Current Report 4/15/2008
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
April 15, 2008
Commission File Number: 000-30586
(Translation of Registrants Name into English)
Suite 654 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1, CANADA
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form
20-F or Form 40-F. *
Form 20-F
o Form 40-F o
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* |
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The registrant files annual reports under cover of Form 10-K |
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.
Yes: o No: þ
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with
Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- .
This Report on Form 6-K incorporates by reference the exhibit attached hereto.
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Exhibit |
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Title |
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1
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Management Proxy Circular |
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Proxy |
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Electronic Shareholder Consent |
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Supplemental Return Card |
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Notice of Meeting |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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IVANHOE ENERGY INC.
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Date: April 15, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Beverly A. Bartlett
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Beverly A. Bartlett |
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Vice President & Corporate Secretary |
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Exhibit 1
Notice of Annual Meeting of the Shareholders
and
Management Proxy Circular
of
IVANHOE ENERGY INC.
DATED: April 15, 2008
IVANHOE ENERGY INC.
654 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1
Telephone: 604-688-8323 Fax: 604-682-2060
Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
May 29, 2008
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of IVANHOE ENERGY INC. (the
Company) will be held in Suite 629 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday,
May 29, 2008, at 9:00 AM local time (the Meeting) for the following purposes:
1. |
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to receive the report of the directors; |
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2. |
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to receive the Companys audited financial statements for the financial year ended December
31, 2007 and the auditors report thereon; |
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3. |
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to elect directors for the ensuing year; |
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4. |
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to appoint auditors for the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the directors to
fix the auditors remuneration; |
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5. |
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to consider and, if thought advisable, to pass an ordinary resolution authorizing the Company
to: (a) amend its Employees and Directors Equity Incentive Plan (the Equity Incentive
Plan) by (i) increasing the maximum number of common shares available for issuance thereunder
from 24,000,000 common shares to 29,250,000 common shares; (ii) increasing the maximum number
of common shares of the Company which may be allocated for issuance under the Bonus Plan
component of the Equity Incentive Plan from 2,400,000 common shares to 2,900,000 common
shares, (iii) making certain technical amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan; and (b)
ratifying the grant of excess stock options made pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan all as
more particularly described in the Management Proxy Circular that accompanies this Notice; and |
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6. |
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to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or
adjournments thereof. |
The Board of Directors has fixed April 11, 2008 as the record date for the determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, this Annual General Meeting and at any
adjournment thereof.
A Management Proxy Circular and a form of proxy accompany this Notice. The Management Proxy
Circular contains details of matters to be considered at the Meeting. The audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the auditors report
thereon, are expected to be mailed to shareholders on or about April 24, 2008.
A shareholder who is unable to attend the Meeting in person and who wishes to ensure that such
shareholders shares will be voted at the Meeting, is requested to complete, date and execute the
enclosed form of proxy and deliver it by facsimile, by hand or by mail in accordance with the
instructions set out in the form of proxy and in the Management Proxy Circular.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 15th day of April, 2008.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Beverly A. Bartlett |
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Beverly A. Bartlett |
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Vice President & Corporate Secretary
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1
IVANHOE ENERGY INC.
Suite 654 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3E1
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR
This Management Proxy Circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the
management of IVANHOE ENERGY INC. (the Company) for use at the annual meeting (the Meeting) of
its shareholders to be held on May 29, 2008, at the time and place and for the purposes set forth
in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. Unless otherwise stated, this Management Proxy Circular
contains information as at March 31, 2008.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The solicitation of proxies by management will be primarily by mail, but proxies may be solicited
by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company personally, by telephone or by means of
electronic communication.
All costs of this solicitation will be borne by the Company.
APPOINTMENT OF PROXYHOLDERS
A shareholder entitled to vote at the Meeting may, by means of a proxy, appoint a proxyholder or
one or more alternate proxyholders, who need not be shareholders, to attend and act at the Meeting
for the shareholder and on the shareholders behalf.
The individuals named in the accompanying form of proxy are directors and/or officers of the
Company. A shareholder may appoint, as proxyholder or alternate proxyholder, a person or persons
other than any of the persons designated in the accompanying form of proxy, and may do so either by
inserting the name or names of such persons in the blank space provided in the accompanying form of
proxy or by completing another suitable form of proxy.
An appointment of a proxyholder or alternate proxyholder will not be valid unless a form of proxy
making the appointment, signed by the shareholder or by an attorney of the shareholder authorized
in writing, is deposited with CIBC Mellon Trust Company by facsimile to (416) 368-3976 or
1-866-781-3111, by mail to P.O. Box 1900, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3X1 or P.O. Box 721,
Agincourt, Ontario, M1S 0A1, or by hand to The Oceanic Plaza, 1600 1066 Hastings Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3K9 or 320 Bay Street, Banking Hall Level, Toronto, Ontario, M5H
4A6, and received by CIBC Mellon Trust Company not less than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and statutory holidays) before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof at which the form of proxy is
to be used.
REVOCATION OF PROXIES
A shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it:
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by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by the
shareholders attorney authorized in writing: |
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with CIBC Mellon Trust Company, not less than 48 hours
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays) before the Meeting or an
adjournment thereof, at which the form of proxy is to be used; |
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(ii) |
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at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and
including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or an
adjournment thereof, at which the form of proxy is to be used; |
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(iii) |
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with the chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or
an adjournment thereof; or |
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in any other manner provided by law. |
The revocation of a proxy will not affect a matter on which a vote is taken before the revocation.
EXERCISE OF DISCRETION
On a poll, the nominees named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote or withhold from voting
the common shares represented thereby in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder. The
form of proxy will confer discretionary authority on the nominees named therein with respect to:
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each matter or group of matters identified therein for which a choice is not
specified, other than the appointment of auditors and the election of directors; |
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any amendment to or variation of any matter identified therein; and |
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(c) |
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any other matter that properly comes before the Meeting. |
In respect of a matter for which a choice is not specified in the form of proxy, the nominees named
in the accompanying form of proxy will vote the common shares represented by the form of proxy at
their own discretion for the approval of such matter.
As of the date of this Management Proxy Circular, management of the Company knows of no amendment,
variation or other matter that may come before the Meeting, but if any amendment, variation or
other matter properly comes before the Meeting, each nominee named in the accompanying form of
proxy intends to vote thereon in accordance with the nominees best judgment.
VOTING BY NON-REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS
Only registered shareholders of the Company or the persons they appoint as their proxyholders are
permitted to vote at the Meeting. Most shareholders of the Company are non-registered
shareholders (Non-Registered Shareholders) because the common shares they own are not registered
in their names but are instead registered in the name of the brokerage firm, bank or trust company
through which they purchased the common shares. Common shares beneficially owned by a
Non-Registered Shareholder are registered either: (i) in the name of an intermediary (an
Intermediary) that the Non-Registered Shareholder deals with in respect of the shares of the
Company (Intermediaries include, among others, banks, trust companies, securities dealers,
securities brokers and trustees or administrators of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs and
similar plans); or (ii) in the name of a clearing agency (such as The Canadian Depository for
Securities Limited) of which the Intermediary is a participant. In accordance with applicable
securities law requirements, the Company will have distributed copies of the Notice of Meeting,
this Management Proxy Circular, the form of proxy and other materials, if any (collectively, the
Meeting Materials) to the clearing agencies and Intermediaries for distribution to Non-Registered
Shareholders.
Intermediaries are required to forward the Meeting Materials to Non-Registered Shareholders unless
a Non-Registered Shareholder has waived the right to receive them. Intermediaries often use service
companies to forward the Meeting Materials to Non-Registered Shareholders. Generally,
Non-Registered Shareholders who have not waived the right to receive Meeting Materials will either
be given:
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a voting instruction form which is not signed by the Intermediary and which,
when properly completed and signed by the Non-Registered Shareholder and returned to
the Intermediary or its service company, will constitute voting instructions (often
called a voting instruction form) which the Intermediary must follow. Typically, the
voting instruction form will consist of a one page pre-printed form. Sometimes, instead
of the |
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one page pre-printed form, the voting instruction form will consist of a regular
form of proxy accompanied by a page of instructions which contains a removable label
with a bar code and other information. In order for the form of proxy to validly
constitute a voting instruction form, the Non-Registered Shareholder must remove the
label from the instructions and affix it to the form of proxy, properly complete and
sign the form of proxy and submit it to the Intermediary or its service company in
accordance with the instructions of the Intermediary or its service company; or |
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a form of proxy which has already been signed by the Intermediary (typically by
a facsimile, stamped signature), which is restricted as to the number of common shares
beneficially owned by the Non-Registered Shareholder but which is otherwise not
completed by the Intermediary. Because the Intermediary has already signed the form of
proxy, this form of proxy is not required to be signed by the Non-Registered
Shareholder when submitting the form of proxy. In this case, the Non-Registered
Shareholder who wishes to submit a form of proxy should properly complete the form of
proxy and deposit it with the Company, c/o CIBC Mellon Trust Company, Suite 1600, The
Oceanic Plaza, 1066 Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3K9 or 320 Bay
Street, Banking Hall Level, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4A6. |
In either case, the purpose of these procedures is to permit Non-Registered Shareholders to direct
the voting of the common shares of the Company they beneficially own. Should a Non-Registered
Shareholder who receives one of the above forms wish to vote at the Meeting in person (or have
another person attend and vote on behalf of the Non-Registered Shareholder), the Non-Registered
Shareholder should strike out the persons named in the form of proxy and insert the Non-Registered
Shareholder or such other persons name in the blank space provided. In either case, Non-Registered
Shareholders should carefully follow the instructions of their Intermediary, including those
regarding when and where the proxy or voting instruction form is to be delivered.
A Non-Registered Shareholder may revoke a proxy or voting instruction form given to an Intermediary
by contacting the Intermediary through which the Non-Registered Shareholders common shares of the
Company are held and following the instructions of the Intermediary respecting the revocation of
proxies. In order to ensure that an Intermediary acts upon a revocation of a proxy or voting
instruction form, the written notice should be received by the Intermediary well in advance of the
Meeting.
VOTES NECESSARY TO PASS RESOLUTIONS
The Companys by-laws provide that the quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting is at
least one individual present at the commencement of the Meeting holding, or representing by proxy
the holder or holders of, common shares carrying, in the aggregate, not less than thirty-three and
one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the votes eligible to be cast at the Meeting.
Under the Yukon Business Corporations Act (the YBCA) a majority of the votes cast by shareholders
at the Meeting is required to pass an ordinary resolution and a majority of two-thirds of the votes
cast at the Meeting is required to pass a special resolution.
Shareholders will be asked to elect directors and appoint auditors for the ensuing year. If there
are more nominees for election as directors or appointment as the Companys auditors than there are
vacancies to fill, those nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected or
appointed, as the case may be, until all such vacancies have been filled. If the number of
nominees for election or appointment is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, all such
nominees will be declared elected or appointed by acclamation.
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and, if warranted, to pass an ordinary
resolution, the full text of which is set out as Schedule A hereto (the Equity Incentive Plan
Amendment Resolution), (a) authorizing the Company to amend its existing Equity Incentive Plan by
(i) increasing the maximum number of common shares of the Company which may be allocated for
issuance thereunder
4
from 24,000,000 common shares to 29,250,000 common shares; (ii) increasing the maximum number of
common shares issuable under the Bonus Plan component of the Incentive Plan from 2,400,000 common
shares to 2,900,000 common shares; (iii) making other technical amendments to the existing Equity
Incentive Plan; and (b) ratifying the grant of excess stock options made pursuant to the Equity
Incentive Plan all as more particularly described in this Management Proxy Circular under the
heading Particulars of Matters To Be Acted Upon Amendment of Equity Incentive Plan. The
Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Resolution is an ordinary resolution and, as such, requires
approval by a majority of the votes cast by shareholders at the Meeting.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
The Company is unaware of any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership
of securities or otherwise, of any person who has been a director or executive officer of the
Company or is a proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company (or an associate or
affiliate of such director, director nominee or executive officer) at any time since the beginning
of the Companys last financial year in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the
proposed amendment of the Equity Incentive Plan.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The Company has an authorized capital consisting of an unlimited number of common shares without
par value and an unlimited number of preference shares without par value.
As of March 31, 2008 the Company had outstanding 244,873,349 fully paid and non-assessable common
shares without par value, each carrying the right to one vote. As of such date, there were no
preference shares issued and outstanding.
A holder of record of one or more common shares on the securities register of the Company at the
close of business on Friday, April 11, 2008, (the Record Date) who either attends the Meeting
personally or deposits a form of proxy in the manner and subject to the provisions described above
will be entitled to vote or to have such common shares voted at the Meeting, except to the extent
that
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the shareholder has transferred the ownership of any such common shares after
the Record Date, and |
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the transferee produces a properly endorsed share certificate for, or otherwise
establishes ownership of, any of the transferred common shares and makes a demand to
CIBC Mellon Trust Company no later than 10 days before the Meeting that the
transferees name be included in the list of shareholders in respect thereof. |
To the knowledge of the Companys directors and executive officers, as at March 31, 2008 the only
person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over common
shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding common shares of the
Company, the approximate number of common shares so owned, controlled or directed, and the
percentage of voting shares of the Company represented by such shares and the share ownership by
the current directors and executive officers of the Company as a group are:
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Percentage of |
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Number |
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Shares |
Name and Address |
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of Shares(1) |
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Outstanding(1) |
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Robert M. Friedland
Singapore |
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51,511,725 |
(2)(3) |
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20.36 |
% |
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Directors and
Executive Officers
as a Group |
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64,951,628 |
(4)(5) |
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25.67 |
% |
5
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(1) |
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Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with applicable securities
laws and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.
