<PAGE>
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[_] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
RULE 14A-6(E)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S) 240.14a-11(c) or (S) 240.14a-12
CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE>
CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May 15, 2000
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to
attend our 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. It will be held in Denver,
Colorado at our corporate offices at 1700 Broadway, Suite 1150 on Thursday, June
8, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time.
The meeting's purpose is to:
1. Elect six directors;
2. Ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen, LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for 2000; and
3. Consider any other matters that properly come before the meeting and
any adjournments.
The only voting class of security for Carbon Energy Corporation ("Carbon"
or the "Company") is its common stock, no par value, each share of which
entitles its holder to one vote. Only stockholders of record at the close of
business on May 10, 2000 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the
meeting. A list of stockholders entitled to vote will be available for
examination at the meeting by any stockholder for any purpose relevant to the
meeting. The list also will be available on the same basis for ten days prior
to the meeting at our corporate office in Denver, Colorado.
If you wish to vote shares held in your name in person at the meeting,
please bring to the meeting your proxy card, proof of identification and a
letter or account statement showing that you are the beneficial owner on the
record date. If you hold your shares in street name (that is, through a broker
or other nominee), you must request a proxy from your broker in order to vote in
person at the meeting. Corporations may attend and vote at the meeting by proxy
or by a duly authorized representative. If you plan to attend in person, please
advise us by calling Investor Relations at (303) 863-1555, extension 231 by June
2, 2000, so we can assure that we will have sufficient space to accommodate all
those wishing to attend.
We have enclosed the Company's 1999 annual report, including financial
statements, and the proxy statement with this notice of annual meeting.
Please vote, sign and mail the enclosed card as soon as possible to assure
you are represented at the meeting. We have enclosed a return envelope, which
requires no postage if mailed in the United States, for that purpose. The Board
of Directors is soliciting your proxy.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR
Patrick R. McDonald
Secretary
1
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CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
Annual Stockholders Meeting
Proxy Statement
Annual June 8, 2000
9:00 a.m., MDT
Location 1700 Broadway, Suite 1150
Denver, Colorado 80290
Record Date 5:00 p.m., EDT, May 10, 2000. If you were a stockholder
at that time, you may vote at the meeting. Each share
of common stock is entitled to one vote. You may not
cumulate votes. On April 20, 2000, 6,042,826 shares of
the Company's common stock were outstanding.
Agenda 1. Elect six directors;
2. Ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP as our
independent auditors for 2000; and
3. Consider any other matters that properly come
before the meeting and any adjournments.
Proxies Unless you tell us differently on the proxy card to
vote differently, we will vote signed returned proxies
"for" the Board's nominees and "for" agenda item 2. The
Board or proxy holders will use their discretion on
other matters. If a nominee cannot or will not serve as
a director, the Board or proxy holders will vote for a
person whom they believe will carry on our present
policies.
Proxies Solicited By The Board of Directors of the Company
First Mailing Date We anticipate first mailing this proxy statement on or
about May 15, 2000.
Revoking Your Proxy You may revoke your proxy before it is voted at the
meeting. To revoke your proxy, follow the procedures
listed on page 16 under "Voting Procedures / Revoking
Your Proxy."
Solicitation Costs We will pay the costs of soliciting proxies from
stockholders.
A copy of Carbon's Report on Form 10-K for 1999 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission will
be furnished without charge to shareholders. Such
requests should be directed to: Carbon Energy
Corporation, 1700 Broadway, Suite 1150, Denver, CO
80290, Attn: Investor Relations.
PLEASE VOTE. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
Prompt return of your proxy will help reduce the costs of re-solicitation.
2
<PAGE>
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On August 11, 1999, CEC Resources Ltd. ("CEC") entered into a stock
purchase agreement with Bonneville Pacific Corporation to acquire all
outstanding shares of Bonneville Fuels Corporation ("BFC"). The rights and
obligations of CEC under the stock purchase agreement were assigned in October,
1999 by CEC to Carbon. Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P. ("Yorktown")
purchased in October, 1999, 4,500,000 shares of Carbon pursuant to an Exchange
and Financing Agreement (the "Exchange Agreement"). The funds from this
purchase were used by Carbon to acquire on October 29, 1999, all outstanding BFC
shares under the stock purchase agreement and pay expenses incurred in
connection with the purchase and related transactions.
Carbon then made an exchange offer for CEC shares as one of the last steps
in transactions to combine BFC and CEC. In the exchange offer, Carbon offered
to exchange one share of Carbon for each share of CEC. On February 17, 2000,
Carbon completed the exchange offer and acquired 97% of the outstanding shares
of common stock of CEC. Carbon's business is comprised currently of the assets
and properties of BFC and of CEC through ownership of 97% of CEC's outstanding
shares.
