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EXHIBIT 4.3
ERO COPPER CORP.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
EFFECTIVE MAY 7, 2020
Article 1
Introduction and Interpretation
The purpose of the Plan is to provide an incentive
to the officers, employees, Consultants and other personnel of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to achieve the longer-term objectives
of the Corporation; to give suitable recognition to the ability and industry of such persons who contribute materially to the success
of the Corporation; and to attract to and retain in the employ of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, persons of experience and
ability, by providing them with the opportunity to acquire an increased proprietary interest in the Corporation.
In this Plan, the following terms have the following
meanings:
| (a) | “Administrative Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a); |
| (b) | “affiliate” and “associate” have the meanings set forth in the Securities
Act (British Columbia); |
| (c) | “Aggregate Insider Limit” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a); |
| (d) | “Applicable Law” means any applicable provision of law, domestic or foreign, including,
without limitation, applicable securities legislation, together with all regulations, rules, policy statements, rulings, notices, orders
or other instruments promulgated thereunder, and Stock Exchange Rules; |
| (e) | “Approval Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b); |
| (f) | “Blackout Period” means a period of time during which the Optionee cannot exercise
an Option, or sell Shares, due to applicable policies of the Corporation in respect of insider trading; |
| (g) | “Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation as constituted from time to
time; |
| (h) | “Business Day” any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or holiday (as defined in the
Interpretation Act (Canada)) in Vancouver, British Columbia; |
| (i) | “Change of Control” includes: |
| (i) | the acquisition whether directly or indirectly, by a person or company, or any persons or companies acting
jointly or in concert (as determined in accordance with the Securities Act (British Columbia) and the rules and regulations thereunder)
of voting securities of the Corporation which, together with any other voting securities of the Corporation held by such person or company
or persons or companies, constitute, in the |
aggregate, more than 50% of all outstanding voting securities
of the Corporation;
| (ii) | an amalgamation, arrangement or other form of business combination of the Corporation with another company
which results in the holders of voting securities of that other company holding, in the aggregate, 50% or more of all outstanding voting
securities of the Corporation (including a merged or successor company) resulting from the business combination; |
| (iii) | the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the property of the Corporation to another
person, other than in the ordinary course of business of the Corporation or to a related entity; or |
| (iv) | any other transaction that is deemed to be a “Change of Control” for the purposes of this
Plan by the Board in its sole discretion. |
| (j) | “Committee” means the Compensation Committee for the Board, or such other persons as
are designated by the Board, provided, however, that if no Compensation Committee is in existence at any particular time and the Board
has not appointed another committee of the Board to administer the Plan, all references to the Plan to “Committee” shall at
such time be in reference to the Board; |
| (k) | “Consultant” means a person, other than an employee, executive officer, or director
of the Corporation or of a related entity of the Corporation, that (a) is engaged to provide services to the Corporation or a related
entity of the Corporation, other than services provided in relation to a distribution, for an initial, renewable or extended period of
twelve months or more, (b) provides the services under a written contract with the Corporation or a related entity of the Corporation,
and (c) spends or will spend a significant amount of time and attention on the affairs and business of the Corporation or a related entity
of the Corporation; |
| (l) | “Corporation” means Ero Copper Corp. and its successors and assigns, and any reference
in the Plan to action by the Corporation means action by or under the authority of the Board or the Committee; |
| (m) | “Effective Date” means May 7, 2020; |
| (n) | “Eligible Person” means any director, officer, employee, Consultant or other personnel
of the Corporation (including any subsidiary of the Corporation); |
| (o) | “Exchange” means, collectively, the Toronto Stock Exchange, any successor thereto and
any other stock exchange, inter-dealer quotation network or other organized trading facility through which the Shares trade or are quoted
from time to time; |
| (p) | “Exercise Price” means the price per Share at which the Optionee is entitled to purchase
the underlying Share or Shares in the Corporation, subject to any adjustments pursuant to Section 7.2; |
| (q) | “Expiry Date” means the date designated by
the Board at the time of grant on which the Option expires and is of no further force and effect, except in accordance with the provisions
related to a Blackout Period described in Section 4.1(c); |
| (r) | “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any particular date, the volume weighted
average trading price of the Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five trading days immediately preceding the relevant date (or
on any such other stock exchange, inter-dealer quotation network or other organized trading facility on which the Shares trade or are
quoted from time to time). If the Shares are suspended from trading or have not traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange or another stock
exchange, inter-dealer quotation network or other organized trading facility for an extended period, the Fair Market Value will be the
fair market value of the Shares as determined by the Board in its sole discretion acting in good faith; |
| (s) | “Individual Limit” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4; |
| (t) | “Insider” means an insider of the Corporation, as defined in the Securities Act
(British Columbia), and any associate or affiliate of any such insider; |
