SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (As Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12
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CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: _____________________
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: _____________________
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): _________________________________________________________________
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
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Amount Previously Paid: _________________________________________________________
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: _________________________________________
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Filing Party: ___________________________________________________________________
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Date Filed: ____________________________________________________________________
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November 22, 2011
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. (the “Company”), I invite you to attend our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”). We hope you can join us. The Meeting will be held:
At:
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No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043
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On:
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December 20, 2011
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Time:
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9:00 a.m., local time
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The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Proxy Statement and our 2010 Annual Report accompany this letter.
At the Meeting, we will report on important activities and accomplishments of the Company and review the Company’s financial performance and business operations. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and gain an up-to-date perspective on the Company and its activities, and to meet certain directors and key executives of the Company.
As discussed in the enclosed Proxy Statement, the Meeting will also be devoted to the election of directors, the ratification of the independent auditor and any other business matters properly brought before the Meeting.
Your vote is very important. We know that many of our stockholders will be unable to attend the Meeting. We are soliciting proxies so that each stockholder has an opportunity to vote on all matters that are scheduled to come before the stockholders at the Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend, please take the time now to read the proxy statement and vote and submit your proxy by signing, dating and returning your proxy card promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised. Regardless of the number of Company shares you own, your presence in person or by proxy is important for quorum purposes and your vote is important for proper corporate action.
Thank you for your continuing interest in China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. We look forward to seeing you at our Meeting.
If you have any questions about the Proxy Statement, please contact Xiaojing Yu, Chairman and CEO, No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043.
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Sincerely,
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/s/ Xiaojing Yu
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Xiaojing Yu
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Chairman and CEO
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CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
November 22, 2011
To the Stockholders of China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc.:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), will be held on December 20, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., local time, at No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043, for the following purposes:
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1.
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To elect six (6) persons to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), each to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company or until such person shall resign, be removed or otherwise leave office; and
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2.
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To ratify the selection by the Board of Sherb & Co., LLP (“Sherb”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011; and
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3.
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of the Nominees as Directors and FOR the ratification of Sherb as auditor.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on November 21, 2011 are entitled to notice and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment.
The Board has fixed the close of business on November 21, 2011, as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment thereof. A list of such stockholders will be available for examination by a stockholder for any purpose relevant to the Meeting during ordinary business hours at the offices of the Company at No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043 starting two (2) business days after the date of this Notice.
You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting.
A Proxy Statement describing the matters to be considered at the Meeting is attached to this Notice (the “Proxy Statement”). Our 2010 Annual Report accompanies this Notice, but it is not deemed to be part of the Proxy Statement (the “2010 Annual Report”).
Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Meeting to be Held on December 20, 2011.
The Proxy Statement and 2010 Annual Report are available at http://www. chinaszmg.com/.
It is important that your shares are represented at the Meeting. We urge you to review the attached Proxy Statement and, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, please vote your shares promptly by either completing, signing and returning the accompanying proxy card as directed either in the instructions of our transfer agent, Standard Registrar & Transfer, Inc. located at 12528 South 1840, East Draper, Utah, 84020, Telephone number: (801) 571-8844 (the “Transfer Agent”) or on the proxy card included with this Proxy Statement. You do not have to affix postage if you mail the proxy card in the United States. If you attend the Meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote your shares personally.
If you plan to attend the Meeting, please mark the accompanying proxy card in the space provided and return it to us. This will assist us with meeting preparations. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you would like to attend the Meeting, please ask the broker, trust, bank, or other nominee that holds your shares to provide you with evidence of your share ownership. This will enable you to gain admission to the Meeting.
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By Order of the Board of Directors
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/s/ Xiaojing Yu
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Xiaojing Yu
Chairman and CEO
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CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC.
No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower,
Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are being furnished with respect to the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company,” “China Shen Zhou” or “we”), for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”). The Meeting is to be held at 9:00 a.m., local time, on December 20, 2011, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, at No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043.
The approximate date on which the Proxy Statement and form of proxy are intended to be sent or given to stockholders is November 22, 2011.
The purposes of the Meeting are to seek stockholder approval of two proposals: (i) electing six (6) directors to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”); (ii) ratifying the appointment of the Company’s accountants for fiscal year 2011; and (iii) transacting such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Who May Vote
Only shareholders of record of our common stock, $.001 par value (the “Common Stock”), as of the close of business on November 21, 2011 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting will be available at the Meeting starting two (2) business days after the date of this Proxy Statement and at least ten (10) days prior to the Meeting, during office hours, at the executive offices of the Company at No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043, by contacting the Secretary of the Company (the “Secretary”).
The presence at the Meeting of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date, in person or by proxy, is required for a quorum. Should you submit a proxy, even though you abstain as to one or more proposals, or you are present in person at the Meeting, your shares shall be counted for the purpose of determining if a quorum is present.
Broker “non-votes” are included for the purposes of determining whether a quorum of shares is present at the Meeting. A broker “non-vote” occurs when a nominee holder, such as a brokerage firm, bank or trust company, holding shares of record for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee holder does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
As of the Record Date, we had issued and outstanding 32,285,973 shares of Common Stock. Each holder of Common Stock on the Record Date is entitled to one vote for each share then held on all matters to be voted at the Meeting. No other class of voting securities was then outstanding.
Voting Your Proxy
You may vote by the following method:
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Completing and signing the proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
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If your shares are held through a broker, trust, bank or other nominee, you should refer to information forwarded to you by such holder of record for your voting options.
The shares represented by any proxy duly given will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions of the stockholder. If no specific instructions are given, the shares will be voted FOR the election of the nominees for director set forth herein and FOR ratification of Sherb (“Sherb”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, if other matters come before the Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment with respect to such matters.
