o
|
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
|
¨
|
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
x
|
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
¨
|
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
¨
|
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to
§ 240.14a-12
|
GRAN
TIERRA ENERGY INC.
|
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
|
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the
Registrant)
|
x
|
No
fee required.
|
¨
|
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
|
1.
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
2.
|
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
3.
|
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):
|
4.
|
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
5.
|
Total
fee paid:
|
¨
|
Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
|
¨
|
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.
|
6.
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
|
7.
|
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
8.
|
Filing
Party:
|
9.
|
Date
Filed:
|
1.
|
To
elect the Board’s seven nominees for director to serve until the next
annual meeting and their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
|
2.
|
To
approve an amendment to Gran Tierra’s Articles of Incorporation to
increase the total authorized number of shares of common stock from
300,000,000 to 570,000,000 shares.
|
3.
|
To
ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accounting firm
of Gran Tierra for its fiscal year ending December 31,
2009.
|
4.
|
To
conduct any other business properly brought before the
meeting.
|
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholders’
Meeting to Be Held on
June
16, 2009 at Lougheed House, 707 13th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2R 0K8
Canada.
The
proxy statement and annual report to stockholders
are
available at
www.grantierra.com.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
/s/
Martin Eden
|
Martin
Eden
|
Chief
Financial Officer and
Secretary
|
You
are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Whether
or not you expect to attend the meeting, please complete, date, sign and
return the proxy mailed to you, or vote over the internet as instructed in
these materials, as promptly as possible in order to ensure your
representation at the meeting. A return envelope (which is
postage prepaid if mailed in the United States) is enclosed for your
convenience. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still
vote in person if you attend the meeting. Please note, however,
that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee
and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in
your name from that record
holder.
|
·
|
Election
of seven directors;
|
·
|
Approval
of proposed amendment to Gran Tierra’s Articles of Incorporation to
increase the authorized number of shares of common stock from 300,000,000
to 570,000,000 shares; and
|
·
|
Ratification
of selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Deloitte
& Touche LLP as
independent registered public accounting firm of Gran Tierra for its
fiscal year ending December 31,
2009.
|
Ø
|
To
vote in person, come to the annual meeting and we will give you a ballot
when you arrive.
|
Ø
|
To
vote using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the proxy card
that may be delivered and return it promptly in the envelope
provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us by 11:59
p.m. Mountain Time on June 15, 2009, we will vote your shares as you
direct.
|
Ø
|
To
vote on the internet, go to http://www.proxyvote.com to complete an
electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the company
number and control number from the Notice. Your vote must be
received by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 15, 2009 to be
counted.
|
We
provide internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares online,
with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of
your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you
must bear any costs associated with your internet access, such as usage
charges from internet access
providers.
|
Ø
|
You
may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date, or
vote again over the internet;
|
Ø
|
You
may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy to Gran
Tierra’s Secretary at 300, 611-10th
Avenue, S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2R 0B2, Canada;
or
|
Ø
|
You
may attend the annual meeting and vote in person. Simply
attending the meeting will not, by itself, revoke your
proxy.
|
Ø
|
For
the election of directors, the seven nominees receiving the most “For”
votes (from the holders of votes of shares present in person or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors)
will be elected. Only votes “For” will affect the
outcome;
|
Ø
|
To
be approved, Proposal 2, the amendment to Gran Tierra’s Articles of
Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Gran Tierra’s common
stock authorized for issuance, must receive “For” votes from the holders
of shares of Gran Tierra’s common stock, Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares,
and Solana Exchangeable Shares entitling them to exercise at least a
majority of the combined voting power of the total number of outstanding
shares of Gran Tierra’s common stock, Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares, and
Solana Exchangeable Shares. As a result, abstentions and broker
non-votes will have the same effect as “Against” votes;
and
|
Ø
|
To
be approved, Proposal 3, the ratification of the selection by the Audit
Committee of the Board of Deloitee & Touche LLP as our independent
auditors for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, must receive more
“For” votes than “Against” votes. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will have no effect.
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
Held With Gran Tierra
|
||
Dana
Coffield
|
50
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer; Director
|
||
Jeffrey
Scott
|
46
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
|
||
Ray
Antony
|
56
|
Director
|
||
Walter
Dawson
|
68
|
Director
|
||
Verne
Johnson
|
64
|
Director
|
||
Nicholas
G. Kirton
|
64
|
Director
|
||
J.