PROPOSAL 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board currently has six members. Proxy holders will vote for the six
nominees listed below. All nominees are currently members of the Board, and
their terms will continue until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until
their successors are duly elected and qualified. Each of the nominees has
consented to serve on the Board of Directors until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. If any
nominee is unable to serve as a director, the current Board may designate a
substitute nominee and the proxies will vote all valid proxy cards for the
election of the substitute nominee.
Two of the nominees, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Leidel, were persons selected as
nominees by Yorktown in accordance with the Exchange Agreement. Mr. McDonald
was selected as a nominee pursuant to requirements in the Exchange Agreement and
his employment agreement. (Both agreements are described later in this Proxy
Statement.) Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, Yorktown has agreed to vote its
shares of common stock in favor of these nominees. Because Yorktown owns
approximately 74.5% of the outstanding common stock of the Company, its vote in
favor of the nominees will be sufficient to elect these nominees regardless of
the vote of other shareholders.
The six nominees who receive the greatest number of votes cast for the
election of directors by holders will become directors of the Company. A vote
withheld from a nominee in the election of directors will be excluded from the
vote and will have no effect. Also, any shares not voted (whether by
abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) have no impact in the election of
directors, except to the extent not voting for an individual results in another
individual receiving a larger number of votes.
Nominees for Election at Annual Meeting:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Principal Occupation and Biographical Information
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Patrick R. McDonald 43 Mr. McDonald became our President and Chief
Executive Officer and a director on September 14,
1999. He has been president and Chief Executive
Officer of CEC since July 1998. From 1987 until
1997 Mr. McDonald was Chairman and President of
Interenergy Corporation, Denver, Colorado. Since
January 1998, he has been the sole member of
McDonald Energy, LLC. Mr. McDonald is a petroleum
geologist.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Principal Occupation and Biographical Information
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cortlandt S. Dietler 78 Mr. Dietler has served as a director of Carbon
since December 20, 1999. Mr. Dietler has been the
Chairman of TransMontaigne Inc., which owns and
operates terminals and pipelines for the
transportation of oil, gas and other petroleum
products, since April 1995. Mr. Dietler was Chief
Executive Officer of TransMontaigne from April 1995
through September 30, 1999. He was the founder,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Associated
Natural Gas Corporation, a natural gas gathering,
processing and marketing company, prior to its 1994
merger with PanEnergy Corporation, on whose Board
he served as an Advisory Director, prior to its
merger with Duke Energy Corporation. Mr. Dietler
also serves as a director of Hallador Petroleum
Company, Key Production Company, Inc., and Forest
Oil Corporation.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David H. Kennedy 50 Mr. Kennedy has served as a director of Carbon
since September 14, 1999. From March, 1981 through
December 31, 1998, Mr. Kennedy was a managing
director of First Reserve Corp. and was responsible
for investing and monitoring part of its portfolio
of energy investments. Since January 1, 1999, Mr.
Kennedy has acted as a consultant to and investor
in the energy industry. He serves as a director of
Maverick Tube Corporation, whose common stock is
traded on the Nasdaq market, and as a director of
Berkley Petroleum Corp. and Pursuit Resources
Corp., oil and gas companies whose stocks are
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryan H. Lawrence 57 Mr. Lawrence has served as a director since
September 14, 1999. Mr. Lawrence is a founder and
a senior manager of Yorktown Partners LLC which was
established in September 1997, and manages
investment partnerships formerly affiliated with
Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. Mr. Lawrence had been
employed at Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. since 1966,
serving as a Managing Director until the merger of
Dillon Read with SBC Warburg in September 1997.
Mr. Lawrence also serves as a Director of D&K
Healthcare Services, Inc., Hallador Petroleum
Company, TransMontaigne Inc., and Vintage
Petroleum, Inc. (each a United States public
company) and certain non-public companies in the
energy industry in which Yorktown partnerships hold
equity interests.
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Principal Occupation and Biographical Information
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Peter A. Leidel 43 Mr. Leidel has served as a director since September
14, 1999. Mr. Leidel is a co-founder and manager
of Yorktown Partners LLC which was established in
September, 1997, and manages investment
partnerships affiliated with Dillon, Read & Co.