| (u) | “Long-Term Disability” means a circumstance whereby the Corporation is able and elects,
either under the terms of an employment contract or at common law, to terminate or consider frustrated the employment of an Optionee due
to the Optionee’s long-term disability; |
| (v) | “Notice of Grant of Options” means a written notice from the Corporation to the Optionee
evidencing a grant of Options made pursuant to the Plan; |
| (w) | “Option” means an option to purchase a Share granted under the Plan; |
| (x) | “Optionee” means an Eligible Person to whom an Option has been granted; |
| (y) | “Plan” means the Ero Copper Corp. Stock Option Plan, including all Schedules hereto,
as amended and restated from time to time in accordance with its terms; |
| (z) | “Plan Administrator” means the person or corporation appointed by the Corporation under
Section 2.2 to provide administrative services in respect of the Plan; |
| (aa) | “Retirement” means a resignation from employment with the Corporation by an Optionee
in circumstances the Committee, acting reasonably, deems to constitute retirement from employment, and not resignation to obtain alternate
employment; |
| (bb) | “Security Based Compensation Arrangements” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Part
VI of the Company Manual of the Toronto Stock Exchange, as amended from time to time; |
| (cc) | “Shares” means a common share in the capital of the Corporation and any other share
that may be added thereto or substituted therefore as a result of |
amendments to the articles of the Corporation, reorganization or
otherwise, including any rights that form a part of the common share or substituted share;
| (dd) | “Stock Exchange Rules” means the applicable rules of the Exchange; |
| (ee) | “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the Securities Act (British Columbia); |
| (ff) | “Successor Corporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4; |
| (gg) | “Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1; and |
| (hh) | “U.S. Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
| 1.3 | Construction and Interpretation |
| (a) | In this Plan, all references to the masculine include the feminine; references to the singular shall include
the plural and vice versa, as the context shall require. |
| (b) | The headings of all articles, sections and paragraphs in the Plan are inserted for convenience of reference
only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of the Plan. References to “Article” “Section” or
“Paragraph” mean an article, section or paragraph contained in the Plan unless expressly stated otherwise. |
| (c) | In this Plan, “including” and “includes” mean including or includes, as the case
may be, without limitation. The words “hereto”, “herein”, “hereby”, “hereunder”, “hereof”
and similar expressions mean or refer to the Plan as a whole and not to any particular article, section, paragraph or other part hereof. |
| (d) | Whenever the Board or, where applicable, the Committee or any sub-delegate of the Committee is to exercise
discretion in the administration of the terms and conditions of this Plan, the term “discretion” means the sole and absolute
discretion of the Board, the Committee or sub-delegate of the Committee, as the case may be. |
The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective
Date and Options may be granted immediately thereafter, subject to receipt of all regulatory approvals. The Committee shall review and
confirm the terms of the Plan from time to time.
Article 2
Plan Administration
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
Subject to the general purposes, terms and condition of the Plan, and to the direction of the Board, the Committee shall have the authority
in its sole and absolute discretion to administer the Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities either specifically granted
to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the Plan, all acting reasonably and in good faith and subject
to and not
inconsistent with the express provisions of this Plan. Where the Board has
delegated a power or authority to the Committee, any reference to the Board in this Plan shall be deemed to be a reference to the Committee.
The powers and duties of the Committee include,
without limitation, the following:
| (a) | the authority to grant Options; |
| (b) | to determine the number of Shares subject by each Option; |
| (c) | to determine the Exercise Price of each Option, subject to the provisions of this Plan; |
| (d) | to determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Options shall be granted; |
| (e) | to determine the time or times when Options will be granted, vested and exercisable (including any determination
to accelerate the vesting of any Options granted hereunder) and determine the Expiry Date of an Option; |
| (f) | to determine if the Shares that are issuable on the exercise of an Option will be subject to any restrictions
upon the exercise of such Option; |
| (g) | to establish policies and to adopt rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes, provisions and
administration of the Plan; |
| (h) | to interpret and construe the Plan and to determine all questions arising out of the Plan and any Option
granted pursuant to the Plan (and any such interpretation, construction or determination made by the Committee shall be final, binding
and conclusive for all purposes on the Corporation and the Optionee); |
| (i) | to determine and prescribe the terms and provisions of Notices of Grant of Options (which need not be
identical) provided in connection with grants of Options and the form of documents or processes in respect of the exercise of Options; |
| (j) | to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan; and |
| (k) | to appoint, in accordance with Section 2.2, one or more persons or corporations to perform the duties
of the Plan Administrator under the Plan. |
Without limiting the discretion conferred on
the Committee pursuant to this Section 2.1, the Committee’s decision to approve the grant of an Option to an Eligible Person in
any period shall not require the Committee to approve the grant of an Option to any Eligible Person in any other period; nor shall the
Committee’s decision with respect to the size or terms and conditions of an Option grant in any period require it to approve the
grant of Options of the same or similar size or with the same or similar terms and conditions to any Eligible Person in any other period.
