Exhibit 99.1
NOTICE OF MEETING
AND
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
CIRCULAR
AND
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
CIRCULAR
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON
APRIL 28, 2022
APRIL 28, 2022
| MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD† | |
On behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), management and employees of Celestica Inc. (the “Corporation”,“Celestica”,“we”,“us” or “our”), it is my pleasure to invite you to join us at our 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) to be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
2021 Company Highlights
2021 was a successful year for Celestica, in which we met or exceeded a number of our long-term strategic objectives and financial performance goals. I want to congratulate Celestica’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Rob Mionis, and his executive leadership team for the successful execution of our multi-year transformational journey. They have led the Corporation’s 23,000+ employees through an unprecedented global pandemic and reimagined Celestica’s potential during challenging market conditions across several of our business lines. The executive leadership team made deliberate strategic choices for each of our businesses intended to drive meaningful growth and reshaped our business portfolio by focusing on value-added businesses in order to improve profitability. We believe that under Mr. Mionis’ leadership, Celestica is stronger than it has ever been — both operationally and financially — and we are firmly poised for growth.
You will read more about Celestica’s accomplishments in the letter from the Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee (“HRCC”) contained in the accompanying Management Information Circular (the “Circular”).
Embracing ESG
The Board has oversight for Celestica’s strategy, policies and initiatives relating to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters, and we believe that embracing ESG as a central component of Celestica’s strategy will help to create long-term value for shareholders, customers, employees, and other stakeholders. Celestica has particularly demonstrated long-standing leadership in sustainability as we seek to minimize the environmental impact of our operations and supply chains, as well as foster a positive and engaged workforce that empowers people to be their best every day.
During 2021, Celestica took many positive steps to bring diversity and inclusion into focus and further incorporate it into our culture, workplace, and talent practices. Of the director nominees, 22% are women and 33% self-identify as members of visible minorities. We maintain our commitment to the target under our Board Diversity Policy to attain Board composition of at least 30% women by 2023. The Board also oversees Celestica’s progress on diversity and inclusion throughout the organization.
Shareholder Engagement
In 2021, we proactively reached out to our shareholders for their feedback. Although the discussions led by the Chair of the HRCC, Robert A. Cascella, covered a broad range of topics, the main focus was on executive compensation. The Board believes in the importance of open and constructive dialogue with shareholders. You will read more about our shareholder engagement initiative within the Circular.
Our Opportunity Ahead
The Board is confident that Celestica is well positioned to build on the momentum gained in 2021 to drive progress in 2022, and that Celestica’s resilient and talented team will help to create long-term value for all our shareholders, customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
In Closing
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your continued support. The Board would also like to thank Eamon Ryan, who is not standing for re-election to the Board at the Meeting, for his over 13 years of service on the Board.
We encourage you to participate in the Meeting at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD. Please remember to exercise your vote, either during the Meeting or by completing, signing, dating and returning the form of proxy included with the notice by mail or by following the instructions for voting by telephone or internet in the form of proxy prior to the Meeting.
Yours sincerely,
| | |
| Michael M. Wilson Chair of the Board | |
†
This letter contains forward-looking statements. See About the Information in this Circular — Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements starting on page 2 of the Circular.
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| NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF CELESTICA INC. | |
You are invited to join the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Celestica Inc. (the “Corporation,” “Celestica,” “we,” “us” or “our”) if you held multiple voting shares (“MVS”) or subordinate voting shares (“SVS”) of the Corporation as of the close of business on March 11, 2022.
| When | | | Where | |
| Thursday, April 28, 2022 9:30 a.m. EDT | | | Virtual meeting via audio-only webcast at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD | |
The business of the Meeting is to:
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receive and consider the financial statements of the Corporation for its financial year ended December 31, 2021, together with the report of the auditor thereon;
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elect the directors for the ensuing year;
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appoint the auditor for the ensuing year;
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authorize the directors to fix the auditor’s remuneration; and
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approve an advisory resolution on the Corporation’s approach to executive compensation.
We will also consider other business that may properly come before the Meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
In our continuing effort to reduce environmental impacts and improve sustainability, we have adopted the “notice-and-access” procedures permitted under applicable Canadian securities laws for distribution of the Management Information Circular (the “Circular”) and other Meeting materials to shareholders. Under the notice-and-access procedures, instead of sending paper copies of the Circular and other Meeting materials, shareholders who held MVS or SVS as of March 11, 2022 will be able to access and review these materials online. Shareholders will receive a Notice of Availability of Meeting Materials which will provide instructions of how to access the Meeting materials electronically on a website as well as how to obtain a paper copy of the Meeting materials upon request. For additional information, see Delivery of Meeting Materials and Voting Information in the accompanying Circular.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2022 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at the Meeting. Such shareholders are invited to vote at the Meeting by completing, signing, dating and returning the form of proxy by mail or by following the instructions for voting by telephone or internet in such form of proxy, whether or not they attend the virtual Meeting. All registered shareholders (shareholders whose shares are registered directly in such shareholder’s name with our registrar and transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc.) or their duly appointed proxyholders can attend the Meeting online at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD where they can participate, vote or submit questions during the virtual Meeting. For additional information including how non-registered shareholders (or beneficial owners) can participate, vote, and submit questions during the virtual Meeting, see Delivery of Meeting Materials and Voting Information in the accompanying Circular.
If you have any questions regarding the forms, please contact your broker or intermediary or the Corporation’s strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale Advisors, at 1-888-327-0819 (toll free in North America), or at 1-416-867-2272 (collect outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.
DATED at Toronto, Ontario this 10th day of March, 2022.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Robert Ellis
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
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| HIGHLIGHTS | |
You are invited to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Celestica Inc. (the “Corporation,” “Celestica,” “we,” “us” or “our”) if you held multiple voting shares or subordinate voting shares of the Corporation as of the close of business on March 11, 2022.
| When | | | Where | |
| Thursday, April 28, 2022 9:30 a.m. EDT | | | Virtual meeting via audio-only webcast at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD | |
The following summary contains highlights about Celestica and the Meeting. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider in advance of the Meeting, and we encourage you to read the entire Management Information Circular (the “Circular”) carefully before voting. Page references are provided to help you find further information in the Circular. For more information concerning the Meeting and voting on the proposals discussed in more detail in the Circular, please see Delivery of Meeting Materials and Voting Information therein.
| Business of the Meeting | |
We are asking our shareholders to vote on the matters below. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) recommends that you vote FOR all of the resolutions set forth in the Circular on the following matters.
| | | | | | Voting Recommendation | | | | For More Information | | |
| | Annual Financial Statements Receive and consider the financial statements of the Corporation for its financial year ended December 31, 2021, together with the report of the auditor thereon | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | Electing Directors You will be electing a Board of Directors consisting of nine members. Each director nominee is qualified, experienced and committed to serving on the Board. The Board recommends you vote FOR all the director nominees. | | | | ✓ FOR | | | | Pages 8 - 12 | | |
| | Appointing and Remunerating the Auditor KPMG LLP has served as our auditor since 1997. The Board recommends you vote FOR the appointment of KPMG LLP as our auditor for the ensuing year, and FOR the authorization of the Board to set the auditor’s remuneration. | | | | ✓ FOR | | | | Page 36 | | |
| | Advisory Say-on-Pay Resolution We continue to engage with our shareholders with respect to our executive compensation program. The Board recommends you vote FOR our approach to executive compensation. | | | | ✓ FOR | | | | Pages 37 - 39 | | |
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| Governance Highlights | |
| | Board Statistics | | | | Key Governance Practices and Policies | | |
| | Average age: 62 years Average tenure: 6 years Diversity: 22% women, 33% visible minority | | | | • Fully independent Board committees • Board orientation and continuing education • Board diversity policy • External board evaluation process • Majority voting policy • Code of business conduct and ethics • Director share ownership guidelines • Shareholder engagement and outreach | | |
| | Director Nominees | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| | Name | | | | Age | | | | Director Since | | | | Position | | | | Independent | | | | Committee Membership | | | | 2021 Meeting Attendance | | | | 2021 Voting Results | | | | Other Public Company Boards | | | ||||
| Board | | | | Committee | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Robert A. Cascella | | | | 67 | | | | 2019 | | | | Former Executive Vice President of Royal Philips | | | | Yes | | | | Audit Human Resources and Compensation Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | | | 97.60% | | | | 2 | | |
| | Deepak Chopra | | | | 58 | | | | 2018 | | | | Former President and CEO of Canada Post Corporation | | | | Yes | | | | Audit Human Resources and Compensation Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | | 92% | | | | 100% | | | | 98.54% | | | | 3 | | |
| | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | 71 | | | | 2010 | | | | Former CEO of UPS Worldwide Logistics Group | | | | Yes | | | | Audit Human Resources and Compensation Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | | | 98.42% | | | | — | | |
| | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | 67 | | | | 2009 | | | | Former President of Boeing International | | | | Yes | | | | Audit Human Resources and Compensation Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | | | 98.02% | | | | 3 | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | 59 | | | | 2015 | | | | President and CEO of Celestica | | | | No | | | | — | | | | 100% | | | | — | | | | 99.12% | | | | — | | |
| | Luis A. M��ller | | | | 52 | | | | 2021 | | | | CEO of Cohu, Inc. | | | | Yes | | | | Audit Human Resources and Compensation Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | | | — | | | | 1 | | |
| | Carol S. Perry | | | | 71 | | | | 2013 | | | | Past Commissioner of the Ontario Securities Commission | | | | Yes | | | | Audit Human Resources and Compensation Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | | 92% | | | | 100% | | | | 98.85% | | | | — | | |
| | Tawfiq Popatia | | | | 47 | | | | 2017 | | | | Senior Managing Director of Onex | | | | No | | | | — | | | | 100% | | | | — | | | | 98.70% | | | | — | | |
| | Michael M. Wilson | | | | 70 | | | | 2011 | | | | Former President and CEO of Agrium Inc. | | | | Yes | | | | Audit Human Resources and Compensation Nominating and Corporate Governance | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | | | 97.64% | | | | 2 | | |
You can read more about each nominated director in the director profiles beginning on page 8 of the accompanying Circular. See also Director Skills Matrix on page 25 of the accompanying Circular.
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| Executive Compensation Highlights | |
| | Objectives of our Executive Compensation Program | | | | Key Executive Compensation Practices and Policies | | |
| | Our executive compensation philosophy is to attract, motivate and retain the leaders who drive the success of Celestica. | | | | • Compensation mix that is incentive-driven with a large proportion that is variable or “at-risk” to support our pay for performance culture and align with shareholder interests | | |
| | Our executive compensation program and practices have been designed to align pay with performance, our business strategy and shareholder interests. | | | | • Focus on long-term compensation • Performance-based vesting for certain awards • Performance-based incentive plan payouts • Caps on incentive plan payouts • Target pay opportunities consistent with market practice • Clawback policy and provisions • Shareholder engagement program • Independent advisor to Human Resources and Compensation Committee (“HRCC”) | | |
The table below shows how named executive officer (“NEO”) compensation was aligned with performance in 2021.
| | Pay for Performance Alignment | | | | Demonstrated By | | |
| | At-risk compensation | | | | 90% of CEO target compensation was at-risk 82% of other NEO target compensation was at-risk | | |
| | NEO performance assessments and accomplishments | | | | Comprehensive review of NEO accomplishments starting on page 61 | | |
| | Incentives are tied to financial results, and are formulaically determined | | | | Descriptions of how we determined short-term and long-term incentive awards starting on page 59 | | |
You can read more about executive compensation in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 44 of the accompanying Circular.
| Shareholder Engagement Highlights | |
During 2021, we proactively contacted shareholders representing approximately 49% of our outstanding subordinate voting shares (“SVS”). The Chair of the HRCC, Robert A. Cascella, led this shareholder engagement initiative and participated in discussions with a number of our largest shareholders representing approximately 16% of SVS to discuss executive compensation matters.
You can read more about our shareholder engagement initiative beginning on page 37 of the accompanying Circular.
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| Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Highlights | |
| | 2021 ESG Highlights | | | | Key ESG Practices and Policies | | |
| | • Continued to focus on greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions reduction targets in line with climate science and the goals of the Paris Agreement • Reported against the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board framework and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures framework • Launched an action plan in response to the results of our global diversity and inclusion employee survey and held our first “Celestica Day for Diversity and Inclusion Awareness” • Introduced new policies and commitments, including the Board Diversity Policy, and reviewed our existing policies and practices to ensure they support our diversity and inclusion agenda, remove perception of favoritism and uphold equity • In July 2021, the CEO committed to meeting fundamental responsibilities in four areas: human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption | | | | • Commitment to fostering a company-wide culture of sustainability focused on supporting people, the planet and the communities in which Celestica operates • Alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals • Established an energy management system geared to align our operations with our GHG emissions reduction goals • Diversity and inclusion is incorporated in our culture, workplace, and talent practices • Embedded Board level strategy and oversight into our ESG management system • Well-defined Business Conduct Governance Policy and Compliance and Ethics program demonstrating our opposition to unethical behaviour | | |
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Measurements and Recognitions
You can read more about our ESG practices beginning on page 30 of the accompanying Circular.
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| MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR | |
You are entitled to attend and vote at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Celestica Inc. (the “Corporation,” “Celestica,” “we,” “us” or “our”) if you owned our multiple voting shares (“MVS”) or subordinate voting shares (“SVS”) at the close of business on March 11, 2022. The Meeting will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m., EDT, with login beginning at 9:00 a.m., EDT, via a live audio-only webcast on the internet at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD.
Your participation at the Meeting is important. We encourage you to exercise your right to vote. For instructions on attending the Meeting virtually and voting your shares, please see Delivery of Meeting Materials and Voting Information beginning on page 81.
We are soliciting proxies by mail, in person, by phone and/or by electronic communications and have retained Kingsdale Advisors (“Kingsdale”) as our strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent in Canada and the United States.
After the Meeting, Robert A. Mionis, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and Mandeep Chawla, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), will provide a brief overview of the Corporation’s affairs and will be available to respond to questions.
| About the Information in this Circular | |
In this Management Information Circular (“Circular”), unless otherwise noted, all information is given as of February 22, 2022 and all dollar amounts are expressed in United States (“U.S.”) dollars. Unless stated otherwise, all references to “U.S.$” or “$” are to U.S. dollars and all references to “C$” are to Canadian dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, any reference in this Circular to a conversion between U.S.$ and C$ is a conversion at the average of the exchange rates in effect for 2021. During that period, based on the relevant 2021 noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers in Canadian dollars, as certified for customs purposes by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, the average exchange rate was $1.00 = C$1.2533.
| Note Regarding Foreign Private Issuer Status | |
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), from, among other things, certain rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our directors, executive officers and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies the securities of which are registered under the Exchange Act, including the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K. However, we file our Annual Report on Form 20-F with the SEC, which contains our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). We also furnish quarterly reports on Form 6-K to the SEC which contain our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. We also file reports, statements and other information with the Canadian Securities Administrators and these can be accessed electronically on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
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| Note Regarding Non-IFRS Financial Measures | |
This Circular contains references to operating margin, adjusted return on invested capital (“ROIC”) and adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”), each of which is a non-IFRS ratio. With respect to all references to these measures (wherever used in this Circular), please note the following:
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Non-IFRS operating margin is defined as non-IFRS operating earnings divided by revenue. Non-IFRS operating earnings is defined as earnings (loss) before income taxes, Finance Costs (defined below), employee stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software) and Other Charges (recoveries) (as defined below).
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Non-IFRS adjusted ROIC is determined by dividing non-IFRS operating earnings by average net invested capital, which is derived from IFRS financial measures and is defined as total assets less: cash, right-of-use assets, accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities and provisions, and income taxes payable, using a five-point average to calculate average net invested capital for the year.
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Non-IFRS adjusted EPS is determined by dividing non-IFRS adjusted net earnings by the number of diluted weighted average shares outstanding. Non-IFRS adjusted net earnings is a non-IFRS financial measure and defined as IFRS net earnings (loss) before employee stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software), Other Charges (recoveries), and adjustments for taxes (representing the tax effects of our non-IFRS adjustments and non-core tax impacts (tax adjustments related to acquisitions, and certain other tax costs or recoveries related to restructuring actions or restructured sites)).
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Finance Costs consist of interest expense and fees related to the Corporation’s credit facility (including debt issuance and related amortization costs), our interest rate swap agreements, our accounts receivable sales program and customer supplier financing programs, and interest expense on our lease obligations, net of interest income earned.
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Other Charges (recoveries) consist of restructuring charges, net of recoveries, transition costs (costs related to, when applicable: the relocation of our Toronto manufacturing operations and the move of our corporate headquarters into and out of a temporary location; and manufacturing line transfers from closed sites); net impairment charges; Acquisition Costs (as defined below); legal settlements (recoveries); and specified credit facility-related charges.
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Acquisition Costs consist of acquisition-related consulting, transaction and integration costs, and charges or releases related to the remeasurement of indemnification assets or the release of indemnification or other liabilities recorded in connection with acquisitions.
See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) for the Corporation’s most recently completed financial year (available at www.sedar.com) and in Item 5 of the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 (available at www.sec.gov) for, among other things, a discussion of the exclusions used to determine the non-IFRS financial measures that are components of these non-IFRS ratios, how these non-IFRS financial measures and ratios are used, and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS operating earnings and non-IFRS adjusted net earnings to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures, which reconciliations are incorporated herein by reference. These non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
| Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements | |
Certain statements contained in this Circular and the Message from the Chair of the Board include forward-looking information and, therefore, constitute forward-looking statements including, without limitation, those related to our Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) and diversity commitments and goals, compensation programs, operations, anticipated financial performance, business prospects, and board and committee composition and roles. Such forward-looking statements may, without limitation, be preceded by, followed by, or include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “continues,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “possible,” “contemplate,” “seek,” or similar expressions, or may
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employ such future or conditional verbs as “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “should,” or “would,” or may otherwise be indicated as forward-looking statements by grammatical construction, phrasing or context. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, where applicable, and applicable Canadian securities laws concerning forward-looking information.
Forward-looking statements are provided to assist readers in understanding management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: employee, stakeholder, customer, supplier and/or non-governmental organization engagement and commitment to sustainability and/or ESG initiatives (including diversity and inclusion initiatives), the cost of implementing our sustainability and/or ESG initiatives, our ability to execute our sustainability and/or ESG initiatives as planned, the effectiveness and impact of intended actions; the impact of changing legislation, regulatory initiatives, and social responsibility and sustainability initiatives generally, as well as risks related to our operational and financial performance (which may impact our ability to achieve our sustainability and/or ESG goals as anticipated); customer and segment concentration; price, margin pressures, and other competitive factors and adverse market conditions affecting, and the highly competitive nature of, the electronics manufacturing services (“EMS”) industry in general and our segments in particular (including the risk that anticipated market improvements do not materialize); delays in the delivery and availability of components, services and/or materials, as well as their costs and quality; challenges of replacing revenue from completed, lost or non-renewed programs or customer disengagements; our customers’ ability to compete and succeed using our products and services; changes in our mix of customers and/or the types of products or services we provide, including negative impacts of higher concentrations of lower margin programs; managing changes in customer demand; rapidly evolving and changing technologies, and changes in our customers’ business or outsourcing strategies; the cyclical and volatile nature of our semiconductor business; the expansion or consolidation of our operations; the inability to maintain adequate utilization of our workforce; defects or deficiencies in our products, services or designs; volatility in the commercial aerospace industry; integrating and achieving the anticipated benefits from acquisitions (including our recent acquisition of PCI Private Limited (“PCI”)) and “operate-in-place” arrangements; compliance with customer-driven policies and standards, and third-party certification requirements; challenges associated with new customers or programs, or the provision of new services; the impact of our restructuring actions, divestitures and/or productivity initiatives, including a failure to achieve anticipated benefits therefrom; the incurrence of future restructuring charges, impairment charges, other write-downs of assets or operating losses; managing our business during uncertain market, political and economic conditions, including among others, geopolitical and other risks associated with our international operations, including military actions, protectionism and reactive countermeasures, economic or other sanctions or trade barriers, including in relation to the evolving Ukraine/Russia conflict; disruptions to our operations, or those of our customers, component suppliers and/or logistics partners, including as a result of the potential adverse impacts of events outside of our control, including, among others: U.S. policies or legislation, U.S. and global tax reform; product/component tariffs on items imported into the U.S. and related countermeasures, and/or the impact of, in addition to coronavirus disease 2019 and related mutations (“COVID-19”), other widespread illness or disease; the scope, duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its continuing adverse impact on the commercial aerospace industry; changes to our operating model; changing commodity, materials and component costs as well as labor costs and conditions; execution and/or quality issues (including our ability to successfully resolve these challenges); non-performance by counterparties; maintaining sufficient financial resources to fund currently anticipated financial actions and obligations and to pursue desirable business opportunities; negative impacts on our business resulting from newly-increased third-party indebtedness; negative impacts on our business resulting from any significant uses of cash (including for the acquisition of PCI), securities issuances, and/or additional increases in third-party indebtedness (including as a result of an inability to sell desired amounts under our uncommitted accounts receivable sales program); operational impacts that may affect PCI’s ability to achieve anticipated financial results; foreign currency volatility; our global operations and supply chain; competitive bid selection processes; customer relationships with emerging companies; recruiting or retaining skilled talent; our dependence on industries affected by rapid technological change; our ability to adequately protect intellectual property and confidential information; increasing taxes, tax audits, and challenges of defending our tax
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positions; obtaining, renewing or meeting the conditions of tax incentives and credits; the management of our information technology systems, and the fact that while we have not been materially impacted by computer viruses, malware, ransomware, hacking attempts or outages, we have been (and may continue to be) the target of such events; the inability to prevent or detect all errors or fraud; the variability of revenue and operating results; unanticipated disruptions to our cash flows; compliance with applicable laws and; our pension and other benefit plan obligations; changes in accounting judgments, estimates and assumptions; the need to refinance our third-party debt from time-to-time; our ability to maintain compliance with applicable credit facility covenants; interest rate fluctuations and the cessation of LIBOR; deterioration in financial markets or the macro-economic environment; our credit rating; the interest of our controlling shareholder; current or future litigation, governmental actions, and/or changes in legislation or accounting standards; negative publicity; the impact of climate change; and our ability to achieve our ESG initiative goals, including with respect to diversity and inclusion and climate change. The foregoing list of risks is not exhaustive. The foregoing and other material risks and uncertainties are discussed in our public filings at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, including in our most recent MD&A, our 2021 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with, and subsequent reports on Form 6-K furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and as applicable, the Canadian Securities Administrators.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Circular are based on various assumptions, many of which involve factors that are beyond our control. The foregoing and other material risks and uncertainties and assumptions are discussed in our public filings at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, including in our most recent MD&A, our 2021 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with, and subsequent reports on Form 6-K furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and as applicable, the Canadian Securities Administrators. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
| Additional Information | |
You can find further information concerning the Corporation on our website at www.celestica.com. The Circular and other relevant Meeting materials are available on our website at www.celestica.com/shareholder-documents. We encourage you to visit our website before attending the Meeting, as it provides useful information regarding the Corporation. The Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, quarterly financial statements and MD&A for the first three quarters of each year are also available on our website at www.celestica.com under “Investor Relations.” Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Circular.
Additional information about the Corporation is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
4
| PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SHARES | |
As of February 22, 2022, the only persons, corporations or other legal entities who, to the knowledge of the Corporation, its directors or executive officers, beneficially own, or control or direct, directly or indirectly, voting securities carrying 10% or more of the voting rights attached to any class of the voting securities of the Corporation are as follows:
Table 1: Principal Holders of Voting Shares
| | Name | | | | Number of Shares | | | | Percentage of Class | | | | Percentage of All Equity Shares | | | | Percentage of Voting Power | | |
| | Onex Corporation(1) Toronto, Ontario Canada | | | | 18,600,193 MVS | | | | 100.0% | | | | 14.9% | | | | 81.5% | | |
| 397,045 SVS | | | | * | | | | * | | | | * | | | |||||
| | Gerald W. Schwartz(2) Toronto, Ontario Canada | | | | 18,600,193 MVS | | | | 100.0% | | | | 14.9% | | | | 81.5% | | |
| 517,702 SVS | | | | * | | | | * | | | | * | | | |||||
| | Letko, Brosseau & Associates Inc.(3) Montréal, Québec Canada | | | | 13,251,527 SVS | | | | 12.5% | | | | 10.6% | | | | 2.3% | | |
*
Less than 1%.
(1)
The number of shares beneficially owned, controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by Onex Corporation (“Onex”) includes 945,010 MVS held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Onex. 814,546 of the MVS beneficially owned by Onex are subject to options granted to certain officers of Onex pursuant to certain Onex management investment plans, which options may be exercised upon specified dispositions by Onex (directly or indirectly) of Celestica’s securities, with respect to which Onex has the right to vote or direct the vote (“MIP Options”), including 688,807 MIP Options granted to Gerald W. Schwartz (each of which MVS will, upon exercise of such options, be automatically converted into an SVS).
(2)
The number of shares beneficially owned, or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by Mr. Schwartz consists of 120,657 SVS owned by a company controlled by Mr. Schwartz and all of the 18,600,193 MVS and 397,045 SVS beneficially owned, controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by Onex as described in footnote 1 above. Mr. Schwartz is the Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer of Onex. In addition, he indirectly owns multiple voting shares of Onex carrying the right to elect a majority of the Onex board of directors. Accordingly, under applicable securities laws, Mr. Schwartz is deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Celestica shares owned by Onex; Mr. Schwartz has advised the Corporation, however, that he disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
(3)
The number of shares reported as held by Letko, Brosseau & Associates Inc. is based on the alternative monthly report it filed on SEDAR on February 8, 2022, reporting ownership as of January 31, 2022.
| Dual Class Share Structure | |
Celestica’s dual class share structure has been in place since we completed our initial public offering in 1998. Since then, Onex has beneficially owned all of our outstanding MVS. The Corporation’s dual class share structure is a feature that is well known to investors. Such a structure, in combination with a committed, long-term, controlling shareholder, is recognized as providing for a significant positive impact on corporate value. Such benefits are realized by permitting management and the Board to focus on long-term success by making decisions without the need to satisfy short-term financial expectations that can be detrimental and result in the incurrence of disproportionate risks (relative to expected rewards) for stakeholders. The Board rejects the proposition that dual class share structures are inherently unfair or improper. While in the vast majority of matters that come before the Board the interests of the holders of MVS and SVS are entirely aligned, the Board recognizes that to fulfill Celestica’s commitment to good governance, a dual-class share structure requires vigilance and robust governance practices. Further, the Corporation has adopted a majority voting policy consistent with the rationale underlying the Toronto Stock Exchange’s (“TSX”) majority voting requirements even though the Corporation is exempt from such requirements. See below under Majority Voting Policy. The approval of the holders of each class of shares, voting separately as a class, is required for certain fundamental actions by the Corporation, including any amendments to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Articles”) to add, change or remove any rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions in respect of all or any of its shares. Accordingly, any changes to the Corporation’s dual class
5
share structure are not exclusively within the power of the Board or the Corporation’s public shareholders, requiring the approval of the holders of SVS and the approval of Onex as the holder of the MVS.
Onex has entered into a “coat-tail” agreement with the Corporation and with Computershare Trust Company of Canada (as successor to the Montreal Trust Company of Canada), as trustee for the benefit of the holders of the SVS, for the purpose of ensuring that the holders of the SVS will not be deprived of rights under applicable provincial take-over bid legislation to which they would be otherwise entitled in the event of a take-over bid (as that term is defined in applicable securities legislation) for the MVS if the MVS had been SVS. Subject to certain permitted forms of sale, such as identical or better offers to all holders of SVS, Onex has agreed that it, and any of its affiliates that may hold MVS from time to time, will not sell any MVS, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a take-over bid (as that term is defined under applicable securities legislation) under circumstances in which any applicable securities legislation would have required the same offer or a follow-up offer to be made to holders of SVS if the sale had been a sale of SVS rather than MVS, but otherwise on the same terms.
The Articles also provide protection to the holders of the SVS by providing that the MVS will be converted automatically into SVS upon any transfer thereof, except (a) a transfer to Onex or any affiliate of Onex, or (b) a transfer of 100% of the outstanding MVS to a purchaser who also has offered to purchase all of the outstanding SVS for a per share consideration identical to, and otherwise on the same terms as, that offered for the MVS, and the MVS held by such purchaser thereafter shall be subject to the provisions relating to conversion (including with respect to the provisions described in this paragraph) as if all references to Onex were references to such purchaser. In addition, if (a) any holder of any MVS ceases to be an affiliate of Onex, or (b) Onex and its affiliates cease to have the right, in all cases, to exercise the votes attached to, or to direct the voting of, any of the MVS held by Onex and its affiliates, such MVS shall convert automatically into SVS on a one-for-one basis. For these purposes, (a) “Onex” includes any successor corporation resulting from an amalgamation, merger, arrangement, sale of all or substantially all of its assets, or other business combination or reorganization involving Onex, provided that such successor corporation beneficially owns directly or indirectly all MVS beneficially owned directly or indirectly by Onex immediately prior to such transaction and is controlled by the same person or persons as controlled Onex prior to the consummation of such transaction, (b) a corporation shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of another corporation if, but only if (i) it is controlled by that other, or that other and one or more corporations each of which is controlled by that other, or two or more corporations each of which is controlled by that other, or (ii) it is a subsidiary of a corporation that is that other’s subsidiary, (c) “affiliate” means a subsidiary of Onex or a corporation controlled by the same person or company that controls Onex, and (d) “control” means beneficial ownership of, or control or direction over, securities carrying more than 50% of the votes that may be cast to elect directors if those votes, if cast, could elect more than 50% of the directors. For these purposes, a person is deemed to beneficially own any security which is beneficially owned by a corporation controlled by such person. In addition, if at any time the number of outstanding MVS shall represent less than 5% of the aggregate number of the outstanding MVS and SVS, all of the outstanding MVS shall be automatically converted at such time into SVS on a one-for-one basis.
| INFORMATION RELATING TO OUR DIRECTORS | |
| Election of Directors | |
All nine director nominees are qualified and experienced, and have agreed to serve on the Board. If elected, they will hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed, unless such office is earlier vacated in accordance with the Corporation’s by-laws. All of the nominees are currently directors of the Corporation. The Articles provide for a minimum of three and a maximum of twenty directors. The Board of Directors has the authority to set the number of directors of the Corporation to be elected at the Meeting and has set that number at nine.
As previously disclosed, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (“NCGC”) implemented a comprehensive board composition review in 2020 taking into account the composition of the Board, Board diversity and the Board’s retirement policy. In connection with this review, an ad hoc Director Search Committee comprised of Messrs. Cascella, Mionis, Popatia and Wilson was created to identify potential director nominees. The NCGC recommended, and the Board approved, an exception to the retirement policy
6
for Mr. Ryan for 2021 taking into account his expertise as a long-serving member of the Board, his leadership as Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee (“HRCC”), the need for continuity and stability during the search for a new director in 2021 and the transition to a new Chair of the HRCC, and limitations on in-person interviews for new directors and transition difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Ryan is not standing for re-election to the Board at the Meeting. Mr. Cascella was appointed as Chair of the HRCC effective as of the Corporation’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“2021 AGM”). The Director Search Committee continued its search for a new director following the 2021 AGM, adhering to the Board Diversity Policy with respect to identifying women and other diverse candidates. An initial candidate list of 50% women was developed by the Director Search Committee with the assistance of a director search firm tasked with this objective. Suitable candidates were interviewed by the members of the Director Search Committee. Ultimately, Dr. Müller was appointed to the Board effective August 31, 2021 on the basis that he will make a strong contribution and provide the background, skills, experience and diversity needed by the Board in view of the Corporation’s strategy.
We maintain our commitment to the 2023 target of 30% women on the Board and intend to commence a search, following the Meeting, for a new director with an initial candidate list comprised of no less than 50% women in accordance with our Board Diversity Policy. See Corporate Governance — Board Diversity.
Unless authority to do so is withheld, shares represented by proxies in favour of Mr. Wilson or Mr. Mionis (or their designees) (the “Proxy Nominees”) will be voted in favour of each of the nominees listed below for election as directors. Management of the Corporation does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable, or for any reason unwilling, to serve as a director, but if that should occur for any reason prior to their election, the Proxy Nominees may, in their discretion, nominate and vote for another nominee.
| Majority Voting Policy | |
The Board has adopted a policy that requires, in an uncontested election of directors, that shareholders be able to vote in favour of, or to withhold from voting, separately for each director nominee. If, with respect to any particular nominee, other than the controlling shareholder or a representative of the controlling shareholder, the number of shares withheld from voting by shareholders other than the controlling shareholder and its associates exceeds the number of shares that are voted in favour of the nominee, by shareholders other than the controlling shareholder and its associates, then the Board shall determine, and in so doing shall give due weight to the rights of the controlling shareholder, whether to require the nominee to resign from the Board and, if so required, any such nominee shall immediately tender his or her resignation. A director who tenders a resignation pursuant to this policy will not participate in any meeting of the Board at which the resignation is considered. The Board shall determine whether to accept the resignation, which, if accepted, shall be effective immediately upon such acceptance. The Board shall accept such resignation absent exceptional circumstances. Such a determination by the Board shall be made, and promptly announced by press release (a copy of which will be provided to the TSX), within 90 days after the applicable shareholders’ meeting. If the Board determines not to accept a resignation, the press release will fully state the reasons for such decision. Subject to any corporate law restrictions, the Board may leave any resultant vacancy unfilled until the next annual shareholders’ meeting or it may fill the vacancy through the appointment of a new director whom the Board considers would merit the confidence of the shareholders, or it may call a special meeting of shareholders at which there shall be presented a nominee or nominees to fill the vacant position or positions.
| Board Composition | |
The proposed Board has an average age of 62 and average tenure of six years. Two of the nine nominees are women (22%), including the current chair of the Audit Committee. Three of the other nominees self-identify as members of visible minorities (33%) while none of the nominees self-identify as Aboriginal peoples or as persons with disabilities (each as defined under the Employment Equity Act (Canada)). See Corporate Governance — Board Diversity.
7
| Nominees for Election as Director | |
Robert A. Cascella
Boca Raton, Florida
U.S.
Boca Raton, Florida
U.S.
