As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2024

Registration No. 333-    

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

AURORA CANNABIS INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

British Columbia, Canada   Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2207 90B St. SW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6X 1V8

Canada

Tel: (855) 279-4652

(Address, including zip code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Share Option Plan

Non-Employee Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan

Performance Share Unit Plan

Restricted Share Unit Plan

(Full title of the plans)

PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES

850 Library Avenue

Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

(302) 738-6680

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

COPIES TO:

 

Nathalie Clark

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2207 90B St. SW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6X 1V8

Canada

Tel: (855) 279-4652

 

Adam M. Givertz

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY

10019

Tel: (212) 373-3000

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1.

Plan Information.

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in each of the Share Option Plan, Non-Employee Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan, Performance Share Unit Plan and Restricted Share Unit Plan of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Registrant”), as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission, but each such document constitutes, along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 2.

Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The Registrant will furnish without charge to each person to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference to the information that is incorporated). Those documents are incorporated by reference in each Section 10(a) prospectus. The Registrant will also furnish without charge to any person to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, all other documents required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act. Requests should be directed to the General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Aurora Cannabis Inc. at 2207 90B St. SW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6X 1V8, telephone: (855) 279-4652.


PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed with or furnished to the Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

1. The Registrant’s annual report on Form 40-F filed with the Commission on June 20, 2024 (Commission File No. 001-38691).

2. The Registrant’s reports on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on July 5, 2024, July 9, 2024, July  26, 2024, August 6, 2024, August 7, 2024, August 12, 2024, August  26, 2024, September 17, 2024 and September 20, 2024.

3. The description of the common shares of the Registrant contained under the section captioned “Item 1. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered” in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 24, 2021 (Commission File No. 001-38691), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part thereof from the date of filing of such documents. Also, the Registrant may incorporate by reference its future reports on Form 6-K by stating in those Form 6-Ks that they are being incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities.

Not Applicable.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not Applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (“we”, “us” or “our company”) is subject to the provisions of Part 5, Division 5 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Act”).

Under Section 160 of the Act, we may, subject to Section 163 of the Act:

(a) indemnify an individual who:

(i) is or was a director or officer of our company,

(ii) is or was a director or officer of another corporation (A) at a time when such corporation is or was an affiliate of our company; or (B) at our request, or

(iii) at our request, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity,


including, subject to certain limited exceptions, the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of that individual (collectively, an “eligible party”), against all eligible penalties, defined below, to which the eligible party is or may be liable; and

(b) after final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding, where:

(i) “eligible penalty” means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding,

(ii) “eligible proceeding” means a proceeding in which an eligible party or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, our company or an associated corporation (A) is or may be joined as a party, or (B) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding,

(iii) “expenses” includes costs, charges and expenses, including legal and other fees, but does not include judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement of a proceeding, and

(iv) “proceeding” includes any legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed.

Under Section 161 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, we must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding if the eligible party (a) has not been reimbursed for those expenses, and (b) is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding.

Under Section 162 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, we may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of the proceeding, provided that we must not make such payments unless we first receive from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited under Section 163 of the Act, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.

Under Section 163 of the Act, we must not indemnify an eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable or pay the expenses of an eligible party in respect of that proceeding under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, if any of the following circumstances apply:

(a) if the indemnity or payment is made under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the agreement to indemnify or pay expenses was made, we were prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by our memorandum or articles;

(b) if the indemnity or payment is made otherwise than under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the indemnity or payment is made, we are prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by our memorandum or articles;

(c) if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of our company or the associated corporation, as the case may be; or

(d) in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party’s conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful.

If an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of our company or by or on behalf of an associated corporation, we must not either indemnify the eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable, or pay the expenses of the eligible party under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, in respect of the proceeding.


Under Section 164 of the Act, and despite any other provision of Part 5, Division 5 of the Act and whether or not payment of expenses or indemnification has been sought, authorized or declined under Part 5, Division 5 of the Act, on application of our company or an eligible party, the court may do one or more of the following:

(a) order us to indemnify an eligible party against any liability incurred by the eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;

(b) order us to pay some or all of the expenses incurred by an eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;

(c) order the enforcement of, or any payment under, an agreement of indemnification entered into by us;

(d) order us to pay some or all of the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any person in obtaining an order under Section 164 of the Act; or

(e) make any other order the court considers appropriate.

Section 165 of the Act provides that we may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an eligible party or the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party against any liability that may be incurred by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, our company or an associated corporation.

Under Part 21.2 of our articles, and subject to the Act, we must indemnify an eligible party and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and we must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each eligible party is deemed to have contracted with our company on the terms of the indemnity contained in our articles.

Under Part 21.3 of our articles, and subject to the Act, we may agree to indemnify and may indemnify any person (including an eligible party) against eligible penalties and pay expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services by that person for our company. We have entered into indemnity agreements with certain of our directors and officers.

Under Part 21.4 of our articles, we may advance expenses to an eligible party to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the Act.

Pursuant to Part 21.5 of our articles, the failure of an eligible party of our company to comply with the Act, our articles or, if applicable, any former Companies Act or former articles does not, of itself, invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under our articles.

Under Part 21.6 of our articles, we may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any eligible party (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives of any eligible party) against any liability incurred by any eligible party.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Item 7.

Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not Applicable.

 

Item 8.

Exhibits.

The exhibits listed under the caption “Exhibits Index” of this Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein.


Item 9.

Undertakings.

The Registrant hereby undertakes:

(a)(1) To file during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that, paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement;

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered hereby which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering hereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on the 20th day of September, 2024.

 

AURORA CANNABIS INC.
By:   /s/ Simona King
 

Name: Simona King

Title:  Chief Financial Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Miguel Martin, Simona King and Nathalie Clark, or any of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each of whom may act alone, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents and in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all his or her said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

This Power of Attorney may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which taken together shall constitute one instrument.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Miguel Martin

Miguel Martin

  

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman

(Principal Executive Officer)

  September 20, 2024

/s/ Simona King

Simona King

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  September 20, 2024

/s/ Ronald Funk

Ronald Funk

  

Lead Independent Director

  September 20, 2024

/s/ Norma Beauchamp

Norma Beauchamp

  

Director

  September 20, 2024

/s/ Theresa Firestone

Theresa Firestone

  

Director

  September 20, 2024

/s/ Chitwant Kohli

Chitwant Kohli

  

Director

  September 20, 2024

/s/ Michael Singer

Michael Singer

  

Director

  September 20, 2024

/s/ Rajesh Uttamchandani

Rajesh Uttamchandani

  

Director

  September 20, 2024


AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned has signed this Registration Statement, solely in the capacity of the duly authorized representative of Aurora Cannabis Inc. in the United States, on the 20th day of September, 2024.

 

PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES

Authorized representative in the United States

By:   /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
 

Name: Donald J. Puglisi

Title:  Managing Director

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

Previous Articles are cancelled and current Articles are adopted by special resolution of the Shareholders on November 30, 2018 and received for deposit on December 18, 2018 at 3:15 PM Pacific Time.

 

         

 

Incorporation number: BC0777982

BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT

(British Columbia)

ARTICLES

of

AURORA CANNABIS INC.

(the “Company”)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART 1 INTERPRETATION

     1  

PART 2 SHARES AND SHARE CERTIFICATES

     2  

PART 3 ISSUE OF SHARES

     4  

PART 4 SHARE REGISTERS

     5  

PART 5 SHARE TRANSFERS

     5  

PART 6 TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

     6  

PART 7 PURCHASE, REDEEM OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE SHARES

     7  

PART 8 BORROWING POWERS

     8  

PART 9 ALTERATIONS

     9  

PART 10 MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

     10  

PART 11 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

     12  

PART 12 VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS

     17  

PART 13 DIRECTORS

     21  

PART 14 ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

     23  

PART 15 ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

     30  

PART 16 POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS

     32  

PART 17 INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     32  

PART 18 PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS

     34  

PART 19 EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES

     36  

PART 20 OFFICERS

     38  

PART 21 INDEMNIFICATION

     39  

PART 22 DIVIDENDS

     41  


PART 23 ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND AUDITORS

     42  

PART 24 NOTICES

     43  

PART 25 SEAL

     45  

PART 26 SPECIAL RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS

     46  

 

- ii -


Incorporation Number: BC0777982

BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT

(British Columbia)

ARTICLES

of

AURORA CANNABIS INC.

(the “Company”)

PART 1

INTERPRETATION

Definitions

1.1 In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Act” means the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) from time to time in force and all amendments thereto and includes all regulations and amendments thereto made pursuant to that Act;

(b) “board of directors”, “directors” and “board” mean the directors or sole director of the Company for the time being;

(c) “Interpretation Act” means the Interpretation Act (British Columbia) from time to time in force and all amendments thereto and includes all regulations and amendments thereto made pursuant to that Act;

(d) “legal personal representative” means the personal or other legal representative of the shareholder;

(e) “registered address” of a shareholder means the shareholder’s address as recorded in the central securities register;

(f) “seal” means the seal of the Company, if any;

(g) “share” means a share in the share structure of the Company; and

(h) “special majority” means the majority of votes described in §11.2 which is required to pass a special resolution.


Act and Interpretation Act Definitions Applicable

1.2 The definitions in the Act and the definitions and rules of construction in the Interpretation Act, with the necessary changes, so far as applicable, and except as the context requires otherwise, apply to these Articles as if they were an enactment. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between a definition in the Act and a definition or rule in the Interpretation Act relating to a term used in these Articles, the definition in the Act will prevail. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between these Articles and the Act, the Act will prevail.

PART 2

SHARES AND SHARE CERTIFICATES

Authorized Share Structure

2.1 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.

Form of Share Certificate

2.2 Each share certificate issued by the Company must comply with, and be signed as required by, the Act.

Shareholder Entitled to Certificate, Acknowledgment or Written Notice

2.3 Unless the shares of which the shareholder is the registered owner are uncertificated shares, each shareholder is entitled on request, 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 acknowledgment and delivery of a share certificate or acknowledgment for a share to one of several joint shareholders or to one of the shareholders’ duly authorized agents will be sufficient delivery to all. If a shareholder is the registered owner of uncertificated shares, the Company must send to a holder of an uncertificated share a written notice containing the information required by the Act within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of such share.

Delivery by Mail

2.4 Any share certificate or non-transferable written acknowledgment of a shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate, or written notice of the issue or transfer of an uncertificated share may be sent to the shareholder by mail at the shareholder’s registered address or the shareholder’s duly authorized agent 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, acknowledgement or written notice is lost in the mail or stolen.

 

- 2 -


Replacement of Worn Out or Defaced Certificate or Acknowledgement

2.5 If a share certificate or a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate is worn out or defaced, the Company must, on production of the share certificate or acknowledgment, as the case may be, and on such other terms, if any, as are deemed fit:

(a) cancel the share certificate or acknowledgment; and

(b) issue a replacement share certificate or acknowledgment.

Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificate or Acknowledgment

2.6 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, if the requirements of the Act are satisfied, as the case may be, if the directors receive:

(a) proof satisfactory to it of the loss, theft or destruction; and

(b) any indemnity the directors consider adequate.

Splitting Share Certificates

2.7 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.

Certificate Fee

2.8 There must be paid to the Company, in relation to the issue of any share certificate under §2.5, §2.6 or §2.7, the amount, if any, not exceeding the amount prescribed under the Act, determined by the directors.

Recognition of Trusts

2.9 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 -


PART 3

ISSUE OF SHARES

Directors Authorized

3.1 Subject to the Act and the rights, if any, of the holders of issued shares of the Company, the Company may allot, issue, 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 consideration (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.

Commissions and Discounts

3.2 The Company may at any time pay a reasonable commission or allow a reasonable discount to any person in consideration of that person’s purchase or agreement to purchase shares of the Company from the Company or any other person’s procurement or agreement to procure purchasers for shares of the Company.

Brokerage

3.3 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.

Conditions of Issue

3.4 Except as provided for by the Act, no share may be issued until it is fully paid. A share is fully paid when:

(a) consideration is provided to the Company for the issue of the share by one or more of the following:

(i) past services performed for the Company;

(ii) property;

(iii) money; and

(b) the value of the consideration received by the Company equals or exceeds the issue price set for the share under §3.1.

Share Purchase Warrants and Rights

3.5 Subject to the 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 -


PART 4

SHARE REGISTERS

Central Securities Register

4.1 As required by and subject to the Act, the Company must maintain in British Columbia a central securities register and may appoint an agent to maintain such register. The directors may appoint one or more agents, including the agent appointed to keep the central securities register, as transfer agent for shares or any class or series of shares and the same or another agent as registrar for shares or such class or series of 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.

PART 5

SHARE TRANSFERS

Registering Transfers

5.1 A transfer of a share must not be registered unless the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the class or series of shares to be transferred has received:

(a) except as exempted by the Act, a written instrument of transfer in respect of the share has been received by the Company (which may be a separate document or endorsed on the share certificate for the shares transferred) made by the shareholder or other appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of that person;

(b) if a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that share certificate;

(c) if a non-transferable written acknowledgment of the shareholder’s right to obtain a share certificate has been issued by the Company in respect of the share to be transferred, that acknowledgment; and

(d) such other evidence, if any, as the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the class or series of share to be transferred may require to prove the title of the transferor or the transferor’s right to transfer the share, that the written instrument of transfer is genuine and the right of the transferee to have the transfer registered.

Form of Instrument of Transfer

5.2 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 or by the transfer agent or registrar for those shares.

 

- 5 -


Transferor Remains Shareholder

5.3 Except to the extent that the Act otherwise provides, the transferor of a share is deemed to remain the holder of it until the name of the transferee is entered in a securities register of the Company in respect of the transfer.

Signing of Instrument of Transfer

5.4 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, or if the shares are uncertificated shares, then all of the shares registered in the name of the shareholder on the central securities register:

(a) in the name of the person named as transferee in that instrument of transfer; or

(b) if no person is named as transferee in that instrument of transfer, in the name of the person on whose behalf the instrument is deposited for the purpose of having the transfer registered.

Enquiry as to Title Not Required

5.5 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 transferred, of any interest in such shares, of any share certificate representing such shares or of any written acknowledgment of a right to obtain a share certificate for such shares.

Transfer Fee

5.6 There must be paid to the Company, in relation to the registration of a transfer, the amount, if any, determined by the directors.

PART 6

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

Legal Personal Representative Recognized on Death

6.1 In case of the death of a shareholder, the legal personal representative of the shareholder, or in the case of shares registered in the shareholder’s 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 Company shall receive the documentation required by the Act.