Each share of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote on all matters. Under Proposal 1 (Election of Directors), the six (6) candidates for election as directors at the Meeting are uncontested. In uncontested elections, directors are elected by majority of the votes cast at the Meeting. Proposal 2 (Ratification of Independent Auditors) requires the vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting for approval.
Shares which abstain from voting as to a particular matter, and shares held in “street name” by brokers or nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have discretionary authority to vote such shares as to a particular matter, will not be counted as votes in favor of such matter, and will also not be counted as shares voting on such matter but will be considered for the purpose of determining the number of total votes present at the Meeting. Accordingly, abstentions and “broker non-votes” will have no effect on the voting on matters (such as the election of directors or the ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm) that require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast or the shares voting on the matter.
Revoking Your Proxy
Even if you execute a proxy, you retain the right to revoke it and to change your vote by notifying us at any time before your proxy is voted. Mere attendance at the meeting will not revoke a proxy. Such revocation may be effected in writing by execution of a subsequently dated proxy or by a written notice of revocation, in each case sent to the attention of the Secretary at the address of our principal office set forth above in the Notice to this Proxy Statement, or by your attendance and voting in person at the Meeting. Unless so revoked, the shares represented by proxies, if received in time, will be voted in accordance with the directions given therein.
If the Meeting is postponed or adjourned for any reason, at any subsequent reconvening of the Meeting, all proxies will be voted in the same manner as the proxies would have been voted at the original convening of the Meeting (except for any proxies that have at that time effectively been revoked or withdrawn), even if the proxies had been effectively voted on the same or any other matter at a previous Meeting.
You are requested, regardless of the number of shares you own or your intention to attend the Meeting, to sign the proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
Solicitation of Proxies
The expenses of solicitation of proxies will be paid by the Company. We may solicit proxies by mail, and the officers and employees of the Company, who will receive no extra compensation therefore, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. The Company will reimburse brokerage houses and other nominees for their expenses incurred in sending proxies and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares held by them.
Delivery of Proxy Materials to Households
Only one copy of the Company’s 2010 Annual Report and Proxy Statement for the Meeting will be delivered to an address where two or more stockholders reside unless we have received contrary instructions from a stockholder at the address. A separate proxy card will be delivered to each stockholder at the shared address.
If you are a stockholder who lives at a shared address and you would like additional copies of the 2010 Annual Report, this Proxy Statement, or any future annual reports or proxy statements, contact the Secretary at No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043; Telephone number 011 +86 10 8890 6927, and we will promptly mail you copies.
Interest of Officers and Directors in Matters to Be Acted Upon
The management and directors of the Company have an interest in matters that will be acted upon at the Meeting because the directors are named as nominees for election to the Board.
Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Shareholders Matters
The following table sets forth certain information as of November 10, 2011 relating to the beneficial ownership (as defined by the rules of the SEC) of shares of common stock by (i) each person who owns beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of our executive officers as of November 10, 2011, and (iv) all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
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Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership (1)
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Name and Address
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Number of
Shares (2)
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Percentage
Owned (3)
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Xiaojing Yu, CEO and Chairman of the Board
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14,997,090 |
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46.5 |
% |
Xueming Xu, Director
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1,844,120 |
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5.7 |
% |
Helin Cui, COO, President and Director
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8,800 |
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* |
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Jiayin Zhu, CFO
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100 |
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* |
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Jian Zhang, Independent Director
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20,000 |
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* |
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Liancheng Li, Independent Director
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10,000 |
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* |
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Konman Wong, Independent Director
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10,000 |
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* |
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Ligang Wang, Vice President
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* |
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Directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons)
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16,870,110 |
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52.3 |
% |
(1)
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As of November 10, 2011, there were 32,285,973 shares of common stock outstanding. Each person named above has sole investment and voting power with respect to all shares of the common stock shown as beneficially owned by the person, except as otherwise indicated below.
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Under applicable rules promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, a person is deemed the “beneficial owner” of a security with regard to which the person, directly or indirectly, has or shares (a) the voting power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of the security, or (b) the investment power, which includes the power to dispose or direct the disposition of the security, in each case irrespective of the person’s economic interest in the security. Under these SEC rules, a person is deemed to beneficially own securities which the person has the right to acquire within 60 days through (x) the exercise of any option or warrant or (y) the conversion of another security.
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In determining the percent of common stock owned by a person (a) the numerator is the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the person, including shares the beneficial ownership of which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options or warrants or conversion of convertible securities, and (b) the denominator is the total of (i) the shares of common stock outstanding as of November 16, 2011, and (ii) any shares of common stock which the person has the right to acquire within 60 days upon the exercise of options or warrants or conversion of convertible securities. Neither the numerator nor the denominator includes shares which may be issued upon the exercise of any other options or warrants or the conversion of any other convertible securities.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board is responsible for establishing broad corporate policies and monitoring the overall performance of the Company. It selects the Company’s executive officers, delegates authority for the conduct of the Company’s day-to-day operations to those officers, and monitors their performance. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Company’s business by participating in Board and committee meetings, by reviewing analysis and reports, and through discussions with the CEO and other officers.
There are currently six (6) directors serving on the Board. At the Meeting, six (6) directors will be elected, each to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or his or her earlier death or resignation or until his or her successor, if any, is elected or appointed. The individuals who have been nominated for election to the Board at the Meeting are listed in the table below (the “Nominees”). Each of the Nominees is a current director of the Company.
