QUATERRA RESOURCES INC.
1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3T5
Telephone: (604) 681-9059 Fax: (604) 641-2740
www.quaterra.com
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
AS AT AND DATED MAY 15, 2014
(Unless otherwise noted)
This Information Circular accompanies the Notice of the 2014 Annual General Meeting (“Notice of Meeting”) of holders of common shares (“shareholders”) ofQuaterra Resources Inc. (the “Company”) scheduled to be held on Wednesday,June 25, 2014(the “Meeting”), and is furnished in connection with a solicitation of proxies for use at that Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
PERSONS OR COMPANIES MAKING THE SOLICITATION
THE FORM OF PROXY ACCOMPANYING THIS INFORMATION CIRCULAR
IS BEING SOLICITED BY MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
Solicitations will be made by mail and possibly supplemented by telephone, electronic means or other personal contact to be made without special compensation by directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Company may reimburse shareholders’ nominees or agents for the cost incurred in obtaining from their principals authorization to execute forms of proxy. It is not anticipated that any solicitation will be made by specially engaged employees or soliciting agents. The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Information Circular in connection with the solicitation of proxies. If given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The delivery of this Information Circular shall not create, under any circumstances, any implication that there has been no change in the Information set forth herein since the date of this Information Circular. This Information Circular does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making such solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer of solicitation.
APPOINTMENT OF PROXYHOLDER
Only registered shareholders or duly appointed proxyholders are permitted to vote at the Meeting. Those shareholders so desiring may be represented by proxy at the Meeting. The persons named in the form of proxy accompanying this Information Circular are directors and/or officers of the Company (“Management Appointees”).A shareholder has the right to appoint a person or company (who need not be a shareholder) to attend and act on the shareholder’s behalf at the Meeting other than the Management Appointees. To exercise this right, the shareholder must either insert the name of the desired person in the blank space provided in the form of proxy accompanying this Information Circular and strike out the names of the Management Appointees or submit another proper form of proxy.
NON-REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS
Only shareholders whose names appear on the records of the Company (“registered shareholders”) or duly appointed proxyholders are permitted to vote at the Meeting. Most shareholders of the Company are not registered shareholders because the shares they own are not registered in their names. More particularly, a person is not a registered shareholder in respect of shares which are held on behalf of that person (the “Non-Registered Holder”) but which are registered either (a) in the name of an intermediary (an “Intermediary”) that the Non-Registered Holder deals with in respect of the shares including, among others, banks, trust companies, securities dealers or brokers and trustees or administrators of self-administered RRSP’s, RRIF’s, RESP’s and similar plans; or (b) in the name of a clearing agency such as The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited (“CDS”) of which the Intermediary is a participant. In accordance with securities regulatory policy, the Company has distributed copies of the Notice of Meeting, this Information Circular and the form of proxy accompanying this Information Circular (collectively, the “Meeting Materials”) to the clearing agencies and Intermediaries.
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Intermediaries are required to forward the Meeting Materials to, and to seek voting instructions from, Non-Registered Holders unless a Non-Registered Holder has waived the right to receive them. Intermediaries will often use service companies to forward the Meeting Materials to Non-Registered Holders. Generally, Non-Registered Holders who have not waived the right to receive Meeting Materials will either:
| | (a) | Be given a form of proxywhich has already been signed by the Intermediary(typically by a facsimile, stamped signature), which is restricted as to the number of shares beneficially owned by the Non-Registered holder but which is otherwise not completed. Because the Intermediary has already signed the form of proxy, this form of proxy is not required to be signed by the Non- Registered Holder when submitting the proxy. In this case, the Non- Registered Holder who wishes to submit a proxy should otherwise properly complete this form of proxy andsubmit it to the Company, c/o Computershare Investor Services Inc., 9thFloor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1, fax number 416-263-9261; or |
| | | |
| | (b) | more typically, be given a voting instruction or proxy authorization formwhich is not signed by the Intermediary,and which, when properly completed and signed by the Non- Registered Holder andreturned to the Intermediary or its service company, will constitute voting instructions (often called a “proxy authorization form”) which the Intermediary must follow. Typically, the proxy authorization form will consist of a one page pre-printed form. Sometimes, instead of the one page pre-printed form, the proxy authorization form will consist of a regular printed proxy form accompanied by a page of instructions which contains a removable label containing a bar-code and other information. In order for this proxy form to validly constitute a proxy authorization form, the Non-Registered Holder must remove the label from the instructions and affix it to the proxy form, properly complete and sign the proxy form and return it to the Intermediary or its service company in accordance with the instructions of the Intermediary or its service company.A Non -Registered Holder cannot use a proxy authorization form to vote shares directly at the Meeting. |
In either case, the purpose of this procedure is to permit Non-Registered Holders to direct the voting of shares which they beneficially own.
The Meeting Materials are being sent to both registered and non-registered owners of shares. If you are a Non-Registered Holder and the Company or its agent has sent the Meeting Materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of securities have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the Intermediary holding shares on your behalf. By choosing to send the Meeting Materials to you directly, the Company (and not the Intermediary holding shares on your behalf) has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering the Meeting Materials to you, and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions. Please return your voting instructions as specified in the request for voting instructions.
Management of the Company intends to pay for Intermediaries to forward to objecting beneficial owners under NI 54-101 the Meeting Materials and Form 54-101F7 –Request for Voting Instructions Made by Intermediary.
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Non-Registered Holders cannot be recognized at the Meeting for purposes of voting their shares in person or by way of depositing a form of proxy.If you are a Non-Registered Holder and wish to vote in person at the Meeting, please see the voting instructions you received or contact your Intermediary well in advance of the Meeting to determine how you can do so.
Non-Registered Holders should carefully follow the voting instructions they receive, including those on how and when voting instructions are to be provided, in order to have their shares voted at the Meeting.
VOTING BY PROXY
To be effective, the instrument of proxy must be dated and signed and, together with the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or notarial certified copy thereof, deposited either at the office of Computershare Investor Services Inc., 9th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1, or at the office of the Company at Suite 1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5, not less than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, prior to the time of the holding of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The shares represented by a properly executed and deposited proxy will be voted or withheld from voting on each matter referred to in the Notice of Meeting in accordance with the instructions given (provided such instructions are certain) on any ballot that may be called for and, if a choice is specified with respect to any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting, the shares shall be voted or withheld from voting accordingly.Where no choice is specified in respect of any matter to be acted upon other than the appointment of an auditor or the election of directors and one of the management appointees is named in the form of proxy to act as the shareholder’s proxyholder, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in favour of all such matters. The form of proxy accompanying this information circular gives the person or company named as proxyholder discretionary authority regarding amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and other matters that may properly come before the Meeting. In the event that amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting are properly brought before the Meeting or any other business is properly brought before the Meeting, it is the intention of the management appointees to vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matters or business on any ballot that may be called for. At the time of printing this information circular, management knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters which may be brought before the Meeting.
