UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
DC 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ___)
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
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☐
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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☐
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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☒
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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☐
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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☐
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Soliciting
Material under §240.14a-12
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NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
(Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
NOT
APPLICABLE
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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☐
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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☐
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
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☐
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
NOTICE
OF MEETING
AND
MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION
AND
PROXY CIRCULAR
for
the
Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders
to
be held on
November
5, 2020
The
attached Notice of Meeting, Management Information and Proxy Circular and form of proxy and notes thereto for the 2020 annual
general meeting of shareholders are first being made available to shareholders of the Company on or about September 25, 2020
NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
NOTICE
OF MEETING
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the 2020 annual general meeting of shareholders (the “Meeting”) of NioCorp Developments
Ltd. (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at 7000 S. Yosemite Street,
Lower Level Conference Room, Centennial, Colorado, 80112 for the following purposes:
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1.
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to
set the number of directors for the ensuing year at five;
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2.
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to
elect five directors to hold office until the next annual general meeting;
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3.
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to
authorize and approve the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, set out in Schedule
A to the accompanying Management Information and Proxy Circular, including amendments
thereto and unallocated entitlements thereunder;
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4.
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to
appoint BDO USA, LLP as auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual
general meeting and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration through
the Audit Committee.; and
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5.
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to
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment
or postponement thereof.
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Being
made available along with this Notice of Meeting are (i) the Management Information and Proxy Circular; (ii) a form of proxy and
notes thereto; and (iii) the Company’s annual report to shareholders (collectively, the “Meeting Materials”).
The
Company’s Board of Directors has fixed September 18, 2020, as the record date for the Meeting.
If
you are a registered shareholder of the Company and are unable to attend the Meeting in person, you may vote: (i) via the
Internet ; (ii) by calling a toll-free telephone number; or (iii) if you received your proxy materials by mail, by dating and
executing the form of proxy for the Meeting and depositing it by hand delivery or by mail with Computershare Investor Services
Inc., Proxy Dept., 100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1 or by facsimile to 1-866-249-7775 (within North
America) or 1-416-263-9524 (outside North America). Instructions for telephone and Internet voting are included in the notice
that the Company mailed to shareholders on or about September 25, 2020. All instructions are also listed in the form of proxy
and notes thereto. Your proxy or voting instructions must be received in each case no later than 10:00 a.m., Mountain time, on
November 3, 2020, or no later than 48 hours before the Meeting is reconvened following any adjournment or postponement.
If
you are a non-registered shareholder of the Company and receive these materials through your broker or another intermediary,
please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by your broker or such other intermediary.
The
Meeting Materials are first being made available to shareholders of the Company on or about September 25, 2020.
DATED
at Centennial, Colorado, this 25th day of September, 2020.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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/S/ MARK A. SMITH
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MARK A. SMITH
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Chief Executive Officer
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NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
7000
South Yosemite Street, Suite 115
Centennial,
CO 80112
MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION AND PROXY CIRCULAR
MANAGEMENT
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This
Management Information and Proxy Circular (“Information Circular”) is furnished to you, as a holder of common shares
in the capital of the Company (“Common Shares”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by management and
the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“we,” “us,” or the “Company”)
for use at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the “Meeting”) to be held on Thursday, November
5, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at 7000 S. Yosemite Street, Lower Level Conference Room, Centennial, Colorado, 80112 and at any adjournment
of the Meeting for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting.
It
is anticipated that the Notice of Meeting, this Information Circular, our Annual Report to Shareholders and the accompanying form
of proxy (collectively, the “Meeting Materials”) will be first made available to shareholders on or about September
25, 2020. Unless otherwise stated, the information contained in this Information Circular is given as of September 18, 2020.
The
principal executive office of the Company is located at 7000 South Yosemite Street, Suite 115, Centennial, Colorado 80112. The
registered and records office of the Company is located at 595 Burrard Street, Suite 2600, Vancouver, British Columbia V7X 1L3
(ATTN: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP).
All
references to currency in this Information Circular are in United States dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
Information
regarding the proxies being solicited in connection with the Meeting is set out in the section below under the heading “Information
about Proxies.”
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5,
2020:
The
Company is making the Meeting Materials available electronically via the Internet. The Company is mailing to shareholders a notice
containing instructions on how to access and review the Meeting Materials and vote online (the “Notice of Internet Availability
of Meeting Materials”). If you received such a notice, you will not receive a printed copy of the Meeting Materials
in the mail unless requested. If you would like a printed copy of the Meeting Materials, follow the instructions for requesting
them that are included in the notice.
INFORMATION
ABOUT PROXIES
Solicitation
of Proxies
The
Company will conduct its solicitation of proxies and our officers, directors and employees may, without receiving special compensation,
contact shareholders by telephone, electronic means or other personal contact. We will not specifically engage employees to solicit
proxies. We will pay the expenses of this solicitation; however, we do not reimburse shareholders, nominees or agents (including
brokers holding shares on behalf of clients) for their costs of obtaining authorization from their principals to sign proxies.
While no arrangements have been made to date, the Company may contract for the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. Such
arrangements would include customary fees which would be borne by the Company.
Appointment
of Proxyholder and Return of Proxy
The
persons named in the form of proxy for the Meeting attached hereto as Schedule B are officers of the Company and nominees
of management. A shareholder has the right to appoint some other person, who need not be a shareholder, to represent such shareholder
at the Meeting by inserting that other person’s name in the blank space provided on the form of proxy. If a shareholder
appoints one of the persons designated in the accompanying form of proxy as a nominee and does not direct the said nominee to
vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN,” or “FOR” or “WITHHOLD,” as applicable,
or where instructions on the form of proxy are uncertain with respect to which an opportunity to specify how the Common Shares
registered in the name of such registered shareholder shall be voted, the proxy shall be voted “FOR” the resolution.
In
order for a proxy to be valid, it must be:
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(a)
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signed
by the registered shareholder whose name appears thereon or by such registered shareholder’s
attorney authorized in writing, or if the registered shareholder is a corporation, by
a duly authorized representative on behalf of such corporation; and
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(b)
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returned
in one of the following manners:
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(i)
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by
hand delivery or by mail addressed to Computershare Investor Services Inc., Proxy Dept.,
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, and received by 10:00 a.m.,
Mountain time, on November 3, 2020, or no later than 48 hours before the Meeting is reconvened
following any adjournment or postponement;
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(ii)
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by
facsimile to Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-866-249-7775 (within North America)
or 1-416-263-9524 (outside North America) and received by 10:00 a.m., Mountain time, on
November 3, 2020, or no later than 48 hours before the Meeting is reconvened following
any adjournment or postponement; or
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(iii)
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by
deposit with the chair of the Meeting prior to commencement of the Meeting.
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An
executed proxy that is returned undated will be deemed to be dated the date of the mailing of the form of proxy by the Company
or its agent.
Alternatively,
a registered shareholder may vote via the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions included in the Notice of Internet
Availability of Meeting Materials, in each case no later than 10:00 a.m., Mountain time, on November 3, 2020, or no later than
48 hours before the Meeting is reconvened following any adjournment or postponement. All instructions for how to vote are also
listed in the accompanying form of proxy and notes thereto.
Revocation
of Proxy
If
you are a registered shareholder who has returned a valid proxy or voting instructions, you may revoke your proxy at any time
before it is exercised. In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a registered shareholder who has given
a proxy may revoke it by:
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(a)
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signing
a proxy bearing a later date; or
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(b)
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signing
a written notice of revocation in the same manner as the form of proxy is required to
be signed as set out in the notes to the proxy.
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The
later proxy or the notice of revocation must be delivered to the office of the Company’s registrar and transfer agent or
to the Company’s principle executive offices at any time up to and including the last business day before the scheduled
time of the Meeting or the reconvening of the Meeting following any adjournment, or to the chair of the Meeting on the day of
the Meeting or the reconvening of the Meeting following any adjournment.
You
may also revoke your proxy or voting instructions by voting via Internet or telephone at a later date than the date of the proxy,
or by attending the meeting and voting in person.
If
you are a non-registered shareholder (a “Beneficial Shareholder”) who wishes to revoke a VIF (as defined below)
or to revoke a waiver of your right to receive Meeting Materials and to give voting instructions, you must give written instructions
to your broker, agent, trustee or other intermediary through which you hold your Common Shares in accordance with the applicable
procedures and deadlines of your broker, agent, trustee or other intermediary.
Voting
of Proxies and Exercise of Discretion by Proxyholders
The
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote or withhold from voting the Common Shares represented by the proxy in
accordance with your instructions, provided your instructions are clear. You may indicate the manner in which the persons
named in the form of proxy are to vote on any matter by marking an “X” in the appropriate space. If you have specified
a choice on any matter to be acted on at the Meeting, your shares will be voted or withheld from voting accordingly. If you do
not specify a choice or where you specify both choices for any matter to be acted on, your shares will be voted in accordance
with management’s recommendations on such matters.
The
form of proxy gives the persons named as proxy holders discretionary authority regarding amendments or variations to matters identified
therein and any other matter that may properly come before the Meeting. As of the date of this Information Circular, our management
is not aware of any such amendment, variation or other matter proposed or likely to come before the Meeting. However, if any such
amendment, variation or other matter properly comes before the Meeting, the persons named in the form of proxy intend to vote
on such other business in accordance with their judgement.
Voting
by Beneficial Shareholders
The
information set out in this section is important to many shareholders as a substantial number of shareholders hold their Common
Shares through a broker, agent, trustee or other intermediary.
Beneficial
Shareholders should note that only proxies deposited by registered shareholders whose names appear on the share register of the
Company as of September 18, 2020, the record date for the Meeting, may be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. If Common
Shares are shown on an account statement provided to a Beneficial Shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases the name of
such Beneficial Shareholder will not appear on the share register of the Company. Such Common Shares will most likely be registered
in the name of the broker or an agent of the broker. In Canada, the vast majority of such shares will be registered in the name
of “CDS & Co.,” the registration name of CDS Clearing and Depositary Services Inc., and in the United States,
the vast majority will be registered in the name of “Cede & Co.,” the registration name of the Depository Trust
Company, which entities act as nominees for many brokerage firms. Common Shares held by brokers, agents, trustees or other intermediaries
can only be voted by those brokers, agents, trustees or other intermediaries in accordance with instructions received from Beneficial
Shareholders. As a result, Beneficial Shareholders should carefully review the voting instructions provided by their intermediary
with this Information Circular and ensure they communicate how they would like their Common Shares voted in accordance with those
instructions.
Intermediaries
will frequently use service companies to forward proxy solicitation information to Beneficial Shareholders. Generally, a Beneficial
Shareholder who has not waived the right to receive such information will either:
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(a)
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be
given a form of proxy which (i) has already been signed by the intermediary (typically
by a facsimile, stamped signature), (ii) is restricted as to the number of shares beneficially
owned by the Beneficial Shareholder, and (iii) must be completed, but not signed, by
the Beneficial Shareholder and deposited with Computershare Investor Services Inc.; or
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(b)
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more
typically, be given a voting instruction form (“VIF”), which (i) is
not signed by the intermediary, and (ii) when properly completed and signed by the Beneficial
Shareholder and returned to the intermediary or its service company, will constitute
voting instructions which the intermediary must follow.
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VIFs
should be completed and returned in accordance with the specific instructions noted on the VIF. The purpose of this procedure
is to permit Beneficial Shareholders to direct the voting of the Common Shares which they beneficially own.
Please
return your voting instructions as specified in the VIF. Beneficial Shareholders should carefully follow the instructions set
out in the VIF, including those regarding when and where the VIF is to be delivered.
Although
Beneficial Shareholders may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purpose of voting Common Shares registered in the
name of their broker, agent, trustee or other intermediary, a Beneficial Shareholder may attend the Meeting as a proxyholder for
a shareholder and vote Common Shares in that capacity. Beneficial Shareholders who wish to attend the Meeting or have someone
else attend on their behalf and indirectly vote their Common Shares as proxyholder for the registered shareholder should contact
their broker, agent, trustee or other intermediary well in advance of the Meeting to determine the steps necessary to permit them
to indirectly vote their Common Shares as a proxyholder.
Securities
Entitled to Vote
The
Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares, of which 238,110,090 Common Shares are issued and outstanding
as of September 18, 2020. There is only one class of shares.
The
Board of Directors has fixed September 18, 2020, as the record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to
receive notice of and vote at the Meeting. Persons who are registered shareholders at the close of business on September 18, 2020,
will be entitled to receive notice of, attend, and vote at the Meeting. By ballot, every shareholder and proxyholder will have
one vote for each share. Other than with respect to the election of directors, a majority (i.e., at least 50% plus one vote) of
the votes cast will be required to pass an ordinary resolution at the Meeting, and at least two-thirds of the votes cast will
be required to pass a special resolution at the Meeting. Each of the resolutions that shareholders will be asked to approve at
the Meeting, to pass the management proposals set forth in this Information Circular, are ordinary resolutions.
Broker
Non-Votes, Abstentions and Quorum
Brokers
and other intermediaries, holding shares in street name for their customers, are required to vote the shares in the manner directed
by their customers. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), brokers are prohibited from giving
proxies to vote on non-routine matters (including, but not limited to, non-contested director elections) unless the beneficial
owner of such shares has given voting instructions on the matter.
The
absence of a vote on a matter where the broker has not received written voting instructions from a Beneficial Shareholder is referred
to as a “broker non-vote.” Any shares represented at the Meeting but not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote
or otherwise) will have no impact on any matters to be acted upon at the Meeting.
Under
the Articles of the Company, a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting is one or more persons present and being,
or representing by proxy, two or more shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting.
Abstentions
will be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at the Meeting but will not be counted as votes
cast. Broker non-votes will not be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for purposes at the
Meeting and will not be voted.
Accordingly,
neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will have any effect on the outcome of the votes on the matters to be acted upon at the
Meeting.
INTERESTS
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None
of the directors or executive officers of the Company, nor any person who has held such a position since the beginning of the
last completed financial year of the Company, nor any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, nor any associate
or affiliate of the foregoing persons, has any substantial or material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership
of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the Meeting.
PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDERS
The
following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common Shares of NioCorp for the following: (1) each person who is known
by NioCorp to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of NioCorp’s Common Shares; (2) each of the Named
Executive Officers (as defined in the “Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table”, below); (3) each of NioCorp’s
directors; and (4) all directors and executive officers of NioCorp as a group.
Beneficial
ownership of Common Shares in the table below is determined in accordance with the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) and includes voting or investment power with respect to the Common Shares. Common Shares that may
be acquired by an individual or group within 60 days of September 18, 2020, pursuant to the exercise of options to purchase Common
Shares (“Options”) or Common Shares purchase warrants (“Warrants”), are deemed to be outstanding
for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group but are not deemed to be outstanding for the
purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. Percentage of ownership is based on 238,110,090
Common Shares outstanding as of September 18, 2020.
Except
as indicated in footnotes to this table, we believe that the shareholders named in this table have sole voting and investment
power with respect to all Common Shares shown to be beneficially owned by them, based on information provided to us by such shareholders.
Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each director and executive officer listed is:
c/o NioCorp Developments Ltd., 7000 South Yosemite Street, Suite 115, Centennial, CO 80112.
Name
and Address of
Beneficial Owner
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Position
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Amount
and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
(1)
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Percent
of Common Shares
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Mark
A. Smith, PE, Esq
Highlands
Ranch, Colorado, USA
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President,
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
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21,900,000
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(2)
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9.1%
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Neal
Shah
Superior,
Colorado, USA
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Chief
Financial Officer
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1,454,500
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(3)
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0.6%
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Scott
Honan
Centennial,
Colorado, USA
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Chief
Operating Officer
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1,680,000
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(4)
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0.7%
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Jim
Sims
Golden
Colorado, USA
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Vice-President,
External Affairs
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1,558,419
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(5)
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0.7%
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Joseph
A. Carrabba
Key
Largo, Florida, USA
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Lead
Director
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1,675,000
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(6)
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0.7%
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Michael
Morris
San
Luis Obispo, California, USA
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Director
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1,505,250
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(7)
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0.6%
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David
C. Beling
Grand
Junction, Colorado, USA
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Director
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1,700,000
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(8)
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0.7%
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Anna
Castner Wightman
Omaha,
Nebraska, USA
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Director
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1,554,000
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(9)
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0.6%
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Nilsa
Guerrero-Mahon
Brighton,
Colorado, USA
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Director
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1,100,000
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(10)
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0.5%
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All
current directors, executive officers and named executive officers as a group (10 persons)
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35,914,395
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14.2%
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(1)
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Calculated
in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.
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(2)
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As
of September 18, 2020, Mr. Smith beneficially owns 19,000,000 outstanding Common Shares.
In addition, he beneficially owns 2,900,000 vested Options comprised of the following:
(i) on January 19, 2016, Mr. Smith was granted 750,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of five years at a price of C$0.62 per Common Share which vest over a period
of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (ii) on March 6, 2017, Mr. Smith was
granted 650,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price
of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested
at this time (iii) on November 9, 2017, Mr. Smith was granted 750,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.47 per Common Share; and (iv)
on November 15, 2018, Mr. Smith was granted 750,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54 per Common Share which will vest over
a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time.
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(3)
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As
of September 18, 2020, Mr. Shah beneficially owns 130,000 outstanding Common Shares.
In addition, he beneficially owns 1,324,500 vested Options comprised of the following:
(i) on January 19, 2016, Mr. Shah was granted 350,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of five years at a price of C$0.62 per Common Share which vest over a period
of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time and with 274,500 remaining unexercised;
(ii) on March 6, 2017, Mr. Shah was granted 400,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of five years at a price of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period
of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (iii) on November 9, 2017, Mr. Shah
was granted 300,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a
price of C$0.47 per Common Share; and (iv) on November 15, 2018, Mr. Shah was granted
350,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54
per Common Share which will vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at
this time.
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(4)
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As
of September 18, 2020, Mr. Honan beneficially owns 130,000 outstanding Common Shares.
In addition, he beneficially owns 1,550,000 vested Options comprised of the following:
(i) on January 19, 2016, Mr. Honan was granted 500,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of five years at a price of C$0.62 per Common Share which vest over a period
of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (ii) on March 6, 2017, Mr. Honan was
granted 400,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price
of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested
at this time; (iii) on November 9, 2017, Mr. Honan was granted 300,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.47 per Common Share; and (iv)
on November 15, 2018, Mr. Honan was granted 350,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54 per Common Share which will vest over
a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time.
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(5)
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As
of September 18, 2020, Mr. Sims beneficially owns 33,419 outstanding Common Shares. In
addition, he beneficially owns 1,525,000 vested Options comprised of the following: (i)
on January 19, 2016, Mr. Sims was granted 500,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for
a period of five years at a price of C$0.62 per Common Share which vest over a period
of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time and with 475,000 remaining unexercised;
(ii) on March 6, 2017, Mr. Sims was granted 400,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of five years at a price of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period
of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (iii) on November 9, 2017, Mr. Sims
was granted 300,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a
price of C$0.47 per Common Share; and (iv) on November 15, 2018, Mr. Sims was granted
350,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54
per Common Share which will vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at
this time.
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(6)
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As
of September 18, 2020, Mr. Carrabba beneficially owns 100,000 outstanding Common Shares.
In addition, he beneficially owns 1,575,000 vested Options comprised of the following:
(i) on January 19, 2016, Mr. Carrabba was granted 400,000 Options to purchase Common
Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.62 per Common Share which vest over
a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (ii) on March 6, 2017, Mr.
Carrabba was granted 350,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years
at a price of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period of 18 months with 100%
having vested at this time; (iii) on November 9, 2017, Mr. Carrabba was granted 250,000
Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.47 per
Common Share; (iv) on November 15, 2018, Mr. Carrabba was granted 325,000 Options to
purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54 per Common Share
which will vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; and
(v) on September 18, 2020, Mr. Carrabba was granted 250,000 Options to purchase Common
Shares for a period of three years at a price of C$0.84 per Common Share.
|
|
(7)
|
As
of September 18, 2020, Mr. Morris beneficially owns 55,250 outstanding Common Shares.
He shares both voting and investment power with respect to all such Common Shares with
his wife. In addition, he beneficially owns 1,450,000 vested Options comprised of the
following: (i) on January 19, 2016, Mr. Morris was granted 300,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.62 per Common Share which
vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (ii) on March 6,
2017, Mr. Morris was granted 350,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of
five years at a price of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period of 18 months
with 100% having vested at this time; and (iii) on November 9, 2017, Mr. Morris was granted
250,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.47
per Common Share; (iv) on November 15, 2018, Mr. Morris was granted 300,000 Options to
purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54 per Common Share
which will vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; and
(v) on September 18, 2020, Mr. Morris was granted 250,000 Options to purchase Common
Shares for a period of three years at a price of C$0.84 per Common Share.
|
|
(8)
|
As
of September 18, 2020, Mr. Beling beneficially owns 350,000 outstanding Common Shares
held in the name of The Beling Family Trust. He shares both voting and investment power
with respect to all such Common Shares with his wife as the only trustees of The Beling
Family Trust. In addition, he beneficially owns 1,350,000 vested Options comprised of
the following: (i) on January 19, 2016, Mr. Beling was granted 300,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.62 per Common Share and vest
over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (ii) on March 6, 2017,
Mr. Beling was granted 300,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five
years at a price of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period of 18 months with
100% having vested at this time; (iii) on November 9, 2017, Mr. Beling was granted 200,000
Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.47 per
Common Share; (iv) on November 15, 2018, Mr. Beling was granted 300,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54 per Common Share which
will vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; and (v) on
September 18, 2020, Mr. Beling was granted 250,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of three years at a price of C$0.84 per Common Share.
|
|
(9)
|
As
of September 18, 2020, Ms. Wightman beneficially owns 4,000 outstanding Common Shares.
She shares both voting and investment power with respect to all such Common Shares with
her husband. In addition, she beneficially owns 1,550,000 vested Options comprised of
the following: (i) on July 21, 2016, Ms. Wightman was granted 500,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.94 which vest over a period
of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; (ii) on March 6, 2017, Ms. Wightman
was granted 300,000 Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a
price of C$0.76 per Common Share which vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having
vested at this time; (iii) on November 9, 2017, Ms. Wightman was granted 200,000 Options
to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.47 per Common
Share; (iv) on November 15, 2018, Ms. Wightman was granted 300,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54 per Common Share which
will vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time; and (v) on
September 18, 2020, Ms. Wightman was granted 250,000 Options to purchase Common Shares
for a period of three years at a price of C$0.84 per Common Share.
|
|
(10)
|
As
of September 18, 2020, Ms. Guerrero-Mahon beneficially owns 1,100,000 vested Options
comprised of the following: (i) on November 9, 2017, Ms. Guerrero-Mahon was granted 500,000
Options to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.47 per
Common Share; (ii) on November 15, 2018, Ms. Guerrero-Mahon was granted 300,000 Options
to purchase Common Shares for a period of five years at a price of C$0.54 per Common
Share which will vest over a period of 18 months with 100% having vested at this time;
and (iii) on September 18, 2020, Ms. Guerrero-Mahon was granted 300,000 Options to purchase
Common Shares for a period of three years at a price of C$0.84 per Common Share.
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
As
of September 18, 2020, the Company is not aware of any persons that beneficially own more than 5% of its outstanding Common Shares
who does not serve as an executive officer or director of the Company.
No
Hedging or Other Speculative Transactions by Employees, Officers and Directors
The
Company’s insider trading policy prohibits employees, officers and directors of the Company or their designees from engaging
in hedging and other speculative transactions involving the Company’s securities, including buying the Company’s securities
on margin, short-selling, trading in puts or calls or similar arrangements that results in a gain only if the value of the Company’s
securities declines in the future. The Company’s policy applies to, among other securities, Company securities granted to
employees, officers or directors as compensation, as well as securities held, directly or indirectly, by such employees, officers
or directors.
Change
in Control Arrangements
As
of September 18, 2020, there are no arrangements known to us that would result in a change in control of the Company. We are not,
to the best of our knowledge, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation or foreign government.
PARTICULARS
OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
I
AND II – NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Directors
of the Company are elected at each annual general meeting of shareholders and hold office until the next annual general meeting
of shareholders or until that person sooner ceases to be a director. Currently, the Board consists of six directors whose terms
expire at the Meeting. As separately disclosed, on September 24, 2020, Joseph A. Carrabba, the Lead Director of the Company, advised
the Board that, given the time commitments required by multiple other companies in which he has become involved, he will retire
from the Board upon expiration of his term of service at the Meeting, and, as such, he has not been nominated for re-election
at the Meeting. The Company thanks Mr. Carrabba for his years of service to NioCorp and for his outstanding contributions to the
success of the enterprise. Accordingly, the shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to set the number of directors
of the Company at five for the next year, subject to any increases permitted by the Company’s Articles. The number of directors
will be approved if the affirmative vote of at least a majority of Common Shares present or represented by proxy at the Meeting
and entitled to vote thereat are voted in favour of setting the number of directors at five. Management recommends a vote “FOR”
in respect of the resolution to set the number of directors of the Company at five.
Unless
you provide other instructions, the proxy will be voted for the nominees listed below. Management does not expect that any of
the nominees will be unable to serve as a director. If before the Meeting any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees listed
below, the person named in the proxy will exercise his or her discretionary authority to vote the Common Shares represented by
the proxy for the election of another person or persons as directors to fill such vacancies.
The
following are the Company’s five directors that are up for election. Management has nominated each of the persons named
in the table below for election as director. The information concerning current directors and proposed nominees has been furnished
by each of them:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
Date
of Appointment
|
Mark
A. Smith
|
|
61
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer, President, Executive Chairman and Director
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer:
September
23, 2013
President
and Executive Chairman: May 31, 2015
|
Michael
Morris
|
|
74
|
|
Director
|
|
July
27, 2014
|
David
C. Beling
|
|
79
|
|
Director
|
|
June
6, 2011
|
Anna
Castner Wightman
|
|
53
|
|
Director
|
|
February
23, 2016
|
Nilsa
Guerrero-Mahon
|
|
59
|
|
Director
|
|
September
28, 2017
|
The
following sets forth a brief description of the business experience of each nominee for director of the Company, including current
directorships and directorships held during at least the past five years:
Director
Nominees
Mark
Smith – Executive Chairman, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr.