 

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Rights of Legal Personal Representative

6.2 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 the Act and the directors have been deposited with the Company. This §6.2 does not apply in the case of the death of a shareholder with respect to shares registered in the name of the shareholder and the name of another person in joint tenancy.

PART 7

PURCHASE, REDEEM OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE SHARES

Company Authorized to Purchase, Redeem or Otherwise Acquire Shares

7.1 Subject to §7.2, to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series and to the 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 determined by the directors.

Purchase When Insolvent

7.2 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:

(a) the Company is insolvent; or

(b) making the payment or providing the consideration would render the Company insolvent.

Sale and Voting of Purchased Shares, Redeemed or Otherwise Acquired Shares

7.3 If the Company retains a share redeemed, purchased 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:

(a) is not entitled to vote the share at a meeting of its shareholders;

(b) must not pay a dividend in respect of the share; and

(c) must not make any other distribution in respect of the share.

 

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Company Entitled to Purchase or Redeem Share Fractions

7.4 The Company may, without prior notice to the holders, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for fair value any and all outstanding share fractions of any class or kind of shares in its authorized share structure as may exist at any time and from time to time. Upon the Company delivering the purchase funds and confirmation of purchase or redemption of the share fractions to the holders’ registered or last known address, or if the Company has a transfer agent then to such agent for the benefit of and forwarding to such holders, the Company shall thereupon amend its central securities register to reflect the purchase or redemption of such share fractions and if the Company has a transfer agent, shall direct the transfer agent to amend the central securities register accordingly. Any holder of a share fraction, who upon receipt of the funds and confirmation of purchase or redemption of same, disputes the fair value paid for the fraction, shall have the right to apply to the court to request that it set the price and terms of payment and make consequential orders and give directions the court considers appropriate, as if the Company were the “acquiring person” as contemplated by Division 6, Compulsory Acquisitions, under the Act and the holder were an “offeree” subject to the provisions contained in such Division, mutatis mutandis.

PART 8

BORROWING POWERS

8.1 The Company, if authorized by the directors, may:

(a) borrow money in the manner and amount, on the security, from the sources and on the terms and conditions that they consider appropriate;

(b) issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations either outright or as security for any liability or obligation of the Company or any other person and at such discounts or premiums and on such other terms as the directors consider appropriate;

(c) guarantee the repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person; and

(d) mortgage, charge, whether by way of specific or floating charge, grant a security interest in, or give other security on, the whole or any part of the present and future assets and undertaking of the Company.

 

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PART 9

ALTERATIONS

Alteration of Authorized Share Structure

9.1 Subject to §9.2 and the Act, the Company may by ordinary resolution (or a resolution of the directors in the case of §9.1(c) or §9.1(f)):

(a) create one or more classes or series of shares or, if none of the shares of a class or series of shares are allotted or issued, eliminate that class or series of shares;

(b) increase, reduce or eliminate the maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares or establish a maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares for which no maximum is established;

(c) subdivide or consolidate all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares;

(d) if the Company is authorized to issue shares of a class of shares with par value:

(i) decrease the par value of those shares; or

(ii) if none of the shares of that class of shares are allotted or issued, increase the par value of those shares;

(e) change all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares with par value into shares without par value or any of its unissued shares without par value into shares with par value;

(f) alter the identifying name of any of its shares; or

(g) otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure when required or permitted to do so by the Act where it does not specify by a special resolution;

and, if applicable, alter its Notice of Articles and Articles accordingly.

Special Rights and Restrictions

9.2 Subject to the Act and in particular those provisions of the Act relating to the rights of holders of outstanding shares to vote if their rights are prejudiced or interfered with, the Company may by ordinary resolution:

(a) create special rights or restrictions for, and attach those special rights or restrictions to, the shares of any class or series of shares, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued; or

(b) vary or delete any special rights or restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued,

and alter its Notice of Articles and Articles accordingly.

 

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Change of Name

9.3 The Company may by directors resolution authorize an alteration of its Notice of Articles in order to change its name or adopt or change any translation of that name.

Other Alterations

9.4 If the Act does not specify the type of resolution and these Articles do not specify another type of resolution, the Company may by ordinary resolution alter these Articles.

PART 10

MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Annual General Meetings

10.1 Unless an annual general meeting is deferred or waived in accordance with the 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 after that 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.

Resolution Instead of Annual General Meeting

10.2 If all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting consent in writing by a unanimous resolution 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 §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.

Calling of Meetings of Shareholders

10.3 The directors may, at any time, call a meeting of shareholders.

Notice for Meetings of Shareholders

10.4 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 to consider approving an amalgamation into a foreign jurisdiction, an arrangement or the adoption of an amalgamation agreement, and any notice of a general meeting, class meeting or series meeting), in the manner provided in these Articles, or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by ordinary 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:

(a) if the Company is a public company, 21 days;

(b) otherwise, 10 days.

 

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Record Date for Notice

10.5 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 the Act, by more than four months. The record date must not precede the date on which the meeting is held by fewer than:

(a) if the Company is a public company, 21 days;

(b) otherwise, 10 days.

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.

Record Date for Voting

10.6 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 the 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.

Failure to Give Notice and Waiver of Notice

10.7 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 that entitlement or may agree to reduce the period of that notice. 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.

Notice of Special Business at Meetings of Shareholders

10.8 If a meeting of shareholders is to consider special business within the meaning of §11.1, the notice of meeting must:

(a) state the general nature of the special business; and

 

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(b) if the special business includes considering, approving, ratifying, adopting or authorizing any document or the signing of or giving of effect to any document, have attached to it a copy of the document or state that a copy of the document will be available for inspection by shareholders:

(i) at the Company’s records office, or at such other reasonably accessible location in British Columbia as is specified in the notice; and

(ii) during statutory business hours on any one or more specified days before the day set for the holding of the meeting.

Place of Meetings

10.9 In addition to any location in British Columbia, any general meeting may be held in any location outside British Columbia approved by a resolution of the directors.

PART 11

PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Special Business

11.1 At a meeting of shareholders, the following business is special business:

(a) at a meeting of shareholders that is not an annual general meeting, all business is special business except business relating to the conduct of or voting at the meeting;

(b) at an annual general meeting, all business is special business except for the following:

(i) business relating to the conduct of or voting at the meeting;

(ii) consideration of any financial statements of the Company presented to the meeting;

(iii) consideration of any reports of the directors or auditor;

(iv) the setting or changing of the number of directors;

(v) the election or appointment of directors;

(vi) the appointment of an auditor;

(vii) the setting of the remuneration of an auditor;

(viii) business arising out of a report of the directors not requiring the passing of a special resolution or an exceptional resolution;

(ix) any other business which, under these Articles or the Act, may be transacted at a meeting of shareholders without prior notice of the business being given to the shareholders.

 

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Special Majority

11.2 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.

Quorum

11.3 Subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, and to §11.4, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is two persons who are, or who represents by proxy, one or more shareholders who, in the aggregate, hold at least five percent of the issued shares entitled to be voted at the meeting.

One Shareholder May Constitute Quorum

11.4 If there is only one shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders:

(a) the quorum is one person who is, or who represents by proxy, that shareholder, and

(b) that shareholder, present in person or by proxy, may constitute the meeting.

Persons Entitled to Attend Meeting

11.5 In addition to those persons who are entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders, the only other persons entitled to be present at the meeting are the directors, the president (if any), the secretary (if any), the assistant secretary (if any), any lawyer for the Company, the auditor of the Company, any persons invited to be present at the meeting by the directors or by the chair of the meeting and any persons entitled or required under the Act or these Articles to be present at the meeting; but if any of those persons does attend the meeting, 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.

Requirement of Quorum

11.6 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.

 

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Lack of Quorum

11.7 If, within one-half hour from the time set for the holding of a meeting of shareholders, a quorum is not present:

(a) in the case of a general meeting requisitioned by shareholders, the meeting is dissolved, and

(b) in the case of any other meeting of shareholders, the meeting stands adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place.

Lack of Quorum at Succeeding Meeting

11.8 If, at the meeting to which the meeting referred to in §11.7(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 shall be deemed to constitute a quorum.

Chair

11.9 The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of shareholders:

(a) the chair of the board, if any; or

(b) if the chair of the board is absent or unwilling to act as chair of the meeting, the president, if any.

Selection of Alternate Chair

11.10 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, the directors present may choose either one of their number or the solicitor of the Company to be chair of the meeting. If all of the directors present decline to take the chair or fail to so choose or if no director is present or the solicitor of the Company declines to take the chair, 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.

Adjournments

11.11 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.

 

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Notice of Adjourned Meeting

11.12 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.

Decisions by Show of Hands or Poll

11.13 Subject to the 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 any shareholder entitled to vote who is present in person or by proxy.

Declaration of Result

11.14 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 §11.13, conclusive evidence without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.

Motion Need Not be Seconded

11.15 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.

Casting Vote

11.16 In case of an equality of votes, the chair of a meeting of shareholders does not, either on a show of hands or on a poll, have a second or casting vote in addition to the vote or votes to which the chair may be entitled as a shareholder.

Manner of Taking Poll

11.17 Subject to §11.18, if a poll is duly demanded at a meeting of shareholders:

(a) the poll must be taken:

(i) at the meeting, or within seven days after the date of the meeting, as the chair of the meeting directs; and

(ii) in the manner, at the time and at the place that the chair of the meeting directs;

 

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(b) the result of the poll is deemed to be the decision of the meeting at which the poll is demanded; and

(c) the demand for the poll may be withdrawn by the person who demanded it.

Demand for Poll on Adjournment

11.18 A poll demanded at a meeting of shareholders on a question of adjournment must be taken immediately at the meeting.

Chair Must Resolve Dispute

11.19 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.

Casting of Votes

11.20 On a poll, a shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not cast all the votes in the same way.

No Demand for Poll on Election of Chair

11.21 No poll may be demanded in respect of the vote by which a chair of a meeting of shareholders is elected.

Demand for Poll Not to Prevent Continuance of Meeting

11.22 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.

Retention of Ballots and Proxies

11.23 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.

 

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PART 12

VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS

Number of Votes by Shareholder or by Shares

12.1 Subject to any special rights or restrictions attached to any shares and to the restrictions imposed on joint shareholders under §12.3:

(a) on a vote by show of hands, every person present who is a shareholder or proxy holder and entitled to vote on the matter has one vote; and

(b) on a poll, every shareholder entitled to vote on the matter has one vote in respect of each share entitled to be voted on the matter and held by that shareholder and may exercise that vote either in person or by proxy.

Votes of Persons in Representative Capacity

12.2 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.

Votes by Joint Holders

12.3 If there are joint shareholders registered in respect of any share:

(a) any one of the joint shareholders may vote at any meeting of shareholders, personally or by proxy, in respect of the share as if that joint shareholder were solely entitled to it; or

(b) if more than one of the joint shareholders is present at any meeting of shareholders, personally or by proxy, and more than one of them votes in respect of that share, then only the vote of the joint shareholder present whose name stands first on the central securities register in respect of the share will be counted.

Legal Personal Representatives as Joint Shareholders

12.4 Two or more legal personal representatives of a shareholder in whose sole name any share is registered are, for the purposes of §12.3, deemed to be joint shareholders registered in respect of that share.

 

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Representative of a Corporate Shareholder

12.5 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:

(a) for that purpose, the instrument appointing a representative must be received:

(i) at the registered office of the Company or at any other place specified, in the notice calling the meeting, for the receipt of proxies, at least the number of business days specified in the notice for the receipt of proxies, or if no number of days is specified, two business days before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting; or

(ii) at the meeting or any adjourned meeting, by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting or by a person designated by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting;

(b) if a representative is appointed under this §12.5:

(i) the representative is entitled to exercise in respect of and at that meeting the same rights on behalf of the corporation that the representative represents as that corporation could exercise if it were a shareholder who is an individual, including, without limitation, the right to appoint a proxy holder; and

(ii) the representative, if present at the meeting, is to be counted for the purpose of forming a quorum and is deemed to be a shareholder present in person at the meeting.

Evidence of the appointment of any such representative may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other customary method of transmitting recorded messages.

Proxy Provisions Do Not Apply to All Companies

12.6 If and for so long as the Company 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, then §12.7 to §12.15 are not mandatory, however the directors of the Company are authorized to apply all or part of such sections or to adopt alternative procedures for proxy form, deposit and revocation procedures to the extent that the directors deem necessary in order to comply with securities laws applicable to the Company.

Appointment of Proxy Holders

12.7 Every shareholder of the Company entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders may, by proxy, appoint one or more (but not more than two) proxy holders to attend and act at the meeting in the manner, to the extent and with the powers conferred by the proxy.

 

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Alternate Proxy Holders

12.8 A shareholder may appoint one or more alternate proxy holders to act in the place of an absent proxy holder.

Proxy Holder Need Not Be Shareholder

12.9 A proxy holder need not be a shareholder of the Company.

Deposit of Proxy

12.10 A proxy for a meeting of shareholders must:

(a) be received at the registered office of the Company or at any other place specified, in the notice calling the meeting, for the receipt of proxies, at least the number of business days specified in the notice, or if no number of days is specified, two business days before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting; or

(b) unless the notice provides otherwise, be received, at the meeting or any adjourned meeting, by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting or by a person designated by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting.

A proxy may be sent to the Company by written instrument, fax or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages, including through Internet or telephone voting or by email, if permitted by the notice calling the meeting or the information circular for the meeting.

Validity of Proxy Vote

12.11 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:

(a) at the registered office of the Company, at any time up to and including the last business day before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting at which the proxy is to be used; or

(b) at the meeting or any adjourned meeting by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting, before any vote in respect of which the proxy has been given has been taken.

 

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Form of Proxy

12.12 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 undersigned): _____________________

 

Signed [month, day, year]

 

[Signature of shareholder]

 

[Name of shareholder—printed]

Revocation of Proxy

12.13 Subject to §12.14, every proxy may be revoked by an instrument in writing that is received:

(a) at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day before the day set for the holding of the meeting or any adjourned meeting at which the proxy is to be used; or

(b) at the meeting or any adjourned meeting, by the chair of the meeting or adjourned meeting, before any vote in respect of which the proxy has been given has been taken.

Revocation of Proxy Must Be Signed

12.14 An instrument referred to in §12.13 must be signed as follows:

(a) if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is an individual, the instrument must be signed by the shareholder or the shareholder’s legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy;

(b) if the shareholder for whom the proxy holder is appointed is a corporation, the instrument must be signed by the corporation or by a representative appointed for the corporation under §12.5.

