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MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR Table of Contents
ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 13, 2010
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual and special meeting of shareholders of terna Zentaris Inc.
(the "Corporation" or " terna Zentaris") will be held at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel, Salon Jarry & Joyce,
1201 Ren -L vesque Blvd. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada on Thursday, May 13, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. (Montreal time) for the following
receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation as at and for the year ended December 31, 2009, together with the
auditors' report thereon;
appoint auditors and authorize the directors to determine their compensation;
consider and, if deemed advisable, adopting, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution (the full text of which is set out in the
accompanying management information circular) approving, ratifying and confirming the renewal of the Corporation's stock option plan and approving and authorizing, for a period of three years after
the date of the meeting, all unallocated options issuable pursuant to the Corporation's stock option plan;
consider, and if deemed advisable, adopting, with or without variation, a special resolution (the full text of which is set out in the accompanying
management information circular) authorizing and approving the filing of Articles of Amendment to consolidate the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation on the basis set out in the
accompanying management information circular;
consider and, if deemed advisable, adopting, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution (the full text of which is set out in the
accompanying management information circular) approving, ratifying and confirming the shareholder rights plan adopted by the Corporation's Board of Directors on March 23, 2010; and
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
record date for the determination of shareholders of terna Zentaris entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting is March 22, 2010.
shareholders of terna Zentaris, it is very important that you read this material carefully and vote your shares, either by proxy or in person at the meeting.
following pages tell you more about how to exercise your right to vote your shares and provide additional information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the meeting.
order of the Board of Directors,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, March 23, 2010
Shareholders unable to attend the meeting are requested to complete and sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it in the stamped envelope provided. To be valid, proxies must
reach the office of Computershare Trust Company of Canada, Share Ownership Management, 1500 University Street, 7th Floor, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3S8, no later than at
the close of business on the last business day preceding the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
terna Zentaris Inc., 1405 du Parc-Technologique Boulevard, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, G1P 4P5
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
| Page | |||||
| SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION | 1 | ||||
| SECTION 2 INFORMATION CONCERNING VOTING AT THE MEETING | 1 | ||||
| 2.1 | Your Vote is Important | 1 | |||
| 2.2 | Voting | 1 | |||
| 2.3 | How to Vote Registered Shareholders | 2 | |||
| 2.4 | How to Vote Non-Registered Shareholders | 3 | |||
| 2.5 | Completing the Form of Proxy | 3 | |||
| 2.6 | Changing your Vote | 4 | |||
| SECTION 3 VOTING SHARES, QUORUM AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS | 4 | ||||
| 3.1 | Voting Shares and Quorum | 4 | |||
| 3.2 | Principal Shareholders | 5 | |||
| SECTION 4 PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 5 | ||||
| SECTION 5 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 5 | ||||
| SECTION 6 DISCLOSURE OF COMPENSATION | 7 | ||||
| 6.1 | Remuneration of Directors | 7 | |||
| 6.2 | Compensation of Executive Officers | 11 | |||
| 6.3 | Compensation Discussion & Analysis | 11 | |||
| 6.4 | Incentive Plan Awards Value Vested or Earned During the Year | 17 | |||
| 6.5 | Other Forms of Compensation | 17 | |||
| 6.6 | Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans | 20 | |||
| 6.7 | Performance Graph | 20 | |||
| 6.8 | Summary | 21 | |||
| SECTION 7 EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS | 22 | ||||
| SECTION 8 APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS AND AUDIT COMMITTEE DISCLOSURE | 24 | ||||
| 8.1 | Appointment of Auditors | 24 | |||
| 8.2 | Audit Committee Disclosure | 24 | |||
| 8.3 | Composition of the Audit Committee | 24 | |||
| 8.4 | Education and Relevant Experience | 24 | |||
| 8.5 | Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures | 25 | |||
| 8.6 | External Auditor Service Fees | 25 | |||
| SECTION 9 RENEWAL OF THE CORPORATION'S STOCK OPTION PLAN | 25 | ||||