Unissued common shares subject to options, warrants or other convertible securities
currently exercisable or convertible, or exercisable or convertible within 60 days,
are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the beneficial ownership of
common shares of the person holding such convertible security but are not deemed
outstanding for computing the beneficial ownership of common shares of any other
person. |
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(2) |
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917,105 common shares are held directly by Mr. Friedland. 50,594,620 common
shares are held indirectly, through Newstar Securities SRL, Premier Mines SRL and
Evershine SRL, companies controlled by Mr. Friedland. |
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(3) |
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Includes 2,200,000 unissued common shares issuable to Mr. Friedland upon the
exercise of outstanding share purchase warrants and 500,000 vested options. |
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(4) |
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Includes 8,145,407 unissued common shares issuable to directors and executive
officers upon exercise of incentive stock options and outstanding share purchase
warrants. |
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(5) |
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Includes 51,511,725 commons shares beneficially owned, directly and indirectly,
by Robert M. Friedland. |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Companys articles provide that the number of directors of the Company will be a minimum of
three and a maximum of thirteen. The term of office of each of the current directors will end at
the conclusion of the Meeting. Unless a directors office is earlier vacated in accordance with
the provisions of the YBCA, each director elected will hold office until the conclusion of the next
annual meeting of the Company or, if no director is then elected, until a successor is elected.
The following tables provide information on the nominees proposed for election to the Companys
board of directors. Included in these tables is information relating to each nominees committee
memberships, meeting attendance, public board memberships, equity ownership, principal occupation,
business or employment and the period of time during which each has been a director of the Company.
This information is as at March 31, 2008.
Managements nominees for election as directors are as follows:
6
A. Robert Abboud
Barrington Hills, IL, USA
Age: 78
Director Since: 2006
Director Status:
Independent(2)
Areas of Experience:
Board
Banking
International Finance
International
Project Management
Public Capital Markets
Robert Abboud is President of A. Robert Abboud and Company, a private investment company, and has
enjoyed a 45-year career in oil and gas, banking and foreign affairs. He was previously President
and Chief Operating Officer of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Chairman of First Chicago
Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, Chairman of First City Bancorporation of Texas,
Chairman of ACB International, Ltd., a joint venture which included the Bank of China and a
subsidiary of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Relations and Trade. Mr. Abboud has served as a
member of the Board of Directors of AMOCO and as Audit Committee Chairman for AAR Corporation,
Alberto-Culver Company, Hartmarx Corporation, ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Inland Steel Industries.
Mr. Abboud was appointed as Independent Co-Chairman and Lead Director of the Company in May 2006
and serves as a member of the Audit and Business Development Committees.
B.A. (Cum Laude), 1951, Harvard College; J.D., 1956, Harvard Law School; M.B.A., 1958 Baker
Scholar, Harvard Business School; Certified Commercial Lender, 1975, American Bankers Association;
Member Illinois, Massachusetts and Federal Bar and the American Bar Association.
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment
President, A. Robert Abboud and Company (1984 present)
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Board/Committee |
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Public Board Membership |
Membership: |
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Attendance: |
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Company: |
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Since: |
Board of Directors |
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13 of 13 |
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100% |
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n/a |
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n/a |
Audit (member since Nov, 2007) |
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1 of 1 |
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100% |
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Business Development |
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3 of 3 |
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100% |
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Compensation (ex officio)(10) |
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5 of 5 |
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100% |
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Nominating and Corporate Governance (ex
officio)(10) |
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7 of 7 |
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100% |
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Non-Management Directors |
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7 of 7 |
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100% |
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Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed:
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Total Market Value |
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of Common |
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Minimum Required(8) |
Year |
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Common Shares(3) |
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Shares(4) |
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(by Mar. 8/09) |
2008 |
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200,000 |
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$ |
376,000 |
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U.S.$ |
72,000 |
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2007 |
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400,000 |
(11) |
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$ |
480,000 |
(Shares) |
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U.S.$ |
750,000 |
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Options Held:
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Date Granted |
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Expiry Date |
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Number Granted |
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Vested / Unvested |
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Exercise Price(5) |
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Total Unexercised |
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Value
of Options Unexercised(6) |
May 15, 2006 |
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May 15, 2011 |
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580,000 |
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232,000/348,000 |
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US$ |
2.85 |
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580,000 |
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$ |
0 |
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7
Robert M. Friedland
Singapore
Age: 57
Director Since: 1995
Director Status:
Non-Independent(1)
Areas of Experience:
CEO/Board
Finance
Mining Industry
Public Capital Markets
Managing/Leading Growth
Robert Friedland, a co-founder of Ivanhoe Energy Inc., has been a director of the Company since
1995 and Deputy Chairman since 1999. Mr. Friedland was appointed as Deputy Chairman Capital
Markets in May 2006. Mr. Friedland is the founder and Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., a
Canadian public company with extensive operating, development and exploration interests in several
countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Mr. Friedland is also Chairman and President of Ivanhoe Capital Corporation, his familys private,
Singapore and Beijing-based company that specializes in providing venture capital and project
financing for international business enterprise, predominantly in the resources sector.
Mr. Friedland was named 2006 Mining Person of the Year by the Northern Miner publishing group of
Canada. Following his role in the discovery and sale of the Voisey 1s Bay nickel-copper-cobalt
deposit in Eastern Canada, Mr. Friedland was named Developer of the Year in 1996 by the Prospectors
and Developers Association of Canada for his work in establishing and financing companies engaged
in mineral exploration and development around the world.
B.A., 1974, Political Science, Reed College.
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment
Chairman, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (March 1994 present); Chief Executive Officer, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
(March 1994 2006); Chairman and President, Ivanhoe Capital Corporation (1998 present)
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Board/Committee |
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Public Board Membership |
Membership: |
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Attendance: |
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Company: |
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Since: |
Board of Directors |
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10 of 13 |
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77% |
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Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. |
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1994 |
Business Development |
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0 of 3 |
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(TSX; NYSE; NASDAQ) |
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Non-Management Directors |
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0 of 7 |
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Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed:
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Total Market Value |
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of Common |
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Year |
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Common Shares(3) |
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Shares(4) |
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Minimum Required(8) |
2008 |
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51,011,725 |
(12) |
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$ |
91,766,043 |
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n/a |
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2007 |
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51,011,725 |
(12) |
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$ |
117,148,140 |
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n/a |
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Options Held:
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Date Granted |
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Expiry Date |
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Number Granted |
|
Vested / Unvested |
|
Exercise Price(5) |
|
Total Unexercised |
|
Value
of Options Unexercised(6) |
Mar. 5, 2008 |
|
Mar. 5, 2013 |
|
|
2,500,000 |
|
|
|
500,000/2,000,000 |
|
|
Cdn.$1.61 |
|
|
2,500,000 |
|
|
$ |
675,000 |
|
8
Dr. Robert G. Graham
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Age: 54
Director Since: 2005
Director Status:
Non-Independent(1)
Areas of Experience:
CEO/Board
Chemical Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Project Management
Oil and Gas Industry
Dr. Robert Graham is the co-founder and Chairman of Ensyn Corporation. He has been working on the
commercial development of the RTP biomass refining and petroleum upgrading technologies since the
early 1980s. This work culminated in the development of commercial RTP applications in the wood
industry in the late 1980s and the establishment of Ensyn Renewables Inc. to capitalize on
commercial projects for this business. In 1997, Dr. Graham initiated the application of this
commercial RTP technology in the petroleum industry.
Dr. Graham has been a director with the Company since April, 2005 and was the Companys Chief
Technology Officer from April 1 to September 30, 2007. Dr. Graham serves as a member of the
Business Development Committee.
B.Sc., 1974, Carleton University; B.Sc. Honours, 1976, Carleton University; M.Eng., 1978, University
of Western Ontario; Ph.D., 1993, Chemical Engineering University of Western Ontario.
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment
Chairman of Ensyn Corporation (June 2007 Present); President and Chief Executive Officer, Ensyn
Corporation (April 2005 June 2007); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ensyn Group (October
1984 April 2005)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board/Committee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Board Membership |
Membership: |
|
Attendance: |
|
|
Company: |
|
Since: |
Board of Directors |
|
9 of 13 |
|
|
69% |
|
|
|
|
|
Business Development
(member since Sept. 2007) |
|
1 of 1 |
|
|
100% |
|
|
n/a |
|
n/a |
Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Market Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Common |
|
|
Year |
|
Common Shares(3) |
|
Shares(4) |
|
Minimum Required(8) |
2008 |
|
|
4,725,112 |
|
|
$ |
8,883,211 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
2007 |
|
|
5,218,755 |
|
|
$ |
12,525,012 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
Options Held:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Granted |
|
Expiry Date |
|
Number Granted |
|
Vested /
Unvested |
|
Exercise Price(5) |
|
Total Unexercised |
|
Value
of Options Unexercised(6) |
Mar. 8, 2007 |
|
Mar. 8, 2012 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
140,000/60,000 |
|
|
Cdn$2.29 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
May 4, 2006 |
|
May 4, 2011 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
20,000/30,000 |
|
|
Cdn$3.12 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
May 5, 2005 |
|
May 5, 2010 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
90,000/60,000 |
|
|
Cdn$3.01 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
9
Robert A. Pirraglia
Boca Raton, Fl., USA
Age: 58
Director Since: 2005
Director Status:
Independent(2) (7)
Areas of Experience:
Board
Law
Finance
International Project Management
Public Capital Markets
Robert Pirraglia is an engineer and attorney with more than 25 years of experience in the
development of energy projects and projects employing innovative technologies. He currently serves
as Executive Vice President and director of Ensyn Corporation and is also a director of Pirraglia
Associates, Inc. and RRP Development Holdings, LLC. In addition to being a founder and manager of
several energy and waste processing companies, Mr. Pirraglia provided management and business
consulting services to various U.S., Canadian and European companies.
Mr. Pirraglia has been a director of the Company since April 2005 and is the Chair of the Business
Development Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
B.E.E., 1969, New York University; J.D., 1974, Fordham University School of Law.
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment
Executive Vice President, Ensyn Corporation (October 2007 Present); Chief Operating Officer and
Vice President, Ensyn Corporation (April 2005 October 2007); Chief Operating Officer and Vice
President, Ensyn Group, Inc. (September 1998 April 2005)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board/Committee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Board Membership |
Membership: |
|
Attendance: |
|
Company: |
|
Since: |
Board of Directors
|
|
13 of 13
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
n/a
|
|
n/a |
Audit (resigned as
member Nov. 2007)
|
|
3 of 3
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
Nominating and
Corporate Governance
|
|
7 of 7
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
Business Development
|
|
3 of 3
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Management Directors
|
|
7 of 7
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Market Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Common |
|
Minimum Required(8) |
Year |
|
Common Shares(3) |
|
Shares(4) |
|
(by Mar. 8/09) |
2008 |
|
|
223,396 |
|
|
$ |
419,984 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
2007 |
|
|
226,266 |
|
|
$ |
543,038 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
Options Held:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Granted |
|
Expiry Date |
|
Number Granted |
|
Vested / Unvested |
|
Exercise Price(5) |
|
Total Unexercised |
|
Value of Options Unexercised(6) |
May 3, 2007 |
|
May 3, 2012 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
0/50,000 |
|
US$ |
2.06 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
May 4, 2006 |
|
May 4, 2011 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
20,000/30,000 |
|
US$ |
2.80 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
May 5, 2005 |
|
May 5, 2010 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
120,000/80,000 |
|
US$ |
2.42 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
10
Howard Balloch
Beijing, China
Age: 56
Director Since: 2002
Director Status:
Independent(2)
Areas of Experience:
CEO/Board
Finance
Governance
Compensation
International Politics
Public Capital Markets
Howard Balloch is President and founding member of the investment advisory firm, The Balloch Group.
A veteran Canadian diplomat, Mr. Balloch began serving as Canadas ambassador to the Peoples
Republic of China, Mongolia and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in 1996 after a 20-year
career in the Government of Canadas Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Mr.
Balloch was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada China Business Council from
2001 until 2006.
Mr. Balloch has been a director of the Company since January, 2002. Presently, Mr. Balloch is the
Chair of both the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Compensation and Benefits Committees and
a member of the Audit and Business Development Committees.
Université Laval, 1969; B.A.(Honours) Political Science and Economics, McGill University, 1971;
M.A. International Relations, McGill University,1972; Ph.D. Studies, University of Toronto; Fondation
Nationale de Sciences Politiques, Paris, 1973-76.
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment
President, The Balloch Group (July 2001 present); President, Canada China Business Council (July
2001 2006); Canadian Ambassador to China, Mongolia and Democratic Republic of Korea (April 1996
July 2001)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board/Committee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Board Membership |
Membership: |
|
Attendance: |
|
Company: |
|
Since: |
Board of Directors
|
|
11 of 13
|
|
|
85 |
% |
|
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX;
NYSE; NASDAQ)
|
|
|
2005 |
|
Audit
|
|
4 of 4
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
Methanex Corporation
(TSX; NASDAQ)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
Compensation Chair
|
|
5 of 5
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
Nominating and
Corporate Governance
Chair
|
|
7 of 7
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
Tiens Biotech Group USA
Inc. (AMEX; OTCBB)
(Audit Committee Chair
2005-Present)
|
|
|
2006 |
|
Business Development
|
|
3 of 3
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
East Energy Corp. (TSX-V) |
|
|
|
|
Non-Management Directors
|
|
7 of 7
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Market Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Common |
|
Minimum Required(8) |
Year |
|
Common Shares(3) |
|
Shares(4) |
|
(by Mar. 8/09) |
2008 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
94,000 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
2007 |
|
|
nil |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
Options Held:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Granted |
|
Expiry Date |
|
Number Granted |
|
Vested /
Unvested |
|
Exercise Price(5) |
|
Total Unexercised |
|
Value
of Options Unexercised(6) |
May 3, 2007 |
|
May 3, 2012 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
0/50,000 |
|
Cdn$2.30 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
May 4, 2006 |
|
May 4, 2011 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
20,000/30,000 |
|
Cdn$3.12 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
May 5, 2005 |
|
May 5, 2010 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
30,000/20,000 |
|
Cdn$3.01 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Dec. 2, 2003 |
|
Dec. 2, 2008 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
50,000/0 |
|
Cdn$5.37 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
11
Brian F. Downey
Lake in the Hills, IL, USA
Age: 66
Director Since: 2005
Director Status:
Independent(2)
Areas of Experience:
CEO/Board
Banking
Finance
Public Capital Markets
From 1986 to 1995, Mr. Downey was President and CEO of Credit Union Central of Canada, the national
trade association and national liquidity facility for all credit unions in Canada. Mr. Downey went
on to become a partner and the CEO of Lending Solutions, Inc., a full-service loan call centre
located in the U.S. whose clients are primarily U.S. and Canadian financial institutions.
