Announcement PDF 4 November 2024 ASX: CRI TRADING POLICY Critica Limited (ASX: CRI) (Critica or the Company) advises that in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 12.10, it has updated its Trading Policy in relation to the securities of the Company. A copy the updated Trading Policy is attached and also available on the Company’s website at https://critica.limited/corporategovernance Authorised by the Board of Critica Limited. Jamie Byrde Company Secretary CONTACT US Critica Limited Level 2, 16 Altona Street, West Perth, Western Australia T: + 61 8 6279 9428 | admin@critica.limited | www.critica.limited 1 ASX: CRI TRADING POLICY 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Critica Limited (Company) is committed to complying with the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules to create a transparent market in the trading of its securities on the ASX. Directors and employees are encouraged to hold shares in the Company. It is important, however, that care is taken in the timing of any dealing in the Company's securities to avoid insider trading. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that persons covered by it are aware of the legal restrictions on trading securities while they are in possession of inside information and other restrictions imposed by the Company. If you are uncertain of the status of information, you should discuss it with the Chair before engaging in any trade in the Company's securities. Additionally, the objectives of this Policy are to: (a) minimise the risk of persons covered by this Policy contravening the laws against insider trading; (b) minimise the risk of the appearance of insider trading and the significant reputational damage that may cause; (c) ensure the Company is able to meet its reporting obligations under the ASX Listing Rules; and (d) increase transparency with respect to trading in the Company’s securities by persons covered by this Policy. To achieve these objectives, persons covered by this Policy should consider this Policy to be binding on them in the absence of a specific exemption by the Board. 1.2 WHO DOES THIS POLICY APPLY TO? This Policy applies to Restricted Persons. A Restricted Person is a person who is: (a) a person having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company, directly or indirectly, including any Director (whether executive or otherwise) (Key Management Personnel); and (b) an employee of the Company (Employee); and (c) a key or senior contractor or consultant who at the time is engaged by or providing services to the Company (Key Consultant or Key Contractor); and (d) a Connected Person of Key Management Personnel, Employees and Key Consultants or Key Contractors. A Connected Person means, in respect of a person, a spouse or partner, child or step-child under 18 years, a parent, an unlisted body corporate which the person controls or is a director of, a trust of which the person is a trustee and of which he or she or any of the persons referred to above is a beneficiary or any other CRITICA LIMITED | ABN 51 119 678 385 | Level 2, 16 Altona Street, West Perth, Western Australia T: + 61 8 6279 9428 | F: + 61 8 6500 9986 | admin@critica.limited | www.critica.limited 1 person over whom the person has significant influence or control. Where this Policy requires a Restricted Person to do an act or thing, the relevant Restricted Person must do that act or thing in respect of the Connected Person. If you are in any doubt as to how this Policy may affect you, you should seek assistance from the Secretary before trading. 2. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION 2.1 DEFINITIONS General terms and abbreviations used in this Policy have the meanings set out below: Applicant has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 6.12 of this Policy. ASX means ASX Limited ACN 008 624 691 (ASX Limited) or the securities market operated by ASX Limited, as the case may be. ASX Listing Rules means the listing rules of the ASX, as amended from time to time. Audit and Risk Committee means the audit and risk committee established by the Board. Board means the board of Directors of the Company. Chair means the chair of the Board. Closed Period has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 6.2 of this Policy. Connected Person has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 1.2 of this Policy. Company means Critica Limited ACN 119 678 385. Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). dealing has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 5.1 of this Policy. Decision Maker(s) has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 6.12 of this Policy. Director means a director of the Company. Employee has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 1.2 of this Policy. inside information has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 5.2 of this Policy. Key Consultant or Key Contractor has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 1.2 of this Policy. Key Management Personnel has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 1.2 of this Policy. Policy means this securities trading policy. Related Bodies Corporate has the meaning given to it in section 9 of the Corporations Act. Restricted Persons has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 1.2 of this Policy. 2 3. Secretary means the company secretary of the Company. securities has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 3 of this Policy. trade has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 5.1 of this Policy WHAT SECURITIES ARE COVERED BY THIS POLICY? This Policy applies to the issue of new securities of the Company and its Related Bodies Corporate and the sale and purchase of any securities issued in the Company and its Related Bodies Corporate from time to time. The definition of "securities" in the Corporations Act is very broad. Securities are defined to include: (a) debentures, stocks or bonds issued, or proposed to be issued, by a government; (b) shares in, or debentures of, a body; and (c) units of such shares. For the purposes of this Policy, the term "securities" also extends to share acquisition rights, options and financial products issued or created over or in respect of securities issued by the Company (for example, warrants and other derivative products), whether the financial products are created by the Company or by third parties. 