UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington,  D.C. 20549 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

 

UR-ENERGY INC.

10758 West Centennial Road, Suite 200

Littleton, Colorado 80127

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 3,  2018

 

To the Shareholders of Ur-Energy Inc.:

 

The Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of Ur-Energy Inc. (the “Company”), will be held at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 7611 Shaffer Parkway, Littleton, Colorado 80127, on Thursday, May 3,  2018 at 1:00 p.m. local time to receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017, together with the report from the auditors thereon, and for the purpose of considering and voting upon proposals to:

 

1.Elect seven  (7) directors, each to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company or until their successors are elected and appointed;

 

2.Re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the independent auditors of the Company and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration of the auditors;

 

3.Approve, in an advisory (non-binding) vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (“say-on-pay”); and

 

4.Transact such other business as may lawfully come before the meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 27, 2018 as the record date for determination of the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.  This Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders and related proxy materials are first being distributed or made available to shareholders beginning on or about April 6, 2018.

 

We cordially invite you to attend the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders. Whether or not you plan to attend, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Please refer to your proxy card for more information on how to vote your shares at the meeting and return your voting instructions as promptly as possible.

 

The attached Management Proxy Circular, proxy card, and the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders (including financial statements) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 are available at http://www.ur- energy.com/annual-general-meeting-info/.

 

Thank you for your support.

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

UR-ENERGY INC.

10758 West Centennial Road, Suite 200

Littleton, Colorado 80127

 

MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR

ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

MAY 3,  2018

 

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

This Management Proxy Circular (the “Circular”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the management of Ur-Energy Inc. (“we,” “us,” the “Company” or “Ur-Energy”) of proxies for use at the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Company (the “Meeting”) to be held at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 7611 Shaffer Parkway, Littleton, Colorado 80127 on Thursday, May 3,  2018 commencing at 1:00 p.m. local time, and at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting (the “Notice”). The solicitation will be primarily by mail, but proxies may also be solicited personally or by telephone by directors, officers, employees or representatives of the Company. All costs of solicitation will be borne by the Company. This Circular and related proxy materials are being first distributed or made available to shareholders beginning on or about April 6, 2018. The information contained herein is given as at March 30,  2018 unless otherwise indicated.

 

All dollar amounts in this Circular are in U.S. dollars, except where indicated otherwise. On March 27, 2018, the noon exchange rate of Canadian currency in exchange for United States currency, as reported by the Bank of Canada, was US$1.00 = C$1.2869.

 

This Circular, the proxy card, and the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders (including financial statements) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 are available at http://www.ur-energy.com/annual-general-meeting-info/.

 

APPOINTMENT OF PROXIES

 

The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are the Chairman of the Board/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Klenda, and our independent Lead Director of the Company, Mr. Parker. Each shareholder has the right to appoint a person other than the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, who need not be a shareholder of the Company, to represent such shareholder at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Such right may be exercised by inserting such person’s name in the blank space provided in the form of proxy and striking out the other names or by completing another proper form of proxy.

 

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

 

Registered Shareholders

 

There are two methods by which registered shareholders (“Registered Shareholders”), whose names are shown on the books or records of the Company as owning common shares no par value of the Company (“Common Shares”), can vote their Common Shares at the Meeting either in person at the Meeting or by proxy.  Should a Registered Shareholder wish to vote in person at the Meeting, the Registered Shareholder should attend the Meeting where his or her vote will be taken and counted. Should the Registered Shareholder not wish to attend the meeting or not wish to vote in person, his or her vote may be voted by proxy through one of the methods described below and the Common Shares represented by the proxy will be voted or withheld from voting, in accordance with the instructions as indicated in the form of proxy, on any ballot that may be called for, and if a choice was specified with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted accordingly.

 

A Registered Shareholder may vote by proxy by using one of the following methods:  (i) the paper form of proxy to be returned by mail or delivery; (ii) by Internet; or (iii) by telephone.  The methods of using each of these procedures are as follows:

 

Voting by Mail.  A Registered Shareholder may vote by mail or delivery by completing, dating and signing the enclosed form of proxy and depositing it with Computershare Investor Services Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”) using the envelope provided or by mailing it to Computershare Investor Services Inc., Attention: Proxy Department, 100 University Avenue, 9th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1 or to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at 10758 West Centennial Road, Suite 200, Littleton, Colorado 80127 for receipt no later than 1:00 p.m. (MDT) on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, or if the Meeting is adjourned, by no later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before any adjourned Meeting.

 

Voting by Internet.  A Registered Shareholder may vote by Internet by accessing the following website:  www.investorvote.com. When you log on to the site you will be required to input a control number as instructed on the form of proxy.  Please see additional information enclosed with the Circular on the form of proxy.  Registered Shareholders may vote by Internet up to 1:00 p.m. (MDT) on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, or if the Meeting is adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before any adjourned Meeting.

 

Voting by Telephone. A Registered Shareholder may vote by telephone by calling the toll free number 1‑866-732-8683 from a touch tone phone.  When you telephone you will be required to input a control number as instructed on the form of proxy.  Please see additional information enclosed with the Circular on the form of proxy.  Registered Shareholders may vote by telephone up to 1:00 p.m. (MDT) on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, or if the Meeting is adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before any adjourned Meeting.

 

Voting by mail or the Internet are the only methods by which a Registered Shareholder may choose an appointee other than the management appointees named on the proxy and must be completed by the Registered Shareholder or by an attorney authorized in writing or, if the Registered Shareholder is a corporation or other legal entity, by an authorized officer or attorney.

 

Non-Registered Shareholders (Beneficial Owners)

 

In this Circular and the enclosed form of proxy and Notice, all references to shareholders are to Registered Shareholders of Common Shares. Only Registered Shareholders of Common Shares, or the person they appoint as their proxy, are permitted to vote at the Meeting.  However, in many cases, Common Shares beneficially owned by a holder (a “Non-Registered Shareholder” or “Beneficial Owner”) are registered either:

 

 

 

Common Shares held by your broker or its nominee can only be voted upon your instructions. Beneficial Owners should ensure that instructions respecting the voting of their Common Shares are communicated to the appropriate person.

 

There are two kinds of Beneficial Owners, those who object to their name being made known to the Company, referred to as objecting beneficial owners (“OBOs”), and those who do not object to the Company knowing who they are, referred to as non-objecting beneficial owners (“NOBOs”). In accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“NI 54-101”), the Company has opted this year to distribute copies of the Notice, Circular, the form of proxy and our annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 (including financial statements) (collectively, the “Meeting Materials”) to all NOBOs directly through

the Transfer Agent.  Whereas, the Meeting Materials will continue to be distributed to OBOs through clearing agencies and Intermediaries, who often use a service company (such as Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”)) to forward meeting materials to Non-Registered Shareholders. The Company is not relying on the notice-and-access delivery procedures of NI 54-101 or the corresponding rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to distribute copies of the Meeting Materials. 

 

The Meeting Materials are being sent to both Registered and Non-Registered Shareholders of the Common Shares. If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder, and the Company or its agent has sent these Meeting Materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of Common Shares, have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the Intermediary holding on your behalf.

 

By choosing to send the Meeting Materials to NOBOs directly, the Company (and not the Intermediary holding on your behalf) has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering these Meeting Materials to you, and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions.  Please return your voting instructions as specified in the request for voting instructions.

 

Objecting Beneficial Owners

 

Intermediaries are required to forward Meeting Materials to OBOs unless an OBO has waived the right to receive them. Generally, OBOs who have not waived the right to receive Meeting Materials will usually receive a voting instruction form (“VIF”) from their applicable Intermediary in lieu of the form of proxy from the Company. The VIF will name the same persons as the proxy to represent the shareholder at the Meeting. A shareholder has the right to appoint a person (who need not be a shareholder of Ur-Energy) other than persons designated in the VIF, to represent the shareholder at the Meeting. To exercise this right, the shareholder should insert the name of the desired representative in the blank space provided in the VIF. You are asked to complete and return the VIF to your applicable Intermediary by mail or facsimile. Alternatively, you may be able to call the toll free telephone number or access the Internet website listed on your VIF to vote your Common Shares. If you receive a VIF from your Intermediary, it cannot be used as a proxy to vote Common Shares directly at the Meeting as the VIF must be returned to your Intermediary well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the Common Shares voted or to appoint an alternative representative to attend at the Meeting in person to vote such Common Shares.

 

Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners

 

NOBOs can expect to receive the Meeting Materials with a VIF from the Transfer Agent. These VIFs are to be completed and returned to the Transfer Agent by mail or by following the instructions contained on the VIF for telephone or Internet voting. The Transfer Agent will tabulate the results of the VIFs received from NOBOs and will provide appropriate instructions at the Meeting with respect to the shares represented by the VIFs received. If you receive a VIF from the Transfer Agent, it cannot be used as a proxy to vote Common Shares directly at the Meeting as the VIF must be returned to the Transfer Agent well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the Common Shares voted or to appoint an alternative representative to attend at the Meeting in person to vote such Common Shares.