Smith has 39 years of experience in operating, developing, and financing mining and strategic materials projects in the Americas
and abroad. In September 2013, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and a Director of NioCorp.
From April 2015 to September 2019, Mr. Smith served as the President and Director for Largo Resources Ltd.(“Largo”),
a mineral company with an operating property in Brazil and projects in Brazil and Canada. In addition, from April 2015 to October
2018, Mr. Smith also served as the CEO of Largo. Mr. Smith has also served on the Board of Directors of IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.,
a leading beryllium and copper advanced alloys company (“IBC”), since May 2016 and as CEO of IBC since July
2020. From October 2008 through December 2012, Mr. Smith served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Molycorp,
Inc., a rare earths producer (“Molycorp”), where he was instrumentally involved in taking it from a private
company to a publicly traded company with a producing mine. From November 2011 through May 2015, he served on the Board of Directors
at Avanti Mining, a mining company (TSX-V: AVT; Avanti Mining changed its name to AlloyCorp in early 2015). From December 2012
through September 2013, he served as the Managing Director of KMSmith LLC, a business strategy and finance advisory firm, where
he served as a consultant.
Prior
to Molycorp, Mr. Smith held numerous engineering, environmental, and legal positions within Unocal Corporation, a former petroleum
explorer and marketer (“Unocal”), and later served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chevron
Mining Inc., a coal and metal mining company (“Chevron Mining”). Mr. Smith also served for over seven years
as the shareholder representative of CBMM, a private company that currently produces approximately 85% of the world supply of
niobium. During his tenure with Chevron Mining, Mr. Smith was responsible for Chevron Mining’s three coal mines, one molybdenum
mine, a petroleum coke calcining operation and Molycorp’s Mountain Pass mine. At Unocal, he served as the Vice-President
from June 2000 to April 2006, and managed the real estate, remediation, mining and carbon divisions. Mr. Smith is a Registered
Professional Engineer and serves as an active member of the State Bars of California and Colorado. He received his Bachelor of
Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from Colorado State University in 1981 and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Western
State University, College of Law, in 1990.
Mr.
Smith’s extensive leadership, management, strategic planning, and strategic materials industry expertise through his various
leadership and directorship roles in public companies large and small makes him well-qualified to serve as a member of the board
of directors of NioCorp.
Michael
Morris – Director
Mr.
Morris was formerly the Chairman of the Board of Heritage Oaks Bankcorp, the holding company of Heritage Oaks Bank. When Heritage
Oaks Bank merged with Pacific Premier Bancorp on April 1, 2017, Mr. Morris became a member of the Pacific Premier Bancorp Board
of Directors, a position he held until May 31,2020. He joined Heritage Oaks’ Board in January 2001 and assumed the Board
chairmanship in 2007. In addition, Mr. Morris has worked since 1972 at Andre, Morris & Buttery, a professional law corporation,
where he now serves as Senior Principal and Chairman of the Board. From 2000 to late 2006, Mr. Morris served on the board of Molycorp,
a rare earths producer, which at the time was a wholly owned subsidiary of Unocal and then Chevron Mining Inc. a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. Mr. Morris was the only independent director of Molycorp at that time. Mr. Morris is a graduate
of Georgetown University and received his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He has practiced business
and environmental law for over 40 years. Mr. Morris served as a member of the Board of Governors and Vice President of the State
Bar of California. He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972.
Mr.
Morris’ qualification to serve on our Board is based on his years of senior executive leadership with publicly traded companies
and his long experience in the financial, banking, legal, and manufacturing fields.
David
Beling – Director
Mr.
Beling is a Registered Professional Mining Engineer with 55 years of experience and has been on the board of directors of 14 mining
companies starting in 1981. He has served as President, CEO, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and a director
of Bullfrog Gold Corp., a gold exploration and development company, since July 2011 and was the Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of Geovic Mining Corp. from 2004 to 2010. Mr. Beling has examined, significantly reviewed or been directly involved
with 88 underground mines, 131 open pit mines and 164 process plants in the global metal, energy and industrial mineral sectors.
His employment included 14 years with five majors, then 38 years of employment and consulting for 25 junior mining companies.
Mr.
Beling’s qualification to serve on our Board is based upon his decades of senior leadership and executive positions with
companies in the mining and minerals processing sectors.
Anna
Castner Wightman – Director
A
sixth generation Nebraskan and a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Ms. Wightman serves as a Senior Director of Government
Relations for First National Bank of Omaha, Nebraska, a position she has held since 2000. Prior to that, she worked for the Greater
Omaha Chamber of Commerce and served in the U.S. Congress for former Congressman Bill Barrett and former Congresswoman Virginia
Smith, both of whom represented the 3rd Congressional District of Nebraska. Ms. Wightman serves on the Boards of Directors of
the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Rose Theater for Performing Arts, and Joslyn Castle.
Ms.
Wightman’s qualification to serve on our Board is based on her extensive executive experience in the banking and financial
services sectors, and her deep knowledge of the Nebraska business and public policy landscapes.
Nilsa
Guerrero-Mahon – Director
A
former CFO and Controller for global corporations in the technology, energy, and government sectors, Ms. Guerrero-Mahon provides
consulting services to domestic and international corporations as the principal at NG Mahon Business Consulting, LLC, a business
consulting service, a position she has held since 2008. In addition, Ms. Guerrero-Mahon currently serves on the Board of the State
of Colorado Division of Securities. From 2016 to August 2019 she served on the Board of Directors of Centura Health Mountains
& North Denver Operating Group, the largest division in the Centura Health Care System. From 2014 to 2016, she served as the
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Chaired the Strategy Committee at St. Anthony Hospital, now a member of the Centura Health
Mountains & North Denver Operating Group. From 2009 to 2017, Ms. Guerrero-Mahon served as a gubernatorial appointed Board
Member of the State of Colorado Financial Services Commission. Among other prior positions, from 2005 to 2007, she was the Global
Services Controller at Microsoft Corporation, overseeing internal controls and corporate finance activities. Ms. Guerrero-Mahon
received an Executive MBA from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and a BS in Business Administration
- Accounting from the Interamerican University in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is a Certified Public Accountant registered in the
State of Colorado.
Ms.
Guerrero-Mahon’s qualification to serve on our Board is based on her extensive executive leadership with publicly traded
companies and her extensive experience in the financial and technology fields.
Arrangements
between Officers and Directors
To
our knowledge, there is no arrangement or understanding between any of our officers and any other person, including directors
or nominees, pursuant to which the officer was selected to serve as an officer.
None
of the above directors or nominees has entered into any arrangement or understanding with any other person pursuant to which he
or she was, or is to be, elected as a director of the Company or a nominee of any other person.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships among any of our directors, nominees or executive officers.
Other
Directorships
The
following is a list of directorships held over the past five years by our nominees. Except as listed below, no nominees of the
Company are also directors of reporting issuers.
Name
of Director
|
|
Other
Reporting Issuer (or equivalent)
|
|
Exchange
|
David
Beling
|
|
Bullfrog
Gold Corp.
|
|
OTCQB
|
Michael
Morris
|
|
Pacific
Premier Bancorp
|
|
NASDAQ
|
Mark
A. Smith
|
|
Largo
Resources Ltd.
|
|
TSX
|
|
|
IBC
Advanced Alloys Corp.
|
|
TSX-V
|
Legal
Proceedings
No
director, nominee or executive officer of the Company is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material
interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
During
the past ten years, none of the persons serving as executive officers and/or directors of the Company and, with respect to promoters
or control persons, for the past five years, none have been the subject matter of any of the legal proceedings that are required
to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K. Further, no such legal proceedings are believed to be contemplated
by governmental authorities against any director or executive officer.
No
proposed director of the Company is or has been, within the past 10 years, a director, CEO or CFO of any company that, while the
person was acting in that capacity:
|
(a)
|
was
subject to an “order,” as that term is defined in Form 51-102F5 Information
Circular, that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity
as director, CEO or CFO; or
|
|
(b)
|
was
subject to an order that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director,
CEO or CFO and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting
in the capacity as director, CEO or CFO.
|
No
proposed director of the Company is or has been, within the past 10 years, a director or executive officer of any company that,
while that person was acting in that capacity or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt,
made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement
or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets.
No
proposed director of the Company has, within the past 10 years, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating
to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a
receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director.
Voting
Procedures for the Election of Directors
Cumulative
voting (i.e., a form of voting where shareholders are permitted to cast all of their aggregate votes for a single nominee) will
not be permitted. The directors must be elected by an affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast, either in person or by
proxy, at the Meeting on this matter. Abstentions will not be counted FOR or WITHHELD for any nominee to the Board.
Majority
Voting Policy
On
January 22, 2016, the Board adopted a majority voting policy. Pursuant to the majority voting policy, the form of proxy for meetings
of the shareholders of the Company at which directors are to be elected provide the option of voting in favor, or withholding
from voting, for each individual nominee to the Board. If, with respect to any particular nominee, the number of shares withheld
from voting exceeds the number of shares voted in favor of the nominee, then the nominee will be considered to have not received
the support of the shareholders, and such nominee is expected to submit his or her resignation to the Board, to take effect on
acceptance by the Board.
The
Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) will decide whether to
recommend to the Board that the Board request the resignation of the director. In recommending to the Board whether to request
the resignation of the director or not, the Compensation Committee will review the results of the shareholder vote, applicable
regulatory requirements in respect of the constitution of the Board and certain of its committees and, in respect of incumbent
directors, the particular director’s attendance at Board and committee meetings, the contribution of the director to Board
and committee discussions and the director’s performance assessment, if any. In addition, it will consider what, if any,
expressed reasons for a withheld vote have been given, the merits of such reasons and the ability to rectify concerns.
The
Board will have the final determination whether to accept the resignation. If the resignation is accepted, subject to any corporate
law restrictions, the Board may:
|
(a)
|
leave
the resultant vacancy in the Board unfilled until the next annual general meeting of
shareholders of the Company;
|
|
(b)
|
fill
the vacancy by appointing a director whom the Board considers to merit the confidence
of the shareholders; or
|
|
(c)
|
call
a special meeting of the shareholders of the Company to consider the election of a nominee
recommended by the Board to fill the vacant position.
|
Directors
who do not submit their resignation in accordance with the majority voting policy will not be re-nominated for election at the
next shareholders’ meeting at which directors are to be elected. The majority voting policy applies only in the case of
an uncontested director election, meaning the number of nominees for election as directors is equal to the number of directors
to be elected.
Management
recommends a vote “FOR” each of the nominees for director. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxies given pursuant
to this solicitation will be voted “FOR” the nominees listed above.
III
- NIOCORP LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Pursuant
to certain rules of the TSX, the NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long-Term Incentive Plan, which was approved by the Board on September
29, 2017 and by shareholders on November 9, 2017 (the “2017 Long-Term Inventive Plan”), must be renewed, and
the unallocated entitlements available thereunder must be approved, by shareholders every three years, failing which no further
awards may be awarded under the 2017 Long-Term Inventive Plan. Accordingly, at the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve
an ordinary resolution set forth below to confirm and approve the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan and, in connection with this approval,
will be asked to consider and approve certain amendments to the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan as further described herein (such
2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, being herein referred to as the “2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan”),
and the unallocated entitlements thereunder.
The
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan has been conditionally approved by the Board and the TSX, subject to shareholder approval
at the Meeting. The 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan is substantially similar to the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan other
than with respect to the following amendments:
|
●
|
the
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan removes the restrictions that (i) the number of
Options and share units which may be granted to non-employee directors under the 2017
Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, in combination with all other equity awards granted
to non-employee directors, may not exceed an annual equity award value (based on the
grant date fair value as determined by the Board ) of C$150,000 per non-employee director;
and (ii) that the total value of Options issuable to any one non-employee director in
any one year may not exceed C$100,000. The 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan also
removes the corresponding amendment provision with respect to amending non-employee director
limits;
|
|
●
|
the
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan amends the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan’s
limit on Incentive Stock Option (as defined below) awards from 20,451,895 Common Shares
to 23,811,009 Common Shares, and such amended limit will increase by 3,000,000 Common
Shares on each of the first and second anniversaries of the amended effective date of
the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, being November 5, 2021 and November 5, 2022,
subject to the plan’s aggregate Common Share limitation; and
|
|
●
|
the
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan includes certain amendments of a housekeeping nature.
|
Should
the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan not receive the required shareholder approval at the Meeting, the existing 2017 Long-Term
Incentive Plan will continue to govern the awards granted under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, but no further grants will
be made under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan after the Meeting.
Why
We Recommend That You Vote for this Resolution
The
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan authorizes the Board to provide equity-based compensation in the form of Options, restricted
share units (“RSUs”), performance share units (“PSUs”), and dividend equivalents, for the
purpose of attracting and retaining non-employee directors and employees and certain other service providers of the Company and
affiliated companies, and to provide to such persons incentives and rewards for service or performance. Some of the key features
of the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan that reflect our commitment to effective management of equity and incentive compensation
are set forth below in this subsection.
We
believe our future success depends in part on our ability to attract, motivate and retain high quality employees and directors
and that the ability to provide equity-based awards under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan is critical to achieving this
success. We would be at a severe competitive disadvantage if we could not use share-based awards to recruit and compensate our
employees and directors.
The
use of Common Shares as part of our compensation program is also important to our continued success because equity-based awards
are an essential component of our compensation program for key employees, as they link compensation with long-term shareholder
value creation and reward participants based on service or the Company’s performance. As discussed in further detail in
the “Executive Compensation” section below, equity compensation represents a significant portion of the compensation
package for our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers. Because our equity awards generally vest over multiple
years, the value ultimately realized from these awards depends on the long-term value of our Common Shares. Our equity compensation
program also helps us to attract and retain talent, targeting individuals who are motivated by pay-for-performance.
The
following includes aggregated information that shareholders may find helpful regarding our use of the Option Plan and the 2017
Long-Term Incentive Plan. The information below is as of September 18, 2020. As of that date, there were:
|
●
|
approximately
238,110,090 Common Shares outstanding;
|
|
●
|
outstanding
Options for 20,399,409 Common Shares (approximately 8.6 percent of our outstanding Common
Shares) (outstanding Options have an average exercise price of C$0.63 and an average
remaining term of 1.7 years);
|
|
●
|
no
share units (in the form of PSUs or RSUs) outstanding; and
|
|
●
|
additional
Common Shares of 3,411,600 available for future awards under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (approximately 1.4 percent of our outstanding Common Shares).
|
Based
on the closing price on the TSX for our Common Shares on September 18, 2020, of C$0.85 per share, the aggregate market value as
of September 18, 2020, of the Common Shares available for issuance under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan as of that date was
C$2,899,860.
In
fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020, we granted awards under 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan covering 3,925,000, 4,445,000, and 0 Common
Shares, respectively. Based on our basic weighted average of Common Shares outstanding for those three years of 207,255,111, 223,160,189,
and 234,610,126, respectively, for the three-fiscal-year period 2018 to 2020, our average burn rate, not taking into account forfeitures,
was 1.3% (our individual year burn rates were 1.9% for fiscal 2018, 2.0% for fiscal 2019, and 0.0% for fiscal 2020).
If
the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan is approved, we intend to utilize the shares authorized under the 2017 Amended Long-Term
Incentive Plan to continue our practice of incentivizing key individuals through equity grants. As noted below, our Board would
retain full discretion under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan to determine the number and amount of awards to be granted
under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, subject to the terms of the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, and future
benefits that may be received by participants under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan are not determinable at this time.
We
believe that we have demonstrated a commitment to sound equity compensation practices in recent years. We recognize that equity
compensation awards dilute shareholders’ equity, so we have carefully managed our equity incentive compensation. Our equity
compensation practices are intended to be competitive and consistent with market practices, and we believe our historical share
usage has been responsible and mindful of shareholder interests, as described above.
In
evaluating this proposal, shareholders may want to consider all of the information in this proposal.
The
following description of the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan is only a summary of its principal terms and provisions and
is qualified by reference to the actual text as set forth in Schedule A.
Description
of the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan
Effectiveness
If
approved by the shareholders at the Meeting, the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan will remain effective and will be the only
current equity-based compensation plan under which grants currently are expected to be made by the Company.
Eligibility
Under
the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Board may in its discretion from time to time grant Options and share units (in
the form of RSUs and PSUs) to directors, employees and certain other service providers (as defined in the 2017 Amended Long-Term
Incentive Plan) of the Company and affiliated entities selected by the Board. As of September 18, 2020, all ten employees, five
independent directors, and three to five other service providers of the Company are expected to participate in the 2017 Amended
Long-Term Incentive Plan. The basis for participation in the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan is selection for participation
by the plan administrator.
Administration
The
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan will generally be administered by the Board, which will have full and complete discretionary
authority to, among other things, and subject to the express limitations under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan: (1)
interpret the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan and grant agreements thereunder; (2) determine the eligible persons who may
receive grants under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan and the terms of such grants (including the number of Common Shares
subject to such grants or the value of such grants and the applicable vesting conditions); and (3) amend the terms of a grant
agreement or other documents evidencing grants. The Board may, in its discretion, but subject to applicable law and stock exchange
requirements, delegate its powers under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan to a committee of the Board, or to a person
or persons, as it may determine from time to time. However, the Board will not delegate any such powers with respect to the grant,
amendment, administration or settlement of any award to the extent delegation is not consistent with applicable law or stock exchange
requirements, and provided that the composition of the committee of the Board, person or persons, as the case may be, will comply
with applicable law and stock exchange requirements. Further, provided it complies with 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan,
the Board may appoint or engage a trustee, custodian or administrator to administer or implement the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive
Plan or any aspect of it.
Share
Limits
Subject
to adjustment as described in the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be reserved
for issuance to participants under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with all other security based compensation
arrangements of the Company, including with respect to Options outstanding under the Option Plan, may not exceed 10% of the issued
and outstanding Common Shares from time to time, and the Common Shares reserved for issuance upon settlement of share units shall
not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time. The 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan limits
the maximum number of Common Shares issued to insiders (as defined under TSX rules for this purpose) within any one-year period,
or issuable to insiders at any time, in the aggregate, under all security based compensation arrangements (including the 2017
Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan) to 10% of the then issued and outstanding Common Shares. The 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive
Plan also limits the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance to any one participant under the 2017
Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with all other security based compensation arrangements of the Company, to 5% of the
then issued and outstanding Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis). Further, and subject to the adjustment provisions of the 2017
Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of Common Shares actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the
exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed 23,811,009 Common Shares. However, such Incentive Stock Option limit will
increase by 3,000,000 Common Shares on each of the first and second anniversaries of the effective date of the 2017 Amended Long-Term
Incentive Plan, subject to the aggregate Common Share limitation under the plan.
For
purposes of computing the total number of Common Shares available for grant under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan or
any other security based compensation arrangement of the Company, Common Shares subject to any grant (or any portion thereof)
that are issued upon exercise or settlement, forfeited, surrendered, cancelled, unearned or otherwise terminated will again be
available for grant under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Subject
to applicable law and stock exchange requirements, in the event of any change in or impact to the Common Shares by reason of any
dividend (other than dividends in the ordinary course), split, recapitalization, reclassification, amalgamation, arrangement,
merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution
of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, combination or exchange of Common Shares or distribution of
rights to holders of Common Shares or any other relevant changes to or impact to the authorized or issued capital of the Company,
if the Board determines that an equitable adjustment should be made, such adjustment shall be made by the Board to (1) the number
of Common Shares subject to the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, (2) the securities into which the Common Shares are changed
or are convertible or exchangeable, (3) any Options then outstanding, (4) the exercise price in respect of such Options, (5) the
number of share units outstanding under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, and/or (6) other award terms. However, any
such adjustment to the number of Incentive Stock Options that may be issued or transferred under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive
Plan will be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any Option intended to qualify as an Incentive
Stock Option to fail to so qualify. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a change in control,
the Board may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding grants under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan such alternative
consideration (including cash), if any, as it, in good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and will require
in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the United States
Internal Revenue Code (if applicable). In addition, for each Option with an exercise price greater than the consideration offered
in connection with any such transaction or event or change in control, the Board may in its discretion elect to cancel such Option
without any payment to the person holding such Option.
Performance
Conditions
Grants
under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive plan may be subject to performance-based vesting conditions, which may consist of such
financial, personal, operational, transaction-based or other performance criteria as may be determined by the Board and set out
in an applicable grant agreement. Performance-based vesting conditions may apply to an individual participant or to the Company,
an affiliate, the Company and its affiliates as a whole, a business unit of the Company or group comprised of the Company and
some affiliates or a group of affiliates, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either in total,
incrementally or cumulatively over a specified performance period, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target
or milestone, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparator group or index, or otherwise, provided that the performance
period for measurement or achievement of any such performance criteria (or incremental element thereof) will in all events exceed
one year. When establishing performance-based vesting conditions, the Board may exclude any or all “extraordinary items”
as determined under applicable accounting standards. The Board may provide that performance-based vesting conditions will be adjusted
to reflect events occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable performance-based vesting condition.
Options
Options
granted under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan will specify the maximum number of Common Shares that the participant
may purchase under the Options. Options issued under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, unless otherwise designated by
the Board in the applicable grant agreement, will vest with 50% of each grant vesting six-months after the grant date, 25% after
twelve months, and the balance at the 18-month anniversary. Vesting will be based on continued service and may be exercised during
a period determined by the Board, which may not exceed ten years (except in certain situations connection with a blackout period,
as further described below). The exercise price for each share subject to an Option shall be fixed by the Board but, except with
respect to certain awards issued in substitution for, in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of stock options held
by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with the Company or any of its affiliates, under no circumstances
shall it be less than 100% of the closing price per Common Share on the TSX on the trading day immediately preceding such date
(the “Market Price”) on the grant date. The exercise of Options may be subject to vesting conditions, including
specific time schedules for vesting and performance-based conditions. Generally, a participant’s notice of exercise of an
Option must be accompanied by payment of the exercise price. However, upon prior approval of the Board, a participant may elect
for a “cashless exercise” of Options, whereby a Participant can receive in Common Shares the net value of an Option
that is exercised without paying the exercise price directly. A “cashless exercise” entitles the Participant to Common
Shares equal to the number determined by dividing (a) the difference between the Market Price (calculated as at the date of settlement)
and the exercise price of such Option by (b) the Market Price (calculated as at the date of settlement). Options granted under
the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents.
If
the normal expiry date for Options granted under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan (other than an Incentive Stock Option
or an Option held by a U.S. taxpayer) falls within a blackout period or within ten business days following the end of a blackout
period, then the expiry date of the Option will, without any further action, be extended to the date that is ten business days
following the end of the blackout period. For this purpose, a “blackout period” is a period of time when, pursuant
to any policies of the Company, any securities of the Company may not be traded by certain persons as designated by the Company,
including any holder of a grant.
Options
granted under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options”
under Section 422 of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Incentive Stock Options”) are subject to additional
limitations as further described in the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Upon
a participant’s termination for cause, any and all outstanding Options whether vested or unvested are forfeited immediately.
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable grant agreement, upon a participant’s termination without cause, all vested
Options are exercisable for 120 days and all unvested Options are forfeited immediately. Upon a participant’s resignation,
except as otherwise provided in the applicable grant agreement, all vested Options are exercisable for 90 days and all unvested
Options are immediately forfeited. Upon a participant’s death or disability, except as provided in the applicable grant
agreement, all unvested Options are forfeited immediately, and all vested Options will continue to be exercisable for 12 months
from the date of death or disability. The Board may extend the period for exercise of a participant’s Options on the participant’s
termination or disability, but not beyond the original expiry date, and/or allow for continued vesting of the participant’s
Options during the period for exercise or a portion of it. Notwithstanding the above, other than on a termination due to disability
or death, Incentive Stock Options will not be exercisable for longer than three months following the date of termination.
Share
Units
Under
the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, eligible participants may be allocated share units in the form of PSUs or RSUs, which
represent the right to receive an equivalent number of Common Shares or amount of cash upon vesting. The issuance of such Common
Shares may be subject to vesting requirements similar to those described above with respect to the exercisability of Options,
including such time or performance-based conditions as may be determined from time to time by the Board in its discretion. The
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for the express designation of share units as either RSUs, which have primarily
time-based vesting conditions or PSUs, which have primarily performance-based vesting conditions over a specified period. To date,
the Company has not allocated any share units under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan. The number of PSUs subject to a
PSU grant may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation, job duties or other factors.
Except
as otherwise provided in the applicable grant agreement, if and when cash dividends (other than extraordinary or special dividends)
are paid with respect to Common Shares to shareholders of record as of a record date occurring during the period from the grant
date to the date of settlement of the RSUs or PSUs granted thereunder, a number of dividend equivalent RSUs or PSUs, as the case
may be, will be credited to the participant who is a party to such grant agreement. The number of such additional RSUs or PSUs
will be calculated by dividing the aggregate dividends or distributions that would have been paid to such participant if the RSUs
or PSUs held by the participant had been Common Shares by the market price on the date on which the dividends or distributions
were paid on the Common Shares. Such additional RSUs or PSUs granted to a participant will be subject to the same terms and conditions,
including vesting and settlement terms, as the corresponding RSUs or PSUs, as the case may be.
Upon
a participant’s termination for cause, all unvested share units are forfeited immediately. Subject to the terms of the applicable
grant or as determined by the Board, upon a participant’s termination without cause or due to death or disability, all vested
share units will be paid to the participant or the participant’s estate, as applicable. Any unvested share units will be
immediately forfeited, provided that any unvested share units that are subject to performance-based vesting conditions that are
capable of being partially performed, in the Board’s discretion, will become vested on a pro rata basis to reflect the degree
to which the condition has been satisfied (in all cases subject to the terms of the applicable grant). The Board may, at the time
of termination or disability, extend the period for vesting of share units, but not beyond the original end of the applicable
vesting period, or accelerate the vesting of share units, subject to applicable limitations under United States tax law.
