Please wait

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 4.1

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

IAMGOLD CORPORATION

AND

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA

July 12, 2004



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  PAGE
ARTICLE 1 INTERPRETATION   2
  1.1   Certain Definitions   2
  1.2   Currency   19
  1.3   Number and Gender   19
  1.4   Sections and Headings   19
  1.5   Statutory References   19
  1.6   Determination of Percentage Ownership   20
  1.7   Acting Jointly or in Concert   20
  1.8   Generally Accepted Accounting Principles   20
ARTICLE 2 THE RIGHTS   21
  2.1   Legend on Common Share Certificates   21
  2.2   Initial Exercise Price; Exercise of Rights; Detachment of Rights   22
  2.3   Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights   25
  2.4   Date on Which Exercise is Effective   32
  2.5   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates   32
  2.6   Registration, Transfer and Exchange   32
  2.7   Mutilated, Lost, Stolen and Destroyed Rights Certificates   33
  2.8   Persons Deemed Owners   34
  2.9   Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates   34
  2.10   Agreement of Rights Holders   35
ARTICLE 3 ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS   36
  3.1   Flip-in Event   36
  3.2   Fiduciary Duties of the Board of Directors   37
ARTICLE 4 THE RIGHTS AGENT   38
  4.1   General   38
  4.2   Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent   39
  4.3   Duties of Rights Agent   39
  4.4   Change of Rights Agent   41
ARTICLE 5 MISCELLANEOUS   42
  5.1   Redemption, Waiver, Extension and Termination   42
  5.2   Expiration   45
  5.3   Issuance of New Rights Certificates   45
  5.4   Supplements and Amendments   45
  5.5   Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares   45
  5.6   Rights of Action   46
  5.7   Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder   46
  5.8   Notice of Proposed Actions   46
  5.9   Notices   47
  5.10   Costs of Enforcement   47
  5.11   Regulatory Approvals   48
  5.12   Declaration as to Non-Canadian and Non-United States Holders   48
  5.13   Successors   48
  5.14   Benefits of this Agreement   48
  5.15   Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors   48
  5.16   Governing Law   49
  5.17   Language   49
  5.18   Counterparts   49
  5.19   Severability   49
  5.20   Effective Date   49
  5.21   Time of the Essence   50

SCHEDULE A



SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT

BETWEEN:

AND:

WHEREAS:

A.    Golden Star Resources Ltd. ("GSR") has made an unsolicited take-over bid for the common shares of the Corporation (the "GSR Bid");

B.    the Board of Directors of the Corporation, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties to the Corporation, has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of the Corporation to adopt a shareholder rights plan (the "Rights Plan") to (a) provide the Board of Directors with adequate time to identify, develop and negotiate value enhancing alternatives to the GSR Bid, (b) encourage the fair treatment of shareholders of the Corporation in connection with any take-over offer for the Corporation or other acquisition of control of the Corporation, and (c) generally to prevent any person from acquiring ownership (or the right to acquire ownership) of 20% or more of the outstanding common shares of the Corporation while the process referred to in item (a) above is ongoing, or entering into arrangements or relationships that have a similar effect;

C.    in order to implement the Rights Plan, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has:


D.    each Right entitles the holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities of the Corporation pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

E.    the Corporation desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on behalf of the Corporation and the holders of Rights, and the Rights Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issue, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates, the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to herein;

        NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and respective agreements set forth herein, the Corporation and the Rights Agent hereby agree as follows:


ARTICLE 1

INTERPRETATION

1.1   Certain Definitions

        For the purposes of this Agreement, including the recitals hereto, the words and terms set forth below have the meanings indicated.

2


3



(d)   (i) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own":

4



(A)   (1) the holder of such security has agreed to deposit or tender such security to a Take-over Bid made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates or any other Person referred to in Section 1.1(d)(i)(C) pursuant to a Permitted Lock-up Agreement; or
    (2) such security has been deposited or tendered pursuant to a Take-over Bid made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates or made by any other Person acting jointly or in concert with such Person until such deposited or tendered security has been taken up or paid for, whichever shall first occur;

5


6


7


8


9


10


11


12


13


14


15


16


17


18


1.2   Currency

        All sums of money which are referred to in this Agreement are expressed in lawful money of Canada, unless otherwise specified.

1.3   Number and Gender

        Wherever the context will require, terms (including defined terms) used herein importing the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa and words importing any one gender shall include all others.

1.4   Sections and Headings

        The division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections and Schedules and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The terms this "Agreement", "hereunder", "hereof", and similar expressions refer to this Agreement as amended or supplemented from time to time and not to any particular Article, Section or Schedule or other portion hereof and include any agreement or instrument supplemental or ancillary hereto. Unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, references herein to Articles, Sections and Schedules are to Articles, Sections and Schedules of or to this Agreement.