 

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Production of Evidence of Authority to Vote

12.15 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.

PART 13

DIRECTORS

First Directors; Number of Directors

13.1 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 the Act. The number of directors, excluding additional directors appointed under §14.8, is set at:

(a) subject to §(b) and §(c), the number of directors that is equal to the number of the Company’s first directors;

(b) if the Company is a public company, the greater of three and the most recently set of:

(i) the number of directors set by a resolution of the directors (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and

(ii) the number of directors in office pursuant to §14.4;

(c) if the Company is not a public company, the most recently set of:

(i) the number of directors set by a resolution of the directors (whether or not previous notice of the resolution was given); and

(ii) the number of directors in office pursuant to §14.4.

Change in Number of Directors

13.2 If the number of directors is set under §13.1(b)(i) or §13.1(c)(i):

(a) the shareholders may elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number; or

(b) if the shareholders do not elect or appoint the directors needed to fill any vacancies in the board of directors up to that number then the directors, subject to §14.8, may appoint directors to fill those vacancies.

 

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Directors’ Acts Valid Despite Vacancy

13.3 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.

Qualifications of Directors

13.4 A director is not required to hold a share as qualification for his or her office but must be qualified as required by the Act to become, act or continue to act as a director.

Remuneration of Directors

13.5 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.

Reimbursement of Expenses of Directors

13.6 The Company must reimburse each director for the reasonable expenses that he or she may incur in and about the business of the Company.

Special Remuneration for Directors

13.7 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, he or she may be paid remuneration fixed by the directors, or at the option of the directors, fixed by ordinary resolution, and such remuneration will be in addition to any other remuneration that he or she may be entitled to receive.

Gratuity, Pension or Allowance on Retirement of Director

13.8 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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PART 14

ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

Election at Annual General Meeting

14.1 At every annual general meeting and in every unanimous resolution contemplated by §10.2:

(a) the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual general meeting for the election of directors must elect, or in the unanimous resolution appoint, a board of directors consisting of the number of directors for the time being set under these Articles; and

(b) all the directors cease to hold office immediately before the election or appointment of directors under §(a), but are eligible for re-election or re-appointment.

Consent to be a Director

14.2 No election, appointment or designation of an individual as a director is valid unless:

(a) that individual consents to be a director in the manner provided for in the Act;

(b) that individual is elected or appointed at a meeting at which the individual is present and the individual does not refuse, at the meeting, to be a director; or

(c) with respect to first directors, the designation is otherwise valid under the Act.

Failure to Elect or Appoint Directors

14.3 If:

(a) the Company fails to hold an annual general meeting, and all the shareholders who are entitled to vote at an annual general meeting fail to pass the unanimous resolution contemplated by §10.2, on or before the date by which the annual general meeting is required to be held under the Act; or

(b) the shareholders fail, at the annual general meeting or in the unanimous resolution contemplated by §10.2, to elect or appoint any directors;

then each director then in office continues to hold office until the earlier of:

(c) when his or her successor is elected or appointed; and

(d) when he or she otherwise ceases to hold office under the Act or these Articles.

 

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Places of Retiring Directors Not Filled

14.4 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 but their term of office shall expire when 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.

Directors May Fill Casual Vacancies

14.5 Any casual vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by the directors.

Remaining Directors Power to Act

14.6 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 the Act, for any other purpose.

Shareholders May Fill Vacancies

14.7 If the Company has no directors or fewer directors in office than the number set pursuant to these Articles as the quorum of directors, the shareholders may elect or appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the board of directors.

Additional Directors

14.8 Notwithstanding §13.1 and §13.2, between annual general meetings or by unanimous resolutions contemplated by §10.2, the directors may appoint one or more additional directors, but the number of additional directors appointed under this §14.8 must not at any time exceed:

(a) one-third of the number of first directors, if, at the time of the appointments, one or more of the first directors have not yet completed their first term of office; or

(b) in any other case, one-third of the number of the current directors who were elected or appointed as directors other than under this §14.8.

Any director so appointed ceases to hold office immediately before the next election or appointment of directors under §14.1(a), but is eligible for re-election or re-appointment.

 

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Ceasing to be a Director

14.9 A director ceases to be a director when:

(a) the term of office of the director expires;

(b) the director dies;

(c) the director resigns as a director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a lawyer for the Company; or

(d) the director is removed from office pursuant to §14.10 or §14.11.

Removal of Director by Shareholders

14.10 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.

Removal of Director by Directors

14.11 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.

Nomination of Directors

14.12

(a) Subject only to the Act, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Company. Nominations of persons for election to the board may be made at any annual meeting of shareholders, or at any special meeting of shareholders (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting):

(i) by or at the direction of the board or an authorized officer of the Company, including pursuant to a notice of meeting;

(ii) by or at the direction or request of one or more shareholders pursuant to a proposal made in accordance with the provisions of the Act or a requisition of the shareholders made in accordance with the provisions of the Act; or

 

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(iii) by any person (a “Nominating Shareholder”) (A) who, at the close of business on the date of the giving of the notice provided for below in this §14.12 and on the record date for notice of such meeting, is entered in the securities register as a holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting or who beneficially owns shares that are entitled to be voted at such meeting and (B) who complies with the notice procedures set forth below in this §14.12.

(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a Nominating Shareholder, such person must give

(i) timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company in accordance with this §14.12.and

(ii) the representation and agreement with respect to each candidate for nomination as required by, and within the time period specified in §14.12(d).

(c) To be timely under §14.12(b)(i), a Nominating Shareholder’s notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company must be made:

(i) in the case of an annual meeting of shareholders, not less than 30 nor more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting of shareholders is called for a date that is less than 50 days after the date (the “Notice Date”) on which the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, notice by the Nominating Shareholder may be made not later than the tenth (10th) day following the Notice Date; and

(ii) in the case of a special meeting (which is not also an annual meeting) of shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors (whether or not called for other purposes), not later than the fifteenth (15th) day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting of shareholders was made.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirement in this §14.12(c).

(d) To be in proper written form, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company, under §14.12(b)(i) must set forth:

(i) as to each person whom the Nominating Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (C) the class or series and number of shares in the capital of the Company which are controlled or which are owned beneficially or of record by the person as of the record date for the Meeting of Shareholders

 

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(if such date shall then have been made publicly available and shall have occurred) and as of the date of such notice, (D) a statement as to whether such person would be “independent” of the Company (within the meaning of sections 1.4 and 1.5 of National Instrument 52-110Audit Committees of the Canadian Securities Administrators, as such provisions may be amended from time to time) if elected as a director at such meeting and the reasons and basis for such determination and (E) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a dissident’s proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Act and Applicable Securities Laws; and

(ii) as to the Nominating Shareholder giving the notice, (A) any information relating to such Nominating Shareholder that would be required to be made in a dissident’s proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Act and Applicable Securities Laws, and (B) the class or series and number of shares in the capital of the Company which are controlled or which are owned beneficially or of record by the Nominating Shareholder as of the record date for the Meeting of Shareholders (if such date shall then have been made publicly available and shall have occurred) and as of the date of such notice.

(e) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Company and to be duly nominated, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in this §14.12 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the board or otherwise, must have previously delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company, not less than 5 days prior to the date of the Meeting of Shareholders, a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Company) that such candidate for nomination, if elected as a director of the Company, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, share ownership, majority voting and insider trading policies and other policies and guidelines of the Company applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Corporate Secretary of the Company shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

(f) No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of this §14.12; provided, however, that nothing in this §14.12 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by a shareholder (as distinct from nominating directors) at a meeting of shareholders of any matter in respect of which it would have been entitled to submit a proposal pursuant to the provisions of the Act. The chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in the foregoing provisions and, if any proposed nomination is not in compliance with such foregoing provisions, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

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(g) For purposes of this §14.12:

(i) “Affiliate”, when used to indicate a relationship with a person, shall mean a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person;

(ii) “Applicable Securities Laws” means the Securities Act (British Columbia) and the equivalent legislation in the other provinces and in the territories of Canada, as amended from time to time, the rules, regulations and forms made or promulgated under any such statute and the published national instruments, multilateral instruments, policies, bulletins and notices of the securities commissions and similar regulatory authorities of each of the applicable provinces and territories of Canada;

(iii) “Associate”, when used to indicate a relationship with a specified person, shall mean (A) any corporation or trust of which such person owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, voting securities carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all voting securities of such corporation or trust for the time being outstanding, (B) any partner of that person, (C) any trust or estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar capacity, (D) a spouse of such specified person, (E) any person of either sex with whom such specified person is living in conjugal relationship outside marriage or (F) any relative of such specified person or of a person mentioned in clauses (D) or (E) of this definition if that relative has the same residence as the specified person;

(iv) “Derivatives Contract” shall mean a contract between two parties (the “Receiving Party” and the “Counterparty”) that is designed to expose the Receiving Party to economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership by the Receiving Party of a number of shares in the capital of the Company or securities convertible into such shares specified or referenced in such contract (the number corresponding to such economic benefits and risks, the “Notional Securities”), regardless of whether obligations under such contract are required or permitted to be settled through the delivery of cash, shares in the capital of the Company or securities convertible into such shares or other property, without regard to any short position under the same or any other Derivatives Contract. For the avoidance of doubt, interests in broad-based index options, broad-based index futures and broad-based publicly traded market baskets of stocks approved for trading by the appropriate governmental authority shall not be deemed to be Derivatives Contracts;

(v) “Meeting of Shareholders” shall mean such annual shareholders meeting or special shareholders meeting, whether general or not, at which one or more persons are nominated for election to the board by a Nominating Shareholder;

 

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(vi) “owned beneficially” or “owns beneficially” means, in connection with the ownership of shares in the capital of the Company by a person, (A) any such shares as to which such person or any of such person’s Affiliates or Associates owns at law or in equity, or has the right to acquire or become the owner at law or in equity, where such right is exercisable immediately or after the passage of time and whether or not on condition or the happening of any contingency or the making of any payment, upon the exercise of any conversion right, exchange right or purchase right attaching to any securities, or pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, pledge or understanding whether or not in writing; (B) any such shares as to which such person or any of such person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to vote, or the right to direct the voting, where such right is exercisable immediately or after the passage of time and whether or not on condition or the happening of any contingency or the making of any payment, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, pledge or understanding whether or not in writing; (C) any such shares which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by a Counterparty (or any of such Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) under any Derivatives Contract (without regard to any short or similar position under the same or any other Derivatives Contract) to which such person or any of such person’s Affiliates or Associates is a Receiving Party; provided, however that the number of shares that a person owns beneficially pursuant to this clause (C) in connection with a particular Derivatives Contract shall not exceed the number of Notional Securities with respect to such Derivatives Contract; provided, further, that the number of securities owned beneficially by each Counterparty (including their respective Affiliates and Associates) under a Derivatives Contract shall for purposes of this clause be deemed to include all securities that are owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by any other Counterparty (or any of such other Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) under any Derivatives Contract to which such first Counterparty (or any of such first Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) is a Receiving Party and this proviso shall be applied to successive Counterparties as appropriate; and (D) any such shares which are owned beneficially within the meaning of this definition by any other person with whom such person is acting jointly or in concert with respect to the Company or any of its securities; and

(vii) “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service in Canada, or in a document publicly filed by the Company or its agents under its profile on the System of Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com.

 

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(h) Notwithstanding any other provision to this §14.12, notice or any delivery given to the Corporate Secretary of the Company pursuant to this §14.12 may only be given by personal delivery, facsimile transmission or by email (provided that the Corporate Secretary of the Company has stipulated an email address for purposes of this notice, at such email address as stipulated from time to time), and shall be deemed to have been given and made only at the time it is served by personal delivery, email (at the address as aforesaid) or sent by facsimile transmission (provided that receipt of confirmation of such transmission has been received) to the Corporate Secretary at the address of the principal executive offices of the Company; provided that if such delivery or electronic communication is made on a day which is a not a business day or later than 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on a day which is a business day, then such delivery or electronic communication shall be deemed to have been made on the subsequent day that is a business day.

(i) In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a Meeting of Shareholders or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a Nominating Shareholder’s notice as described in §14.12(c) or the delivery of a representation and agreement as described in §14.12(e).

PART 15

ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

Appointment of Alternate Director

15.1 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.

Notice of Meetings

15.2 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.

Alternate for More than One Director Attending Meetings

15.3 A person may be appointed as an alternate director by more than one director, and an alternate director:

(a) will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of directors once for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, once more in that capacity;

 

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(b) has a separate vote at a meeting of directors for each of his or her appointors and, in the case of an appointee who is also a director, an additional vote in that capacity;

(c) will be counted in determining the quorum for a meeting of a committee of directors once for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a directors, once more in that capacity; and

(d) has a separate vote at a meeting of a committee of directors for each of his or her appointors who is a member of that committee and, in the case of an appointee who is also a member of that committee as a director, an additional vote in that capacity.

Consent Resolutions

15.4 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.

Alternate Director an Agent

15.5 Every alternate director is deemed to be the agent of his or her appointor.

Revocation or Amendment of Appointment of Alternate Director

15.6 An appointor may at any time, by notice in writing received by the Company, revoke or amend the terms of the appointment of an alternate director appointed by him or her.

Ceasing to be an Alternate Director

15.7 The appointment of an alternate director ceases when:

(a) his or her appointor ceases to be a director and is not promptly re-elected or re-appointed;

(b) the alternate director dies;

(c) the alternate director resigns as an alternate director by notice in writing provided to the Company or a lawyer for the Company;

(d) the alternate director ceases to be qualified to act as a director; or

(e) the term of his appointment expires, or his or her appointor revokes the appointment of the alternate directors.

Remuneration and Expenses of Alternate Director

15.8 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.

 

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PART 16

POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS

Powers of Management

16.1 The directors must, subject to the 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 the Act or by these Articles, required to be exercised by the shareholders of the Company. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the directors may set the remuneration of the auditor of the Company.

Appointment of Attorney of Company

16.2 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.

Remuneration of an Auditor

16.3 The directors may from time to time set the remuneration of an auditor.

PART 17

INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Obligation to Account for Profits

17.1 A director or senior officer who holds a disclosable interest (as that term is used in the 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 the Act.

Restrictions on Voting by Reason of Interest

17.2 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.

 

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Interested Director Counted in Quorum

17.3 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.

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest or Property

17.4 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 the Act.

Director Holding Other Office in the Company

17.5 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.

No Disqualification

17.6 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.

Professional Services by Director or Officer

17.7 Subject to the 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.

Director or Officer in Other Corporations

17.8 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 the 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.

 

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PART 18

PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS

Meetings of Directors

18.1 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.

