PRIMEENERGY CORP
DEF 14A, 1996-04-26
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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<PAGE>   1
 
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
 
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
          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 sec. 240.14a-11(c) or sec. 240.14a-12
 
                             PrimeEnergy 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/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2)
         or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
     / / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
         14a-6(i)(3).
     / / 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:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (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):
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (5) Total fee paid:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     / / 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:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3) Filing Party:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4) Date Filed:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
                  NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
 
                            PRIMEENERGY CORPORATION
 
                                   TO BE HELD
 
                                 June 20, 1996
 
                             ---------------------
 
     Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
PrimeEnergy Corporation will be held on Thursday, June 20, 1996, 10:00 a.m.,
EDT, at The Landmark Club, 22nd Floor, One Landmark Square, Stamford,
Connecticut, for the following purposes:
 
          1. To elect a Board of Directors of fourteen (14) persons as nominated
     in the accompanying Proxy Statement, such Directors to hold office until
     the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are
     elected; and
 
          2. To transact such other procedural business as may properly be
     brought before the meeting or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
 
     Said meeting may be adjourned from time to time without other notice than
by announcement at said meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, and any and all
business for which said meeting is hereby noticed may be transacted at any such
adjournment.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed April 24, 1996, as the date for the taking
of a record of the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting
and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. The stock transfer books will
not be closed.
 
     Enclosed is a form of proxy solicited by the Board of Directors of the
Company. Stockholders who do not plan to attend the meeting in person are
requested to date, sign and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope,
to which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States. Your proxy
may be revoked at any time before it is exercised and will not be used if you
attend the meeting and prefer to vote in person.
 
                                            BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF
                                            DIRECTORS
 
                                            JAMES F. GILBERT
                                            Secretary
 
April 26, 1996
<PAGE>   3
 
                            PRIMEENERGY CORPORATION
 
                              ONE LANDMARK SQUARE
                          STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
             SOLICITATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PROXIES FROM
                STOCKHOLDERS FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                 JUNE 20, 1996
 
     The Board of Directors of PrimeEnergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
(hereinafter called the "Company") solicits your proxy in the enclosed form
which, if you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Company on Thursday, June 20, 1996, you are requested to fill out, sign as
indicated and return to the Company in the enclosed self-addressed envelope,
which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Any proxy given
pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time
before it is exercised by notice in person or in writing to the Company. The
approximate day on which the proxy statement and form of proxy will be sent to
security holders is April 26, 1996.
 
     Proxies are being solicited by mail and all expenses of solicitation have
been or will be borne by the Company. In addition, arrangements may be made with
brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies
and proxy material to their principals, and the Company will reimburse them for
their expenses in so doing.
 
     Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 24, 1996, are
entitled to vote at the 1996 Annual Meeting. At that date the Company had
outstanding and entitled to vote 5,221,199 shares of Common Stock, each share
entitling the record holder thereof to one vote.
 
     All shares of the Company represented by proxies received in time and in
proper form and condition and not revoked will be voted as specified in the
proxy; or in the absence of specific direction, the proxy will be voted by the
person designated therein:
 
          FOR the election as Directors of the Company of the fourteen (14)
     nominees named below, to hold office until the next annual meeting of
     stockholders and until their respective successors shall be duly elected.
     In the event any of the nominees should become unable to serve as a
     Director, the proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of
     the person acting under it.
 
     The election of Directors will require the affirmative votes of a plurality
of the shares of the Common Stock voting in person or by proxy at the Annual
Meeting. The Company's transfer agent will tabulate all votes which are received
prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. The Company will appoint two inspectors
of election, who may be officers or employees, to receive the transfer agent's
tabulation, to tabulate all other votes, and to certify the results of the
elections. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the
determination of the number of shares present and voting (i.e., for quorum
purposes), but shall not be counted.
 