1.5   Statutory References

        Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a specific section, subsection, clause or rule of any act or regulation shall be deemed to refer to the same as it may be amended, reenacted or replaced or, if repealed and there shall be no replacement therefor, to the same as it is in effect on the date of this Agreement.

19


1.6   Determination of Percentage Ownership

        The percentage of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by any Person, shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be and be deemed to be the product determined by the formula:


100

×

 

A
B

where:

A   =   the aggregate number of votes for the election of all directors generally attaching to the Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person; and

B

 

=

 

the aggregate number of votes for the election of all directors generally attaching to all outstanding Voting Shares,

provided that where any Person is deemed to Beneficially Own unissued Voting Shares pursuant to Section 1.1(d), such Voting Shares shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of both A and B in the formula above.

1.7   Acting Jointly or in Concert

        For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person is acting jointly or in concert with every Person who is a party to an agreement, commitment or understanding, whether formal or informal or written or unwritten, with the first Person, or with any other Person acting jointly or in concert with the first Person, to acquire or to Offer to Acquire Voting Shares or Convertible Securities (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and banking or selling group members with respect to a distribution of securities and pledges of securities in the ordinary course of business to secure indebtedness).

1.8   Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

        Wherever in this Agreement reference is made to generally accepted accounting principles, such reference shall be deemed to be the recommendations at the relevant time of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, or any successor institute, applicable on a consolidated basis (unless otherwise specifically provided herein to be applicable on an unconsolidated basis) as at the date on which a calculation is made or required to be made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of revenue or expense is required to be determined, or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made for the purpose of this Agreement or any document, such determination or calculation shall, to the extent applicable and except as otherwise specified herein or as otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, be made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.

20



ARTICLE 2

THE RIGHTS

2.1   Legend on Common Share Certificates

2.1.1
Certificates representing the Common Shares, including without limitation Common Shares issued upon the conversion of Convertible Securities, issued after the Record Time but prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Separation Time and the Expiration Time shall also evidence one Right for each Common Share represented thereby and shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
2.1.2
Certificates representing Common Shares that are issued and outstanding at the Record Time shall evidence one Right for each Common Share evidenced thereby, notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend, until the earlier of:

(c)
the Separation Time; and

(d)
the Expiration Time.

21


2.2   Initial Exercise Price; Exercise of Rights; Detachment of Rights

2.2.1
Subject to adjustment as herein set forth, including without limitation as set forth in Article 3, each Right will entitle the holder thereof, from and after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase one Common Share for the Exercise Price as at the Business Day immediately preceding the Separation Time (which Exercise Price and number of Common Shares are subject to adjustment as set forth below). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Rights held by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries shall be void.

2.2.2
Until the Separation Time:

(a)
the Rights shall not be exercisable and no Right may be exercised; and

(b)
for administrative purposes, each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated Common Share registered in the name of the holder thereof (which certificate shall be deemed to represent a Rights Certificate) and will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, such associated Common Share.

2.2.3
From and after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights may be exercised, and the registration and transfer of the Rights shall be separate from and independent of Common Shares. Promptly following the Separation Time, the Corporation will prepare or cause to be prepared and the Rights Agent will mail to each holder of record of Common Shares as of the Separation Time and, in respect of each Convertible Security converted into Common Shares after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, promptly after such conversion, the Corporation will prepare or cause to be prepared and the Rights Agent will mail to the holder so converting (other than an Acquiring Person and, in respect of any Rights Beneficially Owned by such Acquiring Person which are not held of record by such Acquiring Person, the holder of record of such rights (a "Nominee")) at such holder's address as shown by the records of the Corporation (the Corporation hereby agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this purpose):

(a)
a Rights Certificate in substantially the form of schedule A appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights held by such holder at the Separation Time and having such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Corporation may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law, rule or regulation or judicial or administrative order, or with any article, requirement or regulation of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage; and

22


provided that a Nominee shall be sent the materials provided for in Sections 2.2.3(a) and 2.2.3(b) only in respect of all Common Shares held of record by it which are not Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person and the Corporation may require any Nominee or suspected Nominee to provide such information and documentation as the Corporation may reasonably require for such purpose.

2.2.4
Rights may be exercised in whole or in part on any Business Day after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by submitting to the Rights Agent, at its principal office in Toronto, Ontario:

(a)
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights;

(b)
an election to exercise (an "Election to Exercise") substantially in the form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, and executed in a manner acceptable to the Rights Agent; and

(c)
payment in cash, or by certified cheque, banker's draft or money order payable to the order of the Corporation, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for Common Shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.

