UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

Form 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of: May 2024

Commission File Number: 001-15160

 

 

BROOKFIELD CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant)

 

 

Brookfield Place

Suite 100

181 Bay Street, P.O. Box 762

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2T3

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F ☐   Form 40-F ☒

Exhibit 99.2 of this Form 6-K shall be incorporated by reference into the registration statements of Brookfield Corporation on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-182656, 333-261528, 333-274061, 333-276533-01 and 333-276534), on Form F-10 (File No. 333-267243) and on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-129631, 333-178260, 333-184108, 333-204848, 333-214948, 333-233871 and 333-268020).

 

 

 



SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

BROOKFIELD CORPORATION

Date: May 7, 2024     By:  

/s/ Swati Mandava

    Name:   Swati Mandava
    Title:   Managing Director, Legal & Regulatory

Exhibit 99.1

Brookfield Corporation

 

   
PROXY     CLASS A LIMITED VOTING  SHARES 

PROXY, solicited by management, for the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of Brookfield Corporation (the “Corporation”) to be held on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. (Toronto time), via live audio webcast online at https://web.lumiagm.com/427638314 (the “Meeting”) password “brookfield2024” (case sensitive), and at all adjournments thereof.

If you wish to appoint a proxyholder other than the Corporation’s nominees below YOU MUST enter the name of your proxyholder below AND call 1-866-751-6315 (within North America) or 416-682-3860 (outside of North America) or visit online at https://www.tsxtrust.com/control-number-request by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 5, 2024 and provide TSX Trust Company (“TSX Trust”) with the required information for your chosen proxyholder so that TSX Trust may provide the proxyholder with a control number via email. This control number will allow your proxyholder to log in to and vote at the Meeting. Without a control number your proxyholder will only be able to log in to the Meeting as a guest and will not be able to ask questions or vote.

The undersigned holder of Class A Limited Voting Shares of the Corporation hereby appoints FRANK J. MCKENNA, or failing him BRIAN D. LAWSON, (or in lieu thereof ________________________________________________), as proxy of the undersigned to attend and vote, in respect of all the Class A Limited Voting Shares registered in the name of the undersigned, at the Meeting, and at any adjournments thereof, with full power of substitution, on the following matters:

 

1.

Election of Directors (Mark either For or Withhold for each of the following seven nominees)

 

     For     Withhold         For    Withhold 
  01 – M. Elyse Allan            05 – Frank J. McKenna    
      02 – Angela F. Braly            06 – Hutham S. Olayan    
  03 – Janice Fukakusa            07 – Diana L. Taylor    
  04 – Maureen Kempston Darkes               

 

2.

Appointment of the External Auditor (Mark either (a) or (b))

(a)    FOR the appointment of Deloitte LLP as the external auditor and authorizing the directors to set its remuneration; or

(b)    WITHHOLD from voting in the appointment of Deloitte LLP as the external auditor and authorizing the directors to set its remuneration.

 

3.

Say on Pay Resolution (Mark either (a) or (b))

(a)    FOR the Say on Pay Resolution set out in the Management Information Circular of the Corporation dated April 25, 2024 (the “Circular”); or

(b)    AGAINST the Say on Pay Resolution set out in the Circular.

 

4.

BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution (Mark either (a) or (b))

(a)    FOR the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution set out in the Circular; or

(b)    AGAINST the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution set out in the Circular.

In addition, the undersigned appoints such person as proxy to vote and act as aforesaid upon any amendments or variations to the matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and on all other matters that may properly come before the Meeting. Unless otherwise specified above, the shares represented by this proxy will be voted by the persons whose names are printed above for the election as directors of all nominees for election by holders of the Class A Limited Voting Shares, for the appointment of Deloitte LLP as the external auditor, for the Say on Pay Resolution and for the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution set out in the Circular.

Name of Shareholder: ____________________________________________________________________________

Number of Class A Limited Voting Shares: ____________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________  Date: ___________________________, 2024.

Signature


NOTES:

 

1.

If this proxy is not dated in the space provided, it will be deemed to be dated as of the date on which it was mailed to you by management of the Corporation.

 

2.

If the shareholder is an individual, please sign exactly as your shares are registered.

 

If the shareholder is a corporation, this proxy must be executed by a duly authorized officer or attorney of the shareholder and, if the corporation has a corporate seal, its corporate seal should be affixed. If shares are registered in the name of an executor, administrator or trustee, please sign exactly as the shares are registered. If the shares are registered in the name of the deceased or other shareholder, the shareholder’s name must be printed in the space provided, the proxy must be signed by the legal representative with his/her name printed below his/her signature and evidence of authority to sign on behalf of the shareholder must be attached to this proxy.

 

3.

To be valid, this proxy must be signed, dated and deposited with the Secretary of the Corporation c/o TSX Trust Company via one of the below options, not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 or, if the Meeting is adjourned, 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before any adjournment of the Meeting: by mail, to Attention: Proxy Department, P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, Ontario M1S 0A1; by fax at 416-595-9593; by email, with a scanned copy to proxyvote@tmx.com; by telephone, toll-free at 1-888-489-5760 or by Internet, at www.meeting-vote.com and by following the instructions for electronic voting. A shareholder will be prompted to provide the control number printed near the preprinted name and address. The telephone voting service is not available on the day of the Meeting.

 

4.

A shareholder has the right to appoint a person (who need not be a shareholder) to represent the shareholder at the Meeting other than the management nominees named in this form of proxy. Such right may be exercised by inserting in the space provided the name of the other person the shareholder wishes to appoint and delivering the completed proxy to the Secretary of the Corporation, as set out above. In addition, YOU MUST call 1-866-751-6315 (within North America) or 416-682-3860 (outside of North America) or visit online at https://www.tsxtrust.com/control-number-request by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 5, 2024 and provide TSX Trust with the required information for your chosen proxyholder so that TSX Trust may provide the proxyholder with a control number via email. This control number will allow your proxyholder to log in to and vote at the Meeting. Without a control number your proxyholder will only be able to log in to the Meeting as a guest and will not be able to ask questions or vote.

 

5.

Reference is made to the Circular for further information regarding completion and use of this proxy and other information pertaining to the Meeting, including the right of a shareholder to cumulate his or her votes in the election of directors. Unless otherwise directed by the shareholder who has given the proxy, management intends to cast the votes to which the Class A Limited Voting Shares represented by such proxy are entitled equally among the proposed nominees for election by the holders of Class A Limited Voting Shares.

 

6.

If a share is held by two or more persons, any one of them present or represented by proxy at the Meeting may, in the absence of the other or others, vote in respect thereof, but if more than one of them are present or represented by proxy, they shall vote together in respect of each share so held.

 

7.

The shares represented by this proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and, if the shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted accordingly.

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO


  

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF

SHAREHOLDERS AND AVAILABILITY OF INVESTOR

MATERIALS

An Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of Brookfield Corporation (“BN”) will be held on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. (Toronto time) in a virtual meeting format via live audio webcast at: https://web.lumiagm.com/427638314, to:

 

  1.

receive the consolidated financial statements of BN for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including the external auditor’s report thereon;

 

  2.

elect directors who will serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders;

 

  3.

appoint the external auditor who will serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and authorize the directors to set its remuneration;

 

  4.

consider and, if thought advisable, pass an advisory resolution on BN’s approach to executive compensation; and

 

  5.

consider and, if thought advisable, pass a resolution approving the implementation by Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. (“BNRE”) of an escrowed stock plan permitting BNRE to award escrowed stock grants to certain executives or other individuals designated by the board of directors of BNRE, as described in our Management Information Circular dated April 25, 2024 (the “Circular”).

We will consider any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

This year’s meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. Shareholders will be able to listen to, participate in and vote at the meeting in real time through a web-based platform instead of attending the meeting in person. You can attend and vote at the virtual meeting by joining the live audio webcast at: https://web.lumiagm.com/427638314, entering your control number and password “brookfield2024” (case sensitive). See “Q&A on Voting” in the Circular for more information on how to listen, register for and vote at the meeting.

You have the right to vote at the meeting by online ballot through the live audio webcast platform if you were a shareholder of BN at the close of business on April 18, 2024. Before casting your vote, we encourage you to review the meeting’s business in the section “Business of the Meeting” of the Circular.

This year, we are again posting electronic versions of the Circular and our 2023 Annual Report (collectively, the “investor materials”) on our website for shareholder review – a process known as “Notice and Access”. Electronic copies of the investor materials may be accessed at https://bn.brookfield.com under “Notice and Access 2024” and at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar.

Under Notice and Access, if you would like paper copies of any investor materials, please contact us at 1-866-989-0311 or bn.enquiries@brookfield.com and we will mail materials free of charge within three business days of your request, provided the request is made before the date of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. In order to receive investor materials in advance of the deadline to submit your vote, we recommend that you contact us before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on May 22, 2024. All shareholders who have signed up for electronic delivery of the investor materials will continue to receive them by email.

Instructions on Voting at the Virtual Meeting

Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will be able to attend the virtual meeting and vote in real time, provided they are connected to the internet and follow the instructions in the Circular. See “Q&A on Voting” in the Circular. Non-registered shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder will be able to attend the virtual meeting as guests but will not be able to ask questions or vote at the meeting.

If you wish to appoint a person other than the management nominees identified in the form of proxy or voting instruction form (including if you are a non-registered shareholder who wishes to appoint themselves to attend the virtual meeting) you must carefully follow the instructions in the Circular and on the form of proxy or voting instruction form. See “Q&A on


  

 

 

Voting” in the Circular. These instructions include the additional step of registering your proxyholder with our transfer agent, TSX Trust Company, after submitting the form of proxy or voting instruction form. Failure to register the proxyholder with our transfer agent will result in the proxyholder not receiving a control number to participate in the virtual meeting and only being able to attend as a guest. Guests will be able to listen to the virtual meeting but will not be able to ask questions or vote.

Information for Registered Holders

Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders (including non-registered shareholders who have duly appointed themselves as proxyholder) that attend the meeting online will be able to vote by completing a ballot online during the meeting through the live webcast platform.

If you are not attending the virtual meeting and wish to vote by proxy, we must receive your vote by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. You can cast your proxy vote in the following ways:

 

   

On the Internet at www.meeting-vote.com;

   

Fax your signed proxy to (416) 595-9593;

   

Mail your signed proxy using the business reply envelope accompanying your proxy;

   

Scan and send your signed proxy to proxyvote@tmx.com; or

   

Call by telephone at 1-888-489-5760.

Information for Non-Registered Holders

Non-registered shareholders will receive a voting instruction form with their physical copy of this notice. If you wish to vote, but not attend the meeting, the voting instruction form must be completed, signed and returned in accordance with the directions on the form. You may also vote by telephone or on the Internet prior to the meeting by following the instructions on the voting instruction form.

If you wish to appoint a proxyholder, you must complete the additional step of registering the proxyholder by calling our transfer agent, TSX Trust Company, at 1-866-751-6315 (within North America) or (416) 682-3860 (outside of North America) or online at https://www.tsxtrust.com/control-number-request by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

By Order of the Board

 

 

LOGO

Swati Mandava

Corporate Secretary

April 25, 2024


  

 

 

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

To our shareholders,

On behalf of your Board of Directors, we are pleased to invite you to attend the 2024 annual and special meeting of Brookfield Corporation. This year’s meeting will occur at 10:30 a.m. (Toronto time) on Friday, June 7, 2024. You can read about the business of the meeting beginning on page 9 of the accompanying Management Information Circular. This Circular also provides important information on voting your shares at the meeting, our 14 director nominees, our corporate governance practices, and director and executive compensation. Additional details on how to access our live audio webcast and participate in our meeting can be found in the “Q&A on Voting” section of the Circular.

2023 Highlights1

In 2023, we generated distributable earnings before realizations of $4.2 billion or $2.66 per share, representing an increase of 12% per share over the prior year, after adjusting for the special distribution of 25% of our asset management business in December 2022. Earnings were supported by strong continued momentum in our asset management business, the scaling of our insurance solutions business, and the resilient performance of our operating businesses.

Our asset management business generated $2.6 billion of distributable earnings for the year, benefiting from strong fundraising across our flagship funds and complementary fund offerings. Against a more challenging fundraising backdrop, our fund strategies continued to resonate with our clients, leading to $93 billion of capital raised which, when combined with the approximately $50 billion anticipated upon the closing of American Equity Life (“AEL”) by Brookfield Reinsurance, brings the total to $143 billion. Fee-bearing capital ended the year at $457 billion, driving an increase in fee-related earnings of 6% compared to the prior year. Our fundraising outlook remains strong going into 2024, which should contribute to meaningful earnings growth for us.

Our insurance solutions business generated distributable operating earnings of $740 million for the year. Earnings were supported by the continued growth in our asset base and strong performance of our investment portfolio. We closed the acquisition of Argo Group in the fourth quarter and originated $8 billion of annuity sales during the year, increasing our insurance assets to approximately $60 billion. By leveraging our investment origination platform, we were able to generate an average investment portfolio yield on our insurance assets of 5.5% and maintain a spread of approximately 2% over our average cost of capital. As at the end of 2023, annualized earnings in this business were over $900 million. We expect to close the acquisition of AEL shortly, which will grow our insurance solutions business to over $100 billion of assets and take annualized earnings to $1.3 billion.

Our operating businesses delivered resilient cash flows, generating distributable earnings of $1.5 billion for the year. Cash distributions from our renewable power and transition, infrastructure and private equity businesses were supported by their strong growth in earnings. Our core real estate portfolio continues to outperform the broader market, with same-store net operating income growing by 7% compared to the prior year.

Amidst a more constrained market environment in 2023, we continued to see strong demand for the high-quality, cash-generative businesses and assets we own. During the year, we monetized over $30 billion of assets at strong valuations—substantially all transacting at values higher than our IFRS carrying values. Recent monetizations include the sale of Westinghouse at an implied enterprise value of approximately $8 billion and a landmark mixed-use asset in Paris for approximately $1 billion. These sales generated strong returns, and when combined with the sales completed earlier in the year, resulted in $570 million of net realized carried interest being recognized into income in 2023. Accumulated unrealized carried interest stood at $10 billion at year end.

In addition to generating solid financial results, our strong liquidity position and differentiated access to capital enabled us to remain active on the investment front. In total, we invested over $55 billion at excellent values in 2023, and we expect to reap the rewards of these contrarian investments for years to come.

 

 

1 We disclose a number of financial measures in this Circular that are calculated and presented using methodologies other than in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as well as certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements in accordance with Canadian and U.S. securities laws, as applicable. See the “Cautionary Statement Regarding the Use of Non-IFRS Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 80 of this Circular.


  

 

 

In spite of credit conditions being tighter in 2023, we maintained strong access to capital and executed on approximately $100 billion of financings across our business. Our financial strength has also allowed us to continue to allocate capital opportunistically to share repurchases. In 2023, we reinvested excess cash flow back into our businesses and returned $1.1 billion to shareholders through regular dividends and share repurchases, with total share buybacks amounting to more than $600 million. We plan to accelerate our share repurchases in 2024 if prices stay reasonable. We also announced the Board’s approval of an increase in our quarterly dividend by 14% to $0.08 per share from its previous level of $0.07 on the back of the strong growth in earnings that is expected for the business.

Our stock price was strong in 2023, increasing 29%. More importantly, the intrinsic value of the business continues to grow, which should enable us to deliver strong results over the long term. Furthermore, we believe the intrinsic value of a BN share today is significantly above the current share price, which these returns are based on; this offers shareholders a large margin of safety for investment at this point in time.

Board Developments

A key focus area of the Board continues to be sustainability management across our business. Our asset management business continues to engage with the Net Zero Asset Management Initiative and the Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures, and to work toward our commitment to the ambition of achieving net-zero. The Board also remains committed to developing and promoting diversity, including ethnic and gender diversity. We have exceeded our gender diversity target, of having at least 30% of the entire Board be represented by women, in each of the last four years. In addition, we continue to focus on ensuring that we have diversity of skills and experience among our directors that aligns with BN’s strategic priorities across different markets.

The Board remains focused on setting the strategic direction for the business of BN through capital allocation across its existing market leading businesses and evaluation of the next set of growth initiatives, with a view to further enhance returns for shareholders.

Shareholder Meeting

Please take time to read our Management Information Circular and determine how you will vote your shares. Your participation in our meeting is important to us and we encourage your engagement in this important process.

On behalf of the Board, I express our appreciation for your continued faith in us. We look forward to having you join us on June 7th.

Yours truly,

 

LOGO

The Honourable Frank J. McKenna

Chair

April 2024


  

 

 

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART ONE

  VOTING INFORMATION      1  
 

Who Can Vote

     1  
 

Notice and Access

     1  
 

Q & A on Voting

     2  
 

Principal Holders of Voting Shares

     7  

PART TWO

  BUSINESS OF THE MEETING      9  
 

1. Receiving the Consolidated Financial Statements

     9  
 

2. Election of Directors

     9  
 

Majority Voting Policy

     10  
 

Cumulative Voting for Directors

     10  
 

Voting by Proxy

     10  
 

Director Nominees

     10  
 

Summary of 2024 Nominees for Director

     18  
 

Director Ownership in Brookfield Entities

     20  
 

2023 Director Attendance

     20  
 

2023 Director Voting Results

     21  
 

3. Appointment of External Auditor

     21  
 

Principal Accounting Firm Fees

     22  
 

4. Advisory Resolution on Approach to Executive Compensation

     22  
 

2023 Results of the Advisory Resolution on BN’s Approach to Executive Compensation

     23  
 

Advisory Vote

     23  
 

5. BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan

     23  

PART THREE

  STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES      26  
 

Governance

     26  
 

Board of Directors

     26  
 

Committees of the Board

     31  
 

Board, Committee and Director Evaluation

     33  
 

Board and Management Responsibilities

     34  
 

Strategic Planning

     34  
 

Risk Management Oversight

     35  
 

Sustainability

     36  
 

Communication and Disclosure Policies

     42  
 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

     42  
 

Report of the Audit Committee

     44  
 

Report of the Governance and Nominating Committee

     46  
 

Report of the Management Resources and Compensation Committee

     47  
 

Report of the Risk Management Committee

     48  

PART FOUR

  DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AND EQUITY OWNERSHIP      49  
 

Director Compensation

     49  
 

Equity Ownership of Directors

     52  


  

 

 

PART FIVE

  COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS      53  
 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis Overview

     53  
 

Compensation Approach

     54  
 

Overview of the Business in 2023

     55  
 

Compensation Committee Governance

     56  
 

Key Elements of Compensation

     59  
 

Key Policies and Practices to Support Alignment

     63  
 

2023 Compensation Decisions

     67  
 

Five-year Compensation Review - Chief Executive Officer

     68  
 

Compensation of Named Executive Officers

     72  

PART SIX

  OTHER INFORMATION      79  
 

Indebtedness of Directors, Officers and Employees

     79  
 

Audit Committee

     79  
 

Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

     79  
 

Normal Course Issuer Bid

     79  
 

Cautionary Statement Regarding the Use of Non-IFRS Measures and Forward-Looking Statements

     80  
 

Availability of Disclosure Documents

     80  
 

Shareholder Proposals

     81  
 

Other Business

     81  
 

Directors’ Approval

     81  

APPENDIX A

  CHARTER OF THE BOARD      A-1  

APPENDIX B

  BNRE ESCROWED STOCK PLAN RESOLUTION      B-1  


  

 

 

PART ONE – VOTING INFORMATION

This Management Information Circular (“Circular”) is provided in connection with the solicitation by management of Brookfield Corporation (“BN,” “we,” or “our” and any reference to “Brookfield” shall include BN and Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (“BAM”), collectively) of proxies for the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of BN (the “meeting”) referred to in BN’s Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders and Availability of Investor Materials dated April 25, 2024 (the “Notice”) to be held in a virtual meeting format only on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. (Toronto time). The meeting will be broadcast live by audio webcast. See “Q&A on Voting” on page 2 of this Circular for further information.

This solicitation will be made primarily by sending proxy materials to shareholders by mail and email, and in relation to the delivery of this Circular, by posting this Circular on our website at https://bn.brookfield.com under “Notice and Access 2024”, on our System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval + (“SEDAR+”) profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on our Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”) profile at www.sec.gov/edgar pursuant to Notice and Access. See “Notice and Access” below for further information. Proxies may also be solicited personally or by telephone by regular employees of BN at nominal cost. The cost of solicitation will be borne by BN.

The information in this Circular is given as at April 18, 2024, unless otherwise indicated. As BN operates in U.S. dollars and reports its financial results in U.S. dollars, all financial information in this Circular is denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated. All references to £ are to British pound sterling and all references to C$ are to Canadian dollars. For comparability, all Canadian dollar amounts in this Circular have been converted to U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for 2023 as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) of C$1.00 = US$0.7411, unless otherwise indicated.

Who Can Vote

As at April 18, 2024, BN had 1,642,086,272 Class A Limited Voting Shares (“Class A Shares”) and 85,120 Class B Limited Voting Shares (“Class B Shares”) outstanding. The Class A Shares are co-listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol “BN”. The Class B Shares are all privately held (see “Principal Holders of Voting Shares” on page 7 of this Circular for further information). Each registered holder of record of Class A Shares and Class B Shares as at the close of business on Thursday, April 18, 2024 (the “Record Date”) is entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting. Except as otherwise provided in this Circular, each holder of a Class A Share or Class B Share on such date shall be entitled to vote on all matters to come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, either in person or by proxy.

The share conditions for the Class A Shares and Class B Shares provide that, subject to applicable law and in addition to any other required shareholder approvals, all matters to be approved by shareholders (other than the election of directors) must be approved by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Class A Shares and by the holders of Class B Shares who vote in respect of the resolution, each voting as a separate class.

Holders of Class A Shares are entitled, as a class, to elect one-half of the board of directors of BN (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”), and holders of Class B Shares are entitled, as a class, to elect the other one-half of the Board. See “Election of Directors” on page 9 of this Circular for further information.

Notice and Access

BN is using the Notice and Access provisions of National Instrument 54-101Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer and National Instrument 51-102Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“Notice and Access”) to provide meeting materials electronically for both registered and non-registered shareholders. Instead of mailing meeting materials to shareholders, BN has posted this Circular and form of proxy on its website at https://bn.brookfield.com under “Notice and Access 2024”, in addition to posting it on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/ edgar. BN has sent the Notice and a form of proxy or voting instruction form (collectively, the “Notice Package”) to all shareholders informing them that this Circular is available online and explaining how this Circular may be accessed. BN will not directly send the Notice Package to non-registered shareholders. Instead, BN will pay Intermediaries (as defined on page 3 of this Circular) to forward the Notice Package to all non-registered shareholders.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 1


  

 

 

BN has elected to utilize Notice and Access because it allows for a reduction in the use of printed paper materials, and is therefore consistent with BN’s philosophy towards sustainability. Additionally, adopting Notice and Access has significantly lowered printing and mailing costs associated with BN’s shareholder meetings.

Registered and non-registered shareholders who have signed up for electronic delivery of this Circular and BN’s Annual Report dated March 18, 2024 (which includes management’s discussion and analysis and consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) (the “Annual Report”) will continue to receive them by email. No shareholders will receive a paper copy of this Circular unless they contact BN at 1-866-989-0311 or bn.enquiries@brookfield.com, in which case BN will mail this Circular within three business days of any request, provided the request is made before the date of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. We must receive your request before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on May 22, 2024 to ensure you will receive paper copies in advance of the deadline to submit your vote. If your request is made after the meeting and within one year of this Circular being filed, BN will mail this Circular within 10 calendar days of such request.

Q & A on Voting

What am I voting on?

 

Resolution

   Who Votes    Board Recommendation

Election of 7 of the Directors

   Class A Shareholders    FOR each Director Nominee

Election of 7 of the Directors

   Class B Shareholders    FOR each Director Nominee

Appointment of the External Auditor and

authorizing Directors to set its remuneration

  

Class A Shareholders

Class B Shareholders

   FOR the resolution

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

   Class A Shareholders    FOR the resolution

Approval of BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan

  

Class A Shareholders

Class B Shareholders

   FOR the resolution

Who is entitled to vote?

Holders of Class A Shares and holders of Class B Shares as at the close of business on April 18, 2024 are each entitled to one vote per share on the items of business as identified above.

Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will be able to attend the virtual meeting, submit questions and vote in real time, provided they are connected to the internet, have a control number and follow the instructions in the Circular. Non-registered shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder will be able to attend the virtual meeting as guests but will not be able to ask questions or vote at the virtual meeting.

Shareholders who wish to appoint a person other than the management nominees identified in the form of proxy or voting instruction form (including a non-registered shareholder who wishes to appoint themselves to attend the virtual meeting) must carefully follow the instructions in the Circular and on their form of proxy or voting instruction form. These instructions include the additional step of registering such proxyholder with our transfer agent, TSX Trust Company (“TSX Trust”), after submitting the form of proxy or voting instruction form by calling TSX Trust at 1-866-751-6315 (within North America) or (416) 682-3860 (outside North America) or online at https://www.tsxtrust.com/control-number-request no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 5, 2024 and providing TSX Trust with information on your appointee. TSX Trust will provide your appointee with a 13 digit control number which will allow your appointee to log in to and vote at the meeting. Failure to register the proxyholder with our transfer agent will result in the proxyholder not receiving a 13 digit control number to participate in the virtual meeting and only being able to attend as a guest. Guests will be able to listen to the virtual meeting but will not be able to ask questions or vote.

Am I a registered shareholder or a non-registered shareholder?

Registered shareholders have a share certificate or Direct Registration System statement issued in their name or appear as the registered shareholder on the books of BN.

Non-registered shareholders are beneficial owners of shares of BN that are not registered shareholders. In many cases, Class A Shares that are beneficially owned by a non-registered shareholder are registered either:

 

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  a.

in the name of an intermediary such as a bank, trust company, securities dealer, broker or other intermediary (each, an “Intermediary” and collectively, “Intermediaries”) with whom the non-registered shareholder maintains an account, or a trustee or administrator of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs and similar plans; or

 

  b.

in the name of a depository such as CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. (“CDS”) or the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), of which the Intermediary is a participant.

If you are a non-registered shareholder and your shares are held in the name of an Intermediary, see “If my shares are not registered in my name but are held in the name of an Intermediary, how do I vote my shares?” on page 6 of this Circular for voting instructions.

If you are not sure whether you are a registered or non-registered shareholder, please contact TSX Trust. See “How do I contact the transfer agent?” on page 6 of this Circular.

How do I vote?

Holders of Class A Shares and holders of Class B Shares of BN can vote in one of two ways, as follows:

 

   

by submitting your voting instructions prior to the meeting, or

 

   

during the meeting by online ballot through the live webcast platform

What if I plan to attend the meeting and vote by online ballot?

If you are a registered shareholder or a duly appointed proxyholder (including non-registered shareholders who have duly appointed themselves as proxyholder by following the instructions under the heading “If my shares are not registered in my name but are held in the name of an Intermediary, how do I vote my shares?” on page 6 of this Circular), you can attend and vote during the meeting by completing an online ballot through the live webcast platform. Guests (including non-registered shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder) can log into the meeting. Guests will be able to listen to the meeting but will not be able to ask questions or vote during the virtual meeting.

In order to attend the virtual meeting, you will need to complete the following steps:

Step 1: Log in online at: https://web.lumiagm.com/427638314

Step 2: Follow these instructions:

Registered shareholders: Click “I have a login” and then enter your 13 digit control number and password “brookfield2024” (case sensitive). The 13 digit control number located on the form of proxy or in the email notification you received from TSX Trust is your control number. If you use your control number to log in to the meeting, any vote you cast at the meeting will revoke any proxy you previously submitted. If you do not wish to revoke a previously submitted proxy, you should not vote during the meeting.

Duly appointed proxyholders: Click “I have a login” and then enter your 13 digit control number and password “brookfield2024” (case sensitive). Proxyholders who have been duly appointed and registered with TSX Trust as described in this Circular will receive a 13 digit control number by email from TSX Trust after the proxy voting deadline has passed.

Guests: Click “I am a Guest” and then complete the online form.

The meeting website will be accessible 60 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. It is important that all attendees log in to the meeting website at least ten minutes prior to the start of the meeting to allow enough time to complete the log in process. You will need the latest versions of Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox. Please ensure your browser is compatible by logging in early. Please do not use Internet Explorer.

Internal network security protocols including firewalls and VPN connections may block access to the Lumi platform for the meeting. If you are experiencing any difficulty connecting to or watching the meeting, ensure your VPN setting is disabled or use a computer on a network not restricted to security settings of your organization.

 

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What if I plan to vote by proxy in advance of the meeting?

If you are a registered shareholder, you can vote by proxy up to 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 (or 48 hours prior to the time of any adjourned meeting), as follows:

 

   

to vote by internet, accessing www.meeting-vote.com and following the instructions for electronic voting. You will need your control number;

 

   

sign the form of proxy sent to you and vote or withhold from voting your shares at the meeting and submit your executed proxy via any of the following options:

 

  i.

by mail: in the envelope provided or in one addressed to TSX Trust Company, Attention: Proxy Department, P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, Ontario M1S 0A1;

 

  ii.

by fax: to (416) 595-9593; or

 

  iii.

by email: scan and send the proxy to proxyvote@tmx.com.

You can appoint the persons named in the form of proxy or some other person (who need not be a shareholder of BN) to represent you as proxyholder at the meeting by writing the name of this person (or company) in the blank space on the form of proxy. If you wish to appoint a person other than the management nominees identified in the form of proxy, you will need to complete the additional step of registering your proxyholder by calling TSX Trust at 1-866-751-6315 (within North America) or (416) 682-3860 (outside of North America) or online at https://www.tsxtrust.com/control-number-request by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

 

   

to vote by telephone, call toll-free at 1-888-489-5760. You will be prompted to provide the control number printed on the form of proxy sent to you. The telephone voting service is not available on the day of the meeting.

If you are a non-registered shareholder and your shares are held in the name of an Intermediary, to direct the votes of shares beneficially owned, see “If my shares are not registered in my name but are held in the name of an Intermediary, how do I vote my shares?” on page 6 of this Circular for voting instructions.

Who is soliciting my proxy?

The proxy is being solicited by management of BN and the associated costs will be borne by BN.

What happens if I sign the proxy sent to me?

Signing the proxy appoints Frank J. McKenna or Brian D. Lawson, each of whom is a director of BN, or another person you have appointed, to vote or withhold from voting your shares at the meeting.

Can I appoint someone other than these directors to vote my shares?

Yes, you may appoint another person or company other than the BN directors named on the form of proxy or voting instruction form to be your proxyholder. Write the name of this person (or company) in the blank space on the form of proxy or voting instruction form. The person you appoint does not need to be a shareholder. Please make sure that such other person you appoint is attending the meeting and knows he or she has been appointed to vote your shares. You will need to complete the additional step of registering such proxyholder with our transfer agent, TSX Trust, after submitting the form of proxy or voting instruction form. See “If my shares are not registered in my name but are held in the name of an Intermediary, how do I vote my shares?” on page 6 of this Circular for instructions on registering your proxy with TSX Trust.

What do I do with my completed form of proxy?

Return it to TSX Trust in the envelope provided to you by mail, by fax at (416) 595-9593 or scan and send by email to proxyvote@tmx.com no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, which is two business days before the day of the meeting.

 

 

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Can I vote by Internet in advance of the meeting?

Yes. If you are a registered shareholder, go to www.meeting-vote.com and follow the instructions on this website. You will need your control number (located on the form of proxy) to identify yourself to the system. You must submit your vote by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, which is two business days before the day of the meeting.

If you are a non-registered shareholder and your Intermediary makes this option available, go to www.proxyvote.com and follow the instructions on this website. You will need your control number (located on the voting instruction form) to identify yourself to the system. You must submit your vote by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, which is one business day before the proxy deposit date of June 5, 2024. Refer to the instructions on your voting instruction form for more details.

If I change my mind, can I submit another proxy or take back my proxy once I have given it?

Yes. If you are a registered shareholder, you may deliver another properly executed form of proxy with a later date to replace the original proxy in the same way you delivered the original proxy. If you wish to revoke your proxy, prepare a written statement to this effect signed by you (or your attorney as authorized in writing) or, if the shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by a duly authorized officer or attorney of the corporation. This statement must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of BN at the address below no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the last business day preceding the date of the meeting, Thursday, June 6, 2024, or any adjournment of the meeting, or to the Chair of the Board (the “Chair”) prior to the start of the meeting on Friday, June 7, 2024, or the day of the adjourned meeting. You may also vote during the virtual meeting by submitting an online ballot, which will revoke your previous proxy.

Corporate Secretary

Brookfield Corporation

Brookfield Place, Suite 100

181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3

If you are a non-registered shareholder, you may revoke a voting instruction form previously given to an Intermediary at any time by written notice to the Intermediary. An Intermediary is not required to act on a revocation of a voting instruction form unless they receive it at least seven calendar days before the meeting. A non-registered shareholder may then submit a revised voting instruction form in accordance with the directions on the form.