Inc. Yorktown Partners LLC is the manager of four
private equity partnerships that invest in the
energy industry, with aggregate committed capital
of approximately $700 million. Previously, he was
a partner of Dillon, Read & Co. Inc.'s venture
capital fund and has invested in a variety of
private companies with a particular focus on energy
investments since 1983. He was previously in
corporate treasury positions at Mobil Corporation
and worked for KPMG Peat Marwick and the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Leidel is a
director of Cornell Corrections, (ASE-CRN),
Willbros Group (NYSE-WG), Meenan Oil Co., Athanor
Resources, Inc., Tanglewood Companies, Metal
Supermarkets and Camden Resources, Inc.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry A. Trueblood, Jr. 74 Mr. Trueblood has served as a director of Carbon
since February 18, 2000. Mr. Trueblood was
President and Chief Executive Officer of CEC from
1972 until July 1, 1998. Mr. Trueblood has served
as Chairman and CEO of Columbus Energy Corp., the
former parent of CEC, since 1982 and from 1958 to
1998 was founder and former President and/or
Chairman and CEO of Consolidated Oil & Gas, Inc.,
the former parent of both Columbus Energy and CEC.
</TABLE>
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THESE NOMINEES
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PROPOSAL 2 - RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We ask that you approve the following resolution on the appointment of our
independent auditors:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen
LLP to audit the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal
year 2000.
Arthur Andersen LLP has audited our accounts since the organization of
Carbon. The Board appointed them as our independent auditors for 1999. We expect
a representative of Arthur Andersen LLP to attend the meeting, respond to
appropriate questions and be given an opportunity to speak.
Ratification of the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for 2000 requires that the votes cast in favor of this
matter exceed the votes cast in opposition. Any shares not voted (whether by
abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) have no impact on the vote for this
matter.
THE BOARD RECOMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR 2000.
6
<PAGE>
BOARD INFORMATION
Meetings
The Board held one meeting in 1999, and also acted from time to time by
unanimously written consent. All current members of the Board at the time
attended the meeting.
Committees
The Board has established three committees to assist in the discharge of
its duties. These committees include a compensation committee, an audit
committee, and a nominating committee. These committees were established in
October 1999 and did not hold meetings in 1999.
Members of the compensation committee are Messrs. Leidel (Chairman),
Dietler, Kennedy, and Trueblood. The compensation committee reviews and
approves our compensation and benefits for our executive officers and makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding these matters.
Members of the audit committee are Messrs. Kennedy (Chairman) and Dietler.
The functions of the audit committee are:
. Review the scope of the audit procedures utilized by our independent
auditors;
. Review with the independent auditors our accounting practices and
policies;
. Consult with our independent auditors during the year; and
. Report to our Board of Directors with respect to these matters and to
recommend the selection of independent auditors.
The nominating committee is responsible for determining, on behalf of the
Board of Directors of Carbon, nominees for the position of director of Carbon,
or persons to be elected by the Board of Directors or shareholders to fill any
vacancy in the Board of Directors of Carbon. The nominating committee is
comprised of Messrs. Lawrence (Chairman), Dietler, Kennedy and McDonald. The
existence of the Nominating Committee is required by the Exchange Agreement.
The Nominating Committee may consider nominees recommended by shareholders but
has not adopted any procedures for shareholder recommendations.
Director Compensation
Each of our directors who is neither an officer nor an employee will be
paid a director's fee of $1,500 per quarter.
Mr. Kennedy and Cortlandt Dietler, who are considered to be independent
directors, were each granted on October 14, 1999 and January 3, 2000,
respectively, a non-qualified stock option to purchase 10,000 shares of our
common stock at $5.50 per share. Shares subject to these options vest one-half
on the first anniversary and one-half on the second anniversary of the date of
grant and have a ten year term.
7
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS OF OUR COMPANY
The following table contains information regarding ownership of our common
stock (the only class of stock outstanding) as of April 20, 2000 by (1) each
director, (2) each executive officer named in the compensation table, (3) all of
our directors and executive officers as a group, and (4) each shareholder who,
to our knowledge, was the beneficial owner of five percent or more of the
outstanding shares. All information is based on information provided by such
persons to us. Unless otherwise indicated, their addresses are the same as our
address and each person identified in the table holds sole voting and investment
power with respect to the shares shown opposite such person's name. Footnotes
supplement the information contained in the table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial Percent
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Ownership (a) Outstanding
- --------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Patrick R. McDonald and McDonald Energy, LLC................. 315,100(b)(c) 5.1%
Kevin D. Struzeski........................................... 30,000(d) *
Cortlandt S. Dietler......................................... 10,000 *
2750 Republic Plaza
370 17th Street
Denver, CO 80202
David H. Kennedy............................................. 10,000 *
18 Pasture Lane
Darien, CT 06820
Bryan H. Lawrence............................................ 4,500,000(e) 74.5%
410 Park Avenue, Suite 1900
New York, NY 10025
Peter A. Leidel.............................................. 4,500,000(f) 74.5%
410 Park Avenue, Suite 1900
New York, NY 10025
Harry A. Trueblood, Jr....................................... 308,696(g) 4.9%
1660 Lincoln Street
Suite 2400
Denver, CO 80264
All directors and executive officers as a group
(7 persons including the above).............................. 5,173,796 83.7%
Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P............................ 4,500,000 74.5%
410 Park Avenue, Suite 1900
New York, NY 10025
</TABLE>
* Less than 1%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Includes the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company subject to
stock options exercisable within 60 days after April 20, 2000, as follows;
Mr. McDonald, 98,000 shares; Mr. Struzeski, 20,000 shares; Mr. Trueblood,
11,000 shares; all directors and officers as a group, 129,000 shares.
