UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant
to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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þ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
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o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-12 |
Green Mountain Power Corporation |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |
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(4) | Date Filed: |
Green Mountain Power Corporation 2005 Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Monday, May
23, 2005
|
GREEN
MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION
163 Acorn Lane
Colchester Vermont 05446
April 28, 2005
To Our
Shareholders
You
are cordially invited to attend the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The
meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 23, 2005, at Green Mountain
Power Corporation, 163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, Vermont 05446.
[Directions
to Green Mountain Power Corporation: From I89 North, take Exit 16. Turn right at
light, after 3rd traffic light, take left onto Rathe Road. Take first right
onto South Oak Circle, then first left onto Acorn Lane. Green Mountain Power is
the last building. From I89 South, take Exit 16. Turn left at light, after 4th
light, turn left onto Rathe Road. Take first right onto South Oak Circle then
first left onto Acorn Lane. Green Mountain Power is the last building.]
Directors
and Officers are expected to be available before and after the meeting to speak with
you. During the meeting, we will answer your questions regarding our business
affairs and will consider the matters explained in the notice and proxy statement that
follows.
Please
fill in your vote, sign and return the enclosed proxy as soon as possible,
whether or not you plan to attend the meeting. Your vote is important.
Thank
you for your continued interest in and support of Green Mountain Power Corporation.
Sincerely,
Nordahl L. Brue Chair, Board of Directors |
Christopher L. Dutton President and Chief Executive Officer |
GREEN
MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION
163 Acorn Lane
Colchester Vermont 05446
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the Shareholders
of
GREEN
MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION
Date and Time | Monday, May 23, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. | |
Place | Green
Mountain Power Corporation 163 Acorn Lane Colchester, Vermont 05446 |
|
Items of Business | The purpose of the meeting is to: | |
(1) | Elect nine Directors; | |
(2) | Ratify the selection of independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005; | |
(3) | Act upon the Companys proposal to amend and restate the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation; and | |
(4) | Consider any other matters which may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof. | |
Record Date | March 17, 2005 | |
Annual Report | Our 2004 Annual Report, which is not a part of the proxy soliciting materials, is enclosed. | |
Proxy Voting | Only shareholders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on March 17, 2005, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting. A list of the shareholders entitled to vote will be available at the meeting for examination by any shareholder. The list will also be available for any purpose germane to the meeting beginning March 29, 2005 and through the meeting, at our principal office, 163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, Vermont 05446. | |
To assure your representation at the meeting, please fill in your vote, sign and mail the enclosed proxy as soon as possible. We have enclosed a return envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Your proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors. | ||
Donald
J. Rendall, Jr. Secretary |
April
28, 2005
Please Vote - Your Vote is Important
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROXY AND SOLICITATION | 1 |
STOCK OUTSTANDING AND VOTING RIGHTS | 1 |
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND | |
MANAGEMENT | 2 |
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE | 3 |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 3 |
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 3 |
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 5 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION | 8 |
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | 10 |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 11 |
PERFORMANCE GRAPH | 13 |
PENSION PLAN INFORMATION AND OTHER BENEFITS | 14 |
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT | 18 |
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS | 20 |
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE COMPANYS | |
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION | 21 |
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS | 22 |
OTHER BUSINESS | 23 |
Appendix A | | Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation |
Appendix B | | Director Independence Standards |
Proxy Statement
GREEN
MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION
163 Acorn Lane
Colchester Vermont 05446
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
May 23, 2005
April 28, 2005
PROXY AND SOLICITATION
The
accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Green
Mountain Power Corporation (the Company or GMP) for
use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on Monday,
May 23, 2005, and at any and all adjournments thereof. This proxy statement
and the accompanying form of proxy are being sent to shareholders on or about
April 28, 2005.
The
cost of soliciting proxies by the Board of Directors will be borne by the
Company, including the charges and expenses of brokers and others for sending proxy
materials to beneficial owners of Common Stock. In addition to the use of the
mails, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, by telephone, by
facsimile, by telegraph, or by certain of the Companys employees, without
compensation therefor. The Company has retained Mellon Investor Services LLC to
assist in the solicitation of proxies at an estimated cost of $5,025, plus
reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
A
proxy may be revoked at any time before it has been voted at the meeting by
submitting a later-dated proxy or by giving written notice to the Secretary of
the Company. Unless the proxy is revoked or there is a direction to abstain
on one or more proposals, it will be voted on each proposal and, if a choice is made
with respect to any matter to be acted upon, in accordance with such choice. If
no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of
Directors.
STOCK OUTSTANDING AND VOTING RIGHTS
On
March 17, 2005, the record date for the Annual Meeting, the Company had
5,172,505 outstanding shares of Common Stock. The Common Stock is the only
outstanding class of voting securities of the Company. Each holder of record of
Common Stock on the record date is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock
so held.
A
majority of the votes entitled to be cast on matters to be considered at the
meeting constitutes a quorum. If a share is represented for any purpose at the
meeting, it is deemed to be present for all other matters. Abstentions and shares
held of record by a broker or its nominee that are voted on any matter are
included in determining the number of votes present. Broker shares that are not
voted on any matter at the meeting will not be included in determining whether a
quorum is present.
1
The
election of each nominee for director requires a plurality of the votes cast. In
order to be approved, the votes cast for the selection of independent accountants
must exceed the votes cast opposing such matter. Approval of the amendment and
restatement of the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
(the Charter Amendment) attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of all shares of the Companys
Common Stock issued, outstanding and entitled to vote.
In
the absence of your voting instructions, your broker may or may not vote your
shares in its discretion depending on the proposals before the meeting. Your
broker may vote your shares in its discretion and your shares will count toward the
quorum requirement on routine matters. However, your broker may not be
able to vote your shares on proposals that are not considered routine. When
a proposal is not a routine matter and your broker has not received your voting
instructions with respect to that proposal, your broker cannot vote your
shares on that proposal. This is called a broker non-vote. The Company
believes that the election of directors and the ratification of the selection of
independent accountants are routine matters on which brokers will be permitted to
vote on behalf of their clients if no voting instructions are furnished. The
Company may also vote, in the discretion of the proxies, upon such other matters
that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof. The
Company believes that the proposal relating to the approval of the Charter
Amendment is a non-routine matter. As such, broker non-voted shares will have
the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment.
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table lists, as of February 28, 2005, information relating to the
ownership of the Companys Common Stock by each Director, Director Nominee
and each Executive Officer and by all Directors and Executive Officers as a
group. Each individual exercises sole voting and investment power over all of the
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned, except as noted below.
Ownership
of Common Stock by Directors, Director Nominees and Officers of the Company Name |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1) |
Percent
of Common Stock |
||||||
Elizabeth A. Bankowski (Director) | 4,498 | * | ||||||
Nordahl L. Brue (Chair of the Board) | 19,028 | * | ||||||
William H. Bruett (Director) | 10,100 | * | ||||||
Merrill O. Burns (Director) | 8,964 | * | ||||||
David R. Coates (Director) | 13,248 | * | ||||||
Christopher L. Dutton (President, Chief Executive Officer and Director) | 74,175 | (2) | 1.40 | % | ||||
Robert J. Griffin (Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer) | 21,630 | (3) | * | |||||
Kathleen C. Hoyt (Director) | 1,600 | * | ||||||
Euclid A. Irving (Director) | 8,358 | * | ||||||
Mary G. Powell (Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer) | 12,813 | * | ||||||
Donald J. Rendall, Jr. (Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary) | 7,480 | * | ||||||
Stephen C. Terry (Senior Vice President, Corporate and Legal Affairs) | 26,146 | (4) | * | |||||
Marc A. vanderHeyden (Director) | 2,100 | * | ||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group | 210,140 | 3.90 | % |
(1) | Includes
shares that may be acquired within 60 days under the Companys 2000 Stock
Incentive Plan as follows: Directors Brue, Coates and Irving 4,000 shares
each; Directors Bankowski, Bruett and Burns 2,000 shares each; Mr. Dutton
63,000 shares; Mr. Griffin 8,000 shares; Ms. Powell 7,800 shares; Mr. Rendall
3,000 shares; and Mr. Terry 19,000 shares. Total: 118,800 shares. |
2
Also
includes stock units awarded under the Companys 2000 Stock Incentive
Plan that have been deferred and not yet received pursuant to deferral
agreements with the Company as follows: Ms. Bankowski 2,200 shares; Mr.
Burns and Mr. Coates 1,100 shares each; and Mr. Terry 2,450 shares. |
(2) | Mr.
Dutton owns 11,057 of these shares directly or in his 401(k) plan. Of the remaining
shares, 118 are owned by Mr. Duttons children for whom Mr. Duttons wife
serves as custodian; Mr. Dutton disclaims any beneficial interest in the 118
shares owned by his children. |
(3) | Mr.
Griffin owns 13,117 of these shares directly or in his 401(k) plan. Of the remaining
shares, 513 are owned by Mr. Griffins children; Mr. Griffin disclaims any
beneficial interest in the 513 shares owned by his children. |
(4) | Mr.
Terry owns 4,686 of these shares directly or in his 401(k) plan. His wife owns 10
of these shares; Mr. Terry disclaims any beneficial interest in the 10 shares owned
by his wife. |
* | Less
than 1%. |
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
The
Companys Directors and Executive Officers are required under Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to file reports of ownership (Form 5) and
changes in ownership (Form 4) of the Companys Common Stock with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Based solely
on a review of those reports and written representations from the Directors and
Executive Officers, the Company believes that during 2004, all such reporting
requirements have been complied with.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
Board of Directors currently consists of nine members. At the 2005 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, shareholders will elect all nine members of the Board
of Directors. All nominees are current members of the Board of Directors. All
nominees have been selected by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the
Governance Committee.
