<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
Apache 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)(l) 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
[APACHE LOGO]
ONE POST OAK CENTRAL
2000 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 100
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056-4400
March 28, 1997
FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS:
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of shareholders of
Apache Corporation to be held on Thursday, May 1, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. (Houston
time), at the Doubletree Hotel at Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston,
Texas.
At the annual meeting, shareholders will be asked to vote upon the election
of five directors to the board of directors and approval of the 1996 Share Price
Appreciation Plan, and to transact any other business that may properly come
before the meeting. In addition to the scheduled items of business, management
will present a brief report to shareholders on the Company's results and
direction. I hope you will be able to attend.
Whether or not you plan to be present at the annual meeting, please be sure
to date, sign and promptly return the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction
card, using the postage-paid business reply envelope provided, to ensure that
your shares will be voted in accordance with your wishes.
/s/ RAYMOND PLANK
RAYMOND PLANK
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE> 3
APACHE CORPORATION
ONE POST OAK CENTRAL
2000 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 100
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056-4400
------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
------------------------
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF APACHE CORPORATION:
The 1997 annual meeting of shareholders of Apache Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, will be held on Thursday, May 1, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. (Houston
time), at the Doubletree Hotel at Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston,
Texas, for the following purposes:
1. To elect four directors to serve until the annual meeting of
shareholders in 2000 and one director to serve until the annual meeting of
shareholders in 1999;
2. To approve the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan; and
3. To transact any other business that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The board of directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on
March 13, 1997, as the record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. Only holders of
record of the Company's common stock at the close of business on the record date
are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. The Company's
stock transfer books will not be closed. A complete list of shareholders
entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available for examination by any
Apache shareholder at 2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100, Houston, Texas, for
purposes pertaining to the annual meeting, during normal business hours for a
period of ten days prior to the meeting.
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting. Whether or not you
expect to attend in person, you are urged to promptly sign, date and mail the
enclosed proxy card so that your shares may be represented and voted at the
annual meeting. You may revoke your proxy by following the procedures set forth
in the accompanying proxy statement.
By order of the Board of Directors
APACHE CORPORATION
/s/ C. L. Peper
C. L. PEPER
Corporate Secretary
Houston, Texas
March 28, 1997
<PAGE> 4
APACHE CORPORATION
ONE POST OAK CENTRAL
2000 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 100
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056-4400
March 28, 1997
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by and on behalf of the board of directors of Apache Corporation (the
"Company"), a Delaware corporation, to be used at the 1997 annual meeting of
shareholders and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy
statement and the accompanying form of proxy were first mailed to the holders of
the Company's common stock, par value $1.25 per share, on or about March 28,
1997.
PURPOSE OF ANNUAL MEETING
Shareholders of the Company are scheduled to take action on the following
items at the annual meeting:
1. The election of four directors to serve until the annual meeting in
2000 and one director to serve until the annual meeting in 1999;
2. To approve the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan; and
3. The transaction of any other business that may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Company is not aware of any
business to come before the annual meeting other than the election of directors
and approval of the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan.
QUORUM AND VOTING RIGHTS
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the
votes represented by the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock is
necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. The record date for
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual
meeting is the close of business on March 13, 1997. As of the record date, there
were 90,238,772 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of shares
of common stock are entitled to one vote per share at the annual meeting and are
not allowed to cumulate votes in the election of directors. In accordance with
Delaware law, a shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors can
withhold authority to vote for all nominees for directors or can withhold
authority to vote for certain nominees for directors.
All shares of the Company's common stock represented by properly executed
proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated unless the
proxies have been previously revoked. Proxies on which no voting instructions
are indicated will be voted FOR the election of the nominees for directors, FOR
the approval of the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan, and in the best judgment
of the proxy holders on any other matter that may properly come before the
annual meeting. If a broker indicates on a proxy that it does not have
discretionary authority to vote certain shares on a particular matter, those
shares of common stock will not be considered present and entitled to vote with
respect to that matter. If a shareholder indicates on a proxy card that such
shareholder abstains from voting with respect to approval of the 1996 Share
Price Appreciation Plan, those shares will be considered as present and entitled
to vote with respect to that matter, and abstention will have the effect of a
vote against approval of the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan.
