Europa Metals Ltd

Europa Metals Ltd - Notice of GM and Proposed Share Consolidation

RNS Number : 8145P
Europa Metals Ltd
12 June 2020
 

12 June 2020

Europa Metals Ltd

("Europa Metals", the "Company" or the "Group") (AIM, AltX: EUZ)

Notice of General Meeting and Proposed Share Consolidation

Europa Metals, the European focused lead-zinc and silver developer, announces that it has today communicated to shareholders and submitted to ASIC details of a general meeting and associated material to be held at 11.00 a.m. (UK time) on 15 July 2020 via a Virtual Meeting Facility.

In light of the evolving COVID-19 situation and UK Government restrictions on public gatherings currently in place, the Directors have made a decision that there will not be a physical meeting where Shareholders can attend in person. Accordingly, the Directors strongly encourage all Shareholders to either lodge a directed proxy form/form of instruction or vote online prior to the Meeting or attend the Meeting virtually.

Shareholders who attend the Meeting virtually will be able to watch, listen, submit written questions and participate in all poll votes put to the Meeting. Shareholders who intend to participate virtually must notify and register with the Company in advance of the Meeting at the contact details set out in the Notice.

The current situation is evolving and the UK Government may change the current restrictions or implement further measures relating to the holding of public gatherings during the affected period.  The Company will make any further announcement(s) that may be required in this regard by way of a regulatory information service and the Company's website.

All defined terms used in this announcement shall have the meanings given to them in the formal Notice of Meeting unless otherwise defined herein.

The full text of the Notice and accompanying explanatory statement is set out at the end of this announcement and is also available to download from the Company's website at

Further information on the Resolutions

The Resolutions set out in the Notice seek shareholder approval for, inter alia: (i) the consolidation of the Company's Shares on a 500 for 1 basis; (ii) certain amendments to the Company's Constitution; (iii) a new Incentive Plan; (iv) the issue of certain Incentive Options to the Directors; and (v) certain share capital authorities to enable the Directors to allot equity securities for non-cash and cash consideration purposes (via the disapplication of pre-emption rights pursuant to the amended Constitution).

There are two general factors underlying the Resolutions being put to Shareholders at the Meeting, which are as follows:

·    To support the Company's ongoing cost reduction strategy; and

·    To more closely align Europa Metals' corporate governance framework and Constitution with those of other AIM quoted companies following consultation with certain Shareholders and advisers.

AIM has, since the Company's removal from the official list of the ASX Limited on 8 March 2019, been the Company's primary listing.  Since removal from the ASX and following feedback from Shareholders and consultation with the Company's advisers, the Board believes it appropriate to, inter alia, implement certain changes to the Company's Constitution to bring the Company into greater alignment with more UK market standard corporate governance practices.  The proposed changes will afford shareholders the right to consider and pass resolutions on a regular basis with respect to the disapplication of pre-emption rights governing the Directors' share capital authorities, in a similar manner to most other AIM quoted companies.  As part of its proposals, the Board also intends to implement a share consolidation in order to bring the total number of shares in issue more in line with AIM market norms and reduce volatility. In addition, further to a cost cutting programme already implemented by the Board at the beginning of the COVID-19 global health emergency, the Company is seeking to put in place a new share option plan to assist in incentivising its key personnel.

The Company also announces that, for the purposes of its financial year ending 30 June 2020, it will be adopting and applying the QCA Corporate Governance Code and reporting against it on a 'comply or explain' basis in the Corporate Governance Statement in its forthcoming 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements, as required by AIM Rule 26. 

Whilst remaining an Australian registered and domiciled company subject to all relevant regulations within such jurisdiction, the Company is proposing certain changes to update its Constitution following its removal from the ASX.  These include pre-emption rights for Shareholders for any issue of new securities (as contained in the UK Companies Act), subject to certain exceptions where the Directors can dis-apply pre-emption rights such as, inter alia, with prior Shareholder approval (Resolution 2).  Shareholder approval is sought at the Meeting to grant the Directors the general authority to issue Shares up to 25% of the Company's issued share capital as at the date of the Meeting for non-cash consideration purposes (Resolution 10) and, separately, to issue Shares up to a further 50% of the Company's issued share capital as at the date of the Notice of Meeting for cash consideration purposes (Resolution 11).

The Directors are also seeking Shareholder approval to consolidate the number of Shares in issue on a 500 for 1 basis (Consolidation). The Consolidation is being undertaken as the Company's Directors and advisers consider the number of Shares currently in issue to be considerably higher than the majority of companies of a similar size on AIM, which, when combined with the current share price of significantly less than 1 pence per Share, unduly affects investor perception of the Company and volatility in its share price. Following advice from its advisers on these factors, including a period of monitoring of movements in the Company's share price, it has been made clear that the Company should take steps to consolidate its Shares to a more appropriate level and ensure it benefits from the ongoing support of the AIM market.

Shareholders will have the same percentage interest in the Company following the Consolidation, but will hold fewer individual Shares, with each Share having a higher market value due to the total aggregate number of Shares in issue being less.

Set out below is a worked example assuming a Shareholder holds 5,000,110 pre-Consolidation Shares and the Company's pre-Consolidation share price is 0.02 pence (being the closing mid-market price of the Shares on AIM on 11 June 2020):

Number of pre-Consolidation Shares

Pre-Consolidation share price (pence)

Value of pre-Consolidation shareholding

500:1

Consolidation

Number of post-Consolidation Shares*

Post-Consolidation share price (pence)

Value of post-Consolidation shareholding

5,000,110

0.02

£1,000


10,000

10

£1,000

Note: * - Pursuant to the terms of the Consolidation, fractions of Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole Share.

During 2020 the Board has implemented a cost reduction strategy which includes a 20% reduction in Directors' and senior managements' salaries and fees. The objective of this cost cutting exercise is to conserve the group's cash reserves, particularly during the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic whilst allowing the Company to retain its core operating team in Spain to continue with selected key work on the ground to progress the Company's wholly owned Toral lead, zinc and silver project. Consequently, and to reward and incentivise key personnel and further align the interests of management with those of Shareholders, Shareholder approval is sought for a new share option plan (Resolution 3) and to issue Incentive Options to the Directors (Resolutions 5 to 9).

