Form 6-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: March 26, 2010
Commission File Number: 001-13425
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated
9500 Glenlyon Parkway
Burnaby, BC, Canada
V5J 0C6
(778) 331 5500
(Address of principal executive offices)
indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F o Form 40-F þ
indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o
indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o
indicate by check mark whether by furnishing information contained in this Form,
the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to
Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes o No þ
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
This Form 6-K incorporates the Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders, Information
Circular and Form of Proxy distributed to the Companys shareholders of record as of March 19,
2010. The Information Circular was provided to shareholders in connection with the Companys
annual and special meeting to be held on April 29, 2010.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated
(Registrant)
|
|
Date: March 26, 2010 |
By: |
/s/ Jeremy Black
|
|
|
|
Jeremy Black |
|
|
|
Corporate Secretary |
|
RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS INCORPORATED
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Annual and Special Meeting (the Meeting) of the shareholders
of RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS INCORPORATED (the Company) will be held at Ritchie Bros.
Auctioneers offices at 9500 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5J 0C6, on Thursday,
April 29, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. (Vancouver time), for the following purposes:
|
(1) |
|
to receive the financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended
December 31, 2009 and the report of the Auditors thereon; |
|
|
(2) |
|
to elect the directors of the Company to hold office until their successors are
elected at the next annual meeting of the Company; |
|
|
(3) |
|
to appoint the Auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual
meeting of the Company and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be
paid to the Auditors; |
|
|
(4) |
|
to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass an ordinary resolution approving
the reconfirmation of the Shareholder Rights Plan adopted in 2007 in accordance with a
Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated as of February 22, 2007 between the Company and
Computershare Investor Services Inc., the full text of which resolution is set out in
Schedule A in the accompanying Information Circular; and |
|
|
(5) |
|
to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the Meeting. |
Further information regarding the matters to be considered at the Meeting is set out in the
accompanying Information Circular.
The directors of the Company have fixed the close of business on March 19, 2010 as the record
date for determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Only
registered shareholders of the Company as of March 19, 2010 will be entitled to vote, in person or
by proxy, at the Meeting.
Shareholders are requested to date, sign and return the accompanying form of proxy for use at
the Meeting, whether or not they are able to attend personally. To be effective, forms of proxy
must be received by Computershare Trust Company of Canada, Attention Proxy Department, 100
University Avenue, 9th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, no later than 48 hours (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
All non-registered shareholders who receive these materials through a broker or other
intermediary should complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided
to them by such broker or intermediary.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, as of this 26th day of March, 2010.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Jeremy Black
Corporate Secretary
RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS INCORPORATED
ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
Unless otherwise provided, the information herein is given as of March 2, 2010.
Solicitation of Proxies
This Information Circular is being furnished to the shareholders of the Company in connection with
the solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual and Special Meeting to be held on April 29, 2010
(the Meeting) by management of the Company. The solicitation will be primarily by mail; however,
proxies may also be solicited personally or by telephone by the directors, officers or employees of
the Company. The Company may also pay brokers or other persons holding common shares of the
Company (the Common Shares) in their own names or in the names of nominees for their reasonable
expenses of sending proxies and proxy materials to beneficial shareholders for the purposes of
obtaining their proxies. The costs of this solicitation are being borne by the Company.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING
PROPOSAL 1: Election of Directors
Under the Articles of Amalgamation of the Company, the number of directors of the Company is
set at a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of ten (10) and the board of directors (the Board) is
authorized to determine the actual number of directors within that range to be elected from time to
time. The Company currently has seven (7) directors. Each director of the Company is elected
annually and holds office until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company unless he or
she sooner ceases to hold office. The Articles of the Company also provide that the Board has the
power to increase the number of directors at any time between annual meetings of shareholders and
appoint one or more additional directors, provided that the total number of directors so appointed
shall not exceed one-third of the number of directors elected at the previous annual meeting. The
Board of the Company has determined that the number of directors to be elected at the Meeting shall
be seven (7).
The Company intends to nominate each of the persons listed below for election as a director of
the Company. The persons proposed for nomination are, in the opinion of the Board and management,
well qualified to act as directors for the ensuing year. The persons named in the enclosed form of
proxy intend to vote for the election of such nominees.
The information presented in the table below has been provided by the respective nominee as of
March 2, 2010. The number of Common Shares owned, controlled or directed includes Common Shares
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (other than stock options), or over which control or
direction is exercised by the proposed nominee. See the table following for disclosure of stock
option information.
1
|
|
|
ROBERT WAUGH MURDOCH
Residence: Salt Spring Island, B.C., Canada
Age: 68
Independent
Director since: February 20, 2006
Shares owned, controlled or directed: 15,219 (1)
|
|
Mr. Murdoch is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Company, a position he has held since 2008. Mr.
Murdoch is a corporate director and spent most of his
career with Lafarge Corporation and affiliates, starting in
Vancouver in 1967 and retiring from the position of
President and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge North
America Inc. (NYSE and TSX: LAF), North Americas largest
diversified supplier of construction materials, in 1992.
Mr. Murdoch was a member of the Board of Lafarge, S.A.
(NYSE: LR; Paris Stock Exchange (Eurolist): LG), the
Paris-based parent company of Lafarge Corporation, until
2005. Mr. Murdoch holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the
University of Toronto. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committees: |
|
|
|
|
|
Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Other directorships: |
|
|
|
|
|
Timberwest Forest Corp. (TSX: TWF.un a public forestry
company) Director; Member of the Governance and Human
Resources Committee; Member of the Audit Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Lafarge, S.A. International Advisory Board member. |
|
|
|
|
|
Lallemand Inc. (a private company specializing in the
development, production and marketing of yeasts and
bacteria products) Director. |
|
|
|
|
|
Weatherhaven Inc. (a private company supplying portable
shelter systems) Advisory Board Chair. |
|
|
|
PETER JAMES BLAKE
Residence: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Age: 48
Independent
Director since: December 12, 1997
Shares owned, controlled or directed: 143,380
|
|
Mr. Blake is currently Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, a position he has held since 2004. Prior to his
appointment, Mr. Blake held various positions with the
Company, including Chief Financial Officer (1997-2004),
Vice President, Finance (1994 to 1997) and Controller (1991
to 1994). Mr. Blake joined the Company in 1991 and is a
Chartered Accountant and has a bachelor of Commerce Degree
from the University of Alberta. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committees: |
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
Other directorships: |
|
|
|
|
|
British Columbia Institute of Technology Foundation (a not
for profit) Director. |
|
|
|
|
|
West Point Grey Academy (a not for profit) Director. |
|
|
|
CHRISTOPHER ZIMMERMAN
Residence: Exeter, NH, USA
Age: 50
Independent
Director since: April 11, 2008
Shares owned, controlled or directed: 2,820
|
|
Mr. Zimmerman was appointed President of Easton Sports,
Inc. in March 2010, a designer, developer and marketer of
sports equipment and accessories. He resigned in 2009 from
the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of
Canucks Sports and Entertainment, a sports entertainment
company in Vancouver, B.C. Before joining them, Mr.
Zimmerman was the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Nike Bauer Inc., a hockey equipment company. Prior to this
appointment in March 2003, Mr. Zimmerman was General
Manager of Nike Golf USA, in Beaverton, Oregon. He joined
Nike Golf in 1998 after spending 16 years in a variety of
senior advertising positions, including USA Advertising
Director for the Nike Brand and Senior Vice President at
Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising in New York. Mr. Zimmerman
has an MBA from Babson College. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committees: |
|
|
|
|
|
Member of the Compensation Committee. |
2
|
|
|
ERIC PATEL
Residence: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Age: 53
Independent
Director since: April 16, 2004
Shares owned, controlled or directed: 15,410
|
|
Mr. Patel is currently Chief Financial Officer of Pembrook
Mining Corp., a private mining company he joined in 2007
(formerly called Paget Resources Corporation). Prior to
joining Pembrook, Mr. Patel was the CFO of Crystal
Decisions, Inc., a privately held software company. Mr.
Patel joined Crystal Decisions in 1999 after holding
executive level positions, including that of CFO, with
University Games, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of
educational toys and games. Before 1997, Mr. Patel worked
for Dreyers Grand Ice Cream as Director of Strategy, for
Marakon Associates strategy consultants and for Chemical
Bank. Mr. Patel holds an MBA degree from Stanford
University. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committees: |
|
|
|
|
|
Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Member of the Audit Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Other directorships: |
|
|
|
|
|
ACL Services Ltd. (a private software company) Advisory
Board member. |
|
|
|
|
|
B.C. Social Venture Partners (a not for profit) Treasurer |
|
|
|
EDWARD BALTAZAR PITONIAK
Residence: West Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Age: 54
Independent
Director since: July 28, 2006
Shares owned, controlled or directed: 3,085
|
|
Mr. Pitoniak is currently a corporate director. Mr.
Pitoniak retired in 2009 from the position of President and
Chief Executive Officer and Director of bcIMC Hospitality
Group, a hotel property and brand ownership entity
(formerly a public income trust called Canadian Hotel
Income Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CHIP)
TSX: HOT.un), where he was employed since January 2004.
Mr. Pitoniak was also a member of CHIPs Board of Trustees
before it went private. Prior to joining CHIP, Mr.
Pitoniak was a Senior Vice-President at Intrawest
Corporation (TSX: ITW; NYSE IDR a ski and golf
resort operator and developer) for nearly eight years.
Before Intrawest, Mr. Pitoniak spent nine years with Times
Mirror Magazines, where he served as editor-in-chief and
advertising director with Ski Magazine. Mr. Pitoniak has a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committees: |
|
|
|
|
|
Chair of the Compensation Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Other directorships: |
|
|
|
|
|
Brentwood College School Governor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BEVERLEY ANNE BRISCOE
Residence: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Age: 55
Independent
Director since: October 29, 2004
Shares owned, controlled or directed: 11,252
|
|
Ms. Briscoe is currently owner and President, Briscoe
Management Ltd., a consulting company that she has owned
since 2004. From 2003 to 2007, Ms. Briscoe was also Chair
of the Industry Training Authority for BC. Ms. Briscoes
previous employment includes: from 1997 to 2004 she was
President and owner of Hiway Refrigeration Limited; from
1994 to 1997 she was Vice President and General Manager of
Wajax Industries Limited; from 1989 to 1994 she was CFO for
the Rivtow Group of Companies; from 1983 to 1989 she held
various executive positions with several operating
divisions of The Jim Pattison Group; and from 1977 to 1983
she worked with a predecessor firm of
PricewaterhouseCoopers. Ms. Briscoe is a Fellow of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants and has a Bachelor of
Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committees: |
|
|
|
|
|
Chair of the Audit Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
3
|
|
|
|
|
Other directorships: |
|
|
|
|
|
Goldcorp Inc. (TSX: G; NYSE: GG a public gold and
precious metal company) Director; Chair of the Audit
Committee and a member of the Governance and Nominating
Committee and the Environmental Health and Safety
Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver (a not for
profit) Director. |
|
|
|
|
|
Forum of Women Entrepreneurs (a not for profit) Director. |
|
|
|
|
|
BC Forest Safety Council (a not for profit) Director;
Interim Chair. |
|
|
|
|
|
Coast Opportunities Funds (a not for profit) Director. |
|
|
|
|
|
Minerva Foundation (a not for profit) Director. |
|
|
|
JAMES MICHAEL MICALI
Residence: Boston, MA, USA
Age: 62
Director since: April 25, 2008
Shares owned, controlled or directed: 2,390 (2)
|
|
Mr. Micali is a senior advisor and limited partner of
Azalea Fund III and Azalea Capital (a private equity fund)
and was a consultant to Michelin North America until 2009.
He is also counsel to Ogletree Deakins, a labour and
employment law firm and was an adjunct professor of Furman
University until 2009. Mr. Micali retired in 2008 from the
position of Chairman and President of Michelin North
America, where he had responsibility for Michelins
operations in North America. He started his career with
Michelin in 1977 and had responsibility for many of
Michelins major business functions, including strategic
planning, sales and marketing, customer service, mergers
and acquisitions, finance, legal, information systems,
human resources and external relations. Prior to joining
Michelin, Mr. Micali practiced law in Providence, Rhode
Island; he obtained his legal education from Boston College
Law School and was admitted to the bars of Rhode Island and
Massachusetts. Mr. Micali also served on the board of
directors of Lafarge North America, a supplier of
construction materials (NYSE and TSX: LAF) from 2003
until May 2006. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committees: |
|
|
|
|
|
Member of the Audit Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Member of the Compensation Committee. |
|
|
|
|
|
Other directorships: |
|
|
|
|
|
Sonoco Products Company (NYSE: SON a global supplier
of industrial and consumer packaging solutions)
Director; member of Compensation, Audit and Governance, and
Executive Committees. |
|
|
|
|
|
SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG an energy production and
distribution company) Director; member of Nuclear
Oversight and Personnel Committees. |
|
|
|
|
|
American Tire Distributors Holdings, Inc. (a private tire
wholesaler company) Director. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sage Automotive Industries, Inc. (a private automotive
supplier) Director and Chair. |
|
|
|
|
|
Humphrey Companies, LLC (a private equity company)
Advisory Board member. |
Notes:
|
|
|
(1) |
|
In addition to the shares owned directly by Mr. Murdoch, his spouse also owns 2,100 Common
Shares, which are included in the 15,219 shares. |
|
(2) |
|
These shares are held jointly by Mr. Micali and his spouse. |
4
The Company is not aware that any of the above nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve
as a director of the Company; however, should the Company become aware of such an occurrence before
the election of directors takes place at the Meeting, if one of the persons named in the enclosed
form of proxy is appointed as proxyholder, it is intended that the discretionary power granted
under such proxy will be used to vote for any substitute nominee or nominees who the Board, in its
discretion, may select.
