UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, 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
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[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
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[X ]X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
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GOLDEN QUEEN MINING CO. LTD.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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GOLDEN QUEEN MINING CO. LTD.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS6411 IMPERIAL AVENUETO BE HELD AT 10:00 A.M. ON JUNE 23, 2011
The 2011 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. (the “Company”) will be held at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at Suite 1200 - 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T8, for the following purposes:
1. | To receive the financial statements of the Company for its financial year ended December 31, 2010 together with the report of the independent auditors thereon; |
2. | To fix the number of directors at five; |
3. | To elect directors to serve until the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders or until their respective successors are elected or appointed; |
4. | To ratify the appointment of BDO Canada LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the financial year ended December 31, 2011; and |
5. | To transact any other business which may properly come before the Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
The board of directors has fixed May 2, 2011, 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 Annual General 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 in the envelope provided to ensure your representation.All proxies must be received by our transfer 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 transfer agent is as follows: Computershare Trust Company of Canada, Proxy Dept., 100 University Ave., 9thFloor, Toronto, ON, M5J 2Y1. Shareholders of record attending the Annual General Meeting may vote in person even if they have previously voted by proxy.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 24thday of May, 2011.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ H. Lutz KlingmannWEST VANCOUVER, BC V7W 2J5H. Lutz Klingmann
President and Director
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 23, 2011.
The Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. Proxy Statement and 2010 Annual Report to Shareholders
are available online at www.goldenqueen.com
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GOLDEN QUEEN MINING CO. LTD.
PROXY STATEMENT AND INFORMATION CIRCULAR
SPECIALANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 1, 2010JUNE 23, 2011
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. As at July 28, 2010,May 2, 2011, one Canadian dollar was equal to approximately $0.97$1.05 in U.S. Currency.
GENERAL
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the boardBoard of directorsDirectors of Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., a British Columbia corporation (the “Company”"Company" or “Golden Queen”), for use at the SpecialAnnual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Golden Queen to be held at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, September 1, 2010,Thursday, June 23, 2011, at the offices of Morton & Company, Suite 1200 - 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T8, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. References to “shares” in this document will mean common shares of the Company unless otherwise noted.
Our administrative offices are located at 6411 Imperial Avenue, West Vancouver, British Columbia, V7W 2J5. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed to our shareholders on or about August 4, 2010.May 27, 2011.
The cost of solicitation will be bornepaid by the Company. The solicitation will be made primarily by mail. Proxies may also be solicited personally or by telephone by certain of the Company’s 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 shareholders.owners. The total cost of proxy solicitation, including legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this Proxy Statement and Information Circular, is estimated to be $12,000.
Our administrative offices are located at 6411 Imperial Avenue, West Vancouver, British Columbia, V7W 2J5.
APPOINTMENT OF PROXYHOLDER
The persons named as proxyholder in the accompanying form of proxy were designated by the management of the Company (“Management Proxyholder”).A shareholder desiring to appoint some other person (“Alternate Proxyholder”) to represent him at the Meeting may do so by inserting such other person's name in the space indicated or by completing another proper form of proxy.A person appointed as proxyholder need not be a shareholder of the Company. All completed proxy forms must be deposited with Computershare Investor Services Inc. (“Computershare”) not less than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment of it unless the chairman of the Meeting elects to exercise his discretion to accept proxies received subsequently.
EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY PROXYHOLDER
The proxyholder will vote for or against or withhold from voting the shares, as directed by a shareholder on the proxy, on any ballot that may be called for.In the absence of any such direction, the Management Proxyholder will vote in favour of matters described in the proxy. In the absence of any direction as to how to vote the shares, an Alternate Proxyholder has discretion to vote them as he or she chooses.
The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon theproxyholder with respect to amendments or variations tomatters identified in the attached Notice of Meeting and other matters which may properlycome before the Meeting.At present, Management of the Company knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters.
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PROXY VOTING
Registered Shareholders
If you are a registered shareholder, you may wish to vote by proxy whether or not you attend the Meeting in person. Registered shareholders electing to submit a proxy may do so by completing the enclosed form of proxy (the “Proxy”) and returning it to the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare, in accordance with the instructions on the Proxy. In all cases you should ensure that the Proxy is received at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the Meeting or the adjournment thereof at which the Proxy is to be used.
Beneficial Shareholders
The following information is of significant importance to shareholders who do not hold shares in their own name (referred to as “Beneficial Shareholders”). Beneficial Shareholders should note that the only proxies that can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting are those deposited by registered shareholders (those whose names appear on the records of the Company as the registered holders of shares).
If shares are listed in an account statement provided to a shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those shares will not be registered in the shareholder's name on the records of the Company. Such shares will more likely be registered under the names of the shareholder's broker or an agent of that broker. In the United States, the vast majority of such shares are registered under the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (which acts as depositary for many U.S. brokerage firms and custodian banks), and in Canada, under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms).
Intermediaries are required to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of shareholders' meetings. Every intermediary has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients.
If you are a Beneficial Shareholder:
You should carefully follow the instructions of your broker or intermediary in order to ensure that your shares are voted at the Meeting. The form of proxy supplied to you by your broker will be similar to the Proxy provided to registered shareholders by the Company. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the intermediary on how to vote on your behalf. Most brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Investor Communication Services (“Broadridge”) in the United States and in Canada. Broadridge mails a voting instruction form in lieu of a Proxy provided by the Company. The voting instruction form will name the same persons as the Company's Proxy to represent you at the Meeting. You have the right to appoint a person (who need not be a Beneficial Shareholder of the Company), other than the persons designated in the voting instruction form, to represent you at the Meeting. To exercise this right, you should insert the name of the desired representative in the blank space provided in the voting instruction form. The completed voting instruction form must then be returned to Broadridge by mail or facsimile or given to Broadridge by phone or over the internet, in accordance with Broadridge's instructions. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of shares to be represented at the Meeting.If you receive a voting instruction form from Broadridge, you cannot use it to vote shares directly at the Meeting - the voting instruction form must be completed and returned to Broadridge, in accordance with its instructions, well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the shares voted.
Although as a Beneficial Shareholder you may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting shares registered in the name of your broker, you, or a person designated by you, may attend at the Meeting as proxyholder for your broker and vote your shares in that capacity. If you wish to attend the Meeting and indirectly vote your shares as proxyholder for your broker, or have a person designated by you do so, you should enter your own name, or the name of the person you wish to designate, in the blank space on the voting instruction form provided to you and return the same to your broker in accordance with the instructions provided by such broker, well in advance of the Meeting.
Alternatively, you can request in writing that your broker send you a legal proxy which would enable you, or a person designated by you, to attend at the Meeting and vote your shares.
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REVOCATION OF PROXIES
In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a registered shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it by:
(a) | Executing a proxy bearing a later date or by executing a valid notice of revocation, either of the foregoing to be executed by the registered shareholder or the registered shareholder’s authorized attorney in writing, or, if the shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal by an officer or attorney duly authorized, and by delivering the proxy bearing a later date to Computershare | |
(b) | Personally attending the meeting and voting the registered shareholders’ shares. |
A revocation of a proxy will not affect a matter on which a vote is taken before the revocation.
Only registered shareholders have the right to revoke a Proxy. Non-Registered Holders who wish to change their vote must, at least seven days before the Meeting, arrange for their respective Intermediaries to revoke the Proxy on their behalf.
VOTING PROCEDURE
A quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting is one person present at least two persons presentthe meeting representing in person being shareholders entitledor by proxy not less than 10% of the votes eligible to votecast at the Meeting or duly appointed proxies or representatives for absent shareholders so entitled.such meeting. 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 nonvotes 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.
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 fixing of the number of directors at five, “FOR” the approval, by special resolution,election of each of the removalnominees to the Board of Pre-existing Company Provisions (as defined indirectors named on theBusiness Corporations Act (British Columbia), “FOR” following page, and "FOR" the approval, by special resolution to ratify the appointment of the adoption of new ArticlesBDO Canada LLP as independent auditors of the Company and “FOR”for the approval, by special resolution, of the increase in the authorized capital of the Company from 100,000,000 to 150,000,000 common shares, all without par value.financial year ended December 31, 2011. 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.
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VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
On July 28, 2010May 2, 2011 (the “Record Date”) there were 94,078,38095,428,380 shares of our common stock (the “Common Stock”"Common Stock"), 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.
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To the knowledge of the Directorsdirectors and executive officers of the Company, the beneficial owners or persons exercising control over Company shares carrying more than 5% of the outstanding voting rights are:
Name and Address | Number of Shares(1) | Nature of Ownership | Approximate % of Total Issued | Number of Shares(1) | Nature of Ownership | Approximate % of TotalIssued |
Landon T. Clay Providence, RI | 726,077 | Sole voting and investment control | 0.77% | |||
21,956,063(2)(4) | Shared voting and investment control | 23.34% | ||||
Thomas M. Clay Providence, RI | 1,168,522(3) | Sole voting and investment control | 1.24% | |||
17,158,969(2) | Shared voting and investment control | 18.24% | ||||
Landon T. Clay Peterborough, NH | 3,555,045 | Sole voting and investment control | 3.73% | |||
19,127,095(2)(4) | Shared voting and investment control | 20.04% | ||||
Thomas M. Clay Peterborough, NH | 1,168,522(3) | Sole voting and investment control | 1.22% | |||
14,330,001(2) | Shared voting and investment control | 15.02% | ||||
Harris Clay Augusta, GA | 4,797,094(4) | Shared voting and investment control | 5.10% | 4,797,094(4) | Shared voting and investment control | 5.03% |
Soledad Mountain LLC Delaware | 7,258,330(5) | Sole voting and investment control | 7.72% | 7,258,330(5) | Sole voting and investment control | 7.61% |
Sprott Asset Management Inc. Toronto, ON | 11,860,300(6) | Sole voting and investment control | 12.61% | 11,860,300(6) | Sole voting and investment control | 12.43% |
Gammon Gold Inc. Toronto, ON | 7,500,000(7) | Sole voting and investment control | 7.97% | 7,500,000(7) | Sole voting and investment control | 7.86% |
(1) | The information relating to the above share ownership was obtained by the Company from insider reports and beneficial ownership reports filed with the SEC or available atwww.sedi.com, or from the shareholder, and includes direct and indirect holdings. | |
(2) | Landon T. Clay and Thomas M. Clay have shared voting and investment control of | |
(3) | Includes 300,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options. | |
(4) | Landon T. Clay and Harris Clay have shared voting and investment control of 4,797,094 shares. | |
(5) |
| |
(6) | Sprott Asset Management LP holds the shares as portfolio manager. | |
(7) | Includes 2,500,000 shares issuable upon exercise of share purchase warrants. |
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 Company’s 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).
4PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of directors proposes to fix the number of directors at five and that the following five nominees be elected as directors at the Meeting, each of whom will hold office until the expiration of their term or until his or her successor shall have been duly appointed or elected and qualified: H. Lutz Klingmann, Edward G. Thompson, Gordon C. Gutrath, Chester Shynkaryk, and Thomas M. Clay.
Unless otherwise instructed, it is the intention of the persons named as proxies on the accompanying proxy card to vote shares represented by properly executed proxies for the election of such nominees. Although the Board of directors anticipates that the five nominees will be available to serve as directors of Golden Queen, if any of them should be unwilling or unable to serve, it is intended that the proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee or nominees as may be designated by the Board of directors.
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PROPOSAL 1THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" FIXING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS AT FIVE AND “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH NOMINEE.
REMOVAL OF PRE-EXISTING COMPANY PROVISIONS
Effective March 29, 2004, theBusiness Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Corporations Act”) replacedThe following table sets out the previousnames of the 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 Act (British Columbia) (the “which each beneficially owns or over which control or direction is exercised.
Name, Residence and PresentPosition with the Company | Director Since | # SharesBeneficiallyOwned, Directlyor Indirectly, orOver WhichControl orDirection isExercised[1] | Principal Occupation, Qualifications, and OtherDirectorships During Past Five Years[2] |
H. LUTZ KLINGMANN Director, President West Vancouver, BC | March 1, 2001 | 415,400 | Mr. Klingmann was appointed president of the Company on November 29, 2002. He also acts as a director of Minto Explorations Ltd. since 1993. Mr. Klingmann is a registered professional engineer in British Columbia. |
CHESTER SHYNKARYK[3] Director Delta, BC | November 21, 1985 | 130,000 | Mr. Shynkaryk served as the president of the Company from 1985 to 1995, and as Secretary from 1996 to 2004. In addition, he serves as a director of Global Uranium Corp. |
GORDON C. GUTRATH[3] Director Vancouver, BC | August 14, 1987 | 265,000 | Mr. Gutrath’s principal occupation is president of Atled Exploration Management Ltd. Mr. Gutrath is a professional geologist and a registered professional engineer in British Columbia. |
EDWARD G. THOMPSON[3] Director Toronto, ON | November 25, 1994 | 452,500 | Mr. Thompson’s principal occupation is president of E.G. Thompson Mining Consultants, Inc. He is also a director and chairman of Sparton Resources Inc. He serves on the Board of directors of Copper Reef Mining Corp., Rae Wallace Mining Company, Stratabound Minerals Corp., Tri Origin Exploration Ltd., and Western Troy Capital Resource, Inc. Mr. Thompson graduated from the University of Toronto in 1959 with a degree in mining geology and in 1960 he earned a degree in economic geology. He has been a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario since 1961. |
THOMAS M. CLAY Director Peterborough, NH | January 13, 2009 | 15,498,523[4] | Mr. Clay’s principal occupation is vice-president of East Hill Management Company, LLC. He also serves as a director of The Clay Mathematics Institute of Cambridge, MA. Mr. Clay holds an A.B. degree from Harvard University in Classics and a M.St. degree from Oxford University in Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures. |
[1] | Based upon information furnished to Golden Queen by either the directors and executive officers or from the insider reports available atwww.sedi.com |
[2] | The information as to principal occupation and business or employment is not within the knowledge of the management of the Company and has been furnished by the respective nominees. |
[3] | Member of Audit Committee. |
[4] | Landon T. Clay and Thomas M. Clay have shared voting and investment control of 14,330,001 shares. |
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Old ActH. Lutz Klingmann”). Ashas been the President of the Company since 2002. Mr. Klingmann is primarily responsible for the recent permitting approvals of the Soledad Mountain Project by the Kern County Planning Commission and other state agencies. The Board believes that Mr. Klingmann’s expertise and experience as a consequence, all British Columbia companies are now governed under the Corporations Act. Every British Columbia company must have transitionedprofessional engineer, in mine development, and specifically in regards to the CorporationsSoledad Mountain Project, is valuable to the Board.
Chester Shynkarykwas the former President of the Company for ten years, and as such, has extensive knowledge of the Company’s business and operations. The Board believes that Mr. Shynkaryk’s knowledge of the Soledad Mountain Project and its history is valuable to the Board.
Gordon C. Gutrathhas been on the Board since 1987 and has extensive knowledge of the Company’s business and operations. Mr. Gutrath’s experience as a professional geologist and his independence from management make him a valuable member of the Board.
Edward G. Thompsonhas been on the Board since 1994 and has extensive knowledge of the Company’s business and operations. Mr. Thompson’s experience and his independence from management make him a valuable member of the Board.
Thomas M. Clayrepresents the interests of certain significant shareholders of the Company, and as such, the Board believes that Mr. Clay is valuable as a member of the Board.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of May 2, 2011 by:
(i) | each director of Golden Queen; |
(ii) | each of the Named Executive Officers of Golden Queen; and |
(iii) | all directors and executive officers as a group. |
Except as noted below, Golden Queen 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.
Name and Address ofBeneficial Owner | SharesBeneficially Owned | Percentage of SharesBeneficially Owned[1] |
H. LUTZ KLINGMANN, Director, President West Vancouver, BC | 915,400[1] | 0.94% |
CHESTER SHYNKARYK, Director Delta, BC | 630,000[1] | 0.65% |
GORDON C. GUTRATH, Director Vancouver, BC | 465,000[1] | 0.48% |
EDWARD G. THOMPSON, Director Toronto, ON | 802,500[1] | 0.82% |
THOMAS M. CLAY, Director Peterborough, NH | 15,798,523[1][2] | 16.24% |
All officers and directors (5) persons | 18,611,423[1] | 19.13% |
[1] | These amounts include beneficial ownership of securities not currently outstanding but which are reserved for immediate issuance on exercise of options. In particular, these amounts include shares issuable upon exercise of options as follows: 350,000 shares issuable to Edward Thompson; 400,000 shares issuable to Chester Shynkaryk; 200,000 shares issuable to Gordon Gutrath, 500,000 shares issuable to Lutz Klingmann, and 300,000 shares issuable to Thomas M. Clay. |
[2] | Landon T. Clay and Thomas M. Clay have shared voting and investment control of 14,330,001 of these shares. |
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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act within twoof 1934, as amended, requires Golden Queen's directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of Golden Queen’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 Golden Queen. Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish Golden Queen with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.
To Golden Queen’s knowledge, based solely on a review of Forms 3 and 4, as amended, furnished to it during its most recent fiscal year, and Form 5, as amended, furnished to it with respect to such year, Golden Queen believes that during the year ended December 31, 2010, its directors, executive officers and greater than 10% shareholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table contains information regarding the members and nominees of the Board of Directors and the Executive of Golden Queen as of the Record Date:
Name | Age | Position | Position Held Since |
Edward G. Thompson | 74 | Director | November 25, 1994 |
H. Lutz Klingmann | 71 | Director President | March 1, 2001 November 29, 2002 |
Chester Shynkaryk | 66 | Director | November 21, 1985 |
Gordon C. Gutrath | 73 | Director | August 14, 1987 |
Thomas M. Clay | 26 | Director | January 13, 2009 |
All of the officers identified above serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors and have consented to act as directors of the Company.
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DIRECTORS OR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
There are no family relationships among any of the existing directors or executive officers of Golden Queen.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Board of Directors held 3 directors’ meetings. All other matters which required Board approval were consented to in writing by all of the Company’s directors.
The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has no standing nominating committee. Each of the Audit and Compensation Committees is responsible to the full Board of Directors. 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 Golden Queen’s financial reporting compliance procedures. The members of the Audit Committee are Chester Shynkaryk, Edward G. Thompson and Gordon C. Gutrath. Chester Shynkaryk is the Chair of the Audit Committee.
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, 2010; (2) received a report from BDO Canada LLP 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 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526; and (4) considered whether or note 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, 2010 filed with the SEC.
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Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the compensation of Golden Queen’s officers, reviews and administers Golden Queen’s stock option plan and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding such matters. The members of the Compensation Committee are Gordon C. Gutrath, Edward G. Thompson and Chester Shynkaryk.
Nominating Committee. No Nominating Committee has been appointed. Nominations of directors are made by the Board of Directors. The Board is of the view that the present management structure does not warrant the appointment of a Nominating Committee.
DIRECTORS COMPENSATION
Directors’ fees were paid to each director in the amount of C$2,000, or $2,000 as appropriate, for the year ended December 31, 2010 and per year thereafter. The fees in respect of each year are due on December 1 of that year.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth all information concerning the total compensation of Golden Queen’s president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and the three other most highly compensated officers during the last fiscal year (the “Named Executive Officers”) during the last three completed fiscal years for services rendered to Golden Queen in all capacities.
Name andPrincipalPosition | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | StockAwards ($) | OptionAwards ($) | Non-EquityIncentive PlanCompensation ($) | NonqualifiedDeferredCompensationEarnings ($) | All OtherCompensation ($) | Total ($) |
Lutz Klingmann President | 2010 | $141,293 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 1,974 | $143,267 |
2009 | $116,776 | Nil | Nil | $91,792[1] | Nil | Nil | Nil | $208,568 | |
2008 | $136,500 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $136,500 |
[1] The determination of the value of option awards is based upon the Black-Scholes Option pricing model, details and assumptions of which are set out in Note 6 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS DURING THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FINANCIAL YEAR
The Board of Directors approves the issuance of stock options to our directors, officers, employees and consultants. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, all vested options are exercisable for a term of five years from the comingdate of grant. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, Golden Queen granted 50,000 stock options exercisable at a price of C$1.24 for a period of 5 years from the date of grant to a consultant.
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FINANCIAL YEAR
Name andPrincipalPosition | Number ofSecuritiesUnderlyingUnexercisedOptions (#) Exercisable | Number ofSecuritiesUnderlyingUnexercisedOptions (#) Unexercisable | EquityIncentive PlanAwards;Number ofSecuritiesUnderlyingUnexercisedUnearnedOptions (#) | Option ExercisePrice ($) | Option Expiration Date |
Lutz Klingmann President | 350,000 500,000 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | $0.77 $0.26 | April 20, 2011 January 28, 2014 |
Chester Shynkaryk Director | 300,000 400,000 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | $0.77 $0.26 | April 20, 2011 January 28, 2014 |
Gordon Gutrath Director | 250,000 200,000 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | $0.77 $0.26 | April 20, 2011 January 28, 2014 |
Edward Thompson Director | 300,000 350,000 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | $0.77 $0.26 | April 20, 2011 January 28, 2014 |
Thomas M. Clay Director | 300,000 | Nil | Nil | $0.26 | January 28, 2014 |
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AGGREGATED STOCK OPTION/SAR EXERCISES DURING THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FINANCIAL YEAR AND FINANCIAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
700,000 stock options at a price of C$0.35 per share and 150,000 stock options at a price of C$0.26 per share were exercised during the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, CHANGE IN RESPONSIBILITIES AND EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
There are currently no employment contracts in place with the directors and officers of Golden Queen other than the following: On March 11, 2004, we entered into forcea management agreement with Lutz Klingmann. Pursuant to the terms of the Corporations Act.agreement, Mr. Klingmann acts as chief operating officer and has overall management responsibility for our operations. Mr. Klingmann receives C$60 per hour as compensation for his work and also receives C$5 per hour for use of his office, equipment and out-of-pocket expenses. The management agreement also provides for the issuance of up to 300,000 Common Shares of Golden Queen to Mr. Klingmann on attaining certain milestones.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Composition of the Compensation Committee
The members of the Compensation Committee during the year ended December 31, 2010 were Edward G. Thompson, Chester Shynkaryk and Gordon Gutrath. Mr. Shynkaryk was president of the Company transitioneduntil December 1, 1995 and served as Secretary until 2004. Mr. Thompson served as president until November 29, 2002.
