Commission File No. 0-53646
Grown Rogue International, Inc. (formerly Novicius
Corp)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40F.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form
6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form
6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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Name of Shareholder (Please Print)
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Signature of Shareholder
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CORPORATE
SHAREHOLDER:
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COMPANY NAME
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Per:
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Name:
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Title:
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I have authority to bind the corporation
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NOTES:
(1)
A SHAREHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT A PERSON, WHO NEED NOT BE A SHAREHOLDER, TO ATTEND AND ACT ON THE SHAREHOLDER'S BEHALF
AT THE SPECIAL MEETING OTHER THAN THE PERSONS DESIGNATED IN THIS FORM OF PROXY. THIS RIGHT MAY BE EXERCISED BY INSERTING SUCH
OTHER PERSON'S NAME IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE AND CROSSING OUT THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS DESIGNATED IN THIS
FORM OF PROXY OR BY COMPLETING ANOTHER PROPER FORM OF PROXY AND, IN EITHER CASE, BY DELIVERING THE COMPLETED FORM OF PROXY AS
INDICATED BELOW.
(2)
This form of proxy must be dated and must be executed by the shareholder or the shareholder's attorney authorized in writing
or, if the shareholder is a body corporate, under its corporate seal or by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized. A
copy of such authorization should accompany this form of proxy. Persons signing as executors, administrators, trustees, etc.
should so indicate. If this form of proxy is not dated, it shall be deemed to bear the date on which it was mailed to the
shareholder by the Corporation.
(3)
In order for this form of proxy to be effective at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, it must be signed and deposited at
the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent, Capital Transfer Agency, ULC, 390 Bay Street, Suite 920, Toronto,
Ontario M5H 2Y2 Canada, no later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time of the Meeting or
any adjournment(s) thereof.
GROWN
ROGUE INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON JULY 15, 2019
MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
JUNE
14, 2019
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN
that Grown Rogue International Inc. (the “
Corporation
”) will hold its annual and special
meeting of shareholders (the “
Meeting
”) at the offices of Miller Thomson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street
West, Suite 5800, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S1, on July 15, 2019, at 10:00 am (Toronto Time) for the following purposes:
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1.
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to
present the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for its prior years ended August 31, 2018 and 2017, and
the independent auditor’s report thereon;
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2.
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to
consider and, if deemed appropriate, approve, with or without variation, a special resolution to authorize the board of directors
of the Corporation to determine the number of directors of the Corporation within the minimum and maximum numbers set forth in
the articles of the Corporation and the number of directors to be elected at any annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation;
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3.
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to
elect the directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year;
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4.
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to
re-appoint the independent auditors of the Corporation and authorize the directors to fix the auditors’ remuneration;
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5.
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to
consider, and, if thought appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, a special resolution, the full text of which is set
forth in the accompanying management information circular of the Corporation dated June 14, 2019 (the “
Information Circular
”),
approving the amendment to the articles of the Corporation to amend the rights and restrictions of the existing class of common
shares in the capital of the Corporation (the “
Common Shares
”) and redesignate such class as subordinate voting
shares; and to create a class of multiple voting shares, notwithstanding that this resolution may be passed by the shareholders
of the Corporation, the directors of the Corporation are authorized to revoke this special resolution before it is acted on without
further approval of the Shareholders;
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6.
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to
consider, and if deemed advisable, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution, the full text of which is set forth
in the Information Circular, to approve a new stock option plan of the Corporation, as more particularly described in the Information
Circular; and
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7.
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to
transact any other business properly brought before the Meeting.
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Holders
of Common Shares are invited to attend the Meeting. Shareholders of record as at the close of business on May 31, 2019 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. A detailed description of the matters to be acted upon at the Meeting is set
forth in the Information Circular. Copies of: (a) this notice of annual and special meeting of shareholders; (b) the Information
Circular; (c) a management form of proxy and instructions in relation thereto (the “
Management Proxy
”); and
(d) a letter of transmittal may be obtained at the following office: Grown Rogue International Inc., 340 Richmond Street West,
Toronto, ON M5V 1X2, or will be sent to a shareholder without charge upon request by calling 503-765-8108. Shareholders who are
unable to be present in person at the Meeting are requested to: (i) sign, date and deliver the accompanying form of proxy to the
Corporation’s registrar and transfer agent, Capital Transfer Agency, ULC, 390 Bay Street, Suite 920, Toronto, Ontario M5H
2Y2 Canada, so it is received at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time of the Meeting or
any adjournment thereof; or (ii) return your voting instructions as specified in the request for voting instructions delivered
to you, as applicable.
DATED
this 14
th
day of June, 2019.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
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“J. Obie Strickler”
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J. Obie Strickler
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Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
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GROWN
ROGUE INTERNATIONAL INC.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This
management information circular (the “
Information Circular
”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation
by management (“
Management
”) of Grown Rogue International Inc. (the “
Corporation
”), of proxies
to be used at the annual and special meeting of shareholders (the “
Meeting
”) of the Corporation to be held
at the offices of Miller Thomson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West, Suite 5800, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S1, on July 15, 2019
at 10:00 am (Eastern Daylight Time) for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of annual and special meeting (the “
Notice
”).
The costs associated with this proxy solicitation will be borne by the Corporation.
Except
as otherwise indicated, information herein is given as at June 14, 2019. In this Information Circular, all references to dollar
amounts are to Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified. All references herein to the Corporation shall include its subsidiaries
as the context may require.
The
board of directors of the Corporation (the “
Board
” or “
Board of Directors
”) has by resolution
fixed the close of business on May 31, 2019, as the record date (the “
Record Date
”) for the Meeting. Only holders
of common shares (the “
Common Shares
”) of the Corporation (each, a “
Shareholder
” and collectively,
the “
Shareholders
”) of record as at 5:00 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) as at the Record Date will be entitled
to receive the Notice and related documents and to vote at the Meeting or at any adjournment thereof, but failure to receive such
Notice does not deprive Shareholders of their right to vote their Common Shares at the Meeting.
If
any person entitled to vote at an annual and special meeting of the Shareholders wishes to propose any matter for consideration
at the next annual and special meeting, in order for such proposal to be considered for inclusion in the materials mailed to Shareholders
in respect of such meeting, such proposal must be received by the Corporation no later than 90 days before the anniversary date
of the Notice.
APPOINTMENT
AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
The
persons named in the enclosed management form of proxy and instructions in relation thereto (the “Management Proxy”)
are officers and/or directors of the Corporation. Each Shareholder has the right to appoint a person or company, who need not
be a Shareholder, other than the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, to represent such Shareholder at the Meeting or
any adjournment(s) thereof
. Such right may be exercised by inserting such person’s name in the blank space provided
and striking out the names of Management’s nominees in the Management Proxy or by completing another proper form of proxy.
All proxies must be executed by the Shareholder or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing or, if the Shareholder is a
corporation, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized. The completed form of proxy must be deposited at the office of
the Corporation’s transfer agent, Capital Transfer Agency, ULC, 390 Bay Street, Suite 920, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y2 Canada,
no later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
A
Shareholder forwarding the enclosed Management Proxy may indicate the manner in which the appropriate appointee is to vote with
respect to any specific item by checking the appropriate space. If the Shareholder giving the proxy wishes to confer a discretionary
authority with respect to any item of business, then the space opposite the item is to be left blank. The Common Shares represented
by the proxy submitted by a Shareholder will be voted in accordance with the directions, if any, given in the proxy.
In
addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a Management Proxy or other form of proxy may be revoked if it is
received not later than 10:00 am (Eastern Daylight Time) on July 11, 2019 or, if the Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the Meeting, by completing and signing a proxy bearing a later date and depositing
it with Capital Transfer Agency on behalf of the Corporation.
If
you are a registered Shareholder of the Corporation, whether or not you are able to attend the Meeting, you are requested to complete,
execute and deliver the enclosed form of proxy in accordance with the instructions set forth on the form to the Corporation, c/o
Capital Transfer Agency, ULC, 390 Bay Street, Suite 920, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y2, not less than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays) prior to the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. The time limit for the deposit of
proxies may be waived by the Board at its discretion without notice. Registered Shareholders may also vote their proxies via telephone
or the internet in accordance with the instructions set forth on the proxy.
EXERCISE
OF DISCRETION BY PROXIES
Common
Shares represented by properly executed proxies in favour of the persons named in the enclosed Management Proxy will be either
voted or withheld from voting, as applicable, in accordance with the instructions given by the Shareholder on any ballot that
may be called for and, if the Shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the Common Shares will
be voted accordingly.
Where Shareholders have properly executed proxies in favour of the persons named in the enclosed Management
Proxy and have not specified in the Management Proxy the manner in which the named proxies are required to vote the Common Shares
represented thereby, such Common Shares will be voted in favour of the passing of the matters set forth in the Notice.
The
enclosed Management Proxy confers discretionary authority with respect to amendments or variations to the matters identified in
the Notice and with respect to other matters that may properly come before the Meeting. At the date hereof, neither Management
nor the directors of the Corporation (each, a “
Director
” and collectively, the “
Directors
”)
are aware of any such amendments, variations or others matters to come before the Meeting. If any other matters which at present
are not known to Management should properly come before the Meeting, the proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance with
the best judgement of the named proxies.
INFORMATION
FOR BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Registered
Holders of Common Shares or the persons they validly appoint as their proxies are permitted to vote at the Meeting. However, in
many cases, Common Shares beneficially owned by a person (a “
Non-Registered Holder
”) are registered either:
(i) in the name of an intermediary (an “
Intermediary
”) (including banks, trust companies, securities dealers
or brokers and trustees or administrators of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs and similar plans) that the Non- Registered
Holder deals with in respect of the Common Shares; or (ii) in the name of a clearing agency (such as the Canadian Depository for
Securities Limited) of which the Intermediary is a participant.
Distribution
to Beneficial Owners
The
Corporation will have caused its agent to deliver copies of the meeting materials to the clearing agencies and Intermediaries
for onward distribution to Non-Registered Holders.
Intermediaries
are required to forward the meeting materials to Non-Registered Holders unless a Non-Registered Holder has waived his or her right
to receive them. Intermediaries often use service companies such as Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. to forward the meeting
materials to Non-Registered Holders. Generally, those Non-Registered Holders who have not waived the right to receive meeting
materials will either:
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1.
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be
given a form of proxy which has already been signed by the Intermediary (typically by a facsimile stamped signature), which is
restricted as to the number of shares beneficially owned by the Non-Registered Holder, but which is otherwise uncompleted. This
form of proxy need not be signed by the Non-Registered Holder. In this case, the Non-Registered Holder who wishes to submit a
proxy should properly complete the form of proxy and deposit it with Capital Transfer Agency in the manner set out above in this
Information Circular, with respect to the Common Shares beneficially owned by such Non-Registered Holder; or
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2.
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more
typically, be given a voting registration form which is not signed by the Intermediary and which, when properly completed and
signed by the Non-Registered Holder and returned to the Intermediary or its service company, will constitute authority and instructions
(often called a “
Voting Instruction Form
”) which the Intermediary must follow. Typically, the Voting Instruction
Form will consist of a one-page pre-printed form. The purpose of this procedure is to permit the Non-Registered Holder to direct
the voting of the shares he or she beneficially owns.
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Should
a Non-Registered Holder who receives one of the above forms wish to vote at the Meeting in person, the Non-Registered Holder should
strike out the names of the persons named in the form and insert the Non-Registered Holder’s name in the blank space provided.
In either case, Non-Registered Holders should carefully follow the instructions, including those regarding when and where the
proxy or voting instruction form is to be delivered.
INTEREST
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except
as disclosed herein, no: (i) Director or executive officer (each an “
Officer
”) of the Corporation who has held
such position at any time since January 1, 2018; (ii) proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation; or (iii)
associate or affiliate of a person in (i) or (ii) has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership
of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of Directors and the approval
of the Corporation’s proposal to adopt a new stock option plan (the “
New Stock Option Plan
”), as such
persons may be granted stock options (the “
Options
”) under the New Stock Option Plan.
VOTING
SHARES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SHARES
The
Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares without nominal or par value of which, as at the date
hereof, 72,465,916 Common Shares are issued and outstanding as fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares. Each issued and outstanding
Common Share entitles its holder to one vote.
To
the knowledge of the Directors and Officers, as at the Record Date, J. Obie Strickler, President, Chief Executive Officer and
a Director of the Corporation, is the sole Shareholder who beneficially owns, directly and indirectly, or exercises control or
direction over, voting securities of the Corporation carrying more than 10% of the voting rights.
The
Officers and Directors of the Corporation own, as a group, a total of 32,590,620 Common Shares, representing 44.97% of the issued
and outstanding Common Shares.
MATTERS
TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING
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1.
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PRESENTATION
OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2018 AND 2017
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A
copy of the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for its prior years ended August 31, 2018 and 2017, can
be found on the Corporation’s website at www.grownrogue.com or on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Copies can also be
obtained on request by contacting the Corporation: Grown Rogue International Inc. c/o Miller Thomson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King
St. W., Suite 5800, PO Box 1011, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S1, Attention to: Michael Johnston, CFO and Corporate Secretary.