Director Since: 2019
Age: 67
Status: Independent
Age: 67
Status: Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Executive Leadership
•
Healthcare Technology
•
Strategy and M&A
Other Current Public Board
Directorships:
Directorships:
•
Neuronetics, Inc. (since 2021)
•
Mirion Technologies
(since 2021)
(since 2021)
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 97.60%
Votes Withheld: 2.40%
Votes in Favour: 97.60%
Votes Withheld: 2.40%
Mr. Cascella retired from Royal Philips, a public Dutch multinational healthcare company, in 2021, where he most recently served as Special Advisor and Strategic Business Development Leader. From 2015 to 2020, he served as Executive Vice President of Royal Philips and Chief Executive Officer of Philips’ Diagnosis and Treatment businesses, including businesses serving Radiology, Cardiology and Oncology, as well as Enterprise Diagnostic Informatics. Mr. Cascella has also served on Philips’ Executive Committee from 2016 to 2021. Since 2021, he has served on the board of directors of Metabolon Inc., a private company using metabolomics to assist in the discovery of biomarkers. Mr. Cascella served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hologic, Inc., a public medical device and diagnostics company, from 2003 to 2013. He has also held senior leadership positions at CFG Capital, NeoVision Corporation and Fischer Imaging Corporation. Mr. Cascella served on Hologic, Inc.’s board of directors from 2008 to 2013. He also previously served on the board of Tegra Medical and acted as chair of the boards of Dysis Medical and Mirada Medical. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Fairfield University.
Mr. Cascella sits on the Audit Committee, HRCC (Chair), and NCGC.
| BOARD AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 13 of 13 | | | Board | | | 100% | |
| Audit Committee | | | 6 of 6 | | | Committee | | | 100% | |
| HRCC | | | 6 of 6 | | | | | | | |
| NCGC | | | 5 of 5 | | | | | | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 50,883 | | | | $566,328 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 37,028 | | | | $412,122 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 50,883 | | | | $566,328 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 13,855 | | | | $154,206 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Deepak Chopra
Toronto, Ontario Canada
Toronto, Ontario Canada
Director Since: 2018
Age: 58
Status: Independent
Age: 58
Status: Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Executive Leadership
•
Logistics and e-Commerce
Supply-Chain
Supply-Chain
•
Global Strategic Development
•
Audit Committee financial
expert
expert
Other Current Public Board
Directorships:
Directorships:
•
The North West Company Inc.
(since 2018)
(since 2018)
•
The Descartes Systems
Group Inc. (since 2020)
Group Inc. (since 2020)
•
Sun Life Financial Inc.
(since 2021)
(since 2021)
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 98.54%
Votes Withheld: 1.46%
Votes in Favour: 98.54%
Votes Withheld: 1.46%
Mr. Chopra most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post Corporation from February 2011 to March 2018. He has more than 30 years of global experience in the financial services, technology, logistics and supply chain industries. Mr. Chopra worked for Pitney Bowes Inc., a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) traded technology company known for postage meters, mail automation and location intelligence services, for more than 20 years. He served as President of Pitney Bowes Canada and Latin America from 2006 to 2010. He held a number of increasingly senior executive roles internationally, including President of its new Asia Pacific and Middle East region from 2001 to 2006 and Chief Financial Officer for the Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME) region from 1998 to 2001. He has previously served on the boards of Canada Post Corporation, Purolator Inc., SCI Group, the Canada Post Community Foundation, the Toronto Region Board of Trade and the Conference Board of Canada. Mr. Chopra is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Honours) and a Master’s Degree in Business Management (PGDBM).
Mr. Chopra sits on the Audit Committee, HRCC, and NCGC.
| BOARD AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 12 of 13 | | | Board | | | 92% | |
| Audit Committee | | | 6 of 6 | | | Committee | | | 100% | |
| HRCC | | | 6 of 6 | | | | | | | |
| NCGC | | | 5 of 5 | | | | | | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 68,612 | | | | $763,651 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 48,816 | | | | $543,322 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 68,612 | | | | $763,651 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 19,796 | | | | $220,329 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
8
Daniel P. DiMaggio
Duluth, Georgia
U.S.
Duluth, Georgia
U.S.
Director Since: 2010
Age: 71
Status: Independent
Age: 71
Status: Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Executive Leadership
•
Global Operations and
Supply Chain
Supply Chain
•
Financial Literacy
Other Current Public Board
Directorships: None
Directorships: None
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 98.42%
Votes Withheld: 1.58%
Votes in Favour: 98.42%
Votes Withheld: 1.58%
Mr. DiMaggio is a corporate director. Prior to retiring in 2006, he spent 35 years with United Parcel Services (“UPS”) (a public company), most recently as CEO of the UPS Worldwide Logistics Group. Prior to leading UPS’ Worldwide Logistics Group, Mr. DiMaggio held a number of positions at UPS with increasing responsibility, including leadership roles for the UPS International Marketing Group, as well as the Industrial Engineering function. In addition to his senior leadership roles at UPS, Mr. DiMaggio was a member of the board of directors of Greatwide Logistics Services, Inc. and CEVA Logistics (a public company). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Lowell Technological Institute (now the University of Massachusetts Lowell).
Mr. DiMaggio sits on the Audit Committee, HRCC, and NCGC.
| BOARD AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 13 of 13 | | | Board | | | 100% | |
| Audit Committee | | | 6 of 6 | | | Committee | | | 100% | |
| HRCC | | | 6 of 6 | | | | | | | |
| NCGC | | | 5 of 5 | | | | | | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 262,270 | | | | $2,919,065 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 242,474 | | | | $2,698,736 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 262,270 | | | | $2,919,065 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 19,796 | | | | $220,329 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Laurette T. Koellner
Merritt Island, Florida
U.S.
Merritt Island, Florida
U.S.
Director Since: 2009
Age: 67
Status: Independent
Age: 67
Status: Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Public Company Board
Expertise
Expertise
•
Audit and Finance
•
Human Resources
•
Audit Committee financial
expert
expert
Other Current Public Board
Directorships:
Directorships:
•
Papa John’s International, Inc.
(since 2014)
(since 2014)
•
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Company (since 2015)
Company (since 2015)
•
Nucor Corporation (since 2015)
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 98.02%
Votes Withheld: 1.98%
Votes in Favour: 98.02%
Votes Withheld: 1.98%
Ms. Koellner is a corporate director. She most recently served as Executive Chairman of International Lease Finance Corporation, an aircraft leasing subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”) from 2012 until its sale in 2014. Ms. Koellner retired as President of Boeing International, a division of The Boeing Company, in 2008. While at Boeing, she was a member of the Office of the Chairman and served as the Executive Vice President, Internal Services, Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer, President of Shared Services and Corporate Controller. Ms. Koellner previously served on the board of directors and was the Chair of the Audit Committee of Hillshire Brands Company (a public company, formerly Sara Lee Corporation and now merged with Tyson Foods, Inc.) and on the board of directors of AIG (a public company). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Business Administration from Stetson University, as well as a Certified Professional Contracts Manager designation from the National Contracts Management Association.
Ms. Koellner sits on the Audit Committee (Chair), HRCC, and NCGC.
| BOARD AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 13 of 13 | | | Board | | | 100% | |
| Audit Committee | | | 6 of 6 | | | Committee | | | 100% | |
| HRCC | | | 6 of 6 | | | | | | | |
| NCGC | | | 5 of 5 | | | | | | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 267,099 | | | | $2,972,812 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 252,779 | | | | $2,813,430 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 267,099 | | | | $2,972,812 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 14,320 | | | | $159,382 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
9
Robert A. Mionis
Hampton, New Hampshire
U.S.
Hampton, New Hampshire
U.S.
Director Since: 2015
Age: 59
Status: Not Independent
Age: 59
Status: Not Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Strategy
•
Business Transformation
and Development
and Development
•
Operations
•
Technology and Engineering
Other Current Public Board
Directorships: None
Directorships: None
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 99.12%
Votes Withheld: 0.88%
Votes in Favour: 99.12%
Votes Withheld: 0.88%
Mr. Mionis is currently the President and CEO of the Corporation, and is a member of the Board of Directors. For a description of his role as President and CEO, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis below.
From July 2013 until August 2015, he was an Operating Partner at Pamplona Capital Management (“Pamplona”), a global private equity firm focused on companies in the industrial, aerospace, healthcare and automotive industries. Before joining Pamplona, Mr. Mionis spent over six years as the President and CEO of StandardAero, a global aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul company. Before StandardAero, Mr. Mionis held senior leadership roles at Honeywell, including as the head of the Integrated Supply Chain Organization for Honeywell Aerospace. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mionis held a variety of progressively senior leadership roles with General Electric and Axcelis Technologies (each a public company) and AlliedSignal. From 2018 to 2021, Mr. Mionis served on the board of Shawcor Ltd., a Canadian oilfield services company listed on the TSX. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.
Mr. Mionis does not sit on any committees of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
| BOARD ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 13 of 13 | | | 100% | |
| | EXECUTIVE SHARE OWNERSHIP(3) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | RSUs | | | | PSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | 845,167 | | | | $9,406,709 | | | | 571,528 | | | | $6,361,107 | | | | 397,612 | | | | $4,425,421 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | 642,441 | | | | $7,150,368 | | | | 562,764 | | | | $6,263,563 | | | | 106,869 | | | | $1,189,452 | | | | 1,814,307 | | | | $20,193,237 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Change | | | | 202,726 | | | | $2,256,341 | | | | 8,764 | | | | $97,544 | | | | 290,743 | | | | $3,235,969 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Luis A. Müller
San Diego, California
U.S.
San Diego, California
U.S.
Director Since: 2021(1)
Age: 52
Status: Independent
Age: 52
Status: Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Executive Leadership
•
Capital Equipment
•
Business Development and
Strategy
Strategy
Other Current Public Board
Directorships:
Directorships:
•
Cohu, Inc. (since 2014)
2021 Annual Meeting(1)
Votes in Favour: N/A
Votes Withheld: N/A
Votes in Favour: N/A
Votes Withheld: N/A
Dr. Müller has 25 years of business and technical leadership in the semiconductor industry. In 2014, he assumed his current role as Chief Executive Officer and board member of Cohu, Inc. a Nasdaq-listed global leader in back-end semiconductor equipment and services. Prior to joining Cohu, Dr. Müller cofounded Kinetrix, Inc. and later joined Teradyne, a Nasdaq-listed advanced test solutions company, when it acquired Kinetrix.
Dr. Müller has a PhD in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Universidade Federal Santa Catarina.
Dr. Müller sits on the Audit Committee, HRCC, and NCGC.
| BOARD AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE(1) | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 4 of 4 | | | Board | | | 100% | |
| Audit Committee | | | 2 of 2 | | | Committee | | | 100% | |
| HRCC | | | 3 of 3 | | | | | | | |
| NCGC | | | 2 of 2 | | | | | | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5,629 | | | | $62,651 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | N/A | | | | N/A | | | | N/A | | | | N/A | | | | N/A | | | | N/A | | | | 5,629 | | | | $62,651 | | | | N/A | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5,629 | | | | $62,651 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
10
Carol S. Perry
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Director Since: 2013
Age: 71
Status: Independent
Age: 71
Status: Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Capital Markets
•
Finance and Treasury
•
Corporate Governance
and Securities Regulation
and Securities Regulation
•
Audit Committee financial
expert
expert
Other Current Public Board
Directorships: None
Directorships: None
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 98.85%
Votes Withheld: 1.15%
Votes in Favour: 98.85%
Votes Withheld: 1.15%
Ms. Perry is a corporate director. She most recently served on the Independent Review Committees of mutual funds managed by 1832 Asset Management L.P., a mutual fund manager and wholly-owned affiliate of The Bank of Nova Scotia (2011-2020), and of investment funds managed by Jarislowsky Fraser Limited and MD Financial Management Inc., which are subsidiaries of The Bank of Nova Scotia (2018-2020). Previously, she was a Commissioner of the Ontario Securities Commission, and has served on adjudicative panels and acted as a director and Chair of its Governance and Nominating Committee. With over 20 years of experience in the investment industry as an investment banker, Ms. Perry held senior positions with leading financial services companies including RBC Capital Markets, Richardson Greenshields of Canada Limited and CIBC World Markets and later founded MaxxCap Corporate Finance Inc., a financial advisory firm. She is a former director of Softchoice Corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and DALSA Corporation. Ms. Perry has a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Electrical) degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto. She also holds the professional designation ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Ms. Perry sits on the Audit Committee, HRCC, and NCGC.
| BOARD AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 12 of 13 | | | Board | | | 92% | |
| Audit Committee | | | 6 of 6 | | | Committee | | | 100% | |
| HRCC | | | 6 of 6 | | | | | | | |
| NCGC | | | 5 of 5 | | | | | | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 222,127 | | | | $2,472,274 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 195,731 | | | | $2,178,486 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 222,127 | | | | $2,472,274 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 26,396 | | | | $293,788 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tawfiq Popatia
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Director Since: 2017
Age: 47
Status: Not Independent
Age: 47
Status: Not Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Finance and Capital
Markets
Markets
•
Aerospace and
Transportation
Transportation
•
Business Development
Other Current Public Board
Directorships: None
Directorships: None
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 98.70%
Votes Withheld: 1.30%
Votes in Favour: 98.70%
Votes Withheld: 1.30%
Mr. Popatia has been a Senior Managing Director of Onex since 2020 and leads its efforts in automation, aerospace and defense, and other transportation-focused industries. He joined Onex in 2007 and has led several of Onex Partners’ investments in these sectors. He previously served as a Managing Director of Onex from 2014 to 2020. Prior to joining Onex, Mr. Popatia worked at the private equity firm of Hellman & Friedman LLC and in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Popatia currently serves on the boards of WestJet, a Canadian airline, Advanced Integration Technology, an aerospace automation company, and BBAM, a provider of commercial jet aircraft leasing, financing and management. He previously served on the board of Spirit AeroSystems (a public company) and is a former Employer Trustee of the International Association of Machinists National Pension Fund. Mr. Popatia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from the University of British Columbia.
Mr. Popatia does not sit on any committees of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
| BOARD ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 13 of 13 | | | 100% | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2)(4) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | ��� | | | | N/A | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
11
Michael M. Wilson
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Canada
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Canada
Director Since: 2011
Age: 70
Status: Independent
Age: 70
Status: Independent
Areas of Expertise:
•
Public Company Board
Expertise
Expertise
•
Business Development
•
Corporate Governance
Other Current Public Board
Directorships:
Directorships:
•
Air Canada (since 2014)
•
Suncor Energy Inc. (Chair)
(since 2014)
(since 2014)
2021 Annual Meeting
Votes in Favour: 97.64%
Votes Withheld: 2.36%
Votes in Favour: 97.64%
Votes Withheld: 2.36%
Mr. Wilson is Chair of the Board. He has served on the Board since 2011 and been a corporate director since 2013.
Until his retirement in December 2013, he was the President and CEO, and a director, of Agrium Inc. (a public agricultural crop inputs company that has subsequently merged with Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. to form Nutrien Ltd.). He has over 30 years of international and executive management experience. Prior to joining Agrium Inc., Mr. Wilson served as President of Methanex Corporation (a public company) and held various senior positions in North America and Asia during his 18 years with The Dow Chemical Company (a public company). Mr. Wilson previously served on the board of directors of Finning International Inc. (a public company) and was also the past Chair of the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Mr. Wilson sits on the Audit Committee, HRCC, and NCGC (Chair).
| BOARD AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE | | |||||||||
| | | | ATTENDANCE | | | TOTAL ATTENDANCE | | |||
| Board | | | 13 of 13 | | | Board | | | 100% | |
| Audit Committee | | | 6 of 6 | | | Committee | | | 100% | |
| HRCC | | | 6 of 6 | | | | | | | |
| NCGC | | | 5 of 5 | | | | | | | |
| | DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | As of Dec. 31 | | | | SVS | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | Total # | | | | Total Value | | | | Target Met | | | ||||||||||||
| # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | | # | | | | $ | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 2021 | | | | 20,000 | | | | $222,600 | | | | 283,131 | | | | $3,151,248 | | | | 40,602 | | | | $451,900 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2020 | | | | 20,000 | | | | $222,600 | | | | 283,131 | | | | $3,151,248 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 343,733 | | | | $3,825,748 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Change | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 40,602 | | | | $451,900 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1)
Dr. Müller was appointed to the Board, and each committee of which he is a member, effective August 31, 2021 and is being proposed for election for the first time at the Meeting.
(2)
The securities in the table represent all SVS beneficially owned, and all deferred share units (“DSUs”) and unvested restricted share units (“RSUs”) held as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 (as applicable). The $ value and “Total Value” of all such securities is based on the closing price of SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021 ($11.13). See — Directors’ Ownership of Securities — Director Share Ownership Guidelines for a description of the shareholding requirements for applicable directors. New directors have five years from the time of their appointment to the Board to comply with the Director Share Ownership Guidelines (as defined below).
(3)
As President and CEO of the Corporation, Mr. Mionis is subject to the Executive Share Ownership Guidelines instead of the Director Share Ownership Guidelines. See Executive Share Ownership. The securities in the table for 2020 represent all SVS beneficially owned and all unvested RSUs held as of December 31, 2020, as well as performance share units (“PSUs”) that settled at 26% of target on January 30, 2021. The securities in the table for 2021 represent all SVS beneficially owned and all unvested RSUs held as of December 31, 2021, as well as PSUs that vested at 74% of target on February 6, 2022. All other unvested PSUs held by Mr. Mionis are not included. The $ value and “Total Value” for such securities is based on the closing price of SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021 ($11.13).
(4)
Mr. Popatia, as an officer of Onex, is not subject to the Director Share Ownership Guidelines. In addition, Mr. Popatia does not receive any compensation in his capacity as a director of the Corporation; however, Onex receives compensation in the amount of $235,000 per year, payable in DSUs in equal quarterly installments in arrears, for providing his services (26,396 DSUs in 2021 and 41,180 DSUs in 2020). See footnote 9 to Table 3.
12
| Director Compensation | |
Director compensation is set by the Board on the recommendation of the HRCC and in accordance with director compensation guidelines and principles established by the NCGC. Under these guidelines and principles, the Board seeks to maintain director compensation at a level that is competitive with director compensation at comparable companies, and requires a substantial portion of such compensation to be taken in the form of DSUs (or, at a director’s election, RSUs, if the Director Share Ownership Guidelines described below have been met). The director fee structure for 2021 is set forth in Table 2 below.
Table 2: Directors’ Fees(1)
| | Element | | | | Director Fee Structure for 2021(2) | | |
| | Annual Board Retainer(3) | | | | $360,000 — Board Chair $235,000 — Directors | | |
| | Travel Fees(4) | | | | $2,500 | | |
| | Annual Retainer for the Audit Committee Chair | | | | $20,000 | | |
| | Annual Retainer for the HRCC Chair | | | | $15,000 | | |
| | Annual Retainer for the NCGC Chair(5) | | | | — | | |
(1)
Does not include Mr. Mionis, President and CEO of the Corporation, whose compensation is set out in Table 20 of this Circular. Does not include fees payable to Onex for the service of Mr. Popatia as a director, which are described in footnote 9 to Table 3 of this Circular.
(2)
Directors may also receive further retainers and meeting fees for participation on ad hoc committees. No incremental fees were paid to directors for their participation on the Director Search Committee during 2021. The Board has the discretion to grant supplemental equity awards to individual directors as deemed appropriate (no such discretion was exercised in 2021).
(3)
Paid on a quarterly basis.
(4)
Payable only to directors who travel outside of their home state or province to attend a Board or Committee meeting. Travel fees were suspended as of March 2020 as Board/Committees meetings had been held virtually due to COVID-19. However, travel fees were paid to directors who traveled outside of their home state or province to attend in person the October 2021 Board meetings, which were held as hybrid virtual and in-person meetings.
(5)
The Chair of the Board also served as the Chair of the NCGC in 2021, for which no additional fee was paid.
| DSU/RSU Election | |
Each director must elect to receive 0%, 25% or 50% of their annual board fees, committee chair retainer fees and travel fees (collectively, “Annual Fees”) in cash, with the balance in DSUs, until such director has satisfied the requirements of the Director Share Ownership Guidelines described (and defined) under Director Share Ownership Guidelines below. Once a director has satisfied such requirements, the director may then elect to receive 0%, 25% or 50% of their Annual Fees in cash, with the balance either in DSUs or RSUs. If a director does not make an election, 100% of such director’s Annual Fees will be paid in DSUs.
| | Annual Fee Election | | | ||||||||||||||||
| | Prior to Satisfaction of Director Share Ownership Guidelines | | | | After Satisfaction of Director Share Ownership Guidelines | | | ||||||||||||
| | Option 1 | | | | Option 2 | | | | Option 1 | | | | Option 2 | | | | Option 3 | | |
| | 100% DSUs | | | | (i) 25% Cash + 75% DSUs or (ii) 50% Cash + 50% DSUs | | | | (i) 100% DSUs or (ii) 100% RSUs | | | | (i) 25% Cash + 75% DSUs or (ii) 50% Cash + 50% DSUs | | | | (i) 25% Cash + 75% RSUs or (ii) 50% Cash + 50% RSUs | | |
Subject to the terms of the Directors’ Share Compensation Plan, each DSU represents the right to receive one SVS or an equivalent value in cash (at the Corporation’s discretion) when the director (a) ceases to be a director of the Corporation and (b) is not an employee of the Corporation or a director or employee of any corporation that does not deal at arm’s-length with the Corporation (collectively, “Retires”). RSUs granted to directors are governed by the terms of the Corporation’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”). Each quarterly
13
grant of RSUs will vest in instalments of one-third per year on the first, second and third anniversary dates of the grant. Each vested RSU entitles the holder thereof to one SVS; however, if permitted by the Corporation under the terms of the grant, a director may elect to receive a payment of cash in lieu of SVS. Unvested RSUs will vest immediately on the date that the director Retires. DSUs that vest on retirement will be settled on the date that is 45 days following the date on which the director Retires, or the following business day if the 45th day is not a business day (the “Valuation Date”), or as soon as practicable thereafter. The amount used to cash-settle DSUs (if applicable) will be based on the closing price of the SVS on the Valuation Date. DSUs will in all cases be redeemed and payable on or prior to the 90th day following the date on which the director Retires.
Grants of DSUs and RSUs to directors are credited quarterly in arrears. The number of DSUs and RSUs, as applicable, granted is calculated by multiplying the amount of such director’s Annual Fees for the quarter by the percentage of the Annual Fees that the director elected to receive in the form of DSUs or RSUs, as applicable, and dividing the product by the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on the last business day of the quarter for DSUs and the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on the trading day preceding the date of grant for RSUs.
| Directors’ Fees Earned in 2021 | |
All compensation paid in 2021 by the Corporation to its directors is set out in Table 3, except for the compensation of Mr. Mionis, President and CEO of the Corporation, which is set out in Table 20 of this Circular. The Board earned $1,888,587 in Total Annual Fees in respect of 2021, including total grants of $897,707 in DSUs and $482,473 in RSUs (excluding fees paid to Mr. Mionis, whose compensation is set out in Table 20 of this Circular, and fees payable to Onex for the service of Mr. Popatia as a director, which are described in footnote 9 to Table 3 of this Circular).
Table 3: Director Fees Earned in Respect of 2021
| | | | | | Annual Fees Earned | | | | Allocation of Annual Fees(1)(2) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | Name | | | | Annual Board Retainer | | | | Annual Committee Chair Retainer | | | | Travel Fees | | | | Total Fees | | | | DSUs(3) | | | | RSUs(3) | | | | Cash(4) | | |
| | Robert A. Cascella | | | | $235,000 | | | | $10,096(5) | | | | $2,500(6) | | | | $247,596 | | | | $123,798 | | | | — | | | | $123,798 | | |
| | Deepak Chopra | | | | $235,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $235,000 | | | | $176,250 | | | | — | | | | $58,750 | | |
| | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | $235,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $235,000 | | | | $176,250 | | | | — | | | | $58,750 | | |
| | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | $235,000 | | | | $20,000(7) | | | | — | | | | $255,000 | | | | $127,500 | | | | — | | | | $127,500 | | |
| | Luis A. Müller(8) | | | | $78,546 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $78,546 | | | | $58,909 | | | | — | | | | $19,637 | | |
| | Carol S. Perry | | | | $235,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $235,000 | | | | $235,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | Tawfiq Popatia(9) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | Eamon J. Ryan | | | | $235,000 | | | | $4,945(5) | | | | — | | | | $239,945 | | | | — | | | | $119,973(10) | | | | $119,972 | | |
| | Michael M. Wilson | | | | $360,000 | | | | — | | | | $2,500(6) | | | | $362,500 | | | | — | | | | $362,500 | | | | — | | |
(1)
Directors who had not satisfied the requirements of the Director Share Ownership Guidelines described below were required to elect to receive 0%, 25% or 50% of their 2021 Annual Fees (set forth in the “Total Fees” column above) in cash, with the balance in DSUs. Directors who had satisfied such requirements were required to elect to receive 0%, 25% or 50% of their 2021 Annual Fees in cash, with the balance either in DSUs or RSUs. The Annual Fees received by directors in DSUs for 2021 were credited quarterly, and the number of DSUs granted in respect of the amounts credited quarterly was determined using the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on the last business day of each quarter, which was $8.37 on March 31, 2021, $7.85 on June 30, 2021, $8.88 on September 30, 2021 and $11.13 on December 31, 2021. The Annual Fees received by directors in RSUs for 2021 were credited quarterly, and the number of RSUs granted in respect of the amounts credited quarterly was determined using the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on the last business day of each quarter for the first two quarters, which was $8.37 on March 31, 2021 and $7.85 on June 30, 2021, and was determined using the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on the trading day preceding the day of the grant for the last two quarters, which was $9.00 on September 29, 2021 and $11.03 on December 30, 2021.
14
(2)
For 2021, the directors elected to receive their Annual Fees as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | Director | | | | Cash | | | | DSUs | | | | RSUs | | | | ||
| | | | | Robert A. Cascella | | | | 50% | | | | 50% | | | | — | | | | ||
| | | | | Deepak Chopra | | | | 25% | | | | 75% | | | | — | | | | ||
| | | | | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | 25% | | | | 75% | | | | — | | | | ||
| | | | | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | 50% | | | | 50% | | | | — | | | | ||
| | | | | Luis A. Müller | | | | 25% | | | | 75% | | | | — | | | | ||
| | | | | Carol S. Perry | | | | — | | | | 100% | | | | — | | | | ||
| | | | | Eamon J. Ryan | | | | 50% | | | | — | | | | 50% | | | | ||
| | | | | Michael M. Wilson | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 100% | | | |
(3)
Amounts in this column represent the grant date fair value of the units issued in respect of 2021 Annual Fees which is the same as their accounting value.
(4)
Amounts in this column represent the portion of 2021 Annual Fees paid in cash.
(5)
Represents the annual retainer for the Chair of the HRCC. Mr. Ryan served as Chair of the HRCC from January 1 to April 29, 2021 and received a prorated annual Chair retainer as appropriate. Mr. Cascella was appointed Chair of the HRCC effective as of the close of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 29, 2021, and received a prorated annual Chair retainer as appropriate.
(6)
Travel fees were suspended in March 2020 as Board/Committee meetings have been held virtually due to COVID-19; however, travel fees were paid to directors who traveled outside of their home state or province to attend in person the October 2021 Board meetings, which were held as hybrid virtual and in-person meetings.
(7)
Represents the annual retainer for the Chair of the Audit Committee.
(8)
Dr. Müller was appointed to the Board of Directors effective August 31, 2021. For August 31, 2021 to September 30, 2021, Dr. Müller received a prorated quarterly annual Board retainer.
(9)
Mr. Popatia is an officer of Onex and did not receive any compensation in his capacity as a director of the Corporation in 2021; however, Onex received compensation for providing the services of Mr. Popatia as a director in 2021 pursuant to a Services Agreement between the Corporation and Onex, entered into on January 1, 2009 (as amended January 1, 2017, the “Services Agreement”). The Services Agreement automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless the Corporation or Onex provide notice of intent not to renew. The Services Agreement terminates automatically and the rights of Onex to receive compensation (other than accrued and unpaid compensation) will terminate (a) 30 days after the first day on which Onex ceases to hold at least one MVS of Celestica or any successor company or (b) the date Mr. Popatia ceases to be a director of Celestica, for any reason. Onex receives compensation under the Services Agreement in an amount equal to $235,000 per year (consistent with current annual Board retainer fees) payable in DSUs in equal quarterly installments in arrears. The number of DSUs is determined using the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on the last day of the fiscal quarter in respect of which the instalment is to be credited.
(10)
In 2021, 12,770 of the RSUs previously issued to Mr. Ryan vested and were settled in SVS (on a one-for-one basis) at his election.
| Directors’ Ownership of Securities | |
| Outstanding Share-Based Awards | |
Information concerning all outstanding share-based awards as of December 31, 2021 made by the Corporation to each director (other than Mr. Mionis, whose information is set out in Table 21 of this Circular), including awards granted prior to 2021, is set out in Table 4. Such awards consist of DSUs and RSUs. DSUs granted to the individuals set forth below may only be settled in SVS purchased in the open market or an equivalent value in cash (at the discretion of the Corporation). RSUs granted to directors are governed by the terms of the LTIP. Each vested RSU entitles the holder thereof to one SVS; however, if permitted by the Corporation under the terms of the grant, a director may elect to receive a payment of cash in lieu of SVS. No options to acquire SVS may currently be granted to directors under the LTIP, and no options previously granted to directors (or former directors) under the LTIP remain outstanding.
15
Table 4: Outstanding Share-Based Awards
| | | | | | Number of Outstanding Securities | | | | Market Value of Outstanding Securities(1) ($) | | | ||||||||
| | Name | | | | DSUs (#) | | | | RSUs (#) | | | | DSUs ($) | | | | RSUs ($) | | |
| | Robert A. Cascella | | | | 50,883 | | | | — | | | | $566,328 | | | | — | | |
| | Deepak Chopra | | | | 68,612 | | | | — | | | | $763,651 | | | | — | | |
| | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | 262,270 | | | | — | | | | $2,919,065 | | | | — | | |
| | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | 267,099 | | | | — | | | | $2,972,812 | | | | — | | |
| | Luis A. Müller(2) | | | | 5,629 | | | | — | | | | $62,651 | | | | — | | |
| | Carol S. Perry | | | | 222,127 | | | | — | | | | $2,472,274 | | | | — | | |
| | Tawfiq Popatia(3) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | Eamon J. Ryan | | | | 262,768 | | | | 33,549 | | | | $2,924,608 | | | | $373,400 | | |
| | Michael M. Wilson | | | | 283,131 | | | | 40,602 | | | | $3,151,248 | | | | $451,900 | | |
(1)
The market value of DSUs and unvested RSUs was determined using a share price of $11.13, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021.
(2)
Dr. Müller was appointed to the Board of Directors effective August 31, 2021.
(3)
No share-based awards have been made to Mr. Popatia; however 317,564 DSUs have been issued to Onex (and are outstanding) pursuant to the Services Agreement since its inception, including 26,396 DSUs issued to Onex for the services of Mr. Popatia as a director of the Corporation in 2021. For further information see footnote 9 to Table 3.
| Director Share Ownership Guidelines | |
All directors must meet our Director Share Ownership Guidelines within five years of joining the Board (unless they are employees or officers of the Corporation or Onex). The Director Share Ownership Guidelines require that a director hold SVS, DSUs and/or unvested RSUs with an aggregate value equal to 150% of the annual retainer and that the Chair of the Board hold SVS, DSUs and/or unvested RSUs with an aggregate value equal to 187.5% of the annual retainer of the Chair of the Board.
Each director’s holdings of securities are reviewed annually as of December 31. The following table sets out whether each director nominee was in compliance with the Director Share Ownership Guidelines as of December 31, 2021.
Table 5: Shareholding Requirements
| | | | | | Shareholding Requirements | | | ||||||||
| | Director(1) | | | | Target Value as of December 31, 2021 | | | | Value as of December 31, 2021(2) | | | | Met Target as of December 31, 2021 | | |
| | Robert A. Cascella | | | | $352,500 | | | | $566,328 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Deepak Chopra | | | | $352,500 | | | | $763,651 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | $352,500 | | | | $2,919,065 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | $352,500 | | | | $2,972,812 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Luis A. Müller(3) | | | | $352,500 | | | | $62,651 | | | | N/A | | |
| | Carol S. Perry | | | | $352,500 | | | | $2,472,274 | | | | Yes | | |
| | Michael M. Wilson | | | | $675,000 | | | | $3,825,748 | | | | Yes | | |
(1)
As President and CEO of the Corporation, Mr. Mionis is subject to the Executive Share Ownership Guidelines — see Executive Share Ownership. As an officer of Onex, Mr. Popatia is not subject to the Director Share Ownership Guidelines. Directors have five years from their appointment to comply with the Director Share Ownership Guidelines. Although applicable directors will not be deemed to have breached such Guidelines by reason of a decrease in the market value of the Corporation’s securities, such directors are required to purchase further securities within a reasonable period of time after such occurrence to comply with the Director Share Ownership Guidelines.
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(2)
The value of the aggregate number of SVS, DSUs and/or unvested RSUs held by each director is determined using a share price of $11.13, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021.
(3)
Dr. Müller was appointed to the Board of Directors effective August 31, 2021 and he is required to comply with the Director Share Ownership Guidelines within five years of his appointment.
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | |
The Corporation is committed to high standards of corporate governance in all aspects of its decision making processes.
The Corporation is listed on the NYSE and, although it is not required to comply with all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements to which the Corporation would be subject if it were a U.S. corporation, the Corporation’s governance practices differ significantly in only one respect from those required by the NYSE of U.S. domestic issuers. The Corporation complies with applicable TSX rules, which require shareholder approval of share compensation arrangements involving new issuances of shares, and of certain amendments to such arrangements, but do not require such approval if the compensation arrangements involve only shares purchased in the open market. NYSE rules require shareholder approval of all equity compensation arrangements (and material revisions thereto), subject to limited exceptions, regardless of whether new issuances or treasury shares are used.
Each of the following documents, which are referred to throughout this Corporate Governance section, are posted on the Corporation’s website at www.celestica.com under “Investor Relations” | “Corporate Governance”:
1.
Corporate Governance Guidelines;
2.
Board of Directors Mandate (“Board Mandate”);
3.
Written position descriptions for each of the Chair of the Board, the Chair of each standing committee of the Board and the CEO;
4.
Celestica’s Corporate Values;
5.
The Business Conduct Governance Policy (the “BCG Policy”);
6.
The Finance Code of Professional Conduct;
7.
Audit Committee Mandate;
8.
NCGC Mandate; and
9.
HRCC Mandate.
