2007 Proxy Statement
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
2007
METHANEX CORPORATION
(Registrants name)
SUITE 1800, 200 BURRARD STREET, VANCOUVER, BC V6C 3M1 CANADA
(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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with
Rule 12g3-2(b): 82 .
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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METHANEX CORPORATION
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Date: April 2, 2007 |
By: |
/s/ RANDY MILNER
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Name: |
Randy Milner |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
& Corporate Secretary |
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS
Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
and
Information Circular
March 5, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Methanex Corporation |
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1800 Waterfront Centre
200 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 3M1 |
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Telephone: (604) 661-2600
Facsimile: (604) 661-2676 |
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March 5, 2007
Invitation to Shareholders
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors of Methanex
Corporation, we would like to invite you to join us at our
Annual General Meeting of shareholders. The meeting will be held
at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre in
Vancouver, British Columbia on Monday, May 7, 2007 at
10:30 a.m.
At the meeting, we will be voting on a number of important
matters. We hope you will take the time to consider the
information dealing with these matters as set out in the
accompanying Information Circular. We encourage you to exercise
your vote, either at the meeting or by completing and sending in
your proxy. Use of the proxy form is explained in the
accompanying Information Circular. If you are a
non-registered shareholder, you may similarly
exercise your vote either at the meeting or by providing a proxy
or voting instructions by following the instructions set out in
the accompanying Information Circular or that you should
otherwise receive as part of the accompanying materials to
ensure that your shares get voted at the meeting in accordance
with your wishes.
The meeting will provide you with a forum to learn more about
our 2006 performance and hear first-hand our strategy for the
future. It will also provide you with an excellent opportunity
to meet the Companys Directors and Senior Management and
ask them your questions.
We hope that you will attend the Annual General Meeting and we
look forward to seeing you there. If you are unable to attend,
the meeting will also be webcast live through our website:
www.methanex.com.
Sincerely,
Bruce Aitken
President and Chief Executive Officer
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METHANEX CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The Annual General Meeting (Meeting) of shareholders
of Methanex Corporation (the Company) will be held
at the following time and place:
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DATE: |
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Monday, May 7, 2007 |
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TIME: |
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10:30 a.m. (Vancouver time) |
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PLACE: |
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Meeting Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
999 Canada Place
Vancouver, British Columbia |
The Meeting is being held for the following purposes:
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1. |
To receive the Consolidated Financial Statements for the
financial year ended December 31, 2006 and the
Auditors Report on such statements; |
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2. |
To elect directors; |
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3. |
To re-appoint auditors; |
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4. |
To authorize the Board of Directors to fix the remuneration of
the auditors; |
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5. |
To consider and, if thought fit, pass an ordinary resolution to
ratify and approve certain amendments to the Companys
Incentive Stock Option Plan (the Plan), the full
text of which resolution is set out in Schedule A to the
Information Circular accompanying this notice, to, among other
things, reflect that options may no longer be granted to
non-employee directors, to provide specific provisions governing
amendments to the Plan specifying when shareholder approval of
amendments is required and to provide for revised expiry dates
for options where the exercise period would otherwise expire
during a blackout period or within 10 business days thereafter
to a further 10 business days after the blackout period end; and |
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6. |
To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting. |
If you are a holder of Common Shares of the Company and do
not expect to attend the Meeting in person, please complete the
enclosed proxy form and either fax it to
(416) 368 2502 or toll free in North America
1 866 781 3111 or forward it to CIBC Mellon Trust
Company using the envelope provided with these materials.
Proxies must be received no later than 24 hours (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time fixed for
commencement of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British
Columbia, this 5th day of March, 2007.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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RANDY MILNER |
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Senior Vice President, General Counsel and |
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Corporate Secretary |
ii
METHANEX CORPORATION
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
Information contained in this Information Circular is given as
at March 5, 2007 unless otherwise stated. Except where
otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are stated in Canadian
dollars.
PART I VOTING
Solicitation of Proxies
This Information Circular is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of the management and
Board of Directors (the Board) of Methanex
Corporation (the Company) for use at the annual
general meeting (the Meeting) of shareholders of the
Company to be held at the time and place (including any
adjournment thereof) and for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders.
It is anticipated that this Information Circular and the
accompanying proxy form will be mailed on or about April 2,
2007 to holders of common shares of the Company (Common
Shares).
What will be voted on at the Meeting?
Shareholders will be voting on those matters which are described
in the accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders. The Notice includes all the matters to be
presented at the Meeting that are presently known to
management. A simple majority (that is, greater than 50%) of
the votes cast, in person or by proxy, will constitute approval
of these matters, other than the election of directors and the
appointment of auditors.
Who is entitled to vote?
Only registered holders of Common Shares (Registered
Shareholders) on March 12, 2007 (the Record
Date) are entitled to vote at the Meeting or at any
adjournment thereof. Each Registered Shareholder has one vote
for each Common Share held at the close of business on
March 12, 2007. As of March 5, 2007, there were
104,843,367 Common Shares outstanding. As of that date, to the
knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Company,
the only person who beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
or exercised control or direction over Common Shares carrying
more than 10% of the voting rights of the Company was Capital
Group International, Inc., which, based on information filed by
them, beneficially owned and exercised control or direction over
15,744,240 Common Shares, representing approximately 15% of
the voting rights attached to the Companys voting
securities.
Can I vote Common Shares which I acquired after
March 12, 2007?
No. The Canada Business Corporations Act
(CBCA) states that only a shareholder whose name
is on the list of shareholders as at the Record Date is entitled
to vote at the Meeting.
How to vote
If you are a Registered Shareholder, there are two ways in which
you can vote your shares. You can either vote in person at the
Meeting or you can vote by proxy.
Voting
by Proxy
If you do not plan to come to the Meeting, you can have your
vote counted by appointing someone who will attend at the
Meeting as your proxyholder. In the proxy, you can either direct
your proxyholder how you want your shares to be voted or let
your proxyholder choose for you. You can always revoke your
proxy if you decide to attend the Meeting and wish to vote your
shares in person (see Revoking a Proxy on
page 3).
Voting
in Person
Registered Shareholders who will attend the Meeting and wish to
vote their shares in person should not complete a proxy form.
Your vote will be taken and counted at the Meeting. Please
register with the transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust Company,
upon your arrival at the Meeting.
1
What if I am not a Registered Shareholder?
Many shareholders are in fact non-registered
shareholders. Non-registered shareholders are those whose
shares are registered in the name of an intermediary (such as a
bank, trust company, securities broker, trustee, or custodian).
Unless you have previously informed your intermediary that you
do not wish to receive material relating to the Meeting, you
should receive or have already received from the Company a
request for voting instruction form or from your intermediary
either a request for voting instructions or a proxy form. In
either case you have the right to exercise voting rights
attached to the Common Shares beneficially owned by you,
including the right to attend and vote the shares directly at
the Meeting.
The documents that you receive and who you receive them from
will vary depending upon whether you are a non-objecting
beneficial owner, or NOBO, which means you
have provided instructions to your intermediary that you do not
object to the intermediary disclosing beneficial ownership
information about you to the Company for certain purposes, or an
objecting beneficial owner, or OBO,
which means that you have provided instructions to your
intermediary that you object to the intermediary disclosing such
beneficial ownership information.
If you are a NOBO, included with these materials is a request
for voting instructions and proxy from the Company or its agent.
These securityholder materials are being sent to both registered
and non-registered owners of the securities. If you are a
non-registered owner, and the Company or its agent has sent
these materials directly to you, your name and address and
information about your holdings of securities have been obtained
in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements
from the intermediary holding Common Shares on your behalf. By
choosing to send these materials to you directly, the Company
has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering these
materials to you, and (ii) executing your proper voting
instructions. Please return your proxy as specified in the
request for voting instructions and proxy.
If you are a NOBO, you can either vote in person at the Meeting
or you can vote by proxy. If you do not intend to attend the
Meeting but you wish your shares to be voted, please complete
and return the proxy which you should have received. You can
choose anyone you want to be your proxyholder. It does not have
to be another shareholder. Just fill in the persons name
in the blank space provided on the enclosed proxy form within
the time hereinafter specified for receipt of proxies. If
you leave the space on the proxy form blank, either Pierre
Choquette or Bruce Aitken, both of whom are named in the form,
are appointed to act as your proxyholder. Mr. Choquette is
the Chairman of the Board and Mr. Aitken is President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company. If
Messrs. Choquette and Aitken are appointed as your
proxyholder, please provide your specific voting
instructions. Otherwise your shares will not be voted.
If you are an OBO, you should receive or have already received
from your 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 providing voting instructions by telephone, on the
Internet, by mail or by fax. If you wish to vote in person at
the Meeting you should follow the procedure in the directions
and instructions provided by or on behalf of your intermediary
and insert your name in the space provided on the request for
voting instructions or proxy form or request a form of legal
proxy which will grant you the right to attend the Meeting and
vote in person.
Whether you are a NOBO or an OBO, if you wish to attend the
Meeting and vote in person, do not otherwise complete any voting
form you may receive. Please register with the transfer agent,
CIBC Mellon Trust Company, upon your arrival at the Meeting.
What is a Proxy?
A proxy is a document that authorizes someone else to attend the
Meeting and cast the votes for you. Registered Shareholders are
being sent a form of proxy for the Meeting permitting them to
appoint a person to attend and act as proxyholder at the
Meeting. In addition, as described above, NOBOs are being sent a
form of request for voting instructions and proxy permitting
them to appoint a person to attend and act as proxyholder at the
Meeting. In either case, Registered Shareholders or NOBOs, as
applicable, may use such forms, or any other valid proxy form,
to appoint a proxyholder. The enclosed form of proxy authorizes
the proxyholder to vote and otherwise act for you at the Meeting
including any continuation after adjournment of the Meeting.
2
If you complete the enclosed form of proxy by marking the
appropriate boxes on the proxy form, your shares will be voted
as instructed. If you do not mark any boxes, except as described
above in the case of NOBOs, your proxyholder can vote your
shares in their discretion.
Appointing a Proxyholder
Your proxyholder is the person you appoint and name on the proxy
form to cast your votes for you. You can choose anyone you
want to be your proxyholder. It does not have to be another
shareholder. Just fill in the persons name in the blank
space provided on the enclosed proxy form or complete any other
valid proxy form and deliver it to CIBC Mellon Trust Company
within the time hereinafter specified for receipt of proxies.
If you leave the space on the proxy form blank, either Pierre
Choquette or Bruce Aitken, both of whom are named in the form,
are appointed to act as your proxyholder. Mr. Choquette is
the Chairman of the Board and Mr. Aitken is President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
For the proxy to be valid, it must be completed, dated and
signed by the holder of Common Shares or the holders
attorney authorized in writing and then delivered to the
Companys transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in the
envelope provided or by fax to (416) 368 2502 or toll
free in North America 1 866 781 3111 and received
no later than 24 hours prior to the Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
How will my shares be voted if I give my Proxy?
If you have properly filled out, signed and delivered your
proxy, then your proxyholder can vote your shares for you at the
Meeting. If you have specified on the proxy form how you want to
vote on a particular issue (by marking FOR, AGAINST, or
WITHHOLD), then your proxyholder must vote your shares
accordingly.
If you have not specified how to vote on a particular issue,
except as described above in the case of NOBOs, then your
proxyholder can vote your shares as they see fit. However, if
you are a Registered Shareholder and have not specified how to
vote on a particular issue and Mr. Choquette or
Mr. Aitken have been appointed as proxyholder, your shares
will be voted in favour of the particular issue. For more
information on these issues, see Part II BUSINESS OF
THE MEETING. The enclosed form of proxy confers
discretionary authority upon the proxyholder you name with
respect to amendments or variations to the matters identified in
the accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders and other matters which may properly come before
the Meeting. If any such amendments or variations are proposed
to the matters described in the Notice, or if any other matters
properly come before the Meeting except as described above in
the case of NOBOs, your proxyholder may vote your shares as they
consider best.
Revoking a Proxy
If you want to revoke your proxy after you have delivered it,
you can do so at any time before it is used. You or your
authorized attorney may revoke a proxy by (i) clearly
stating in writing that you want to revoke your proxy and
delivering this revocation by mail to Proxy Department, CIBC
Mellon Trust Company, P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, ON
M1S 0A1, Canada or by fax to (416) 368 2502 or
toll free in North America 1 866 781 3111, or to
the registered office of the Company, Suite 1800,
200 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3M1, Attention:
Corporate Secretary, at any time up to and including the last
business day preceding the day of the Meeting or any adjournment
thereof or (ii) in any other manner permitted by law.
Revocations may also be delivered to the Chairman of the Meeting
on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Such
revocation will have effect only in respect of those matters
upon which a vote has not already been cast pursuant to the
authority confirmed by the proxy. If you revoke your proxy and
do not replace it with another in the manner provided in
Appointing a Proxyholder above, you will be able to
vote your shares in person at the Meeting.
Only Registered Shareholders and NOBOs have the right to revoke
a proxy. OBOs who wish to change their voting instructions must,
in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting, arrange for their
intermediaries to change their vote and if necessary revoke
their proxy.
Costs of this Solicitation of Proxies
The cost of this solicitation of proxies is borne by the
Company. It is expected that the solicitation will be primarily
by mail, but proxies or votes or voting instructions may also be
solicited personally or by telephone or other means of
communication by directors and regular employees of the Company
without special compensation. In
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addition, the Company may retain the services of agents to
solicit proxies or votes or voting instructions on behalf of
management of the Company. In that event, the Company will
compensate any such agents for such services, including
reimbursement for reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses,
and will indemnify them in respect of certain liabilities which
may be incurred by them in performing their services. The
Company may also reimburse brokers or other persons holding
Common Shares in their names, or in the names of nominees, for
their reasonable expenses in sending proxies and proxy material
to beneficial owners and obtaining their proxies or votes or
voting instructions.
Who counts the votes?
The Companys transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust Company,
counts and tabulates the proxies. This is done independently of
the Company to preserve confidentiality in the voting process.
Proxies are referred to the Company only in cases where a
shareholder clearly intends to communicate with management or
when it is necessary to do so to meet the requirements of
applicable law.
How do I contact the transfer agent?
If you have any inquiries, the transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust
Company, can be contacted as follows:
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Email:
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inquiries@cibcmellon.com |
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Toll-free:
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1 800 387 0825 |
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Telephone:
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(416) 643 5500 |
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Fax:
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(416) 643 5501 |
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Mail:
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CIBC Mellon Trust Company
PO Box 7010
Adelaide Street Postal Station
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 2W9 |
4
PART II BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
RECEIVE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2006 are included in the Annual Report, which
has been mailed to Registered Shareholders as required under the
CBCA and to non-registered shareholders that have requested such
financial statements with the Notice of the Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders and this Information Circular.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The directors of the Company are elected each year at the annual
general meeting of the Company and hold office until the close
of the next annual general meeting or until their successors are
elected or appointed. The articles of the Company provide that
the Company have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of
15 directors. The
by-laws of the Company
provide that when the articles of the Company provide for a
minimum and maximum number of directors, the number of directors
within the range may be determined from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, on
an annual basis, considers the size of the Board and on
March 2, 2007 the directors determined that the Board of
Directors shall consist of 11 directors, such size being
consistent with effective decision making.
The Corporate Governance Committee recommends to the Board
nominees for election of directors. The process by which the
Committee identifies new candidates for nomination to the Board
of Directors is described on page 21, under Nomination of
Directors. The persons listed below are being proposed for
nomination for election at the Meeting. The persons named in the
accompanying proxy, if not expressly directed otherwise in such
proxy, will vote the Common Shares in respect of which they have
been appointed proxyholder in favour of the election of those
persons listed below as nominees as directors.
The following table sets out the names, ages and places of
residence of all the persons to be nominated for election as
directors and other relevant information including the number of
Common
Shares(1),
Deferred Share
Units(2)
and Restricted Share
Units(3)
held by each of them as at the date of this Information Circular
and their market value. In the case of Mr. Aitken, the
table also sets out the number of Performance Share
Units(4)
and Stock
Options(5)
he holds. The table also sets out whether a nominee is
independent or not independent. See page 18 for information
on how director independence is determined.
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BRUCE
AITKEN
Age: 52
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Director Since: July 2004
Not Independent
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Mr. Bruce Aitken is currently President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. Prior to his appointment in May 2004,
Mr. Aitken was President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company from September 2003 and prior to that he was Senior Vice
President, Asia Pacific (based in New Zealand) from September
1999. He has also held the position of Vice President, Corporate
Development (located in Vancouver). He has been an employee of
the Company and its predecessor methanol companies for sixteen
years. |
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Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Aitken was Executive
Director of Cape Horn Methanol (now Methanex Chile) in Santiago.
He also held a number of managerial positions with Fletcher
Challenge Limited in New Zealand. |
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Mr. Aitken has a Bachelor of Commerce from Auckland
University and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of
Chartered Accountants, ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant). |
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Committee Memberships |
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Other Current Board Memberships |
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None(6) |
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None |
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Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
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Total Market Value |
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Total DSUs, |
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Total of Common |
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of Common Shares |
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Meets Stock |
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Common |
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RSUs and |
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Shares, DSUs, |
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and DSUs, RSUs |
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Ownership |
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Shares |
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PSUs |
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RSUs and PSUs |
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and PSUs(7) |
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Guidelines?(8) |
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63,264 |
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381,709 |
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444,973 |
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$ |
13,874,258 |
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Yes |
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Stock Options Held: |
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Total Market Value |
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of in-the-money |
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Date |
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Expiry |
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Number |
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Exercise |
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Total |
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Unexercised |
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Granted |
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Date |
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Granted |
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Price |
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Unexercised |
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Options(9) |
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March 4, 2005 |
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March 3, 2012 |
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150,000 |
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US $ |
17.85 |
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100,000 |
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$ |
772,000 |
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March 3, 2006 |
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March 2, 2013 |
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342,000 |
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US $ |
20.76 |
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342,000 |
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$ |
1,463,760 |
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March 2, 2007 |
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March 1, 2014 |
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207,000 |
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US $ |
24.96 |
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207,000 |
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$ |
0 |
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5
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HOWARD
BALLOCH
Age: 55
Beijing, China
Director Since:
December 2004
Independent
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Mr. Howard Balloch is currently President of The Balloch
Group. Based in Beijing, The Balloch Group is a private
investment advisory and merchant banking firm specializing in
China and other Asian markets. Prior to this, from 1996 to 2001,
Mr. Balloch was the Canadian Ambassador to the
Peoples Republic of China. |
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Mr. Balloch holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political
Science and Economics and a Masters in International Relations,
both from McGill University, Montreal. |
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Committee Memberships |
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Other Current Board Memberships |
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Corporate Governance Committee
Human Resources Committee
Public Policy Committee (Chair) |
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Ivanhoe Mines Ltd
Tiens Bio-Tec USA Ltd
Ivanhoe Energy Inc. |
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Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
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Total of Common |
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Total Market Value |
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Meets Stock |
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Common |
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Total DSUs |
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Shares, DSUs and |
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of Common Shares, |
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Ownership |
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Shares |
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and RSUs |
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RSUs |
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DSUs and RSUs(7) |
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Guidelines?(8) |
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4,000 |
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11,269 |
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15,269 |
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$ |
476,087 |
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Yes |
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PIERRE
CHOQUETTE
Age: 64
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Director Since:
October 1994
Not
Independent(10)
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Mr. Pierre Choquette is a corporate director and is
currently Chairman of the Board of the Company.
Mr. Choquette was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company from September 2003 to May 2004 and
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from
October 1994 to September 2003. He was a Company employee for
9 years. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Choquette holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science
and a Masters in Science in Chemical Engineering from Laval
University, Montreal. He is also a graduate of the Graduate
Advanced Management Program at Harvard Graduate School of
Business Administration. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
None(11) |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,000 |
|
|
|
14,836 |
|
|
|
46,836 |
|
|
$ |
1,460,346 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PHILLIP
COOK
Age: 60
Austin, Texas, USA
Director Since: May 2006
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Phillip Cook is a corporate director. He held the
position of Senior Advisor of The Dow Chemical Company
(Dow Chemical) from June 2006 until his retirement
in January 2007. Dow Chemical provides chemical, plastic and
agricultural products and services. Prior to his Senior Advisor
position Mr. Cook was Corporate Vice President, Strategic
Development and New Ventures of Dow Chemical from 2005.
Mr. Cook previously held senior positions with Dow Chemical
of Senior Vice President, Performance Chemicals and Thermosets
from 2003 and prior to that Business Vice President, Epoxy
Products and Intermediates from 2000. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Cook holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from
the University of Texas, Austin. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
Public Policy Committee
Responsible Care Committee |
|
Member, College of Engineering
Foundation Advisory Board of the University of
Texas |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
3,100 |
|
|
$ |
96,658 |
|
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
THOMAS
HAMILTON
Age: 63
Houston, Texas, USA
Not currently a director
of the Company
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Thomas Hamilton has been Co-Owner of Medora
Investments, a private investment firm in Houston, Texas, since
April 2003. Mr. Hamilton was Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of EEX Corporation, an oil and natural gas
exploration and production company, from January 1997 until his
retirement in November 2002. From 1992 to 1997 Mr. Hamilton
served as Executive Vice President of Pennzoil Company and as
President of Pennzoil Exploration and Production Company, one of
the largest US-based independent oil and gas companies.
Previously Mr. Hamilton held senior positions at other oil
and gas companies including BP and Standard Oil Company. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Hamilton holds a Masters of Science and a PhD in
Geology from the University of North Dakota. He also has a
Bachelor of Science in Geology from Capital University,
Columbus, Ohio. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
None |
|
FMC Technologies, Inc.
