Stantec (STN) 40-F 2020 FY Annual report (Canada)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 40-F

☐ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13(a) OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended       December 31, 2020                 

Commission File Number:  001-32562

                                            STANTEC INC.                                             

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English (if applicable))

                                                        Canada                                                                  

(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                                           8711                                                                   

(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number (if applicable))

                                               98-0601423                                                       

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number (if applicable))

  10220-103 Avenue NW, Suite 400, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 0K4, (780) 917-7000   

(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

   Stantec Consulting Services Inc., 370 Interlocken Boulevard, Suite 300, Broomfield, CO 80021-8012, (303) 410-4000  

(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares	STN	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

                                                        None.                                                                  

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

                                                          None.                                                                  

(Title of Class)

For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:

☑ Annual information form    ☑ Audited annual financial statements

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

As of December 31, 2020 – 111,005,347 Common Shares outstanding.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☑    No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☑    No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Emerging growth company ☐    

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the

effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.

7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑

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DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The disclosure provided under “Controls and Procedures” on page M-38 of Exhibit 99.2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, is incorporated by reference herein.

MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The disclosure provided under “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” on page F-2 of Exhibit 99.3, 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, is incorporated by reference herein.

AUDITOR ATTESTATION

The disclosure provided under “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” on pages F-6 and F-7 of Exhibit 99.3, 2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, is incorporated by reference herein.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The disclosure provided under “Controls and Procedures” on page M-38 of Exhibit 99.2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, is incorporated by reference herein.

IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

On December 31, 2020, Stantec’s Audit and Risk Committee was made up of the following three members: Shelley A. M. Brown (Chair), Richard C. Bradeen, and Donald J. Lowry.

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Shelley A. M. Brown, Richard C. Bradeen, and Donald J. Lowry are each an audit committee financial expert (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission) and are independent, as that term is defined by the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance standards applicable to Stantec. The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated that the designation of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than those imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and the Board of Directors in the absence of such designation and does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the audit committee or Board of Directors.

CODE OF ETHICS

Stantec has adopted a code of ethics, entitled the Stantec Code of Business Conduct (the “Code”). The Code applies to all directors, officers and employees of Stantec, including Stantec’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Stantec requires that all officers and employees annually certify that they have read and understand the Code. The Code is reviewed at least annually to ensure that it complies with all legal requirements and is in alignment with best practices. In the event that amendments are needed, recommendations are made to the Board of Directors for approval. On May 6, 2020, the Board of Directors of Stantec approved amendments to the Code to align it with Stantec’s Insider Trading Prohibition Policy and to clarify that any person who is in possession of material non-public information about Stantec or its business partners is prohibited from trading while in possession of such information. Other non-substantive clarifying amendments were made at that time. The Code is available on Stantec’s website (stantec.com) under the “About – Corporate Governance” section and included as Exhibit 99.9 hereto.

The Board of Directors believes that providing a forum for employees and officers to raise concerns about ethical conduct and treating all complaints with the appropriate level of seriousness fosters a culture of ethical conduct within Stantec. The Code sets out our procedures for reporting and investigating observations or concerns raised by employees or officers of the company. Stantec monitors compliance with the Code through its external integrity hotline. The external integrity hotline allows officers or employees to report concerns regarding breaches of the Code in writing, over the telephone, by mail or by email. All complaints are treated as confidential, and requests to maintain anonymity are respected to the extent possible. The integrity hotline is managed by an independent third party.

Copies of all complaints are reviewed by the chair of the Audit and Risk Committee upon receipt. A quarterly report is presented to the Audit and Risk Committee and the Sustainability and Safety Committee summarizing the status of any active investigations of complaints and the resolution of all complaints made through the integrity hotline.

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The Board of Directors believes that its effectiveness is furthered when directors exercise independent judgment in considering transactions and agreements. As such, if at any Board of Directors’ meeting a director or executive officer has a material interest in a matter being considered, such director or officer would not be present for discussions relating to the matter and would not participate in any vote on the matter.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The disclosure provided under “External Auditor Service Fees” on page 19 of Exhibit 99.1, Annual Information Form, is incorporated by reference herein.

AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The disclosure provided under “Preapproval Policy” on page 19 of Exhibit 99.1, Annual Information Form, is incorporated by reference herein. No audit-related fees, tax fees or other fees were approved by the Audit and Risk Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The disclosure provided under “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” on page M-26 of Exhibit 99.2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, is incorporated by reference herein.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The disclosure provided under “Contractual Obligations” on page M-25 of Exhibit 99.2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, is incorporated by reference herein.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The disclosure provided under “NYSE Corporate Governance Disclosure” on page 21 of Exhibit 99.1, Annual Information Form, is incorporated by reference herein.

UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

A.Undertaking

Stantec undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F, the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises, or transactions in said securities.

B.Consent to Service of Process

Stantec has previously filed with the Commission a Form F-X and amendments thereto in connection with the Common

Shares. Any change to the name or address of a Registrant’s agent for service shall be communicated promptly to the

Commission by an amendment to Form F-X referencing the file number of the Registrant.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Annual Information Form dated February 24, 2021
99.2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020 (pages M-1 through M-41 of the 2020 Annual Report)
99.3	2020 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (pages F-1 through F-59 of the 2020 Annual Report)
99.4	Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
99.5	Chief Executive Officer’s Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), pursuant to Section 302 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.6	Chief Executive Officer’s Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as enacted pursuant to Section 906 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.7	Chief Financial Officer’s Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), pursuant to Section 302 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.8	Chief Financial Officer’s Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as enacted pursuant to Section 906 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.9	Code of Business Conduct
101.	Interactive Data File

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

	STANTEC INC.
	/s/ Gordon A. Johnston
	Gordon A. Johnston, M. Eng., P. Eng. President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 24, 2021

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