of Non-Solicitation];

 

(c)by Company pursuant to Section 8.2.1(d)(ii) [Superior Proposal]; or

 

(d)by either Party pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(iii) [Company Shareholder Approval] or by Acquiror pursuant to Section 8.2.1(c)(iii) [Company Breach of Representations and Warranties or Covenants] but only in the event of a termination due to wilful or intentional breach or fraud by Company if, in each case: (A) prior to such termination, a bona fide Acquisition Proposal, or the intention to make an Acquisition Proposal, with respect to Company shall have been publicly announced by any person (other than Acquiror or any of its affiliates) after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Company Meeting; (B) such Acquisition Proposal (as it may be modified or amended) has not expired or been withdrawn at least five (5) business days prior to the Company Meeting; and (C) within 12 months following the date of such termination, either:

 

(i)the announced Acquisition Proposal (as it may be modified or amended) is consummated by Company; or

 

(ii)Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries enters into a definitive agreement in respect of, or the Company Board approves or recommends, any Acquisition Proposal which is subsequently consummated at any time thereafter;

 

provided that, for the purposes of this Section 7.4.5(d) all references to “20%” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” shall be deemed to be references to “50%”; or

 

(e)by either Party pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(i) [Outside Date] or pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(iii) [Company Shareholder Approval], if at the time of such termination, Acquiror was entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section  8.2.1(c)(i) [Change in Recommendation];

 

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7.4.6          For the purposes of this Agreement, “Acquiror Termination Fee Event” means the termination of this Agreement:

 

(a)by Company pursuant to Section 8.2.1(d)(i) [Change in Recommendation]; or

 

(b)by Company pursuant to Section 8.2.1(d)(iv) [Breach of Non-Solicitation]; or

 

(c)by Acquiror pursuant to Section 8.2.1(c)(ii) [Superior Proposal]; or

 

(d)by either Company or Acquiror pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(iv) [Acquiror Shareholder Approval] or by Company pursuant to Section 8.2.1(d)(iii) [Acquiror Breach of Representations and Warranties or Covenants] but only in the event of a termination due to wilful or intentional breach or fraud by the Acquiror if, in each case: (A) prior to such termination, a bona fide Acquisition Proposal, or the intention to make an Acquisition Proposal, with respect to Acquiror shall have been publicly announced by any person (other than Company or any of its affiliates) after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Acquiror Meeting; (B) such Acquisition Proposal (as it may be modified or amended) has not expired or been withdrawn at least five (5) business days prior to the Acquiror Meeting; and (C) within 12 months following the date of such termination:

 

(i)the announced Acquisition Proposal (as it may be modified or amended) is consummated by Acquiror; or

 

(ii)Acquiror and/or one or more of its subsidiaries enters into a definitive agreement in respect of, or the Acquiror Board approves or recommends, any Acquisition Proposal which is subsequently consummated at any time thereafter;

 

provided that, for the purposes of this Section 7.4.6(d) all references to “20%” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” shall be deemed to be references to “50%”.

 

(e)by the Company or Acquiror pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(i) [Outside Date] or Section 8.2.1(b)(iv) [Acquiror Shareholder Approval], if at the time of such termination, Company was entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2.1(d)(i) [Change in Recommendation];

 

7.4.7          If a Company Termination Fee Event described in any of Sections 7.4.5(a) or 7.4.5(c) occurs, the Termination Fee shall be payable simultaneously by Company to Acquiror with the occurrence of such Company Termination Fee Event. If a Company Termination Fee Event described in Sections 7.4.5(b), 7.4.5(d) or 7.4.5(e) occurs, the Company Termination Fee shall be payable by Company to Acquiror within two business days following the occurrence of such Company Termination Fee Event.

 

7.4.8          If an Acquiror Termination Fee Event described in any of Sections 7.4.6(a) or 7.4.6(c) occurs, the Termination Fee shall be payable by Acquiror to Company simultaneously with the occurrence of such Acquiror Termination Fee Event. If an Acquiror Termination Fee Event described in Section 7.4.6(b), 7.4.6(d) or 7.4.6(e) occurs, the Acquiror Termination Fee shall be payable by Acquiror to Company within two business days following the occurrence of such Acquiror Termination Fee Event.

 

7.4.9          In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Company pursuant to 8.2.1(d)(iii) [Breach of Representation or Warranty or Failure to Perform Covenants by Acquiror] or pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(iv) [Acquiror Shareholder Approval], an amount equal to $10 million (the “Company Expense Reimbursement”) shall be paid by Acquiror to Company provided that the Company Expense Reimbursement shall not be payable in the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(iv) [Acquiror Shareholder Approval], if: (a) the Company Shareholder Approval was not obtained at the Company Meeting; or (b) prior to the Acquiror Meeting (i) a Material Adverse Effect in respect of Company occurred and such Material Adverse Effect was not cured at least five (5) business days prior to the Acquiror Meeting and (ii) Acquiror notified Company in writing prior to the Company Meeting that it is of the view that a Material Adverse Effect had occurred in respect of Company, specifying in detail the basis for its conclusion. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.4.9 to the contrary and subject to Section 7.4.12, in no event shall Acquiror be required to pay under Section 7.4.6, on the one hand, and this Section 7.4.9, on the other hand, in aggregate, an amount in excess of the Termination Fee.

 

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7.4.10      In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Acquiror pursuant to Section 8.2.1(c)(iii) [Breach of Representation or Warranty or Failure to Perform Covenants by Company] or pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(iii) [Company Shareholder Approval], an amount equal to $10 million (the “Acquiror Expense Reimbursement”) shall be paid by Company to Acquiror provided that the Acquiror Expense Reimbursement shall not be payable in the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2.1(b)(iii) [Company Shareholder Approval], if (a) the Acquiror Shareholder Approval was not obtained at the Acquiror Meeting; or (b) prior to the Company Meeting (i) a Material Adverse Effect in respect of Acquiror occurred and such Material Adverse Effect was not cured at least five (5) business days prior to the Company Meeting and (ii) Company notified Acquiror in writing prior to the Company Meeting that it is of the view that a Material Adverse Effect has occurred in respect of Acquiror, specifying in detail the basis for its conclusion. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.4.10 to the contrary and subject to Section 7.4.12, in no event shall Company be required to pay under Section 7.4.5, on the one hand, and this Section 7.4.10, on the other hand, in aggregate, an amount in excess of the Termination Fee.

 

7.4.11      Each of the Parties acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 7.4 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and that, without those agreements, the Parties would not enter into this Agreement. Each Party acknowledges that all of the payment amounts set out in this Section 7.4 are payments of liquidated damages which are a genuine pre-estimate of the damages which the Party entitled to such damages will suffer or incur as a result of the event giving rise to such payment and the resultant termination of this Agreement and are not penalties. Each Party irrevocably waives any right it may have to raise as a defence that any such liquidated damages are excessive or punitive. For greater certainty, each Party agrees that, upon any termination of this Agreement under circumstances where a Party is entitled to the Termination Fee and such Termination Fee is paid in full, such payment shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of such Party in respect of the event giving rise to such payment and such Party be precluded from any other remedy against the other Party at law or in equity or otherwise (including, without limitation, an order for specific performance), and shall not seek to obtain any recovery, judgment, or damages of any kind, including consequential, indirect, or punitive damages, against the other Party or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, managers, members, shareholders or affiliates in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

7.4.12      Nothing in this Section 7.4 shall relieve or have the effect of relieving any Party in any way from liability for damages incurred or suffered by a Party as a result of an intentional or wilful breach of this Agreement.

 

7.4.13      Nothing in this Section 7.4 shall preclude a Party from seeking injunctive relief to restrain any breach or threatened breach of the covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement or otherwise to obtain specific performance of any such covenants or agreements, without the necessity of posting bond or security in connection therewith.

 

7.4.14      In no event shall a Party be obligated to pay to the other Party an amount in respect of the termination of this Agreement that is, in aggregate, in excess of the Termination Fee and the Termination Fee shall, in any case, only be paid once by a Party.

 

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7.5Access to Information; Confidentiality

 

7.5.1          From the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement, subject to compliance with applicable Law and the terms of any existing Contracts, Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries and their respective officers, directors, employees, independent auditors, accounting advisers and agents to, afford to Acquiror and to the officers, employees, agents and Representatives of Acquiror such access as Acquiror may reasonably require at all reasonable times, including for the purpose of facilitating integration business planning, to their officers, employees, agents, properties, books, records and Contracts, and shall furnish Acquiror with all data and information as Acquiror may reasonably request.