2.2.5
Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, which is accompanied by an appropriately completed and duly executed Election to Exercise (which does not indicate that such Right is null and void as provided by Section 3.1.2 and payment as set forth in Section 2.2.4, the Rights Agent (unless otherwise instructed by the Corporation) will thereupon promptly:

(a)
requisition from the transfer agent of the Common Shares certificates representing the number of Common Shares to be purchased (the Corporation hereby irrevocably authorizing its transfer agent to comply with all such requisitions);

(b)
after receipt of such Common Share certificates, deliver such certificates to, or to the order of, the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder;

23


2.2.6
If the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.

2.2.7 The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will:

24


2.3   Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights

2.3.1
The Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities subject to purchase upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 2.3 and in Article 3.

2.3.2
In the event that the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Expiration Time:

(a)
declare or pay a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Voting Shares or Convertible Securities other than pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan;

(b)
subdivide or change the then outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common Shares;

(c)
consolidate or change the then outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common Shares; or

(d)
issue any Voting Shares or Convertible Securities in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for existing Common Shares, whether in a reclassification, amalgamation, statutory arrangement, consolidation or otherwise,

then the Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding (or, if the payment or effective date therefor shall occur after the Separation Time, the securities purchasable upon the exercise of Rights) shall be adjusted as follows:

25


Adjustments made pursuant to this Section 2.3.2 shall be made successively, whenever an event referred to in this Section 2.3.2 occurs.

2.3.3
If, after the Record Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Corporation shall issue any of its securities other than Common Shares in a transaction of a type described in Sections 2.3.2(a) or 2.3.2(d), such securities shall be treated herein as nearly equivalent to Common Shares as may be practicable and appropriate under the circumstances and the Corporation and the Rights Agent agree to amend this Agreement in order to effect such treatment.

2.3.4
If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 2.3 and Section 3.1, the adjustment provided for in this Section 2.3 shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 3.1.

2.3.5
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Separation Time issue any Common Shares otherwise than in a transaction referred to in Section 2.3.2, each such Common Share so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such Common Share.

2.3.6
(a) In the event the Corporation shall, at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Expiration Time, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of Common Shares of rights or warrants entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares (or Convertible Securities in respect of Common Shares) at a price per Common Share (or, in the case of such a Convertible Security, having a conversion, exchange or exercise price per share (including the price required to be paid to purchase such Convertible Security)) less than 90% of the Market Price per Common Share on such record date, the Exercise Price in effect after such record date will equal the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date multiplied by a fraction:

26


(b)
In case such subscription price is satisfied, in whole or in part, by consideration other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed. To the extent that such rights or warrants are not exercised prior to the expiration thereof, the Exercise Price shall be readjusted in the manner contemplated above based on the number of Common Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares) actually issued upon the exercise of such rights or warrants.

(c)
For purposes of this Agreement, the granting of the right to purchase Common Shares (whether from treasury or otherwise) pursuant to any dividend or interest reinvestment plan or any share purchase plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on securities of the Corporation or the investment of periodic optional payments or employee benefit or similar plans (so long as such right to purchase is in no case evidenced by the delivery of rights or warrants by the Corporation) shall not be deemed to constitute an issue of rights or warrants by the Corporation; provided, however, that in the case of any dividend or interest reinvestment or share purchase plan, the right to purchase Common Shares is at a price per share of not less than 90% of the current market price per share (determined as provided in such plans) of the Common Shares.

27


2.3.7
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Expiration Time fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of Common Shares of:

(a)
evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a Regular Periodic Cash Dividend or a dividend paid in Common Shares, but including any dividend payable in securities other than Common Shares); or

(b)
rights or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Voting Shares (or Convertible Securities in respect of Voting Shares),

at a price per Voting Share (or, in the case of a Convertible Security in respect of Voting Shares, having a conversion, exchange or exercise price per share (including the price required to be paid to purchase such Convertible Security)) less than 90% of the Market Price per Common Share on such record date (excluding rights or warrants referred to in Section 2.3.6), the Exercise Price in effect after such record date shall be equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of the portion of the assets, evidences of indebtedness, rights, warrants or other securities so to be distributed applicable to each of the securities purchasable upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed.

2.3.8
Each adjustment made pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be made as of:

(a)
the payment or effective date for the applicable dividend, subdivision, change, combination or issuance, in the case of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 2.3.2; and

(b)
the record date for the applicable dividend or distribution, in the case of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 2.3.6 or 2.3.7, subject to readjustment to reverse the same if such distribution shall not be made.