Management
is of the opinion that, from a corporate governance perspective and with a desire to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency
of the Board, the Directors should have the discretion to set the size of the Board within the minimum and maximum number provided
for in the Corporation's articles (which minimum and maximum are currently one (1) and ten (10), respectively), subject to the
limits described in the
Business Corporations Act
(Ontario) (the “
OBCA
”). The OBCA will still limit
the discretion of the Directors such that the Board may not, between meetings of Shareholders, appoint an additional Director
if, after such appointment, the total number of Directors would be greater than one and one-third times the number of Directors
required to have been elected at the last annual meeting of Shareholders.
An
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast at the Meeting is required in order to pass a special resolution authorizing
the Board, by resolution of the Directors, to determine the number of Directors to be elected at any future annual meetings of
Shareholders.
Shareholders
will be asked to consider and, if deemed appropriate, to pass the following special resolution:
“IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED
AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT:
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1.
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the
directors of the Corporation be empowered to determine from time to time the number of directors of the Corporation, and the number
of directors of the Corporation to be elected at any annual meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation, provided such number
shall not be less than the minimum number, nor more than the maximum number, of directors of the Corporation provided for in the
articles of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time; and
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2.
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any
director or officer of the Corporation be and such director or officer of the Corporation is hereby authorized and empowered,
acting in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, to execute or cause to be executed, under the seal of the Corporation
or otherwise, and deliver or cause to be delivered any and all such documents and instruments and to do or cause to be done all
such other acts and things as, in the opinion of such director or officer, may be necessary or desirable in order to fulfill the
intent of the foregoing resolution, including, without limitation, the filing of articles of amendment, in duplicate, with the
Director under the
Business Corporations Act
(Ontario).”
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THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE BOARD SIZE RESOLUTION. IN ORDER TO BE PASSED, NOT LESS THAN
TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE MEETING IN PERSON OR BY PROXY MUST BE VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE BOARD SIZE RESOLUTION.
If
you complete and return the Management Proxy, the persons designated in the Management Proxy intend to vote at the Meeting, or
any adjournment thereof,
FOR
the approval of the Board Size Resolution, unless you specifically direct that your
vote be voted against the Board Size Resolution.
The
articles of the Corporation provide that the Corporation shall not have more than ten (10) Directors. The nominees are, in the
opinion of the Board, well qualified to act as Directors for the coming year. Each nominee has established his eligibility and
willingness to serve as a Director, if elected. Each duly elected Director will hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders
or until a successor is duly elected, unless his office is earlier vacated in accordance with the articles of the Corporation.
The
following table sets out the names and municipalities of residence of each member of the Board, their principal occupation or
employment, and the number of Common Shares and any other securities of the Corporation beneficially owned by each, directly or
indirectly or over which they exercise control or direction.
Name
and Jurisdiction of Residence
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Office
Held
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Principal
Occupation
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Director
Since
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Grown
Rogue
International Inc.
Shares Beneficially
Owned or
Controlled or
Directed
(1)
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J.
Obie Strickler
(2)(3)
Oregon, United States
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President,
Chief Executive Officer and
Director
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President,
Chief Executive Officer and
Director of the Corporation
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November
15, 2018
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28,641,766
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Abhilash
Patel
(2)
California, United States
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Director
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Consultant
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November
15, 2018
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689,585
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Stephen
Gledhill
(2)
Ontario, Canada
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Director
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Accountant
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November
15, 2018
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110,500
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Notes:
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(1)
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The
information as to the number of Common Shares beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is exercised, directly or
indirectly, not being within the direct knowledge of the Corporation, has been furnished by the respective Director nominees.
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(2)
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Member
of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Stephen Gledhill is the chairman of the Audit Committee and the Compensation
Committee.
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(3)
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J.
Obie Strickler, being an executive officer of the Corporation, is not “independent” as defined in NI 52-110 –
Audit Committees
(“
NI 52-110
”). The Corporation is relying on the exemption provided by section 6.1
of NI 52-110 pursuant to which the Corporation, as a venture issuer, is not required to comply with Part 3 (Composition of the
Audit Committee) and Part 5 (Reporting Obligations) of NI 52-110.
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Director
Biographies
Mr. J. Obie Strickler
Mr.
Strickler is the CEO, President and founder of the Corporation. He founded Canopy Management, LLC in 2015 to consolidate the three
medical facilities he had operated since 2006 within one company. Mr. Strickler formed the Corporation in late 2016 and entered
the Oregon recreational cannabis market with a plan to build a multi-national cannabis brand. Mr. Strickler was successful in
building a profitable medical cannabis company and used that foundation to build Grown Rogue where he has led a team that now
has operations in three states with over 20 license. . Mr. Strickler has a BS in Geology from Southern Oregon University and is
also an Oregon Professional Geologist. During the time he was financing and overseeing Canopy’s growth he was also the regional
manager for a large multi-service natural resource company before starting his own business in 2011 to provide management services
to large natural resource companies primarily in the mining sector. In this role, he was responsible for building and integrating
complex technical teams to advance large, world-class, multi-billion-dollar mining projects from exploration through feasibility
primarily in base and precious metals. In 2014, Mr. Strickler teamed with aerospace engineers to form HyperSciences, Inc a platform
technology company focused on commercializing hypervelocity technology into a variety of industrial applications. Mr. Strickler
helped secure a large contract with one of the world’s larger oil and gas providers to solve deep drilling challenges and
moved this project through proof of concept before departing to focus on the opportunities in cannabis full time. Mr. Strickler
is taking his production and product innovation experience in the cannabis industry and his integration and execution experience
from the natural resource industry to build Grown Rogue into a premier cannabis company. Mr. Strickler is 39 years old and is
employed on a full time basis with the Corporation.
Mr.
Abhilash Patel
Mr.
Patel is a serial entrepreneur, venture investor, speaker, and philanthropist. He is currently Founder & Principal at Lotus
Capital, an early-stage investment fund in Santa Monica, CA. He is on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations
in Southern California, including the Los Angeles Food Bank, Junior Achievement of Southern California, and 10,000 Beds. Previously
Abhilash was founder and CEO at Ranklab, a digital marketing agency listed in Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing private companies
in 2015, and Co- founder at Recovery Brands, a digital publishing company based in San Diego, CA. In 2015 both companies were
acquired by AAC, Holdings Inc. and Abhilash remained in an active leadership position at both companies until his exit in late
2016. Abhilash holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy from Columbia University, and a Master of Business Administration
from the University of California, Los Angeles’ Anderson School of Management. Abhilash’s work has been featured in
several major publications, including Inc., Huffington Post, Forbes, and Entrepreneur, USA Today, among others. Dr. Drew., Inc.
named Abhilash “One of 20 Inspiring Entrepreneurs Improving Health for All” and Forbes highlights him in an interview
entitled “How Web Publishing is Saving Lives”. When he's not helping businesses grow, Abhilash is spending time with
his wife and their three beautiful sons, or training for his next triathlon. Mr. Patel is 38 years old and intends to devote the
time necessary to serve as a director of the Corporation.
Mr.
Stephen Gledhill
Mr.
Gledhill is a founding member and Managing Director of RG Mining Investments Inc. and RG Management Services Inc., both of
which are accounting, administrative and corporate secretarial services companies. In 1992, he formed Keshill Consulting
Associates Inc., a boutique management consulting practice. Mr. Gledhill has over 25 years of financial-control experience
and acts as CFO and Corporate Secretary for multiple publicly-traded companies, several of which he was instrumental in
scaling-up and taking public. He currently serves as the CFO of Caracara Silver Inc. (TSXV:CSV), CO2 Gro Inc. (TSXV:GROW),
DelphX Capital Markets Inc (TSXV:DELX) and POSaBIT Systems Corporation (CSE: PBIT). Prior to the inception of RGMI and RGMS,
Mr. Gledhill served as the Senior Vice President and CFO of Borealis Capital Corporation, a Toronto-based merchant bank as
well as Vice President of Finance of OMERS Realty Corporation (ORC), the real estate entity of the Ontario Municipal
Employees Retirement System. Mr. Gledhill is a Chartered Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant and holds a
Bachelor of Math Degree from the University of Waterloo. Mr. Gledhill is 57 years old and intends to devote the time
necessary to serve as a director of the Corporation.
Corporate
Cease Trade Orders
Other
than disclosed below, to the knowledge of the Corporation, no Director or proposed Director of the Corporation is, as at the date
of this Information Circular, or was within 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, a director or chief executive
officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Corporation) that: (a) was the subject of an order (as defined
in Form 51-102F5 under National Instrument 51-102
Continuous Disclosure Obligations
) that was issued while the Director
or proposed Director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or (b) was subject
to an order that was issued after the Director or proposed Director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief
financial officer, and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as a director,
chief executive officer or chief financial officer. For the purposes of this paragraph, “order” means a cease trade
order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant Corporation access to any exemption under
securities legislation, in each case that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
On
April 25, 2016, CO2 Gro Inc. (formerly BlueOcean NutraSciences Inc.) (“
BOC
”) applied to the applicable Canadian
securities regulatory authorities pursuant to National Policy 12-203 – Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults
(“
Policy 12-203
”) for a MCTO, which precluded members of management (including Stephen Gledhill, CFO) from
trading BOC common shares until such time as the MCTO is no longer in effect. The MCTO was sought by BOC as it would not be filing
its audited annual financial statements, related management discussion and analysis and applicable officer certifications (the
“
Annual Materials
”) by the deadline date of April 29, 2016. On May 9, 2016, the OSC granted a temporary MCTO,
effective until May 16, 2016. On May 16, 2016, the OSC issued a permanent MCTO in effect until 2 days following BOC filing its
Annual Materials with the applicable regulatory authorities. On July 19, 2016, BOC filed its Annual Materials and on July 21,
2016, the MCTO was lifted.
On
January 12, 2016 (further to a TSX Venture Exchange Bulletin dated January 11, 2016), Gemoscan Canada, Inc.’s (“
GES
”)
shares were suspended from trading on the TSX Venture Exchange for failing to maintain exchange requirements, GES having made
assignment into bankruptcy. Effective January 13, 2016, GES’s listing was transferred to the NEX. Stephen Gledhill served
as CFO of GES from August 2010 to November 2015.
Other
than disclosed above, no Director or proposed Director of the Corporation: (a) is, or within 10 years before the date hereof has
been a director or executive officer of a corporation (including the Corporation) 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; or (b) has within the 10 years before the date hereof, become
bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become 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 Director
or proposed Director.
No
Director or proposed Director of the Corporation has been subject to any: (a) penalties or sanctions imposed by a court
relating to Canadian securities legislation or by a Canadian securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement
agreement with a Canadian securities regulatory authority; or (b) other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or
regulatory body that would be likely to be considered important to a reasonable security holder in deciding whether to vote
for the Director or proposed Director.
If
you complete and return the proxy for the Meeting, the persons designated in the proxy for the Meeting intend to vote at the Meeting,
or any adjournment thereof, FOR the re-election of J. Obie Strickler, Abhilash Patel and Stephen Gledhill as Directors, unless
you specifically direct that your vote be withheld.
|
4.
|
APPOINTMENT
AND REMUNERATION OF AUDITORS
|
At
the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to approve a resolution re-appointing MNP LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors for
the Corporation, to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders, and to authorize the Directors to fix their remuneration.
MNP LLP, Chartered Accountants, have acted as the Corporation’s auditors since their appointment on November 14, 2017.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MNP LLP, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, AS AUDITORS
OF THE CORPORATION AND THE AUTHORIZING OF THE DIRECTORS TO FIX THEIR REMUNERATION, UNLESS THE SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED IN THE
PROXY THAT HIS, HER OR ITS COMMON SHARES ARE TO BE WITHHELD FROM VOTING IN RESPECT THEREOF.
If
you complete and return the Management Proxy, the persons designated in the Management Proxy intend to vote at the Meeting, or
any adjournment thereof, FOR the re-appointment of MNP LLP as auditors of the Corporation and to authorize the Board to fix the
auditors’ remuneration, unless you specifically direct that your vote be withheld.
The
share amendment resolution (the “
Share Amendment Resolution
”) proposes an amendment to articles of the Corporation
(the “
Share Amendment
”), to amend the rights and restrictions of the existing class of Common Shares and redesignate
such class as Subordinate Voting Shares, and to create a new class of shares designated as Multiple Voting Shares. The terms of
the Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares are set out in Schedule “A” to this Information Circular
(collectively, the “
New Share Classes
”).
The
New Share Classes are being proposed in order to minimize the proportion of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation
that are held by “U.S. persons” for purposes of determining whether the Corporation is a “foreign private issuer”
for purposes of United States securities laws.
