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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLD-010-19Clarftwn Clerk's Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: Council Date of Meeting: March 18, 2019 Report Number: CLD -010-19 File Number: Resolution: #C-110-19 By-law Number: Report Subject: Appointments of Independent Directors to EI Hxicon Holdco bmmend ations: 1. That Report CLD -010-19 be received; 2. That the draft resolution, Attachment 2 to Report CLD -010-19, regarding the nomination of Independent Directors and authorizing Clarington's representative to elect the Directors of Merged Holdco be approved; and 3. That all interested parties listed in Report CLD -010-19 and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Municipality of Clarington Report CLD -010-19 Report Overview Page 2 This report presents the independent directors as recommended by the Veridian Nominating Committee to be appointed to the new merged EI Hxicon Holdco Bodras per the Unanimous Shareholder Agreement (USA). 1. Background 1.1 At the June 11, 2018 Council meeting, Council considered Report CAO -005-18 and passed the following resolution: Resolution #C-199-18 Moved by Councillor Cooke, seconded by Councillor Woo That Report CAO -005-18 be received; and That Council pass the by-law attached to Report CAO -005-18 (Attachment 1) in order to approve the proposed amalgamations between (1) Veridian Corporation and Whitby Hydro Energy Corporation, and (2) Veridian Connections Inc. and Whitby Hydro Electric Corporation. This Report set out the terms and details of the Merger Agreement. By-law 2018-055 was enacted by Council on June 11, 2019, approving the merger of Veridian and Whitby Hydro. 1.2 On January 11, 2019, the Municipal Solicitor and the Municipal Clerk provided Members of Council with a detailed timeline regarding nominations for appointment to Veridian Board and Veridian Connections as well as the steps to be followed to appoint directors to the newly merged companies. 2. Discussion 2.1 The recommendation for appointment of independent directors to the Merged Holdo Board (Elexicon) is presented to Council for consideration as per the requirements of the USA and as per correspondence dated March 1, 2019 from Veridian (Attachment 1). 2.2 The list of independent directors includes the names of at least one individual who currently represents each of the municipal shareholders as follows: Ron Chatterton City of Pickering Jim Macpherson Town of Ajax Brian Mountford Municipality of Clarington Doug Parker City of Bellville Municipality of Clarington Page 3 Report CLD -010-19 The recommended motion for Council's consideration (see Attachment 2), contemplates that Council will nominate the Recommended "Clarington" Independent Director to the Board of Directors of the Merged Holdco for a two year term, nominate the other Independent Directors as chosen for nomination by the other municipal shareholders (ie. Clarington Council will support the other municipalities' nomination for their respective nominees), and will endorse the nominations identified by Whitby. 2.3 The Mayor has been nominated to serve as the Mayor (or mayor's designate) on the Merged Holdco Board, in accordance with the USA. This is consistent with the other municipal shareholders, where each Mayor has confirmed that he will stand as the nominated Director for their respective municipality, instead of a Mayor's designate. 2.4 It has been proposed that each municipal shareholder will nominate and authorize its CAO to take necessary actions in connection with the first shareholder meeting of Merged Holdco. These actions may include the election of the directors of the subsidiaries of Merged Holdco, setting the compensation of such directors and dealing with matters to be decided by the shareholders of Merged Holdco as contemplated in the MPA and the USA, and other actions necessary to effect the merger. Attachment 2 includes the proposed recommendation for Council's consideration to appoint Mr. Allison, CAO as Clarington's Authorized Representative to elect the directors of Merged Holdco and vote at a meeting of shareholders of Merged Holdco, to execute and deliver any necessary agreements, instruments, and any other necessary actions contemplated in the MPA or USA. 2.5 Veridian has indicated that they will be providing the Shareholders with an independent report respecting recommended compensation for Elexicon Directors. Upon receipt of the report from Veridian, the report will be provided to Members of Council under separate cover. 2.6 Aird & Berlis LLP has been providing advice and guidance on the merger process to the merger joint steering committee to ensure that each municipal shareholder correctly follows the appropriate corporate and municipal rules to form the Merged Holdco and the Merged LDC. 2.7 The target date for completion of the amalgamation is April 1, 2019. Municipality of Clarington Page 4 Resort CLD -010-19 3. Concurrence This report has been reviewed by the Municipal Solicitor who concurs with the recommendations. 4. Conclusion Based on the foregoing, and to fulfil Clarington's obligations set out in the MPA and USA, it is respectfully recommended that Council pass the recommendations as recommended by Veridian and included in this Report as Attachment 2. 