 

The purpose of these procedures is to permit Non-Registered Shareholders to direct the voting of the shares they beneficially own. Should a Non-Registered Shareholder who receives either a proxy or a VIF wish to attend and vote at the Meeting in person (or have another person attend and vote on behalf of the Non-Registered Shareholder), the Non-Registered Shareholder should strike out the names of the persons named in the proxy and insert the Non-Registered Shareholder’s (or such other person’s) name in the blank space provided or, in the case of a VIF, follow the corresponding instructions on the form.

 

In any event, Non-Registered Shareholders should carefully follow the instructions of their Intermediaries and Broadridge or other service company, or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be.

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

A “broker non-vote” occurs when an Intermediary holding shares for a Beneficial Owner votes on one proposal, but does not vote on another proposal because the Intermediary does not have discretionary voting power and has not received

instructions to do so from the Beneficial Owner. The nominee that holds your shares may generally vote on “routine” matters but cannot vote on “non-routine” matters. Each of the proposals at the Meeting, other than Proposal No. 2, are “non-routine” matters and therefore an Intermediary holding shares for a Beneficial Owner will not have the authority to vote on those matters in the absence of instructions from the Beneficial Owner. Broker non-votes are not counted in the tabulation of votes cast on a particular proposal and therefore will not have an effect on the approval of that proposal.

 

REVOCATION OF PROXIES

 

A shareholder who has given a proxy has the power to revoke it as to any matter on which a vote shall not already have been cast pursuant to the authority conferred by such proxy and may do so (i) by delivering another properly executed proxy bearing a later date and depositing it as aforesaid, including within the prescribed time limits noted above; (ii) by depositing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing (A) at our head office with the Corporate Secretary at 10758 West Centennial Road, Suite 200, Littleton, Colorado 80127 at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, at which the proxy is to be used, or (B) with the Chair of the Meeting, prior to its commencement, on the day of the Meeting, or at any adjournment thereof; (iii) by attending the Meeting in person and so requesting; or (iv) in any other manner permitted by law.

 

A Non-Registered Shareholder may revoke a VIF or a waiver of the right to receive Meeting Materials and to vote given to an Intermediary at any time by written notice to the Intermediary, except that an Intermediary is not required to act on a revocation of a VIF or a waiver of the right to receive Meeting Materials and to vote that is not received by the Intermediary at least seven days prior to the Meeting.

 

VOTING AND DISCRETION OF PROXIES

 

On any ballot that may be called for, the shares represented by proxies in favor of the persons named by management of the Company will be voted for or against, or voted for or withheld from voting on, the matters identified in the proxy, in each case in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder. In the absence of any instructions on the proxy, it is the intention of the persons named by management in the accompanying form of proxy to vote

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to amendments or variations of the matters identified in the Notice or any other matters that may properly come before the Meeting. As at the date of this Circular, management of the Company knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters that may properly come before the Meeting other than the matters referred to in the Notice.

 

COMMON SHARES ENTITLED TO VOTE

 

As at March 27, 2018, the authorized capital of the Company consisted of an unlimited number of Common Shares, of which 146,599,652 Common Shares were issued and outstanding, and an unlimited number of Class A Preference Shares, issuable in series, of which none has been issued. A holder of record of Common Shares as at the close of business on March 27, 2018 (the “Record Date”) is entitled to one vote for each Common Share held by the shareholder. The directors nominated for election pursuant to Proposal No. 1 will be elected by plurality vote, meaning that the seven nominees who receive the most votes, whether in person or by proxy, will be elected; however, the Company has adopted a majority

voting policy pursuant to which any director who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast will be required to tender his resignation. See “Statement of Corporate Governance – Majority Voting Policy.” With respect to Proposal Nos. 2, 3 and 4, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting, whether in person or by proxy, is required for approval of such matter.

 

In accordance with the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Company will prepare a list of holders of Common Shares on the Record Date. Each holder of Common Shares named in the list at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote the Common Shares shown opposite his or her name on the list at the Meeting.

 

QUORUM

 

The presence, in person or by proxy, of two shareholders holding not less than 10% of the Common Shares entitled to vote as of the Record Date constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting. In the event there is not a quorum present to approve any proposals at the time of the Meeting, the Meeting shall be adjourned to a date no less than seven days later than the scheduled Meeting date in order to permit further solicitation of proxies. The scrutineer will treat Common Shares represented by a properly signed and returned proxy as present at the Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, without regard to whether the proxy is marked as casting a vote or abstaining.

 

RIGHTS OF DISSENT

 

Pursuant to the Canada Business Corporations Act, there are no rights of dissent in respect of the resolutions to be voted on by the shareholders at this Meeting. 

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF

CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

Security Ownership of Management

 

As of March 27, 2018,  our Record Date, we had 146,599,652 Common Shares issued and outstanding, and 9,271,947 stock options which may be exercised currently or within the sixty (60) days following March 27, 2018.    

 

*      Less than one percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

 

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Shares as of March 27, 2018 by each person (other than the Directors and executive officers of the Company) who owned of record, or was known to own beneficially, more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares of Common Shares.

 

 

PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON

 

Proposal No. 1:  Election of Directors

 

The articles of the Company provide that the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) shall consist of a minimum of one and a maximum of ten directors, the number of which is currently fixed at seven. Election of directors will be conducted on an individual basis, as seen on the proxy or VIF you receive and will include Jeffrey T. Klenda, James M. Franklin, W. William Boberg, Thomas H. Parker, Gary C. Huber, Kathy E. Walker and Rob Chang. As discussed in the description of the Company’s Majority Voting Policy, below, each Director must receive a majority of the votes cast (in person or by proxy) as to his election, or will be required to submit his resignation pursuant to the policy.

 

Nominees:  Each of the seven persons named above is a nominee for election as a Director at the Annual and Special Meeting for a term of one year or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Unless authority is withheld, the proxies will be voted for the election of such nominees. Each of the nominees is currently serving as a Director of the Company. All the nominees were elected to the Board of Directors at the last annual meeting of shareholders, except Ms. Walker, who joined the Board in September 2017, and Mr. Chang who joined the Board effective March 30, 2018.  

Management does not anticipate that any of the nominees for election as directors will be unable to serve as a director, but if that should occur for any reason prior to the Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy reserve the right to vote for another nominee in their discretion or for the election of only the remaining nominees.

 

The Board of Directors has delegated to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee the responsibility for reviewing and recommending nominees for director. The Board determines which candidates to nominate or appoint, as appropriate, after considering the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. 

 

Qualifications:    In evaluating a director candidate, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers the candidate’s independence, character, corporate governance skills and abilities, business experience, industry-specific experience including technical expertise, training and education, commitment to performing the duties of a director, and other skills, abilities, or attributes that fill specific needs of the Board or its committees. Each nominee brings a strong and unique background and set of skills to the Board, giving the Board, as a whole, competence and experience in a wide variety of areas, including natural resources exploration and development, mining operations, executive management, board service, corporate governance, finance, financial markets, government, employment and labor, and international business. These varied and substantial backgrounds, skills and qualifications, as described in more detail below, and the contributions of each to the development and current operations of the Company as described below under the heading “Board Composition – Including Tenure and Outlook on Set Retirement Age,” led the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors to the conclusion that each of the nominees should serve as a Director.

 

Recommendation of Ur-Energy’s Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the election of all of the named nominees for director and, unless a shareholder gives instructions on the proxy card to the contrary, the proxies named thereon intend to so vote.

 

 

Mr. Klenda graduated from the University of Colorado in 1980 and began his career as a stockbroker specializing in venture capital offerings. Prior to founding Ur-Energy in 2004, he worked as a Certified Financial Planner and was a member of the International Board of Standards and Practices. In 1986, he started Klenda Financial Services, an independent financial services company providing investment advisory services to high-end individuals and corporate clients as well as providing venture capital to corporations seeking entry to the U.S. securities markets. In the same year, Mr. Klenda formed Independent Brokers of America, Inc., a national marketing organization.  He also served as President of Security First Financial, a company he founded to provide consultation to individuals and corporations seeking investment management and early stage funding. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Klenda has acted as an officer and/or director for numerous publicly-traded companies, having taken his first company public at 28 years of age. Currently, Mr. Klenda is a director of Organto Foods Inc. (since November 2013). Mr. Klenda has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since 2006. He served as Executive Director from January 2006 to May 2015. Thereafter, he served as Acting Chief Executive Officer until being named President and Chief Executive Officer by our Board of Directors in December 2016.

 

The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Klenda is well qualified and should serve as a director on the basis of his numerous contributions to the Company since its inception, his 35 years of experience in the financial markets and in service to numerous publicly-traded companies as an officer and director.