Change
in Control
The
vesting of outstanding awards will be accelerated in connection with a change in control if a participant’s employment is
terminated (other than for cause (as defined in the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan)) or he or she resigns for good reason
(as defined in the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan), in either case, within one year of the change of control. If any share
units are subject to performance-based vesting conditions, then the vesting of such share units shall accelerate only to the extent
that such performance-based vesting conditions have been satisfied and further provided that if a performance-based vesting condition
is, in the Board’s discretion, capable of being partially performed, then vesting will be accelerated on a pro rata basis
to reflect the degree to which the performance condition has been satisfied, as determined by the Board.
Transfers
The
interest of any participant under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan is generally not transferable or assignable, other
than by testamentary disposition by the participant or the laws of intestate succession. In no event will any grant under the
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan be transferred for value. However, the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan does provide
that with respect to a participant who is not a U.S. taxpayer, the Board may provide that the participant may assign his or her
rights (a) in the case of a transfer without the payment of any consideration, to the participant’s spouse, former spouse,
children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, persons having one of the foregoing types of
relationship with the participant due to adoption and any entity in which these persons (or the participant) own more than 50
percent of the voting interests and (b) to an entity in which more than 50 percent of the voting interests are owned by these
persons (or the participant) in exchange for an interest in that entity. In the event of such transfer or assignment, the grant
will generally remain subject to substantially the same terms as were applicable while held by the participant to whom it was
granted. With respect to participants who are U.S. taxpayers, the Board may permit the participant to transfer Options that are
not Incentive Stock Options (“Nonqualified Stock Options”) to any “family member” in accordance
with Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933. However, U.S. taxpayers cannot receive any consideration
for the transfer and such transferred Nonqualified Stock Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions
as were applicable to such Nonqualified Stock Option immediately prior to its transfer.
Clawback
All
grants under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan are subject to a clawback (as further described in the 2017 Amended Long-Term
Incentive Plan) by the Company, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, in the event: (a) the participant fails to
comply with any restrictive covenants; (b) the participant is terminated for cause, or the Board reasonably determines after termination
that the participant could have been terminated for cause; (c) the Board reasonably determines that the participant engaged in
conduct that caused material financial or reputational harm to the Company or engaged in gross negligence, willful misconduct
or fraud in the performance of their duties; or (d) the Company’s financial statements are required to be restated (subject
to certain exceptions described in the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan) and such restatement discloses materially worse
financial results in the opinion of the Board.
In
addition, any grant agreement under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan may also provide for the cancellation or forfeiture
of a grant or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any gain related to a grant, or other provisions intended to have
a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be required by the Board or under Section 10D of the Exchange Act, and
any applicable rules or regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any applicable stock exchange.
Amendment
and Termination
The
following types of amendments to the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan or the entitlements granted under it (other than certain
equitable antidilution adjustments as provided for under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan) require the approval of the
shareholders: (a) increasing the maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive
Plan; (b) reducing the exercise price of an outstanding Option (including cancelling and, in conjunction therewith, re-granting
within six months an Option at a reduced exercise price, or substitution of an Option with cash or other awards the terms of which
are more favorable to the participant); (c) extending the term of any grant; (d) amending the assignment rights of participants
currently contemplated by the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan; (e) expanding the categories of individuals eligible for
grants under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan; (f) increasing or removing the percentage limit on Common Shares issuable
or issued to insiders under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan; (g) amending the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan
to provide for other types of equity compensation through equity issuance; (h) amending the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan,
the effect of which would cause Options held by U.S. taxpayers to no longer receive specific tax treatment under the United States
Internal Revenue Code; and (i) amending the amendment provision or granting additional powers to the Board to amend the 2017 Amended
Long-Term Incentive Plan or grants without shareholder approval.
The
Board may approve amendments to the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan or the entitlements granted under it without shareholder
approval, other than those specified above as requiring approval of the shareholders, subject to any regulatory approvals including,
where required, the approval of the TSX, including: (a) amendments of a “housekeeping” nature; (b) a change to the
vesting provisions of any grants; (c) a change to the termination provisions of any grant that does not entail an extension beyond
the original term of the grant; or (d) amendments to the provisions relating to a change in control.
The
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan will remain in effect, unless sooner terminated, until the tenth anniversary of its effective
date, except that it must be reapproved by the Company’s shareholders in order for grants to be made under the 2017 Amended
Long-Term Incentive Plan after the third anniversary of its effective date. If the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan is not
approved by shareholders by the third anniversary of its effective date, no further grants may be made under the 2017 Amended
Long-Term Incentive Plan but grants previously made will remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions
and the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan’s terms and conditions.
Other
Provisions
For
U.S. taxpayers, the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan includes certain additional limitations intended to comply with or secure
an exemption from Section 409A of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
The
Company will not provide financial assistance to participants to facilitate the purchase of securities under the 2017 Amended
Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Substitute
and Assumed Awards
Grants
may be made under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with an
assumption of, stock options, restricted share units, or performance share units held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate
acquisition or merger transaction with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. The grants so made may reflect the original
terms of the awards being assumed or substituted or converted for and need not comply with other specific terms of the 2017 Amended
Long-Term Incentive Plan, and may account for Common Shares substituted for the securities covered by the original awards and
the number of shares subject to the original awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to the original awards,
adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction.
Withholdings
The
Company or an affiliate of the Company will withhold or cause to be withheld from any amount payable to a participant, either
under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, or otherwise, such amount as may be necessary to permit the Company or the affiliate,
as applicable, to comply with applicable obligation sunder any federal, provincial, state or local law relating to the withholding
of tax or other required deductions. Subject to applicable law and stock exchange requirements, the Company and any affiliate
of the Company may also satisfy any liability for any such withholding obligations, on such terms and conditions as the Board
may determine in its sole discretion, by (1) requiring such participant to sell any Common Shares and retaining any amount payable
which would otherwise be provided or paid to such participant in connection with any such sale, or (2) requiring, as a condition
to the delivery of Common Shares hereunder, that such participant make such arrangements as the Board may require so that the
Company and its affiliates can satisfy such withholding obligations, including requiring such participant to remit an amount to
the Company or an affiliate in advance, or reimburse the Company or any affiliate for, any such withholding obligations.
New
Plan Benefits
It
is not possible to determine the specific amounts and types of awards that may be granted in the future under the 2017 Amended
Long-Term Incentive Plan because the grant and actual payout of awards under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan are subject
to the discretion of the plan administrator.
The
following table shows, as to each named executive officer and the various indicated groups, the aggregate number of Option awards
granted under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan from inception through September 18, 2020:
Name
|
|
Number
of Options Granted
|
Named
Executive Officers:
|
|
|
Mark
A. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, President
|
|
1,500,000
|
Scott
Honan, Chief Operating Officer
|
|
650,000
|
Neal
Shah, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
650,000
|
Jim
Sims, Vice President External Affairs
|
|
650,000
|
All
current executive officers as a group
|
|
3,725,000
|
All
current non-employee directors as a group
|
|
4,225,000
|
Each
nominee for election as a director:
|
|
|
Michael
Morris
|
|
800,000
|
David
C. Beling
|
|
750,000
|
Anna
Castner Wightman
|
|
750,000
|
Nilsa
Guerrero-Mahon
|
|
1,100,000
|
Each
associate of any of the foregoing
|
|
0
|
Each
other person who received at least 5% of all Options granted
|
|
0
|
All
employees, excluding current executive officers
|
|
1,470,000
|
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The
following is a brief summary of certain of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to participants who are U.S. taxpayers of
certain transactions under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan based on U.S. federal income tax laws in effect. This summary,
which is presented for the information of shareholders considering how to vote on this proposal and not for 2017 Amended Long-Term
Incentive Plan participants, is not intended to be complete and does not describe U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes (such
as Medicare and Social Security taxes), or state, local, provincial, or other non-U.S. tax consequences, or any tax consequences
for non-U.S. taxpayers.
Tax
Consequences to Participants
Nonqualified
Stock Options. In general:
|
●
|
no
income will be recognized by a participant at the time a Nonqualified Stock Option is
granted;
|
|
●
|
at
the time of exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option, ordinary income will be recognized
by the participant in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price paid
for the shares and the fair market value of the shares, if unrestricted, on the date
of exercise; and
|
|
●
|
at
the time of sale of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock
Option, appreciation (or depreciation) in value of the shares after the date of exercise
will be treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on
how long the shares have been held.
|
Incentive
Stock Options. No income generally will be recognized by a participant upon the grant or exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
The exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, however, may result in alternative minimum tax liability. If Common Shares are issued
to the participant pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, and if no disqualifying disposition of such shares is
made by such participant within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the transfer of such shares to the
participant, then upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the exercise price will be taxed to the participant
as a long-term capital gain and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss.
If
Common Shares acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding
period described above, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal
to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of such shares at the time of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the
disposition of such shares if a sale or exchange) over the exercise price paid for such shares. Any further gain (or loss) realized
by the participant generally will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on the holding period.
Restricted
Share Units. No income generally will be recognized upon the award of RSUs. The recipient of an RSU award generally will be
subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the amount of cash received and the fair market value of unrestricted Common Shares
on the date that such cash or shares are transferred to the participant under the award (reduced by any amount paid by the participant
for such RSUs), and the capital gains/loss holding period for such shares will also commence on such date.
Performance
Share Units. No income generally will be recognized upon the grant of PSUs. Upon payment in respect of the earn-out of PSUs,
the recipient generally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the amount
of cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted Common Shares received.
Tax
Consequences to the Company or its Subsidiaries
To
the extent that a participant recognizes ordinary income in the circumstances described above, the Company or the subsidiary for
which the participant performs services (to the extent it is a U.S. taxpayer) will be entitled to a corresponding deduction provided
that, among other things, the income meets the test of reasonableness, is an ordinary and necessary business expense, is not an
“excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the United States Internal Revenue Code and is not
disallowed by the $1 million limitation on certain executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the United States Internal Revenue
Code.
Registration
with the SEC
We
intend to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of Common Shares under the 2017 Amended Long-Term
Incentive Plan with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as soon as practicable
after approval of the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan by our shareholders.
Shareholder
Approval
The
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan was approved by the Board on September 24, 2020 and must also be approved by both the TSX
and the shareholders of the Company. The TSX has conditionally accepted the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan. Accordingly,
the shareholders will be asked to approve the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan. At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked
to consider and, if thought fit, pass the resolution set out below, approving the implementation of the 2017 Amended Long-Term
Incentive Plan:
“BE
IT RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION THAT:
|
1.
|
The
2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, substantially as described above and appended
as Schedule A to the Company’s Information Circular in respect of the Company’s
Meeting, is hereby authorized and approved to be effective from the date of the Meeting.
|
|
2.
|
All
unallocated entitlements under the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended
from time to time, be and are hereby approved and authorized, and the Company shall be
permitted to grant awards thereunder until November 5, 2023.
|
|
3.
|
Any
one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized and directed to do
all such acts and things and to execute and deliver all such documents, instruments and
assurances as in the opinion of such director or officer may be necessary or desirable
to give effect to the foregoing resolutions.”
|
To
be approved, the resolution must be passed by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Common Shares at the Meeting.
The
Board recommends a vote “FOR” the resolution approving the adoption of the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxies given pursuant to this solicitation will be voted “FOR” the nominees listed
above.
Should
the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan not receive the required shareholder approval at the Meeting, no further entitlements
may be awarded under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which will continue governing outstanding entitlements granted thereunder.
IV
- APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The
Company has proposed the appointment of BDO USA, LLP Certified Public Accountants (“BDO USA, LLP”), as auditors
of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company or until a successor is appointed.
It is proposed that the remuneration to be paid to the auditors be fixed by the Board through the Audit Committee of the Board
(the “Audit Committee”). BDO USA, LLP was originally appointed as the Company’s auditors on June 24,
2015.
The
Audit Committee recommends the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our auditors to hold office until the Company’s next annual
general meeting of shareholders. The Audit Committee proposes that the Board be authorized to fix the remuneration to be paid
to the auditors.
Representatives
from BDO USA, LLP are expected to be present at the Meeting and they will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire
to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
The
following table presents fees for professional services rendered by BDO USA, LLP for each of the last two fiscal years for the
audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in the Company’s filings
and fees billed for other services rendered by BDO USA, LLP during those periods.
Fiscal
Year
Ending June 30,
|
|
Audit
Fees(1)
($)
|
|
Audit
Related Fees(2)
($)
|
|
Tax
Fees(3)
($)
|
|
All
Other Fees(4)
($)
|
2020
|
|
118,500
|
|
—
|
|
23,210
|
|
—
|
2019
|
|
136,000
|
|
—
|
|
7,155
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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(1)
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“Audit
Fees” include fees necessary to perform the annual audit and quarterly reviews
of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Audit Fees include fees for
review of tax provisions and for accounting consultations on matters reflected in the
financial statements. Audit Fees also include audit or other attest services required
by legislation or regulation, such as comfort letters, consents, reviews of securities
filings and statutory audits.
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(2)
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“Audit-Related
Fees” include services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related
services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations
on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required
by legislation or regulation.
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(3)
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“Tax
Fees” include fees for all tax services other than those included in “Audit
Fees” and “Audit-Related Fees.” This category includes fees for tax
compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance
with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests
for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities. For the financial years ended June
30, 2020 and 2019, these tax services included the preparation of Canadian and U.S. federal
and state tax returns and tax planning and tax advice services.
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(4)
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“All
Other Fees” includes all other non-audit services.
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Pre-approval
Policies
The
Audit Committee’s policy has been to pre-approve all audit, audit-related and non-audit services performed by our independent
auditors and to subsequently review the actual fees and expenses paid to our independent auditors. Accordingly, the Audit Committee
pre-approved all audit, audit-related and non-audit services performed by BDO USA, LLP and subsequently reviewed the actual fees
and expenses paid to BDO USA, LLP. The Audit Committee has determined that the fees paid to BDO USA, LLP for services are compatible
with maintaining BDO USA, LLP’s independence as our auditors. All of the services provided by BDO USA LLP during the year
ended June 30, 2020 were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
Voting
Procedures for Appointment of Auditor
The
auditors must be appointed, and the approval of the proposal that the auditor’s remuneration be fixed by the Board through
the Audit Committee, must be passed by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast, either in person or by proxy,
at the Meeting on this matter. Abstentions will not be counted FOR or AGAINST the matter.
Management
recommends a vote “FOR” (i) the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as auditors of the Company to hold office until the next
annual general meeting and (ii) the authorization of the Board to fix their remuneration through the Audit Committee. Unless otherwise
instructed, the proxies given pursuant to this solicitation will be voted “FOR” (i) the appointment of BDO USA, LLP
as auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting and (ii) the authorization of the Board to fix
their remuneration through the Audit Committee.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Corporate
governance relates to the activities of the Board, the members of which are elected by and are accountable to the shareholders,
and takes into account the role of the individual members of management who are appointed by the Board and who are charged with
the day-to-day management of the Company. The Board is committed to sound corporate governance practices that are both in the
interest of its shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient decision making. National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance
Guidelines (“NP 58-201”) establishes corporate governance guidelines that apply to all Canadian public
companies. The Company has reviewed its own corporate governance practices in light of these guidelines. In certain cases, the
Company’s practices comply with the guidelines; however, the Board considers some of the guidelines not to be suitable for
the Company at its current stage of development, and therefore, these guidelines have not been adopted at this time. The Board
will consider the matter in the future as the Company’s development progresses, and such guidelines may be applicable to
the Company’s then-level of development. National Instrument 58-101 (“NI 58-101”) mandates disclosure
of corporate governance practices for non-Venture Issuers in Form 58-101F1, which disclosure is set out below.
Director
Independence
As
of September 18, 2020, the Company’s Board consists of Messrs. Smith, Carrabba, Beling, and Morris as well as Mmes. Wightman
and Guerrero-Mahon. The Company utilizes the definition of “independent” as it is set forth in Section 303A of the
NYSE Listed Company Manual (“Section 303A”) and National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees (“NI
52-110”). Further, the Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances in its determination of independence of
all members of the Board (including any relationships). Currently, Messrs. Carrabba, Beling and Morris and Mmes. Wightman and
Guerrero-Mahon are considered independent directors.
At
all times since the Company’s November 7, 2019 annual general meeting of shareholders, the Board has consisted of a majority
of independent directors. NP 58-201 suggests that the board of directors of every listed company should be constituted with a
majority of individuals who qualify as “independent” directors under NI 52-110, which provides that a director is
independent if he or she has no direct or indirect “material relationship” with such company. “Material relationship”
is defined as a relationship that could, in the view of a company’s board of directors, reasonably interfere with the exercise
of a director’s independent judgment. Of the proposed nominees for election at the Meeting, one, being Mark A. Smith, is
an “insider,” as a management director, and accordingly, is not considered by the Board to be “independent.”
The remaining four proposed nominees, being Messrs. Beling and Morris and Mmes. Wightman and Guerrero-Mahon, are each considered
by the Board to be “independent,” within the meaning of NI 52-110. Thus, assuming that all the proposed nominees are
elected as directors, the Board will continue to be composed of a majority of independent directors.
The
Chair of the Board is Mark A. Smith, who is not independent. Joseph Carrabba, who will serve as the Company’s Lead Director
until his retirement at the Meeting, is independent. The independent directors do not have regularly scheduled meetings in the
absence of the non-independent directors and management but can do so on an ad hoc basis, at the expense of the Company,
as they see fit. The independent directors did not meet as a group, on a formal basis, without the non-independent directors or
management being present during the financial year ended June 30, 2020.
The
Board created the Lead Director role as an integral part of a leadership structure that promotes strong, independent oversight
of NioCorp’s management and affairs. The Lead Director, who must be independent, has the following primary responsibilities:
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working
with the Chairman to develop and approve Board agendas and meeting schedules;
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advising
the Chairman as to the quality, quantity, and timeliness of the information sent to the
Board;
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developing
agendas for and chairing executive sessions of the Board (in which the independent directors
meet without management); and
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acting
as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and CEO.
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Joseph
Carrabba has served as the Lead Director since December 2014. Following Mr. Carrabba’s retirement at the Meeting, the Board
will appoint Michael Morris to serve as Lead Director.
In
assessing Form 58-101F1 and making the foregoing determinations, the circumstances of each director have been examined in relation
to a number of factors, including discussions with each director, a review of the résumés of the directors, and
the corporate relationships and other directorships held by each of them.
Board
Meetings
The
Board held a total of four meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020. None of our directors attended fewer than 75%
of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of the committees on which the director served during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2020. Board members are not required to attend the Company’s annual general meetings of shareholders, and all attended
the meeting held on November 7, 2019.
The
attendance record of each director at full Board meetings and with respect to meetings of any committees of which he/she is a
member held during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, either in person or by conference telephone, are as follows:
Name
of Director
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Full
Board Meetings
(4 total)
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Audit
Committee
(4 total – decisions reflected in consent resolutions)
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Compensation
and Organization Committee
(1 total)
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Mark
A. Smith
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4
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N/A
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N/A
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Joseph
Carrabba
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4
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N/A
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1
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David
Beling
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4
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N/A
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1
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Michael
Morris
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4
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4
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1
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Anna
Castner Wightman
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4
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4
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N/A
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Nilsa
Guerrero-Mahon
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4
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4
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N/A
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Mandate
of the Board
The
Board has a written mandate that provides that the Board’s fundamental objective is the creation of shareholder value, including
the protection and enhancement of the value of the Company’s assets. The Board oversees the management of the Company’s
affairs directly and through the operation of its standing committees. In fulfilling its mandate, the Board, among other matters,
is responsible for reviewing and approving the Company’s overall business strategies and its annual business plan, reviewing
and approving the annual corporate budget and forecast, reviewing and approving significant capital investments outside the approved
budget, reviewing major strategic initiatives to ensure that the Company’s proposed actions accord with its stated shareholder
objectives, reviewing succession planning, assessing management’s performance against approved business plans and industry
standards, reviewing and approving the financial statements, reports and other disclosure issued to shareholders, ensuring the
effective operation of the Board and safeguarding shareholders’ equity interests through the optimum utilization of the
Company’s capital resources. The Board also takes responsibility for identifying the principal risks of the Company’s
business and for ensuring these risks are effectively monitored and mitigated to the extent reasonably practicable. In keeping
with its overall responsibility for the stewardship of the Company, the Board is responsible for the integrity of the Company’s
internal control and management information systems (primarily through the Audit Committee) and for the Company’s policies
respecting corporate disclosure and communications.
Position
Descriptions
The
Board has developed a written position description for the Chairman of the Board and the Lead Director. The primary responsibilities
of the Lead Director are set forth above under “Director Independence.” To date, given the size of the Company and
its stage of development, the Board does not believe that a formal written position description for the position of the CEO is
required, and that good business practices and the common law provide guidance as to what is expected of the position.
The
general duties of the CEO are as set forth in the Smith Agreement (as described elsewhere in this Information Circular), which
were developed by the Board, in consultation with the CEO, at the time the Smith Agreement was entered into and set forth the
expectations of the role and position to be fulfilled by the CEO. Pursuant to the Smith Agreement, the Company (acting through
the Board) has the ability to modify such duties as required, but it has not found it necessary to do so.
The
charters for each of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Responsibility Committee contain a general description of the
roles and tasks required to be performed by the Chair of the relevant committee.
Orientation
and Continuing Education
The
Board provides ad hoc orientation for new directors. New non-management directors are briefed on the overall role of the
Board, its committees and its directors, as well as the Company’s strategic plans, short, medium and long term corporate
objectives, current mineral properties and ongoing exploration programs, business risks and mitigation strategies, corporate governance
guidelines and existing Company policies when they become directors. However, there is no formal orientation for new members of
the Board, and this is considered to be appropriate, given the Company’s size and current level of operations. If the growth
of the Company’s operations and/or increased Board turnover warrants it, the Board would consider implementing a formal
orientation process.
The
skills and knowledge of the Board as a whole is such that no formal continuing education process is currently deemed required.
The Board is comprised of individuals with varying backgrounds, who have, both collectively, and in most cases individually, extensive
experience in running and managing public companies in the natural resource sector, and several directors are also directors of
other resource companies. Board members are encouraged to communicate with management, auditors and technical consultants to keep
themselves current with industry trends and developments and changes in legislation, with management’s assistance. The Company
will pay the reasonable costs of attendance by directors at continuing education courses and seminars with respect to corporate
governance, directors’ duties and obligations and similar matters. Board members have full access to the Company’s
records.
Reference
is made to the heading “I and II – Number and Election of Directors,” under “Particulars of Matters to
Be Acted Upon” in this Information Circular, for a description of the principal occupations of the proposed nominees for
election as members of the Board.
Board
Committees
Our
Board has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation and Organization Committee, and a Corporate Responsibility Committee,
each of which operates under a written charter that has been approved by the Board.
Our
Board has determined that the members of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee are independent directors under Section
303A and NI 52-110, including, in the case of all of the members of our Audit Committee, the independence requirements contemplated
by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. In making such determination, the Board considered the relationships that each director
has with our Company and all other facts and circumstances that the Board deemed relevant in determining director independence,
including the beneficial ownership of our Common Shares by each director.
Audit
Committee and Audit Committee Financial Experts
Our
Audit Committee is currently comprised of Anna Castner Wightman, Michael Morris, and Nilsa Guerrero-Mahon. Our Board has determined
that Mr. Morris and Ms. Guerrero-Mahon are financial experts, as defined by the rules of the SEC and Canadian rules and regulations.
The Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. During the fiscal year ended June
30, 2020, the Audit Committee met four times. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website
at www.niocorp.com.
The
Audit Committee’s general duties and responsibilities are to:
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oversee
the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the audit of its
financial statements, including: (i) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements;
(ii) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iii)
the external auditors’ qualifications and independence;
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resolve
disagreements (if any) between management and the external auditor regarding financial
reporting;
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serve
as an independent and objective party to monitor the Company’s financial reporting
processes and internal control systems;
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review
and appraise the audit activities of the Company’s external auditors;
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provide
open lines of communication among the external auditors, financial and senior management
and the Board for financial reporting and control matters and meet periodically with
management and with the external auditors;
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review
the annual and interim consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the
related notes, and management’s discussion and analysis thereof, for the purpose
of recommending approval by the Board prior to release;
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assist
the Board in the discharge of its fiduciary responsibilities relating to the Company’s
accounting principles, reporting practices and internal controls;
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provide
oversight of the management of the Company in designing, implementing and maintaining
an effective system of internal controls;
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report
periodically its findings and recommendations to the Board; and
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review
and revise the Audit Committee Charter as necessary with the approval of the Board provided
that the Audit Committee Charter may be amended and restated from time to time without
the approval of the Board to ensure that the composition of the Audit Committee and the
responsibilities and powers of the Audit Committee comply with the applicable laws and
stock exchange rules.
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The
complete duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are more particularly set out in the Audit Committee Charter.
Relevant
Education and Experience of Audit Committee Members
The
education and experience of each member of the Audit Committee relevant to the performance of his/her responsibilities as an Audit
Committee member and, in particular, any education or experience that would provide the member with the following items, are included
in the Audit Committee members’ biographies as set forth in “Particulars of Matters to Be Acted Upon – I and
II – Number and Election of Directors,” above:
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1.
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an
understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company to prepare its financial
statements;
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2.
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the
ability to assess the general application of such accounting principles in connection
with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves;
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3.
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experience
preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth
and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth
and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s
financial statements or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in
such activities;
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4.
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an
understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and
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5.
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an
understanding of audit committee functions.