4. STANDARDS All Restricted Persons should ensure that all transactions in the Company's securities comply with: (a) the Corporations Act and Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth) (including, without limitation, the insider trading provisions); and (b) the ASX Listing Rules (including, without limitation, the continuous disclosure requirements in ASX Listing Rule 3.1 and the disclosure of Directors' interests in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 3.19A). 5. PROHIBITION ON INSIDER TRADING 5.1 INSIDER TRADING PROHIBITION (a) The Company's shares are listed on the ASX. Section 1043A (of Part 7.10, Division 3) of the Corporations Act makes it an offence for a person in possession of information that is not generally available but which, if generally available, a reasonable person would expect it to have a material effect on the price or value of securities to: (i) "trade" in securities, which means to apply for, acquire or dispose of securities (including the exercise of an option or the conversion of a share acquisition right) or to enter into an agreement to do any of those things; or 3 (ii) procure another person to trade in securities, (each a "dealing" in securities). 5.2 (b) The insider trading prohibition in section 1043A of the Corporations Act is MANDATORY and not a matter of guidance. (c) It does not matter how the person comes to have the inside information – for example, whether the person learns it in the course of carrying out that person's responsibilities, in passing in the corridor, in the lift or at a social occasion. (d) It is an offence to communicate the inside information to another person with the knowledge that the person could deal in securities. Accordingly, the prohibition on insider trading cannot be avoided by a person procuring or arranging for another person to deal on his or her behalf. WHAT IS INSIDE INFORMATION? "Inside information" means information that: (a) is not generally available; and (b) if it were generally available, a reasonable person would expect to have a material on the price or value of securities. This is satisfied where the information would, or would be likely to, influence persons who commonly invest in securities in deciding whether to buy or sell securities, and can include information which is of an uncertain nature, rumours, matters of supposition, matters relating to the intentions or likely intentions of a person (including the Company and its Related Bodies Corporate) and information which is insufficiently definite to warrant disclosure to the public. 5.3 EXAMPLES OF INSIDE INFORMATION Examples of information which may, depending on the circumstances, be likely to constitute inside information include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) information relating to Company drilling exploration results or reserve statements; (b) information on the outcome of any economic studies, such as pre-feasibility studies or definitive feasibility studies; (c) information on changes in production or production forecasts; (d) information relating to the Company's financial results or forecast results; (e) a material acquisition, joint venture, realisation or disposal of assets; (f) a threat of material litigation against the Company; (g) the Company’s sales and profit results materially exceeding or falling short of the market’s expectations or the previously announced guidance by the Company; (h) a material change in debt, liquidity or cash flow; (i) a significant new development proposal (i.e., a new product or technology); (j) the granting or loss of a major contract; (k) a management or business restructuring proposal; 4 5.4 (l) a change in the capital structure, such as a capital return or the buy back of a financial product; (m) a payment of dividends or an issue of securities in the Company; (n) a change to the Board or significant changes in senior management; (o) the entering into of an agreement or option to acquire an interest in an asset or business, or to enter into a joint venture or other arrangement in relation to an asset or business; and (p) any information required to be announced to the market pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 3.1 (the continuous disclosure rule) which is yet to be released to the market. WHEN IS INFORMATION GENERALLY AVAILABLE? Information is generally available if: (a) it consists of a readily observable matter; or (b) both of the following apply: (c) 5.5 (i) it has been made known in a manner that would, or would be likely to, bring it to the attention of persons who commonly invest in securities of a kind whose price or value might be affected by the information; and (ii) since it was made known, a reasonable period for it to be disseminated among such persons has elapsed; or it consists of deductions, conclusions or inferences made or drawn from information of the kind referred to in either or both of (a) or (b)(i) above. DEALING THROUGH THIRD PARTIES The insider trading prohibition extends to dealings by individuals through nominees, agents or other associates, such as family members, family trusts and family companies. 