REVOCABILITY OF PROXY
In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a proxy may be revoked by instrument in writing executed by the registered shareholder or his attorney authorized in writing, or if the registered shareholder or his attorney authorized in writing, or if the registered shareholder is a corporation, by a duly authorized officer or attorney thereof, and deposited either at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, or, as to any matter in respect of which a vote shall not already have been cast pursuant to such proxy, with the Chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, and upon either of such deposits the proxy revoked.
Only registered shareholders have the right to revoke a proxy. A Non-Registered Holder may revoke a proxy authorization form or a waiver of the right to receive Meeting material and to vote given to an Intermediary at any time by written notice to the Intermediary, except that an Intermediary is not required to act on a revocation of proxy authorization for or of a waiver of the right to receive Meeting Materials and to vote that is not received by the Intermediary at least 7 days prior to the Meeting.
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INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except as otherwise disclosed, to the knowledge of the Company, no director or executive officer since the commencement of the Company’s last completed fiscal year, and no proposed nominee for election as a director, or any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any of the matters to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of directors.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
As at May 15, 2014 there were 193,479,416 common shares issued and outstanding without par value that are entitled to be voted at the Meeting. Shareholders of record as of May 7, 2014 will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting.
At a General Meeting of the Company, on a show of hands, every registered shareholder present in person and entitled to vote and every proxyholder duly appointed by a registered shareholder who would have been entitled to vote shall have one vote and, on a poll, every registered shareholder present in person or represented by proxy or other proper authority and entitled to vote shall have one vote for each share of which such shareholder is the registered holder. Shares represented by proxy will only be voted if a ballot is called for. A ballot may be requested by a registered shareholder or proxyholder present at the Meeting and entitled to vote or required because the number of votes attached to shares represented by proxies that are to be voted against a matter is greater than 5% of the votes that could be cast at the Meeting.
A quorum of Shareholders will be present at the Meeting if not less than one Shareholder is present in person or represented by proxy or a duly authorized representative.
To the knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Company, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, voting securities carrying more than 10% of the outstanding voting rights of the Company.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Each director of the Company is elected annually and holds office until the next Annual General Meeting of the shareholders unless that person ceases to be a director before then.Unless such authority is withheld, Management Appointees intend to vote the shares represented by proxy on any ballot that may be called for.
MANAGEMENT DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE THAT ANY OF THE NOMINEES WILL BE UNABLE TO SERVE AS A DIRECTOR. IN THE EVENT THAT PRIOR TO THE MEETING ANY VACANCIES OCCUR IN THE SLATE OF NOMINEES HEREIN LISTED, IT IS INTENDED THAT DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY SHALL BE EXERCISED BY THE MANAGEMENT APPOINTEES, IF NAMED IN THE PROXY, TO VOTE THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY PROXY FOR THE ELECTION OF ANY OTHER PERSON OR PERSONS AS DIRECTORS ON ANY BALLOT THAT MAY BE CALLED FOR UNLESS THE SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED THAT THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY PROXY ARE TO BE WITHHELD FROM VOTING IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
Voting Results
Following the meeting, a report on the Voting Results will be available on the Company’s website atwww.quaterra.com The Voting Results will also be filed with securities regulators on Sedar.com. The Company will also issue a news release disclosing these results.
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Management proposes that the number of directors for the Company be determined at seven (7) for the ensuing year, subject to such increases as may be permitted by the Articles of the Company, and that each of the following persons be nominated for election as a director of the Company for the ensuing year. Information concerning these persons, as furnished by the individual nominees, is as follows:
Name, Jurisdiction of Residence
and Position with the Company
| Principal Occupation,
Business or Employment
| Director
Since
| Number of Securities
Beneficially Owned, Directly
or Indirectly, or Controlled
or Directed |
Steven Dischler(3)
Nevada, USA
President, CEO and Director
| President of the Company since
2013; VP and GM, Yerington
District of the Company from
2011 to 2013; Strategy Manager
of BP from 2007 to 2011 | Since 2013
| 150,000
|
Thomas C. Patton(3)
Washington, USA
Chairman and Director | Chairman of the Company
| Since 1998
| 5,214,762(4)
|
John Kerr(1)(3)
British Columbia, Canada
Director | Geological Engineer | Since 1993 | 103,334 |
LeRoy Wilkes(2)
Colorado, USA
Director | Retired Mining Executive
| Since 2006
| 115,428
|
Anthony Walsh(1)(2)
British Columbia, Canada
Director | Retired Mining Executive
| Since 2012
| 200,000(5)
|
Todd Hilditch(1)(2)
British Columbia, Canada
Director | President and CEO of Terraco
Gold Corp. and Owner of Rock
Management Consulting Ltd. | Since 2012
| 285,000(6)
|
Michael Berry
New Jersey, USA
Director | President of Investment
Strategy Analysts since 2000
| Since 2013
| 1,000,000
|
| | |
| (1) | Member of the Audit Committee |
| (2) | Member of the Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee |
| (3) | Member of the Safety, Health, Security and Environment Committee |
| (4) | Thomas Patton directly holds 3,114,762 common shares and indirectly has control over 2,100,000 common shares |
| (5) | Anthony Walsh indirectly has control over 200,000 common shares |
| (6) | Todd Hilditch directly holds 275,000 common shares and indirectly has control over 10,000 common shares |
Steven Dischler was appointed as a member of the Safety, Health, Security and Environment Committee on November 6, 2013 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lawrence Page.
Minimum Share Ownership
The Company has established share ownership guidelines which require each director to own shares, directly or indirectly, of the Company to a minimum of 25,000 shares of the Company (excluding stock option grants). New directors have one year from the date of their appointment to the Board to meet the ownership requirement.
The Company’s directors, as a group, beneficially own, directly or indirectly or exercise control or direction over a total of 7,459,150 common shares with a total value of approximately CAD$410,253. The table below outlines share ownership as at the May 15, 2014 for the Company’s directors:
| Name | Ownership |
| Thomas Patton | 5,214,762 |
| Michael Berry | 1,000,000 |
| Tracy Stevenson | 390,626 |
| Todd Hilditch | 285,000 |
| Anthony Walsh | 200,000 |
| Steven Dischler | 150,000 |
| LeRoy Wilkes | 115,428 |
| John Kerr | 103,334 |
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In addition to the directors, Scott Hean, CFO, owns 599,794 shares and Eugene Spiering, VP Exploration, owns 245,970 shares of the Company.
Unless otherwise instructed, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote FOR the election of the foregoing individuals as directors until the close of the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders or until their successors are otherwise elected or appointed.
Director biographies can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.quaterra.com.