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Reliance
on Certain Exemptions
Since
the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Company has not relied on the exemptions in
section 2.4 (De Minimis Non-audit Services), 3.2 (Initial Public Offerings), 3.4 (Events Outside Control of Member),
3.5 (Death, Disability or Resignation of Audit Committee Member) of NI 52-110 or an exemption from NI 52-110, in whole
or in part, granted by a securities regulator under Part 8 (Exemptions) of NI 52-110.
Reliance
on the Exemption in subsection 3.3(2) or section 3.6
Since
the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Company has not relied on the exemptions in
subsection 3.3(2) (Controlled Companies) or section 3.6 (Temporary Exemption for Limited and Exceptional Circumstances).
Reliance
on section 3.8
Since
the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Company has not relied upon section 3.8 (Acquisition
of Financial Literacy) for any of the audit committee members.
Audit
Committee Oversight
Since
the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, there has not been a recommendation of the Audit
Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor which was not adopted by the Board.
Audit
Committee Report
The
Company’s Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. The Committee
has three members, each of whom is “independent” as determined under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and Section 303A
and applicable Canadian rules and regulations. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board.
The
Audit Committee assists the Board by (1) overseeing the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting and internal control,
(2) overseeing the independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditors (3) and providing an avenue of communication
between management, the independent auditors and the Board.
In
the course of conducting its oversight responsibilities regarding the Company’s audited annual financial statements for
the year ended June 30, 2020, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited annual financial statements for the year
ended June 30, 2020, which appear in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders with management and the Company’s
independent auditors. The Audit Committee reviewed accounting principles, practices and judgments, as well as the adequacy and
clarity of the notes to the financial statements.
The
Audit Committee reviewed the independence and performance of the independent auditors who are responsible for expressing an opinion
on the conformity of the audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and has
discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC.
The
Committee meets with the independent auditors to discuss their audit plans, scope and timing on a regular basis, with or without
management present. The Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by
applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for independent auditor communications with audit committees
concerning independence, as may be modified or supplemented, and has discussed with BDO USA, LLP its independence from the Company.
Based
on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, that the
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 be included in the Company’s Annual Report filed on
Form 10-K. The Committee and the Board have also recommended the selection of BDO USA, LLP as independent auditors for the Company
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.
Submitted
by:
Nilsa
Guerrero-Mahon
Michael
Morris
Anna
Castner Wightman
Compensation
Committee
The
Board has established the Compensation Committee and has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee. The overall
purpose of the Compensation Committee is to act on behalf of the Board and in the best interest of the Company’s shareholders
to support the Company’s efforts to attract, retain, develop and reward employees to achieve its annual and strategic objectives.
The written charter for the Compensation Committee sets out the role of the Chair of the Compensation Committee. The written charter
does not provide for the delegation of the Compensation Committee’s authority to other persons or committees. Pursuant to
the Company’s 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, however, the Compensation Committee may delegate its powers, rights and duties
under the plan to a committee of the Board or to other persons, subject to applicable law. The Compensation Committee is comprised
of Joseph Carrabba as the Chairman, David Beling, and Michael Morris. All members of the Compensation Committee are independent.
None of the members of our Compensation Committee has been one of our officers or employees at any time. During the fiscal year
ended June 30, 2020, the Compensation Committee met one time. A copy of the Compensation Committee charter is available on the
Company’s website at www.niocorp.com.
The
responsibilities of the Compensation Committee generally include: (1) recommending compensation policies to the Board for approval
and thereafter implementing such policies; (2) ensuring the Company has programs in place to attract and develop management of
the highest caliber and a process to provide for the orderly succession of management; (3) assessing and reporting to the Board
on the performance of the CEO; (4) reviewing the compensation of the CEO and other officers and members of the Board and making
recommendations in respect thereof to the Board; (5) reviewing and approving any proposed amendments to the Company’s 2017
Long-Term Incentive Plan; (6) making recommendations to the Board concerning equity compensation grants; and (7) overseeing and
considering the implications and risks associated with the Company’s compensation policies.
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in monitoring, reviewing and approving compensation policies and
practices of the Company and its subsidiaries and administering the Company’s 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan. With regard
to the CEO, the Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the
CEO’s compensation, evaluating the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and making recommendations
to the Board with respect to the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation. In consultation with the CEO, the Compensation
Committee makes recommendations to the Board on the framework of executive remuneration and its cost and on specific remuneration
packages for each of the directors and officers other than the CEO, including recommendations regarding awards under equity compensation
plans. For more information regarding the role of executive officers in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive
compensation, see “Executive Compensation” below. The Compensation Committee also reviews executive compensation disclosure
before the Company publicly discloses the information. The Compensation Committee’s decisions are typically reflected in
consent resolutions.
The
members of the Compensation Committee are all current or former executive officers or directors of public companies in the mineral
exploration, mining, and manufacturing sectors and each has experience in reviewing and establishing compensation for executives
in companies at a similar size and stage of development as the Company. The Compensation Committee members’ collective skills
and experience within the resource sector provides them with an understanding of the Company’s success factors and risks
and enables them to make decisions on the suitability of the Company’s compensation policies and practices.
Members
of the Compensation Committee review compensation paid for directors and named executive officers of companies of similar size
and stage of development in the mineral exploration industry and determine appropriate compensation reflecting the need to provide
incentive and compensation for the time and effort expended by the directors and senior management while taking into account the
financial and other resources of the Company. In setting the compensation, the Compensation Committee reviews the performance
of the non-executive officers in light of the Company’s objectives and considers other factors that may have impacted the
success of the Company in achieving its objectives over the preceding year.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, Joseph Carrabba, David Beling, and Michael Morris served on the Compensation Committee. None
of these individuals was an employee or an officer of the Company during the 2020 fiscal year, was formerly an officer of the
Company, or had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. In addition, during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, none of our executive officers served on the compensation committee or full board of any company
for which any of Messrs. Carrabba, Beling, or Morris (or any of the Company’s other directors) served as an executive officer.
Corporate
Responsibility Committee
The
Corporate Responsibility Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in overseeing (i) the Company’s environmental,
safety and health and corporate social responsibility policies and programs and (ii) the Company’s environmental, safety
and health and corporate social responsibility performance. The Corporate Responsibility Committee is comprised of Anna Castner
Wightman as the Chairperson, Mark Smith and Joseph Carrabba. There were no meetings of the Corporate Responsibility Committee
during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, as planned Company activities in the Elk Creek Project area were minimal.
Nomination
of Directors
The
Company does not have a nominating committee, and the Board as a whole is responsible for reviewing proposals for new nominees
to the Board and conducting such background reviews, assessments, interviews and other procedures as it believes necessary to
ascertain the suitability of a particular nominee. The Board believes that given the small size of the Board and preponderance
of independent directors on the Board that a separately designated nominating committee is not required to maintain Board independent
oversight and ensure the selection of qualified nominees to the Board. Further, the Board believes that discussing and selecting
nominees with the entire Board provides a better assessment of nominees for future Board cohesion. The selection of potential
nominees are generally the result of recruitment efforts by individual Board members, including both formal and informal discussions
among Board members and with the CEO, and are usually based upon the desire to have a specific set of skills or expertise included
on the Board. The Board does not have a written policy with respect to the director nomination process.
The
appointment of new directors (either to fill vacancies or to add additional directors as permitted by applicable corporate legislation)
or the nomination for election as a director of a person not currently a director by the shareholders at an annual general meeting
is carried out by the Board.
Recommendations
to the Board
The
Board will consider recommendations for director nominees made by shareholders and others. For consideration by the Board, the
nominating shareholder or other person must provide the Company’s Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
John F. Ashburn, Jr., at the Company’s principal executive offices, with information about the nominee, including the detailed
background of the suggested candidate.
Outside
of the participation of Mark A. Smith, the CEO, on the Board as a director, no shareholder or shareholders holding 5% or more
of the Company’s outstanding stock, either individually or in aggregate, has recommended a nominee for election to the Board
as of the date of this Information Circular.
Board
Diversity
The
Board has not adopted a written policy or set targets relating to the identification and nomination of diverse directors or executive
officers as it does not believe, at the present time, that it is necessary for the Company to have a written policy. The Board
is committed to nominating the best individuals with relevant board and industry experience to fill director roles and executive
officer positions. The Board believes that diversity is important to ensure that Board members and senior management provide the
necessary range of perspectives, experience and expertise required to achieve the Company’s goals and strategic objectives.
The Board recognizes that gender diversity is a significant aspect of diversity and acknowledges the important role that women
with appropriate and relevant skills and experience can play in contributing to diversity of perspective in the boardroom and
in senior management roles.
The
Board reviews the general and specific criteria applicable to candidates to be considered for nomination to the Board. The Board
aims to maintain the composition of the Board in a way that provides the best mix of skill and experience to guide the Company’s
long-term strategy and ongoing business operations. Accordingly, in searches for new directors or officers, the Board considers
the level of gender and cultural representation and diversity within its leadership ranks, and this is just one of several factors
used in its search process.
Currently,
the Company has two female board members and no female executive officers.
Assessments
The
Board has traditionally monitored, but not formally assessed, its performance or the performance of individual directors or committee
members or their contributions. The Compensation Committee has, as part of its mandate, the responsibility for evaluating the
performance of the CEO and Chair of the Board. In the future, the Compensation Committee may consider appropriate processes for
evaluations of individual directors and may review the processes adopted by similar sized public natural resource companies in
order to assist it in this regard.
Board
of Directors Tenure
The
Board has not adopted policies imposing an arbitrary term or retirement age limit in connection with individuals nominated for
election as directors as it does not believe that such a limit is in the best interests of the Company at this time. The Board
annually reviews the composition of the Board, including the age and tenure of individual directors. The Board strives to achieve
a balance between the desire to have a depth of experience from its members and the need for renewal and new perspectives.
Insider
Participation and Other Relationships
Mark
A. Smith, our CEO, is also a member of our board of directors.
Since
June 17, 2015, we have certain debt obligations to Mr. Smith as more fully described under “Certain Relationships and Related
Person Transactions.”
Ethical
Business Conduct
The
Board expects management to operate the business of the Company in a manner that enhances shareholder value and is consistent
with the highest level of integrity. Management is expected to execute the Company’s business plan and to meet performance
goals and objectives according to the highest ethical standards.
In
addition, directors and senior officers are bound by the provisions of the Company’s Articles and the BCBCA, which set forth
how any conflicts of interest are to be dealt with. In particular, any director who has a material interest in a particular transaction
is required to disclose such interest and to refrain from voting with respect to the approval of any such transaction.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our
Board has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our employees, officers and directors, including
those officers responsible for financial reporting. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at www.niocorp.com.
If the Board amends the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or grants a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from the Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics, the Company will disclose the information on its internet website. The waiver information will remain
on the website for at least twelve months after the initial disclosure of such waiver. Given the current size of the Company workforce,
and the lack of significant operations, the Board monitors compliance through periodic discussions with executive management.
Board
Role in Risk Oversight
Our
Board is responsible for overseeing the Company’s management of risk. The Board strives to effectively oversee the Company’s
enterprise-wide risk management in a way that balances managing risks with enhancing the long-term value of the Company for the
benefit of the shareholders. The Board understands that its focus on effective risk oversight is critical to setting the Company’s
tone and culture towards effective risk management. To administer its oversight function, the Board seeks to understand the Company’s
risk philosophy by having discussions with management to establish a mutual understanding of the Company’s overall appetite
for risk. Our Board maintains an active dialogue with management about existing risk management processes and how management identifies,
assesses and manages the Company’s most significant risk exposures. Our Board expects frequent updates from management about
the Company’s most significant risks so as to enable it to evaluate whether management is responding appropriately.
Our
Board relies on each of its committees to help oversee the risk management responsibilities relating to the functions performed
by such committees. Our Audit Committee periodically discusses with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures
and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk
management policies. Our Compensation Committee helps the Board to identify the Company’s exposure to any risks potentially
created by our compensation programs and practices. Each of these committees is required to make regular reports of its actions
and any recommendations to the Board, including recommendations to assist the Board with its overall risk oversight function.
Board
Leadership Structure
The
Board has reviewed the Company’s current Board leadership structure in light of the composition of the Board, the Company’s
size, the nature of the Company’s business, the regulatory framework under which the Company operates, the Company’s
shareholder base, the Company’s peer group and other relevant factors. Considering these factors, the Board has determined
not to have a separate CEO and Chairman of the Board and to have a separate Lead Director who is independent. The Chairman of
the Board is a non-executive position. The Board has determined that this structure is currently the most appropriate Board leadership
structure for the Company. The Board noted the following factors in reaching its determination:
|
●
|
The
Board acts efficiently and effectively under its current structure.
|
|
●
|
The
structure of the same individual holding the positions of CEO and Chairman of the Board,
with a separate, independent Lead Director, puts the Company in the best position to
efficiently handle major issues facing the Company on a day-to-day and long-term basis,
while ensuring that the Board is in the best position to have an independent director
identify key risks and developments facing the Company and to have those risks and developments
brought promptly to the Board’s attention.
|
|
●
|
This
structure eliminates the potential for confusion and duplication of efforts at the highest
executive level.
|
|
●
|
Companies
within the Company’s peer group utilize similar Board structures.
|
Fiscal
2020 Director Compensation
For
fiscal year 2020, the Company had six directors, one of which is also a named executive officer, Mr. Smith. For a description
of the compensation paid to Mr. Smith, see “Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table” below.
For
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, the directors of the Company did not receive any stock compensation or cash fee (or any other
compensation) for serving on the board of directors of the Company. The directors of the Company have no standard compensation
arrangements, or any other arrangements, with the Company, except as herein disclosed. Executive officers of the Company who also
act as directors of the Company do not receive any additional compensation for services rendered in such capacity. See “Fiscal
2020 Summary Compensation Table” below.
The
aggregate number of Option awards outstanding at the end of fiscal year 2020 for each non-employee director who served during
fiscal 2020 was as follows: Mr. Carrabba, 1,325,000 Options; Mr. Beling, 1,100,000 Options; Mr. Morris, 1,200,000 Options; Ms.
Wightman, 1,300,000 Options; and Ms. Guerrero-Mahon, 800,000 Options. As of September 18, 2020, all of the above options were
100% vested.
Communications
with Directors
We
have not adopted a formal process for shareholder communications with the Board. We believe it is appropriate not to have a formal
process for shareholder communications with the Board because historically we have received such shareholder communications very
infrequently. Nevertheless, we have tried to ensure that the views of shareholders are heard by the Board or individual directors,
as applicable, and that appropriate responses are provided to shareholders in a timely manner. We believe our responsiveness to
shareholder communications to the Board has been good. A shareholder may submit any communication with directors to us at our
corporate offices, to the attention of John F. Ashburn, Jr., Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
As
of September 18, 2020, the executive officers of the Company, their ages, their business experiences and their principal occupations
during the past five years were as follows:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
Date
of Appointment
|
Mark
A. Smith
|
|
61
|
|
CEO,
President, Executive Chairman and Director
|
|
CEO
and Director:
September
23, 2013
President
and Executive Chairman: May 31, 2015
|
Neal
Shah
|
|
46
|
|
CFO
|
|
July
1, 2016
|
Scott
Honan
|
|
49
|
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
|
May
6, 2014
|
John
Ashburn, Jr.
|
|
65
|
|
Vice
President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
|
April
2, 2015
|
Jim
Sims
|
|
59
|
|
Vice
President, External Affairs
|
|
November
2, 2015
|
Executive
officers serve at the pleasure of the Board. The following sets forth a brief description of the business experience of each executive
officer of the Company:
Mark
Smith – Executive Chairman, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Please
see the description of Mr. Smith’s business experience under “Particulars of Matters to Be Acted Upon – I and
II – Number and Election of Directors,” above.
Neal
Shah – Chief Financial Officer
Mr.
Shah joined NioCorp in September 2014 as Vice President of Finance, and now serves as the Company’s CFO. Mr. Shah served
as Finance Manager at Covidien Ltd., a medical device company since acquired by Medtronic, from May 2014 through September 2014.
From April 2011 until May 2014, he held the positions of Senior Manager of Corporate Development and M&A and more recently
the Director of Strategy and Business Planning at Molycorp. Mr. Shah graduated from the University of Colorado with a BSc in Mechanical
Engineering in 1996, and from Purdue University with an MBA in 2002. Since the completion of his MBA, Mr. Shah also held key finance
roles with Intel Corporation and IBM.
Scott
Honan – Chief Operating Officer
Mr.
Honan joined NioCorp in May 2014 as Vice President, Business Development, and effective July 1, 2020, now serves as the Company’s
Chief Operating Officer. He also serves as President of Elk Creek Resources Corporation, the NioCorp subsidiary that is developing
the Elk Creek Project in Nebraska. Prior to his work at NioCorp, Mr. Honan served in several leadership capacities at Molycorp
from February 2001 until May 2014, including as Vice President/Director Health, Environment, Safety and Sustainability and General
Manager and Environmental Manager from July 2011 to May 2014. With over 27 years of experience in the gold and rare earth industries,
Mr. Honan is a graduate of Queen’s University in Mining Engineering in both Mineral Processing (B.Sc. Honors) and Environmental
Management (M.Sc.) disciplines.
John
Ashburn, Jr. – Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
An
attorney with 39 years of experience, including 29 years in extractive industries, Mr. Ashburn joined NioCorp in January 2015
and was appointed to Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in April 2015. Since April 2018, Mr. Ashburn has
also served as the Chief Legal Officer of International Battery Metals, Inc. He served as Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
and a member of the Board of Directors of Simbol, Inc., a privately held development stage Lithium production company, from May
2013 until January 2015, and was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Molycorp from December 2008 until April 2013.
Prior to that, he held senior legal positions with Chevron and Unocal. Mr. Ashburn holds a Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois
University, School of Law.
Jim
Sims - Vice President, External Affairs
Mr.
Sims has more than 27 years of experience in devising and executing marketing, media relations, public affairs, and investor relations
operations for companies in the mining, chemical, manufacturing, utility, and renewable energy sectors. He joined NioCorp in November
2015, after serving for more than five years as Director (and then Vice President) of Corporate Communications for Molycorp from
March 2010 through November 2015. Since May 2016, Mr. Sims has also served as Director of Investor and Public Relations for IBC.
Mr. Sims was President and CEO of Policy Communications, Inc. from 1998 until 2010, and served as White House Director of Communications
for the Energy Policy Development Group. A former U.S. Senate Chief of Staff, he is the co-founder and former Executive Director
of the Geothermal Energy Association, and he has served as Board Chairman of the Rare Earth Technology Alliance. He is an honors
graduate of Georgetown University.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The
following table sets out the compensation for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 for the individual who served as the
Company’s CEO during fiscal year 2020, as well as the Company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers
other than the CEO who were serving at the end of the last fiscal year, including two executive officers who were equally compensated
(collectively, the “named executive officers”):
Fiscal
2020 Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Fiscal
Year
|
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Mark A Smith, Chief Executive Officer, President (1)
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$
|
292,500
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
292,500
|
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
$
|
270,000
|
|
|
$
|
121,947
|
|
|
$
|
391,947
|
|
Scott Honan, Chief Operating Officer (2)
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$
|
243,750
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
243,750
|
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
|
$
|
56,909
|
|
|
$
|
281,909
|
|
Neal Shah, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$
|
216,667
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
216,667
|
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
$
|
200,000
|
|
|
$
|
56,909
|
|
|
$
|
256,909
|
|
Jim Sims, Vice President External Affairs
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$
|
216,667
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
216,667
|
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
$
|
200,000
|
|
|
$
|
56,909
|
|
|
$
|
256,909
|
|
|
(1)
|
Disclosed
amounts paid to KMSmith LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Smith.
|
|
(2)
|
Promoted
to Chief Operating Officer effective July 1, 2020. Previously served as Vice President,
Business Development
|
Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Compensation
Governance
The
Company’s Compensation Committee determines an appropriate amount of compensation for the Company’s executives, reflecting
the need to provide incentives and compensation for the time and effort expended by the executives while taking into account the
financial and other resources of the Company. The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage and compensate, at the expense
of the Company, any outside advisor that it determines to be necessary to permit it to carry out its duties (including compensation
consultants and advisers), but it did not retain any such outside consultants or advisors during the fiscal year ended June 30,
2020.
Compensation
Program Design
The
Board, in conjunction with the Compensation Committee, determines compensation and rewards to senior management on the basis of
individual and corporate performance, both in the short term and the long term, while at the same time being mindful of the responsibility
that the Company has to its shareholders. In general, the Compensation Committee considers that its compensation program should
be relatively simple in concept, given the current stage of the Company’s development, and that its focus should be balanced
between reasonable current compensation and longer-term compensation tied to performance of the Company as a whole.
The
Compensation Committee has not established a formal set of benchmarks or performance criteria to be met by the Company’s
named executive officers; rather, the members of the Compensation Committee use their own subjective assessments of the level
of success of the Company to determine, collectively, whether or not the named executive officers are successfully achieving the
Company’s business plan and strategy and the degree to which they have performed in that regard. The Compensation Committee
has not established any set or formal formula for determining named executive officer compensation, either as to the amount thereof
or the specific mix of compensation elements, and compensation (and adjustments from time to time) is set through informal discussions
at the Compensation Committee level.
Key
Elements of Named Executive Officer Compensation
Base
Salaries
The
members of the Compensation Committee use their own experience and familiarity with the industry, and consider the factors described
above, to determine what they believe to be reasonable base salaries for our named executive officers. The base salaries of the
named executive officers are set at levels which are considered by the members of the Compensation Committee to be competitive,
thereby enabling the Company to compete for and retain executives critical to the long-term success of the Company. Initially,
base salaries (or, for Mr. Smith, base consulting fees) are set through negotiation when executive officers join the Company (with
direct input from the Compensation Committee) and are subsequently reviewed each fiscal year to determine if adjustments are required.
The Compensation Committee approved a 10% increase in each named executive officer’s salary effective September 1, 2019.
Salaries for executive officers remained flat from 2013 through September 2019, except for increases supported by additional job
responsibilities and/or job promotions.
Bonus
Compensation
The
Board has discretion, where deemed appropriate and financially affordable for the Company, to grant a cash bonus to a named executive
officer based on the performance of both the individual named executive officer and the Company. No such cash bonuses were granted
to any named executive officer during fiscal 2020.
Option-Based
Awards
The
incentive portion of each named executive officer’s compensation package consists primarily of Options awarded under the
Company’s 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Share ownership opportunities through the grant of Options are provided to align
the interests of senior management of the Company with the longer-term interests of the shareholders of the Company.
The
2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, and is intended to advance the interests of the Company
through the motivation, attraction and retention of officers and other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company
and affiliates of the Company and to secure for the Company and its shareholders the benefits inherent in the ownership of Common
Shares of the Company by officers and other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company and affiliates of the Company.
Grants of Options under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan are proposed/recommended by the CEO and reviewed by the Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee can approve, modify or reject any proposed grants, in whole or in part. In general, the
allocation of available Options among the eligible participants in the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan is on an ad hoc basis, and
there is no set formula for allocating available Options, nor is there any fixed benchmark or performance criteria to be achieved
in order to receive an award of or vest in Options.
The
Compensation Committee does not consider the accounting value of any such Option grants in determining the number of Options to
award to any individual, as any such “value” is an accounting measure that is not relevant to incentivizing the individual.
The timing of the grants of Options is determined by the Compensation Committee, and there is no regular interval for the awarding
of Option grants. In general, a higher level of responsibility will result in a larger grant of Options. Because the number of
Options available is limited, in general, the Compensation Committee aims to have individuals at what it subjectively considers
to be the same levels of responsibility holding equivalent numbers of Options, with additional grants being allocated for individuals
who the Compensation Committee believes are in a position to more directly affect the success of the Company through their efforts.
The
Compensation Committee looks at the overall number of Options held by an individual (plus the exercise prices and remaining terms
of existing Options and whether any previously granted Options have expired out of the money or were exercised) and takes such
information into consideration when reviewing proposed new grants. After considering the CEO’s recommendations and the foregoing
factors, the resulting proposed Option grant (if any) is then submitted to the Board for approval.
During
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, there were no recommendations for the grant of Options proposed by management, and no Options
were granted to the named executive officers.
Employment
Agreements
The
Company and KMSmith, LLC (“KMSmith”) entered into a Consulting Agreement effective September 23, 2013 (as amended,
the “Smith Agreement”). On August 31, 2020, the Company, KMSmith and 76 Resources, Inc. (“76 Resources”)
entered into a Contract Assignment and Novation Agreement, pursuant to which KMSmith assigned all of its rights under the Smith
Loan to 76 Resources and 76 Resources assumed all of KMSmith’s obligations under the Smith Agreement by novation. Under
the terms of the Smith Agreement, 76 Resources (as successor in interest to KMSmith), through Mark Smith, performs the duties
and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and related services, for an indefinite term at a base rate
of $297,000 per year (which reflects a 10% base rate increase approved by the Board, effective September 1, 2019), generally payable
in equal monthly installments of $24,750. KMSmith also received a one-time signing bonus of $165,000 upon the original entry into
the Smith Agreement. Any other bonuses and incentive payments are payable at the discretion of the Board. Mr. Smith is eligible
to receive Options under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as determined by the Board.
