SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
6-K
Report
of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For
the month of,
|
May
|
|
2009
|
Commission
File Number
|
001
-
14620
|
|
|
Crystallex
International Corporation
|
(Translation
of registrant’s name into English)
|
18
King Street East, Suite 1210, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C
1C4
|
(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
40F:
Indicate by check mark if the
registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Indicate
by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the
registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant
to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the
file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule
12g3-2(b): 82-_______________
DOCUMENTS INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS
REPORT
Document
|
|
|
|
1
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Notice
of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders, dated May 12,
2009.
|
2
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Management
Information Circular, dated May 12, 2009.
|
3
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Form
of Proxy for Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held June
24, 2009.
|
This report on Form 6-K is incorporated
by reference into the registration statements on Forms F-1 (No. 333-08878), F-3
(Nos. 333-125380, 333-101583 and 333-91402) and S-8 (No. 333-126128) that the
Registrant has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
.
Document
1
CRYSTALLEX
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Suite
1201, 8 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1B5
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL
MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
TAKE
NOTICE that an annual and special meeting of the shareholders (the “Meeting”) of
Crystallex International Corporation (the “Corporation”) will be held at 9:00
a.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the Esso Theatre, Hockey Hall
of Fame, Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1X8 for the
following purposes:
1.
|
to
receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation
for the year ended December 31, 2008 together with the auditors’ report
thereon;
|
2.
|
to
appoint auditors of the Corporation and to authorize the board of
directors of the Corporation to fix their terms of engagement and
remuneration;
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3.
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to
elect directors of the Corporation;
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4.
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to
consider and, if thought advisable, to approve, by means of an ordinary
resolution, a new incentive share option
plan;
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5.
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to
consider and, if thought advisable, to approve by means of an ordinary
resolution, the continuation of the Corporation’s shareholder rights plan;
and
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6.
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to
vote with respect to any amendments or variations to the foregoing matters
and such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
|
The
board of directors of the Corporation has fixed the close of business on May 11,
2009 as the record date for determining the shareholders of the Corporation
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment
thereof.
The
accompanying management information circular (the “Circular”) provides
additional information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting
and forms part of this Notice.
A
copy of the annual report of the Corporation containing the audited consolidated
financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2008
together with the auditors’ report thereon accompanies this Notice.
Shareholders
are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and act on their behalf at the
Meeting. Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting in person
and who wish to ensure that their shares are voted at the Meeting are requested
to complete, sign and return the accompanying form of proxy in accordance with
the instructions set out therein and in the accompanying Circular.
DATED: May
12
, 2009.
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BY
THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
“Robert
A. Fung”
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Robert
A. Fung
|
|
Executive
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
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Document
2
MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
May
12, 2009
MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
VOTING
INFORMATION
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1
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Solicitation of Proxies
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1
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Date of Information in Circular
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1
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Voting Shares and Principal Shareholders
|
1
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Currency and Exchange Rate
|
1
|
Who Can Vote
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1
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Voting By Registered Shareholders
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2
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Voting By Non-Registered Shareholders
|
3
|
|
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BUSINESS
OF THE MEETING
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4
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Receipt of Financial Statements
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4
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Appointment of Auditors
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4
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Election of Directors
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4
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Approval of New Incentive Share Option Plan
|
6
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Continuation of Shareholder Rights Plan
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9
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STATEMENT
OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
13
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis
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13
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Performance Graph
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14
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Option-Based Awards
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14
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Summary Compensation Table
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14
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Outstanding Share-Based Awards and Option-Based Awards
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15
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Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Most Recently
Completed Financial Year
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17
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Pension Plan Benefits
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17
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Termination of Employment, Change in Responsibilities and Employment
Contracts
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17
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Report on Executive Compensation
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18
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Director Compensation
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19
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Outstanding Share-Based Awards and Option-Based Awards
|
20
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Directors and Officers Insurance
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21
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INDEBTEDNESS
OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
21
|
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EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLANS
|
21
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Former Incentive Share Option Plan
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22
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Former SOP Activity
|
23
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Directors’ Remuneration Plan
|
23
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Directors’ Remuneration Plan Activity
|
24
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Summary Information
|
24
|
|
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INTEREST
OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
|
25
|
|
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AUDIT
COMMITTEE INFORMATION
|
25
|
|
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INTEREST
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
|
25
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MANAGEMENT
CONTRACTS
|
25
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OTHER
MATTERS
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25
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Shareholder Proposals
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25
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Glossary
|
25
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Additional Information
|
26
|
|
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BOARD
APPROVAL
|
26
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Schedule
A CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE
|
1
|
|
|
Schedule
B CHARTER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
1
|
|
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Schedule
C COMPARISON TO CANADIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
REQUIREMENTS
|
1
|
CRYSTALLEX
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Suite
1201, 8 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1B5
Telephone:
(416) 203-2448
VOTING
INFORMATION
Solicitation
of Proxies
This management information circular
(the “Circular”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by
management of Crystallex International Corporation (the “Corporation”) for use
at the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation (the
“Meeting”) to be held at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in
the Notice of Meeting accompanying this Circular.
The
solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, but proxies may also be
solicited by telephone, in writing or in person by the directors, officers and
employees of the Corporation or by agents appointed by the
Corporation. The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne by
the Corporation.
Date
of Information in Circular
Information
contained in this Circular is given as at May 12, 2009 unless otherwise
indicated.
Voting
Shares and Principal Shareholders
The
Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares (“
Common Shares
”), an unlimited
number of Class A Preference shares and an unlimited number of Class B
Preference shares. As at the date of this Circular, there were 294,817,719
Common Shares, no Class A Preference shares and no Class B Preference
shares issued and outstanding. The Common Shares are listed and posted for
trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “
TSX
”) and the NYSE Amex under
the symbol “KRY”.
Other
than as set forth below, as at the date of this Circular, to the knowledge of
the directors and executive officers of the Corporation, no person beneficially
owns or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, securities of the
Corporation carrying 10% or more of the voting rights attached to any class of
voting securities of the Corporation.
Name
& Municipality of
Residence
|
|
Type of Ownership
|
|
Number
and Percentage of Common Shares
as at
November 30,
2008
|
Tradewinds
Global Investors, LLC
Los
Angeles, California, USA
(1)
|
|
Beneficial
|
|
44,569,218
(15.12%)
(2)
|
Notes:
(1)
|
Based
on information contained in a report filed by Tradewinds Global Investors,
LLC under the Alternative Monthly Reporting System of National Instrument
62-103 as at November 30, 2008.
|
(2)
|
Based
on a total of 294,817,719 issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the
date of this Circular.
|
Currency
and Exchange Rate
The
noon buying rate of exchange on May 12, 2009, as quoted by the Bank of Canada
for Canadian dollars was CAD$1.00 per US$0.8565.
Who
Can Vote
Unless
a poll is requested or required, voting at the Meeting will be by a show of
hands with each shareholder having one vote. If a poll is requested or required,
shareholders will have one vote for each common share of the Corporation held by
them. Unless otherwise indicated, a simple majority of the votes cast is
required to approve a resolution at the Meeting.
May
11, 2009 is the record date to determine shareholders who are entitled to
receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Registered shareholders
at the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote at the
Meeting. You are a registered shareholder if your name appears on
your share certificate.
Each
Common Share entitles the holder to one vote in respect of the vote taken at the
Meeting. In respect of matters properly brought before the Meeting
pertaining to items of business affecting them, each shareholder is entitled to
one vote for each Common Share they hold.
Voting
By Registered Shareholders
The
following instructions are for registered shareholders only. If you are a
non-registered shareholder, please see “Voting by Non-Registered Shareholders”
below and follow your intermediary’s instructions on how to vote your Common
Shares.
Only
registered shareholders may vote at the meeting. Registered shareholders who
attend the Meeting may vote the Common Shares registered in their names on
resolutions put before the Meeting. To ensure your vote is counted, complete and
return the enclosed form of proxy as soon as possible even if you attend the
Meeting in person. Even if you return a proxy, you can attend the Meeting and
your vote can be taken and counted at the Meeting. Please register your
attendance with the scrutineer, CIBC Mellon Trust Company, upon your arrival at
the Meeting.
If
you are a registered shareholder but do not plan to attend the Meeting, you may
vote by using a proxy to appoint someone to attend the Meeting as your
proxyholder. A proxy is a document that authorizes another person to attend the
Meeting and cast votes at the Meeting on behalf of a registered shareholder. If
you are a registered shareholder, you can use the accompanying form of proxy.
You may also use any other legal form of proxy.
Your
proxyholder is the person you appoint to cast your votes for you at the Meeting.
The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are executive officers or
directors of the Corporation. You may choose those individuals or any other
person to be your proxyholder. Your proxyholder does not have to be a
shareholder. If you want to authorize an executive officer or director of the
Corporation as your proxyholder, please leave the line near the top of the proxy
form blank, as their names are pre-printed on the form. If you want to authorize
another person as your proxyholder, fill in that person’s name in the blank
space located near the top of the enclosed proxy form.
Your
proxy authorizes the proxyholder to vote and otherwise act for you at the
Meeting, including any continuation of the Meeting that may occur if the Meeting
is adjourned.
If
you mark on the proxy how you want to vote on a particular issue (by checking
FOR, AGAINST OR WITHHOLD, as applicable), your proxyholder must vote your Common
Shares as instructed. If you do NOT mark on the proxy how you want to vote on a
particular matter, your proxyholder is entitled to vote your Common Shares as he
or she sees fit. If your proxy does not specify how to vote on any particular
matter, and if you have authorized an executive officer or director of the
Corporation to act as your proxyholder, your Common Shares will be voted at the
Meeting FOR the Resolution.
If
any amendments are proposed to a resolution, or if any other matters properly
arise at the Meeting, your proxyholder can vote your Common Shares and as he or
she sees fit. The Notice of Meeting sets out all the matters to be presented at
the Meeting that are known to management as of the date of this
Circular.
To
be valid, a proxy must be filled out, correctly signed (exactly as your name
appears on the share certificate representing the Common Shares) and deposited
with CIBC Mellon Trust Company, Proxy Department by mail using the return
envelope accompanying the Notice of Meeting to CIBC Mellon Trust Company at P.O.
Box 721, Agincourt, Ontario, M1S 0A1, by hand delivery to CIBC Mellon Trust
Company at 320 Bay Street, Banking Hall Level, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4A6, or by
facsimile to 416-368-2502 not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 22,
2009 (or no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays) before any reconvened meeting if the Meeting is adjourned or
postponed).
If
you want to revoke a proxy after you have delivered it, another properly
executed proxy bearing a later date should be delivered by you as set out above,
or you can deposit an instrument in writing executed by you or your attorney
authorized in writing or by transmitting a revocation, that is in any case
received:
|
•
|
at
the registered office of the Corporation by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on
the last Business Day preceding the date of the Meeting, or any
postponement(s) or adjournment(s) of the Meeting,
or
|
|
•
|
with
the scrutineers of the Meeting, to the attention of the chair of the
Meeting, at or immediately prior to the commencement of the Meeting or any
postponement(s) or adjournment(s) of the Meeting, or in any other way
permitted by law.
|
If
you revoke a proxy and do not replace it with another proxy that is properly
deposited, you may still vote Common Shares registered in your name in person at
the Meeting.
Voting
By Non-Registered Shareholders
You
may be a non-registered shareholder (as opposed to a registered shareholder) if
your Common Shares are held on your behalf, or for your account, by an
intermediary, such as a broker, an investment dealer, a bank or a trust company.
In accordance with Canadian securities law, the Corporation has distributed
copies of the meeting materials to intermediaries for onward 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. Typically, intermediaries will use a service
company to forward the meeting materials to non-registered
shareholders.
Non-registered
shareholders will receive either voting instruction forms or, less frequently,
forms of proxy. The purpose of these forms is to permit non-registered
shareholders to direct the voting of the Common Shares they beneficially own.
Non-registered shareholders should follow the procedures set out below,
depending on which type of form they receive.
|
(a)
|
Voting Instruction Form.
In most cases, a non-registered shareholder will receive, as part
of the meeting materials, a voting instruction form. If the non-registered
shareholder does not wish to attend and vote at the Meeting in person (or
have another person attend and vote on the holder’s behalf), the voting
instruction form must be completed, signed and returned in accordance with
the directions on the form. If a non-registered shareholder wishes to
attend and vote at the Meeting in person (or have another person attend
and vote on the holder’s behalf), the non-registered shareholder must
complete, sign and return the voting instruction form in accordance with
the directions provided.
|
or
|
(b)
|
Forms of Proxy.