<PAGE> 5
REVOCABILITY OF PROXY
Shareholders have the unconditional right to revoke their proxies at any
time prior to the voting of their proxies at the annual meeting by (i) filing a
written revocation with the corporate secretary of the Company at the address
set forth above, (ii) giving a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or
(iii) attending the annual meeting and voting in person. Attendance by
shareholders at the annual meeting will not of itself revoke their proxies.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
Solicitation of proxies for use at the annual meeting may be made in person
or by mail, telephone or telegram, by directors, officers and regular employees
of the Company. These persons will receive no special compensation for any
solicitation activities. The Company has requested banking institutions,
brokerage firms, custodians, trustees, nominees and fiduciaries to forward
solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares of the Company's
common stock for whom they are record holder, and the Company will, upon
request, reimburse reasonable forwarding expenses. The Company has retained
Georgeson & Company Inc. to assist in soliciting proxies from brokers, bank
nominees and other institutional holders for a fee not to exceed $10,000, plus
expenses. All costs of the solicitation will be borne by the Company.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(PROPOSAL NO. 1 ON PROXY CARD)
The Company's bylaws provide that the board of directors shall consist of a
minimum of seven and a maximum of 13 directors. The Company's certificate of
incorporation provides that, as nearly as numerically possible, one-third of the
directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders. Unless
directors earlier resign or are removed, their terms are for three years, and
continue thereafter until their successors are elected and qualify as directors.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock
present, in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote at the annual
meeting is required to elect directors to the board of directors.
The present terms of directors Frederick M. Bohen, Virgil B. Day, Stanley
K. Hathaway, George D. Lawrence Jr. and Joseph A. Rice will expire at the 1997
annual meeting. Mr. Day, who has served as a director of the Company since 1974,
has chosen not to stand for re-election at the 1997 annual meeting.
Each of Messrs. Bohen, Hathaway, Lawrence and Rice has been recommended by
the Company's nominating committee and nominated by the board of directors for
election by the shareholders to an additional three-year term. If elected, each
will serve commencing upon his election and qualification until the annual
meeting of shareholders in May 2000. In addition, Mr. A. D. Frazier, Jr. has
been nominated for a term of two years and, if elected, will serve commencing
upon his election and qualification until the annual meeting of shareholders in
May 1999. The two-year term for Mr. Frazier has been recommended rather than
three years in order to comply with the provision of the Company's certificate
of incorporation requiring that, as nearly as numerically possible, one-third of
the directors be elected at each annual meeting.
There are currently 13 directors on the Company's board of directors and,
if all of the nominees are elected at the 1997 annual meeting, the board will
continue to have 13 members. Unless otherwise instructed, all proxies will be
voted in favor of these nominees. If one or more of the nominees is unwilling or
unable to serve, the proxies will be voted only for the remaining named
nominees. Proxies cannot be voted for more than five nominees. The board of
directors knows of no proposed nominee for director who is unwilling or unable
to serve.
2
<PAGE> 6
INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINEES FOR
ELECTION AS DIRECTORS
Certain biographical information, including principal occupation and
business experience during the last five years, of each nominee for director is
set forth below. Unless otherwise stated, the principal occupation of each
nominee has been the same for the past five years.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DIRECTOR
SINCE
--------
<S> <C>
FREDERICK M. BOHEN, 59, has been executive vice president 1981
and chief operating officer of The Rockefeller University
since 1990. He was senior vice president of Brown
University from 1983 to 1990, and served as vice president
of finance and operations at the University of Minnesota
from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Bohen was with the U.S. Department
of Health, Education and Welfare as assistant secretary
for management and budget from 1977 to 1981. He is a
director of the College Construction Loan Insurance
Association (Connie Lee), a director of Oppenheimer and
Company, and a director of the Mexico Equity Income Fund,
Inc. Mr. Bohen is chairman of the management development
and compensation committee and chairman of the stock
option plan committee.
A. D. FRAZIER, JR., 52, has been executive vice president --
and a director of INVESCO PLC, an independent global
investment management group, since November 1996. He was
chief operating officer of the Atlanta Olympic Games
Committee from March 1991 to October 1996, and served as
executive vice president, North American Banking Group, of
First Chicago Corporation and First National Bank of
Chicago from 1985 to 1991. Mr. Frazier is also a director
of Magellan Health Services, Inc., and a trustee of
Georgia State University Foundation.
STANLEY K. HATHAWAY, 72, has been a senior partner in the 1977
law firm of Hathaway, Speight, Kunz & Trautwein since
1976. From June through October 1975, he served as the
U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and was Governor of the
State of Wyoming from 1967 to 1975. Mr. Hathaway is
chairman of the audit committee.
GEORGE D. LAWRENCE JR., 46, is a private investor, and 1996
joined the Company's board of directors in May 1996.