The Committee shall not be precluded from approving the grant of an Option to any Eligible Person solely because such Eligible Person
may previously have been granted an Option under this Plan or any other similar compensation arrangement of the Corporation.
| (a) | The Corporation may enter into an agreement or agreements with a person or corporation to perform the
duties of the Plan Administrator as set out in this Plan (each, an “Administrative Agreement”). |
| (b) | The Corporation shall have the right at any time and from time to time, to remove from office the Plan
Administrator under the Plan and to appoint another Plan Administrator in its stead in accordance with the terms of the relevant Administrative
Agreement. |
| 2.3 | Shares Subject to Plan |
Options may be granted in respect of authorized
and unissued Shares, provided that the aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, subject to adjustment or increase
of such number pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.2, and in combination with the aggregate number of Shares which may be issuable
under any other Security Based Compensation Arrangement adopted by the Corporation, shall not exceed 8% of the number of issued and outstanding
Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the relevant time. Provided that such maximum number of Shares is not exceeded, following the exercise,
expiration, cancellation or other termination of any Options under the Plan, a number of Shares equal to the number of Options or rights
so exercised, expired, cancelled or terminated shall automatically become available for issuance in respect of Options that may subsequently
be granted under the Plan. No fractional Shares may be purchased or issued under the Plan. In the event the number of Shares to be issued
upon the exercise of an Option is a fraction, the Optionee will receive the next lowest whole number of Shares and will not receive any
other form of compensation (cash or otherwise) for the fractional interest.
| 2.4 | Conditions to Grant or Exercise |
The Committee may, in its discretion, require as conditions
to the grant or exercise of any Option, that the Optionee shall have:
| (a) | represented, warranted and agreed in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation that he, she or
it is acquiring and will acquire such Option and the Shares to be issued upon the exercise thereof or, as the case may be, is acquiring
such Shares, for his, her or its own account, for investment and not with a view to or in connection with any distribution, that he, she
or it has had access to such information as is necessary to enable him or her to evaluate the merits and risks of such investment and
that he or she is able to bear the economic risk of holding such Shares for an indefinite period; |
| (b) | provided certain representations, warranties and certifications to the Corporation to satisfy the requirements
of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws; |
| (c) | agreed to restrictions on transfer in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation and to an endorsement
on any option agreement or certificate representing the Shares making appropriate reference to such restrictions; and |
| (d) | agreed to indemnify the Corporation in connection with the foregoing. |
| 2.5 | Additional Requirements |
Any Option granted under the Plan shall be subject
to the requirement that, if at any time counsel to the Corporation shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of
the Shares subject to such Option upon any securities exchange or under any law or regulation of any jurisdiction, or the consent or approval
of any securities exchange or any governmental or regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant or
exercise of such Option or the issuance or purchase of Shares thereunder, such Option may not be accepted or exercised in whole or in
part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable
to the Board. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Corporation to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration, qualification,
consent or approval. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance
and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of applicable securities law, including, without
limitation, the U.S. Securities Act, the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, applicable U.S. state securities
laws, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange or consolidated stock price reporting
system on which prices for the Shares are quoted at any given time.
Article 3
Plan Participation
Options may be granted only to Eligible Persons
as the Committee may determine, provided that no Eligible Person has any claim or right to be granted an Option. In determining the Eligible
Persons to whom Options may be granted and the number of Options granted to any Eligible Person, the Committee may take into account such
factors as it shall determine in its sole and absolute discretion.
Participation in the Plan by Eligible Persons
is voluntary.
Article 4
Grant of Options
Subject to, and except as herein and as otherwise
specifically provided for in this Plan, the number of Shares subject to each Option, the Exercise Price, the Expiry Date of each Option,
the extent to which each Option vests and is exercisable from time to time during the term of the Option and other terms and conditions
relating to each such Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that:
| (a) | the Expiry Date of an Option shall be no later than the date which is five years from the date of grant
of such Option; |
| (b) | the date of grant of an Option shall be either the date on which such Option was approved by the Committee
(the “Approval Date”), or, if the Approval Date was not a Business Day, then the Business Day immediately following |
the Approval Date, or if the Approval Date occurred during a
Blackout Period applicable to the relevant Optionee, then the Business Day immediately following the expiry of the Blackout Period applicable
to the relevant Optionee; and
| (c) | notwithstanding Section 4.1(a), if the Expiry Date of an Option occurs during a Blackout Period applicable
to the relevant Optionee, or within ten Business Days after the expiry of a Blackout Period applicable to the relevant Optionee,
then the Expiry Date for the Option shall be the date that is the tenth Business Day after the expiry of the Blackout Period (the “Blackout
Expiry Date”). |
| 4.2 | Notice of Grant of Options |
Each Option granted under the Plan shall be
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and evidenced by a Notice of Grant of Options and such other terms and conditions as the
Committee, in its discretion, shall establish. The form of Notice of Grant of Options is attached hereto as Schedule “A”.