28


2.3.9
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Expiration Time issue any shares (other than Common Shares), or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any such shares, or Convertible Securities in respect of any such shares, in a transaction referred to in any of Sections 2.3.2(a) to 2.3.2(d), inclusive, if the Board of Directors acting in good faith determines that the adjustments contemplated by Sections 2.3.2, 2.3.6 and 2.3.7 in connection with such transaction will not appropriately protect the interests of the holders of Rights, then the Board of Directors may from time to time determine what other adjustments to the Exercise Price, number of Rights or securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights would be appropriate and, notwithstanding Sections 2.3.2, 2.3.6 and 2.3.7, such adjustments, rather than the adjustments contemplated by Sections 2.3.2, 2.3.6 and 2.3.7, shall be made upon the Board of Directors providing written certification thereof to the Rights Agent as set forth in Section 2.3.17. The Corporation and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as appropriate to provide for such adjustments.

2.3.10
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in such Exercise Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 2.3.10 are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All adjustments to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be calculated to the nearest cent.

2.3.11
All Rights originally issued by the Corporation subsequent to any adjustment made to an Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of Common Shares purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

2.3.12
Unless the Corporation shall have exercised its election, as provided in Section 2.3.13, upon each adjustment of an Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 2.3.6 and 2.3.7, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of Common Shares obtained by:

(a)
multiplying:

(i)
the number of Common Shares covered by a Right immediately prior to such adjustment;

29


2.3.13
The Corporation may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of an Exercise Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Common Shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become the number of Rights obtained by dividing the relevant Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the relevant Exercise Price by the relevant Exercise Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the relevant Exercise Price. The Corporation shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the relevant Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 calendar days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 2.3.13, the Corporation shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date, Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 5.5, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Corporation, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Corporation, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and may bear, at the option of the Corporation, the relevant adjusted Exercise Price and shall be registered in the names of holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

2.3.14
In any case in which this Section 2.3 shall require that an adjustment in an Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Corporation may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the number of Common Shares and other securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Common Shares and other securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the relevant Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Corporation shall deliver to such holder an appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional Common Shares (fractional or otherwise) or other securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

30


2.3.15
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3 to the contrary, the Corporation shall be entitled to make such adjustments in the Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 2.3, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board of Directors shall determine to be advisable in order that any:

(a)
subdivision or consolidation of the Common Shares;

(b)
issuance wholly for cash of any Common Shares at less than the applicable Market Price;

(c)
issuance wholly for cash of any Common Shares or securities that by their terms are exchangeable for or convertible into or give a right to acquire Common Shares;

(d)
stock dividends; or

(e)
issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 2.3, hereafter made by the Corporation to holders of its Common Shares,

shall not be taxable to such shareholders.

2.3.16
Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofor and thereafter issued may continue to represent the securities so purchasable which were represented in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

2.3.17
Whenever an adjustment to the Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Corporation shall:

(a)
promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment; and

(b)
promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares a copy of such certificate and mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of Rights who requests a copy.

Failure to file such certificate or to cause such notice to be given as aforesaid, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of any such adjustment or change.

31


2.4   Date on Which Exercise is Effective

        Each Person in whose name any certificate for Common Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Common Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered (together with a duly completed Election to Exercise) and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any applicable transfer taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising Person hereunder) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Share transfer books of the Corporation are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next Business Day on which the Common Share transfer books of the Corporation are open.

2.5   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates

2.5.1
The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer or its Corporate Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile. Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind the Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights Certificates.

2.5.2
Promptly following the Separation Time, the Corporation will notify the Rights Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights Certificates executed by the Corporation to the Rights Agent for countersignature, and the Rights Agent shall countersign (manually or by facsimile signature in a manner satisfactory to the Corporation) and deliver such Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 2.2. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until countersigned by the Rights Agent as aforesaid.

2.5.3
Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature thereof.

2.6   Registration, Transfer and Exchange

2.6.1
After the Separation Time, the Corporation will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Corporation will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Corporation and registering Rights and transfers of Rights as herein provided and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. In the event that the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times.

32


2.6.2
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.6.4 and 3.1.2, the Corporation will execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign, deliver and register, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificates so surrendered.

2.6.3
All Rights issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be valid obligations of the Corporation, and such Rights shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

2.6.4
Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation or the Rights Agent, as the case may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized, in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section 2.6, the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent) in connection therewith.

2.7   Mutilated, Lost, Stolen and Destroyed Rights Certificates

2.7.1
If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to the Expiration Time, the Corporation shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.

2.7.2
If there shall be delivered to the Corporation and the Rights Agent prior to the Expiration Time:

(a)
evidence to their reasonable satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate; and

(b)
such security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by them to save each of them and any of their agents harmless,

33


then, in the absence of notice to the Corporation or the Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Corporation shall execute and, upon the Corporation's request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so destroyed, lost or stolen.

2.7.3
As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent) connected therewith.

2.7.4
Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.7 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence a contractual obligation of the Corporation, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly issued hereunder.

2.8   Persons Deemed Owners

        The Corporation, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Corporation or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever. As used in this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Shares).