Formerly, he was president, chief executive officer and a
director of The Phoenix Resource Companies, Inc. from 1990
until May 1996, when Phoenix became a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. Mr. Lawrence is a member of the
executive committee and the nominating committee.
JOSEPH A. RICE, 72, retired in 1988 as chairman of the 1989
board, chief executive officer and a director of Irving
Trust Company and Irving Bank Corporation, having served
in those capacities since 1984. Mr. Rice served as
president, chief operating officer and a director of those
organizations from 1975 to 1984. He is also a director of
Avon Products, Inc. Mr. Rice is a member of the management
development and compensation committee and the stock
option plan committee.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE> 7
INFORMATION ABOUT
CONTINUING DIRECTORS
Certain biographical information, including principal occupation and
business experience during the last five years, for each member of the board of
directors whose term is not expiring at the 1997 annual meeting is set forth
below. Unless otherwise stated, the principal occupation of each nominee has
been the same for the past five years.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DIRECTOR TERM
SINCE EXPIRES
-------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
G. STEVEN FARRIS, 49, has been president and chief operating 1994 1999
officer of the Company since May 1994, and was elected to
the Company's board of directors in December 1994. He was
senior vice president of the Company from 1991 to 1994,
and vice president -- exploration and production of the
Company from 1988 to 1991. Prior to that, Mr. Farris was
vice president of finance and acquisitions for Terra
Resources, Inc., a Tulsa, Oklahoma oil and gas company,
from 1983 to 1988, and executive vice president for Robert
W. Berry, Inc., a Tulsa, Oklahoma oil and gas company,
from 1978 to 1983.
RANDOLPH M. FERLIC, 60, retired in December 1993 from his 1986 1999
practice as a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon. He is
the founder of Surgical Services of the Great Plains,
P.C., and served as its president from 1974 to 1991. Dr.
Ferlic is a member of the audit committee, the executive
committee, and the nominating committee.
EUGENE C. FIEDOREK, 65, has been the managing director of 1988 1998
EnCap Investments L.C., a Dallas, Texas energy investment
banking firm, since 1988. Mr. Fiedorek was the managing
director of the Energy Banking Group of First RepublicBank
Corp. in Dallas, Texas from 1978 to 1987. He is a director
of Energy Capital Investment Company, a U.S. oil and gas
investment firm listed on the London Stock Exchange. Mr.
Fiedorek is a member of the audit committee.
W. BROOKS FIELDS, 78, is retired. From 1984 until 1990, he 1973 1998
was president and chief executive officer of Minnesota
Racetrack, Inc., also known as Canterbury Downs, a
racetrack development company, and from 1968 to 1990, was
chairman of the board of Scottland, Inc., a real estate
development company. From 1955 until 1984, Mr. Fields was
the executive vice president and a director of Burdick
Grain Company, a grain merchandising company. He is a
member of the audit committee, the executive committee and
the nominating committee.
ROBERT V. GISSELBECK, 73, is the founder of Gisselbeck & 1982 1999
Associates, a real estate development company in Naples,
Florida, and has served as its president since 1960. Mr.
Gisselbeck is a member of the audit committee.
JOHN A. KOCUR, 69, is engaged in the private practice of 1977 1999
law. He served as vice chairman of the Company's board of
directors from 1988 until 1991. Mr. Kocur was employed by
the Company from 1969 until his retirement in 1991, and
served as the Company's president from 1979 until 1988. He
is chairman of the executive committee, chairman of the
nominating committee, and a member of the management
development and compensation committee.
MARY RALPH LOWE, 50, has been president and chief executive 1996 1998
officer of Maralo, Inc., a Houston, Texas independent oil
and gas exploration and production company and ranching
operation, since 1988 and a member of its board of
directors since 1975. Ms. Lowe is a member of the audit
committee and the nominating committee.
RAYMOND PLANK, 74, has been chairman of the board of 1954 1998
directors and chief executive officer of the Company since
1979, and served as the Company's president from 1954
until 1979. Mr. Plank is a member of the executive
committee and the nominating committee.
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE> 8
INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO STANDING COMMITTEES OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEETINGS
The board of directors held seven meetings during 1996. The board of
directors has an audit committee, a management development and compensation
committee, a stock option plan committee, an executive committee, and a
nominating committee. Actions taken by these committees are reported to the
board of directors at the next board meeting. Each of the Company's directors
attended at least 75 percent of all meetings of the board of directors and of
all committees of which they were members, except Mr. Gisselbeck who attended 67
percent and Ms. Lowe who attended 71 percent of all such meetings.
The audit committee members are Stanley K. Hathaway, chairman, Randolph M.