     The management knows of no matters to be submitted to the 1996 Annual
Meeting with respect to which the stockholders are entitled to vote other than
the election of Directors, but if other procedural matters do properly come
before the meeting the persons named in the proxy will vote according to their
best judgment.
<PAGE>   4
 
                        SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
                        BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of the
Common Stock of the Company owned beneficially by any person, including any
"group" as that term is defined in Section 12d(3) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or
more of the Common Stock, as of April 24, 1996. Information as to beneficial
ownership is based upon statements furnished to the Company by such persons.
Except as indicated, all shares are held directly, with full voting and
dispositive powers, and percentages are calculated on the basis of the shares
issued and outstanding, and with respect to those named persons holding options
presently exercisable or within 60 days of April 24, 1996, includes the number
of shares to be issued upon exercise of such options.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   AMOUNT AND NATURE
       NAME AND ADDRESS              OF BENEFICIAL       PERCENT
      OF BENEFICIAL OWNER              OWNERSHIP         OF CLASS
- -------------------------------    -----------------     --------
<S>                                <C>                   <C>
McJunkin Corporation                   1,127,221           21.59
835 Hillcrest Drive
Charleston, West Virginia 25311
Charles E. Drimal, Jr.                 1,212,706(1)        20.32
One Landmark Square
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Robert de Rothschild                     530,361(2)        10.16
1251 Avenue of the Americas
51st Floor
New York, New York 10020
Jan K. Smeets                            301,232(3)         5.77
9 Locust Avenue
Larchmont, New York 10538
Clint Hurt                               266,269(4)         5.10
107 North "N"
Midland, Texas 79701
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1)  Includes 457,506 shares held directly; 7,700 shares held as custodian for
     Mr. Drimal's minor son; and 747,500 shares subject to options all presently
     exercisable.
 
(2)  Includes 14,000 shares held directly; 22,629 shares held of record by a
     trust of which Mr. de Rothschild is the beneficiary; 293,732 shares held of
     record by The American Energy Co., Inc., a private company controlled by,
     or for the benefit of Mr. de Rothschild; 200,000 shares held of record by
     Amrace, Inc., a private company controlled by, or for the benefit of, Mr.
     de Rothschild.
 
(3)  Includes 293,732 shares held of record by Batavia Holdings, Inc., a private
     company controlled by Mr. Smeets, and 7,500 shares held by Mr. Smeets as
     custodian for his minor children.
 
(4)  Shares held of record by Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private company
     controlled by Mr. Hurt.
 
     In addition to those persons set forth to the table above, CEDE & Co. was
the record holder of more than 5% of the Common Stock as of April 24, 1996;
however, the Company does not know the nature of the beneficial ownership of
such shares.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
     The following table sets forth information at April 24, 1996, with respect
to the shares of the Company's Common Stock beneficially owned by the Company's
Directors and nominees and by all Directors and officers of the Company as a
group:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        AMOUNT
                                     BENEFICIALLY
              NAME                     OWNED(1)                         PERCENT OF CLASS (1)
- ---------------------------------    ------------                       ----------------
<S>                                  <C>                                <C>
Samuel R. Campbell                        161,317(2)                          3.09
Beverly A. Cummings                       100,000(3)                          1.88
Charles E. Drimal, Jr.                  1,212,706(4)                         20.32
Charles E. Drimal, Sr.                    201,000                             3.85
Matthias Eckenstein                       252,289(5)                          4.83
H. Gifford Fong                           200,000                             3.83
Thomas S. T. Gimbel                        75,000                             1.44
Clint Hurt                                266,269(6)                          5.10
Robert de Rothschild                      530,361(7)                         10.16
Jarvis J. Slade                            11,490                        Less than one
Jan K. Smeets                             301,232(8)                          5.77
Bennie H. Wallace, Jr.                     54,000(9)                          1.02
Gaines Wehrle                                none(10)                    Less than one
Michael H. Wehrle                          18,000(10)                    Less than one
All Directors and officers              3,394,170(2)(3)(4)(5)                55.38
  as a group                                   (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
 (1) Unless otherwise indicated, all shares are owned directly and the holder
     thereof has sole voting and investment powers with respect thereto, and
     percentages are calculated on the basis of the shares issued and
     outstanding, and with respect to those persons, or group, holding options
     presently exercisable or within 60 days, includes the number of shares to
     be issued upon exercise of such options.
 