(b) Includes 30,000 shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to the
Company's 1999 restricted stock plan, one-third of which vests in October,
2000, one-third of which vests in October, 2001and the remaining one-third
which vests in October, 2002.
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<PAGE>
(c) Patrick R. McDonald is the sole member of McDonald Energy, LLC. The total
includes 117,100 shares owned by CEC Resources Holdings, LLC of which
McDonald Energy, LLC has a 58.3% interest.
(d) Includes 10,000 shares of restricted stock, one-third of which vests in
October, 2000, one-third of which vests in October, 2001 and the remaining
one-third of which vests in October, 2002.
(e) These shares are owned by Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P. As a member of
Yorktown Partners LLC, the manager of Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P.,
Mr. Lawrence may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of these shares. Mr.
Lawrence disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
(f) These shares are owned by Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P. As a member of
Yorktown Partners LLC, the manager of Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P.,
Mr. Leidel may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of these shares. Mr.
Leidel disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
(g) Does not include 38,911 shares which are owned by Lucile B. Trueblood, Mr.
Trueblood's wife, which she acquired as her separate property and as to
which Mr. Trueblood disclaims any beneficial ownership. Includes 110,000
shares owned by the Harry A. Trueblood Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated
June 1, 1998 as to which shares Mr. Trueblood disclaims ownership; however,
as the only trustee, he does hold sole voting rights and dispositive powers
with respect to such shares.
INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Each of Carbon's two executive officers listed below serves at the pleasure of
the Board and in accordance with their employment agreements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Present Corporate Position and Business Experience
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Patrick R. McDonald 43 President and Chief Executive Officer. For
information about Mr. McDonald, see "Proposal 1 -
Election of Directors."
Kevin D. Struzeski 41 Mr. Struzeski became our Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer on September 14, 1999. He has
been Chief Financial Officer-Treasurer for CEC since
November 1998. Mr. Struzeski was employed as Accounting
Manager, MediaOne Group from 1997 to 1998 and prior to
that he was employed as Controller, Interenergy Corporation
from 1995 to 1997 and Accounting Manager, Snyder Oil from
1993 to 1995.
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes the compensation paid during the last
two fiscal years by Carbon and CEC to each of the two executive officers of
Carbon.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Compensation Long term Compensation
------------------- ------------------------
Restricted Securites All Other
Stock Underlying Compen-
Fiscal Salary Bonus Awards (3) Options (4) sation (5)
Name and Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
- --------------------------- ------ ------ ----- ---------- ----------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Patrick R. McDonald 1999 148,938 132,798 165,000 90,000 3,503
President and Chief Executive Officer (1) 1998 50,000 - - 78,000 -
Kevin D. Struzeski 1999 91,787 20,000 55,000 25,000 1,815
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (2) 1998 3,125 - - 20,000 -
</TABLE>
___________________________
(1) Appointed an officer of CEC on July 1, 1998.
(2) Appointed an officer of CEC on November 15, 1998.
(3) Granted pursuant to the Company's 1999 restricted stock plan and
valued at the fair market value of $5.50 per share on the date of
grant. The restricted stock will vest 33.33% each year over a three
year period from the date of the grant. All restricted stock
outstanding under this plan becomes fully vested upon a change of
control as defined in the plan.
(4) Granted pursuant to the Company's 1999 stock option plan. Options
originally granted to acquire CEC common stock have been replaced with
Carbon options on the same terms in connection with Carbon's
acquisition of CEC. The table shows these options in the year in which
they were granted by CEC.
(5) Includes contributions made by the Company to the Company's 401(k)
plan on behalf of the named executive officers.
10
<PAGE>
STOCK OPTION GRANTS AND EXERCISES
In 1999, Carbon adopted a stock option plan to afford an opportunity for
stock ownership to selected employees, directors and consultants of the Company
and its subsidiaries. All salaried employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
are eligible to receive both incentive stock options and nonqualified stock
options. Directors and consultants who are not employees of the Company or its
subsidiaries are eligible to receive non-qualified stock options, but not
incentive stock options under the plan. The option price for the incentive stock
options granted under the plan are not to be less than 100% of the fair market
value of the shares subject to the option. The option price for the non-
qualified stock options granted under the plan are not to be less than 85% of
the fair market value of the shares subject to the options. All outstanding
options under the stock option plan become immediately exercisable in full,
whether or not there are vesting requirements, upon the occurrence of a change
in control as defined in the plan. The term of any stock option cannot exceed
ten years. The aggregate number of shares of common stock which may be issued
under options granted pursuant to the plan may not exceed 700,000 shares.