Ferlic, Eugene C. Fiedorek, W. Brooks Fields, Robert V. Gisselbeck and Mary
Ralph Lowe. The audit committee reviews with the independent accountants and
internal auditors of the Company their respective audit and review programs and
procedures, and the scope and results of their audits. It also examines
professional services provided by the Company's independent accountants and
evaluates their costs and related fees. Additionally, the audit committee
reviews the Company's financial statements and the adequacy of the Company's
system of internal accounting controls. The audit committee makes
recommendations to the board of directors concerning the Company's independent
accountants and their engagement or discharge. During the last fiscal year there
were five meetings of the audit committee.
The management development and compensation committee members are Frederick
M. Bohen, chairman, Virgil B. Day, John A. Kocur and Joseph A. Rice. The
committee reviews the Company's management resources and structure, and
administers the Company's compensation programs and retirement, stock purchase
and similar plans. The committee held five meetings during 1996.
In February 1996, the board of directors established a stock option plan
committee and elected as members Frederick M. Bohen, chairman, and Joseph A.
Rice. The duties of the stock option plan committee include the grant and
administration of options under the Company's stock option plans. The committee
met five times during 1996.
The executive committee members are John A. Kocur, chairman, Randolph M.
Ferlic, W. Brooks Fields, George D. Lawrence Jr. and Raymond Plank. The
executive committee is vested with the authority to exercise the full power of
the board of directors, within the policies established by the board of
directors, in the intervals between meetings of the board of directors. In
addition to the general authority vested in it, it may be vested with specific
power and authority by resolution of the board of directors. During the last
fiscal year there were two meetings of the executive committee.
The nominating committee members are John A. Kocur, chairman, Randolph M.
Ferlic, W. Brooks Fields, George D. Lawrence Jr., Mary Ralph Lowe and Raymond
Plank. The duties of the nominating committee include recommending to the board
of directors the slate of director nominees submitted to the shareholders for
election at the annual meeting, and proposing qualified candidates to fill
vacancies on the board of directors without regard to race, sex, age, religion
or physical disability. The nominating committee met twice during 1996.
Shareholders wishing to recommend candidates for consideration by the
nominating committee should forward written recommendations, together with
appropriate biographical information and details of qualifications, to the
corporate secretary of the Company. In order to be considered, recommendations
must be received by the deadline for submitting shareholder proposals set forth
under the heading "Shareholder Proposals."
5
<PAGE> 9
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Employee directors do not receive additional compensation for serving on
the board of directors or any committee of the board. Non-employee directors
were paid an annual retainer of $20,000, plus $1,000 for each board of directors
or committee meeting attended during 1996, together with reimbursement of
expenses incurred in attending meetings. Non-employee directors receive an
annual retainer of $2,000 for each committee of which they are members. In
addition, the chairmen of each committee receive $4,000 annually for chairing
their respective committees.
Non-employee directors are eligible to participate in the Apache
Corporation Director's Deferred Compensation Plan under which they can elect to
defer receipt of all or any portion of their retainers or meeting fees. Deferred
amounts are maintained in separate accounts and are credited interest equal to
the Company's rate of return on its short-term marketable securities. Amounts
are paid out upon the director's retirement in two lump sums or ratably over ten
years. One director elected to defer a portion of his fees during 1996.
An unfunded retirement plan for non-employee directors was established in
December 1992. The plan is administered by the management development and
compensation committee and pays retired non-employee directors benefits equal to
two-thirds of the annual retainer for a period based on length of service.
Payments are made on an annual basis, for a maximum of ten years, and are paid
from the general assets of the Company. In the event of the director's death
prior to receipt of all benefits payable under the plan, the remaining benefits
are payable to the director's surviving spouse until the earlier of the
termination of the payment period or the death of the surviving spouse. There
were no benefits paid under this plan during 1996.
The Company established an equity compensation plan for non-employee
directors in February 1994, which is administered by the management development
and compensation committee. Each non-employee director will be awarded 1,000
restricted shares of the Company's common stock every five years, beginning July
1, 1994. The shares vest at a rate of 200 shares annually, with unvested shares
forfeited upon resignation or retirement from the board. Awards are made from
treasury stock and are automatic and non-discretionary. New directors will
receive 1,000-share awards on the July 1 next succeeding their election to the
board. All shares awarded under the plan have full dividend and voting rights.
The plan expires July 1, 2009, with a maximum of 50,000 shares that may be
awarded during the term of the plan. On July 1, 1994, the first restricted stock
award of 1,000 shares of the Company's common stock was made to each of the
Company's non-employee directors, pursuant to terms of the plan. On July 1,
1996, an award of 1,000 shares were made to each of the two non-employee
directors who joined the Company's board of directors in May 1996.