Directors
will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. If
elected, all nominees are expected to serve until the next annual meeting and
until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
The
following table lists each nominee, his or her principal occupation for the last
five years, age and length of service as Director.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Elizabeth A. Bankowski | 57 | Self-employed
business consultant in the area of corporate social responsibility; Senior
Director of Ben and Jerrys Homemade, Inc. from January 1991 to June
2001; Member of President Clintons Transition Team (in Economics Cluster)
in 1992; Chief of Staff for Governor Madeleine M. Kunin from 1984 to 1990;
Trustee of The Windham Foundation; Director of The Trust Company of Vermont;
Trustee of the Ben and Jerrys Foundation. Director since 2002 |
Nordahl L. Brue | 60 | Chair of Franklin
Foods Inc., a food processing company, since 1989; Chair of PKC Corporation,
a health care software developer, since 1997; Principal, Howard Opera House
Associates and other real estate entities, since 1991; Chair and Chief Executive
Officer of Brueggers Corp. (restaurants) from 1997 to 2002; Principal,
Champlain Management Services, Inc. (real estate development and management
services) from 1985 to 2002; Director of Vermont Electric Power Company,
Inc., Vermont Broadband Council, and Vermont Public Radio; Member, Vermont
Governors Council of Environmental Advisors; Chair of the Board of Trustees
of Grinnell College. Director since 1992 |
3
William H. Bruett | 61 | Senior Vice
President, The ESOP Advisory Group, UBS Financial Services, Inc., a financial
services company, 2003 to present; Group Product Manager of UBS PaineWebber,
Inc., a financial services company, from 1990 to 2001; Director of PaineWebber
Trust Co. and Chair of PaineWebber International Bank Ltd., London, subsidiaries
of UBS AG, from 1990 to 2001; President of Chittenden Corporation from 1983
to 1990; Director of Shelburne Farms, Inc.; Trustee of The Windham Foundation;
Trustee of Upper Rariton Watershed Association. Director since 1986 |
Merrill O. Burns | 58 | Principal, Leavenworth
Lewis, LLC, a business and management consulting firm, 2004 to present;
President and Chief Executive Officer of The Simpata Group, a human resources
and benefits administration services company, from 2002 to 2004; Self-employed
business consultant in the areas of financial services and technology, from
2001 to 2002; Group Executive, MarchFirst (internet professional services)
and predecessor companies USWEB/CKS and Mitchell Madison Group, from 1996
to 2001; Senior Vice President and Executive Corporate Development Officer,
BankAmerica Corporation from 1991 to 1996. Director since 1988 |
David R. Coates | 67 | Executive Vice
President of New England Culinary Institute, a culinary education institution,
since 2002; Retired Partner, KPMG Peat Marwick; Partner KPMG Peat Marwick
from 1987 to 1993; Business Consultant and Advisor; Chair of the Key Bank
District Advisory Board since 1995; Director of National Life of Vermont
and of Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company; Member of the Governors
Council of Economic Advisors, the State of Vermont Debt Affordability Advisory
Committee and Vermont Municipal Bond Bank. Director since 1999 |
Christopher L. Dutton | 56 | President, Chief
Executive Officer and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Company since
August 1997; Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer from 1995 to 1997; Vice President and General Counsel
from 1993 to 1995; Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
from 1989 to 1993; Director of Vermont Electric Power Company, Inc., Fletcher
Allen Health Care, Inc. and Vermont Business Roundtable. Director since
1997 |
Kathleen C. Hoyt | 62 | Self-employed
financial and organizational consultant; Secretary, Vermont Agency of Administration,
from May 1997 to November 2002; Chief of Staff and Secretary of Civil and
Military Affairs to Governor Howard Dean, from August 1991 to May 1997;
Chief of Staff and Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs to Governor Madeleine
Kunin, from August 1989 to January 1991; Commissioner, Vermont Department
of Employment and Training, from 1988 to 1989; Director, Mascoma Savings
Bank; Trustee, Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation; Director, Vermont Community
Foundation; Trustee, University of Vermont. Director since 2004 |
4
Euclid A. Irving | 52 | Managing Principal,
Odysseus Energy LLC, merchant power company, since February 2005; Partner,
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, Attorneys, New York, New York,
from 1990 to 2005; Member of the Board of Trustees of the University of
Virginia Law School Foundation. Director since 1993 |
Marc A. vanderHeyden | 66 | President, Saint
Michaels College, independent Catholic liberal arts residential college
located in Colchester, Vermont, 1996 to present; Director of Vermont Business
Roundtable, United Way of Chittenden County, New England Board of Higher
Education, Vermont Health Foundation, Vermont Higher Education Council,
Association of Vermont Independent Colleges, and Eleanor Roosevelt Center
at Val-Kill. Director since 2004 |
The Board of
Directors Unanimously Recommends
That You Vote FOR the Election of All
Nominees Named Above.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Governance
The
Company is managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to set forth certain
corporate governance practices. The Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines
are published on the Companys Internet website at
www.greenmountainpower.biz: Who We Are, Investors, Corporate Governance.
Board of Directors Meetings
The
Board of Directors meets on a regularly scheduled basis during the year to
review significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters
requiring Board of Directors approval and may hold special meetings between
scheduled meetings. In 2004, the Board of Directors held nine meetings. Each
Director attended no less than 75 percent of his or her Board of Directors and
committee meetings.
Independence of Directors
The
Board of Directors has determined that the following members are independent,
as that term is defined under the general independence standards in the listing
standards of the New York Stock Exchange: Elizabeth A. Bankowski, Nordahl L.
Brue, William H. Bruett, Merrill O. Burns, David R. Coates, Kathleen C. Hoyt,
Euclid A. Irving and Marc A. vanderHeyden. The Board of Directors has adopted
categorical standards to assist it in making determinations of independence.
The Companys Director Independence Standards are attached as Appendix B to this
proxy statement. All directors identified as independent in this proxy statement meet
these standards.
Meetings of Independent Directors
The
New York Stock Exchange requires that all non-management directors meet
regularly and that all independent directors meet at least once annually. The
Board of Directors has determined that all non-management directors of the Company
are also independent. The Board of Directors has appointed Nordahl L. Brue, the
Chair, to chair meetings of independent directors, as provided in the Companys
Corporate Governance Guidelines. During these
5
meetings, the
Chair leads the meeting, sets the agenda and determines the information to be
provided.
Board of Directors Committees and Their Functions
The table below provides membership and meeting information for each standing committee of the Board of Directors.
Name | Audit | Governance | Compensation | Executive |
Elizabeth A. Bankowski | X | X | ||
Nordahl L. Brue | X | X | ||
William H. Bruett | X | X* | X | |
Merrill O. Burns | X | X* | ||
David R. Coates | X | X | ||
Christopher L. Dutton | X* | |||
Kathleen C. Hoyt | X | X | ||
Euclid A. Irving | X* | X | ||
Marc A. vanderHeyden | X | X | ||
2004 Meetings | 12 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
*Chair | ||||
The
Audit Committee has the responsibilities set forth in its Charter to assist the
Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the
integrity of the financial statements and other financial information provided by
the Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or the New York Stock
Exchange or the public, the Companys systems of internal controls
regarding finance and accounting that management has established, the Companys
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the Companys
auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes generally. In addition, the
Audit Committee prepares the report required to be included by the Securities and
Exchange Commission in the annual proxy statement. The Board of Directors has
determined that all Audit Committee members are independent, as that term is
defined under the enhanced independence standards for audit committee members
in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules thereunder, as incorporated into
the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee Charter
provides that no member of the Audit Committee may serve simultaneously on the
audit committees of more than three public companies.
The
Board of Directors has determined that William H. Bruett and David R. Coates are
audit committee financial experts, as that term is defined in the rules
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The
Governance Committee has the responsibilities set forth in its Charter to develop
and recommend to the Board of Directors appropriate corporate governance
guidelines and policies, to monitor and evaluate the implementation of such
guidelines and policies, to identify individuals qualified to act as directors and
to recommend director candidates to the Board of Directors for nomination by the
Board of Directors.
The
Compensation Committee has the responsibilities set forth in its Charter to assist the
Board of Directors in discharging its responsibilities relating to compensation of
the Companys executive officers and to produce an annual report on
executive compensation for inclusion in the Companys annual proxy
statement, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
6
The
Executive Committee exercises all the powers of the Board of Directors in the
management of current and ordinary business of the Company, except as
otherwise provided by law.
The
Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics and Business
Conduct and the Charters of the Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees are
available on the Companys Internet website at www.greenmountainpower.biz:
Who We Are, Investors, Corporate Governance, and are available in print to any
shareholder upon request by writing to 163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, Vermont
05446, Attention: Assistant Corporate Secretary.
Director Nominating Process
The
Governance Committee. The Governance Committee performs the functions of a
nominating committee. The Governance Committee Charter describes the Committees
responsibilities, including seeking, screening and recommending director
candidates for nomination by the Board of Directors. The Companys Corporate
Governance Guidelines also contain important information concerning the
responsibilities of the Governance Committee with respect to identifying and
evaluating director candidates. The Governance Committee Charter and the Companys
Corporate Governance Guidelines are published on the Companys Internet
website at www.greenmountainpower.biz: Who We Are, Investors, Corporate Governance.
All members of the Governance Committee are independent, as defined under the
general independence standards of the listing standards of the New York Stock
Exchange and, further, the Corporate Governance Guidelines require that all
members of the Governance Committee be independent.
Director
Candidate Recommendations and Nominations By Shareholders. The Governance Committee
Charter provides that the Governance Committee will consider director candidate
recommendations by shareholders. Shareholders should submit any such
recommendations to the Governance Committee through the method described under Communications
With The Board of Directors below. In addition, in accordance with the
Companys Bylaws, any shareholder of record entitled to vote for the election
of directors at the applicable meeting of shareholders may nominate persons for
election to the Board of Directors if such shareholder complies with the notice
procedures set forth in the Bylaws and summarized in SUBMISSION OF
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS below.
Governance
Committee Process For Identifying and Evaluating Director Candidates. The
Governance Committee evaluates all director candidates in accordance with the
director qualification standards described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines.
The Governance Committee evaluates any candidates qualifications to serve as
a member of the Board of Directors based on the skills and characteristics of
individual Board members as well as the composition of the Board of Directors as
a whole. In addition, the Governance Committee will evaluate a candidates
independence and diversity, skills and experience in the context of the Board of
Directors needs.
Director
Nominees. Elizabeth A. Bankowski, Nordahl L. Brue, William H. Bruett, Merrill O.
Burns, David R. Coates, Christopher L. Dutton, Kathleen C. Hoyt, Euclid A. Irving
and Marc A. vanderHeyden are incumbent directors standing for re-election.
Communications With The Board of Directors
The
Board of Directors has unanimously approved a process for shareholders to send
communications to the Board of Directors. Shareholders can send communications to
the Board
7
of Directors
and, if applicable, to a committee or to specified individual directors in writing
c/o Green Mountain Power Corporation, 163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, Vermont 05446,
Attention Secretary. The Company does not screen mail and all such letters will
be forwarded to the Board of Directors, a committee or any such specified
individual directors.
Attendance At Annual Meeting
The
Companys policy is that Directors attend the annual meeting of shareholders.
All nine Directors attended the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders.
Compensation of Directors
Non-employee
Directors receive an annual fee of $20,000. In addition to the annual fee,
the Chair of the Board of Directors receives an annual fee of $30,000. In
addition to the annual fee, the Chairs of the Audit, Governance and
Compensation Committees each receive an annual fee of $5,000. Directors also
receive $1,000 for each Board of Directors, committee or other meeting attended in
person, $850 for a committee meeting held on the same day as a Board of Directors
meeting, or one-half of the regular fee paid for each meeting attended by
telephone. We reimburse Directors for reasonable expenses related to their Board of
Directors service. Directors may defer all or part of their annual fees and
meeting fees under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. Deferred amounts earn
interest and the Director may determine at the time of the deferral, or in limited
instances thereafter, when the funds are to be paid. Each non-employee Director
was awarded 1,100 Stock Units on July 19, 2004. Each Stock Unit awarded to
non-employee Directors represented the right to receive one share of the Companys
Common Stock on December 31, 2004, the date of vesting, unless a Director
elected to defer payment of his or her Stock Units (Deferred Stock Units).
In accordance with the terms of the Stock Units, each of Nordahl L. Brue, William
H. Bruett, David R. Coates, Katheen C. Hoyt and Marc A. vanderHeyden received
1,100 shares of the Companys Common Stock on December 31, 2004. Each of
Elizabeth A. Bankowski, Merrill O. Burns, and Euclid A. Irving elected to defer
payment of his or her Stock Units and will receive payment of his or her
respective 1,100 shares of Company Common Stock at a future date or event
specified in the deferral agreements relating to their respective Deferred Stock
Units.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
In
2004, the Board of Directors adopted stock ownership guidelines for non-employee
Directors. According to such guidelines, non-employee Directors should own
beneficially Common Stock approximately equal in value to three times the Directors
annual fee and the Chair of the Board should own beneficially Common Stock
approximately equal in value to five times the Chairs annual fee.