Scott Price
|
|
46
|
|
Director
|
Name
|
Audit
|
Compensation
|
Nominating and
Corporate Governance
|
Reserves
|
||||
Dana
Coffield
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
||
Jeffrey
Scott
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
Ray
Antony
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Walter
Dawson
|
|
|
X
|
|
X*
|
|
|
|
Verne
Johnson
|
|
X
|
|
X*
|
|
X
|
|
X*
|
Scott
Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nadine
Smith(1)
|
|
X*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nicholas
Kirton(1)
|
|
X*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Meetings in fiscal year 2008
|
|
7
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
(1)
|
Ms.
Smith resigned as
a director effective March 27, 2008, and Mr. Kirton joined the Audit
Committee on that date, also replacing Ms. Smith as Chairperson of the
Audit Committee.
|
Nicholas
Kirton, Chair
|
Verne
Johnson
|
Jeffrey
Scott
|
1
|
The
material in this report is not “soliciting material” is not deemed "filed"
with the Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any
filing of Gran Tierra under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any
general incorporation language in any such
filing.
|
|
·
|
establishing
corporate and individual performance objectives relevant to the
compensation of Gran Tierra’s executive officers, directors, and other
senior management, as appropriate, and evaluating performance in
light of these stated objectives;
|
|
·
|
establishing
policies with respect to equity compensation
arrangements;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
and approving the compensation and other terms of employment or service,
including severance and change-in-control arrangements, of Gran Tierra’s
Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers;
and
|
|
·
|
reviewing
and recommending to the Board for approval, modification or termination of
Gran Tierra’s equity compensation plans, pension and profit-sharing
plans, deferred compensation plans and other similar plans and
programs, as well as administering such plans and
programs.
|
Verne
Johnson, Chair
|
Walter
Dawson
|
Jeffrey
Scott
|
2
|
The
material in this report is not “soliciting material,” is furnished to, but
not deemed "filed" with, the Commission and is not deemed to be
incorporated by reference in any filing of Gran Tierra under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, other than Gran Tierra’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K, where it shall be deemed to be “furnished,” whether made
before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general
incorporation language in any such
filing
|
Fiscal
Year Ended
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Audit
Fees
|
$ | 726,741 | $ | 474,396 | ||||
Audit-related
Fees
|
172,331 | 138,553 | ||||||
Tax
Fees
|
90,201 | 219,491 | ||||||
All
Other Fees
|
— | — | ||||||
Total
Fees
|
$ | 989,273 | $ | 832,440 |
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)
|
Amount
and
Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
Percentage
of
Class
|
||||||
Dana
Coffield (2)
|
2,209,663 | * | ||||||
Martin
Eden (3)
|
197,333 | * | ||||||
Max
Wei (4)
|
1,992,167 | * | ||||||
Rafael
Orunesu (5)
|
2,063,850 | * | ||||||
Edgar
Dyes (6)
|
133,334 | * | ||||||
Shane
O’Leary (7)
|
12,000 | * | ||||||
Jeffrey
Scott (8)
|
2,780,528 | 1.16 | % | |||||
Walter
Dawson (9)
|
3,130,922 | 1.31 | % | |||||
Verne
Johnson (10)
|
1,562,892 | * | ||||||
Nicholas
G. Kirton (11)
|
63,333 | * | ||||||
Ray
Antony (12)
|
495,455 | * | ||||||
J.
Scott Price (13)
|
7,184,049 | 2.97 | % | |||||
Directors
and officers as a group (total of 12 persons) (14)
|
21,825,526 | 8.92 | % |
(1)
|
Beneficial
ownership is calculated based on 238,710,473 shares of common stock issued
and outstanding as of February 15, 2009, which number includes 10,984,126
shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of the Exchangeable
Shares issued to certain former holders of Gran Tierra Canada’s common
stock and 31,519,884 shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of
the Exchangeable Shares issued to certain former holders of Solana’s
common stock. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with
Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act. The number of shares beneficially
owned by a person includes shares of common stock underlying options or
warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days of February 15, 2009. The shares issuable pursuant to
the exercise of those options or warrants are deemed outstanding for
computing the percentage ownership of the person holding those options and
warrants but are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the
percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the
persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole
investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite that
person’s name, subject to community property laws, where
applicable.
|
(2)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 375,000
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009, and shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to acquire 48,328
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number of shares beneficially owned also includes 1,689,683
Exchangeable Shares.
|
(3)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 183,333
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number beneficially owned includes 14,000 shares of common stock
directly owned by Mr. Eden’s
spouse.
|
(4)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 262,500
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number of shares beneficially owned also includes 1,689,683
Exchangeable Shares.
|
(5)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 254,167
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009, and shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant to acquire 40,000
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number of shares beneficially owned also includes 1,689,683
Exchangeable Shares.