TODCO |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common | |
|
Total Market Value | |
|
Meets Stock | |
|
|
|
|
Common | |
|
Total DSUs | |
|
Shares, DSUs and | |
|
of Common Shares, | |
|
Ownership | |
|
|
|
|
Shares | |
|
and RSUs | |
|
RSUs | |
|
DSUs and RSUs | |
|
Guidelines? | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Not applicable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DOUGLAS
MAHAFFY
Age: 61
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Director Since: May 2006
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Douglas Mahaffy has held the position of Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of McLean Budden Limited (McLean
Budden) since October 1989. He was also President of
McLean Budden from October 1989 until September 2006. McLean
Budden is a money manager looking after more than
$40 billion in assets for pension, foundation and private
clients in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Mahaffy holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of
Business Administration, both from York University, Toronto. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Governance Committee
Human Resources Committee |
|
McLean Budden (Chairman) |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
$ |
93,540 |
|
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. TERENCE
(TERRY) POOLE
Age: 64
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Director Since:
February
1994(12)
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Terry Poole is a corporate director. He held the
position of Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and
Development of NOVA Chemicals Corporation (NOVA), a
commodity chemical company, from May 2000 to June 2006. Prior to
this, Mr. Poole held the position of Executive Vice
President, Finance and Strategy of NOVA from 1998 to 2000 and
the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of NOVA Corporation from 1994 to 1998. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Poole is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of
Commerce from Dalhousie University, Halifax. He is a Member of
the Canadian, Quebec and Ontario Institutes of Chartered
Accountants and is also a Member of the Financial Executives
Institute. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (Chair)
(13)
Public Policy Committee |
|
Pengrowth Corporation
Synenco Energy Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
17,669 |
|
|
|
47,669 |
|
|
$ |
1,486,319 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
JOHN
REID
Age: 59
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Director Since:
September 2003
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. John Reid is a corporate director. Mr. Reid held
the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Terasen
Inc., an energy distribution and transportation company, from
November 1997 to November 2005. Prior to that position he was
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Terasen
Inc. for two years. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Reid has an Economics Degree from the University of
Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom and is a Fellow of the
British Columbia, England and Wales Institutes of Chartered
Accountants. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
Corporate Governance Committee (Chair) |
|
Finning International Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
26,488 |
|
|
|
36,488 |
|
|
$ |
1,137,696 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JANICE
RENNIE
Age: 49
Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
Director Since: May 2006
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Janice Rennie is a corporate director. From 2004 to
2005 Ms. Rennie was Senior Vice President, Human Resources
and Organizational Effectiveness for EPCOR Utilities Inc. EPCOR
Utilities Inc. builds, owns and operates power plants,
electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and
wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure in Canada and
the United States. Prior to 2004, Ms. Rennie was Principal
of Rennie & Associates which provided investment and
related advice to small and mid-sized companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Rennie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University
of Alberta and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Alberta. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
Human Resources Committee |
|
Canadian Hotel Income Properties Real
Estate Investment Trust
Matrikon Inc.
NOVA Chemicals Corporation
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
$ |
155,900 |
|
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MONICA
SLOAN
Age: 52
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Director Since:
September 2003
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Monica Sloan has been Chief Executive Officer of
Intervera Ltd. since January 2004. Intervera Ltd. provides data
quality products and services to the energy industry. Prior to
this position Ms. Sloan was an Independent Consultant for
ME Sloan Associates from October 1999. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Sloan holds a Masters of Engineering from Stanford
University and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard
Graduate School of Business Administration. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
Human Resources Committee
Responsible Care Committee |
|
Industrial Alliance Pacific Financial Services |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
20,230 |
|
|
|
23,230 |
|
|
$ |
724,311 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
GRAHAM
SWEENEY
Age: 71
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Director Since: July 1994
Independent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Graham Sweeney is a corporate director.
Mr. Sweeney was President and Chief Executive Officer of
Dow Chemical Canada Inc. from 1993 to 1995. Prior to this
Mr. Sweeney held Vice President and senior executive
positions with The Dow Chemical Company in Asia from 1981 to
1987 and with global responsibilities from 1988 to 1992. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Sweeney holds a Bachelor of Science (Chemical
Engineering) from the University of Natal, South Africa. |
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Memberships |
|
Other Current Board Memberships |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
Public Policy Committee
Responsible Care Committee (Chair) |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares and Share Equivalents Held: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total of Common |
|
Total Market Value |
|
Meets Stock |
|
|
|
|
Common |
|
Total DSUs |
|
Shares, DSUs and |
|
of Common Shares, |
|
Ownership |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
and RSUs |
|
RSUs |
|
DSUs and RSUs(7) |
|
Guidelines?(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
55,593 |
|
|
|
55,593 |
|
|
$ |
1,733,390 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The number of Common Shares held includes Common Shares directly
or indirectly beneficially owned or under the control or
direction of such nominee. |
|
(2) |
For information on Deferred Share Units, see Compensation
of Directors on page 24 and Directors Deferred
Share Unit Plan on page 25. |
|
(3) |
For information on Restricted Share Units, see
Compensation of Directors and Long-Term
Incentive on page 24. |
|
(4) |
For information on Performance Share Units, see
Performance Share Unit Plan on page 29.
Non-management directors do not participate in this plan. |
|
(5) |
Non-management directors ceased being granted stock options in
2003 and no non-management director currently holds any stock
options. |
|
(6) |
Mr. Aitken is not a member of any Committee however he does
attend all Committee meetings in his capacity as President and
Chief Executive Officer. |
|
(7) |
This value is calculated using $31.18, being the average closing
price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(TSX) for the 90 day period ending
March 5, 2007. |
|
(8) |
Please see page 25 for more information on stock ownership
guidelines. All new directors have a reasonable period of time
within which to meet their stock ownership guidelines. |
|
(9) |
This value is calculated using $28.80, being the closing price
of the Common Shares on the TSX on March 5, 2007. The
US dollar exercise price has been converted to Canadian
dollars using the Bank of Canada noon rate of exchange on
March 5, 2007. |
|
(10) |
Effective May 13, 2007, Mr. Choquette will become an
independent director. Please see Director Independence on
page 18 for more information. |
|
(11) |
Mr. Choquette is not a member of any Committee, but attends
Committee meetings on an ex-officio basis in his capacity as
Chairman of the Board. |
|
(12) |
Mr. Poole resigned as a director of the Company in June
2003 and was re-appointed in September 2003. |
|
(13) |
Mr. Poole has been designated as the audit committee
financial expert. |
9
Summary of Board and Committee Meetings Held
For the 12 month period ending December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
Board of Directors
|
|
|
6 |
|
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
|
|
|
9 |
|
Corporate Governance Committee
|
|
|
5 |
|
Human Resources Committee
|
|
|
3 |
|
Public Policy Committee
|
|
|
2 |
|
Responsible Care Committee
|
|
|
3 |
|
Summary of Attendance of Directors at Board and Committee
Meetings
For the 12 month period ending December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board meetings | |
|
% | |
|
Committee |
|
% | |
Director |
|
Attended | |
|
attended | |
|
meetings attended |
|
attended | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Bruce
Aitken(1)
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard Balloch
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
5 of 5 (CG) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 of 3 (HR) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 (PP) |
|
|
100 |
|
Pierre
Choquette(2)
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Findlay(3)
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
5 of 5 (CG) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 of 3 (HR) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 of 3 (RC) |
|
|
100 |
|
Phillip
Cook(4)
|
|
|
3 of 3 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
6 of 6 (Audit) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 (PP) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 (RC) |
|
|
100 |
|
Douglas
Mahaffy(4)
|
|
|
3 of 3 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
2 of 2 (CG) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 (HR) |
|
|
100 |
|
A. Terence Poole
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
9 of 9 (Audit) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 (PP) |
|
|
100 |
|
John Reid
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
8 of 9 (Audit) |
|
|
89 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 of 5 (CG) |
|
|
100 |
|
Janice
Rennie(4)
|
|
|
3 of 3 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
6 of 6 (Audit) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 (HR) |
|
|
100 |
|
Monica Sloan
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
3 of 3 (HR) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 of 3 (RC) |
|
|
100 |
|
Graham Sweeney
|
|
|
6 of 6 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
9 of 9 (Audit) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 (PP) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 of 3 (RC) |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
Audit: |
|
Audit, Finance and Risk Committee |
CG: |
|
Corporate Governance Committee |
HR: |
|
Human Resources Committee |
PP: |
|
Public Policy Committee |
RC: |
|
Responsible Care Committee |
|
|
(1) |
Mr. Aitken attended all Committee meetings in his capacity
as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. |
|
(2) |
Mr. Choquette attended all Committee meetings on an
ex-officio basis in his capacity as Chairman of the Board. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Findlay is not standing for re-election. |
|
(4) |
Messrs. Cook and Mahaffy and Ms. Rennie were appointed
to the Board on May 9, 2006 and therefore did not attend
any Board or Committee meetings prior to that time. |
10
RE-APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION OF AUDITORS
The directors of the Company recommend the re-appointment of
KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, Vancouver, as the auditors of
the Company to hold office until the termination of the next
annual meeting of the Company. KPMG LLP has served as the
auditors of the Company for more than five years. As in past
years, it is proposed that the remuneration to be paid to the
auditors be determined by the directors of the Company.
The persons named in the accompanying proxy, if not expressly
directed to the contrary in such proxy, will vote the Common
Shares in respect of which they have been appointed proxyholder
for the re-appointment of KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, as
the auditors of the Company and to authorize the directors to
determine the remuneration to be paid to the auditors.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Pre-approval policies and procedures
The Companys Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (the
Audit Committee) annually reviews and approves the
terms and scope of the external auditors engagement. The
Audit Committee oversees the Audit and Non-Audit Pre-Approval
Policy which sets forth the procedures and the conditions
pursuant to which permissible services proposed to be performed
by KPMG LLP are pre-approved. The Audit Committee has delegated
to the Chair of the Audit Committee pre-approval authority for
any services not previously approved by the Audit Committee. All
such services approved by the Chair of the Audit Committee are
subsequently reviewed by the Audit Committee.
All non-audit service engagements, regardless of the cost
estimate, are required to be coordinated and approved by the
Chief Financial Officer to further ensure that adherence to this
policy is monitored.
Audit and Non-Audit Fees Paid to the Independent Auditors
Fees to KPMG LLP during the years ended December 31, 2006
and December 31, 2005 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
US$000s |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Audit Fees
|
|
|
1,654 |
|
|
|
526 |
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
|
|
146 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
397 |
|
|
|
158 |
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2,197 |
|
|
|
820 |
|
The nature of each category of fees is described below.
Audit fees were paid for professional services rendered by the
auditors for the audit of the Companys consolidated
financial statements; statutory audits of the financial
statements of the Companys subsidiaries; quarterly reviews
of the Companys financial statements; consultations as to
the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions reflected
in the financial statements; and services associated with
registration statements, prospectuses, periodic reports and
other documents filed with securities regulators.
Audit fees paid in 2006 are in respect of an integrated
audit performed by KPMG LLP. The integrated audit
encompasses an opinion on the fairness of presentation of the
Companys financial statements as well as opinions on the
effectiveness of the Companys internal controls over
financial reporting and on managements assessment of
internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, the
understanding and testing of internal controls in the integrated
audit is much broader and in more depth than in a financial
statement audit.
Audit-related fees were paid for professional services rendered
by the auditors for financial audits of employee benefit plans;
procedures and audit or attest services not required by statute
or regulation; advice and documentation assistance with respect
to internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure
controls; and consultations as to the accounting or disclosure
treatment of other transactions.
11
Tax fees were paid for professional services rendered for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services
consisted of: tax compliance including the review of tax
returns; assistance in completing routine tax schedules and
calculations; and tax planning and advisory services relating to
common forms of domestic and international taxation.
AMENDMENT OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company has an Incentive Stock Option Plan (the
Plan) under which options to purchase Common Shares
may be granted by the Company. Information regarding the Plan
commences on page 40 under Incentive Stock Option
Plan.
In 2006 the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX)
introduced new rules affecting the Plan. The Company is
proposing to amend the Plan, in part, to reflect those rules.
Amendment Provisions
The Plan currently has a general amendment provision which
permits the Board of Directors to amend any of the provisions of
the Plan subject to obtaining any required approval of any
appropriate stock exchange or other regulatory authority. In the
past, the TSX has approved amendments to the Plan which had been
approved by the Board of Directors and required shareholder
approval for amendments where the TSX considered the amendments
material.
In June 2006, however, the TSX announced that it was changing
its rules regarding amendments to stock option plans. The TSX is
proposing that stock option plans contain a detailed amendment
provision that outlines the types of amendments that require
shareholder approval and those that can be made without
shareholder approval. Under the TSXs new rules, if a plan
does not include a detailed amendment provision, after
June 30, 2007 every amendment will require shareholder
approval, including simple clerical, administrative or other
immaterial amendments.
The Company is proposing to amend the Plan to include amendment
provisions which will require approval by the affirmative vote
of not less than a majority of the votes cast by the
shareholders voting (excluding, to the extent required pursuant
to any applicable stock exchange rules or regulations, votes of
securities held by insiders benefiting from the amendment) for
the following amendments to the Plan or options granted under it:
|
|
1. |
an increase in the number of Common Shares that can be issued
under the Plan, including an increase to the fixed maximum
number of securities issuable under the Plan, either as a fixed
number or a fixed percentage of the Companys outstanding
capital represented by such securities; |
|
2. |
a reduction in the exercise price or purchase price of
outstanding options (including a cancellation of an outstanding
option for the purpose of exchange for reissuance at a lower
exercise price to the same person); |
|
3. |
an extension of the expiry date of an option or amending the
Plan to permit the grant of an option with an expiry date of
more than 10 years from the day the option is granted; |
|
4. |
an expansion of the class of eligible recipients of options
under the Plan that would permit the
re-introduction of
non-employee directors on a discretionary basis or an increase
on limits previously imposed on non-employee director
participation; |
|
5. |
an expansion of the transferability or assignability of options,
other than to a spouse or other family member, an entity
controlled by the option holder or spouse or family member, an
RRSP or RRIF of the option holder, spouse or family member, a
trustee, custodian or administrator acting on behalf of, or for
the benefit of, the option holder, spouse or family member, any
person recognized as a permitted assign in such circumstances in
securities or stock exchange regulatory provisions, or for
estate planning or estate settlement purposes; |
|
6. |
any amendment of the Plan to increase any maximum limit of the
number of securities that may be: |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
issued to insiders of the Company within any one year period, or |
|
|
(b) |
issuable to insiders of the Company at any time; |
|
|
|
which may be specified in the Plan, when combined with all of
the Companys other security based compensation
arrangements, to be in excess of 10% of the Companys total
issued and outstanding securities, respectively; |
|
|
7. |
if the Plan has a fixed maximum number of securities issuable,
the addition of any provision that allows for the exercise of
options without cash consideration, whether the option holder
receives the intrinsic value in the form of |
12
|
|
|
securities from treasury or the intrinsic value in cash, which
does not provide for a full deduction of the underlying Common
Shares from the maximum number issuable under the Plan or, if
the Plan does not have a fixed maximum number of securities
issuable, the addition of any provision that allows for the
exercise of options without cash consideration where a deduction
may not be made for the number of Common Shares underlying the
options from the Plan reserve; and |
|
8. |
a change to the amendment provisions of the Plan; |
provided that shareholder approval will not be required for
increases or decreases or adjustment to the number of Common
Shares subject to the Plan or deliverable upon the exercise of
any option or adjustment in the exercise price for shares
covered by options and the making of appropriate provisions for
the continuance of the options outstanding under the Plan to
prevent their dilution or enlargement in accordance with the
section or sections of the Plan which provide for such increase,
decrease, adjustments or provisions in respect of certain
events, including the subdivision or consolidation of the Common
Shares or reorganization, merger, consolidation or amalgamation
of the Company, or for the amendment of such section or sections.
The Board of Directors will have authority to make other
amendments to the Plan or any option relating to:
(i) clerical or administrative changes (including a change
to correct or rectify an ambiguity, immaterial inconsistency,
defective provision, mistake, error or omission or clarify the
Plans provisions or a change to the provisions relating to
the administration of the Plan); (ii) changing provisions
relating to the manner of exercise of options, including
changing or adding any form of financial assistance provided by
the Company to participants or, if the Plan has a fixed maximum
number of securities issuable, adding provisions relating to a
cashless exercise which provides for a full deduction of the
underlying Common Shares from the maximum number issuable under
the Plan; (iii) changing the eligibility for and
limitations on participation in the Plan (other than amendments
of the Plan to increase any maximum limit of the number of
securities that may be issued or issuable to insiders which may
be specified in the Plan or the reintroduction of participation
by non-management directors on a discretionary basis);
(iv) changing the terms, conditions and mechanics of grant,
vesting, exercise and early expiry of options; (v) changing
the provisions for termination of options so long as the change
does not permit the Company to grant an option with an expiry
date of more than 10 years or extend an outstanding
options expiry date; (vi) additions, deletions or
alterations designed to respond to or comply with any applicable
law or any tax, accounting, auditing or regulatory or stock
exchange rule, provision or requirement or to allow
optionholders to receive fair and equitable tax treatment under
any applicable tax legislation; and (vii) certain changes
to provisions on the transferability of options which do not
require shareholder approval as described above.
No amendment of the provisions of the Plan or any option may,
without the consent of the optionee, adversely affect or impair
any options previously granted to an optionee under the Plan.
Grants of Options to Non-Management Directors
The Plan currently permits the Board of Directors to grant
options to officers, directors and other employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries. Commencing in 2003, non-management
directors ceased to be granted options.
In connection with the amendment to the Plan to change the
amendment provisions, and to reflect the decision of the Company
to cease granting non-management directors options under the
Plan, the Company is also proposing to amend the Plan to provide
that, from and after March 2, 2007, the Board of Directors
may only grant options to officers and other employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries (who in each case must be full-time
employees of the Company or a subsidiary and who, in the opinion
of the Board of Directors, are key employees).
Expiry Dates and Blackout Periods
A July 2006 TSX Staff Notice recognizes that for good corporate
governance reasons many public companies have internal policies
prohibiting certain employees from buying or selling securities
or exercising options during specific periods (blackout
periods). The TSX recognizes that these blackout periods
might result in an unintended penalty to employees who are
prohibited from exercising options during the blackout period
under the policies. As a result, the TSX has provided that
listed companies may amend their option plans to provide for
situations where an options expiration date occurs during
or shortly after a blackout period.
For example, a blackout period would occur (i) before and
shortly after the date that a company announces its quarterly or
annual earnings; or (ii) during a time that a company has
material undisclosed information (as defined
13
under applicable securities laws), such as information about an
important potential transaction the company might be considering.
The Company is proposing to amend the Plan to provide that, if
an option expires or ceases to be exercisable during a blackout
period during which trading in Company securities is restricted
in accordance with the policies of the Company or its affiliates
or within the 10 business days immediately after a blackout
period, the expiry date shall become a date which is 10 business
days after the last day of the blackout period.
This amendment will align the proper administration of the Plan
with the Companys current securities trading policies and
governance practices. The change has no additional dilutive
impact on the Companys Common Shares and no adverse impact
on the Company or its shareholders.
Codifying Current Practices
The Plan currently provides that each option, unless sooner
terminated in accordance with its terms, conditions and
limitations, shall expire on an expiry date fixed by the Board
of Directors which is not later than 10 years from the date
the option was granted, except that, subject to the right of the
Board of Directors, in its discretion, to determine that an
option may be exercisable during different periods, in respect
of a different amount or portion of shares or in a different
manner:
|
|
|
|
(a) |
in the case of death of an optionee prior to the expiry date,
the option will be exercisable prior to the earlier of
(i) the date which is one year from the date of death (or
such shorter or longer period as may be determined by the Board
of Directors at the time of grant of the Option) and
(ii) the expiry date; and |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
if the optionee ceases, for any other reason, to be a director,
officer or employee of the Company or of a subsidiary of the
Company prior to the expiry date, the option will be exercisable
prior to the earlier of (i) the date which is one year from
the date the optionee so ceases to be a director, officer or
employee, or such shorter or longer period as the Board of
Directors may determine, and (ii) the expiry date. |
In practice, the Board of Directors has in the past determined
that, if an optionee ceases to be a director, officer or
employee of the Company or of a subsidiary of the Company as a
result of disability or retirement of the optionee prior to the
expiry date, the optionees options will vest immediately
and will be exercisable until the expiry date and in certain
circumstances in the case of termination of an optionees
employment by reason of a major divestiture or disposition of
assets, facility closure or major downsizing, the
optionees options would continue to vest in accordance
with their terms but would be exercisable until the expiry date.
In addition, in circumstances where an optionee ceases for any
other reason to be a director, officer or employee of the
Company or of a subsidiary prior to the expiry date, the Board
of Directors in its discretion has determined a shorter period
for exercise of the options, namely 90 days from the date
the optionee ceased to be a director, officer or employee,
rather than one year. In connection with the amendments that are
otherwise being made to the Plan, the Board of Directors have
approved amendments to codify the current practices described
above. However, the Company is proposing to amend the Plan to
provide that an optionees options would continue to vest
in accordance with their terms but would be exercisable until
the expiry date, in the circumstances where an optionee ceases
to be a director, officer or employee of the Company or of a
subsidiary of the Company as a result of retirement (where the
optionee is at least 55 years of age).