The specific terms of grant and exercise are determined by the Company's
Board of Directors unless and until such time as the Board of Directors
delegates the administration of the plan to a committee.
The following table sets forth information concerning individual grants of
stock options made by Carbon for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and CEC
for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1999 to Carbon's executive officers.
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable Value
% of Total at Assumed Annual Rates
Number of Options of Stock Price
Securities Granted to Appreciation for
Underlying Employees Exercise Option Term (4)
Options in Fiscal Price Expiration 5% 10%
Name Granted Year (2) ($) Date ($) ($)
- ------------------------ ------------ ------------ ---------- ------------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Patrick R. McDonald
Carbon Options 70,000 60.9% (2) 5.50 10/13/09 242,124 613,591
CEC Options (1) 20,000 25.8% (3) 4.25 07/21/02 13,398 28,135
Kevin D. Struzeski
Carbon Options 25,000 21.7% (2) 5.50 10/13/09 86,473 219,140
</TABLE>
(1) Options were originally granted to acquire CEC common stock at the closing
price of CEC's common stock on the date of the grant. These options are
being replaced with Carbon options on the same terms in connection with
Carbon's acquisition of CEC.
(2) This percentage is based solely upon options granted by Carbon in 1999.
(3) This percentage is based solely upon options granted by CEC in 1999.
(4) These columns present hypothetical future realizable values of the options,
obtainable upon exercise of the option's exercise price, assuming Carbon's
common stock appreciates at a 5% and 10% compound annual rate over the term
of the options. The 5% and 10% rates of market price appreciation are
presented as examples pursuant to rules of the SEC and do not reflect
management's prediction of the future market price of our common stock. No
gain to the optionees is possible without an increase in the market price
of the common stock above the option price. There can be no assurance that
the potential realizable values shown in this table will be achieved. The
potential realizable values presented are not intended to indicate the
value of the options.
11
<PAGE>
YEAR END OPTION VALUES TABLE
The following table summarizes information of December 31, 1999 for Carbon
and November 30, 1999 for CEC with respect to exercisable and non-exercisable
options held by the Company's executive officers. The table also includes the
value of "in-the-money" options, which represents the spread between the
exercise price of the existing CEC stock options and the fiscal year-end common
stock price of $4.625 per share for CEC. At December 31, 1999, Carbon shares had
yet to be publicly traded: the management of Carbon believes that the exercise
price for options granted by Carbon at $5.50 per share was approximately the
fair market value of Carbon on that date.
FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
In-the-Money
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying Unexercised Options at Year End
Options at Year End ($)
-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- ------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Patrick R. McDonald
Carbon Options - 70,000 - -
CEC Options (1) 98,000 - 7,500 -
Kevin D. Struzeski
Carbon Options - 25,000 - -
CEC Options (1) 20,000 - - -
</TABLE>
(1) Options originally granted to acquire CEC common stock have been replaced
with Carbon options on the same terms in connection with Carbon's
acquisition of CEC.
REPORT OF BOARD ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Our compensation committee was created in October 1999 and is comprised of
non-employee directors of the Company. Because the Company was newly formed and
the compensation for the Company's executive officers is set forth in employment
agreements, the Board of Directors, rather than the compensation committee,
determined the compensation of the Company's two executives in 1999.
Mr. McDonald and Mr. Struzeski's annual salaries for the 1999 year were
determined in accordance with their employment agreements with the Company and
prior employment agreements with CEC. Their current employment agreements state
annual salaries for the terms of their employment agreements, unless the Board
and the officer mutually agree to a change. Their employment agreements also
provided for initial grants of stock options and restricted stock.
Messrs. McDonald and Struzeski negotiated at arm's length with Yorktown for
the provisions of their employment agreements with Carbon and for their stock
options and restricted stock grants from Carbon. Each of these items was
approved by Carbon's full Board. The discussions with Yorktown on these items
were held after CEC had entered into the agreement with BFC for the purchase of
BFC shares and after Yorktown had stated the general terms for its investing in
Carbon common stock. The Company believes that the limitation on the
deductibility of compensation for United States federal income tax purposes
under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code does not apply to the 1999
compensation of the Company's executive officers. Any such limitation would be a
factor in deciding future compensation.
