SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the registrant /X/
Filed by a party other than the registrant |_|
Check the appropriate box:
/X/ Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)2))
/ / Definitive Proxy Statement
|_| Definitive Additional Materials
|_| Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14(a)-12
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
/X/ No fee required.
|_| Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
|_| Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|_| Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
<PAGE>
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE>
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the shareholders of
GST Telecommunications, Inc. (the "Company") will be held in the [ Hotel,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada], on March 4, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. for the following
purposes:
1. To set the number of directors for election at nine.
2. To elect directors to hold office until the next Annual
Meeting of the shareholders or until their successors are duly
elected or appointed.
3. To approve an amendment to the Company's 1996 Stock Option
Plan increasing the number of Common Shares that may be
subject to options granted under the Plan from 700,000 to
1,000,000 shares.
4. To approve the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan and to
authorize the directors to make such changes to such Plan as
may be required by the securities regulatory authorities or to
comply with applicable legislation without further shareholder
approval.
5. To approve the Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws and to
authorize the directors to make such changes to such Plan as
may be required to comply with applicable legislation without
further shareholder approval.
6. To approve the reservation for issuance of Common Shares
issuable upon conversion of the outstanding Series A
Preference Shares issued by the Company in a private
placement.
7. To appoint KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Certified Public
Accountants, to serve as auditors for the Company until the
next Annual Meeting of the shareholders and to authorize the
directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors.
8. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting.
Shareholders unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person are
requested to read the enclosed Proxy Circular and Proxy, and then complete and
deposit the Proxy together with the power of attorney or other authority, if
any, under which it was signed or a notarially certified copy thereof with the
Company's transfer agent, Montreal Trust Company of Canada, of 510 Burrard
Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3B9, at least 48 hours (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays) before the time of the meeting.
Unregistered shareholders who received the Proxy through an intermediary must
deliver the Proxy in accordance with the instructions given by such
intermediary.
<PAGE>
Only shareholders of record on the close of business on January [23],
1998 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
DATED at Vancouver, Washington, this 2nd day of February, 1998.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STEPHEN IRWIN
Vice-Chairman & Secretary
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING YOU ARE URGED TO FILL IN, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE THAT IS PROVIDED,
WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED
STATES OR CANADA.
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<PAGE>
Preliminary Copy
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
4001 MAIN STREET
VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON 98663
PROXY CIRCULAR FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS PROXY CIRCULAR CONTAINS INFORMATION AS AT JANUARY [23], 1998
PERSONS MAKING THIS SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
THIS PROXY CIRCULAR IS FURNISHED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF
PROXIES BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. (THE
"COMPANY") FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING (THE "MEETING") OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
THE COMPANY TO BE HELD IN THE [ ] HOTEL, [ ]
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ON MARCH 4, 1998 AT 11:00 A.M. AND FOR THE PURPOSES
SET FORTH IN THE ACCOMPANYING NOTICE OF MEETING, AND AT ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
It is expected that the solicitation will be primarily by mail. Proxies may also
be solicited personally by employees of the Company. The cost of solicitation
will be borne by the Company.
The approximate date of mailing of this Proxy Circular and the accompanying
proxy to shareholders is February 2, 1998.
COMPLETION AND VOTING OF PROXIES
Two or more persons holding or representing a total of five percent or
more of the Company's outstanding common shares, without par value (the "Common
Shares") is required for a quorum at the Meeting. Voting at the Meeting will be
by a show of hands, each shareholder having one vote, unless a poll is requested
or required (if the number of shares represented by proxies that are to be voted
against a motion is greater than five percent of the votes that could be cast at
the Meeting), in which case each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each
share held. In order to approve a motion proposed at the Meeting a majority of
greater than 50% of the votes cast will be required (an "ordinary resolution"),
unless the motion requires a special resolution, in which case a majority of
66-2/3% of the votes cast will be required.
The persons named in the accompanying Proxy as proxyholders are
directors or officers of the Company. A SHAREHOLDER OR AN INTERMEDIARY HOLDING
SHARES AND ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN UNREGISTERED SHAREHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO
APPOINT A PERSON OTHER THAN THE PERSONS NAMED IN THE PROXY AS PROXYHOLDERS
(WHICH PERSON NEED NOT BE A SHAREHOLDER) TO ATTEND AND ACT ON HIS BEHALF AT THE
MEETING. TO EXERCISE THIS RIGHT, THE SHAREHOLDER OR INTERMEDIARY MUST STRIKE OUT
THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS NAMED IN THE
<PAGE>
PROXY AS PROXYHOLDERS AND INSERT THE NAME OF HIS NOMINEE IN THE SPACE PROVIDED
OR COMPLETE ANOTHER PROXY.
A shareholder or intermediary acting on behalf of a shareholder may
indicate the manner in which the persons named in the enclosed Proxy are to vote
with respect to any matter by marking an "X" in the appropriate space. On any
poll required by virtue of either (i) shareholders who hold five percent or more
of the outstanding shares of the Company being represented at the Meeting by
proxies indicating that such shares are to be voted against a matter or (ii) a
shareholder or proxyholder requesting a poll, those persons will vote or
withhold from voting the shares in respect of which they are appointed in
accordance with the directions, if any, given in the Proxy provided such
directions are certain.
If the shareholder or intermediary acting on behalf of a shareholder
wishes to confer discretionary authority with respect to any matter, then the
space should be left blank. IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, THE PROXYHOLDER, IF ONE
PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INTENDS TO VOTE THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY
THE PROXY IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. The enclosed Proxy, when properly signed, also
confers discretionary authority with respect to amendments or variations to the
matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and with respect to other matters
that may be properly brought before the Meeting. At the time of printing this
Proxy Circular, the Board of Directors of the Company is not aware that any such
amendments, variations or other matters are to be presented for action at the
Meeting. If, however, other matters that are not now known to the Board of
Directors should properly come before the Meeting, the Proxies hereby solicited
will be exercised on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the
nominees.
The Proxy must be dated and signed by the intermediary acting on behalf
of a shareholder or by the shareholder or his attorney authorized in writing. In
the case of a corporation, the Proxy must be dated and executed under its
corporate seal or signed by a duly authorized officer or attorney for the
corporation.
COMPLETED PROXIES TOGETHER WITH THE POWER OF ATTORNEY OR OTHER
AUTHORITY, IF ANY, UNDER WHICH IT WAS SIGNED OR A NOTARIALLY CERTIFIED COPY
THEREOF, MUST BE DEPOSITED WITH THE COMPANY'S TRANSFER AGENT, MONTREAL TRUST
COMPANY OF CANADA, OF 510 BURRARD STREET, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, V6C 3B9,
AT LEAST 48 HOURS (EXCLUDING SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND STATUTORY HOLIDAYS) BEFORE
THE TIME OF THE MEETING. UNREGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS WHO RECEIVED THE PROXY
THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY MUST DELIVER THE PROXY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY SUCH INTERMEDIARY.
It is not intended to use the proxies for the purpose of voting on the
Company's audited financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal
year, the directors' reports or the auditors' report.
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<PAGE>
REVOCATION OF PROXIES
A shareholder or an intermediary acting on behalf of a shareholder who
has given a Proxy has the power to revoke it. Revocation can be effected by an
instrument in writing signed by the intermediary or shareholder or his attorney
authorized in writing, and, in the case of a corporation, executed under its
corporate seal or signed by a duly authorized officer or attorney for the
corporation and either delivered to the registered office of the Company at
Suite 1880, Royal Centre, 1055 West Georgia Street, Box 11122, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada V6E 3P3, at any time up to and including the last
business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, or
deposited with the Chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting, prior to
the hour of commencement.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None of the directors or senior officers of the Company, nor any person
who has held such a position since the beginning of the last completed fiscal
year of the Company, nor any proposed nominee for election as a director of the
Company, nor any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons, has any
substantial or material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial
ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the
Meeting (other than the election of directors) or the approval of the amendment
to the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "1996 Plan") and the approval of
the 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "1997 Plan") insofar as they have been or may be
granted options to purchase Common Shares pursuant to such plans.
VOTING SHARES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The Company has only one class of shares entitled to be voted at the
Meeting, namely, Common Shares. All issued shares are entitled to be voted at
the Meeting and the holder of each is entitled to one non-cumulative vote. There
were [34,564,898] Common Shares issued and outstanding as of January [23], 1998.
Only those common shareholders of record on January [23], 1998 will be
entitled to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The following table sets forth certain information as of January [23],
1998 with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Common Shares by (i) each
person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of five percent or more
thereof, (ii) each director of the Company, (iii) the Chief Executive Officer
and each of the five most highly compensated executive officers of the Company
other than the Chief Executive Officer and (iv) all executive officers and
directors as a group. Each of the named persons has sole voting and investment
power with respect to all Common Shares owned by him. All persons identified
below as holding options are deemed to be beneficial owners of the Common Shares
subject to such options by reason of their right to acquire such shares within
60 days after January [23], 1998, through the exercise of such options.
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND NATURE
OF BENEFICIAL
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(1) OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGE(2)
- --------------------------------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
John Warta........................................ 1,741,163(3) 5.0%
Tomen Corporation and affiliates.................. 1,826,057(4) 5.2%
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019
Clifford V. Sander................................ 426,100(5) 1.2%
Ian Watson........................................ 385,100 1.1%
Stephen Irwin..................................... 443,011(6) 1.3%
W. Gordon Blankstein.............................. 353,466(7) 1.0%
Thomas E. Sawyer.................................. 290,254(8) *
Robert H. Hanson.................................. 151,922(9) *
Peter E. Legault.................................. 129,806(10) *
Jack G. Armstrong................................. 52,500(11) *
Joseph A. Basile, Jr.............................. 100,000(12) *
Mitsuhiro Naoe.................................... --(13) --
Joseph G. Fogg, III............................... --(14) --
A. Roy Megarry.................................... -- --
Directors and Officers of the Company as a
Group (13) persons)........................... 4,144,322(15) 11.7%
</TABLE>
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* Less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each person or entity
listed is the Company's principal executive offices.
(2) Does not reflect the issuance of 500 Series A Preference Shares (the
"Series A Preference Shares") by the Company to an affiliate of Princes
Gate Investors II, L.P. ("Princes Gate") in a private placement in
February 1997 (the "Princes Gate Investment") or the subsequent
conversion of the Series A Preference Shares into Common Shares.
(3) Includes 191,666 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options. Does
not include 133,334 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of options
that are not exercisable until the market price of the Common Shares on
the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") reaches certain levels for
certain prescribed periods. See "-- Stock Option Plans."
(4) Includes 246,155 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants
held by Tomen Corporation and its affiliates (collectively, "Tomen").
(5) Includes 62,000 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options.
(6) Includes (i) 166,666 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options
and (ii) 200,000 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of an outstanding
warrant. Does not include (i) 133,334 Common Shares issuable upon the
exercise of options that are not exercisable until the closing price of
the Common Shares on the AMEX reaches certain levels for certain
prescribed periods. See "-- Stock Option Plans."
(7) Includes 66,666 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options. Does
not include 133,334 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of options
that are not exercisable until the closing price of the Common Shares
on the AMEX reaches certain levels for certain prescribed periods. See
"-- Stock Option Plans."
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<PAGE>
(8) Includes 71,250 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options.
(9) Includes 53,750 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options.
(10) Includes 43,750 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options.
(11) Includes 32,500 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options.
(12) Includes 100,000 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options. Does
not include 100,000 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of options
that are not exercisable until the closing price of the Common Shares
on the AMEX reaches certain levels for certain prescribed periods. See
"-- Employment and other Agreements."
(13) Does not include 1,826,057 Common Shares beneficially owned by Tomen.
(14) Does not include the Preference Shares beneficially owned by Princes
Gate.
(15) Includes an aggregate of 988,248 Common Shares issuable upon exercise
of options and warrants. Does not include 500,002 Common Shares
issuable upon the exercise of options that are not exercisable until
the market price of the Common Shares on the AMEX reaches certain
levels for certain prescribed periods.
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<PAGE>
PROPOSAL I - SETTING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS FOR ELECTION AT NINE
It is proposed to elect 9 directors at the Meeting. This requires the
number of directors to be set at 9 (subject to the Board's power to increase the
number of directors between annual general meetings by one-third of the number
of directors elected at the previous annual general meeting), which requires the
approval of the shareholders of the Company by an ordinary resolution, which
approval will be sought at the Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN
FAVOR OF SETTING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS FOR ELECTION AT NINE.
PROPOSAL II - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors proposes to nominate the persons named in the
following table for election as directors of the Company. Each director elected
will hold office until the next annual general meeting or until his successor is
duly elected or appointed, unless his office is earlier vacated in accordance
with the By-Laws of the Company or he becomes disqualified to act as a director.
The following information concerning each proposed nominee has been
furnished by such nominee.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Owned
Name and Present and Which Can
Present Position Principal Director Be Voted at the
With the Company AGE (1) Occupation(2) Since Meeting (3)
- ---------------- --- ---------- -------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
JOHN WARTA 50 Chairman of the March 30, 1995 1,549,497
Chairman of the Board, Board and Chief
Chief Executive Officer Executive Officer
and Director of the Company
STEPHEN IRWIN(7) 56 Vice-Chairman of September 21, 76,345
Vice-Chairman, the Board of the 1995
Secretary and Director Company;
Attorney, Olshan
Grundman Frome
& Rosenzweig
LLP
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
JOSEPH A. BASILE, JR. 42 President and September 9, 0
President, Chief Operating Chief Operating 1997
Officer and Director Officer of the
Company
THOMAS E. SAWYER 65 Chairman of the September 9, 209,004
Director Board Emeritus, 1997; (also
NACT Telecom- previously
munications, Inc., served from July
a subsidiary of the 22, 1995 to
Company [June 3, 1997])
("NACT")
PETER E. 53 Director and Vice- April 21, 1993 86,056
LEGAULT (5)(6) President,
Director Thomson
Kernaghan & Co.
Ltd. (Toronto
brokerage
firm)("Thomson
Kernaghan")
JACK G. 63 Chartered July 11, 1994 20,000
ARMSTRONG(4)(5)(6) Accountant;
Director President, J.G.
Armstrong
Consulting Inc.
(private financial
consulting
company)
JOSEPH G. FOGG, 50 Chairman and June 3, 1997 0
III(4)(6)(7) CEO of J.G. Fogg
Director & Co.
Incorporated
(private venture
capital firm)
A. ROY MEGARRY(5)(7) 60 Chairman of The September 9, 0
Director Globe and Mail 1997
(Canadian
newspaper)
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
MITSUHIRO NAOE(8) 64 Advisor to Tomen June 3, 1997 0
Director Electronics
Corporation;
President of Areal
Technologies, Inc.
</TABLE>
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(1) As of January [23], 1998.
(2) Includes occupations for preceding five years unless the director was
elected at the previous Annual General Meeting and was shown as a
nominee for election as a director in the Proxy Circular for that
meeting. For more information concerning each of the directors, see
"Directors and Executive Officers."
(3) The approximate number of shares of the Company carrying the right to
vote in all circumstances beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
or over which control or direction is exercised by each proposed
nominee as of January [23], 1998. Does not include shares that may be
acquired upon the exercise of stock options and warrants as follows:
John Warta -- 325,000 shares (of which only 125,000 shares may be
presently acquired as the remainder are subject to vesting), Stephen
Irwin -- 600,000 shares (of which only 366,666 shares may be presently
acquired as the remainder are subject to vesting), Thomas E. Sawyer --
90,000 shares (of which only 71,250 shares may be presently acquired as
the remainder are subject to vesting), Peter E. Legault -- 65,000
shares (of which only 43,750 shares may be presently acquired as the
remainder are subject to vesting), Jack G. Armstrong -- 50,000 shares
(of which only 30,000 shares may be presently acquired as the remainder
are subject to vesting) and Mitsuhiro Naoe, Joseph Fogg and A. Roy
Megarry -- 32,800 shares each (of which no shares may be presently
acquired as all are subject to vesting).
(4) Member of Finance Committee.
(5) Member of Audit Committee.
(6) Member of Compensation Committee.
(7) Member of the Nominating Committee.
(8) Pursuant to a master financing agreement by and among the Company, GST
Telecom Inc., a subsidiary of the Company ("GST Telecom"), Pacwest
Network, L.L.C. ("Pacwest") and Tomen (the "Tomen Master Agreement")
the Company agreed to nominate a representative of Tomen for election
to the Company's Board of Directors. Mitsuhiro Naoe is Tomen's
representative. See "Interest of Management and Insiders in Material
Transactions."
The Board of Directors met 13 times in the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997 ("Fiscal 1997"). Pursuant to the provisions of the CANADA BUSINESS
CORPORATIONS ACT, the Company is required to have an Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee, whose members are indicated above, met two times in Fiscal 1997. The
Audit Committee is charged with reviewing the Company's consolidated annual
fiscal statements and accounting policies, resolving potential conflicts of
interest, receiving and reviewing the recommendations of the Company's
independent auditors, and conferring with the Company's independent auditors
with respect to the training and supervision of internal accounting personnel
and the adequacy of internal accounting controls. The Company has a Compensation
Committee, whose members are indicated above, and which met three times in
Fiscal 1997. The Compensation Committee establishes the compensation policies of
the Company and recommends to the Board of Directors the compensation (including
stock options) for the Company's executive officers. See "Directors and
Executive Officers-Report on Executive Compensation." In addition, the Company
has a Finance Committee and a Nominating Committee.