Mr. Downey joined the Board of Directors in July, 2005 and was appointed Chairman of the Audit
Committee at that time. Mr. Downey also serves as a member of the Compensation and Benefits and
Business Development Committees.
C.M.A., 1972, University of Manitoba; Member of the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario.
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment
President, Downey & Associates Management Inc. (July 1986 present); Partner/Owner, Lending
Solutions, Inc. (November 1995 January 2002); Financial Advisor, Lending Solutions Inc. (January
2002 present).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board/Committee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Board Membership |
Membership: |
|
Attendance: |
|
Company: |
|
Since: |
Board of Directors
|
|
13 of 13
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
n/a
|
|
n/a |
Audit Chair
|
|
4 of 4
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
5 of 5
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Business Development
|
|
3 of 3
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Non-Management Directors
|
|
7 of 7
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Market Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Common |
|
Minimum Required(8) |
Year |
|
Common Shares(3) |
|
Shares(4) |
|
(by Mar. 8/09) |
2008 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
94,000 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
2007 |
|
nil |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
Options Held:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Granted |
|
Expiry Date |
|
Number Granted |
|
Vested /
Unvested |
|
Exercise Price(5) |
|
Total Unexercised |
|
Value
of Options Unexercised(6) |
May 3, 2007 |
|
May 3, 2012 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
0/50,000 |
|
US$ |
2.06 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
May 4, 2006 |
|
May 4, 2011 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
20,000/30,000 |
|
US$ |
2.80 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Jul. 22, 2005 |
|
Jul. 22, 2010 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
90,000/60,000 |
|
US$ |
2.32 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
12
Peter Meredith
Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada
Age: 64
Director Since: 2007
Director Status:
Independent(2)
Areas of Experience:
CEO/Board
Finance
Mining Industry
Financially Literate
Public Capital Markets
Mr. Peter Meredith joined the Board of Directors of the Company in December, 2007 and serves as a
member of the Business Development Committee.
Presently, Mr. Meredith is the Deputy Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. since May, 2006 and oversees
the business development and corporate relations of the company. Mr. Meredith was the Chief
Financial Officer of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. from May, 2004 to May, 2006 and from June, 1999 to
November, 2001. He served as a director of the Company from 1996 to 1999 and as its Chief
Financial Officer from 1999 to 2000. He has been the Chief Executive Officer of SouthGobi Energy
Resources Ltd. since June, 2007.
Prior to joining the Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., Mr. Meredith spent 31 years with Deloitte & Touche LLP,
chartered accountants, and retired as a partner in 1996. Mr. Meredith is a Chartered Accountant
and a Certified Management Accountant.
Member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (1968), member of the Society of
Industrial Accountants (1971).
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment
Deputy Chairman, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (May 2006 present); Chief Executive Officer, SouthGobi
Energy Resources Ltd. (June 2007 present); Chief Financial Officer, Ivanhoe Capital Corporation
(1996 present)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board/Committee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Board Membership |
Membership: |
|
Attendance: |
|
Company: |
|
Since: |
|
Board of Directors
(member since Dec. 2007)
|
|
1 of 1
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX;
NYSE; NASDAQ)
Jinshan Gold Mines Inc. (TSX)
SouthGobi Energy Resources
Ltd. (TSX-V)
Entrée Gold Inc. (TSX; AMEX)
Great Canadian Gaming
Corporation (TSX)
|
|
2005
2004
2003
2002
2000 |
Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
Common Shares(3) |
|
Total
Market Value of Common Shares(4) |
|
Minimum Required(8)
(by Dec. 19/09) |
2008 |
|
nil |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
U.S.$72,000 |
|
2007 |
|
nil |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
Options Held:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Granted |
|
Expiry Date |
|
Number Granted |
|
Vested / Unvested |
|
Exercise Price(5) |
|
Total Unexercised |
|
Value
of Options Unexercised(6) |
Dec. 19, 2007 |
|
Dec. 19, 2012 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
30,000/120,000 |
|
|
Cdn$1.52 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
$ |
54,000 |
|
Mar. 11, 2008 |
|
Mar. 11, 2013 |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
20,000/80,000 |
|
|
Cdn$1.68 |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
See the section entitled Corporate Governance starting on page 29 for a description
of the reasons why the Company does not consider this nominee to be independent. |
|
(2) |
|
Independent refers to the standards of independence established under Canadian
Securities Administrators National Instrument 58-101 and the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. |
|
(3) |
|
Common Shares refers to the number of Common Shares beneficially owned, or over which
control or direction is exercised, by the nominee as of March 31, 2008 and March 14, 2007,
respectively. Unissued common shares subject to warrants or other convertible securities
currently exercisable or convertible, or exercisable or convertible within 60 days, are
deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the beneficial ownership of common shares
of the person holding such convertible security but are not deemed outstanding for
computing the beneficial ownership of common shares of any other person. |
|
(4) |
|
Total Market Value is calculated by multiplying the Canadian dollar closing price of
the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on each of March 31, 2008 ($1.88) and March
14, 2007 ($2.40), respectively, |
13
|
|
|
|
|
by the number of common shares held by the nominee as of
those dates, excluding any unissued common shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of
share purchase warrants or other convertible securities. |
|
(5) |
|
Exercise Price is an amount equal to not less than 100% of the weighted average price
of the Companys shares during the five trading day period preceding the date of grant. |
|
(6) |
|
For those options priced in Canadian dollars, the Value of Unexercised Options is
calculated on the basis of the difference between the closing price of the common shares on
the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 31, 2008 and the Exercise Price of the options
multiplied by the number of unexercised options on March 31, 2008, vested and unvested.
For those options priced in U.S. dollars, the value is calculated using the closing price
of the common shares on the NASDAQ on March 31, 2008. |
|
(7) |
|
Under the terms of the Companys April 2005 acquisition of Ensyn Group, Inc. (Ensyn),
the Company granted to Ensyn the right to designate two individuals for appointment to the
Companys board of directors and agreed to use reasonable best efforts to nominate Ensyns
designees for re-election to the board of directors annually for at least five years.
Ensyns designees, Dr. Robert Graham and Mr. Robert Pirraglia, were originally appointed to
the board of directors on April 15, 2005. |
|
(8) |
|
The Companys policy requires that each non-management director hold common shares
having a Total Market Value equal to not less than 3 times his basic annual retainer. Each
non-management director is required to meet this ownership requirement within 2 years of
joining the Board or by March 8, 2009, whichever is later. |
|
(9) |
|
Mr. Abboud acquired 200,000 warrants to purchase common shares for a period of two
years as a participant in a private placement offering by the Company on April 15, 2005.
Although the term of such warrants was extended for one year in 2007, Mr. Abboud, as an
insider of the Company, did not participate in the extension and accordingly the warrants
expired on April 15, 2007. |
|
(10) |
|
As Lead Director, Mr. Abboud participates ex officio in the meetings of all committees
of the Board of Directors of the Company. |
|
(11) |
|
Included 200,000 unissued common shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of share
purchase warrants which were not exercised. |
|
(12) |
|
Includes 2,200,000 common shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of share purchase
warrants exercisable within 60 days of the issuance of the warrants. |
Summary of Board and Committee Meetings Held
The following table summarizes Board and Committee meetings held during the year ended December 31,
2007:
|
|
|
|
|
Board of Directors |
|
|
13 |
|
Audit Committee |
|
|
4 |
|
Compensation and Benefits Committee |
|
|
5 |
|
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee |
|
|
7 |
|
Business Development Committee |
|
|
3 |
|
Non-Management Directors |
|
|
7 |
|
During 2007, 7 of the 13 meetings of the Board were held by teleconference. In addition, there
were 4 resolutions passed in writing by the Board in 2007. Resolutions in writing must be executed
by all of the directors entitled to vote on a matter.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
In accordance with the requirements of applicable securities legislation in Canada, the following
executive compensation disclosure is provided in respect of the Companys Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer as at December 31, 2007, and each of the Companys three most highly
compensated executive officers whose annual compensation exceeded Cdn.$150,000 in the year ended
December 31,
14
2007 (collectively, the Named Executive Officers). During the year ended December
31, 2007, the aggregate compensation paid to all of the Companys executive officers whose annual
compensation exceeded Cdn.$40,000 was U.S.$2,353,067.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth a summary of all compensation paid during the years ending December
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 to each of the Named Executive Officers:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE (U.S.$)
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Long Term Compensation |
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Awards |
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Securities |
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Shares or |
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Under |
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Share |
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Annual Compensation |
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Options/ |
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Units |
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Other |
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SARs |
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Subject to |
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Payouts |
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All Other |
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Name and |
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Annual |
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Granted |
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Resale |
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LTIP |
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Compensation |
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Principal Position |
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Year |
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Salary |
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Bonus(3)(5) |
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Compensation |
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(#) |
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Restrictions |
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Payouts |
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(4) |
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Joseph I. Gasca |
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2007 |
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313,750 |
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20,500 |
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President & Chief |
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2006 |
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152,417 |
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1,000,000 |
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9,200 |
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Executive |
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2005 |
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Officer(1) |
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W. Gordon Lancaster |
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2007 |
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243,600 |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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2006 |
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231,000 |
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80,000 |
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2005 |
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225,000 |
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David R. Martin |
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2007 |
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281,250 |
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20,500 |
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Executive Co-Chairman |
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2006 |
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270,000 |
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90,000 |
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20,000 |
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2005 |
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270,000 |
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16,200 |
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E. Leon Daniel |
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2007 |
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310,000 |
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20,500 |
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Deputy Chairman |
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2006 |
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340,000 |
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100,000 |
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20,000 |
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Projects and Engineering |
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2005 |
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340,000 |
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500,000 |
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16,200 |
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Edwin J. Veith |
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2007 |
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194,877 |
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158,000 |
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15,500 |
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Executive Vice President, |
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2006 |
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Upstream(2) |
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2005 |
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(1) |
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Mr. Gasca was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer effective July 2006 and
was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer on January 29, 2007. |
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(2) |
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Mr. Veith was appointed as Executive Vice President, Upstream in September 2007. |
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(3) |
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Bonuses earned were paid in cash and common shares from the Companys Employees and
Directors Equity Incentive Plan at fair market value on the date of approval by the
Compensation Committee. |
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(4) |
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The Companys matching contribution to the 401(k) plan, a U.S. defined contribution
retirement plan available to U.S. employees. |
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(5) |
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As of the date of this Management Proxy Circular, the Companys Compensation Committee
has not made a final recommendation to the board of directors with respect to the payment
of bonuses to the Companys executive officers in respect of 2007. Pending the Compensation
Committees recommendation and a decision by the board of directors to award bonuses to
some or all of the Companys executive officers, the amount of any bonuses payable to the
Named Executive Officers in respect of 2007 cannot presently be determined. |
Long Term Incentive Plan
The Company does not presently have a long-term incentive plan for any of its executive officers,
including its Named Executive Officers.
15
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company granted to one of its Named Executive Officers
incentive stock options exercisable to purchase up to 158,000 common shares. No other incentive
stock options or freestanding SARS were granted to any other Named Executive Officer during the
year ended December 31, 2007. The following table provides details regarding the incentive stock
options granted:
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
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Percent of |
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Total |
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Market Value of |
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Options/ |
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Securities |
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SARs |
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Underlying |
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Securities, |
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Granted to |
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Exercise |
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Options/ SARs |
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Under |
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Employees |
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or |
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on the Date of |
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Options/SARs Granted |
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in Financial |
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Base Price |
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Grant |
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Name |
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(#) |
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Year |
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(U.S.$/Security) |
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(U.S.$/Security) |
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Expiration Date |
Edwin J. Veith |
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158,000(1) |
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4.9% |
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$1.92 |
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$303,360 |
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October 4, 2012 |
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(1) |
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80% of these incentive stock options vest and become exercisable incrementally as
certain business development milestones are achieved. |
On March 5, 2008, in anticipation of Robert M. Friedlands appointment as Chief Executive Officer,
the Board awarded Mr. Friedland 2.5 million incentive stock options, at an exercise price of Cdn.
$1.61. Twenty percent of the incentive stock options vested on the date of the grant, with an
additional 20% vesting upon the anniversary of the award date each year for the next four years.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES
During the year ended December 31, 2007, incentive stock options were exercised by a Named
Executive Officer to acquire 1,091,195 common shares. The following table indicates for each of the
Named Executive Officers the number and value of incentive stock options for common shares which
were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2007, the number of exercisable and unexercisable
incentive stock options held by each of the Named Executive Officers that remained unexercised as
at December 31, 2007 and the value of all unexercised in-the-money incentive stock options as at
that date.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION
VALUES
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Number of Securities |
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Underlying Unexercised |
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Value of Unexercised In- |
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Options at December 31, |
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the-Money Options at |
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Shares |
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2007 |
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December 31, 2007 |
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Acquired |
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(#) |
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(U.S.$) |
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on Exercise |
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Value Realized |
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Exercisable/ |
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Exercisable/ |
Name |
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(#) |
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(U.S.$) |
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Unexercisable |
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Unexercisable |
Joseph I. Gasca |
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500,000 / 500,000 |
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W. Gordon Lancaster |
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250,000 / 0 |
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David R. Martin |
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1,091,195 |
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1,917,154 |
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2,062,500/0 |
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2,198,158/0 |
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E. Leon Daniel |
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466,667 / 200,000 |
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177,629/0 |
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Ed Veith |
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168,694 / 332,040 |
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(1) |
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The value of unexercised in-the-money options at financial year-end is the difference
between the closing price of the Companys common shares on December 31, 2007 on the
Toronto Stock Exchange (Cdn$1.55) and the exercise prices. This value has not been, and may
never be, realized. The actual gains, if any, on exercise will depend on the value of the
Companys common shares on the date of option exercise. |
16
Option and SAR Repricings
No options or freestanding SARS were re-priced during the year ended December 31, 2007.