5. Strategic Plan Application Not applicable. Submitted by:^� Reviewed by. C. nne AGreentree, B.A., CMO, Andrew C. Allison, B. Comm, LL.B Municipal Clerk CAO Staff Contact: Anne Greentree, Municipal Clerk, 905-623-3379 ext. 2102 or agreentree@clarington. net Attachments: Attachment 1: Correspondence from Veridian — March 1, 2019 Attachment 2: Draft resolution nomination of Independent Directors Attachment 3: Independent Compensation Report from Veridian (to be distributed under separate cover) List of interested parties to be notified of Council's decision is on file in the Clerk's Department. \\4f VERIDIAN C O R P O R A T I O N 55 Taunton Road East Ajax, ON UT 3V3 Tel: 905-427-9870 Ext.: 2200 Fax: 905-619-0210 email: tlaschuk@veridian.on.ca NOTICE OF RECOMMENDATION RE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS RESOLUTION 112019 -VCO2 March 1, 2019 BY ELECTRONIC DELIVERY To: The Corporation of the Town ofAjax, The Corporation of the City of Belleville, The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington, and The Corporation of the City of Pickering (together with The Corporation of the Town ofWhitby, collectively known as the "Municipal Shareholders") Re: Project Taunton: Recommendation of Appointment of Independent Directors Please be advised that the board of directors of Veridian Corporation pursuant to Section 3.2(c)(iii) of the form of Unanimous Shareholder Agreement attached to the Merger Participation Agreement between the Municipal Shareholders, Veridian Corporation and Whitby Hydro ( EFU FMRISR 3fiZ❑EAW 3CorporationsEmDEG_FF-4M.❑[RA-USDLWW G3hG1LDCCu:i❑FmR❑❑❑❑KH-FE recommends: Names of Independent Director Nominees Director Term Ron Chatterton Three year term Doug Parker Three year term Jim Macpherson Two year term Brian Mountford Two year term to be directors of the corporation to be formed by the amalgamation of the Corporations. Yours truly, Tanya Laschuk on behalf of the Board of Veridian Corporation. The power to make your community better. Veridian Connections is a wholly owned subsidiary of Veridian Corporation WHEREAS The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington ("Clarington") is a party to a Merger Participation Agreement dated July 10, 2018 (the "MPA') with respect to the amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") of Whitby Hydro Energy Corporation and Veridian Corporation to form Elexicon Corporation ("Merged Holdco"), to which is attached a form of Unanimous Shareholder Agreement (the "USA") to be executed and come into force as at the date of the Amalgamation; AND WHEREAS, under the USA, Clarington and the municipalities of Ajax, Belleville, and Pickering may nominate certain Independent Directors (as defined below) of Merged Holdco following receipt of a recommendation by the board of directors of Veridian Corporation; AND WHEREAS, Clarington has received such a recommendation; AND WHEREAS, under the USA, the municipality of Whitby may nominate certain Independent Directors (as defined below) of Merged Holdco following receipt of a recommendation by the board of directors of Whitby Hydro Energy Corporation; AND WHEREAS the USA defines an Independent Director in relation to a municipality, as an individual that, at the time of his or her appointment to a Board and throughout his or her term as a member of such Board is not: the Mayor of such municipality; a member of the municipal council of such municipality; a member of a "local board" (as defined in the Municipal Act, 2001) of such municipality; or an employee of such municipality or such local board; AND WHEREAS, under the USA, Clarington and the municipalities of Ajax, Belleville, Pickering, and Whitby shall each nominate one (1) director of Merged Holdco who shall, in the sole discretion of the Mayor of each municipality, be either the Mayor or the Mayor's Designate; AND WHEREAS Clarington has nominated its Mayor as a director of Merged Holdco; AND WHEREAS the above-mentioned nominees would, if elected, fulfill the requirements to be a directors of the Merged Holdco; BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. Clarington nominates Brian Mountford as an Independent Director to the Board of Directors of the Merged Holdco for a two year term, effective as at the date of the Amalgamation; 2. Clarington nominates as Independent Directors of Merged Holdco, the individuals chosen for nomination by each of Ajax, Belleville, and Pickering; 3. Clarington endorses the nominations to the Merged Holdco as are identified by Whitby pursuant to the USA; 4. the Chief Administrative Officer, or an individual designated by the Chief Administrative Officer, of Clarington (the "Authorized Representative") is authorized and directed, for and in the name of and on behalf of Clarington: a. to provide notice to the other parties to the MPA of these resolutions and to execute and deliver all such other agreements, amendments, instruments, certificates, resolutions and other documents, and to do all such other acts and things as the Authorized Representative may determine to be necessary or advisable in connection with the nomination and election of directors set out in paragraphs 1 2, and 3, the execution and delivery of any such agreement, amendment, instrument, certificate, resolution