Report on Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing and approving the remuneration of the senior management of the Company, including the President and chief executive officer. The guiding philosophy of the Compensation Committee in the determination of executive compensation is ensuring that the Company is able to attract the best possible candidates for management positions, given the high level of competition for competent management in the mining industry, and to align the interests of management with those of the Company’s shareholders.
The Company’s executive compensation policies are designed to recognize and reward individual contribution, performance and level of responsibility and ensure that the compensation levels remain competitive with other precious metals development and mining companies. The key components of total compensation are base salary and incentives.
The Compensation Committee has no formal process for determining appropriate base salary ranges. Currently the Company pays executive compensation in the form of a base salary to its President only. The base salary to the Corporations Act in 2005.
UnderPresident was based on a proposal from the Corporations Act certain Pre-ExistingPresident, which was accepted by the Company Provisions (the “PCPs”) continue to applyafter considering his experience and expected responsibility and contribution to the Company unless such provisionsCompany.
Stock options are removed by waygranted to senior management to align the financial interests of special resolutionmanagement with the interests of shareholders of the shareholders. RemovalCompany and to encourage senior management to focus on strategies and results that enhance shareholder value in the longer term. The number of options to purchase Common Shares granted to each individual will depend largely on his level of responsibility and contribution to the Company’s performance.
The Compensation Committee considers, on an ongoing basis, the appropriateness and effectiveness of the PCPs would permitCompany’s executive compensation policies, given prevailing circumstances.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee.
EDWARD G. THOMPSON (Chairman), GORDON GUTRATH, AND CHESTER SHYNKARYK.
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph tracks the percentage change in the Company’s share price compared to the percentage change in the CBOE Gold Index.
December 31, 2006 | December 31, 2007 | December 31, 2008 | December 31, 2009 | December 31, 2010 | |
Company | 100 | 90 | 42 | 103 | 301 |
S&P/TSX Global Gold Index (TITTGD) | 100 | 95 | 96 | 103 | 129 |
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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
It is currently the policy of the Company to adopt updated corporate articles that reflect current business practicegrant options to purchase Common Shares to its directors under the Corporations Act.
Company’s 2008 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”). The boardfollowing is a summary of the material terms of the Plan in accordance with the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”):
i) | the eligible participants under the Plan are directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company; | ||
ii) | the number of common shares reserved for issuance from time to time under the Plan is 7,200,000, which represents 7.5% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of the Company; | ||
iii) | if any stock option is exercised or expires or otherwise terminates for any reason, the number of common shares in respect of which the stock option is exercised or expired or terminated shall again be available for the purposes of the Plan; | ||
iv) | options granted and outstanding under our previous 1996 Stock Option Plan will be governed by the Plan. There are currently no stock options granted and outstanding pursuant to the Company’s previous stock option plan; | ||
v) | the aggregate number of options awarded within any one-year period to insiders under the Plan or any previously established and outstanding stock option plans or grants, cannot exceed 10% of the issued Shares of the Company (calculated at the time of award); or the aggregate number of Shares reserved at any time for issuance to insiders upon the exercise of Options awarded under the Plan or any previously established and outstanding stock option plans or grants, cannot exceed 10% of the issued Shares of the Company (calculated at the time of award); | ||
vi) | the maximum number of securities one person or company is entitled to receive is subject to the Exchange policies, and is otherwise not restricted; | ||
vii) | the exercise price for securities under the Plan will be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion as of the date of grant, and shall not be less than: | ||
(a) | if the Company’s shares are not listed for trading on an Exchange at the date of grant, the last price at which the Company’s shares were issued prior to the date of grant; or | ||
(b) | if the Company’s shares are listed for trading on an Exchange at the date of grant, the closing price of the Company’s shares on the day immediately preceding the date of grant; | ||
viii) | The purchase price for securities under the Plan cannot be below the VWAP for the five trading days immediately prior to the date of award; | ||
ix) | the value of a share for stock appreciation rights shall be determined, unless otherwise specified or permitted by applicable regulatory policies, based on the weighted average trading price per share for the five trading days immediately preceding the date the notice is received by the Company on the Exchange; | ||
x) | a stock appreciation right granted pursuant to the Plan shall entitle the option holder to elect to surrender to the Company, unexercised, the option with which it is included, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor that number of shares, disregarding fractions, having an aggregate value equal to the excess of the value of one share over the purchase price per share specified in such option, times the number of shares called for by the option, or portion thereof, which is so surrendered; | ||
xi) | the Board of Directors may grant stock options to any director, officer or employee, together with a bonus consisting of a corresponding right to be paid, in cash, an amount equal to the exercise price of such stock options, subject to such provisos and restrictions as the Board may determine, and subject to any applicable approvals, if required; |
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xii) | all options granted pursuant to the Plan will be subject to such vesting requirements as may be prescribed by the Exchange, if applicable, or as may be imposed by the Board of Directors; | ||
xiii) | the expiry date of an option shall be the date so fixed by the Board of Directors at the time the particular option is awarded, provided that such date shall not be later than the fifth anniversary of the date of grant of the option; | ||
xiv) | any options granted pursuant to the Plan will terminate generally within 90 days of the option holder ceasing to act as a director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, and within generally 30 days of the option holder ceasing to act as an employee engaged in investor relations activities, unless such cessation is on account of death. If such cessation is on account of death, the options terminate on the first anniversary of such cessation. If such cessation is on account of cause, or terminated by regulatory sanction or by reason of judicial order, the options terminate immediately. Options that have been cancelled or that have expired without having been exercised shall continue to be issuable under the Plan. The Plan also provides for adjustments to outstanding options in the event of any consolidation, subdivision, conversion or exchange of Company’s shares; | ||
xv) | options may not be assigned or transferred; | ||
xvi) | the Board may amend the Plan and the terms and conditions of any Option thereafter to be granted without shareholder approval, unless shareholder approval is expressly required under any relevant law, rule or regulation, or the policies of the Exchange; | ||
xvii) | any substantive amendments to the Plan shall be subject to the Company first obtaining the approvals, if required, of: | ||
(a) | the shareholders or disinterested shareholders, as the case may be, of the Company at general meetings where required by the rules and policies of the Exchange, or any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed for trading; and | ||
(b) | the Exchange, or any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed for trading; | ||
xviii) | there are no provisions in the Plan for direct financial assistance to be provided by the Company to participants under the Plan to facilitate the purchase of securities under the Plan, although the Plan does permit stock appreciation rights and bonuses to be issued together with Options as described above; | ||
xix) | pursuant to the policies of the Exchange, the Plan must be approved by shareholders every three years; and | ||
xx) | there are no entitlements under the Plan previously granted and subject to ratification by security holders. |
There are no other arrangements under which directors of the Company proposeswere compensated by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2010 for their services in their capacity as directors and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no additional amounts are payable under any standard arrangements for committee participation or special assignments, except that the Articles of the Company provide that the directors are entitled to removebe paid reasonable traveling, hotel and other expenses incurred by them in the PCPs. Ifperformance of their duties as directors. The Company’s Articles also provide that if a director is called upon to perform any professional or other services for the Company that, in the opinion of the directors, is outside of the ordinary duties of a director, such director may be paid a remuneration to be fixed by the directors and such remuneration may be either in addition to or in substitution for any other remuneration that such director may be entitled to receive.
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The aggregate direct remuneration paid or payable by the Company and its subsidiary (the financial statements of which are consolidated with those of the Company) to the directors and senior officers of the Company during the financial year ended December 31, 2010 was $143,267, $141,293 of which was paid to Lutz Klingmann for his services as president of the Company and $1,974 of which was paid to Lutz Klingmann as director’s fees, $17,769 was paid to Chester Shynkaryk as a consulting fee, $1,974 of which was paid to Chester Shynkaryk as director’s fees, $1,974 of which was paid to Gordon Gutrath as director’s fees, $1,974 of which was paid to Edward Thompson as director’s fees and $2,000 of which was paid to Thomas M. Clay as director’s fees. No other compensation was paid or given during the year for services rendered by the directors in such capacity, and no additional amounts were payable at year-end under any standard arrangements for committee participation or special assignments.
REPORT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Canadian Securities Administrators have adopted National Instrument 58-101Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices(“NI 58-101”) and National Policy 58-201Corporate Governance Guidelines(“NP 58-201”) (the “Guidelines”), both of which came into force as of June 30, 2005 and effectively replaced the corporate governance guidelines and disclosure policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange. NI 58-101 requires issuers such as the Company to disclose the corporate governance practices that they have adopted, while NP 58-201 provides guidance on corporate governance practices. In this regard, a brief description of the Company’s system of corporate governance, with reference to the items set out in NI 58-101 and NP 58-101 is set forth below.
The Board of Directors and management recognize that effective corporate governance is important to the direction and operation of the Company in a manner which ultimately enhances shareholder value. As a result, the Company has developed and implemented, and continues to develop, implement and refine formal policies and procedures which reflect its ongoing commitment to good corporate governance. The Company believes that the corporate governance practices and procedures described below are appropriate for a company such as the Company.
Board of Directors
The Board is responsible for overseeing management of the Company and determining the Company’s 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 Management Information Circular, there are five (5) directors on the Board, Lutz Klingmann, Chester Shynkaryk, Gordon Gutrath, Edward Thompson, and Thomas M. Clay. Of the five directors, Chester Shynkaryk, Gordon Gutrath, and Edward Thompson are considered independent. Lutz Klingmann, President of the Company, and Thomas Clay, are not considered independent. Subject to the approval of the proposed slate for election on June 23, 2011, there will be five (5) directors on the Board, three (3) of whom will be considered independent and two (2) of whom will be considered non-independent.
