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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

 

Filed by the Registrant x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

Check the appropriate box

 

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

x Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨ Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)  

 

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)

 

x No fee required.

 

¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  ¨ Title of each class of securities to which the transaction applies:
     
     
  ¨ Aggregate number of securities to which the transaction applies:
     
     
  ¨ Per unit price or other underlying value of the transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
     
     
  ¨ Proposed Maximum aggregate value of the transaction:
     
     
  ¨ Total fee paid:
     

 

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of the filing.

 

  ¨ Amount Previously Paid:
     

 

  ¨ Form, Schedule or Registrant Statement No.:
     

 

  ¨ Filing Party:
     

 

  ¨ Date Filed:
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JUNE 22, 2020

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual and special meeting (the “Meeting”) of the holders of common shares (“Common Shares”) in the capital of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., 68 TW Alexander Drive, PO Box 13628, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709 (“Fennec” or the “Corporation”) will be held on June 22, 2020 at 12:00 noon EDT (9:00 a.m. PDT) at the law offices of Rutan & Tucker, LLP at 611 Anton Boulevard, 14th Floor, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 and online by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FENC2020, where you will be able to listen to the meeting live, submit questions, and vote, for the following purposes:

 

1.to receive the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2019, together with the report of the auditors thereon;

 

2.to elect the six directors named in the Management Proxy Circular;

 

3.to appoint auditors and to authorize the directors of the Corporation to fix the auditors’ remuneration;

 

4.to vote, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, on the compensation of our named executive officers;

 

5.to consider, and if deemed advisable, approve, the Fennec Pharmaceutical Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan; and

 

6.to transact such further or other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

Shareholders attending the Meeting online may register and log into the live audio webcast platform beginning at 11:45 a.m. EDT. We would appreciate your early registration so that the Meeting may start promptly at 12:00 noon EDT.

 

The board of directors of Fennec has fixed 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 4, 2020 (the “Record Date”), as the record date for determining the holders of record of Common Shares who are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to attend and vote at the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

Unless you have opted out of receiving notice of internet availability of the Corporation’s proxy materials, Fennec is using “notice and access” delivery to furnish Meeting materials to registered and beneficial shareholders of the Corporation over the internet. Notice-and-access is a set of rules that allows issuers to post electronic versions of proxy-related materials online, via EDGAR or SEDAR and one other website, rather than mailing paper copies of such materials to shareholders. Under notice-and-access, shareholders still receive a proxy form or voting instruction form enabling them to vote at the Corporation’s Meeting. However, instead of a paper copy of the Meeting materials, shareholders receive this notice, which contains information on how they may access the Meeting materials online and how to request a paper copy. This delivery process expedites shareholders’ receipt of proxy materials and reduces the costs and environmental impact of the Meeting. You may access the meeting materials as follows:

 

On Broadridge hosting website: www.proxyvote.com

On EDGAR: www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

On SEDAR: www.sedar.com

 

Shareholders are reminded to read the Meeting materials carefully before voting their shares.

 

You may request paper copies of the Meeting materials from Broadridge at no cost to you up to one year from the date this circular was filed on EDGAR and SEDAR. The request can be made on-line at www.proxyvote.com by entering the 16-digit control number located on your proxy form or voting instruction form and following the instructions provided. Alternatively, you may submit a request by calling 1-877-907-7643 (toll free within North America) or 905-507-5450 (outside of North America), or by email to noticeandaccess@broadridge.com. Please note that you will not receive another form of proxy or voting instruction form; please retain your current one to vote your shares. In any case, requests should be received at least ten (10) business days prior to the Meeting date in order to receive the Meeting materials in advance of the Meeting date. To ensure receipt of the paper copy in advance of the voting deadline and Meeting date, we estimate that your request must be received no later than June 8, 2020.

 

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Fennec acknowledges and continues to follow the restrictions regarding travel and gatherings that are currently in place due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and is holding a “hybrid” meeting that includes both an in-person and virtual online component. Only registered shareholders or proxyholders for registered shareholders will be permitted to attend the Meeting. In particular, Shareholders may attend the Meeting in person, online by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FENC2020, or may be represented at the Meeting by proxy. To reduce the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), many provincial and state governments, including British Columbia and California, have issued emergency orders restricting travel outside the home, organized public events and social gatherings. If laws or orders limiting travel to, or the number of attendees permitted at, the Meeting are in place on the date of the Meeting, Fennec intends to proceed with the Meeting to the extent it is lawfully permitted to do so and quorum is satisfied. Regardless of whether any such orders have been lifted at the time of the Meeting, there may be continuing public health recommendations in place to reduce the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Further, in the interest of protecting the health and safety of Fennec’s shareholders and employees and the communities in which they live, Fennec intends to adopt screening or other measures for identifying Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or risk factors as may be recommended or required by applicable health authorities at the Meeting and reserves the right to refuse admission to a shareholder or proxyholder seeking to attend the Meeting in person but who Fennec believes may pose a health risk to attendees at the Meeting. Accordingly, we strongly encourage shareholders to vote by attending the meeting online www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FENC2020 or by completing and submitting the enclosed form of proxy, rather than attending in person. By doing so, a shareholder’s shares will be represented at the Meeting and its wishes on matters for decision at the Meeting will be made known to the board and management of Fennec.

 

The Corporation reserves the right to change the format of the Meeting if it determines that doing so is necessary to protect the health and safety of its shareholders, employees, and community and comply with applicable requirements. Should the determination to hold a virtual-only Meeting be made, the Corporation will inform shareholders by way of a news release. The Corporation may notify shareholders of such change without sending additional proxy materials.

 

Proxies to be used at the Meeting must be received no later than 12:00 noon (EDT) on June 18, 2020 and, if the Meeting is postponed or adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding weekends and statutory holidays) preceding the reconvened Meeting.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be held on June 22, 2020:

 

This Notice, Management Proxy Circular and the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K are available to you on the Internet at www.sec.gov, www.sedar.com and www.proxyvote.com. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in these materials before voting.

 

DATED at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina this 7th day of May, 2020.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
   
   
  /s/ Khalid Islam
  Dr. Khalid Islam
  Chairman of the Board

 

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FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR

 

Unless otherwise stated, information contained in this management proxy circular (the “Circular”) is given as of May 4, 2020. Except as otherwise indicated, all amounts are expressed in United States dollars.

 

The Meeting

 

This Circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by management of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., 68 TW Alexander Drive, PO Box 13628, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709 (“Fennec” or the “Corporation”) for use at the annual and special meeting (the “Meeting”) of the shareholders of Fennec to be held at 12:00 noon EDT (9:00 a.m. PDT) on June 22, 2020 at the law offices of Rutan & Tucker, LLP at 611 Anton Boulevard, 14th Floor, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 and online by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FENC2020, and at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of annual general and special meeting (the “Notice of Meeting”).

 

This year, as a precautionary measure to proactively address the public health impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), to mitigate health and safety risks to our shareholders, employees and other stakeholders, and to abide by applicable laws and emergency orders, the Meeting will be held in a “hybrid format” with both in-person and virtual online component, which will be conducted via live audio webcast. Shareholders will have an equal opportunity to participate in the Meeting online, regardless of geographic location. Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will be able to participate in the Meeting, ask questions and vote, all in real time, provided they are connected to the Internet and comply with all of the requirements set out in the Circular. Non-registered shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder will be able to participate in the Meeting and also ask questions, but will not be able to vote at the Meeting.

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

The persons named in the form of proxy accompanying this Circular are officers and/or directors of Fennec. A holder (a “Shareholder”) of Fennec common shares (the “Common Shares”) has the right to appoint a person, other than the persons named in the form of proxy accompanying this Circular, as nominee to attend and act for and on behalf of such Shareholder at the Meeting, and may exercise such right by inserting the name of such person in the blank space provided on the form of proxy, or by executing a proxy in a form similar to the form of proxy accompanying this Circular.

 

The solicitation of proxies for the Meeting will be primarily by mail, but proxies may also be solicited personally or by telephone by employees or agents of Fennec. Employees of Fennec will not receive any extra compensation for such activities. Fennec will pay brokers or other persons holding Common Shares in their own names, or in the names of nominees, for their reasonable expenses for sending proxies and proxy material to beneficial owners of Common Shares and requesting authority to execute proxies in respect of such Common Shares. The solicitation of proxies by this Circular is being made by or on behalf of the management of Fennec and its board of directors (the “Board”) and the total cost of this solicitation will be borne by Fennec.

 

If your name appears on a share certificate, you are considered a “registered shareholder”. See the “Registered Shareholder Voting” subsection below for details on how to vote. If your Common Shares are not registered in your name and are held in the name of a nominee, you are considered a “non-registered shareholder” (for example, your Common Shares are listed in an account statement provided to you by your securities broker). If this is the case, see the “Non-Registered Shareholder Voting” subsection below.

 

Registered Shareholder Voting

 

If your name appears on a share certificate, you are considered as a “registered shareholder”. You may appoint someone else to vote for you as your proxy holder at the Meeting by using the form of proxy sent to you by Broadridge. The persons named in the form of proxy are directors or officers of the Corporation. As a shareholder, you have the right to appoint as proxy holder a person other than those whose names are printed as proxy holders in the form of proxy, by inserting the name of your chosen proxy holder in the blank space provided for that purpose in the form of proxy. In either case, the completed form of proxy must be delivered to Broadridge following one (1) of the methods below, prior to the Meeting at which it is to be used.

 

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A person acting as proxy holder need not be a shareholder of the Corporation. Make sure that the person you appoint is aware that he or she is appointed and participates in the Meeting, otherwise your vote will not be taken into account.

 

You can choose from among three different ways to vote your Common Shares by proxy:

 

By Telephone: Call the toll-free number indicated on the form of proxy and follow the instructions. If you choose to vote by telephone, you cannot appoint any person other than the directors or officers named on your form of proxy as your proxy holder.

 

On the Internet: Go to www.proxyvote.com and follow the instructions on the screen. If you choose to vote via the Internet, you can appoint a person other than the directors or officers named in the form of proxy as your proxy holder. This person does not have to be a shareholder. Make sure that the person you appoint is aware that he or she has been appointed and participates in the Meeting, otherwise your vote will not be taken into account.

 

By Mail: If you have elected to receive paper materials, complete your form of proxy and return it in the envelope provided. If you return your proxy by mail, you can appoint a person other than the directors or officers named in the form of proxy as your proxy holder. This person does not have to be a shareholder. If the Shareholder is a corporation, the proxy must be executed by an officer or properly appointed attorney. Fill in the name of the person you are appointing in the blank space provided on the form of proxy. Complete your voting instructions on the form of proxy, and date and sign the form. Make sure that the person you appoint is aware that he or she has been appointed and participates in the Meeting, otherwise your vote will not be taken into account.

 

The deadline for receiving duly completed forms of proxy or a vote by telephone or over the Internet is 12:00 noon (EDT) on June 18, 2020 or, if the Meeting is adjourned or postponed, not later than 48 hours (excluding weekends and statutory holidays) before the time of the reconvened Meeting. The proxy deadline may be waived or extended by the Chairman of the Meeting, in his sole discretion without notice.

 

How Proxies Will be Voted

 

The Common Shares represented by a proxy at the Meeting will be voted for or withheld from voting in each of the election of directors, appointment of auditors and authorizing the Board to fix the auditors remuneration, for or against the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers (together, the “Ordinary Matters”), and for or against the approval of the restricted share unit plan under the Corporation’s amended and restated stock option plan (the “Restricted Share Plan Matter”) in each case accordance with the instructions of the Shareholder. If no choice is specified in the proxy or the instructions are not certain, the persons named in the form of proxy accompanying this Circular will vote FOR all of the matters proposed by management at the Meeting and described in the Notice of Meeting and in the discretion of the person appointed on all other matters (if any) upon which the Shareholder appointing the proxy is entitled to cast a vote.

 

The form of proxy accompanying this Circular, when properly completed and executed, confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to any amendment or variation to the matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. Management of Fennec and the Board knows of no matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. However, if any other matters (other than the election of directors not currently named in this Circular) that are not now known to management of Fennec or the Board should properly come before the Meeting, the Common Shares represented by proxies given in favour of the persons named in the form of proxy accompanying this Circular will be voted on such matters in accordance with the discretion of such person.

 

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Non-Registered Shareholder Voting

 

This section applies to beneficial holders of Common Shares who are not registered holders. The information set forth in this section is of significant importance to many holders of Common Shares, as a substantial number of Shareholders do not hold Common Shares in their own name.

 

Only registered holders of Common Shares, or the persons that they appoint as proxies, are permitted to attend and vote at the Meeting. In many cases, Common Shares are beneficially owned by a shareholder and are registered in the name of an intermediary such as a bank, broker or other nominee. If your Common Shares are not registered in your name and are held in the name of a nominee, you are considered a “non-registered shareholder”. For example, if your Common Shares are listed in an account statement provided to you by your securities broker, those Common Shares will, in all likelihood, not be registered in your name. Such Common Shares will more likely be registered in the name of a depository or of such broker or an agent of such broker. Without specific instructions, brokers and their agents or nominees are prohibited from voting shares for their clients.

 

Non-registered shareholders are either “objecting beneficial owners” or “OBOs”, who object that intermediaries disclose information about their identity and ownership in the Corporation or “non-objecting beneficial owners” or “NOBOs”, who do not object to such disclosure. The Corporation does not send proxy-related materials directly to OBOs or NOBOs and intends to pay for an intermediary to deliver to OBOs and NOBOs the proxy-related materials. If you are a non-registered shareholder, there are two ways that you can vote your Common Shares:

 

Provide Voting Instructions to your Broker. Applicable securities laws require your nominee to seek voting instructions from you in advance of the Meeting. Accordingly, you will receive or have already received from your nominee a request for voting instructions for the number of Common Shares you hold. Every nominee has its own mailing procedures and provides its own signature and return instructions, which should be carefully followed by non-registered shareholders to ensure that their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting.

 

Appoint Yourself as Proxyholder and attend the Online Meeting. Non-registered shareholders who have duly appointed themselves as proxyholders can vote at the appropriate times by completing a ballot online during the Meeting. If a non-registered shareholder wishes to vote at the Meeting, insert such holder’s own name in the space provided on the request for voting instructions provided by such holder’s nominee to appoint yourself as proxy holder and follow the instructions of your nominee. Non-registered shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder will be able to participate in the Meeting and also ask questions, but will not be able to vote at the Meeting.

 

Attending the Virtual Meeting

 

All Shareholders are encouraged to attend the Meeting online, which will be conducted via live audio webcast. The Meeting online enables registered shareholders to participate in the Meeting and ask questions, all in real time. Registered shareholders can vote at the appropriate times by completing a ballot online during the Meeting. If you are a registered shareholder and wish to vote at the Meeting, you do not need to complete or return the form of proxy. However, even if you plan to participate in the Meeting, you may vote your Common Shares in advance, so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to participate in the Meeting. Shareholders and proxyholders can access the Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FENC2020.

 

To participate in the Meeting, you will need the 16-digit control number included on your proxy or voting instruction form or on the instructions that accompany your proxy materials. The control number located on the form of proxy or voting instruction form or in the email notification you received is your control number. If you participate in the Meeting online, it is important that you are connected to the Internet at all times during the Meeting in order to vote when balloting commences. It is your responsibility to ensure connectivity for the duration of the Meeting. You should allow ample time to check into the Meeting online and complete the related procedure.

 

Record Date and Entitlement to Vote

 

The Record Date for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to receive the Circular and to vote at the Meeting has been fixed as 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 4, 2020 (the “Record Date”). Each Shareholder at the close of business (5:00 p.m. EDT) on the Record Date is entitled to attend the Meeting in person or by proxy and to cast one (1) vote for each Common Share held by such Shareholder on the Record Date.

 

Quorum

 

According to the Corporation’s articles, the quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of shareholders shall be two or more persons present in person or represented by proxy.

 

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Voting Securities and Principal Holders of Voting Securities

 

As at May 4, 2020, there were 24,695,830 Common Shares issued and outstanding. Each Common Share carries the right to one vote at the Meeting.

 

Beneficial ownership of the Common Shares in the following table is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Under these rules, a person is deemed to beneficially own a Common Share if that person has or shares voting power or investment power with respect to that share, or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of that share within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion or any other security. Shares issuable under stock options and warrants are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding options or warrants but are not outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.

