Compensation of directors
Effective January 1, 2002, each
The compensation of directors is considered on a combined basis in light of the overall governance structure of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited. Director compensation is set solely on an annual fee basis (paid quarterly in arrears) and fees are not paid for board or committee meeting attendance. From January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003, directors of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited, who were not salaried employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, received an annual Nortel Networks Limited board retainer of $50,000, an annual committee membership retainer of $12,500 (or $6,250 each for membership on the same committee of the boards of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited) and, except as noted below, an annual committee chairperson fee of $7,500 (or $3,750 each for chairing the same committee of the boards of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited). Effective July 25, 2002, the fee for the audit committee chairperson was increased to $17,500 (or $8,750 for each audit committee of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited) in recognition of the significant responsibilities assumed by the audit committee chairperson.
Annual directors’ fees were initially increased effective January 1, 2004, after having been essentially unchanged for the previous two year period, as described above. However, in light of the challenges subsequently faced by the Company and Nortel Networks Limited, the boards of directors in July 2004 decreased the annual directors’ fees back to the fees in effect prior to January 1, 2004. The boards of directors also determined that the directors’ fees to be paid during the remainder of 2004 would be reduced so that the total amount of the directors’ fees paid for 2004 would equal the amount of fees that would have been paid under the 2003 directors’ fee schedule. Accordingly, the net effect of these determinations was that the directors’ fees paid to
Between January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2004, directors of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited, who were not salaried employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, received an annual Nortel Networks Limited board retainer of $60,000 and an annual committee membership retainer and, except as described below, an annual committee chairperson retainer of $12,500 (or $6,250 each for membership on or chairing the same committee of the boards of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited). The fee for the audit committee chairperson was $27,500 or $13,750 for each audit committee, in recognition of the significant responsibilities assumed by the audit committee chairperson.
The Company maintains, at its cost, life insurance for directors, who are not salaried employees of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited. Such insurance is in an amount of Cdn$100,000 while a director and in an amount of Cdn$75,000 following retirement at or after age 65 or, at any lesser age after ten years of board membership (including Nortel Networks Limited board membership).
Directors entitled to the above remuneration are also reimbursed for reasonable travel and living expenses properly incurred by them in attending any meetings of the boards of directors of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited or their committees or for performing services as directors.
Effective January 1, 2004, amended share ownership guidelines adopted by the boards of directors of the Company and Nortel Networks Limited require each
50 percent of his or her annual compensation for serving as a director and as
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