In addition to the information presented above regarding Common Shares beneficially owned,
controlled or directed, one director of the Company held the stock options set out in the following
table as of March 2, 2010. None of the Companys non-executive directors have been granted stock
options since their appointment. The Company ceased granting options to non-executive directors in
2004, and will not grant them in the future, in accordance with its Policy Regarding the Granting
of Equity-Based Compensation Awards. The options granted to Mr. Blake, the CEO of the Company,
prior to 2009 vested one year from their respective grant dates and options granted to Mr. Blake on
March 5, 2009 vest over a three (3) year period in equal amounts on the anniversary date of the
grant. All options granted to Mr. Blake have expiry dates of ten years from each respective grant
date, subject to early termination, as set out in the relevant option agreement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
Total |
|
|
Total |
|
Nominee |
|
Grant Date |
|
Expiry Date |
|
Granted |
|
|
Price (U.S.$) |
|
|
Exercised |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Blake |
|
Mar. 5, 2009 |
|
Mar. 5, 2019 |
|
|
114,800 |
|
|
$ |
14.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
114,800 |
|
|
|
Feb. 28, 2008 |
|
Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
|
39,900 |
|
|
|
24.39 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,900 |
|
|
|
Mar. 1, 2007 |
|
Mar. 1, 2017 |
|
|
51,000 |
|
|
|
18.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
51,000 |
|
|
|
Jan. 24, 2006 |
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
72,000 |
|
|
|
14.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
72,000 |
|
|
|
Jan. 25, 2005 |
|
Jan. 25, 2015 |
|
|
62,400 |
|
|
|
10.80 |
|
|
|
61,000 |
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
|
|
Feb. 13, 2004 |
|
Feb. 13, 2014 |
|
|
67,200 |
|
|
|
8.82 |
|
|
|
67,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan. 30, 2003 |
|
Jan. 30, 2013 |
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
5.18 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb. 11, 2002 |
|
Feb. 11, 2012 |
|
|
25,800 |
|
|
|
4.35 |
|
|
|
25,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan. 31, 2001 |
|
Jan. 31, 2011 |
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
3.89 |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
571,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
292,000 |
|
|
|
279,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Murdoch is currently the Chairman of the Board and is an independent director and
therefore, the Companys Board has not appointed a Lead Director. Any shareholder wishing to
contact the Chairman of the Board may do so by phoning 778-331-5300 or by sending an email to
LeadDirector@rbauction.com.
Additional disclosure relating to the Companys Audit Committee as required under Multilateral
Instrument 52-110 is contained in the Companys Annual Information Form under the heading Audit
Committee Information. The Annual Information Form of the Company has been filed on SEDAR and is
available on their website at www.sedar.com. A copy of the Companys Annual Information Form may
also be obtained by making a request to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.
5
Board and Committee Attendance
The following tables present information about Board of Directors and Committee meetings and
attendance by directors at such meetings for the year ended December 31, 2009. The overall 2009
attendance record by directors at Board and Committee meetings was 98%.
Board and Committee Meetings Held
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Meetings |
|
Board of Directors |
|
|
8 |
|
Audit Committee |
|
|
4 |
|
Compensation Committee |
|
|
4 |
|
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
|
|
3 |
|
Summary of Attendance of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nominating & |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
|
|
Audit |
|
Compensation |
|
Governance |
|
|
Board |
|
Committee |
|
Committee |
|
Committee |
Director |
|
Meetings |
|
Meetings |
|
Meetings |
|
Meetings |
Robert Murdoch |
|
8 of 8 (Chair) |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
3 of 3 |
Peter Blake |
|
8 of 8 |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
Eric Patel |
|
8 of 8 |
|
4 of 4 |
|
N/A |
|
3 of 3 (Chair) |
Beverley Briscoe |
|
8 of 8 |
|
4 of 4 (Chair) |
|
N/A |
|
2 of 3 |
Edward Pitoniak |
|
8 of 8 |
|
N/A |
|
4 of 4 (Chair) |
|
N/A |
Christopher Zimmerman |
|
7 of 8 |
|
N/A |
|
4 of 4 |
|
N/A |
James Micali |
|
8 of 8 |
|
4 of 4 |
|
4 of 4 |
|
N/A |
Compensation of Directors
In addition to the reimbursement of reasonable travel and lodging expenses, non-executive
directors of the Company received the following compensation in 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of Fee |
|
Description of Fee |
|
(U.S.$) |
|
Annual fee for Board Chairman (1) |
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
Annual fee for Board Membership (2) |
|
|
95,000 |
|
Annual fee for Committee chairmanship (excluding Audit Committee) |
|
|
10,000 |
|
Annual fee for Audit Committee chairmanship |
|
|
15,000 |
|
Meeting fee (per minuted meeting in excess of 30 minutes) |
|
|
1,500 |
|
Teleconference fee (minuted teleconference longer than 30 minutes) |
|
|
500 |
|
Travel fee (3) |
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The annual fee was paid $120,000 in cash (less applicable source deductions) in four equal
amounts on a quarterly basis and $80,000 (less applicable source deductions) was paid directly
to the administrator under the Companys Long Term Incentive Plan for Non-Executive Directors
(see further discussion below). |
|
(2) |
|
The annual fee was paid $35,000 in cash (less applicable source deductions) in four equal
amounts on a quarterly basis and $60,000 (less applicable source deductions) was paid directly
to the administrator under the Companys Long Term Incentive Plan for Non-Executive Directors
(see further discussion below). |
|
(3) |
|
A travel fee was paid to non-executive Directors required to travel on a day other than the
meeting date when scheduling does not permit travel on the day of the particular meeting.
This fee is on top of reimbursement for travel expenses. |
6
The total fees paid by the Company to the Board in 2009 were U.S.$801,000. There were no
other arrangements under which non-executive directors were compensated during 2009. No
non-executive directors earned any compensation during 2009 for consultancy or other services
provided to the Company. No share-based awards, options, non-equity incentive compensation or
pension were granted to non-executive directors in 2009. Employee directors do not receive
additional compensation for their participation in Board or committee activities. Compensation by
director for the year ended December 31, 2009 was as follows (all amounts in U.S. dollars):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board Fees / |
|
|
Committee |
|
|
Meeting |
|
|
Travel |
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
Board Chair Fees |
|
|
Chair Fees |
|
|
Fees |
|
|
Fees |
|
|
Total Fees |
|
Robert Murdoch |
|
$ |
200,000 |
(1) |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
$ |
4,000 |
|
|
$ |
204,000 |
|
Peter Blake |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
Eric Patel |
|
|
95,000 |
(2) |
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
16,500 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
122,500 |
|
Beverley Briscoe |
|
|
95,000 |
(2) |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
127,000 |
|
Edward Pitoniak |
|
|
95,000 |
(2) |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
119,000 |
|
Christopher Zimmerman |
|
|
95,000 |
(2) |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
110,500 |
|
James Micali |
|
|
95,000 |
(2) |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
118,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
675,000 |
|
|
$ |
35,000 |
|
|
$ |
76,000 |
|
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
|
$ |
801,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
$120,000 of the $200,000 was paid in cash to Mr. Murdoch (less applicable source deductions)
and $80,000 (less applicable source deductions) was paid by the Company subsequent to year end
to the administrator under the Long Term Incentive Plan for Non-Executive Directors (see
description below) as contributions by Mr. Murdoch to the plan. |
|
(2) |
|
$35,000 of the $95,000 was paid in cash (less applicable source deductions) and $60,000 (less
applicable source deductions) was paid by the Company subsequent to year end to the
administrator under the Long Term Incentive Plan for Non-Executive Directors (see description
below) as contributions by each of Mr. Patel, Ms. Briscoe, Mr. Pitoniak, Mr. Zimmerman and
Mr. Micali to the plan. |
For additional disclosure in relation to Board of Directors and Corporate Governance, please refer
to the section Report on Corporate Governance on page 5.
PROPOSAL 2: Appointment of Auditors
The Company proposes that KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants of Vancouver, British Columbia, be
appointed as Auditors of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2010 and that the Audit
Committee be authorized to fix their remuneration. KPMG LLP has been the Auditors of the Company
and its predecessors since 1974. The Audit Committee is satisfied that KPMG LLP meets the relevant
independence requirements and is free from conflicts of interest that could impair their
objectivity in conducting the Companys audit. The resolution appointing auditors must be passed
by a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders who vote in respect of that resolution.
In addition to retaining KPMG LLP to audit the consolidated financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company retained KPMG LLP to
provide various non-audit services in 2009. The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all
non-audit related services performed by KPMG LLP. The aggregate fees billed for professional
services by KPMG LLP and its affiliates around the world during fiscal 2009 and 2008 were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal 2009 |
|
|
Fiscal 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees |
|
$ |
1,254,600 |
|
|
$ |
1,190,400 |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
|
37,300 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
494,200 |
|
|
|
527,700 |
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fees |
|
$ |
1,768,100 |
|
|
$ |
1,722,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The nature of each category of fees is as follows:
Audit Fees:
Audit fees were paid for professional services rendered by the auditors for the audit and
interim reviews of the Companys consolidated financial statements or services provided in
connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
7
Audit-Related Fees:
Audit-related fees were paid for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to
the performance of the audit or review of the Companys financial statements and are not reported
under the Audit Fees item above.
Tax Fees:
Tax fees were paid for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning professional services.
These services consisted of: tax compliance including the review of tax returns; assistance with
questions regarding tax audits; assistance in completing routine tax schedules and calculations;
and tax planning and advisory services relating to common forms of domestic and international
taxation (i.e., income tax, capital tax, Goods and Services Tax and Value Added Tax).
The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work
of the Companys independent auditor and is required to pre-approve all non-audit related services
performed by KPMG LLP. Accordingly, the Audit Committee has adopted a pre-approval policy. The
policy outlines the procedures and the conditions pursuant to which permissible services proposed
to be performed by KPMG LLP are pre-approved, provides a general pre-approval for certain
permissible services and outlines a list of prohibited services.
PROPOSAL 2: Reconfirmation of the Shareholder Rights Plan
Effective February 22, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a shareholder
rights plan agreement, with Computershare Investor Services Inc. as rights agent (the Rights
Plan). The adoption of the Rights Plan was approved by the Companys shareholders at the Annual
and Special Meeting of the Company in 2007. In accordance with Canadian securities law, the Rights
Plan must be reconfirmed by the Companys shareholders at every third annual meeting of
shareholders of the Company.
The Rights Plan has the following main objectives:
|
|
|
to provide the Board time to consider value-enhancing alternatives to a
take-over bid and to allow competing bids to emerge; |
|
|
|
|
to ensure that shareholders of the Company are provided equal treatment under a
take-over bid; and |
|
|
|
|
to give adequate time for shareholders to properly assess a take-over bid
without undue pressure. |
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider, and if thought fit, to pass an
ordinary resolution to approve the reconfirmation of the Rights Plan, a copy of which is available
upon request from the Corporate Secretary of the Company, or from the Companys public disclosure
documents found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
The Board has considered the terms of a number of recently adopted or amended shareholder
rights plans and the experience of other Canadian public companies in the context of an actual
take-over bid where a shareholder rights agreement was in place, and has determined that it is in
the best interests of the Company to reconfirm the Rights Plan. The Rights Plan is designed to
maximize shareholder value and protect shareholders interests in the event of an acquisition that
may result in a change of control. The Rights Plan is not intended to prevent take-over bids that
treat shareholders fairly, and the Rights Plan has not been adopted in response to any proposal to
acquire control of the Company.
8
Summary of the Principal Terms of the Rights Plan
The following is a summary of key terms of the Rights Plan. This summary is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Plan, which is available upon request from the
Corporate Secretary of the Company as indicated above or from the Companys public disclosure
documents found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on the SECs EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Rights Plan.
Issue of Rights
On February 22, 2007, the Company issued one right (a Right) in respect of each Common Share
outstanding at the close of business on that date (the Record Time). The Company will issue
Rights in respect of each Common Share issued after the Record Time but prior to the earliest of
the Separation Time (as defined below) and the redemption of the Rights pursuant to the Rights Plan
or termination of the Rights Plan as described below.
Rights Certificates, Trading and Transferability
Before the Separation Time, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates representing
Common Shares and will not be transferable separate from the Common Shares. Accordingly, the
surrender for transfer of any certificate representing Common Shares will also constitute the
surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Shares. From and after the
Separation Time, the Rights will be evidenced by separate Rights certificates.