 

7.5.2          From the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement, subject to compliance with applicable Law and the terms of any existing Contracts, Acquiror shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries and their respective officers, directors, employees, independent auditors, accounting advisers and agents to, afford to Company and to the officers, employees, agents and Representatives of Company such access as Company may reasonably require at all reasonable times, including for the purpose of facilitating integration business planning, to their officers, employees, agents, properties, books, records and Contracts, and shall furnish Company with all data and information as Company may reasonably request.

 

7.5.3          Acquiror and Company acknowledge and agree that information furnished pursuant to this Section  7.5 shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

7.6Insurance and Indemnification

 

7.6.1          Prior to the Effective Time, Company shall purchase customary “tail” policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance from an insurance company of nationally recognized standing providing protection no less favourable in the aggregate to the protection provided by the policies maintained by Company and its subsidiaries which are in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and providing protection in respect of claims arising from facts or events which occurred on or prior to the Effective Time and Acquiror shall, or shall cause Company and its subsidiaries to, maintain such tail policies in effect without any reduction in scope or coverage for six (6) years after the Effective Date; provided that Acquiror shall not be required to pay any amounts in respect of such coverage prior to the Effective Time.

 

7.6.2          Acquiror agrees that it shall directly honour all rights to indemnification or exculpation now existing in favour of present and former officers and directors of Company and its subsidiaries and acknowledges that such rights shall survive the completion of the Plan of Arrangement and shall continue in full force and effect.

 

7.6.3          If Company or Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns shall (i) amalgamate, consolidate with or merge or wind-up into any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity; or (ii) transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and assigns and transferees of Company or Acquiror, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations of Company or Acquiror, as applicable, set forth in this Section 7.6.

 

7.6.4          The provisions of this Section  7.6 are intended for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each insured or indemnified person, his or her heirs and his or her legal representatives and, for such purpose, Company hereby confirms that it is acting as agent and trustee on their behalf. Furthermore, this Section 7.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement as a result of the occurrence of the Effective Date for a period of six years.

 

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Article 8
TERM, TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

 

8.1Term

 

This Agreement shall be effective from the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

8.2Termination

 

8.2.1          This Agreement, other than Section 7.4 hereof, may be terminated and the Arrangement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time (notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement or the Arrangement Resolution by the Company Shareholders, or of this Agreement and the Acquiror Resolution by the Acquiror Shareholders or the approval of the Arrangement by the Court):

 

(a)by mutual written agreement of Company and Acquiror; or

 

(b)by either Company or Acquiror, if:

 

(i)the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before the Outside Date, except that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.2.1 (b) (i) shall not be available to any Party whose failure to fulfill any of its obligations or whose breach of any of its representations and warranties under this Agreement has been the cause of, or directly resulted in, the failure of the Effective Time to occur by such Outside Date; or

 

(ii)after the date hereof, there shall be enacted, made any applicable Law (or any applicable Law shall have been amended) that makes consummation of the Arrangement illegal or otherwise prohibits or enjoins Company or Acquiror from consummating the Arrangement and such applicable Law (if applicable), prohibition or enjoinment shall have become final and non-appealable; or

 

(iii)the Arrangement Resolution shall have failed to obtain the requisite Company Shareholder Approval at the Company Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof), in accordance with the Interim Order, except that the right to terminate this Agreement under Section 8.2.1(b)(iii) shall not be available to any Party whose failure to fulfill any of its obligations or whose breach of any of its representations and warranties under this Agreement has been the cause of, or directly resulted in, the failure to receive the Company Shareholder Approval; or

 

(iv)the Acquiror Resolution shall have failed to obtain the Acquiror Shareholder Approval at the Acquiror Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) in accordance with applicable Law, except that the right to terminate this Agreement under Section 8.2.1(b)(iv) shall not be available to any Party whose failure to fulfill any of its obligations or whose breach of any of its representations and warranties under this Agreement has been the cause of, or directly resulted in, the failure to receive the Acquiror Shareholder Approval;

 

(c)by Acquiror, if:

 

(i)the Company Board makes a Change in Recommendation; or

 

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(ii)prior to the Acquiror Meeting, the Acquiror Board authorizes Acquiror to enter into a Superior Proposal Agreement (other than an acceptable confidentiality agreement entered into in accordance with Section 7.2.3) with respect to a Superior Proposal in accordance with Section 7.3.1, provided that Acquiror is then in compliance with Section 7.2 and 7.3 in all material respects and that, prior to or concurrently with such termination, Acquiror pays the Termination Fee payable pursuant to Section 7.3.4; or

 

(iii)subject to Section  7.1, a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of Company set forth in this Agreement (other than as set forth in Section 7.2) shall have occurred that would cause the conditions set forth in Section  6.1 or Section 6.2 not to be satisfied, and such conditions are incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date; provided that Acquiror is not then in breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Section  6.1 or Section  6.3 not to be satisfied;

 

(iv)Company breaches of any of its obligations or covenants set forth in Section 7.2 in any material respect; or

 

(v)there has occurred a Material Adverse Effect on Company that is incapable of being cured prior to the Outside Date;

 

(d)by Company, if:

 

(i)the Acquiror Board makes a Change in Recommendation; or

 

(ii)prior to the Company Meeting, the Company Board authorizes Company to enter into a Superior Proposal Agreement (other than an acceptable confidentiality agreement entered into in accordance with Section 7.2.3) with respect to a Superior Proposal in accordance with Section 7.3.1, provided that Company is then in compliance with Section 7.2 and 7.3 in all material respects and that, prior to or concurrently with such termination, Company pays the Termination Fee payable pursuant to Section 7.3.4; or

 

(iii)subject to Section  7.1, a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of Acquiror set forth in this Agreement (other than as set forth in Section 7.2) shall have occurred that would cause the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.3 not to be satisfied, and such conditions are incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date; provided that Company is not then in breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Section  6.1 or Section  6.2 not to be satisfied;

 

(iv)Acquiror breaches any of its obligations or covenants set forth in Section 7.2 in any material respect; or

 

(v)there has occurred a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror that is incapable of being cured prior to the Outside Date.

 

8.2.2          The Party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section  8.2 (other than pursuant to Section  8.2.1(a)) shall give prompt written notice of such termination to the other Party.

 

8.2.3          If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section  8.2, this Agreement shall become void and of no effect without liability of any Party (or any shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or representative of such Party) to the other Party hereto, except as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby, and provided that the provisions of this Section  8.2.3 and Sections 5.7(d), 7.3.4, 7.5.3, 9.1, 9.3, 9.6 and 9.7 and all related definitions in Section 1.1, and the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement (including any standstill provisions contained therein), shall survive any termination hereof pursuant to Section  8.2.1; provided further that neither the termination of this Agreement nor anything contained in this Section  8.2 shall relieve a Party from any liability arising prior to such termination.

 

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8.3Amendment

 

This Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement may, at any time and from time to time before or after the holding of the Company Meeting but not later than the Effective Time, be amended by mutual written agreement of the Parties, and any such amendment may, subject to the Interim Order and the Final Order and applicable Law, without limitation:

 

(a)change the time for performance of any of the obligations or acts of the Parties;

 

(b)waive any inaccuracies or modify any representation or warranty contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto;

 

(c)waive compliance with or modify any of the covenants herein contained and waive or modify performance of any of the obligations of the Parties; and/or

 

(d)waive compliance with or modify any mutual conditions precedent herein contained.

 

8.4Waiver

 

Any Party may: (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of the other Party; (ii) waive compliance, except as provided herein, with any of the other Party’s agreements or the fulfilment of any conditions to its own obligations contained herein; or (iii) waive inaccuracies in any of the other Party’s representations or warranties contained herein or in any document delivered by the other Party; provided, however, that any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party and, unless otherwise provided in the written waiver, will be limited to the specific breach or condition waived.

 

Article 9
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

9.1Privacy

 

Each Party shall comply with applicable privacy Laws in the course of collecting, using and disclosing personal information about an identifiable individual (the “Transaction Personal Information”). Neither Party shall disclose Transaction Personal Information to any person other than to its advisors who are evaluating and advising on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If the Arrangement is consummated, neither Party shall, following the Effective Date, without the consent of the individuals to whom such Transaction Personal Information relates or as permitted or required by applicable Law, use or disclose Transaction Personal Information:

 

(a)for purposes other than those for which such Transaction Personal Information was collected prior to the Effective Date; and

 

(b)which does not relate directly to the carrying on the business of such Party or to the carrying out of the purposes for which the transactions contemplated by this Agreement were implemented.