To
be effective, the Share Amendment Resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by Shareholders
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. In addition, the Share Amendment Resolution will
be used to approve a “restricted security reorganization” pursuant to National Instrument 41-101 –
General
Prospectus Requirements
and Ontario Securities Commission Rule 56-501 –
Restricted Shares
(the “
Restricted
Share Rules
”). The Restricted Share Rules require that a restricted security “reorganization” receive prior
majority approval of the securityholders of the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, excluding any votes attaching to
securities held, directly or indirectly, by affiliates of the Corporation or control persons of the Corporation. J. Obie Strickler
is a control person of the Corporation and the 28,641,766 Common Shares held by Mr. Strickler will be excluded from voting on
the Amendment Resolution under the Restricted Share Rules.
A
description of the terms, including voting rights, of the Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares can be found in
Schedule “A” attached to this Information Circular. The Subordinate Voting Shares are convertible by the holder at
any time into Multiple Voting Shares, including in the event of a takeover bid for the Multiple Voting Shares. The Multiple Voting
Shares are convertible by the holder into Subordinate Voting Shares subject to certain conditions as described in Schedule “A”,
such as in the event a takeover bid for the Subordinate Voting Shares.
Registered
Shareholders will receive a letter of transmittal containing instructions for exchange of their share certificates in connection
with the Share Amendment. The Share Amendment Resolution also authorizes the Board to elect not to proceed with, and abandon,
the Share Amendment at any time if it determines, in its sole discretion, to do so, without further approval of the Shareholders.
If the Board in its discretion does not implement the Share Amendment prior to the next annual meeting of Shareholders, the authority
granted by the Share Amendment Resolution to implement the Share Amendment on these terms would lapse and be of no further force
or effect.
Following
a vote by the Board to implement the Share Amendment, the Corporation will file articles of amendment with the Director under
the OBCA to amend the Corporation’s articles of incorporation. The Share Amendment will become effective on the date shown
in such certificate of amendment issued by the Director under the OBCA or such other date indicated in such articles of amendment,
provided that, in any event, such date will be prior to the date of the next annual meeting of Shareholders.
Shareholders
will be asked to consider and, if deemed appropriate, to pass the following special resolution:
“IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED
AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT:
|
1.
|
the
board of directors of the Corporation is hereby authorized and approved to file articles of amendment to the articles of the Corporation
to amend the rights and restrictions of the existing class of Common Shares without par value and to redesignate such class as
“Subordinate Voting Shares” such that such Subordinate Voting Shares have the special rights and restrictions as substantially
set out in Schedule “A” to the Information Circular, and to create a new class of Multiple Voting Shares without par
value having the special rights and restrictions as substantially set out in Schedule “A” to the Information Circular;
|
|
2.
|
any
director or officer of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed for and in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation
to execute, or to cause to be executed, whether under the corporate seal of the Corporation or otherwise, and to deliver or cause
to be delivered all such other documents and instruments, and to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things as, in
the opinion of such director or officer, may be necessary or desirable in order to carry out the intent of this special resolution,
including the delivery of articles of amendment in the prescribed form to the Director appointed under the OBCA, the execution
of any such document or the doing of any such other act or thing being conclusive evidence of such determination; and
|
|
3.
|
the
board of directors of the Corporation is hereby authorized to revoke this special resolution before it is acted on without further
approval of the Shareholders.”
|
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE SHARE AMENDMENT RESOLUTION. IN ORDER TO BE PASSED, NOT LESS
THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE MEETING IN PERSON OR BY PROXY MUST BE VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE SHARE AMENDMENT RESOLUTION.
If
you complete and return the Management Proxy, the persons designated in the Management Proxy intend to vote at the Meeting,
or any adjournment thereof,
FOR
the approval of the Share Amendment Resolution, unless you specifically direct
that your vote be voted against the Share Amendment Resolution.
Shareholders’
Right to Dissent with Respect to the Amendment to the Articles
Under
section 185 of the OBCA, a registered Shareholder may dissent with respect to the proposed amendment to the articles of the Corporation.
If the amendment to the articles is completed, a dissenting Shareholder who strictly complies with the procedures set out in the
OBCA will be entitled to be paid the fair value of his, her or its Common Shares in connection with which her, his or its right
to dissent was exercised. Registered Shareholders who wish to exercise dissent rights should seek legal advice, as failure to
adhere strictly to the requirements set out in the OBCA may result in the loss or unavailability of any right to dissent. A summary
of the dissent rights available to Shareholders are set out in Schedule “B” to this Information Circular.
The
Corporation proposes to adopt the New Stock Option Plan, subject to Shareholder approval.
At
the Meeting, the Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought advisable, pass an ordinary resolution approving the New
Stock Option Plan (the “
New Stock Option Plan Resolution
”).
To
be effective, the New Stock Option Plan Resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the votes cast
by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. For purposes of approval of the
New Stock Option Plan Resolution, the current Officers, Directors and insiders of the Corporation will be eligible to participate
in the New Stock Option Plan and thus, their Common Shares will be excluded in determining whether the New Stock Option Plan Resolution
has been approved at the Meeting.
Shareholder
approval of the New Stock Option Plan is necessary for certain purposes, including for the Corporation to facilitate grants of
incentive stock options for purposes of Section 422 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If Shareholders
do not approve the New Stock Option Plan, it will not go into effect.
Summary
of New Stock Option Plan
The
following is a description of the material terms and conditions of the New Stock Option Plan. The New Stock Option Plan shall
be administered by the Board, or if appointed, by a special committee of Directors appointed from time to time by the Board. The
aggregate number of Subordinate Voting Shares which may be reserved for issue under the New Stock Option Plan shall not exceed
10% of the issued and outstanding number of Subordinate Voting Shares (inclusive of the number of Subordinate Voting Shares underlying
the Multiple Voting Shares on an “as converted basis”). The number of Subordinate Voting Shares subject to an option
to a participant shall be determined by the Board, but no participant shall be granted an option which exceeds the maximum number
of shares permitted by any stock exchange on which the Subordinate Voting Shares are then listed, or other regulatory body having
jurisdiction. The exercise price of the Subordinate Voting Shares covered by each option shall be determined by the Board, provided
however, that the exercise price shall not be less than the price permitted by any stock exchange on which the Subordinate Voting
Shares are then listed, or other regulatory body having jurisdiction. The maximum term of any option shall be ten (10) years from
the date the option is granted, provided that participant’s options expire ninety (90) days after a participant ceases to
act for the Corporation, subject to extension at the discretion of the Board, except upon the death of a participant, in which
case the participant's estate shall have twelve (12) months in which to exercise the outstanding options. The New Stock Option
Plan includes a provision that should an option expiration date fall within a blackout period or immediately following a blackout
period, the expiration date will automatically be extended for ten (10) business days following the end of the blackout period.
The Board has the absolute discretion to amend or terminate the New Stock Option Plan.
Shareholders
will be asked at the Meeting to consider and, if thought advisable, pass the New Stock Option Plan Resolution, substantially in
the following form:
“IT
IS HEREBY RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION THAT:
|
1.
|
all
existing stock option plans of the Corporation, including the current option plan of the Corporation, are hereby terminated and
the New Stock Option Plan is hereby authorized and approved as the stock option plan of the Corporation and all unallocated options,
rights and other entitlements issuable thereunder be and are hereby approved and authorized;
|
|
2.
|
the
form of the Stock Option Plan may be amended in order to satisfy the requirements or requests of any regulatory authorities without
requiring further approval of the shareholders of the Corporation; and
|
|
3.
|
any
one or more of the directors or officers of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed, acting for, in the name of and
on behalf of the Corporation, to execute or cause to be executed, under the seal of the Corporation or otherwise, and to deliver
or cause to be delivered, such other documents and instruments, and to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things,
as may in the opinion of such director or officer of the Corporation be necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of the
foregoing resolution, the execution of any such document or the doing of any such other act or thing by any director or officer
of the Corporation being conclusive evidence of such determination.”
|
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE NEW STOCK OPTION PLAN RESOLUTION. IN ORDER TO BE PASSED,
A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE MEETING IN PERSON OR BY PROXY MUST BE VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE NEW STOCK OPTION PLAN RESOLUTION.
If
you complete and return the Management Proxy, the persons designated in the Management Proxy intend to vote at the Meeting, or
any adjournment thereof,
FOR
the New Stock Option Plan Resolution, unless you specifically direct that your vote
be voted against the New Stock Option Plan Resolution.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Corporation knows of no other matters to be brought before the Meeting. If any amendment, variation or other business is properly
brought before the Meeting, the enclosed form of Management Proxy and voting instruction confers discretion on the persons named
on the form of Management Proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
For
purposes of this Information Circular, a “
Named Executive Officer
” of the Corporation means an individual who,
at any time during the year, was:
|
(a)
|
the
Corporation’s chief executive officer (“
CEO
”);
|
|
(b)
|
the
Corporation’s chief financial officer (“
CFO
”);
|
|
(c)
|
each
of the Corporation’s three most highly compensated executive officers, or the three most highly compensated individuals
acting in a similar capacity, other than the CEO and CFO, at the end of the most recently completed financial year and whose total
compensation was, individually, more than $150,000 for that financial year; and
|
|
(d)
|
each
individual who would be a Named Executive Officer under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was neither an executive
officer of the Corporation, nor acting in a similar capacity, at the end of the most recently completed financial year.
|
Based
on the foregoing definition, during the last completed financial year of the Corporation, there were two (2) Named Executive Officers,
being James Cassina and Ritwik Uban.
There
were three (3) Directors during the last completed financial year of the Corporation, being James Cassina, Ritwik Uban and Dikshant
Batra.
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Committee
The
Corporation has constituted a committee of the Board to serve as a compensation committee (the “
Compensation Committee
”).
The Compensation Committee is appointed by the Board to establish policies and procedures with respect to the compensation of
the Corporation’s Directors and Officers. The Compensation Committee has overall responsibility for approving and evaluating
compensation plans, policies and programs of the Corporation. The Compensation Committee members may be replaced by the Board.
The
Compensation Committee is comprised of a majority of independent Directors. The current Compensation Committee is comprised of
J. Obie Strickler (not independent), Abhilash Patel (independent) and Stephen Gledhill (independent). Under the proposed slate
of the directors, the current members of the Compensation Committee will be re-appointed. Recognizing the importance of an independent
dialogue, in determining the appropriate level of compensation payable to Mr. J. Obie Strickler, the independent members of the
Compensation Committee subjectively and quantitatively analyze his performance using the criteria discussed in this section below.
In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews the adequacy and form of compensation in comparison to other companies of similar
size and stage of development as described further below.
Compensation
Committee Mandate
The
Compensation Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors to assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities by:
|
●
|
Reviewing
compensation and human resources issues in support of the achievement of the Corporation’s
business strategy and making recommendations to the Board as appropriate.
|
|
●
|
Reviewing
and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to Chief Executive Officer’s
compensation.
|
|
●
|
Evaluating
the Chief Executive Officer’s performance against those goals and objectives.
|
|
●
|
Making
recommendations to the Board with respect to the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation.
|
|
●
|
Reviewing
issues and overseeing the investment management of the Corporation’s savings and
investment plans, if applicable.
|
Compensation Philosophy
Compensation
of executive officers of the Corporation is recommended to the Board of Directors by the Compensation Committee. In its review
process, the Compensation Committee relies on input from management on the assessment of executives and Corporation performance.
The
Compensation Committee establishes management compensation policies and oversees their general implementation. All members of
the Compensation Committee have direct experience which is relevant to their responsibilities as Compensation Committee members.
All members are or have held senior executive or director roles within significant businesses, Mr. Gledhill has public company
experience, and all have a good financial understanding which allows them to assess the costs versus benefits of compensation
plans. The members combined experience in the Corporation’s sector provides them with the understanding of the Corporation’s
success factors and risks, which is very important when determining metrics for measuring success.
Risk
management is a primary consideration of the Compensation Committee when implementing its compensation program. The Compensation
Committee does not believe that the Corporation’s current compensation program results in unnecessary or inappropriate risk-taking,
including risks that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation. Payments of bonuses, if any, are not made
until performance goals have been met.
Executive
compensation is generally based on pay for performance and to be competitive with other firms of comparable size in similar fields.
The Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee as to the compensation of managers, other than
himself, for approval by the Board. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board as to the compensation of the
Chief Executive Officer, for approval, in accordance with the same criteria upon which the compensation of other managers are
based.
Executive
compensation is comprised of a base salary and variable components in the form of an annual bonus opportunity and stock options.
The annual bonus provides an opportunity for management and executive employees to earn an annual cash incentive based on various
pre-set criteria and the degree of achievement of objectives sets by the Compensation Committee. These performance goals will
therefore take into account (1) the compliance with budgeted results, (2) the Corporation’s share performance during the
last completed financial year, and (3) the business development and personal achievement fulfilled by each executive employee,
as the case may be. Generally, new stock option grants do not take into account previous grants of options when considering new
grants.
The
President and Chief Executive Officer’s salary is based on comparable market consideration and the Compensation Committee’s
assessment of his performance, with regard to the Corporation’s financial performance and progress in achieving strategic
performance.
The
Corporation’s executive compensation program is intended to attract, motivate and retain high performing senior executives,
encourage and reward superior performance and align the executives’ interests with those of the Corporation. The Corporation
aims to achieve these objectives by: (i) providing executive compensation which is competitive with what is offered by comparable
companies; (ii) ensuring that the achievement of annual objectives is rewarded through the payment of bonuses; and (iii) providing
executives with long-term incentive through the grant of stock options.
