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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
IMAX CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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IMAX Corporation
2525 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1
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Dear Shareholders:
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April 26, 2011 |
2010 was a year of remarkable growth and achievement for IMAX as we moved beyond transforming the
IMAX business model and into a period of increased focus on executing our business plan with the
singular goal of growth across each facet of our business.
This past year, we exceeded our growth goals generating record financial performance, expanding
our theatre network around the world and achieving record box office results from Hollywood films
shown in our format. It is worth highlighting a number of these accomplishments as we believe they
demonstrate quite clearly that our company is delivering on the promise of the IMAX brand and
business opportunity that we saw years ago.
Record-setting Financial and Operating Performance
Our highlights from 2010 include:
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Revenues increasing 45% to a record $248.6 million; |
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Earnings per share, adjusted for stock appreciation rights and eliminating a one-time
tax gain, increasing by 168% to $1.02, making 2010 the most profitable year in our history; |
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Adjusted EBITDA increasing by 73%, to $101.4 million from $58 million last year; |
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Our commercial theatre network growing by 30% with our joint-revenue sharing theatre
network increasing 46% and our digital network growing by 83% |
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Signing deals for over 200 IMAX systems, 85% of which were with existing customers; and |
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Gross box office from DMR titles doubling from $270 million in 2009 to $546 million in
2010 at a time when overall domestic box office for the industry was challenged. |
These accomplishments demonstrate our business model over the past year to be both durable and
scalable. Our dual revenue streams, which come from our studio and exhibitor partners, are
recurring in nature, have higher margins and are growing in size as our theatre network expands.
Fifty-six percent of revenues in 2010 were from our recurring revenue segments, compared to 50
percent in 2009.
As we look at the theatre backlog, our announced film slate, and the pipeline of new theatre and
film deals, we believe our long-term growth outlook is very compelling. In fact, in 2010 we
increased our long-term goal for commercial theatre penetration to 1,250 from 1,000, which compares
to 373 in operation at year-end.
IMAXs Unique Position at the Focal Point of a Changing Entertainment Landscape
The challenge for IMAX is to continue executing our business plan in 2011 while advancing
opportunities that extend the reach of our brand in new markets.
Unlike any other time at IMAX, we are able to look forward knowing that the balance sheet is the
strongest it has ever been, the IMAX brand and the differentiated movie-going experience we offer
are at their most popular with consumers around the world, and relationships with the major studios
in Hollywood are the most successful and mutually beneficial in our history.
Against that backdrop, we are operating in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape. The
competition for the consumer entertainment dollar is significant. In-home entertainment and the
evolution of large-screen high-definition televisions make leaving the home for an out-of-home
theatre experience less desirable. As studios look at collapsing release windows and the
opportunities that exist to distribute their films on a variety of platforms, they are considering
approaches to differentiate their filmmaking, marketing and releasing of films. IMAX, as the
premier out-of-home movie-going experience, is very much at the forefront of these discussions
about differentiation and we believe that IMAX is an important and valuable contributor in
Hollywood. Our suite of cutting-edge technology combined with our teams steadfast commitment to
quality across each platform of IMAXs unique cinematic solution from content production to
theatrical presentation positions IMAX as a valuable partner to each key
constituent Hollywood filmmakers and studios, exhibitors and, ultimately, consumers. IMAX has
significant insight and expertise which allows us to offer a truly differentiated product, whether
it involves the enhanced marketing of films, with innovative approaches like exclusive, IMAX-only
early releases and previews, or specialized IMAX productions with unique scenes and content not
seen in traditional theatres. IMAX also offers significant insight and expertise in both 3D
technology and in knowing which movies are most appropriate for that unique cinema-going
experience. So how do we seize upon this unique opportunity and create more value for our
shareholders?
Strategic Growth and Performance; Driven by Intense Focus on Execution
First, we are going to grow our brand and extend The IMAX Experience® to more consumers in more
parts of the world.
Domestically, we have invested considerable resources to increase IMAXs presence with the largest
commercial theatre operators in the largest multiplexes in the most populated markets. We have made
significant progress over the past three years, with our domestic footprint growing by
approximately 170% over that timeframe. As we look forward, we will focus on extending the IMAX
brand into second- and third-tier regional markets that we believe can support an IMAX theatre at
their commercial theatre multiplexes. We have achieved great success in places like Wichita,
Kansas, where the Warren Theatre complex since installing its IMAX screen in December has
grown to become the highest-grossing IMAX complex in all of North America over the past four
months. In addition, our first five joint revenue sharing theatres with RAVE Motion Pictures opened
in the fourth quarter 2010, in mid-sized markets like Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Birmingham,
Alabama.
At the end of 2010, we had 139 international commercial theatres in operation. Our belief is that
our international footprint can grow to approximately 800 sites over time as we build out in Asia,
and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The reason we are aggressively pursuing
international expansion is not only due to the sheer opportunity for network growth but also the
box office potential. In 2010, our international theatres grossed 20% higher box office on a per
screen basis versus our domestic theatres, excluding Avatar.
There is no greater reflection of the growth potential we see overseas than the March 2011
announcement of our first-ever full joint-revenue-sharing deal in China with Wanda Cinema Line, the
largest commercial theatre operator in the country. The 75 theatre agreement represented our
largest international theatre deal and our second largest theatre deal in our history.
As we have often discussed, IMAX has always seen China as a key strategic market with significant
growth potential. The announcement is the culmination of 12 years of developing key relationships
with the Chinese government, top exhibitors, and, more recently, Chinese studios and filmmakers.
Greater China is our second-largest market behind North America, with over 175 theatres either in
operation or in backlog. Given our rapidly expanding presence in China, strong box office grosses
and the increased level of box office reporting, it has been a top strategic focus of ours to
evolve this region into one that generates recurring revenue. We also announced the formation of
IMAX China, a Hong Kong legal entity through which we will oversee all of our operations in Greater
China.
Regarding EMEA, we currently have 58 commercial theatres in operation, and we signed contracts for
50 new theatres in 2010, which means we have contracts in place to more than double our presence in
the region. In 2010, we signed 15 theatre deals in Western Europe in important markets like France
and Spain. We opened our first commercial theatre in Germany in 10 years and in 2011 we will open
our first commercial theatre in Italy. In Russia and the CIS, we signed contracts for another 17
theatres, positioning this region to become our third-largest territory behind the US and Greater
China.
Further Differentiating The IMAX Experience
Second, we are continuing our efforts to offer a truly differentiated entertainment experience for
consumers around the world. This means showing the best Hollywood films in the best format possible
and maintaining our commitment to quality in everything we do. It means marketing the
differentiated experience so that consumers know that what they experience in IMAX is truly unique,
not just in the quality of the films, but often in differentiated content as well. We have some of
the best filmmakers using IMAX cameras to film special sequences and select scenes that will only
be shown in the IMAX version of their films.
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We believe our upcoming 2011 film slate includes some of the most highly anticipated films of the
year. Just some of the highlights:
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Universal Pictures Fast 5, on April 29th, marking the official kick-off to the Summer
2011 movie slate; |
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Disneys next installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, starring Johnny Depp
and Penelope Cruz, on May 20th; |
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Paramount Pictures and JJ Abrams sci-fi thriller, Super 8 on June 10th; |
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Paramount Pictures and Michael Bays Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon on July 1st; |
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Warner Brothers final Harry Potter installment on July 15th; |
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Mission Impossible 4 Ghost Protocol, on December 16th select sequences of which are
being shot with IMAX cameras, similar to past IMAX blockbusters like Warner Bros. The Dark
Knight; and |
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Steven Spielberg and Peter Jacksons Adventures of TinTin on December 28th. |
Our differentiation does not end with our selection of Hollywood films. In 2010, we achieved a
major milestone with the release of Huayi Bros. Aftershock, a Chinese film and our first
international DMR title. It performed exceptionally well and has provided the impetus for IMAXs
focus on releasing a select number of additional Chinese language films in IMAX this year. Further,
given our success with Aftershock, we are considering other international markets with rich and
popular filmed entertainment businesses, and will make determinations based on the quality of the
content and the suitability for release in IMAX in certain international markets that have at least
10 IMAX digital theatres in operation.
Strategic Reinvestment
Finally, with our greatly strengthened financial position, we are now focusing on appropriate
reinvestment in the IMAX business. In 2011, we are focused on growth, investing in the rapid
expansion of our joint revenue-sharing model around the world such as our most recent revenue
sharing agreement with Wanda Cinema Line in China and our commitment to quality, as we continue
to reinvest in technology, ensuring that the IMAX platform continues to deliver the most
awe-inspiring movie-going experiences in the industry. We are also conducting research on one of
our most valuable assets, which is the IMAX brand, as we continue to explore other new business
opportunities that we believe will deliver attractive return rates and that are consistent with our
brand and vision.
In addition, after having announced our 3DTV cable channel joint venture with Discovery and Sony in
January of 2010, we are pleased that the channel, 3net, officially launched on February 13th on
DirecTV. We are confident that together with our partners at Discovery and Sony we will be
successful in expanding the distribution of 3net on additional satellite, cable and
telecommunications television platforms, which will further the reach of the brand. 3net is an
excellent example of our strategy to bring the IMAX brand to consumers in ways that transcend the
traditional.
We are increasing our level of research and development spending this year, exploring emerging
technologies like laser-light, and enhancing our industry-leading IMAX sound system. These
investments are a tangible reflection of our culture of quality. Whereas many innovations in
technology are driven primarily by a desire to cut costs and move faster we at IMAX are obsessed
with one thing how can we make our premium experience even better? This steadfast commitment to
quality is the backbone of our brands reputation and why we have earned the trust of filmmakers,
studios, exhibition partners, and moviegoers around the world.
In closing, it is important to note the tireless commitment and hard work of our employees. They
accomplished much in meeting and exceeding so many of our 2010 business goals. IMAX is an
entrepreneurial company and it is in that spirit that the people who work here sacrifice much of
their time and invest their talent to pursue new ideas and opportunities to create value, and to
help our company reach new levels of success. We are in this vastly improved position because of
their commitment and hard work.
Again, we thank you as shareholders for your support. We look forward to reporting on our progress
and continued growth in the years ahead.
Sincerely,
/s/ Richard L. Gelfond
Richard L. Gelfond
Chief Executive Officer
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IMAX Corporation
2525 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON
June 1, 2011
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of IMAX Corporation (the
Company) will be held at the Loews Regency Hotel (Ballroom), 540 Park Avenue, New York, NY,
U.S.A. 10065 on June 1, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. (the Annual Meeting), for the following purposes:
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to receive the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2010, together with the auditors report thereon; |
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to elect the four individuals nominated to serve as directors until the end of
their term or until their successors are elected or appointed; |
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to appoint auditors and authorize the directors to fix the auditors remuneration; |
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to conduct an advisory vote on the executive compensation of the Companys Named
Executive Officers; |
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to conduct an advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on the
Companys executive officer compensation; and |
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to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournments thereof. |
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy circular and proxy statement
accompanying this Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 4, 2011, are entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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/s/ G. Mary Ruby
G. MARY RUBY
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Chief Administrative Officer |
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& Corporate Secretary |
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Mississauga, Ontario
April 26, 2011
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Shareholders who are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person are
requested to complete and return the accompanying Form of Proxy in the envelope provided for that
purpose. Proxies must be deposited with Computershare Investor Services Inc., c/o Stock and Bond
Transfer Dept., 9th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2Y1 or at the
Corporate Headquarters of the Company noted above on or before 10:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on May 30,
2011. Shareholders may also vote by following the instructions for voting by telephone or over the
internet in the accompanying proxy circular.
Proxy Circular
and
Proxy Statement
April 26, 2011
IMAX CORPORATION
2525 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1
tel: 905-403-6500 fax: 905-403-6540
www.IMAX.com
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IMAX Corporation
2525 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1
GENERAL INFORMATION
This proxy circular and proxy statement (the Circular) is furnished in connection with the
solicitation by the management of the Company of proxies to be used at the Annual General Meeting
(the Annual Meeting) of Shareholders of IMAX Corporation (the Company), which will be held at
Loews Regency Hotel (Ballroom), 540 Park Avenue, New York, NY, U.S.A. 10065, on June 1, 2011 at
10:30 a.m., or at any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof.
The Notice of Annual General Meeting, this document and the form of proxy (the Form of
Proxy) will be released on or about April 26, 2011 to holders of the Companys common shares (the
Common Shares).
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to Be Held on
June 1, 2011
Pursuant to the requirement promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the SEC), the Company has elected to provide access to our proxy materials by sending
you this full set of proxy materials, including a form of proxy or voting instruction form. You are
encouraged to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials
before submitting a proxy or voting at the Annual Meeting. The proxy materials are also available
on the internet at http://www.imax.com/corporate/investors/shareholder-meeting.
Regardless of the number of Common Shares you hold, your role as a shareholder is very
important and the Board of Directors strongly encourages you to exercise your right to vote.
INFORMATION ON VOTING
Who can Vote
The Board of Directors has fixed April 4, 2011 as the record date for the Annual Meeting. Each
Common Share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters presented at the Annual Meeting. As of
April 4, 2011, the Company had 64,254,939 Common Shares issued and outstanding. You are entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a holder of record of Common Shares as of the close of
business on April 4, 2011. You are entitled to one vote on each proposal for each Common Share you
held on the record date. Your Common Shares may be voted at the Annual Meeting only if you are
present in person or your Common Shares are represented by a valid proxy.
Difference between a Shareholder of Record and a Street Name Holder
If your Common Shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered the shareholder
of record with respect to those Common Shares.
If your Common Shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank, trust or other
nominee, then the broker, bank, trust or other nominee is considered to be the shareholder of
record with respect to those Common Shares. However, you are still considered the beneficial owner
of those Common Shares, and your Common Shares are said to be held in street name. Street name
holders generally cannot submit a proxy or vote their Common Shares directly and must instead
instruct the broker, bank, trust or other nominee on how to vote their Common Shares using the
methods described below in Voting by Street Name Holders.
VOTING BY SHAREHOLDERS OF RECORD
The following instructions are for shareholders of record only. If you are a street name
holder, please follow your brokers instructions on how to vote your Common Shares. See description
below in Voting by Street Name Holders.
Voting in Person
Shareholders of record may vote by attending the Annual Meeting and voting the Common Shares
registered in their name on resolutions put before the Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of
record who will attend and vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you do not need to complete or
return the Form of Proxy. Please register your attendance with the scrutineer, Computershare
Investor Services Inc. (Computershare), upon your arrival at the Annual Meeting.
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Voting by Proxy
If you are a shareholder of record but do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, you
may vote by proxy. There are three ways to vote by proxy:
Mail You may vote by completing, dating and signing the enclosed Form of Proxy and promptly
returning it, in the preaddressed envelope provided to you, to Computershare, no later than 10:30
a.m. (Eastern Time) on Monday, May 30, 2011, or on the second last business day prior to any
postponed or adjourned meeting.
Telephone You may vote by telephone from within the United States or Canada by calling the
toll free number shown on the Form of Proxy no later than 10:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Monday, May
30, 2011, or on the second last business day prior to any postponed or adjourned meeting. Please
refer to the holder account number and access number provided on the Form of Proxy.
Internet You may vote over the internet by following the login and voting procedures
described on the Form of Proxy. Please refer to the holder account number and access number
provided on the Form of Proxy. Detailed voting instructions will then be provided via the internet
to those who have completed the login procedure. You may vote (and revoke a previous vote) over the
internet at any time before 10:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on May 30, 2011, or on the second last
business day prior to any postponed or adjourned meeting.
The internet voting procedure is designed to authenticate shareholders identities, to allow
shareholders to vote their Common Shares and to confirm that shareholders votes have been recorded
properly. Shareholders who submit a proxy through the internet should be aware that they may incur
costs to access the internet, such as usage charges from telephone companies or internet service
providers and that these costs must be borne by the shareholder. Also, please be aware that the
Company is not involved in the operation of the internet voting procedure and cannot take
responsibility for any access or internet service interruptions that may occur or any inaccuracies,
erroneous or incomplete information that may appear.
What is a Proxy?
A proxy is a document that authorizes another person to attend the Annual Meeting and cast
votes on behalf of a shareholder of record at the Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of
record, you can use the accompanying Form of Proxy. You may also use any other legal form of proxy.
How do you Appoint a Proxyholder?
Your proxyholder is the person you appoint to cast your votes for you at the Annual Meeting.
The persons named in the enclosed Form of Proxy are directors and officers of the Company. You have
the right to appoint one of the persons designated as proxyholders in the accompanying Form of
Proxy or any other person, who need not be a shareholder of the Company, to attend and act on your
behalf at the Annual Meeting.
Your proxy authorizes the proxyholder to vote and otherwise act for you at the Annual Meeting,
including any continuation of the meeting if it is adjourned.
How will a Proxyholder Vote?
If you mark on the proxy how you want to vote on a particular issue (by checking FOR, AGAINST,
WITHHOLD, ABSTAIN or indicating your preference on the frequency of say-on-pay voting.), your
proxyholder must cast your votes as instructed. Voting WITHHOLD on the proxy is equivalent to
voting ABSTAIN, you will be abstaining from voting, though you will be treated as present for the
purposes of determining a quorum.
The person appointed as proxyholder has discretionary authority and may vote the Common Shares
represented thereby as such person considers best with respect to amendments or variations to
matters identified in the Notice of Annual General Meeting, and with respect to any other matter
which may properly come before the Annual Meeting. As of the date of this Circular, the management
of the Company is not aware of any such amendment, variation or other matter proposed or likely to
come before the Annual Meeting. If any amendments are proposed to these matters, or if any other
matters properly arise at the Annual Meeting, your proxyholder can generally vote your Common
Shares as he or she sees fit.
2
If you do NOT mark on the proxy how you intend 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 you intend to vote on any particular matter, and if you have authorized a director or
officer of the Company to act as your proxyholder, your Common Shares will be voted at the Annual
Meeting as follows:
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FOR the election of the nominees named in this Circular as directors; |
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FOR the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC as auditors and authorizing the
directors to fix the auditors remuneration; |
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FOR the approval, on an advisory basis of the compensation the Companys Named
Executive Officers; and |
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FOR the approval, on an advisory basis of the future advisory votes on executive
officer compensation to be held every two years. |
For more information about these matters, please see Item No. 1 Election of Directors on
page 6, Item No. 2 Appointment of Auditors on page 9, Item No. 3 Advisory Vote on Executive
Officer Compensation on page 9, and Item No. 4 Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Officer
Compensation on page 10.
How do you Revoke your Proxy?
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it any time
before the Annual Meeting by depositing an instrument in writing (including another proxy) executed
by the shareholder or the shareholders attorney authorized in writing at: (i) the registered
office of the Company, IMAX Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K
1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary, at any time up to and including 10:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on
the second last business day prior to the date of the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or
postponement thereof; or (ii) with the chairman of the Annual Meeting on the day of the Annual
Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof; or (iii) in any other manner permitted by
law, including attending the Annual Meeting in person. If you revoke your proxy and do not replace
it with another form of proxy that has been properly deposited, you may still vote Common Shares
registered in person at the Annual Meeting.
Confidentiality of Voting
Computershare counts and tabulates proxies in a manner that preserves the confidentiality of
your votes. Proxies will not be submitted to management unless:
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there is a proxy contest; |
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the proxy contains comments clearly intended for management; or |
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it is necessary to determine a proxys validity or to enable management and/or the
Board of Directors to meet their legal obligations to shareholders or to discharge their
legal duties to the Company. |
Solicitation of Proxies
While management intends to solicit most proxies by mail, some proxies may be solicited by
telephone or other personal contact by directors, officers or employees of the Company. Directors,
officers and employees will not receive any additional compensation for such activity. The Company
will, upon request, pay brokers and certain other persons who hold the Companys Common Shares for
others their reasonable expenses for sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the
Companys Common Shares. The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company. While the Company
has not chosen to engage the services of a proxy solicitor to aid in the solicitation of proxies
and verify records relating to the solicitation at this time, should the Company decide to do so,
it will bear all costs of such solicitation.
VOTING BY STREET NAME HOLDERS
Copies of this solicitation have been distributed to your broker, bank or other intermediary
who are required to deliver them to, and seek voting instructions from, shareholders who hold our
Common Shares in street name. Intermediaries often use a service company such as Broadridge
Investor Communications (Broadridge) to forward meeting materials to street name holders. If
you are a street name holder, you can vote your Common Shares through your intermediary by
following the instructions your intermediary provides you with or at the Annual Meeting. As a
street name holder, while you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting, you will not be entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting unless you make the necessary arrangements with your intermediary to
do so.
Voting in Person
A street name holder who receives a Voting Instruction Form and who wishes to attend and
vote at the Annual Meeting in person (or have another person attend and vote on his or her behalf),
should strike out the appointees named in the Voting Instruction Form and insert his or her name
(or such other persons name) in the blank space provided or follow the corresponding instructions
provided by the intermediary.
3
Voting through an Intermediary
Through an Intermediary As a street name holder, you will be given a Voting Instruction
Form by your intermediary which must be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided by
the intermediary. You must follow the intermediarys instructions (which allow the completion of
the Voting Instruction Form by mail, telephone or internet). Occasionally, as a street name
holder you may be given a form of proxy that has been signed by the intermediary and which is
restricted to the number of Common Shares owned by you as the beneficial shareholder but that is
otherwise not completed. This form of proxy does not need to be signed you. In this case, you can
complete the form of proxy and vote by following the instructions provided by the intermediary.
Mail You may vote by completing, dating and signing the Voting Instruction Form and
promptly returning it, in the preaddressed envelope provided to you no later than 10:30 a.m.
(Eastern Time) on May 30, 2011, or on the second last business day prior to any postponed or
adjourned meeting.
Telephone You may vote by telephone from within the United States or Canada by calling the
toll free number shown on the Voting Instruction Form no later than 10:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on
May 30, 2011, or on the second last business day prior to any postponed or adjourned meeting.
Please refer to the 12 digit control number provided on the Voting Instruction Form.
Internet If your intermediary is registered with Broadridge, whom we have retained to
manage street name holder internet voting, you may vote over the internet by following the login
and voting instructions on your Voting Instruction Form. Please refer to the 12 digit control
number provided on the Voting Instruction Form.