You can request copies of any of the documents mentioned above by contacting Celestica’s Corporate Secretary at clsir@celestica.com.
| Board of Directors | |
| Role of the Board | |
Under the Board Mandate, the Board has explicitly assumed stewardship responsibility for the Corporation. The duties and responsibilities of the Board include:
•
satisfying itself as to the integrity of the CEO and other executive officers and that the CEO and other executive officers create a culture of integrity throughout the organization;
•
adopting a strategic planning process and approving, on at least an annual basis, a strategic plan;
•
identifying the principal risks of the Corporation’s business and ensuring the implementation of appropriate systems to manage these risks with a view to achieving a proper balance between risks incurred and potential return to holders of securities of the Corporation and to the long-term viability of the corporation. Management is required to report on a quarterly basis to the Board (and the Board will review the reports) on the principal risks inherent in the business of the Corporation (including
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appropriate crisis preparedness, business continuity, information system controls, cybersecurity and information security, and disaster recovery plans) and the steps implemented by management to manage these risks;
•
succession planning;
•
reviewing financial reporting and regulatory compliance;
•
reviewing internal control and management information systems;
•
reviewing and approving material transactions;
•
establishing measures for receiving feedback from securityholders;
•
overseeing the general strategy, policies and initiatives relating to ESG matters, including, among other things, sustainability;
•
reviewing board operations and evaluating board, committee and individual Director effectiveness;
•
developing the Corporation’s approach to corporate governance;
•
reviewing and approving the annual director assessment process;
•
nominating and appointing directors;
•
reviewing and approving financial and business goals and objectives used as a basis for measuring the performance of the CEO and relevant to CEO compensation;
•
reviewing and approving Celestica’s quarterly and annual financial statements after the Audit Committee has reviewed and made a recommendation to the Board regarding such statements;
•
approving director compensation; and
•
monitoring compliance with the BCG Policy.
The Board Mandate is attached to this Circular as Schedule A.
| Independence | |
| Director Independence | |
The Board has determined that all current directors (and nominees), except for Messrs. Mionis and Popatia, are independent as determined in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and NYSE listing standards. To determine whether directors are independent, the Board uses information about their personal and business relationships with Celestica and its affiliates. The Board collects this information from sources such as directors’ responses to a detailed annual questionnaire, director biographical information and internal records of direct or indirect material relationships (such as any relationship with the Corporation, any of the Corporation’s subsidiaries or with Onex (which holds 81.5% of the voting rights of the Corporation’s securities) which could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of the director’s independent judgment.
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The following chart details the Board’s determination with respect to the independence status of each director:
Table 6: Directors’ Relationships to the Corporation
| | Name | | | | Independent | | | | Not Independent | | | | Reason not Independent | | |
| | Robert A. Cascella | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Deepak Chopra | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | President and CEO of Celestica | | |
| | Luis A. Müller | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Carol S. Perry | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tawfiq Popatia | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | Senior Managing Director of Onex | | |
| | Eamon J. Ryan | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Michael M. Wilson | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| Independent Chair | |
Mr. Wilson is the Chair of the Board and is an independent director under applicable Canadian securities laws and NYSE listing standards. In this capacity, Mr. Wilson is responsible for the effective functioning of the Board. As part of his duties, he establishes procedures to govern the Board’s work and ensure the Board’s full discharge of its duties. Celestica shareholders and other interested parties may communicate directly to the Chair any concerns that they may have regarding the Corporation. See the contact information under Delivery of Meeting Materials and Voting Information — How Can I Contact the Independent Directors, non-Management Directors and Chair? in this Circular.
| Public Company Board Membership | |
None of the current directors of the Corporation serve together as directors of other corporations. See Election of Directors — Nominees for Election as Director for the other public company boards on which the directors currently serve.
Under the Corporate Governance Guidelines, directors must advise the Chair and the Chair of the NCGC before accepting membership on other public company boards and must also notify the Chair and Celestica’s Chief Legal Officer of any change of primary employment.
| Position Descriptions | |
The Board has developed and approved written position descriptions for the Chair of the Board, the Chair of each standing committee of the Board and the CEO. The CEO has full responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Corporation’s business in accordance with the Corporation’s strategic plan, current year operating plan and capital expenditure budget, each as approved by the Board. The CEO must develop and implement processes that are intended to ensure the achievement of the Corporation’s financial and operating goals and objectives.
| Director Attendance | |
Directors are expected to be prepared for and attend all Board and respective committee meetings. The following table sets forth the attendance of directors at Board meetings and at meetings of those standing committees of which they are members, from January 1, 2021 to February 22, 2022. All then-members of the Board attended the 2021 AGM.
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Table 7: Directors’ Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings
| | Director | | | | Board | | | | Audit Committee | | | | HRCC | | | | NCGC | | | | Meetings Attended % | | | ||||
| Board | | | | Committee | | | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | Robert A. Cascella | | | | 13 of 13 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 5 of 5 | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | |
| | Deepak Chopra | | | | 12 of 13 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 5 of 5 | | | | 92% | | | | 100% | | |
| | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | 13 of 13 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 5 of 5 | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | |
| | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | 13 of 13 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 5 of 5 | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | 13 of 13 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 100% | | | | — | | |
| | Luis A. Müller(1) | | | | 4 of 4 | | | | 2 of 2 | | | | 3 of 3 | | | | 2 of 2 | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | |
| | Carol S. Perry | | | | 12 of 13 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 5 of 5 | | | | 92% | | | | 100% | | |
| | Tawfiq Popatia | | | | 13 of 13 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 100% | | | | — | | |
| | Eamon J. Ryan | | | | 13 of 13 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 5 of 5 | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | |
| | Michael M. Wilson | | | | 13 of 13 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 6 of 6 | | | | 5 of 5 | | | | 100% | | | | 100% | | |
(1)
Dr. Müller was appointed to the Board of Directors effective August 31, 2021.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Board and Committee meetings noted in the above table were held virtually by electronic means other than the October 2021 meetings which were held as hybrid in-person and virtual meetings.
| In Camera Sessions | |
The independent directors meet separately as part of every Board and Committee meeting. The Chair presides at every in camera session of the Board, or in the absence of the Chair, another independent director selected by those in attendance.
| Ad Hoc Committees | |
From time to time, the Board establishes ad hoc committees. During 2021, Messrs. Cascella, Mionis, Popatia and Wilson served on the Director Search Committee.
| Committees of the Board | |
| Audit Committee | |
The Board has a fully independent Audit Committee (under applicable Canadian and SEC rules and NYSE listing standards) and is currently comprised of Laurette T. Koellner (Chair), Robert A. Cascella, Deepak Chopra, Daniel P. DiMaggio, Luis A. Müller, Carol S. Perry, Eamon J. Ryan and Michael M. Wilson. Mr. Ryan is not standing for re-election to the Board at the Meeting. The Audit Committee members and its Chair are appointed annually by the Board. The Board has determined that Ms. Koellner, Mr. Chopra and Ms. Perry are each audit committee financial experts as defined in Item 16A(b) of Form 20-F and each have the financial expertise required for audit committee members under Section 303A.07 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. Shareholders may obtain further information regarding the Corporation’s Audit Committee in Part I, Item 6C and Part II, Item 16A of the Corporation’s 2021 Annual Report on Form 20-F.
No member of the Audit Committee serves on more than three audit committees of public companies, including that of the Corporation.
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the compensation, retention and oversight of the work of a registered public accounting firm for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation. In addition, the Audit Committee has sole authority for recommending the person to be proposed to Celestica’s shareholders for appointment as external auditor and whether at any time the incumbent external auditor should be removed from office. The Audit Committee also
20
has the authority to retain, in addition to the external auditor, such other outside legal, accounting or other advisors as it may consider appropriate and is not required to obtain the approval of the Board in order to retain, compensate or terminate such advisors.
In accordance with its Mandate, the Audit Committee discusses Celestica’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures and discusses steps to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken (including risks related to information security, cybersecurity and data protection) and the establishment and management of appropriate systems to manage such risks with a view to achieving a proper balance between identified risks and potential return to the Corporation’s shareholders and to the long-term viability of the Corporation.
The Audit Committee and its Chair are appointed annually by the Board. As part of each meeting at which (i) the Audit Committee recommends that the Board approve the annual audited financial statements or (ii) the Audit Committee reviews the quarterly financial statements, the Audit Committee members meet separately with each of: management; the external auditor; and the internal auditors.
In accordance with National Instrument 52-110 — Audit Committees, shareholders may obtain further information regarding the Corporation’s Audit Committee in Part I, Item 6C and Part II, Item 16A of the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 20 F for the year ended December 31, 2021.
| Human Resources and Compensation Committee | |
The Board has a fully independent HRCC under applicable Canadian and SEC rules and NYSE listing standards and is currently comprised of Robert A. Cascella (Chair), Eamon J. Ryan, Deepak Chopra, Daniel P. DiMaggio, Laurette T. Koellner, Luis A. Müller, Carol S. Perry and Michael M. Wilson. Mr. Ryan is not standing for re-election to the Board at the Meeting. As part of each meeting, the HRCC members meet without any member of management present and also meet with the Corporation’s compensation consultant without any member of management present. The HRCC has the sole authority to retain, compensate and terminate any consultants and advisors it considers necessary within its mandate.
The duties and responsibilities of the HRCC include:
•
reviewing and approving an overall reward/compensation policy for the Corporation, including an executive compensation policy that is consistent with competitive practice and supports organizational objectives and ownership interests;
•
reviewing the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO, as approved by the Board, evaluating the CEO’s performance in light of these goals and objectives, and setting the compensation of the CEO based on this evaluation;
•
reviewing and approving the appointment and terms of employment (or any material changes to terms of employment) and, upon recommendation of the CEO, any changes to the base salary for all senior executive positions that report to the CEO and certain other senior executive positions, as well as any separation agreement or compensation arrangement for any such executive whose employment has been terminated;
•
reviewing, modifying and approving the elements of the Corporation’s incentive-based plans and equity-based plans, including plan design, performance targets, administration and total funds/shares reserved for payment;
•
making recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of the Corporation’s directors in accordance with the principles and guidelines established by the NCGC;
•
maintaining and reviewing succession planning for the CEO, all positions that report to the CEO and certain other executive positions;
•
reviewing and approving, in conjunction with management, public disclosure relating to executive compensation in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and preparing any report required by any applicable securities regulatory authority or stock exchange requirement to be included in applicable public disclosure documents;
•
reviewing the Corporation’s talent management strategy and practices;
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•
reviewing and approving insider trading and share ownership policies;
•
regularly reviewing the risks associated with the Corporation’s compensation policies and practices; and
•
performing any other activities consistent with its mandate.
All members of the HRCC have direct experience that is relevant to their responsibilities relative to human resources and compensation, and have skills and experience that contribute to the ability of the HRCC to make decisions on the suitability of the Corporation’s human resources and compensation policies and practices. Each member of the HRCC possesses significant knowledge in human resources and executive compensation matters gained from his or her experience as an executive in one or more major public corporations, as outlined in the biographies in Information Relating to Our Directors — Election of Directors — Nominees for Election as Director. This experience varies from director to director, but collectively includes having responsibility for oversight of human resources policies; the creation and implementation of executive compensation plans; participating in briefings from outside consultants retained by compensation committees with respect to executive compensation design, administration and governance; having responsibility for human resources and executive compensation decisions; and past/present service on the human resources and/or compensation committees of several other major public corporations. Mr. Wilson currently serves as Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of Air Canada; Mr. Cascella currently serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee of Mirion Technologies; Mr. Chopra currently serves as a member of the Human Resources, Compensation and Pension Committee of The North West Company Inc.; Ms. Koellner currently serves on the Compensation Committee of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and the Compensation and Executive Development Committee of Nucor Corporation, and she previously served on the Compensation Committee of AIG; and Ms. Perry previously served on the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Softchoice Corporation (while it was a public company listed on the TSX). Accordingly, the Corporation believes that its HRCC is appropriately qualified to make decisions on the suitability of the Corporation’s human resources and compensation policies and practices.
The HRCC has retained an independent compensation consultant to assist in the discharge of its mandate. For a description of the compensation consultant’s role and mandate, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Compensation Objectives — Independent Advice below.
During 2021, the HRCC reflected on the executive compensation advisory vote results from the 2021 AGM and proactively contacted holders of SVS to understand their views. Invitations to engage were sent to shareholders representing approximately 49% of the outstanding SVS. The Chair of the HRCC and the Chief Human Resources Officer (“CHRO”) met with shareholders and the discussions focused on executive compensation. Following the meetings, the shareholder feedback was shared with the HRCC; the HRCC reflected on the input and believes that our executive compensation philosophy, including the focus on appropriately motivating and rewarding the executive leadership team, is generally aligned with shareholder views. You can read more about our shareholder engagement initiative below under Say-on-Pay.
| Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |
The NCGC is a fully independent committee of the Board (under applicable Canadian securities laws and NYSE listing standards) and is currently comprised of Michael M. Wilson (Chair), Robert A. Cascella, Deepak Chopra, Daniel P. DiMaggio, Laurette T. Koellner, Luis A. Müller, Carol S. Perry and Eamon J. Ryan. Mr. Ryan is not standing for re-election to the Board at the Meeting. The NCGC members and its Chair are appointed annually by the Board.
The NCGC is responsible for developing and recommending governance guidelines for the Corporation (and recommending changes to those guidelines), identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board, and recommending director nominees to be put before the shareholders at each annual meeting. The duties and responsibilities of the NCGC include:
•
reviewing the Corporate Governance Guidelines;
•
creating a formal, rigorous and transparent procedure for the appointment of new directors to the Board;
22
•
identifying and recommending new director nominees;
•
annually assessing the effectiveness of the Board Diversity Policy (described below) and its effectiveness in promoting a diverse Board, and monitoring compliance with disclosure and any other requirements under applicable corporate and securities laws and regulations, as well as any applicable stock exchange requirements, regarding diversity;
•
developing a director orientation program;
•
developing a director continuing education program;
•
developing position descriptions for the Chair, the CEO and the chair of each Board committee;
•
developing and overseeing annual director evaluations, including assessing the performance of the Board, the committees, individual directors and through peer review;
•
reviewing director compensation guidelines;
•
overseeing the Corporation’s general strategy, policies and initiatives relating to ESG matters, including, among other things, sustainability, and reviewing the risks related to ESG matters; and
•
annual director independence reviews.
| Orientation and Continuing Education | |
| Orientation of New Directors | |
The Corporation’s orientation program helps new directors contribute effectively to the work of the Board as soon as possible after their appointment or election. In 2021, we enhanced our orientation program to better ensure that new directors are appropriately apprised of Celestica’s business, operations and strategy, corporate policies, Board and committee governance, and priorities and issues currently under consideration by the Board and each of its committees. For ease of reference, orientation materials are made available on an online portal. Additionally, new directors meet with the Chair, CEO and other key executives as part of the orientation program. Through this orientation program, new directors have the opportunity to become familiar with the role of the Board and its committees, the contribution individual directors are expected to make, and the nature and operation of the Corporation’s business.
| Director Education | |
The Board recognizes that ongoing director education is an important component of good governance. Directors are expected to be informed about current best practices, emerging trends in corporate governance and relevant regulatory developments.
The Corporation facilitates corporate governance best practices by maintaining a board membership with the Institute of Corporate Directors for the benefit of all our directors. In addition, the Corporation provides each director with a membership in the National Association of Corporate Directors.
While directors are required to take personal responsibility for staying current, Celestica’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require management and outside advisors to provide information and education sessions to the Board and its Committees as necessary to keep the directors up-to-date with Celestica’s business and the environment in which it operates, as well as with developments in the responsibilities of directors. In accordance with the NCGC Mandate, our continuing education program has been designed to, among other things: (i) assist directors to maintain or enhance their skills and abilities as directors of the Corporation; and (ii) assist directors in ensuring that their knowledge and understanding of the Corporation’s business remains current.
The Corporation facilitates these corporate governance best practices by:
•
providing directors with detailed information packages in advance of each Board and Committee meeting through an online portal which directors can access immediately upon the issuance of materials;
23
•
providing regular updates between meetings of the Board with respect to issues that affect the business of the Corporation;
•
encouraging attendance at industry conferences and educational offers in relation to the Corporation’s business;
•
contributing to the cost of outside conferences and seminars that are relevant to their role (with prior approval of the Chair); and
•
providing directors with full access to senior management and employees of the Corporation.
Directors review the annual work plan for Board and committee meetings, participate in setting the agendas for such meetings and participate in annual strategic planning sessions.
The Board’s continuing education program also includes management presentations, analyst reports and regular business updates from the CEO. The table below lists the education sessions we organized for our directors in 2021:
| | Topic | | | | Participants | | |
| | U.S./China Relations — External Advisor | | | | Board | | |
| | ESG Overview — Management | | | | NCGC | | |
| | Recent Trends in Executive Compensation — Compensation Consultant | | | | HRCC | | |
| | Director Duties — External Legal Counsel | | | | Board | | |
| | M&A Overview — External Legal Counsel | | | | Board | | |
| | Governance Advisory Update — Management and External Advisor | | | | HRCC | | |
| | Update on Materials Constraints Environment — External Advisor | | | | Board | | |
All directors were provided with educational materials and participated in sessions relevant to the committees on which they sit and HRCC members were also provided with educational materials prepared by the Compensation Consultant (defined below), including on the following topics:
•
The Intersection of Human Capital, Risk, and ESG;
•
SEC Lays Groundwork for New Disclosures on ESG;
•
Ten Inspiring Ways to Help Your Employees Through Lockdown; and
•
The Critical Role of Governance.
In 2021, directors were surveyed with respect to key educational priorities for the Board and provided suggestions for future director education topics. The NCGC reviewed the survey results, and the Chair of the NCGC and CEO developed a director education plan for the coming year.
Site visits of the Corporation’s facilities are arranged from time to time for Board members; however, these have been temporarily suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Director Skills Matrix | |
The NCGC has developed a skills matrix which identifies the functional competencies, expertise and qualifications of the Corporation’s director nominees and the competencies, expertise and qualifications that the Board would ideally possess, which is set forth below.
| | | | | | Robert A. Cascella | | | | Deepak Chopra | | | | Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | | Laurette T. Koellner | | | | Robert A. Mionis | | | | Luis A. Müller | | | | Carol S. Perry | | | | Tawfiq Popatia | | | | Michael M. Wilson | | | ||||
| | Skills | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| | Service on Other Public (For-Profit) Company Boards | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Senior Officer or CEO Experience | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Financial Literacy | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Europe and/or Asia Business Development | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Marketing and Sales | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Operations (supply chain management and manufacturing) | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Strategy Deployment / Business Transformation | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | M&A / Business Integration | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Talent Development and Succession Planning | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | Risk Management | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | ||||
| | IT and Cybersecurity | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| | Finance and Treasury | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | ||||
| | ESG | | | | Environmental and Social | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | |
| Governance | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | |||||
| | Markets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| | Experience in Markets Served by the Corporation | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | ✔ | | | | | | |
| Nomination and Election of Directors | |
Recognizing that new directors may be required from time to time, the NCGC maintains the skills matrix described above under Director Skills Matrix for the purpose of identifying any gaps and determining the profiles for potential director nominees that would best serve the Corporation.
The Board is committed to nominating highly qualified individuals to fulfill director roles, based on the needs of the Corporation at the relevant time. The Board believes that diversity is important to ensure that Board members provide the necessary range of complementary perspectives, experience and expertise required to achieve effective stewardship of the Corporation. To assist in meeting our diversity objectives and ensure there are no systemic barriers or biases in our policies or practices, the Board adopted the Board Diversity Policy described below under Board Diversity.
Commencing in 2020, the NCGC began a comprehensive board composition review, taking into account the composition of the Board, Board diversity and the Board’s retirement policy. In connection with this review, an ad hoc Director Search Committee comprised of Messrs. Cascella, Mionis, Popatia and Wilson was created for the purposes of identifying potential director nominees. The NCGC recommended, and the Board approved, an exception to the retirement policy for Mr. Ryan for 2021 taking into account his expertise as a long-serving member of the Board, his leadership as Chair of the HRCC, the need for continuity and stability during the search for a new director in 2021 and the transition to a new Chair of the HRCC, and limitations on in-person interviews for new directors and transition difficulties as a result of the pandemic. Mr. Ryan is
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not standing for re-election to the Board at the Meeting. Mr. Cascella was appointed as Chair of the HRCC effective as of the 2021 AGM. The Director Search Committee continued its search for a new director following the 2021 AGM, adhering to the Board Diversity Policy with respect to identifying women and other diverse candidates. An initial candidate list of 50% women was developed by the Director Search Committee with the assistance of a director search firm tasked with this objective. Suitable candidates were interviewed by the members of the Director Search Committee. Ultimately, Dr. Müller was appointed to the Board effective August 31, 2021 on the basis that he will make a strong contribution and provide the diversity, background, skills and experience needed by the Board in view of the Corporation’s strategy.
We maintain our commitment to the 2023 target of 30% women on the Board and intend to commence a search for a new director, following the Meeting, with an initial candidate list comprised of no less than 50% women in accordance with our Board Diversity Policy.
| Board Diversity | |
The proposed Board has an average age of 62 and average tenure of six years. Two of the nine nominees are women (22%), including the current Chair of the Audit Committee. Three of the other nominees self-identify as members of visible minorities (33%) and none of the nominees self-identify as Aboriginal peoples or as persons with disabilities (each as defined under the Employment Equity Act (Canada)). The Board believes that the composition and number of director nominees will allow the Board to perform effectively and act in the best interests of the Corporation and its stakeholders.
When assessing its composition or identifying suitable candidates for appointment or re-election, the Board will consider candidates based on merit against objective criteria while giving due regard to the benefits of diversity and the needs of the Board, free of conscious or unconscious bias and discrimination.
In accordance with the Board Diversity Policy, Celestica aspires to attain by its annual meeting in 2023, and thereafter maintain, a Board composition of at least 30% women. Further, when identifying candidates for election or appointment to the Board of Directors, including the director search which is currently underway, the Board and its NCGC will:
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consider candidates who are qualified based on a balance of skills, background, experience and knowledge;
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take into account diversity considerations such as age, geographical representation from the regions in which Celestica operates, cultural heritage (including Aboriginal peoples and members of visible minorities) and different abilities (including persons with disabilities);
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strive to use, to their fullest potential, the Board’s network of relationships, in addition to using third party organizations, that may help identify diverse candidates for joining the Board;
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ensure that the initial candidate list is comprised of no less than 50% women; and
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periodically review recruitment and selection protocols to ensure diversity remains an important component of the Board.
From time to time, the Board will review the Board Diversity Policy and assess its effectiveness in promoting a diverse Board.
The complexity of our business has required us to maintain flexibility when selecting director nominees in the past as we have addressed board refreshment and succession planning. As a result, we set a gender diversity target for the Board of at least 30% women by 2023. Notwithstanding previous challenges in identifying women candidates for the Board, we are committed to the target of 30% women as well as the other diversity criteria outlined in the Board Diversity Policy. While the qualifications of each individual director are paramount, diversity criteria relating to the director’s gender, age, geographic location, education, cultural heritage and different abilities will also be given due consideration. We are factoring these objectives into our current search for a new director, but prioritizing compliance with the 30% target.
| | | | | | Target | | | | Specific date for achievement of target | | | | Progress in Achieving Target | | | ||||
| | | | | | Number | | | | % | | | ||||||||
| | Board of Directors | | | | N/A | | | | 30% | | | | 2023 | | | | The target has not yet been achieved. Women represent 22% of the director nominees. | | |
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We maintain our commitment to the 2023 target of 30% women and intend to commence the search for a new director with an initial candidate list comprised of no less than 50% women in accordance with the Board Diversity Policy.
| Director Assessments | |
The Board Mandate requires the Board to evaluate and review its performance, its committees and its directors on an annual basis. Under Celestica’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the NCGC is responsible for developing and recommending to the Board a process for annually assessing the performance of the Board as a whole, and the committees of the Board, and assessing the contribution of individual directors (including the Chair of the Board and chair of each standing committee of the Board), including through peer review and management feedback. The Board conducts a self-evaluation annually to determine whether it and its committees are functioning effectively. Every three years, the Board evaluation must be conducted by an external advisor. The NCGC is responsible for overseeing the execution of the assessment process approved by the Board.
Every year, the NCGC determines the structure of the evaluation with the scope, focus and requirements of the evaluation varying from year to year. The process may also involve soliciting feedback from senior executives as to the effectiveness of the working relationship with the Board and how to improve it. The results of the evaluation, and feedback on the evaluation process itself, are integrated into the next year’s Board evaluation cycle.
In 2021, the NCGC recommended and the Board approved the engagement of an external advisor to conduct the annual director assessment. The external advisor’s assessment process included separate evaluations of the Board, Board Chair, each committee chair and a peer review of each director. The external advisor solicited feedback from the Board as well as members of the executive leadership team who interact regularly with the Board. A written summary report was prepared by the external adviser for the Board, which was reviewed in advance by the Chair of the NCGC, and presented to the NCGC. The NCGC discussed the results of these evaluations. The Chair of the NCGC took into consideration the overall results of the annual assessment with regard to improving the functioning of the Board and its committees.
| Governance Policies and Practices | |
| Majority Voting Policy | |
The TSX requires listed issuers that are not majority controlled to adopt a majority voting policy for the election of directors or to otherwise satisfy the TSX’s majority voting requirements. Although the Corporation is exempt from the TSX’s majority voting policy requirements, the Corporation chose the policy described above under Majority Voting Policy to appropriately and effectively reflect the application of majority voting policies to a majority controlled company, consistent with the rationale underlying the TSX majority voting requirements and good corporate governance.
| Retirement Policy and Term Limits | |
The Board strives to achieve a balance between the need to retain directors with valuable institutional experience and the benefits obtained from new perspectives and approaches that accompany Board turnover.
Celestica’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that, unless the Board authorizes an exception, a director shall not stand for re-election after his or her 75th birthday (and the Corporation does not provide a director with any additional financial compensation upon retirement).
The Board has not adopted term limits, but continues to assess whether or not they are appropriate. The Board is currently satisfied that there is a suitable level of director turnover to ensure the ongoing addition of fresh perspectives and experience to the Board. The Board considers that the imposition of term limits would discount the value of experience and continuity among directors, runs the risk of excluding experienced and valuable board members, and is therefore not in the best interests of the Corporation.
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The average tenure of Celestica’s director nominees is six years. The Board is a comprised of a mix of longer-serving directors familiar with our history, including the Chair of the Board/NCGC and the Chair of the Audit Committee, and newer directors who bring fresh and diverse perspectives to the Board, including the Chair of the HRCC.
To ensure adequate Board renewal, the Board relies on rigorous director assessments for evaluating directors, reviews the composition and effectiveness of the Board annually, including the tenure and performance of individual directors, and maintains the skills matrix disclosed above to ensure the Board possesses the requisite experience, expertise and business and operational insight for the effective stewardship of the Corporation.
| BCG Policy and Promotion of Ethical Conduct | |
The Corporation’s BCG Policy applies to all of the Corporation’s directors, officers and employees. In addition, the Corporation’s CEO, senior finance officers and all personnel in the finance area are subject to the Corporation’s Finance Code of Professional Conduct.
The Board reviews the BCG Policy and the process for administering the BCG Policy on an annual basis. Management provides regular reports to the Board with respect to compliance with the BCG Policy.
All employees above a designated level are required to certify compliance with the BCG Policy annually. The Corporation also provides an on-line training program for the BCG Policy. The BCG Policy requires ethical conduct from employees and encourages employees to report breaches of the BCG Policy to their manager. The Corporation provides mechanisms whereby employees can report unethical behavior, including the Celestica Ethics Hotline which provides a method for employees in every jurisdiction in the world to report unethical conduct, on an anonymous basis if they so choose.
As part of the Board Mandate, the Board has adopted as a minimum standard that directors must demonstrate integrity and high ethical standards. The Board Mandate also requires the Board, to the extent feasible, to satisfy itself as to the integrity of the Corporation’s CEO and other executive officers and that the CEO and other executive officers create a culture of integrity throughout the organization.
The Corporation’s Corporate Values underpin the Corporation’s commitment to strong business ethics.
| Material Interests in Transactions | |
The Corporation has no contracts or other arrangements in place in which any of its directors or officers has a material interest and does not anticipate entering into any such arrangement.
Celestica’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that a committee of independent (as defined under applicable NYSE listing standards) and disinterested Directors will conduct a reasonable prior review and ongoing evaluation of any material related party transaction involving Celestica (except for material transactions solely involving Celestica and one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of Celestica) and/or any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 7.B of Form 20-F for potential conflicts of interest.
| Succession Planning | |
In accordance with its mandate, the HRCC, from time to time as it considers appropriate, maintains and reviews succession planning for the CEO, all positions that report to the CEO, and certain other positions. The HRCC regularly conducts a formal, in-depth review of each of these succession plans with the CEO in order to satisfy itself that the succession plans meet the needs of the Corporation. During 2021, the HRCC reviewed an in-depth talent and succession plan (“Talent Review”). The Talent Review included the CEO organization structure, mission critical roles, other senior leaders and key general managers. Risks, gaps and candidate succession readiness evaluations were discussed in light of performance and individual potential. The Talent Review also took into consideration current executive demographics, the existing pipeline of talent and a focus on women leaders.
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| Director Compensation | |
Director compensation is set by the Board on the recommendation of the HRCC and in accordance with director compensation guidelines and principles established by the NCGC. The HRCC retains an independent compensation consultant to provide it with market advice. See Election of Directors — Director Compensation.
| Cybersecurity and Information Security Risk | |
As part of its oversight responsibilities, which include the identification of the principal risks of the business and ensuring the implementation of appropriate systems to manage such risks, the Board devotes significant time and attention to information security and risk management, including cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory compliance. The Mandate of the Audit Committee further provides that the Audit Committee shall discuss Celestica’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures and shall discuss guidelines, policies and steps to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken (including risks related to information security, cybersecurity and data protection) and the establishment and management of appropriate systems to manage such risks with a view to achieving a proper balance between risks incurred and potential return to holders of securities of the Corporation and to the long-term viability of the Corporation.
In accordance with the Board Mandate, the Board receives a quarterly report from management regarding the principal risks inherent in the business of the Corporation, including appropriate crisis preparedness, business continuity, information system controls, cybersecurity and information security, and disaster recovery plans. These reports address a range of topics, including industry trends, benchmark and assessment reports, technology modernization, policies and practices, and specific and ongoing efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to internal and external critical threats.
Management takes several steps to mitigate the impact of cybersecurity and information security risks and incidents, including, an annual management risk assessment including cybersecurity risk, continued enhancement of information security and data loss prevention controls, maintaining a robust crisis response plan, engaging an external consultant to perform external penetration testing, and ensuring the Corporation maintains appropriate cybersecurity insurance coverage.
Certain of our manufacturing sites are certified to ISO27001, and we are currently in the process of certifying sites that support our Aerospace and Defense business to Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) level 3. Third party experts are engaged to conduct National Institute for Standards & Technology (NIST) 800-53 Cybersecurity Maturity assessments, customer security audits/reviews and self assessments. We provide cybersecurity and information security compliance training for our employees at least twice per year, and track completion and attestations. We conduct periodic mock phishing attacks at least four times per year for each employee; and cater training specifically to our needs, based on industry trends and potential threats.
| Indebtedness of Directors and Officers | |
As at February 22, 2022, no current or former executive officers or members of the Board of the Corporation or its subsidiaries and none of their respective associates were indebted to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (or had indebtedness that was the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries) in connection with the purchase of SVS or in connection with any other transaction.
| Directors, Officers and Corporation Liability Insurance | |
The Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries have entered into indemnification agreements with certain of the directors and officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. These agreements generally provide that the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation which is a party to the agreement, as applicable, will indemnify the director or officer in question (including his or her heirs and legal representatives) against all costs, charges and expenses incurred by him or her in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative
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or other proceeding in which the individual is involved by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof, provided that he or she has acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof.
The Corporation’s current directors’ and officers’ insurance policies provide for aggregate coverage of $150 million. The policies protect directors and officers against liability incurred by them while acting in their capacities as directors and officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. Included in the $150 million of aggregate coverage is coverage dedicated solely to individual directors and officers. The Corporation’s cost for this policy is approximately $2.0 million annually. Limits available under the policies are in excess of a self-retention of $2.5 million for each loss or claim.
| ESG MATTERS | |
ESG matters are important to Celestica and we believe that responsiveness to ESG issues is an inherent component of sound corporate citizenship. As a result, we are committed to: operating our business with integrity; focusing on ESG issues that impact our customers, the industries we serve, our employees and our shareholders; contributing to the local communities in which we operate; developing our employees and workforce; and being considerate environmental and fiscal stewards. Our commitment to social responsibility extends to the environment, anti-corruption and trade compliance, responsible sourcing, human rights, labour practices and worker health and safety.
In January 2021, the Board Mandate and the NCGC Mandate were updated to expressly add oversight for Celestica’s strategy, policies and initiatives relating to ESG matters, including sustainability. As part of our enterprise-wide approach to risk management, the Board and management monitor long-term risks that may be impacted by ESG events.
In 2021, we enhanced our existing business processes to address ESG matters by:
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refining our disaster recovery plans to further identify, prevent and respond to operational risks, including those arising due to materials constraints, climate change, pandemics (including COVID-19), and cybersecurity and information security incidents;
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identifying clear, measurable ESG criteria, and reporting on Celestica’s performance against such criteria to the executive leadership team and the Board;
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including ESG measures in the individual performance objectives of each named executive officer’s performance scorecard; and
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committing to implement the United Nations Global Compact’s universal sustainability principals in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
We value the input of our shareholders. During 2021, we proactively contacted holders of SVS representing approximately 49% of the outstanding SVS. The Chair of the HRCC, Mr. Cascella, led this shareholder engagement initiative and participated in discussions with a number of our largest shareholders representing approximately 16% of SVS to discuss governance and executive compensation.
Throughout this Circular, including in the Corporate Governance section above and the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section below, we outline our governance practices, including those relating to board renewal and diversity, shareholder engagement and compensation matters. Detailed information regarding our ESG practices is available in our Sustainability Report, which can be found on our website: www.celestica.com, under the “Sustainability” section of the “About Us” tab. Highlights of our approach and commitment to ESG matters are described below.
| COVID-19 Response | |
We maintain robust disaster recovery plans to identify, prevent and respond to crisis situations. As each crisis is situational, our framework is adaptable. Management updates the Board in identifying, monitoring and mitigating risks to the business and the Board monitors the implementation of appropriate systems to manage such risks.
