EX-99.2 3 d6244308_ex99-2.htm
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Exhibit 99.2

ULTRAPETROL (BAHAMAS) LIMITED
Registered Office: c/o H & J Corporate Services Ltd.
P.O. Box SS-19084
Ocean Centre, Montagu Foreshore
East Bay Street
Nassau, The Bahamas

PROXY STATEMENT
We are providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation, by the Board of Directors of Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited, a company incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of The Bahamas, of proxies to be voted at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 and at any meeting following adjournment thereof.
Shareholders are advised that no shareholder proposal has been filed.  Further no action is proposed by the Board of Directors, which would create the possibility of a "dissenting shareholder" under Section 83 of the International Business Companies Act, 2000.  The Board of Directors is also not aware of any solicitation of proxies by a person or group adverse to present management of this Company.
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Shareholders will be admitted beginning at 9:30 a.m.  The meeting will be held at the offices of H&J Corporate Services Limited, Ocean Centre, Montagu Foreshore, East Bay Street, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas.
This financial year of the Company began on January 1, 2013 and ended December 31, 2013. References in this proxy statement to the year 2013 or financial year 2013 refer to the period mentioned above.
We are mailing this proxy statement, accompanying forms of proxy and voting instructions on November 17, 2014, to holders of record of the Company's ordinary shares as at the close of business on October 31, 2014.

PROXIES AND VOTING PROCEDURES
As many Shareholders cannot attend the meeting in person, it is necessary that a large number be represented by proxy.
The Board of Directors and the management of the Company do not contemplate the solicitation of proxies otherwise than by mail.  The total amount estimated to be spent by the Company in connection with this solicitation of proxies is $20,000.00, which includes printing and delivery of the Annual Reports.
Proxy Submission
A shareholder has the right to appoint a person or company (who need not be a shareholder), other than the persons designated by the directors as proxy holders in the accompanying form of proxy, to represent the shareholder at the meeting by striking out the names of the persons so designated and inserting the name of the chosen proxy holder in the blank space provided for that purpose in the form of proxy, or by completing and signing another proper form of proxy.  A proxy must be in writing and must be executed by the shareholder or by an attorney authorized in writing.  The proxy must arrive by courier or mail or be delivered by hand to the offices of H&J Corporate Services Limited, Ocean Centre, Montagu Foreshore, East Bay Street, P.O. Box SS-19084, Nassau, Bahamas no later than 24 hours in advance of the time appointed for the holding of the meeting.

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Revocation of Proxy
A shareholder who executes and returns the accompanying form of proxy may revoke it by an instrument in writing executed by such shareholder or attorney authorized in writing and deposited at the offices of H&J Corporate Services Ltd., at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the meeting, or with the Chairman of the meeting on the day of the meeting prior to the commencement thereof, or in any other manner permitted by law.
Voting by Proxy
All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly completed proxies received prior to the meeting and not revoked will be voted at the meeting as specified by the shareholder. If you do not indicate how your shares should be voted on a matter included in the proxy form, the shares represented by your properly completed proxy will be voted in the affirmative for each proposal.  Where the proxy confers discretionary authority as to any matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof, the shares represented by this proxy will be voted as the Board of Directors recommend.
If any other matters are properly presented at the annual meeting for consideration, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn the meeting to another time or place, the persons named as proxies and acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on those matters according to their best judgment to the same extent as the person delivering the proxy would be entitled to vote. At the date this proxy statement went to press, we did not anticipate that any other matters would be raised at the meeting.
SHAREHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND VOTING SECURITIES
Shareholders at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
On October 31, 2014, there were 140,729,487 shares of Common Stock of par value $0.01 each issued and outstanding.  Each share is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the meeting.At the close of business on October 31, 2014, Sparrow Capital Investments Ltd. held 103,206,821 shares representing 73.34 percent of the Company's issued shares of Common Stock; and Sparrow CI Sub Ltd. held 16,060,000 shares representing 11.41 percent of the Company's issued shares of Common Stock.  (Sparrow Capital Investments Ltd. and Sparrow CI Sub Ltd. are hereinafter sometimes together called "Southern Cross".)  There are no other single shareholders who own ten percent or more of the Company's issued ordinary shares of Common Stock.
QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE
The presence, in person or by proxy, of members holding or representing not less than 50% of the votes of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on resolutions of shareholders to be considered at the meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the meeting. Abstentions are counted as present and entitled to vote for the purpose of determining a quorum.
Southern Cross is the majority shareholder of the Company owning 119,266,821 shares which represent 84.75% of the voting rights of the Company.  As Southern Cross will be represented at the meeting, the matter of constituting a quorum will not be an issue.  A simple majority of the votes of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote is required to pass the resolutions. Abstentions are not counted for the purpose of determining an affirmative vote.