5.6 5.7 Consequences for breach of the insider trading prohibition (a) Breach of the insider trading prohibition by a Restricted Person could expose them to criminal and civil liability including fines and imprisonment. (b) Significantly, a breach of the insider trading prohibition could result in the Restricted Person being sued by another party or the Company for any loss suffered as a result of insider trading. (c) Breach of insider trading laws or this Policy will also be regarded by the Company as serious misconduct which may lead to disciplinary action and/or dismissal. SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS IRRELEVANT It does not matter how or where a person obtains inside information and it does not have to be obtained from the Company to constitute inside information. This means that section 1043A of the Corporations Act will apply to any Restricted Person who acquires inside information in relation to the Company's securities, regardless of capacity. In such circumstances, the Restricted Person is prohibited from dealing in the Company's securities. 5 5.8 5.9 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE SCHEME (a) The prohibition on trading in the Company's securities does not apply to acquisitions of shares or options by Employees made under an employee share or option scheme or performance rights plan, nor does it apply to the acquisition of shares as a result of the exercise of options under an employee option scheme. (b) The prohibition does, however, apply to the sale of shares acquired under an employee share scheme or performance rights plan and also to the sale of shares acquired following the exercise of an option or performance right granted under an employee option scheme or performance rights plan. DIRECTOR FEES The prohibition on trading in the Company's securities does apply to a Director's election to receive his or her fees in shares or in cash. Accordingly, a Director is prohibited from making such an election during a Closed Period (as defined in paragraph 6.1 below) or any other restricted period. 5.10 DEALING IN SHARES OF OTHER COMPANIES (a) If a Restricted Person has inside information relating to a company other than the Company, the same insider trading rules outlined above apply to buying and selling securities in that company. (b) In the course of performing duties as an Employee or otherwise, Restricted Persons may obtain inside information relating to another company in a variety of circumstances. Examples include, but are not limited to the following: (c) (i) another company may provide inside information about itself to the Company in the course of a proposed transaction; (ii) another company with whom the Company is dealing may provide inside information about a third company; or (iii) information concerning the Company or actions which may be taken by the Company (i.e. a planned transaction or strategic change) could reasonably have an effect on a third party company. Apart from the application of the insider trading rules to securities in other companies, Employees are also bound by a duty of confidentiality in relation to information in respect of third parties obtained in the course of their employment with the Company. 6. GUIDELINES FOR TRADING IN SECURITIES 6.1 GENERAL RULE There are certain periods during the year when Restricted Persons should not deal in the Company's securities given the heightened risk of actual or perceived insider trading. These periods are set out in paragraph 6.2 and called Closed Periods. Restricted Persons are prohibited from dealing in the Company's securities: (a) when in possession of inside information relating to the Company; and (b) during a Closed Period. 6 The Closed Period trading prohibition does not limit any other obligations of Restricted Persons prescribed by this Policy. 6.2 CLOSED PERIODS The following are designated closed periods: (a) during the period commencing one month prior to the release of the Company's full year financial results or annual report and ending one trading day after the release of those results or reports to the ASX; and (b) during the period commencing two weeks prior to the release of half yearly results announcements and ending one trading day after the release of those results to the ASX, (Closed Periods). 6.3 OTHER RESTRICTED PERIODS (a) (b) Key Management Personnel (i) The Company reserves the right to impose ad hoc restrictions on its Key Management Personnel from trading in its securities in addition to the fixed Closed Periods set out in paragraph 6.2. (ii) In determining when ad hoc restrictions should be imposed on its Key Management Personnel, the Company may have regard to any imminent announcements of market sensitive information it is proposing to make under ASX Listing Rule 3.1. Other individuals In addition to the Key Management Personnel, the Company may also impose ad hoc trading restrictions on: 6.4 (i) staff who work closely with, or in close proximity to, Key Management Personnel; (ii) staff who work in the finance area or in a strategic planning group; (iii) the next layer of management below Key Management Personnel; (iv) staff (such as IT staff) who may have access to email or document folders belonging to Key Management Personnel; and (v) a Connected Person of Key Management Personnel. REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY CHAIR PRIOR TO DEALING Prior to dealing in the Company's securities, Restricted Persons must first notify the Chair of the proposed type of dealing and the number of securities to be traded and seek the Chair's written consent to the proposed dealing in the Company's securities. 6.5 TRADING IN DERIVATIVES Restricted Persons must not trade in any derivative products over the Company's securities irrespective of who issues those derivative products. Derivative products over the Company's securities include warrants, options and contracts for difference. 7 6.6 SHORT TERM TRADING Despite anything to the contrary in this Policy, Restricted Persons must not engage in short term trading of any of the Company's securities. An example of this would be to purchase the Company's shares with an intention to sell them within a 3 month period. 6.7 SHORT SELLING Restricted Persons must not engage in short selling of the Company's securities. Short selling occurs when a person sells securities they do not own with a view to repurchasing them later at a lower price. 