Current Directors have until October 6, 2008 to satisfy this guideline. New
Directors will have five years from the date of election to the Board of
Directors to satisfy this guideline.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
The
following table summarizes the compensation the Company paid the President and Chief
Executive Officer and each of the four other most highly compensated Executive
Officers as of the end of 2004, 2003 and 2002.
8
Annual Compensation (1) | Long
Term Compensation Awards |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Salary | Bonus |
Other Annual Comp (3) |
Restricted Stock Awards (4) |
Stock Option No. of Shares |
All Other Compensation (5) |
|||||||||||||||||
Year | ($) | ($)(2) | ($) | ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
Christopher L. Dutton | 2004 | 355,349 | 170,592 | 686 | 0 | 0 | 10,574 | ||||||||||||||||
President and Chief | 2003 | 339,521 | 123,480 | 479 | 0 | 0 | 10,201 | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer | 2002 | 299,229 | 30,000 | 677 | 0 | 0 | 11,794 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Mary G. Powell | 2004 | 235,200 | 113,280 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8,722 | ||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and | 2003 | 226,347 | 82,320 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8,487 | ||||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer | 2002 | 199,300 | 20,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,830 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen C. Terry | 2004 | 195,601 | 62,592 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9,590 | ||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President | 2003 | 194,382 | 44,597 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9,281 | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate and Legal Affairs | 2002 | 179,782 | 20,000 | 375 | 0 | 0 | 8,530 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Griffin | 2004 | 161,600 | 51,712 | 365 | 0 | 0 | 6,774 | ||||||||||||||||
Vice President, Chief Financial | 2003 | 127,827 | 36,708 | 177 | 0 | 0 | 3,867 | ||||||||||||||||
Officer and Treasurer | 2002 | 109,702 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,945 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Donald J. Rendall, Jr. (6) | 2004 | 175,665 | 56,224 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7,389 | ||||||||||||||||
Vice President, General Counsel | 2003 | 173,416 | 39,649 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7,160 | ||||||||||||||||
and Secretary | 2002 | 125,965 | 10,000 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) | Amounts
shown include base salary earned by the Executive Officers, as well as amounts earned
but deferred at the election of the Executive Officers. |
(2) | Amounts
shown for 2004 reflect bonuses earned for 2004 performance and awarded on March 29,
2005. |
(3) | The
amounts shown in this column represent dividends paid on restricted shares awarded
under the Compensation Program and interest on deferred compensation for amounts
above 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate. |
(4) | No
restricted share awards were made in 2002, 2003 or 2004. As of December 31, 2004,
Mr. Dutton, Ms. Powell, Mr. Terry, Mr. Griffin, and Mr. Rendall held no
restricted stock. On February 9, 2004, Mr. Dutton, Ms. Powell, Mr. Terry, Mr.
Griffin, and Mr. Rendall were awarded 11,800, 7,900, 4,900, 4,400, and 4,400
Stock Units, respectively, pursuant to the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. Each Stock
Unit awarded to a named Executive Officer represents the right to receive one
share of the Companys Common Stock upon vesting. The Stock Units awarded
to named Executive Officers are subject to a two-year vesting period as
follows: 50 percent of the Stock Units vested on February 15, 2005 and the
remaining 50 percent of the Stock Units will vest on February 15, 2006. Payment of
the Stock Units may be deferred at the election of the holder. As of February
28, 2005, aggregate restricted stock holdings and the value thereof were as follows:
Mr. Dutton, 11,800 Stock Units valued at $284,380; Ms. Powell, 7,900 Stock
Units valued at $190,390; Mr. Terry, 4,900 Stock Units valued at $118,090; Mr.
Griffin, 4,400 Stock Units valued at $106,040; and Mr. Rendall, 4,400 Stock
Units valued at $106,040. The holder is not entitled to receive dividends on
awards of Stock Units during the vesting period. See Compensation Committee
Report on Executive Compensation. |
(5) | The
total amounts shown in this column for the last fiscal year consist of the
following: |
a. | Premiums attributable to Company-owned life insurance policies: Mr. Dutton $2,374, Ms. Powell $522, Mr. Terry $1,766, Mr. Griffin $310, and Mr. Rendall $362. |
b. | Company matching contributions to Employee Savings and Investment Plan: Mr. Dutton $8,200, Ms. Powell $8,200, Mr. Terry $7,824, Mr. Griffin, $6,464, and Mr. Rendall $7,027. |
(6) | Mr.
Rendall joined the Company March 1, 2002; therefore, the 2002 total represents a
partial year. |
The
following table presents stock options exercised and unexercised by the Companys
Executive Officers. All options, other than those granted to Mr. Rendall, were
granted during 2000 and vested over a four-year period beginning August 22,
2000, the date of grant.
9
The percentage of
options vesting for the first through the fourth years was 30 percent, 20
percent, 20 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
Stock Options Exercised and Unexercised in Last Fiscal Year
Name
and Principal Position |
(1) | (2) | (2) | (2) | ||||||||||||||||
Shares Acquired on Exercise |
Value Realized |
Number
of shares underlying unexercised options at December 31, 2004 |
Value
of in-the-money unexercised options at December 31, 2004 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
(#) | ($) | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | |||||||||||||||
Christopher L. Dutton | 10,000 | $ | 180,081 | 63,000 | 0 | $ | 1,339,520 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
President and Chief | ||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mary G. Powell | 12,000 | $ | 210,523 | 11,200 | 0 | $ | 267,904 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
Senior Vice President and | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen C. Terry | 5,000 | $ | 91,903 | 20,000 | 0 | $ | 418,600 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
Senior Vice President, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and Legal Affairs | ||||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Griffin, Vice | 2,000 | $ | 36,254 | 8,000 | 0 | $ | 167,440 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
President, Chief Financial | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officer and Treasurer | ||||||||||||||||||||
Donald J. Rendall, Jr | 0 | $ | 0 | 3,000 | 0 | $ | 62,790 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
Vice President, General | ||||||||||||||||||||
Counsel and Secretary | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Represents
the number of options exercised during 2004 by the respective Executive Officer. |
(2) | The
unexercised option values are calculated by determining the difference between
the end of year share price and the exercise price of the options multiplied by
the number of unexercised options. The exercised option values are calculated by
determining the difference between the date of exercise share price and the
exercise price multiplied by the number of exercised options. The exercise price
of $18.33 (Mr. Rendall) and $7.90 (all others) per share for all the unexercised
options is below the current market price of the Companys Common Stock. |
The
following table presents the total number of shares of the Company Common Stock
that would be issued upon the exercise of all options outstanding at December 31,
2004, the exercise price of those shares and the number of options authorized for
future issuances.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
(a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
|
Equity compensation
plans Approved by security holders |
215,300 | $11.39 | 248,023 |
Equity compensation
plans Not Approved by security holders |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total | 215,300 | $11.39 | 248,023 |
10
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of four
independent directors and operates under a written Charter adopted by the Board
of Directors. The Compensation Committees Charter delineates the Compensation
Committees responsibilities, which include:
This is the
report of the Compensation Committee describing the Compensation Program and the
basis upon which the 2004 compensation determinations were made.
Compensation Philosophy
It
is our philosophy that executive compensation should be competitive in the
marketplace, promote the strategic objectives of the Company and be aligned
with corporate performance, including customer service and satisfaction. Total
cash compensation for executives and directors should compare favorably with
organizations competing for similar talent. The Compensation Committees role
is to balance the need to attract and retain high caliber talent with the Board
of Directors corporate and fiduciary responsibility to shareholders and
other stakeholders. The compensation arrangement for officers and directors is
designed to meet these objectives.
In
2003, the Compensation Committee undertook a detailed review and redesign of CEO,
officer and director compensation programs with the assistance of Mellon Human
Resources and Investor Solutions (Mellon), a division of Mellon
Financial Corporation. In 2004, the Compensation Committee retained Mellon to
review and update its study and recommendations. In 2004, Mellon analyzed CEO and
executive compensation using a blend of market reference points, including peer
public companies in the Companys geographic region, peer public electric
utility companies and executive compensation survey data for the public utility
sector from various sources, including the Towers Perrin Executive Compensation
Energy Services Industry Database, the Mercer 2004 Executive Compensation Survey
(Utility Cut), the 2004/2005 ECS
11
Industry
Report on Top Management Compensation and the Wyatt Top Management 2003/2004
compensation report. Peer companies were selected based on similarity of size
and/or operating characteristics, with the goal of developing a comparable
group representative of the Companys main competition for executive
talent. Mellon performed a regression analysis to assure comparability of the peer
and market data. The compensation survey groups include companies that are
different from the companies in the Edison Electric Institute 100 and the S&P
500 Composite Index used for the Performance Graph.
Executive Compensation
Based
on Mellons report, the Compensation Committee concluded that CEO and officer
compensation should continue to include three components: Base salary is
intended to be set at approximately the 50th percentile for base salary
compensation at comparable companies. Short-term incentive compensation is
intended to compensate officers for Company performance and is linked to defined
Company performance metrics, such that if performance targets are achieved,
officers direct compensation (base salary plus short-term incentive) would
approximate the 40 -50th percentile of total direct compensation at
comparable companies. Performance metrics for short-term incentive compensation
include customer service (60%), based on seventeen specified customer service
quality performance standards in the Companys service quality plan approved by the
Vermont Public Service Board, and creating value for shareholders (40%), based
on the Companys annual consolidated return on equity. Long-term incentive
compensation is designed to provide long-term incentives for future Company
performance and is intended to bring total officer compensation to approximately
the 40th percentile of total compensation paid to equivalent executives
at comparable companies, if target performance criteria are met.
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed all components of CEO and non-CEO officer
compensation, including salary, bonus, equity and long-term compensation,
accumulated realized and unrealized stock options, the earnings and accumulated
payout obligations under the Companys non-qualified deferred compensation
plans and projected payout obligations under the Companys supplemental
executive retirement plan. Based on the Compensation Committees review and
Mellons 2004 report, in December 2004 the Compensation Committee approved a
base salary adjustment for the CEO and recommended base salary adjustments for
five other officers of the Company, effective January 1, 2005. The Board of
Directors approved the non-CEO officer base salary adjustments in December 2004.
Effective
March 29, 2005, the Compensation Committee approved a short-term incentive cash
award to the CEO, based on 2004 service quality performance results and 2004
financial results. The Compensation Committee also recommended, and the Board of
Directors approved, short-term incentive cash awards for other Company officers
based on the same criteria. These awards are included in the executive
compensation table above. The short-term incentive awards reflect that the
Company achieved or exceeded all target performance criteria in 2004.
In
2005, the Compensation Committee expects to consider a long-term incentive
award to the CEO and recommendations to the Board of Directors of long-term
incentive awards to officers other than the CEO of Stock Units pursuant to the
2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Each Stock Unit represents the right to receive one
share of the Companys Common Stock upon vesting. Long-term incentive
awards, when fully vested, are intended to bring total compensation for the
CEO and other officers to a level approximately at the 40th percentile
for comparable companies, based on Mellons report. The Compensation
Committee has
12
determined that
the total compensation paid to the CEO and to non-CEO officers is reasonable
and not excessive.