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RESOLUTIONS OF THE MEETING & EXPLANATORY NOTES
1. Approval of the Audited Financial Statements and the Report of the Auditors thereon
At the meeting, the shareholders will be called upon to consider and if deemed fit to approve the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2013 and the report of the auditors thereon.
2. Election of Directors
The Eighth Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company (the "Articles") currently provide that the minimum number of directors shall be five and the maximum number shall be seven.
Subject to the terms of any unanimous shareholders' agreement, directors can be either elected by the shareholders or the Board of Directors for such term as provided in the Articles or as the shareholders or the directors, as the case may be, may otherwise determine.  Each director shall hold office until the close of the next Annual General Meeting or until he or she ceases to be a director pursuant to the Articles or by operation of law or until his or her resignation becomes effective.
The Board of Directors held nineteen (19) meetings in 2013.
The persons designated as proxy holders in the accompanying form of proxy will vote ordinary shares represented by such form of proxy, properly executed, for the election of the nominees whose names are set forth herein, unless specifically directed to withhold a vote.  If it becomes known at the meeting that a nominee is for any reason unavailable to serve (which the directors have no reason to believe to be the case), the persons designated as proxyholders in the accompanying form of proxy shall have the right to exercise their discretion by voting for another qualified nominee.
The proposed nominees are currently directors of the Company.  The following table sets forth the names of all persons proposed to be nominated for election as directors, their principal occupation or employment and the date on which they became directors of the Company (as applicable), together with the number of any ordinary shares beneficially owned or controlled directly or indirectly.
Name and Position or office
Principal Occupation
Director Since
Number of ordinary shares
beneficially owned or controlled
directly or indirectly
Number of Options
on Shares
Horacio Reyser
Chairman and Director
 
Executive
December 12, 2012
Nil
Nil
Gonzalo Dulanto
Director
 
Executive
October 28, 2014
Nil
Nil
Rodrigo Lowndes
Director
 
Executive
July 13, 2014
Nil
Nil
Felipe Menendez Ross
Director
 
Executive
December 24, 1997
Nil
Nil]
Ricardo Menendez Ross
Director
 
Executive
December 24, 1997
Nil
Nil]
Eduardo Ojea Quintana
Director
 
Lawyer
December 7, 2012
Nil
Nil
George Wood
Director
 
Executive
October 18, 2006
24,291
Nil
 
 

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3. Ratification of Acts, Proceedings and Transactions of Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company
Directors, officers and employees of the Company owe a duty to the Company to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company.  By voting in favour of the following resolution you will be (a) approving and adopting all of the acts of the directors, officers and employees of the Company for the previous financial year of the Company; and (b) agreeing to the Company indemnifying and defending the directors, officers and employees against any claims, actions and proceedings that may be brought against them as a result of any act performed or omitted to be done by any of them, acting in their respective capacities as directors, officers and employees of the Company, except in the case of any fraudulent conduct on their part.
"Resolved that the Company does ratify, approve, sanction, adopt and confirm all acts, transactions and proceedings of the Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company for the previous financial year of the Company and further that the Company do fully and effectively indemnify and save harmless all Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company, otherwise than in respect of fraud, and the Directors notwithstanding the personal interest of all of them, be authorized to execute on behalf of the Company an indemnity or indemnities in favour of such Directors, Officers and Employees as and when necessary and that in the event of any claim or necessity to defend proceedings against the Directors, Officers and Employees or any of them, such defence is to be undertaken by the Company."
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The top three members of executive management of the Company, the Board of Directors and the Executive Officers received aggregate annual compensation in the sum of $4,300,000 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.
The following table sets forth the names of each executive officer of the Company who beneficially owns or controls directly or indirectly shares, and/or options on ordinary shares of the Company as of the record date.
Name
Position
Appointment Date
Number of ordinary shares
beneficially owned or controlled
directly or indirectly
Number of  Options
on Shares
Maria Cecilia Yad
 
Chief Financial Officer
April 29, 2013
None
814,433
Leonard J. Hoskinson
 
Secretary
March 16, 2000
48,920
58,125
         

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company has adopted an equity incentive plan, (the "Plan"), dated July 20, 2006, which will entitle our officers, key employees and directors to receive restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and options to acquire common stock.  Under the Plan, as amended, a total 5,000,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance. The Plan is administered by our Board of Directors.  Under the terms of the Plan, our board of directors would be able to grant new options exercisable at a price per share to be determined by our Board of Directors.  Under the terms of the Plan, no options are exercisable until at least one year after the date of grant.  Any shares received on exercise of the options are not to be sold until one year after the date of the stock option grant.  All options expire ten years from the date of the grant.  The Plan expires ten years from the closing of our Initial Public Offering on October 18, 2016.
 