The
Company may terminate the Smith Agreement at any time without notice or payment if (1) 76 Resources commits a material breach
of the Smith Agreement (subject to a cure period in certain circumstances), (2) Mr. Smith dies or becomes permanently disabled,
or (3) certain other “for cause” scenarios occur (as further described in the Smith Agreement). In the event the Smith
Agreement is terminated by the Company for any other reason or if 76 Resources terminates the Smith Agreement on the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, the Company shall pay 76 Resources a lump sum termination fee equal to the annual salary in effect at the
termination date as well as the average of any annual bonuses or other cash incentive payments for two calendar years immediately
preceding the year the termination occurs. A Triggering Event is defined as: a substantial change in the nature of services to
be performed by 76 Resources; a material breach by the Company of the Smith Agreement that is not remedied within 30 days of notice;
the cessation of the Company as a going concern; the failure of the Company to pay a material amount due pursuant to the Smith
Agreement within 30 days of the due date; or a material reduction in salary or any other form of compensation payable by the Company
to 76 Resources, except where all senior executives or consultants of the Company are subject to relatively similar reductions
in such values. 76 Resources may terminate the Smith Agreement for a reason other than a Triggering Event on 90 days’ written
notice and, should the Company immediately accept such termination notice, it shall pay 76 Resources the sum of $69,904. Should
a change of control of the Company occur (as that term is defined in the Smith Agreement) and, within one year, either a Triggering
Event occurs and 76 Resources terminates the Smith Agreement or 76 Resources’ engagement is terminated by the Company under
circumstances that would give rise to a termination payment in the absence of a change of control, then 76 Resources shall be
entitled to receive an amount equal to the annual salary in effect at the termination date as well as the average of any annual
bonuses or other cash payments for two calendar years immediately preceding the year the termination occurs. In the event 76 Resources
is entitled to a termination payment with respect to a change of control, any Options previously granted to Mr. Smith shall become
fully vested and shall remain exercisable for the original term of grant despite a termination of 76 Resources. Termination payments
under the Smith Agreement are generally contingent on a release of claims by 76 Resources. The Smith Agreement also includes customary
confidentiality and six-month employee non-solicitation provisions.
If
the Smith Agreement is terminated by the Company for any reason other than as set out in the Smith Agreement, if 76 Resources
terminates the Smith Agreement on the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or should a change of control of the Company occur and
within one year, either a Triggering Event occurs and 76 Resources terminates the Smith Agreement or 76 Resources’ engagement
is terminated without the occurrence of a Triggering Event, effective as of June 30, 2020, 76 Resources (as successor in interest
to KMSmith) would have been entitled to a payment of $297,000.
No
other named executive officer is party to an employment agreement with the Company.
Stock
Options Under 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan
The
Company did not grant Options or any other equity-based awards to its named executive officers during the Company’s 2020
fiscal year.
The
following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards for each named executive officer at June 30, 2020. The Company has not
granted full value stock-based awards to any of its named executive officers.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2020 Fiscal Year-End
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price ($)(1)
|
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Mark A. Smith
|
|
1/19/2016
|
|
|
|
750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
1/19/2021
|
|
|
|
3/6/2017
|
|
|
|
650,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
|
3/6/2022
|
|
|
|
11/9/2017
|
|
|
|
750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.34
|
|
|
11/9/2022
|
|
|
|
11/15/2018
|
|
|
|
750,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
|
|
11/15/2023
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,900,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neal Shah
|
|
1/19/2016
|
|
|
|
304,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
1/19/2021
|
|
|
|
3/6/2017
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
|
3/6/2022
|
|
|
|
11/9/2017
|
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.34
|
|
|
11/9/2022
|
|
|
|
11/15/2018
|
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
|
|
11/15/2023
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,354,500
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Honan
|
|
1/19/2016
|
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
1/19/2021
|
|
|
|
3/6/2017
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
|
3/6/2022
|
|
|
|
11/9/2017
|
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.34
|
|
|
11/9/2022
|
|
|
|
11/15/2018
|
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
|
|
11/15/2023
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,550,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Sims
|
|
1/19/2016
|
|
|
|
475,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
1/19/2021
|
|
|
|
3/6/2017
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
|
3/6/2022
|
|
|
|
11/9/2017
|
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.34
|
|
|
11/9/2022
|
|
|
|
11/15/2018
|
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
|
|
11/15/2023
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,525,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total for all Named Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,329,500
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Based
on a spot exchange rate of C$1.3628 to US$1.00 on June 30, 2020.
|
Retirement
Plan Benefits
Each
named executive officer is eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) savings plan, which is designed to reward continued
employment with the Company and assist participants with financial preparation for retirement. All amounts credited under the
401(k) savings plan relate to participant contributions. The Company does not currently make matching or other contributions to
the 401(k) savings plan.
Termination
and Change of Control Benefits
Except
as described above, the Company has not entered into any plans or arrangements in respect of remuneration received or that may
be received by the named executive officers in respect of compensating such officers or directors in the event of a change of
control, termination of employment (as a result of resignation, retirement, change of control, etc.) or a change in responsibilities
following a change of control.
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLANS
The
Company has maintained equity compensation plans under which Options have been granted. Option grants have been determined by
the Company’s directors and are only provided in compliance with applicable laws and regulatory policy. The following information
is provided with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities
are authorized for issuance as of June 30, 2020.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
|
|
Plan Category
|
|
Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants, and Rights
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants,
and Rights(2)
|
|
|
Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Second Column)
|
|
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders (1)
|
|
|
19,129,409
|
|
|
|
C$ 0.62
|
|
|
|
4,463,159(3)
|
|
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Total
|
|
|
19,129,409
|
|
|
|
C$ 0.62
|
|
|
|
4,463,159(3)
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
Options granted pursuant to the Company’s Option Plan and 2017 Long-Term Incentive
Plan.
|
|
(2)
|
Or
$0.45 per share, based on a spot exchange rate of C$1.3628 to US$1.00 as of June 30,
2020.
|
|
(3)
|
Generally,
the aggregate number of Common Shares reserved for issuance to participants under the
2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with all other security based compensation arrangements
of the Company, including with respect to Options outstanding under the Option Plan,
may not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time, and
the Common Shares reserved for issuance upon settlement of share units shall not exceed
5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time. Further, and subject
to the adjustment provisions of the 2017 Term Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of
Common Shares actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive
Stock Options (as defined below) under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan will not exceed
20,451,895 Common Shares. Common Shares subject to any grant (or any portion thereof)
that are issued upon exercise or settlement, forfeited, surrendered, cancelled, unearned
or otherwise terminated will again be available for grant under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive
Plan.
|
Description
of the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan
On
November 9, 2017, NioCorp’s shareholders approved the adoption of the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
As
of the date of this Information Circular there are 20,399,409 Options outstanding under the Option Plan and the 2017 Long-Term
Incentive Plan, which number represents approximately 8.6% of the Company’s currently issued and outstanding Common Shares.
The
following table presents the burn rates for the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan since inception:
Fiscal
Year
Ending June 30
|
|
Number
of awards granted
|
|
Weighted
average number of
Common Shares outstanding
|
|
Burn
rate
|
2020
|
|
0
|
|
234,610,126
|
|
0.0%
|
2019
|
|
4,445,000
|
|
223,160,189
|
|
2.0%
|
General
Description of the Plan
The
terms of the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan are substantially as described above in the section titled “NioCorp Long-Term
Incentive Plan” (with the exception of the amendments for the 2017 Amended Long-Term Incentive Plan described therein).
Other
Compensation Arrangements
In
addition to the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Option Plan continues to be in force and governs the outstanding Options granted
under the Option Plan, but no further awards shall be made under the Option Plan. As of September 18, 2020, 10,854,409 Options
remain outstanding under the Option Plan.
Exchange
Controls
There
are no governmental laws, decrees, or regulations in Canada that restrict the export or import of capital, including foreign exchange
controls, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of the securities of
NioCorp, other than Canadian withholding tax. See “Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Residents”
below.
Certain
Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Residents
The
following summarizes certain Canadian federal income tax consequences generally applicable under the Income Tax Act (Canada)
and the regulations enacted thereunder (collectively, the “Canadian Tax Act”) and the Canada-United States
Income Tax Convention (1980) (the “Convention”) to the holding and disposition of Common Shares.
Comment
is restricted to holders of Common Shares each of whom, at all material times for the purposes of the Canadian Tax Act and the
Convention, (i) is resident solely in the United States, (ii) is entitled to the benefits of the Convention, (iii) holds all Common
Shares as capital property, (iii) holds no Common Shares that are “taxable Canadian property” (as defined in the Canadian
Tax Act) of the holder, (iv) deals at arm’s length with and is not affiliated with the Company, (v) does not and is not
deemed to use or hold any Common Shares in a business carried on in Canada, and (vi) is not an insurer that carries on business
in Canada and elsewhere (each such holder, a “U.S. Resident Holder”).
This
summary is based on the current provisions of the Canadian Tax Act and the Convention in effect on the date hereof, all specific
proposals to amend the Canadian Tax Act and Convention publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada)
on or before the date hereof, and the current published administrative and assessing policies of the CRA. It is assumed that all
such amendments will be enacted as currently proposed, and that there will be no other material change to any applicable law or
administrative or assessing practice, although no assurance can be given in these respects. Except as otherwise expressly provided,
this summary does not take into account any provincial, territorial, or foreign tax considerations, which may differ materially
from those set out herein.
This
summary is of a general nature only, is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax considerations, and is not
intended to be and should not be construed as legal or tax advice to any particular U.S. Resident Holder. U.S. Resident Holders
are urged to consult their own tax advisers for advice with respect to their particular circumstances. The discussion below is
qualified accordingly.
Certain
U.S.-resident entities that are fiscally transparent for United States federal income tax purposes (including limited liability
companies) may not in all circumstances be entitled to the benefits of the Convention. Members of or holders of an interest in
such an entity that holds Common Shares should consult their own tax advisers regarding the extent, if any, the benefits of the
Convention will apply to the entity in respect of its Common Shares.
Generally,
a holder’s Common Shares will be considered to be capital property of the holder provided that the holder is not a trader
or dealer in securities, did not acquire, hold, or dispose of the Common Shares in one or more transactions considered to be an
adventure or concern in the nature of trade (i.e. speculation), and does not hold the Common Shares in the course of carrying
on a business.
Generally,
a holder’s Common Shares will not constitute “taxable Canadian property” of the holder at a particular time
at which the Common Shares are listed on a “designated stock exchange” (which currently includes the TSX) unless both
of the following conditions are met concurrently:
|
(i)
|
at
any time during the 60-month period that ends at the particular time, 25% or more of
the issued shares of any class of the capital stock of the Company were owned by or belonged
to one or any combination of:
|
a. the
holder,
b. persons
with whom the holder did not deal at arm’s length, and
c. partnerships
in which the holder or a person referred to in clause (b) holds a membership interest directly or indirectly through one or more
partnerships, and
|
(ii)
|
at
any time during the 60-month period that ends at the particular time, more than 50% of
the fair market value of the Common Shares was derived directly or indirectly from, one
or any combination of, real or immovable property situated in Canada, “Canadian
resource properties” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act), “timber resource
properties” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act), or options in respect of, or
interests in any of the foregoing, whether or not the property exists.
|
A
U.S. Resident Holder who disposes or is deemed to dispose of one or more Common Shares generally should not thereby incur any
liability for Canadian federal income tax in respect of any capital gain arising as a consequence of the disposition.
A
U.S. Resident Holder to whom the Company pays or is deemed to pay a dividend on the holder’s Common Shares will be subject
to Canadian withholding tax, and the Company will be required to withhold the tax from the dividend and remit it to the CRA for
the holder’s account. The rate of withholding tax under the Canadian Tax Act is 25% of the gross amount of the dividend,
but should generally be reduced under the Convention to 15% (or, if the U.S. Resident Holder is a company which is the beneficial
owner of at least 10% of the voting stock of the Company, 5%) of the gross amount of the dividend. For this purpose, a company
that is a resident of the United States for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act and the Convention and is entitled to the benefits
of the Convention shall be considered to own the voting stock of NioCorp owned by an entity that is considered fiscally transparent
under the laws of the United States and that it is not a resident of Canada, in proportion to the Company’s ownership interest
in that entity.
PERFORMANCE
GRAPH
The
following graph compares total cumulative shareholder return for $100 invested in Common Shares from July 1, 2015 to June 30,
2020, with cumulative total returns for the S&P/TSX Composite Index and S&P/TSX Mining Index:
Overall,
the Company’s cumulative return has fallen moderately below the performance of the indices. As an exploration stage company,
executive officer compensation has not historically been adjusted to reflect share performance trends. Compensation to executive
officers remained flat from 2013 through September 2019, except for increases supported by additional job responsibilities and/or
job promotions. Effective September 1, 2019, the Board approved a 10% base rate increase for all NioCorp employees. Salaries for
executive officers remained flat from 2013 through September 2019, except for increases supported by additional job responsibilities
and/or job promotions.
INDEBTEDNESS
OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
None
of our directors or executive officers, proposed nominees for election as directors or associates of any of them, is or has been
indebted to the Company or our subsidiaries at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year, and
no indebtedness remains outstanding as at the date of this Information Circular.
INTEREST
OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
No
informed person of the Company, no proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company and no associate or affiliate of
any of these persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of our last financial
year or in any proposed transaction, which, in either case, has materially affected or will materially affect the Company or any
of our subsidiaries, other than Mark A. Smith, 7000 S. Yosemite Street, Suite 115, Centennial, CO 80112, as disclosed in the Company’s
2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”
An
“informed person” means:
|
(a)
|
a
director or executive officer of the Company;
|
|
(b)
|
a
director or executive officer of a person or company that is itself an informed person
or subsidiary of the Company;
|
|
(c)
|
any
person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities of
the Company or who exercises control or direction over voting securities of the Company
or a combination of both carrying more than 10 percent of the voting rights attached
to all outstanding voting securities of the Company other than voting securities held
by the person or company as underwriter in the course of a distribution; and
|
|
(d)
|
the
Company, if it has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its securities, so
long as it holds any of its securities.
|
MANAGEMENT
CONTRACTS
The
management functions of the Company are not to any substantial degree performed by any person other than the executive officers
and directors of the Company.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Related
Person Transactions
The
following sets forth certain information regarding transactions between the Company (and its subsidiaries) and its officers, directors
and significant shareholders. There have been no other transactions since the end of the Company’s most recently completed
fiscal year and there are no currently proposed transactions in which the Company was or is to be a participant and the amount
involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person (for purposes of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) had or will have a direct
or indirect material interest.
Loan
Transactions:
On
June 17, 2015, the Company entered into a loan (the “Original Smith Loan”) in the amount of $1.5 million with
Mark A. Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of NioCorp.
The
Original Smith Loan bears an interest rate of 10%, is secured by the Company’s assets pursuant to a general security agreement,
and is subject to both a 2.5% establishment fee and 2.5% prepayment fee.
On
January 13, 2016, the Company repaid $0.5 million of the amount due under the Original Smith Loan, plus accrued interest of $108,461.
On
January 16, 2017, the Company and Mr. Smith entered into a credit agreement (the “Smith Credit Agreement”,
together with the Original Smith Loan, the “Smith Loans”) pursuant to which Mr. Smith agreed to make available
to the Company a credit facility of initially up to $2.0 million. On January 17, 2020, the Company entered into an amending agreement
to the Smith Credit Agreement, increasing the limit of the credit facility to $2,500,000 from the previous limit of $2,000,000.
On April 3, 2020, the Smith Credit Agreement was amended to increase the limit of the credit facility to $3,000,000 and on June
10, 2020, the Smith Credit Agreement was amended to increase the limit of the credit facility to $3,500,000. In addition, on June
10, 2020, the maturity dates for the Smith Loans were extended to December 15, 2020.
Under
the Smith Credit Agreement, Mr. Smith has agreed to advance amounts requested by the Company under the credit facility (the “Loan”)
up to the $3.5 million maximum. The Smith Credit Agreement is non-revolving and amounts paid back under the terms of the Smith
Credit Agreement do not again become available for drawdowns at the request of the Company.
The
Company will pay interest to Mr. Smith on amounts outstanding under the Loan and on any overdue interest at a rate equal to 10%
per annum, calculated monthly in arrears, through to the date of repayment of the Loan. Interest on the Loan will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year comprised on twelve 30-day months. Mr. Smith will also receive an establishment fee equal to 2.5%
of the amount of any drawdown payable at the time of the drawdown as consideration of the advancement of such drawdown.
Any
outstanding balance on the Loan, including accrued interest, shall be immediately due and payable by the Company on the date of
expiration of the Smith Credit Agreement or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as described below). The Company can pre-pay
the Loan at any time without notice and without penalty or prepayment fees.
Drawdowns
under the Smith Credit Agreement must be made on a business day before the expiration date for a minimum amount of $10,000 and
not cause to total amount advanced to exceed $3,500,000. Further, Mr. Smith must have received the written drawdown request along
with payment of the establishment fee. Each drawdown request is subject to the consent of Mr. Smith, which may be withheld in
Mr. Smith’s sole discretion.
Under
the terms of the Smith Credit Agreement, the Company has covenanted that so long as monies are outstanding under the Loan, it
will: (a) repay, or cause to be repaid, the Loan and all other monies required to be paid to Mr. Smith in accordance with the
Smith Credit Agreement and (b) duly observe and perform all obligations and agreement set forth in the Smith Credit Agreement.
The
following occurrences will trigger an Event of Default under the Smith Credit Agreement, causing the principal amount of the Loan
outstanding, plus accrued interest, costs and all other monies owing to Mr. Smith to immediately become payable upon demand by
Mr. Smith: (a) if the Company shall default in any payment of principal, interest or other amount when the same is required under
the Smith Credit Agreement and such default has continued for a period of seven days after notice in writing has been given by
Mr. Smith to the Company regarding such default, (b) if the Company shall become insolvent, make a general assignment for the
benefit of its creditors, or passes a resolution for the winding-up, merger or amalgamation of the Company, or the Company declares
bankruptcy or a receiver is appointed under applicable law, or a compromise or arrangement is proposed by the Company to its creditors,
or the occurrence of similar events, or (c) if the Company defaults in observing or performing any other covenant or agreement
of the Smith Credit Agreement and such default has continued for a period of seven days after notice in writing has been given
by Mr. Smith to the Company regarding such default.
The
Smith Credit Agreement is secured, along with the $1.0 million outstanding under the Original Smith Loan, by all of the Company’s
assets pursuant to a general security agreement between the Company and Mr. Smith dated June 17, 2015.
No
interest was paid under the Smith Loans during the years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, and $450,000 of interest and $58,000 of
loan origination fees remaining payable as of June 30, 2020.
As
of September 18, 2020, there was $1,000,000 and $2,818,000 principal amount outstanding under the Original Smith Loan and the
Smith Credit Agreement, respectively.
Review
and Approval of Related Person Transactions
Other
than as described below, the Company does not currently have in place any specific policy or procedure in respect of the review,
approval or ratification of any transaction required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Sections 147-153 of the
BCBCA set out rules and procedures applicable to all British Columbia corporations, pursuant to which a director presented with
a resolution in respect of any matter (including an equity issuance) in respect of which he/she has an interest must disclose
that interest in writing to the Company’s board of directors prior to the approval of such matter. This procedure ensures
that each equity issuance to a director or officer of the Company is approved by all directors of the Company not involved in
such sale. All loan transactions from directors and officers are subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors prior
to acceptance and are documented in the meeting minutes.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Under
the Exchange Act, the deadline for submitting shareholder proposals for inclusion in the management information and proxy circular
for an annual general meeting of the Company is calculated in accordance with Rule 14a-8(e) of Regulation 14A under the Exchange
Act. If the proposal is submitted for a regularly scheduled annual general meeting, the proposal must be received at the Company’s
principal executive offices not less than 120 calendar days before the anniversary date of the Company’s management information
and proxy circular released to the Company’s shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual general meeting.
However, if the Company did not hold an annual general meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current year’s annual
general meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, then the deadline is
a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail its proxy materials. Accordingly, unless the date of the next annual
general meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of this year’s meeting the deadline for submitting shareholder
proposals for inclusion in the management information and proxy circular for the next annual general meeting of the Company will
be May 27, 2021.
The
deadline for submitting shareholder proposals, other than director nominations, for the next annual general meeting of shareholders
of the Company, but not for inclusion in the management information and proxy circular, is August 10, 2021. If a shareholder proposal,
other than a director nomination, is not submitted to the Company by August 10, 2021, the Company may still grant discretionary
proxy authority to vote on such shareholder proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-4(c)(1) of Regulation 14A under the Exchange
Act.
In
addition, there are (i) certain requirements relating to shareholder proposals contained in the BCBCA; and (ii) certain requirements
relating to the nomination of directors contained in the Articles of the Company. A shareholder wishing to make a proposal for
consideration at an annual general meeting of the Company or wishing to nominate a person to act as a director of the Company
should ensure they follow the applicable procedures set forth in the BCBCA and the Articles of the Company.
Under
the Company’s advance notice policy, adopted by the shareholders of the Company on December 15, 2014, nominations of persons
for election to the Board at any annual general meeting of the shareholders must be received by the corporate secretary of the
Company not less than 30 days or more than 65 days prior to the date of such meeting; provided, however, that in the event that
the annual general meeting of shareholders is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date on which the first
public announcement of the date of such meeting was made (the “Meeting Notice Date”), such shareholder’s
notice must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the Meeting Notice Date.
DISSENTERS’
RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL
No
action is proposed herein for which the laws of British Columbia or the Articles of the Company provide a right of a shareholder
to dissent and obtain appraisal of or payment for such shareholder’s Common Shares.
MULTIPLE
SHAREHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME ADDRESS
The
regulations regarding the delivery of copies of proxy materials and annual reports to shareholders permit the Company and brokerage
firms to send one Notice of Internet Availability of Meeting Materials to multiple shareholders who share the same address under
certain circumstances. Shareholders who hold their shares through a broker may have consented to reducing the number of copies
of materials delivered to their address. In the event that a shareholder wishes to revoke such a consent previously provided to
a broker, the shareholder must contact the broker to revoke the consent. In any event, if a shareholder wishes to receive a separate
Notice of Internet Availability of Meeting Materials or other materials for the 2020 Annual Meeting or future annual meetings,
the shareholder may receive copies by contacting the Corporate Secretary at 7000 South Yosemite Street, Suite 115, Centennial,
CO 80112, or by calling (855) 264-6267. Shareholders receiving multiple copies of these documents at the same address can request
delivery of a single copy of these documents by contacting the Company in the same manner. Persons holding shares through a broker
can request a single copy by contacting the broker.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
The
Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other
information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding the Company and other registrants that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Additional
information about the Company is located on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Financial information is provided in the Company’s comparative
financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for its most recently completed financial year ended June
30, 2020. At the written request of any registered shareholder who owns shares on the record date, the Company will provide to
such shareholder, without charge, a paper copy of the Meeting Materials, including the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders.
If requested, the Company will provide copies of the exhibits for a reasonable fee. Requests for additional paper copies of the
Annual Report, the financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be made by writing to the Vice-President,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Mr. John Ashburn, at the following address:
NioCorp
Developments Ltd.
7000
South Yosemite Street, Suite 115
Centennial,
CO 80112
OTHER
MATERIAL FACTS
Management
knows of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. Should any other matters
properly come before the Meeting, the shares represented by the proxy solicited hereby will be voted on such matter in accordance
with the best judgment of the persons voting by proxy.
DATED
at Centennial, Colorado, on the 25th day of September, 2020.
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD
NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
/s/
Mark A. Smith
Mark
A. Smith
President,
Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman and Director
SCHEDULE
A
NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
LONG
TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD.
LONG
TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Approved
by the Board of Directors on September 29, 2017, as amended on September 24, 2020, and by the Corporation’s shareholders
on November 9, 2017, as amended on , 2020.