How can I request electronic delivery of investor materials?

To opt for electronic distribution of investor materials, complete the request for electronic delivery of materials form enclosed with the Notice Package and return it by mail to TSX Trust Company, 301 – 100 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4H1; or by fax at (514) 985-8843 or 1-888-249-6189. You can also submit your request online by visiting TSX Trust’s website: services.tsxtrust.com/edelivery.

How will my shares be voted if I give my proxy?

The persons named on the form of proxy must vote your shares for or against or withhold from voting, in accordance with your directions, or you can let your proxyholder decide for you. If you specify a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, your shares will be voted accordingly. In the absence of voting directions, proxies received by management will be voted in favor of all resolutions put before shareholders of the meeting. See “Business of the Meeting” on page 9 of this Circular for further information.

What if amendments are made to these matters or if other matters are brought before the meeting?

The persons named on the proxy will have discretionary authority with respect to amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the meeting.

As at the date of this Circular, management of BN is not aware of any amendment, variation or other matter expected to come before the meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named on the form of proxy will vote on them in accordance with their best judgment.

 

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Who counts the votes?

BN’s transfer agent, TSX Trust, counts and tabulates the proxies.

How do I contact the transfer agent?

For general shareholder enquiries, you can contact TSX Trust as follows:

 

Mail

  

 Telephone/Fax

 

 Online

     

 

TSX Trust Company

301-100 Adelaide Street West

Toronto, Ontario M5H 4H1

  

 

 Tel: (416) 682-3860

 within Canada and the United States

 toll free at 1-800-387-0825

 Fax: 1-888-249-6189 or

 (514) 985-8843

 

 

 Email: shareholderinquiries@tmx.com

 

 Website: www.tsxtrust.com

If my shares are not registered in my name but are held in the name of an Intermediary, how do I vote my shares?

Your Intermediary is required to send you a voting instruction form for the number of shares you beneficially own. Non-registered shareholders should follow the instructions on the forms they receive and contact their Intermediaries promptly if they need assistance.

A non-registered shareholder who does not wish to attend and vote at the meeting and wishes to vote prior to the meeting must complete and sign the voting instruction form and return it in accordance with the directions on the form. If your Intermediary makes these options available, you may also vote by telephone prior to the meeting by following the directions on the voting instruction form or on the Internet prior to the meeting by going to www.proxyvote.com and following the instructions on this website. See “Can I vote by Internet in advance of the meeting?” on page 5 of this Circular.

Since BN has limited access to the names of its non-registered shareholders, if you attend the virtual meeting, BN may have no record of your shareholdings or of your entitlement to vote unless your Intermediary has appointed you as proxyholder. Therefore, if you wish to vote by online ballot at the meeting, you will need to complete the following steps:

Step 1: insert your name in the space provided on the voting instruction form and return it by following the instructions provided therein.

Step 2: you must complete the additional step of registering yourself (or your appointees other than if your appointees are the management nominees) as the proxyholder by calling TSX Trust at 1-866-751-6315 (within North America) or (416) 682-3860 (outside of North America) or online at https://www.tsxtrust.com/control-number-request by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Failing to register as a proxyholder will result in the proxyholder not receiving a control number, which is required to vote at the meeting. Non-registered shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder will not be able to vote at the meeting but will be able to participate as a guest.

BN has distributed copies of the Notice Package to CDS and DTC and to Intermediaries for onward distribution to non-registered shareholders. Intermediaries are required to forward the Notice Package to non-registered shareholders.

 

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Principal Holders of Voting Shares

For over 50 years, executives of BN have held a substantial portion of their investment in Class A Shares in partnership with one another, as well as stewardship of the Class B Shares, which we refer to as the “Partnership”. The Partnership’s members include both current and former senior executives of BN and its affiliates (each, a “Partner” and collectively, the “Partners”). The Partnership has been, and continues to be, instrumental in ensuring orderly management succession of BN while fostering a culture of strong governance and mutual respect, a commitment to collective excellence and achievement, and a focus on long-term value creation for all stakeholders.

We believe that the Partnership promotes decision-making that is entrepreneurial, aligned with the long-term interests of BN, and collaborative. The financial strength and sustainability of the Partnership is characterized by a consistent focus on renewal – longstanding members mentoring new generations of leaders and financially supporting their admission as partners. This is a critical component to preserving our culture and vision.

Over several decades, and through economic downturns and financial disruptions, the Partnership has proven itself resolutely focused on the long-term success of BN for the benefit of all stakeholders. This long-term focus is considered critical to the sustainability of BN.

The Partners collectively own interests in approximately 322.2 million Class A Shares (on a fully diluted basis). These economic interests consist primarily of (i) the direct ownership of Class A Shares, as well as indirect ownership (such as Class A Shares that are held through holding companies and by foundations), by the Partners on an individual basis; (ii) ownership of class A exchangeable limited voting shares (“BNRE Class A Shares”) and class A-1 exchangeable non-voting shares (“BNRE Class A-1 Shares” and together with the BNRE Class A Shares, the “Exchangeable Class A Shares”) of Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. (“BNRE”), each of which are exchangeable for Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis; and (iii) the Partners’ proportionate beneficial interests in Class A Shares held by Partners Value Investments L.P. (“PVI”). PVI is a publicly-listed investment partnership whose principal business activity is owning equity interests in Brookfield for the long-term. Approximately 89% of PVI’s equity units are owned by the Partners. PVI owns approximately 129.1 million Class A Shares (including Exchangeable Class A Shares).

In order to further reinforce the long-term stability of ownership of the Class B Shares, a group of longstanding senior leaders of the Partnership have been designated to oversee stewardship of the Class B Shares. Under these arrangements, the Class B Shares are held in a trust (the “BN Partnership”). The beneficial interests in the BN Partnership, and the voting interests in its trustee, are held as follows: one-third by Mr. Bruce Flatt, one-third by Mr. Jack L. Cockwell, and one-third jointly by Messrs. Brian W. Kingston, Brian D. Lawson, Cyrus Madon, Samuel J.B. Pollock and Sachin Shah in equal parts. As such, no single individual or entity controls the BN Partnership. The BN Partnership owns 85,120 Class B Shares, representing 100% of the Class B Shares.

In the event of a fundamental disagreement in the BN Partnership (and until the disagreement is resolved), three individuals have been granted the authority to govern and direct the actions of the BN Partnership. These individuals are, and their successors are required to be, longstanding and respected business colleagues associated with Brookfield. The individuals, at the current time, none of whom are Partners, are Marcel R. Coutu, Frank J. McKenna and Lord O’Donnell.

Under these arrangements, the BN Partnership is a party to the Trust Agreement with Montreal Trust Company of Canada (now operating as Computershare Trust Company of Canada) as trustee for the holders of Class A Shares, dated August 1, 1997 (the “1997 Agreement”). The 1997 Agreement provides, among other things, that the BN Partnership not sell any Class B Shares, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a takeover bid at a price per share in excess of 115% of the market price of the Class A Shares or as part of a transaction involving purchases made from more than five persons or companies in the aggregate, unless a concurrent offer is made to all holders of Class A Shares.

The concurrent offer must be: (i) for the same percentage of Class A Shares as the percentage of Class B Shares offered to be purchased from the BN Partnership; (ii) at a price per share at least as high as the highest price per share paid pursuant to the takeover bid for the Class B Shares; and (iii) on the same terms in all material respects as the offer for the Class B Shares. These provisions in the 1997 Agreement also apply to any transaction that would be deemed an indirect offer for the Class B Shares under the takeover bid provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario). Additionally, the BN Partnership will agree to prevent any person or company from carrying out a direct or indirect sale of Class B Shares in contravention of the 1997 Agreement.

 

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To the knowledge of the directors and officers of BN, there are no other persons or corporations that beneficially own, exercise control or direction over, have contractual arrangements such as options to acquire, or otherwise hold voting securities of BN carrying more than 10% of the votes attached to any class of outstanding voting securities of BN.

 

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PART TWO – BUSINESS OF THE MEETING

We will address five items at the meeting:

 

  1.

receiving the consolidated financial statements of BN for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including the external auditor’s report thereon;

 

  2.

electing directors who will serve until the end of the next annual meeting of shareholders;

 

  3.

appointing the external auditor that will serve until the end of the next annual meeting of shareholders and authorizing the directors to set its remuneration;

 

  4.

considering an advisory resolution on BN’s approach to executive compensation; and

 

  5.

considering a resolution (the “BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution”) authorizing the implementation by BNRE of an escrowed stock plan (the “BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan”) permitting BNRE to award escrowed stock grants to certain executives or other individuals designated by the board of directors of BNRE.

We will also consider other business that may properly come before the meeting.

As at the date of this Circular, management is not aware of any changes to these items and does not expect any other items to be brought forward at the meeting. If there are changes or new items, you or your proxyholder can vote your shares on these items as you or your proxyholder sees fit. The persons named on the form of proxy will have discretionary authority with respect to any changes or new items which may properly come before the meeting and will vote on them in accordance with their best judgment.

 

1.

Receiving the Consolidated Financial Statements

The annual financial statements of BN for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 are included in the Annual Report. The Annual Report is available on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com under “Notice and Access 2024”, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar, and is being mailed to BN’s registered shareholders and non-registered shareholders who have contacted BN to request a paper copy of the Annual Report. Shareholders who have signed up for electronic delivery of the Annual Report will receive it by email.

 

2.

Election of Directors

The Board is comprised of 14 members, all of whom are to be elected at the meeting. Holders of Class A Shares are entitled, as a class, to elect one-half of the Board, and holders of Class B Shares are entitled, as a class, to elect the other one-half of the Board.

If you own Class A Shares, you can vote on the election of seven directors. The following persons are proposed as nominees for election by the holders of Class A Shares:

 

•  M. Elyse Allan

  

•  Janice Fukakusa

  

•  Frank J. McKenna

  

•  Diana L. Taylor

•  Angela F. Braly

  

•  Maureen Kempston Darkes

  

•  Hutham S. Olayan

    

If you own Class B Shares, you can vote on the election of seven directors. The following persons are proposed as nominees for election by the holders of Class B Shares:

 

•  Howard S. Marks

  

•  Lord O’Donnell

  

•  Jack L. Cockwell

  

•  Brian D. Lawson

•  Rafael Miranda

  

•  Jeffrey M. Blidner

  

•  Bruce Flatt

    

 

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Majority Voting Policy

The Board has adopted a policy stipulating that, if the total number of shares voted in favor of the election of a director nominee represents less than a majority of the total shares voted and withheld for that director (in each case, not on the cumulative basis described in the section “Cumulative Voting for Directors” on page 10 of this Circular), the nominee will tender his or her resignation immediately after the meeting. Within 90 days of the meeting, the Board will determine whether or not to accept a director’s resignation and will issue a press release announcing the Board’s decision, a copy of which will be provided to the TSX. Absent exceptional circumstances, the Board will accept the resignation. The resignation will be effective when accepted by the Board. If the Board determines not to accept a resignation, the press release will fully state the reasons for that decision. A director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in a Board meeting at which the resignation is considered. The majority voting policy does not apply in circumstances involving contested director elections.

Cumulative Voting for Directors

The articles of BN provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Each shareholder of a class or series of shares of BN entitled to vote for the election of directors has the right to cast a number of votes equal to the number of votes attached to the shares held by the holder, multiplied by the number of directors to be elected by the shareholder and the holders of shares of the classes or series of shares entitled to vote with the shareholder in the election of directors. The shareholder may cast all of its votes in favor of one candidate or distribute such votes among the candidates in any manner the shareholder sees fit. Where the shareholder has voted for more than one candidate without specifying the distribution of votes among the candidates, the shareholder will be deemed to have distributed its votes equally among the candidates for whom the shareholder voted.

A shareholder who wishes to distribute its votes other than equally among the nominees and who has appointed the management representatives designated on the proxy must do so personally at the virtual meeting or by another proper form of proxy, which can be obtained from the Corporate Secretary of BN.

Voting by Proxy

The management representatives designated on the proxy to be completed by holders of Class A Shares intend to cast the votes represented by such proxy FOR and equally among the proposed nominees for election by the holders of Class A Shares as set forth on pages 11 to 14 of this Circular, unless the shareholder who has given such proxy has directed that such shares be otherwise voted or withheld from voting in the election of directors.

The management representatives designated on the proxy to be completed by the holder of Class B Shares intend to

cast the votes represented by such proxy FOR and equally among the proposed nominees for election by the holder of Class B Shares as set forth on pages 14 to 17 of this Circular.

Director Nominees

All 14 director nominees were elected as members of the Board at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 9, 2023 and are standing for re-election. The Board recommends that the 14 director nominees be elected at the meeting to serve as directors of BN until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed.

The Board believes that the collective qualifications, skills and experiences of the director nominees allow for BN to continue to maintain a well-functioning Board with a diversity of perspectives. The Board’s view is that, individually and as a whole, the director nominees have the necessary qualifications to be effective at overseeing the business and strategy of BN.

We do not expect that any of the director nominees will be unable to serve as a director. If a director nominee tells us before the meeting that he or she will not be able to serve as a director, the management representatives designated on the form of proxy, unless directed to withhold from voting in the election of directors, reserve the right to vote for other director nominees at their discretion.

Each director’s biography contains information about the director, including his or her background and experience, BN shareholdings and other public company board positions held, as at April 18, 2024. See “Director Share and DSU Ownership Requirements” on page 52 of this Circular for further information on director share ownership requirements.

 

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The following seven individuals are nominated for election as directors by the holders of BN’s Class A Shares.

 

 

LOGO

 

M. Elyse Allan,  C.M.(a)

Age: 66

Director since: 2015

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience, Government and Public Policy, Energy and Power, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Natural Resources

 

 

Ms. Allan is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric Canada Company Inc., a digital industrial company, a position she held from 2004 until June 2018, and a former Vice-President of General Electric Co. She currently serves as Vice Chair of Ontario Health, and recently completed her term as director of MaRS Discovery District, founding Chair of Invest Ontario and Chair of The Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College Board of Advisors. Ms. Allan is a Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and serves on its National Advisory Board. She has served on a number of boards for Canadian companies, associations and public policy organizations. In 2014, Ms. Allan was appointed Member of the Order of Canada.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
 

 

Board

  Brookfield Corporation    2015 – Present
 

 

Risk Management Committee

 

        
 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs    Date at which Share Ownership Guideline is to be  Met(f)
  2024    1,503    50,788         
  2023    1,503    46,949   52,291    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

3,839

 

        

 

 

LOGO

 

Angela F. Braly(a)

Age: 62

Director since: 2015

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience,

Government and Public

Policy, Healthcare,

Insurance

 

 

 

Ms. Braly is the former Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of WellPoint, Inc. (“WellPoint”), a health benefits company now known as Elevance Health Inc. She was Chair of the Board of WellPoint from 2010 to 2012 and President and Chief Executive Officer and a Board member from 2007 to 2012. Prior to that, Ms. Braly served as Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and Chief Public Affairs Officer of WellPoint and President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
  Board   Brookfield Corporation    2015 – Present
  Audit Committee  

Exxon Mobil Corporation

 

The Procter & Gamble Company

 

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

  

2016 – Present

 

2009 – Present(n)

 

2013 – 2021

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024       65,390         
  2023       57,311   65,390    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

8,079

 

        

 

 

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LOGO

Janice Fukakusa C.M., 

F.C.P.A., F.C.A.(a)

Age: 69

Director since: 2020

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CFO experience,

Government and Public

Policy, Financial

Services, Economic

Policy

 

 

Ms. Fukakusa, is the former Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”), positions she held for approximately 10 years. She was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2004 and then became Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer in 2009. In addition to her roles as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Fukakusa served in various other senior positions during her over 30-year tenure with RBC, including within the retail and business banking, corporate banking and corporate finance functions. She currently serves as the Chancellor and Board member of Toronto Metropolitan University, Board Chair and director of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, is past Chair of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and past founding Chair of Canadian Infrastructure Bank, a Crown Corporation. Ms. Fukakusa was appointed Member of the Order of Canada in 2021.

 

Ms. Fukakusa is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant, who currently serves on the audit committee of three other public companies, in addition to her service on Brookfield’s Audit Committee. Given Ms. Fukakusa’s previous CFO and CAO experience coupled with her professional training, the Board has determined that her simultaneous service on the audit committees of three other public companies will not impair her ability to effectively serve on Brookfield’s Audit Committee and shareholders would benefit from her expertise.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
  Board   Brookfield Corporation    2020 – Present
 

 

Audit Committee, Chair

 

 

 

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust

 

Loblaw Companies Limited

 

Cineplex Inc.

  

 

2021 – Present

 

2019 – Present

 

2017 – Present

 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)       DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs    Date at which Share Ownership Guideline is to be Met(f)
  2024    25,306    23,859         
  2023    25,306    15,835   49,165    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

8,024

 

        

 

 

LOGO

Maureen Kempston

Darkes, O.C., O.Ont.(a)

Age: 75

Director since: 2008

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience,

Government and Public

Policy, International

Affairs, Infrastructure,

Energy and Power

 

 

Ms. Kempston Darkes is the retired Group Vice-President and President, Latin America, Africa and Middle East of General Motors Corporation, a motor vehicle manufacturer. She was appointed to the Government of Canada’s Science, Technology & Innovation Council in 2013. In 2000, Ms. Kempston Darkes was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
  Board   Brookfield Corporation    2008 – Present
 

 

Risk Management Committee, Chair

 

Management Resources and Compensation Committee

 

 

 

Enbridge Inc.

 

Canadian National Railway Company

 

  

 

2010 – 2021

 

1995 – 2021

 

 

 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024       105,413         
  2023       100,935   105,413    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

4,478

 

      

 

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 12


  

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Frank J. McKenna,

P.C., O.C., O.N.B. (a)

Age: 76

Director since: 2006

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

Government and Public Policy, Energy and Power, Manufacturing, Natural Resources

 

 

Mr. McKenna is Chair of the Board of Brookfield Corporation, a position he has held since August 2010. Mr. McKenna is Deputy Chair of TD Bank Group, a financial institution, a position he has held since 2006 and currently serves as Chair of the compensation committee for Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s Board of Directors. Mr. McKenna is a former Ambassador of Canada to the U.S.A. and was elected as Premier of the Province of New Brunswick from 1987 until 1997.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
 

 

Board, Chair

  Brookfield Corporation    2006 – Present
 

 

Governance and Nominating Committee, Chair

 

 

Anaergia Inc.

 

Canadian Natural Resources Limited

  

 

2020 – Present

 

2006 – Present

  Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed
  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be Met(f)

  2024    6,405    351,285         
  2023    6,405    332,004   357,690    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

19,281

 

        

 

 

LOGO

 

Hutham S. Olayan(a)

Age: 70

Director since: 2021

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience, Asset Management,

International Affairs,

Infrastructure, Financial

Services, Real Estate

 

 

Ms. Olayan is Chair of the Corporate Board of The Olayan Group (the “Group”), a private international investor that also has commercial operations in the Middle East. She has been a director of the Group since 1981. As President and CEO of Olayan America and its US affiliates, she led the Group’s investment activity in the Americas for more than 30 years, until her retirement from that role in January 2018.

 

Ms. Olayan serves on the board of the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics and the board of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center among other private and public memberships. Ms. Olayan is Trustee Emeritus of the American University of Beirut, as well as a member of AUB’s International Advisory Council. She is also a member of the Stanford University Global Advisory Council.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
  Board  

 

Brookfield Corporation

  

 

2021 – Present

 

 

Governance and Nominating Committee

 

Risk Management Committee

 

 

Morgan Stanley

 

International Business Machines

Corporation (IBM)

  

 

2006 – 2021

 

2016 – 2019

 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share Ownership Guideline is to be Met(f)

  2024    35,000    18,339         
  2023    35,000    10,291   53,339    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

8,048

 

        

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 13


  

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Diana L. Taylor(a)(l)

Age: 69

Director since: 2012

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

Government and Public Policy, Financial Services, Real Estate

 

 

Ms. Taylor started her career as an investment banker for 15 years, and then moved to private equity. She also served as the Superintendent of Banks for the State of New York, Deputy Secretary to the Governor of New York and Chief Financial Officer for the Long Island Power Authority. She currently sits on corporate boards, and chairs four not for profits, Accion, the New York City Ballet, Hotbread Kitchen and Friends of Hudson River Park.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
 

 

Board

  Brookfield Corporation    2012 – Present
 

 

Governance and Nominating Committee

 

Management Resources and Compensation

Committee, Chair

 

 

Citigroup Inc.

 

Sotheby’s

  

 

2009 – Present

 

2007 – 2019

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share Ownership Guideline is to be Met(f)

  2024       114,618         
  2023       106,423   114,618    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

   8,195         

The following seven individuals are nominated for election as directors by the holders of BN’s Class B Shares.

 

 

LOGO

 

Howard S. Marks(a)

Age: 78

Director since: 2020

(Affiliated)(c)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience, Asset Management, Financial Services

 

 

Mr. Marks is the Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital Group, a global alternative asset manager approximately 72% owned by Brookfield with a diversified mix of opportunistic, value-oriented, and risk-controlled investments across credit and other investment offerings. Since the formation of Oaktree in 1995, Mr. Marks has been responsible for ensuring the firm’s adherence to its core investment philosophy; communicating closely with clients concerning products and strategies; and contributing his experience to big-picture decisions relating to investments and corporate direction. Mr. Marks is a Trustee Emeritus and member of the Investment Committee at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is a member of the Investment Committee of the Royal Drawing School and is a Professor of Practice at King’s Business School. He serves on the Shanghai International Financial Advisory Council and the Advisory Board of Duke Kunshan University.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
 

 

Public Board Membership During Last Five Years

 

 

 

Board

  Brookfield Corporation    2020 – Present
     

 

Oaktree Capital Management

  

 

1995 – Present

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024    808,260    23,814         
  2023    1,008,262    16,752   832,074    Met
 

Change 

 

  

(200,002)

 

  

7,062

 

        

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 14


  

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Rafael Miranda(a)

Age: 74

Director since: 2017

(Independent)(b)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience,

International Affairs,

Energy and Power,

Infrastructure,

Manufacturing, Real

Estate

 

 

Mr. Miranda is the retired Chief Executive Officer of Endesa, S.A., the largest electric utility company in Spain, where he served as Managing Director and as Chief Executive Officer from 1987 to 1997 and 2009, respectively. Mr. Miranda is Honorary Chairman of Eurelectric, the European Electricity Association, and served until June 2022 as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Acerinox, S.A., a Spanish stainless steel manufacturing conglomerate.

 

 

 

Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership

 

  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
 

 

Board

  Brookfield Corporation    2017 – Present
 

 

Audit Committee

 

Management Resources and Compensation Committee

 

 

Nicolas Correa S.A.

 

Acerinox, S.A.

 

Hispania Activos Inmobiliarios, S.A.

  

 

2017 – Present

 

2014 – 2022

 

2014 – 2019

 

 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024       46,031         
  2023       38,106   46,031    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

7,925

 

        

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Lord O’Donnell(a)

Age: 71

Director since: 2013

(Affiliated )(c)

 

Areas of Expertise:

Government and Public Policy, Economic Policy, Financial Services, International Affairs

 

 

Lord O’Donnell is currently the Chairman of Frontier Economics Ltd., a microeconomics consultancy, and a senior advisor to Brookfield Corporation in Europe, and currently serves as a Strategic Advisor to the Toronto-Dominion Bank. Lord O’Donnell is also President of the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Chair of the Board of Trustees for Pro Bono Economics, Visiting Professor at London School of Economics and University College London, and a Trustee of the Economist. He served as the Cabinet Secretary and head of the British Civil Service between 2005 and 2011. Prior to this, Lord O’Donnell served as the Permanent Secretary of the U.K. Treasury from 2002 to 2005 and served on the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Boards. Lord O’Donnell became a member of the House of Lords in 2012.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
 

 

Public Board Membership During Last Five Years

 

 

 

Board

 

 

Brookfield Corporation

 

  

 

2013 – Present

 

            
 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year    Class A Shares(e)      DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share Ownership Guideline is to be Met(f)

  2024    79,018    81,229         
  2023    79,018    73,299   160,247    Met
 

Change 

 

  

 

  

7,930

 

        

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 15


  

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Jeffrey M. Blidner(a)

Age: 76

Director since: 2013

(Affiliated and

Management)(c)(d)

 

Areas of Expertise:

Growth initiatives,

Strategic planning,

Infrastructure, Energy

and Power, Real Estate

 

 

Mr. Blidner is a Vice Chair of Brookfield Corporation. Mr. Blidner is also the Chair of Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. and Brookfield Property REIT Inc., as well as a director of numerous other Brookfield affiliates. Mr. Blidner was formerly the Chair of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Before joining Brookfield in 2000, Mr. Blidner was a senior partner at a Canadian law firm.

 

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
 

 

Public Board Membership During Last Five Years

 

 

 

Board

  Brookfield Corporation    2013 – Present
     

 

Brookfield Business Corporation

 

Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation

 

Brookfield Renewable Corporation

 

Brookfield Property REIT Inc.

 

Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

 

Brookfield Property Partners L.P.

 

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.

 

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.

 

  

 

2022 – Present

 

2020 – Present

 

2020 – Present

 

2018 – Present

 

2016 – Present

 

2013 – Present

 

2011 – Present

 

2008 – Present

 

 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year   

Class A

Shares(e)(g)(h)

     DSUs     Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024    9,815,553    1,191,592         
  2023    9,852,096    1,169,167   11,007,145    Met
  Change     (36,543)    22,425         

 

 

LOGO

 

Jack L. Cockwell,

C.M.(a)

Age: 83

Director since: 1979

(Affiliated)(c)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience,

Infrastructure, Energy

and Power, Real Estate,

Natural Resources

 

 

Mr. Cockwell is Chairman of Brookfield Partners Foundation, was the Founding Partner of the Brookfield Partners Partnership in 1995, and has been associated with Brookfield Corporation in numerous capacities including as Chief Executive Officer, since 1968. Mr. Cockwell is a Heritage Governor of the Royal Ontario Museum, and an Honorary Member of the Toronto Metropolitan University’s Board of Governors.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
 

 

Board

  Brookfield Corporation    1979 – Present
     

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

 

Norbord Inc.

  

 

2021 – 2023

 

1987 – 2021

 

 

Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) and Restricted Share Units (RSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed

 

  Year   

Class A

Shares(e)(g)(i)

   DSUs and RSUs(m)   Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024    42,558,684    1,518,425         
  2023    39,902,026    3,094,270   44,077,109    Met
 

Change 

 

  

2,656,658

 

  

(1,575,845)

 

        

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 16


  

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Bruce Flatt(a)

Age: 58

Director since: 2001

(Affiliated and Management)(c) (d)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CEO experience

 

 

Mr. Flatt is the Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. Mr. Flatt joined Brookfield Corporation in 1990 and became Chief Executive Officer in 2002. Mr. Flatt has been on numerous public company boards over the past three decades and does not currently sit on any external corporate boards.

 

  Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee
Membership
  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
  Board   Brookfield Corporation    2001 – Present
     

 

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd.

  

 

2022 – Present

 

  Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) and Restricted Share Units (RSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed
  Year   

Class A

Shares(e)(g)(j)

    DSUs and  RSUs(m)   Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024    71,521,914    2,147,257         
  2023    65,976,955    4,641,494   73,669,171    Met
  Change     5,544,959    (2,494,237)         

 

 

LOGO

 

Brian D. Lawson(a)

Age: 64

Director since: 2018

(Affiliated and Management)(c)(d)

 

Areas of Expertise:

CFO experience,

Infrastructure, Energy

and Power, Real Estate,

Private Equity

 

Mr. Lawson is a Vice Chair of Brookfield Corporation and in this role provides guidance and advice on Brookfield Corporation’s finance and risk management activities. Mr. Lawson is the President of the Partnership. Mr. Lawson joined Brookfield Corporation in 1988 and has held a number of senior management positions in Brookfield Corporation’s investment and finance operations including as Chief Financial Officer of Brookfield Corporation from 2002 to 2020. In 2013, Mr. Lawson was named Canada’s CFO of the Year.

 

 

Brookfield Corporation Board/Committee

Membership

  Public Board Membership During Last Five Years
  Board  

Brookfield Corporation

 

Partners Value Investments Inc.

 

Partners Value Split Corp.

 

Partners Value Investments L.P.

 

Global Resource Champions Split Corp.

 

TerraForm Power, Inc.

 

  

2018 – Present

 

2016 – Present

 

2001 – Present

 

2016 – 2023

 

2018 – 2020

 

2017 – 2020

   
  Number of Class A Shares and Deferred Share Units (DSUs) and Restricted Share Units (RSUs) Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed
  Year   

Class A

Shares(e)(g)(k)

    DSUs and  RSUs(m)   Total Number of Shares and DSUs   

 

Date at which Share

Ownership Guideline is to be

Met(f)

  2024    17,957,601    2,098,181         
  2023    15,369,292    4,356,322   20,055,782    Met
  Change     2,588,309    (2,258,141)         

 

(a)

Mses. M. Elyse Allan and Janice Fukakusa and Messrs. Jeffrey M. Blidner, Jack L. Cockwell and Brian D. Lawson principally live in Ontario, Canada. Ms. Angela F. Braly principally lives in Florida, U.S. and Indiana, U.S. Mr. Frank J. McKenna principally lives in Ontario, Canada and New Brunswick, Canada. Mr. Rafael Miranda principally lives in Madrid, Spain. Mses. Diana L. Taylor and Hutham S. Olayan and Mr. Howard S. Marks principally live in New York, U.S. Mr. Bruce Flatt principally lives in New York, U.S. and London, U.K. Ms. Maureen Kempston Darkes principally lives in Florida, U.S. and Ontario, Canada. Lord O’Donnell principally lives in London, U.K.

(b)

“Independent” refers to the Board’s determination of whether a director nominee is “independent” under Section 1.2 of National Instrument 58-101 — Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices.

(c)

“Affiliated” refers to a director nominee who (i) owns greater than a de minimis interest in BN (exclusive of any securities compensation earned as a director) or (ii) within the last two years has directly or indirectly (a) been an officer of or employed by BN or any of its affiliates, (b) performed more than a de minimis amount of services for BN or any of its affiliates, or (c) had any material business or professional relationship with BN other than as a director of BN. “De minimis” for the purpose of this test includes factors such as the relevance of a director’s interest in BN to themselves and to BN.

(d)

“Management” refers to director nominees who are current members of management of BN. Mr. Flatt is the Chief Executive Officer of BN, Messrs. Blidner and Lawson are Vice Chairs of BN. None of these individuals receive compensation in their capacity as directors of BN (see “Director Compensation” on page 49 of this Circular). All director nominees who are also current members of management are, by definition, “Affiliated”.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 17


  

 

 

(e)

Number of Class A Shares includes the Exchangeable Class A Shares.

(f)

The Share Ownership Guideline for directors is to hold Class A Shares, Exchangeable Class A Shares, DSUs (as defined on page 30 of this Circular) or Restricted Shares (as defined on page 63 of this Circular) with a value equal to three times their annual director’s retainer. See “Director Share and DSU Ownership Requirements” on page 52 of this Circular for further information. The value of three times the annual retainer for each non-management director and for the Chair is $750,000 and $1,800,000, respectively. As of April 18, 2024, the number of shares required to satisfy the non-management director and Chair Share Ownership Guideline is 19,440 and 46,656, respectively (calculated by dividing the respective Share Ownership Guideline expressed in dollar value by the price of Class A Shares on the NYSE as at the close of market on April 18, 2024). Messrs. Flatt, Lawson and Blidner each hold Class A Shares, DSUs or Restricted Shares with a value equal to more than five times their annual base salary (“Base Salary”). The value of five times the Base Salary for Messrs. Flatt, Lawson and Blidner is $1,875,000, $3,000,000 and $3,000,000, respectively, converted at the average exchange rate for 2023 of C$1.00 = US$0.7411 and £1.00 = US$1.2441. As of April 18, 2024, the number of shares required to equal five times the Base Salary for Messrs. Flatt, Lawson, and Blidner is 48,600, 77,760 and 77,760, respectively (calculated by dividing the amount that is five times the individual’s Base Salary by the price of Class A Shares on the NYSE as at the close of market on April 18, 2024). See “Share Ownership Guidelines” on page 64 of this Circular and “Summary Compensation Table” on page 72 of this Circular for further information.

(g)

The figures in this column include (i) the director’s Class A Shares and Exchangeable Class A Shares, held directly and indirectly, including under the Restricted Stock Plan; (ii) the director’s pro rata interests in Class A Shares and Exchangeable Class A Shares held by PVI; and (iii) the director’s Escrowed Shares (as defined on page 63 of this Circular), which also represent an indirect pro rata interest in Class A Shares. The value of these indirect pro rata interests is impacted by a number of factors including the terms of their ownership, the capital structure of each entity, the value of the Class A Shares and Exchangeable Class A Shares held by each entity and their net liabilities and preferred share obligations. (See “Principal Holders of Voting Shares” on page 7 of this Circular for further information on PVI and “Escrowed Stock Plan” on pages 76 to 77 of this Circular for further information on Escrowed Shares).