|
(6)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 133,334
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009.
|
(7)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes 12,000 shares of common
stock.
|
(8)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 266,667
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009, and shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to acquire 274,991
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number of shares beneficially owned also includes 1,688,889
Exchangeable Shares.
|
(9)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 158,333
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number of shares beneficially owned also includes 825,000 shares
of common stock directly owned by Perfco Investments Ltd. (“Perfco”) and
158,730 shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Dawson’s spouse. The
number of shares beneficially owned includes 1,688,889 Exchangeable
Shares, of which 1,587,302 are held by Perfco. Mr. Dawson is the sole
owner of Perfco and has sole voting and investment power over the shares
beneficially owned by Perfco. Mr. Dawson disclaims beneficial
ownership over the shares owned by Mr. Dawson’s
spouse.
|
(10)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 158,333
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009, and shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant to acquire 112,496
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number of shares beneficially owned includes 1,292,063
Exchangeable Shares, of which 396,825 are held by KristErin Resources,
Inc. (“KristErin”), a private family-owned business of which
Mr. Johnson is the President. Mr. Johnson has sole voting and
investment power over the shares held by
KristErin.
|
(11)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 33,333
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009.
|
(12)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes an option to acquire 142,919
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009. The number of shares beneficially owned also includes 352,536
Exchangeable Shares, of which 285,840 are held by DCR Investments Inc.
(“DCR”). Mr. Anthony has sole voting and investment power over the
shares held by DCR.
|
(13)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes shares issuable upon exercise
of warrants to acquire 3,572,969 shares of common stock exercisable within
60 days of February 15, 2009. The number of shares beneficially owned
also includes 3,611,080 Exchangeable
Shares.
|
(14)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes options to acquire 1,967,919
shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of February 15,
2009, and warrants to acquire 4,048,784 shares of common stock exercisable
within 60 days of February 15, 2009. The number of shares
beneficially owned also includes 13,702,506 Exchangeable
Shares.
|
Mr.
Coffield
|
$ | 216,399 | ||
Mr.
Wei
|
$ | 179,178 | ||
Mr.
Orunesu
|
$ | 207,000 | ||
Mr.
Dyes
|
$ | 220,000 | ||
Mr.
Eden
|
$ | 192,922 |
|
·
|
execute
approved 2008 budget including $56.8 million capital expenditure work
program (within +/- 10% of budget) which includes the drilling of 6
development wells in Colombia, and 3 exploration wells, 2 in Colombia and
1 in Argentina;
|
|
·
|
exit
2008 at production rate of 4,200 barrels of oil per day, net after
royalty;
|
|
·
|
improve
operating efficiencies to reduce general and administrative costs and
operating costs on a barrel of oil produced
basis;
|
|
·
|
ensure
appropriate Environmental, Health, Safety and Security programs are
designed, implemented and monitored to meet or exceed relevant industry
standards. Target zero Lost Time Incidents amongst
employees;
|
|
·
|
ensure
effective community relations programs are designed, implemented and
monitored in all of Gran Tierra’s operating
environments;
|
|
·
|
finalize
Stock Exchange Listings in Canada and
US;
|
|
·
|
ensure
compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements, including implementation
of corporate governance, internal controls, and financial disclosure
controls, and IT controls, and develop a Sarbanes-Oxley Act maintenance
program for 2008 and beyond;
|
|
·
|
ensure
management and financial reporting systems, budgeting and forecasting
systems are developed and
maintained;
|
|
·
|
ensure
all tax, regulatory and contractual obligations are maintained in all
jurisdictions where Gran Tierra
operates;
|
|
·
|
develop
corporate strategy and long-term plan and identify new opportunities to
support plan;
|
|
·
|
identify
and secure additional sources of equity financing as
required;
|
|
·
|
maintain
active investor relations program targeting existing and potential new
investors (press releases, road shows, analysts coverage and website);
and
|
|
·
|
ensure
Human Resource staffing, procedures and policies are consistent with the
needs to meet 2008 Budget and commitments, and future growth of Gran
Tierra, and Sarbanes-Oxley Act
compliance.
|
|
·
|
ensure
compliance with shareholder and regulatory reporting requirements in the
U.S. and Canada;
|
|
·
|
finalize
and maintain Stock Exchange Listings in Canada and
U.S.;
|
|
·
|
ensure
compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements, including implementation
and maintenance of corporate governance, internal controls and financial
disclosure controls;
|
|
·
|
maintain,
develop and enhance management, financial reporting, budgeting and
forecasting systems;
|
|
·
|
address
tax planning strategies;
|
|
·
|
develop
and maintain Treasury, IT and Corporate Secretarial functions and
systems;
|
|
·
|
assist
the Chief Executive Officer in developing corporate strategy and long-term
plan;
|
|
·
|
secure
additional sources of financing as
required;
|
|
·
|
assist
the Chief Executive Officer in developing and implementing an investor
relations strategy; and
|
|
·
|
assist
the Chief Executive Officer in developing administration and human
resources function.