Voting at Meetings

18.2 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 has a second or casting vote.

Chair of Meetings

18.3 The following individual is entitled to preside as chair at a meeting of directors:

(a) the chair of the board, if any;

(b) in the absence of the chair of the board, the president, if any, if the president is a director; or

(c) any other director chosen by the directors if:

(i) neither the chair of the board nor the president, if a director, is present at the meeting within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting;

(ii) neither the chair of the board nor the president, if a director, is willing to chair the meeting; or

(iii) the chair of the board and the president, if a director, have advised the secretary, if any, or any other director, that they will not be present at the meeting.

Meetings by Telephone or Other Communications Medium

18.4 A director may participate in a meeting of the directors or of any committee of the directors:

(a) in person; or

(b) by telephone or by other communications medium if all directors participating in the meeting, whether in person or by telephone or other communications medium, are able to communicate with each other.

 

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A director who participates in a meeting in a manner contemplated by this §18.4 is deemed for all purposes of the Act and these Articles to be present at the meeting and to have agreed to participate in that manner.

Calling of Meetings

18.5 A director may, and the 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.

Notice of Meetings

18.6 Other than for meetings held at regular intervals as determined by the directors pursuant to §18.1, 48 hours’ notice of each meeting of the directors, specifying the place, day and time of that meeting must be given to each of the directors by any method set out in §24.1 or orally or by telephone.

When Notice Not Required

18.7 It is not necessary to give notice of a meeting of the directors to a director if:

(a) the meeting is to be held immediately following a meeting of shareholders at which that director was elected or appointed, or is the meeting of the directors at which that director is appointed; or

(b) the director has waived notice of the meeting.

Meeting Valid Despite Failure to Give Notice

18.8 The accidental omission to give notice of any meeting of directors to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any director, does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting.

Waiver of Notice of Meetings

18.9 Any 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 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. Attendance of a director or alternate director at a meeting of the directors 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.

Quorum

18.10 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 a majority of the directors 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.

 

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Validity of Acts Where Appointment Defective

18.11 Subject to the 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.

Consent Resolutions in Writing

18.12 A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors may be passed without a meeting:

(a) in all cases, if each of the directors entitled to vote on the resolution consents to it in writing; or

(b) in the case of a resolution to approve a contract or transaction in respect of which a director has disclosed that he or she has or may have a disclosable interest, if each of the other directors who have not made such a disclosure consents in writing to the resolution.

A consent in writing under this Article 18 may be by signed document, fax, email or any other method of transmitting legibly recorded messages. A consent in writing may be in two or more counterparts which together are deemed to constitute one consent in writing. A resolution of the directors or of any committee of the directors passed in accordance with this §18.12 is effective on the date stated in the consent in writing or on the latest date stated on any counterpart and 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 the Act and all the requirements of these Articles relating to meetings of the directors or of a committee of the directors.

PART 19

EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES

Appointment and Powers of Executive Committee

19.1 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:

(a) the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors;

(b) the power to remove a director;

 

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(c) the power to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors; and

(d) such other powers, if any, as may be set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors’ resolution.

Appointment and Powers of Other Committees

19.2 The directors may, by resolution:

(a) appoint one or more committees (other than the executive committee) consisting of the director or directors that they consider appropriate;

(b) delegate to a committee appointed under §(a) any of the directors’ powers, except:

(i) the power to fill vacancies in the board of directors;

(ii) the power to remove a director;

(iii) the power to change the membership of, or fill vacancies in, any committee of the directors; and

(iv) the power to appoint or remove officers appointed by the directors; and

(c) make any delegation referred to in §(b) subject to the conditions set out in the resolution or any subsequent directors’ resolution.

Obligations of Committees

19.3 Any committee appointed under §19.1 or §19.2, in the exercise of the powers delegated to it, must:

(a) conform to any rules that may from time to time be imposed on it by the directors; and

(b) report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers at such times as the directors may require.

Powers of Board

19.4 The directors may, at any time, with respect to a committee appointed under §19.1 or §19.2:

(a) revoke or alter the authority given to the committee, or override a decision made by the committee, except as to acts done before such revocation, alteration or overriding;

(b) terminate the appointment of, or change the membership of, the committee; and

(c) fill vacancies in the committee.

 

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Committee Meetings

19.5 Subject to §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 §19.1 or §19.2:

(a) the committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper;

(b) the committee may elect a chair of its meetings but, if no chair of a meeting is elected, or if at a meeting the chair of the meeting is not present within 15 minutes after the time set for holding the meeting, the directors present who are members of the committee may choose one of their number to chair the meeting;

(c) a majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum of the committee; and

(d) questions arising at any meeting of the committee are determined by a majority of votes of the members present, and in case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting does not have a second or casting vote.

PART 20

OFFICERS

Directors May Appoint Officers

20.1 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.

Functions, Duties and Powers of Officers

20.2 The directors may, for each officer:

(a) determine the functions and duties of the officer;

(b) entrust to and confer on the officer any of the powers exercisable by the directors on such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as the directors think fit; and

(c) revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of the functions, duties and powers of the officer.

Qualifications

20.3 No person may be appointed as an officer unless that person is qualified in accordance with the 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.

 

- 38 -


Remuneration and Terms of Appointment

20.4 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 thinks 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.

PART 21

INDEMNIFICATION

Definitions

21.1 In this Part 21:

(a) “eligible party”, in relation to a company, means an individual who:

(i) is or was a director, alternate director or officer of the Company;

(ii) is or was a director, alternate director or officer of another corporation

(A) at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the Company, or

(B) at the request of the Company; or

(iii) at the request of the Company, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director, alternate director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity;

and includes, except in the definition of “eligible proceeding”, and §163(1)(c) and (d) and §165 of the Act, the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of that individual;

(b) “eligible penalty” means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding;

(c) “eligible proceeding” means a proceeding in which an eligible party or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the Company or an associated corporation

(i) is or may be joined as a party; or

(ii) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding;

 

- 39 -


and shall include any other proceeding or action contemplated by the Act; and

(d) “expenses” has the meaning set out in the Act and includes costs, charges and expenses, including legal and other fees, but does not include judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement of a proceeding; and

(e) “proceeding” includes any legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed.

Mandatory Indemnification of Eligible Parties

21.2 Subject to the Act, the Company must indemnify each eligible party and the heirs and legal personal representatives of each eligible party 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. Each eligible party is deemed to have contracted with the Company on the terms of the indemnity contained in this §21.2.

Indemnification of Other Persons

21.3 Subject to any restrictions in the Act, the Company may agree to indemnify and may indemnify any person (including an eligible party) against eligible penalties and pay expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services by that person for the Company.

Authority to Advance Expenses

21.4 The Company may advance expenses to an eligible party to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the Act.

Non-Compliance with Act

21.5 Subject to the Act, the failure of an eligible party of the Company to comply with the Act or these Articles or, if applicable, any former Companies Act or former Articles does not, of itself, invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under this Part 21.

Company May Purchase Insurance

21.6 The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any eligible party person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives of any eligible party) against any liability incurred by any eligible party.

 

- 40 -


PART 22

DIVIDENDS

Payment of Dividends Subject to Special Rights

22.1 The provisions of this Part 22 are subject to the rights, if any, of shareholders holding shares with special rights as to dividends.

Declaration of Dividends

22.2 Subject to the Act, the directors may from time to time declare and authorize payment of such dividends as they may deem advisable.

No Notice Required

22.3 The directors need not give notice to any shareholder of any declaration under §22.2.

Record Date

22.4 The directors must 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.

Manner of Paying Dividend

22.5 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.

Settlement of Difficulties

22.6 If any difficulty arises in regard to a distribution under §22.5, the directors may settle the difficulty as they deem advisable, and, in particular, may:

(a) set the value for distribution of specific assets;

(b) determine that money in substitution for all or any part of the specific assets to which any shareholders are entitled may be paid to any shareholders on the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties; and

(c) vest any such specific assets in trustees for the persons entitled to the dividend.

When Dividend Payable

22.7 Any dividend may be made payable on such date as is fixed by the directors.

 

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Dividends to be Paid in Accordance with Number of Shares

22.8 All dividends on shares of any class or series of shares must be declared and paid according to the number of such shares held.

Receipt by Joint Shareholders

22.9 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.

Dividend Bears No Interest

22.10 No dividend bears interest against the Company.

Fractional Dividends

22.11 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.

Payment of Dividends

22.12 Any dividend or other distribution payable in money 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 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.

Capitalization of Retained Earnings or Surplus

22.13 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.

PART 23

ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND AUDITORS

Recording of Financial Affairs

23.1 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 the Act.

 

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Inspection of Accounting Records

23.2 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.

Remuneration of Auditor

23.3 The directors may set the remuneration of the auditor of the Company.

PART 24

NOTICES

Method of Giving Notice

24.1 Unless the Act or these Articles provide otherwise, a notice, statement, report or other record required or permitted by the Act or these Articles to be sent by or to a person may be sent by:

(a) mail addressed to the person at the applicable address for that person as follows:

(i) for a record mailed to a shareholder, the shareholder’s registered address;

(ii) for a record mailed to a director or officer, the prescribed address for mailing shown for the director or officer in the records kept by the Company or the mailing address provided by the recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;

(iii) in any other case, the mailing address of the intended recipient;

(b) delivery at the applicable address for that person as follows, addressed to the

person:

(i) for a record delivered to a shareholder, the shareholder’s registered address;

(ii) for a record delivered to a director or officer, the prescribed address for delivery shown for the director or officer in the records kept by the Company or the delivery address provided by the recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;

(iii) in any other case, the delivery address of the intended recipient;

 

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(c) sending the record by fax to the fax number provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;

(d) sending the record by email to the email address provided by the intended recipient for the sending of that record or records of that class;

(e) physical delivery to the intended recipient.

Deemed Receipt of Mailing

24.2 A notice, statement, report or other record that is:

(a) mailed to a person by ordinary mail to the applicable address for that person referred to in §24.1 i is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was mailed on the day (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excepted) following the date of mailing;

(b) faxed to a person to the fax number provided by that person referred to in §24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was faxed on the day it was faxed; and

(c) emailed to a person to the e-mail address provided by that person referred to in §24.1 is deemed to be received by the person to whom it was e-mailed on the day that it was emailed.

Certificate of Sending

24.3 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 §24.1is conclusive evidence of that fact.

Notice to Joint Shareholders

24.4 A notice, statement, report or other record may be provided by the Company to the joint shareholders of a share by providing such record to the joint shareholder first named in the central securities register in respect of the share.

Notice to Legal Personal Representatives and Trustees

24.5 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:

(a) mailing the record, addressed to them:

(i) by name, by the title of the legal personal representative of the deceased or incapacitated shareholder, by the title of trustee of the bankrupt shareholder or by any similar description; and

(ii) at the address, if any, supplied to the Company for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled; or

 

- 44 -


(b) if an address referred to in §(a)(ii) has not been supplied to the Company, by giving the notice in a manner in which it might have been given if the death, bankruptcy or incapacity had not occurred.

Undelivered Notices

24.6 If on two consecutive occasions, a notice, statement, report or other record is sent to a shareholder pursuant to §24.1 and on each of those occasions any such record is returned 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.

PART 25

SEAL

Who May Attest Seal

25.1 Except as provided in §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:

(a) any two directors;

(b) any officer, together with any director;

(c) if the Company only has one director, that director; or

(d) any one or more directors or officers or persons as may be determined by the directors.

Sealing Copies

25.2 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 §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.

Mechanical Reproduction of Seal

25.3 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 the Act or 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

 

- 45 -


reproducing the seal and such persons as are authorized under §25.1 to attest the Company’s seal 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.

PART 26

SPECIAL RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS

26.1 There are attached to the Common shares the special rights and restrictions set forth in this Part.

26.2 The Class “A” shares and the Class “B” shares of the Company shall have the rights and shall be subject to the restrictions, conditions and limitations as follows:

(a) The directors may issue Class “A” shares in one or more series;

(b) The directors may by resolution fix the number of shares in, and to determine the designation of the shares of, each series of Class “A” shares;

(c) The directors may by resolution create, define and attach special rights and restrictions to the shares of each series of Class “A” shares, subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the Class “A” shares by this Part;

(d) Where the Class “A” shares or one or more series of Class “A” shares are entitled to cumulative dividends, and where cumulative dividends in respect of the Class “A” shares or a series of Class “A” shares are not paid in full, the Class “A” shares and all series of Class “A” shares entitled to cumulative dividends shall participate rateably in respect of accumulated dividends in accordance with the amounts that would be payable on those shares if all the accumulated dividends were paid in full;

(e) Where amounts payable on a winding-up, or on the occurrence of any other event as a result of which the holders of the shares of the Class “A” shares and all series of Class “A” shares are then entitled to return of capital, are not paid in full, the Class “A” shares and all series of Class “A” shares shall participate rateably in a return of capital in respect of Class “A” shares in accordance with the amounts that would be payable on the return of capital if all amounts so payable were paid in full;

(f) No special rights or restrictions attached to a series of Class “A” shares shall confer on the series priority over another series of Class “A” shares then outstanding respecting:

(i) dividends, or

 

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(ii) a return of capital:

(A) on winding-up, or

(B) on the occurrence of another event that would result in the holders of all series of Class “A” shares being entitled to a return of capital;

(g) A directors’ resolution pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) may only be passed prior to the issue of shares of the series to which the resolution relates, and after the issue of shares of that series, the number of shares in, the designation of and the special rights and restrictions attached to, that series may be added to, altered, varied or abrogated only pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act;

(h) Except as expressly provided in the special rights, or restrictions which the directors may create, define or attach to any series of Class “A” shares, shares of a series of Class “A” shares shall not confer on the holders thereof any right to notice of or to be present or to vote, either in person or by proxy, at any general meeting other than a separate meeting of the holders of the Class “A” shares, or of the holders of shares of a series of the Class “A” shares, as the case may be;

(i) All of the provisions of this Part with respect to the Class “A” shares shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Class “B” shares, as if set out here in full;

(j) Except as expressly provided in the special rights or restrictions which the directors may create, define or attach to any series of Class “A” shares or Class “B” shares, the directors may declare dividends with respect to the common shares only or with respect to any series of Class “A” shares only or with respect to any series of Class “B” shares only or with respect to any combination of two or more such classes or series of classes only.