Less
frequently, a non-registered shareholder will receive, as part of the
meeting materials, forms of proxy that have 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 uncompleted. If the
non-registered shareholder does not wish to attend and vote at the Meeting
in person (or have another person attend and vote on the non-registered
shareholder’s behalf), the non-registered shareholder must complete a
proxy and return it to the Corporation’s transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust
Company, as described above. If a non-registered shareholder
wishes to attend and vote at the Meeting in person (or have another person
attend and vote on the holder’s behalf), the non-registered shareholder
must strike out the names of the persons named in the proxy and insert the
non-registered shareholder’s (or such other person’s) name in the blank
space provided and return the proxy in accordance with the instructions
provided by the intermediary.
|
Non-registered
shareholders should follow the instructions on the forms they receive and
contact their intermediaries promptly if they need assistance.
Please
Complete Your Proxy or Proxies
Whether
or not you plan to attend the Meeting, the management of the Corporation, with
the support of the board of directors, requests that you fill out your proxy or
proxies to ensure your votes are cast at the Meeting. This solicitation of your
proxy or proxies (your vote) is made on behalf of management, and the associated
costs will be borne by the Corporation.
BUSINESS
OF THE MEETING
Receipt
of Financial Statements
The
audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2008 and accompanying auditors’ report thereon will be
presented at the Meeting. Receipt of the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Corporation together with the auditors’ report thereon at the
Meeting will not constitute approval or disapproval of any matters referred to
therein.
Appointment
of Auditors
At
the Meeting, the management of the Corporation proposes to nominate
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of the
Corporation on terms of engagement and at remuneration to be fixed by the board
of directors of the Corporation (the “
Board
”). PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP has acted as the Corporation’s auditors since June 28, 2007.
Unless
otherwise directed, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend
to vote “For” the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the
Corporation for the year ending December 31, 2009, and to authorize the Board to
fix the auditors’ terms of engagement and remuneration.
Election
of Directors
The
articles of the Corporation provide that the Corporation shall have a minimum of
one director and a maximum of ten directors. The articles also provide that the
actual number of directors within the specified minimum and maximum may be
determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. The Board has
fixed the number of
directors of the Corporation, within the specified minimum and maximum, at
eight. The term of office of each of the current directors expires on the
election of directors at the Meeting.
Management
of the Corporation intends to nominate the individuals named below for election
as directors of the Corporation.
Unless otherwise directed, the
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote “For” the
election of the proposed nominees as directors of the Corporation. The
Corporation has not received notice, and management of the Corporation is not
aware, of any other nominees for election as directors of the
Corporation.
Management
does not expect that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as director but
if that should occur for any reason prior to the Meeting, the persons named in
the accompanying form of proxy will vote for another nominee of management if
presented, or to reduce the number of directors accordingly, in their
discretion, unless discretionary authority is denied in the form of
proxy.
The
table below sets out the following information for each proposed nominee: (a)
name and province or state and country of residence and position with the
Corporation; (b) principal occupation during the past five years; (c) the period
during which the individual has served as a director; (d) the number of Common
Shares beneficially owned or controlled or directed; directly or indirectly; and
(e) the Board committees of which the individual is a member.
- 5 -
Name,
Residence and
Position
with Corporation
(1)
|
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past 5 Years
(1)
|
|
|
|
Number
of Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled or Directed, Directly or
Indirectly
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
A. Fung
(3)(6)
Ontario,
Canada
Chair
of the Board
and
Director
|
|
Advisor,
Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. (formerly Orion Securities
Inc.)
|
|
December
3, 1996
|
|
19,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gordon
M. Thompson
(3)(6)
Ontario,
Canada
|
|
Former
President & CEO, Crystallex International Corporation; Senior
Vice-President, Corporate Development, Sentry Select Capital
Corp.
|
|
February
1, 2007
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
J. H. Brown
(3)(4)(5)(6)
Ontario,
Canada
Director
|
|
Principal,
Capital Markets Advisory
Division,
Acer Resource Financial
Management
Inc.
|
|
October
10, 2002
|
|
104,260
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.
William Longden
(2)
(6)
Ontario,
Canada
Director
|
|
Vice
Chairman, MMM Group Limited
|
|
July
25, 2000
|
|
115,287
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harry
J. Near
(2)(5)
Ontario,
Canada
Director
|
|
President,
Near Consultants & Associates; Principal, The Earnscliffe Strategy
Group
|
|
May
5, 1997
|
|
192,683
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marc
J. Oppenheimer
(3)(6)
New
Jersey, United States
of
America
Director
|
|
President,
Octagon Assoc. Inc.; Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer of IDT Corporation; Executive Vice President of Kenmar Global
Investment Management Inc.
|
|
February
20, 1995
|
|
535,282
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Johan
C. van’t Hof
(2)(3)
Ontario,
Canada
Director
|
|
President,
Tonbridge Corporation
|
|
March
12, 2004
|
|
45,739
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Armando
F. Zullo
(4)(5)
British
Columbia, Canada
Director
|
|
President,
A.F. Zullo & Company Ltd.
|
|
December
3, 1996
|
|
111,902
|
Notes:
(1)
|
Information
on the province or state and country of residence, the principal
occupation and the number of Common Shares beneficially owned or
controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by each proposed nominee
is not within the knowledge of management of the Corporation and has been
furnished by the proposed nominee. The number of Common Shares
beneficially owned or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by
each proposed nominee is as at the date of this
Circular.
|
(2)
|
Member
of the Audit Committee.
|
(3)
|
Member
of the Finance and Risk Management
Committee.
|
(4)
|
Member
of the Corporate Governance
Committee.
|
(5)
|
Member
of the Nominating and Compensation Committee. Johan van’t Hof was replaced
by Harry J. Near as a member of the Nominating and Compensation Committee
effective June 25, 2008.
|
(6)
|
Member
of the Environment, Health and Safety and Operations
Committee.
|
Other
than as described below, no director or senior officer of the Corporation is, at
the date of this Circular, or has, within ten years prior to the date of this
Circular:
(a)
|
been
a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any
company that (i) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a
cease trade order or an order that denied the company access to any
exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of
more than 30 consecutive days; or (ii) was subject to a cease trade order,
an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied
the
|
|
company
access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect
for a period of more than 30 consecutive days that was issued after the
proposed director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or
chief financial officer and which resulted form an event that occurred
while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive
officer or chief financial officer;
|
|
|
(b)
|
been
a director or
executive
officer of any company that, while that person was acting in that
capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity,
became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to
bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings,
arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver
manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets;
or
|
(c)
|
become
bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or
insolvency or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement
or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or
trustee appointed to hold the assets of that
individual.
|
Other
than as described below, no director or senior officer of the Corporation is, at
the date of this Circular, or has been subject to (i) any penalties or sanctions
imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities
regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a
securities regulatory authority; or (ii) any other penalties or sanctions
imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important
to a reasonable security holder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed
director.
In
connection with a proposal with certain creditors filed on February 29, 2008,
Mr. Fung has reached a settlement with these creditors on March 12,
2009.
Approval
of New Incentive Share Option Plan
Background
of the New Incentive Share Option Plan
The
Board of Directors of the Corporation has concluded that it would be in the
Corporation’s best interest to adopt a new incentive share option plan (the
“New Share Option Plan”
or
“New SOP”
),
subject to approval by the shareholders of the Corporation. At the
Meeting, shareholders of the Corporation will be asked to approve the New Share
Option Plan. Since June 2008, the Corporation has not had options
available to issue under its previously approved share option plan.
The
purpose of the New Share Option Plan is to provide certain directors, officers
and key employees of the Corporation and certain other persons who provide
services to the Corporation (“
eligible persons
”) with an
opportunity to purchase Common Shares and benefit in any appreciation in the
value of the Common Shares. This is intended to provide an increased
incentive for eligible persons to contribute to the future success and
prosperity of the Corporation, thus enhancing the value of the Common Shares for
the benefit of all the shareholders and increasing the ability of the
Corporation to attract and retain skilled and motivated individuals in the
service of the Corporation. Approval of the New Share Option Plan is in the best
interest of the Corporation for the following additional reasons:
·
|
The
issuance of share options for the above purposes is an accepted and
customary compensation arrangement in the mineral resource
industry. Share options increase the alignment of interests
between a company and its management employees and service
providers.
|
·
|
The
inability to award share options places the Corporation in a disadvantaged
position relative to its competitors to attract and retain top
talent.
|
·
|
The
Corporation’s current inability to issue options has resulted in an
additional drain on cash resources that would otherwise be more
efficiently deployed to further the economic interests of the business of
the Corporation and all of its
shareholders.
|
The
Corporation believes its business depends on its ability to attract and keep
talented employees. Share options remain a key compensation element
as a means of attracting, retaining and motivating directors, officers,
consultants
and
key employees necessary for its continued growth and success. The
inability to award share options places the Corporation at a disadvantage
against other companies which can award share options and against which the
Corporation competes to secure highly skilled employees. Share
options are an integral part of compensation currency that reduces the need to
compensate management employees and service providers using the Corporation’s
cash reserves. The Corporation also believes that share options are
an incentive to tie the performance of its management employees and service
providers to its share price, thus increasing shareholder value.
The
shareholders of the Corporation previously approved the Corporation’s incentive
share option plan (the
“Former
Incentive Share Option Plan”
or
“Former SOP”
) in June 2002.
Subsequently, shareholders of the Corporation approved an amendment to the
Former SOP to increase the maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable
under the Former SOP in June 2005
, and certain
amendments to the Former SOP relating to blackout periods, cashless exercise and
the addition of detailed amendment provisions
in June 2007
. Effective June 24,
2008,
the Corporation ceased to grant options under the Former SOP. The
Former SOP provided that the maximum number of Common Shares issuable under the
Former SOP be equal to 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time
to time. As at the date of this Circular, options to purchase an additional
10,517,522 Common Shares under the Former SOP were outstanding. No additional
options to acquire Common Shares are available for grant under the Former SOP.
For additional information concerning the Former Incentive Share Option Plan
please see “Equity Compensation Plans - Former Incentive Share Option
Plan”.
There
will be no change to the terms of the above-described options issued and
outstanding under the Former SOP and no consolidation of the options already
granted under the Former SOP will be made into the New SOP.
Summary
of Material Terms of the New Share Option Plan
There
is a maximum of 8,000,000 Common Shares reserved for issuance under the New SOP,
representing approximately 2.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as
at the date of this Circular. The New SOP provides that any one
individual cannot receive options under the SOP which will entitle such
individual to receive more than 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares
of the issuer. The New SOP limits insider participation such that the
number of Common Shares reserved for issuance at any point in time and issued to
insiders over any one year period, under the New SOP and any other
security-based compensation arrangement, does not exceed 10% of issued and
outstanding Common Shares.
The
Board will set the term of options granted under the New SOP and such term
cannot exceed 10 years.
The Board fixes the
vesting terms it deems appropriate when granting options. The
exercise price and the exercise periods of options granted under the New SOP are
determined at the time of grant. The New SOP provides that exercise
price of options may not be lower than the closing price of the Common Shares on
the TSX on the trading day immediately preceding the date of
grant. Previously granted options under the New SOP will be available
for re-allocation if they expire or are cancelled prior to their exercise. If
the holder of an option ceases to be an eligible person for any reason
(including termination of their employment with the Corporation for cause),
unless otherwise determined or provided in an employment agreement between the
holder and the Corporation, all unvested options held by the holder expire and
all vested options held by the holder must be exercised, in the case of death,
within the lesser of the remainder of the exercise period and 24 months after
the holder ceased to be an eligible person and, in all other cases, during the
remainder of the exercise period. Options may not be assigned or
transferred with the exception of an assignment made to a personal
representative of a deceased participant.
The
Corporation does not provide financial assistance to holders of options to
facilitate the purchase of Common Shares on the exercise of their options.
Options granted under the New SOP may be transferred only on death and are
exercisable during the lifetime of the holder only by the holder and after the
death of the holder only by the holder’s legal representative.
The
New SOP permits the exercise of certain options which would otherwise have
expired during or within 10 business days following a period in which trading in
the Common Shares is restricted by the policies of the Corporation. The New SOP
also provides the Board with the flexibility to permit eligible participants in
the New SOP to receive, without payment by the participant of any additional
consideration, Common Shares equal to the value of the option (or the portion
thereof) being exercised by surrender of the option to the
Corporation.