(h)

Mr. Blidner holds 3,979,113 Class A Shares and Exchangeable Class A Shares directly and indirectly that are not in the Partnership as of the date of this Circular, and held 3,667,226 Class A Shares directly and indirectly as of the date of last year’s Circular, which in each case excludes his pro rata interests held in Class A Shares referenced above in clause (ii) and (iii) of (g).

(i)

Mr. Cockwell holds 19,094,226 Class A Shares and Exchangeable and Class A Shares directly and indirectly that are not in the Partnership as of the date of this Circular, and held 19,363,803 Class A Shares directly and indirectly as of the date of last year’s Circular, which in each case excludes his pro rata interests held in Class A Shares referenced above in clause (ii) and (iii) of (g).

(j)

Mr. Flatt holds 18,018,523 Class A Shares and Exchangeable Class A Shares directly and indirectly that are not in the Partnership as of the date of this Circular, and held 14,402,185 Class A Shares directly and indirectly as of the date of last year’s Circular, which in each case excludes his pro rata interests held in Class A Shares referenced above in clause (ii) and (iii) of (g).

(k)

Mr. Lawson holds 6,450,589 Class A Shares and Exchangeable Class A Shares directly and indirectly that are not in the Partnership as of the date of this Circular, and held 5,863,855 Class A Shares directly and indirectly as of the date of last year’s Circular, which in each case excludes his pro rata interests held in Class A Shares referenced above in clause (ii) and (iii) of (g).

(l)

Ms. Taylor served as Vice Chair of Solera Capital LLC when its subsidiary, Calypso St. Barth, filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on November 29, 2017.

(m)

In February 2024, in connection with the termination of BN’s Restricted Share Unit Plan, all outstanding Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) were exchanged, at the election of the holder, for cash or Preferred Share Options (as defined on page 52 of the Circular) equivalent in value to the RSUs on the date of the exchange. Separately, Escrowed Shares were issued to former RSU holders on a one-for-one basis. Mr. Flatt elected to receive cash in exchange for his RSUs and Messrs. Cockwell and Lawson each elected to receive Preferred Share Options in exchange for their RSUs.

(n)

Ms. Braly will be retiring from the board of directors of The Proctor & Gamble Company in June 2024.

Summary of 2024 Nominees for Director

The following summarizes the qualifications of the 2024 director nominees that led the Board to conclude that each director nominee is qualified to serve on the Board.

 

All Director Nominees Exhibit:     
   

•  High personal and professional integrity and ethics

  

•  A commitment to sustainability and social issues

   

•  A proven record of success

  

•  An inquisitive and objective perspective

   

•  Experience relevant to BN’s global activities

 

  

•  An appreciation of the value of good corporate governance

 

The Board is comprised of 14 directors, which BN considers an appropriate number given the diversity of its operations and the need for a variety of experiences and backgrounds to effectively oversee the governance of BN and provide strategic advice to management. BN reviews the expertise of incumbent and proposed directors in numerous areas, including those listed in the chart below.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ 18


  

 

 

 Class A Director 

 Nominees

 

Corporate

Strategy and

Business

Development

 

Mergers &

Acquisitions

 

Finance and

Capital

Allocation

 

Leadership of

a Large /

Multifaceted

Organization

 

Legal and

Regulatory

 

Risk

Management

 

Sustainability

Matters

 

Climate

Expertise

  Industry Experience
 M. Elyse Allan                               Government and
Public Policy,
Energy and
Power,
Healthcare,
Infrastructure,
Manufacturing,
Natural
Resources
 Angela F. Braly                         Government and
Public Policy,
Healthcare,
Insurance
 Janice Fukakusa                         Government and
Public Policy,
Financial
Services,
Economic
Policy
 Maureen
 Kempston Darkes
                           Government and
Public Policy,
International
Affairs,
Infrastructure;
Energy and
Power
 Frank J. McKenna                               Government and
Public Policy,
Energy and
Power,
Manufacturing,
Natural
Resources
 Hutham S. Olayan                         Asset
Management,
International
Affairs,
Infrastructure,
Financial
Services, Real
Estate
 Diana L. Taylor                         Government and
Public Policy,
Financial
Services

 Class B Director 

 Nominees

 

Corporate

Strategy and

Business

Development

 

Mergers &

Acquisitions

 

Finance and

Capital

Allocation

 

Leadership of

a Large /

Multifaceted

Organization

 

Legal and

Regulatory

 

Risk

Management

 

Sustainability

Matters

       Industry Experience
 Jeffrey M. Blidner                            Infrastructure,
Energy and
Power, Real
Estate
 Jack L. Cockwell                            Infrastructure,
Energy and
Power, Real
Estate, Natural
Resources
 Bruce Flatt                         Infrastructure,
Energy and
Power, Real
Estate, Private
Equity
 Brian D. Lawson                                  Infrastructure,
Energy and
Power, Real
Estate, Private
Equity
 Howard S. Marks                               Asset
Management,
Financial
Services
 Rafael Miranda                         International
Affairs, Energy
and Power,
Infrastructure,
Manufacturing,
Real Estate
 Lord O’Donnell                            Government and
Public Policy,
Economic
Policy,
Financial
Services,
International
Affairs

 

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Director Ownership in Brookfield Entities

Below is a description of the securities in Brookfield entities that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or controlled or directed by each director nominee. Director nominees who do not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or control or direct any securities in these entities have been excluded from the description below.

 

   No. of Securities

 

 Class A Director Nominee

  

 

Brookfield Business

Partners L.P.(a)

  

 

Brookfield Infrastructure

Partners L.P.(b)

  

 

Brookfield Renewable

Partners L.P.(c)

  

 

Brookfield Asset

Management Ltd.(d)

 M. Elyse Allan             375 BAM Class A Shares
 Janice Fukakusa             6,326 BAM Class A Shares
 Frank J. McKenna       6,000 BIP LP Units 666 BIPC Class A Shares    13,343 BEP LP Units 3,336 BEPC Class A Shares    1,601 BAM Class A Shares
 Hutham S. Olayan             4,575 BAM Class A Shares
No. of Securities

 

 Class B Director Nominees

  

 

Brookfield Business

Partners L.P.(a)

  

 

Brookfield Infrastructure

Partners L.P.(b)

  

 

Brookfield Renewable

Partners L.P.(c)

  

 

Brookfield Asset

Management Ltd.(d)

 Jeffrey M. Blidner   

35,189 BBU LP Units

17,594 BBUC Class A Shares

   14,323 BIP LP Units 1,590 BIPC Class A Shares      

2,285,659

BAM Class A Shares

 Jack L. Cockwell   

225,804 BBU LP Units

112,902 BBUC Class A Shares

   104,044 BIP LP Units      

10,349,987

BAM Class A Shares

 Bruce Flatt   

224,402 BBU LP Units

98,456 BBUC Class A Shares

  

192,489 BIP LP Units

21,387 BIPC Class A Shares

  

15,000 BEP LP Units

3,750 BEPC Class A Shares

  

15,427,985

BAM Class A Shares

 Brian D. Lawson   

92,413 BBU LP Units

46,206 BBUC Class A Shares

  

29,377 BIP LP Units

3,264 BIPC Class A Shares

  

5,550 BEP LP Units

1,387 BEPC Class A Shares

  

3,853,506

BAM Class A Shares

 Howard S. Marks            

202,065

BAM Class A Shares

 Lord O’Donnell            

19,754

BAM Class A Shares

 

(a)

Brookfield Business Corporation (“BBUC”) is a Canadian corporation. Class A exchangeable subordinate voting shares of BBUC (“BBUC Class A Shares”) are structured to provide an economic return equivalent to units in Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (“BBU LP Units”) through a traditional corporate structure. Each BBUC Class A Share has the same distribution as a BBU LP Unit and is exchangeable for one BBU LP Unit.

(b)

Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (“BIPC”) is a Canadian corporation. Class A exchangeable subordinate voting shares of BIPC (“BIPC Class A Shares”) are structured to provide an economic return equivalent to units in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (“BIP LP Units”) through a traditional corporate structure. Each BIPC Class A Share has the same distribution as a BIP LP Unit and is exchangeable for one BIP LP Unit.

(c)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation (“BEPC”) is a Canadian corporation. Class A exchangeable subordinate voting shares of BEPC (“BEPC Class A Shares”) are structured to provide an economic return equivalent to units in Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (“BEP LP Units”) through a traditional corporate structure. Each BEPC Class A Share has the same distribution as a BEP LP Unit and is exchangeable for one BEP LP Unit.

(d)

BAM is a Canadian corporation. The figures in this column include (i) the director’s Class A limited voting shares of BAM (“BAM Class A Shares”) held directly and indirectly; (ii) the director’s pro rata interests in BAM Class A Shares held by PVI; and (iii) the director’s BAM escrowed shares governed by BAM’s Escrowed Stock Plan, which also represent an indirect pro rata interest in BAM Class A Shares.

2023 Director Attendance

We believe the Board cannot be effective unless it governs actively. We expect our directors to attend all Board meetings and all of their respective committee meetings. Directors may participate by video or teleconference if they are unable to attend in person. The table below shows the number of Board and committee meetings each director attended in 2023. The director nominees standing for re-election attended, on average, approximately 95% of the Board meetings in 2023. The Board and its committees meet in camera without management present at all meetings, including those held by teleconference.

 

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 Class A Directors    Independent      Board     Audit
 Committee 
   Governance 
and
Nominating
Committee
  Management
 Resources and 
Compensation
Committee
  Risk
 Management 
Committee
  All
 M. Elyse Allan   yes   8 of 8         4 of 4   12 of 12      100%
 Angela F. Braly   yes   7 of 8   7 of 8         14 of 16      88%
 Janice Fukakusa   yes   8 of 8   8 of 8         16 of 16      100%
 Maureen Kempston  Darkes   yes   8 of 8       2 of 2   4 of 4   14 of 14      100%
 Frank J. McKenna   yes   8 of 8     3 of 3       11 of 11      100%
 Hutham S. Olayan(a)   yes   8 of 8     1 of 1     4 of 4   13 of 13      100%
 Seek Ngee Huat(b)   yes   4 of 4     2 of 2       6 of 6      100%
 Diana L. Taylor   yes   7 of 8     3 of 3   2 of 2     12 of 13      92%
                  
 Class B Directors   Independent   Board   Audit
Committee
  Governance
and
Nominating
Committee
  Management
Resources and
Compensation
Committee
  Risk
Management
Committee
  All
 Jeffrey M. Blidner   no   8 of 8           8 of 8      100%
 Jack L. Cockwell   no   8 of 8           8 of 8      100%
 Bruce Flatt   no   8 of 8           8 of 8      100%
 Brian D. Lawson   no   8 of 8           8 of 8      100%
 Howard S. Marks(c)   no   5 of 8           5 of 8      63%
 Rafael Miranda(d)   yes   8 of 8   8 of 8     1 of 1     17 of 17      100%
 Lord O’Donnell   no   8 of 8           8 of 8      100%

(a) Ms. Hutham S. Olayan joined the Governance and Nominating Committee on June 9, 2023.

(b) Mr. Seek Ngee Huat retired as a director of the Board on June 9, 2023.

(c) Mr. Howard S. Marks was unable to attend three Board meetings due to medical events.

(d) Mr. Rafael Miranda joined the Management Resources and Compensation Committee on March 3, 2023.

2023 Director Voting Results

Below are the results of the vote of holders of Class A Shares for the election of directors at BN’s Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 9, 2023.

 

         
 Director Nominee    Votes For      %        Votes Withheld      %  

 M. Elyse Allan

     1,059,022,004        99.40        6,437,435        0.60  

 Angela F. Braly

     1,058,854,433        99.38        6,605,006        0.62  

 Janice Fukakusa

     1,050,599,675        98.61        14,859,764        1.39  

 Maureen Kempston Darkes

     1,012,380,185        95.02        53,079,254        4.98  

 Frank J. McKenna

     924,778,987        86.80        140,680,452        13.20  

 Hutham S. Olayan

     1,060,455,241        99.53        5,004,198        0.47  

 Diana L. Taylor

     1,004,437,315           94.27        61,022,124           5.73  

At that same meeting, the holder of Class B Shares voted all 85,120 Class B Shares for each of the seven directors nominated for election by this shareholder class, namely Messrs. Jeffrey M. Blidner, Jack L. Cockwell, Bruce Flatt, Brian D. Lawson, Howard S. Marks, Rafael Miranda and Lord O’Donnell.

 

3.

Appointment of External Auditor

On recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board proposes the reappointment of Deloitte LLP as the external auditor of BN. Deloitte LLP, including the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and their respective affiliates (collectively, “Deloitte”), is the principal external auditor of BN and its publicly traded subsidiaries (other than Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. and Brookfield Renewable Corporation). Deloitte has served as the external auditor of BN since 1971. The appointment of the external auditor must be approved by a majority of the votes cast by holders of Class A Shares who vote in respect of the resolution, and by the holder of Class B Shares, each voting as a separate class.

 

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On any ballot that may be called for in the appointment of the external auditor, the management representatives designated on the form of proxy intend to vote such shares FOR reappointing Deloitte, an Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, as the external auditor, and authorizing the directors to set the remuneration to be paid to the external auditor, unless the shareholder has specified on the form of proxy that the shares represented by such proxy are to be withheld from voting in relation to the appointment of the external auditor.

Principal Accounting Firm Fees

Aggregate fees billed to BN and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 by Deloitte amounted to approximately $117.5 million, of which $109.7 million represented audit and audit-related fees. Fees reported for a particular year include differences between actual and planned amounts from the prior year, if applicable.

From time to time, Deloitte also provides consultative and other non-audit services to BN and its subsidiaries pursuant to an Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (the “Audit Policy”). The Audit Policy governs the provision of audit and non-audit services by the external auditor and is annually reviewed by the Audit Committee. The Audit Policy provides for the Audit Committee’s pre-approval of permitted audit, audit-related, tax and other non-audit services. It also specifies a number of services the provision of which is not permitted by the external auditor, including the use of the external auditor for the preparation of financial information, system design and implementation assignments.

The following table sets forth further information on the fees billed by Deloitte to BN and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

   
    2023          2022  
$ millions           BN        Subsidiaries
of BN
    

  Total

   

  

  BN

       Subsidiaries
of BN
    

  Total

 

 Audit

 

    

   $ 2.3        $76.8        $79.1        $ 2.6        $45.0        $47.6  

 Audit-related

              30.6        30.6                 59.2        59.2  

 Tax

              7.1        7.1                 3.7        3.7  

 All other fees

                0.7        0.7                   0.5        0.5  

 Total fees

       $ 2.3        $115.2        $117.5          $ 2.6        $108.4      $ 111.0  

Audit fees include fees for services that would normally be provided by the external auditor in connection with our statutory audit of BN, including fees for services necessary to perform an audit or review in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. This category also includes services that generally only the external auditor reasonably can provide, including comfort letters and consents relating to certain documents filed with securities regulatory authorities.

Audit-related fees are for other statutory audits, assurance and related services, such as due diligence services, that traditionally are performed by the external auditor. More specifically, these services include, among other things: statutory audits of our subsidiaries, employee benefit plan audits, accounting consultations and audits in connection with acquisitions, attest services that are not required by statute or regulation, and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

Tax fees are principally for assistance in tax return preparation and tax advisory services. All other fees include fees for certain permissible consulting and advisory services.

The Audit Committee has received representations from Deloitte regarding its independence and has considered the relations described above in arriving at its determination that Deloitte is independent of BN.

 

4.

Advisory Resolution on Approach to Executive Compensation

BN believes that its compensation objectives and approach to executive compensation strongly align the interests of management with the long-term interests of shareholders. Details of BN’s approach to executive compensation is disclosed in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 53 of this Circular.

 

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BN has a policy providing that holders of Class A Shares have the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on BN’s approach to executive compensation on an annual basis. This policy reflects BN’s ongoing efforts to meet its objectives and ensure a high level of shareholder engagement.

The Board, with Messrs. Blidner, Flatt and Lawson abstaining, unanimously recommends that holders of Class A Shares vote in favor of the following advisory resolution (the “Say on Pay Resolution”):

Resolved, on an advisory basis and not to diminish the role and responsibilities of the Board, that the holders of Class A Limited Voting Shares accept the approach to executive compensation disclosed in this Circular.

On any ballot that may be called for on the Say on Pay Resolution, the management representatives designated on the form of proxy intend to cast the votes to which the shares represented by such proxy are entitled FOR the Say on Pay Resolution, unless the shareholder has specified in the form of proxy that the shares represented by such proxy are to be voted against the Say on Pay Resolution.

2023 Results of the Advisory Resolution on BN’s Approach to Executive Compensation

Below are the results of the vote of holders of Class A Shares on the advisory resolution on BN’s Approach to Executive Compensation at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 9, 2023.

 

Votes For    %         Votes Against      %  

900,720,117

     84.54        164,739,321            15.46  

Advisory Vote

The Say on Pay Resolution is an advisory vote and, accordingly, the results are not binding upon the Board. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee (as defined on page 26 of this Circular) of the Board will take the results of the vote into account when considering future compensation policies, procedures and decisions. The Board welcomes comments and questions on BN’s executive compensation practices. Shareholders who wish to contact the Chair or other Board members can do so through the Corporate Secretary of BN.

 

5.

BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan

At the meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution, the full text of which is set forth in Appendix B of this Circular, approving the implementation by BNRE of the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan. The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan will permit BNRE to award escrowed stock grants to certain executives or other individuals designated by the board of directors of BNRE. The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan constitutes a “security-based compensation arrangement” under applicable TSX rules. The TSX rules require that BNRE obtain securityholder approval to adopt the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan, and because the Exchangeable Class A Shares were designed to be economically equivalent to the Class A Shares and are exchangeable on a one-for-one basis into Class A Shares, the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution must be approved by BN’s shareholders. The adoption of the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan is also conditional on the approval (i) of the TSX and all other applicable regulatory authorities, (ii) by the board of directors of BNRE and (ii) by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of BNRE Class A Shares and by the holders of class B shares of BNRE (“BNRE Class B Shares”), each voting separately as a class, who vote in respect of a resolution approving the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan at a meeting of the shareholders of BNRE. If these approvals are not obtained, the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan will not be adopted even if the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution is approved at the meeting. BNRE will seek shareholder approval for the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan at its 2024 annual general and special meeting of shareholders.

Purpose of the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan

The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan is intended to incentivize and retain certain executives or other individuals designated by the board of directors of BNRE for an extended period and to further align their long-term interests with those of other shareholders in a manner that is less dilutive than alternative long term ownership plans, such as option plans. The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan will result in no net dilution over time because any newly issued Exchangeable Class A Shares under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan will be fully offset by the cancellation of Exchangeable Class A Shares. Non-employee directors of BNRE will not be eligible to participate in the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan.

 

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Exchangeable Class A Shares Reserved

A maximum of 4,000,000 Exchangeable Class A Shares may be issued under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan, representing approximately 0.24% of the outstanding Class A Shares as at April 18, 2024. When Exchangeable Class A Shares are issued in exchange for BNRE Escrowed Shares (as defined below), the number of Exchangeable Class A Shares remaining for future issuance under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan will be reduced. On the wind-up or merger of a BNRE Escrowed Company, as described below, the number of Exchangeable Class A Shares held by a BNRE Escrowed Company that are cancelled in respect of Exchangeable Class A Shares previously issued by BNRE in exchange for BNRE Escrowed Shares will be added back to the number of Exchangeable Class A Shares available for future issuance under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan. The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan also provides that when Exchangeable Class A Shares are issued in exchange for BNRE Escrowed Shares and immediately thereafter the BNRE Escrowed Company is wound up or merged into BNRE and the Exchangeable Class A Shares held by it are cancelled, the number of Exchangeable Class A Shares remaining for future issuance under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan will not be reduced.

The number of Exchangeable Class A Shares that may be issuable to insiders of BNRE at any time, or issued in any one year to insiders of BNRE, under any of BNRE’s security-based compensation arrangements, including under the restricted stock plan of BNRE (the “BNRE Restricted Stock Plan”) or the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan, cannot exceed, in either case, 10% of the aggregate issued and outstanding BNRE Class A Shares and BNRE Class B Shares; and no more than 5% of the issued and outstanding Exchangeable Class A Shares may be issued under these arrangements to any one person. In addition, the number of Class A Shares that may be issuable to BN insiders at any time, or issued in any one year to BN insiders, under any of BN’s security-based compensation arrangements together with the BNRE Restricted Stock Plan and the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan cannot exceed, in either case, 10% of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares.

Summary of the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan

The following is a summary of the principal terms of the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan.

The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan governs the award of non-voting common shares (“BNRE Escrowed Shares”) of one or more private companies (each, a “BNRE Escrowed Company”) to executives or other individuals designated by the board of directors of BNRE. Each BNRE Escrowed Company is capitalized with common shares and preferred shares issued to BNRE. Each BNRE Escrowed Company will directly or indirectly purchase Exchangeable Class A Shares. BNRE Escrowed Companies may purchase Exchangeable Class A Shares in the open market or acquire the Exchangeable Class A Shares that were acquired by BN upon exchanges by shareholders of BNRE. Participants will either be awarded BNRE Escrowed Shares or provided an election to contribute Exchangeable Class A Shares or other BNRE Escrowed Shares as consideration for the BNRE Escrowed Shares. Dividends paid to each BNRE Escrowed Company on the Exchangeable Class A Shares acquired by the BNRE Escrowed Company will be used to pay dividends on the preferred shares which are held by BNRE and on certain BNRE Escrowed Shares held by participants who contributed the underlying Exchangeable Class A Shares to a BNRE Escrowed Company in connection with the award of BNRE Escrowed Shares. The Exchangeable Class A Shares acquired by a BNRE Escrowed Company will not be voted.

Except as otherwise determined by the board of directors of BNRE, 20% of BNRE Escrowed Shares will vest on the first anniversary of the granting of such shares, with an additional 20% vesting on each subsequent anniversary, up to and including the fifth anniversary of the grant of the BNRE Escrowed Shares.

On date(s) determined by the holders of the BNRE Escrowed Shares that are generally between the applicable vesting date and 10 years after the initial grant, the vested BNRE Escrowed Shares will be acquired by BNRE in exchange for the issuance of Exchangeable Class A Shares from treasury, where the value of such Exchangeable Class A Shares being issued is equal to the value of the BNRE Escrowed Shares being acquired. The value of the BNRE Escrowed Shares will be equal to the increase in value of the Exchangeable Class A Shares held by the BNRE Escrowed Company since the grant date of the BNRE Escrowed Shares, based on the volume-weighted average price of the BNRE Class A Shares on the NYSE on the date of the exchange. Participants are not permitted to exchange BNRE Escrowed Shares during a blackout period, except with the consent of the board of directors of BNRE. Once all participants of a BNRE Escrowed Company have elected to exchange their BNRE Escrowed Shares, such BNRE Escrowed Company will be wound up or merged into BNRE and BNRE will cancel at least that number of Exchangeable Class A Shares held by one or more BNRE Escrowed Companies that is equivalent to the number of Exchangeable Class A Shares that have been issued to holders of the BNRE Escrowed Shares of the BNRE Escrowed Company on exchanges.

 

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Eligibility for participation in the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan is restricted to certain executives of BNRE and its affiliates or other individuals designated by the board of directors of BNRE, which may include designated executives and key employees of Brookfield that provide services to BNRE or its affiliates. The number of BNRE Escrowed Shares to be granted to each participant is determined at the discretion of the board of directors of BNRE, on the recommendation of the compensation committee of the board of directors of BNRE (the “BNRE Compensation Committee”). The BNRE Compensation Committee recommends the award of BNRE Escrowed Shares for the chief executive officer of BNRE. All other awards of BNRE Escrowed Shares are recommended by the chief executive officer of BNRE to the BNRE Compensation Committee. Aside from transfers to BNRE in the case of termination of employment or for personal tax planning purposes, transfers of BNRE Escrowed Shares are not permitted unless otherwise approved by the board of directors of BNRE. No incremental entitlements will be triggered by a change in control of BNRE under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan.

The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan sets out provisions regarding the forfeiture of BNRE Escrowed Shares following a change in the employment status of a participant. In general, all vested BNRE Escrowed Shares will remain outstanding, and all unvested BNRE Escrowed Shares will be forfeited on, a participant’s termination date from BNRE or Brookfield, except as follows: in the event of termination for cause, all unvested BNRE Escrowed Shares as well as vested BNRE Escrowed Shares that remain subject to a hold period will be forfeited.

The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan contains an amending provision setting out the types of amendments which can be approved by the board of directors of BNRE without shareholder approval and those which require shareholder approval. Shareholder approval will be required for any amendment that increases the number of Exchangeable Class A Shares issuable under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan or expands insider participation, any amendment which deletes or reduces the range of amendments requiring shareholder approval or other amendments required by law to be approved by shareholders. Shareholder approval will not be required for, among other matters, any amendment to the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan or any BNRE Escrowed Share that is of a housekeeping or administrative nature, that is necessary to comply with applicable laws or to qualify for favorable tax treatment, that is to the vesting, termination or early termination provisions (provided that the amendment does not entail an extension beyond the tenth anniversary of the award date for any particular BNRE Escrowed Share), and to suspend or terminate the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan.

The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution

The BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan described above must be approved by (i) the TSX and all other applicable regulatory authorities, (ii) the board of directors of BNRE, (iii) a majority of the votes cast by the holders of BNRE Class A Shares and the holders of BNRE Class B Shares, each voting as a separate class, at a duly called meeting of the shareholders of BNRE, and (iv) a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Class A Shares and the Class B Shares, each voting as a separate class, at a duly called meeting of the shareholders of BN. The Board has approved the adoption of the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan and unanimously recommends that shareholders vote in favor of the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution.

On any ballot that may be called for on the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution, the management representatives designated on the form of proxy intend to cast the votes to which the shares represented by such proxy are entitled FOR the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution, unless the shareholder has specified on the form of proxy that the shares represented by such proxy are to be voted against the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan Resolution.

 

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PART THREE – STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

Governance

BN is committed to good corporate governance. As such, we aim to continue to strengthen Board and management accountability to maintain public trust in BN, and promote the long-term interests of BN and our shareholders.

 

Corporate Governance

     

Compensation

•  8 independent director nominees

•  Separate Chair and CEO

•  Private sessions of independent directors after each Board and committee meeting

•  Only independent directors on Audit, Governance and Nominating, and Management Resources and Compensation Committees

•  Risk oversight by the Board and the Risk Management and Audit Committees

•  Oversight of sustainability matters

•  Board and committee self-evaluations

•  Directors attended on average approximately 95% of meetings held

•  Robust Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

•  Board Diversity Policy

  

LOGO

 

   Shareholder Rights

  

•  Executive compensation program with emphasis on long-term incentives where rewards are reflective of strong performance over time (described in more detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Circular)

•  Director share ownership guidelines requiring directors to hold shares and share units having a value of at least 3 times their annual retainer

•  Independent directors required to take 50% of their annual retainer in deferred share units, regardless of existing ownership

•  Share retention policy of at least 5 times annual salary and post-exercise hold period requirements for executives

•  Executives’ incentive awards/equity compensation subject to clawback

•  Anti-hedging, short sale and pledging restrictions

      •  Annual election of directors   
      •  Majority voting for directors   
      •  Cumulative voting for directors   
      •  Active shareholder engagement   

BN’s comprehensive corporate governance policies and practices are consistent with the guidelines for corporate governance adopted by Canadian Securities Administrators (“CSA”) and the TSX. BN’s corporate governance practices and policies are also consistent with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the listing standards of the NYSE and the applicable provisions under the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).

Board of Directors

Mandate of the Board

The Board oversees the management of BN’s business and affairs directly and through four committees: the Audit Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Governance Committee”), the Management Resources and Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) and the Risk Management Committee (each, a “Committee” and collectively, the “Committees”). The responsibilities of the Board and each Committee, respectively, are set out in written charters, which are reviewed and approved annually by the Board. All Board and Committee charters are posted on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com under “Corporate Governance”. The Board charter is also attached as Appendix A to this Circular.

The Board is responsible for:

 

   

overseeing BN’s long-term strategic planning process and reviewing and approving its annual business plan;

 

   

overseeing management’s approach to managing the key risks facing BN;

 

   

safeguarding shareholders’ equity interests through the optimum utilization of BN’s capital resources;

 

   

promoting effective corporate governance;

 

   

overseeing BN’s sustainability program and related practices;

 

   

reviewing major strategic initiatives to determine whether management’s proposed actions accord with long-term corporate goals and shareholder objectives;

 

   

assessing management’s performance against approved business plans;

 

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appointing the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), overseeing the CEO’s selection of other members of senior management and reviewing succession planning; and

 

   

reviewing and approving the reports issued to shareholders, including annual and interim financial statements.

Expectations of Directors

The Board has adopted a charter of expectations for directors (the “Charter of Expectations”), which sets out BN’s expectations for personal and professional competencies, share ownership, meeting attendance, conflicts of interest, changes of circumstance, and resignation events. Directors are expected to bring any potential conflict of interest to the attention of the Chair or a Committee Chair in advance, and refrain from voting on such matters. Directors are also expected to submit their resignations to the Chair if: (i) they become unable to attend at least 75% of the Board’s regularly scheduled meetings or (ii) if they become involved in a legal dispute, regulatory or similar proceedings, take on new responsibilities, or experience other changes in personal or professional circumstances that could adversely affect BN or their ability to serve as a director. The Charter of Expectations is reviewed annually and a copy is posted on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com under “Corporate Governance.”

Meetings of the Board

The agenda for each Board meeting is set by the Chair, in consultation with the CEO, Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”) and Corporate Secretary, before circulation to the full Board.

The Board meets at least twice each quarter: once to review and approve BN’s quarterly earnings and consider dividend payments and once to review specific items of business, including transactions and strategic initiatives. The Board holds additional meetings as necessary to consider special business. The Board also meets once a year to review BN’s annual business plan and long-term strategy.

In 2023, there were eight regularly scheduled Board meetings. In addition, the annual strategy session was held in December 2023.

Eight regular meetings and one strategy session are scheduled for 2024.

Meetings of Independent Directors

Private sessions of the independent directors without management and affiliated directors present are held at the end of each regularly scheduled and special Board meeting, as well as at the end of the annual strategy session. Each private session of the Board is chaired by the Chair, who reports back to the CEO on any matters requiring action by management. There were eight private meetings of independent directors in 2023.

Private sessions of the Committees without management and affiliated directors present are also held after each committee meeting, chaired by the respective Committee Chair, who reports back to an appropriate executive on any matters requiring action by management.

Independent Directors

The Board has a policy that the Chair and at least a majority of its directors are independent in order to ensure that the Board operates independent of management and effectively oversees the conduct of management. BN obtains information from its directors annually to determine their independence. The Board decides which directors are considered to be independent based on the recommendation of the Governance Committee of the Board, which evaluates director independence based on the guidelines set forth under applicable securities laws.

In this process, the Board conducts an analysis of each director nominee to determine if they are an affiliated director (all director nominees who are also current members of management are, by definition, affiliated directors) or an independent director.

The following table shows the directors standing for election at the meeting and whether each nominee will be an Independent(a), Affiliated(b) or Management(c) director.

 

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Director Nominee

   Independent     Affiliated     Management     Reason for Affiliated or Management Status
 M. Elyse Allan            
 Jeffrey M. Blidner             Mr. Blidner is a Vice Chair of Brookfield Corporation
 Angela F. Braly            
 Jack L. Cockwell             Mr. Cockwell is a shareholder and director of BAM Partners, and
            the Chairman of Brookfield Partners Foundation
 Maureen Kempston Darkes            
 Bruce Flatt             Mr. Flatt is the CEO of Brookfield Corporation
 Janice Fukakusa            
 Brian D. Lawson             Mr. Lawson is a Vice Chair of Brookfield Corporation
 Howard S. Marks             Mr. Marks is the Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital Group
 Frank J. McKenna            
 Rafael Miranda            
 Lord O’Donnell             Lord O’Donnell serves as a senior advisor to Brookfield Corporation
            in Europe
 Hutham S. Olayan            
 Diana L. Taylor                  

 

(a)

“Independent” refers to the Board’s determination of whether a director nominee is “independent” under Section 1.2 of National Instrument 58-101 — Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices.

(b)

“Affiliated” refers to a director nominee who (a) owns greater than a de minimis interest in BN (exclusive of any securities compensation earned as a director) or (b) within the last two years has directly or indirectly (i) been an officer of or employed by BN or any of its affiliates, (ii) performed more than a de minimis amount of services for BN or any of its affiliates, or (iii) had any material business or professional relationship with BN other than as a director of BN.“De minimis” for the purpose of this test includes factors such as the relevance of a director’s interest in BN to themselves and to BN.

