Messrs. Heagle, McAvity, Sale and P. M. Spicer are also trustees of Central-Gold Trust.
Messrs. Heagle, Parente, Sale and Taschereau are regarded by the Board as being independent in accordance with the foregoing. Mr. McAvity is also regarded by the Board as being independent although the Administrator engages him as a consultant as referred to under “Interest of Management and others in Material Transactions”. Mr. McAvity does not serve on the Audit or Corporate Governance Committees. Mr. Elder is not a member of administration but is a partner of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP which provides legal services to the Corporation. Mr. McAvity is not a member of administration but provides general advice in relation to bullion and currency market trends and developments.
With respect to the other related directors, Messrs. Philip and Stefan Spicer are involved as officers serving as the Chairman and President respectively and are significant shareholders of the Corporation (see “Voting Shares and Principal Holders Thereof’). Mr. Spackman is the spouse of Ms. Catherine Spackman, the Treasurer of the Corporation and is a partner of Parlee McLaws LLP which provides periodic legal services to The Central Group Alberta Ltd. (the “Administrator”) and to the Corporation (see “Interest of Management and Others in Material Transactions”). The other six directors do not have interests or relationships with the principal shareholder referred to above and, as a consequence of such measure of independence and their diverse backgrounds and experience, such directors may be regarded as in a position to reflect the interests of shareholders in the Corporation other than the principal shareholders. Each of such six directors is a shareholder of the Corporation in his own right.
Shareholdings
The Board of Directors recognizes that directors may be seen by some investors to more effectively represent the interests of shareholders if they have an investment in shares of the Corporation. Accordingly, the Board established a policy to the effect that by December 31, 2004, each director own at least 1,000 shares of the Corporation. All the directors in office meet that policy. The Board has not granted any share options and has not created any deferred share units for the benefit of its directors or officers.
The following table sets out how many shares, by class, each director held in the Corporation as of January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2007.
Name of Director | Number of Shares of the Corporation Beneficially Owned or over which Control or Direction is Exercised |
| Common Jan. 1, 2006 | Common Jan. 1, 2007 | Class A Jan. 1, 2006 | Class A Jan. 1, 2007 | |
| | | | | |
John S. Elder, Q.C. | 100 | 100 | 1,400 | 1,400 | |
Douglas E. Heagle | 1,902 | 1,902 | 7,200 | 7,200 | |
Ian M. T. McAvity | 400 | 400 | 4,200 | 4,200 | |
Michael A. Parente | 1,700 | 1,700 | 360 | 360 | |
Robert R. Sale | 350 | 350 | 21,000 | 21,000 | |
Dale R. Spackman, Q.C. | 100 | 100 | 1,000 | 1,000 | |
Philip M. Spicer | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | |
J. C. Stefan Spicer | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | |
Malcolm A. Taschereau | 100 | 100 | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
| | | | | | |
Note (1): Reference is made to the table under “Voting Shares and Principal Holders Thereof”.
Directors’ Remuneration
The directors’ remuneration is intended to provide modest remuneration for the risks and responsibilities undertaken by a director of the Corporation.
Each of the directors, other than the Chairman and the President who are employees of the Administrator, The Central Group Alberta Ltd., effective as and from November 1, 2005 is paid an annual fee of U.S. $5,000 for his service as a director and a fee for all Board and committee meetings attended in person or by conference telephone of U.S. $1,000 per meeting. The Committee Chairmen receive a further annual fee of U.S. $2,500 and the Lead Director and Vice-Chairman of the Corporation receive a further annual fee of U.S. $2,000.
The aggregate fees paid by the Corporation to the directors of the Corporation, who are not employees of The Central Group Alberta Ltd., for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 was U.S. $114,000. The following table shows the amount in U.S. dollars received by each such director for the year ended October 31, 2006.
6
Name of Director | Annual Fee | Attendance Fees | Committee Chairman | Vice Chair or Lead Director | Total |
| | | | | |
John S. Elder, Q.C. | $5,000 | $8,000 | | | $13,000 |
Douglas E. Heagle | 5,000 | 12,000 | $2,500 | $2,000 | 21,500 |
Ian M. T. McAvity | 5,000 | 7,000 | | | 12,000 |
Michael A. Parente | 5,000 | 11,000 | | | 16,000 |
Robert R. Sale | 5,000 | 13,000 | 2,500 | | 20,500 |
Dale R. Spackman, Q.C. | 5,000 | 6,000 | | 2,000 | 13,000 |
Malcolm A. Taschereau | 5,000 | 13,000 | | | 18,000 |
There are no officers of the Corporation who receive remuneration from the Corporation. The Corporation does not have any employees or pension or retirement benefit plans. The officers and directors of the Corporation who are also officers and directors of the Administrator receive no remuneration as officers and directors of the Corporation, other than Mr. Spackman who receives the standard director’s fee, a Vice-Chairman’s fee and fees for serving on the Executive Committee.
No directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is carried by the Corporation.
No director or officer of the Corporation or any associate or affiliate of any such director or officer is or has been indebted to the Corporation.
Attendance Record
The following table sets forth the attendance of directors at Board and Committee meetings during the last fiscal year.
Name of Director | Board Meetings Attended | Committee Meetings Attended |
| | | | |
John S. Elder | 7 of 7 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 100% |
Douglas E. Heagle | 6 of 7 | 86% | 8 of 8 | 100% |
Ian. M. T. McAvity | 7 of 7 | 100% | --- | --- |
Michael Parente | 7 of 7 | 100% | 6 of 6 | 100% |
Robert R. Sale | 7 of 7 | 100% | 8 of 8 | 100% |
Dale R. Spackman | 7 of 7 | 100% | --- | --- |
J. C. Stefan Spicer | 7 of 7 | 100% | --- | --- |
Philip M. Spicer | 7 of 7 | 100% | --- | --- |
Malcolm A. Taschereau | 7 of 7 | 100% | 8 of 8 | 100% |
(c) | Re-Appointment and Remuneration of Auditors |
The next matter to be considered at the Meeting is the appointment and remuneration of auditors of the Corporation. It is intended to vote the proxies solicited at the Meeting to re-appoint as auditors of the Corporation the firm of Ernst & Young LLP, and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration. Ernst & Young LLP have been its auditors since 1989 and their re-appointment at the meeting has been recommended by the Audit Committee.
7
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Overview
The Corporation’s corporate governance practices are designed to ensure that the business and affairs of the Corporation are effectively managed so as to foster value for its shareholders. With certain exceptions as noted below, these practices generally accord with Multilateral Instrument 58-101-Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices” and Multilateral Policy and Instrument 58-201 - “Effective Corporate Governance’ (collectively the “Governance Rules”) and with Multilateral Instrument 52-110 entitled “Audit Committee” and Companion Policy 52-I10CP (collectively the “Audit Committee Rules”) all of which are rules of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
The Corporation’s corporate governance practices are designed with a view to ensuring that the business and affairs of the Corporation are effectively handled in the interests of the shareholders as a whole.
The Board is the author of its own policies, procedures and practices concerning direction and administration of the Corporation. It fulfils these duties with independence from the senior officers of the Corporation.
Board Mandate and Code of Ethics
The Board of Directors is, as set forth in its mandate, responsible for the direction and supervision of the management and administration of the business of the Corporation pursuant to its powers and obligations under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, its articles and by-laws and other statutory and legal requirements generally applicable to directors of a business corporation that is also a reporting issuer. Prime stewardship responsibility of the Board is to ensure the viability of the Corporation and its functions as a passive holder of gold and silver bullion. In carrying out its duties, the Board holds regular meetings on at least a quarterly basis and additional meetings to deal with particular matters as appropriate. Supported by three committees of the Board, the Board stewards the Corporation, including the activities of the Administrator, develops and oversees corporate strategy and its implementation, identifies and assesses the principal risks of the business, reviews financial performance and reporting and disclosure, assesses the internal control and information systems, assesses and selects nominees for election as directors, appoints the senior officers of the Corporation, ensures their integrity and reviews their performance, deals with succession planning, reviews and approves actions of the committees, oversees public communications policies and shareholder relations and annually reviews the effectiveness of the Board and committees (including director’s individual contributions). These duties and responsibilities are consistent with the Governance Rules. An individual director is permitted to engage an outside advisor at the expense of the Corporation in specific circumstances such as where he is placed in a conflict position through activities of the Corporation, but any such engagement is subject to prior approval of the Corporate Governance Committee referred to below. No such engagement has occurred to date.
The Board has adopted a code of business ethics which governs behaviour of its directors, officers and any employees. Compliance is monitored by the Board and, should any waivers be granted to directors or officers, the policy is to disclose this in the next ensuing quarterly or annual report. The Board has also adopted a formal mandate that sets out its responsibilities for stewardship of the Corporation. The code of ethics and the mandate are set out on the Corporation’s website at www.centralfund.com. The Board has also adopted an individual director mandate setting forth the duties and responsibilities of each director. As recommended in the Guidelines and the Governance Rules, formal position descriptions have been developed for the Board and the CEO, defining the limits of management’s responsibilities and the CEO’s corporate objectives, as well as for the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee.