If, as a result of circumstances not now known or foreseen, any of the Nominees is unavailable to serve as a Nominee for the office of Director at the time of the Meeting, the holders of the proxies solicited by this Proxy Statement may vote those proxies either (i) for the election of a substitute nominee who will be designated by the proxy holders or by the present Board or (ii) for the balance of the nominees, leaving a vacancy. Alternatively, the size of the Board may be reduced accordingly. The Board has no reason to believe that any of the Nominees will be unwilling or unable to serve, if elected as a Director. The Nominees for election as directors are uncontested. In uncontested elections, directors are elected by majority of the votes cast at the meeting. Proxies submitted on the accompanying proxy card will be voted for the election of the Nominees listed below, unless the proxy card is marked otherwise.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of the Nominees listed below.
Information about Nominees
Set forth below are the names of the Nominees, their ages, all positions and offices that they hold with us, and their business experience during at least the last five (5) years. The directors will serve until the next annual meeting of the stockholders or until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified.
Name
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Age
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Positions Held
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Director since
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Xiao-Jing Yu
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54
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Director, CEO and Chairman of the Board
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September 2006
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Helin Cui
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55
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Director, President and Chief Operating Officer
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September 2006
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Xueming Xu
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50
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Director
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September 2006
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Liancheng Li
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44
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Director and Chairman of Compensation Committee
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November 2010
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Jian Zhang
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69
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Director, Chairman of Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
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September 2006
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Konman Wong
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47
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Director
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July 2009
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Ms. Xiaojing Yu has served as Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Company since September 15, 2006. Given Ms. Yu’s extensive experience in the mining industry of greater than twenty years, and her vast management and leadership experience, the Board of Directors believes Ms. Yu is essential to our future growth and based her appointment on such qualities. She currently also serves as director and chairwoman of Inner Mongolia Wulatehou Banner Qianzhen Mining and Processing Co., Ltd and Inner Mongolia Xiangzhen Mining Co., Ltd. She has served in that capacity since May 2002. Prior to that, from 1992 to 2001 she was the general manager of Dalian Zhikun Metal Materials Co. Ltd and from 1974 to 1991 she was the finance manager of Gansu Baiyin Nonferrous Industrial Corporation. Also, since July 2004, Ms. Yu has served as the Executive Vice President of China Fluorite Industry Association. She attended an advanced Management Program run by Tsing Hua University from May 2004 to December 2005.
Mr. Helin Cui serves as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Cui was appointed director on September 15, 2006, and President and Chief Operating Officer on December 03, 2009. Given Mr. Cui has more than twenty years experience in the mining industry, which includes both technical and management roles, the Board of Directors believes Mr. Cui is a qualified and valuable appointment to the Board. He is currently a director and deputy chairman of Inner Mongolia Wulatehou Banner Qianzhen Mining and Processing Co., Ltd and of Inner Mongolia Xiangzhen Mining Co., Ltd. He has served in that capacity since May 2002. Prior to that, from June 1974 to March 1977, Mr. Cui worked with Gansu Province’s No. 3 Geological Team as a technician, engineer and team leader and from October 1979 to April 2002 as deputy general manager at Baiyin Foreign Trading Company in Gansu Province. From April 1977 to September 1979, he attended and graduated from the Xi’an Geology College.
Mr. Xueming Xu serves as Director. He was appointed director in April of 2007. The Board considered Mr. Xu’s extensive background in the mining industry, more than twenty years, and his technical and management backgrounds, in determining that Mr. Cui is a qualified and valuable appointment to the Board. He is currently director and President of Inner Mongolia Wulatehou Banner Qianzhen Mining and Processing Co., Ltd and of Inner Mongolia Xiangzhen Mining Co., Ltd. He has served in that capacity since May 2002. Prior to that, from August 1983 to May 1998, Mr. Xu served as technician, vice-superintendent and superintendent at Inner Mongolia’s Tianyaokou Iron Ore Plant and, from June 1998 to July 2002, as deputy general manager of Inner Mongolia Dongshengmiao Mining Co., Ltd. Mr. Xu graduated from Lianyungang College of Chemical Mining and attended an advanced Management Program run by Tsing Hua University.
Mr. Liancheng Li serves as Director and the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. He was appointed director in November of 2010. The Board considered Mr. Cui’s extensive experience in senior management and technical research and development, more than twenty years, in determining that Mr. Li is a qualified and valuable appointment to the Board. From 2005 to present, as senior engineer, Mr. Li served as the vice-director of Information Center of Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute of China National Offshore Oil Corp. Mr. Li acted as the vice director of China National Inorganic Salts Information Center from 1997 to present. From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Li served as a chemical economic analyst of Tianjin Research Institute of Chemical Industry. Mr. Li holds a bachelors degree in chemical engineering from Zhengzhou Institute of Technology.
Mr. Jian Zhang serves as Director and Chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Zhang was appointed to these positions in April of 2007. The Board considered Mr. Zhang’s extensive background in the mining industry, including nonferreous mining, project constructions and management, spanning more than thirty years, as well as his technical and management backgrounds, in determining that Mr. Zhang is a qualified and valuable appointment to the Board. Since August 2005, he has been an external director of China Construction Materials Company Ltd. Prior to that, Mr. Zhang was President of China Nonferrous Mining Construction Group from September 2003 to August 2005. He served as President of China Nonferrous Mining Construction Group from April 2002 to September 2003. Mr. Zhang graduated from the environmental engineering department of Xi’an Mining Architecture College in 1968.
Mr. Konman Wong serves as Director. He was appointed Director in July of 2009. The Board considered his financial background and his previous experience serving on the boards of publicly listed companies in deciding to appoint him to the Board. Since 2004, he has been a Director of Action Precision Ltd., a metal casting manufacturer for the telecommunication industry. He is a member of AICPA and HKICPA. Mr. Wong graduated in December 1988 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. From September 2004 to the present he has served as independent and non-executive director of Group Sense International Limited (HKG: 0601) and, from May 2010 to the present, as independent and non-executive director of Polyard Petroleum International Group Limited (HKG: 8011) both of which companies are Hong Kong listed companies.