The Exercise Price for Shares that are subject
to any Option shall in no circumstances be lower than the Fair Market Value, calculated in accordance with the terms of the Plan at the
date of grant of the Option.
| 4.4 | Restrictions on Number of Options to Individual Optionee |
Subject to Section 4.5, the number of Shares
that may be issued to any individual Optionee under the Plan, in combination with the aggregate number of Shares which may be issuable
under any other Security Based Compensation Arrangement adopted by the Corporation, within a one year period, shall not exceed 5% of the
number of issued and outstanding Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the date of grant of the Option (the “Individual Limit”).
| 4.5 | Restrictions on Number of Options to Insiders and Non-Employee Directors |
Subject to regulatory approval and unless approved
by the shareholders of the Corporation given by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders of the
Corporation, excluding the votes attached to Shares beneficially owned by Insiders to whom Options may be granted under the Plan, other
than persons who are Insiders solely by virtue of being a director or senior officer of a subsidiary of the Corporation, and associates
thereof:
| (a) | the number of Shares issuable to Insiders as a group, at any time, under the Plan, or when combined with
all of the other Security Based Compensation Arrangements adopted by the Corporation, shall not exceed 8% of the number of issued and
outstanding Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the date of grant of the Option (the “Aggregate Insider Limit”); |
| (b) | the number of Shares that may be issued to Insiders as a group, within any one-year period, under the
Plan, or when combined with all of the other Security Based Compensation Arrangements adopted by the Corporation, shall not exceed the
Aggregate Insider Limit; |
| (c) | the number of Shares that may be issued to any one Insider under
the Plan, or when combined with all of the other Security Based Compensation Arrangements adopted by the Corporation, shall not exceed
the Individual Limit; and |
| (d) | the Fair Market Value of Options that may be granted to each non-employee director of the Corporation
within any one-year period under the Plan shall not exceed $100,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value of Options that
may be granted to each non-employee director of the Corporation within any one-year period under the Plan, or when combined with all of
the other Security Based Compensation Arrangements adopted by the Corporation, shall not exceed $150,000. |
Article 5
Exercise of Options
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, an Option
may be exercised from time to time by delivery to the Plan Administrator or, if no Plan Administrator is appointed pursuant to the Plan,
to the Corporation, a written notice of exercise specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Options are being exercised
and accompanied by payment in full, by way of cash, cheque or other form of payment acceptable to the Corporation, of (a) the Exercise
Price of the Shares to be purchased and (b) an amount for any tax withholding or remittance obligations of the Optionee or the Corporation
arising under Applicable Law (or by entering into some other arrangement acceptable to the Corporation). Certificates or other evidence
of ownership for such Shares shall be issued and delivered to the Optionee within a reasonable time following the receipt of such notice
and payment.
If, as and when any Shares have been duly purchased
and paid for under the terms of an Option, and all conditions relating to the exercise of an Option have been fulfilled to the satisfaction
of the Committee, such Shares shall be conclusively deemed allotted and issued as fully paid and non-assessable Shares at the price paid
therefor.
Notwithstanding the above, the Corporation may
implement (or cause to have implemented) such systems and procedures (including systems and procedures operated by the Plan Administrator)
from time to time to facilitate the exercise of Options pursuant to this Plan and shall provide Optionees with all necessary details regarding
such systems and procedures to facilitate the exercise of Options from time to time in accordance with their terms.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of the
Plan, any Notice of Grant of Options or any Option, the Corporation’s obligation to issue Shares to an Optionee pursuant to the
exercise of any Option shall be subject to:
| (a) | completion of such registration or other qualification of such Shares or obtaining approval of such governmental
or regulatory authority as the Corporation shall determine to be necessary or advisable in connection with the authorization, issuance
or sale thereof; |
| (b) | the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed; |
| (c) | the receipt from the Optionee of such representations, warranties,
agreements and undertakings, as the Corporation determines is necessary or advisable in order to safeguard against the violation of the
securities laws of any jurisdiction; and |
| (d) | the satisfaction of any conditions on exercise prescribed pursuant to the provisions hereof. |
| 5.2 | Net Settlement of Options |
Subject to the provisions of the Plan and, upon
prior approval of the Committee, once an Option has vested and become exercisable an Optionee may elect, in lieu of exercising such Option,
to exercise such Option by surrendering such Option in exchange for the issuance of Shares equal to the number determined by dividing
(a) the difference between the Fair Market Value (calculated as at the date of settlement) and the Exercise Price of such Option by (b)
the Fair Market Value (calculated as at the date of settlement). An Option may be surrendered and disposed of pursuant to this Section
5.2 from time to time by delivery to the Plan Administrator or, if no Plan Administrator is appointed pursuant to the Plan, to the Corporation,
at its head office or such other place as may be specified by the Plan Administrator or the Corporation, as the case may be, of (a) a
written notice specifying that the Optionee has elected to effect such a net settlement of such Option and the number of Options to be
exercised and (b) the payment of an amount for any tax withholding or remittance obligations of the Optionee or the Corporation arising
under Applicable Law (or by entering into some other arrangement acceptable to the Corporation). The Corporation will not be required,
upon the net settlement of any Options pursuant to this Section 5.2, to issue fractions of Shares or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional Shares. In the event the number of Shares to be issued upon the net settlement of an Option is a fraction, the Optionee
will receive the next lowest whole number of Shares and will not receive any other form of compensation (cash or otherwise) for the fractional
interest. Upon exercise of the foregoing, the number of Shares underlying the Options disposed of shall be deducted from the number of
Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.
