Kelso Technologies Inc.: Exhibit 10.4 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com


    

    KELSO TECHNOLOGIES INC.

    2014 STOCK OPTION PLAN

    As approved by the Shareholders
on June 25, 2020

    

    PART 1

    INTERPRETATION

    1.01 Definitions.  In this Plan the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, namely:

     (a) "Associate" means, where used to indicate a relationship with any person:

    (i) a partner, other than a limited partner, of that person;

    (ii) a trust or estate in which that person has a substantial beneficial interest or for which that person serves as trustee or in a similar capacity;

    (iii) a company in respect of which that person beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, voting securities carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting securities of the company; or

    (iv) a relative, including the spouse or child, of that person or a relative of that person's spouse, where the relative has the same home as that person;

    and for the purpose of this definition, "spouse" includes an individual who is living with another individual in a marriage-like relationship.

     (b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company or, if applicable, the Committee.

     (c) "Committee" means a committee of the Board appointed in accordance with this Plan or, if no such committee is appointed, the Board itself.

    (d) "Company" means Kelso Technologies Inc.

    (e) "Consultant" means, in relation to the Company, an individual (or a company wholly-owned by an individual) who:

    (i) provides ongoing consulting services to the Company or an affiliate of the Company under a written contract;

    (ii) possesses technical, business or management expertise of value to the Company or an affiliate of the Company;

    (iii) spends a significant amount of time and attention on the business and affairs of the Company or an affiliate of the Company; and

    

    (iv) has a relationship with the Company or an affiliate of the Company that enables the individual to be knowledgeable about the business and affairs of the Company.

    (f) "Director" means any director of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries.

    (g) "Discounted Market Price" means the Market Price less the maximum discounts based on closing price, if any, that are permitted by the policies of the Exchange.

     (h) "Disinterested Shareholder Approval" means that the proposal must be approved by a majority of the votes cast at the shareholders' meeting other than votes attaching to securities beneficially owned by Insiders and their Associates to whom shares may be issued pursuant to this Plan and, for purposes of this Plan, holders of non-voting and subordinate voting securities (if any) will be given full voting rights on a resolution which requires disinterested shareholder approval.

     (i) "Employee" means:

    (i) an individual who is considered an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Income Tax Act (i.e. for whom deductions (income tax, EI and CPP) must be made at source);

    (ii) an individual who is a full-time (i.e. 35 - 40 hours per week) dependent contractor, that is one who works full-time for the Company or any of its subsidiaries providing services normally provided by an employee and is subject to the same control and direction by the Company or its subsidiary over the detail and methods of work as an employee of the Company or its subsidiary, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source; or

    (iii) a part-time dependent contractor, that is an individual who works for the Company or any of its subsidiaries on a continuing and regular basis for a minimum amount of time per week providing services normally provided by an employee and is subject to the same control and direction by the Company or its subsidiary over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company or its subsidiary, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source;

     and includes Management Company Employees and Consultants.

     (j) "Exchange" means the stock exchange on which the common shares of the Company are listed for trading at the relevant time.

     (k) "Insider" means:

    (i) a director or senior officer of the Company;

    (ii) a director or senior officer of a person that is itself an insider or subsidiary of the Company;

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 2 of 11

                


    

    

    (iii) a person that beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, voting securities carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting securities of the Company; or

    (iv) the Company itself if it holds any of its own securities.

     (l) "Management Company Employee" means an individual employed by a person  providing management services to the Company, which are required for the ongoing successful operation of the business enterprise of the Company, but excluding a person engaged in investor relations activities.

     (m) "Market Price" means, subject to the exceptions, if any, prescribed by the Exchange from time to time:

    (i) the last closing price of the Company's shares before the grant of options; and

     (ii) if the Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange, the price calculated based on a reasonable pre-determined formula, which formula is accepted by the Exchange and is based on a weighted average trading price or average daily high and low board lot trading price for a short period of time prior to the grant of options.

     (n) "Officer" means any senior officer of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries as defined in the Securities Act (British Columbia).

     (o) "Plan" means this stock option plan as from time to time amended.

     (p) "Shares" means common shares without par value in the capital of the Company.

    1.02 Gender.  Throughout this Plan, words importing the masculine gender shall be interpreted as including the female gender.