|
|
·
|
exit
2008 at 4,200 barrels of oil per day, net after
royalty;
|
|
·
|
reduce
operating costs on a barrel of oil produced
basis;
|
|
·
|
meet
or exceed relevant Environment Health Safety and Security industry
standards, targeting zero lost time
incidents;
|
|
·
|
design,
implement, test and monitor emergency response plans for all operating
arenas;
|
|
·
|
complete
2008 drilling/workover program within budget and without
incidents;
|
|
·
|
design
and manage peer review of all proposed drilling, production and facility
upgrade projects, ensuring standardized commercial evaluations are
undertaken for each;
|
|
·
|
design
and manage post-mortem reviews of all drilling, production and facility
upgrade projects, explaining any deviations from plan or budget, and
distributing learnings to peers for integration into future projects;
and
|
|
·
|
identify
opportunities from current portfolio of exploration and development leads
on Gran Tierra’s existing land base for 2009
drilling.
|
Name and
principal position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)(1)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Option
Awards
($) (2)(3)
|
All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
|
Total ($)
|
||||||||||||||||
Dana
Coffield
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
2008
|
$
|
216,399 |
$
|
285,810 |
$
|
269,270 | — |
$
|
771,479 | ||||||||||||
2007
|
$
|
214,525 |
$
|
148,215 |
$
|
112,825 | — |
$
|
475,565 | |||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
154,458 |
$
|
92,250 |
$
|
23,400 | — |
$
|
270,108 | |||||||||||||
Martin
Eden
Vice
President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
|
2008
|
$
|
192,922
|
$
|
163,320 |
$
|
165,223 | — |
$
|
521,465 | ||||||||||||
2007
|
$
|
193,073 |
$
|
74,108 |
$
|
128,470 | — |
$
|
395,651 | |||||||||||||
2006
|
N/A | N/A |
$
|
N/A | — | |||||||||||||||||
Rafael
Orunesu
President,
Gran Tierra Argentina
|
2008
|
$
|
207,000 |
$
|
75,000 |
$
|
86,823 | — |
$
|
368,823 | ||||||||||||
2007
|
$
|
180,000 |
$
|
40,000 |
$
|
55,468 | — |
$
|
275,468 | |||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
150,000 |
$
|
42,907 |
$
|
11,700 |
$
|
9,200 |
$
|
213,807 | ||||||||||||
Max
Wei
Vice
President, Operations
|
2008
|
$
|
179,178 |
$
|
61,245 |
$
|
96,529 | — |
$
|
336,952 | ||||||||||||
2007
|
$
|
171,620 |
$
|
64,227 |
$
|
57,117 | — |
$
|
292,964
|
|||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
154,458 |
$
|
42,907 |
$
|
17,503 | — |
$
|
214,868 | |||||||||||||
Edgar
Dyes
President,
Argosy Energy/Gran Tierra Energy Colombia
|
2008
|
$
|
220,000 |
$
|
150,000 |
$
|
196,070 | — |
$
|
566,070 | ||||||||||||
2007
|
$
|
180,000
|
$
|
100,000 |
$
|
59,828 | — |
$
|
339,828 | |||||||||||||
2006
|
$
|
138,750 |
$
|
25,000 |
$
|
—
|
— |
$
|
163,750 |
(1)
|
Dana
Coffield, Max Wei and Martin Eden salaries and bonus are paid in Canadian
dollars and converted into U.S. dollars for the purposes of the above
table at the December 31, 2006 exchange rate of one Canadian dollar
to US $0.8581 for 2006 information, at the December 31, 2007 exchange
rate of one Canadian dollar to US $0.9881 for 2007 information, and the
December 31, 2008 exchange rate of one Canadian dollar to US $0.8661 for
2008.
|
(2)
|
Granted
under terms of Gran Tierra’s 2005 and 2007 Equity Incentive
Plans.
|
(3)
|
Assumptions
made in the valuation of stock options granted are discussed in Note 6 to
Gran Tierra’s 2008 Consolidated Financial Statements. Reflects the dollar
amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect
to the fiscal year in accordance with SFAS 123R disregarding estimates of
forfeiture.
|
(4)
|
Cost
of living allowance.
|
Name
|
Grant Date
|
Date
of
Corporate
Approval
|
All Other Option Awards:
Number of Securities
Underlying Options
(#)
|
Exercise or Base Price of
Option Awards
($/Sh)
|
Grant Date Fair
Value of
Stock and Option
Awards
($)(1)
|
||||||||
Mr.