Further information on the proposed Consolidation

The Notice sets out full details of the proposed Consolidation and the Resolution, to be put to Shareholders at the General Meeting, required to be passed in order to effect it.

The Directors are proposing that every 500 existing ordinary shares in the Company be consolidated into one new ordinary share in the Company ("New Ordinary Shares"). As at 11 June 2020, the Company had 16,722,209,651 existing ordinary shares ("Existing Ordinary Shares") in issue. Following the Consolidation, the Company is expected to have approximately 33,444,419 shares in issue (subject to amendment for fractional roundings). The New Ordinary Shares will continue to trade on AIM and AltX under the same ticker (EUZ) but will have a new ISIN: AU0000090060.

Options and warrants currently in issue will also be consolidated on a 500 for 1 basis and the exercise prices adjusted accordingly.

Following implementation of the Consolidation, Shareholders will still hold the same proportion of the Company's ordinary share capital as before the Consolidation and the New Ordinary Shares will carry equivalent rights to the Existing Ordinary Shares.

Full details of the Consolidation, including the treatment of fractional holdings, are set out in the Notice and the accompanying explanatory statement.

The Directors are proposing the Consolidation as they consider the number of Shares currently in issue to be considerably higher than the majority of companies of a similar size on AIM, which, when combined with the current share price of significantly less than 1 pence per Share, unduly affects investor perception of the Company and volatility in its share price. Following advice from its advisers on these factors, including a period of monitoring of movements in the Company's share price, it has been made clear that the Company should take steps to consolidate its Shares to a more appropriate level and ensure it benefits from the ongoing support of the AIM market.

The Directors are also seeking Shareholder approval for Resolution 2 which proposes various changes to the Company's constitution, including, inter alia, proposing a new clause 24 which will allow the Company to direct the sale of unmarketable parcels of securities, with the proceeds of any sale to be paid to the relevant selling Shareholder and with no brokerage to be paid by that individual.

Resolution 4, which is subject to Shareholders approving Resolution 2 and the Company adopting the Proposed Constitution, proposes that such sale process will apply only to holdings of less than £1,000 following the Consolidation. If utilised by the Company in the future, it is intended to reduce administrative inefficiencies associated with such small shareholdings. Further information is set out in the explanatory statement.

The expected timetable for the Consolidation is set out below:

Event

Date

Friday, 5 June 2020

Friday, 12 June 2020

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

11.00 a.m. (12 noon SA time) on Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Record Date for the Consolidation (Australia and United Kingdom)

6.00 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Post-Consolidation Shares commence trading on AIM and Alt-X under new ISIN AU0000090060

Thursday, 16 July 2020

CREST accounts credited with post-Consolidation Shares in the United Kingdom

Thursday, 16 July 2020

Record date for the Consolidation (SA) and last day for settlement of trades in the pre-Consolidation Shares in SA

Monday, 20 July 2020

Accounts of dematerialised SA shareholders at their CSDP or broker updated

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

New holdings statements sent to security holders on the Australian Register

By Friday, 24 July 2020

NOTES:

i) The results will be announced as soon as practicable following closure of the Meeting and counting of all poll votes.

ii) No cross border transactions to occur for SA holders from Monday, 13 July 2020 to Thursday, 16 July 2020 (both days inclusive).

iii) No dematerialisation or rematerialisation of share certificates for SA holders from Thursday, 16 July 2020 to Monday, 20 July 2020 (both days inclusive). 

Admission to trading

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the New Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM ("Admission") and to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for quotation on AltX.

It is expected that admission will become effective and dealings commence on or around 16 July 2020. The Company will make a further announcement confirming the total issued ordinary share capital on Admission once the final number of New Ordinary Shares is calculated and confirmed after adjustment for fractional roundings pursuant to the Consolidation.

For further information on the Company, please visit www.europametals.com or contact:

 

Europa Metals Ltd

Dan Smith, Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary (Australia)

T: +61 417 978 955

Laurence Read, Executive Director (UK)

T: +44 (0)20 3289 9923

 

Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Rory Murphy/Matthew Chandler

T: +44 (0)20 7409 3494

 

Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Limited (Broker)

Andy Thacker/Zoe Alexander

T: +44 (0)20 3657 0050

 

Sasfin Capital Proprietary Limited (a member of the Sasfin group)

Sharon Owens
T (direct): +27 11 809 7762

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.

 

 

EUROPA METALS LTD

ACN 097 532 137

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING

AND

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Meeting of the members of Europa Metals Ltd (Europa or the Company) will be held on the date and at the location and time specified below:

DATE:                          15 July 2020

LOCATION:                  By Virtual Meeting Facility

TIME:                           11.00 a.m. UK time / 12.00 noon SA time

BUSINESS:                  The business of the General Meeting is to consider and pass the Resolutions set out in the agenda.

 

In light of the evolving COVID-19 situation and UK Government restrictions on public gatherings in place on the date of this Notice of Meeting, the Directors have made a decision that there will not be a physical meeting where Shareholders can attend in person. Accordingly, the Directors strongly encourage all Shareholders to either lodge a directed proxy form or vote online prior to the Meeting or attend the Meeting virtually.

In accordance with subsection 5(f) of the Corporations (Coronavirus Economic Response) Determination (No. 1) 2020, the Company will not be dispatching physical copies of the Notice. For shareholders where the Company has email addresses on record, the Company will send a copy of this Notice and other material relating to the Meeting or provide a link to where the Notice and other material can be viewed or downloaded by email. To other Shareholders, the Company will send a letter or postcard setting out a URL for viewing or downloading the Notice and other material. 

Shareholders can access a copy of the Notice at the following link:

http://www.europametals.com/site/aim-rule-261/shareholder-communication1  

Should you wish to discuss the matters in this Notice of Meeting please do not hesitate to contact the Company Secretary, Mr Dan Smith on +61 (8) 9486 4036 or by email at Dsmith@europametals.com. Alternatively, you should consult your licensed financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional adviser.