 (2) Includes 12,500 shares held of record by Mr. Campbell's wife, Camille
     Campbell, and 12,500 shares held of record by Mr. Campbell's son, John P.
     Campbell, III, as to all of which shares Mr. Campbell retains voting
     rights.
 
 (3) Represents shares subject to options all presently exercisable.
 
 (4) Includes 457,506 shares held directly; 7,700 shares held as custodian for
     Mr. Drimal's minor son; and 747,500 shares subject to options all presently
     exercisable.
 
 (5) Includes 160,289 shares held directly and 92,000 shares held of record by
     Arctic, Inc., a private company controlled by Mr. Eckenstein.
 
 (6) Shares held of record by Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private company
     controlled by Mr. Hurt.
 
 (7) Includes 14,000 shares held directly; 22,629 shares held of record by a
     trust of which Mr. de Rothschild is the beneficiary; 293,732 shares held of
     record by The American Energy Co., Inc., a private company controlled by,
     or for the benefit of, Mr. de Rothschild; 200,000 shares held of record by
     Amrace, Inc., a private company controlled by, or for the benefit of, Mr.
     de Rothschild.
 
 (8) Includes 293,732 shares held of record by Batavia Holdings, Inc., a private
     company controlled by Mr. Smeets, and 7,500 shares held by Mr. Smeets as
     custodian for his minor children.
 
 (9) Includes 50,000 shares subject to options all presently exercisable.
 
(10) Does not include any beneficial ownership of such persons in 1,127,221
     shares held of record by McJunkin Corporation, a private company, by reason
     of their positions with, or ownership of interests in, McJunkin
     Corporation.
 
(11) Includes 10,000 shares subject to options held by an officer, all presently
     exercisable and 506 shares held of record by such officer.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
                        DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     At the 1996 Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company will elect
fourteen (14) Directors, in each case to hold office until the next annual
meeting or until their respective successors shall be duly elected. There will
be submitted by the management to the 1996 Annual Meeting for election as
Directors, the fourteen (14) nominees whose names, together with certain
information concerning them, are set out below. In the event any of the nominees
shall become unable to serve as a Director, the proxy will be voted in
accordance with the best judgment of the person acting under it; however, no
circumstances are at present known which would render any nominee unavailable.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           OFFICES HELD
                                                                             WITH THE           DIRECTOR
     NOMINEE                 AGE         PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                COMPANY              SINCE
- -----------------------      ---     -----------------------------    ----------------------    ---------
<S>                          <C>     <C>                              <C>                       <C>
Samuel R. Campbell           70      Private Investments,             Director                  November
                                       Southampton, New York                                      1989
Beverly A. Cummings          43      Executive Vice President and     Director; Executive       February
                                       Treasurer of the Company;        Vice President and        1988
                                       Executive Vice President of      Treasurer
                                       PrimeEnergy Management
                                       Corporation
Charles E. Drimal, Jr.       48      President of the Company;        Director; President        October
                                       President of PrimeEnergy                                   1987
                                       Management Corporation
Charles E. Drimal, Sr.       77      Private Investments,             Director                   August
                                       New York, New York                                         1989
Matthias Eckenstein          66      Architect and Developer,         Director                   August
                                       Basel, Switzerland                                         1989
H. Gifford Fong              51      Investment Technology            Director                     May
                                       Consultant, Walnut                                         1994
                                       Creek, California
Thomas S. T. Gimbel          41      Senior Vice President,           Director                    March
                                       PaineWebber, Incorporated,                                 1989
                                       Investment Bankers and
                                       Brokers, New York, New York
Clint Hurt                   60      President, Clint Hurt &          Director                  February
                                       Associates, Inc., a private                                1988
                                       oil and gas exploration
                                       company, Midland, Texas
Robert de Rothschild         49      Private Investments,             Director                  February
                                       New York, New York                                         1988
</TABLE>
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           OFFICES HELD
                                                                             WITH THE           DIRECTOR
     NOMINEE                 AGE         PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                COMPANY              SINCE
- ------------------------     ---     -----------------------------    ----------------------    ---------
<S>                          <C>     <C>                              <C>                       <C>
Jarvis J. Slade              70      Merchant Banker                  Director                  November
                                       and Consultant,                                            1989
                                       New York, New York
Jan K. Smeets                48      Private Investments,             Director                  February
                                       Larchmont, New York                                        1988
Bennie H. Wallace, Jr.       44      Vice President, Corporate        Director; Vice              June
                                       Development of the Company;      President                 1993
                                       Vice President of
                                       PrimeEnergy Management
                                       Corporation
Gaines Wehrle                38      Senior Vice President,           Director                     May
                                       McJunkin Corporation,                                      1987
                                       Charleston, West Virginia
Michael H. Wehrle            40      Senior Vice President and        Director                     May
                                       Chief Financial Officer,                                   1987
                                       McJunkin Corporation,
                                       Charleston, West Virginia
</TABLE>
 