 

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Each Party shall protect and safeguard the Transaction Personal Information against unauthorized collection, use or disclosure. Each Party shall cause its advisors to observe the terms of this Section and to protect and safeguard Transaction Personal Information in their possession. If this Agreement shall be terminated, each Party shall promptly deliver to other Party all Transaction Personal Information in its possession or in the possession of any of its advisors, including all copies, reproductions, summaries or extracts thereof.

 

9.2Notices

 

All notices and other communications given or made pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made as of the date delivered or sent if delivered personally or e-mail transmission, or as of the following business day if sent by prepaid overnight courier, to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be specified by any Party by notice to the other given in accordance with these provisions):

 

(a)if to Acquiror:

 

Equinox Gold Corp.
Suite 1501 – 700 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1G8

 

Attention: Daniella Dimitrov
Email: [Redacted - email address]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Blake, Cassels & Graydon, LLP
1133 Melville Street, Suite 3500
The Stack, Vancouver, BC V6E 4E5

 

Attention: Bob Wooder
Email: [Redacted - email address]

 

(b)if to Company:

 

Orla Mining Ltd.
Suite 2020 – 666 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8

 

Attention: Jason Simpson
Email: [Redacted - email address]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Suite 2200, RBC Place, 885 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8

 

Attention: Jen Hansen
Email: [Redacted - email address]

 

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9.3Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

 

This Agreement shall be governed, including as to validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably attorns to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the Province of British Columbia in respect of all matters arising under and in relation to this Agreement and waives any defences to the maintenance of an action in the Courts of the Province of British Columbia. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

9.4Injunctive Relief

 

Subject to Section 7.4, the Parties agree that irreparable harm would occur for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement, any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief hereby being waived.

 

9.5Time of Essence

 

Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement.

 

9.6Entire Agreement, Binding Effect and Assignment

 

Acquiror may assign all or any part of its rights under this Agreement to, and its obligations under this Agreement may be assumed by, a wholly-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of Acquiror, provided that if such assignment and/or assumption takes place, Acquiror shall continue to be liable jointly and severally with such subsidiary for all of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall enure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

This Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules hereto, the Company Disclosure Letter and the Acquiror Disclosure Letter) and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and, except as expressly provided herein, this Agreement is not intended to and shall not confer upon any person other than the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder. Except as expressly permitted by the terms hereof, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Acquiror shall be entitled at any time to assign its rights in this Agreement (however it may not transfer its liabilities or obligations under the Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company) as security in favour of the Acquiror’s lenders and grant and allow to exist a Lien in respect of this Agreement in favour of the Acquiror’s lenders.

 

9.7Severability

 

If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

 

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9.8Counterparts, Execution

 

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The Parties shall be entitled to rely upon delivery of an executed electronic copy of this Agreement, and such executed electronic copy shall be legally effective to create a valid and binding agreement between the Parties.

 

9.9Language

 

The Parties expressly acknowledge that they have requested that this Agreement and all ancillary and related documents thereto be drafted in the English language only. Les parties aux présentes reconnaissent avoir exigé que la présente entente et tous les documents qui y sont accessoires soient rédigés en anglais seulement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  EQUINOX GOLD CORP.
  By: (signed) "Darren Hall"
    Name: Darren Hall
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  By: (signed) "Daniella Dimitrov"
    Name: Daniella Dimitrov
    Title: Chief Strategy & Risk Officer

 

 

 

 

  ORLA MINING LTD.
  By: (signed) "Jason Simpson"
    Name: Jason Simpson
    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Arrangement Agreement

 

 

 

Schedule A
TO THE ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

Plan of Arrangement
Under SECTION 192 of the
Canada Business Corporations AcT

 

Article 1
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1               Definitions

 

In this Plan of Arrangement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and terms with the initial letter or letters thereof capitalized shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

 

Acquiror” means Equinox Gold Corp.;

 

Acquiror Shares” means the common shares of Acquiror as currently constituted;

 

Acquiror Holdco” means a corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada prior to the Effective Date, and which will be, when incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror;

 

Acquiror Holdco Shares” means common shares in the capital of Acquiror Holdco;

 

affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Securities Act (British Columbia);

 

Amalco” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h)(i).

 

Amalco Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(d);

 

Amalgamation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h)(i);

 

Arrangement” means the arrangement under Section 192 of the CBCA on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Plan of Arrangement, subject to any amendments or variations thereto in accordance with Section 8.3 of the Arrangement Agreement or Section 6.1 or at the direction of the Court in the Final Order with the prior written consent of Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably;

 

Arrangement Agreement” means the arrangement agreement dated May 12, 2026 between Acquiror and Company, together with the disclosure letters referenced therein, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

Arrangement Resolution” means the special resolution of the Company Shareholders approving the Arrangement to be considered at the Company Meeting, substantially in the form and content of Schedule B to the Arrangement Agreement;

 

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a statutory or civic holiday in Vancouver, British Columbia;

 

Cash Consideration” means $0.0001 per Company Share, without interest;

 

CBCA” means the Canada Business Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-44, as amended;

 

 A-1

 

Certificate of Arrangement” means the certificate of arrangement to be issued by the Director pursuant to Section 192(7) of the CBCA in respect of the Articles of Arrangement;

 

Company” means Orla Mining Ltd.;

 

Company Bonus Share Agreement” means the bonus share agreement dated July 14, 2017 between the Company and Charles Jeannes;

 

Company Bonus Shares” means 500,000 Company Shares issuable to the Chairman of the Company Board pursuant the Company Bonus Share Agreement;

 

Company DSU” means a deferred share unit issued pursuant to the Company DSU Plan;

 

Company DSU Holder” means a holder of one or more Company DSUs;

 

Company DSU Plan” means the deferred share unit plan of Company effective June 27, 2018 and amended June 12, 2019;

 

Company Meeting” means the special meeting of Company Shareholders, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, to be called and held in accordance with the Interim Order to consider the Arrangement Resolution;

 

Company Notes” means the convertible notes of Company;

 

Company Noteholder” means a holder of one or more Company Notes;

 

Company Options” means the outstanding options to purchase Company Shares granted under the Company Stock Option Plan;

 

Company Optionholders” means the holders of Company Options;

 

Company PSU” means a performance share unit issued pursuant to the Company PSU Plan;

 

Company PSU Holder” means a holder of one or more Company PSUs;

 

Company PSU Plan” means the performance share unit plan of the Company effective March 27, 2023 and amended March 30, 2024 and December 18, 2025;

 

Company RSU” means a restricted share unit issued pursuant to the Company RSU Plan;

 

Company RSU Holder” means a holder of one or more Company RSUs;

 

Company RSU Plan” means the restricted share unit plan of Company effective April 2, 2020 and amended June 24, 2025;

 

Company Shareholder” means a holder of Company Shares;

 

Company Shares” means the common shares of Company, as currently constituted;

 

Company Stock Option Plan” means the stock option plan of the Company effective December 6, 2016 and amended May 24, 2018, June 12, 2019 and June 24, 2025;

 

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Company Warrants” means the common share purchase warrants of Company;

 

Company Warrantholder” means a holder of one or more Company Warrants;

 

Consideration” means the consideration to be received by the Company Shareholders pursuant to this Plan of Arrangement for their Company Shares, consisting of the Consideration Shares and the Cash Consideration;

 

Consideration Shares” means the Acquiror Shares to be issued to the Company Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement;

 

Court” means the Supreme Court of British Columbia;

 

Depositary” means any trust company, bank or financial institution agreed to in writing between Acquiror and Company for the purpose of, among other things, exchanging certificates representing Company Shares for the Consideration in connection with the Arrangement;

 

Dissent Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.1;

 

Dissent Shares” means Company Shares held by a Dissenting Shareholder and in respect of which the Dissenting Shareholder has duly and validly exercised Dissent Rights in strict compliance with Article 4 of this Plan of Arrangement (provided that Dissent Rights of such Dissenting Shareholder have not terminated or ceased to apply with respect to such shares);

 

Dissenting Shareholder” means a registered holder of Company Shares as of the record date of the Company Meeting who has (i) duly and validly exercised Dissent Rights in strict compliance with the dissent procedures set out in Section 190 of the CBCA, as modified by Section 4.1 hereto, the Interim Order, the Final Order, or any other order of the Court, and (ii) who has not withdrawn or been deemed to have withdrawn such exercise of Dissent Rights;