8
Lead Director
Mr. Heagle, the Chairman of the Audit Committee and an unrelated director, has been designated as the “lead director”. As such, he has taken on the responsibility of overseeing the operation of the Board and its effectiveness, and leads discussions of the Board when it meets in private session without senior officers or representatives of the Administrator present. These in camera sessions are held at each regular Board meeting and at each regular audit or corporate governance committee meeting so as to promote full and open discussion among the non-management directors.
Board Activities
The Board is in a position to conduct its meetings and to make appropriate decisions effectively. Financial and other information is made available to Board members several days in advance of meetings. Directors are generally encouraged to attend meetings in person. Directors are asked to advise the Corporation if they are unable to attend meetings and attendance at meetings is recorded. The Board held four regular meetings and three special meetings during the past fiscal year. All of the directors have agreed to an evaluation of their collective as well as their individual performance. All of the directors are encouraged to exercise their responsibilities in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders generally.
The Board has not adopted a formal policy for the recruitment of new directors. However, as the need for recruitment arises, the responsibility for identifying or reviewing a nominee or nominees and recommending them to the Board is assigned to the Corporate Governance Committee which is comprised exclusively of independent directors.
Committees
The Board is responsible for the establishment and overseeing performance of all committees, the appointment of members to serve on such committees and approving their compensation. Three standing committees have been appointed.
The Executive Committee is composed of four members, one of whom is an independent director. The Committee meets occasionally between regularly scheduled board meetings and is delegated authority to deal with various matters. The proceedings of this Committee are reviewed by the Board. The Committee had one meeting during the last fiscal year.
The Audit Committee is composed of four directors, all of whom are unrelated and independent directors as contemplated by the Audit Committee Rules. Each of the members of the Committee is “financially literate” in having the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements and the accompanying notes that present a breadth and level of complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation’s financial statements. Each of the members of the Committee is regarded by the Board as having “accounting or related financial experience” through having the ability, by virtue of past accounting training and/or experience as a chief financial officer or chief executive officer with oversight of a corporation’s finance and accounting activities, to analyze and interpret a full set of financial statements and the accompanying notes prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
The charter for the Audit Committee reflects the requirements of the Audit Committee Rules. The Audit Committee fulfils its responsibilities within the context of the following guidelines:
| • | the Committee communicates its expectations to management and the external auditors with respect to the nature, extent and timing of its information needs. The Committee expects that draft financial statements and other written materials will be received from management or the external auditors several days in advance of Committee meeting dates; |
| • | the Committee, in consultation with management and the external auditors, develops an Audit Committee agenda which is responsive to the Committee’s needs as set out in its charter; |
9
| • | the Committee, in consultation with management and the external auditors, reviews important financial issues and emerging audit, accounting and governance standards which may impact the Corporation’s financial disclosure and presentation; |
| • | the Chairman of the Committee and other Audit Committee members have direct, open and frank discussions during the year with management, other Board members and the external auditors as required; |
| • | to assist the Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities, it may, at the expense of the Corporation and after consultation with the President, engage an outside advisor with special expertise; and |
| • | as the external auditor’s responsibility is not only to the Board of Directors but to the Audit Committee as representatives of the shareholders, the Committee expects the external auditors to report to it all material issues arising out of their services or relationship with the Corporation. |
The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly with management and the external auditors and discusses the independence of the external auditors, the scope of the annual audit, the audit plan, access granted to the accounting system and related internal controls, cooperation of management in the audit and review function, internal controls, the financial reporting process and related internal controls, the quality and adequacy of the Corporation’s or Administrator’s accounting and financial personnel and other resources and financial risk management so as to satisfy itself that each party is properly discharging its responsibilities. The Committee also reviews the quarterly and annual financial statements, the Annual Information Form and the Annual Report including the external auditors’ report and Management’s Discussion and Analysis. The Committee further reviews the remuneration of and recommends, for review by the Board and approval by the shareholders, the re-appointment and terms of engagement of the external auditors.
The Committee also pre-approves all non-audit services proposed to be provided by the external auditors. The charter of the Audit Committee is set out on the Corporation’s website atwww.centralfund.comand in the Corporation’s Annual Information Form. Its conduct is reviewed annually by the Committee and the Board.