Director Skills
Director/
Nominee
| Mining
Industry
Expertise
| Capital
Markets
| Strategy
| Accounting
and
Finance
| Legal
| Safety, Health,
Security
and
Environment |
Steven Dischler | X | | X | | | X |
Thomas Patton | X | X | X | | | X |
Tracy Stevenson | X | | X | X | | X |
LeRoy Wilkes | X | | X | | | X |
John Kerr | X | | X | | | X |
Anthony Walsh | X | X | X | X | | X |
Todd Hilditch | X | X | X | | | X |
Michael Berry | X | X | X | X | | |
Committees of the Board
The following chart sets out current committee members:
[X] Member [*] Financial Expert
Director
| Audit Committee
| Corporate Governance,
Nomination and
Compensation Committee | Safety, Health, Security
and Environment
Committee |
Steven Dischler | | | X |
Thomas Patton | | | X |
Todd Hilditch | X | X | |
LeRoy Wilkes | | X (Chair) | |
John Kerr | X | | X (Chair) |
Anthony Walsh | X * (Chair) | X | |
Michael Berry | | | |
Audit Committee Composition:
The Committee shall be composed of three or more members of the Board, all of whom are independent and financially literate within the meaning of NI 52-110. The members of the Committee shall appoint from among themselves a Chair of the Committee. The Chair shall have responsibility for ensuring that the Committee fulfills its principal duties and responsibilities effectively. |
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Corporate Governance, Nomination, and Compensation Composition:
The Committee will be composed of at least three directors of the Company, all of whom shall be independent directors as required by National Instrument 58-101. The members of the Committee and the Committee Chair will be appointed by the Board and will serve until they resign, are removed by a majority vote of the independent directors of the Board, or their successors are appointed by the Board. The Board may at any time change the composition of the Committee by adding or removing members. Where a Committee Member ceases to be a Committee member (as a result of resignation, removal or for any other reason), the Board may fill the resulting casual vacancy. A member of the Committee who ceases to be a director shall also cease to be a member of the Committee. |
Safety, Health, Security and Environment Committee Composition:
The Committee shall consist of not less than three nor more than six members to be elected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall designate a Committee Chair, who shall be a Director of the Board. Each Member of the Committee shall be elected annually from among the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management of the Company. Considering the high degree of management accountability for leading the Company’s Safety, Health, Security and Environment programs, it is deemed appropriate to have a member of Executive Management on the Committee. |
Majority Voting
The Company has adopted a Majority Voting Policy in its Corporate Governance Principles. Pursuant to this Policy, any nominee proposed for election as a director in an uncontested election who receives, from the shares voted at the meeting in person or by proxy, a greater number of shareswithheldthan shares votedin favour ofhis or her election, must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Chairman of the Board. Any such resignation shall take effect upon acceptance by the Board. The Compensation and Nomination Committee will expeditiously consider the director’s offer to resign and, unless there are extraordinary circumstances, will recommend to the Board to accept such resignation. The Board will have 90 days to make a final decision and announce such decision, including any reasons for not accepting a resignation, by way of a press release. The applicable director will not participate in any Committee or Board deliberations after the resignation offer. The Corporate Governance Committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.quaterra.com.
Cease Trade Orders – Bankruptcies
Except as otherwise disclosed in this Circular, to the knowledge of the Company, no director:
a. is, as at the date of this Circular, or has been, within 10 years before the date of this Circular, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Company) that,
i) was subject to an order that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
ii) was subject to an order that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or
b. is, as at the date of this Circular, or has been within 10 years before the date of this Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or
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c. has within 10 years before the date of this Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director.
For the purpose of the paragraphs above, “order” means: (i) a cease trade order; (ii) an order similar to a cease trade order; or (iii) an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
- Copper Mesa Mining Corporation
LeRoy E. Wilkes, was a director of Copper Mesa Mining Corporation which had a cease trading order issued against it on April 8, 2009 for failure to file its annual financial statements, accompanying management's discussion and analysis and annual information form (collectively, the "Annual Filings) for its financial year ended December 31, 2008. On June 3, 2009, the cease trade order was revoked as Copper Mesa Mining Corporation had filed its Annual Filings. Mr. Wilkes ceased to be a director on November 5, 2009.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Smythe Ratcliffe, Chartered Accountants are the current auditors of the Company. At the Meeting, shareholders will be requested to re-appoint Smythe Ratcliffe, Chartered Accountants as auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until a successor is appointed, and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix the auditors’ remuneration. Smythe Ratcliffe was first appointed auditors of the Company in 1993.
The person(s) designated by management of the Company in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote FOR the re-appointment of Smythe Ratcliffe, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until a successor is appointed and the authorization of the Board of Directors to fix the remuneration of the auditors.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
At the Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve the Company’s stock option plan (the “Plan”) and the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the Plan in accordance with and subject to the rules and policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX”).
The purpose of the Plan is to provide the directors, officers and key employees of, and certain other persons who provide services to the Company and its subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase shares of the Company and benefit from any appreciation in the value of the Company’s shares. This will provide an increased incentive for these individuals to contribute to the future success and prosperity of the Company, thus enhancing the value of the Company’s shares for the benefit of all the shareholders and increasing the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain skilled and motivated individuals in the service of the Company.
The proposed Plan is a “rolling” plan that provides that the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under it, and all of the Company’s other previously established and outstanding stock option plans or grants, will not exceed 10% of the Company’s issued common shares at the time of the grant of a stock option under the proposed Plan.
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Under the proposed Plan, the option exercise price must not be less than the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the TSX on the day immediately preceding the date of grant, less the applicable discount permitted by the policies of the TSX. An option granted under the Plan must be exercised within the term permitted by the policies of the TSX on the date of grant. The Board of Directors of the Company may determine the limitation period during which an option may be exercised and, notwithstanding that none may be required by the policies of the TSX whether a particular grant will have a minimum vesting period. Any amendment to the proposed Plan will require the approval of the TSX and may require shareholder approval.
In accordance with the terms of the proposed Plan, it is subject to its acceptance for filing by the Exchange and the approval of the Company’s shareholders. Under the policies of the TSX, if
a. the grants of options under the proposed Plan to “insiders” of the Company, together with all of the Company’s outstanding stock options, could result at any time in:
i. the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to stock options granted to insiders of the Company exceeding 10% of the issued common shares of the Company; or
ii. the grant to insiders of the Company, within a 12-month period, of a number of options exceeding 10% of the issued common shares of the Company; or
b. the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to stock options granted to any one optionee, within a 12-month period, exceeding 5% of the issued common shares of the Company;
such shareholder approval must be “disinterested shareholder approval”, but as the proposed Plan is restrictive as to these results, disinterest shareholder approval of the proposed Plan is not required.
The policies of the TSX and the terms of the proposed Plan also provide that “disinterested shareholder approval” will be required for any agreement to decrease the exercise price of options previously granted to insiders of the Company but no such agreements are being brought before the Meeting.
The term “disinterested shareholder approval” means approval by a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting other than votes attaching to shares of the Company beneficially owned by insiders of the Company to whom options may be granted under the proposed Plan and associates of such persons. The term “insiders” is defined in theSecurities Act (British Columbia) and generally includes directors and senior officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and holders of greater than 10% of the voting securities of the Company. The term “associates” is defined in theSecurities Act (British Columbia).
If shareholder approval of the proposed Plan or a modified version thereof is not obtained, the Company will not proceed to implement the proposed Plan nor grant options under it. Even if approved, the directors may determine not to proceed with the proposed Plan.
The proposed Plan will be available for inspection at the Meeting. The directors recommend that the shareholders approve the proposed Plan.