Defined Benefit or Actuarial Plan Disclosure
The Company does not presently provide a pension plan for its employees. However, in 2001, the
Company adopted a defined contribution retirement or thrift plan (401(k) Plan) to assist U.S.
employees in providing for retirement or other future financial needs. Employees contributions (up
to the maximum allowed by U.S. tax laws) were matched 100% by the Company in 2007. The Companys
matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan were U.S.$0.5 million, U.S.$0.4 million and U.S.$0.3
million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change-In-Control Arrangements
The Company has written contracts of employment with the Chief Executive Officer, Joseph I. Gasca
and the Chief Financial Officer, Gordon Lancaster. The Company does not currently have written
employment contracts with any of its other Named Executive Officers.
Mr. Gascas employment contract respecting his employment as President and Chief Operating Officer
commenced on May 15, 2006. Mr. Gasca was elevated to the position of President and Chief Executive
Officer on January 29, 2007 but his employment contract was not otherwise amended. Mr. Gascas
contract established his initial annual base salary and provides for a term of employment of three
years unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of the contract. The Company may
terminate Mr. Gascas employment for cause without payment of any compensation. The Company may
terminate Mr. Gascas employment without cause by making a lump sum payment equal to twelve monthly
payments of Mr. Gascas base salary. Under the terms of the contract, Mr. Gasca was granted
incentive stock options exercisable to acquire 1,000,000 common shares which are exercisable for
ten years and vest over three years. If Mr. Gascas employment is terminated within twelve months
of a change of control of the Company, Mr. Gasca is entitled to receive a lump sum payment in an
amount equal to his annual base salary. At the discretion of the Companys board of directors, Mr.
Gasca is eligible for an annual bonus in an amount determined by the board.
Mr. Lancasters employment contract respecting his employment as Chief Financial Officer commenced
on January 1, 2004. Mr. Lancasters contract established his initial annual base salary but does
not provide for a fixed term of employment. The Company may terminate Mr. Lancasters employment
for any reason upon six months prior written notice. Under the terms of the contract, Mr.
Lancaster was granted incentive stock options exercisable to acquire 250,000 common shares
exercisable for five years and vesting over four years.
Director Compensation
Each non-management director receives director fees of $2,000 per month. Mr. Brian Downey receives
an additional payment of $7,500 per annum for acting as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The
Chairman of the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Chairman of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, Mr. Howard Balloch, receives an additional payment of $5,000 per
annum per Committee for acting as such. Mr. Robert A. Pirraglia, receives an additional payment of
$5,000 per annum for acting as the Chairman of the Business Development Committee. Each
non-management director receives a fee of $1,000 for participation in each Board of Directors
meeting and each Committee meeting attended in person or via conference call. The Company does not
pay any other cash or fixed compensation to its directors for acting as such. The Company
reimburses directors for expenses they reasonably incur in the performance of their duties as
directors. Each of the Companys directors is also eligible to participate in the Employees and
Directors Equity Incentive Plan.
The Company compensated certain of its non-management directors for acting as consultants. Details
of these arrangements are as follows:
17
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during the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company paid J. Steven Rhodes a monthly fee
of U.S.$4,950.00 for providing business development consulting services; |
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|
during the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company paid a company controlled by Dr.
Robert Graham fees for certain technical consulting services provided personally by Dr.
Graham. The Company also paid additional amounts to a company in which Dr. Graham is a
significant shareholder for services rendered by that company. See Interest of Informed
Persons in Material Transactions; and |
|
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|
during the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company paid a company controlled by
Shun-ichi Shimizu certain fees and expenses for providing business development consulting
and other services. See Interest of Informed Persons in Material Transactions. |
Equity Incentive Plan
For particulars on the Companys Equity Incentive Plan see Particulars of Matters to be Acted
Upon at page 23.
Composition of Compensation Committee
The Companys Compensation Committee consists of Howard Balloch, J. Steven Rhodes and Brian F.
Downey. None of Messrs. Balloch, Rhodes or Downey is, or at any time has been, an officer or
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Since the beginning of the most recently
completed financial year, which ended on December 31, 2007, none of Messrs. Balloch, Rhodes or
Downey was indebted to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or had any material interest in any
transaction or proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. None of the Companys executive officers serve as a member of
the compensation committee or board of directors of any entity that has an executive officer
serving as a member of the Compensation Committee or board of directors of the Company.
Report on Executive Compensation
Compensation and Benefits Committee and Approach to Executive Compensation
The Companys executive compensation program is administered by the Compensation Committee. The
members of the Compensation Committee are all independent, non-management directors. Following
review and approval by the Compensation Committee, decisions relating to executive compensation are
reported to, and approved by, the full Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee has directed
the preparation of this report and has approved its contents and its submission to shareholders.
The Companys approach to executive compensation is motivated by a desire to align the interests of
the Companys executive officers as closely as possible with the interests of the Company and its
shareholders as a whole. In determining the nature and quantum of compensation for the Companys
executive officers the Company is seeking to achieve the following objectives: to provide a strong
incentive to management to contribute to the achievement of the Companys short-term and long-term
corporate goals; to ensure that the interests of the Companys executive officers and the interests
of the Companys shareholders are aligned; to enable us to attract, retain and motivate executive
officers of the highest caliber in light of the strong competition in the Companys industry for
qualified personnel; and to recognize that the successful implementation of the Companys corporate
strategy cannot necessarily be measured, at this stage of its development, only with reference to
quantitative measurement criteria of corporate or individual performance. The Company takes all of
these factors into account in formulating the Companys recommendations to the Board of Directors
respecting the compensation to be paid to each of the Companys executive officers.
The compensation that the Company pays to the Companys executive officers generally consists of
cash, equity and equity incentives. The Companys compensation policy reflects a belief that an
element
18
of total compensation for the Companys executive officers should be at risk in the form of
common shares or incentive stock options, so as to create a strong incentive to build shareholder
value. The Compensation Committee oversees and sets the general guidelines and principles for the
implementation of the Companys executive compensation policies, assesses the individual
performance of the Companys executive officers and makes recommendations to the Board of
Directors. Based on these recommendations, the Board of Directors makes decisions concerning the
nature and scope of the compensation to be paid to the Companys executive officers.
In 2007, the Company adopted a compensation program which outlines a series of quantitative and
qualitative compensation parameters for the Companys executive officers, including the Companys
CEO, and the Companys non-executive management personnel. This program is based on a report
prepared by an external consultant in 2005 and an internal review of the Companys compensation
policies and practices. The compensation program is designed to provide incentives to work for, and
stay with, the Company and to drive strong Company performance, and to differentially reward skills
more critical to the Companys business plans. Under the 2007 compensation program, the Company
seeks to pay near term compensation, using a pay grade system consistent with industry practice,
which is competitive with industry while providing incentive compensation that is designed to
outperform other options that employees and prospective employees might find in the marketplace.
Base Salary
The base salaries of the Companys executive officers have traditionally been determined based on
the requirements of an executive officers employment contract as well as a subjective assessment
of each individuals performance, experience and other factors the Company believes to be relevant,
including prevailing industry demand for personnel having comparable skills and performing similar
duties, the compensation the individual could reasonably expect to receive from a competitor and
the Companys ability to pay. The Company has also considered recommendations from outside
compensation consultants and used compensation data obtained from publicly available sources.
Salary levels are assessed using a pay grade system that is consistent with industry practice. Each
of the Companys employees, including the Companys executive officers, are placed in a pay grade
based upon his or her knowledge, skills and relevant experience and credentials. Annual salary
increases are made based on performance and relative position within a pay grade. Performance will
be assessed and rated based on agreed objectives and behaviors. A simple three-tiered rating system
is used for salaries, with top performers rewarded the highest, regular performers rewarded
consistent with average industry trends and bottom performers receiving little or no salary
increases.
Annual Bonus
The intent of the Companys annual bonus program under the 2007 compensation program is to provide
competitive near-term compensation. The Company uses the same pay grade system for determining the
target and maximum bonus that is achievable by an employee. Target and maximum bonus award levels
will be benchmarked on a regular basis to ensure they are competitive with the industry. Bonus
award levels for executive officers and senior non-executive management personnel are determined
based on job specific criteria in addition to overall performance rating. The composition of annual
bonus awards is a combination of the Companys common shares and cash. In order to preserve cash,
bonus awards consist predominantly of common shares with a significantly smaller cash component to
facilitate the recipients ability to pay applicable income taxes.
For executive officers, potential bonus amounts range from 50% of salary (target) and 70% of salary
(maximum) for the Companys Chief Executive Officer, 40% of salary (target) and 60% of salary
(maximum) for the Companys Chief Financial Officer and 25%-30% of salary (target) and 37.5%-45% of
salary (maximum) for other executive officers. 75% of the targeted bonus amount is earned through
the achievement of measurable defined corporate objectives, including share price, net income, net
operating cash flow and net production, as well as other specific corporate and individual goals,
and 25% of the targeted bonus is based on discretionary factors.
19
Although several of the Companys executive officers were successful in achieving individual
corporate and business development goals, particularly in the areas of technology, financial
management, investor relations and corporate governance, results were mixed with respect to more
heavily weighted factors in the areas of business development, production, net income and operating
expenses and the Compensation Committee has deferred making any quantitative recommendations to the
Board of Directors respecting individual bonus awards pending a more thorough review and comparison
of the defined performance targets against actual results.
Incentive Compensation
The relationship of corporate performance to executive compensation under the Companys executive
compensation program is created, in part, through equity compensation mechanisms. Incentive stock
options, which vest and become exercisable through the passage of time, link the bulk of the
Companys equity-based executive compensation to shareholder return, measured by increases in the
market price of the Companys common shares. All outstanding stock options that have been granted
under the Companys Equity Incentive Plan were granted at prices not less than 100% of the fair
market value of the Companys common shares on the dates such options were granted.
The Company continues to believe that stock-based incentives encourage and reward effective
management that results in long-term corporate financial success, as measured by stock
appreciation. Stock-based incentives awarded to the Companys executive officers have been
traditionally based upon the Compensation Committees subjective evaluation of each executive
officers ability to influence the Companys long-term growth and to reward outstanding individual
performance and contributions to the Companys business. Other factors influencing the Companys
recommendations respecting the nature and scope of the equity compensation and equity incentives to
be awarded to the Companys executive officers in a given year have included: awards made in
previous years and, particularly in the case of equity incentives, the number of incentive stock
options that remain outstanding and exercisable from grants in previous years and the exercise
price and the remaining exercise term of those outstanding stock options.
The intent of the Companys incentive compensation under the 2007 compensation program is to
provide incentives that outperform other options that employees and prospective employees might
find in the marketplace. In 2007 and in future, the Company intends to use the same pay grade
system for outlining the target and maximum incentive compensation that is achievable for an
executive or employee. For executives and higher pay grade employees, annual incentive compensation
awards will be provided based on specific performance criteria, value to the Company in terms of
skills, knowledge and experience, completion of specific projects as well as subjective criteria.
Incentive compensation awards for executives and upper pay grade employees are expected to include
stock options and may in the future include other securities such as restricted shares.
Option exercise periods and vesting schedules for options granted to executive officers are
determined, on a case by case basis, by the Compensation Committee and the Board. Although the
Company has traditionally taken an approach to vesting that is based on the effluxion of time, the
Company has, in appropriate circumstances, granted options with vesting schedules based on the
achievement of specified corporate objectives.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
The base salary of the Companys current CEO was set by the terms of his employment contract, which
are described under Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change-In-Control
Arrangements. Under the terms of his employment contract, the Companys current CEO was granted
incentive stock options to acquire 1,000,000 common shares which vest over three years and are
exercisable for ten years.
The salary and stock option compensation offered to the Companys current CEO at the time of his
appointment were based on competitive market factors, his level of experience and responsibility,
the
20
compensation practices of other industry participants, and the negotiations that took place in
connection with his appointment. The Companys CEOs employment contract also provides that he is
eligible to receive an annual bonus at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on
performance criteria determined by the Board.
The Companys current CEOs eligibility to receive a bonus in respect of the 2007 fiscal year is
based on substantially the same performance criteria used to measure the bonus eligibility of the
Companys other executive officers, with 75% of the targeted bonus amount to be earned through the
achievement of measurable defined corporate objectives and 25% to be based on discretionary
factors. As noted above, as of the date of this report, the Compensation Committee has not
finalized its recommendations to the Board of Directors respecting individual bonus awards to the
current CEO and the Companys other executive officers pending a more thorough review and
comparison of the defined performance targets originally set for 2007 against actual results
achieved during the year.
Submitted on behalf of the Compensation Committee:
Mr. Howard R. Balloch
Mr. J. Steven Rhodes
Mr. Brian F. Downey
Performance Graph
The following graph and table compares the cumulative shareholder return on a CDN$100 investment in
common shares of the Company to a similar investment in companies comprising the S&P/TSX Composite
Index, including dividend reinvestment, for the period from December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at December 31, |
|
|
(in Canadian Dollars) |
|
|
2002 |
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2007 |
Ivanhoe Energy Inc. |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
674 |
|
|
$ |
422 |
|
|
$ |
171 |
|
|
$ |
218 |
|
|
$ |
215 |
|
TSX Composite Total
Return Index |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
127 |
|
|
$ |
145 |
|
|
$ |
180 |
|
|
$ |
211 |
|
|
$ |
232 |
|
21
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Other than a specific grant of incentive stock options made during 2006 to Joseph I. Gasca as an
inducement to accept the Companys offer of employment as President, all of the incentive stock
options and equity compensation awards the Company grants are made under the Companys Equity
Incentive Plan, the material terms of which are described below under Particulars of Matters to be
Acted Upon. The Equity Incentive Plan is the only equity compensation plan the Company has in
effect and is intended to further align the interests of the Companys directors and management
with the Companys long-term performance and the long-term interests of the Companys shareholders.