Acquiring Person
An Acquiring Person is a person that Beneficially Owns 20% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares. An Acquiring Person does not, however, include the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any person that becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares as a
result of certain exempt transactions. These exempt transactions include where any person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares as a result of, among other things: (i)
specified acquisitions of securities of the Company, (ii) acquisitions pursuant to a Permitted Bid
or Competing Permitted Bid (as described below), (iii) specified distributions of securities of the
Company, and (iv) certain other specified exempt acquisitions. An Acquiring Person also does not
include any Person that owned 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares at the Record Time
unless that person increases its percentage interest in the Common Shares other than pursuant to
one of the previously mentioned transactions.
Separation Time
Rights are not exercisable before the Separation Time. Separation Time means the close of
business on the tenth trading day after the earliest of:
|
(a) |
|
the first date of public announcement that a person has become an Acquiring
Person, as defined below (the Stock Acquisition Date); |
|
|
(b) |
|
the date of the commencement of, or first public announcement of, the intent of
any person (other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries) to commence a Take-over
Bid, as defined in the Rights Plan (other than a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted
Bid, as defined below), which is generally an offer for outstanding Common Shares that
could result in the offeror becoming the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the
Companys outstanding Common Shares; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
the date on which a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid ceases to be such; |
or such later time as may be determined by the Board, in good faith, provided that if any bid
referred to above expires or is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the
Separation Time, such offer shall be deemed never to have been made.
9
Exercising Rights at such time until the tenth trading day after the first public announcement
of the occurrence of a Flip-in Event will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at the
exercise price (the Exercise Price), which shall equal three times the market price per Common
Share determined at the Separation Time, subject to subsequent adjustment in accordance with the
Rights Plan.
Exercise of Rights
After the close of business on the tenth trading day after the first public announcement of
the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, which is a transaction or event pursuant to which any person
becomes an Acquiring Person, each Right will entitle the holder thereof to receive upon exercise of
the Right that number of Common Shares equal to twice the Exercise Price. However, any Rights
beneficially held by an Acquiring Person, including its affiliates, associates and joint actors, or
the transferee of any such person, will become null and void. Accordingly, such persons will be
unable to transfer or exercise any Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder of the Right will have no rights as a Company
shareholder solely with respect to that Right.
In lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the issuance of any Rights, the Company will
make cash payments based on the market price of such shares in amounts exceeding U.S.$10.00.
Acquisitions that require shareholder approval or for which the Board has waived application
of the Rights Plan as described below, or acquisitions pursuant to a Permitted Bid or a Competing
Permitted Bid are among the transactions that do not constitute Flip-in Events.
Permitted Bids
Under the Rights Plan, those bids that meet certain requirements intended to protect the
interests of all shareholders are deemed to be Permitted Bids. Permitted Bids are offers to
acquire Common Shares made by way of a take-over circular and where the Common Shares subject to
the offer (together with shares owned by the offeror and its affiliates, associates and joint
actors) constitute 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, and which also comply with the
following conditions:
|
(a) |
|
the bid is made to all registered holders of Common Shares (other than Common
Shares owned by the offeror); |
|
|
(b) |
|
the bid provides that no Common Shares will be taken up or paid for pursuant to
the bid before the close of business on the date that is not less than 60 days
following the date the take-over bid circular is sent to holders of Common Shares, and
that no Common Shares will be taken up or paid for unless at such date more than 50% of
the outstanding Common Shares held by shareholders other than the offeror and certain
related parties have been deposited pursuant to the bid and not withdrawn; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the bid provides that any Common Shares may be deposited to and withdrawn from
the take-over bid at any time before such Common Shares are taken up and paid for; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
the bid provides that, in the event that more than 50% of the outstanding
Common Shares are deposited and not withdrawn as described in clause (b) above, the
offeror will make a public announcement of that fact and the bid shall remain open for
an additional ten business days from the date of such announcement for the deposit and
tender of additional Common Shares. |
A Competing Permitted Bid is a take-over bid that is made after a Permitted Bid or other
Competing Permitted Bid has been made and prior to the expiration of such prior bid, and that
satisfies the definition of Permitted Bid except that Common Shares under such bid may not be
taken up or paid for until a date that is no earlier than the later of: (i) the earliest date that
Common Shares may be taken up and paid for under any prior Permitted Bid or other Competing
Permitted Bid outstanding on the date of commencement of such bid; and (ii) 35 days after the
commencement of the Competing Permitted Bid.
10
Protection Against Dilution
The Rights Plan contains detailed provisions regarding adjustments to the exercise price, the
number and nature of the securities that may be purchased upon exercise of Rights and the number of
Rights outstanding to prevent dilution in the event of certain declarations of dividends,
subdivisions or consolidations of outstanding Common Shares, issuances of Common Shares (or other
securities or rights) in respect of or in lieu of or in exchange for existing Common Shares or
other changes in the Common Shares.
Redemption
At any time prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the Board may (subject to the prior
consent of shareholders by a majority vote), at its option, elect to redeem all but not less than
all of the then-outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.000001 per Right, subject to
adjustment.
Waiver
The Board, acting in good faith, may waive application of the Rights Plan to any prospective
Flip-In Event which would occur by reason of a take-over bid made by a take-over bid circular to
all registered holders of Common Shares. However, if the Board waives the Rights Plan for a
particular bid, it will be deemed to have waived the Rights Plan for any other take-over bid made
by take-over bid circular to all registered holders of Common Shares before the expiry of the first
bid. The Board may also waive the application of the Rights Plan for any Flip-In Event if it has
determined that the Acquiring Person became an Acquiring Person through inadvertence, conditional
upon such person reducing its beneficial ownership below 20% of the Companys outstanding Common
Shares, generally within 14 days of the Board making such determination.
Amendments
Except for minor amendments to correct any clerical or typographical errors and amendments to
maintain the validity of the Rights Plan as a result of a change of law or regulatory requirements,
majority shareholder approval is required for amendments to the Rights Plan before the Separation
Time, after which the approval of holders of Rights is required.
Term
If the Rights Plan is not reconfirmed at the Meeting, it will automatically terminate and the
Rights issued under it will become void. If the Rights Plan is reconfirmed at the Meeting, it will
expire at the termination of the Companys annual meeting in 2013 unless extended upon
reconfirmation as described below. For the term of the Rights Plan to be extended, the Rights Plan
must be reconfirmed by a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast by all holders of Common
Shares who vote in respect of such reconfirmation at every third annual meeting of shareholders of
the Company.
Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion generally summarizes certain Canadian federal income tax consequences
of the issuance of Rights. This discussion is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be,
legal or tax advice. This summary is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax
consequences and does not anticipate any changes in law, whether by legislative, governmental or
judicial action, nor does it take into account provincial, territorial or foreign income tax
legislation or considerations. This summary is of a general nature only and holders of Common
Shares should consult their own tax advisors with respect to their particular circumstances.
The Company has not received any income for Canadian federal income tax purposes as a result
of the issuance of the Rights. Generally, the value of a right, if any, to acquire additional
shares of a company is not a taxable benefit to a common shareholder of the Company under the
Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Act) and is not subject to non-resident withholding tax under the
Act if identical rights are conferred on all owners of Common Shares at that time. While the Rights
are conferred on all owners of Common Shares, the Rights may become void
in the hands of certain shareholders upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. Whether
the issuance of the Rights to shareholders of the Company will be deemed to be a taxable benefit
which is required to be included in computing their income or subject to non-resident withholding
tax is not therefore free of doubt, but only the amount or value of such benefit must be included
in computing income. The Company considers the Rights to have had no monetary value at their date
of issue. Where Rights are disposed of (other than on the exercise thereof), either separately or
by virtue of the disposition of the Common Shares to which they are attached, holders thereof may
be subject to tax in respect of the proceeds, if any, allocable to such Rights.
11
The foregoing does not address the Canadian income tax consequences of other events such as
the separation of the Rights from the Common Shares, the occurrence of a Flip-in Event or the
redemption of Rights. Shareholders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors if they have
questions with respect to such tax consequences and their personal circumstances.
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion generally summarizes certain United States federal income tax
consequences of the issuance of Rights. This discussion is not intended to be, nor should it be
construed to be, legal or tax advice. This summary is not exhaustive of all possible United States
federal income tax consequences and does not anticipate any changes in law, whether by legislative,
governmental or judicial action, nor does it take into account any state, local or foreign income
tax considerations. This summary is of a general nature only and holders of Common Shares should
consult their own tax advisors with respect to their particular circumstances.
Because the possibility of the Rights becoming exercisable is both remote and speculative, the
adoption of the Rights Plan will not give rise to the realization of gross income by any holder of
Common Shares for United States federal income tax purposes. Where Rights are disposed of (other
than on the exercise thereof), either separately or by virtue of the disposition of the Common
Shares to which they are attached, holders thereof may be subject to tax in respect of the
proceeds, if any, allocable to such Rights.
The foregoing does not address the United States federal income tax consequences of other
events, such as the separation of the Rights from the Common Shares, the occurrence of a Flip-in
Event or the redemption of Rights. Shareholders may recognize gross income for United States
federal income tax purposes in connection with these events. Shareholders are encouraged to consult
their own tax advisors if they have questions with respect to such tax consequences and their
personal circumstances.
Voting of Proxies and Recommendation of Board
It is intended that all proxies received by the Company will be voted in favour of the
reconfirmation of the Rights Plan, unless a proxy contains express instructions to vote against the
Rights Plan. The Rights Plan will continue in effect only if it is approved by greater than 50% of
the votes cast by shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. The text of the
resolution approving the Rights Plan is set forth in Schedule B hereto. If the Rights Plan is not
reconfirmed by shareholders at the Meeting it will terminate and the Rights issued under it will be
void.
The Board of Directors of the Company recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the
resolution approving reconfirmation of the Rights Plan.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None of the directors or senior officers of the Company, none of the persons who have been
directors or senior officers of the Company and no associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing
has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or
otherwise, in any matter scheduled to be acted upon at the Meeting other than as disclosed
elsewhere in this Information Circular.
12
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Other than as set out herein, to the Companys knowledge, no informed person (as defined
under Multilateral Instrument 51-102) of the Company, any proposed director of the Company or any
associate or affiliate of such persons, has had or has any material interest, direct or indirect,
in any transaction since January 1, 2009 or in any proposed transaction which, in either case, has
materially affected or is expected to materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Composition of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee of the Company currently consists of Messrs. Pitoniak, Zimmerman
and Micali. The Board has determined that all three members of the Compensation Committee are
independent directors (as defined under applicable securities legislation).
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The Companys policy with respect to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, the
Chief Financial Officer and the Companys three most highly compensated executive officers other
than the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer (such officers are hereafter
collectively called the Named Executive Officers) is based upon the principles that total
compensation must: (1) be competitive in order to help attract and retain the talent needed to lead
and grow the Companys business; (2) provide a strong incentive for executives and key employees to
work towards the achievement of the Companys goals, including long-term earnings growth and return
on invested capital goals; and (3) ensure that the interests of management and the Companys
shareholders are aligned and that the compensation packages are fair to senior management,
employees, the shareholders and other stakeholders.
The Companys strategy is to pay for performance, with the aim of paying total cash
compensation at or above the median (50th percentile) for comparable companies, with top performers
achieving total direct compensation above the 75th percentile when the Company over achieves its
earnings targets. In addition, the Company believes in pay at risk for the Chief Executive Officer
and the other Named Executive Officers, as well as all senior management of the Company. As any
employees responsibility increases, so does the amount of pay at risk, which the Company believes
is important for aligning executive compensation with shareholder interests. As employees move to
higher levels of responsibility with more direct influence over the Companys strategy and
performance, their base salary as a percentage of total direct compensation decreases and they have
a higher percentage of pay at risk.
In 2008, the Compensation Committee retained the services of Mercer Canada Ltd. (Mercer) to
conduct a formal review of the Companys executive compensation arrangements. The first step in
the review was to define the group of comparable companies against which the Companys compensation
practices would be compared and evaluated. The Company has no direct peers in the industrial
auction sector, so this step involved defining and developing the methodology for identifying
comparable companies. Together with Mercer, the Committee cited net income and market
capitalization as the key financial metrics that would define the comparable group of companies.
Net income and market capitalization were chosen because they are the primary financial value
produced for the Companys shareholders, and because, in the Committees and Mercers view, neither
of the Companys key revenue-related metrics would yield meaningful comparisons. Gross auction
proceeds would potentially overstate the Companys financial scale, while the Companys auction
revenues would potentially understate the complexity and scale of the Companys value creation
process and its profitability. Using net income and market capitalization as the key financial
metrics, Mercer developed a group of 315 comparable companies, located in both the United States
and Canada and across diverse industries.
13
Mercer concluded that the structure and philosophy of the Companys compensation programs were
in line with the identified comparable companies, as to the relative balance of base salary, and
short-term and long-term incentive compensation. In general, Mercer found that most Named
Executive Officers were receiving total cash compensation in line with market medians for
comparable companies, with only the Companys Chief Executive Officer notably below the median.