2.9   Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates

        All Rights Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for redemption, for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Corporation may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the Corporation may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights Certificate shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 2.9 except as expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall, subject to applicable law, destroy all cancelled Rights Certificates and deliver a certificate of destruction to the Corporation.

34


2.10 Agreement of Rights Holders

        Every holder of Rights, by accepting such Rights, consents and agrees with the Corporation and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of Rights:

35



ARTICLE 3

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS

3.1   Flip-in Event

3.1.1
Subject to Section 3.1.2 and Section 5.1, in the event that prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Event occurs, each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to purchase from the Corporation, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, that number of Common Shares as have an aggregate Market Price on the date of the consummation or occurrence of such Flip-in Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 if, after such date of consummation or occurrence, an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3 shall have occurred with respect to such Common Shares).

3.1.2
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon the occurrence of any Flip-in Event, any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned on or after the earlier of the Separation Time and the Stock Acquisition Date, or which may thereafter be Beneficially Owned, by:

(a)
an Acquiring Person, any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, any other Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of such other Person; or

(b)
a transferee or other successor in title, direct or indirect, of Rights held by an Acquiring Person, any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, any other Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of such other Person, whether or not for consideration, in a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, understanding or scheme of an Acquiring Person or of any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person that has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of this Section 3.1.2,

36


shall become null and void without any further action and any holder of such Rights (including any transferee of, or other successor entitled to, such Rights, whether directly or indirectly) shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provisions of this Agreement and, further, shall thereafter not have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The holder of any Rights represented by a Rights Certificate which is submitted to the Rights Agent upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange which does not contain the necessary certifications set forth in the Rights Certificate establishing that such Rights are not void under this Section 3.1.2 shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for the purposes of this Section 3.1.2 and such Rights shall become null and void.

3.1.3
Any Rights Certificate that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by a Person described in either of Section 3.1.2(a) or 3.1.2(b) or transferred to any Nominee of any such Person, and any Rights Certificate issued upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain or will be deemed to contain the following legend:

The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility to ascertain the existence of facts that would require the imposition of such legend but shall be required to impose such legend only if instructed to do so by the Corporation or if a holder fails to certify upon transfer or exchange in the space provided to do so.

3.1.4
After the Separation Time, the Corporation shall do all such acts and things necessary and within its power to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.1 including, without limitation, all such acts and things as may be required to satisfy the requirements of the CBCA, the Securities Act (Ontario) and the securities laws or comparable legislation in each of the provinces of Canada and in any other jurisdiction where the Corporation is subject to such laws and the rules of the stock exchanges where the Common Shares are listed at such time in respect of the issue of Common Shares upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with this Agreement.

3.2   Fiduciary Duties of the Board of Directors

        For clarification it is understood that nothing contained in this Article 3 shall be considered to affect the obligations of the Board of Directors to exercise its fiduciary duties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors shall not be entitled to recommend that holders of the Voting Shares reject or accept any Take-over Bid or take any other action including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution, defence or settlement of any litigation and the submission of additional or alternative Take-over Bids or other proposals to the shareholders of the Corporation with respect to any Take-over Bid or otherwise that the Board of Directors believes is necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its fiduciary duties.

37



ARTICLE 4

THE RIGHTS AGENT

4.1   General

4.1.1
The Corporation hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Corporation and the holders of the Rights in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Corporation may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents ("Co-Rights Agents") as it may deem necessary or desirable. In the event the Corporation appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Corporation may determine. The Corporation agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and other disbursements reasonably incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and other experts consulted by the Rights Agent pursuant to Section 4.3(a). The Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability, which right to indemnification will survive the termination of this Agreement.

4.1.2
The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for Common Shares, Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities of the Corporation, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.

38


4.1.3
The Corporation shall inform the Rights Agent in a reasonably timely manner of events which may materially affect the administration of this Agreement by the Rights Agent and, at any time upon request, shall provide to the Rights Agent an incumbency certificate certifying the then current officers of the Corporation.

4.2   Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent

4.2.1
Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or amalgamated or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, amalgamation or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any document or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 4.4. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates will have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

4.2.2
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

4.3   Duties of Rights Agent

        The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Corporation and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

39


40


4.4   Change of Rights Agent

        The Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement by giving 60 days prior written notice (or such lesser notice as is acceptable to the Corporation) to the Corporation, to each transfer agent of Common Shares and to the holders of the Rights, all in accordance with Section 5.9 and at the expense of the Corporation. The Corporation may remove the Rights Agent by giving 30 days prior written notice to the Rights Agent, to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of acting, the Corporation will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Corporation fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights (which holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for inspection of the Corporation), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Corporation or by such a court, must be a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province thereof and authorized to carry on the business of a trust company in the Province of Ontario. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Corporation will file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

41



ARTICLE 5

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1   Redemption, Waiver, Extension and Termination

        5.1.1 The Board of Directors acting in good faith may, at any time prior to a Flip-in Event as to which the application of Section 3.1 has not been waived pursuant to this Section 5.1, elect to redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.00001 per Right, appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 if an event of the type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3 shall have occurred (such redemption price being herein referred to as the "Redemption Price").

