UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8 |
LITHIUM AMERICAS CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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British Columbia, Canada |
Not Applicable |
(Province or other jurisdiction of |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
incorporation or organization) |
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900 West Hastings Street, Suite 300,
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada, V6C 1E5
(Address of principal executive offices)
Lithium Americas Corp. Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (dated April 5, 2020)
(Full title of plan)
C T Corporation System
28 Liberty St.
New York, New York 10005
(Name and address of agent for service)
(212) 894-8940
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large Accelerated Filer ☐ |
Accelerated Filer ☐ |
Non-Accelerated Filer ☐ |
Smaller Reporting Company ☐ |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(b) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of |
Amount to |
Proposed Maximum |
Proposed Maximum |
Amount of |
Common shares issuable under the Lithium Americas Corp. Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (dated April 5, 2020) |
4,321,275 (1) |
$3.03 |
$13,093,463.20 |
$1,699.53 (2) |
TOTAL |
4,321,275 |
- |
$13,093,463.20 |
$1,699.53 |
(1) |
Represents additional common shares (the “Common Shares”) of Lithium Americas Corp. reserved for issuance upon exercise or redemption of awards under the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, dated April 5, 2020 (the “Amended and Restated Plan”). |
(2) |
The proposed maximum offering price per share and the registration fee were calculated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) based on the average high and low prices for the Common Shares on May 4, 2020, as quoted on the NYSE. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed for the purpose of registering Common Shares of the Registrant issuable pursuant to the exercise or redemption of awards under the Amended and Restated Plan.
On October 15, 2018, the Registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (SEC File No. 333-227816) to register 11,451,595 Common Shares of the Registrant issuable upon exercise of awards granted or to be granted under the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, dated May 30, 2018 (the “2018 Plan”) and the Registrant’s Western Lithium USA Corporation Amended and Restated Employees’ and Directors’ Stock Option Plan, dated March 30, 2015 (the “2015 Plan”).
On May 7, 2020, shareholders approved, among other things, the Amended and Restated Plan to replace the 2018 Plan (which in turn replaced the 2015 Plan), to, among other things, increase the total number of Common Shares issuable and reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated Plan, the 2018 Plan and the 2015 Plan to 14,400,737, which represents 16% of the Registrant’s issued and outstanding Common Shares as of April 1, 2020.
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 registers additional securities to be issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated Plan.
The contents of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-227816), as filed with the SEC on October 15, 2018, are incorporated by reference herein.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1.Plan Information
Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from the Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Act and Note 1 to Part I of Form S-8.
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information
Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from the Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Act and Note 1 to Part I of Form S-8.
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.Incorporation of Documents By Reference.
The following documents which have been and will in the future be filed by the Registrant with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference:
(a)Our Annual Report on Form 40-F as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2020;
(b)All other reports filed by the Registrant under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) since December 31, 2019.
(c)The description of the Common Shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-10, as filed with the SEC on January 18, 2018, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.
In addition, all reports and documents filed by us under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities being offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, and any Form 6-K furnished by us during such period or portions thereof that are identified in such Form 6-K as being incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in and to be part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of each such document.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
None.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 160 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) the (“BCBCA”) provides that the Registrant may do one or both of the following:
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(a) |
indemnify an eligibly party (as defined below) against all eligible penalties (as defined below) to which the eligible party is or may be liable; |
However, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the Registrant must pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding if the eligible party: (i) has not been reimbursed for those expenses; and (ii) is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding. The BCBCA also provides that the Registrant may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding provided the Registrant first receives from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited under the BCBCA, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.
For the purposes of the applicable division of the BCBCA, an “eligible party”, in relation to the Registrant, means an individual who:
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(a) |
is or was a director or officer of the Registrant; |
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(b) |
is or was a director of officer of another corporation at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the Registrant, or at the request of the Registrant; or |
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(c) |
at the request of the Registrant, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity, |
and includes, with some exceptions, the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of that individual.
An “eligible penalty” under the BCBCA means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding.
An “eligible proceeding” under the BCBCA is a proceeding in which an eligible party or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the Registrant or an associated corporation, is or may be joined as a party, or is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding.
A “proceeding” includes any legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed.
“Expenses” include costs, charges and expenses, including legal and other fees, but does not include judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement of a proceeding.
An “associated corporation” means a corporation or entity referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of “eligible party” above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the BCBCA prohibits the Registrant from indemnifying an eligible party or paying the expenses of an eligible party if any of the following circumstances apply:
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(a) |
if the indemnity or payment is made under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time such agreement was made, the Registrant was prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles; |
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(b) |
if the indemnity or payment is made otherwise than under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the indemnity or payment is made, the Registrant is prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles; |
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(c) |
if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interest of the Registrant or the associated corporation, as the case may be; or |
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(d) |
in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party’s conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful. |
Additionally, if an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of the Registrant or an associated corporation, the Registrant must not indemnify the eligible party or pay or advance the expenses of the eligible party in respect of that proceeding.