The
Board may amend or terminate the New SOP at any time in accordance with its
terms subject to any applicable regulatory or other approvals. The Board has the
discretion to make amendments which it may deem necessary, without having to
obtain shareholder approval. Such changes include, without
limitation:
|
(a)
|
minor
changes of a “house-keeping”
nature;
|
|
(b)
|
amending
options under the New SOP, including with respect to the option period
(provided that the period during which an option is exercisable does not
exceed 10 years from the date the option is granted and that such option
is not held by an insider), vesting period, exercise method and frequency,
exercise price or purchase price, assignability and effect of termination
of a participant’s employment or cessation of the participant’s
directorship;
|
|
(c)
|
changing
the class of participants eligible to participate under the New
SOP;
|
|
(d)
|
advancing
the date on which any option may be exercised or extending the expiration
date of any option, provided that the period during which an option is
exercisable does not exceed 10 years from the date the option is
granted;
|
|
(e)
|
changing
the terms and conditions of any financial assistance which may be provided
by the Corporation to participants to facilitate the purchase of Common
Shares under the New SOP; and
|
|
(f)
|
amending
a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or securities, whether or not
providing for a full deduction of the number of underlying Common Shares
from the New SOP reserve.
|
Notwithstanding
the amendment provisions contained in the New SOP, approval of the shareholders
of the Corporation will be required in the case of (i) any amendment to the
amendment provisions of the New SOP, (ii) any increase in the maximum number of
Common Shares issuable under the New SOP, (iii) any reduction in the exercise
price or any extension of the term of outstanding options, and (iv) any changes
to the insider participation limits which result in the security holder approval
to be required on a disinterested basis, in addition to such other matters that
may require shareholder approval under the rules and policies of the TSX. No
amendment or termination of the New SOP may change any rights of a holder of
options without the consent of the holder.
The
full text of the New Share Option Plan will be available for review at the
Meeting.
Shareholder
Approval
The
Board of Directors of the Corporation has determined that the adoption of the
New Share Option Plan is in the best interest of the Corporation and recommends
that shareholders vote in favour of the following resolution:
“BE
IT RESOLVED THAT:
1.
|
the
adoption of the Corporation’s New Share Option Plan be and is hereby
ratified, confirmed and approved;
and
|
2.
|
any
director or officer of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed,
for and on behalf of the Corporation, to do all such acts and things and
to execute, whether under the corporate seal of the Corporation or
otherwise, and deliver all such documents and instruments as may be
considered necessary or desirable to give effect to the
foregoing.”
|
Unless
otherwise directed, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend
to vote “For” the resolution to approve the New Share Option Plan as set out
above.
Continuation
of Shareholder Rights Plan
Background
to the Rights Plan
Effective
June 22, 2006, the Board voted to adopt the shareholder rights plan (the “
Rights Plan
”) replacing the
Corporation’s original shareholder rights plan which had been in place since
1997 and expired upon the termination of the Corporation’s 2006 annual and
special meeting of shareholders held on the same date. The Rights Plan is
contained in an agreement (the “
Rights Agreement
”) entered
into with CIBC Mellon Trust Company, the Corporation’s transfer agent. The
Rights Plan is designed to ensure the fair treatment of shareholders in
connection with any take-over bid for the Corporation and to provide the Board
and shareholders with sufficient time to fully consider any unsolicited
take-over bid. The Rights Plan also provides the Board with time to pursue, if
appropriate, other alternatives to maximize shareholder value in the event of a
take-over bid. Shareholders of the Corporation approved, confirmed
and ratified the Rights Agreement at the annual and special meeting of
shareholders held on October 30, 2006.
Objectives
of the Rights Plan
The
principle objectives of the Rights Plan are to ensure that, in the event that a
bid for control of the Corporation is made pursuant to an acquisition of Common
Shares (the “
Voting
Shares
”), the Board has sufficient time to explore and develop
alternatives for maximizing shareholder value and to provide adequate time for
competing bids to be tabled. From the shareholders’ perspective, the Rights Plan
ensures that shareholders have enough time to properly assess the bid and
ensures that shareholders have an equal opportunity to participate in such a
bid.
In
approving the Rights Plan, the Board considered the following concerns inherent
in the existing legislative framework governing take-over bids in
Canada:
1.
|
Time
. Current
legislation permits a take-over bid to expire in 35 days. The Board is of
the view that this is not sufficient time to permit shareholders to
consider a take-over bid and to make a reasoned and unhurried decision.
The Rights Plan provides a mechanism whereby the minimum expiry period for
a take-over bid must be 60 days after the date of the bid and the bid must
remain open for a further period of 10 business days after the offeror
publicly announces that the shares deposited or tendered and not withdrawn
constitute more than 50% of the Voting Shares outstanding held by
Independent Shareholders (generally, shareholders other than the offeror
or acquiring person, their associates and affiliates, the persons acting
jointly or in concert with the offeror or acquiring person). The Rights
Plan is intended to provide shareholders with adequate time to properly
evaluate the offer and to provide the Board with sufficient time to
explore and develop alternatives for maximizing shareholder value. Those
alternatives could include, if deemed appropriate by the Board, the
identification of other potential bidders, the conducting of an orderly
auction or the development of a corporate restructuring alternative which
could enhance shareholder value.
|
2.
|
Pressure to Tender
. A
shareholder may feel compelled to tender to a bid which the shareholder
considers to be inadequate out of concern that failing to tender may
result in the shareholder being left with illiquid or minority discounted
shares in the Corporation. This is particularly so in the case of a
partial bid for less than all shares of a class, where the bidder wishes
to obtain a control position but does not wish to acquire all of the
Voting Shares. The Rights Plan provides a shareholder approval mechanism
in the permitted bid provision which is intended to ensure that a
shareholder can separate the tender decision from the approval or
disapproval of a particular take-over bid. By requiring that a bid remain
open for acceptance for a further 10 business days following public
announcement that more than 50% of the Voting Shares held by Independent
Shareholders have been deposited, a shareholder’s decision to accept a bid
is separated from the decision to tender, lessening the undue pressure to
tender typically encountered by a shareholder of a corporation that is the
subject of a take-over bid.
|
3.
|
Unequal Treatment
.
While existing securities legislation has substantially addressed many
concerns of unequal treatment, there remains the possibility that control
of a corporation may be acquired pursuant to a private agreement in which
a small group of shareholders dispose of shares at a premium to market
price which premium is not shared with other shareholders. In addition, a
person may slowly accumulate shares through stock exchange acquisitions
which may result, over time, in an acquisition of control
without
|
payment
of fair value for control or a fair sharing of a control premium among all
shareholders. The Rights Plan addresses these concerns by applying to all
acquisitions of greater than 20% of the Voting Shares, to better ensure that
shareholders receive equal treatment.
Management
has reviewed the Rights Plan for conformity with current practices of Canadian
companies with respect to shareholder rights plan design and has determined that
the Rights Plan conforms to such practices.
Shareholder
Approval
Pursuant
to the terms of the Rights Agreement, the Rights Plan will expire upon the
termination of the Meeting unless the Rights Agreement is continued. The Board
has determined it appropriate and in the best interests of the shareholders of
the Corporation that the Rights Agreement be continued for another three years.
Accordingly, it is proposed that the term of the Rights Plan be extended until
the termination of the annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation in
2012. This proposal is not in response to or in anticipation of any pending or
threatened take-over bid for the Corporation.
The
Board has determined that the continuation of the Rights Plan is in the best
interest of the Corporation and recommends that shareholders vote in favour of
the following resolution:
“BE
IT RESOLVED THAT:
1.
|
the
term of the shareholder rights plan agreement dated as of June 22, 2006
between the Corporation and CIBC Mellon Trust Company (the “Rights
Agreement”), be extended to the termination of the annual meeting of
shareholders of the Corporation in the year 2012, and the Rights Agreement
be amended to give effect to such extension;
and
|
2.
|
any
one director or officer of the Corporation be and is hereby authorized to
execute and deliver on behalf of the Corporation all such documents and
instruments and to do all such other acts and things as in his opinion may
be necessary or desirable in connection with, or to give effect to, the
foregoing.”
|
Under
the Rights Agreement, the above resolution (the “
Rights Plan Resolution
”)
requires the approval of a simple majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by
independent shareholders. In effect, all shareholders will be considered
independent shareholders provided they are not, at the relevant time, an
Acquiring Person (as described below) or making a take-over bid for the
Corporation. The Corporation is not aware of any shareholder whose vote at the
Meeting would be excluded for purposes of the approval requirement under the
Rights Agreement. The TSX requires that the Rights Plan Resolution be passed by
a simple majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by all shareholders.
The Board has determined that the
Rights Plan is in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders and
unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “For” of the Rights Plan
Resolution.
The
persons named in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote “For” the Rights Plan
Resolution unless otherwise directed by the shareholder appointing
them.
Summary
of the Rights Plan
The
following is a summary of the pertinent features of the Rights Plan. The summary
is not meant to be complete and should be read in conjunction with the full text
of the Rights Agreement. All capitalized terms, where not defined herein, have
the meaning ascribed to them in the Rights Agreement. A copy of the Rights
Agreement may be viewed in electronic format at www.sedar.com or the
Corporation’s website at www.crystallex.com, or can be obtained in paper format
from the Corporation at Crystallex International Corporation, Suite 1210, 8 King
Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1B5, Canada.
Term
Provided
the Rights Plan Resolution is approved at the Meeting, the Rights Plan will
remain in effect until termination of the annual meeting of shareholders of the
Corporation in 2012 unless the term of the Rights Agreement is terminated
earlier. The Rights Plan may be extended beyond 2012 by resolution of
shareholders at
such
meeting. If the Rights Plan Resolution is not approved at the Meeting, the
Rights Plan will terminate at the conclusion of the Meeting.
Triggering of the
Plan
The
Rights Plan is triggered when an attempt is made by a Person to become the
Beneficial Owner of more than 20% of the Voting Shares of the Corporation. In
becoming the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Corporation’s Voting Shares,
the Person becomes an Acquiring Person. Such a transaction is called a Flip-In
Event and is described in further detail below.
Issuance of
Rights
The
Rights Plan attaches a right (a “Right”) to each Common Share. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase one Common Share at the Exercise
Price equal to five times the Market Price of the Common Shares. Any Rights held
by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries shall be void. The Rights are only
exercisable from after the Separation Time (defined herein) and before the
Expiration Time (defined herein).
Evidence of Rights and
Transferability
Until
the Separation Time, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificate associated
with the Common Shares registered in the name of the holder thereof and will be
transferable only together with the associated Common Shares.
From
and after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the registration
and transfer of Rights shall be separate from and independent of the Common
Shares. Accordingly, Rights Certificates, separate from the Common Share
certificates, will be issued to the respective holders pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the Plan.
Exercisable Period:
Separation Time to Expiration Time
The
Rights are only exercisable from after the Separation Time. Generally speaking,
the Plan defines the latter term as eight Trading Days after the earlier of (i)
the first date the Take-over Bid was publicly announced or (ii) the date the
intent by a Person to commence a Take-over Bid was publicly announced; and (iii)
such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors. If a Take-over
Bid is withdrawn prior to the Separation time, it shall be deemed to never have
been made. The Expiration time is generally considered to be the date the Plan
is terminated.
Acquiring
Person
In
general, an Acquiring Person is a Person who is the Beneficial Owner or 20% or
more of the Corporation’s outstanding Voting Shares. Excluded from the
definition of “Acquiring Person” are the Corporation, and any Person who becomes
the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares as a result
of one or more or any combination of a Voting Share Reduction, a Permitted Bid
Acquisition, an Exempt Acquisition, a Convertible Security Acquisition or a Pro
Rata Acquisition. The definitions of “Voting Share Reduction,” “Permitted Bid
Acquisition,” “Exempt Acquisition,” “Convertible Security Acquisition” and “Pro
Rata Acquisition” are set out in the Rights Plan.
However,
in general:
|
(i)
|
A
“Voting Share Reduction” means an acquisition or redemption by the
Corporation of Voting Shares or any other transaction which increases
Beneficial Ownership to more than
20%;
|
|
(ii)
|
a
“Permitted Bid Acquisition” means an acquisition of Voting Shares made
pursuant to a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted
Bid;
|
|
(iii)
|
an
“Exempt Acquisition” includes a share acquisition in respect of which the
Board has waived the application of the Rights
Plan;
|
|
(iv)
|
a
“Convertible Security Acquisition” means an acquisition of Voting Shares
upon the exercise of Convertible Securities received by such Person
pursuant to a Permitted Bid Acquisition, Exempt Acquisition or a Pro Rata
Acquisition; and
|
|
(v)
|
a
“Pro Rata Acquisition” means an acquisition of Voting Shares or
Convertible Securities as a result of a Dividend Reinvestment Acquisition,
stock dividend, a stock split or other similar event, acquired on the same
pro rata basis as all other holders of Voting
Shares.
|
Also
excluded from the definition of “Acquiring Person” are underwriters or members
of a banking or selling group acting in connection with a distribution of
securities by way of prospectus or private placement, and a Person in its
capacity as an Investment Manager, Trust Corporation, Administrator, nominee of
a securities depository, pension fund or plan, Statutory Body or Crown agent or
agency (provided that such person is not making or proposing to made a Take-over
Bid) or a holder of a security pursuant to a Permitted Lock-Up
Agreement.