 

As at May 4, 2020, the directors and Named Executive Officers (defined below under “Executive Compensation–Summary Compensation Table”) of Fennec and, to the knowledge of the directors and Named Executive Officers of Fennec, after reasonable enquiry, their respective associates, as a group, beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or exercised control or direction over 74,840 Common Shares (approximately 0.30% of all outstanding Common Shares on such date) and options and warrants to purchase 2,542,720 Common Shares (approximately 10.30% of the aggregate of all outstanding Common Shares on such date).

 

The following table sets forth the number of Common Shares beneficially owned as of May 4, 2020 by: (1) each director and Named Executive Officer; (2) all directors and Named Executive Officers as a group; and (3) each person known by us to own 5 percent or more of the outstanding Common Shares. The percentage of beneficial ownership for the following table is based upon 24,695,830 Common Shares outstanding as of May 4, 2020. Except as indicated below, the security holders listed possess sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by that person. The address for each listed shareholder who is a director or a Named Executive Officer is c/o Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., PO Box 13628, 68 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.

 

Name  Common shares   Common shares Options
Exercisable Within 60
Days		   Common shares
Purchase Warrants
Exercisable Within
60 Days		   Total Stock and
Stock Based
Holdings (1)		   %
Ownership(1)		 
Adrian J. Haigh   -    213,579    -    213,579    0.86%
Dr. Khalid Islam   -    288,825          -    288,825    1.16%
Robert Andrade   17,050    578,961    -    596,011    2.36%
Marco Brughera   -    95,545    -    95,545    0.39%
Jodi Cook   -    20,000    -    20,000    0.08%
Chris A. Rallis   -    171,850    -    171,850    0.69%
Shubh Goel   -    175,000    -    175,000    0.70%
Rostislav Raykov   57,790    998,960    -    1,056,750    4.11%
All Officers and Directors as a Group   74,840    2,542,720    -    2,617,560    9.61%
Southpoint Capital Advisors, LP.(2)   4,077,214    -    -    4,077,214    16.51%
Essetifin SpA(3)   3,993,694    -    -    3,993,694    16.17%
Sonic Fund II, LP(4)   1,634,689    -    -    1,634,689    6.62%
Avoro Life Sciences Fund(5)   1,665,999    -    -    1,665,999    6.75%

 

(1)For purposes of this table “beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to which a person or group of persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of any Common Shares that such person or group has the right to acquire within 60 days after May 4, 2020. For purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding Common Shares held by each person or group of persons named above, any shares that such person or group has the right to acquire within 60 days after May 4, 2019 are deemed outstanding but are not deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or group. As of May 4, 2020, there were 24,695,830 Common Shares issued and outstanding.
(2)Southpoint Capital Advisors, LP, 623 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2503, New York, New York 10022. John S. Clark, II holds dispositive power over the shares owned by Southpoint Capital Advisors, LP.

(3)Essetifin SpA, Via Sudafrica 20, Rome, Italy 00144. Mario Artali holds dispositive power over the shares owned by Essetifin SpA.

(4)Sonic Fund II, LP, 400 Hobron Lane, Suite 3709, Honolulu, HI 96815. Lawrence Kam holds dispositive power over the shares owned by Sonic Fund II, LP.

(5)Avoro Life Sciences Fund, 110 Greene Street, Suite 800, New York, NY 10012. Scott Esptein holds dispositive power over the shares held by Avoro Life Sciences Fund.

 

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Approval Requirements and Eligible Voting Shares

 

The election of our directors is subject to our Majority Voting Policy. See Election of Directors below. Each of the other Ordinary Matters and Special Matters must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders, present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. For these purposes, any spoiled votes, illegible votes, defective votes, abstentions, and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast.

 

Other Business

 

Other than the Ordinary Matters and Special Matters discussed elsewhere in this Circular, management of Fennec does not intend to present and does not have any reason to believe that others will present, at the Meeting, any item of business other than those set forth in this Circular. If, however, any other business is properly presented at the Meeting and may properly be considered and acted upon, proxies will be voted by those named in the applicable form of proxy in their sole discretion, including with respect to any amendments or variations to the matters identified herein.

 

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ORDINARY MATTERS

 

Presentation of Financial Statements

 

The audited financial statements of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, together with the report of the auditors thereon, will be placed before the Meeting. Shareholders who wish to be added to the mailing list for the annual financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis should complete the appropriate sections of the proxy or contact the undersigned at PO Box 13628, 68 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 Attention: Secretary.

 

Election of Directors

 

The number of directors of Fennec to be elected at the Meeting is six (6). The following are the names of the persons for whom it is intended that votes will be cast for their election as directors of the Corporation pursuant to the proxy which is hereby solicited, unless the Shareholder directs therein otherwise:

 

Dr. Khalid Islam

Mr. Adrian Haigh

Mr. Chris A. Rallis

Dr. Marco Brughera

Dr. Jodi Cook

Mr. Rostislav Raykov

 

The term of office for each such person will be until Fennec’s next annual meeting of Shareholders or until such person’s successor is elected or duly appointed. In the event that prior to the Meeting any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees submitted above, it is intended that discretionary authority shall be exercised to vote the proxy hereby solicited (unless otherwise directed as aforesaid) for the election of any other person or persons as directors. Fennec management is not now aware that any of such nominees would be unwilling to serve as a director if elected.

 

The Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the election of the above-named director nominees. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote FOR the election of each of the director nominees to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of Shareholders, unless a Shareholder has specified in the proxy that his or her Common Shares are to be withheld from voting in respect thereof.

 

Fennec has adopted a majority voting policy in director elections that will apply at any meeting of Shareholders where an uncontested election of directors is held. Pursuant to this policy, if the number of proxy votes withheld for a particular director nominee is greater than the votes for such director, the director nominee will be required to submit his or her resignation as a director to the Chair of the Board promptly following the applicable Shareholders’ meeting. Following receipt of resignation, the Governance and Nominating Committee will consider whether or not to accept the offer of resignation and make a recommendation to the Board. Within 90 days following the applicable Shareholders’ meeting, the Board shall publicly disclose in a news release their decision whether to accept the applicable director’s resignation or not, including the reasons for rejecting the resignation, if applicable. The Board shall accept the resignation absent exceptional circumstances. A director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this policy will not be permitted to participate in any meeting of the Board or the Governance and Nominating Committee at which the resignation is considered. A copy of the majority voting policy may be found on the Fennec website at www.fennecpharma.com.

 

The following table sets forth the name of each of our executive officers and directors, such person’s principal occupation or employment, all other positions with Fennec and any significant affiliate thereof now held by such person, if any, the year in which such person became a director of Fennec and such person’s age.

 

The Corporation has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Governance and Nominating Committee. The current members of such committees are noted below.

 

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Name and Province/State and
Country of Residence, Position		  Current Principal Occupation
and Principal Occupation for
Previous Five Years		  Director
Since		  Common
Shares
Held		   Options to
Acquire
Common
Shares		 
Shubh Goel, New Jersey, USA  CCO of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.; previously VP of Commercial Strategy and Operations at Odonate Therapeutics, Inc.; previously Executive Director, Global Early Commercialization at Celgene Corporation  N/A   -    175,000 
Robert Andrade, Texas USA
Chief Financial Officer		  CFO of Fennec Pharmaceuticals; previously senior analyst Magnetar Capital; previously Portfolio Manager Millennium Partners  N/A   17,050    578,961 

Chris A. Rallis, North Carolina, USA

Director(1)(2)

  Executive in-residence at Pappas Capital; previously, CEO of ImmunoBiosciences  August 2011   -    171,850 
Rostislav Raykov, New Jersey, USA
Chief Executive Officer, Director		  CEO of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.; previously Portfolio Manager Alchem Partners; previously Portfolio Manager John Levin & Company  July 2009   57,790    998,960 

Marco Brughera, Milano, Italy

Director(2)(3)

  CEO of Leadiant Biosciences SpA; previously Global Head Rare Disease and R&D at Sigma-tau; VP Preclinical Development at Nerviano Medical Sciences.  August, 2016   -    95,545 

Adrian J. Haigh, Dublin, Ireland

Director(1)(3)

  Senior Vice President and General Manager of EMEA Region at PTC Therapeutics; previously Chief Operating Officer at Gentium GmbH; previously Regional VP Commercial Operations at Biogen Idec  April 2014   -    213,579 

Khalid Islam, Zug, Switzerland

Chairman of Board, Director(1)

  Founder/co-founder of Sirius Healthcare Partners GMbH; previously Chairman and CEO of Gentium S.p.A.; previously CEO of Arpida AG  April 2014   -    288,825 
Jodi Cook, Pennsylvania, USA,
Director(2)(3)		  Former SVP, Head of Gene Therapy Strategy PTC Therapeutics, Inc, Former COO Agilis Biotherapeutics, Former Assistant Professor of Audiology Mayo Clinic  September, 2019   -    20,000 

 

(1)Member of the Audit Committee

(2)Member of the Compensation Committee

(3)Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee

 

Shubh Goel

 

Ms. Goel has been employed by us since September 2019. Ms. Goel is a proven leader with nearly 20 years of global commercial experience successfully building and executing the launch of several oncology products. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Operations at Odonate Therapeutics, Inc. Prior to Odonate, Ms. Goel previously served in multiple leadership positions at Celgene Corporation, including serving as Executive Director, Global Early Commercialization and previously as Head of U.S. Marketing, Oncology. While at Celgene, she oversaw the successful execution of the U.S. launch of Abraxane® in pancreatic cancer and had overall responsibility for marketing the U.S. solid tumor franchise. Ms. Goel received a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry from the University of Bath.

 

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Robert Andrade

 

Mr. Andrade has served as Chief Financial Officer since November 2015. Mr. Andrade was previously Chief Financial Officer and Director of Fennec from September 2009 until August 2013. In addition to his role with Fennec, Mr. Andrade was a private investor in 2015, and a senior analyst at Magnetar Capital from 2013 - 2014. Mr. Andrade graduated from University of Southern California, where he earned a Masters of Arts degree and Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.

 

Chris A. Rallis

 

Mr. Rallis has served as a director of Fennec since August 2011. Mr. Rallis has been an executive-in-residence at Pappas Capital, a life science venture capital firm since January 2008. Previously, Mr. Rallis was the President and Chief Executive Officer of ImmunoBiosciences, Inc. (“IBI”), a vaccine technology company formerly located in Raleigh, North Carolina from April 2006 through June 2007. Prior to joining IBI, Mr. Rallis served as an executive in residence (part-time) for Pappas Capital, and as a consultant for Duke University and Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Rallis is the former President and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) and director of Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired by Gilead Sciences in January 2003 for approximately $465 million. Prior to assuming the role of President and COO in March 2000, he was Executive Vice President, Business Development and General Counsel. While at Triangle, Mr. Rallis participated in 11 equity financings generating gross proceeds of approximately $500 million. He was also primarily responsible for all business development activities which included a worldwide alliance with Abbott Laboratories and the in-licensing of ten compounds. Before joining Triangle in 1995, Mr. Rallis served in various business development and legal management roles with Burroughs Wellcome Co. over a 13-year period, including Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development. Mr. Rallis also serves on the board of Tenax Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company located in Morrisville, North Carolina. Mr. Rallis received his A.B. degree in economics from Harvard College and a J.D. from Duke University. As a result of these and other professional experiences, Mr. Rallis possesses particular healthcare industry knowledge and experience which strengthens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.

 

Rostislav Raykov

 

Mr. Raykov has served as a director of Fennec since July 2009 and as Chief Executive Officer since July 2009. From January 2006 to December 2007, Mr. Raykov was a portfolio manager for Alchem Investment Partners and John Levin & Co. Prior to founding Alchem, Mr. Raykov was a portfolio manager and securities analyst for John A. Levin & Co. Event Driven Fund (2002-2005). Prior to joining John A. Levin & Co., Mr. Raykov was a securities analyst for the Merger Fund at Tiedemann Investment Group (1999-2002) and an investment banking analyst at Bear Stearns (1998-1999).  Mr. Raykov earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a result of these and other professional experiences, Mr. Raykov has financial expertise and experience with the Corporation as it has developed within the drug development industry and, as such, is able to provide the Corporation with unique insight and guidance.

 

Dr. Marco Brughera

 

Since January 2011, Dr. Brughera has been CEO of Lediant Biosciences SpA and has held several positions for the Sigma-Tau Group, including CEO and Global Head of Sigma Tau Rare Disease, President of Sigma-Tau Research and President of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals. He drove the commercial revival of a lead oncology product line resulting in its successful sale for a total of around $900M. He also successfully out-licensed the Defibrotide US rights to Jazz Pharmaceuticals. From 2004 to 2010, Dr. Brughera served as the Vice President of Preclinical Development at Nerviano Medical Sciences (NMS), a pharmaceutical oncology-focused integrated discovery and development company. He also served as the Managing Director at Accelera, an independent contract research organization with the NMS Group. From 1999 to 2004, Dr. Brughera held several senior level positions in the areas of research and development with Pharmacia and Pfizer. Prior to 1999, he held various positions at Pharmacia & Upjohn and Farmitalia Carlo Erba SpA, an Italian pharmaceutical company. He currently serves on the Board of Exelead and Naicons and previously was Board member of Soligenix, Lee’s Pharmaceuticals and Gentium.

 

Dr. Brughera earned his degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Milan and is a European Registered Toxicologist. Dr. Brughera has wide-spread experience and knowledge of pharmaceutical drug development in international companies. His knowledge in particular, of clinical drug development in Europe, deepens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience.

 

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Adrian J. Haigh

 

Mr. Adrian Haigh has been Senior Vice President and Head of International Operations at PTC Therapeutics since September 2014. Previously Mr. Haigh served as Chief Operating Officer at Gentium GmbH since March 2011. Prior to joining Gentium, Mr. Haigh served as Regional VP Commercial Operations at Biogen Idec where he managed several affiliates and also the global distributor business and prior to that was the General Manager of Amgen Nordis and Portugal. He served as the Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Corporate Planning at EUSA Pharma and joined EUSA from Amgen where he led the international oncology franchise. Mr. Haigh previously has held senior commercial and marketing positions at SmithKline Beecham, Schering Plough, Organon and Novo Nordisk. He has been a Director of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. since April 28, 2014 and a Director at Arch Biopartners Inc. since August 21, 2014. He received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Economic History from Huddersfield Polytechnic, West Yorkshire, England and a Diploma in Marketing from the Institute of Marketing. As a result of these and other professional experiences, Mr. Haigh has extensive international oncology development expertise which strengthens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience.

 

Dr. Khalid Islam

 

Dr. Khalid Islam was the Chairman and CEO of Gentium S.p.A. (a Nasdaq-listed company; 2009-2014) where he led the transition from a loss-making to a cash-flow positive and profitable company. Under his leadership, the company value increased from US$25 million leading to a successful all cash US$1 billion merger with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, plc. Subsequent to the sale of Gentium, Dr. Islam has been involved from both an advisory and board level in several public and private healthcare related companies. From 1999-2008, Dr. Islam was President and CEO of Arpida AG where he transitioned the early-stage start-up to a SWX-listed company and raised US$300 million in the IPO and follow-ons. From 1987-1999, he held various positions in HMR & MMD (now Sanofi-Aventis). From 1977-1987, Dr. Islam worked in academia at Imperial College (Univ. of London) and in Milan University, where he was a contract professor. Dr. Islam is a graduate of Chelsea College and received his Ph.D. from Imperial College, University of London. He holds several patents and has published over 80 articles in leading journals. He is an advisor to the venture group Kurma Biofund (Paris). He is a founder/co-founder of Sirius Healthcare Partners GmbH (Zurich), PrevAbr LLC (D.C.), BioAim LLC (L.A.) & Life Sciences Management GmbH (Zug). Dr. Islam is Board Chair at Minoryx Therapeutics (Spain) and Gain Therapeutics (Switzerland), a private company. He currently serves on the board of Immunomedics Inc. (IMMU), which is traded publicly. In the past, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pcovery Aps (Copenhagen), Adenium Aps (Copenhagen) and C10 Pharma AS (Oslo) and on the board of Karolinska Development (Sweden) and MolMed S.p.A. (Italy). Dr. Islam’s extensive international pharmaceutical expertise in transitioning companies from development to production strengthens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience.