Whether or not payment of expenses or indemnification has been sought, authorized of declined under the BCBCA, section 164 of the BCBCA provides that, on the application of the Registrant or an eligible party, the Supreme Court of British Columbia may do one or more of the following:
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(a) |
order the Registrant to indemnify an eligible party against any liabilities incurred by the eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding; |
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(b) |
order the Registrant to pay some or all of the expenses incurred by an eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding; |
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(c) |
order the enforcement of, or any payment under, an agreement of indemnification entered into by the Registrant; |
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(d) |
order the Registrant to pay some or all of the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any person in obtaining an order under section 164; or |
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(e) |
make any other order the court considers appropriate. |
The BCBCA provides that the Registrant may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an eligible party or the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party against any liability that may be incurred by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the Registrant or an associated corporation.
The Registrant’s articles provide that the Registrant must indemnify a director, former director or alternate director of the Registrant and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Registrant must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each director and alternate director is deemed to have contracted with the Registrant on the terms of the indemnity above.
The Registrant’s articles define “eligible penalty” means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding. An “eligible proceeding” means a legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed, in which a director, former director or alternate director of the Registrant (an “eligible party”) or any of the heirs and legal personal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or alternate director of the Registrant (a) is or may be joined as a party; or (b) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding.
The Registrant’s articles further provide that subject to any restrictions in the BCBCA, the Registrant may indemnify any person. The failure of a director, alternate director or officer of the Registrant to comply with the BCBCA or the Registrant’s articles does not invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under the Registrant’s Articles.
The Registrant is authorized by its articles to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives) who: (i) is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant; (ii) is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation at a time when the corporate is or was an affiliate of the Registrant; (iii) at the request of the Registrant, is or was a director, alternate director, officer employee or agent of a corporation or of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity; (iv) at the request of the Registrant, holds or held a position equivalent to that of a director, alternate director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity; against any liability incurred by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the U.S. Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the U.S. Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits
Number |
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Exhibit |
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Lithium Americas Corp. Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, dated April 5, 2020 |
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Consent of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1) |
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(a) The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 8th day of May, 2020.
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LITHIUM AMERICAS CORP. |
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/s/ Jonathan Evans |
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Name: |
Jonathan Evans |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jon Evans and Eduard Epshtein as his attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for them in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature |
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Title |
Date |
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/s/ Jonathan Evans |
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
May 8, 2020 |
Jonathan Evans |
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/s/ Eduard Epshtein |
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Chief Financial Officer |
May 8, 2020 |
Eduard Epshtein |
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/s/ George Ireland |
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Director |
May 8, 2020 |
George Ireland |
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/s/ John Kanellitsas |
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Director |
May 8, 2020 |
John Kanellitsas |
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/s/ Franco Mignacco |
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Director |
May 8, 20200 |
Franco Mignacco |
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/s/ Gabriel Rubacha |
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Director |
May 8, 2020 |
Gabriel Rubacha |
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/s/ Xiaoshen Wang |
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Director |
May 8, 2020 |
Xiaoshen Wang |
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/s/ Fabiana Chubbs |
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Director |
May 8, 2020 |
Fabiana Chubbs |
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/s/ Dr. Yuan Gao |
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Director |
May 8, 2020 |
Dr. Yuan Gao |
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/s/ Dr. Michael Fischer |
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Director |
May 8, 2020 |
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the authorized representative has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, solely in his capacity as the duly authorized representative of the Registrant in the United States, on the 8th day of May, 2020.
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By: /s/ Alexi Zawadzki |
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Name: Alexi Zawadzki |
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Title: President of North American Operations |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Number |
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Exhibit |
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Lithium Americas Corp. Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, dated April 5, 2020 |
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Consent of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1) |
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LITHIUM AMERICAS CORP.
AMENDED AND RESTATED EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
April 5, 2020
PART 1
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Plan is to secure for the Company and its shareholders the benefits inherent in share ownership by the employees and directors of the Company and its affiliates who, in the judgment of the Board, will be largely responsible for its future growth and success. It is generally recognized that equity incentive plans of the nature provided for herein aid in retaining and encouraging employees and directors of exceptional ability because of the opportunity offered them to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.