Shareholder Approval
The amendments to the Plan were approved by the Board of
Directors on March 2, 2007. The TSX has reviewed and
conditionally approved these proposed amendments, subject to
shareholder approval. The amendments are reflected in an amended
and restated Incentive Stock Option Plan (the Amended
Incentive Stock Option Plan). A copy of the Amended
Incentive Stock Option Plan is available for inspection at the
head office of the Company at 1800 Waterfront Centre, 200
Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, during normal
business hours prior to the Meeting and will be tabled at the
Meeting.
Under the requirements of the TSX and the Nasdaq Global Market
(Nasdaq), the amendments to the Plan must be
approved by the shareholders of the Company. Consequently, at
the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and, if
deemed appropriate, pass an ordinary resolution ratifying and
approving the amendments. The text of the proposed resolution is
set out in Schedule A. This resolution must be passed by a
simple majority of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to
vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Under the TSXs
requirements certain insiders of the Company eligible to receive
a benefit under the Plan are not eligible to vote their shares
in respect of the resolution. The Company believes that such
insiders hold an aggregate of approximately 340,000 Common
Shares. These shares will
14
be excluded in determining whether the resolution to approve the
amendments to the Plan receives the required approval.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None of the directors or officers of the Company, no proposed
nominee for election as a director of the Company, none of the
persons who have been directors or officers of the Company at
any time since the beginning of the Companys last
completed financial year and no associate or affiliate of any of
the foregoing has any material interest, direct or indirect, in
any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the
election of directors and the approval of the amendment to the
Incentive Stock Option Plan. Certain directors and officers of
the Company hold options granted under the Incentive Stock
Option Plan and the officers of the Company are eligible to be
granted options in the future under the Incentive Stock Option
Plan. As a result, they may be considered to have an interest in
the approval of the amendments to the Incentive Stock Option
Plan.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
None of the directors or officers of the Company, no director or
officer of a body corporate that is itself an insider or a
subsidiary of the Company, no person or company who beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities of the Company
or who exercised control or direction over voting securities of
the Company or a combination of both carrying more than 10% of
the voting rights attached to any class of outstanding voting
securities of the Company entitled to vote in connection with
any matters being proposed for consideration at the Meeting, no
proposed director or nominee for election as a director of the
Company and no associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing
has or had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any
transaction or proposed transaction since the beginning of the
Companys last financial year which has materially affected
or would or could materially affect the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
15
PART III CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors
The Board has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Principles
to provide for a system of principled goal-setting, effective
decision-making and ethical actions. The Principles can be found
at Schedule B to this Circular and on our website. In
addition, the Board of Directors establishes an annual set of
Board Objectives. In 2006, the Board established
several key objectives which included ensuring that Committee
Chairs were given ample time at Board meetings to discuss key
committee issues, ensuring that the Board developed a deeper
understanding of key markets and geographies in which the
Company operates and ensuring vigorous debate on key strategic
alternatives. The status and future actions in respect of each
objective is discussed at each Board meeting.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board has established five standing Committees with written
mandates defining their responsibilities and a requirement to
report regularly to the Board. All Committee members have been
determined to be independent in accordance with Nasdaq rules and
Canadian securities regulations and no Committee member was,
during 2006, or is currently, an officer or employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Audit,
Finance and Risk Committee
|
|
|
Members: Ms. Rennie and Messrs. Cook, Poole (Chair),
Reid and Sweeney. |
The Companys Audit, Finance and Risk Committee is
appointed by the Board to assist the Board in fulfilling its
oversight responsibility relating to: the integrity of the
Companys financial statements; the financial reporting
process; the systems of internal accounting and financial
controls; the professional qualifications and independence of
the external auditors; the performance of the external auditors;
risk management processes; financing plans; pension plans; and
compliance by the Company with ethics policies and legal and
regulatory requirements. Mr. Poole is the audit
committee financial expert. In 2006, this Committee met
nine times. The overall Committee member attendance rate at
these meetings was 98%.
The mandate of this Committee together with the relevant
education and experience of its members and other Committee
information may be found in the Audit Committee
Information section of the Companys Annual
Information Form dated March 23, 2007.
Corporate
Governance Committee
|
|
|
Members: Messrs. Balloch, Findlay, Mahaffy and Reid
(Chair). Mr. Findlay is not standing for re-election as a
director. |
This Committee is responsible for the composition, compensation
and governance of the Board and recommends to the Board nominees
for election or appointment as directors. The functions of this
Committee also include assessing and enhancing the performance
of the Board and maintaining an effective working relationship
between the Board and management of the Company. It is also
responsible for taking a leadership role in shaping the
corporate governance of the Company and developing and
recommending to the Board corporate governance principles for
the Company. In 2006, this Committee met five times. The overall
Committee member attendance rate at these meetings was 95% (and
includes those directors who did not stand for re-election
in 2006).
Human
Resources Committee
|
|
|
Members: Ms. Rennie, Ms. Sloan and
Messrs. Balloch, Findlay (Chair) and Mahaffy.
Mr. Findlay is not standing for re-election as a director. |
The Human Resources Committee is responsible for approving the
goals and objectives of the CEO and evaluating the CEOs
performance; reviewing and recommending to the Board the
remuneration of the Companys senior executives and
approving the remuneration of all other employees on an
aggregate basis; reporting to the Board on the Companys
organizational structure, officer succession plans, total
compensation practices, human resource policies and executive
development programs; approving the report on executive
compensation; recommending grants and various administrative
matters in connection with the long-term incentive plan; and
reviewing the operations and administration of the
Companys retirement plans. In 2006, this Committee met
three times. The overall Committee member attendance rate at
these meetings was 100%.
16
Public
Policy Committee
|
|
|
Members: Messrs. Balloch (Chair), Cook, Poole and Sweeney. |
The Public Policy Committee is responsible for reviewing and
making recommendations to the Board regarding public policy
matters that have a significant impact on the Company including
those relating to social investment policies, government
relations and public affairs. In 2006, this Committee met twice.
The overall Committee member attendance rate at these meetings
was 100%.
Responsible
Care Committee
|
|
|
Members: Ms. Sloan and Messrs. Cook, Findlay and
Sweeney (Chair). Mr. Findlay is not standing for
re-election as a
director. |
The Responsible Care Committee is responsible for reviewing and
making recommendations to the Board regarding matters relating
to the environment and occupational health and safety issues
that impact significantly on the Company and has oversight
responsibility for the Companys Corporate Social
Responsibility Policy. The Committee also reviews the policies
and standards that are in place to ensure that the Company is
carrying out all of its operations in accordance with the
principles of Responsible
Care®.
In 2006, this Committee met three times. The overall Committee
member attendance rate at these meetings was 100%.
17
Statement of Corporate Governance Practices
Corporate governance has become a significant public policy
issue over the past few years. We define corporate governance as
having the appropriate processes and structures in place to
provide for the proper direction and management of our business
and we believe good corporate governance is critical to a
companys effective, efficient and prudent operation.
The Company is a Canadian reporting issuer with its Common
Shares listed on the TSX and Nasdaq. There have been many recent
regulatory and legal initiatives aimed at improving corporate
governance, increasing corporate accountability and enhancing
transparency of public company disclosure. The Companys
management and Board actively monitor and, where appropriate,
respond to these initiatives. In 2005, the Canadian Securities
Administrators adopted National
Instrument 58-101
Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (the
Disclosure Instrument) and National
Policy 58-201
Corporate Governance Guidelines (the Guidelines).
The Disclosure Instrument requires us to disclose certain
corporate governance practices that we have adopted, while the
Guidelines provide guidance on various corporate governance
practices that companies like ours should adopt. In this regard,
a brief description of our corporate governance practices, with
reference to the areas set out in the Disclosure Instrument and
the Guidelines follows.
Director Independence
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Directors Relationship to the Company | |
| |
Name |
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Independent | |
|
Not Independent | |
|
Reason for Not Independent Status | |
|
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| |
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| |
|
| |
Bruce Aitken
|
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ü |
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President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company |
|
Howard Balloch
|
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|
ü |
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Pierre Choquette
|
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ü |
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Former Chief Executive Officer of the Company |
|
Phillip Cook
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|
ü |
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Douglas Mahaffy
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ü |
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Thomas Hamilton
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ü |
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A. Terence Poole
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ü |
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John Reid
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ü |
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Janice Rennie
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ü |
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Monica Sloan
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ü |
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Graham Sweeney
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ü |
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Nine of the 11 nominees who are standing for election to
the Companys Board have been determined by the Board to be
independent in accordance with Nasdaq rules and the Disclosure
Instrument. Mr. Aitken is the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and is therefore not independent. The
Chairman of the Board of the Company, Mr. Choquette, is
currently not independent as he was formerly the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. He resigned as the Companys Chief
Executive Officer on May 13, 2004. Mr. Choquette will
become independent on May 13, 2007 in accordance with
Nasdaq rules and the Disclosure Instrument.
Of the remaining 9 individuals who are standing for
election, the Board has determined that the following 8 have no
relationship (material or otherwise) with the Company other than
as directors and shareholders and are therefore independent:
Mr. Balloch, Mr. Cook, Mr. Hamilton,
Mr. Poole, Mr. Reid, Ms. Rennie, Ms. Sloan
and Mr. Sweeney. Mr. Hamilton has no relationship
(material or otherwise) with the Company and is currently not a
director nor a shareholder of the Company.
Mr. Mahaffy is currently Chairman and CEO of McLean Budden
Limited (MB). The Companys defined
contribution pension plan makes MB pooled funds available to
employees and MB earns fees based on the amount of funds
individual employees invest in MB funds. In 2006, MB was paid
less than $5,000 in fees as a result of this
18
arrangement. The other independent directors have reviewed the
relationship between the Company and MB and have determined that
Mr. Mahaffy is independent.
Committees of the Board are constituted exclusively of
independent directors. However, Mr. Aitken, in his capacity
as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and
Mr. Choquette, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board,
attend Committee meetings.
Other Directorships and Interlocking Relationships
Several of the nominees are directors of other reporting
issuers. For details, please refer to the information about each
nominee under Election of Directors. There are no
nominees who served together as directors on the boards of other
corporations or acted as trustees for other entities during the
financial year ended December 31, 2006.
In Camera Sessions
Following each Board meeting, the independent directors hold
regularly scheduled in camera sessions at which
non-independent directors and members of management are not in
attendance. These in camera sessions are chaired by the Lead
Independent Director. In 2006, there were six Board meetings and
in camera sessions followed each one. In camera sessions may, at
the discretion of each Committee Chair, follow Committee
meetings.
Independence of Board Chair and Lead Independent
Director
The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Choquette, is currently not
independent as he was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. He resigned as the Companys Chief Executive
Officer in May 2004. However, Mr. Choquette will become
independent on May 13, 2007 in accordance with Nasdaq rules
and the Disclosure Instrument.
The Board, mindful of the governance issues arising from the
Chairman of the Board not being independent, has appointed a
Lead Independent Director whose responsibilities are described
in a written Terms of Reference and include providing a source
of Board leadership complementary to the Chairman of the Board,
enhancing Board effectiveness and acting as liaison between the
Board, management and among directors, including chairing in
camera sessions of the independent directors following Board
meetings without the presence of management. Mr. Findlay is
the current Lead Independent Director. As Mr. Choquette
will become independent on May 13, 2007, the Board has
determined that the role of Lead Independent Director should
cease to exist on that date.
Meeting Attendance Records
For information concerning the number of Board and Committee
meetings held in 2006 as well as the attendance record of each
director for those meetings, please see page 10.
The Companys Corporate Governance Principles contains a
Board mandate describing the Boards responsibilities. The
Principles can be found at Schedule B to this Circular and
on our website.
Board Chair and Committee Chairs
The Board has developed written position descriptions (which we
call Terms of Reference) for the Chairman of the
Board and each Committee Chair. The Terms of Reference for both
the Chairman of the Board of Directors and for Committee Chairs
are found on our website.
Individual Directors
The Board has developed written Terms of Reference for
individual directors and they are found on our website. The
Corporate Governance Principles also set out responsibilities of
each director.
The Board of Directors has determined that there should not be a
determined retirement policy for directors and the Corporate
Governance Principles establish that there should not be
cumulative term limits for directors. The Companys
Corporate Governance Principles state as follows:
|
|
|
|
Cumulative term limits for directors should not be established
as this could have the effect of forcing directors off the Board
who have gained a deep and detailed knowledge of the
companys operations and business affairs. At the same
time, the value of some turnover in Board membership to provide
an |
|
19
|
|
|
|
ongoing input of fresh ideas and new knowledge is recognized.
The Corporate Governance Committee shall review annually the
membership of the Board to enable the Board to manage its
overall composition and maintain a balance of directors to
ensure long-term continuity. |
|
Lead Independent Director
The Board has developed written Terms of Reference for the Lead
Independent Director and they are found on our website.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
The CEO has a written position description which sets out the
positions key responsibilities. In addition, the CEO has
annual specific corporate and personal performance objectives
and incentive compensation targets that the CEO is responsible
for meeting. These objectives and targets are reviewed, approved
and tracked during the year by the Board through the Human
Resources Committee. See page 31 for more complete
information on these objectives and targets.
|
|
4. |
Orientation and Continuing Education |
To familiarize new directors with the role of the Board, its
Committees, the directors and the nature and operation of the
Companys business, each new director and, indeed, all
directors, are provided with a directors manual in the
form of an electronic CD which contains information regarding
these matters as well as information on the responsibilities and
liabilities of directors and other relevant information. CDs
containing updated information are provided to all directors on
an on-going basis. In addition, the Company encourages new
directors to meet with senior management and to visit our
operations and plant locations.
The Board recognizes the importance of ongoing education for
directors. The Companys Corporate Governance Principles
state that directors are encouraged to attend seminars,
conferences and other continuing education programs to help
ensure that they stay current on relevant issues. The Company is
a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and our
directors have attended courses and programs which it offers.
The Company is prepared to contribute to the cost of directors
attending appropriate continuing education programming. As well,
written materials which are likely to be of interest to
directors and which have been published in periodicals,
newspapers or by law or accounting firms are routinely forwarded
to directors. Such materials are often also included in a
supplemental reading section in Board and Committee
books.
Board meetings themselves provide directors with educational
opportunities. Board meetings often include an educational
presentation on a particular aspect of the Companys
operations. The Board also conducts an annual one-day strategy
session which provides detailed information on the business
environment and trends affecting the Company. Also, at least
once annually, a Board meeting is held at a location where the
Company has methanol production operations or significant
commercial activities. Such site visits give directors an
extended opportunity to interact with customers, business
associates and high potential employees, tour facilities and
generally provide directors with important context which is
useful for directors of a company with global operations.
|
|
5. |
Ethical Business Conduct |
Code of Ethics
The Company has a Code of Business Conduct (the
Code) in place which is applicable to all employees,
officers and directors. It provides a set of standards meant to
assist them in avoiding wrong-doing and to promote honest and
ethical behavior while conducting the Companys business.
The Code also establishes a confidential
whistle-blower hotline for reporting suspected
violations of the Code. The Code is reviewed annually by the
Board. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct may be found on
our website. A printed version is also available upon request to
the Corporate Secretary of the Company.
The Board monitors compliance with the Code primarily through
the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and the Corporate
Governance Committee which have as part of their mandates the
obligation to annually monitor compliance with the Code. These
Committees receive regular updates on matters relating to the
Code including an annual report on the activities undertaken by
management to maintain and increase Code awareness throughout
the organization and results of surveys designed to determine
employee awareness of the Code.
20
The Code provides that suspected Code violations are to be
reported to the General Counsel who shall investigate the
matter. The Corporate Governance Committee is made aware of all
such reports. Furthermore, the Chair of the Audit, Finance and
Risk Committee is advised of all reports which concern
accounting or audit matters and the Chair of that Committee and
the General Counsel together determine how such a matter is to
be investigated and by whom.
No material change report has been filed since the beginning of
the Companys most recently completed financial year that
pertains to any conduct of a director or executive officer that
constitutes a departure from the Code.
Transactions involving Directors or Officers
The Code of Business Conduct contains a specific provision
relating to the need for directors, officers and all employees
to avoid conflicts of interest with the Company. Furthermore,
the Corporate Governance Committee is mandated to consider
questions of independence and possible conflicts of interest of
directors and officers. To that end, each director and officer
completes an annual questionnaire in which they report on all
transactions material to the Company in which they have a
material interest. These reports, together with
managements knowledge of all transactions involving the
Company and the directors and officers, are provided to the
Corporate Governance Committee.
Other Measures
In 2006, the Board took other steps to encourage and promote a
culture of ethical business conduct. First, the Companys
Corporate Governance Principles state that the Board has an
obligation to satisfy itself as to the integrity of the CEO and
other executive officers and that they create a culture of
integrity throughout the organization. On an annual basis, the
Corporate Governance Committee considers and reports to the
Board on this issue. Additionally, the Board-approved 2006
Business Plan includes within it a strategic goal of the Company
living and practicing its core values of trust, integrity,
respect and professionalism everyday. The Plan also set goals of
maintaining best Canadian public corporation corporate
governance practices and a focus on maintaining the
Companys reputation in the financial markets.
Additionally, the Board has adopted a Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) policy which covers a host of activities
such as social investment, governance, employee engagement and
development and community involvement and creates a linkage with
the already firmly-established Responsible Care ethic.
CEO Trading Policy
The Company has implemented a policy stating that if the
President and Chief Executive Officer intends to trade in
Company securities, including exercise options, a press release
will be issued no less than five business days in advance of the
date of the intended transaction. The press release shall
contain information which includes the maximum amount of shares
or options intended to be sold or exercised, the expected date
of the transaction, the approximate number of common shares the
President and CEO will hold after the intended transaction, the
share ownership guideline applicable to the President and CEO
and whether it is reasonably expected that the President and CEO
will meet the guideline immediately after the anticipated
transaction. On February 2, 2007, Mr. Aitken announced
through a press release that he plans to sell in the open market
up to 200,000 Common Shares through the exercise of stock
options. The sale of the shares is expected to occur in one or
more transactions between February 12, 2007 and the end of
March 2007.
|
|
6. |
Nomination of Directors |
Nominating Committee and Nomination Process
The Board has established the Corporate Governance Committee as
its nominating committee. The Committee is composed entirely of
independent directors. A description of the responsibilities,
powers and the operation of the Corporate Governance Committee
can be found on page 16.
The Committee is responsible for identifying new candidates to
stand as nominees for election or appointment as directors to
our Board of Directors. The Committee uses a Board skills matrix
to assist in this process. The Committee on an annual basis
reviews a matrix which sets out the various skills and
experience which are considered to be desirable for the Board to
possess in the context of the Companys strategic
direction. The current matrix includes elements such as
leadership and experience on other boards, environmental
matters, governmental affairs and experience in energy and
commodity industries. The Committee then assesses the skills and
experience of each current Board member against this matrix.
When completed, the matrix helps the Committee identify any
skills or experience gaps and provides the basis for a search to
be conducted for new directors to fill those gaps.
21
In identifying candidates, the Committee also takes into account
a broad variety of additional factors it considers appropriate,
including board dynamics and personal characteristics. Desirable
individual characteristics include integrity, strength of
character, the ability to generate public confidence and
maintain the goodwill and confidence of our shareholders, sound
and independent business judgement, general good health and the
capability and willingness to travel to, attend and contribute
at Board functions on a regular basis.
Suitable director candidates have, over the past several years,
been identified primarily through the use of an executive search
firm retained under the authority of the Committee. The
selection process is led by the Chair of the Committee but all
Committee members and the Chairman of the Board are routinely
updated on the process and the individuals being considered. The
recommended candidate is then formally considered by the
Committee and if approved, the candidate is recommended to the
Board.
Majority Voting for Directors
In March 2006, the Board adopted a policy which states that any
nominee for election as a director at an Annual Meeting for whom
the number of votes withheld exceeds the number of votes cast in
his or her favour, will be deemed not to have received the
support of shareholders. A director elected in such
circumstances will tender his or her resignation to the Chair of
the Corporate Governance Committee and that Committee will
review the matter and make a recommendation to the Board. The
Board will, within 90 days of the Annual Meeting, issue a
public release either announcing the resignation of the director
or justifying its decision not to accept the resignation.
If a resignation is accepted, the Board may appoint a new
director to fill the vacancy created by the resignation. This
policy applies only to uncontested director elections, meaning
elections where the number of nominees for director is equal to
the number of directors to be elected.
|
|
7. |
Director and Officer Compensation |
Process for Determining Director Compensation
The Corporate Governance Committee, composed entirely of
independent directors, is responsible for reviewing and
recommending to the Board for approval director compensation and
benefits. The Committee has determined to target director
compensation in relation to the 50th percentile of North
American-based chemical companies with international operations.
This is the same comparator group of companies as the Company
uses for executive compensation purposes. The Board has received
advice that it is common practice to establish the same
comparator group for director compensation as for executive
officer compensation. The Committee reviews director
compensation and benefits annually.
Process for Determining Officer Compensation
The Human Resources Committee, composed entirely of independent
directors, is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the
Board for approval the compensation for the Companys
officers. For further information on this Committees
responsibilities, powers and operation, please turn to
page 16. The Companys executive compensation policy
is designed to provide competitive compensation to enable the
Company to attract and retain high-quality and high-performance
executives who will significantly contribute to the Company
meeting its strategic business objectives. The Committee reviews
periodically the levels of compensation for officers and obtains
independent advice from consultants with respect to the
competitiveness of officer compensation. Please see page 26
for more information on the use of compensation consultants by
the Company. The Committee also obtains advice from the Chief
Executive Officer with respect to compensation matters
pertaining to the Companys other officers.
|
|
8. |
Other Board Committees |
In addition to the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee, the
Corporate Governance Committee and the Human Resources
Committee, the Board has established a Public Policy Committee
and a Responsible Care Committee. A description of their
responsibilities can be found on page 17.