Director Compensation
The
Compensation Committee did not recommend, and the Board of Directors did not
approve, any changes in the annual fees paid to the Chair and other non-employee
directors, annual fees paid to the chairs of the Audit, Governance and Compensation
Committees and meeting fees compared to 2003. The Compensation Committee recommended,
and the Board of Directors approved, awards of Stock Units to each non-employee
director on July 19, 2004. Total compensation for non-employee directors is
intended to approximate the 50th percentile of compensation paid
to directors of comparable companies. Director compensation amounts and share
ownership guidelines are described above under the captions Information
About Our Board OF DIRECTORS Compensation of Directors, and
Stock Ownership Guidelines, respectively.
The 2000 and 2004 Stock Incentive Plans
The
purpose of the 2000 and 2004 Stock Incentive Plans is to promote the interests
of the Company and its shareholders by aiding the Company in attracting and
retaining employees, officers, consultants, independent contractors and
non-employee directors capable of contributing to the future success of the
Company, to offer such persons incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the
success of the Company and to afford such persons an additional opportunity
to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. In July 2004, the Compensation
Committee approved awards under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan for the entire
employee population of the Company, excluding officers and directors, and any
newly hired employees who had previously received awards during 2004.
As
of December 31, 2004, the Company had 23,023 shares of Common Stock available
for issuance out of the original 500,000 share of Common Stock authorized for
issuance under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, and 225,000 shares of Common Stock
available for issuance out of the 225,000 shares of Common Stock authorized for
issuance under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.
Conclusion
We
believe the Companys executive compensation program appropriately aligns
executive compensation with individual and corporate performance and increases
in shareholder value, is competitive with the market and is sensitive to the
concerns of customers, shareholders and other constituencies.
Compensation Committee Members
Merrill
O. Burns, Chair Euclid A. Irving |
Elizabeth
A. Bankowski Marc A. vanderHeyden |
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The
following performance graph presents the yearly percentage change in the cumulative
total shareholder return on the Companys Common Stock, as compared to the
cumulative total returns of the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index and that
of the members of Edison Electric Institutes Index.
13
COMPARISON
OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION, THE S & P 500 INDEX
AND THE ELECTRIC UTILITIES INVESTOR OWNED INDEX
Cumulative Total Return | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
12/99 | 12/00 | 12/01 | 12/02 | 12/03 | 12/04 | |||||||||||||||
Green Mountain Power Corporation | $ | 100.00 | $ | 178.72 | $ | 276.05 | $ | 320.50 | $ | 373.62 | $ | 472.08 | ||||||||
S&P 500 | 100.00 | 90.89 | 80.09 | 62.39 | 80.29 | 89.02 | ||||||||||||||
EEI Investor-Owned Electrics | 100.00 | 147.97 | 134.96 | 115.08 | 142.10 | 174.56 |
*Assumes
$100.00 invested on December 31, 1999 and dividends reinvested quarterly. Historical
performance does not necessarily predict future results.
PENSION PLAN INFORMATION AND OTHER BENEFITS
Pension Plan Information
All
employees are covered by the Employees Retirement Plan of Green Mountain
Power Corporation (the Retirement Plan) if they have been employed for
more than one year. The Retirement Plan is a defined benefit plan providing for
normal retirement at age 65. Provided that a participant has at least ten years of
continuous service, early retirement may be taken beginning the first day of any
month following the attainment of age 55. If retirement occurs prior to age 59,
benefits are reduced as shown in the table below:
Age at Retirement | Reduction of Benefits | ||
58 | 7.5 | % | |
57 | 15.0 | ||
56 | 22.5 | ||
55 | 30.0 |
For
employees with at least five but less than ten years of continuous service who
commence benefits before age 65, benefits are actuarially reduced. If retirement
occurs after age 59 and completion of at least ten years of continuous
service, the full accrued benefit is payable.
14
Retirement
benefits are based on final average base compensation and length of service. Final
average base compensation is the average of the compensation (limited to base
salary for Officers, as shown in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation
Table for the Officers named in this proxy statement, and straight-time payroll
wages for other employees) for the highest 36 consecutive fiscal months out of
the final ten years of employment. The normal retirement benefit is equal to 1.1%
of the final average compensation up to the covered compensation amount plus 1.6%
of final average base compensation over covered compensation multiplied by each year
of credited service up to 35 years. Retirement benefits are not subject to any
deductions for Social Security or other offset amounts.
The
following table shows the estimated annual pension benefit payable pursuant to
the Retirement Plan to all covered employees, including the Officers named in this
proxy statement, for the average compensation and years of service indicated. It
assumes retirement at age 65 and an election of a retirement allowance payable
as a life annuity. The retirement benefits in connection with the separate
life insurance plan referred to below are in addition to those described in the
table.
PENSION PLAN TABLE Annual Average Base Compensation Highest 36 Consecutive Fiscal Months of the Last 10 Years Preceding Retirement * |
Estimated
Annual Retirement Benefits At Normal Retirement Age of 65 Years Credited Years of Service |
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 & over | |||||||||||||
$ 80,000 | $ | 16,410 | $ | 21,880 | $ | 27,350 | $ | 32,820 | $ | 38,290 | |||||||
100,000 | 21,210 | 28,280 | 35,350 | 42,420 | 49,490 | ||||||||||||
120,000 | 26,010 | 34,680 | 43,350 | 52,020 | 60,690 | ||||||||||||
140,000 | 30,810 | 41,080 | 51,350 | 61,620 | 71,890 | ||||||||||||
160,000 | 35,610 | 47,480 | 59,350 | 71,220 | 83,090 | ||||||||||||
170,000 | 38,010 | 50,680 | 63,350 | 76,020 | 88,690 | ||||||||||||
200,000 | 45,210 | 60,280 | 75,350 | 90,420 | 105,490 | ||||||||||||
205,000 | 46,410 | 61,880 | 77,350 | 92,820 | 108,290 | ||||||||||||
*Compensation
cap was $200,000 for 2002 and 2003, and $205,000 for 2004.
Credited
years of service (including service credited with other companies), as of December
31, 2004, for each of the Officers named in this proxy statement were as follows:
C. L. Dutton, 19.8 years; M. G. Powell 5.8 years; S. C. Terry 18.8 years; R. J.
Griffin 20.8 years; and D. J. Rendall, Jr. 1.8 years.
Supplemental Retirement Plan
In
addition to the Retirement Plan described above, all the Officers, including the
Officers named in this proxy statement, participate in a Supplemental Retirement
Plan. The plan provides retirement and survivors benefits for a period of
fifteen years following retirement. The benefits are a percentage of the Officers
final salary:
44%
for the CEO; and
33%
for the non-CEO Officers.
The
retirement benefits are partially covered by the life insurance coverage that
we have obtained (see below). The cost of this plan cannot be properly allocated
or determined for any one plan participant because of the overall retirement plan
assumptions. We are recording the estimated cost of the supplemental retirement
plan benefits on a current basis and the income from the life insurance coverage
as it is earned.
15
Life Insurance Plan
The
Officers participate in a related life insurance plan. Under this plan, we
have purchased insurance on the lives of the Officers to provide
pre-retirement life insurance benefits to them in an amount equal to four times
salary for the CEO and three times salary for non-CEO Officers. The life
insurance benefits are designed so that the Company does not expect to incur any
significant net expense in providing the pre-retirement insurance plan.
Deferred Compensation Plan
Officers
and Directors may participate in a Deferred Compensation Plan under which they
may elect to defer a portion of their salaries. Amounts deferred are credited
to a separate account for each participant. The balance in a participants
account, plus accrued interest, will be paid to him or her, or to his or her
beneficiary according to their election form.
2000 Stock Incentive Plan
The
2000 Stock Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options and other
stock-based compensation to employees, Officers and Directors. The Compensation
Committee administers the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and determines when and to
whom awards will be granted and the type, amount, terms of payment and other
conditions of each award, consistent with the provisions of the 2000 Stock
Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2004, there were approximately 192
employees, Officers and Directors who were eligible to be selected by the
Compensation Committee to receive an award under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.
2004 Stock Incentive Plan
On
February 9, 2004, the Board of Directors adopted the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the
2004 Incentive Plan), which was approved by the Companys
shareholders on May 20, 2004 and by the Vermont Public Service Board on June 28,
2004. The 2004 Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock
grants, other stock-based awards and performance awards to employees, officers,
consultants, independent contractors and directors providing services to the Company
and its subsidiaries.
The
2004 Incentive Plan is similar to the Companys 2000 Stock Incentive Plan,
approved by the Companys shareholders in 2000. The 2000 Stock Incentive
Plan provided for the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock through
February 7, 2005, of which 23,023 shares of Common Stock remained unissued as of
December 31, 2004. The 2004 Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of 225,000
shares of Common Stock through February 7, 2009, all of which remained unissued
as of December 31, 2004.
Change of Control Agreements
Change
of Control agreements have been executed with six members of management, including
the Officers named in this proxy statement. The Company entered into the current
Change of Control agreements with each of its six current officers, Christopher L.
Dutton, Mary G. Powell, Stephen C. Terry, Robert J. Griffin, Donald J. Rendall, Jr.
and Walter S. Oakes, on February 10, 2004.
If
within three years following a change of control of the Company, the Officers
employment is involuntarily terminated without cause or is voluntarily terminated by
the Officer with good reason, the agreements provide affected individuals with:
16
The
Change of Control agreements contain non-compete covenants that are applicable
following an individuals receipt of a severance payment under the Change of
Control agreements.
As
defined in the agreements, change of control of the Company will have
occurred when:
Individuals
may terminate employment following a change in control with good reason if:
17
The
Board of Directors has limited discretion to determine whether a change of control
of the Company has taken place.
The
Change of Control agreements were executed on February 10, 2004, to modify similar
agreements previously entered into by the Company with each of the named officers in
the following ways:
The
Company has, from time to time, had preliminary discussions with potential
strategic partners regarding possible transactions that could, if consummated,
trigger the operation of the agreements. All such discussions have terminated at a
preliminary stage.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The
Audit Committee is composed of five independent directors and operates under a
written Charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee is
responsible to directly appoint, retain, monitor the performance of, evaluate,
compensate and terminate, the Companys independent accountants. Management
is responsible for the Companys disclosure controls, internal controls and the
financial reporting process. The independent accountants are responsible for
performing an independent audit of the Companys consolidated financial
18
statements in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and for issuing a report thereon.
The Audit Committees responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes
and to report thereon to the Board of Directors. In this context, the Audit Committee
has met and held discussions with management and Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Companys
independent accountants.
Management
represented to the Audit Committee that the Companys audited consolidated
financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited
consolidated financial statements with management and Deloitte & Touche.
The
Audit Committee has discussed with Deloitte & Touche the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Codification of Statements on
Accounting Standards), as amended by Statements on Auditing Standards 89 and 90,
including the scope of the auditors responsibilities.
The
Audit Committee also has received the written disclosures and the letter from
Deloitte & Touche relating to the independence of that firm and has discussed
with Deloitte & Touche that firms independence from the Company.
Based
upon the Audit Committees discussions with management and Deloitte & Touche
and the Audit Committees review of the representation of management and the
report of Deloitte & Touche to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee
recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited consolidated financial
statements in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2004, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The
Audit Committee reviews with management and the independent accountants the
results of the independent accountants review of the unaudited financial
statements that are included in the Companys quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
The Audit Committee reviews the fees charged by the Companys independent
accountants. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, Deloitte & Touche
billed the Company the fees set forth below under the caption Fees Paid to
Deloitte & Touche in connection with services rendered by that firm to the
Company.