 

 

Dr. Franklin has over 50 years’ experience as a geologist. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Since 1998, he has been an Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University, since 2001, at Laurentian University and since 2006 at the University of Ottawa. He is a past President of the Geological Association of Canada and of the Society of Economic Geologists. He retired in 1998 as Chief Geoscientist of the Geological Survey of Canada, Earth Sciences Sector. Since that time, he has been a consulting geologist and is currently a director of Aura Silver Resources Inc. (since October 2003) and of Anconia Resources Corp. (since June 2012). Dr. Franklin’s lifetime achievements have been honored by several professional

organizations:  among his honors, Dr. Franklin has been awarded GAC’s Logan and Duncan R. Derry medals, CIM’s Selwyn Blaylock, A.O. Dufresne, Distinguished Lecturer and Julian Boldy Memorial awards and. the Society of Economic Geologists Thayer Lindsley and Distinguished Lecturer awards. He has also received the R.A.F. Penrose Gold Medal from SEG for his many contributions to a broad cross section of geosciences. In 2017 he was made a Fellow of Lakehead University, honoring his contributions to education and economic development in northern Ontario.

 

The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Franklin is well qualified and should serve as a director on the basis of his contributions to the Company since its inception as a director and his more than 50 years of experience in geosciences and mineral resource work in industry, governmental service and academia.

 

 

Mr. Boberg has served as a director of the Company since January 2006. Mr. Boberg served as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (2006 to 2011). Prior to that time, Mr. Boberg was the Company’s senior U.S. geologist and Vice President U.S. Operations (2004 to 2006). Before his initial involvement with the Company, he was a consulting geologist having over 40 years’ experience investigating, assessing and developing a wide variety of mineral resources in diverse geologic environments in western North America, South America and Africa. Mr. Boberg worked for Gulf Minerals, Hecla Mining, Anaconda, Continental Oil Minerals Department, Wold Nuclear, Kennecott, Western Mining, Canyon Resources and Africa Mineral Resource Specialists. Mr. Boberg has over 20 years of experience exploring for uranium in the continental U.S. He discovered the Moore Ranch Uranium Deposit and the Ruby Ranch Uranium Deposit as well as several smaller deposits in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Montana State University and his Master’s Degree in Geology from the University of Colorado. He is a registered Wyoming Professional Geologist and fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists. He is a member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc., American Institute of Professional Geologists (for which he is a Certified Professional Geologist), the Denver Regional Exploration Society and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Mr. Boberg is also a director for Aura Silver Resources Inc. (since June 2008).

 

The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Boberg is well qualified and should serve as a director on the basis of his contributions to the Company since 2004 (since 2006 as a director and, from 2006 until 2011, as the President and CEO), as well as his more than 40 years of experience in mineral resources exploration and development.

 

 

Mr. Parker has worked extensively in senior management positions in the mining industry for the past 53 years.  Mr. Parker is a mining engineer graduate from South Dakota School of Mines, with a Master’s Degree in Mineral Engineering Management from Penn State. Mr. Parker was President and CEO, and a director of U.S. Silver Corporation until his retirement in 2012.  Prior to that, Mr. Parker was President and CEO of Gold Crest Mines, Inc., before which  he was the President and CEO of High Plains Uranium, Inc., a junior uranium mining company acquired by Energy Metals in January 2007. Mr. Parker also served for 10 years as Executive Vice President of Anderson and Schwab, a management consulting firm. Prior to Anderson and Schwab, Mr. Parker held many executive management positions including with Costain Minerals Corporation, ARCO, Kerr McGee Coal Corporation and Conoco. He also has worked in the potash, limestone, talc, coal and molybdenum industries and has extensive experience working in Niger, France and Venezuela.

 

The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Parker is well qualified and should serve as a director on the basis of his contributions to the Company as a director since 2007, most recently, as our Lead Director since 2014, as well as his 53 years of experience in the mining industry and in executive management positions.

 

 

Dr. Huber is a mining executive with over 40 years of natural resources experience. Previously, Dr. Huber served as a director for Ur‑Energy during 2007. Dr. Huber returned to serve as a director for Ur-Energy in 2015. In the interim, Dr. Huber served as President and CEO of Neutron Energy, Inc. (2007-2012), a privately-held uranium company which was conducting project feasibility analyses as well as permitting of two uranium mines and a mill complex. He is currently

a director of Gold Resource Corp. (since January 2013), and serves as the Chair of its Audit Committee and as a member of its Compensation Committee.

 

Dr. Huber is the founder, in 2006, and managing member of Rangeland E&P, LLC, a private company established for oil and gas exploration. From 2010 to 2011, Dr. Huber served as an independent director of Capital Gold Corp., a gold mining company with operations in Mexico which eventually merged into AuRico Gold Inc., including serving on its Audit and Corporate Governance Committees. Dr. Huber was one of the founders of Canyon Resources Corporation in 1979, and served in various capacities there until 2006, including as director, chief financial officer, vice president of finance, treasurer and secretary. He also served as the president and chief executive officer of CR Minerals Corporation, an industrial minerals subsidiary of Canyon Resources, from 1987 to 1998. Dr. Huber holds a Ph.D in geology from Colorado School of Mines and received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Fort Lewis College. He is a fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists, where he previously served as the Chairman of its Audit and Investment Committees; a member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration; and a Utah registered Professional Geologist. Dr. Huber currently is a director of The Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, a not-for-profit professional group. He is also currently serving as President of the Society of Independent Earth Scientists Foundation, which awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate student majoring in the earth sciences fields. Dr. Huber formerly was a director of the Denver Gold Group, a not-for-profit industry association for publicly-traded precious metal companies.

 

The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Huber is well qualified and should serve as a director of the Company on the basis of his contributions to the Company as a director (in 2007, and since his return to the Board in 2015), and as a result of his extensive mining industry experience including in areas of natural resources development and mining operations, and executive management and finance, developed by serving as an executive officer and director of publicly-traded natural resource companies.

 

 

Ms. Walker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Elm Street Resources Inc., an energy marketing company based in Paintsville, Kentucky. Ms. Walker is also the Director of the eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Inc., a workforce development training facility in Eastern Kentucky. She brings more than 30 years’ experience in various energy-related business endeavors to our Board. Ms. Walker holds an MBA from Xavier University. Prior to starting Elm Street Resources, she served as Secretary and Controller of Agip Coal, USA, a subsidiary of the Italian National Energy Agency ENI. She is currently a member of the National Coal Council and Board member of the Kentucky Coal Association; a member of the Kentucky Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee; and a member of the Morehead State University Board of Regents. Previously, Ms. Walker served as the Chair of the Energy and Environment transition team for Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin; was a founder and Board member of First Security Bank, Lexington, Kentucky and of Great Nations Bank, Norman, Oklahoma.

 

The Board of Directors has concluded that Ms. Walker is well qualified and should serve as a director of the Company on the basis of her contributions to the Company as a director since joining the Board in 2017, and as a result of her extensive energy-related business experience including in areas of sales and marketing,  executive management and finance, developed by serving as an executive officer and director of various entities.

 

 

Rob Chang has 23 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Chang is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Riot Blockchain, Inc. Prior to his current position, he most recently served as the Managing Director and Head of Metals & Mining at Cantor Fitzgerald where he provided research coverage in precious metals, base metals, lithium, and uranium. He is well familiar with the uranium mining industry, and is considered a subject matter expert by several media outlets. He was recognized by Bloomberg as the "Best Precious Metals Analyst" in Q1 2016. Mr. Chang is frequently quoted by and a regular guest of several media outlets including: Bloomberg, Reuters, CNBC, and the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Chang previously served as a Director of Research and Portfolio Manager at Middlefield Capital, a Canadian investment firm which managed $3 billion in assets. He was also on a five-person multi-strategy hedge fund team where he specialized in equity and derivative investments. Mr. Chang completed his MBA at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.

 

The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Chang is well qualified and should serve as a director of the Company on the basis of his extensive knowledge of the financial markets and financial services industry, as well as his knowledge of the uranium mining industry.

 

Proposal No. 2:  Re-Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as our Independent Auditors and Approval for the Directors to Fix the Remuneration of the Auditors

 

Appointment of Auditor

 

The Audit Committee selected and has recommended the independent accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with respect to the audit of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. At the Meeting, it is proposed to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditors of the Company, to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders with their remuneration to be fixed by the Board of Directors.

 

We currently expect that our Audit Partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will attend the Meeting. 

 

Independent Accountant Fees and Services

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and its affiliates have been the auditors of Ur-Energy since December 2004. The fees accrued for audit and audit-related services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in relation to our financial years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, paid and shown below in C$, were as follows:

 

 

 

 

Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Practice

 

All services reflected in the preceding table for 2017 and 2016 were pre-approved in accordance with the policy of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

 

It is proposed to approve an ordinary resolution to re-appoint the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,  Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditors of the Company to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders or until PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is removed from office or resigns, and to authorize the Board of Directors of the Company to fix the remuneration of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the Company.

 

Recommendation of Ur-Energy’s Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, and to authorize the Board of Directors of the Company to fix the remuneration of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors and, unless a shareholder gives instructions on the proxy card to the contrary, the proxies named thereon intend to so vote.

 

The approval of Proposal No. 2 requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

 

Proposal No. 3:  Approval, on an Advisory Basis, of the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers 

 

Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation

 

In accordance with SEC rules, our shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to approve the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Circular, including the disclosures under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the accompanying compensation tables, and the related narrative disclosure. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers and the policies and practices described in this Circular.