Coffield
|
12/15/2008
|
12/11/2008
|
600,000 | $ 2.51USD | $ 912,360 | ||||||||
Mr.
Eden
|
12/15/2008
|
12/11/2008
|
400,000 | $ 2.51USD | $ 608,240 | ||||||||
Mr.
Orunesu
|
12/15/2008
|
12/11/2008
|
100,000 | $ 2.51USD | $ 152,060 | ||||||||
Mr.
Dyes
|
12/15/2008
|
12/11/2008
|
300,000 | $ 2.51USD | $ 456,180 |
(1)
|
Represents
the grant date fair value of such option award as determined in accordance
with SFAS 123R. These amounts have been calculated in accordance with SFAS
No. 123R using the Black Scholes valuation
model.
|
·
|
the
position held by each such person;
|
·
|
the
number of weeks of vacation allowed (5 weeks of paid vacation for each
executive except Mr. Dyes who is permitted 4 weeks of paid
vacation);
|
·
|
limitations
on business class travel (Messrs. Wei, Dyes and Orunesu may only travel
business class for international flights and coach class for domestic
travel whereas Messrs. Coffield and Eden may travel business class for
most flights);
|
·
|
travel
to the United States by Mr. Dyes from Colombia, at the expense of Gran
Tierra Energy Colombia Ltd., for personal business, as often as reasonably
necessary, subject to residency requirements of Colombia;
and
|
·
|
reasonable
housing, auto, club and living expenses in Colombia provided for Mr. Dyes
by Gran Tierra Energy Colombia Ltd. consistent with the benefits provided
to Mr. Dyes in the first quarter of
2006
|
·
|
receive
a base salary, as determined by the Gran Tierra
Board;
|
·
|
be
eligible to receive an annual bonus, as determined by the Board;
and
|
·
|
be
eligible to participate in the stock option plans of Gran
Tierra.
|
Name
|
Number
of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
|
Number
of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option Expiration
Date
|
||||||||||
Dana
Coffield
|
162,500 | (1) |
$0.80
|
11/10/2015
|
||||||||||
133,333 | (2) | 66,667 | (3) |
$1.27
|
11/8/2016
|
|||||||||
79,167 | (4) | 158,333 | (5) |
$2.14
|
12/17/2017
|
|||||||||
600,000 | (8) |
$2.51
|
12/15/2018
|
|||||||||||
Martin
Eden
|
75,000 | (6) | 150,000 | (7) |
$1.19
|
01/02/2017
|
||||||||
33,333 | (4) | 66,667 | (5) |
$2.14
|
12/17/2017
|
|||||||||
400,000 | (8) |
$2.51
|
12/15/2018
|
|||||||||||
Max
Wei
|
162,500 | (1) |
$0.80
|
11/10/2015
|
||||||||||
66,666 | (2) | 33,334 | (3) |
$1.27
|
11/8/2016
|
|||||||||
33,333 | (4) | 66,667 | (5) |
$2.14
|
12/17/2017
|
|||||||||
Rafael
Orunesu
|
162,500 | (1) |
$0.80
|
11/10/2015
|
||||||||||
66,666 | (2) | 33,334 | (3) |
$1.27
|
11/8/2016
|
|||||||||
25,000 | (4) | 50,000 | (5) |
$2.14
|
12/17/2017
|
|||||||||
100,000 | (8) |
$2.51
|
12/15/2018
|
|||||||||||
Edgar
Dyes
|
66,666 | (2) | 33,334 | (3) |
$1.27
|
11/8/2016
|
||||||||
66,666 | (4) | 133,334 | (5) |
$2.14
|
12/17/2017
|
|||||||||
300,000 | (8) |
$2.51
|
12/15/2018
|
(1)
|
The
right to exercise the option vested one third on November 10, 2006,
one third on November 10, 2007 and one third on November 10,
2008
|
(2)
|
The
right to exercise the option vested one half on November 8, 2007 and
one half on November 8, 2008.
|
(3)
|
The
right to exercise the options will vest November 8, 2009 if the
option holder is still employed by Gran Tierra on such
date.
|
(4)
|
The
right to exercise the option vested on December 17,
2008.
|
(5)
|
The
right to exercise one half of the option will vest on each
of December 17, 2009 and December 17, 2010 in each
such case if the option holder is still employed by Gran Tierra on such
date.