42


        5.1.2 The Board of Directors may waive the application of Section 3.1 in respect of the occurrence of any Flip-in Event if the Board of Directors has determined in good faith, following the Stock Acquisition Date and prior to the Separation Time, that a Person became an Acquiring Person by inadvertence and without any intention to become, or knowledge that it would become, an Acquiring Person under this Agreement and, in the event that such a waiver is granted by the Board of Directors, such Stock Acquisition Date shall be deemed not to have occurred. Any such waiver pursuant to this Section 5.1.2 may only be given on the condition that such Person, within 14 days after the foregoing determination by the Board of Directors or such later date as the Board of Directors may determine (the "Disposition Date"), has reduced its Beneficial Ownership of Voting Shares such that the Person is no longer an Acquiring Person. If the Person remains an Acquiring Person at the Close of Business on the Disposition Date, then the Disposition Date shall be deemed to be the date of occurrence of a further Stock Acquisition Date and Section 3.1 shall apply thereto.

        5.1.3 In the event that a Person acquires Voting Shares pursuant to a Permitted Bid or an Exempt Acquisition referred to in Section 5.1.4 or Section 5.1.5, then the Board of Directors shall, immediately upon the consummation of such acquisition and without further formality, be deemed to have elected to redeem the Rights at the Redemption Price.

        5.1.4 The Board of Directors acting in good faith may, prior to the occurrence of the relevant Flip-in Event, upon prior written notice delivered to the Rights Agent, determine to waive the application of Section 3.1 to a Flip-in Event that may occur by reason of a Take-over Bid made by means of a take-over bid circular to all holders of record of Voting Shares; provided that, if the Board of Directors waives the application of Section 3.1 to a particular Take-over Bid pursuant to this Section 5.1.4, then the Board of Directors shall be deemed to have waived the application of Section 3.1 to any other Take-over Bid made by means of a take-over bid circular to all holders of record of Voting Shares prior to the expiry of any Take-over Bid (as the same may be extended from time to time) in respect of which a waiver is, or is deemed to have been, granted under this Section 5.1.4.

        5.1.5 The Board of Directors acting in good faith may determine, at any time prior to the occurrence of the relevant Flip-in Event, to waive the application of Section 3.1 to a Flip-in Event that may occur by reason of an acquisition of Voting Shares other than pursuant to a Take-over Bid made by means of a take-over bid circular to all holders of record of Voting Shares and other than in the circumstances set out in Subsection 5.1.2.

        5.1.6 The Board of Directors may, prior to the Close of Business on the eighth Business Day following a Stock Acquisition Date or such later Business Day as it may from time to time determine, upon prior written notice delivered to the Rights Agent, waive the application of Section 3.1 to the related Flip-in Event; provided that the Acquiring Person has reduced its Beneficial Ownership of Voting Shares (or has entered into a contractual arrangement with the Corporation, acceptable to the Board of Directors, to do so within 10 days of the date on which such contractual arrangement is entered into or such later date as the Board of Directors may determine) such that, at the time the waiver becomes effective pursuant to this Section 5.1.6, such Person is no longer an Acquiring Person. In the event of such a waiver becoming effective prior to the Separation Time, for the purposes of this Agreement, such Flip-in Event shall be deemed not to have occurred.

43


        5.1.7 Where a Take-over Bid that is not a Permitted Bid is withdrawn or otherwise terminated after the Separation Time has occurred and prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, or if the Board of Directors grants a waiver under Section 5.1.6 after the Separation Time, then the Board of Directors may elect to redeem all the outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price. Upon the Rights being redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.1.7, all of the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply as if the Separation Time had not occurred and Rights Certificates representing the number of Rights held by each holder of record of Common Shares at the Separation Time had not been mailed to each such holder and for all purposes of this Agreement the Separation Time shall be deemed not to have occurred and the Corporation shall be deemed to have issued replacement Rights to the holders of its then outstanding Common Shares.

        5.1.8 If the Board of Directors is deemed under Section 5.1.3 to have elected or elects under Section 5.1.1 or 5.1.7 to redeem the Rights, then the right to exercise the Rights will thereupon, without further action and without notice, terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price.

        5.1.9 Within 10 days after the Board of Directors is deemed under Section 5.1.3 to have elected or elects under Section 5.1.1 or Section 5.1.7 to redeem the Rights, the Corporation shall give notice of redemption to the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to each such holder at his last address as it appears upon the Rights Register or, prior to the Separation Time, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Voting Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made, and will state that no payment will be made to holders entitled to less than $10, in accordance with Section 5.1.10.