The person(s) designated by management of the Company in the enclosed form of Proxy intend to vote FOR the adoption of the Stock Option Plan Resolution.
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STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion & Analysis
Named Executive Officers
“CEO”means an individual who acted as chief executive officer of the Company, or acted in a similar capacity, for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“CFO” means an individual who acted as chief financial officer of the company, or acted in a similar capacity, for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“NEO” ornamed executive officer means each of the following individuals:
| | (a) | a CEO; |
| | (b) | a CFO; |
| | (c) | each of the three most highly compensated executive officers, or the three most highly compensated individuals acting in a similar capacity, other than the CEO and CFO, at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was, individually, more than $150,000; and |
| | (d) | each individual who would be an NEO under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was neither an executive officer of the Company, nor acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year. |
As at December 31, 2013, the Company’s Named Executive Officers were: Tom Patton, Executive Chairman of the Board, Steven Dischler (President and CEO), Scott Hean (CFO) and Eugene Spiering (VP Exploration). Thomas Patton (Chairman) resigned as President and CEO of the Company on July 31, 2013.
Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee
The Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee (the “Governance Committee”) of the Board was established to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to compensation matters, including the evaluation and approval of the Company’s compensation plans, policies and programs.
One of the key roles of the Governance Committee is to assist the directors of the Company in attracting, evaluating and retaining key senior executive personnel through compensation and other appropriate performance incentives. It is the Governance Committee’s responsibility to ensure that the Company develops a compensation plan for its executive officers that is fair and competitive and consistent with the best interests of the Company. The role of management is to provide the Governance Committee with perspectives on the business strategy and individual performance of senior executive personnel in order to assist the Governance Committee in making recommendations regarding compensation.
The Governance Committee reviews the performance of the Company’s NEOs against established performance goals and criteria and makes recommendations to the Board of the Company on appropriate compensation. Other than with respect to the CEO, the Governance Committee also considers the evaluations and recommendations of the CEO.
The Governance Committee has the responsibility for reviewing compensation policies, programs and procedures for the Company’s NEOs, including a review of any proposed awards of stock options or any other equity plans and recommending same for approval by the full Board. The Governance Committee acts pursuant to the Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee Charter (the “Governance Charter”) that has been approved by the Board of Directors.
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The Governance Committee is composed of three directors, all of whom are independent within the meaning of National Instrument 58-101. They are, LeRoy Wilkes (Chair), Anthony Walsh and Todd Hilditch. None of the members of the Governance Committee is an officer, employee or former officer of the Company. All of the members are experienced in matters of executive compensation and the Board believes that the Committee collectively has the knowledge, experience and background required to fulfill its mandate.
The Governance Committee Charter can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.quaterra.com. The Governance Committee reports to the Board of Directors which has final accountability for the Company’s compensation policies and programs. The Governance Committee also seeks the views of the CEO when reviewing compensation for other executive officers because of his involvement with these officers. The Company does not currently benchmark.
Role of the Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) completes a review of each NEO’s performance. The CEO makes a recommendation to the Governance Committee on compensation for each NEO which is taken into consideration by the Governance Committee in completing its review and ultimate recommendations to the Board.
Objectives of the Compensation Program
The general objectives of the Company’s compensation strategy are to:
| | (a) | compensate management in a manner that encourages and rewards a high level of performance and outstanding results with a view to increasing long term shareholder value; |
| | | |
| | (b) | provide a compensation package that is competitive with other comparable mineral exploration companies to enable the Company to attract and retain talent; and |
| | | |
| | (c) | ensure that the total compensation package is designed in a manner that takes into account the Company’s present stage of development and its available financial resources. The Company’s compensation packages have been designed to provide a non-cash stock option component in conjunction with a reasonable cash salary. |
Salaries for the NEOs are determined by evaluating the responsibilities inherent in the position held, and the individuals experience and past performance, as well as by reference to the competitive marketplace for management talent at other mineral exploration companies. Following the annual general meeting of shareholders, the Governance Committee reviews actual performance for the Company and the each of the NEOs for such year, including the quality and measured progress of the Company’s exploration projects, raising of capital and similar achievements.
Elements of Compensation
During 2013, the Company’s compensation program consisted of two elements (i) cash and (ii) incentive stock options administered under the Company’s stock option plan. The Company does not presently have a long-term incentive plan. There is no policy or target regarding allocation between cash and non-cash elements of the Company’s compensation program. The Board reviews annually the total compensation package of each of the Company’s NEOs on an individual basis, against the backdrop of the competitive landscape and the compensation goals and objectives described above.
Salary -Base salaries for the NEOs for any given year are reviewed by the Governance Committee at its meeting in June. Increases or decreases in salary on a year over year basis are dependent on the Governance Committee’s assessment of the performance of the Company and the particular NEO. When considering the base salaries of each of the Company’s NEOs, the Governance Committee reviews the qualifications and performance of, and salaries paid to executives of similar companies engaged in mining exploration and development. Recommendations for executive salaries are made by the Governance Committee to the full Board of Directors in consultation with the CEO.
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Incentive Awards – The Governance Committee believes that a significant portion of each NEO’s compensation should be in the form of equity awards. Equity awards are made to the NEOs pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan. The stock option plan provides for awards in the form of stock options. The Committee has generally followed a practice of issuing stock options to its NEOS on an annual basis in June of each year. The Committee retains the discretion to make additional awards to NEOS at other times, in connection with the initial hiring of a new executive, for retention purposes or otherwise. In determining the amount of stock options to be issued, the Governance Committee considers qualifications, performance, and option programs of similar companies.
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits –The Company’s NEOs are not generally entitled to significant perquisites. The Company offers health care benefits, but there are no other perquisites which account for a material portion of the overall compensation paid to any NEO.
Employment Agreements, Termination and Change of Control
The Company has employment agreements with its four NEOs, namely Thomas Patton, Steven Dischler, Scott Hean and Eugene Spiering. The Governance Committee believes that these agreements will help to secure the continued employment and dedication of the Company’s NEOs.
Thomas Patton – In January 2010, Dr. Thomas Patton entered into an employment agreement with the Company and its subsidiary, Quaterra Alaska, Inc. for a period of five years which replaced a prior employment agreement dated January 1, 2009. Under the employment agreement, Dr. Patton is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $150,000. Upon the expiration of one year following the date of the employment agreement and each year thereafter, the Company will review Dr. Patton’s salary with a view to its increase, giving consideration to the Company’s financial position and the scope of its activities. Dr. Patton may be eligible to participate in future stock option grants. The Company may terminate the employment of Dr. Patton only for breach of the employment agreement or for cause. Dr. Patton is entitled to two months’ notice of such discharge. If Dr. Patton becomes disabled and unable to perform his regular duties, he shall be entitled to receive his full salary for two months. Upon a change of control, as defined in the employment agreement, Dr. Patton has the right to terminate the employment agreement and receive an amount of money equal to his annual salary for two (2) years. Therefore, if Dr. Patton terminated his employment agreement upon a change of control, and assuming the triggering event took place on the last business day of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the payment to Dr. Patton would be $300,000.