    PART 2

    PURPOSE OF PLAN

    2.01 Purpose.  The purpose of this Plan is to attract and retain Employees, Officers and Directors and to motivate them to advance the interests of the Company by affording them the opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company through options granted under this Plan to purchase Shares.  The Plan is expected to benefit the Company's shareholders by enabling the Company to attract and retain personnel of the highest caliber by offering to them an opportunity to share in any increase in the value of the Shares to which they have contributed.

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 3 of 11

                


    

    

    PART 3

    GRANTING OR AMENDING OF OPTIONS

    3.01 Administration.  This Plan shall be administered by the Board or, if the Board so elects, by a committee (consisting of not less than two (2) of its members) appointed by the Board.  Any Committee shall administer the Plan on behalf of the Board in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, consistent with this Plan.  Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to serve until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to time, the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members, remove members (with or without cause) and either appoint new members in their place or decrease the size of the Committee, fill vacancies however caused, or remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan.  A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and, subject to the limitations in this Part 3, all actions of the Committee shall require the affirmative vote of members who constitute a majority of such quorum.  Members of the Committee may vote on any matters affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of options pursuant to the Plan, except that no such member shall act upon the granting of an option to himself (but any such member may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Committee during which action is taken with respect to granting options to him).

    3.02 Committee's Recommendations.  The Board may accept all or any part of the recommendations of the Committee or may refer all or any part thereof back to the Committee for further consideration and recommendation.  Such recommendations may include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (a) resolution of questions arising in respect of the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan;

     (b) reconciliation of any inconsistency or defect in the Plan in such manner and to such extent as shall reasonably be deemed necessary or advisable to carry out the purpose of the Plan;

     (c) determination of the Employees, Officers and Directors (or their wholly-owned corporations) to whom, and when, options should be granted, as well as the number of Shares subject to each option;

     (d) determination of the terms and conditions of the option agreement to be entered into with any optionee, consistent with this Plan; and

     (e) determination of the duration and purpose of leaves of absence from employment which may be granted to optionees without constituting a termination of employment for purposes of the Plan.

    3.03 Grant by Resolution.  The Board, on its own initiative or, if a Committee of the Board shall have been appointed for the purpose of administering this Plan, upon the recommendation of such Committee, may by resolution designate those Employees, Officers and Directors to whom options should be granted (unless the Committee has been authorized by the Board to pass such resolution in which case they may do as so authorized).

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 4 of 11

                


    

    

    3.04 Terms of Options.  The resolution of the Board, or the Committee if applicable, shall specify the number of Shares that should be placed under option to each optionee, the price per Share to be paid upon exercise of the options, and the period during which such options may be exercised.

    3.05 Written Agreements.  Every option granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by a written agreement between the Company and the optionee and, where not expressly set out in the agreement, the provisions of such agreement shall conform to and be governed by this Plan.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the agreement and this Plan, the terms of this Plan shall govern. 

    3.06 Regulatory Approvals.  The Board shall obtain all necessary regulatory approvals that may be required under applicable securities laws or the rules or policies of the Exchange.  The Board shall also take reasonable steps to ensure that no options granted under the Plan, or the exercise thereof, shall violate the securities laws of the jurisdiction in which any optionee resides.

    3.07 Amendment of Options.  Options may also be amended under this Plan, whether granted under this Plan or otherwise, and the terms of this Plan shall apply mutatis mutandis.

    PART 4

    CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE GRANTING AND EXERCISING OF OPTIONS

    4.01 Exercise Price.  The exercise price of an option granted under this Plan shall not be less than the Discounted Market Price if the Company's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange, and the Market Price, if the Company's shares are traded on the TSX Exchange, provided that:

    (a) if options are granted within 90 days of a distribution by a prospectus, the minimum exercise price of those options will be the greater of the Discounted Market Price and the per share price paid by the public investors for Shares acquired under the distribution;

    (b) the 90 day period begins on the date a final receipt is issued for the prospectus;

    (c) for unit offerings, the minimum option exercise price will be the 'base' (or imputed) price of the shares included in the unit; and

    (d) for all other financings, the minimum exercise price will be the average price paid by the public investors.                 