The Companys shareholders have approved the Equity Incentive Plan and all amendments thereto other
than the amendments for which shareholder approval will be sought at the Meeting. The following
information is as at December 31, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
remaining available for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average |
|
future issuance under |
|
|
Number of Securities to |
|
exercise price of |
|
equity compensation |
|
|
be issued upon exercise |
|
outstanding |
|
plans (excluding |
|
|
of outstanding options, |
|
options, warrants |
|
securities reflected in |
|
|
warrants and rights |
|
and rights (CDN$) |
|
column (a)) |
Plan Category |
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
Equity compensation
plans approved by
securityholders |
|
|
11,944,764 |
|
|
$ |
2.30 |
|
|
|
3,034,400 |
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved
by
shareholders(1) |
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
3.18 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
Total |
|
|
12,944,764 |
|
|
$ |
2.37 |
|
|
|
3,034,400 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Consists of incentive stock options granted to Mr. Joseph Gasca as an inducement to
accepting employment with the Company. These incentive stock options were not granted under
the Companys Equity Incentive Plan previously approved by shareholders and the common
shares reserved for issuance to Mr. Gasca upon the exercise these incentive stock options
are not included in the total number of common shares reserved for issuance under the
Equity Incentive Plan. Under the rules and policies of the TSX, security based compensation
arrangements offered as inducements to prospective employees do not require shareholder
approval. |
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Other than routine indebtedness, at no time during the Companys most recently completed financial
year was any director, executive officer or senior officer of the Company, any proposed management
nominee for election as a director of the Company or any associate or affiliate of any such
director, executive or senior officer or proposed nominee indebted to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or to another entity where such indebtedness is or has been the subject of a
guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding
provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than routine indebtedness.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
The Company is unaware of any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership
of securities or otherwise, of any informed person of the Company, any proposed director of the
Company or any associate or affiliate of any informed person or proposed director, in any
transaction since the commencement of the Companys most recently completed financial year or in
any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company or
any of its subsidiaries other than the following:
22
1. |
|
The Company is party to cost sharing agreements with other companies wholly or partially
owned by Mr. Robert M. Friedland. Through these agreements, the Company shares office space,
furnishings, equipment, air travel and communications facilities in Vancouver, Beijing and
Singapore. The Company also shares the costs of employing administrative and non-executive
management personnel at these offices. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the
Companys share of costs for the Vancouver and Singapore offices was $978,694. Effective as
of 2008, the Company has agreed, as part of the Companys cost sharing arrangements and in
connection with Mr. Friedlands anticipated appointment as Chief Executive Officer, to share
the costs of operating an aircraft owned by a private company of which Mr. Friedland is the
sole shareholder. |
|
2. |
|
During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company has paid $844,460 to a wholly owned
subsidiary of Ensyn Corporation, an unaffiliated company that was spun off from Ensyn Group,
Inc. as a result of the Companys acquisition of Ensyn Group, Inc. on April 15, 2005. Of this
amount, $109,825 was reimbursement of salary, benefits and travel expenses for one of the
Companys directors, Dr. Robert Graham, in his position as Chief Executive Officer and
President of Ensyn Corporation (a position from which he has since resigned). The remaining
amount of $734,635 was paid to Ensyn Corporations wholly owned subsidiary during the year
ended December 31, 2007 for technical services provided to us. Mr. Graham owns an approximate
24% equity interest in Ensyn Corporation. In addition, the Company paid Dr. Grahams private
consulting company $202,788 for his role as interim Chief Technology Officer and subsequent
consulting services. |
|
3. |
|
During the year ended December 31, 2007, a company controlled by Mr. Shun-ichi Shimizu, one
of the Companys directors, received $1,143,967 for consulting services and out of pocket
expenses. |
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Deloitte & Touche LLP, Chartered Accountants, will be nominated at the Meeting for re-appointment
as the Companys auditors at a remuneration to be fixed by the directors. Deloitte & Touche LLP
have been the Companys auditors since April 8, 1997.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Amendment of Equity Incentive Plan
Purpose
The Company is seeking authorization from its shareholders at the Meeting to: (a) amend the
Companys existing Equity Incentive Plan to: (i) increase the maximum number of common shares
available for issuance thereunder from 24,000,000 common shares to 29,250,000 common shares; (ii)
increase the maximum number of common shares issuable under the Bonus Plan component of the Equity
Incentive Plan from 2,400,000 to 2,900,000 common shares; and (iii) make certain technical
amendments to the existing Equity Incentive Plan; and (b) to ratify the grant of excess stock
options made pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan.
Summary of the Equity Incentive Plan
Overview
The Equity Incentive Plan has three components: an Option Plan, which provides for the grant to
eligible participants of incentive stock options exercisable to purchase common shares of the
Company, a Bonus Plan, which provides for awards of fully paid common shares to eligible
participants as and when determined to be warranted on the basis of past performance and a Purchase
Plan, under which eligible
23
participants have the opportunity to purchase common shares through
payroll deductions which are supplemented by additional contributions by the Company.
The eligible participants in the Equity Incentive Plan include directors of the Company or any
affiliate, and any full time and part time employees (including officers) of the Company or any
affiliate thereof that the board of directors determines to be employees eligible for participation
in the Equity Incentive Plan. Furthermore, persons or companies engaged by the Company or any
entity the Company controls, to provide management or consulting services are eligible for
participation in the Equity Incentive Plan as the Companys board of directors determines.
The Equity Incentive Plan is, by its terms, to be administered the Companys board of directors.
However, the board of directors has delegated to its Compensation Committee, to the extent
permitted by law, responsibility for administering the Equity Incentive Plan.
Option Plan
Option Grants
The Option Plan authorizes the board of directors to grant options to purchase common shares. The
number of common shares, the exercise price per common share, the vesting period and any other
terms and conditions of options granted pursuant to the Option Plan, from time to time are
determined by the board of directors at the time of the grant, subject to the defined parameters of
the Option Plan.
Exercise Price
The exercise price of any option granted under the Option Plan cannot be less than the weighted
average price of the common shares on the principal stock exchange on which the common shares trade
for the five days on which common shares were traded immediately preceding the date of grant.
Exercise Period and Vesting
Options are exercisable for a period of time determined by the board of directors not exceeding ten
years from the date the option is granted. Options may be earlier terminated in the event of death
or termination of employment or appointment. Vesting of options is determined by the board of
directors. Failing a specific vesting determination by the board of directors, options
automatically become exercisable incrementally over a period of three years from the date of grant,
as to one-third of the total number of shares under option in each such year. The right to
exercise an option may be accelerated in the event a takeover bid in respect of the common shares
is made.
Cashless Exercise
Ancillary share appreciation rights may also be granted, at the discretion of the board of
directors, to an optionee in conjunction with, or at any time following the grant of, an option.
This right effectively allows an optionee to exercise an option on a cashless basis by electing
to relinquish the right to exercise the option and receive, in lieu thereof, a number of fully paid
common shares. The number of common shares issuable pursuant to any such cashless exercise is equal
to the quotient obtained by dividing the difference between the aggregate fair market value and the
aggregate option price of all common shares subject to the option by the fair market value of one
(1) common share.
Financial Assistance
The board of directors may, in its discretion but subject to applicable law, authorize the Company
to make loans to employees to assist them in exercising options. The terms of any such loans
include security, in favour of the Company, in the common shares issued upon exercise of the
options, which security may be granted on a non-recourse basis. No such loans are currently
outstanding.
24
Termination or Death
If an optionee dies while employed by the Company, any option held by him will be exercisable for a
period of 6 months or prior to the expiration of the options (whichever is sooner) by the person to
whom the rights of the optionee shall pass by will or applicable laws of descent and distribution.
If an optionee is terminated for cause, no option will be exercisable unless the board of directors
determines otherwise. If an optionee is terminated for any reason other than cause then the
options will be exercisable for a period of up to 6 months thereafter, but in no event less than 30
days, subject to the prior expiration of the options.
Blackout Period
If the expiry date of any option should be determined to occur either during a blackout period or
within ten business days following the expiry of the blackout period, the expiry date of such
option shall be deemed to be the date that is the tenth business day following the expiry of the
blackout period.
Bonus Plan
The Bonus Plan permits the board of directors to authorize the issuance, from time to time, of
common shares to employees, directors, officers and service providers of the Company and its
affiliates. The criteria for determining if and when such awards should be made and the quantum of
such awards is within the discretion of the board of directors. The Bonus Plan currently provides
for the issuance of a maximum of 2,400,000 common shares in respect of bonus awards. Common shares
allocated to the Bonus Plan may be reallocated for issuance under the Option Plan or Purchase Plan
and are then no longer available for issuance under the Bonus Plan.
Purchase Plan
Participation Criteria
Participants in the Purchase Plan must be full-time employees of the Company or its affiliates who
have completed at least one year (or less, at the discretion of the board of directors) of
continuous service and who elect to participate.
Contribution Limits
Eligible employees are entitled to contribute up to ten per cent (10%) of their annual basic salary
to the Share Purchase Plan in semi-monthly instalments. The Company makes a contribution of up to
one hundred per cent (100%) of the employees contribution on a quarterly basis.
Number of Shares
Each participant receives, at the end of each calendar quarter during which he or she participates
in the Purchase Plan, a number of common shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the
aggregate amount of all contributions to the Purchase Plan by the participant, and by the Company
on the participants behalf, during the preceding quarter by the weighted average trading price of
the common shares on the principal stock exchange on which the common shares trade during the
quarter.
Termination of Employment
If the participants employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, any portion of the
participants contribution then held in trust for a participant pending a quarterly purchase of
common shares is returned to him or her or to his or her estate.
To date, the board of directors has not made the Purchase Plan available for participation by its
employees.
25
Transferability
Benefits, rights and options under the Equity Incentive Plan are non-transferable and, during the
lifetime of a participant, may only be exercised by such participant.
Amendment Procedure
The Equity Incentive Plan provides that the board of directors has the authority and discretion to
amend the Incentive Plan and awards granted thereunder in respect of any matter, except for those
matters specifically contemplated by section 5.7 of the Equity Incentive Plan as requiring
shareholder approval. Accordingly, shareholder approval is required only for the following
amendments:
|
(i) |
|
an amendment to the aggregate number of common shares that may be reserved for
issuance under the Incentive Plan; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
an amendment to the aggregate maximum number of common shares issuable under
the Share Bonus Plan component of the Incentive Plan; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
an amendment to the limitations on the maximum number of Shares that may be
reserved for issuance, or issued, to insiders of the Company under the Incentive Plan; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
an amendment that would reduce the exercise price, or extend the expiry date,
of an outstanding option granted to an insider of the Company under the Incentive Plan;
or |
|
|
(v) |
|
an amendment to the amending provisions under the Incentive Plan. |
Share Issuance Limits
The aggregate maximum number of common shares which the Company may currently issue or reserve for
issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan is 24,000,000 common shares. The aggregate number of
common shares which the Company may at any time reserve for issuance under the Equity Incentive
Plan to any one person may not exceed five per cent (5%) of the issued and outstanding common
shares at such time. The aggregate number of common shares which the Company may at any time
reserve for issuance to insiders of the Company under the Equity Incentive Plan (or when combined
with all of the Companys other security based compensation arrangements) may not exceed ten per
cent (10%), of the issued and outstanding common shares at such time. The aggregate number of
common shares that may be issued to insiders of the Company for options granted under the Equity
Incentive Plan (or when combined with all of the Companys other security based compensation
arrangements) within any one-year period shall not exceed 10% of the Companys outstanding issue
from time to time. The aggregate number of common shares that may be issued within any one-year
period to any one insider of the Company and his or her associates may not exceed five per cent
(5%) of the issued and outstanding common shares at such time.
Securities Issued and Unissued under the Equity Incentive Plan
There are currently 244,873,349 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding. Since the
inception of the Equity Incentive Plan, the 24,000,000 common shares authorized for issuance under
the Equity Incentive Plan have been issued or reserved for issuance as follows:
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of Issued and Outstanding |
|
|
Number of common shares |
|
common shares |
Common shares
previously issued
upon exercise of
options under
Option Plan |
|
|
7,052,517 |
|
|
|
2.88% |
|
Options surrendered
for exercise of
share appreciation
rights |
|
|
493,206 |
|
|
|
0.20% |
|
Common shares
reserved for future
issuance pursuant
to unexercised
options under
Option Plan |
|
|
14,978,764 |
|
|
|
6.12% |
|
Common shares
previously issued
pursuant to
Purchase Plan |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
Common shares
previously issued
pursuant to Bonus
Plan |
|
|
1,721,418 |
|
|
|
.71% |
|
Unissued common
shares available
for future awards
under Bonus Plan |
|
|
678,582 |
|
|
|
.28% |
|
Unissued common
shares available
for future option
grants under Option
Plan and purchases
under Purchase Plan |
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
Maximum number of
common shares
available for
issuance under
Equity Incentive
Plan |
|
|
24,000,000 |
|
|
|
9.80% |
|
There are no option grants, awards or other entitlements to common shares under the Equity
Incentive Plan that remain subject to approval or ratification by the Companys shareholders except
for the amendments proposed herein pertaining to the Excess Stock Options (as defined below).
Proposed Amendments
Maximum Number of Shares
The Equity Incentive Plan currently provides that the aggregate number of common shares that may be
issued or reserved for issuance may not exceed 24,000,000 common shares.
The Company believes that incentive stock options are a valuable mechanism for incentivizing the
Companys existing employees, attracting new employees and aligning their interests with those of
the Companys shareholders. To provide the Company with the continued flexibility of granting
incentive stock options under the Option Plan, the Company is seeking approval from the
shareholders at the Meeting to increase the number of common shares of the Company issuable under
the Equity Incentive Plan to a maximum of 29,250,000 common shares, which would represent 11.95% of
the common shares currently issued and outstanding.