Steven Dischler:On October 24, 2011, Steven Dischler entered into an employment agreement with the Company for a period of five years. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Dischler is entitled to receive an annual base salary of US$250,000. Upon the expiration of one year following the date of the employment agreement and each year thereafter, the Company will review Mr. Dischler’s salary with a view to its increase, giving consideration to the Company’s financial position and the scope of its activities. Mr. Dischler may be eligible to participate in future stock option grants. If Mr. Dischler becomes disabled and unable to perform his regular duties, he shall be entitled to receive his full salary for two months. Upon a change of control, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Dischler has the right to terminate the employment agreement and receive an amount of money equal to his annual salary for two (2) years. Therefore, if Mr. Dischler terminated his employment agreement upon a change of control, and assuming the triggering event took place on the last business day of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the payment to Mr. Dischler would be US$500,000.
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Scott Hean – On January 1, 2010, Atherton Enterprises Ltd. (“AEL”), a company controlled by Scott Hean, Scott Hean (“Hean”) and the Company entered into a Services Agreement whereby the Company engaged AEL to provide the services of Hean to act in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer. This agreement replaces a prior services agreement dated December 1, 2008. The term of the Agreement is for a period of five years. Under the agreement, AEL is entitled to receive an annual salary of $175,000. Hean may be eligible to participate in future incentive stock options. The Company may terminate the employment of AEL and Hean only for breach of the agreement or for cause. AEL and Hean are entitled to two months’ notice of such discharge. Upon a change of control, as defined in the agreement, AEL and Hean has the right to terminate the agreement and receive an amount of money equal to his annual salary for two (2) years, that amount being $350,000. Mr. Hean, effective December 1, 2013, became an employee of the Company and agreed to a salary of CDN$150,000 per annum. No cash bonus is included and he is eligible for options when, and if, granted by the Board. Upon a change of control, Mr. Hean has the right to terminate the agreement and receive an amount of money equal to his annual salary for two (2) years. Therefore, if Mr. Hean terminated his employment upon a change of control, and assuming the triggering event took place on the last business day of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the payment to Mr. Hean would be $300,000.
Eugene Spiering - On January 1, 2010, Eugene Spiering entered into an employment agreement with the Company for a period of five years, which replaced prior employment agreements dated December 1, 2008. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Spiering is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $200,000. Upon the expiration of one year following the date of the employment agreement and each year thereafter, the Company will review Mr. Spiering’s salary with a view to its increase, giving consideration to the Company’s financial position and the scope of its activities. Mr. Spiering may be eligible to participate in future stock option grants. If Mr. Spiering becomes disabled and unable to perform his regular duties, he shall be entitled to receive his full salary for two months. Upon a change of control, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Spiering has the right to terminate the employment agreement and receive an amount of money equal to his annual salary for two (2) years. Therefore, if Mr. Spiering terminated his employment agreement upon a change of control, and assuming the triggering event took place on the last business day of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the payment to Mr. Spiering would be $400,000.
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return on its common shares with the cumulative total return of the TSX Composite Index over the period from January 2, 2009 to December 31, 2013. The graph illustrates the cumulative return on a $100 investment in common shares made on January 2, 2009 with the cumulative total return of the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index.
A direct correlation between total cumulative shareholder return over a given period and executive compensation cannot always be made. General market conditions for junior mining exploration companies worsened in 2011 and continued through 2013. Like many other junior exploration publicly traded mining companies, the Company performance has not fared well over the past few years. During 2013, the Company refocused its efforts on its Yerington copper assets and continues with that focus. A new Chief Executive Officer was named in 2013. Significant effort has been expended in attempting to sell non-core assets to raise cash. Management reduced its overall cash salaries as called for by contract in 2013 and continues that in 2014.
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Summary Compensation Table – Named Executive Officers
The following table sets out information concerning the compensation earned from the Company and any of the Company’s subsidiaries during the financial year ended December 31, 2013, by the Company’s NEOs:
Name and
principal position | Year | Salary
($) | Share-
based
awards
($) | Option-
based
awards
($)(3) | Non-equity incentive
plan compensation
($) | Pension
value
($) | All other
compensation
($) | Total
compensation
($) |
|
|
Annual
incentive
plans
| Long-
term
incentive
plans |
|
|
|
Thomas Patton(1)
Chairman
| 2013
2012
2011
| 50,000
137,500
151,003
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| 54,000
44,800
158,000
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| 104,000
182,300
309,003
|
|
|
|
Steven Dischler(2)
President & Chief
Executive Officer
| 2013
2012
2011
| 257,750
249,850
109,935
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| 66,682
44,800
85,500
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| 324,432
294,650
195,435
|
|
|
|
Scott Hean
Chief Financial
Officer
| 2013
2012
2011
| 12,500
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| 38,400
44,800
98,750
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
| 89,074(4)
157,880(4)
175,000(4)
| 139,974
202,680
273,750
|
|
|
|
Eugene Spiering
Vice President,
Exploration | 2013
2012
2011 | 150,000
200,000
200,000 | N/A
N/A
N/A | 22,800
44,800
98,750 | N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A | 2,466
N/A
N/A | 172,800
244,800
298,750 |
|
|
| | (1) | Thomas Patton served as President and Chief Executive Officer until July 31, 2013 when he was appointed Chairman. |
| | (2) | Steven Dischler was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on July 31, 2013 and previously served as VP and GM, Yerington District from June, 2011 until July 31, 2013. |
| | (3) | The Company calculated the stock-based compensation costs by using the Black -Scholes -Merton model assuming a risk free interest rate of 1.72% (2012- 1.11%; 2011-1.13%), a dividend yield of 0% (2012 & 2011-0%), the expected annual volatility of the Company’s share price of 96% (2012-82%; 2011-89%) and expected life of the option of 5 years (2012- 3.9 years; 2011-4 years) . |
| | (4) | This represents payments to Atherton Enterprises Ltd. pursuant to a Services Agreement between Atherton Enterprises Ltd., a company controlled by Scott Hean and the Company for services as CFO provided to the Company. Please see “Employment Agreements, Termination and Change of Control” for more information on this arrangement. |
Narrative Discussion
Due to the difficulty in raising funds for the Company’s exploration programs and corporate expenditures, certain officers voluntarily reduced their cash salaries in 2013. The salary amounts listed in the table above reflected the actual amounts received, not necessarily the amounts stipulated in the respective employment agreements. Salaries paid in US dollars were converted into Canadian dollars using the average exchange rate for the year.