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<PAGE>
Of the above persons, Peter E. Legault, A. Roy Megarry and Jack G.
Armstrong are ordinarily resident in Canada while John Warta, Stephen Irwin,
Joseph A. Basile, Jr., Thomas E. Sawyer and Joseph G. Fogg III are ordinarily
resident in the United States and Mitsuhiro Naoe is ordinarily resident in
Japan.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES.
The information set forth below regarding each executive officer who is
not a nominee for election as a director has been furnished by such executive
officer.
NAME AGE POSITION
DANIEL L. TRAMPUSH 50 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
CLIFFORD V. SANDER 60 Senior Vice President and Treasurer
ROBERT H. HANSON 56 Senior Vice President-- Corporate Development
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following information concerning each incumbent director nominated
for re-election and executive officers of the Company has been furnished by each
of them.
JOHN WARTA has been Chairman of the Board of the Company since March
1997 and has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company since March 1995. Mr.
Warta was President and a director of the Company from March 1995 to March 1997.
From June 1994 to April 1995, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer
of GST Telecom. Mr. Warta co-founded Electric Lightwave, Inc. ("ELI") in 1988,
which operates fiber optic competitive access networks in Portland, Oregon, Salt
Lake City, Utah, Sacramento, California, Phoenix, Arizona and Seattle,
Washington and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from June
1989 to June 1993. From June 1993 to June 1994, Mr. Warta was developing the
competitive access networks of Pacwest. From December 1986 to January 1988, he
was Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Corporate Development for
NorLight, a regional fiber optic carrier in the Midwest, and from August 1980 to
December 1986 he was Senior Vice President of The American Network Group, Inc.,
a long distance carrier. Prior employment included management positions with
Pacific Telecom, Inc. and Electronic Data Systems Corporation. Mr. Warta
attended Metropolitan State College, Denver, Colorado and completed Effective
Executive Training at the Wharton School of Business, University of
Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the Board of Regents, St. Mary's College,
California.
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<PAGE>
STEPHEN IRWIN has been Vice Chairman of the Board and a director of the
Company since September 1995 and has been the Secretary of the Company since
November 1992 and is a director of NACT. Mr. Irwin has been engaged by the
Company under a personal services agreement since October 1, 1995. Mr. Irwin is
an attorney specializing in corporate matters including finance, securities
regulation, international business and mergers and acquisitions, and has been of
counsel to the New York law firm of Olshan Grundman Frome & Rosenzweig LLP since
1990. Mr. Irwin was a senior partner in Greenberg, Irwin and Weisinger, a New
York law firm specializing in securities, business and corporate matters, from
1968 to 1990. He is a graduate of Cornell Law School.
JOSEPH A. BASILE, JR. has been President and Chief Operating Officer of
the Company since March 1997 and has been a director of the Company since
September 1997. From September 1995 to March 1997, Mr. Basile was Chief
Operating Officer of Cable and Wireless, Inc., a diversified telecommunications
company, and from September 1991 to September 1995, he was Senior Vice
President--Systems for Cable and Wireless. Mr. Basile has over 15 years
experience in the telecommunications industry and has held positions with
National Telephone Services, Inc. and MCI Communications Corporation. He holds a
B.S. in engineering from the United States Military Academy and an M.B.A. from
Golden Gate University.
THOMAS E. SAWYER has been a director of the Company since September
1997 and was a director of the Company from August 1995 to June 1997. Dr. Sawyer
has been a director of NACT since April 1997, was the Chairman of the Board
Emeritus of NACT from November 1996 to April 1997, was a director of NACT from
1982 to November 1996, the Chairman of the Board of NACT from October 1985 to
November 1996 and was the Chief Executive Officer of NACT from October 1988 to
March 1996. Dr. Sawyer has over 35 years of experience in information technology
industries and 23 years of experience in senior management of four
publicly-traded information technology firms. He holds an undergraduate degree
in engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles, an M.B.A. from
Occidental and a Ph.D. in management from Walden University.
PETER E. LEGAULT has been a director of the Company since April 1993.
Mr. Legault has been a director and Vice President of Thomson Kernaghan & Co.
Ltd., a member firm of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSE") and The Montreal
Exchange (the "ME"), since October 19, 1987. Mr. Legault is also a director of
Global. He is also President of Legault Investment Counsel Inc., a private
company providing research and advice to companies and individuals in the
communications industry. Prior to 1987, Mr. Legault was the President of
Pollitt, Legault & Co., a member of each of the TSE and the ME.
JACK G. ARMSTRONG has been a director of the Company since July 1994.
He has served as a principal of J.G. Armstrong Consulting, Inc., a consulting
firm offering corporate and financial consulting services to corporations,
municipalities and university related agencies since 1987. From 1977 to 1987, he
served as the Senior Vice President in charge of Finance at Alberta Energy
Company Ltd., an energy company. From 1969 to 1977, Mr. Armstrong served as Vice
President, Treasurer and Comptroller of Panarctic Oils Ltd., an oil company, and
from 1958 to
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<PAGE>
1969, as Chief Accountant of Triad Oil Co. Ltd., the Canadian exploration arm of
the British Petroleum Group. Mr. Armstrong is a chartered accountant.
JOSEPH G. FOGG, III has been a director of the Company since June 1997.
Mr. Fogg has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of J.G. Fogg & Co.
Incorporated, a private venture capital firm, since 1993. He has been affiliated
with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated since 1970 and has been an Advisory
Director since 1992. Mr. Fogg has been Co-Chairman of the Investment Committee
of Princes Gate since its inception.
A. ROY MEGARRY has been a director of the Company since September 1997.
He has been the Chairman of The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper
since 1993 and was the publisher of The Globe and Mail from 1978 to 1993. Mr.
Megarry is a director of Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Limited, The Bombay Company,
Inc., Publicitas Globe Media and the Inter American Press Association. He is
involved in Tools for Development, a third-world development program. Mr.
Megarry has a C.M.A. accounting degree and is a Fellow of the Society of
Management Accountants of Canada.
MITSUHIRO NAOE has been a director of the Company since June 1997. Mr.
Naoe has been the Advisor to the President of Tomen Electronics Corporation
since July 1995. He was the President and a director of Areal Technology, Inc.
from December 1992 to July 1994, the General Manager of the Steel Division of
Tomen from March to December 1992, the Vice President and a Director of Coil
Center Corporation from July 1989 to March 1992. From 1957 to 1989, Mr. Naoe was
affiliated with Tomen.
DANIEL L. TRAMPUSH has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company since March 1997. From 1980 to February 1997, Mr.
Trampush was a Partner with the telecommunications consulting practice of Ernst
& Young LLP. Mr. Trampush has over 26 years of experience providing financial
and business advisory services to the telecommunications industry.
CLIFFORD V. SANDER has been Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the
Company since March 1995 and is a director of NACT. He has also been the
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GST Telecom since June
1994. From 1962 to 1994, Mr. Sander was in private accounting practice in
Portland, Oregon. He was acting Chief Financial Officer of ELI during its
formation in 1988 and continued to provide accounting and financial consulting
services to ELI through 1993. Mr. Sander is a Certified Public Accountant.
ROBERT H. HANSON has been a director of the Company since February 1993
and was appointed Senior Vice President -- Corporate Development in October 1993
and served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company from July 1994 until March
1997. Mr. Hanson has over 20 years of experience in rendering investment banking
services to the telecommunications industry. From 1965 to 1990, Mr. Hanson was
associated with the investment banking and capital markets division of Merrill
Lynch & Co., Inc., since 1971 as Vice President. From 1990 to 1991, he was
affiliated with Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. and from August 1991 until September
1993, he was
-11-
<PAGE>
Vice President and Branch Manager of the Cody, Wyoming office of D.A. Davidson &
Co., a regional securities firm with headquarters in Great Falls, Montana. Mr.
Hanson is a graduate of Yale University.
REMUNERATION OF MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION SUMMARY
The following table discloses the compensation paid by the Company and
its subsidiaries during the previous three fiscal years to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and the five next highest paid executive officers. Unless
otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts indicated in this Proxy Circular are in
United States dollars.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
Annual Compensation Long Term Compensation
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------
Awards Payouts
------------------------------------------------
Securities
Restricted Underlying
Name and Other Annual Shares or Options/ All Other
Principal Compensation Restricted SARs Granted LTIP Compen-
Position Year Salary Bonus (1) Share Units (#) Payouts sation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John M 1997 237,603 147,000 349,976(2) -- -- -- 431,625(3)
Warta, Chief 1996 200,000 120,000 156,000(2) -- 200,000 -- 105,417(3)
Executive 1995 126,667 86,700 200,304(4) -- 85,000 -- --
Officer
Joseph A 1997 139,041 -- -- -- 450,000 -- 304,427(3)
Basile, 1996 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
President 1995 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
W. Gordon 1997 190,000 -- 1,985,000(6) -- -- -- 431,625(3)
Blankstein, 1996 190,000 -- -- -- 200,000 -- 105,417(3)
Chairman(5) 1995 125,833 -- 20,000(7) -- 85,000 -- --
Stephen 1997 280,000 -- -- -- -- -- 431,625(3)
Irwin, 1996 280,000 -- -- -- 500,000 -- 105,417(3)
Vice 1995 -- -- -- -- 100,000 -- --
Chairman
Clifford V 1997 142,438 -- 87,494(2) -- -- -- 12,250(8)
Sander, 1996 120,000 -- 39,000(2) -- 28,000 -- 5,104(8)
Senior V.P 1995 101,667 -- 65,076(9) -- 35,000 -- --
and
Treasurer
Thomas E 1997 156,800 -- 23,237(10) -- 100,000(11) -- 2,188(8)
Sawyer, 1996 222,556 2,066 5,608(12) -- 5,000 -- 5,403(13)
Chief 1995 136,000 2,200 172,037(14) -- 120,000 -- 4,366(15)
Technology
Officer
</TABLE>
-12-
<PAGE>
(1) Excludes certain perquisites that do not exceed the lesser of $50,000
or 10% of the named executive officer's aggregate salary and bonus.
(2) Represents a fee for money borrowed and equity purchased under the
Tomen Master Agreement (the "Pacwest Fee"). See "Interest of Management
and Insiders in Material Transactions."
(3) Represents an accrual of compensation cost for options vesting based on
share price performance.
(4) Includes (i) 5,000 Common Shares valued at $4.00 per share issued as
consideration for such officers' guarantee of certain indebtedness of
the Company, which indebtedness was subsequently repaid (the "Guaranty
Shares") and (ii) $180,304 in payments on account of the Pacwest Fee.
(5) Mr. Blankstein served as the Company's Chairman until March 1997.
(6) Represents the difference between the price paid by Mr. Blankstein for
200,000 Common Shares and the market value of such shares at the time
of their release from escrow. These shares had been held in escrow
since 1990, their release being subject to a formula adopted by the
Vancouver Sock Exchange (the "VSE"). The shares were issued to provide
incentive in the development of the Company's business and were
released from escrow in September 1997.
(7) Represents Guaranty Shares.
(8) Represents an accrual of compensation cost for options granted at below
the market price of the Company's Common Shares on the date of grant.
(9) Includes the Guaranty Shares and $45,076 in payments on account of the
Pacwest Fee.
(10) Represents (i) $5,250 for board member fees and (ii) $17,897 for NACT
board member fees.
(11) Includes options to purchase 85,000 NACT common shares.
(12) Represents payments made pursuant to NACT's profit sharing plan.
(13) Represents (i) $4,492 in matching contributions by NACT to its 401(k)
Plan (the "NACT 401(k) Plan") and (ii) $911 in accrued compensation
cost for options granted at below the market price of the Company's
Common Shares on the date of grant.
(14) Represents (i) $151,365 accrued in respect of an annuity purchased for
Dr. Sawyer, which is based upon compensation due to Dr. Sawyer in prior
years and deferred by him at the Company's request and (ii) $20,672 in
payments made pursuant to NACT's profit sharing plan.
(15) Represents matching contributions by NACT to the NACT 401(k) Plan.
EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
JOHN WARTA is employed by GST USA, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company
("GST USA") and GST Telecom pursuant to an employment agreement dated as of
March 1, 1994 and amended effective September 1, 1995, for a term ending on
February 28, 1999. The agreement provides for an initial base salary of $120,000
annually (which was increased to $315,000 annually effective January 1, 1998)
and incentive compensation as awarded by the Board of Directors of the Company
from time to time. In the event of Mr. Warta's death while employed by the
Company, the agreement provides for a payment of one and a half times his then
current base annual salary, over a period of one and a half years, to his
designated beneficiary. In the event of his disability, Mr. Warta is to receive
the full amount of his base salary for six months. If such six month period ends
prior to February 28, 1999, he is to receive salary at a rate of one-half his
then current base salary for a further period ending on the earlier of one year
thereafter or February 28, 1999. The agreement contains covenants restricting
Mr. Warta's ability to engage in activities competitive with those of the
Company for a period ending on the earlier of two years after his termination or
February 28, 2000. Upon a change of control of the Company that results in Mr.
Warta's removal from the Company's Board of Directors, a significant change in
the conditions of his employment or other breach of the agreement, he is to
receive liquidated damages equal to 2.99 times the "base amount," as defined in
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), of his compensation.
-13-
<PAGE>
STEPHEN IRWIN and GST USA and GST Telecom are parties to a personal
services agreement for a term commencing on October 1, 1995 and ending on
February 28, 1999, providing, among other things, that (i) Mr. Irwin shall
devote approximately one-half of his working time rendering services to the
Company, (ii) in consideration for such services and in lieu of billing legal
services directly or through a law firm, Mr. Irwin shall receive a retainer of
$280,000 per annum or such greater amount as may be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, payable in equal semi-monthly installments and (iii)
Mr. Irwin is entitled to such benefits as are available to senior executive
officers of the Company and GST USA and to a payment upon a change of control
and subsequent breach by the Company of the agreement in accordance with the
formula described above for John Warta. In connection therewith, the Company
issued to Mr. Irwin a five year warrant to purchase 300,000 Common Shares at a
price of $6.75 per share. Such warrant became exercisable as to 100,000 Common
Shares on October 1, 1996 and 100,000 Common Shares on October 1, 1997 and will
become exercisable as to the remainder of such Common Shares on October 1, 1998.
JOSEPH BASILE, JR. is employed by GST USA pursuant to an employment
agreement effective March 11, 1997 for a five-year term. The agreement provides
for a base salary of $250,000 per annum, incentive compensation annually (not to
exceed 60% of base salary) based upon the achievement by the Company of
predetermined performance objectives and the reimbursement of relocation
expenses. The agreement further provides for payments in the event of death or
disability on the same terms as those provided in Mr. Warta's agreement and
restricts Mr. Basile's ability to engage in activities competitive with those of
the Company. Mr. Basile has been granted options to purchase an aggregate of
450,000 Common Shares as follows: (i) the first option, with respect to 150,000
Common Shares (the "Firm Option"), is exercisable in three equal annual
installments commencing one year after grant; (ii) the second option (the
"Trading Price Option"), with respect to 150,000 Common Shares, is exercisable
in one-third increments at such time as the closing price of the Common Shares
exceeds $13.75, $16.50 and $20.00 per share, respectively, for 20 consecutive
trading days, but in no event earlier than the first, second and third
anniversary of the date of grant, respectively, and (iii) the third option (the
"Performance Option"), with respect to 150,000 Common Shares, may be exercised
in the same installments as the Firm Option, provided that the Company has
achieved the predetermined performance objectives referred to above. In the
event of a change of control, (i) the Firm Option and Performance Option become
exercisable in full, and (ii) the Trading Price Option becomes exercisable as to
those portions thereof the exercise of which is predicated upon the attainment
of trading price levels not greater than the valuation accorded the Common
Shares in the transaction resulting in the change of control (and if no value is
accorded the Common Shares in the change of control transaction, the Trading
Price Option becomes exercisable in full). In addition, pursuant to the
agreement, the Company loaned $100,000 to Mr. Basile to enable him to purchase a
new primary residence in the Vancouver, Washington area. See "Interest of
Management and Insiders in Material Transactions."
DANIEL TRAMPUSH is employed by GST USA and GST Telecom pursuant to an
employment agreement effective March 3, 1997 for a three-year term. The
agreement provides for a base salary of $240,000 per annum, the reimbursement of
relocation expenses and for payments in the event of death or disability on the
same terms as those provided in Mr. Warta's agreement. The agreement restricts
Mr. Trampush's ability to engage in activities competitive with those of the
Company. Mr. Trampush has been granted options to purchase an aggregate of
100,000 Common Shares (the "Initial Option") exercisable in three equal annual
installments commencing one year after grant. He is also eligible for the grant
annually of options (the "Performance Options") with respect to that number of
Common Shares as is determined by the Compensation Committee based upon his
performance under the agreement with respect
-14-
<PAGE>
to criteria set forth in the agreement. In the event of a change of control, (i)
the Initial Option becomes exercisable in full, and (ii) Mr. Trampush would be
eligible to receive additional Performance Options or a cash payment in lieu
thereof.