We do not currently have a lead independent director.
Each of the directors named above will serve until our next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and has qualified. Directors will be elected for one-year terms at the annual meeting of stockholders. Officers will hold their positions at the pleasure of the Board, absent any employment agreement, of which none currently exists or is contemplated. There is no arrangement or understanding between any of our directors or officers and any other person pursuant to which any director or officer was or is to be selected as a director or officer, and there is no arrangement, plan or understanding as to whether non-management stockholders will exercise their voting rights to continue to elect the current directors to the Board. There are also no arrangements, agreements or understandings between non-management stockholders that may directly or indirectly participate in or influence the management of our affairs.
There are no agreements or understandings for any officer or director to resign at the request of another person, and none of the officers or directors are acting on behalf of, or will act at the direction of, any other person.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTER
China Shen Zhou’s current corporate governance practices and policies are designed to promote stockholder value and China Shen Zhou is committed to the highest standards of corporate ethics and diligent compliance with financial accounting and reporting rules. Our Board provides independent leadership in the exercise of its responsibilities. Our management oversees a system of internal controls and compliance with corporate policies and applicable laws and regulations, and our employees operate in a climate of responsibility, candor and integrity.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
We and our Board are committed to high standards of corporate governance as an important component in building and maintaining stockholder value. To this end, we regularly review our corporate governance policies and practices to ensure that they are consistent with the high standards of other companies. We also closely monitor guidance issued or proposed by the SEC, the rules of the NYSE AMEX Stock Market, and the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as the emerging best practices of other companies.
Board Composition and Committees
Board Composition; Audit Committee and Financial Expert
Our Board has six (6) members, of which three (3) are independent directors. The independent directors are Jian Zhang, Konman Wong and Liancheng Li. We have an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Audit Committee has been established as a separately-designated standing committee in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee has at least one member, Konman Wong, who meets the definition of an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules and whom the Board has determined to be “independent”.
Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee is currently comprised of Konman Wong and Liancheng Li, with Konman Wong as the chairman, each of whom are “independent” as that term is defined by SEC rules and under the American Stock Exchange listing standards. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention and oversight of the work of any independent accountants employed by the Company for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or other services. Any such registered public accounting firm must report directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has the ultimate authority and responsibility to evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the registered public accounting firm.
Audit Committee held five (5) meetings in 2010 and the attendance rates for all committee members were 100%.
Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for the administration of all salary, bonus and incentive compensation plans for our officers and key employees. The members of the Compensation Committee are Konman Wong, Jian Zhang and Liancheng Li, with Liancheng Li as the chairman, all of whom are “independent” directors.
The Compensation Committee held one (1) meeting in 2010 and the attendance rates for all committee members were 100%.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing, reviewing, and making periodic recommendations concerning the company’s corporate governance policies and recommending candidates for election to the Company’s Board of Directors. The committee also oversees our adherence to our corporate governance standards. The current members of the committee are Jian Zhang, Konman Wong, and Liancheng Li with Jian Zhang as the chairman.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held two (2) meetings in 2010 and the attendance rates for all committee members were 100%.
In 2010, the board of directors held six (6) meetings and attendance rates for all board members were 98%.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that is applicable to all employees, consultants and members of the Board of Directors, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. This Code embodies our commitment to conduct business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and applicable laws, rules and regulations. We will provide any person a copy of the Code, without charge, upon written request to the Company. Requests should be addressed in writing to: Mr. Fulun Song, office of the Board of Directors, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc., No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043.
Information Concerning Executive Officers
Name
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Age
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Position
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Jiayin Zhu
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29
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Chief Financial Officer (since March 2011)
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Ligang Wang
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50
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Vice President and President of Qianzhen Mining
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|
Mr. Jiayin Zhu serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. He was appointed as CFO on March 16, 2011. Most recently, Mr. Zhu held the position of Financial Manager with the Company from June of 2010 until his appointment to the CFO position. Previously, Mr. Zhu held the positions of Deputy Financial Manager and Accountant with the company, from February of 2009 until June of 2010 and from April of 2008 until February of 2009, respectively. Mr. Zhu received his master’s degree in management from Liaoning Technical University in 2008. Mr. Zhu received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Central China Normal University in 2005.
Mr. Ligang Wang serves as Vice President. Since July 2002, he has served as President of Qianzhen Mining. He has more than 20 years’ experience in mine management. From January 1986 to June 2002, he worked as plant manager in the Wulatehou Banner Baynnur Mining.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
During 2010, no executive officer’s total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000.
Summary Compensation Table
Name and
Principal
Underlying
Positions (a)
|
|
Year
(b)
|
|
Salary
Paid in
Cash
(c)
|
|
|
Bonus
(d)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
(e)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
(f)***
|
|
|
Non-equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
(g)
|
|
|
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(h)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
(i)
|
|
|
Total
(j)
|
|
Xiaojing Yu, CEO
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
70,808
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
70,808
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
70,287
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
70,287
|
|
Xueming Xu, President and COO*
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
26,553
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
26,553
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
39,550
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
39,550
|
|
Helin Cui, President and COO*
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
46,026
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
46,026
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
29,587
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
29,587
|
|
Steven Wang, CFO**
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
6,294
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
6,294
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
Jiusheng Zhang, CFO**
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
14,113
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
14,113
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
22,980
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
22,980
|
|
Ligang Wang, Vice President
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
23,013
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
23,013
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
10,538
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
10,538
|
|
* Helin Cui was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and President in addition to being a director on December 3, 2009. On this date, Xueming Xu resigned from the position of Chief Operating Officer and President. He remains a Director of the Company.