(c)

“Management” refers to a director nominee who is a current member of management of BN.

The Board considers that the eight directors listed as “Independent” above (approximately 57% of the Board) are independent.

Term Limits and Board Renewal

The Governance Committee leads the effort to identify and recruit candidates to join the Board. In this context, the Governance Committee’s view is that the Board should reflect a balance between the experience that comes with longevity of service on the Board and the need for renewal and fresh perspectives.

The Governance Committee does not support a mandatory retirement age, director term limits or other mandatory Board turnover mechanisms because its view is that such policies are overly prescriptive; therefore, BN does not have term limits or other mechanisms that compel Board turnover. The Governance Committee does believe that periodically adding new voices to the Board can help BN adapt to a changing business environment and Board renewal continues to be a priority.

The Governance Committee reviews the composition of the Board on a regular basis in relation to approved director criteria and skill requirements and recommends changes as appropriate to renew the Board (see the “Governance and Nominating Committee” section in this Statement of Corporate Governance Practices for further information on BN’s process to identify candidates for election to the Board). Assuming all 14 director nominees are elected at the meeting, three new directors will have joined the Board over the past five years, which represents a turnover of approximately 21% of the Board. The Board tenure profile of BN is set out below.

 

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LOGO

Board Diversity Policy

BN is committed to enhancing the diversity of the Board. Our deep roots in many global jurisdictions inform our perspective on diversity and our view that the Board should reflect a diversity of backgrounds relevant to its strategic priorities. This includes (but is not limited to) such factors as diversity based on gender, race and ethnicity, as well as diversity of business expertise and international experience.

To achieve the Board’s diversity goals, it has adopted the following written policy:

 

   

Board appointments will be based on merit, having due regard for the benefits of diversity on the Board, so that each nominee possesses the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to serve effectively as a director;

 

   

In the director identification and selection process, diversity on the Board, including the factors referenced above, will influence succession planning and be a key criterion in identifying and nominating new candidates for election to the Board; and

 

   

The Board has an ongoing gender diversity target of ensuring at least 30% of directors are women.

The Board increasingly reflects a diversity of gender, ethnic and racial backgrounds. Of the 14 directors, two directors self-identify as ethnically diverse and six are women. Therefore, if all of the director nominees are elected at the meeting, 14% of the Board will continue to be ethnically diverse, and 75% of the independent directors and approximately 43% of the entire Board will be women, as shown in the gender metrics table below for the director nominees:

 

Women on the Board
Number    Percentage    Minimum Target    Target Met
            Percentage      

6

   43%    30%    Met

The Governance Committee is responsible for implementing the Board diversity policy, monitoring progress towards the achievement of its objectives and recommending to the Board any necessary changes that should be made to the policy.

Director Share Ownership Guidelines

The Charter of Expectations sets forth share ownership requirements of directors, which are in place because BN believes that directors can better represent shareholders if they have economic exposure to BN themselves. BN requires that each

 

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director hold Class A Shares, Exchangeable Class A Shares, Restricted Shares and/or Deferred Share Units (“DSUs”) in BN having, in the aggregate, a value equal to at least three times the director’s annual retainer fee (“Annual Retainer”), as determined by the Board from time to time. New directors have five years from the date of joining the Board to achieve this minimum economic ownership requirement. All directors are required to take one-half of their Annual Retainer in the form of DSUs.

Director Orientation

BN’s director orientation program consists of private educational sessions with members of senior management and a comprehensive orientation package. These sessions include information on BN’s various businesses, its culture, its corporate governance practices, its approach to sustainability matters and risk management, as well as information regarding the Board and Committees framework in place to manage BN’s affairs and oversee management. Each new director is informed of the expectations that will be placed on them and the commitment they will be asked to make to BN.

Director Education and Site Visits

BN provides regular continuing education for directors. Time is set aside at all regularly scheduled Board meetings for presentations on different areas of BN’s businesses, led by executives responsible for or familiar with these operations. On a rotating basis, directors are provided with an in-depth analysis of a business unit of BN in order to further educate the directors about BN and its business and activities. Directors also receive presentations on new developments and trends in corporate governance and director fiduciary duties as appropriate.

Director dinners, with select management present, are held before or immediately following all regularly scheduled Board meetings, and director education is provided at these dinners by way of presentations on areas relevant to BN’s businesses. These dinners increase director knowledge of various business activities and initiatives. Often more junior executives are invited to Board dinners in order to provide directors with exposure to the next generation of executives and better enable the Board to assess BN’s bench strength from a succession standpoint.

BN’s quarterly Board materials include a general market report which incorporates detailed information on developed and emerging economies. Throughout the course of the year, the directors are privy to a number of educational sessions as part of the Board and committee meetings. In 2023, sessions included the following topics to name a few, global labor markets and office trends, the disruption risks and opportunities presented by the evolution of artificial intelligence, residential infrastructure strategies, transport logistics infrastructure, updates on sustainability, which included updates to regulations and reporting, risk management, decarbonization and net-zero targets.

In addition, the Board has an established practice of undertaking off-site visits to BN’s business operations in key markets outside Toronto and New York, where regularly scheduled Board meetings are normally held. These off-site visits are designed to provide an opportunity for directors to learn about BN’s major businesses by viewing the operations firsthand and meeting in person with local management. In June 2023, two directors visited the Vogtle Nuclear Generating Station in Georgia, U.S. where Westinghouse Electric Company (“WEC”) is developing two new AP1000 nuclear reactors for Georgia Power. The Vogtle facility is owned by Georgia Power and includes four Westinghouse reactors. During the visit, directors met senior leaders from the Brookfield Renewable group and WEC, listened to an overview of WEC and its new plant offerings, went on a site tour focused on the construction site of one of the reactors, and had dinner with senior WEC engineers working on the project. In October 2023, the Board travelled to London, U.K. together with members of senior management. During this off-site, in addition to quarterly Board business, the Board attended presentations covering updates on the U.K. and Europe markets and key investments across the businesses and met with representatives from key investor, banking and strategic relationships in the region. The Board also attended site visits at Canary Wharf in London and the Harwell Science and Innovation Centre in Oxfordshire and interacted with Brookfield employees and portfolio company management in the region through a series of organized events.

Director Commitments

The Governance Committee monitors the demands placed on each director’s time and attention outside of their service on the Board. This includes, among other things, reviewing the number of other public company boards that a director sits on to ensure that no director has excessive commitments to other public companies that may result in a reduced ability for the

 

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director to provide effective oversight as a Board member. In this regard, each director is required to notify the Chair prior to accepting a directorship at another public company.

The view of the Governance Committee is that a policy limiting the number of other public company boards that a director can sit on is overly prescriptive and would unnecessarily limit our pool of candidate directors. Instead, the Governance Committee’s philosophy is to consider all outside commitments of a director in context and make a determination whether each director is able to serve effectively on behalf of BN’s shareholders. The Governance Committee has determined that all director nominees are able to devote the time and attention required to provide effective oversight as a Board member.

Interlocking Directorships

The Governance Committee monitors interlocking board and committee memberships among all directors. Board interlocks exist when two directors of one public company sit on the board of another company and committee interlocks exist when two directors sit together on another board and are also members of the same board committee. There are currently no interlocking board or committee memberships among the directors of BN.

Committees of the Board

The Committees of the Board assist in the effective functioning of the Board and help ensure that the views of independent directors are effectively represented:

 

   

Audit Committee;

 

   

Governance and Nominating Committee;

 

   

Management Resources and Compensation Committee; and

 

   

Risk Management Committee.

The responsibilities of these Committees are each set out in written Charters, which are reviewed and approved annually by the Board. The Charter of each Committee, which includes the position description of its respective Committee Chair, can be found on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com under “Corporate Governance.” It is the Board’s policy that all Committees, except the Risk Management Committee, must consist entirely of independent directors. The Risk Management Committee must not include any current members of management. Special committees may be formed from time to time to review particular matters or transactions. While the Board retains overall responsibility for corporate governance matters, each Committee has specific responsibilities for certain aspects of corporate governance in addition to its other responsibilities, as described below.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring BN’s systems and procedures for financial reporting and associated internal controls, and the performance of BN’s external and internal auditors. It is responsible for reviewing certain public disclosure documents before their approval by the full Board and release to the public, such as BN’s quarterly and annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis. The Audit Committee is also responsible for recommending the independent registered public accounting firm to be nominated for appointment as the external auditor, and for approving the assignment of any non-audit work to be performed by the external auditor, subject to the Audit Committee’s Audit Policy. The Audit Committee meets regularly in private session with BN’s external auditor and internal auditors, without management present, to discuss and review specific issues as appropriate. The Audit Committee met eight times in 2023.

In addition to being independent directors as described above, all members of the Audit Committee must meet an additional “independence” test under Canadian securities laws and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, in that their directors’ fees must be and are the only compensation they receive, directly or indirectly, from BN. Further, the Audit Committee requires that all its members disclose any form of association with a present or former internal or external auditor of BN to the Board for a determination as to whether this association affects the independent status of the director.

As at April 18, 2024, the Audit Committee was comprised of the following three directors: Mses. Janice Fukakusa (Chair) and Angela F. Braly and Mr. Rafael Miranda. The Board has determined that all of these directors are independent for Audit Committee service and financially literate, and that Ms. Fukakusa is qualified as a “designated financial expert.” Ms. Fukakusa is the former Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Royal Bank of Canada, positions she held

 

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for approximately ten years, and is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant. Ms. Braly is the former Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of WellPoint, Inc., and she currently serves on the audit committee of The Procter & Gamble Company. Mr. Miranda is the retired Chief Executive Officer of Endesa, S.A., the largest electric utility company in Spain, and in this capacity oversaw the preparation of financial statements for Endesa, S.A. Mses. Fukakusa and Braly and Mr. Miranda were members of the Audit Committee throughout 2023.

For more information about the Audit Committee as required by Part 5 of National Instrument 52-110Audit Committees (“NI 52-110”), see “Audit Committee Information” on pages 46 to 47 of BN’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “AIF”) which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

Governance and Nominating Committee

It is the responsibility of the Governance Committee, in consultation with the Chair, to assess from time to time the size and composition of the Board and its Committees; to review the effectiveness of the Board’s operations and its relations with management; to assess the performance of the Board, its Committees and individual directors; to review BN’s statement of corporate governance practices; and to review and recommend the directors’ compensation. The Governance Committee met three times in 2023.

The Board has in place a formal procedure for evaluating the performance of the Board, its Committees and individual directors – the Governance Committee reviews the performance of the Board, its Committees and the contribution of individual directors on an annual basis (see the “Board, Committee and Director Evaluation” section in this Statement of Corporate Governance Practices for further information on the annual director evaluation process).

The Governance Committee is also responsible for reviewing the credentials of proposed nominees for election or appointment to the Board and for recommending candidates for Board membership, including the candidates proposed to be nominated for election to the Board at the annual meeting of shareholders. To do this, the Governance Committee maintains an “evergreen” list of candidates to ensure outstanding candidates with needed skills can be quickly identified to fill planned or unplanned vacancies. Candidates are assessed in relation to the criteria established by the Board to ensure that the Board has the appropriate mix of talent, quality, skills, diversity, perspectives and other requirements necessary to promote sound governance and Board effectiveness.

The Governance Committee reviews, at least once a year, the composition of the Committees to ensure that Committee membership complies with the relevant governance guidelines, that the workload for independent directors is balanced, and that Committee positions are rotated as appropriate. In doing so, the Governance Committee consults with the Chair and makes recommendations to the Board, which appoints Committee members.

The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing BN’s approach to sustainability matters which includes a review of BN’s current and proposed sustainability initiatives and any material disclosures regarding sustainability matters.

In addition, on an annual basis, the Governance Committee reviews and recommends for approval to the Board, a number of BN’s conduct guidelines and corporate policies, including the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) and guidelines which apply to BN’s investment and capital markets activities, including the thresholds and other criteria governing when such activities can be approved by management and when Board approval is required.

As at April 18, 2024, the Governance Committee was comprised of the following three directors: Mr. Frank J. McKenna (Chair) and Mses. Hutham S. Olayan and Diana L. Taylor, all of whom are independent directors. Mr. McKenna also serves as the Board’s Chair. Mr. McKenna and Mses. Olayan (since June 2023) and Taylor were members of the Governance Committee during 2023.

Management Resources and Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting to the Board on management resource matters, including ensuring a diverse pool for succession planning, the job descriptions and annual objectives of senior executives, the form of executive compensation in general, including an assessment of the risks associated with the compensation plans, and the levels of compensation of the CEO and other senior executives. The Compensation Committee also reviews the performance of senior management against written objectives and reports thereon. In addition, the Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing any allegations of workplace misconduct claims that are brought to the Committee’s attention

 

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through BN’s ethics hotline, a referral from BN’s human resources department, or the Risk Management Committee. The Compensation Committee met two times in 2023.

All members of the Compensation Committee meet the standard director independence test in that they have no relationship which could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment.

The Board has also adopted a heightened test of independence for all members of the Compensation Committee, which entails that the Board has determined that no Compensation Committee member has a relationship with senior management that would impair the member’s ability to make independent judgments about BN’s executive compensation. This additional independence test complies with the test in the listing standards of the NYSE. Additionally, the Compensation Committee evaluates the independence of any advisor it retains in order to comply with the aforementioned NYSE listing standards. The Board has adopted its own governance policy that not more than one-third of the members of the Compensation Committee may be current chief executive officers of a publicly traded entity.

As at April 18, 2024, the Compensation Committee was comprised of the following three directors: Ms. Diana L. Taylor (Chair), Mr. Rafael Miranda, and Ms. Maureen Kempston Darkes, all of whom meet the additional criteria for independence described in the paragraph above. None of the Compensation Committee members is currently the chief executive officer of a publicly traded entity. Ms. Taylor, Mr. Miranda (since March 2023) and Ms. Kempston Darkes were members of the Compensation Committee during 2023.

Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee is responsible for monitoring BN’s financial and non-financial risk exposures, including market, credit, operational, reputational, litigation and regulatory, fraud, bribery and corruption, health, safety and the environment, strategic, systemic and business risks, and the steps senior management has taken to monitor and control such risk exposures. The Committee regularly reports to the Board on its proceedings and any significant matters that it has addressed. The Risk Management Committee met four times in 2023.

As at April 18, 2024, the Risk Management Committee was comprised of the following three directors: Mses. Maureen Kempston Darkes (Chair), M. Elyse Allan, and Hutham S. Olayan, all of whom are independent directors. Mses. Kempston Darkes, Allan and Olayan were members of the Risk Management Committee throughout 2023.

Reporting

Each Committee Chair provides a report to the Board following a meeting of their Committee. A Committee’s report to the Board provides a review of the matters that came before the Committee during its meeting, a summary of any decisions that the Committee made and any other information that the Committee deems relevant. Additionally, as part of the Committee’s report, the Committee will recommend any resolutions that it proposes for adoption by the Board. On an annual basis, each Committee provides a report to shareholders highlighting its work and achievements during the prior year.

Board, Committee and Director Evaluation

The Board believes that a regular and formal process of evaluation improves the performance of the Board as a whole, the Committees and individual directors. Each year, a survey is sent to independent directors inviting comments and suggestions on areas for improving the effectiveness of the Board and its Committees. The results of this survey are reviewed by the Governance Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board as required. Each independent director also receives a self-assessment questionnaire and all directors are required to complete a skill-set evaluation which is used by the Governance Committee for planning purposes.

The Chair holds private interviews with each non-management director annually to discuss the operations of the Board and its Committees, and to provide any feedback on individual director’s contributions. This interview process also includes a peer review, where each director provides feedback to the Chair on the performance of their colleagues on the Board. The Chair reports on these interviews to the Governance Committee as a basis for recommending to the Board measures to improve individual director performance and the overall effectiveness of the Board.

 

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Board and Management Responsibilities

Separate Chair and CEO

BN has a separate Chair and CEO and the Chair is an independent director. The Chair is Mr. Frank J. McKenna and the CEO is Mr. Bruce Flatt. The Board has adopted written position descriptions for each of the Chair and CEO, which are summarized below, as well as position descriptions for each Committee Chair. These position descriptions are reviewed annually by the Board and posted on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com under “Corporate Governance.”

The Chair manages the business of the Board and ensures that the functions identified in the Board’s Charter are being carried out effectively by the Board and its Committees. In addition, the Chair is responsible for: approving the agenda for each Board meeting after consultation with the CEO, CFO and Corporate Secretary; ensuring directors receive the information required to perform their duties; ensuring an appropriate committee structure is in place; providing an evaluation system to assess the performance of the Board as a whole, the Committees and individual directors; and working with the CEO and senior management of BN in monitoring progress on strategic planning, policy implementation and succession planning. The Chair also presides over all private sessions of the independent directors of the Board that take place following each Board meeting and is responsible for ensuring that matters raised during these meetings are reviewed with management and acted upon.

The CEO provides leadership to BN and, subject to approved policies and direction by the Board, manages the business and affairs of BN and oversees the execution of its strategic plan. In addition, the CEO is responsible for the following functions: presenting to the Board for approval an annual strategic plan for BN; presenting to the Board for approval BN’s capital and operating plans on an ongoing basis; acting as the primary spokesperson for BN; presenting to the Board for approval an annual assessment of senior management and succession plans; appointing or terminating senior executives of BN; setting the direction for BN’s approach to sustainability within its corporate and asset management activities; and, together with the CFO, establishing and maintaining controls and procedures appropriate to ensure the accuracy and integrity of BN’s financial reporting and public disclosures.

Management’s Relationship to the Board

BN’s senior management team reports to and is accountable to the Board. Members of management attend Board meetings at the invitation of the Chair and Committee meetings at the invitation of the respective Committee Chairs.

The information provided by management to directors is critical to Board effectiveness. In addition to the reports presented to the Board and its Committees at meetings, the directors are also kept informed by management on a timely basis of corporate developments and key decisions taken by management in pursuing corporate objectives. The directors annually evaluate the quality, completeness and timeliness of information provided by management to the Board.

Strategic Planning

The Board oversees BN’s strategy of deploying its capital across our three core businesses—asset management, insurance solutions, and our operating businesses—to build long-term wealth for institutions and individuals around the world. To facilitate this strategy, BN develops an annual business plan to ensure the compatibility of shareholder, Board and management views on BN’s strategic direction and performance targets, and the effective use of shareholder capital. The Board meets once a year at an annual strategy session to review the strategic initiatives and annual business plan submitted by senior management.

At the Board’s annual strategy session, the Board reviews BN’s business model and annual business plan, which focus on optimizing synergies within the broader Brookfield ecosystem to enhance value and the redeployment of the substantial free cash flows we retain towards supporting the growth of our three core businesses, investing in new strategic opportunities and share buybacks. BN’s strategic plan is designed to deliver 15%+ annualized returns to shareholders over the long term. The Board evaluates the strategic plan and management’s annual accomplishments versus the corporate objectives set forth in the plan at the annual strategy session.

The Board approves the annual business plan, which guides senior management in the conduct of BN’s affairs over the ensuing year. This typically occurs in December of each year, where the Board reviews and provides input into

 

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management’s business plan for the coming five-years. Material proposed deviations from the approved annual business plan are reported to and considered by the Board.

Time is spent at each Board meeting discussing BN’s strategy with management in the context of corporate opportunities and strategic initiatives across the organization. On a quarterly basis, the Board reviews the current global economic climate as applicable to BN and its businesses, based on which adjustments to BN’s strategy may be considered.

Risk Management Oversight

Managing risk is an integral part of the Board’s activities. BN has established a risk management framework for managing risks across the organization and the Board plays a central role in overseeing disciplined and focused approach to risk management.

Given the diversification and scope of BN’s operations, BN seeks to ensure that risk is managed as close to its source as possible, and by management teams that have direct and ongoing knowledge and expertise in the business or risk area. As such, business specific risks are generally managed at the business unit level, as the risks of each business vary based on its unique nature and operational characteristics. At the same time, BN utilizes a coordinated approach to risks with the potential to impact BN’s business as a whole, as well as risks that tend to be more pervasive and correlated in their impact across the organization. A coordinated approach is also emphasized where management can bring together specialized knowledge to better manage such risks.

At least quarterly, management reports to the Board and its Committees on developments and progress made on strategies for managing key risks.

The Board has governance oversight for risk management with a focus on the more significant risks facing BN, and builds upon management’s risk assessment processes. The Board has delegated responsibility for the oversight of specific categories of risks to its Committees as follows:

Audit Committee

Oversees the management of risks related to BN’s systems and procedures for financial reporting, as well as for associated audit processes (both internal and external). Part of the Audit Committee’s responsibilities is the review and approval of the internal audit plan, which is designed to ensure alignment with risk management activities and organizational priorities.

Governance and Nominating Committee

Oversees the management of risks related to BN’s governance structure, including the effectiveness of Board and Committee activities and potential conflicts of interest.

Management Resources and Compensation Committee

Oversees the management of risks related to BN’s management resource matters, including succession planning, executive compensation, and the roles and annual objectives of senior executives, as well as performance against those objectives.

Risk Management Committee

Oversees the management of BN’s significant financial and non-financial risk exposures and reviews risk management practices with management to assess the effectiveness of efforts to mitigate key organizational risks, as well as confirm that BN has an appropriate risk taking philosophy and suitable risk capacity.

Related Party Transactions

Pursuant to its charter, the Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and conducting oversight of all significant related party transactions involving BN and situations involving a potential conflict of interest, which includes transactions between BN and an executive officer, director, principal shareholder or their immediate family members. The Governance Committee is also responsible for ensuring that no related party transaction entered into is inconsistent with the interests of BN and its shareholders. Where a related party transaction or situation involving a potential conflict of interest is required to be dealt with by an independent special committee pursuant to applicable securities laws, BN will form such a committee.

 

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See “Governance and Nominating Committee” on page 32 of this Circular for more information about the Governance Committee.

Sustainability

Sustainability at Brookfield

Our sustainability strategy is centered on supporting business resilience and value creation for our investors and stakeholders—now and in the future. We manage our investments by combining economic goals with responsible corporate citizenship. This is consistent with our longstanding investment philosophy and experience that conducting business with a long-term perspective in a sustainable and ethical manner maximizes value. It also requires operating with robust sustainability principles and practices.

While sustainability principles have long been embedded in how we run our business, we determined to formalize our approach in 2016 when we published Brookfield’s sustainability principles in our global Sustainability Policy. Our Sustainability Policy codifies our longstanding strategy of integrating sustainability considerations into our decision-making and day-to-day asset management activities. This policy is reviewed annually and updated periodically by senior executives at Brookfield, as well as each of Brookfield’s business groups2. Our Sustainability Policy outlines our approach and is based on the following guiding principles:

Mitigate the impact of our operations on the environment

 

   

Strive to minimize the environmental impact of our operations and improve our efficient use of resources over time.

 

   

Support the goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Strive to ensure the well-being and safety of employees

 

   

Foster a positive work environment based on respect for human rights, valuing diversity and having zero tolerance for workplace discrimination, violence or harassment.

 

   

Operate with leading health and safety practices to support the goal of achieving zero serious safety incidents.

Uphold strong governance practices

 

   

Operate to the highest ethical standards by conducting business activities in accordance with our Code.

 

   

Maintain strong stakeholder relationships through transparency and active engagement.

Be good corporate citizens

 

   

Strive to ensure the interests, safety and well-being of the communities in which we operate are integrated into our business decisions.

 

   

Support philanthropy and volunteerism by our employees.

Sustainability Affiliations and Partnerships

Through our engagement with sustainability frameworks and organizations, we continue to be actively involved in discussions to advance sustainability awareness across private and public markets, and we are continuing to enhance our sustainability reporting and protocols in line with evolving best practices. The following are some of the frameworks and organizations with which we are affiliated:

 

   

Net Zero Asset Managers (“NZAM”) initiative – We have been a signatory to NZAM since 2021 and are committed to supporting the ambition of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner, emphasizing our alignment with the Paris Agreement.

 

 

2 

BN’s business groups consist of our three core businesses — asset management, insurance solutions and our operating businesses, renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity and real estate.

 

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Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”) – We have been supporters since 2021 of the TCFD, which aims to guide companies in considering the effects of climate change in business and financial decisions, and we report in alignment with their recommendations.

 

   

Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI”) – We have been signatories to the PRI since 2020, which reinforces our longstanding commitment to responsible investment and sustainability best practices.

 

   

International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) Sustainability Alliance – We are members of the IFRS Sustainability Alliance, a global program established to develop globally accepted accounting and sustainability disclosures.

 

   

Sustainable Markets Initiative’s (“SMI”) Asset Manager and Asset Owner (“AMAO”) Task Force – We have been involved with SMI’s AMAO Task Force since 2021. This initiative focuses on scalable ways for institutional investors to allocate capital towards sustainable solutions leveraging expertise from each member firm.

Sustainability Organization and Governance

Upholding robust sustainability programs throughout our firm, business groups and underlying portfolio companies remains an important priority.

We understand that good governance is essential to sustainable business operations. Oversight of sustainability matters is integrated into Brookfield’s overall governance framework and is aligned with our governance approach. We are committed to upholding strong practices to monitor and oversee our business, including our overall approach to sustainability.

Our Board is focused on maintaining strong corporate governance of our sustainability practices in a manner that prioritizes the interests of our shareholders and other stakeholders. The Board has oversight of our business and affairs, reviews major strategic initiatives, and receives progress reports on the firm’s sustainability initiatives throughout the year.

Our approach to sustainability has sponsorship and oversight from senior leadership within each business group including each group’s CEO and Sustainability Lead, supported by other senior executives of Brookfield, including its Chief Operating Officer (COO) (Governance and Risk Management), Head of Transition Investing (Decarbonization and Investment), Head of Sustainability Management, working in collaboration with Brookfield’s CFO (GHG Reporting and Measurement).

Because sustainability covers a vast range of priorities that are varied in scope, we believe that sustainability initiatives should be overseen by individuals closest to the particular business activity. Functional leads are responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring relevant sustainability factors within their functional area, such as Risk Management and Human Resources. Management teams and committees, such as our Net Zero Steering Committee and Safety Leadership Committee, bring together the required expertise to manage key components of sustainability, ensuring appropriate application and coordination of approaches across our business and functional groups. Supporting our leaders in our business groups and our Management Committees, we have Working Groups, such as the Sustainability Working Group, Net Zero Operational Committee and Sustainability Financial Reporting Working Group, dedicated to specialized areas that develop and coordinate initiatives to advance Brookfield’s sustainability priorities.

Collaboration is a hallmark of our management approach and each of our business groups has appointed a Sustainability Lead who are overseen and accountable to the business group’s senior leadership, including its CEO. Supported by functional experts across various sustainability-related priorities, this group works collaboratively with our Management Committees and are members of Working Groups to drive sustainability-related initiatives.

Sustainability Integration into the Investment Process

As part of investment due diligence, Brookfield seeks to assess sustainability-related opportunities and risks and factor them into the overall investment decision. This includes leveraging leading industry guidance to identify sustainability factors most likely to materially impact the financial condition or operating performance of companies in a sector. As part of our Sustainability Due Diligence Protocol, Brookfield provides specific guidance to investment teams on assessing climate change, bribery and corruption, cybersecurity, health and safety and human rights and modern slavery risks. Where warranted, Brookfield performs deeper due diligence, working with internal and third-party experts as appropriate.

 

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All investments must be approved by the applicable Investment Committee. Investment teams outline for the Investment Committee the merits of the transaction and the material risks, mitigants and significant opportunities for improvement, including those related to sustainability.

As part of each acquisition3, investment teams create a tailored integration plan that includes, among other things, material sustainability-related matters for review or execution. We believe there is a strong correlation between managing these considerations appropriately and enhancing investment returns.

Consistent with our management approach, it is the responsibility of the management teams within each portfolio company to manage sustainability risks and opportunities through the investment’s lifecycle, supported by the applicable investment team within Brookfield. The combination of local accountability and expertise with Brookfield’s investment and operating experience and insight is important when managing a wide range of asset types across jurisdictions. We leverage these capabilities in collaborating on sustainability initiatives, where appropriate, to drive best practices and assist with any remediation. Where appropriate, we encourage our portfolio companies to organize training on a variety of sustainability functions for relevant staff.

Management teams regularly report to their respective boards of directors from both financial and operating perspectives, including key performance indicators that incorporate material sustainability factors, such as health and safety, environmental management, compliance with regulatory requirements, and, increasingly, GHG emissions.

For investments where Brookfield has a non-controlling interest (for example, where we are a debt holder or in other circumstances where Brookfield does not have the ability to exercise influence through its contractual rights), Brookfield actively monitors the performance of its investments and, where appropriate, utilizes its stewardship practices to encourage sustainability outcomes that are aligned with Brookfield’s sustainability approach.

When preparing an asset for divestiture, we outline potential value creation deriving from several different factors, including relevant sustainability considerations. Where applicable, we also prepare both qualitative and quantitative data that summarize the sustainability performance of the investment and provide a holistic understanding of how we have managed the investment during the holding period.

Stewardship and Engagement

Stewardship is an important element of our sustainability strategy, and we have defined it in alignment with the PRI. We seek to engage with our portfolio companies and collaborate with industry peers to help inform and improve our sustainability strategies and practices. Though the majority of our investments are in private markets, we will use our Proxy Voting Guidelines, where applicable, and ensure our disclosures address how we incorporate sustainability factors into our investment process. In managing our assets, we utilize our significant influence and investing and operating capabilities in collaborating with our portfolio companies to encourage sound sustainability practices that are essential for resilient businesses, while seeking to create long-term value for our investors and stakeholders. As well, through our ongoing engagement with portfolio companies, we may partner with or support our portfolio companies to facilitate dialogue with external stakeholders with the intent of constructively contributing to the development of industry standards or practices that are aligned with our sustainability principles and opportunities to create value.

Below is a summary of some of the sustainability initiatives that we undertook in 2023.

Environmental

Climate change mitigation and adaptation continues to be a key area of focus for our business. Brookfield believes it can contribute meaningfully to the global economy’s transition to net-zero.

Increased transparency and alignment to the TCFD

Since becoming supporters of the TCFD in 2021, Brookfield has made progress on aligning with the TCFD’s recommended disclosures. We have also implemented a climate risk assessment process to better understand the physical risk and transition risk and opportunity profile across our businesses. We leverage the results of the assessment to identify improvement

 

 

3 

Refers to investments where Brookfield has control and significant influence.

 

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opportunities in approaching climate change mitigation and adaptation and continue to work to integrate those considerations into Brookfield’s business.

Decarbonization: Supporting the World’s Transition to a Net-Zero Economy

We recognize that the road to a net-zero economy will take time, requiring the alignment of government policy and technological development. We intend to support this goal by contributing operational and investment expertise to execute practical decarbonization strategies that prepare businesses for the future economy. We also consider decarbonization to be an important long-term transition risk mitigation strategy that is complementary to preserving and enhancing value.

We remain focused on our sustainability approach, which, at its core, is aligned with our fiduciary duty to create long-term value for our investors and stakeholders, while managing our businesses responsibly. We will continue to acquire long-life assets and businesses that can generate stable cash flows that grow over time. We believe that with proper management and stewardship, including preparing them for a low-carbon future, these assets will tend to increase in value over time.

We are focused on developing foundational processes to catalyze decarbonization and will continue to take action across all of our businesses. We are focused on providing support to our businesses through the sharing of best practices and resources, as well as regular and systematic monitoring to understand our progress.

Net Zero Asset Managers initiative

To support the transition to a net-zero carbon economy, Brookfield is a signatory to the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. NZAM is a group of international asset managers committed to supporting the goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Following the formalization in 2022 of our interim target commitment, in 2023, and ahead of NZAM’s requirements, we increased our interim target commitment by $54 billion of assets under management. Our updated interim target commitment is to reduce emissions across $201 billion of assets under management by at least 50% from a 2020 base year.

An integral part of Brookfield’s net-zero ambition is the allocation of capital towards climate solutions. Our interim emissions target is comprised of assets across our businesses, including renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, and real estate. In setting our interim target, we focused on investments where:

 

  a.

We have control and therefore sufficient influence over the outcomes;

 

  b.

We could identify and implement actionable initiatives in the near term; and

 

  c.

We assessed it to be value accretive to do so over the life of the investment.

Our intention is to increase the proportion of assets to be managed in line with net-zero annually or as frequently as possible, consistent with our ambition to reach 100% over time. Our net-zero interim target includes Scope 1 and 2 emissions of Brookfield’s portfolio companies.

To support our progress towards achieving our net-zero ambition, our focus over the past year has been on building teams and devoting additional resources to facilitate the development of credible decarbonization plans across our assets under management. In undertaking this work, we will focus our net-zero efforts on investments where we have the best opportunity to achieve meaningful outcomes.