     All of the above named nominees are currently Directors of the Company, and
each has served continuously as a Director since the date indicated. Mr. Charles
E. Drimal, Jr. is the son of Mr. Charles E. Drimal, Sr. and Messrs. Gaines
Wehrle and Michael H. Wehrle are brothers. There is no other family relationship
between any nominee for Director or executive officer of the Company. The
agreements between the Company and The American Energy Group entered into in
October, 1987, pursuant to which The American Energy Group acquired 2,900,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock, provide that so long as McJunkin
Corporation shall be the holder of ten percent or more of the Company's Common
Stock, two persons designated by McJunkin Corporation will be nominated for
election as Directors of the Company. Messrs. Gaines Wehrle and Michael H.
Wehrle, who are presently serving as such Directors, have been designated by
McJunkin Corporation and are nominees for election as Directors at the 1996
Annual Meeting.
 
     The Company does not have an audit, nominating, compensation or similar
committee. The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, composed of
Messrs. Charles E. Drimal, Jr., Clint Hurt, Jan K. Smeets and Ms. Beverly A.
Cummings, which Committee is authorized to exercise all the authority of the
Board in the business and affairs of the Company, except as limited by
applicable law.
 
     The total number of meetings of the Board of Directors during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1995, was three, and the Executive Committee held two
meetings. Each incumbent Director and member of the Executive Committee attended
at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and Executive Committee, except Mr. de
Rothschild, who was absent from one meeting of the Board. Directors are
reimbursed for travel and related expenses in connection with attendance at
Board and committee meetings. All Directors receive $500 for each Board meeting
attended.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
     The executive officers of the Company, together with certain information
concerning them, are set out below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     OFFICES HELD WITH THE
        OFFICER            AGE              COMPANY
- -----------------------    ----    -------------------------
<S>                        <C>     <C>
Charles E. Drimal, Jr.      48     President
Beverly A. Cummings         43     Executive Vice President
                                     and Treasurer
Bennie H. Wallace, Jr.      44     Vice President, Corporate
                                     Development
James F. Gilbert            63     Secretary
</TABLE>
 
     Each of the above officers were elected by the Board of Directors to their
respective offices in June, 1995, at the annual meeting of the Board and each
will hold their respective offices until their successors are elected by the
Board.
 
     The principal occupation and employment for the past five years of each of
the Directors and nominees for Director and of each of the executive officers of
the Company is as follows:
 
     Mr. Campbell is a real estate and business consultant in Southampton, New
York. He is a graduate of Harvard College and holds a Certificate in Real Estate
from New York University Graduate School. He was elected a Director of the
Company in November, 1989.
 
     Ms. Cummings is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of
Science degree from the State University of New York and a Master of Business
Administration from Rutgers University. She has been Vice President, Finance of
PrimeEnergy Management Corporation since August, 1985, Secretary from May, 1983,
to June, 1990, and was Controller from June, 1981, to January, 1986, and is a
director of PrimeEnergy Management. She was elected Vice President, Finance and
Treasurer of the Company in October, 1987, and has served as a Director of the
Company since February, 1988.
 