Householding
Some brokers, banks or other intermediaries may be participating in the practice of
householding proxy circulars and annual reports. This means that only one copy of the Circular
and the annual report may have been sent to multiple shareholders in the same household. Each
shareholder will continue to receive a separate voting instruction form. The Company will promptly
deliver a separate copy of either document to you if you request one by writing or calling as
follows: IMAX Corporation, 110 East 59th Street, Suite 2100, New York, New York, U.S.A., 10022,
Attention: Investor Relations at 212-821-0100. If you want to receive separate copies of the
circular and the annual report in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would
like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your intermediary.
Information for U.S. Street Name Holders
If you are a street name holder with an intermediary, you must instruct your U.S.
intermediary how to vote your Common Shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, your Common
Shares will not be voted on any proposal on which the U.S. intermediary does not have discretionary
authority to vote. This is called a broker non-vote. In these cases, the broker can register your
Common Shares as being present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum but will not be able to vote on those matters for which specific authorization is required.
If you do NOT mark on the proxy how you intend to vote on a particular matter, your broker is
entitled to vote your Common Shares as he or she sees fit with respect to routine matters such as
the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC as the Companys auditors.
However, your proxyholder does not have discretionary authority to vote for the election of the
nominees named in this Circular as directors, on the advisory votes on executive officer
compensation and on the frequency of such votes, or with respect to other matters which may
properly be brought before the Annual Meeting, if your proxy does not specify how you intend to
vote on any particular matter. Accordingly, if you are a street name holder it is particularly
important that you instruct your U.S. intermediaries how you wish to vote your Common Shares.
VOTING REQUIREMENTS TO APPROVE MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED AT 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
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Broker Discretionary |
Matter |
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Vote Required |
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Voting Allowed |
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Election of Nominees for the Board of Directors
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Majority of Votes Cast at the Annual Meeting
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No |
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Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers
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Majority of Votes Cast at the Annual Meeting
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Yes |
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Advisory Vote on Executive Officer Compensation
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Majority of Votes Cast at the Annual Meeting
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No |
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Advisory Vote on Frequency of Future Advisory Votes
on Executive Officer Compensation
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The Company will view the frequency receiving the greatest
number of votes as the frequency favored by shareholders.
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No |
Withheld/Abstentions or broker non-votes are counted for purposes of establishing a
quorum, but they are not counted as votes cast for or against a proposal.
4
Quorum
The Annual Meeting requires a quorum, which for the purposes of the Annual Meeting means:
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at least two persons personally present, each being a shareholder entitled to vote
at the Annual Meeting or a duly appointed proxyholder for a shareholder, and |
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persons owning or representing by proxy not less than 33 1/3% of the total number
of Common Shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. |
As of April 4, 2011, the Company had 64,254,939 Common Shares issued and outstanding, each
carrying the right to one vote at all meetings of the shareholders of the Company.
PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE COMPANYS 2012 ANNUAL MEETING
If a shareholder wishes to propose any matter for a vote by the Companys shareholders at the
Companys 2012 annual meeting of shareholders he or she must send his or her proposal to the
Corporate Headquarters of the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive, Mississauga,
Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Company may omit the proposal from
next years proxy circular and proxy statement under applicable Canadian corporate law and U.S.
securities laws if it is not received by the Companys Corporate Secretary at the address noted
above by December 28, 2011.
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATION
Shareholders or other interested parties wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors,
or any individual director, may do so by sending a written communication to IMAX Corporation, 2525
Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, addressed to the Board of Directors or any
individual director, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Secretary forwards all such communications
to the Board of Directors.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS OF VOTING SHARES
The Company is not aware of any persons who as of April 4, 2011 beneficially owned or
exercised control or direction over more than 5% of the Companys Common Shares except:
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Amount and Nature of |
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Percent of |
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Beneficial Ownership of |
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Outstanding |
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner of Common Shares |
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Common Shares |
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Common Shares |
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Douglas Group |
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Kevin and Michelle Douglas |
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7,726,447(1) |
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12.0% |
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James E. Douglas, III |
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K&M Douglas Trust |
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Douglas Family Trust |
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James Douglas and Jean Douglas Irrevocable Descendants Trust |
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KGD 2010 Annuity Trust III |
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MMD 2010 Annuity Trust III |
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125 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Suite 400, Larkspur, CA, 94939 |
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The percentage of outstanding Common Shares is based on dividing the number of Common
Shares beneficially owned by such person by 64,254,939 Common Shares outstanding as of April 4,
2011.
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(1) |
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Based solely on information reported in an amended Schedule 13G filed jointly by
Kevin Douglas, Michelle Douglas, James E. Douglas, III, K&M Douglas Trust, Douglas Family
Trust, James Douglas & Jean Douglas Irrevocable Descendants Trust; KGD 2010 Annuity
Trust III and MMD 2010 Annuity Trust III on February 11, 2011, with the SEC. As reported
in such filing, Kevin Douglas has sole voting and dispositive power over 830,593 Common
Shares held by the KGD 2010 Annuity Trust III of which Kevin Douglas is the trustee and
beneficiary and has shared voting power with respect to 3,747,327 Common Shares. Kevin
Douglas and his wife, Michelle Douglas, hold 1,661,186 Common Shares jointly as the
beneficiaries and co-trustees of the K&M Douglas Trust. In addition, Kevin Douglas and
Michelle Douglas are co-trustees of the James Douglas and Jean Douglas Irrevocable
Descendants Trust, which holds 2,086,141 Common Shares. Kevin Douglas has shared
dispositive power with respect to 6,895,854 Common Shares. Kevin Douglas has dispositive
power with respect to 772,645 Common Shares held by James E. Douglas, III; 1,545,289
Common Shares held by the Douglas Family Trust, and 830,593 shares held by the MMD 2010
Annuity Trust III. Michelle Douglas has sole voting power over 830,593 Common Shares held
by MMD 2010 Annuity Trust III. |
5
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AUDITORS REPORT
The Board of Directors will submit to the shareholders at the Annual Meeting the consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, and the auditors report thereon.
A copy of these financial statements and the auditors report is included in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K, which is being mailed to the Companys shareholders together with this Circular.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
Board of Directors Recommendations for your Vote
The following is a summary of matters to be considered at the 2011 annual meeting of
shareholders together with the Board of Directors unanimously recommendations for your votes.
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Item No. |
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Board Recommendation |
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1. Election of the Four Nominees as Directors
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FOR |
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2. Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC as the Companys Independent Auditors
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FOR |
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3. Approval of Executive Officer Compensation
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FOR |
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4. Approval of Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Officer Compensation
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TWO YEARS |
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Item No. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Companys articles provide that the Board of Directors may be comprised of a minimum of
one and a maximum of 15 directors, with the actual number determined from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Directors. Currently, the Board of Directors has fixed the number of
directors at nine.
At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve the election of directors by
ordinary resolution, which requires that a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting be in
favor of the resolution for the election of the nominees. In the absence of any instruction on the
accompanying Form of Proxy, it is the intention of the persons named by management in the Form of
Proxy to vote the Common Shares represented by the proxy in favor of the resolution. If any of the
nominees is for any reason unable to serve as a director, proxies in favor of management will be
voted for another nominee in their discretion unless the shareholder has specified in the Form of
Proxy that such shareholders Common Shares are to be withheld from voting on the election of
directors.
The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, each of which serves for a three-year
term. The Board of Directors is currently composed of Neil S. Braun, Kenneth G. Copland, Eric
Demirian, Richard L. Gelfond, Garth M. Girvan, David W. Leebron, I. Martin Pompadur, Marc A. Utay,
and Bradley J. Wechsler. At the Annual Meeting, the term of Class II directors expires. The term of
Class I directors expires in 2012. The term of Class III directors expires in 2013.
The nominees for election as directors have indicated to the Company that they will serve if
elected. Each director elected will hold office until the earlier of the expiry of the term for
which he has been elected; until his successor is elected or appointed; or until the date of his
resignation or termination.
Shareholders who wish to have the Board of Directors consider the nomination of any person for
director at the 2012 meeting of shareholders should communicate with the Companys Corporate
Secretary at the Companys corporate office (see description below in Nomination Process).
Nominees for Election
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of each of these
nominees as directors.
The individuals noted below are to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the
Company in Class II and Class III.
The following table lists certain information concerning the persons to be nominated for
election to the Board of Directors of the Company in Class II and Class III and the directors whose
terms continue after the Annual Meeting.
6
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Current Position |
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with the |
Nominees for Election as Class II Directors for the Term Expiring in 2014 |
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Company |
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Eric A. Demirian, 52, Toronto, Ontario Canada
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Director |
Eric A. Demirian has been a director of the Company since September 2010.
Mr. Demirian is President of Parklea Capital, Inc. Prior to Mr. Demirians
position at Parklea Capital, he held the position of Executive Vice
President of Group Telecom from 2000 to 2003. Mr. Demirians previous
positions include, partner and head of Information and Communication
Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers (1983-2000) and internal auditor at the
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (1980-1983). Mr. Demirian serves on
the boards and is the chair of the audit committee of Enghouse Systems Ltd.
Mr. Demirian is a former director and chair of the audit committee of
Leisure Canada Inc. (20102011), Menu Foods Income fund (2005-2010),
Keystone North America Inc. (20072010) and former director and chair of
the audit committee of Granby Industries Income Fund (20062007). Mr.
Demirian is a Canadian citizen. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Certified
General Accountant. Mr. Demirians accounting experience combined with his
substantial business and transaction experience make him well suited to
assist the Board in its assessment of financial and accounting matters. Mr.
Demirian previously served as Executive Vice President of Group Telecom Inc.
(GT Inc.) and its operating subsidiary GT Group Telecom Services Inc. (GT
Services) from January, 2000 to February, 2003 and a Director of GT Inc.
from June, 2002 to August, 2002. GT Inc. was a publicly traded
telecommunications corporation listed on the TSX and NASDAQ. In June 2002,
GT Inc. and GT Services made an application under the Corporation Creditors
Arrangement Act (Canada) and under Chapter 11 in the United States. In
February 2003, GT Services and all of the operations of the Corporation were
sold to a competitor and GT Inc. underwent bankruptcy proceedings. |
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David W. Leebron, 56, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
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Director |
David W. Leebron has been a director of the Company since September 2003 and
has been the President of Rice University since July 1, 2004. Prior to July
1, 2004, Mr. Leebron held the position of Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor
of Law at Columbia University School of Law since 1996 and Professor of Law
since 1989. Mr. Leebron is on the Council on Foreign Relations, and on the
executive committee of the Greater Houston Partnership and the board of KIPP
Foundation. Mr. Leebron serves as Chairman of the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committees of the Company and is a member of the Companys Audit
and Compensation Committees. Mr. Leebron brings his broad legal experience,
leadership and management skills as President of Rice University and former
Dean of Columbia Law School to the Board which makes him well suited to
assess legal risks and other challenges faced by the Company, as well as to
apply his experience to governance issues facing the Board. |
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Marc A. Utay, 51, New York, New York, U.S.A.
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Director |
Marc A. Utay has been a director of the Company since May 1996 and has been
the Managing Partner of Clarion Capital Partners, a private equity
investment firm, since November 1999. Prior to joining Clarion, Mr. Utay was
a Managing Director of Wasserstein Perella & Co. Inc. and a member of
Wasserstein Perellas Policy Committee. Mr. Utay was co-head of Wasserstein
Perellas Leveraged Finance, Retailing and Media, Telecommunication and
Entertainment groups. Until December 2002, Mr. Utay was also a Senior
Advisor to Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. Mr. Utay is a director of P&F
Industries, Inc. Mr. Utay serves as Chairman of the Option Committee of the
Company and is a member of the Companys Corporate Governance and
Compensation Committees. Mr. Utay is a seasoned entrepreneur who has more
than 25 years of experience in investment banking and in direct investment
in public and private companies and funds. He also brings particular
expertise to the Board in the areas of financial planning, the capital
markets and operating experience that strengthens the Boards skill in those
areas. |
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Current Position |
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with the |
Nominee for Election as Class III Directors for the Term Expiring in 2013 |
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Company |
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Martin Pompadur, 75, New York, New York, U.S.A.
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Director |
Martin Pompadur has been a director of the Company since September 2010. Mr.
Pompadur is the Chairman of Metan Development Group. In June 1998, Mr.
Pompadur joined News Corporation as Executive Vice President of News
Corporation, President of News Corporation Eastern and Central Europe and a
member of News Corporations Executive Management Committee. He was
appointed Chairman of News Corp Europe in January 2000, a position he held
until 2008. Mr. Pompadur was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RP
Companies from 1982 to 2007 and has held executive positions at several
other media companies including American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. Mr.
Pompadur is the principal owner of Caribbean International News Corporation
and Montana Coffee. Mr. Pompadur serves on the board of Nexstar Broadcasting
Group Inc. and is Senior Advisor to Oliver Wyman and Global Vice Chairman
Media and Entertainment, Macquarie Capital Advisors. Mr. Pompadur
brings to the Board his broad international perspective gained from many
years of experience as a senior executive and board member of large media
companies. Mr. Pompadurs deep knowledge of business development and media
strategy is a valuable addition to the Board. |
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7
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Expiry of Term |
Directors who Continue in Office after the Annual Meeting |
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of Office |
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Neil S. Braun, 58, New York, New York, U.S.A.
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2012 |
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Neil S. Braun has been a director of the Company since June
2003 and is the Dean of Pace Universitys Lubin School of
Business. Mr. Braun held the position of Chief Executive
Officer of The Carbon Neutral Company from 2008 to June 2010
and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of The GreenLife
Organization from 2007 to 2008. Mr. Braun held the position
of President, Distribution & Marketing of Starz Media after
it acquired IDT Entertainment in August 2006, President,
Feature Films and Television of IDT Entertainment from 2005
to 2007 and the President of Vanguard Animation, LLC from
2001 to 2005. He was the President of Vast Video Inc. prior
to this and was President of iCast Corporation a
wholly-owned subsidiary of CMGI, Inc. during 1999. From 1994
to 1998, Mr. Braun was President of NBC Television Network.
Mr. Braun also sits on the Share our Strength and
Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center boards of directors, both non-profit
organizations. Prior to 1994, Mr. Braun was the Chairman and
CEO of Viacom Entertainment, the COO of Imagine Films
Entertainment and Senior Vice President of Home Box Office
Inc. Mr. Braun has received his Certificate of Director
Education through the National Association of Corporate
Directors and is a member of KPMG Audit Committee Institute.
Mr. Braun is a former director of the GreenLife Organization
(2007-2008) and The Carbon Neutral Company (2008-2010). Mr.
Braun is a member of the Companys Audit, Compensation and
Nominating Committees. Mr. Brauns experience as a senior
executive of a number of entertainment technology and other
companies as well as his current role as business school
dean allows him to provide valuable insight into issues and
opportunities facing the Company and has given him financial
expertise which is valuable to the Audit Committee. |
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Kenneth G. Copland, 73, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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2012 |
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Kenneth G. Copland has been a director of the Company since
June 1999 and is the Chairman of KGC Ltd. Mr. Copland was
the Vice-Chairman of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. from 1994 to May
2001. Mr. Copland is a director of Allbanc Split Corp. II.
Mr. Copland is a former director of BMO Split Corp (2004
2009). Mr. Copland serves as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee of the Company and is a member of the Companys
Compensation and Nominating Committees. Mr. Copland is a
Canadian citizen. Mr. Coplands tenure as Vice-Chairman of a
major bank and his other prominent positions in the
investment banking industry for more than 40 years have
given Mr. Copland a knowledge and understanding with respect
to generally accepted accounting principles and auditing
standards and how they should be applied to budgeting and
financial reporting systems. With his strong financial
background, Mr. Copland serves as the Chair of the Audit
Committee and meets the SEC definition of an Audit Committee
financial expert. |
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Richard L. Gelfond, 55, New York, New York, U.S.A.
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2013 |
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On April 1, 2009, Mr. Gelfond assumed the role of sole Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Gelfond served as
Co-Chairman of the Company with Mr. Wechsler from June 1999
to March 31, 2009 and Co-Chief Executive Officer with Mr.
Wechsler from May 1996 to March 31, 2009. From March 1994 to
June 1999, Mr. Gelfond served as Vice Chairman of the
Company. Mr. Gelfond serves as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the Stony Brook Foundation, Inc., which is
affiliated with Stony Brook University, and is on the Board
of Directors for Brookhaven Science Associates, which is the
management company of Brookhaven National Laboratories. Mr.
Gelfond is a member of the board of directors of the
Atlantic Counsel. He is also a Member of the Motion Picture
Academy of Arts & Science. Mr. Gelfond served as the
Chairman of the Columbia Shuttle Memorial Trust Steering
Committee, which was established in co-operation with NASA
to support the families of the seven crew members of the
STS-107 mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, which came to
a tragic end on February 1, 2003. Mr. Gelfonds long service
as Chief Executive Officer of the Company (formerly Co-Chief
Executive Officer), as well as his marketing, financial,
legal and capital markets expertise, combined with his
extensive knowledge of the business and operations of the
Company and his relationships with studios, exhibitors and
senior management with the Company, are valuable assets to
the Board. Due to Mr. Gelfonds long-time leadership role in
the Company and in the marketplace, he brings to the Board a
practical understanding of the organization, its processes,
strategy, risk management and optimal methods to drive
change and growth. |
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Garth M. Girvan, 62, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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2012 |
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Garth M. Girvan has been a director of the Company since
March 1994 and is a partner of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, one of
Canadas largest law firms. Mr. Girvan is also a director of
Entertainment One Ltd. Mr. Girvan serves as the Chairman of
the Compensation Committee of the Company and is a member of
the Companys Corporate Governance and Option Committees.
Mr. Girvan is a former director of Corby Distilleries
Limited (19982007). Mr. Girvan is a Canadian
citizen. Mr. Girvan brings to the Board his extensive
background as legal counsel to public and private companies,
including having provided recognized leadership in complex
public and private equity and debt financings, which makes
him well-suited to assist the Board in addressing the legal,
financial and governance issues which it faces. |
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Bradley J. Wechsler, 59, New York, New York, U.S.A
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2013 |
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On April 1, 2009, Bradley J. Wechsler assumed the role of
sole Chairman of the Companys Board of Directors. Mr.
Wechsler served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company
with Mr. Gelfond from May 1996 to March 31, 2009. From March
1994 to June 1999, Mr. Wechsler served as Chairman of the
Company and served as Co-Chairman with Mr. Gelfond from June
1999 to March 31, 2009. Mr. Wechsler serves on the boards of
Math for America, the Ethical Culture Fieldston Schools,
Apollo Investment Corporation and Assay Healthcare
Solutions. Mr. Wechsler also serves on the board of the NYU
Hospital and Medical Center, where he is a Vice Chairman and
member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Wechsler is a Member
of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Science. Wechslers
long service as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
as well as his financial, legal and capital markets
expertise, combined with his extensive knowledge of the
business and operations of the Company are valuable assets
to the Board. Due to Mr. Wechslers long-time leadership
role in the Company and in the marketplace, he brings to the
Board a practical understanding of the organization, its
processes, strategy, risk management and the optimal methods
to drive change and growth. In addition, Mr. Wechsler brings
particular expertise in board leadership and governance
given his long service as Co-Chairman of the Board. |
|
|
|
|
|
8
Item No. 2 APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve the appointment of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, Chartered Accountants (PwC), as auditors of the Company to hold
office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders at a remuneration rate to be
fixed by the Board of Directors.
Shareholders will be asked to approve the appointment by ordinary resolution, which requires
that a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting be in favor of the resolution. Voting
WITHHOLD is the equivalent to voting ABSTAIN. In the absence of any instruction on the
accompanying Form of Proxy, it is the intention of the persons named by management in the Form of
Proxy to vote the Common Shares represented by the Form of Proxy in favor of the resolution.
Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and to be available to
respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if they desire to do so.
PwC are the principal independent accountants of the Company. PwC, or one of its predecessors,
have been the auditors of the Company for more than five years. The following table presents fees
for professional services rendered by PwC for the audit of the Companys annual financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and fees billed for other
services rendered by PwC during those periods.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 |
|
2009 |
|
|
Type of Fees |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
Description of Fees |
|
Audit Fees
|
|
|
1,323,172 |
|
|
|
1,320,934 |
|
|
For professional
services rendered
by PwC in
connection with the
audit of the
Companys financial
statements included
in the Companys
Annual Report on
Form 10-K and of
the Companys
internal control
over financial
reporting, the
review of Companys
financial
statements included
in the Companys
Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q, and
for services that
are normally
provided by the
independent
registered public
accounting firm in
connection with
statutory and
regulatory filings
or engagements for
those fiscal years
2010. |
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
|
|
147,814 |
|
|
|
692,708 |
|
|
For professional
services rendered
by PwC in
connection with
assurance and
related services
that are reasonably
related to the
performance of the
audit or review of
financial
statements and
which includes
consultations
concerning
financial
accounting and
reporting standards
and review of
regulatory matters.
In 2010,
audit-related fees
consisted primarily
of consultation
concerning
financial
accounting and
reporting standards
and procedures. In
2009, audit-related
fees consisted
primarily of
comfort letter
procedures in
connection with the
Companys two
equity offerings
and consultation
concerning
financial
accounting and
reporting
standards. |
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
33,222 |
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
For professional
services rendered
by PwC in
connection with tax
compliance, tax
advice, and tax
planning. In 2010
and in 2009, tax
fees consisted
primarily of the
preparation of tax
returns for certain
of the Companys
foreign
subsidiaries and
partnerships,
including related
tax advice. |
|
All other fees
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
Nil
|
|
|
PwC performed no
services in 2010 or
2009 other than
services reported
under Audit Fees,
Audit-Related
Fees and Tax
Fees. |
|
Total
|
|
|
1,504,208 |
|
|
|
2,079,624 |
|
|
|
|
Audit Committees Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
All audit related services and all other permissible non-audit services provided by PwC were
pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Prior to engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves
independent registered public accounting firm services within each category and the fees for each
category are budgeted. The Audit Committee requires the independent registered public accounting
firm and management to report actual fees versus the budget to the extent that actual fees exceed
budgeted fees by a set amount. The Audit Committee reviews all actual fees at year-end. During the
year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered
public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval
categories. In those instances, the Audit Committee requires specific pre-approval before
engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm to the extent that the fees
involved exceed a set amount. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or
more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational
purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Item No. 3 ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
The recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the
Dodd-Frank Act, enables the Companys shareholders to vote to approve, on an advisory (nonbinding)
basis, the compensation of the Companys Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Circular.