The
compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers will be based on comparisons to compensation paid to officers of companies in
a similar business, size and stage of development and will reflect the need to provide incentives and compensation for the time
and effort expended by the Named Executive Officers, while taking into account the financial and other resources of the Corporation,
as well as increasing short and long-term shareholder value.
Compensation
Elements
Compensation
of Named Executive Officers is revised each year and has been structured to encourage and reward the executive officers on the
bases of short-term and long-term corporate performance. In the context of the analysis of the compensation for the financial
year ended August 31, 2018, the following components were examined:
|
(ii)
|
annual
performance incentive relative to base compensation consisting of cash and stock options;
|
|
(iii)
|
grant
of stock options of the Corporation; and
|
|
(iv)
|
other
elements of compensation which may include shares of the Corporation.
|
Base Salary
The
compensation of the Corporation’s executive officers is determined by the Board upon recommendations made by the Compensation
Committee. Executive compensation is generally based on performance and what is being offered by other firms of comparable size
in similar fields.
Annual
Incentive Plan
The
Corporation has a bonus plan for its executive officers, representing a percentage of their base annual salary. The grant of bonuses
for performance is left at the discretion of the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, based
on the financial results of the Corporation and the degree of achievement of objectives set by the Board of Directors, as more
fully described above.
Option-based
Awards
The
Corporation believes that encouraging its Officers and employees to become Shareholders is the best way of aligning their interests
with those of its Shareholders. Equity participation is accomplished through the Corporation’s stock option plan. Options
will be granted to management and employees taking into account a number of factors, including, base salary and bonuses, and competitive
factors.
The
Option component of compensation provided by the Corporation is intended to advance the interests of the Corporation by encouraging
the Directors, Officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation to acquire Common Shares, thereby increasing their proprietary
interest in the Corporation, encouraging them to remain associated with the Corporation and furnishing them with additional incentive
in their efforts on behalf of the Corporation in the conduct of its affairs. Grants under the Corporation’s stock option
plan are intended to provide long term awards linked directly to the market value performance of the Corporation’s Common
Shares. The Board will review the Compensation Committee’s recommendations for the granting of Options to management, Directors,
Officers, other employees, and consultants of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. Options will be granted according to the specific
level of responsibility of the particular Director, Officer, employee or consultant. The number of outstanding Options will also
be considered by the Board when determining the number of Options to be granted in any particular year due to the limited number
of Options which are available for grant under the Corporation’s stock option plan.
The
Corporation does not currently maintain a stock option plan but will grant options under the New Stock Option Plan should be New
Stock Option Plan Resolution be approved at the Meeting.
Purchase
of Financial Instruments
The
Corporation has not adopted any policies or imposed any contractual obligations to restrict the ability of a Named Executive Officer
or a Director to purchase financial instruments, including for greater certainty, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps,
collars, or units of exchange funds, that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted
as compensation by the Corporation or held, directly or indirectly, by the Named Executive Officer or Director. The Board discourages
the practice of purchasing the securities described above.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table is a summary of compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers and Directors for the two most recently completed
financial periods ended August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017:
Name
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Committee
or meeting fees
($)
(1)
|
|
|
Value of perquisites
|
|
|
Value of all other compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total compensation
($)
|
|
James Cassina,
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
$
|
60,100
|
|
Former CFO and
Director
(2)(3)
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
|
$
|
61,300
|
|
Ritwik Uban,
|
|
2018
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
Former President, CEO and Director(2)(4)(5)
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
65,481
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
|
$
|
66,781
|
|
Dikshant Batra,
|
|
2018
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
Former
Director
(4)
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
Notes:
|
(1)
|
Accrued
on account of Directors fees at a rate of $100 per meeting.
|
|
(2)
|
James
Cassina has been the acting Chief Financial Officer for the years ended August 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and was appointed President
of the Corporation on June 18, 2010. James Cassina resigned as President of the Corporation on September 9, 2016 upon the appointment
of Ritwik Uban as President. Mr. Cassina resigned as the Chief Executive Officer and Director on November 15, 2018 upon completion
of the RTO Transaction.
|
|
(4)
|
On
September 9, 2016, the Corporation entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Uban under which the Corporation agreed to pay
to Mr. Uban, a base salary of $90,000 and grant one hundred thousand (100,000) common share purchase options. Effective May 21,
2017, the Corporation and Mr. Uban agreed to amend the terms of the employment agreement, by reducing Mr. Uban’s base salary
to $10.00 annually, allowing Mr. Uban to contract his services to Torinit Technologies Inc. (“
Torinit
”), contemporaneous
with his continued employment with the Corporation and providing a top up provision of up to $1,500 in a month from the Corporation
if the gross compensation earned by Mr. Uban from Torinit during June, July and August of 2017 (the “
Period
”),
reduces the overall compensation earned by Mr. Uban below $7,500 in any such month during the Period. Mr. Uban ceased to be President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation on November 15, 2018 upon completion of the RTO Transaction.
|
|
(5)
|
Dikshant
Batra and Ritwik Uban were appointed as Directors on September 9, 2016 and ceased to be Directors on November 15, 2018 upon completion
of the RTO Transaction.
|
Stock
options and other compensation securities
Set
forth in the table below is a summary of all compensation securities granted or issued to each Director and Named Executive Officer
by the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries in the financial year ended August 31, 2018 for services provided or to be provided,
directly or indirectly, to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
Name
|
|
Type of compensation security
|
|
Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class
|
|
Date of issue or grant
|
|
Issue, conversion or exercise price
($)
|
|
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant
($)
|
|
Closing price of security or underlying security at year end
($)
|
|
Expiry Date
|
James Cassina,
Former CFO
|
|
N/A
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
Ritwik Uban,
Former President and CEO
|
|
N/A
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
Dikshant Batra,
Director
|
|
N/A
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
Exercise
of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs
Set
forth below is a summary of each exercise by a Director or Named Executive Officer of compensation securities during the financial
year ended August 31, 2018
.
Name
|
|
Type of compensation security
|
|
Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class
|
|
Date of issue or grant
|
|
Issue, conversion or exercise price
($)
|
|
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant
($)
|
|
Closing price of security or underlying security at year end
($)
|
|
Expiry Date
|
James Cassina,
Former CFO
|
|
N/A
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
Ritwik Uban,
Former President and CEO
|
|
N/A
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
Dikshant Batra,
Former Director
|
|
N/A
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
Management
and Employment Agreements
The
Corporation did not have any management services or employment agreement in place during the financial year ended August 31, 2018.
Termination
and Change of Control Benefits
As
of the date of this Circular, no employment or management agreement entered into by the Corporation includes change of control
provisions.
RTO
Transaction
Upon
the completion of the reverse takeover of the Corporation by Grown Rogue Unlimited, LLC on November 15, 2018 (the “
RTO
Transaction
”), J. Obie Strickler was added to the Board of Directors and was appointed as the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation. Upon the completion of the RTO Transaction, Michael Johnston was appointed as the Chief Financial
Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Corporation and Abhilash Patel and Stephen Gledhill were added as Directors. For further
details relating to the RTO Transaction please see the Corporation’s Listing Statement dated November 23, 2018 as available
under the Corporation’s profile at www.sedar.com.
It
is expected that Mr. Strickler’s salary for the financial year ended October 31, 2019 will be US$180,000. In addition, Mr.
Johnston is expected to receive fees in his role as CFO in the amount of $60,000. The Board has approved director fees in the
amount of US$60,000 (to be paid in Common Shares) for each independent director for the current financial year, including an additional
US$2,000 per month in cash and $3,500 per month in Common Shares for Mr. Gledhill in his role as Chair of the Audit Committee
and the Compensation Committee. The Corporation intends to enter into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Strickler prior
to the end of the current financial year.
PENSION
PLAN BENEFITS
No
benefits were paid, and no benefits are proposed to be paid to any Directors or Named Executive Officers under any pension or
retirement plan.
The
Corporation does not have any plans, other than its stock option plan, pursuant to which cash or non-cash compensation is paid
or distributed to the Directors and Named Executive Officers.
SECURITIES
AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
Set
forth below is a summary of securities issued and issuable under all equity compensation plans for the Corporation as at August
31, 2018. As at August 31, 2018, the Corporation’s stock option plan was the only equity compensation plan of the Corporation
.
Plan Category
|
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a)
|
|
|
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b)
|
|
|
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
Nil
|
(1)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
1,056,632
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
1,056,632
|
|
Notes:
|
(1)
|
Option
issued under the Corporation’s existing 20% rolling stock option plan.
|
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
No individual who is, or at any time during
the most recently completed financial year was, a director or executive officer of the Corporation, a proposed nominee for election
as a director of the Corporation, and each associate of any such director, executive officer or proposed nominee: (a) is, or at
any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year of the Corporation has been, indebted to the Corporation
or any of its subsidiaries or (b) has indebtedness to another entity that is, or at any time since the beginning of the most recently
completed financial year has been, the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement
or understanding provided by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL
TRANSACTIONS
Other than as disclosed in this Information
Circular, none of the informed persons of the Corporation (as defined in National Instrument 51-102
Continuous Disclosure Obligations
),
nor any proposed nominee for election as a Director of the Corporation, nor any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the issued shares of the Corporation, nor any associate or affiliate
of the foregoing persons has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Corporation’s
most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which, in either case, has or will materially affect the
Corporation and that none of such persons has any material interest in any transaction proposed to be undertaken by the Corporation
and will materially affect the Corporation.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Effective June 30, 2006, the securities
regulatory authorities in Canada adopted National Instrument 58101
Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices
(“
NI
58-101
”) and National Policy 58-201
Corporate Governance Guidelines
(“
NP 58-201
”). NP 58-201
contains a series of guidelines for effective corporate governance. The guidelines deal with such matters as the constitution and
independence of corporate boards, their functions, the experience and education of board members and other items dealing with sound
corporate governance.
Corporate governance refers to the way
the business and affairs of a reporting issuer are managed and relates to the activities of the board, the members of who are elected
by and are accountable to the Shareholders. Corporate governance 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 Corporation. The Board is committed to
sound corporate governance practices which are both in the interest of its Shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient
decision-making. Pursuant to NI 58-101 the Corporation has established its corporate governance practices.
Board of Directors
Directors are considered to be independent
if they have no direct or indirect material relationship with the Corporation. A material relationship is a relationship which
could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a Director’s independent judgment.
The independent members of the Board at
present are Mr. Abhilash Patel and Mr. Stephen Gledhill. The non-independent Director is Mr. J. Obie Strickler. The proposed slate
of Directors will be comprised of two (2) independent Directors (Mr. Abhilash Patel and Mr. Stephen Gledhill) and 1 non-independent
Director (Mr. J. Obie Strickler).
The Board facilitates its independent supervision
over management by having regular Board meetings and by establishing and implementing prudent corporate governance policies and
procedures.
The Board has adopted policies to provide leadership for the
independent Directors.
After the date of their appointment as
Directors, all Directors have attended all Board meetings held since the completion of the RTO Transaction.
Board of Directors Mandate
The Board approved and adopted its Directors’
mandate. Roles and responsibilities of the Board are those typically assumed by a board of directors.
GENERAL
The fundamental responsibility of the Board
is to appoint a competent senior management team and to oversee the management of the business, with a view to maximizing shareholder
value and ensuring corporate conduct in an ethical and legal manner via an appropriate system of corporate governance and internal
controls.
