Related party transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Related party transactions:

Related parties include shareholders with a significant ownership interest in the Corporation, including its subsidiaries and affiliates, and the Corporation’s equity accounted investees: Weichai Ballard JV and Synergy Ballard JVCo (note 13).

For the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, related party transactions and balances with the Corporation's 49% owned equity accounted investee, Weichai Ballard JV, were as follows:


Balances with related party - Weichai Ballard JV	2023		2022
Trade and other receivables	$	13,697	$	13,320
Investments	13,901		24,026
Deferred revenue	1,904		2,095

Transactions during the year with related party - Weichai Ballard JV	2023		2022
Revenues	$	8,099	$	8,115
Cost of goods sold and operating expense	1,996		3,225

29. Related party transactions (cont'd):

On completion of an Equity Transfer Agreement in October 2023, the Corporation disposed of its 10% investment in Synergy Ballard JVCo valued at $nil as of December 31, 2023.

Corporation Directors and Executive Officers

The Corporation provides key management personnel, being board directors and executive officers, certain benefits, in addition to their salaries. Key management personnel also participate in the Corporation’s share-based compensation plans (note 21).

In addition to cash and equity compensation, the Corporation provides the executive officers with certain personal benefits, including car allowance, medical benefit program, long and short-term disability coverage, life insurance and an annual medical, financial planning allowance and relocation allowances and services as necessary.

The employment agreements for the executive officers are substantially the same with slight variations by individual. The maximum obligation that is required to be provided in the event of termination is notice of 12 months plus one month for every year of employment completed with the Corporation (to a maximum of 24 months), or payment in lieu of such notice, consisting of the salary, bonus and other benefits that would have been earned during such notice period. If there is a change of control, and if the executive officer’s employment is terminated, including a constructive dismissal, within 2 years following the date of a change of control, the executive officer is entitled to a payment equivalent to payment in lieu of a 24 month notice period. The minimum obligation that is required is limited to that required by employment standards legislation plus one day for every full month of employment since hire date, with no distinction made for a change of control situation.

Key management personnel compensation is comprised of:


	2023		2022
Salaries and employee benefits	$	3,817	$	3,416
Post-employment retirement benefits	65		61
Termination benefits	—		247
Share-based compensation (note 21)	2,622		1,793
	$	6,504	$	5,517