** Jiusheng Zhang was appointed CFO in March 2009 and his stock awarded in 2008 was issued for his service of financial consultancy. Jiusheng Zhang was CFO until Steven Wang was appointed CFO in August 2010. Steven Wang resigned effective March 16, 2011 and was succeeded by Jiayin Zhu.
*** Common shares awarded under 2009 Omnibus Long-term Incentive Plan approved on October 29, 2009.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
2009 Omnibus Long-term Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) was approved both by Board of Directors of the Company on October 29, 2009 and by shareholders of a majority of our voting stock and upon the effectiveness of the Information Statement on Form 14C. The shares of Stock issuable under the 2009 Plan are available either from authorized but unissued shares or from shares reacquired by us on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the 2009 Plan shall be 2,000,000, and the maximum number of common stock that will be awarded to any one Grantee (as defined) during any calendar year shall not exceed 300,000.
On February 4, 2010, 760,000 common shares were issued to 42 persons of employees, consultants, officers and directors under 2009 Omnibus Long-term Incentive Plan. The number of shares of stock award for each officer, director, employee or consultant was determined by dividing the amount of back pay due such officer, director, employee or consultant by $0.38 which was the average daily trading price per share for the Company’s common stock in December 2008.
Stockholder Communications
The Board welcomes communications from our stockholders and maintains a process for stockholders to communicate with the Board. Stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board may send a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Board of China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Stockholder-Board Communication.” All such letters should identify the author as a security holder. All such letters will be reviewed by the Chairman of the Board and submitted to the entire Board no later than the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
We currently have no policy with respect to director attendance at annual meetings.
Director Compensation
Compensation for all directors in 2009-2010 as follows:
Name (a)
|
|
Year
|
|
Fees
Paid in
Cash (b)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
(c) **
|
|
|
Option
Awards
(d)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation (e)
|
|
|
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings (f)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
(g)
|
|
|
Total (h)
|
|
Youming Yang*
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
11,506
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
11,506
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
10,538
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,538
|
|
Liancheng Li*
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
1,180
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
1,180
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Jian Zhang**
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
12,687
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
12,687
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
13,391
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,391
|
|
Konman Wong**
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
12,687
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
12,687
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
5,269
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,269
|
|
Gene Michael Bennett***
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
14,600
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
14,600
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
13,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,200
|
|
* Independent director Mr. Liancheng Li was appointed independent director of the company in November 2010. On this date, Youming Yang resigned from his independent director position with the Company.
** Independent director
*** Gene Michael Bennett resigned from his independent director position with the Company on October 17, 2011.
We paid independent directors compensation of $12,687 in 2010, except the Chairman of Audit Committee, Gene Michael Bennett whose 2010 compensation was $14,600.
Retirement, Post-Termination and Change in Control
We have no retirement, pension, or profit-sharing programs for the benefit of directors, officers or other employees, nor do we have post-termination or change in control arrangements with directors, officer or other employees, but our Board may recommend adoption of one or more such programs in the future.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The Nevada General Corporation Law provides that corporations may include a provision in their articles of incorporation relieving directors of monetary liability for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payment of a dividend or unlawful stock purchase or redemption, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our articles of incorporation provides that directors are not liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law. In addition to the foregoing, our bylaws provide that we may indemnify directors, officers, employees or agents to the fullest extent permitted by law and we have agreed to provide such indemnification to each of our directors.
The above provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and in the written indemnity agreements may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited us and our stockholders. However, we believe that the foregoing provisions are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
(a) Articles of Incorporation. Our Articles of Incorporation provide that we shall indemnify our directors, officers to the maximum extent and in accordance with Nevada General Corporation Law. Our Articles of Incorporation also provide that no director shall have any personal liability to us or our shareholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except for breach of loyalty, intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, or transactions deriving personal benefits.
(b) Bylaws. Our Bylaws provide that we may indemnify our directors, officers, employees and other agents from any actions brought by third party or by corporate actions for judgments, damages or attorneys’ fees.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
During the past ten years, no present or former director, executive officer or person nominated to become a director or an executive officer of our Company:
|
1)
|
Was a general partner or executive officer of any business against which any bankruptcy petition was filed, either at the time of the bankruptcy or two years prior to that time;
|
|
2)
|
Was convicted in a criminal proceeding or named subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
|
|
3)
|
Was subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities; or
|
|
4)
|
Was found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or vacated.
|
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial statements of beneficial ownership on Form 3, reports of changes in ownership on Form 4 and annual reports concerning their ownership on Form 5. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by the SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.
According to our records, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, all directors and officers have timely filed their Section 16(a) reports and forms.
Certain Relationships And Related Transactions and Director Independence
There were no related party transactions for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, except for loans and repayments to related parties. Amounts due to related parties consisted of the following:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Due to directors of the Company:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Xiaojing Yu, CEO of the Company (a)
|
|
$
|
102
|
|
|
$
|
145
|
|
Mr. Xueming Xu, Director of the Company (b)
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
Mr. He Lin Cui, COO of the Company (c)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Due to Mr. Xiao Ming Yu, General Manager of Xiangzhen (d)
|
|
|
431
|
|
|
|
305
|
|
Due to Wulatehouqi Mengxin Co., Ltd., the former minority shareholder of Xingzhen Mining (e)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
479
|
|
Mr. Mao Huang, the minority shareholder of Xingzhen Mining (f)
|
|
|
1,894
|
|
|
|
1,340
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,439
|
|
|
$
|
2,297
|
|
(a)
|
Ms. Yu is the CEO of the Company.
|
(b)
|
Mr. Xu is a director of the Company.
|
(c)
|
Mr. Cui is the COO of the Company.
|
(d)
|
Mr. Yu is the General Manager of Xiangzhen Mining.
|
(e)
|
Wulatehouqi Mengxin Co., Ltd. is the former minority shareholder of Xingzhen Mining, and transferred all the shareholder’s rights and loans of Xingzhen Mining to Mr. Huang (f).
|
(f)
|
Mr. Huang is the minority shareholder of Xingzhen Mining.
|
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We are asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of Sherb as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of Sherb to our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event our stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Board may reconsider this appointment.