| SECTION 10 PROPOSED SHARE CONSOLIDATION BY WAY OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT | 26 | ||||
| 10.1 | Introduction | 26 | |||
| 10.2 | Background and Reasons for the Share Consolidation | 27 | |||
| 10.3 | Shareholder Approval Requirement for the Share Consolidation | 27 | |||
| 10.4 | Certain Risk Factors Associated with the Share Consolidation | 27 |
| Page | |||||
| 10.5 | Effects of the Share Consolidation | 28 | |||
| 10.6 | Effect of Share Consolidation on Convertible Securities | 28 | |||
| 10.7 | Effect on Share Certificates | 29 | |||
| 10.8 | No Fractional Shares | 29 | |||
| 10.9 | No Dissent Rights | 30 | |||
| 10.10 | Accounting Consequences | 30 | |||
| 10.11 | Certain Tax Consequences of the Share Consolidation | 30 | |||
| 10.12 | Special Resolution | 32 | |||
| SECTION 11 INTRODUCTION OF A NEW SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN | 33 | ||||
| 11.1 | Recommendation of the Board and Management | 33 | |||
| 11.2 | Objectives and Background of the Rights Plan | 33 | |||
| 11.3 | Summary of the Rights Plan | 34 | |||
| 11.4 | Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations of the Rights Plan | 38 | |||
| 11.5 | Term | 38 | |||
| 11.6 | Ordinary Resolution | 39 | |||
| SECTION 12 STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES | 39 | ||||
| SECTION 13 INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 39 | ||||
| SECTION 14 INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS | 40 | ||||
| SECTION 15 INSURANCE OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 40 | ||||
| SECTION 16 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS | 40 | ||||
| SECTION 17 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 40 | ||||
| SECTION 18 MAIL SERVICE INTERRUPTION | 41 | ||||
| SECTION 19 DIRECTORS' APPROVAL | 41 | ||||
| SCHEDULES: | |||||
| Schedule A: | Statement of Corporate Governance Practices | A-1 | |||
| Schedule B: | Mandate of the Board of Directors | B-1 | |||
| Schedule C: | Audit Committee Charter | C-1 | |||
| Schedule D: | Mandate of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Human Resources Committee | D-1 | |||
| Schedule E: | Code of Ethical Conduct | E-1 |
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
This management information circular (the "Circular") is being furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the management of terna Zentaris Inc. (the "Corporation" or " terna Zentaris") for use at the annual meeting of
shareholders of the Corporation (the "Meeting") and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. No person has been authorized to give any information or make any representation in connection
with any matters to be considered at the Meeting other than those contained in this Circular and, if given or made, any such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been
addition to solicitation by mail, employees or agents of the Corporation may solicit proxies by telephone or by other means. The cost of any such solicitation will be borne entirely
by the Corporation. The Corporation may also reimburse brokers and other persons holding the Corporation's common shares (the "Common
Shares") in their names, or in the names of nominees, for their costs incurred in sending proxy materials to beneficial or non-registered owners and obtaining their proxies or voting
contained in this Circular is given as of March 22, 2010 unless otherwise specifically stated. The Corporation's directors and executive officers are generally paid in
their home country currency. All directors' and executive compensation information included in this Circular is presented in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated and, to the extent a director or
officer has been paid in a currency other than US dollars (Canadian dollars or euros), the amounts have been converted from such person's home country currency to US dollars based on the following
average exchange rates: for the financial year ended December 31, 2009: 1.000 = US$1.388 and CAN$1.000 = US$0.876; and for the financial year ended
December 31, 2008: 1.000 = US$1.464 and CAN$1.000 = US$0.937.
SECTION 2 INFORMATION CONCERNING VOTING AT THE MEETING
2.1 Your Vote is Important
As a shareholder of the Corporation, it is very important that you read the following information on how to vote your Common Shares, either by proxy or in person
at the Meeting. These security holder materials are being sent to both registered and non-registered shareholders of the Corporation. If you are a non-registered shareholder,
and the Corporation or its agent has sent these materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of securities have been obtained in accordance with applicable
securities regulatory requirements from the intermediary holding Common Shares on your behalf. By choosing to send these materials directly to registered shareholders and certain
non-registered shareholders, the Corporation or its agent (and not the intermediary holding on your behalf) has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering these materials to
you, and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions. Please return your proxy as specified in this Circular and in the form of proxy.