CLIFFORD V. SANDER and GST Telecom entered into an employment agreement
effective as of March 1, 1994, on terms substantially similar to those of Mr.
Warta's employment agreement. Mr. Sander's agreement provides for his employment
by GST Telecom as its Chief Financial Officer at an initial base salary of
$100,000 annually, which was increased to $150,000 effective January 1, 1997.
ROBERT H. HANSON is employed by GST USA pursuant to an employment
agreement effective as of August 1, 1994 on terms substantially similar to those
contained in Mr. Warta's employment agreement. Mr. Hanson's agreement provides
for an initial base salary of $100,000 annually, which was increased to $150,000
effective June 18, 1997.
IAN WATSON is employed by GST USA as a Vice-President pursuant to an
employment agreement effective as of October 1, 1995 for a term ending on
September 30, 1998. The agreement provides for a salary of $120,000 for the
first year of the agreement, $50,000 for the second year of the agreement and
$10,000 for the third year of the agreement. The agreement contains covenants
restricting Mr. Watson's ability to engage in activities competitive with those
of the Company during the term of his employment and for two years thereafter if
he is terminated for "cause" or he voluntarily terminates his employment for any
reason other than a breach by GST USA of the agreement.
The Company is a party to a consulting agreement with Sunwest Ventures
Ltd. ("Sunwest"), a private company of which W. Gordon Blankstein, a director of
the Company, is a principal, for a term commencing on December 30, 1994 and
ending on February 28, 1999 pursuant to which Sunwest (through Mr. Blankstein)
is to provide consulting services to the Company, on terms substantially the
same as those contained in Mr. Warta's employment agreement, for an annual base
payment to Sunwest of $190,000, plus increases as determined by the Board.
PENSION PLANS
During the year ended September 30, 1995, GST USA adopted a defined
contribution 401 (k) plan (the "GST USA 401(k) Plan") in accordance with the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Employees are eligible
to participate in the GST USA 401(k) Plan upon commencement of service provided
they are over 21 years of age. Participants may defer up to 20% of eligible
compensation. Currently, the Company does not provide matching contributions
under the GST USA 401(k) Plan.
The NACT 401(k) Plan, which is available to all employees of NACT who
have attained the age of 21. Such eligible employees may elect to defer any
percentage of their current salary subject to a maximum of 15% or the statutory
maximum ($9,500 in 1997), whichever is the lesser. The maximum salary that can
be considered for compensation purposes is $150,000 per year. NACT matches the
deferrals of its employees to the extent of 50% of such deferrals, up to a
maximum of 7.5% of the annual compensation of such employees. During Fiscal 1997
NACT contributed $88,361 to the NACT 401(k) Plan.
-15-
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Effective February 24, 1997, each director who is not an employee or
does not provide consulting or personal services to the Company is paid a
directors fee of $15,000 per annum, plus $1,500 per board meeting physically
attended. Each such director is also paid an annual fee of $2,500 for membership
on each committee of the board to which he is appointed. At the time of
commencement of services each such director is granted an option to purchase
15,000 Common Shares (the "Directors' Initial Options") and an option to
purchase 10,000 Common Shares (the "Directors' Additional Options" and together
with the Directors' Initial Options, the "Directors' Options") for each
additional year such person serves as a director of the Company. The Directors'
Options are exercisable at the closing price of the Common Shares on the AMEX on
the trading day immediately prior to the date of grant. Initial Directors'
Options vest in full one year after the date of grant and Additional Directors'
Options vest in full on the date of their grant.
DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE
The Company currently has four insurance policies insuring the
directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries against any liability
incurred by them in the course of acting as a director or officer. The first
policy is for a maximum amount of $5 million and has a $325,000 deductible. The
second policy is also for a maximum amount of $5 million which becomes payable
only if the first policy has been fully utilized. The third policy is also for a
maximum amount of $5 million which becomes payable only if the first two
policies have been fully utilized. The fourth policy is for a maximum amount of
$10 million which becomes payable only if the first three policies have been
fully utilized. The annual premium for these four policies is $422,000. The
insurance does not cover a director or officer in instances in which liability
relates to such director's or officer's failure to act honestly and in good
faith with a view to the best interests of the Company.
Before the four current policies were in force, the Company maintained
three directors' and officers' liability insurance policies in the aggregate
amount of $15 million for an annual premium of approximately $474,625.
STOCK OPTION PLANS
In January 1995, the Company adopted its 1995 Stock Option Plan (the
"1995 Plan"). The 1995 Plan is administered by a committee (the "Committee")
appointed by the Board of Directors. The Committee is authorized to grant (i)
options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options ("Incentive
Options") within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code to employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries (as defined therein), and (ii) options not intended
to so qualify ("Nonqualified Options," and together with the Incentive Options,
the "Options"). On September 21, 1995, the Board of Directors increased to
1,750,000 the total number of Common Shares for which Options may be granted
under the 1995 Plan.
The Committee has the power and authority to designate recipients of
the Options, to determine the terms and conditions of the Options and to
interpret the provisions of the 1995 Plan.
The exercise price of all Options granted under the 1995 Plan must be
at least equal to the fair market value of such shares on the trading day
immediately prior to the date of grant. With respect to any recipient who owns
more than 10% of the voting rights of the Company's outstanding capital stock,
the exercise price of any Incentive Option must be not less than 110% of the
fair market value on the date such options are granted. The maximum term of each
Option granted pursuant to the 1995 Plan is five
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<PAGE>
years. Options shall become exercisable at such times and in such installments
as the Committee shall provide in the terms of each individual Option.
On January 5, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted, and
on February 15, 1996, the Company's shareholders approved, the 1996 Stock Option
Plan (the "1996 Plan"), which is substantially identical to the 1995 Plan. In
January 1997, the Board of Directors increased the number of Common Shares
reserved for issuance under the 1996 Plan from 400,000 to 700,000 shares and, in
March 1997, the Company's shareholders approved such increase. In September
1997, the Board of Directors increased the number of Common Shares reserved for
issuance under the 1996 Plan to 1,000,000, subject to shareholder approval.
At September 30, 1997, options to purchase an aggregate of 2,264,784
Common Shares were outstanding under the 1995 Plan and 1996 Plan, approximately
163,000 of such options are subject to shareholder approval. See "Proposal III
- -- Amending the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan by Increasing the Number of
Common Shares that may be Subject to Options Granted under the 1996 Plan from
700,000 to 1,000,000 Shares."
In October 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company established, and
on February 15, 1996, the Company's shareholders approved, the 1996 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"), pursuant to which, effective July 1,
1996, employees of the Company may deduct up to 10% of their respective wages
over a six month period (to a maximum of $12,500) to purchase Common Shares. The
maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Purchase Plan
is 500,000. At October 31, 1997, 151,500 Common Shares had been issued under the
Purchase Plan.
On May 8, 1996, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
adopted two additional stock options plans, the 1996 Senior Executive Officer
Stock Option Plan (the "Executive Plan") and the 1996 Senior Operating Officer
Stock Option Plan (the "Operating Officer Plan"). The Executive Plan provides
for the grant of Options to purchase up to 600,000 Common Shares to senior
executive officers of the Company. The Company has granted six-year Options to
purchase 200,000 Common Shares to each of Messrs. Warta, Irwin and Blankstein at
an exercise price of $10.00 per share. Each of the Options may be exercised as
to one-third of the shares covered thereby following a period of 20 consecutive
trading days during which the closing sale price of the Common Shares on the
AMEX has been at least $13.75, as to a further one-third of such shares
following a period of 20 consecutive trading days during which the closing sale
price of the Common Shares on the AMEX has been at least $16.50, and as to the
remaining one-third of such shares following a period of 20 consecutive trading
days during which the closing sale price of the Common Shares on the AMEX has
been at least $20.00.
The Operating Officer Plan provides for the grant of Options to
purchase up to 900,000 Common Shares to operating management and directors of
the Company and its subsidiaries. At September 30, 1997, Options to purchase
889,750 Common Shares were outstanding under the Operating Officer Plan.
On December 16, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted,
subject to shareholder approval, the 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "1997 Plan"),
which is substantially the same as the 1996 Plan except that the 1997 Plan is
intended to satisfy the performance-based compensation exception to the
limitation on the Company's tax deductions imposed by Section 162(m) of the
Code. There are 1,000,000 Common Shares reserved for issuance under the 1997
Plan and as of January [23], 1998 no options had been granted under the 1997
Plan. See "Proposal IV -- Approving the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan."
-17-
<PAGE>
Thomas Sawyer has been granted options to purchase 85,000 shares of the
common stock of NACT at an exercise price of $9.35 per share expiring on
November 25, 2001.
The following table discloses the particulars of options to purchase
Common Shares or stock appreciation rights ("SARs") granted by the Company
during Fiscal 1997 to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the six next
highest paid executive officers:
OPTION/SAR GRANTS DURING THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Price Appreciation for
Individual Grants Option Term(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
% of Total
Options/SARs
Securities Under Granted to Exercise or
Options/SARs Employees in Base Price Expira-
Name Granted (#) Fiscal Year (Security) tion Date 5% 10%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph A. 150,000(2)/-- 10.1%/-- 10.00 2/2/02 414,422 915,765
Basile, 150,000(3)/-- 10.1%/-- 10.00 2/2/02 414,422 915,765
President 150,000(4)/-- 10.1%/-- 10.00 2/2/02 414,422 915,765
Thomas E. 15,000(5)/-- 1.0%/-- 9.75 9/8/02 41,442 91,577
Sawyer, Chief 60,000(6)/-- 6.4%(7)/-- 9.35 11/25/01 154,994 342,496
Technology 25,000(8)/-- 2.7%(7)/-- 9.35 11/25/01 64,581 142,707
Officer
</TABLE>
- -----------------------
(1) The potential realizable portion of the foregoing table illustrates
value that might be realized upon exercise of options immediately prior
to the expiration of their term, assuming (for illustrative purposes
only) the specified compounded rates of appreciation of the Common
Shares over the term of the option. These numbers do not take into
account provisions providing for the termination of the option
following termination of employment, nontransferability or difference
in vesting terms.
(2) Options vest in one-third increments at such time as the market value
of the Company's Common Shares trade above $13.75, $16.50, and $20.00
per share, respectively, for 20 consecutive trading days. See
"Directors and Executive Officers--Employment and other Agreements."
(3) Options vest over three years, provided that the Company has achieved
certain performance objectives. See "Directors and Executive
Officers--Employment and other Agreements."
(4) Options vest over three years. (5) Options vest in September 1998.
(6) Represents options to purchase NACT common shares, which become
exercisable in November 1998.
(7) Based on the number of grants to NACT employees to purchase NACT common
shares.
(8) Represent options to purchase NACT common shares, which became
exercisable in September 1997.
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<PAGE>
The following table discloses the particulars of stock options
exercised during Fiscal 1997 by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the
six next highest paid executive officers and of stock options held by such
persons at the end of Fiscal 1997.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES
DURING THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED
FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Securities Acquired Aggregate Value No. of Common Value of Unexercised
on Exercise (#) Realized Shares Underlying in the Money
Unexercised Options/SARs at FY-
Options/SARs at End(1)
FY-End (#)
Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Unexercisable Unexercisable
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John Warta, Chief -- -- 125,000/200,000 937,188/737,500
Executive Officer
Joseph A. Basile, -- -- 0/450,000 0/1,659,375
President
W. Gordon 177,500 520,938 0/200,000 0/737,500
Blankstein,
Chairman
Stephen Irwin, 15,000 56,250 200,000/400,000 1,387,500/2,125,000
Vice Chairman
Clifford V. Sander, -- -- 62,000/21,000 442,375/77,438
Sr. V.P
Thomas E. Sawyer, 75,000 423,125 81,250/18,750 583,359/72,891
Chief Technology 25,000/60,000(2) 161,563/387,750(2)
Officer
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Represents the total gain which would be realized if all in-the-money
options held at September 30, 1997 were exercised, determined by
multiplying the number of shares underlying the options by the
difference between the per share option exercise price and the fair
market value of $13.69 per share ($15.81 per share for NACT common
shares) at September 30, 1997. An option is in-the-money if the fair
market value of the underlying shares exceeds the exercise price of the
option.
(2) Represents options to purchase common stock of NACT.
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<PAGE>
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
On May 5, 1997, the Company loaned $100,000 to Joseph Basile, the
President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Company, to enable him
to purchase a new primary residence in the Vancouver, Washington area. The loan
matures on March 11, 2000, accrues interest at a rate of 6% per annum and is to
be prepaid to the extent of the proceeds from the sale of Mr. Basile's former
residence and from the sale of Common Shares acquired upon exercise of options
held by Mr. Basile. Such loan was made pursuant to the terms of his employment
agreement with the Company, which was approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
During Fiscal 1997 the compensation of the Company's senior management
was determined by a Compensation Committee presently consisting of Joseph G.
Fogg, III (Committee Chairman), Peter E. Legault and Jack G. Armstrong. Mr. Fogg
replaced Ian Watson as a member of the Compensation Committee on September 9,
1997.
None of the members of the Compensation Committee are executive
officers of the Company. However, Thomson Kernaghan & Co. Ltd., a firm of which
Mr. Legault is a director and Vice President, which was engaged by the Company
during Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1997 to solicit sources of financing for the
Company, and was one of the placement agents for the Company's sale of special
warrants in October 1996. In connection with such services, such firm received
fees of approximately $500,000 during Fiscal 1997.
REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
The Compensation Committee is responsible for developing and making
recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the Company's
executive compensation and stock option policies and practices. In addition, the
Compensation Committee determines the compensation to be paid to the Chief
Executive Officer and each of the other executive officers of the Company.
The Company's executive compensation programs are designed to enhance
the value of the Company to its shareholders. This is accomplished through
policies and practices that facilitate the achievement of the Company's
performance objectives, provide compensation that will attract and retain the
superior talent required by the Company's aggressive goals and align the
executive officers' interests with the interests of the Company's shareholders.
The Company's approach to executive compensation, as implemented by the
Compensation Committee, has been designed to provide a competitive compensation
program that will enable the Company to attract, motivate, reward and retain
individuals who possess the skills, experience and talents necessary to advance
the growth and financial performance of the Company. The Company's compensation
policies are based on the principle that each executive's financial rewards
should be aligned with the financial interests of the shareholders of the
Company. The Compensation Committee also believes that the potential for equity
ownership by management is beneficial in aligning management's and shareholders'
interest in the enhancement of shareholder value. The Company's executive
compensation has three key elements: (i) a long-term component consisting of
stock options and participation in the Company's Stock Purchase Plan, (ii) an
annual component, i.e., base salary, with more emphasis being placed on the
long-term component than on the annual component and (iii) performance-
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based compensation consisting of stock options and/or cash compensation. The
Company has not established a policy with regard to Section 162(m) of the Code,
because the Company has not to date paid compensation in excess of $1 million
per annum to any employee.
SALARIES
Base salaries for the Company's executive officers are determined
initially by evaluating the responsibilities associated with the position held
and the experience of the individual, and by reference to the competitive
marketplace for management talent, including a comparison of base salaries for
comparable positions at comparable companies within the Company's industry.
Adjustments in salary and performance-based bonuses in addition to base salary
are determined by evaluating the competitive marketplace, the performance of the
Company, the performance of the executive officer, particularly with respect to
the ability to manage growth of the Company, and any increased responsibilities
assumed by the executive officer. As long term compensation such as stock
options is the most important component of the compensation package, much
consideration is given to the stock options held by such executive officers in
determining their cash remuneration. The Company has employment agreements with
each of Messrs. Warta, Sander, Hanson, Basile and Trampush, a consulting
agreement with an entity controlled by Mr. Blankstein and a personal services
agreement with Mr. Irwin, which initially set the base salaries/retainer for
such individuals.
ANNUAL BONUSES AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company from time to time considers the payment of bonuses and
incentive compensation to its executive officers. Most of the incentive
compensation and bonuses are determined in accordance with the terms of the
executive officer's respective employment agreement. See "-- Employment
Agreements." With respect to the Company's executive officers, bonuses are
determined annually by the Compensation Committee and are generally based upon
the level of achievement by the Company of its strategic and operating goals and
upon the level of personal achievement by such executive officers.
COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
In addition, with respect to the determination of the Chief Executive
Officer's compensation, the Compensation Committee made comparisons to other
companies in the telecommunications industry carrying on businesses similar to
those of the Company, in particular the business of competitive local exchange
carriers. The consideration accounted for approximately 50% of the determination
of the Chief Executive Officer's salary. The other 50% was based on the
Compensation Committee's determination of what level of remuneration was
necessary to attract and retain people having the experience and ability of the
Company's Chief Executive Officer.