The Company has been advised by Sherb that neither the firm nor any of its associates had any relationship with the Company.
Principal Accounting Fees And Services
During fiscal 2009 and 2010 our principal independent auditor was Sherb. Sherb performed the audits for the years ended December 31, 2009, and 2010. The following are the services provided and the amounts billed during 2009 and 2010:
The aggregate fees billed by Sherb for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s financial statements and review services for interim quarterly financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were $172,000 and $160,000, respectively.
There were no fees for assurance and related services by Sherb for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
There were no fees for tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning services by Sherb for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
There were no other fees for either audit-related or non-audit services billed by Sherb for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR ratification of the selection of Sherb as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
If you wish to have a proposal included in our proxy statement for next year’s annual meeting in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, your proposal must be received by the Secretary at No. 166 Fushi Road, Zeyang Tower, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China 100043, no later than the close of business on July 24, 2011. A proposal which is received after that date or which otherwise fails to meet the requirements for stockholder proposals established by the SEC will not be included. The submission of a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in the proxy statement.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
We will provide without charge to each person solicited by this Proxy Statement, on the written request of such person, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and financial statement schedules, as filed with the SEC for our most recent fiscal year. Such written requests should be directed to the Secretary of the Company, at our address listed on the top of page one of this Proxy Statement. A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K is also made available on our website at http://www.chinaszmg.com/ after it is filed with the SEC.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board has no knowledge of any business which will be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than the election of directors and the ratification of our independent auditor. Should any other matters be properly presented, it is intended that the enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting the proxies.
November 22, 2011
|
By Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
/s/ Xiaojing Yu
|
|
Xiaojing Yu
Chairman and CEO
|
CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 20, 2011
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned shareholder of CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, dated November 22, 2011, and hereby constitutes and appoints Xiaojing Yu, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Helin Cui, the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, or either of them acting singularly in the absence of the other, with full power of substitution in either of them, the proxies of the undersigned to vote with the same force and effect as the undersigned all shares of the Company’s common stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on December 20, 2011, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, hereby revoking any proxy or proxies heretofore given and ratifying and confirming all that said proxies may do or cause to be done by virtue thereof with respect to the following matters:
The undersigned hereby instructs said proxies or their substitutes:
|
1.
|
Elect as Directors the nominees listed below by checking the box on the right: ¨
|
Xiao-Jing Yu
Helin Cui
Xueming Xu
Liancheng Li
Jian Zhang
Konman Wong
Withhold authority for the following:
o
|
Xiao-Jing Yu
|
o
|
Helin Cui
|
o
|
Xueming Xu
|
o
|
Liancheng Li
|
o
|
Jian Zhang
|
o
|
Konman Wong
|
|
2.
|
Approve the ratification of Sherb & Co., LLP (“Sherb”) as the Company’s accountant for fiscal year 2011.
|
FOR ¨
|
AGAINST ¨
|
ABSTAIN ¨
|
|
3.
|
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting.
|
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED; IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL NOMINEES AND FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF SHERB AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT. IN THEIR DIRECTION, THE PROXIES ARE ALSO AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, INCLUDING THE ELECTION OF ANY PERSON TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHERE A NOMINEE NAMED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 22, 2011 IS UNABLE TO SERVE OR, FOR GOOD CAUSE, WILL NOT SERVE.
I (we) acknowledge receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement dated November 22, 2011 and the 2010 Annual Report to Stockholders and ratify all that the proxies, or either of them, or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof and revoke all former proxies.
Please sign, date and mail this proxy immediately in the enclosed envelope.
Name
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name (if joint)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date _____________, 2011
|
|
|
Please sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full title as it appears hereon. When signing as joint tenants, all parties in the joint tenancy must sign. When a proxy is given by a corporation, it should be signed by an authorized officer and the corporate seal affixed. No postage is required if returned in the enclosed envelope.
APPENDIX A
CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC.
CHARTER FOR THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
November 2 , 2007
The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information that will be provided to the stockholders and others; reviewing the systems of internal controls that management and the Board have established; appointing, retaining and overseeing the performance of independent accountants; and overseeing the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Company’s financial statements.
The Committee will fulfill these responsibilities by carrying out the activities enumerated in Section 3 of this Charter. The Committee shall be given full and direct access to the Board Chairman, Company executives and independent accountants as necessary to carry out these responsibilities. The Committee’s function is one of oversight only and shall not relieve the Company’s management of its responsibilities for preparing financial statements which accurately and fairly present the Company’s financial results and condition, or the responsibilities of the independent accountants relating to the audit or review of financial statements.
2.
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COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
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The Committee shall be comprised of not less than two directors, each of whom will be independent as required by Section 10A(m) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and the rules of The American Stock Exchange LLC (“AMEX”). No member of the Committee shall have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the Company or any current subsidiary of the Company at any time during the preceding three years. Each appointed Committee member shall be subject to annual reconfirmation and may be removed by the Board at any time.