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Incentive Awards
The following table sets out information in respect of outstanding option-based awards* for the financial year ended December 31, 2013, for the Company’s NEOs.
| | Option-based Awards | Share-based Awards |
| Name | Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#) | Option
exercise
price
($) | Option expiration
date | Value of
unexercised
in-the-
money
options
($)(1) | Number
of shares
or units
of shares
that
have not
vested
(#) | Market or
payout
value of
share-based
awards that
have not
vested
($) | Market or payout
value of vested
share-based
awards not paid
out or distributed
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas Patton
| 450,000
150,000
200,000
160,000
450,000 | 1.02
1.29
1.25
0.45
0.16 | November 9, 2014
August 9, 2015
August 9, 2016
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | -0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0- | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
|
|
|
|
Steven Dischler
| 300,000
160,000
900,000 | 0.90
0.45
0.16 | October 24, 2016
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | -0-
-0-
-0- | N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A |
|
|
Scott Hean
| 200,000
75,000
125,000
160,000
320,000 | 1.02
1.29
1.25
0.45
0.16 | November 9, 2014
August 9, 2015
August 9, 2016
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | -0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0- | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
|
|
|
|
Eugene Spiering
| 300,000
75,000
125,000
160,000
190,000 | 1.02
1.29
1.25
0.45
0.16 | November 9, 2014
August 9, 2015
August 9, 2016
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | -0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0- | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
|
|
|
|
| (1) | “In-the -money options” means the excess of the market value of the Company’s shares at the Company’s most recently completed financial year on December 31, 2013 over the exercise price of the options. The last trading price of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on December 30, 2013 was $0.09. |
| | |
| * | Until a stock option has been exercised and the stock sold, the NEO does not receive any cash proceeds from the option and, accordingly, the amount shown is only the deemed “paper gain” of the option. |
Incentive plan awards – value vested or earned during the year
The following table summarizes the value of each incentive plan award vested or earned by each NEO during the Company’s most recently completed financial year.
| Name | Option- based awards
– Value vested during
the year(1)
($) | Share-based awards
– Value vested during
the year(1)
($) | Non-equity incentive plan
compensation – Value earned
during the year
($) |
|
|
|
| Thomas Patton | Nil | NIL | NIL |
| Steven Dischler | Nil | NIL | NIL |
| Scott Hean | Nil | NIL | NIL |
| Eugene Spiering | Nil | NIL | NIL |
| (1) | “Value vested during the year” means the aggregate dollar value that would have been realized if the options under the option-based award had been exercised on the vesting date. This amount is calculated by determining the difference between the market price of underlying securities at exercise and the exercise or base price of the options under the option-based award on the vesting date. |
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Pension Plan Benefits
The Company does not provide retirement benefits for its directors or executive officers.
Director Compensation
The Company’s independent director’s compensation program revolves around three key areas:
- Recruiting and retaining qualified individuals to serve as members of our board of directors and contribute to our overall success;
- Aligning the interests of the board members with those of our shareholders by requiring directors to hold a minimum number of shares and to compensation in the form of option based awards and cash; and
- Offering competitive compensation by positioning director compensation in relation to companies that are comparable in size and in a similar business.
The directors’ compensation package provides for the following fees to be paid to non-employee directors; however the directors agreed that such fees would not be paid, or accrued, in 2013:
| Annual Retainer | ($) |
| Non-Executive Chairman of the Board | 24,000 |
| Committee members (excluding Chairman) | 12,000 |
| Audit Committee Chair | 15,000 |
| Other Committee Chairs | 13,500 |
Other:
Meeting Attendance – per meeting
Travel Fee – per day |
$500
$500 |
|
|
Below is a summary of Directors’ Retainers and Fees for the year ended December 31, 2013 by element:
Name
| Directors’
Fees
($) | Corporate
Governance
Committee ($) | Audit
Committee
($) | Board
Meetings
($) | Other
Committee
($) | Travel
($) | Total
($) |
|
|
Anthony Walsh | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
John Kerr | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
LeRoy Wilkes | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Tracy Stevenson | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Todd Hilditch | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Michael Berry | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Below is a summary of total compensation paid to the Directors (excluding NEOs) during 2013:
| Name | Fees
Earned
($) | Share-
based
awards
($) | Option-
based
awards(1)
($) | Non-equity
incentive plan
compensation
($) | Pension
Value
($) | All other
Compensation
($) | Total
($) |
|
|
|
Lawrence Page(2) | Nil | N/A | 16,200 | N/A | N/A | 44,271 | 60,471 |
John Kerr | Nil | N/A | 21,600 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 21,600 |
LeRoy Wilkes | Nil | N/A | 21,600 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 21,600 |
Tracy Stevenson | Nil | N/A | 24,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24,000 |
Todd Hilditch | Nil | N/A | 21,600 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 21,600 |
Anthony Walsh | Nil | N/A | 21,600 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 21,600 |
Michael Berry | Nil | N/A | 15,600 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15,600 |
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| (1) | The Company calculated the stock-based compensation costs by using the Black-Scholes -Merton model assuming a risk free interest rate of 1.72%, a dividend yield of 0%, the expected annual volatility of the Company’s share price of 96% and expected life of the option of 5 years. |
| (2) | Lawrence Page was not an independent director and earned these fees in his capacity as Corporate Secretary. Mr. Page resigned as a director on July 31, 2013. |
Outstanding share-based awards and option-based awards
The following table summarizes the outstanding share-based awards and option-based awards to the Non-Named Executive Directors as at the Company’s most recently completed financial year.
| Option-based Awards | Share- based Awards |
Name
| Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
| Option
exercise
price
($)
| Option expiration date
| Value of
unexercised
in-the-
money
options(1)
($)
| Number
of shares
or units
of shares
that
have not
vested
(#) | Market or
payout value
of share-
based awards
that have not
vested
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Kerr
| 110,000
50,000
105,000
80,000
180,000 | $1.02
$1.29
$1.25
$0.45
$0.16 | November 9, 2014
August 9, 2015
August 9, 2016
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
|
|
|
|
Tracy Stevenson
| 325,000
60,000
110,000
100,000
200,000
| $1.02
$1.29
$1.25
$0.45
$0.16
| November 9, 2014
August 9, 2015
August 9, 2016
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018
| Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
| N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
| N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony Walsh
| 100,000
80,000
180,000 | $0.50
$0.45
$0.16 | March 27, 2017
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | Nil
Nil
Nil | N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A |
|
|
LeRoy Wilkes
| 110,000
55,000
105,000
80,000
180,000 | $1.02
$1.29
$1.25
$0.45
$0.16 | November 9, 2014
August 9, 2015
August 9, 2016
June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
|
|
|
|
Todd Hilditch
| 100,000
180,000 | $0.45
$0.16 | June 28, 2017
September 19, 2018 | Nil
Nil | N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A |
|
Michael Berry
| 200,000
130,000 | $1.02
$0.16 | November 9, 2014
September 19, 2018 | Nil
Nil | N/A
N/A | N/A
N/A |
|
| (1) | “In-the-money options” means the excess of the market value of the Company’s shares at the Company’s most recently completed financial year on December 31, 2013 over the exercise price of the options. The last trading price of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on December 31, 2013 was $0.09. |
Incentive plan awards – value vested or earned during the year
The following table summarizes the value of each incentive plan award vested or earned by each Non-Named Executive Director during the Company’s most recently completed financial year.