     Mr. Charles E. Drimal, Jr. has served as a Director and President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since October, 1987. He also is President and a
director of PrimeEnergy Management Corporation, the Company's wholly-owned
subsidiary and has held those positions since May, 1983. Mr. Drimal is a
graduate of the University of Maryland and Samford University School of Law and
is a member of the New York State Bar.
 
     Mr. Charles E. Drimal, Sr. is a private investor in New York, New York. He
holds a Master of Sciences in Financial Services from The American College and
is a Certified Life Underwriter and a Charter Financial Consultant. For 37 years
he was a general agent for Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company and following his
retirement continued to be active in private companies specializing in financial
services and money management of pension and profit sharing plans. He is past
president of the Center for Financial Studies in New York City and is active in
civic groups in the New York City area. Mr. Drimal is a director and
secretary-treasurer of PEG Capital Management Corp., a registered investment
advisory company. He was elected a Director of the Company in August of 1989.
 
     Mr. Eckenstein is a Swiss citizen and a resident of Switzerland. He studied
law and architecture in Basel, Switzerland, and at the University of Geneva and
the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, France. He is a director and principal in
several privately held companies providing financial consulting services in
construction, hotel management and architectural matters. He was elected a
Director of the Company in August, 1989.
 
     Mr. Fong is president of Gifford Fong Associates, investment technology
consultants, Walnut Creek, California. He holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master
of Business Administration and law degrees from the University of California. He
is on the editorial boards of The Journal of Portfolio Management and The
Financial Analysts Journal and is the author and contributor of numerous trade
journal publications. Mr. Fong was elected a Director of the Company in May,
1994.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
     Mr. Gimbel is a Senior Vice President of PaineWebber, Incorporated,
investment bankers and brokers, New York, New York, where he has been employed
since January, 1995, approximately the time of the acquisition of certain
Kidder, Peabody & Co., Incorporated assets by PaineWebber, Incorporated. He is
currently Director of Product Origination and Futures in the Retail Underwriting
and Trading areas of the firm. Prior to January, 1995, and for more than five
years, Mr. Gimbel was with Kidder, Peabody & Co., Incorporated, investment
bankers and brokers in New York, New York. Mr. Gimbel holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree in economics from Bowdoin College and a Master of Business Administration
from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He was elected a Director
of the Company in March, 1989.
 
     Mr. Hurt is president of Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private oil and
gas exploration company located in Midland, Texas. He is past president and a
director of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia and is a
director of Texas Commerce Bank, Midland, Texas. He was elected a Director of
the Company in February, 1988.
 
     Mr. de Rothschild, a citizen of France and a resident of the United States,
is a private investor and Assistant Vice President of Rothschild Inc. He was a
director of Rothschild North America from February, 1988, to January 1, 1994. He
was elected a Director of the Company in February, 1988.
 
     Mr. Slade is a graduate of Yale University and holds a Master of Business
Administration from Stanford Business School. For more than ten years he has
acted as a merchant banker in New York City and serves as a director of Church &
Dwight, Inc., a publicly traded company. He was elected a Director of the
Company in November, 1989.
 
     Mr. Smeets, a citizen of the Netherlands and a resident of the United
States, is a private investor in Larchmont, New York. He was elected as a
Director of the Company in February, 1988. He is a graduate of M.I.T. and holds
a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Business School. He was
elected a Director of the Company in February, 1988.
 
     Mr. Wallace, who serves as Vice President, Corporate Development of the
Company, has held the position of Vice President of the Company since March,
1989, and has been a director and Vice President and Acquisition Manager of
PrimeEnergy Management Corporation since October, 1987. From 1983 to 1987, he
was an independent petroleum engineer engaged in the evaluation and operation of
oil and gas properties. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University with B.S.
degree in petroleum engineering and is a registered professional engineer in the
States of Texas and Louisiana. He was elected a Director of the Company in June,
1993.
 