Flip-In
Event
A
Flip-In Event is defined as a transaction in which any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person. When a Flip-in Event occurs the registered holder of the said
Rights is given the right to purchase that number of Common Shares having an
aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-in
Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the
Exercise Price (such right to be subject to adjustment in accordance with the
Rights Plan). For example, if at that time the Exercise Price is CAD$150 and the
Common Shares have a Market Price of CAD$50, the holder of each Right would be
entitled to receive CAD$300 in market value of Common Shares (6 Common Shares)
for CAD$150, i.e., at a 50% discount.
However,
pursuant to the Rights Plan, any and all Rights held by an Acquiring Person
become void upon the occurrence of a Flip-in Event thereby rendering any
take-over bid, other than a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid,
prohibitively expensive for the Acquiring Person. In other words, mechanisms of
the Rights Plan are such that any person looking to acquire more than 20% of the
Voting Shares must do so via a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid. The
intended overall effect is to ensure that shareholders obtain the full and fair
value of their Voting Shares and that adequate time is provided to review the
proposed take-over.
Permitted
Bid
A
Permitted Bid is a Take-Over Bid made by an Offeror by way of a circular that
also complies with the following provisions:
|
(i)
|
the
Take-over Bid is made to all holders of Voting Shares as registered on the
books of the Corporation, other than the
Offeror;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Take-over Bid contains an irrevocable and unqualified provision that no
Voting Shares will be taken up or paid for pursuant to the Take-over Bid
prior to the close of business on the date which is not less than 60 days
following the date of the Take-over Bid and only if more than 50% of the
Voting Shares held by Independent Shareholders shall have been tendered
and not withdrawn;
|
|
(iii)
|
the
Take-over Bid must provide that Common Shares may be deposited at any time
during the bid period and that any Common Shares so deposited may be
withdrawn at any time during such period;
and
|
|
(iv)
|
if
more than 50% of the Common shares held by Independent Shareholders have
been tendered pursuant to the Take-over Bid and not withdrawn as at the
close of business on the date of first take-up or payment for Voting
Shares under the Take-over Bid, the Take-over Bid will remain open for
deposits and tenders of Voting Shares for an additional ten Business Days
to allow holders of common shares who did not tender initially to take
advantage of the bid if they so
choose.
|
Competing Permitted
Bid
A
Competing Permitted Bid means a Take-over Bid made while another Permitted Bid
is in existence and that satisfies all of the provisions of a Permitted Bid
except that the Voting Shares that are the subject of the Take-over Bid may be
taken up or paid for on a date which is not earlier than the later of 21 days,
as opposed to 60 days as required in a Permitted Bid, after the date of the
Take-over Bid or the earliest date on which Voting Shares may be taken up or
paid for under any other Permitted Bid that is then in existence for the Voting
Shares.
STATEMENT
OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
The
Nominating and Compensation Committee, which is composed of Messrs. Brown
(Chair), Zullo and van’t Hof, reviews and makes recommendations to the Board
with respect to the compensation of the executive officers of the Corporation.
This committee also recommends candidates for election to the Board, including
the Chief Executive Officer.
Directors
who are also members of management absent themselves from a meeting, or portion
of a meeting, of the Board where such individual’s compensation is discussed and
refrains from voting in respect of the approval of such
compensation.
Objectives
of Compensation Program
The
Corporation’s principal goal is to create value for its shareholders. The
Corporation believes that the compensation policies and practices of the
Corporation should reflect the interests of its shareholders in achieving this
goal.
The
Corporation’s compensation philosophy is based upon the following principal
objectives: (i) aligning the interests of the Chief Executive Officer and the
other executive officers of the Corporation with the interests of the
Corporation and its shareholders; (ii) linking executive compensation to the
performance of the Corporation and each executive officer of the Corporation;
and (iii) attracting, motivating and retaining individuals with exceptional
executive, technical, financial and other relevant skills.
The
Nominating and Compensation Committee reviews compensation as a whole, taking
into account salary, bonuses and any other form of compensation.
Annual
Salaries and Performance Bonuses
To
ensure that the Corporation attracts and retains qualified and experienced
executives, the Nominating and Compensation Committee annually reviews and, if
appropriate, adjusts the base salaries of its executive officers.
The
performance criteria considered in determining performance bonus awards vary in
accordance with the position and responsibilities of the executive of the
Corporation. While not solely based on any one item, key considerations in
determining performance bonuses for executives of the Corporation include the
operating performance of the Corporation, the guidance and strategic vision for
growth and business goals of the Corporation, the performance of the Common
Shares and other organizational indicators, as well as individual achievements
that demonstrate a contribution by the executive officer to the Corporation. The
Nominating and Compensation Committee also considers industry peer compensation
in assisting it to arrive at its recommendations.
2008
Compensation
The
components of the executive compensation are comprised of base salary and
bonuses. In December 2008, a performance review was performed in respect of all
executive officers of the Corporation. In reviewing the compensation of
executive officers, the Nominating and Compensation Committee reviewed such
compensation as a whole, taking into account salary and bonuses. The main
consideration in establishing base salary ranges for the executive officers was
the evaluation of market comparables for similar positions. For the
year 2008, the
Nominating
and Compensation Committee took note of the following factors: (a) the
particular responsibilities related to the position; (b) salaries paid by
comparable businesses; (c) the experience level of the executive officer; and
(d) his or her overall performance.
Performance
Graph
The
following performance graph compares the cumulative return to shareholders of
the Corporation of an investment in Common Shares with the cumulative return to
them of an investment in the Standard & Poor’s/Toronto Stock Exchange
Composite Index (“
TSX
Composite
”) and the Standard & Poor’s/Toronto Stock Exchange Global
Gold Index (formerly, the S&P/TSX Capped Gold Index) (“
TSX Gold
”) assuming an
investment of CAD$100 on December 31, 2003 and, where applicable, the
reinvestment of dividends.
|
Index
|
Dec
31/03
|
Dec
31/04
|
Dec
31/05
|
Dec
31/06
|
Dec
31/07
|
Dec
31/08
|
|
|
Corporation
|
$100
|
$122.86
|
$71.43
|
$120.86
|
$65.71
|
$5.43
|
|
|
TSX
Composite
|
$100
|
$112.48
|
$137.12
|
$157.02
|
$168.27
|
$109.33
|
|
|
TSX
Gold
(1)
|
$100
|
$91.00
|
$110.48
|
$140.88
|
$134.23
|
$136.29
|
|
No
part of discretionary bonus payments that were made were as a direct result of
the share price and financial status of the Corporation during the year ended
December 31, 2008.
Note:
(1)
|
The
index methodology change from S&P/TSX Capped Gold Index to S&P/TSX
Global Gold Index was effective on December 18,
2006.
|
Option-Based
Awards
There
were no options for Common Shares granted to the Named Executive Officers during
2008 as there were no options available under the Corporation’s Former
SOP.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets out information concerning the compensation paid during the
most recently completed financial year to (a) each of the individuals who served
as the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Corporation
during the most recently completed financial year; (b) each of the three most
highly compensated executive officers of the Corporation, other than the chief
executive officer and the chief financial officer, who were serving as executive
officers at the end of the most recently completed financial year and whose
total salary and bonus exceeds CAD$150,000; and (c) each of the individuals who
would have been included in (b) if they had been serving as an officer of
the Corporation at the most recently completed financial year end (the “
Named Executive Officers
”).
All compensation amounts are reported in U.S. dollars. Compensation paid in
Canadian dollars has been translated to U.S. dollars using an average exchange
rate of US$0.9478 per CAD$1.00.
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation
|
|
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Share-Based
Awards
(1)
|
Option-Based
Awards
(2)
|
Annual
Incentive Plans
(3)
|
Long-Term
Incentive Plans
(1)
|
Pension
Value
(1)
|
All
Other Compensation
|
Total
Compensation
|
Robert
Fung
(4)
Chief
Executive Officer
|
2008
|
$55,288
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
$100,000
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$208,659
|
$363,947
|
Gordon
M. Thompson
(5)
Former
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
2008
|
$315,933
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$60,054
|
$375,987
|
Hemdat
Sawh
(6)
Chief
Financial Officer
|
2008
|
$231,263
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
$92,505
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$11,124
|
$334,892
|
Robert
Crombie
(7)
President
(former Senior Vice-President
Corporate
Development)
|
2008
|
$317,513
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
$151,648
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$218,819
|
$687,980
|
William
A. Faust
(8)
Senior
Vice-President
and
Chief Operating Officer
|
2008
|
$290,580
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
nil
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$15,502
|
$306,082
|
Richard
Marshall
(9)
Vice-President
Investor
Relations
|
2008
|
$173,313
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
$71,200
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$7,155
|
$251,668
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
Corporation does not have share-based, long-term incentive or pension
plans.
|
(2)
|
No
stock options were granted under the stock option plan prior to June 24,
2008. No options were available to be granted under the plan after June
24, 2008.
|
(3)
|
Annual
bonuses are reported in the year in which they were earned, not the year
in which they were paid.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Fung was appointed Chief Executive Officer on June 4, 2008 with an annual
salary of CAD$100,000. Other Annual Compensation of US$208,659 reflects
compensation for Mr. Fung’s ongoing role as Executive Chairman of the
Board and consists of payments of US$170,604 for chairman fees
(CAD$180,000 per annum), and US$38,055 in lieu of annual director’s stock
options which were unavailable under the Corporation’s Former SOP. The
annual incentive compensation reflects the minimum bonus for his role as
Executive Chairman.
|
(5)
|
Mr.
Thompson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on February
1, 2007 and resigned from this position on June 4, 2008. His annual salary
was CAD$500,000 and the amount noted above represents the salary paid to
Mr. Thompson from January 1, 2008 to June 4, 2008 for fiscal 2008.
Other Annual
Compensation of US$60,054 reflects compensation for Mr. Thompson’s role as
a director and consists of payments of director fees of US$22,000 and
US$38,054 in lieu of annual director’s stock options which were
unavailable under the Corporation’s Former
SOP.
|
(6)
|
Mr.
Sawh was appointed Chief Financial Officer on May 15, 2007. His annual
salary in 2008 was CAD$244,000.
|
(7)
|
Mr.
Crombie was appointed President on June 3, 2008 with an annual salary of
CAD$400,000, prior to that he held the position of Senior Vice-President,
Corporate Development with an annual salary of
CAD$244,000. Included in 2008 Other Annual Compensation for Mr.
Crombie is a one time promotion payment of US$207,568 in lieu of stock
options which were unavailable under the Corporation’s Former
SOP.
|
(8)
|
Mr.
Faust was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer on
April 16, 2007. His annual salary in 2008 was
US$292,000.
|
(9)
|
Mr.
Marshall was appointed Vice President Investor Relations in 2003. His
annual salary in 2008 was
US$178,000.
|
Outstanding
Share-Based Awards and Option-Based Awards
The
following table sets out information concerning all awards outstanding at the
end of the most recently completed financial year. This includes unexercised
options held by the Named Executive Officers during 2008 and the value of
unexercised options held by the Named Executive Officers as at December 31,
2008. The closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on December 31, 2008 was
CAD$0.19. The Corporation does not have a share-based plan.
Name
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
|
Option Exercise
Price
(CAD)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
Value
of
Unexercised
In-
the-Money
Options
|
Robert
Fung
|
300,000
|
$2.27
|
July
25, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$1.75
|
Nov.
13, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$2.20
|
July
2, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$2.23
|
July
16, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
50,000
|
$2.14
|
Jan.
14, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
45,000
|
$1.90
|
June
26, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
525,000
|
$3.00
|
Aug.
10, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
40,000
|
$3.17
|
June
17, 2014
|
Nil
|
|
25,000
|
$4.65
|
June
23, 2015
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$3.45
|
June
21, 2016
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
1,260,000
|
|
|
|
Gordon
M. Thompson
|
50,000
|
$2.65
|
Mar.
21, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
35,000
|
$2.20
|
July
2, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
100,000
|
$2.25
|
Nov.
18, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
400,000
|
$3.41
|
Feb.
1, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
30,000
|
$2.23
|
July
16, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
150,000
|
$2.13
|
Dec.
24, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
30,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
795,000
|
|
|
|
Hemdat
Sawh
|
150,000
|
$4.79
|
May
17, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
90,000
|
$4.64
|
June
6, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
25,000
|
$2.30
|
Dec.
3, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
265,000
|
|
|
|
Robert
Crombie
|
50,000
|
$3.17
|
June
17, 2009
|
Nil
|
|
30,000
|
$4.05
|
Dec.
20, 2009
|
Nil
|
|
26,400
|
$2.37
|
Dec.
16, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
50,000
|
$4.09
|
Nov.
20, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
16,900
|
$4.09
|
Nov.
20, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
25,000
|
$4.23
|
April
2, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
25,000
|
$2.30
|
Dec.
3, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
50,000
|
$3.00
|
Aug.
10, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
273,300
|
|
|
|
William
A. Faust
|
25,000
|
$2.30
|
Dec.
3, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
193,429
|
$4.87
|
April
16, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
31,571
|
$4.86
|
May
9, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
Richard
Marshall
|
50,000
|
$4.05
|
Dec.
20, 2009
|
Nil
|
|
27,800
|
$2.37
|
Dec.
16, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
50,000
|
$4.09
|
Nov.
20, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
16,800
|
$4.09
|
Nov.
20, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
20,000
|
$2.30
|
Dec.
3, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
130,000
|
$3.00
|
Aug.
10, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
294,600
|
|
|
|
Incentive
Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Most Recently Completed
Financial Year
Name
|
Option-Based
Awards –
Value
Vested During
the
Year (US$)
|
Share-Based
Awards – Value
Vested
During the Year (US$)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
– Value Earned
During
the Year (US$)
|
Robert
Fung
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$100,000
|
Gordon
M. Thompson
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Hemdat
Sawh
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$92,505
|
Robert
Crombie
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$151,648
|
William
A. Faust
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Richard
Marshall
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
$71,200
|
Pension
Plan Benefits
The
Corporation has no pension plan benefits in place.
Termination
of Employment, Change in Responsibilities and Employment Contracts
The
Corporation entered into: (1) an agreement effective as of January 1, 2004 with
Robert Fung to serve as Chair of the Board; (2) an employment agreement
effective as of May 15, 2007 with Hemdat Sawh to serve as the Chief Financial
Officer of the Corporation; (3) an employment agreement effective as of June 1,
2008 with Robert Crombie to serve as President of the Corporation; (4) an
employment agreement effective as of March 15, 2007 with William A. Faust to
serve as Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation;
and (5) an employment agreement effective as of June 9, 2008 with Richard
Marshall to serve as Vice-President, Investor Relations of the
Corporation.
The
Corporation has entered into an agreement dated January 1, 2004 with Robert Fung
to serve as Chair of the Board. Under the agreement, Mr. Fung
receives annual compensation of CAD$180,000 payable monthly in arrears, and an
annual bonus of not less than US$100,000. On June 3, 2008, Mr. Fung
was appointed CEO for which he receives an additional annual compensation of
CAD$100,000. In the event of a change of control of the Corporation
which results in Mr. Fung’s termination as Chair of the Board and CEO, Mr. Fung
is entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to three times his combined
annual compensation including the bonus described above.
Under
Mr. Sawh’s employment agreement, he is entitled to receive an annual base salary
of CAD$244,000 and participate in the Corporation’s benefit programs. He is also
eligible to receive an annual bonus up to a maximum target of 50% of his annual
base salary based on satisfactory achievement of performance objectives
established for such year and to receive grants of stock options under and in
accordance with the Share Option Plan equal in value, as at the date of grant of
such options, of up to a maximum target of 50% of his annual base salary. In the
event that his employment is terminated for disability, Mr. Sawh is
entitled to continue to receive his annual base salary and benefits for a period
of one year. In the event that his employment is terminated for any
reason other than disability or cause, Mr. Sawh is entitled to receive a lump
sum payment equal to two times his annual base salary and a continuation of his
benefits for a period of two years. In the event that his employment is
terminated within six months after a change of control of the Corporation (which
includes the acquisition of ownership of or control or direction over more than
50% by value of the assets of the Corporation), Mr. Sawh is entitled to receive:
(a) a lump sum payment equal to two times his annual base salary; (b) an amount
equal to the aggregate of: (i) his maximum target bonus for the year in which
the termination occurred pro-rated to the date of termination; and (ii) his
maximum target bonus for a period of two years; and (c) a continuation of his
benefits for a period of two years.
Under
Mr. Crombie’s employment agreement, he is entitled to receive an annual base
salary of CAD$400,000 and participate in the Corporation’s benefit programs. He
is also eligible to receive an annual bonus up to a maximum target of 50% of his
annual base salary based on satisfactory achievement of performance objectives
established for such year and to receive grants of stock options under and in
accordance with the Share Option Plan equal in value, as at the date of grant of
such options, of up to a maximum target of 50% of his annual base salary. In the
event that his employment is terminated for disability, Mr. Crombie is
entitled to continue to receive his annual base salary and benefits for a period
of one year. In the event that his employment is terminated for any reason other
than disability or cause, Mr. Crombie is entitled to receive a lump sum payment
equal to two and one-half times his annual base
salary
and a continuation of his benefits for a period of two and one half years. In
the event that his employment is terminated within six months after a change of
control of the Corporation (which includes the acquisition of ownership of or
control or direction over more than 50% by value of the assets of the
Corporation), Mr. Crombie is entitled to receive: (a) a lump sum payment equal
to two and one-half times his annual base salary; (b) an amount equal to the
aggregate of: (i) his maximum target bonus for the year in which the termination
occurred pro-rated to the date of termination; and (ii) his maximum target bonus
for a period of two and one-half years; and (c) a continuation of his benefits
for a period of two and one-half years.
Under
Mr. Faust’s employment agreement, he is entitled to receive an annual base
salary of US$292,000 and participate in the Corporation’s benefit programs. He
is also eligible to receive an annual bonus up to a maximum target of 50% of his
annual base salary based on satisfactory achievement of performance objectives
established for such year and to receive grants of stock options under and in
accordance with the Share Option Plan equal in value, as at the date of grant of
such options, of up to a maximum target of 50% of his annual base salary. In the
event that his employment is terminated for disability, Mr. Faust is
entitled to continue to receive his annual base salary and benefits for a period
of one year. In the event that his employment is terminated for any
reason other than disability or cause, Mr. Faust is entitled to receive a lump
sum payment equal to two times his annual base salary and a continuation of his
benefits for a period of two years. In the event that his employment is
terminated within six months after a change of control of the Corporation (which
includes the acquisition of ownership of or control or direction over more than
50% by value of the assets of the Corporation), Mr. Faust is entitled to
receive: (a) a lump sum payment equal to two times his annual base salary; (b)
an amount equal to the aggregate of: (i) his maximum target bonus for the year
in which the termination occurred pro-rated to the date of termination; and (ii)
his maximum target bonus for a period of two years; and (c) a continuation of
his benefits for a period of two years.
Under
Mr. Marshall’s employment agreement, he is entitled to receive an annual base
salary of US$178,000 and participate in the Corporation’s benefit programs. He
is also eligible to receive an annual bonus up to a maximum target of 50% of his
annual base salary based on satisfactory achievement of performance objectives
established for such year and to receive grants of stock options under and in
accordance with the Share Option Plan equal in value, as at the date of grant of
such options, of up to a maximum target of 50% of his annual base salary. In the
event that his employment is terminated for disability, Mr. Marshall is
entitled to continue to receive his annual base salary and benefits for a period
of one year. In the event that his employment is terminated for any
reason other than disability or cause, Mr. Marshall is entitled to receive a
lump sum payment equal to two times his annual base salary and a continuation of
his benefits for a period of two years. In the event that his employment is
terminated within six months after a change of control of the Corporation (which
includes the acquisition of ownership of or control or direction over more than
50% by value of the assets of the Corporation), Mr. Marshall is entitled to
receive: (a) a lump sum payment equal to two times his annual base salary; (b)
an amount equal to the aggregate of: (i) his maximum target bonus for the year
in which the termination occurred pro-rated to the date of termination; and (ii)
his maximum target bonus for a period of two years; and (c) a continuation of
his benefits for a period of two years.
Report
on Executive Compensation
Executive
compensation may be comprised of any combination of cash (in the form of salary
and bonus), benefits and stock options.
Executive
compensation is based on an evaluation of individual qualifications and
performance, a comparison of compensation packages in peer group companies and
the performance of the Corporation. A new executive compensation
system was unanimously approved by the Board in December, 2004 and became
effective January 1, 2005. The new system is based on the findings of Enns and
Company and Towers Perrin, whose services were engaged to assist the Corporation
in developing an executive compensation system appropriate for the Corporation’s
organizational structure. The objective of the exercise was to make executive
compensation consistent with industry standards and practices. Under the system,
executive compensation has three principal components: a base salary that is a
function of industry norms and relevant experience; a cash bonus that is a
function of achieving defined performance goals determined by the Compensation
Committee; and a long-term incentive share option plan that is also a function
of achieving such performance goals.
The
performance of the President and Chief Executive Officer is evaluated annually
by the Nominating and Compensation Committee. The Nominating and
Compensation Committee has determined that the compensation
package
remains consistent with the industry compensation benchmarks reviewed by the
Nominating and Compensation Committee at the time of hiring.
Director
Compensation
The
following table sets out all amounts of compensation provided to the directors,
other than directors who are Named Executive Officers, for the Corporation’s
most recently completed financial year. All compensation amounts are reported in
U.S. dollar. Compensation paid in Canadian dollars has been translated to U.S.
dollar using an average exchange rate of US$0.9478 per CAD$1.00.
Name
|
Fees
Earned
|
Share-Based
Awards
|
Option-Based
Awards
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation
|
Pension
Value
|
All Other
Compensation
(1)
|
Total
|
Michael
J. H. Brown
|
$72,000
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
$61,019
|
$133,019
|
C.
William Longden
|
$66,000
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
$44,973
|
$110,973
|
Harry
J. Near
|
$68,000
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
$41,514
|
$109,514
|
Marc
J. Oppenheimer
|
$62,000
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
$35,732
|
$99,732
|
Johan
C. van’t Hof
|
$143,824
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
$48,725
|
$192,549
|
Armando
F. Zullo
|
$70,000
|
n/a
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
$38,054
|
$108,054
|
Notes:
(1)
|
All
other compensation includes payment in lieu of annual director’s stock
options which were unavailable under the Corporation’s Former
SOP.
|
Other
than Messrs. Thompson (until June 3, 2008) and Fung, directors of the
Corporation are compensated for their services as directors through a
combination of annual fees, stock options and, in the discretion of the Board in
certain circumstances, special payments. Mr. Fung receives no additional
compensation for serving as a director other than an annual grant of stock
options to acquire Common Shares. Mr. Thompson, in his role of
director, received an annual grant of stock options to acquire Common Shares and
was eligible for all other director compensation when he ceased to be Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation on June 3, 2008.
Other
than Messrs. Thompson (until June 3, 2008) and Fung, directors of the
Corporation receive an annual fee of US$20,000 and US$2,000 meeting fee payable,
at the option of the Corporation; in Common Shares (see “Equity Compensation
Plans - Directors Remuneration Plan. In 2008, Directors were paid in aggregate
US$481,824 in semi-annual retainer and meeting fees which were settled by a
combination of cash and issuing Common Shares.
Prior
to June 25, 2008, all directors received an annual grant of options to acquire
25,000 Common Shares. The options were customarily granted immediately after the
annual general meeting of shareholders of the Corporation in each year. It is
the Corporation’s intention to continue this practice in the event of
shareholders’ approval of the New SOP. If the New SOP is not
approved, the Corporation will pay cash in lieu of options.
Prior
to June 25, 2008, with the exception of the Audit Committee, the Chair of a
Board committee received an additional annual grant of options to acquire 20,000
Common Shares and a member of a Board committee (other than the Chair) received
an additional annual grant of options to acquire 15,000 Common
Shares. The Chair of the Audit Committee received an additional
annual grant of options to acquire 30,000 Common Shares and a member of the
Audit Committee (other than the Chair) received an additional annual grant of
options to acquire 20,000 Common Shares. The options were granted
immediately after the annual general meeting of shareholders of the Corporation
in each year. It is the Corporation’s intention to continue this
practice in the event of shareholders’ approval of the New SOP. If
the New SOP is not approved, the Corporation will pay cash in lieu of
options.
The
Corporation would have granted a total of 515,000 stock options as annual
compensation to directors for their services on the Board and Committees of the
Board as detailed above. On June 25, 2008, the Corporation did not have any
options available to be granted under the Former SOP. Accordingly, the
Corporation paid its Directors the
aggregate
of US$305,749 as cash compensation for their services that would have been
“settled” through the grant of 515,000 stock options.
During
2008, Mr. van’t Hof received cash compensation of CAD$80,000 for acting as the
lead director of the Board.