or other document or the doing of any such other act or thing by the Authorized Representative being conclusive evidence of such determination; and b. execute and deliver all such other agreements, amendments, instruments, certificates, resolutions and other documents, and to do all such other acts and things as the Authorized Representative may determine to be necessary or advisable in connection with the first shareholder meeting of Merged Holdco, including without limitation the election of the directors of the subsidiaries of Merged Holdco, setting the compensation of such directors and dealing with matters to be decided by the shareholders of Merged Holdco as contemplated in the MPA or USA, the execution and delivery of any such agreement, amendment, instrument, certificate, resolution or other document or the doing of any such other act or thing by the Authorized Representative being conclusive evidence of such determination. ron ClatVgtOR Memo If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Co-ordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131 To: Mayor Foster and Members of Council From: Andy Allison, CAO Date: March 15, 2019 Subject: Elexicon Attached please find a copy of an undated letter that was sent to me this morning by the Interim President & CEO of Veridian and the President & CEO of Whitby Hydro. The letter provideds their recommendations respecting compensation for directors of Elexicon Corp. Unless directed otherwise, my intention would be to support the recommendations contained in this letter at the inaugural shareholders' meeting for Elexicon on April 1, 2019 (as Clarington's authorized representative). Andy cc: Department Heads The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville ON 1-11C 3A6 1905-623-3379 $WWDFKPHQVWR5HSRUW&/' 0 elexicon s� CORP VERIDIAN �s C O R P O R A T 1 0 N Chief Administrative Officer Municipality of Clarington Dear: Mr. Allison Re: Elexicon Director Compensation We are pleased to provide you with our director compensation recommendations for the Elexicon group of companies. As you know, approval for these compensation arrangements ❑L®HIVRE] KV®ViWH®E] ❑.DW(NELFR®KDU­lKR(GHU/® HH%O , which has been scheduled for April 1St 2019. Our recommendations were prepared with the assistance of Korn Ferry; a reputable consulting firm with extensive experience in the field of compensation benchmarking. The recommendations address director compensation for the boards of directors of the following business units: Elexicon Corp. ❑the holding company with a board of directors comprised of 5 elected officials and 6 other members ®I®KLFK®LMBRSIGR❑LEMm'I-ILEHER❑ subsidiary boards). Elexicon Energy ❑the regulated subsidiary of Elexicon Corp. that will carry out the business of electricity distribution and which will be governed by a board of directors comprised of 7 members (2 non -elected members from Elexicon Corp. plus 5 others). :1 Elexicon Group ❑the unregulated subsidiary of Elexicon Corp. that will pursue competitive business opportunities and which will be governed by a board of directors comprised of 5 members (2 non -elected members from Elexicon Corp. plus 3 others). The following table summarizes our compensation recommendations for these businesses: Fee Category Amount Chair retainer $30,000 per year Director retainer ❑sin le board $16,500 per year Director retainer ❑dual board $20,000 per year Supplemental retainer ❑committee chair $3,500 per year Meeting fees $575 per meeting (i.e. all board and board committee meetin s These recommendations were determined through an assessment of the director compensation practices of seven municipally owned electricity distributors operating in the province of Ontario. They are: Alectra Utilities, Hydro Ottawa, London Hydro Inc., Kitchener - Wilmot Hydro Inc., Oakville Hydro, Waterloo North Hydro Inc. and ENWIN Utilities Ltd. The recommended compensation levels are targeted between the 50th and 75th percentile of this SHHIIDLREEIR DLNHV®KLFK=Ra4-V flEVUL\MEWHm-I®VILHME ERIT(6i❑IFRE=usiness operations within the group. The recommended compensation levels are not dissimilar to those currently in place for Veridian and Whitby Hydro. These are as follow: Legacy Organization Board Position Annual Retainer Meeting Fees2 Veridian4 Board Chair $31,827 $530 Board Member $13,261 / $16,4111 $530 Committee Chair none $1,0613 Whitby Hydros Board Chair $33,400 none Board Member $18,750 none Committee Chair $21,750 none 1. Veridian Corporation and Veridian Connections dual board members receive additional compensation 2. Veridian pays the Chair/Director incumbents meeting fees for all meetings in excess of four per year 3. Committee chairs are paid an enhanced meeting fee for meetings that they chair 4. Veridian director compensation was set based on the advice of an independent third party 5. Whitby Hydro director compensation was established by by-law, based on the average of compensation levels in place for Veridian and Oshawa PUC. We hope this information is helpful as you prepare for our shareholGHLVIEP HHV1® =01M® hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Regards, Rob Scarffe Interim President & CEO Veridian Corporation John Sanderson President & CEO Whitby Hydro Energy Corporation