In addition to the work that we are undertaking with our existing assets, two years ago we launched the Brookfield Global Transition Fund I, the first in a series of transition-focused funds that is dedicated to accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy by catalyzing businesses onto net-zero pathways aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Brookfield Global Transition Fund II, launched in 2023, will follow the strategy of its predecessor fund, and invest in developing new clean energy capacity, scaling sustainable solutions and providing capital for transforming businesses in carbon-intensive sectors. At COP28, Brookfield and Altérra, announced the creation of a multi-billion dollar Catalytic Transition Fund (“CTF”). CTF will have a differentiated and focused mandate, deploying capital exclusively in emerging and developing markets, with a dedicated focus on supporting energy transition, industrial decarbonization, sustainable living and climate technologies. In addition to driving impact through transition investing, including supporting the growth of significant new clean energy capacity, we are one of the world’s largest owners and operators of renewable power globally.

 

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Water, Waste & Biodiversity

Reducing the impact of our water consumption and waste generation helps build efficient systems, business resiliency and contributes to a sustainable future. We seek to utilize best practices to efficiently monitor water usage, and for certain portfolio companies manage performance, with the objective to seek opportunities for water consumption reduction. In addition, we adhere to all applicable local and regional waste regulations and track waste and recycling metrics. Encouraging conservation of biodiversity is an important component in achieving our net-zero goals and managing physical risks as we strive to protect biodiversity and ecosystems near our businesses.

Social

Culture Matters: Human Capital Development

Our people are our most important asset. Brookfield invests in its people and prepares them for future leadership. Everything Brookfield does, from its dealings with clients to the interactions among its employees and executives, is governed by a sense of fairness. This has been critical to the success of the partnership in building relationships that are long-lasting and mutually rewarding. Brookfield’s firmwide culture is defined by mutual respect, teamwork and passion, and revolves around our core values:

 

   

Collaboration: Leadership works side by side with colleagues throughout the organization and is committed to achieving shared success. One of the key attributes that Brookfield screens carefully for in new hires is their aptitude to collaborate with others. The firm wants people to share information across groups and take an interest in all of our businesses, not just the one they happen to work for at the moment. Brookfield does not hire people solely for a specific job. Instead, we hire for the potential of all the future positions they might hold and that will contribute to the larger success of the firm. Brookfield actively seeks people who want to learn, grow, and develop—and demonstrate a willingness to be stretched outside their comfort zone.

 

   

Entrepreneurship: Our flat organization is results-oriented—responsibility is earned based on initiative and hard work, rather than job title—and decisions are made close to the action. This idea is not uncommon, but Brookfield has encouraged its entrepreneurial spirit throughout its growth over several decades. Brookfield seeks employees who have a passion not only for what they do but also for what the firm does. The shared values of ownership extend beyond helping the firm succeed or generate more revenue. It means caring about the little things as well, such as being prudent with firm resources (thinking like owners) and treating everyone with respect.

 

   

Discipline: Our team shares an awareness of, and commitment to, our goal of generating superior long-term returns for investors. Discipline also requires that each person is expected to have a realistic understanding of their own abilities. Brookfield expects employees to understand their strengths, recognize their weaknesses, be willing to stretch outside their comfort zones, and be willing to ask for help when necessary.

These three attributes—collaboration, entrepreneurship, and discipline—form the foundation of Brookfield. By hiring talented people and giving them opportunities to move among different businesses, we have been able to build our expertise into a broad ecosystem that facilitates very effective collaboration across different areas and geographies as needed. Among other things, this ecosystem enables teams to draw on sound data and expertise to identify emergent themes—informing their investment process and providing actionable intelligence for the benefit of our investors.

Employee Composition

Building a diverse and inclusive work environment reinforces our culture of collaboration and strengthens our ability to develop and promote all of our people to their potential. Our approach to diversity and inclusion is deliberate and integrated into our human capital development processes and initiatives. Our initial focus on gender diversity led to a significant increase in female representation at the senior levels of the organization. Over the past few years, we have commenced applying the same disciplined human capital processes and development activities to foster more ethnic diversity and are immediately seeing the results of these efforts. Brookfield has established a global process for employees to self-identify their ethnicity. This information assists Brookfield in identifying specific areas of focus related to increasing ethnic diversity. These results demonstrate Brookfield’s current state of diversity as at April 1, 2024:

 

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   Global Ethnic Diversity Metrics              

 White

    48

 Asian

    32

 Black

    5

 Hispanic

    3

 Two or More Races

    6

 Did Not Respond or Declined to

 Self-Identify

    6

Some of our more impactful initiatives are centered around how we hire, our succession process and how we engage our people. We are involved with several organizations to promote diverse representation in our talent pool, including summer interns and MBA Associates. Our succession process includes identifying a diverse slate of candidates and focuses on the development of early career candidates through stretch roles and exposure. We support a number of Employee Resource Groups organized by employees around shared interests, characteristics or experiences.

Occupational Health and Safety

Managing health and safety risk is an integral part of the management of our business. Our goal is to have zero serious safety incidents. We have implemented a health and safety governance initiative to propagate a strong health and safety culture, encourage the sharing of best practices, support the continuous improvement of safety performance and help eliminate serious safety incidents. The initiative is overseen by the Safety Leadership Committee, which comprises senior operations executives from across our business groups and regions, and reports on health and safety trends and key initiatives, which are provided to the Board as part of the quarterly operational risk update. Portfolio company management is responsible for ensuring that their company’s health and safety policies and systems are developed, operationalized, and reviewed regularly to address their specific risk areas. Portfolio company CEOs report to their respective board of directors on safety performance, incidents, and the status of improvement initiatives.

Human Rights and Modern Slavery

In relation to human rights, we seek to act in a way that aligns with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We are committed to conducting our business in an ethical and responsible manner, including by carrying out our activities in a manner that respects fundamental human rights and supports the prevention of human rights violations within our business. We strive to embed this into our core business activities, including training, communications, contracts and due diligence processes set out in our Human Rights and Anti-Modern Slavery Policy (“Human Rights Policy”), Sustainability Due Diligence Protocol and Vendor Management Program.

Integrity, fairness and respect are hallmarks of our culture, including by carrying out our activities by respecting fundamental human rights and our efforts to identify and prevent human rights violations within our business and supply chain. We are committed to maintaining a workplace free of discrimination, violence and harassment and we expect our staff to act in a way which promotes a positive working environment. Our Human Rights Policy aims to codify our approach to minimizing the risk of modern slavery within our business and supply chain. We also have specific tools and processes aimed at identifying human rights and modern slavery as part of due diligence for new investments and which include risk assessments, remedies, training and governance.

In addition, our Human Rights Policy consolidates the relevant commitments set out in the Code, Sustainability Policy, financial crimes policies, and the Whistleblowing Policy. We also have several additional policies and procedures that provide guidance on the identification of human rights and modern slavery risks and the steps to be taken to mitigate these risks. These include our Vendor Code of Conduct, Anti-Money Laundering and Trade Sanctions Policy and Positive Work Environment Policy. We are cognizant of the fact that the risks of human rights, modern slavery and human trafficking are complex and evolving, and we will continue to work on addressing them.

 

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Governance

Strong governance is essential to sustainable business operations, and we aim to conduct our business according to high ethical and legal standards.

Sustainability Regulation and Frameworks

Our governance practices are the foundation upon which we operate our business. We continue to adapt and enhance our policies to meet evolving standards and regulations in our industry, including legislation, guidelines and practices in all jurisdictions in which we operate.

We seek to continuously improve and refine our processes by actively participating in the development and implementation of new industry standards and best practices.

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity

Data privacy and cybersecurity remain key sustainability focus areas. Brookfield undertook initiatives to further enhance our data protection and threat-intelligence capabilities, and Brookfield worked on improving our processes for third-party risk management. In 2023, Brookfield reviews and updates our cybersecurity program annually and conducts regular external-party assessments of our program maturity based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) Cybersecurity Framework. In addition to continued mandatory cybersecurity education for all employees, Brookfield enhanced our phishing simulations to include more advanced simulations and social engineering.

Communication and Disclosure Policies

BN has a disclosure policy (the “Disclosure Policy”) that summarizes its policies and practices regarding public disclosures of information to investors, analysts and the media. The Disclosure Policy ensures that BN’s communications with the investment community are timely, consistent and in compliance with all applicable securities legislation. The Disclosure Policy is reviewed annually by the Board and is posted on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com under “Corporate Governance.”

BN keeps its shareholders informed of progress and developments through a comprehensive annual report, quarterly interim reports and periodic news releases. BN’s website provides summary information and ready access to its published reports, news releases, statutory filings and supplementary information provided to analysts and investors. BN may, subject to applicable securities laws, disseminate important information exclusively via its website and shareholders and others should consult the website to access this information regarding BN and its affairs.

Management and shareholders participate virtually at the annual meeting of shareholders and in person at the annual investor day in New York (“Investor Day”), and management is available to respond to questions at these events. At Investor Day, management makes presentations to shareholders, investors and analysts on our recent performance, our plans for the future and our prospects. Shareholders who wish to contact the Chair or other Board members can do so through the Corporate Secretary of BN by phone at 1-866-989-0311 or by email at bn.enquiries@brookfield.com.

BN also maintains an investor relations program to respond to inquiries in a timely manner. Management meets on a regular basis with investors and investment analysts and hosts quarterly conference calls by webcast to discuss BN’s financial results, with a transcript of these calls posted on BN’s website. Management ensures that the media are kept informed of developments on a timely basis and have an opportunity to meet and discuss these developments with BN’s designated spokespersons.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

BN’s policy is that all its activities be conducted with honesty and integrity and in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. To that end, BN maintains the Code and a Positive Work Environment Policy, which is incorporated into the Code. Together, these policies set out the guidelines and principles for how directors and employees should conduct themselves as members of the BN team. Preserving our corporate culture is vital to the organization and following the Code, including our Positive Work Environment Policy, is a critical component of achieving this.

 

 

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All directors, officers and employees of BN are required to provide a written acknowledgment upon joining BN that they are familiar with and will comply with the Code. All directors, officers and employees of BN are required to provide this same acknowledgment annually.

The Board annually reviews the Code to consider whether to approve changes in BN’s standards and practices. Compliance with the Code is monitored by the Board through its Risk Management Committee, which receives regular reports on any non-compliance issues from BN’s internal auditors. The Code is available on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com under “Corporate Governance” and has been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

 

 

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Report of the Audit Committee

 

The following is a summary of the Audit Committee’s work during 2023, in accordance with its Charter:

  

MANDATE

 

The Audit Committee

oversees BN’s financial

reporting and disclosure,

and compliance with

applicable laws and

regulations governing

financial reporting and

disclosure.

 

The Audit Committee

Charter and the Audit

Committee Chair’s

position description are

available at https://

bn.brookfield.com

under “Corporate

Governance.”

Financial Reporting

✓  Reviewed the annual and interim financial statements, external auditor’s reports, management’s discussion and analysis, supplemental information, financial news releases, officer certifications and all other disclosure documents containing material audited or unaudited financial information

✓  Reviewed reports related to, and monitored the effectiveness of, disclosure controls, systems and procedures and internal controls over financial statements and reporting

✓  Received presentations from management on areas relevant to the Audit Committee’s oversight of financial reporting and the role of the Audit Committee in reviewing consolidated financial information of BN

✓  Remained responsible for the review of reports related to any allegations of financial reporting fraud or misconduct reported through BN’s ethics hotline or otherwise, including those reported by employees of wholly owned or controlled operating businesses

 

External Auditor

✓  Recommended the firm of chartered accountants to be nominated for appointment as the external auditor by BN’s shareholders

✓  Evaluated the external auditor’s performance and monitored the quality and effectiveness of the relationship among the external auditor, management and the Audit Committee

✓  Reviewed and approved proposed external audit engagement and fees for the year

✓  Monitored the independence of the external auditor and received the external auditor’s report on its independence

✓  Reviewed the planned scope of the audit, the areas of special emphasis and the materiality thresholds proposed to be employed

✓  Approved the Audit Policy governing the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services provided by the external auditor to BN and the ratification of services delivered

✓  Reviewed reports from the external auditor on internal control issues identified in the course of its audit and attestation activities

✓  Reviewed reports from the external auditor of BAM, Brookfield Business Partners L.P., Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P., Brookfield Property Partners L.P., and BNRE to understand areas of significant judgment and audit risks

✓  Met with the external auditor in private sessions after each Audit Committee meeting without management present

 

Internal Auditors

✓  Reviewed the quarterly activities and reports of the internal auditors, including completed audits, follow-up plans for outstanding matters raised and other priorities

✓  Received a report of BN’s plan to comply with the provisions of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act

✓  Reviewed the performance of the internal auditors

✓  Reviewed and approved the internal auditors’ audit plan

✓  Met independently with the internal auditors

 

Financial Literacy of Audit Committee Members

✓  Assessed the financial literacy of each Audit Committee member

 

 

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Other Duties and Responsibilities

  

✓  Reviewed and approved the Charter of the Audit Committee and the internal auditors

✓  Reviewed and approved the Report of the Audit Committee included in this Circular

✓  Reviewed the Audit Committee’s annual work program

✓  Monitored the governance and control activities of BN related to the responsibilities of the Audit Committee

✓  Reviewed and approved the company’s quarterly valuation analysis in respect of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940

✓  Reviewed executive officer’s expenses

✓  Monitored the quality of BN’s finance function and its alignment with the scale and breadth of BN’s business

✓  Met privately as an Audit Committee after every meeting

 

MEMBERSHIP  

Janice Fukakusa, Chair

Angela F. Braly

Rafael Miranda

 

FINANCIAL LITERACY   All members are “financially literate” as required by the CSA and Ms. Fukakusa is a “designated financial expert”.
INDEPENDENCE     All members meet Board-approved independence standards which are derived from the CSA corporate governance guidelines.

For more information about the Audit Committee as required by Part 5 of NI 52-110, see the “Audit Committee Information” section on pages 46 to 47 of the AIF, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

Auditor’s Fees

See page 22 of this Circular for a description of the fees that Deloitte received for services rendered during the year ended December 31, 2023.

The Audit Committee met eight times in 2023. In addition, the Chair of the Audit Committee met regularly with the external auditor, the internal auditors and management.

This report has been adopted and approved by the Audit Committee:

Janice Fukakusa, Chair; Angela F. Braly; Rafael Miranda.

 

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Report of the Governance and Nominating Committee

 

The following is a summary of the Governance Committee’s work during 2023, in accordance with its Charter:

 

  

MANDATE

 

The Governance Committee

oversees BN’s approach to

corporate governance.

 

The Governance Committee

Charter and the Governance

Committee Chair’s position

description are available at

https://bn.brookfield.com

under “Corporate

Governance.”

Composition and Performance of the Board and its Committees

(i) Director Nominations

✓  Reviewed the size, composition and diversity of the Board and its Committees

✓  Reviewed the competencies and skills represented on the Board and the skills required of directors and the Board as a whole

✓  Maintained an “evergreen” list of director candidates

✓  Approved seven Class A Share director nominees and seven Class B Share director nominees for election by the shareholders and recommended them to the Board

(ii) Evaluation of the Board, its Committees and Individual Directors

✓  Reviewed the performance of the Board, its Committees and individual directors

✓  Reviewed the process for evaluating the performance of the Board and the individual directors

✓  Reviewed and approved the current director appointments to the Committees

Director Compensation

✓  Reviewed compensation paid to the Board Chair and to the independent and affiliated directors

Disclosure

✓  Reviewed and approved the Report of the Governance Committee included in this Circular

Corporate Governance

✓  Set the Board Work Plan for 2024

✓  Evaluated and recommended enhancements to BN’s governance practices

✓  Determined the executive officers of BN

✓  Reviewed, evaluated, and approved BN’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Disclosure Policy, Personal Trading Policy, Investment and Capital Markets Policy, Say on Pay Policy, Majority Voting Policy, Board and Committee Charters, the Board Position Descriptions and the Charter of Director Expectations

Sustainability Matters

✓  Oversaw BN’s approach to sustainability matters within its corporate and asset management activities, and reviewed and approved of the Committee’s Sustainability Work Plan

✓  Updated the Board on sustainability matters as necessary

✓  Monitored developments of international trends and best practices in corporate disclosure of sustainability matters

✓  Reviewed and assessed BN’s corporate responsibility strategy for sustainability matters and related reporting

  

 

MEMBERSHIP   Frank J. McKenna, Chair
 

Hutham S. Olayan (joined on June 9, 2023)

 

Diana L. Taylor

 

INDEPENDENCE   All members meet Board-approved independence standards which are derived from the CSA corporate governance guidelines.

The Governance Committee met three times in 2023.

This report has been adopted and approved by the members of the Governance Committee:

Frank J. McKenna, Chair; Hutham S. Olayan; Diana L. Taylor.

 

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Report of the Management Resources and Compensation Committee

 

The following is a summary of the Compensation Committee’s work during 2023, in accordance with its Charter:

 

  

MANDATE

 

The Compensation

Committee oversees BN’s

management resources

and compensation

strategy, plans, policies

and practices.

 

The Compensation

Committee Charter and

the Compensation

Committee Chair’s

position description are

available at https://

bn.brookfield.com

under “Corporate

Governance.”

Succession Planning

✓  Reviewed and assessed BN’s human capital plans

✓  Reviewed and assessed senior executive performance

✓  Assessed senior executive succession candidates

✓  Reviewed BN’s high-potential executive development initiatives

✓  Reviewed BN’s diversity and inclusion strategy, initiatives and progress

Executive Compensation Philosophy

✓  Reviewed BN’s compensation philosophy

✓  Reviewed BN’s compensation policies related to alignment of interests between its executives and the shareholders

✓  Assessed the alignment of interests of senior management through equity ownership with the creation of shareholder value over the long-term

✓  Assessed the risks associated with BN’s compensation approach, policies and practices

Appointment and Compensation of Senior Management

✓  Reviewed and approved the compensation of senior management

✓  Evaluated the Annual Management Incentive Plan and Long-Term Share Ownership Plans and reviewed the value outstanding in these plans

✓  Reviewed and approved the (i) Annual Management Incentive Plan awards and (ii) Long-Term Share Ownership Plan awards, and reviewed the future value of payouts related to share ownership awards made to senior management assuming various performance scenarios

CEO Performance, Evaluation and Compensation

✓  Evaluated the CEO’s performance

✓  Reviewed and approved the compensation of the CEO

✓  Reviewed the priorities for the CEO

Disclosure

✓  Reviewed and approved for recommendation to the Board the Report on Executive Compensation and the Report of the Compensation Committee to be included in this Circular

Other Duties and Responsibilities

✓  Reviewed and approved the Charter of the Compensation Committee

✓  Reviewed and approved the CEO position description

✓  Remained responsible for the review of allegations of workplace misconduct reported through BN’s ethics hotline or otherwise, including those reported by employees of wholly owned or controlled operating businesses

  

 

MEMBERSHIP   

Diana L. Taylor, Chair

Rafael Miranda (joined on March 3, 2023)

Maureen Kempston Darkes

  

The Board has restricted the criteria for membership in the Compensation Committee by requiring that not more than one-third of its members are chief executive officers of any publicly traded entity. None of the Committee members is the chief executive officer of a publicly traded entity.

 

INDEPENDENCE     

All members meet Board-approved independence standards which are derived from the CSA corporate governance guidelines.

The Compensation Committee met two times in 2023.

This report has been adopted and approved by the members of the Compensation Committee:

Diana L. Taylor, Chair; Rafael Miranda; Maureen Kempston Darkes.

 

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Report of the Risk Management Committee

 

The following is a summary of the Risk Management Committee’s work during 2023, in accordance with its Charter:

 

Risk Management

✓  Reviewed and considered with senior management BN’s risk capacity, risk taking philosophy and approach to determining an appropriate balance between risk and reward

✓  Reviewed and evaluated BN’s significant financial risk exposures, including currency, interest rate, credit, and market risks, and the steps senior management took to monitor and manage such risk exposures (through hedges, swaps, other financial instruments, and otherwise), including the management of counterparty risk, in compliance with applicable policies

✓  Reviewed and discussed with senior management BN’s significant non-financial risk exposures, including strategic, reputational, operational, regulatory, and business risks, and the steps senior management took to monitor and control such risk exposures in compliance with applicable policies

✓  Reviewed and confirmed with senior management that material non-financial information about BN and its subsidiaries that is required to be disclosed under applicable law and stock exchange rules was disclosed

✓  Reviewed with senior management the quality and competence of management appointed to administer risk management functions

✓  Reviewed with senior management BN’s compliance programs

✓  Reviewed BN’s insurance coverage, deductible levels, reinsurance requirements and various risk sharing protocols

✓  Reviewed, with legal counsel where required, such litigation, claims, tax assessments and other tax-related matters, transactions, material inquiries from regulators and governmental agencies or other contingencies which may have a material impact on financial results, BN’s reputation or which may otherwise adversely affect the financial well-being of BN

✓  Reviewed and evaluated BN’s susceptibility to fraud and corruption and management’s processes for identifying and managing the risks of fraud and corruption

✓  Provided oversight of cybersecurity risks, including assessing the likelihood, frequency and severity of cyber attacks and data breaches, whether from internal or external sources, and reviewed management’s cybersecurity practices in the context of BN’s risk profile

✓  Provided oversight of BN’s ethics hotline

✓  Remained responsible for referring allegations of fraud, deliberate errors, or deviations from full, true, and plain disclosure related to financial reporting to the Audit Committee and allegations of workplace misconduct to the Management Resources and Compensation Committee

✓  Considered other matters of a risk management nature as directed by the Board

 

Other Duties and Responsibilities

✓  Reviewed and recommended for approval the Charter of the Risk Management Committee

✓  Reviewed and approved BN’s Treasury and Financial Risk Management Policy

✓  Reviewed and approved BN’s Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy and Program

✓  Reviewed and approved BN’s Tax Risk Management Policy

  

MANDATE

 

The Risk Management

Committee oversees BN’s

corporate risk management

activities.

 

The Risk Management

Committee Charter and the

Risk Management

Committee Chair’s position

description are available at

https://bn.brookfield.com

under “Corporate

Governance.”

 

MEMBERSHIP   

Maureen Kempston Darkes, Chair

M. Elyse Allan

Hutham S. Olayan

INDEPENDENCE     

All members meet Board-approved independence standards which are derived from the CSA corporate governance guidelines.

The Risk Management Committee met four times in 2023.

This report has been adopted and approved by the members of the Risk Management Committee:

Maureen Kempston Darkes, Chair; M. Elyse Allan; Hutham S. Olayan.

 

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PART FOUR – DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AND EQUITY OWNERSHIP

Director Compensation

Compensation Elements

The compensation program of the Board for the 2023 fiscal year was as follows (in U.S. dollars):

 

 Compensation Elements     Amount      Comments

Board Chair Retainer

   $600,000(a)
   The Chair does not receive any additional compensation for serving as the Chair of the Governance Committee.

Director Retainer(b)

   $250,000    

Audit Committee Chair Retainer

    $35,000    

Compensation and Risk Management Committee

Chair Retainers

    $15,000    

Audit Committee Member Retainer (Non-Chair)

    $10,000    

Travel stipend – for non-residents of the Toronto and New York City areas

    $15,000     This payment recognizes the time it takes these directors to travel long distances to attend all regularly scheduled meetings and is in addition to reimbursement for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses.

 

(a)

Currently taken 100% in DSUs.

(b)

For non-Chair and non-management directors.

Members of management who serve as directors of BN do not receive any compensation in their capacity as directors.

The Governance Committee annually reviews the compensation paid to the Chair and non-management directors, taking into account the complexity of BN’s operations, the risks and responsibilities involved in being a director of BN, the requirement to participate in regularly scheduled and special Board meetings, expected participation on Committees and the compensation paid to directors of comparable companies.

In 2023, the directors, excluding Messrs. Blidner, Flatt and Lawson, collectively received annual director compensation having a total value of $3,575,236, excluding all other compensation unrelated to Board membership. Directors’ compensation was comprised of cash and other compensation of $786,486 and DSUs of BN valued at $2,788,750, which represented approximately 22% and 78%, respectively, of total compensation paid to these directors during 2023.

Other than cash and DSU compensation set forth in the prior paragraph, no other compensation was paid to non-management directors in relation to their Board membership.

 

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2023 Director Compensation

The following table sets out compensation received during 2023 by BN’s directors(a)(b) (in U.S. dollars):

 

Name      Board Position   

Fees Earned
in Cash

($)

    

  Share-Based Award
(DSUs)

($)(c)

     All Other
Compensation
($)
   

Compensation
Total

($)(d)

 

M. Elyse Allan

          125,000        125,000              250,000  

Angela F. Braly

                 275,000              275,000  

Janice Fukakusa

     Audit Committee Chair             285,000          285,000  

Maureen Kempston Darkes

     Risk Management Committee Chair      132,500        132,500              265,000  

Howard S. Marks

                 250,000              250,000  

Frank J. McKenna(e)

     Board Chair and Governance Committee Chair             600,000              600,000  

Rafael Miranda

                 275,000              275,000  

Lord O’Donnell(f)

                 265,000        248,820       513,820  

Hutham S. Olayan

                 250,000              250,000  

Seek Ngee Huat(g)

          50,962        66,250              117,212  

Diana L. Taylor

     Compensation Committee Chair             265,000              265,000  
           

Total

            308,462        2,788,750        248,820       3,346,032  

 

(a)

Messrs. Lawson, Flatt and Blidner do not receive any compensation in their capacity as directors of BN or for any other board that they sit on for BN. For Mr. Flatt’s compensation as a Named Executive Officer, see pages 68 to 69 and 72 to 74 of this Circular. Messrs. Blidner and Lawson’s compensation for 2023 in their capacity as a Vice Chair of BN included a salary of C$600,000. Mr. Blidner received his salary in DSUs in the third and fourth quarter of 2023.

(b)

In 2023, Mr. Cockwell received $250,000 in his capacity as an affiliated director and received health benefits under BN’s health plan valued at $4,204 (C$5,673 converted at the average exchange rate for 2023 of C$1.00 = US$0.7411).

(c)

The value of each DSU is equal to the closing price of a Class A Share on the NYSE on the grant date of the DSU.

(d)

Includes travel stipend to eligible directors of $15,000 per year. Prorated stipend for Mr. Seek Ngee Huat was $3,750.

(e)

Mr. McKenna received an annual retainer of $600,000 in 2023. He does not receive any additional compensation for serving as the Governance Committee Chair.

(f)

Lord O’Donnell has an advisory relationship with BN in respect of its European operations for which he receives an annual fee of £200,000. In 2023, under this arrangement, Lord O’Donnell received fees of $248,820 (£200,000 converted to U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for 2023 of £1.00 = US$1.2441 as reported by Bloomberg).

(g)

Mr. Seek Ngee Huat retired as a director of the Board on June 9, 2023.

Directors are also reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred to attend Board or Committee meetings. During 2023, the directors, excluding Messrs. Blidner, Flatt and Lawson, received an aggregate of $163,736 for reimbursement of such expenses.

The following tables set out information relating to options and other share-based awards granted to directors, excluding Mr. Flatt, whose awards relate to his role as an employee of BN and is disclosed under “Compensation of Named Executive Officers” beginning on page 72 of this Circular.

 

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Outstanding Share-Based Awards as at December 31, 2023 (Named Executive Officer directors excluded)

The following table shows the number and market value of vested DSUs held by BN’s directors at December 31, 2023:

 

    

Share-Based  Awards(a)(c)   

Deferred Share Units (DSUs)

 Name    Number of Vested DSUs (#)         

Market Value of Vested DSUs ($)(b)

 

M. Elyse Allan

     49,947          2,003,865  

Jeffrey M. Blidner (d)

     1,186,673          47,604,336  

Angela F. Braly

     63,627          2,552,720  

Jack L. Cockwell

     1,515,538          60,796,145  

Janice Fukakusa

     22,116          887,277  

Maureen Kempston Darkes

     104,423          4,188,957  

Brian D. Lawson (d)

     2,094,190          84,010,980  

Frank J. McKenna

     347,042          13,992,152  

Howard S. Marks

     22,279          893,847  

Rafael Miranda

     44,305          1,777,524  

Lord O’Donnell

     79,495          3,189,297  

Hutham S. Olayan

     16,815          674,622  

Diana L. Taylor

     112,821                4,526,235  

 

(a)

Non-management directors only have DSUs outstanding and no Options or RSUs outstanding, other than Messrs. Cockwell and Lawson who had RSUs outstanding as shown in the table below as at December 31, 2023.

(b)

The market value is based on the closing price of a Class A Share on the TSX on December 29, 2023 of $40.11 (C$53.15 converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on that date of C$1.00 = US$0.7547) and $40.12 on the NYSE, as applicable.

(c)

There were no unvested DSUs as at December 31, 2023.

(d)

Messrs. Blidner and Lawson’s DSUs were granted in their capacity as employees of BN.

Outstanding Escrowed Shares as at December 31, 2023 (Named Executive Officer directors excluded)

The following table shows the number and market value of Escrowed Shares held by BN’s directors at December 31, 2023:

 

      Escrowed Shares  

 Name

 

  

Number of Vested Escrowed Shares
(#)(a)

 

            

Market Value as at December 31, 2023
($)(b)

 

 

Jeffrey M. Blidner

     893,315           4,715,185  

Brian D. Lawson

     1,565,320                 8,262,229  

 

(a)

Mr. Blidner has 82,998 unvested Escrowed Shares and Mr. Lawson has 155,928 unvested Escrowed Shares outstanding.

(b)

The value of the Escrowed Shares is equal to the value of the Class A Shares held by the Escrowed Company less the net liabilities and preferred share obligations of the Escrowed Company.

Outstanding Restricted Share Units as at December 31, 2023

The following table shows the number and market value of RSUs held by BN’s directors at December 31, 2023:

 

     Restricted Share Units (RSUs)(a)(d)  

  Name

 

 

Number of Restricted Share Units
(#)

    

Issuance Price(b)
($)

    

Market Value as at December

31, 2023(c)

 ($)

 

Jack L. Cockwell

    126,563        2.96        $4,701,881  
    862,225        4.48        $30,720,284  
      607,500        6.85        $20,207,700  

Brian D. Lawson

    632,812        2.96        $23,509,383  
    1,017,828        4.48        $36,264,295  
      607,500        6.85        $20,207,700  

 

(a)

RSUs are not redeemable until cessation of employment and have no expiration date.

(b)

The RSU issuance price is in Canadian dollars and is presented in the table converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on December 29, 2023 of C$1.00 = US$0.7547.

 

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(c)

The market value is the amount by which the closing price of the Class A Shares on December 29, 2023 exceeded the issuance price of the RSU award. The closing price of a Class A Share on the TSX on December 29, 2023 was $40.11 (C$53.15 converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on that date of C$1.00 = US$0.7547).

(d)

BN’s Restricted Share Unit Plan was terminated in February 2024. On wind-up of the Restricted Share Unit Plan, Messrs. Cockwell and Lawson exchanged their RSUs for options over fixed value preferred shares equivalent in value to the RSUs on the date of the exchange (“Preferred Share Options”). Separately, Escrowed Shares were issued to former RSU holders on a one-for-one basis.

Equity Ownership of Directors

Director Share and DSU Ownership Requirements

The Board believes that its directors can better represent BN’s shareholders if they have an alignment of economic interest. Accordingly, directors are required to hold Class A Shares, Exchangeable Class A Shares, DSUs and/or Restricted Shares of BN having a value of at least three times their Annual Retainer (the “Director Share Ownership Guidelines”). This minimum ownership requirement is currently $750,000 for non-management directors and $1,800,000 for the Chair. A director must achieve this minimum ownership requirement within five years of joining the Board.

All independent directors are required to receive at least 50% of their Annual Retainer in DSUs (see “Long-Term Share Ownership Plans” on pages 62 to 63 of this Circular). Subject to these requirements, all non-management directors have the option of electing to receive their Annual Retainer in DSUs or cash.

As at April 18, 2024, all of the proposed nominees for election to the Board who are required to meet the ownership requirement have done so.

Anti-Hedging Policy

In order to maintain the alignment of interests between BN and its directors, BN generally prohibits all directors, including management and affiliated directors, from using derivatives or other financial instruments to retain legal ownership of their shares or share units in BN while reducing their exposure to changes in BN’s share price. Moreover, a director may not hold a short position in any security of BN or its affiliates, either by way of a short sale or by utilizing derivatives. This allows shareholders to determine a director’s true economic exposure to BN’s equity. Under limited circumstances, a director may be permitted to enter into a transaction that has the effect of hedging the economic value of any direct or indirect interests held by such director, but only to the extent that the transaction (i) is executed and disclosed in full compliance with all applicable rules and regulations; (ii) has been approved by the CEO and CFO and, if appropriate, the Compensation Committee; and (iii) is in respect of interests directly or indirectly held by such director in excess of the interests that such director is required to hold under the Director Share Ownership Guidelines. To date, no director has hedged the economic value of their direct or indirect interests in BN.