The Companys Corporate Governance Principles state that
|
|
|
|
director performance is the main criterion for determining a
directors on-going service on the Board [and to] assist in
determining performance, each director will take part in an
annual |
|
22
|
|
|
|
performance evaluation process which shall include a
self-evaluation and a confidential discussion with the Chairman. |
|
Our Board of Directors conducts an annual evaluation and the
Corporate Governance Committee oversees the process. The process
is designed to evaluate the effectiveness and contribution of
the Board, its Committees and individual directors. Results of
the process are reported to the Board.
The Company has carried out annual evaluation processes for a
number of years. In 2006, the process was comprised of the
following:
Evaluation of the Chairman of the Board
Directors were provided with an opportunity to evaluate the
Chairman of the Boards performance and to make suggestions
for improvement. Directors rated the Chairman of the Board and
provided comments on issues which addressed the conduct of Board
meetings, leadership issues and the Chairmans ability to
facilitate positive contributions from other directors. Results
were tabulated by the Corporate Secretary and were provided to
the Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee who then had a
private conversation with the Chairman of the Board. The content
of that conversation was reported by the Chair of the Corporate
Governance Committee to the full Committee at its November 2006
meeting.
Evaluation of the Board as a Whole
Directors were provided with an opportunity to evaluate how the
Board is operating and to make suggestions for improvement.
Directors rated and provided comments on issues such as how the
Board is organized and functions, their satisfaction with their
level of understanding of human resources issues, the
Companys strategic objectives, risks faced by the Company
and the Companys financial controls. A separate section
addressed the Boards committees and included questions
such as the appropriateness of the current committee structure
and quality of reporting from committees to the full Board.
Results were tabulated by the Corporate Secretary, provided to
the Chairman of the Board and the Chair of the Corporate
Governance Committee and then presented to the Corporate
Governance Committee at its November 2006 meeting.
Evaluation of Individual Directors
Directors were provided with an opportunity to examine their own
effectiveness, comment on their peers effectiveness and
have a private conversation with the Chairman of the Board
regarding their performance and the performance of their fellow
directors. Directors rated themselves and commented on their
peers concerning a number of criteria including their
satisfaction with their level of contribution on strategic
issues and their comfort at being able to express frank and
contrary positions at Board meetings. Directors were also asked
to provide an overall rating for each of their peers and invited
to comment on their performance. The Corporate Secretary
received all questionnaires and each director was provided with
an individualized report detailing how that director scored him
or herself on each question, the combined average director score
for each question and comments regarding that directors
performance from peers (on an anonymous basis). These reports
were also provided to the Chairman of the Board who then
conducted a confidential discussion with each director. The
Chairman of the Board reported to the Corporate Governance
Committee at its November 2006 meeting regarding this process.
In addition, each Committee conducts an annual mandate
assurance review in which it reviews the appropriateness
of its own mandate and evaluates whether it is acting in
compliance with its mandate. The Corporate Governance Committee
is responsible for annually reviewing the mandates and
performance of each Committee.
23
PART IV COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Introduction
Directors compensation is paid only to non-management
directors and is made up of an annual retainer, meeting fees
(except in the case of the Chairman) and a Long-Term Incentive
award.
Annual Retainer and Meeting Fees
During the year ended December 31, 2006, annual retainers
and meeting fees were paid to non-management members of the
Board on the following basis:
|
|
|
Annual retainer for a non-management director
|
|
$40,000 |
Annual retainer for the Chairman of the Board
|
|
$120,000 |
Board meeting attendance fee
|
|
$2,500 per meeting |
Committee meeting attendance fee
|
|
$2,500 per meeting |
Committee Chair fee (in addition to the committee meeting
attendance fee)
|
|
$2,500 per meeting |
Cross-country or inter-continental travel fee to attend board
or
committee meetings
|
|
$2,500 per trip |
All retainers and fees are paid in Canadian dollars.
Non-management directors are also reimbursed for transportation
and other expenses incurred for attending board and committee
meetings. In March 2007, the Board determined to increase the
Chairman of the Boards annual retainer from $120,000 to
$150,000.
Long-Term Incentive
Non-management directors ceased to be granted options in 2003.
Instead, they are awarded Restricted Share Units
(RSUs) under the Companys Restricted Share
Unit Plan for Directors as part of the annual Long-Term
Incentive component of their compensation. Directors may elect
to receive their RSU award in the form of DSUs. The following
table summarizes the last two Long-Term Incentive awards granted
to directors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 | |
|
2006 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
4,500 DSUs or RSUs |
|
|
|
5,000 DSUs or RSUs |
|
All other non management directors
|
|
|
3,000 DSUs or RSUs |
|
|
|
4,000 DSUs or RSUs |
|
RSUs are notional shares credited to an RSU Account.
When dividends are paid on Common Shares, an equivalent value of
additional RSUs is calculated and credited to each
individuals RSU Account. RSUs granted in any year will
vest on December 1st, in the 24th month following the
end of the year in which the award was made. Following vesting,
directors are entitled to receive a cash payment based on the
price of the Companys Common Shares at that time, net of
applicable withholding tax. RSUs do not entitle participants to
any voting or other shareholder rights and are non-dilutive to
shareholders.
24
The following table sets out what each director received by way
of annual retainer, meeting fees and Long-Term Incentive awards
for 2006. All amounts shown are in Canadian dollars except where
noted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retainer | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Fees | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board | |
|
Committee | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of | |
|
|
|
Allocated | |
|
|
|
|
Annual | |
|
Attendance | |
|
Attendance | |
|
Committee | |
|
Travel | |
|
Total | |
|
Long-Term | |
|
Total | |
|
to DSUs | |
|
|
Director |
|
Retainer | |
|
Fees | |
|
Fees | |
|
Chair Fees | |
|
Fees (1) | |
|
Fees | |
|
Incentive (2) | |
|
Compensation | |
|
(%) | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Bruce
Aitken(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard Balloch |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
127,600 |
|
|
|
227,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
Pierre Choquette |
|
|
120,000 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
159,500 |
|
|
|
279,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
Phillip Cook |
|
|
20,000 |
(5) |
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
Robert
Findlay(7) |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
27,500 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
92,500 |
|
|
|
127,600 |
|
|
|
220,100 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
Douglas Mahaffy |
|
|
20,000 |
(5) |
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
A. Terence Poole |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
27,500 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
127,600 |
|
|
|
227,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
John Reid |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
32,500 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
102,500 |
|
|
|
127,600 |
|
|
|
230,100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
Janice Rennie |
|
|
20,000 |
(5) |
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
Monica Sloan |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
72,500 |
|
|
|
127,600 |
|
|
|
200,100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
Graham Sweeney |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
112,500 |
|
|
|
127,600 |
|
|
|
240,100 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
420,000 |
|
|
|
112,500 |
|
|
|
217,500 |
|
|
|
47,500 |
|
|
|
57,500 |
|
|
|
855,000 |
|
|
|
925,100 |
|
|
|
1,780,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Travel fees are paid per trip for cross-country or
inter-continental travel to attend board or committee meetings. |
|
(2) |
This value is calculated using $31.90, being the closing price
of the Common Shares on the TSX on December 29, 2006 (the
last trading day of 2006). Directors could receive their
Long-Term Incentive as RSUs or DSUs. Please see Long-Term
Incentive on page 24 for more information. |
|
(3) |
Bruce Aitken is the President and Chief Executive Officer and
therefore does not receive any compensation as a director. See
Report on Executive Compensation commencing on page 26 for
information on Mr. Aitkens compensation. |
|
(4) |
Mr. Choquette is Chairman of the Board and commencing in
2005, ceased to receive any per meeting attendance
fees or travel fees as his annual retainer was converted to a
flat annual amount. |
|
(5) |
Messrs. Cook and Mahaffy and Ms. Rennie were appointed
directors in May 2006. |
|
(6) |
Messrs. Cook and Mahaffy and Ms. Rennie were appointed
in May 2006 and therefore not eligible to participate in the
Deferred Share Unit Plan in 2006 nor did they receive a
Long-Term Incentive award in 2006. |
|
(7) |
Robert Findlay is not standing for re-election as a director. |
Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan
Under the Companys Deferred Share Unit Plan (the DSU
Plan) (more fully described on page 30), each
non-management director elects annually to receive 100%, 50% or
0% of his or her retainer and meeting fees as Deferred Share
Units (DSUs). The actual number of DSUs granted to a
director is calculated at the end of each quarter by dividing
the dollar amount elected to the DSU Plan by the five day
average closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX during the
last five trading days of that quarter. Additional DSUs are
credited corresponding to dividends declared on the Common
Shares. Under the terms of the DSU Plan, individuals who became
directors in 2006 were not eligible to participate in the DSU
Plan in 2006.
Directors Stock Ownership Guidelines
Since 1998, the Company has had in place stock ownership
guidelines for directors to promote shareholder alignment. In
March 2006, the guideline was revised to provide that each
non-management director is to own shares having a value equal to
at least five times their annual retainer. RSUs and DSUs held by
a director are considered when determining whether the
individual is meeting the stock ownership guidelines. All new
directors have a reasonable period of time within which to meet
their stock ownership guideline. Please refer to the section
entitled Election of Directors commencing on page 5 for
details on the number of Common Shares, RSUs and DSUs held by
each director as at March 5, 2007. The following table
shows, among other things, the percentage of the guideline
achieved for each director based on their holdings on
March 5, 2007. The table includes Mr. Findlay who is
not standing for re-election at
25
the Meeting. Only those directors who have been on the Board of
Directors for less than one year do not yet meet their stock
ownership guidelines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount at | |
|
Does Director | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of Stock | |
|
|
|
Risk as a | |
|
Meet the | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted and/or | |
|
Ownership | |
|
|
|
Multiple | |
|
Minimum Share | |
|
|
|
|
Director | |
|
Common | |
|
Deferred Share | |
|
Guideline | |
|
Amount at | |
|
of Annual | |
|
Ownership | |
|
|
Director |
|
Since | |
|
Shares (1) | |
|
Units Held (2) | |
|
Achieved (3) | |
|
Risk ($)(3) | |
|
Retainer (3) | |
|
Requirement? | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Bruce Aitken |
|
|
July 2004 |
|
|
|
63,264 |
|
|
|
381,709 |
|
|
|
295% |
|
|
|
13,874,258 |
|
|
|
14.7 |
(4) |
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Howard Balloch |
|
|
Dec 2004 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
11,269 |
|
|
|
238% |
|
|
|
476,087 |
|
|
|
11.9 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Pierre Choquette |
|
|
Oct 1994 |
|
|
|
32,000 |
|
|
|
14,836 |
|
|
|
243% |
|
|
|
1,460,346 |
|
|
|
12.2 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Phillip Cook |
|
|
May 2006 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
48% |
|
|
|
96,658 |
|
|
|
2.4 |
|
|
|
No |
|
|
|
Robert Findlay |
|
|
July 1994 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
78,225 |
|
|
|
1,297% |
|
|
|
2,594,956 |
|
|
|
64.9 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Douglas Mahaffy |
|
|
May 2006 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
47% |
|
|
|
93,540 |
|
|
|
2.3 |
|
|
|
No |
|
|
|
A. Terence Poole |
|
|
Feb 1994 (5) |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
17,669 |
|
|
|
743% |
|
|
|
1,486,319 |
|
|
|
37.2 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
John Reid |
|
|
Sept 2003 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
26,488 |
|
|
|
569% |
|
|
|
1,137,696 |
|
|
|
28.4 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Janice Rennie |
|
|
May 2006 |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
78% |
|
|
|
155,900 |
|
|
|
3.9 |
|
|
|
No |
|
|
|
Monica Sloan |
|
|
Sept 2003 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
20,230 |
|
|
|
362% |
|
|
|
724,311 |
|
|
|
18.1 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Graham Sweeney |
|
|
July 1994 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
55,593 |
|
|
|
867% |
|
|
|
1,733,390 |
|
|
|
43.3 |
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
These include all Common Shares beneficially owned or over which
control or direction is exercised. |
|
(2) |
In the case of Mr. Aitken, this column also includes
Performance Share Units (PSUs) that he holds.
Non-management directors do not participate in the PSU Plan. |
|
(3) |
This value is calculated using $31.18, being the average closing
price of the Common Shares on the TSX for the 90 day period
ending March 5, 2007. |
|
(4) |
As Mr. Aitken does not receive a directors retainer,
the equity at risk is a multiple of his base annual salary as at
March 5, 2007. |
|
(5) |
Mr. Poole resigned as a director in June 2003 and was
re-appointed in September 2003. |
REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Human Resources Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors is
charged with responsibility for compensation matters in respect
of executive officers. The Committee, as of the date of this
Information Circular, consists of five members
Ms. Rennie, Ms. Sloan and Messrs. Balloch,
Findlay and Mahaffy. None of the members of the Committee is, or
was during the most recently completed financial year, an
officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
was formerly an officer of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, has any indebtedness to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or has any material interest, or any associates or
affiliates which have a material interest, direct or indirect,
in any actual or proposed transaction since the commencement of
the Companys most recently completed financial year which
has materially affected or would materially affect the Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
As part of its mandate, the Human Resources Committee of the
Board reviews and recommends to the Board for approval the
remuneration of the Companys executive officers, including
the Named Executive Officers identified in the Summary
Compensation Table found on page 34. The Committee reviews
periodically the levels of compensation for executive officers
and obtains advice from independent consultants in that regard.
The last such competitive assessment was conducted by Mercer
Human Resource Consulting (Mercer) in February 2005
and the results were reviewed by the Committee in March 2005.
Mercer provided benchmark market data and general market
observations with respect to market trends and issues. Based on
the results of this assessment, total cash compensation for
executive officers was deemed to be competitive. The Committee
also obtains the advice and recommendations of the Chief
Executive Officer with respect to compensation matters
pertaining to the Companys other executive officers.
Towers Perrin, from time to time, is retained to advise on
specific executive compensation matters raised by the Committee.
The Committee is responsible for its decisions and may employ
factors and considerations other than the information and advice
provided by Mercer or Towers Perrin.
26
In 2006, Mercers fees to the Company for advice regarding
executive and director compensation and Black-Scholes values for
determining stock option grants was approximately $19,000.
Towers Perrins fees to the Company for advice regarding
CEO compensation and long-term compensation was approximately
$9,600. The Company also paid Towers Perrin for consulting and
third party administration services in connection with the
Companys Canadian pension plan (approximately $280,000)
and executive supplemental retirement plans (approximately
$40,000).
Executive Compensation Policy
|
|
|
Guiding Principles and Objectives |
The Companys executive compensation policy is designed to
provide competitive compensation to enable the Company to
attract and retain high-quality and high-performance executives
who will significantly contribute to the Company meeting its
strategic business objectives. The Company also believes in the
importance of encouraging executives to own Company shares to
more fully align management with the interests of shareholders
and focus managements activities on developing and
implementing strategies that create and deliver value for
shareholders.
|
|
|
Share Ownership Guidelines |
Since 1998, the Company has had share ownership guidelines in
place for executive officers to promote meaningful share
ownership. The guidelines encourage each executive officer to
own shares having a value equal to at least, in the case of the
Companys Chief Executive Officer, 5 times annual base
salary and, in the case of each of the other executive officers,
3 times annual base salary. RSUs, PSUs and DSUs held by an
executive officer are considered when determining whether the
executive is meeting their share ownership guidelines. Executive
officers are expected to use the proceeds from the exercise of
stock options or the vesting of RSUs or PSUs to meet their share
ownership guideline. The guidelines are intended to be met
within three to five years from the date that each individual
became an executive officer. All other management personnel of
the Company are also subject to share ownership guidelines that
are related to the level of their position. The following table
summarizes the relationship between the share ownership position
of each of the Named Executive Officers (as defined on
page 34) and the share ownership guideline applicable to
each of them.
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At December 31, 2006 | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ownership | |
|
Common Shares | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum | |
|
Requirement | |
|
Beneficially | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ownership | |
|
(as number of | |
|
Owned or Over | |
|
Restricted, | |
|
|
|
Stock Ownership | |
|
|
|
|
Requirement | |
|
common shares, | |
|
Which Control or | |
|
Performance or | |
|
|
|
Guidelines | |
|
|
|
|
(as multiple of | |
|
RSUs, PSUs and | |
|
Direction is | |
|
Deferred Share | |
|
Total | |
|
Achieved(2) | |
|
|
Named Executive Officer |
|
base salary) | |
|
DSUs)(1) | |
|
Exercised | |
|
Units Held | |
|
Holdings | |
|
% | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Bruce
Aitken(3) |
|
|
5 times |
|
|
|
174,000 |
|
|
|
62,316 |
|
|
|
321,709 |
|
|
|
384,025 |
|
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
Ian Cameron |
|
|
3 times |
|
|
|
43,000 |
|
|
|
28,248 |
|
|
|
36,260 |
|
|
|
64,508 |
|
|
|
150 |
|
|
|
John Gordon |
|
|
3 times |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
19,012 |
|
|
|
36,260 |
|
|
|
55,272 |
|
|
|
115 |
|
|
|
John
Floren(4) |
|
|
3 times |
|
|
|
43,000 |
|
|
|
16,893 |
|
|
|
19,320 |
|
|
|
36,213 |
|
|
|
84 |
|
|
|
Jorge Yanez |
|
|
3 times |
|
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
30,414 |
|
|
|
24,496 |
|
|
|
54,910 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on $27.115, being the average closing price of the Common
Shares on the TSX for the 90 day period ending
December 31, 2006. For more information on the
Performance Share Unit Plan, Restricted Share
Unit Plan and Deferred Share Unit Plan please
see pages 29 and 30. |
|
(2) |
Based on $27.115, being the average closing price of the Common
Shares on the TSX for the 90 day period ending
December 31, 2006. The percentage demonstrates the extent
to which the guideline has been achieved. The percentage is also
based on their 2006 base salary. |
|
(3) |
Bruce Aitkens holdings of Common Shares, PSUs, RSUs and
DSUs as at March 5, 2007 and his percentage of stock
ownership guideline achieved as at March 5, 2007 is also
found on page 26. |
|
(4) |
John Floren was promoted to Senior Vice President effective
June 1, 2005 and on that date became subject to this level
of share ownership. |
Total compensation for executive officers comprises base salary,
short-term incentives, long-term incentives and indirect
compensation. Total compensation is established to be
competitive in proximity to the 50th percentile of the
aggregate compensation for organizations in a reference group of
companies selected on the basis of size and industry and that
represent the market within which the Company competes for
leadership talent. Specifically, the reference
27
group of companies is comprised of large North American-based
chemical, industrial and commodity companies having, where
possible, significant international operations.
Base salaries for executive officers are targeted to be
competitive in proximity to the 50th percentile of a
reference group of North American-based chemical companies,
taking into account the growth, size, global complexity and
autonomous characteristics of the Company. The Company sources
compensation comparison information from Mercer. Base salary
ranges are designed so that salary opportunities for a given
position will be between 80% and 120% of the midpoint of the
base salary established for each range.
|
|
|
Short-Term Incentive Plan |
The Companys Short-Term Incentive Plan is designed to
recognize the contributions made by executive officers to the
business results of the Company. This plan provides for the
potential of an annual cash award based on corporate performance
using quantifiable financial and operational objectives and
specific personal performance objectives all of which have been
established by the Board. A target award equaling 75% of annual
base salary for the Chief Executive Officer and 50% of annual
base salary for all other executive officers is dependent upon
both personal and corporate performance. This plan provides for:
|
|
|
|
|
no payment for the corporate performance component unless the
Company achieves the minimum performance level; |
|
|
|
a payment of less than 100% for the corporate performance
component if the Company achieves or exceeds the minimum
performance level but does not achieve the target performance
level; and |
|
|
|
a payment of at least 100% but less than 200% for the corporate
performance component if the Company achieves or exceeds the
target performance level but does not attain the maximum
performance level; and |
|
|
|
a payment of 200% for the corporate performance component if the
Company achieves or exceeds the maximum performance level. |
The factor by which the incentive compensation award is
calculated is pro-rated between the minimum, target and maximum
award depending on actual performance under each of the
components.
The Short-Term Incentive Plan award requires that personal
performance and corporate performance be quantified and weighted
for calculation purposes. The corporate performance component
represents 60% of the potential overall award and is based on
strategic corporate targets. The Board determined that the
corporate performance component in 2006 be based on two
elements: the Companys return on capital employed,
modified to eliminate the distortion of accounting depreciation
on new and depreciated assets (Modified ROCE), and
total fixed cash costs budgeted for the year. The Company uses
ROCE as a measure of the quality of the returns to shareholders
and in 2006 established 12% Modified ROCE as the target payout.
The Companys management establishes an annual budget for
total fixed cash costs. Managing cash costs is important for the
Companys business and being low cost is a key element of
the Companys core strategy. The personal performance
component represents 40% of the potential overall award and is
based on leadership and business initiatives identified for each
executive officers area of responsibility. A more detailed
review of the Short-Term Incentive Plan as a component of the
Chief Executive Officers compensation is found on
page 31.
Over the last five years, corporate performance has exceeded the
target level four times but has never achieved the maximum
performance level. The corporate performance component
percentage over the past five years has been between 93% and
183% with an average of 153% of the target award. Generally, the
Committee sets the minimum, target and maximum performance
levels such that the relative difficulty of achieving the target
level is consistent from year to year.
Each executive officer may elect annually to receive 100%, 50%
or 0% of his Short-Term Incentive Plan award as DSUs. No
executive officers elected DSUs in respect of their 2006
Short-Term Incentive Plan Award, which is paid in 2007. DSUs are
more fully described on page 30.