The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors of the Company have since increased the Chief
Executive Officers compensation to reduce this unintended gap.
Apart from Mercers findings, the Committee in making its determination on executive
compensation also took into consideration other factors and information, including, but not limited
to, various individual and overall corporate performance reviews and other relevant indicators.
The Company paid total fees of U.S.$28,611 to Mercer in 2008 to complete this engagement. The
Company also paid fees of U.S.$28,142 to Mercer in 2008 to complete a formal review of the
Companys compensation program for directors. Apart from the above, the Company did not engage
Mercer for any other services in 2008 or 2009.
The total cash compensation paid to each of the Chief Executive Officer and the other Named
Executive Officers of the Company consists primarily of base salary and an incentive bonus tied to
the Companys financial performance, together with amounts earned in accordance with the Companys
executive long term incentive plan (the ELTIP). All Named Executive Officers also receive annual
stock option grants in accordance with the Companys stock option plan (see Option-based awards
Stock Option Plan below). The imputed fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model is considered in the determination of total direct compensation, as is the
value of benefits and any other perquisites received by a particular individual. The Company
believes that the mix of base salary, performance-based bonus and participation in the ELTIP and
stock option plan creates a balanced approach to executive compensation consistent with the
compensation principles of the Company stated above.
The CEOs total direct compensation was comprised of the following components in 2009, which
are described in more detail in the discussion below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Component of CEOs Direct Compensation |
|
Amount (U.S.$) |
|
|
Percentage |
|
|
Metric |
Base salary |
|
$ |
486,000 |
|
|
|
33 |
% |
|
Set by Committee. |
Short term incentive bonus award |
|
|
320,000 |
|
|
|
21 |
% |
|
Formula driven based on Company earnings performance compared to Board approved target (see below). |
Executive long-term incentive plan award |
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
|
Maximum award (see below). |
Stock options fair value (earned in
2009; granted in 2010) |
|
|
570,000 |
|
|
|
38 |
% |
|
100% of January 1, 2010 base salary (see below). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total direct compensation |
|
$ |
1,501,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
82% of the 50th percentile for comparable companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apart from considering the salary levels of comparable executives with similar
responsibilities and experience at comparable companies, in determining the base salary and other
compensation received by the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee took into
consideration the individual performance of the Chief Executive Officer and the Companys overall
performance for the year, and completed a detailed assessment of these factors for presentation to
the Board. These considerations included the Companys pre-tax earnings performance for the year
measured against the earnings target set out below, the return on invested capital performance for
the year, and the Chief Executive Officers achievement of strategic objectives as outlined in the
Companys strategic plan, as well as the achievement of various individual performance objectives.
The Chair of the Compensation Committee also interviewed all officers of the Company who directly
report to the Chief Executive Officer to provide a full 360-degree view of his performance.
14
Base salary levels for the Named Executive Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer
have been determined primarily on the basis of (i) the Compensation Committees review of the Chief
Executive Officers assessment of each Named Executive Officers individual performance; (ii) the
scope of each executives job responsibilities; and (iii) the Compensation Committees
understanding of normal and appropriate salary levels for executives with responsibilities and
experience comparable to those of the Named Executive Officers of the Company. In making such
determination, external sources are consulted when deemed necessary by the Compensation Committee,
including the Mercer review described above.
The aggregate executive short term incentive bonus pool amount is linked directly to a formula
that provides for specified increases in the bonus pool amount as pre-tax earnings (adjusted to
exclude amounts not considered part of the Companys normal operations) approach the target level
established by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors at the beginning
of the year, and for accelerated increases in the bonus pool if adjusted pre-tax earnings exceed
the target level. Pre-tax earnings are chosen as the metric for executive incentive bonus because
pre-tax earnings directly drive shareholder value through earnings per share and are an element
over which executives of the Company can have the most direct influence by their performance. The
pre-tax earnings target for purposes of the 2009 incentive bonus calculation was $132.3 million.
At that level, the bonus pool available to the participants in the executive incentive bonus
program (being vice-presidents and above) would have been equal to 50% of the combined base
salaries of Vice Presidents and 60% of the combined base salaries of Senior Vice Presidents and
above. The amount of such bonuses is not subject to any minimum amount but is subject to a maximum
of 200% of the combined base salaries of the participants. The Company achieved adjusted pre-tax
earnings of $134.4 million for 2009, or 101% of the earnings target, resulting in approximately 61%
of the combined salaries of the participants being paid into the executive incentive bonus pool.
The maximum incentive bonus pool would have been earned in 2009 if the Company had achieved 125% of
its earnings target for the year.
The actual allocation of incentive bonus amounts to participants in the executive bonus pool
is based on a process involving peer reviews and individual performance reviews of such executives
by the Chief Executive Officer. A similar formula is used to calculate a portion of the Chief
Executive Officers annual bonus award. The Compensation Committee undertook a formal evaluation
process involving interviews with members of senior management and a review of performance targets
and objectives of the Chief Executive Officer to determine the remainder of his bonus for 2009.
This allocation approach involving peer reviews and performance reviews reflects the Companys
belief that overall success of the Company is driven by individual performance together with good
teamwork.
The Chief Executive Officer and other Named Executive Officers also participate in the
Companys ELTIP. The fundamental purpose of the ELTIP is to facilitate senior managements direct
investment in and ownership of Common Shares. ELTIP entitlement is earned by reference to the
Companys pre-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) on a rolling three-year basis. Each
participants ELTIP award is based on a straight-line calculation, with entitlement starting when
70% of the ROIC target is achieved; 100% of the ELTIP entitlement will be earned when the ROIC
target is fully achieved. The ROIC target approved by the Board for 2009 to 2011 (inclusive) is
20% (before tax). No entitlement will be earned if the Companys rolling three-year ROIC falls
below 14%. The Companys rolling three-year average ROIC as at December 31, 2009 was 23%.
The Named Executive Officers including the Chief Executive Officer but excluding the Chief
Financial Officer are entitled to a maximum cash ELTIP award of U.S.$125,000, and this is paid by
the Company when they contribute an equivalent amount to the ELTIP, to be invested by the
administrator in Common Shares purchased on the New York Stock Exchange. The Chief Financial
Officer is entitled to a maximum cash ELTIP award of U.S.$100,000. Awards may be carried forward
for one year should a participant choose not to contribute to the ELTIP in a particular year.
Please refer to the Executive Long Term Incentive Plan section below for further information.
The Company believes that participation in the Companys ELTIP, including the share ownership
guidelines discussed below, and stock option plan aligns the interest of executives of the Company
with those of the shareholders.
15
Stock options are granted under the Companys stock option plan in accordance with the
Companys Policy Regarding the Granting of Equity-Based Compensation Awards and the value,
calculated in accordance with the Black Scholes option pricing model, of each award is set at a
specified percentage of each executives base salary.
For Named Executive Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer the option award amount is 60% of their respective
base salaries. The Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer are entitled to
stock option grants of at least 80% of each of their base salaries, with increases beyond this
percentage at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and Board. The Chief Financial Officer
is entitled to stock option grants of 30% of his base salary.
The Committee regularly reviews the relative emphasis of each of the various components of
compensation for senior executives referred to above to ensure that the structure of the Companys
executive compensation meets the desired results and objectives of the Companys executive
compensation philosophy and provides the appropriate level of reward for past performance and
incentive for future work and development.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed this discussion and analysis with the
Board of Directors and management and is satisfied that it fairly and completely represents the
philosophy, intent, and actions of the Compensation Committee with regards to executive
compensation.
Performance graph
The following graph compares the percentage change in the value of U.S.$100 invested in Common
Shares of the Company with U.S.$100 invested in the S&P / TSX Composite Index and Russell 2000
Index from December 31, 2003 to December 31, 2009 (the Companys most recent financial year end).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec. 31, 2004 |
|
|
Dec. 31, 2005 |
|
|
Dec. 31, 2006 |
|
|
Dec. 31, 2007 |
|
|
Dec. 31, 2008 |
|
|
Dec. 31, 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RBA) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
130 |
|
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
253 |
|
|
|
197 |
|
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S&P / TSX Composite Index |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
122 |
|
|
|
140 |
|
|
|
150 |
|
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Russell Global Index |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
103 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
118 |
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEO Cash Compensation |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
134 |
|
|
|
149 |
|
|
|
169 |
|
|
|
152 |
|
|
|
167 |
|
16
Option-based awards
Stock Option Plan
The Company has a stock option plan that provides for the award of stock options to employees,
directors and officers of the Company and to other persons approved by the Compensation Committee.
The Company obtained shareholder and applicable regulatory approval to amend and restate the stock
option plan in April 2007 (the amended and restated plan is referred to hereunder as the stock
option plan).
As of the date of this Information Circular, the maximum number of Common Shares reserved for
issuance from the effective date of the amendment and restatement of the stock option plan is
10,200,000 Common Shares, of which 1,350,420 Common Shares (being approximately 1% of total issued
and outstanding shares) have been issued, 2,899,387 Common Shares are reserved for issuance upon
exercise of options that have been granted (approximately 3% of total issued and outstanding
shares) and 5,950,193 Common Shares (approximately 6% of total issued and outstanding shares)
remain available for future options to be granted.
Stock options are granted at the closing market price of the Common Shares on the NYSE as of
the grant date. Under the stock option plan, the maximum number of Common Shares issued and
reserved for issuance to non-executive Directors of the Company upon exercise of options must not
exceed 0.3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The number of Common Shares issued to
Insiders under the stock option plan, when combined with the Companys other security-based
compensation arrangements, within any one-year period cannot exceed 10% of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares, and the number of Common Shares issuable to Insiders at any time cannot
exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.
Options granted under the stock option plan are subject to vesting conditions imposed by the
Compensation Committee as set out in the relevant option agreements. For options granted under the
stock option plan before December 31, 2008, the Compensation Committee has generally provided in
option agreements that options are subject to vesting one year from the grant date and are not
transferable. Furthermore, for options granted before December 31, 2008, the Compensation
Committee has generally provided in option agreements that the options will expire on the earlier
of:
|
(a) |
|
10 years from the date of grant; |
|
|
(b) |
|
30 days from the date on which the optionee ceases to be employed by, or
provide services to, the Company; |
|
|
(c) |
|
180 days from the date of death if the optionees employment or eligibility
ceases by reason of his or her death or if the optionee dies prior to the expiration of
the 30-day period described in clause (b) above; or, |
|
|
(d) |
|
immediately upon termination if the termination of employment is with cause. |
The stock option plan has provisions that take into account the Companys policy with respect
to making grants only during specific trading windows and if the expiry date of an option falls
during a Black Out Period, the expiry date will be extended to the fifth business day following
the expiry of such period.
On February 24, 2009 the Companys Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the
Companys stock option grant practices. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee,
options granted after this date to the Companys Vice Presidents and above will generally vest
equally over three years from the grant date. All options grated on or after this date have a term
of 10 years from the date of grant subject to the following:
|
(a) |
|
in the case of termination without cause (excluding voluntary termination) -
immediate vesting of all unvested options and the optionee will have 90 days from the
date on which the optionee ceases to be employed by the Company to exercise all
options; |
|
(b) |
|
in the case of voluntary termination (other than retirement) immediate
cancellation of all unvested options and the optionee will have 90 days to exercise
vested options; |
17
|
(c) |
|
in the case of retirement all unvested options will continue to vest after
retirement in accordance with the existing vesting schedule for those particular
options and all options will expire on the earlier of three years from the date of
retirement and the option 10-year expiry date; |
|
(d) |
|
in the case of death all unvested options will vest immediately and the
optionees legal representative will have 365 days from the date of death to exercise
the options if the optionees employment or eligibility ceases by reason of his or her
death or if the optionee dies prior to the expiration of the periods described in
clauses (a), (b) and (c) above; or, |
|
(e) |
|
in the case of termination with cause all options with expire immediately
upon termination. |
Options granted to non-executive employees on or after February 24, 2009 will generally
continue to be subject to vesting one year from the grant date and will also be subject to the new
termination provisions described above. Furthermore, stock option agreements for options granted
on or after February 24, 2009 generally provide that the Compensation Committee may shorten the
vesting period if the Compensation Committee considers doing so would be in the best interest of
the Company.