SPECIFIC
Senior Management Responsibility
|
●
|
Appoint the CEO and senior officers, approve
their compensation, and monitor the CEO’s performance against a set of mutually agreed corporate objectives directed at maximizing
shareholder value.
|
|
●
|
In conjunction with the CEO, develop a
clear mandate for the CEO, which includes a delineation of senior management’s responsibilities.
|
|
●
|
Ensure that a process is established that
adequately provides for succession planning, including the appointing, training and monitoring of senior management.
|
|
●
|
Establish
limits of authority delegated to senior management.
|
Operational Effectiveness and Financial Reporting
|
●
|
Annual review and adoption of a strategic
planning process and approval of the corporate strategic plan, which takes into account, among other things, the opportunities
and risks of the business.
|
|
●
|
Ensure that a system is in place to identify
the principal risks to the Corporation and that the best practical procedures are in place to monitor and mitigate the risks.
|
|
●
|
Ensure that processes are in place to
address applicable regulatory, corporate, securities and other compliance matters.
|
|
●
|
Ensure
that an adequate system of internal control exists.
|
|
●
|
Ensure
that due diligence processes and appropriate controls are in place with respect to applicable certification requirements regarding
the Corporation’s financial and other disclosure.
|
|
●
|
Review and approve the Corporation’s
financial statements and oversee the Corporation’s compliance with applicable audit, accounting and reporting requirements.
|
|
●
|
Approve annual operating and capital budgets.
|
|
●
|
Review and consider for approval all amendments
or departures proposed by senior management from established strategy, capital and operating budgets or matters of policy which
diverge from the ordinary course of business.
|
|
●
|
Review operating and financial performance
results relative to established strategy, budgets and objectives.
|
Ethics, Integrity and Code of Conduct
|
●
|
Approve a communications policy or policies
to ensure that a system for corporate communications to all stakeholders exists, including processes for consistent, transparent,
regular and timely public disclosure, and to facilitate feedback from stakeholders.
|
|
●
|
Approve a Business Code of Conduct for
Directors, Officers, employees, contractors and consultants and monitor compliance with the Business Code of Conduct and approve
any waivers of the Business Code of Conduct for officers and directors.
|
Board Process/Effectiveness
|
●
|
Ensure that Board materials are distributed
to Directors in advance of regularly scheduled meetings to allow for sufficient review of the materials prior to the meeting. Directors
are expected to attend all meetings.
|
|
●
|
Approve the nomination of Directors.
|
|
●
|
Provide a comprehensive orientation to
each new Director.
|
|
●
|
Establish an appropriate system of corporate
governance including practices to ensure the Board functions independently of management.
|
|
●
|
Establish appropriate practices for the
regular evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board, its committees and its members.
|
|
●
|
Establish committees and approve their
respective mandates and the limits of authority delegated to each committee.
|
|
●
|
Review and re-assess the adequacy of the
Audit Committee Mandate on a regular basis, but not less frequently than on an annual basis.
|
|
●
|
Review the adequacy and form of the Directors’
compensation to ensure it realistically reflects the responsibilities and risks involved in being a Director.
|
|
●
|
Each
member of the Board is expected to understand the nature and operations of the Corporation’s business, and have an awareness
of the political, economic and social trends prevailing in all countries or regions in which the Corporation invests or is contemplating
potential investment.
|
|
●
|
Directors shall meet regularly, and in
no case less frequently than quarterly, without senior management participation.
|
|
●
|
In addition to the above, adherence to
all other Board responsibilities as set forth in the Corporation’s By-Laws, applicable policies and practices and other statutory
and regulatory obligations, such as approval of dividends, issuance of securities, etc., is expected.
|
POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
How the Board Delineates the Role and Responsibilities
of the Chair
A written description has been developed
for the Chair of the Board. The fundamental responsibility of the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation is to effectively
manage the affairs of the Board.
How the Board Delineates the Role and Responsibilities
of the Chief Executive Officer
The Board has developed a written position
description of the CEO. The CEO’s objectives are discussed and decided during the Compensation Committee meetings following
the CEO’s presentation of the annual plan. These objectives include the mandate to maximize shareholder value. The Board
approves the CEO objectives for the Corporation on an annual basis.
Orientation and Continuing Education
When new Directors are appointed they receive
orientation, commensurate with their previous experience, on the Corporation’s business, assets, industry, and on the responsibilities
of Directors. Board meetings may also include presentations by the Corporation’s management and employees to give the Directors
additional insight into the Corporation’s business.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board of Directors adopted a Code of
Conduct for its Directors, Officers, and employees. Since its adoption by the Board, any breach of the Code of Conduct must be
brought to the attention of the Board by the CEO or other senior executive of the Corporation. No material change report has ever
been filed which pertains to any conduct of a Director or executive officer that constitutes a departure from the Code of Conduct.
Steps Taken to Ensure Directors Exercise Independent Judgement
Since the adoption of the Code of Conduct,
the Board actively monitors compliance with the Code of Conduct and promotes a business environment where employees are encouraged
to report malfeasance, irregularities and other concerns. The Code of Conduct has specific procedures for reporting noncompliance
practices in a manner which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, encourages and promotes a culture of ethical business conduct.
In addition, a Director of the Corporation
must immediately disclose to the Board any situation that may place him or her in a conflict of interest. Any such declaration
of interest is recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The Director abstains, except if required, from the discussion and voting
on the question. In addition, an interested Director will excuse himself or herself from the decision-making process pertaining
to a contract or transaction in which he or she has an interest.
Nomination of Directors
The Board will consider its size each year
when it considers the number of Directors to recommend to the Shareholders for election at the annual meeting of Shareholders,
taking into account the number required to carry out the Board’s duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of views
and experience.
The selection of the nominees of the Board
is made by the other members of the Board, based on the needs of the Corporation and the qualities required to sit on the Board,
including ethical character, integrity and maturity of judgement, the level of experience, their ideas regarding the material aspects
of the business, the expertise of the candidates in the fields relevant to the Corporation, the will and ability of the candidates
to devote the necessary time to their duties, the Board and its committees, the will of the candidates to serve the Board for numerous
consecutive financial periods, and finally, the will of the candidates to refrain from engaging in activities which conflict with
the responsibilities and duties of the Director of the Corporation and its Shareholders.
The Corporation may use various sources
in order to identify the candidates for the Board, including its own contacts and references from other Directors, Officers, advisors
of the Corporation, and executive placement agencies.
The Board does not have a nominating committee,
and these functions are currently performed by the Board as a whole. However, if there is a change in the number of Directors required
by the Corporation, this policy will be reviewed.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee has the responsibility
of evaluating governance, compensation, performance incentives as well as benefits granted to the Corporation’s upper management
in accordance with their responsibilities and performance as well as to recommend the necessary adjustments to the Board. This
committee also reviews the amount and method of compensation granted to the Directors. The Compensation Committee may mandate an
external firm in order to assist it during the execution of its mandate. The Compensation Committee considers time commitment,
comparative fees and responsibility in determining compensation. The Compensation Committee is also in charge of establishing the
procedure which must be followed by the Corporation in order for it to comply with the guidelines of the Exchange regarding corporate
governance. See “Executive Compensation – Compensation Committee” for additional details.
The current Compensation Committee is comprised
of J. Obie Strickler, Abhilash Patel and Stephen Gledhill. The Compensation Committee will be comprised of the same individual
Directors under the proposed slate of the Directors.
Directorships
No Director or proposed Director of the
Corporation is presently a director of any other issuer that is a reporting issuer (or the equivalent) in a jurisdiction or a foreign
jurisdiction.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
The Audit Committee is appointed by the
Board of Directors to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.
The Audit Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities
are to:
|
●
|
Review management’s identification
of principal financial risks and monitor the process to manage such risks.
|
|
●
|
Oversee and monitor the Corporation’s
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
|
|
●
|
Receive and review the reports of the
Audit Committee of any subsidiary with public securities.
|
|
●
|
Oversee and monitor the Corporation’s
accounting and financial reporting processes, financial statements and system of internal controls regarding accounting and financial
reporting and accounting compliance.
|
|
●
|
Oversee audits of the Corporation’s
financial statements.
|
|
●
|
Oversee and monitor the qualifications,
independence and performance of the Corporation’s external auditors and internal auditing department.
|
|
●
|
Provide an avenue of communication among
the external auditors, management, the internal auditing department; and the Board.
|
|
●
|
Report to the Board regularly.
|
The Audit Committee has the authority to
conduct any review or investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities. The Audit Committee shall have unrestricted
access to personnel and information, and any resources necessary to carry out its responsibility.
The Corporation’s Audit Committee
is comprised of J. Obie Strickler (not independent), Abhilash Patel (independent) and Stephen Gledhill (independent). Stephen Gledhill
is the chairman of the Audit Committee. Under the proposed slate of Directors, the Audit Committee will be comprised of the same
individuals. Based on the experience of the Audit Committee members described below, the Corporation believes that these persons
have sufficient knowledge and background to actively participate on the Audit Committee.
Under the proposed slate of Directors,
the Audit Committee will consist of two independent members and one non-independent member. A member of the Audit Committee is
independent if the member has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Corporation. A material relationship means a
relationship which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a member’s independent judgment.
All the proposed Audit Committee members
are financially literate. A member of the Audit Committee is considered financially literate if he or she has the ability to read
and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally
comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation. From the
experience described above, the Corporation believes that these persons have sufficient knowledge and background to actively participate
on the Audit Committee.
Relevant Education and Experience
As set out below, each member of the Corporation’s
present Audit Committee has adequate education and experience that is relevant to his performance as an Audit Committee member
and, in particular, the requisite education and experience that have provided the member with:
|
(a)
|
an understanding of the accounting principles used by the Corporation to prepare its financial
statements and the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates,
accruals and provisions;
|
|
(b)
|
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 Corporation’s financial statements or experience actively supervising individuals engaged
in such activities; and
|
|
(c)
|
an understanding of internal controls and procedures
for financial reporting.
|
Audit Committee Oversight
The Audit Committee has not made any recommendations
to the Board to nominate or compensate any external auditor that was not adopted by the Board.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
Since the commencement of the Corporation’s
most recently completed financial year ended August 31, 2018, the Corporation has not relied on the exemption in Section 2.4 (De
Minimis Non-Audit Services) of National Instrument 52-110
Audit Committees
(“
NI 52-110
”) or an exemption
from NI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of NI 52-110. The Corporation is relying upon the exemption in Section
6.1 (Venture Issuers) of NI 52-110.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has not adopted specific
policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services.
External Auditor Service Fees
The aggregate fees billed by the Corporation’s
external auditors in each of the last three fiscal years for audit fees are as follows:
Financial Year Ending August 31,
|
|
Audit
Fees ($)
|
|
|
Audit
Related
Fees ($)
|
|
|
Tax
Fees
(1)
|
|
|
All Other
Fees ($)
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
21,400
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
21,400
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
2016
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
6,500
|
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
Notes:
|
(1)
|
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.
|
Other Board Committees
The Board has no committees other than
the Audit Committee, and the Compensation Committee.
Assessments
The Board monitors the adequacy of information
given to Directors, communication between the Board and management and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and committees.
The Board of Directors does not consider that formal assessments would be useful at this stage of the Corporation’s development.
The Board conducts informal annual assessments of the Board’s effectiveness, the individual Directors, the Audit Committee
and the Compensation Committee. As part of the assessments, the Board may review its mandate and conduct reviews of applicable
corporate policies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Financial information regarding the Corporation
is provided in the Corporation’s audited annual consolidated financial statements for the financial year ended August 31,
2018 and the accompanying management’s discussion and analysis. Written requests for a copy of the above documents should
be directed to the Corporation: c/o Miller Thomson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King St. W., Suite 5800, PO Box 1011, Toronto, Ontario,
M5H 3S1, Attention to Grown Rogue International Inc.: Michael Johnston, CFO and Corporate Secretary.
Additional information concerning the Corporation is also available
online at www.sedar.com.
DIRECTORS’ APPROVAL OF INFORMATION
CIRCULAR
The contents and the sending of this Information
Circular to the Shareholders have been approved by the Board.
DATED
at Toronto, Ontario this 14
th
day of
June, 2019.
|
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
“J. Obie Strickler”
|
|
J. Obie Strickler
|
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
SCHEDULE A
Terms of Subordinate Voting Shares
|
(1)
|
An unlimited number of
Subordinate Voting Shares
,
without nominal or par value, having attached thereto the special rights and restrictions as set forth below:
|
|
(a)
|
Voting Rights
. Holders of Subordinate Voting
Shares shall be entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation, except a meeting of
which only holders of another particular class or series of shares of the Corporation shall have the right to vote. At each such
meeting holders of Subordinate Voting Shares shall be entitled to one vote in respect of each Subordinate Voting Share held.
|
|
(b)
|
Alteration to Rights of Subordinate Voting Shares
.
As long as any Subordinate Voting Shares remain outstanding, the Corporation will not, without the consent of the holders of the
Subordinate Voting Shares by separate special resolution, prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the
Subordinate Voting Shares.
|
|
(c)
|
Dividends
. Holders of Subordinate Voting Shares
shall be entitled to receive as and when declared by the directors, dividends in cash or property of the Corporation. No dividend
will be declared or paid on the Subordinate Voting Shares unless the Corporation simultaneously declares or pays, as applicable,
equivalent dividends (on an as-converted to Subordinate Voting Share basis) on the Multiple Voting Shares.
|
|
(d)
|
Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up
. In
the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event
of any other distribution of assets of the Corporation among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs, the holders
of Subordinate Voting Shares shall, subject to the prior rights of the holders of any shares of the Corporation ranking in priority
to the Subordinate Voting Shares be entitled to participate rateably along with all other holders of Multiple Voting Shares (on
an as-converted to Subordinate Voting Share basis) and Subordinate Voting Shares.
|
|
(e)
|
Rights to Subscribe; Pre-Emptive Rights
. The
holders of Subordinate Voting Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part
of any issue of Subordinate Voting Shares, or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Corporation now or in the future.
|
|
(f)
|
Subdivision or Consolidation
. No subdivision
or consolidation of the Subordinate Voting Shares or Multiple Voting Shares shall occur unless, simultaneously, the Subordinate
Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares are subdivided or consolidated in the same manner or such other adjustment is made so
as to maintain and preserve the relative rights of the holders of the shares of each of the said classes.
|
|
(g)
|
Conversion
. Each issued and outstanding Subordinate
Voting Shares may at any time, at the option of the holder, be converted at the inverse of the Conversion Ratio then in effect.
