Corporate Governance Committee and Nomination of Directors
All the members of the Corporate Governance Committee have been affirmatively
determined to be independent within the meaning of the listing standards of
the New York Stock Exchange and Duke Energy's categorical standards of independence.
The Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter adopted
by the Board of Directors, which is available
through the Duke Energy website.
The Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors recommends nominees
to the Board of Directors, within the limits of the Restated Articles of Incorporation
and By-Laws, as amended. The Corporate Governance Committee believes that each
nominee for election to the Board of Directors should:
- Possess fundamental qualities of intelligence, perceptiveness, good judgment,
maturity, high ethics and standards, integrity and fairness.
- Have a genuine interest in Duke Energy and a recognition that, as a member
of the Board, one is accountable to the shareholders of Duke Energy, not
to any particular interest group.
- Have, as a general rule, a background that includes broad business experience
or demonstrates an understanding of business and financial affairs and the
complexities of a large, multifaceted, global business organization.
- Be the present or former chief executive officer, chief operating officer,
or substantially equivalent level executive officer of a highly complex organization
such as a corporation, university or major unit of government, or a professional
who regularly advises such organizations.
- Have no conflict of interest or legal impediment which would interfere
with the duty of loyalty owed to Duke Energy and its shareholders.
- Have the ability and be willing to spend the time required to function
effectively as a director.
- Be compatible and able to work well with other directors and executives
in a team effort with a view to a long-term relationship with Duke Energy
as a director.
- Have independent opinions and be willing to state them in a constructive
manner.
- Be a shareholder of Duke Energy (within a reasonable time of election to
the Board).
Any shareholder who desires to recommend an individual as a nominee to the
Board of Directors should submit the recommendation in writing to the Corporate
Secretary, Duke Energy Corporation, P. O. Box 1006, Charlotte, NC 28201-1006
with the proper notice, as provided in the By-Laws, as amended, between 90
and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the previous year's annual
meeting (for the 2005 annual meeting, the Corporate Secretary must receive
this notice on or after January 13, 2005, and on or before February 12,
2005), and should include the following information:
- the name and address of the recommending shareholder(s), and the class
and number of shares of capital stock of Duke Energy that are beneficially
owned by the recommending shareholder(s),
- the name, age, business address and principal occupation and employment
of the recommended nominee,
- any information relevant to a determination of whether the recommended
nominee meets the criteria for Board of Directors membership established
by the Board of Directors and/or the Corporate Governance Committee,
- any information regarding the recommended nominee relevant to a determination
of whether the recommended nominee would be considered independent under
the applicable New York Stock Exchange rules,
- all other information relating to the recommended nominee that is required
to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies in an election of directors
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, including, without limitation, information regarding (1) the
recommended nominee's business experience over the past five years, (2) the
class and number of shares of capital stock of Duke Energy, if any, that
are beneficially owned by the recommended nominee and (3) material relationships
or transactions, if any, between the recommended nominee and Duke Energy
or Duke Energy's management,
- a description of any business or personal relationships between the recommended
nominee and the recommending shareholder(s),
- a statement, signed by the recommended nominee, (1) verifying the
accuracy of the biographical and other information about the nominee that
is submitted with the recommendation and (2) affirming the recommended
nominee's willingness to be a director, and
- if the recommending shareholder(s) has beneficially owned more than 5%
of Duke Energy's voting stock for at least one year as of the date the recommendation
is made, evidence of such beneficial ownership as specified in the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Corporate Governance Committee considers individuals recommended by shareholders
in the same manner and to the same extent as it considers director nominees
identified by other means. The Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee
will make exploratory contacts with those nominees whose skills, experiences,
qualifications and personal attributes satisfy those that the Corporate Governance
Committee has identified as essential for a nominee to possess, as described
above. Then, an opportunity will be arranged for the members of the Corporate
Governance Committee or as many members as can do so to meet the potential
nominees. The Corporate Governance Committee will then select a nominee to
recommend to the Board of Directors for consideration and appointment. Board
members appointed in this manner will serve, absent unusual circumstances,
until their election by Duke Energy's shareholders at the next annual meeting
of shareholders.