As discussed in this Circular, the objectives of the Companys executive compensation program
are to:
|
|
|
provide competitive compensation programs that consist of cash and equity-based
components that appropriately encourage and reward performance and retention and that
create enduring long-term shareholder value; |
9
|
|
|
reward the Companys Named Executive Officers for their individual contributions to
the success of Company; |
|
|
|
|
link executive compensation to the Companys long-term strategic objectives; and |
|
|
|
|
align executive officers interests with shareholder interests through an equity
award framework that creates a sense of ownership and shared risk among executives. |
Consistent with these goals and as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
below, the Company has structured its annual and long-term incentive based cash and non-cash
compensation programs to motivate executives to achieve the business goals set by the Company, to
reward the executives for achieving such goals and to encourage retention of executives beyond the
current year. We encourage you to carefully review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the
tabular compensation disclosures and the related narrative disclosures beginning on page 14 of this
Circular for additional information about the Companys compensation programs, including
information about the fiscal year 2010 compensation of the Companys Named Executive Officers.
The Company is asking its shareholders to indicate their support for the compensation of the
Companys Named Executive Officers as described in this Circular. This proposal, commonly known as
a say-on-pay proposal, gives the Companys shareholders the opportunity to express their views on
the Companys Named Executive Officers compensation. This say-on-pay vote is not intended to
address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Named
Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Circular.
Shareholders will be asked to indicate their support for the compensation of the Companys
Named Executive Officers, as discussed in this Circular by ordinary resolution, which requires that
a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting be in favor of the resolution. In the absence of
any instruction on the accompanying Form of Proxy, it is the intention of the persons named by
management in the Form of Proxy to vote the Common Shares represented by the Form of Proxy in favor
of the resolution.
The Board asks its shareholders to vote FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation of the Companys Named Executive
Officers, as discussed and disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the
compensation tables and the related narrative disclosure set forth in this Circular.
Although the vote is advisory and non-binding in nature, the Board and the Compensation
Committee will review the voting results and will consider shareholder views in connection with our
executive compensation program. If there are a significant number of negative votes, the Board and
the Compensation Committee will seek to understand and consider the concerns that influenced the
vote in making future decisions about executive compensation programs.
Item No. 4 FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
In addition to the advisory vote on executive compensation set forth in Item No. 3 above, the
Dodd-Frank Act requires that shareholders have the opportunity to vote on how often they believe
the advisory vote on executive compensation should be held in the future. This Item No. 4 affords
shareholders the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the frequency of the say-on-pay vote every
year, every two years or every three years.
The Board recommends that you vote to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation every
two years. As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis below, a fundamental objective
of the Companys executive compensation is to align the interests of the Companys executives with
the creation of long-term shareholder value. The Board believes a biennial vote fosters a well
timed approach to evaluating the Companys executive compensation, providing assurance that the
Board remains accountable for executive compensation on a frequent basis. A biennial vote also most
closely mirrors the multi-year nature of the Companys compensation program.
While the Board recommends that shareholders vote to hold the say-on-pay vote every two years,
the voting options are to hold the say-on-pay vote every one year, two years or three years.
Shareholders may also abstain from voting on this proposal. The Company will view whichever of one
year, two years or three years that receives the greatest number of votes as being the frequency
that is favored by our shareholders.
Although this vote is advisory in nature and therefore not binding on the Company, the Board
and the Compensation Committee will consider the results of the vote in determining the frequency
with which advisory votes on executive compensation will be conducted.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR an advisory vote on the compensation of
the Companys Named Executive Officers every TWO years. Proxies that are executed and returned will
be voted FOR an advisory vote every TWO years, unless you specify otherwise in your voting
instructions.
10
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the executive officers of the
Company as of April 26, 2011.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
Richard L. Gelfond
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer & Director |
Joseph Sparacio
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
Gary Moss
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
Chief Operating Officer |
Greg Foster
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
Chairman & President, Filmed Entertainment |
Robert D. Lister
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
Senior Executive Vice President & General Counsel |
Brian Bonnick
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
Executive Vice President, Technology |
David B. Keighley
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
Chief Quality Officer & President, David Keighley Productions 70MM Inc. |
Larry OReilly
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
Executive Vice President, Theatre Development |
G. Mary Ruby
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
Chief Administrative Officer & Corporate Secretary |
Mark Welton
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
Executive Vice President, Corporate and Digital Development & Theatre Operations |
Edward MacNeil
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
Senior Vice President, Finance |
Jeffrey Vance
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
Senior Vice President, Finance & Controller |
|
Richard L. Gelfond assumed the role of sole Chief Executive Officer of the Company
effective April 1, 2009, and remains a member of the Companys Board of Directors. Mr. Gelfond
served as Co-Chairman of the Company with Mr. Wechsler from June 1999 to March 31, 2009 and
Co-Chief Executive Officer with Mr. Wechsler from May 1996 to March 31, 2009. From March 1994 to
June 1999, Mr. Gelfond served as Vice Chairman of the Company. Mr. Gelfond serves as Chairman of
the Board of Trustees of the Stony Brook Foundation, Inc., which is affiliated with Stony Brook
University, and is on the board of directors for Brookhaven Science Associates, which is the
management company of Brookhaven National Laboratories. Mr. Gelfond is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Atlantic Counsel. He is also a Member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts &
Science. Mr. Gelfond served as the Chairman of the Columbia Shuttle Memorial Trust Steering
Committee, which was established in co-operation with NASA to support the families of the seven
crew members of the STS-107 mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, which came to a tragic end on
February 1, 2003.
Joseph Sparacio joined the Company in May 2007 as Executive Vice President and was appointed
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in August 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Sparacio served
as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the programming company iN Demand L.L.C.
from June 2002 until his employment with the Company. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Sparacio served as
Vice President of Finance and Controller for Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation. From 1994 to
1998, Mr. Sparacio served as Vice President, Finance and Controller of Loews Theater Management
Corp., and from 1990 to 1994, he served as Controller. Prior to joining Loews, Mr. Sparacio spent
eight years with Ernst & Young. Mr. Sparacio is a certified public accountant and is a member of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified
Public Accountants.
Gary Moss joined the Company in July 2009 as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Moss was an independent consultant from 2008 until his employment with the Company and
served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Concert Productions International
(CPI), a major promoter of rock concerts and tours in North America, and an operating subsidiary of
Live Nation Inc. from 2004 to 2008. Mr. Moss worked with EMI Group Canada Inc., as Vice President,
Finance from 1995 to 2004, and with Sega of Canada, Inc. as Vice President of Finance from 1993 to
1995. Mr. Moss is a Chartered Accountant and received his Bachelors of Commerce from University of
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Greg Foster joined the Company in March 2001 as President, Filmed Entertainment and was
appointed Chairman & President, Filmed Entertainment in September 2004. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Foster was Executive Vice-President of Production at MGM/UA. Prior to that, Mr. Foster
held other senior positions including Senior Vice-President of Motion Picture Marketing Research
during his 15 years at MGM/UA. In 1999, Mr. Foster founded uMogul, a financial services company and
held the position of Chairman, Co-Founder and President.
Robert D. Lister joined the Company in May 1999 as Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs &
General Counsel, and was appointed Senior Executive Vice President & General Counsel in December
2007. Previous to that, Mr. Lister held the position of Executive Vice President, Business & Legal
Affairs, Corporate Communications & General Counsel since January 2006 and was Executive Vice
President, Legal and Business Affairs & General Counsel, a position he held from May 2001 to
January 2006. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lister was Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary of Clearview Cinemas, a film exhibitor, from March 1998 until his employment with the
Company. Prior to that, Mr. Lister served as Associate General Counsel of Merit Behavioral Care
Corporation, a behavioral healthcare company, from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Lister is a member of the
board of directors of 3net, a joint venture of Sony, Discovery Communications and the Company. Mr.
Lister is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
11
Brian Bonnick joined the Company in January 1999 as Vice President, Research & Technology and
was appointed Executive Vice President, Technology in June 2006. From August 2001 June 2006 Mr.
Bonnick held the position of Senior Vice President, Technology. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Bonnick was Vice President, Engineering and Operations for Electrohome
Corporation. Prior to that Mr. Bonnick was Vice President and General Manager at TSB
International Inc., a telecommunications company. Mr. Bonnick is registered as a professional
engineer by the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario.
David B. Keighley joined the Company in February 1988 and was appointed Chief Quality Officer
in March 2011. From July 2007 to March 2011 Mr. Keighley held the position of Executive Vice
President of the Company and from July 1997 to July 2007 Mr. Keighley held the position of Senior
Vice President. Mr. Keighley is President of David Keighley Productions 70MM Inc., a subsidiary of
the Company. Mr. Keighley is responsible for motion picture and digital post-production and image
quality assurance.
Larry OReilly joined the Company in March 1994 as the Sales Manager, Film Distribution and
was appointed Executive Vice President, Theatre Development in September 2004. Mr. OReilly has
held various positions within the Company including Manager, Business Development, Film; Director,
Strategic Partnerships; Director, Commercial Marketing: The Americas; Vice President, Sales, The
Americas; and Senior Vice President, Theatre Development & Film Distribution.
G. Mary Ruby joined the Company in October 1987 as Associate General Counsel and was appointed
Chief Administrative Officer & Corporate Secretary in March 2011. Previous to that Ms. Ruby held
the position of Executive Vice President, Corporate Services (Legal, Human Resources and
Administration) & Corporate Secretary since January 2008 Senior Vice President, Human Resources and
Administration a position she held since May 2007 and Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs &
Corporate Secretary since July 2001. Ms. Ruby held the position of General Counsel of the Company
from February 1989 to February 1997. Ms. Ruby is also Deputy General Counsel and acts as Corporate
Secretary to the Board of Directors. In November 2004, Ms. Ruby was appointed by the Companys
Audit Committee as Chief Compliance Officer, responsible for oversight of the Companys Whistle
Blower Program. Ms. Ruby is a member of the Ontario Bar Association.
Mark Welton joined the Company in July 1997 as Director, Business Affairs and was appointed
Executive Vice President, Corporate and Digital Development & Theatre Operations in April 2007.
From September 2001 to October 2003, Mr. Welton held the position of Senior Vice President,
Business Affairs, and from October 2003 to June 2006, Mr. Welton held the position of Senior Vice
President, Theatre Operations and from June 2006 to April 2007 held the position of Executive Vice
President, Theatre Operations & General Manager, Digital. Prior to joining the Company Mr. Welton
was an associate lawyer at the law firm Stikeman, Elliot from 1994 until his employment with the
Company.
Edward MacNeil joined the Company in April 1994 as Director, Taxation & Treasury and was
appointed Senior Vice President, Finance in August 2007. Mr. MacNeil served as interim Chief
Financial Officer from August 2006 to August 2007. From October 1999 to August 2001, Mr. MacNeil
held the position of Director and Senior Vice President of Digital Projection Limited, a former
subsidiary of the Company. From September 2001 to September 2006, Mr. MacNeil held the position of
Vice President Finance, Tax and Special Projects. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. MacNeil was a
Taxation Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. MacNeil is a member of the Canadian Institute of
Chartered Accountants.
Jeffrey Vance joined the Company in October 2004 as Manager, Business Operations and was
appointed Senior Vice President, Finance and Controller in March 2011. Previous to that Mr. Vance
held the position of Vice President, Finance and Controller since February 2008. Mr. Vance served
as Co-Controller from November 2006 and previous to that, Mr. Vance held the position of Director,
Finance and Treasurer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Vance was employed in the Audit and
Business Advisory Division at Arthur Andersen LLP from 1994 to 2002, most recently as Audit
Manager, and was the Assistant Director, Financial Administration at FedEx Trade Networks Transport
and Brokerage (Canada) Inc. from 2002 to 2003 and Eastern Region Controller and Manager of
Administration at Comstock Canada Ltd. from 2003 to 2004. Mr. Vance is a member of the Canadian
Institute of Chartered Accountants.
12
2010 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets forth information regarding the Companys Equity Compensation Plan as
of December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities Remaining |
|
|
Number of Securities to be |
|
|
|
|
|
Available for Future Issuance |
|
|
Issued Upon Exercise of |
|
Weighted Average Exercise |
|
Under Equity Compensation Plans |
|
|
Outstanding Stock Options, |
|
Price of Outstanding |
|
(Excluding Securities Reflected in |
|
|
Warrants and Rights |
|
Stock Options |
|
Column (a)) |
Plan Category |
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
|
6,743,272 |
|
|
|
10.79 |
|
|
|
6,085,843 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security
holders |
|
Nil |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
Total |
|
|
6,743,272 |
|
|
|
10.79 |
|
|
|
6,085,843 |
|
|
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the
Companys Common Shares as of April 4, 2011 or as otherwise indicated in the notes below, including
(i) all persons to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors, individually; (ii) all
directors and the Named Executive Officers, individually; and (iii) all directors and officers as a
group. The Companys Named Executive Officers are the individuals who served during 2010 as Chief
Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officer and the three most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company, other than the Chief Executive Officers and the Chief Financial Officer,
who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2010 (collectively, the Named Executive
Officers).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares Beneficially |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner of |
|
Owned, Controlled or |
|
Stock Options Exercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
Percent of Outstanding |
Common Shares |
|
Directed (1) |
|
within 60 days |
|
Total |
|
Common Shares (2) |
|
Richard L. Gelfond |
|
|
455,500 |
(3) |
|
|
1,350,000 |
|
|
|
1,805,500 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
% |
Bradley J. Wechsler |
|
|
632,800 |
(4) |
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
1,682,800 |
|
|
|
2.6 |
% |
Neil S. Braun |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Kenneth G. Copland |
|
|
25,804 |
(5) |
|
|
73,947 |
|
|
|
99,751 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Eric A. Demirian |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
7,838 |
|
|
|
7,838 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Garth M. Girvan |
|
|
57,702 |
(6) |
|
|
55,328 |
|
|
|
113,030 |
|
|
|
* |
|
David W. Leebron |
|
|
7,300 |
(7) |
|
|
69,499 |
|
|
|
76,799 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Martin Pompadur |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
7,838 |
|
|
|
7,838 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Marc A. Utay |
|
|
623,131 |
(8) |
|
|
59,624 |
|
|
|
682,755 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
% |
Joseph Sparacio |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
41,250 |
|
|
|
41,250 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Greg Foster |
|
|
26,000 |
(9) |
|
|
168,398 |
|
|
|
194,398 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Larry OReilly |
|
|
5,000 |
(10) |
|
|
22,750 |
|
|
|
27,750 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Mark Welton |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
All directors and executive
officers as a group (20
persons) |
|
|
1,856,439 |
|
|
|
3,031,472 |
|
|
|
4,879,411 |
|
|
|
7.3 |
% |
|
(1) |
|
Statements as to securities beneficially owned by directors and executive
officers, or as to securities over which they exercise control or direction, are based
upon information obtained from such directors and executive officers and from records
available to the Company. |
|
(2) |
|
The percent of outstanding Common Shares is based on dividing the number of Common
Shares beneficially owned by the individual by 64,254,939 Common Shares outstanding as of
April 4, 2011, adjusted for Common Shares issuable through the exercise of vested stock
options held by such person, plus stock options held by such person that vest within 60
days of that date. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Gelfond has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 355,400 Common
Shares and shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 100,100 Common Shares. As
of April 4, 2011, Mr. Gelfond also had outstanding 150,000 SARs, which entitle Mr.
Gelfond to receive cash from the Company for any increase in the Fair Market Value of the
Common Shares from the Fair Market Value on the grant date to the date of exercise of the
SARs. The SARs may be replaced by the Company, at its option, with stock options or
restricted shares in certain circumstances and subject to certain restrictions. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Wechsler has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 158,300 Common
Shares and shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 474,500 Common Shares. As
of April 4, 2011, Mr. Wechsler also had outstanding 150,000 SARs, which entitle Mr.
Wechsler to receive cash from the Company for any increase in the Fair Market Value of
the Common Shares from the Fair Market Value on the grant date to the date of exercise of
the SARs. The SARs may be replaced by the Company, at its option, with stock options or
restricted shares in certain circumstances and subject to certain restrictions. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Copland has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 25,804 Common
Shares. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Girvan has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 57,702 Common
Shares. |
13
(7) |
|
Mr. Leebron has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 6,000 Common
Shares and shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,300 Common Shares. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Utay has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 623,131 Common
Shares. |
|
(9) |
|
Mr. Foster has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 26,000 Common
Shares. As of April 4, 2011, Mr. Foster also had outstanding 100,000 SARs, which entitle
Mr. Foster to receive cash from the Company for any increase in the Fair Market Value of
the Common Shares from the Fair Market Value on the grant date to the date of exercise of
the SARs. The SARs may be replaced by the Company, at its option, with stock options in
certain circumstances and subject to certain restrictions. |
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Mr. OReilly has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 5,000 Common
Shares. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) requires the
Companys directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of the Companys equity securities (collectively, the Reporting Persons) to file reports of
ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 with the SEC. The Reporting
Persons are also required by the Exchange Act to furnish the Company with copies of all Section
16(a) reports they file. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, one report on Form 4 was
not timely filed by Marc A. Utay relating to the sale of 50,000 Common Shares. Other than such
report on Form 4, based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 (and amendments thereto) received
from, or written representations by, the Reporting Persons, in respect of the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2010, the Company believes that all other such reports were timely filed by the
Reporting Persons.
MANAGEMENT CEASE TRADE ORDER
On April 3, 2007, certain directors, senior officers and certain former employees were
prohibited from trading in the securities of the Company pursuant to management cease trade orders
issued by the Ontario Securities Commission (the OSC) and certain other provincial securities
regulators in connection with the delay in filing certain of the Companys financial statements.
All management cease trade orders were fully revoked on November 22, 2007.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of the compensation
program for the Companys Named Executive Officers and the rationale for the program elements and
decisions for the year ended December 31, 2010. For the purposes of this Compensation Discussion
and Analysis, our Named Executive Officers are:
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Richard L. Gelfond, Chief Executive Officer. |
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Joseph Sparacio, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. |
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Greg Foster, Chairman & President, Filmed Entertainment. |
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Larry OReilly, Executive Vice President, Theatre Development. |
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Mark Welton, Executive Vice President, Corporate and Digital Development & Theatre
Operations. |
See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below, for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted
earnings per share to United States generally accepted accounting principles measures.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The following principles have guided the Company in developing its compensation programs and
in determining total compensation levels for the Companys Named Executive Officers:
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the Company must be prepared to compete with larger organizations with greater
resources for executive talent; |
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the Companys compensation practices should take into account the dynamic nature of
the Companys business over the last several years; and |
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the Companys compensation programs should encourage the Companys Named Executive
Officers to increase long-term shareholder value in a manner that appropriately balances
short-term growth objectives and does not create undue risk for the Company and its
shareholders. |
The Companys compensation philosophy is to attract and retain key employees, to motivate them
to achieve and to reward them for superior performance. The objectives of the Companys
compensation program are to:
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provide competitive compensation programs that consist of cash and equity-based
components that appropriately encourage and reward performance and retention and that
create enduring long-term shareholder value; |
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reward the Companys Named Executive Officers for their individual contributions to
the success of Company; |
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link executive compensation to the Companys long-term strategic objectives; and
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align executive officers interests with shareholder interests through an equity
award framework that creates a sense of ownership and shared risk among executives. |
Based on the foregoing principles and philosophy, the Company has structured its annual and
long-term incentive based cash and non-cash compensation programs to motivate executives to achieve
the business goals set by the Company and reward the executives for achieving such goals.
Summary of 2010 Performance and Results
The Companys performance in 2010 was very strong, with key highlights including the
following:
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the Company recorded highest annual revenues, earnings and EBITDA for any year in
the Companys 43-year history; |
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annual revenues increased 45% over the prior year to $248.6 million; |
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adjusted EBITDA increased 73% over the prior year to $101.4 million; |
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adjusted earnings per share increased 168% over the prior year to $1.02 per share; |
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annual gross box office from DMR titles doubled to $546 million; |
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a record number of systems were installed (91 theatre systems and 32 digital
upgrades) resulting in significant theatre network growth; |
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the Company signed agreements for 221 systems (166 new
theatre systems and 55 new digital
upgrades), positioning the Company for significant commercial network growth in 2011 and
beyond; and |
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the Company more than doubled its stock price
increasing from $13.31 per share on December 31, 2009 to $28.07 per
share on December 31, 2010. |
As a result of these achievements, the Company accomplished or exceeded all of its key
objectives for 2010. With respect to 2010 compensation, the Company took into account its success
in accomplishing or exceeding its key objectives, the increased size and complexity of the
Companys business in 2010 resulting from the increased size of the Companys theatre network and
film slate, the expansion of the Companys international operations and the pursuit of new business
opportunities. Accordingly, the Companys Named Executive Officers earned compensation for 2010
that was generally at or above the target compensation opportunities established for them. This
result is consistent with the intent and design of the Companys variable pay programs, which link
actual pay directly to improved operating results, and results in reduced compensation in years in
which financial results do not meet expectations.
Executive Compensation Process
Scope and Authority of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee has the overall responsibility for evaluating and making
recommendations to the Board regarding equity-based and incentive compensation plans, policies and
programs of the Company. The Compensation Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Girvan
(Chairman), Braun, Copland, Leebron and Utay, all of whom fulfill the independence requirements of
Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Listed Company Manual and Section 1.2 of
Canadian National Instrument 58-101. These rules provide that no director qualifies as
independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that such director has no material
relationship with the Company and an independent director be a person other than an officer or
employee of the Company or any other individual having a material relationship that in the opinion
of the Board of Directors would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out
the responsibilities of the director and sets forth specific categories of relationships that
disqualify a director from being independent (any such director, an Independent Director).
The Compensation Committee operates under a written mandate, the Compensation Committee
Charter, which was adopted by the Companys Board of Directors.