 

 

 

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING AND HOW TO VOTE

VENUE

The Directors have determined that as most Shareholders reside in the United Kingdom, the most convenient time and place to hold the Meeting is in London.

In light of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the UK Government's public health laws and restrictions on public gatherings in place on the date of this Notice of Meeting, the Directors have made a decision that there will not be a physical meeting where Shareholders can attend in person. Shareholders are therefore strongly urged to either lodge a proxy or vote online as soon as practicable or attend the Meeting via the Virtual Meeting Facility (see below).

The current situation is evolving and the UK Government may change the current restrictions or implement further measures relating to the holding of public gatherings during the affected period. The Company will make any further announcement(s) that may be required in this regard by way of a regulatory information service and the Company's website.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

The business of the General Meeting affects your shareholding and your vote is important.

VOTING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING BY VIRTUAL MEETING FACILITY

Virtual Meeting Facility

 

Shareholders who wish to participate in the General Meeting to be held on 15 July 2020 at 11.00 a.m. (UK time) may do so by dialling into the virtual meeting facility (Virtual Meeting Facility).

 

To dial into the Zoom Virtual Meeting Facility please follow the below steps:

·      Copy the following link to your web browser: https://zoom.us/j/2659187498?pwd=emxWT1FuRFluTEc4cFFubktrdXNJQT09Meeting ID: 265-918-7498. 

·      Password: 555555.

·      One tap mobile: 

1.         Australia: +61 8 7150 1149; +61 2 8015 6011; +61 3 7018 2005

2.         South Africa: +27 87 551 7702; +27 87 550 3946

3.         United Kingdom: +44 203 481 5240; +44 131 460 1196; +44 203 051 2874

 

The Company appreciates the understanding of its Shareholders during this difficult situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Shareholders who attend the Meeting virtually will be able to watch, listen, submit written questions and participate in all poll votes put to the Meeting.

 

Shareholders who intend to participate, and/or vote on a poll at the Meeting, must contact the Company at Dsmith@europametals.com notifying the Company that you intend to participate and/or vote on a poll at the Meeting by emailing the Company a poll form. You will also need to register and access the Meeting by videoconference to follow the meeting and timing of the poll as set out above. After receiving such notice and after 11.30 a.m. (UK time) on the day of the Meeting, the Company will send you a personalised poll form. The personalised poll form must be completed and returned to the Company after the poll has been called and prior to the close of polling. During the Meeting, the Chairman will notify you when and how you are able to complete and return the personalised poll form. The results of the Meeting are then expected to be announced on a regulatory news service later that day.

 

Asking Questions at the Meeting

 

The Virtual Meeting Facility will include the ability for Shareholders to ask questions in relation to the business of the Meeting.

 

Shareholders are also invited to submit questions in advance of the Meeting. You may send questions in writing to the share registry at the address set out on the proxy form or email your questions to the Company Secretary at: Dsmith@europametals.com.

Please ensure that your questions are received no later than 5.00 p.m. (UK time) on Monday, 13 July 2020.  

Further information and support on how to use the Virtual Meeting Facility is available on the Company's website.

VOTING IN PERSON

In light of the status of the evolving COVID-19 situation and UK Government restrictions on public gatherings in place on the date of this Notice of Meeting, the Directors have made a decision that there will not be a physical meeting where Shareholders can attend in person.

Accordingly, the Directors strongly encourage all Shareholders to either lodge a directed proxy form or vote online prior to the Meeting. Shareholders who attend the Meeting virtually will be able to watch, listen, submit written questions and participate in all poll votes put to the Meeting.

For their votes to be counted, DI Holders must submit their CREST Voting Instruction to the Company's agent by the required cut-off time set out below. Alternatively, DI Holders can vote using the enclosed Form of Instruction as per the instructions set out below.

VOTING BY PROXY

Shareholders are strongly urged to appoint the Chairman of the Meeting as their proxy. Shareholders can complete the proxy form to provide specific instructions on how a Shareholder's vote is to be cast on each item of business, and the Chairman of the Meeting must follow your instructions.

Australia (Proxy Forms)

To vote by proxy, please complete and sign the enclosed Proxy Form and return it by the time and in accordance with the instructions set out on the Proxy Form.

In accordance with section 249L of the Corporations Act, Shareholders are advised that:

·    A Shareholder (either an individual or a body corporate) who is entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy which may be a body corporate or an individual.

·    A proxy need not be a Shareholder.

·    A Shareholder who is entitled to cast two or more votes may appoint two proxies and may specify the proportion or number of votes each proxy is appointed to exercise, but where the proportion or number is not specified, each proxy may exercise half of the total votes. If you wish to appoint a second proxy, an additional proxy form may be obtained by telephoning the Company's share registry or you may copy the enclosed Proxy Form. To appoint a second proxy, you must follow the instructions on the Proxy Form.

Sections 250BB and 250BC of the Corporations Act apply to voting by proxy and Shareholders and their proxies should be aware of these provisions which generally provide that:

(a)      if proxy holders vote, they must cast all directed proxies as directed; and

(b)      any directed proxies which are not voted will automatically default to the Chairman, who must vote the proxies as directed.

If the proxy has two or more appointments that specify different ways to vote on a resolution, the proxy must not vote on that resolution on a show of hands.

The enclosed Proxy Form provides further details on voting entitlement, appointing proxies and lodging proxy forms. To vote by proxy, please complete, sign and return the enclosed Proxy Form. In order for it to be valid, your Proxy Form (and any power of attorney under which it is signed) must be received at one of the addresses given below at least 48 hours before the Meeting, being by 11.00 a.m. (UK time) on 13 July 2020. Any Proxy Form received after that time will not be valid for the Meeting.

Online                             at www.investorvote.com.au

By mail                            Share Registry - Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited, GPO Box 242, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia

By fax                              1800 783 447 (within Australia)

          +61 3 9473 2555 (outside Australia)

By mobile                        Scan the QR Code on your Proxy Form and follow the prompts.

