CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Transactions with Related Parties
Other than the director and executive compensation arrangements discussed above in “Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation,” and as set out below, there have not been any transactions since January 1, 2022, to which we have been or will be a participant, in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of any class of our voting shares, or any member of the immediate family of, or person sharing the household with, any of these individuals, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
On November 30, 2022, the Company closed a private placement of 8,667,449 Common Shares at a subscription price of $0.32 (the “Subscription Price”) for aggregate gross consideration of $2.8 million (the “Private Placement”) with its two largest shareholders, 22 NW Fund, LP (“22NW”) and 726 BC LLC and 726 BF LLC (together “726”) and all of the Company’s directors and officers, including 638,996 Common Shares issued at a deemed per share price equal to the Subscription Price, as reimbursement for the costs incurred by 726 in connection with the Company’s contested director elections in 2022.
On March 15, 2023, the Company entered into the Debt Settlement Agreement with 22NW. Pursuant to the Debt Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse 22NW for the Debt related to the 2022 Meeting, being $1,559,898, in exchange for a release of (i) the Company from any claims for reimbursement of expenses incurred by 22NW in relation to the 2022 Meeting; and (ii) the Company’s present and future directors, officers and employees of and from all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues, controversies, accounts, bonds, bills, covenants, contracts, agreements, judgments, claims, costs, obligations, charges, security interests and demands whatsoever, in law or in equity, which may be related to any claims 22NW now has, ever had or hereafter can, shall or may have against the Company for or by reason of or in any way arising, directly or indirectly, out of the 2022 Meeting.
Pursuant to the Debt Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to repay the Debt by either, or a combination of, (a) a cash payment or (b) the issuance of equity securities of the Company to 22NW.
In connection with the entry into the Debt Settlement Agreement, on March 15, 2023, the Company entered into the Share Issuance Agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to repay the Debt with the issuance of 3,899,745 Common Shares to 22NW at a deemed price of $0.40 per Common Share, subject to shareholder approval at the Meeting.
As of March 24, 2023, 22NW is the Company’s largest shareholder and beneficially owns 19,234,034 Common Shares, representing approximately 19.5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares. If approved, the issuance of 3,899,745 Common Shares to 22NW would result in 22NW beneficially owning and controlling 23,133,779 Common Shares, representing approximately 23.5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares. Aron English, who is the principal of 22NW Fund, LP, is also a director of the Company. Aron English is also a director of the Company. The terms of the Common Shares issued in the Share Issuance, if approved, will be identical to the Common Shares held by all other shareholders of the Company, including with respect to voting rights, dividend rights, liquidation rights and preemption rights. The Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Agreement will be offered and sold in reliance upon an exemption from registration provided under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and under National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions.
Related Party Transactions Policy
The Company has adopted a written Related Party Transactions Policy, which provides that our Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing “related party transactions,” which are transactions, arrangements or relationships (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships), to which we are a party, in which the aggregate amount involved exceeds or may be expected to exceed $120,000 and in which a related person has, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. For purposes of this policy, a “related person” is defined to include a director, executive officer, nominee for director and greater than 5% beneficial owner of our voting securities, in each case since the beginning of the most recently completed year, and any of their immediate family members. In determining whether to approve or ratify any such transaction, the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee will take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, (i) whether the transaction is on terms comparable to the terms generally available to unaffiliated third parties under the same or similar circumstances and (ii) the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction.
All of the transactions described above in “—Transactions with Related Parties” were approved in accordance with the foregoing policies and procedures.
Interest of Informed Persons in Material Transactions
Management is not aware of any material interest, direct or indirect, of any informed person of the Company, any proposed director or any associate or affiliate of any informed person or proposed director in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, or in any proposed transaction, that has materially affected or would materially affect the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.
Indebtedness of Directors and Executive Officers
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, no current or proposed director, executive officer, other corporate officer or employee of the Company, or any former director, executive officer, other corporate officer or employee of the Company, or any associate of any of the foregoing, is, or has been at any time during 2022, indebted to the Company or its subsidiaries, either in connection with the purchase of securities of the Company or otherwise.
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