The Compensation Committees responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:
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preparing and approving the compensation package of the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) |
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reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation
of the CEO and evaluating the performance of the CEO against these goals and objectives; |
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reviewing all new employment, consulting, retirement and severance arrangements for
the CEO; |
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reviewing and approving on annual basis the components and the amount of
compensation paid to executive officers; and |
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reviewing this Compensation Disclosure and Analysis and recommending to the Board
of Directors its inclusion in this Circular. |
15
Role of the Compensation Committee in Determining CEO Compensation
The Compensation Committee prepares and approves the compensation package of the CEO,
including rendering decisions with respect to base salary, performance-based incentive compensation
and long-term equity incentive compensation. In evaluating the CEO, the Compensation Committee will
consider:
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the CEOs skill set, experience, historical performance and expected future
contribution to the Company, and the impact on the Company if the CEO were to depart from
employment with the Company; |
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the level of total compensation for the Companys other senior executives; and |
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as described below, pay information from other companies and published surveys and
other public salary disclosures as a general market reference. |
Role of the CEO in Executive Compensation Decisions
The Board of Directors has determined that to best align executive compensation with
shareholders interests and the Companys business strategy, the CEO should make recommendations
with respect to the equity and non-equity compensation of other Named Executive Officers given his
familiarity with the Companys day-to-day operations and his insight into what rewards and
incentives are effective. Accordingly, each year, the CEO reviews the performance of each member of
the executive team, including the Named Executive Officers, in consultation with other supervising
executives including the Chief Operating Officer, and reaches certain conclusions and
recommendations based on these reviews, including with respect to base salary, performance-based
incentive compensation and long-term equity incentive compensation. In evaluating a Named Executive
Officer, the CEO will consider the following:
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an individuals skill set, experience, historical performance and expected future
contribution to the Company, and the impact on the Company if such individual would
depart from employment with the Company; |
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the level of total compensation for the Companys other senior executives; and |
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as described below, pay information from other companies and in some cases,
published surveys and other public salary disclosures as a general market reference. |
The Compensation Committee then reviews and approves the components and amount of compensation
recommended by management and the compensation packages are implemented by the Company. In the
event that the compensation package involves a decision to grant stock options, any such grant must
be approved by the Board of Directors or the Option Committee.
Role of Compensation Consultant
In 2010, the Compensation Committee retained Mercer Human Resources Consulting (Mercer) to
assist in its review of the components and level of the CEOs compensation in connection with the
renewal of his employment agreement in December 2010. Mercer provided no other advice to the
Compensation Committee in 2010. Management engaged Mercer in 2010 to assist the Company in its
review of long term incentive plan alternatives, to assist the Company in determining its
comparator group as described below and to provide information regarding compensation levels and
components with respect to certain positions in the comparator companies.
Use of Compensation Survey Data
In making compensation decisions, the Company may from time to time consider and compare the
form and level of compensation disclosed by other companies of similar size, industry or other
characteristics to get a general understanding of the compensation structures maintained by these
companies. In addition, the Company may periodically compare elements of total compensation against
survey data provided by outside compensation consultants, proxy data and industry-specific
published survey sources, which include data from the comparator companies as described below.
Given the Companys diversified and highly unique businesses, the history of innovations behind its
product offerings, and the global nature of its employee base and operations, the Company believes
it lacks any pure peer companies against which it is able to benchmark. As a result, the Company
believes that external survey data cannot take the place of sound business judgment based on
specific knowledge of the Company and its executive leaders.
The Company competes with many larger companies for top executive-level talent. In addition,
the Company believes its executives should possess above-average competencies, skills and prior
experience and display above-average leadership skills as they discharge their responsibilities. As
such, the Company generally sets total cash compensation for executives at the 75th percentile of
the total cash compensation paid to similarly situated executives of the companies comprising the
peer group. Variations from this target may occur depending on the position being compared, the
experience level of the relevant individual and various market factors.
16
Comparator Group
As the Company is a Canadian organization with primarily U.S. executives, two comparator
groups were developed to reflect the Canadian and the U.S. markets for competitive pay. These
groups are comprised of a mix of media and technology companies in order to reflect the Companys
need to develop innovative technologies. To ensure a comparison against organizations of a similar
size, these groups include only organizations with revenues of $1 billion or less. The Company
reviews the data from both competitive markets and generally targets the 75th percentile with
regards to total cash compensation. However, as some executive positions require unique
qualifications, particularly those involving expertise in the media, film and capital markets
industries, the Company must retain discretion when determining competitive compensation.
The comparator companies identified by Mercer in 2010 include:
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U.S. Comparators |
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Canadian Comparators |
Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc.
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Open Text Corporation |
Dolby Laboratories Inc.
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Astral Media Inc. |
ANSYS, Inc
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Evertz Technologies Ltd. |
DTS, Inc.
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Corus Entertainment Inc. |
Mercer concluded that the Company generally sets total cash compensation for executives at the
75th percentile for the total cash compensation paid to similarly situated executives comprising
the comparator groups.
Employment and Change in Control Agreements
Currently, the Company has written employment agreements with Messrs. Gelfond, Sparacio and
Foster, which are described in detail below in Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon
Termination or Change of Control. The Company believes that these agreements are critical to
enable it to attract and retain talent, while still allowing the Compensation Committee and the CEO
sufficient discretion to determine overall compensation in a given year. The employment agreements
specify details of the approach to salary, bonus, equity awards, and restrictive covenants
surrounding executive officer employment, including non-competition and non-solicitation
provisions. Generally, the employment agreements were established at the time of hire and are
amended from time to time to extend or modify the terms of employment, including to reflect a
promotion or other change in job responsibility or to provide for additional equity awards and
other items.
The employment agreements require that the Company make certain payments to the relevant Named
Executive Officers in the event of a termination of employment for various reasons, including upon
a change of control. The provisions setting forth certain payments upon a change of control are
designed to promote stability and continuity of senior management in the event of a transaction
involving a change of control of the Company. The Companys severance and change of control
benefits were determined on the basis of market practices in order to both provide this stability,
as well as to provide a competitive overall compensation package to the Named Executive Officers.
During 2010, the Company entered into amendments to the employment agreements of Messrs.
Gelfond, Sparacio and Foster. Pursuant to the amendment to Mr. Gelfonds agreement, the term of Mr.
Gelfonds employment was extended through December 31, 2012. As part of his employment renewal, Mr.
Gelfonds base salary was increased to $750,000 per year (from $600,000 per year in 2010) and Mr.
Gelfond received a grant of 800,000 stock options (with 160,000 stock options to vest on each of
May 1, 2011, September 1, 2011, January 1, 2012, May 1, 2012 and September 1, 2012). The Company
believes that the grant of stock options to Mr. Gelfond is in alignment with the Companys overall
compensation philosophy that the most senior executives should derive a greater proportion of their
overall compensation from long-term incentive compensation and that equity compensation should
increase as salary grade levels increase, as described below more fully under Executive
Compensation Components. Partly in exchange for the increase in base salary and the equity grant,
Mr. Gelfond agreed that any compensation earned during 2011 and 2012 would not be included in
calculating his entitlement under the Companys Supplemental Executive Retirement Program.
Under the 2010 amendment to Mr. Sparacios employment agreement, the term of Mr. Sparacios
employment was extended through May 14, 2012. Mr. Sparacios base salary increased from $350,000
per year to $385,000 per year effective May 14, 2010 and $400,000 per year effective May 14, 2011.
Mr. Sparacios salary increase was his first since he began working for the Company on May 14, 2007
and reflects Mr. Sparacios increased responsibilities resulting from the increased size and
complexity of the Companys business.
17
Under the 2010 amendment to Mr. Fosters employment agreement, the term of Mr. Fosters
employment was extended through July 13, 2013. In connection with his renewal, the Company agreed
to provide Mr. Foster with a minimum bonus of $500,000 for 2010 (prorated from the date of the
amendment), 2011 and 2012. Mr. Foster also received an option grant of 600,000 stock options (with
200,000 options to vest on each of July 1, 2011, July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2013). As with Mr.
Gelfonds stock option grant, the stock option grant to Mr. Foster is consistent with the Companys
overall compensation philosophy that the most senior executives should derive a greater proportion
of their overall compensation from long-term incentive compensation and that equity compensation
should increase as salary grade levels increase. In connection with the amendment, the Company
agreed to provide Mr. Foster with whole life insurance policy and a term life insurance policy (for
the duration of the term of his employment) in the amount of $3.5 million and $3 million,
respectively. The Company also agreed to reimburse Mr. Foster for reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with his attendance at an executive MBA program of Mr. Fosters choice.
Executive Compensation Components
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the principal components of compensation for
Named Executive Officers were:
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base salary; |
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annual cash bonus awards; |
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long-term incentive compensation in the form of stock options; |
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retirement and pension plans; and |
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other personal benefits and perquisites. |
In establishing each component of a Named Executive Officers compensation, the Company is
guided by the following principles:
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As executives move to higher levels of responsibility with more direct influence
over the Companys performance, they should have a higher percentage of pay at risk.
Accordingly, as executives become more senior, the percentage of their total direct
compensation derived from base salary decreases. |
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As executives become more senior, a greater proportion of their overall
compensation is derived from long-term incentive compensation rather than short-term
compensation. The Company believes that motivates executives to take actions that are
most conducive to the Companys long-term growth and viability and helps ensure focus on
the Companys long-term success. |
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Equity compensation should increase as salary grade levels increase. Since the
Companys most senior executive officers are in positions that most directly impact the
Companys performance, their focus should be to achieve sustainable growth and long-term
profit for the Company. By awarding compensation in the form of equity, the Company
believes that its compensation encourages executives to behave like owners and aligns
executives and shareholders interests. |
Annual Base Salary
The Company provides each of the Named Executive Officers, with a competitive fixed annual
base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year and to provide a base
level of monthly income that is not subject to performance-related risk or discretion. The base
salary for each of the Companys Named Executive Officers is specified in his employment agreement
or arrangement. The base salary of Named Executive Officers who do not have written employment
agreements are reviewed on an annual basis. In reviewing base salaries for the Named Executive
Officers, the Company primarily considers (i) the executives position and responsibilities; (ii)
market data for executives with similar responsibilities provided by the Companys outside
consultant; (iii) the executives individual performance; and (iv) other cash and non-cash
components of the executives total compensation. With certain exceptions, base salary ranges are
generally intended to be designed so that salary opportunities for a given position will be
positioned in the median range of compensation for comparable positions at the Comparator Group.
Base salary levels for Named Executive Officers are typically considered upon renewal of the Named
Executive Officers employment agreement or upon an amendment of the Named Executive Officers
employment agreement in connection with a promotion or other change in job responsibility. With
respect to Messrs. OReilly and Welton, base salary is reviewed annually as part of the Companys
performance review process.
Performance-Based Incentive Compensation
The Company has no pre-established policy or target, other than the general parameters
described above, for the allocation between either cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term
incentive compensation. The Company annually determines the appropriate level and mix of incentive
compensation. Income from such incentive compensation is realized as a result of the performance of
the Company or the individual, depending on the type of award, compared to established goals.
Factors the Company considers in determining the appropriate mix of incentive compensation for the
Companys employees, including the Named Executive Officers, include the ability to further
corporate business objectives, particularly key strategic and operational initiatives, management
and budgetary responsibility and level of seniority.
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Annual Cash Bonus Awards
Awards under the management bonus plan (the Management Bonus Plan) support the Companys
business objective of delivering positive annual strategic and operating results. As executives
move to greater levels of responsibility, the percentage of their compensation that is at risk and
that is based on performance increases.
In 2010, each of the Named Executive Officers, other than Mr. Gelfond, received cash bonuses
under the Companys Management Bonus Plan. Awards under the Management Bonus Plan are determined
based on achievement of corporate objectives and a qualitative evaluation of individual
performance, and are discretionary, other than the minimum bonus guarantees to which Mr. Foster is
contractually entitled as described below in Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon
Termination or Change-in-Control.
Bonuses are awarded under the Management Bonus Plan based on the performance of the Company
and of the participating employee and are determined following the review of the financial
performance of the Company for each fiscal year. Generally, half of a participating Named Executive
Officers bonus will be based upon the Companys performance, while the remaining half is based
upon the personal performance of the Named Executive Officer. The Companys assessment of its
overall performance at year-end considers the achievement of corporate financial, strategic and
operational objectives including, but not limited to, income and revenue earned by the Company,
theatre signings and installations particularly under joint revenue sharing arrangements, film
performance, and technology development. The assessment of a Named Executive Officers personal
performance takes into account the achievement of certain personal objectives which are determined
on an annual basis by such Named Executive Officer in consultation with the CEO. Examples of
personal objectives include business targets, operating, strategic, budgetary and/or managerial
goals.
The Company employs broad parameters rather than fixed formulas to assess both Company and
individual performances and to make recommendations to the Compensation Committee for bonus amounts
for the Named Executive Officers. While the Company does set specific corporate and personal
objectives at the beginning of a given year, these objectives are not set quantitative targets but
rather guidelines to be used in determining bonuses at year-end. Neither the Company nor the
Compensation Committee is limited to considering pre-determined objectives in assessing performance
and neither is the failure nor success of any such objectives dispositive with respect to the final
assessment of either Company or personal performance. Also, while employment agreements and
employment arrangements generally set forth target median and, in some cases, maximum bonuses,
these targets are discretionary guidelines. The Company retains the discretion (unless otherwise
contractually obligated) to recommend to the Compensation Committee no bonus, to recommend bonuses
below the median target or to recommend bonuses that exceed the target, in each case, as
circumstances warrant. The Company believes that, at this time, a flexible annual bonus process is
more appropriate and yields better results than setting fixed quantitative targets in advance since
a flexible process allows the Company and the Compensation Committee to consider (i) goals set by
the Board of Directors and communicated to senior management at any point during the year, and (ii)
the effects of unanticipated events and circumstances on the Companys business or on a particular
executives performance.
In assessing Company performance for 2010, the Company recognized the accomplishment of key
objectives including the Companys:
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exceeding revenue and profitability targets; |
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doubling of its worldwide DMR gross box office; |
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exceeding its signing and installation targets, particularly for theatres under
joint revenue sharing arrangements; |
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continued expansion into international markets, especially in Western Europe and
Japan, and the release of the Companys first international IMAX DMR release; and |
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securing an increasing number of prominent films from major Hollywood studios for
release to the IMAX network. |
In assessing individual performance for 2010, the Company and the Compensation Committee
recognized Mr. Sparacio for his continued contribution in connection with the increasing stability
of the Companys financial controls and return to profitability; Mr. Foster for his role in the
continued expansion of the Companys relationship with Hollywood distributors; Mr. OReilly for his
role in the continued global expansion of the IMAX theatre network and Mr. Welton for his
management of the analysis, installation and start-up of new joint revenue sharing theatres. As a
result of this assessment, each of Named Executive Officers received bonuses greater than or equal
to their bonus targets.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining Mr. Gelfonds annual bonus based on
its qualitative assessment of Company performance. In awarding Mr. Gelfonds 2010 bonus, the
Compensation Committee recognized the Companys strong performance in 2010, in general, and, in
particular, the Companys accomplishing or exceeding every one of its key objectives for 2010. As
result of this assessment, Mr. Gelfond received a bonus of $1.2 million, which equaled his maximum
bonus target.
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Sales Commission Plans
Where an employees position primarily involves responsibility for the Companys theatre
sales, lease and joint revenue sharing arrangement activities, the Company believes that it is
appropriate to tie a portion of his or her annual cash compensation to such revenue-generating
efforts.
The Company maintains various sales commission plans (the Commission Plans) in which its
employees involved in theatre sales activities participate. These plans are designed to reward
employees where, through their efforts, the Company secures obligations under contracts with third
parties to build or retrofit, open and operate IMAX theatres. Typically, commissions payable under
the Commission Plans are based either on a percentage of the contract value or on a fixed amount
for each theatre opened. The commission is calculated based on several factors including the size
and nature of the contractual relationship entered into by the Company with the third party. Each
theatre transaction is examined at the time a binding agreement is entered into to determine which
of the specific Commission Plans would apply. Subsequent to the signing of a binding agreement, the
commissions payable under the completed transaction are calculated based on the applicable
Commission Plans. The calculation is reviewed and approved by appropriate Company personnel.
Mr. OReilly, who leads the Companys sales, theatre marketing and development activities, is
the only Named Executive Officer who participates in the Commission Plans. In 2010, Mr. OReilly
received commission payments of $770,315.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
The Companys long-term incentive compensation for certain employees, including each of the
Named Executive Officers, is generally provided through grants of stock options and in certain
circumstances in prior years, through grants of stock appreciation rights (SARs). The Company
believes that long-term incentive awards are important in creating alignment between senior
management and shareholders and in preserving the continuity of executive leadership during
important and strategic times, such as the Companys introduction of digital projection technology
and the roll-out of theatre systems under joint revenue sharing arrangements. The level of benefit
received by the Companys executive officers is dependent, to a large degree, on the Companys
execution of its strategy and on delivering significant and sustained growth. The Company believes
that grants of stock options with service-based vesting conditions are appropriate vehicles for
providing forward-looking incentives and retention to the continuing members of management. Stock
option awards to Named Executive Officers may be granted as part of an annual grant to employees
who participate in the Companys stock option plan, as described below, or pursuant to individual
employment agreements. SARs were generally granted pursuant to individual employment agreements. No
SARs were granted in 2010 and the Company currently has no intention to issue additional SARs in
the future.
Stock Options
The Company maintains a stock option plan (the SOP) under which the Company may grant stock
options to officers, employees, consultants and eligible directors (the Participants) to purchase
Common Shares on terms and conditions set out in the SOP. The Company grants stock options pursuant
to the SOP to align executives interests with those of the Companys shareholders over the long
term.
The SOP is administered by the Board of Directors which has delegated the responsibility of
administering the SOP to the Option Committee. The Option Committee is currently composed of
Messrs. Utay (Chairman) and Girvan, both of whom are Independent Directors. The Option Committee is
responsible for performing the functions required of it under the SOP, including the grant of stock
options to Participants under the SOP, subject to guidelines determined by the Companys human
resources department and the Compensation Committee.
In determining the number of stock options to grant to the Named Executive Officers, the
Company will from time to time consider and compare compensation disclosed by other companies of
similar size, industry or other characteristics to get a general understanding of the compensation
structures maintained by similarly situated companies. Moreover, the Company periodically compares
various elements of stock based compensation against survey data provided by outside consultants.
In addition, consideration is given to each Participants salary range and responsibility and the
number of stock options granted to the Companys other executive officers. The Board of Directors
or the Option Committee approves any stock option grant to a Named Executive Officer.
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All awards of stock options are made at fair market value of the Companys Common Shares on
the date of grant. The fair market value of a Common Share on a given date means the higher of the
closing price of a Common Share on the grant date (or the most recent trading date if the grant
date is not a trading date) on the NYSE, the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX) and such national
exchange, as may be designated by the Companys Board of Directors (the Fair Market Value). Stock
options are generally exercisable for a maximum period of 10 years from the date of grant, subject
to earlier termination if the Participants employment, consulting arrangement or term of office
with the Company terminates. The Board of Directors or the Option Committee determines vesting
requirements. If a Participants employment, consulting arrangement or term of office with the
Company terminates for any reason, stock options which have not vested are generally cancelled,
subject to certain exceptions as further described in Employment Agreements and Potential Payments
upon Termination or Change-in-Control below. The Company accounts for stock-based payments to
officers, employees and eligible directors in accordance with the requirements of Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 Compensation-Stock
Compensation (previously SFAS 123R).
Eligible newly hired or promoted executives receive their award of stock options as soon as
practicable following their hire or promotion. With respect to the Companys Named Executive
Officers, stock option awards are generally granted as part of an annual grant to numerous
employees or in connection with employment agreement renewals.
All of the Named Executive Officers received stock option grants in connection with their
employment in 2010. Mr. Foster was the only Named Executive Officer to receive a grant in the 2009
fiscal year. In December 2010, Mr. Gelfond received a grant of 800,000 stock options in connection
with the renewal of his employment agreement for an additional two years. In April 2010, Mr. Foster
received a grant of 600,000 in connection with the renewal of his employment agreement for an
additional three years. The stock options granted to Messrs. Gelfond and Foster vest in equal
installments over the term of their employment agreements. In March 2010, Messrs. Sparacio,
OReilly and Welton received stock option grants, in connection with the annual stock option grants
to senior management, of 60,000, 25,000 and 60,000, respectively. In July 2010, Mr. OReilly
received an additional grant of 35,000 stock options in connection with his assumption of
additional responsibilities.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The Company has in prior years granted SARs to certain Named Executive Officers. The use of
SARs as a long-term incentive enabled the Company to preserve share capacity under the SOP while
continuing to align employee incentives with the performance of the Companys Common Shares and
shareholders interests. The SARs entitle recipients to receive cash from the Company for any
increase in the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares from the Fair Market Value on the date of
grant to the date of exercise of the SARs. The terms of SARs granted are described below in
Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control. Factors the
Company considered in deciding whether and how many SARs to grant to Named Executive Officers
included the relevant Executives role and responsibilities and the financial and accounting impact
of the SARs on the Company.
The Company has the right but not the obligation to cancel at any time all, or from time to
time any part, of the existing SARs and to replace the cancelled SARs with stock options, or at the
Companys discretion, restricted shares, in certain circumstances and subject to certain
restrictions.
No SARs were granted in 2010 and the Company currently has no intention to issue additional
SARs in the future.
Retirement and Pension Plans
The Company maintains an unfunded defined benefit pension plan, the Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan (the SERP), covering Mr. Gelfond and the Companys former Co-CEO, Bradley
Wechsler. The SERP provides for a lifetime retirement benefit from age 55 determined as 75% of the
members best average 60 consecutive months of earnings (base salary and cash bonus) over his
employment history.
Under the terms of the SERP, if Mr. Gelfonds employment had terminated other than for cause
prior to August 1, 2010, he would have been entitled to receive SERP benefits in the form of
monthly annuity payments until the earlier of a change of control or August 1, 2010, at which time
he would have been entitled to receive remaining benefits in the form of a lump sum payment. If Mr.
Gelfonds employment terminates, or had terminated, other than for cause on or after August 1,
2010, he is, or would have been, entitled to receive SERP benefits in the form of a lump sum
payment. SERP benefit payments to Mr. Gelfond are subject to a deferral for six months after the
termination of his employment, at which time Mr. Gelfond will be entitled to receive interest on
the deferred amount credited at the applicable federal rate for short-term obligations. Mr. Gelfond
has informed the Company that he does not currently intend to retire prior to the expiration of his
current employment agreement on December 31, 2012.
Primarily as a result of a change in marital status and a decrease in interest rates used in
calculating the present value of accumulated benefits, the actuarial present value of Mr. Gelfonds
accumulated benefit under the SERP as at December 31, 2010 increased by $3,791,459, as compared to
December 31, 2009 as indicated below in the Summary Compensation Table.