 

Dr. Jodi Cook

 

Dr. Cook previously served as SVP and Head of Gene Therapy Strategy at PTC Therapeutics from August 2018 until February 2020. Previously she was one of the founding members and Chief Operating Officer of Agilis Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage company focused on gene therapies for rare diseases of the central nervous system, from December 2013 until its acquisition by PTC Therapeutics in August 2018. While at Agilis she led the sale of the company to PTC in a deal that represented significant value to all parties. Dr. Cook’s career spans a wide range of experiences including VP of Clinical Research at InSound Medical and Director of Audiology at Songbird Hearing, both successful biotech start-up companies within the hearing industry. She has been Assistant Professor of Audiology and Director of the Hearing Aid Program at Mayo Clinic. Dr Cook earned a BA from Loyola University in Maryland, M.Aud. from University of South Carolina, and PhD from Arizona State University in Hearing Science. She completed a clinical fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. Her extensive scientific, clinical and executive business experience depends the Boards collective qualifications, skills and expertise.

 

Appointment of Auditors

 

Haskell & White LLP have served as the Corporation’s auditors since May 12, 2017. Shareholders will be asked to vote for the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as auditors of the Corporation, to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders of the Corporation or until a successor is duly elected or appointed, at a remuneration to be fixed by the Board of Directors. Approval of the ordinary resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in respect thereof by holders of Common Shares represented at the Meeting. The person designated in the enclosed form of proxy intends to vote FOR the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as auditors of the Corporation, unless instructed otherwise.

 

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The Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as auditors of the Corporation at the Meeting. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote FOR the appointment of Haskell & White LLP as auditors of the Corporation until the end of the next annual meeting of the Shareholders and the authorization of the directors to fix their remuneration, unless a Shareholder has specified in the proxy that his or her Common Shares are to be withheld from voting in respect thereof.

 

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

 

In accordance with the requirements of Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the related rules of the SEC, our Shareholders have the opportunity to cast a vote to approve, on an advisory or non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Circular.

 

For information on the Corporation’s executive compensation programs and how they reflect the Compensation Committee’s philosophy and are linked to the Corporation’s performance, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”.

 

We are asking for Shareholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Circular in accordance with SEC rules, which disclosures include the disclosures under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, the compensation tables and the narrative discussion following the compensation tables. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the policies and practices described in this Circular (the “Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation Resolution”).

 

This vote is advisory and therefore not binding on the Corporation, the Board or the Compensation Committee.

 

The following is the text of the advisory vote on executive Compensation resolution to be considered at the Meeting (the “Advisory Executive Compensation Resolution”):

 

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Corporation’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this Circular pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, the compensation tables and narrative discussion be, and hereby is, APPROVED.

 

The Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the Advisory Executive Compensation Resolution. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote FOR the Advisory Executive Compensation Resolution, unless a Shareholder has specified in the proxy that his or her Common Shares are to be withheld from voting in respect thereof.

 

SPECIAL MATTERS

 

Approval of 2020 Equity Incentive Plan

 

On May 7, 2020, the Board adopted the Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), subject to approval by our shareholders at the Meeting. The 2020 Plan will become effective on the date it is approved by Fennec shareholders. Notwithstanding the 2020 Plan becoming effective, the terms of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan amended as of June 18, 2019 (the “Prior Plan”) will continue to apply to grants made under the Prior Plan.

 

The total number of Common Shares that may be the subject of awards and issued under the 2020 Plan, together with the Prior Plan, remains unchanged at twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of all issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time.

 

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The Board believes that equity based incentive awards can play an important role in the success of the Corporation by encouraging and enabling the employees, officers, non-employee directors and consultants of the Corporation and its subsidiaries upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Corporation largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation. The Board believes that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Corporation assures a closer identification of the interests of such individuals with those of the Corporation and its Shareholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Corporation’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Corporation. The 2020 Plan is designed to enhance the flexibility to grant different types of equity awards (i.e., not just stock options) to our officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants and to ensure that we can continue to grant equity awards to eligible recipients at levels determined to be appropriate by the Board or the Compensation Committee.

 

The Corporation has not granted any equity awards under the 2020 Plan. As of May 4, 2020, there were stock options to acquire 3,088,235 Common Shares outstanding under the Prior Plan, representing approximately 12.51% of the currently issued and outstanding Common Shares. No other options or other equity compensation awards are outstanding. Accordingly, 3,085,723 Common Shares (representing approximately 12.49% of the currently issued and outstanding Common Shares) would be available for issuance pursuant to option grants and other equity awards under the 2020 Plan if approved by our shareholders. Option grants under the Prior Plan will continue to be subject to the terms of the Prior Plan and if those awards subsequently are exercised, expire, are forfeited or canceled, or are settled in cash, the Common Shares subject to those awards will be available for new awards under 2020 Plan, as the case may be.

 

The Board does not grant options or other equity awards according to a prescribed formula or target. The Corporation recommends to the Compensation Committee the proposed recipients of such grants from among the eligible participants and the proposed grant size, taking into consideration such factors as their position, scope of responsibility and historic and recent performance, previous grants, the value of the awards in relation to other elements of the individual’s total compensation and shareholdings, and market information. In determining the size of the grants the Compensation Committee may consider their payout and the competitiveness of the Corporation’s total compensation relative to comparable companies in addition to the recommendation of the Corporation. The Compensation Committee determines the grant size and terms to be recommended to the Board of directors in respect of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Board believes the granting of equity awards as a component of executive compensation allows us to align the interests of officers and other employees who are selected to receive awards with those of our Shareholders. The 2020 Plan is designed to enable us to formulate and implement a compensation program that will attract, motivate and retain officers and other employees who we expect will contribute to our success. The Board believes that awards granted pursuant to the 2020 Plan are a vital component of our compensation program and, accordingly, that it is important that an appropriate number of our common shares be authorized for issuance under the 2020 Plan.

 

Description of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan

 

The major features of the 2020 Plan are summarized below. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2020 Plan, which is attached to this Circular as Schedule B.

 

Plan Shares. The maximum number of Common Shares that may issued in connection with any awards granted under the under the 2020 Plan, together with the Prior Plan, remains unchanged at twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of all issued and outstanding common shares from time to time. Shares of common stock that are forfeited, cancelled, held back upon the exercise or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by us prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of common stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) under the Prior Plan or the 2020 Plan are added back to the shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.

 

Administration. The 2020 Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has full power to select, from among the individuals eligible for awards, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, to make any combination of awards to participants, and to determine the specific terms and conditions of each award, subject to the provisions of the 2020 Plan.

 

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Eligibility; Plan Limits. All full-time and part-time officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants are eligible to participate in the 2020 Plan, subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee. There are certain limits on the number of awards that may be granted under the 2020 Plan. For example, the maximum number of shares that may be issued in the form of incentive stock options may not exceed the annual limit on the number of shares covered by the stock option required for the stock option to qualify as an incentive stock option under the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”).

 

Stock Options. The 2020 Plan permits the granting of (i) options to purchase common stock intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code and (ii) options that do not so qualify. Options granted under the 2020 Plan will be non-qualified options if they fail to qualify as incentive options or exceed the annual limit on incentive stock options. Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. Non-qualified options may be granted to any persons eligible to receive incentive options and to non-employee directors and consultants. The option exercise price of each option will be determined by the Compensation Committee but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Fair market value for this purpose will be the last reported sale price of the shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the date immediately preceding the grant date. The exercise price of an option may not be reduced after the date of the option grant, other than to appropriately reflect changes in our capital structure, without approval of shareholders.

 

The term of each option will be fixed by the Compensation Committee and may not exceed ten years from the date of grant, provided that, if the end of such period for any vested option falls on, or within nine trading days immediately following, a date upon which the optionee is prohibited from exercising such option due to a black-out period or other trading restriction imposed by the Corporation, then the expiry date of such option shall be automatically be the tenth trading day following the date the relevant black-out period or other trading restriction imposed by the Corporation is lifted, terminated or removed. The Compensation Committee will determine at what time or times each option may be exercised. Options may be made exercisable in installments and the exercisability of options may be accelerated by the Compensation Committee. In general, unless otherwise permitted by the Compensation Committee, no option granted under the 2020 Plan is transferable by the optionee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order, and options may be exercised during the optionee’s lifetime only by the optionee, or by the optionee’s legal representative or guardian in the case of the optionee’s incapacity.

 

Upon exercise of options, the option exercise price must be paid in full either in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Compensation Committee or by delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of common shares that are beneficially owned by the optionee and that are not subject to risk of forfeiture. Subject to applicable law, the exercise price may also be delivered to the Corporation by a broker pursuant to irrevocable instructions to the broker from the optionee. In addition, the Compensation Committee may permit non-qualified options to be exercised using a net exercise feature that reduces the number of shares issued to the optionee by the number of shares with a fair market value equal to the exercise price.

 

To qualify as incentive options, options must meet additional federal tax requirements, including a $100,000 limit on the value of shares subject to incentive options that first become exercisable by a participant in any one calendar year.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights. The Compensation Committee may award stock appreciation rights subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine. Stock appreciation rights entitle the recipient to shares of common stock equal to the value of the appreciation in the stock price over the exercise price. The exercise price is the fair market value of the common shares on the date of grant. The term of a stock appreciation right may not exceed ten years.

 

Restricted Stock. The Compensation Committee may award shares of common stock to participants subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine. These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals or continued employment with us through a specified restricted period. During the vesting period, restricted stock awards may be credited with dividend equivalent rights, but dividend equivalents payable with respect to restricted stock awards with vesting tied to the attainment of performance criteria or service shall not be paid unless and until such conditions are satisfied.

 

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Restricted Stock Units. The Compensation Committee may award restricted stock units to participants. Restricted stock units are ultimately payable in the form of shares of common stock (or cash, if so provided in the specific award) subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine. These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals or continued employment with the Corporation through a specified vesting period. In the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion, it may permit a participant to make an advance election to receive a portion of his or her future cash compensation otherwise due in the form of a restricted stock unit award, subject to the participant’s compliance with the procedures established by the Compensation Committee and requirements of Section 409A of the Code. During the deferral period, the deferred stock awards may be credited with dividend equivalent rights.

 

Unrestricted Stock Awards. The Compensation Committee may also grant shares of common stock that are free from any restrictions under the 2020 Plan. Unrestricted stock may be granted to any participant in recognition of past services or other valid consideration and may be issued in lieu of cash compensation due to such participant.

 

Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Compensation Committee may grant dividend equivalent rights to participants, which entitle the recipient to receive credits for dividends that would be paid if the recipient had held specified shares of common stock. Dividend equivalent rights granted as a component of another award (other than a stock option or stock appreciation right) may be paid only if the related award becomes vested. Dividend equivalent rights may be settled in cash, shares of common stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments, as specified in the award.

 

Cash-Based Awards. The Compensation Committee may grant cash bonuses under the 2020 Plan to participants. The cash bonuses may be subject to the achievement of certain performance goals.

 

Change of Control Provisions. The 2020 Plan provides that upon the effectiveness of a “sale event,” as defined in the 2020 Plan, all outstanding awards may be assumed, substituted or otherwise continued by the successor entity. To the extent that the successor entity does not assume, substitute or otherwise continue such awards, upon the effective time of the sales event the 2020 Plan and all outstanding awards that remain unexercised or settled will terminate. When a sales event occurs and outstanding awards are not assumed, substituted or continued, except as may be otherwise specifically provided in an award certificate, all options and stock appreciation rights with time-based vesting conditions or restrictions that are not vested or exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the sale event may become fully vested and exercisable as of the effective time of the sale event at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, all other awards with time-based vesting, conditions or restrictions may become fully vested and non-forfeitable as of the effective time of the sale event at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, and all awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals may become vested and non-forfeitable in connection with a sale event in the Compensation Committee’s discretion or to the extent specified in an award certificate. In addition, the Corporation may make or provide for payment, in cash or in kind, to participants holding options and stock appreciation rights equal to the difference between the per share cash consideration paid in the sales event and the exercise price of the options or stock appreciation rights. The Compensation Committee shall also have the option to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to grantees holding other awards in an amount equal to the per share cash consideration paid in the sales event multiplied by the number of vested shares under such awards.

 

Adjustments for Stock Dividends, Stock Splits, Etc. The 2020 Plan requires the Compensation Committee to make appropriate adjustments to certain limits in the 2020 Plan and to any outstanding awards to reflect stock dividends, stock splits, extraordinary cash dividends and similar events.

 

Tax Withholding. Participants in the 2020 Plan are responsible for the payment of any federal, state or local taxes that the Corporation is required by law to withhold upon the exercise of options or stock appreciation rights or vesting of other awards. Subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, participants may elect to have their tax withholding obligations satisfied by authorizing the Corporation to withhold shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to exercise or vesting. The Compensation Committee may also require awards to be subject to mandatory share withholding up to the required withholding amount.

 

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Amendments and Termination. The Board of Directors may at any time amend or discontinue the 2020 Plan and the Compensation Committee may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding award for the purpose of satisfying changes in the law or for any other lawful purpose. However, no such action may adversely affect any rights under any outstanding award without the holder’s consent. To the extent required under Nasdaq or TSX rules any amendments that materially change the terms of the 2020 Plan will be subject to approval by our Shareholders. Amendments shall also be subject to approval by our Shareholders if and to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee to be required by the Code to preserve the qualified status of incentive options. Subject to any additional requirements of the rules of Nasdaq or the TSX, the following amendments to the 2020 or awards issued thereunder shall not be made without the prior approval of Nasdaq or the TSX, and approval of the Shareholders: (i) increasing the maximum number of Common Shares issuable under the 2020 Plan; (ii) a reduction in the exercise price of any Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights held by insiders; (iii) an extension to the term of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights held by insiders; (iii) amendments to amending provision of the 2020 Plan. Examples of the amendments that may be made by the Board without shareholder approval include, without limitation, amendments related to (a) the vesting provisions of the 2020 Plan or any award granted under the 2020 Plan, (b) the early termination provisions of the 2020 Plan or any option granted under the 2020 Plan, (c) the addition of any form of financial assistance by the Corporation for the acquisition by all or certain categories of participants, and the subsequent amendment of any such provision which is more favorable to such participants, (d) the addition or modification of a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or Common Shares, which provides for a full deduction of the number of underlying Common Shares from the Common Sharesreserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan, (e) changing the maximum percentage of Common Shares which are reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan to a maximum number of Common Shares not exceeding the number of Common Shares which then represents the maximum percentage previously approved by the Corporation’s security holders; (f) the suspension or termination under applicable laws (including, without limitation, the rules, regulations and policies of the TSX); and/or (g) general housekeeping matters.

 

Vote Required

 

Shareholder approval of the 2020 Plan is being sought in order to (i) satisfy the Shareholder approval requirements under the rules of Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”), and (ii) obtain Shareholder approval of the number of shares that may be subject to incentive stock options under section 422 of the Code.

 

Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, to approve, with or without amendment, the 2020 Plan resolution below (the “2020 Plan Resolution”):

 

“BE IT RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Corporation”), that:

 

1.    The Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, as set out in Schedule B to the Corporation’s 2020 Management Information Circular (the “2020 Plan”) be and is hereby approved;

 

2.    The unallocated entitlements under the 2020 Plan are hereby approved and the Corporation will have the ability to issue awards involving the issuance or potential issuance of Common Shares of the Corporation from treasury until June 22, 2023 (and any unallocated entitlements under 2020 Plan at such time must be re-submitted for approval by the shareholders of the Corporation by such date); and

 

3.    any one or more directors or officers of the Corporation are hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the Corporation, to execute and deliver all such documents and do all such other acts or things as such person may determine to be necessary or advisable to give effect to this resolution, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the taking of any such action or such director’s or officer’s execution and delivery of any such document.

 

Notwithstanding that this resolution has been duly passed by the shareholders, the directors of the Corporation be, and they are hereby authorized, without further approval of or notice to the shareholders of the Corporation, to revoke this ordinary resolution.”

 

To be effective, the 2020 Plan Resolution must be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast thereon by the shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Meeting.