No Option shall be exercised pursuant to this
Article 5 during a Blackout Period.
Article 6
Termination of Employment
| 6.1 | No Right to Exercise After Termination |
Subject to Sections 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4 hereof,
or to any express resolution or other determination by the Board with respect to an Option or the terms of any Notice of Grant of Options,
an Option, and all rights to purchase Shares pursuant thereto, shall expire and terminate immediately upon the Optionee ceasing to actively
provide services to the Corporation in his or her capacity as a director, an officer, employee or Consultant of the Corporation, as the
case may be.
| 6.2 | Termination Other than for Retirement, Long-Term Disability, Death or Just Cause |
Subject to any express resolution or other determination
by the Committee with respect to an Option or the terms of any Notice of Grant of Options, if, before the Expiry Date of an Option,
the employment of the Optionee by the Corporation is terminated by
either party for any reason whatsoever, other than death, Retirement, Long-Term Disability or termination for cause, such Option may,
subject to the terms thereof (including the vesting provisions thereof) and any other terms of the Plan, be exercised by the Optionee,
at any time within 60 days of the termination of such Optionee’s active employment or other service with the Corporation, but
in any case prior to the Expiry Date of the Option in accordance with the terms thereof and only to the extent the Optionee was entitled
to exercise the Option on the date of termination. For greater certainty, the termination of active employment shall be the last day an
Eligible Person provides actual service to the Corporation pursuant to a written notice of termination and does not include any subsequent
common law or contractual notice period.
| 6.3 | Termination Due to Retirement or Long-Term Disability |
If, before the Expiry Date of an Option in accordance
with the terms thereof, the employment of the Optionee by the Corporation is terminated by reason of Retirement or as a result of Long-Term
Disability, unless the Committee determines otherwise, all Options held by such Optionee which have vested in accordance with their terms
may be exercised at any time within one year following the date of Retirement or termination of the Optionee as a result of a Long-Term
Disability or prior to the Expiry Date, whichever is earlier. Options held by an Optionee whose employment has been terminated by reason
of Retirement or as a result of Long-Term Disability shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms until the earlier of the date
which is one year following the date of Retirement or termination of the Optionee as a result of Long-Term Disability and the Expiry Date.
If, before the Expiry Date of an Option in accordance
with the terms thereof, the employment of the Optionee by the Corporation is terminated by reason of death, unless the Committee determines
otherwise, all outstanding Options held by such Optionee shall become fully vested and may be exercised by the legal personal representative(s)
of the estate of the Optionee (including such part, if any, thereof which, but for this Section 6.4, would not otherwise be able to be
exercised) at any time within one year following the date of death of the Optionee or prior to the Expiry Date, whichever is earlier,
and only to the extent the Option was entitled to exercise the Option on the date of death.
Subject to Section 6.4 in the case of the death
of an Optionee, an Option granted to an Optionee, and the right to receive Shares pursuant thereto, is personal to such Optionee. Except
as otherwise provided in this Plan, no assignment, sale, transfer, pledge or charge of an Option, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation
of law or otherwise, vests any interest or right in such Option whatsoever in any assignee or transferee and, immediately upon any assignment,
sale, transfer, pledge or charge or attempt to assign, sell, transfer, pledge or charge, such Option shall terminate and be of no further
force or effect.
| 6.6 | Transfer Not Termination for Plan Purposes |
A transfer of employment or services between
the Corporation and a subsidiary or affiliate of the Corporation or between subsidiaries or affiliates of the Corporation shall not be
considered an interruption or termination of the employment of an Optionee by the Corporation for any purpose of the Plan, and Options
shall not be affected by any such transfer of employment or services.