Awards that may be granted under this Plan include:
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(a) |
Options; |
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(b) |
Deferred Share Units; and |
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(c) |
Restricted Share Rights. |
PART 2
Interpretation
2.1 |
Definitions |
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(b) |
“Award” means any right granted under this Plan, including Options, Deferred Share Units and Restricted Share Rights. |
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(c) |
“BCA” means the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) |
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(e) |
“Board” means the board of directors of the Company. |
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(f) |
“Cashless Exercise Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5 of this Plan. |
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(g) |
“CEO” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. |
1
the occurrence and completion of any one or more of the following events:
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(A) |
the Company shall not be the surviving entity in a merger, amalgamation or other reorganization (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity other than a previously wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company); |
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(B) |
the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer, including by way of the grant of a leasehold interest or joint venture interest (or one or more subsidiaries of the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer, including without limitation by way of the grant of a leasehold interest or joint venture interest) property or assets (i) aggregating more than 50% of the consolidated assets (measured by either book value or fair market value) of the Company and its subsidiaries as at the end of the most recently completed financial year of the Company or (ii) which during the most recently completed financial year of the Company generated, or during the then current financial year of the Company are expected to generate, more than 50% of the consolidated operating income or cash flow of the Company and its subsidiaries, to any other person or persons (other than one or more Designated Affiliates of the Company), in which case the Change of Control shall be deemed to occur on the date of transfer of the assets representing one dollar more than 50% of the consolidated assets in the case of clause (i) or 50% of the consolidated operating income or cash flow in the case of clause (ii), as the case may be; |
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(C) |
the Company is to be dissolved and liquidated; |
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(D) |
any person, entity or group of persons or entities acting jointly or in concert acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, the power to vote) more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities; or |
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(E) |
as a result of or in connection with: (i) the contested election of directors, or; (ii) a transaction referred to in subparagraph (i) above, the persons who were directors of the Company before such election or transaction shall cease to constitute a majority of the directors. |
For the purposes of the foregoing, “voting securities” means Shares and any other shares entitled to vote for the election of directors and shall include any securities, whether or not issued by the Company, which are not shares entitled to vote for the election of directors but are convertible into or exchangeable for shares which are entitled to vote for the election of directors, including any options or rights to purchase such shares or securities.
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(i) |
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable United States Treasury Regulations and other binding guidance thereunder. |
2
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(k) |
“Company” means Lithium Americas Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of British Columbia. |
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(m) |
“Deferred Share Unit” means the agreement by the Company to pay, and the right of the Participant to receive, a Deferred Share Unit Payment for each Deferred Share Unit held, evidenced by way of book-keeping entry in the books of the Company and administered pursuant to this Plan. |
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(n) |
“Deferred Share Unit Grant Letter” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.2 of this Plan. |
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(o) |
“Deferred Share Unit Payment” means, subject to any adjustment in accordance with Section 5.5 of this Plan, the issuance to a Participant of one previously unissued Share for each whole Deferred Share Unit credited to such Participant. |
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(p) |
“Delegated Options” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.3 of this Plan. |
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(q) |
“Designated Affiliate” means subsidiaries of the Company designated by the Committee from time to time for purposes of this Equity Incentive Plan. |
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(r) |
“Director Retirement” in respect of a Participant, means the Participant ceasing to hold any directorships with the Company, any Designated Affiliate and any entity related to the Company for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) after attaining a stipulated age in accordance with the Company’s normal retirement policy, or earlier with the Company’s consent. |
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(s) |
“Director Separation Date” means the date that a Participant ceases to hold any directorships with the Company and any Designated Affiliate due to a Director Retirement or Director Termination and also ceases to serve as an employee or consultant with the Company, any Designated Affiliate and any entity related to the Company for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada). |
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“Director Termination” means the removal of, resignation or failure to re-elect the Eligible Director (excluding a Director Retirement) as a director of the Company, a Designated Affiliate and any entity related to the Company for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada). |
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(u) |
“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7. |
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(v) |
“Eligible Directors” means the directors of the Company or any Designated Affiliate who are, as such, eligible for participation in this Plan. |
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participation in this Plan. Eligible Employees shall include Service Providers eligible for participation in this Plan as determined by the Committee. |
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(z) |
“Meeting” means the annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on May 7, 2020. |
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(cc) |
“Option Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5 of this Plan. |
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(dd) |
“Optionee” means an Eligible Employee or Eligible Director to whom an Option has been granted under the terms of this Plan. |
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(gg) |
“Restricted Period” means any period of time that a Restricted Share Right is not vested and the Participant holding such Restricted Share Right remains ineligible to receive the relevant Shares, determined by the Board in its absolute discretion, however, such period of time may be reduced or eliminated from time to time and at any time and for any reason as determined by the Board, including, but not limited to, circumstances involving death or disability of a Participant. |
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(hh) |
“Retirement” in respect of an Eligible Employee, means the Eligible Employee ceasing to hold any employment with the Company or any Designated Affiliate after attaining a stipulated age in accordance with the Company’s normal retirement policy, or earlier with the Company’s consent. |
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(ii) |
“Restricted Share Right” has such meaning as ascribed to such term at Section 4.1 of this Plan. |
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(jj) |
“Restricted Share Right Grant Letter” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.2 of this Plan. |
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(kk) |
“Separation Date” means the date that a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Director or Eligible Employee. |
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(ll) |
“Service Provider” means any person or company engaged by the Company or a Designated Affiliate to provide services for an initial, renewable or extended period of 12 months or more. |
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(nn) |
“Specified Employee” means a U.S. Taxpayer who meets the definition of “specified employee”, as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
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(oo) |
“Termination” means the termination of the employment (or consulting services) of an Eligible Employee with or without cause by the Company or a Designated Affiliate or the cessation of employment (or consulting services) of the Eligible Employee with the Company or a Designated Affiliate as a result of resignation or otherwise, other than the Retirement of the Eligible Employee. |
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(pp) |
“US Taxpayer” means a Participant who is a US citizen, US permanent resident or other person who is subject to taxation on their income under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986. |
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(a) |
This Plan is created under and is to be governed, construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. |
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(b) |
Whenever the Board or Committee is to exercise discretion in the administration of the terms and conditions of this Plan, the term “discretion” means the sole and absolute discretion of the Board or Committee. |
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(c) |
As used herein, the terms “Part” or “Section” mean and refer to the specified Part or Section of this Plan, respectively. |
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(d) |
Where the word “including” or “includes” is used in this Plan, it means “including (or includes) without limitation”. |
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(e) |
Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing any gender include any other gender. |
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(f) |
Unless otherwise specified, all references to money amounts are to Canadian dollars. |
PART 3
STOCK OPTIONS
The Company may from time to time grant Options to Participants pursuant to this Plan.