21
Under the terms of the SERP, monthly annuity payments payable to Mr. Wechsler, whose
employment as Co-CEO terminated effective April 1, 2009, were deferred for six months and were paid
in the form of a lump sum plus interest on October 1, 2009. Mr. Wechsler received monthly annuity
payments from November 1, 2009 until August 1, 2010, at which time he received the remaining
benefits in the form of a lump sum payment. The lump sum payment of $14.7 million was made to Mr.
Wechsler on August 1, 2010.
The Company also maintains an unfunded post retirement benefit plan covering Messrs. Gelfond
and Wechsler. The plan provides that the Company will maintain retiree health benefits for Messrs.
Gelfond and Wechsler, until they become eligible for Medicare and, thereafter, the Company will
provide Medicare supplemental coverage as selected by each. Each of Messrs. Gelfond and Wechsler
are fully vested in this plan.
The Company maintains defined contribution pension plans for all of its employees. Each of the
Named Executive Officers participates in one of these plans under the same terms as other
employees. The Company makes contributions to these pension plans on behalf of employees in an
amount up to 5% of their base salary, subject to certain prescribed maximums. During the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2010, the Company contributed an aggregate of $29,533 to the Companys
Canadian defined contribution plan on behalf of Messrs. OReilly and Welton and an aggregate of
$14,700 to the Companys U.S. defined contribution employee pension plan under Section 401(k) of
the U.S. Internal Revenue Code on behalf of Messrs. Gelfond, Sparacio and Foster.
Other Personal Benefits and Perquisites
The Company provides all employees, including the Named Executive Officers, with personal
benefits and perquisites that the Company believes are reasonable and consistent with its overall
compensation program to better enable the Company to attract and retain superior employees for key
positions. The Company periodically reviews the levels of personal benefits and perquisites
provided to the Named Executive Officers to ensure competitiveness and value to employees. The
Company does not provide significant perquisites to its Named Executive Officers.
The Named Executive Officers are provided either with use of Company automobiles or with car
allowances.
Each Named Executive Officer is entitled to receive a cash payment upon such executives death
through the Companys life insurance policies. In the event of the executives death prior to
actual retirement at age 65, the executives designated beneficiaries would be entitled to receive
a lump sum payment amount equal to two times his base salary, subject to prescribed maximums. In
addition to its broader policy covering all Named Executive Officers, the Company has agreed to
reimburse Mr. Gelfond for the premiums related to a $15 million term life insurance policy that
became effective in January 2010. In 2010, the Company reimbursed Mr. Gelfond for $82,313 in annual
premiums. This annual reimbursement will continue until such time as Mr. Gelfond receives his lump
sum payment under the terms of the SERP. In addition, the Company pays the premiums associated with
a $3 million term life insurance policy for Mr. Foster the duration of his employment as well as a
fully paid $3.5 million whole life insurance policy for Mr. Foster.
In connection with the renewal of his employment agreement in 2010, the Company has agreed to
reimburse Mr. Foster for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with his attendance at an
executive MBA program of Mr. Fosters choice. No amounts were actually reimbursed during 2010.
Attributed costs to the Company of the personal benefits and perquisites described above for
the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, are reported below in the
All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
To the extent that any compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers constitutes a
deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the
Company intends to cause the compensation to comply with the requirements of Section 409A and to
avoid the imposition of penalty taxes and interest upon the participant receiving the award.
The Company also takes accounting considerations, including the impact of Financial Accounting
Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 Compensation-Stock Compensation
(previously SFAS 123R) into account in structuring compensation programs and determining the form
and amount of compensation awarded.
Common Share Ownership Guidelines
The Company does not currently have any minimum Common Share ownership requirements for its
executive officers. For a summary of the Common Share ownership of the Companys executive
officers, see Security Ownership of Directors and Management on page 13 of this Circular.
22
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
for the year ended December 31, 2010 with management. Based on this review and discussion, the
Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in this Circular.
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to
be filed with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future
filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), or the Exchange Act, except
to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference in such filing.
|
|
|
April 26, 2011
|
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Respectfully submitted, |
|
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|
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Garth M. Girvan (Chairman) |
|
|
Neil S. Braun |
|
|
Kenneth G. Copland |
|
|
David W. Leebron |
|
|
Marc A. Utay |
23
2010 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The table below sets forth the compensation earned by the Named Executive Officers during the
registrants last three completed fiscal years.
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Change in |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option/SARs |
|
Pension |
|
All Other |
|
|
Name and Principal Position of |
|
Year ended |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards (1) |
|
Value |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
Named Executive Officer |
|
December 31 |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
Richard L. Gelfond |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
7,360,000 |
(2) |
|
|
3,791,459 |
(3) |
|
|
123,288 |
(4) |
|
|
13,074,747 |
(5) |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
3,400,151 |
|
|
|
33,171 |
|
|
|
4,933,322 |
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
725,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,550 |
|
|
|
1,449,550 |
|
|
Joseph Sparacio |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
372,346 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
(6) |
|
|
490,200 |
(7) |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
17,033 |
(8) |
|
|
1,104,579 |
|
Executive Vice President & CFO |
2009 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
162,313 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
18,474 |
|
|
|
530,787 |
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
91,875 |
|
|
|
57,750 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
18,453 |
|
|
|
518,078 |
|
|
Greg Foster |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
800,000 |
(6) |
|
|
4,998,000 |
(9) |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
146,988 |
(10) |
|
|
6,644,988 |
|
Chairman & President, |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
42,500 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
15,126 |
|
|
|
1,457,626 |
|
Filmed Entertainment |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
382,500 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
12,971 |
|
|
|
1,095,471 |
|
|
Larry
OReilly (11) |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
270,945 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
(6) |
|
|
466,400 |
(12) |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
802,119 |
(13) |
|
|
1,619,464 |
|
Executive Vice President, |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
230,993 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
664,325 |
|
|
|
925,318 |
|
Theatre Development |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
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Mark Welton |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
319,722 |
|
|
|
175,000 |
(6) |
|
|
490,200 |
(14) |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
33,702 |
(15) |
|
|
1,018,624 |
|
Executive Vice President, Corporate and
Digital Development & Theatre Operations |
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
(1) |
|
The Common Share price was significantly higher in 2010, and in particular in the
fourth quarter of 2010 as compared to Common Share prices in 2009 and 2008 at the time of
stock option grants in those years, which was the primary reason for the increase in the
reported grant date fair values of the stock option awards granted in 2010. As required by SEC
rules, the Option/SARs Awards columns in this Summary Compensation Table reflect the
aggregate grant date fair values computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for expected
forfeitures). See note 15(c) to the audited consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 for the
assumptions used to calculate the fair value of the stock options. Whether, and to what
extent, a Named Executive Officer realizes value with respect to stock option awards will
depend on the Companys actual operating performance, stock price fluctuations and the Named
Executive Officers continued employment. |
|
(2) |
|
This amount reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for
expected forfeitures) for 800,000 stock options granted on December 31, 2010. The stock
options vest in five equal installments of 160,000 on each of May 1, 2011, September 1, 2011,
January 1, 2012, May 1, 2012, and September 1, 2012. The stock options expire on December 31,
2020. The stock options were granted to Mr. Gelfond in connection with the renewal of his
employment agreement with the Company for an additional two-year term. |
|
(3) |
|
The Companys SERP is an unfunded defined benefit pension plan covering Mr. Gelfond
which provides for a lifetime retirement benefit from age 55, determined as 75% of the
members best average 60 consecutive months of earnings over the members employment history.
Primarily as a result of a change in marital status and a decrease in interest rates used in
calculating the present value of accumulated benefits, the actuarial present value of Mr.
Gelfonds accumulated benefit under the SERP as at December 31, 2010 increased by $3,791,459,
as compared to December 31, 2009. See note 22(a) to the audited consolidated financial
statements in Item 8 of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2010 for more information related to this calculation. Mr. Gelfonds accumulated
benefit under the SERP becomes payable only upon Mr. Gelfonds retirement or resignation, the
termination of Mr. Gelfond without cause or a change of control of the Company. See
Compensation Discussion and Analysis Retirement and Pension Plans above. The accumulated
benefit under the SERP will ultimately be recalculated as of the date of the relevant
termination event at which point assumptions such as the lump sum discount rates will be known
and fixed under the SERP and the SERP benefit will become payable. Mr. Gelfond has informed
the Company that he does not currently intend to retire prior to the expiration of his current
employment agreement on December 31, 2012. |
|
(4) |
|
This amount reflects (i) $82,673 for the payment by the Company of life insurance
premiums on the life of Mr. Gelfond as described above in Other Personal Benefits and
Perquisites, (ii) $4,900 for contributions to the Companys defined contribution pension
plans, and (iii) $35,715 for personal use of a Company provided automobile. The expenses
attributable to Mr. Gelfonds personal use of a Company vehicle include the portion, as
determined as a percentage of the total use of the vehicle, of (i) the vehicle lease cost and
(ii) expenses such as vehicle repairs and maintenance costs. |
|
(5) |
|
The increase in stock option grant date reported fair value (see footnote 1 above) and
the actuarial increase in the SERP due to his change in marital status and interest rates (see
footnote 3 above) account for a significant portion of the total compensation. |
|
(6) |
|
This amount was paid under the Management Bonus Plan, as described above in
Performance-Based Incentive Compensation Bonus Awards. |
|
(7) |
|
This amount reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for
expected forfeitures) for 60,000 stock options granted on March 12, 2010. The stock options
vest in five installments: 6,000 on March 12, 2011, 9,000 on March 12, 2012, 12,000 on March
12, 2013, 15,000 on March 12, 2014 and 18,000 on March 12, 2015 and expire on March 12, 2017. |
24
|
|
|
(8) |
|
This amount reflects (i) $360 for the payment by the Company of life insurance premiums
on the life of Mr. Sparacio, (ii) $4,900 for
contributions to the Companys defined contribution pension plans, and (iii) $11,773 for
allowance for personal automobile use. The expenses attributable to Mr. Sparacios personal
automobile use include the portion, as determined as a percentage of the total use of the
vehicle, of (i) a car allowance and (ii) expenses such as vehicle repairs and maintenance
costs. |
|
(9) |
|
This amount reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for
expected forfeitures) for 600,000 stock options granted on April 30, 2010. The stock options
vest in three equal installments of 200,000 on each of July 1, 2011, July 1, 2012 and July 1,
2013 and expire on April 30, 2017. The stock options were granted to Mr. Foster in connection
with the renewal of his employment agreement for an additional three-year term. |
|
(10) |
|
This amount reflects (i) $137,233 for the payment by the Company of life insurance
premiums on the life of Mr. Foster as described above in Other Personal Benefits and
Perquisites, (ii) $4,900 for contributions to the Companys defined contribution pension
plans, and (iii) $4,855 for allowance for personal automobile use. The expenses attributable
to Mr. Fosters personal automobile use include the portion, as determined as a percentage of
the total use of the vehicle, of (i) a car allowance and (ii) expenses such as vehicle repairs
and maintenance costs. |
|
(11) |
|
Mr. OReillys bonus and commissions were earned in U.S. dollars. Other compensation
was earned in Canadian dollars. The Canadian compensation values have been converted to and
reported in U.S. dollars using the Bank of Canada noon rate for the last day of the month
preceding an actual payment date. |
|
(12) |
|
This amount reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for
expected forfeitures) for 25,000 stock options granted on March 12, 2010 and 35,000 stock
options granted on July 1, 2010. The March 2010 stock options vest in five installments: 2,500
on March 12, 2011, 3,750 on March 12, 2012, 5,000 on March 12, 2013, 6,250 on March 12, 2014
and 7,500 on March 12, 2015 and expire on March 12, 2017. The July 2010 stock options vest in
five installments: 3,500 on July 1, 2011, 5,250 on July 1, 2012, 7,000 on July 1, 2013, 8,750
on July 1, 2014 and 10,500 on July 1, 2015 and expire on July 1, 2017. |
|
(13) |
|
This amount reflects (i) commissions in the amount of $770,315 as described above in
Sales Commission Plans, (ii) $817 for the payment by the Company of life insurance premiums
on the life of Mr. OReilly, (iii) $13,547 for contributions to the Companys defined
contribution pension plans, and (iv) $17,440 for allowance for personal automobile use. The
expenses attributable to Mr. OReillys personal automobile use include the portion, as
determined as a percentage of the total use of the vehicle, of (i) a car allowance and (ii)
expenses such as vehicle repairs and maintenance costs. |
|
(14) |
|
This amount reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for
expected forfeitures) for 60,000 stock options granted on March 12, 2010. The stock options
vest in five equal installments: 6,000 on March 12, 2011, 9,000 on March 12, 2012, 12,000 on
March 12, 2013, 15,000 on March 12, 2014 and 18,000 on March 12, 2015 and expire on March 12,
2017. |
|
(15) |
|
This amount reflects (i) $1,008 for the payment by the Company of life insurance
premiums on the life of Mr. Welton, (ii) $15,986 for contributions to the Companys defined
contribution pension plans, and (iii) $16,708 for allowance for personal automobile use. The
expenses attributable to Mr. Weltons personal automobile use include the portion, as
determined as a percentage of the total use of the vehicle, of (i) a car allowance and (ii)
expenses such as vehicle repairs and maintenance costs. |
The material terms of the Named Executive Officers employment agreements are described
below in Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control.
25
2010 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The following table sets forth information relating to grants of stock options made to Named
Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 under any plan, including awards
that subsequently have been transferred. No SARs were granted to Named Executive Officers during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
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|
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All Other Option Awards: |
|
Exercise or |
|
Grant Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Base Price of |
|
Fair Value of |
Name and Principal Position of |
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Options |
|
Option Awards |
|
Option Awards |
Named Executive Officer |
|
Grant Date |
|
(#) (1) |
|
($/Sh) (2) |
|
($)(3) |
|
Richard L. Gelfond |
|
|
12/31/2010 |
|
|
|
800,000 | (4) |
|
|
28.19 |
|
|
|
7,360,000 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph Sparacio |
|
|
03/12/2010 |
|
|
|
60,000 | (5) |
|
|
15.88 |
|
|
|
490,200 |
|
Executive Vice President & CFO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Foster |
|
|
4/30/2010 |
|
|
|
600,000 | (6) |
|
|
18.98 |
|
|
|
4,998,000 |
|
Chairman & President, Filmed Entertainment |
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
Larry OReilly |
|
|
03/12/2010 |
|
|
|
25,000 | (7) |
|
|
15.88 |
|
|
|
204,250 |
|
Executive Vice President, Theatre Development |
|
|
07/01/2010 |
|
|
|
35,000 | (8) |
|
|
14.60 |
|
|
|
262,150 |
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
Mark Welton |
|
|
03/12/2010 |
|
|
|
60,000 | (9) |
|
|
15.88 |
|
|
|
490,200 |
|
Executive Vice President, Corporate and Digital
Development & Theatre Operations |
|
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|
|
(1) |
|
Each stock option entitles the Named Executive Officer to purchase one Common Share. |
|
(2) |
|
Stock options were not priced below the NASDAQ closing market price. Pursuant to the
Companys SOP, which governs the pricing of stock options, the exercise price of a stock
option may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of
grant. Fair Market Value of a Common Share on a given date refers to the higher of the closing
price of a Common Share on such date (or the most recent trading date if such date is not a
trading date) on NASDAQ or the TSX and after February 10, 2011 on the NYSE or the TSX. |
|
(3) |
|
The Common Share price was significantly higher in 2010, and in particular in the
fourth quarter of 2010 as compared to Common Share prices in 2009 and 2008 at the time of
stock option grants in those years, which was the primary reason for the increase in the
reported grant date fair values of the stock option awards granted in 2010. This amount
represents the aggregate grant date fair values computed in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for
expected forfeitures). See note 15(c) to the audited consolidated financial statements in Item
8 of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 for
the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of the stock options. Whether, and to what
extent, a Named Executive Officer realizes value with respect to stock option awards will
depend on the Companys actual operating performance, stock price fluctuations and the Named
Executive Officers continued employment. |
|
(4) |
|
The stock options were granted to Mr. Gelfond in connection with the renewal of his
employment agreement for an additional two-year term. 160,000 of the stock options vest on
each of May 1, 2011, September 1, 2011, January 1, 2012, May 1, 2012, and September 1, 2012. |
|
(5) |
|
The stock options vest in five installments: 6,000 on March 12, 2011, 9,000 on March
12, 2012, 12,000 on March 12, 2013, 15,000 on March 12, 2014, and 18,000 on March 12, 2015. |
|
(6) |
|
The stock options were granted to Mr. Foster in connection with the renewal of his
employment agreement for an additional three-year term. 200,000 of the stock options vest on
each of July 1, 2011, July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013. |
|
(7) |
|
The stock options vest in five installments: 2,500 on March 12, 2011, 3,750 on March
12, 2012, 5,000 on March 12, 2013, 6,250 on March 12, 2014, and 7,500 on March 12, 2015. |
|
(8) |
|
The stock options vest in five installments: 3,500 on July 1, 2011, 5,250 on July 1,
2012, 7,000 on July 1, 2013, 8,750 on July 1, 2014, and 10,500 on July 1, 2015. |
|
(9) |
|
The stock options vest in five equal installments: 6,000 on March 12, 2011, 9,000 on
March 12, 2012, 12,000 on March 12, 2013, 15,000 on March 12, 2014, and 18,000 on March 12,
2015. |
The material terms of the Named Executive Officers employment agreements are described
below in Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control.
26
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table sets forth information relating to unexercised equity awards for each
Named Executive Officer outstanding as of December 31, 2010.
Option/SARs/Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Number of Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option/SARs |
|
|
|
|
Options/SARs |
|
Options/SARs |
|
Exercise |
|
Option/SARs |
Name and Principal Position of |
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
Named Executive Officer |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
Richard L. Gelfond |
|
|
372,000 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
4.85 |
|
|
April 23, 2012 |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
68,000 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
7.00 |
|
|
June 5, 2012 |
|
|
|
450,000 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
5.24 |
|
|
June 3, 2014 |
|
|
|
300,000 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
2.88 |
|
|
December 11, 2018 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
800,000 |
(1) (2) |
|
|
28.19 |
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
450,000 | (3) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
6.86 |
|
|
December 31, 2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph Sparacio |
|
|
11,250 | (1) |
|
|
41,250 | (1) (4) |
|
|
4.16 |
|
|
June 13, 2014 |
Executive Vice President & CFO |
|
|
5,250 | (1) |
|
|
26,250 | (1) (5) |
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
December 16, 2015 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
60,000 | (1) (6) |
|
|
15.88 |
|
|
March 12, 2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Foster |
|
|
17,500 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
3.41 |
|
|
March 19, 2011 |
Chairman & President, |
|
|
50,000 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
6.89 |
|
|
November 1, 2011 |
Filmed Entertainment |
|
|
100,000 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
6.89 |
|
|
November 1, 2011 |
|
|
|
18,398 | (1) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
4.40 |
|
|
March 13, 2016 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
600,000 | (1) (7) |
|
|
18.98 |
|
|
April 30, 2017 |
|
|
|
150,000 | (3) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
6.86 |
|
|
December 31, 2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry OReilly |
|
|
14,000 | (1) |
|
|
22,000 | (1) (8) |
|
|
6.86 |
|
|
December 31, 2014 |
Executive Vice President, |
|
|
6,250 | (1) |
|
|
18,750 | (1) (9) |
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
December 16, 2015 |
Theatre Development |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
25,000 | (1) (10) |
|
|
15.88 |
|
|
March 12, 2017 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
35,000 | (1) (11) |
|
|
14.60 |
|
|
July 1, 2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Welton |
|
|
8,000 | (1) |
|
|
22,000 | (1) (8) |
|
|
6.86 |
|
|
December 31, 2014 |
Executive Vice President,
Corporate and Digital |
|
|
7,500 |
(1) |
|
|
37,500 | (1) (12) |
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
December 16, 2015 |
Development & Theatre Operations |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
60,000 | (1) (6) |
|
|
15.88 |
|
|
March 12, 2017 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2010. |
|
(2) |
|
The stock options were granted to Mr. Gelfond in connection with the renewal of his
employment agreement for an additional two-year term. 160,000 of the stock options vest on
each of May 1, 2011, September 1, 2011, January 1, 2012, May 1, 2012, and September 1, 2012. |
|
(3) |
|
SARs outstanding as of December 31, 2010. |
|
(4) |
|
18,750 of the stock options vest on May 14, 2011, and 22,500 on May 14, 2012. |
|
(5) |
|
7,000 of the stock options vest on December 16, 2011, 8,750 on December 16, 2012, and
10,500 on December 16, 2013. |
|
(6) |
|
6,000 of the stock options vest on March 12, 2011, 9,000 on March 12, 2012, 12,000 on
March 12, 2013, 15,000 on March 12, 2014 and 18,000 on March 12, 2015. |
|
(7) |
|
The stock options were granted to Mr. Foster in connection with the renewal of his
employment agreement for an additional three-year term. 200,000 of the stock options vest on
each of July 1, 2011, July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2013. |
|
(8) |
|
10,000 of the stock options vest on December 31, 2011, and 12,000 on December 31, 2012. |
|
(9) |
|
5,000 of the stock options vest on December 16, 2011, 6,250 on December 16, 2012, and
7,500 on December 16, 2013. |
|
(10) |
|
2,500 of the stock options vest on March 12, 2011, 3,750 on March 12, 2012, 5,000 on
March 12, 2013, 6,250 on March 12, 2014 and 7,500 on March 12, 2015. |
|
(11) |
|
3,500 of the stock options vest on July 1, 2011, 5,250 on July 1, 2012, 7,000 on July
1, 2013, 8,750 on July 1, 2014 and 10,500 on July 1, 2015. |
|
(12) |
|
10,000 of the stock options vest on December 16, 2011, 12,500 on December 16, 2012,
and 15,000 on December 16, 2013. |
All stock options in the Outstanding Equity Awards table were granted under the SOP as
described above in Compensation Discussion and Analysis Long-Term Incentive Compensation.
All SARs in the Outstanding Equity Awards table were granted under the Named Executive
Officers individual employment agreements or other agreements as described below in Employment
Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control.