|
(6)
|
The
right to exercise the option vested on January 2,
2008.
|
(7)
|
The
right to exercise one-half of the option will vest on each
of January 2, 2009 and January 2, 2010 in each such
case if the option holder is still employed by Gran Tierra on such
date.
|
(8)
|
The
Right to exercise one-third of the option will vest on each of December
15, 2009, December 15, 2010 and December 15, 2011 in each such case if the
option holder is still employed by Gran Tierra on such
date.
|
Name
|
Payment
|
|||
Mr. Coffield
|
$ | 1,004,418 | ||
Mr. Eden
|
$ | 356,242 | ||
Mr. Wei*
|
$ | 480,847 | ||
Mr. Orunesu
|
$ | 282,000 | ||
Mr. Dyes
|
$ | 370,000 |
Name
|
Director Compensation | Option Awards ($)(1) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||
Jeffrey
Scott
|
$ | 69,207 | $ | 168,526 | $ | 237,733 | |||||||||||
Walter
Dawson
|
$ | 35,318 | $ | 85,452 | $ | 120,770 | |||||||||||
Verne
Johnson
|
$ | 61,041 | $ | 85,452 | $ | 146,493 | |||||||||||
Nick
Kirton (4)
|
$ | 39,810 | $ | 110,917 | $ | 150,727 | |||||||||||
Scott
Price (2)
|
$ | 4,052 | $ | 17,417 | $ | 21,469 | |||||||||||
Ray
Antony (2)
|
$ | 4,052 | $ | 91,733 | $ | 95,785 | |||||||||||
Nadine
Smith (3)
|
$ | 13,474 | $ | 137,654 | $ | 151,128 |
(1)
|
The
stock options were granted under terms of Gran Tierra’s 2005 and 2007
Equity Incentive Plan in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Assumptions
made in the valuation of stock options granted are discussed in Note 6 to
Gran Tierra’s 2008 Consolidated Financial Statements. Reflects the dollar
amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect
to the fiscal year in accordance with SFAS 123R, disregarding estimates of
forfeiture.
|
(2)
|
Each
of Messrs. Antony and Price was appointed as a director to the Board
effective November 14, 2008.
|
(3)
|
Ms.
Smith resigned as a director effective March 27,
2008.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Kirton was appointed as a director to the Board effective March 27,
2008.
|
Plan
category
|
Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise of options
|
Weighted
average
exercise price
of
outstanding
options
|
Number of
securities
remaining
available for future
issuance
|
|||||||||
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
|
11,406,870 | $ | 2.13 | 6,443,966 | ||||||||
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
— | — | — | |||||||||
Total
|
11,406,870 | 2.13 | 6,443,966 |
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
/s/
Martin Eden
|
|
Martin
Eden
|
|
Secretary
|
VOTE
BY INTERNET- www.proxyvote.com
|
||
GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC.
|
Use
the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic
delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Mountain Time on June 15,
2009. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website
and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an
electronic voting instruction form.
|
|
ELECTRONIC
DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
|
||
If
you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Gran Tierra Energy
Inc. in mailing future proxy materials, you can consent to receive all
future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via
e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery,
please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when
prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials
electronically in future years.
|
||
VOTE
BY MAIL
|
||
Mark,
sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid
envelope we have provided or return it to Gran Tierra Energy Inc., c/o
Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY
11717.
|
TO
VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: x
|
GRNTR1
|
KEEP
THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
|
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY
WHEN SIGNED AND DATED
|
DETACH
AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
|
GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC.
|
|||||
THE DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE "FOR" ITEMS
1, 2, AND 3.
|
|||||
Vote
On Directors
|
For All
|
Withhold All
|
For All Except
|
To
withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All
Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line
below
|
|
1.
|
To
elect as Directors of Gran Tierra Energy Inc., the nominees listed
below.
|
01)
|
Dana Coffield
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
|
|
02)
|
Jeffrey Scott
|
||||
03)
|
Walter Dawson
|
||||
04)
|
Verne
Johnson
|
||||
05)
|
Nicholas G. Kirton
|
||||
06)
|
Scott
Price
|
||||
07)
|
Ray
Antony
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
||
2.
|
Proposal
to approve an amendment to Gran Tierra’s Articles of Incorporation to
increase the authorized number of shares of common stock from 300,000,000
to 570,000,000 shares.