Mr. Heagle chairs the Audit Committee which meets at least four times per year and met six times during the last fiscal year. The Committee meets in camera at each regular meeting without any senior officers or representatives of the Administrator present.
The Corporate Governance Committee is composed of four directors, three of whom are independent as defined in the Audit Committee Rules.
The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for developing the Corporation’s approach to governance issues, reviewing the effectiveness of the Board’s practices in light of emerging and changing regulatory requirements, assessing new nominees to the Board, planning education programs for them, assessing the size, composition and effectiveness of the Board as a whole and of the Committees as well as assessing the contribution of individual board members. The Committee’s responsibility extends to ensuring that the Board can function independently of management and monitoring the Board’s relationship to management. It reviews the communications policy of the Corporation to ensure that communications to shareholders, regulators and the investing public are factual and timely, are broadly disseminated in accordance with applicable policy and law and treat all shareholders fairly with respect to disclosure. It recommends topics of interest or importance for discussion and/or action by the Board. It annually reviews Board and committee effectiveness including continuing qualifications and contribution of individual members as well as conflicts of interest and time commitments. It also reviews the adequacy and form of the compensation of directors to ensure that the compensation realistically reflects the responsibilities and risks involved in being an effective director. The Committee is also responsible for approving the engagement by one or more directors of an outside legal or other advisor at the expense of the Corporation.
10
The Committee meets independently of the senior officers at each of its meetings. The charter of the Corporate Governance Committee is set out on the Corporation’s website atwww.centralfund.com. Its content is reviewed annually by the Committee and the Board.
Mr. Sale chairs the Corporate Governance Committee which generally meets at least twice per year. The Committee meets in camera at each regular meeting without any senior officers or representatives of the Administrator present.
Expectations of Management
The Board expects management of the Corporation to report in a timely, comprehensive and accurate manner on the business of the Corporation generally and on specific matters of significant consequence to the Corporation and the shareholders, to take timely action and decisions consistent with corporate policies in effect, and to review on an ongoing basis the strategies of the Corporation with a view to facilitating the Board’s review of same and their implementation by management.
INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Pursuant to an amended and restated Administrative and Consulting Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) dated November 1, 2005 with the Corporation, the Administrator is responsible for the general administration of the business and affairs of the Corporation under the direction of the Corporation’s Board. This includes the provision of certain consultative services to the Corporation which are paid for by the Administrator and include the provision of general market and economic advice with respect to the investment of the Corporation’s assets in accordance with its investment policies and restrictions. Such advice is subject to the ultimate approval of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Administrator arranges at its expense and for certain services which are delegated to others, including currently Mr. Ian M. T. McAvity President of Deliberations Research Inc. and a director of the Corporation, who provides general advice in relation to analysis of bullion market trends and developments and guidance to the Boards of the Corporation and the Administrator,, and Dr. Hans F. Sennholz, a monetary expert, who provides long-term trend and general economic advice. In addition, the Administrator provides and pays for office services, supplies and facilities and, through its staff, generally oversees the day-to-day administration of the Corporation’s affairs.
In consideration for services rendered pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Corporation pays the Administrator a monthly fee based on the Corporation’s net assets determined for such month. Through October 31, 2005, the fee was computed at the annual rate of one-half of one percent of the Corporation’s net assets on such assets up to U.S. $50,000,000, three-eighths of one percent on such assets from U.S. $50,000,001 to U.S. $100,000,000 and one-quarter of one percent on such assets over U.S. $100,000,000. Fees paid by the Corporation to the Administrator in this regard for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 were U.S. $ 1,553,660. Effective November 1, 2005, the fee schedule was reduced and, for at least the next nine years, the annual fee is computed at:
0.30% on the first $400 million of the total net assets;
0.20% on the next $600 million of the total net assets; and
0.15% on total net assets above $1 billion.
Fees paid to the Administrator in this regard for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 were U.S. $2,013,322.
Philip M. Spicer, Chairman and a director of the Corporation, is also President and a director of the Administrator. J.C. Stefan Spicer, President, CEO and a director of the Corporation, is also Assistant Secretary and a director of the Administrator. Catherine A. Spackman, CMA, Treasurer of the Corporation, is also Treasurer and a director of the Administrator. Dale R. Spackman, Q.C., Vice-Chairman and a director of the Corporation, is also Secretary and a director of the Administrator.
11
DIRECTORS’ APPROVAL
The contents and the sending of this Circular have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
DATED this 12th day of January, 2007.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
/s/ John S. Elder
JOHN S. ELDER, Q.C.
Secretary
12
EXHIBIT 99.2