 

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The Board recommends to the shareholders that they approve the 2020 Plan Resolution. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, if named as proxy, intend to vote in favor of the 2020 Plan Resolution unless a shareholder has specified in his or her proxy that his or her shares are to be voted against such resolution.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

This discussion relates to the Named Executive Officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table below.

 

Mandate of the Compensation Committee

 

It is the task of the Compensation Committee to periodically review Fennec’s compensation structure with respect to its Named Executive Officers, including its Chief Executive Officer, to ensure that Fennec continues to attract and retain qualified and experienced individuals to its management team and to motivate these individuals to perform to the best of their ability and in Fennec’s best interests. The Compensation Committee determines the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, evaluates and approves the compensation plans, policies and programs of the Corporation and recommends to the Board from time to time other incentive compensation plans that it determines should be considered.

 

In reviewing executive compensation, the Compensation Committee relies on the advice of the Chief Executive Officer regarding other executive officers and allows him to participate in the Committee’s deliberations on those executive officers. The Chief Executive Officer, however, is not allowed to participate in the Committee’s deliberations on his compensation. The Compensation Committee may not delegate any of its responsibilities to another entity or to an individual without the approval of the Board.

 

General Compensation Philosophy

 

The key components of executive officer compensation are salaries, cash incentive awards and stock options. Fennec’s policy with respect to the compensation of Named Executive Officers is to establish annual goals with respect to corporate development and the individual areas of responsibility of each Named Executive Officers and then to review total compensation with respect to the achievement of these goals.

 

Salary and Non-Equity Incentive Awards

 

It is Fennec’s policy that the base salaries paid to its Named Executive Officers reflect, in addition to the criteria set out above, the individual’s responsibility, experience and achievements. Each year the Compensation Committee sets a series of objectives for each executive and for the executive team as a whole to determine the opportunity for cash incentive awards. These objectives are prioritized and assigned potential values in light of overall company objectives, including with respect to scientific, clinical, regulatory, intellectual property, business and corporate development, and financial objectives. The Compensation Committee reviews both base salaries and cash incentive awards on at least an annual basis to ensure that the relevant criteria are satisfied.

 

Stock Options

 

The annual compensation considerations also include the awarding of stock options. The granting of options to the Named Executive Officers under the Stock Option Plan serves three primary purposes: (1) to recognize significant performance during the past year; (2) to provide long-term incentives for future efforts, since the value of the options is directly dependent on the market valuation of the Corporation; and (3) to retain individuals, as the options typically vest over time. When determining whether and how many new option grants will be made, the Compensation Committee takes into account the amount and terms of any outstanding options. The Compensation Committee generally considers the granting of options twice annually to all eligible employees, including executive officers. The Committee, in its discretion, may grant options at other times during a fiscal year to a Named Executive Officer for performance or other reasons. Fennec does not require its Named Executive Officers to own a specific number of Common Shares.

 

Page 17

 

 

Analysis of Named Executive Officer Compensation

 

The Compensation Committee is charged with annually reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to each of the Named Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating each officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and fixing and determining each Named Executive Officer’s level of salary and award of cash incentive payments and options based on this evaluation. In determining the long-term incentive component of each Named Executive Officer’s compensation, the Compensation Committee considers the Corporation’s performance and relative shareholder return, the value of similar incentive awards to other similarly situated executive officers at companies in the comparator group, the awards given to the Named Executive Officer in past years, and such other factors as the Compensation Committee considers relevant. Specifically, the Compensation Committee’s review and evaluation includes measurement of the following areas:

 

·the achievement of corporate objectives, such as financings, partnerships and other business development, and consideration of those achievements in light of budgetary constraints and other challenges facing the Corporation;

·the Corporation’s financial condition;

·the Corporation’s share price and market capitalization; and

·the advancement of our product candidates, both preclinical and clinical.

 

Compensation Consultant

 

In December 2019, the Compensation Committee retained Radford, an Aon company (“Radford”), to provide assistance in reviewing the compensation of the Named Executive Officers and the directors. In part on the basis of Radford’s recommendations, Mr. Raykov’s base salary in 2020 has been increased to $430,000 and Mr. Andrade’s base salary in 2020 has been increased to $311,750. Radford’s provided similar services in the prior year.

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Circular with management and, based on that review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Circular.

 

Submitted by:THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  Marco Brughera, Chair
  Chris Rallis
  Jodi Cook

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

Marco Brughera, Chris Rallis, and Jodi Cook are the current members of the Compensation Committee. None of these individuals was at any time during 2019 or at any other time an officer or employee of ours. No interlocking relationship exists between any member of our Compensation Committee and any member of any other company’s board of directors or compensation committee.

 

The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is “independent” under applicable securities laws.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets out certain information respecting the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and out Chief Commercial Officer (collectively, “Named Executive Officers”) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year   Salary ($)   Bonus ($)   Option
Awards ($) (1)		   Total ($) 
Rostislav Raykov, CEO   2019    488,692    157,500    830,944    1,476,536 
    2018    350,000    160,000    562,261    1,072,261 
Robert Andrade, CFO   2019    325,211    100,000    438,555    863,766 
    2018    250,000    110,000    309,099    669,099 
Shubh Goel, CCO(2)   2019    98,000    115,000    816,538    1,029,538 
    2018    -    -    -    - 

 

(1)Represents the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Dollar value amounts are based on individual grants to each of Mr. Raykov and Mr. Andrade of 150,000 and 100,000 and 80,000 and 50,000 options, respectively, on April 4, 2019 and February 6, 2018, at an exercise price of $4.38 and $8.38 per common share, respectively. The grant to Ms. Goel was dated September 9, 2019 at an exercise price of $4.74. All option grants expire 10 years after grant date. One-third of these options shall vest and may be exercised one year after the grant date (the “Vesting Commencement Date”). The remaining two-thirds of the options shall vest monthly at a rate of 1/36th of the remaining grant and shall be exercisable as of the last day of each following month after the Vesting Commencement Date. As of the third anniversary of the grant date, all of the options shall be vested.

 

(2)Ms. Goel was hired as our Chief Commercial Officer in September 2019.

 

Page 18

 

 

Rostislav Raykov

 

Mr. Raykov has been employed by us since July 2009. Pursuant to an employment agreement dated May 3, 2010 between Mr. Raykov and Fennec, Mr. Raykov is employed as our Chief Executive Officer and: (a) received an initial annual salary in the amount of $140,000, subject to annual adjustment by our Board of Directors, (b) upon approval by shareholders of our amended stock option plan was granted options to purchase up to 5.0% of our Common Shares estimated by us to be outstanding upon completion of the 2010 Rights Offering, and (c) may receive annual bonuses at the sole discretion of the Board. If Mr. Raykov’s employment terminates due to a change of control of Fennec, Mr. Raykov’s remaining unvested options shall immediately vest and be fully exercisable. If Mr. Raykov is dismissed from employment by us for any reason other than “for cause”, we are obligated to pay Mr. Raykov severance compensation equal to twelve months of salary. The initial term of the agreement was for one year and the agreement automatically extends for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party in accordance with the agreement. Effective January 1, 2018, Mr. Raykov’s salary was increased to $350,000 per year with subsequent increases in 2019 to $400,000 and $430,000 in 2020.

 

Robert Andrade

 

Mr. Andrade has been employed by us since November 2015. Mr. Andrade is employed as Fennec’s Chief Financial Officer. Pursuant to an employment agreement dated November 13, 2015, Mr. Andrade (a) received an initial annual salary in the amount of $165,000, and (b) may receive annual bonuses at the sole discretion of the Board.  If Mr. Andrade’s employment terminates due to a change of control of the Fennec, Mr. Andrade’s remaining unvested options shall immediately vest and be fully exercisable. If Mr. Andrade is dismissed from employment by us for any reason other than “for cause”, we are obligated to pay Mr. Andrade severance compensation equal to six months of salary. Effective January 1, 2018, Mr. Andrade’s salary was increased to $250,000 per year. Mr. Andrade’s salary was increased to $290,000 per year in 2019 and to $311,750 in 2020.

 

Shubh Goel

 

Ms. Goel has been employed by us since September 2019. Pursuant to an employment agreement dated September 9, 2019, Ms. Goel is employed as Fennec’s Chief Commercial Officer and: (a) received an initial annual salary in the amount of $360,000, subject to annual adjustment by our Board of Directors, and (b) may receive annual bonus of up to 40% of her base salary per twelve month period, at the discretion of the CEO and the Board of Directors. If Ms. Goel’s employment is terminated by us for any reason other than “for cause”, we are obligated to pay Ms. Goel (i) severance in the amount of three months of employees base salary or if such termination occurs either (a) after the second anniversary of her employment or (b) as a result of a Change of Control a severance in the amount of six months, (ii) prorate share of any target bonus earned by Ms. Goel and, (iii) accelerated vesting of stock options. The initial term of the agreement was for one year and the agreement automatically extends for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party in accordance with the agreement.

 

In addition to their employment agreements, Mr. Raykov, Mr. Andrade and Ms. Goel are a party to a confidentiality and intellectual property agreement with the Corporation.

 

In the employment agreements for each of Mr. Andrade and Mr. Raykov “for cause” is generally defined as (1) material breach of the terms of the employment or intellectual property agreements; (2) failure to perform the duties inherent in their position in good faith and in a reasonable and appropriate manner; or (3) acts of fraud or embezzlement or other intentional misconduct which adversely affects our business.

 

Page 19

 

 

Payments on Termination

 

The following table provides details regarding the estimated incremental payments from the Corporation to each of the current Named Executive Officers assuming termination without cause on December 31, 2019.

 

Name  Severance   Estimated Bonus   Value of benefits 
Rostislav Raykov, CEO  $400,000   $-   $400,000 
Robert Andrade, CFO  $145,000   $-   $145,000 
Shubh Goel, CCO  $90,000   $115,000   $205,000 

 

Payments on Change of Control

 

The following table provides details regarding the estimated incremental payments from the Corporation to each of the current Executive Officers upon change of control.

 

Name 

Change of Control

Multiple

  Estimated Bonus(1)   Value of benefits 
Rostislav Raykov, CEO  2 X  $1,070,000   $1,070,000 
Robert Andrade, CFO  1.25 X  $453,500   $453,500 

 

(1) Change of control payments are calculated based on the two-year annualized average salary plus cash bonus as calculated as of December 31, 2019.

 

In addition to the payments above, an incentive plan has been established pursuant to which, upon completion of a change in control transaction, 1% of the transaction value (up to a maximum of $2,000,000) be set aside and paid to key personnel upon completion of such change in control transaction, with 50% of such incentive pool being payable to the CEO and the balance to other key personnel as determined by the CEO in consultation with the Compensation Committee.

 

Equity Grants, Exercises and Holdings

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the number and value of unexercised options held by each Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2019. All executive awards, with the exception of those expiring 6/27/2027, 02/06/2028 and 04/04/2029, vest and are exercisable immediately. The current stock option plan provides for grants denominated in US and CAD dollars.

 

   Number of Options       
Name  Granted   Exercisable   Option Exercise Price  Expiration Date
Rostislav Raykov   150,000    -   USD$   4.83   04/04/2029
    100,000    63,888   USD$   8.38   02/06/2028
    100,000    83,336   USD$   5.10   06/27/2027
    150,000    150,000   USD$   2.45   07/05/2026
    25,000    25,000   USD$   2.69   12/31/2024
    83,333    83,333   USD$   1.59   01/24/2024
    16,666    16,666   USD$   0.72   08/23/2023
    50,000    50,000   USD$   1.05   11/20/2022
    323,961    323,961   CAD$   2.43   08/18/2020
Robert Andrade   80,000    -   USD$   4.83   04/04/2029
    50,000    31,843   USD$   8.38   02/06/2028
    50,000    41,668   USD$   5.10   06/27/2027
    75,000    75,000   USD$   2.45   07/05/2026
    323,961    323,961   CAD$   2.43   08/18/2020
Shubh Goel   175,000    -   USD$   4.74   09/09/2029

 

Page 20

 

 

Executive Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Year

 

The following table details the value of executive options on the vesting date that vested during 2019.

 

Name   Number of Options
Vested During Year		     Option-Based Awards
 Value Vested During the Year
(USD$)(1)		     Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Compensation – Value Earned
During the Year (USD$)		  
Rostislav Raykov     123,618       101,480              -  
Robert Andrade     61,805       50,730       -  
Shubh Goel     -       -       -  
Total     185,423       151,210       -  

 

(1) The value of the vested option-based awards represents the aggregate dollar value that would have been realized if the options under the option-based award had been exercised on the vesting date. The dollar value was computed by determining the difference between the closing market price of the Common Shares on the Nasdaq at the deemed exercise on the vesting date and the exercise price.

 

Compensation of Directors

 

Director Compensation Table

 

The following table summarizes the compensation earned by our non-executive directors for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Name  Fees paid in Cash   Stock Awards   Option Awards(1)(2)   Total 
Dr. Islam   85,000    -    105,190    190,190 
Mr. Brughera   40,000    -    84,152    124,152 
Mr. Haigh   40,000    -    84,152    124,152 
Dr. Cook   9,421    -    103,013    112,434 
Mr. Rallis   42,500    -    84,152    126,652 
Total  $216,921   $-   $460,659   $677,580 

 

(1)Represents the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(2)Detail of grants are presented in the following table:

 

Name  Date of Grant  Number of Options Granted   Option Exercise Price
$USD		 
Mr. Rallis  June 18, 2019   20,000    4.26 
Mr. Brughera  June 18, 2019   20,000    4.26 
Mr. Haigh  June 18, 2019   20,000    4.26 
Dr. Cook  November 13, 2019   20,000    5.40 
Dr. Islam  June 18, 2019   25,000    4.26 
Total      105,000      

 

The annual compensation considerations for non-executive directors also include the awarding of stock options. We believe that granting of options to the non-executive directors serves three primary purposes: (1) to recognize the significant time and effort commitments during the past year; (2) to provide long-term incentives for future efforts since the value of the options is directly dependent on the market valuation of the Corporation; and (3) to retain quality individuals. When determining whether and how many new option grants will be made, the Compensation Committee takes into account the amount and terms of any outstanding options. We do not require our non-executive directors to own a specific amount of our Common Shares.

 

Each of Adrian J. Haigh, Khalid Islam, Marco Brughera, Jodi Cook, and Chris A. Rallis has entered into an Independent Director Agreement with the Corporation, which provides for cash compensation as set forth by the Compensation Committee commensurate with that member’s responsibilities. The Compensation Committee may also remunerate members in the form of a grant of options to purchase shares of our Common Shares. The options immediately vest when granted and are otherwise subject to the terms and conditions of our stock option plan, as amended. The Independent Director Agreements also provide for the reimbursement of such director’s reasonable travel and related expenses incurred in the course of attending board meetings.

 

Page 21

 

 

Equity Grants, Exercises and Holdings

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the number and value of unexercised options held by each Director as of December 31, 2019. All Director awards vest and are exercisable immediately.

 

Director Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2019

 

Name  Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options (#) Exercisable		   Option
Exercise Price (USD$)		   Option
Expiration
Date		  Value of
Unexercised in-
the-Money
Options (USD$)(1)		 
Adrian Haigh   133,333    2.31   04/25/2024   557,332 
    10,000    2.69   12/31/2024   38,000 
    10,246    2.44   06/09/2026   41,496 
    20,000    5.10   06/27/2027   27,800 
    20,000    10.93   06/08/2028   - 
    20,000    4.26   06/18/2029   44,600 
Chris Rallis   3,333    1.50   11/18/2021   16,632 
    8,333    0.60   04/04/2022   49,081 
    9,259    0.54   05/17/2022   55,091 
    11,111    0.45   08/17/2022   67,110 
    4,762    1.05   11/20/2022   25,905 
    4,166    2.40   04/03/2023   17,039 
    1,700    2.94   05/17/2023   6,035 
    5,208    0.96   08/06/2023   28,800 
    16,666    0.72   08/23/2023   96,163 
    3,144    1.59   01/24/2024   15,406 
    4,329    2.31   04/25/2024   18,095 
    1,389    3.60   05/15/2024   4,014 
    1,792    2.79   08/04/2024   6,630 
    1,960    2.55   11/07/2024   7,722 
    10,000    2.69   12/31/2024   38,000 
    1,992    2.51   03/16/2025   7,928 
    2,173    2.30   05/11/2025   9,105 
    2,127    2.35   08/03/2025   8,806 
    4,062    1.23   11/10/2025   21,366 
    4,098    2.44   06/09/2026   16,597 
    10,246    2.44   06/09/2026   41,496 
    20,000    5.10   06/27/2027   27,800 
    20,000    10.93   06/08/2028   - 
    20,000    4.26   06/18/2029   44,600 
Khalid Islam   133,333    2.31   04/25/2024   557,332 
    10,000    2.69   12/31/2024   38,000 
    50,000    1.13   12/11/2025   268,000 
    20,492    2.44   06/09/2026   82,993 
    25,000    5.10   06/27/2027   34,750 
    25,000    10.93   06/08/2028   - 
    25,000    4.26   06/18/2029   55,750 
Marco Brughera   35,545    2.11   12/30/2026   155,687 
    20,000    5.10   06/27/2027   27,800 
    20,000    10.93   06/08/2028   - 
    20,000    4.26   06/18/2029   44,600 
Jodi Cook   20,000    5.40   11/13/2029   21,800 

 

(1)Calculated using the closing price of our Common Share on December 31, 2019 USD$6.49 on the Nasdaq which was the last trading day for the year 2019.