Options shall not be affected by any change
of employment of the Optionee or by the Optionee ceasing to be a director, an officer or Consultant of the Corporation where the Optionee
at the same time continues to be an Eligible Person.
Article 7
Business Combinations and Certain Adjustments
Subject to Section 7.3, if, during the term
of an outstanding Option, the Corporation completes any transaction which results in a Change of Control (referred to as a “Transaction”)
all unvested Options shall vest, and if within 90 days or such other period of time that the Committee determines following the date of
the completion of the Transaction an event or events that would constitute a “constructive dismissal” (as such term is defined
pursuant to the common law) occur with respect to an Optionee, and within 90 days or such other period of time that the Committee determines
following the date of such “constructive dismissal” such Optionee’s employment with the Corporation is terminated (whether
at the discretion of the Optionee or otherwise):
| (a) | each exercisable Option then held by the Optionee shall remain exercisable for a period of 90 days or
such other period of time that the Committee determines from the date of such termination of employment, but not later than the end of
the Expiry Date, and thereafter any such Option shall expire; and |
| (b) | each non-exercisable Option then held by the Optionee shall become exercisable upon such termination of
employment and shall remain exercisable for a period of 90 days or such other period of time that the Committee determines from the date
of such termination of employment, but not later than the end of the Expiry Date, and thereafter any such Option shall expire. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect
to any performance-based Options granted under the Plan, vesting of an Option shall be dependent on achievement of the applicable performance
criteria as of the date of the completion of the Transaction and/or be prorated to the date of the completion of the Transaction, as applicable.
Appropriate adjustments as regards Options
granted or to be granted, in the number of Shares optioned and in the Exercise Price, shall be made by the Committee to give effect to
adjustments in the number of Shares resulting from subdivisions, consolidations or reclassifications of the Shares, or other relevant
changes in the Corporation. The appropriate adjustment in any particular circumstance shall be conclusively determined by the Committee
in its sole discretion, subject to the direction of the Board, approval by the shareholders of the Corporation and to acceptance by the
Exchange, respectively, if applicable.
| 7.3 | No Limitation on Ability to Accelerate |
Nothing in this Article 7 shall in any
way affect or derogate from the ability of the Committee to accelerate the vesting of Options at any time in its sole discretion as provided
for in Section 2.1(e).
If at any time after the grant of an Option
to any Optionee and prior to the Expiry Date of such Option, the Shares shall be reclassified, reorganized or otherwise changed, otherwise
than as specified in Section 7.2 or, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1 hereof, the Corporation shall consolidate, merge or amalgamate
with or into another corporation (the corporation resulting or continuing from such consolidation, merger or amalgamation being herein
called the “Successor Corporation”) the Optionee shall be entitled to receive upon the subsequent exercise of his,
her or its Option in accordance with the terms hereof and shall accept in lieu of the number of Shares to which he, she or it was theretofore
entitled upon such exercise but for the same aggregate consideration payable therefor, the aggregate number of shares of the appropriate
class and/or other securities of the Corporation or the Successor Corporation (as the case may be) and/or other consideration from the
Corporation or the Successor Corporation (as the case may be) that the Optionee would have been entitled to receive as a result of such
reclassification, reorganization or other change or, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1 hereof, as a result of such consolidation,
merger or amalgamation, if on the record date of such reclassification, reorganization or other change or the effective date of such consolidation,
merger or amalgamation, as the case may be, he or she had been the registered holder of the number of Shares to which he or she was theretofore
entitled upon such exercise.
Article 8
Amendment or Termination of the Plan
| 8.1 | Amendment and Termination of the Plan |
Subject to Sections 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4, the Board
may, at any time and from time to time, without the approval of the holders of Shares or any other voting securities of the Corporation,
suspend, discontinue or amend the Plan or an Option.
| 8.2 | Amendments Requiring Shareholder Approval |
To the extent required by the Stock Exchange
Rules, notwithstanding Section 8.1, the Board may not, without the approval of the holders of a majority of Shares and other voting securities
of the Corporation present and voting in person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation, amend the Plan or an Option
to:
| (a) | increase the maximum number of Shares issuable, as a fixed percentage of the issued and outstanding Shares
pursuant to the Plan; |
| (b) | make any amendment that would reduce the Exercise Price of an outstanding Option (including a cancellation
and reissue of an Option that constitutes a reduction of the Exercise Price); |
| (c) | make any amendments to the non-employee director participation
limits set forth in Section 4.5(d) hereof; |
| (d) | extend the Expiry Date of any Option granted under the Plan beyond the Expiry Date of the Option determined
at the date of grant in accordance with the Plan, except as provided for in Section 4.1 with respect to an Expiry Date that occurs during
a Blackout Period; |
| (e) | changing the categories of individuals contained in the definition of “Eligible Person” who
are eligible to participate in the Plan, including where such change may introduce, re-introduce, broaden or increase the participation
of non-employee directors under the Plan; or |
| (f) | amend the Plan to permit the transfer or assignment of Options, except to permit a transfer to a family
member, an entity controlled by the holder of the Options or a family member, a charity or for estate planning or estate settlement purposes. |
unless the change to the Plan or an Option results
from the application of Article 7.