You can attend the Meeting or you can appoint someone else to vote for you as your proxyholder. A shareholder entitled to vote at the Meeting may, by means of a
proxy, appoint a proxyholder or one or more alternate proxyholders, who are not required to be shareholders, to attend and act at the Meeting in the manner and to the extent authorized by the proxy
and with the authority conferred by the proxy. Voting by proxy means that you are giving the person named on your form of proxy the authority to vote your Common Shares for you at the Meeting and at
any adjournment or postponement thereof.
can choose from among three different ways to vote your Common Shares by proxy:
persons who are named on the form of proxy are directors or officers of the Corporation and will vote your shares for you. You have the right to appoint someone else to be your
proxyholder. If you appoint someone else, he or she must attend the Meeting to vote your Common Shares.
2.3 How to Vote Registered Shareholders
You are a registered shareholder if your name appears on your share certificate. If you are not sure whether you are a registered shareholder, please contact
Computershare Trust Company of Canada ("Computershare") by telephone toll-free at 1-800-564-6253 or by e-mail at service@computershare.com.
Voting by proxy using the telephone is only available to shareholders located in Canada and the United States. Call
toll-free in Canada 1-866-732-VOTE (8683) and 1-312-588-4290 toll-free in the
United States from a touchtone telephone and follow the instructions provided. Your voting instructions are then conveyed by using touchtone selections over the telephone.
will need your 6-digit Control Number. You will find this number on your form of proxy or in the e-mail addressed to you if you have chosen to receive this
Circular electronically.
you choose the telephone, you cannot appoint any person other than the directors or officers named on your form of proxy as your proxyholder.
The cut-off time for voting by telephone is 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 12, 2010.
Go to the website www.computershare.com/proxy and follow the instructions on the screen. Your voting instructions are then conveyed
electronically over the Internet.
will need your 6-digit Control Number. You will find this number on your form of proxy or in the e-mail addressed to you if you have chosen to receive this
Circular electronically.
you return your proxy via the Internet, you can appoint a person other than the persons named in the form of proxy as your proxyholder. This person does not have to be a shareholder.
Indicate the name of the person you are appointing in the space provided on the form of proxy. Complete your voting instructions, and date and submit the form. Make sure that the person you appoint is
aware that he or she has been appointed and attends the meeting.
The cut-off time for voting over the Internet is 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 12, 2010.
Complete your form of proxy and return it in the envelope provided to you or deliver it to one of Computershare's principal offices in
Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver or Winnipeg for receipt before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 12, 2010 or with the Secretary of the Meeting prior
to commencement of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or on the day of any adjournment or postponement thereof. A list of addresses for the principal offices of Computershare
is set forth on page 41 of this Circular.
you return your proxy by mail, you can appoint a person other than the directors or officers named in the form of proxy as your proxyholder. This person does not have to be a
shareholder. Fill in the name of the person you are appointing in the blank space provided on the form of proxy. Complete your voting instruction on the form of proxy, and date and sign the form. Make
sure that the person you appoint is aware that he or she has been appointed and attends the Meeting.
see the section titled "Completing the Form of Proxy" for more information.
In Person at the Meeting
You do not need to complete or return your form of proxy.
will receive an admission ticket at the Meeting upon registration at the registration desk.
2.4 How to Vote Non-Registered Shareholders
The information set forth in this section should be reviewed carefully by the non-registered shareholders of the Corporation.
Shareholders who do not hold their shares in their own name should note that only proxies deposited by shareholders who appear on the
records maintained by the Corporation's registrar and transfer agent as registered holders of shares will be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting.
shareholders may vote shares that are held by their nominees in one of two manners. Applicable securities laws and regulations, including National
Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer,
require nominees of non-registered shareholders to seek their voting instructions in advance of the Meeting. Non-registered shareholders will receive (or will have
received) from their nominees either a request for voting instructions or a proxy form for the number of shares held by them. The nominees' voting instructions or proxy forms will contain instructions
relating to signature and return of the document and these instructions should be carefully read and followed by non-registered shareholders to ensure that their shares are accordingly