 

Page 22

 

 

Director Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested During the Year

 

The following table details the value of director options on the vesting date that vested during 2019.

 

Name   Number of Options
Vested During Year		     Option-Based Awards
Value Vested During the Year
(USD$)(1)		     Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Compensation – Value Earned
During the Year (USD$)		  
Adrian Haigh     20,000            -            -  
Chris Rallis     20,000       -       -  
Khalid Islam     25,000       -       -  
Marco Brughera     20,000       -       -  
Jodi Cook     20,000       -       -  
Total     105,000       -       -  

 

(1) The value of the vested option-based awards represents the aggregate dollar value that would have been realized if the options under the option-based award had been exercised on the vesting date. The dollar value was computed by determining the difference between the closing market price of the Common Shares on the Nasdaq at the deemed exercise on the vesting date and the exercise price.

 

Each non-management member receives an annual base retainer of $35,000. The Chairman of the Board shall receive an additional annual fee of $50,000 and includes all activities of the Chairman. The Chair of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $7,500. Chair of any other Committee shall receive an additional annual fee of $5,000. These annual base retainer and annual cash fees are to be paid quarterly and are in lieu of any per-meeting fees. Board members shall also be reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses for attending Board or Committee meetings or any other meeting at the Corporation’s request.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Stock Option Plan

 

The Stock Option Plan as last ratified by Shareholders on June 18, 2019 was adopted to develop the interest and incentive of eligible employees, directors and other service providers of the Corporation in the Corporation's growth and development by giving eligible Participants (as defined below) an opportunity to purchase Common Shares on a favorable basis, thereby advancing the interests of the Corporation, enhancing the value of the Common Shares for the benefit of all Shareholders and increasing the ability of the Corporation to attract and retain skilled and motivated individuals in the service of the Corporation. The maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Stock Option Plan is a rolling maximum equal to 25% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time (as of May 4, 2020 this maximum percentage equals 6,173,958 Common Shares). As of May 4, 2020, options for an aggregate of 3,088,235 Common Shares have been granted and remain issued and outstanding under the Stock Option Plan (representing approximately 12.5% of the currently issued and outstanding Common Shares), since June 18, 2019, there have been no exercises under the Stock Option Plan, and the Stock Option Plan has 3,085,723 unallocated options (representing approximately 12.5% of the currently issued and outstanding Common Shares).

 

24,695,830    Shares outstanding    
6,173,958    25.0%   
3,088,235    12.5%  Options issued
3,085,723    12.5%  Options Available

 

Page 23

 

 

Within the above aggregate limit of 25% of the issued and the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time, the Stock Option Plan contains no limits on the number or percentage of such options that may be granted to insiders of the Corporation or to any one person. The Board currently has the right, in its sole discretion, to alter, amend or discontinue the Stock Option Plan from time to time and at any time. However, no such amendment or discontinuation may alter or impair the rights or increase the obligations under the Stock Option Plan of Participants without the consent of the Participants. Further, any amendment to the Stock Option Plan is subject to prior regulatory approval. The Stock Option Plan’s amending procedures explicitly provide that shareholder approval is not required to implement any amendments, save and except for amendments related to (i) the maximum number of Common Shares or any other shares of the Corporation which are reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Plan (and under any other share compensation arrangement of the Corporation); (ii) a reduction in the exercise price for options held by insiders; and (iii) an extension to the term of options held by insiders. Examples of the amendments that may be made by the Board without shareholder approval include, without limitation, amendments related to (a) the vesting provisions of the Stock Option Plan or any option granted under the Stock Option Plan, (b) the early termination provisions of the Stock Option Plan or any option granted under the Stock Option Plan, (c) the addition of any form of financial assistance by the Corporation for the acquisition by all or certain categories of Participants, and the subsequent amendment of any such provision which is more favorable to such Participants, (d) the addition or modification of a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or Common shares, which provides for a full deduction of the number of underlying Common Shares from the Stock Option Plan reserve, (e) changing the maximum percentage of Common Shares which are reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Plan to a maximum number of Common Shares not exceeding the number of Common Shares which then represents the maximum percentage previously approved by the Corporation’s security holders; (f) the suspension or termination under applicable laws (including, without limitation, the rules, regulations and policies of the TSX); and/or (g) general housekeeping matters.

 

Participation in the Stock Option Plan shall be limited to directors, employees and service providers who are designated from time to time by the Compensation Committee (each, a “Participant”). Board nominees or other associates or affiliates of the Corporation’s largest shareholder, Southpoint Capital Advisors, are not eligible to participate in the Stock Option Plan. Subject to the terms of the Stock Option Plan, the Compensation Committee determines the Participants designated to participate in the Stock Option Plan, the number of Common Shares such Participant is entitled to purchase and the price at which the Common Shares may be purchased and the applicable vesting period. The option price at which the Common Shares may be purchased under the Stock Option Plan is the fair market value of the Common Shares of the Corporation at the time of grant, which under the Stock Option Plan is the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX or Nasdaq on the trading day immediately preceding the date of grant (if the Common Shares are then listed on the TSX or Nasdaq).

 

The maximum term of any option granted under the Stock Option Plan is ten (10) years. Options that have been granted under the Stock Option Plan must be exercised within a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant, failing which the Participant's right to purchase such Common Shares lapses. The Stock Option Plan provides that should the expiry date of any vested stock option of a Stock Option Plan participant fall on, or within nine (9) trading days immediately following, a Black-Out Period, the expiry date of such a vested stock option will automatically be the date that is ten (10) trading days from the date the relevant Black-Out Period ends. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee and specifically set forth in the stock option agreement executed by the Participant, options vest and may be exercised by the Participant as to one-third on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. The Compensation Committee may, however, in its sole discretion by written notice to any Participant, accelerate the vesting of all or any of the options of a Participant. The Participant's rights under the options granted under the Stock Option Plan are not assignable or transferable by the Participant. The Corporation does not currently have any arrangements in place for financial assistance to facilitate the purchase of securities by Participants under the Stock Option Plan.

 

A Participant’s right to exercise options ceases following any of the following events (each of which, a “Participant Termination Date”): (i) if an employee, such Participant’s employment with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is terminated for any reason; (ii) if a director, such Participant ceases to be a director on the Board for any reason; or (iii) if a service provider, such Participant ceases to provide services to the Corporation. In such case, the Participant, or the Participant's legal representative, as the case may be, may only exercise such options that are then vested any time prior to the earlier of: the original expiry date of such option, or within 30 days of the Participant Termination Date, or if specifically approved by the Board, such later date which may not be more than three (3) years following the Participant Termination Date.

 

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For U.S. federal income tax purposes, an optionee who is granted an incentive stock option under the Stock Option Plan will generally not recognize taxable income either at the time the option is granted or upon its exercise, although the exercise will increase the optionee’s alternative minimum taxable income by an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise and the option's exercise price, and therefore may subject the optionee to the alternative minimum tax. Upon the sale or exchange of the shares more than two years after grant of the option and more than one year after exercising the option, any gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. If these holding periods are not satisfied, the optionee will recognize ordinary income at the time of sale or exchange equal to the difference between the exercise price and the lower of (i) the fair market value of the shares at the date of the option’s exercise or (ii) the sale price of the shares. Fennec will be entitled to a deduction in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the optionee. Any gain or loss recognized on such a premature disposition of the shares in excess of the amount treated as ordinary income will be characterized as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the optionee’s holding period with respect to such shares. Options that do not qualify as incentive stock options under the Stock Option Plan are referred to as nonstatutory options. Generally, an optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time he or she is granted a nonstatutory option. Upon its exercise, however, the optionee will generally recognize taxable ordinary income measured as the excess of the then fair market value of the shares acquired over the exercise price of the option. Any taxable income recognized in connection with an option exercise by an optionee who is also one of our employees will be subject to tax withholding by us. Fennec will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the optionee with respect to shares acquired upon exercise of a nonstatutory option. Upon resale of such shares by the optionee, any difference between the sales price received and the fair market value for the shares on the date of exercise of the option will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the optionee’s holding period with respect to such shares.

 

Awards under the Stock Option Plan will be granted in amounts and to individuals as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. Therefore, future options that may be granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants under the Stock Option Plan are not determinable at this time.

 

Stock Option Burn-Rate

 

The following table sets out information with respect to the burn-rate calculations for the Stock Option Plan as at December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

 

Description     Percentage 
Burn Rate  The total number of options issued in 2019 divided by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Shares for 2019   2.7%
   The total number of options issued in 2018 divided by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Shares for 2018   1.61%
   The total number of options issued in 2017 divided by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Shares for 2017   2.27%

 

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Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

 

Fennec has liability insurance for its directors and officers. The aggregate annual premium for that insurance is approximately $264,969 no part of which is payable by the directors and officers of the Corporation. The insurance coverage under the policy for each loss is limited to an annual aggregate of $2,500,000 for each policy year. Total limits provided (under both primary and excess policies) total $7,500,000, with an additional $2,500,000 applicable solely to Side A (non-indemnifiable claim(s)). The policy is subject to a $250,000 retention for any non-securities claim, $750,000 for securities claims and $1,500,000 for merger objection suits and there shall be no retention for any non-indemnifiable claim(s) made against a director or officer.

 


Indebtedness of Directors and Executive Officers

 

Section 13(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), prohibits Fennec from making or arranging an extension of credit to its directors or executive officers in the form of a personal loan.

 

No individual, who is or was a director, executive officer or employee of Fennec, nor any proposed nominee for election as a director of Fennec, nor any associate of any one of them: (i) is or, at any time since the beginning of Fennec’s most recent completed financial period, has been indebted to Fennec or any of its subsidiaries; or (ii) was indebted to another entity, which indebtedness is, or was at any time during Fennec’s most recent completed financial period, the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by Fennec or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Interest of Informed Persons in Material Transactions

 

In accordance with the BCBCA and our articles, directors who have a material interest in any person who is a party to a material contract or a proposed material contract with Fennec are required to disclose that interest and abstain from voting on any resolution to approve that contract.

 

To the knowledge of Fennec, no informed person or proposed nominee for election as a director of Fennec and no associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of Fennec’s last completed financial period or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect Fennec or any of its subsidiaries.

 

In accordance with regulations of the SEC, Fennec must disclose in this Circular any transaction or series of transactions in Fennec’s last two completed fiscal years to which Fennec was a party and in which any director or executive officer of Fennec, or any of their immediate family members had a direct or indirect material interest, if the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one (1) percent of the average of the Corporation’s total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years (a “Related Party Transaction”).

 

Performance Graph

 

The following line graph compares the percentage change, from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2019, in cumulative total shareholder return for $100 (CAD$ for TSX and US$ for AMEX) invested in our Common Shares with cumulative total return of the AMEX Composite, the AMEX Biotechnology Index and the S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index.

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides certain information with respect to securities authorized for issuance under equity incentive plans as of December 31, 2019 (share amounts are in thousands):

 

Plan Category  (a)
Number of securities to
be issued
upon exercise of outstanding
options warrants and rights (*)		   (b)
Weighted-
average exercise price of
outstanding options, warrants
and rights		   (c)
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected in
Column (a))		 
Equity compensation plan               
approved by shareholders   3,127    USD $ 3.63    3,127 
Total   3,127         3,127 

 

* The Corporation’s current stock option plans allow for the issuance of stock options denominated in both U.S. dollars and Canadian dollars. This table presents the number and weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options by the currency associated with the original grants. At December 31, 2019 we had 2.4 million stock options denominated in U.S. dollars with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.83 and 648,000 stock options denominated in CAD dollars with a weighted-average exercise price of CAD$2.43. There were a total of 3.1 million stock options outstanding with a combined weighted-average exercise price of USD$3.59 (Canadian denominated exercise prices were converted using the December 31, 2019 exchange rate of 0.768174 CAD/USD). At December 31, 2019, we had 1.9 million stock options available for future issuance. There were also 0.04 million warrants outstanding with an exercise price of $6.80.

 

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REPORT ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Fennec believes that good corporate governance is important to ensure that Fennec is managed for the long-term benefit of its shareholders. In connection with Fennec’s commitment to comply with the standards of applicable securities legislation, Fennec has continued to review Fennec’s corporate governance practices and policies and has compared them to developing practices and regulation in Canada and the United States. In particular, Fennec has considered developing rules and guidelines for corporate governance practices and policies, and related disclosures, promulgated by the Canadian Securities Administrators, the SEC as well as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Fennec’s Board has adopted a Mandate of the Board of Directors, Corporate Governance Guidelines and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all officers, directors and employees of Fennec. The Board has also (i) restated the charter of the Audit Committee, (ii) established a separate Governance and Nominating Committee and adopted a written charter for the committee, (iii) restated the charter of the Compensation Committee, and (iv) appointed an Independent Chairman of the Board. Each of the various committee charters and other corporate governance documents are regularly reviewed with a view to determining if any updates are necessary or advisable. Set out below is a description of certain corporate governance practices of the Corporation.

 

Shareholder Communications

 

Shareholders who wish to communicate with members of the Board of Directors, including the independent directors individually or as a group, may send correspondence to them care of the Chief Executive at our principal executive offices. Such communication will be forwarded to the intended recipient(s). Fennec currently does not intend to have the Chief Executive screen this correspondence, but it may change this policy if directed by the Board due to the nature or volume of the correspondence.

 

Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors is composed of a majority of independent directors. The Board applies the definition of independence found in Canadian National Instrument 58-101 and National Policy 58-201 and the applicable rules of Nasdaq. The Board has determined that five of the current six directors are “independent”, being Dr. Cook and Messrs. Rallis, Brughera, Haigh and Islam. Only one director has a material relationship with the Corporation and therefore is not independent. Mr. Raykov, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation is considered to have a material relationship with the Corporation by virtue of his executive officer position. Fennec is of the view that the composition of its Board reflects a diversity of background and experience that are important for effective corporate governance. Other directorships held by Board members are described in this Circular under the heading “Ordinary Matters – Election of Directors.”

 

During the financial year ended December 31, 2019, the Board devoted a portion of five meetings to discuss in the absence of directors who are not “independent,” and certain of the Committees also conducted executive sessions where all participants were independent directors. In order to facilitate open and candid discussion among its independent directors, the Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that independent directors should meet at least annually without the presence of management or non-independent directors, that the Chairman or Lead Independent Director is authorized to call additional meetings of the independent directors and that the Chairman or Lead Independent Director is authorized to act as the presiding director at such meetings and to develop the agenda for such meetings. In addition, each Board member is free to suggest the inclusion of items on any Board or Committee meeting agenda and suggest pre-meeting materials to either the Chair of the Board or the Lead Independent Director. At any meeting of the Board, each Board member is also free to raise subjects that are not on the agenda for that meeting. Furthermore, each Board committee, the Chairman and the Lead Independent Director, on behalf of the independent directors as a group, have the authority to hire legal, accounting, financial or other advisors as they may deem necessary in their best judgment, without the need to obtain the prior approval of any officer of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation will arrange for payment of the invoices of any such third party.