Other Directorships
The following table sets forth the current directors of the Company who are directors of other reporting issuers:
Lutz Klingmann | None |
Chester Shynkaryk | Global Uranium Corp. |
Gordon Gutrath | None |
Edward Thompson | Sparton Resources Inc. |
Copper Reef Mining Corp. | |
Stratabound Minerals Corp. | |
Tri Origin Exploration Ltd. | |
Western Troy Capital Resources Inc. | |
Thomas M. Clay | None |
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Director Meetings
The Audit Committee, comprised entirely of independent directors, meets 4 times a year. Chester Shynkaryk acts as chairman of such meetings.
During the financial year ended December 31, 2010, the Board held 3 meetings, of which each director was in attendance.
Board Mandate
The Board of Directors of the Company is responsible for supervising management in carrying on the business and affairs of the Company. Directors are required to exercise their powers with reasonable prudence in the best interests of the Company. The Board has expressly confirmed its commitment to the principles set out in the Guidelines and has accepted and confirmed its responsibility for overseeing management’s performance in the following particular areas:
(a) | the strategic planning process of the Company; |
(b) | identification and management of the principal risks associated with the business of the Company; |
(c) | planning for succession of management; |
(d) | the Company’s policies regarding communications with its shareholders and others; |
(e) | the establishment by the Company of, and compliance with, appropriate environmental policies; and |
(f) | the integrity of the internal controls and management information system of the Company. |
In carrying out its mandate, the Board relies primarily on management to provide it with regular detailed reports on the operations of the Company and its financial position. The Board reviews and assesses these reports and other information provided to it at meetings of the full Board and its committees. The Company’s former president and chief executive officer, Edward G. Thompson, was a member of the Board, and the Company’s present president, Lutz Klingmann, is a member of the Board, giving the Board direct access to information on his areas of responsibility
The reports and information provided to the Board on a regular basis discuss the Company’s operations with respect to the exploration and development of the Soledad Mountain Project and include such matters as the permitting process, property acquisitions, staff additions and changes, financing and investor relations activities, expenditures and results of operations and the procedures followed to monitor and manage the risks associated with the Company’s operations. At least semi-annually, management reports to the Board on its strategic and business plan, performance relative to that plan and any changes in the plan. From time to time, members of the Board may be involved with management in developing recommendations to the full Board on particular issues such as acquisitions or financings. Certain areas of the Board’s responsibility are delegated to regular or special committees of the Board which report back to the full Board on their considerations.
The Guidelines recommend that a Board of Directors should implement a system which enables an individual director to engage an outside adviser at company expense in certain circumstances. While the Board has not formalized any such system, the members of the Board are aware that they have the right to retain outside advisers, at the Company’s expense, when appropriate. The Guidelines recommend that a Board of Directors should examine its size with a view to its effectiveness. The Board is satisfied that its current size is appropriate to effectively perform its duties.
The Guidelines recommend that a Board of Directors should expressly assume responsibility for developing the corporation’s approach to governance issues. The Board as a whole takes responsibility for developing the Company’s approach to corporate governance issues, including, among other things, the Company’s response to the Guidelines.
Orientation and Continuing Education
Management provides new directors with an overview of their role as a member of the Board and its Committees, and the nature and operation of the Company’s business and affairs. New directors also have the opportunity to discuss the Company’s affairs with legal counsel and the representative of the Company’s external auditors. New directors are also provided with opportunities to visit the mine sites and are invited to have discussions with the Company’s operating personnel.
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The directors are focused primarily on Project development and corporate/securities regulatory compliance. Four of the five directors on the Board have significant mining or advanced resource property development experience with public companies. The remaining director is a nominee of a controlling shareholder group. All directors are in regular contact with the President of the Company regarding the status of the Project and Company matters. The Board considers the foregoing factors as being sufficient to establish that the Board has the appropriate and current skill and knowledge necessary to meet their obligations as directors of the Company.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics For Senior Financial Officers (the “Code”) as a guideline for the oversight of the ethical conduct of management. The Company’s audit committee monitors compliance with the Code, and the Board and audit committee are responsible for granting any waivers from the Code. During the recently completed financial year, there was no conduct by a director or executive officer that constituted a departure from the Code and no material change report in that respect has been filed. The Company Code of Conduct is available on the Company’s website.
Nomination of Directors
The Company does not have a nominating committee. Although the Company does not have a nominating committee, the Board is satisfied that in view of size and composition of the Board, it is more efficient and cost effective for the full Board to perform the duties of the nominating committee as set out in the Guidelines. The Board recruits new directors as needed from time to time. Any appointment of a new director requires Board approval and is subject, ultimately, to approval by the shareholders of the Company approveat the proposal to removenext annual general meeting of shareholders of the PCPs,Company.
Compensation
The Company has a compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”) that consists of Gordon Gutrath, Edward Thompson and Chester Shynkaryk. As a result, the Compensation Committee is composed entirely of “independent” directors. The Compensation Committee does not currently have a written charter, but is in the process of developing one. The Compensation Committee has been established to:
Other Board Committees
The Company does not have any standing committees other than the audit committee and the compensation committee.
Assessments
Other than as contemplated in the form attached hereto as Appendix “A”, withCode, the British Columbia Registrar of Companies implementingBoard does not have formal policies or processes in place to review and assess the removalperformance of the PCPs.directors. The Board is of a small size, and all members, save one, have a long history of Board membership. For this reason, the Board has not implemented formal procedures and processes to assess performance of directors and committees.
In the Board’s opinion, the current corporate governance practices of the Company are adequate and appropriate for a company at its stage of development and are consistent with both the spirit and intent of the Guidelines. The Board will continue to review, and change where necessary, its approach to corporate governance.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Transactions with management and others
The removalfollowing is in addition to disclosure contained elsewhere herein respecting transactions involving management.
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On March 11, 2004, we entered into a management agreement with Lutz Klingmann. Pursuant to the terms of the PCPs requiresagreement, Mr. Klingmann acts as chief operating officer and has overall management responsibility for our operations. Mr. Klingmann receives C$60 per hour as compensation for his work and also receives C$5 per hour for use of his office, equipment and out-of-pocket expenses. The management agreement also provides for the affirmativeissuance of up to 300,000 Common Shares of the Golden Queen to Mr. Klingmann on the attaining of certain milestones.
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
BDO Canada LLP served as Golden Queen’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, and has been appointed by the Board of Directors to continue as Golden Queen’s independent auditor for Golden Queen’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, and until the next annual general meeting of shareholders.
The fees for services provided by BDO Canada LLP to us in each of the fiscal years ended 2009 and 2010 were as follows:
Fees | 2009 | 2010 |
Audit fees | $49,500 | $57,500 |
Audit related fees | $6,500 | $77,000 |
Tax fees | $12,850 | $2,050 |
All other fees | Nil | $Nil |
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Although the appointment of BDO Canada LLP is not required to be submitted to a vote of not less than 75%the shareholders, the Board of Directors believes it appropriate as a matter of policy to request that the shareholders ratify the appointment of the independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. In the event a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by shareholdersmeeting are not voted in favor of ratification, the Company, present in person or by proxy. Accordingly, the Company’s shareholdersadverse vote will be asked to consider and, if thought advisable, to pass, with or without amendment, a special resolution as follows:
“BE IT RESOLVED,considered as a Special Resolution, THAT:direction to the Board of Directors of Golden Queen to select other auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE REMOVALRATIFICATION OF THE PRE-EXISTING COMPANY PROVISIONS.
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PROPOSAL 2
ADOPTIONAPPOINTMENT OF NEW ARTICLES
The Company’s existing Articles (the “Existing Articles”) were implemented on May 30, 1986 pursuant to the Old Act. Since that time, a number of amendments have been made to the Corporations Act and certain corporate practices have evolved which are not reflected in the Existing Articles.
Accordingly, the Directors are recommending that the Company adopt a new form of Articles (the “Revised Articles”) to incorporate the provisions reflected in the amendments to the Act and to facilitate the Company being able to take advantage of certain mechanisms permitted by the legislation.
Key Provisions of Revised Articles
The following is a summary of certain key provisions contained in the Revised Articles that represent a change from the Existing Articles:
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A copy of the Revised Articles is attached as Appendix “B” to this Proxy Statement.
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The resolution to adopt the Revised Articles must be passed by not less than 75% of the votes cast by the shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Accordingly, the Company’s shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought advisable, to pass, with or without amendment, a special resolution as follows:
“BE IT RESOLVED, as a Special Resolution, THAT:
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BDO CANADA LLP AS GOLDEN QUEEN'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADOPTION OF NEW ARTICLES OF THE COMPANY.FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2011.
PROPOSAL 3
INCREASE OF AUTHORIZED CAPITAL
The Company proposes to alter its Notice of Articles to increase the Company’s authorized capital from 100,000,000 common shares without par value to 150,000,000 common shares without par value. The Company previously had also authorized 3,000,000 preferred shares without par value, however as no preferred shares are presently outstanding, no preferred shares will be included in the proposed alteration.
The Company currently has no specific proposals or agreements for offers or sales of its common shares. The Company expects that costs associated with developing a mine at its Soledad Mountain project may require additional equity financing. Any mine project financing or series of financings could result in the allotment of additional common shares that would exceed the Company’s current authorized capital. Accordingly, the Company believes that it is prudent to increase the authorized capital at this time.
The rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions applicable to the Company’s common shares will not be affected by the proposed change to the authorized capital. There are currently no provisions in the current or Revised Articles or agreements to which the Company is a party or is aware of, or any other facts or circumstances, that would give the Company a basis to conclude that the increase in authorized capital would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a potential change in control.
If shareholders of the Company approve the proposal to change the Company’s capital structure, the Company will file a Notice of Alteration, in the form attached hereto as Appendix “A”, with the British Columbia Registrar of Companies implementing the change in the Company’s capital structure.
The resolution to increase the authorized capital must be passed by not less than 75% of the votes cast by the shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Accordingly, the Company’s shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought advisable, to pass, with or without amendment, a special resolution as follows:
“BE IT RESOLVED, as a Special Resolution, THAT:
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY TO 150,000,000 COMMON SHARES.
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OTHER MATTERS
Golden Queen knows of no other matters that are likely to be brought before the Meeting. If, however, other matters not presently known or determined properly come before the Meeting, the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy card or their substitutes will vote such proxy in accordance with their discretion with respect to such matters.
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Meeting Materials sent to Beneficial Owners who have not waived the right to receive Meeting Materials are accompanied by a Voting Instruction Form (“VIF”). This form is instead of a proxy. By returning the VIF in accordance with the instructions noted on it, a Non-Registered Holder is able to instruct the Registered Shareholder how to vote on behalf of the Non-Registered Shareholder. VIF’s, whether provided by the Company or by an Intermediary, should be completed and returned in accordance with the specific instructions noted on the VIF.