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Celestica leveraged our disaster recovery plans to swiftly establish a COVID-19 response committee in early 2020, which included members of our regional human resources, health and safety, IT and operations teams. Our first priority was, and continues to be, the health and safety of our employees, while continuing to serve our global customers, and in connection therewith we provide cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (“PPE”), and IT-related services to support work-from-home arrangements. During 2021, we maintained a robust COVID-19 business continuity management program to minimize disruptions during the pandemic and to minimize impacts to employee health and well-being across our global network. We continue to follow the requirements of governmental authorities and maintain preventative and protective measures to prioritize the safety of our employees, including a range of health and safety protocols such as a cessation of employee travel (other than very limited essential inter-regional travel), a global work-from-home policy for applicable employees, and for all other employees: physical distancing, enhanced screening, mandatory mask and use of other PPE, and shift splitting. We have also strongly encouraged vaccination for all of our employees and we organized vaccination clinics in regions where vaccines were not readily available, including Malaysia and Thailand.
| Environmental Sustainability | |
We are committed to driving sustainability initiatives through collaboration with our employees, customers, suppliers and local communities. Our Sustainability Report, which is published annually, outlines our sustainability strategy, the progress we have made as a socially responsible organization, and the key activities and milestones we are working to achieve for each of our focus areas: our planet, our products and services, our people, and our communities.
Celestica’s CEO, CFO and Chief Operations Officer receive quarterly sustainability updates. Discussions focus on our sustainability strategy and the progress we are making on our metrics. Input received in these meetings is used to shape Celestica’s sustainability strategy and ensure it aligns with business priorities. Our performance on sustainability goals is tracked and progress is linked to annual and long-term objectives within the CEO’s strategy, and compensation. Through our objective setting processes, these objectives cascade down throughout our organization and are part of our overall management systems.
At Celestica, we strive to minimize the impact of our operations on the environment by working to make our infrastructure sustainable and by reducing our greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and we have set GHG emissions reduction targets in line with climate science and the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Since 2009, Celestica has published annual reports documenting our corporate social responsibility programs and environmental sustainability initiatives. We currently report in accordance with the guidance of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and our most recent Sustainability Report includes disclosures aligned with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). We are committed to reporting our GHG emissions annually and have included third-party assurance of our GHG emissions in our annual report since 2013. Since 2010, we have responded to the CDP Climate Change questionnaire which enables engagement on environmental issues worldwide. We continue to make progress against our GHG emissions reduction target, which has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
We have increased the number of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”) which we have adopted as part of our sustainability strategy (increasing from four goals to ten goals). Although all 17 SDGs are relevant to Celestica, our communities, and our stakeholders, we have prioritized ten goals we believe present opportunities for us to affect the greatest change. We determine this annually through our materiality assessment and during stakeholder conversations. The new goals reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion, investments in our employees, continued focus on climate action and increased focus on water. We have an established Conflict Minerals Policy in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. We fully support the objectives of the conflict minerals legislation, which aims to minimize violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries, and expect our suppliers to provide all necessary declarations.
| Diversity and Inclusion | |
We believe in building an inclusive culture that encourages diversity of thought and attributes while allowing employees to thrive, be valued and celebrated. In our view, diversity includes, but is not limited to, gender or
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gender identity, race, age, ethnicity, religious or cultural background, disability, marital or family status, sexual orientation, education, experiences, perspectives, language and other areas of potential difference. In furtherance of these beliefs, the Corporation has adopted a Diversity and Inclusion Policy under which we are committed to providing a work environment in which everyone feels accepted and valued, by being treated fairly and with respect across the enterprise. The Corporation’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee (“D&I Steering Committee”) is comprised of three members of senior management and is co-chaired by the CEO and CHRO. The D&I Steering Committee oversees diversity and inclusion at Celestica and seeks to ensure that diversity and inclusion are incorporated into Celestica’s culture, workplace and talent practices. The D&I Steering Committee has designated a Diversity and Inclusion Committee (“D&I Committee”) for the purpose of developing and promoting diversity.
Our CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge, the largest CEO-driven business initiative for advancing diversity and inclusion within all organizations. Through this pledge, Mr. Mionis has committed to: (1) creating a workplace that supports complex, and sometimes difficult, conversations about diversity and inclusion; (2) implementing unconscious bias education to help us to begin recognizing, acknowledging, and therefore minimizing any potential blind spots; (3) sharing what works and what does not work with leaders at other companies who are committed to diversity and inclusion; and (4) creating and sharing strategic diversity and inclusion plans with our Board of Directors to drive accountability.
Celestica’s diversity & inclusion practice (“D&I Practice”) is led by a Diversity and Inclusion Leader to drive the Corporation’s diversity and inclusion strategy. Employees were invited to participate in a global Diversity and Inclusion survey (“D&I Survey”) in November 2020, which provided the opportunity to anonymously provide perspectives on diversity and inclusion at Celestica, and thereby establish a baseline to measure progress as our D&I Practice matures. Celestica seeks to listen, learn and understand from its employees, through whom we continuously strive to improve our culture of inclusivity. The D&I Survey had a strong response rate with 83% of our employees participating. During 2021, management reviewed the survey data and identified key focus areas for action plans. The results of the D&I Survey and management’s action plans were reviewed with the HRCC in April 2021, and were also shared with employees. In addition, the following actions were taken during 2021 to enhance our D&I Practice:
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launched diversity and inclusion training to our global workforce in order to raise employee awareness of diversity and inclusion and how we can effect change within the organization;
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held our first “Celestica Day for Diversity and Inclusion Awareness” to highlight the value of equity and reveal issues of inequity that may be unnoticed and unaddressed, understand diverse teams, cultural differences to develop intercultural fluency, spark ways of thinking about inclusion within Celestica and reinforce the value of diverse teams in the workplace;
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reviewed our policies and practices to ensure they support our diversity and inclusion agenda, remove perception of favoritism and uphold equity; and
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created four employee-led employee resource groups (Celestica Women’s Network, Celestica Black Employee Network, Celestica Pride Network and Celestica Indigenous Affinity Group).
Further, the Board adopted the Board Diversity Policy which is described above under Corporate Governance — Board Diversity.
The Board and management believe the presence of qualified and diverse individuals in executive positions within the Corporation and its subsidiaries is important to ensure that the profiles of senior management provide the necessary range of perspectives, experience and expertise required to achieve effective management. The Board recognizes the significant role that women with appropriate and relevant skills and experience play in contributing to diversity of perspective in senior management roles. The Corporation has initiatives to raise awareness and support the advancement of women, including the Women’s Network and Women in Action Forum. The mission of the Women’s Network is to develop and enable women, engage men, and create an organization that promotes an inclusive and diverse environment. The Women In Action Forum is a learning solution grounded in research and developed to enrich leadership traits and skills in women. The Corporation has adopted an equal opportunity policy which prohibits employment related decisions based on or affected by prohibited factors, including an employee’s gender. Accordingly, the Corporation does not
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specifically consider the level of representation of women in executive officer positions when making executive officer appointments and has not established a target regarding the number of women in senior executive positions.
Celestica’s executive leadership team is comprised of seven individuals, one of whom is a woman (however, none of the executive officers of the Corporation, including its major subsidiaries, are currently women). Three members of the executive leadership team self-identify as members of visible minorities and none self-identify as Aboriginal peoples or as persons with disabilities (each as defined under the Employment Equity Act (Canada)). We do not establish specific diversity targets at the executive level due to the need to carefully consider a broad range of criteria, most importantly, the appropriate matching of business needs to drive long-term value for our stakeholders and the proven skills and capabilities of new appointees. However, the level of representation from diverse groups is a criteria that will be given due consideration when identifying candidates for the executive leadership team.
| Shareholder Engagement and Outreach | |
We value the input of our shareholders. During 2021, the HRCC reflected on the executive compensation advisory vote results and considered possible concerns of the SVS shareholders related to say-on-pay, following which we proactively contacted holders of SVS representing approximately 49% of the outstanding SVS. The Chair of the HRCC led this shareholder engagement initiative and participated in discussions with a number of our largest shareholders representing approximately 16% of SVS to discuss executive compensation. For a detailed description of this shareholder engagement initiative, see Say-on-Pay below.
Additionally, as part of our regular shareholder outreach, we engaged in the following initiatives during 2021:
| | • management provided a comprehensive update on our Investor Relations program to the Board • management regularly engaged in meaningful communication with shareholders through quarterly earnings calls to review our quarterly financial and operating results | | | | • management hosted a virtual analyst and investor meeting to provide an update on Celestica’s Capital Equipment business • management attended and presented at 10 investor conferences, and conducted one non-deal roadshow • participated in more than 70 meetings with shareholders (outside of executive compensation shareholder engagement meetings) | | |
From time to time, the Corporation also engages with proxy advisory firms in order to identify executive compensation and governance topics of most interest to shareholders and to discuss how such matters are considered within the context of the Corporation.
Each year, we communicate with shareholders through the Corporation’s various public disclosures, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F, management information circular, MD&A for the first three quarters of each year, quarterly financial statements, news releases and regular updates to our website at www.celestica.com. The Corporation encourages shareholders to participate in our governance by holding annual say-on-pay votes for executive compensation. The results of such votes are given the appropriate consideration in developing the Corporation’s governance policies and compensation philosophy. Our Investor Relations team can be contacted directly at clsir@celestica.com.
Shareholders and other interested parties may also confidentially contact the Chair of the Board, the non-management directors or the independent directors by writing to them individually or as a group at the Corporation’s head office. On receipt of shareholders letters addressed to the Chair of the Board or independent directors, we will forward such letters unopened to the Chair of the Board or to the appropriate addressee(s) or their designees. See Delivery of Meeting Materials and Voting Information — How Can I Contact the Independent Directors and the Chair below.
| Employee Engagement | |
At Celestica, we know our success depends on our talented people and their commitment to excellence. We believe employee engagement is crucial for employee performance and productivity, and strong business outcomes. We therefore continually strive to enhance employee engagement.
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In support of our efforts to foster a high-performing and engaged workforce, we launched a global employee engagement survey in 2021 in order to measure overall engagement and identify our strengths and areas for improvement. The results of the survey were reviewed by management and compared against the last employee engagement survey conducted in 2018. Participation in the survey increased by 8% from the previous survey. Management reviewed the survey results, together with management’s strategy to continue to improve engagement levels in response to the survey feedback, with the HRCC. Employee engagement activities initiated during 2021 included:
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diversity and inclusion training modules;
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a formalized mentorship program and an enhanced leadership training program;
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an enhanced Women In Action program;
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a global wellness program; and
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a “Grow Together” program to support ongoing talent development emphasizing growth opportunities for employees by providing specialized speaking events, leadership academies and modernized online learning experiences.
Celestica’s rewards and recognition programs acknowledge employees who are achieving business results by living our brand and values, and embracing the characteristics of our Leadership Imperatives. We encourage business and people leaders to acknowledge individual and team success in quarterly town halls, and in more formal ways through our Bravo! and Ignition Awards programs. Acknowledging the challenges presented by the lack of in-person connection as a result of the pandemic, we continually look for ways to reward our employees with virtual recognitions.
We believe that employee engagement and well-being is strengthened through healthy, supportive and safe workplaces. Globally, we have established a framework whereby all sites are required to measure and report on their environmental, health and safety performance regularly.
| Ethical Labour Practices | |
Our BCG Policy outlines the ethics and practices we consider necessary for a positive working environment, as well as the high legal and ethical standards to which our employees are held accountable. 100% of our employees have completed BCG Policy training and we conduct annual re-certifications.
In addition, Celestica has well-established policies regarding fair labour practices and guidelines that create a respectful, safe and healthy work environment for our employees globally. We are a founding (and remain a) member of the Responsible Business Alliance (“RBA”), a non-profit coalition of electronics companies that, among other things, establishes standards for its members in responsible and ethical practices in the areas of labor, environmental compliance, employee health and safety, ethics and social responsibility. The RBA Code of Conduct outlines industry standards intended to ensure that working conditions in the supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible. We continually work to implement, manage and audit our compliance with the RBA Code of Conduct.
We are committed to the development and fair treatment of our global workforce, including promotion of a diverse workforce, an inclusive work environment, equal employment opportunity hiring practices and policies, and anti-harassment, workforce safety and anti-reprisal policies.
| Community Engagement | |
We strive to support the local communities in which we live and work. We encourage all full-time employees to take up to 16 hours of paid time off per year to volunteer through our Time Off to Volunteer program. This program gives employees the opportunity to become involved in their communities in a meaningful way and to help those in need.
United Way is a federated network of 71 local United Way Centraide offices serving more than 5,000 communities across Canada, each registered as its own non-profit organization. The goal is to create
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opportunities for a better life for everyone in our communities. In 2021, Celestica’s annual United Way fundraising campaign raised C$240,000 plus a match of C$120,000 for a total of C$360,000, which brings Celestica’s lifetime fundraising amount to C$12.3 million.
| External Recognition | |
Our commitment to corporate social responsibility continues to earn us external recognition. Below is a selection of the awards and recognition received by Celestica over the past year:
•
Platinum rating from EcoVadis
•
5th on Corporate Knights Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens
•
Robert Ellis, our Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, was named a recipient of Canada’s Clean50 Awards
•
2021 Top Project Award from Clean50 for sustainable decommissioning of our headquarters and manufacturing operations in Toronto
•
Our Portland, Oregon site received a Gold award from the City of Gresham
•
Jiangsu Province named our Suzhou Global Business Services the Key Enterprise of Digital Service
•
Hong Kong Council of Social Service presented our Hong Kong site with the Caring Company Award
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| INFORMATION ABOUT OUR AUDITOR | |
| Appointment of Auditor | |
It is proposed that KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) be appointed as the auditor of the Corporation to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders. KPMG is the current auditor of the Corporation and was first appointed as auditor of the Corporation on October 14, 1997.
It is intended that, on any ballot relating to the appointment of the auditor, the shares represented by proxies in favour of the Proxy Nominees will be voted in favour of the appointment of KPMG as auditor of the Corporation to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders, unless authority to do so is withheld.
| Fees Paid to KPMG | |
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors negotiates with the auditor of the Corporation on an arm’s-length basis in determining the fees to be paid to the auditor. Such fees have been based upon the complexity of the matters dealt with and the time expended by the auditor in providing services to the Corporation. The following table sets out the fees paid to KPMG in 2021 and 2020.
Table 8: Fees Paid to KPMG
| | | | | | Year Ended December 31 (in millions) | | | ||||
| | | | | | 2021 | | | | 2020 | | |
| | Audit Services | | | | $3.1 | | | | $2.9 | | |
| | Audit Related Services(1) | | | | $0.2 | | | | $— | | |
| | Tax Services (2) | | | | $0.1 | | | | $0.1 | | |
| | Other | | | | $— | | | | $— | | |
| | Total | | | | $3.4 | | | | $3.0 | | |
(1)
Audit related services in 2021 included due diligence services in connection with acquisitions and certain other specified procedures.
(2)
Tax services were mainly comprised of tax advisory and compliance services during each of 2021 and 2020.
It is intended that, on any ballot relating to the remuneration of the auditor, the shares represented by proxies in favour of the Proxy Nominees will be voted in favour of the authorization of the Board of Directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor, unless authority to do so is withheld.
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| SAY-ON-PAY | |
| Shareholder Engagement Initiative | |
The Corporation has held an advisory vote on executive compensation annually since 2012. While this vote is non-binding, it gives shareholders an opportunity to provide important input to the Board.
Last year, at our 2021 AGM, we received an 86.97% vote FOR our non-binding advisory resolution on executive compensation. During 2021, the HRCC reflected on the executive compensation advisory vote results and considered possible concerns of the SVS holders related to say-on-pay, following which we proactively contacted SVS shareholders to understand their views.
•
Invitations to engage were sent to our top 13 SVS shareholders representing approximately 49% of the outstanding SVS
•
We met with five SVS shareholders (representing approximately 16% of SVS)
•
Eight SVS shareholders confirmed that they had no concerns to discuss or did not respond (representing approximately 33% of SVS)
The Chair of the HRCC and the CHRO met with SVS shareholders and the discussions focused on executive compensation. Certain SVS shareholders also raised non-compensation related topics such as diversity and inclusion, capital allocation, director effectiveness and climate change.
| | What We Heard | | | | What We Have Done In Response | | |
| | • SVS shareholders were broadly supportive of our executive compensation program, and expressed appreciation of the opportunity to provide feedback. | | | | • We are providing greater transparency in the Circular about our executive compensation program in response to SVS shareholder feedback. | | |
| | • SVS shareholders were interested in discussing our pay for performance philosophy. | | | | • We outlined the evolution of our business strategy as we have moved from transformation to growth, and how this strategy underpins: • short-term financial targets set out in the Celestica Team Incentive Plan (the “CTI”); and • longer-term performance metrics of PSUs. • We provided details about how we achieve pay for performance alignment. • See Pay for Performance Alignment in the HRCC Letter to Shareholders. | | |
| | • Certain SVS shareholders asked for clarification on how we set performance targets for our annual incentives. | | | | • The rigor of our target-setting process under the CTI and how it aligns with our strategic plan is described on pages 55 - 56 and 59 - 60. • Shareholder expectations were taken into account when the HRCC set the final corporate financial targets for the 2021 CTI. | | |
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| | What We Heard | | | | What We Have Done In Response | | |
| | • Certain SVS shareholders also wanted to discuss our process for establishing the comparator group that is used to benchmark compensation (the “Comparator Group”). • Following the discussions, they expressed their support for this approach and the Comparator Group accordingly. | | | | • We highlighted that, while we are incorporated and headquartered in Canada, the nature of our business is global and we therefore source executive talent globally. We emphasized that it is important to us that the Comparator Group reflect the global scale of executive talent required to drive our strategic vision • Enhanced disclosure of how we set the Comparator Group used for 2021 compensation is described on pages 51 - 52. | | |
| | • Some SVS shareholders requested that we continue to provide disclosure regarding the realized pay of our named executive officers (“NEOs”) | | | | • Enhanced disclosure about NEO realized pay, specifically how it relates to total target direct compensation, is provided on pages 65 - 67. • Additionally, a comparison of the CEO’s realized pay to the Corporation’s three year total shareholder return (“TSR”) underpinning his realized compensation has been added to the Circular in the HRCC Letter to Shareholders. | | |
| | • Some SVS shareholders requested additional information about at-risk pay for the CEO. | | | | • We shared with SVS shareholders that 90% of Mr. Mionis’ 2021 compensation is considered at-risk and provided the breakdown of the elements (i.e. mix) of his total compensation. • We have provided this information about the at-risk compensation for the CEO as well as for the other NEOs, including an illustrative graphic, on page 55. | | |
| | • We received positive feedback from the SVS shareholders with regard to our corporate governance practices and policies. | | | | • We also continue to provide robust corporate governance disclosure within the Circular, including a comprehensive ESG section that covers areas discussed with SVS shareholders such as diversity and inclusion. • Detailed information regarding our ESG practices is available in our Sustainability Report, which can be found on our website at www.celestica.com, under the “Sustainability” section of the “About Us” tab. • We also refer you to our website www.celestica.com under “Investor Relations” | “Corporate Governance”. | | |
Following the meetings, the SVS shareholder feedback was shared with the HRCC; the HRCC reflected on the input and believes that our executive compensation philosophy, including the focus on appropriately motivating and rewarding the executive leadership team, is generally aligned with shareholder views.
The HRCC continues to work to ensure that our compensation program pays for performance, is based on sound principles, supports long-term sustainable value, is clear and transparent, and aligns with shareholder interests.
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| Advisory Say-On-Pay Resolution | |
Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to consider, and, if deemed advisable, adopt the following resolution:
| | Resolved, on an advisory basis and not to diminish the role and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, that the shareholders accept the approach to executive compensation disclosed in the Corporation’s management information circular delivered in advance of the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. | | |
It is intended that, on any ballot relating to the advisory vote on executive compensation, the shares represented by proxies in favour of the Proxy Nominees will be voted in favour of the resolution, unless a vote “against” is indicated.
The Board of Directors will take the results of the vote into account, as it deems appropriate, when considering future compensation policies, practices and decisions and in determining whether to further increase engagement with shareholders on compensation and related matters. The Board will consider this year’s results, other feedback it receives, as well as best practices in compensation and governance when reviewing our executive compensation in the future. The Corporation will disclose the results of the shareholder advisory vote as part of its report of voting results for the Meeting.
| 2021 VOTING RESULTS | |
| 2021 Voting Results | |
The voting results of the Meeting will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov following the Meeting. The voting results from the 2021 AGM held on April 29, 2021 were as follows:
Table 9: 2021 Voting Results
| Brief Description of Voting Matters | | | Outcome of the Vote | | |||
| | | | Approved | | | For | |
| In respect of the election of the following proposed nominees as members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation | | | | | | | |
| Robert A. Cascella | | | ✓ | | | 97.60% | |
| Deepak Chopra | | | ✓ | | | 98.54% | |
| Daniel P. DiMaggio | | | ✓ | | | 98.42% | |
| Laurette T. Koellner | | | ✓ | | | 98.02% | |
| Robert A. Mionis | | | ✓ | | | 99.12% | |
| Carol S. Perry | | | ✓ | | | 98.85% | |
| Tawfiq Popatia | | | ✓ | | | 98.70% | |
| Eamon J. Ryan | | | ✓ | | | 98.21% | |
| Michael M. Wilson | | | ✓ | | | 97.64% | |
| In respect of the appointment of KPMG as the auditor of the Corporation for the ensuing year | | | ✓ | | | 98.99% | |
| In respect of the authorization of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to fix the remuneration of the auditors | | | ✓ | | | 99.49% | |
| In respect of the advisory resolution on the Corporation’s approach to executive compensation | | | ✓ | | | 86.97% | |
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| HRCC LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS | |
Dear Shareholders,
I am pleased to have been appointed as Chair of the HRCC in 2021, and I welcome the opportunity to share the HRCC’s approach to executive compensation and the framework we used to make our compensation decisions for the CEO and the NEOs for 2021. The decisions on executive compensation made by the HRCC reflect our focus on creating long-term value for shareholders.
| Celestica Performance in 2021 | |
Mr. Mionis and his executive leadership team continue to successfully lead Celestica through a multi-year strategy transformation. They set about to both transform and optimize the business by focusing on high-growth, high-value end markets and thereby improve profitability. Below are several of our performance achievements for 2021:
Key measures:
•
Revenue of $5.6 billion, a 2% decrease compared to 2020
•
We returned to year-over-year revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2021 (“Q4 2021”)
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Non-IFRS operating margin* of 4.2%, compared to 3.5% for 2020, an improvement of 70 basis points
•
Non-IFRS operating margin* of 4.9% for Q4 2021, compared to 3.6% for the fourth quarter of 2020 (“Q4 2020”) — highest on record for Celestica
•
Non-IFRS adjusted EPS* of $1.30, compared to $0.98 for 2020, a growth rate of 33%
Directly comparable IFRS financial measures:
•
IFRS earnings before income taxes as a percentage of revenue of 2.4%, compared to 1.6% for 2020
•
IFRS earnings before income taxes as a percentage of revenue of 2.8% for Q4 2021, compared to 1.9% for Q4 2020
•
IFRS EPS of $0.82, compared to $0.47 per share for 2020
We also saw strength in the other measures we utilize to assess our performance, including TSR, as our share price grew 38% from $8.07 on December 31, 2020 to $11.13 on December 31, 2021 on the NYSE, and non-IFRS ROIC*.
The HRCC believes that these results, notably our return to year-over-year revenue growth and record non-IFRS operating margin in Q4 2021, demonstrate that Celestica has effectively executed the transformation strategy. Further, the HRCC believes Mr. Mionis and his executive leadership team demonstrated operational agility and unwavering strategic focus throughout this transformation process despite the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic and ongoing supply chain constraints.
| 2021 Executive Performance and Compensation | |
Our Approach to Executive Compensation
Celestica’s executive compensation program is designed to pay for performance, align the interests of executives and shareholders, incentivize executives to work as a team to achieve our strategic objectives, ensure direct accountability for annual and long-term operating results and to reflect both business strategy and market norms. The HRCC has also endeavoured to ensure that the executive compensation program is aligned with appropriate governance, risk management and regulatory principles.
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Pay for Performance Alignment
Total compensation for each executive varies with the Corporation’s achievement of financial and non-financial objectives, as well as individual performance. One way to demonstrate pay for performance alignment is to compare total target direct compensation granted to an executive (consisting of base salary, target annual cash incentive and target value of equity grants) with what has been actually realized by the executive for such year. We believe that an analysis of realized compensation demonstrates that the Corporation’s executive compensation structure is working as it should. CEO realized pay over the past several years has followed the same trajectory as the Corporation’s performance relative to our strategic objectives, and the HRCC therefore believes that this demonstrates an appropriate pay for performance alignment.
The following graph illustrates the CEO’s realized compensation(1) for 2016-2019, which are the years that Mr. Mionis’ compensation has been fully realized, as a percentage of total target direct compensation relative to our three-year TSR. The years 2020 and 2021 are not included in the graph since a portion of the RSUs and all PSUs awarded in such years remain unvested and his compensation is therefore not yet fully realized.
(1)
The CEO’s realized compensation represents: (i) actual salary paid; (ii) actual CTI paid; (iii) for RSUs that were granted in each year shown which vested in instalments of one-third per year, the realized value in each of the three applicable years of vest; and (iv) for PSUs that were granted in each year shown which vested at the end of the three-year performance period based on the vesting level achieved. For example, PSUs granted in 2019 vested at 74% of the target amount granted.
For a more detailed description of the realized pay of the CEO and the other NEOs, including realized and realizable pay for 2020 and 2021, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Realized and Realizable Compensation below.
The HRCC believes that the executive compensation structure incentivizes the CEO and other NEOs to continue to make strategic decisions intended to realize profitable growth which shareholders will realize over the long-term.
Compensation Highlights in 2021
Over the course of 2021, the HRCC executed on its full mandate. The HRCC reviewed the Corporation’s executive pay for performance alignment in consultation with an independent compensation consultant and concluded that our 2021 executive pay levels were well-aligned with Celestica’s performance. There were no key executive compensation design changes in 2021.
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2021 Performance-Based Compensation Approved by the HRCC:
| | Celestica Team Incentive Plan 2021 Corporate Performance Factor of 116% | | | | Reflective of Celestica’s 2021 revenue performance and strong non-IFRS operating margin performance, relative to the financial targets for the year | | |
| | 2019 PSUs Vested at 74% of the target amount granted | | | | Granted in 2019, with a performance period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, and settled in February 2022 The overall vesting level of 74% reflected the following results with respect to the pre-determined performance criteria: • 2021 non-IFRS operating margin result against the target that was set in 2019 based on our long-term objectives • Modification based on average non-IFRS adjusted ROIC over the performance period relative to a range set in 2019 • Modification based on ranking of TSR performance over the performance period | | |
| 2021 Highlights | |
Diversity and Inclusion
The HRCC continued to focus on diversity and inclusion in 2021, and was pleased to review the results of the D&I Survey and management’s plans to enhance Celestica’s culture of inclusivity. The HRCC is fully supportive of management’s strategy to develop initiatives to raise awareness and support the advancement of women, particularly with regard to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as it relates to the industries in which Celestica operates. Additional information about Celestica’s diversity and inclusion practices are provided above, see ESG Matters — Diversity and Inclusion.
Clawback Policy
A new Clawback Policy and updated recoupment provisions to our Executive Policy Guidelines were approved by the HRCC in 2021 in order to manage executive compensation risk by providing a measure of accountability and therefore offer additional confidence to shareholders. For more details about the new policy and provisions, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Clawback Policy and Provisions below.
Shareholder Engagement
In 2021, certain of our largest SVS shareholders accepted invitations to meet with Leila Wong, CHRO and me to discuss executive compensation, including our pay for performance philosophy. I would like to express my thanks to them for taking the time to meet with us and to provide their feedback. Following the meetings, I shared their important feedback with the HRCC and we reflected on shareholder views. The HRCC concluded that our executive compensation philosophy, including the focus on appropriately motivating and rewarding the executive leadership team, is generally aligned with such views. In response to shareholder comments, we additionally made disclosure enhancements to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis below under the headings Comparator Group, At-Risk Compensation, Annual Incentive Award (CTI), and Realized and Realizable Compensation headings. I draw your attention to the Say-on-Pay section above for a full description of our shareholder engagement meetings.
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| Conclusion | |
On behalf of the HRCC, I thank you for your commitment to Celestica and I look forward to your participation in the Meeting. I encourage you to read the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis and to exercise your vote on executive pay. Although the say-on-pay resolution is an advisory vote, it provides the HRCC with important feedback on shareholder views towards executive compensation.
Yours sincerely,
Robert A. Cascella
Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee
(on behalf of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee)
Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee
(on behalf of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee)
*
This is a non-IFRS ratio. See About the Information in this Circular — Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures in this Circular for the definition of, and information regarding, this measure, including where to find a reconciliation of the non-IFRS financial measures that are components of these non-IFRS ratios to the most directly-comparable IFRS financial measure. Non-IFRS financial measures and ratios do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
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| COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | |
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis sets out the policies of the Corporation for determining compensation paid to the Corporation’s CEO, its CFO, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”). The NEOs who are the subject of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis are:
| | | | | Robert A. Mionis — President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mionis is responsible for Celestica’s overall leadership, strategy and vision. In conjunction with the Board of Directors, he develops the Corporation’s overall strategic plan, including the corporate goals and objectives as well as our approach to risk management. He is focused on positioning the Corporation for long-term profitable growth and ensuring the success of Celestica’s customers around the world. | | | |
| | Prior to joining Celestica, Mr. Mionis was an Operating Partner at Pamplona, a global private equity firm where he supported several companies across a broad range of industries, including the industrial, aerospace, healthcare and automotive industries. Before joining Pamplona, Mr. Mionis served as President and CEO of StandardAero, leading the company through a period of significant revenue and profitability growth. Over the course of his career he has held a number of operational and service roles at companies in the aerospace, industrial and semiconductor markets, including General Electric, Axcelis Technologies, AlliedSignal and Honeywell. From 2018 to 2021, Mr. Mionis served on the board of Shawcor Ltd., a Canadian oilfield services company listed on the TSX. Mr. Mionis is a member of the Board of Directors. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts. | | |
| | | Mandeep Chawla — Chief Financial Officer Mr. Chawla is responsible for the planning and management of short and long-term financial performance and reporting activities. He assists the CEO in setting the strategic direction and financial goals of the Corporation, and manages overall capital allocation activities in order to maximize shareholder value. He provides oversight on risk management and governance matters, and leads the communication and relationship management activities with key financial stakeholders. | | | |||
| | Mr. Chawla joined Celestica in 2010 and held progressively senior roles in the Corporation before assuming the role of CFO in 2017. Prior to joining Celestica, he held senior financial management roles with MDS Inc., Tyco International, and General Electric. Mr. Chawla was appointed to the Board of Directors of Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc., a TSX-listed mattress and bedding retailer, effective August 20, 2020. Mr. Chawla holds a Master of Finance degree from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University. He is a CPA, CMA. | | |
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| | | | | Jason Phillips — President, Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (“CCS”) Mr. Phillips is responsible for strategy and technology development, deployment and execution for Celestica’s enterprise and communications businesses. His responsibilities include the strategic development of our HPS business (which includes firmware/software enablement across all primary IT infrastructure data center technologies and aftermarket services) and our new center of excellence in Richardson, Texas, which expands our HPS engineering network and increases our North America manufacturing capacity. | | | |
| | Mr. Phillips joined Celestica in 2008 and held progressively senior roles within the Corporation’s CCS business, most recently as Senior Vice President, Enterprise and Cloud Solutions. Prior to joining Celestica, he held the role of Vice President and General Manager, Personal Communications at Elcoteq, and spent five years at Solectron in senior roles spanning sales, global account management, business unit leadership, and operations. Mr. Phillips holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. | | |
| | | John “Jack” J. Lawless — Former President, Advanced Technology Solutions (“ATS”) Mr. Lawless was responsible for strategy development, deployment and execution of Celestica’s Aerospace and Defense, Industrial, HealthTech, Energy and Capital Equipment businesses. Mr. Lawless stepped down from his position as President, ATS effective December 31, 2021 but continues to serve as a special advisor to Mr. Mionis. | | | |||
| | Prior to joining Celestica, Mr. Lawless was the CEO of Associated Air Center, a subsidiary of StandardAero, where he was responsible for strategy, sales, marketing, human resources, information technology and operations. At the same time, he held the role of Chief Operating Officer of StandardAero. Prior to StandardAero, Mr. Lawless held a number of Vice President-level roles with Honeywell. Before joining Honeywell, he held progressively senior positions with companies in the aerospace, industrial and semiconductor markets, including Axcelis Technologies, General Cable and AlliedSignal. | | |
| | | Todd C. Cooper — Former Chief Operations Officer; current President, ATS During 2021, Mr. Cooper served as Chief Operations Officer and was responsible for driving operational and supply chain excellence, quality and technology innovation throughout the Corporation, as well as for the enablement of processes that drive value creation. As part of his role, he also led the operations, supply chain, quality, global business services and information technology teams. Effective January 1, 2022, Mr. Cooper was appointed President, ATS. As President, ATS, Mr. Cooper is responsible for strategy development, deployment and execution of Celestica’s Aerospace and Defense, Capital Equipment, HealthTech, Industrial and Energy businesses, as well as for PCI. | | | |||
| | Mr. Cooper has over 25 years’ experience in operations leadership and advisory roles, including considerable experience in developing and implementing operational strategies to drive large-scale improvements for global organizations. Prior to joining Celestica, Mr. Cooper led supply chain, procurement, logistics, and sustainability value creation efforts at KKR, a global investment firm. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Global Sourcing in Honeywell’s Aerospace Division. He previously held various management roles at Storage Technology Corporation, McKinsey & Company, and served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. | | |
A description and explanation of the significant elements of compensation awarded to the foregoing NEOs during 2021 is set forth below under 2021 Compensation Decisions.
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| Compensation Objectives | |
The Corporation’s executive compensation philosophy is to attract, motivate and retain the leaders who drive the success of the Corporation. In light of this philosophy, we have designed our executive compensation programs and practices to pay for performance, adhere to the Corporation’s risk profile, align the interests of executives and shareholders, incentivize executives to work as a team to achieve our strategic objectives, ensure direct accountability for annual and long-term operating results, and to reflect both business strategy and market norms. The HRCC reviews compensation policies and practices regularly, considers related risks, and makes any adjustments it deems necessary to ensure our compensation policies are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation.