 

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Directors’ Attendance

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Board met on seven occasions, the Audit Committee met on five occasions, the Compensation Committee met on seven occasions, and the Governance and Nominating Committee met on five occasions. The following table sets forth the attendance of directors at meetings of the Board.

 

Director 

Attendance at

Board Meetings

Adrian Haigh   7/7
     
Chris Rallis   7/7
     
Khalid Islam   7/7
     
Marco Brughera   7/7
     
Jodi Cook   1/1

 

The Board expects management to be responsible for the day-to-day operations of and to implement the approved strategic business plan within the context of authorized budgets and corporate policies and procedures. Management is expected to report regularly to the Board in a comprehensive, accurate, and timely fashion on Fennec’s business and affairs.

 

Fennec does not have a formal written policy regarding attendance of Board members at annual meetings of the shareholders. Fennec, however, strongly encourages all directors to attend such meetings.

 

Mandate of the Board of Directors

 

The Board has the overall responsibility for the strategic planning and general management of Fennec’s business and affairs. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Board is responsible for, among other things:

 

·adoption of a strategic plan;

·approval of the annual operating and capital expenditure budgets;

·identification of the principal risks of the business and ensuring the implementation of the appropriate systems to manage these risks;

·succession planning, including appointing and monitoring senior management;

·adoption of a communications policy;

·approval of acquisitions, dispositions, investments and financings that exceed certain prescribed limits;

·integrity of the internal control and management information systems; and

·development of clear position descriptions for directors, including the Chair of the Board, the Chair of each Board committee and, together with the CEO, a clear position description for the CEO.

 

The Board discharges its responsibilities directly and through committees that have specific areas of responsibility. The frequency of Board meetings and the nature of items discussed during the meetings depend on the opportunities or risks that Fennec faces. The Board, directly and through its committees, has adopted a process whereby it assesses the risk factors that must be identified and managed to ensure Fennec’s long-term viability.

 

The Board mandate generally describes the Board’s expectation of management and provides a list of specific matters for which management must obtain Board approval prior to implementation. The Board mandate also provides that the Board annually establish performance objectives for the CEO, which responsibility has been delegated to the Compensation Committee. In addition, the Board receives regular updates from management concerning the Corporation’s progress toward achieving corporate goals. The Board has also delegated to the Compensation Committee responsibility for evaluating the CEO’s compensation, which evaluation includes review of the CEO’s performance against annual performance objectives for the year and input from the Chairman, Lead Independent Director as well as other directors.

 

The Board Mandate is attached as Schedule “A-1” to this Circular.

 

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Position Descriptions

 

The Board Mandate and the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter provide that the Board is responsible for the development of clear position descriptions for directors, including the Chair of the Board and the chair of each board committee; and, together with the Chief Executive Officer, a clear position description for the Chief Executive Officer, which includes delineating management’s responsibilities.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

On December 9, 2015, Khalid Islam was elected Chairman of the Board. The Board determined that in the best interest of the Corporation the most effective leadership structure at this time is to separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. As an independent director, Dr. Islam is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the independence of and separation between management and the Board.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors has an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing the identification and management of our principal risks. The Board of Directors regularly receives reports from senior management on areas of material risk to our Corporation, including our credit, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory risks. In carrying out its responsibilities under its charter, the Audit Committee reviews our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, and it also meets periodically with management to discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. In addition, the Compensation Committee oversees the management of risks relating to our executive and non-executive compensation plans and arrangements, and the Governance and Nominating Committee manages risks associated with the independence of the Board of Directors and potential conflicts of interest. While each committee oversees certain risks and the management of such risks, the entire Board of Directors is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks.

 

Ethical Business Conduct

 

In February 2004, Fennec’s Board adopted a Mandate of the Board of Directors, Corporate Governance Guidelines and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) applicable to all officers, directors and employees of Fennec. The Code of Conduct was updated in June of 2019. You can access the Code of Conduct in the corporate governance section of Fennec’s website at www.fennecpharma.com. Fennec undertakes to provide any person without charge, upon request, a copy of such code by writing to Attn: Code of Ethics Request, Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., 68 TW Alexander Drive, PO Box 13628, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709. Fennec is committed to adhering to applicable legal requirements and maintaining the highest standards of conduct and integrity. The Code of Conduct is intended to promote those goals in conjunction with the Corporation’s Insider Trading Policy, Disclosure Policy and Audit Committee Complaint Procedures. The Code of Conduct sets out the legal and ethical standards of conduct for personnel of Fennec and addresses topics such as: reporting obligations and procedures; honest and ethical conduct and conflicts of interest; compliance with applicable laws and Corporation policies and procedures; confidentiality of corporate information; use of corporate assets and opportunities; public disclosure and books and records; and non-retaliation. The Board is not aware of any conduct of a director or officer that constitutes a departure from the Code of Conduct and, as a result, since the beginning of Fennec’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, there have been no material change reports filed that pertain to such a departure.

 

The Code of Conduct provides that the Governance and Nominating Committee shall monitor and periodically evaluate compliance with the Code of Conduct and its application to the Corporation’s business. In addition, the Code of Conduct sets out the procedures adopted by the Audit Committee for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints and concerns regarding accounting, internal accounting control, or auditing matters. In each case, the Code of Conduct provides that the Corporation will not discipline, discriminate against or retaliate against any employee who reports a complaint or concern in good faith, whether or not the information is ultimately proven to be correct, or who cooperates in any investigation or inquiry thereof.

 

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In order to ensure independent judgment in considering transactions or agreements in which a director or officer has a material interest, the Code of Conduct contains a process that must be followed regarding the disclosure, consultation and approval of transactions involving potential conflicts of interest. As a first step, officers and directors must disclose such matters to the Chief Executive Officer and to the Chair or any other disinterested member of the Governance and Nominating Committee charged with reviewing conflicts of interest. The Board has adopted rules for what activities constitute conflicts of interest and potential conflicts of interest, as well as procedures for determining whether a relationship or transaction constitutes a conflict of interest, the current versions of which are attached as appendices to the Code of Conduct. Following disclosure, any officer or director must avoid or terminate any activity that involves an actual or reasonably apparent conflict of interest unless it is determined at the appropriate level that the activity is not a conflict of interest or is otherwise not harmful to the Corporation or improper. Disinterested members of the Governance and Nominating Committee shall make any such determination.

 

In accordance with the BCBCA and our articles, directors who have a material interest in any person who is a party to a material contract or a proposed material contract with us are required to disclose that interest and abstain from voting on any resolution to approve that contract. In addition, no director, director nominee or officer may enter into any transaction or relationship that is disclosable by such person or the Corporation pursuant to the BCBCA or by the Corporation pursuant to SEC rules without the prior approval of the disinterested members of the Governance and Nominating Committees, and no such person may directly or indirectly approve, or represent the Corporation or the other party in arranging, the terms of any transaction between the Corporation and a party with which he/she has any relationship of a type that is disclosable by such person or the Corporation pursuant to the BCBCA or by the Corporation pursuant to SEC rules. All transactions between the Corporation and a party with which a director, officer or employee has such a relationship shall be on an arm’s length basis.

 

Orientation and Continuing Education

 

Responsibility for the oversight of orientation for new directors and continuing education programs for all directors with respect to the Corporation’s business and financial matters, corporate governance and other appropriate subjects is assigned to the Governance and Nominating Committee under its charter. In this regard, the Governance and Nominating Committee’s duties include ensuring the adequacy of the orientation and education program for new members of the Board.

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee is also responsible for arranging continuing education for directors in order to ensure that directors maintain the skill and knowledge necessary to meet their obligations as directors. Given the Corporation’s limited resources, to date, no formal external continuing education programs have been sponsored by the Corporation but members of the Board are free to attend such programs as they determine necessary and in the Corporation’s best interest. The Corporation also provides directors with the opportunity to meet with senior management of the Corporation, including the Chief Financial Officer, as well as external advisors, at any time and such personnel and advisers are regularly invited to present at Board meetings or in connection with Board retreats to provide updates in legal, accounting, governance and other business developments. Some meetings are held at the Corporation’s premises, allowing directors the opportunity to gain additional insight into the Corporation’s operations. In addition, analyst reports and other information relating to the Corporation’s business and the industry in which it operates are presented at Board meetings and strategy sessions and industry-related articles of interest are distributed to Board members from time to time. Pursuant to each Committee charter, directors are permitted to obtain advice and assistance from internal or external advisors, including for the purposes of continuing education and developments relevant to board responsibilities.

 

Nomination of Directors

 

The Board has a nominating committee as part of the Governance and Nominating Committee that is charged with identifying individuals qualified to become Board members. The Governance and Nominating Committee also recommends to the Board (a) the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders and candidates to fill vacancies on the Board and (b) the directors to be appointed to Board Committees.

 

As part of its mandate, the Governance and Nominating Committee (i) develops criteria for selecting directors and, when appropriate, conducts searches for prospective Board members whose skills and attributes meet those criteria, (ii) considers nominees submitted to the Board by shareholders if appropriate biographical and background information is provided, applying the same criteria and following substantially the same process in considering candidates suggested by shareholders as it does in considering other candidates and (iii) prior to recommending a nominee for election, determines that the election of the nominee as a director would effectively further the policies set forth in the Corporation’s corporate governance guidelines.

 

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In connection with its mandate to review and recommend to the Board the directors to be appointed to the various committees of the Board and the Chair of each committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers the desired qualifications for membership on each committee, the availability of each director to meet the time commitment required for membership on the particular committee, and the extent to which there should be a policy of periodic rotation of committee members.

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee also oversees the process of evaluations of the Board, its committees and executive management of the Corporation, and make recommendations to the Board as appropriate.

 

In 2019, Governance and Nominating Committee nominated Jodi Cook for appointment to the Board. Dr. Cook joined the Board in September 2019.

 

Term Limits

 

The Corporation has not adopted term limits for directors of the Corporation. The Board believes that the need to have experienced directors who are familiar with the business of the Corporation must be balanced with the need for renewal, fresh perspectives and a healthy skepticism when assessing management and its recommendations. In addition, as mentioned above the Board undertakes an assessment process that evaluates its effectiveness.

 

While term limits can help ensure the Board gains fresh perspective, imposing this restriction means the Board would lose the contributions of longer serving directors who have developed a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Corporation over time. The Board believes that term limits have the disadvantage of losing the contribution of directors who have been able to develop, over a period of time, increasing insight into the Corporation and its operations and thereby provide an increasing contribution to the Board as a whole.

 

Board and Senior Management Diversity

 

The Corporation recognizes and embraces the benefits of having diversity on the Board and in its senior management. Diversity is important to ensure that members of the Board and the Corporation’s senior management provide the necessary range of perspectives, experience and expertise required to achieve the Corporation’s objectives and deliver for its stakeholders. Accordingly, the Corporation has adopted a Diversity Policy that addresses, among other things, identification and nomination of women directors.

 

The Corporation also recognizes that the Board and its senior management appointments must be based on performance, ability, merit and potential. Therefore, the Corporation ensures a merit based competitive process for appointments. The Corporation’s commitment to diversity includes ensuring that diversity is fully considered in determining the composition of the Board and the appointment of its senior management. Pursuant to the Corporation’s Diversity Policy, on an annual basis, the Governance and Nominating Committee will (i) assess the effectiveness of the senior management appointment process at achieving the Corporation’s diversity objectives; and (ii) consider and, if determined advisable, recommend to the Board for adoption, measurable objectives for achieving diversity in senior management. At any given time the Board may seek to adjust one or more objectives concerning senior management diversity and measure progress accordingly. The Corporation currently has one female executive officer and one woman on the Board.

 

Short-Selling; Hedging

 

Pursuant to the Corporation’s Insider Trading Policy, which is applicable to its directors, officers and other employees, no such person may engage in short-selling of the Corporation’s securities or any trading in exchange-traded options with respect to the Corporation’s securities. Any director or executive officer who wishes to enter into another type of hedging arrangement must consult with the Compliance Officer as legal restrictions and/or public disclosures may be required. In addition, margin loans using the Corporation’s securities and other pledges of such securities present the risk that the pledgee will foreclose and sell the securities at a time when the Corporation’s personnel are prohibited from trading, with possibly serious collateral consequences. For this reason, such an arrangement may be risky and should not be undertaken without the prior written approval of the Compliance Officer.

 

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Compensation

 

The Board is responsible for establishing director and executive officer compensation and reviews such compensation at least as often as annually. The Board believes that directors should be fairly compensated for undertaking the responsibilities associated with serving as a director. At the same time, director compensation should be consistent with market practices generally. The Board delegates to the Compensation Committee responsibility for periodically assessing market practices for director and executive officer compensation. In addition, the Compensation Committee evaluates director compensation in the context of evaluating director recruitment and retention.

 

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The Compensation Committee is currently composed entirely of independent directors: Mr. Brughera (Chair), Mr. Rallis and Dr. Cook. The Compensation Committee held seven meetings in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

 

In addition to director compensation, the Compensation Committee of the Board determines the compensation to be paid to Fennec’s executive officers and periodically reviews Fennec’s compensation structure to ensure that Fennec continues to attract and retain qualified and experienced individuals to Fennec’s management team and motivate these individuals to perform to the best of their ability and in Fennec’s best interests. Among other things, the Compensation Committee considers compensation levels of comparable positions in similarly sized organizations in the biotechnology industry. The Compensation Committee also administers the Stock Option Plan and approves new stock option grants.

 

Other Board Committees

 

The Board has created audit, compensation, and the governance and nominating committees to ensure that the Board functions independently of management. It is also customary practice for directors (i) to regularly receive detailed information describing Fennec’s performance, and (ii) when necessary, to speak directly with management regarding additional information required on particular matters of interest. Moreover, directors have access to information independent of management through Fennec’s external auditors.

 

Audit Committee

 

On behalf of the Board, the Audit Committee of the Board retains, oversees and evaluates Fennec’s independent auditors, reviews the financial reports and other financial information provided by Fennec, including audited financial statements, and discusses the adequacy of disclosure with management and the auditors. The Audit Committee also reviews the performance of the independent auditors in the annual audit and in assignments unrelated to the audit, assesses the independence of the auditors, and reviews their fees. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing Fennec’s internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure.

 

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. Multilateral Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees requires certain disclosures be cross-referenced with respect to the Audit Committee when soliciting proxies from Shareholders for the purpose of electing directors. The Corporation is relying on the exemption found in Part 7 of the Multilateral Instrument applicable to U.S. Listed Issuers. The Audit Committee met five times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. As required by the rules of the SEC and Canadian securities laws, the Audit Committee is composed entirely of independent directors, each of whom the Board has determined is “financially literate” for purposes of the applicable laws: Mr. Rallis (Chair), Mr. Haigh and Dr. Islam. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Rallis qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. A copy of the Corporation’s Audit Committee Charter is included as Schedule “A-2” to this Circular.

 

Audit Committee Report

 

The Audit Committee has (1) reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management, (2) discussed with Haskell & White LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, and (3) received the written disclosures and the letter from Haskell & White LLP required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, and has discussed their independence with the independent registered public accounting firm. Based upon these discussions and reviews, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 that we filed with the SEC on February14, 2020.

 

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Haskell & White LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm and audited our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. Though the Audit Committee does not have formal pre-approval policies and procedures in place, it has pre-approved all of the services performed by Haskell & White LLP as discussed below, as required by SEC regulation.

 

Audit Fees

 

The following presents the aggregate fees for professional services and other services rendered by our independent auditors, Haskell & White LLP, and Deloitte LLP in fiscal years 2019 and 2018:

 

  

Fiscal Year

2019

  

Fiscal Year

2018

 
Audit Fees(1)   92,400    76,006 
Audit-Related Fees(2)   -    - 
Tax Fees(3)   20,011    16,000 
All Other Fees(4)   -    - 
Total  $112,411   $92,006 

 

(1) Audit Fees include fees for the standard audit work that needs to be performed each year in order to issue an opinion on the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation. It also includes fees for services that can only be provided by the Corporation’s auditor such as auditing of non-recurring transactions.
(2) Audit-Related Fees include fees assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review and are traditionally performed by the independent accountant.
(3) Tax Fees include fees paid to Deloitte LLP.
(4) All Other Fees include fees for products and services other than Audit Fees, Audit Related Fees and Tax Fees.