Unless an Optionee otherwise agrees, the Board
may not suspend, discontinue or amend the Plan or amend any outstanding Option in a manner that would materially and adversely alter or
impair any Option previously granted to an Optionee under the Plan, and any such suspension, discontinuance or amendment of the Plan or
amendment to an Option shall apply only in respect of Options granted on or after the date of such suspension, discontinuance or amendment.
No suspension, discontinuance or amendment of the Plan or amendment of an Option may contravene the requirements of the Exchange or any
securities commission or regulatory body to which the Plan, the Option or the Corporation is now or may hereafter be subject.
| 8.4 | No Amendment to Article 8 |
The Board may not amend any provision of this
Article 8 without the approval of the holders of a majority of Shares and other voting securities of the Corporation present and voting
in person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation.
Article 9
Accounts, Notices and Miscellaneous Provisions
| 9.1 | Accounts and Statements |
The Plan Administrator (or if none is appointed,
the Corporation) shall maintain records of the details of each Option granted to each Optionee under the Plan. Upon request therefor from
an Optionee and at such other times as the Corporation shall determine, the Plan Administrator (or if none is appointed, the Corporation)
shall furnish the Optionee with a statement setting forth details of his, her or its Options. Such statement shall be deemed to have been
accepted by the Optionee as correct unless written notice to the contrary is given to the Plan Administrator (or if none is appointed,
the Corporation) within 10 days after such statement is given to the Optionee.
Any payment, notice, statement, certificate
or other instrument required or permitted to be given to an Optionee or any person claiming or deriving any rights through him shall be
given by:
| (a) | delivering it personally to the Optionee or the person claiming or deriving rights to the Optionee, as
the case may be; |
| (b) | mailing it, postage paid (provided that the postal service is then in operation) or delivering it to the
address which is maintained for the Optionee in the Corporation’s personnel records; or |
| (c) | facsimile, e-mail or other similar means of electronic communication. |
Any payment, notice, statement, certificate
or instrument required or permitted to be given to the Plan Administrator or the Corporation, as the case may be, shall be given by mailing
it, postage prepaid (provided that the postal service is then in operation) or delivering it to the Plan Administrator or the Corporation,
as the case may be, at the following address:
Ero Copper Corp.
Suite 1050, 625 Howe Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2T6
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (604) 398-3767
Any payment, notice, statement, certificate
or instrument referred to in Sections 9.2 or 9.3, if delivered, shall be deemed to have been given or delivered, on the date on which
it was delivered; if faxed, e-mailed or sent by other means of recorded electronic communication, shall be deemed to have been given or
delivered, on the date of faxing, e-mailing or sending by other means of electronic communication, provided that such date is a Business
Day and the communication is so faxed, e-mailed or sent before 4:30 p.m. on such date at the place of receipt, otherwise, such communication
shall be deemed to have been given and delivered on the next following Business Day; or, if mailed (provided that the postal service is
then in
operation), shall be deemed to have been given or delivered on the
second Business Day following the date on which it was mailed.
| 9.5 | Shareholder and Regulatory Approval |
The Plan (and any amendments thereto as required
under Article 8) shall be subject to such future approvals of the shareholders of the Corporation and any stock exchange upon which the
Shares trade from time to time as may be required under the terms of the Plan or such stock exchange from time to time. Any Options granted
on terms requiring such approval shall be conditional upon such approval being given and no such Options may be exercised until such approval
is given.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Plan,
the Corporation may take such steps as are considered necessary or appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the Corporation
is required by any law or regulation of any governmental authority whatsoever to withhold in connection with any Share including, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the withholding of all or any portion of any payment or the withholding of the issue of Shares
to be issued under the Plan, until such time as the Eligible Person has paid the Corporation for any amount which the Corporation is required
to withhold with respect to such taxes or other amounts. Without limitation to the foregoing, the Committee may adopt administrative rules
under the Plan which provide for the sale of Shares (or a portion thereof) in the market upon the issuance of such Shares under the provisions
of the Plan to satisfy withholding obligations under the Plan.
| 9.7 | U.S. Tax Considerations |
The terms of the Plan and Options granted hereunder
to Eligible Persons subject to taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be determined by taking
into consideration Schedule B to the Plan setting forth special provisions applicable to such persons.