All members of the Committee shall be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. At least one member of the Committee shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.
3.
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RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
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To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Committee shall:
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1.
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Review annually the Committee Charter for adequacy and recommend any changes to the Board.
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2.
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Review the significant accounting principles, policies and practices followed by the Company in accounting for and reporting its financial results of operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
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3.
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Review the financial, investment and risk management policies followed by the Company in operating its business activities.
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4.
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Review the Company’s annual audited financial statements, related disclosures, including the MD&A portion of the Company’s filings, and discuss with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 61, including (a) the quality as well as acceptability of the accounting principles applied in the financial statements, and (b) new or changed accounting policies; significant estimates, judgments, uncertainties or unusual transactions; and accounting policies relating to significant financial statement items.
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5.
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Review any management letters or internal control reports prepared by the independent accountants or the Company’s internal auditors and responses to prior management letters, and review with the independent accountants the Company’s internal financial controls, including the budget, staffing and responsibilities of the Company’s financial and accounting staff.
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6.
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Review the effectiveness of the independent audit effort, including approval of the scope of, and fees charged in connection with, the annual audit, quarterly reviews and any non-audit services being provided.
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7.
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Be directly responsible for the appointment, determination of the compensation for, retention and oversight of the work of the independent accountant employed to conduct the audit (including resolution of disagreements between the independent accountants and management regarding financial reporting) or other audit, review or attest services. The independent accountants shall report directly to the Committee.
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8.
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Pre-approve all audit services and permissible non-audit services by the independent accountants, as set forth in Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC. The Committee may establish pre-approval policies and procedures, as permitted by Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC, for the engagement of independent accountants to render services to the Company, including but not limited to policies that would allow the delegation of pre-approval authority to one or more members of the Committee, provided that any pre-approvals delegated to one or more members of the Committee are reported to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
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9.
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Review the hiring policies for any employees or former employees of the independent accountants.
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10.
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Obtain on an annual basis a formal written statement from the independent accountants delineating all relationships between the accountants and the Company consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, and review and discuss with the accountants any disclosed relationships or services the accountants have with the Company that may affect the accountants’ independence and objectivity. The Committee is responsible for taking, or recommending that the full Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the independent accountants.
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11.
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For each of the first three fiscal quarters and at year end, at a Committee meeting review with management the financial results, the proposed earnings press release and formal guidance that the Company may plan to offer, and review with the independent accountants the results of their review of the interim financial information and audit of the annual financial statements.
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12.
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Review management’s analysis of any significant accounting issues, changes, estimates, judgments or unusual items relating to the financial statements and the selection, application and effects of critical accounting policies applied by the Company (including an analysis of the effect of alternative GAAP methods) and review with the independent accountants the reports on such subjects delivered pursuant to Section 10A(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC.
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13.
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Following completion of the annual audit, review separately with the independent accountants, appropriate members of the Company’s finance and accounting staff and management any significant difficulties encountered during the course of the audit.
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14.
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Engage and determine funding for such independent professional advisers and counsel as the Committee determines are appropriate to carry out its functions hereunder. The Company shall provide appropriate funding to the Committee, as determined by the Committee, for payment of (1) compensation to the independent accountants for services approved by the Committee, (2) compensation to any outside advisers retained by the Committee, and (3) ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
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15.
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Report to the Board on a regular basis on the major events covered by the Committee and make recommendations to the Board and management concerning these matters.
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16.
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Perform any other activities consistent with this charter, the Company’s Bylaws and governing law as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to the Company’s legal and regulatory compliance.
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17.
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Approve all related party transactions, as defined by applicable AMEX Rules, to which the Company is a party.
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18.
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Establish procedures for: (a) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
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The Committee will meet on a regular basis at least 4 times each year, and will hold special meetings as circumstances require. The timing of the meetings to be scheduled for an upcoming fiscal year shall be determined by the Committee prior to the beginning of such fiscal year. A calendar of proposed meetings will be reviewed by the Committee at the same time as the annual Committee Charter review. The calendar shall include appropriate meetings to be held separately with representatives of the independent accountants, management and appropriate members the Company’s finance and accounting staff, including a meeting to conduct the reviews required under Section 3.13 above. In addition, the Committee will meet at any time that the independent accountants believe communication to the Committee is required.
At all Committee meetings a majority of the total number of members shall constitute a quorum. All meetings shall be held subject to and in accordance with applicable sections of the General Corporation Law of the State of Nevada (including without limitation notice, quorum and votes/actions of the committee). Minutes shall be kept of each meeting of the Committee.
APPENDIX B
CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC.
CHARTER FOR THE
GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
November 2 , 2007
The Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) shall oversee, review, and make periodic recommendations concerning the Company’s corporate governance policies, and shall recommend candidates for election to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
2.
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COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
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The Committee shall be comprised of not less than three directors each of whom shall be an “independent director” as required by the rules of The American Stock Exchange LLC (“AMEX”). Each Committee member shall be subject to annual reconfirmation and may be removed by the Board at any time.
3.
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RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
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In carrying out the purpose set forth in Section 1 above, the Committee shall:
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1.
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Identify and review candidates for the Board and recommend to the full Board candidates for election to the Board.
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2.
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Review from time to time the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the current composition of the Board, including such factors as business experience, diversity, and personal skills in technology, finance, marketing, business, financial reporting and other areas that are expected to contribute to an effective Board.
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3.
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Periodically review the Company’s corporate governance policies and recommend to the Board modifications to the policies as appropriate.
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4.
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Have full access to the Company’s executives as necessary to carry out this responsibility.
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5.
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Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s Bylaws and governing law as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
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6.