The
Audit Committee meets regularly with both the independent external auditors and the
accounting firm and individuals responsible for the internal audit function, all of
whom have unrestricted access to the Audit Committee. These meetings include
executive sessions without management present. The Audit Committee believes that
it has taken the actions it deems necessary or appropriate to fulfill its oversight
responsibilities under the Audit Committees Charter. All Audit Committee members
are independent under the enhanced independence standards for audit committee members
in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as incorporated into the listing standards of
the New York Stock Exchange.
Preapproval
Policies and Procedures
Effective
February 14, 2005, the Audit Committee adopted amended procedures for
pre-approving all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent
accountant. Further, the Audit Committee has considered whether the independent
auditors provision of permitted and pre-approved non-audit services to the
Company is compatible with the auditors independence.
19
Audit Committee Members
William
H. Bruett Merrill O. Burns Euclid A. Irving, Chair |
David R. Coates Kathleen C. Hoyt |
Fees Paid to
Deloitte & Touche
During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, Deloitte & Touche was employed
principally to perform the annual audit and to render other services. Fees paid
to Deloitte & Touche for services rendered in fiscal years 2003 and 2004
are listed in the following table.
2003 | 2004 | |||||||
Audit Fees* | $ | 192,181 | $ | 492,750 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 7,000 | 15,155 | ||||||
Tax Fees | 36,577 | 30,500 | ||||||
All Other Fees | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Total Deloitte & Touche Fees | $ | 235,758 | $ | 538,405 | ||||
*The 2004 Audit Fees include approximately $294,000 for attestation services related to the Companys internal controls over financial reporting for compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. |
Audit
Fees include fees to perform the audit of the Companys financial statements.
This category also includes fees for audits provided in connection with statutory
filings or services that generally only the principal auditor reasonably can
provide to a client, such as procedures related to audit of income tax provisions and
related reserves, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Audit-Related
Fees include fees associated with assurance and related services that are reasonably
related to the performance of the audit or review of the Companys financial
statements. Audit-related fees include audits of employee benefit plans.
Tax
Fees primarily include fees associated with tax audits, tax compliance, tax
consulting, as well as tax planning.
RATIFICATION
OF SELECTION
OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Year 2005 Audit
Services
On
February 14, 2005, the Audit Committee appointed the firm of Deloitte & Touche
LLP to serve as independent certified public accountants for the calendar year 2005.
We expect a representative of Deloitte & Touche to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, respond to appropriate questions and be given an opportunity to speak
if he or she desires to do so.
This
proposal will be approved if the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the
votes cast opposing the proposal. Appointment of the Companys independent
accountants is not required to be submitted to a vote of the shareholders of
the Company for ratification. However, the Audit Committee has recommended that
the Board of Directors submit this matter to the
20
shareholders as
a matter of good corporate practice, which the Board of Directors is doing. If the
shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider
whether to retain Deloitte & Touche, and may retain that firm or another without
resubmitting the matter to the Companys shareholders. Even if the appointment is
ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of
different independent accountants at any time during the year if it determines that
such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and the shareholders.
The Board of
Directors Unanimously Recommends
That You Vote FOR the Ratification of the
Selection of Deloitte & Touche.
APPROVAL
OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF
THE COMPANYS AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The
Board of Directors has unanimously approved an amendment to and restatement of the
Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Charter
Amendment) and recommends that the shareholders adopt the Charter
Amendment. The Vermont Public Service Board approved the Charter Amendment on
January 14, 2005. A copy of the Charter Amendment is attached as Appendix A. The
specific amendment language appears in the second sentence of Section 11.01, at
page A-15 of Appendix A. The summary of the material terms of the Charter
Amendment that follows is qualified in its entirety by reference to Appendix A.
Description of
the Material Terms of the Charter Amendment
If
the Charter Amendment is adopted by shareholders, the change would allow a Director
of the Company to be removed with or without cause. Currently, a Director of the
Company may be removed only with cause.
Under
Vermont law, shareholders are not entitled to dissenters rights of appraisal with
respect to the Charter Amendment.
Reasons the
Board of Directors Approved and Recommends Adoption of the Charter Amendment
Section
11.01 of the current Charter permits members of the Board of Directors to be removed
only for cause. On May 4, 2004, the Company announced that, as part of its
continuing efforts to improve corporate governance, management would recommend to the
Board of Directors the adoption of a Charter amendment to provide that directors
may be removed with or without cause. The Board of Directors unanimously
approved the amendment. The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders
adopt the Charter Amendment because it believes that adoption of the proposed Charter
Amendment will enhance the accountability of directors to the Companys
shareholders and enhance the ability of shareholders to ensure that the Board of
Directors is acting in the shareholders interests in governing the Companys
affairs. Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes the Charter Amendment will
bring the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation into
conformance with current standards of excellent corporate governance.
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Companys
Common Stock issued, outstanding and entitled to vote is required to adopt the
proposed Charter Amendment. If the proposal is adopted by the shareholders, it
will become effective upon the filing of articles of amendment with the Secretary
of State of Vermont, which filing the
21
Company would
intend to make as promptly as practicable following completion of the annual
meeting of shareholders.
The Board Of
Directors Unanimously Recommends
That You Vote FOR Adoption of the Charter
Amendment.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals
of shareholders intended to be presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting scheduled to be
held on May 22, 2006, must be received by the Company by December 6, 2005 for
inclusion in the Companys proxy statement and proxy relating to that meeting.
Upon receipt of any such proposal, the Company will determine whether or not to
include such proposal in the proxy statement and proxy in accordance with
regulations governing the solicitation of proxies.
In
order for a shareholder to nominate a candidate for Director, under the Companys
bylaws timely notice of the nomination must be received by the Company in advance
of the meeting. Ordinarily, such notice must be received not less than 120 nor more
than 150 days before the first anniversary of the date of the Companys proxy
statement in connection with the last annual meeting, i.e., between November 13,
2005 and December 13, 2005 for the 2006 Annual Meeting. The shareholder filing the
notice of nomination must include:
22
In
order for a shareholder to bring other business before a shareholder meeting, timely
notice must be received by the Company within the time limits described above.
Such notice must include:
These
requirements are separate from the requirements a shareholder must meet to have a
proposal included in the Companys proxy statement. Pursuant to regulations
issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, to be considered for inclusion in
the Companys proxy statement for presentation at the 2006 annual meeting of
shareholders, all shareholder proposals must be received by the Company on or before
the close of business on December 13, 2005. If a shareholder notifies the Company
after December 13, 2005 of an intent to present a proposal at the 2006 annual meeting
of shareholders, the Company will have the right to exercise its discretionary
voting authority with respect to such proposal without including information
regarding such proposal in its proxy materials.
In
each case the notice must be given by personal delivery or by United States certified
mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company, whose address is Green
Mountain Power Corporation, 163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, Vermont 05446. The amended
bylaws are available on the Companys Internet website at
www.greenmountainpower.biz: Who We Are, Investors, Corporate Governance. Any
shareholder desiring a copy of the Companys bylaws will be furnished one without
charge upon written request to the Secretary. A copy of the amended bylaws is
filed as an exhibit to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 8,
2003, and is available at the Securities and Exchange Commission Internet website
(www.sec.gov).
Other Business
The
Board of Directors knows of no other matters for consideration at the meeting.
If any other business should properly arise, the persons appointed in the enclosed
proxy have discretionary authority to vote in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors | |
Donald J. Rendall,
Jr. Secretary |
Please Vote Your Vote is Important
23
Appendix A
AMENDED AND
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION
SECTION 1
NAME, PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND DURATION
SECTION
1.01. The name of this corporation is Green Mountain Power Corporation. It is
a corporation organized for profit and has its principal office in the Town of
Colchester, Vermont. The period of its duration is perpetual.
SECTION 2
THE PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION
SECTION
2.01. The corporation is organized for the purposes of doing in the State of
Vermont any and all of the things herein set forth, viz: To generate, produce, buy
or in any manner acquire, and to sell, dispose of and distribute electricity
for light, heat, power and other purposes and to carry on the business of
furnishing, supplying, manufacturing and vending, light, heat and power, and further
to manufacture, sell, produce or otherwise acquire, and to supply for public use,
gas for light, heat or power, and further to construct, develop, improve,
acquire, hold, own, lease, maintain and operate plants, facilities, water
powers and other works for the manufacture, generation, production,
accumulation, transmission and distribution of electric energy for light, heat,
power and other purposes, and to exercise rights of condemnation and eminent domain
in connection with the doing of its business, objects and purposes as herein set
forth so far as may be permissible by law; and to do, within the State of
Vermont or elsewhere, any and all such other acts and things and engage in any
lawful business as are permitted to be done by a corporation organized under the
Vermont Business Corporation Act of the State of Vermont.
SECTION 3
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK
SECTION
3.01. The number of authorized shares of capital stock of Green Mountain Power
Corporation is 442,430 shares of Preferred Stock of the par value of one hundred
dollars ($100) per share; 50,000 shares of Preference Stock of the par value of one
hundred dollars ($100) per share; and 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the
par value of three dollars thirty-three and one-third cents ($3.33 1/3) per share.
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SECTION 4
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
4.01. The term Preferred Stock shall mean any class of Preferred Stock
described in or created pursuant to Section 5 and any other class of stock with
respect to which dividends and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation shall be payable on a parity with the amounts
thereof in respect of such Preferred Stock, notwithstanding that any such other
class of Preferred Stock, may have a dividend rate, redemption prices, amounts
payable thereon upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, sinking or purchase
fund, voting rights and other terms and provisions varying from those described in
Section 5.
SECTION
4.02. The term Junior Stock shall mean the Common Stock and stock of any
other class ranking junior to the Preferred Stock in respect of dividends and
amounts payable upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
SECTION 5
PREFERRED STOCK
SECTION
5.01. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more classes or
series. Subject to applicable laws, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may
determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of any classes or
series of Preferred Stock before the issuance of any shares of that class or
series. Such determination may include, without limitation, provisions with
respect to voting rights (including rights with respect to any transaction of a
specified nature), redemption, exchangeability, convertibility, dividends and
other distributions and preference on dissolution or otherwise. Each class or
series shall be appropriately designated by a distinguishing designation prior to
the issuance of any shares thereof. The Preferred Stock of each series shall
have preferences, limitations and relative rights identical with those of other
shares of the same series and, except to the extent otherwise provided in the
description of the series, with those of shares of other series of the same
class. In order for the Board of Directors to establish a class or series of
Preferred Stock they shall adopt a resolution setting forth the designation of
the class or series and fixing and determining the relative rights and
preferences thereof to the extent that such relative rights and preferences are not
established by these Articles of Incorporation. Prior to the issue of any
shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock there shall be filed in the
office of the Secretary of State of the State of Vermont such statement as is
required by law and upon filing of such statement by said Secretary of State the
resolution establishing and designating the class or series of Preferred Stock
and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof shall
become effective and shall constitute an amendment of these Articles of
Incorporation.
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SECTION 6
PREFERENCE STOCK
SECTION
6.01 Of the authorized stock of the Corporation there shall be a class, to
consist of 50,000 shares, designated as Preference Stock, which may
be divided into and issued in classes or series, which shall rank junior to the
Preferred Stock in respect of dividends and amounts payable upon any dissolution,
liquidation, or winding up of the Corporation, shall be Junior Stock within
the meaning of Section 4.02, and which shall otherwise have the terms and
provisions hereinafter in this Section 6.01 set forth or provided for.