Custodian voting             For Intermediary Online subscribers only (custodians) please visit www.intermediaryonline.com to submit your voting intentions.

South Africa (Proxy Forms)

The enclosed Proxy Form provides further details on voting entitlement, appointing proxies and lodging proxy forms. If a Shareholder appoints a body corporate as its proxy and the body corporate wishes to appoint an individual as its representative, the body corporate should provide that person with a certificate or letter executed in accordance with the Corporations Act authorising him or her to act as that company's representative. The authority may be sent to the Company or its share registry in advance of the Meeting.

To vote by proxy, please complete and sign the Proxy Form enclosed and deliver the Proxy Form to:

Computershare Investor Services (Proprietary) Ltd, Rosebank Towers, 15 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank, 2196 South Africa (Private Bag X9000, Saxonwold, 2132 South Africa) to reach them by no later than 12 noon (SA time) on 13 July 2020.

United Kingdom (CREST Voting Instructions)

Holders of Depositary Interests in CREST may transmit voting instructions by utilising the CREST voting service in accordance with the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider, should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider, who will be able to take appropriate action on their behalf.

In order for instructions made using the CREST voting service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a CREST Voting Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com/CREST).

To be effective, the CREST Voting Instruction must be transmitted so as to be received by the Company's agent (identification number: 3RA50) by no later than 11.00 a.m. (UK time) on 9 July 2020. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the CREST Voting Instruction by the CREST applications host) from which the Company's agent is able to retrieve the CREST Voting Instruction by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. Holders of Depositary Interests in CREST and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the transmission of CREST Voting Instructions. It is the responsibility of the DI Holder concerned to take (or, if the DI Holder is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that the CREST sponsor or voting service provider takes) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a CREST Voting Instruction is transmitted by means of the CREST voting service by any particular time. In this regard, DI Holders and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

United Kingdom (Form of Instruction)

Alternatively, DI Holders can vote by completing, signing and returning the enclosed Form of Instruction to the Company's agent (identification number: 3RA50) no later than 11.00 a.m. (UK time) on 9 July 2020.

CUSTODIAN VOTING

For Intermediary Online subscribers only (custodians), please visit www.intermediaryonline.com to submit your voting intentions.

 

Europa Metals Ltd

ACN 097 532 137

 

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING

Notice is given that a General Meeting of the Shareholders of Europa Metals Ltd will be held at 11.00 a.m. (UK time) on 15 July 2020 by way of the Virtual Meeting Facility.

The Explanatory Statement to this Notice of Meeting provides additional information on the matters to be considered at the General Meeting and a glossary of defined terms not defined in full in this Notice. The Explanatory Statement and the enclosed Proxy Form, or Form of Instruction if you are a DI Holder, form part of this Notice of Meeting. Terms and abbreviations used in this Notice of Meeting and Explanatory Statement are defined in the glossary.

The Directors have determined, pursuant to Regulations 7.11.37 and 7.11.38 of the Corporations Regulations, that the persons eligible to vote at the General Meeting are those who are registered Shareholders of the Company at 5.00 p.m. (UK time) on 13 July 2020. Accordingly, transactions registered after that time will be disregarded in determining entitlements to attend and vote at the General Meeting. 

 

Overview

AIM has, since the Company's removal from the official list of the ASX Limited on 8 March 2019, been the Company's primary listing.  Since removal from the ASX and following consultation with certain significant Shareholders and advisers, the Board believes it appropriate to, inter alia, implement certain changes to the Company's constitution to bring the Company into greater alignment with more UK market standard corporate governance practices and to undertake a share consolidation. In addition, the Company is seeking to put in place a new share option plan to assist in incentivising its key personnel whilst allowing for cost-reductions.

Accordingly, the Directors are seeking Shareholder approval (Resolution 1) to consolidate the number of Shares in issue on a 1 for 500 basis (the Consolidation). The Consolidation is being undertaken as the Company's Directors and advisers consider the number of Shares currently in issue to be considerably higher than the majority of companies of a similar size on AIM, which when combined with the current share price of significantly less than 1 pence per Share, unduly affects investor perception of the Company and volatility in its share price. Following advice from its advisers on these factors, including a period of monitoring of movements in the Company's share price, it has been made clear that the Company should take steps to consolidate its Shares to a more appropriate level and ensure it benefits from the ongoing support of the AIM market. The Company also wishes to notify Shareholders that, for the purposes of its financial year ending 30 June 2020, it will be adopting and applying the QCA Corporate Governance Code and reporting against it on a comply or explain basis in the Corporate Governance Statement in its forthcoming 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements, as required by AIM Rule 26. 

Whilst remaining an Australian registered and domiciled company subject to all relevant regulations within such jurisdiction, the Company is proposing certain changes to update its Constitution following its removal from the ASX.  These include pre-emption rights for Shareholders for any issue of new securities (as contained in the UK Companies Act), subject to certain exceptions where the Directors can dis-apply pre-emption rights such as, inter alia, with prior Shareholder approval (Resolution 2).  Shareholder approval is sought at the Meeting to grant the Directors the general authority to issue Shares up to 25% of the Company's issued share capital as at the date of the Meeting for non-cash consideration purposes (Resolution 10) and, separately, to issue Shares up to a further 50% of the Company's issued share capital as at the date of the Notice of Meeting for cash consideration purposes (Resolution 11).

During 2020 the Board has implemented a cost reduction strategy which includes a 20% reduction in Directors' and senior managements' salaries and fees. The objective of this cost cutting exercise is to conserve the group's cash reserves, particularly during the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic whilst allowing the Company to retain its core operating team in Spain to continue with selected key work on the ground to progress the Company's wholly owned Toral lead, zinc and silver project. Consequently, and to reward and incentivise key personnel and further align the interests of management with those of Shareholders, Shareholder approval is sought for a new share option plan (Resolution 3) and to issue Incentive Options to the Directors (Resolutions 5 to 9).  