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On April 29, 2013 the Company entered into a new forty two month consulting agreement with a company controlled by the Company's Chief Financial Officer, that obligates the Company to grant this company an option to purchase 814,433 shares which will be granted over three years in equal installments, with an exercise price of $2.40 per share which shall be paid at the time of exercise.

INDEBTEDNESS OF MANAGEMENT

No members of Executive Management, no director, Executive Officer or Senior Officer of the Company has borrowed any monies other than on commercial terms for the year 2013.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Minimal revenue was derived from transactions with related parties for the year ended December 31, 2013.  As of December 31, 2013, the balance of the accounts receivable and payable from all related parties was approximately $500,000 and $1,351,000 respectively.  Further, commissions and agency fees paid to related parties were approximately $2,500,000 respectively, as of December 31, 2013,
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Duties of the Board
The Board of Directors of the Company has the obligation to oversee the conduct of the business of the Company and to supervise senior management that is responsible for the day-to-day conduct of the business. Any responsibility that is not delegated to a committee of the Board or senior management remains with the full Board.
The Board of Directors deals with all matters that materially impact the Company.  The determination as to whether Board approval needs to be sought on a particular matter is the responsibility of the President and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Composition of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Company is presently comprised of seven (7) members.  Of the seven (7) members, none are presently employed as executives of the Company.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has delegated certain of its responsibilities to Committees of the Board.  Such Committees are generally responsible for reviewing matters specified in their mandates and making recommendation to the Board, which retains ultimate decision-making authority.  The Board of Directors has constituted the Audit Committee, the Executive Committee and the Compensation Committee.
The Audit Committee, is comprised of a director who is neither an officer nor an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and is responsible for the oversight of the financial reporting and internal controls of the Company, which includes the review and evaluation of the appropriate accounting principles and practices to be observed in the preparation of the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee is responsible for the initial review of the Company's annual audited consolidated financial statements prior to consideration thereof by the Board of Directors. It approves the scope of the audit activities proposed each year to be conducted by the independent Auditors.  It also recommends the appointment and approves the terms of engagement of the independent Auditors.
 

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The Audit Committee has responsibility for reviewing practices and procedures with a view to ensuring compliance with reporting and disclosure requirements of applicable securities laws related to financial performance and material undertakings and activities of the Company and its subsidiaries.  The Audit Committee also has initial responsibility for reviewing, when appropriate, public disclosure documents containing material financial information, including registration statements and prospectuses pertaining to the issuance of securities in the Company prior to their submission to the Board of Directors. The Chairman of this Committee is George Wood.
The Executive Committee, is now comprised of at least three directors and the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and its main function is to supervise and give guidelines to management with respect to the strategic plan for the Company. The Chairman of this Committee is Horacio Reyser.
The Compensation Committee, is now comprised of at least three directors and its main function is to advise the Board with respect to the compensation of the Senior Executives of the Company and to make recommendations generally to the Board regarding the effectiveness of the Company's compensation plans. The Chairman of this Committee is Gonzalo Dulanto.

SHAREHOLDER FEEDBACK AND COMMUNICATION
The Company's communications policy is reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Company periodically and provides that communications with all constituents will be made in a timely, accurate and effective manner. The Company communicates regularly with its shareholders through press releases, conference calls and annual and quarterly reports. At the Company's shareholders' meetings, a full opportunity is afforded to permit shareholders to ask questions concerning the Company's activities. Investor and shareholder concerns are addressed on an on-going basis through the office of the Corporate Secretary.

OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors of the Company knows of no matters to come before the meeting other than the matters referred to in the Notice of Annual General Meeting.  However, if any other matters, which are not known to the Board of Directors of the Company, should properly come before the meeting, forms of proxy given pursuant to this solicitation by the Board of Directors of the Company will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the person voting the proxy.

DIRECTORS' APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATE
The contents and the sending of this Proxy Statement and Proxy Form have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.  The foregoing contains no untrue statement of a material fact and does not omit to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made.

Dated on this 17th day of November, 2014.

/s/ Leonard J. Hoskinson
Leonard J. Hoskinson
Secretary