Equity Ownership of Directors

The following table sets out the total number of Class A Shares, pro rata interest in Class A Shares and DSUs held by the 14 proposed nominees for election to the Board at the meeting. See pages 11 to 18 of this Circular for information on the individual equity ownership of the director nominees, and also ownership of the Partnership as described on page 7.

 

 Holdings

 As at April 18, 2024

 

  

Class A Shares(a)

(#)

  

DSUs

(#)

  

Total Class A

Shares, Pro Rata Interest in
Class A Share

(#)

 

 

Total

   126,475,764    7,802,442      134,278,206  

 

(a)

Includes (i) the directors’ pro rata interests in Class A Shares held by PVI (on a consolidated basis) and (ii) the directors’ Escrowed Shares, which also represent an indirect pro rata interest in Class A Shares. The value of these indirect pro rata interests is impacted by a number of factors including the terms of their ownership, the capital structure of each company, the value of the Class A Shares held by each company and their net liabilities and preferred share obligations.

 

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PART FIVE – COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

   TABLE OF CONTENTS   

PART FIVE

  

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

     53  
     Compensation Discussion and Analysis Overview      53  
     Compensation Approach      54  
     Overview of the Business in 2023      55  
     Compensation Committee Governance      56  
     Key Elements of Compensation      59  
     Key Policies and Practices to Support Alignment      63  
     2023 Compensation Decisions      67  
     Five-year Compensation Review - Chief Executive Officer      68  
     Compensation of Named Executive Officers      72  

Compensation Discussion and Analysis Overview

BN’s objective as a leading global investment firm is to build long-term wealth for institutions and individuals around the world. We have one of the largest pools of discretionary capital globally, which is deployed across our three core businesses—asset management, insurance solutions, and our operating businesses. Through our core businesses, we invest in real assets that form the backbone of the global economy to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns to our stakeholders. We believe that the price of the Class A Shares over the long-term is the most relevant and appropriate measure of whether we have achieved this goal.

Being successful at continuing to scale our existing businesses and identifying the next market leading business requires a management team with a long-term focus on running the business, predicated on collaborative relationships, the discipline to follow our investment strategy in good and more difficult times, and an entrepreneurial mindset. In furtherance of our investment approach, we employ a talent management strategy designed to (i) attract people who embrace this long-term focus and demonstrate our values of collaboration, discipline, and entrepreneurship, and (ii) ensure we develop and retain them.

The policies and practices we adopt to do this are deliberate. We follow them because they have demonstrably supported, and we believe will continue to support, our long-term approach to running the business.

The primary objectives of our talent management strategy are to:

 

   

Attract and retain highly qualified and motivated executives who have confidence in, and are committed to, BN’s overall business strategy to create shareholder value over the long-term;

 

   

Emphasize long-term decision-making with a focus on capital preservation and achievement of attractive risk-adjusted returns;

 

   

Encourage collaboration across the organization to ensure we harness the power of the breadth of our platform;

 

   

Reward consistent, long-term performance aligned with the interests and expectations of our investors; and

 

   

Be transparent to the employees and the shareholders of BN.

 

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Compensation Approach

A critical component of our talent management strategy is our approach to compensation. Our decades of experience has taught us that the approach we take to compensation is essential to executing our long-term business plan. Some highlights of our approach to compensation include:

 

• Alignment of pay with appreciation in our Class A Share price over the long-term

 

• Compensation programs that reward behaviors that align with long-term value creation

 

• Long-term incentives that are competitive with our industry in form and level allowing for the attraction of top talent

 

• Pay mix heavily weighted to long-term incentives

 

• Five-year vesting period for all long-term incentive awards and mandatory hold period upon vest for executive officers

    

 

BN’s compensation arrangements align management’s interests with those of BN’s shareholders.

 

Management, executive officers and directors of BN and its affiliates hold direct, indirect and economic interests representing over 315 million Class A Shares and share equivalents of BN.

 

• Departing executives forfeit unvested awards

 

• Clawback policy triggered by detrimental conduct or accounting misstatement

 

• Minimum share ownership requirements for executive officers

 

• Say on Pay advisory vote on executive compensation programs

    

Our emphasis on equity compensation, which has long-term vesting and retention requirements, ensures that our executives make decisions and take risks in a manner that aligns with the long-term interests of shareholders. Executives in dedicated fund management groups in most cases have compensation arrangements that also include a component more directly linked to the long-term performance of the fund being managed. The value created for the fund’s investors directly relates to the payments made under such plans and this value, in turn, benefits BN. The timing of these payments to executives who are dedicated to a fund are delayed until the funds’ performance is substantially realized and risk outcomes are determined ensuring that the principles of rewarding risk management and value creation over the long-term are consistent across each of our businesses. Unless specifically noted otherwise, the remainder of the discussion in this report focuses on the Named Executive Officers (as defined on page 55 of this Circular) but also pertains to executives of BN who have corporate responsibilities.

Compensation Arrangements Create Alignment of Interests between Shareholders and Management

While the goals of our compensation arrangements are similar to the goals expressed by many companies, the policies and practices we use to achieve these goals differ in certain respects from market convention. Our compensation policies and practices have been shaped to align our executives with our goal of creating exceptional value for our shareholders with a focus on long-term stewardship of the business. More specifically, our compensation programs consistently focus on the long term:

 

   

All executives receive a significant portion of their compensation in the form of equity which vests for a minimum of a five-year period in arrears. As individuals progress in seniority, more of their compensation is in the form of long-term awards. The Named Executive Officers, in aggregate, have on average received approximately 88% of their 2023 annual compensation in the form of long-term awards.

 

   

Cash bonuses represent a relatively modest proportion of each Named Executive Officer’s total average annual compensation. Further, Named Executive Officers are eligible to elect to receive their cash bonuses in the form of long-term incentives.

 

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Our Option and Escrowed Share awards have a 10-year life and reward executives for share price appreciation over the period. Executive officers hold these equity-based awards on average over seven years; moreover, upon exercise and/or exchange, executive officers retain the majority of the net proceeds in the form of Class A Shares.

 

   

Executive officers are required to hold a minimum of five times their salary in BN equity and all executive officers meet this requirement. This high share ownership further demonstrates management’s strong alignment with and belief in the long-term prospects of the business.

 

   

Management, executive officers and directors of BN and its affiliates hold direct, indirect and economic interests in BN representing over 315 million Class A Shares and share equivalents of BN. Put simply, our management team acts like, thinks like, and is a significant owner, alongside all of our shareholders, of the business.

In addition, we have adopted the following policies which further support a long-term ownership focus and alignment with shareholders:

 

   

Executive officers are required to hold, for at least one year, an interest in Class A Shares equal to the net proceeds realized on the exercise of options or the exchange of Escrowed Shares.

 

   

Departing executives forfeit all unvested long-term incentive plans awards unless a different arrangement is specifically approved by the Compensation Committee.

 

   

Our clawback policy provides for the reimbursement of incentive and equity-based compensation by executive officers in the event of conduct that is detrimental to the business or an accounting restatement, and is designed to comply with the clawback rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the related exchange listing standards (the “U.S. Clawback Rules”).

In light of the significant long-term nature of our approach to compensation, we do not add performance conditions to our vesting terms. In general, performance vesting involves setting specific performance metrics which BN is required to meet over a specified performance period before executives are entitled to receive value under the long-term plan. It is quite common for these provisions to include performance periods of three years. As noted above, our compensation programs provide for longer vesting periods of five years. We believe that adding short-term performance metrics to our compensation plans would be detrimental to our overall long-term focus and would threaten to introduce the risk of behavior that favors short-term performance over long-term value creation. While we are respectful of those who use these metrics, we have reviewed this approach and do not believe it is in the best interests of our shareholders or of the business.

Value creation for our senior management team is virtually 100% based on share price in the long term — we do not provide performance multipliers that pay out for strong performance in a weak market or for achieving internal targets set by management — our management receive value from their equity awards only when our shareholders realize value over the long-term.

The following sections provide a detailed description of BN’s executive compensation philosophy and programs.

Overview of the Business in 2023

BN’s operations are comprised of our asset management business, our insurance solutions business and our four primary operating businesses of renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, and real estate, and our corporate activities, which collectively represent seven global operating segments.

BN’s compensation philosophy described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis is applicable for all senior management; however, the focus is on the compensation of the executive officers of BN set out in the table below, who were our Named Executive Officers for 2023:

 

 Named Executive Officer

  

Position

 Bruce Flatt

  

Chief Executive Officer

 Nicholas Goodman

  

President and Chief Financial Officer

The Compensation Committee approves the compensation for the Named Executive Officers of BN.

 

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The Board has charged the executive officers with building a global business focused on compounding capital over the long-term. The following table outlines the key business accomplishments for 2023:

 

 2023 Business Achievements(a)

 

•  Distributable earnings (“DE”) of $4.8 billion ($3.03/share) and net income of $5.1 billion ($0.61/share) for the year. DE before realizations increased 12% per share, after adjusting for the special distribution of 25% of our asset management business in December 2022.

 

§  Our asset management business generated DE of $2.6 billion ($1.61/share) for the year, benefitting from continued fundraising momentum across our flagship and complementary fund offerings. This led to $93 billion of capital raised which, combined with the approximately $50 billion anticipated upon the closing of AEL, brings the total to $143 billion. Fee-bearing capital increased to $457 billion as at year end, an increase of 9% over the prior year

 

§  Our insurance solutions business generated DE of $740 million ($0.47/share) for the year, driven by strong investment performance and growth in our insurance assets, which increased to approximately $60 billion at year end

 

§  Our operating businesses generated DE of $1.5 billion ($0.92/share) for the year, underpinned by the resilient earnings across our renewable power and transition, infrastructure and private equity businesses, as well as the 7% growth in same-store net operating income within our core real estate

 

•  Earnings from the monetization of mature assets were $583 million ($0.37/share) for the year

 

§  Monetized over $30 billion of assets during the year, substantially all transacting at values higher than our IFRS carrying values

 

§  Recognized $570 million of net realized carried interest into income during the year

 

§  Total accumulated unrealized carried interest was $10.2 billion as at year end

 

•  Deployable capital of $122 billion at the end of the year

 

§  Returned approximately $1.1 billion to shareholders through regular dividends and share repurchases

 

§  Our balance sheet remains conservatively capitalized

 

§  We continue to have strong access to the capital markets. In December 2023, we received a credit rating upgrade from DBRS on our senior unsecured debt to ‘A’, reflecting the strength of our franchise and continued growth in our earnings

 

 

(a)

DE, DE before realizations, fee-bearing capital, net operating income, net realized carried interest and accumulated unrealized carried interest are non-IFRS measures. See the “Cautionary Statement Regarding the Use of Non-IFRS Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 80 of this Circular.

Compensation Committee Governance

Compensation Committee Members and Expertise

Ms. Diana L. Taylor (Chair) was appointed to the Compensation Committee on May 6, 2015 and was then appointed as Chair of the Compensation Committee on November 5, 2015. Ms. Maureen Kempston Darkes was appointed to the Compensation Committee on November 5, 2015. Mr. Rafael Miranda was appointed to the Compensation Committee on March 3, 2023. Each of the three members of the Compensation Committee is independent and has experience in private-sector compensation, with all three having experience sitting on compensation committees of other public companies. The Board believes that the Compensation Committee collectively has the knowledge, skills, experience and background required to fulfill its mandate.

Compensation Committee Mandate

The Compensation Committee has a specific written mandate to review and approve compensation for senior management. This includes an annual evaluation of the performance of the Named Executive Officers and other members of senior management. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of the Named Executive Officers and the Board gives final approval on compensation matters.

The Compensation Committee meets as required, and at least annually, to monitor and review management compensation policies, management succession planning, diversity and the overall composition and quality of BN’s management resources. The Compensation Committee met two times in 2023 and has met once to date in 2024. None of the recommendations of the Compensation Committee have been rejected or modified by the Board during 2023 or 2024 to date.

 

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Benchmarking Executive Compensation and Compensation Peer Group

Salary and short-term incentives are elements of compensation that can be easily benchmarked; however, long-term incentives are more difficult to benchmark since their value is dependent on the underlying assumptions used by each organization and may not be consistent across organizations. Since long-term incentives are a significant focus of BN’s incentive programs, the Compensation Committee has not defined a peer group or benchmarked Named Executive Officer compensation against a peer group. Management conducts annual compensation benchmarking for executives and results are shared with the Compensation Committee as appropriate. As described above, the Compensation Committee believes that BN’s current compensation policies have assisted in attracting and retaining top talent and encouraging executives to assess the risks related to their decisions and actions, and minimizing the ability of executives to benefit from taking risks that increase the performance of BN in the short-term at the expense of long-term value. The Compensation Committee also believes that BN’s current compensation policies meet BN’s other objectives, as described under “Compensation Approach” on page 54 of this Circular.

Independent Compensation Advisors

The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain independent compensation advisors, but did not do so in 2023. If the Compensation Committee engages outside compensation advisors in the future, it will take appropriate steps to ensure they are independent from, and provide no other services to BN or its management.

Succession Planning

Each year the Compensation Committee assesses the availability of suitable succession candidates for the senior management positions within BN. Specifically, the Compensation Committee is provided with a list of potential leadership candidates and reviews the performance, skills, current responsibilities and plans for their continued development. In addition, the Compensation Committee spends time each year reviewing, with management, the performance and development of junior executives. The Compensation Committee believes that this review is important for succession planning purposes and for the compensation awarding process. BN has a long history of developing executives from within rather than hiring externally and the awarding of long-term incentives is an important component of rewarding and retaining these executives.

Diversity

BN is committed to workplace diversity; both ethnic and gender diversity are important to BN’s long-term success and BN actively supports the development and advancement of a diverse group of employees capable of achieving leadership positions. Leadership appointments are solely based on merit, and not on other factors because management and the Board believe that merit should be the guiding factor in determining whether a particular candidate is capable of bringing value to BN. As such, the Board has not adopted formal targets for female representation in executive positions. However, a cornerstone of BN’s succession planning process is a tailored approach to the development and advancement of employees capable of achieving executive officer positions. Tailoring the development plan for each individual permits BN to consider the needs of the individual, including considerations that are gender-based. This tailored approach to developing executives starts with identifying individuals who demonstrate the skills and attributes required to achieve executive officer positions within BN. The progress of these individuals is reviewed annually in order to ensure that each individual is being provided opportunities to achieve their potential. Development opportunities include exposure to a new competency or skill, a transfer between business units, a relocation, a role expansion and other stretch opportunities.

While BN has not adopted formal targets for female representation in executive officer positions, management and the Compensation Committee actively monitor the percentage of females identified as capable of achieving executive officer positions in aggregate, by business unit and by geography. In 2023, of the individuals identified as having the potential to achieve executive officer positions, approximately 45% self-identified as ethnically diverse and approximately 37% were female. Management and the Compensation Committee review annually a summary of high performance employees, including by gender and geography, the type of development opportunities provided to these individuals and changes to their compensation year over year in order to monitor BN’s activities related to increasing female representation in senior management positions.

Compensation Related Risk

Annually, the Compensation Committee reviews BN’s compensation approach, policies and practices as well as BN’s incentive plans at the corporate level and within its business units.

 

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The Compensation Committee also reviews the terms and conditions of the Long-Term Share Ownership Plans, as well as any proposed amendments, and considers the appropriateness and effectiveness of the plans in the context of current compensation practices, regulatory changes and BN’s objectives. The Compensation Committee receives an update on the financial arrangements entered into by BN to hedge the impact on BN of future increases in the market price of its Class A Shares against the liability incurred under BN’s Deferred Share Unit Plans. The Committee has determined that the plans are appropriate and effective.

The Compensation Committee reviewed BN’s compensation policies and practices, including the design of BN’s incentive plans to ensure that they:

 

   

encourage management to consider the risks associated with their decisions;

 

   

minimize management’s ability to benefit from taking risks that increase performance in the short-term at the expense of long-term value creation;

 

   

hold management accountable for their decisions both during employment with and post-departure from BN; and

 

   

provide discretion to the Compensation Committee, where appropriate, to prevent unintended consequences which either unduly benefit or penalize management.

This review separately considered businesses that deploy capital (e.g. private fund business) and businesses that do not deploy capital (e.g. fee for service business) since the compensation risks associated with these businesses are different.

The Compensation Committee reported the results of its review to the Board in December 2023. The Compensation Committee did not identify any risks which are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on BN. It was concluded that BN’s compensation approach, policies and practices for its executives at the corporate level and within its business units appropriately:

 

   

encourage executives to consider the risks associated with their decisions and actions; and

 

   

do not result in the probability that excessive payouts will be made before the outcome of risks are known.

In reaching their conclusion, the Compensation Committee considered the following:

 

   

the emphasis on long-term compensation for executives in businesses that allocate capital including five-year vesting periods and the forfeiture terms related to departure;

 

   

the fact that the design of incentive arrangements for businesses that deploy capital considers the additional risk relative to businesses that do not deploy capital;

 

   

the direct link between the payout to the executive and the performance of the businesses; and

 

   

the timing of payouts to executives who are dedicated to a fund are delayed until the funds’ performance is substantially realized and risk outcomes are determined.

The Compensation Committee also reported that the compensation arrangements for the Named Executive Officers are consistent with the objectives of BN’s compensation program as outlined under “Compensation Approach” on page 54 of this Circular, support the creation of shareholder value over the longer term, as well as the attraction and retention of executives who make decisions with a long-term view, and encourage an assessment of risk related to the decisions made and actions taken. The following practices related to the compensation of the Named Executive Officers support this conclusion:

 

   

the highest percentage of total annual compensation is granted as Long-Term Share Ownership Plan awards which vest over five years with overlapping vesting periods;

 

   

the significant level of equity ownership by management;

 

   

that management remains exposed to the long-term risks associated with their decision-making through their equity ownership and compensation granted as long-term incentives;

 

 

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the fact that options and escrowed shares are held well beyond their vesting period and generally until close to their expiry date. The options exercised in 2023 by the Named Executive Officers and senior management were held for approximately nine years on average; and

 

   

the length of tenure of management with BN.

Key Elements of Compensation

 

During the past five years, total compensation for the Named Executive Officers has been comprised of approximately 8% Base Salary, 4% Annual Management Incentive Plan awards and 88% Long-Term Share Ownership Plan awards.

  

In order to achieve our compensation objective to create alignment of interests between shareholders and management, while minimizing management’s ability to benefit from taking risks that increase performance in the short-term at the expense of long-term value creation, executives receive a substantial portion of their compensation in awards under the Long-Term Share Ownership Plans described on pages 62 to 63 of this Circular which:

 

•  reinforces the focus on long-term value creation;

•  aligns the interests of executives with other shareholders of BN; and

•  encourages management to follow a rigorous forward-looking risk assessment process when making business decisions

Total compensation for executives with corporate responsibilities is comprised of the following elements: Base Salary, Annual Management Incentive Plan awards (“Bonus”) and participation in BN’s Long-Term Share Ownership Plans and standard benefits. Total annual compensation awarded to the Named Executive Officers and other senior executives generally does not change significantly from year to year. However, from time to time, the Compensation Committee grants additional discretionary awards to executives who have taken on additional responsibilities and/or as a way to periodically recognize executives who have consistently performed at an exceptional level. These discretionary awards are typically made in the form of participation in a Long-Term Share Ownership Plan. These discretionary awards assist BN in retaining key employees who have the potential to add value to BN over the longer term.

Total compensation for executives who are at earlier stages in their careers also includes awards pursuant to BN’s Long-Term Share Ownership Plans but a larger percentage of their total compensation is in the form of Base Salary and Bonus awards in recognition of their personal needs and to be competitive within the alternative asset management industry. Furthermore, changes in total compensation from year to year often vary more for these executives as they take on increasing responsibility.

As executives progress within BN, they have the opportunity to receive their annual Bonus in DSUs instead of cash under BN’s Deferred Share Unit Plans or Restricted Shares under BN’s Restricted Stock Plans. This enables executives to increase their ownership interest in BN over time.

The following table provides an overview of each of the elements of compensation, followed by further details related to BN’s Bonus and Long-Term Share Ownership Plans.

 

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 Element   Purpose   How Determined

Base Salary

 

•  Deliver the only form of fixed compensation

 

•  CEO Base Salary is similar to other executive officers, subject to cost of living differentials between employment locations

 

•  Not intended to be the most significant component of an executive’s compensation

 

•  Base Salaries for senior and other executives are reviewed annually to reflect the relative experience and contribution of each executive

Annual Management Incentive Plan (Bonus)

 

Maximum target annual incentive is 100% of Base Salary

 

(There is a detailed description of the plan on page 61 and 2023 awards are outlined on page 68 of this Circular)

 

•  Motivate and reward participants for achieving annual business objectives and for making decisions and taking actions consistent with BN’s long-term focus

 

•  Foster a collaborative approach to meeting long- term objectives

 

•  Not intended to be the most significant component of an executive’s compensation

 

•  Executives may elect to take bonuses in the form of DSUs or Restricted Shares

 

•  Annual cash bonuses are discretionary, based on individual, team and corporate performance

 

•  Awards are based on performance and consider the specific operational and individual annual performance targets, but are not formulaic

Long-Term Share Ownership Plans

 

(There is a detailed description of each of the plans on pages 62 to 63 and 2023 awards are also outlined on pages 62 to 63 of this Circular)

 

•  Align the executive’s interests with those of BN’s shareholders

 

•  Foster a collaborative approach to meeting long-term objectives

 

•  Enable participants to create personal wealth through an increase in the value of BN’s shares

 

•  Motivate executives to improve BN’s long-term financial success

 

•  Intended to be the most significant component of an executive’s compensation

 

•  BN currently operates three Long-Term Share Ownership Plans and executives receive their long- term incentive awards in one of the following Plans:

1. Management Share Option Plans

2. Deferred Share Unit Plans

3. Restricted Stock Plans

§   Restricted Stock Plan

 

§   Escrowed Stock Plan

 

•  Annual participation in each plan is dependent on the business unit and the level of the executive

 

•  Named Executive Officers receive their long-term incentive award in the form of Escrowed Shares under the Escrowed Stock Plan

 

Group Benefits

 

Health Insurance

 

 

•  Provide health and dental benefits and life and disability insurance coverage

 

 

•  All employees, including the Named Executive Officers, are eligible to participate in health, dental and insurance plans which vary by location

Retirement Savings Plan

 

•  Provide tax deferred retirement savings

 

•  All employees, including the Named Executive Officers are eligible to receive an annual contribution to a registered retirement savings plan equivalent to a nominal percentage of Base Salary based on local market practice. The percentage is the same for all executives

 

•  There are no defined benefit pension plans in place for senior management

 

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Annual Management Incentive Plan (“Bonus Plan”)

BN believes that, given its focus on the long-term when making decisions, the impact of which is difficult to assess in the short-term, a heavy emphasis on annual incentives and a formulaic calculation of awards based on the achievement of annual operational or individual performance targets may not appropriately reflect decisions that are fully aligned with the long-term strategy of BN. Accordingly, the awards made under the Bonus Plan typically represents less than 10% of an executive officer’s total compensation.

The Compensation Committee believes that its ability to exercise discretion and judgment is critical to ensuring that annual incentives reflect the assessment of risk in the decisions and actions taken by management and consider unexpected circumstances or events that have occurred during the year. Accordingly, for the Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee starts with a review of the management team’s collective performance in meeting the broader business plan objectives. These objectives include both short-term operational goals and objectives related to the implementation of the long-term business strategy. Given the emphasis on long-term value creation, it is not unusual for some of the objectives set at the beginning of the year to change during the year. Each year, the Compensation Committee reviews:

 

   

the accomplishments during the year;

 

   

why certain objectives were not met or certain actions were not undertaken; and

 

   

additional initiatives undertaken by management, which were not contemplated in the initial objectives.

Accordingly, annual incentive awards are determined based on the Compensation Committee’s:

 

   

assessment of management’s decisions and actions and how those decisions and actions align with BN’s long-term strategy of value creation and how management considered the risks associated with such decisions; and

 

   

determination of whether any objectives were not met because management made decisions in the best long-term interests of BN or due to factors outside of management’s control.

The compensation structure for Mr. Flatt includes a Base Salary and Long-Term Share Ownership award only, further reinforcing a focus on long-term decision-making. For Mr. Goodman, the incentive award is based more on his individual performance (as measured by the achievement of specific objectives) and less on collective performance. In addition, given BN’s view that a collaborative approach is fundamental to meeting its long-term objectives, the Bonus Plan awards for Mr. Goodman tend to be similar in amount and typically do not fluctuate significantly from year to year.

Long-Term Share Ownership Awards

BN’s Long-Term Share Ownership Plans are intended to:

 

   

encourage share ownership;

 

   

increase executives’ interest in the success of BN;

 

   

encourage executives to remain with BN as a result of the delayed vesting of awards; and

 

   

attract new members of management by remaining competitive in terms of total compensation arrangements.

 

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BN has three types of Long-Term Share Ownership Plans. Awards are made under the following plans:

 

Award

   Key Terms    Basis for Award
     

Option Plan

           

2012, 2016 and 2019

Management Share Option Plans

(collectively, the “MSOPs”) (a)

 

Options to purchase Class A Shares (“options”) which are settled in Class A Shares

 

The MSOPs are administered by the Board and described in detail under “Security-Based Compensation Arrangements” on pages 74 to 76 of this Circular

  

 

•  10 year term

•  Each award vests 20% per year over five years in arrears

•  No entitlement to dividends

•  Exercise price based on the volume-weighted average price of a Class A Share for the five business days preceding the grant date

  

 

•  Generally granted in the first quarter of each year as part of the annual compensation review (b):

 

   Number of options is determined based on executive’s level of responsibility and performance

 

   Consideration is given to the number and value of previous option awards

 

•  Also granted:

 

   From time to time as additional discretionary awards to executives who have demonstrated an ability to take on additional responsibility or who have consistently performed at a high level

 

   In certain circumstances, to executives commencing employment with BN

 

•  The CEO recommends all awards to the Compensation Committee

 

•  The Compensation Committee recommends the award for the CEO

 

•  The Board, at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approves all awards

 

2023 Awards and Exercises

 

In 2023, BN granted a total of 716,625 options under the MSOPs, representing approximately 0.04% of the outstanding Class A Shares on a fully diluted basis as of December 31, 2023 (0.24% in 2022 and 0.26% in 2021).

 

In total during 2023, 4.8 million options with an aggregate in-the-money value of $96 million were disposed of or exercised. The options disposed of or exercised during 2023 by the Named Executive Officers and senior management were outstanding for approximately nine years on average. The length of time options are held by executives demonstrates an alignment of interests with shareholders.

 

     
 Deferred Share Unit Plans            

Deferred Share Unit Plan

     

Settled by a cash payment equal to the value of the Class A Shares

  

•  Vesting period over five years in arrears

 

•  DSUs awarded in lieu of an annual cash bonus vest immediately

 

•  Only redeemed for cash upon cessation of employment through retirement, resignation, termination or death

 

•  Dividends are received in the form of additional DSUs

  

•  Annual cash bonus taken in the form of DSUs at the executive’s election

 

•  A mandatory deferral of a cash bonus in certain businesses

 

•  Additional discretionary awards may be granted to executives who have demonstrated an ability to take on additional responsibility or who have consistently performed at a high level

 

2023 Awards

 

In 2023, BN awarded a total of 3,321 DSUs in lieu of cash bonuses.

 

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 Award    Key Terms    Basis for Award
 Restricted Stock Plans            

Restricted Stock Plan

     

Class A Shares purchased directly or indirectly on the open market subject to certain restrictions (“Restricted Shares”)

  

•  Vesting period over five years

 

•  Restricted Shares awarded in lieu of an annual cash bonus vest immediately

 

•  Vested and unvested Restricted Shares must be held until the vesting date (or in certain jurisdictions, until the fifth anniversary of the award date)

 

•  Dividends are received in the form of cash, unless otherwise elected

  

•  Annual cash bonus taken in the form of Restricted Shares at the executive’s election

 

•  A mandatory deferral of a cash bonus in certain businesses

 

•  Additional discretionary awards are also granted to executives who have demonstrated an ability to take on additional responsibility or who have consistently performed at a high level

 

•  Occasionally awarded as long-term incentives

2023 Awards

In 2023, BN granted a total of 1,506,204 Restricted Shares.

 

Escrowed Stock Plan

         

Non-voting common shares (“Escrowed Shares”) of one or more private companies (each, an “Escrowed Company”). Each Escrowed Company is capitalized with common shares and preferred shares issued to BN for cash proceeds. Each Escrowed Company uses its cash resources to directly or indirectly purchase Class A Shares on the open market. Regular dividends paid to each Escrowed Company on the Class A Shares acquired by the Escrowed Company will be used to pay dividends on the preferred shares which are held by BN.

  

•  Typically vest 20% each year commencing on the first anniversary of the date of the award

 

•  Right to exchange Escrowed Shares for Class A Shares issued from treasury no later than the 10th anniversary of the award date

 

•  The Class A Shares acquired by an Escrowed Company will not be voted

 

•  The Class A Shares acquired by the Escrowed Companies are purchased in the open market, thereby limiting dilution for shareholders

  

•  Generally awarded in the first quarter of each year as part of the annual compensation review and only to the executive officers and certain senior management (b)

 

•  The CEO recommends all awards to the Compensation Committee

 

•  The Compensation Committee recommends the award for the CEO

 

•  The Board, at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approves all awards

 

2023 Awards

 

In 2023, BN granted a total of 2,155,375 Escrowed Shares and 29,124 Class A Shares were issued under the Escrowed Stock Plan.

 

  (a)

In certain jurisdictions outside of North America, options are awarded under the Global Management Option Plan (“GMOP”). The terms and conditions of this plan are identical to the MSOPs with the exception that these options are settled by a cash payment equal to the increase in the value of BN’s Class A Shares. In 2023, no options were granted under the GMOP, and there were 135,600 options exercised thereunder.

  (b)

For corporate executives, the annual long-term incentive award is typically in the form of options, Escrowed Shares or occasionally Restricted Shares. The number of options, Escrowed Shares or Restricted Shares awarded is dependent on the executive’s annual target (the “Target”). The Target is a function of the executive’s role, level and contribution. Accordingly, an individual’s Target typically increases over time. The number of options or Escrowed Shares awarded to an executive is calculated as (i) the Target divided by (ii) the price of the Class A Shares at the time the award is determined. In certain circumstances, awards in excess of the Target are granted to executives who have taken on additional responsibility, or who have consistently performed at a high level.

Key Policies and Practices to Support Alignment

The Compensation Committee establishes compensation programs that incorporate leading compensation governance principles. Highlighted below are some of BN’s executive compensation policies and practices that are designed to (i) encourage executives to consider the risks associated with their decisions, (ii) minimize the risk that executives are rewarded in the short-term for actions which are detrimental in the long-term, and (iii) reinforce the alignment of the interests of management with the long-term interests of shareholders.

 

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The following table outlines BN’s policies and practices which incorporate leading compensation governance principles:

 

Policies and Practices:

 

✓  Require senior management to own a significant interest in BN

✓  Require executive officers to hold for at least one year, an interest in Class A Shares equal to the net proceeds realized on exercise of options or exchange of Escrowed Shares

✓  Provide for reimbursement of incentive and equity-based compensation in the event of accounting restatements or detrimental conduct

✓  Require long-term incentives to vest over five years

✓  Termination provisions generally require departing executives to forfeit unvested awards

✓  Do not provide defined benefit pension plans for any executives

✓  Restrict hedging of shares or share-based incentives

Share Ownership Guidelines

BN’s executive officers are required to hold Class A Shares, Exchangeable Class A Shares, DSUs, Restricted Shares or other equity securities that own underlying Class A Shares with a value equal to five times Base Salary, based on the market value of the securities held, and which must be attained within five years of being designated as executive officers. As at April 18, 2024, all of the Named Executive Officers have met the share ownership requirement.

Reimbursement of Incentive and Equity-Based Compensation (Clawback)

Pursuant to BN’s Clawback Policy (the “Clawback Policy”), an executive officer may be required to pay to BN an amount equal to some or all of any cash payments or equity awards granted or paid to, or earned by, such executive officer under the terms of any of BN’s incentive compensation or long-term incentives plans (collectively, “Awards”). This payment may be required in the event that (i) BN is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to BN’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under United States federal securities laws or to avoid a material accounting misstatement or (ii) an executive officer is determined to have engaged in conduct which the Compensation Committee determines is detrimental to BN.