The Long-Term Incentive Plan is designed to align the interests
of executive officers with those of shareholders, to focus
efforts on improving shareholder value and the Companys
long-term financial strength and to provide an
28
incentive to continue employment with the Company by providing
executive officers with the opportunity to acquire an increased
financial interest in the Company. The Long-Term Incentive Plan
was significantly modified in 2003 with the introduction of the
Restricted Share Unit Plan, described below, which serves
to reduce stock option grants with a non-dilutive award of RSUs.
The plan was further modified for 2006 to replace RSUs with
Performance Share Units (PSUs).
The annual grant of stock options and PSUs is always established
at the March board meeting and the grant date is the date of
that Board meeting. The number of options and PSUs granted to
each executive officer in any year is related to responsibility
level and may be adjusted to retain key talent and for
longer-term potential for upward mobility.
The Long-Term Incentive Plan has the following two components:
|
|
(a) |
Incentive Stock Option Plan |
Under the Incentive Stock Option Plan, executive officers are
eligible for grants of Company stock options. Options are
granted by the Board on the recommendation of the Committee. The
exercise price is set equal to the closing price of the Common
Shares on the TSX on the day before the date of the grant and,
commencing in 2002, converted to US dollars using the Bank of
Canada Daily Noon Rate on the day that the closing price is
established. All options granted prior to 2005 expire, in the
ordinary course, ten years after their date of grant. Stock
options granted in 2005, 2006 and going forward expire seven
years after their date of grant. For a more complete description
of the Incentive Stock Option Plan, please see pages 12 and
40.
In 2006 and 2007, all executive officers received 50% of the
value of their Long-Term Incentive Award in stock options and
50% in PSUs. In 2007, Mr. Aitken received 207,000 stock
options and all other executive officers received 39,000 stock
options. Mr. Aitkens 2007 stock option grant
represents less than 20% of the total stock options granted in
2007.
|
|
(b) |
Performance Share Unit Plan |
In 2006, the Company introduced the Performance Share Unit Plan.
PSUs are notional shares credited to a PSU Account.
Additional PSUs corresponding to dividends declared on the
Common Shares are also credited to the PSU Account. PSUs granted
in any year will normally vest on December 31, in the
24th month following the end of the year in which the award
was made. For example, PSUs awarded in 2007 will vest on
December 31, 2009. All of the executive officers and other
key management personnel are eligible to participate in the PSU
Plan. At the time of vesting, a minimum of 50% or a maximum of
120% of PSUs granted will vest depending on the Companys
performance against predetermined criteria. For PSUs granted in
2007, the performance criterion is the compound annual growth
rate in total shareholder return (TSR CAGR) over the
period January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009 (the
Measurement Period). TSR CAGR is calculated as the
change (if any) in value of an initial hypothetical investment
of US$100 in shares expressed as a percentage and determined on
an annual and compounded basis over the Measurement Period, with
dividends assumed to be reinvested. In determining the number of
PSUs that will actually vest based on the degree to which the
TSR CAGR has been achieved during the applicable Measurement
Period, the following chart shows the TSR CAGR performance
levels and the respective portion of the PSUs that
will vest:
|
|
|
Performance Measure |
|
Vesting Scale |
TSR CAGR |
|
% of PSUs Vesting |
|
|
|
£6% |
|
50% |
8%
|
|
100% |
³10%
|
|
120% |
The factor by which the PSUs are calculated is pro-rated between
the minimum, target and maximum TSR CAGR depending on actual
performance. The Company operates within a cyclical industry.
PSUs are designed to both focus management efforts on
performance while retaining employees in down cycles. As such, a
minimum of 50% or a maximum of 120% of PSUs granted will vest at
the end of the Measurement Period.
29
Mr. Aitken received 60,000 PSUs and all other executive
officers received 11,000 PSUs as part of their 2007 Long-Term
Incentive award. Mr. Aitkens 2007 PSU grant
represents less than 20% of the total PSUs granted in 2007. A
financial model created for the Company predicts that, if the
target of 8% TSR CAGR is achieved, the proportion of shareholder
value created that will be paid to the CEO as a result of his
PSU grant (sharing rate) will be 0.28% (or about
US$2.76 million per billion dollars of value created). The
sharing rate for the total grant of PSUs would be 1.38% (or
about US$13.8 million per billion dollars of value created).
In general, following the vesting of the PSUs, an employee
receives an amount of cash equal to one-half of the value of
their vested PSUs (less withholding taxes) and a number of
Common Shares equal to one-half the number of vested PSUs. These
Common Shares are purchased by the Company in the open market
and then transferred to the employee. PSUs held by an employee
are considered when determining whether the individual is
meeting share ownership guidelines. PSUs do not entitle
participants to any voting or other shareholder rights.
Restricted Share Unit Plan
RSUs were replaced by PSUs as a component of the Long-Term
Incentive Plan in 2006.
RSUs are notional shares credited to an RSU Account.
Additional RSUs corresponding to dividends declared on the
Common Shares are also credited to the RSU Account. Prior to
2005, executive officers were entitled to elect to receive 50%
or 100% of the value of their annual Long-Term Incentive award
in the form of RSUs and, if resident in Canada, they could make
a further election to take DSUs in place of their RSU award. In
2005, executives were granted 75% of their Long-Term Incentive
value as RSUs. RSUs granted in any year will normally vest on
November 1, in the 23rd month following the end of the
year in which the award was made. For example, RSUs awarded in
2005 will vest on November 1, 2007. In general, following
the vesting of the RSUs, an employee receives an amount of cash
equal to one-half of the value of their vested RSUs (less
withholding taxes) and a number of Common Shares equal to
one-half the number of vested RSUs. These Common Shares are
purchased by the Company in the open market and then transferred
to the employee. In 2006 employees were provided with the option
to settle their vesting 2004 RSUs in 100% cash provided they had
achieved their share ownership guidelines. Under the RSU Plan,
participating employees who are resident in Canada and
participate in the DSU Plan can elect to receive DSUs in lieu of
payments the executive would otherwise receive pursuant to the
RSU Plan. RSUs held by an employee are considered when
determining whether the individual is meeting share ownership
guidelines. RSUs do not entitle participants to any voting or
other shareholder rights.
Indirect Compensation Benefits and Perquisites
Indirect compensation of executive officers includes
participation in the retirement plans described more fully on
page 36 as well as benefits such as extended health and
dental care, life insurance and disability benefits. Executive
officers may also participate in the Companys Employee
Share Purchase Plan which allows them to regularly contribute up
to 15% of base salary into an account in order to purchase
Common Shares. The Company contributes into the account an
amount of cash equal to one-half of the executive officers
cash contribution to a maximum of 5% of base salary. The
combined funds in the account are, on a semi-monthly basis, used
to purchase Common Shares on the open market.
Deferred Share Unit Plan
Under the DSU Plan, each executive officer may elect annually to
receive 100%, 50% or 0% of his Short-Term Incentive Plan award
as DSUs. The actual number of DSUs granted to an executive
officer with respect to an executive officers Short-Term
Incentive Plan award is calculated in March of the following
calendar year by dividing the dollar amount elected to the DSU
Plan by the average daily closing price of the Common Shares on
the TSX on the last 90 days of the prior calendar year.
Under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, executive officers who are
awarded PSUs or RSUs may elect to receive an equivalent number
of DSUs in place of their PSU/ RSU settlement at the time of
vesting. A DSU account is credited with notional grants of DSUs
received by each DSU Plan member. Additional DSUs are credited
to DSU Plan members corresponding to dividends declared on the
Common Shares. DSUs do not entitle a DSU Plan member to any
voting or other shareholder rights. DSUs count towards the
achievement of share ownership guidelines.
The DSUs are redeemable only when the DSU Plan members
term as a director or employment with the Company ceases or upon
death (Termination Date) and a lump sum cash
payment, net of any withholdings, is made
30
after the DSU Plan member specifies the valuation date. The lump
sum amount is calculated by multiplying the number of DSUs held
in the account by the closing price of the Common Shares on the
TSX on the valuation date. The valuation date may fall on a date
within a period beginning one year before the Termination Date
and ending on December 1 of the first calendar year
commencing after the Termination Date. The DSU Plan member has
from the Termination Date until December 1 of the first
calendar year commencing after the Termination Date within which
to specify the valuation date and receive payment.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
The Chief Executive Officers total compensation is
targeted to be competitive in proximity to the
50th percentile of a reference group of North
American-based chemical companies, taking into account the
growth, size, global complexity and autonomous characteristics
of the Company. The Company sources compensation comparison
information from Mercer. The three components of the Chief
Executive Officers total compensation are:
|
|
|
|
|
Base Salary, |
|
|
Short-Term Incentives, and |
|
|
Long-Term Incentives. |
The Chief Executive Officers base salary is established
within a salary range, the midpoint of which is targeted to be
at the 50th percentile of the external market. Initial
placement into the range is based on qualifications and
experience. The salary may be adjusted based on annual
assessments of performance against the demands of the position.
Over time, base salary can approach and may exceed the midpoint
of the salary range. In Mr. Aitkens case, initial
placement into the range reflected a promotion from a
subordinate position and, as he has gained in experience and
demonstrated continued achievement, his salary has increased
commensurately.
|
|
(b) |
Short-Term Incentive Plan |
The Short-Term Incentive Plan award requires that personal
performance and corporate performance be quantified for
calculation purposes and is weighted 60% for corporate
performance and 40% for the Chief Executive Officers
personal performance. A target award equaling 75% of annual base
salary has been established for the Chief Executive Officer.
The Board determined that the corporate performance component of
the Short-Term Incentive Plan in 2006 be based on two elements:
the Companys return on capital employed, modified to
eliminate the distortion of accounting depreciation on new and
depreciated assets (Modified ROCE), and total fixed
cash costs budgeted for the year. The Company uses ROCE as a
measure of the quality of the returns to shareholders and in
2006 established 12% Modified ROCE as the target payout. The
Companys actual Modified ROCE in 2006 was 31% which
resulted in a performance multiplier of 200% (maximum). The
Companys management establishes an annual budget for Total
Fixed Cash Costs. The Company considers Total Fixed Cash Costs
to be confidential, competitive information and does not make
public the exact target and result. Managing cash costs is
important for the Companys business and being low cost is
a key element of the Companys core strategy. In 2006,
Total Fixed Cash Costs were slightly over budget. This target
was therefore substantially achieved and resulted in a
performance multiplier of 90%. The overall corporate performance
factor was based
2/3 on
the Modified ROCE element and
1/3 on
the Total Fixed Cash Costs element, resulting in a corporate
performance factor of 163% ((2 × 200%) +
(1 × 90%) / 3).
The personal performance component of the Short-Term Incentive
Plan is based on a number of measures and Mr. Aitkens
2006 personal performance component was made up of high priority
objectives, comprising 30% of his overall performance weighting,
and supporting priorities which comprised 10%. High priority
objectives included delivering superior shareholder returns,
exhibiting continued industry leadership, developing gas supply
alternatives for the Chilean assets, achieving Responsible Care
objectives, implementing people leadership initiatives in
Trinidad and ensuring sound science underpins the regulation of
methanol and its derivatives. Supporting priorities included
upgrading our knowledge of the China market, maximizing value
from flexible high cost assets and obtaining a clean audit
opinion from SOX 404 attestation. Following the end of
2006, the Board reviewed Mr. Aitkens performance and
determined that the objectives were exceeded in aggregate which
resulted in a personal performance multiplier of 125%. Based on
the corporate and personal performance achieved in 2006, the
Board awarded Mr. Aitken a short-term
31
incentive award valued at 148% of the target payout.
Consequently, he was awarded a short-term incentive payment of
$1,000,000. The calculation of Mr. Aitkens short-term
incentive award is detailed in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Component |
|
Corporate Performance |
|
Personal Performance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Modified ROCE |
|
Total Fixed Cash Costs |
|
|
|
|
(ROCE) |
|
(TFCC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Target
|
|
12% |
|
At budget |
|
See narrative above |
|
|
2006 Performance Result
|
|
31% |
|
Slightly over budget |
|
Exceeded |
|
|
Performance Result Assessment (A)
|
|
Exceeded: 200% (maximum) |
|
Substantially Achieved: 90% |
|
Exceeded: 125% |
|
|
Weighting (B)
|
|
40% |
|
20% |
|
40% |
|
|
Weighted Result (A × B)
|
|
200% × 40% = 80% |
|
90% × 20% = 18% |
|
125% × 40% = 50% |
|
|
|
|
(X) |
|
(Y) |
|
(Z) |
|
|
Overall Performance Result
|
|
ROCE Weighted Result (X) + TFCC Weighted Result (Y) + Personal
Weighted Result (Z)
= 80% + 18% + 50% = 148% |
|
|
Award Calculation
|
|
Salary at Dec. 31, 2006 × Short-Term Incentive Target x
Overall Performance Result
= $942,000 × 75% × 148% = $1,045,620 rounded to
$1,000,000 |
|
|
For 2007, the Board has determined that the corporate
performance component in respect of the Chief Executive Officer
be based again on Modified ROCE and managing cash costs. The
Board has also determined that his high priority personal
performance objectives comprise improving gas supply to our
plants in Chile, exhibiting continued industry leadership,
identifying and executing growth opportunities, demonstrating
progress on the development of
methanol-to-energy
initiatives, delivering superior shareholder returns as
benchmarked against peers and certain other criteria.
|
|
(c) |
Long-Term Incentive Plan |
The long-term incentives to which the Chief Executive Officer is
entitled are described commencing on page 28.
|
|
(d) |
Stress-Testing CEO Compensation |
While annual compensation awards made to the CEO are based on
current year corporate and individual performance, the ultimate
value from the Long-Term Incentive Plan awards is linked to and
dependent upon the Companys ability to replicate and
sustain annual performance over the longer term.
To ensure that the Companys long-term compensation program
is effective in delivering on this intent, in 2007 the Human
Resources Committee reviewed scenarios that illustrated the
impact of various future corporate performance outcomes, over 3
and 5 year periods, on the CEOs current holdings of
Methanex shares and previously awarded and outstanding share
units and stock options. The Committee determined that the
intended relationship between pay and performance was
appropriate for the CEO and that, in aggregate, the resulting
compensation modeled under various performance scenarios was
reasonable, not excessive, and delivered the intended
differentiation of compensation value based on corporate
performance.
32
|
|
(e) |
Summary of 2006 CEO Total Compensation |
The following table outlines the value of total compensation
awarded to the CEO for 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary of 2006 CEO Total Compensation |
|
$ | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
FIXED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base Salary |
|
|
922,500 |
|
|
|
VARIABLE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term Incentive Award (paid in 2007 for 2006 performance)
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
Stock Options (granted in
2006)(1)
|
|
|
1,910,395 |
|
|
|
|
PSUs (granted in
2006)(2)
|
|
|
1,903,500 |
|
|
|
OTHER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits Not Including Pension
Expense(3)
|
|
|
123,988 |
|
|
|
Total Direct Compensation
|
|
|
5,860,383 |
|
|
|
RETIREMENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Pension Expense
|
|
|
177,581 |
|
|
|
Total Compensation
|
|
|
6,037,964 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The value shown is calculated by multiplying the number of stock
options granted by the Canadian dollar equivalent of the
US dollar exercise price ($23.50) by the Black-Scholes
valuation factor of 23.77%. |
|
(2) |
The value shown is calculated by multiplying the number of PSUs
awarded by the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on
the day before the PSUs were granted ($23.50). |
|
(3) |
Includes housing allowance, vacation payout, auto allowance, tax
payments in respect of certain perquisites and other personal
benefits made on his behalf, club membership, premiums paid on
life insurance and health care, contributions to the
Companys Employee Share Purchase Plan and other
miscellaneous items. |
Submitted by the Human Resources Committee:
R. Findlay (Chair)
H. Balloch
D. Mahaffy
J. Rennie
M. Sloan
33
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation
The following table sets forth a summary of compensation earned
during the last three years by the Companys Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and its three other
executive officers who had the highest aggregate salary and
bonus during 2006. (All such officers are herein collectively
referred to as the Named Executive Officers).
All amounts shown in this table and elsewhere in this
Information Circular are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise
noted.
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
Long-Term Compensation Awards | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under | |
|
Restricted/Performance | |
|
|
|
|
Base | |
|
|
|
Options | |
|
Share Units(4) | |
|
|
|
|
Salary | |
|
|
|
Other Annual | |
|
Granted | |
|
| |
|
All Other | |
|
|
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
($) | |
|
Bonus(1) | |
|
Compensation(2) | |
|
(#)(3) | |
|
(#) | |
|
$ | |
|
Compensation(5) | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Bruce
Aitken(6) |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
922,500 |
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
74,378 |
|
|
|
342,000 |
|
|
|
81,000 |
|
|
|
1,903,500 |
|
|
|
227,191 |
|
|
|
President and CEO |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
848,000 |
|
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
83,843 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
117,000 |
|
|
|
2,603,250 |
|
|
|
209,846 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
708,730 |
|
|
|
930,000 |
|
|
|
263,104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
|
1,016,400 |
|
|
|
174,079 |
|
|
|
Ian Cameron |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
381,750 |
|
|
|
305,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
329,000 |
|
|
|
70,365 |
|
|
|
Senior VP, Finance & CFO |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
349,500 |
|
|
|
265,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
467,250 |
|
|
|
78,336 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
312,250 |
|
|
|
243,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
338,800 |
|
|
|
70,199 |
|
|
|
John Gordon |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
428,750 |
|
|
|
341,650 |
|
|
|
76,688 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
329,000 |
|
|
|
95,414 |
|
|
|
Senior VP, Corporate |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
412,000 |
|
|
|
306,000 |
|
|
|
73,618 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
467,250 |
|
|
|
92,504 |
|
|
|
Resources |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
395,500 |
|
|
|
316,000 |
|
|
|
92,005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
338,800 |
|
|
|
89,467 |
|
|
|
John Floren |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
381,750 |
|
|
|
328,450 |
|
|
|
157,892 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
329,000 |
|
|
|
85,633 |
|
|
|
Senior VP, Global |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
274,000 |
|
|
|
116,080 |
|
|
|
5,250 |
|
|
|
4,800 |
|
|
|
106,800 |
|
|
|
82,127 |
|
|
|
Marketing & Logistics |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
291,000 |
|
|
|
145,442 |
|
|
|
46,101 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,200 |
|
|
|
80,080 |
|
|
|
85,482 |
|
|
|
Jorge
Yanez(7) |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
386,000 |
|
|
|
310,503 |
|
|
|
467,606 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
329,000 |
|
|
|
51,150 |
|
|
|
Senior VP, Caribbean & |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
379,000 |
|
|
|
281,000 |
|
|
|
96,077 |
|
|
|
10,500 |
|
|
|
9,750 |
|
|
|
216,938 |
|
|
|
104,509 |
|
|
|
Global Manufacturing |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
392,000 |
|
|
|
217,042 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,800 |
|
|
|
73,920 |
|
|
|
124,816 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
These annual incentive payments are reported in the year in
which they were earned, not in the year in which they were
actually paid. They are paid in cash and/or DSUs in the
year following the year in which they are earned. The DSU Plan
is more fully described on page 30. For more information
concerning these annual incentives, refer to Short-Term
Incentive Plan on page 28. Mr. Aitken elected to
receive 50% of his 2004 Short-Term Incentive Plan award payments
in cash ($465,000) and 50% in DSUs (23,285). During 2006,
he also received 1,277 additional DSUs (2005 1,072;
2004 408) corresponding to dividends being declared
on Common Shares and 70,073 additional DSUs as settlement for
his vested 2004 RSUs. As at December 31, 2006, the total
number of DSUs and their value (calculated by multiplying the
number of DSUs by the closing market price of the Common Shares
on the TSX on that date) is for Mr. Aitken 116,622
DSUs $3,720,242. |
|
|
|
In 2006 a special cash award of 5% of base salary was made to
all employees, with the exception of Mr Aitken, in recognition
of outstanding overall corporate results. This special award is
included in the 2006 amounts for Messrs. Cameron, Gordon,
Floren and Yanez. |
|
|
(2) |
The amounts shown represent: |
|
|
|
|
|
For Mr. Aitken: housing allowance (2005
$20,904), vacation payout (2005 $20,000), auto
allowance, tax payments in respect of certain perquisites and
other personal benefits made on his behalf (2004
$88,224), relocation payment (2004 $68,461), club
membership and other miscellaneous items. |
|
|
|
For Mr. Gordon: housing allowance (2005
$35,799; 2004 $34,951), tax payments in respect of
certain perquisites and other personal benefits made on his
behalf, auto allowance, club membership (2006
$18,763) and other miscellaneous items. |
|
|
|
For Mr. Floren: housing allowance (2006
$91,288; 2004 $23,772), vacation payout, auto
allowance (2004 $12,495), tax payments in respect of
certain perquisites and other personal benefits made on his
behalf (2005 $32,455), relocation payment
(2005 $41,539), club membership and other
miscellaneous items. |
|
|
|
For Mr Yanez: expatriate allowances and tax gross-ups pursuant
to the Companys standard assignment policies
(2006 $456,719; 2005 $84,446), auto
allowance and other miscellaneous items. |
|
|
|
Where there is no entry for Other Annual Compensation in the
table, the total value of such compensation is less than the
lesser of $50,000 and 10% of total annual salary and bonus for
the Named Executive Officer. |
34
|
|
|
Where no amount is stated in this footnote in respect of a
particular benefit, the amount does not exceed 25% of the total
Other Annual Compensation amount disclosed in the table. |
|
|
(3) |
Consists of options for Common Shares of the Company granted. |
|
(4) |
This column is comprised of RSUs awarded in 2004 and 2005 and
PSUs awarded in 2006. |
|
|
|
Restricted Share Units (RSUs) |
|
|
The RSU Plan is more fully described on page 30. The
dollar value of the RSUs shown in the table is obtained by
multiplying the number of RSUs awarded by the closing price of
the Common Shares on the TSX on March 4, 2004 ($15.60) or
March 3, 2005 ($22.25), the dates immediately before the
RSUs were awarded. During 2006, the Named Executive Officers
also received additional RSUs corresponding to dividends being
declared on Common Shares: B. Aitken: 3,712 (2005
4,857; 2004 1,865); I. Cameron: 842
(2005 1,512; 2004 976); J. Gordon: 842
(2005 1,512; 2004 976); J. Floren: 195
(2005 240; 2004 105) and J. Yanez: 297
(2005 348; 2004 97). |
|
|
RSUs awarded in 2004 and their applicable dividend equivalents
vested on November 1, 2006. As a result, the Named
Executive Officers received payment in one of the following
three methods: |
|
|
|
|
|
one DSU for each vested RSU; |
|
|
|
cash for each vested RSU as determined by the weighted average
closing board lot share price per Common Share on the TSX during
the last 15 days on which the such shares traded on the TSX
prior to December 1st, 2006; or |
|
|
|
cash for one-half of the vested RSUs as determined by the
weighted average closing board lot share price per Common Share
on the TSX during the last 15 days on which the such shares
traded on the TSX prior to December 1st, 2006 and Common
Shares equaling one-half of the number of vested RSUs. |
|
|
|
The aggregate value provided to each Named Executive Officer in
respect of the vested 2004 RSUs was as follows: B. Aitken:
$1,940,618; I. Cameron: $643,836, J. Gordon: $643,836;
J. Floren: $152,538 and J. Yanez: $140,473. |
|
|
The number and value of the aggregate holdings of unvested RSUs
including applicable dividend equivalents of each Named
Executive Officer at the end of 2006 (calculated by multiplying
the number of unvested RSUs then held by the Named Executive
Officer by $31.90, the closing price of the Common Shares on the
TSX on December 29, 2006 the last trading day
of 2006) was: B. Aitken: 122,348 RSUs $3,902,901;
I. Cameron 21,960 RSUs $700,524; J. Gordon
21,960 RSUs $700,524; J. Floren 5,019
RSUs $160,106 and J. Yanez 10,196
RSUs $325,252. |
|
|
Performance Share Units (PSUs) |
|
|
The PSU Plan is more fully described on page 29. The
dollar value of the PSUs shown in the table is obtained by
multiplying the number of PSUs awarded by the closing price of
the Common Shares on the TSX on March 2, 2006 ($23.50), the
date immediately before the PSUs were awarded. |
|
|
During 2006, the Named Executive Officers also received the
following additional PSUs corresponding to dividends being
declared on Common Shares: B. Aitken: 1,739;
I. Cameron: 301; J. Gordon: 301;
J. Floren: 301 and J. Yanez: 301. |
|
|
The number and value of the aggregate holdings of unvested
PSUs, including applicable dividend equivalents of each Named
Executive Officer at the end of 2006 (calculated by multiplying
the number of unvested PSUs then held by the Named Executive
Officer by $31.90, the closing price of the Common Shares on the
TSX on December 29, 2006 the last trading day
of 2006) was: B. Aitken: 82,739 PSUs $2,639,374;
I. Cameron 14,301 PSUs $456,202; J. Gordon
14,301 PSUs $456,202; J. Floren 14,301
PSUs $456,202 and J. Yanez 14,301 PSUs
$456,202. |
|
|
(5) |
The amounts include premiums paid on life insurance and health
care, contributions to the Companys Employee Share
Purchase Plan and pension contributions to both the regular
Company Defined Contribution pension plan and contributions to
the Canadian Supplemental Retirement Plan. |
|
(6) |
Mr. Aitken was appointed President and Chief Executive
Officer in May 2004. |
|
(7) |
Mr. Yanez receives his compensation in US dollars. His
salary and other compensation shown in this table have been
converted to Canadian dollars using an average foreign exchange
rate for the relevant year except for his annual incentive
payment which uses the average foreign exchange rate in effect
on the date payment was approved by the Board. |
35
Stock Options
The following table sets forth information concerning the single
grant of stock options made to Named Executive Officers during
2006, made on March 3, 2006.