The exercise price per Share of any Option shall be not less than one hundred per cent (100%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
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The Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, may at any time authorize the granting of Options to such Participants as it may select for the number of Shares that it shall designate, subject to the provisions of this Plan. The Board may also, by way of Board resolution, delegate to the CEO the authority to grant any of a designated number of Options (such number to be specified by the Board in the aforementioned resolution) to Eligible Employees, other than Eligible Employees who are officers or directors of the Company (such Options, the “Delegated Options”). The date of grant of an Option shall be (i) the date such grant was approved by the Committee for recommendation to the Board, provided the Board approves such grant; or (ii) for a grant of an Option not approved by the Committee for recommendation to the Board, the date such grant was approved by the Board; or (iii) in respect of Delegated Options, the date such grant is made by the CEO.
Each Option granted to a Participant shall be evidenced by a stock option agreement with terms and conditions consistent with this Plan and as approved by the Board on the recommendation of the Committee, or, in respect of Delegated Options, by the CEO (and in all cases which terms and conditions need not be the same in each case and may be changed from time to time, subject to Section 7.8 of this Plan, and the approval of any material changes by The Toronto Stock Exchange or such other exchange or exchanges on which the Shares are then traded).
The Option Period shall be five years from the date such Option is granted, or such greater or lesser duration as the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, or in the case of Delegated Options, the CEO, may determine at the date of grant, and may thereafter be reduced with respect to any such Option as provided in Section 3.6 hereof covering termination of employment or death of the Optionee; provided, however, that at any time the expiry date of the Option Period in respect of any outstanding Option under this Plan should be determined to occur either during a Blackout Period or within ten business days following the expiry of the Blackout Period, the expiry date of such Option Period shall be deemed to be the date that is the tenth business day following the expiry of the Blackout Period.
Unless otherwise determined from time to time by the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, or, in respect of Delegated Options, by the CEO, Options shall vest and may be exercised (in each case to the nearest full Share) during the Option Period as follows:
|
(a) |
at any time during the first six months of the Option Period, the Optionee may purchase up to 25% of the total number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to his or her Option; and |
Except as set forth in Section 3.6, no Option may be exercised unless the Optionee is at the time of such exercise:
6
|
(b) |
in the case of an Eligible Director, a director of the Company or a Designated Affiliate and shall have been such a director continuously since the grant of the Option. |
The exercise of any Option will be contingent upon the Optionee having entered into an Option agreement with the Company on such terms and conditions as have been approved by the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, or, in respect of the Delegated Options, by the CEO, and which in any case incorporates by reference the terms of this Plan. The exercise of any Option will, subject to Section 3.5, also be contingent upon receipt by the Company of cash payment of the full purchase price of the Shares being purchased.
Participants have the right (the “Cashless Exercise Right”), in lieu of the right to exercise an Option, to terminate such Option in whole or in part by notice in writing delivered by the Participant to the Company electing to exercise the Cashless Exercise Right and, in lieu of receiving the Shares (the “Option Shares”) to which such Terminated Option relates, to receive the number of Shares, disregarding fractions, which is equal to the quotient obtained by:
|
(a) |
subtracting the applicable Option exercise price per Share from the Fair Market Value per Share on the business day immediately prior to the exercise of the Cashless Exercise Right and multiplying the remainder by the number of Option Shares; and |
|
(b) |
dividing the product obtained under subsection 3.5(a) by the Fair Market Value per Share on the business day immediately prior to the exercise of the Cashless Exercise Right. |
If a Participant exercises a Cashless Exercise Right in connection with an Option, it is exercisable only to the extent and on the same conditions that the related Option is exercisable under this Plan.
|
(b) |
ceases to be employed by, a Service Provider to or act as a director of the Company or a Designated Affiliate for cause, no Option held by such Optionee |
7
|
will, unless otherwise determined by the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, be exercisable following the date on which such Optionee ceases to be so engaged. If an Optionee ceases to be employed by, a Service Provider to or act as a director of the Company or a Designated Affiliate for any reason other than cause then, unless otherwise determined by the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, any Option held by such Optionee at the effective date thereof shall become exercisable for a period of up to 12 months thereafter or prior to the expiration of the Option Period in respect thereof, whichever is sooner. |
In the event of a Change of Control, unless otherwise determined by the Board, (i) all Options outstanding shall immediately vest and be exercisable; and (ii) all Options that are not otherwise exercised contemporaneously with the completion of the Change of Control will terminate and expire immediately thereafter.