A substantial portion of the compensation of our executives is linked to the Corporation’s performance. The HRCC establishes total target compensation and certain elements of compensation (base salary, short-term incentives and long-term incentives) for the NEOs with reference to the median compensation of the Comparator Group, and other factors including experience, internal pay equity, work location, tenure, and role. Rather than setting pay formulaically to match the median exactly, the Comparator Group is primarily used for setting an anchor point by which to test the reasonableness of compensation. NEOs have the opportunity for higher compensation for performance that exceeds target performance goals, and will receive lower compensation for performance that is below target performance goals.
| | What We Do | | | | What We Don’t Do | | | ||||||||
| | Pay for performance | | | | ✔ | | | | No repricing of options | | | | X | | |
| | Focus on long-term compensation using a balanced mix of compensation elements | | | | ✔ | | | | No hedging or pledging by executives of Celestica securities | | | | X | | |
| | Ensure the mix of executive compensation balances long-term success, annual performance, and adequate fixed compensation | | | | ✔ | | | | No steep payout cliffs at certain performance levels that may encourage short-term business decisions to meet payout thresholds | | | | X | | |
| | Consider market norms and competitive pay practices | | | | ✔ | | | | No multi-year guarantees | | | | X | | |
| | Mitigate undue risk in compensation programs | | | | ✔ | | | | No uncapped incentive plans | | | | X | | |
| | Retain an independent advisor to the HRCC | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stress-test compensation plan designs | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Apply stringent share ownership policies and post-employment hold period for the CEO’s shares | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Clawback incentive-based compensation under specified circumstances | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Maintain equity plans that provide for change of control treatment for outstanding equity based on a “double trigger” requirement | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Set minimum corporate profitability requirement for CTI payments | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Establish caps on PSU payout factors | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Provide annual shareholder “say-on-pay” advisory vote | | | | ✔ | | | | | | | | | | |
The 2021 compensation package was designed to:
•
ensure executives are compensated fairly and in a way that does not result in the Corporation incurring undue risk or encouraging executives to take inappropriate risks;
•
provide competitive fixed compensation (i.e., base salary and benefits), as well as a substantial amount of at-risk pay through our annual and equity-based incentive plans;
•
reward executives for: achieving short-term operational and financial results through annual cash incentives based on the Corporation’s Annual Operating Plan (“AOP”); achieving long-term operational and financial results as well as superior share price performance relative to a group of technology hardware and equipment companies (through PSUs); and sustained, long-term leadership (through RSUs);
•
align the interests of executives and shareholders through long-term equity-based compensation;
•
recognize tenure and utilize a multi-year approach for setting and transitioning target compensation for executives who are new in their role;
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•
reflect internal equity, recognize fair and appropriate compensation levels relative to differing roles and responsibilities, and encourage executives to work as a team to achieve corporate results; and
•
ensure direct accountability for the annual operating results and the long-term financial performance of the Corporation.
| Independent Advice | |
The HRCC, which has the sole authority to retain and terminate an executive compensation consultant to the HRCC, has engaged Willis Towers Watson (the “Compensation Consultant”) since 2006 as its independent compensation consultant to assist in identifying appropriate comparator companies against which to evaluate the Corporation’s compensation levels, to provide data about those companies, and to provide observations and advice with respect to the Corporation’s compensation practices versus those of chosen comparator companies and the market in general.
The Compensation Consultant also provides advice (upon request) to the HRCC on the policy recommendations prepared by management and keeps the HRCC apprised of market trends in executive compensation. The Compensation Consultant attended portions of all HRCC meetings held in 2021, in person, by telephone or virtually, as requested by the Chair of the HRCC. At each of its meetings, the HRCC held an in camera session with the Compensation Consultant without any member of management being present. Decisions made by the HRCC, however, are the responsibility of the HRCC and may reflect factors and considerations supplementary to the information and advice provided by the Compensation Consultant.
Each year, the HRCC reviews the scope of activities of the Compensation Consultant and, if it deems appropriate, approves the corresponding budget. During such review, the HRCC also considers the independence factors required to be considered by the NYSE prior to the selection or receipt of advice from a compensation consultant. After consideration of such independence factors and prior to engaging the Compensation Consultant in 2021, the HRCC determined that the Compensation Consultant was independent. The Compensation Consultant meets with the Chair of the HRCC and management at least annually to identify any initiatives requiring external support and agenda items for each HRCC meeting throughout the year. The Compensation Consultant reports directly to the Chair of the HRCC and is not engaged by management. The Compensation Consultant may, with the approval of the HRCC, assist management in reviewing and, where appropriate, developing and recommending compensation programs to align the Corporation’s practices with competitive practices. Any such service in excess of $25,000 provided by the Compensation Consultant relating to executive compensation must be pre-approved by the Chair of the HRCC. In addition, any non-executive compensation consulting service in excess of $25,000 must be submitted by management to the HRCC for pre-approval, and any services that will cause total non-executive compensation consulting fees to exceed $25,000 in aggregate in a calendar year must also be pre-approved by the HRCC.
The following table sets out the fees paid by the Corporation to the Compensation Consultant in each of the past two years:
Table 10: Fees of the Compensation Consultant
| | | | | | Year Ended December 31 | | | ||||
| | | | | | 2021 | | | | 2020 | | |
| | Executive Compensation-Related Fees(1) | | | | C$272,238 | | | | C$299,264 | | |
| | All Other Fees(2) | | | | C$14,980 | | | | C$11,626 | | |
(1)
Services for 2021 and 2020 included support on executive compensation matters that are part of the HRCCs annual agenda (e.g., executive compensation competitive market analysis, review of trends in executive compensation, peer group review, pay for performance analysis and assistance with executive compensation-related disclosure, annual valuation of PSUs for accounting purposes, attendance at all HRCC meetings, and support with ad-hoc executive compensation issues that arose throughout the year). Services for 2020 also included the comprehensive Comparator Group review, market benchmark data for certain executives, and PSU valuation and estimated fair values.
(2)
Other fees for 2021 included a competitive market analysis for certain of our businesses. Other fees for 2020 included an abridged director compensation review.
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| Compensation Process | |
Executive compensation is determined as part of an annual process followed by the HRCC, supported by the Compensation Consultant. The HRCC reviews and approves compensation for the CEO and the other NEOs, including base salaries, target annual incentive awards under the CTI and equity-based incentive grants. The HRCC evaluates the performance of the CEO relative to financial and business goals and objectives approved by the Board from time to time for such purpose. The HRCC reviews data for the Comparator Group and other competitive market data, and consults with the Compensation Consultant before exercising its independent judgment to determine appropriate compensation levels. The CEO reviews the performance evaluations of the other NEOs with the HRCC and provides compensation recommendations. The HRCC considers these recommendations, reviews market compensation information, consults with the Compensation Consultant, and then exercises its independent judgment to determine if any adjustments are required prior to approval of the compensation of such other NEOs. The CEO and the other NEOs are not present at the HRCC meetings when their respective compensation is discussed.
The HRCC generally meets five times a year, in January, April, July, October and December. The annual executive compensation process typically follows the calendar outlined below:
| | January | | | | • Determine achievement of the corporate performance factor (based on the Corporation’s year end results as approved by the Audit Committee) and the individual performance factors for CTI payments for the previous year • Determine achievement of performance for the PSUs that vest in the current year based on the applicable performance period • Approve corporate performance objectives for the CTI for the current year • Approve performance goals for PSUs granted in the current year • Review individual target compensation levels and approve base salary, target under the CTI and long-term incentives for the current year • Conduct risk assessment of compensation programs • Review scope of activity of Compensation Consultant and approve fees for the current year • Review executive compensation disclosure • Review the corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation and evaluate CEO performance in light of the financial and business goals and objectives approved by the Board for the previous year • Review and approve total compensation package for CEO for the current year, including stress-test of performance-based compensation | | |
| | April | | | | • Annual compensation policy review and pension plan review • Assess performance of Compensation Consultant • Diversity and inclusion update | | |
| | July | | | | • Review and consider shareholder feedback from say-on-pay vote • Review trends and “hot topics” in compensation governance • Review and approve Comparator Group for the following year (based on the recommendation of the Compensation Consultant) • Review talent management strategy and succession plans • Conduct pay for performance alignment review | | |
| | October | | | | • Review market benchmark reports for the CEO and other NEOs • Review and evaluate interim performance relative to corporate goals and objectives for the current year • Conduct risk assessment of compensation programs | | |
| | December | | | | • Review and evaluate updated interim performance relative to corporate goals and objectives for the current year • Review preliminary compensation recommendations and performance objectives for the following year, including base salary recommendations and the value and mix of equity-based incentives (NEO compensation recommendations are developed by the CEO. The CEO’s compensation recommendations are determined by the HRCC in consultation with the Compensation Consultant and the CHRO). • By reviewing the compensation proposals in advance, the HRCC is afforded sufficient time to discuss and provide input regarding proposed compensation changes prior to the January meeting at which time the HRCC approves the compensation proposals, revised as they deem appropriate, based on input provided at the December meeting. • Preliminary evaluation of individual performance relative to objectives | | |
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HRCC Discretion
The HRCC may exercise its discretion to either award compensation absent attainment of a relevant performance goal or similar condition, or to reduce or increase the size of any award or payout to any NEO. The HRCC did not exercise such discretion for 2021 compensation with respect to any NEO.
Compensation Risk Assessment and Governance Analysis
The HRCC, in performing its duties and exercising its powers under its mandate, considers the implications of the risks associated with the Corporation’s compensation policies and practices. This includes: identifying any such policies or practices that encourage executive officers to take inappropriate or excessive risks; identifying risks arising from such policies and practices that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation; and considering the risk implications of the Corporation’s compensation policies and practices and any proposed changes to them.
The Corporation’s compensation programs are designed with a balanced approach aligned with its business strategy and risk profile. A number of compensation practices have been implemented to mitigate potential compensation policy risk. It is the HRCC’s view that the Corporation’s 2021 compensation policies and practices did not promote excessive risk-taking that would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation, and that appropriate risk mitigation features are in place within the Corporation’s compensation program. In reaching its opinion, the HRCC reviewed key risk-mitigating features in the Corporation’s compensation governance processes and compensation structure including the following:
| | Governance | | | ||||
| | Corporate Strategy Alignment | | | | • Our executive compensation program is designed to link executive compensation outcomes with the execution of business strategy and align with shareholder interests. | | |
| | Compensation Decision-Making Process | | | | • We have formalized compensation objectives to help guide compensation decisions and incentive design and to effectively support our pay for performance policy (see Compensation Objectives). | | |
| | Shareholder Engagement | | | | • We have a shareholder outreach program through which we solicit feedback on our corporate governance, executive compensation program, and other matters. | | |
| | Non-binding Shareholder Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation | | | | • We annually hold an advisory vote on executive compensation, allowing shareholders to express approval or disapproval of our approach to executive compensation. | | |
| | Annual Review of Incentive Programs | | | | • Each year, we review and set performance measures and targets for the CTI and for PSU grants under the long-term incentive plans that are aligned with the business plan and our risk profile to ensure continued relevance and applicability. • When new compensation programs are considered, they are stress-tested to ensure potential payouts would be reasonable within the context of the full range of performance outcomes. CEO compensation is stress-tested annually in addition to any stress-tests for new compensation programs. | | |
| | External Independent Compensation Advisor | | | | • On an ongoing basis, the HRCC retains the services of an independent compensation advisor to provide an external perspective as to marketplace changes and best practices related to compensation design, governance and compensation risk management. | | |
| | Overlapping Committee Membership | | | | • All of our independent directors sit on the HRCC to provide continuity and to facilitate coordination between the Committee’s and the Board’s respective oversight responsibilities. | | |
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| | Compensation Program Design | | | ||||
| | Review of Incentive Programs | | | | • At appropriate intervals, we conduct a review of our compensation strategy, including pay philosophy and program design, in light of business requirements, shareholder views, market practice and governance considerations. | | |
| | Fixed versus Variable Compensation | | | | • For the NEOs, a significant portion of target total direct compensation is delivered through variable compensation (CTI and long-term, equity-based incentive plans). • The majority of the value of target variable compensation is delivered through grants under long-term, equity-based incentive plans which are subject to time and/or performance vesting requirements. • The mix of variable compensation provides a strong pay for performance relationship. • The NEO compensation package provides a competitive base level of compensation through salary, and mitigates the risk of encouraging the achievement of short-term goals at the expense of creating and sustaining long-term shareholder value, as NEOs benefit if shareholder value increases over the long-term. | | |
| | “One-company” Annual Incentive Plan | | | | • Celestica’s “one-company” annual incentive plan (the CTI) helps to mitigate risk-taking by tempering the results of any one business unit on Celestica’s overall corporate performance, and aligning executives and employees in the various business units and regions with corporate goals. | | |
| | Balance of Financial Performance Metrics as well as Absolute and Relative Performance Metrics | | | | • The CTI ensures a balanced assessment of performance with ultimate payout tied to measurable corporate financial metrics. • Individual performance is assessed based on business results, teamwork and key accomplishments, and market performance is captured through RSUs as well as PSUs (which vest based on performance relative to both absolute and relative financial targets). | | |
| | Minimum Performance Requirements and Maximum Payout Caps | | | | • A corporate profitability requirement must be met for any payout to occur under the CTI. • Additionally, target performance on a second performance measure must be achieved for payment above target on any other performance measure. • Each of the CTI and PSU payouts have a maximum payout of two times target. | | |
| | Share Ownership Requirement | | | | • Our share ownership guidelines require executives to hold a significant amount of our securities to help align their interests with those of shareholders’ and our long-term performance. • This practice also mitigates against executives taking inappropriate or excessive risks to improve short-term performance at the expense of longer-term objectives. • In the event of the cessation of Mr. Mionis’ employment with us for any reason, he will be required to retain the share ownership level set out in the Executive Share Ownership Guidelines on his termination date for the 12 month period immediately following his termination date as set out in Mr. Mionis’ amended CEO employment agreement effective August 1, 2016 (the “CEO Employment Agreement”). | | |
| | Anti-hedging and Anti-pledging Policy | | | | • Executives and directors are prohibited from: entering into speculative transactions and transactions designed to hedge or offset a decrease in the market value of our securities; purchasing our securities on margin; borrowing against our securities held in a margin account; and pledging our securities as collateral for a loan. | | |
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| | Clawback Policy and Provisions | | | | • The Clawback Policy provides for recoupment of incentive compensation from the NEOs if the Corporation is required to restate financial statements due to, directly or indirectly, one or more NEOs having engaged in fraud, intentional misconduct or gross negligence or committed a material breach of the BCG Policy. Additionally, incentive compensation is subject to clawback if an executive has committed a material breach of certain post-employment provisions. See Clawback Policy and Provisions below. | | |
| | “Double Trigger” | | | | • The LTIP and Celestica Share Unit Plan (“CSUP”) provide for change-of-control treatment for outstanding equity based on a “double trigger” requirement. | | |
| | Severance Protection | | | | • NEOs’ entitlements on termination without cause are in part contingent on complying with confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition obligations. | | |
| | Pay For Performance Analysis | | | | • Periodic scenario-testing of the executive compensation programs is conducted, including a pay for performance analysis. | | |
| Comparator Group | |
Global Presence
While the Corporation is incorporated and headquartered in Canada, we have a global business strategy and we compete for executive talent worldwide. We operate a network of sites and centers of excellence strategically located in North America, Europe and Asia, with specialized end-to-end supply chain capabilities tailored to meet specific market and customer product lifecycle requirements.
The EMS industry is highly competitive, and certain of our businesses are extensively technical and highly specialized requiring a highly skilled leadership team.
2021 Comparator Group
Celestica’s approach to executive pay benchmarking has evolved over time and reflects the changes in Corporation’s strategic direction. The evolution of our business model, as well as external market conditions, led us to reconsider the companies comprising the Comparator Group. Specifically, it is important to Celestica that the Comparator Group reflect the global scale of executive talent required to drive our strategic vision. We therefore undertook a comprehensive review during 2020 of our approach to the companies comprising our Comparator Group to ensure that it properly reflected our market for executive talent and the financial characteristics and highly specialized and diversified operations of the Corporation as it progressed from a transformative phase to an anticipated growth phase.
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A majority of our current executive officers were not recruited from the Canadian market. Our three most recent CEOs (including Mr. Mionis) and three of the four other NEOs have come from the U.S. We have no EMS competitors in Canada, and non-EMS companies of similar size, that are based exclusively within Canada do not provide the desired EMS business and operational knowledge required for the complexity of our business.
The Compensation Consultant prepared an in-depth review of potential changes to the Comparator Group, which was presented to the HRCC, with consideration for the following criteria:
| | Financial performance | | | | • revenue is the driver of relative scope/complexity and is the financial measure that is most strongly correlated with executive pay | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | • the range of revenue of the Comparator Group is provided below; Celestica’s 2020 revenue was above the median: | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||
| | | | | Percentile | | | | Revenue ($ millions) | | | | | | | |||||
| | | | | 25th | | | | $3,330 | | | | | | | |||||
| | | | | 50th | | | | $4,333 | | | | | | | |||||
| | | | | 75th | | | | $6,395 | | | | | | | |||||
| | | | | Celestica | | | | $5,748 | | | | | | | |||||
| | | | | | • other financial indicators were used in addition to revenue, such as market capitalization, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margin and other financial indicators which align with our strategic direction | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | • these financial attributes ensure the alignment of executive pay with that of companies with similar financial characteristics as well as affordability of incentive plans | | | ||||||||||||
| | Company size and complexity | | | | • companies with similar size and complexity recruit from the same executive talent pool | | | ||||||||||||
| | Industry | | | | • similarly sized industry comparables were further refined based on other financial indicators • review of technology companies associated with the EMS industry | | | ||||||||||||
| | Peers of peers | | | | • analysis of the comparator groups of certain peer companies within the EMS industry | | | ||||||||||||
| | Input from management | | | | • perspectives of management regarding which organizations were most relevant from a business operations and talent competitor perspective | | |
Based on these criteria, the Compensation Consultant recommended and the HRCC approved the following Comparator Group, which is comprised of U.S.-based technology companies, to be used in the determination of 2021 executive compensation:
Table 11: Comparator Group
| | Benchmark Electronics Inc. Ciena Corp. CommScope Holdings Company, Inc. Curtiss-Wright Corporation Diebold Nixdorff, Incorporated Juniper Networks, Inc. Keysight Technologies Inc. NCR Corporation | | | | NetApp, Inc. ON Semiconductor Corporation Plexus Inc. Sanmina Corporation ScanSource Inc. Seagate Technology PLC Trimble Inc. Xerox Holdings Corporation | | |
During 2021, the HRCC reviewed the Comparator Group for 2022 executive compensation, and no changes were made.
Additionally, broader market compensation survey data for other similarly-sized organizations as well as U.S. technology companies and Canadian general industry companies with global operations provided by the Compensation Consultant is analyzed in accordance with a process approved by the HRCC. The HRCC also considered proxy disclosure for companies in the Comparator Group, as well as survey data, among other factors, in making compensation decisions for the CEO and the other NEOs.
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| Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy | |
Our Insider Trading Policy prohibits executives from, among other things, entering into speculative transactions and transactions designed to hedge or offset a decrease in the market value of securities of the Corporation. Accordingly, executive officers may not sell short the Corporation’s securities, buy or sell put or call options on the Corporation’s securities, or purchase financial instruments (including prepaid variable contracts, equity swaps, collars or units of exchange funds) which are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in the market value of the Corporation’s securities. Executive officers are also prohibited from purchasing the Corporation’s securities on margin, borrowing against the Corporation’s securities held in a margin account, or pledging the Corporation’s securities as collateral for a loan. The directors of the Corporation also must comply with the provisions of the Insider Trading policy which prohibit hedging and/or pledging of the Corporation’s securities.
| Clawback Policy and Provisions | |
In 2021, the HRCC approved a new Clawback Policy applicable to the NEOs which provides that if the Corporation is required to restate financial statements due to, directly or indirectly, one or more NEOs having (a) engaged in fraud, intentional misconduct or gross negligence or (b) committed a material breach of the BCG Policy, the following clawbacks will apply: (i) reduction of the number or value of, or cancellation or termination of, all or any portion of incentive compensation awarded or granted to the breaching NEO in the 12 months prior to date of breach; and (ii) disgorgement or reimbursement of all or any portion of any incentive compensation paid, awarded or granted to such executive, as well as proceeds realized from any such award or grant in the 12 months prior to the date of breach.
Additionally, the Executive Policy Guidelines were updated in 2021 to include provisions that all incentive compensation paid or awarded to executives (including the NEOs) may be subject to clawback in the event an executive has committed a material breach of certain post-employment provisions (non-competition, non-solicitation or disclosure of confidential information). The clawbacks include reduction of the number or value of, or cancellation and termination, of all or any portion of any incentive compensation that was awarded or granted to the executive or vested, in each case in the two-year period prior to the date of breach and/or disgorgement or reimbursement of all or any portion of any incentive compensation paid, awarded or granted to such executive, as well as proceeds realized from any such award or grant, in each case in the two year period prior to the date of breach.
For the purposes of these clawbacks and recoupment, incentive compensation means, without limitation, short-term cash incentives, equity-based incentives and any other incentive-based compensation.
In addition, under the terms of all equity grants made to employees (including the NEOs) under the LTIP and the CSUP, an amount equal to the market value of the shares (or in the case of options, the intrinsic value realized by the executive) at the time of release, net of taxes, is required to be repaid to the Corporation if, within 12 months of the release date, there was a breach of certain post-employment provisions (non-competition, non-solicitation or disclosure of confidential information).
Executives who are terminated for cause also forfeit all unvested RSUs, PSUs and stock options as well as all vested and unexercised stock options.
| Executive Share Ownership | |
The Corporation has executive share ownership guidelines (the “Executive Share Ownership Guidelines”) which require specified executives to hold a multiple of their base salary in specified securities of the Corporation as shown in Table 12. Executives subject to the Executive Share Ownership Guidelines are expected to achieve the specified ownership within a period of five years following the later of: (i) the date of hire, or (ii) the date of promotion to a level subject to the ownership guidelines. Compliance is reviewed annually as of December 31 of each year. The HRCC reviewed the Executive Share Ownership Guidelines in July 2021 and no policy changes were made. The table below sets forth the compliance status of the applicable NEOs with the Executive Share Ownership Guidelines as of December 31, 2021:
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Table 12: Executive Share Ownership Guidelines
| | Name | | | | Executive Share Ownership Guidelines | | | | Share and Share Unit Ownership (Value)(1) | | | | Share and Share Unit Ownership (Multiple of Salary) | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis(2) | | | | $4,750,000 (5 × salary) | | | | $20,193,237 | | | | 21.3x | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla | | | | $1,650,000 (3 × salary) | | | | $3,973,477 | | | | 7.2x | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | $1,455,000 (3 × salary) | | | | $3,217,561 | | | | 6.6x | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | $1,380,000 (3 × salary) | | | | $4,846,392 | | | | 10.5x | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | $1,455,000 (3 × salary) | | | | $5,291,491 | | | | 10.9x | | |
(1)
Consists of: (i) SVS beneficially owned as of December 31, 2021, (ii) all unvested RSUs held as of December 31, 2021, and (iii) PSUs that settled on February 6, 2022 at 74% of target, which, on December 31, 2021, was the Corporation’s anticipated payout and at vesting was the actual payout; the value of which was determined using a share price of $11.13, the closing price of SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021.
(2)
For additional details regarding Mr. Mionis’ share and share unit ownership, see his biography above under Election of Directors — Nominees for Election as Director — Robert A. Mionis.
The CEO Employment Agreement provides that, in the event of the cessation of Mr. Mionis’ employment with the Corporation for any reason, he will be required to retain the share ownership level set out in the Executive Share Ownership Guidelines on his termination date for the 12-month period immediately following his termination date.
| Compensation Elements for the Named Executive Officers | |
Our executive compensation program is comprised of the following elements:
| Elements | | | Rationale | |
| Base Salary | | | Provides a fixed level of compensation intended to reflect the scope of an executive’s responsibilities and level of experience and to reward sustained performance over time, as well as to approximate competitive base salary levels | |
| Annual Cash Incentives | | | Aligns executive performance with the Corporation’s annual goals and objectives | |
| Equity-Based Incentives | | | | |
| • RSUs | | | Provides a strong incentive for long-term executive retention | |
| • PSUs | | | Aligns executives’ interests with shareholder interests and provides incentives for long-term performance | |
| Benefits | | | Designed to help ensure the health and wellness of executives | |
| Pension | | | Designed to assist executives in saving for their retirement | |
| Perquisites | | | Perquisites are provided to executives on a case-by-case basis as considered appropriate and in the interests of the Corporation | |
| Compensation Element Mix | |
In order to ensure that our executive compensation program is market competitive, we annually review the program design and pay levels of companies in the Comparator Group and other competitive market data. We assess total target direct compensation (base salary, annual cash incentive and equity grants) as well as specific elements of compensation when reviewing market information relative to our executive compensation program. The HRCC uses the median of the Comparator Group as a guideline when determining total target direct compensation but is not bound to any target percentile for any specific element of compensation. In addition to competitive market data, we also consider executive compensation in the context of an executive’s
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level of responsibility, experience, performance relative to their internal peers and succession planning. In determining appropriate positioning relative to the Comparator Group and internal peers, we utilize a multi-year approach for setting and transitioning target compensation for executives who are new in their role.
The at-risk portion of total compensation varies by role and executive level, but has the highest weighting at the most senior levels of management. CTI awards and certain equity-based incentive plan awards are contingent upon the Corporation’s financial and operational performance and are therefore at-risk. By making a significant portion of total target direct compensation variable, the Corporation intends to continue to align NEO compensation with shareholder interests.
| At-Risk Compensation | |
The vast majority of compensation paid to the NEOs is in the form of compensation that is variable and at-risk based on performance. A significant component of our executive at-risk pay is equity-based incentives, whose value is linked directly to the value of our SVS, ensuring alignment with the interests of shareholders. Further, CTI awards are contingent upon the Corporation’s financial and operational performance and are therefore also at-risk.
| Base Salary | |
The objective of base salary is to attract, reward and retain top talent. Base salaries for executive positions are determined with consideration given to the market median of the Comparator Group. Base salaries are reviewed annually and adjusted if appropriate, to reflect individual performance, relevant knowledge, experience and the executive’s level of responsibility within the Corporation.
| Celestica Team Incentive Plan | |
The CTI is a broad-based annual incentive program for all eligible employees, including the NEOs. The objective of the CTI is to motivate employees to achieve our short-term corporate goals, and to reward them accordingly. The payout amount for each participant in the CTI is based on actual achievement levels with respect to: (i) a corporate performance factor (“CPF”), which is based on the achievement of specified corporate goals; and (ii) an individual performance factor (“IPF”), which is based on achievement of individual performance goals. Payouts can vary from 0% to 200% of the Target Award (as defined below) depending on performance.
Payments under the CTI are made in cash and are determined in accordance with the following formula:
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| | CPF | | | | At the beginning of the performance period, management sets certain corporate financial targets in alignment with the Board-approved AOP. The HRCC approves such targets once finalized, and the Corporation’s results relative to the approved targets are measured to determine the CPF at the end of the performance period. The CPF can vary from 0% to 200%, depending on the level of achievement of the corporate financial targets, subject to the following two parameters (the “CTI Parameters”): (1) a separate minimum corporate profitability requirement must be achieved for the CPF to exceed zero; and (2) target non-IFRS operating margin must be achieved for any other measures under the CPF to pay above target. The CTI Parameters are set in addition to the achievement of CPF corporate financial targets in order to ensure challenging goals are reflective of our current business environment and that CTI aligns with our pay for performance philosophy. The CPF must be greater than zero for an executive to receive any CTI payment. | | |
| | IPF | | | | Individual contribution is recognized through the IPF component of the CTI. At the beginning of the performance period, eligible employees, including the NEOs, set individual specific goals and objectives to be achieved in the year which include both quantitative and qualitative objectives. NEOs also review their goals and objectives with the CEO in order to align the goals and objectives of the executive leadership team, and once finalized are approved by the CEO. The goals and criteria may include, for example, individual performance relative to segment or company business results, ESG metrics, teamwork, leadership, execution of responsibilities and key accomplishments. At the end of the year, an NEO’s IPF is determined through the annual performance review process which is based on an evaluation of the NEO’s performance measured against the NEO’s specific goals and criteria and is approved by the HRCC as recommended by the CEO. The IPF can increase an NEO’s CTI award by a factor of up to 1.5x, subject to an overall CTI award cap of two times the Target Award, or reduce an NEO’s CTI award to zero depending on individual performance. An IPF of less than 1.0 will result in a reduction of the CTI award payment otherwise payable, and an IPF of zero will result in no CTI Payment. | | |
| | Target Incentive | | | | The Target Incentive is a percentage of a NEO’s base salary and is determined based on competitive market data. | | |
| | Target Award | | | | The Target Award is a NEO’s Target Incentive multiplied by their base salary. | | |
| | Maximum Award | | | | Although the combination of a CPF of 200% and an IPF of 1.5x may mathematically result in an amount in excess of two times the Target Award, all CTI awards are capped at two times the Target Award. | | |
| Equity-Based Incentives | |
The Corporation’s equity-based incentives for the NEOs consist of RSUs, PSUs and/or stock options. The objectives of equity-based compensation are to:
•
align the NEOs’ interests with those of shareholders and incent appropriate behaviour for long-term performance;
•
reward the NEOs’ contributions to the Corporation’s long-term success; and
•
enable the Corporation to attract, motivate and retain qualified and experienced employees.
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At the January meeting, the HRCC determines the dollar value and mix of the equity-based grants to be awarded to the NEOs, if any. On the grant date, the dollar value is converted into the number of units that will be granted using the closing price of the SVS on the trading day prior to the grant date. The annual grants are made following the blackout period that ends not less than 48 hours after the Corporation’s year-end results have been released. The mix of equity-based incentives is reviewed and approved by the HRCC each year, and is based on factors including competitive grant practices, balance between performance incentive and retention value, and the effectiveness of each equity vehicle for motivating and retaining critical leaders.
Target equity-based incentives are determined using a variety of factors, including, the median awards of the Comparator Group as well as individual performance, experience and anticipated contribution to the Corporation’s strategy. In establishing the grant value of the annual equity awards for each of the NEOs, we start by assessing the median total target direct compensation of the equivalent position at companies in the Comparator Group. This data is then compared over a number of years for additional context and market trends. The HRCC also considers individual performance, the need to retain experienced and talented leaders to execute the Corporation’s business strategies and the executive’s potential to contribute to long-term shareholder value. Also considered are the executive’s role and responsibilities, internal equity and the level of previous long-term incentive awards. Once all of these factors are taken into consideration, the grant value of the annual equity-based awards for the NEOs is set.
In addition to the annual equity grants, management may award equity-based incentives in order to attract new executive hires and to retain current executives in special circumstances. Such grants are reviewed in advance with the Chairs of the Board and HRCC, and are subject to ratification by the HRCC. No such grants were made to NEOs in 2021, with the exception of an additional grant to Mr. Cooper of 24,691 RSUs — see 2021 Compensation Decisions below for a description of this award.
| RSUs | |
NEOs may be granted RSUs under either the LTIP or the CSUP as part of the Corporation’s annual equity grant. Such awards may be subject to vesting requirements, including time-based or other conditions as may be determined by the HRCC in its discretion. RSUs granted by the Corporation generally vest in instalments of one-third per year, over three years, based on continued employment with the Corporation. The payout value of the award is based on the number of RSUs being released and the market price of the SVS at the time of release. The Corporation has the right under the CSUP to settle RSUs in either cash or SVS. Under the LTIP, the Corporation may, at the time of grant, authorize grantees to settle vested RSUs either in cash or in SVS (on a one-for-one basis). Absent such permitted election, grants under the LTIP will be settled in SVS. If the Corporation has authorized a settlement in SVS or cash, the holder can choose which of these the holder receives. See Compensation of Named Executive Officers — Equity Compensation Plans.
| PSUs | |
NEOs may be granted PSUs under the LTIP or the CSUP as part of the Corporation’s annual equity grant. The vesting of such awards requires the achievement of specified performance-based conditions over a specified time period, as determined by the HRCC in its discretion. PSUs granted by the Corporation generally vest at the end of a three-year performance period subject to pre-determined performance criteria. The payout value of the award is based on the number of PSUs that vest (which ranges from 0% to 200% of the target amount granted) and the market price of the SVS at the time of release. The Corporation has the right under the CSUP to settle vested PSUs in either cash or SVS (on a one-for-one-basis). Under the LTIP, the Corporation may, at the time of grant, authorize grantees to settle PSUs either in cash or in SVS. Absent such permitted election, grants under the LTIP will be settled in SVS. If the Corporation has authorized a settlement in SVS or cash, the holder can choose which of these the holder receives. See Compensation of Named Executive Officers — Equity Compensation Plans.
| Stock Options | |
NEOs may be granted stock options under the LTIP (no stock options have been granted to the NEOs after 2015). The exercise price of a stock option is the closing market price on the business day prior to the date of the grant. Stock options granted by the Corporation generally vest at a rate of 25% annually on each of the
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first four anniversaries of the date of grant and expire after a ten-year term. The LTIP is not an evergreen plan and no stock options have been re-priced.
| Other Compensation | |
| Benefits | |
NEOs participate in the Corporation’s health, dental, pension, life insurance and long-term disability programs. Benefit programs are determined with consideration given to market median levels in the local geographic region.
| Perquisites | |
Perquisites are provided to executives on a case-by-case basis as considered appropriate in the interests of the Corporation. NEOs are entitled to an annual comprehensive medical examination at a private health clinic. Where applicable, tax equalization is provided to all NEOs as an integral part of the Corporation’s Short-Term Business Travel Program and is designed to maintain an individual’s tax burden at approximately the same level it would have otherwise been had they remained in their home country. Due largely to variables such as timing and tax rate differences between Canada and the U.S., tax equalization amounts may vary from year to year. While the Corporation is incorporated and headquartered in Canada, our business is global and we compete for executive talent worldwide. In addition, our executives are often required to travel extensively. As a result, we believe it is appropriate to make tax equalization payments in order to attract and retain non-Canadian executive officers with specific capabilities as well as to ensure that our executives do not incur any additional tax burden as a result of the business travel necessitated by the global nature of our business. Although we also cover housing expenses for Mr. Mionis while in Canada, we are re-evaluating his housing requirements in light of changes to business travel requirements.
| 2021 Compensation Decisions | |
Each element of compensation is considered independently of the other elements. However, the total package is reviewed to ensure that the achievement of target levels of corporate and individual performance will result in total compensation that is generally comparable to the median total compensation of the Comparator Group.
| Base Salary | |
The base salaries for the NEOs were reviewed during 2021, taking into account individual performance and experience, level of responsibility and median competitive data. The HRCC approved the increases shown in the following table for Messrs. Chawla, Phillips and Cooper in 2021 in order to align their respective base salaries with the median base salary of executives with similar roles within the Comparator Group.