(a)
Designation. Each class or series of such Preference Stock shall be so designated,
in the manner hereinafter provided, as to distinguish the shares thereof from the
shares of all other series and classes. |
(b)
Dividend Rights. Dividends in full shall not be paid or set apart for payment on
any class or series of Preference Stock for any dividend period unless
dividends in full have been or are contemporaneously paid or set apart for
payment on all outstanding shares of all classes or series of Preference Stock for
such dividend period and for all prior dividend periods. When the specified
dividends are not paid in full on all classes or series of Preference Stock,
the shares of each class or series of Preference Stock shall share ratably in
the payment of dividends, including accumulations, if any, in accordance with the
sums which would be payable on said shares if all dividends were paid in full.
So long as any shares of Preference Stock are outstanding, no dividends shall
be declared or paid or set apart for, nor any other distribution made in respect
of, the shares of Common Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable in
shares of Common Stock), nor any sums applied to the purchase, redemption or other
retirement of Common Stock (other than in exchange for or from the proceeds of
sale of other shares of Common Stock), unless full dividends on all shares of
Preference Stock of all issues outstanding, and on all outstanding stock of any
class or series ranking as to dividends prior to the Preference Stock, for all
past quarterly dividend periods shall have been paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart and the full dividend for the then
current quarterly dividend period shall have been or concurrently shall be
declared. The amount of any deficiency for past dividend periods may be paid or
declared and set apart at any time without reference to any quarterly dividend
payment date. Unpaid accrued dividends on the Preference Stock shall not bear
interest. |
(c)
Liquidation Rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each class
or series of Preference Stock shall be entitled to receive, for each share thereof,
such amount as shall be provided for shares of such class or series in the
manner hereinafter set forth, before any distribution of the assets shall be made
to the holders of shares of Common Stock; but the holders of Preference Stock
shall be entitled to no further participation in such distribution. A consolidation
or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or a statutory
share exchange for the shares of any other corporation or the sale, conveyance,
exchange, or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other
consideration) of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the
Corporation, or any purchase or redemption of stock of the Corporation of any
class or series of |
A-3
Preference
Stock (or of any class ranking as to dividends prior to the Preference Stock)
shall not be deemed a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Corporation
within the meaning of this paragraph (c). |
(d)
Voting Rights. The holders of Preference Stock shall not be entitled to vote
except (i) as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section 6.01, and (ii) as may
from time to time be required by the laws of the State of Vermont. No consent of
any of the holders of any class or series of Preference Stock specified in
subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (d) shall be required, if provision is made
for the redemption of all shares of such class or series of Preference Stock at the
time outstanding, or provision is made that the proposed action shall not be
effective unless provision is made for the purchase, redemption or other
retirement of all shares of such class or series of Preference Stock at the
time outstanding. |
(e)
Restrictions on Corporate Action. So long as any Preference Stock is outstanding,
the Corporation shall not, without the consent (given in writing without a
meeting or by vote in person or by proxy at a meeting called for the purpose) of the
holders of at least two-thirds of the aggregate number of shares of all classes
and series of Preference Stock entitled to vote thereon, (i) create or
authorize any shares of any class of stock ranking as to dividends or assets
prior to the Preference Stock, except Preferred Stock, or any obligation or
security convertible into stock ranking as to dividends or assets prior to the
Preference Stock, except Preferred Stock, or (ii) amend, change, or repeal any of
the express terms of the Preference Stock outstanding in any manner adverse to
the holders thereof, except that if such amendment change, or repeal is adverse
to the holders of less than all series of Preference Stock, the consent of
only the holders of two-thirds of the aggregate number of shares of the series
thereof entitled to vote thereon and so affected shall be required. |
(f)
Other Rights and Preferences. All shares of Preference Stock shall be identical
except that there may be variations between different classes or series of
Preference Stock with respect to (1) the rate of dividend; (2) whether shares
may be redeemed and, if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions
of redemption; (3) the amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary or
involuntary liquidation; (4) sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or
purchase of shares; and (5) the terms and conditions, if any, on which
shares may be converted. The Board of Directors shall have authority, within
the limitations set forth herein and imposed by law, to fix and determine the
relative rights and preferences of the shares of any series established by the
Board of Directors to the extent that such relative rights and preferences are
not established by these Articles of Incorporation. |
(g)
Procedure for Establishment of Class or Series of Preference Stock. In order for
the Board of Directors to establish a class or series of Preference Stock
they shall adopt a resolution setting forth the designation of the class or
series and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof
to the extent that such relative rights and preferences are not established by
these Articles of Incorporation. Prior to the issue of any shares of any class or
series of Preference Stock there shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of
State of the State of Vermont such statement as is required by |
A-4
law
and upon filing of such statement by said Secretary of State the resolution
establishing and designating the class or series of Preference Stock and fixing and
determining the relative rights and preferences thereof shall become effective
and shall constitute an amendment of these Articles of Incorporation. |
SECTION 7
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
7.01. Subject to the voting rights expressly conferred upon the Preferred Stock
in accordance with Section 5 and upon the Preference Stock by Section 6 and the
voting rights of any class of Junior Stock (other than Common Stock) outstanding,
the holders of Common Stock shall exclusively possess full voting rights for the
election of directors and for all other purposes. Each holder of record of
shares of any class or series of stock entitled to vote at any meeting of
shareholders, or of holders of any class or series of stock, shall, as to all
matters in respect of which such stock has voting power, be entitled to one vote for
each share of such stock held and owned by him, as shown by the stock books
of the Corporation, and may cast such vote in person or by proxy.
Except
as herein expressly provided, or mandatorily provided by the laws of the State of
Vermont, a quorum of any one or more classes or series of stock entitled to vote
as a class at any meeting shall consist of a majority of the outstanding shares of
such classes or series, as the case may be. If a quorum exists, action on a matter
(other than the election of directors) is approved if the votes cast favoring
the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action. Directors are elected by
a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at
a meeting at which a quorum is present.
No
holders of any class or series of stock shall be entitled to receive notice of any
meeting of holders of any other class or series of stock at which they are not
entitled to vote.
SECTION
7.02. Pre-emptive Rights. No holder of any stock, or of rights or options to
purchase stock, of the Corporation of any class, now or hereafter authorized, shall
have any preferential or preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any part
of any stock of the Corporation, now or hereafter authorized, or any bonds,
certificates of indebtedness, debentures, options, warrants or other securities
convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase stock of the Corporation,
but any such stock or securities convertible into or evidencing the right to
purchase stock may at any time be issued and disposed of by the Board of Directors
to such purchasers, in such manner, for such lawful consideration and upon such
terms as the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine without offering
any thereof on the same terms or on any terms to all or any shareholders, as such,
of the Corporation.
SECTION
7.03. Scrip Certificates. No certificates for fractional shares of any class of
stock shall be issued. In lieu thereof scrip certificates may be issued by the
Corporation representing rights to such fractional shares and exchangeable, when
accompanied by other certificates in such amount as to represent in the
aggregate one or more full shares of stock, for certificates for full shares of stock.
The holders of scrip certificates will not be entitled to any rights as
shareholders of the Corporation until the scrip certificates are so exchanged.
Such scrip certificates may, at the election of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, be in bearer form, shall be non-dividend bearing, non-voting and
shall have such expiration date as the Board of
A-5
Directors of
the Corporation shall determine at the time of the authorization or issuance of such
scrip certificates.
SECTION
7.04. Amendments of Articles of Incorporation. Unless otherwise required by law
and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter created, these Articles may
(a)
without any vote or consent of holders of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock,
be amended to increase the maximum number of authorized shares of Preferred
Stock or Preference Stock and to create and authorize a number of shares of
one or more different classes or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock
with terms and provisions permitted by Section 5.01 or Section 6, as applicable; or |
(b)
without any vote or consent of holders of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock
except as required by the laws of the State of Vermont, be amended in any other
respect. |
The
provisions of these Articles, except as expressly otherwise provided, may be
amended or altered by a vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock of the
Corporation then issued, outstanding and entitled to vote, unless a greater
proportion thereof is required by law, in which case such greater proportion will
control.
SECTION
7.05. Prevention of Certain Repurchases of Common Stock.
(A)
Neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary (as defined in Section 7.06) shall
make any purchase or other acquisition, directly or indirectly, in one or more
transactions, of any share of Common Stock of the Corporation known by the
Corporation to be beneficially owned by any Related Person (as defined in Section
7.06), who has beneficially owned such shares for less than two years prior to
the date of such purchase or acquisition, at a price that is greater than the
Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7.06), except as hereinafter expressly
provided, unless such purchase or other acquisition is approved by the
affirmative vote of the greater of (i) the holders of at least eighty percent (80%)
of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, and (ii) the holders of the sum
of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation then
beneficially owned by such Related Person, plus (b) a majority of the Common Stock
of the Corporation not owned by such Related Person. The approval requirements set
forth in the preceding sentence must be complied with notwithstanding the fact
that no vote may be required or that a lesser percentage may be specified by
law or any agreement with any national securities exchange, or otherwise, but
compliance with the approval requirements set forth in the preceding sentence shall
not be required with respect to any purchase or any other acquisition by the
Corporation or any Subsidiary of Common Stock (1) as a part of a tender or exchange
offer made on the same terms to all holders of Common Stock or to all holders of
less than 100 shares of the Common Stock in compliance with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, (2) as part of an open-market purchase program
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, or (3) from any employee
benefit plan of the Corporation.
(B)
In addition to any affirmative vote otherwise required by law or the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Corporation, the affirmative vote of the greater of
(1) the holders
A-6
of at least
eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, and (2)
the holders of the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation
owned by all Related Persons plus a majority of the Common Stock of the Corporation
not owned by any Related Person shall be required to alter, amend or repeal
this Section 7.05; provided, however, that such affirmative vote shall not be
required for any alteration, amendment or repeal recommended by a majority of
the Continuing Directors (as defined in Section 7.06).
SECTION
7.06 Mergers and Certain Other Business Combinations.
(A)
As used in this Section 7.06 or as otherwise expressly indicated in these
Articles of Incorporation, the following definitions shall apply:
1.
An Affiliate of a Person, or a Person Affiliated with a
specified Person, is a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
the Person specified. For purposes of this definition, the term control (including
the terms controlling, controlled by and under common
control with) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
2.
The term Associate when used to indicate a relationship with any Person
shall mean (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is an
officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of ten
percent (10%) or more of any class of equity securities; (b) any trust or other
estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which
such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any
relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the
same home as such Person or who is a director, officer, partner or direct or
indirect beneficial owner of ten percent (10%) or more of any class of equity
securities of any corporation or organization referred to in clause (a) above.
3.
The term Announcement Date shall mean the date of the first public
announcement of a proposed Business Combination.
4.
A Person shall be a beneficial owner of any Common Stock of the
Corporation (a) which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; (b) which such Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has, directly or indirectly, (i) the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or subject only to the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or pursuant to the
power to revoke, or the automatic termination of any trust, discretionary account or
similar arrangement, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; or (c) of which such Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has the right to dispose, or to direct the disposition. For
the purpose of determining whether a Person or group of Persons is a Related
Person, the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation deemed to be
outstanding shall include shares deemed beneficially owned by such Person or group
of Persons through application of this paragraph, but shall not include any other
shares of Common Stock of the Corporation that may be issuable pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon exercise of conversion rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise.