Option Grants During Most Recently Completed Financial
Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities, |
|
Percent of |
|
|
|
of Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under |
|
Total Options |
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
Granted to |
|
Exercise or |
|
Options on the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted |
|
Employees in |
|
Base Price |
|
Date of Grant |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
(#) |
|
Financial Year |
|
(US$/Security)(1) |
|
(US$/Security)(1) |
|
Expiration Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bruce Aitken |
|
|
342,000 |
|
|
|
20.73 |
% |
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
|
March 2, 2013 |
|
|
|
Ian Cameron |
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
3.64 |
% |
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
|
March 2, 2013 |
|
|
|
John Gordon |
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
3.64 |
% |
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
|
March 2, 2013 |
|
|
|
John Floren |
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
3.64 |
% |
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
|
March 2, 2013 |
|
|
|
Jorge Yanez |
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
3.64 |
% |
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
$ |
20.76 |
|
|
|
March 2, 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
For the purposes of these columns, the price represents the
closing price on the TSX on the day prior to the date of the
grant converted to US dollars at the noon rate as published by
the Bank of Canada on that day. One third of the options are
exercisable commencing the first anniversary of the date of the
grant, a further third commencing the second anniversary of the
date of the grant and the final third are exercisable commencing
the third anniversary of the date of the grant and the options,
if unexercised, will expire in the ordinary course seven years
after the date of their grant. |
The following table sets forth information concerning the value
realized upon the exercise of options during 2006 and the value
of unexercised options held by the Named Executive Officers as
at December 31, 2006.
Aggregated Option Exercises During the Most Recently
Completed Financial Year
and Financial Year-End Option Values
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised Options | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
|
|
Securities | |
|
|
|
at December 31, 2006 | |
|
in-the-Money Options | |
|
|
|
|
Acquired On | |
|
Aggregate | |
|
(#) | |
|
at December 31, 2006 (Cdn $)(2) | |
|
|
|
|
Exercise | |
|
Value Realized | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Name |
|
(#) | |
|
(Cdn $)(1) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Bruce Aitken |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
442,000 |
|
|
|
555,000 |
|
|
|
3,746,820 |
|
|
|
Ian Cameron |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
111,000 |
|
|
|
684,600 |
|
|
|
John Gordon |
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
41,500 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
111,000 |
|
|
|
684,600 |
|
|
|
John Floren |
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
127,068 |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
63,500 |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
501,450 |
|
|
|
Jorge Yanez |
|
|
9,750 |
|
|
|
156,011 |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
67,000 |
|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
540,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
For the purposes of this column, if the exercise price of any
option is denominated in US dollars, such exercise price has
been converted to Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada noon
rate of exchange on the date of the exercise. |
|
(2) |
The closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on
December 29, 2006 (the last trading day of 2006) was
$31.90. For the purposes of this column, if the exercise price
of any option is denominated in US dollars, such exercise price
has been converted to Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada
noon rate of exchange on December 29, 2006 (the last
trading day of 2006). |
Retirement Plans
The Company has established a defined contribution retirement
plan which provides an annual company contribution equal to 7%
of annual base salary. Contributions are made to a retirement
account and invested according to a selection of investment
vehicles. Ten investment vehicles are currently available. At
retirement, funds in the account may be used to purchase an
annuity, transferred to a life income fund or transferred to a
locked-in registered retirement savings plan.
All Named Executive Officers except Mr. Yanez participate
in the defined contribution plan. As a non-resident of Canada,
Mr. Yanez is not eligible to participate in the Canadian
retirement plan but participates in a defined contribution
retirement plan of a US subsidiary of the Company.
Canadian income tax legislation places limits on the amount of
retirement benefit which may be paid from the regular retirement
plan. Named Executive Officers resident in Canada participate in
a supplemental retirement plan
36
which provides benefits in excess of what is provided under the
regular plan. Benefits are provided without regard to Canadian
income tax limits on the maximum benefit payable and are paid
net of any benefit payable under the regular plan. Supplemental
plan benefits are based on earnings defined as base salary plus
the target Short-Term Incentive award and provide Named
Executive Officers with an annual contribution equal to 11% of
earnings less any contributions made to the regular plan. The
supplemental plan is fully funded as of December 31, 2006.
Mr. Yanez, a non-resident of Canada, participates in a
supplemental plan of a US subsidiary of the Company which
provides him with benefits materially similar to those provided
to Named Executive Officers resident in Canada.
The following table shows the change in value of the
supplemental retirement plan benefits for the Named Executive
Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bruce Aitken |
|
Ian Cameron |
|
John Gordon |
|
John Floren |
|
Jorge Yanez(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 Salary rate |
|
$ |
942,000 |
|
|
$ |
389,000 |
|
|
$ |
433,000 |
|
|
$ |
389,000 |
|
|
$ |
401,000 |
|
|
|
2006 Short-Term Incentive Target |
|
$ |
706,500 |
|
|
$ |
194,500 |
|
|
$ |
216,500 |
|
|
$ |
194,500 |
|
|
$ |
200,500 |
|
|
|
Account Balance as at December 31, 2005 |
|
$ |
288,089 |
|
|
$ |
245,620 |
|
|
$ |
437,693 |
|
|
$ |
91,644 |
|
|
$ |
126,939 |
|
|
|
2006 Contributions |
|
$ |
158,581 |
|
|
$ |
43,989 |
|
|
$ |
51,744 |
|
|
$ |
43,989 |
|
|
$ |
51,150 |
|
|
|
Investment Income Credited in 2006 |
|
$ |
46,050 |
|
|
$ |
32,386 |
|
|
$ |
55,998 |
|
|
$ |
13,890 |
|
|
$ |
5,765 |
|
|
|
Account Balance as at December 31, 2006 |
|
$ |
492,720 |
|
|
$ |
321,995 |
|
|
$ |
545,435 |
|
|
$ |
149,523 |
|
|
$ |
183,853 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Mr. Yanezs amounts have been converted to Canadian
dollars using an average foreign exchange rate. |
Termination of Employment and Employment Contracts
The Company has entered into employment agreements with the
Named Executive Officers that provide them with certain rights
in the event of involuntary termination of employment or a
Change of Control of the Company. Change of Control occurs when:
|
|
|
|
|
More than 40% of voting shares of the Company are acquired by an
outsider; |
|
|
|
A majority change in the Board of Directors of the Company
occurs; |
|
|
|
All or substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold
to an outsider; or |
|
|
|
A majority of Directors determines that a change in control has
occurred. |
Mr. Aitken has an employment agreement which provides for
three months notice and a termination payment, if his employment
is terminated without cause, of an amount equal to (a) 2.5
times his annual salary; (b) 2.5 times his target
Short-Term Incentive Plan payment; and (c) compensation for
pension and various other company benefits he would have
received over a
30-month period. In the
event that Mr. Aitken is terminated or suffers a material
change in his employment status within 24 months following
a Change of Control, he is entitled to an amount equal to
(a) 2.5 times his most recent compensation (highest annual
salary during last three years plus the average of his last
three years Short-Term Incentive Plan and Long-Term
Incentive Plan awards plus any other cash compensation awards);
and (b) compensation for pension and other company benefits
he would have received over a
30-month period, plus
all legal and professional fees and expenses.
Messrs. Cameron, Gordon, Floren and Yanez each have an
employment agreement which provides for three months notice and
a termination payment, if their employment is terminated without
cause, of an amount equal to (a) 1.5 times their annual
salary; (b) 1.5 times their target Short-Term Incentive
Plan payment; and (c) compensation for pension and various
other company benefits they would have received over an
18-month period. In the
event that they are terminated or suffer a material change in
their employment status within 24 months following a Change
of Control, each is entitled to an amount equal to (a) 2.0
times their most recent compensation (highest annual salary
during last three years plus the average of his last three
years Short-Term Incentive Plan and Long-Term Incentive
Plan awards plus any other cash compensation awards); and
(b) compensation for pension and other company benefits
they would have received over a
24-month period, plus
all legal and professional fees and expenses.
37
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No director or 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 similar
arrangement or understanding provided by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, other than, in each case, routine
indebtedness (as defined in the CBCA and under applicable
securities laws) or which was entirely repaid before the date
hereof.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS LIABILITY INSURANCE
The Company carries insurance that includes coverage for the
benefit of the directors and officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries arising from any claim or claims made against them,
jointly or severally, during the policy period, by reason of any
wrongful act, as defined in the policy, in their respective
capacities as directors or officers. The policy also insures the
Company and its subsidiaries in respect of any amount the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is permitted or required to
pay to any of its directors or officers as reimbursement for
claims made against them in their capacity as a director or
officer.
The insurance provides US$125,000,000 coverage, inclusive of
costs, charges and expenses, subject in the case of loss by the
Company or its subsidiaries to a deductible of US $500,000
(US $1,000,000 for securities claims). There is no
deductible in the case of loss by a director or officer.
However, the limits of coverage available in respect of any
single claim may be less than US $125,000,000, as the
insurance is subject to an annual aggregate limit of
US $125,000,000.
The cost of this insurance for the current policy year is
US $1,319,320.
38
PART V OTHER INFORMATION
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN COMPARISON
The following graph compares the total cumulative shareholder
return for $100 invested in Common Shares on December 31,
2001 with the cumulative total return of the S&P/ TSX
Composite Index (formerly the TSX 300 Composite Index), for the
five most recently completed financial years.
Cumulative Value of $100 Investment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec. 31, 2002 |
|
Dec. 31, 2003 |
|
Dec. 31, 2004 |
|
Dec. 31, 2005 |
|
Dec. 31, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Methanex
|
|
$ |
153 |
|
|
$ |
175 |
|
|
$ |
269 |
|
|
$ |
275 |
|
|
$ |
410 |
|
|
|
|
|
TSX-Total Return
|
|
$ |
88 |
|
|
$ |
111 |
|
|
$ |
127 |
|
|
$ |
157 |
|
|
$ |
184 |
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends declared on Common Shares of the Company are assumed
to be reinvested at the closing share price on the dividend
payment date.
NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID
On May 9, 2006 the Company received approval to conduct a
normal course issuer bid (the Bid) under which the
Company had the ability but not the obligation to
purchase 5,495,763 of its Common Shares being no greater
than 5% of its issued and outstanding Common Shares as at
May 9, 2006. The Bid commenced on May 17, 2006. On
March 2, 2007 the Company, by notice to the TSX, sought and
received approval to amend the Bid to allow the Company to
purchase an additional 2 million of its Common Shares,
representing about 8% of its public float as at May 8,
2006. The Bid expires on the earlier of the date that 7,495,763
Common Shares have been purchased or May 16, 2007. As at
March 5, 2007, 5,025,000 Common Shares have been purchased
under the Bid. The Company will provide to any shareholder of
the Company, without charge, a copy of the Companys notice
to the TSX upon request to the Corporate Secretary of the
Company.
39
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION
PLANS
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information as at December 31,
2006 with respect to compensation plans under which equity
securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities | |
|
|
Weighted average | |
|
remaining available for | |
|
|
Number of securities to | |
|
exercise price of | |
|
future issuance under | |
|
|
be issued upon exercise | |
|
outstanding options, | |
|
equity compensation plans | |
|
|
of outstanding options, | |
|
warrants and | |
|
(excluding securities | |
|
|
warrants and rights | |
|
rights(1) | |
|
reflected in column (a)) | |
Plan Category |
|
(a) | |
|
(b) | |
|
(c) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders
|
|
|
2,617,175 |
|
|
|
$20.69 |
|
|
|
2,335,675 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by securityholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2,617,175 |
|
|
|
$20.69 |
|
|
|
2,335,675 |
|
|
|
(1) |
For the purposes of this column, if the exercise price of any
option is denominated in US dollars, such exercise price has
been converted to Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada
closing rate of exchange on December 29, 2006 (the last
trading day of 2006). |
There is no compensation plan under which equity securities of
the Company are authorized for issuance that was adopted without
approval of securityholders.
Incentive Stock Option Plan
The Company has an Incentive Stock Option Plan (also referred to
as the Plan) pursuant to which the Board of
Directors may from time to time in its discretion grant to
officers, directors and other employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries, options to purchase unissued Common Shares.
Commencing in 2003, non-management directors ceased to be
granted options. The amendments to the Plan which have been
approved by the Board of Directors and which are being submitted
for approval by shareholders at the Meeting include an amendment
to provide that, from and after March 2, 2007, options may
only be granted to officers and other employees of the Company
and its subsidiaries.
The following table sets out the total number of Common Shares
which may be issued from and after March 5, 2007, pursuant
to options granted under the Plan, the number of Common Shares
potentially issuable pursuant to options outstanding and
unexercised under the Plan, and the remaining number of Common
Shares available to be issued pursuant to options granted from
and after the date of this Circular.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares available for future | |
|
|
Common Shares issuable pursuant to | |
|
issuance pursuant to options granted | |
Common Shares issuable under Plan | |
|
outstanding unexercised options | |
|
from and after March 5, 2007 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
Common | |
|
|
|
Common | |
|
|
Maximum Number | |
|
Percentage | |
|
Shares | |
|
Percentage | |
|
Shares | |
|
Percentage | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
5,250,000 |
|
|
|
5.0 |
(1) |
|
|
3,629,641 |
|
|
|
3.5 |
(1) |
|
|
1,230,784 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
(1) |
|
|
(1) |
Approximate percentage of the Companys
104,843,367 outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted
basis as at March 5, 2007. |
The maximum number of Common Shares which may be reserved for
issuance to, or covered by any option granted to, any person may
not exceed the lower of 5% of the issued and outstanding Common
Shares or the maximum number permitted by the applicable
securities laws and regulations of Canada or of the United
States or any political subdivision of either, and the by-laws,
rules and regulations of any stock exchange or other trading
facility upon which the Common Shares are listed or traded, as
the case may be. Apart from this restriction, there is no
maximum number or percentage of securities under the Plan
available to insiders of the Company or which any one person or
company is entitled to receive under the Plan.
40
The exercise price for each option granted under the Plan is the
price fixed for such option by the Board which may not be less
than the fair market value of the Common Shares on the date the
option is granted. Commencing in 2002, the fair market value for
this purpose is deemed to be the US Dollar equivalent of
the closing price at which board lots of the Common Shares were
traded on the TSX on the day preceding the date on which the
option is granted or if no board lots are traded on such date
then the US Dollar equivalent of the closing price at which
board lots were traded on the most recent day upon which at
least one board lot was traded. The US Dollar equivalent is
determined by using the US Dollar/ Canadian Dollar Daily
Noon Rate as published by the Bank of Canada on the day the
closing price is established.
Subject to certain limitations contained in the Plan, options
may be granted upon and subject to such terms, conditions and
limitations as the Board may from time to time determine with
respect to each option, including terms regarding vesting. The
Common Shares subject to any option may be purchased at such
time or times after the option is granted as may be determined
by the Board. Pursuant to the provisions of the Plan as amended
to reflect the Companys current practices, each option
must expire on an expiry date no later than ten years from the
day the option was granted except that, subject to the right of
the Board in its discretion to determine that a particular
option may be exercisable during different periods, in respect
of a different amount or portion or in a different manner:
|
|
|
|
(a) |
in the case of death of an optionee prior to the expiry date,
the option will vest immediately and will be exercisable prior
to the earlier of (i) the date which is one year from the
date of death, and (ii) the expiry date; |
|
|
(b) |
in the case of disability of the optionee prior to the expiry
date the option shall vest immediately and will be exercisable
until the expiry date; |
|
|
(c) |
in the case of termination of the optionees employment by
reason of (i) retirement of the optionee where the optionee
is not less than 55 years of age, or
(ii) circumstances which the Board of Directors, in its
discretion, determines constitute a major divestiture or
disposition of assets, facility closure or major
downsizing (which determination shall be conclusive and
binding on all parties concerned), the option will continue to
vest in accordance with its terms but will be exercisable until
the expiry date; and |
|
|
(d) |
if the optionee ceases, for any other reason, to be a director,
officer or employee of the Company or of a subsidiary of the
Company prior to the expiry date, the option will be exercisable
prior to the earlier of (i) the date which is 90 days
from the date the optionee ceases to be a director, officer or
employee and (ii) the expiry date. |
The amendments to the Plan which have been approved by the Board
of Directors and which are being submitted for approval by
shareholders at the Meeting include an amendment to address
situations where an options expiry date falls during a
blackout period or within 10 business days of a blackout period
(see Business of the Meeting Amendment of
Incentive Stock Option Plan).
For each outstanding and unexercised option granted prior to
2005, other than the performance stock options described below,
50% of the options are exercisable on the first anniversary of
the date of the grant, a further 25% are exercisable on the
second anniversary of the date of the grant, and the final 25%
are exercisable on the third anniversary of the date of the
grant. Each unexercised option granted prior to 2005 expires, in
the ordinary course, ten years after the date of their grant.
For options granted in 2005 and thereafter and (it is intended)
in future years, one third of the options are exercisable on the
first anniversary of the date of the grant, a further third on
the second anniversary of the date of the grant and the final
third are exercisable on the third anniversary of the date of
the grant. Options granted in 2005 and thereafter and (it is
intended) in future years, if unexercised, expire, in the
ordinary course, seven years after the date of their grant.
With respect to executive officers who have Employment
Agreements, in the event of a Change of Control, any option
granted prior to the change of control, that is not then
exercisable, becomes exercisable immediately prior to such
change of control. Furthermore, unexercised options may be
exercised up to their stated expiry date provided that nothing
shall preclude the compulsory acquisition of such options at
their fair market value in the event of a going private
transaction effected pursuant to the amalgamation, arrangement
or compulsory acquisition provisions of the CBCA or successor
legislation thereto. No option may be transferable or assignable
otherwise than by will or the laws of succession and
distribution.
