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Green Panda Capital Announces Changes in Accordance with New CPC Policy
Toronto, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – May 14, 2021) – Green Panda Capital Corp. (TSXV: GPCC.P) (“Green Panda” or the “Corporation”) a capital pool company as defined under Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies (“CPC”) of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”), announces changes that are in accordance with the new CPC policy.
Changes in accordance with New CPC Policy
Green Panda is pleased to announce that due to changes recently announced by the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”) to its Capital Pool Companies program and changes to the Exchange’s Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies, which became effective as at January 1, 2021 (the “New CPC Policy”), the Corporation intends to implement certain amendments to further align its policies with the New CPC Policy, in addition to its annual and special matters at the Meeting (defined below). Pursuant to the New CPC Policy, in order for the Corporation to align certain of its policies with the New CPC Policy it is required to obtain the approval of disinterested shareholders of the Corporation. As a result, the Corporation will be seeking such approval at its upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on June 30, 2021 (the “Meeting”), for the following matters: (i) to amend the Corporation’s stock option plan (the “Option Plan”) to, among other things, become a “10% rolling” plan prior to the Corporation completing a Qualifying Transaction (“QT”); (ii) to remove the consequences of failing to complete a QT within 24 months of the Corporation’s date of listing on the Exchange (the “Listing Date”); and (iii) to amend the escrow release conditions and certain other provisions of the Corporation’s Escrow Agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”). These proposed amendments are described in further detail below.
Amendments to the Option Plan
The amendments to the Option Plan, will (i) allow the total number of common shares of the Corporation (the “Common Shares”) reserved for issuance as options not to exceed 10% of the Common Shares issued and outstanding as at the date of grant, rather than at the closing date of the initial public offering (“IPO”), for options issued prior to the QT; (ii) allow the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance as options to any individual director or senior officer not to exceed 5% of the Common Shares outstanding as at the date of grant, rather than at the closing date of the IPO, for options issued prior to the QT; (iii) allow the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance as option to Consultants, as defined in the Option Plan, not to exceed 2% of the Common Shares outstanding as at the date of grant, rather than at the closing date of the IPO, for options issued prior to the QT; and (iv) require, prior to the granting of options, the optionee to first enter into an escrow agreement agreeing to deposit the options, and the Common Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such options, into escrow as described in the escrow agreement.
Removal of the Consequences of Failing to Complete a QT within 24 Months of the Listing Date
Currently, under the Exchange’s Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies (as at June 14, 2010) (the “Former Policy”) there are certain consequences if a QT is not completed within 24 months of the Listing Date. These consequences include a potential for Common Shares to be delisted or suspended, or, subject to the approval of the majority of the Corporation’s shareholders, transferring Common Shares to list on the NEX and cancelling certain seed shares. The New CPC Policy allows the company to remove these consequences assuming disinterested shareholder approval is obtained. The Corporation intends to ask disinterested shareholders to approve the removal of such consequences at the Meeting, as it believes that it will afford the Corporation greater flexibility to complete a QT that is beneficial to all interested parties, and will also allow the Corporation to better withstand market volatility.
Amendments to the Escrow Agreement
The Corporation intends to ask disinterested shareholders to approve the Corporation making certain amendments to the Escrow Agreement, including allowing the Corporation’s escrowed securities to be subject to an 18 month escrow release schedule as detailed in the New CPC Policy, rather than the current up to 36 month escrow release schedule in the Former Policy. In addition, the Corporation wishes to amend the Escrow Agreement such that all options granted prior to the date the Exchange issues a final bulletin for the QT (“Final QT Exchange Bulletin”) and all Common Shares that were issued upon exercise of such options prior to the date of the Final QT Exchange Bulletin will be released from escrow on the date of the Final QT Exchange Bulletin, other than options that (a) were granted prior to the IPO with an exercise price that is less than the issue price of the Common Shares issued in the IPO and (b) any Common Shares that were issued pursuant to the exercise of such options issued below the issue price, which will be released from escrow in accordance with the 18 month escrow release schedule as detailed in the New CPC Policy.
Other Changes
Under the New CPC Policy, the Corporation is permitted to implement certain other changes from the Former Policy without obtaining shareholder approval. As a result, the Corporation wishes to have the option to take advantage of all the changes under the New CPC Policy that do not require shareholder approval, which became effective on January 1, 2021, including, but not limited to:
- increasing the maximum aggregate gross proceeds to the treasury that the Corporation can raise from the issuance of Common Shares in the IPO, seed shares and private placement to the new maximum of $10,000,000, rather than $5,000,000 which was the limit under the Former Policy;
- removing the restriction which provided that no more than the lesser of 30% of the gross proceeds from the sale of securities issued by the Corporation and $210,000 may be used for purposes other than identifying and evaluating assets or businesses and obtaining shareholder approval for a proposed QT, and implementing the restrictions on the permitted use of proceeds and prohibited payments under the New CPC Policy, under which reasonable general and administrative expenses not exceeding $3,000 per month are permitted;
- removing the restriction on the Corporation issuing new agent’s options in connection with a private placement; and
- removing the restriction such that now one person has the ability to act as the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and corporate secretary of the Corporation at the same time.
The Corporation believes that the New CPC Policy is in the best interests of the shareholders as it will allow the Corporation to have greater flexibility and mechanisms to increase shareholder value.
About the Corporation
The Corporation is designated as a Capital Pool Corporation by the TSXV. The Corporation has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. The only business of the Corporation is the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to completing a “Qualifying Transaction” in accordance with TSXV Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Xin (Richard) Zhou
President and Chief Executive Officer
sukin21cn@hotmail.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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