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
|
3.
|
Proposal
to ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors of Gran Tierra Energy
Inc. for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
|
Signature
|
Signature
(Joint Owners)
|
|
Date
|
Date
|
·
|
To
instruct the Trustee to exercise the votes to which the Holder is entitled
as indicated below; OR
|
·
|
To
instruct the Trustee to appoint a representative of the Company’s
management as proxy to exercise the votes to which the Holder is entitled
as indicated below; OR
|
·
|
To
instruct the Trustee to appoint the Holder, or the Holder’s designee as a
proxy to exercise personally the votes to which the Holder is entitled as
indicated below.
|
The
Holder directs that their Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares be voted as
follows:
|
1. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Dana Coffield as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
2. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Jeffrey Scott as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
3. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Ray Antony as a director of the Company, to
serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
4. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Walter Dawson as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
5. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Verne Johnson as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
6. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Nicholas G. Kirton as a director of the
Company, to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
7. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect J. Scott Price as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
8 VOTE
FOR _____ or VOTE
AGAINST _____ or
ABSTAIN FROM VOTING _____ to approve an amendment to Gran Tierra’s
articles of incorporation to increase the total authorized number of
shares of common stock from 300,000,000 to 570,000,000
shares.
|
9 VOTE
FOR _____ or VOTE
AGAINST _____ or
ABSTAIN FROM VOTING _____ to ratify the selection of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
independent auditors of the Company for its fiscal year ending December
31, 2009.
|
IMPORTANT
NOTE: IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, FOR OR AGAINST, THE HOLDER’S GOLDSTRIKE
EXCHANGEABLE SHARES WILL NOT BE
VOTED
|
PLEASE
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
|
|
¨
|
Direct
the Trustee to Vote Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares
The
holder hereby directs the Trustee to vote as indicated.
|
¨
|
Appointment
of Company Management as Proxy
The
Holder hereby appoints Martin Eden and Dana Coffield, as proxyholder of
the Holder, with power of substitution, and authorizes them to represent
and vote, as indicated above, all of the Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares
which the Holder may be entitled to vote at the Meeting, and at any
adjournment or adjournments thereof and on every ballot that may take
place in consequence thereof, and with discretionary authority as to any
other matters that may properly come before the
Meeting.
|
¨
|
Appointment
of the Holder, or the Holder’s Designee as Proxy
The
Holder hereby appoints _________________________________ as proxyholder of
the Holder and authorizes them to represent and vote, as indicated above,
all of the Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares which the Holder may be entitled
to vote at the Meeting, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof and
on every ballot that may take place in consequence thereof, and with
discretionary authority as to any other matters that may properly come
before the Meeting.
|
IF
THE HOLDER DOES NOT COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOREGOING, COMPLETES MORE THAN ONE
OF THE FOREGOING OR COMPLETES THE THIRD SELECTION BUT DOES NOT SPECIFY A
DESIGNEE, THE HOLDER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE DIRECTED THE TRUSTEE TO VOTE
THEIR GOLDSTRIKE EXCHANGEABLE SHARES AS
INDICATED.
|
DATED: ________________, 2009. |
Signature
of Holder
|
|
Name
of Holder
|
||
Number
of Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares
Held
|
1.
|
This
voting direction will not be valid and not be acted upon unless it is
completed as outlined herein and delivered to Olympia Trust Company, 2300,
125 – 9th
Avenue S.E., Calgary, Alberta T2G 0P6, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June
11, 2009, or not less than 48 hours before the time set for the holding of
any adjournment(s) thereof. The voting direction is valid only for the
Meeting or any adjournment(s) of the
Meeting.
|
2.
|
If
this voting direction is not signed by the Holder of Goldstrike
Exchangeable Shares, the votes to which the Holder of the Goldstrike
Exchangeable Shares is entitled will not be
exercised.
|
3.
|
If
the Holder is a corporation, its corporate seal must be affixed or it must
be signed by an officer or attorney thereof duly
authorized.
|
4.
|
This
voting direction must be dated and the signature hereon should be exactly
the same as the name in which the Goldstrike Exchangeable Shares are
registered.
|
5.
|
Persons
signing as executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should so indicate
and give their full title as such.
|
6.
|
A
holder who has submitted a voting direction may revoke it at any time
prior to the Meeting. In addition to revocation in any other manner
permitted by law a voting direction may be revoked by instrument in
writing executed by the Holder or his attorney authorized in writing or,
if the Holder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer
or attorney thereof duly authorized and deposited at the office of the
Trustee at any time up to and including the last business day preceding
the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof at which the voting
direction is to be acted upon or with a representative of the Trustee in
attendance at the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment
thereof, and upon either of such deposits, the voting direction is
revoked.