Outstanding
Share-Based Awards and Option-Based Awards
The
following table sets out information concerning all awards outstanding at the
end of the most recently completed financial year by directors, other than
directors who are Named Executive Officers, the Corporation. This includes
unexercised options held by the directors during 2008 and the value of
unexercised options held by the directors as at December 31, 2008. The closing
price of the Common Shares on the TSX on December 31, 2008 was
CAD$0.19.
Name
|
Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options
|
Option Exercise
Price
(CAD)
|
Option Expiration
Date
|
Value of Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options
|
Michael
J.H. Brown
|
80,000
|
$1.90
|
June
26, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
65,000
|
$3.17
|
June
17, 2014
|
Nil
|
|
75,000
|
$4.65
|
June
23, 2015
|
Nil
|
|
75,000
|
$3.45
|
June
21, 2016
|
Nil
|
|
20,000
|
$3.57
|
Mar.
19, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
95,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
410,000
|
|
|
|
C.
William Longden
|
50,000
|
$2.20
|
Aug.
8, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
30,000
|
$2.20
|
July
2, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
100,000
|
$2.25
|
Nov.
18, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
35,000
|
$2.23
|
July
16, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
30,000
|
$1.90
|
June
26, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
60,000
|
$3.17
|
June
17, 2014
|
Nil
|
|
65,000
|
$4.65
|
June
23, 2015
|
Nil
|
|
65,000
|
$3.45
|
June
21, 2016
|
Nil
|
|
65,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
Harry
J. Near
|
20,000
|
$1.41
|
Dec.
21, 2009
|
Nil
|
|
100,000
|
$2.27
|
July
25, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
45,000
|
$1.75
|
Nov.
13, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
45,000
|
$2.20
|
July
2, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
100,000
|
$2.25
|
Nov.
18, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
45,000
|
$2.23
|
July
16, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
50,000
|
$1.90
|
June
26, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
180,000
|
$3.00
|
Aug.
10, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
60,000
|
$3.17
|
June
17, 2014
|
Nil
|
|
65,000
|
$4.65
|
June
23, 2015
|
Nil
|
|
65,000
|
$3.45
|
June
21, 2016
|
Nil
|
|
45,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
820,000
|
|
|
|
Marc
J. Oppenheimer
|
20,000
|
$1.41
|
Dec.
21, 2009
|
Nil
|
|
200,000
|
$1.41
|
Dec.
21, 2009
|
Nil
|
|
300,000
|
$2.27
|
July
25, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
40,000
|
$1.75
|
Nov.
13, 2010
|
Nil
|
|
40,000
|
$2.20
|
July
2, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
100,000
|
$2.25
|
Nov.
18, 2011
|
Nil
|
|
40,000
|
$2.23
|
July
16, 2012
|
Nil
|
|
50,000
|
$2.14
|
Jan.
14, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
25,000
|
$1.90
|
June
26, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
375,000
|
$3.00
|
Aug.
10, 2013
|
Nil
|
|
50,000
|
$3.17
|
June
17, 2014
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$4.65
|
June
23, 2015
|
Nil
|
Name
|
Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options
|
Option Exercise
Price
(CAD)
|
Option Expiration
Date
|
Value of Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options
|
|
55,000
|
$3.45
|
June
21, 2016
|
nil
|
|
55,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
nil
|
|
1,405,000
|
|
|
|
Johan
van't Hof
|
75,000
|
$4.65
|
June
23, 2015
|
nil
|
|
75,000
|
$3.45
|
June
21, 2016
|
nil
|
|
90,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
nil
|
|
240,000
|
|
|
|
Armando
F. Zullo
|
30,000
|
$2.20
|
July
2, 2011
|
nil
|
|
100,000
|
$2.25
|
Nov.
18, 2011
|
nil
|
|
30,000
|
$2.23
|
July
16, 2012
|
nil
|
|
50,000
|
$3.17
|
June
17, 2014
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$4.65
|
June
23, 2015
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$3.45
|
June
21, 2016
|
Nil
|
|
55,000
|
$4.46
|
June
28, 2017
|
Nil
|
|
375,000
|
|
|
|
Directors
and Officers Insurance
The
Corporation maintains directors and officers’ liability insurance for itself and
its directors and officers. Under the insurance policy, the
Corporation is entitled to be reimbursed, subject to a deductible of US$250,000,
(US$1,000,000 for Securities Claims) for indemnity payments made by it to its
directors and officers for losses suffered by them and the directors and
officers are entitled to be reimbursed for losses suffered by them if they are
not indemnified by the Corporation. The policy has a limit of
US$15,000,000 per occurrence. The annual premium payable by the
Corporation under the policy is US$618,000.
INDEBTEDNESS
OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
None
of the individuals who are or were during 2008 directors or executive officers
of the Corporation or are proposed nominees for election as directors of the
Corporation and their respective associates and affiliates is or at any time
since the beginning of 2008 was indebted to the Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries.
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLANS
As
at the end of the Corporation’s most recently completed financial year, the
Common Shares that were authorized for issuance under the Corporation’s equity
compensation plans are set out below.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
|
Number
of securities
issuable
upon exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
|
Weighted-average
exercise
price
of outstanding
options,
warrants and rights
(CAD)
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in
column (a))
|
Plan
Category
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
Equity
Compensation plans approved by securityholders
(Category 1)
|
10,517,522
|
$3.14
|
Nil
|
Equity
Compensation plans not approved by securityholders
(Category
2)
|
Not
Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
Not
Applicable
|
Total
|
10,517,522
|
$3.14
|
Nil
|
The
numbers in Category 1 refer to the Former SOP and the Directors’
Remuneration Plan (the “
DRP
”) as at December 31, 2008,
details of which are contained below.
Former
Incentive Share Option Plan
Background
The shareholders of
the Corporation approved the Former SOP in June 2002. Shareholders
approved an amendment to the SOP in June 2005 to increase the maximum number of
Common Shares issued and issuable under the Former SOP.
In June 2007,
shareholders approved certain amendments to the Former SOP relating to blackout
periods (the “
Blackout Period
Amendment
”), cashless exercise (the “
Cashless Exercise Amendment
”)
and the addition of detailed provisions that outline the types of amendments to
the plan that require shareholder approval and those that can be made without
shareholder approval (the “
Amendment Provisions
”),
together with
certain other minor
amendments of a conforming and clerical nature
adopted by the
Board.
The
purpose of the Former SOP was to provide additional economic incentive to the
directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation and its
associated and affiliated companies, to encourage stock ownership by eligible
persons, to increase the proprietary interest of eligible persons in the success
of the Corporation and to assist the Corporation and its subsidiaries in
attracting talented new directors, officers and employees. The Board
or the Nominating and Compensation Committee administers the Former
SOP.
2005
Amendment of Former SOP
On
June 24, 2005, the shareholders approved an amendment to the Former SOP to
change the maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable thereunder from
13,500,000 to 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time
(otherwise known as a “rolling plan”). The purpose of the change was to
facilitate the use of options to assist the Corporation in attracting and
retaining experienced and skilled employees. In 2004, the Corporation commenced
a program of granting options to employees at its Venezuelan operations. This
program remains in place and the Corporation expects that this program will
continue in the future.
Pursuant
to TSX rules and regulations, the number of Common Shares available for future
grant of options under the Former SOP must be approved by the Board, including a
majority of the unrelated directors, and the shareholders of the Corporation
every three years.
2007
Amendments of Former SOP
On
June 28, 2007, the shareholders approved certain amendments to the Former SOP to
reflect the introduction of new rules affecting equity compensation plans
introduced by the TSX in 2006, together with certain other minor amendments of a
conforming and clerical nature.
The
Former SOP was amended to permit the exercise of certain options which would
otherwise have expired during or within 10 business days following a period in
which trading in the Common Shares is restricted by the policies of the
Corporation. The Former SOP was also amended to provide the Board with the
flexibility to permit participants in the Former SOP to receive, without payment
by the participant of any additional consideration, Common Shares equal to the
value of the option (or the portion thereof) being exercised by surrender of the
option to the Corporation. In addition, the Former SOP was amended to include
certain amending provisions required by the TSX and, in addition, to specify
those amendments which require shareholder approval.
2008
Cessation of Former SOP
The
rules of the TSX require that, if a listed issuer has a stock option plan that
does not have a fixed maximum number of shares issuable thereunder, the
directors and shareholders of the issuer must approve and reaffirm the
unallocated options under the plan every three years. If shareholder approval is
not obtained within three years of either the institution of a rolling plan or
subsequent approval, as the case may be, all unallocated entitlements will be
cancelled and the issuer will not be permitted to grant further entitlements
under the rolling plan. However, all allocated awards under the rolling plan,
such as options that have been granted but not yet exercised, will continue
unaffected. Approval of the unallocated options under the Former SOP was not put
forward for consideration by the shareholders at the Corporation’s annual
meeting convened on June 25, 2008 and the Special Meeting of
shareholders
of the Corporation which was held on November 18, 2008. Accordingly, the
Corporation ceased to grant any further options under the Former
SOP.
Former
SOP Activity
The
following table sets out Former SOP activity from December 31, 2007 to December
31, 2008.
|
Maximum
Number of
Common
Shares Issued
and
Issuable under
the
Former SOP
|
|
Common
Shares
Issuable
Under
Outstanding
Options
|
|
Common
Shares
Available
for
Future
Grant
(1)
|
Balance
– December 31, 2007
|
26,165,907
|
|
12,527,422
|
|
6,918,477
|
Increase
in 2008
|
3,301,178
|
|
-
|
|
3,301,178
|
Options
granted in 2008
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Options
exercised in 2008
|
-
|
|
(96,000)
|
|
-
|
Options
cancelled in 2008
|
-
|
|
(1,913,900)
|
|
1,913,900
|
Request
for triennial renewal withheld
|
|
|
|
|
(8,305,755)
|
Balance
– December 31, 2008
|
29,467,085
|
|
10,517,522
|
|
Nil
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable under the Former SOP
less all Common Shares issued under previously exercised options and
issuable under outstanding options.
|
(2)
|
The
Corporation ceased to grant any further options under the Former SOP after
June 24, 2008.
|
Summary
Information
The
following table sets out summary information with respect to the Former SOP as
at June 24, 2008.
Maximum
Number of
Common
Shares Issued
and
Issuable Under
the
Former SOP
|
|
Common
Shares
Issued
Under
Exercised
Options
|
|
Common
Shares
Issuable
Under
Outstanding
Options
|
|
Common
Shares
Available
for
Future
Grant
(1)
|
|
%
of Common Share Capital
|
|
|
%
of Common Share Capital
|
|
|
%
of Common Share Capital
|
|
|
%
of Common Share Capital
|
29,467,085
|
10%
|
|
6,836,008
|
2.0%
|
|
10,517,522
|
4.0%
|
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable under the Former SOP
less all Common Shares issued under previously exercised options and
issuable under outstanding options.
|
(2)
|
The
Corporation ceased to grant any further options under the Former SOP after
June 24, 2008.
|
Directors’
Remuneration Plan
Background
The
shareholders of the Corporation approved the DRP of the Corporation in December
1998 and again in November 2008.
The
DRP is administered by the Nominating and Compensation Committee. The
purpose of the DRP is to provide for the issue of Common Shares to the directors
of the Corporation and its associated and affiliated companies in lieu of cash
compensation payable to them in respect of their service as directors of the
Corporation and its
associated
and affiliated companies. The Board made a number of minor housekeeping
amendments to the DRP effective as of January 1, 2005. None of these
amendments were material or required shareholder approval.
2008
Amendment of DRP
On
November 18, 2008, the shareholders approved certain amendments to the DRP to
increase the number of Common Shares issuable under the DRP by a further
600,000, to a total of 1,200,000.
Summary
of Material Terms
The
maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable under the DRP is 1,200,000,
representing 0.41% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as of the date of
this Circular. The maximum number of Common Shares issued over any
one year period or issuable at any one time to insiders under the DRP and any
other share compensation arrangement of the Corporation is 10% of the Common
Shares outstanding at that time on a non-diluted basis. The maximum
number of Common Shares which may be issued to any one insider within a one-year
period under the DRP and any other shareholder compensation agreement, is 5% of
the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation.
The
issue price per share of any Common Shares issued under the DRP may not be less
than the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the trading day
immediately preceding the date of issue.
The
Board may amend or terminate the DRP at any time subject to any required
regulatory or other approvals. The maximum number of Common Shares
issued and issuable under the DRP may not be increased without the approval of
the shareholders of the Corporation.