    4.02 Expiry Date.  Subject to section 9.05, each option shall, unless sooner terminated, expire on a date to be determined by the Board which will not exceed 10 years from the day the option is granted.

    4.03 Different Exercise Periods, Prices and Number.  The Board may, in its absolute  discretion, upon granting options under this Plan, specify different time periods following the dates of granting the options during which the optionees may exercise their options to purchase Shares and may designate different exercise prices and numbers of Shares in respect of which each optionee may exercise his option during each respective time period.

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 5 of 11

                


    

    

    4.04 Number of Shares.  The number of Shares reserved for issuance to any one person pursuant to options granted under this Plan or otherwise, shall not exceed the maximum percentage of the issued and outstanding Shares at the time of granting of the options, if any, as may be prescribed by the policies of the Exchange.

    4.05 Insider Participation Limit.  If the Company's shares are listed for trading on the TSX Exchange, options shall not be granted under the 2014 Plan or securities be made issuable under any other share compensation arrangement which could result in:

    (a) the number of common shares issuable to Insiders exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding shares at the time of such grant; and

    (b) the number of common shares issued within any one year period pursuant to the exercise of options and any other share compensation arrangement to Insiders, exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding shares.

    4.06 Death of Optionee.  If an optionee dies prior to the expiry of his option, his legal representatives may, by the earlier of:

     (a) one year from the date of the optionee's death (or such lesser period as may be specified by the Board at the time of granting the option); and

     (b) the expiry date of the option;

     exercise any portion of such option.

    4.07 Expiry on Termination or Cessation.  If an optionee ceases to be a Director, Officer or Employee for any reason other than death, his option shall terminate as specified by the Board at the time of granting the option and all rights to purchase Shares under such option shall cease and expire and be of no further force or effect.  All options must terminate within three months of the date of such cessation. 

    4.08 Leave of Absence.  Employment shall be deemed to continue intact during any sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed 90 days or, if longer, for so long as the optionee's right to reemployment is guaranteed either by statute or by contract.  If the period of such leave exceeds 90 days and the optionee's reemployment is not so guaranteed, then his employment shall be deemed to have terminated on the ninety-first day of such leave.

    4.09 Assignment.  No option granted under this Plan or any right thereunder or in respect thereof shall be transferable or assignable otherwise than by will or pursuant to the laws of succession except that, if permitted by the rules and policies of the Exchange, an optionee shall have the right to assign any option granted to him hereunder to a trust or similar legal entity established by such optionee.

    4.10 Notice.  Options shall be exercised only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreements under which they are respectively granted and shall be exercisable only by notice in writing to the Company at its principal place of business.

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 6 of 11

                


    

    

    4.11 Payment.  Subject to any vesting requirements described in each individual option agreement, options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to their lapse or termination.  Shares purchased by an optionee on exercise of an option shall be paid for in full at the time of their purchase (i.e. concurrently with the giving of the requisite notice).

    4.12 Share Certificate.  As soon as practicable after due exercise of an option, the Company shall issue a share certificate evidencing the Shares with respect to which the option has been exercised.  Until the issuance of such share certificate, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to such Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the option.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the share certificate is issued, except as provided in Part 6 hereof.

    4.13 Vesting.  Subject to the discretion of the Board, the options granted to an optionee under this Plan shall fully vest on the date of grant of such options.  If required by the policies of the Exchange, and subject to their approval to the contrary, options issued to Consultants providing investor relations services must vest (and not otherwise be exercisable) in stages over a minimum of 12 months with no more than 1⁄4 of the options vesting in any 3 month period.

    4.14 Hold Period.  In addition to any resale restrictions under applicable legislation, all options granted hereunder and all Shares issued on the exercise of such options will, if applicable under the policies of the Exchange, be subject to a four month hold period from the date the options are granted, and the stock option agreements and the certificates representing such Shares will bear the legend, if any, required by the policies of the Exchange.

    4.15 Individuals.  Options may be granted only to an individual or to a company that is wholly-owned by an individual who is eligible for an option grant.  Only individuals who are Directors, Officers, Consultants, Employees or Management Company Employees may be granted stock options. If the optionee is a Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee, the Company must represent that the optionee is a bona fide Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee, as the case may be. If the optionee is a company, it must agree not to effect or permit any transfer of ownership or option of shares of the company or to issue further shares of any class in the company to any other individual or entity as long as the incentive stock option remains outstanding, except with the written consent of the Board and, if required, the Exchange.