 

AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

1.         Consolidation of share capital

To consider, and if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment the following as an Ordinary Resolution: 

"That, for the purposes of section 254H of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, the issued share capital of the Company be consolidated on the basis that every 500 Shares be consolidated into 1 Share; and where this consolidation results in a fraction of a Share being held by a Shareholder, the Directors be authorised to round that fraction down to the nearest whole Share, and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

2.         Amendments to the Company's Constitution

To consider, and if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment the following as a Special Resolution:

"That, subject to the passing of Resolutions 10 and 11 and for the purposes of section 136(2) of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, approval is given for the Company to amend its existing Constitution in the form tabled at the Meeting (Proposed Constitution) and initialed by the Chairman for identification purposes and as described in the Explanatory Statement."

3.         Approval of Europa Metals Ltd's Incentive Plan (Incentive Plan)

To consider, and if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, subject to the passing of Resolution 2 and for the purposes of clause 3.7 of the Proposed Constitution and for all other purposes, the Company's employee incentive plan titled "Europa Incentive Plan" is approved and the Company is authorised to issue Performance Rights, Options and Shares on exercise of Options in accordance with the Europa Incentive Plan, on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

Voting Prohibition and Exclusion: The Company will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by or on behalf of a Director and/or any associates of the Directors. However, the Company need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form, or, it is cast by the Chairman as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides. The Chairman intends to exercise all undirected proxies IN FAVOUR of Resolution 3.

4.         Fixing of value of unmarketable parcels

To consider, and if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, for the purposes of clause 24.2(a) of the Proposed Constitution and for all other purposes, the threshold for unmarketable parcels is fixed at £1,000."

5.         Grant of Incentive Options to, a related party, Laurence Read

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, for the purposes of sections 195(4) and 208 of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve and authorise the grant of up to 350,000,000 Incentive Options (pre-Consolidation) to Mr Laurence Read (or his nominee) under the Incentive Plan and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

Voting Prohibition and Exclusion: The Company will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by Laurence Read or his associates (Resolution 5 Excluded Party). However, the Company need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form, or, provided the Chairman is not a Resolution 5 Excluded Party, it is cast by the Chairman as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides. The Chairman intends to exercise all undirected proxies IN FAVOUR of Resolution 5.

6.         Grant of Incentive Options to, a related party, Myles Campion

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, for the purposes of sections 195(4) and 208 of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve and authorise the grant of up to 350,000,000 Incentive Options (pre-Consolidation) to Mr Myles Campion (or his nominee) under the Incentive Plan and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

Voting Prohibition and Exclusion: The Company will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by Myles Campion or his associates (Resolution 6 Excluded Party). However, the Company need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form, or, provided the Chairman is not a Resolution 6 Excluded Party, it is cast by the Chairman as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides. The Chairman intends to exercise all undirected proxies IN FAVOUR of Resolution 6.

7.         Grant of Incentive Options to, a related party, Colin Bird

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, for the purposes of sections 195(4) and 208 of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve and authorise the grant of up to 150,000,000 Incentive Options (pre-Consolidation) to Mr Colin Bird (or his nominee) under the Incentive Plan and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

Voting Prohibition and Exclusion: The Company will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by Colin Bird or his associates (Resolution 7 Excluded Party). However, the Company need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form, or, provided the Chairman is not a Resolution 7 Excluded Party, it is cast by the Chairman as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides. The Chairman intends to exercise all undirected proxies IN FAVOUR of Resolution 7.

8.         Grant of Incentive Options to, a related party, Evan Kirby

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, for the purposes of sections 195(4) and 208 of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve and authorise the grant of up to 100,000,000 Incentive Options (pre-Consolidation) to Mr Evan Kirby (or his nominee) under the Incentive Plan and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

Voting Prohibition and Exclusion: The Company will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by Evan Kirby or his associates (Resolution 8 Excluded Party). However, the Company need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form, or, provided the Chairman is not a Resolution 8 Excluded Party, it is cast by the Chairman as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides. The Chairman intends to exercise all undirected proxies IN FAVOUR of Resolution 8.

9.         Grant of Incentive Options to, a related party, Daniel Smith

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, for the purposes of sections 195(4) and 208 of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve and authorise the grant of up to 50,000,000 Incentive Options (pre-Consolidation) to Mr Daniel Smith (or his nominee) under the Incentive Plan and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

Voting Prohibition and Exclusion: The Company will disregard any votes cast on this Resolution by Daniel Smith or his associates (Resolution 9 Excluded Party). However, the Company need not disregard a vote if it is cast by a person as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form, or, provided the Chairman is not a Resolution 9 Excluded Party, it is cast by the Chairman as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides. The Chairman intends to exercise all undirected proxies IN FAVOUR of Resolution 9.

10.       Authority to allot securities for non-cash consideration purposes

To consider, and if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment the following as an Ordinary Resolution:

"That, subject to the passing of Resolution 2 and for the purposes of clause 3.7(a) of the Proposed Constitution and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve and authorise the Directors to allot new equity securities up to 25% of the issued share capital of the Company as at the date of the Meeting for non-cash consideration purposes and that this authority shall expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and the date of twelve (12) months from the date of passing this resolution, and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement."

11.       Disapplication of Pre-emption Rights (authority to allot securities for cash consideration purposes)

To consider, and if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment the following as a Special Resolution:

"That, subject to the passing of Resolution 2 and for the purposes of clause 3.8 of the Proposed Constitution, the Directors be authorised to allot and issue equity securities for cash limited to 8,361,104,825 (pre-Consolidation) equity securities (being equal to 50% of the issued share capital of the Company as at the date of the Notice of Meeting) and that this authority shall expire at the earlier of the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and the date of twelve (12) months from the date of passing this resolution."

 

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

 

 

Daniel Smith

Director/Company Secretary

DATED 12 June 2020

Europa Metals Ltd

ACN 097 532 137

 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS

INTRODUCTION

This Explanatory Statement has been prepared for the information of Shareholders in connection with the Resolutions to be considered at the General Meeting of the Shareholders of Europa Metals Ltd to be held by way of the Virtual Meeting Facility on 15 July 2020 at 11.00 a.m. (UK time).