12
<PAGE>
The Board believes that appropriate compensation levels succeed in
attracting and motivating high quality employees. There are three major
components of executive compensation: base salary, annual incentive
compensation, and long-term compensation.
The Board intended that the base salary be competitive with comparable
companies and also reflect the experience of Mr. McDonald and Mr. Struzeski,
their responsibilities at Carbon and the size and complexities of Carbon's
business. The Board of Directors of CEC paid in October, 1999 bonuses to Mr.
McDonald of $132,798 and to Mr. Struzeski of $20,000. The bonuses were in
recognition of their role in developing and increasing the valuation of CEC in
1999.
Long-term incentive compensation serves to both retain and motivate
executives to accomplish long-term growth objectives, improve long-term stock
performance and align the interests of the executives with those of
shareholders. The Company utilizes two vehicles to accomplish this goal: the
1999 Carbon stock plan and the 1999 Carbon restricted stock plan
Board of Directors
Cortlandt S. Dietler
David H. Kennedy
Bryan H. Lawrence
Peter A. Leidel
Patrick R. McDonald
Harry A. Trueblood, Jr.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
In October, 1999, Patrick R. McDonald and Carbon entered into a three-year
employment agreement, which provides for Mr. McDonald to be the President and
Chief Executive Officer of Carbon at a base salary of not less than $200,000 per
year, to be adjusted on each July 1 for cost of living increases in the U.S.
consumer price index. Carbon is to provide Mr. McDonald benefits that he
received as an executive of CEC, and is to maintain for his benefit a life
insurance policy in the amount of $1 million and a disability insurance policy
with terms mutually agreeable to Carbon and Mr. McDonald. If a payment to Mr.
McDonald is subject to an excise tax under the Internal Revenue Code, Carbon
will pay to Mr. McDonald an additional amount to cover the excise tax on an
after-tax basis. According to the employment agreement, Carbon is also to
nominate and endorse Mr. McDonald as a director on Carbon's Board of Directors
so long as he is an officer of Carbon.
If Mr. McDonald's employment is terminated by Carbon for any reason other
than "cause" (as defined in the agreement) or upon the death or disability of
Mr. McDonald or if Mr. McDonald terminates his employment because of a material
breach of the employment agreement by Carbon or because of a change in the
position of Mr. McDonald with Carbon, then Mr. McDonald is to be paid a lump sum
payment equal to 300% of his average annual compensation (which includes base
salary and incentive compensation). Also, in that event, his options and
restricted stock become 100% vested.
Either Carbon or Mr. McDonald may terminate the agreement if there is a
change in control of Carbon as defined in the employment agreement. In the
event of a change in control not supported by a majority of the Board of
Directors, Mr. McDonald is to be paid 400% of his average annual compensation
upon termination of the employment agreement. In the event of a change in
control supported by the Board of Directors, Mr. McDonald is to be paid 300% of
his average annual compensation upon termination of the employment agreement by
Carbon or 200% of his compensation upon termination of his employment by him.
In addition, upon a change in control, any outstanding stock options, stock
appreciation rights and incentive awards (including restricted stock) granted to
Mr. McDonald become 100% vested, without any restrictions.
In October, 1999, the Company entered into a two-year employment agreement
with Mr. Struzeski, which provides for Mr. Struzeski to be the Chief Financial
Officer of Carbon at a base salary of
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$100,000 per year, together with all benefits offered by Carbon to Carbon's
employees generally. If Mr. Struzeski's employment is terminated by Carbon for
any reason other than "cause" or upon the death of disability of Mr. Struzeski
or if Mr. Struzeski terminates his employment because of a change in the
position of Mr. Struzeski with Carbon, Carbon is to pay Mr. Struzeski an amount
equal to his compensation (pro rated on a monthly basis) multiplied by the
remaining months of his employment agreement. Also, in that event, his options
and restricted stock become 100% vested. The employment agreement with Mr.
Struzeski provides that either Carbon or Mr. Struzeski may terminate the
contract if there is a change in control of Carbon. In the event of a change in
control not supported by a majority of the Board of Directors, Mr. Struzeski is
to be paid 300% of his average annual compensation (which includes base salary
and incentive compensation) upon termination of the employment agreement. In the
event of a change in control supported by the Board of Directors, Mr. Struzeski
is to be paid 200% of his compensation upon termination of his employment
agreement by the Company or 100% of his compensation upon termination of his
employment by him. In the event of a change in control, any outstanding stock
options, stock appreciation rights and incentive awards (including restricted
stock) granted to Mr. Struzeski will become 100% vested, without restrictions.