 

We conducted a similar advisory vote in 2017, and approximately 90% of the votes cast at that meeting voted in favor of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. This vote is advisory, which means that its outcome is not binding on the Company, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

The next advisory vote will occur at our annual meeting in 2019.

 

The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors believe that our compensation policies and procedures are effective in achieving our goals. As described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” our compensation program is designed to motivate executive officers and employees to achieve pre-determined objectives without taking excessive risks; provide competitive compensation and benefit programs to attract and retain highly-qualified executives and employees; encourage an ownership mentality; and, fundamentally, to support the achievement of results. We believe that the Company’s compensation program, with its balance of (i) short-term incentives (including cash bonus awards and performance conditions for such awards), (ii) long-term incentives (including equity awards of stock options and restricted share units which vest over varied periods of two to three years), and (iii) share ownership guidelines for executive officers, reward sustained performance that is aligned with long-term shareholder interests. Shareholders are encouraged to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the accompanying compensation tables, and the related narrative disclosure. Shareholders will be asked to approve the following ordinary resolution (the “Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation Resolution”) at the Meeting:

 

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Company’s shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Management Proxy Circular for this annual and special meeting of shareholders, including the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the accompanying compensation tables and the related narrative disclosure, pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

 

Recommendation of Ur-Energy’s Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR approval of the Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation Resolution.

 

The approval of the advisory vote on Proposal No. 3 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting. Although the advisory vote is non-binding, the Board will review the results of the vote and will take them into account in determinations concerning executive compensation.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Identification of Executive Officers

 

 

Mr. Klenda graduated from the University of Colorado in 1980 and began his career as a stockbroker specializing in venture capital offerings. Prior to founding Ur-Energy in 2004, he worked as a Certified Financial Planner and was a member of the International Board of Standards and Practices. In 1986, he started Klenda Financial Services, an independent financial services company providing investment advisory services to high-end individuals and corporate clients as well as providing venture capital to corporations seeking entry to the U.S. securities markets. In the same year, Mr. Klenda formed Independent Brokers of America, Inc., a national marketing organization.  He also served as President of Security First Financial, a company he founded to provide consultation to individuals and corporations seeking investment management and early stage funding. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Klenda has acted as an officer and/or director for numerous publicly-traded companies, having taken his first company public at 28 years of age. Currently, Mr. Klenda is a director of Organto Foods Inc. (since November 2013). Mr. Klenda has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since 2006. He served as Executive Director January 2006 - May 2015. Thereafter, he served as Acting Chief Executive Officer until being named President and Chief Executive Officer by our Board of Directors in December 2016. 

 

 

Mr. Smith has 30 years of mining and manufacturing experience including finance, accounting, IT, ERP and systems implementations, mergers, acquisitions, audit, tax and public and private reporting in international environments. Mr. Smith served as Ur-Energy’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Finance, IT and Administration until May 2011, when he assumed the title and responsibilities of Chief Administrative Officer as well as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Smith joined Ur-Energy in May 2007, after having served as Vice President, Finance for Luzenac America, Inc., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto PLC and Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for Rio Tinto Minerals, a division of Rio Tinto PLC, from September 2000 to May 2007. Mr. Smith has also held such positions as Vice President Finance, Corporate Controller, Accounting Manager, and Internal Auditor with companies such as Vista Gold Corporation, Westmont Gold Inc. and Homestake Mining Corporation.  He has a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, Colorado.

 

 

Prior to being named Ur-Energy’s Vice President Operations in 2011, Mr. Hatten served as our Engineering Manager from 2007 to 2010 and as Director of Engineering and Operations 2010 to 2011. He has over 25 years of experience with a strong background in in situ recovery uranium design and operations. He previously worked as a Project Engineer for Power Resources, Inc., the Manager Wellfield Operations for Rio Algom Mining Corp. and Operations Manager at Cameco’s Smith Ranch – Highland Facility.  Mr. Hatten has a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University.

 

 

Mr. Cash has been our Vice President Regulatory Affairs since March 2014. Previously, he was named Vice President Regulatory Affairs, Exploration & Geology in 2011 and served in that capacity until March 2014. Prior to 2011, Mr. Cash was our Environment, Health, Safety and Regulatory Affairs Manager from 2007 to 2010 and Director of Regulatory Affairs 2010 to 2011.  He previously worked for Crow Butte Resources, Inc. a subsidiary of Cameco, from 2002 to 2007, including as Senior Environmental/Safety Superintendent, Safety Director/Wellfield Supervisor and Operations Superintendent. Prior to that time, Mr. Cash also worked in uranium exploration. He is a Fellow of the World Nuclear University Summer Institute, 2005. Mr. Cash has a M.Sc. Geology and Geophysics from the University of Missouri-Rolla. Mr. Cash currently serves as the President of the Uranium Producers of America, a uranium industry lobbying group dedicated to the preservation and promotion of a healthy uranium mining and processing industry in the United States.

 

 

Mr. Bonner is a Professional Geologist with 28 years in the uranium exploration and development industry, three years in the oil and gas industry and 13 years in environmental engineering consulting. He joined Ur-Energy as Vice President Geology in March 2014, having most recently served as Vice President of Exploration for Powertech (USA), Inc.  He previously worked as a consulting geologist, was employed as a Senior Geologist for Gordon Environmental in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and worked for 16 years in uranium exploration for Rocky Mountain Energy Company throughout the western U.S.  Mr. Bonner is a Registered Professional Geologist and a Certified Professional Geologist, and is a member of the Geological Society of America and the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Mr. Bonner received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Wyoming.

 

 

Ms. Goplerud has 25 years of diverse legal experience in complex litigation, business matters and natural resources transactions. While in private practice, she represented clients in commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation involving mining, oil and gas, commercial and corporate disputes, securities and environmental law. She also has counseled business clients and represented clients in the negotiation of business transactions. Prior to joining Ur-Energy as Associate General Counsel in 2007, much of Ms. Goplerud’s practice focused on natural resources and transactional work. Ms. Goplerud obtained her JD from the University of Iowa College of Law.

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Our Compensation Committee is composed of independent directors and is responsible for matters of compensation as they relate to our employees and, more specifically, our executive officers including the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee discussed the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) with management, and thereafter recommended it to the Board, which approved, this CD&A.

 

Compensation Program and Philosophy

 

Ur-Energy is committed to managing our human resources. We believe that the caliber and commitment of our executive officers are critical to our continued success and performance, and the overall commitment of all of our employees.

 

The Compensation Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the overall approach to compensation for all of our employees, and specifically with respect to our executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Klenda, and the remuneration of directors.

 

Our named executive officers (“Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”) for 2017 were:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We maintain a compensation program in which both performance and compensation are routinely evaluated. Further, we maintain a program in which (a) pay for performance is supported by a significant percentage of executive pay being at risk (50% of CEO compensation; 45% of other executive officers); (b) motivating executive officers to create shareholder value by using total shareholder return as a part of the Company’s “Total Company” objectives; (c) performance by all employees on personal objectives and corporate objectives is evaluated, with executive officers’ short-term incentive bonus awards being more closely aligned to performance on corporate objectives (60%) based upon the greater

opportunity, and responsibility, to shape corporate performance (hourly and non-managerial staff bonuses are more heavily weighted to their personal objectives), and 80% of an executive’s long-term incentive is based upon stock options; (d) certain defined thresholds must be reached as a minimum level of performance, typically 80% of the target (or, a score of 2 on our 1-4 scale), before eligibility for payout on any objective and, by contrast, short-term incentive bonuses are effectively capped, as the maximum level of performance for each objective is typically set at 120% of the target (or, a score of 4 on our 1-4 scale); (e) reasonable salaries and overall compensation packages are based upon regularly updated compensation surveys and ongoing review of peer comparators’ practices; (f) compliance with executive stock ownership guidelines is routinely monitored; (g) we have no multi-year contracts with executive employees, and our employment agreements with executive officers protect specialized and proprietary information, and contacts with personnel obtained while employed with the Company; (h) we do not permit repricing of stock options; (i) we do not permit payment of dividends on unvested or redeemed equity awards of all types; (j) executives are not permitted to hedge their beneficially-held Company’s shares; and (k) we have adopted a clawback policy, all as set forth in greater detail below. 

 

Our compensation program is designed to effectively link compensation to performance as demonstrated by the completion by our executive officers of corporate and personal objectives that are designed to drive creation of shareholder value. The Compensation Committee believes that it is important to maintain a clear link between the achievement of these objectives and compensation payout. Our first four years in operations at our Lost Creek uranium recovery project have permitted us an opportunity to thoughtfully review the metrics and priorities most appropriately used to establish and maintain that connection. In doing so, the following considerations have been taken into account:

 

 

 

 

The objectives of the compensation program are to:

 

 

 

 

 

The compensation program process begins in the fourth quarter each year as we look ahead and establish department objectives and corporate objectives. Our executives and all staff then prepare their personal objectives in conjunction with the establishment of the budget and our key performance indicators. As a part of this look ahead, the Compensation Committee recommends and the Board considers and approves the annual grant of stock options and restricted share units (“RSUs”) to those eligible for consideration. 