 

DRS” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.5;

 

Effective Date” means the date shown on the Certificate of Arrangement giving effect to the Arrangement;

 

Effective Time” means 12:01 a.m. (Vancouver time) on the Effective Date, unless a different time on the Effective Date is agreed to by the Parties and set out in an instrument in writing for that purpose that is executed by the Parties;

 

Exchange Ratio” means 1.00 of an Acquiror Share for each Company Share;

 

Final Order” means the final order of the Court pursuant to Section 192 of the CBCA, approving the Arrangement, in form and substance acceptable to Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably, after a hearing upon the procedural and substantive fairness of the terms and conditions of the Arrangement, as such order may be affirmed, amended, modified, supplemented or varied by the Court at any time prior to the Effective Date (provided that any such amendment, modification, supplementation or variation is acceptable to both Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably), or, if appealed, then, unless such appeal is withdrawn or denied, as affirmed or as amended on appeal (provided that any such amendment is acceptable to both Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably);

 

final proscription date” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.5;

 

 A-3

 

Former Company Shareholders” means the holders of Company Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time;

 

Governmental Authority” means (a) any multinational, federal, provincial, territorial, state, tribal, regional, municipal, local or other government or governmental body and any division, agent, official, agency, commission, board or authority of any government, governmental body, quasi-governmental or private body exercising any statutory, regulatory, expropriation or taxing authority under the authority of any of the foregoing, (b) any domestic, foreign or international judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative court, tribunal, commission, board, panel or arbitrator acting under the authority of any of the foregoing, and (c) any stock exchange, including the TSX;

 

Interim Order” means the interim order of the Court, after being informed of the intention to rely upon the exemption from the registration requirements under Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act with respect to the issuance of the Acquiror Shares issuable as Consideration pursuant to the Arrangement, made pursuant to Section 192 of the CBCA following the application contemplated by Section 2.3(a) of the Arrangement Agreement, in form and substance acceptable to both Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably, providing for, among other things, declarations and directions in respect of the notice to be given in respect of, and the calling and holding of the Company Meeting, as the same may be affirmed, amended, modified, supplemented or varied by the Court (with the consent of Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably);

 

Laws” means all laws, statutes, codes, ordinances (including zoning), decrees, rules, regulations, by-laws, notices, judicial, arbitral, administrative, ministerial, departmental or regulatory judgments, injunctions, orders, decisions, settlements, writs, assessments, arbitration awards, rulings, determinations or awards, decrees or other requirements of any Governmental Authority having the force of law and any legal requirements arising under the common law or principles of law or equity and the term “applicable” with respect to such Laws and, in the context that refers to any person, means such Laws as are applicable at the relevant time or times to such person or its business, undertaking, property or securities and emanate from a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such person or its business, undertaking, property or securities;

 

Liens” means any pledge, claim, lien, charge, option, hypothec, mortgage, security interest, restriction, adverse right, prior assignment, lease, sublease, royalty, levy, right to possession or any other encumbrance, easement, license, right of first refusal, covenant, voting trust or agreement, transfer restriction under any shareholder or similar agreement, right or restriction of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether contingent or absolute, direct or indirect, or any agreement, option, right or privilege (whether by Law, contract or otherwise) capable of becoming any of the foregoing;

 

Parties” means, Company and Acquiror and “Party” means any of them;

 

Plan of Arrangement” means this plan of arrangement and any amendments or variations hereto made in accordance with Section 8.3 of the Arrangement Agreement or Section 6.1 of this Plan of Arrangement or at the direction of the Court, with the consent of Company and Acquiror, each acting reasonably;

 

Section 85 Election” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.8;

 

Transmittal Letter” means the letter of transmittal sent to holders of Company Shares for use in connection with the Arrangement; and

 

U.S. Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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Any capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Arrangement Agreement. In addition, words and phrases used herein and defined in the CBCA and not otherwise defined herein or in the Arrangement Agreement shall have the same meaning herein as in the CBCA unless the context otherwise requires.

 

1.2               Interpretation Not Affected by Headings

 

The division of this Plan of Arrangement into articles, sections, paragraphs and subparagraphs and the insertion of headings herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Plan of Arrangement. The terms “this Plan of Arrangement”, “hereof”, “herein”, “hereto”, “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Plan of Arrangement and not to any particular article, section or other portion hereof and include any instrument supplementary or ancillary hereto. Unless the contrary intention appears, references in this Plan of Arrangement to an Article or Section, by number or letter or both refer to the Article or Section, respectively, bearing that designation in this Plan of Arrangement.

 

1.3               Number, Gender and Persons

 

In this Plan of Arrangement, unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, words importing the use of either gender shall include both genders and neuter and the word person and words importing persons shall include a natural person, firm, trust, partnership, association, corporation, joint venture or government (including any governmental agency, political subdivision or instrumentality thereof) and any other entity or group of persons of any kind or nature whatsoever.

 

1.4               Date for any Action

 

If the date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder is not a Business Day, such action shall be required to be taken on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 

1.5               Statutory References

 

Any reference in this Plan of Arrangement to a statute includes all rules and regulations made or promulgated thereunder, all amendments to such statute or regulation in force from time to time and any statute or regulation that supplements or supersedes such statute or regulation.

 

1.6               Currency

 

Unless otherwise stated, all references herein to amounts of money are expressed in lawful money of United States.

 

1.7               Governing Law

 

This Plan of Arrangement shall be governed, including as to validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

 

1.8               Binding Effect

 

This Plan of Arrangement and the Arrangement, upon the filing of the Articles of Arrangement and the issuance of the Certificate of Arrangement, will become effective, and be binding on, without any further act or formality required on the part of any Person: Acquiror, Acquiror Holdco, Company, the Depositary, all registered and beneficial Company Shares, including Dissenting Shareholders, Company Optionholders, Company RSU Holders, Company PSU Holders, Company DSU Holders, Company Noteholders, Company Warrantholders, the registrar and transfer agent in respect of the Company Shares, Amalco (upon and following the Amalgamation) and all other persons.

 

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Article 2
ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

2.1               Arrangement Agreement

 

This Plan of Arrangement is made pursuant to, and is subject to the provisions of, the Arrangement Agreement, except in respect of the sequence of the steps comprising the Arrangement, which shall occur in the order set forth herein.

 

Article 3
ARRANGEMENT

 

3.1               Arrangement

 

Commencing and effective as at the Effective Time, each of the events set out below shall occur and shall be deemed to occur sequentially in the following order without any further act or formality required on the part of any person, except as otherwise expressly provided herein:

 

(a)each Company RSU outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall be deemed to be immediately vested to the fullest extent, shall settle, net of withholdings pursuant to Section 5.4, in Company Shares (provided that no share certificates or DRS statements shall be issued with respect to such Company Shares), and shall cease to represent a restricted share unit or other right to acquire Company Shares. Such Company Shares shall be exchanged for the Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1(e), and each such Company RSU shall be immediately cancelled by the Company and the holders of such Company RSUs shall cease to be holders thereof and to have any rights as Company RSU Holders. Each Company RSU Holder’s name shall be removed from the register of Company RSUs maintained by or on behalf of Company and all agreements relating to the Company RSUs shall be terminated and shall be of no further force and effect;

 

(b)each Company DSU outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall be deemed to be immediately vested to the fullest extent, shall settle, net of withholdings pursuant to Section 5.4, in Company Shares (provided that no share certificates or DRS statements shall be issued with respect to such Company Shares), and shall cease to represent a deferred share unit or other right to acquire Company Shares. Such Company Shares shall be exchanged for the Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1(e), and each such Company DSU shall be immediately cancelled by the Company and the holders of such Company DSUs shall cease to be holders thereof and to have any rights as Company DSU Holders. Each Company DSU Holder’s name shall be removed from the register of Company DSUs maintained by or on behalf of Company and all agreements relating to the Company DSUs shall be terminated and shall be of no further force and effect;

 

(c)each Company PSU outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall be deemed to be immediately vested to the fullest extent such that the “Performance Percentage” (as provided for under the Company PSU Plan) shall be deemed at 100%, shall be transferred by the holder thereof to the Company and cancelled by the Company in exchange for a cash payment, net of withholdings pursuant to Section 5.4, by the Company (using Company’s own funds not funds directly or indirectly provided by Acquiror or its affiliates) equal to the Market Price (as defined in the Company PSU Plan).