     Mr. Gaines Wehrle is a Senior Vice President of McJunkin Corporation,
Charleston, West Virginia, a privately held company and has held that position
since April, 1987. McJunkin Corporation is a national distributor, primarily of
pipes, valves and fittings. Prior to that date, he was manager of corporate
development of the Company. He was elected a Director of the Company in May,
1987.
 
     Mr. Michael H. Wehrle is a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of McJunkin Corporation and has held that position since April, 1987.
Prior to that date, he was vice president of Hillcrest Oil and Gas Company, a
private company. He was elected a Director of the Company in May, 1987.
 
     Mr. Gilbert was a Director of the Company from its organization in March,
1973, to October, 1987. He has been Secretary of the Company from March, 1973,
and Secretary of PrimeEnergy Management Corporation since June, 1990, and is an
attorney in Dallas, Texas.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
                    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER MATTERS
 
SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION
 
     The following table discloses compensation for the last three fiscal years
ended December 31, 1995, received by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and
the only two other executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                LONG-TERM
                                                                               COMPENSATION
                                                                               ------------
                                                                                  AWARDS
                                                                  OTHER        ------------
                                   ANNUAL COMPENSATION            ANNUAL           (2)          ALL OTHER
     NAME AND PRINCIPAL       -----------------------------    COMPENSATION      OPTIONS       COMPENSATION
         POSITION(1)          YEAR    SALARY($)    BONUS($)       ($)(3)           (#)            ($)(4)
- ----------------------------- ----    ---------    --------    ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                           <C>     <C>          <C>         <C>             <C>             <C>
Charles E. Drimal, Jr.(5)     1995     193,573     110,000          1,500               --        10,932
  President, Chief            1994     187,935     110,000          5,668               --         9,992
  Executive Officer           1993     182,461      65,545         42,649               --         9,830
  and Director
Beverly A. Cummings           1995     176,164      50,000          1,500               --         9,559
  Executive Vice              1994     171,033      50,000          1,500               --         7,727
  President, Treasurer        1993     166,052      43,528          1,500               --         8,886
  and Director
Bennie H. Wallace, Jr.        1995     161,176      25,000          1,500               --         8,013
  Vice President,             1994     156,482      25,000          1,500               --         6,818
  Corporate                   1993     151,924      10,000          1,500               --         6,924
  Development and Director
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Each of the named officers hold similar positions with the Company's
     subsidiaries and also serve as directors of each of the subsidiaries.
 
(2) References to "Restricted Stock Awards", "SARs" and "LTIP Payouts" in the
     Summary Compensation Table and to SARs in the Fiscal Year End Option Values
     table below have been omitted as the Company has no Restricted Stock
     Awards, SARs or LTIP Payouts.
 
(3) With respect to Mr. Drimal, includes $41,149 and $4,168 received by him in
     1993 and 1994, respectively, pursuant to a marketing agreement between Mr.
     Drimal and PrimeEnergy Management Corporation, the Company's wholly-owned
     subsidiary, in connection with the organization and marketing of oil and
     gas partnerships, joint ventures and other investment vehicles of which
     PrimeEnergy Management is to serve as general or managing partner; with
     respect to Mr. Drimal, Ms. Cummings, and Mr. Wallace, includes $1,500 paid
     to each of them as Director's fees in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
(4) The amounts in this column represents the Company's matching contributions
     to its 401(k) plan to each of the named officers for the years indicated.
 
(5) In May, 1989, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr.
     Drimal providing for his employment as a principal executive officer of the
     Company for a term of seven and one half years at a minimum annual salary
     of $125,000, participation in other benefits provided by the Company to its
     employees and continuation of his then current salary for the remainder of
     the employment term in the event of disability.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
STOCK OPTION GRANTS, OPTIONS EXERCISES AND HOLDINGS
 
     There were no stock options granted by the Company during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995, and no options were exercised during that year. The
following table sets forth information with respect to unexercised options held
by the named executive officers of the Company at December 31, 1995.
 