27
2010 STOCK OPTIONS / SARS / STOCK EXERCISED
The following table sets forth information relating to the exercise of stock options, SARs and
stock during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 for each of the Named Executive Officers on an
aggregated basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
SARs Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value Realized |
|
Shares Acquired |
|
Value Realized |
|
Shares Acquired |
|
Value Realized |
|
|
Exercise |
|
on Option |
|
on Exercise of |
|
on SARs |
|
on Exercise of |
|
on Stock |
Name and Principal Position of |
|
of Options |
|
Exercise |
|
SARs |
|
Exercise |
|
Stock |
|
Exercise |
Named Executive Officer |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
Richard L. Gelfond |
|
|
330,000 |
|
|
|
4,044,588 |
|
|
|
320,000 |
|
|
|
3,360,715 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
2,087,200 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph Sparacio |
|
|
26,000 |
|
|
|
505,703 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
Executive Vice
President & CFO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Foster |
|
|
50,000 |
(1) |
|
|
535,400 |
|
|
|
157,000 |
|
|
|
2,349,000 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
Chairman & President,
Filmed Entertainment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry OReilly |
|
Nil |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
Executive Vice
President,
Theatre
Development |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Welton |
|
|
50,000 |
(2) |
|
|
476,215 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
Executive Vice
President,
Corporate and
Digital
Development & Theatre
Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
50,000 of the Common Shares were acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options
that had an expiration date of March 18, 2010. |
|
(2) |
|
15,000 of the Common Shares were acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options
that had an expiration date of August 14, 2010. |
2010 PENSION BENEFITS
The following table sets forth information relating to each defined benefit pension plan that
provides for payments or other benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement, as of
December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Present Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years of |
|
Accumulated |
|
Payments During |
Name and Principal Position of |
|
|
|
Credited Service |
|
Benefits |
|
Last Fiscal Year |
Named Executive Officer |
|
Plan Name |
|
(#) |
|
($)(1) |
|
($) |
|
Richard L. Gelfond |
|
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan |
|
|
9.5 |
|
|
|
18,682,176 |
|
|
Nil |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
Post Retirement Medical Benefits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
264,000 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
See note 22(a) to the audited consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 for certain
assumptions used to calculate the present value of accumulated benefits. |
The Companys SERP is an unfunded defined benefit pension plan covering Mr. Gelfond, CEO
of the Company, which was established in 2000. The SERP provides for a lifetime retirement benefit
from age 55 determined as 75% of the members best average 60 consecutive months of earnings over
the members employment history. The benefits were 50% vested as at July 2000, the SERP initiation
date. The vesting percentage increased on a straight-line basis from inception until age 55. Mr.
Gelfonds SERP benefits became 100% vested on July 10, 2010.
The Company has an unfunded retiree health benefit plan covering Mr. Gelfond. The plan
provides that the Company will maintain retiree health benefits for Mr. Gelfond until he become
eligible for Medicare and, thereafter, the Company will provide Medicare supplemental coverage as
selected by Mr. Gelfond.
Further descriptions of the SERP, the retiree health benefit plan and the Companys defined
contribution plans are summarized above in Compensation Discussion and Analysis Retirement and
Pension Plans.
28
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL
The Company has entered into written employment agreements with each of the Named Executive
Officers, other than Messrs. OReilly and Welton, which require the Company to make payments to the
Named Executive Officers in the event of the termination of their employment in various
circumstances as further described below.
In addition to such contractual rights, each of the Named Executive Officers holds stock
options granted to him under the SOP. Under the terms of the SOP:
|
|
|
If the Participants employment, consulting arrangement or term of office is
terminated without cause or by reason of the Participants voluntary resignation, death
or permanent disability, (i) unvested stock options will be cancelled, and (ii) the
Participant (or the Participants estate) will generally be entitled to exercise the
Participants vested stock options for a period of thirty days, or such longer period as
the Board of Directors or Option Committee determines, following the date of termination
of employment. |
|
|
|
|
If the Participants employment, consulting arrangement or term of office is
terminated for cause, the Participants vested and unvested stock options will be
cancelled. |
|
|
|
|
All stock options granted immediately vest and become fully exercisable upon the
occurrence of both a change of control and either (i) the Participants termination
without cause, (ii) the diminution of the Participants title or responsibilities or
(iii) the Participant being asked to relocate more than twenty-five miles from his
existing office. |
If the Participant is a party to an employment agreement with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and breaches any of the restrictive covenants in such agreement, the Participants
unexercised options will be cancelled. In certain cases, a Named Executive Officers option grant
is controlled by the terms of his employment agreement, which overrides the terms of the SOP. Any
such departure from the terms of the SOP is noted below.
Messrs. Gelfond and Foster also hold SARs granted to them under the terms of their respective
employment agreements. To the extent applicable, the SARs are governed by the terms of the SOP,
including the provisions relating to the calculation of the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares
and resignation or termination. The terms of vesting and acceleration of the SARs upon a change of
control are set forth below in each individuals respective employment agreement.
A portion of the analysis below sets forth the amount of compensation that would become
payable to each of the Named Executive Officers under existing arrangements if the hypothetical
termination of employment events described had occurred on December 31, 2010. The Company cautions
that the actual amounts that would be paid upon a Named Executive Officers termination of
employment can be determined only at the time of such individuals separation from the Company.
Mr. Gelfond
Chief Executive Officer and Director
On November 3, 1998, the Company entered into a renewal agreement, as subsequently amended,
with Mr. Gelfond (the Agreement). Mr. Gelfond and the Company entered into the most recent
amendment to the Agreement on December 20, 2010 which, among other things, extended the current
term of Mr. Gelfonds employment to December 31, 2012. Under the Agreement, Mr. Gelfond is entitled
to receive a base salary of $750,000 for the fiscal years 2011 and 2012. Mr. Gelfond is eligible to
receive a bonus of up to two times his base salary, with a median target bonus of one times salary.
The bonus is granted at the discretion of the Board of Directors and is based upon the success of
the Company in achieving certain goals and objectives. In addition, the Agreement contains (i) a
customary non-competition provision that extends for the term of the Agreement and for four years
thereafter and (ii) a provision requiring Mr. Gelfond to provide the Company with consulting
services for a period of three years after the termination of his employment.
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Mr. Gelfond has received several equity grants. Mr.
Gelfonds equity awards outstanding as of December 31, 2010, and their respective exercise prices
and expiration dates are set forth above in Outstanding Equity Awards. Unless overridden by terms
set forth in the Agreement, Mr. Gelfonds stock options are governed by the terms of the SOP, which
is described above in Compensation Discussion and Analysis Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Stock Options. Mr. Gelfonds SARs are also governed by the terms of the SOP, but under the terms
of the Agreement, the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to cancel at any time all or,
from time to time, any portion, of the SARs and to replace the cancelled SARs with stock options
or, at the Companys discretion with respect to certain of the SARs, restricted shares under
certain circumstances and subject to certain restrictions.
29
As provided for in the Agreement, the Company has created a defined benefit pension plan, the
SERP, to provide benefits for Mr. Gelfond upon his retirement, resignation or termination other
than for cause, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis Retirement and Pension Plans above
for a description of the SERP. Mr. Gelfond is fully vested in his benefits under the SERP. The
Company has also agreed to maintain retiree health benefits for Mr. Gelfond until he becomes
eligible for Medicare and, thereafter, to provide Medicare supplemental coverage selected by Mr.
Gelfond. If Mr. Gelfond had retired or resigned, or had he been terminated without cause, in each
case on December 31, 2010, Mr. Gelfond would have received an estimated lump sump payment of
$18,946,176, representing the value of his SERP and retiree health benefits as of such date.
The Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Gelfond for the premiums related to a $15 million term
life insurance policy that became effective in January 2010. In 2010, the Company reimbursed Mr.
Gelfond for $82,313 in annual premiums and related taxes. This annual reimbursement will continue
until such time as Mr. Gelfond receives his lump sum payment under the terms of the SERP.
Voluntary retirement or resignation
If Mr. Gelfond voluntarily retires or resigns prior to the end of his employment term, all
unvested stock options and SARs are cancelled immediately and all vested stock options remain
exercisable for the duration of their original term. In addition, all vested SARs remain
exercisable by Mr. Gelfond for one year after his retirement or resignation. Mr. Gelfond would have
been entitled to receive SERP benefits in the form of monthly annuity payments until the earlier of
a change of control of the Company or August 1, 2010, at which time he would have received the
remaining benefits in the form of a lump sum payment. If Mr. Gelfonds employment was terminated
other than for cause on or after August 1, 2010, he would have been entitled to receive SERP
benefits in the form of a lump sum payment. Mr. Gelfond would also be entitled to receive retiree
health benefits.
If Mr. Gelfond had resigned or elected voluntary retirement as of December 31, 2010, he would
have been entitled to an estimated lump sum payment reflecting the value of his vested SERP and
retiree health benefits in the amount described above.
Termination with cause
If Mr. Gelfonds employment is terminated with cause, unvested stock options and SARs are
cancelled immediately. All vested stock options must be exercised within 90 days of such
termination and all vested SARs must be exercised within 30 days of such termination, after which
any unexercised stock options or SARs are cancelled. In such case, Mr. Gelfond would forfeit his
benefits under the SERP, and he would not receive any further compensation under the Agreement. Mr.
Gelfond, however, would be entitled to receive retiree health benefits. The estimated value of
retiree health benefits, as of December 31, 2010, would have been $264,000.
Termination without cause
If Mr. Gelfond were terminated without cause, he would not be entitled to receive any cash
compensation other than payments under the SERP since his SERP benefits were vested in full on July
10, 2010. In addition, if his employment is terminated without cause or in the event of a non
renewal of the Agreement, all of Mr. Gelfonds unvested stock options will immediately vest and
remain exercisable for a period of three years. If Mr. Gelfonds employment is terminated without
cause, he is entitled to retiree health benefits.
If Mr. Gelfonds employment had been terminated without cause other than upon a change of
control as of December 31, 2010, he would have been entitled to an estimated lump sum payment
reflecting the value of his SERP and retiree health benefits in the amount described above. Mr. Gelfond would have been entitled to the accelerated
value of his unvested stock options; however, as of December 31, 2010 Mr. Gelfonds unvested stock
options were out of-the-money.
Change of Control
Payments upon a Change of Control
Upon a sale of the Company, Mr. Gelfond is entitled to receive a cash bonus (the Sale Bonus)
in an amount equal to the product of (a) 0.375% and (b) the amount by which the sale or liquidation
transaction imputes an equity value in excess of Cdn$150,000,000 to the Common Shares originally
issued by the Company (on a fully diluted basis but excluding the Common Shares issued upon the
conversion of the Class B convertible preferred shares of the Company formerly outstanding which
were converted into Common Shares on June 16, 1994 and the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise
of warrants previously owned by Messrs. Gelfond and Wechsler). As of December 31, 2010, the Sale
Bonus was estimated by the Company to be between $2,302,019 and $5,510,930, depending upon the
equity assumptions used in the relevant calculations.
30
In addition, following a change of control, Mr. Gelfond would receive a cash incentive bonus
(the Incentive Bonus) equal to the product of (a) 225,000 and (b) the difference between the
closing price of the Common Shares upon such change of control and the closing price of the Common
Shares on March 10, 2006. As of December 31, 2010, the Incentive Bonus would have been $3,915,000
based on the closing price of the Common Shares on that date ($28.07).
In the event of a change of control of the Company, Mr. Gelfonds unvested stock options and
SARs will immediately vest.
If the change of control is by way of a stock-for-stock merger, Mr. Gelfonds stock options
will vest and be converted at the stock merger conversion ratio into stock options of the acquiring
company (if it is public) or a cash-out of the stock options (if the acquiring company is not
public).
If a change of control occurred on December 31, 2010, Mr. Gelfond would have been entitled to
receive an estimated payment of between $6,217,019 and $9,425,930, depending on the equity
assumptions used in calculating the Sale Bonus. This amount includes the Incentive Bonus and the
Sale Bonus. Mr. Gelfond would have been entitled to the accelerated value of his unvested stock
options, however, as of December 31, 2010, Mr. Gelfonds unvested stock options were out
of-the-money.
Payments upon an Involuntary Termination or Retirement following a Change of Control
If Mr. Gelfond retired or was involuntarily terminated upon a change of control, he would be
entitled to the recoupment of certain benefits under his SERP entitlement which he previously
agreed to be reduced. In 2006, in order to reduce ongoing pension costs to the Company, Mr. Gelfond
agreed to a reduction in the cost of living adjustment and surviving spouse benefits previously
owed to him under the SERP, subject to the recoupment of a percentage of such benefits upon a
change of control of the Company. As of December 31, 2010, this recoupment of benefits would have
been $3,232,888.
If a change of control had occurred on December 31, 2010 and Mr. Gelfond had retired or was
involuntarily terminated, he would have been entitled to receive an estimated payment of between
$9,449,907 and $12,658,818, depending on the equity assumptions used in calculating the Sale Bonus.
This amount includes Mr. Gelfonds recoupment of benefits under the SERP, the Incentive Bonus and
the Sale Bonus.
In addition to the recoupment of benefits under the SERP, the Incentive Bonus and the Sale
Bonus, upon an involuntary termination or retirement following a change of control, Mr. Gelfond
would be entitled to receive his vested benefits under the SERP and the estimated value of retiree
health benefits, in the amounts described above. Mr. Gelfond also would have been entitled to the
accelerated value of his unvested stock options, however, as of December 31, 2010, Mr. Gelfonds
unvested stock options were out of-the-money.
Mr. Sparacio
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
On May 14, 2010, Mr. Sparacio and the Company amended the terms of his employment agreement,
extending the term of his employment agreement through May 14, 2012. Under the terms of the
agreement, Mr. Sparacio is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $385,000 effective May 14,
2010 and a base salary of $400,000 effective May 14, 2011. The agreement further provides that Mr.
Sparacio is entitled to participate in the Management Bonus Plan and to receive a target annual
performance bonus of 35% with the possibility of increasing his bonus to up to 52.5% of his base
salary. In addition, Mr. Sparacio has received certain stock options from the Company. Mr.
Sparacios equity awards outstanding as of December 31, 2010, and their respective exercise prices
and expiration dates are set forth above in Outstanding Equity Awards.
For the term of his employment agreement and for two years thereafter, Mr. Sparacio is subject
to customary non-solicitation and non-competition provisions. All severance payments payable under
Mr. Sparacios employment agreement are subject to Mr. Sparacios compliance with the
non-solicitation and non-competition provisions of his employment agreement.
Voluntary retirement or resignation
Upon retirement or resignation, Mr. Sparacio is entitled to receive his accrued and unpaid
salary, perquisites and business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay within 15 days of such
retirement or resignation.
Termination with cause
Upon a termination with cause, Mr. Sparacio is entitled to receive his accrued and unpaid
salary, perquisites and business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay within 15 days of such
termination. In addition, all of Mr. Sparacios unexercised stock options will be cancelled.
31
Termination without cause
In the event of a termination without cause other than upon a change of control, Mr. Sparacio
is entitled to receive his accrued and unpaid salary, perquisites and business expenses and any
outstanding vacation pay within 30 days of such termination. In addition, Mr. Sparacio would
continue to receive his base salary, automobile allowance and benefits for the greater of (i) the
remainder of his employment term and (ii) six months. Under the terms of his employment agreement,
Mr. Sparacio is required to mitigate the amount of any severance paid by the Company during the
severance period by seeking other employment.
If Mr. Sparacios employment had been terminated without cause other than upon a change of
control as of December 31, 2010, he would have been entitled to receive estimated severance
payments totaling $599,666, either in the form of continuance or a lump sum payment, at the
Companys election.
Change of control
In the event of a termination without cause upon a change of control, Mr. Sparacio is entitled
to receive his accrued and unpaid salary, perquisites and business expenses and any outstanding
vacation pay within 30 days of termination. In addition, Mr. Sparacio would continue to receive his
base salary, a pro-rata portion of the target bonus, automobile allowance and benefits for the
greater of (i) the remainder of his employment term and (ii) 12 months following a change of
control.
If there had been a change of control and Mr. Sparacios employment had been terminated
without cause as of December 31, 2010, he would have been entitled to receive estimated severance
payments totaling $790,197, either in the form of continuance or a lump sum payment, at the
Companys election. Mr. Sparacio would also realize $2,379,188, representing the intrinsic value of
his accelerated, in-the-money stock options calculated using the December 31, 2010 closing price of
the Common Shares.
Mr. Foster
Chairman & President, Filmed Entertainment
Under the terms of his amended employment agreement, which was most recently amended April 29,
2010, Mr. Fosters employment term extends through July 1, 2013. Mr. Foster receives an annual base
salary of $700,000, which is subject to annual review. Mr. Foster is entitled to participate in the
Management Bonus Plan. Under the terms of his agreement, Mr. Foster was entitled to a minimum bonus
of $462,500 for 2010 (prorated as of his April 29, 2010 amendment) and $500,000 for each of 2011
and 2012. In addition, Mr. Foster is entitled to a term life insurance policy in the amount of $3
million for the duration of his employment agreement and to a fully paid whole life insurance
policy in the amount of $3.5 million. Mr. Foster has also received certain stock options and SARs
from the Company. Mr. Fosters equity awards outstanding as of December 31, 2010, and their
respective exercise prices and expiration dates are set forth above in Outstanding Equity Awards.
With respect to Mr. Fosters stock options, in addition to the triggering events set forth in the
SOP, the vesting of Mr. Fosters stock options accelerate in the event of change of control that
results in Mr. Gelfond ceasing to be CEO of the Company. Mr. Fosters SARs are governed by the
terms of the SOP, except that with respect to the vesting of the SARs upon a change of control, Mr.
Fosters employment agreement provides that the vesting of Mr. Fosters SARs accelerates upon a
change of control of the Company (without regard to whether a termination event has occurred). The
Company has the right, but not the obligation, to cancel at any time all or, from time to time, any
portion of the SARs and to replace the cancelled SARs with stock options under certain
circumstances and subject to certain restrictions.
For the term of his employment agreement and for two years thereafter, Mr. Foster is subject
to customary non-solicitation and non-competition provisions. All severance payments payable under
Mr. Fosters employment agreement are subject to Mr. Fosters compliance with the non-solicitation
and non-competition provisions of his employment agreement.
Voluntary retirement or resignation
Upon a retirement or resignation, Mr. Foster is entitled to receive his accrued and unpaid
salary, perquisites and business expenses, any outstanding vacation pay and a pro-rata portion of
his minimum bonus, and any outstanding premiums owing for the whole life insurance policy described
above within 15 days of such resignation or termination. As of December 31, 2010, the estimated
value of the outstanding premiums owing for the whole life insurance policy would have been
$536,292.
Termination with cause
If Mr. Fosters employment had been terminated with cause as of December 31, 2010, he would
have been entitled to receive a payment of $462,500, which represents the pro-rated portion of his
minimum bonus in the form of a lump sum payment plus his accrued and unpaid salary, perquisites and
business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay. In addition, all of Mr. Fosters unexercised
stock options and SARs would have been cancelled.
32
Termination without cause
In the event of a termination without cause, Mr. Foster is entitled to receive his accrued and
unpaid salary, perquisites and business expenses, any outstanding vacation pay and a pro-rata
portion of his minimum bonus, and any outstanding premiums owing for the whole life insurance
policy described above within 30 days of his termination. In addition, Mr. Foster would continue to
receive his base salary, minimum bonus and benefits for the greater of (i) the remainder of his
employment term and (ii) six months (the Foster Severance Payments). Under the terms of his
employment agreement, Mr. Foster is required to mitigate the Foster Severance Payments by seeking
other employment. On the date Mr. Foster obtains other employment, the remaining Foster Severance
Payments would be reduced by half.
If Mr. Fosters employment had been terminated without cause as of December 31, 2010, he would
have been entitled to receive an estimated payment of $3,856,611. This amount includes $462,500,
which is the pro-rated portion of his minimum 2010 bonus in the form of a lump sum payment,
$536,292 which is the outstanding premiums owing for the whole life insurance policy and the Foster
Severance Payments totaling $3,394,111 either in the form of continuance or a lump sum payment, at
the Companys election.
Change of control
If there had been a change of control and Mr. Fosters employment had been terminated without
cause, Mr. Foster would have been entitled to receive his accrued and unpaid salary, perquisites
and business expenses, any outstanding vacation pay and a pro-rata portion of his minimum bonus,
and any outstanding premiums owing for the whole life insurance policy described above within 30
days of his termination. In addition, Mr. Foster would continue to receive the Foster Severance
Payments. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Foster is required to mitigate the
Foster Severance Payments by seeking other employment. On the date Mr. Foster obtains other
employment, the remaining Foster Severance Payments would be reduced by half.
If there had been a change of control and Mr. Fosters employment had been terminated without
cause as of December 31, 2010, he would have been entitled to receive an estimated payment of
$3,856,611. This amount includes $462,500, which is the pro-rated portion of his minimum 2010 bonus
in the form of a lump sum payment, $536,292 which is the outstanding premiums owing for the whole
life insurance policy and the Foster Severance Payments totaling $3,394,111 either in the form of
continuance or a lump sum payment, at the Companys election. Mr. Foster would also realize
$5,454,000, representing the intrinsic value of his accelerated, in-the-money SARs calculated using
the December 31, 2010 closing price of the Common Shares.
Mr. OReilly
Executive Vice President, Theatre Development
Mr. OReillys annual base salary for 2010 was Cdn$295,000. While Mr. OReilly does not have a
written employment agreement with the Company, under the terms of his employment arrangement, Mr.
OReillys base salary is subject to annual review. Effective January 1, 2011, Mr. OReilly
received an annual base salary of $300,163. Mr. OReilly is entitled to participate in the
Commission Plans and the Management Bonus Plan and to receive a target annual performance bonus of
30% of his base salary, with the possibility of increasing the bonus up to 45% of his base salary.
In addition, Mr. OReilly has received certain stock options from the Company. Mr. OReillys
equity awards outstanding as of December 31, 2010, and their respective exercise prices and
expiration dates, are set forth above in Outstanding Equity Awards.
Voluntary retirement or resignation
Upon a retirement or resignation, Mr. OReilly is entitled to receive compensation under
applicable Canadian law, including his accrued and unpaid salary, commissions, perquisites and
business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay. Mr. OReilly would also be entitled to receive
ongoing commission payments, in accordance with the Commission Plans, which, as of December 31,
2010, are estimated to be approximately $957,151 in the aggregate. Mr. OReilly is not
contractually entitled to receive severance payments in connection with a voluntary retirement or
resignation.