44


        5.1.10 The Corporation shall not be obligated to make a payment of the Redemption Price to any holder of Rights unless such holder is entitled to receive at least $10 in respect of all of the Rights held by such holder.

5.2   Expiration

        No Person will have any rights pursuant to this Agreement or in respect of any Right after the Expiration Time, except in respect of any right to receive cash, securities or other property which has accrued at the Expiration Time and except as specified in Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.

5.3   Issuance of New Rights Certificates

        Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Corporation may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the number or kind or class of shares purchasable upon exercise of Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

5.4   Supplements and Amendments

        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Corporation may, at any time, amend, vary or rescind any of the provisions of this Agreement and the Rights (whether or not such action would materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.4 to the contrary, no such supplement or amendment shall be made to the provisions of Article 4 except with the written consent of the Rights Agent.

5.5   Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares

        5.5.1 The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. After the Separation Time there shall be paid, in lieu of such fractional Rights, to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Market Price of a whole Right.

        5.5.2 The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractional Common Shares upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares, the Corporation shall pay to the registered holder of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Market Price of one Common Share at the date of such exercise.

45


5.6   Rights of Action

        Subject to the terms of this Agreement, rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights may, on such holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Corporation to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise such holder's Rights in the manner provided in this Agreement and in such holder's Rights Certificate. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.

5.7   Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder

        No holder, as such, of any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Common Shares or any other securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 5.8) or to receive dividends or subscription rights or otherwise, until such Rights, shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

5.8   Notice of Proposed Actions

        In case the Corporation proposes after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets, then, in each such case, the Corporation shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the date on which such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action by the Corporation.

46


5.9   Notices

        Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made to or by the Rights Agent, the holder of any Rights or the Corporation will be sufficiently given or made and shall be deemed to be received if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile machine or other means of printed telecommunication, charges prepaid and confirmed in writing by mail or delivery, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent or the Corporation, as applicable), as follows:

    (a)   if to the Corporation:
        IAMGold Corporation
5th Floor, 220 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2W4
        Attention:   President
        Facsimile:   (416) 360-4750

 

 

(b)

 

if to the Rights Agent:
        Computershare Trust Company of Canada
9th Floor, 100 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2Y1
        Attention:   Manager, Client Services
        Facsimile:   (416) 263-9524

 

 

(c)

 

if to the holder of any Rights, to the address of such holder as it appears on the Rights Register or, prior to the Separation Time, on the registry books of the Corporation for the Common Shares.

Any notice which is mailed or sent or delivered in the manner herein provided for shall be deemed given and received whether or not the holder receives the notice.

5.10 Costs of Enforcement

        The Corporation agrees that if the Corporation or any other Person (the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights) fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the Corporation or such Person will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to enforce his rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.

47


5.11 Regulatory Approvals

        Any obligation of the Corporation or action or event contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to applicable law and to the receipt of any requisite approval or consent from any governmental or regulatory authority. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any issuance or delivery of debt or equity securities (other than non-convertible debt securities) of the Corporation upon the exercise of Rights and any amendment to this Agreement shall be subject to the applicable prior consent of the stock exchanges on which the Corporation is from time to time listed.

5.12 Declaration as to Non-Canadian and Non-United States Holders

        If, upon the advice of outside counsel, any action or event contemplated by this Agreement would require compliance with the securities laws or comparable legislation of a jurisdiction outside of Canada and the United States of America, the Board of Directors acting in good faith may take such actions as it may deem appropriate to ensure that such compliance is not required, including without limitation establishing procedures for the issuance to a Canadian resident Fiduciary of Rights or securities issuable on exercise of Rights, the holding thereof in trust for the Persons entitled thereto (but reserving to the Fiduciary or to the Fiduciary and the Corporation, as the Corporation may determine, absolute discretion with respect thereto) and the sale thereof and remittance of the proceeds of such sale, if any, to the Persons entitled thereto. In no event shall the Corporation or the Rights Agent be required to issue or deliver Rights or securities issuable on exercise of Rights to Persons who are citizens, residents or nationals of any jurisdiction other than Canada and any province or territory thereof and the United States of America and any state thereof in which such issue or delivery would be unlawful without registration of the relevant Persons or securities for such purposes.

5.13 Successors

        All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Corporation or the Rights Agent shall bind and enure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

5.14 Benefits of this Agreement

        Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

5.15 Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors

48


All actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of Directors for the purposes hereof, in good faith:

5.16 Governing Law

        This Agreement and the Rights issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the Province of Ontario and for all purposes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such province applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such province.