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The following table sets forth the annual base salary for the NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2019 through December 31, 2021:
Table 13: NEO Base Salary Changes
| | NEO | | | | Year | | | | Salary ($) | | | | % Increase | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | 2021 | | | | $950,000 | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | 2020 | | | | $950,000 | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | 2019 | | | | $950,000 | | | | — | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla | | | | 2021 | | | | $550,000 | | | | 10% | | |
| | | | | | 2020 | | | | $500,000 | | | | 9% | | |
| | | | | | 2019 | | | | $460,000 | | | | 2% | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | 2021 | | | | $485,000 | | | | 5% | | |
| | | | | | 2020 | | | | $460,000 | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | 2019 | | | | $460,000 | | | | 8% | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | 2021 | | | | $460,000 | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | 2020 | | | | $460,000 | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | 2019 | | | | $460,000 | | | | — | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | 2021 | | | | $485,000 | | | | 5% | | |
| | | | | | 2020 | | | | $460,000 | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | 2019 | | | | $460,000 | | | | — | | |
| Annual Incentive Award (CTI) | |
| 2021 Company Performance Factor | |
The CPF component of the CTI for 2021 was based on the achievement of specified corporate financial targets for the year (“2021 Targets”). The 2021 Targets were revenue (“Revenue Target”) and non-IFRS operating margin (“OM Target”), as these measures were determined to be aligned with the Corporation’s continuing key objectives of driving profitable growth on both a “top line” and “bottom line” basis. As both measures were deemed to be equally important, the same weight was given to each target. The same measures and associated weight were used in 2020.
Targets were initially considered in January 2021 in conjunction with the establishment of the 2021 AOP and in the context of the continued uncertainty regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on our business. As the year progressed, actions were taken to enhance the resiliency of our supply chain, while simultaneously sharpening its focus on investments in our value-added businesses to grow the business. The executive team took proactive steps to improve the organization’s focus in this regard. In determining the final targets, the HRCC considered the positive impact of these actions on the 2021 AOP as well as shareholder expectations that were expressed in our shareholder engagement initiatives with respect to the need to ensure alignment of executive pay with company performance. As a result, the final 2021 Revenue Target was set higher than the corresponding revenue target in 2020 and actual 2020 revenue, and at a level that was determined to be both challenging, yet attainable. The 2021 OM Target was finalized as originally considered since it was determined to satisfactorily represent achievement of the expected value in 2021, and demonstrate growth from the prior year’s results. The 2021 Revenue Target and the 2021 OM Target were approved by the HRCC and used to determine the CPF for 2021 CTI awards.
The CTI Parameters that specifically indicate that no minimum CTI payments are guaranteed, and there is a maximum CTI payout of two times the Target Award for which the CTI cannot exceed. Under the first CTI Parameter, a minimum corporate profitability requirement must be achieved in order for any CTI award to be payable at all. That requirement was achieved in 2021 and therefore CTI awards were payable. Under the second CTI Parameter, a cap applies such that, in order for the revenue component of the CPF to pay above target (regardless of the actual revenue achievement level), target non-IFRS operating margin must be achieved, which it was. The percentage achievement for each measure was then determined by interpolating between the factor that corresponds to threshold, target and maximum, as applicable. Each achievement factor was then multiplied by its weight (50%) in order to determine the weighted achievement.
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The CPF for 2021 was based on 116% based on the results in the following table:
Table 14: Company Performance Factor
| | Measure | | | | Weight | | | | Threshold | | | | Target | | | | Maximum | | | | Achieved Results | | | | Weighted Achievement | | |
| | Non-IFRS operating margin | | | | 50% | | | | 2.95% | | | | 3.7% | | | | 4.45% | | | | 4.2% | | | | 159% | | |
| | IFRS revenue | | | | 50% | | | | $5,336M | | | | $5,800M | | | | $6,264M | | | | $5,635M | | | | 73% | | |
| | CPF | | | | 116% | | |
| 2021 Individual Performance Factor | |
The IPF can increase an executive’s CTI award by a factor of up to 1.5x or reduce the CTI award to zero depending on individual performance (an IPF of less than 1.0 will result in a reduction of the CTI award otherwise payable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, CTI payments are subject to an overall maximum cap of 200% of the Target Award. The IPF is determined through the annual performance review process.
At the beginning of each year, the HRCC and the CEO agree on performance goals for the CEO that are then approved by the Board. Goals for the other NEOs that align with the CEO’s goals are then established and agreed to between the CEO and the respective NEOs. The performance of the CEO and the other NEOs is measured against the established goals and also contains qualitative elements, such that criteria for, and the amount of, the IPF remains at the discretion of the HRCC. However, the CPF must be greater than zero for an executive to be entitled to any CTI payment.
In 2021, the HRCC approved an increase in Mr. Chawla’s Target Incentive from 80% (initially established upon his appointment as CFO in 2017) to 100%. As part of our multi-year approach for setting target compensation and to better align his target short-term incentives with those of CFOs within the Comparator Group, the HRCC approved this increase.
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CEO
In assessing Mr. Mionis’ individual performance, the HRCC considers the Corporation’s objectives and results achieved, personal performance objectives as determined annually, as well as other factors the Committee considers relevant to the role of CEO. Key results that were considered in determining Mr. Mionis’ IPF for 2021 are included below:
| | Objective | | | | 2021 Performance Results | | |
| | Meet Our Commitments | | | | • Met or exceeded a number of financial performance goals for 2021 • Focused on operational cost productivity and continued to drive improved and more predicable ramp performance • Realized robust bookings aligned with growth aspirations in both of our ATS and CCS segments | | |
| | Return to Growth | | | | • Completed long-term strategic objective of transitioning to higher value markets • Achieved a return to top-line year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2021 • Non-IFRS operating margin of 4.2% was up 70 basis points compared to 2020 • HPS business achieved a record $1.15 billion in revenue in 2021 | | |
| | Optimize Operations | | | | • Celestica Operating System continued to drive optimization of operations through standardized best practices • Advanced planning processes, supply chain management, and collaboration with our customers and suppliers helped to partially mitigate the impact of materials constraints • While inventory performance fell below expectations (due to carrying higher inventory levels to mitigate the impact of supply chain constraints), achieved cash cycle days in line with plan | | |
| | Enable the Enterprise | | | | • Enhanced talent practices and improved succession readiness • Made significant progress on our three-year roadmap to entrench diversity and inclusion into our culture • Development of specific actions in response to D&I Survey and Employee Engagement survey • Embedded ESG strategy and oversight into our management system • Created operational plans and reporting mechanisms to achieve our target of 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025 • Successfully completed enterprise-enablement initiatives, including mitigating compliance risks and improving connectivity and data analytics platforms • Continued to prioritize the health and safety of employees during the pandemic while meeting customer commitments • As a result of operational resilience and safety measures, operated at near pre-COVID-19 production capacity at most of our sites during 2021 | | |
Despite a number of significant challenges in 2021, including materials constraints and the ongoing impacts from COVID-19 in select locations, the Corporation achieved strong financial results led by year-over-year improvements in our ATS segment and another solid year in our CCS segment driven by strength in HPS business. Our bookings continued to outperform our expectations, our quality and productivity performance was further strengthened, and we expanded our technology capabilities, people practices, and focus on ESG matters. In addition, the HRCC and the Board believe that the growth initiatives undertaken in both segments, led by the PCI acquisition in our ATS segment and HPS roadmap in our CCS segment, have placed the Corporation into an even better position to drive profitable growth in 2022 and beyond. As a result, the HRCC and the Board determined that Mr. Mionis exceeded expectations for the year, and approved an IPF of 1.3 for 2021.
Other NEOs
The performance of the NEOs other than the CEO is assessed at year-end relative to objective measures that align with the targets for the CEO. The CEO assesses each other NEO’s contributions to the Corporation’s results, including such NEO’s contributions as a part of the senior leadership team. Based on the CEO’s assessment, the HRCC considered each NEO to have met or exceeded expectations for 2021 based on each of
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their individual performance and contribution to corporate goals and objectives. Factors considered in the evaluation of each NEO’s IPF included the following:
| | Mandeep Chawla | | | | • Rigorously evaluated financial liquidity needs during the strategic transformation and led the enhancements to our current credit facility, including an expansion of our borrowing capacity with improved terms • Effectively managed the negotiation and closing of the PCI acquisition • Partnered with the CEO and business leaders to successfully complete the Corporation’s strategic transformation in pursuit of profitable growth, shareholder value creation and enhanced transparency to stakeholders | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | • Drove record HPS revenue of $1.15 billion, representing growth of 34% compared to 2020, led by demand strength and new program ramps with service providers and supported by continuing data center growth • Achieved CCS segment margin of 4.4% in Q4 2021 (highest since 2015) driven by strength in HPS business • Established a center of excellence in Richardson, Texas, expanding our HPS engineering network and increasing our North America manufacturing capacity | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | • ATS segment saw strong revenue growth in 2021, driven by continued strength in our Capital Equipment business and organic growth in our Industrial business • Successfully contributed to our portfolio diversification efforts by supporting the PCI acquisition • Expanded our engineering services business and grew engineering led bookings compared to 2020 | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | • Successfully led advanced planning processes, supply chain management, and collaboration with our customers and suppliers to mitigate the impact of global supply chain constraints on our revenue • Achieved meaningful progress in the integration of the Celestica Operating System to drive continuous improvements and consistent processes across the Celestica network to increase operational efficiencies • Led Celestica’s robust COVID-19 business continuity management program to minimize disruptions during the pandemic and to minimize impacts to employee health and well-being across our global network | | |
| 2021 CTI Awards | |
The following table sets forth information with respect to the potential and actual awards under the CTI for the NEOs during 2021:
Table 15: 2021 CTI Awards
| | Name | | | | Target Incentive %(1) | | | | Potential Award for Below Threshold Performance | | | | Potential Award for Threshold Performance(2) | | | | Potential Award for Target Performance(2) | | | | Potential Maximum Award(2) | | | | Amount Awarded | | | | Amount Awarded as a % of Base Salary | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | 125% | | | | $0 | | | | $296,875 | | | | $1,187,500 | | | | $2,375,000 | | | | $1,790,750 | | | | 189% | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla | | | | 100% | | | | $0 | | | | $134,589 | | | | $538,356 | | | | $1,076,712 | | | | $736,902 | | | | 134% | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | 80% | | | | $0 | | | | $95,836 | | | | $383,342 | | | | $766,685 | | | | $569,187 | | | | 117% | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | 80% | | | | $0 | | | | $92,000 | | | | $368,000 | | | | $736,000 | | | | $426,880 | | | | 93% | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | 80% | | | | $0 | | | | $95,836 | | | | $383,342 | | | | $766,685 | | | | $511,379 | | | | 105% | | |
(1)
The Target Incentive for each NEO was not changed from 2021 except for Mr. Chawla whose Target Incentive was increased from 80% to 100%.
(2)
Award amounts in these columns are calculated based on an IPF of 1.0.
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| NEO Equity Awards and Mix | |
Target equity-based incentives were determined for the NEOs with reference to the median awards of the Comparator Group. Consideration was also given to individual performance, the roles and responsibilities of the NEOs, retention value and market trends. The mix of equity in respect of 2021 compensation was comprised of 40% RSUs and 60% PSUs (in accordance with executive compensation program design changes implemented in 2018). See Compensation Elements for the Named Executive Officers — Equity-Based Incentives for a general description of the process for determining the amounts of these awards.
In addition to the annual grant to the NEOs, Mr. Cooper received a grant of 24,691 RSUs on February 2, 2021 based on a share price of $8.10, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on February 1, 2021. The RSUs will vest in their entirety on the second anniversary of the grant. This award was made to Mr. Cooper in order to recognize his leadership through unprecedented, prolonged conditions within our operations as a result of COVID-19.
The following table sets forth equity awards granted to the NEOs on February 2, 2021 as part of their 2021 compensation as well as the additional RSU award granted to Mr. Cooper:
Table 16: NEO Equity Awards
| | Name | | | | RSUs (#)(1) | | | | PSUs (#)(2) | | | | Stock Options (#) | | | | Value of Equity Award(3) | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | 355,555 | | | | 533,333 | | | | — | | | | $7,200,000 | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla | | | | 96,296 | | | | 144,444 | | | | — | | | | $1,950,000 | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | 83,950 | | | | 125,925 | | | | — | | | | $1,700,000 | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | 86,419 | | | | 129,629 | | | | — | | | | $1,750,000 | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | 108,641 | | | | 125,925 | | | | — | | | | $1,900,000 | | |
(1)
Grants were based on a share price of $8.10, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on February 1, 2021 (the last business day before the date of grant).
(2)
Assumes achievement of 100% of target level performance.
(3)
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs.
The RSUs granted in 2021 vest rateably over a three-year period, commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant (other than the additional award of RSUs granted to Mr. Cooper in February 2021). The value of the RSUs granted on February 2, 2021 was determined at the January 2021 meeting of the HRCC. The number of RSUs granted was determined using the closing price of the SVS on February 1, 2021 (the day prior to the date of grant) on the NYSE of $8.10.
PSUs set forth in the table above vest at the end of a three-year period subject to pre-determined performance criteria. For such awards, each NEO was granted a target number of PSUs (“Target Grant”). The number of PSUs that will actually vest ranges from 0% to 200% of the Target Grant and will be primarily based on the Corporation’s non-IFRS operating margin in the final year of the three-year performance period (“OM Result”), subject to modification by the Corporation’s average annual non-IFRS adjusted ROIC achievement
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over the performance period (“ROIC Factor”) and relative TSR achievement (“TSR Factor”) over the performance period in accordance with the following:
| | Formula | | | | Description | | | ||||||||||||
| | Preliminary Vesting % based on OM Result | | | | The percentage of PSUs that will vest based on the OM Result (the “Preliminary Vesting%”) can range between 0% and 200% of the Target Grant. The Preliminary Vesting% will be subject to initial adjustment based on the ROIC Factor and further adjustment based on the TSR Factor, as described below, provided that the maximum number of PSUs that may vest will not exceed 200% of the Target Grant. | | | ||||||||||||
| | Preliminary Vesting % subject to modification by a factor of either −25%, 0% or +25% based on ROIC Factor | | | | The Corporation’s ROIC Factor will be measured relative to a pre-determined non-IFRS adjusted ROIC range approved by the Board. The Preliminary Vesting% will not be modified if the ROIC Factor is within that pre-determined range. The Preliminary Vesting% will be increased or decreased by 25% if the ROIC Factor is above or below that predetermined range, respectively (as so adjusted, the “Secondary Vesting%”). The ROIC Factor cannot increase the actual number of PSUs that vest to more than 200% of the Target Grant. | | | ||||||||||||
| | Secondary Vesting % subject to modification by a factor ranging from −25% to +25% based on TSR Factor | | | | TSR measures the performance of a company’s shares over time. It combines share price appreciation and dividends, if any, paid over the relevant period to determine the total return to the shareholder expressed as a percentage of the share price at the beginning of the performance period. With respect to each TSR Comparator (as defined below), TSR is calculated as the change in share price over the three-year performance period (plus any dividends) divided by the share price at the beginning of the period, where the average daily closing share price for the month of December 2020 is the beginning share price and the average daily closing price for the month of December 2023 will be the ending share price. The TSR of the Corporation is calculated in the same manner in respect of the SVS (the Corporation does not currently pay dividends). For purposes of determining modifications to the Secondary Vesting% based on the TSR Factor, the HRCC determined that for PSUs granted in 2021, the Corporation’s TSR will be measured relative to the S&P Americas BMI Technology Hardware & Equipment Index as of January 1, 2021 (the “BMI Index”), with the addition of Flex Ltd. (the only EMS-peer company not already included in the BMI Index), that remain publicly traded on an established U.S. stock exchange for the entire performance period (the “TSR Comparators”). The BMI Index is comprised of technology hardware and equipment subsector companies with business diversification. The HRCC determined that the attributes of the BMI Index, including its alignment with both the U.S. technology peers used for overall executive compensation benchmarking and Celestica’s business models made it appropriate for PSU vesting determinations. The Corporation’s market capitalization is positioned around the median of the TSR Comparators. After calculating the percentile rank for each TSR Comparator (by arranging the TSR results from highest to lowest), the Corporation’s TSR will be ranked against that of each of the TSR Comparators. The Secondary Vesting% will then be subject to modification (ranging from a decrease of 25% to an increase of 25%) by interpolating between the corresponding percentages immediately above and immediately below Celestica’s percentile position as set out in the table below, provided that the Corporation’s TSR performance cannot increase the actual number of PSUs that will vest to more than 200% of the Target Grant. | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Celestica’s TSR Positioning | | | | TSR Modification Factor | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 90th Percentile | | | | 25% | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 50th Percentile | | | | 0% | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 10th Percentile | | | | −25% | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| | Summary | | | | Total PSU Vesting Percentage = (1) Preliminary Vesting% based on OM Result; (2) Preliminary Vesting% is subject to modification by a factor of either −25%, 0% or +25%, based on ROIC Factor (Secondary Vesting%); and (3) Secondary Vesting% is subject to modification by a factor ranging from −25% to +25% based on TSR Factor. | | |
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Note Regarding the Use of Non-IFRS Operating Margin
Non-IFRS operating margin is utilized as a performance measure in both the CPF of the CTI and for PSU performance as we believe it closely aligns with both our short-term and long-term profitability goals and is a key metric to measure the value we deliver to shareholders. In the CTI, annual non-IFRS operating margin is used (together with revenue) to measure short-term profitable growth. For PSUs, the non-IFRS operating margin target is based on the Corporation’s long-term strategic plan, as it is not measured until the last year of the performance period, and vesting is subject to modification based on other measures (including TSR). As a result, the non-IFRS operating margin target and the relevant time-period for achievement, are different under the CTI and PSUs (one year for CTI and three years for PSUs), and therefore we do not consider the use of non-IFRS operating margin to be duplicative.
| Realized and Realizable Compensation | |
| CEO Realized and Realizable Compensation | |
The following table is a look back at CEO compensation that compares the total target direct compensation awarded to Mr. Mionis for the years ended December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2021 to his realized and realizable compensation for each such year.
Table 17: CEO Realized and Realizable Compensation
| | | | | | Fully Realized | | | | Not Fully Realized | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | 2017 | | | | 2018 | | | | 2019 | | | | 2020 | | | | 2021 | | |
| | Total Target Direct Compensation(1) | | | | $7,582,021 | | | | $9,337,500 | | | | $9,337,500 | | | | $9,337,500 | | | | $9,337,500 | | |
| | Realized and Realizable Compensation(2) | | | | $4,433,564(3) | | | | $5,090,158(3) | | | | $9,340,985(3) | | | | $12,075,427(4) | | | | $12,634,073(4) | | |
| | Realized and Realizable Compensation as a % of Total Target Direct Compensation | | | | 58% | | | | 55% | | | | 100% | | | | 129% | | | | 135% | | |
(1)
The total target direct compensation value represents Mr. Mionis’ salary, target CTI award and the target value of share-based awards (i.e., 100% for PSUs).
(2)
The realized and realizable value for 2017 — 2019 represents actual salary paid, actual CTI award paid and share based awards at vest date value (and demonstrates fully-realized compensation, as the vesting or performance period for all equity grants in such years has ended). The realized and realizable value for 2020 and 2021 represents actual salary paid, actual CTI award paid, vest-date value for the portion of RSU grants which had vested by December 31, 2021, and for the portion of share-based awards which had not vested by such date, an assumed value of $11.13 per share (the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021) and assumed vesting of PSUs at target performance of 100%, which may not be the ultimate amount earned.
Compensation for 2020 and 2021 has only been partially realized, such that a significant portion remains realizable and is “at-risk” as described in footnote 4 below.
(3)
The following table includes the CPF for CTI awards actually paid and the vesting percentage of PSUs granted in each year:
| | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
| | | | | Year | | | | CPF under CTI | | | | PSUs as % of Target | | | | ||
| | | | | 2017 | | | | 83% | | | | 40% | | | | ||
| | | | | 2018 | | | | 80% | | | | 26% | | | | ||
| | | | | 2019 | | | | 34% | | | | 74% | | | | ||
| | | | | 2020 | | | | 182% | | | | | |||||
| | | | | 2021 | | | | 116% | | | | |
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(4)
Mr. Mionis’ 2020 and 2021 compensation has not been fully realized and a significant portion remains “at-risk” as follows (representing the December 31, 2021 value of: PSUs whose performance period does not conclude until the end of 2022 and 2023, respectively, and RSUs granted in each such year that remain unvested):
| | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| | | | | Year | | | | Amount Still “At-Risk” | | | | ||
| | | | | 2020 | | | | $7,812,281 | | | | ||
| | | | | 2021 | | | | $9,893,323 | | | |
| NEO Realized and Realizable Compensation | |
The following table is a look back at compensation for all NEOs that compares the total target direct compensation awarded to the NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2021 to their realized and realizable compensation for each such year.
Table 18: NEO Realized and Realizable Compensation
| | | | | | Fully Realized | | | | Not Fully Realized | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | 2017 | | | | 2018 | | | | 2019 | | | | 2020 | | | | 2021 | | |
| | Total Target Direct Compensation(1) | | | | $16,088,075 | | | | $19,049,426 | | | | $19,155,708 | | | | $19,904,386 | | | | $20,267,253 | | |
| | Realized and Realizable Compensation(2) | | | | $10,113,460(3) | | | | $10,972,171(3) | | | | $18,973,951(3) | | | | $25,698,446(4) | | | | $26,865,812(4) | | |
| | Realized and Realizable Compensation as a % of Total Target Direct Compensation | | | | 63% | | | | 58% | | | | 99% | | | | 129% | | | | 133% | | |
(1)
The total target direct compensation value represents the NEOs’ salary, target CTI award and the target value of share-based awards (i.e., 100% for PSUs).
(2)
The realized and realizable value for 2017 — 2019 represents actual salary paid, actual CTI award paid and share based awards at vest date value (and demonstrates fully-realized compensation, as the vesting or performance period for all equity grants in such years has ended). The realized and realizable value for 2020 and 2021 represents actual salary paid, actual CTI award paid, vest-date value for the portion of RSU grants which had vested by December 31, 2021, and for the portion of share-based awards which had not vested by such date, an assumed value of $11.13 per share (the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021) and assumed vesting of PSUs at target performance of 100%, which may not be the ultimate amount earned. Compensation for 2020 and 2021 has only been partially realized, such that a significant portion remains realizable and is “at-risk” as described in footnote 4 below.
(3)
The following table includes the CPF for CTI awards actually paid and the vesting percentage of PSUs granted in each year:
| | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
| | | | | Year | | | | CPF under CTI | | | | PSUs as % of Target | | | | ||
| | | | | 2017 | | | | 83% | | | | 40% | | | | ||
| | | | | 2018 | | | | 80% | | | | 26% | | | | ||
| | | | | 2019 | | | | 34% | | | | 74% | | | | ||
| | | | | 2020 | | | | 182% | | | | | |||||
| | | | | 2021 | | | | 116% | | | | |
(4)
The NEOs’ 2020 and 2021 compensation has not been fully realized and a significant portion remains “at-risk” as follows (representing the December 31, 2021 value of: PSUs whose performance period does not conclude until the end of 2022 and 2023, respectively, and RSUs granted in each such year that remain unvested):
| | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| | | | | Year | | | | Amount Still “At-Risk” | | | | ||
| | | | | 2020 | | | | $15,528,303 | | | | ||
| | | | | 2021 | | | | $19,924,002 | | | |
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| Total Shareholder Return | |
Table 19: TSR vs. NEO Compensation(1)
The following graph compares the five-year trend in the Corporation’s TSR to both total target direct compensation and the realized and realizable compensation for the NEOs for each year. This look back at compensation demonstrates the comparison between actual pay and total target compensation intended at the time of grant. The difference between total target direct compensation and realized and realizable compensation was driven by the performance of the SVS and achievement relative to CTI and PSU performance measures, as well as changes in the reported NEOs in applicable years.
(1)
NEO total target direct compensation value represents salary, target CTI award and the target value of share-based awards (i.e., 100% for PSUs) and option awards (if applicable) for all NEOs reported in the Corporation’s management information circular each year. NEO realized and realizable value represents actual salary paid, actual CTI award paid and share-based awards at vest date value (and for the portion of share-based awards that had not vested as of December 31, 2021, at an assumed value of $11.13 per share, the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021, and assumed vesting of PSUs at target performance of 100%, which may not be the ultimate amount earned).
A significant portion of NEO compensation is at-risk to support our pay for performance culture. We believe the realized value of the long-term incentives granted to NEOs, and the performance of the PSUs in particular (the value of which will not be realized, if at all, until the end of the relevant three-year performance period), more closely mirror the trend in share price movement and serve to better demonstrate the alignment of the interests of management with those of our shareholders than total target direct compensation.
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| COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | |
This section contains references to operating margin and adjusted ROIC, which are non-IFRS ratios. See About the Information in this Circular — Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures for definitions of such non-IFRS ratios, and where to find a discussion of the exclusions used to determine such measures, how they are used, as well as a reconciliation of the historical non-IFRS financial measures that are components of non-IFRS operating margin and non-IFRS adjusted ROIC to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.
| Summary Compensation Table | |
The following table sets forth the compensation of the NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2019 through December 31, 2021.
Table 20: Summary Compensation Table
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Name & Principal Position | | | | Year | | | | Salary ($) | | | | Share- based Awards ($)(1)(2) | | | | Option- based Awards ($)(3) | | | | Annual Incentive Plans ($)(4) | | | | Pension Value ($)(5) | | | | All Other Compensation ($)(6) | | | | Total Compensation ($) | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | 2021 | | | | $950,000 | | | | $7,200,000 | | | | — | | | | $1,790,750 | | | | $249,200 | | | | $292,382 | | | | $10,482,332 | | |
| | President and Chief | | | | 2020 | | | | $950,000 | | | | $7,200,000 | | | | — | | | | $2,375,000 | | | | $89,735 | | | | $500,220 | | | | $11,114,955 | | |
| | Executive Officer | | | | 2019 | | | | $950,000 | | | | $7,200,000 | | | | — | | | | $383,562 | | | | $131,850 | | | | $691,354 | | | | $9,356,766 | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla(7) | | | | 2021 | | | | $538,356 | | | | $1,950,000 | | | | — | | | | $736,902 | | | | $110,942 | | | | $3,901 | | | | $3,340,101 | | |
| | Chief Financial | | | | 2020 | | | | $490,492 | | | | $1,850,000 | | | | — | | | | $784,787 | | | | $46,876 | | | | $4,399 | | | | $3,176,554 | | |
| | Officer | | | | 2019 | | | | $457,534 | | | | $1,600,000 | | | | — | | | | $118,227 | | | | $61,346 | | | | $1,462 | | | | $2,238,569 | | |
| | Jason Phillips(7) | | | | 2021 | | | | $479,178 | | | | $1,700,000 | | | | — | | | | $569,187 | | | | $80,342 | | | | $26,925 | | | | $2,855,632 | | |
| | President, CCS | | | | 2020 | | | | $460,000 | | | | $2,000,000 | | | | — | | | | $736,000 | | | | $29,057 | | | | $27,594 | | | | $3,252,651 | | |
| | | | | | 2019 | | | | $438,137 | | | | $1,600,000 | | | | — | | | | $113,215 | | | | $31,828 | | | | $58,826 | | | | $2,242,006 | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless(8) | | | | 2021 | | | | $460,000 | | | | $1,750,000 | | | | — | | | | $426,880 | | | | $70,902 | | | | $21,432 | | | | $2,729,214 | | |
| | President, ATS | | | | 2020 | | | | $460,000 | | | | $1,750,000 | | | | — | | | | $636,272 | | | | $29,509 | | | | $16,512 | | | | $2,892,293 | | |
| | | | | | 2019 | | | | $460,000 | | | | $1,750,000 | | | | — | | | | $118,864 | | | | $46,357 | | | | $19,247 | | | | $2,394,468 | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper(9) | | | | 2020 | | | | $479,178 | | | | $1,900,000 | | | | — | | | | $511,379 | | | | $80,342 | | | | $48,664 | | | | $3,019,563 | | |
| | Chief Operations | | | | 2020 | | | | $460,000 | | | | $1,600,000 | | | | — | | | | $736,000 | | | | $29,509 | | | | $17,100 | | | | $2,842,609 | | |
| | Officer | | | | 2019 | | | | $460,000 | | | | $1,600,000 | | | | — | | | | $118,864 | | | | $52,058 | | | | $16,800 | | | | $2,247,722 | | |
(1)
All amounts in this column represent the grant date fair value of share-based awards. Amounts in this column for 2021 represent RSU and PSU grants to all NEOs, and the additional RSU grant (with a grant date fair value of $200,000) to Mr. Cooper, all made on February 2, 2021, which was made to Mr. Cooper in order to recognize his leadership through unprecedented, prolonged conditions within our operations as a result of COVID-19. Grants were based on a share price of $8.10, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on February 1, 2021 (the day prior to the date of the grant). Amounts in this column for 2020 represent RSU and PSU grants to all NEOs, and the additional grant to Mr. Phillips’ of a performance award of $400,000 in PSUs, all made on February 4, 2020. The 2020 grants were based on a share price of $8.89, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on February 3, 2020 (the day prior to the date of the grant). Amounts in this column for 2019 represent RSU and PSU grants made on February 6, 2019 to all NEOs and an additional grant of 22,124 RSUs made to Mr. Phillips on August 6, 2019 in recognition of his expanded responsibilities. The February 2019 grants were based on a share price of $8.04, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on February 5, 2019 (the day prior to the date of the grant) and the August 2019 grant to Mr. Phillips was based on a share price of $6.78, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on August 5, 2019 (the day prior to the date of the grant). See Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Compensation Elements for the Named Executive Officers — Equity-Based Incentives for a description of the process followed in determining the grants for 2021, and see Compensation Discussion and Analysis — 2021 Compensation Decisions — Equity-Based Incentives for a description of the vesting terms of the RSU and PSU awards. Grants made in-year are reported for such year.
(2)
The estimated accounting fair value of the share based awards is calculated using the market price of SVS as defined under each of the plans and in the case of PSUs, various fair value pricing models may apply. The accounting fair values for the PSU portion of the share based awards in Table 20 reflect various assumptions as to estimated vesting for such awards in accordance with applicable accounting standards. The grant date fair value of the RSU portion of the share based awards in Table 20 is the same as their accounting fair value. The grant date fair value for the PSU portion of the share based awards reflects the dollar amount of the award intended for compensation purposes, based on the market value of the underlying shares on the grant dates based on an assumption of the vesting of 100% of the target number of PSUs granted. The accounting fair value for all share based awards in
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the table assumed a zero forfeiture rate. The number of PSUs granted in 2019 — 2021 that will actually vest will range from 0% to 200% of the target number granted and will be primarily based on the Corporation’s OM Result in the final year of the three-year performance period, subject to modification by the Corporation’s ROIC Factor and TSR Factor over the performance period, as described in detail under NEO Equity Awards and Mix above. 74% of the target amount of PSUs granted in 2019 settled in February 2022. For PSUs granted in 2019 — 2021, the Corporation’s TSR was measured relative to that of companies in the BMI Index, with the addition of Flex Ltd, that remain publicly traded on an established U.S. stock exchange for the entire performance period. The Corporation estimated the grant date fair value of the TSR Factor using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The number of awards expected to be earned was factored into the grant date Monte Carlo valuation for the award. The accounting grant date fair value is not subsequently adjusted regardless of the eventual number of awards that are earned based on TSR. The grant date fair value for the non-TSR based performance measurement and modifier was based on the market value of our SVS at the time of grant and may be adjusted in subsequent periods to reflect a change in the estimated level of achievement related to the applicable performance condition. The accounting grant date fair value is not subsequently adjusted regardless of the eventual number of awards that were earned based on the market performance condition.
(3)
There were no stock options granted to the NEOs in 2019, 2020 or 2021.
(4)
Amounts in this column represent CTI incentive payments made to NEOs. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Compensation Elements for the Named Executive Officers — Celestica Team Incentive Plan for a description of the CTI.
(5)
Amounts in this column represent Celestica’s contributions to defined contribution pension plans (other than 401(k) plans) on behalf of the NEOs — see Pension Plans for a full description of the plans. Contributions for Messrs. Mionis, Phillips, Lawless and Cooper are reported in U.S. dollars. Contributions for Mr. Chawla are reported in U.S. dollars, having been converted from Canadian dollars at the average exchange rate for 2021 of $1.00 equals C$1.2533.
(6)
Amounts in this column for Mr. Mionis include amounts for items provided for under the CEO Employment Agreement, which for 2021 consisted of tax equalization payments of $189,260, housing expenses of $75,080 while in Canada, group life insurance premiums of $7,482 and a 401(k) contribution of $17,400. For 2020, the amount in this column for Mr. Mionis consisted of tax equalization payments of $400,602, housing expenses of $72,196 while in Canada, group life insurance premiums of $7,482 and a 401(k) contribution of $17,100. For 2019, the amount in this column for Mr. Mionis consisted of tax equalization payments of $578,947, housing expenses of $72,569 while in Canada, group life insurance premiums of $8,105 and a 401(k) contribution of $16,800. Amounts in this column for Mr. Chawla for 2021 include a tax equalization payment of $2,311. Amounts in this column for Mr. Chawla for 2020 include a tax equalization payment of $2,582. Amounts in this column for Mr. Phillips for 2021 include a tax equalization payment of $9,340 and a 401(k) contribution of $17,085. Amounts in this column for Mr. Phillips for 2020 consisted of a tax equalization payment of $10,121 and a 401(k) contribution of $16,973. For 2019, the amount in this column for Mr. Phillips include a tax equalization payment of $41,719 and a 401(k) contribution of $16,607. Amounts in this column for Mr. Lawless for 2021 consisted of a tax equalization payment of $4,770 and a 401(k) contribution of $16,662. Amounts in this column for Mr. Lawless for 2020 consisted of a 401(k) contribution of $16,512. For 2019, the amount in this column for Mr. Lawless include tax equalization payments of $3,451 and a 401(k) contribution of $15,796. Amounts in this column for Mr. Cooper for 2021 consisted of a tax equalization payment of $31,264 and a 401(k) contribution of $17,400. Amounts in this column for Mr. Cooper for 2020 consisted of a 401(k) contribution of $17,100. For 2019, the amount in this column for Mr. Cooper include a 401(k) contribution of $16,800. In accordance with the Corporation’s Short-Term Business Travel Program, tax equalization payments for all NEOs were made to maintain each NEO’s tax burden at approximately the same level it would have otherwise been had they remained in their home country. Due largely to variables such as timing and tax rate differences between Canada and the U.S., tax equalization amounts may vary from one year to the next and the net benefit may be positive or negative in the year. While the Corporation is incorporated and headquartered in Canada, our business is global, and we compete for executive talent worldwide. As a result, we believe it is appropriate to make tax equalization payments under certain circumstances in order to attract and retain non-Canadian executive officers with specific capabilities and to ensure that our executives do not incur any additional tax burden as a result of the business travel necessitated by the global nature of our business.