Termination with cause
If Mr. OReillys employment had been terminated with cause as of December 31, 2010, he would
have been entitled to compensation under applicable Canadian law, including his accrued and unpaid
salary, commissions, perquisites and business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay. All of Mr.
OReillys unexercised stock options would have been cancelled. Mr. OReilly is not contractually
entitled to receive severance payments in connection with a termination with cause.
33
Termination without cause
If Mr. OReillys employment had been terminated without cause as of December 31, 2010, with
or without a change of control, he would have been entitled to receive compensation under
applicable Canadian law including his accrued and unpaid salary, commissions, perquisites and
business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay. Mr. OReilly would also be entitled to receive
ongoing commission payments, in accordance with the Commission Plans, which, as of December 31,
2010, are estimated to be approximately $957,151 in the aggregate. Mr. OReilly is not
contractually entitled to receive severance payments in connection with a termination without
cause.
Change of control
Upon a change of control, Mr. OReilly would realize an estimated payment of $1,715,320,
representing the intrinsic value of his accelerated, in-the-money stock options using the December
31, 2010 closing price of the Common Shares. Mr. OReilly would also be entitled to receive ongoing
commission payments, in accordance with the Commission Plans, which are estimated to be
approximately $957,151 in the aggregate. Mr. OReilly is not contractually entitled to receive
severance payments in connection with a termination without cause.
Mr. Welton
Executive Vice President, Corporate & Digital Development and Theatre Operations
Mr. Weltons annual base salary for 2010 was Cdn$332,582. While Mr. Welton does not have a
written employment agreement with the Company, under the terms of his employment arrangement, Mr.
Weltons base salary is subject to annual review. Effective January 1, 2011, Mr. Welton received an
annual base salary of Cdn$349,211. Mr. Welton is entitled to participate in the Management Bonus
Plan and to receive a target annual performance bonus of 35% of his base salary, with the
possibility of increasing the bonus to up to 52.5% of his base salary. In addition, Mr. Welton has
received certain stock options grants from the Company. Mr. Weltons equity awards outstanding as
of December 31, 2010, and their respective exercise prices and expiration dates, are set forth
above in Outstanding Equity Awards.
Voluntary retirement or resignation
Upon a retirement or resignation, Mr. Welton is entitled to receive compensation under
applicable Canadian law, including his accrued and unpaid salary, commissions, perquisites and
business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay. Mr. Welton is not contractually entitled to
receive severance payments in connection with a termination without cause.
Termination with cause
If Mr. Weltons employment had been terminated with cause as of December 31, 2010, he would
have been entitled to compensation under applicable Canadian law, including his accrued and unpaid
salary, commissions, perquisites and business expenses and any outstanding vacation pay. All of Mr.
Weltons unexercised stock options would have been cancelled. Mr. Welton is not contractually
entitled to receive severance payments in connection with a termination without cause.
Termination without cause
If Mr. Weltons employment had been terminated without cause as of December 31, 2010, with or
without a change of control, he would have been entitled to receive compensation under applicable
Canadian law including his accrued and unpaid salary, commissions, perquisites and business
expenses and any outstanding vacation pay. Mr. Welton is not contractually entitled to receive
severance payments in connection with a termination without cause.
Change of control
Upon a change of control, Mr. Welton would realize an estimated payment of $2,143,020,
representing the intrinsic value of his accelerated, in-the-money stock options using the December
31, 2010 closing price of the Common Shares.
34
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors who are also employees of the Company receive no additional fees for service on the
Board of Directors. Directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending meetings of the
Board of Directors and Committees of the Board of Directors. In addition, the Independent Directors
of the Company receive Cdn$20,000 per year (or may elect to receive stock options to purchase
Common Shares in lieu of this payment) plus Cdn$1,500 for each meeting of the Board attended in
person or by telephone and Cdn$1,200 for each meeting of a Committee of the Board attended in
person or by telephone. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives Cdn$8,000 per year. In
addition, each of the Independent Directors are granted stock options to purchase 8,000 Common
Shares annually, in accordance with the SOP, at an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of
the Common Shares on the date of grant, and which vest on the date of grant and expire on the
earlier of the date which is two years after the termination of the optionees service as a
director of the Company or seven years after the date of the grant.
The following table sets forth information relating to compensation of the directors for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or |
|
Option |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
Paid in Cash |
|
Awards |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
Name |
|
($) (1) |
|
($) (2) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
Neil S. Braun (3) |
|
|
33,643 |
|
|
|
36,560 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
|
70,203 |
|
Kenneth G. Copland (4) |
|
|
22,234 |
(5) |
|
|
55,989 |
(5) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
78,223 |
|
Eric A. Demirian (6) (7) |
|
|
4,411 |
(8) |
|
|
42,522 |
(8) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
46,933 |
|
Garth M. Girvan (9) |
|
|
14,183 |
(5) |
|
|
55,989 |
(5) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
70,172 |
|
David W. Leebron (10) |
|
|
15,608 |
(5) |
|
|
55,989 |
(5) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
71,597 |
|
Martin Pompadur (6) (11) |
|
|
4,411 |
(8) |
|
|
42,522 |
(8) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
46,933 |
|
Marc A. Utay (12) |
|
|
13,007 |
(5) |
|
|
55,989 |
(5) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
68,996 |
|
Bradley J. Wechsler (13) |
|
|
200,000 |
(14) |
|
Nil |
|
|
|
38,916 |
(15) |
|
|
238,916 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes Board and Committee meeting fees for telephonic and meetings attended in
person and annual fees paid to Independent Directors. Meeting and annual fees are generally
earned in Canadian dollars. The Canadian compensation values have been converted to and
reported in U.S. dollars using the Bank of Canada noon rate for the last day of the month
preceding an actual payment date. |
|
(2) |
|
The Common Share price was significantly higher in 2010 as compared to Common Share
prices in 2009 and 2008 at the time of stock option grants in those years, which was the
primary reason for the increase in the reported grant date fair values of the stock option
awards granted in 2010. As required by SEC rules, the Option Awards columns in this table
reflect the aggregate grant date fair values computed in accordance with Financial Accounting
Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (with no reductions for expected
forfeitures). See note 15(c) to the audited consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 for the
assumptions used to calculate the fair value of the stock options. Whether, and to what
extent, a director realizes value with respect to stock option awards will depend on our
actual operating performance, stock price fluctuations and the directors continued term in
office. |
|
(3) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Braun held 16,000 stock options to purchase Common Shares
in accordance with the SOP. |
|
(4) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Copland held 75,852 stock options to purchase Common
Shares in accordance with the SOP. |
|
(5) |
|
The director elected to receive a grant of 3,618 stock options in lieu of his
Cdn$20,000 annual cash payment. The stock options vest in two equal installments of 904 stock
options on each of September 10, 2010 and December 10, 2010 and two equal installments of 905
stock options on each of March 10, 2011 and June 10, 2011. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Demirian and Mr. Pompadur were elected to the Board of Directors at the Special
Meeting of Shareholders in September 2010. As a result, they each received a pro-rata portion
of the annual option grants. |
|
(7) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Demirian held 8,757 stock options to purchase Common
Shares in accordance with the SOP. |
|
(8) |
|
The director elected to receive a grant of 2,757 stock options in lieu of his
Cdn$15,000, which is the pro-rata amount of his annual cash payment. The stock options vest in
three equal installments of 919 stock options on each of December 10, 2010, March 10, 2011 and
June 10, 2011. |
|
(9) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Girvan held 56,233 stock options to purchase Common Shares
in accordance with the SOP. |
|
(10) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Leebron held 70,404 stock options to purchase Common
Shares in accordance with the SOP. |
|
(11) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Pompadur held 8,757 stock options to purchase Common
Shares in accordance with the SOP. |
|
(12) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Utay held 60,529 stock options to purchase Common Shares
in accordance with the SOP. |
|
(13) |
|
As of December 31, 2010, Mr. Wechsler held 1,050,000 stock options to purchase Common
Shares in accordance with the SOP and 450,000 SARs. All of Mr. Wechslers stock options and
SARs were granted in connection with his prior employment as the Companys Co-Chief Executive
Officer. |
|
(14) |
|
This amount represents the amount paid to Mr. Wechsler pursuant to the services
agreement as described below. |
|
(15) |
|
This amount reflects (i) $32,058 for personal use of a Company provided automobile.
The expenses attributable to Mr. Wechslers personal use of a Company vehicle include the
portion, as determined as a percentage of the total use of the vehicle, of (i) the vehicle
lease cost and (ii)
expenses such as vehicle repairs and maintenance costs and (iii) $6,858 for retiree health
benefit premiums. |
35
On December 11, 2008, the Company entered into a services agreement with Mr. Wechsler,
which provides that, effective April 1, 2009, Mr. Wechslers employment as Co-CEO was terminated.
The services agreement further provides that: (i) Mr. Wechsler shall serve as Chairman of the
Companys Board of Directors effective April 1, 2009 through the termination of his services
agreement; (ii) Mr. Wechsler shall receive a fee of $200,000 for each year served as Chairman
subject to certain conditions; and (iii) certain other provisions of Mr. Wechslers employment
agreement, including those relating to stock options and other equity awards, shall continue to
survive the termination of such employment agreement. The services agreement was amended on
February 14, 2011 to extend the term of the services agreement through the earlier of (a) the date
on which Mr. Wechsler is not re-elected to the Board of Directors, and (b) April 1, 2013. The
aggregate amount of all periodic payments under this agreement over a four year period will be
$800,000, plus amounts for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the Chairmans travel and
automobile expenses.
Among the provisions of Mr. Wechslers prior employment agreement that survive are those
relating to the Sale Bonus and the Incentive Bonus. Upon a sale of the Company, Mr. Wechsler is
entitled to receive a cash bonus (the Sale Bonus) in an amount equal to the product of (a) 0.375%
and (b) the amount by which the sale or liquidation transaction imputes an equity value in excess
of Cdn$150,000,000 to the Common Shares originally issued by the Company (on a fully diluted basis
but excluding the Common Shares issued upon the conversion of the Class B convertible preferred
shares of the Company formerly outstanding which were converted into Common Shares on June 16, 1994
and the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants previously owned by Messrs. Gelfond
and Wechsler). As of December 31, 2010, the Sale Bonus was estimated by the Company to be between
$2,302,019 and $5,510,930, depending upon the equity assumptions used in the relevant calculations.
In addition, following a change of control, Mr. Wechsler would receive a cash incentive bonus
(the Incentive Bonus) equal to the product of (a) 225,000 and (b) the difference between the
closing price of the Common Shares upon such change of control and the closing price of the Common
Shares on March 10, 2006. As of December 31, 2010, the Incentive Bonus would have been $3,915,000
based on the closing price of the Common Shares on that date ($28.07).
The Companys SERP is an unfunded defined benefit pension plan covering Messrs. Gelfond and
Mr. Wechsler, the Companys former Co-CEO, which was established in 2000. The SERP provides for a
lifetime retirement benefit from age 55 determined as 75% of the members best average 60
consecutive months of earnings over the members employment history. The benefits were 50% vested
as at July 2000, the SERP initiation date. The vesting percentage increased on a straight-line
basis from inception until age 55. Mr. Wechslers SERP benefits became 100% vested on September 14,
2006.
Under the terms of the SERP, monthly annuity payments payable to Mr. Wechsler, whose
employment as Co-CEO terminated effective April 1, 2009, were deferred for six months and were paid
in the form of a lump sum plus interest on October 1, 2009. Mr. Wechsler received monthly annuity
payments from October 1, 2009 until July 1, 2010 under the terms of the SERP. He received the
remaining benefits in the form of a lump sum payment. The lump sum payment of $14.7 million was
made to Mr. Wechsler on August 1, 2010.
Mr. Wechsler remains entitled to a recoupment of certain benefits he previously agreed to be
reduced under the SERP upon a change of control of the Company. In 2006, in order to reduce ongoing
pension costs to the Company, Mr. Wechsler agreed to a reduction in the cost of living adjustment
and surviving spouse benefits previously owed to him under the SERP, subject to the recoupment of a
percentage of such benefits upon a change of control of the Company. If there had been a change of
control of the Company on December 31, 2010, Mr. Wechsler would have been entitled to receive
$2,556,730 as a recoupment of such benefits.
The Company has an unfunded retiree health benefit plan covering Mr. Wechsler. The plan
provides that the Company will maintain retiree health benefits for Mr. Wechsler until he become
eligible for Medicare and, thereafter, the Company will provide Medicare supplemental coverage as
selected by Mr. Wechsler.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Girvan (Chairman), Braun, Copland,
Leebron and Utay, all of whom are Independent Directors. All compensation and renewal of employment
decisions for Mr. Gelfond in 2010 were made by the Compensation Committee.
The law firm of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, of which Mr. Girvan, a director of the Company, is a
senior partner, provided legal services to the Company on several matters in 2010 and is continuing
to provide legal services in 2011. In 2010, the Company paid McCarthy Tétrault approximately
$725,642 million in respect of legal services.
Clarion Capital Partners, LLC (Clarion), of which Mr. Utay, a director of the Company, is
the Managing Partner, subleased office space from the Company from 2002 to January 2011. In 2010,
Clarion paid the Company $186,179 in connection with rent. Such
rental amount, when calculated on a per square foot basis, is equal to the rent payable by the
Company for the space occupied by
36
Clarion pursuant to the Companys underlying lease. Clarion was
invoiced on a monthly basis for office services. In 2010, Clarion paid the Company $81,248 in
connection with the use of certain office services and $37,217 in connection with leasehold
improvements. Clarion no longer subleases office space from the Company.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, no executive officer of the Company served on
compensation committees or boards of directors of any other entities that had or have had one or
more of its executive officers serving as a member of the Companys Compensation Committee or Board
of Directors.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors believes that good corporate governance is fundamental to the overall
success of the Company. The Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, which is
currently composed of Messrs. Leebron (Chairman), Braun, Copland, Girvan and Utay, all of whom are
Independent Directors, periodically reviews the Companys corporate governance from time to time,
as further described in Corporate Governance Guidelines as described below.
Management develops an operating plan that is submitted to the Board of Directors on an annual
basis for its review and approval prior to implementation. The operating plan includes a
presentation of the Companys objectives, plans and performance standards for the year.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board of Directors operates under the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines adopted by
the Companys Board of Directors. The Corporate Governance Guidelines outline the Board of
Directors authority, responsibilities, composition and procedures.
The role of the Board of Directors is to supervise the business and affairs of the Company,
including:
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overseeing the strategic and business planning process(s) within the Company and
reviewing, approving and monitoring the annual and long term operating plan for the
Company, including fundamental financial and business strategies and objectives; |
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reviewing and assessing the major risks facing the Company and reviewing approving
and monitoring the Companys approach to addressing such risks; |
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|
developing and reviewing the CEOs corporate objectives, annually evaluating the
performance of the CEO against these objectives, determining his compensation annually
and developing appropriate succession plans, from time to time; and |
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|
reviewing and monitoring the controls and procedures within the Company to maintain
its integrity, including its disclosure controls and procedures, its internal controls
and procedures for financial reporting and its compliance with its Code of Ethics. |
A current copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available, without charge, at
www.IMAX.com and www.sedar.com or upon written request to the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525
Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary, the text of
which is incorporated by reference into this Circular.
Director Independence
The board is comprised of a majority of independent directors as defined under applicable
legal, regulatory and stock exchange requirements. Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual
provides that no director qualifies as independent unless
the Board of Directors affirmatively
determines that such director has no material relationship with the Company, and Section 1.2 of
National Instrument 58-101 provides that an independent director is a person other than an officer
or employee of the Company, or any other individual having a material relationship that in the
opinion of the Board of Directors would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in
carrying out the responsibilities of the director. The NYSE Listed Company Manual and National
Instrument 58-101 set forth specific categories of relationships that disqualify a director from
being independent.
The
Board of Directors has reviewed the independence of each director and considered whether
any director has a material relationship with the Company. As a result of this review, the Board
affirmatively determined that Messrs. Braun, Copland, Demirian, Girvan, Leebron, Pompadur and Utay,
representing seven of nine directors, are independent within the meaning of the NYSE; Canadian
Securities Regulations and SEC director independence standards, as currently in effect. The Board
of Directors independence determination was based on information provided by our directors and
discussions among our officers and directors. Of the remaining directors, Mr. Gelfond is an
executive of the Company and Mr. Wechsler was an executive of the Company until March 31, 2009.
37
All members of the Compensation Committee, Audit Committee and Nominating Committee are
considered independent under such committees independence standards. In the event any
transaction or agreement is proposed in respect of which a director has a material interest, the
director will recuse himself from voting on that matter and remove himself from the meeting while
the transaction at issue is being considered by the Board of Directors.
Board Size and Composition
The Board of Directors recognizes that one of its key responsibilities is to evaluate and
determine its optimal leadership structure so as to provide independent oversight of management.
The Board of Directors has determined that there is no single, generally accepted approach to
providing leadership and that given the evolving nature of the Companys business, the right
leadership structure for the Board of Directors may vary as circumstances warrant. Consistent with
this understanding, the Independent Directors consider the Boards size and composition on an
annual basis in connection with its annual self-evaluation. This consideration includes the
positives and negatives of alternative board leadership structures in light of the Companys
operating and governance environment at the time, with the goal of achieving the optimal size and
composition for effective oversight of management by the Board of Directors.
Bradley J. Wechsler served as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors along with Richard L.
Gelfond from June 1999 to March 2009. On April 1, 2009, Mr. Wechsler became sole Chairman of the
Board. By virtue of his tenure as Co-CEO of the Company from May 1996 to March 2009, Mr. Wechsler
is not an Independent Director. At present, the Company does not have a lead director. Given Mr.
Wechslers prior role in the Company, the Board of Directors has determined that this leadership
structure is optimal for the Company because it provides the Company with strong and consistent
leadership.
In considering its leadership structure, the Board of Directors has taken a number of factors
into consideration. The Board of Directors, with a substantial majority of its directors being
Independent Directors, exercises strong, independent oversight function. This oversight function is
enhanced by the fact that all of the committees and their respective chairpersons are comprised
entirely of Independent Directors. A number of processes and procedures of the Board of Directors
and of the Committees including regular executive sessions of the Independent Directors, the
ability of Independent Directors to contact one another, the CEO and other Named Executive Officers
at any time, and the annual evaluations of the performance of the CEO against pre-determined and
other criteria provide independent oversight of the CEOs performance. The Company has also
provided instructions for shareholders and other interested parties to communicate directly with
the Board of Directors, see Shareholder Communications above. The Board of Directors believes
that these factors provide the appropriate balance between the authority of those who oversee the
Company and those who manage it on a day-to-day basis.
Risk Management
The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the various risks facing the Company. In
this regard, the Board seeks to understand and oversee critical business risks. Risks are
considered in virtually every business decision and as part of the Companys overall business
strategy.
While the Board is responsible to review and assess the major risks facing the Company and to
review, approve and monitor the Companys approach to addressing such risks, Company management is
charged with managing risk. The Company has robust internal processes and a strong internal control
environment to identify and manage risks and to communicate with the Board of Directors through
senior management. These include an enterprise risk management program, regular internal management
disclosure committee meetings, a Code of Ethics, rigorous product quality standards and processes,
and a comprehensive internal and external audit process. The Board of Directors and the Audit
Committee monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the internal controls and the risk management
program at least annually. Management communicates routinely with the Board and the Audit Committee
on the significant risks identified and how they are being managed. The Board of Directors
implements its risk oversight function both as a whole and through the Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee oversees risks related to the Companys financial statements, the financial reporting
process, accounting and legal matters. The Audit Committee oversees the internal audit function and
the Companys Code of Ethics and Whistleblower Program. The Audit Committee members meet separately
with the Companys CEO and representatives of the independent auditing firm.
The Board of Directors regularly engages in discussion of financial, legal, technology,
economic and other risks. Because overseeing risk is an ongoing process and inherent in the
Companys strategic decisions, the Board of Directors also discusses risk in relation to specific
proposed actions.
38
Nomination Process
The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending candidates for
election to the Board of Directors. Such candidates are then nominated for election by a majority
of Independent Directors. The Nominating Committee does not set forth specific, minimum
qualifications that nominees must possess in order for the Nominating Committee to recommend them
to the Board of Directors, but rather believes that each nominee should be evaluated in light of
opportunities and risks facing the Company and the competencies, skills and personal qualities that
are desirable to contribute to the effective governance of the Company. In evaluating potential
nominees for election and re-election as members of the Board of Directors, the Committee seeks
nominees that:
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manifest the highest integrity and that possess the highest personal and
professional ethics; |
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have significant business experience or other organizational leadership experience
that will allow the nominee to contribute significantly to the Company as a member of the
Board of Directors; |
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have the willingness and an ability to make the necessary time commitment to
actively participate as a member of the Board of Directors; |
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exhibit sound business judgment; and |
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are committed to representing the long-term interests of the Company and its
shareholders. |
Candidates are identified from a number of sources including recommendations from Board
members, management, shareholders and others. The Nominating Committee will consider any nominee
recommended by a shareholder under the same criteria as any other potential nominee. Shareholders
who wish to have the Nominating Committee consider the nomination of any person for director at the
2012 meeting of shareholders should submit a written recommendation to the Company at IMAX
Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate
Secretary no later than December 28, 2011. The Company may require that a proposed nominee furnish
additional information as may be reasonably required to determine the qualifications of such
proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Company.
The Nominating Committee charter mandates that the Nominating Committee review, on a periodic
basis, the current composition of the Board of Directors in light of the characteristics of
independence, diversity, age, competencies, skills, experience, availability of service to the
Company and tenure of the Board members and in light of the Boards anticipated needs. While the
Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy specifying how diversity of background and
personal experience should be applied in reviewing the current composition of the Board of
Directors or in identifying or evaluating candidates for the Board of Directors, the Nominating
Committee is committed to having a diverse Board of Directors in that it seeks individuals from
different backgrounds with varying perspectives, professional experience, education and skills. In
evaluating a potential candidate, the Nominating Committee will consider that individuals
background, experience and characteristics in the context of the composition of the board as a
whole. The Company believes that having a diverse Board of Directors helps to ensure a variety of
points of view, which, in turn, ensures more effective decision-making.