In September 1999 performance stock options were
granted to all executive officers and certain other key
employees of the Company. The performance stock options were
granted at a price of $4.47, the closing price of the
41
Common Shares on the TSX on the day before the day of the grant.
The vesting of the performance stock options is tied to the
market value of the Common Shares after October 1, 2002.
One third of the options vest if, after that date, the Common
Shares trade at or above $10, a further one-third vest if the
Common Shares trade at or above $15 and the options are fully
vested if the Common Shares trade at or above $20. All
performance stock options are now exercisable. Performance stock
options expire on September 9, 2009.
The Plan provides that the Board of Directors may at any time
amend any of the provisions of the Plan subject to obtaining any
required approval of appropriate stock exchanges or other
regulatory authorities. TSX and Nasdaq requirements require
shareholder approval for certain material amendments to the
Plan. The amendments to the Plan which have been approved by the
Board of Directors and which are being submitted for approval by
shareholders at the Meeting include an amendment to add a
provision to set out certain types of amendments that require
shareholder approval and those that the Company may make without
shareholder approval (see Business of the
Meeting Amendment of Incentive Stock Option
Plan).
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholder proposals to be considered at the 2008 annual
general meeting of shareholders of the Company must be received
at the principal executive offices of the Company no later than
December 27, 2007 to be included in the information
circular and form of proxy for such annual meeting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company is on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com and at the Companys website at
www.methanex.com. Financial information is provided in
the Companys comparative financial statements and
Managements Discussion and Analysis for the most recently
completed financial year.
The Company will provide to any person or company, without
charge to any security holder of the Company, upon request to
the Corporate Secretary of the Company, copies of the
Companys Annual Information Form together with a copy of
any document (or the pertinent pages of any document)
incorporated therein by reference, the Companys
comparative consolidated financial statements and
Managements Discussion and Analysis (MD&A)
for the year ended December 31, 2006 together with the
accompanying auditors report and any interim consolidated
financial statements of the Company that have been filed for any
period after the end of the Companys most recently
completed financial year, and the Companys Information
Circular in respect of the Meeting to be held on May 7,
2007.
If a registered holder or beneficial owner of the
Companys securities, other than debt instruments, requests
the Companys annual or interim financial statements or
MD&A, the Company will send a copy of the requested
financial statements and MD&A (provided it was filed less
than two years before the Company receives the request) to the
person or company that made the request, without charge.
Pursuant to National
Instrument 51-102,
the Company is required to send a request form to registered
holders and beneficial owners of the Companys securities,
other than debt securities, that such registered holders and
beneficial owners may use to request a copy of the
Companys annual financial statements and MD&A, interim
financial statements and MD&A, or both. Registered holders
and beneficial owners should review the request form carefully.
In particular, registered holders and beneficial owners should
note that, under applicable Canadian securities laws, the
Company is only required to deliver financial statements and
MD&A to a person or company that requests them. Failing to
return a request form or otherwise specifically request a copy
of the financial statements or MD&A from the Company may
result in a registered holder or beneficial owner not being sent
these documents. Copies of these documents can also be found at
www.sedar.com and the Companys website at
www.methanex.com.
42
APPROVAL BY DIRECTORS
The contents and the sending of this Information Circular have
been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia this 5th day of March,
2007.
Randy Milner
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary
43
SCHEDULE A
Text of Resolution Ratifying and Approving Amendments to the
Incentive Stock Option Plan
BE IT RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that the Stock Option
Plan amendments to the Incentive Stock Option Plan to, among
other things, reflect that options may no longer be granted to
non-employee directors, to provide specific provisions governing
amendments to the Plan specifying when shareholder approval of
amendments is required and to provide for revised expiry dates
for options where the exercise period would otherwise expire
during a blackout period or within 10 business days thereafter
to a further 10 business days after the blackout period end, as
set forth in the Amended Incentive Stock Option Plan tabled at
the meeting and otherwise described in the Information Circular
of the Company dated March 5, 2007, are hereby ratified,
confirmed and approved.
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SCHEDULE B
METHANEX CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
45
1. OBJECT OF THESE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
PRINCIPLES
The Board of Directors of Methanex Corporation (the
Company) has adopted these Corporate Governance
Principles as it is responsible for providing the foundation for
a system of principled goal-setting, effective decision-making
and ethical actions, with the objective of establishing a vital
corporate entity that provides value to the Companys
shareholders.
2. CODE OF ETHICS
All directors, officers and employees are expected to display
the highest standard of ethics. The Company has a Code of
Business Conduct to establish guidelines for ethical and good
business conduct by directors, officers, and employees and the
Code shall include guidance regarding conflicts of interest,
protection and proper use of corporate assets and opportunities,
confidentiality, fair dealing with third parties, compliance
with laws and the reporting of illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Board, through the Corporate Governance Committee, shall
monitor compliance with the Code and annually review the
Codes contents.
3. BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES
The business of the Company is conducted by its employees,
managers and officers, under the direction of the President and
Chief Executive Officer (the CEO) and the
stewardship and supervision of the Board of Directors.
The Board oversees and provides policy guidance on the business
and affairs of the Company. In particular, the Board monitors
overall corporate performance, oversees succession planning for
and performance of executive officers including the appointment
and performance of the CEO, adopts a strategic planning process
and approves, at least annually, a strategic plan, evaluates the
integrity of the Companys internal control, information
and other management systems, identifies and oversees the
implementation of systems to manage the principal risks of the
Companys business and oversees the implementation of a
communication policy for the Company. To the extent feasible,
the Board shall also satisfy itself as to the integrity of the
CEO and other executive officers and that the CEO and executive
officers create a culture of integrity throughout the
organization.
4. DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Act in best interests
The primary responsibility of each director is to:
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act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interest
of the Company; and, |
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exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent
person would exercise in comparable circumstances. |
Participation
Directors are expected to prepare for, attend, and participate
in meetings of the Board and the committees of which they are
members. Directors will maintain the confidentiality of the
deliberations and decisions of the Board and information
received at meetings, except as may be specified by the Chairman
or if the information is publicly disclosed by the Company.
Performance
Performance as a director is the main criterion for determining
a directors on-going service on the Board. To assist in
determining performance, each director will take part in an
annual performance evaluation process which shall include a
self-evaluation and a confidential discussion with the Chairman.
Ongoing education
Directors are encouraged to attend seminars, conferences, and
other continuing education programs to help ensure that they
stay current on relevant issues such as corporate governance,
financial and accounting practices and corporate ethics. From
time to time, the Corporation will arrange for site visits and
other special presentations intended to deepen the
directors familiarity with the Company and its affairs.
46
Selection of Chairman and CEO
The Board elects its Chairman and appoints the Companys
CEO. As a general principle, the Board believes that the
Chairman and the CEO should not be the same person.
Lead independent director
The independent directors on the Board (please refer to
Schedule A for definition of independent director) may
select from among themselves a Lead Independent Director. The
Lead Independent Director chairs regular meetings of the
independent directors and assumes other responsibilities
described in the Terms of Reference for the Lead Independent
Director or which the Corporate Governance Committee may
designate.
Criteria for Board membership
The Corporate Governance Committee will review each year the
credentials of candidates to be considered for nomination to the
Board. The objective of this review will be to maintain a
composition of the Board which provides a satisfactory mix of
skills and experience. This review will include taking into
account the desirability of maintaining a reasonable diversity
of personal characteristics but maintaining common
characteristics such as personal integrity, achievement in
individual fields of expertise and a willingness to devote
necessary time to Board matters. The Board expects that the
Corporate Governance Committee will take action to effect
changes in incumbent directors if, in the opinion of the
Committee after discussion with the Chairman and the CEO, such
changes are deemed appropriate.
New directors
The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for
identifying new candidates to be recommended for election to the
Board and is also responsible for establishing criteria for the
selection of new directors and conducting all necessary
inquiries into their backgrounds and qualifications and making
recommendations to the full Board.
Orientation
The Company will provide new directors with an orientation to
the Company, its management structure and operations, the
industry in which the Company operates, and key legal,
financial, and operational issues. An information package will
be provided which will include information about the duties of
directors, the business of the Company, documents from recent
Board meetings, information regarding corporate governance and
the structure and procedures of the Board and its committees.
New directors will also be provided with an opportunity to meet
senior management and other directors and to tour the
Companys operations.
Board composition
The Companys By-laws provide for the directors to
establish the number of directors to sit on the Board within a
broad minimum/maximum range. The directors are to determine a
size of Board large enough to provide a diversity of expertise
and opinion, yet small enough to allow for efficient operation
and decision-making. The Corporate Governance Committee annually
reviews the size of the Board and recommends any changes it
determines appropriate. The Board is to be composed of a
substantial majority of independent directors.
Directors who change their present occupation
Directors who retire or otherwise leave or change the position
they held when they first were appointed to the Board should not
necessarily leave the Board. In this circumstance, the Corporate
Governance Committee shall review the appropriateness of a
directors continued service on the Board. When continued
service does not appear appropriate, the director may be asked
to stand down.
Term limits
The Directors are elected by the shareholders at every Annual
General Meeting. The term of office of each director shall
expire at the close of the Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders following that at which he or she was elected.
Cumulative term limits for directors should not be established
as this could have the effect of forcing directors off the Board
who have gained a deep and detailed knowledge of the
companys operations and business affairs. At the
47
same time, the value of some turnover in Board membership to
provide an ongoing input of fresh ideas and new knowledge is
recognized. The Corporate Governance Committee shall review
annually the membership of the Board to enable the Board to
manage its overall composition and maintain a balance of
directors to ensure long-term continuity.
Other Board memberships
Whether service on other boards is likely to interfere with the
performance of a directors duties to the Company depends
on the individual and the nature of their other activities. The
Board believes that the commitment required for effective
membership on the Companys Board is such that directors
are to consult with the Chairman and the Chair of the Corporate
Governance Committee prior to accepting an invitation to serve
on another board.
Directors are required to devote significant time and energy to
the performance of their duties. To attract and retain able and
experienced directors, they are to be compensated competitively.
The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing
the compensation and benefits of directors and making a
recommendation to the Board. Directors who are employees of the
Company receive no additional compensation for service on the
Board.
Director compensation consists of cash and share-based long-term
incentives. The cash portion may be comprised of an annual
retainer, meeting fees and supplemental fees for committee
chairs. The long-term incentives will normally be structured so
as to vest over time because time-based vesting assists in
retaining the continued services of directors and aligning their
actions with long-term shareholder interests.
The Company shall establish guidelines for Company stock
ownership by directors, executive officers and other managers of
the Company as such guidelines help to more closely align their
economic interests with those of other stockholders.
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ASSESSING THE BOARDS PERFORMANCE |
The Board and each Board committee will conduct an annual
self-evaluation. The Corporate Governance Committee is
responsible for overseeing these evaluations and reporting their
results to the Board. The purpose of these reviews is to
contribute to a process of continuous improvement in the
execution of the responsibilities of the Board and its
committees.
All directors are encouraged to make suggestions on improving
the practices of the Board and its committees at any time and
direct those suggestions to the Chairman or the appropriate
committee chair.
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BOARDS INTERACTION WITH STAKEHOLDERS |
It is the function of management to speak for the Company in its
communications with the investment community, the media,
customers, suppliers, employees, governments and the general
public and the Board shall ensure that the Company has systems
in place to receive feedback from stakeholders. If comments from
the Board are appropriate, they should, in most circumstances,
come from the Chairman. If shareholders or other stakeholders
communicate with the Chairman or other directors, management
will be informed and consulted to determine the appropriate
response.
Scheduling of Board meetings and selection of agenda items
The Board normally holds five regular Board meetings each year.
The Chairman and the CEO, in consultation with the Corporate
Secretary, develops the agenda for each Board meeting. Directors
are encouraged to suggest items they would like to have
considered for the meeting agenda.
Board materials distributed in advance
Information supporting Board meeting agenda items is to be
provided to directors approximately seven days before the
meeting. Such materials should focus attention on the critical
issues to be considered by the Board.
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Non-directors at Board meetings
The Chairman shall ensure those Company officers and other
members of management who attend Board meetings (1) can
provide insight into the matters being discussed and/or
(2) are individuals with high potential who the directors
should have the opportunity to meet and evaluate. Management
should consult with the Chairman if it proposes that any outside
advisors attend a Board meeting.
Sessions of independent directors
Every Board meeting shall be accompanied by an independent
directors session at which no executive directors or other
members of management are present. The object of the session is
to ensure free and open discussion and communication among the
non-executive, independent directors. The Lead Independent
Director shall chair such meetings and regularly advise the
Chair of the business of such meetings.
Committee structure
The Board, through the Corporate Governance Committee, shall
constitute such committees as it determines necessary and as may
be required by law. Each committee will have its own mandate
which shall set forth the committees responsibilities,
structure and procedure.
The current committee structure and the performance of each
committee is to be reviewed annually by the Corporate Governance
Committee.
Assignment of directors to committees
The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for proposing
to the Board the chair and members of each committee on an
annual basis. In preparing its recommendations, the Committee
will consult with the Chairman and the CEO and take into account
the preferences of the individual directors.
Committee assignments should be based on the directors
knowledge, interests and areas of expertise. The Board believes
experience and continuity are more important than rotation and
that Directors should only be rotated if doing so is likely to
improve Committee performance or facilitate the work of the
Committee.
Frequency and length of committee meetings
Each committee chair will develop that committees meeting
agenda through consultation with members of the committee,
management and the Corporate Secretary. The chair of each
committee will determine the schedule of meetings of that
committee based upon an annual work plan designed to discharge
the responsibilities of the committee as set out in its mandate.
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13. |
BOARD RELATIONSHIP TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT |
Directors have complete access to the Companys senior
management. Written communications from directors to members of
management will be copied to the Chairman and the CEO.
The Board also encourages directors to make themselves available
for consultation with management outside Board meetings in order
to provide counsel on subjects where such directors have special
knowledge and experience.
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ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND ENGAGEMENT OF ADVISORS |
The Board and each committee shall have the resources and
authority appropriate to discharge their duties and
responsibilities. This shall include the power to hire outside
advisors without consulting or obtaining the approval of
management in advance. Any individual director who wishes to
engage an outside advisor should review the request with the
Chairman.
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EVALUATION AND SUCCESSION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
Performance evaluation of the CEO
The Board, through the Human Resources Committee, will annually
review the CEOs performance as measured against mutually
agreed goals and objectives. This review will also be used in
establishing the CEOs annual compensation.
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Performance evaluation and succession planning of executive
officers
The Board, through the Human Resources Committee, will annually
review the performance and compensation packages of the officers
of the Company who report directly to the CEO and any other
officers whose compensation is required to be publicly disclosed
and will also annually review the succession plan for the CEO
and the executive officers.
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16. |
REVIEW OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES |
The Corporate Governance Committee shall review these Corporate
Governance Principles annually and report to the Board any
recommendations it may have for their amendment.
Schedule A to the Methanex Corporate Governance
Principles
An independent director is a person other than an
officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or any
other individual having a direct or indirect relationship with
the Company or any of its subsidiaries which could in the view
of the Board of Directors, be reasonably expected to interfere
with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the
responsibilities of a director, provided however that persons
who fall within any of the categories set out below will be
deemed not to be independent.
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a director who is, or at any time during the past three years
has been, an employee or executive officer of the Company, its
parent or any subsidiary of the Company; |
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a director who received or has a family member
(which is defined to include a persons spouse, parents,
children and siblings, mother or
father-in-law, sons and
daughters-in-law,
brother or
sister-in-law, whether
by blood, marriage or adoption, or anyone other than a domestic
employee residing in such persons home) who received
payments from the Company, its parent or any subsidiary of the
Company, of more than CDN$75,000 in direct compensation or more
than US$60,000 in payments during any 12 month period
within the last three years, other than compensation for board
or committee service or as part-time chair or vice-chair of the
Board or any Board committee, payments arising solely from
investments in the Companys securities, compensation paid
to a family member who is a non-executive employee of the
Company, its parent or a subsidiary of the Company, fixed
amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including
deferred compensation) for prior service if the compensation is
not contingent in any way on continued service; |
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a director who is a family member of an individual who is, or
has been in any of the past three years, employed by the
Company, its parent or by any subsidiary of the Company as an
executive officer; |
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a director who is, or has a family member who is, a partner in,
or a controlling shareholder or an executive officer of, any
entity or organization to which the Company made, or from which
the Company received, payments (other than those arising solely
from investments in the Companys securities and payments
under non-discretionary charitable contribution matching
programs) for property or services in the current or any of the
past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipients
consolidated gross revenues for that year, or US$200,000,
whichever is more; |
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a director who is or has been, or has a family member who is or
has been, employed as an executive officer of another entity at
any time during the past three years where any of the
Companys executives or officers serve on the compensation
committee of that other entity; and |
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a director who is, or has a family member who is, a current
partner of the firm that is the Companys internal or
external auditor or a director who is an employee of such firm
or has a family member who is an employee of that firm and who
participates in its audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not
tax planning) practice or a director who was, or has a family
member who was, at any time during the past three years a
partner or employee of that firm and personally worked on the
audit of the Company within that time. |
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Beneficial Owner
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METHANEX CORPORATION
REQUEST FOR ANNUAL AND INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND MD&A
National Instrument
51-102 Continuous
Disclosure Obligations
(NI 51-102)
requires that Methanex Corporation (the Corporation)
send annually a request form to registered holders and
beneficial owners of its securities, other than debt
instruments, that the registered holders and beneficial owners
may use to request a copy of the Corporations annual
financial statements and Managements Discussion &
Analysis form (MD&A) for the annual financial
statements and the interim financial statements and MD&A for
the interim financial statements, or both. Under
NI 51-102 the
Corporation is only required to deliver financial statements and
MD&A to a person or company that requests them. If you wish
to receive the Corporations annual financial statements
and annual MD&A or interim financial statements and interim
MD&A, you should complete the Return Form (the Return
Form) on the last page hereof. Please forward the
completed Return Form to the Corporations registrar and
transfer agent at the following address: or submit your request
online at www.cibcmellon.com/ FinancialStatements. Our
Company Code Number is 5532A.
CIBC Mellon Trust Company
Suite 1600, 1066 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3X1
The applicable financial statements and MD&A will be sent,
without charge, to the person that made the request. If any
beneficial owner does not so request such documents, such owner
may not be sent these documents. The Corporation reserves the
right, in its discretion, to send annual financial statements
and MD&A, or any interim financial statements and MD&A,
to all beneficial owners who are identified under
NI 54-101 as
having chosen to receive securityholder materials sent to
beneficial owners of securities, notwithstanding elections such
beneficial owners may make under the Request Form.
The requirements under
NI 51-102
regarding delivery of financial statements and MD&A are in
addition to and separate from the procedures regarding delivery
of materials pursuant to National Instrument
54-101 Communication
with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer
(NI 54-101).
However, failure to return the Return Form or otherwise
specifically request a copy of financial statements or MD&A
will override a beneficial owners standing instructions
under NI 54-101 in
respect of such financial statements and MD&A.
NI 51-102 requires
that this request form must be sent to beneficial owners of
securities who are identified under
NI 54-101 as
having chosen to receive all securityholder materials sent to
beneficial owners. As a result, beneficial owners that have been
instructed their intermediary to not forward annual
meeting materials distributed by the Corporation may not receive
this election form.
Please note that only beneficial owners of the
Corporations securities should return the Return Form. If
you are a registered holder of the Corporations securities
you should review the separate Request for Annual and Interim
Financial Statements and MD&A which is applicable to
registered holders and complete the Return Form on the last page
thereof. (For the purposes hereof registered holders
refers to persons with securities registered in their name (and,
in the case of securities which are registered in the name of a
depository, as defined in
NI 54-101,
includes a person that is a participant in a
depository, as defined in that Instrument) and
beneficial owner refers to a person or company that
beneficially owns securities that are not registered in his or
her name, which are held by an intermediary, as
defined in
NI 54-101, (such
as a broker or trust company), that is the person or company
that is identified as providing instructions contained in a
client response form provided pursuant to
NI 54-101 or, if
no instructions are provided, the person or company that has the
authority to provide those instructions).
If you are a beneficial owner, you may wish to provide a copy of
the Return Form to the intermediary through which your
securities are held, or, if you wish, make arrangements for such
intermediary to return the Return Form on your behalf. The
Corporation is only required to deliver financial statements and
MD&A to the person or company that requests them. As a
result, if a beneficial owner requests financial statements and
MD&A through an intermediary, the Corporation is only
required to deliver the requested documents to the intermediary.
The request to receive financial statements and MD&A
pursuant to the Return Form shall be considered applicable to
the Corporations annual financial statements and MD&A
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 and all
interim financial statements and MD&A which the Corporation
may send to securityholders after the sending of this request
form and prior to the Corporation sending proxy-related
materials in a subsequent year. Beneficial owners that wish to
receive either Annual Financial Statements and MD&A or
Interim Financial Statements and MD&A must return a Return
Form or otherwise specifically request a copy of the financial
statements and MD&A each year to receive such documents
thereafter. If you wish to receive copies of financial
statements or MD&A for any earlier period, you should send a
separate request specifying the requested financial statements
and MD&A. The Corporation is not required to send copies of
the financial statements and MD&A that was filed more than
two years before it receives such request. A copy of the
Corporations financial statements and MD&A may be
accessed under the Corporations profile at
www.sedar.com.