 

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(d)immediately prior to the exchange set forth in Section 3.1(e) below, each Dissent Share shall be and shall be deemed to have been transferred by the holder thereof, without any further act or formality on its part, to Company (free and clear of any Liens of any nature whatsoever) and cancelled, and Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therefore determined and payable in accordance with Article 4, and:

 

(i)such Dissenting Shareholder shall cease to be, and shall be deemed to cease to be, the holder of such Dissent Share and to have any rights as a Company Shareholder other than the right to be paid the fair value by the Company for such Dissent Share as set out in Section 4.1 out of reserves established by the Company therefore; and

 

(ii)such Dissenting Shareholder’s names shall be, and shall be deemed to be, removed from the register of Company Shareholders maintained by or on behalf of the Company;

 

(e)each outstanding Company Share (excluding any Dissent Share or any Company Shares held by Acquiror or its affiliates but including Company Shares issued pursuant to Section 3.1(a) and Section 3.1(b) above) shall be deemed to be transferred and assigned by the holder thereof, without further act or on its part, to Acquiror (free and clear of all Liens of any nature whatsoever) in exchange for the Consideration, and

 

(A)each holder of such Company Shares shall cease to be, and shall be deemed to cease to be, the holder thereof and to have any rights as a Company Shareholder other than the right to be paid the Consideration per Company Share in accordance with this Plan of Arrangement;

 

(B)the name of each such holder shall be, and shall be deemed to be, removed from the register of Company Shareholders maintained by or on behalf of the Company; and

 

(C)Acquiror shall be deemed to be the transferee of such Company Shares (free and clear of any Liens of any nature whatsoever) and the register of Company Shareholders maintained by or on behalf of the Company shall be, and shall be deemed to be, revised accordingly;

 

(f)notwithstanding the Company Stock Option Plan, each Company Option (whether vested or unvested) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time held by a holder shall fully vest, and such Company Option shall remain outstanding in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Option Plan, and the rights under such Company Option to acquire Company Shares shall be disposed of in exchange for new rights under such Company Option to acquire from the Acquiror, pursuant to the terms of the Company Option and in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Option Plan, such number of Acquiror Shares equal to: (A) the number of Company Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (B) the Exchange Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole number of Acquiror Shares, at an exercise price equal to the quotient determined by dividing: (X) the exercise price per Company Share at which such Company Option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (Y) the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole cent. The Company Option shall be exercisable until the original expiry date of the Company Option, except that the term of any Company Option held by or on behalf of an individual that will not be continuing as a director, officer, employee or consultant of Acquiror following thirty days after the Effective Date shall be the lesser of (i) the current expiry date of the Company Option; and (ii) the date that is twelve months following the Effective Date. For greater certainty, except as otherwise set out herein, the original grant agreement evidencing a Company Option and all terms and conditions of such Company Option and the conditions to and manner of exercising such Company Option existing prior to the Effective Time, shall in each case remain the same, and such Company Option shall continue after the Effective Time until such Company Option is exercised, terminated or expires in accordance with such terms and conditions;

 

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(g)all Company Shares held by the Acquiror shall be, and shall be deemed to be, transferred to Acquiror Holdco in exchange for Acquiror Holdco Shares having a value and stated capital equal to the value of the Company Shares transferred, and Acquiror Holdco shall be added to the securities register maintained by or on behalf of Company in respect of the Company Shares showing such holder as the legal and beneficial owner of the Company Shares transferred and Acquiror shall be added to the securities register maintained by or on behalf of Acquiror Holdco in respect of the Acquiror Holdco Shares showing such holder as the legal and beneficial owner of the Acquiror Holdco Shares issued. Acquiror and Acquiror Holdco will jointly file an election under section 85 of the Tax Act with an agreed amount not exceeding the adjusted cost base (as defined in the Tax Act) of the Company Shares transferred to Acquiror Holdco; and

 

(h)on the date that is two (2) Business Days after Company files a valid T2067 election under subsection 89(1) of the Tax Act to cease to be a “public corporation” for purposes of the Tax Act (which filing shall occur no later than five (5) Business Days following the date that the Company Shares are officially delisted from each and every “designated stock exchange” (within the meaning of the Tax Act) in Canada):

 

(i)Acquiror Holdco and Company shall amalgamate (the “Amalgamation”) to form one corporate entity with the same effect as if they were amalgamated under section 181 of the CBCA, except that the separate legal existence of Company will not cease and Company will survive the Amalgamation (Company, as such surviving entity, “Amalco”) and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Amalgamation together with the transactions described in Sections 3.1(a) through 3.1(h) are intended to constitute a single, integrated transaction qualifying as a tax deferred reorganization within the meaning of section 368(a)(1)(A) of the U.S. Tax Code by reason of section 368(a)(2)(E) of the U.S. Tax Code for all United States federal income tax purposes, and the Amalgamation is intended to qualify as an amalgamation as defined in subsection 87(1) of the Tax Act;

 

(ii)effective immediately prior to the Amalgamation, the stated capital account maintained in respect of the Company Shares shall be reduced to CAD$1.00 and the amount by which the stated capital of Company is reduced shall not be distributed to Acquiror Holdco;

 

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(iii)pursuant to the Amalgamation, the separate legal existence of Acquiror Holdco shall cease without Acquiror Holdco being liquidated or wound up and Acquiror Holdco and Company shall continue as Amalco, and the property and obligations of Acquiror Holdco and Company shall become the property and obligations of Amalco, as more fully described in Section 3.11;

 

(iv)effective on the Amalgamation, each Company Share shall be cancelled without any repayment of stated capital in respect of those shares; and

 

(v)effective on the Amalgamation, each Acquiror Holdco Share will be exchanged for an Amalco Share, as more fully described in Section 3.11(e).

 

The exchanges and cancellations provided for in Sections 3.1(a) through 3.1(g) will be deemed to occur on the Effective Date, notwithstanding that certain of the procedures related thereto are not completed until after the Effective Date.

 

3.2               Company Notes

 

In accordance with the terms of each of the Company Notes and to the extent not otherwise exercised, each holder of a Company Note shall be entitled to receive (and such holder shall accept) upon the exercise of such holder’s Company Note, in lieu of Company Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon such exercise, and for the same aggregate consideration payable therefore, the Consideration which the holder would have been entitled to receive as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Arrangement if, immediately prior to the Effective Date, such holder had been the registered holder of the number of Company Shares to which such holder would have been entitled if such holder had exercised such holder’s Company Notes immediately prior to the Effective Time. Each Company Note shall continue to be governed by and be subject to the terms of the applicable Company Note certificate, subject to any supplemental exercise documents issued by Acquiror to Company Noteholders to facilitate the exercise of the Company Notes and the payment of the corresponding portion of the exercise price thereof. Company Noteholders will be advised that securities issuable upon the exercise of the Company Notes in the U.S. or by a person in the U.S., if any, will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act, and may be issued only pursuant to an effective registration statement or a then available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws, if any.

 

3.3               Company Warrants

 

In accordance with the terms of each of the Company Warrants and to the extent not otherwise exercised, each holder of a Company Warrant shall be entitled to receive (and such holder shall accept) upon the exercise of such holder’s Company Warrant, in lieu of Company Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon such exercise, and for the same aggregate consideration payable therefore, the Consideration which the holder would have been entitled to receive as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Arrangement if, immediately prior to the Effective Date, such holder had been the registered holder of the number of Company Shares to which such holder would have been entitled if such holder had exercised such holder’s Company Warrants immediately prior to the Effective Time. Each Company Warrant shall continue to be governed by and be subject to the terms of the applicable Company Warrant certificate, subject to any supplemental exercise documents issued by Acquiror to Company Warrantholders to facilitate the exercise of the Company Warrants and the payment of the corresponding portion of the exercise price thereof. Company Warrantholders will be advised that securities issuable upon the exercise of the Company Warrants in the U.S. or by a person in the U.S., if any, will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act, and may be issued only pursuant to an effective registration statement or a then available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws, if any.

 

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3.4               Company Bonus Shares

 

Notwithstanding the terms of the Company Bonus Share Agreement, the Company Bonus Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall not vest in accordance with the terms of the Company Bonus Share Agreement on the occurrence of a Change of Control (as such term is defined in the Company Bonus Share Agreement) but shall be adjusted such that the Company Bonus Shares shall vest and be settled on the date the holder thereof ceases to act as a director of the Acquiror Board, and the holder of the Company Bonus Shares shall be entitled to receive (and such holder shall accept) upon the settlement of such Company Bonus Shares following the Effective Date, in lieu of Company Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon such settlement, the Consideration which the holder would have been entitled to receive as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Arrangement if, immediately prior to the Effective Date, such holder had been the registered holder of the number of Company Shares to which such holder would have been entitled if such Company Bonus Shares had settled immediately prior to the Effective Time. The holder of the Company Bonus Shares will be advised that securities issuable upon the settlement of the Company Bonus Shares in the U.S. or by a person in the U.S., if any, will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act, and may be issued only pursuant to an effective registration statement or a then available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws, if any.