STOCK OPTION PLANS
The Option Plans contribute to the Company's ability to attract and
retain the best available personnel. It is the philosophy of the Compensation
Committee to tie a significant portion of an executive's total opportunity for
financial gain to increases in the value of the Common Shares. In the belief
that employees who have a proprietary interest in the Company will focus on its
long term success and on building shareholder wealth, the Compensation Committee
uses the Option Plans as a basis to create a foundation for the long term growth
of the Company and increased shareholder value by providing executive officers
and key employees with an opportunity to obtain and build a meaningful stake in
the Company's future. In adherence to this philosophy, the Compensation
Committee has recommended
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to the Board of Directors that the number of shares available for the grant of
options under the 1996 Plan be increased and that the 1997 Plan be approved.
All employees, including executive officers and part-time employees,
consultants, advisors and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries are
eligible for grants of stock options pursuant to one or more of the Option
Plans. During each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee grants stock options
to employees, including executive officers, who are recommended by management as
being in a position to continue to contribute to the Company's growth and
profitability. The number of options granted to a particular employee is based
on management's assessment of his performance and contribution. Options have
been granted to key employees at all levels of the Company's management. The
ultimate value of the options, if any, depends on the extent to which Common
Shares appreciate in market value.
The Compensation Committee granted options to Joseph A. Basile during
Fiscal 1997. The size of such awards to Mr. Basile was based generally on the
factors described in the "Salaries" paragraph above. In addition, the
Compensation Committee considered the extensive nature and significance of
services to be rendered by Mr. Basile as well as his seasoned managerial skills.
Joseph G. Fogg III Jack G. Armstrong Peter Legault
Committee Chairman Director Director
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the
cumulative total shareholder return on the Common Shares (being the percentage
increase (or decrease) in the trading price of the Common Shares on a yearly
basis based on an investment in the Common Shares on September 22, 1992 (the
last date on which the Common Shares traded prior to entering into the
telecommunications business)) with the cumulative total shareholder return of
the AMEX Market Value Index and with a telephone (other than radio telephone)
communication industry index (which is shown on the graph as the SIC Code
Index). The Common Shares did not trade on the AMEX until March 11, 1994 and
before that time were traded only on the VSE -- initially in Canadian dollars
and on and after March 9, 1995 in U.S. dollars. For comparison purposes it is
assumed that $100 had been invested in the Common Shares and in the securities
contained in such indices on September 22, 1992. For the purposes of this graph,
Canadian dollars have been converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of Cdn.$1.00
= $0.75.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
AMEX MARKET INDEX AND SIC CODE INDEX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPANY 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
GST TELECOMMUN 100 611.11 712.50 962.96 1685.93 2028.15
INDUSTRY INDEX 100 132.53 131.76 150.76 150.64 196.73
BROAD MARKET 100 116.64 119.50 143.98 149.86 182.23
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1992
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND INSIDERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
None of the directors or officers of the Company, nor any proposed
nominee for election as a director of the Company, nor any person who
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, shares carrying more than 10% of the
voting rights attached to all outstanding shares of the Company, nor any
associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons has any material interest,
direct or indirect, in any transaction since
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the commencement of Fiscal 1997 or in any proposed transaction which, in either
case has or will materially affect the Company except as follows or as disclosed
herein.
On June 23, 1994, the Company entered into agreements (the "GST Telecom
Agreements") with Pacwest Network, L.L.C. ("Pacwest") (an entity controlled by
John Warta, now the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer), pursuant to which the Company and Pacwest formed a new corporation,
GST Telecom, for the purpose of developing telecommunications networks. Under
the terms of the agreements, Pacwest contributed the stock of GST Pacific, GST
Tucson and GST Hawaii and the Company made certain funding commitments (all of
which were subsequently satisfied) and contributed its 60% interest in GST
Tucson, for which the Company received 60% and Pacwest received 40% of the
capital stock of GST Telecom. Effective June 1, 1995, the Company acquired an
additional 20% ownership interest in GST Telecom from Pacwest in exchange for
1,000,000 Common Shares. Effective October 20, 1995, the Company acquired
Pacwest's remaining 20% interest in GST Telecom for which Pacwest was eligible
to receive up to a maximum of 1,000,000 Common Shares (valued at $10.00 per
Common Share) based upon the fair market value of a 20% interest in GST Telecom,
as determined by independent appraisal. The Company engaged an investment
banking firm to provide such appraisal, which appraisal valued such 20% interest
at not less than $10 million. In November 1996, 1,000,000 Common Shares, which
had been held in escrow since October 20, 1995, were distributed to the
designees of Pacwest, principally Messrs. Warta and Sander.
Prior to his employment with the Company, Mr. Warta served, and
continues to serve, as a consultant to Tomen for which he is paid a fee.
Simultaneously with the execution of the GST Telecom Agreements, Pacwest
contracted with the Company to receive a fee equal to 1% of the aggregate debt
and equity financing provided by Tomen to the Company. Mr. Sander, Senior Vice
President and Treasurer of the Company, is a member of Pacwest and participates
in such fees. During the last two fiscal years, the Company has incurred
approximately $635,000 of such fees to Pacwest.
Under the Tomen Facility, Tomen has the right to act as procurement
agent for each network project it finances. The Company has purchased equipment
through Tomen at competitive prices.
The operations of the Company's Hawaiian microwave network require
radio licenses from the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"). Pacwest
Network, Inc. ("PNI"), an entity controlled by Mr. Warta, the Company's Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, holds the Hawaii microwave licenses.
Under agreements between the Company and PNI, the Company pays a monthly fee of
$3,000 to PNI and PNI pays an offsetting monthly fee to the Company, in
connection with the operation and use of the network. PNI has an application
pending with the FCC to assign the microwave radio licenses to Pacwest Network
Hawaii Inc., an entity controlled by John Warta.
Magnacom Wireless, LLC ("Magnacom"), a company 99% owned by PNI, which
is in turn controlled by John Warta, the Company's Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer, has acquired various personal communication service
("PCS") licenses. Magnacom holds 30 MHz (C Block) PCS licenses for 11 markets in
Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah. Magnacom won ten MHz licenses in
the FCC's F Block in 13 markets in Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington in an
FCC auction. Such licenses have not yet been awarded because Magnacom submitted
the down payment late. The FCC recently granted Magnacom's request for a waiver
of the down payment deadline.
Magnacom and the Company have entered into a 12-year reseller agreement
(the "Magnacom Reseller Agreement"), pursuant to which (i) the Company has been
designated a non-exclusive reseller of PCS telephone services in the markets in
which Magnacom has obtained licenses, and (ii) Magnacom has agreed to use the
Company on an exclusive basis to provide switched local and long distance
services
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and other enhanced telecommunications services, to all of Magnacom's resellers
in markets where the Company has operational networks. Magnacom agreed to sell
PCS minutes to the Company at $.05 per minute, subject to downward adjustment to
equal the most favorable rates offered to Magnacom's other resellers (but in no
event less than Magnacom's cost). In connection with the Magnacom Reseller
Agreement, the Company has paid approximately $14.0 million as pre-payments for
future PCS services.
In addition, the Company has been granted a conditional option to
acquire up to PNI's entire interest in Magnacom (currently 99%), conditioned
upon Magnacom and the Company entering into an agreement for the construction
and/or operation of Magnacom's facilities. If and when the condition precedent
is met, the exercise of the option will be subject to compliance with all
applicable FCC regulations relating to prior approval of any transfer of control
of PCS licenses, including those relating to foreign ownership or control and
requirements regarding the ownership of C and F block licenses. Accordingly,
until such time as FCC regulations or administrative action permit the Company
to own in excess of 25% of Magnacom, the option by its terms is limited to a 24%
interest in Magnacom.
In February 1997, an affiliate of Magnacom, PCS Plus Pacific, Inc.,
formerly known as Guam Net, Inc. ("PCS Plus Pacific"), acquired from Poka Lambro
Telephone Cooperative, Inc., a 30 MHz (A Block) PCS license from the FCC in the
market consisting of Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. Concurrently, the
Company entered into a reseller agreement on terms substantially similar to the
Magnacom Reseller Agreement and paid PCS Plus Pacific $.4 million as a
pre-payment for future PCS services.
Magnacom is currently negotiating with a telecommunications equipment
vendor to provide equipment and other financing and to invest in Magnacom. The
terms of any such transaction may include the issuance by the Company to such
vendor of a warrant to purchase up to 4% of the then outstanding Common Shares.
The provision of wireless telecommunications service by Magnacom and
PCS Plus Pacific will be dependent upon their ability to obtain the financing
necessary to make payments to the FCC under the terms of their licenses, to
obtain working capital, and to build the required facilities, including the
purchase of telecommunications equipment. There can be no assurance Magnacom or
PCS Plus Pacific will obtain such financing or be able to provide PCS services.
In such event, the Company would likely be unable to recover its payments to
Magnacom and PCS Plus Pacific.
In November 1996, 1,500,000 of the common shares of Global owned by the
Company were purchased at cost from W. Gordon Blankstein, presently a director
of the Company and at that time, Chairman of the Company.
Stephen Irwin, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Company, is of
counsel to the law firm of Olshan Grundman Frome & Rosenzweig LLP, counsel to
the Company. In connection with such services, such firm received fees of
approximately $1.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 ("Fiscal
1996") and for Fiscal 1997.
Peter E. Legault, a director of the Company, is a director and Vice
President of Thomson Kernaghan & Co. Ltd., which was engaged by the Company
during Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1997 to solicit sources of financing for the
Company, and was one of the placement agents for the Company's sale of special
warrants in October 1996. In connection with such services, such firm received
fees of approximately $500,000 during Fiscal 1997.
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<PAGE>
On May 5, 1997, the Company loaned $100,000 to Joseph Basile, the
President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Company, to enable him
to purchase a new primary residence in the Vancouver, Washington area. The loan
matures on March 11, 2000, accrues interest at a rate of 6% per annum and is to
be prepaid to the extent of the proceeds from the sale of Mr. Basile's former
residence and from the sale of Common Shares acquired upon exercise of options
held by Mr. Basile. Such loan was made pursuant to the terms of his employment
agreement with the Company, which was approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of
the Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by
the Commission's regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section
16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on review of copies of such forms furnished to the
Company, or written representations that no Form 5s were required other than
those filed with the Commission, the Company believes that during the year ended
September 30, 1997, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
officers, directors and greater than ten-percent beneficial owners were complied
with.
PROPOSAL III - AMENDING THE COMPANY'S 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN BY
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO
OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE 1996 PLAN FROM 700,000 TO 1,000,000 SHARES.
On February 15, 1996, the shareholders of the Company approved the 1996
Plan. The purpose of the 1996 Plan is to retain in the employ of or as
consultants and advisors to the Company and its subsidiaries persons of
training, experience and ability, to attract new employees, directors, advisors
and consultants whose services are considered valuable, to encourage the sense
of proprietorship and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the
development and financial success of the Company and its subsidiaries. The 1996
Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options and nonqualified stock
options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
The 1996 Plan, which is administered by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors (but can also be administered by the Board of Directors),
currently authorizes the issuance of a maximum of 700,000 Common Shares, which
may be newly issued shares or previously issued shares held by any subsidiary of
the Company. If any award under the 1996 Plan terminates, expires unexercised,
or is cancelled, the Common Shares that would otherwise have been issuable
pursuant thereto will be available for issuance pursuant to the grant of new
awards.
The purchase price of each Common Share purchasable under an option
granted under the 1996 Plan is to be determined by the Compensation Committee at
the time of grant, but is to not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a
Common Share on the trading date immediately prior to the date the option is
granted; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to an optionee who, at the time
such option is granted, owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, the purchase
price per share is to be at least 110% of the fair market value per share on the
date of grant. The term of each option is to be fixed by the Compensation
Committee, but no option is to be exercisable more than five years after the
date such option is granted.
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<PAGE>
The aggregate fair market value, determined as of the date an incentive
option under the 1996 Plan is granted, of Common Shares for which incentive
options are exercisable for the first time by any optionee during any calendar
year under the 1996 Plan (and/or any other stock options plans of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000. The aggregate number of
Common Shares subject to options granted under the 1996 Plan held by any one
person is not to exceed that number of shares as equals five percent of the
outstanding shares of the Company.
The Board of Directors may amend, suspend, or terminate the 1996 Plan,
except that no amendment may be adopted that would impair the rights of any
optionee without his consent. Further, no amendment may be adopted which,
without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, would (i) materially
increase the number of shares issuable under the 1996 Plan, except as provided
in itself, (ii) materially increase the benefits accruing to optionees under the
1996 Plan, (iii) materially modify the eligibility requirements for
participation in the 1996 Plan, (iv) decrease the exercise price of an option to
less than 100% of the fair market value per Common Share on the trading date
immediately prior to the date of grant, or (v) extend the term of any option
beyond that provided for in the 1996 Plan.
The Compensation Committee may amend the terms of any option previously
granted, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment may impair the
rights of any optionee without his consent. The Compensation Committee may also
substitute new options for previously granted options, including options granted
under other plans applicable to the participant and previously granted options
having higher option prices, upon such terms as it may deem appropriate.
The number of Common Shares available under the 1996 Plan and the terms
of any option or other award granted thereunder are subject to adjustment in the
event of a merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, stock
dividend, or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Shares, if
the Compensation Committee determines that such event equitably requires such an
adjustment.
The amendment to the 1996 Plan would increase the number of Common
Shares reserved for issuance under the 1996 Plan from 700,000 to 1,000,000
shares.
Options to purchase 886,742 Common Shares have been granted to
employees of the Company pursuant to the 1996 Plan, of which options to purchase
24,116 Common Shares have been exercised and options to purchase 23,781 Common
Shares have been cancelled as a result of termination of employment. As a
result, options to purchase an aggregate of 838,845 Common Shares remain
outstanding under the 1996 Plan, and after giving effect to the proposed
amendments to the 1996 Plan, 137,039 shares would be available for the grant of
options under such Plan.
Pursuant to applicable policies of the TSE and the VSE, shareholder
approval is required for any stock option plan of the Company that, together
with all of the other previously established stock option plans of the Company
or grants of Stock options by the Company outside of a plan, could result at any
time in (i) the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to stock
options exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares or (ii) the
issuance within a one year period of Common Shares exceeding 10% of the issued
and outstanding Common Shares. Approval by shareholders of the proposed
amendment of the 1996 Plan shall also constitute approval by shareholders of the
grant of any option under the 1996 Stock Option Plan that, together with all of
the other previously established stock option plans of the Company and grants by
the Company, could result at any time in (a) the number Common Shares reserved
for issuance pursuant to the Company's stock option plans exceeding 10% of the
issued and outstanding Common Shares or (b) the issuance within a one year
period of Common Shares exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding Common
Shares.
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RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
AMENDING THE COMPANY'S 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF COMMON
SHARES THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO OPTIONS GRANTED
THEREUNDER FROM 700,000 TO 1,000,000 SHARES.
PROPOSAL IV - APPROVING THE COMPANY'S 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN.
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved for submission to a
vote of shareholders a proposal to approve the 1997 Plan in the form set forth
in Appendix A to this proxy statement. THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF THE 1997 PLAN
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO APPENDIX A.
The purpose of the 1997 Plan is to provide additional incentive to
retain in the employ of the Company and its subsidiaries, as senior executive
officers, persons of training, experience and ability, to attract new senior
executive officers whose services are considered valuable, to encourage the
sense of proprietorship and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in
the development and financial success of the Company and its subsidiaries. The
1997 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options and nonqualified
stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
The 1997 Plan is substantially the same as the 1996 Plan which is
described above (see "Proposal III -- Amending the Company's 1996 Stock Option
Plan by Increasing the Number of Common Shares that may be Subject to Options
Granted Under the 1996 Plan from 700,000 to 1,000,000 Shares") except that the
1997 Plan is intended to satisfy the performance-based compensation exception to
the limitation on the Company's tax deductions imposed by Section 162(m) of the
Code. There are 1,000,000 Common Shares reserved for issuance under the 1997
Plan and as of January [23], 1998, no options had been granted under the 1997
Plan.
Pursuant to applicable policies of the TSE and the VSE, shareholder
approval is required for any stock option plan of the Company that, together
with all of the other previously established stock option plans of the Company
or grants by the Company, could result at any time in (i) the number of Common
Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to stock options exceeding 10% of the
issued and outstanding Common Shares or (ii) the issuance within a one year
period of Common Shares exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding Common
Shares. Approval by shareholders of the 1997 Plan shall also constitute approval
by shareholders of the grant of any option under the 1997 Plan that, together
with all of the other previously established stock option plans of the Company
and grants by the Company, could result at any time in (a) the number Common
Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company's stock option plans
exceeding 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares or (b) the issuance
within a one year period of Common Shares exceeding 10% of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
APPROVING THE COMPANY'S 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE STOCK OPTION PLANS
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
The following table discloses options granted pursuant to the 1996 Plan
to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, the five next highest paid executive
officers, all current executive officers as a group, all directors who are not
current employees as a group and all employees as a group (excluding executive
officers). For information regarding options granted pursuant to the 1996 Plan,
(see "Proposal III--Amending the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan by Increasing
the Number of Common Shares that may be Subject to Options Granted Under the
1996 Plan from 700,000 to 1,000,000 Shares").
1996 Plan
NAME AND POSITION DOLLAR VALUE(1) NUMBER OF UNITS
Joseph A. Basile, -- 300,000
President
Thomas E. Sawyer, -- 15,000
Chief Technology
Officer
Executive Officers -- 420,000
as a Group
Non-Employee -- 90,000
Directors as a
Group
Non-Executive -- 352,961(2)
Officers as a
Group
- ------
(1) All options have been or will be granted at or above the fair market
value of Common Shares on the date of grant.