The conversion right may be exercised at any time and from time to time by notice in writing delivered to the transfer agent accompanied
by the certificate or certificates representing the Subordinate Voting Shares or, if uncertificated, such other evidence of ownership
as the transfer agent may require, in respect of which the holder wishes to exercise the right of conversion. The notice must
be signed by the registered holder of the Subordinate Voting Shares in respect of which the right of conversion is being exercised
or by his, her or its duly authorized attorney and must specify the number of Subordinate Voting Shares which the holder wishes
to have converted. Upon receipt of the conversion notice and share certificate(s) or other evidence of ownership satisfactory
to the transfer agent, and after paying any applicable stamp tax or similar duty on or in respect of such conversion, the Corporation
will issue a share certificate or other evidence of ownership representing Multiple Voting Shares on the basis set out above to
the registered holder of the Subordinate Voting Shares. If fewer than all of the Subordinate Voting Shares represented by a certificate
accompanying the notice are to be converted, the holder is entitled to receive a new certificate representing the shares comprised
in the original certificate which are not to be converted. Subordinate Voting Shares converted into Multiple Voting Shares hereunder
will automatically be cancelled.
|
|
(h)
|
Conversion of Subordinate Voting Shares Upon an
Offer
. In the event that an offer is made to purchase Multiple Voting Shares, and the offer is one which is required, pursuant
to applicable securities legislation or the rules of a stock exchange, if any, on which the Multiple Voting Shares are then listed,
to be made to all or substantially all the holders of Multiple Voting Shares in a province or territory of Canada to which the
requirement applies, each Subordinate Voting Share shall become convertible at the option of the holder into Multiple Voting Shares
at the inverse of the Conversion Ratio then in effect, at any time while the offer is in effect until one day after the time prescribed
by applicable securities legislation for the offeror to take up and pay for such shares as are to be acquired pursuant to the
offer. The conversion right may only be exercised in respect of Subordinate Voting Shares for the purpose of depositing the resulting
Multiple Voting Shares under the offer, and for no other reason. In such event, the transfer agent for the Subordinated Voting
Shares shall deposit under the offer the resulting Multiple Voting Shares, on behalf of the holder.
|
To exercise such conversion
right, the holder or his or its attorney duly authorized in writing shall:
|
(i)
|
give written notice to the transfer agent of the exercise
of such right, and of the number of Subordinate Voting Shares in respect of which the right is being exercised;
|
|
(ii)
|
deliver to the transfer agent the share certificate
or certificates representing the Subordinate Voting Shares in respect of which the right is being exercised or, if uncertificated,
such other evidence of ownership as the transfer agent may require, if applicable; and
|
|
(iii)
|
pay any applicable stamp tax or similar duty on or
in respect of such conversion.
|
No share certificates representing
the Multiple Voting Shares, resulting from the conversion of the Subordinate Voting Shares will be delivered to the holders on
whose behalf such deposit is being made. If Multiple Voting Shares, resulting from the conversion and deposited pursuant to the
offer, are withdrawn by the holder or are not taken up by the offeror, or the offer is abandoned, withdrawn or terminated by the
offeror or the offer otherwise expires without such Multiple Voting Shares being taken up and paid for, the Multiple Voting Shares
resulting from the conversion will be re-converted into Subordinate Voting Shares at the then Conversion Ratio and a share certificate
representing the Subordinate Voting Shares will be sent to the holder by the transfer agent. In the event that the offeror takes
up and pays for the Multiple Voting Shares resulting from conversion, the transfer agent shall deliver to the holders thereof the
consideration paid for such shares by the offeror.
Terms of Multiple Voting Shares
|
(1)
|
An unlimited number of
Multiple Voting Shares
, without
nominal or par value, having attached thereto the special rights and restrictions as set forth below:
|
|
(a)
|
Voting Rights
. Holders of Multiple Voting Shares
shall be entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation, except a meeting of which
only holders of another particular class or series of shares of the Corporation shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting,
holders of Multiple Voting Shares will be entitled to one vote in respect of each Subordinate Voting Share into which such Multiple
Voting Share could ultimately then be converted, which for greater certainty, shall initially equal 1000 votes per Multiple Voting
Share.
|
|
(b)
|
Alteration to Rights of Multiple Voting Shares
.
As long as any Multiple Voting Shares remain outstanding, the Corporation will not, without the consent of the holders of the
Multiple Voting Shares by separate special resolution, prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the
Multiple Voting Shares. Consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Multiple Voting Shares shall be required for any
action that authorizes or creates shares of any class having preferences superior to or on a parity with the Multiple Voting Shares.
In connection with the exercise of the voting rights contained in this paragraph (b) each holder of Multiple Voting Shares will
have one vote in respect of each Multiple Voting Share held.
|
|
(c)
|
Dividends
. The holder of Multiple Voting Shares
shall have the right to receive dividends, out of any cash or other assets legally available therefor, pari passu (on an as converted
basis, assuming conversion of all Multiple Voting Shares into Subordinate Voting Shares at the Conversion Ratio) as to dividends
and any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Subordinate Voting Shares. No dividend will be declared or paid on the Multiple
Voting Shares unless the Corporation simultaneously declares or pays, as applicable, equivalent dividends (on an as-converted
to Subordinate Voting Share basis) on the Subordinate Voting Shares.
|
|
(d)
|
Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up
. In
the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event
of any other distribution of assets of the Corporation among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs, the holders
of Multiple Voting Shares will, subject to the prior rights of the holders of any shares of the Corporation ranking in priority
to the Multiple Voting Shares, be entitled to participate rateably along with all other holders of Multiple Voting Shares (on
an as-converted to Subordinate Voting Share basis) and Subordinate Voting Shares.
|
|
(f)
|
Rights to Subscribe; Pre-Emptive Rights
. The
holders of Multiple Voting Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part
of any issue of Subordinate Voting Shares, or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Corporation now or in the future.
|
|
(g)
|
Conversion
. Subject to the Conversion Restrictions
set forth in this Section (g), holders of Multiple Voting Shares Holders shall have conversion rights as follows (the “
Conversion
Rights
”):
|
|
(i)
|
Right to Convert
. Each Multiple Voting Share
shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such share at the office
of the Corporation or any transfer agent for such shares, into fully paid and non-assessable Subordinate Voting Shares as is determined
by multiplying the number of Multiple Voting Shares by the Conversion Ratio applicable to such share, determined as hereafter
provided, in effect on the date the Multiple Voting Share is surrendered for conversion. The initial “
Conversion Ratio
”
for shares of Multiple Voting Shares shall be 1000 Subordinate Voting Shares for each Multiple Voting Share; provided, however,
that the Conversion Ratio shall be subject to adjustment as set forth in this Section (g).
|
|
(ii)
|
Conversion Limitations
. Before any holder of
Multiple Voting Shares shall be entitled to convert the same into Subordinate Voting Shares, the Board of Directors (or a committee
thereof) shall designate an officer of the Corporation to determine if any Conversion Limitation set forth in Section (g)(iv)
shall apply to the conversion of Multiple Voting Shares.
|
|
(iii)
|
Foreign Private Issuer Protection Limitation
:
The Corporation will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a “foreign private issuer” (as
determined in accordance with Rule 3b-4 under the
Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act
”).
Accordingly, the Corporation shall not effect any conversion of Multiple Voting Shares, and the holders of Multiple Voting Shares
shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Multiple Voting Shares, pursuant to Section (g) or otherwise, to the extent
that after giving effect to all permitted issuances after such conversions of Multiple Voting Shares, the aggregate number of
Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares held of record, directly or indirectly, by residents of the United States
(as determined in accordance with Rules 3b-4 and 12g3-2(a) under the Exchange Act (“
U.S. Residents
”)) would
exceed forty percent (45%) (the “
45% Threshold
”) of the aggregate number of Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple
Voting Shares issued and outstanding after giving effect to such conversions (the “
FPI Protective Restriction
”).
The Board may by resolution increase the 45% Threshold and in the event of any such increase all references to the 45% Threshold
herein shall refer instead to the amended threshold set by such resolution.
|
|
(iv)
|
Conversion Limitations
. In order to effect the
FPI Protection Restriction, each holder of Multiple Voting Shares will be subject to the 45% Threshold based on the number of
Multiple Voting Shares held by such holder as of the date of the initial issuance of the Multiple Voting Shares and thereafter
at the end of each of the Corporation’s subsequent fiscal quarters (each, a “
Determination Date
”), calculated
as follows:
|
X = [(A x 0.45) - B] x (C/D)
Where on the Determination Date:
X = Maximum Number of Subordinate
Voting Shares Available For Issue upon Conversion of Multiple Voting Shares by a holder.
A = The Number of Subordinate
Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares issued and outstanding on the Determination Date.
B = Aggregate number of Subordinate
Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares held of record, directly or indirectly, by U.S. Residents on the Determination Date.
C = Aggregate number of Multiple
Voting Shares held by holder on the Determination Date. D = Aggregate number of all Multiple Voting Shares on the Determination
Date.
For purposes of this subsection
(g)(iv), the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) shall designate an officer of the Corporation to determine as of each
Determination Date: (A) the 45% Threshold and (B) the FPI Protective Restriction. Within thirty (30) days of the end of each Determination
Date (a “
Notice of Conversion Limitation
”), the Corporation will provide each holder of record a notice of the
FPI Protection Restriction and the impact the FPI Protective Provision has on the ability of each holder to exercise the right
to convert Multiple Voting Shares held by the holder. To the extent that requests for conversion of Multiple Voting Shares subject
to the FPI Protection Restriction would result in the 45% Threshold being exceeded, the number of such Multiple Voting Shares eligible
for conversion held by a particular holder shall be prorated relative to the number of Multiple Voting Shares submitted for conversion.
To the extent that the FPI Protective Restriction contained in this Section (g) applies, the determination of whether Multiple
Voting Shares are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of the Corporation.
|
(v)
|
Mandatory Conversion
. Notwithstanding subsection
(g)(iv), the Corporation may require each holder of Multiple Voting Shares to convert all, and not less than all, the Multiple
Voting Shares at the applicable Conversion Ratio (a “
Mandatory Conversion
”) if at any time all the following
conditions are satisfied (or otherwise waived by special resolution of holders of Multiple Voting Shares):
|
|
(A)
|
the Subordinate Voting Shares issuable upon conversion
of all the Multiple Voting Shares are registered for resale and may be sold by the holder thereof pursuant to an effective registration
statement and/or prospectus covering the Subordinate Voting Shares under the
United States Securities Act
of 1933, as amended
(the “
U.S. Securities Act
”);
|
|
(B)
|
the Corporation is subject to the reporting requirements
of Section 13 or 15(d) of the U.S. Exchange Act; and
|
|
(C)
|
the Subordinate Voting Shares are listed or quoted
(and are not suspended from trading) on a recognized North American stock exchange or by way of reverse takeover transaction on
the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian Securities Exchange or Aequitas NEO Exchange (or any other
stock exchange recognized as such by the Ontario Securities Commission).
|
The Corporation will issue or
cause its transfer agent to issue each holder of Multiple Voting Shares of record a Mandatory Conversion notice at least 20 days
prior to the record date of the Mandatory Conversion, which shall specify therein, (i) the number of Subordinate Voting Shares
into which the Multiple Voting Shares are convertible and (ii) the address of record for such holder. On the record date of a Mandatory
Conversion, the Corporation will issue or cause its transfer agent to issue each holder of record on the Mandatory Conversion Date
certificates representing the number of Subordinate Voting Shares into which the Multiple Voting Shares are so converted and each
certificate representing the Multiple Voting Shares shall be null and void.
|
(vi)
|
Mechanics of Conversion
. Before any holder of
Multiple Voting Shares shall be entitled to convert Multiple Voting Shares into Subordinate Voting Shares, the holder thereof
shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent
for Subordinate Voting Shares, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office, of the election
to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the certificate or certificates for Subordinate Voting
Shares are to be issued (each, a “
Conversion Notice
”). The Corporation shall (or shall cause its transfer agent
to), as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder, or to the nominee or nominees of such
holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of Subordinate Voting Shares to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid.
Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of
the Multiple Voting Shares to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the Subordinate Voting Shares issuable
upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Subordinate Voting Shares as of
such date.
|
|
(vii)
|
Adjustments for Distributions
. In the event
the Corporation shall declare a distribution to holders of Subordinate Voting Shares payable in securities of other persons, evidences
of indebtedness issued by the Corporation or other persons, assets (excluding cash dividends) or options or rights not otherwise
causing adjustment to the Conversion Ratio (a “
Distribution
”), then, in each such case for the purpose of this
subsection, the holders of Multiple Voting Shares shall be entitled to a proportionate share of any such Distribution as though
they were the holders of the number of Subordinate Voting Shares into which their Multiple Voting Shares are convertible as of
the record date fixed for the determination of the holders of Subordinate Voting Shares entitled to receive such Distribution.
|
|
(viii)
|
Recapitalizations; Stock Splits
. If at any time
or from time-to-time, the Corporation shall effect a recapitalization of the Subordinate Voting Shares; (ii) issue Subordinate
Voting Shares as a dividend or other distribution on outstanding Subordinate Voting Shares; (iii) subdivide the outstanding Subordinate
Voting Shares into a greater number of Subordinate Voting Shares; (iv) consolidate the outstanding Subordinate Voting Shares into
a smaller number of Subordinate Voting Shares; or (v) effect any similar transaction or action (each, a “
Recapitalization
”),
provision shall be made so that the holders of Multiple Voting Shares shall thereafter be entitled to receive, upon conversion
of Multiple Voting Shares, the number of Subordinate Voting Shares or other securities or property of the Corporation or otherwise,
to which a holder of Subordinate Voting Shares deliverable upon conversion would have been entitled on such Recapitalization.