Subject to Section 3.7, if the Company amalgamates or otherwise completes a plan of arrangement or merges with or into another corporation, any Shares receivable on the exercise of an Option shall be converted into the securities, property or cash which the Participant would have received upon such amalgamation, arrangement or merger if the Participant had exercised his or her Option immediately prior to the record date applicable to such amalgamation, arrangement or merger, and the option price shall be adjusted appropriately by the Board and such adjustment shall be binding for all purposes of this Plan.
4.1 |
Participants |
The Company has the right to grant, in its sole and absolute discretion, to any Participant, rights to receive any number of fully paid and non-assessable Shares (“Restricted Share Rights”) as a discretionary payment in consideration of past services to the Company or as an incentive for future services, subject to this Plan and with such additional provisions and restrictions as the Board may determine.
4.2 |
Restricted Share Right Grant Letter |
Each grant of a Restricted Share Right under this Plan shall be evidenced by a grant letter (a “Restricted Share Right Grant Letter”) issued to the Participant by the Company. Such Restricted Share Right Grant Letter shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of this Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions (including without limitation any recoupment, reimbursement or claw-back compensation policy as may be adopted by the Board from time to time) which are not inconsistent with this Plan and which the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, deems appropriate for inclusion in a Restricted Share Right Grant Letter. The provisions of the various Restricted Share Right Grant Letters issued under this Plan need not be identical.
8
Concurrent with the determination to grant Restricted Share Rights to a Participant, the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, shall determine the Restricted Period applicable to such Restricted Share Rights. In addition, at the sole discretion of the Board, at the time of grant, the Restricted Share Rights may be subject to performance conditions to be achieved by the Company or a class of Participants or by a particular Participant on an individual basis, within a Restricted Period, for such Restricted Share Rights to entitle the holder thereof to receive the underlying Shares. Upon expiry of the applicable Restricted Period (or on the Deferred Payment Date, as applicable), a Restricted Share Right shall be automatically settled, and without the payment of additional consideration or any other further action on the part of the holder of the Restricted Share Right, the underlying Shares shall be issued to the holder of such Restricted Share Rights, which Restricted Share Rights shall then be cancelled.
4.4 |
Deferred Payment Date |
Participants who are residents of Canada for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or who are residents of Argentina, and not, in either case, a US Taxpayer, may elect to defer to receive all or any part of the Shares underlying Restricted Share Rights until one or more Deferred Payment Dates. Any other Participants may not elect a Deferred Payment Date.
4.5 |
Prior Notice of Deferred Payment Date |
Participants who elect to set a Deferred Payment Date must, in respect of each such Deferred Payment Date, give the Company written notice of the Deferred Payment Date(s) not later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period. For certainty, Participants shall not be permitted to give any such notice after the day which is thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period and a notice once given may not be changed or revoked. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not prevent a Participant from electing an additional Deferred Payment Date, provided, however that notice of such election is given by the Participant to the Company not later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the subject Restricted Period.
4.6 |
Retirement or Termination during Restricted Period |
In the event and to the extent of the Retirement or Termination and/or, as applicable, the Director Retirement or Director Termination of a Participant from all such roles with the Company during the Restricted Period, any Restricted Share Rights held by the Participant shall immediately terminate and be of no further force or effect; provided, however, that the Board shall have the absolute discretion to modify the grant of the Restricted Share Rights to provide that the Restricted Period shall terminate immediately prior to the date of such occurrence.
4.7 |
Retirement or Termination after Restricted Period |
In the event and to the extent of the Retirement or Termination and/or, as applicable, the Director Retirement or Director Termination of the Participant from all such roles with the Company following the Restricted Period and prior to a Deferred Payment Date, the Participant shall be entitled to receive, and the Company shall issue forthwith, Shares in satisfaction of the Restricted Share Rights then held by the Participant.
9
In the event of the death or total disability of a Participant, any Shares represented by Restricted Share Rights held by the Participant shall be immediately issued by the Company to the Participant or legal representative of the Participant.
4.9 |
Payment of Dividends |
Subject to the absolute discretion of the Board, in the event that a dividend (other than a stock dividend) is declared and paid by the Company on the Shares, a Participant may be credited with additional Restricted Share Rights. The number of such additional Restricted Share Rights, if any, will be calculated by dividing (a) the total amount of the dividends that would have been paid to the Participant if the Restricted Share Rights (including Restricted Share Rights in which the Restricted Period has expired but the Shares have not been issued due to a Deferred Payment Date) in the Participant’s account on the dividend record date had been outstanding Shares (and the Participant held no other Shares) by (b) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date on which such dividends were paid.
4.10 |
Change of Control |
In the event of a Change of Control, all Restricted Share Rights outstanding shall vest immediately and be settled by the issuance of Shares notwithstanding the Restricted Period and any Deferred Payment Date.