A-7
5.
The term Business Combination shall mean (a) any merger or consolidation
or statutory share exchange of the Corporation or any Subsidiary with (i) any
Related Person or (ii) any other Person or group of Persons (whether or not
constituting a Related Person) which is or after such merger or consolidation or
share exchange would be a Related Person or Affiliate or Associate of a Related
Person, irrespective of whether the Corporation or any Subsidiary is the surviving
entity; or (b) any of the following transactions (in one transaction or a
series of transactions) with, to or for the benefit of any Related Person and
involving the acquisition of assets or securities, or involving any commitments,
of the Corporation or any Subsidiary by or for the benefit of any Related
Person or any Affiliate or Associate of any Related Person: any sale, lease,
exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (other than a mortgage
or pledge not made to avoid the requirements of this Section), investment, loan,
advance, guarantee, agreement to purchase, agreement to pay, extension of credit,
joint-venture participation or other arrangement having an aggregate Fair Market
Value and/or involving aggregate commitments of $5,000,000 or more or constituting
more than five percent (5%) of the book value of the total assets (in the
case of transactions involving assets or commitments other than Common Stock of
the Corporation) or five percent (5%) of the shareholders equity (in the case
of transactions in Common Stock of the Corporation) of the entity in question
(the Substantial Part), as reflected in the most recent fiscal
year-end consolidated balance sheet of such entity existing at the time the
shareholders of the Corporation would be required to approve or authorize pursuant
to Section 7.06(B) the Business Combination involving the assets, securities and/or
commitments constituting any Substantial Part; or (c) the issuance or transfer by
the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any
Related Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (other than an issuance or
transfer of securities which is effected on a pro rata basis to all shareholders of
the Corporation or any such Subsidiary); or (d) the adoption of any plan or
proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or
on behalf of, or voted for or consented to by, a Related Person or Affiliate or
Associate thereof; or (e) any of the following actions that has the effect,
directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of Common Stock of
the Corporation or of any equity securities of a Subsidiary that is beneficially
owned by any Related Person or any Affiliate or Associate of any Related Person: any
reclassification of the securities (including any reverse stock split) or
recapitalization or reorganization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with or into or any statutory share exchange
for the shares of any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or
not with a Related Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) or (f) any other
transaction or series of transactions that is similar in purpose or effect to, or
any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for any one or more of, the
actions specified in the foregoing clauses (a) through (e).
6.
The term Continuing Director means any member of the Board of
Directors, while such person is a member of the Board of Directors, who (a) is
not a Related Person or an Affiliate or Associate of a Related Person and (b) was a
member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that a Related Person became a
Related Person. Continuing Director shall include any successor of a
Continuing Director as defined in the preceding sentence, while such successor is
a member of the Board of Directors, who is recommended or elected to succeed the
predecessor Continuing Director by a majority of Continuing Directors then in
office.
A-8
7.
The term Determination Date shall mean the date on which a Related Person
becomes a Related Person.
8.
The term Fair Market Value means (a) in the case of cash, the amount of
such cash; (b) in the case of Common Stock of the Corporation or other stock,
the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding
the date in question of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for the New
York Stock Exchange Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the
Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on
such Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on which such stock is
listed, or if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid
quotation with respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding
the date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
Automated Quotations System, or any similar system then in use, or if no such
quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of a share
of such stock as determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors in good
faith; and (c) in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair
market value of such property on the date in question as determined in good faith by
a majority of the Continuing Directors.
9.
The term Person shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
unincorporated association or other entity of any kind.
10.
The term Related Person shall mean (a) any Person or any Affiliate or
Associate thereof (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary and other than
any profit-sharing, employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of
the Corporation or any Subsidiary or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to
any such plan when acting in such capacity) who (i) is the beneficial owner of five
percent (5%) or more of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation (any such five percent (5%) or more ownership to be hereinafter
referred to as a Five Percent Interest); or (ii) is an Affiliate or
Associate of the Corporation and at any time within the five-year period immediately
prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner of a Five Percent Interest; or
(iii) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of Common Stock of
the Corporation which were at any time within five years prior to the date in
question beneficially owned by any Related Person as described in the preceding
subsections (i) and (ii), and such assignment or succession shall have
occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not
involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended; and (b) any group of two or more persons who (i) through any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, act together for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Common Stock of the Corporation, and
(ii) otherwise constitute, in the aggregate, a Related Person as described in the
preceding clause (a). Any group within the meaning of clause (b) of the preceding
sentence shall be deemed to have acquired beneficial ownership of all Common Stock
of the Corporation beneficially owned by any Person who is a member of such group.
11.
The term Subsidiary means any corporation of which a majority of
the outstanding securities representing the right generally to vote for the
election of directors is owned by the Corporation and/or one or more of the Corporations
other Subsidiaries.
A-9
12.
In the event of any Business Combination in which the Corporation survives, the
phrase consideration other than cash to be received as used in subsection
(C)(1) of Section 7.06 includes the shares of Common Stock of the Corporation
and/or the shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation
retained by the holders of such shares.
(B)
Unless a Business Combination shall have been approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors (whether such approval is made prior to or subsequent to the
acquisition of beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of the Corporation that
caused a Related Person to become a Related Person), then, in addition to any
affirmative vote required by law or the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws
of the Corporation, a Business Combination shall require the affirmative vote of
not less than eighty percent (80%) of the Common Stock of the Corporation then issued
and outstanding. Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the
fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage or separate
class vote may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national
securities exchange or otherwise.
(C)
In addition to the voting requirements set forth in subsection (B) above, unless a
Business Combination shall have been approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors, a Business Combination shall require that all of the following
conditions be met with respect to the Common Stock of the Corporation, whether or
not the Related Person has previously acquired beneficial ownership of any shares
of the Common Stock of the Corporation:
1.
The aggregate amount of cash and the Fair Market Value, as of the date of the
consummation of the Business Combination, of consideration other than cash to be
received per share by the holders of Common Stock of the Corporation in
connection with such Business Combination shall be at least equal to the highest
amount determined under clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) below:
(a)
the highest per-share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes
and soliciting dealers fees) paid by or on behalf of the Related Person
for any share of Common Stock of the Corporation in connection with the
acquisition by the Related Person or beneficial ownership of any of its holdings of
Common Stock of the Corporation; |
(b)
the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock of the Corporation on the
Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher; |
(c)
the price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock of
the Corporation determined pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (b),
multiplied by the ratio of (x) the highest per-share price (including any
brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers fees) paid by
or on behalf of the Related Person for any share of Common Stock of the Corporation
in connection with the acquisition by the Related Person of beneficial ownership
of any of its holdings of Common Stock of the Corporation to (y) the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock of the Corporation immediately prior to
the initial acquisition of any share of Common Stock of the Corporation by such
Related Person (as determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors); |
A-10
(d)
the Companys earnings per share of Common Stock of the Corporation for the
four full consecutive fiscal quarters as reported in the most recent consolidated
financial statements of the Corporation contained in the Corporations most
recent annual report or quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, immediately
preceding the Announcement Date, multiplied by the higher of the
then-price/earnings multiple (if any) of such Related Person or the highest
price/earnings multiple of the Corporation within the two-year period immediately
preceding the Announcement Date (such price/earnings multiples being determined
as customarily computed and reported in the financial community); and |
(e)
the per-share book value of the Common Stock as derived from the most recent
consolidated financial statements of the Corporation contained in the Corporations
most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
2.
The consideration to be received by the holders of the Common Stock of the
Corporation in a Business Combination shall be (a) in cash or (b) if the shares of
the Common Stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by the Related Person
shall have been acquired for a consideration in a form other than cash, in the same
form and of the same kind as the consideration used to acquire the largest number of
shares of the Common Stock of the Corporation previously acquired and beneficially
owned by the Related Person.
3.
After the Determination Date and prior to the consummation of such Business
Combination:
(a)
except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, there shall have
been no failure to declare and pay at the regular date therefor any full
quarterly dividends (whether or not cumulative) payable in accordance with the
terms of any outstanding capital stock of the Corporation; |
(b)
there shall have been no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the
Common Stock of the Corporation, except as approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors; |
(c)
there shall have been an increase in the annual rate of dividends paid on the
Common Stock of the Corporation as necessary to reflect any reclassification
(including any reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any
similar transaction that has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares
of Common Stock of the Corporation, unless the failure so to increase such annual
rate is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors; |
(d)
the Related Person shall not have become the beneficial owner of any additional
shares of Common Stock of the Corporation except as part of the transaction
that results in such Related Person becoming a Related Person and except in
a transaction that would not result in any increase in the Related Persons
percentage of Common Stock of the Corporation; and |
A-11
(e)
the Related Person shall have taken steps to ensure that the Corporations
Board of Directors includes at all times representation by Continuing Directors
proportionate to the ratio that the Common Stock of the Corporation which from time
to time is owned by persons other than the Related Person bears to all Common Stock
of the Corporation outstanding at such respective times (with a Continuing
Director to occupy any resulting fractional board position). |
4.
A proxy or information statement complying with the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, shall have
been mailed to all shareholders of the Corporation at least 45 days prior to the
consummation of the Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or
information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to the Exchange Act
or successor provisions) unless such requirement for a proxy statement is waived
by the vote of a majority of the Continuing Directors. The proxy statement shall
contain:
(a)
at the front thereof, in a prominent place, any recommendations as to the
advisability (or inadvisability) of the Business Combination which the Continuing
Directors, or any of them, may have furnished in writing: and |
(b)
if deemed advisable by a majority of the Continuing Directors, an opinion of a
reputable investment banking firm as to the fairness (or lack of fairness) of
the terms of such Business Combination, from the point of view of the holders of
the Corporations Common Stock other than any Related Person (such
investment banking firm to be selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors, to
be a firm which has not previously been associated with or rendered services to
or acted as manager of an underwriting or as an agent for a Related Person, to
be furnished with all information it reasonably requests and to be paid a
reasonable fee for its services by the Corporation relating to such opinion). |
5.
After such Related Person has acquired ownership of not less than five
percent (5%) of such outstanding shares of any class or series of Common Stock of
the Corporation and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination,
and unless approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, such Related Person
shall not have:
(a)
received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a
shareholder) of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial
assistance provided by the Corporation, or tax credits or other tax advantages
attributable to the Corporation or its activities and provided by law; |
(b)
made any material change in the Corporations business or equity capital
structure or entered into any contract, arrangement or understanding with the
Corporation, or |
(c)
used any asset of the Corporation as collateral, or compensating balances,
directly or indirectly, for any obligation of such Related Person. |
(D)
A majority of the Continuing Directors shall have the power and duty to determine
for the purposes of Sections 7.05, 7.06 and 7.07, on the basis of information known
to
A-12
them after
reasonable inquiry, (1) whether a Person is a Related Person, (2) the number of
shares of Common Stock of the Corporation or other securities beneficially owned
by any Person, (3) whether a Person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (4)
whether the assets that are the subject of any Business Combination have, or the
consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the
Corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination has, an aggregate Fair
Market Value of $5,000,000 or more, (5) whether the assets or securities that are
the subject of any Business Combination constitute a Substantial Part, (6) whether
a Person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the
matters referred to in subsection (C) of this Section 7.06, (7) whether two or
more Persons constitute a group as referred to in subsection (A)(11) of this Section
7.06; (8) whether a mortgage or pledge is not made to avoid the requirements of
subsection (A)(5) of this Section 7.06, and (9) any other matters with respect to
which a determination is required under Sections 7.05, 7.06 and 7.07. Any such
determination made in good faith shall be binding and conclusive on all parties.