In either case, the purpose of this procedure is to permit Non-Registered Holders to direct the voting of the shares which they beneficially own.Non-Registered Holders receiving a VIF cannot use that form to vote common shares directly at the Meeting - Non-Registered Holders should carefully follow the instructions set out in the VIF including those regarding when and where the VIF is to be delivered.Should a Non-Registered Holder who receives a VIF wish to attend the Meeting or have someone else attend on his/her behalf, the Non-Registered holder may request a legal proxy as set forth in the VIF, which will grant the Non-Registered Holder or his/her nominee the right to attend and vote at the Meeting.
Proposals which shareholders wish to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and proxy card for the 20112012 Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Secretary of Golden Queen by December 1, 2010,2011, and must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Division 7 of Part 5 of the B.C. Business Corporations Act.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
A COPY OF GOLDEN QUEEN’S COMBINED ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010 ACCOMPANIES THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND IS IN THE FORM ANNEXED TO THE PROXY STATEMENT AS APPENDIX “A”. AN ADDITIONAL COPY WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS OR SHAREHOLDERS OF RECORD UPON REQUEST TO INVESTOR RELATIONS, GOLDEN QUEEN MINING CO. LTD. AT 6411 IMPERIAL AVENUE, WEST VANCOUVER, BC, V7W 2J5.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 312rdthday of August, 2010.May, 2011.
8BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ H. Lutz Klingmann
H. Lutz Klingmann
President
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Appendix “B”
Incorporation Number:BC0300709
ARTICLES
OF
GOLDEN QUEEN MINING CO. LTD.
MORTON & COMPANY
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MORTON & COMPANY
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MORTON & COMPANY
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MORTON & COMPANY
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PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Business Corporations Act
Articles of “Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd.”(the “Company”)
1.INTERPRETATION
1.1Definitions
In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires:
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1.2Business Corporations Act and Interpretation Act Definitions Applicable
The definitions in theBusiness Corporations Act and the definitions and rules of construction in theInterpretation Act, with the necessary changes, so far as applicable, and unless the context requires otherwise, apply to and form a part of these Articles. If there is a conflict between a definition in theBusiness Corporations Act and a definition or rule in theInterpretation Act relating to a term used in these Articles, the definition in theBusiness Corporations Act will prevail in relation to the use of the term in these Articles. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between these Articles and theBusiness Corporations Act, theBusiness Corporations Act will prevail.
2.SHARES ANDSHARECERTIFICATES
2.1Authorized Share Structure
The authorized share structure of the Company consists of shares of the class or classes and series, if any, described in the Notice of Articles of the Company.
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2.2Form of Share Certificate
Each share certificate issued by the Company shall be in such form as the directors may determine and approve and must comply with, and be signed as required by, theBusiness Corporations Act.
2.3Shareholder Entitled to Certificate or Acknowledgment
Shares may be issued without a share certificate or written acknowledgment. Upon request, however, each shareholder is entitled, without charge, to (a) one share certificate representing the shares of each class or series of shares registered in the shareholder’s name or (b) a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain such a share certificate, provided that in respect of a share held jointly by several persons, the Company is not bound to issue more than one share certificate or acknowledgement and delivery of a share certificate or acknowledgement to one of several joint shareholders or to a duly authorized agent of one of the joint shareholders will be sufficient delivery to all.
2.4Delivery by Mail
Any share certificate or non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate may be sent to the shareholder by mail at the shareholder’s registered address and neither the Company nor any director, officer or agent of the Company is liable for any loss to the shareholder because the share certificate or acknowledgement is lost in the mail or stolen.
2.5Replacement of Worn Out or Defaced Certificate or Acknowledgement
If the directors are satisfied that a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is worn out or defaced, they must, on production to them of the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, and on such other terms, if any, as they think fit:
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2.6Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificate or Acknowledgment
If a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, must be issued to the person entitled to that share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, if the directors receive:
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2.7Splitting Share Certificates
If a shareholder surrenders a share certificate to the Company with a written request that the Company issue in the shareholder’s name two or more share certificates, each representing a specified number of shares and in the aggregate representing the same number of shares as the share certificate so surrendered, the Company must cancel the surrendered share certificate and issue replacement share certificates in accordance with that request.
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2.8Certificate Fee
There must be paid to the Company, in relation to the issue of any share certificate under Articles 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7, the amount, if any and which must not exceed the amount prescribed under theBusiness Corporations Act, determined by the directors.
2.9Recognition of Trusts
Except as required by law or statute or these Articles, no person will be recognized by the Company as holding any share upon any trust, and the Company is not bound by or compelled in any way to recognize (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or fraction of a share or (except as required by law or statute or these Articles or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the shareholder.
3.ISSUE OFSHARES
3.1Directors Authorized
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act and the rights, if any, of the holders of issued shares of the Company, the Company may issue, allot, sell or otherwise dispose of the unissued shares, and issued shares held by the Company, at the times, to the persons, including directors, in the manner, on the terms and conditions and for the issue prices (including any premium at which shares with par value may be issued) that the directors may determine. The issue price for a share with par value must be equal to or greater than the par value of the share.
3.2Commissions and Discounts
The Company may at any time pay a reasonable commission or allow a reasonable discount to any person in consideration of that person purchasing or agreeing to purchase shares of the Company from the Company or any other person or procuring or agreeing to procure purchasers for shares of the Company.
3.3Brokerage
The Company may pay such brokerage fee or other consideration as may be lawful for or in connection with the sale or placement of its securities.
3.4Conditions of Issue
Except as provided for by theBusiness Corporations Act, no share may be issued until it is fully paid. A share is fully paid when:
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3.5Share Purchase Warrants and Rights
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, the Company may issue share purchase warrants, options and rights upon such terms and conditions as the directors determine, which share purchase warrants, options and rights may be issued alone or in conjunction with debentures, debenture stock, bonds, shares or any other securities issued or created by the Company from time to time.
4.SHAREREGISTERS
4.1Central Securities Register
The Company must maintain a central securities register in accordance with the provisions of theBusiness Corporations Act. The directors may, subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, appoint an agent to maintain the central securities register. The directors may also appoint one or more agents, including the agent which keeps the central securities register, as transfer agent for its shares or any class or series of its shares, as the case may be, and the same or another agent as registrar for its shares or such class or series of its shares, as the case may be. The directors may terminate such appointment of any agent at any time and may appoint another agent in its place.
4.2Closing Register
The Company must not at any time close its central securities register.
5.SHARETRANSFERS
5.1Private Issuer Restrictions
The provisions of Article 27 shall apply to any proposed transfer of a share of the Company.
5.2Registering Transfers where Certificate or Acknowledgement
A transfer of a share of the Company for which a share certificate has been issued or for which the shareholder has received a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate must not be registered unless the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the class or series of share to be transferred has received:
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5.3Registering Transfers where no Certificate or Acknowledgement
A transfer of a share of the Company for which a share certificate has not been issued or for which the shareholder has not received a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate (for example, where shares are issued in book-only form), must not be registered unless the requirements for transfer as approved by the directors have been met.
5.4Form of Instrument of Transfer
The instrument of transfer in respect of any share of the Company must be either in the form, if any, on the back of the Company’s share certificates or in any other form that may be approved by the directors from time to time.
5.5Transferor Remains Shareholder
Except to the extent that theBusiness Corporations Act otherwise provides, the transferor of shares is deemed to remain the holder of the shares until the name of the transferee is entered in a securities register of the Company in respect of the transfer.
5.6Signing of Instrument of Transfer
If a shareholder, or his or her duly authorized attorney, signs an instrument of transfer in respect of shares registered in the name of the shareholder, the signed instrument of transfer constitutes a complete and sufficient authority to the Company and its directors, officers and agents to register the number of shares specified in the instrument of transfer or specified in any other manner, or, if no number is specified, all the shares represented by the share certificates or set out in the written acknowledgments deposited with the instrument of transfer:
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5.7Enquiry as to Title Not Required
Neither the Company nor any director, officer or agent of the Company is bound to inquire into the title of the person named in the instrument of transfer as transferee or, if no person is named as transferee in the instrument of transfer, of the person on whose behalf the instrument is deposited for the purpose of having the transfer registered or is liable for any claim related to registering the transfer by the shareholder or by any intermediate owner or holder of the shares, of any interest in the shares, of any share certificate representing such shares or of any written acknowledgment of a right to obtain a share certificate for such shares.
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5.8Transfer Agent
The Company may appoint one or more trust companies or agents as its transfer agent for the purpose of issuing, countersigning, registering, transferring and certifying the shares and share certificates of the Company.
5.9Transfer Fee
There must be paid to the Company, in relation to the registration of any transfer, the amount, if any, determined by the directors.
6.TRANSMISSION OFSHARES
6.1Legal Personal Representative Recognized on Death
In case of the death of a shareholder, the legal personal representative of the shareholder, in the case of shares registered in the shareholders’ name and the name of another person in joint tenancy, the surviving joint holder, will be the only person recognized by the Company as having any title to the shareholder’s interest in the shares. Before recognizing a person as a legal personal representative of a shareholder, the directors may require proof of appointment by a court of competent jurisdiction, a grant of letters probate, letters of administration or such other evidence or documents as the directors consider appropriate.
6.2Rights of Legal Personal Representative
Subject to Article 6.1, on death or bankruptcy, the legal personal representative of a shareholder has the same rights, privileges and obligations that attach to the shares held by the shareholder, including the right to transfer the shares in accordance with these Articles, provided the documents required by theBusiness Corporations Act and the directors have been deposited with the Company.
6.3Registration of Legal Personal Representative
Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a shareholder shall, upon such documents and evidence being produced to the Company as theBusiness Corporations Act requires, or who becomes entitled to a share as a result of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a statute, has the right either to be registered as a shareholder in his representative capacity in respect of such share, or, if he is a personal representative, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the share as the deceased or bankrupt person could have made; but the directors shall, as regards a transfer by a personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy, have the same right, if any, to decline or suspend registration of a transferee as they would have in the case of a transfer of a share by the deceased or bankrupt person before the death or bankruptcy.
7.PURCHASE ANDREDEMPTION OFSHARES
7.1Company Authorized to Purchase or Redeem Shares
Subject to Article 7.2, the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series and theBusiness Corporations Act, the Company may, if authorized by the directors, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares at the price and upon the terms the directors determine. The Company may, by a resolution of directors, cancel any of its shares purchased by the Company, and upon the cancellation of such shares the number of issued shares shall be reduced accordingly.
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7.2Purchase When Insolvent
The Company must not make a payment or provide any other consideration to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that:
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7.3Sale and Voting of Purchased Shares
If the Company retains a share purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired by it, the Company may sell, gift or otherwise dispose of the share, but, while such share is held by the Company, it:
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8.BORROWINGPOWERS
The Company, if authorized by the directors, may:
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Any bonds, debentures or other debt obligations of the Company may be issued at a discount, premium or otherwise, and with any special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawings, allotment of or conversion into or exchange for shares or other securities, attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment of directors or otherwise and may by their terms be assignable free from any equities between the Company and the person to whom they were issued or any subsequent holder thereof, all as the directors may determine.