6.8 HEDGING TRANSACTIONS Restricted Persons must not enter into an arrangement that would have the effect of limiting their exposure to risk relating to either unvested remuneration, or vested remuneration which remains subject to a holding lock. 6.9 MARGIN LENDING AND OTHER SECURED FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS Restricted Persons must not enter into any margin lending or other secured financing arrangements in respect of the Company's securities. 6.10 EXCEPTIONS (a) A Restricted Person may trade in the Company's securities during a Closed Period if that trading falls within one of the following categories: (i) an acquisition of ordinary shares in the Company which results from conversion of securities which carry a right of conversion to ordinary shares; (ii) an acquisition of the Company's securities under a bonus issue made to all holders of securities of the same class; (iii) an acquisition of the Company's securities under a dividend reinvestment or top-up plan that is available to all holders or securities of the same class; (iv) a transfer of the Company's securities between a member of Key Management Personnel and someone closely related to them (such as a spouse, child, family company or family trust) or by a member of Key Management Personnel to his or her superannuation fund, in respect of which prior written clearance has been provided in accordance with the procedures set out in this Policy; (v) a disposal of securities arising from the acceptance of a takeover offer, scheme of arrangement or equal access buy-back; (vi) a disposal of rights acquired under a pro rata issue; (vii) an acquisition of securities under a pro rata issue; (viii) an investment in, or trading in units of, a fund or other scheme (other than a scheme only investing in the Company's securities) where the assets of the fund or other scheme are invested at the discretion of a third party; (ix) where the Restricted Person is a trustee, trading in the Company's securities by that trust provided that the Restricted Person is not a beneficiary of the trust and any decision to trade during a Closed Period is taken by the other trustees or by the investment managers independently of the Restricted Person; 8 (x) an undertaking to accept, or the acceptance of, a takeover offer; (xi) trading under an offer or invitation made to all or most of the Company’s members, such as a rights issue, a security purchase plan, a dividend or distribution reinvestment plan or an equal access buy-back, where the plan that determines the timing and structure of the offer has been approved by the Board. This includes decisions relating to whether or not to take up the entitlements, the take-up by any underwriter under a renounceable or nonrenounceable pro rata issue and the sale of entitlements required to provide for the take up of the balance of entitlement under a renounceable pro rata issue; (xii) a disposal of the Company's securities that is the result of a secured lender or financier exercising their rights under a margin lending or other secured financing arrangement permitted by this Policy; (xiii) an acquisition of securities under an employee incentive scheme; (xiv) where the Company has an employee incentive scheme with a member of Key Management Personnel as a trustee of the scheme, an acquisition of securities by that Key Management Personnel in his or her capacity as a trustee of the scheme; (xv) an exercise (but not the sale of the Company's securities following exercise) of an option or a right granted under a Company employee incentive plan, or the conversion of a convertible security, where the final date for the exercise of the option or right, or the conversion of the security, falls during a Closed Period and the Company has been in an exceptionally long prohibited period or the Company has had a number of consecutive Closed Periods and the Employee could not reasonably have been expected to exercise it at the time when free to do so; (xvi) trading under a non-discretionary trading plan for which prior written clearance has been provided in accordance with procedures set out in this Policy and where: (xvii) (A) the Employee did not enter into the plan or amend the plan during a Closed Period; (B) the plan does not permit the Employee to exercise any influence or discretion over how, when, or whether to trade; and (C) this Policy does not allow an Employee to cancel any such trading plan, or to cancel or otherwise vary the terms of his or her participation in the trading plan during a Closed Period other than in exceptional circumstances; or the obtaining by a Director of a share qualification. (b) Notwithstanding the above, under insider trading laws, a Restricted Person who possesses inside information may be prohibited from trading even where the trading falls within any of the exceptions in paragraph 6.10(a) of this Policy. (c) In respect of any share or option plans adopted by the Company, it should be noted that: (i) It is not permissible to provide the exercise price of options by selling the shares acquired on the exercise of the options unless the sale of those shares occurs outside the Closed Period. (ii) Were this to occur at a time when the person possessed inside information, the sale of the Company's securities would be a breach of insider trading laws, even though: (A) the person’s decision to sell was not influenced by the inside information that the person possessed; and 9 (B) (d) 6.11 the person may not have made a profit on the sale. Where the Company's securities are provided to a lender as security by way of mortgage or charge, a sale that occurs under that mortgage or charge as a consequence of default would not breach insider trading laws. TRADING WITH PERMISSION A Restricted Person may trade in the Company's securities during a Closed Period if that Restricted Person obtains written consent to do so in accordance with paragraph 6.12 of this Policy. 