Maximum Number of Bonus Shares
The Equity Incentive Plan currently provides that the aggregate maximum number of shares that may
be issued pursuant to the Bonus Plan may not exceed 2,400,000 common shares. The Company is
seeking
27
approval from the shareholders at the Meeting to increase the number of common shares of
the Company issuable in respect of bonus awards to a maximum of 2,900,000 common shares,
Ratification of Excess Stock Option Grants
Through an administrative error, the Company granted options (the Excess Stock Options) that
exceeded the maximum number available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan. At the time
that the Excess Stock Options were granted, the aggregate maximum number of shares that could be
issued or reserved for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan was 24,000,000 common shares.
However, the grant of the Excess Stock Options resulted in there being 24,245,905 common shares
being issued or reserved for issuance.
All of the following incentive stock options, that include the Excess Stock Options, were granted
on March 11, 2008 and have an exercise term of five years. Details of incentive stock options that
include the Excess Stock Options are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name of |
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Option Exercise |
Optionee |
|
Position with the Company |
|
under Option |
|
Price |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Trenaman |
|
Employee/ Service Provider |
|
70,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
Beverly Bartlett |
|
Officer |
|
40,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
Virginia Chan |
|
Employee/ Service Provider |
|
25,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
Constance Ho |
|
Employee/ Service Provider |
|
25,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
Clara Ng |
|
Employee/ Service Provider |
|
25,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
Robert Saunders |
|
Employee/ Service Provider |
|
25,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
Eoin Saadien |
|
Employee/ Service Provider |
|
25,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
Mary Vincelli |
|
Officer |
|
25,000 |
|
Cdn.$1.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL: |
|
260,000 |
|
|
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to ratify the grant of the incentive stock options that
include the Excess Stock Options as part of the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Resolution.
Other Amendments
Under the existing terms of the Incentive Plan, if a holder of an incentive stock option is given,
and exercises, the right to terminate his or her incentive stock option and exercises a share
appreciation right in lieu thereof, the number of common shares available for issuance under the
Equity Incentive Plan is reduced by the number of common shares to which the terminated incentive
stock option relates rather than the number of shares issued upon exercise of the share
appreciation right. The Company proposes to amend Section 2.6 of the Equity Incentive Plan such
that if a holder of an incentive stock option is given, and exercises, the right to terminate his
or her incentive stock option and exercises a share appreciation right in lieu thereof, the number
of common shares available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan will be reduced by the
number of common shares actually issued upon exercise of the share appreciation right rather than
the number of common shares to which the terminated incentive
28
stock option relates. The proposed
amendments to Section 2.6 of the Equity Incentive Plan (with amendments underlined and struck out)
are as follows:
2.6 Share Appreciation Right
A Participant may, if at any time determined by the Board, on the recommendation of the
Committee, have the right (the Right), when entitled to exercise an Option, to terminate such
Option in whole or in part (the Terminated Option) by notice in writing to the Company and, in
lieu of receiving the Shares (the Option Shares) to which the Terminated Option relates, to
receive the number of Shares, disregarding fractions, which is equal to the quotient obtained
by:
|
(a) |
|
subtracting the Option exercise price per Share from the Fair Market Value per Share on
the day immediately prior to the exercise of the Right and multiplying the remainder by the
number of Option Shares; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
dividing the product obtained under Section 2.6(a) by the Fair Market Value per Share
on the day immediately prior to the exercise of the Right. |
If a Right is granted in connection with an Option, it is exercisable only to the extent and on
the same conditions that the related Option is exercisable. For greater certainty, for purposes
of the aggregate number of sharesShares reserved for issuance under Section 5.1 of the
Plan, in the event of an exercise of a Right in respect of an Option, the number of Shares
available for issuance under the Plan will be reduced by the number of Shares to which the
Terminated Option relates rather than the number of Shares issued upon exercise of the Right in respect of such Option rather than the
number of Shares to which the Terminated Option relates.
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve the proposed amendment to Section 2.6 of the
Equity Incentive Plan as part of the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Resolution.
Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Resolution
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider, and if deemed advisable, approve the Equity
Incentive Plan Resolution giving effect to the amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan described
above. The full text of the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Resolution is set out in Schedule A to
this Management Proxy Circular.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
Management functions of the Company and its subsidiaries are not performed by a person or persons
other than the directors or senior officers of the Company.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Company is a reporting issuer in Canada and a registrant under the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Companys common shares are listed on TSX and quoted on the Nasdaq
Capital Market (Nasdaq). In recent years, securities regulators in Canada and the United States
have been placing increasing emphasis on the importance of good corporate governance practices and
disclosure of corporate governance practices by public companies. 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 the Company to disclose its corporate governance
practices with reference to various specified corporate governance criteria. The Guidelines set out
a series of corporate governance practices that the Canadian Securities Administrators believe
reflect a best practices standard to which they encourage Canadian public companies to adhere.
29
The following is a discussion of each of the Companys corporate governance practices for which
disclosure is required by the Disclosure Instrument. Unless otherwise indicated, the board of
directors believes that its corporate governance practices are consistent with those recommended by
the Guidelines.
Board of Directors
Director Independence
For the purposes of the Disclosure Instrument, a director is independent if he or she has no direct
or indirect material relationship with the Company. The Disclosure Instrument defines a material
relationship to be one which could reasonably be expected to interfere with the exercise of the
directors independent judgment and provides that certain specified relationships will, in all
circumstances, be considered material relationships.
As of the date of this Management Proxy Circular, the Companys board of directors consists of 6
individuals who are independent and 6 individuals who are not independent, applying the criteria
prescribed by the Disclosure Instrument and the criteria prescribed by the Nasdaq Marketplace
Rules. However, if all of managements nominees are elected as directors at the Meeting, the
Companys board of directors will consist of 5 individuals who are independent and 2 individuals
who are not independent, applying the criteria prescribed by the Disclosure Instrument and the
criteria prescribed by the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
Accordingly, although independent directors do not presently constitute a majority of the Companys
board of directors, if all of managements nominees are elected as directors at the Meeting, the
Companys board of directors will consist of a majority of independent directors as recommended by
the Guidelines.
The current directors determined to be independent are: A. Robert Abboud, Howard Balloch, Brian F.
Downey, Robert A. Pirraglia, J. Steven Rhodes and Peter Meredith. Except as described below,
Messrs. Abboud, Balloch, Downey, Pirraglia, and Meredith have no material relationship with the
Company except as directors and, as applicable, shareholders of the Company and are compensated by
the Company solely in their capacities as directors. Mr. Rhodes provides consulting services to the
Company for which he receives aggregate annual remuneration that falls below the threshold
prescribed by the Disclosure Instrument beyond which he would be considered to have a material
relationship with the Company.
Mr. Meredith is a director, senior officer, and member of management of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and
other companies in which Mr. Robert Friedland, a major shareholder of the Company, also acts as a
director, officer and major shareholder. Mr. Balloch is also a director of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Prior to the completion of the Companys merger with Ensyn Group, Inc. in 2005, Mr. Pirraglia was
an executive officer and director thereof and remains an executive officer and director of Ensyn
Corporation, a company spun out to the former shareholders of Ensyn Group, Inc. prior to the
completion of the merger, of which Dr. Robert Graham, a director of the Company and its former
Chief Technology Officer, acts as Chairman. In determining that Messrs. Meredith, Balloch and
Pirraglia are independent directors, the board considered the foregoing and noted that none of
these directors have any business, family, or other relationships with senior management of the
Company. Having regard to all the circumstances, the board has determined that each of Messrs.
Meredith, Balloch and Pirraglia is independent from management of the Company, and that the
business relationship of Messrs. Meredith and Balloch with Mr. Friedland, and the former
relationship of Mr. Pirraglia with Ensyn Group, Inc. and his ongoing relationship with Ensyn
Corporation, are not of such nature as to materially interfere with their ability to act with a
view to the best interest of the Company.
Messrs. Abboud, Balloch, Downey, Pirraglia, and Meredith will be standing for re-election as
directors at the Meeting. Mr. Rhodes will retire from the board of directors at the conclusion of
the Meeting.
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The directors determined not to be independent are: E. Leon Daniel, Robert M. Friedland, Dr. Robert
G. Graham, David R. Martin, Shun-ichi Shimizu and Joseph I. Gasca. The reasons why these directors
are not considered to be independent are as follows:
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Messrs. Daniel, Martin and Gasca are members of the Companys senior management and are
therefore not independent. |
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Mr. Friedland, although not formally a member of the Companys current management team,
has historically worked closely with management personnel on matters relating to the
implementation of the Companys corporate strategy, financing, evaluation of corporate
opportunities and investor relations. At the conclusion of the Meeting, it is expected that
the board of directors will formally appoint Mr. Friedland as the Companys new Chief
Executive Officer. Accordingly, the board of directors considers Mr. Friedland to be a
non-independent director. |
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Mr. Shimizu, although not currently an active member of the Companys senior management
team, is the managing director of a consulting company that provides ongoing consulting
services to the Company for which the consulting company receives a monthly retainer from
the Company. The board of directors believes that the nature and scope of these consulting
arrangements and the remuneration paid for the services provided are such that they
constitute, for the purposes of the Disclosure Instrument, an indirect material
relationship between Mr. Shimizu and the Company and, accordingly, Mr. Shimizu is
considered to be a non-independent director. |
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Although the board of directors believes that Dr. Graham is currently independent of
management, his status as Chief Technology Officer of the Company from April 1 to September
30, 2007 and as an executive officer of another company that furnishes consulting and other
services to one of the Companys subsidiaries acquired in its merger with Ensyn Group, Inc.
disqualifies him as an independent director under the Disclosure Instrument and the NASDAQ
Marketplace Rules. Accordingly, Dr. Graham is considered to be a non-independent director. |
Messrs. Friedland and Graham will be standing for re-election as directors at the Meeting. Messrs.
Daniel, Martin, Shimizu and Gasca will retire from the board of directors at the conclusion of the
Meeting.
Other Directorships
For information respecting those companies that are reporting issuers (or the equivalent) in Canada
or elsewhere in which any of the directors of the Company also act as directors, please see the
section entitled Election of Directors starting on page 6 of this Management Proxy Circular.
Meetings of Non-Management Directors
In conjunction with each regularly scheduled meeting of the board of directors, a separate meeting
of the non-management directors is scheduled at which members of management are not present to
address matters requested for discussion by non-management directors without management
participation. These meetings are typically attended by the independent directors and by those
directors who are not members of management but who do not qualify as independent pursuant to the
criteria set out in the Disclosure Instrument and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. The independent
directors believe that the non-management directors, despite being technically non-independent,
make as equally valuable and unbiased a contribution to these meetings as the non-management
directors who qualify as independent pursuant to the criteria set out in the Disclosure Instrument
and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. The Companys practice in this regard is not entirely consistent
with the Guidelines, which recommend that such meetings should exclude both members of management
and non-independent directors.
In addition, between regularly scheduled board meetings, meetings of non-management directors are
held to update the non-management directors on developments since the last board meeting.
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During 2007, 3 meetings of non-management directors were held in conjunction with regularly
scheduled board meetings, and 4 meetings were held by teleconference between regularly scheduled
board meetings.
Independence of Board Chair
A. Robert Abboud, the Co-Chairman and Lead Director of the board is an independent director. Mr.
Abbouds responsibilities include providing a source of board leadership and ensuring that the
board functions effectively, acting as a facilitator with respect to interaction among the
independent directors and between management and the independent directors and chairing meetings of
the independent and non-management directors.
Meeting Attendance Records
For information concerning the number of board and committee meetings held in 2007 and the
attendance record of each director in respect of those meetings, please see the section entitled
Election of Directors starting on page 6 of this Management Proxy Circular.
Mandate of the Board
Under the YBCA, the directors of the Company are required to manage the Companys business and
affairs, and in doing so to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the
Company. In addition, each director must exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably
prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
The board of directors is responsible for supervising the conduct of the Companys affairs and the
management of its business. The boards mandate includes setting long term goals and objectives
for the Company, to formulate the plans and strategies necessary to achieve those objectives and to
supervise senior management in their implementation. Although the board delegates the
responsibility for managing the day to day affairs of the Company to senior management personnel,
the board retains a supervisory role in respect of, and ultimate responsibility for, all matters
relating to the Company and its business.
The boards mandate requires that the board be satisfied that the Companys senior management will
manage the affairs of the Company in the best interest of the shareholders, in accordance with the
Companys principles, and that the arrangements made for the management of the Companys business
and affairs are consistent with their duty described above. The board is responsible for
protecting shareholder interests and ensuring that the interests of the shareholders and of
management are aligned. The obligation of the board must be performed continuously, and not merely
from time to time, and in times of crisis or emergency the board may have to assume a more direct
role in managing the affairs of the Company.
In discharging this responsibility, the boards mandate provides that the board oversees and
monitors significant corporate plans and strategic initiatives. The boards strategic planning
process includes annual and quarterly budget reviews and approvals, and discussions with management
relating to strategic and budgetary issues. At least one board meeting per year is to be devoted to
a comprehensive review of strategic corporate plans proposed by management.
As part of its ongoing review of business operations, the board reviews the principal risks
inherent in the Companys business, including financial risks, through periodic reports from
management of such risks, and assesses the systems established to manage those risks. Directly and
through the Audit Committee, the board also assesses the integrity of internal control over
financial reporting and management information systems.
In addition to those matters that must, by law, be approved by the board, the board is required
under its mandate to approve annual operating and capital budgets, any material dispositions,
acquisitions and
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investments outside of the ordinary course of business or not provided for in the approved budgets,
long-term strategy, organizational development plans and the appointment of senior executive
officers. Management is authorized to act, without board approval, on all ordinary course matters
relating to the Companys business.