As required by the employment agreements, Carbon granted to Mr. McDonald
and Mr. Struzeski in October, 1999, options and restricted stock as shown in
tables earlier in this Proxy Statement.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In October 1999, Yorktown purchased an aggregate of 4,500,000 shares of our
common stock for $24,750,000 in cash. Also, each of our two independent
directors has purchased shares from us. In October, 1999, Mr. Kennedy purchased
10,000 shares from us at a cash price of $5.50 per share, and in January, 2000,
Mr. Dietler purchased 10,000 shares from us at a cash price of $5.50 per share.
Harry A. Trueblood, Jr. is a director of Carbon, was a director and more
than 10% shareholder of CEC, previously served as a President of CEC, and is a
director, executive officer and more than 10% shareholder of Columbus Energy
Corp. ("Columbus"). CEC entered into a written agreement in 1995 with Columbus
to provide management services until new management was retained, either by
merger, acquisition or direct employment. CEC paid no direct cash compensation
to the officers of Columbus for the period that they served as officers of CEC.
CEC was charged by Columbus on a monthly basis for the specific time each
Columbus officer or employee devoted to the Company. As a result of Mr.
McDonald's investment in CEC in July, 1998, and the election of new executive
officers in fiscal 1998, the management agreement with Columbus was terminated
in March, 1999.
On October 14, 1999, Carbon, CEC and Yorktown signed the Exchange and
Financing Agreement that provided for:
. An assignment of the BFC stock purchase agreement to Carbon;
. The purchase of common stock of Carbon by Yorktown as described above;
. The exchange offer made for CEC shares;
. Persons to be nominated as directors of the Company;
. The adoption of the Company's 1999 stock option plan and the Company's
1999 restricted stock plan; and
. The Company's entering into employment agreements with Mr. McDonald
and Mr. Struzeski.
In the Exchange Agreement, Carbon, CEC and Yorktown agreed that the Board
of Directors of Carbon will consist of five directors. Carbon, CEC and Yorktown
agreed that the five directors initially would be David H. Kennedy, a person who
passed away and was replaced by Cortlandt S. Dietler, Bryan H. Lawrence, Peter
A. Leidel and Patrick R. McDonald. After completion of the exchange offer and
Harry A. Trueblood, Jr.'s acceptance of the exchange offer for all CEC common
stock owned beneficially by him, the number of Carbon directors was increased to
six and Mr. Trueblood was elected as the sixth director.
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As long as Yorktown beneficially owns shares with 50% or more of the outstanding
votes in the election of directors of Carbon, Yorktown has the right to
designate for nomination two directors. If Yorktown owns beneficially shares
with 25% or more but less than 50% of the outstanding votes in the election of
directors of Carbon, then Yorktown has the right to designate for nomination one
director. Yorktown has no right to designate directors for nomination under the
Exchange Agreement if Yorktown owns beneficially shares with less than 25% of
the outstanding votes in the election of directors of Carbon. So long as Mr.
McDonald is an officer of Carbon, he is to be designated for nomination as a
director of Carbon.
As provided by the Exchange Agreement, a nominating committee of Carbon's
Board was established. The nominating committee consists of one Yorktown
designated director, Mr. McDonald so long as he is a director of Carbon, and two
independent directors. The nominating committee is responsible for determining
nominees for the positions of directors of Carbon or persons to be elected by
the Board of Directors or shareholders of Carbon to fill any vacancy in the
Board of Directors. The nominating committee is required to nominate for
director each Yorktown director which Yorktown has the right to designate and
has designated. The nominating committee is required to nominate Mr. McDonald
if he is entitled to be nominated. The nominating committee will then nominate
the remaining directors; at least two of the persons nominated will be
independent directors. If the size of the Board is changed and there are not
sufficient positions for the election of two independent directors after taking
into account the directors designated by Yorktown and Mr. McDonald, then the
nominating committee is not required to nominate two independent directors. If
there is a vacancy in the position relating to a Yorktown director, the
remaining Yorktown director has the right to designate any replacement to fill
the vacancy. The nominating committee has the right to designate any
replacement to fill any other vacancy. The Exchange Agreement requires that any
change in the size or composition of the Board of Directors or the nominating
committee be approved by a supermajority vote of the Board consisting of a
majority of the entire Board which includes a majority of all Yorktown directors
and at least one independent director. The Exchange Agreement requires that
Yorktown and Mr. McDonald take such actions as shareholders of Carbon as
necessary to effectuate the election of directors nominated pursuant to the
foregoing provisions. The provisions relating to election of directors cease to
be effective on October 29, 2009 or, if earlier, when Yorktown owns beneficially
shares with less than 25% of the outstanding votes in the election of directors
and Mr. McDonald is no longer an officer of Carbon.