In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of this Section (g) with respect to
the rights of the holders of Multiple Voting Shares after the Recapitalization to the end that the provisions of this Section
(g) (including adjustment of the Conversion Ratio then in effect and the number of Multiple Voting Shares issuable upon conversion
of Multiple Voting Shares) shall be applicable after that event as nearly equivalent as may be practicable.
|
|
(ix)
|
No Fractional Shares and Certificate as to Adjustments
.
No fractional Subordinate Voting Shares shall be issued upon the conversion of any Multiple Voting Shares and the number of Subordinate
Voting Shares to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole Subordinate Voting Share. Whether or not fractional Subordinate
Voting Shares are issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Multiple Voting
Shares the holder is at the time converting into Subordinate Voting Shares and the number of Subordinate Voting Shares issuable
upon such aggregate conversion.
|
|
(x)
|
Adjustment Notice
. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion
Ratio pursuant to this Section (g), the Corporation, at its expense, shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in
accordance with the terms hereof and prepare and furnish to each holder of Multiple Voting Shares a certificate setting forth such
adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation
shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of Multiple Voting Shares, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder
a like certificate setting forth (A) such adjustment and readjustment, (B) the Conversion Ratio for Multiple Voting Shares at the
time in effect, and (C) the number of Subordinate Voting Shares and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time would
be received upon the conversion of a Multiple Voting Share.
|
|
(xi)
|
Effect of Conversion
. All Multiple Voting Shares which shall have been surrendered for conversion
as herein provided shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall immediately cease
and terminate at the time of conversion (the “
Conversion Time
”), except only the right of the holders thereof
to receive Subordinate Voting Shares in exchange therefor and to receive payment in lieu of any fraction of a share otherwise issuable
upon such conversion.
|
|
(xii)
|
Disputes
. Any holder of Multiple Voting Shares that beneficially owns more than 5% of the
issued and outstanding Multiple Voting Shares may submit a written dispute as to the determination of the conversion ratio or the
arithmetic calculation of the conversion ratio of Multiple Voting Shares to Subordinate Voting Shares, the Conversion Ratio, 45%
Threshold or the FPI Protective Restriction by the Corporation to the Board of Directors with the basis for the disputed determinations
or arithmetic calculations. The Corporation shall respond to the holder within five (5) Business Days of receipt, or deemed receipt,
of the dispute notice with a written calculation of the conversion ratio, the Conversion Ratio, 45% Threshold or the FPI Protective
Restriction, as applicable. If the holder and the Corporation are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the
Conversion Ratio, FPI Protective Restriction or the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, as applicable, within five (5) Business Days
of such response, then the Corporation and the holder shall, within one (1) Business Day thereafter submit the disputed arithmetic
calculation of the conversion ratio, Conversion Ratio, FPI Protective Restriction or the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to the
Corporation’s independent, outside accountant. The Corporation, at the Corporation’s expense, shall cause the accountant
to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Corporation and the holder of the results no later than five (5) Business
Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such accountant’s determination or calculation,
as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
|
|
(h)
|
Conversion of Upon an Offer
. In addition to
the conversion rights set out in Section (g), in the event that an offer is made to purchase Subordinate Voting Shares, and the
offer is one which is required, pursuant to applicable securities legislation or the rules of a stock exchange, if any, on which
the Subordinate Voting Shares are then listed, to be made to all or substantially all the holders of Subordinate Voting Shares
in a province or territory of Canada to which the requirement applies, each Multiple Voting Share shall become convertible at
the option of the holder into Subordinate Voting Shares at the Conversion Ratio then in effect, at any time while the offer is
in effect until one day after the time prescribed by applicable securities legislation for the offeror to take up and pay for
such shares as are to be acquired pursuant to the offer. The conversion right in this Section (h) may only be exercised in respect
of Multiple Voting Shares for the purpose of depositing the resulting Subordinate Voting Shares under the offer, and for no other
reason. In such event, the transfer agent for the Subordinate Voting Shares shall deposit under the offer the resulting Subordinate
Voting Shares, on behalf of the holder.
|
To exercise such conversion
right, the holder or his or its attorney duly authorized in writing shall:
|
(i)
|
give written notice to the transfer agent of the exercise
of such right, and of the number of Multiple Voting Shares in respect of which the right is being exercised;
|
|
(ii)
|
deliver to the transfer agent the share certificate
or certificates representing the Multiple Voting Shares in respect of which the right is being exercised or, if uncertificated,
such other evidence of ownership as the transfer agent may require, if applicable; and
|
|
(iii)
|
pay any applicable stamp tax or similar duty on or
in respect of such conversion.
|
No share certificates representing
the Subordinate Voting Shares, resulting from the conversion of the Multiple Voting Shares will be delivered to the holders on
whose behalf such deposit is being made. If Subordinate Voting Shares, resulting from the conversion and deposited pursuant to
the offer, are withdrawn by the holder or are not taken up by the offeror, or the offer is abandoned, withdrawn or terminated by
the offeror or the offer otherwise expires without such Subordinate Voting Shares being taken up and paid for, the Subordinate
Voting Shares resulting from the conversion will be re-converted into Multiple Voting Shares at the inverse of Conversion Ratio
then in effect and a share certificate representing the Multiple Voting Shares will be sent to the holder by the transfer agent.
In the event that the offeror takes up and pays for the Subordinate Voting Shares resulting from conversion, the transfer agent
shall deliver to the holders thereof the consideration paid for such shares by the offeror.
|
(i)
|
Notices of Record Date
. Except as otherwise
provided under applicable law, in the event of any taking by the Corporation of a record of the holders of any class of securities
for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend (other than a cash dividend) or other
distribution, any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of any class or any other securities or property,
or to receive any other right, the Corporation shall mail to each holder of Multiple Voting Shares, at least 20 days prior to
the date specified therein, a notice specifying the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution or right, and the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right.
|
SCHEDULE B
SUMMARY OF DISSENT RIGHTS
Section 185 of the OBCA provides that a
shareholder may only exercise the right to dissent with respect to all the shares of a class held by the shareholder on behalf
of any one beneficial owner and registered in the shareholder’s name. One consequence of this provision is that a shareholder
may only exercise the right to dissent under section 185 of the OBCA in respect of the shares which are registered in that shareholder’s
name. In many cases, shares beneficially owned by a person (a “
Beneficial Holder
”) are registered either: (i)
in the name of an intermediary that the Beneficial Holder deals with in respect of the shares (such as banks, trust companies,
securities dealers and brokers, trustees or administrators of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs and similar plans, and their
nominees); or (ii) in the name of a clearing agency (such as CDS Clearing and Depositary Services Inc. (“
CDS
”))
of which the intermediary is a participant. Accordingly, a Beneficial Holder will not be entitled to exercise the right to dissent
under section 185 of the OBCA directly (unless the shares are re-registered in the Beneficial Holder’s name). A Beneficial
Holder who wishes to exercise the right to dissent should immediately contact the intermediary who the Beneficial Holder deals
with in respect of the applicable shares and either: (i) instruct the intermediary to exercise the right to dissent on the Beneficial
Holder’s behalf (which, if the shares are registered in the name of CDS or another clearing agency, would require that the
shares first be re-registered in the name of the intermediary); or (ii) instruct the intermediary to re-register the shares in
the name of the Beneficial Holder, in which case the Beneficial Holder would then have to exercise the right to dissent directly.
A registered Shareholder who wishes to
invoke the provisions of section 185 of the OBCA (a “
Dissenting Shareholder
”) must send the Corporation a written
objection to the Share Amendment Resolution (a “
Notice of Dissent
”) at the following address: c/o Miller Thomson
LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West, Suite 5800, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S1. The Notice of Dissent must be sent at or before
the Meeting. The sending of a Notice of Dissent does not deprive a registered Shareholder of his or her right to vote on the Share
Amendment Resolution but a vote either in person or by proxy against the Share Amendment Resolution does not constitute a Notice
of Dissent.
Within 10 days after the Share Amendment
Resolution is approved, the Corporation must send a notice confirming passage for such resolution (the “
Approval Notice
”)
to those Dissenting Shareholders who have not withdrawn their Notices of Dissent and did not vote in favour of the applicable resolution
at the Meeting. Within 20 days after receipt of such Approval Notice (or if a Dissenting Shareholder entitled to receive the Approval
Notice does not receive such Approval Notice, within 20 days after he, she or it learns of the approval of the applicable resolution),
a Dissenting Shareholder who has not withdrawn her, his or its Notice of Dissent and did not vote in favour of the Share Amendment
Resolution at the Meeting must send the Corporation a written notice containing her, his or its name and address, the number of
shares of the Corporation held and a demand for payment of the fair value of such shares and, within 30 days after sending such
written notice, such Dissenting Shareholder must also send the Corporation the appropriate share certificate(s), if any. If the
amendment to the Articles contemplated in the Share Amendment Resolution becomes effective, the Corporation is required to determine
the fair value of the Common Shares of the Corporation and to make a written offer to the Dissenting Shareholder to pay such amount.
The fair value of those shares is to be determined as of the close of business on the last business day before the date on which
the Share Amendment Resolution was adopted. If the Corporation fails to make a written offer or such offer is not accepted within
50 days after the amendment to the Articles, the Corporation may apply to the court to fix the fair value of such Common Shares.
There is no obligation on the Corporation to apply to the court. If the Corporation fails to make such an application, a Dissenting
Shareholder has the right to so apply within a further 20 days. If an application is made by either party, the final order of the
court will fix the fair value of the Common Shares of all Dissenting Shareholders. The court may in its discretion allow a reasonable
rate of interest on the amount payable to each Dissenting Shareholder from the date the shareholder ceased to have any rights by
reason of their dissent until the date of payment.
A Dissenting Shareholder will cease to
have any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation other than the right to be paid the fair value for her, his or its Common Shares
upon the occurrence of the earliest of: (i) the amendment to the Articles becoming effective; (ii) the company and the Dissenting
Shareholder entering into an agreement as to the payment to be made by the Corporation for the Dissenting Shareholder’s Shares;
or (iii) the Court making an order fixing the fair value of the Common Shares. Until one of these three events occur, the Dissenting
Shareholder may withdraw the Notice of Dissent or the Corporation may rescind the Share Amendment Resolution and the dissent and
appraisal proceedings in respect of such Dissenting Shareholder will be discontinued.
Dissenting Shareholders will not have any
right other than those granted under the OBCA to have their Common Shares appraised or to receive the fair value thereof.
The above is only a summary and is expressly
subject to the dissenting shareholder provisions of section 185 of the OBCA. The Corporation is not required to notify, and the
Corporation will not notify, Shareholders of the time periods within which action must be taken in order for a Shareholder to exercise
the Shareholder’s dissent rights. It is recommended that any Shareholder of the Corporation wishing to exercise a right to
dissent should seek legal advice, as failure to comply strictly with the provisions of the OBCA may result in the loss or unavailability
of the right to dissent.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that Grown
Rogue International Inc. (the “
Corporation
”) will hold its annual and special meeting of shareholders (the “
Meeting
”)
at the offices of Miller Thomson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West, Suite 5800, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S1, on July 15, 2019,
at 10:00 am (Toronto Time) for the following purposes:
|
1.
|
to present the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for its prior years
ended August 31, 2018 and 2017, and the independent auditor’s report thereon;
|
|
2.
|
to consider and, if deemed appropriate, approve, with or without variation, a special resolution
to authorize the board of directors of the Corporation to determine the number of directors of the Corporation within the minimum
and maximum numbers set forth in the articles of the Corporation and the number of directors to be elected at any annual meeting
of shareholders of the Corporation;
|
|
3.
|
to elect the directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year;
|
|
4.
|
to re-appoint the independent auditors of the Corporation and authorize the directors to fix the
auditors’ remuneration;
|
|
5.
|
to consider, and, if thought appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, a special resolution,
the full text of which is set forth in the accompanying management information circular of the Corporation dated June 14, 2019
(the “
Information Circular
”), approving the amendment to the articles of the Corporation to amend the rights
and restrictions of the existing class of common shares in the capital of the Corporation (the “
Common Shares
”)
and redesignate such class as subordinate voting shares; and to create a class of multiple voting shares, notwithstanding that
this resolution may be passed by the shareholders of the Corporation, the directors of the Corporation are authorized to revoke
this special resolution before it is acted on without further approval of the Shareholders;
|
|
6.
|
to consider, and if deemed advisable, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution,
the full text of which is set forth in the Information Circular, to approve a new stock option plan of the Corporation, as more
particularly described in the Information Circular; and
|
|
7.
|
to transact any other business properly brought before the Meeting.
|
Holders of Common Shares are invited to
attend the Meeting. Shareholders of record as at the close of business on May 31, 2019 will be entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Meeting. A detailed description of the matters to be acted upon at the Meeting is set forth in the Information Circular.