The board also expects management to provide the directors on a timely basis with information
concerning the business and affairs of the Company, including financial and operating information
and information concerning industry developments as they occur, all with a view to enabling the
board to discharge its stewardship obligations effectively. The board expects management to
efficiently implement its strategic plans for the Company, to keep the board fully apprised of its
progress in doing so and to be fully accountable to the board in respect to all matters for which
it has been assigned responsibility.
The board has instructed management to maintain procedures to monitor and promptly address
shareholder concerns and has directed and will continue to direct management to apprise the board
of any major concerns expressed by shareholders.
Each committee of the board is empowered to engage external advisors as it sees fit. Any
individual director is entitled to engage an outside advisor at the expense of the Company provided
such director has obtained the approval of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to do
so.
The board has adopted a strategic planning process which involves, among other things, the
following:
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at least one meeting per year will be devoted to review of strategic plans that are
proposed by management; |
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meetings of the board, at least quarterly, to discuss strategic planning issues; |
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the board reviews and assists management in forming short and long term objectives of
the Company on an ongoing basis; and |
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the board also maintains oversight of managements strategic planning initiatives
through annual and quarterly budget reviews and approvals. |
The strategic planning process adopted by the board takes into account, among other things, the
opportunities and risks of the business.
In order to ensure that the principal business risks borne by the Company are identified and
appropriately managed, the board receives periodic reports from management of the Companys
assessment and management of such risks. In conjunction with its review of operations which takes
place at each board meeting, the board considers risk issues and addresses the management of the
risk of the Companys business.
The board takes ultimate responsibility for the appointment and monitoring of the Companys
executive management. The board approves the appointment of executive management and reviews their
performance on an ongoing basis.
The Company has a disclosure policy addressing, among other things, how the Company interacts with
analysts and the public. The disclosure policy contains measures for the Company to avoid selective
disclosure. The Company has a Disclosure Committee responsible for overseeing the Companys
disclosure practices. This committee consists of the Chief Executive Officer, who acts as the
Chairman of the Disclosure Committee, the Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Vice President
Finance and the Vice President and Corporate Secretary and receives advice from the Companys legal
counsel. The Disclosure Committee assesses materiality and determines when developments justify
public disclosure. The committee will review the disclosure policy annually and as otherwise
needed to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The board reviews and approves the
Companys material disclosure documents, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and management proxy circular. The Companys
annual and quarterly financial reports are reviewed by the Audit Committee and recommended to the
board prior to its release.
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Position Descriptions
Board Co-Chairmen and Committee Chair
The board previously developed written position descriptions for the Executive Co-Chairman, the
Independent Co-Chairman and Lead Director and the Chair of each of the boards committees. Insofar
as the size and composition of the Companys board of directors is expected to change following the
Meeting, certain of the existing position descriptions will require review and possibly revision.
Chief Executive Officer
Joseph Gasca was appointed as the Companys President and Chief Operating Officer in July 2006 and
became the Companys President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2007. At the conclusion of
the Meeting, Mr. Gasca will step down as President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Friedland
will become the Companys new Chief Executive Officer. In view of the change, the members of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are expected to develop a new written position
description for the Chief Executive Officer delineating his role and responsibilities.
Orientation and Continuing Education
Orientation
The Company takes steps to ensure that prospective directors fully understand the role of the board
and its committees and the contribution individual directors are expected to make, including, in
particular the commitment of time and energy that the Company expects of its directors. New
directors are provided with a comprehensive information package, including pertinent corporate
documents and a directors manual containing information on the duties, responsibilities and
liabilities of directors. New directors are also briefed by management as to the status of the
Companys business. Directors are provided with the opportunity to make site visits to the
Companys properties.
Continuing Education
Management and outside advisors provide information and education sessions to the board and its
committees on a continuing basis as necessary to keep the directors up-to-date with the Company,
its business and the environment in which it operates as well as with developments in the
responsibilities of directors. Presentations are made to the board from time to time to educate and
keep them informed of changes within the Company and of regulatory and industry requirements and
standards. In addition, directors are encouraged to take courses relevant to the Company and its
business, particularly with respect to corporate governance and the energy industry.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all employees,
consultants, officers and directors regardless of their position in the organization, at all times
and everywhere the Company does business. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics provides that the
Companys employees, consultants, officers and directors will uphold its commitment to a culture of
honesty, integrity and accountability and the Company requires the highest standards of
professional and ethical conduct from its employees, consultants, officers and directors. The Code
was amended effective November 2, 2007, to reflect the Companys adoption of a whistleblower policy
and to bring up to date the Companys internal reporting process in connection with Code-related
matters. The Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, as amended, has been filed as an
exhibit to the Companys 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. A
copy of the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be obtained, without charge, by
request to Ivanhoe Energy Inc., 654 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C
3E1, Attention: Vice President & Corporate Secretary, or by phone to 604-688-8323.
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The Audit Committee monitors compliance with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics through its
oversight of the Companys Whistleblowing Policy. The Board has not granted any waiver of the Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics in favour of a director or executive officer. Accordingly, no
material change report has been required or filed.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee monitors the disclosure of conflicts of interest
by directors with a view to ensuring that no director votes or participates in any board
deliberations on a matter in respect of which such director has a material interest.
The board has adopted a series of corporate policies and procedures aimed at encouraging and
promoting a culture of ethical business conduct. These include policies and procedures covering
such matters as corporate disclosure procedures and controls, confidentiality, securities trading
and whistleblowing.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Brian Downey, Robert Abboud and Howard Balloch, all of whom
are independent directors in accordance with criteria set out in the Canadian Securities
Administrators Audit Committee rules set out in Multilateral Instrument 52-110, and the Nasdaq
Marketplace Rules, having regard to the heightened independence requirements applicable to audit
committee members. Mr. Downey, who has been determined by the board to be an Audit Committee
Financial Expert, as such term is defined in the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
is the Chairman of the committee.
The mandate of the Audit Committee is to oversee the Companys financial reporting obligations,
systems and disclosure, including monitoring the integrity of the Companys financial statements,
monitoring the independence and performance of the Companys external auditors and acting as a
liaison between the board and the Companys auditors. The activities of the Audit Committee
typically include reviewing interim financial statements and annual financial statements,
management discussion and analysis and earnings press releases before they are publicly disclosed,
ensuring that internal controls over accounting and financial systems are maintained and that
accurate financial information is disseminated to shareholders. Other responsibilities include
reviewing the results of internal and external audits and any change in accounting procedures or
policies, and evaluating the performance of the Companys auditors. The Audit Committee
communicates directly with the Companys external auditors in order to discuss audit and related
matters whenever appropriate.
The board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are financially literate, since
each member has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a
breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth
and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Companys
financial statements.
The Company has adopted an Audit Committee charter which codifies the mandate of the Audit
Committee to, and specifically defines its relationship with, and expectations of, the external
auditors, including the establishment of the independence of the external auditor and the approval
of any non-audit mandates of the external auditor; the engagement, evaluation, remuneration and
termination of the external auditor; its relationship with, and expectations of, the internal
auditor function and its oversight of internal control; and the disclosure of financial and related
information. The board reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the Audit Committee charter on an
annual basis.
The Audit Committee has regular access to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The external
auditors regularly attend all meetings of the Audit Committee. At each meeting of the Audit
Committee, a portion of the meeting is set aside to discuss matters with the external auditors
without management being present. In addition, the Audit Committee has the authority to call a
meeting with the external auditors without management being present, at the committees discretion.
Additional information regarding the Audit Committee is located in the Directors and Officers
section of the Companys 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. A copy of the Audit Committees Charter
may be obtained upon request to
35
the Vice President & Corporate Secretary, 654 999 Canada Place, Vancouver. British Columbia, V6C
3E1, telephone (604) 688-8323.
Nomination of Directors
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Balloch, Pirraglia and
Rhodes, all of whom are independent directors in accordance with criteria set out in the Disclosure
Instrument and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Mr. Balloch is the Chairman of the committee.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is the
identification of new candidates for board nomination. Typically, the full board determines, based
on the Companys objectives and strategies and the perceived risks it faces, the competencies,
skills, experience and personal qualities it considers necessary or desirable in potential director
candidates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee then takes responsibility for
identifying potential candidates who possess some or all of these attributes for presentation to,
and assessment by, the full board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is also
responsible for assessing, on a periodic basis, the performance of individual directors and the
board as a whole.
Based on this framework, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee developed a skills
matrix outlining the Companys desired complement of directors competencies, skills and
characteristics. The Committee annually assesses the current competencies and characteristics
represented on the board and utilizes the matrix to determine the boards strengths and identify
any gaps that need to be filled. This analysis assists the Committee in discharging its
responsibility for approaching and proposing to the full board new nominees to the board, and for
assessing directors on an ongoing basis.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees responsibilities are outlined in the
committees Charter. Those responsibilities include:
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evaluating the Companys executive management succession plans; |
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ensuring that the board has the necessary structures and procedures so that it can
function with an appropriate degree of independence from management; |
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providing a forum without management present to receive expressions of concern,
including a concern regarding matters involving the independence of the board from
management; |
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establishing induction programs for new directors; |
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developing and maintaining continuing education programs for directors; and |
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reviewing the practices and procedures of the board in light of ongoing developments in
regulatory requirements and industry best practices in matters of corporate governance and
recommending to the board any changes considered necessary or desirable. |
A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees Charter may be obtained upon request
to the Vice President Corporate Secretary, 654 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia,
V6C 3E1, telephone (604) 688-8323.
Compensation
The board of directors determines the compensation to be paid to its directors and officers
primarily on the basis of recommendations made by the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the board with respect to
compensation for the Companys executive officers. See Report on Executive Compensation. The
Compensation Committee also reviews and makes recommendations to the board regarding the
36
adequacy and form of the compensation payable to non-executive directors to ensure that such
compensation realistically reflects the responsibilities and risks involved in being an effective
director without compromising such directors independence. Directors who are executives of the
Company receive no additional remuneration for their services as directors.
The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Balloch, Downey and Rhodes, all of whom are
independent directors in accordance with criteria set out in the Disclosure Instrument and the
Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Mr. Balloch is the Chairman of the committee.
The Compensation Committees responsibilities are outlined in the committees Charter. Those
responsibilities include:
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reviewing and adopting, on an annual basis, corporate goals and objectives relevant to
the compensation payable to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO); |
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evaluating the CEOs performance in light of adopted goals and objectives and set the
CEOs compensation level based on such evaluation; |
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reviewing and making recommendations to the board, on an annual basis, with respect to
the adequacy and form of compensation and benefits payable to executive officers and
non-executive directors; |
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administering and making recommendations to the board with respect to awards under the
Companys equity incentive and equity compensation plans; and |
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preparing periodic reports with respect to executive compensation in accordance with
applicable regulatory requirements. |
A copy of the Compensation Committees Charter may be obtained upon request to the Vice President &
Corporate Secretary, 654 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1, telephone (604)
688-8323.
The Company has implemented a corporate policy whereby non-management directors are required to
own, by March 2009 or within two years of joining the Board, whichever is later, a number of common
shares of the Company, exclusive of incentive stock options, equal in value to three times their
basic annual retainer for acting as directors.
Effective March 8, 2007, the Company implemented a corporate policy whereby the CEO is required to
own a number of common shares of the Company, exclusive of incentive stock options, equal in value
to three times his annual salary within two years of becoming the CEO.
Other Board Committees
The Board has no standing committees other than the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee,
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Business Development Committee.
The Business Development Committee was created by the board in May 2007 to oversee managements
efforts in business development and to ensure that all necessary resources are applied to the
Companys most prospective business opportunities. The committees members are Robert Pirraglia
(Chair), Robert Abboud, Robert Friedland, Steven Rhodes, Robert Graham, Shun-ichi Shimizu, Howard
Balloch and Brian Downey. Mr. Joseph Gasca, as CEO, is not a member of the committee but is
invited to attend and participate in its activities.
The committees responsibilities are outlined in its charter. A copy may be obtained upon request
to the Vice President & Corporate Secretary, 654 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia,
V6C 3E1, telephone (604) 688-8323.
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Assessments
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the responsibility for developing and
recommending to the board, and overseeing the execution of, a process for assessing the
effectiveness of the board as a whole, the committees of the board and the contribution of
individual directors, on a regular basis. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has
developed and is continuing to refine an assessment process for the board, each of its committees,
and the contribution of individual directors.
On an annual basis, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee sends a performance
evaluation questionnaire to all of the members of the board of directors. This questionnaire covers
a wide range of topics relating to board, committee and individual director performance and seeks
to elicit comments and recommendations for improvement. Responses are tabulated and analyzed by the
Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, who then reports the results to the
Committee and ultimately to the entire board of directors.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management of the Company is not aware of any matter to come before the Meeting other than the
matters referred to in the Notice of Meeting.