    PART 5

    RESERVE OF SHARES FOR OPTIONS

    5.01 Maximum Number of Shares Reserved Under Plan.  The aggregate number of Shares which may be subject to issuance pursuant to options granted under this Plan shall not exceed the equivalent of 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company from time to time.  In addition, all options granted outside of this Plan, which are in existence on the effective date of this Plan, shall be counted as if granted under this Plan.  The terms of this Plan shall not otherwise govern such pre-existing options.

    5.02 Sufficient Authorized Shares to be Reserved.  Whenever the Memorandum or Articles of the Company limit the number of authorized Shares, a sufficient number of Shares shall be reserved by the Board to satisfy the exercise of options granted under this Plan or otherwise.  Shares that were the subject of options that have lapsed or terminated shall thereupon no longer be in reserve and may once again be subject to an option granted under this Plan.

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 7 of 11

                


    

    

    5.03 Disinterested Shareholder Approval.  Disinterested Shareholder Approval will be sought, as and when required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Exchange, in connection with this Plan, the administration thereof, and the grant of options hereunder.  No actions requiring Shareholder Approval shall be taken by the Company unless the requisite approval has been obtained.

    PART 6

    CHANGES IN SHARES

    6.01 Share Consolidation or Subdivision.  In the event that the Shares are at any time subdivided or consolidated, the number of Shares reserved for option and the price payable for any Shares that are then subject to option shall be adjusted accordingly.

    6.02 Stock Dividend.  In the event that the Shares are at any time changed as a result of the declaration of a stock dividend thereon, the number of Shares reserved for option and the price payable for any Shares that are then subject to option may be adjusted by the Board to such extent as they deem proper in their absolute discretion.

    6.03 Reorganization.  Subject to any required action by its shareholders, if the Company shall be a party to a reorganization, merger, dissolution or sale or lease of all or substantially all of its assets, whether or not the Company is the surviving entity, the option shall be adjusted so as to apply to the securities to which the holder of the number of shares of capital stock of the Company subject to the option would have been entitled by reason of such reorganization, merger or sale or lease of all or substantially all of its assets, provided however that the Company may satisfy any obligations to an optionee hereunder by paying to the said optionee in cash the difference between the exercise price of all unexercised options granted hereunder and the fair market value of the securities to which the optionee would be entitled upon exercise of all unexercised options, regardless of whether all conditions of exercise relating to continuous employment have been satisfied.  Adjustments under this paragraph or any determinations as to the fair market value of any securities shall be made by the Board, or any committee thereof specifically designated by the Board to be responsible therefor, and any reasonable determination made by the said Board or committee thereof shall be binding and conclusive.

    6.04 Rights Offering.  If at any time the Company grants to the holders of its capital stock rights to subscribe for and purchase pro rata additional securities of the Company or of any other corporation or entity, there shall be no adjustments made to the number of shares or other securities subject to the option in consequence thereof and the said stock option of the optionee shall remain unaffected.

    PART 7

    EXCHANGE'S RULES AND POLICIES APPLY

    7.01 Exchange's Rules and Policies Apply.  This Plan and the granting and exercise of any options hereunder are also subject to such other terms and conditions as are set out from time to time in the rules and policies on stock options of the Exchange and any securities commission having jurisdiction and such rules and policies shall be deemed to be incorporated into and become a part of this Plan.  In the event of an inconsistency between the provisions of such rules and policies and of this Plan, the provisions of such rules and policies shall govern.

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 8 of 11

                


    

    

    PART 8

    AMENDMENT OF PLAN

    Board May Amend.  The Board may, subject to any required regulatory approval but without shareholder approval, make amendments to an Option or the Plan which include, but are not limited to:

    (a) change the vesting provisions of an Option or the Plan,

    (b) change the termination provisions of an Option or the Plan, provided there is no extension beyond the original expiry date,

    (c) add a cashless exercise provision, payable in cash or securities, which provides for a full deduction of the number of underlying securities from the Plan reserve,  or

    (d) make other amendments of a "housekeeping" or non-material nature with requisite regulatory approval.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the approval of the shareholders of the Company shall be required for any of the following amendments to an Option or the Plan:

    (a) the limitations on grants of options to insiders and the number of shares that may be reserved for issuance to insiders,

    (b) the maximum number or percentage of outstanding shares that may be reserved for issuance upon exercise of options under the Plan,

    (c) any amendment which would permit options granted under the Plan to be transferable, other than for estate settlement purposes, or

    (d) any amendment to the amendment provisions already voted upon by shareholders.