 

3.5               Effective Time Procedures

 

Following the receipt of the Final Order and prior to the Effective Date, Acquiror shall deliver or arrange to be delivered to the Depositary certificates or direct registration (“DRS”) advice-statements representing the Acquiror Shares required to be issued to Former Company Shareholders and cash required to satisfy the aggregate Cash Consideration, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.1, which certificates or DRS advice-statements and cash shall be held by the Depositary as agent and nominee for such Former Company Shareholders for distribution to such Former Company Shareholders in accordance with the provisions of Article 5.

 

Subject to the provisions of Article 5, and upon return of a properly completed Transmittal Letter by a registered Former Company Shareholder together with certificates representing Company Shares and such other documents as the Depositary may require, Former Company Shareholders shall be entitled to receive delivery of certificates or DRS advice-statements representing the Acquiror Shares and Cash Consideration to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

3.6               Acquiror Shares

 

(a)No fractional Acquiror Shares shall be issued to Former Company Shareholders. The number of Acquiror Shares to be issued to Former Company Shareholders shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Acquiror Share in the event that a Former Company Shareholder is entitled to a fractional share representing less than a whole Acquiror Share; and

 

(b)All Acquiror Shares issued pursuant hereto shall be deemed to be validly issued and outstanding as fully paid and non-assessable shares for the purposes of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).

 

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3.7               No Fractional Cash Consideration

 

In any case where the aggregate amount of cash payable to a particular Company Shareholder under this Plan of Arrangement would, but for this provision, include a fraction of a cent, the consideration payable shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent.

 

3.8               Section 85 Election

 

(a)An Eligible Holder who is entitled to receive Acquiror Shares under Section 3.1(e) shall be entitled to make a joint income tax election with Acquiror, pursuant to Section 85 of the Tax Act (and any analogous provision of provincial income tax law) (a “Section 85 Election”) with respect to the disposition of Company Shares under this Plan of Arrangement by providing the necessary information in accordance with the procedures set out in the tax instruction letter on or before 120 days following the Effective Date. Acquiror shall, within 60 days of receipt thereof, sign and return validly completed election forms which are in compliance with the provisions of the Tax Act (and applicable provincial tax law) and the procedures in the tax instruction letter and which are received within 120 days following the Effective Date to the relevant Eligible Holders for filing with the Canada Revenue Agency (or applicable provincial tax authority). Other than the foregoing obligation, neither the Company, Acquiror nor any successor corporation shall be responsible for the proper completion of any election form, nor for any Taxes, interest or penalties resulting from the failure of an Eligible Holder to properly complete or file such joint election forms in the form and manner and within the time prescribed by the Tax Act (or any applicable provincial legislation). In its sole discretion, Acquiror or any successor corporation may choose to sign and return a joint election form received by it more than 120 days following the Effective Date, but will have no obligation to do so.

 

(b)Upon receipt of a Transmittal Letter in which the Eligible Holder has indicated that such holder wishes to receive a tax instruction letter, Acquiror will promptly deliver a tax instruction letter to such holder. The tax instruction letter will provide general instructions on how to make the Section 85 Election with Acquiror in order to obtain a full or partial tax-deferred rollover for Canadian income tax purposes (subject to the applicable provisions of the Tax Act and applicable provincial tax law) in respect of the sale of the Eligible Holder’s Company Shares.

 

3.9               Calculations

 

All calculations and determinations made by Acquiror, Company, or the Depositary, as applicable, for the purposes of this Plan of Arrangement shall be conclusive, final, and binding.

 

3.10           Adjustments to Consideration

 

The Consideration Shares issuable to a Company Shareholder pursuant to Section 3.1(e) shall be adjusted to reflect fully the effect of any stock split, reverse split, dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Company Shares), consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other like change with respect to Company Shares effected in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement occurring after the date of the Arrangement Agreement and prior to the Effective Time.

 

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3.11           Amalgamation of Acquiror Holdco and Company

 

Pursuant to Section 3.1(h), Acquiror Holdco and Company shall amalgamate to form Amalco under the CBCA, with the effect described below, and, unless and until otherwise determined in the manner required by Law, the following shall apply:

 

(a)Name. The name of Amalco shall be Orla Mining Ltd.;

 

(b)Registered Office. The registered office of Amalco shall be located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The address of the registered office shall be l;

 

(c)Business and Powers. There shall be no restrictions on the business that Amalco may carry on or on the powers it may exercise;

 

(d)Authorized Share Capital. Amalco shall be authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares (“Amalco Shares”);

 

(e)Share Provisions. Amalco Shares shall have the same terms as Acquiror Holdco Shares;

 

(f)First Directors. The first director(s) of Amalco shall be l;

 

(g)Articles. The articles of Amalco shall be the same as the articles of Company;

 

(h)By-Laws. The by-laws of Amalco shall be the same as the by-laws of Company;

 

(i)First Annual General Meeting. The first annual general meeting of Amalco shall be held within 18 months from the Effective Date;

 

(j)Stated Capital. The stated capital of the issued and outstanding Amalco Shares shall be equal to the stated capital of the issued and outstanding Acquiror Holdco Shares immediately before the Amalgamation; and

 

(k)Effect of Amalgamation. Upon the Amalgamation becoming effective:

 

(i)the property of Acquiror Holdco and Company shall continue to be the property of Amalco;

 

(ii)Amalco shall continue to be liable for the obligations of Acquiror Holdco and Company;

 

(iii)all existing causes of action, claims or liabilities to prosecution with respect to Acquiror Holdco and Company shall be unaffected;

 

(iv)all civil, criminal or administrative actions or proceedings pending by or against Acquiror Holdco or Company may be continued to be prosecuted by or against Amalco;

 

(v)all convictions against, or rulings, orders or judgments in favour of or against Acquiror Holdco or Company may be enforced by or against Amalco; and

 

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(vi)the articles of amalgamation of Amalco will be deemed to be the articles of incorporation of Amalco and the certificate of amalgamation of Amalco will be deemed to be the certificate of incorporation of Amalco.

 

Article 4
DISSENT RIGHTS

 

4.1               Dissent Rights

 

Pursuant to the Interim Order, registered Company Shareholders (other than Acquiror and its affiliates) as of the record date of the Company Meeting may exercise rights of dissent (“Dissent Rights”) with respect to all (but not less than all) Company Shares held by such holder as registered holder thereof as of such date in connection with the Arrangement pursuant to and in strict compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 190 of the CBCA, as modified by the Interim Order, the Final Order, or any other order of the Court, and this Section 4.1; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in part XV of the CBCA, the written notice setting forth the objection of such registered Company Shareholder to the Arrangement Resolution contemplated by section 190(5) of the CBCA must be received by Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the day that is two Business Days immediately preceding the date of the Company Meeting (as it may be adjourned or postponed from time to time). Each Dissenting Shareholder who duly and validly exercises its Dissent Rights in accordance with this Section 4.1, shall be deemed to have transferred all Company Shares held by such Dissenting Shareholder and in respect of which Dissent Rights have been validly exercised, to Company, free and clear of all Liens, as provided in Section 3.1(d) and if such Dissenting Shareholder:

 

(a)is ultimately entitled to be paid fair value for its Company Shares, such Dissenting Shareholder: (i) shall be deemed not to have participated in the transactions in Article 3 (other than Section 3.1(d); (ii) will be entitled to be paid the fair value of such Company Shares, less applicable withholding Taxes in accordance with Section 5.4, by Company (using Company’s own funds and not funds directly or indirectly provided by Acquiror or its affiliates), which fair value, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 190 of the CBCA, shall be determined as of the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which the Arrangement Resolution was adopted; and (iii) will not be entitled to any other payment or consideration, including any payment that would be payable under the Arrangement if such Dissenting Shareholder had not exercised its Dissent Rights in respect of such Company Shares; or

 

(b)is ultimately not entitled, for any reason, to be paid fair value for such Company Shares, such Dissenting Shareholder shall be deemed to have participated in the Arrangement on the same basis as a non-dissenting holder of Company Shares and shall be entitled to receive only the Consideration contemplated by Section 3.1(e) that such Dissenting Shareholder would have received pursuant to the Arrangement if such Dissenting Shareholder had not exercised its Dissent Rights.