DIRECTORS APPROVAL
The contents of this Management Proxy Circular and its distribution to shareholders have been
approved by the board of directors of the Company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Copies of the Companys annual reports on Form 10-K, the Companys quarterly reports on Form 10-Q,
the Companys current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of
charge on or through the Companys website at www.ivanhoe-energy.com or through the SECs website
at www.sec.gov. Additional information relating to the Company is available free of charge on or
through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com. This
includes the Companys comparative financial statements and managements discussion and analysis
for its most recently completed financial year which may be viewed on the SECs website or on the
SEDAR website. Finally, securityholders may contact the Company directly to receive copies of
information relating to it, including its financial statements and managements discussion and
analysis, without charge, upon written or oral request to Beverly A. Bartlett, Vice President &
Corporate Secretary, Suite 654-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1, or by
telephone at (604) 688-8323.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia as of the 15th day of April, 2008.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
Beverly A. Bartlett
Vice President & Corporate Secretary
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SCHEDULE A
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AMENDMENT RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that:
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the proposed amendments to the Companys Employees And Directors Equity Incentive Plan (the
Equity Incentive Plan), as described in the Management Proxy Circular of the Company dated
April 15, 2008 which: |
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increase the aggregate number of common shares which the Company may issue or
reserve for issuance under the Incentive Plan, by 5,250,000 common shares, from
24,000,000 common shares to 29,250,000 common shares; and |
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increase the aggregate number of common shares which the Company may issue or
reserve for issuance under the Share Bonus Plan, by 500,000 common shares, from
2,400,000 common shares to 2,900,000 common shares; |
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be and are hereby approved; |
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the reservation by the Company of 245,905 common shares, in respect of incentive stock
options, that exceeded the maximum number of common shares available for issuance under the
Equity Incentive Plan, is hereby ratified and approved; |
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section 2.6 of the Equity Incentive Plan (with amendments underlined and struck out) as
follows: |
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2.6 Share Appreciation Right |
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A Participant may, if at any time determined by the Board, on the recommendation of the
Committee, have the right (the Right), when entitled to exercise an Option, to terminate
such Option in whole or in part (the Terminated Option) by notice in writing to the
Company and, in lieu of receiving the Shares (the Option Shares) to which the Terminated
Option relates, to receive the number of Shares, disregarding fractions, which is equal to
the quotient obtained by: |
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subtracting the Option exercise price per Share from the Fair Market
Value per Share on the day immediately prior to the exercise of the Right and
multiplying the remainder by the number of Option Shares; and |
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dividing the product obtained under Section 2.6(a) by the Fair Market
Value per Share on the day immediately prior to the exercise of the Right. |
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If a Right is granted in connection with an Option, it is exercisable only to the extent and
on the same conditions that the related Option is exercisable. For greater certainty, for
purposes of the aggregate number of sharesShares reserved for issuance under Section
5.1 of the Plan, in the event of an exercise of a Right in respect of an Option, the number
of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be reduced by the number of Shares to
which the Terminated Option relates rather than the number of Shares issued upon exercise of
the Right in respect of such Option rather than the number of Shares to which the
Terminated Option relates. |
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be and is hereby approved; and |
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any director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the
Company, to do all such things and execute all such documents and instruments as may be
necessary or desirable to give effect to this resolution. |
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Exhibit 2
IVANHOE ENERGY INC.
Suite 654 - 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3E1
Tel: 604-688-8323 Fax: 604-682-2060
PROXY
This proxy is solicited by the management of IVANHOE ENERGY INC. (the Company) for the Annual
Meeting of its shareholders (the Meeting) to be held on Thursday, May 29, 2008.
The undersigned hereby appoints Peter G. Meredith, Director of the Company, or failing him,
Beverly A. Bartlett, Vice President & Corporate Secretary of the Company, or instead of either of
the foregoing, (insert name)
, as nominee of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to
attend and vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Meeting to be
held in Suite 629 - 999 Canada
Place, Vancouver, British Columbia at 9:00 AM, local time, and at any adjournments thereof, and
directs the nominee to vote or withhold from voting, as applicable, the common shares of the
undersigned in the manner indicated below:
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1.
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
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The nominees proposed by management of the Company are: |
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A. ROBERT ABBOUD
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FOR ¨
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WITHHOLD ¨ |
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ROBERT M. FRIEDLAND
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FOR ¨
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WITHHOLD ¨ |
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HOWARD BALLOCH
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FOR ¨
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WITHHOLD ¨ |
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ROBERT G. GRAHAM
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FOR ¨
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WITHHOLD ¨ |
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ROBERT A. PIRRAGLIA
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FOR ¨
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WITHHOLD ¨ |
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BRIAN F. DOWNEY
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FOR ¨
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WITHHOLD ¨ |
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PETER G. MEREDITH
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FOR ¨
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WITHHOLD ¨ |
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2.
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APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS |
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To appoint Deloitte & Touche LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of the Company at a
remuneration to be fixed by the board of directors. |
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FOR ¨ WITHHOLD ¨ |
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EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AMENDMENT RESOLUTION |
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To consider and, if thought advisable, to pass an ordinary resolution authorizing the Company
to: (a) amend its Employees and Directors Equity Incentive Plan (the Equity Incentive
Plan) by (i) increasing the maximum number of common shares available for issuance thereunder
from 24,000,000 common shares to 29,250,000 common shares; (ii) increasing the maximum number
of common shares of the Company which may be allocated for issuance under the Bonus Plan
component of the Equity Incentive Plan from 2,400,000 common shares to 2,900,000 common
shares, (iii) making certain technical amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan; and (b)
ratifying the grant of excess stock options made pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan, as
more particularly described in the Management Proxy Circular that accompanies this Notice. |
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FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ |
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Upon any permitted amendment to or variation of any matter identified in the Notice of
Meeting. |
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Upon any other matter that properly comes before the Meeting. |
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THE UNDERSIGNED
HEREBY REVOKES ANY PRIOR PROXY OR PROXIES. |
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Note: If not dated, this proxy is deemed to be dated on the day sent by the Company. |
Affix label here
Name of Shareholder
Address of Shareholder
(Please advise the Company of any change of address)
NOTES:
A proxy will not be valid unless the completed, signed and dated form of proxy is FAXED to CIBC
Mellon Trust Company, Attention: Proxy Department 1-416-368-3976 or 1-866-781-3111 or delivered by
mail to P.O. Box 1900, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3X1 or P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, Ontario,
M1S 0A1 or delivered by hand to Suite 1600, The Oceanic Plaza, 1066 Hastings Street, Vancouver,
British Columbia, V6E 3K9 or 320 Bay Street, Banking Hall Level, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4A6, and
received by CIBC Mellon Trust Company not less than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays and holidays)
before the time at which the Meeting is to be held, or any adjournment thereof.
Any one of the joint holders of a common share may sign a form of proxy in respect of the share
but, if more than one of them is present at the Meeting or represented by proxyholder, that one of
them whose name appears first in the register of members in respect of the common share, or that
ones proxyholder, will alone be entitled to vote in respect thereof. Where the form of proxy is
signed by a corporation, either its corporate seal must be affixed or the form should be signed by
the corporation under the hand of an officer or an attorney duly authorized in writing.
A shareholder has the right to appoint a person, who need not be a shareholder, to attend and act
for the shareholder and on the shareholders behalf at the Meeting other than either of the
nominees designated in this form of proxy, and may do so by inserting the name of that other person
in the blank space provided for that purpose in this form of proxy or by completing another
suitable form of proxy.
The common shares represented by the proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with
the instructions of the shareholder on any ballot and where a choice with respect to a matter to be
acted on is specified, the common shares will be voted on a ballot in accordance with that
specification. This proxy confers discretionary authority with respect to matters, other than the
election of directors and appointment of auditor, identified or referred to in the accompanying
Notice of Annual Meeting for which no instruction is given, and with respect to other matters that
may properly come before the Meeting.
In respect of a matter so identified or referred to for which no instruction is given, the nominees
named in this proxy will vote common shares represented thereby for the approval of such matter.
Exhibit 3
SHAREHOLDER CONSENT TO DELIVERY OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
Ivanhoe Energy Inc. (the Company) is introducing a voluntary option for the delivery of Company
documents to its shareholders (Shareholders) by electronic means rather than traditional mailing
of paper copies. This option allows the Company to provide its shareholders a convenient method of
receiving materials meant to increase timeliness for Shareholders, provide benefits to our
environment and reduce costs.
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I consent to the electronic delivery of the documents listed below that the Company elects
to deliver to me electronically, all in accordance with the terms hereof. The consent granted
herein will last until revoked by the Shareholder. |
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The following documents that are filed with securities regulators and mailed to other
Shareholders will at the same time be delivered electronically to me (collectively referred
to as the Documents or each of them as a Document): |
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annual reports including financial
statements; |
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quarterly reports, including financial statements; |
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notices of meetings of shareholders, management information circulars and forms of
proxy; and |
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such other disclosure documents that
the Company makes available by electronic means. |
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The Documents will be delivered to you by the Company by making them available for your
viewing, downloading and/or saving on the Internet website
www.ivanhoe-energy.com the Website).
A Shareholder must then go to Investor Information and Financial Reports and locate the
document of interest for viewing.
The Company will advise you by e-mail when the documents are available on the Website. |
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The viewing, downloading and/or saving of a Document requires me to use: |
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a computer with a 486/33 processor
(or MacIntosh LC III) or higher with at
least 16 megabytes of RAM (Random Access Memory) and Windows 3.1; |
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access to an Internet service provider; |
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the program Netscape Navigator 3.0 (or higher) or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 (or
higher); |
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the program Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 (or higher) to read the material; and
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an electronic mail account to receive notification. |
For Shareholders without Adobe Acrobat Reader, a link will be provided to allow the downloading
of this program. Accordingly, I acknowledge that I understand the above technical requirements
and that I possess the technical ability and resources to receive electronic delivery in the
manner outlined in this Consent to Electronic Delivery of Documents.
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I acknowledge that I may receive at no cost a paper copy of any Document to be delivered if
the Company cannot make electronic delivery available or if I contact the Companys transfer
agent, CIBC Mellon by telephone at (866) 781-3111, regular mail at
Ivanhoe Energy Inc. c/o CIBC Mellon Trust Company, PO Box 1900, Vancouver, BC
V6C 3K9 or via electronic mail at inquiries@cibcmellon.com. I further acknowledge
that my request of a paper copy of any Document does not constitute revocation of this Consent
to Electronic Delivery of Documents. |
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The Documents will be posted on the Website for delivery for a period of time corresponding
to the notice period stipulated
under applicable legislation and the Documents will remain posted on the Website thereafter
for a period of time which is appropriate and relevant, given the nature of the document. |
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I understand that my consent may be revoked or changed at any time by notifying the Companys
transfer agent of such revocation or changed by telephone, regular mail or e-mail as specified
in paragraph 4 above. |
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I understand that the Company maintains in confidence the personal information I provide as a
Shareholder and uses it only for the purpose of Shareholder communication. |
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I understand that I am not required to consent to the electronic delivery of Documents. I
have read and understand this Consent to Electronic Delivery of Documents and I consent to the
electronic delivery of Documents on the foregoing terms. |
I have read and understand this Consent for Electronic Delivery of Documents for Ivanhoe
Energy Inc. and consent to the electronic delivery of the Documents on the terms outlined
above.
Please complete the below sections then mail or fax the form to CIBC Mellon Trust Company at the
address below.
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Print Shareholder(s) Name |
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(as it appears on your cheques, certificates, statements or correspondence) |
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E-mail Address |
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Mailing Address |
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Address 1 |
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Address 2 |
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City, Province/State |
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Post Code/Zip Code |
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Date
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Shareholder Signature(s) |
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Print and mail this form to:
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or
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Print and fax this form to: |
CIBC Mellon Trust Company
PO Box 1900
Vancouver, BC V6C 3K9
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1- 604-688-4301 |
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CIBC Mellon Trust Company
PO Box 7010
Adelaide Street Postal Station
Toronto, ON M5C 2W9
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1-416-643-5501 |
Exhibit 4
IVANHOE ENERGY INC.
Dear Shareholder:
As a non-registered shareholder of Ivanhoe Energy Inc., you are entitled to receive our interim
financial statements, annual financial statements, or both. If you wish to receive them, please
either complete and return this card by mail or submit your request online (see address below).
Your name will then be placed on the Supplemental Mailing List maintained by our Transfer Agent and
Registrar, CIBC Mellon Trust Company.
As long as you remain a non-registered shareholder, you will receive this card each year and will
be required to renew your request to receive these financial statements. If you have any questions
about this procedure, please contact CIBC Mellon Trust Company by phone at 1-800-387-0825 or (416)
643-5500 or at
www.cibcmellon.com/InvestorInquiry.
We encourage you to submit your request online at:
www.cibcmellon.com/FinancialStatements.
Our Company Code Number is 0435B.
NOTE: Do not return this card by mail if you have submitted your request online.
REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
TO: CIBC Mellon Trust Company
Please add my name to the Supplemental Mailing List for Ivanhoe Energy Inc. and send me their
financial statements as indicated below:
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Interim Financial Statements |
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Annual Financial Statements |
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(Please Print)
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Name
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Exhibit 5
IVANHOE ENERGY INC.
654 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1
Telephone: 604-688-8323 Fax: 604-682-2060
Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
May 29, 2008
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of IVANHOE ENERGY INC. (the
Company) will be held in Suite 629 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday,
May 29, 2008, at 9:00 AM local time (the Meeting) for the following purposes:
1. |
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to receive the report of the directors; |
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to receive the Companys audited financial statements for the financial year ended December
31, 2007 and the auditors report thereon; |
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to elect directors for the ensuing year; |
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4. |
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to appoint auditors for the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the directors to
fix the auditors remuneration; |
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5. |
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to consider and, if thought advisable, to pass an ordinary resolution authorizing the Company
to: (a) amend its Employees and Directors Equity Incentive Plan (the Equity Incentive
Plan) by (i) increasing the maximum number of common shares available for issuance thereunder
from 24,000,000 common shares to 29,250,000 common shares; (ii) increasing the maximum number
of common shares of the Company which may be allocated for issuance under the Bonus Plan
component of the Equity Incentive Plan from 2,400,000 common shares to 2,900,000 common
shares, (iii) making certain technical amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan; and (b)
ratifying the grant of excess stock options made pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan all as
more particularly described in the Management Proxy Circular that accompanies this Notice; and |
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6. |
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to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or
adjournments thereof. |
The Board of Directors has fixed April 11, 2008 as the record date for the determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, this Annual General Meeting and at any
adjournment thereof.
A Management Proxy Circular and a form of proxy accompany this Notice. The Management Proxy
Circular contains details of matters to be considered at the Meeting. The audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the auditors report
thereon, are expected to be mailed to shareholders on or about April 24, 2008.
A shareholder who is unable to attend the Meeting in person and who wishes to ensure that such
shareholders shares will be voted at the Meeting, is requested to complete, date and execute the
enclosed form of proxy and deliver it by facsimile, by hand or by mail in accordance with the
instructions set out in the form of proxy and in the Management Proxy Circular.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 15th day of April, 2008.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Beverly A. Bartlett
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Beverly A. Bartlett |
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Vice President & Corporate Secretary |
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