(2) Does not include options to purchase 23,781 Common Shares that were
cancelled as a result of the termination of the employment of employees
to whom such options were granted.
MARKET VALUE OF THE COMMON SHARES
On January [23], 1998, the closing price on the AMEX for the Common
Shares was $[ ] per share.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Incentive stock options granted under the 1998
Plan or 1996 Plan are intended to be "incentive stock options" within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Under present law, the grantee of an
incentive stock option will not realize taxable income upon the grant or the
exercise of the incentive stock option and the Company will not receive an
income tax deduction at either such time. If the optionee does not sell the
Common Shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock
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option within either (i) two years after the grant of the incentive stock option
or (ii) one year after the date of exercise of the incentive stock option, the
gain upon a subsequent sale of the Common Shares will be taxed as long-term
capital gain. If the optionee, within either of the above periods, disposes of
the Common Shares acquired upon exercise of the incentive stock option, the
optionee will recognize as ordinary income an amount equal to the lesser of (i)
the gain realized by the optionee upon such disposition or (ii) the difference
between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the date
of exercise. In such event, the Company would be entitled to a corresponding
income tax deduction equal to the amount recognized as ordinary income by the
optionee. The gain in excess of such amount recognized by the optionee as
ordinary income would be taxed as long-term capital gain or short-term capital
gain (subject to the holding period requirements for long-term or short-term
capital gain treatment).
The exercise of an incentive stock option will generally result in the
excess of the Common Shares' fair market value on the date of exercise over the
exercise price being included in the optionee's alternative minimum taxable
income ("AMTI"). If the Common Shares are subject to a risk of forfeiture and
are nontransferable, the excess described above will be included in AMTI when
the risk of forfeiture lapses or the shares become transferable, whichever
occurs sooner. Liability for the alternative minimum tax is a complex
determination and depends upon an individual's overall tax situation. Before
exercising an incentive stock option, an optionee should discuss the possible
application of the alternative minimum tax with his tax advisor.
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS. Upon exercise of a non-qualified stock
option granted under the 1998 Plan or 1996 Plan the optionee will recognize
ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
Common Shares received over the exercise price of such Common Shares. That
amount will increase the optionee's basis in the Common Shares acquired pursuant
to the exercise of the option. Upon a subsequent sale of the Common Shares, the
optionee will recognize short term or long term gain or loss depending upon his
holding period for the Common Shares and upon the subsequent appreciation or
depreciation in the market value of the Common Shares. The Company will be
allowed a federal income tax deduction for the amount recognized as ordinary
income by the optionee upon the optionee's exercise of the option.
PROPOSAL V - APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY'S AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved for submission to a
vote of shareholders a proposal to approve the Company's Amended and Restated
By-Laws, as set forth in Appendix B to this proxy statement. THE FOLLOWING
DISCUSSION OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO APPENDIX B.
The Amended and Restated By-Laws: (i) reflect the proper corporate name
of the Company; (ii) provide for more than one Vice Chairman of the Board; (iii)
reflect changes that the CANADA BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT; and (iv) more
accurately set forth the description of the responsibilities of the officers of
the Company.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
APPROVING THE COMPANY'S AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
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PROPOSAL VI - APPROVAL OF COMMON SHARES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF
OUTSTANDING SERIES A PREFERENCE SHARES
As a condition to listing the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of
the Series A Preference Shares, the AMEX is requiring the Company to obtain
shareholder approval for the reservation of such Common Shares for issuance.
Consequently, the Board of Directors has unanimously approved for submission to
a vote of shareholders a proposal to approve the reservation of the Common
Shares for issuance upon conversion of the Series A Preference Shares.
In February 1997, the Company consummated the Princes Gate Investment,
a private placement of $50.0 million of Series A Preference Shares with Princes
Gate. Princes Gate is a limited partnership consisting of an affiliate of Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated and certain private investors. The Company utilized
the proceeds from such private placement for working capital and general
corporate purposes.
The Series A Preference Shares issued in connection with the Princes
Gate Investment will not pay dividends, except to the extent that cash dividends
are paid on the Common Shares. The liquidation and redemption prices of the
Series A Preference Shares will accrete at a semi-annual rate of 11 7/8%.
The Company is required to redeem the Series A Preference Shares on
February 28, 2004 (the "Mandatory Redemption Date") in cash at a redemption
price of approximately $224,231 per share (the "Mandatory Redemption Price");
provided that to the extent the Company is prohibited from paying such
redemption price in cash, the holders of Series A Preference Shares have the
option to convert each Series A Preference Share into a number of Common Shares
equal to the Mandatory Redemption Price divided by 95% of the then market price
for Common Shares. In the event the Company is prevented from paying the
redemption price for Series A Preference Shares in cash and any holder of Series
A Preference Shares does not exercise such conversion option, the Company has
the option of extending the Mandatory Redemption Date to August 28, 2007. The
Company has the option of redeeming the Series A Preference Shares at any time
after February 28, 2000 in cash at a redemption price per Series A Preference
Share equal to the number of Common Shares into which such Series A Preference
Share is then convertible multiplied by the price at which such Series A
Preference Share would become subject to mandatory conversion. Under the terms
of the Series A Preference Shares, the holders thereof are entitled to designate
for election one person to the Board of Directors of the Company. In June 1997,
Joseph G. Fogg III, designee of the holders of the Series A Preference Shares,
was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company.
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<PAGE>
Series A Preference Shares are convertible at the option of the holders
into the applicable number of Common Shares set forth in the table below
(subject to adjustments) at any time after February 28, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PER SHARE AGGREGATE
CONVERSION NUMBER NUMBER
- ---------- ------ ------
<S> <C> <C>
February 28, 2000................................................................. 12,426.45 6,213,223
May 31, 2000...................................................................... 13,164.27 6,582,133
November 30, 2000................................................................. 13,945.89 6,972,947
May 31, 2001...................................................................... 14,773.93 7,386,966
November 30, 2001................................................................. 15,651.13 7,825,567
May 31, 2002...................................................................... 16,580.42 8,290,210
November 30, 2002................................................................. 17,564.88 8,782,441
May 31, 2003...................................................................... 18,607.80 9,303,898
November 30, 2003................................................................. 19,712.63 9,856,317
May 31, 2004...................................................................... 20,883.07 10,441,536
November 30, 2004................................................................. 22,123.00 11,061,502
May 31, 2005...................................................................... 23,436.56 11,718,279
November 30, 2005................................................................. 24,828.10 12,414,052
May 31, 2006...................................................................... 26,302.27 13,151,136
November 30, 2006................................................................. 27,863.97 13,931,985
May 31, 2007...................................................................... 29,518.39 14,759,197
</TABLE>
Further, the Series A Preference Shares are subject to mandatory
conversion into the number of Common Shares set forth in the table above, if the
market price of Common Shares exceeds $15.925 per share (subject to adjustment)
for a specified period after February 28, 2000. The holders of Series A
Preference Shares have the right to require the Company to repurchase their
shares upon a change of control of the Company after February 28, 2002; upon a
change of control occurring prior to that time, holders have a right to convert
their Series A Preference Shares into a number of Common Shares equal to the
greater of (i) the applicable number set forth in the table below and (ii) the
liquidation preference of the Series A Preference Shares divided by 95% of the
amount per share received in the change of control transaction.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PER SHARE AGGREGATE
CHANGE OF CONTROL NUMBER NUMBER
- ----------------- ------ ------
<S> <C> <C>
February 28, 1997................................................................. 8,791.21 4,395,604
May 31, 1997...................................................................... 9,313.19 4,656,593
November 30, 1997................................................................. 9,866.16 4,933,079
May 31, 1998...................................................................... 10,451.96 5,225,980
November 30, 1998................................................................. 11,072.55 5,536,273
May 31, 1999...................................................................... 11,729.98 5,864,989
November 30, 1999................................................................. 12,426.45 6,213,223
May 31, 2000...................................................................... 13,164.27 6,582,133
November 30, 2000................................................................. 13,945.89 6,972,947
May 31, 2001...................................................................... 14,773.93 7,386,966
November 30, 2001................................................................. 15,651.13 7,825,567
May 31, 2002...................................................................... 16,580.42 8,290,210
</TABLE>
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
APPROVING THE COMMON SHARES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THE COMPANY'S
OUTSTANDING SERIES A PREFERENCE SHARES
PROPOSAL VII - APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The persons named in the enclosed Proxy will vote for the appointment
of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Certified Public Accountants, of Suite 2000, 1211
South West Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon, as auditors for the Company to hold
office until the next Annual General Meeting of the shareholders, at a
-32-
<PAGE>
remuneration to be fixed by the directors. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP were auditors
of the Company for Fiscal 1997. A representative of the auditors is expected to
be present at the Meeting to make such statements as such representative desires
and to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders of the Company.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO
HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THE NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any other matters to come
before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. Should
any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the shares represented by
the Proxy solicited hereby will be voted on such matters in accordance with the
best judgment of the persons voting the Proxy.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including financial
statements (without exhibits), for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, are
being provided herewith. If, for any reason, you did not receive your copy of
the Annual Report on Form 10-K, please advise the Company and another will be
sent to you. The Company will undertake to furnish, without charge, a copy of
the Annual Report (without exhibits) to shareholders of record as of January
[23], 1998 who make requests to Daniel Trampush, 4001 Main Street, Vancouver,
Washington 98663. Oral requests shall be directed to such individual (telephone
number (360) 906-7100)].
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholder proposals in respect of matters to be acted upon at the
Company's 1999 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders should be received by the
Company on or before October 16, 1998 in order that they may be considered for
inclusion in the Company's proxy materials.
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned hereby certifies that the contents and the sending of
this Proxy Circular have been approved and authorized by the directors of the
Company.
DATED at Vancouver, Washington, this 2nd day of February, 1998.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STEPHEN IRWIN
Vice-Chairman and Secretary
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<PAGE>
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.
This 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is intended as an
incentive, to retain in the employ of and as consultants and advisors to GST
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Canadian corporation with its principal office at
4001 Main Street, Vancouver, Washington 98663 (the "Company") and any Subsidiary
of the Company, within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), persons of training,
experience and ability, to attract new employees, directors, advisors and
consultants whose services are considered valuable, to encourage the sense of
proprietorship and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the
development and financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
It is further intended that certain options granted pursuant
to the Plan shall constitute incentive stock options within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code (the "Incentive Options") while certain other options
granted pursuant to the Plan shall be nonqualified stock options (the
"Nonqualified Options"). Incentive Options and Nonqualified Options are
hereinafter referred to collectively as "Options."
The Company intends that the Plan meet the requirements of
Rule 16b-3 ("Rule 16b-3") promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act") and that transactions of the type specified in
subparagraphs (c) to (f) inclusive of Rule 16b-3 by officers and directors of
the Company pursuant to the Plan will be exempt from the operation of Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act. Further, the Plan is intended to satisfy the
performance-based compensation exception to the limitation on the Company's tax
deductions imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code. In all cases, the terms,
provisions, conditions and limitations of the Plan shall be construed and
interpreted consistent with the Company's intent as stated in this Section 1.
2. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") shall
appoint and maintain as administrator of the Plan a Committee (the "Committee")
consisting of two or more directors that are Non- Employee Directors (as such
term is defined in Rule 16b-3) and "Outside Directors" (as such term is defined
in Section 162(m) of the Code), which shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
The Committee, subject to Sections 3 and 5 hereof, shall have full power and
authority to designate recipients of Options, to
<PAGE>
determine the terms and conditions of respective Option agreements (which need
not be identical) and to interpret the provisions and supervise the
administration of the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority, without
limitation, to designate which Options granted under the Plan shall be Incentive
Options and which shall be Nonqualified Options. To the extent any Option does
not qualify as an Incentive Option, it shall constitute a separate Nonqualified
Option.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall
interpret the Plan and all Options granted under the Plan, shall make such rules
as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, shall make all
other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan
and shall correct any defects or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or in any Options granted under the Plan in the manner
and to the extent that the Committee deems desirable to carry into effect the
Plan or any Options. The act or determination of a majority of the Committee
shall be the act or determination of the Committee and any decision reduced to
writing and signed by all of the members of the Committee shall be fully
effective as if it had been made by a majority at a meeting duly held. Subject
to the provisions of the Plan, any action taken or determination made by the
Committee pursuant to this and the other Sections of the Plan shall be
conclusive on all parties.
In the event that for any reason the Committee is unable to
act or if the Committee at the time of any grant, award or other acquisition
under the Plan of Options or Stock (as hereinafter defined) does not consist of
two or more Non-Employee Directors, or if there shall be no such Committee, then
the Plan shall be administered by the Board and any such grant, award or other
acquisition may be approved or ratified in any other manner contemplated by
subparagraph (d) of Rule 16b-3; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that options granted to the
Company's Chief Executive Officer or to any of the Company's other four most
highly compensation officers that are intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code may only be granted by the
Committee.
3. DESIGNATION OF OPTIONEES.
The persons eligible for participation in the Plan as
recipients of Options (the "Optionees") shall include employees, officers and
directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the Company or any Subsidiary;
provided that Incentive Options may only be granted to employees of the Company
and the Subsidiaries. In selecting Optionees, and in determining the number of
shares to be covered by each Option granted to Optionees, the Committee may
consider the office or position held by the Optionee or the Optionee's
relationship to the Company, the Optionee's degree of responsibility for and
contribution to the growth and success of
-2-
<PAGE>
the Company or any Subsidiary, the Optionee's length of service, age,
promotions, potential and any other factors that the Committee may consider
relevant. An Optionee who has been granted an Option hereunder may be granted an
additional Option or Options, if the Committee shall so determine.
4. STOCK RESERVED FOR THE PLAN.
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 hereof, a total
of 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Shares (the "Stock") shall be
subject to the Plan. The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject
to options granted under the Plan to any individual in any calendar year shall
not exceed 200,000, and the method of counting such shares shall conform to any
requirements applicable to performance-based compensation under Section 162(m)
of the Code. The shares of Stock subject to the Plan shall consist of unissued
shares or previously issued shares held by any Subsidiary of the Company, and
such amount of shares of Stock shall be and is hereby reserved for such purpose.
Any of such shares of Stock that may remain unsold and that are not subject to
outstanding Options at the termination of the Plan shall cease to be reserved
for the purposes of the Plan, but until termination of the Plan the Company
shall at all times reserve a sufficient number of shares of Stock to meet the
requirements of the Plan. Should any Option expire or be cancelled prior to its
exercise in full or should the number of shares of Stock to be delivered upon
the exercise in full of an Option be reduced for any reason, the shares of Stock
theretofore subject to such Option may be subject to future Options under the
Plan.
5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
following conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:
(a) OPTION PRICE. The purchase price of each share of
Stock purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the
time of grant, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as
defined below) of such share of Stock on the last trading day prior to the date
the Option is granted; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to an Optionee who,
at the time an Incentive Option is granted, owns (within the meaning of Section
424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, the purchase price per
share of Stock shall be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of
Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of grant. The exercise price for
each Option shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 below. Fair
Market Value means the closing price of publicly traded shares of Stock on the
principal United States securities
-3-
<PAGE>
exchange on which shares of Stock are listed (if the shares of Stock are so
listed), or on the NASDAQ Stock Market (if the shares of Stock are regularly
quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market), or, if not so listed or regularly quoted,
the mean between the closing bid and asked prices of publicly traded shares of
Stock in the over-the-counter market, or, if such bid and asked prices shall not
be available, as reported by any nationally recognized quotation service
selected by the Company, or as determined by the Committee in a manner
consistent with the provisions of the Code. Anything in this Section 5(a) to the
contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the purchase price of a share of
Stock be less than the minimum price permitted under rules and policies of the
American Stock Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange or the Vancouver Stock
Exchange, so long as the Common Shares are listed on any such exchange.
(b) OPTION TERM. The term of each Option shall be
fixed by the Committee, but no Option shall be exercisable more than five years
after the date such Option is granted.
(c) EXERCISABILITY. Subject to Section 5(j) hereof,
Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and
conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant.
(d) METHOD OF EXERCISE. Options to the extent then
exercisable may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the option
period, by giving written notice to the Company specifying the number of shares
of Stock to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price,
in cash, by check or such other instrument as may be acceptable to the
Committee. As determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at or after
grant, payment in full or in part may also be made in the form of Stock owned by
the Optionee (based on the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the trading day
before the Option is exercised). An Optionee shall have the right to dividends
and other rights of a stockholder with respect to shares of Stock purchased upon
exercise of an Option after (i) the Optionee has given written notice of
exercise and has paid in full for such shares and (ii) becomes a stockholder of
record with respect thereto.
(e) NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. Options are
not transferable and may be exercised solely by the Optionee during his lifetime
or after his death by the person or persons entitled thereto under his will or
the laws of descent and distribution. Any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge or
otherwise dispose of, or to subject to execution, attachment or similar process,
any Option contrary to the provisions hereof shall be void and ineffective and
shall give no right to the purported transferee.