 

4.2               Recognition of Dissenting Shareholders

 

(a)In no circumstances shall Acquiror, Company, Amalco or any other person be required to recognize a person exercising Dissent Rights as a holder of Company Shares unless such person is the registered holder of the Company Shares in respect of which such Dissent Rights are purported to be exercised as of the record date of the Company Meeting and as of the deadline for exercising such Dissent Rights.

 

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(b)For greater certainty, in addition to any other restrictions under section 190 of the CBCA, none of the following persons shall be entitled to exercise Dissent Rights: (i) any holder of a Company Option; (ii) any holder of a Company Note, Company Warrant, Company Bonus Shares, Company RSU, Company DSU or Company PSU; and (iii) any Company Shareholder who votes or has instructed a proxyholder to vote such Company Shareholder’s Company Shares in favour of the Arrangement Resolution (but only in respect of such Company Shares).

 

(c)In no case shall Acquiror, Company, Amalco or any other person be required to recognize any Dissenting Shareholder as a holder of Company Shares after the completion of the transfer under Section 3.1(d), and the name of such Dissenting Shareholder shall be removed from the register of Company Shareholders as to those Company Shares in respect of which Dissent Rights have been validly exercised at the same time as the event described in Section 3.1(d) occurs, and Company or Amalco as successor to Company shall be recorded as the registered holder of such Company Shares and shall be deemed to be the legal owner of such Company Shares.

 

Article 5
DELIVERY OF CONSIDERATION

 

5.1               Delivery of Consideration

 

(a)Upon surrender to the Depositary for cancellation of a certificate or a DRS advice-statement that immediately before the Effective Time represented one or more outstanding Company Shares that were exchanged for Acquiror Shares and Cash Consideration in accordance with Section 3.1, together with a duly completed Transmittal Letter and such other documents and instruments as would have been required to effect the transfer of the Company Shares formerly represented by such certificate or DRS advice-statement under the CBCA and the constating documents of Company and such additional documents and instruments as the Depositary may reasonably require, the holder of such surrendered certificate or DRS advice-statement shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, and the Depositary shall deliver to such holder following the Effective Time, a certificate or DRS advice-statement representing the Acquiror Shares and Cash Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive in accordance with Section 3.1.

 

(b)After the Effective Time and until surrendered for cancellation as contemplated by this Section 5.1, each certificate or DRS advice-statement that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented one or more Company Shares shall be deemed at all times to represent only the right to receive in exchange therefor the Cash Consideration and a certificate or DRS advice-statement representing Acquiror Shares that the holder of such certificate or DRS advice-statement is entitled to receive in accordance with Section 3.1.

 

5.2               Lost Certificates

 

In the event any certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented one or more outstanding Company Shares that were exchanged in accordance with Section 3.1 shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder claiming such certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Depositary shall deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, a certificate representing Acquiror Shares and Cash Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive in accordance with Section 3.1. When authorizing such delivery of a certificate representing Acquiror Shares and Cash Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, the holder to whom such Cash Consideration and a certificate representing such Acquiror Shares is to be delivered shall, as a condition precedent to the delivery of such Cash Consideration and Acquiror Shares, give a bond satisfactory to Acquiror and the Depositary in such amount as Acquiror and the Depositary may direct, or otherwise indemnify Acquiror and the Depositary in a manner satisfactory to Acquiror and the Depositary, against any claim that may be made against Acquiror or the Depositary with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed and shall otherwise take such actions as may be required by the constating documents of Company.

 

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5.3               Distributions with Respect to Unsurrendered Certificates

 

No dividend or other distribution declared or made after the Effective Time with respect to Acquiror Shares with a record date after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the holder of any unsurrendered certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding Company Shares unless and until the holder of such certificate shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5.1 or 5.2. Subject to applicable law and to Section 5.4, at the time of such compliance, there shall, in addition to the delivery of a certificate representing Acquiror Shares to which such holder is thereby entitled, be delivered to such holder, without interest, the amount of the dividend or other distribution with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such Acquiror Shares.

 

5.4               Withholding Rights

 

Acquiror, Company, the Depositary, and their respective agents, as applicable (in this paragraph, the “payor”), shall each be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable (whether in cash or in kind, and including for avoidance of doubt the Consideration Shares) or otherwise deliverable to any person under the Plan of Arrangement and Arrangement Agreement (including any payment to Dissenting Shareholders) such amounts as the payor is required to deduct or withhold therefrom under any applicable Law in respect of Taxes. For the purposes hereof, all such deducted or withheld amounts shall be treated as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made on account of the obligation to make payment to such person thereunder, provided that such deducted or withheld amounts are actually remitted to the appropriate Governmental Entity when required by Law by, or on behalf of, the payor. Each payor is hereby authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of, on behalf of such person in respect of which a deduction or withholding was made, such portion of any Consideration Shares or other security deliverable to such person as is necessary to provide sufficient funds (after deducting all reasonable commissions, fees and other reasonable expenses in respect of such sale) to the payor to enable it to comply with such deduction or withholding requirement and the payor shall notify such person thereof and remit the applicable portion of the net proceeds of such sale to the appropriate Governmental Entity and, if applicable, any portion of such net proceeds that is not required to be so remitted shall be paid to such person. Any such sale will be made in accordance with applicable Laws and at prevailing market prices, and no payor shall be under any obligation to obtain a particular price, or indemnify any person, in respect of a particular price, for the portion of the Consideration Shares or other securities, as applicable, so sold. No payor will be liable for any loss arising out of any such sale.

 

5.5               Limitation and Proscription

 

To the extent that a Former Company Shareholder shall not have complied with the provisions of Section 5.1 or 5.2 on or before the date that is six years after the Effective Date (the “final proscription date”), then the Cash Consideration to which such Former Company Shareholder was entitled to receive shall be automatically returned to Acquiror and the Acquiror Shares that such Former Company Shareholder was entitled to receive shall be automatically cancelled without any repayment of capital in respect thereof and the certificates or DRS advice-statements representing such Acquiror Shares shall be delivered to Acquiror by the Depositary and the share certificates shall be cancelled by Acquiror, and the interest of the Former Company Shareholder in such Acquiror Shares and Cash Consideration to which it was entitled shall be terminated as of such final proscription date.

 

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5.6               Paramountcy

 

From and after the Effective Time: (a) this Plan of Arrangement shall take precedence and priority over any and all Company Shares, Company Options, Company RSUs, Company DSUs, Company PSUs, Company Notes or Company Warrants, issued prior to the Effective Time, (b) the rights and obligations of the Company Shareholders (other than Acquiror or any of its affiliates), Company Optionholders, Company RSU Holders, Company DSU Holders, Company PSU Holders, Company Noteholders and Company Warrantholders, Company, Acquiror, Acquiror Holdco, Amalco, the Depositary and any transfer agent or other depositary therefore in relation thereto, shall be solely as provided for in this Plan of Arrangement, and (c) all actions, causes of action, claims or proceedings (actual or contingent and whether or not previously asserted) based on or in any way relating to any Company Shares, Company Options, Company RSUs, Company DSUs, Company PSUs, Company Notes or Company Warrants shall be deemed to have been settled, compromised, released and determined without liability except as set forth in this Plan of Arrangement.

 

Article 6
AMENDMENTS

 

6.1               Amendments to Plan of Arrangement

 

(a)Acquiror and Company reserve the right to amend, modify and/or supplement this Plan of Arrangement at any time and from time to time prior to the Effective Time, provided that any such amendment, modification or supplement must be agreed to in writing by each of Acquiror and the Company (each acting reasonably) and filed with the Court, and, if made following the Company Meeting, then: (i) approved by the Court; and (ii) communicated to the Company Shareholders, Company Optionholders, Company RSU Holders, Company DSU Holders, Company PSU Holders, Company Noteholders and Company Warrantholders if and as required by the Court.

 

(b)Any amendment, modification or supplement to this Plan of Arrangement, if agreed to by Acquiror and the Company (each acting reasonably), may be proposed by Acquiror and Company at any time prior to or at the Company Meeting, with or without any other prior notice or communication, and, if so proposed and accepted by the persons voting at the Company Meeting (other than as may be required under the Interim Order), shall become part of this Plan of Arrangement for all purposes.