Directors’
Remuneration Plan Activity
The
following table sets out the DRP activity from December 31, 2006 to December 31,
2008.
|
Maximum
Number of
Common
Shares Issued
and
Issuable Under
the
DRP
|
|
Common
Shares
Issued
|
|
Common
Shares
Available
for
Future
Issue
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
– December 31, 2006
|
600,000
|
|
384,851
|
|
215,149
|
Common
Shares issued in 2007
|
-
|
|
38,508
|
|
(38,508)
|
Balance
– December 31, 2007
|
600,000
|
|
423,359
|
|
176,641
|
Common
Shares issued in 2008
|
-
|
|
172,527
|
|
(172,527)
|
Approval
for increase Nov. 18, 2008
|
600,000
|
|
-
|
|
600,000
|
Balance
December 31, 2008
|
1,200,000
|
|
595,886
|
|
604,114
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable under the DRP less all
Common Shares previously issued.
|
Summary
Information
The
following table sets out summary information with respect to the DRP as at the
date of this Circular.
Maximum
Number of
Common
Shares Issued
and
Issuable Under
the
DRP
|
Common
Shares
Issued
|
Common
Shares
Available
for
Future
Issue
(1)
|
|
%
of Common Share Capital
|
|
% of Common Share
Capital
(1)
|
|
%
of Common Share Capital
|
1,200,000
|
0.40%
|
595,886
|
0.20%
|
604,114
|
0.20%
|
Notes:
(1)
|
The
maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable under the DRP less all
Common Shares previously issued.
|
INTEREST
OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Except
as otherwise set out in this Circular, none of the informed persons of the
Corporation or their respective associates or affiliates has any material
interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of 2008
or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially
affect the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE INFORMATION
The
audit committee information required by Multilateral Instrument 52-110 is
located in the Corporation’s Annual Information Form for the period ended
December 31, 2008 under the heading “Audit Committee.”
INTEREST
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except
as otherwise set out in this Circular, none of the individuals who are or were
at any time since the beginning of 2008 directors or executive officers of the
Corporation or are proposed nominees for election as directors of the
Corporation and their respective associates and affiliates has any material
interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or
otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the Meeting.
MANAGEMENT
CONTRACTS
No
management functions of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries are to any
substantial degree performed by any person other than the directors and
executive officers of the Corporation.
OTHER
MATTERS
Shareholder
Proposals
Shareholders
must submit any shareholder proposal that they wish to be considered at the
special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to be held in 2009 no later
than 90 days before the anniversary date of the Notice of Meeting accompanying
this Circular.
Glossary
The
terms “affiliate”, “associate”, “insider” and “senior officer” used in this
Circular have the meanings given to them in the
Securities Act
(Ontario). The terms “executive officer” and “informed person” used
in this Circular have the meanings given to them in National Instrument 51-102
issued by the Canadian Securities Administrators.
Additional
Information
Additional
information relating to the Corporation is available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
. Shareholders
may obtain copies of the annual report of the Corporation including the audited
consolidated financial statements of the Corporation and related MD&A for
the year ended December 31, 2008 by contacting the Chief Financial Officer,
Crystallex International Corporation, Suite 1201, 8 King Street East,
Toronto, Canada M5C 1B5.
BOARD
APPROVAL
The
contents and the sending of this Circular have been approved by the Board of
Directors.
DATED:
May 12,
2009.
|
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
“Robert
A. Fung”
|
|
Robert
A. Fung, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
|
Schedule
A
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE
This
Statement sets out the principal corporate governance practices of Crystallex
International Corporation (“Corporation”) as required by National Instrument
58-101 “Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices.” The
documents referred to in this Statement may be viewed in electronic format at
www.sedar.com
or the
Corporation’s website at
www.crystallex.com
.
Board
of Directors
Disclosure
Concerning Director Independence
The
Corporate Governance Committee has assessed the independence of each of the
directors and reported the results of its assessment to the
Board. Based on the report of the Corporate Governance Committee and
the application of the criteria set out in the National Instrument 52-110 “Audit
Committees” as reflected in the Policy on Independence of Directors, the Board
has determined that six of the eight current directors are independent: Messrs.
Brown, Longden, Near, Oppenheimer, van’t Hof and Zullo.
The
following sets out the directors who are not independent and describes the basis
for that determination:
Robert A. Fung
serves as
Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. He is an employee of
Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. (formerly Orion Securities Inc.), an
investment dealer that has acted as agent or underwriter in connection with
securities offerings by the Corporation and provides financial advisory services
to the Corporation. Mr. Fung is not independent.
Gordon M. Thompson
served as
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation from February 1, 2007
to June 4, 2008. Because of his previous employment by the
Corporation, Mr. Thompson is not independent.
The
independent directors hold meetings or portions thereof at which non-independent
directors and members of management are not present on an as needed basis and
regularly hold meetings with the non-independent Chair of the Board, without
management present. There was one meeting of the independent directors with the
non-independent Chair present, without management present, held since the
beginning of the Corporation’s most recently completed financial year. There
were two independent directors-only meeting held since the beginning of the
Corporation’s most recently completed financial year.
Since
the Chair of the board is not an independent director, the Board has appointed
Mr. van’t Hof as the lead director. The roles and
responsibilities
of
the lead director are:
|
(a)
|
carries
out the responsibilities of the Chair in the absence of the Chair and the
Vice-Chair.
|
|
(b)
|
works
with the Chair to facilitate a Board agenda that will enable the Board to
successfully carry out its
responsibilities.
|
|
(c)
|
is
available to shareholders who have concerns that cannot be addressed
through the Chair or the Chief Executive
Officer.
|
|
(d)
|
schedules,
sets the agenda for and chairs separate meetings of the independent
directors.
|
|
(e)
|
acts
as the principal interface between the Chair and other
directors.
|
|
(f)
|
provides
advice and counsel to the Chair and the Chief Executive
Officer.
|
|
(g)
|
performs
such other functions as may be reasonably requested by the Board or the
Chair.
|
Attendance
Record of Directors – 2008
Board
Committees
|
|
Robert
A. Fung
|
Gordon
M. Thompson
|
Michael
J. H. Brown
|
C.
William Longden
|
Harry
J. Near
|
Marc
J. Oppenheimer
|
Johan
C. van’t Hof
|
Armando
F. Zullo
|
Board
|
#
of meetings attended
|
20
|
17
|
20
|
19
|
19
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
total
# of meetings
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
Audit
|
#
of meetings attended
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
total
# of meetings
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
Nominating
and Compensation
|
#
of meetings attended
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
total
# of meetings
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
Corporate
Governance
|
#
of meetings attended
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
total
# of meetings
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
Finance
Risk
|
#
of meetings attended
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
total
# of meetings
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
Environment
Health Safety and Operations
|
#
of meetings attended
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
total
# of meetings
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
The
following directors of the Corporation are presently a director of another
reporting issuer:
Director
|
Reporting
Issuer
|
Jurisdiction(Exchange)
|
Michael
J. H. Brown
|
Queenston
Mining Inc.
Afri-Can
Marine Minerals Corporation
Latin
American Minerals Inc.
Canary
Resources Inc.
|
Canada
(TSX)
Canada
(TSX-V)
Canada
(TSX-V)
Delaware
(OTC:Pink Sheets)
|
Johan
C. van’t Hof
|
Tonbridge
Power Inc.
|
Ontario
(TSX-V)
|
Robert
A. Fung
|
Kingsway
International Holdings Limited
|
Bermuda
(TSX)
|
Gordon
M. Thompson
|
Consolidated
Spire Ventures
|
Canada
(TSX-V)
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Board
Mandate
The
Board has adopted a Charter of the Board of Directors that, among other things,
sets out the responsibilities of the Board.
The full text of the Charter of the
Board of Directors
is
attached to this Circular as
Schedule “
B
”.
Position
Descriptions
The
Board has developed a written position description for the Chair of the Board,
the Chairs of each Board Committee and the Chief Executive Officer.
Orientation
and Continuing Education
The
Board has adopted procedures for the orientation and training of new directors.
The orientation and training of new directors is overseen by the Nominating and
Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance
Committee.
New directors are typically provided with an information package concerning the
Corporation, its properties and internal policies and meet with both the Board
as a whole and individual directors to obtain additional information concerning
the Corporation and its business.
The
Corporation provides continuing education opportunities for all directors so
that they can maintain or enhance their knowledge and understanding of the
business of the Corporation and their responsibilities as directors. The
directors receive regular briefings on recent developments in relation to
corporate governance issues and financial matters from the external legal and
financial advisors to the Corporation. The Board will consider requests of
individual directors for approval to pursue continuing educational opportunities
on a case by case basis.
Ethical
Business Conduct
The
Board has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for all
directors, officers, employees, their immediate families and where applicable,
third parties engaged to represent the Corporation, which is a practical set of
policies and standards intended to guide and influence behavior. The Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics may be viewed in electronic format at www.sedar.com
or the Corporation’s website at www.crystallex.com, or can be obtained in paper
format from the Corporation at: Crystallex International Corporation, Suite
1210, 8 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1B5, Canada.
The
Board monitors compliance with the Code through an annual compliance review with
the President and Chief Executive Officer.
There
have been no material change reports filed in the past year that pertain to any
conduct of a director or executive officer departing from the Code.
The
Board requires directors to exercise independent judgment in considering
agreements and transactions by requiring regular conflict declarations.
Nomination
and Compensation of Directors
The
Nominating and Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Brown (Chair),
Zullo and Near, all of whom are independent.
As
part of its mandate, the Nominating and Compensation Committee, in cooperation
with the Corporate Governance Committee, is responsible for reviewing the size
and effectiveness of the Board and making any recommendations for change to the
Board. The Board will then determine the specific number of directors
on the Board and as required consider qualified and suitable Board candidates
who can contribute to the ongoing development of the Corporation. The Board has
determined that the current number of directors is appropriate for the
Corporation’s current operations and enables the Board to perform its duties
diligently and efficiently.
In
addition, the Nominating and Compensation Committee reviews the adequacy and
form of directors and officers compensation at least annually and reports any
recommendations to the Board for consideration. As part of this
review, the Committee must evaluate whether the compensation realistically
reflects the responsibilities and risks involved in being an effective director
or officer. The Committee also takes the state of the Corporation’s
financial position into account in assessing the adequacy of the compensation.
Compensation may be in the form of stock options.
Other
Board Committees
In
addition to the Nominating and Compensation Committee, the Board has established
four other permanent committees to assist it in carrying out its
responsibilities: the Audit Committee, the Corporate Governance Committee, the
Finance and Risk Management Committee and the Environment, Health and Safety and
Operations Committee.
Each
Board committee has a charter setting out its composition, responsibilities and
authority.
Other
than the Chief Executive Officer, no member of management is a member of any
Board committee. Members of management attend Board and committee meetings by
invitation.
The
function of each Board committee is set out below.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. van’t Hof (Chair), Longden and Near, all
of whom are independent.
The
role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its corporate
governance and oversight responsibilities with respect to accounting and
financial reporting processes, internal financial control structure, financial
risk management systems and external audit function.
Corporate
Governance Committee
The
Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of Messrs. Brown (Chair) and Zullo,
both of whom are independent.
The
role of the Corporate Governance Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling
its responsibilities with respect to the composition and operation of the Board
and Board committees and corporate governance standards and
practices.
Finance
and Risk Management Committee
The
Finance and Risk Management Committee is comprised of Messrs. van’t Hof (Chair),
Brown, Oppenheimer, Fung and Thompson, the majority of whom are
independent.
The
role of the Finance and Risk Management Committee is to assist the Board in
fulfilling its policy and oversight responsibilities with respect to financial
matters, including short- and long-term financings, issuances of securities,
foreign currency, hedging and derivatives transactions, capital expenditures and
long-term commitments and policies and guidelines for the investment of cash,
and its oversight responsibilities with respect to non-financial risk management
systems.
Environment,
Health and Safety and Operations Committee
The
Environment, Health and Safety and Operations Committee is comprised of
Messrs. Longden (Chair), Brown, Oppenheimer, Fung and Thompson, the
majority of whom are independent.
The
role of the Environment, Health and Safety and Operations Committee is to assist
the Board with respect to environment, health and safety matters arising out of
the activities of the Corporation and to oversee the operations of the
Corporation.
Assessments
The
Nominating and Compensation Committee is responsible for at least annually, in
cooperation with the Corporate Governance Committee, assessing the effectiveness
of the Board and Board Committees and the competencies and skills of the
directors and reporting the results of such assessments to the
Board.
Schedule
B
CHARTER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
General
(1)
|
The
board of directors (
Board
)
of Crystallex International Corporation (
Corporation
)
is responsible for supervising the management of the business and affairs
of the Corporation.
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(2)
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The
composition, responsibilities, and authority of the Board are set out in
this Charter.