6.12 PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING WRITTEN CONSENT TO TRADE (a) A Restricted Person who wishes to trade in the Company's securities during a Closed Period (Applicant) must obtain the prior written consent (which may be provided by way of an email) of: (i) the Chair; or (ii) where the Chair is the Applicant, the chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, (collectively, the Decision Maker(s)). (b) (c) As part of such application, an Applicant must give the Decision Maker(s) a written undertaking that the Applicant: (i) is not in possession of inside information; and (ii) will not deal in the Company's securities until prior written consent in given. The Decision Maker(s) may only provide written permission to trade in the Company's securities where: (i) the Applicant is in severe financial hardship (or where other exceptional circumstances exist); and (ii) the Decision Maker(s) is satisfied that there is no inside information which has not been disclosed to the ASX. (d) An Applicant may be in severe financial hardship if he or she has a pressing financial commitment that cannot be satisfied other than by selling some or all of his or her securities in the Company. (e) In the interests of an expedient and informed determination by the Decision Maker(s), any application for an exemption allowing the sale of the Company's securities during a Closed Period based on financial hardship must be made in writing and be accompanied by copies of relevant supporting documentation, including contact details of the person’s accountant, bank and other such independent institutions. Any exemption, if issued, will be in writing and will contain a specified time period during which the sale of securities can be made. (f) Exceptional circumstances may apply to the disposal of the Company's securities by an Applicant if the person is required by a court order, a court enforceable undertaking (for example in a bona fide family settlement, to transfer or sell securities of the Company) or there is some other overriding legal or regulatory requirement to do so. Any application for an exemption allowing the sale of the Company's securities during a Closed Period based on exceptional circumstances must be made in writing and be accompanied by relevant court and/or supporting legal documentation. Any exemption, if issued, will be in writing and will contain a specified time period during which the sale of securities can be made. 10 6.13 (g) An Applicant seeking clearance to trade must satisfy the Decision Maker(s) that he or she is in severe financial hardship or that their circumstances are otherwise exceptional and that the proposed sale or disposal of the relevant Company securities is the only reasonable course of action available. (h) Determination as to whether the Applicant is in severe financial hardship or whether a particular set of circumstances exist may only be made by the Decision Maker(s). (i) Any permission provided under this paragraph 6.12 must be obtained by the Applicant not less than two trading days before the proposed trading. (j) Copies of written approvals must be forwarded to the Secretary prior to the approved purchase or sale transaction. (k) A clearance to trade can be given or refused by the Company in its absolute discretion. The Company's decision to refuse clearance is final and binding on the person seeking clearance. (l) A clearance to trade can be withdrawn if new information comes to light or there is a change in circumstances. (m) If clearance to trade is refused, the person seeking the clearance must keep the information relating to the refusal (including the refusal itself) confidential and not disclose it to anyone. SALES OF SECURITIES Restricted Persons need to be mindful of the market perception associated with any sale of the Company's securities and possibly the ability of the market to absorb the volume of shares being sold. With this in mind, the management of the sale of any significant volume of the Company's securities (i.e. a volume that would represent a volume in excess of 10% of the total securities held by the seller prior to the sale, or a volume to be sold that would be in excess of 10% of the average daily traded volume of the shares of the Company on the ASX for the preceding 20 trading days) by a Restricted Person must be discussed with the Board prior to the execution of any sale. These discussions must be documented in the form of a file note, to be retained by the Secretary. 7. ASX NOTIFICATION BY DIRECTORS (a) Directors are required to notify the Chair and the ASX of any dealing in the Company's securities (either personally or through a third party) which results in a change in the relevant interests of the Director in securities in the Company. (b) The Company is required under the ASX Listing Rules to notify the ASX: (c) (i) of the initial holding of each Director upon appointment and such subsequent dealings within five business days of the change; and (ii) whether the dealing occurred during a Closed Period and, if so, whether written clearance was obtained and on what date it was obtained. To enable the Company to comply with these requirements, each Director must enter into a letter agreement with the Company in a form consistent with the pro forma agreement set out in Attachment 1 to Guidance Note 22 of the ASX Listing Rules. Directors must furnish the relevant information as soon as reasonably possible and in any event no later than three business days after the date of appointment or change, to the Secretary who will facilitate the transmission of these notifications to the ASX. Notifications will also be tabled before the Board. 11 8. REGISTER OF NOTIFICATIONS AND CLEARANCES The Secretary must maintain a register of notifications and clearances given in relation to trading in the Company's securities. The Secretary must report all notifications of trading in, and clearances given, in relation to trading in th