PART
I – GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
1.
|
PREAMBLE
AND DEFINITIONS
|
The
Plan described in this document shall be called the “NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long Term Incentive Plan”.
|
1.2.1
|
The
purposes of the Plan are:
|
|
(a)
|
to
promote a further alignment of interests between officers, employees and other eligible
service providers and the shareholders of the Corporation;
|
|
(b)
|
to
potentially associate a portion of the compensation payable to officers, employees and
other eligible service providers with the returns achieved by shareholders of the Corporation;
and
|
|
(c)
|
to
help attract and retain officers, employees and other eligible service providers with
the knowledge, experience and expertise required by the Corporation.
|
|
1.2.2
|
The
Plan shall serve as the successor to the Corporation’s 2016 Incentive Stock Option
Plan approved by Corporation’s shareholders on February 23, 2016 (the “Prior
Plan”), and no further awards shall be made under the Prior Plan on and after
November 9, 2017. All outstanding awards under the Prior Plan immediately prior to November
9, 2017 shall be included in the maximum number of Shares and other limitations set forth
in Section 4 herein. However, each such award shall continue to be governed solely by
the terms and conditions of the instrument evidencing such grant and the Prior Plan,
and no provision of this Plan shall affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations
of holders of such awards.
|
|
1.3.1
|
“Affiliate(s)”
shall mean a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation.
|
|
1.3.2
|
“Applicable
Law” means any applicable provision of law, domestic or foreign, including,
without limitation, applicable securities legislation, together with all regulations,
rules, policy statements, rulings, notices, orders or other instruments promulgated thereunder,
and Stock Exchange Rules.
|
|
1.3.3
|
“Beneficiary”
means, subject to Applicable Law, an individual who has been designated by a Participant,
in such form and manner as the Board may determine, to receive benefits payable under
the Plan upon the death of the Participant, or, where no such designation is validly
in effect at the time of death, the Participant’s legal representative.
|
|
1.3.4
|
“Blackout
Period” means a period of time when, pursuant to any policies of the Corporation,
any securities of the Corporation may not be traded by certain persons as designated
by the Corporation, including any holder of a Grant.
|
|
1.3.5
|
“Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
|
|
1.3.6
|
“Cause”
means, except as otherwise provided in an applicable Grant Agreement:
|
|
(a)
|
subject
to (b) below, “just cause” or “cause” for Termination by the
Corporation or an Affiliate as determined under Applicable Law;
|
|
(b)
|
where
a Participant has a written employment agreement with the Corporation or an Affiliate,
“Cause” as defined in such employment agreement, if applicable; or
|
|
(c)
|
where
a Participant provides services as an independent contractor pursuant to a contract for
services with the Corporation or an Affiliate, any material breach of such contract.
|
|
1.3.7
|
“Change
in Control” means, except as otherwise provided in an applicable Grant Agreement:
|
|
(a)
|
a
successful “take-over bid” (as defined in the Securities Act (British
Columbia), as amended, or any successor legislation thereto) pursuant to which the “offeror”
acquires beneficial ownership of securities of the Corporation which, directly or following
conversion or exercise thereof, would entitle the holder thereof, together with persons
acting jointly or in concert with the holder thereof, to cast more than fifty percent
(50%) of the votes attaching to all securities of the Corporation which may be cast to
elect directors of the Corporation, other than the acquisition of beneficial ownership
of additional securities of the Corporation by any person who, together with persons
acting jointly or in concert with such person, was entitled prior to such “take-over
bid”, directly or following conversion or exercise securities of the Corporation,
to cast more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes attaching to all securities of the
Corporation which may be cast to elect directors of the Corporation;
|
|
(b)
|
the
issuance to, or acquisition by, any person, or group of persons acting jointly or in
concert, directly or indirectly, including through an arrangement or other form of reorganization,
of beneficial ownership of securities of the Corporation which, directly or following
conversion or exercise thereof, would entitle the holder thereof to cast more than fifty
percent (50%) of the votes attaching to all securities of the Corporation which
may be cast to elect directors of the Corporation, other than the issuance of securities of the Corporation to, or acquisition
of securities of the Corporation by, any person who, together with persons acting jointly or in concert with such person, was
entitled prior to such issuance or acquisition, directly or following conversion or exercise securities of the Corporation, to
cast more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes attaching to all securities of the Corporation which may be cast to elect directors
of the Corporation;
|
|
(c)
|
individuals
who, as of a Grant Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”)
cease for any reason (other than death or disability) to constitute at least a majority
of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to
the Grant Date, whose election, or nomination for election by the Corporation’s
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two- thirds of the Directors then comprising
the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement
of the Corporation in which such person is named as a nominee for Director, without objection
to such nomination) will be considered as though such individual was a member of the
Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption
of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect
to the election or removal of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of
proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Directors then comprising
the Board;
|
|
(d)
|
an
arrangement, amalgamation, merger or other form of reorganization of the Corporation
where the holders of the outstanding voting securities or interests of the Corporation
immediately prior to the completion of the arrangement, amalgamation, merger or reorganization
will hold fifty percent (50%) or less of the votes attaching to all outstanding voting
securities or interests of the continuing entity upon completion of the arrangement,
amalgamation, merger or reorganization;
|
|
(e)
|
the
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation; or
|
|
(f)
|
the
liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.
|
|
1.3.8
|
“Code”
or “Internal Revenue Code” means the United States Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable United States Treasury Regulations and other
binding regulatory guidance thereunder.
|
|
1.3.9
|
“Corporation”
means NioCorp Developments Ltd., and includes any successor corporation or entity thereto.
|
|
1.3.10
|
“Director”
means a director of the Corporation from time to time.
|
|
1.3.11
|
“Disability”
means, except as otherwise provided in an applicable Grant Agreement:
|
|
(a)
|
subject
to (b) below, a Participant’s physical or mental incapacity that prevents him/her
from substantially fulfilling his or her duties and responsibilities on behalf of the
Corporation or, if applicable, an Affiliate, as determined by the Board and, in the case
of a Participant who is an employee of the Corporation or an Affiliate, in respect of
which the Participant commences receiving, or is eligible to receive, disability benefits
under the Corporation’s or Affiliate’s long-term disability plan; or
|
|
(b)
|
where
a Participant has a written employment agreement with the Corporation or an Affiliate,
“Disability” as defined in such employment agreement, if applicable.
|
|
1.3.12
|
“Disability
Date” means, in relation to a Participant, that date determined by the Board
to be the date on which the Participant experienced a Disability.
|
|
1.3.13
|
“Eligible
Person” means a Director or an individual Employed by the Corporation or any
Affiliate, including a Service Provider, who, by the nature of his or her position or
job is, in the opinion of the Board, in a position to contribute to the success of the
Corporation provided, however, that only persons who meet the definition of “employees”
under Code Section 3401(c) shall be eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options.
|
|
1.3.14
|
“Employed”
means, with respect to a Participant, that:
|
|
(a)
|
the
Participant is rendering services to the Corporation or an Affiliate (excluding services
as a Director) including as a Service Provider (referred to in Section 1.3.40 as “active
Employment”); or
|
|
(b)
|
the
Participant is not actively rendering services to the Corporation or an Affiliate due
to an approved leave of absence, maternity or parental leave or leave on account of Disability.
|
For
greater certainty, a Participant shall not be considered to be Employed on a Vesting Date if, prior to such Vesting Date, such
Participant received a payment in lieu of notice of termination of employment, whether under a contract of employment, as damages
or otherwise.
and
“Employment’ has the corresponding meaning.
|
1.3.15
|
“Exercise
Price” means, with respect to an Option, the price payable by a Participant
to purchase one Share on exercise of such Option, which (except as otherwise provided
in Section 9.2) shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Market Price
on the Grant Date of the Option covering such Share, subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 5.
|
|
1.3.16
|
“Form
S-8” means a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the United States Securities
Act of 1933.
|
|
1.3.17
|
“Good
Reason” means, except as otherwise provided in an applicable Grant Agreement,
the occurrence of any one or more of the following without a Participant’s written
consent:
|
|
(a)
|
a
material change in the Participant’s position or duties, responsibilities, titles
or offices in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control, which includes any removal
of the Participant from or any failure to re-elect or re-appoint the Participant to any
such position or office;
|
|
(b)
|
a
reduction in the Participant’s overall annual compensation for services provided
to the Corporation or an Affiliate in the cumulative amount of 5% or more within a 12-month
period;
|
|
(c)
|
any
change to the terms or conditions of the employment of the Participant that would constitute
“constructive dismissal” as that term is defined at common law which the
Corporation or an Affiliate, as the case may be, fails to remedy within thirty (30) days
of receiving written notice from the Participant of any such change; or
|
|
(d)
|
the
Corporation or an Affiliate relocating the Participant to any place other than the location
at which the Participant reported for work on a regular basis immediately prior to a
Change in Control or a place within 15 kilometres of that location.
|
|
1.3.18
|
“Grant”
means a grant or right granted under the Plan consisting of one or more Options, RSUs
or PSUs.
|
|
1.3.19
|
“Grant
Agreement” means an agreement between the Corporation and a Participant or
other instrument or document evidencing a Grant and setting out the terms under which
such Grant is made, together with such schedules, amendments, deletions or changes thereto
as are permitted under the Plan. A Grant Agreement may be in an electronic medium and
may be limited to a notation on the books and records of the Corporation. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board, a Grant Agreement does not need to be signed by a representative
of the Corporation or a Participant, provided the Participant’s agreement is expressly
acknowledged.
|
|
1.3.20
|
“Grant
Date” means the effective date of a Grant (which date will not be earlier than
the date on which the Board takes action with respect thereto).
|
|
1.3.21
|
“Grant
Value” is as defined in Section 12.
|
|
1.3.22
|
“Incentive
Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to qualify as an “incentive
stock option” under Code Section 422 or any successor provision.
|
|
1.3.23
|
“Insider”
means an insider of the Corporation as defined in the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange
Company Manual for the purpose of security based compensation arrangements.
|
|
1.3.24
|
“Market
Price” means, with respect to any particular date:
|
|
(a)
|
if
the Shares are listed on only one Stock Exchange, the closing price per Share on such
Stock Exchange on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date;
|
|
(b)
|
if
the Shares are listed on more than one Stock Exchange, the “Market Price”
as determined in accordance with paragraph (a) above for the primary Stock Exchange on
which the greatest volume of trading of the Shares occurred during the immediately preceding
twenty (20) Trading Days; and
|
|
(c)
|
if
the Shares are not listed for trading on a Stock Exchange, a price which is determined
by the Board in good faith to be the fair market value of the Shares.
|
|
1.3.25
|
“Option”
means an option to purchase a Share granted by the Board to an Eligible Person in accordance
with Section 3 and Section 9.1.
|
|
1.3.26
|
“Parent”
means any parent corporation of the Corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424(e),
or any successor provision.
|
|
1.3.27
|
“Participant”
means an Eligible Person to whom a Grant is made and which Grant or a portion thereof
remains outstanding.
|
|
1.3.28
|
“Performance
Conditions” means such financial, personal, operational, transaction-based
or other performance criteria as may be determined by the Board in respect of a Grant
to any Participant or Participants and set out in a Grant Agreement. Performance Conditions
may apply to an individual Participant or to the Corporation, an Affiliate, the Corporation
and its Affiliates as a whole, a business unit of the Corporation or group comprised
of the Corporation and some Affiliates or a group of Affiliates, either individually,
alternatively or in any combination, and measured either in total, incrementally or cumulatively
over a specified performance period, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established
target or milestone, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparator group
or index, or otherwise, provided that the performance period for measurement or achievement
of any such performance criteria (or incremental element thereof) shall in all events
exceed one year. When establishing Performance Conditions, the Board may exclude any
or all “extraordinary items” as determined under applicable accounting standards.
The Board may provide that Performance Conditions will be adjusted to reflect events
occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Condition.
|
|
1.3.29
|
“Performance
Period” means, with respect to PSUs, the period specified by the Board for
achievement of any applicable Performance Conditions as a condition to Vesting.
|
|
1.3.30
|
“Plan”
means this NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long Term Incentive Plan, including any schedules
or appendices hereto, as may be amended from time
to time.
|
|
1.3.31
|
“Performance
Share Unit” or “PSU” means a right granted to an Eligible
Person in accordance with Section 3 and Section 13.1 to receive a Share or the Market
Price, as determined by the Board, that generally becomes Vested, if at all, subject
to the attainment of certain Performance Conditions and satisfaction of such other conditions
to Vesting, if any, as may be determined by the Board.
|
|
1.3.32
|
“Restricted
Share Unit” or “RSU” means a right granted to an Eligible
Person in accordance with Section 3 and Section 13.1 to receive a Share or the Market
Price, as determined by the Board, that generally becomes Vested, if at all, following
a period of continuous Employment or service of the Participant.
|
|
1.3.33
|
“Restrictive
Covenant” means any obligation of a Participant to the Corporation or an Affiliate
to (A) maintain the confidentiality of information relating to the Corporation or the
Affiliate and/or its business, (B) not engage in employment or business activities that
compete with the business of the Corporation or the Affiliate, (C) not solicit employees
or other service providers, customers and/or suppliers of the Corporation or the Affiliate,
whether during or after employment with the Corporation or Affiliate, and whether such
obligation is set out in a Grant Agreement issued under the Plan or other agreement between
the Participant and the Corporation or Affiliate, including, without limitation, an employment
agreement, or otherwise.
|
|
1.3.34
|
“Service
Provider” means a person, other than an employee, officer or director of the
Corporation or an Affiliate, that:
|
|
(a)
|
satisfies
the Form S-8 definition of “employee”;
|
|
(b)
|
is
engaged to provide, on a bona fide basis, for an initial, renewable or extended
period of twelve (12) months or more, services to the Corporation or an Affiliate, other
than services provided in relation to a distribution of securities;
|
|
(c)
|
provides
the services under a written contract between the Corporation or an Affiliate and the
person or company; and
|
|
(d)
|
in
the reasonable opinion of the Corporation, spends or will spend a significant amount
of time and attention on the affairs and business of the Corporation or an Affiliate.
|
|
1.3.35
|
“Share”
means a common share of the Corporation or, in the event of an adjustment contemplated
by Section 5.1, such other security to which a Participant may be entitled upon the exercise
or settlement of a Grant as a result of such adjustment.
|
|
1.3.36
|
“Share
Unit” means either an RSU or a PSU, as the context requires.
|
|
1.3.37
|
“Stock
Exchange” means the Toronto Stock Exchange and such other stock exchange on
which the Shares are listed, or if the Shares are not listed on any stock exchange, then
on the over-the-counter market.
|
|
1.3.38
|
“Stock
Exchange Rules” means the applicable rules of any Stock Exchange upon which
Shares of the Corporation are listed.
|
|
1.3.39
|
“Subsidiary”
means, any subsidiary corporation of the Corporation within the meaning of Code Section
424(f), or any successor provision.
|
|
1.3.40
|
“Termination”
means, except as otherwise provided in an applicable Grant Agreement, (i) in the case
of a Director, the cessation of such Director acting as same, which shall occur on the
date such Director ceases to be a Director, (ii) in the case of all Participants Employed
by the Corporation or an Affiliate, the termination of a Participant’s active Employment
with the Corporation or an Affiliate (other than in connection with the Participant’s
transfer to Employment with the Corporation or another Affiliate), which shall occur
on the earlier of the date on which the Participant ceases to render services to the
Corporation or Affiliate, as applicable, and the date on which the Corporation or an
Affiliate, as applicable, delivers notice of the termination of the Participant’s
employment or contract for services, whether such termination is lawful or otherwise,
without giving effect to any period of notice or compensation in lieu of notice (except
as expressly required by applicable employment standards legislation), but, for greater
certainty, a Participant’s absence from active work during a period of vacation,
temporary illness, authorized leave of absence, maternity or parental leave or leave
on account of Disability shall not be considered to be a “Termination”, and
(iii) in the case of a Participant who does not return to active Employment with the
Corporation or an Affiliate immediately following a period of absence due to vacation,
temporary illness, authorized leave of absence, maternity or parental leave or leave
on account of Disability, such cessation shall be deemed to occur on the last day of
such period of absence, and “Terminated” and “Terminates”
shall be construed accordingly.
|
|
1.3.41
|
“Time
Vesting” means any conditions relating to the passage of time or continued
service with the Corporation or an Affiliate for a period of time in respect of a Grant,
as may be determined by the Board.
|
|
1.3.42
|
“Trading
Day” means a day on which the Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which
the Shares actually traded.
|
|
1.3.43
|
“US
Taxpayer” means an individual who is subject to tax under the Code in respect
of any amounts payable or Shares deliverable under this Plan.
|
|
1.3.44
|
“Vested”
means, with respect to any Option or Share Unit, that the applicable conditions with
respect to Time Vesting, achievement of Performance Conditions and/or any other conditions
established by the Board have been satisfied or, to the extent permitted under the Plan,
waived, whether or not the Participant’s rights with respect to such Grant may
be conditioned upon prior or subsequent compliance with any Restrictive
Covenants (and any applicable derivative term shall be construed accordingly).
|
|
1.3.45
|
“Vesting
Date” means the date on which the applicable Time Vesting, Performance Conditions
and/or any other conditions for an Option or Share Unit becoming Vested are met, deemed
to have been met or waived as contemplated in Section 1.3.44.
|
|
2.
|
CONSTRUCTION
AND INTERPRETATION
|
|
2.1
|
Gender,
Singular, Plural.
|
In
the Plan, references to the masculine include the feminine, and references to the singular shall include the plural and vice versa,
as the context shall require.
If
any provision or part of the Plan is determined to be void or unenforceable in whole or in part, such determination shall not
affect the validity or enforcement of any other provision or part thereof.
|
2.3
|
Headings,
Sections and Parts.
|
Headings
wherever used herein are for reference purposes only and do not limit or extend the meaning of the provisions herein contained.
A reference to a section or schedule shall, except where expressly stated otherwise, mean a section or schedule of the Plan, as
applicable. The Plan is divided into three Parts. Part I contains provisions of general application to all Grants; Part II applies
specifically to Options; and Part III applies specifically to Share Units.
|
3.1
|
Administration
by the Board.
|
The
Plan shall be administered by the Board in accordance with its terms and subject to Applicable Law. Subject to and consistent
with the terms of the Plan, in addition to any authority of the Board specified under any other terms of the Plan, the Board shall
have full and complete discretionary authority to:
|
(a)
|
interpret
the Plan and Grant Agreements;
|
|
(b)
|
prescribe,
amend and rescind such rules and regulations and make all determinations necessary or
desirable for the administration and interpretation of the Plan and instruments of grant
evidencing Grants;
|
|
(c)
|
determine
those Eligible Persons who may receive Grants as Participants, grant one or more Grants
to such Participants and approve or authorize the applicable form and terms of the related
Grant Agreements;
|
|
(d)
|
determine
the terms and conditions of Grants granted to any Participant, including, without limitation,
as applicable (i) Grant Value and the number of Shares subject to a Grant, (ii) the Exercise
Price for Shares subject to a Grant, (iii) the conditions to the Vesting of a Grant or
any portion thereof, including, as applicable, the period for achievement of any applicable
Performance Conditions as a condition to Vesting and conditions pertaining to compliance
with Restrictive Covenants, and the conditions, if any, upon which Vesting of any Grant
or any portion thereof will be waived or accelerated without any further action by the
Board, (iv) the circumstances upon which a Grant or any portion thereof shall be forfeited
or cancelled or expire, including in connection with the breach by a Participant of any
Restrictive Covenant, (v) the consequences of a Termination with respect to a Grant,
(vi) the manner of exercise or settlement of the Vested portion of a Grant, and (vii)
whether, and the terms upon which, any Shares delivered upon exercise or settlement of
a Grant must be held by a Participant for any specified period of time;
|
|
(e)
|
determine
whether, and the extent to which, any Performance Conditions or other conditions applicable
to the Vesting of a Grant have been satisfied or, to the extent permitted by Code Section
409A (to the extent applicable), shall be waived or modified;
|
|
(f)
|
make
such rules, regulations and determinations as it deems appropriate under the Plan in
respect of any leave of absence or disability of any Participant. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Board shall be entitled to determine:
|
(i) whether
or not any such leave of absence shall constitute a Termination within the meaning of the Plan; and
(ii) the
impact, if any, of any such leave of absence on Grants issued under the Plan made to any Participant who takes such leave of absence
(including, without limitation, whether or not such leave of absence shall cause any Grants to expire and the impact upon the
time or times such Grants shall be exercisable);
provided
that, with respect to Options that are intended to be Incentive Stock Options, the treatment of any such leave of absence shall
comply with Code Section 422 and the regulations issued thereunder;
|
(g)
|
amend
the terms of any Grant Agreement or other documents evidencing Grants; and
|
|
(h)
|
determine
whether, and the extent to which, adjustments shall be made pursuant to Section 5 and
the terms of such adjustments.
|
|
3.2
|
All
determinations, interpretations, rules, regulations, or other acts of the Board respecting
the Plan or any Grant shall be made in its sole discretion and shall be conclusively
binding upon all persons.
|
|
3.3
|
The
Board may prescribe terms for Grant Agreements in respect of Eligible Persons who are
subject to the laws of a jurisdiction other than Canada in connection with their participation
in the Plan that are different than the terms of the Grant Agreements for Eligible Persons
who are subject to the laws of Canada in connection with their participation in the Plan,
and/or deviate from the terms of the Plan set out herein, for purposes of compliance
with Applicable Law in such other jurisdiction or where, in the Board’s opinion,
such terms or deviations are necessary or desirable to obtain more advantageous treatment
for the Corporation, an Affiliate or the Eligible Person in respect of the Plan under
the Applicable Law of the other jurisdiction.
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the terms of any Grant Agreement authorized pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall be consistent with the Plan having
regard to the Applicable Law of the jurisdiction in which such Grant Agreement is applicable and in no event shall contravene
the Applicable Law of Canada.
|
3.4
|
The
Board may, in its discretion, subject to Applicable Law, delegate its powers, rights
and duties under the Plan, in whole or in part, to a committee of the Board, or to a
person or persons, as it may determine, from time to time, on terms and conditions as
it may determine, except that the Board shall not, and shall not be permitted to delegate
any such powers, rights or duties with respect to the grant, amendment, administration
or settlement of any Grant to the extent delegation is not consistent with Applicable
Law and any such purported delegation or action shall not be given effect, and provided
that the composition of the committee of the Board, person or persons, as the case may
be, shall comply with Applicable Law. In addition, provided it complies with the foregoing,
the Board may appoint or engage a trustee, custodian or administrator to administer or
implement the Plan or any aspect of it.
|
|
3.5
|
In
addition, the Board is authorized to take any action it determines in its sole discretion
to be appropriate subject only to the express limitations contained in this Plan, and
no authorization in any Plan section or other provision of this plan is intended or may
be deemed to constitute a limitation on the authority of the Board.
|
|
4.1
|
Subject
to Section 4.4 and any adjustment pursuant to Section 5.1, the aggregate number of Shares
reserved for issuance to Participants under the Plan, together with all other security
based compensation arrangements of the Corporation, shall not exceed the number which
represents ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding Shares from time to time;
provided that in no event shall Shares reserved for issuance upon the settlement of Share
Units exceed five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding Shares from time to time.
|
|
4.2
|
The
aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance to any one Participant under the Plan,
together with all other security based compensation arrangements of the Corporation,
must not exceed five percent (5%) of the aggregate issued and outstanding Shares (on
a non-diluted basis).
|
|
4.3
|
The
maximum number of Shares of the Corporation
|
|
(a)
|
issued
to Insiders within any one-year period, and
|
|
(b)
|
issuable
to Insiders, at any time,
|
under
the Plan, or when combined with all of the Corporation’s other security based compensation arrangements, shall not exceed
ten percent (10%) of the number of the aggregate issued and outstanding Shares.
|
4.4
|
For
purposes of computing the total number of Shares available for grant under the Plan or
any other security based compensation arrangement of the Corporation, Shares subject
to any Grant (or any portion thereof) that are issued upon exercise or settlement, forfeited,
surrendered, cancelled, unearned or otherwise terminated shall again be available for
grant under the Plan.
|
|
5.
|
ALTERATION
OF CAPITAL AND CHANGE IN CONTROL
|
|
5.1
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, and subject to Applicable Law, in the event of any change
in or impact to the Shares by reason of any dividend (other than dividends in the ordinary
course), split, recapitalization, reclassification, amalgamation, arrangement, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete
liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase
securities, combination or exchange of Shares or distribution of rights to holders of
Shares or any other relevant changes to or impact to the authorized or issued capital
of the Corporation, if the Board shall determine that an equitable adjustment should
be made, such adjustment shall, subject to Applicable Law, be made by the Board to (i) the number of Shares subject to the
Plan; (ii) the securities into which the Shares are changed or are convertible or exchangeable; (iii) any Options then
outstanding; (iv) the Exercise Price in respect of such Options; (v) the number of Share Units outstanding under the Plan;
and/or (vi) other award terms, and any such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan; provided, however,
that any such adjustment to the number specified in Section 9.7(f) of this Plan will be made only if and to the extent that
such adjustment would not cause any Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify. Moreover,
in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a Change in Control, the Board may provide in substitution
for any or all outstanding Grants under this Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it, in good
faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and shall require in connection therewith the surrender of all
awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A (if applicable). In addition, for each Option with an
Exercise Price greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or Change in Control,
the Board may in its discretion elect to cancel such Option without any payment to the person holding such
Option.
|
|
5.2
|
Nothing
in the Plan shall require the Corporation to issue fractional Shares in satisfaction
of its obligations under the Plan. Any fractional interest in a Share that would, except
for the provisions of this Section 5.2, be deliverable upon the exercise of any Grant
shall be cancelled and not deliverable by the Corporation.
|
|
5.3
|
In
the event of a Change in Control prior to the Vesting of a Grant, and subject to the
terms of a Participant’s written employment agreement or contract for services
with the Corporation or an Affiliate, notwithstanding the conditions as to vesting of
Options and Share Units contained in any individual Grant Agreement, if at any time within
one year from the date of a Change in Control: (i) a Participant’s relationship
with the Corporation is terminated by the Corporation other than for Cause or (ii) a
Participant resigns for Good Reason, all outstanding Options and Share Units, as applicable,
held by such Participant shall become Vested as of the date of such Participant’s
termination or resignation for Good Reason and the Corporation shall issue Shares to
such Participants with respect to such Vested Options and Vested Share Units, as applicable,
in accordance with the provisions herein; provided that in the event that any Share Units
are subject to Performance Conditions, then the vesting of such Share Units shall accelerate
only to the extent that such Performance Conditions have been satisfied and further provided
that if a Performance Condition is, in the Board’s discretion, capable of being
partially performed, then vesting shall be accelerated on a pro rata basis to reflect
the degree to which the Performance Condition has been satisfied, as determined by the
Board.
|
It
is a condition of each Grant that if:
|
(i)
|
The
Participant fails to comply with any applicable Restrictive Covenant;
|
(ii) the
Participant is terminated for Cause, or the Board reasonably determines after employment termination that the Participant’s
employment could have been terminated for Cause;
(iii) the
Board reasonably determines that the Participant engaged in conduct that causes material financial or reputational harm to the
Corporation or its Affiliates, or engaged in gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud in respect of the performance of the
Participant’s duties for the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation; or
(iv) the
Corporation’s financial statements (the “Original Statements”) are required to be restated (other
than solely as a result of a change in accounting policy by the Corporation or under International Financial Reporting
Standards applicable to the Corporation) and such restated financial statements (the “Restated
Statements”) disclose, in the opinion of the Board acting reasonably, materially worse financial results than those
contained in the Original Statements, then
the Board may, in its sole discretion, to the full extent permitted by governing law and to the extent it determines that such
action is in the best interest of the Corporation, and in addition to any other rights that the Corporation or an Affiliate may
have at law or under any agreement, take any or all of the following actions, as applicable:
|
(a)
|
reduce
the number or value of, or cancel and terminate, any one or more unvested Grants of Options
or Share Units on or prior to the applicable maturity or Vesting Dates, or cancel or
terminate any outstanding Grants which have Vested in the twelve (12) months prior to
(x) the date on which the Participant fails to comply with a Restrictive Covenant, (y)
the date on which the Participant’s employment is terminated for Cause or the Board
makes a determination under paragraph (ii) or (iii) above, or (z) the date on which the
Board determines that the Corporation’s Original Statements are required to be
restated, in the event paragraph (iv) above applies (each such date provided for in clause
(x), (y) and (z) of this paragraph (a) being a “Relevant Equity Recoupment Date”);
and/or
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|
(b)
|
require
payment to the Corporation of the value of any Shares of the Corporation acquired by
the Participant pursuant to a Grant in the twelve (12) months prior to a Relevant Equity
Recoupment Date (less any amount paid by the Participant to acquire such Shares and less
the amount of tax withheld pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) or other relevant
taxing authority in respect of such Shares).
|
Notwithstanding
anything in this Plan to the contrary, any Grant Agreement may also provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of a Grant or the
forfeiture and repayment to the Corporation of any gain related to a Grant, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect,
upon such terms and conditions as may be required by the Board or under Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any Stock
Exchange.