The stock option plan also provides that the Compensation Committee has the right to suspend,
amend or terminate the stock option plan without approval of optionees or shareholders (provided
that no such suspension, amendment or termination will materially prejudice the rights of any
optionee under any previously granted option without the consent or deemed consent of such
optionee), including, without limitation:
|
(a) |
|
to avoid any additional tax on optionees under Section 409A of the United
States Internal Revenue Code or other applicable tax legislation; |
|
(b) |
|
to change the eligibility for and limitations on participation in the stock
option plan (other than participation by non-executive Directors in the stock option
plan); |
|
(c) |
|
to make any addition to, deletion from or alteration of the provisions of the
stock option plan that are necessary to comply with applicable law or the requirements
of any regulatory authority or stock exchange; |
|
(d) |
|
to make any amendment of a typographical, grammatical, administrative or
clerical nature, or clarification correcting or rectifying any ambiguity, defective
provision, error or omission in the stock option plan; and |
|
(e) |
|
to change the provisions relating to the administration of the stock option
plan or the manner of exercise of the options, including: |
|
(i) |
|
changing or adding any form of financial assistance provided by
the Company to the participants that would facilitate purchase of Common Shares
under the stock option plan; and |
|
(ii) |
|
adding provisions relating to a cashless exercise (which will
provide for a full deduction of the underlying Common Shares from the maximum
number reserved under the stock option plan for issuance). |
However, the following amendments to the stock option plan can only be made with shareholder
approval:
|
(a) |
|
any increase in the maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant
to the exercise of options granted under the stock option plan; |
|
(b) |
|
any reduction in exercise price or cancellation and reissue of options; |
|
(c) |
|
any amendment that extends the term of an option beyond the original 10 year
expiry date; |
|
(d) |
|
any amendment to Eligible Participants that may permit the introduction or
reintroduction of non-executive Directors on a discretionary basis, if at any time, the
stock option plan is further amended to exclude participation by non-executive
Directors; |
|
(e) |
|
any amendment that increases limits previously imposed on non-executive
director participation; |
18
|
(f) |
|
any amendment that would permit equity based awards granted under the stock
option plan to be transferable or assignable other than for normal estate settlement
purposes; |
|
(g) |
|
any amendment to increase the maximum limit of the number of securities that
may be issued to insiders of the Company within any one year period or issuable to
insiders of the Company at any time under the stock option plan, or when combined with
all of the Companys other security based compensation arrangements, which could exceed
10% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company; |
|
(h) |
|
any addition of provisions relating to a cashless exercise (other than a
surrender of options for cash) that does not provide for a full deduction of the
underlying Common Shares from the maximum number reserved for issuance under the stock
option plan; and |
|
(i) |
|
any amendment to the amending provisions of the stock option plan. |
The following table sets out the number of securities authorized for issuance under the
Companys stock option plan as of December 31, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted- |
|
Number of Securities |
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
Remaining Available for |
|
|
Number of Securities to be |
|
Exercise Price of |
|
Future Issuance under |
|
|
Issued upon Exercise of |
|
Outstanding |
|
Equity Compensation Plans |
|
|
Outstanding Options (A) |
|
Options |
|
(Excluding (A)) |
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders
stock option plan
|
|
2,922,587 (3% of total
issued and outstanding
shares)
|
|
$ |
|
15.13 |
|
5,950,193 (6% of total
issued and outstanding
shares) |
Equity-based Compensation Awards Grant Policy
The Companys Board of Directors has adopted a Policy Regarding the Granting of Equity-Based
Compensation Awards (the Policy), the terms of which establish guidelines for the granting of
options to purchase Common Shares to the Named Executive Officers and other employees of the
Company. Under the provisions of the Policy, only the Compensation Committee of the Companys
Board of Directors can authorize the granting of stock options to the Named Executive Officers and
other executives of the Company.
The Policy establishes an annual date for the granting of stock options, which falls on the
fifth business day following the release of the Companys results for the most recently completed
fiscal year. The Policy prohibits the granting of stock options during black out periods, as
defined in the Companys Policy Regarding Securities Trades by Company Personnel. The Compensation
Committee has delegated to the Chief Executive Officer the authority to grant options to purchase
up to 150,000 Common Shares of the Company per year to Company employees, provided no one
individual is granted options to acquire more than 45,000 Common Shares and provided options are
not granted to employees at the Vice-President and above level. Option grants by the Chief
Executive Officer must fall within the Companys established trading windows. All stock options
granted in accordance with the Policy must have an exercise price equal to the closing price of the
Companys Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant.
The Policy is subject to changes and amendments as deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors from time to time.
19
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table provides a summary of the compensation earned during each of the last
three fiscal years by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the three other
Named Executive Officers of the Company.
Summary Compensation Table
(all amounts in U.S. dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share- |
|
|
Option- |
|
|
Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
based |
|
|
based |
|
|
Annual |
|
|
Long-term |
|
|
All other |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary (2) |
|
|
awards |
|
|
awards (3) |
|
|
incentive |
|
|
incentive |
|
|
compensation |
|
|
compensation |
|
Name and Principal Position (1) |
|
Year |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
plans (4) |
|
|
plans (5) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
Peter J. Blake |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
486,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
429,352 |
|
|
|
321,000 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
34,500 |
|
|
|
1,395,852 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
504,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
210,273 |
|
|
|
247,700 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
30,500 |
|
|
|
1,092,473 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
422,800 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
225,930 |
|
|
|
445,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
9,657 |
|
|
|
1,203,387 |
|
|
Robert A. McLeod (6) |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
197,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
41,888 |
|
|
|
133,500 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
20,500 |
|
|
|
492,888 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
158,400 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
23,715 |
|
|
|
63,700 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
14,700 |
|
|
|
312,515 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
124,500 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
15,948 |
|
|
|
41,900 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
6,022 |
|
|
|
188,370 |
|
|
Robert S. Armstrong (7) |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
306,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
185,504 |
|
|
|
193,500 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
27,000 |
|
|
|
837,004 |
|
Chief Operating Officer |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
281,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
98,022 |
|
|
|
128,300 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
24,100 |
|
|
|
631,422 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
235,900 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
57,147 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
11,313 |
|
|
|
629,360 |
|
|
Guylain Turgeon (8) |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
390,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
129,778 |
|
|
|
205,000 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
115,000 |
|
|
|
964,778 |
|
Senior Vice President, Managing |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
409,400 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
98,222 |
|
|
|
155,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
123,000 |
|
|
|
885,622 |
|
Director Europe, Middle East, Asia |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
328,500 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
104,991 |
|
|
|
257,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
77,663 |
|
|
|
868,154 |
|
|
Robert K. Mackay (9) |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
247,588 |
|
|
|
233,500 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
|
973,588 |
|
President |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
139,128 |
|
|
|
188,300 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
12,900 |
|
|
|
815,328 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
317,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
150,177 |
|
|
|
302,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
12,226 |
|
|
|
881,403 |
|
|
Steven C. Simpson (10) |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
139,128 |
|
|
|
188,500 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
36,000 |
|
|
|
768,628 |
|
Senior Vice-President, |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
69,564 |
|
|
|
193,500 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
30,300 |
|
|
|
663,364 |
|
U.S.A. West |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
57,147 |
|
|
|
307,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
19,175 |
|
|
|
708,322 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
All Named Executive Officers are employed by wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. |
|
(2) |
|
The salary and annual incentive amounts for certain Named Executive Officers were paid in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar in 2009 (primarily the Canadian dollar and Euro) and are
translated into U.S. dollars for the purposes of the table at the average U.S. dollar exchange
rate for the year. The exchange rate used for Canadian dollars was US$0.876 to $1 Canadian
dollar and the exchange rate used for Euros was US$1.3895 for 1. |
|
(3) |
|
The dollar value of option-based awards is the grant date fair market value of options
granted during the respective year using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the
assumptions detailed in the Companys consolidated financial statements for the applicable
year. |
|
(4) |
|
The annual incentive plan awards represent bonuses earned by the Named Executive Officers in
the fiscal year noted but paid subsequent to the end of the applicable year. |
|
(5) |
|
Long-term incentive plan awards represent payments made subsequent to the applicable year end
in accordance with the Companys Executive Long Term Incentive Plan adopted in 2004 and
amended in 2009 (please see discussion below under Executive Long Term Incentive Plan). The
amount was used to purchase Common Shares in the open market and those shares are held by an
administrator on behalf of the Named Executive Officer, only to be released pursuant to the
terms of the Plan. |
|
(6) |
|
Robert McLeod was appointed Chief Financial Officer effective April 25, 2008. Prior to that
he was Director, Global Accounting for the Company. |
|
(7) |
|
Robert Armstrong was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer effective
January 1, 2008, and became Chief Operating Officer on April 25, 2008. He served previously
as the Companys Vice-President Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. |
|
(8) |
|
Guylain Turgeon was appointed Senior Vice-President, Managing Director Europe, Middle East
and Asia effective January 1, 2008, having served previously as the Companys Senior
Vice-President, Managing Director European Operations. |
|
(9) |
|
Robert Mackay was appointed President effective January 1, 2008, having previously held the
position President USA, Asia and Australia. |
|
(10) |
|
Steven Simpson was appointed Senior Vice-President, U.S.A. West effective January 1, 2008,
having served previously as the Companys Vice-President, Southwest U.S.A. |
20
INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS
Outstanding share-based awards and option-based awards
The following table summarizes all awards outstanding under the Companys stock option plan at
December 31, 2009. The Company had no share-based awards outstanding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option-based Awards |
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
underlying |
|
|
Option exercise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of unexercised |
|
|
|
unexercised options |
|
|
price |
|
|
Option expiration |
|
|
in-the-money options |
|
Name |
|
(#) |
|
|
(U.S. $) |
|
|
date |
|
|
(U.S. $) |
|
Peter J. Blake |
|
|
114,800 |
|
|
$ |
14.50 |
|
|
Mar. 5, 2019 |
|
$ |
910,364 |
|
|
|
|
39,900 |
|
|
|
24.39 |
|
|
Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
51,000 |
|
|
|
18.67 |
|
|
Mar. 1, 2017 |
|
|
191,760 |
|
|
|
|
72,000 |
|
|
|
14.70 |
|
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
556,800 |
|
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
|
|
10.80 |
|
|
Jan. 25, 2015 |
|
|
16,277 |
|
|
Robert A. McLeod |
|
|
11,200 |
|
|
$ |
14.50 |
|
|
Mar. 5, 2019 |
|
$ |
88,816 |
|
|
|
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
24.39 |
|
|
Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
3,600 |
|
|
|
18.67 |
|
|
Mar. 1, 2017 |
|
|
13,536 |
|
|
|
|
5,250 |
|
|
|
14.70 |
|
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
40,600 |
|
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
4.12 |
|
|
Dec. 6, 2011 |
|
|
36,617 |
|
|
Robert S. Armstrong |
|
|
49,600 |
|
|
$ |
14.50 |
|
|
Mar. 5, 2019 |
|
$ |
393,328 |
|
|
|
|
18,600 |
|
|
|
24.39 |
|
|
Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
12,900 |
|
|
|
18.67 |
|
|
Mar. 1, 2017 |
|
|
48,504 |
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
14.70 |
|
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
116,000 |
|
|
|
|
11,100 |
|
|
|
10.80 |
|
|
Jan. 25, 2015 |
|
|
129,056 |
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
8.82 |
|
|
Feb. 13, 2014 |
|
|
163,320 |
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
5.18 |
|
|
Jan. 30, 2013 |
|
|
258,825 |
|
|
Guylain Turgeon |
|
|
34,700 |
|
|
$ |
14.50 |
|
|
Mar. 5, 2019 |
|
$ |
275,171 |
|
|
|
|
18,600 |
|
|
|
24.39 |
|
|
Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
23,700 |
|
|
|
18.67 |
|
|
Mar. 1, 2017 |
|
|
89,112 |
|
|
|
|
33,600 |
|
|
|
14.70 |
|
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
259,840 |
|
|
|
|
19,200 |
|
|
|
8.82 |
|
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
223,232 |
|
|
Robert K. Mackay |
|
|
66,200 |
|
|
$ |
14.50 |
|
|
Mar. 5, 2019 |
|
$ |
524,966 |
|
|
|
|
26,400 |
|
|
|
24.39 |
|
|
Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
33,900 |
|
|
|
18.67 |
|
|
Mar. 1, 2017 |
|
|
127,464 |
|
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
14.70 |
|
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
371,200 |
|
|
Steven C. Simpson |
|
|
37,200 |
|
|
$ |
14.50 |
|
|
Mar. 5, 2019 |
|
$ |
294,996 |
|
|
|
|
13,200 |
|
|
|
24.39 |
|
|
Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
12,900 |
|
|
|
18.67 |
|
|
Mar. 1, 2017 |
|
|
48,504 |
|
|
|
|
15,600 |
|
|
|
14.70 |
|
|
Jan. 24, 2016 |
|
|
120,640 |
|
|
|
|
NOTE: |
|
All of the options listed in the table above, except those with expiry dates of March 6,
2019, had vested and were exercisable as of December 31, 2009. |
21
Incentive plan awards value vested or earned during 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-equity incentive plan |
|
|
|
Option-based awards - |
|
|
Share-based awards - |
|
|
compensation - Value |
|
|
|
Value vested during the |
|
|
Value vested during the |
|
|
earned during the |
|
|
|
year(1) |
|
|
year |
|
|
year(2) |
|
Name |
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
Peter J. Blake |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Nil | |
|
$ |
321,000 |
|
Robert A. McLeod |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
133,500 |
|
Robert S. Armstrong |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
193,500 |
|
Guylain Turgeon |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
205,000 |
|
Robert K. Mackay |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
233,500 |
|
Steven C. Simpson |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Nil | |
|
|
188,500 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Awards were granted in accordance with the Companys stock option plan in 2008, however
exercise prices for options that vested in the year were greater than the Companys stock
price on the date of vesting. |
|
(2) |
|
The non-equity incentive plan compensation relates to amounts earned in 2009 and paid in 2010
in accordance with the Companys executive short term incentive plan, as described above in
the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. |
Executive Long Term Incentive Plan
The Companys ELTIP encourages senior employees and officers of the Company to use performance
bonus payments to purchase and hold Common Shares through the administrator of the plan. The ELTIP
does not involve any issuance of Common Shares from the Company, and the Common Shares so purchased
are held in trust by the administrator on behalf of the participant.