5.17 Language

        Les parties aux présentes ont exigé que la présente convention ainsi que tous les documents et avis qui s'y rattachent ou qui en coulent soient redigés en langue anglaise. The parties hereto have required that this Agreement and all documents and notices related thereto or resulting therefrom be drawn up in English.

5.18 Counterparts

        This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts will for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

5.19 Severability

        If any term or provision hereof or the application thereof to any circumstance is, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.

5.20 Effective Date

        This Agreement is effective and in force and effect in accordance with its terms from and after the date hereof.

49


5.21 Time of the Essence

        Time shall be of the essence hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed effective as of the date first above written.

IAMGOLD CORPORATION

By: (Signed) Joseph F. Conway                      President and Chief Executive Officer

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA

By: (Signed) Christine Lawton                      Authorized Signatory

By: (Signed) Shirley Yuen                      Authorized Signatory

50



SCHEDULE A

to a Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement made as of July 12, 2004
between IAMGold Corporation and Computershare Trust Company of Canada

Certificate No. [        ]   [        ] Rights

THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN SECTION 3.1.2 OF SUCH AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON, CERTAIN RELATED PARTIES OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR A TRANSFEREE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY SUCH RELATED PARTIES WILL BECOME VOID WITHOUT FURTHER ACTION.


RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

This certifies that [        ] is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement made as of July 12, 2004 (the "Rights Agreement") between IAMGold Corporation, a corporation existing under the Canada Business Corporations Act, (the "Corporation") and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, a trust company incorporated under the laws of Canada, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), which term shall include any successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from the Corporation, at any time after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), one fully paid common share of the Corporation (a "Common Share") at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate, together with the Form of Election to Exercise appropriately completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at its principal office in Toronto, Ontario. Until adjustment thereof in certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price shall be $40 per Right (payable in cash, certified cheque or money order payable to the order of the Corporation).

The number of Common Shares which may be purchased for the Exercise Price is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Rights Agreement.

This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the registered office of the Corporation and are available upon written request.


This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent in Toronto, Ontario may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced hereby may be adjusted so as to entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase or receive securities or shares in the capital of the Corporation other than Common Shares or more or less than one Common Share (or a combination thereof), all as provided in the Rights Agreement. The number of Common Shares which may be purchased for the Exercise Price is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Rights Agreement.

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Corporation at a redemption price of $0.00001 per Right subject to adjustment in certain events.

No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Common Shares or any other securities which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of any meeting or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

2


This Rights Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Corporation.

Date: [        ]    

IAMGOLD CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 



 

 

By:

 



 

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA

 

 

By:

 



 

 

By:

 



 

 

3



FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE

IAMGOLD CORPORATION

        The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise [        ] whole Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Common Shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:

Rights Certificate No. [        ]


Name
   
     

Address
   
     

City and Province
   
     

Social Insurance No. or other
taxpayer identification numbers
   

        If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:


Name
   
     

Address
   
     

City and Province
   
     

Social Insurance No. or other
taxpayer identification numbers
   

Date:
 
Signature
       

Written Signature Guaranteed
  (Signature must correspond to name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever)

        Signature must be guaranteed by a Canadian chartered bank or trust company, a member of a recognized stock exchange in Canada, a member of a registered national securities exchange in the United States of America or a member of the Securities Transfer Association Medallion (STAMP) Program.

(To be completed by the holder if true)

        The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of the Corporation and all holders of Rights and Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or by an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, any other Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of any such other Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

     
Signature


NOTICE

        In the event that the certification set forth above in the Form of Election to Exercise is not completed, the Corporation shall deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, accordingly, such Rights shall be null and void.

2



FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

                                                                                        
(Please print name and address of transferee)

the Rights represented by this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein.

     
     
Date:                                                                                                                                                                          
    Signature
     
     
                                                                                   
Written Signature Guaranteed
  (Signature must correspond to name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever)

Signature must be guaranteed by a Canadian chartered bank or trust company, a member of a recognized stock exchange in Canada a member of a registered national securities exchange in the United States of America or a member of the Securities Transfer Association Medallion (STAMP) Program.

(To be completed by the assignor if true)

The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of the Corporation and all holders of Rights and Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not and, to the knowledge of the undersigned have never been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or by an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, any other Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of any such other Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

                                                                                            
Signature
     
     
                                                                                            
(Please print name below signature)


NOTICE

In the event that the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment is not completed, the Corporation shall deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, accordingly, such Rights shall be null and void.




QuickLinks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT
ARTICLE 1 INTERPRETATION
ARTICLE 2 THE RIGHTS
ARTICLE 3 ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS
ARTICLE 4 THE RIGHTS AGENT
ARTICLE 5 MISCELLANEOUS
SCHEDULE A
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE IAMGOLD CORPORATION
NOTICE
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
NOTICE