-4-
<PAGE>
(f) TERMINATION BY DEATH. Unless otherwise determined
by the Committee at grant, if any Optionee's employment with or service to the
Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of death, the Option may
thereafter be exercised, to the extent then exercisable (or on such accelerated
basis as the Committee shall determine at or after grant), by the legal
representative of the estate or by the legatee of the Optionee under the will of
the Optionee, for a period of one year after the date of such death or until the
expiration of the stated term of such Option as provided under the Plan,
whichever period is shorter.
(g) TERMINATION BY REASON OF DISABILITY. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, if any Optionee's employment
with or service to the Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of total
and permanent disability, any Option held by such Optionee may thereafter be
exercised, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of termination due to
Disability (or on such accelerated basis as the Committee shall determine at or
after grant), but may not be exercised after 90 days after the date of such
termination of employment or service or the expiration of the stated term of
such Option, whichever period is shorter; provided, however, that, if the
Optionee dies within such 90 day period, any unexercised Option held by such
Optionee shall thereafter be exercisable to the extent to which it was
exercisable at the time of death for a period of one year after the date of such
death or for the stated term of such Option, whichever period is shorter.
(h) TERMINATION BY REASON OF RETIREMENT. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, if any Optionee's employment
with or service to the Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of Normal
or Early Retirement (as such terms are defined below), any Option held by such
Optionee may thereafter be exercised to the extent it was exercisable at the
time of such Retirement (or on such accelerated basis as the Committee shall
determine at or after grant), but may not be exercised after 90 days after the
date of such termination of employment or service or the expiration of the
stated term of such Option, whichever period is shorter; provided, however,
that, if the Optionee dies within such 90 day period, any unexercised Option
held by such Optionee shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which it
was exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one year after the date of
such death or for the stated term of such Option, whichever period is shorter.
For purposes of this paragraph (h), Normal Retirement shall
mean retirement from active employment with the Company or any Subsidiary on or
after the normal retirement date specified in the applicable Company or
Subsidiary pension plan or if no such pension plan, age 65. Early Retirement
shall mean retirement from active employment with the Company or any Subsidiary
pursuant to
-5-
<PAGE>
the early retirement provisions of the applicable Company or Subsidiary pension
plan or if no such pension plan, age 55.
(i) OTHER TERMINATION. Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee at grant, if any Optionee's employment with or service to the
Company or any Subsidiary terminates for any reason other than death, Disability
or Normal or Early Retirement, the Option shall thereupon terminate, except that
the portion of any Option that was exercisable on the date of such termination
of employment may be exercised for the lesser of 90 days after the date of
termination or the balance of such Option's term if the Optionee's employment or
service with the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated by the Company or such
Subsidiary without cause (the determination as to whether termination was for
cause to be made by the Committee). The transfer of an Optionee from the employ
of the Company to a Subsidiary, or vice versa, or from one Subsidiary to
another, shall not be deemed to constitute a termination of employment for
purposes of the Plan.
(j) LIMIT ON VALUE OF INCENTIVE OPTION. The aggregate
Fair Market Value, determined as of the date the Incentive Option is granted, of
Stock for which Incentive Options are exercisable for the first time by any
Optionee during any calendar year under the Plan (and/or any other stock option
plans of the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not exceed $100,000.
(k) TRANSFER OF INCENTIVE OPTION SHARES. The stock
option agreement evidencing any Incentive Options granted under this Plan shall
provide that if the Optionee makes a disposition, within the meaning of Section
424(c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any share or
shares of Stock issued to him upon exercise of an Incentive Option granted under
the Plan within the two-year period commencing on the day after the date of the
grant of such Incentive Option or within a one-year period commencing on the day
after the date of transfer of the share or shares to him pursuant to the
exercise of such Incentive Option, he shall, within 10 days after such
disposition, notify the Company thereof and immediately deliver to the Company
any amount of United States federal income tax withholding required by law.
(l) LIMITATION ON OPTIONS HELD BY ONE PERSON. The
aggregate number of shares of Stock subject to options held by any one person
shall not exceed that number of shares as equals 5% of the outstanding shares of
the Company.
6. TERM OF PLAN.
No Option shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after
December 16, 2007, but Options theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
-6-
<PAGE>
7. CAPITAL CHANGE OF THE COMPANY.
In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization, stock dividend, or other change in corporate structure
affecting the Stock, the Committee shall make an appropriate and equitable
adjustment in the number and kind of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan
and in the number and option price of shares subject to outstanding Options
granted under the Plan, to the end that after such event each Optionee's
proportionate interest shall be maintained as immediately before the occurrence
of such event.
8. PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.
Unless the Options and shares covered by the Plan have been
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or the Company has determined that such registration is
unnecessary, each person exercising an Option under the Plan may be required by
the Company to give a representation in writing that he is acquiring the shares
for his own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in
connection with, the distribution of any part thereof.
9. TAXES.
The Company may make such provisions as it may deem
appropriate, consistent with applicable law, in connection with any Options
granted under the Plan with respect to the withholding of any United States or
Canadian taxes or any other tax matters.
10. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
The Plan shall be effective on December 16, 1997, provided
however that the Plan shall subsequently be approved by majority vote of the
Company's shareholders not later than December 15, 1998.
11. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.
The Board may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, except
that no amendment shall be made that would impair the rights of any Optionee
under any Option theretofore granted without his consent, and except that no
amendment shall be made which, without the approval of the shareholders of the
Company would:
(a) materially increase the number of shares that may
be issued under the Plan, except as is provided in Section 7;
(b) materially increase the benefits accruing to the
Optionees under the Plan;
-7-
<PAGE>
(c) materially modify the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan;
(d) decrease the exercise price of an Incentive
Option to less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on
the last trading day prior to the date of grant thereof; or
(e) extend the term of any Option beyond that
provided for in Section 5(b).
The Committee may amend the terms of any Option theretofore
granted, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment shall impair the
rights of any Optionee without his consent. The Committee may also substitute
new Options for previously granted Options, including options granted under
other plans applicable to the participant and previously granted Options having
higher option prices, upon such terms as the Committee may deem appropriate.
12. GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.
The Plan, and the grant and exercise of Options hereunder, and
the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver shares under such Options,
shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such
approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges
(including the American Stock Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange or the
Vancouver Stock Exchange, so long as the Common Shares are listed on any such
exchange) as may be required.
13. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) CERTIFICATES. All certificates for shares of
Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and
other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules,
regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
other securities commission having jurisdiction, any applicable Federal,
provincial or state securities law, any stock exchange upon which the Stock is
then listed and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any
such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(b) EMPLOYMENT MATTERS. The adoption of the Plan
shall not confer upon any Optionee of the Company or any Subsidiary any right to
continued employment or, in the case of an Optionee who is a director, continued
service as a director, with the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, nor
shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to
terminate the employment of any of its employees, the service of
-8-
<PAGE>
any of its directors or the retention of any of its consultants or advisors at
any time.
(c) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. No member of the Board
or the Committee, or any officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of
the Board or the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action,
determination or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the
Plan, and all members of the Board or the Committee and each and any officer or
employee of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to the extent permitted by
law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company in respect of any such
action, determination or interpretation.
(d) REGISTRATION OF STOCK. Notwithstanding any
other provision in the Plan, no Option may be exercised unless and until the
Stock to be issued upon the exercise thereof has been registered under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or are, in the opinion of
counsel to the Company, exempt from such registration in the United States or
exempt from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable
provincial legislation. The Company shall not be under any obligation to
register under applicable federal or state securities laws any Stock to be
issued upon the exercise of an Option granted hereunder, or to comply with an
appropriate exemption from registration under such laws or the laws of any
province in order to permit the exercise of an Option and the issuance and sale
of the Stock subject to such Option however, the Company may in its sole
discretion register such Stock at such time as the Company shall determine. If
the Company chooses to comply with such an exemption from registration, the
Stock issued under the Plan may, at the direction of the Committee, bear an
appropriate restrictive legend restricting the transfer or pledge of the Stock
represented thereby, and the Committee may also give appropriate stop transfer
instructions to the Company's transfer agents.
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
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<PAGE>
BY-LAW NO. 1
of
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
HEADING SECTION PAGE
INTERPRETATION 1 1
DIRECTORS 2 - 6 1
MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS 7 - 11 3
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS 12 4
SUBMISSION OF CONTRACTORS OR 13 4
TRANSACTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
FOR APPROVAL
FOR THE PROTECTION OF 14 - 15 4
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
INDEMNITIES TO DIRECTORS 16 6
AND OFFICERS
OFFICERS 17-30 6
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS 31-40 9
SHARES 41-42 12
TRANSFER OF SECURITIES 43-46 13
DIVIDENDS 47 14
VOTING SHARES AND 48 14
SECURITIES IN OTHER COMPANIES
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO 49-50 14
SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICES 51-57 14
CHEQUES, DRAFTS AND NOTES 58 16
CUSTODY OF SECURITIES 59 16
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS 60 16
FINANCIAL YEAR 61 17
<PAGE>
BY-LAW NO. 1
A by-law relating generally to the conduct of the affairs of
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
BE IT ENACTED AND IT IS HEREBY ENACTED as a by-law of
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. (hereinafter called the
"Corporation") as follows:
INTERPRETATION
1. In this by-law and all other by-laws of the Corporation,
unless the context otherwise specifies or requires:
(a) "Act" means the Canada Business Corporations Act, S.C.
1985, c.44 as from time to time amended and every statute that may be
substituted therefor and, in the case of such substitution, any references in
the by-laws of the Corporation to provisions of the Act shall be read as
references to the substituted provisions therefor in the new statute or
statutes:
(b) "Regulations" means the Regulations under the Act as
published or from time to time amended and every regulation that may be
substituted therefor and, in the case of such substitution, any references in
the by-laws of the Corporation to provisions of the Regulations shall be read as
references to the substituted provisions therefor in the new regulations;
(c) "by-law" means any by-law of the Corporation from time to
time in force and effect;
(d) all terms which are contained in the by-laws of the
Corporation and which are defined in the Act or the Regulations shall have the
meanings given to such terms in the Act or the Regulations; and
(e) the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall
include the singular; the masculine shall include the feminine; and the word
"person" shall include bodies corporate, corporations, companies, partnerships,
syndicates, trusts and any number or aggregate of persons.
DIRECTORS
2. NUMBER: Subject to the articles of the Corporation and any
unanimous shareholder agreement, the business and affairs of the Corporation
shall be managed by a board of directors consisting of not less than one nor
more than fifteen directors except if any of the issued securities of the
Corporation are or were a part of a distribution to the public, the board
<PAGE>
of directors shall consist of not less than three directors, at least two of
whom are not officers or employees of the Corporation or any affiliate of the
Corporation.
3. TERM OF OFFICE: A director's term of office (subject to the
provisions, if any, of the articles of the Corporation and to the provisions of
the Act) shall be from the date on which he is elected or appointed until the
annual meeting next following.
4. VACATION OF OFFICE: The office of a director shall ipso
facto be vacated: (a) if he becomes bankrupt or suspends payments of his debts
generally or compounds with his creditors or makes an authorized assignment or
is declared insolvent; (b) if he is found to be a mentally incompetent person;
or (c) if by notice in writing to the Corporation he resigns his office. Any
such resignation shall be effective at the time it is sent to the Corporation or
at the time specified in the notice, whichever is later.
5. ELECTION AND REMOVAL: Directors shall be elected by the
shareholders on a show of hands unless a ballot is demanded in which case such
election shall be by ballot. The whole board shall retire at the annual meeting
at which the yearly election of directors is to take place but, if qualified,
any retiring director shall be eligible for re-election provided always that the
shareholders of the Corporation may, by ordinary resolution passed at a special
meeting of shareholders, remove any director or directors from office and a
vacancy created by the removal of a director may be filled at the meeting of the
shareholders at which the director is removed.
5(a). FILLING A VACANCY: Subject to the Act, a quorum of the
board may fill a vacancy in the board, except a vacancy resulting from an
increase in the minimum number of directors or from a failure of the
shareholders to elect the minimum number of directors. In the absence of a
quorum of the board, or if the vacancy has arisen from a failure of the
shareholders to elect the minimum number of directors, the board shall forthwith
call a special meeting of shareholders to fill the vacancy. If the board fails
to call such meeting or if there are no directors then in office, any
shareholder may call the meeting.
6. COMMITTEE OF DIRECTORS: The directors may appoint from
among their number a committee of directors and subject to section 115 of the
Act may delegate to such committee any of the powers of the directors.
6(a). ALTERNATE DIRECTORS. Any Director may by instrument in
writing delivered to the Corporation appoint any person to be his alternate to
act in his place at meetings of the Directors at which he is not present unless
the Directors shall have reasonably disapproved the appointment of such person
as an alternate Director and shall have given notice to that effect to the
Director appointing the alternate Director within a reasonable time after
delivery of such instrument to the Corporation. Every such alternate shall be
entitled to notice of meetings of the Directors and to attend and vote as a
Director at a meeting at which the person appointing him is not personally
present. A person may be appointed as an alternate Director by more than one
Director, and an alternate Director shall be counted separately in determining
the quorum for, and having a separate vote on behalf of, each Director he is
representing, in addition to being so
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<PAGE>
counted and voting where he is himself a Director. Every alternate Director, if
authorized by the instrument appointing them, may sign in place of the Director
who appointed him resolutions submitted to the Directors to be consented to in
writing as referred to in paragraph 11 of this by-law. Every alternate Director
shall be deemed not to be the agent of a Director appointing him. An alternate
Director shall be deemed to be a Director for all purposes of this by-law in the
performance of any function authorized under this paragraph 6(a), but shall not
otherwise be deemed to be a Director or to have power to act as a Director. A
Director may at any time by instrument, telegram, telex or any method of
transmitting legibly recorded messages delivered to the Corporation revoke the
appointment of an alternate appointed by him. An alternate Director may be
repaid by the Corporation such expenses as might properly be repaid to him if he
were a Director and he shall be entitled to receive from the Corporation such
proportion, if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to the Director
appointing him as such Director may from time to time direct.
MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS
7. PLACE OF MEETING: Meetings of the board of directors and of
the committee of directors (if any) may be held within or outside Canada.
8. NOTICE: A meeting of directors may be convened by the
Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board, the Managing Director, the
President if he is a director, a Vice-President who is a director or any two
directors at any time, when directed or authorized by any of such officers or
any two directors, shall convene a meeting of directors. Subject to subsection
114(5) of the Act the notice of any such meeting need not specify the purpose of
or the business to be transacted at the meeting. Notice of any such meeting
shall be served in the manner specified in paragraph 51 of this by-law not less
than two days (exclusive of the day on which the notice is delivered or sent but
inclusive of the day for which notice is given) before the meeting is to take
place; provided always that a director may in any manner waive notice of a
meeting of directors and attendance of a director at a meeting of directors
shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting except where a director
attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any
business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
For the first meeting of the board of directors to be held
immediately following the election of directors by the shareholders for a
meeting of the board of directors at which a director is appointed to fill a
vacancy in the board, no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly
elected or appointed director or directors in order to legally constitute the
meeting, provided that a quorum of the directors is present.
9. QUORUM: A majority of the directors shall form a quorum for
the transaction of business and, notwithstanding any vacancy among the
directors, a quorum of directors may exercise all the powers of directors. No
business shall be transacted at a meeting of directors, unless a quorum of the
board is present.
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A director may, if all the directors of the Corporation
consent, participate in a meeting of directors or of the committee of directors
(if any) by means of such telephone or other communications facilities as permit
all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and a director
participating in such a meeting by such means is deemed to be present at that
meeting.
10. VOTING: Questions arising at any meeting of the Board of
directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of
votes the chairman of the meeting in addition to his original vote shall not
have a second or casting vote.
11. RESOLUTION IN LIEU OF MEETING: Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing provisions of this by-law a resolution in writing signed by all the
directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the directors or
the committee of directors (if any) is as valid as if it had been passed at a
meeting of the directors or the committee of directors (if any).
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS
12. The remuneration to be paid to the directors shall be such
as the board of directors shall from time to time determine and such
remuneration shall be in addition to the salary paid to any officer or employee
of the Corporation who is also a member of the board of directors. The directors
may also award special remuneration to any director undertaking any special
services on the Corporation's behalf other than the routine work ordinarily
required of a director by the Corporation and the confirmation of any such
resolution or resolutions by the shareholders shall not be required. The
directors shall also be entitled to be paid their travelling and other expenses
properly incurred by them in connection with the affairs of the Corporation.
SUBMISSION OF CONTRACTS OR TRANSACTIONS
TO SHAREHOLDERS FOR APPROVAL
13. The board of directors in its discretion may submit any
contract, act or transaction for approval or ratification at any annual meeting
of the shareholders or at any special meeting of the shareholders called for the
purpose of considering the same and, subject to the provisions of section 120 of
the Act, any such contract, act or transaction that shall be approved or
ratified or confirmed by a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at
any such meeting (unless any different or additional requirement is imposed by
the Act or by the Corporation's articles or any other by-law) shall be as valid
and as binding upon the Corporation and upon all the shareholders as though it
had been approved, ratified or confirmed by every shareholder of the
Corporation.
