8-KMaterial AgreementsExhibits & Filings

NEWMONT Corp /DE/ 8-K Report, Material Agreement (Dec 13, 2004)

Filed December 13, 2004For Securities:NEMNEMCL

Summary

This Form 8-K filing by Newmont Mining Corporation (NEM) on December 12, 2004, reports on two key events occurring on December 7, 2004. Firstly, it details an amendment to a consulting agreement with board member Seymour Schulich. This amendment, effective April 1, 2005, increases his annual director retainer to $40,000, extends the agreement's term to March 31, 2008, and establishes a $750,000 termination fee payable to Mr. Schulich under specific conditions. Secondly, the filing announces the granting of non-qualified stock options to certain executive officers under the company's 1996 Employees Stock Plan. These options are exercisable starting one year after the grant date, with full exercisability achieved by the third anniversary, and expire ten years from the grant date. This move is generally viewed as a method to align executive compensation with shareholder interests and retain key talent.

Key Highlights

  • 1Amendment to consulting agreement with board director Seymour Schulich, extending term and increasing retainer.
  • 2Agreement includes a $750,000 termination fee for Mr. Schulich under specified conditions.
  • 3Granting of non-qualified stock options to executive officers under the 1996 Employees Stock Plan.
  • 4Stock options are exercisable starting one year after grant date, fully exercisable by year three.
  • 5Stock options have a ten-year expiration period from the grant date.
  • 6Exercise price for stock options is set at 100% of fair market value on the grant date.
  • 7Potential use of shares or cash for option exercise, subject to limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The consulting agreement with Seymour Schulich has been amended to increase his annual director retainer to $40,000, extend the agreement's term from March 31, 2005, to March 31, 2008, and introduce a $750,000 termination fee payable upon expiration or termination of the agreement, with limited exceptions.

The stock options are non-qualified, granted at 100% of the fair market value on the grant date. They become exercisable one-third on the first anniversary of the grant date, and fully exercisable by the third anniversary. The options expire ten years from the grant date.

The exercise price for the stock options can be paid in cash or by using shares of Newmont's common stock, or a combination of both, subject to certain limitations detailed in the award agreement.

Granting stock options is a common incentive to align the financial interests of executive officers with those of shareholders. It can also serve as a tool for retaining key talent by providing them with a stake in the company's future performance and stock price appreciation.