This Explanatory Statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Notice of Meeting.

The purpose of this Explanatory Statement is to provide information that the Directors believe to be material to Shareholders in deciding whether or not to pass the Resolutions.

 

1. RESOLUTION 1: CONSOLIDATION OF SHARE CAPITAL

1.1 Background

The Directors are seeking Shareholder approval to consolidate the number of Shares in issue on a 1 for 500 basis (Consolidation). The Consolidation is being undertaken because the Company's Directors and advisers consider the number of Shares currently in issue to be considerably higher than the majority of companies of a similar size on AIM, which when combined with the current share price of significantly less than 1 pence per Share, unduly affects investor perception of the Company and volatility in its share price. The Directors believe that a reduction in the number of Shares on issue will create a higher price per Share, lead to an improvement in the Company's marketability, and bring its capital structure more in line with its AIM-quoted peers. The Company also wishes to notify Shareholders that, for the purposes of its financial year ending 30 June 2020, it will be adopting and applying the QCA Corporate Governance Code and reporting against it on a comply or explain basis in the Corporate Governance Statement in its forthcoming 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements, as required by AIM Rule 26.     

Shareholders will have the same percentage interest in the Company following the Consolidation, but will hold fewer individual Shares, with each Share having a higher market value due to the total aggregate number of Shares in issue being less.

1.2 Legal and regulatory requirements

Section 254H of the Corporations Act provides that a company may, by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders, convert all or any of its shares into a larger or smaller number of shares.

The Company has various unquoted options (each to be issued Shares on exercise) on issue (Options). These Options were issued when the Company was listed on the ASX and accordingly contain contractual terms that require all rights of a holder of Options to be changed in a manner consistent with the ASX Listing Rules at the time of a share capital reconstruction (e.g. the proposed Consolidation). Whilst the Company is no longer listed on the ASX, the Company is obliged to comply with the contractual terms of the Options to consolidate them in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules, which require that the number of Options in issue be consolidated according to the same ratio as the ordinary share capital and the exercise price amended in an inverse proportion to that ratio.

The Company also has various unquoted warrants (each to be issued Shares on exercise) on issue (Warrants). The terms of the Warrants require that, upon any consolidation or sub-division of the ordinary shares before certain applicable dates, the number of Shares to be subscribed on any subsequent exercise of the subscription rights pertaining to the Warrants will be increased or, as the case may be, reduced in due proportion and the subscription price per Share will be adjusted accordingly.

1.3 Effect on the capital structure

If this Resolution is passed, the number of Shares, Options and Warrants in issue (including those to be issued, subject to Shareholder approval sought under this Notice of Meeting) will be reduced as follows:

Shares

Number

(pre-Consolidation)

Number

(post-Consolidation, subject to any amendment for fractions)

Existing Shares in issue

16,722,209,651

33,444,419

 

Options

(Pre-Consolidation)

(Post-Consolidation)


Number

Exercise Price

Number

Exercise Price

Exercisable on or before 22 May 2020

66,666,666

 0.0750p

133,333

37.5p

Exercisable on or before 22 May 2021

10,000,000

 0.0750p

20,000

37.5p

Exercisable on or before 22 May 2023

337,500,000

 0.0575p

675,000

28.75p

In addition, Shareholders should note that should this Resolution and any combination or all of Resolutions 5 - 9 be passed, the Incentive Options to be issued will also be adjusted as follows (as applicable):

Resolution

Director

Number of Incentive Options (Pre-Consolidation)

Number of Incentive Options (Post-Consolidation)

Resolution 5

Laurence Read

350,000,000

700,000

Resolution 6

Myles Campion

350,000,000

700,000

Resolution 7

Colin Bird

150,000,000

300,000

Resolution 8

Evan Kirby

100,000,000

200,000

Resolution 9

Daniel Smith

50,000,000

100,000

 

Warrants

(Pre-Consolidation)

(Post-Consolidation)

 


Number

Exercise Price

Number

Exercise Price

Exercisable on or before 22 November 2020

235,249,929

0.0750p

470,499

37.5p

Exercisable on or before 10 October 2021

2,000,000,000

0.0375p

4,000,000

18.75p

Exercisable on or before 10 October 2022

240,000,000

0.0250p

480,000

12.5p

Exercisable on or before 30 April 2022

138,000,000

0.0250p

276,000

12.5p

Exercisable on or before 30 April 2022

2,666,666,666

0.0250p

5,333,333

12.5p

As the Consolidation applies equally to all Shareholders, individual Shareholdings will be reduced in the same ratio as the total number of Shares on issue (subject to rounding down to the nearest whole share).

The Consolidation will not result in any change to the rights and obligations of existing Shareholders.

The Consolidation will result in the Shares having a new ISIN and SEDOL as follows:

New ISIN: AU0000090060

New SEDOL: BM9G091

The Company does not have any unpaid securities on issue.

1.4 Timetable

An indicative timetable for the Consolidation, assuming Resolution 1 is approved, is as follows:

Event

Date

Friday, 5 June 2020

Friday, 12 June 2020

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

11.00 a.m. (12 noon SA time) on Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Record Date for the Consolidation (Australia and United Kingdom)

6.00 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Post-Consolidation Shares commence trading on AIM and Alt-X under new ISIN AU0000090060

Thursday, 16 July 2020

CREST accounts credited with post-Consolidation Shares in the United Kingdom

Thursday, 16 July 2020

Record date for the Consolidation (SA) and last day for settlement of trades in the pre-Consolidation Shares in SA

Monday, 20 July 2020

Accounts of dematerialised SA shareholders at their CSDP or broker updated

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

New holdings statements sent to security holders on the Australian Register

By Friday, 24 July 2020

NOTES:

i) The results will be announced as soon as practicable following closure of the Meeting and counting of all poll votes.

ii) No cross border transactions to occur for SA holders from Monday, 13 July 2020 to Thursday, 16 July 2020 (both days inclusive).

iii) No dematerialisation or rematerialisation of share certificates for SA holders from Thursday, 16 July 2020 to Monday 20 July 2020 (both days inclusive).