The Compensation Committee has full and final authority to make all determinations under the Clawback Policy including, without limitation, whether the Clawback Policy applies and, if so, the amount of compensation to be repaid or forfeited by the executive officer. In the event that BN is required to prepare an accounting restatement, the Compensation Committee will review all incentive-based compensation earned by its executive officers (i) after beginning service as an executive officer, (ii) during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which BN is required to prepare the accounting restatement (as well as during any transition period specified in the U.S. Clawback Rules), (iii) while BN has a class of securities listed on a U.S. stock exchange, and (iv) after the U.S. Clawback Rules became effective. If the Compensation Committee determines that one or more executive officers received any erroneously awarded compensation in connection with an accounting restatement, the Compensation Committee will seek recoupment from such executive officers of all such erroneously awarded compensation, unless it determines that one of the impracticality exceptions set forth in the U.S. Clawback Rules is available.

In order to protect BN’s reputation and competitive ability, the Clawback Policy may also apply to executive officers that engage in conduct that is detrimental to BN during or after the cessation of such executive officer’s employment with BN. Detrimental conduct includes any conduct or activity, whether or not related to the business of BN, that is determined in individual cases by the Compensation Committee, to constitute: (i) fraud, theft-in-office, embezzlement or other illegal activity; (ii) failure to abide by applicable financial reporting, disclosure and/or accounting guidelines; (iii) material violations of BN’s Code; or (iv) material violations of BN’s Positive Work Environment Policy (including the sexual harassment related provisions thereof). In the event that it is determined that detrimental conduct has occurred, the Clawback Policy relates to any Awards received: (i) on or after the date the executive officer is determined to have engaged in detrimental conduct; and/ or (ii) the two year period prior to the date the executive officer is determined to have engaged in detrimental conduct.

Where it is determined (i) through an accounting restatement that incentive-based compensation was erroneously awarded to an executive officer or (ii) that the executive officer engaged in detrimental conduct, the Compensation Committee will have the ability to: (x) require the executive officer to re-pay any Award paid to the executive officer; (y) cancel/revoke any prior

 

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Award that has not yet vested, and any Award that has vested but has not yet been exercised, to the executive officer; and/or (z) require the executive officer to re-pay the cash value realized by the executive officer on any Award that has already vested to the executive officer. Awards include all plans under which cash payments or equity awards granted or paid are currently being made (DSUs, Escrowed Shares and Restricted Shares) or any plans which are no longer operating but still have outstanding awards.

Hedging of Economic Risks for Personal Equity Ownership

All executives are prohibited from entering into transactions that have the effect of hedging the economic value of any direct or indirect interests by the executive in Class A Shares, including their participation in Long-Term Share Ownership Plans. Under limited circumstances, an executive may be permitted to enter into a transaction that has the effect of hedging the economic value of any direct or indirect interests held by such executive, but only to the extent that the transaction (i) is executed and disclosed in full compliance with all applicable rules and regulations; (ii) has been approved by the CEO and CFO and, if appropriate, the Compensation Committee; and (iii) is in respect of interests directly or indirectly held by such individual in excess of the interests that such individual is required to hold under the Share Ownership Guidelines. To date, no executive has hedged the economic value of their direct or indirect interests in BN.

Option Exercise Hold Periods During and Post-Employment

In order to minimize any possibility of executives opportunistically exercising options and selling the securities received at an inappropriate time, and to require share ownership post-employment, executives are required to continue to hold, for at least one year, an interest in Class A Shares equal to any net after-tax cash proceeds realized from the exercise of options or exchange of Escrowed Shares. This requirement is distinct and in addition to any share ownership guidelines.

 

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Termination and Change of Control Provisions

As a general practice, BN does not provide contractual termination or post-termination payments or change of control arrangements to employees. Specifically, BN has not entered into contractual termination, post-termination or change of control arrangements, employment contracts or golden parachutes with any of its Named Executive Officers.

The following table provides a summary of the termination provisions in BN’s Long-Term Share Ownership Plans. No incremental entitlements are triggered by termination, resignation, retirement or a change in control. Any exceptions to these provisions are approved on an individual basis at the time of cessation of employment. Exceptions are approved by the Chair of the Compensation Committee or the Board, depending on the circumstances.

Long-Term Share Ownership Plan Termination Provisions(a)

 

Termination Event    DSUs    Options   

Restricted Shares /

Escrowed Shares

Retirement

(as determined at the discretion of the Board)

   Vested units are redeemable on the day employment terminates. Unvested units are forfeited.    Vesting ceases on retirement. Vested options are exercisable until their expiration date. Unvested options are cancelled.   

Vested shares are redeemable on the day employment terminates, subject to the hold period. Unvested shares are forfeited.

 

Termination Without Cause

   Vested units are redeemable on the day employment terminates. Unvested units are forfeited.   

Upon the date of termination, unvested options are cancelled and vested options continue to be exercisable for 60 days(b) from the termination date, after which unexercised options are cancelled immediately.

 

   Vested shares are redeemable on the day employment terminates, subject to the hold period. Unvested shares are forfeited.

Termination With Cause

  

Upon date of termination, all unvested and vested units are forfeited, with the exception of DSUs awarded as a result of a participant’s election to take their annual bonus in the form of DSUs.

 

   All vested and unvested options are cancelled upon the close of business on the termination date.    Upon date of termination, all vested and unvested shares are forfeited.

Resignation

   Vested units are redeemable on the day employment terminates. Unvested units are forfeited.    Upon the date of termination, all vested and unvested options are cancelled.   

Vested shares are redeemable on the day employment terminates, and remain subject to the hold period. Unvested shares are forfeited.

 

Death

   Vested units are redeemable on the date of death. Unvested units are forfeited.   

Options continue to vest and are exercisable for six months following date of death(b) after which all unexercised options are cancelled immediately.

 

   Vested shares are redeemable on the date of death, and remain subject to the hold period Unvested shares are forfeited.
(a)

This table represents a summary of the termination provisions in the Long-Term Share Ownership Plans provided by BN and should not be construed as the complete terms.

(b)

Up to but not beyond the expiry date of options.

 

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2023 Compensation Decisions

The Board has charged Mr. Flatt and his management team with expanding the global business in a manner consistent with the creation of shareholder value over the long term. Mr. Flatt’s personal performance, as well as the performance of Mr. Goodman, is reviewed each year by the Board and the Compensation Committee in relation to operational results, the achievement of other objectives set out at the beginning of the year related to the implementation of the long-term business strategy and other accomplishments.

Each year, the CEO presents an annual business plan to the Board. The plan incorporates both short-term and long-term growth objectives. This annual business plan sets out the strategic direction of BN, together with specific operational targets and objectives related to the implementation of BN’s long-term business strategy. The targets and objectives are aggressive and, given the opportunistic and entrepreneurial nature of the organization, provide the Board with examples of various transactions and initiatives that management believes will create shareholder value over the long-term.

Mr. Flatt’s personal performance, as well as the performance of Mr. Goodman, is reviewed each year and compared with BN’s operational results and the achievement of the strategic objectives set out at the beginning of the year. The determination of annual incentive awards and long-term ownership awards is not formulaic but instead is entirely based on the Board’s assessment of the specific actions taken during the year by the team to implement BN’s strategic plans and any amendments to the plans, all in the context of long-term value creation, and other actions taken in response to unforeseen developments during the year.

Information Reviewed by the Compensation Committee

In February 2024, the Compensation Committee received a report detailing the compensation arrangements for the Named Executive Officers. The report, which was prepared by the CEO, summarized the total 2023 compensation, including proposed annual incentive awards and Long-Term Share Ownership Plan awards as well as the proposed 2024 Base Salaries. The report also presented a wealth accumulation analysis, including the “in-the-money” value of vested and unvested Long-Term Share Ownership Plan awards previously granted and the options exercised during the year for each Named Executive Officer.

The report included an analysis of the expected value of 2023 compensation awards to the Named Executive Officers that would be paid under various performance results. The Compensation Committee determined that the resulting compensation was reasonable and appropriate based on the performance of the Class A Shares over a 10-year period.

The extent of equity ownership by all executives is an important consideration for the Compensation Committee. It demonstrates the extent to which executives will benefit from, and will be motivated to achieve, the long-term enhancement of shareholder value. Accordingly, the report also contained an analysis of equity ownership by all executives. It also summarized the equity ownership by the most senior executives including Class A Shares held directly and indirectly as well as through Long-Term Share Ownership Plans, along with a summary of the tenure with the organization of each Named Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee determined that the significant level of equity ownership of the Named Executive Officers creates an alignment of interests to enhance shareholder value over the longer term.

In addition, the report contained a summary of regular and additional discretionary option awards to all senior management as recommended by the Named Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee has determined that these arrangements are reasonable and appropriate.

 

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2023 Incentive Awards

The Compensation Committee considered the significant achievements by BN in 2023 as outlined on page 56 of this Circular. After considering these achievements, the Compensation Committee determined that management had advanced the long-term business strategy in a manner consistent with the creation of shareholder value over the longer term. Accordingly, the annual and long-term incentive awards for 2023 were as follows:

 

 Named Executive Officer    Annual Incentive ($)    Long-Term Incentive Value ($) 

Bruce Flatt(a)

      5,630,445 

Nicholas Goodman

   555,825    11,307,842 

 

(a)

Mr. Flatt is not eligible for an annual incentive. His compensation consists of a Base Salary and an award under one of BN’s Long-Term Share Ownership Plans. In addition, Mr. Flatt, who remains CEO of BAM, will also be eligible for BAM compensation, including Long-Term Share Ownership Plans. Mr. Flatt also received $2,755,485 in Long-Term Incentive Value as BAM compensation in his capacity as CEO of BAM.

The Committee considered these awards to be aligned with the compensation approach of rewarding long-term value creation and consistent with BN’s compensation philosophy of providing a significant portion of executive compensation in the form of long-term equity-based awards.

Mr. Goodman also received an annual contribution to a retirement savings plan based on a percentage of his Base Salary, which for 2023 was 6% of Base Salary, subject to the annual RRSP contribution limit established by the Canada Revenue Agency. Mr. Goodman’s participation in these retirement savings plans is on the same basis as all other employees of BN subject to geographic and market differentials, and they do not have any entitlement to future pension benefits or other post-employment benefits from BN. As a result, BN has no post-employment obligation to provide pension, medical or other employee benefits to Mr. Goodman.

Named Executive Officer Compensation Mix(a)

Approximately 92% of the value of compensation awarded to Mr. Flatt for 2023 and approximately 90% of the value

of compensation award to Mr. Goodman for 2023 was in the form of long-term share ownership awards. The actual value of this compensation, which is earned over time, depends upon the performance of the Class A Shares. The compensation mix for the Named Executive Officers, in 2023 and over the last five years, is set out in the table below.

 

      Annual Management Incentive          
      Base Salary   Cash Bonus   DSUs / Restricted
Shares
  Long-Term Share
Ownership
  Percentage of 
Compensation at Risk  

2023

          

Chief Executive Officer

   6%       94%   94%

Chief Financial Officer

   4%   4%   20%   72%   92%

Five Years (2019 – 2023)

          

Chief Executive Officer

   10%       90%   90%

Chief Financial Officer

   7%   9%   8%   76%   84%

 

(a)

The Base Salary paid to Mr. Flatt in each financial year was converted from C$ and £ using the average Bloomberg exchange rate each year, where applicable.

Details of the components of the compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are set out in the Summary Compensation Table on page 72 of this Circular.

Five Year Compensation Review – Chief Executive Officer

In fiscal years 2019 through 2023 inclusive, Mr. Flatt received a Base Salary of $673,584 on average per year. Base salary is the only cash compensation awarded to Mr. Flatt during that period.

Participation in BN and BAM long-term share ownership plans, which are based on the performance of the Class A Shares and BAM Class A Shares, represented 90% of the value of the total compensation awarded to Mr. Flatt over the last five years.

 

 

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The following table sets out the actual value of the total compensation awarded to Mr. Flatt over the last five years based on the value of a Class A Share and of a Class A Share of BAM as at December 30, 2023. Performance of the Class A Shares over the last five years on the TSX and NYSE can be found on pages 70 to 71 of this Circular.

Total Cumulative Chief Executive Officer Compensation for Fiscal Years 2019 – 2023

 

      Total Compensation Fiscal Years 
2019 – 2023($) 
 

Cash Compensation Paid

     3,367,920   

Long-Term Share Ownership Plan Awards(a):

  

Value upon Award(b)

     32,587,830   

Market Appreciation(c)

     47,756,018   

DSUs and Escrowed Shares(a)

     80,343,848   

Benefits and Perquisites

  

Other Compensation(d)

     165,407   

Total Cumulative Compensation 2019 – 2023

     83,877,175   
          

Average Annual Compensation at award value

     7,224,231   

Value of Compensation including share appreciation

     16,775,435   

 

(a)

These values reflect DSUs and Escrowed Shares granted during the five-year period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023 of Mr. Flatt’s tenure as CEO. DSUs are not redeemable until retirement.

(b)

The value of the DSUs is calculated based on the closing price of a Class A Share or a BAM Class A Share (for DSUs issued pursuant to adjustments made to outstanding equity-based awards of BN in connection with BN’s distribution of 25% of its asset management business through BAM pursuant to a plan of arrangement in December 2022 (the “Arrangement Adjustments”)), as applicable, on the effective date of the award. The value of the Escrowed Shares is based on the stock market price of the Class A Shares or a BAM Class A Share (for BAM Escrowed Shares issued in connection with the Arrangement Adjustments), as applicable, at the time of the award and considers the potential increase in value based on a hold of 7.5 years, and the volatility, risk free rate and dividend growth rate at the time of the award.

(c)

The market appreciation for the DSUs is calculated as (i) the value of the DSUs (including the additional DSUs received under the dividend reinvestment program) using the closing price of a Class A Share on the TSX on December 29, 2023 of $40.11 (C$53.15 converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on that date of C$1.00 = US$0.7547) or on the NYSE on December 29, 2023 of $40.12, as applicable, and for the BAM-tracking DSUs issued in connection with the Arrangement Adjustments using the closing price of a BAM Class A Share on the TSX on December 29, 2023 of $40.16 (C$53.22, converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on that date of C$1.00 = US$0.7547) and on the NYSE of $40.17, as applicable, less (ii) the Value upon Award as described in note (b) above. The market appreciation for the Escrowed Shares is calculated as (i) the value of the Class A Shares or BAM Class A Shares, as applicable, held by the Escrowed Company less the net liabilities and preferred share obligations of the Escrowed Company on December 31, 2023 less (ii) the value of the Escrowed Shares on December 31, 2023 as described in note (b) above.

(d)

Other compensation paid in the financial year includes annual contributions of 7.5% of salary under the U.K. retirement savings plan in 2019 to 2021. The value has been converted to U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of C$1.00 = US$0.7411 or £1.00 = US$1.2441, which was the average exchange rate for 2023 as reported by Bloomberg.

Chief Executive Officer Ownership Interests in BN

Consistent with BN’s philosophy of aligning the interests of management and shareholders and fostering an entrepreneurial environment that encourages a focus on long-term value creation, Mr. Flatt has, over his 34 years with BN, accumulated a number of ownership interests in BN in the form of DSUs, RSUs, and Escrowed Shares. In addition, and separate from any compensation arrangements, but relevant to the extent it aligns Mr. Flatt’s interests with shareholders, Mr. Flatt owns a number of Class A Shares. These ownership interests are held both directly and through ownership in PVI (see “Principal Holders of Voting Shares” on page 7 of this Circular).

Class A Share Performance Graphs

The following graphs detail the share performance of BN’s Class A Shares on the TSX and NYSE.

The total return on the NYSE for the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023 has been 10.98%. This return reflects the decrease in BN’s share price as a result of the distribution of 25% of the asset management business on December 9, 2022. Total average compensation for the Named Executive Officers has increased by approximately 56% in aggregate from 2019 to 2023.

 

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TSX (Symbol: BN)

The following shows the cumulative total shareholder return for BN’s Class A Shares (assuming reinvestment of dividends) over the last five fiscal years, in comparison with the cumulative total return of the S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index.

Five-Year Cumulative Total Return on C$100 Investment Assuming Dividends are

Reinvested

December 31, 2018 - December 31, 2023

 

LOGO

 

      2018      2019      2020      2021      2022      2023  

 Class A Limited voting shares (BN)

   100      145.3      154.8      228.7      159.1      200.3  

 S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index

   100      122.9      129.8      162.4      153.1      171.2  

 

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NYSE (Symbol: BN)

The following shows the cumulative total shareholder return for BN’s Class A Shares (assuming reinvestment of dividends) over the last five fiscal years, in comparison with the cumulative total return of the NYSE Composite Total Return Index.

Five-Year Cumulative Total Return on US$100 Investment Assuming Dividends are Reinvested

December 31, 2018 - December 31, 2023

 

LOGO

 

      2018      2019      2020      2021      2022      2023  

 Class A Limited voting shares (BN)

   100      152.7      165.7      246.6      159.5      205.1  

 NYSE Composite Total Return Index

   100      125.8      134.7      162.7      147.8      168.3  

Ratio of Named Executive Officer Compensation to Funds from Operations

The following table illustrates the total compensation awarded to the Named Executive Officers for 2021, 2022 and 2023 as a percentage of Funds from Operations (“FFO”):

 

      2023        2022        2021   

Aggregate Named Executive Officer Compensation (a) (b)

     $18,456,859          $43,066,778          $47,855,841   

As a Percentage of FFO (c)(d)

     0.3%          0.7%          0.6%  

 

(a)

Aggregate Named Executive Officer Compensation in 2021 and 2022 is based on six Named Executive Officers.

(b)

Aggregate Named Executive Officer Compensation is defined as the Total Compensation as it appears in the Summary Compensation Table on page 72 of this Circular.

(c)

FFO totaled $6.221 billion, $6.294 billion and $7.558 billion in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

(d)

FFO is a non-IFRS measure. See the “Cautionary Statement Regarding the Use of Non-IFRS Measures and Forward-Looking Statements” on page 80 of this Circular.

 

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Compensation of Named Executive Officers

The compensation paid and disclosed in the table below represents aggregate amounts earned by the Named Executive Officers for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the compensation paid and disclosed reflects the amounts solely borne by BN for services provided. For the year ended December 31, 2022, each of BN and BAM paid their prorated portion of such compensation for Mr. Flatt, who currently serves as the CEO of both BN and BAM, for the period beginning December 9, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Prior to this period, Mr. Flatt’s full compensation was paid by BN. Mr. Flatt also received compensation paid and disclosed by BAM in the year ended December 31, 2023.

Summary Compensation Table(a)(b)(c)

 

 Name and Principal

 Position

   Year     

 Annual Base

Salary

 

($)

    

Annual Incentive
Cash

 

($)

      

DSUs/ Restricted

Shares

 

($)

    

Escrowed

Shares /

Options(e)(f)(g)

 

($)

    

All Other
Compensation(h)

 

($)

    

Total
Compensation

 

($)

 

Bruce Flatt(d)

   2023        375,000                        5,630,445               6,005,445  

CEO

   2022        742,643                        7,046,055               7,788,698  
     2021        746,460                        8,350,780        55,985        9,153,225  

Nicholas Goodman

   2023        555,825        555,825          2,392,971        8,914,871        31,922        12,451,414  

President and CFO

   2022        518,770        518,770                 5,761,980        30,203        6,829,723  
     2021        444,660        1,010,090                 4,310,080        27,961        5,792,791  

 

(a)

In order to provide for comparability with BN’s financial statements, which are reported in U.S. dollars, all Canadian dollar and British pound compensation amounts in this Circular have been converted to U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of C$1.00 = US$0.7411 and £1.00 = US$1.2441, which was the average exchange rate for 2023 as reported by Bloomberg, unless otherwise noted.

(b)

Mr. Flatt’s compensation consists of an annual Base Salary and Escrowed Shares awarded under the Escrowed Stock Plan. Mr. Goodman’s compensation consists of an annual Base Salary and an annual incentive which he can elect to receive in cash, DSUs, or Restricted Shares and Escrowed Shares awarded under the Escrowed Stock Plan.

(c)

On June 28, 2021, BN established BNRE and paid a special dividend valued at $0.34 for every one Class A Share held. In recognition of the resultant decrease in the intrinsic value of options issued under the MSOPs, the Board approved a discretionary cash bonus based on the value of the dividend. The bonus was paid at the time of the transaction for vested options and was fully paid by December 1, 2023. Participants in the Escrowed Stock Plan were awarded a special dividend in the form of Exchangeable Class A Shares. The following table shows the number of Exchangeable Class A Shares awarded, as well as the amount of cash bonuses or DSUs in lieu of cash bonuses awarded, and the total value of the awards.

 

 Name    Exchangeable Class A
Shares (#)
     Cash ($)      DSU (#)        Total Value ($)  

Bruce Flatt

     54,238                    —        2,803,362  

Nicholas Goodman

     8,792             308,456               762,882  

 

(d)

Mr. Flatt also received compensation paid by BAM in recognition of his role as CEO for the year ended December 31, 2023. Such compensation consisted of a salary of $375,000 and an Escrowed Share award with a grant date fair value of $2,755,485 based on the grant date price of a BAM Class A Share on the NYSE on February 16, 2024 of $40.07. This value awarded is determined by the BAM Board and considers the stock market price of the BAM Class A Shares at the time of the award and the potential increase in value based on a hold period of 7.5 years, a volatility of 29.19%, a risk free rate of 4.23% and a dividend yield of 4.79%. These values have been discounted by 25% to reflect the five-year vesting.

(e)

The amounts for 2023 reflect grants of Escrowed Shares for each Named Executive Officer. The value awarded under the Escrowed Stock Plan for annual grants is determined by the Board and considers the stock market price of the Class A Shares at the time of the award and the potential increase in value based on a hold period of 7.5 years, a volatility of 35.03%, a risk free rate of 4.23% and a dividend yield of 1.0%.

(f)

For additional disclosure, the following table shows the number of Escrowed Shares granted during the fiscal year 2022 as a result of the Arrangement Adjustments.

 

 Name   

Escrowed

Shares (#)

     Grant Date Fair Value ($) 

Bruce Flatt

     6,052,321      45,392,408 

Nicholas Goodman

     1,397,970      10,484,775 

 

(g)

For additional disclosure, on the wind-up of BN’s Restricted Share Unit Plan, Mr. Flatt exchanged his RSUs for cash equivalent in value to the RSUs on the date of the exchange. Separately, Escrowed Shares were issued to Mr. Flatt on February 16, 2024 on a one-for-one basis.

 

 Name    Escrowed
Shares (#)
     Grant Date Fair Value ($) 

Bruce Flatt

     2,511,266      31,421,211 

 

(h)

These amounts include annual retirement savings contributions and participation in the executive medical program.

 

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Incentive Plan Awards

Mr. Flatt is not eligible for an annual cash incentive award; he receives an annual Base Salary and Escrowed Shares. BN has no long-term non-equity incentive plan programs. The following four tables show, for each Named Executive Officer (i) outstanding vested and unvested options and RSU awards at December 31, 2023, (ii) unvested Escrowed Shares, Restricted Shares and DSUs and the market value of vested and unvested Escrowed Shares, Restricted Shares and DSUs at December 31, 2023, and (iii) the value of all option and share-based awards which vested during 2023.

Outstanding Option and Share-Based Awards at December 31, 2023

Options

 

 Name and Principal

 Position

  

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised

Option

(#)

  

  Option Exercise Price

 

($)

    

  Option Expiration Date

   Market Value of
Unexercised Options
 at December 31, 2023(a)
($)

 Nicholas Goodman

   15,000      19.83      February 23, 2025    304,340

 President and CFO

   8,100      19.83      February 23, 2025    164,343
   18,000      18.43      November 22, 2025    390,505
   9,000      16.70      February 22, 2026    210,799
   25,800      20.14      February 16, 2027    515,605
   72,000      20.14      February 16, 2027    1,438,898
   45,000      22.05      February 25, 2028    813,150
   150,000      22.05      February 25, 2028    2,710,500
   267,450      24.14      February 25, 2029    4,272,808
   250,000      35.56      February 21, 2031    1,139,475
   13,765      46.62      February 17, 2032   
     111,235      46.62      February 17, 2032   

 Total

   985,350          11,960,423

 

(a)

The market value of the options is the amount by which the closing price of the Class A Shares on December 29, 2023 exceeded the exercise price of the options. All values are calculated using the closing price of a Class A Share on December 29, 2023 on the NYSE of $40.12.

Restricted Share Units(a)

 

 Name and Principal

 Position

   Number of Restricted Share Units
(#)
     Issuance Price(b)
($)
     Market Value at December 31, 2023(c)
($)
 

Bruce Flatt

     885,938        2.90        32,913,145  

CEO

     1,017,828        4.39        36,264,295  
       607,500        6.70        20,207,700  

Total

     2,511,266           89,385,140  

 

(a)

BN’s Restricted Share Unit Plan was terminated in February 2024. On wind-up of the Restricted Share Unit Plan, Mr. Flatt exchanged his RSUs for cash equivalent in value to the RSUs on the date of the exchange. Separately, 2,511,266 Escrowed Shares were issued to Mr. Flatt on February 16, 2024.

(b)

The RSU issuance price is in Canadian dollars and is presented in the table converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on December 29, 2023 of C$1.00 = US$0.7547.

(c)

The market value of the options and the RSUs is the amount by which the closing price of the Class A Shares on December 30, 2023 exceeded the exercise price of the options or the issuance price of the RSUs. All values are calculated using the closing price of a Class A Share on December 30, 2023 on the TSX and on the NYSE, as applicable. The closing price of a Class A Share on the TSX on December 29, 2023 was $40.11 (C$53.15, converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on that date of C$1.00 = US$0.7547) and on the NYSE was $40.12, as applicable.

 

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Escrowed Shares, Restricted Shares and Deferred Share Units(a)

 

 Name    Escrowed Shares      Share-Based Awards                       
                             

Restricted Shares

 

    

Deferred Share Units (DSUs)

 

 
     Number of
Unvested
     Market Value
of Unvested(b)
     Market
Value of
Vested(b)
    

Number

of
Unvested

    

Market
Value of

Unvested(c)

     Market
Value of
Vested(c)
     Number
of
Unvested
    

Market
Value

of

     Market
Value of
Vested(c)
 
                                                      Unvested(c)
        
      (#)      ($)      ($)      (#)      ($)      ($)      (#)      ($)      ($)  

 Bruce Flatt

     5,316,857        27,340,208        6,389,193                                           85,977,346  

 Nicholas Goodman

     1,816,098        8,671,692        959,973        2,186        87,683        350,730                       

 

(a)

The values do not include the most recent Escrowed Share, Restricted Share and DSU awards made to the Named Executive Officers on February 16, 2024.

(b)

The value of the Escrowed Shares is equal to the value of the Class A Shares held by the Escrowed Company less the net liabilities and preferred share obligations of the Escrowed Company.

(c)

Values are calculated using the closing price of a Class A Share on the TSX on December 29, 2023 of $40.11 (C$53.15, converted into U.S. dollars at the Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate on that date of C$1.00 = US$0.7547) and $40.12 on the NYSE, as applicable.

Option and Share-Based Awards Vested During 2023(a)

 

 Named Executive Officer    Options(b)    DSUs(c)    Restricted Shares    Escrowed Shares(d)
      ($)    ($)    ($)    ($) 

 Bruce Flatt

            — 

 Nicholas Goodman

   971,055       73,489    — 

 

(a)

All values are calculated using the closing price of a Class A Share on the vesting date on the TSX and NYSE, as applicable, and converted into U.S. dollars using the average Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate for 2023 of C$1.00 = US$0.7411.

(b)

The value represents the amount by which the value of the Class A Shares exceeded the exercise price on the day the options vested.

(c)

Values in this column represent the value of DSUs vested in 2023, including DSUs awarded on February 17, 2023 in lieu of the cash incentive related to performance in 2022.

(d)

The value of the Escrowed Shares, as applicable, is equal to the Class A Shares, held by the Escrowed Company less the net liabilities and preferred share obligations of the Escrowed Company.

Security-Based Compensation Arrangements

BN’s only current security-based compensation arrangements are its MSOPs and its Escrowed Stock Plan.

2012 Management Share Option Plan

The 2012 Management Share Option Plan (the “2012 Plan”) was approved by the Board in February 2012 and by the holders of Class A Shares at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on May 10, 2012. The 2012 Plan provides for the issuance of 33,750,000 Class A Shares (representing approximately 2.1% of BN’s issued and outstanding Class A Shares as at December 31, 2023) of which options to acquire 16,149,929 Class A Shares (representing approximately 0.98% of BN’s issued and outstanding Class A Shares) have been granted but not exercised as at December 31, 2023. Following the approval of the 2019 Plan, as defined below, by BN’s shareholders in June 2019, BN decided not to grant any further options under the 2012 Plan.

2016 Management Share Option Plan

The 2016 Management Share Option Plan (the “2016 Plan”) was approved by the Board on February 11, 2016 and by the holders of Class A Shares at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 17, 2016. The 2016 Plan provides for the issuance of 22,500,000 Class A Shares (representing approximately 1.4% of BN’s issued and outstanding Class A Shares as at December 31, 2023). Options to acquire 20,939,882 Class A Shares have been granted but not exercised and 615,964 Class A Share options are available for grant, representing approximately 1.28% and 0.04%, respectively, of BN’s issued and outstanding Class A Shares as at December 31, 2023.

2019 Management Share Option Plan

The 2019 Management Share Option Plan (the “2019 Plan”) was approved by the Board on February 13, 2019 and by the holders of Class A Shares at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholder held on June 14, 2019. The 2019 Plan provides for the issuance of 22,500,000 Class A Shares (representing approximately 1.4% of BN’s issued and outstanding Class A

 

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Shares as at December 31, 2023). Options to acquire 2,655,350 Class A Shares have been granted but not exercised and 19,730,900 Class A Share options are available for grant, representing approximately 0.16% and 1.21%, respectively, of BN’s issued and outstanding Class A Shares as at December 31, 2023.

General Terms of Option Plans

The Board establishes the exercise price of each option at the time it is granted, which may not be less than the volume-weighted average price of a Class A Share on the NYSE for the five trading days preceding the effective grant date. If options are approved during a restricted trading period, the effective grant date may not be less than six business days after the restricted trading period ends.

The following is a summary of the other key provisions of the 2012 Plan, the 2016 Plan and the 2019 Plan (collectively, the “Option Plans”). Employees, officers and consultants of BN and its affiliates and others designated by the Board are eligible to participate in the Option Plans. Non-employee directors are not eligible to participate in the Option Plans. The number of Class A Shares issuable to insiders at any time, or issued in any one year to insiders, under any of BN’s security-based compensation arrangements cannot exceed in either case 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of this class; and no more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares may be issued under these arrangements to any one person. The Board determines the vesting period for each option grant, which is normally 20% per year over five years commencing the first year after the grant. The Board also sets the expiry period for each option grant, which may not exceed ten years, except where the expiry date falls during or shortly after a restricted trading period, in which case the expiry date is ten days after the restricted trading period ends.

The Option Plans set out provisions regarding the exercise and cancellation of options following a change in the employment status of a plan participant. In general, all vested options must be exercised by, and all unvested options are cancelled on, a participant’s termination date, except as follows: in the event of termination by BN for reasons other than cause or due to a continuous leave of absence as a result of a disability, vested options must be exercised within 60 days following the termination date; in the event of retirement, vested options continue to be exercisable until the applicable expiry date; and in the event of death, all granted options continue to vest and be exercisable for six months following death. No incremental entitlements are triggered by a change in control of BN under the Option Plans.

The Option Plans permit participants to exercise vested options in exchange for a number of Class A Shares equivalent in value to (i) the aggregate fair market value of the Class A Shares underlying the options on the exercise date over the aggregate exercise price of the options, less (ii) applicable withholding taxes (only to the extent such taxes have not otherwise been satisfied by the participant). This provides for a reduction in shareholder dilution upon the exercise of options using this feature.

The Option Plans also provide that each person that is an officer, employee or consultant of BN or any of its affiliates shall, for so long as such person remains an officer, employee or consultant of BAM or any of its affiliates, be permitted to hold and exercise his or her options in accordance with their terms as though such person was an officer, employee or consultant, as applicable, of BN or any of its affiliates.

Procedure for Amending Option Plans

The Option Plans contain an amending provision setting out the types of amendments which can be approved by the Board without shareholder approval and those which require shareholder approval. Shareholder approval is required for any amendment that increases the number of shares issuable under the Option Plans, that lengthens the period of time after a restricted trading period during which options may be exercised, results in the exercise price being lower than fair market value of a Class A Share at the date of grant, reduces the exercise price or any cancellation and reissuance of an option which would be considered a repricing under TSX rules, expands insider participation, extends the term of an option beyond its expiry date, adds a provision which results in participants receiving shares for no consideration (other than the 2016 Plan or the 2019 Plan) or other amendments required by law to be approved by shareholders. The 2016 Plan and 2019 Plan also require shareholder approval for any amendment which would permit options to be transferable or assignable other than for normal estate planning purposes, any amendment to the amendment provisions, any amendment expanding the categories of eligible participants which may permit the introduction or reintroduction of non-employee directors on a discretionary basis and any amendment to remove or exceed the insider participation limit. Shareholder approval is not required for any amendment to the Option Plans or any option that is of a housekeeping or administrative nature, that is necessary to comply

 

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with applicable laws or to qualify for favorable tax treatment, that is to the vesting, termination or early termination provisions (provided that the amendment does not entail an extension beyond the expiry period of the options), that adds or modifies a cashless exercise feature that provides for a full deduction of the number of Class A Shares from the Option Plan reserve, and to suspend or terminate an Option Plan. No amendments to the Option Plans were made in 2023.