 

The Audit Committee does not have formal pre-approval policies and procedures; however, prior to their engagement by us, the Audit Committee approved all of the services performed by Haskell & White LLP as required by SEC regulation.

 

Submitted By:THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  Chris A. Rallis, Chair
  Adrian J. Haigh
  Dr. Khalid Islam

 

Governance and Nominating Committee

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board develops, recommends and oversees the effectiveness of Fennec’s corporate governance guidelines. In addition, the Governance and Nominating Committee oversees the orientation and education of directors and the process of evaluating the Board and its committees.

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board is charged with nominating activities, including determining desired Board skills and attributes for directors, conducting appropriate and necessary evaluations of the backgrounds and qualifications of possible director candidates, and recommending director nominees for approval by the Board or the Shareholders.

 

The Governance and Nominating Committee is currently composed three independent directors: Mr. Haigh (Chair), Mr. Brughera and Dr. Cook. The Governance and Nominating Committee held five meetings in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

 

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Retention of Outside Advisors

 

Fennec’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board, each Board committee, the Chairman and the Lead Independent Director (if any), on behalf of the independent directors as a group, shall have the authority to hire legal, accounting, financial or other advisors as they may deem necessary in their best judgment, without the need to obtain the prior approval of any officer of the Corporation. The Corporation will arrange for payment of the invoices of any such third party.

 

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

On September 11, 2017, Fennec became subject to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, certain officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our Common Shares to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our Common Shares and other equity securities. Officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our Common Shares are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

 

To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such reports furnished to us, our officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our Common Shares complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements during fiscal 2019.

 

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR NEXT YEAR’S ANNUAL MEETING

 

The BCBCA permits certain eligible shareholders of the Corporation to submit shareholder proposals to the Corporation, which proposals may be included in a management proxy circular relating to an annual meeting of shareholders. Shareholders having proposals that they desire to present at the next year’s annual meeting of shareholders should, if they desire that such proposals be included in the Corporation’s proxy circular relating to such meeting, submit such proposals in time to be received by Fennec not later than January 22, 2021. To be so included, all such submissions must comply with the requirements of the SEC’s Rule 14a-8 and you should pay close attention to that rule. Proposals should be mailed to the Secretary at Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., PO Box 13628, 68 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Financial information for the financial year ended December 31, 2019 is provided in the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”), which are included in the Annual Report. Security holders who wish to be added to the mailing list for the annual and interim financial statements and MD&A should complete the appropriate sections of the proxy or contact the undersigned at PO Box 13628, 68 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.

 

The Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2019 (including the consolidated financial statements and MD&A) and other information relating to the Corporation is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and at www.sec.gov.

 

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APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The contents of this Circular and its sending to Shareholders have been approved by the Board of Directors.

 

DATED at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina this 4th day of May, 2020.

 

 

  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
   
   
  /s/ Rostislav Raykov
  Rostislav Raykov
  Chief Executive Officer

 

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SCHEDULE “A-1”

 

FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

Mandate of the Board of Directors

 

A.Responsibilities

 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”) is responsible for the stewardship of the Company. All directors shall act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.

 

The Board retains plenary authority and power to do all lawful acts and things as are not by law or otherwise directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders of the Company or in some other manner. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board of Directors (or the committees of the Board of Directors duly constituted by the Board of Directors to the extent such delegation is permitted by law and is specifically made by the Board of Directors) shall have the following specific responsibilities:

 

1.the adoption of a corporate strategic plan that includes the periodic review and approval of business plans, which take into account, among other things, the opportunities and risks of the business;

 

2.the identification of the principal risks of the Company’s business and ensuring the implementation of appropriate systems to manage these risks;

 

3.the adoption of processes for succession planning, the periodic review of succession plans for key members of senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), and the appointment and training of, and monitoring the performance and compensation of senior management, including officers of the Company;

 

4.the adoption of a communications policy and the periodic review of such policy;

 

5.the establishment of adequate systems of internal controls and management information systems;

 

6.the adoption of corporate governance guidelines or principles applicable to the Company, including with respect to: (i) the size and composition of the Board; (ii) the orientation of new directors; (iii) the provision of continuing education to directors; (iv) the compensation and tenure of directors; (v) the periodic assessment (at least annually) of the performance of the Board, its committees and directors, this Mandate, the Charter for each committee of the Board; and (vi) the position description(s) applicable to each individual director, as well as the competencies and skills each individual director is expected to bring to the Board;

 

7.the oversight of the maintenance by management of practices and processes to ensure compliance with applicable laws and appropriate ethical standards, including the adoption by management of corporate policies and procedures and the adoption of a written code of business conduct and ethics applicable to directors, officers and employees of the Company containing standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing;

 

8.to the extent feasible, satisfying itself as to the integrity of the CEO and other senior officers and that the CEO and other senior officers create a culture of integrity throughout the Company;

 

9.the submission of matters or questions requiring the approval of shareholders to the shareholders for approval;

 

10.the approval of the submission to the shareholders of any amendment to the articles of the Company or the approval of any adoption, amendment or repeal of any articles or bylaws of the Company;

 

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11.the recommendation of candidates for election or appointment to the Board of Directors, including the review of nominations recommended by shareholders;

 

12.the approval of the annual objectives of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer, and the assessment of the performance of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer against the approved objectives;

 

13.the approval of an annual operating budget for the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

 

14.the authorization of the issuance of securities of the Company as required in accordance with applicable laws;

 

15.the declaration of dividends on shares of the Company or the approval of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares issued by the Company as required in accordance with applicable laws;

 

16.the oversight of the reliability and integrity of accounting principles and practices followed by management, financial statements and other financial reporting, and disclosure practices followed by management;

 

17.the oversight of the qualifications and independence of the independent auditors of the Company and the approval of the terms of their audit and non-audit service engagements as required in accordance with applicable laws and the requirements of any stock exchanges on which the Company lists its securities and of securities regulatory authorities, as adopted or in force or amended from time to time, and the assessment of the performance of the independent auditors, the filling of a vacancy in the office of the independent auditor between shareholders' meetings, and the recommendation of the annual appointment or, if appropriate, the removal, of the independent auditors of the Company to the shareholders of the Company for their approval in accordance with applicable laws;

 

18.the approval of the annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and, as required in accordance with applicable laws, the approval of the quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and overview of the accounting principles and practices followed by management;

 

19.the approval of prospectuses, annual information forms, annual reports on Form 20-F, 40-F or 10-K or other applicable form, as the case may be, and proxy circulars and proxy statements sent to shareholders of the Company and the review of managements' discussion and analyses of financial condition and results of operations, and other material disclosure documents as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time;

 

20.the establishment and periodic review of the Company’s measures for receiving feedback from security holders;

 

21.the development of clear position descriptions for directors, including the Chair of the Board, a “Lead Independent Director” and the chair of each board committee; and, together with the CEO, a clear position description for the CEO, which includes delineating management’s responsibilities;

 

22.the oversight of the management of environmental risks and practices, charitable activities and other social responsibility matters; and

 

23.to the extent not otherwise referred to above, the review and approval of all proposed transactions and matters described below under the heading “B. Decisions Requiring Prior Approval of the Board”

 

and, where applicable, in accordance with the requirements of the Canada Business Corporations Act, the stock exchanges on which the Company lists its securities and securities regulatory authorities, as adopted or in force or amended from time to time.

 

In discharging its duties and responsibilities, the Board of Directors is expected to be fully diligent in its oversight to avoid fraud or abuse. Accordingly, the Board may conduct such examinations, investigations or inquiries, and engage such special legal, accounting or other advisors, at the expense of the Company, at such time or times and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors considers appropriate.

 

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B.Decisions Requiring Prior Approval of the Board

 

In addition to such other approvals as required by applicable law or the stock exchanges on which the Company lists its securities and securities regulatory authorities, the Board (or the committees of the Board duly constituted by the Board to the extent such delegation is permitted by law and is specifically made by the Board of Directors) shall review and approve:

 

1.the strategic plan, financial plans and operating budget of the Company on at least an annual basis;

 

2.the quarterly and annual financial statements of the Company;

 

3.all material capital expenditures not part of the approved operating budget, all mergers and acquisitions, and all material investments and dispositions of the Company;

 

4.all material borrowings and banking arrangements of the Company;

 

5.all financing by the Company including the issuance of debt, equity and derivative instruments; for greater certainty, this includes the approval of all off-balance sheet financings by the Company or by special purpose entities or affiliates;

 

6.the purchase and redemption of securities;

 

7.any changes to the articles or by-laws of the Company;

 

8.the hiring and, if necessary, the termination of the Chief Executive Officer;

 

9.the compensation paid to senior management and directors, including the issuance of stock options and non – arm’s length consulting arrangements;

 

10any other material matters outside the ordinary course of the Company's business including all major strategic and policy decisions; and

 

11.any other matter specified by the Board as requiring its approval.

 

C.Expectations of Management.

 

The CEO, through the Senior management, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company and for providing the Board, directly or through the Chair of the Board, the appropriate committee or the Lead Independent Director, with timely, complete and accurate information on such operations. The Board expects management to propose and, after Board approval, implement the Company's strategic plan and to be accountable for the Company's financial and competitive performance. The Board expects the Company's resources to be managed in a manner consistent with enhancing the value of the Company and with consideration for ethics and corporate social responsibility.

 

The Board may request that certain members of senior management attend all or any portion of a Board or committee meeting and may schedule presentations by managers who can provide additional insight based on their personal involvement in the matter or their particular expertise. Each director shall have complete access to any member of senior management. The Chief Financial Officer and the General Counsel of the Company shall each have access to meet separately with the Audit Committee and Governance Committee respectively, the Chairman and Lead Independent Director.

 

The Board may reasonably rely on the information provided to them by the Company’s senior management personnel and outside advisors and auditors.

 

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D.Measures for Receiving Shareholder Feedback

 

The Company has developed a Disclosure Policy to facilitate consistent disclosure practices aimed at informative, timely and broad dissemination of material information to the market in compliance with applicable securities laws and the rules and policies of any exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed. The Disclosure Policy Committee established under the Disclosure Policy is responsible for overseeing and monitoring communications with, and responses to inquiries from, both institutional and individual investors and the financial community consistent with the objectives of the Company’s Disclosure Policy.

 

Company spokespersons as appointed by the Disclosure Policy Committee from time to time are available to shareholders by telephone, fax and e-mail and the Company maintains up-to-date material of interest to shareholders and investors on the Company’s web site at www.Fennecpharma.com.

 

E.General.

 

The Board of Directors shall review and assess the adequacy of the mandate of the Board on an annual basis.

 

Nothing in this Mandate is intended, or may be construed, to impose on any member of the Board a standard of care or diligence that is in any way more onerous or extensive than the standard required by law.

 

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SCHEDULE “A-2”

FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

Audit Committee Charter

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is to:

 

·Assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of the Company’s financial statements;

 

·Review the financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, and its internal accounting and financial controls;

 

·Assume direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention (and where appropriate, replacement), and oversight of the work of the outside auditor in preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;

 

·Oversee the independence of the outside auditor and approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services provided by the outside auditor;

 

·Receive direct reports from the outside auditor and resolve any disagreements between management and the outside auditor regarding financial reporting; and

 

·Carry out the specific responsibilities set forth below in furtherance of this stated purpose.

 

Committee Membership and Procedures

 

Resources and Authority

 

In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is granted all responsibilities and authority required by MI 52-110 and SEC Rule 10A-3, including without limitation the authority to investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of the Company and the authority to engage independent legal, accounting or other advisors to obtain such advice and assistance as the Committee determines necessary to carry out its duties. The Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company's outside counsel to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any member of, or consultants to, the Committee.

 

The Company shall provide the Committee all appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation to any such advisors and any outside auditor, as well as for any ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that it determines are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

The Committee’s role is one of oversight, and it is recognized that the Company’s management is responsible for preparing the Company’s financial statements and that the outside auditor is ultimately accountable to the Board and the Committee, as representatives of the stockholders, and is responsible for auditing those financial statements.

 

The following functions shall be the common recurring activities of the Committee in carrying out its oversight role. The functions are set forth as a guide and may be varied and supplemented from time to time as appropriate under the circumstances.

 

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Appointment of Outside Auditor. The Committee shall have direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention (and where appropriate, replacement), and oversight of the work of any registered public accounting firm selected to be the Company’s outside auditor for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company.

 

Appointment and Performance Evaluation of Chief Financial Officer and Internal Auditor. The Chair of the Committee shall participate in the identification of candidates for the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Lead of the Company’s internal auditing function, if any, and shall advise management with respect to the decision to hire a particular candidate.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Committee shall review periodically with management the quality and adequacy of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. The Committee must be satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Company’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Company’s financial statements and must periodically assess the adequacy of those procedures.

 

Internal Controls. The Committee shall discuss periodically with management and the outside auditor the quality and adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and internal auditing procedures, if any, including any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of those controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls, and discuss with the outside auditor how the Company’s financial systems and controls compare with industry practices.

 

Accounting Policies. The Committee shall review periodically with management and the outside auditor the quality, as well as acceptability, of the Company’s accounting policies, and discuss with the outside auditor how the Company’s accounting policies compare with those in the industry and all alternative treatments of financial information within U.S. and Canadian generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, the ramifications of use of such alternative disclosures and treatments and the treatment preferred by the outside auditor.

 

Pre-approval of All Audit Services and Permitted Non-Audit Services. The Committee shall approve, in advance, all audit services and all permitted non-audit services to be provided to the Company by the outside auditor; provided that any non-audit services performed pursuant to an exception to the pre-approval requirement permitted under applicable laws shall not be deemed unauthorized.

 

Annual Audit. In connection with the annual audit of the Company’s financial statements, the Committee shall:

 

·request from the outside auditor a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Company consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and such other requirements as may be established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, discuss with the outside auditor any such disclosed relationships and their impact on the outside auditor’s objectivity and independence, and take appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside auditor.

 

·approve the selection and the terms of the engagement of the outside auditor.

 

·review with management and the outside auditor the audited financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) and with the SEC, and review and consider with the outside auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 61.

 

·review with management and the outside auditor any press releases in respect of the audited financial statements before the Company first publicly discloses this information.

 

·perform the procedures set forth below in “Financial Reporting Procedures” with respect to the annual financial statements to be reported.

 

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·review with management and the outside auditor the Company’s critical accounting policies and practices.

 

·recommend to the Board whether, based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the annual financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report filed on SEDAR and with the SEC.

 

Interim Reports. In connection with the Company’s preparation of its interim financial information to be included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports filed on SEDAR and filed with the SEC, the Committee shall:

 

·review with the outside auditor the Company’s interim financial information and the matters required to be discussed by SAS No. 61.

 

·perform the procedures set forth below in “Financial Reporting Procedures” with respect to the interim financial information to be reported.

 

·by action of a majority of the Committee or through the Committee Chair, review with the outside auditor, prior to filing, the Company’s interim financial information to be included in the Company’s Interim Reports filed on SEDAR and filed with the SEC.

 

·by action of a majority of the Committee or through the Committee Chair, review with the outside auditor any interim press releases in respect of the interim financial statements before the Company first publicly discloses this information.

 

Financial Reporting Procedures. In connection with the Committee’s review of each reporting of the Company’s annual or interim financial information, the Committee shall:

 

·discuss with the outside auditor whether all material correcting adjustments identified by the outside auditor in accordance with U.S. and Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and the rules of the SEC and CSA are reflected in the Company’s financial statements.

 

·review with the outside auditor all material communications between the outside auditor and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.

 

·review with management and the outside auditor any material financial or other arrangements of the Company which do not appear on the Company’s financial statements and any transactions or courses of dealing with third parties that are significant in size or involve terms or other aspects that differ from those that would likely be negotiated with independent parties, and which arrangements or transactions are relevant to an understanding of the Company’s financial statements.

 

·resolve any disagreements between management and the outside auditor regarding financial reporting.

 

Hiring Policies. The Committee shall review and approve the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and any former outside auditors.

 

Charter. The Committee shall review and reassess at least annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.

 

Reports. The Committee shall report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis and make such recommendations to the Board with respect to the above and other matters as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. The Committee shall also prepare and submit to the appropriate authority or body any other report required by applicable law or regulation.

