UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF
THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the
Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy
Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as
permitted by Rule14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]
Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12
VISCOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[ ] Fee computed on table
below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
(1)
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Title of each class of securities
to which transaction applies:
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N/A
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to
which transaction applies:
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N/A
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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N/A
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value
of transaction:
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N/A
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(5)
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Total fee paid:
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N/A
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary
materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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N/A
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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N/A
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(3)
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Filing Party:
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N/A
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(4)
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Date Filed:
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N/A
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VISCOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD AT 8:00 A.M. ON MAY 15, 2014
The 2014 Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders
(the Meeting) of Viscount Systems, Inc. will be held at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern
Time) on Thursday, May 15, 2014, at Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005 for the following purposes:
1.
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To receive the financial statements of the Company for
its financial year ended December 31, 2013 together with the report of the
independent auditors thereon;
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2.
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To elect Directors;
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3.
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To ratify the appointment of Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton
LaBonte LLP, Chartered Accountants as the independent auditors for
Viscount Systems, Inc. for the year ending December 31, 2014;
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4.
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To approve by ordinary resolution the amendment of the
Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and the Companys
Amended and Restated Bylaws to increase the authorized number of directors
from six to nine; and
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5.
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To transact such other business as may properly come
before the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
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The Board of Directors has fixed April 9, 2014 as the record
date for determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at,
the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Only shareholders of
record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Meeting.
All shareholders are invited to attend the Meeting in person,
but even if you expect to be present at the meeting, you are requested to mark,
sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible to ensure
your representation.
All proxies must be received by our proxy tabulating
agent not less than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
holidays
,
prior to the time of the meeting in order to be counted.
The address of our proxy tabulating agent is as follows: Advantage Proxy, 24925
13
th
Place South, Des Moines, WA 98198, fax number (206) 870-8492.
Scanned copies of signed proxies can also be sent by email to
ksmith@advantageproxy.com
. Shareholders of record attending the Meeting
may vote in person even if they have previously voted by proxy.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 9
th
day
of April, 2014.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Dennis Raefield
________________________________
Dennis Raefield
President, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary
and Director
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy
Materials for
the Companys Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 15,
2014.
The Viscount Systems, Inc. Proxy Statement and 2013 Annual
Report to Shareholders
are available online at
www.viscount.com
VISCOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
4585 TILLICUM STREET
BURNABY, BC V5J 5K9
PROXY STATEMENT AND INFORMATION CIRCULAR
ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 15, 2014
In this Proxy Statement and Information Circular, all
references to $ are references to United States dollars and all references to
C$ are references to Canadian dollars.
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of
Viscount Systems, Inc. ("
Viscount
" or the
Company
), a Nevada
corporation, for use at the Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders
of Viscount (the
Meeting
) to be held at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on
Thursday, May 15, 2014, at Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th Street NW, Washington, DC
20005, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are being
mailed to the stockholders of Viscount on or about April 16, 2014.
The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company. The
solicitation will be made primarily by mail. Proxies may also be solicited
personally or by telephone by certain of the Companys directors, officers and
regular employees, who will not receive additional compensation therefore. In
addition, the Company will reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to
beneficial owners.
Our principal executive offices are located at 4585 Tillicum
Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5J 5K9.
PROXY VOTING
The manner in which your shares may be voted by proxy depends
on how your shares are held. If you own shares of record, meaning that your
shares of Common Stock are represented by certificates or book entries in your
name so that you appear as a shareholder on the records of our stock transfer
agent, Pacific Stock Transfer Company, a proxy card for voting those shares will
be included with this proxy statement. You may vote those shares by completing,
signing and returning the proxy card at the following address: Advantage Proxy,
24925 13
th
Place South, Des Moines, WA 98198, fax number (206)
870-8492. Scanned copies of signed proxies can also be sent by email to
ksmith@advantageproxy.com
.
If you own shares through a bank or brokerage firm account, you
may instead receive a voting instruction form with this proxy statement, which
you may use to instruct how your shares should be voted. Just as with a proxy,
you may vote those shares by completing, signing and returning the voting
instruction form. Many banks and brokerage firms have arranged for Internet or
telephonic voting of shares and provide instructions for using those services on
the voting instruction form. If your bank or brokerage firm uses Broadridge, you
may vote your shares via the Internet at
www.proxyvote.com
or by calling
the toll-free number on your voting instruction form.
Shares for which proxy cards are properly executed and returned
will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the directions noted thereon or,
in the absence of directions, will be voted "FOR" the election of each of the
nominees to the Board of Directors, "FOR" the appointment of Dale Matheson
Carr-Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the independent auditor for
the current year, and FOR the resolution approving the amendment of the
Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated Bylaws to increase the authorized number of directors from six to nine.
It is not expected that any matters other than those referred to in this Proxy
Statement will be brought before the Meeting. If, however, other matters are
properly presented, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with
their discretion with respect to such matters.
All proxy cards must be received by our proxy tabulating
agent by no later than 48 hours prior to the time of the Meeting in order to be
counted at the meeting.
1
Broker non-votes occur when a person holding shares through a
bank or brokerage account does not provide instructions as to how his or her
shares should be voted and the broker does not exercise discretion to vote those
shares on a particular matter. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be included
in determining the presence of a quorum at the Meeting. However, an abstention
or broker non-vote will not have any effect on the outcome for the election of
Directors.
ATTENDANCE AND VOTING AT THE MEETING
If you own shares of record, you may attend the Meeting and
vote in person, regardless of whether you have previously voted on a proxy card.
If you own shares through a bank or brokerage firm account, you may attend the
Meeting, but in order to vote your shares at the meeting, you must obtain a
"legal proxy" from the bank or brokerage firm that holds your shares. You should
contact your account representative to learn how to obtain a "legal proxy." We
encourage you to vote your shares in advance of the Meeting date by one of the
methods described above, even if you plan on attending the Meeting. You may
change or revoke your proxy at the Meeting as described below even if you have
already voted.
To be effective, each matter which is to be submitted to a vote
of shareholders, other than for the approval of auditors, must be approved by a
majority of the votes cast by the shareholders voting in person or by proxy at
the Meeting. Every motion put to a vote at the Meeting will be decided on a show
of hands unless a poll, before or on the declaration of the result of the vote
by show of hands, is directed by the chair or demanded by at least one
shareholder entitled to vote who is present in person or by proxy.
REVOCATION OF PROXY
Any shareholder holding shares of record may revoke a
previously granted proxy at any time before it is voted by delivering to the
Secretary of Viscount a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy
card bearing a later date or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Any
shareholder holding shares through a bank or brokerage firm may revoke a
previously granted proxy or change previously given voting instructions by
contacting the bank or brokerage firm, or by obtaining a legal proxy from the
bank or brokerage firm and voting at the Meeting.
RECORD DATE AND QUORUM
The board of directors (the
Board
) of the Company have
fixed the record date for the Meeting as the close of business on April 9, 2014
(the
Record Date
). Company shareholders of record as at the Record Date
are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to vote their shares at the
Meeting, except to the extent that any such shareholder transfers shares any
shares after the Record Date and the transferee of those shares establishes that
the transferee owns the shares and demands, not less than ten (10) days before
the Meeting, that the transferees name be included in the list of shareholders
entitled to vote at the Meeting, in which case only such transferee shall be
entitled to vote such shares at the Meeting.