Other Features of the Option Plans

BN does not provide any financial assistance to plan participants to facilitate the purchase of Class A Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options under the Option Plans. Options granted under the Option Plans may be assigned by the plan participant to (i) his or her spouse, descendants or any other immediate family member; or (ii) a trust, the beneficiaries of which are one or more of the plan participant and the participant’s spouse, descendants or immediate family members; or (iii) a corporation or limited liability company controlled by the plan participant or by one or more of the participant and the participant’s spouse, and/or the immediate family members, the shares or interests of which are held directly or indirectly by the plan participant, participant’s spouse and/or immediate family members; or (iv) such other transferees for estate planning purposes as may be permitted by the Board in its discretion.

The Board, on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approves all option awards. The Compensation Committee recommends the long-term incentive award for the CEO. All other option awards are recommended by the CEO to the Compensation Committee.

BN has established a number of policies related to its long-term share ownership plans, including option exercise hold periods, to reinforce the importance of equity ownership by its senior executives over the longer term. See also “Key Policies and Practices to Support Alignment” on pages 63 to 64 of this Circular.

Escrowed Stock Plan

The Escrowed Stock Plan was approved by the Board in February 2011 and by holders of Class A Shares at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on May 11, 2011. The Escrowed Stock Plan governs the award of Escrowed Shares of one or more Escrowed Company to executives or other individuals designated by the Board. Each Escrowed Company is capitalized with common shares and preferred shares issued to BN for cash proceeds. Each Escrowed Company uses its cash resources to directly or indirectly purchase Class A Shares in the open market. Under the current terms of the Escrowed Stock Plan, participants are either awarded Escrowed Shares or provided an election to contribute Class A Shares as consideration for the Escrowed Shares. Dividends paid to each Escrowed Company on the Class A Shares acquired by the Escrowed Company will be used to pay dividends on the preferred shares which are held by BN. If a participant elects to contribute Class A Shares as consideration, dividends paid to the Escrowed Company on the contributed Class A Shares will be paid on the common shares held by the participants. The Class A Shares acquired by an Escrowed Company will not be voted.

Except as otherwise determined by the Board, 20% of Escrowed Shares will vest on the first anniversary of the granting of such shares, with an additional 20% vesting on each subsequent anniversary, up to and including the fifth anniversary of the grant of the Escrowed Shares.

On date(s) determined by the holders of the Escrowed Shares no later than ten years after the initial grant, the vested Escrowed Shares will be acquired by BN in exchange for the issuance of Class A Shares from treasury, where the value of the Class A Shares being issued is equal to the value of the Escrowed Shares being acquired. The value of the Escrowed Shares will be equal to the increase in value of the Class A Shares held by the Escrowed Company since the grant date of the Escrowed Shares, based on the volume-weighted average price of a Class A Share on the NYSE on the date of the exchange. Participants are not permitted to exchange Escrowed Shares during a restricted trading period, except with the consent of the Board. Once all participants of an Escrowed Company have elected to exchange their Escrowed Shares, the Escrowed Company will be wound up or merged into BN and BN will cancel at least that number of Class A Shares held by one or more Escrowed Companies that is equivalent to the number of Class A Shares that have been issued to holders of the Escrowed Shares of the Escrowed Company on exchanges.

A maximum of 13,500,000 Class A Shares may be issued under the Escrowed Stock Plan, representing less than 1% of BN’s issued and outstanding Class A Shares. When Class A Shares are issued in exchange for Escrowed Shares, the number of Class A Shares remaining for future issuance under the Escrowed Stock Plan will be reduced. On the wind-up or merger of an Escrowed Company, the number of Class A Shares held by one or more Escrowed Companies that are cancelled in respect of Class A Shares previously issued by BN in exchange for Escrowed Shares will be added back to the number of Class A

 

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Shares available for future issuance under the Escrowed Stock Plan. The Escrowed Stock Plan also provides that when Class A Shares are issued in exchange for Escrowed Shares and immediately thereafter the Escrowed Company is wound up or merged into BN and the Class A Shares held by it are cancelled, the number of Class A Shares remaining for future issuance under the Escrowed Stock Plan will not be reduced. 28,425,221 Class A Shares (representing approximately 1.7% of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares) have been issued under the Escrowed Stock Plan since its adoption in 2011 and, as a result of the cancellation by Escrowed Companies of at least 28,402,439 Class A Shares, 13,476,870 Class A Shares (representing approximately 0.8% of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares) are available for future issuance as at December 31, 2023.

Eligibility for participation in the Escrowed Stock Plan is restricted to designated executives of BN and its affiliates or any other persons designated by the Board. The number of Escrowed Shares to be granted to each participant is determined at the discretion of the Board, on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee recommends the award of Escrowed Shares for the CEO. All other awards of Escrowed Shares are recommended by the CEO to the Compensation Committee. The number of Class A Shares issuable to insiders at any time, or issued in any one year to insiders, under any of BN’s security-based compensation arrangements cannot exceed in either case 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of this class; and no more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares may be issued under these arrangements to any one person. Aside from transfers to BN (in the case of termination of employment, described in the table under “Termination and Change of Control Provisions” on page 66 of this Circular) or for personal tax planning purposes, transfers of Escrowed Shares are not permitted. No incremental entitlements are triggered by a change in control of BN under the Escrowed Stock Plan.

The number of Escrowed Shares granted under the Escrowed Stock Plan annually, expressed as a percentage of the weighted average number of Class A Shares outstanding in the year, was 0.33% in 2021 and 2.7% in 2022 and 0.01% in 2023. See also “Dilution of Class A Shares” on page 78 of this Circular for information on the rate of Class A Share issuances under the Escrowed Stock Plan.

The Escrowed Stock Plan also provides that each person that is an officer, employee or consultant of BN or any of its affiliates shall, for so long as such person remains an officer, employee or consultant of BAM or any of its affiliates, be permitted to hold and exchange his or her Escrowed Shares in accordance with their terms as though such person was an officer, employee or consultant, as applicable, of BN or any of its affiliates.

Amendments to the Escrowed Stock Plan

At the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 9, 2023, BN’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Escrowed Stock Plan to provide participants with the option, in addition to either being awarded Escrowed Shares or electing to contribute Class A Shares to the Escrowed Company as consideration for Escrowed Shares issued by an Escrowed Company, to contribute to an Escrowed Company a portion of existing Escrowed Shares received from previous grants as consideration for the receipt of a grant of new Escrowed Shares from a different Escrowed Company.

The Escrowed Stock Plan was also amended by the Board in 2023 to remove the previous restriction that Escrowed Shares held by certain employees could not be exchanged by holders until the fifth anniversary of the grant date.

Procedure for Amending Escrowed Stock Plan

The Escrowed Stock Plan contains an amending provision setting out the types of amendments which can be approved by the Board without shareholder approval and those which require shareholder approval. Shareholder approval is required for any amendment that increases the number of Class A Shares issuable under the Escrowed Stock Plan, expands insider participation, any amendment to the amendment provisions or other amendments required by law to be approved by shareholders. Shareholder approval is not required for any amendment to the Escrowed Stock Plan that is of a housekeeping or administrative nature, that is necessary to comply with applicable laws or to qualify for favorable tax treatment, that is to vesting provisions, that is to the termination or early termination provisions (provided that the amendment does not entail an extension beyond the tenth anniversary of the award date for any particular Escrowed Company), and to suspend or terminate the Escrowed Stock Plan.

 

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Dilution of Class A Shares

Options Outstanding and Class A Shares issued under the Escrowed Stock Plan as a Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Class A Shares

 

      2024         2023     

2012 Plan

   1.0%                   1.2%         

2016 Plan

   1.3%      1.3%  

2019 Plan

   0.2%      0.2%  

Escrowed Stock Plan(a)

             

 

(a)

Reflects the number of Class A Shares issued upon exchange of the Escrowed Shares, less the number of Class A Shares cancelled under the Escrowed Stock Plan during the applicable year. The Escrowed Stock Plan is non-dilutive as any Class A Shares issued from treasury under this plan are fully offset by the cancellation of shares acquired in the market as described above.

Grants Issued as a Percentage of Shares Outstanding

The following table shows the number of Class A Shares issuable under awards granted under each of the Option Plans and the Escrowed Stock Option Plan as a percentage of the average Class A Shares outstanding (the “rate of grants issued”) for the past three years. The rate of grants issued is defined as the number of Class A Shares issuable under awards granted in a fiscal year, divided by the basic weighted average number of Class A Shares outstanding in that year.

 

     2023        2022        2021    

Grants under the 2012 Plan

              

Rate of Grants Issued

                                        

Grants under the 2016 Plan

   716,625      1,091,900      4,185,030  

Rate of Grants Issued

   0.04%        0.07%        0.26%    

Grants under the 2019 Plan

        2,864,450       

Rate of Grants Issued

          0.17%           

Grants under the Escrowed Stock Plan(a)

   201,709           5,300,540  

Rate of Grants Issued

   0.01%               0.33%    

 

(a)

Includes Class A Shares issuable on exchange as of each fiscal year end for information purposes. The Escrowed Stock Plan is non-dilutive as any Class A Shares issued from treasury are fully offset by the cancellation of shares acquired in the market as described above.

Securities Authorized for Issue Under Incentive Plans

The following table sets out information on BN’s Option Plans and Escrowed Stock Plan as at December 31, 2023.

 

Plan Category    Number of securities to be issued
upon exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights
     Weighted-average exercise price
of outstanding options, warrants
and rights(b)
     Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans(c)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

        

2019 Plan, 2016 Plan and 2012 Plan(a)

     39,745,161        $26.30        20,460,614  

Escrowed Stock Plan(c)

     5,289,770        $34.96        13,476,870  

Total

     45,034,931                 33,937,484  

 

(a)

Following the approval of the 2019 Plan by BN’s shareholders in June 2019, BN decided that it will not grant any further options under the 2012 Plan.

(b)

Converted into U.S. dollars using the average Bloomberg mid-market exchange rate for 2023 of C$1.00 = US$0.7547.

(c)

This value represents the number of Class A Shares at December 31, 2023 which could be issued under this plan.

Pension and Retirement Benefits

BN’s senior management do not participate in a registered defined benefit plan or any other post-retirement supplementary compensation plans and do not have any entitlement to future pension benefits or other post-employment benefits from BN. BN has not entered into contractual termination, post-termination or change of control arrangements, employment contracts or golden parachutes with any of its senior management.

 

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PART SIX – OTHER INFORMATION

Indebtedness of Directors, Officers and Employees

The amount of debt outstanding by current and former directors, officers and employees of BN as at April 18, 2024 to BN and its subsidiaries was approximately $10.4 million, which loans bear interest at a minimum rate of 1.6%. The purpose of such loans is to enable certain employees of BN to fund certain near-term expenses without monetizing previously granted equity awards under BN’s long-term share ownership plans thereby preserving long-term alignment with BN. No executive officers of BN are indebted under any of these loans.

Audit Committee

Additional information about the Audit Committee required by Part 5 of NI 52-110, including the Committee’s Charter, can be found in the AIF under the heading “Audit Committee Information,” which is posted on BN’s website, https:// bn.brookfield.com under “Notice and Access 2024” and is also filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar. A copy of the AIF can also be obtained from the Corporate Secretary of BN as set out below under “Availability of Disclosure Documents” on page 80 of this Circular.

Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

BN and its subsidiaries and associated companies (including BAM, BNRE, and certain of their respective subsidiaries, collectively, the “Organization”) maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance with an aggregate limit of $125 million for claims where an entity within the Organization is obligated and able to indemnify its directors or officers, as well as those claims where an indemnity is not available. There is an additional $75 million of coverage for directors and officers directly for claims where such indemnity is not available. The total limit of $200 million is applied under a shared program for the Organization, and therefore payments made under the program in a given year are deducted from the aggregate insurance coverage available under the program for that year.

Under the directors’ and officers’ insurance program, an entity within the Organization is eligible for reimbursement for indemnity payments made to directors or officers as required or permitted by law, including legal costs arising from acts, errors or omissions committed by directors and officers during the course of their duties as such. The insurance coverage for directors and officers has certain exclusions including, but not limited to, those acts for which an entity within the Organization is not permitted to indemnify directors under applicable law, such as acts determined to be deliberately fraudulent or dishonest or to have resulted in personal profit or advantage with such exclusions only being applicable after a final non-adjudicable decision is made. Claims by entities within the Organization are subject to a deductible of up to $5 million. Individual directors and officers do not pay any deductible if it is necessary for them to make a claim directly when they are not indemnified by an entity within the Organization.

The cost of the directors’ and officers’ insurance program is borne by the Organization and is currently $5,117,876 annually, of which $2,669,647 is allocated to BN.

Normal Course Issuer Bid

Class A Limited Voting Shares

On May 23, 2023, BN renewed its normal course issuer bid for market purchases of its Class A Shares (“Common NCIB”) for a period extending from May 25, 2023 until May 24, 2024, or an earlier date should BN complete its purchases. The Common NCIB allows BN to repurchase, during the period mentioned above, on the TSX, NYSE and any alternative Canadian trading platform, a maximum of approximately 142.0 million Class A Shares, representing approximately 10% of the public float of the outstanding Class A Shares. All Class A Shares acquired by BN under the Common NCIB are cancelled or purchased by a non-independent trustee pursuant to a long-term incentive plan.

The Common NCIB is in place because BN believes that, from time to time, the trading price of Class A Shares may not fully reflect the underlying value of BN’s business and future business prospects, and in such circumstances acquiring Class A Shares may represent an attractive investment. From the period between May 25, 2023 and April 18, 2024, BN purchased 27,804,272 Class A Shares under the Common NCIB at an average price of $37.24. Shareholders may obtain, free of charge,

 

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a copy of the notice of intent regarding the Common NCIB, which was approved by the TSX, by writing to the Corporate Secretary of BN at Brookfield Place, Suite 100, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3.

Class A Preference Shares

On August 18, 2023, BN renewed its normal course issuer bid for market purchases of BN’s outstanding Class A Preference Shares that are listed on the TSX (“Preferred NCIB”) for a period extending from August 22, 2023 until August 21, 2024, or an earlier date should BN complete its purchases. The Preferred NCIB allows BN to repurchase, during the period mentioned above, on the TSX, a maximum of 10% of the public float of these outstanding Class A Preference Shares. All Class A Preference Shares acquired by BN under the Preferred NCIB are cancelled.

The Preferred NCIB is in place because BN believes that, from time to time, certain Class A Preference Shares may trade in price ranges that do not fully reflect their value, and in such circumstances acquiring Class A Preference Shares may represent an attractive investment. As at April 18, 2024, BN has not purchased any Class A Preference Shares under the Preferred NCIB. Shareholders may obtain, free of charge, a copy of the notice of intent regarding the Preferred NCIB, which was approved by the TSX, by writing to the Corporate Secretary of BN at Brookfield Place, Suite 100, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3.

Cautionary Statement Regarding the Use of Non-IFRS Measures and Forward-Looking Statements

BN prepares its financial statements in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB. We disclose a number of financial measures in this Circular that are calculated and presented using methodologies other than in accordance with IFRS, which include but are not limited to: DE, FFO, net operating income, fee-bearing capital, fee-related earnings, net realized carried interest and accumulated unrealized carried interest. We utilize these measures in managing the business, including for performance measurement, capital allocation and valuation purposes, and believe that providing these performance measures on a supplemental basis to our IFRS results is helpful to investors in assessing the overall performance of our businesses. These financial measures should not be considered as the sole measure of our performance and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, similar financial measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. We caution readers that these non-IFRS financial measures or other financial metrics are not standardized under IFRS and may differ from the financial measures or other financial metrics disclosed by other businesses and, as a result, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers and entities. See pages 135 to 141 of the Annual Report for further information on non-IFRS financial measures or other financial metrics and reconciliations of these non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS, where applicable, which pages are also incorporated by reference in this Circular.

This Circular also contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws, as applicable. See pages 23-24 of the Annual Report for further information on forward-looking statements, which pages are also incorporated by reference in this Circular.

The Annual Report is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

Availability of Disclosure Documents

BN will provide any person or company, upon request in accordance with the directions in the Notice, a copy of this Circular and the Annual Report. Upon request to the Corporate Secretary of BN, BN will provide any person or company the AIF, together with a copy of any document or the pertinent pages of any document incorporated therein by reference; management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation from its most recently completed financial year (“MD&A”) and/or the interim financial statements of BN for the periods subsequent to the end of its fiscal year (the “Interim Statements”). Financial information on BN is provided in its comparative annual financial statements and MD&A. Requests for the AIF, MD&A and the Interim Statements can be made to BN by mail at Brookfield Place, Suite 100, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, by telephone at (416) 363-9491 or by email at bn.enquiries@brookfield.com. All of these documents and additional information related to BN are also available on BN’s website, https://bn.brookfield.com, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

 

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Shareholder Proposals

In order to be considered at next year’s annual meeting of shareholders, shareholder proposals must be received by April 8, 2025. Proposals should be sent to the Corporate Secretary of BN at the following address:

Corporate Secretary

Brookfield Corporation

Brookfield Place, Suite 100

181 Bay Street

Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3

Other Business

BN knows of no other matter to come before the meeting other than the matters referred to in the Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders and Availability of Investor Materials dated April 25, 2024.

Directors’ Approval

The contents and posting of this Circular have been approved by the directors of BN.

 

LOGO

Swati Mandava

Corporate Secretary

April 25, 2024

 

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APPENDIX A

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHARTER1

 

1.

ROLE OF THE BOARD

The role of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Brookfield Corporation (the “Corporation”) is to oversee, directly and through its committees, the business and affairs of the Corporation, which are conducted by the Corporation’s officers and employees under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).

 

2.

AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Board meets regularly to review reports by management on the Corporation’s performance and other relevant matters of interest. In addition to the general supervision of management, the Board performs the following functions:

 

  (a)

Strategic Planning – overseeing the long-term strategic-planning process within the Corporation and, at least annually, reviewing, approving and monitoring the strategic plan for the Corporation, including fundamental financial and business strategies and objectives;

 

  (b)

Risk Assessment – assessing the major risks facing the Corporation and reviewing, approving and monitoring the manner of managing those risks;

 

  (c)

CEO – selecting the CEO; reviewing and approving the position description for the CEO including the corporate objectives that the CEO is responsible for meeting; and reviewing and approving the compensation of the CEO as recommended by the Management Resources and Compensation Committee;

 

  (d)

Officers and Senior Management – overseeing the selection of corporate officers and the evaluation and compensation of senior management;

 

  (e)

Succession Planning – monitoring the succession of key members of senior management;

 

  (f)

Communications and Disclosure Policy – adopting a communications and disclosure policy for the Corporation that ensures the timeliness and integrity of communications to shareholders, and establishing suitable mechanisms to receive stakeholder views;

 

  (g)

Sustainability – overseeing the Corporation’s approach to Sustainability matters within its corporate and asset management activities as reported to the Board by the Governance and Nominating Committee;

 

  (h)

Corporate Governance – developing and promoting a set of effective corporate governance principles and guidelines applicable to the Corporation;

 

  (i)

Internal Controls – reviewing and monitoring the controls and procedures within the Corporation to maintain its integrity, including its disclosure controls and procedures, and its internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and compliance;

 

  (j)

Culture – on an ongoing basis, satisfy itself that the CEO and other executive officers create a culture of integrity throughout the Corporation, including compliance with the Corporation’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and its anti-bribery and corruption policies and procedures; and

 

  (k)

Whistleblowers – in conjunction with the Audit Committee of the Board, establish whistleblower policies for the Corporation providing employees, officers, directors and other stakeholders, including the public, with the opportunity to raise, anonymously or not, questions, complaints or concerns regarding the Corporation’s practices, including fraud, policy violations, any illegal or unethical conduct, and any accounting, auditing or internal control matters. The Board

 

 

1 

Capitalized terms used in this Charter but not otherwise defined herein have the meaning attributed to them in the Board’s “Definitions for the Corporation’s Board and Committee Charters”, which is annexed hereto as “Annex A”.

 

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or a committee thereof will provide oversight over the Corporation’s whistleblower policies and practices, with management being responsible for reviewing the Corporation’s Whistleblowing Policy on an annual basis, to ensure that any questions, complaints or concerns are adequately received, reviewed, investigated, documented and resolved.

 

3.

COMPOSITION AND PROCEDURES

 

  (a)

Size of Board and Selection Process – The directors of the Corporation are elected each year by the shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee recommends to the full Board the nominees for election to the Board and the Board proposes individual nominees to the shareholders for election. Any shareholder may propose a nominee for election to the Board either by means of a shareholder proposal or at the annual meeting itself, upon compliance with the requirements prescribed by the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The Board also recommends the number of directors on the Board to shareholders for approval. Between annual meetings, the Board may appoint directors to serve until the next annual meeting.

 

  (b)

Qualifications – Directors should have the highest personal and professional ethics and values and be committed to advancing the best interests of the Corporation. They should possess skills and competencies in areas that are relevant to the Corporation’s activities. The Chair of the Board and a majority of the directors will be Independent Directors, based on the rules and guidelines of applicable stock exchanges and securities regulatory authorities, and Unaffiliated Directors. The Board is committed to developing and promoting diversity, including ethnic and gender diversity. The Board has adopted a gender diversity target that at least 30% of the entire Board be women.

 

  (c)

Director Education and Orientation – The Corporation’s management team is responsible for providing an orientation program for new directors in respect of the Corporation and the role and responsibilities of directors. In addition, directors will, as required, receive continuing education about the Corporation to maintain a current understanding of the Corporation’s business and operations, industries and sectors in which we operate globally, material developments and trends in asset management and the Corporation’s strategic initiatives.

 

  (d)

Meetings – The Chair is responsible for approving the agenda for each Board meeting. Prior to each Board meeting, the Chair of the Board reviews agenda items for the meeting with the CEO, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, before circulation to the full Board. The Board meets at least twice each quarter: once to review and approve the Corporation’s quarterly earnings report and consider dividend payments and once to review specific items of business including transactions and strategic initiatives. The Board holds additional meetings as necessary to consider special business. The Board also meets once a year to review the Corporation’s annual business plan and long-term strategy. Materials for each meeting are distributed to the directors in advance of the meeting. At the conclusion of each Board meeting, the Independent and Unaffiliated Directors meet without any other person present. The Chair of the Board chairs these in-camera sessions.

 

  (e)

Committees – The Board has established the following standing committees to assist it in discharging its responsibilities: (i) Audit, (ii) Governance and Nominating, (iii) Management Resources and Compensation and (iv) Risk Management. Special committees are established, from time to time, to assist the Board in connection with specific matters. The Chair of each committee reports to the Board following meetings of their committee. The governing charter of each standing committee is reviewed and approved annually by the Board.

 

  (f)

Evaluation – The Governance and Nominating Committee performs an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board as a whole, the standing committees of the Board and the contributions of individual directors and provides a report to the Board on the findings of this process. In addition, each individual director and each standing committee assesses its own performance annually.

 

  (g)

Compensation – The Governance and Nominating Committee recommends to the Board the compensation for non-management directors (it is the policy of the Corporation that management directors do not receive compensation for their service on the Board). In reviewing the adequacy and form of compensation, the Governance and Nominating Committee seeks to ensure that director compensation reflects the responsibilities and risks involved in being a director of the Corporation and aligns the interests of the directors with the best interests of the Corporation.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ A-2


  (h)

Access to Outside Advisors – The Board and any committee may at any time retain outside financial, legal or other advisors at the expense of the Corporation. Any director may, subject to the approval of the Chair of the Board, retain an outside advisor at the expense of the Corporation.

 

  (i)

Charter of Expectations for Directors – The Board has adopted a Charter of Expectations for Directors which outlines the basic duties and responsibilities of directors and the expectations the Corporation places on them in terms of professional and personal competencies, performance, behaviour, share ownership, conflicts of interest, change of circumstances and resignation events. Among other things, the Charter of Expectations for Directors outlines the role of directors in stakeholder engagement and the requirement of directors to attend Board meetings and review meeting materials in advance of such meetings.

This Charter of the Board of Directors was reviewed and approved by the Board of the Corporation on March 8, 2024.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ A-3


Annex A

Definitions for the Corporation’s Board and Committee Charters

“Audit Committee” means the audit committee of the Board.

“Audit Committee Financial Expert” means a person who has the following attributes:

(a) an understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards, as adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, and financial statements;

(b) the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves;

(c) experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation’s financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities;

(d) an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and

(e) an understanding of audit committee functions, acquired through any one or more of the following:

(i) education and experience as a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant or auditor or experience in one or more positions that involve the performance of similar functions;

(ii) experience actively supervising a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, auditor or person performing similar functions;

(iii) experience overseeing or assessing the performance of companies or public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements; or

(iv) other relevant experience.

Board Interlocks” arise when two directors of one public company sit together on the board of another company.

Brookfield Re” means Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.

Committee Interlocks” means when a Board Interlock exists, plus the relevant two directors also sit together on a board committee for one or both of the companies.

Financially Literate” means the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation’s financial statements.

Governance and Nominating Committee” means the governance and nominating committee of the Board.

Immediate Family Member” means an individual’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother or father-in-law, son or daughter-in-law, brother or sister-in-law, and anyone (other than an employee of either the individual or the individual’s immediate family member) who shares the individual’s home.

Independent Director(s)” means a director who has been affirmatively determined by the Board to have no material relationship with the Corporation, either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Corporation. A material relationship is one that could reasonably be expected to interfere with a

 

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ A-4


director’s exercise of independent judgment. In addition to any other requirement of applicable securities laws or stock exchange provisions, a director who:

(a) is or was an employee or executive officer, or whose Immediate Family Member is or was an executive officer, of the Corporation is not independent until three years after the end of such employment relationship;

(b) is receiving or has received, or whose Immediate Family Member is an executive officer of the Corporation and is receiving or has received, during any 12-month period within the last three years more than CA$75,000 in direct compensation from the Corporation, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of fixed compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), is not independent;

(c) is or was a partner of, affiliated with or employed by, or whose Immediate Family Member is or was a partner of or employed in an audit, assurance, or tax compliance practice in a professional capacity by, the Corporation’s present or former internal or external auditor, is not independent until three years after the end of such partnership, affiliation, or employment relationship, as applicable, with the auditor;

(d) is or was employed as, or whose Immediate Family Member is or was employed as, an executive officer of another company (or its parent or a subsidiary) where any of the present (at the time of review) executive officers of the Corporation serve or served on that company’s (or its parent’s or a subsidiary’s) compensation committee, is not independent until three years after the end of such service or the employment relationship, as applicable; and

(e) is an executive officer or an employee of, or whose Immediate Family Member is an executive officer of, another company (or its parent or a subsidiary) that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Corporation for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years exceeds the greater of US$1 million or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, in each case, is not independent.

Additionally, an Independent Director for the purposes of the Audit Committee and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee, specifically may not:

(x) accept directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Corporation, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of fixed compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service); or

(y) be an affiliated person of the Corporation (within the meaning of applicable rules and regulations).

Furthermore, an Independent Director for the purposes of the Management Resources and Compensation Committee, specifically may not:

(x) have a relationship with senior management that would impair the director’s ability to make independent judgments about the Corporation’s executive compensation.

For the purposes of the definition of Independent Director, the term Corporation includes any parent or subsidiary in a consolidated group with the Corporation.

In addition to the requirements for independence set out in paragraph (c) above, Members of the Audit and Governance and Nominating Committees must disclose any other form of association they have with a current or former external or internal auditor of the Corporation to the Governance and Nominating Committee for a determination as to whether this association affects the Member’s status as an Independent Director.

Management Resources and Compensation Committee” means the management resources and compensation committee of the Board.

Risk Management Committee” means the risk management committee of the Board.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ A-5


Statement of Corporate Governance Practices” means the statement of corporate governance practices section of the Corporation’s management information circular.

Sustainability” includes but is not limited to responsibility or experience overseeing and/or managing: climate change risks; GHG emissions; natural resources; waste management; energy efficiency; biodiversity; water use; environmental regulatory and/or compliance matters; health and safety; human rights; labor practices; diversity and inclusion; talent attraction and retention; human capital development; community/stakeholder engagement; board composition and engagement; business ethics; anti-bribery & corruption; audit practices; regulatory functions; and data protection and privacy.

Unaffiliated Director” means any director who (a) does not own greater than a de minimis interest in the Corporation (exclusive of any securities compensation earned as a director) and (b) within the last two years has not directly or indirectly (i) been an officer of or employed by the Corporation or any of its affiliates, (ii) performed more than a de minimis amount of services for the Corporation or any of its affiliates, or (iii) had any material business or professional relationship with the Corporation or its affiliates other than as a director of the Corporation or any of its affiliates. “de minimis” for the purpose of this test includes factors such as the relevance of a director’s interest in the Corporation to themselves and to the Corporation.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ A-6


APPENDIX B

BNRE ESCROWED STOCK PLAN RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

 

  1.

Subject to the requisite approvals of (i) the Toronto Stock Exchange and all other applicable regulatory authorities, (ii) the board of directors of Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. and (iii) the shareholders of Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd., the implementation by Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. of an escrowed stock plan (the “BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan”) permitting Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. to award escrowed stock grants to certain executives or other individuals designated by the board of directors of Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd., the principal terms of which are described in Brookfield Corporation’s management information circular dated April 25, 2024, is hereby approved;

 

  2.

A maximum of 4,000,000 class A exchangeable limited voting shares and class A-1 exchangeable non-voting shares of Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. may be issued under the BNRE Escrowed Stock Plan;

 

  3.

The directors of Brookfield Corporation are hereby authorized and empowered, if they decide not to proceed with the aforementioned resolution, to revoke all or any part of this resolution at any time prior to giving effect thereto without further notice to or approval of the shareholders of Brookfield Corporation; and

 

  4.

Any authorized signatory, director or officer of Brookfield Corporation is hereby authorized for and in the name of and on behalf of Brookfield Corporation to execute or cause to be executed, and to deliver or cause to be delivered, all such documents and instruments, and to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things, including making all necessary filings with applicable regulatory bodies and stock exchanges, as in such person’s opinion may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to the foregoing resolution and the matters authorized thereby, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery of such document, agreement or instrument or the doing of any such act or thing.

 

2024 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR/ B-1


BROOKFIELD CORPORATION

Brookfield.com

NYSE: BN

TSX: BN

 

BROOKFIELD CORPORATE OFFICES

 

United States    Canada    United Kingdom    Australia
Brookfield Place    Brookfield Place    One Canada Square    Brookfield Place
250 Vesey Street    181 Bay Street, Suite 100    Level 25    Level 19
15th Floor    Bay Wellington Tower    Canary Wharf    10 Carrington Street
New York, NY    Toronto, ON M5J 2T3    London E14 5AA    Sydney, NSW 2000
10281-0221    +1.416.363.9491    +44.20.7659.3500    +61.2.9158.5100
+1.212.417.7000         
Brazil    United Arab Emirates    India    China
Avenida das Nações Unidas,    Level 24, ICD Brookfield Place    Unit 1    Unit 01, 11F
14.401    Al Mustaqbal Street, DIFC    4th Floor, Godrej BKC    Tower C, One East
Parque da Cidade-Torre Paineira    P.O. Box 507234    Bandra Kurla Complex    No. 768 South Zhongshan 1st Road
15º andar    Dubai    Mumbai 400 051    Huangpu District, Shanghai
São Paulo–SP    +971.4.597.0100    +91.22.6600.0700    200023
CEP 04794-000          +86.21.2306.0700
+55 (11) 2540.9150         
OAKTREE CORPORATE OFFICES      
United States    United States    United Kingdom    Hong Kong
333 South Grand Avenue    1301 Avenue of the Americas    Verde    Suite 2001, 20/F
28th Floor    34th Floor    10 Bressenden Place    Champion Tower
Los Angeles, CA 90071    New York, NY 10019    London SW1E 5DH    3 Garden Road
+1.213.830.6300    +1.212.284.1900    +44.20.7201.4600    Central
         +852.3655.6800
REGIONAL OFFICES (BROOKFIELD & OAKTREE)      
North America    South America    Europe / Middle East    Asia Pacific
Bermuda    Bogotá    Amsterdam    Sydney
Brentwood    Lima    Dublin    Beijing
Calgary       Frankfurt    Hong Kong
Chicago       Luxembourg    Shanghai
Houston       Madrid    Seoul
Los Angeles       Paris    Singapore
Stamford       Stockholm    Tokyo
Vancouver       Dubai   
      Riyadh   

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