 

In the first quarter of each year we reflect on our performance during the past year, initially with a determination of performance on corporate objectives, which is reviewed with the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors. Performance of all staff is reviewed and employee performance assessments are conducted by supervisors and managers. Executive officers are evaluated by the Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee; the Chief Executive Officer is evaluated by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors. Based upon these performance assessments, the bonuses are determined and awarded. See further discussion under the heading “Short Term Incentive Plan” below. During the performance assessment process, and throughout each year, various aspects of succession planning are considered. 

 

Thereafter, typically during second or third quarter, cost-of-living adjustments are calculated. Contemporaneously, salary surveys are completed, with staff salaries adjusted to the findings of the survey, as necessary, and/or for merit increases. Throughout the year, employee development opportunities are implemented. As necessary and appropriate, a mid-year review of departmental and/or individual objectives is undertaken, with adjustments made as required to address and accommodate changed circumstances.

 

Compensation Structure

 

Our compensation program consists of base salary, short- and long-term incentives, and other perquisites. The components of total direct compensation relate to performance as follows:

 

 

Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers

 

We have employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Traditionally, we have not maintained multi-year agreements. The agreements contain standard employment provisions, as well as salary, entitlement to a cash bonus to be determined in the discretion of the Board, and statements of eligibility for Company benefits (health and wellness benefits, paid time off, 401(k) plan), and equity compensation plans (stock option and RSU plans). The agreements also provide for post-termination obligations of the executives (one-year non-solicitation provisions applicable to all Named Executive Officers; and one-year non-competition provisions in the agreements of Messrs. Hatten and Cash, as well as Mr. Bonner). Post-termination obligations of the Company with respect to the NEOs, including in an event of change of control, are discussed and summarized below under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.” The Compensation Committee reviews the employment agreements of and compensation program for the executive officers on a periodic basis.

 

Objectives to be Met Through “Pay Mix”

 

The compensation program is designed to provide motivation and incentives to our executive officers and employees with a view toward enhancing shareholder value while successfully implementing our corporate objectives. The compensation program accomplishes this by rewarding performance that is designed to create shareholder value. The portion of variable, at-risk, performance-based compensation is commensurate to the executive officer’s or employee’s position and increases as their respective level of responsibility increases. Further, the mix and structure of compensation is designed to strike an appropriate balance to achieve pre-determined objectives without motivating excessive risk taking.

 

Our share price may be heavily influenced by changes in uranium and other commodity prices, which are outside of our control. As a result, the compensation program is designed to focus on areas where the executive officers and employees have the most influence. To achieve this, a combination of operational, financial and share price criteria are utilized when selecting corporate and personal objectives and establishing an appropriate combination of pay.

 

The compensation structure and “pay mix” in place for 2017 for our CEO and other executive officers was as follows:

 

 

The characteristics of the compensation program’s mix of pay, as they relate to the executive officers, include:

 

 

 

 

 

The incentive compensation actually received by the executive officers varies based upon individual performance and the achievement of the pre-determined corporate and personal objectives and is ultimately subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board. 

 

Components of Compensation

 

Base Salary

 

Base salary is the fixed portion of cash compensation earned by and paid to our executive officers and employees. We provide our executive officers and employees with base salaries to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year and to aid in attracting and retaining quality employees. Base salaries for all employees are reviewed annually and the Compensation Committee reviews the base salary for each executive officer routinely or upon a promotion or other change in job responsibility, based on the individual’s level of responsibility, the importance of the position and the individual’s contribution to our overall performance. The Compensation Committee also assesses the base salaries of the executive officers relative to a group of peer companies with similar scope and operations to ensure that base salaries are positioned competitively with executive officers in similar roles at peer companies. Most recently, a formal review was made in 2017 and involved survey data from the peer group established by the Company, utilizing our subscription to Equilar (see discussion below under the heading “2017 Review of Compensation Program”). The review revealed that our executive officers generally are compensated within the ranges of the comparator company data, with certain exceptions. Our objective remains to provide a competitive base salary designed to recruit and retain qualified, high-performing executives, while responsibly administering our budget and achieving our corporate objectives, including advancing our Lost Creek operations.  

 

There were no adjustments to the base salaries of our executives during 2016. There was a cost of living adjustment of three percent provided to our executives in 2017. As there were no anticipated adjustments other than the cost of living adjustment for the executives in 2017, we did not retain an independent compensation consultant in 2017.

 

Short-Term Incentive Plan

 

Total cash compensation includes base salary and any variable (at risk) short-term cash incentive compensation.  Bonus awards under our short term incentive plan (“STIP”) are calculated using a formula that is based upon performance in relation to corporate objectives, set by the Chief Executive Officer and executive management and approved by the Board, and in relation to personal objectives, also overseen by our Chief Executive Officer and Board. The STIP program is designed to recognize and reward both corporate and individual performance results. A rebalancing of the weighting of corporate and personal objectives as related to the STIP program, which was implemented in 2015, provides even greater personal responsibility of each executive officer for not only the corporate objectives, but also his or her personal objectives which are tied to that year’s corporate objectives. This, too, was developed by the Compensation Committee through its review of peer group practices and other standards.

 

The following table shows the current target levels and weightings used to establish the 2017 STIP awards for our NEOs:

 

 

We calculate the STIP awards as follows:

 

 

The following table provides a demonstrative example of the STIP award calculation that would result for a chief executive officer with a base salary of $100,000, if his or her corporate and personal objectives results were as shown in the weighted payout column.

 

 

Actual STIP awards are based on performance for the year and paid in the following year after our year-end results are released.

Long-Term Equity Incentives

 

The long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) includes our Option Plan and the Ur-Energy Amended Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “RSU Plan”). The Option Plan and the RSU Plan form a long-term incentive plan for employees including executive officers and, in the case of the Option Plan, our consultants.  Participation in the Option Plan and the RSU Plan is determined by the Compensation Committee, taking into account the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer (and, for the Chief Executive Officer, the recommendations of the Compensation Committee). The purpose of the Option Plan and the RSU Plan is to provide eligible participants with the opportunity to own Common Shares of the Company, enhance Ur-Energy’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel, and align the participant’s interests with those of the Company’s shareholders. Awards made under the Option Plan and RSU Plan are similarly based upon a pre-established formula tied to base salary and the compensation structure explained above (a percentage of base salary; 4:1 ratio between stock options and RSUs). The LTIP target for our CEO is 60% of his base salary; the LTIP target for our other Named Executive Officers is 50% of his or her base salary. A more detailed discussion of the Option Plan and RSU Plan can be found below under the heading “Stock Options and RSUs.”

 

Perquisites Including Benefits

 

We provide employees, including our executive officers, with perquisites including personal benefits that we believe are reasonable and consistent with the overall compensation program to better enable us to attract and retain quality employees. We periodically review the levels of perquisites provided to the employees and executive officers to ensure competitiveness and value. Executive officers participate on the same terms as other employees in our healthcare and other benefit programs including a 401(k) Plan, medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, life and supplemental life insurances; employee assistance program; and health and dependent care flexible spending accounts. In 2017, Lost Creek employees were also eligible for a safety incentive program bonus.

 

Compensation Risk Assessment

 

Our Compensation Committee Charter requires that the Compensation Committee review and consider the implications of the risks associated with our compensation policies and practices to avoid encouraging inappropriate risk taking by executive officers. The Compensation Committee has undertaken reviews of this type in conjunction with periodic reviews of the compensation program, including most recently in December 2017. The Committee has implemented and maintained multiple practices to ensure that there are not incentives to take inappropriate or excessive risks, including: combining fixed and variable compensation, granting appropriate levels of equity compensation, and mandating equity ownership requirements for executive officers and directors which are routinely reviewed. Based upon the Compensation Committee’s review, we do not believe that the Company’s executive or non-executive compensation structure is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

2017 Review of Compensation Program

 

The Compensation Committee from time to time undertakes a comprehensive review of our compensation program which includes competitive market data, pay grades, share ownership guidelines and short-term and long-term incentives. Most recently, this review of the program and of the compensation of executive officers was completed in 2017. As we typically have done, the 2017 compensation program review began with the development of our peer group, to be utilized for multiple purposes. As with other peer comparator groups before it, the peer group was used within our corporate objectives as a base from which we can compare our performance to other companies in the group for such things as total shareholder return. It is also used as a comparison group when we evaluate our directors and officers compensation, with additional review of companies outside the peer group which have similar executive positions where the peer group does not have sufficient depth of data. Generally, we review and/or update our peer group annually. Once updated, the Compensation Committee reviews the peer group and recommends it, with any changes or additions, to the Board for approval. We subscribe to Equilar’s compensation services. Equilar’s tools assist us in the creation and evaluation of peer groups and in the evaluation of our directors and officers compensation.