FOR THE PROTECTION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
14. In supplement of and not by way of limitation upon any
rights conferred upon directors by section 120 of the Act, it is declared that
no director shall be disqualified by his office from, or vacate his office by
reason of, holding any office or place of profit under the Corporation or under
any body corporate in which the Corporation shall be a shareholder or by
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reason of being otherwise in any way directly or indirectly interested or
contracting with the Corporation either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise or
being concerned in any contract or arrangement made or proposed to be entered
into with the Corporation in which he is in any way directly or indirectly
interested either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise nor shall any director be
liable to account to the Corporation or any of its shareholders or creditors for
any profit arising from any such office or place of profit; and, subject to the
provisions of section 120 of the Act, no contract or arrangement entered into by
or on behalf of the Corporation in which any director shall be in any way
directly or indirectly interested shall be avoided or voidable and no director
shall be liable to account to the Corporation or any of its shareholders or
creditors for any profit realized by or from any such contract or arrangement by
reason of any fiduciary relationship. Subject to the provisions of section 120
of the Act, no director or officer shall be obliged to make any declaration of
interest in respect of a contract or proposed contract with the Corporation in
which such director or officer is in any way directly or indirectly interested
nor shall any director be obliged to refrain from voting in respect of any such
contract.
15. Except as otherwise provided in the Act, no director or
officer for the time being of the Corporation shall be liable for the acts,
receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer or employee or
for joining in any receipt or act for conformity or for any loss, damage or
expense happening to the Corporation through the insufficiency or deficiency of
title to any property acquired by the Corporation or for or on behalf of the
Corporation or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon
which any of the moneys of or belonging to the Corporation shall be placed out
or invested or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or
tortious act of any person, firm or corporation including any person, firm or
corporation with whom or which any moneys, securities or effects shall be lodged
or deposited or for any loss, conversion, misapplication or misappropriation of
or any damage resulting from any dealings with any moneys, securities or other
assets belonging to the Corporation or for any other loss, damage or misfortune
whatever which may happen in the execution of the duties of his respective
office or trust or in relation thereto unless the same shall happen by or
through his failure to exercise the powers and to discharge the duties of his
office honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the
Corporation and in connection therewith to exercise the care, diligence and
skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable
circumstances. The directors for the time being of the Corporation shall not be
under any duty or responsibility in respect of any contract, act or transaction
whether or not made, done or entered into the name or on behalf of the
Corporation, except such as shall have been submitted to and authorized or
approved by the board of directors. If any director or officer of the
Corporation shall be employed by or shall perform services for the Corporation
otherwise than as a director or officer or shall be a member of a firm or a
shareholder, director or officer of a company which is employed by or performs
services for the Corporation, the fact of his being a director or officer of the
Corporation shall not disentitle such director or officer or such firm or
company, as the case may be, from receiving proper remuneration for such
services.
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INDEMNITIES TO DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
16. Subject to section 124 of the Act, every director and
officer of the Corporation and his heirs, executors, administrators and other
legal personal representatives, shall from time to time be indemnified and saved
harmless by the Corporation from and against,
(a) any liability and all costs, charges and expenses that he
sustains or incurs in respect of any action, suit or proceeding that is proposed
or commenced against him for or in respect of anything done or permitted by him
in respect to the execution of the duties of his office; and
(b) all other costs, charges and expenses that he sustains or
incurs in respect of the affairs of the Corporation.
OFFICERS
17. APPOINTMENT: The board of directors shall annually or as
often as may be required appoint a President and a Secretary and, if deemed
advisable, may annually or as often as may be required appoint a Chairman of the
Board, one or more Vice-Chairman of the Board, a Managing Director, one or more
Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Secretaries and/or one or
more Assistant Treasurers. A Director may be appointed to any office of the
Corporation but none of the officers except the Chairman of the Board, the
Vice-Chairman of the Board and the Managing Director need be a member of the
board of directors. Two or more of the aforesaid offices may be held by the same
person. In case and whenever the same person holds the offices of Secretary and
Treasurer he may but need not be known as the Secretary-Treasurer. The board may
from time to time appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem
necessary who shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as may
from time to time be prescribed by the board of directors.
18. REMUNERATION AND REMOVAL: The remuneration of all officers
appointed by the board of directors shall be determined from time to time by
resolution of the board of directors. The fact that any officer or employee is a
director or shareholder of the Corporation shall not disqualify him from
receiving such remuneration as may be determined. All officers, in the absence
of agreement to the contrary, shall be subject to removal by resolution of the
board of directors at any time, with or without cause.
19. POWERS AND DUTIES: All officers shall sign such contracts,
documents or instruments in writing as require their respective signatures and
shall respectively have and perform all powers and duties incident to their
respective offices and such other powers and duties respectively as may from
time to time be assigned to them by the board.
20. DUTIES MAY BE DELEGATED: In case of the absence of
inability to act of any officer of the Corporation except the Managing Director
or for any other reason that the board
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of directors may deem sufficient the board of directors may delegate all or any
of the powers of such officer to any other officer or to any director for the
time being.
21.(a) CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: The Chairman of the Board (if
any) shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the board of directors, the
committee of directors (if any) and the shareholders.
21.(b) VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: The Vice-Chairman of the
Board (if any), or, if more than one, each Vice-Chairman of the Board, shall
have such powers and duties as the board of directors may determine. If the
Chairman of the Board is absent or unable or refuses to act, a Vice-Chairman of
the Board shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the board of
directors, the committee of directors (if any) and the shareholders.
22. MANAGING DIRECTOR: The Managing Director (if any) shall be
a resident Canadian and shall exercise such powers and have such authority as
may be delegated to him by the board of directors in accordance with the
provisions of section 115 of the Act.
23. PRESIDENT: The President, subject to the direction of the
board of directors, shall have general and active management of the business of
the Corporation and shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the
board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
24.(a) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: The Chief Executive Officer
(if any) shall be the principal executive officer of the Corporation and,
subject to the direction of the board of directors, shall have general
supervision and control of the business of the Corporation. The Chief Executive
Officer shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the
board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
24.(b) CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: The Chief Operating Officer
shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the board of directors may
from time to time prescribe.
25. VICE-PRESIDENT: The Vice-President or, if more than one,
the Vice- Presidents, in order of seniority, shall have such powers and duties
as the board of directors may be determine. The Vice-President or, if more than
one, the Vice-Presidents, in order of seniority, shall be vested with all the
powers and shall perform all the duties of the President in the absence or
inability or refusal to act of the President; provided, however, that a
Vice-President who is not a director shall not preside as chairman at any
meeting of directors or of the committee of directors (if any) or, subject
paragraph 37 of this by-law, at any meeting of shareholders. The board of
directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice
President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board of
Directors.
26. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall give or cause to be given
notices for all meetings of the board of directors, the committee of directors
(if any) and the shareholders when directed to do so and shall have charge of
the minute books of the Corporation and, subject to
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the provisions of paragraph 43 of this by-law, of the records (other than
accounting records) referred to in section 20 of the Act.
27. TREASURER: Subject to the provisions of any resolution of
the board of directors, the Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the
funds and securities of the Corporation and shall deposit the same in the name
of the Corporation in such bank or banks or with such other depository or
depositaries as the board of directors may direct. He shall keep or cause to be
kept the accounting records referred to in section 20 of the Act. He may be
required to give such bond for the faithful performance of his duties as the
board of directors in its uncontrolled discretion may require but no director
shall be liable for failure to require any such bond or for the insufficiency of
any such bond or for any loss by reason of the failure of the Corporation to
receive any indemnity thereby provided.
28. ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT TREASURER: The Assistant
Secretary or, if more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in order of seniority,
and the Assistant Treasurer or, if more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in
order of seniority, shall respectively perform all the duties of the Secretary
and the Treasurer, respectively, in the absence or inability or refusal to act
of the Secretary or the Treasurer, as the case may be.
29. GENERAL MANAGER OR MANAGER: The board of directors may
from time to time appoint one or more General Managers or Managers and may
delegate to him or them full powers to manage and direct the business and
affairs of the Corporation (except such matters and the duties as by law must be
transacted or performed by the board of directors and/ or by the shareholders)
and to employ and discharge agents and employees of the Corporation or may
delegate to him or them any lesser authority. A General Manager or Manager shall
conform to all lawful orders given to him by the board of directors of the
Corporation and shall at all reasonable times give to the directors or any of
them all information they may require regarding the affairs of the Corporation.
Any agent or employee appointed by a General Manager or Manager shall be subject
to discharge by the board of directors.
30. VACANCIES: If the office of any officer of the Corporation
shall be or become vacant by reason of death, resignation, disqualification or
otherwise, the directors by resolution shall, in the case of the President or
the Secretary, and may, in the case of any other office, appoint a person to
fill such vacancy.
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
31. ANNUAL MEETING: Subject to the provisions of section 132
of the Act, the annual meeting of the shareholders shall be held on such day in
each year and at such time as the directors may by resolution determine at any
place within Canada or, if all the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting
so agree, outside Canada.
32. SPECIAL MEETINGS: Special meetings of the shareholders may
be convened by order of the Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board,
the Managing Director,
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the President if he is a director, a Vice-President who is a director or by the
board of directors at any date and time and at any place within Canada or, if
all the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting so agree, outside Canada.
33. NOTICE: A printed, written or typewritten notice stating
the day, hour and place of meeting shall be given by serving such notice on each
shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting, on each director and on the
auditor of the Corporation in the manner specified in paragraph 51 of this
by-law, not less than twenty-one days or more than fifty days (in each case
exclusive of the day on which the notice is delivered or sent and of the day for
which notice is given) before the date of the meeting. Notice of a meeting at
which special business is to be transacted shall state (a) the nature of that
business in sufficient detail to permit the shareholder to form a reasoned
judgment thereon, and (b) the text of any special resolution to be submitted to
the meeting.
34. WAIVER AND NOTICE: A shareholder and any other person
entitled to attend a meeting of shareholders may in any manner waive notice of a
meeting of shareholders and attendance of such person at a meeting of
shareholders and attendance of any such person at a meeting of shareholders
shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting except where such person
attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any
business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.
35. OMISSION OF NOTICE: The accidental omission to give notice
of any meeting or any irregularity in the notice of any meeting or the
non-receipt of any notice by any shareholder or shareholders, director or
directors or the auditor of the Corporation shall not invalidate any resolution
passed or any proceedings taken at any meeting of shareholders.
36. VOTES: Every question submitted to any meeting of
shareholders shall be decided in the first instance by a show of hands unless a
person entitled to vote at the meeting has demanded a ballot and in the case of
an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall neither on a show of
hands nor on a ballot have a second or casting vote in addition to the vote or
votes to which he may be otherwise entitled.
At any meeting unless a ballot is demanded, a declaration by
the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has been carried or carried
unanimously or by a particular majority or lost or not carried by a particular
majority shall be conclusive evidence of the fact.
In the event that the Chairman of the Board and the
Vice-Chairman of the Board are absent and the President is absent or is not a
director and there is no Vice-President present who is a director, the persons
who are present and entitled to vote shall choose another director as chairman
of the meeting and if not director is present or if all the directors present
decline to take the chair then the persons who are present and entitled to vote
shall choose one of their number to be chairman.
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A ballot may be demanded either before or after any vote by
show of hands by any person entitled to vote at the meeting. If at any meeting a
ballot is demanded on the election of a chairman or on the question of
adjournment it shall be taken forthwith without adjournment. If at any meeting a
ballot is demanded on any other question or as to the election of directors, the
vote shall be taken by ballot in such manner and either at once, later in the
meeting or after adjournment as the chairman of the meeting directs. The result
of a ballot shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the
ballot was demanded. A demand for a ballot may be withdrawn.
Where two or more persons hold the same share or shares
jointly one of those holders present at a meeting of shareholders may, in the
absence of the other or others, vote the share or shares but if two or more of
those persons who are present, in person or by proxy, vote, they shall vote as
one on the share or shares jointly held by them.
37. PROXIES: Votes at meetings of shareholders may be given
either personally or by proxy or, in the case of a shareholder who is a body
corporate or association, by an individual authorized by a resolution of the
board of directors or governing body of the body corporate or association to
represent it at meetings of shareholders of the Corporation. At every meeting at
which he is entitled to vote, every shareholder and/or person appointed by proxy
and/or individual so authorized to represent a shareholder who is present in
person shall have one vote on a show of hands. Upon a ballot at which he is
entitled to vote, every shareholder present in person or represented by proxy or
by an individual so authorized shall (subject to the provisions, if any, of the
articles of the Corporation) have one vote for every share held by him.
A proxy shall be executed by the shareholder or his attorney
authorized in writing and is valid only at the meeting in respect of which it is
given or any adjournment thereof.
A person appointed by proxy need not to be a shareholder.
Subject to the provision of Part IV of the Regulations, a
proxy may be in the following form:
The undersigned shareholder of-----------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
hereby appoints--------------------------------------
of ---------------------, or failing him,------------
of------------------------------as the nominee of the
undersigned to attend and act for the undersigned and
on behalf of the undersigned at
the----------------------------- meeting of the
shareholders of the said Corporation to be held on
the --------- day of --------------------------, 19--
and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof in the
same manner, to the same extent and with the same
powers as if the undersigned were present at the said
meeting or such adjournment or adjournments thereof.
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DATED this ____ day of _____________________, 19___
------------------------
Signature of Shareholder
The directors may from time to time make regulations regarding
the lodging of proxies at some place or places other than the place at which a
meeting or adjourned meeting of shareholders is to be held and for particulars
of such proxies to be cabled or telegraphed or sent by telex or in writing
before the meeting or adjourned meeting to the Corporation or any agent of the
Corporation for the purpose of receiving such particulars and providing that
proxies so lodged may be voted upon as though the proxies themselves were
produced at the meeting or adjourned meeting and votes given in accordance with
such regulations shall be valid and shall be counted. The chairman of any
meeting of shareholders may, subject to any regulations made as aforesaid, in
his discretion accept telegraphic or cable or telex or written communication as
to the authority of any person claiming to vote on behalf of and to represent a
shareholder notwithstanding that no proxy conferring such authority has been
lodged with the Corporation, and any votes given in accordance with such
telegraphic or cable or telex or written communication accepted by the chairman
of the meeting shall be valid and shall be counted.
38. ADJOURNMENT: The chairman of any meeting may with the
consent of the meeting adjourn the same from time to time to a fixed time and
place and no notice of such adjournment need be given to the shareholders unless
the meeting is adjourned by one or more adjournments for an aggregate of thirty
days or more in which case notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as for
an original meeting. Any business may be brought before or dealt with at any
adjourned meeting for which no notice is required which might have been brought
before or dealt with at the original meeting in accordance with the notice
calling the same.
39. QUORUM: A quorum at any meeting of shareholders (unless a
greater number of persons are required to be present or a greater number of
shares are required to be represented by the Act or by the articles or any other
by-law) shall be persons present not being less than two in number and holding
or representing not less than five per cent of the total number of the issued
shares of the Corporation for the time being enjoying voting rights at such
meeting. No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless the requisite
quorum be present at the time of the transaction of such business. If a quorum
is not present at the opening of a meeting of shareholders, the persons present
and entitled to vote may adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place but may
not transact any other business.
40. RESOLUTION IN LIEU OF MEETING: Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing provisions of this by-law a resolution in writing signed by all the
shareholders entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the
shareholders is, subject to section 136 of the Act, as valid as if it had been
passed at a meeting of the shareholders.
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SHARES
41. ALLOTMENT AND ISSUANCE: Subject to the provisions of
section 25 of the Act, shares in the capital of the Corporation may be allotted
and issued by resolution of the board of directors at such times and on such
terms and conditions and to such persons or class of persons as the board of
directors determines.
42. CERTIFICATES: Shares certificates and the form of stock
transfer power on the reverse side thereof shall (subject to section 49 of the
Act) be in such form as the board of directors may by resolution approve and
such certificates shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or a
Vice-Chairman of the Board or the Managing Director or the President or a Vice-
President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary holding office at the time
of signing.
The signature of the Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of
the board, the Managing Director, the President or a Vice-President may be
printed, engraved, lithographed or otherwise mechanically reproduced upon
certificates for shares of the Corporation. Certificates so signed shall be
deemed to have been manually signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice-
Chairman of the Board, the Managing Director, the President or the
Vice-President whose signature is so printed, engraved, lithographed or
otherwise mechanically reproduced thereon and shall be as valid to all intents
and purposes as if they have been signed manually. Where the Corporation has
appointed a registrar, transfer agent or branch transfer agent for the shares
(or for the shares of any class or classes) of the Corporation the signature of
the Secretary or Assistant Secretary may also be printed, engraved, lithographed
or otherwise mechanically reproduced on certificates representing the shares (or
the shares of the class or classes in respect of which any such appointment has
been made) of the Corporation and when countersigned by or on behalf of a
registrar, transfer agent or branch transfer agent such certificates so signed
shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if they had been signed
manually. A share certificate containing the signature of a person which is
printed, engraved, lithographed or otherwise mechanically reproduced thereon may
be issued notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be an officer of the
Corporation and shall be as valid as if he were an officer at the date of its
issue.
