Securities laws require the Corporation to disclose whether a proposed director has within the past 10 years: (i) been a director or an executive officer of a company that has been subject to a cease trade or other order or become bankrupt; (ii) been bankrupt; (iii) been subject to any penalties or sanctions relating to securities legislation or entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; and (iv) been subject to any other penalties or sanctions that would likely be considered important to a reasonable shareholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director. To the Corporation’s knowledge (based on information furnished by the proposed directors), no disclosure is required in respect of the proposed directors, other than as follows:
Derek Evans was a director (until his resignation in January 2016) of a private oil and gas company that sought protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) in May 2016.
Under a settlement agreement dated November 30, 2017, Louis Gignac, a director of the Corporation, resolved concerns of the Authorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”) regarding a trade in shares of another issuer made in 2015. The AMF and Mr. Gignac agreed in the settlement agreement that Mr. Gignac traded shares in error while in possession of privileged information, as defined in the Securities Act (Quebec) (the “Quebec Act”). The AMF and Mr. Gignac agreed that Mr. Gignac self-reported his trading to the AMF, fully cooperated with the AMF and that Mr. Gignac had no intention of trading with privileged information. Mr. Gignac agreed to pay an administrative fine of $94,369 under section 204 of the Quebec Act to fully resolve the matter.
Other Disclosed Matters
On October 17, 2017, the SEC filed civil charges against each of Rio Tinto PLC, Tom Albanese and the former CFO of Rio Tinto PLC, alleging, among other things, violations of the anti-fraud, reporting, books and records and internal control provisions of U.S. federal securities laws in connection with conduct at Rio Tinto PLC and certain of its subsidiaries while Mr. Albanese was the CEO of Rio Tinto PLC and prior to his becoming a director of the Corporation.
On March 2, 2018, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) commenced civil proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against each of Rio Tinto Limited, Tom Albanese and the former CFO of Rio Tinto Limited related to statements which ASIC alleged were misleading contained in the annual report of Rio Tinto Limited for 2011. On May 1, 2018, ASIC expanded the proceedings commenced on March 2, 2018 in the Federal Court of Australia. The expanded proceedings related to Rio Tinto Limited’s alleged failure to recognize an impairment of a wholly owned subsidiary, Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique in its 2012 Interim Financial Statements.
On February 28, 2022, ASIC amended the proceedings, dropping all of its claims for relief against Mr. Albanese and the former CFO. On March 7, 2022, the Federal Court of Australia entered an order that, among other things, dismissed the proceedings in their entirety against Mr. Albanese and the former CFO. There were no findings of liability or contraventions on the part of Mr. Albanese (or the former CFO). The proceedings are concluded.
The Corporation is aware of the SEC allegations and will continue to monitor the progress of the situation.