 

The peer group approved by the Board includes ten other uranium producers and explorers, as well as four other mining companies (e.g., gold, silver) with similar revenues, total assets and market capitalization, with a focus on U.S. or North

American based companies. Generally, our ranking is in the middle of the peer group in terms of revenues, total assets and market capital. Also, we have nine of the 14 companies in our peer group in common with our peer’s peer groups. In other words, the companies in our peer group have also chosen many of the same companies to be in their peer groups. Our 2017 peer group, as approved by the Board of Directors is as follows:

 

 

As a result of our compensation program review and establishment of the peer group, no changes to our compensation program were determined to be necessary or appropriate at this time. The weighting of personal and corporate objectives remains as it has been since 2015, with executives’ personal objectives aligned with the objectives of the department for which the executive officer is responsible; the executives’ personal objectives are also designed to help the Company achieve its overall corporate objectives. The categories of corporate objectives remain as before: Total Company, Lost Creek, Pathfinder and Corporate Services on a weighted basis as set forth below. We re-weighted the most significant weightings Total Company (20%) and Lost Creek (40%) for an even greater emphasis on operational priorities.

 

2017 Performance on Objectives and Relationship to STIP Awards

 

We use corporate objectives to broadly measure our total corporate performance. Our corporate objectives are grouped into Key Performance Areas, which in turn include a number of compensable Key Performance Indicators (“KPIs”). For 2017, our corporate objectives are divided into four Key Performance Areas (“KPA”) that reflect our core reporting segments.  The following table shows the KPAs and their respective weights.

 

 

Weightings for each KPA are established based on the reporting segment’s objectives in relation to the overall corporate strategy of the Company. Health, safety and environmental performance objectives are embedded within each KPA. Each

KPA includes a number of compensable targets or KPIs. KPIs are a combination of financial and non-financial measures that are directly aligned with the reporting segment’s strategy. Each KPI is aimed at driving annual performance within the KPA.

 

KPIs are the result of a cooperative effort among the reporting segments, executive management and our Board of Directors to establish objectives that align with our corporate strategy as charted by the Board of Directors. Reporting segment objectives that are considered to be most critical to corporate performance are selected to be KPIs. Selected KPIs, weightings and performance levels are presented to the Compensation Committee, and subsequently to the Board of Directors, for approval.

 

Each KPI has three performance levels (Threshold, Target and Maximum) that are used to measure results. Threshold, Target and Maximum performance-level values are based on quantifiable measures when possible, where typically the Threshold value is 80% of Target and the Maximum value is 120% of Target. When quantifiable measures are not possible, or more than one measure is used, we use a four-point scale to measure results as follows:

 

 

The target level of performance for each KPI is set at an aggressive level that represents a 'reasonable stretch'. For example, when using our four-point scale to measure results, a score of 3 (Fully Successful Performance) is used as the Target. Achieving the Target would result in a 100% payout of the Weighted KPI.

 

The Threshold level of performance is the minimum level of performance that must be met before being eligible for any payout on that KPI. The Threshold performance level is typically set at 80% of Target, or a score of 2 (Partially, but not Fully, Successful Performance) when using our four-point scale. There is no payout if the Threshold is not met. Achieving the Threshold would result in a 50% payout of the Weighted KPI. The Maximum level of performance for each KPI is typically set at 120% of Target, or a score of 4 (Superior Performance) when using our four-point scale. Achieving or exceeding the Maximum would result in a 150% payout of the Weighted KPI.

 

A straight-line interpolation is used to calculate payouts when the result is between the Threshold (50%) and Maximum (150%) targets.  The Weighted Payout is the result of multiplying (a) the Weighted KPI times (b) the Result Payout.

 

Together with the Compensation Committee, management regularly monitors the corporate results as they relate to the KPIs to determine if the Company is on-track to meet its objectives. After year end, a final review of the corporate results is overseen by the Compensation Committee and reported to the Board of Directors. In March 2018, the Board of Directors reviewed corporate performance based upon the selected KPI objectives established for 2017. Our corporate performance was evaluated as having generally met the performance objective targets, and exceeded the targets in several categories and specific objectives.

 

Results of performance based upon these 2017 corporate objectives, as approved by the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, are set forth in the tables below and explained in the text which follows each key performance area of the corporate objectives.

 

 

Total Company: Our corporate “Total Company” objectives continued to focus on safe, sustained production operations at Lost Creek, with a limited development plan being the primary strategic objective for the site in 2017. We delivered into a sale our two millionth pound of Lost Creek uranium in 2017, shortly after our fourth anniversary in operations. At year-end, we had captured in the wellfield approximately 2.4 million pounds, life-of-project. Additionally, with the continuing depressed uranium market in 2017, we sought to further de-risk our business through the creation of additional value in our term contracts, balancing production and purchased pounds to be delivered into the contractual obligations. We delivered and sold 780,000 pounds at an average price of $49.09, of which 261,000 pounds were produced at Lost Creek, and 519,000 pounds were purchase for delivery to customers. Our term contracts continue to set us apart from others in the industry with our base revenues known and de-risked. These revenues permitted us again to timely make all payments in debt service during 2017, another accomplishment which continues to distinguish our Company.

 

In 2017, total U.S. uranium production fell to near historic lows due in large part to uranium and nuclear fuel imported from state-subsidized foreign entities; indications are that 2018 domestic production is likely to be even lower. A healthy uranium mining industry is vital to U.S. national security, because it supplies fuel for nuclear power plants that are a key component of the nation’s critical energy infrastructure and essential defense needs. We undertook to investigate a means by which we could respond to these circumstances. After much work on this project in H2 2017,  in early 2018, together

with Energy Fuels, we submitted a petition under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) for relief from imports of uranium products that threaten national security requesting (1) the DOC to investigate the effects of uranium imports on U.S. national security and (2) the President of the United States to use his authority to adjust imports to ensure the long-term viability of the U.S. uranium mining industry. The petition proposes sensible remedies that will support a viable domestic uranium mining industry with a negligible impact on U.S. nuclear utilities.

 

As always, we sought to reach our objectives within budget, including attaining free cash flow at new levels, to return value to our shareholders. We continue to emphasize safety in all that we do, reaching a one-year accident free milestone in April 2017, which we extended to sixteen months before the only lost-time accident for 2017 occurred: a sprained ankle. This achievement speaks highly of the commitment and diligence of our Lost Creek team, although our target remains no lost time accidents. At this time, we currently are at seven months with no lost-time accidents. 

 

As a result of our diligent cash-flow management, our free cash flow again exceeded our budget for the year. Even in the face of sustained depressed uranium pricing, our results on Total Shareholder Return (TSR), exceeded our targets for both one- and three-year results, with an average of 70th percentile. See also discussion under heading “Total Shareholder Return,” below. 

 

 

Lost Creek: Our corporate objectives continued to focus on Lost Creek operations, with a weighting of 40% to the objectives directly related to Lost Creek; in 2017, this included advancing our operations on a limited development plan, while continuing to improve our safety standards. As described above, we continue to strive to improve our overall safety record, and have demonstrated that commitment with the safety milestone recognized of 12 months with no lost-time accidents (April 2016-2017). Additionally, the reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) from 2016 was 38.7%

(4.0 to 2.4), which aligns Lost Creek’s record at a rate lower than national TRIR figures (~ 3.2) and Wyoming TRIR figures (~ 3.6).

 

The operational refinements implemented in 2016 continued to serve us well in 2017, as we continued to control our production rates at lower levels with good efficiencies. We delivered 261,000 pounds from Lost Creek to our customers during 2017. As well, we continue to achieve the lowest-cost production among publicly-traded uranium mining companies. We initiated a limited construction and development program to begin production from three header houses in the second mine unit. The first of the three houses began operations in August 2017.

 

Having obtained all general regulatory authorizations for Class V wells at Lost Creek in 2016, we brought online in 2017 what has been one of the most significant operational enhancements at the site: relatively shallow Class V wells allowing for the recirculation of up to 200 gpm of fresh permeate (i.e., clean water) from operations. This system is the first of its kind at an in situ recovery uranium facility. We anticipate that this system will enhance waste water disposition and recycling at the site for years to come. Because ultimately the system reduces injection requirements in our Class I deep disposal wells, its operation will extend the life of those very valuable assets.

 

Permitting advances made during the year were largely focused on the process to obtain all approvals for the amendments to existing permits and authorizations for recovery from mine units at LC East. All technical questions and requests for additional information from the BLM and NRC have been responded to, including with additional follow-on. We anticipate that the draft EIS will be forthcoming from the BLM, the lead agency on these amendments, in H1 2018. Additionally, the permitting for recompletion of our Class I deep wells has progressed, with the State having issued a draft permit allowing the recompletion. The State continues to work with the EPA to finalize the permit, which should then allow for recompletion of the first well in summer 2018.

 

While we conducted an additional reduction in force in March 2017, we have been successful in maintaining a skilled and dedicated workforce, which will serve us well when the uranium market improves and we are able to ramp up both development and production.