The dates/times above are indicative only and may change, subject to, inter alia, the Corporations Act and the AIM Rules for Companies. Should any of such dates/times change, the Company will update Shareholders accordingly via a regulatory information service.

1.5 Fractional entitlements and taxation

Fractional entitlements, which will occur where a Shareholder holds an odd number of Shares that cannot be evenly divided by 500, will be rounded down to the nearest whole Share. For the information of SA Shareholders, a fraction rate will not be paid in accordance with the Company's Constitution and the Corporations Act.  

Whilst the Company does not believe that there are any tax consequences as a result of the Consolidation, Shareholders are advised to seek their own advice. The Company does not accept any responsibility for any tax consequences for individuals as a result of the Consolidation.

1.6 Holding statements

After the Consolidation becomes effective, all holding statements for Shares will cease to have any effect, except as evidence of entitlement to a certain number of post-Consolidation Shares, and the Company will arrange for new holdings statements to be issued to holders of those securities.

It is the responsibility of each security holder to check the number of Shares held before and after implementation of the Consolidation.

1.7 Directors' recommendation

The Directors unanimously recommend that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 1. The Directors' recommendation is based on the reasons outlined in section 1.1 above.

2. RESOLUTION 2: AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY'S CONSTITUTION

2.1 General

AIM has been the Company's primary listing for approximately the last 14 months, following the Company's removal from the official list of the ASX Limited on 8 March 2019.  Following consultation with certain significant Shareholders and advisers, the Board believes it appropriate to, inter alia, implement certain changes to the Company's Constitution to bring the Company into greater alignment with more UK market standard corporate governance practices.

Whilst remaining an Australian registered and domiciled company subject to all relevant regulations within such jurisdiction, Europa Metals is no longer governed by the Listing Rules of the ASX, including restrictions on the Directors' powers to issue securities. In order to more closely align the Company's Constitution with the articles of association or similar constitutional document of the majority of other issuers quoted on AIM, the Board considers it prudent to amend the Constitution (Proposed Constitution) with the material proposed amendments briefly summarised in section 2.2 below.  These include pre-emption rights for Shareholders for any issue of new securities (a right that is contained in the UK Companies Act), subject to certain exceptions where the Directors can dis-apply pre-emption rights such as, inter alia, with prior Shareholder approval.  Shareholder approval is sought at the Meeting to grant the Directors the general authority to issue Shares up to 25% of the Company's issued share capital as at the date of the Meeting for non-cash consideration purposes (Resolution 10) and, separately, to issue Shares up to a further 50% of the Company's issued share capital as at the date of the Notice of Meeting for cash consideration purposes (Resolution 11).

The General Meeting also provides an opportunity for the Company to make other amendments to its Constitution consistent with those typically found in the current constitutions of Australian public companies.  Those amendments are also set out below.

Section 136(2) of the Corporations Act provides that a company can modify its constitution by special resolution. Resolution 2 is a special resolution and requires the approval of 75% of the votes cast by Shareholders present and eligible to vote (in person via the Virtual Meeting Facility, by proxy, via CREST or online or by attorney or, in the case of a corporate Shareholder, by a corporate representative).

A copy of the Proposed Constitution (showing the proposed amendments as tracked changes) is available for review by Shareholders on the Company's website at: http://www.europametals.com.  A copy of the Proposed Constitution can also be sent to Shareholders upon request to the Company Secretary at +61 8 9486 4036 and +61 417 978 955. Shareholders are invited to contact the Company if they have any queries or concerns.

2.2 Summary of material proposed changes

Pre-emption Rights (new clauses 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8)

The Proposed Constitution contains certain pre-emption rights, which would have the effect that the Company cannot issue equity securities (save for an issue under an employee share or option scheme, or with prior Shareholder approval) unless:

(a)   the equity securities are offered first to all Shareholders (other than those with a registered address in a jurisdiction where it would not be reasonable to make an offer) on a pro-rata basis; or

(b)   Shareholders have given prior authority to the Board by ordinary resolution to issue equity securities for non-cash consideration up to a specified number, with such authority expiring no later than 12 calendar months after the date of the approval; or

(c)   Shareholders have given prior authority to the Board via a "Disapplication Resolution" (being a special resolution) to issue equity securities for cash up to a specified number, with such authority expiring no later than 12 calendar months after the date of passing the Disapplication Resolution.

Such pre-emption rights are contained in the UK Companies Act and are broadly consistent with market practice in the United Kingdom for small to mid-cap companies admitted to trading on AIM.

Recognition and disclosure of interests

The Corporations Act requires persons holding a relevant interest (broadly defined and including interests of associates) in a company listed on ASX to disclose that interest to ASX if the interest is 5% or more, and to disclose any changes of 1% or more.  Following its delisting from ASX, Shareholders were no longer subject to that disclosure obligation.

To reflect UK market practice, the Proposed Constitution contains clauses which adopt Chapter 5 of the disclosure and transparency rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom under Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) of the United Kingdom ("DTR 5").  The effect of DTR-5 is as follows:

(a)   Shareholders are required to notify the Company of the percentage of their voting rights if the percentage of voting rights which they hold as a Shareholder or through their direct or indirect holding of Shares reaches, exceeds or falls below 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, and each 1% threshold thereafter up to 100% or reaches, exceeds or falls below any of these thresholds as a result of events changing the breakdown of voting rights. 

(b)   The Directors have the power to require any Shareholder to disclose to the Company the identity of any person other than the Shareholder who has any interest in the Shares held by the Member and the nature of such interest.  The Proposed Constitution contains various sanctions for Shareholders who do not comply with a disclosure requirement, including not being able to vote, transfer or receive dividends with respect to the Shares the subject of the non-disclosure.

The proposed amendment does not affect Shareholder rights contained in the Corporations Act with respect to takeovers, including that (subject to certain exceptions) no person can acquire a relevant interest in 20% or more of the Company's Shares without making a takeover bid for all Shares.