Except as hereinafter provided, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or any distribution of its assets for the purpose of winding-up its affairs, after the payment of dividends declared but unpaid, the holders of the Class “A” shares and the Class “B” shares shall be entitled pari passu to be paid such amount as the special rights and restrictions attaching to such shares shall provide, and in the absence of any express provision with respect thereto the amount of capital paid up in respect thereof per share for each Class “A” share and each Class “B” share held by them, out of the assets of the Company in preference to and with priority over any payment or distribution of any capital asset or monies among the holders of any common shares of the Company, and after payment to the holders of the Class “A” shares and Class “B” shares of the amount so payable to them they shall not be entitled to share in any other distribution of the property or assets of the Company. The foregoing provisions of this Article 4 shall apply to all Class “A” shares and Class “B” shares, except as expressly provided in the special rights and restrictions which the directors may create, define or attach to any series of Class “A” shares of Class “B” shares.

 

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ENACTED by the Shareholders as of the 30th day of November, 2018.

WITNESS of the Company.

 

Signature of Officer:

 

(Signed) Nilda Rivera

 

Nilda Rivera

Position of Officer:

 

Corporate Secretary

- END OF ARTICLES -

 

- 48 -

Exhibit 4.2

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

 

 

2024 Share Option Plan Section 10(a) Prospectus

 

 

This prospectus (this “Prospectus”) relates to the registration of common shares (the “Common Shares”) of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Company”), which are reserved for issuance to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Participants”) under the Aurora Cannabis Inc. 2024 Share Option Plan (the “Plan”). The total number of Common Shares that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the Plan is 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of grant of each Share Option under the Plan; provided that Share Options shall not be granted under the Plan if the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding Share Options, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other Company share compensation arrangements (pre-existing or otherwise), would exceed 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant.

 

 

This document constitutes part of a prospectus covering securities that have been registered pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.

Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this Prospectus is September 20, 2024.


Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2024 Share Option Plan Prospectus

 

Table of Contents    Page  
I.  

Available Information

     1  
II.  

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     1  
III.  

Description of the Plan

     2  
 

General

     2  
 

Awards under the Plan

     2  
 

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

     2  
 

Administration

     2  
 

Securities to be Offered

     2  
 

Description of Awards

     3  
 

Share Options

     3  
 

Clawbacks

     3  
 

Expiration of Awards

     3  
 

Non-Transferability of Awards

     3  
 

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

     3  
 

Amendment and Termination

     3  
 

Change of Control

     4  
 

Miscellaneous

     4  
IV.  

Resale Restrictions

     5  
V.  

United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

     5  
 

Non-Statutory Share Options

     5  


I. Available Information

The Company has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, relating to the Common Shares offered hereby. For further information, reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the Exhibits filed as a part thereof and the documents incorporated by reference therein.

The Company is also subject to the information disclosure requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Commission. Reports and other information filed with or furnished by the Company to the Commission are available electronically at the Commission’s EDGAR website (http://www.sec.gov).

II. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

The Commission allows the Company to “incorporate by reference” information into this Prospectus. This means the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you to other information filed with or furnished to the Commission.

The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission are hereby incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and will be deemed to be a part of this Prospectus:

 

    The Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended March 31, 2024 (the “Form 40-F”), filed on June 20, 2024;

 

    The Company’s reports on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on July 5, 2024, July 9, 2024, July 26, 2024, August 6, 2024, August 7, 2024 and August 12, 2024; and

 

    The description of the common shares of the Company contained under the section captioned “Item 1. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered” in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 24, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.

In addition, reports and documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed subsequent to the date of the Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered by the Registration Statement have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and to be a part of this Prospectus from the respective date of filing of each such report or document.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, a copy of the Plan or any document incorporated by reference therein (other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents) to each person who receives a copy of this Prospectus. In addition, the Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, to all such persons who do not otherwise receive such materials, copies of all reports, proxy statements and other communications distributed to its shareholders generally.

All written and oral requests with respect to the foregoing matter should be directed as follows:

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2207 90B St. SW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6X 1V8

Phone: 1-855-279-4652

Attn: Corporate Secretary

 

 

Page 1


III. Description of the Plan

In the event of any conflict between this description of the Plan and the terms of the Plan itself or an agreement evidencing the grant of an award (an “Award Agreement”), the terms of the Plan or the Award Agreement will prevail.

General

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional directors, officers, employees and consultants (including prospective directors, officers, employees and consultants) and (ii) enabling such individuals to participate in and motivating their efforts toward the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

The Plan became effective as of August 9, 2024, and will remain in effect until August 9, 2027.

The Plan is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and is not intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Awards under the Plan

The Plan provides for the grant of share option awards (“Share Options”). No Share Option is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as described in Section 422 of the Code and, accordingly, such Share Options are considered non-statutory options (“NSOs”) for U.S. tax purposes (each, an “Award”).

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

Any director, officer, employee or consultant (including any prospective director, officer, employee or consultant) of the Company or its subsidiaries is eligible to participate in the Plan.

Administration

The board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof (the “Board”) is authorized to interpret the Plan from time to time and to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Board shall be final and conclusive. The Board, or as the Board may delegate to the Compensation

Committee, shall make all necessary or desirable determinations regarding the granting of Share Options to eligible Participants and may take into consideration the past and potential contributions of a particular Participant to the success of the Company and any other factors that it may deem proper and relevant. Administration of the Plan shall be the responsibility of the appropriate officers of the Company and all costs in respect thereof shall be paid by the Company.

Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by mail, phone or fax by contacting the Company as provided under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” above.

Securities to be Offered

The securities offered under the Plan are Common Shares. Common Shares granted under the Plan consist of newly authorized Common Shares.

Subject to adjustment for changes in capitalization, the aggregate number of Common Shares that would be available to be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the Plan would be 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of grant of each Share Option under the Plan; provided that Share Options shall not be granted under the Plan if the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding Share Options, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other Company share compensation arrangements (pre-existing or otherwise), would exceed 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant. If any Share Option granted under the Plan shall expire, terminate for any reason in accordance with the terms of the Plan or be exercised, Common Shares subject to such Share Options shall again be available for the purpose of the Plan.

In the event of any corporate transaction affecting the Common Shares (as described under “Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization” below), the Board in its discretion may (and in some instances must) make equitable adjustments and other substitutions to the Plan and the number of Common Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

 

Page 2


Description of Awards

Share Options

A Share Option is a right to purchase Common Shares in the future at a price determined at the date of grant. The exercise price per Common Share subject to a Share Option shall be determined by the Board at the time the Share Option is granted, but, in any event, shall not be less than the closing price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of grant of the Share Option. If the Common Shares are not listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the price shall relate to the price of Common Shares on the principal stock exchange on which the Common Shares are listed as determined by the Board.

The terms and conditions of Share Options, including with respect to vesting and exercisability, will be determined as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement; provided that the period during which a Share Option may be exercised may not extend beyond five years from the date of grant of the Share Option. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, Share Options continue to vest upon retirement of a Participant, vest pro-rata upon early retirement (within the meaning under the Plan) of a Participant and vest upon death or disability of a Participant.

The exercise price of a Share Option may be paid with cash (or its equivalent) or through a cashless exercise option.

The aggregate value of all share based compensation arrangements, including Share Options, that may be granted to any non-employee director on the Board in any calendar year shall not exceed C$150,000, no more than C$100,000 of which may be granted in the form of Share Options.

Clawbacks

The Company may clawback awards provided to eligible Participants in accordance with any compensation recovery policy maintained by the Company, as in effect from time to time.

Expiration of Awards

The term of Share Options granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Board at the time of grant; provided, however, that the option term may not extend beyond five years from the date of grant of the Share Option, except that unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, (i) each vested Share Option will expire 90 days after the date of termination other than a termination for cause and 12-months following death or disability, and (ii) each Share Option (whether or not vested) shall be immediately terminated upon a termination for cause.

Non-Transferability of Awards

Share Options are not assignable or transferable other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent, except to a company of which the Participant holds the majority of the voting securities (a “Holding Company”), with the consent of the Company. During the lifetime of a Participant, all Share Options may only be exercised by the Participant or such Holding Company.

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

In the event that there is any change in the Common Shares through or by means of a declaration of stock dividends of Common Shares or a consolidation, subdivision or reclassification of Common Shares, or otherwise, the number of Common Shares subject to any Share Option, the exercise price thereof and the maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board, subject to any applicable rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, and such adjustment shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan. An adjustment will take effect at the time of the event that gives rise to the adjustment, and will be cumulative. The Company will not be required to issue fractional Common Shares in satisfaction of its obligations following an adjustment and any fractional interest in a Common Share that would be deliverable upon the exercise of an Share Option will be cancelled and not be deliverable by the Company.

Amendment and Termination

Subject to any applicable law or government regulation or the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without the approval of the shareholders of the Company except that shareholder approval is required for any amendment that would (i) amend the percentage of securities reserved and issuable under the Plan, (ii) change the class of employees or other individuals eligible to participate in the Plan, (iii) change the limits on the number of Common Shares issuable to insiders or non-employee directors, (iv) add to or amend the financial assistance provision to be more favorable to any employee, officer, director or consultant of the Company, (v) result in the addition of deferred share units or restricted share units or any other provision so that the Participant receives securities while no cash consideration is received by the

 

 

Page 3


Company, (vi) permit Share Options to be transferred or assigned other than for normal estate settlement purposes, (vii) reduce the exercise price or permit the cancellation and reissuance of Share Options, (viii) extend the Share Option term beyond the original Share Option term, (ix) significantly or unreasonably dilute the Company’s outstanding securities or (x) reduce the amendments that require shareholder approval. No such amendment made without the consent of the Participant may materially adversely affect the rights under any Share Option granted under the Plan.

Change of Control

Subject to the terms of a Participant’s employment agreement with respect to a Change of Control of the Company, and unless otherwise determined by the Board prior to such Change of Control, if a Change of Control occurs, all Share Options then outstanding shall automatically vest, so that such Share Options may be exercised in whole or in part by the Participant and upon the exercise of a Share Option, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements, the holder shall be entitled to receive any securities, property or cash (or a combination thereof) which the Participant would have received upon the Change of Control, if the Participant had exercised the Share Option immediately prior to the applicable record date or event, and the exercise price shall be adjusted, as applicable, by the Board, unless the Board otherwise determines the basis upon which such Share Option shall be exercisable, and any such adjustments shall be binding for all purposes of the Plan.

Unless otherwise provided pursuant to an Award Agreement, a Change of Control of the Company is defined to mean any of the following events, generally:

 

    the consummation of a consolidation, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization or acquisition involving the Company or any of its affiliates and another corporation or other entity, as a result of which the holders of Common Shares immediately prior to the completion of the transaction hold less than 50% of the outstanding shares of the successor corporation immediately after the completion of the transaction;

 

    the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets, rights or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries to any other person or entity, other than transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries;
    a resolution is adopted to wind-up, dissolve or liquidate the Company; or

 

    any person, entity or group of persons or entities (an “Acquiror”) acquires, or acquires control (including the right to vote or direct the voting) of voting securities of the Company that would entitle the Acquiror to cast or to direct the casting of 50% or more of the votes attached to the Company’s outstanding voting securities which may be cast to elect directors of the Company or the successor corporation; or

 

    as a result of or in connection with (A) a contested election of directors; or (B) a consolidation, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization or acquisition involving the Company or any of its affiliates and another corporation or other entity, fewer than 50% of the directors of the Company or the successor corporation are persons who were directors of the Company immediately prior to the transaction.

Miscellaneous

The following provisions are also in effect under the Plan:

 

    the grant of an Award may not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as a director, officer, employee or consultant of or to the Company or any subsidiary;

 

    no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award has any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Common Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Common Shares;

 

    the Company makes no representation or warranty as to the future market value of the Common Shares issued in accordance with the Plan; and

 

    the validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement will be determined in accordance with the laws of the Providence of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
 

 

Page 4


IV. Resale Restrictions

The Plan will be administered to comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. In the event that a Participant is deemed to be an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of the Securities Act (that is, generally, a director or executive officer of the Company or a person who directly or, through one or more intermediaries, indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company), reoffers or resales of Common Shares issued by, or on behalf of, such Participant must be made only:

 

    pursuant to a “reoffer prospectus” complying with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

    in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

    in a transaction otherwise exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

The Company does not presently intend to make any such reoffer prospectus available.

In addition, the Company may from time to time adopt policies and procedures (including under the Company’s Disclosure, Confidentiality and Insider Trading Policy) that restrict the ability of some or all Participants to resell Common Shares acquired under the Plan.

V. United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

This is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Participants who are subject to U.S. tax of participating in the Plan. This summary is based on current law as of the date of this Prospectus and is provided only as general information and not as tax advice. It does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder. For example, it does not deal with most of the tax implications arising from a Participant’s death, nor does it discuss any Canadian or other international, state, provincial or local tax considerations. Each Participant should consult with, and rely on, his or her own tax advisor regarding all the possible tax consequences, based on his or her individual situation, of participating in the Plan.

The Company shall have the right to deduct, withhold from, or require the Participant to remit any amounts otherwise payable to a Participant the amount of any federal, provincial, territorial or foreign taxes required to be deducted or withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan and may set off any amounts required to be withheld, in whole or in part, against amounts otherwise owing by the Company to the Participant. The Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by withholding such number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Share Options as it determines are required to be sold by the Company to satisfy any withholding obligations net of selling costs. The Participant consents to such sale and grants to the Company an irrevocable power of attorney to effect the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Share Options and acknowledges and agrees that the Company does not accept responsibility for the price obtained on the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Share Options.

Share Options under the Plan are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code. The following description of tax consequences assumes that Section 409A will not apply to Share Options granted under the Plan.

Non-Statutory Share Options

As noted above, Share Options granted under the Plan are intended to be NSOs for U.S. tax purposes. In general, a Participant will not recognize taxable income upon the grant of an NSO, but will recognize ordinary income at the time of exercise of the NSO in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Common Shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price and, generally, will be subject to income tax withholding on the amount of such ordinary income. The Company will generally be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the Participant at the time of exercise and social security and Medicare taxes will also be required to be withheld upon exercise.

If a Participant exercises an NSO by making payment to the Company other than by cash, special rules may apply. Participants should consult their tax advisors when contemplating such an exercise.

When a Participant sells the Common Shares acquired upon exercise of an NSO, he or she generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale of Common Shares and his or her aggregate tax basis in the Common Shares

 

 

Page 5


(in the case of a cash purchase, the exercise price plus the amount taxed to the Participant as ordinary income at the time of exercise). If the Participant’s holding period for the Common Shares exceeds one year, such gain or loss will constitute long-term capital gain or loss.

The Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, are not subject to the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachment) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, (i) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties under the Code or (ii) for promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Participants should seek advice, based on their particular circumstances, from an independent tax advisor about the consequences of participating in the Plan.