 

 

Pathfinder:  Performance in respect of our Pathfinder Mines assets continued to be strong in 2017, with our safety record for Pathfinder, including Shirley Basin Project, remaining perfect: no incidents. The Pathfinder objective which was advanced very successfully in 2017 is the development of value from the Pathfinder exploration database. The ongoing review and analyses of the database led us to identify several exploration projects for which data may be able to be sold to exploration companies who have expressed interest. More importantly, the database held data about a gold exploration project from which we developed further research and field analyses, and subsequently located federal lode mining claims comprising approximately 2100 acres: our new Excel Project in Nevada.  The area of rock sampling covered approximately 640 acres (one square mile). Initial results of the sampling are very promising. While we retain our focus, first and foremost, as a low-cost uranium producer, the opportunities presented by the Excel Project were too attractive not to pursue. We are currently considering all prospects to advance this new exploration project, and to obtain value for our shareholders, whether drilling the project ourselves, identifying a viable venture partner, or through a sale process. Additionally, we will continue to mine the large database for other exploration and data sale opportunities.

 

During 2017, we advanced the application for permit to mine with the State of Wyoming. Work is well underway on other applications for all necessary authorizations to mine at Shirley Basin. We have worked cooperatively with others in our industry to assist with the development of the Wyoming “agreement state” program, by which the NRC will delegate its authority for source material licensure and other radiation safety issues to the State. We understand that the development of the Wyoming Uranium Recovery Program remains on schedule for approval, full implementation and transition likely occurring later in 2018. Based upon that understanding, we currently anticipate submitting our application for a source material license for Shirley Basin to the State Uranium Recovery Program in 2018. During 2017, we continued our engagement with our landowning neighbors in Shirley Basin.

 

 

Corporate Services:  Again, with a focus on safety at all of our sites, our support services groups performed well during 2017. We had no reportable safety incidents in the corporate services groups. Risk management remained a priority with our finance, compliance and legal groups, with reporting and other obligations completed in a timely and professional manner. We experienced no significant legal or compliance issue during the year. Our internal and external reporting remains of high quality, and our internal reporting continues to evolve in response to changing and new priorities. The finance department was successful in forecasting and managing our cash resources. All of these efforts relate to our ongoing efforts to strategically and successfully position the Company in these challenging market times. Our Chief Financial Officer continues his review of our compensation and benefits programs, and an even more robust compensation survey of non-executive staff was conducted this year by the corporate services group and operations staff.

 

Overall, our 2017 performance-to-objectives result was 109.6% of the targeted 100%.

 

Total Shareholder Return

 

The total shareholder return (“TSR”) of the Company compared with the returns of our peer comparator group is shown on a one-year through five-year basis in the table below. The long-term, five-year, TSR of Ur-Energy was well above the top quartile, with a ranking in the top five of the comparator companies. The shorter-term, two-year, TSR dropped below the 50th percentile, primarily driven by a significant decrease in uranium pricing in 2016, which impacted producing uranium companies more than non-producers and significantly more than non-uranium mining companies such as gold and silver companies that experienced rising commodity prices. More recently, the one-year TSR moved above the 50th percentile again as uranium prices flattened in 2017.

 

 

 

Executive Compensation – Related Fees

The Compensation Committee did not utilize any third-party consulting services during 2017. Management and the Compensation Committee continue to utilize the Company’s subscription to Equilar Services.

 

2018 Compensation Program and Outlook

 

While the compensation program will remain largely the same in 2018 for all employees and executive officers, recommendations from the compensation studies in recent years, supported by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, continue to be reviewed and implemented by the Company to refine the executive STIP plan to include an even more robust performance-based compensation plan and evaluation process.

 

The average spot price per pound of U3O8, as reported by Ux Consulting Company, LLC and TradeTech, LLC, for the week of March 26, 2018 was $21.38. As a result of the continuing low spot price environment, we once again intend to maintain production at or below levels that will be consistent with our existing contractual sales obligations, which are 470,000 pounds at an average price of $49 per pound in 2018. Our current target for 2018 is to maintain an average production rate such that our annual production is sufficient to produce between 250,000 and 300,000 pounds. We have taken advantage of the low uranium prices at the end of 2017 and in early 2108 to enter into purchase agreements for, collectively, 460,000 pounds at an average cost of $24 per pound. We have already delivered a portion of these pounds. The purchases of pounds for delivery permits us to build inventory, which may be utilized to complete discretionary spot sale transactions on an as-needed basis, when market conditions warrant. In addition to our production plans for Lost Creek, and advancing the additional permitting applications and amendments to provide for future production of identified resources at the LC East Project, we will continue to advance all required operational licenses and permits for our Shirley Basin project.

 

Our “total company” objectives for 2018 will continue to concentrate on operating safely in an environmentally-sound fashion, focusing on the health and well-being of our employees, while returning value to our shareholders.  

 

Additional Compensation Practices

 

Share Ownership Guidelines

 

All of our executive officers and directors are encouraged to have a significant long-term financial interest in our Company. To encourage alignment of the interests of the executive officers and directors with those of our shareholders, in 2009, the Board of Directors mandated that each executive officer of Ur-Energy, whether currently appointed or appointed in the future, is required to invest an amount equal to one times the executive officer’s annual base salary in shares or securities redeemable into shares on or before the later of (i) December 31, 2013, (ii) the fifth anniversary of the executive officer’s appointment, or (iii) the date of the most recent salary increase. The investment amount is calculated using the amount of the base salary of the executive officer at the later of (i) January 1, 2009, (ii) the date of executive officer’s appointment, or the date of the most recent base salary increase. The share ownership requirements are also applicable to the non-executive directors who are required to invest an amount equal to three times their annual retainer.  See further discussion under the heading “Share Ownership Guidelines for Directors” below. Reviewed most recently in October 2017, all executive officers meet the Share Ownership Guidelines or are on-track to meet the Share Ownership Guidelines within the prescribed timeframes.

 

Anti-Hedging Policy; Pledging

 

We have a formal anti-hedging policy which prohibits our executive officers and directors from engaging in any hedging or similar monetization transactions with respect to the Company’s securities, including, but not limited to, through the use of financial instruments such as exchange funds, prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, puts, calls, collars, forwards and other derivative instruments, or through the establishment of a short position in the Company’s securities.

 

The Board has not formally adopted a policy restricting the pledging of its Common Shares held by executive officers or directors as, historically, there has been little or no pledging of the Company’s shares by our executive officers or directors. Currently, only one insider has pledged Common Shares; those pledged Common Shares represent approximately one percent of our issued and outstanding shares. Among the directors and executive officers, there have been no other pledged Common Shares of the Company. See Notes to Security Ownership Table, above.

 

Clawback Policy

 

The Company has adopted a clawback policy pursuant to which the Company would be entitled to recoup incentive compensation amounts paid to executive officer(s) in the event of a future restatement of financial results and other specified events. This policy covers all incentive cash and equity compensation, including any cash bonuses, restricted share units or stock options received by the executives. It provides that the Board may direct the Company to recoup the incentive cash and equity compensation of the executive(s) at fault if all three of the following events occur:

 

 

 

 

If all three of the preceding events occur, the Board of Directors, following review and recommendation by the Compensation Committee, will decide when and how the policy will apply. The Company may recoup the portion of incentive cash and equity compensation received by the executive(s) at fault during the year(s) subject to the restatement that is in excess of the incentive compensation that would have been received based on the restated results.

 

Tax and Accounting Considerations

 

The Compensation Committee considers tax and accounting rules and regulations when structuring our executive compensation program. Our plans and programs are designed to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRS Code”), which regulates deferred compensation and provides for potentially early taxation and a 20% additional tax on non-compliant arrangements. The Compensation Committee also monitors whether our executive compensation may be subject to the $1,000,000 per year deduction limitation set forth under Section 162(m) of the IRS Code, although to date the compensation of our Named Executive Officers has been well under the $1,000,000 per year limit. Equity awards are accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 718, which requires the recognition of expense for the fair value of such awards, and the Compensation Committee considers the accounting expense of such awards when authorizing stock option and RSU grants.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Say on Pay Advisory Vote in 2017

 

In 2017, our shareholders approved our compensation program for our Named Executive Officers by a vote in favor of 90%.

 

The Compensation Committee believes the results of our advisory votes on say on pay continue to be indicative that the vast majority of our shareholders are satisfied with our executive compensation policies and decisions, and that our executive compensation program effectively aligns the interests of our Named Executive Officers with the interests of our shareholders. As a part of the review of our compensation program and, specifically, compensation of our Named Executive Officers, we did not make substantive changes to the compensation of our executives in 2017; the executives were provided cost of living raises, only.  

 

We continue to review our human resources in light of the Company’s current operations and needs. As a result of persistently low uranium prices, and responsive reductions in production to control at or about the level of our contractual requirements, we have reduced our overall employee count from a combined Ur-Energy USA (Casper/Littleton) and Lost Creek total of 90 employees at year-end 2013 to a combined 50 employees at year-end 2017;  further reductions in force (nine additional employees) followed in Q1 2018.  

 

Based upon the first advisory vote by our shareholders, in 2014, concerning “say when on pay,” our Board adopted an annual advisory vote for “say on pay,” until our next say when on pay vote in 2020. As a result, our next say on pay vote will be in 2019.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth the summary information concerning compensation earned during the financial years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 by our Named Executive Officers serving at December 31, 2017.