    Subject to the above paragraph, with the consent of the affected Optionees, the Board may amend or modify any outstanding Option in any manner to the extent that the Board would have had the authority to initially grant such award as so modified or amended, including without limitation, to change the date or dates as of which an Option becomes exercisable, subject to the prior approval of the relevant stock exchanges, if required for such amendment or modification.

    Any reductions in the exercise price or extension of the term of Options granted to Insiders will require approval of the shareholders of the Company excluding votes of securities held by the Insiders benefiting from such amendment.

    8.02 Exchange Approval.  Any amendment to this Plan or options granted pursuant to this Plan shall not become effective until accepted for filing by the Exchange.

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 9 of 11

                


    

    

    PART 9

    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

    9.01 Other Plans Not Affected.  This Plan shall not in any way affect the policies or decisions of the Board in relation to the remuneration of Directors, Officers and Employees.

    9.02 Effective Date of Plan.  This Plan shall become effective upon the later of the date of acceptance for filing of this Plan by the Exchange and the approval of this Plan by the shareholders of the Company (i.e. by the holders of a majority of the Company's securities present or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders duly held) including, if applicable, Disinterested Shareholder Approval.  However, options may be granted under this Plan prior to the receipt of approval of the Exchange or the shareholders.  Any option granted before Exchange or shareholder approval is obtained, may not be exercised until both are obtained.

    9.03 Use of Proceeds.  Proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to the options granted and exercised under the Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company and shall be used for general corporate purposes.

    9.04   Withholding.  The Company may withhold from any amount payable to an optionee, either under this Plan or otherwise, such amount as it reasonably believes is necessary to enable the Company to comply with the applicable requirements of any federal, provincial, local or foreign law, or any administrative policy of any applicable tax authority, relating to the withholding of tax or any other required deductions with respect to options ("Withholding Obligations").  The Company may also satisfy any liability for any such Withholding Obligations, on such terms and conditions as the Company may determine in its discretion, by:

    (a) requiring an optionee, as a condition to the exercise of any options, to make such arrangements as the Company may require so that the Company can satisfy such Withholding Obligations including, without limitation, requiring the optionee to remit to the Company in advance, or reimburse the Company for, any such Withholding Obligations; or

    (b) selling on the optionee's behalf, or requiring the optionee to sell, any optioned shares acquired by the optionee under the Plan, or retaining any amount which would otherwise be payable to the optionee in connection with any such sale.

    9.05 Automatic Extension of Term of Option.  The expiry date of the options will be automatically extended if the expiry date falls within a blackout period during which the Company prohibits optionees from exercising their options, provided that:

    (a) the blackout period has been formally imposed by the Company pursuant to its internal trading policies as a result of the bona fide existence of undisclosed Material Information (as defined in the policies of the Exchange). For greater certainty, in the absence of the Company formally imposing a blackout period, the expiry date of any options will not be automatically extended in any circumstances;

    (b) the blackout period expires upon the general disclosure of the undisclosed Material Information and the expiry date of the affected options is extended to no later than ten (10) business days after the expiry of the blackout period; and

    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 10 of 11

                


    

    

    (c) the automatic extension will not be permitted where the optionee or the Company is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under applicable securities laws) in respect of the Company's securities.

    9.06 Headings.  The headings used in this Plan are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect or be used in interpreting any of the provisions of this Plan.

    9.07 No Obligation to Exercise.  Optionees shall be under no obligation to exercise options granted under this Plan.

    9.08 Termination of Plan.  This Plan shall only terminate pursuant to a resolution of the Board or the Company's shareholders.

    9.09 Governing Law.  This Plan and the administration hereof shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein

    


    
        	
                    Kelso Technologies Inc.

                    Stock Option Plan

                    June 25, 2020

                    Page 11 of 11