(7)
In 2021, the HRCC approved increases to the base salaries of Messrs. Chawla, Phillips and Cooper in order to align their respective base salaries with the median base salary of executives with similar roles within the Comparator Group. In April 2020, Mr. Chawla’s base salary was increased to better align it with the median base salary of CFOs within the Comparator Group, and to reflect the expanded scope of his responsibilities to include additional functional areas. In 2019, the HRCC approved an increase in Mr. Chawla’s base salary. Mr. Phillips was appointed President, CCS effective January 1, 2019 and his base salary increased as a result. In August 2019, Mr. Phillips’ base salary was increased to reflect his significantly expanded responsibilities.
(8)
Mr. Lawless stepped down from his position as President, ATS Celestica effective December 31, 2021, but continues to serve as a special advisor to Mr. Mionis.
(9)
Mr. Cooper was appointed President, ATS effective January 1, 2022.
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| Option-Based and Share-Based Awards | |
The following table provides details of each stock option grant outstanding (vested and unvested) and the aggregate number of unvested share-based awards for each of the NEOs as of December 31, 2021.
Table 21: Outstanding Option-Based and Share-Based Awards(1)
| | | | | | Option-Based Awards | | | | Share-Based Awards | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Name | | | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) | | | | Option Exercise Price ($) | | | | Option Expiration Date | | | | Value of Unexercised In-the- Money Options ($) | | | | Number of Shares or Units that have not Vested (#)(2) | | | | Payout Value of Share- Based Awards that have not Vested at Minimum ($)(3) | | | | Payout Value of Share- Based Awards that have not Vested at Target ($)(3) | | | | Payout Value of Share-Based Awards that have not Vested at Maximum ($)(3) | | | | Payout Value of Vested Share-Based Awards Not Paid Out or Distributed ($) | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Aug. 1, 2015 | | | | 298,954 | | | | C$17.52 | | | | Aug. 1, 2025 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 6, 2019 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 537,313 | | | | — | | | | $5,980,294 | | | | $11,960,587 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 4, 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 701,912 | | | | $2,403,779 | | | | $7,812,281 | | | | $13,220,782 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 2, 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 888,888 | | | | $3,957,327 | | | | $9,893,323 | | | | $15,829,319 | | | | — | | |
| | Total | | | | 298,954 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,128,113 | | | | $6,361,106 | | | | $23,685,898 | | | | $41,010,688 | | | | — | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Feb. 6, 2019 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 119,402 | | | | — | | | | $1,343,308 | | | | $2,686,616 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 4, 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 180,352 | | | | $624,313 | | | | $2,029,014 | | | | $3,433,715 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 2, 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 240,740 | | | | $1,083,359 | | | | $2,708,397 | | | | $4,333,435 | | | | — | | |
| | Total | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 540,494 | | | | $1,707,672 | | | | $6,080,719 | | | | $10,453,766 | | | | — | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Feb. 6, 2019 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 108,208 | | | | — | | | | $1,204,355 | | | | $2,408,710 | | | | — | | |
| | Aug. 6, 2019 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 14,749 | | | | $164,156 | | | | $164,156 | | | | $164,156 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 4, 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 186,328 | | | | $534,173 | | | | $2,073,831 | | | | $3,275,715 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 2, 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 209,875 | | | | $934,364 | | | | $2,335,909 | | | | $3,737,454 | | | | — | | |
| | Total | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 519,160 | | | | $1,632,693 | | | | $5,778,251 | | | | $9,586,035 | | | | — | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Feb. 6, 2019 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 130,597 | | | | — | | | | $1,453,545 | | | | $2,907,089 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 4, 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 170,603 | | | | $584,247 | | | | $1,898,811 | | | | $3,213,376 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 2, 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 216,048 | | | | $961,843 | | | | $2,404,614 | | | | $3,847,385 | | | | — | | |
| | Total | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 517,248 | | | | $1,546,090 | | | | $5,756,970 | | | | $9,967,850 | | | | — | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Feb. 6, 2019 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 119,402 | | | | — | | | | $1,328,944 | | | | $2,657,889 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 4, 2020 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 155,980 | | | | $534,173 | | | | $1,736,057 | | | | $2,937,942 | | | | — | | |
| | Feb. 2, 2021 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 234,566 | | | | $1,209,174 | | | | $2,610,720 | | | | $4,012,265 | | | | — | | |
| | Total | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 509,948 | | | | $1,743,347 | | | | $5,675,721 | | | | $9,608,096 | | | | — | | |
(1)
See Compensation Discussion and Analysis — 2021 Compensation Decisions — Equity-Based Incentives for a discussion of the equity-based grants.
(2)
Includes unvested RSUs, as well as PSUs assuming achievement of 100% of target level performance.
(3)
Payout values at minimum vesting include the value of RSUs only, as the minimum value of PSUs would be $0.00 if the minimum performance condition is not met. Payout value at target vesting is determined assuming vesting of 100% of the target number of PSUs granted and payout values at maximum vesting is determined assuming vesting of 200% of the target number of PSUs granted. Payout values for Mr. Chawla were determined using a share price of C$14.10, which was the closing price of the SVS on the TSX on December 31, 2021, converted to U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for 2021 of $1.00 equals C$1.2533. Payout values for Messrs. Mionis, Phillips, Lawless and Cooper were determined using a share price of $11.13, which was the closing price of the SVS on the NYSE on December 31, 2021.
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The following table provides details for each NEO of the value of option-based and share-based awards that vested during 2021 and the value of annual incentive awards earned in respect of 2021 performance.
Table 22: Incentive Plan Awards — Value Vested or Earned in 2021
| | Name | | | | Option-based Awards — Value Vested During the Year ($) | | | | Share-based Awards — Value Vested During the Year ($)(1) | | | | Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation — Value Earned During the Year ($)(2) | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis | | | | — | | | | $4,097,987 | | | | $1,790,750 | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla | | | | — | | | | $944,908 | | | | $736,902 | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | — | | | | $1,457,901 | | | | $569,187 | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | — | | | | $984,218 | | | | $426,880 | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | — | | | | $910,652 | | | | $511,379 | | |
(1)
Amounts in this column reflect: (i) share-based awards released in 2021 for Messrs. Mionis, Lawless, Phillips and Cooper based on the price of the SVS on the NYSE as follows:
| | Type of Award | | | | Vesting Date | | | | Price | | |
| | PSU | | | | February 1, 2021 | | | | $7.96 | | |
| | RSU | | | | February 4, 2021 | | | | $8.69 | | |
| | RSU | | | | February 5, 2021 | | | | $8.99 | | |
| | RSU | | | | February 8, 2021 | | | | $9.14 | | |
| | PSU | | | | April 1, 2021 | | | | $8.48 | | |
| | RSU | | | | December 1, 2021 | | | | $10.20 | | |
and (ii) share-based awards released in 2021 for Mr. Chawla based on the price of the SVS on the TSX as follows:
| | Type of Award | | | | Vesting Date | | | | Price | | |
| | PSU | | | | February 1, 2021 | | | | C$10.23 | | |
| | RSU | | | | February 4, 2021 | | | | C$11.15 | | |
| | RSU | | | | February 8, 2021 | | | | C$11.60 | | |
| | RSU | | | | December 1, 2021 | | | | C$13.08 | | |
Certain values in this column were converted to U.S. dollars from Canadian dollars at the average exchange rate for 2021 of $1.00 equals C$1.2533. With respect to previously-issued PSUs that vested in 2021, the overall vesting percentage was 26% based on the Corporation’s non-IFRS operating margin, non-IFRS adjusted ROIC and TSR performance.
(2)
Consists of payments under the CTI made on February 18, 2022 in respect of 2021 performance. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis — 2021 Compensation Decisions — Annual Incentive Award — Target Award. These are the same amounts as disclosed in Table 20 under the column “Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation — Annual Incentive Plans”.
No gains were realized by NEOs from exercising stock options in 2021.
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| Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans | |
Table 23: Equity Compensation Plans as at December 31, 2021
| | Plan Category | | | | Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (#) | | | | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights ($) | | | | Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans(1) (#) | | | ||||
| | Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Securityholders | | | | LTIP (Options) | | | | 417,353 | | | | C$16.05 | | | | N/A(2) | | |
| LTIP (RSUs) | | | | 74,151 | | | | N/A | | | | N/A(2) | | | |||||
| LTIP (PSUs) | | | | — | | | | N/A | | | | N/A(2) | | | |||||
| Total(3) | | | | 491,504 | | | | C$16.05 | | | | 9,519,069 | | |
(1)
Excluding securities that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding stock options, warrants and rights.
(2)
The LTIP provides for a maximum number of securities that may be issued from treasury, but does not provide separate maximums for each type of award thereunder.
(3)
The total number of securities issuable upon the exercise/settlement of outstanding grants under all equity compensation plans approved by shareholders represents 0.394% of the total number of outstanding shares at December 31, 2021 (LTIP (Options) — 0.335%; LTIP (RSUs) — 0.059%; and LTIP (PSUs) — 0.00%).
| Equity Compensation Plans | |
| Long-Term Incentive Plan | |
The LTIP (which was approved by the Corporation’s shareholders) is the only securities-based compensation plan providing for the issuance of securities from treasury under which grants have been made and continue to be made by the Corporation since it was listed on the TSX and the NYSE. Under the LTIP, the Board of Directors may in its discretion from time to time grant stock options, share units (in the form of RSUs and PSUs) and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) to employees and consultants of the Corporation and affiliated entities.
Up to 29,000,000 SVS may be issued from treasury pursuant to the LTIP. The number of SVS that may be issued from treasury under the LTIP to directors is limited to 2,000,000; however, the Corporation decided in 2004 that stock option grants under the LTIP would no longer be made to directors. Under the LTIP, as of February 22, 2022, 19,231,148 SVS have been issued from treasury, 404,353 SVS are issuable under outstanding stock options, 74,151 SVS are issuable under outstanding RSUs, and no SVS are issuable under outstanding PSUs. Accordingly, as of February 22, 2022, 9,768,852 SVS are reserved for issuance from treasury pursuant to current and potential future grants of securities-based compensation under the LTIP. In addition, the Corporation may satisfy obligations under the LTIP by acquiring SVS in the open market.
As of February 22, 2022, the Corporation had a “gross overhang” of 7.3% under the LTIP. “Gross overhang” refers to the total number of shares reserved for issuance from treasury under equity plans at any given time relative to the total number of shares outstanding, including shares reserved for outstanding equity-based awards under the LTIP. The Corporation’s “net overhang” (i.e. the total number of shares that have been reserved for issuance from treasury to satisfy outstanding equity grants to employees and outstanding RSU grants to directors relative to the total number of shares outstanding) was 0.4%.
As of December 31, 2021, the Corporation had an “overhang” for stock options of 8.0%, representing the number of shares reserved for issuance from treasury for outstanding stock options as at such date, together with shares reserved for potential future grants of stock options, relative to the total number of shares outstanding as at such date.
The Corporation had a “burn rate” for the LTIP for each of the years 2021, 2020 and 2019, of 0.1%, 0.0% and 0.0%, respectively. “Burn rate” is calculated by dividing the number of awards granted during the applicable
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year (including the target amount of PSUs granted), by the weighted average number of securities outstanding for the applicable year.
The LTIP limits the number of SVS that may be (a) reserved for issuance to insiders (as defined under TSX rules for this purpose), and (b) issued within a one-year period to insiders pursuant to stock options, rights or share units granted pursuant to the LTIP, together with SVS reserved for issuance under any other employee-related plan of the Corporation or stock options for services granted by the Corporation, in each case to 10% of the aggregate issued and outstanding SVS and MVS of the Corporation. The LTIP also limits the number of SVS that may be reserved for issuance to any one participant pursuant to stock options, SARs or share units granted pursuant to the LTIP, together with SVS reserved for issuance under any other employee-related equity plan of the Corporation or stock options for services granted by the Corporation, to 5% of the aggregate issued and outstanding SVS and MVS.
Vested stock options issued under the LTIP may be exercised during a period determined as provided in the LTIP, which may not exceed ten years. The LTIP also provides that, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, stock options will terminate within specified time periods following the termination of employment of an eligible participant with the Corporation or affiliated entities, including in connection with a change of control. The exercise price for stock options issued under the LTIP is the closing price for SVS on the last business day prior to the grant date. The TSX closing price is used for Canadian employees and the NYSE closing price is used for all other employees. The exercise of stock options may be subject to vesting conditions, including specific time schedules for vesting and performance-based conditions such as share price and financial results. The grant of stock options to, or exercise of stock options by, an eligible participant may also be subject to certain share ownership requirements.
The interest of any participant under the LTIP is generally not transferable or assignable. However, the LTIP does provide that a participant may assign his or her rights to a spouse, or a personal holding company or family trust controlled by the participant, of which any combination of the participant, the participant’s spouse, minor children or grandchildren are shareholders or beneficiaries, as applicable.
Under the LTIP, eligible participants may be granted SARs, a right to receive a cash amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the market price of the SVS at the time of exercise of the SAR exceeds the market price of the SVS at the time of the grant. The market price used for this purpose is the weighted average price for SVS during the five trading days preceding the date of determination. The TSX market price is used for Canadian employees and the NYSE market price is used for all other employees. Such amounts may also be payable by the issuance of SVS (at the discretion of the Corporation). The exercise of SARs may also be subject to conditions similar to those which may be imposed on the exercise of stock options. To date, the Corporation has not granted any SARs under the LTIP.
Under the LTIP, eligible participants may be allocated share units in the form of PSUs or RSUs. Each vested RSU and PSU entitles the holder to receive one SVS on the applicable release date (however, the number of PSUs that may vest range from 0% to 200% of a target amount). The issuance of such shares may be subject to vesting requirements similar to those described above with respect to the exercisability of stock options and SARs, including such time or performance-based conditions as may be determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion. Under the LTIP, the Corporation may authorize grantees to settle vested RSUs or PSUs either in cash or SVS. Absent such permitted election, RSUs and PSUs will be settled in SVS. The number of SVS that may be issued to any one person pursuant to the share unit program shall not exceed 1% of the aggregate issued and outstanding SVS and MVS. The number of SVS that may be issued under share units in the event of termination of employment without cause, death or long-term disability is subject to pro-ration, unless otherwise determined by the Corporation. The LTIP provides for the express designation of share units as either RSUs, which have time-based vesting conditions or PSUs, which have performance-based vesting conditions over a specified period. In the event a holder of PSUs retires, unless otherwise determined by the Corporation, the pro-rated vesting of such PSUs shall be determined based on the actual performance achieved during the period specified for the grant by the Corporation.
The following types of amendments to the LTIP or the entitlements granted under it require the approval of the holders of the voting securities by a majority of votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy at a meeting:
(a)
increasing the maximum number of SVS that may be issued under the LTIP;
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(b)
reducing the exercise price of an outstanding stock option (including cancelling and, in conjunction therewith, regranting a stock option at a reduced exercise price);
(c)
extending the term of any outstanding stock option or SAR;
(d)
expanding the rights of participants to assign or transfer a stock option, SAR or share unit beyond that currently contemplated by the LTIP;
(e)
amending the LTIP to provide for other types of security-based compensation through equity issuance;
(f)
permitting a stock option to have a term of more than ten years from the grant date;
(g)
increasing or deleting the percentage limit on SVS issuable or issued to insiders under the LTIP;
(h)
increasing or deleting the percentage limit on SVS reserved for issuance to any one person under the LTIP (being 5% of the Corporation’s total issued and outstanding SVS and MVS);
(i)
adding to the categories of participants who may be eligible to participate in the LTIP; and
(j)
amending the amendment provision,
subject to the application of the anti-dilution or re-organization provisions of the LTIP.
The Board may approve amendments to the LTIP or the entitlements granted under it without shareholder approval, other than those specified above as requiring approval of the shareholders, including, without limitation:
(a)
clerical changes (such as a change to correct an inconsistency or omission or a change to update an administrative provision);
(b)
a change to the termination provisions for the LTIP or for a stock option as long as the change does not permit the Corporation to grant a stock option with a termination date of more than ten years from the date of grant or extend an outstanding stock option’s termination date beyond such date; and
(c)
a change deemed necessary or desirable to comply with applicable law or regulatory requirements.
| Celestica Share Unit Plan | |
The CSUP provides for the issuance of RSUs and PSUs in the same manner as provided in the LTIP, except that the Corporation may not issue shares from treasury to satisfy its obligations under the CSUP and there is no limit on the number of share units that may be issued as RSUs and PSUs under the terms of the CSUP. Issuances under the CSUP may be settled in cash or SVS at the discretion of the Corporation. The share units may be subject to vesting requirements, including any time-based conditions established by the Board of Directors at its discretion. The vesting of PSUs also requires the achievement of specified performance-based conditions as determined by the HRCC. There is no “burn rate” for the CSUP because issuances under the CSUP are not from treasury and are therefore non-dilutive.
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| Pension Plans | |
The following table provides details of the amount of Celestica’s contributions to its defined contribution pension plans on behalf of the NEOs, and the accumulated value thereunder as of December 31, 2021 for each NEO.
Table 24: Defined Contribution Pension Plan
| | Name | | | | Accumulated Value at Start of Year ($) | | | | Compensatory ($) | | | | Accumulated Value at End of Year(1) ($) | | |
| | Robert A. Mionis(2) | | | | $1,064,437 | | | | $249,200 | | | | $1,530,246 | | |
| | Mandeep Chawla(2) | | | | $410,949 | | | | $110,942 | | | | $570,771 | | |
| | Jason Phillips | | | | $409,841 | | | | $80,342 | | | | $583,149 | | |
| | Jack J. Lawless | | | | $344,590 | | | | $70,902 | | | | $495,480 | | |
| | Todd C. Cooper | | | | $122,376 | | | | $80,342 | | | | $224,811 | | |
(1)
The difference between (i) the sum of the Accumulated Value at Start of Year column plus the Compensatory column and (ii) the Accumulated Value at End of Year column is attributable to non-compensatory changes in the Corporation’s accrued obligations during the year ended December 31, 2021.
(2)
The difference between the Accumulated Value at Start of Year reported here and the Accumulated Value at End of Year reported in last year’s management information circular for Messrs. Mionis and Chawla is attributable to different exchange rates used in last year’s management information circular and in this Circular. The exchange rate used in last year’s management information circular was $1.00 = C$1.3422.
| Canadian Pension Plans | |
Mr. Chawla participates in the Corporation’s registered pension plan for Canadian employees (the “Canadian Pension Plan”) which is a defined contribution plan. The Canadian Pension Plan allows employees to choose how the Corporation’s contributions are invested on their behalf within a range of investment options provided by third-party fund managers. Retirement benefits depend upon the performance of the investment options chosen. Mr. Chawla also participates in an unregistered supplementary pension plan (the “Canadian Supplementary Plan”). This is also a defined contribution plan through which the Corporation provides an annual contribution of an amount equal to the difference between (i) the maximum annual contribution limit as determined in accordance with the formula set out in the Canadian Pension Plan and with Canada Revenue Agency rules and (ii) 8% of the total base salary and paid annual incentives. Notional accounts are maintained for each participant in the Canadian Supplementary Plan. Participants are entitled to select from among the investment options available in the Canadian Pension Plan for the purpose of determining the return on their Canadian Supplementary Plan notional accounts.
| U.S. Pension Plans | |
Messrs. Mionis, Phillips, Lawless and Cooper participate in the Corporation’s U.S. pension plans comprised of two defined contribution retirement programs, one of which qualifies as a deferred salary arrangement under section 401(k) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the “401(k) Plan”). Under the 401(k) Plan, participating employees may defer 100% of their pre-tax earnings subject to any statutory limitations. The Corporation may make contributions for the benefit of eligible employees. The 401(k) Plan allows employees to choose how their account balances are invested on their behalf within a range of investment options provided by third-party fund managers. The Corporation contributes: (i) 3% of eligible compensation for the participant, and (ii) up to an additional 3% of eligible compensation by matching 50% of the first 6% contributed by the participant. The maximum contribution of the Corporation to the 401(k) Plan, based on the Internal Revenue Code rules and the 401(k) Plan formula for 2021 was $19,500 (plus an additional $6,500 for an individual over the age of 50). Messrs. Mionis, Phillips, Lawless and Cooper also participate in a supplementary retirement plan that is also a defined contribution plan (the “U.S. Supplementary Plan”). Under the U.S. Supplementary Plan, the Corporation contributes to the participant an annual amount equal to the difference between 8% of the participant’s salary and paid incentive and the amount that Celestica would
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contribute to the 401(k) Plan assuming the participant contributes the amount required to receive the matching 50% contribution by Celestica. A notional account is maintained for Messrs. Mionis, Lawless and Cooper, and they are entitled to select from among the investment options available in the 401(k) Plan for the purpose of determining the return on their notional accounts.
| Termination of Employment and Change in Control Arrangements with Named Executive Officers | |
The Corporation has entered into employment agreements with certain of its NEOs in order to provide certainty to the Corporation and such NEOs with respect to issues such as obligations of confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition after termination of employment, the amount of severance to be paid in the event of termination of the NEO’s employment, and to provide a retention incentive in the event of a change in control scenario.
Mr. Mionis
The CEO Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Mionis is entitled to certain severance benefits if, during a change of control period or a potential change of control period at the Corporation, he is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason as defined in his agreement (a “double trigger” provision) where good reason includes, without limitation, a material adverse change in position or duties or a specified reduction(s) in total compensation (including base salary, equity and CTI award). A change of control period is defined in his agreement as the 12-month period following a change of control. A potential change of control period is defined in his agreement as the period beginning upon the occurrence of a potential change of control and ending on the earlier of: (i) the end of the 6-month period following a potential change of control; and (ii) a change of control.
The amount of the severance payment for Mr. Mionis is equal to: (i) base salary up to and including the termination date; (ii) a lump sum amount equal to his target payment under the CTI prorated to the date of termination; (iii) a lump sum amount equal to any payments accrued under the CTI in respect of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which his termination occurs, if any; (iv) a lump sum amount equal to two times his eligible earnings (such eligible earnings calculated as his annual base salary plus the lesser of (a) his target payment under the CTI for the fiscal year during which his termination occurs based on target achievement of the CPF of 1.0 and an IPF of 1.0, and (b) payment received under the CTI for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which termination occurs); (v) vacation pay earned but unpaid up to and including the date of termination; (vi) a lump sum cash settlement of contributions to, or continuation of his pension and retirement plans for a two-year period; and (vii) a one-time lump sum payment of $100,000 in lieu of all future benefits and perquisites. In addition, upon a change of control and termination without cause or for good reason (a) the stock options granted to him vest immediately, (b) the unvested PSUs granted to him vest immediately at the target level of performance specified in the terms of the PSU grant, and (c) the RSUs granted to him shall vest immediately.
Outside a change in control period, upon termination without cause or resignation for good reason as defined in his agreement, the amount of the severance payment for Mr. Mionis is equal to: (a) base salary up to and including the termination date; (b) a lump sum amount equal to any payments accrued under the CTI in respect of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which his termination occurs; (c) a lump sum amount equal to two times his eligible earnings (as calculated in the paragraph above); (d) vacation pay earned but unpaid up to and including the date of termination; (e) a one-time lump sum payment of $100,000 in lieu of all future benefits and perquisites; and (f) a lump sum cash settlement of contributions to, or continuation of his pension and retirement plans for a two-year period. In addition, (a) vested stock options may be exercised for a period of 30 days and unvested stock options are forfeited on the termination date, (b) RSUs shall vest immediately on a pro rata basis based on the ratio of (i) the number of full years of employment completed between the date of grant and termination of employment, to (ii) the number of years between the date of grant and the vesting date, and (c) PSUs vest based on actual performance on a pro rata basis based on the ratio of (i) the number of full years of employment completed between the date of grant and the termination of employment, to (ii) the number of��years between the date of grant and the vesting date.
The foregoing entitlements are conferred on Mr. Mionis in part upon his fulfillment of certain confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition obligations for a period of two years following termination of
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employment. In the event of a breach of such obligations, the Corporation is entitled to seek appropriate legal, equitable and other remedies, including injunctive relief.
The following table summarizes the incremental payments and benefits to which Mr. Mionis would have been entitled upon a change in control occurring on December 31, 2021, or if his employment had been terminated on December 31, 2021 as a result of a change in control, retirement or termination without cause (or with good reason).
Table 25: Mr. Mionis’ Benefits
| | | | | | Cash Portion | | | | Value of Option-Based and Share-Based Awards(1) | | | | Other Benefits(2) | | | | Total | | |
| | Termination without Cause/with Good Reason or Change in Control with Termination | | | | $4,275,000 | | | | — | | | | $633,200 | | | | $4,908,200 | | |
| | Change in Control with no Termination or Retirement | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
(1)
No incremental amount would be received in respect of accelerated vesting of options, RSUs and PSUs, if any, on the assumption that the discount rate applied to calculate the net present value of the accelerated entitlements is not greater than the rate at which the SVS would otherwise be expected to appreciate over the period of acceleration.
(2)
Other benefits consist of group health benefits and pension plan contributions.
Messrs. Chawla, Phillips, Lawless and Cooper
Messrs. Chawla, Phillips, Lawless and Cooper are subject to the Executive Policy Guidelines which provide the following:
| | Termination without cause | | | | • eligible to receive a severance payment up to two times annual base salary and the lower of target or actual annual incentive for the previous year (“Eligible Earnings”), subject to adjustment for factors including length of service, together with a portion of their annual incentive for the year, prorated to the date of termination • (a) vested stock options may be exercised for a period of 30 days and unvested stock options are forfeited on the termination date, (b) RSUs shall vest immediately on a pro rata basis based on the ratio of (i) the number of full years of employment completed between the date of grant and termination of employment, to (ii) the number of years between the date of grant and the vesting date, and (c) PSUs vest based on actual performance on a pro rata basis based on the ratio of (i) the number of full years of employment completed between the date of grant and the termination of employment, to (ii) the number of years between the date of grant and the vesting date | | |
| | Termination without cause within two years following a change in control of the Corporation (“double trigger” provision) | | | | • eligible to receive a severance payment up to two times Eligible Earnings, subject to adjustment for factors including length of service, together with a portion of their annual incentive for the year, prorated to the date of termination • (a) all unvested stock options vest on the date of change in control, (b) all unvested RSUs vest on the date of change in control, and (c) all unvested PSUs vest on the date of change in control at target level of performance unless the terms of a PSU grant provide otherwise, or on such other more favourable terms as the Board may in its discretion provide | | |
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| | Termination with cause | | | | • no severance benefit is payable • all unvested equity is forfeited on the termination date | | |
| | Retirement | | | | • (a) stock options continue to vest and are exercisable until the earlier of three years following retirement and the original expiry date, (b) RSUs will continue to vest on their vesting dates, and (c) PSUs vest based on actual performance on a pro rata basis based on the percentage represented by the number of days between the date of grant and the date of retirement as compared to the total number of days from the date of grant to the scheduled release date for the issuance of shares in respect of vested PSUs | | |
| | Resignation | | | | • no severance benefit is payable • (a) vested stock options may be exercised for a period of 30 days and unvested stock options are forfeited on the resignation date and (b) all unvested RSUs and PSUs are forfeited on the resignation date | | |
Additionally, the Executive Policy Guidelines provide that executives whose employment has been terminated will have their pension and benefits coverage treated according to the terms of the plans in which they participate.
The entitlements described in the above table are only conferred on eligible executives who fulfill certain confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition obligations for a period of two years following termination of their employment.
The following tables summarize the incremental payments to which Messrs. Chawla, Phillips, Lawless and Cooper would have been entitled upon a change in control occurring on December 31, 2021, or if their employment had been terminated on December 31, 2021 as a result of a change in control, retirement or termination without cause.
Table 26: Mr. Chawla’s Benefits
| | | | | | Cash Portion(1) | | | | Value of Option-Based and Share-Based Awards(2) | | | | Other Benefits | | | | Total | | |
| | Termination without Cause or Change in Control with Termination | | | | $2,200,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $2,200,000 | | |
| | Change in Control with no Termination or Retirement | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
(1)
Amounts in this column assume a maximum severance payment of two times Eligible Earnings but the actual amounts payable could be less.
(2)
No incremental amount would be received in respect of accelerated vesting of options, RSUs and PSUs, if any, on the assumption that the discount rate applied to calculate the net present value of the accelerated entitlements is not greater than the rate at which the SVS would otherwise be expected to appreciate over the period of acceleration.
Table 27: Mr. Phillips’ Benefits
| | | | | | Cash Portion(1) | | | | Value of Option-Based and Share-Based Awards(2) | | | | Other Benefits | | | | Total | | |
| | Termination without Cause or Change in Control with Termination | | | | $1,746,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $1,746,000 | | |
| | Change in Control with no Termination or Retirement | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
(1)
Amounts in this column assume a maximum severance payment of two times Eligible Earnings but the actual amounts payable could be less.
(2)
No incremental amount would be received in respect of accelerated vesting of options, RSUs and PSUs, if any, on the assumption
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that the discount rate applied to calculate the net present value of the accelerated entitlements is not greater than the rate at which the SVS would otherwise be expected to appreciate over the period of acceleration.
Table 28: Mr. Lawless’ Benefits
| | | | | | Cash Portion(1) | | | | Value of Option-Based and Share-Based Awards(2) | | | | Other Benefits | | | | Total | | |
| | Termination without Cause or Change in Control with Termination | | | | $1,656,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $1,656,000 | | |
| | Change in Control with no Termination or Retirement | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
(1)
Amounts in this column assume a maximum severance payment of two times Eligible Earnings but the actual amounts payable could be less.
(2)
No incremental amount would be received in respect of accelerated vesting of options, RSUs and PSUs, if any, on the assumption that the discount rate applied to calculate the net present value of the accelerated entitlements is not greater than the rate at which the SVS would otherwise be expected to appreciate over the period of acceleration.
Table 29: Mr. Cooper’s Benefits
| | | | | | Cash Portion(1) | | | | Value of Option-Based and Share-Based Awards(2) | | | | Other Benefits | | | | Total | | |
| | Termination without Cause or Change in Control with Termination | | | | $1,746,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $1,746,000 | | |
| | Change in Control with no Termination or Retirement | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
(1)
Amounts in this column assume a maximum severance payment of two times Eligible Earnings but the actual amounts payable could be less.
(2)
No incremental amount would be received in respect of accelerated vesting of options, RSUs and PSUs, if any, on the assumption that the discount rate applied to calculate the net present value of the accelerated entitlements is not greater than the rate at which the SVS would otherwise be expected to appreciate over the period of acceleration.
| Performance Graph | |
The following chart compares the cumulative TSR of C$100 invested in SVS with the cumulative TSR of the S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index for the period from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2021.
Table 30: Performance Graph
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An investment in the Corporation on December 31, 2016 would have resulted in an 11% decrease in value over the five-year period ended December 31, 2021 compared with a 61% increase that would have resulted from an investment in the S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index over the same period. Over the same period, annual total direct compensation for NEOs (actual salary paid, actual CTI awards paid and the value of long-term incentive awards (at target in the case of PSUs) granted in the respective years) increased by 27%.
In 2021, we met or exceeded a number of our financial performance goals, realized a 38% increase in our share price (from $8.07 on December 31, 2020 to $11.13 on December 31, 2021 on the NYSE), and our TSR outperformed the S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index by 13% and the Global Industry Classification (GICS) 4520 — Technology Hardware and Equipment TSR by 22%. We believe that these 2021 results validate the successful execution of our strategic transformation, and that the Corporation is now positioned for profitable growth. We further believe that the Corporation’s strategic transformation, in addition to materials constraints, and demand reductions and other adverse impacts on our business related to COVID-19 resulted in significant price and volume fluctuations in the market price of our SVS, and negatively impacted our TSR in recent years.
In the medium to long-term, compensation of the NEOs is directly impacted by the market value of the SVS, as a significant portion of such NEO compensation is comprised of RSUs and PSUs with realized compensation tied to the market value of the SVS (and in the case of PSUs, tied to other financial performance metrics of the Corporation over a three-year performance period). We believe the realized value of the long-term incentives granted to NEOs, and the performance of the PSUs in particular, serve to better demonstrate the alignment of pay for performance. In addition to share performance, the achievement of the Corporation’s strategic objectives and other financial measures (such as revenue and non-IFRS operating margin) are used to assess the alignment our executive pay with the Corporation’s performance. See Realized and Realizable Compensation above.
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| DELIVERY OF MEETING MATERIALS AND VOTING INFORMATION | |
Q.
WHAT DECISIONS WILL I BE ASKED TO MAKE?
A.
Shareholders will be voting on the following matters: the election of each individual director to the Board of Directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year, the appointment of an auditor for the Corporation for the ensuing year, authorization of the Board to fix the auditor’s remuneration, an advisory resolution on the Corporation’s approach to executive compensation, and any other matters as may properly be brought before the Meeting, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
The Corporation’s Board of Directors and management recommend that you vote in favour of each of the nominees for election as directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year, in favour of the appointment of KPMG LLP as auditor of the Corporation for the ensuing year, in favour of the authorization of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor, and in favour of the advisory resolution on the Corporation’s approach to executive compensation.
Q.
WHO IS SOLICITING MY PROXY?
A.