ELTIP entitlement is earned by reference to the Companys pre-tax return on invested capital
(ROIC) on a rolling three-year basis. Each participants ELTIP award is based on a straight-line
calculation, with entitlement starting when 70% of the ROIC target is achieved; 100% of the ELTIP
entitlement will be earned when the ROIC target is fully achieved. The ROIC target approved by the
Board for 2009 to 2011 (inclusive) is 20% (before tax). No entitlement will be earned if the
Companys rolling three-year ROIC falls below 14%. The Companys rolling three-year average ROIC
as at December 31, 2009 was 23%. Participants are entitled to a maximum cash ELTIP award of
U.S.$125,000 for participants who are Senior Vice Presidents and above and U.S.$100,000 for
participants who are Vice Presidents, and these award amounts are paid by the Company when the
participants contribute an equivalent amount of their own funds to the ELTIP.
Funds contributed by participants to the ELTIP are used by the plan administrator to acquire
Common Shares in open market purchases on the NYSE during a specific period within the first
trading window of the relevant fiscal year, as provided for under the Companys Policy Regarding
Securities Trades by Company Personnel. ELTIP participants agree not to withdraw any Common Shares
so held by the administrator unless a certain event occurs or certain conditions are satisfied
(e.g. the termination, retirement or resignation of the participant). Participants in the ELTIP
are subject to share ownership guideline requirements depending on their level of seniority with
the Company. Under such guidelines, participants are required to accumulate ownership of Common
Shares held under the ELTIP with a minimum share value equal to a specified multiple of such
persons relevant base salary. The specified multiple for senior officers who are members of the
Executive Council is three times the participants base salary; two times for participants who are
Vice-Presidents (or equivalent) but not members of the Executive Council; and one times base salary
for participants who are Divisional Managers (or equivalent).
The ELTIP was amended in 2009 to decouple the ELTIP from the Companys incentive bonus plan,
meaning that participants in the ELTIP are allowed to contribute their own funds to the ELTIP in
the event their incentive bonus is not sufficient to achieve the full Company matching amount under
the ELTIP. This means that ELTIP participants will receive the maximum payment in each year that
the rolling three-year ROIC target of 20% is exceeded regardless of their actual bonus. In
addition, ELTIP entitlement carries forward for one year if a participant chooses not to
participate in one year, they may use that entitlement the following year, together with the
entitlement earned in that year. Any unused entitlement expires automatically after one year.
22
Commencing in 2009, 25% of the ELTIP funds are invested by the administrator in
investment options other than Common Shares. The purpose of this change was to diversify the ELTIP
participants investment portfolios while still maintaining alignment of their interests with
Company shareholders.
The Company has also adopted share ownership guidelines, pursuant to which participants in the
ELTIP are required to hold Common Shares with a value at least equal to a certain multiple of their
base salary. The multiple of the base salary that is required of participants in the ELTIP depends
on the participants seniority with the Company, and ranges from one time salary to three times
salary.
The Company believes that the ELTIP, together with the Share Ownership Guidelines adopted by
the Company, will facilitate the alignment of the interests of the senior employees and officers of
the Company with those of the Companys shareholders by promoting ownership of Common Shares by
senior employees and officers and rewarding the creation of shareholder value over the long term.
Long Term Incentive Plan for Non-Executive Directors
The Company adopted a long-term incentive plan for non-executive directors in 2009 (the
Non-Executive Director LTIP). Under this plan, all non-executive directors use part of their
annual retainer to purchase and hold Common Shares through the administrator of the plan. The
Non-Executive Director LTIP involves open market purchases rather than issuances of Common Shares
from the Company, and the Common Shares so purchased are held by the administrator on behalf of the
participant.
Under the Non-Executive Director LTIP, the administrator uses such contributions to acquire
Common Shares in open market purchases on the NYSE during a specific period within the first
trading window of the relevant fiscal year, as provided for under the Companys Policy Regarding
Securities Trades by Company Personnel. Participants also agree not to withdraw any Common Shares
so held by the administrator unless a certain event occurs or certain conditions are satisfied
(e.g. the termination, retirement or resignation of the participant as a director of the Company).
The Company believes that the Non-Executive LTIP will further facilitate the alignment of the
interests of the directors with those of the shareholders of the Company.
TERMINATION AND CHANGE OF CONTROL BENEFITS
Termination of Employment, Changes in Responsibility and Employment Contracts
The Company, through wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, has an employment agreement with
each of the Named Executive Officers. All such employment agreements may be terminated with eight
weeks notice (or less in certain circumstances) or payment in lieu thereof. In March 2010 the
Company implemented a change of control policy applicable to the Named Executive Officers and
certain other Board appointed officers of the Company (the Policy). The implementation of the
Policy was not in response to any known or likely change of control situation.
The main features of the Policy are as follows:
|
|
|
Trigger
|
|
Double trigger: (i) change of control; and (ii)
termination for other than just cause or
constructive dismissal. |
|
|
|
Change of control definition
|
|
A person or group of persons acquiring or
accumulating beneficial ownership of more than
50% of the Common Shares; a person or group of
persons holding at least 25% of the Common
Shares and being able to change the composition
of the Board by having their nominees elected
as a majority of the Board; or the arms length
sale, transfer, liquidation or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company, over a period of one
year or less. |
|
|
|
Timing
|
|
Two years following a completed change of
control for termination for other than just
cause and one year following a completed change
of control for constructive dismissal. |
23
|
|
|
Payment amount:
|
|
Multiplier: |
|
|
|
Annual base salary
|
|
Two times annual base salary. |
|
|
|
Short-term incentive plan
|
|
One and one-half times target bonus (as
outlined in the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis above), plus one time pro rata target
bonus for the year of termination. |
|
|
|
Long-term incentive plan
|
|
One and one-half times maximum award under the
Companys Long Term Incentive Plan (as outlined
in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
above). |
|
|
|
Stock option plan
|
|
One and one-half times target award amount
(based on Black Scholes value option
entitlement as a percentage of the Named
Executives base salary) for the year in which
the termination occurs. |
|
|
|
Benefits
|
|
Two times annual premium cost for all health,
dental and life insurance benefits in effect at
termination. |
|
|
|
Stock option vesting
|
|
Immediate vesting of all unvested stock options. |
|
|
|
Stock option termination
|
|
All stock options terminate in accordance with
the provisions for termination without cause
outlined above. |
As the policy was not in effect on December 31, 2009 the Company has not estimated the
incremental payments to the Named Executive Officers assuming the triggering event took place at
that time.
Directors and Senior Executives Liability Insurance and Indemnity Agreements
The Company maintains directors and senior executives liability insurance which, subject to
the provisions contained in the policy, protects the directors and senior executives, as such,
against certain claims made against them during their term of office. Such insurance provides for
an aggregate of U.S.$15 million annual protection against liability (less a deductible of
U.S.$750,000 for securities claims and U.S.$250,000 for other claims) and U.S.$20 million of excess
coverage for directors only. The annual premium paid by the Company in 2009 for this insurance was
U.S.$288,250. The Company also has entered into indemnity agreements with directors and senior
officers of the Company to provide certain indemnification to such directors and senior officers,
as permitted by the Canada Business Corporation Act.
REPORT ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors and the Company believe that good corporate governance practices are
essential for the effective and prudent operation of the Company and for enhancing shareholder
value. The Boards Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and,
if deemed necessary, recommending changes to the Companys corporate governance practices.
In June 2005, National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (the
Instrument), and a related National Policy 58-201, Corporate Governance Guidelines (the
Guidelines) established by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), came into effect. The
table below sets out disclosure requirements of Form 58 101F1 (as amended) under the Instrument and
the Companys corresponding corporate governance disclosure.
24
In addition, any foreign private issuer listed on the NYSE is required to report any
significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those required for United
States companies under NYSE listing standards. The Company is in conformance with the NYSE
corporate governance requirements (the NYSE Rules) applicable to United States companies.
Additional information about the Companys corporate governance practices, including copies of
the charters of the committees of the Companys Board of Directors, can be found on the Companys
website at www.rbauction.com.
|
|
|
Disclosure Requirements under 58-101F1 |
|
Company Disclosure |
1. Board of Directors
|
|
Directors during 2009: |
|
(a) Disclose the identity of directors who are independent.
(b) Disclose the identity of directors who are not
independent, and describe the basis for that determination.
(c) Disclose whether or not a majority of directors are
independent. If a majority of directors are not
independent, describe what the board of directors (the
board) does to facilitate its exercise of independent
judgement in carrying out its responsibilities.
(d) If a director is presently a director of any other
issuer that is a reporting issuer (or the equivalent) in a
jurisdiction or a foreign jurisdiction, identify both the
director and the other issuer.
|
|
Robert W. Murdoch Chair
independent;
Edward B. Pitoniak independent;
Eric Patel independent;
Beverley A. Briscoe independent;
Christopher Zimmerman independent;
James M. Micali independent; and
Peter J. Blake non-independent
Mr. Blake is the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company.
|
|
|
|
The Board determined the independence of the
foregoing directors in accordance with
applicable NYSE listing standards and
corporate governance rules and, with respect
to the Audit Committee, SEC independence
standards. The directors who are noted as
independent above also satisfy the
independence requirements under the Instrument
and the Guidelines. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board is responsible for determining
whether or not each director is an independent
director. To do this, the Board analyzes all
material relationships of the directors with
the Company and its subsidiaries. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board considers Mr. Murdoch, Mr. Patel,
Ms. Briscoe, Mr. Pitoniak, Mr. Micali and
Mr. Zimmerman to be independent as none of
them has any material relationship with the
Company. Mr. Blake is not independent as a
result of his employment with the Company as
CEO. A majority of the directors is
independent. |
|
|
|
|
|
None of the independent directors works in the
day-to-day operations of the Company, is party
to any material contracts with the Company,
receive, directly or indirectly, any fees or
compensation from the Company other than as
directors, or has any other material
relationships with the Company (either
directly or as a partner, shareholder or
officer of an organization that has a
relationship with the Company).
For directorships of the directors of the
Company in other reporting issuers (or
equivalent), please refer to the disclosure
starting on page 2. |
|
(e) Disclose whether or not the independent directors hold
regularly scheduled meetings at which non-independent
directors and members of management are not in attendance. If
the independent directors hold such meetings, disclose the
number of meetings held since the beginning of the issuers
most recently completed financial year. If the independent
directors do not hold such meetings, describe what the board
does to facilitate open and candid discussion among its
independent directors.
|
|
The independent directors held eight meetings and several informal
sessions in 2009 without management present. These meetings were
chaired by Mr. Murdoch. Such meetings are scheduled regularly during
the year, usually immediately after the Boards quarterly meetings. |
25
|
|
|
Disclosure Requirements under 58-101F1 |
|
Company Disclosure |
(f) Disclose whether or not the chair of the board is an
independent director. If the board has a chair or lead
director who is an independent director, disclose the identity
of the independent chair or lead director, and describe his or
her role and responsibilities. If the board has neither a
chair that is independent nor a lead director that is
independent, describe what the board does to provide
leadership for its independent directors.
|
|
The Company no longer has a Lead Director because the Chair,
Mr. Murdoch, is an independent director. Mr. Murdoch is responsible for
the management, development and effective performance of the Board,
taking all reasonable measures to ensure that the Board fully executes
its mandate. |
|
|
|
(g) Disclose the attendance record of each director for all
board meetings held since the beginning of the issuers most
recently completed financial year.
|
|
Please refer to disclosure on page 6 for Board and Committee meeting
attendance. The Board achieved an attendance record of 98% in 2009.
Agenda and materials in relation to Board and Committee meetings are
usually circulated to directors for their review in advance of the
meetings. |
|
|
|
2. Board Mandate
Disclose the text of the boards written mandate. If the board
does not have a written mandate, describe how the board
delineates its role and responsibilities.
|
|
The Board mandate is available on the
Companys website
(www.rbauction.com). The mandate of the Board is to supervise
management of the Company and to act in the best interests of the
Company. The Board acts in accordance with: |
|
|
|
the Canadian Business Corporations Act; |
|
|
|
the Companys Articles of Amalgamation and By-laws; |
|
|
|
the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; |
|
|
|
the charters of the Board committees, including the Audit Committee,
the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee; |
|
|
|
the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines; and |
|
|
|
other applicable laws and Company policies. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board or designated Board Committees approve significant decisions
that affect the Company and its subsidiaries before they are
implemented. The Board or a designated committee oversees the
implementation of such decisions and reviews the results. Copies of the
Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and charters of the Board
committees can be found on the Companys website. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board meets with the CEO and other executive officers of the Company
from time to time to discuss and review internal measures and systems
adopted by the management to ensure a culture of integrity throughout
the organization. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board is involved in the Companys strategic planning process. The
Board is responsible for reviewing and approving strategic initiatives,
taking into account the risks and opportunities of the business.