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Name | Option-based awards
– Value vested during
the year(1)
($) | Share-based awards
– Value vested during
the year(1)
($) | Non-equity incentive plan
compensation – Value earned
during the year
($) |
Lawrence Page, Q.C.(2) | Nil | N/A | N/A |
John Kerr | Nil | N/A | N/A |
Tracy Stevenson | Nil | N/A | N/A |
Anthony Walsh | Nil | N/A | N/A |
LeRoy Wilkes | Nil | N/A | N/A |
Todd Hilditch | Nil | N/A | N/A |
Michael Berry | Nil | N/A | N/A |
| (1) | “Value vested during the year” means the aggregate dollar value that would have been realized if the options under the option-based award had been exercised on the vesting date. This amount is calculated by determining the difference between the market price of underlying securities at exercise and the exercise or base price of the options under the option-based award on the vesting date. |
| | |
| (2) | Lawrence Page resigned as a director on July 31, 2013. |
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Plans
The following table sets out the number of the Company’s shares to be issued and remaining available for future issuance under the Company’s Incentive Stock Option Plan at the end of the Company’s most recently completed financial year:
Plan Category
|
Number of Securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options
(a) |
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options
(b) | Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance
under incentive stock option
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c) |
Stock Option Plan approved by security holders | 16,310,000
| $0.78
| 3,037,942
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|
Total | 16,310,000 |
| 3,037,942 |
INDEBTEDNESS TO COMPANY OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No director or executive officer, or any proposed director or any associate of any of them, is or, since the beginning of the last completed financial year of the Company, was indebted to the Company, or has been the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
As provided under the Business Corporations Act(British Columbia)and the Company’s Articles, the Company indemnifies the directors and officers against certain losses arising from claims against them for their acts, errors or omissions as such. The Company maintains liability insurance for its directors and officers. The policy provides insurance for directors and officers of the Company in respect of certain losses arising from claims against them for their acts, errors or omissions in their capacity as directors or officers. The policy was extended to May 15, 2015 at an annual premium cost of $31,000 for coverage up to $5,000,000.
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INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
No insider of the Company, no management proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company and no associate or affiliate of any of these persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company's last financial year or in any proposed transaction, which, in either case, has materially affected or will materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than as disclosed under the headings "Executive Compensation" and "Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon".
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
There are no management functions of the Company, which are, to any substantial degree, performed by a person other than the directors or executive officers of the Company.
STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES
The Company’s corporate governance disclosure obligations are set out in National Instrument 58-101 –Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (the “National Instrument”), National Policy 58-201 –Corporate Governance Guidelines and National Instrument 52-110 –Audit Committees. These instruments set out a series of guidelines and requirements for effective corporate governance, collectively the “Guidelines”. The National Instrument requires the Company to disclose its approach to corporate governance with reference to Guidelines.
Composition of the Board
The Board currently consists of eight directors. The National Instrument defines an independent director as a director who has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A “material relationship” is in turn defined as a relationship which could, in the view of the Board of Directors, be reasonably expected to interfere with such member’s independent judgment. The Board of Directors considers the factual circumstances of each director in the context of Guidelines.
The Board has determined that six (6) directors are independent for purposes of the Board members as provided in National Instrument 58-101. There are two (2) who are not independent for purposes of the Board members as provided in National Instrument 58-101. The Board has concluded that Mr. Thomas Patton, Chairman of the Board, is not an “independent” director as, until recently, he served as President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Todd Hilditch was appointed the Lead Independent Director on August 8, 2013. The Lead Independent Director shall assist the Chairman, if requested, in managing the affairs of the Board and in the absence of the Chairman, chair the meetings of the Board, and chair meetings of the Board without management and non-independent directors present, at every Board meeting. See Composition of the Board below.
Director Nominees | Independent | Non-Independent | Reason for Non Independence |
Steven Dischler | | X | President and CEO of the Company |
Thomas Patton | | X | Chairman of the Board, former President and CEO of the Company |
Tracy Stevenson | X | | |
LeRoy Wilkes | X | | |
John Kerr | X | | |
Anthony Walsh | X | | |
Todd Hilditch | X | | |
Michael Berry | X | | |
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The Board of Directors holds regularly scheduled meetings. From January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 the following meetings were held:
| Board of Directors | 10 |
| Audit Committee | 4 |
| Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee | 4 |
| Safety, Health, Security and Environment Committee | 4 |
| Total number of meetings held | 22 |
| | Number and % of Meetings Attended |
Director
| Board
| Corporate
Governance,
Nomination
and
Compensation
Committee | Audit
Committee | Safety,
Health,
Security and
Environment | Committees
(Total) | Overall
Attendance |
Steven Dischler | 4/4
100% |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a | 4/4
100% |
Thomas Patton | 10/10
100% |
n/a
|
n/a
| 4/4
100% | 4/4
100% | 14/14
100% |
Tracy Stevenson
| 9/10
90% |
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
| 9/10
90% |
LeRoy Wilkes
| 10/10
100% | 4/4
100% |
n/a
|
n/a
| 4/4
100% | 14/14
100% |
John Kerr
| 9/10
90% |
n/a
| 4/4
100% | 4/4
100% | 8/8
100% | 17/18
94% |
Anthony Walsh
| 9/10
90% | 3/4
75% | 4/4
100% |
n/a
| 7/8
88% | 16/18
89% |
Todd Hilditch
| 10/10
100% | 4/4
100% | 4/4
100% |
n/a
| 8/8
100% | 18/18
100% |
Michael Berry
| 4/4
100% |
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
| 4/4
100% |
Steven Dischler was appointed a director on July 31, 2013. He was appointed to the Safety, Health, Security and Environment Committee on November 6, 2013 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lawrence Page. Michael Berry was appointed a director on July 31, 2013.
Independent Directors Meetings
The independent directors hold in camera sessions, at which non-independent directors and members of management are not in attendance. These meetings are held at all quarterly board meetings and otherwise as deemed necessary. During the financial year ended December 31, 2013, the independent directors held six (6) such meetings.
Participation of Directors in Other Reporting Issuers
Certain of the Company’s directors are directors of other reporting issuers, as set out in the following table:
| Director | Reporting Issuer |
| John Kerr | Bravada Gold Corporation | Canyon Copper Corp. |
| LeRoy Wilkes | Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. | Athena Silver Corporation |
| Tracy Stevenson | Vista Gold Corp. | |
| Anthony Walsh | Dundee Precious Metals Ltd. | Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. |
| | NovaGold Ltd. | TMX Group Ltd. |
| | Avala Resources Ltd. | |
| Todd Hilditch | International Enexco Ltd. | Terraco Gold Corp. |
| | Sama Resources Inc. | |
Board Mandate
The Board has a written mandate that was implemented in March, 2011 that can be viewed atwww.quaterra.com. The roles and responsibilities of the Board include the following:
selecting and monitoring senior management;
strategic planning;
appointing appropriate committees of the Board and delegating responsibilities for specific functions to such committees
with the assistance of the Company’s Audit Committee, selecting an auditor for appointment at the Company’s annual meeting;
regulatory compliance; and
board assessment
Position Descriptions
The Board has developed written position descriptions for the Chairman of the Board and the Chair of each Board Committee. The Board and the CEO have also developed a written position description for the CEO. All of these written position descriptions were adopted by the Company in March, 2011.