The Corporation’s management is soliciting your proxy. All associated costs of solicitation will be borne by the Corporation. The solicitation will be primarily by mail, but proxies may also be solicited personally by regular employees of the Corporation for which no additional compensation will be paid. The Corporation has also retained Kingsdale as its strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent and will pay, in addition to certain out-of-pocket expenses, fees of up to C$40,000 for its proxy solicitation services.
Q.
WHAT IS NOTICE-AND-ACCESS?
A.
In our continuing effort to reduce environmental impacts and increase sustainability, we have adopted the “notice-and-access” procedures permitted under applicable Canadian securities laws for distribution of the Circular and Meeting materials to both registered and non-registered shareholders. Under the notice-and-access procedures, instead of sending paper copies of the Circular and Meeting materials, shareholders who held shares as of March 11, 2022, the record date for the Meeting, will be able to access and review these materials online. Shareholders will receive a Notice of Availability of Meeting Materials in the mail explaining how to access this Circular electronically and how to request a paper copy. A form of proxy for registered shareholders or a voting instruction form for non-registered (beneficial) shareholders will be included with the Notice with instructions on how to vote your shares. The principal benefit of the notice-and access-procedures is that they reduce costs and the environmental impact of producing and distributing large quantities of paper documents that are ultimately discarded.
The Corporation will not use procedures known as “stratification” in relation to the use of the notice-and-access delivery model. Stratification occurs when a reporting issuer using notice-and-access provides a paper copy of the management information circular to some shareholders with the Notice. In relation to the Meeting, all of the non-registered shareholders of the Corporation will receive the required documentation under notice-and-access, which will not include a paper copy of this Circular. Shareholders are reminded to review this Circular before voting.
If you have any questions about notice-and-access, please call 1-844-916-0609 or from outside North America 1-905-507-5450 for service in English and French.
Q.
HOW DO I ACCESS THE CIRCULAR ELECTRONICALLY?
A.
The Circular and other relevant materials are available on the Corporation’s website at www.celestica.com/shareholder-documents and will remain there for one full year after the date this Circular was filed on SEDAR. The Circular will also be available under the Corporation’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
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Q.
HOW DO I GET A PAPER COPY OF THE MEETING MATERIALS?
A.
You may request paper copies of this Circular and our 2021 Annual Report on Form 20-F at no cost up to one year from the date that this Circular was filed on SEDAR. In order to receive a paper copy before the date of the Meeting, your request should be received at least 10 days prior to the date of the Meeting.
Prior to the Meeting, registered shareholders may request paper copies of this Circular and our 2021 Annual Report on Form 20-F by calling the Corporation’s registrar and transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc. (“Computershare”), toll-free at 1-866-962-0498 or direct, from outside of North America at 514-982-8716 and entering your Control Number as indicated on your form of proxy.
Prior to the Meeting, non-registered shareholders may request paper copies of this Circular and our 2021 Annual Report on Form 20-F by visiting www.proxyvote.com or by calling 1-877-907-7643 (toll free in Canada and the United States) and entering the control number located on the voting instruction form provided to you and following the instructions. If you are calling from outside Canada or the United States, or you do not have a 16-digit control number, you can call (English) 1-905-507-5450 or (French) 1-303-562-9306 to request a paper copy of the Meeting materials/Circular.
If you request a paper copy of this Circular, you will not receive a new form of proxy or voting instruction form, so you should keep the original form sent to you in order to vote at the Meeting.
Following the Meeting, you may request paper copies of the Meeting materials by calling Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions (“Broadridge”) at 1-877-907-7643 within North America, or direct, from outside of North America at 1-303-562-9305 (English) and 1-303- 562-9306 (French).
Q.
WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE?
A.
Any holder of SVS or MVS of the Corporation at the close of business on March 11, 2022 or such holder’s duly appointed proxyholders or representatives are entitled to vote.
As at February 22, 2022, 105,891,214 SVS (which carry one vote per share and collectively represent 18.5% of the voting power of the Corporation’s securities) and 18,600,193 MVS (which carry 25 votes per share and collectively represent 81.5% of the voting power of the Corporation’s securities) were issued and outstanding.
Q.
WHY ARE WE HAVING A VIRTUAL ONLY MEETING?
A.
This year, in light of the continued public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and our commitment to support the health, safety and wellness of our communities, shareholders, and other stakeholders, we will hold the Meeting in a virtual-only format, which will be conducted over the internet via live audio-only webcast. We intend to hold the virtual Meeting in a manner that affords you opportunities to participate, substantially similar to those you would have at an in-person meeting. We believe that hosting a virtual Meeting will facilitate shareholder attendance and participation by enabling shareholders to participate remotely from any location around the world.
Q.
CAN A REGISTERED SHAREHOLDER APPOINT SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE PROXY NOMINEES TO VOTE THEIR SHARES AT THE MEETING?
A.
Yes, you may appoint an individual or company other than the Proxy Nominees to vote your shares at the Meeting (such individual or authorized representative of such company shall be referred to herein as an “Appointee”). Write the name of the Appointee of your choice in the blank space provided in the form of proxy. The Appointee whom you choose need not be a shareholder.
If you appoint an Appointee to represent you at the Meeting, you must first submit your form of proxy appointing such Appointee; then register your Appointee. Registering your Appointee is an additional step you need to take after submitting your proxy to appoint your Appointee in order for your Appointee to vote your shares at the Meeting. If you fail to register your Appointee, your Appointee will not receive an Invitation Code, and will be unable to participate in, or vote at, the Meeting. To register an Appointee, you MUST visit https://www.computershare.com/Celestica by no later than 9:30 a.m. EDT on April 26, 2022 and provide Computershare with your Appointee’s contact information, so that Computershare may provide your Appointee with an Invitation Code via email.
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A proxy can be submitted to Computershare either in person, or by mail or courier, to:
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
OR
via internet at www.investorvote.com.
The proxy must be deposited with Computershare by no later than 9:30 a.m. EDT on April 26, 2022, or if the meeting is adjourned or postponed, not less than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, before the commencement of such adjourned or postponed meeting. If a shareholder who has submitted a proxy attends the Meeting via the webcast and has accepted the terms and conditions when entering the meeting online, any votes cast by such shareholder on a ballot will be counted and the submitted proxy will be disregarded. The time limit for deposit of proxies may be waived or extended by the Chair of the Meeting at their discretion, with or without notice. The Chair is under no obligation to accept or reject any particular late proxy.
Without an Invitation Code, Appointees will not be able to vote at the meeting.
Please ensure that the Appointee you have appointed is attending the Meeting and is aware that such Appointee will be voting your shares.
Q.
HOW DO I EXERCISE MY VOTE (AND BY WHEN) IF I AM A REGISTERED SHAREHOLDER?
A.
If you are a registered shareholder, you may exercise your right to vote by: attending and voting your shares online at the virtual Meeting (personally or through an Appointee); by mailing in the form of proxy; or by voting by telephone or internet.
Registered shareholders will receive a 15-digit Control Number via the form of proxy provided by Computershare, to enable them to vote by telephone or internet. Registered Shareholders will also receive an e-mail notification containing such Control Number. If a registered shareholder has duly appointed an Appointee to represent such shareholder at the Meeting, such Appointee must be registered in order for such Appointee to receive an Invitation Code from Computershare to participate in the Meeting. See above under Can a Registered Shareholder Appoint Someone Other Than the Proxy Nominees to Vote Their Shares at the Meeting? for additional detail. Registered shareholders (or such Appointees) who were assigned a Control Number or Invitation Code by Computershare will be able to vote and submit questions during the Meeting. To do so, please go to https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD prior to the start of the Meeting to login. Registered Shareholders or duly appointed Appointees can participate in the Meeting by clicking “Shareholder” (in the case of Registered Shareholders) and entering a Control Number and “Invitation” and entering an Invitation Code (in the case of Appointees) before the start of the Meeting. It is important that you are connected to the internet at all times during the Meeting in order to vote when balloting commences. If you (or your duly-appointed Appointee) vote your shares online at the virtual Meeting, such vote will be taken and counted at the Meeting. See How do I Attend the Meeting? below for instructions on how to attend the Meeting (but not participate in, or vote at the Meeting) if you have appointed an Appointee.
If you choose to vote your shares using the form of proxy, your duly executed form of proxy must be received by Computershare at: 100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2Y1, no later than 9:30 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. If the Meeting is adjourned or postponed, Computershare must receive the form of proxy at least 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, before the rescheduled Meeting.
If you choose to vote your shares by telephone or internet, your vote must be received no later than 9:30 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
The time limit for deposit of proxies may be waived or extended by the Chair of the Meeting at their discretion, with or without notice. The Chair is under no obligation to accept or reject any particular late proxy. Non-registered shareholders should refer to How Do I Vote If I Am a Non-Registered Shareholder? below.
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Q.
MUST I INFORM ANYONE OF MY INTENT TO ATTEND THE MEETING?
A.
No. The Meeting will be held virtually and no advanced notice of attendance is required.
Q.
HOW DO I ATTEND THE MEETING?
A.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the health and safety of our shareholders, employees, and families, we will be hosting the Meeting live via the Internet. You will not be able to attend the Meeting in person. The Meeting will only be held virtually via audio-only webcast at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD. We encourage you to access the Meeting prior to the start time. Online access will begin at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Instructions on how to connect and participate in the Meeting are enclosed with this Circular and posted on the Corporation’s website at www.celestica.com/shareholder-documents.
In order to participate online, Registered Shareholders must have a valid 15-digit Control Number and duly appointed Appointees must have received an email from Computershare containing an Invitation Code. Voting at the Meeting will only be available for shareholders or their registered Appointees, subject to the procedures described under How Do I Exercise My Vote (and by When) if I am a Registered Shareholder? and How Do I Vote If I Am a Non-Registered Shareholder? Registered Shareholders who have appointed and registered an Appointee may attend the Meeting by clicking “Guest” and completing the online form but will be unable to participate in, or vote at, the Meeting. Non-registered shareholders who have not appointed and registered themselves or who have appointed and registered an Appointee may attend the meeting by clicking “Guest” and completing the online form, but will be unable to participate in, or vote at, the Meeting.
Q.
HOW DO I ASK QUESTIONS DURING THE MEETING?
A.
Registered Shareholders or their registered Appointees will have opportunities to participate, substantially similar to those they would have at an in-person meeting. Registered Shareholders or registered Appointees may submit questions while connected to the Meeting on the Internet. If you wish to submit a question, you may do so by logging into the virtual meeting platform at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD, typing the question into the Q&A tab at the top of the screen. Registered Shareholders attending as guests and non-Registered Shareholders who have not appointed themselves or an Appointee may attend the Meeting but will be unable to submit questions at the Meeting. Additional information regarding the ability of participants to ask questions during the Meeting will be made available within the virtual Meeting platform by clicking on the “Documents” tab at the top right of the screen.
Q.
WHAT IF I HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ACCESSING THE MEETING?
A.
If shareholders (or their Appointees) encounter any difficulties accessing the Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, they may attend the Meeting by clicking “Guest” and completing the online form. The virtual Meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (Edge, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari), and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones) running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Shareholders (or their Appointees) should ensure that they have a strong Internet connection if they intend to attend and/or participate in the Meeting. Participants should allow plenty of time to log in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the Meeting.
Q.
WHAT IF A REGISTERED SHAREHOLDER SIGNS THE FORM OF PROXY ENCLOSED WITH THE NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF MEETING MATERIALS?
A.
Signing the form of proxy gives authority to the Proxy Nominees (Mr. Michael M. Wilson or Mr. Robert A. Mionis or their designees), to vote your shares at the Meeting, unless you give authority to another person to vote your shares by providing that person’s name on the form of proxy.
Q.
HOW WILL THE SHARES OF REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS BE VOTED AT THE MEETING IF THEY GIVE THEIR PROXY TO THE PROXY NOMINEES?
A.
On any ballot that may be called for, the shares represented by a properly executed proxy given in favour of the Proxy Nominees in the form of proxy will be voted for or against or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions given on the ballot. If you specify a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, such shares will be voted accordingly.
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The persons named in the form of proxy must vote for or against or withhold from voting your shares in accordance with your instructions on the form of proxy. In the absence of such directions and unless you specify an Appointee other than the Proxy Nominees to vote your shares, your shares will be voted in favour of the election to the Corporation’s Board of each of the nominees proposed by management for the ensuing year, in favour of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Corporation’s auditor for the ensuing year, in favour of the authorization of the Board to fix the auditor’s remuneration, in favour of the advisory resolution on the Corporation’s approach to executive compensation, and as the Proxy Nominees may determine in their best judgment with respect to any other matters that may be properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
Q.
IF REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS CHANGE THEIR MIND, CAN THEY REVOKE THEIR PROXY ONCE IT HAS BEEN GIVEN?
A.
Yes, you may revoke any proxy that you have given at any time prior to its use at the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, you may revoke your proxy by preparing a written statement, signed by you or your attorney, as authorized, or if the proxy is given on behalf of a corporation or other legal entity, by a duly authorized officer or attorney of such corporation or legal entity, prior to the proxy being voted, or by transmitting, by telephonic or electronic means, a revocation signed by electronic signature by you or by your attorney, who is authorized in writing, to the principal executive office of the Corporation at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
Note that your or your Appointee’s participation online at the Meeting in a vote by ballot at the Meeting will automatically revoke any proxy previously given by you regarding business considered by that vote. If you are using a 15-digit Control Number to login to the online Meeting and you accept the terms and conditions, you will be revoking any and all previously submitted proxies. However, in such a case, you will be provided the opportunity to vote by ballot on the matters put forth at the Meeting. If you DO NOT wish to revoke all previously submitted proxies, do not accept the terms and conditions, in which case you can only enter the Meeting as a guest.
Q.
WHAT IF AMENDMENTS ARE MADE TO THE SCHEDULED MATTERS OR IF OTHER MATTERS ARE BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING?
A.
The form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the Proxy Nominees in respect of any amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting or other matters that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
As of the date of this Circular, the Corporation’s management was not aware of any such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting. However, if any amendments, variations or other matters that are not now known to management should properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, the shares represented by proxies in favour of the Proxy Nominees will be voted on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
Q.
HOW DO I VOTE IF I AM A NON-REGISTERED SHAREHOLDER?
A.
A shareholder is a non-registered shareholder (or beneficial owner) if (i) an intermediary (such as a bank, trust company, securities dealer or broker, trustee or administrator of a registered retirement savings plan, registered retirement income fund, deferred profit sharing plan, registered education savings plan, registered disability savings plan or tax-free savings account), or (ii) a clearing agency (such as CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. or Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation), of which the intermediary is a participant (in each case, an “Intermediary”), holds the shareholder’s shares on behalf of the shareholder.
In accordance with National Instrument 54-101 — Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 54-101”), the Corporation is distributing (i) a notice of the internet website location where shareholders may access the Notice of Meeting and this Circular and (ii) either a form of proxy or voting instruction form to Intermediaries for distribution to non-registered shareholders and such Intermediaries are to forward such materials to each non-registered shareholder. Such Intermediaries often use a service company (such as Broadridge), to
85
permit the non-registered shareholder to direct the voting of the shares held by the Intermediary on behalf of the non-registered shareholder. The Corporation is paying Broadridge to deliver, on behalf of the Intermediaries, a copy of the notice and a form of proxy or voting instruction form to each “non-objecting beneficial owner” and each “objecting beneficial owner” (as those terms are defined in NI 54-101).
Additionally, the Corporation may utilize the Broadridge QuickVote™ system, which involves non-objecting beneficial owners (“NOBOs”) being contacted by Kingsdale by telephone, which is soliciting proxies on behalf of management of the Corporation, to obtain voting instructions over the telephone and relaying them to Broadridge (on behalf of the NOBO’s Intermediary). The QuickVote™ system is intended to assist Shareholders in placing their votes, however, there is no obligation to any Shareholders to vote using the QuickVote™ system, and Shareholders may vote (or change or revoke their votes) at any other time and in any other applicable manner described in this Circular. Any voting instructions provided by a Shareholder will be recorded and such Shareholder will receive a letter from Broadridge (on behalf of the Shareholder’s intermediary) as confirmation that their voting instructions have been accepted.
If you are a non-registered shareholder, the Intermediary holding your shares should provide a voting instruction form. In order to cast your vote, you must follow the instructions on the voting instruction form to vote by telephone or internet, or complete, sign and return the voting instruction form in accordance with the instructions, and within the timeline (which will likely be earlier than 9:30 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022), set forth therein. This form will constitute voting instructions which the Intermediary must follow. Alternatively, the Intermediary may provide you with a signed form of proxy. In this case, you do not need to sign the form of proxy, but should complete it and forward it directly to Computershare.
As a non-registered holder, if your shares are held through a broker who is a member of the NYSE and you do not return the voting instruction form, your broker will not have the discretion to vote your shares on any “non-routine” matters, as defined under NYSE rules. Therefore, it is important that you instruct your broker or other Intermediary how to vote your shares. If such broker doesn’t receive voting instructions as to a non-routine proposal (all proposals, other than the proposal to appoint the auditor for the ensuing year and to authorize the directors to fix the auditor’s remuneration, are “non-routine” matters under NYSE rules), a “broker non-vote” with respect to such shares occurs, and such shares will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of the non-routine proposal.
Should you, as a non-registered shareholder (other than U.S. resident non-registered shareholders — see below), wish to attend the Meeting and vote your shares at the Meeting, or have an Appointee vote your shares on your behalf at the Meeting, you should fill in your own name or the name of your Appointee, as the case may be, in the space provided on the form of proxy or voting instruction form provided by the Intermediary. An Intermediary’s voting instruction form will likely provide corresponding instructions as to how you (or your Appointee) can participate in, and cast your vote at the Meeting. In any case, you should carefully follow the instructions provided by the Intermediary and contact the Intermediary promptly if you require assistance. If you wish to vote your shares at the Meeting or designate an Appointee to attend the Meeting and vote your shares on your behalf, you must first submit the form of proxy or voting instruction form appointing yourself or your Appointee to the Intermediary; and then register yourself or your Appointee with Computershare at https://www.computershare.com/Celestica. Registering yourself or your Appointee is an additional step you need to take after submitting your form of proxy or voting instruction form to designate yourself or your Appointee in order for you or your Appointee to vote your shares at the Meeting. If you fail to register yourself or your Appointee, you or your Appointee will not receive an Invitation Code from Computershare, and will be unable to participate in, or vote at, the Meeting. To register yourself or an Appointee, you MUST visit https://www.computershare.com/Celestica by no later than 9:30 a.m. EDT on April 26, 2022 and provide Computershare with you or your Appointee’s contact information, so that Computershare may provide you or your Appointee with an Invitation Code via email.
To attend and vote at the Meeting, U.S. resident non-registered shareholders must first obtain a valid legal proxy from their Intermediary, and then register themselves or their Appointee in advance to virtually participate in, and vote at the Meeting. U.S. resident non-registered shareholders should follow the instructions from their Intermediary included with the Notice of Availability of Meeting Materials or
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contact their Intermediary to request a legal form of proxy. After first obtaining a valid legal proxy from their Intermediary, U.S. resident non-registered shareholders must submit a copy of their legal proxy to Computershare in order to register themselves or their Appointee to participate in, and vote at the Meeting. Requests for registration should be directed to:
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
OR
Email at: uslegalproxy@computershare.com
Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than April 26, 2022 by 9:30 am. U.S. resident non-registered shareholders will receive a confirmation of their registration by email after Computershare receives their registration materials. Such U.S. resident non-registered shareholders or their Appointee may then attend the Meeting and vote their shares at https://meetnow.global/MWZFYUD during the Meeting. Please note that you are required to register yourself or your Appointee at www.computershare.com/Celestica.
Non-registered shareholders who have not appointed themselves may attend the Meeting by clicking “Guest” and completing the online form but will be unable to participate in, or vote at, the Meeting.
If you vote and would subsequently like to change your vote (whether by revoking a voting instruction or by revoking a proxy), you should contact the Intermediary to discuss whether this is possible and, if so, what procedures you should follow.
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Corporation’s strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale, at 1-888-327-0819 (toll free in North America), or at 1-416-867-2272 (collect outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.
Q.
HOW CAN I CONTACT THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, NON-MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS AND CHAIR?
A.
You may confidentially contact the Chair of the Board, the non-management directors or the independent directors by writing to them individually or as a group at the Corporation’s head office. Please send your letters in sealed envelopes to our head office as follows and we will deliver them to the Chair of the Board or the appropriate addressee(s), unopened:
c/o Investor Relations
5140 Yonge Street, Suite 1900
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 6L7
Phone: 416-448-2211
5140 Yonge Street, Suite 1900
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 6L7
Phone: 416-448-2211
Q.
WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CIRCULAR OR FORM OF PROXY?
A.
If you have questions concerning the information contained in this Circular you may contact Celestica Investor Relations:
Investor Relations
5140 Yonge Street, Suite 1900
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 6L7
Phone: 416-448-2211
E-mail: clsir@celestica.com
5140 Yonge Street, Suite 1900
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 6L7
Phone: 416-448-2211
E-mail: clsir@celestica.com
or the Corporation’s strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale, at 1-888-327-0819 (toll free in North America), or at 1-416-867-2272 (collect outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com
If you require assistance in completing the form of proxy you may contact Computershare (see contact coordinates below) or Kingsdale (see contact coordinates above).
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Q.
HOW CAN I CONTACT THE TRANSFER AGENT?
A.
You may contact the transfer agent by mail:
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
or by telephone:
within Canada and the U.S.
1-800-564-6253
all other countries
514-982-7555
1-800-564-6253
all other countries
514-982-7555
| QUESTIONS AND FURTHER ASSISTANCE | |
All questions regarding the information contained in this Circular or requests for assistance in completing the form of proxy can be directed to the Corporation’s strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale, at 1-888-327-0819 (toll free in North America), or at 1-416-867-2272 (collect outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.
| CERTIFICATE | |
The contents of this Circular and the sending thereof to the shareholders of the Corporation have been approved by the Board of Directors.
Toronto, Ontario, March 10, 2022
By Order of the Board of Directors
Robert Ellis
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
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| SCHEDULE A | |
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS MANDATE | |
1.
MANDATE
1.1
In adopting this mandate:
(a)
the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Celestica Inc. (“Celestica”, or the “corporation”) acknowledges that the mandate prescribed for it by the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the “OBCA”) is to supervise the management of the business and affairs of Celestica and that this mandate includes responsibility for stewardship of Celestica; and
(b)
the Board explicitly assumes responsibility for the stewardship of Celestica, as contemplated by applicable regulatory and stock exchange requirements.
2.
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
2.1
Number of Members — The Board shall consist of such number of members of the Board (“Directors”) as the Board may determine from time to time, provided that such number shall be within the minimum and maximum number of Directors set out in Celestica’s articles of incorporation.
2.2
Independence of Members — The Board shall be comprised of Directors such that the Board complies with all independence requirements under applicable corporate and securities laws and all applicable stock exchange requirements. The Board shall annually review the relationships that each Director has with Celestica in order to satisfy itself that all applicable independence criteria have been met.
2.3
Election and Appointment of Directors — Directors shall be elected by the shareholders annually. Once elected, the Directors will hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders or until successors are elected or appointed, unless such office is earlier vacated in accordance with the corporation’s by-laws.
2.4
Vacancy — The Board may appoint a member to fill a vacancy that occurs on the Board between annual elections of Directors to the extent permitted by the OBCA.
2.5
Removal of Members — Any Director may be removed from office by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders.
3.
EXPECTATIONS OF DIRECTORS
3.1
Minimum Standards for Directors — Directors and the Board as a whole are expected to meet the following minimum standards:
(a)
integrity and high ethical standards;
(b)
career experience and expertise relevant to Celestica’s business purpose, financial responsibilities and risk profile (and Celestica shall disclose each Director’s career experience and qualifications in every proxy circular delivered in connection with a meeting at which Directors are to be elected);
(c)
a proven understanding of fiduciary duty;
(d)
the ability to read and understand financial statements;
(e)
well-developed listening, communicating and influencing skills so, that individual Directors can actively participate in Board discussions and debate; and
(f)
time to serve effectively as a Director by not over-committing to other corporate and not-for-profit boards.
3.2
Attendance at Meetings
(a)
Every Director shall prepare for and attend (absent extenuating circumstances) all scheduled meetings of the Board and meetings of committees of the Board on which the Director serves.
(b)
It may be necessary to hold Board meetings by telephone (or other electronic means by which the Board is able to communicate in real time) from time to time. Although participation in person,
A-1
when meetings are scheduled to be held in person, is strongly encouraged, when circumstances prevent a Director from attending a scheduled meeting in person, that Director shall make every effort to participate in the meeting by telephone or such other electronic means of communication.
3.3
Preparation for Meetings — Directors shall set aside adequate time to read and absorb the materials provided to them in advance of any meeting of the Board and any meetings of committees on which the Director serves. Preparation time will vary according to the complexity of the materials.
3.4
Participation in Meetings — Directors are expected to participate fully and frankly in the deliberations and discussions of the Board and its committees. They must apply informed and reasoned judgment to each issue that arises and express opinions, ask further questions and make recommendations that they think are necessary or desirable. Each Director shall act directly, not by proxy, either in person or by written resolution. Each Director shall have an equal say with each of the other Directors.
3.5
Service on Other Boards or Changes in Principal Occupation — A Director must advise the Chair:
(a)
in advance of accepting an invitation to serve on the board of another public company;
(b)
if that Director changes his or her principal occupation; or
(c)
if that Director ceases to be a “resident Canadian”, as defined under the OBCA.
4.
BOARD CHAIR
4.1
Board to Appoint Chair — The Board shall appoint the Chair of the Board (the “Chair”) from the members of the Board. The Chair shall be an independent Director.
4.2
Chair to be Appointed Annually — The appointment of the Chair shall take place annually at the first meeting of the Board after a meeting of the shareholders at which Directors are elected, provided that if the designation of the Chair is not so made, the Director who is then serving as Chair shall continue as Chair until his or her successor is appointed.
5.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
5.1
Quorum — A quorum of the Board shall be a majority of its members.
5.2
Time and Place of Meetings — The time and place of the meetings of the Board and the calling of meetings and the procedure in all things at such meetings shall be determined by the Board; provided, however, the Board shall meet at least four times a year, with additional meetings held as deemed advisable.
5.3
Right to Vote — Each Director shall have the right to vote on matters that come before the Board.
5.4
Invitees — The Board may invite any person to attend meetings of the Board to assist in the discussion and examination of the matters under consideration by the Board.
5.5
In Camera Sessions — As part of each meeting of the Board, the independent Directors shall meet without any member of management being present (including any Director who is a member of management).
6.
OUTSIDE ADVISORS
6.1
Retaining and Compensating Advisors — The Board shall have the authority to retain and terminate external advisors to assist in fulfilling its responsibilities and to set and pay the reasonable compensation of these respective advisors without consulting or obtaining the approval of any officer of the corporation. The corporation shall provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Board, for the services of these advisors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee shall have the sole authority to terminate any consultant or advisor retained by it.
In addition, an individual Director shall have the authority to retain external advisors with the approval of the Chair. Fees and expenses relating to the retention of such advisors by an individual Director shall be subject to pre-approval by the Chair and, if so approved, paid by the corporation.
A-2
7.
REMUNERATION OF BOARD MEMBERS
7.1
Members of the Board and the Chair shall receive such remuneration for their service on the Board as the Board may determine from time to time, having regard to the recommendations of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
8.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD
8.1
Specific Aspects of Stewardship Function — In adopting this mandate, the Board hereby explicitly assumes responsibility for the stewardship of the corporation including for the matters set out below:
(a)
to the extent feasible, satisfying itself as to the integrity of the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and other executive officers and that the CEO and other executive officers create a culture of integrity throughout the organization;
(b)
adopting a strategic planning process and:
(i)
approving, on at least an annual basis, a strategic plan that takes into account, among other things, the opportunities and risks of the business and monitoring of progress against strategic and business goals;
(ii)
conducting an annual review of resources required to implement Celestica’s growth strategy and the regulatory, governmental and other constraints on Celestica’s business;
(iii)
monitoring the execution of Celestica’s strategy and the achievement of its stated objectives;
(iv)
reviewing, at every board meeting, any recent developments that may impact Celestica’s growth strategy; and
(v)
evaluating management’s analysis of the strategies of competitors;
(c)
identifying the principal risks of the corporation’s business and ensuring the implementation of appropriate systems to manage these risks with a view to achieving a proper balance between risks incurred and potential return to holders of securities of the corporation and to the long-term viability of the corporation. In this regard, the Board shall require management to report on a quarterly basis to the Board, and the Board shall review such reports provided by management, on the principal risks inherent in the business of the corporation (including appropriate crisis preparedness, business continuity, information system controls, cybersecurity and information security, and disaster recovery plans) and the steps implemented by management to manage these risks;
(d)
succession planning;
(e)
reviewing financial reporting and regulatory compliance;
(f)
establishing a communications policy for the corporation;
(g)
reviewing the corporation’s internal control and management information systems;
(h)
reviewing management of capital;
(i)
reviewing and approving material transactions;
(j)
establishing measures for receiving feedback from securityholders;
(k)
in addition to the specific governance matters covered by this mandate, overseeing the corporation’s general strategy, policies and initiatives relating to environmental, social and governance matters, including, among other things, sustainability; and
(l)
reviewing board operations and evaluating board, committee and individual Director effectiveness.
8.2
Corporate Governance Matters
(a)
The Board shall be responsible for developing the corporation’s approach to corporate governance, and shall review and, if it considers appropriate, approve corporate governance guidelines recommended to it by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and which comply with all applicable legal and stock exchange listing requirements and with such recommendations of relevant securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges as the Board may consider appropriate.
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(b)
The Board shall review and, if it considers appropriate, approve any proposed changes to the corporate governance guidelines recommended to it by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
(c)
The Board shall review and approve any disclosure with respect to Celestica’s governance practices in any document before it is delivered to Celestica’s shareholders or filed with securities regulators or stock exchanges.
(d)
The Board shall review and, if it considers appropriate, approve the process recommended to it by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for annually assessing the performance of the Board as a whole, the committees of the Board, the contribution of individual Directors (including the Chair of the Board) and the effectiveness of management.
(e)
The Board shall review and, if it considers appropriate, approve disclosure policies recommended to it by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with respect to matters not covered by mandated financial disclosure.
8.3
Nomination and Appointment of Directors
(a)
The Board shall adopt selection criteria to be used by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in selecting candidates for nomination to the Board and shall require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to make recommendations to it with respect to such selection criteria.
(b)
The Board shall nominate individuals for election as Directors by the shareholders and shall require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to make recommendations to it with respect to such nominations.
(c)
The Board may fill vacancies on the Board as it is permitted by law to fill and shall require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to make recommendations to it with respect to such vacancies.
(d)
The Board shall consider recommendations made to it by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with respect to the size and composition of the Board.
8.4
Specific Authorization — The Board shall authorize the CEO to enter into commitments on behalf of Celestica, subject to certain limits, and shall from time to time, as the Board considers appropriate, review such authorization.
8.5
Significant Decisions — The Board shall require management to obtain its approval for all significant decisions, including: major financings; significant acquisitions, dispositions and capital expenditures; and each annual operating plan.
8.6
Information Flow from Management — The Board shall require management to keep it apprised of the Corporation’s performance and events that may materially affect the Corporation’s business.
8.7
Corporate Objectives — The Board shall from time to time, as it considers appropriate, review and approve financial and business goals and objectives which will be used as a basis for measuring the performance of the CEO and will be relevant to CEO compensation.
8.8
Establishment of Committees
(a)
The Board shall establish and maintain the following standing committees of the Board, each having a mandate that incorporates all applicable legal and stock exchange listing requirements and with such recommendations of relevant securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges as the Board may consider appropriate:
(i)
Audit Committee;
(ii)
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; and
(iii)
Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
(b)
Subject to Celestica’s articles and by-laws, the Board may appoint any other committee of Directors and delegate to such committee any of the powers of the Board, except to the extent that such delegation is prohibited under the OBCA.
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(c)
The Board shall appoint and maintain in office, members of each of its committees such that the composition of each such committee is in compliance with all applicable legal and stock exchange listing requirements and with such recommendations of relevant securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges as the Board may consider appropriate. The Board shall require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to make recommendations to it with respect to such matters.
(d)
The Board shall from time to time, as it considers appropriate, review the mandates of each of its committees and shall approve any changes to those mandates as it considers appropriate. The Board shall require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to make recommendations to the Board with respect to such matters.
8.9
Appointments
(a)
Subject to Celestica’s articles and by-laws, the Board may designate the offices of the Corporation and appoint officers.
(b)
The Board shall also adopt position descriptions for:
(i)
the Chair;
(ii)
the CEO; and
(iii)
the chair of each standing committee of the Board,
and shall require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to make recommendations to the Board with respect to such matters.
8.10
Financial Statements — The Board shall review and, if it considers appropriate, approve Celestica’s quarterly and annual financial statements after the Audit Committee has reviewed and made a recommendation to the Board regarding such statements.
8.11
Compensation Matters
(a)
Compensation and Benefits — The Board shall approve the total compensation for the members of the Board, in light of the recommendations of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
(b)
Pension Plan Matters — The Board shall receive and review reports from management and from the Human Resources and Compensation Committee covering the administration, investment performance, funding, financial impact, actuarial reports and other pension plan related matters.
8.12
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
(a)
The Board shall approve a business code of conduct and ethics (the “Code”) recommended to it by management and which complies with all applicable legal and stock exchange listing requirements and with such recommendations of relevant securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges as the Board may consider appropriate.
(b)
The Board shall monitor compliance with the Code, including through reports as appropriate from management.
(c)
Either the Board or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall consider and, if it considers appropriate, approve the granting of waivers of the Code for the benefit of the corporation’s Directors or executive officers.
8.13
Security Holder Feedback — The Board shall establish measures for receiving feedback from stakeholders, including through a shareholder engagement process, as well as mechanisms that enable security holders to directly contact the Chair of the Board or the independent directors (individually or as a group).
9.
EVALUATION OF MANDATE
9.1
Amendments to Mandate — The Board shall from time to time, as it considers appropriate, review this mandate, and cause the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to review this mandate, and the Board shall approve any changes as it considers appropriate.
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10.
NO RIGHTS CREATED
10.1
This mandate is a statement of broad policies and is intended as a component of the flexible governance framework within which the Board, assisted by its committees, directs the affairs of the corporation. While it should be interpreted in the context of all applicable laws, regulations and stock exchange listing requirements, as well as in the context of the corporation’s articles and by-laws, this mandate is not intended to, and shall not, establish any legally binding obligations.
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