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9.ALTERATIONS
9.1Alteration of Authorized Share Structure
Subject to Article 9.2 and theBusiness Corporations Act, the Company may:
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and alter its Articles and Notice of Articles accordingly.
9.2Special Rights and Restrictions
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, the Company may:
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and alter its Articles and Notice of Articles accordingly.
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9.3Change of Name
The Company may by directors’ resolution or by ordinary resolution, in each case as determined by the directors, authorize an alteration of its Notice of Articles in order to change its name.
9.4Other Alterations
The Company, save as otherwise provided by these Articles and subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, may:
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10.MEETINGS OFSHAREHOLDERS
10.1Annual General Meetings
Unless an annual general meeting is deferred or waived in accordance with theBusiness Corporations Act, the Company must hold its first annual general meeting within 18 months after the date on which it was incorporated or otherwise recognized, and thereafter must hold an annual general meeting at least once in each calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last annual reference date at such time and place as may be determined by the directors.
10.2Consent Resolution Instead of Meeting of Shareholders
If all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting consent by a unanimous resolution under theBusiness Corporations Act to all of the business that is required to be transacted at that annual general meeting, the annual general meeting is deemed to have been held on the date of the unanimous resolution. The shareholders must, in any unanimous resolution passed under this Article 10.2, select as the Company’s annual reference date a date that would be appropriate for the holding of the applicable annual general meeting.
10.3Calling of Meetings of Shareholders
The directors may, whenever they think fit, call a meeting of shareholders.
10.4Notice for Meetings of Shareholders
The Company must send notice of the date, time and location of any meeting of shareholders (including, without limitation, any notice specifying the intention to propose a resolution as an exceptional resolution, a special resolution or a special separate resolution and any notice of a general meeting, class meeting or series meeting or to consider approving the adoption of an amalgamation agreement, the approval of any amalgamation into a foreign jurisdiction or the approval of any arragement), in the manner provided in these Articles, or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by directors’ resolution (whether previous notice of the resolution has been given or not), to each shareholder entitled to attend the meeting, to each director and to the auditor of the Company, unless these Articles otherwise provide, at least the following number of days before the meeting:
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10.5A Notice of Resolution to Which Shareholders May Dissent
The Company must send to each of its shareholders, whether or not their shares carry the right to vote, a notice of any meeting of shareholders at which a resolution entitling shareholders to dissent is to be considered specifying the date of the meeting and containing a statement advising of the right to send a notice of dissent and a copy of the proposed resolution at lease the following number of days before the meeting:
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10.6Record Date for Notice
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting of shareholders. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is to be held by more than two months or, in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders under theBusiness Corporations Act, by more than four months. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is held by fewer than:
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If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.
10.7Record Date for Voting
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is to be held by more than two months or, in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders under theBusiness Corporations Act, by more than four months. If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the first date on which the notice is sent or, if no notice is sent, the beginning of the meeting.
10.8Failure to Give Notice and Waiver of Notice
The accidental omission to send notice of any meeting of shareholders to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any of the persons entitled to notice does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting. Any person entitled to notice of a meeting of shareholders may, in writing or otherwise, waive or reduce the period of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting of shareholders is a waiver of entitlement to notice of the meeting unless that person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
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10.9Notice of Special Business at Meetings of Shareholders
If a meeting of shareholders is to consider special business within the meaning of Article 11.1, the notice of meeting must:
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10.10Location of Meetings of Shareholders
The Company will hold meetings of shareholders in British Columbia, subject to the directors, by resolution, approving a location for such meetings outside of British Columbia.
11.PROCEEDINGS ATMEETINGS OFSHAREHOLDERS
11.1Special Business
At a meeting of shareholders, the following business is special business:
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11.2Majority Required for a Special Resolution
The majority of votes required for the Company to pass a special resolution at a general meeting of shareholders is two-thirds of the votes cast on the resolution.
11.3Quorum
Subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is one person present at the meeting representing in person or by proxy not less than 10% of the votes eligible to cast at such meeting.
11.4Other Persons May Attend
The directors, the president (if any), the secretary (if any), the assistant secretary (if any), any solicitor for the Company, the auditor of the Company and any other persons invited by the directors are entitled to attend any meeting of shareholders, but if any of those persons does attend a meeting of shareholders, that person is not to be counted in the quorum and is not entitled to vote at the meeting unless that person is a shareholder or proxy holder entitled to vote at the meeting.
11.5Requirement of Quorum
No business, other than the election of a chair of the meeting and the adjournment of the meeting, may be transacted at any meeting of shareholders unless a quorum of shareholders entitled to vote is present at the commencement of the meeting, but such quorum need not be present throughout the meeting.
11.6Lack of Quorum
If, within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of a meeting of shareholders, a quorum is not present:
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11.7Lack of Quorum at Succeeding Meeting
If, at the meeting to which the meeting referred to in Article 11.6(b) was adjourned, a quorum is not present within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of the meeting, the person or persons present and being, or representing by proxy, one or more shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the meeting constitute a quorum.
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11.8Chair
The following individuals are entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of shareholders:
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11.9Selection of Alternate Chair
If, at any meeting of shareholders, there is no chair of the board or president present within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting, or if the chair of the board and the president are unwilling to act as chair of the meeting, or if the chair of the board and the president have advised the secretary, if any, or any director present at the meeting, that they will not be present at the meeting, and the solicitor of the Company is absent or unwilling to act as chair of the meeting, the directors present must choose one of their number to be chair of the meeting or if all of the directors present decline to take the chair or fail to so choose or if no director is present, the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting who are present in person or by proxy may choose any person present at the meeting to chair the meeting.
11.10Adjournments
The chair of a meeting of shareholders may, and if so directed by the meeting must, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business may be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
11.11Notice of Adjourned Meeting
It is not necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting of shareholders or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting of shareholders except that, when a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given as in the case of the original meeting.
11.12Decisions by Show of Hands, Verbal Statements, or Poll
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, every motion put to a vote at a meeting of shareholders 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. In determining the result of a vote by show of hands, shareholders present by telephone or other communications medium in which all shareholders and proxy holders entitled to attend and participate in voting at the meeting are able to communicate with each other, may indicate their vote verbally or, otherwise in such manner as clearly evidences their vote and is accepted by the chair of the meeting.
11.13Declaration of Result
The chair of a meeting of shareholders must declare to the meeting the decision on every question in accordance with the result of the show of hands or the poll, as the case may be, and that decision must be entered in the minutes of the meeting. A declaration of the chair that a resolution is carried by the necessary majority or is defeated is, unless a poll is directed by the chair or demanded under Article 11.12, conclusive evidence without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
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11.14Motion Need Not be Seconded
No motion proposed at a meeting of shareholders need be seconded unless the chair of the meeting rules otherwise, and the chair of any meeting of shareholders is entitled to propose or second a motion.
11.15Casting Vote
In case of an equality of votes either on a show of hands or on a poll, the chair of a meeting of shareholders will have a second or casting vote in addition to the vote or votes to which the chair may be entitled as a shareholder.
11.16Manner of Taking Poll
Subject to Article 11.18, if a poll is duly demanded at a meeting of shareholders:
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11.17Demand for Poll on Adjournment
A poll demanded at a meeting of shareholders on a question of adjournment must be taken immediately at the meeting.
11.18Chair Must Resolve Dispute
In the case of any dispute as to the admission or rejection of a vote given on a poll, the chair of the meeting must determine the dispute, and his or her determination made in good faith is final and conclusive.
11.19Casting of Votes
On a poll, a shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not cast all the votes in the same way.
11.20No Demand for Poll on Election of Chair
No poll may be demanded in respect of the vote by which a chair of a meeting of shareholders is elected.
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11.21Demand for Poll Not to Prevent Continuance of Meeting
The demand for a poll at a meeting of shareholders does not, unless the chair of the meeting so rules, prevent the continuation of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which a poll has been demanded.
11.22Retention of Ballots and Proxies
The Company must, for at least three months after a meeting of shareholders, keep each ballot cast on a poll and each proxy voted at the meeting, and, during that period, make them available for inspection during normal business hours by any shareholder or proxyholder entitled to vote at the meeting. At the end of such three month period, the Company may destroy such ballots and proxies.
12.VOTES OFSHAREHOLDERS
12.1Number of Votes by Shareholder or by Shares
Subject to any special rights or restrictions attached to any shares and to the restrictions imposed on joint shareholders under Article 12.3:
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12.2Votes of Persons in Representative Capacity
A person who is not a shareholder may vote at a meeting of shareholders, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and may appoint a proxy holder to act at the meeting, if, before doing so, the person satisfies the chair of the meeting, or the directors, that the person is a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy for a shareholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting.
12.3Votes by Joint Holders
If there are joint shareholders registered in respect of any share:
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12.4Legal Personal Representatives as Joint Shareholders
Two or more legal personal representatives of a shareholder in whose sole name any share is registered are, for the purposes of Article 12.3, deemed to be joint shareholders registered in respect of that share.
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12.5Representative of a Corporate Shareholder
If a corporation, that is not a subsidiary of the Company, is a shareholder, that corporation may appoint a person to act as its representative at any meeting of shareholders of the Company, and:
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Evidence of the appointment of any such representative may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages.
12.6Proxy Provisions Do Not Apply to All Companies
Articles 12.7 to 12.15 do not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a public company or a pre-existing reporting company which has the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions as part of its Articles or to which the Statutory Reporting Company Provisions apply.
12.7Appointment of Proxy Holders
Every shareholder of the Company, including a corporation that is a shareholder but not a subsidiary of the Company, entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders may, by proxy, appoint one or more (but not more than five) proxy holders to attend and act at the meeting in the manner, to the extent and with the powers conferred by the proxy.
12.8Alternate Proxy Holders
A shareholder may appoint one or more alternate proxy holders to act in the place of an absent proxy holder.
12.9Proxy Holder Need Not Be Shareholder
A person who is appointed as a proxy holder need not be a shareholder of the Company.
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12.10Deposit of Proxy
A proxy for a meeting of shareholders must:
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A proxy may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages.
12.11Validity of Proxy Vote
A vote given in accordance with the terms of a proxy is valid notwithstanding the death or incapacity of the shareholder giving the proxy and despite the revocation of the proxy or the revocation of the authority under which the proxy is given, unless notice in writing of that death, incapacity or revocation is received:
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12.12Form of Proxy
A proxy, whether for a specified meeting or otherwise, must be either in the following form or in any other form approved by the directors or the chair of the meeting:
[name of company](the “Company”)
The undersigned, being a shareholder of the Company, hereby appoints[name]or, failing that person,[name], as proxy holder for the undersigned to attend, act and vote for and on behalf of the undersigned at the meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on[month, day, year] and at any adjournment of that meeting.