In the Exchange Agreement, the Company agreed to grant under its 1999 stock
option plan substitute options for each option outstanding under the CEC stock
option plan. Any option granted by Carbon in substitution for an option granted
under the CEC stock option plan provides that it was granted in full
satisfaction of, and in substitution for, any and all options for CEC stock
previously granted under the CEC stock option plan. The material terms and
conditions are the same as those relating to the specific options granted under
the terms of CEC stock option plan.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 (a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires executive
officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of
the Company's stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes
of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the American Stock
Exchange. Copies of such reports are required to be furnished to the Company.
Carbon, and by extension its executive officers, directors, and persons who
beneficially own more than ten percent of the Company's common stock first
became subject to Section 16 (a) compliance in 2000. As a result, no filings by
these persons were required in 1999.
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VOTING PROCEDURES / REVOKING YOUR PROXY
You can vote your shares by mail or in person at the meeting.
To vote by mail, complete and sign your proxy card - or your broker's
voting instruction card if your shares are held by your broker - and return it
in the enclosed business-reply envelope.
A quorum is present if at least a majority in total voting power of the
Company's outstanding common stock as of the Record Date are present in person
or by proxy. Those who fail to return a proxy or attend the meeting will not
count towards determining any required majority or quorum. Abstentions and
broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence
of a quorum for the transaction of business. The required votes for the election
of directors and the proposal regarding the ratification of the independent
auditors are described in the sections dealing with those matters. With respect
to any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless a greater
number of votes is required by law, a matter is approved by the shareholders if
the votes cast in favor of the matter exceeds the votes cast in opposition. Any
shares not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) have no
impact on the vote for these other matters, if any, so long as a quorum is
present.
The enclosed proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions you
place on the proxy card. Unless otherwise stated, all shares represented by
your returned, signed proxy will be voted as noted on the first page of this
proxy statement.
Proxies may be revoked if you:
. Deliver a signed, written revocation letter, dated later than the proxy, to
Patrick R. McDonald, Secretary, at Carbon Energy Corporation, 1700 Broadway,
Suite 1150, Denver, Colorado 80290, prior to the exercise of the proxy;
. Execution of a subsequent proxy; or
. Attend the meeting and vote in person or by proxy. Attending the meeting
alone will not revoke your proxy.
Proxy Solicitation:
We will reimburse banks, brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for
reasonable expenses they incur in sending these proxy materials to you if you
are a beneficial holder of our shares. Proxies may also be solicited by Company
directors, officers and employees without additional compensation, personally or
by telephone.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If you wish to present proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement and
form of proxy for consideration at our next annual meeting, you must submit your
proposals to our corporate secretary at our corporate office in Denver,
Colorado. We must receive proposals for the 2001 annual meeting no later than
January 16, 2001. Also, persons named in the proxy solicited by our Board of
Directors for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders may exercise discretionary
authority on any proposal presented by one of our shareholders at that meeting
if we have not received notice of the proposal by April 1, 2001.
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OTHER BUSINESS
We know of no other matter to be presented for consideration at the annual
meeting. If other business is properly presented, it is the intention of each
person named in the proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best
judgement, although all proxies will be voted as directed.
Our Board of Directors urge you, even if you presently plan to attend the
meeting in person, to execute the enclosed proxy and mail it as indicated
immediately. You may revoke your proxy and vote in person if you are in fact
able to attend.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patrick R. McDonald
Secretary
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Common Stock Proxy
CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
(a Colorado corporation)
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Patrick R. McDonald and Kevin D. Struzeski,
and each of them, as proxies of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution, to vote all shares of common stock of Carbon Energy Corporation
which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders
of Carbon Energy Corporation to be held on June 8, 2000 at 9:00 am Mountain
Daylight Time, and at any adjournment thereof.
Proposals:
(1) Election of Directors for the Withhold authority to vote for
nominees listed below (except all nominees listed below [_]
as marked to the contrary
below) [_]
Cortlandt S. Dietler, David H. Kennedy, Bryan H. Lawrence, Peter A. Leidel,
Patrick R. McDonald and Harry A. Trueblood, Jr.
(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee
write that nominee's name on the space below. If authority is not withheld,
it shall be deemed granted.)
(2) To ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP to audit the accounts of
the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year 2000.
[_] For [_] Against [_] Abstain
(3) In their discretion for such other matters as may properly be brought
before the meeting.
Note: This proxy when properly executed, will be voted in the manner predicted
above. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted for the election of
directors and for approval of proposal 2. The undersigned hereby revokes any
proxies given prior to the date reflected below.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS
PROXY CARD IMMEDIATELY.
Date signed:_____________________
Signature:
X________________________________
X________________________________
Please sign exactly as your name appears
on this proxy. If shares are held
jointly, each holder should sign. When
signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian or
corporate official, please add your
title.