42(a). If a share certificate
(i) is worn out or defaced, the Directors shall, upon
production to them of the said certificate and upon such other terms, if any, as
they may think fit, order the said certificate to be cancelled and shall issue a
new certificate in lieu thereof;
(ii) is lost, stolen or destroyed, then, upon proof thereof to
the satisfaction of the Directors and upon such indemnity, if any, as the
Director deem adequate being given, a new share certificate in lieu thereof
shall be issued to the person entitled to such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate; or
(iii) represents more than one share and the registered owner
thereof surrenders it to the Corporation with a written request that the
Corporation issue in his name two or more certificates each representing a
specified number of shares and in the aggregate representing the
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same number of shares as the certificate so surrendered, the Corporation shall
cancel the certificate so surrendered and issue in lieu thereof certificates in
accordance with such request.
Such sum as the Directors may from time to time fix shall be
paid to the Corporation for each certificate to be issued as aforesaid.
TRANSFER OF SECURITIES
43. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR: The directors may from time
to time by resolution appoint or remove one or more transfer agents and/or
branch transfer agents and/or registrars and/or branch registrars (which may or
may not be the same individual or body corporate) for the securities issued by
the Corporation in registered form (or for such securities of any class or
classes) and may provide for the registration of transfers of such securities
(or such securities of any class or classes) in one or more places and such
transfer agents and/or branch transfer agents and/or registrars and/or branch
registrars shall keep all necessary books and registers of the Corporation for
the registering of such securities (or such securities of the class or classes
in respect of which any such appointment has been made). In the event of any
such appointment in respect of the shares (or the shares of any class or
classes) of the Corporation, all share certificates issued by the Corporation in
respect of the shares (or the shares of the class or classes in respect of which
and such appointment has been made) of the Corporation shall be countersigned by
or on behalf of one of the said transfer agents and/or branch transfer agents
and by or on behalf of one of the said registrars and/or branch registrars, if
any.
44. SECURITIES REGISTERS: A central securities register of the
Corporation shall be kept at the registered office of the Corporation or at such
other office or place in Canada as may from time to time be designated by
resolution of the board of directors and a branch securities register or
registers may be kept at such office or offices of the Corporation or other
place or places, either in or outside Canada, as may from time to time be
designated by resolution of the directors.
45. SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES: Subject to subparagraph
42(a)(ii) of this by-law no transfer of shares shall be recorded or registered
unless or until the certificate representing the shares to be transferred has
been surrendered and cancelled.
46. SHAREHOLDER INDEBTED TO THE CORPORATION: If so provided in
the articles of the Corporation, the Corporation has a lien on share registered
in the name of a shareholder or his legal representative for a debt of that
shareholder to the Corporation. By way of enforcement of such lien the directors
may refuse to permit the registration of a transfer of such share.
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DIVIDENDS
47. The directors may from time to time by resolution declare
and the Corporation may pay dividends on the issued and outstanding shares in
the capital of the Corporation subject to the provisions (if any) or the
articles of the Corporation.
In case several persons are registered as the joint holders of
any shares any one of such persons may give effectual receipts for all dividends
and payments on account of dividends and/or redemption of shares (if any)
subject to redemption.
VOTING SHARES AND SECURITIES IN OTHER COMPANIES
48. All of the shares or other securities carrying voting
rights of any other body corporate held from time to time by the Corporation may
be voted at any and all meetings of shareholders, bondholders, debenture holders
or holders of other securities (as the case may be) of such other body corporate
and in such manner and by such person or persons as the board of directors of
the Corporation shall from time to time determine. The proper signing officers
of the Corporation may also from time to time execute and deliver for and on
behalf of the Corporation proxies and/or arrange for the issuance of voting
certificates and/or other evidence of the right to vote in such names as they
may determine without the necessity of a resolution or other action by the board
of directors.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS
49. Except as provided by the Act, no shareholder shall be
entitled to discovery of any information respecting any details or conduct of
the Corporation's business which in the opinion of the directors it would be
inexpedient in the interests of the Corporation to communicate to the public.
50. The directors may from time to time, subject to rights
conferred by the Act, determine whether and to what extent and at what time and
place and under what conditions or regulations the documents, books and
registers and accounting records of the Corporation or any of them shall be open
to the inspection of shareholders and no shareholder shall have any right to
inspect any document or book or register or accounting record of the Corporation
except as conferred by statute or authorized by the board of directors or by a
resolution of the shareholders.
NOTICES
51. SERVICE: Any notice or other document required by the Act,
the Regulations, the articles or the by-laws to be sent to any shareholder or
director or to the auditor shall be delivered personally or sent by prepaid mail
or by telegram or cable or telex to any such shareholder at his latest address
as shown in the records of the Corporation or its transfer agent and to any such
director at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or in
the last notice filed under section 106 or 113 of the Act, and to the auditor at
his business address;
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<PAGE>
provided always that notice may be waived or the time for the notice may be
waived or abridged at any time with the consent in writing of the person
entitled thereto. If a notice or document is sent to a shareholder by prepaid
mail in accordance with this paragraph and the notice or document is returned on
three consecutive occasions because the shareholder cannot be found it shall not
be necessary to send any further notices or documents to the shareholder until
he informs the Corporation in writing of his new address.
52. SHARES REGISTERED IN MORE THAN ONE NAME: All notices or
other documents with respect to any shares registered in more than one name
shall be given to whichever of such persons is named first in the records of the
Corporation and any notice or other document so given shall be sufficient notice
or delivery to all the holders of such shares.
53. PERSONS BECOMING ENTITLED BY OPERATION OF LAW: Subject to
section 51 of the Act, every person who by operation of law, transfer or by any
other means whatsoever shall become entitled to any share or shares shall be
bound by every notice or other document in respect of such share or shares
which, previous to his name and address being entered in the records of the
Corporation, shall be duly given to the person or persons from whom he derives
his title to such shares or shares.
54. DECEASED SHAREHOLDERS: Subject to section 51 of the Act,
any notice or other document delivered or sent by post, telegram or telex or
left at the address of any shareholder as the same appears in the records of the
Corporation shall, notwithstanding that such shareholder be then deceased, and
whether or not the Corporation has notice of his decease, be deemed to have been
duly served in respect of the shares held by such shareholder (whether held
solely or with any other person or persons) until some other person be entered
in his stead in the records of the Corporation as the holder or one of the
holders thereof and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient
service of such notice or document on his heirs, executors or administrators and
on all persons, if any, interested with him in such shares.
55. SIGNATURE TO NOTICES: The signature of any director or
officer of the Corporation to any notice or document to be given by the
Corporation to any notice or document to be given by the Corporation may be
written, stamped, typewritten or printed or partly written, stamped, typewritten
or printed.
56. COMPUTATION OF TIME: Where a given number of days' notice
or notice extending over a period is required to be given under any provisions
of the articles or by-laws of the Corporation the day of service or posting of
the notice or document shall, unless it is otherwise provided, be counted in
such number of days or other period.
57. PROOF OF SERVICE: With respect to every notice or other
document sent by post it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope or
wrapper containing the notice or other document was properly addressed as
provided in paragraph 51 of this by-law and put into a post office or into a
letter box. A certificate of an officer of the Corporation in office at the time
of the making of the certificate or of a transfer officer of any transfer agent
or branch transfer agent
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<PAGE>
of shares of any class of the Corporation as to facts in relation to the sending
or delivery of any notice or other document to any shareholder, director,
officer or auditor or publication of any notice or other document shall be
conclusive evidence thereof and shall be binding on every shareholder, director,
officer or auditor of the Corporation as the case may be.
CHEQUES, DRAFTS AND NOTES
58. All cheques, drafts or orders for the payment of money and
all notes and acceptances and bills of exchange shall be signed by such officer
or officers or person or persons, whether or not officers of the Corporation,
and in such manner as the board of directors may from time to time designate by
resolution.
CUSTODY OF SECURITIES
59. All shares and securities owned by the Corporation shall
be lodged (in the name of the Corporation) with a chartered bank or trust
company or in a safety deposit box or, if so authorized by resolution of the
board of directors, with such other depositaries or in such other manner as may
be determined from time to time by the board of directors.
All share certificates, bonds, debentures, notes or other
obligations belonging to the Corporation may be issued or held in the name of a
nominee or nominees of the Corporation (and if issued or held in the names or
more than one nominee shall be held in the names of the nominees jointly with
the right of survivorship) and shall be endorsed in blank with endorsement
guaranteed in order to enable transfer to be completed and registration to be
effected.
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS
60. Contracts, documents or instruments in writing requiring
the signature of the Corporation may be signed by:
(a) The Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board,
the Managing Director, the President or a Vice-President together with the
Secretary or the Treasurer, or
(b) any two directors
and all contracts, documents and instruments in writing so signed shall be
binding upon the Corporation without any further authorization or formality. The
board of directors shall have power from time to time by resolution to appoint
any officer or officers, or any person or persons, on behalf of the Corporation
either to sign contracts, documents and instruments in writing generally or to
sign specific contracts, documents or instruments in writing.
The corporate seal (if any) of the Corporation may be affixed
to contracts, documents and instruments in writing signed as aforesaid or by any
officer or officers, person or
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<PAGE>
persons, appointed as aforesaid by resolution of the board of directors, but any
such contract, document or instrument is not invalid merely because the
corporate seal is not affixed thereto.
The term "contracts, documents or instruments in writing" as
used in this by-law shall include deeds, mortgages, hypothecs, charges,
conveyances, transfers and assignments of property real or personal, immovable
or movable, agreements, releases, receipts and discharges for the payment of
money or other obligations, conveyances, transfers and assignments of shares,
share warrants, stocks, bonds, debentures or other securities and all paper
writings.
In particular without limiting the generality of the foregoing
(a) The Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board,
the Managing Director, the President or a Vice-President together with the
Secretary or the Treasurer, or
(b) any two directors
shall have authority to sell, assign, transfer, exchange, convert or convey any
and all shares, stocks, bonds, debentures, rights, warrants or other securities
owned by or registered in the name of the Corporation and to sign and execute
(under the seal of the Corporation or otherwise) all assignments, transfers,
conveyances, powers of attorney and other instruments that may be necessary for
the purpose of selling, assigning, transferring, exchanging, converting or
conveying any such shares, stocks, bonds, debentures, rights, warrants or other
securities.
The signature or signatures of the Chairman of the Board, a
Vice-Chairman of the Board, the Managing Director, the President, a
Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, an Assistant Secretary or an
Assistant Treasurer or any director of the Corporation and/or of any other
officer or officers, person or persons, appointed as aforesaid by resolution of
the board of directors may, if specifically authorized by resolution of the
directors, be printed, engraved, lithographed or otherwise mechanically
reproduced upon any contracts, documents or instruments in writing or bonds,
debentures or other securities of the Corporation executed or issued by or on
behalf of the Corporation and all contracts, documents or instruments in writing
or bonds, debentures or other securities of the Corporation on which the
signature or signatures of any of the foregoing officers or persons authorized
as aforesaid shall be so reproduced pursuant to special authorization by
resolution of the directors shall be deemed to have been manually signed by such
officers or persons whose signature or signatures is or are so reproduced and
shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if they had been signed
manually and notwithstanding that the officers or persons whose signature or
signatures is or are so reproduced may have ceased to hold office at the date of
the delivery or issue of such contracts, documents or instruments in writing or
bonds, debentures or other securities of the Corporation.
FINANCIAL YEAR
61. The financial year of the Corporation shall terminate on
such date in each year as the directors may from time to time by resolution
determine.
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<PAGE>
ENACTED this 9th day of September, 1997.
(WITNESS the corporate seal of the Corporation).
Corporate
Seal
/s/ /s/
- --------------------------- -----------------------------
Joseph A. Basile, Jr Stephen Irwin
President Secretary
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<PAGE>
GST TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
PROXY
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING
TO BE HELD MARCH 4, 1998
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The undersigned, being a shareholder of GST Telecommunications, Inc.
(the "Company"), hereby appoints John Warta, Chairman of the Company, or failing
him, Stephen Irwin, Vice- Chairman of the Company, or failing him, Daniel
Trampush, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, or,
alternatively, __________________, as proxyholder, to attend the Annual Meeting
of the Company to be held in the [ Hotel,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada] on March 4, 1998, and at any adjournment thereof and
to vote all the shares in the capital of the Company that the undersigned would
otherwise be entitled to vote if personally present at such Annual Meeting or at
any adjournment thereof with respect to the matters set forth below as follows:
1. Setting the number of directors for election at nine.
VOTE FOR AGAINST
2. Election of the Board of Directors as follows:
JOHN WARTA VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
STEPHEN IRWIN VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
JOSEPH A. BASILE, JR. VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
THOMAS E. SAWYER VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
PETER E. LEGAULT VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
JACK G. ARMSTRONG VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
JOSEPH G. FOGG VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
<PAGE>
A. ROY MEGARRY VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
MITSUHIRO NAOE VOTE WITHHOLD
FOR VOTE
3. Approval of an amendment to the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan
increasing the number of Common Shares that may be subject to options
granted under such Plan from 700,000 to 1,000,000 shares.
VOTE FOR AGAINST
4. Approval of the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan and authorization for
the directors to make such changes to such Plan as may be required by
the securities regulatory authorities or to comply with applicable
legislation without further shareholder approval.
VOTE FOR AGAINST
5. Approval of the Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws and
authorization for the directors to make such changes to such By-Laws as
may be required to comply with applicable legislation without further
shareholder approval.
VOTE FOR AGAINST
6. Approval of the reservation for issuance of Common Shares
issuable upon conversion of outstanding Series A Preference
Shares issued by the Company in a private placement.
VOTE FOR WITHHOLD VOTE
7. Appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Certified Public
Accountants, to serve as auditors for the Company and
authorization for the directors to fix the remuneration to be
paid to the auditors.
VOTE FOR WITHHOLD VOTE
8. To vote with discretionary power with respect to the
transaction of such other business as may properly come before
the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
VOTE FOR WITHHOLD VOTE
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<PAGE>
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Notice of Annual
General Meeting and Proxy Circular, both dated January __, 1998, the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997.
THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REVOKES ANY PROXY PREVIOUSLY GIVEN.
DATED this ________ day of ______________________, 1998.
- --------------------------- -------------------------------------------
NAME (Please Print) SIGNATURE
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears
hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When
signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please
give full title as such. When signing on
behalf of a corporation, you should be an
authorized officer of such corporation, and
please give your title as such.
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<PAGE>
NOTES
1. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED OR WITHHELD FROM
VOTING ON ANY POLL EITHER (I) REQUESTED BY A SHAREHOLDER OR PROXYHOLDER
(PROVIDED THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE CERTAIN) OR (II) REQUIRED BY VIRTUE OF 5% OR MORE
OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF THE COMPANY BEING REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING (THE "MEETING") BY PROXIES THAT ARE TO BE VOTED AGAINST A MATTER. IF THE
SHAREHOLDER OR AN INTERMEDIARY HOLDING SHARES AND ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN
UNREGISTERED SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED A CHOICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE ITEMS
ABOVE BY MARKING AN "X" IN THE SPACE PROVIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE THE SHARES WILL
BE VOTED ON ANY POLL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT CHOICE. IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED,
THE PROXYHOLDER, IF ONE PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INTENDS TO VOTE THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY AS IF THE SHAREHOLDER HAD SPECIFIED AN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE. IF ANY AMENDMENTS OR VARIATIONS TO MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE
NOTICE OF MEETING ARE PROPOSED AT THE MEETING OR IF ANY OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY
COME BEFORE THE MEETING, DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY IS HEREBY CONFERRED WITH
RESPECT THERETO.
2. A SHAREHOLDER OR AN INTERMEDIARY HOLDING SHARES AND ACTING ON BEHALF
OF AN UNREGISTERED SHAREHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT A PERSON OTHER THAN THE
PERSONS NAMED IN THE PROXY AS PROXYHOLDERS (WHICH PERSON NEED NOT BE A
SHAREHOLDER) TO ATTEND AND ACT ON HIS BEHALF AT THE MEETING. TO EXERCISE THIS
RIGHT, THE SHAREHOLDER OR INTERMEDIARY MUST STRIKE OUT THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS
NAMED IN THE PROXY AS PROXYHOLDERS AND INSERT THE NAME OF HIS NOMINEE IN THE
SPACE PROVIDED OR COMPLETE ANOTHER PROXY.
3. This Proxy will not be valid unless it is dated and signed by the
intermediary or by the shareholder or his attorney authorized in writing. In the
case of a corporation, this Proxy must be dated and executed under its corporate
seal or signed by a duly authorized officer or attorney for the corporation.
4. To be effective, the Proxy together with the power of attorney or
other authority, if any, under which it was signed or a notarially certified
copy thereof, must be deposited with the Company's transfer agent, Montreal
Trust Company of Canada, of 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C
3B9, at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays)
before the time of the Meeting. Unregistered shareholders who received the Proxy
through an intermediary must deliver the Proxy in accordance with the
instructions given by such intermediary.
5. This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the
Company.
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<PAGE>
Your name and address are shown as registered - please notify Montreal
Trust Company of Canada of any change in your address.
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