PART 5
DEFERRED SHARE UNITS
5.1 |
Deferred Share Unit Grants |
The Board may from time to time determine to grant Deferred Share Units to one or more Eligible Directors in a lump sum amount or on regular intervals, based on such formulas or criteria as the Board may from time to time determine. Deferred Share Units will be credited to the Eligible Director’s account when designated by the Board.
5.2 |
Deferred Share Unit Grant Letter |
Each grant of a Deferred Share Unit under this Plan shall be evidenced by a grant letter (a “Deferred Share Unit Grant Letter”) issued to the Eligible Director by the Company. Such Deferred Share Unit Grant Letter shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of this Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions (including without limitation any recoupment, reimbursement or claw-back compensation policy as may be adopted by the Board from time to time) which are not inconsistent with this Plan and which the Board deems appropriate for inclusion in a Deferred Share Unit Grant Letter. The provisions of Deferred Share Unit Grant Letters issued under this Plan need not be identical.
5.3 |
Redemption of Deferred Share Units and Issuance of Deferred Shares |
The Deferred Share Units held by each Eligible Director who is not a US Taxpayer shall be redeemed automatically and with no further action by the Eligible Director on the 20th business day following the Separation Date for that Eligible Director. For US Taxpayers, Deferred Share Units held by an Eligible Director who is a Specified Employee will be automatically redeemed with no further action by the Eligible Director on the date that is six months following the Separation Date for the Eligible Director, or if earlier, upon such Eligible Director’s death. Upon redemption, the former Eligible Director shall be entitled to receive and the Company shall
10
issue, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.1 of this Plan, the number of Shares issued from treasury equal to the number of Deferred Share Units in the Eligible Director’s account, subject to any applicable deductions and withholdings. In the event a Separation Date occurs during a year and Deferred Share Units have been granted to such Eligible Director for that entire year, the Eligible Director will only be entitled to a pro-rated Deferred Share Unit Payment in respect of such Deferred Share Units based on the number of days that he or she was an Eligible Director in such year.
No amount will be paid to, or in respect of, an Eligible Director under this Plan or pursuant to any other arrangement, and no other additional Deferred Share Units will be granted to compensate for a downward fluctuation in the value of the Shares of the Company nor will any other benefit be conferred upon, or in respect of, an Eligible Director for such purpose.
5.4 |
Death of Participant |
In the event of the death of an Eligible Director, the Deferred Share Units shall be redeemed automatically and with no further action on the 20th business day following the death of an Eligible Director.
5.5 |
Payment of Dividends |
Subject to the absolute discretion of the Board, in the event that a dividend (other than a stock dividend) is declared and paid by the Company on the Shares, an Eligible Director may be credited with additional Deferred Share Units. The number of such additional Deferred Share Units, if any, will be calculated by dividing (a) the total amount of the dividends that would have been paid to the Eligible Director if the Deferred Share Units in the Eligible Director’s account on the dividend record date had been outstanding Shares (and the Eligible Director held no other Shares), by (b) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date on which such dividends were paid.
PART 6
WITHHOLDING TAXES
6.1 |
Withholding Taxes |
The Company or any Designated Affiliate may take such steps as are considered necessary or appropriate for the withholding of any taxes or other amounts which the Company or any Designated Affiliate is required by any law or regulation of any governmental authority whatsoever to withhold in connection with any Award including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the withholding of all or any portion of any payment or the withholding of the issue of any Shares to be issued under this Plan, until such time as the Participant has paid the Company or any Designated Affiliate for any amount which the Company or Designated Affiliate is required to withhold by law with respect to such taxes or other amounts. Without limitation to the foregoing, the Board may adopt administrative rules under this Plan, which provide for the automatic sale of Shares (or a portion thereof) in the market upon the issuance of such Shares under this Plan on behalf of the Participant to satisfy withholding obligations under an Award.
11
The aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under this Plan (together with any other securities–based compensation arrangements of the Company in effect from time to time, which for this purpose includes outstanding options from the Company’s former stock option plans (the “Original Plans”)) shall not exceed 14,400,737 Shares, which will not be more than 16% of the outstanding issue as of the record date of the Meeting, such Shares to be allocated among Awards and Participants in amounts and at such times as may be determined by the Board from time to time. In addition, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued and issuable under this Plan (when combined with all of the Company’s other security-based compensation arrangements, as applicable),
|
(a) |
to Insiders shall not exceed 10% of the Company’s outstanding issue from time to time; |
|
(b) |
to Insiders within any one-year period shall not exceed 10% of the Company’s outstanding issue from time to time; and |
|
(c) |
to any one Insider and his or her associates or Affiliates within any one-year period shall not exceed 5% of the Company’s outstanding issue from time to time. |
In no event will the number of Shares that may be issued to any one Participant pursuant to Awards under this Plan (when combined with all of the Company’s other security-based compensation arrangement, as applicable) exceed 5% of the Company’s outstanding issue from time to time.
For the purposes of this Section 7.1, “outstanding issue” means the total number of Shares, on a non-diluted basis, that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date that any Shares are issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to an Award.
If Awards are surrendered, terminated or expire without being exercised in whole or in part, new Awards may be granted covering the Shares not issued under such lapsed Awards, subject to any restrictions that may be imposed by the Toronto Stock Exchange.