 

 

Page 6

Exhibit 4.3

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

 

 

2024 Deferred Share Unit Plan Section 10(a) Prospectus

 

 

This prospectus (this “Prospectus”) relates to the registration of common shares (the “Common Shares”) of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Company”), which are reserved for issuance to non-employee directors of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Participants”) under the Aurora Cannabis Inc. 2024 Deferred Share Unit Plan (the “Plan”). Deferred stock units may be granted by the Company in accordance with the Plan provided that the number of Common Shares that are issuable pursuant to outstanding deferred stock units shall not exceed 1% of the issued and outstanding Common shares of the Company at the date of grant, subject to the following restrictions: deferred stock units shall not be granted if (i) the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding deferred stock units, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other security based compensation arrangements of the Company, would exceed 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant and (ii) the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding deferred stock units, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding performance share units and restricted share units of the Company, would exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant.

 

 

This document constitutes part of a prospectus covering securities that have been registered pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.

Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this Prospectus is September 20, 2024.


Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2024 Deferred Share Unit Plan

Prospectus

 

Table of Contents    Page  

I.

 

Available Information

     1  

II.

 

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     1  

III.

 

Description of the Plan

     2  
 

General

     2  
 

Awards under the Plan

     2  
 

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

     2  
 

Administration

     2  
 

Securities to be Offered

     2  
 

Description of Awards

     3  
 

Deferred Share Units

     3  
 

Redemption of Deferred Share Units

     3  
 

Forfeiture

     3  
 

Non-Transferability of Awards

     4  
 

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

     4  
 

Amendment and Termination

     4  
 

Miscellaneous

     4  

IV.

 

Resale Restrictions

     4  

V.

 

United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

     5  
    Deferred Share Units    5  


I. Available Information

The Company has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, relating to the Common Shares offered hereby. For further information, reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the Exhibits filed as a part thereof and the documents incorporated by reference therein.

The Company is also subject to the information disclosure requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Commission. Reports and other information filed with or furnished by the Company to the Commission are available electronically at the Commission’s EDGAR website (http://www.sec.gov).

II. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

The Commission allows the Company to “incorporate by reference” information into this Prospectus. This means the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you to other information filed with or furnished to the Commission.

The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission are hereby incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and will be deemed to be a part of this Prospectus:

 

    The Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended March 31, 2024 (the “Form 40-F”), filed on June 20, 2024;

 

    The Company’s reports on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on July 5, 2024, July 9, 2024, July 26, 2024, August 6, 2024, August 7, 2024 and August 12, 2024; and

 

    The description of the common shares of the Company contained under the section captioned “Item 1. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered” in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 24, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.

In addition, reports and documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed subsequent to the date of the Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered by the Registration Statement have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and to be a part of this Prospectus from the respective date of filing of each such report or document.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, a copy of the Plan or any document incorporated by reference therein (other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents) to each person who receives a copy of this Prospectus. In addition, the Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, to all such persons who do not otherwise receive such materials, copies of all reports, proxy statements and other communications distributed to its shareholders generally.

All written and oral requests with respect to the foregoing matter should be directed as follows:

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2207 90B St. SW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6X 1V8

Phone: 1-855-279-4652

Attn: Corporate Secretary

 

 

Page 1


III. Description of the Plan

In the event of any conflict between this description of the Plan and the terms of the Plan itself or an agreement evidencing the grant of an award (an “Award Agreement”), the terms of the Plan or the Award Agreement will prevail.

General

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional directors, (including prospective directors) and (ii) enabling such individuals to participate in, and motivating their efforts toward the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

The Plan became effective as of October 5, 2018, as amended by the shareholders on November 12, 2020, November 14, 2022 and August 9, 2024, and will remain in effect until August 9, 2027.

The Plan is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and is not intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Awards under the Plan

The Plan provides for the grant of Deferred Share Unit awards (“DSUs”) (each, an “Award”). DSUs granted under the Plan may be granted in connection with a non-employee director’s deferral of his or her annual base compensation for service on the Board or may, in the Board’s sole discretion, be granted to a non-employee director on terms and conditions consistent with the Plan.

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

Any non-employee director (including any prospective non-employee director) (each, a “Participant”) of the Company is eligible to participate in the Plan.

Administration

The board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof (the “Board”) is authorized to interpret the Plan from time to time and to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Board shall be final and conclusive. The Board or may prescribe the

form of instruments used in conjunction with the Plan. The Board, or as the Board may delegate to the Compensation Committee, shall make all necessary or desirable determinations regarding the granting of DSUs to eligible Participants and may take into consideration the past and potential contributions of a particular Participant to the success of the Company and any other factors that it may deem proper and relevant. Administration of the Plan shall be the responsibility of the appropriate officers of the Company and all costs in respect thereof shall be paid by the Company.

Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by mail, phone or fax by contacting the Company as provided under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” above.

Securities to be Offered

The securities offered under the Plan are Common Shares. Common Shares granted under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of newly authorized Common Shares, Common Shares purchased on the open market or a cash equivalent.

Subject to adjustment for changes in capitalization, the aggregate number of Common Shares that would be available to be delivered pursuant to DSUs granted under the Plan shall not exceed 1% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company at the date of grant, subject to the following restrictions: DSUs shall not be granted if (i) the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding DSUs, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other security based compensation arrangements of the Company, would exceed 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant and (ii) the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding DSUs, when combined with the number of Common Share issuable pursuant to outstanding performance share units and restricted share units of the Company, would exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant.

In the event of any corporate transaction affecting the Common Shares (as described under “Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization” below), the Board in its discretion may (and in some instances must) make equitable adjustments and other substitutions to the Plan and the number of Common Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

 

Page 2


Description of Awards

Deferred Share Units

A DSU Award is an Award that is granted under the Plan and that is designated as such in the applicable Award Agreement. Each Participant may elect to receive up to 100% of his or her annual base compensation in DSUs by delivering an irrevocable, written election to the Company on or before November 15 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year for which the election is made and such election will be effective with respect to compensation payable for fiscal quarters beginning during the following calendar year.

If an individual becomes a non-employee director for the first time during a fiscal year and such individual has not previously participated in a plan that is required to be aggregated with this Plan for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, such individual may elect to participate in the Plan with respect to fiscal quarters of the Company commencing so long as the Company receives such individual’s written election no later than 30 days after such individual’s appointment as a non-employee director.

In addition, the Board, in its sole discretion, may grant one or more awards of DSUs to Participants on terms and conditions consistent with the Plan.

Redemption of Deferred Share Units

Each Participant shall be entitled to redeem his or her DSUs during the period commencing on the business day following the termination date and ending on the 180th day following the date of a Participant’s death, or retirement from, or loss of office or employment with the Company.

If a Participant elects to redeem his or her DSUs, he or she will receive, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, (i) a number of Common Shares issued from treasury equal to the number of DSUs in the Participant’s account, net of any applicable deductions and withholdings; (ii) a number of Common Shares purchase by an independent administrator of the Plan in the open market for purposes of providing Common Share to Participants equal in number to the DSU’s in the Participant’s account, net of any applicable deductions and withholdings; (iii) the payment of a cash amount to a Participant equal to the number of DSUs multiplied by the closing price of a Common Share on the Toronto Stock Exchange averaged

over the five consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of redemption, net of any applicable deductions and withholdings; or (iv) any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, all amounts payable to, or in respect of, a Participant shall be paid on or before December 31 of the calendar year commencing immediately after the Participant’s death, or retirement from, or loss of office or employment with the Company.

Further, in the event of death of a Participant, the notice of redemption shall be filed by the legal representative of the Participant. In the case of a U.S. eligible Participant, however, the redemption will be deemed to be made on the earlier of (i) “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, or (ii) within 180 days of the U.S. Eligible Participant’s death.

The aggregate value of security-based compensation granted to any one Participant in any calendar year under all security based compensation arrangements of the Company shall not exceed C$150,000, no more than C$100,000 of which may be granted in the form of stock options.

Forfeiture

If a Participant is subject to tax under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and is also is subject to income taxation in the United States on the income received for his or her services as a director of the Company, the following forfeiture provisions will apply if the Participant’s DSUs are subject to Section 409A of the Code and settlement of the Participant’s DSU cannot be made in a way that is compliant with both the Income Tax Act (Canada) and Section 409A of the Code. If a Participant otherwise would be entitled to payment of DSUs in any of the following circumstances, such DSUs shall instead be immediately and irrevocably forfeited, without any additional compensation: (i) a Participant experiences a separation from service as a result of a permanent decrease in the level of services provided to less than 20% of his past service for reasons other than retirement, or loss of office or employment with, the Company within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada); (ii) a Participant experiences a separation from service upon ceasing to be a director while continuing to provide services as an employee for reasons other than retirement, or loss of office or employment with, the Company, within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada); (iii) a Participant experiences a serious disability that continues for

 

 

Page 3


more than 29 months in circumstances that constitute a separation from service and do not constitute a retirement from, or loss of office or employment with, the Company, within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada); or (iv) a Participant experiences a retirement from, or loss of office or employment with the Company, within the meaning of paragraph 6801(d) of the regulations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) by virtue of ceasing employment as both an employee and as a director, but he continues to provide services as an independent contractor such that he has not experienced a separation from service.

Non-Transferability of Awards

DSUs are not assignable or transferable other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent. During the lifetime of a Participant, all DSUs may only be redeemed by the Participant.

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

In the event that there is any change in the Common Shares through or by means of a declaration of a subdivision or consolidation of Common Shares, or a distribution shall be declared upon the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, the number of DSUs in the Participant’s account shall be adjusted so that the Participant holds a number of Common Shares immediately after a distribution, subdivision, or consolidation equal to the number of DSUs held on the record date for such distribution, subdivision or consolidation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that there is a change in the number or kind of outstanding Common Shares pursuant to a reorganization, then the number of DSUs recorded in a Participant’s account shall be substituted, exchanged and equitably adjusted as reasonably determined by the Board.

Amendment and Termination

Subject to any applicable law or government regulation or the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without the approval of the shareholders of the Company except that shareholder approval is required for any amendment that would (i) increase the maximum number of DSUs which may be issued under the Plan, (ii) change the maximum limit of a Participant’s security based compensation as set forth in the Plan, (iii) modify the actions that the Board may take to amend the Plan with or without shareholder approval, (iv) change the definition of “Participant” for purposes of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of a Participant under the Plan may not be made without the consent of each affected Participant.

Miscellaneous

The following provisions are also in effect under the Plan:

 

    the grant of an Award may not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as a director of the Company;

 

    no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award has any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Common Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Common Shares;

 

    the validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement will be determined in accordance with the laws of the Providence of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof;

 

    the Plan shall be unfunded and to the extent any Participant, or his or her estate, holds any rights by virtue of a grant of DSUs under the Plan, such rights shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured creditor of the Company, unless otherwise determined by the Board;

 

    the maximum number of Common Shares issued to insiders pursuant to the Plan, together with any Common Shares issued pursuant to any other security based compensation Arrangement, within any one-year period, shall not exceed 9.5% of the total number of Common Shares outstanding at the beginning of the year; and

 

    the Company makes no representation or warranty as to the future market value of the Common Shares issued in accordance with the Plan.

IV. Resale Restrictions

The Plan will be administered to comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. In the event that a Participant is deemed to be an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of the Securities Act (that is, generally, a director or executive officer of the Company or a person who directly or, through one or more intermediaries, indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company), reoffers or resales of Common Shares issued by, or on behalf of, such Participant must be made only:

 

    pursuant to a “reoffer prospectus” complying with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
 

 

Page 4


    in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

    in a transaction otherwise exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

The Company does not presently intend to make any such reoffer prospectus available.

In addition, the Company may from time to time adopt policies and procedures (including under the Company’s Disclosure, Confidentiality and Insider Trading Policy) that restrict the ability of some or all Participants to resell Common Shares acquired under the Plan.

V. United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

This is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Participants who are subject to U.S. tax of participating in the Plan. This summary is based on current law as of the date of this Prospectus and is provided only as general information and not as tax advice. It does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder. For example, it does not deal with most of the tax implications arising from a Participant’s death, nor does it discuss any Canadian or other international, state, provincial or local tax considerations. Each Participant should consult with, and rely on, his or her own tax advisor regarding all the possible tax consequences, based on his or her individual situation, of participating in the Plan.

The Company shall have the right to deduct, withhold from, or require the Participant to remit any amounts otherwise payable to a Participant the amount of any federal, provincial, territorial or foreign taxes required to be deducted or withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan and may set off any amounts required to be withheld, in whole or in part, against amounts otherwise owing by the Company to the Participant. The Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in

part, by withholding such number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Deferred Share Units as it determines are required to be sold by the Company to satisfy any withholding obligations net of selling costs. The Participant consents to such sale and grants to the Company an irrevocable power of attorney to effect the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Deferred Share Units and acknowledges and agrees that the Company does not accept responsibility for the price obtained on the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Deferred Share Units.

Deferred Share Units under the Plan constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and shall be administered accordingly. The following description of tax consequences assumes that Section 409A will apply to Deferred Share Units granted under the Plan.

Deferred Share Units

In general, a Participant will not recognize taxable income upon the grant of a DSU, but will recognize ordinary income at the time of redemption of the DSU in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Common Shares closing price of a Common Share on the Toronto Stock Exchange averaged over the five consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of redemption. Payouts to non-employee director Participants in the U.S. are generally not subject to tax withholding, but may be subject to tax withholding for such Participants under Canadian tax rules, as applicable. The Company will generally be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the Participant at the time of redemption.

When a Participant sells the Common Shares, if any, acquired upon redemption of a DSU, he or she generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale of Common Shares and his or her aggregate tax basis in the Common Shares. If the Participant’s holding period for the Common Shares exceeds one year, such gain or loss will constitute long-term capital gain or loss.

Any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachment) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, (i) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) for promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Participants should seek advice, based on their particular circumstances, from an independent tax advisor about the consequences of participating in the Plan.

 

 

Page 5

Exhibit 4.4

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

 

 

2024 Performance Share Unit Plan Section 10(a) Prospectus

 

 

This prospectus (this “Prospectus”) relates to the registration of common shares (the “Common Shares”) of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Company”), which are reserved for issuance to officers, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Participants”) under the Aurora Cannabis Inc. 2024 Performance Share Unit Plan (the “Plan”). The total number of Common Shares that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the Plan is 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of grant of each Performance Share Unit under the Plan; provided that Performance Share Units shall not be granted under the Plan if (i) the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding Performance Share Units, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other Company share compensation arrangements, would exceed 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant and (ii) when combined with the number of Common Share issuable pursuant to outstanding deferred share units and restricted share units of the Company, would exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on the grant date.