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7.1
|
Compliance
with Laws and Policies.
|
The
Corporation’s obligation to make any payments or deliver (or cause to be delivered) any Shares hereunder is subject to compliance
with Applicable Law. Each Participant shall acknowledge and agree (and shall be conclusively deemed to have so acknowledged and
agreed by participating in the Plan) that the Participant will, at all times, act in strict compliance with Applicable Law and
all other laws and any policies of the Corporation applicable to the Participant in connection with the Plan including, without
limitation, furnishing to the Corporation all information and undertakings as may be required to permit compliance with Applicable
Law.
So
as to ensure that the Corporation or an Affiliate, as applicable, will be able to comply with the applicable obligations under
any federal, provincial, state or local law relating to the withholding of tax or other required deductions, the Corporation or
the Affiliate shall withhold or cause to be withheld from any amount payable to a Participant, either under this Plan, or otherwise,
such amount as may be necessary to permit the Corporation or the Affiliate, as applicable, to so comply. Subject to Applicable
Law, the Corporation and any Affiliate may also satisfy any liability for any such withholding obligations, on such terms and
conditions as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, by (a) requiring such Participant to sell any Shares and retaining
any amount payable which would otherwise be provided or paid to such Participant in connection with any such sale, or (b) requiring,
as a condition to the delivery of Shares hereunder, that such Participant make such arrangements as the Board may require so that
the Corporation and its Affiliates can satisfy such withholding obligations, including requiring such Participant to remit an
amount to the Corporation or an Affiliate in advance, or reimburse the Corporation or any Affiliate for, any such withholding
obligations.
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7.3
|
No
Right to Continued Employment.
|
Nothing
in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement entered into pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue in
the employ or service of the Corporation or any Affiliate, to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the
Plan or a Grant Agreement or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Corporation or any Affiliate to terminate
Participant’s employment or service arrangement with the Corporation or any Affiliate.
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7.4
|
No
Additional Rights.
|
Neither
the designation of an individual as a Participant nor the Grant of any Options or Share Units to any Participant entitles any
person to the Grant, or any additional Grant, as the case may be, of any Options or Share Units. For greater certainty, the Board’s
decision to approve a Grant in any period shall not require the Board to approve a Grant to any Participant in any other period;
nor shall the Board’s decision with respect to the size or terms and conditions of a Grant in any period require it to approve
a Grant of the same or similar size or with the same or similar terms and conditions to any Participant in any other period. The
Board shall not be precluded from approving a Grant to any Participant solely because such Participant may have previously received
a Grant under this Plan or any other similar compensation arrangement of the Corporation or an Affiliate. No Eligible Person has
any claim or right to receive a Grant except as may be provided in a written employment or services agreement between an Eligible
Person and the Corporation or an Affiliate.
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7.5
|
Amendment,
Termination.
|
Subject
to Applicable Law, the Plan and any Grant made pursuant to the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without
approval of shareholders, provided that no amendment to the Plan or Grants made pursuant to the Plan may be made without the consent
of a Participant if it adversely alters or
impairs the rights of the Participant in respect of any Grant previously granted to such Participant under the Plan, except that
Participant consent shall not be required where the amendment is required for purposes of compliance with Applicable Law. For
greater certainty, the Plan may not be amended without shareholder approval to do any of the following:
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(a)
|
increase
the maximum number of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan and as set out in Section
4.1 (it being understood that this Section 7.5(a) will not be construed to prohibit the
adjustments provided for in Section 5 of this Plan);
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|
(b)
|
reduce
the Exercise Price of an outstanding Option, including a cancellation of a Grant of an
Option and re-grant within three (3) months of an Option in conjunction therewith constituting
a reduction of the Exercise Price of the Option or substitution of an Option with cash
or other awards the terms of which are more favorable to the Participant (it being understood
that this Section 7.5(b) will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for
in Section 5 of this Plan);
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|
(c)
|
extend
the maximum term of any Grant made under the Plan;
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|
(d)
|
amend
the assignment provisions contained in Section 7.11 or Section 11;
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|
(e)
|
expand
the categories of individuals contained in the definition of “Eligible Person”
who are eligible to participate in the Plan;
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|
(f)
|
increase
the number of Shares that may be issued or issuable to Insiders above the restriction
or deleting the restriction on the number of Shares that may be issued or issuable to
Insiders contained in Section 4.3;
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|
(g)
|
include
other types of equity compensation involving the issuance of Shares under the Plan;
|
|
(h)
|
cause
Incentive Stock Options to fail to meet the requirements of Code Section 422; or
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|
(i)
|
amend
this Section 7.5 to amend or delete any of (a) through (i) above or grant additional
powers to the Board to amend the Plan or entitlements without shareholder approval.
|
For
greater certainty and without limiting the foregoing, shareholder approval shall not be required for the following amendments
and the Board may make the following changes without shareholder approval, subject to any regulatory approvals including, where
required, the approval of any Stock Exchange:
|
(j)
|
amendments
of a “housekeeping” nature;
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|
(k)
|
a
change to the Vesting provisions of any Grants;
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|
(l)
|
a
change to the termination provisions of any Grant that does not entail an extension beyond
the original term of the Grant; or
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|
(m)
|
amendments
to the provisions relating to a Change in Control.
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|
7.6
|
Currency. Except where the context otherwise requires, all references in the Plan to currency refer to lawful Canadian currency.
Any amounts required to be determined under this Plan that are denominated in a currency other than Canadian dollars shall be
converted to Canadian dollars at the applicable Bank of Canada daily rate of exchange on the date as of which the amount is required
to be determined.
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|
7.7
|
Administration
Costs.
|
The
Corporation will be responsible for all costs relating to the administration of the Plan.
|
7.8
|
Designation
of Beneficiary.
|
Subject
to the requirements of Applicable Law, a Participant may designate a Beneficiary, in writing, to receive any benefits that are
provided under the Plan upon the death of such Participant. The Participant may, subject to Applicable Law, change such designation
from time to time. Such designation or change shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time. A Beneficiary
designation under this Section 7.8 and any subsequent changes thereto shall be filed with the chief legal officer of the Corporation.
The
Plan and any Grants pursuant to the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British
Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, and with respect to Participants who are US Taxpayers, with the Code
and applicable federal laws of the US. The Board may provide that any dispute to any Grant shall be presented and determined in
such forum as the Board may specify, including through binding arbitration. Any reference in the Plan, in any Grant Agreement
issued pursuant to the Plan or in any other agreement or document relating to the Plan to a provision of law or rule or regulation
shall be deemed to include any successor law, rule or regulation of similar effect or applicability. To the extent applicable,
with respect to Participants who are US Taxpayers, this Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with the requirements of Code
Section 409A and the regulations, notices, and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder. To the extent that any
provision of this Plan would prevent any Option that was intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option from qualifying as such,
that provision will be null and void with respect to such Option, but will remain in effect for other Options and there will be
no further effect on any provision of this Plan. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the provisions of Exhibit
“A” to this Plan shall apply with respect to Participants who are US Taxpayers
The
Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Corporation, its successors and assigns.
|
7.11.1
|
Unless
otherwise provided in the Plan or in the applicable Grant Agreement in accordance with
Section 7.11.2, no Grant, and no rights or interests therein, shall or may be assigned,
transferred, sold, exchanged, encumbered, pledged or otherwise hypothecated or disposed
of by a Participant other than by testamentary disposition by the Participant or the
laws of intestate succession. No such interest shall be subject to execution, attachment
or similar legal process including without limitation seizure for the payment of the
Participant’s debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance. In no event will
any Grant under the Plan be transferred for value.
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|
7.11.2
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, with respect to Participants who are not US Taxpayers, the Board may provide
in the applicable Grant Agreement that a Grant is transferable or assignable (a) in the
case of a transfer without the payment of any consideration, to the Participant’s
spouse, former spouse, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parent, stepparent, grandparent,
sibling, persons having one of the foregoing types of relationship with a Participant
due to adoption and any entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than
fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests and (b) to an entity in which more than fifty
percent (50%) voting interests are owned by these persons (or the Participant) in exchange
for an interest in that entity. Following any such transfer or assignment, the Grant
shall remain subject to substantially the same terms applicable to the Grant while held
by the Participant to whom it was granted, as modified as the Board shall determine appropriate,
and, as a condition to such transfer, the transferee shall execute an agreement agreeing
to be bound by such terms. Any purported assignment or transfer that does not qualify
under this Section 7.11.2 shall be void and unenforceable against the Corporation.
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Grants
may be made under this Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, restricted
share units or performance share units held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction
with the Corporation or any Subsidiary. Any conversion, substitution or assumption will be effective as of the close of the merger
or acquisition, and, to the extent applicable, will be conducted in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A. The Grants
so made may reflect the original terms of the awards being assumed or substituted or converted for and need not comply with other
specific terms of this Plan, and may account for Shares substituted for the securities covered by the original awards and the
number of shares subject to the original awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable
to the original awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction.
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8.
|
EFFECTIVE
DATE AND TERM
|
|
8.1
|
The
Plan was approved by the Board on September 29, 2017, as amended on September 24, 2020,
and by the Corporation’s shareholders on November 9, 2017, as amended on ,
2020 (the “Amended Effective Date”). This Plan will remain in effect,
unless sooner terminated as provided herein, until November 9, 2030, at which time it
will terminate. After this Plan is terminated, no Grants may be granted hereunder but
Grants previously granted will remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable
terms and conditions and this Plan’s terms and conditions.
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PART
II – OPTIONS
|
9.1
|
The
Corporation may, from time to time, make one or more Grants of Options to Eligible Persons
on such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine.
In granting such Options, subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Corporation shall
specify,
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|
(a)
|
the
maximum number of Shares which the Participant may purchase under the Options;
|
|
(b)
|
the
Exercise Price at which the Participant may purchase his or her Shares under the Options;
and
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|
(c)
|
the
term of the Options, to a maximum of ten (10) years from the Grant Date of the Options,
the Vesting period or periods within this period during which the Options or a portion
thereof may be exercised by a Participant and any other Vesting conditions (including
Performance Conditions).
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|
9.2
|
The
Exercise Price for each Share subject to an Option shall be fixed by the Board but under
no circumstances (except with respect to Grants under Section 7.12 of this Plan) shall
any Exercise Price be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Market Price on the
Grant Date of such Option.
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|
9.3
|
Subject
to the provisions of the Plan and, upon prior approval of the Board, once an Option has
Vested and become exercisable a Participant may elect, in lieu of exercising such Option,
to surrender such Option in exchange for the issuance of Shares equal to the number determined
by dividing (a) the difference between the Market Price (calculated as at the date of
settlement) and the Exercise Price of such Option by (b) the Market Price (calculated
as at the date of settlement). An Option may be surrendered and disposed of pursuant
to this Section 9.3 from time to time by delivery to the Board at the head office of
the Corporation or such other place as may be specified by the Board, of (a) a written
notice specifying that net settlement will be effectuated for such Option and the number
of Options to be exercised and (b) the payment of an amount for any tax withholding or
remittance obligations of the Participant or the Corporation arising under applicable
law (or by entering
into some other arrangement acceptable to the Board). The Corporation will not be required, upon the net settlement of any Options
pursuant to this Section 9.3, to issue fractions of Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Shares. In
the event the number of Shares to be issued upon the net settlement of an Option is a fraction, the Participant will receive the
next lowest whole number of Shares and will not receive any other form of compensation (cash or otherwise) for the fractional
interest.
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|
9.4
|
Unless
otherwise designated by the Board in the applicable Grant Agreement and subject to Section
9.6, any Options included in a Grant shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the Grant
Date (unless exercised or terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Plan
or the Grant Agreement).
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|
9.5
|
Subject
to the provisions of the Plan and the terms governing the granting of the Option, and
subject to payment or other satisfaction of all related withholding obligations in accordance
with Section 7.2, Vested Options or a portion thereof may be exercised from time to time
by delivery to the Corporation at its registered office of a notice in writing signed
by the Participant or the Participant’s legal personal representative, as the case
may be, and addressed to the Corporation. This notice shall state the intention of the
Participant or the Participant’s legal personal representative to exercise the
said Options and the number of Shares in respect of which the Options are then being
exercised and must be accompanied by payment in full of the Exercise Price under the
Options which are the subject of the exercise.
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|
9.6
|
If
the normal expiry date of any Option, other than an Incentive Stock Option, falls within
any Blackout Period or within ten (10) business days (being a day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or other than a day when banks in Vancouver, British Columbia are not generally
open for business) following the end of any Blackout Period, then the expiry date of
such Option shall, without any further action, be extended to the date that is ten (10)
business days following the end of such Blackout Period. The foregoing extension applies
to all Options whatever the Grant Date (other than Incentive Stock Options and other
than an extension beyond the original term of the Options in the case of Options held
by a US Taxpayer) and shall not be considered an extension of the term of the Options
as referred to in Section 7.5.
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|
9.7
|
Notwithstanding
anything in this Plan to the contrary, for Options that are intended to qualify as Incentive
Stock Options and granted to a US Taxpayer, the following additional provisions will
apply:
|
|
(a)
|
Except
as permitted by Code Section 424(a), or any successor provision, the Exercise Price per
Share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the per Share Market Price
on the Grant Date of the Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that if a Participant
owns shares possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
of all classes of shares of the Corporation or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the Exercise
Price per Share of an Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant shall not be
less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Market Price on the Grant Date of the
Incentive Stock Option.
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|
(b)
|
Except
as permitted by Code Section 424(a), in no event shall any Incentive Stock Option be
exercisable during a term of more than ten (10)
years after the Grant Date of the Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that if a Participant owns shares possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Corporation or of its Parent or any
Subsidiary, the Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant shall be exercisable during a term of not more than five (5)
years after the Grant Date.
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|
(c)
|
The
Corporation or its Affiliate shall withhold and deduct from any future payments to the
Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding
and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of an Incentive
Stock Option or a “disqualifying disposition” of Shares acquired through
the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Code Section 421(b).
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|
(d)
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the
Grant Date of the Incentive Stock Option) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive
Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar
year under the Plan and any other “incentive stock option” plans of the Corporation
or any Affiliate, shall not exceed US$100,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed
by the Code from time to time); provided, however, that if the exercisability or Vesting
of an Incentive Stock Option is accelerated as permitted under the provisions of the
Plan and such acceleration would result in a violation of the limit imposed by this Section
9.7(d), such acceleration shall be of full force and effect but the number of Shares
that exceed such limit shall be treated as having been granted pursuant to an Option
that is not an Incentive Stock Option; and provided, further, that the limits imposed
by this Section 9.7(d) shall be applied to all outstanding Incentive Stock Options under
the Plan and any other “incentive stock option” plans of the Corporation
or any Affiliate in chronological order according to the dates of grant.
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|
(e)
|
The
Grant Agreement in respect of any Incentive Stock Option shall contain such other limitations
and restrictions upon the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option as the Board shall deem
necessary to ensure that such Incentive Stock Option will be considered an “incentive
stock option” as defined in Code Section 422 or to conform to any change therein.
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|
(f)
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 5 of this Plan, the aggregate number of Shares actually issued or transferred
by the Corporation upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed 23,811,009
Shares; provided, however, that such limit will increase by 3,000,000 shares on each
of the first and second anniversaries of the Amended Effective Date, subject to the aggregate
share limitations set forth in section 4.1.
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|
9.8
|
Options
granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.
|
|
10.
|
TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT AND DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT – OPTIONS
|
|
10.1
|
Outstanding
Options held by a Participant (or the executors or administrators of such Participant’s
estate, any person or persons who acquire the right to exercise Options directly from
the Participant by bequest or inheritance or any other permitted transferee of the Participant
under Section 11) as of the Participant’s date of Termination shall be subject
to the provisions of this Section 10, as applicable; except that, in all events, the
period for exercise of Options shall end no later than the last day of the maximum term
thereof established under Sections 9.1(c), 9.6, 9.7(b) or 10.5, as the case may be.
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|
10.2
|
Except
as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement, and subject to Section 10.1
and Section 10.6, in the case of a Participant’s Termination due to death, or in
the case of the Participant’s Disability (i) those of the Participant’s outstanding
Options that have not become Vested prior to such date of death or Disability Date shall
be forfeited and cancelled as of such date and (ii) those of the Participant’s
outstanding Options that have become Vested prior to the Participant’s date of
death or Disability Date shall continue to be exercisable during the twelve (12) month
period following the such date of death or Disability Date, as the case may be.
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|
10.3
|
Except
as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement, and subject to Section 10.1
and Section 10.6, in the case of a Participant’s Termination due to the termination
of the Participant’s employment or termination of the Participant’s contract
for services by the Corporation or an Affiliate without Cause, (i) those of the Participant’s
outstanding Options that have not become Vested prior to the Participant’s Termination
shall be forfeited and cancelled as of such date and (ii) those of the Participant’s
outstanding Options that have become Vested prior to the Participant’s Termination
shall continue to be exercisable during the one hundred and twenty (120) day period following
the Participant’s Date of Termination.
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|
10.4
|
Except
as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement, and subject to Section 10.6,
in the case of a Participant’s Termination due to the Participant’s resignation
(including the voluntary withdrawal of services by a Participant who is not an employee
under Applicable Law), (i) those of the Participant’s outstanding Options that
have not become Vested prior to the date on which the Participant provides notice to
the Corporation of his or her resignation shall be forfeited and cancelled as of such
date, and (ii) those of the Participant’s outstanding Options that have become
Vested prior to the date on which the Participant provides notice to the Corporation
of his or her resignation shall continue to be exercisable during the ninety (90) day
period following the Participant’s date of Termination.
|
|
10.5
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, with respect to any Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option,
such Option shall not be exercisable for a period that is longer than (i) three (3) months
from the date of the Participant’s Termination for any reason other than death
or disability (as defined in Code Section 22(e)), or (ii) twelve
(12) months from the Participant’s Termination due to disability (as defined in Code Section 22(e)) or death.
|
|
10.6
|
In
addition to the Board’s rights under Section 3.1, the Board may, subject to Section
10.5, at the time of a Participant’s Termination or Disability Date, extend the
period for exercise of some or all of the Participant’s Options, but not beyond
the original expiry date, and/or allow for the continued Vesting of some or all of the
Participant’s Options during the period for exercise or a portion of it. Options
that are not exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period, including any
extended exercise period authorized pursuant to this Section 10.6, following a Participant’s
date of Termination or Disability Date, as the case may be, shall automatically expire
on the last day of such period.
|
|
10.7
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof or in any Grant Agreement, in the case of a Participant’s
termination of employment or termination of the Participant’s contract for services
for Cause, any and all then outstanding Options granted to the Participant, whether or
not then exercisable, shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled, without any consideration
therefore, as of the commencement of the day that notice of such termination is given.
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|
10.8
|
For
greater certainty, a Participant shall have no right to receive Shares or a cash payment,
as compensation, damages or otherwise, with respect to any Options that do not become
Vested or that are not exercised before the date on which the Options expire.
|
|
11.
|
TRANSFERABILITY
OF OPTIONS – US TAXPAYER
|
|
11.1
|
Notwithstanding
Section 7.11, with respect to Participants who are US Taxpayers, no Incentive Stock Option
shall be transferable by the Participant, in whole or in part, other than by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer
of any Incentive Stock Option, such transfer shall be void and the Incentive Stock Option
shall terminate.
|
|
11.2
|
Further,
with respect to Participants who are US Taxpayers, Options that are not Incentive Stock
Options shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the Participant by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution. In addition, the Board may, in its sole discretion,
permit the Participant to transfer any or all such Options to any “family member”
in accordance with Form S-8; provided, however, that the Participant cannot receive any
consideration for the transfer and such transferred Stock Option shall continue to be
subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Option immediately
prior to its transfer.
|
PART
III – SHARE UNITS
|
12.1
|
“Grant
Value” means the dollar amount allocated to an Eligible Person in respect of
a Grant of Share Units as contemplated by Section 3.
|
|
12.2
|
“Share
Unit Account” has the meaning set out in Section 14.1.
|
|
12.3
|
“Valuation
Date” means the date as of which the Market Price is determined for purposes
of calculating the number of Share Units included in a Grant, which unless otherwise
determined by the Board shall be the Grant Date.
|
|
12.4
|
“Vesting
Period” means, with respect to a Grant of Share Units, the period specified
by the Board, commencing on the Grant Date and ending on the last Vesting Date for such
Share Units.
|
|
13.
|
ELIGIBILITY
AND GRANT DETERMINATION.
|
|
13.1
|
The
Board may from time to time make one or more Grants of Share Units to Eligible Persons
on such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as the Board shall determine,
provided that, in determining the Eligible Persons to whom Grants are to be made and
the Grant Value for each Grant, the Board shall take into account the terms of any written
employment agreement or contract for services between an Eligible Person and the Corporation
or any Affiliate and may take into account such other factors as it shall determine in
its sole and absolute discretion.
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|
13.2
|
The
Board shall determine the Grant Value and the Valuation Date (if not the Grant Date)
for each Grant under this Part III. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the number
of Share Units to be covered by each such Grant shall be determined by dividing the Grant
Value for such Grant by the Market Price of a Share as at the Valuation Date for such
Grant, rounded up to the next whole number.
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|
13.3
|
Each
Grant Agreement issued in respect of Share Units shall set forth, at a minimum, the type
of Share Units and Grant Date of the Grant evidenced thereby, the number of RSUs or PSUs
subject to such Grant (which number, in the case of PSUs, may be subject to adjustment
to reflect changes in compensation, job duties or other factors), the applicable Vesting
conditions, the applicable Vesting Period(s) and the treatment of the Grant upon Termination
and may specify such other terms and conditions consistent with the terms of the Plan
as the Board shall determine or as shall be required under any other provision of the
Plan. The Board may include in a Grant Agreement under this Part III terms or conditions
pertaining to confidentiality of information relating to the Corporation’s operations
or businesses which must be complied with by a Participant including as a condition of
the grant or Vesting of Share Units. Nothing in this Plan prevents a Participant from
providing, without prior notice to the Corporation, information to governmental authorities
regarding possible legal violations or otherwise testifying or participating in any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations.
|
|
14.
|
ACCOUNTS
AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
|
An
account, called a “Share Unit Account”, shall be maintained by the Corporation, or an Affiliate, as specified
by the Board, for each Participant who has received a Grant of Share Units and will be credited with such Grants of Share Units
as are received by a Participant from time to time pursuant to Section 13 and any dividend equivalent Share Units pursuant to
Section 14.2. Share Units that fail
to Vest to a Participant and are forfeited pursuant to Section 15, or that are paid out to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary,
shall be cancelled and shall cease to be recorded in the Participant’s Share Unit Account as of the date on which such Share
Units are forfeited or cancelled under the Plan or are paid out, as the case may be. For greater certainty, where a Participant
is granted both RSUs and PSUs, such RSUs and PSUs shall be recorded separately in the Participant’s Share Unit Account.
|
14.2
|
Dividend
Equivalent Share Units.
|
Except
as otherwise provided in the Grant Agreement relating to a Grant of RSUs or PSUs, if and when cash dividends (other than extraordinary
or special dividends) are paid with respect to Shares to shareholders of record as of a record date occurring during the period
from the Grant Date under the Grant Agreement to the date of settlement of the RSUs or PSUs granted thereunder, a number of dividend
equivalent RSUs or PSUs, as the case may be, shall be credited to the Share Unit Account of the Participant who is a party to
such Grant Agreement. The number of such additional RSUs or PSUs will be calculated by dividing the aggregate dividends or distributions
that would have been paid to such Participant if the RSUs or PSUs in the Participant’s Share Unit Account had been Shares
by the Market Price on the date on which the dividends or distributions were paid on the Shares. The additional RSUs or PSUs granted
to a Participant will be subject to the same terms and conditions, including Vesting and settlement terms, as the corresponding
RSUs or PSUs, as the case may be.
|
15.
|
VESTING
AND SETTLEMENT OF SHARE UNITS
|
|
15.1
|
Continued
Employment.
|
Subject
to this Section 15 and the applicable Grant Agreement, Share Units subject to a Grant and dividend equivalent Share Units credited
to the Participant’s Share Unit Account in respect of such Share Units shall Vest in such proportion(s) and on such Vesting
Date(s) as may be specified in the Grant Agreement governing such Grant provided that the Participant is Employed or acting as
a Director on the relevant Vesting Date.
A
Participant’s RSUs and PSUs, adjusted in accordance with the applicable multiplier, if any, as set out in the Grant Agreement,
and rounded down to the nearest whole number of RSUs or PSUs, as the case may be, shall be settled, by a distribution as provided
below to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary, upon, or as soon as reasonably practicable following, the Vesting thereof
in accordance with Section 15.1 or 15.6, as the case may be, subject to the terms of the applicable Grant Agreement. In all events
RSUs and PSUs will be settled on or before the earlier of the ninetieth (90th) day following the Vesting Date and the
date that is two and one half (2½) months after the end of the year in which Vesting occurred, except as otherwise provided
in an applicable Grant Agreement in compliance with Code Section 409A. Settlement shall be made by the issuance of one Share for
each RSU or PSU then being settled, as specified in the applicable Grant Agreement,
and subject to payment or other satisfaction of all related withholding obligations in accordance with Section 7.2.
|
15.3
|
Postponed
Settlement.
|
Except
as otherwise determined by the Board in compliance with Code Section 409A, if a Participant’s Share Units would, in the
absence of this Section 15.3 be settled within a Blackout Period applicable to such Participant, such settlement shall be postponed
until the Trading Day following the date on which such Blackout Period ends (or as soon as practicable thereafter).