7.3 |
Adjustment in Shares Subject to this Plan |
If there is any change in the Shares through the declaration of stock dividends of Shares, through any consolidations, subdivisions or reclassification of Shares, or otherwise, the number of Shares available under this Plan, the Shares subject to any Award, and the exercise price of any Option shall be adjusted as determined to be appropriate by the Board, and such adjustment shall be effective and binding for all purposes of this Plan.
7.4 |
Transferability |
Any Awards accruing to any Participant in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Plan shall not be transferable unless specifically provided herein. During the lifetime of a Participant
12
all Awards may only be exercised by the Participant. Awards are non-transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Nothing contained in this Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to employment or continuance of employment with the Company or any Affiliate, or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s employment at any time. Participation in this Plan by a Participant is voluntary.
The Company shall maintain a register in which shall be recorded:
|
(b) |
the number of Awards granted to each Participant and relevant details regarding such Awards; and |
The issue of Shares under this Plan is prohibited until the date that the Company obtains approval of this Plan (a) by an ordinary resolution passed at a meeting of the shareholders of the Company; and (b) by The Toronto Stock Exchange (collectively, the “Effective Date”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may issue Awards prior to the Effective Date, with all such Awards subject to the following additional restrictions unless and until the occurrence of the Effective Date: (a) all Awards will be prohibited from being converted or exchanged for Shares; (b) all Awards will terminate upon a Change of Control or upon either the shareholders of the Company or The Toronto Stock Exchange failing to approve this Plan.
The Board shall have the power to, at any time and from time to time, either prospectively or retrospectively, amend, suspend or terminate this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan without shareholder approval, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing: changes of a clerical or grammatical nature, changes regarding the persons eligible to participate in this Plan, changes to the exercise price, vesting, term and termination provisions of the Award, changes to the cashless exercise right provisions, changes to the authority and role of the Board under this Plan, and any other matter relating to this Plan and the Awards that may be granted hereunder, provided however that:
|
(a) |
such amendment, suspension or termination is in accordance with applicable laws and the rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares are listed; |
13
|
(c) |
the expiry date of an Option Period in respect of an Option shall not be more than ten years from the date of grant of an Option except as expressly provided in Section 3.4; |
|
(ii) |
any amendment to the limitations on Shares that may be reserved for issuance, or issued, to Insiders; or |
|
(iii) |
any amendment that would reduce the exercise price of an outstanding Option other than pursuant to section 7.3; and |
|
(iv) |
any amendment that would extend the expiry date of the Option Period in respect of any Option granted under this Plan except as expressly contemplated in subsection 3.4. |
If this Plan is terminated, the provisions of this Plan and any administrative guidelines and other rules and regulations adopted by the Board and in force on the date of termination will continue in effect as long as any Award or any rights pursuant thereto remain outstanding and, notwithstanding the termination of this Plan, the Board shall remain able to make such amendments to this Plan or the Award as they would have been entitled to make if this Plan were still in effect.
The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the future market value of any Shares issued in accordance with the provisions of this Plan.
It is intended that any payments under the Plan to US Taxpayers shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code.
7.11 |
Compliance with Applicable Law, etc. |
If any provision of this Plan or any agreement entered into pursuant to this Plan contravenes any law or any order, policy, by-law or regulation of any regulatory body or stock exchange having authority over the Company or this Plan, then such provision shall be deemed to be amended to the extent required to bring such provision into compliance therewith.
7.12 |
Term of the Plan |
This Plan shall remain in effect until it is terminated by the Board. This Plan and all Awards issued hereunder will terminate immediately without any further action if the shareholder resolution required to trigger the Effective Date is not approved by the shareholders or if The Toronto Stock Exchange determines not to approve this Plan.
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PART 8
ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PLAN
|
(b) |
The Committee shall have the power, where consistent with the general purpose and intent of this Plan and subject to the specific provisions of this Plan, to: |
|
(ii) |
otherwise exercise the powers delegated to the Committee by the Board and under this Plan as set forth herein. |
|
(b) |
The Board may delegate any of its responsibilities or powers under this Plan to (i) the Committee, or (ii) the CEO as set forth in Section 3.3 |
PART 9
TRANSITION
Subject to Section 9.2, as of the Effective Date, this Plan replaces the Original Plans and, after the Effective Date, no further Awards will be granted under the Original Plans.
15
Notwithstanding Section 9.1 but subject to the “Blackout Period” provisions of Section 3.4 hereunder, all Awards granted under this Plan prior to the Effective Date that remain outstanding after the Effective Date will continue to be governed by the terms of the Original Plans and not by the terms of this Plan.