 

(c)Any amendment, modification or supplement to this Plan of Arrangement that is approved or directed by the Court following the Company Meeting shall be effective only if: (i) it is consented to in writing by each of Acquiror and Company (each acting reasonably) and (ii) if required by the Court, it is consented to by some or all of the Company Shareholders voting in the manner directed by the Court.

 

(d)Any amendment, modification or supplement to this Plan of Arrangement may be made by Acquiror and Company without the approval of or communication to the Court or the Company Shareholders, Company Optionholders, Company RSU Holders, Company DSU Holders, Company PSU Holders, Company Noteholders and Company Warrantholders, provided that it concerns a matter which, in the reasonable opinion of Acquiror and Company is of an administrative or ministerial nature required to better give effect to the implementation of this Plan of Arrangement and is not adverse to the financial or economic interests of any of the Company Shareholders, Company Optionholders, Company RSU Holders, Company DSU Holders, Company PSU Holders, Company Noteholders and Company Warrantholders.

 

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Article 7
FURTHER ASSURANCES

 

7.1               Further Assurances

 

Notwithstanding that the transactions and events set out herein will occur and be deemed to occur in the order set out in this Plan of Arrangement without any further act or formality, each of Acquiror and Company will make, do and execute, or cause to be made, done and executed, any such further acts, deeds, agreements, transfers, assurances, instruments or documents as may reasonably be required by any of them in order to further document or evidence any of the transactions or events set out herein.

 

Article 8
U.S. SECURITIES LAW MATTERS

 

8.1               U.S. Securities Law Matters

 

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Plan of Arrangement will be carried out with the intention that all Acquiror Shares to be issued to Company Shareholders in exchange for their Company Shares pursuant to this Plan of Arrangement, as applicable, will be issued and exchanged in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act as provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof and applicable state securities laws, and pursuant to the terms, conditions and procedures set forth in the Arrangement Agreement. To the extent necessary, to provide for the issuance of freely tradeable shares, the Acquiror shall, on or as promptly as practicable following the Effective Date, file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 or such other applicable form with the SEC to register the issuance of Acquiror Shares upon exercise of Company Options. Acquiror has also agreed to apply and use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain approval for listing on the NYSE American by the Effective Time of the Consideration Shares and any Acquiror Shares issuable after the Effective Time, including upon exercise of any Company Options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Schedule B
TO THE ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

ARRANGEMENT RESOLUTION

 

The text of the Arrangement Resolution which the Company Shareholders will be asked to pass at the Company Meeting is as follows:

 

BE IT RESOLVED AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT:

 

(1)the arrangement (as it may be, or may have been, modified or amended in accordance with its terms, the “Arrangement”) under Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “CBCA”) involving Equinox Gold Corp. (“Acquiror”), Orla Mining Ltd. (“Company”) and securityholders of Company, all as more particularly described and set forth in the notice of meeting and management information circular (the “Circular”) of Company dated [●], 2026 (as the Arrangement may be, or may have been, modified, supplemented or amended in accordance with its terms), is hereby authorized, approved and adopted;

 

(2)the arrangement agreement among Acquiror and Company dated May 12, 2026, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms (the “Arrangement Agreement”) and all the transactions contemplated therein, the actions of the directors of Company in approving the Arrangement and the actions of the directors and officers of Company in executing and delivering the Arrangement Agreement and any modifications, supplements or amendments thereto in accordance with its terms are hereby confirmed, ratified and approved in all respects;

 

(3)the plan of arrangement, as it may be or has been amended (the “Plan of Arrangement”) involving Acquiror, Company and securityholders of Company and implementing the Arrangement, the full text of which is set out in Schedule “A” to the Circular (as the Plan of Arrangement may be, or may have been, modified, supplemented or amended in accordance with its terms), is hereby authorized, approved and adopted;

 

(4)Company is hereby authorized to apply for a final order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the “Court”) to approve the Arrangement in accordance with and subject to the terms set forth in the Arrangement Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement (as they may be, or may have been, modified, supplemented or amended from time to time in accordance with their terms);

 

(5)notwithstanding that this resolution has been passed (and the Plan of Arrangement adopted) by the securityholders of Company or that the Arrangement has been approved by the Court, the directors of Company are hereby authorized and empowered, at their discretion, without further notice to, or approval of, the securityholders of Company to:

 

a.modify, supplement or amend the Arrangement Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement to the extent permitted by the Arrangement Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement; or

 

b.subject to the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, not proceed with the Arrangement;

 

(6)any director or officer of Company is hereby authorized and directed for and on behalf of Company to execute, whether under corporate seal of Company or otherwise, and to deliver such other documents as are necessary or desirable in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement for filing; and

 

(7)any one or more directors or officers of Company is hereby authorized, for and on behalf and in the name of Company, to execute and deliver, whether under corporate seal of Company or otherwise, all such agreements, forms, waivers, notices, certificate, confirmations and other documents and instruments, and to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things, as in the opinion of such director or officer may be necessary, desirable or useful for the purpose of giving effect to these resolutions, the Arrangement Agreement and the completion of the Plan of Arrangement in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, including:

 

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a.all actions required to be taken by or on behalf of Company, and all necessary filings and obtaining the necessary approvals, consents and acceptances of appropriate regulatory authorities; and

 

b.the signing of the certificates, consents and other documents or declarations required under the Arrangement Agreement or otherwise to be entered into by Company;

 

such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery of such document, agreement or instrument or the doing of any such act or thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SCHEDULE C
TO THE ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

ACQUIROR RESOLUTION

 

The text of the Acquiror Resolution which the Acquiror Shareholders will be asked to pass at the Acquiror Meeting is as follows:

 

BE IT RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION THAT:

 

(1)Equinox Gold Corp. (“Acquiror”) is hereby authorized to issue up to [●] common shares in the capital of Acquiror (the “Acquiror Shares”) as is necessary to allow Acquiror to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Orla Mining Ltd. (“Company”) pursuant to a plan of arrangement (as it may be modified, amended or supplemented, the “Plan of Arrangement”) in accordance with the arrangement agreement dated May 12, 2026 among Acquiror and Company (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented, the “Arrangement Agreement”), as more particularly described in the notice of meeting and management information circular of Acquiror dated [●], 2026, including, but not limited to, the issuance of Acquiror Shares upon the exercise of convertible securities of the Acquiror issued in replacement of convertible securities of the Company and the issuance of Acquiror Shares for any other matters contemplated by or related to the Arrangement;

 

(2)Notwithstanding that this resolution has been passed by shareholders of Acquiror, the directors of Acquiror are hereby authorized and empowered, if they decide not to proceed with the aforementioned resolution, to revoke this resolution at any time prior to the closing date of the Arrangement, without further notice to or approval of the shareholders of Acquiror; and

 

(3)Any director or officer of Acquiror is hereby authorized, empowered and instructed, acting for, in the name and on behalf of Acquiror, to execute or cause to be executed, under the seal of Acquiror or otherwise, and to deliver or to cause to be delivered, all such other documents and to do or to cause to be done all such other acts and things as in such person’s opinion may be necessary or desirable in order to carry out the intent of the foregoing paragraphs of these resolutions and the matters authorized thereby, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery of such document or the doing of such act or thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SCHEDULE D
TO THE ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

KEY REGULATORY APPROVALS

 

Company

 

·See items listed in the Company Disclosure Letter

 

·TSX approval of the delisting of the Company Shares following completion of the Arrangement

 

Acquiror

 

·See items listed in the Acquiror Disclosure Letter

 

·Approval of the listing and posting for trading on the TSX and the NYSE American, in the case of the TSX subject only to satisfaction of the standard listing conditions, of the (i) Consideration Shares, which for certainty includes the Acquiror Shares issuable for Company Shares issued on settlement of Company DSUs and Company RSUs pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement; (ii) the Acquiror Shares underlying the Company Options, the Company Notes, the Company Warrants and (iii) the Acquiror Shares issuable pursuant to the Company Bonus Shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SCHEDULE E
TO THE ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

ACQUIROR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Darren Hall will continue as Chief Executive Officer of the Acquiror (the “Acquiror CEO”), reporting to the Board of Directors, and in that capacity will perform the duties customary for the chief executive officer of a large public mining company, including overall strategic leadership and management of the business and affairs of the Acquiror.

 

Jason Simpson will be appointed President of the Acquiror (the “Acquiror President”), reporting to, and working closely with, the Acquiror CEO. The Acquiror President will have oversight of exploration, mine development, mine operations and technical services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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