Any holder of an Option shall not possess any
rights of ownership as a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to any of the Shares covered by such Option including, for greater
certainty and without limitation, the right to receive dividends on such Shares and the right to exercise voting rights in respect of
such Shares, until such holder shall have exercised such Option in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the issuance of the Shares
by the Corporation.
| 9.9 | No Right of Continued Employment |
Nothing in the Plan, any Notice of Grant of
Options or any Option shall confer upon any Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries
or affect in any way the right of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to terminate his or her employment at any time; nor shall
anything in the Plan or any Option be deemed or construed to constitute an agreement, or any expression of intent, on the part of the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to extend the employment of any Optionee beyond the time that he or she would normally be retired
pursuant to the provisions of any present or future retirement plan of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or any present or future
retirement policy of the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or beyond the time at which he or
she would otherwise be retired pursuant to the provisions of any contract of employment of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
All expenses in connection with the Plan shall
be borne by the Corporation.
This Plan shall be governed by, construed and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein.
If any provision of the Plan or part hereof
is determined to be void or unenforceable in whole or in part, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforcement of any
other provision or part thereof.
SCHEDULE “A”
NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTIONS
| TO: |
[●] (the “Optionee”) |
| |
|
| FROM: |
ERO COPPER CORP. (the “Corporation”) |
| |
|
DATE: [●]
The Corporation hereby notifies the Optionee
as follows:
| 1. | The Corporation hereby grants to the Optionee, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Notice
and the stock option plan of the Corporation (the “Plan”), the right to purchase the following number of common shares
in the capital of the Corporation (the “Shares”) at the following exercise price on or after the following vesting
date(s) and prior to the close of business on the following expiry date: |
| #of Shares |
Exercise Price |
Vesting Date(s) |
Expiry Date |
| [●] |
$[●] |
[●] |
[●] |
| 2. | On the close of business on the expiry date set forth in Paragraph 1 above, the stock option granted hereby
shall expire and automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect. |
| 3. | The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and hereby agrees that the terms and conditions
of the Plan shall govern the stock option granted hereby, including all amendments or adjustments pursuant to the Plan or otherwise consented
to by the Optionee. |
| 4. | All stock options granted pursuant to the Plan and reflected in this Notice shall be personal to the Optionee
and shall not be assignable or otherwise transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. |
|
|
ERO COPPER CORP. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
By:
Title: |
|
SCHEDULE “B”
Special Provisions Applicable to Optionees Subject
to taxation under
the United States Internal Revenue Code
This special appendix sets forth special provisions
of the Plan that apply to Optionees subject to taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
For purposes of this Schedule “B”:
| 1.1 | “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
| 1.2 | “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and any applicable regulatory guidance
issued thereunder. |
| 1.3 | “US Optionee” means an Optionee whose compensation from the Corporation or its subsidiaries
is subject to taxation under the Code. |
| 2. | Compliance with Section 409A |
| 2.1 | In General. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, it is intended that with
respect to any US Optionee, such US Optionee’s participation in the Plan shall be exempt from Section 409A and in a manner which
does not subject the US Optionee’s interests in the Plan to accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A (and all provisions
of the Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A).
If any grant to a US Optionee or exercise, dividend or distribution hereunder could cause the application of accelerated or additional
tax under Section 409A, such grant, exercise, dividend or distribution shall be deferred if and to the extent deferral will make such
grant, exercise, dividend or distribution compliant with Section 409A; otherwise such grant, exercise, dividend or distribution shall
be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner determined by the Committee that does not cause such an accelerated or additional
tax. Each US Optionee is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the
account of such US Optionee in connection with the Plan (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A), and neither the Corporation
nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such US Optionee (or any beneficiary) harmless from
any or all of such taxes or penalties. |
| 2.2 | Modification of Options. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary and with respect
to any US Optionee, no Option may be extended beyond the Blackout Expiry Date and in no event following the 10th anniversary
of the date of grant. |
| 2.3 | Exercise Price: Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, so long as at the time of the
grant of an Option the Shares are “readily tradable” as determined under United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(vi)(G),
the Exercise Price shall be the closing sale price of the Shares reported on the primary securities exchange on which the Shares are listed
on the last business day on which such exchange is open for trading prior to the date of grant of such Option, and if at the time of grant
the Shares are not “readily tradable” as determined under United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(vi)(G),
the Exercise Price shall be |
determined by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation
method in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B).
| 3. | Adjustments to Options. |
| 3.1 | Notwithstanding the Plan or any provision of the Notice of Grant of Options to the contrary, in connection
with any adjustment to the Options, the number of Shares deliverable on the exercise of an Option held by a US Optionee and the Exercise
Price of an Option held by a US Optionee shall be adjusted in a manner intended to keep the Options exempt from Section 409A. |
| 4.1 | The Committee shall retain the power and authority to amend or modify this Schedule “B” to
the extent the Committee in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable to comply with any guidance issued under Section 409A. Such
amendments may be made without approval of the shareholders of the Corporation or the approval of any individual Optionee. |