Other amendments relating to the AIM quotation

The Proposed Constitution contains provisions to ensure compliance with the AIM Rules for Companies and the settlement rules relating to the electronic settlement system in the United Kingdom operated by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, which enables Shareholders to hold Shares in uncertificated form and transfer Shares electronically.

Unmarketable Parcels (new clause 24)

The Company's current Constitution does not provide for the sale of unmarketable parcels of securities.  An 'unmarketable parcel' is a shareholding that, for a holder, may be difficult and/or expensive to sell (due to its small and uneconomic value).  The administrative costs associated with shareholdings of this size can also be burdensome for a company, particularly of Europa's size. The Proposed Constitution provides that the relevant threshold for an unmarketable parcel is an amount determined from time to time by Shareholders by ordinary resolution at a general meeting.  Following feedback from brokers and the Company's advisers, it is proposed that this amount will be £1,000 (see Resolution 4).

In order to reduce such administrative inefficiencies, clause 24 of the Proposed Constitution allows the Company to direct the sale of unmarketable parcels of securities, with the proceeds of any sale to be paid to that selling Shareholder and with no brokerage to be paid by that individual. Shareholders holding unmarketable parcels can object to the sale by, after the Company has given notice that unmarketable parcels will be sold, advising the Company in writing that they do not want their Shares to be sold.

Partial (proportional) takeover provisions (new clause 25)

A proportional takeover bid is a takeover bid where the offer made to each shareholder is only for a proportion of that shareholder's shares; with the risk that the bidder acquires control leaving shareholders holding shares as minorities.

As the Company is incorporated in Australia, the Corporations Act regulates takeovers.  Section 648G of the Corporations Act allows a company's constitution to provide that a proportional takeover bid for Shares may only proceed after the bid has been approved by a meeting of Shareholders held in accordance with the terms set out in the Corporations Act.  This limits a person's ability to make a proportionate bid for the Company and in doing so acquiring control without all Shareholders having an opportunity to accept a bid for their Shares.

This clause of the Proposed Constitution is common in Australian companies, and will cease to have effect on the third anniversary of the date of its adoption or the last renewal of the clause.

Information required by section 648G of the Corporations Act

Effect of proposed proportional takeover provisions

Where offers have been made under a proportional off-market bid for a class of securities in a company, the registration of a transfer giving effect to a contract resulting from the acceptance of an offer made under the bid is prohibited unless and until a resolution to approve the proportional off-market bid is passed.

Reasons for proportional takeover provisions

A proportional takeover bid may result in control of the Company changing without Shareholders having the opportunity to dispose of all their Shares.  By making a partial bid, a bidder can obtain practical control of the Company by acquiring less than a majority interest. Shareholders are exposed to the risk of being left as a minority in the Company and the risk of the bidder being able to acquire control of the Company without payment of an adequate control premium. The proposed provision will allow Shareholders to decide whether a proportional takeover bid is acceptable in principle, and assist in ensuring that any partial bid is appropriately priced.

Knowledge of any acquisition proposals

As at the date of this Notice of Meeting, no Director is aware of any proposal by any person to acquire, or to increase the extent of, a substantial interest in the Company.

Potential advantages and disadvantages of proportional takeover provisions

The potential advantages of the proportional takeover provisions for Shareholders include:

·        the right to decide by majority vote whether an offer under a proportional takeover bid should proceed;

·        assisting in preventing Shareholders from being locked in as a minority;

·        increasing the bargaining power of Shareholders which may assist in ensuring that any proportional takeover bid is adequately priced; and

·        each individual Shareholder may better assess the likely outcome of the proportional takeover bid by knowing the view of the majority of Shareholders which may assist in deciding whether to accept or reject an offer under the takeover bid.

The potential disadvantages of the proportional takeover provisions for Shareholders include:

·        proportional takeover bids may be discouraged;

·        lost opportunity to sell a portion of their Shares at a premium; and

·        the likelihood of a proportional takeover bid succeeding may be reduced.

General updates

Clauses that were outdated have been removed to simplify the document and minimise the need for updates in the event of any legislative or regulatory change. The provisions of the Constitution have been amended to reflect changes in terminology now contained in the Corporations Act and remove provisions and terminologies required under the ASX Listing Rules in connection with the Company's former listing on the ASX.

2.3 Inter-conditionality

Resolution 2 is conditional upon Shareholders approving Resolutions 10 and 11, and no changes will be made to the Constitution if those Resolutions are not approved.

2.4 Directors' Recommendation

The Directors unanimously recommend that Shareholders vote to approve Resolution 2, as the proposed amendments will: (i) ensure that the Company's constitution is more appropriate for an AIM-quoted company (with provisions consistent with those found for the majority of other companies quoted on AIM); (ii) is updated to ensure consistency with latest applicable Australian and UK laws and regulations; (iii) will facilitate unmarketable parcel sales; and (iv) will ensure that proportionate bids are conducted fairly for all Shareholders.

3. RESOLUTION 3: APPROVAL OF EUROPA METALS LTD'S INCENTIVE PLAN

3.1 Background

The Proposed Constitution provides that an exception to the limitation on issuing equity securities (including Options and Warrants) under Clause 3.6 of the Proposed Constitution are issues under an employee incentive plan (Incentive Plan).  Whilst the Proposed Constitution and Corporations Act do not require that Shareholders approve an Incentive Plan, as a matter of good corporate governance the Board is seeking such approval under Resolution 3. This Resolution is subject to Shareholders approving the Proposed Constitution (Resolution 2).

The aim of the Incentive Plan is to allow the Board to assist eligible participants who, in the Board's opinion, are dedicated and will provide ongoing commitment and effort to the Company. Participants in the Incentive Plan may include full-time or permanent part-time employees of the Company or a related body corporate (which includes Directors, the Company Secretary and officers), or such other persons as the Board determines, including contractors of the Group (Eligible Participants).

The Incentive Plan is subject to the Corporations Act, including that financial benefits (including issues of securities under the Incentive Plan) issued to related parties require prior shareholder approval under Chapter 2E of the Corporations Act, unless an exception applies.  See below for further information on Chapter 2E.

The Board believes that grants to Eligible Participants under the Incen