 

 

This document constitutes part of a prospectus covering securities that have been registered pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.

Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this Prospectus is September 20, 2024.


Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2024 Performance Share Unit Plan Prospectus

 

Table of Contents    Page  
I.  

Available Information

     1  
II.  

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     1  
III.  

Description of the Plan

     2  
 

General

     2  
 

Awards under the Plan

     2  
 

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

     2  
 

Administration

     2  
 

Securities to be Offered

     2  
 

Description of Awards

     2  
 

Performance Share Units

     2  
 

Clawbacks

     3  
 

Non-Transferability of Awards

     3  
 

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

     3  
 

Amendment and Termination

     3  
 

Change of Control

     3  
 

Miscellaneous

     4  
IV.  

Resale Restrictions

     4  
V.  

United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

     5  
 

Performance Share Units

     5  


I. Available Information

The Company has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, relating to the Common Shares offered hereby. For further information, reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the Exhibits filed as a part thereof and the documents incorporated by reference therein.

The Company is also subject to the information disclosure requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Commission. Reports and other information filed with or furnished by the Company to the Commission are available electronically at the Commission’s EDGAR website (http://www.sec.gov).

II. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

The Commission allows the Company to “incorporate by reference” information into this Prospectus. This means the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you to other information filed with or furnished to the Commission.

The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission are hereby incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and will be deemed to be a part of this Prospectus:

 

    The Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended March 31, 2024 (the “Form 40-F”), filed on June 20, 2024;

 

    The Company’s reports on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on July 5, 2024, July 9, 2024, July 26, 2024, August 6, 2024, August 7, 2024 and August 12, 2024; and

 

    The description of the common shares of the Company contained under the section captioned “Item 1. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered” in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 24, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.

In addition, reports and documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed subsequent to the date of the Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered by the Registration Statement have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and to be a part of this Prospectus from the respective date of filing of each such report or document.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, a copy of the Plan or any document incorporated by reference therein (other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents) to each person who receives a copy of this Prospectus. In addition, the Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, to all such persons who do not otherwise receive such materials, copies of all reports, proxy statements and other communications distributed to its shareholders generally.

All written and oral requests with respect to the foregoing matter should be directed as follows:

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2207 90B St. SW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6X 1V8

Phone: 1-855-279-4652

Attn: Corporate Secretary

 

 

Page 1


III. Description of the Plan

In the event of any conflict between this description of the Plan and the terms of the Plan itself or an agreement evidencing the grant of an award (an “Award Agreement”), the terms of the Plan or the Award Agreement will prevail.

General

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional officers, employees and consultants (including prospective officers, employees and consultants) and (ii) enabling such individuals to participate in and motivating their efforts toward the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

The Plan became effective as of August 9, 2024, and will remain in effect until August 9, 2027.

The Plan is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and is not intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Awards under the Plan

The Plan provides for the grant of performance share unit awards (“PSUs”) (each, an “Award”). PSU payouts range from 0% to 200% depending on the extent to which performance goals are met.

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

Any officer, employee or consultant (including any prospective officer, employee or consultant) of the Company or its subsidiaries is eligible to participate in the Plan.

Administration

The board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof (the “Board”) is authorized to interpret the Plan from time to time and to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Board shall be final and conclusive. The Board, or as the Board may delegate to the Compensation Committee, shall make all necessary or desirable determinations regarding the granting of PSUs to eligible Participants and may take into consideration the past and potential contributions of

a particular Participant to the success of the Company and any other factors that it may deem proper and relevant. Administration of the Plan shall be the responsibility of the appropriate officers of the Company and all costs in respect thereof shall be paid by the Company.

Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by mail, phone or fax by contacting the Company as provided under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” above.

Securities to be Offered

The securities offered under the Plan are Common Shares. Common Shares granted under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of newly authorized Common Shares or a cash equivalent.

Subject to adjustment for changes in capitalization, the aggregate number of Common Shares that would be available to be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan would be 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of grant of each PSU under the Plan; provided that PSUs shall not be granted under the Plan if the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding PSUs, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other Company share compensation arrangements, would exceed (i) 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant and (ii) 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding deferred share units and restricted share units of the Company at the date of grant.

In the event of any corporate transaction affecting the Common Shares (as described under “Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization” below), the Committee in its discretion may (and in some instances must) make equitable adjustments and other substitutions to the Plan and the number of Common Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

Description of Awards

Performance Share Units

A PSU Award is an Award that is granted under the Plan and that is designated as such in the applicable Award Agreement, and is subject to the attainment of one or more performance goals established by the Committee. The extent to which the performance goals are met during a performance period will determine the number of Common Shares and/or amount of cash or other property that will be paid out to the Participant pursuant to the performance award, which payout can range from 0% to 200%.

 

 

Page 2


The Committee may adjust or modify the calculation of performance goals for a performance period in the event of, in recognition of, or in anticipation of any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development or any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions or operating units or the financial statements thereof or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles or law. The terms and conditions of performance awards, including with respect to vesting, will be determined by the Committee as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. The date at which each PSUs vests (the “Entitlement Date”) shall be no later than December 31 of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the services were performed in respect of the corresponding PSU Award.

Unless determined otherwise by the Board, in the event of retirement of the Participant, the Participant’s Entitlement Date will not be altered; and in the event of early retirement of the Participant, the Participant’s Entitlement Date will be accelerated on a pro-rata basis calculated by dividing the number of months that have elapsed between the applicable date of grant and the retirement date by the total number of months between the date of grant and the Entitlement Date.

Clawbacks

The Company may clawback awards provided to eligible Participants in accordance with any compensation recovery policy maintained by the Company, as in effect from time to time.

Non-Transferability of Awards

PSUs are not assignable or transferable other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent. During the lifetime of a Participant, all PSUs may only be settled by the Participant.

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

In the event that there is any change in the Common Shares through or by means of a declaration of stock dividends of Common Shares or a consolidation, subdivision or reclassification of Common Shares, or otherwise, the number of Common Shares, the Board will appropriately adjust the number of Common Shares available for issuance under the Plan and the number of Common Shares subject to any PSUs, subject to any applicable rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, and such adjustment shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan. If an adjustment will result in a fractional Common Share, the fraction will be disregarded.

Amendment and Termination

Subject to any applicable law or government regulation or the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without the approval of the shareholders of the Company except that shareholder approval is required for any amendment that would (i) materially increase the benefits under the Plan, (ii) provide a holder of a PSUs with rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the Entitlement Date, (iii) increase the number of Common Shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan, (iv) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan or (v) increase the ability of the Board to amend the Plan without shareholder approval.

Change of Control

Subject to the terms of a Participant’s employment agreement with respect to a Change of Control of the Company, and unless otherwise determined by the Board prior to such Change of Control, if a Change of Control occurs and an eligible employee of the Company is terminated within 12-months of such Change of Control, all PSUs then outstanding shall automatically vest, in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the total number of Common Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to such PSU Award or the full value of such PSU Award (as determined in the absolute discretion of the Board) and (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing the number of days that have elapsed since the applicable date of grant for a PSU Award through and including the termination date by the total number of days between the date of grant and the Entitlement Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant is not an eligible employee of the Company at the time of the Change of Control, all PSUs outstanding and held by the Participant will immediately vest.

 

 

Page 3


Unless otherwise provided pursuant to an Award Agreement, a Change of Control of the Company is defined to mean any of the following events, generally:

 

    the consummation of a consolidation, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization or acquisition involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries and another corporation or other entity, as a result of which the holders of Common Shares immediately prior to the completion of the transaction hold less than 50% of the outstanding shares of the successor corporation immediately after completion of the transaction;

 

    the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets, rights or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries to any other person or entity, other than transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

    a resolution is adopted to wind-up, dissolve or liquidate the Company;

 

    any person, entity or group of persons or entities (an “Acquiror”) acquires, or acquires control (including the right to vote or direct the voting) of voting securities of the Company that would entitle the Acquiror to cast or to direct the casting of 50% or more of the votes attached to the Company’s outstanding voting securities which may be cast to elect directors of the Company or the successor corporation; or

 

    as a result of or in connection with (A) a contested election of directors; or (B) a consolidation, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization or acquisition involving the Company or any of its affiliates and another corporation or other entity, fewer than 50% of the directors of the Company or the successor corporation are persons who were directors of the Company immediately prior to the transaction.

Miscellaneous

The following provisions are also in effect under the Plan:

 

    the grant of an Award may not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as an officer, employee or consultant of or to the Company or any subsidiary;

 

    no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award has any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Common Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Common Shares;
    The Company is prohibited from providing financial assistance in the form of a loan or otherwise to Participants under the Plan for the purpose of settlement of equity awards under the Plan;

 

    the Company makes no representation or warranty as to the future market value of the Common Shares issued in accordance with the Plan; and

 

    the validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement will be determined in accordance with the laws of the Providence of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

IV. Resale Restrictions

The Plan will be administered to comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. In the event that a Participant is deemed to be an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of the Securities Act (that is, generally, a director or executive officer of the Company or a person who directly or, through one or more intermediaries, indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company), reoffers or resales of Common Shares issued by, or on behalf of, such Participant must be made only:

 

    pursuant to a “reoffer prospectus” complying with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

    in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

    in a transaction otherwise exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

The Company does not presently intend to make any such reoffer prospectus available.

In addition, the Company may from time to time adopt policies and procedures (including under the Company’s Disclosure, Confidentiality and Insider Trading Policy) that restrict the ability of some or all Participants to resell Common Shares acquired under the Plan.

 

 

Page 4


V. United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

This is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Participants who are subject to U.S. tax of participating in the Plan. This summary is based on current law as of the date of this Prospectus and is provided only as general information and not as tax advice. It does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder. For example, it does not deal with most of the tax implications arising from a Participant’s death, nor does it discuss any Canadian or other international, state, provincial or local tax considerations. Each Participant should consult with, and rely on, his or her own tax advisor regarding all the possible tax consequences, based on his or her individual situation, of participating in the Plan.

The Company shall have the right to deduct, withhold from, or require the Participant to remit any amounts otherwise payable to a Participant the amount of any federal, provincial, territorial or foreign taxes required to be deducted or withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan and may set off any amounts required to be withheld, in whole or in part, against amounts otherwise owing by the Company to the Participant. The Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by withholding such number of Common Shares issuable upon settlement of the PSUs as it determines are required to be sold by the Company to satisfy any withholding obligations net of selling costs. The Participant consents to such sale and grants to the Company an irrevocable power of attorney to effect the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon settlement of the PSUs and acknowledges and agrees that the Company does not accept responsibility for the price obtained on the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon settlement of the PSUs.

PSUs under the Plan are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code. The following description of tax consequences assumes that Section 409A of the Code will not apply to PSUs granted under the Plan.

Performance Share Units

No income will generally be recognized by a Participant in connection with the grant of a PSU award. Upon settlement of a PSU award, the Participant will generally be required to include as ordinary income in the year of payment in an amount

equal to the amount of any cash or the fair market value of any nonrestricted Common Shares, actually or constructively received (and, with respect to an employee, will be subject to income tax withholding on the amount of such ordinary income). The Company will generally be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the Participant at the time of settlement, and social security and Medicare taxes will also be required to be withheld upon settlement.

When a Participant sells the Common Shares, if any, acquired upon settlement of a PSU, he or she generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale of Common Shares and his or her aggregate tax basis in the Common Shares. If the Participant’s holding period for the Common Shares exceeds one year, such gain or loss will constitute long-term capital gain or loss.

The Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, are not subject to the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachment) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, (i) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) for promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Participants should seek advice, based on their particular circumstances, from an independent tax advisor about the consequences of participating in the Plan.

 

 

Page 5

Exhibit 4.5

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

 

 

2024 Restricted Share Unit Plan Section 10(a) Prospectus

 

 

This prospectus (this “Prospectus”) relates to the registration of common shares (the “Common Shares”) of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Company”), which are reserved for issuance to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Participants”) under the Aurora Cannabis Inc. 2024 Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “Plan”). The total number of Common Shares that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the Plan is 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of grant of each Restricted Share Unit under the Plan; provided that Restricted Share Units shall not be granted under the Plan if (i) the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding Restricted Share Units, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other Company security based compensation arrangements, would exceed 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant and (ii) when combined with the number of Common Share issuable pursuant to outstanding deferred share units and performance share units of the Company, would exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on the grant date.

 

 

This document constitutes part of a prospectus covering securities that have been registered pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.

Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this Prospectus is September 20, 2024.


Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2024 Restricted Share Unit Plan Prospectus

 

Table of Contents    Page  
I.  

Available Information

     1  
II.  

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     1  
III.  

Description of the Plan

     2  
 

General

     2  
 

Awards under the Plan

     2  
 

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

     2  
 

Administration

     2  
 

Securities to be Offered

     2  
 

Description of Awards

     3  
 

Restricted Share Units

     3  
 

Clawbacks

     3  
 

Non-Transferability of Awards

     3  
 

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

     3  
 

Amendment and Termination

     3  
 

Change of Control

     4  
 

Miscellaneous

     4  
IV.  

Resale Restrictions

     4  
V.  

United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

     5  
 

Restricted Share Units

     5  


I. Available Information

The Company has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, relating to the Common Shares offered hereby. For further information, reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the Exhibits filed as a part thereof and the documents incorporated by reference therein.

The Company is also subject to the information disclosure requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Commission. Reports and other information filed with or furnished by the Company to the Commission are available electronically at the Commission’s EDGAR website (http://www.sec.gov).

II. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

The Commission allows the Company to “incorporate by reference” information into this Prospectus. This means the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you to other information filed with or furnished to the Commission.

The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission are hereby incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and will be deemed to be a part of this Prospectus:

 

    The Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended March 31, 2024 (the “Form 40-F”), filed on June 20, 2024;

 

    The Company’s reports on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on July 5, 2024, July 9, 2024, July 26, 2024, August 6, 2024, August 7, 2024 and August 12, 2024; and

 

    The description of the common shares of the Company contained under the section captioned “Item 1. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered” in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 24, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.

In addition, reports and documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are filed subsequent to the date of the Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered by the Registration Statement have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated into this Prospectus by reference and to be a part of this Prospectus from the respective date of filing of each such report or document.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, a copy of the Plan or any document incorporated by reference therein (other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents) to each person who receives a copy of this Prospectus. In addition, the Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request as set forth below, to all such persons who do not otherwise receive such materials, copies of all reports, proxy statements and other communications distributed to its shareholders generally.