A current copy of the Nominating Committee Charter is available at www.IMAX.com or upon
written request to the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Board of Directors held 10 meetings. The
Audit Committee held 4 meetings; the Compensation Committee held 1 meeting and the Special
Committee held 1 meeting. No meetings were held by the Corporate Governance Committee as all
matters of corporate governance were discussed either by the full Board of Directors or by the
Independent Directors in executive sessions. No meetings of the Nominating Committee were held as
all matters concerning the identification and evaluation of potential new Board members was
discussed either by the full Board of Directors or by the Independent Directors in executive
sessions. The Option Committee held no meeting as all necessary business of this Committee was
conducted by written resolution. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of
the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of the Board on which such
director served during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The Independent Directors are given
the opportunity to hold executive sessions (where non-Independent Directors and members of
management are not in attendance) at all regularly scheduled Board of Directors meetings. A total
of 4 such executive sessions of the Board of Directors were held during 2010.
The following directors attended the following number of board meetings during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2010:
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Bradley J. Wechsler |
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10/10 |
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Kenneth G. Copland |
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10/10 |
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David W. Leebron |
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9/10 |
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Neil S. Braun |
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10/10 |
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Richard L. Gelfond |
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8/8 |
(2) |
|
Martin Pompadur |
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3/3 |
(1) |
Eric A. Demirian |
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3/3 |
(1) |
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Garth M. Girvan |
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10/10 |
|
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Marc A. Utay |
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|
10/10 |
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|
|
(1) |
|
Messrs. Demirian and Pompadur were elected to the Companys Board of
Directors on September 28, 2010. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Gelfond did not attend 2 meetings of the Board of Directors which were
held for the purpose of discussing his compensation (annual incentive bonus) and
the renewal of his employment agreement. |
39
All of the members of the Audit Committee are Independent Directors and hold in camera
sessions where non-Independent Directors and members of management are not in attendance at least
once each fiscal quarter. A total of 4 such in camera sessions were held during 2010.
While the Company encourages directors to attend its annual meeting of shareholders, it has no
formal policy concerning such attendance. Six of the seven then-current directors attended last
years annual meeting of shareholders.
Committees of the Board
To assist it in discharging its duties effectively, the Board of Directors has delegated some
of its duties to 6 specific committees of the Board: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee,
Corporate Governance Committee, Nominating Committee, Option Committee and the Special Committee.
Each of these committees and their respective chairs are appointed annually by the Board of
Directors. Each committee has a written mandate which sets out its principal duties and
responsibilities. Each committee has the authority to retain special legal, accounting or other
advisors.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Copland (Chairman), Braun and Leebron,
all of whom are Independent Directors meeting the independence and other requirements of the NYSE
and Canadian National Instrument 52-110 standards applicable to Audit Committee members. The Board
of Directors has established the Audit Committee for the purpose of overseeing the quality and
integrity of the Companys accounting and financial statements and related disclosure, the
Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditors
qualifications and independence and the performance of the Companys internal audit function,
internal controls and procedures and the performance of the independent auditor. Each committee
member has experience with various businesses and professions, which are relevant to their
understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company in preparing its financial
statements and to their understanding of the general applications of such accounting principles in
connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves. These experiences have been
with companies, businesses and professional organizations presenting a breadth and level of
complexity of accounting issues generally comparable to those reasonably expected to be raised by
the Companys financial statements and have provided them with an understanding of internal
controls and procedures for financial reporting. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr.
Copland qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as that term is defined in Item
407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K as a result of Mr. Coplands tenure as Vice-Chairman of a major
bank and his other prominent positions in the investment banking industry for more than 40 years
that have given Mr. Copland a knowledge and understanding with respect to generally accepted
accounting principles and auditing standards and how they should be applied to budgeting and
financial reporting systems. With this strong financial background, Mr. Copland serves as the Chair
of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee operates under a written mandate adopted by the
Companys Board of Directors. A current copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available at
www.IMAX.com or upon written request to the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive,
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The information in the
preceding two sentence shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with the
SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the 1933
Act, or the Exchange Act, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically
incorporates it by reference in such filing.
The Audit Committee meets with the external auditors of the Company, both with and without
management present, to review and discuss the Companys accounting policies, its quarterly and
year-end financial statement information and their presentation, and significant financial issues
which may arise for the Company.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Girvan (Chairman), Braun, Copland,
Leebron and Utay, all of whom are Independent Directors. The Compensation Committee is responsible
for evaluating and making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the equity-based and
incentive compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company. In addition, the Compensation
Committee approves or recommends to the Board for determination, the compensation package or
elements of the compensation package for the Companys CEO, for setting objectives for the CEO,
assessing his performance on a periodic basis and recommending compensation arrangements to the
Board of Directors. On an annual basis, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves the
components and the amount of compensation paid to the Companys executive officers. The
Compensation Committee operates under a written mandate adopted by the Companys Board of
Directors. A current copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available at www.IMAX.com or
upon written request to the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Compensation Committee made recommendations to
the Board of Directors with respect to the bonus paid to Mr. Gelfond in respect of 2010.
40
Corporate Governance Committee
The Corporate Governance Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Leebron (Chairman), Braun,
Copland, Girvan and Utay, all of whom are Independent Directors, however during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2010, the duties of the Corporate Governance Committee were performed by the
full Board of Directors. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for monitoring and
evaluating the Companys corporate governance practices, with particular attention to the Companys
disclosure and trading policies and the Companys Code of Ethics, monitoring significant
developments in the law and practice of corporate governance, monitoring and evaluating the
Companys compliance with the law, monitoring and evaluating compliance with the Companys
articles, by-laws and governance agreements; and monitoring the effectiveness of the Board of
Directors and Board Committees in the discharge of their general oversight responsibilities. The
Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written mandate adopted by the Companys Board of
Directors. A current copy of the Corporate Governance Committee Charter is available at
www.IMAX.com or upon written request to the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive,
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Leebron (Chairman), Braun and
Copland, all of whom are Independent Directors. The Nominating Committee is responsible for
identifying and recommending candidates for election to the Board of Directors. The Nominating
Committee evaluates potential new candidates for the Board of Directors on an ongoing basis in
light of the opportunities and risks facing the Company and the competencies, skills and personal
qualities that are desirable to add value to the Company and to contribute to effective governance
of the Company. The Nominating Committee operates under a written mandate adopted by the Companys
Board of Directors. A current copy of the Nominating Committee Charter is available at www.IMAX.com
or upon written request to the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525 Speakman Drive, Mississauga,
Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Option Committee
The Option Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Utay (Chairman) and Girvan, both of whom
are Independent Directors. The Option Committee is responsible for performing the functions
required of it under the SOP, including the grant of stock options to Participants under the SOP
from time to time, which grants are subject to guidelines determined by the Companys human
resources department and the Compensation Committee. The Option Committee enacts written
resolutions from time to time authorizing the grant of stock options.
Special Committee
The Special Committee is currently composed of David Leebron, Garth Girvan, and Neil Braun,
all of whom are Independent Directors. On December 2, 2010, the Board of Directors established a
Special Committee empowered to address and make decisions on behalf of the Company with respect to
any decision directed to it by counsel as to which there might be (or reasonably might be perceived
to be) a conflict of interest between the interests of the Company and the interests of its
management and any such other issues, other than the settlement of any regulatory action (which
action would require approval of the full Board), that the Board of Directors as a whole chooses to
refer to the Special Committee.
Orientation and Education
The Company has developed and implemented orientation materials and procedures for new
directors. In this regard, a Board of Directors Manual is provided to all new Board members. New
directors also have access to fellow directors and senior management and are invited to attend
orientation sessions as necessary. Reports, materials and presentations relating to the Companys
business are provided to the Board of Directors on a periodic basis.
Board and Committee Self-Assessment
Periodically, and at least annually, each director and committee member completes a review and
self-evaluation of the Board of Directors and board committees operating effectiveness. The input
is summarized on a confidential basis and provided to the Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the
Corporate Governance Committee. The results of the evaluations are reported to the Board of
Directors. Any agreed upon improvements are implemented as applicable.
41
Written Position Descriptions
The Board of Directors has not developed written position descriptions for the Chairman of the
Board or of the Chairman of each Committee; however, the Board of Directors is responsible for the
appointment of each Chairman of a Board Committee. The Board of Directors and Committees of the
Board each operate within written mandates established and periodically reviewed by the Board of
Directors. The Chairman of each committee is responsible for reporting on the activities of that
committee to the full Board of Directors on a periodic basis.
The Board of Directors has not developed written position descriptions for the CEO. The Board
of Directors and the CEO develop, on an annual basis, detailed written corporate objectives and
parameters in which the CEO operates the business of the Company. The Board of Directors is also
responsible for annually evaluating the CEO against these objectives.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has a Code of Ethics applicable to all employees, including the Companys Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller and all other persons performing similar
functions, and all directors and consultants. A current copy of the Code of Ethics is available,
without charge, at www.IMAX.com or upon written request to the Company at IMAX Corporation, 2525
Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B1, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Any
amendments to, or waivers of, the Code of Ethics which specifically relate to any financial
professional will be disclosed promptly following the date of such amendment or waiver at
www.IMAX.com.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
In this proxy statement, the Company presents adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share
as supplemental measures of performance of the Company, which are not recognized under United
States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company presents adjusted EBITDA and
adjusted earnings per share because it believes that it is an important supplemental measure of our
performance and that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and others in the
evaluation of companies in our industry. However, it may not be comparable to similarly titled
amounts reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share should be
considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net earnings (loss), cash flows and other
measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA consists of earnings before loss for equity-accounted investments, provision
for (recovery of) income taxes, interest expense net of interest income, depreciation and
amortization including film asset amortization, write-downs net of recoveries including asset
impairments and receivable provisions, stock and other non-cash compensation, and other non-cash
charges and recoveries (net). A reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA, the most
directly comparable GAAP measure, is provided below:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
2010 |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
Net earnings |
|
$ |
100,779 |
|
|
$ |
5,021 |
|
|
Add (subtract): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for equity-accounted investments |
|
|
493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes |
|
|
(51,784 |
) |
|
|
274 |
|
|
Interest expense net of interest income |
|
|
1,486 |
|
|
|
13,747 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization including film asset amortization |
|
|
20,195 |
|
|
|
17,919 |
|
|
Write-downs net of recoveries including asset impairments and receivable provisions |
|
|
2,551 |
|
|
|
2,581 |
|
|
Stock and other non-cash compensation |
|
|
28,195 |
|
|
|
19,183 |
|
|
Other, net |
|
|
(536 |
) |
|
|
(229 |
) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
101,379 |
|
|
$ |
58,496 |
|
|
42
Adjusted earnings per share consists of net earnings before variable stock compensation
and a non-cash tax benefit associated with a reversal of the Companys deferred tax asset valuation
allowance, calculated based on the number of shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis. A
reconciliation of net earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share, the most directly
comparable GAAP measure, is provided below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
Adjusted Earnings Per Share |
|
2010 |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
Net earnings |
|
$ |
100,779 |
|
|
$ |
5,021 |
|
|
Add: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Variable stock compensation |
|
|
21,857 |
|
|
|
15,436 |
|
|
Less: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash tax benefit |
|
|
(54,793 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted net earnings |
|
$ |
67,843 |
|
|
$ |
20,457 |
|
|
Diluted shares outstanding |
|
|
66,684 |
|
|
|
54,518 |
|
|
Adjusted earnings per share |
|
$ |
1.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.38 |
|
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
No director or executive officer of the Company, or any security holder of record as of the
date of this Circular who owned, of record or to the Companys knowledge, more than 5% of the
Companys outstanding Common Shares, or any member of such persons immediate family, had any
material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction during the last fiscal year, or since the
commencement of the current fiscal year, in any completed or proposed transaction, except for the
following:
The law firm of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, of which Mr. Girvan, a director of the Company, is a
senior partner, provided legal services to the Company on several matters in 2010 and is continuing
to provide legal services in 2011. In 2010, the Company paid McCarthy Tétrault approximately
$725,642 in respect of legal services.
Clarion Capital Partners, LLC (Clarion), of which Mr. Utay, a director of the Company, is
the Managing Partner, subleased office space from the Company from 2002 to January 2011. In 2010,
Clarion paid the Company $186,179 in connection with rent. Such rental amount, when calculated on a
per square foot basis, was equal to the rent payable by the Company for the space occupied by
Clarion pursuant to the Companys underlying lease. Clarion is invoiced on a monthly basis for
office services. In 2010, Clarion paid the Company $81,248 in connection with the use of certain
office services and $37,217 in connection with leasehold improvements. Clarion no longer subleases
office space from the Company.
Patricia Keighley is the spouse of David Keighley, who is an executive officer of the Company.
Ms. Keighley has been employed as the Vice President and General Manager of David Keighley
Productions 70MM Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, since February 1988. Ms. Keighley
received compensation of approximately $164,401 in respect of 2010.
On December 11, 2008, the Company entered into a services agreement with Mr. Wechsler, which
provides that, effective April 1, 2009, Mr. Wechslers employment as Co-CEO was terminated. The
services agreement further provides that: (i) Mr. Wechsler shall serve as Chairman of the Companys
Board of Directors effective April 1, 2009 through the termination of his services agreement; (ii)
Mr. Wechsler shall receive a fee of $200,000 for each year served as Chairman subject to certain
conditions; and (iii) certain other provisions of Mr. Wechslers employment agreement, including
those relating to stock options and other equity awards, shall continue to survive the termination
of such employment agreement. The services agreement was amended on February 14, 2011 to extend the
term of the services agreement through the earlier of (a) the date on which Mr. Wechsler is not
re-elected to the Board of Directors, and (b) April 1, 2013. The aggregate amount of all periodic
payments under this agreement over a four year period will be $800,000, plus amounts for reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses related to the Chairmans travel and automobile expenses.
On May 5, 2008, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the Douglas
Agreement) with K&M Douglas Trust, Douglas Family Trust, James Douglas and Jean Douglas
Irrevocable Descendants Trust and James E. Douglas III (collectively, the Douglas Group),
pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and the Douglas Group agreed to purchase 2,726,447
Common Shares (the Douglas Shares) for aggregate consideration of $18 million or approximately
$6.60 per share (the equivalent of the average of the closing price of the Companys Common Shares
over the five trading days immediately preceding the date of the Douglas Agreement). The private
placement closed on May 8, 2008. The Douglas Group, which currently owns 12.0% of the outstanding
Common Shares, agreed to a five-year standstill with the Company whereby it will refrain from
certain activities, including: (i) increasing its percentage ownership in the Company; (ii) seeking
to influence the management of the Company or soliciting proxies; (iii) entering into fundamental
or change-of-control transactions with respect to the Company; and (iv) selling or transferring any
Common Shares to a person or group that would own 5% or more of the Common Shares following such
sale or transfer. In January 2011, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 to
register the resale of the Douglas Shares. The Company has agreed to maintain the effectiveness of
the registration statement, subject to permitted suspensions, until the Douglas Group has sold, or
may sell without restriction, the Douglas Shares.
43
The Company, Wasserstein Perella Partners, L.P., Wasserstein Perella Offshore Partners, L.P.,
WPPN, Inc., and the Michael J. Biondi Voting Trust (collectively WP), and Messrs. Gelfond and
Wechsler entered into a registration rights agreement (the Registration Rights Agreement) dated
as of February 9, 1999, which carried forward the corresponding provisions of the June 16, 1994
shareholders agreement. Though numerous provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement were
terminated in 2002 when WP ceased to be a shareholder of the Company, each of Messrs. Gelfond and
Wechsler retain the right to cause the Company to use its best efforts to register their securities
under the 1933 Act. Messrs. Gelfond and Wechsler are entitled to make two such demand
registrations. Messrs. Gelfond and Wechsler also have unlimited piggyback rights to register their
securities under the Registration Rights Agreement whenever the Company proposes to register any
securities under the 1933 Act, other than the registration of securities pursuant to an initial
public offering or the registration of securities on Form S-4 or S-8 under the 1933 Act or filed in
connection with an exchange offer or an offering of securities solely to the Companys existing
shareholders.
Messrs. Gelfond and Wechsler and certain other shareholders of the Company entered into
another shareholders agreement on January 3, 1994 as amended on March 1, 1994 which includes,
among other things, registration rights, tag along rights and drag along rights.
REVIEW, APPROVAL OR RATIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
On a regular basis, the Company requires that its directors, nominees for director and
executive officers identify to the Board of Directors, transactions and/or relationships which
could constitute transactions with a related person as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
For any potential transaction in which a director, executive officer or other related person would
have a material interest, such transaction is reviewed, in advance, by the Companys General
Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer to ensure compliance with the Companys Code of Ethics and to
evaluate the disclosure requirements under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Currently, the Company
does not have a formal written policy governing transactions with related persons. In the event any
transaction or agreement occurs in respect of which a director has a material interest, the
director must recuse himself from voting on that matter and remove himself from the meeting while
the transaction at issue is being considered by the Board of Directors. The minutes of the Board of
Directors meeting would reflect the nature of the interest disclosed and the fact of the recusal.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to the Companys audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Companys audited financial statements for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 with senior management. The Audit Committee meets privately
with PwC on a periodic basis and PwC has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee has discussed with PwC the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3200T, which include, among other items, matters
related to the conduct of the audit of the Companys financial statements. The Audit Committee has
also received written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by applicable requirements of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (which relates to the accountants independence from
the Company and related entities) and has discussed with PwC their independence from the Company.
As part of its responsibilities for oversight of the Company enterprise risk management process,
the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Companys policies with respect to risk
assessment and risk management, including discussions of individual risk areas as well as an annual
summary of the overall process.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the
Companys Board of Directors that the Companys audited financial statements be included in the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 for filing with
the SEC and the Companys Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to
be filed with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future
filing under the 1933 Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically
incorporates it by reference in such filing.
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April 26, 2011
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Respectfully submitted, |
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Kenneth G. Copland (Chairman) |
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Neil S. Braun |
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David W. Leebron |
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company makes available
free of charge its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K as soon as reasonably practicable after such
filing has been made with the SEC. Reports are available at www.IMAX.com or by calling investor
relations at 212-821-0100. Additional information relating to the Company is available at
www.sedar.com. Financial information is provided in the Companys comparative financial statements
and MD&A for its most recently completed financial year.
APPROVAL BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The contents and the sending of this Proxy Circular and Proxy Statement to each shareholder
entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting, to each director and to the auditors of the
Company have been approved by the Board of Directors.
DATED at Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, April 26, 2011.
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/s/ G. Mary Ruby
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G. MARY RUBY |
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Chief Administrative Officer
& Corporate Secretary |
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Security Class
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Holder Account Number |
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Form of
Proxy - Annual General Meeting of IMAX Corporation to be held on June 1, 2011
This Form of Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Management.
Notes to proxy
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Every holder has the right to appoint some other person or company of their choice, who need not
be a holder, to attend and act on their behalf at the meeting. If you wish to appoint a person or
company other than the persons whose names are printed herein, please insert the name of your
chosen proxyholder in the space provided (see reverse). |
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If the securities are registered in the name of more than one owner (for example, joint
ownership, trustees, executors, etc.), then all those registered should sign this proxy. If you are
voting on behalf of a corporation or another individual you may be required to provide
documentation evidencing your power to sign this proxy with signing capacity stated. |
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This proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name appears on the proxy. |
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If this proxy is not dated, it will be deemed to bear the date on which it is mailed by
Management to the holder. |
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The securities represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the holder, however, if
such a direction is not made in respect of any matter, this proxy will be voted as recommended by
Management. |
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The securities represented by this proxy will be voted or withheld from voting, in accordance
with the instructions of the holder, on any ballot that may be called for and, if the holder has
specified a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the securities will be voted
accordingly. |
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This proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of amendments to matters identified in
the Notice of Meeting or other matters that may properly come before the meeting. |
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This proxy should be read in conjunction with the accompanying documentation provided by
Management. |
Proxies submitted must be received by 10:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on May 30, 2011.
VOTE USING THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK!
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Call the number listed BELOW
from a touch tone telephone.
1-866-732-VOTE (8683) Toll Free
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Go to the following web site:
www.investorvote.com
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You can enroll to receive future
securityholder communications electronically by visiting
www.computershare.com/eDelivery and clicking on eDelivery Signup. |
If you vote by telephone or the Internet, DO NOT mail back this proxy.
Voting by mail may be the only method for securities held in the name of a corporation or
securities being voted on behalf of another individual.
Voting by mail or by Internet are the only methods by which a holder may appoint a person as
proxyholder other than the Management nominees named on the reverse of this proxy. Instead of
mailing this proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined above to vote this proxy.
To vote by telephone or the Internet, you will need to provide your CONTROL NUMBER listed below.
CONTROL NUMBER
Appointment of Proxyholder
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The undersigned common shareholder of IMAX Corporation
(the Company) hereby appoints Richard L. Gelfond, failing
whom, Robert D. Lister, failing whom, G. Mary Ruby
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OR
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Print the name of the person you are
appointing if this person is someone
other than the Management Nominees
listed herein.
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as my/our proxyholder with full power of substitution and to vote in accordance with the following
direction (or if no directions have been given, as the proxyholder sees fit) and all other matters
that may properly come before the Annual General Meeting of IMAX CORPORATION to be held at the
Loews Regency Hotel (Ballroom), 540 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065 on June 1, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
and at any adjournment thereof.
VOTING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDICATED BY HIGHLIGHTED TEXT OVER THE BOXES.
1. Election of Directors
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For |
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Withhold |
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01. Eric A. Demirian |
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02. David W. Leebron |
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03. Martin Pompadur |
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04. Marc A. Utay |
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Withhold |
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2. Appointment of Auditors In respect of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
auditors of the Company and authorizing
the directors to fix their remuneration. Note: Voting Withhold is the equivalent to voting Abstain.
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Abstain |
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3. Advisory resolution to approve the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in
the accompanying Proxy Circular and
Proxy Statement.
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4. Advisory resolution on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive officer compensation.
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Authorized Signature(s) This section must be completed for your
instructions to be executed.
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Signature(s)
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I/We authorize you to act in accordance with my/our instructions set out
above. I/We hereby revoke any proxy previously given with respect to the Meeting.
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If no voting instructions are indicated above, this Proxy will be voted as recommended by Management. |
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Interim Financial Statements Mark this box if you would like to receive
interim financial statements and accompanying Managements Discussion and Analysis by mail. |
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If you are not mailing back your proxy, you may register online to receive the above financial
report(s) by mail at www.computershare.com/mailinglist.
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0 3 7 5 5 3 |
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A R 6
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I M X Q |
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