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(3)
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This
Charter and the by-laws of the Corporation and such other procedures, not
inconsistent therewith, as the Board may adopt from time to time shall
govern the meetings and procedures of the
Board.
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Composition
(1)
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The
directors of the Corporation
(Directors
)
should have a mix of competencies and skills necessary to enable the Board
and Board committees to properly discharge their
responsibilities.
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(2)
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The
Nominating and Compensation Committee annually (and more frequently, if
appropriate) recommends to the Board candidates for election or
appointment as Directors taking into account the Board’s conclusions with
respect to the appropriate size and composition of the Board and Board
committees and the competencies and skills required to enable the Board
and Board committees to properly discharge their responsibilities and the
competencies and skills of the current Board.
The Board approves the final choice of
candidates.
The shareholders of the Corporation elect
the Directors annually.
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(3)
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The
Corporation has adopted a Policy on Independence of Directors. The purpose
of the Policy is to:
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(a)
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set
out the test that the Board will use to determine whether a Director is
independent;
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(b)
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identify
the criteria that the Board will use to assess whether a Director is
independent; and
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(c)
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describe
the disclosure that the Board will provide to shareholders of the
Corporation with respect to its determination of the independence of
Directors.
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(4)
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The
Board has resolved that, commencing with the annual meeting of
shareholders held in 2005, a majority of the Directors will be
independent.
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(5)
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The
Board will appoint a Chair and, if deemed appropriate, a Vice-Chair from
among its members. If the Chair is not independent, the Board will
designate one of the independent directors as the Lead Director. The
Corporation has adopted position descriptions for the Chair, Vice-Chair
and Lead Director.
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(6)
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The
Secretary of the Corporation shall be secretary of the Board (
Secretary
).
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Responsibilities
(1)
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The
Board is responsible for supervising the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation and its subsidiary entities (
Crystallex
Group
).
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(2)
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In
discharging their responsibilities, the Directors owe the following
fiduciary duties to the
Corporation:
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·
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a duty of loyalty
: they
must act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of
the Corporation; and
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·
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a duty of care
: they
must exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent
person would exercise in comparable
circumstances.
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In
discharging their responsibilities, the Directors are entitled to rely on the
honesty and integrity of the senior officers of the Corporation and the auditors
and other professional advisors of the Corporation.
In
discharging their responsibilities, the Directors are also entitled to directors
and officers’ liability insurance purchased by the Corporation and
indemnification from the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law and
the constating documents of the Corporation.
(3)
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The
Board has specifically recognized its responsibilities
for:
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(a)
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to
the extent feasible, satisfying itself as to the integrity of the Chief
Executive Officer and other senior officers of the Corporation and that
the Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers of the Corporation
create a culture of integrity throughout the Crystallex
Group;
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(b)
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adopting
a strategic planning process and approving annually (or more frequently if
appropriate) a strategic plan which takes into account, among other
things, the opportunities and risks of the business of the
Corporation;
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(c)
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overseeing
the identification of the principal risks of the business of the
Corporation and overseeing the implementation of appropriate systems to
manage these risks;
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(d)
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overseeing
the integrity of the internal control and management information systems
of the Corporation;
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(e)
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succession
planning (including appointing, training and monitoring the senior
officers of the Corporation);
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(f)
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adopting
a disclosure policy for the Corporation;
and
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(g)
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developing
the approach of the Corporation to corporate
governance.
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(4)
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In
addition to those matters which must by law be approved by the Board, the
Board oversees the development of, and reviews and approves, significant
corporate plans and initiatives of the Corporation, including the annual
business plan and budget, major acquisitions and dispositions and other
significant matters of corporate strategy or
policy.
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(5)
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To
assist the Directors in discharging their responsibilities, the Board
expects management of the Corporation
to:
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(h)
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review
and update annually (or more frequently if appropriate) the strategic plan
and report regularly to the Board on the implementation of the strategic
plan in light of evolving
conditions;
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(i)
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prepare
and present to the Board annually (or more frequently if appropriate) a
business plan and budget and report regularly to the Board on the
Corporation’s performance against the business plan and budget;
and
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(j)
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report
regularly to the Board on the Corporation’s business and affairs and on
any matters of material consequence for the Corporation and its
shareholders.
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Additional
expectations are developed and communicated during the annual strategic planning
and budgeting process and during regular Board and Board committee
meetings.
(6)
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The
Board considers that generally management should speak for the Corporation
in its communications with shareholders and the public. The Corporation’s
investor relations personnel are required to respond
to
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inquiries
from shareholders and the public after review and discussion, as
appropriate, by senior management and the Board or Board committees. The
Corporation’s investor relations personnel are available to shareholders
by telephone, fax and e-mail. The Corporation maintains an investor
relations section on its website. Presentations at investor conferences
are posted promptly on the Corporation’s website. They are also available
on request. The Board reviews the Corporation’s major communications with
shareholders and the public.
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(7)
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Directors
are expected to attend Board meetings, meetings of Board committees of
which they are members and the annual meeting of the shareholders of the
Corporation. Directors are also expected to spend the time needed, and to
meet as frequently as necessary, to discharge their
responsibilities.
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(8)
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Directors
are expected to comply with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the
Corporation.
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Authority
(1)
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The
Board is authorized to carry out its responsibilities as set out in this
Charter.
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(2)
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The
Board is authorized to retain, and to set and pay the compensation of,
independent legal counsel and other advisors if it considers this
appropriate.
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(3)
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The
Board is authorized to invite officers and employees of the Corporation
and outsiders with relevant experience and expertise to attend or
participate in its meetings and proceedings if it considers this
appropriate.
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(4)
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The
Directors have unrestricted access to the officers and employees of the
Corporation. The Directors will use their judgment to ensure that any such
contact is not disruptive to the operations of the Corporation and will,
to the extent not inappropriate, advise the Chair and the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation of any direct communications between them and
the officers and employees of the
Corporation.
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(5)
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The
Board and the Directors have unrestricted access to the advice and
services of the Secretary.
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(6)
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The
Board may delegate certain of its functions to Board committees, each of
which will have its own Charter.
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Meetings
and Proceedings
(1)
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The
Board shall meet as frequently as necessary but not less than five times
each year.
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(2)
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Any
Director or the Secretary may call a meeting of the
Board.
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(3)
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The
Chair is responsible for the agenda of each meeting of the Board,
including input from other Directors and the officers and employees of the
Corporation as appropriate. Meetings will include presentations by
management or professional advisors and consultants when appropriate and
allow sufficient time to permit a full and open discussion of agenda
items.
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(4)
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Unless
waived by all Directors, a notice of each meeting of the Board confirming
the date, time, place and agenda of the meeting, together with any
supporting materials, shall be forwarded to each Director at least three
days before the date of the
meeting.
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(5)
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The
quorum for each meeting of the Board is a majority of the Directors. In
the absence of the Chair, the other Directors may appoint one of their
number as chair of a meeting. The chair of a meeting shall not have a
second or casting vote.
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(6)
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The
Secretary or his delegate shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Board,
including all resolutions passed by the Board. Minutes of meetings shall
be distributed to the Directors after preliminary approval thereof by the
Chair.
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(7)
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An
individual who is not a Director may be invited to attend a meeting of the
Board for all or part of the
meeting.
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(8)
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The
independent Directors and the non-management Directors shall meet
regularly alone to facilitate full
communication.
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Self
Assessment
(1)
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The
Board shall regularly assess its effectiveness with a view to ensuring
that the performance of the Board accords with best
practices.
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(2)
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The
Board shall annually review and update this Charter as
required.
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Schedule
C
COMPARISON
TO CANADIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS
National
Instrument 58-101F1 – Corporate Governance Disclosure, National Policy
58-201
Required
Disclosure NI 58-101 Fl
|
Relevant
Guideline from NP 58-201
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Compliance
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1.
Board of Directors
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Meaning
of Independence/Composition of the Board/Meetings of Independent
Directors
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1(a)-(g)
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2.1;
3.1; 3.2; 3.3
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Yes
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2.
Board
Mandate
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Board
Mandate
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2(a)
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3.4(a)-(g); (i), (ii)
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Yes
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3.
Position Descriptions
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Position
Descriptions
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3(a)-(b)
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3.5
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Yes
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4.
Orientation and Continuing
Education
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Orientation
and Continuing Education
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4(a)
(i), (ii): (b)
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3.6;
3.7
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Yes
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5.
Ethical Business
Conduct
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Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
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5(a)
(i), (ii) & (iii); (c)
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3.8(a)-(f);
3.9
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Yes
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6.
Nomination of Directors
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Nomination
of Directors
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6(a)-(c)
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3.10;
3.11; 3.12(A)-(B); 3.13; 3.14(a)-(c)
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Yes
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7.
Compensation
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Compensation
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7(a)-(d
)
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3.15;
3.16; 3.17 (a)-(c)
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Yes
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8.
Other Board Committees
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n/a
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n/a
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Yes
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9.
Assessments
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Regular
Board Assessments
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n/a
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3.18 (a)-(b)
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Yes
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Document
3
CRYSTALLEX
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Suite
1201, 8 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1B5
Telephone:
(416) 203-2448
PROXY
This
proxy is solicited by management of Crystallex International Corporation (the
“Corporation”) for the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the
Corporation (the “Meeting”) to be held at 9:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday,
June 24, 2009 at the
Esso
Theatre, Hockey Hall of Fame, Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge Street, Toronto,
Ontario M5E 1X8
. The undersigned shareholder of the Corporation appoints
Robert A. Fung, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation, or failing him, Hemdat Sawh, the Chief Financial Officer of the
Corporation, or in place of either of them,
________________
,
as proxy of the undersigned, with
full
power of
substitution, to attend and act for and on behalf of the undersigned at the
Meeting and any adjournment thereof.
The
undersigned shareholder of the Corporation also revokes any proxy previously
given by the undersigned in respect of the
Meeting.
1.
To appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants, as
auditors of the Corporation for the ensuing year and to authorize the
board of directors of the Corporation to fix their terms of engagement and
remuneration
.
VOTE
FOR _____WITHHOLD FROM VOTING _____
2.
To elect as directors of the Corporation the eight individuals
identified as management’s proposed nominees in the accompanying
Management Information Circular of the Corporation
(the
“
Circular
”)
.
VOTE FOR
_____WITHHOLD FROM VOTING _____
3.
To consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass a resolution
approving the Corporation’s New Incentive Share Option Plan, the full text
of which resolution is set out in the accompanying Circular
.
VOTE FOR _____VOTE
AGAINST _____
4.
To consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass a resolution
approving the continuation of the Corporation’s Shareholder Rights Plan,
as described in accompanying Circular.
VOTE FOR _____VOTE
AGAINST _____
5.
To vote in the proxyholder's discretion with respect to any
amendments or variations to the foregoing matters and such other matters
as may properly come before the Meeting.
Voting discretion
denied
______
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NOTES
1.
You may appoint a person (who need not be a shareholder) other than the
persons named above as your proxy to attend and act for and on behalf of
you at the Meeting by striking out the names of the persons named above
and inserting the name of the other person in the blank space provided or
by completing another appropriate form of proxy.
2.
Your shares will be voted in accordance with your directions, including on
any ballot that may be called for at the Meeting. If no
direction is given for a particular matter, your shares will be voted
“For” that matter.
3.
Unless voting discretion is denied, if any amendments or variations to the
matters identified in the Notice of Annual and Special Meeting are
proposed at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof or if any other matters
properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, this proxy
confers discretionary authority to vote on such amendments or variations
or such other matters according to the best judgement of the person voting
the proxy at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
4.
This
proxy will not be valid unless it is signed by you or by your attorney
authorized in writing. In the case of a corporation, this proxy
must be signed by a duly authorized officer or attorney of the
corporation. If this proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to
bear the date on which it was mailed.
5.
This proxy ceases to be valid one year from its
date.
6.
To be effective, this proxy must be deposited with CIBC Mellon
Trust Company Proxy Department by mail using the return envelope
accompanying the Notice of Annual and Special Meeting sent to CIBC Mellon
Trust Company at P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, Ontario, M1S 0A1 or by hand
delivery to CIBC Mellon Trust Company at 320 Bay Street, Banking Hall
Level, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4A6 or by facsimile to (416) 368-2502, in each
case by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 22, 2009 or be
deposited with the chairman of the Meeting before the commencement of the
Meeting or any adjournment
thereof
.
|
DATED
_______________________, 2009.
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Signature
of Shareholder
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Name
of Shareholder (please print)
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Address
(if new)
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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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CRYSTALLEX INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION
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|
(Registrant)
|
Date:
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May 21,
2009
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Hemdat Sawh
|
|
Name: Hemdat
Sawh
Title: Chief
Financial Officer
|
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