All written and oral requests with respect to the foregoing matter should be directed as follows:

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2207 90B St. SW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6X 1V8

Phone: 1-855-279-4652

Attn: Corporate Secretary

 

 

Page 1


III. Description of the Plan

In the event of any conflict between this description of the Plan and the terms of the Plan itself or an agreement evidencing the grant of an award (an “Award Agreement”), the terms of the Plan or the Award Agreement will prevail.

General

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional directors, officers, employees and consultants (including prospective directors, officers, employees and consultants) and (ii) enabling such individuals to participate in and motivating their efforts toward the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

The Plan became effective as of August 9, 2024, and will remain in effect until August 9, 2027.

The Plan is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and is not intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Awards under the Plan

The Plan provides for the grant of restricted share unit awards (“RSUs”) (each, an “Award”).

Eligibility to Participate in the Plan

Any director, officer, employee or consultant (including any prospective director, officer, employee or consultant) of the Company or its affiliates is eligible to participate in the Plan.

Administration

The board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof (the “Board”) is authorized to interpret the Plan from time to time and to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Board shall be final and conclusive. The Board, or as the Board may delegate to the Compensation Committee, shall make all necessary or desirable determinations regarding the granting of RSUs to eligible Participants and may take into consideration the past and potential contributions of a particular Participant to the success of the Company and any other factors that it may deem proper and relevant. Administration of the Plan shall be the responsibility of the appropriate officers of the Company and all costs in respect thereof shall be paid by the Company.

Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by mail, phone or fax by contacting the Company as provided under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” above.

Securities to be Offered

The securities offered under the Plan are Common Shares. Common Shares granted under the Plan consist of newly authorized Common Shares.

Subject to adjustment for changes in capitalization, the aggregate number of Common Shares that would be available to be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan would be 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of grant of each RSU under the Plan; provided that RSUs shall not be granted under the Plan if the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding RSUs, when combined with the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to all other security based compensation arrangements of the Company, would exceed (i) 9.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of grant and (ii) 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding deferred share units and performance share units of the Company at the date of grant. If any RSU granted under the Plan shall expire, terminate for any reason in accordance with the terms of the Plan or be settled, Common Shares subject to such RSUs shall again be available for the purpose of the Plan.

In the event of any corporate transaction affecting the Common Shares (as described under “Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization” below), the Board in its discretion may (and in some instances must) make equitable adjustments and other substitutions to the Plan and the number of Common Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

 

Page 2


Description of Awards

Restricted Share Units

A RSU Award is an Award that is granted under the Plan and that is designated as such in the applicable Award Agreement, entitles the holder to receive one Common Share, without payment of additional consideration, at the end of the restricted period, or, if applicable, at a later deferred payment date, in satisfaction of the holder’s entitlement under the RSU.

Subject to any provisions with respect to vesting of RSUs in a Participant’s employment agreement with the Company, in the event of retirement of the Participant or early retirement of the Participant during the restricted period, any RSUs held by the Participant shall vest pro-rata on an accelerated basis calculated by dividing the number of months that have elapsed between the date of the applicable Award Agreement and the retirement date by the total number of months between the date of the applicable Award Agreement and the end of the restricted period, provided that the Board shall have the discretion to waive or alter any vesting.

Subject to any provisions with respect to vesting of RSUs in a Participant’s employment agreement with the Company, in the event of the retirement or early retirement of the Participant following the restricted period and prior to the deferred payment date, the Participant shall be entitled to receive and the Company shall issue forthwith Common Shares in satisfaction of the RSUs then held by the Participant.

The Board shall determine the restricted period applicable to such RSUs, and, at the sole discretion of the Board, any performance conditions to be achieved during the restricted period to entitle the holder to receiving the underlying Common Shares. Upon expiration of the applicable restricted period (or the deferred payment date, as applicable), a RSU shall be automatically settled and the underlying Common Share shall be issued to the holder of such RSU, which RSU shall then be canceled.

The aggregate value of security based compensation, including RSUs, that may be granted to any non-employee director on the Board in any calendar year shall not exceed C$150,000, no more than C$100,000 of which may be granted in the form of stock options.

Clawbacks

The Company may clawback Awards provided to eligible Participants in accordance with any compensation recovery policy maintained by the Company, as in effect from time to time.

Non-Transferability of Awards

RSUs are not assignable or transferable other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent, except to a company of which the Participant holds the majority of the voting securities (a “Holding Company”), with the consent of the Company. During the lifetime of a Participant, all RSUs may only be settled by the Participant or such Holding Company.

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization

In the event that there is any change in the Common Shares through or by means of a declaration of stock dividends of Common Shares or a consolidation, subdivision or reclassification of Common Shares, the Board shall make an appropriate adjustment to the number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan or the number of shares subject to any outstanding RSUs, subject to any applicable rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, and such adjustment shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan. The Company will not be required to issue fractional Common Shares in satisfaction of its obligations following an adjustment and any fractional interest in a Common Share will be disregarded.

Amendment and Termination

Subject to any applicable law or government regulation or the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without the approval of the shareholders of the Company except that shareholder approval is required for any amendment that would (i) materially increase the benefits of a RSU holder under the Plan to the detriment of the Company or its shareholders, (ii) increase the maximum number of Common Shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan, (iii) reduce the range of the amendments that require shareholder approval, (iv) permit RSUs to be transferred other than for normal estate settlement purposes, (v) change insider participation and director limits which would result in shareholder approval to be required on a disinterested basis, (vi) change the non-employee director security based compensation limits as set forth in the Plan or (vii) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan.

 

 

Page 3


Change of Control

Subject to the terms of a Participant’s employment agreement with respect to a Change of Control of the Company, and unless otherwise determined by the Board prior to such Change of Control, if a Change of Control occurs, all RSUs then outstanding shall automatically vest, so that such RSUs may be settled in whole or in part by the Participant, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements, and the holder shall be entitled to receive any Common Shares notwithstanding the restricted period and any applicable deferred payment date.

Unless otherwise provided pursuant to an Award Agreement, a Change of Control of the Company is defined to mean any of the following events, generally:

 

    the consummation of a consolidation, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization or acquisition involving the Company or any of its affiliates and another corporation or other entity, as a result of which the holders of Common Shares immediately prior to the completion of the transaction hold less than 50% of the outstanding shares of the successor corporation immediately after completion of the transaction;

 

    the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets, rights or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries to any other person or entity, other than transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

    a resolution is adopted to wind-up, dissolve or liquidate the Company;

 

    any person, entity or group of persons or entities (an “Acquiror”) acquires, or acquires control (including the right to vote or direct the voting) of voting securities of the Company that would entitle the Acquiror to cast or to direct the casting of 50% or more of the votes attached to the Company’s outstanding voting securities which may be cast to elect directors of the Company or the successor corporation; or

 

    as a result of or in connection with (A) a contested election of directors; or (B) a consolidation, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other reorganization or acquisition involving the Company or any of its affiliates and another corporation or other entity, fewer than 50% of the directors of the Company or the successor corporation are persons who were directors of the Company immediately prior to the transaction.

Miscellaneous

The following provisions are also in effect under the Plan:

 

    the RSU Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is approved by the shareholders and shall remain in effect until it is terminated by the directors of the Company;

 

    the grant of an Award may not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as a director, officer, employee or consultant of or to the Company or any affiliate;

 

    no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award has any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Common Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Common Shares;

 

    the Company makes no representation or warranty as to the future market value of the Common Shares issued in accordance with the Plan; and

 

    the validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement will be determined in accordance with the laws of the Providence of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

IV. Resale Restrictions

The Plan will be administered to comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. In the event that a Participant is deemed to be an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of the Securities Act (that is, generally, a director or executive officer of the Company or a person who directly or, through one or more intermediaries, indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company), reoffers or resales of Common Shares issued by, or on behalf of, such Participant must be made only:

 

    pursuant to a “reoffer prospectus” complying with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
 

 

Page 4


    in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

    in a transaction otherwise exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

The Company does not presently intend to make any such reoffer prospectus available.

In addition, the Company may from time to time adopt policies and procedures (including under the Company’s Disclosure, Confidentiality and Insider Trading Policy) that restrict the ability of some or all Participants to resell Common Shares acquired under the Plan.

V. United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

This is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Participants who are subject to U.S. tax of participating in the Plan. This summary is based on current law as of the date of this Prospectus and is provided only as general information and not as tax advice. It does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder. For example, it does not deal with most of the tax implications arising from a Participant’s death, nor does it discuss any Canadian or other international, state, provincial or local tax considerations. Each Participant should consult with, and rely on, his or her own tax advisor regarding all the possible tax consequences, based on his or her individual situation, of participating in the Plan.

The Company shall have the right to deduct, withhold from, or require the Participant to remit any amounts otherwise payable to a Participant the amount of any federal, provincial, territorial or foreign taxes required to be deducted or withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan and may set off any amounts required to be withheld, in whole or in part, against amounts otherwise owing by the Company to the Participant. The Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by withholding such number of Common Shares issuable upon the settlement of the RSUs as it determines are required to be sold by the Company to satisfy any withholding obligations net of selling costs. The Participant consents to such sale and grants to the Company an irrevocable power of attorney to effect the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon the settlement of the RSUs and acknowledges and agrees that the Company does not accept responsibility for the price obtained on the sale of such Common Shares issuable upon the settlement of the RSUs.

RSUs under the Plan are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, though the Company does not guarantee such tax treatment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any RSUs granted to a Participant who is eligible for retirement or early retirement during the restricted period of the RSU are expected to constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and will be administered accordingly. The following description of tax consequences assumes that Section 409A of the Code will not apply to RSUs granted under the Plan.

Restricted Share Units

No income will generally be recognized by a Participant in connection with the grant of an RSU. A Participant is generally subject to withholding of social security and Medicare taxes on the value of an RSU at the time that the Participant’s rights with respect to the RSU become vested. In addition, the fair market value of those Common Shares at the time of settlement and/or any cash received should generally be taxable to the Participant as ordinary income at the time of settlement (and, with respect to an employee, will be subject to income tax withholding on the amount of such ordinary income).

The Participant’s aggregate tax basis for resale purposes in any Common Shares received is the amount taxed as ordinary income upon receipt of the Common Shares. Any gain or loss on a sale of Common Shares will be treated as capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if such Common Shares are held for more than one year after the date of issuance.

The Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, are not subject to the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachment) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, (i) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) for promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Participants should seek advice, based on their particular circumstances, from an independent tax advisor about the consequences of participating in the Plan.

 

 

Page 5

EXHIBIT 5.1

Opinion of Stikeman Elliott LLP

September 20, 2024

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

2207 90B St. SW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6X 1V8 Canada

Dear Sirs/Mesdames:

Re: Aurora Cannabis Inc. — Registration Statement on Form S-8

We have acted as Canadian counsel to Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation governed on the date of this opinion by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), in connection with the registration of 3,421,724 common shares of the Corporation, consisting of: (i) 855,431 common shares of the Corporation (the “SOP Shares”) issuable pursuant to the Corporation’s Share Option Plan (the “SOP”), (ii) 427,715 common shares of the Corporation (the “DSU Shares”) issuable pursuant to the Corporation’s Non-Employee Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan (the “DSU Plan”), (iii) 855,431 common shares of the Corporation (the “PSU Shares”) issuable pursuant to the Corporation’s Performance Share Unit Plan (the “PSU Plan”), and (iv) 1,283,147 common shares of the Corporation (the “RSU Shares”, and collectively with the SOP Shares, the DSU Shares and the PSU Shares, the “Incentive Plan Shares”) issuable pursuant to the Corporation’s Restricted Share Unit Plan, (the “RSU Plan”, and collectively with the SOP, the DSU Plan and the PSU Plan, the “Incentive Plans”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed on September 20, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Incentive Plans and all such corporate and public records, statutes and regulations and have made such investigations and have reviewed such other documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary and have considered such questions of law as we have considered relevant and necessary in order to give the opinion hereinafter set forth. As to various questions of fact material to such opinions which were not independently established, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Corporation.

In reviewing the foregoing documents and in giving this opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity of all individuals, the genuineness of all signatures, the veracity of the information contained therein, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic or original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, electronic, photostatic or facsimile copies.

We are qualified to practice law in the Province of British Columbia and this opinion is rendered solely with respect to the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. This opinion is expressed with respect to the laws in effect on the date of this opinion and we do not accept any responsibility to take into account or inform the addressee, or any other person authorized to rely on this opinion, of any changes in law, facts or other developments subsequent to this date that do or may affect the opinion we express.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that, when the Incentive Plan Shares shall have been issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Plans, including receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor, the Incentive Plan Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion may not be quoted from or referred to in any documents other than the Registration Statement as provided for herein without our prior written consent.

 

Yours very truly,
/s/ Stikeman Elliott LLP
Stikeman Elliott LLP

EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

We consent to the use of our report dated June 19, 2024, on the consolidated financial statements of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (“the Company”), which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as of March 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss, changes in equity and cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2024 and the nine months ended March 31, 2023, and the related notes, and our report dated June 19, 2024 on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2024, which are incorporated by reference in the registration statement on Form S-8 of the Company.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants

Vancouver, Canada

September 20, 2024

EXHIBIT 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

S-8

(Form Type)

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

Security Type  

Security

Class

Title

  Fee
Calculation
Rule
  Amount
Registered (1)
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit (2)
 

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering

Price (2)

 

Fee

Rate

  Amount of
Registration
Fee

Equity

  Common Shares issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Share Option Plan   457(c) and 457(h)   855,431   US$5.85    US$5,000,000    0.00014760    US$738 

Equity

  Common Shares issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Non-Employee Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan   457(c) and 457(h)   427,715   US$5.85    US$2,500,000    0.00014760    US$369 

Equity

  Common Shares issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Performance Share Unit Plan   457(c) and 457(h)   855,431   US$5.85    US$5,000,000    0.00014760    US$738 

Equity

  Common Shares issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Restricted Share Unit Plan  

457(c) and

457(h)

  1,283,147    US$5.85    US$7,500,000    0.00014760    US$1,107 

Total Offering Amounts

      US$20,000,000        US$2,952 

Total Fee Offsets

              —  

Net Fee Due

              US$2,952

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) also covers an indeterminate number of additional common shares, no par value (the “Common Shares”), of the Registrant, Aurora Cannabis Inc., that may be offered or issued by reason of certain corporate transactions or events, including any stock dividend, stock split or any other similar transaction effected which results in an increase in the number of Common Shares.

(2)

Estimated for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Shares reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on September 16, 2024, which was US$5.85 per share.


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