Copies of: (a) this notice of annual and special meeting of shareholders; (b) the Information Circular; (c) a management form of
proxy and instructions in relation thereto (the “
Management Proxy
”); and (d) a letter of transmittal may be
obtained at the following office: Grown Rogue International Inc., 340 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1X2, or will be sent
to a shareholder without charge upon request by calling 503-765-8108. Shareholders who are unable to be present in person at the
Meeting are requested to: (i) sign, date and deliver the accompanying form of proxy to the Corporation’s registrar and transfer
agent, Capital Transfer Agency, ULC, 390 Bay Street, Suite 920, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y2 Canada, so it is received at least 48
hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof; or (ii) return your
voting instructions as specified in the request for voting instructions delivered to you, as applicable.
DATED
this 14
th
day of June, 2019.
|
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
“J. Obie Strickler”
|
|
J. Obie Strickler
|
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
GROWN ROGUE INTERNATIONAL INC.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
This letter of transmittal
(the “
Letter of Transmittal
”) is for use by registered holders (“
Shareholders
”) of common
shares (the “
Common Shares
”) in the capital of Grown Rogue International Inc. (the “
Corporation
”)
for the purpose of the Share Amendment (as defined below) referenced in the notice of annual general and special meeting of shareholders
and information circular of the Corporation dated June 14, 2019 (the “
Circular
”), prepared in connection with
the annual general and special meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 15, 2019, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof
(the “
Meeting
”), which accompanies this Letter of Transmittal and is available under the Corporation’s
profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the
Circular.
You are encouraged to carefully review the Circular in its entirety.
In order to minimize
the proportion of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation that are held by “U.S. persons” for purposes
of determining whether the Corporation is a “foreign private issuer” under United States securities laws, the Corporation
intends to redesignate the issued and outstanding Common Shares as subordinate voting shares (the “
Share Amendment
”
and each such share on a post-Share Amendment basis, being a “
Subordinate Voting Share
”).
Shortly following the
Meeting, if the Share Amendment Resolution is passed, the Corporation intends to make the necessary filings to give effect to the
Share Amendment. In order to receive the Subordinate Voting Shares to which a Shareholder is entitled pursuant to the Share Amendment,
each Shareholder must forward by personal delivery or by registered mail a properly completed Letter of Transmittal accompanied
by the share certificate(s) representing their existing Common Shares, if applicable, to Capital Transfer Agency (the “
Depositary
”).
The instructions accompanying
this Letter of Transmittal specify certain signature guarantees and additional documents that Shareholders may be required to provide
with this Letter of Transmittal. Shareholders may, upon request, be required to execute any additional documents deemed by the
Depositary or the Corporation, at their discretion, to be reasonably necessary or desirable to complete the deposit and cancellation
of their existing Common Shares in exchange for the Subordinate Voting Shares.
Until surrendered,
each certificate which immediately prior to the effective time of the Share Amendment represented Common Shares will be deemed,
at any time after the effective time of the Share Amendment, to represent the number of Subordinate Voting Shares to which such
Shareholder is entitled as a result of the Share Amendment.
This Letter of Transmittal
is for use by registered Shareholders only and is not to be used by beneficial (nonregistered) holders of Common Shares (“Beneficial
Holders”). Beneficial Holders do not have Common Shares registered in their name, but hold their Common Shares through an
intermediary, which include, among others, banks, trust companies, securities dealers, brokers or financial advisors. If you are
a Beneficial Shareholder, you should contact your Intermediary for instructions and assistance in depositing your Common Shares.
GROWN ROGUE INTERNATIONAL
INC.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
TO:
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CAPITAL TRANSFER AGENCY (the “Depositary”)
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AND TO:
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GROWN ROGUE INTERNATIONAL INC. (the “Corporation”)
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The undersigned
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Circular, and represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned is the registered owner of the
number of Common Shares described below (the “
Deposited Shares
”), which Common Shares are represented by the
share certificate(s) described below and delivered herewith, (ii) the undersigned has good title to the shares represented by the
said certificate(s), free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances, (iii) the undersigned has full power and authority
to herewith deposit such Common Shares, (iv) the surrender of the Deposited Shares complies with all applicable laws and (v) all
information inserted by the undersigned into this Letter of Transmittal is complete, true and accurate.
Certificate Number
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Number of Common Shares
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Registered in the Name of
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(Attach additional list if the space above is
insufficient)
The above-listed
share certificates are hereby surrendered in exchange for certificates representing Subordinate Voting Shares of the Corporation
on the basis of one Subordinate Voting Share for each pre-Share Amendment Common Share.
The undersigned
irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Depositary, each officer and director of the Corporation, and any other person designated
by the Corporation in writing, the true and lawful agent, attorney and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to the
Deposited Shares and any distributions on such securities with full power of substitution (such power of attorney, being coupled
with an interest, being irrevocable) in the name of and on behalf of the undersigned, to register or record the cancellation and
exchange of such Deposited Shares for Subordinate Voting Shares on the securities register of the Corporation. The undersigned
acknowledges and agrees that the issuance and delivery of the appropriate number of Subordinate Voting Shares in accordance with
the instructions set out below and the information contained in the Circular will completely discharge any and all obligations
of the Corporation and the Depositary with respect to the matters contemplated by this Letter of Transmittal. Unless the Share
Amendment is not implemented, the deposit of Deposited Shares pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal is irrevocable. The representations,
warranties, covenants, acknowledgements and agreements contained herein shall survive the completion of the Share Amendment. Each
authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by the undersigned in this Letter of Transmittal shall survive the death or incapacity
of the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, legal
representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
It is understood
that the undersigned will not receive the Subordinate Voting Shares in exchange for the Deposited Shares until the certificate(s)
representing the Deposited Shares owned by the undersigned are received by the Depositary at the address set forth in this Letter
of Transmittal, together with a duly completed and signed Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents, if any, and until
the same are processed by the Depositary (which shall not occur until after the effective time of the Share Amendment).
If the
Share Amendment is not implemented for any reason, the enclosed certificate(s) representing Common Shares and all other ancillary
documents received by the Depositary will be returned forthwith to the undersigned all in accordance with the instructions set
out below.
The undersigned
authorizes and directs the Depositary to issue the certificate(s) for the Subordinate Voting Shares to which the undersigned is
entitled as indicated below and to mail such certificate(s) to the address indicated below or, if no instructions are given, in
the name and to the address of the undersigned as the same appears on the books of the Depository.
BOX A
ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
☐ Issue Subordinate Voting Shares
in the name of:
(please print or type):
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(Name)
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(Street Address and Number)
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(City and Province or State)
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(Country and Postal (Zip) Code)
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(Telephone — Business Hours)
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(E-mail Address)
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BOX B
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
☐ Same address as Box A; or
☐ Hold for pick-up at the offices of the Depository; or
☐ Deliver as follows:
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(Name)
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(Street Address and Number)
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(City and Province or State)
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(Country and Postal (Zip) Code)
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BOX C
EXECUTION
THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE
DATED AND SIGNED
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(Date)
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(Signature of Shareholder or authorized representative)
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(Name of Shareholder)
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(Name of authorized representative, if applicable)
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BOX D
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Complete if any Subordinate Voting Shares
are to be issued in a name that differs from the name of the registered holder appearing on the certificates representing the Deposited
Shares.
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(Date)
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(Signature)
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(Name)
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(Street Address and Number)
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(City and Province or State)
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(Country and Postal (Zip) Code)
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Signature guaranteed by:
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INSTRUCTIONS
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1.
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Unless defined in this Letter of Transmittal or these instructions,
capitalized terms have the meaning ascribed thereto in the management information circular of the Corporation dated June 14, 2019
(the “
Circular
”).
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2.
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Shareholders should refer to the Circular for particulars
of the Share Amendment.
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3.
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Each registered holder of Common Shares must deliver the
Letter of Transmittal completed and signed, together with their certificate(s) to the office of the Depository set out in Instruction
9 below. The method of delivery of the Common Share certificate(s) is at the option and risk of the holder of Common Shares. It
is recommended such documents be delivered by hand to the Depository and a receipt obtained. If mail is used, registered mail,
properly insured with acknowledgement of receipt requested, is suggested. Delivery will be effected only when documents are actually
received by the Depository at the office set out below.
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4.
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All questions as to the validity, form and acceptance of
any Deposited Shares will be determined by the Corporation in its absolute discretion and such determination shall be final and
binding. The Corporation reserves the right if it so elects in its absolute discretion to instruct the Depositary to waive any
defect or irregularity contained in any Letter of Transmittal and/or any accompanying documents received by it.
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5.
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Each registered holder of Common Shares must fill in the
delivery instructions in Box B and sign and date this Letter of Transmittal in Box C. If Box B is not completed, the certificate(s)
representing Subordinate Voting Shares will be mailed to the Shareholder’s address recorded on the books of the Depository.
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6.
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If no change in the name of the registered holder appearing
on the existing Common Share certificate(s) is desired but more than one new certificate is to be issued in that name, a holder
should also fill out Box A of this Letter of Transmittal. Any holder who does not fill out Box A will receive one certificate
representing Subordinate Voting Shares for each certificate representing Deposited Shares delivered herewith. No charge will be
made for one new replacement certificate but where more than one certificate is requested, a charge of $6.00 (plus HST) will be
levied for each additional certificate. Payment must be submitted by cheque, bank draft or money order at the time the Deposited
Shares are surrendered with this Letter of Transmittal, payable to Capital Transfer Agency.
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7.
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A registered holder of Common Shares who wishes to have
the certificate(s) representing Subordinate Voting Shares registered in the name of a person other than the registered holder
must complete Boxes A and B of the Letter of Transmittal, and must endorse the existing Common Share certificate(s), or submit
a share transfer power of attorney form duly and properly completed, delivered with the Letter of Transmittal. The signature of
the registered holder must correspond in every respect with the name appearing on the face of the certificate(s). Such signature
must be guaranteed in Box D by a Canadian Schedule 1 chartered bank, or a member of the Securities Transfer Association Medallion
Program (STAMP), a member of the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or a member of the New York Stock Exchange Inc Medallion
Signature Program (MSP).
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8.
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Where the Letter of Transmittal is executed on behalf of
a corporation, partnership or association or by any agent, executor, administrator, trustee, curator, guardian or any person acting
in a representative capacity, the Letter of Transmittal must be accompanied by evidence of authority to act satisfactory to the
Depository.
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9.
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Office of Depositary:
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Capital Transfer
Agency
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390 Bay Street, Suite 920
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Toronto, ON M5H 2Y2
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10.
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If a share certificate has been lost or destroyed, the
Letter of Transmittal should be completed as fully as possible and forwarded to the Depository at the address set out in Instruction
9 above, together with correspondence stating that the original certificate has been lost. The Depository will forward appropriate
documentation.
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11.
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Any questions should be directed to the Depositary at 1
(416) 350-5007 or by sending an email to info@capitaltransferagency.com. You may also contact your lawyer or other professional
advisor for assistance concerning the completion of this Letter of Transmittal.
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To receive certificates representing
Subordinate Voting Shares, you must complete this Letter of Transmittal and deliver it and your existing Common Share certificate(s),
and all other required documents, to Capital Transfer Agency.
ANNUAL AND INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENT
REQUEST
ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JULY 15, 2019
GROWN ROGUE INTERNATIONAL INC. (the “Corporation”)
Under securities regulations, the Corporation
must annually send a form to holders to request the Interim Financial Statements and MD&A and/or the Annual Financial Statements
and MD&A. If you would like to receive the report(s) by mail, please complete, sign and return this form via mail to Grown
Rogue International Inc. c/o Miller Thomson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King St. W., Suite 5800, PO Box 1011, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S1,
Attention Michael Johnston, CFO and Corporate Secretary.
Alternatively, you may choose to access the report(s) online
at www.sedar.com.
The Corporation will use the information collected solely for
the mailing of such financial statements.
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Name of Security Holder, or if the Security Holder is a company, name and office of authorized signatory
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Address (including postal code) of Security Holder
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Fax Number
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Email address
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Method of Communication (please check accordingly):
I, as evidenced by my signature affixed
hereto, HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I am a security holder (other than debt securities) of the Corporation and request copies of the following
Financial Statements of the Corporation for the year ended October 31, 2019:
1.
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☐
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ONLY Annual Financial Statements for the fiscal year end and related MD&A.
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2.
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☐
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ONLY Interim Financial Statements for the first, second and third financial quarters and related MD&A.
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3.
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☐
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Both Annual and Interim Financial Statements and related MD&A
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Date________________, 2019
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Signature of Security Holder, or if the Security Holder is a company,
signature of authorized signatory
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