|
·
|
To
instruct the Trustee to exercise the votes to which the Holder is entitled
as indicated below; OR
|
·
|
To
instruct the Trustee to appoint a representative of the Company’s
management as proxy to exercise the votes to which the Holder is entitled
as indicated below; OR
|
·
|
To
instruct the Trustee to appoint the Holder, or the Holder’s designee as a
proxy to exercise personally the votes to which the Holder is entitled as
indicated below.
|
The
Holder directs that their Solana Exchangeable Shares be voted as
follows:
|
1. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Dana Coffield as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
2. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Jeffrey Scott as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
3. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Ray Antony as a director of the Company, to
serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
4. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Walter Dawson as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
5. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Verne Johnson as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
6. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect Nicholas G. Kirton as a director of the
Company, to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
7. VOTE FOR
_____ or WITHHOLD FROM
VOTING _____ to elect J. Scott Price as a director of the Company,
to serve for the ensuing year and until his successor is
elected.
|
8 VOTE
FOR _____ or VOTE
AGAINST _____ or
ABSTAIN FROM VOTING _____ to approve an amendment to Gran Tierra’s
articles of incorporation to increase the total authorized number of
shares of common stock from 300,000,000 to 570,000,000
shares.
|
9 VOTE
FOR _____ or VOTE
AGAINST _____ or
ABSTAIN FROM VOTING _____ to ratify the selection of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
independent auditors of the Company for its fiscal year ending December
31, 2009.
|
IMPORTANT
NOTE: IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, FOR OR AGAINST, THE HOLDER’S SOLANA
EXCHANGEABLE SHARES WILL NOT BE
VOTED
|
PLEASE
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
|
|
¨
|
Direct
the Trustee to Vote Solana Exchangeable Shares
The
holder hereby directs the Trustee to vote as indicated.
|
¨
|
Appointment
of Company Management as Proxy
The
Holder hereby appoints Martin Eden and Dana Coffield, as proxyholder of
the Holder, with power of substitution, and authorizes them to represent
and vote, as indicated above, all of the Solana Exchangeable Shares which
the Holder may be entitled to vote at the Meeting, and at any adjournment
or adjournments thereof and on every ballot that may take place in
consequence thereof, and with discretionary authority as to any other
matters that may properly come before the Meeting.
|
¨
|
Appointment
of the Holder, or the Holder’s Designee as Proxy
The
Holder hereby appoints _________________________________ as proxyholder of
the Holder and authorizes them to represent and vote, as indicated above,
all of the Solana Exchangeable Shares which the Holder may be entitled to
vote at the Meeting, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof and on
every ballot that may take place in consequence thereof, and with
discretionary authority as to any other matters that may properly come
before the Meeting.
|
IF
THE HOLDER DOES NOT COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOREGOING, COMPLETES MORE THAN ONE
OF THE FOREGOING OR COMPLETES THE THIRD SELECTION BUT DOES NOT SPECIFY A
DESIGNEE, THE HOLDER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE DIRECTED THE TRUSTEE TO VOTE
THEIR SOLANA EXCHANGEABLE SHARES AS
INDICATED.
|
DATED: ________________, 2009. |
Signature
of Holder
|
|
Name
of Holder
|
||
Number
of Exchangeable Shares
Held
|
1.
|
This
voting direction will not be valid and not be acted upon unless it is
completed as outlined herein and delivered to Computershare Trust Company
of Canada, 600, 530 - 8th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3S8, Canada, by
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 11, 2009, or not less than 48 hours before
the time set for the holding of any adjournment(s) thereof. The voting
direction is valid only for the Meeting or any adjournment(s) of the
Meeting.
|
2.
|
If
this voting direction is not signed by the Holder of Solana Exchangeable
Shares, the votes to which the Holder of the Solana Exchangeable Shares is
entitled will not be exercised.
|
3.
|
If
the Holder is a corporation, its corporate seal must be affixed or it must
be signed by an officer or attorney thereof duly
authorized.
|
4.
|
This
voting direction must be dated and the signature hereon should be exactly
the same as the name in which the Solana Exchangeable Shares are
registered.
|
5.
|
Persons
signing as executors, administrators, trustees, etc., should so indicate
and give their full title as such.
|
6.
|
A
holder who has submitted a voting direction may revoke it at any time
prior to the Meeting. In addition to revocation in any other manner
permitted by law a voting direction may be revoked by instrument in
writing executed by the Holder or his attorney authorized in writing or,
if the Holder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer
or attorney thereof duly authorized and deposited at the office of the
Trustee at any time up to and including the last business day preceding
the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof at which the voting
direction is to be acted upon or with a representative of the Trustee in
attendance at the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment
thereof, and upon either of such deposits, the voting direction is
revoked.
|