                         FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED         VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                           OPTIONS AT              IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                                       FISCAL YEAR-END (#)         FISCAL YEAR-END ($)(1)
                                                   ---------------------------   ---------------------------
                      NAME                         EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- -------------------------------------------------  -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                                                <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
Charles E. Drimal, Jr............................    747,500           --          1,052,657         --
Beverly A. Cummings..............................    100,000           --            130,625         --
Bennie H. Wallace, Jr............................     50,000           --             65,313         --
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) The average bid price of the Company's Common Stock on December 31, 1995, as
     reported in the over-the-counter market was $2.50.
 
                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
     The Company engaged Coopers & Lybrand as the principal accountants for the
Company with respect to the audit of the Company's financial statements for the
years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 and for the current year. The appointment
of Coopers & Lybrand was effective December 15, 1993, upon approval of the
Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
 
     Representatives of Coopers & Lybrand are expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 20, 1996, and will be available to answer
stockholders' questions.
 
                            STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS
 
     Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in the
Company's proxy statement and form of proxy and for consideration at its annual
meeting of stockholders by submitting their proposals to the Company in a timely
manner. In order to be so included for the 1997 annual meeting, stockholder
proposals must be received by the Company no later than December 27, 1996, and
must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
                     ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
     The Annual Report of the Company for its fiscal year ended December 31,
1995, accompanies this Proxy Statement. The audited financial statements of the
Company are included in such Annual Report.
 
     It is important that proxies be returned promptly. Stockholders are
requested to date, sign and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope,
to which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States. If you
attend the 1996 Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person if
you so desire, otherwise your proxy will be voted for you.
 
                                            BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
                                            JAMES F. GILBERT
                                            Secretary
 
Stamford, Connecticut
April 26, 1996
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
PROXY

         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                           PrimeEnergy Corporation


PLEASE SIGN   The undersigned shareholder of PrimeEnergy Corporation (the       
ON REVERSE    "Company"), revoking all prior proxies, does by these presents  
SIDE AND      name, constitute and appoint Charles E. Drimal, Jr. and James F.  
RETURN        Gilbert, and each of them, the true and lawful proxy and          
PROMPTLY      attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power of           
              substitution, to vote all shares of the Common Stock, par value   
              $.10 per share, of the Company standing in the name of the        
              undersigned on the books of the Company at the close of business  
              on April 24, 1996, or in respect of which the undersigned is      
              entitled to vote at the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, 
              to be held on Thursday, June 20, 1996, at 10:00 a.m., and at any  
              and all adjournments of said meeting, hereby granting to said     
              proxies and attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and   
              authority to vote in the name of the undersigned at said meeting, 
              and at any and all adjournments thereon, on the matters set forth 
              on reverse side.                                                  
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                          (Continued and to be signed and dated on reverse side)
                                                                              

                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                Please mark  [X]
                                                               your votes as   
                                                                indicated in    
                                                                this example    
                                                                               
                                                                               
Item 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS to serve until the annual meeting in 1997       
         and until their successors are duly elected.                          
                                                                               
         NOMINEES:                                                             
                                                                               
         Samuel R. Campbell           Beverly A. Cummings                      
         Charles E. Drimal, Jr.       Charles E. Drimal, Sr.                   
         Matthias Eckenstein          H. Gifford Fong                          
         Thomas S. T. Gimbel          Clint Hurt                               
         Robert de Rothschild         Jarvis J. Slade                          
         Jan K. Smeets                Bennie H. Wallace, Jr.                   
         Gaines Wehrle                Michael H. Wehrle                        
                                          
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), enter the name of 
the nominee(s) in the space below.

____________________________________________________
                                                     
                                                                               
                                                                               
 FOR ALL   WITHHELD    Item 2- In their discretion, the proxies appointed herein
 NOMINEES  FOR ALL     are authorized to vote upon any other business as may    
   [ ]       [ ]       properly come before the meeting or any adjournments    
                       thereof.        
                                                     
                                                     
                                                                           
Signature(s) ________________________________________  Date_____________________

NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon.  Joint owners should each sign.  
      When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, 
      please give full title as such. 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             FOLD AND DETACH HERE
              


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