Number of shares in respect of which this proxy is given (if no number is specified, then this proxy if given in respect of all shares registered in the name of the shareholder): _____________________
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12.13Revocation of Proxy
Subject to Article 12.14, every proxy may be revoked by an instrument in writing that is:
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12.14Revocation of Proxy Must Be Signed
An instrument referred to in Article 12.13 must be signed as follows:
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12.15Production of Evidence of Authority to Vote
The chair of any meeting of shareholders may, but need not, inquire into the authority of any person to vote at the meeting and may, but need not, demand from that person production of evidence as to the existence of the authority to vote.
13.DIRECTORS
13.1First Directors; Number of Directors
If the Company is not a pre-existing company under theBusiness Corporations Act, the first directors are the persons designated as directors of the Company in the Notice of Articles that applies to the Company when it is recognized under theBusiness Corporations Act. The number of directors, excluding additional directors appointed under Article 14.8, is set at:
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13.2Change in Number of Directors
If the number of directors is set under Articles 13.1(b)(1) or 13.1(c)(1):
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13.3Directors’ Acts Valid Despite Vacancy
An act or proceeding of the directors is not invalid merely because fewer than the number of directors set or otherwise required under these Articles is in office.
13.4Qualifications of Directors
A director is not required to hold a share in the capital of the Company as qualification for his or her office but must be qualified as required by theBusiness Corporations Actto become, act or continue to act as a director.
13.5Remuneration of Directors
The directors are entitled to the remuneration for acting as directors, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine. If the directors so decide, the remuneration of the directors, if any, will be determined by the shareholders. That remuneration may be in addition to any salary or other remuneration paid to any officer or employee of the Company as such, who is also a director.
13.6Reimbursement of Expenses of Directors
The Company must reimburse each director for the reasonable expenses that he or she may incur in and about the business of the Company.
13.7Special Remuneration for Directors
If any director performs any professional or other services for the Company that in the opinion of the directors are outside the ordinary duties of a director, or if any director is otherwise specially occupied in or about the Company’s business, he or she may be paid remuneration fixed by the directors, or, at the option of that director, fixed by ordinary resolution, and such remuneration may be either in addition to, or in substitution for, any other remuneration that he or she may be entitled to receive.
13.8Gratuity, Pension or Allowance on Retirement of Director
Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any director who has held any salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his or her spouse or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.
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14.ELECTION ANDREMOVAL OFDIRECTORS
14.1Election at Annual General Meeting
At every annual general meeting and in every unanimous resolution contemplated by Article 10.2:
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14.2Consent to be a Director
No election, appointment or designation of an individual as a director is valid unless:
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14.3Failure to Elect or Appoint Directors
If:
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then each director then in office continues to hold office until the earlier of:
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14.4Places of Retiring Directors Not Filled
If, at any meeting of shareholders at which there should be an election of directors, the places of any of the retiring directors are not filled by that election, those retiring directors who are not re-elected and who are asked by the newly elected directors to continue in office will, if willing to do so, continue in office to complete the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles until further new directors are elected at a meeting of shareholders convened for that purpose. If any such election or continuance of directors does not result in the election or continuance of the number of directors for the time being set pursuant to these Articles, the number of directors of the Company is deemed to be set at the number of directors actually elected or continued in office.
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14.5Directors May Fill Casual Vacancies
Any casual vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by the directors.
14.6Remaining Directors’ Power to Act
The directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the board of directors, but if the Company has fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the directors may only act for the purpose of appointing directors up to that number or of calling a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of filling any vacancies on the board of directors or, subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, for any other purpose.
14.7Shareholders May Fill Vacancies
If the Company has no directors or fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, then failing the filling of any vacancies as set forth in Article 14.6, the shareholders may elect or appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the board of directors.
14.8Additional Directors
Notwithstanding Articles 13.1 and 13.2, between annual general meetings or resolutions contemplated by Article 10.2, the directors may appoint one or more additional directors, but the number of additional directors appointed under this Article 14.8 must not at any time exceed:
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Any director so appointed ceases to hold office immediately before the next election or appointment of directors under Article 14.1(1), but is eligible for re-election or re-appointment.
14.9Ceasing to be a Director
A director ceases to be a director when:
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14.10Removal of Director by Shareholders
The Company may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office by special resolution. In that event, the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill the resulting vacancy. If the shareholders do not elect or appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy contemporaneously with the removal, then the directors may appoint or the shareholders may elect, or appoint by ordinary resolution, a director to fill that vacancy.
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14.11Removal of Director by Directors
The directors may remove any director before the expiration of his or her term of office if the director is convicted of an indictable offence, or if the director ceases to be qualified to act as a director of a company and does not promptly resign, and the directors may appoint a director to fill the resulting vacancy.
15.ALTERNATEDIRECTORS
15.1Appointment of Alternate Director
Any director (an “appointor”) may by notice in writing received by the Company appoint any person (an “appointee”) who is qualified to act as a director to be his or her alternate to act in his or her place at meetings of the directors or committees of the directors at which the appointor is not present unless (in the case of an appointee who is not a director) the directors have reasonably disapproved the appointment of such person as an alternate director and have given notice to that effect to his or her appointor within a reasonable time after the notice of appointment is received by the Company.
15.2Notice of Meetings
Every alternate director so appointed is entitled to notice of meetings of the directors and of committees of the directors of which his or her appointor is a member and to attend and vote as a director at any such meetings at which his or her appointor is not present.
15.3Alternate for More Than One Director Attending Meetings
A person may be appointed as an alternate director by more than one director, and an alternate director:
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15.4Consent Resolutions
Every alternate director, if authorized by the notice appointing him or her, may sign in place of his or her appointor any resolutions to be consented to in writing.
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15.5Alternate Director Not an Agent
Every alternate director is deemed not to be the agent of his or her appointor.
15.6Revocation of Appointment of Alternate Director
An appointor may at any time, by notice in writing received by the Company, revoke the appointment of an alternate director appointed by him or her.
15.7Ceasing to be an Alternate Director
The appointment of an alternate director ceases when:
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15.8Remuneration and Expenses of Alternate Director
The Company may reimburse an alternate director for the reasonable expenses that would be properly reimbursed if he or she were a director, and the alternate director is entitled to receive from the Company such proportion, if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to the appointor as the appointor may from time to time direct.
16.POWERS ANDDUTIES OFDIRECTORS
16.1Powers of Management
The directors must, subject to theBusiness Corporations Act and these Articles, manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Company and have the authority to exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by theBusiness Corporations Actor by these Articles, required to be exercised by the shareholders of the Company.
16.2Appointment of Attorney of Company
The directors may from time to time, by power of attorney or other instrument, under seal if so required by law, appoint any person to be the attorney of the Company for such purposes, and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the directors under these Articles and excepting the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors, to remove a director, to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors, to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors and to declare dividends) and for such period, and with such remuneration and subject to such conditions as the directors may think fit. Any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection or convenience of persons dealing with such attorney as the directors think fit. Any such attorney may be authorized by the directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in him or her.
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16.3Setting the Remuneration of Auditors
The directors may from time to time set the remuneration of the auditors of the Company.
17.DISCLOSURE OFINTERESTS OFDIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
17.1Obligation to Account for Profits
A director or senior officer who holds a disclosable interest (as that term is used in theBusiness Corporations Act) in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter is liable to account to the Company for any profit that accrues to the director or senior officer under or as a result of the contract or transaction only if and to the extent provided in theBusiness Corporations Act.
17.2Restrictions on Voting by Reason of Interest
A director who holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter is not entitled to vote on any directors’ resolution to approve that contract or transaction, unless all the directors have a disclosable interest in that contract or transaction, in which case any or all of those directors may vote on such resolution.
17.3Interested Director Counted in Quorum
A director who holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter and who is present at the meeting of directors at which the contract or transaction is considered for approval may be counted in the quorum at the meeting whether or not the director votes on any or all of the resolutions considered at the meeting.
17.4Disclosure of Conflict of Interest or Property
A director or senior officer who holds any office or possesses any property, right or interest that could result, directly or indirectly, in the creation of a duty or interest that materially conflicts with that individual’s duty or interest as a director or senior officer, must disclose the nature and extent of the conflict as required by theBusiness Corporations Act.
17.5Director Holding Other Office in the Company
A director may hold any office or place of profit with the Company, other than the office of auditor of the Company, in addition to his or her office of director for the period and on the terms (as to remuneration or otherwise) that the directors may determine.
17.6No Disqualification
No director or intended director is disqualified by his or her office from contracting with the Company either with regard to the holding of any office or place of profit the director holds with the Company or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, and no contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which a director is in any way interested is liable to be voided for that reason.
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17.7Professional Services by Director or Officer
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, a director or officer, or any person in which a director or officer has an interest, may act in a professional capacity for the Company, except as auditor of the Company, and the director or officer or such person is entitled to remuneration for professional services as if that director or officer were not a director or officer.
17.8Director or Officer in Other Corporations
A director or officer may be or become a director, officer or employee of, or otherwise interested in, any person in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder or otherwise, and, subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, the director or officer is not accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him or her as director, officer or employee of, or from his or her interest in, such other person.
18.PROCEEDINGS OFDIRECTORS
18.1Meetings of Directors
The directors may meet together for the conduct of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit, and meetings of the directors held at regular intervals may be held at the place, at the time and on the notice, if any, as the directors may from time to time determine.
18.2Voting at Meetings
Questions arising at any meeting of directors are to be decided by a majority of votes and, in the case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting does not have a second or casting vote.
18.3Chair of Meetings
The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of directors:
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18.4Meetings by Telephone or Other Communications Medium
A director may participate in a meeting of the directors or of any committee of the directors:
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if all directors participating in the meeting, whether in person or by telephone or other communications medium, are able to communicate with each other. A director who participates in a meeting in a manner contemplated by this Article 18.4 is deemed for all purposes of theBusiness Corporations Act and these Articles to be present at the meeting and to have agreed to participate in that manner.
18.5Calling of Meetings
A director may, and the president, secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company, if any, on the request of a director must, call a meeting of the directors at any time.
18.6Notice of Meetings
Other than for meetings held at regular intervals as determined by the directors pursuant to Article 18.1, reasonable notice of each meeting of the directors, specifying the place, day and time of that meeting must be given to each of the directors and the alternate directors by any method set out in Article 24.1 or orally or by telephone.
18.7When Notice Not Required
It is not necessary to give notice of a meeting of the directors to a director or an alternate director if:
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18.8Meeting Valid Despite Failure to Give Notice
The accidental omission to give notice of any meeting of directors to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any director or alternate director, does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting.
