e40vf
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 40-F
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Check One |
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Registration Statement
Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
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Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
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For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005
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Commission File Number: 001-14684 |
Shaw Communications Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrants name into English (if applicable))
Alberta, Canada
(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
4841
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number (if applicable))
N/A
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number (if applicable))
Suite 900, 630 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 4L4
(403) 750-4500
(Address and telephone number of Registrants principal executive offices)
CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10011 (212) 894-8940
(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code of agent
for service in the United States)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
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Title of each class |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Class B Non-Voting
Participating Shares
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New York Stock Exchange |
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8.5% Canadian Originated Preferred
Securities (COPrS)
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New York Stock Exchange |
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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
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None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
8.54% Series B Capital Securities
8.25% Senior Notes due 2010
7.25% Senior Notes due 2011
7.20% Senior Notes due 2011
6.10% Senior Notes due 2012
7.5% Senior Notes due 2013
(Title of Class)
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:
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þ Annual information form
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þAudited annual financial statements |
The following are the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers classes of capital
or common stock as of August 31, 2005:
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Class A Participating Shares -
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11,344,932 issued and outstanding |
Class B Non-Voting Participating Shares -
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208,634,005 issued and outstanding |
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by filing the information contained in this Form
is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). If Yes is marked, indicate the filing
number assigned to the Registrant in connection with such Rule
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Shaw Communications Inc. (the Corporation) has designed disclosure controls and procedures to
ensure that material information relating to the Corporation, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer by others
within the Corporation, including its consolidated subsidiaries, on a regular basis, including
during the period in which the Corporations Annual Report on Form 40-F relating to financial
results for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 is being prepared. The Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the evaluation, the Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, as of that evaluation date, that the
Corporations disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the material and
information relating to the Corporation, including its consolidated subsidiaries, was made known to
them by others within those entities during the period in which this report was being prepared.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, there were no significant changes in the
Corporations internal controls over financial reporting, or in other factors that could
significantly affect such internal controls, that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, the Corporations internal control over financial reporting.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Corporation has a standing Audit Committee of the Board of Directors established in accordance
with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee consists of Michael W. OBrien
(Chair), George F. Galbraith, Harold A. Roozen and John S. Thomas. Each member of the Audit
Committee is an
independent director, as that term is defined by the New York Stock Exchanges listing standards
applicable to the Corporation.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The board of directors of the Corporation has determined that it has at least one audit committee
financial expert serving on its audit committee (the Audit Committee). Mr. Michael W. OBrien
has been determined to be such audit committee financial expert, within the meaning of Section 407
of the United States Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Mr. OBrien is independent, as that term is
defined by the New York Stock Exchanges listing standards applicable to the Corporation. The
Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated that the designation of Mr. OBrien as an audit
committee financial expert does not make Mr. OBrien an expert for any purpose, impose any
duties, obligations or liability on Mr. OBrien that are greater than those imposed on members of
the Audit Committee and board of directors of the Corporation who do not carry this designation, or
affect the duties, obligations or liabilities of any other member of the Audit Committee.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The aggregate amounts paid or accrued by the Corporation with respect to fees payable to Ernst &
Young LLP for audit (including separate audits of subsidiary entities, financings, regulatory
reporting requirements and Sarbanes-Oxley Act-related services), audit-related, tax and other
services in the fiscal years ended August 31, 2005 and 2004 were as set forth below (stated in
Canadian dollars). No other audit firms provided audit services to the Corporation in fiscal 2004
or 2005.
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Type of Service |
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Fiscal 2005 |
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Fiscal 2004 |
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Audit |
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2,056,213 |
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1,166,891 |
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Audit-related |
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186,150 |
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131,400 |
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Tax |
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232,859 |
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523,571 |
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All Other Fees |
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Total |
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2,475,222 |
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1,821,862 |
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Fees paid for audit-related services in fiscal 2005 and 2004 were in respect of the separate audit
of a subsidiary that was not required by law. The tax fees paid in fiscal 2005 and 2004 were
related to tax compliance and tax consultation on scientific research, exploration and development
tax credits, commodity taxes and linear property taxes.
The Audit Committee of the Corporation considered and agreed that the above fees are compatible
with maintaining the independence of the Corporations auditors. Further, the Audit Committee
determined that, in order to ensure the continued independence of the auditors, only limited
non-audit related services will be provided to the Corporation by Ernst & Young LLP and in such
case, only with the prior approval of the Audit Committee. The Chair of the Audit Committee has
been delegated authority to approve the retainer of Ernst & Young LLP to provide non-audit services
in extraordinary circumstances where it is not feasible or practical to convene a meeting of the
Audit Committee, subject to an aggregate limit of $100,000 in fees payable to Ernst & Young LLP for
such services per fiscal year of the Corporation. The Chair of the Audit Committee is required to
report any such services approved by him to the Audit Committee.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, none of the services described above were approved by
the Audit Committee pursuant to de minimus exception set forth in Rule 2-01, paragraph
(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Corporation has adopted a code of ethics (the Shaw Business Conduct Standards) that applies
to all employees and officers, including its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions. During the fiscal year
ended August 31, 2005, the Corporation amended the Shaw Business Conduct Standards to provide that
concerns relating to accounting, internal accounting control or auditing matters may be reported on
an anonymous, confidential basis to the Chair of the Audit Committee.
A copy of the Shaw Business Conduct Standards, as amended, is appended hereto as Exhibit 3. The
Corporation has also made the Shaw Business Conduct Standards available on its website. To access
the Shaw Business Conduct Standards, visit the Corporations
website at www.shaw.ca and select
Investor Relations, then select Other Corporate Governance Information, and then select
Business Conduct Standards.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Corporation has no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in General Instruction B(11) to
Form 40-F.
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
See page 43 of Exhibit 1.
UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
The Corporation undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond
to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the
Commission staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the
securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or
transactions in said securities.
The Corporation has previously filed a Form F-X in connection with each class of securities to
which the obligation to file this Form 40-F arises. Any change to the name and address of the
agent for service of process shall be communicated promptly to the Commission by amendment to Form
F-X.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant certifies that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this Form 40-F to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
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SHAW COMMUNICATIONS INC.
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By: |
(signed)
Steve Wilson |
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Steve Wilson, |
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Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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Dated: November 29, 2005
EXHIBITS
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this Form 40-F:
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Exhibit Number |
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Document |
1.
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Annual Report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005. |
2.
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Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005. |
3.
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Shaw Business Conduct Standards |
4.
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Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. |
5.
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Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 dated November 29, 2005. |
6.
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Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 dated November 29, 2005. |