16
Exhibit 5.1
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
We are acting as counsel to Lithium Americas Corp., a British Columbia company (the “Company”), in the Province of British Columbia (the “Province”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issue of up to 14,400,737 common shares of the Company (the “Shares”), without par value, which may be issued by the Company pursuant to the Lithium Americas Corp. Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of:
|
(i) |
the Registration Statement; |
|
(ii) |
for the Company, its Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Name Change, Notice of Articles and Articles (collectively herein referred to as the “Constating Documents”); |
|
(iii) |
the minutes of meetings of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) held on April 5, 2020 and May 7, 2020, and the minutes of the annual general and special meeting of the Company held on May 7, 2020 (collectively, the “Company Resolutions”) relating to, amongst other matters, the approval of the Plan and the Registration Statement; |
|
(iv) |
the Plan; and |
May 8, 2020
Page 2
We have examined such records and proceedings of the Company, the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of certificates of public officials and officers or directors of the Company and such other documents, and have considered such questions of law and made such other investigations, as we have deemed relevant or necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.
In rendering the opinions expressed herein we have assumed:
(a) |
the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic, notarized or true copies or facsimiles, and the authenticity of the originals of such documents; |
(b) |
the identity and capacity of all individuals acting or purporting to act as public officials; |
(c) |
that any party to any agreement or instrument referred to herein who is a natural person has the legal capacity to enter into, execute and deliver such agreement or instrument and has not entered into, executed or delivered the same under duress or as a result of undue influence; and |
(d) |
that the Board, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company will take all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Shares (each, a “Board Action”) and such action will be consistent with the procedures and terms described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Constating Documents and the applicable laws of the Province. |
The opinion hereinafter expressed relates only to the laws of the Province and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein and is based upon legislation in effect on the date hereof.
Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof, (1) when the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) has taken all necessary Board Action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Shares and (2) upon issuance and delivery in accordance with the applicable Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name where it appears in the Registration Statement.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement on Form S-8 of Lithium Americas Corp. of our report dated March 12, 2020 relating to the financial statements of Lithium Americas Corp., which appears in the Exhibit incorporated by reference in Lithium Americas Corp.’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2019.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
May 8, 2020
1
2
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF DAVID BURGA
I, David Burga, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Update Feasibility Study and Mineral Reserve Estimation to Support 40,000 tpa Lithium Carbonate Production at the Cauchari-Olaroz Salars, Jujuy Province, Argentina”, dated August 19, 2019. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
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/s/ David Burga |
David Burga |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.4
CONSENT OF ERNEST BURGA
I, Ernest Burga, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Update Feasibility Study and Mineral Reserve Estimation to Support 40,000 tpa Lithium Carbonate Production at the Cauchari-Olaroz Salars, Jujuy Province, Argentina”, dated August 19, 2019. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
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/s/ Ernest Burga |
Ernest Burga |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.5
CONSENT OF DANIEL WEBER
I, Daniel Weber, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Update Feasibility Study and Mineral Reserve Estimation to Support 40,000 tpa Lithium Carbonate Production at the Cauchari-Olaroz Salars, Jujuy Province, Argentina”, dated August 19, 2019. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
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/s/ Daniel Weber |
Daniel Weber |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.6
CONSENT OF WAYNE GENCK
I, Wayne Genck, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Update Feasibility Study and Mineral Reserve Estimation to Support 40,000 tpa Lithium Carbonate Production at the Cauchari-Olaroz Salars, Jujuy Province, Argentina”, dated August 19, 2019. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
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/s/ Wayne Genck |
Wayne Genck |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.7
CONSENT OF ANTHONY SANFORD
I, Anthony Sanford, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Update Feasibility Study and Mineral Reserve Estimation to Support 40,000 tpa Lithium Carbonate Production at the Cauchari-Olaroz Salars, Jujuy Province, Argentina”, dated August 19, 2019. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
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/s/ Anthony Sanford |
Anthony Sanford |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.8
CONSENT OF DANIEL PELDIAK
I, Daniel Peldiak, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA”, dated August 1, 2018. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
|
/s/ Daniel Peldiak |
Daniel Peldiak |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.9
CONSENT OF ANDREW HUTSON
I, Andrew Hutson, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA”, dated August 1, 2018. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
|
/s/ Andrew Hutson |
Andrew Hutson |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.10
CONSENT OF LOUIS F. FOURIE
I, Louis F. Fourie, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA”, dated August 1, 2018. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
|
/s/ Louis F. Fourie |
Louis F. Fourie |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.11
CONSENT OF JOHN YOUNG
I, John Young, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA”, dated August 1, 2018. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
|
/s/ John Young |
John Young |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.12
CONSENT OF KEN ARMSTRONG
I, Ken Armstrong, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the following technical report (the “Technical Report”):
• |
Technical Report titled “Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA”, dated August 1, 2018. |
and to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation of the Technical Report, to references to the Technical Report, or portions thereof, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information derived from the Technical Report related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
|
/s/ Ken Armstrong |
Ken Armstrong |
May 8, 2020
Exhibit 23.13
CONSENT OF RENE LEBLANC
I, Rene LeBlanc, hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation and review of the scientific and technical information contained in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of Lithium Americas Corp. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 40-F”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
I also hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with reference to my involvement in the preparation and review of the scientific and technical information, and to the inclusion or incorporation by reference of the scientific and technical information related to me in the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement being filed with the SEC, and any amendments thereto.
|
/s/ Rene LeBlanc |
Rene LeBlanc |
May 8, 2020
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