 

 

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS

 

The following table sets forth certain summary information concerning our equity compensation plans as at December 31, 2017. Directors, officers, employees, and consultants are eligible to participate in the Option Plan. Directors and employees, including executive officers, are eligible to participate in the RSU Plan. 

 

 

Stock Options and RSUs

 

We adopted the Ur-Energy Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan in 2005 in order to advance our interests by providing directors, officers, employees and consultants with a financial incentive tied to Ur-Energy’s long-term financial performance and continued service to or employment with us. Subsequently, we adopted the Ur-Energy Inc. Restricted Share Unit Plan, as thereafter amended, as part of our overall stock-based compensation plan. The RSU Plan allows participants to earn Common Shares over time, rather than options that give participants the right to purchase shares at a set price.

 

A total of up to 10% of Ur-Energy’s issued and outstanding Common Shares may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the Option Plan and the RSU Plan, in the aggregate. As of March 27, 2018, we have listed and reserved 11,207,058 Common Shares in the aggregate of which 9,439,732 Common Shares were reserved under the Option Plan, and 1,767,326 Common Shares were reserved under the RSU Plan. We allocate approximately 80% of those reserved shares to the Option Plan and 20% to the RSU Plan,  and award grants using a ratio of 4:1 Options to RSUs. The RSU Plan does not allocate more

than five percent of the reserved Common Shares. Of those currently reserved, 9,271,947 options for Common Shares have been granted and are outstanding, as at March 27,  2018, or approximately 6.3% of our issued and outstanding Common Shares. There are 1,157,438 RSUs that have been granted and are outstanding as of March 27,  2018, or approximately 0.8% of our issued and outstanding Common Shares. The number of shares reserved is subject to adjustment if the Common Shares are subdivided, consolidated, converted or reclassified or the number of Common Shares varies as a result of a stock dividend or an increase or a reduction in our share capital. We do not permit the payment of dividends on unvested or redeemed equity awards of all types.  The run rate on the equity plans for the past three years is as follows:

 

 

As at March 27, 2018, the closing price of our Common Shares on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) was $0.59 and on the TSX was C$0.78.

 

Option Plan

 

Under the Option Plan, options may be granted to our directors, executive officers, eligible employees and consultants. As of March 27, 2018, there are approximately 20 employees and six non-executive directors who would be eligible to participate in the Option Plan. The Option Plan was most recently approved by shareholders, with an approval of 79%, on May 18, 2017.

 

The maximum number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance to any one person under the Option Plan is five percent of the number of Common Shares outstanding at the time of reservation. The options are personal and non-assignable. Option holders do not have any shareholder rights (and, specifically, shall not be entitled to dividends) with respect to options unless and until the options are exercised and stock certificates are issued in the name of the option holder. The exercise price for Common Shares subject to an option is determined by the Board of Directors at the time of grant and may not be less than the market price of the Common Shares at the time the option is granted. Market price at any date in respect of the Common Shares means the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX (or, if the Common Shares are not then listed and posted for trading on the TSX, then on the recognized stock exchange on which such Common Shares are listed or posted or, if such Common Shares are not so listed on any recognized stock exchange, then on the over-the-counter market on which they are traded or posted as selected for such purpose by the Compensation Committee or, in accordance with Section 5.5 of the Option Plan) on the immediately preceding trading day.

 

Amendments to the Option Plan, approved by the shareholders in May 2017 (a) amended and extended the vesting period so that, going forward, options in a grant vest over a three-year period: one-third on the first anniversary, one-third on the second anniversary and one-third on the third anniversary of the grant; (b) confirmed that dividends, for all award types, shall not be payable on unvested options; (c) updated the Option Plan for compliance with applicable laws, including conformity with tax rules and requirements; and (d) made certain other housekeeping changes. The amendments did not request any increase in the percentage number of Common Shares available for issuance under the Option Plan, nor did the amendments change the term (five years) of the options. Prior to the amendments, options were exercisable as to 10% immediately on the date of grant; with an additional 22% becoming exercisable four and one-half months after the date of grant; 22% becoming exercisable nine months after the date of grant; 22% thirteen and one-half months after the date of grant; and, the balance of 24% exercisable eighteen months after the date of grant, subject to the right of the Board of Directors to determine at the time of a particular grant that such options will become exercisable on different dates.

 

Additionally, in no event shall more than five percent of the shares available for issuance under the Option Plan have a stated vesting/exercisability schedule of less than one year from the date of grant. 

 

Options granted under the Option Plan are subject to early termination under certain circumstances, including (i) one year after the death of the option holder, (ii) three months after the option holder’s resignation or dismissal without cause as an employee or consultant, or (iii) immediately upon the option holder’s dismissal for cause as an employee. In each case, only options vested at the time of the event which gave rise to such early termination may be exercised by the option holder

during such period. The Option Plan also provides that upon a change of control all options under the Option Plan vest immediately and are immediately exercisable.

 

The Option Plan and the terms of any outstanding option may be amended at any time by the Board subject to any required regulatory or shareholder approvals, provided that where such an amendment would prejudice the rights of an option holder under any outstanding option, the consent of the option holder is required to be obtained. Amendments requiring shareholder approval are those amendments set forth in the TSX Company Manual. Amendments that do not require shareholder approval are “housekeeping” amendments such as amendments to the Option Plan to comply with regulatory requirements, amendments related to the administration of the Option Plan and to change the eligibility requirements under the Option Plan and terms and conditions on which the options may be granted. The Option Plan may be suspended, terminated or discontinued in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

Stock options are generally treated as ordinary compensation income as and when Common Shares are issued to the participant upon exercise of the award, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, the options are taxable at long-term capital gains tax rates when the issued Common Shares are sold so long as certain conditions are met. If the participant is an employee, the income may be subject to withholding for income and employment tax purposes. The Company is generally entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant, subject to possible limitations imposed by the IRS Code, including Section 162(m). Please note that the foregoing description is based upon U.S. federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this Circular and does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.

 

RSU Plan

 

The RSU Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on May 7, 2010 and was approved in its entirety most recently by our shareholders on May 5, 2016 with an approval of 67%. Certain amendments to the RSU Plan were approved and ratified by our shareholders on May 28, 2015, with an approval of 94%.

 

Under the RSU Plan restricted share units may be granted to directors and employees, including executive officers, of Ur‑Energy as possible eligible participants. The Board of Directors has appointed the Compensation Committee to determine which persons are entitled to participate in the RSU Plan and the number of RSUs to be awarded to each participant. The RSU Plan does not limit the participation of any specific eligible participant including insiders. RSUs awarded to participants are credited to a notional account that is established on their behalf and maintained in accordance with the RSU Plan. Each RSU awarded conditionally entitles the participant to the delivery of one Common Share (or cash in lieu of such share at the Compensation Committee’s discretion) upon attainment of the RSU vesting period. Subsequent to the 2015 amendments, grants of RSUs vest 100% on the two-year anniversary of the date of the grant. Prior to the 2015 amendments, RSUs awarded to participants vest over a two-year period: 50% vest on the first anniversary and 50% vest on the second anniversary of the date of grant. The last of the RSUs awarded under the earlier redemption plan were redeemed in early 2017. 

 

The RSU Plan permits us to either redeem RSUs for cash or issue Common Shares from treasury in order to satisfy all or any portion of a vested RSU award. If redeemed for cash, RSUs will be redeemed for an amount equal to fair market value which means the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the business day immediately prior to the redemption date, or if the shares are not listed on the TSX, then on such other stock exchange or quotation system as may be selected by the Compensation Committee, provided that, if the Common Shares are not listed or quoted on any other stock exchange or quotation system, then the fair market value will be the value determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion acting in good faith. In the event of a change of control, as defined in the RSU Plan, we are required to redeem 100% of the RSUs granted to participants. In the event of an involuntary termination of an employee, other than for cause, or a director who is not re-elected, we are required to redeem the RSUs for cash. Rights respecting RSUs shall not be transferable or assignable other than by will.

 

The Board may from time to time amend or suspend the RSU Plan and may at any time terminate the RSU Plan. No such amendment, suspension or termination shall adversely affect the rights of any eligible person with respect to outstanding and unredeemed RSUs credited to that person without that RSU holder’s consent. Amendments requiring shareholder approval are those amendments set forth in the TSX Company Manual. Amendments that do not require shareholder

approval are “housekeeping” amendments such as amendments to the RSU Plan to comply with regulatory requirements, amendments related to the administration of the RSU Plan and to change the eligibility requirements under the RSU Plan and terms and conditions on which the RSUs may be granted.

 

RSUs are generally treated as ordinary compensation income as and when Common Shares are issued to the participant upon vesting or settlement of the award. If the participant is an employee, this income is subject to withholding for income and employment tax purposes. The Company is generally entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant, subject to possible limitations imposed by the IRS Code, including Section 162(m). Please note that the foregoing description is based upon U.S. federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this Circular and does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.

 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TO NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The following table sets forth information concerning option-based and share-based awards granted to each of the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the value vested or earned in respect of incentive plan awards during the year ended December 31, 2017 by each of the Named Executive Officers.