Orientation and Continuing Education
Board members are provided with a policy and procedure manual and have access to technical data and financial information 24 hours a day through an internet-based software support system, essentially an electronic Boardroom. The Company does not provide formal continuing education to its Board members, but does encourage them to communicate with management, auditors and technical consultants. Board members are also encouraged to participate in industry related conferences, meetings and educational events.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that can be viewed at www.quaterra.com. The Code addresses honesty and integrity, fair dealing, discrimination and harassment, safety and security, and honest and accurate record keeping. The Code also addresses Ethical Business Conduct for financial managers.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting directors to meet their responsibilities; providing better communication between directors and external auditors; enhancing the independence of the external auditor; increasing the credibility and objectivity of financial reports; and strengthening the role of the directors facilitating in-depth discussions among directors, management and the external auditor. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the external auditor, as well as the pre-approval of all non-audit services provided by the external auditor, and for directing the auditor’s examination into specific areas of the Company’s business. A full version of the Audit Committee Charter is available at www.quaterra.com.
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Composition of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is comprised of three directors of the Company, Anthony Walsh (Chair), Todd Hilditch, and John Kerr, all of whom are independent and financially literate within the meaning of NI 52-110.
To be considered to be independent, a member of the audit committee must not have any direct or indirect ‘material relationship’ with the Company. A material relationship is a relationship which could, in the view of the board of directors of the Company, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a member’s independent judgment.
To be considered financially literate, a member of the audit committee must have the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected in the Company’s financial statements.
Mr. Walshgraduated from Queen’s University (Canada) in 1973 and became a member of The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1976. Mr. Walsh has over 20 years’ experience in the field of exploration, mining and development. Mr. Walsh has sat on several public company Boards and in his positions, he was responsible for receiving financial information relating to his Company and obtaining an understanding of the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows and how these statements are integral in assessing the financial position of the Company and its operating results.
Mr. Kerr graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1964 with a BASc degree in Geological Engineering. Mr. Kerr has sat on several public company Boards and Audit Committees. In his positions, he would be responsible for receiving financial information relating to his Company and obtaining an understanding of the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows and how these statements are integral in assessing the financial position of the Company and its operating results.
Mr. Hilditchgraduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management, majoring in finance. Mr. Hilditch has over 19 years’ experience in the natural resource sector and has held the position of President, CEO and Director of numerous TSX Venture listed companies. In his positions, he would be responsible for receiving financial information relating to his Company and obtaining an understanding of the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows and how these statements are integral in assessing the financial position of the Company and its operating results.
Pre-approved Policies and Procedures
All non-audited services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Before approval is given, the Audit Committee examines the independence of the external auditors in relation to the services to be provided and assesses the reasonableness of the fees to be charged for such services.
External Auditor Service Fees
Financial Year
Ending
| Audit
Fees(1)
| Audit
Related
Fees(2) | Tax Fees
| All other Fees
| Total
|
|
|
| December 31, 2012 | $101,000 | $900 | $3,000 | $NIL | $104,900 |
| December 31, 2013 | $52,000 | $Nil | $6,000 | $Nil | $58,000 |
| (1) | The aggregate audit fees include the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the audit of ICFR. |
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| (2) | The aggregate fees billed for audit related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which are not included under the heading Audit Fees . |
Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee
The Corporate Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee (“Governance Committee”) is appointed by and acts on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Governance Committee acts pursuant to the Corporate Governance Nomination Compensation Committee Charter (“the Governance Charter”) that has been approved by the board of directors. The Governance Charter can be viewed on the Company’s website atwww.quaterra.com. The Governance Committee is responsible for:
| | 1) | developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company and for periodically reviewing such guidelines; |
| | | |
| | 2) | identifying individuals qualified to become Board members; |
| | | |
| | 3) | recommending that the Board select the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders; |
| | | |
| | 4) | overseeing the Board’s annual evaluation of its performance, and |
| | | |
| | 5) | reviewing and recommending to the Board on major compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company. The Governance Committee approves the compensation of named executive officers and certain senior management, takes specific actions with respect to such compensation and has oversight responsibility over the Company’s management development programs, performance assessment of senior executives and succession planning. |
The members of the Governance Committee are LeRoy Wilkes (Chair), Todd Hilditch and Anthony Walsh, all of whom are independent directors, applying the definition set out in Section 1.4 of National Instrument 52-110
Safety, Health, Security and Environment Committee
The Company has a Safety, Health, Security and Environment Committee (the “SHSE Committee”) that consists of John Kerr (Chair), Thomas Patton and Steven Dischler. Steven Dischler was appointed as a member of the SHSE Committee on November 6, 2013 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lawrence Page on July 31, 2013.
The SHSE Committee has been established to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to health safety and the environment. The SHSE Charter can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.quaterra.com. The responsibilities of the Committee are as follows:
- reviewing and recommending, as appropriate, changes to the safety, health and environmental policies of the Company;
- monitor the status of compliance with the Company policies and applicable laws and regulations in the areas of safety, health and environment based on written reports from management;
- review, at least semi-annually, the performance of the Company in the area of safety, health and environment;
- the event of the occurrence of a material safety, health or environmental incident where the occurrence is required to be reported to the appropriate authorities, the committee will receive and review as soon as practicable a report from management detailing the nature of the incident and describing the remedial action being taken; and
- periodically report to the Board of Directors on safety, health and environment issues affecting the Company.
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Assessments
In recent years, the board and each of its committees have completed informal assessments of effectiveness from time to time. The Board has taken the decision to strengthen the review process in the future. The Governance Committee, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Board, will conduct an annual assessment of the Board’s effectiveness and contribution. There are two components to this assessment: (a) self-assessment; and (b) board assessment. The Board will review the assessment tools and frequency of assessments each year and update them as necessary to reflect evolving rules and practices, as well as any changes to the Board Mandate and Committee Charters.
MANAGEMENT IS NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER MATTER TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THE NOTICE OF MEETING. IF ANY OTHER MATTER PROPERLY COMES BEFORE THE MEETING, IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE MANAGEMENT APPOINTEES TO VOTE THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE FORM OF PROXY ACCOMPANYING THIS INFORMATION CIRCULAR ON ANY BALLOT THAT MAY BE CALLED FOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGMENT ON SUCH MATTER.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company can be found at www.sedar.com and at the Company’s website at www.quaterra.com. A copy of the following documents may be obtained, without charge, upon request to the Company at Suite 1100, 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6E 3T5, Telephone: (604) 681-9059, Fax: (604) 641-2740:
| (a) | the comparative financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended December 31, 2013 together with the accompanying report of the auditor thereon and related Management Discussion and Analysis and any interim financial statements of the Company for periods subsequent to December 31, 2013 and related Management Discussion and Analysis; and |
| | |
| (b) | this Information Circular. |
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF QUATERRA RESOURCES INC.
“STEVEN DISCHLER”
Steven Dischler
President and Chief Executive Officer
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