(E)
Nothing contained in this Section 7.06 shall be construed to relieve any
Related Person from any fiduciary obligations imposed by law.
(F)
The fact that any Business Combination complies with the provisions of this
Section 7.06 shall not be construed to impose any fiduciary duty, obligation or
responsibility on the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, to approve
such Business Combination or to recommend its adoption or approval to the
shareholders of the Corporation, nor shall such compliance limit, prohibit or
otherwise restrict in any manner the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, with
respect to evaluations of any actions and response taken with respect to such
Business Combination.
(G)
All references herein to the price of, Fair Market Value of, or dividends paid
on Common Stock of the Corporation shall refer to such price, Fair Market Value or
dividends as adjusted for any subsequent stock splits, stock dividend, subdivision
or reclassification with respect to the Common Stock of the Corporation.
(H)
A Business Combination shall be subject to the requirements of this Section
notwithstanding the fact that at any time no Continuing Director may be a member of
the Board of Directors.
(I)
In addition to any affirmative vote otherwise required by law or by the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Corporation, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the Common Stock of the Corporation
then issued and outstanding shall be required to alter, amend or repeal this
Section 7.06; provided, however, that such eighty percent (80%) affirmative
vote shall not be required for any alteration, amendment, or repeal recommended
by a majority of the Continuing Directors.
SECTION
7.07. Factors to be Considered in Connection with Proposals for Mergers and
Certain Other Business Combination. The Board of Directors, in evaluating any
proposal by another party to (a) make a tender or exchange offer for any
securities of the Corporation, or (b) effect a Business Combination (as defined in
Section 7.06), whether with or by a Related Person (as defined in Section 7.06) or
otherwise, shall, in connection with the exercise of its judgment as to what is in
the best interest of the Corporation and its shareholders, give due consideration
to the following:
A-13
(A)
the consideration to be received by the Corporation for its shareholders in
connection with such transaction in relation not only to the then-current market
price for the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, but also to the market
price for the Common Stock of the Corporation over a period of years, the estimated
price that might be achieved in a negotiated sale of the Corporation as a whole or in
part through orderly liquidation, the premiums over market price for the securities
of other corporations in similar transactions, current political, economic and
other factors bearing on securities prices and the Corporations financial
condition, future prospects and future value as an independent corporation;
(B)
the character, integrity and business philosophy of the other party or parties to
the transactions and the management of such party or parties;
(C)
the business and financial conditions and earnings prospects of the other party
or parties to the transactions, including, but not limited to, debt service and
other existing or likely financial obligations of such party or parties, the
intention of the other party or parties to the transaction regarding the use of
the assets of the Corporation to finance the acquisition and the possible
effect of such conditions upon the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and the other
elements of the communities in which the Corporation and its Subsidiaries operate or
are located;
(D)
the projected social, legal and economic effects of the proposed action or
transaction upon the Corporation or its Subsidiaries, its employees, suppliers,
customers and others in similar relationships with the Corporation, and upon
the communities in which the Corporation and its Subsidiaries do business;
(E)
the general desirability of the continuance of the Corporation as an independent
entity; and
(F)
such other factors as the Continuing Directors (as defined in Section 7.06) may
deem relevant.
In
addition to any affirmative vote otherwise required by law or the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Corporation, the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least eighty percent (80%) of the Common Stock of the Corporation then
issued and outstanding shall be required to alter, amend or repeal this Section
7.07: provided, however, that such eighty percent (80%) affirmative vote
shall not be required for any alteration, amendment, or repeal recommended by
a majority of the Continuing Directors (as defined in Section 7.06).
SECTION 8
SECTION
8.01. The payment of dividends upon the Common Stock of the Corporation shall be
made only from earned surplus accruing subsequent to December 31, 1949.
SECTION 9
SECTION
9.01. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to issue from
time to time all or any part of the capital stock of the Corporation authorized by
these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, for such lawful consideration
as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
A-14
SECTION 10
SECTION
10.01. If any provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is
held invalid, the remainder of said articles shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 11
SECTION
11.01 The Board of Directors shall consist of such number of individuals as shall
be specified in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation.
Directors may be removed with or without cause.
SECTION
11.02 If any vacancies occur on the Board of Directors by reason of (i) the
death of any director, (ii) the resignation of any director, or (iii) the
retirement or removal from office of any director, all the directors then in
office, although less than a quorum may by a majority vote of the directors in
office choose a successor or successors. Unless sooner displaced, the directors
so chosen shall hold office until the election of their successors at the next
annual meeting of shareholders. If the directors remaining in office after the
occurrence of a vacancy shall be unable by a majority vote of the directors in
office to fill such vacancy within thirty (30) days of the occurrence thereof, the
president or the secretary may call a special meeting of the shareholders at which
such vacancy shall be filled. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an
increase in the number of directors shall be filled at a special meeting of
shareholders called for that purpose or in the event no such special meeting is so
called, then at the next annual meeting.
SECTION 12
SECTION
12.01. These Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation supersede the Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated as of May 27, 2004, and all amendments
thereto.
Dated
at Colchester, Vermont, this ____ day of ________, 2005.
______________________________ | ||
President | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary |
A-15
Appendix B
GREEN
MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE STANDARDS
(Adopted October 6, 2003 and
Amended February 14, 2005)
The
Board of Directors (Board) of Green Mountain Power Corporation (the
Company) has established the following guidelines to assist it in
determining director independence solely for the purpose of complying with the
New York Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Proposals.
Director
Independence. A director is presumed to be independent unless:
(a)
the director is, or has been within the last three years, employed by the Company;
(b)
an immediate family member of the director is, or has been within the last three
years, an executive officer of the Company;
(c)
the director received, during any twelve-month period within the last three
years, more than $100,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company, other
than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation
for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on
the directors continued service);
(d)
an immediate family member of the director received, during any twelve-month
period within the last three years, more than $100,000 per year in direct
compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and
pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such
compensation is not contingent in any way on the directors immediate family
members continued service);
(e)
the director is a current partner of the present or former internal or external
auditor of the Company, is a current employee of such firm, or was within the
last three years (but no longer) a partner or employee of such a firm and personally
worked on the listed companys audit within that time;
(f)
an immediate family member of the director is a current partner of the present or
former internal or external auditor of the Company, is a current employee of
such firm and participates in the firms audit, assurance, or tax compliance
(but not tax planning) practice, or employee of such a firm and personally
worked on the listed companys audit within the last three years;
(g)
the director is, or has been for the last three years, employed as an executive
officer of another company where any of the Companys present executive
officers serves on that companys compensation committee;
(h)
an immediate family member of the director is, or has been for the last three
years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the
Companys present executive officers serves on that companys compensation
committee;
B-1
(i)
the director was an executive officer or an employee of another company (1) that
accounts for, in any of the last three fiscal years, at least two (2%) or
$1,000,000, whichever is greater, of the Companys consolidated gross
revenues, or (2) for which the Company accounts for at least two percent (2%)
or $1,000,000, whichever is greater, of such other companys consolidated
gross revenues;
(j)
an immediate family member of the director was an executive officer of another
company (1) that accounts for, in any of the last three fiscal years, at least
two percent (2%) or $1,000,000, whichever is greater, of the Companys
consolidated gross revenues, or (2) for which the Company accounts for at least
two percent (2%) or $1,000,000, whichever is greater, of such other companys
consolidated gross revenues;
(k)
a director is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of
another company which was indebted to the Company, or to which the Company was
indebted, and either: (a) the total amount of such other companys
indebtedness to the Company was greater than two percent (2%) of the total
consolidated assets of the Company, or (b) the total amount of the Companys
indebtedness to such other company was greater than two percent (2%) of the
total consolidated assets of such other company, in each case for any of the three
most recently completed fiscal years;
(l)
a director is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer,
director or trustee of a charitable or educational organization, to which the Company
has made discretionary contributions of greater than $1,000,000 million or two
percent (2%) of that organizations total annual discretionary receipts for any
of the three most recently completed fiscal years, is not independent. The
Companys automatic matching of charitable contributions will not be included
in the amount of the Companys contributions for this purpose; or
(m)
he or she has a material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a
partner, shareholder or officer of the organization that has a relationship with the
Company), including, but not limited to, commercial, industrial, banking,
consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships.
The Board may
determine, in its discretion, that a director is not independent notwithstanding
qualification under the categorical standards.
Immediate
Family Members. For the purposes of these independence standards, the
term immediate family member means any of the persons spouse,
parents, children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law,
and brothers- and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees)
who shares the persons home.
B-2
(THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION | Please
Mark Here for Address Change |
o | |
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
FOR | WITHHELD FOR ALL |
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||
Item 1. | Election of Directors | o | o | Item 2. | The proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche as the independent accountants for the Company for 2005. | o | o | o | ||
01
Elizabeth A. Bankowski 02 Nordahl L. Brue, Chair 03 William H. Bruett |
04
Merrill O. Burns 05 David R. Coates 06 Christopher L. Dutton |
07
Kathleen C. Hoyt 08 Euclid A. Irving 09 Marc A. vanderHeyden |
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||||
Item 3. | The proposal to amend and restate the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. | o | o | o | ||||||
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any such nominee(s), write the name(s)
of the nominee(s) on the line provided below: |
||||||||||
Choose MLinksm for Fast, easy and secure 24/7 online access to your future proxy materials, investment plan statements, tax documents and more. Simply log on to investor ServiceDirect at www.melloninvestor.com/isd where step-by step instructions will prompt you through enrollment. | I PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING | o |
Signature _________________________________ Signature _________________________________ Date ______________ |
NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. |
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
|
Ù FOLD AND DETACH HERE Ù |
Green
Mountain Powers annual meeting will be held at company headquarters,
163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, Vermont on Monday, May 23, beginning at 1:00
p.m. If
you are planning to attend the meeting, please call Penny Collins at 1-888-TEL-GMPC
(1-888-835-4672), or email her at: collins@greenmountainpower.biz Thank
you Directions to Green Mountain Power Colchester office: Take
I-89 to Exit 16. If coming from the south, turn right at the light at
the end of the exit ramp, if coming from the north, turn left at the end
of the exit ramp. Go 1.6 miles. Rathe Road will be on your left (Able
Paint and Glass is located at intersection). Turn left onto Rathe Road.
Take the first right onto S. Oak Circle and then the first left onto Acorn
Lane. |
Electronic
versions of the Green Mountain Power Corporation
Annual Report and Proxy Statement are available at
www.greenmountainpower.biz under Investor Relations.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GREEN
MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION
163 Acorn Lane,
Colchester, Vermont 05446
The
undersigned hereby appoints Christopher L. Dutton and Donald J. Rendall, Jr.
as Proxies, each with the power to appoint a substitute, and hereby authorizes
them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the shares
of Common Stock of Green Mountain Power Corporation held of record by the undersigned
on March 17, 2005, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 23,
2005, or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
This
Proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this Proxy will be
voted FOR all nominees and FOR Proposal 2 and Proposal 3 and according to the
discretion of the proxy holders on any other matters that may properly come
before the meeting or any and all adjournments or postponements thereof.
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
Address Change (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side) |
|
Ù FOLD AND DETACH HERE Ù |