18.9Waiver of Notice of Meetings
Any director or alternate director may send to the Company a document signed by him or her waiving notice of any past, present or future meeting or meetings of the directors and may at any time withdraw that waiver with respect to meetings held after that withdrawal. After sending a waiver with respect to all future meetings and until that waiver is withdrawn, no notice of any meeting of the directors need be given to that director and, unless the director otherwise requires by notice in writing to the Company, to his or her alternate director, and all meetings of the directors so held are deemed not to be improperly called or constituted by reason of notice not having been given to such director or alternate director. Attendance of a director or alternate director is a waiver of notice of the meeting unless that director or alternate director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
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18.10Quorum
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the directors may be set by the directors and, if not so set, is deemed to be set at a majority of the directors then in office or, if the number of directors is set at one, is deemed to be set at one director, and that director may constitute a meeting.
18.11Validity of Acts Where Appointment Defective
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, an act of a director or officer is not invalid merely because of an irregularity in the election or appointment or a defect in the qualification of that director or officer.
18.12Consent Resolutions in Writing
A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors consented to in writing by all of the directors entitled to vote on it, whether by signed document, fax, e-mail or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages, is as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors duly called and held. Such resolution may be in two or more counterparts which together are deemed to constitute one resolution in writing. A resolution passed in that manner is effective on the date stated in the resolution or on the latest date stated on any counterpart. A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors passed in accordance with this Article 18.12 is deemed to be a proceeding at a meeting of directors or of the committee of the directors and to be as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or of the committee of the directors that satisfies all the requirements of theBusiness Corporations Act and all the requirements of these Articles relating to meetings of the directors or of a committee of the directors.
19.EXECUTIVE ANDOTHERCOMMITTEES
19.1Appointment and Powers of Executive Committee
The directors may, by resolution, appoint an executive committee consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate, and this committee has, during the intervals between meetings of the board of directors, all of the directors’ powers, except:
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19.2Appointment and Powers of Other Committees
The directors may, by resolution:
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19.3Obligations of Committees
Any committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2, in the exercise of the powers delegated to it, must:
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19.4Powers of Board
The directors may, at any time, with respect to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2:
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19.5Committee Meetings
Subject to Article 19.3(a) and unless the directors otherwise provide in the resolution appointing the committee or in any subsequent resolution, with respect to a committee appointed under Articles 19.1 or 19.2:
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20.OFFICERS
20.1Directors May Appoint Officers
The directors may, from time to time, appoint such officers, if any, as the directors determine and the directors may, at any time, terminate any such appointment.
20.2Functions, Duties and Powers of Officers
The directors may, for each officer:
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20.3Qualifications
No officer may be appointed unless that officer is qualified in accordance with theBusiness Corporations Act. One person may hold more than one position as an officer of the Company. Any person appointed as the chair of the board or as a managing director must be a director. Any other officer need not be a director.
20.4Remuneration and Terms of Appointment
All appointments of officers are to be made on the terms and conditions and at the remuneration (whether by way of salary, fee, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) that the directors think fit and are subject to termination at the pleasure of the directors, and an officer may in addition to such remuneration be entitled to receive, after he or she ceases to hold such office or leaves the employment of the Company, a pension or gratuity.
21.INDEMNIFICATION
21.1Definitions
In this Article 21:
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21.2Mandatory Indemnification of Eligible Parties
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, the Company must indemnify a director, former director or alternate director of the Company and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Company must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding, provided that the obligation to indemnify against eligible penalties and pay expenses will not apply where such person has been compensated for such eligible penalties and expenses pursuant to a policy of insurance provided by the Company, in which case the obligation of the Company will be limited to payment of the different between the amount paid to such person pursuant to such policy of insurance and the amount of the eligible penalties and expenses. Each director and alternate director is deemed to have contracted with the Company on the terms of the indemnity contained in this Article 21.2.
21.3Indemnification of Other Persons
Subject to any restrictions in theBusiness Corporations Act, the Company may indemnify any person.
21.4Non-Compliance with Business Corporations Act
The failure of a director, alternate director or officer of the Company to comply with theBusiness Corporations Actor, these Articles or, if applicable, any formerCompanies Act or former Articles does not invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under this Part.
21.5Company May Purchase Insurance
The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives) who:
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against any liability incurred by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.
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22.DIVIDENDS
22.1Payment of Dividends Subject to Special Rights
The provisions of this Article 22 are subject to the rights, if any, of shareholders holding shares with special rights as to dividends.
22.2Declaration of Dividends
Subject to theBusiness Corporations Act, the directors may from time to time declare and authorize payment of such dividends as they may deem advisable.
22.3No Notice Required
The directors need not give notice to any shareholder of any declaration under Article 22.2.
22.4Record Date
The directors may set a date as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend. The record date must not precede the date on which the dividend is to be paid by more than two months. If no record date is set, the record date is 5 p.m. on the date on which the directors pass the resolution declaring the dividend.
22.5Manner of Paying Dividend
A resolution declaring a dividend may direct payment of the dividend wholly or partly in money or by the distribution of specific assets or of fully paid shares or of bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company or any other corporation, or in any one or more of those ways.
22.6Settlement of Difficulties
If any difficulty arises in regard to a distribution under Article 22.5, the directors may settle the difficulty as they deem advisable, and, in particular, may:
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22.7When Dividend Payable
Any dividend may be made payable on such date as is fixed by the directors.
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22.8Dividends to be Paid in Accordance with Number of Shares
All dividends on shares of any class or series of shares must be declared and paid according to the number of such shares held.
22.9Receipt by Joint Shareholders
If several persons are joint shareholders of any share, any one of them may give an effective receipt for any dividend, bonus or other money payable in respect of the share.
22.10Dividend Bears No Interest
No dividend bears interest against the Company.
22.11Fractional Dividends
If a dividend to which a shareholder is entitled includes a fraction of the smallest monetary unit of the currency of the dividend, that fraction may be disregarded in making payment of the dividend and that payment represents full payment of the dividend.
22.12Payment of Dividends
Any dividend or other distribution payable in cash in respect of shares may be paid by cheque, made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent, and mailed to the registered address of the shareholder, or in the case of joint shareholders, to the registered address of the joint shareholder who is first named on the central securities register, or to the person and to the registered address the shareholder or joint shareholders may direct in writing. The mailing of such cheque will, to the extent of the sum represented by the cheque (plus the amount of the tax required by law to be deducted), discharge all liability for the dividend unless such cheque is not paid on presentation or the amount of tax so deducted is not paid to the appropriate taxing authority.
22.13Capitalization of Retained Earnings or Surplus
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, the directors may from time to time capitalize any retained earnings or surplus of the Company and may from time to time issue, as fully paid, shares or any bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company as a dividend representing the retained earnings or surplus so capitalized or any part thereof.
23.DOCUMENTS,RECORDS ANDREPORTS
23.1Recording of Financial Affairs
The directors must cause adequate accounting records to be kept to record properly the financial affairs and condition of the Company and to comply with theBusiness Corporations Act.
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23.2Inspection of Accounting Records
Unless the directors determine otherwise, or unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, no shareholder of the Company is entitled to inspect or obtain a copy of any accounting records of the Company.
24.NOTICES
24.1Method of Giving Notice
Unless theBusiness Corporations Act or these Articles provides otherwise, a notice, statement, report or other record required or permitted by theBusiness Corporations Act or these Articles to be sent by or to a person may be sent by any one of the following methods:
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24.2Deemed Receipt of Mailing
A notice, statement, report or other record that is:
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24.3Certificate of Sending
A certificate signed by the secretary, if any, or other officer of the Company or of any other corporation acting in that capacity on behalf of the Company stating that a notice, statement, report or other record was sent in accordance with Article 24.1 is conclusive evidence of that fact.
24.4Notice to Joint Shareholders
A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the joint shareholders of a share by providing the notice to the joint shareholder first named in the central securities register in respect of the share.
24.5Notice to Legal Personal Representatives and Trustees
A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or incapacity of a shareholder by:
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24.6Undelivered Notices
If any record sent to a shareholder pursuant to Article 24.1 is returned on two consecutive occasions because the shareholder cannot be located, the Company shall not be required to send any further records to the shareholder until the shareholder informs the Company in writing of his or her new address.
25.SEAL
25.1Who May Attest Seal
Except as provided in Articles 25.2 and 25.3, the Company’s seal, if any, must not be impressed on any record except when that impression is attested by the signatures of:
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25.2Sealing Copies
For the purpose of certifying under seal a certificate of incumbency of the directors or officers of the Company or a true copy of any resolution or other document, despite Article 25.1, the impression of the seal may be attested by the signature of any director or officer or the signature of any other person as may be determined by the directors.
25.3Mechanical Reproduction of Seal
The directors may authorize the seal to be impressed by third parties on share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company as they may determine appropriate from time to time. To enable the seal to be impressed on any share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Company, whether in definitive or interim form, on which facsimiles of any of the signatures of the directors or officers of the Company are, in accordance with theBusiness Corporations Actor these Articles, printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced, there may be delivered to the person employed to engrave, lithograph or print such definitive or interim share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities one or more unmounted dies reproducing the seal and the chair of the board or any senior officer together with the secretary, treasurer, secretary-treasurer, an assistant secretary, an assistant treasurer or an assistant secretary-treasurer may in writing authorize such person to cause the seal to be impressed on such definitive or interim share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities by the use of such dies. Share certificates or bonds, debentures or other securities to which the seal has been so impressed are for all purposes deemed to be under and to bear the seal impressed on them.
26.MECHANICALREPRODUCTIONS OFSIGNATURES
26.1Instruments may be Mechanically Signed
The signature of any officer, director, registrar, branch registrar, transfer agent or branch transfer agent of the Company, unless otherwise required by theBusiness Corporations Act or by these Articles, may, if authorized by the directors, be printed, lithographed, engraved or otherwise mechanically reproduced upon all instruments executed or issued by the Company or any officer thereof; and any instrument on which the signature of any such person is so reproduced shall be deemed to have been manually signed by such person whose signature is so reproduced and shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if such instrument had been signed manually, and notwithstanding that the person whose signature is so reproduced may have ceased to hold the office that he is stated on such instrument to hold at the date or issue of such instrument.
26.2Definitions of Instruments
The term "instrument" as used in Article 26.1 shall include deeds, mortgages, hypothecs, charges, conveyances, transfers and assignments of property, real or personal, agreements, releases, receipts and discharges for the payment of money or other obligations, shares and share warrants of the Company, bonds, debentures and other debt obligations of the Company, and all paper writings.
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27.PROHIBITIONS
27.1Definitions
In this Article 27:
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27.2Application
Article 27.3 does not apply to the Company if and for so long as it is a:
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27.3Consent Required for Transfer of Shares or Designated Securities
No share or designated security may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without the consent of the directors and the directors are not required to give any reason for refusing to consent to any such sale, transfer or other disposition.
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