 

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Complaint Procedures

 

Any issue of significant financial misconduct shall be brought to the attention of the Committee for its consideration. In this connection, the Committee shall establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

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SCHEDULE B

2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

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FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

SECTION 1.  GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

 

The name of the plan is the Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”) and its Affiliates upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its shareholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

 

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

“Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Administrator” means either the Board or the compensation committee of the Board or a similar committee performing the functions of the compensation committee and which is comprised of not less than three Non-Employee Directors who are independent.

 

“Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Act. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

 

“Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Cash-Based Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Rights.

 

“Award Certificate” means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cash-Based Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive a cash-denominated payment.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

 

“Consultant” means a consultant or adviser who provides bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate as an independent contractor and who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under Instruction A.1.(a)(1) of Form S-8 under the Act.

 

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the grantee.

 

“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan becomes effective as set forth in Section 9.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Fair Market Value” of the Shares on any given date means the fair market value of the Shares determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that: (i) if the Shares are listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), NASDAQ Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange in the United States, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of the Shares reported on such exchange on the trading day immediately preceding the date of grant, or if there is no closing price reported for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there is a closing price reported; or (ii) if the Shares are not listed on any exchange referred to in (i) above, but are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) or other recognized exchange in Canada, "Fair Market Value" shall be the closing price of the Shares reported on such exchange on the trading day immediately preceding the date of grant, or if there is no closing price reported for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there is a closing price reported.

 

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“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

“Option” or “Stock Option” means any option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 5.

 

“Prior Plan” means the Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan amended as of June 18, 2019;

 

“Restricted Shares” means the Shares underlying a Restricted Stock Award that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture or the Company’s right of repurchase.

 

“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

 

“Restricted Stock Units” means an Award of share units subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

 

“Sale Event” shall mean (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding shares immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding shares or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Shares of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.

 

“Sale Price” means the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable, or otherwise to be received by shareholders, per Share, pursuant to a Sale Event.

 

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

“Service Relationship” means any relationship as an employee, director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate (e.g., a Service Relationship shall be deemed to continue without interruption in the event an individual’s status changes from full-time employee to part-time employee or Consultant).

 

“Shares” means the common shares in the capital of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

 

“Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive Shares (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has at least a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.

 

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“Ten Percent Owner” means an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation.

 

“Unrestricted Stock Award” means an Award of Shares free of any restrictions.

 

SECTION 2.  ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

 

(a)  Administration of Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.

 

(b)  Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

 

(i)           to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

 

(ii)          to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Cash-Based Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;

 

(iii)         to determine the number of Shares to be covered by any Award;

 

(iv)         to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees, and to approve the forms of Award Certificates;

 

(v)          to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;

 

(vi)         subject to the provisions of Section 5(c) and Section 16, to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised; and

 

(vii)        at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

 

All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan grantees.

 

(c)  Award Certificate. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Certificates that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award, which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award and the provisions applicable in the event employment or service terminates.

  

(d)  Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Administrator (and any delegate thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law or under the Company’s articles or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.

 

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(e)  Foreign Award Recipients. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in countries other than the United States or Canada in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States or Canada to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Administrator determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3(a) hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act or any other applicable United States or Canadian provincial securities law, the Code, or any other applicable United States or Canadian governing statute or law.

 

SECTION 3.  SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION

 

(a)  Shares Issuable. The maximum number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan, together with the Prior Plan, shall be that number of Common Shares representing twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of all issued and outstanding Shares from time to time. For purposes of this limitation, the Shares underlying any awards under the Plan that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Shares or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan and, to the extent permitted under Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Shares that may be issued as Incentive Stock Options. In the event the Company repurchases Shares on the open market, such shares shall not be added to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitations, Shares may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares reacquired by the Company.

 

(b)  Changes in Share Capital. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such Shares or other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding Shares are converted into or exchanged for securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Administrator shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, including the maximum number of shares that may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options, (ii) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the repurchase price, if any, per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and (iv) the exercise price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of shares subject to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) as to which such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights remain exercisable. The Administrator shall also make equitable or proportionate adjustments in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration cash dividends paid other than in the ordinary course or any other extraordinary corporate event. The adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

 

(c)  Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the parties thereto may cause the assumption or continuation of Awards theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree. To the extent the parties to such Sale Event do not provide for the assumption, continuation or substitution of Awards, upon the effective time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted hereunder shall terminate. In such case, except as may be otherwise provided in the relevant Award Certificate, all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights with time-based vesting conditions or restrictions that are not vested or exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the Sale Event may become fully vested and exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event at the discretion of the Administrator, all other Awards with time-based vesting, conditions or restrictions may become fully vested and non-forfeitable as of the effective time of the Sale Event at the discretion of the Administrator, and all Awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals may become vested and non-forfeitable in connection with a Sale Event in the Administrator’s discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant Award Certificate. In the event of such termination, (i) the Company shall have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Sale Price multiplied by the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (provided that, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price equal to or less than the Sale Price, such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be cancelled for no consideration); or (ii) each grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator, to exercise all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable) held by such grantee. The Company shall also have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding other Awards in an amount equal to the Sale Price multiplied by the number of vested Shares under such Awards.

 

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SECTION 4.  ELIGIBILITY

 

Grantees under the Plan will be such employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided that Awards may not be granted to employees, Directors or Consultants who are providing services only to any “parent” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Act, unless (i) the Shares underlying the Awards are treated as “service recipient stock” under Section 409A or (ii) the Company has determined that such Awards are exempt from or otherwise comply with Section 409A.

 

SECTION 5.  STOCK OPTIONS

 

(a)  Award of Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Stock Options under the Plan. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve. Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable. If the Administrator so determines, Stock Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the optionee’s election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish.

 

(b)  Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stock Options may be granted with an exercise price per share that is less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

(c)  Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the Stock Option is granted, provided that, if the end of such period for any vested Stock Option falls on, or within nine (9) trading days immediately following, a date upon which the Participant is prohibited from exercising such Stock Option due to a black-out period or other trading restriction imposed by the Company, then the expiry date of such Stock Option shall be automatically be the tenth (10th) trading day following the date the relevant black-out period or other trading restriction imposed by the Company is lifted, terminated or removed. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

 

(d)  Exercisability; Rights of a Shareholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date. The Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.

 

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(e)  Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods except to the extent otherwise provided in the Option Award Certificate:

 

(i)           In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;

 

(ii)          Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership following such procedures as the Company may prescribe) of Shares that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan, such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

 

(iii)         By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Company shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or

 

(iv)         By a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of Shares issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

 

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. The transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the Shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Option Award Certificate or applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold with respect to the optionee). In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned Shares through the attestation method, the number of Shares transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of attested shares. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Stock Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Stock Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

 

(f)  Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

SECTION 6.  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

(a)  Award of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may grant Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan. A Stock Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive Shares (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

 

(b)  Exercise Price of Stock Appreciation Rights. The exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.

 

(c)  Grant and Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Administrator independently of any Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.

 

(d)  Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined on the date of grant by the Administrator. The term of a Stock Appreciation Right may not exceed ten years, provided that, if the end of such period for any Stock Appreciation Right settled in Shares falls on, or within nine (9) trading days immediately following, a date upon which the Participant is prohibited from exercising the Stock Appreciation Right due to a black-out period or other trading restriction imposed by the Company, then the expiry date of such Stock Appreciation Right shall be automatically be the tenth (10th) trading day following the date the relevant black-out period or other trading restriction imposed by the Company is lifted, terminated or removed. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

 

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SECTION 7.  RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

(a)  Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Award is any Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship) or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

 

(b)  Rights as a Shareholder. Upon the grant of the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a grantee shall have the rights of a shareholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Shares and receipt of dividends; provided that if the lapse of restrictions with respect to the Restricted Stock Award is tied to the attainment of performance goals, any dividends paid by the Company during the performance period shall accrue and shall not be paid to the grantee until and to the extent the performance goals are met with respect to the Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Shares shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Shares shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.

 

(c)  Restrictions. Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Restricted Stock Award Certificate. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, if a grantee’s employment (or other Service Relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Restricted Shares that have not vested at the time of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to such grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be deemed to have been reacquired by the Company at its original purchase price (if any) from such grantee or such grantee’s legal representative simultaneously with such termination of employment (or other Service Relationship), and thereafter shall cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the grantee or rights of the grantee as a shareholder. Following such deemed reacquisition of Restricted Shares that are represented by physical certificates, a grantee shall surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without consideration.

 

(d)  Vesting of Restricted Shares. The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Shares and the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates or the attainment of such pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Shares and shall be deemed “vested.”

 

SECTION 8.  RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

(a)  Nature of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Unit is an Award that may be settled in Shares (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the Award Certificate) upon the satisfaction of such restrictions and conditions at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship) or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees. Except in the case of Restricted Stock Units with a deferred settlement date that complies with Section 409A at the end of the vesting period, the Restricted Stock Units, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of Shares (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the Award Certificate). Restricted Stock Units with deferred settlement dates are subject to Section 409A and shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(b)  Election to Receive Restricted Stock Units In lieu of Compensation. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a grantee to elect to receive a portion of future cash compensation otherwise due to such grantee in the form of an award of Restricted Stock Units. Any such election shall be made in writing and shall be delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Administrator and in accordance with Section 409A and such other rules and procedures established by the Administrator. Any such future cash compensation that the grantee elects to defer shall be converted to a fixed number of Restricted Stock Units based on the Fair Market Value of Stock on the date the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the grantee if such payment had not been deferred as provided herein. The Administrator shall have the sole right to determine whether and under what circumstances to permit such elections and to impose such limitations and other terms and conditions thereon as the Administrator deems appropriate. Any Restricted Stock Units that are elected to be received in lieu of cash compensation shall be fully vested, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate.

 

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(c)  Rights as a Shareholder. A grantee shall have the rights as a shareholder only as to Shares acquired by the grantee upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that the grantee may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the Shares underlying his Restricted Stock Units, subject to the provisions of Section 11 and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.

 

(d)  Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s right in all Restricted Stock Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of Service Relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

 

SECTION 9.  UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

The Administrator may grant (or sell at a purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award under the Plan. An Unrestricted Stock Award is an Award pursuant to which the grantee may receive Shares free of any restrictions under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such grantee.

 

SECTION 10.  CASH-BASED AWARDS

 

The Administrator may grant Cash-Based Awards under the Plan. A Cash-Based Award is an Award that entitles the grantee to a payment in cash upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The Administrator shall determine the maximum duration of the Cash-Based Award, the amount of cash to which the Cash-Based Award pertains, the conditions upon which the Cash-Based Award shall become vested or payable, and such other provisions as the Administrator shall determine. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the Administrator. Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award and may be made in cash.

 

SECTION 11.  DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

 

(a)  Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights under the Plan. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to the grantee. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any grantee as a component of an award of Restricted Stock Units or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Certificate. Dividend Equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional Shares, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled only upon settlement or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award.

 

(b)  Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of Service Relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

 

SECTION 12.  TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS

 

(a)  Transferability. Except as provided in Section 12(b) below, during a grantee’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the grantee, or by the grantee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the grantee’s incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.

 

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(b)  Administrator Action. Notwithstanding Section 12(a), the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide either in the Award Certificate regarding a given Award or by subsequent written approval that the grantee (who is an employee or director) may transfer his or her Non-Qualified Stock Options to his or her immediate family members, to trusts for the benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award. In no event may an Award be transferred by a grantee for value.

 

(c)  Family Member. For purposes of Section 12(b), “family member” shall mean a grantee’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the grantee’s household (other than a tenant of the grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the grantee) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the grantee) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.

 

(d)  Designation of Beneficiary. To the extent permitted by the Company, each grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantee’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the grantee’s estate.

 

SECTION 13.  TAX WITHHOLDING

 

(a)  Payment by Grantee. Each grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Shares or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld by the Company with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee. The Company’s obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or share certificates) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the grantee.

 

(b)  Payment in Shares. The Administrator may require the Company’s tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by the Company withholding from Shares to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due; provided, however, that the amount withheld does not exceed the maximum statutory tax rate or such lesser amount as is necessary to avoid liability accounting treatment. For purposes of share withholding, the Fair Market Value of withheld shares shall be determined in the same manner as the value of Shares includible in income earned in respect of the Award. The Administrator may also require the Company’s tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by an arrangement whereby a certain number of Shares issued pursuant to any Award are immediately sold and proceeds from such sale are remitted to the Company in an amount that would satisfy the withholding amount due.

 

SECTION 14.  SECTION 409A AWARDS

 

Awards are intended to be exempt from Section 409A to the greatest extent possible and to otherwise comply with Section 409A. The Plan and all Awards shall be interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a grantee who is then considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the grantee’s separation from service, or (ii) the grantee’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. Further, the settlement of any 409A Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A.

 

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SECTION 15.  TERMINATION OF SERVICE RELATIONSHIP, TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.

 

(a)  Termination of Service Relationship. If the grantee’s Service Relationship is with an Affiliate and such Affiliate ceases to be an Affiliate, the grantee shall be deemed to have terminated his or her Service Relationship for purposes of the Plan.

 

(b)  Events Not a Termination of Service Relationship. For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of a Service Relationship:

 

(i)  a transfer to the employment of the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another; or

 

(ii)  an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.

 

SECTION 16.  AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

 

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, without obtaining the approval of shareholders; provided that no such action shall materially and adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent and any amendment to any provision of the Plan will be subject to any required regulatory approval and the provisions of applicable law, if any, that require the approval of shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will be required to obtain the approval of the shareholders of the Company for any amendment related to (i) increasing the maximum number of Common Shares issuable under the Plan; (ii) a reduction in the exercise price of any Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights held by insiders; and (iii) an extension to the term of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights held by insiders. Nothing in this Section 16 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(b) or 3(c).

 

SECTION 17.  STATUS OF PLAN

 

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Shares or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Shares or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.

 

SECTION 18.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

(a)  No Distribution. The Administrator may require each person acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.

 

(b)  Issuance of Shares. To the extent certificated, share certificates to grantees under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company. Uncertificated Shares shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any evidence of book entry or certificates evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise or settlement of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Administrator deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. Any Shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any Shares certificate or notations on any book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

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(c)  Shareholder Rights. Until Share are deemed delivered in accordance with Section 18(b), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights of a shareholder will exist with respect to Shares to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Stock Option or any other action by the grantee with respect to an Award.

 

(d)  Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(e)  Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures, as in effect from time to time.

 

SECTION 19.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

This Plan shall become effective upon the date that the Company’s shareholders approve this Plan if such shareholder approval occurs before the first anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. No grants of Stock Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the later of the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date or the tenth anniversary of the latest material amendment of this Plan and no grants of Incentive Stock Options may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Board.

 

SECTION 20.  GOVERNING LAW

 

This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.

 

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3. 0 0 0 The shares represented by this proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned Stockholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR items 1, 2, 3 and 4. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, this proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of such matters. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS Appointment of Haskell & White LLP as the auditors of the Corporation for the ensuing year and authorizing the directors of the Corporation to fix their remuneration. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION To vote, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, on the compensation of the Corporation’s named executive officers. 2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN To consider, and if deemed advisable, approve, the Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. In their discretion, upon such other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE “FOR” ITEMS 1, 2, 3 AND 4. Vote on Directors 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Nominees: 01) Dr. Khalid Islam 02) Mr. Adrian Haigh 03)Mr. Chris A. Rallis 04) Mr. Marco Brughera For All Withhold For All All Except To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. 0 0 0 05) Dr. Jodi Cook 06) Mr. Rostislav Raykov For Against Abstain Vote on Proposals 2. 0 0 0 0 0 0 4. For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. Please sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please add your title as such. When signing as joint tenants, all parties in the joint tenancy must sign. If a signer is a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by duly authorized officer. 0 Yes No 0 0 Signature (Joint Owners) Date Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date

The shareholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Robert Andrade and Rostislav Raykov , or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the Common Shares of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. that the shareholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 12:00 noon (EasternTime) on June 22, 2020, at the) at the law offices of Rutan & Tucker, LLP at 611 Anton Boulevard, 14th Floor, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 and online by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FENC20, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS INC. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE SHAREHOLDER(s). IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR EACH PROPOSAL. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE (If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE Address Changes/Comments: