Announcement PDF FIREBIRD METALS LIMITED ACN 610 035 535 NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is given that the Meeting will be held at: TIME: 11:00am (WST) DATE: Tuesday, 26 November 2024 PLACE: Unit 38 460 Stirling Highway PEPPERMINT GROVE WA 6011 The business of the Meeting affects your shareholding and your vote is important. This Notice should be read in its entirety. If Shareholders are in doubt as to how they should vote, they should seek advice from their professional advisers prior to voting. The Directors have determined pursuant to Regulation 7.11.37 of the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth) that the persons eligible to vote at the Meeting are those who are registered Shareholders at 11:00am (WST) on Sunday, 24 November 2024. BUSINESS OF THE MEETING AGENDA 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS To receive and consider the annual financial report of the Company for the financial year ended 30 June 2024 together with the declaration of the Directors, the Director’s report, the Remuneration Report and the auditor’s report. 2. RESOLUTION 1 – ADOPTION OF REMUNERATION REPORT To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as a non-binding resolution: “That, for the purposes of section 250R(2) of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, approval is given for the adoption of the Remuneration Report as contained in the Company’s annual financial report for the financial year ended 30 June 2024.” Note: the vote on this Resolution is advisory only and does not bind the Directors or the Company. 3. RESOLUTION 2 – RE-ELECTION OF WEI LI To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution: “That, for the purpose of clause 14.2 of the Constitution, Listing Rule 14.4 and for all other purposes, Wei Li, a Director, retires by rotation, and being eligible, is re-elected as a Director.” 4. RESOLUTION 3 – APPROVAL OF 7.1A MANDATE To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution: “That, for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.1A and for all other purposes, approval is given for the Company to issue up to that number of Equity Securities equal to 10% of the issued capital of the Company at the time of issue, calculated in accordance with the formula prescribed in Listing Rule 7.1A.2 and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement.” 5. RESOLUTION 4 – APPROVAL TO ISSUE SECURITIES TO UNRELATED PARTIES UNDER AN INCENTIVE PLAN To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution: “That, for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 13(b)) and for all other purposes, approval is given for the Company to issue up to maximum of 19,081,140 Securities under the employee incentive scheme titled Employee Incentive Securities Plan, on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement.” 6. RESOLUTION 5 – REPLACEMENT OF CONSTITUTION To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution: “That, for the purposes of section 136(2) and section 648G of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, approval is given for the Company to repeal its existing Constitution and adopt a new constitution in its place in the form as signed by the chairman of the Meeting for identification purposes.” Dated: 24 October 2024 5443-02/3546105_4 1 Voting Prohibition Statements Resolution 1 – Adoption of Remuneration Report Resolution 4 – Approval to issue securities to unrelated parties under an incentive plan A vote on this Resolution must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on behalf of either of the following persons: (a) a member of the Key Management Personnel, details of whose remuneration are included in the Remuneration Report; or (b) a Closely Related Party of such a member. However, a person (the voter) described above may cast a vote on this Resolution as a proxy if the vote is not cast on behalf of a person described above and either: (a) the voter is appointed as a proxy by writing that specifies the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution; or (b) the voter is the Chair and the appointment of the Chair as proxy: (i) does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution; and (ii) expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even though this Resolution is connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel. A person appointed as a proxy must not vote, on the basis of that appointment, on this Resolution if: (a) the proxy is either: (i) a member of the Key Management Personnel; or (ii) a Closely Related Party of such a member; and (b) the appointment does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution. However, the above prohibition does not apply if: (a) the proxy is the Chair; and (b) the appointment expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even though this Resolution is connected directly or indirectly with remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel. Voting Exclusion Statements In accordance with Listing Rule 14.11, the Company will disregard any votes cast in favour of the Resolution set out below by or on behalf of the following persons: Resolution 4 – Approval to issue securities to unrelated parties under an incentive plan A person who is eligible to participate in the employee incentive scheme or an associate of that person or those persons. However, this does not apply to a vote cast in favour of the Resolution by: (a) a person as a proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote on the Resolution, in accordance with the directions given to the proxy or attorney to vote on the Resolution in that way; or (b) the Chair as proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote on the Resolution, in accordance with a direction given to the Chair to vote on the Resolution as the Chair decides; or (c) a holder acting solely in a nominee, trustee, custodial or other fiduciary capacity on behalf of a beneficiary provided the following conditions are met: (i) the beneficiary provides written confirmation to the holder that the beneficiary is not excluded from voting, and is not an associate of a person excluded from voting, on the Resolution; and (ii) the holder votes on the Resolution in accordance with directions given by the beneficiary to the holder to vote in that way. Voting by proxy To vote by proxy, please complete and sign the enclosed proxy form and return by the time and in accordance with the instructions set out on the proxy form. In accordance with section 249L of the Corporations Act, Shareholders are advised that: • each Shareholder has a right to appoint a proxy; • the proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Company; and 2 • a Shareholder who is entitled to cast two or more votes may appoint two proxies and may specify the proportion or number of votes each proxy is appointed to exercise. If the Shareholder appoints two proxies and the appointment does not specify the proportion or number of the member’s votes, then in accordance with section 249X(3) of the Corporations Act, each proxy may exercise one-half of the votes. Shareholders and their proxies should be aware that: • if proxy holders vote, they must cast all directed proxies as directed; and • any directed proxies which are not voted will automatically default to the Chair, who must vote the proxies as directed. Voting in person To vote in person, attend the Meeting at the time, date and place set out above. You may still attend the Meeting and vote in person even if you have appointed a proxy. If you have previously submitted a Proxy Form, your attendance will not revoke your proxy appointment unless you actually vote at the Meeting for which the proxy is proposed to be used, in which case, the proxy’s appointment is deemed to be revoked with respect to voting on that Resolution. Please bring your personalised proxy form with you as it will help you to register your attendance at the Meeting. If you do not bring your proxy form with you, you can still attend the Meeting but representatives from Automic will need to verify your identity. You can register from 10:30am on the day of the Meeting. Should you wish to discuss the matters in this Notice please do not hesitate to contact the Company Secretary on +61 8 6245 9219. 3 EXPLANATORY STATEMENT This Explanatory Statement has been prepared to provide information which the Directors believe to be material to Shareholders in deciding whether or not to pass the Resolutions. 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS In accordance with the Corporations Act, the business of the Meeting will include receipt and consideration of the annual financial report of the Company for the financial year ended 30 June 2024 together with the declaration of the Directors, the Directors’ report, the Remuneration Report and the auditor’s report. The Company will not provide a hard copy of the Company’s annual financial report to Shareholders unless specifically requested to do so. The Company’s annual financial report is available on its website at https://firebirdmetals.com.au/shareholder-centre/reports/. 2. RESOLUTION 1 – ADOPTION OF REMUNERATION REPORT 2.1 General The Corporations Act requires that at a listed company’s annual general meeting, a resolution that the remuneration report to be adopted must be put to the shareholders. However, such a resolution is advisory only and does not bind the company or the directors of the company. The remuneration report sets out the company’s remuneration arrangements for the directors and senior management of the company. The remuneration report is part of the directors’ report contained in the annual financial report of the company for a financial year. The chair of the meeting must allow a reasonable opportunity for its shareholders to ask questions about or make comments on the remuneration report at the annual general meeting. 2.2 Voting consequences A company is required to put to its shareholders a resolution proposing the calling of another meeting of shareholders to consider the appointment of directors of the company (Spill Resolution) if, at consecutive annual general meetings, at least 25% of the votes cast on a remuneration report resolution are voted against adoption of the remuneration report and at the first of those annual general meetings a Spill Resolution was not put to vote. If required, the Spill Resolution must be put to vote at the second of those annual general meetings. If more than 50% of votes cast are in favour of the Spill Resolution, the company must convene a shareholder meeting (Spill Meeting) within 90 days of the second annual general meeting. All of the directors of the company who were in office when the directors' report (as included in the company’s annual financial report for the most recent financial year) was approved, other than the managing director of the company, will cease to hold office immediately before the end of the Spill Meeting but may stand for re-election at the Spill Meeting. Following the Spill Meeting those persons whose election or re-election as directors of the company is approved will be the directors of the company. 2.3 Previous voting results At the Company’s previous annual general meeting the votes cast against the remuneration report considered at that annual general meeting were less than 25%. Accordingly, the Spill Resolution is not relevant for this Meeting. 5443-02_3546105_4 4 3. RESOLUTION 2 – RE-ELECTION OF WEI LI 3.1 General Listing Rule 14.4 and clause 14.2 of the Constitution provide that, other than a managing director, a director of an entity must not hold office (without re-election) past the third annual general meeting following the director’s appointment or three years, whichever is the longer. However, where there is more than one managing director, only one is entitled to be exempt from this rotation requirement. Wei Li, having held office without re-election since 23 November 2021 and being eligible, retires by rotation and seeks re-election. Further information in relation to Wei Li is set out below. 3.2 Qualifications, experience and other material directorships Mr Li is a Chartered Accountant with extensive professional experience in the resource industry, international trade, capital markets, project managing initial public offers and spin-outs and financial accounting. Mr Li’s experience includes being employed by, and acting as, Director and Chief Financial Officer for several companies, predominantly in the resources sector. Prior to these roles, he managed a private base metal exploration company in the Northern Territory and assisted in commissioning a A$150 million Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide (EMD) plant in Hunan China. Term of office Mr Li has served as a Director since 15 January 2021 and was elected on 23 November 2021. Independence If re-elected, the Board does not consider that Mr Li will be an independent Director. Board recommendation Having received an acknowledgement from Mr Li that they will have sufficient time to fulfil their responsibilities as a Director and having reviewed the performance of Mr Li since their appointment to the Board and the skills, knowledge, experience and capabilities required by the Board, the Directors (other than Mr Li) recommend that Shareholders vote in favour of this Resolution. Technical information required by Listing Rule 14.1A If this Resolution is passed, Mr Li will be re-elected to the Board as an executive Director. If this Resolution is not passed, Mr Li will not continue in their role as an executive Director. The Company may seek nominations or otherwise identify suitably qualified candidates to join the Company. As an additional consequence, this may detract from the Board and Company’s ability to execute on its strategic vision. 4. RESOLUTION 3 – APPROVAL OF 7.1A MANDATE 4.1 General This Resolution seeks Shareholder approval by way of special resolution for the Company to have the additional 10% placement capacity provided for in Listing Rule 7.1A to issue Equity Securities without Shareholder approval. Broadly speaking, and subject to a number of exceptions, Listing Rule 7.1 limits the amount of equity securities that a listed company can issue without the approval of its shareholders over any 12 month period to 15% of the fully paid ordinary shares it had on issue at the start of that period. Under Listing Rule 7.1A, an Eligible Entity may seek shareholder approval by way of a special resolution passed at its annual general meeting to increase this 15% limit by an extra 10% to 25% (7.1A Mandate). The Company is an Eligible Entity. 5 4.2 Technical information required by Listing Rule 14.1A For this Resolution to be passed, at least 75% of votes cast by Shareholders present and eligible to vote at the Meeting must be cast in favour of the Resolution. If this Resolution is passed, the Company will be able to issue Equity Securities up to the combined 25% limit in Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A without any further Shareholder approval. If this Resolution is not passed, the Company will not be able to access the additional 10% capacity to issue Equity Securities without Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1A and will remain subject to the 15% limit on issuing Equity Securities without Shareholder approval set out in Listing Rule 7.1. 4.3 Technical information required by Listing Rule 7.3A REQUIRED INFORMATION DETAILS Period for which the 7.1A Mandate is valid The 7.1A Mandate will commence on the date of the Meeting and expire on the first to occur of the following: Minimum price (a) the date that is 12 months after the date of this Meeting; (b) the time and date of the Company’s next annual general meeting; and (c) the time and date of approval by Shareholders of any transaction under Listing Rule 11.1.2 (a significant change in the nature or scale of activities) or Listing Rule 11.2 (disposal of the main undertaking). Any Equity Securities issued under the 7.1A Mandate must be in an existing quoted class of Equity Securities and be issued for cash consideration at a minimum price of 75% of the volume weighted average price of Equity Securities in that class, calculated over the 15 trading days on which trades in that class were recorded immediately before: (a) the date on which the price at which the Equity Securities are to be issued is agreed by the entity and the recipient of the Equity Securities; or (b) if the Equity Securities are not issued within 10 trading days of the date in paragraph (a) above, the date on which the Equity Securities are issued. Use of funds The Company intends to use funds raised from issues of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate for the acquisition of new resources, assets and investments (including expenses associated with such an acquisition), continued exploration expenditure on the Company’s current assets/or projects (funds would then be used for project, feasibility studies and ongoing project administration), the development of the Company’s current business and general working capital. Risk of economic and voting dilution Any issue of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate will dilute the interests of Shareholders who do not receive any Shares under the issue. If this Resolution is approved by Shareholders and the Company issues the maximum number of Equity Securities available under the 7.1A Mandate, the economic and voting dilution of existing Shares would be as shown in the table below. The table below shows the dilution of existing Shareholders calculated in accordance with the formula outlined in Listing Rule 7.1A.2, on the basis of the closing market price of Shares and the number of Equity Securities on issue or proposed to be issued as at 11 October 2024. 6 REQUIRED INFORMATION DETAILS The table also shows the voting dilution impact where the number of Shares on issue (Variable A in the formula) changes and the economic dilution where there are changes in the issue price of Shares issued under the 7.1A Mandate. Dilution Number of Shares on Issue (Variable A in Listing Rule 7.1A.2) Shares issued – 10% voting dilution Issue Price $0.063 $0.125 $0.19 50% decrease Issue Price 50% increase Funds Raised Current 142,361,401 Shares 14,236,140 Shares $896,876 $1,779,517 $2,676,394 50% increase 213,542,102 Shares 21,354,210 Shares $1,345,315 $2,669,276 $4,014,591 100% increase 284,722,802 Shares 28,472,280 Shares $1,793,753 $3,559,035 $5,352,788 *The number of Shares on issue (Variable A in the formula) could increase as a result of the issue of Shares that do not require Shareholder approval (such as under a pro-rata rights issue or scrip issued under a takeover offer) or that are issued with Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1. The table above uses the following assumptions: 1. There are currently 142,361,401 Shares on issue. 2. The issue price set out above is the closing market price of the Shares on the ASX on 11 October 2024 (being $0.125) (Issue Price). The Issue Price at a 50% increase and 50% decrease are each rounded to three decimal places prior to the calculation of the funds raised. 3. The Company issues the maximum possible number of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate. 4. The Company has not issued any Equity Securities in the 12 months prior to the Meeting that were not issued under an exception in Listing Rule 7.2 or with approval under Listing Rule 7.1. 5. The issue of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate consists only of Shares. It is assumed that no Options are exercised into Shares before the date of issue of the Equity Securities. If the issue of Equity Securities includes quoted Options, it is assumed that those quoted Options are exercised into Shares for the purpose of calculating the voting dilution effect on existing Shareholders. 6. The calculations above do not show the dilution that any one particular Shareholder will be subject to. All Shareholders should consider the dilution caused to their own shareholding depending on their specific circumstances. 7. This table does not set out any dilution pursuant to approvals under Listing Rule 7.1 unless otherwise disclosed. 8. The 10% voting dilution reflects the aggregate percentage dilution against the issued share capital at the time of issue. This is why the voting dilution is shown in each example as 10%. 9. The table does not show an example of dilution that may be caused to a particular Shareholder by reason of placements under the 7.1A Mandate, based on that Shareholder’s holding at the date of the Meeting. Shareholders should note that there is a risk that: Allocation policy under 7.1A Mandate (a) the market price for the Company’s Shares may be significantly lower on the issue date than on the date of the Meeting; and (b) the Shares may be issued at a price that is at a discount to the market price for those Shares on the date of issue. The recipients of the Equity Securities to be issued under the 7.1A Mandate have not yet been determined. However, the recipients of 7 REQUIRED INFORMATION DETAILS Equity Securities could consist of current Shareholders or new investors (or both), none of whom will be related parties of the Company. The Company will determine the recipients at the time of the issue under the 7.1A Mandate, having regard to the following factors: (a) the purpose of the issue; (b) alternative methods for raising funds available to the Company at that time, including, but not limited to, an entitlement issue, share purchase plan, placement or other offer where existing Shareholders may participate; (c) the effect of the issue of the Equity Securities on the control of the Company; (d) the circumstances of the Company, including, but not limited to, the financial position and solvency of the Company; (e) prevailing market conditions; and (f) advice from corporate, financial and broking advisers (if applicable). Previous approval under Listing Rule 7.1A.2 The Company previously obtained approval from its Shareholders pursuant to Listing Rule 7.1A at its annual general meeting held on 29 November 2023 (Previous Approval). Voting exclusion statement As at the date of this Notice, the Company is not proposing to make an issue of Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A. Accordingly, a voting exclusion statement is not included in this Notice. During the 12 month period preceding the date of the Meeting, being on and from 26 November 2023, the Company has not issued any Equity Securities pursuant to the Previous Approval. 5. RESOLUTION 4 – APPROVAL TO ISSUE SECURITIES TO UNRELATED PARTIES UNDER AN INCENTIVE PLAN 5.1 General This Resolution seeks Shareholder approval for purposes of Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 13(b)) for the issue of a maximum of 19,081,140 Securities under the employee incentive scheme titled “Employee Incentive Securities Plan” (Plan)). The objective of the Plan is to attract, motivate and retain key employees, contractors and other persons who provide services to the Company, and the Company considers that the adoption of the Plan and the future issue of Securities under the Plan will provide these parties with the opportunity to participate in the future growth of the Company. A summary of Listing Rule 7.1 is set out in Section 4.1 above. Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 13(b)) provides that Listing Rule 7.1 does not apply to an issue of securities under an employee incentive scheme if, within three years before the date of issue of the securities, the holders of the entity’s ordinary securities have approved the issue of equity securities under the scheme as exception to Listing Rule 7.1. Exception 13(b) is only available if and to the extent that the number of equity securities issued under the scheme does not exceed the maximum number set out in the entity’s notice of meeting dispatched to shareholders in respect of the meeting at which shareholder approval was obtained pursuant to Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 13(b). Exception 13(b) also ceases to be available if there is a material change to the terms of the scheme from those set out in the notice of meeting. 8 5.2 Technical Information required by Listing Rule 14.1A If this Resolution is passed, the Company will be able to issue Securities under the Plan to eligible participants over a period of 3 years. The issue of any Securities to eligible participants under the Plan (up to the maximum number of Securities stated in Section 5.3 below) will be excluded from the calculation of the number of equity securities that the Company can issue without Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company must seek Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 10.14 in respect of any future issues of Securities under the Plan to a related party or a person whose relationship with the Company or the related party is, in ASX’s opinion, such that approval should be obtained. If this Resolution is not passed, the Company will be able to proceed with the issue of Securities under the Plan to eligible participants, but any issues of Securities will reduce, to that extent, the Company’s capacity to issue equity securities without Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1 for the 12 month period following the issue of the Securities. 5.3 Technical information required by Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 13) REQUIRED INFORMATION DETAILS Terms of the Plan A summary of the material terms and conditions of the Plan is set out in Schedule 1. Number of Securities previously issued under the Plan The Company has not issued any Securities under the Plan as this is the first time that Shareholder approval is being sought for the adoption of the Plan. Maximum number of Securities proposed to be issued under the Plan The maximum number of Securities proposed to be issued under the Plan in reliance on to Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 13), following Shareholder approval, is 19,081,140 Securities. It is not envisaged that the maximum number of Securities for which approval is sought will be issued immediately. The Company may also seek Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 10.14 in respect of any future issues of Securities under the Plan to a related party or a person whose relationship with the Company or the related party is, in ASX’s opinion, such that approval should be obtained. Voting exclusion statement A voting exclusion statement applies to this Resolution. Voting prohibition statement A voting prohibition statement applies to this Resolution. 6. RESOLUTION 5 – REPLACEMENT OF CONSTITUTION 6.1 General A company may modify or repeal its constitution or a provision of its constitution by special resolution of shareholders. This Resolution is a special resolution which will enable the Company to repeal its existing Constitution and adopt a new constitution (Proposed Constitution) which is of the type required for a listed public company limited by shares updated to ensure it reflects the current provisions of the Corporations Act and Listing Rules. A summary of the proposed material changes is set out in Section 6.2 below. A copy of the Proposed Constitution can be sent to Shareholders upon request to the Company Secretary (+61 8 6245 9818). Shareholders are invited to contact the Company if they have any queries or concerns. 9 6.2 Summary of material proposed changes Employee incentive securities plan (Clause 2.4) Under the new Division 1A of Part 7.12 of the Corporations Act, which came into effect on 1 October 2022, offers under an employee incentive plan that do not require a monetary payment (e.g., zero exercise price options or performance rights) can be issued without an issue cap. However, offers requiring a monetary payment (whether upon grant or upon exercise/vesting of the awards and issue of the underlying shares) must be accompanied by an ‘ESS offer document’ and must comply with an issue cap. The cap is set at 5% under the Corporations Act unless raised by a company’s constitution. A company may include a higher issue cap in its constitution to allow for more than 5% of securities to be issued under the plan. The Proposed Constitution has set the issue cap at 10%. Minimum securities holding (Clause 3) Joint holders (Clause 9.8) Capital reductions (Clause 10.2) Use of technology (Clause 14) Closing date for Director nominations (Clause 15.3) 6.3 The Proposed Constitution now extends the minimum holding provisions to all securities as provided for under the Listing Rules. The clause previously only referred to shares. The ASX is considering replacement options for its Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (CHESS). Due to complexities with the solution design, there is no current go-live date. To ensure compliance with any replacement CHESS system, clause 9.8 of the Proposed Constitution provides that the number of registered joint holders of securities shall be as permitted under the Listing Rules and the ASX Settlement Operating Rules. The Proposed Constitution now permits sales of unmarketable parcels to a sale nominee(s) as part of a capital reduction. The Proposed Constitution includes a new provision to permit the use of technology at general meetings (including wholly virtual meetings) to the extent permitted under the Corporations Act, Listing Rules and applicable law. In December 2019, ASX amended Listing Rule 3.13.1 to provide that companies must release an announcement setting out the date of its meeting and the closing date for nominations at least 5 business days before the closing date for the receipt of such nominations. The closing date period under clause 15.3 of the Proposed Constitution has been amended to at leas