Management updates the Board on the Companys performance in relation to
strategic initiatives at least quarterly. Management undertakes an
annual strategic planning process, with regular Board involvement in the
process and review and approval of the resulting Strategic Plan. During
fiscal 2009, there were eight meetings of the Board. The frequency of
meetings and the nature of agenda items change depending upon the state
of the Companys affairs. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board is responsible for overseeing the identification of the
principal risks of the Company and ensuring that risk management systems
are implemented. The principal risks of the Company include those
related to the Companys underwritten business, ability to sustain and
manage growth, reputation and industry. The Audit Committee meets
regularly to review reports from management of the Company and discuss
significant risk areas with management and the external auditors. The
Board ensures that the Company adopts appropriate risk management
practices, including a comprehensive enterprise risk management program. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board is responsible for choosing the CEO, appointing the Executive
Officers and for monitoring their performance. The Compensation
Committee is responsible for developing guidelines and procedures for
selection and long-range succession planning for the CEO, and the
Committee also ensures that processes are in place to recruit qualified
senior managers, and to train, develop and retain them. The Board
encourages senior management to participate in professional and personal
development activities, courses and programs. The Board supports
managements commitment to training and developing all employees. |
26
|
|
|
Disclosure Requirements under 58-101F1 |
|
Company Disclosure |
|
|
The Board reviews all the Companys major communications, including
annual and quarterly reports. The Company communicates with its
stakeholders through a number of channels including its web site. The
Board oversees the Companys disclosure policy, which requires, among
other things, the accurate and timely communication of all material
information as required by applicable law. Shareholders can provide
feedback to the Company in a number of ways, including via e-mail
(ir@rbauction.com) or calling a toll-free telephone number
(1.800.663.8457). Shareholders are also able to contact directly the
Chairman via email or telephone as described on page 5 of this
Information Circular. The Company has implemented procedures for the
receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company
regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters,
and for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns
regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters or reports of
wrongdoing or violations of the Companys Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board, through the Audit Committee, oversees the effectiveness and
integrity of the Companys internal control processes and management
information systems. The Companys Disclosure Committee reports to the
Audit Committee on a quarterly basis on the quality of the Companys
internal control processes. The Company has also adopted a disclosure
policy. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for
reviewing the governance principles of the Company, recommending any
changes to these principles, and monitoring their disclosure. This
committee is responsible for the report on corporate governance included
in the Companys Information Circular. The committee monitors best
practices among major Canadian and U.S. companies to ensure the Company
continues to carry out high standards of corporate governance. The
Board has adopted corporate governance guidelines, which are available
on the Companys website. |
|
|
|
3. Position Descriptions
(a) Disclose whether or not the board has developed written
position descriptions for the chair and the chair of each
board committee. If the board has not developed written
position descriptions for the chair and/or the chair of each
board committee, briefly describe how the board delineates the
role and responsibilities of each such position.
|
|
The entire Board is responsible for the overall
governance of the
Company. Any responsibility that is not delegated to senior management
or a Board committee remains with the entire Board. The Board has
adopted position descriptions for the CEO and the Chairman. The
charters of the Committees of the Board of Directors are considered to
be position descriptions for the chairs of the committees. The CEO has
overall responsibility for all Company operations. |
|
(b) Disclose whether or not the board and CEO have developed
a written position description for the CEO. If the board and
CEO have not developed such a position description, briefly
describe how the board delineates the role and
responsibilities of the CEO.
|
|
The Board reviews and approves the corporate objectives for which the
CEO is responsible and such corporate objectives form a key reference
point for the review and assessment of the CEOs performance.
The Board has defined the limits to managements authority. The Board
expects management, among other things, to: |
|
|
|
set the appropriate tone at the top for all employees of the Company; |
|
|
|
review the Companys strategies and their implementation in all key
areas of the Companys activities, provide relevant reports to the Board
related thereto and integrate the Boards input into managements
strategic planning for the Company; |
|
|
|
carry out a comprehensive planning process and monitor the Companys
financial performance against the annual plan approved by the Board; and |
|
|
|
identify opportunities and risks affecting the Companys business,
develop and provide relevant reports to the Board related thereto and,
in consultation of the Board, implement appropriate mitigation
strategies. |
|
|
|
4. Orientation and Continuing Education
(a) Briefly describe what measures the board takes to orient
new directors regarding
(i) the role of the board, its committees and its directors,
and
(ii) the nature and operation of the issuers business.
|
|
All new directors receive an orientation binder,
which includes a record
of historical public information about the Company, a copy of the
Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,
the mandate of the Board
and the charters of the Board committees, and other relevant corporate
and business information and securities filings.
In addition, the
Companys orientation for directors involves meeting with the Chairman,
as well as with senior management of the Company for an interactive
introductory discussion about the Company, providing the directors with
an opportunity to ask questions. New directors are also expected to
attend a Company auction shortly after their appointment and to attend
as an observer at least one meeting of each Board committee during their
first year. All directors are also encouraged to meet with management
informally, visit auction sites and attend at least one auction per
year. |
27
|
|
|
Disclosure Requirements under 58-101F1 |
|
Company Disclosure |
(b) Briefly describe what
measures, if any, the board
takes to provide continuing
education for its
directors. If the board
does not provide continuing
education, describe how the
board ensures that its
directors maintain the
skill and knowledge
necessary to meet their
obligations as directors.
|
|
Senior management makes regular presentations to
the Board on the main areas of the Companys
business and updates the Board quarterly on the
Companys financial and operating performance.
Periodically, directors tour the Companys
various facilities and are expected to attend
Company auctions.
Directors are encouraged to take relevant
professional development courses at the Companys
expense and at times, the Company also recommends
appropriate courses and conferences and encourage
directors to attend. For example, a number of
directors have attended the NACD Director
Professionalism Course at the expense of the
Company. The Company also canvases the directors
on an annual basis to determine what courses or
training each of them has attended during the
past year, and the Chair reviews the results with
individual directors. |
|
|
|
5. Ethical Business Conduct
(a) Disclose whether or
not the board has adopted a
written code for the
directors, officers and
employees. If the board
has adopted a written code:
(i) disclose how a
person
or company may obtain a
copy of the code.
(ii) describe how
the board
monitors compliance with
its code, or if the board
does not monitor
compliance, explain whether
and how the board satisfies
itself regarding compliance
with its code; and
|
|
The Board has adopted a Code of
Business Conduct
and Ethics that can be found on the Companys
website and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The Board and management review and discuss from
time to time the effectiveness of the Companys
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and any areas
or systems that may be further improved. The
Company
performs a Code
of Business Conduct and
Ethics compliance review on an annual basis, and
seeks confirmation of understanding of and
adherence
to the Code
from all employees
throughout the Company and from directors.
There has been no material change report that has
been filed that pertains to any conduct of a
director or executive officer that constitutes a
departure from the Code. |
|
(iii) provide a
cross-reference to any
material change report
filed since the beginning
of the issuers most
recently completed
financial year that
pertains to any conduct of
a director or executive
officer that constitutes a
departure from the code. |
|
|
|
|
|
(b) Describe any steps the
board takes to ensure
directors exercise
independent judgement in
considering transactions
and agreements in respect
of which a director or
executive officer has a
material interest.
|
|
The Company complies with the relevant provisions
under the Canada Business Corporations Act that
deal with conflict of interest in the approval of
agreements or transactions and the Companys Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics sets out
additional guidelines in relation to conflict of
interest situations. The Company, through
directors and officers questionnaires and other
systems, also gathers and monitors relevant
information in relation to potential conflicts of
interest that a director or officer may have. |
|
|
|
(c) Describe any other
steps the board takes to
encourage and promote a
culture of ethical business
conduct.
|
|
The Company was founded on, and the business
continues to be successful largely as a result
of, a commitment to ethical conduct and doing
what is right. Employees are regularly reminded
about their obligations in this regard and senior
management demonstrates a culture of integrity
and monitors employees by being in attendance at
most of the Companys industrial auctions. This
culture is clearly articulated in the Companys
strategy document, which was approved by the
Board. A summary of the Companys strategy
document was presented to all employees of the
Company in 2009. |
|
|
|
6. Nomination of Directors
(a) Describe the process by
which the board identifies
new candidates for board
nomination.
|
|
The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee
reviews the competencies and skills of the Board
from time to time and identifies any areas where
additional strength may be needed. When
considering and identifying potential candidates
for new directors, the Committee considers those
areas where additional strength may be needed.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
also has adopted an annual assessment process for
the Board and Committees. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Board reviews its composition and size on a
regular basis. The Board feels that the size of
six to eight members is reasonable given the
current size and complexity of the Company. The
Company believes that the directors that have
been added to the Board in recent years have
brought additional experience to the Board and
have allowed the Board to increase the number of
unrelated and independent directors, while still
permitting it to operate in an efficient manner. |
|
|
|
(b) Disclose whether or
not the board has a
nominating committee
composed entirely of
independent directors. If
the board does not have a
nominating committee
composed entirely of
independent directors,
describe what steps the
board takes to encourage an
objective nomination
process.
|
|
The Company currently has a Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, composed entirely
of independent directors. The Committee has
three members:
Chair: Eric Patel
Members: Robert W. Murdoch and Beverley A. Briscoe
The Committee is responsible for proposing new
nominees to the Board, in accordance with the
guidelines articulated in the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committees charter, which
is available on the Companys website. |
28
|
|
|
Disclosure Requirements under 58-101F1 |
|
Company Disclosure |
(c) If the board has a
nominating committee,
describe the
responsibilities, powers
and operation of the
nominating committee.
|
|
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the responsibility
for overseeing the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board as a whole,
as well as the committees of the Board and the contribution of individual
directors, by virtue of its charter.
The charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee can be
found on the Companys website. |
|
|
|
7. Compensation
(a) Describe the process
by which the board
determines the
compensation for issuers
directors and officers.
|
|
Please refer to the discussion included in the
Compensation Discussion and
Analysis commencing on page 13 and to the discussion of director
compensation commencing on page 6. |
|
|
|
(b) Disclose whether or
not the board has a
compensation committee
composed entirely of
independent directors. If
the board does not have a
compensation committee
composed entirely of
independent directors,
describe what steps the
board takes to ensure an
objective process for
determining such
compensation.
|
|
The Board has appointed a compensation committee. This Committee has three
members:
Chair: Edward B. Pitoniak
Members: James M. Micali and Christopher Zimmerman
The NYSE rules for United States companies require that all of the members
of a Compensation Committee be independent. The Board determined that the
Company has been in compliance with this requirement since August 2005.
This Committee met four times in 2009 and all members attended all meetings.
The charter of the Compensation Committee can be found on the Companys
website. |
|
|
|
(c) If the board has a
compensation committee,
describe the
responsibilities, powers
and operation of the
compensation committee.
|
|
The responsibilities, powers and operation of the Compensation Committee
are as described in its charter, a copy of which can be found on the
Companys website. |
|
|
|
(d) If a compensation
consultant or advisor
has, at any time since
the beginning of the
issuers most recently
completed financial year,
been retained to assist
in determining
compensation for any of
the issuers directors
and officers, disclose
the identity of the
consultant or advisor and
briefly summarize the
mandate for which they
have been retained. If
the consultant or advisor
has been retained to
perform any other work
for the issuer, state
that fact and briefly
describe the nature of
the work.
|
|
Until 2008, the Compensation Committee reviewed directors and executive
officers compensation on a regular basis and regularly engaged outside
advisors to assist with its review. Starting in 2008, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee took over responsibility for the review of
directors compensation. The Board implemented certain changes to
directors compensation that took effect in 2009. To make its
recommendation on directors compensation, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee took into account the types of compensation and the
amounts paid to directors of other comparable companies and used the
services of an outside advisor (Mercer). The Compensation Committee also
engaged Mercer in 2008 to review and provide recommendations for executive
officer compensation. Please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
commencing on page 13 for further details.
Please see Compensation of Directors commencing on page 6 for information
about the compensation received by the directors in 2009. |
|
|
|
8. Other Board
Committees
|
|
The Board has no other standing committees. |
|
If the board has standing
committees other than the
audit, compensation and
nominating committees,
identify the committees
and describe their
function. |
|
|
|
|
|
9. Assessments
Disclose whether or not
the board, its committees
and individual directors
are regularly assessed
with respect to their
effectiveness and
contribution. If
assessments are regularly
conducted, describe the
process used for the
assessments. If
assessments are not
regularly conducted,
describe how the board
satisfies itself that the
board, its committees,
and its individual
directors are performing
effectively.
|
|
The Board has an annual assessment
process for the Board and its
committees, including an individual board member evaluation process. The
process is administered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. The process considers Board and Committee performance relative
to the Board mandate or relevant Committee charters, as appropriate, and
provides a mechanism for all directors to assess and provide comments on
Board, Committee and Director performance. The results of the annual
assessment are shared with all Board members. |
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SENIOR OFFICERS
No director, executive officer or senior officer of the Company, no proposed nominee for
election as a director of the Company, and no associate of any such director, officer or proposed
nominee, at any time during the most recently completed financial year has been indebted to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or had indebtedness to another entity which is, or has been, the
subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or
understanding provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
29
VOTING SHARES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The Company is currently authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares, an
unlimited number of junior preferred shares without par value and an unlimited number of senior
preferred shares without par value. As at March 2, 2010, according to the records of Computershare
Trust Company of Canada, the registrar and transfer agent of the Company, there were 105,401,820
Common Shares and no preferred shares of the Company issued and outstanding. Holders of Common
Shares are entitled to one vote for each Common Share held. Holders of Common Shares of record at
the close of business on March 19, 2009 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the
Meeting. The directors of the Company have fixed the close of business on March 19, 2009 as the
record date for determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Company, there are no
shareholders who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or control or direct Common Shares
carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all voting shares of the Company, other
than certain institutional shareholders who have filed Schedule 13Gs with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.
GENERAL PROXY INFORMATION
Appointment and Revocation of Proxies
The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy for use at the Meeting are directors of the
Company.
A shareholder has the right to appoint a person to attend and act as proxyholder on the
shareholders behalf at the Meeting other than the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy. If
a shareholder does not wish to appoint either person so named, the shareholder should insert in the
blank space provided the name and address of the person whom the shareholder wishes to appoint as
proxyholder. That person need not be a shareholder of the Company.
A shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it by: (a) signing a proxy bearing a later date
and depositing it as provided under Deposit of Proxy below; (b) signing and dating a written
notice of revocation (in the same manner as required for the enclosed form of proxy to be executed,
as set out under Validity of Proxy below) and delivering such notice to the registered office of
the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting
or to the Chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting; (c) attending the Meeting in person
and registering with the scrutineer thereat as a shareholder present in person and signing and
dating a written notice of revocation; or (d) any other manner permitted at law. Any such
revocation will have effect only in respect of those matters upon which a vote has not already been
cast pursuant to the authority conferred by a previously deposited proxy.
Voting of Shares Represented by Proxy
A proxy in the form of the enclosed form of proxy will confer discretionary authority upon the
proxyholder named therein with respect to the matters identified in the enclosed Notice of Meeting
and in the form of proxy for which no choice is specified (and with respect to amendments and
variations thereto and any other matter that may properly be brought before the Meeting).
If the instructions as to voting indicated on a proxy in the enclosed form and deposited as
provided for herein are certain, all of the shares represented by such proxy will be voted or
withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder on any ballot that may
be called for. If the shareholder specifies a choice in the proxy as to how such shareholders
shares are to be voted with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted
accordingly.
If no choice is specified by a shareholder in a proxy in the form of the enclosed form of
proxy and one of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy is appointed as proxyholder, the
shares represented by the proxy will be voted FOR each of the director candidates nominated by
the Board and FOR each of the other matters identified therein.
30
Amendments or Variations and Other Matters
Management of the Company is not not aware of any amendments to or variations of any of the
matters identified in the enclosed Notice of Meeting nor of any other matter which may be brought
before the Meeting. However, a proxy in the form of the enclosed form will confer discretionary
authority upon a proxyholder named therein to vote on any amendments to or variations of any of the
matters identified in the enclosed Notice of Meeting and on any other matter which may properly be
brought before the Meeting in respect of which such proxy has been granted.
Validity of Proxy
A form of proxy will not be valid unless it is dated and signed by the shareholder or by the
shareholders attorney duly authorized in writing. If the proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to
bear the date on which it is mailed by the management of the Company to the shareholders. In the
case of a shareholder that is a corporation, a proxy will not be valid unless it is executed under
its seal or by a duly authorized officer or agent of, or attorney for, such corporate shareholder.
If a proxy is executed by an attorney or agent for an individual shareholder, or by an officer,
attorney, agent or authorized representative of a corporate shareholder, the instrument empowering
the officer, attorney, agent or representative, as the case may be, or a notarial copy thereof,
must be deposited along with the proxy. If the shares are registered in the name of more than one
owner (for example, joint ownership, trustees, executors, etc), then all those registered should
sign the proxy. The form of proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name appears on the
proxy.
A vote cast in accordance with the terms of a proxy will be valid notwithstanding the previous
death, incapacity or bankruptcy of the shareholder or intermediary on whose behalf the proxy was
given or the revocation of the appointment, unless written notice of such death, incapacity,
bankruptcy or revocation is received by the Chairman of the Meeting at any time before the vote is
cast.
Deposit of Proxy
In order to be valid and effective, an instrument appointing a proxy holder must be deposited
with Computershare Trust Company of Canada, Proxy Department, 100 University Avenue, 9th Floor,
Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, no later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Non-registered Shareholders
Non-registered shareholders whose shares may be registered in the name of a third party, such
as a broker or trust company, may exercise voting rights attached to shares beneficially owned by
them. Applicable securities laws require intermediaries to seek voting instructions from
non-registered shareholders. Accordingly, unless a non-registered shareholder has previously
instructed their intermediaries that they do not wish to receive materials relating to
shareholders meetings, non-registered shareholders should receive or have already received from
their intermediary either a request for voting instructions or a proxy form. Intermediaries have
their own mailing procedures and provide their own instructions. These procedures may allow voting
by telephone, on the Internet, by mail or by fax. If non-registered shareholders wish to attend
and vote the shares owned by them directly at the Meeting, such non-registered holders should
follow the procedures in the directions and instructions provided by or on behalf of the
intermediary. For example, these non-registered shareholders can insert their name in the space
provided on the request for voting Instructions or proxy form or request a form of proxy which will
grant the non-registered holder the right to attend the meeting and vote in person. Non-registered
shareholders should carefully follow the directions and instructions of their intermediary,
including those regarding when and where the completed request for voting instructions or form of
proxy is to be delivered.
Only registered shareholders as of the close of business on March 19, 2010 (the record date
for voting at the Meeting) have the right to vote in person at the Meeting or to execute, deliver
or revoke a proxy with the Company in respect of voting at the Meeting.
31
The Company has not sent any proxy-related materials that solicit votes or voting instructions
directly to any non-registered shareholders. Non-registered shareholders who wish to vote or
change their vote must, in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting, arrange for their
intermediaries to make necessary voting arrangements, change the vote and, if necessary, revoke the
relevant proxy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company will provide to any person or company, upon request made to the Corporate
Secretary of the Company, a copy of: the Companys current Annual Information Form together with a
copy of any document, or the pertinent pages of any document, incorporated therein by reference;
the Companys consolidated comparative financial statements for its most recently completed fiscal
year together with the accompanying report of the auditor and managements discussion and analysis
of financial condition and results of operations (MD&A); any interim financial statements of the
Company subsequent to the financial statements of the Companys most recently completed fiscal year
that have been filed together with the relevant MD&A; and the Companys information circular in
respect of its most recent annual meeting of shareholders. The Company may require the payment of
a reasonable charge if a person who is not a shareholder of the Company makes the request for
information. Additional information relating to the Company, including financial information
provided in the Companys comparative financial statements and MD&A for the most recently completed
financial year, is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
SHAREHOLDERS PROPOSALS
Shareholder proposals to be considered at the 2011 Annual Meeting of shareholders of the
Company must be received at the principal office of the Company no later than December 15, 2010 to
be included in the information circular and form of proxy for such Annual Meeting.
APPROVAL OF CIRCULAR
The contents and sending of this Information Circular have been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
Dated at Richmond, British Columbia, this 2nd day of March, 2010.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Jeremy Black
Corporate Secretary
32
SCHEDULE A
RE-CONFIRMATION OF RIGHTS PLAN RESOLUTION OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS INCORPORATED (the Company)
Re-Confirmation of Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement
BE IT RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION THAT:
|
1. |
|
The shareholder rights plan agreement made between the Company and Computershare
Investor Services Inc. as rights agent dated February 22, 2007 (the Rights Plan), as
more particularly described in the Information Circular of the Company dated March 2,
2010, be and the same is hereby re-confirmed. |
|
|
2. |
|
Any one or more of the directors or officers of the Company be and are hereby
authorized and directed, for and on behalf of the Company, to execute or cause to be
executed, under the seal of the Company or otherwise, and to deliver or to cause to be
delivered, all such other documents and to do or to cause to be done all such other acts
and things as in such persons or persons opinion may be necessary or desirable in order
to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolutions and to give effect to the
re-confirmation of the Rights Plan, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the
execution and delivery of such document or the doing of such act or thing by such person
or persons. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9th Floor, 100 University Avenue |
|
|
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1 |
|
|
www.computershare.com |
Security Class
Holder Account Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fold |
|
|
|
|
|
Form of Proxy - Annual and Special Meeting to be held on April 29, 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This Form of Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Management. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes to proxy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
|
Every holder has the right to appoint some other person or company of their choice, who need
not be a holder, to attend and act on their behalf at the meeting or any adjournment or
postponement thereof. If you wish to appoint a person or company other than the persons whose
names are printed herein, please insert the name of your chosen proxyholder in the space
provided (see reverse). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
|
If the securities are registered in the name of more than one owner (for example, joint
ownership, trustees, executors, etc.), then all those registered should sign this proxy. If
you are voting on behalf of a corporation or another individual you must sign this proxy with
signing capacity stated, and you may be required to provide documentation evidencing your
power to sign this proxy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
|
This proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name(s) appear(s) on the proxy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.
|
|
If this proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to bear the date on which it is mailed by
Management to the holder. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.
|
|
The securities represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the holder, however, if
such a direction is not made in respect of any matter, this proxy will be voted as recommended
by Management. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.
|
|
The securities represented by this proxy will be voted in favour or withheld from voting or
voted against each of the matters described herein, as applicable, in accordance with the
instructions of the holder, on any ballot that may be called for and, if the holder has
specified a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the securities will be voted
accordingly. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.
|
|
This proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of amendments or variations to matters
identified in the Notice of Meeting or other matters that may properly come before the meeting
or
any adjournment or postponement thereof.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fold |
|
|
|
|
|
8.
|
|
This proxy should be read in conjunction with the accompanying documentation provided by
Management. |
|
|
Proxies submitted must be received by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, April 27, 2010.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF SECURITYHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
We are implementing a voluntary program for delivery to securityholders of company documents by
electronic means. This will result in increased convenience to securityholders, benefits to our
environment and reduced costs. This new initiative will give securityholders the ability to
electronically access important company documents easily and quickly.
|
|
You can enroll to receive
future securityholder
communications electronically by visiting
www.computershare.com/eDelivery and clicking on
eDelivery Signup. |
Appointment of Proxyholder
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The undersigned Registered Shareholder of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Incorporated (the Company) hereby appoints: Robert Waugh Murdoch, or
failing this person, Peter James Blake,
|
|
OR
|
|
Print the name of the person you are
appointing if this person is someone
other than the Chairman of the Meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
as my/our proxyholder with full power of substitution and to attend, act and to vote for and on
behalf of the shareholder in accordance with the following direction (or if no directions have been
given, as the proxyholder sees fit) and all other matters that may properly come before the Annual
and Special Meeting of shareholders of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated to be held at 9500
Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, B.C. V5J 0C6, on April 29, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) and at any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
VOTING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDICATED BY HIGHLIGHTED TEXT OVER THE BOXES.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
Withhold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01. Robert Waugh Murdoch
|
|
o |
|
o |
|
02. Peter James Blake
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
03. Eric Patel
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04. Beverley Anne Briscoe
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
05. Edward Baltazar Pitoniak
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
06. Christopher Zimmerman
|
|
o
|
|
o |
|
Fold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
07. James Michael Micali
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
Withhold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. Appointment of Auditors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
o |
|
o |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appointment of KPMG LLP as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the
Directors to fix their remuneration. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
Against |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. Shareholder Rights Plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
o |
|
o |
|
|
|
|
|
Approval of the reconfirmation of the Shareholder Rights Plan in accordance with the Shareholder
Rights Plan Agreement dated as of February 27, 2007 between the Company and Computershare Investor
Services Inc., the full text of which resolution is set out in Schedule A to the
Information Circular of the Company dated March 2, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Authorized
Signature(s) - This section must be completed for your
instructions to be executed.
|
|
Signature(s)
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I/We authorize you to act in accordance with my/our
instructions set out above. I/We hereby revoke any proxy
previously given with respect to the Meeting. If no voting
instructions are indicated above, this Proxy will be voted as
recommended by Management.
|
|
|
|
DD / MM / YY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interim Financial
Statements - Mark this box if you would like to receive interim financial
statements and accompanying Managements Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
|
|
|
Annual Financial Statements
- Mark this box if you would NOT
like to receive the Annual Financial Statements and accompanying
Managements Discussion and Analysis by mail.
|
|
|
If you are not mailing back your proxy, you may register online to receive the above financial
report(s) by mail at www.computershare.com/mailinglist.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 8 6 5 2 4
|
|
A R 2
|
|
R B A Q
|
|
+
|