51
Beneficial Owner
(BENEFICIAL OWNERS SHOULD COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM)
RETURN FORM
METHANEX CORPORATION
The undersigned:
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(a)
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hereby requests that the undersigned be sent a copy of the
Annual Financial
Statements(1)
and MD&A for such statements |
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[check this box if you wish to elect to RECEIVE the Annual
Financial
Statements(1)
and MD&A relating to such statements] |
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(b)
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hereby requests that the undersigned be sent a copy of the
Interim Financial
Statements(2)
and MD&A for such statements |
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[check this box if you wish to elect to RECEIVE the Interim
Financial
Statements(2)
and MD&A relating to such statements] |
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The undersigned certifies that the undersigned is a beneficial
owner of securities of the Corporation (other than debt
instruments). The undersigned acknowledges that this request
shall expire and cease to have effect if the undersigned ceases
to be either a registered holder or beneficial owner of
securities of the Corporation.
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Name(3):
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Address(4):
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Signature(5):
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Date: |
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Name & title of person signing if different from
name above: |
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Name and address of
intermediary through
which securities are
held (if applicable)
(6): |
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We encourage you to submit your request online at
www.cibcmellon.com/ FinancialStatements. Our Company Code
Number is 5532A.
NOTE: Do not return this card by mail if you have submitted your
request online.
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(1) |
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. |
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(2) |
Refers to Interim Financial Statements and MD&A issued after
the sending of this form and before the sending of proxy-related
materials in 2008. |
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(3) |
Please print clearly. |
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(4) |
Insert the address, including postal or zip code to which you
wish the financial statements and MD&A to be sent. If you
wish the documents to be sent to an intermediary through which
you hold the securities, provide the name and address of the
intermediary. |
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(5) |
If beneficial owner is not an individual, signature of
authorized signatory. |
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(6) |
If Securities are held through an intermediary, but you wish the
financial statements and MD&A to be sent to you, provide
this information so that the Company can coordinate with the
intermediary, if necessary. If you are an objecting beneficial
owner, or OBO, as defined in
NI 54-101, and you
wish the financial statements and MD&A to be sent to you
through the intermediary that holds securities on your behalf,
you should arrange for the intermediary to arrange to request
the documents on your behalf. |
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Registered Holder
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METHANEX CORPORATION
REQUEST FOR ANNUAL AND INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND MD&A
National Instrument
51-102 Continuous
Disclosure Obligations
(NI 51-102)
requires that Methanex Corporation (the Corporation)
send annually a request form to registered holders and
beneficial owners of its securities, other than debt
instruments, that the registered holders and beneficial owners
may use to request a copy of the Corporations annual
financial statements and Managements Discussion &
Analysis form (MD&A) for the annual financial
statements and the interim financial statements and MD&A for
the interim financial statements, or both. Under
NI 51-102 the
Corporation is only required to deliver financial statements and
MD&A to a person or company that requests them. If you wish
to receive the Corporations interim financial statements
and interim MD&A, you should complete the Return Form (the
Return Form) on the last page hereof. Please forward
the completed Return Form to the Corporations registrar
and transfer agent at the following address or submit your
request online at www.cibcmellon.com/
FinancialStatements. Our Company code Number is 5532.
CIBC Mellon Trust Company
Suite 1600, 1066 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3X1
In addition to the requirements of
NI 51-102,
pursuant to the requirements of the Canada Business
Corporations Act (the CBCA), the Corporation
must send a copy of its annual financial statements to each
registered shareholder, except to a shareholder who has informed
the Corporation in writing that he or she does not want a copy
of such statements. If you are a registered shareholder
and do NOT want to receive a copy of the Corporations
annual financial statements and annual MD&A
(collectively, the Annual Financial Statements and
MD&A), you should complete the box in
paragraph (a) on the Return Form. Registered holders that
do not complete that box will continue to be sent the annual
financial statements as required pursuant to the CBCA, as well
as the annual MD&A.
Whether or not you are electing in paragraph (a) of the
Return Form not to receive a copy of the Annual Financial
Statements & MD&A, if you wish to receive the
Corporations interim financial statements and interim
MD&A (collectively, the Interim Financial Statements
and MD&A) you should complete paragraph (c) of
the Return Form.
The applicable financial statements and MD&A will be sent,
without charge, to the person that made the request. If any
registered holder does not so request such documents, such
holder may not be sent these documents. The Corporation reserves
the right, in its discretion, to send annual financial
statements and MD&A to all registered holders,
notwithstanding elections which such holders may make under the
Request Form.
Please note that only registered holders of the
Corporations securities should return the Return Form. If
you are a beneficial owner of the Corporations securities
but not a registered holder, you should review the separate
Request for Annual and Interim Financial Statements and MD&A
which is applicable to beneficial owners and complete the Return
Form on the last page thereof. (For the purposes of
paragraphs (b) and (c) on the Return Form
registered holders refers to persons with securities
registered in their name (and, in the case of securities which
are registered in the name of a depository, as
defined in
NI 54-101,
includes a person that is a participant in a
depository, as defined in that Instrument).
Registered holders that have informed the Corporation pursuant
to paragraph (a) on the Return Form that they do not want
to receive a copy of the Corporations Annual Financial
Statements and MD&A who subsequently change their mind
should specifically request to receive such statements and
MD&A. Such a request received at any time will be considered
to override any prior advice that such holder does not wish to
receive such statements. The request to receive financial
statements and MD&A pursuant to paragraphs (b) or
(c) on the Return Form shall be considered applicable to
the Corporations annual financial statements and MD&A
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 and all
interim financial statements and MD&A which the Corporation
may send to securityholders after the sending of this request
form and prior to the Corporation sending proxy-related
materials in a subsequent year. Registered holders that wish to
receive Interim Financial Statements and MD&A must return a
Return Form or otherwise specifically request a copy of the
financial statements or MD&A each year to receive such
documents thereafter. If you wish to receive copies of financial
statements or MD&A for any earlier period, you should send a
separate request specifying the requested financial statements
and MD&A. The Corporation is not required to send copies of
any financial statements and MD&A that was filed more than
two years before it receives such request. A copy of the
Corporations financial statements and MD&A may be
accessed under the Corporations profile at
www.sedar.com.
Registered Holder
(REGISTERED HOLDERS SHOULD COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM)
RETURN FORM
METHANEX CORPORATION
The undersigned:
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(a)
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hereby informs the Corporation that the undersigned does not
want a copy of the Annual Financial
Statements(1) &
MD&A for such statements |
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o
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[only check this box if you wish to elect NOT to receive the
Annual Financial Statements
(1)
and MD&A relating to such statements] |
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(b)
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hereby requests that the undersigned be sent a copy of the
Annual Financial Statements
(1)
and MD&A for such statements |
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o
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[check this box if you wish to elect to RECEIVE the Annual
Financial
Statements(1)
and MD&A relating to such
statements(2)] |
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(c)
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hereby requests that the undersigned be sent a copy of the
Interim Financial Statements
(3)
and MD&A for such statements |
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o
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[check this box if you wish to elect to RECEIVE the Interim
Financial
Statements(3)
and MD&A relating to such statements] |
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The undersigned certifies that the undersigned is a registered
holder of securities of the Corporation (other than debt
instruments). The undersigned acknowledges that this request
shall expire and cease to have effect if the undersigned ceases
to be either a registered holder or beneficial owner of
securities of the Corporation.
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Name(4):
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Address(5):
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Signature(6):
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Date: |
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Name & title of person |
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signing if different from name above: |
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We encourage you to submit your request online at
www.cibcmellon.com/ FinancialStatements. Our Company Code
Number is 5532.
NOTE: Do not return this card by mail if you have submitted your
request online.
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(1) |
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. |
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(2) |
Registered holders will continue to be sent Annual Financial
Statements and MD&A whether or not this paragraph is
completed unless the holder has informed the Corporation in
writing that he or she does not want a copy of such statements. |
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(3) |
Refers to interim financial statements and MD&A issued after
the sending of this form and before the sending of proxy-related
materials in 2008. |
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(4) |
Please print clearly. |
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(5) |
Insert the address, including postal or zip code to which you
wish the financial statements and MD&A to be sent. |
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(6) |
If registered holder is not an individual, signature of an
authorized signatory. |
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METHANEX CORPORATION |
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REQUEST FOR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND PROXY |
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Management of Methanex Corporation (the Company) is
sending to certain non-registered shareholders proxy-related
materials that relate to the Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 7, 2007. The name and
address and information about such non-registered
shareholders holdings of securities have been obtained in
accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements
from the intermediary holding on their behalf (which is
identified by name, code or identifier in the information on the
right). |
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Unless the non-registered shareholder attends the meeting and
votes in person, such holders securities can be voted only
by management, as proxy holder of the registered holder, in
accordance with such non-registered shareholders
instructions. |
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Management of the Company has executed an omnibus legal proxy
appointing non-objecting beneficial owners
(NOBOs) as proxy holders to vote the shares
beneficially held by them. Should a NOBO wish to attend the
meeting and vote in person, such omnibus legal proxy will permit
them to do so. If a NOBO wishes to designate another person to
attend and vote at the meeting on their behalf, they may
complete and submit this form appointing someone else as proxy
holder. |
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Management of the Company are prohibited from voting the
securities held by a NOBO on any of the matters to be acted upon
at the meeting without the NOBOs specific voting
instructions. As a result, if a NOBO is completing this form
to appoint someone to attend the meeting as proxy holder and
Mr. Choquette or Mr. Aitken have been appointed as
proxy holder, in order for the NOBOs shares to be voted at
the meeting, it will be necessary for the NOBO to provide
specific voting instructions. |
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The undersigned beneficial owner of Common Shares of the Company
hereby appoints Pierre Choquette, Chairman of the Board of the
Company, or failing him, Bruce Aitken, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, or instead of either of them |
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the true and lawful proxy of the undersigned to attend, act and
vote all the shares of the Company which the undersigned may be
entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
of the Company (the Meeting), to be held on
May 7, 2007, notice of which Meeting has been received by
the undersigned, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof,
and at every poll which may take place in consequence thereof
with full power of substitution and with all the powers which
the undersigned could exercise if personally present: |
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Indicate your voting choice with a check mark
(ü) in the appropriate box.
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1. |
To elect the following persons as directors of the Company to
hold office until the sooner of the next annual general meeting
of the Company or their ceasing to hold office: |
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VOTE FOR |
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WITHHOLD VOTE |
Bruce Aitken
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o |
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o |
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Howard Balloch
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o |
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o |
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Pierre Choquette
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o |
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o |
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Phillip Cook
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o |
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o |
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Thomas Hamilton
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o |
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o |
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Douglas Mahaffy
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o |
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o |
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A. Terence Poole
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o |
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o |
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John Reid
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o |
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o |
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Janice Rennie
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o |
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o |
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Monica Sloan
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o |
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o |
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Graham Sweeney
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o |
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o |
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2. |
To re-appoint KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of
the Company for the ensuing year: |
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VOTE
FOR o
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WITHHOLD VOTE o
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3. |
To vote FOR o or AGAINST
o authorizing the directors
to fix the remuneration of the auditors. |
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4. |
To vote FOR o or AGAINST
o an ordinary resolution to
ratify and approve certain amendments to the Companys
Incentive Stock Option Plan, the full text of which resolution
is set out in Schedule A to the accompanying Information
Circular. |
Subject to the discussion above, the person exercising this
proxy has discretionary authority and may vote the shares
represented hereby as such person considers best with respect to
amendments or variations to the matters identified in the Notice
of Meeting or other matters which may properly come before the
Meeting where such amendments, variations or matters were not
known to management of the Company a reasonable time prior to
the solicitation of this proxy.
All shares represented at the Meeting by properly executed
proxies will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with
the instructions of the undersigned on any ballot that may be
called for, and where a choice with respect to any matter to be
acted upon has been specified in the proxy, the shares
represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with such
specifications.
The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy previously given and
does further hereby ratify all that said proxy may lawfully do
in the premises.
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Print Name |
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Number of Common Shares
held:
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Signature of Holder |
NOTES
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(a) |
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The proxy must be signed by the beneficial owner of Common
Shares or the holders attorney duly authorized in writing
and the power of attorney need not be attached. Where the holder
is a corporation, the proxy must be executed under its corporate
seal or by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized and
should set out the full legal name of the corporation, the name
and position of the person executing and the address for service
of the corporation. |
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(b) |
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The proxy must be delivered to CIBC Mellon Trust Company
not less than 24 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays) prior to the time fixed for the commencement of the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Please use the envelope
accompanying these materials or mail the proxy to Proxy Dept.,
CIBC Mellon Trust Company, P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, ON
M1S 0A1 Canada or send by fax to 416 368 2502 or
toll free in North America 1 866 781 3111. |
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(c) |
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A holder of Common Shares has the right to appoint a person (who
need not be a holder of Common Shares) other than those persons
named above to represent him, her or it at the Meeting and may
exercise this right by inserting the name of such person in the
blank space provided above. |
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(d) |
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If the proxy is undated, it will be deemed to be dated the date
it was mailed to the holder. |
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(e) |
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By providing this proxy, you are acknowledging that you are the
beneficial owner of, and are entitled to instruct the proxy
holders with respect to the voting of, these securities. |
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METHANEX CORPORATION |
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PROXY |
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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF MANAGEMENT |
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FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS |
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TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2007 |
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The undersigned holder of Common Shares of Methanex Corporation
(hereinafter called the Company) hereby appoints
Pierre Choquette, Chairman of the Board of the Company, or
failing him, Bruce Aitken, President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company, or instead of either of them |
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the true and lawful proxy of the undersigned to attend, act and
vote all the shares of the Company which the undersigned may be
entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
of the Company (the Meeting), to be held on
May 7, 2007, notice of which Meeting has been received by
the undersigned, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof,
and at every poll which may take place in consequence thereof
with full power of substitution and with all the powers which
the undersigned could exercise if personally present: |
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Indicate your voting choice with a check mark
(þ) in the appropriate
box. |
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1. |
To elect the following persons as directors of the Company to
hold office until the sooner of the next annual general meeting
of the Company or their ceasing to hold office: |
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VOTE FOR |
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WITHHOLD VOTE |
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Bruce Aitken
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o
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o
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Howard Balloch
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o
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o
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Pierre Choquette
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o
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o
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Phillip Cook
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o
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o
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Thomas Hamilton
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o
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o
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Douglas Mahaffy
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o
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o
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A. Terence Poole
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o
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o
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John Reid
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o
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o
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Janice Rennie
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o
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o
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Monica Sloan
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o
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o
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Graham Sweeney
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o
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o
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2. |
To re-appoint KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of
the Company for the ensuing year: |
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VOTE FOR o WITHHOLD VOTE o |
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3. |
To vote FOR o or AGAINST
o authorizing the directors
to fix the remuneration of the auditors. |
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4. |
To vote FOR o or AGAINST
o an ordinary resolution to
ratify and approve certain amendments to the Companys
Incentive Stock Option Plan, the full text of which resolution
is set out in Schedule A to the accompanying Information
Circular. |
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If no specific voting choice has been given for an item, the
shares represented by this proxy will be voted FOR the item.
The person exercising this proxy has discretionary authority and
may vote the shares represented hereby as such person considers
best with respect to amendments or variations to the matters
identified in the Notice of Meeting or other matters which may
properly come before the Meeting where such amendments,
variations or matters were not known to management of the
Company a reasonable time prior to the solicitation of this
proxy.
All shares represented at the Meeting by properly executed
proxies will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with
the instructions of the undersigned on any ballot that may be
called for, and where a choice with respect to any matter to be
acted upon has been specified in the proxy, the shares
represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with such
specifications.
The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy previously given and
does further hereby ratify all that said proxy may lawfully do
in the premises.
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Print Name |
Number of Common Shares
held:
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Signature of Holder |
NOTES:
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(a) |
The proxy must be signed by the holder of Common Shares or the
holders attorney duly authorized in writing and the power
of attorney need not be attached. Where the holder is a
corporation, the proxy must be executed under its corporate seal
or by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized. |
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(b) |
The proxy must be delivered to CIBC Mellon Trust Company
not less than 24 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays) prior to the time fixed for the commencement of the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Please use the envelope
accompanying these materials or mail the proxy to Proxy Dept.,
CIBC Mellon Trust Company, P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, ON
M1S 0A1 Canada or send by fax to 416 368 2502 or
toll free in North America 1 866 781 3111. |
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(c) |
A holder of Common Shares has the right to appoint a person (who
need not be a holder of Common Shares) other than those persons
named above to represent him, her or it at the Meeting and may
exercise this right by inserting the name of such person in the
blank space provided above. |
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(d) |
If the proxy is undated, it will be deemed to be dated the date
it was mailed to the holder. |
SEE REVERSE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION
RELATING TO VOTING ESPP SHARES
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
TO
HSBC SECURITIES (CANADA) INC.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
METHANEX CORPORATION
TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2007
I,
,
a participant in the Methanex Corporation Share Purchase Plan
for Employees (hereinafter referred to as the Plan),
hereby appoint HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. my true and lawful
proxy to attend, act and vote all the Common Shares of Methanex
Corporation (the Company) held to my credit at the
above meeting, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof,
and at every poll which may take place in consequence thereof
and instruct HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc., as Custodian of the
Plan, to exercise at the above meeting and at any adjournment of
adjournments thereof, or give or grant a proxy to any person
which HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. may select, to exercise,
with full power of substitution, the voting rights pertaining to
all the Common Shares of the Company held to my credit as
follows:
Indicate your voting choice with a check mark
(ü) in the appropriate box.
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1. |
To elect the following persons as directors of the Company to
hold office until the sooner of the next annual general meeting
of the Company or their ceasing to hold office: |
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VOTE |
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WITHHOLD |
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FOR |
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VOTE |
Bruce Aitken
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o
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o
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Howard Balloch
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o
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o
|
Pierre Choquette
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o
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o
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Phillip Cook
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o
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o
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Thomas Hamilton
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o
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o
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Douglas Mahaffy
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o
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o
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A. Terence Poole
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o
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o
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John Reid
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o
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o
|
Janice Rennie
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o
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o
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Monica Sloan
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o
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o
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Graham Sweeney
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o
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o
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2. |
To re-appoint KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of
the Company for the ensuing year: |
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VOTE
FOR o
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WITHHOLD
VOTE o
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3. |
To vote FOR o or AGAINST
o authorizing the directors
to fix the remuneration of the auditors. |
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4. |
To vote FOR o or AGAINST
o an ordinary resolution to
ratify and approve certain amendments to the Companys
Incentive Stock Option Plan, the full text of which resolution
is set out in Schedule A to the accompanying Information
Circular. |
With respect to any amendments or variations to the matters
listed above or identified in the Notice of Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders and any other matters which may properly
come before the Meeting, the undersigned confers discretionary
authority on the person voting on behalf of the undersigned to
vote in accordance with the best judgment of that person.
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Date:
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, 2007 |
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Signature of Holder |
INSTRUCTIONS:
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1. |
Record your instructions, sign and mail to CIBC Mellon
Trust Company in the enclosed envelope. Alternately, your
instructions may be faxed using the following numbers: |
If faxing from North
America: 1 866 781 3111
If faxing from outside
North America: 416 368 2502
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2. |
If you do not wish to specifically instruct the Custodian how to
vote or refrain from voting as the case may be, you should not
check any of the above squares. If no specific voting choice
has been given for an item, the Custodian or its proxy will vote
the shares represented by this Voting Instruction FOR that
item. |
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3. |
If this instrument is undated it will be deemed to be dated the
date it was mailed to you. |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE
METHANEX CORPORATION SHARE PURCHASE PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES
Common Shares purchased by an employee of the Company under the
Methanex Corporation Share Purchase Plan for Employees
(ESPP) remain held by HSBC InvestDirect, a division
of HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc., custodian under the ESPP,
unless the employee withdraws their shares from the ESPP. Once
withdrawn, the shares may either become registered in the name
of the employee or an intermediary.
Voting rights attached to ESPP shares which remain held by HSBC
InvestDirect may be exercised by employees or their attorneys
authorized in writing, by indicating on the Voting Instructions
form (on reverse) the necessary directions to HSBC Securities
(Canada) Inc. how the ESPP shares are to be voted at the Meeting
and returning the Voting Instructions form in the pre-paid
envelope or by fax to CIBC Mellon Trust Company at the fax
number indicated below. The ESPP shares will then be voted
pursuant to those directions. If no choice is specified for an
item, the ESPP shares will be voted in favour of
managements propositions. The shares will be voted at the
discretion of HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. or its proxy in
respect of amendments to managements propositions or such
other business as may be properly brought before the Meeting.
Only ESPP shares in respect of which a Voting Instructions form
has been signed and returned will be voted.
As your vote is important, your Voting Instruction form should
be received at least three business days prior to the deadline
for deposit of proxies stated in the Information Circular.
A holder of ESPP shares may revoke his or her directions
indicated on the Voting Instructions form at any time by a
written document executed by the employee or his or her attorney
duly authorized in writing which is delivered by mail or fax to
CIBC Mellon Trust Company (fax numbers set out below) at
any time up to and including the last business day preceding the
day of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Voting Instructions form is to be used only with respect to
ESPP shares. If an employee holds shares outside the ESPP, the
employee may vote those shares either in person or by proxy as
described in Part I VOTING of the
Information Circular.
Questions?
If you have any questions concerning the process of voting ESPP
shares, you may contact the transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust
Company as follows:
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If calling from North America: 1 800 387 0825 |
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If calling from outside North America: 416 643 5500 |
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By email: inquiries@cibcmellon.com |
Faxing of Voting Instructions
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Voting Instructions may be faxed to CIBC Mellon
Trust Company using the following numbers: |
If faxing from North America: 1 866 781 3111
If faxing from outside North America: 416 368 2502