On the Record Date, there were 125,259,583 common shares of the
Company (the
Common Shares
) issued and outstanding, each share carrying
the right to one vote. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on
the Record Date will be entitled to vote in person or by Proxy at the Meeting or
any adjournment thereof.
Pursuant to a Certificate of Designation, Preferences and
Rights of the Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (the
Preferred
Shares
), dated June 5, 2012, as amended, the holders of Preferred Shares
will be entitled to vote on any matter submitted to shareholders of the Company
and will be entitled to the number of votes for each Preferred Share owned at
the Record Date equal to the number of Common Shares that such number of
Preferred Shares are convertible into at such time; provided, however, the
voting rights of each holder of Preferred Shares will be limited to the right to
vote such number of Common Shares as, when aggregated with all other such Common
Shares beneficially owned by such holder at such time, would result in such
holder beneficially owning no more than 4.99% of all Common Shares then
outstanding. The Preferred Shares will vote together with the Common Shares on
all matters submitted to holders of Common Shares and not as a separate class.
The holders of Preferred Shares will also be entitled to vote as a single class
as and to the extent required by law, the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws or as otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Designation on all matters submitted to holders of Preferred Shares.
2
On the Record Date, there were 1,009.611 Preferred Shares
issued and outstanding. The Preferred Shares carry the right to vote the
equivalent of 22,921,931 Common Shares. Only shareholders of record at the close
of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote in person or by Proxy at
the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Under the Companys articles, the quorum for the transaction of
business at the Meeting consists of one-third of the votes entitled to be cast
on a matter by the holders of shares that are entitled to vote and be counted
collectively upon such matter, represented in person or by proxy.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no claims, actions, proceedings or investigations
pending against the Company, any director, officer or affiliate of the Company,
any owner of record or beneficially of more than five percent of the Common
Stock, or any associate of any such director, officer, affiliate of the Company,
or security holder that, individually or in the aggregate, are material to the
Company. Neither the Company nor its assets and properties is subject to any
outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree that has had or would be
reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The Company is not aware of any threatened lawsuits.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except as disclosed herein, no person has any material
interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or
otherwise, in matters to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of
directors and the appointment of auditors and as set out herein. For the purpose
of this paragraph, Person shall include each person: (a) who has been a
director, senior officer or insider of the Company at any time since the
commencement of the Companys last fiscal year; (b) who is a proposed nominee
for election as a director of the Company; or (c) who is an associate or
affiliate of a person included in subparagraphs (a) or (b).
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding
the beneficial ownership of the Common Stock as at the Record Date by:
(i)
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each person or entity known by Viscount to beneficially
own more than 5% of the Common Stock;
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(ii)
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each Director of Viscount;
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(iii)
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each of the named Executive Officers of Viscount;
and
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(iv)
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all Directors and executive officers as a
group.
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Except as noted below, Viscount believes that the beneficial
owners of the Common Stock listed below, based on information furnished by such
owners, have sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.
Title of Class
|
Name and Address
Of Beneficial Owner
|
Amount of Beneficial
Ownership
|
Percent of Class
|
Common
|
Stephen Pineau
British
Columbia, Canada
Director
|
9,159,200
(1)
|
5.8%
|
Common
|
Dennis Raefield
Alamo, CA
Director, President, CEO, Chairman,
Secretary
|
515,000
(2)
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0.3%
|
3
Common
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Robert Liscouski
Leesburg, VA
Director
|
250,000
(2)
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0.2%
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Common
|
Paul Goldenberg
Cream Ridge,
NJ
Director
|
250,000
(2)
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0.2%
|
Common
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Paul Brisgone
Alexandria, VA
Director
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250,000
(2)
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0.2%
|
Common
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Ned Siegel
Boca Raton, FL
Director
|
250,000
(2)
|
0.2%
|
Common
|
All directors and officers as
a group
(6 persons)
|
10,674,200
|
6.8%
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(1)
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Includes 3,000,000 shares issuable upon exercise of share
purchase warrants.
|
(2)
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Includes 250,000 shares issuable upon exercise of share
purchase warrants.
|
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS
The Company proposes to nominate the persons listed below for
election as directors. Each director will hold office until the next annual
general meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is elected or
appointed, unless his or her office is earlier vacated. Management does not
contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director. In
the event that prior to the Meeting any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees
herein listed, it is intended that discretionary authority shall be exercised by
the person named in the Proxy as nominee to vote the shares represented by Proxy
for the election of any other person or persons as directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION
OF EACH NOMINEE.
The following table sets out the names of the management
nominees; their positions and offices in the Company; principal occupations; the
period of time that they have been directors of the Company; and the number of
shares of the Company which each beneficially owns or over which control or
direction is exercised.
Name, Residence and
Present
Position within
the Company
|
Director/Officer Since
|
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned,
Directly or Indirectly,
or Over Which Control
or Discretion is
Exercised
|
Principal Occupation
|
Dennis Raefield
Alamo, CA, USA
Director,
President,
Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman,
Secretary
|
November 18, 2011
|
515,000
(1)
|
Businessman
|
Robert Liscouski
Leesburg, VA, USA
Director
|
September 14, 2011
|
250,000
(1)
|
Businessman
|
Paul Goldenberg
Cream Ridge, NJ, USA
Director
|
October 25, 2011
|
250,000
(1)
|
Businessman
|
4
Paul Brisgone
Alexandria, VA, USA
Director
|
December 2, 2011
|
250,000
(1)
|
Businessman
|
Ned Siegel
Boca Raton, FL
Director
|
April 4, 2014
|
250,000
(1)
|
Businessman
|
(1)
|
These amounts include beneficial ownership of securities
not currently outstanding but which are reserved for immediate issuance on
exercise of options and share purchase warrants, in particular, as
follows: 250,000 shares issuable to Robert Liscouski, 250,000 shares
issuable to Paul Goldenberg, 250,000 shares issuable to Paul Brisgone,
250,000 shares issuable to Ned Siegel and 250,000 shares issuable to
Dennis Raefield.
|
Dennis Raefield
was the Chief Executive Officer of Mace
Security International Inc. from August 2008 to August 2011. From April 2007 to
August 2008, Mr. Raefield acted as the President of Reach Systems Inc. and from
January 2005 to January 2006 acted as the President of Rosslare Security. Mr.
Raefield was also the President of Honeywell International Inc. from October
1998 to January 2003. Mr. Raefields experience makes him a valuable member of
the Board. Mace Security International Inc. manufactures and markets high
quality security products including personal defense sprays, home and business
electronic security products and central station monitoring. Reach Systems Inc.
provides benefits of the convergence of physical and IT security for small and
large organizations. Rosslare Security offers a complete range of
state-of-the-art solutions for access control. These include access control
products including; networked multi-door controllers and NVR integrated systems,
standalone door controllers, many readers for various installation environments
and technologies, PC monitoring and configuration software as well as a wide
range of accessories. Honeywell International Inc. provides security solutions
to commercial, industrial, residential and homeland security.
Robert Liscouski
has been a partner of Secure Strategy
Group since July 2009 and was a partner of 3DRS Advisors Inc. Centurion Holdings
from February 2005 to February 2010. Mr. Liscouski was also the Assistant
Secretary for Infrastructure Protection at the US Department of Homeland
Security from March 2003 to February 2005. Mr. Liscouskis experience makes him
a valuable member of the Board. Secure Strategy Group, 3DRS Advisors Inc, and
Centurion Holdings provide business services to public and private clients on
all facets of business strategy, planning, development, management, marketing,
directorship, and obtaining access to capital markets.
Paul Goldenberg
has been the Chief Executive Officer of
Cardinal Point Strategies since 2001. Mr. Goldenbergs experience makes him a
valuable member of the Board. Cardinal Point Strategies is a consulting firm
providing services to the private and public sectors navigating complex risks,
identifying practical solutions and managing their implementation of strategies.
Paul Brisgone
was the President of The Madison Group LLC
from December 2008 to December 2011. From February 1974 to December 2008, Mr.
Brisgone was a Vice President and a Director of ADT Security Services. Mr.
Brisgones experience makes him a valuable member of the Board. The Madison
Group works with select clients and tailors the work to fit their specific
needs, while generating significant ROI for companies in need of government
relations strategies. ADT Security Services provide security solutions to
commercial, industrial, and residential clients.
Ned Siegel
has over 30 years of entrepreneurial
experience and success. He began his career in law and joined the Howard Siegel
Companies, expanding the company into the Weingarten-Siegel group and becoming
one of the largest residential developers in the United States. Presently he is
Chairman of the Board of The Siegel Group, Inc., a multi-disciplined
international business management advisory firm specializing in infrastructure,
real estate, ports, energy, utilities, technology and financial services. Mr.
Siegels experience makes him a valuable member of the Board. He has consented
to act as director of Viscount Systems Inc.
5
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, requires Viscount's directors, executive officers and persons who own
more than 10% of a registered class of Viscount's securities to file with the
SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common
Stock and other equity securities of Viscount. Directors, executive officers and
greater than 10% shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish Viscount
with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.
To Viscount's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies
of such reports furnished to Viscount, Viscount believes that during the year
ended December 31, 2013, its directors, executive officers and greater than 10%
shareholders filed insider reports required under Section 16(a), other than
Dennis Raefield, Robert Liscouski, Paul Goldenberg, and Paul Brisgone, who have
each failed to file a Form 3 or Form 5.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table contains information regarding the members
of the Board and the executive officers of Viscount as of the Record Date:
Name
|
Age
|
Position(s)
|
Dennis Raefield
|
66
|
Director, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chairman, Corporate Secretary
|
Robert Liscouski
|
60
|
Director
|
Paul Goldenberg
|
59
|
Director
|
Paul Brisgone
|
65
|
Director
|
Stephen Pineau
|
52
|
Director
|
Ned Siegel
|
62
|
Director
|
All of the officers identified above serve at the discretion of
the Board and have consented to act as officers of Viscount.
OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS
None of the current directors of the Company serve as directors
of other reporting issuers.
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DIRECTORS OR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
There are no family relationships among any of the directors or
executive officers of Viscount.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The objective of the Companys compensation program is to
compensate the executive officers for their services to the Company at a level
that is both in line with the Companys fiscal resources and competitive with
companies at a similar stage of development.
The Company compensates its executive officers based on their
skill and experience levels and the existing stage of development of the
Company. Executive officers are rewarded on the basis of the skill and level of
responsibility involved in their position, the individuals experience and
qualifications, the Companys resources, industry practice, and regulatory
guidelines regarding executive compensation levels.
The Board has implemented three levels of compensation to align
the interests of the executive officers with those of the shareholders. First,
executive officers are paid a monthly consulting fee or salary. Second, the
Board awards executive officers long term incentives in the form of stock
options. Finally, and only in special circumstances, the Board may award cash or
share bonuses for exceptional performance that results in a significant increase
in shareholder value. The Company does not provide medical, dental, pension or
other benefits to the executive officers.
6
The base compensation of the executive officers is reviewed and
set annually by the Board. The CEO has substantial input in setting annual
compensation levels. The CEO is directly responsible for the financial resources
and operations of the Company. In addition, the CEO and Board from time to time
determine the stock option grants to be made pursuant to the Companys Stock
Option Plan. Previous grants of stock options are taken into account when
considering new grants. The Board awards bonuses at its sole discretion. The
Board does not have pre-existing performance criteria or objectives.
Compensation for the most recently completed financial year
should not be considered an indicator of expected compensation levels in future
periods. All compensation is subject to and dependent on the Companys financial
resources and prospects.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth all information concerning the
total compensation of Viscounts president, chief executive officer, chief
financial officer, and the two most highly compensated officer during the last
fiscal year (the
Named Executive Officers
) during the last three
completed fiscal years for services rendered to Viscount in all capacities:
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
Option
Awards
($) / (#)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
Total ($)
|
Stephen
Pineau
President,
CEO,
CFO
|
2013
|
$117,000
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$117,000
|
2012
|
$117,000
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$10,000
(1)
|
$127,000
|
2011
|
$117,000
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$117,000
|
(1)
|
These amounts were paid as Directors
Fees.
|
Incentive Plan Awards
The Company has no Incentive Plan in place and therefore there
were no awards made under any incentive plan to the NEOs during the Companys
most recently completed financial year. An Incentive Plan is a plan providing
compensation that depends on achieving certain performance goals or similar
conditions within a specified period.
Directors Compensation
The following table sets forth the compensation of Viscounts
directors during the last completed fiscal year:
Name
|
Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
Change in
Pension
Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
Robert Liscouski
|
$10,000
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$10,000
|
Paul Goldenberg
|
$10,000
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$10,000
|
Paul Brisgone
|
$57,037
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$10,000
|
Dennis Raefield
|
$121,745
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$121,745
|
7
Directors of Viscount are compensated $10,000 per year and all
related travel expenses for services provided as a director or members of
committees of the Board.
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
DURING THE MOST
RECENTLY COMPLETED FINANCIAL YEAR
During the most recently completed financial year, no incentive
stock options were granted to Named Executive Officers and no stock appreciation
rights were granted during this period. A stock appreciation right
(
SAR
) is a right to receive a payment of cash or an issue or transfer
of shares based wholly or in part on changes in the trading price of the
Companys shares.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED
FINANCIAL YEAR
There are no outstanding equity awards of Viscounts Named
Executive Officers as at the last completed fiscal year:
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION
PLANS
The following table sets out information as of the end of the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 with respect to compensation plans under
which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance:
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 Issuances
Under Equity
Compensation Plan
[Excluding
Securities
Reflected in Column
(a)]
(c)
|
Equity Compensation
Plans Approved by
Security
Holders
|
1,629,375
|
$0.08
|
1,306,135
|
Equity Compensation
Plans Not Approved by
Security
Holders
|
9,500,000
|
$0.10
|
Nil
|
Total:
|
11,129,375
|
|
1,306,135
|
The Company issued a total of 6,000,000 compensation warrants
to a director and an employee exercisable at a price of $0.08 per share until
December 23, 2015, 2,500,000 compensation warrants to an advisor exercisable at
a price of $0.15 per share until June 22, 2014, and a total of 1,000,000
compensation warrants to directors exercisable at a price of $0.10 per share
until December 5, 2014.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES DURING THE MOST RECENTLY
COMPLETED
FINANCIAL YEAR AND FINANCIAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, no stock
options were exercised by the Companys Named Executive Officers. During this
period, no outstanding SARs were held by the Named Executive Officers.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
None of the directors, executive officers, employees, proposed
nominees for election as directors or their associates have been indebted to the
Company since the beginning of the last completed financial year.
8
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Except as disclosed herein or above, since the commencement of
the Companys most recent financial year, no informed person (a director,
officer or holder of 10% or more common shares) or nominee for election as a
director of the Company or any associate or affiliate of any informed person or
proposed director had any interest in any transaction which has materially
affected or would materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries. See
Executive Compensation.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS AND CERTAIN
CONTROL PERSONS
Stephen Pineau Director and Former President, Chief
Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer,
and Secretary
: On
March 31, 2002, Viscounts wholly owned subsidiary, Viscount Communication &
Control Systems Inc. (
Viscount Communication
), entered into an
employment agreement with Mr. Stephen Pineau, pursuant to which Mr. Pineau
serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Viscount Communication. The
agreement provides for a current annual base salary of C$117,000. The initial
term for Mr. Pineaus agreement is one year with automatic renewal unless a
minimum 30 days notice is given by Viscount Communication. On December 23, 2010,
the Company issued Mr. Pineau 1,000,000 compensation warrants with each warrant
exercisable into a common share of the Company at a price of $0.24 per share for
a period of 5 years from the date of issuance (3,000,000 warrants on a post 3:1
forward-stock-split basis with an exercise price of $0.08 per share). Mr. Pineau
ceased to be the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial
Officer, and Secretary of Viscount Communication on February 17, 2014.
Dennis Raefield
Director, President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chairman, and Secretary:
On February 17, 2014, Viscount entered
into an employment agreement with Dennis Raefield, pursuant to which Mr.
Raefield serves as
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and
Secretary of Viscount and Viscount Communication. The agreement provides for an
initial annual salary of $175,000, an annual bonus of up to 50% of Mr.
Raefields base salary, and stock options equal to 3.99% of Viscounts issued
and outstanding on a fully diluted basis.
The Companys written policies and procedures for the review,
approval, or ratification of any transaction required to be reported are
consented to in writing by all the Directors. All related party transactions
are required to first be reviewed and approved by the Board, which determines
whether these transactions are in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders. In addition, related party transactions are subject to the
provisions of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority
Shareholders in Special Transactions, which prescribes certain conditions under
which related party transactions may be carried out, and provides certain
exemptions thereto. Conflicts of interest with respect to the involvement of
directors and officers in transactions with the Company are also subject to the
provisions of the Business Corporations Act (
British Columbia
), the
Nevada Revised Statutes and the Companys articles and by-laws.
STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICE
Corporate governance relates to the activities of the Board,
the members of which are elected by and are accountable to the shareholders, and
takes into account the role of the individual members of management who are
appointed by the Board and charged with the day to day management of the
Company. The Canadian Securities Administrators have implemented National
Instrument 58-101
Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices
, which
prescribes certain disclosure by the Corporation of its corporate governance
practices. This disclosure is set out in the attached Schedule A.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board is responsible for overseeing management of the
Company and determining the Companys strategy and for determining whether or
not a director is independent. In making this determination, the Board has
adopted the definition of independence as set forth in NI 58-101 and NP
58-201, which recommends that a majority of the board of directors be considered
independent. In applying this definition, the Board considers all
relationships of the directors of the Company, including business, family and
other relationships. As at the date of this Proxy Statement and Information
Circular, there are six directors on the Board: Stephen Pineau, Robert
Liscouski, Paul Goldenberg, Dennis Raefield, Paul Brisgone, and Ned Siegel. Of
the six directors, all are considered independent except for Dennis
Raefield. Subject to the approval of the proposed slate for election, there will
be five directors on the Board, four of whom will be considered independent and
one of whom will be considered non-independent.
9
The Board does not have a written mandate. All roles and
responsibilities of the Board are set forth by Dennis Raefield. Dennis Raefield
is the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Corporate Secretary of
the Company.
BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT
Our Board leadership structure is currently composed of a
Chairman of the Board, a non-independent Audit Committee Chair, an independent
Nominating Committee Chair, an independent Compensation and Risk Committee Chair
and an independent Corporate Governance Committee Chair. Dennis Raefield serves
as both the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Robert Liscouski
acts as the lead independent Director.
Our Board recognizes the importance of effective risk oversight
in running a successful business and in fulfilling its fiduciary
responsibilities to the Company and its stockholders. While the Chief Executive
Officer and other members of our senior leadership team are responsible for the
day-to-day management of risk, our Board is responsible for ensuring that an
appropriate culture of risk management exists within the Company and for setting
the right "tone at the top," overseeing our aggregate risk profile, and
assisting management in addressing specific risks, such as strategic and
competitive risks, financial risks, brand and reputation risks, legal risks,
regulatory risks, and operational risks.
The Board believes that its current leadership structure best
facilitates its oversight of risk by combining independent leadership, through
the lead Director, majority independent board committees, and majority
independent board composition. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman has an
intimate knowledge of our business, history, and the complex challenges we face.
The Chairman's in-depth understanding of these matters uniquely positions him to
promptly identify and raise key business risks to the Board and focus the
Board's attention on areas of concern. The Chairman, lead Director, independent
committee chairs and other directors also are experienced professionals or
executives who can and do raise issues for Board consideration and review, and
are not hesitant to challenge management. The Board believes there is a
well-functioning and effective balance between the lead Director, non-executive
board members and the Chairman, which enhances risk oversight.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
During the financial year ended December 31, 2013, there were 3
regular meetings of the Board and 5 special meetings of the Board. All matters
which required approval of the Board were consented to in writing by all
Directors.
No director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the
total number of meetings of the Board and the total number of meetings held by
all committees of the board on which he served. The Companys has no policies
with regard to Board members attendance at AGMs. The number of Board members
who attended the prior years AGM was two, as we only had two Directors.
The Board has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation
and Risk Committee, a Nominating Committee, and a Corporate Governance
Committee. Each of the Audit Committee, Compensation and Risk Committee,
Nominating Committee, and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible to the
full Board. The functions performed by these committees are summarized below:
Audit Committee
. The Audit Committee considers the
selection and retention of independent auditors and reviews the scope and
results of the audit. In addition, it reviews the adequacy of internal
accounting, financial and operating controls and reviews Viscount's financial
reporting compliance procedures. The members of the Audit Committee are Dennis
Raefield, Paul Goldenberg, Paul Brisgone, and Robert Liscouski. Dennis Raefield
is the Chair and the financial expert of the Audit Committee and he is not
considered independent due to his role as President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. The Audit Committee held one meeting during the most
recently completed financial year.
10
In the course of its oversight of our financial reporting
process, the directors have: (1) reviewed and discussed with management our
audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013; (2) received
a report from Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Accountants, our
independent auditors, on the matters required to be discussed by Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 61, Communications with Audit Committees; (3) received
the written disclosures and the letter from the auditors required by
Independence Standards Board Statement No. 1, Independence Discussions with
Audit Committee; and (4) considered whether the provision of non-audit services
by the auditors is compatible with maintaining their independence and has
concluded that it is compatible at this time.
Based on the foregoing review and discussions, the Board has
concluded that the audited financial statements should be included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the SEC.
Submitted by the Audit Committee:
Dennis Raefield, Chair
Robert Liscouski, Member
Paul Goldenberg, Member
Paul Brisgone,
Member
Compensation and Risk Committee
. The Compensation and
Risk Committee reviews and approves the compensation of Viscount's officers and
reviews and administers Viscount's stock option plans for employees. The
Compensation and Risk Committee does not have a charter. The members of the
Compensation and Risk Committee are Dennis Raefield, Paul Goldenberg, Paul
Brisgone, and Robert Liscouski. Robert Liscouski is the Chair of the
Compensation and Risk Committee. All decisions regarding compensation are
written and subject to approval by all directors. Please see Schedule A
Statement of Corporate Governance Disclosure for a description of the process
and procedures the Compensation and Risk Committee undertakes to determine
executive and director compensation. The Compensation and Risk Committees
authority to determine executive and director compensation may not be delegated.
The Compensation and Risk Committee held 2 meetings during the
most recently completed financial year.
Nominating Committee
. The Nominating Committee does not
have a charter and does not have a policy with regard to the consideration of
any director candidates recommended by security holders The Board will consider
director candidates recommended by security holders on a case by case basis. In
order for a shareholder to submit a recommendation, the shareholder must deliver
a communication to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the
Company not more than 90, but not less than 60 days prior to the date of the
Annual Meeting. The members of the Nominating Committee are Dennis Raefield,
Paul Goldenberg, Paul Brisgone, and Robert Liscouski. Paul Brisgone is the
independent the Chair of the Nominating Committee.
The general criteria for Director candidates include, but are
not limited to, the highest integrity and ethical standards, the ability to
provide wise and informed guidance to management, a willingness to pursue
thoughtful, objective inquiry to important issues before the Company, and a
range of experience and knowledge commensurate with our needs as well as the
expectations of knowledgeable investors.
The Nominating Committee utilizes a variety of sources to
identify possible Director candidates, including Board member recommendations.
In evaluating candidates to recommend to the Board, the Nominating Committee
considers all factors, including, but not limited to, whether the candidate
enhances the diversity of the Board. Such diversity includes professional
background and capabilities, knowledge of specific industries and geographic
experience, as well as the more traditional diversity concepts of race, gender
and national origin. The attributes of the current Directors and the needs of
the Board and the Company are evaluated whenever a Board vacancy occurs, and the
effectiveness of the nomination process, including whether that process enhances
the Boards diversity, is evaluated each time a candidate is considered. The
Nominating is also responsible for reviewing the qualifications of, and making
recommendations to the Board for, Director nominations submitted by our
shareholders. All Director nominees are evaluated in the same manner by the
Nominating Committee, without regard to the source of the nominee
recommendation.
A security holder recommended Ned Siegels nomination to act as
a director.
11
The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the most
recently completed financial year.
Corporate Governance Committee
. The Corporate Governance
Committee does not have a charter. The members of the Corporate Governance
Committee are Dennis Raefield, Paul Goldenberg, Paul Brisgone, and Robert
Liscouski. Paul Goldenberg is the independent Chair of the Corporate Governance
Committee.
The Corporate Governance Committee held 2 meetings during the
most recently completed financial year.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Pursuant to the British Columbia Instrument 51-509
Issuers
Quoted in the U.S. Over-the Counter Markets
and National Instrument 52-110
Audit Committees
of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Company
is required to disclose annually in its Information Circular certain information
concerning the constitution of its audit committee and its relationship with its
independent auditor, as set forth in the following:
The primary function of the audit committee (the
Committee
) is to assist the Board in fulfilling its financial oversight
responsibilities by reviewing (a) the financial reports and other financial
information provided by the Company to regulatory authorities and shareholders;
(b) the systems for internal corporate controls which have been established by
the Board and management; and (c) overseeing the Companys financial reporting
processes generally. In meeting these responsibilities the Committee monitors
the financial reporting process and internal control system; reviews and
appraises the work of external auditors and provides an avenue of communication
between the external auditors, senior management and the Board. The Committee is
also mandated to review and approve all material related party transactions.
The Audit Committees Charter
The Company has adopted a Charter of the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors, a copy of which is annexed hereto as Schedule B.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The Committee is comprised of Dennis Raefield, Paul Goldenberg,
Paul Brisgone, and Robert Liscouski. All of the Committee members are considered
to be financially literate in that each committee member 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 presumably be expected to be raised by the
Companys financial statements.
Relevant Education and Experience
Robert Liscouski has an understanding of the accounting
principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements.
Paul Goldenberg has an understanding of the accounting
principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements.
Dennis Raefield has an understanding of the accounting
principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements.
Paul Brisgone has an understanding of the accounting principles
used by the Company to prepare its financial statements.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
Dennis Raefield is the Chair and the financial expert of the
Audit Committee.
Audit Committee Oversight
Since the commencement of the Companys most recently completed
financial year, the Board has not failed to adopt a recommendation of the
Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor.
12
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
The Company has not relied on the exemptions contained in
sections 2.4 or 8 of NI 52-110. Section 2.4 provides an exemption from the
requirement that the audit committee must pre-approve all non-audit services to
be provided by the auditor, where the total amount of fees related to the
non-audit services are not expected to exceed 5% of the total fees payable to
the auditor in the fiscal year in which the non-audit services were provided.
Section 8 permits a company to apply to a securities regulatory authority for an
exemption from the requirements of NI 52-110, in whole or in part.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Committee has not adopted specific policies and procedures
for the engagement of non-audit services. Subject to the requirements of NI
52-110, the engagement of non-audit services is considered by the Board, and
where applicable the Committee, on a case-by-case basis.
100% of services under tax fees were approved by the audit
committee.
External Auditor Service Fees
In the following table, audit fees are fees billed by the
Companys external auditor for services provided in auditing the Companys
annual financial statements for the subject year. Audit-related fees are fees
not included in audit fees that are billed by the auditor for assurance and
related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or
review of the Companys financial statements. Tax fees are fees billed by the
auditor for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and
tax planning. All other fees are fees billed by the auditor for products and
services not included in the foregoing categories.
The fees paid by the Company to its auditor in each of the last
two fiscal years, by category, are as follows:
Fees
|
2013
|
2012
|
Audit fees
|
C$65,000
|
C$65,000
|
Audit related fees
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Tax fees
|
C$6,500
|
C$6,500
|
All other fees
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
These audit fees were for the audit of the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2013. The tax fees were for the preparation of U.S. and Canadian
tax filing period ending December 31, 2013.
Exemption
The Company is relying on the exemption provided by section 6.1
of NI 52-110 which provides that the Company is not required to comply with Part
3 (Composition of the Audit Committee) and Part 5 (Reporting Obligations) of NI
52-110, in accordance with BCI 51-509.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton LaBonte LLP (DMCL) was appointed as
Viscount's independent auditors on August 12, 2009, and have been appointed by
the Board to continue as Viscount's independent auditor for Viscount's fiscal
year ending December 31, 2014.
The principal accountant at DMCL is Reginald LaBonte, CPA, CA.
He is expected to be present at the Meeting and has the opportunity to make
statements and is expected to be available to respond to questions.
13
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Although the appointment of DMCL is not required to be
submitted to a vote of the stockholders, the Board believes it appropriate as a
matter of policy to request that the stockholders ratify the appointment of the
independent public accountant for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. In
the event a majority of the votes cast at the meeting are not voted in favor of
ratification, the adverse vote will be considered as a direction to the Board to
select other auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DALE MATHESON CARR-HILTON LABONTE LLP, CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS, AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2014.
PROPOSAL 3
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES
OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
Pursuant to an Amended Certificate of Second Amendment to the
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Stock, in a form consented to by Series A preferred
shareholders, the Company is required to make provisions for the appointment of
up to nine directors on its Board. The Company proposes to amend its Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation and its Amended and Restated Bylaws to
increase the Companys authorized number of director from six to nine.
The Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
and Amended and Restated Bylaws currently state that the Board of Directors
shall be composed of not less than one nor more than six Directors.
If shareholders of the Company approve the proposal to change
the Companys authorized number of directors from six to nine, the Company will
file a Certificate of Amendment, in the form attached hereto as Schedule C,
with the Nevada Secretary of State implementing the change.
The resolution to increase the authorized number of directors
must be passed by not less than a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders
present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Accordingly, the Companys
shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought advisable, to pass, with
or without amendment, the following ordinary resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
(a)
|
the authorized number of directors of the Company be
changed from six to nine, and the Companys Amended and Restated Articles
of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws be altered
accordingly;
|
|
|
(b)
|
any one director of the Company is authorized to instruct
its agents to file a Certificate of Amendment with the Nevada Secretary of
State along with all other necessary documents and take such further
actions that may be necessary to effect the amendment; and
|
|
|
(c)
|
the board of directors is hereby authorized, at any time
in its absolute discretion, to determine whether or not to proceed with
the above resolutions without further approval, ratification or
confirmation by the shareholders.
|
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS SHAREHOLDERS
VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION AND THE AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF THE COMPANY TO INCREASE THE
AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF DIRECTORS FROM SIX TO NINE.
14
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
Shareholders can send communications to the Board by email at
investors@viscount.com
or through our website
at
www.viscount.com
.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this circular, management knows of no other
matters to be acted upon at the Meeting. However, should any other matters
properly come before the Meeting, the shares represented by the Proxy solicited
hereby will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the
persons voting the shares represented by the Proxy.
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Proposals which shareholders wish to be considered for
inclusion in the Proxy Statement and proxy card for the 2014 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must be received by the Secretary of Viscount by December 1, 2013
and must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
In addition, Viscount's Bylaws include advance notice
provisions that require shareholders desiring to bring nominations or other
business before an annual shareholders meeting to do so in accordance with the
terms of the advance notice provisions. These advance notice provisions require
that, among other things, shareholders give timely written notice to the
Secretary of Viscount regarding such nominations or other business. To be
timely, a notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive
offices of Viscount not more than 90, but not less than 60, days prior to the
date of the Annual Meeting.
Accordingly, a shareholder who intends to present a nomination
or proposal at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders without inclusion of the
proposal in Viscount's proxy materials must provide written notice of the
nominations or other business they wish to propose to the Secretary no later
than December 1, 2014. Viscount reserves the right to reject, rule out of order,
or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not
comply with these and other applicable requirements.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
A COPY OF VISCOUNT'S COMBINED ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 ACCOMPANIES THIS
PROXY STATEMENT AND IS IN THE FORM ANNEXED TO THE PROXY STATEMENT. AN ADDITIONAL
COPY WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS OR SHAREHOLDERS
OF RECORD UPON REQUEST TO INVESTOR RELATIONS, VISCOUNT SYSTEMS, INC. SUITE 4585
TILLICUM STREET, BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, V5J 5K9 OR BY CALLING (604)
327-9446.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company is available on
the SEDAR website at
www.sedar.com
.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 9
th
day
of April, 2014.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Dennis
Raefield
Dennis Raefield
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman,
Secretary and Director
15
Schedule A
Statement of Corporate Governance Disclosure
The following description of the governance practices of the
Company is provided in accordance with the guidelines of applicable securities
laws (the
Guidelines
). The Guidelines address matters relating to
independence of directors, the functions to be performed by the directors of a
company and their committees and effectiveness and evaluation of proposed
corporate governance guidelines and best practices specified by the Canadian
securities regulators. The directors of the Company will continue to monitor the
developments and the various changes to the proposed corporate governance
guidelines and best practices and where applicable will amend its corporate
governance guidelines accordingly.
Guideline
|
|
The Governance Disclosure of the
Company
|
|
|
|
1.
Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclose how the Board of Directors (the Board)
facilitates its exercise of independent supervision over management,
including
|
|
The Board consists of six directors, of whom five are
independent. Dennis Raefield is the President, Chief Executive Officer,
and Corporate Secretary of the Company, and as such, not independent.
|
|
|
|
(i) the identity of
directors that are independent, and
(ii)
the identity of directors who are not independent,
and the
basis for that determination.
|
|
The Board facilitates its exercise of independent
supervision over management by meeting or having discussions without
management present whenever it is deemed necessary and by requiring all
significant operational decisions to be approved by the Board.
|
|
|
|
2.
Directorships
|
|
|
|
|
|
If a director is presently a director of any other issuer
that is a reporting issuer (or the equivalent) in a jurisdiction or a
foreign jurisdiction, identify both the director and the other issuer.
|
|
The directors of the Company are directors of the
following reporting issuers set opposite their names:
Stephen Pineau None
Robert Liscouski - None
Paul Goldenberg -
None
Dennis Raefield - None
Paul Brisgone None
Ned Siegel -
None
|
|
|
|
3.
Orientation and Continuing
Education
|
|
|
|
|
|
Describe what steps, if any, the Board takes to orient
new Board members, and describe any measures the Board takes to provide
continuing education for directors.
|
|
Orientation of new members of the Board is conducted
informally by management and members of the Board. The Corporation has not
adopted formal policies respecting continuing education for Board members.
|
|
|
|
4.
Ethical Business Conduct
|
|
|
|
|
|
Describe what steps, if any, the Board takes to encourage
and promote a culture of ethical business conduct.
|
|
The Board has not adopted a formal code of business
conduct and ethics. The Board is of the view that the fiduciary duties
placed on individual directors by the Corporations governing legislation
and common law together with corporate statutory restrictions on an
individual directors participation in Board decisions in which the
director has an interest are sufficient to ensure that the Board operates
independently of management and in the best interests of the Corporation.
|
16
5.
Nomination of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclose what steps, if any, are taken to identify new
candidates for Board nomination, including:
(i) who identifies new candidates,
and
(ii) the process of identifying
new candidates.
|
|
The Board considers its size each year when it considers
the number of directors to recommend to the shareholders for election at
the annual general meeting. The Board takes in to account the number of
directors required to carry out the Boards duties effectively and to
maintain diversity of views and experience.
|
|
|
|
6.
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclose what steps, if any, are taken to determine
compensation for the directors and CEO, including:
(i) who determines compensation,
and
(ii) the process of determining
compensation.
|
|
Members of the Board are not compensated for acting as
directors. The Board as a whole determines the stock option grants for
each director. Board members review the compensation of the senior
officers on an annual basis to ensure that it is competitive.
|
|
|
|
7.
Other Board Committees
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the Board has standing committees other than the
audit, compensation and nominating committees, identify the committees and
describe their function.
|
|
The Board is satisfied that, in view of the size and
composition of the Board, it is more efficient and cost effective for the
full board to perform the duties that would be required by standing
committees, other than the audit and compensation committees.
|
|
|
|
8.
Assessments
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclose what steps, if any, that the Board takes to
satisfy itself that the Board, its committees, and its individual
directors are performing effectively.
|
|
The Board annually, and at such other times as it deems
appropriate, reviews the performance and effectiveness of the Board, the
directors and its committees to determine whether changes in size,
personnel or responsibilities are warranted. To assist in its review, the
Board conducts informal surveys of its directors and receives reports from
each committee respecting its own effectiveness. As part of the
assessments, the Board or the individual committee may review their
respective mandate or charter and conduct reviews of applicable corporate
policies.
|
17
Schedule B
Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors
of Viscount Systems, Inc. (the
Company)
Mandate
The primary function of the Audit Committee
(
Committee
) is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
financial oversight responsibilities by reviewing the following: (a) the
financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to
regulatory authorities and shareholders; (b) the Companys systems of internal
controls regarding finance and accounting and the Companys auditing,
accounting; and (c) financial reporting processes. Consistent with this
function, the Committee will encourage continuous improvement of, and should
foster adherence to, the Companys policies, procedures and practices at all
levels. The Committees primary duties and responsibilities are to (i) serve as
an independent and objective party to monitor the Companys financial reporting
and internal control system and review the Companys financial statements; (ii)
review and appraise the performance of the Companys external auditors; (iii)
provide an open avenue of communication among the Companys auditors, financial
and senior management and the board of directors; and (iv) to ensure the highest
standards of business conduct and ethics.
Board of Directors as Initial Audit Committee
The Committee will be initially comprised of the full Board of
Directors. Where the Committee comprises the full Board of Directors, the
provisions of this Charter concerning composition, meetings outside the presence
of management, pre-approvals, and reporting of the Committee to the Board of
Directors will not be applicable.
Composition
When required under applicable Canadian or United States
securities policies or at the discretion of the Board of Directors, presuming
the Board of Directors has sufficient membership, the Committee will be
comprised of three directors, all of whom shall be free from any relationship
that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the
exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Committee.
All members of the Committee shall have accounting or related
financial management expertise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a member of the
Committee who is not financially literate may be appointed to the Committee
provided that such member becomes financially literate within a reasonable
period of time following his or her appointment. For the purposes of the
Companys Charter, the definition of financially literate is 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 presumably be expected to be
raised by the Companys financial statements.
The members of the Committee shall be elected by the board of
directors at its first meeting following the annual shareholders meeting.
Unless a Chair is elected by the full board of directors, the members of the
Committee may designate a Chair by a majority vote of the full Committee
membership.
Meetings
The Committee shall meet at least twice annually, or more
frequently as circumstances dictate. As part of its job to foster open
communication, the Committee will meet at least annually with the Chief
Executive Officer and/or the Chief Financial Officer and the external auditors
in separate sessions.
18
Responsibilities and Duties
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Committee
shall:
Documents/Reports Review
|
(a)
|
Review and update this Charter annually.
|
|
(b)
|
Review the Companys financial statements, MD&A, any
annual and interim earnings statements and press releases before the
Company publicly discloses this information and any reports or other
financial information (including quarterly financial statements), which
are submitted to any governmental body, or to the public, including any
certification, report, opinion or review rendered by the external
auditors.
|
External Auditors
|
(a)
|
Review annually the performance of the external auditors
who shall be ultimately accountable to the board of directors and the
Committee as representatives of the shareholders of the Company.
|
|
(b)
|
Obtain annually a formal written statement of external
auditors setting forth all relationships between the external auditors and
the Company.
|
|
(c)
|
Review and discuss with the external auditors any
disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and
independence of the external auditors.
|
|
(d)
|
Take or recommend that the full board of directors take
appropriate action to oversee the independence of the external
auditors.
|
|
(e)
|
Recommend to the board of directors the selection and,
where applicable, the replacement of the external auditors nominated
annually for shareholder approval.
|
|
(f)
|
At each meeting, consult with the external auditors,
without the presence of management, about the quality of the Companys
accounting principles, internal controls and the completeness and accuracy
of the Companys financial statements.
|
|
(g)
|
Review and approve the Companys hiring policies
regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the
present and former external auditors of the Company.
|
|
(h)
|
Review with management and the external auditors the
audit plan for the year-end financial statements and intended template for
such statements.
|
|
(i)
|
Review and pre-approve all audit and audit-related
services and the fees and other compensation related thereto, and any
non-audit services, provided by the Companys external auditors. The
pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to the provision of
non-audit services if:
|
|
i.
|
the aggregate amount of all such non-audit services
provided to the Company constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount
of fees paid by the Company to its external auditors during the fiscal
year in which the non-audit services are provided;
|
|
ii.
|
such services were not recognized by the Company at the
time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and
|
|
iii.
|
such services are promptly brought to the attention of
the Committee by the Company and approved prior to the completion of the
audit by the Committee or by one or more members of the Committee who are
members of the board of directors to whom authority to grant such
approvals has been delegated by the Committee.
|
Provided the pre-approval of the
non-audit services is presented to the Committees first scheduled meeting
following such approval such authority may be delegated by the Committee to one
or more independent members of the Committee.
19
Financial Reporting Processes
|
(a)
|
In consultation with the external auditors, review with
management the integrity of the Companys financial reporting process,
both internal and external.
|
|
(b)
|
Consider the external auditors judgments about the
quality and appropriateness of the Companys accounting principles as
applied in its financial reporting.
|
|
(c)
|
Consider and approve, if appropriate, changes to the
Companys auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by
the external auditors and management.
|
|
(d)
|
Review significant judgments made by management in the
preparation of the financial statements and the view of the external
auditors as to appropriateness of such judgments.
|
|
(e)
|
Following completion of the annual audit, review
separately with management and the external auditors any significant
difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any
restrictions on the scope of work or access to required
information.
|
|
(f)
|
Review any significant disagreement among management and
the external auditors in connection with the preparation of the financial
statements.
|
|
(g)
|
Review with the external auditors and management the
extent to which changes and improvements in financial or accounting
practices have been implemented.
|
|
(h)
|
Review certification process for certificates required
under National Instrument 52-109 and Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act.
|
|
(i)
|
Establish a procedure for the confidential, anonymous
submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters.
|
Other
|
a)
|
Review any related party transactions.
|
|
b)
|
Review reports from persons regarding any questionable
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters (Concerns)
relating to the Company such that:
|
|
i.
|
an individual may confidentially and anonymously submit
their Concerns to the Chairman of the Committee in writing, by telephone,
or by e-mail;
|
|
ii.
|
the Committee reviews as soon as possible all Concerns
and addresses same as they deem necessary; and
|
|
iii.
|
the Committee retains all records relating to any Concern
reported by an individual for a period the Committee judges to be
appropriate.
|
All of the foregoing in a manner that the individual submitting
such Concerns shall have no fear of adverse consequences.
20
VISCOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
(the Company)
This form of proxy is solicited by management of the
Compan
y
and will be used at the Annual General and Special Meeting of the
holders of Common Stock and Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock of
the Company to be held on May 15, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).
The undersigned shareholder of Common Stock of Viscount
Systems, Inc., hereby appoints Dennis Raefield, President of the Company, or in
the place of the foregoing the following person ___________________________
(insert name)
, with full power of substitution in each, as proxyholder to
cast all votes which the undersigned shareholder is entitled to cast at the
Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 8:00 a.m.
(Eastern Time) on Thursday, May 15, 2014, at Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th Street
NW, Washington, DC 20005, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, with
authority to vote upon the matters set forth on this Proxy Card.
BY SIGNING AND DATING THIS PROXY CARD, YOU AUTHORIZE THE
PROXYHOLDER TO VOTE EACH PROPOSAL AS MARKED, OR IF NOT MARKED, TO VOTE FOR
EACH PROPOSAL, AND TO USE THEIR DISCRETION TO VOTE ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Companys
Proxy Statement and hereby revokes any proxy or proxies previously given.
IMPORTANT PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN YOUR
COMPLETED
PROXY CARD PROMPTLY. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Please mark your votes as indicated in this example: [X]
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE BELOW
ITEMS.
Item 1
The election of Directors to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders as provided in the Articles of
Incorporation, or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
NOMINEE:
|
Dennis Raefield
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Robert Liscouski
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Paul Goldenberg
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Paul Brisgone
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Ned Siegel
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
Item 2
The ratification of the appointment of Dale
Matheson Carr-Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Accountants as the independent
auditor for the year ending December 31, 2014.
1
Item 3
The approval, by ordinary resolution, of the
amendment of the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and
the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws to increase the authorized number of
directors from six to nine.
Item 4
- The proxyholder be granted authority to vote at
his/her discretion on any amendment or variation to the previous resolutions or
any other matter that may be properly brought before the said Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
All of the proposals set forth above are proposals of the
Company. None of the proposals are related to or conditioned upon approval of
any other proposal.
THIS PROXY MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED BELOW:
REGISTERED HOLDER SIGN HERE:
___________________________________________________________________
PRINT NAME HERE:
________________________________________________________________________________
DATE SIGNED:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF SHARES VOTED:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Please sign above exactly as your name appears on this Proxy
Card. If shares are registered in more than one name, the signatures of all such
persons are required. A corporation should sign in its full corporate name by a
duly authorized officer, stating his/her title. A corporation must attach a copy
of the corporate resolution authorizing the duly authorized officer to sign this
Proxy Card. Trustees, guardians, executors and administrators should sign in
their official capacity, giving their full title as such and attaching
documentation supporting their authority to sign. If a partnership, please sign
in the partnership name by authorized person(s) and attach a partnership
resolution.
All proxies must be received by the tabulating agent not
less than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
holidays
,
prior to the time of the meeting in order to be counted.
The address for the tabulating agent is as follows: Advantage Proxy, PO Box
13581, Des Moines, Washington, 98198, or fax number (206) 870-8492. Scanned
copies of signed proxies can also be sent by email to ksmith@advantageproxy.com.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING.
2
VISCOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
(the Company)
This form of proxy is solicited by management of the
Compan
y
and will be used at the Annual General and Special Meeting of the
holders of Common Stock and Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
(Series A Shares) of the Company to be held on May 15, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.
(Eastern Time).
The undersigned holder of Series A Shares of the Company,
hereby appoints Dennis Raefield, President of the Company, or in the place of
the foregoing the following person ___________________________
(insert
name)
, with full power of substitution in each, as proxyholder to cast all
votes which the undersigned shareholder is entitled to cast at the Annual
General and Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern
Time) on Thursday, May 15, 2014, at Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, with authority
to vote upon the matters set forth on this Proxy Card.
The undersigned acknowledges that it is entitled to the number
of votes for each Series A Share owned as at April 9, 2014 equal to the number
of Common Stock that such number of Series A Shares are convertible into at such
time; provided, however, the voting rights of each holder of Series A Shares
will be limited to the right to vote such number of Common Stock as, when
aggregated with all other such Common Stock beneficially owned by such holder at
such time, would result in such holder beneficially owning no more than 4.99% of
all Common Stock then outstanding.
BY SIGNING AND DATING THIS PROXY CARD, YOU AUTHORIZE THE
PROXYHOLDER TO VOTE EACH PROPOSAL AS MARKED, OR IF NOT MARKED, TO VOTE FOR
EACH PROPOSAL, AND TO USE THEIR DISCRETION TO VOTE ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Companys
Proxy Statement and hereby revokes any proxy or proxies previously given.
IMPORTANT PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN YOUR
COMPLETED
PROXY CARD PROMPTLY. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Please mark your votes as indicated in this example: [X]
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE BELOW
ITEMS.
Item 1
The election of Directors to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders as provided in the Articles of
Incorporation, or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
NOMINEE:
|
Dennis Raefield
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
|
|
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Robert Liscouski
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
|
|
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Paul Goldenberg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
1
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Paul Brisgone
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
|
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINEE:
|
Ned Siegel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
|
|
|
[ ]
|
|
[ ]
|
|
Item 2
The ratification of the appointment of Dale
Matheson Carr-Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Accountants as the independent
auditor for the year ending December 31, 2014.
Item 3
The approval, by ordinary resolution, of the
amendment of the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and
the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws to increase the authorized number of
directors from six to nine.
Item 4
- The proxyholder be granted authority to vote at
his/her discretion on any amendment or variation to the previous resolutions or
any other matter that may be properly brought before the said Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
All of the proposals set forth above are proposals of the
Company. None of the proposals are related to or conditioned upon approval of
any other proposal.
THIS PROXY MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED BELOW:
REGISTERED HOLDER SIGN HERE:
________________________________________________________________________
PRINT NAME HERE:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
DATE SIGNED:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF SHARES VOTED:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Please sign above exactly as your name appears on this Proxy
Card. If shares are registered in more than one name, the signatures of all such
persons are required. A corporation should sign in its full corporate name by a
duly authorized officer, stating his/her title. A corporation must attach a copy
of the corporate resolution authorizing the duly authorized officer to sign this
Proxy Card. Trustees, guardians, executors and administrators should sign in
their official capacity, giving their full title as such and attaching
documentation supporting their authority to sign. If a partnership, please sign
in the partnership name by authorized person(s) and attach a partnership
resolution.
2
All proxies must be received by the tabulating agent not
less than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
holidays
,
prior to the time of the meeting in order to be counted.
The address for the tabulating agent is as follows: Morton Law LLP #1200
750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T8. Scanned copies of
signed proxies can also be sent by email to elm@mortonlaw.ca.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING.
3
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