For
greater certainty, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement, a Participant shall have no right to receive
Shares or a cash payment, as compensation, damages or otherwise, with respect to any RSUs or PSUs that do not become Vested.
Except
as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement and Section 15.7, in the event a Participant’s employment is Terminated
as a result of the Participant`s resignation, no Share Units that have not Vested prior to the date on which the Participant submits
his or her resignation, including dividend equivalent Share Units in respect of such Share Units, shall Vest and all such Share
Units shall be forfeited immediately.
|
15.6
|
Termination
of Employment without Cause; Death or Disability.
|
Except
as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement, in the case of a Participant`s Termination without Cause or due to death
or Disability of a Participant, all Share Units granted to the Participant that have Vested as at the date of Termination shall
be paid to the Participant or Participant’s estate, as applicable, in accordance with the settlement provisions herein.
Any Share Units that have not Vested as at the date of Termination will be immediately cancelled and forfeited to the Corporation,
provided that if any unvested Share Units are subject to Performance Conditions, then if a Performance Condition is, in the Board’s
discretion, capable of being partially performed, such unvested Share Units shall become Vested Share Units as at the date of
Termination on a pro rata basis to reflect the degree to which the vesting condition has been satisfied, as determined by the
Board (and in all cases except as otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement).
|
15.7
|
Extension
of Vesting.
|
The
Board may, at the time of Termination or a Disability Date, extend the period for Vesting of Share Units, but not beyond the original
end of the applicable Vesting Period, or accelerate the Vesting of Share Units. With respect to U.S. Taxpayers, any such modification
shall be made in compliance with Code Section 409A.
|
15.8
|
Termination
of Employment for Cause.
|
In
the event a Participant’s employment is Terminated for Cause by the Corporation, no Share Units that have not Vested prior
to the date of the Participant’s Termination for Cause, including dividend equivalent Share Units in respect of such Share
Units, shall Vest and all such Share Units shall be forfeited immediately.
|
16.1
|
No
Rights to Shares.
|
Share
Units are not Shares and a Grant of Share Units will not entitle a Participant to any shareholder rights, including, without limitation,
voting rights, dividend entitlement (except as provided in Section 14.2) or rights on liquidation until the allotment and issuance
to the Participant of a certificate or certificates in the name of the Participant or a statement of account representing the
Shares to which such Share Units relate.
Exhibit
“A”
to
NioCorp
Developments Ltd. Long Term Incentive Plan
Special Provisions Applicable to US Taxpayers
This
Exhibit sets forth special provisions of the NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) that
apply to Participants who are US Taxpayers. This Exhibit shall apply to such Participants notwithstanding any other provisions
of the Plan. Terms defined elsewhere in the Plan and used herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan, as may be amended
from time to time.
Definitions
“Eligible
Person” means, solely with respect to Options, a Director or an individual with respect to which the Corporation would
be an eligible issuer of “service recipient stock” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code who (i) meets the Form
S-8 definition of “employee” and (ii) by the nature of his or her position or job is, in the opinion of the Board,
in a position to contribute to the success of the Corporation; provided, however, that only persons who meet the definition of
“employees” under Code Section 3401(c) shall be eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options.
“Good
Reason” means, except as otherwise provided in applicable Grant Agreement, the occurrence of any one or more of the
following without a Participant’s written consent:
(i) a
material diminution in the Participant’s duties, responsibilities, or authority in effect immediately prior to a Change
in Control;
(ii) a
material diminution in the aggregate value of base salary and bonus opportunity provided to the Participant for services provided
to the Corporation or an Affiliate;
(iii) the
Corporation or an Affiliate relocating the Participant’s primary office to any place other than the location at which the
Participant reported for work on a regular basis immediately prior to a Change in Control or a place within 50 miles of that location;
or
(iv) Any
other action or inaction by the Corporation constituting a material breach of an effective employment arrangement or agreement
with the Participant.
A
Participant must notify the Corporation of the Participant’s intention to invoke Termination for Good Reason within 90 days
after the occurrence of such event and provide the Corporation 30 days’ opportunity for cure, and the Participant must actually
terminate the Participant’s employment with the Corporation prior to the 365th day following such occurrence or such event
shall not constitute Good Reason.
“Market
Price” means, solely with respect to the term “Exercise Price”, (a) if the Shares are listed on only one
Stock Exchange, the closing price per Share on such Stock Exchange on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Grant Date, or,
if there are no sales on such date, on the next preceding Trading Day on which a sale occurred; (b) if the Shares are listed on
more than one Stock Exchange, the fair market value as determined in accordance with paragraph (a) above for the
primary Stock Exchange on which the Shares are listed, as determined by the Board; and (c) if the Shares are not listed for trading
on a Stock Exchange, a price which is determined by the Board in good faith to be the fair market value of the Shares in compliance
with the Code Section 409A. The Board is authorized to adopt another fair market value pricing method provided such method is
stated in the applicable Grant Agreement and is in compliance with the fair market value pricing rules set forth in Code Section
409A.
Section
409A
Notwithstanding
anything in the Plan to the contrary, unless the applicable Grant Agreement provides otherwise, settlement of Share Units will
in all events occur within the “short-term deferral” period determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4).
To
the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any Grants made hereunder comply with or be exempt from the provisions
of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Participants.
This Plan and any grants made hereunder will be administered in a manner consistent with this intent. Any reference in this Plan
to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations or any other formal guidance promulgated with respect to such section
by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.
Neither
a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries will have the right to subject any deferred compensation
(within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under this Plan and Grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation,
sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code,
any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s
benefit under this Plan and Grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owed by a Participant to the
Corporation or any of its Affiliates.
If,
at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (a) the Participant
will be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected
by the Corporation from time to time) and (b) the Corporation makes a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder
constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed
pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section
409A of the Code, then the Corporation will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but will instead pay it,
without interest, on the fifth business day of the seventh month after such separation from service (or, if earlier, upon the
Participant’s death).
Notwithstanding
any provision of this Plan and Grants hereunder to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application
of Section 409A of the Code, the Corporation reserves the right to make amendments to this Plan and Grants hereunder as the Corporation
deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant
will be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on a Participant or
for a Participant’s account in connection with this Plan and Grants hereunder (including any taxes and penalties under Section
409A of the Code), and neither the Corporation nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold
a Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.
SCHEDULE
B
Form of proxy
|
BTDQ
000001
SAM
SAMPLE
123 SAMPLES STREET
SAMPLETOWN SS X9X X9X
CANADA
|
8th
Floor, 100 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
www.computershare.com
Security
Class
COMMON SHARES
Holder
Account Number
C9999999999
IND
|
____
Fold
Form
of Proxy - Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020
This
Form of Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Management.
Notes
to proxy
|
1.
|
Every
holder has the right to appoint some other person or company of their choice, who need
not be a holder, to attend and act on their behalf at the meeting or any adjournment
or postponement thereof. If you wish to appoint a person or company other than the persons
whose names are printed herein, please insert the name of your chosen proxyholder in
the space provided (see reverse).
|
|
2.
|
If
the securities are registered in the name of more than one owner (for example, joint
ownership, trustees, executors, etc.), then all those registered should sign this proxy.
If you are voting on behalf of a corporation or another individual you must sign this
proxy with signing capacity stated, and you may be required to provide documentation
evidencing your power to sign this proxy.
|
|
3.
|
This
proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name(s) appear(s) on the proxy.
|
|
4.
|
If
this proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to bear the date on which it is mailed by
Management to the holder.
|
|
5.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the holder; however,
if such a direction is not made in respect of any matter, this proxy will be voted as
recommended by Management.
|
|
6.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted in favor or withheld from voting or
voted against each of the matters described herein, as applicable, in accordance with
the instructions of the holder, on any ballot that may be called for and, if the holder
has specified a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the securities will
be voted accordingly.
|
|
7.
|
This
proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of amendments or variations to matters
identified in the Notice of Meeting or other matters that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
|
|
8.
|
This
proxy should be read in conjunction with the accompanying documentation provided by Management.
|
____
Fold
Proxies
submitted must be received by 9:00 am, Mountain Time, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
VOTE
USING THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
● Call
the number listed BELOW from a touch tone telephone.
1-866-732-VOTE
(8683) Toll Free
|
|
● Go
to the following web site:
www.investorvote.com
● Smartphone?
Scan
the QR code to vote now.
|
|
|
● You can enroll to receive future securityholder communications electronically by visiting
www.investorcentre.com.
|
If
you vote by telephone or the Internet, DO NOT mail back this proxy.
Voting
by mail may be the only method for securities held in the name of a corporation or securities being voted on behalf of another
individual.
Voting
by mail or by Internet are the only methods by which a holder may appoint a person as proxyholder other than the Management
nominees named on the reverse of this proxy. Instead of mailing this proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined
above to vote this proxy.
To
vote by telephone or the Internet, you will need to provide your CONTROL NUMBER listed below.
CONTROL
NUMBER 23456 78901 23456
BTDQ_PRX_314826/000001/000001/i
|
SAM SAMPLE
|
C9999999999
|
|
|
|
IND C04
|
|
Appointment
of Proxyholder
I/We,
being holder(s) of NioCorp Developments Ltd. hereby appoint: Mark A. Smith, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive
Chairman of the Company, or failing him, John F. Ashburn, Jr., Vice-President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of
the Company
|
OR
|
Print
the name of the person you are appointing if this person is someone other than the Chairman of the Meeting.
|
|
|
as
my/our proxyholder with full power of substitution and to attend, act and to vote for and on behalf of the shareholder in accordance
with the following directions (or if no directions have been given, as the proxyholder sees fit) and all other matters that may
properly come before the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of NioCorp Developments Ltd. to be held at 7000 S Yosemite St,
Lower Level Conference Room, Centennial, CO 80112 on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 9:00 am, Mountain Time and at any adjournment
or postponement thereof.
VOTING
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDICATED BY HIGHLIGHTED TEXT OVER THE BOXES.
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
1.
Number of Directors
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
To
set the number of Directors at five (5).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
Election of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01.
Mark A. Smith
|
☐
|
☐
|
02.
Michael Morris
|
☐
|
☐
|
03.
David C. Beling
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04.
Anna Castner Wightman
|
☐
|
☐
|
05.
Nilsa Guerrero-Mahon
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
3.
Appointment of Auditors
|
|
|
Appointment
of BDO USA, LLP as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the Directors to fix their remuneration.
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
4.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
|
|
|
|
Authorize
and approve the NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long-Term Incentive Plan, including amendments thereto, and the unallocated entitlements
thereunder.
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
____
Fold
Authorized Signature(s)
- This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.
|
|
Signature(s)
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
I/We
authorize you to act in accordance with my/our instructions set out above. I/We hereby revoke any proxy previously given with
respect to the Meeting. If no voting instructions are indicated above, this Proxy will be voted as recommended by Management.
|
|
|
|
|
Interim
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive Interim Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Annual
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Annual Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Information
Circular - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Information Circular by mail for the next securityholders' meeting.
|
☐
|
If
you are voting by mail, please be sure to sign and date in the section above, and mail in the provided envelope.
|
B
T D Q
|
3
1 4 8 2 6
|
1
P D I Z
|
A
R 1
|
9
9 9 9 9
|
|
|
BTDQ
000002
SAM
SAMPLE
123 SAMPLES STREET
SAMPLETOWN SS X9X X9X
CANADA
|
8th
Floor, 100 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
www.computershare.com
Security
Class
COMM US 1933 LEGEND
Holder
Account Number
C9999999999
IND
|
____
Fold
Form
of Proxy - Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020
This
Form of Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Management.
Notes
to proxy
|
1.
|
Every
holder has the right to appoint some other person or company of their choice, who need
not be a holder, to attend and act on their behalf at the meeting or any adjournment
or postponement thereof. If you wish to appoint a person or company other than the persons
whose names are printed herein, please insert the name of your chosen proxyholder in
the space provided (see reverse).
|
|
2.
|
If
the securities are registered in the name of more than one owner (for example, joint
ownership, trustees, executors, etc.), then all those registered should sign this proxy.
If you are voting on behalf of a corporation or another individual you must sign this
proxy with signing capacity stated, and you may be required to provide documentation
evidencing your power to sign this proxy.
|
|
3.
|
This
proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name(s) appear(s) on the proxy.
|
|
4.
|
If
this proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to bear the date on which it is mailed by
Management to the holder.
|
|
5.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the holder; however,
if such a direction is not made in respect of any matter, this proxy will be voted as
recommended by Management.
|
|
6.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted in favor or withheld from voting or
voted against each of the matters described herein, as applicable, in accordance with
the instructions of the holder, on any ballot that may be called for and, if the holder
has specified a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the securities will
be voted accordingly.
|
|
7.
|
This
proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of amendments or variations to matters
identified in the Notice of Meeting or other matters that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
|
|
8.
|
This
proxy should be read in conjunction with the accompanying documentation provided by Management.
|
____
Fold
Proxies
submitted must be received by 9:00 am, Mountain Time, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
VOTE
USING THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
● Call
the number listed BELOW from a touch tone telephone.
1-866-732-VOTE
(8683) Toll Free
|
|
● Go
to the following web site:
www.investorvote.com
● Smartphone?
Scan
the QR code to vote now.
|
|
|
● You can enroll to receive future securityholder communications electronically by visiting
www.investorcentre.com.
|
If
you vote by telephone or the Internet, DO NOT mail back this proxy.
Voting
by mail may be the only method for securities held in the name of a corporation or securities being voted on behalf of another
individual.
Voting
by mail or by Internet are the only methods by which a holder may appoint a person as proxyholder other than the Management
nominees named on the reverse of this proxy. Instead of mailing this proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined
above to vote this proxy.
To
vote by telephone or the Internet, you will need to provide your CONTROL NUMBER listed below.
CONTROL
NUMBER 23456 78901 23456
BTDQ_PRX_314826/000002/000002/i
|
SAM SAMPLE
|
C9999999999
|
|
|
|
IND RCA
|
|
Appointment
of Proxyholder
I/We,
being holder(s) of NioCorp Developments Ltd. hereby appoint: Mark A. Smith, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive
Chairman of the Company, or failing him, John F. Ashburn, Jr., Vice-President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of
the Company
|
OR
|
Print
the name of the person you are appointing if this person is someone other than the Chairman of the Meeting.
|
|
|
as
my/our proxyholder with full power of substitution and to attend, act and to vote for and on behalf of the shareholder in accordance
with the following directions (or if no directions have been given, as the proxyholder sees fit) and all other matters that may
properly come before the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of NioCorp Developments Ltd. to be held at 7000 S Yosemite St,
Lower Level Conference Room, Centennial, CO 80112 on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 9:00 am, Mountain Time and at any adjournment
or postponement thereof.
VOTING
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDICATED BY HIGHLIGHTED TEXT OVER THE BOXES.
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
1.
Number of Directors
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
To
set the number of Directors at five (5).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
Election of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01.
Mark A. Smith
|
☐
|
☐
|
02.
Michael Morris
|
☐
|
☐
|
03.
David C. Beling
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04.
Anna Castner Wightman
|
☐
|
☐
|
05.
Nilsa Guerrero-Mahon
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
3.
Appointment of Auditors
|
|
|
Appointment
of BDO USA, LLP as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the Directors to fix their remuneration.
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
4.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
|
|
|
|
Authorize
and approve the NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long-Term Incentive Plan, including amendments thereto, and the unallocated entitlements
thereunder.
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
____
Fold
Authorized Signature(s)
- This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.
|
|
Signature(s)
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
I/We
authorize you to act in accordance with my/our instructions set out above. I/We hereby revoke any proxy previously given with
respect to the Meeting. If no voting instructions are indicated above, this Proxy will be voted as recommended by Management.
|
|
|
|
|
Interim
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive Interim Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Annual
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Annual Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Information
Circular - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Information Circular by mail for the next securityholders' meeting.
|
☐
|
If
you are voting by mail, please be sure to sign and date in the section above, and mail in the provided envelope.
|
B
T D Q
|
3
1 4 8 2 6
|
1
P D I Z
|
A
R 1
|
9
9 9 9 9
|
|
|
BTDQ
000003
SAM
SAMPLE
123 SAMPLES STREET
SAMPLETOWN SS X9X X9X
AUSTRALIA
|
8th
Floor, 100 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
www.computershare.com
Security
Class
COMMON SHARES
Holder
Account Number
C9999999999
IND
|
____
Fold
Form
of Proxy - Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020
This
Form of Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Management.
Notes
to proxy
|
1.
|
Every
holder has the right to appoint some other person or company of their choice, who need
not be a holder, to attend and act on their behalf at the meeting or any adjournment
or postponement thereof. If you wish to appoint a person or company other than the persons
whose names are printed herein, please insert the name of your chosen proxyholder in
the space provided (see reverse).
|
|
2.
|
If
the securities are registered in the name of more than one owner (for example, joint
ownership, trustees, executors, etc.), then all those registered should sign this proxy.
If you are voting on behalf of a corporation or another individual you must sign this
proxy with signing capacity stated, and you may be required to provide documentation
evidencing your power to sign this proxy.
|
|
3.
|
This
proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name(s) appear(s) on the proxy.
|
|
4.
|
If
this proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to bear the date on which it is mailed by
Management to the holder.
|
|
5.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the holder; however,
if such a direction is not made in respect of any matter, this proxy will be voted as
recommended by Management.
|
|
6.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted in favor or withheld from voting or
voted against each of the matters described herein, as applicable, in accordance with
the instructions of the holder, on any ballot that may be called for and, if the holder
has specified a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the securities will
be voted accordingly.
|
|
7.
|
This
proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of amendments or variations to matters
identified in the Notice of Meeting or other matters that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
|
|
8.
|
This
proxy should be read in conjunction with the accompanying documentation provided by Management.
|
____
Fold
Proxies
submitted must be received by 9:00 am, Mountain Time, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
VOTE
USING THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
● Call
the number listed BELOW from a touch tone telephone.
312-588-4290 Direct Dial
|
|
● Go
to the following web site:
www.investorvote.com
● Smartphone?
Scan
the QR code to vote now.
|
|
|
● You can enroll to receive future securityholder communications electronically by visiting
www.investorcentre.com.
|
If
you vote by telephone or the Internet, DO NOT mail back this proxy.
Voting
by mail may be the only method for securities held in the name of a corporation or securities being voted on behalf of another
individual.
Voting
by mail or by Internet are the only methods by which a holder may appoint a person as proxyholder other than the Management
nominees named on the reverse of this proxy. Instead of mailing this proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined
above to vote this proxy.
To
vote by telephone or the Internet, you will need to provide your CONTROL NUMBER listed below.
CONTROL
NUMBER 23456 78901 23456
BTDQ_PRX_314826/000003/000003/i
|
SAM SAMPLE
|
C9999999999
|
|
|
|
IND C04
|
|
Appointment
of Proxyholder
I/We,
being holder(s) of NioCorp Developments Ltd. hereby appoint: Mark A. Smith, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive
Chairman of the Company, or failing him, John F. Ashburn, Jr., Vice-President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of
the Company
|
OR
|
Print
the name of the person you are appointing if this person is someone other than the Chairman of the Meeting.
|
|
|
as
my/our proxyholder with full power of substitution and to attend, act and to vote for and on behalf of the shareholder in accordance
with the following directions (or if no directions have been given, as the proxyholder sees fit) and all other matters that may
properly come before the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of NioCorp Developments Ltd. to be held at 7000 S Yosemite St,
Lower Level Conference Room, Centennial, CO 80112 on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 9:00 am, Mountain Time and at any adjournment
or postponement thereof.
VOTING
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDICATED BY HIGHLIGHTED TEXT OVER THE BOXES.
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
1.
Number of Directors
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
To
set the number of Directors at five (5).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
Election of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01.
Mark A. Smith
|
☐
|
☐
|
02.
Michael Morris
|
☐
|
☐
|
03.
David C. Beling
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04.
Anna Castner Wightman
|
☐
|
☐
|
05.
Nilsa Guerrero-Mahon
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
3.
Appointment of Auditors
|
|
|
Appointment
of BDO USA, LLP as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the Directors to fix their remuneration.
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
4.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
|
|
|
|
Authorize
and approve the NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long-Term Incentive Plan, including amendments thereto, and the unallocated entitlements
thereunder.
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
____
Fold
Authorized Signature(s)
- This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.
|
|
Signature(s)
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
I/We
authorize you to act in accordance with my/our instructions set out above. I/We hereby revoke any proxy previously given with
respect to the Meeting. If no voting instructions are indicated above, this Proxy will be voted as recommended by Management.
|
|
|
|
|
Interim
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive Interim Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Annual
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Annual Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Information
Circular - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Information Circular by mail for the next securityholders' meeting.
|
☐
|
If
you are voting by mail, please be sure to sign and date in the section above, and mail in the provided envelope.
|
B
T D Q
|
3
1 4 8 2 6
|
1
P D I Z
|
A
R 1
|
9
9 9 9 9
|
|
|
BTDQ
000004
SAM
SAMPLE
123 SAMPLES STREET
SAMPLETOWN SS X9X X9X
AUSTRALIA
|
8th
Floor, 100 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
www.computershare.com
Security
Class
COMM US 1933 LEGEND
Holder
Account Number
C9999999999
IND
|
____
Fold
Form
of Proxy - Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020
This
Form of Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Management.
Notes
to proxy
|
1.
|
Every
holder has the right to appoint some other person or company of their choice, who need
not be a holder, to attend and act on their behalf at the meeting or any adjournment
or postponement thereof. If you wish to appoint a person or company other than the persons
whose names are printed herein, please insert the name of your chosen proxyholder in
the space provided (see reverse).
|
|
2.
|
If
the securities are registered in the name of more than one owner (for example, joint
ownership, trustees, executors, etc.), then all those registered should sign this proxy.
If you are voting on behalf of a corporation or another individual you must sign this
proxy with signing capacity stated, and you may be required to provide documentation
evidencing your power to sign this proxy.
|
|
3.
|
This
proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name(s) appear(s) on the proxy.
|
|
4.
|
If
this proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to bear the date on which it is mailed by
Management to the holder.
|
|
5.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the holder; however,
if such a direction is not made in respect of any matter, this proxy will be voted as
recommended by Management.
|
|
6.
|
The
securities represented by this proxy will be voted in favor or withheld from voting or
voted against each of the matters described herein, as applicable, in accordance with
the instructions of the holder, on any ballot that may be called for and, if the holder
has specified a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the securities will
be voted accordingly.
|
|
7.
|
This
proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of amendments or variations to matters
identified in the Notice of Meeting or other matters that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
|
|
8.
|
This
proxy should be read in conjunction with the accompanying documentation provided by Management.
|
____
Fold
Proxies
submitted must be received by 9:00 am, Mountain Time, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
VOTE
USING THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
● Call
the number listed BELOW from a touch tone telephone.
312-588-4290 Direct Dial
|
|
● Go
to the following web site:
www.investorvote.com
● Smartphone?
Scan
the QR code to vote now.
|
|
|
● You can enroll to receive future securityholder communications electronically by visiting
www.investorcentre.com.
|
If
you vote by telephone or the Internet, DO NOT mail back this proxy.
Voting
by mail may be the only method for securities held in the name of a corporation or securities being voted on behalf of another
individual.
Voting
by mail or by Internet are the only methods by which a holder may appoint a person as proxyholder other than the Management
nominees named on the reverse of this proxy. Instead of mailing this proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined
above to vote this proxy.
To
vote by telephone or the Internet, you will need to provide your CONTROL NUMBER listed below.
CONTROL
NUMBER 23456 78901 23456
BTDQ_PRX_314826/000004/000004/i
|
SAM SAMPLE
|
C9999999999
|
|
|
|
IND RCA
|
|
Appointment
of Proxyholder
I/We,
being holder(s) of NioCorp Developments Ltd. hereby appoint: Mark A. Smith, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive
Chairman of the Company, or failing him, John F. Ashburn, Jr., Vice-President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of
the Company
|
OR
|
Print
the name of the person you are appointing if this person is someone other than the Chairman of the Meeting.
|
|
|
as
my/our proxyholder with full power of substitution and to attend, act and to vote for and on behalf of the shareholder in accordance
with the following directions (or if no directions have been given, as the proxyholder sees fit) and all other matters that may
properly come before the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of NioCorp Developments Ltd. to be held at 7000 S Yosemite St,
Lower Level Conference Room, Centennial, CO 80112 on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 9:00 am, Mountain Time and at any adjournment
or postponement thereof.
VOTING
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDICATED BY HIGHLIGHTED TEXT OVER THE BOXES.
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
1.
Number of Directors
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
To
set the number of Directors at five (5).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
Election of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01.
Mark A. Smith
|
☐
|
☐
|
02.
Michael Morris
|
☐
|
☐
|
03.
David C. Beling
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04.
Anna Castner Wightman
|
☐
|
☐
|
05.
Nilsa Guerrero-Mahon
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
3.
Appointment of Auditors
|
|
|
Appointment
of BDO USA, LLP as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the Directors to fix their remuneration.
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
|
|
|
4.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
|
|
|
|
Authorize
and approve the NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long-Term Incentive Plan, including amendments thereto, and the unallocated entitlements
thereunder.
|
☐
|
☐
|
☐
|
____
Fold
Authorized Signature(s)
- This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.
|
|
Signature(s)
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
I/We
authorize you to act in accordance with my/our instructions set out above. I/We hereby revoke any proxy previously given with
respect to the Meeting. If no voting instructions are indicated above, this Proxy will be voted as recommended by Management.
|
|
|
|
|
Interim
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive Interim Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Annual
Financial Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Annual Financial Statements and accompanying Management’s
Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
☐
|
Information
Circular - Mark this box if you would like to receive the Information Circular by mail for the next securityholders' meeting.
|
☐
|
If
you are voting by mail, please be sure to sign and date in the section above, and mail in the provided envelope.
|
B
T D Q
|
3
1 4 8 2 6
|
1
P D I Z
|
A
R 1
|
9
9 9 9 9
|
|