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Review the Committee Charter from time to time for adequacy and recommend any changes to the Board.
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7.
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Report to the Board on the major items covered at each Committee meeting.
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The Committee will meet periodically as necessary to act upon any matter within its jurisdiction. At all Committee meetings a majority of the total number of members shall constitute a quorum. All meetings shall be held subject to and in accordance with applicable sections of the General Corporation Law of the State of Nevada (including without limitation notice, quorum and votes/actions of the committee). Minutes shall be kept of each meeting of the Committee.
APPENDIX C
CHINA SHEN ZHOU MINING & RESOURCES, INC.
CHARTER FOR THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
November 2, 2007
The Compensation Committee’s (the “Committee”) basic responsibility is to review the performance and development of Company management in achieving corporate goals and objectives and to assure that senior executives of the Company are compensated effectively in a manner consistent with the strategy of the Company, competitive practice, and the requirements of the appropriate regulatory bodies. Toward that end, the Committee will oversee, review and administer all compensation, equity and employee benefit plans and programs.
2.
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COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
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The Committee will consist of not less than two directors, each of whom will be an “independent director” as required by the rules of The American Stock Exchange LLC (“AMEX”), a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. Each appointed Committee member will be subject to annual reconfirmation and may be removed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) at any time.
3.
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RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
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In carrying out its purpose, the Committee will have the following responsibilities and duties:
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1.
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Review annually and approve the Company’s compensation strategy to ensure that employees of the Company are rewarded appropriately for their contributions to company growth and profitability.
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2.
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Review annually and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to executive compensation and evaluate performance in light of those goals.
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3.
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Review annually and determine the individual elements of total compensation for the Chief Executive Officer and all other officers within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) issued by the SEC (“Officers”), and communicate in the annual Board Compensation Committee Report to stockholders the factors and criteria on which the Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers’ (within the meaning of Rule 3b-7 issued by the SEC) compensation for the last year was based.
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Approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s Officers.
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Review and recommend compensation for non-employee members of the Board, including but not limited to the following elements: retainer, meeting fees, committee fees, committee chair fees, equity or stock compensation, benefits and perquisites.
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With sole and exclusive authority, make and approve stock option grants and other discretionary awards under the Company’s stock option or other equity incentive plans to all persons who are Board members or Officers.
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Grant stock options and other discretionary awards under the Company’s stock option or other equity incentive plans to all other eligible individuals in the Company’s service. The Committee may delegate to one or more corporate officers designated by the Committee the authority to make grants to eligible individuals (other than any such corporate officer) who are not Officers, provided that the Committee shall have fixed the price (or a formula for determining the price) and the vesting schedule for such grants, approved the form of documentation evidencing such grants, and determined the appropriate number of shares or the basis for determining such number of shares by position, compensation level or category of personnel. Any corporate officer(s) to whom such authority is delegated shall regularly report to the Committee the grants so made. Any such delegation may be revoked at any time by the Committee.
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8.
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Amend the provisions of the Company’s stock option or other equity incentive plans, to the extent authorized by the Board, and make recommendations to the Board with respect to incentive compensation and equity-based plans.
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9.
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Approve for submission to the stockholders stock option or other equity incentive plans or amendments thereto to the extent required by applicable rules of the SEC and AMEX.
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10.
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Oversee and periodically review the operation of all of the Company’s employee benefit plans, including but not limited to the Section 401(k) Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Responsibility for day-today administration, including the preparation and filing of all government reports and the preparation and delivery of all required employee materials and communications, will be performed by company personnel.
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Ensure that the annual incentive compensation plan is administered in a manner consistent with the Company’s compensation strategy and the terms of such plan, including but not limited to the following: participation, target annual incentive awards, corporate financial goals, actual awards paid to Officers, total funds reserved for payment under the plan, and potential qualification under IRS Code Section 162(m).
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12.
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Review matters related to management performance, compensation and succession planning and executive development for executive staff.
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13.
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Approve separation packages and severance benefits for Officers to the extent that the packages are outside the ordinary plan limits.
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14.
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Exercise, as necessary and appropriate, all of the authority of the Board with respect to the election of corporate officers of the Company during the periods between the regular meetings of the Board.
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15.
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Have full access to the Company’s executives and personnel as necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
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16.
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Obtain such data or other resources as it deems necessary to perform its duties, including but not limited to obtaining external consultant reports or published salary surveys, and engaging independent compensation consultants and other professionals to assist in the design, formulation, analysis and implementation of compensation programs for the Company’s Officers and other key employees.
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17.
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Have responsibility for the review and approval of all reports and summaries of compensation policies and decisions as may be appropriate for operational purposes or as may be required under applicable law.
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18.
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Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s Bylaws and governing law as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
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19.
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Review the Committee Charter from time to time and recommend any changes to the Board.
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20.
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Report to the Board on the major items covered at each Committee meeting.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action of the Committee, other than the grant of stock options or other discretionary awards under the Company’s stock option or other equity incentive plans, may be subject to Board review and may be revised, modified or rescinded by the Board.
The Committee will meet as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Meetings may be called by the Chairman of the Committee and/or by the management of the Company. Minutes of each meeting will be duly filed in the Company records. Reports of meetings of the Committee will be made to the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting following the Committee meeting accompanied by any recommendations to the Board approved by the Committee.
The Committee will also meet as and when necessary to act upon any other matters within its jurisdiction under this Charter. At all Committee meetings a majority of the total number of members shall constitute a quorum. All meetings shall be held subject to and in accordance with applicable sections of the General Corporation Law of the State of Nevada (including without limitation notice, quorum and votes/actions of the committee). Minutes shall be kept of each meeting of the Committee.