6
<PAGE> 10
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
The following table sets forth, as of February 28, 1997, the beneficial
ownership of each director or nominee for director of the Company, the chief
executive officer, the four other most highly compensated executive officers,
and all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. All
ownership information is based upon filings made by such persons with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") or upon information provided
to the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL CLASS
TITLE OF CLASS NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP(1) OUTSTANDING
-------------- ------------------------ ------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par
value $1.25 Frederick M. Bohen.......................... 3,661(2) *
Virgil B. Day............................... 135,669(2)(3) *
G. Steven Farris............................ 114,264(4)(5) *
Randolph M. Ferlic.......................... 226,300(2)(6) *
Eugene C. Fiedorek.......................... 4,000(2) *
W. Brooks Fields............................ 27,329(2)(7) *
A. D. Frazier, Jr........................... 0 *
Robert V. Gisselbeck........................ 40,143(2) *
Stanley K. Hathaway......................... 7,256(2) *
John A. Kocur............................... 40,130(2)(8) *
George D. Lawrence Jr....................... 277,490(2)(9) *
Mary Ralph Lowe............................. 8,400(2) *
Raymond Plank............................... 243,265(4)(5) *
Joseph A. Rice.............................. 5,000(2) *
H. Craig Clark.............................. 25,632(4)(5) *
Mark A. Jackson............................. 60,723(4)(5) *
Floyd R. Price.............................. 29,970(4)(5) *
All directors, nominees, and executive
officers as a group (including the above
named persons).............................. 1,423,554(4)(5) 1.58
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Represents less than one percent of the outstanding shares.
(1) All ownership is sole and direct unless otherwise noted. Inclusion of any
shares not owned directly shall not be construed as an admission of
beneficial ownership. Fractional shares have been rounded to the nearest
whole share.
(2) Includes 1,000 shares of restricted stock awarded under the Company's equity
compensation plan for non-employee directors.
(3) Includes 1,100 shares owned by Mrs. Day.
(4) Includes the following shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
employee stock options which are exercisable within 60 days: Mr.
Farris -- 42,250; Mr. Plank -- 58,750; Mr. Clark -- 19,500; Mr.
Jackson -- 51,050; Mr. Price -- 23,625; and all directors and executive
officers as a group -- 277,725.
(5) Includes units held by the trustee of the Company's Retirement/401(k)
Savings Plan equivalent to the following shares: Mr. Farris -- 16,014; Mr.
Plank -- 2,643; Mr. Clark -- 6,132; Mr. Jackson -- 5,673; Mr.
Price -- 6,345; and all directors and executive officers as a
group -- 65,498.
(6) Includes 17,500 shares owned indirectly by Dr. Ferlic through his interest
in Surgical Services of the Great Plains, P.C. Employee Benefit Trust, and
6,000 shares owned directly by Ferlic Investments, Ltd. in which Dr. Ferlic
owns a 36-percent interest. Also includes a total of 2,800 shares held by
Dr. Ferlic's daughters, son and grandchildren, as to which he disclaims
beneficial ownership.
(7) Includes 10,868 shares owned by Mrs. Fields.
(8) Includes 3,940 shares owned by Mrs. Kocur.
(9) Includes 243,750 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock
options which are fully exercisable. See "Certain Business Relationships and
Transactions."
7
<PAGE> 11
The following table sets forth the only persons known to the Company, as of
February 28, 1997, to be the owner of more than five percent of outstanding
shares of the Company's common stock, according to reports filed with the
Commission:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL CLASS
TITLE OF CLASS NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP OUTSTANDING
-------------- ------------------------------------ ------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par
value $1.25 Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc...................... 8,164,475(1) 9.05
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
FMR Corp..................................... 5,682,955(1)(2) 6.30
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA 02109-3614
The Equitable Companies Incorporated......... 4,683,087(3) 5.19
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) According to information contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the
Commission, dated February 14, 1997.
(2) Does not include 934,117 shares held by Fidelity Management Trust Company
("FMTC") as trustee of the Company's Retirement/401(k) Savings Plan. FMTC is
a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR Corp.
(3) According to information contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the
Commission, dated February 12, 1997.
In February 1990, Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, former president of Apache
International, Inc., was granted 250 shares of Apache International's common
stock, representing five percent of the outstanding shares of Apache
International, pursuant to the terms of the Apache International Common Stock
Award Plan. No voting rights relating to the Company's common stock are
associated with such Apache International stock.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
the Company's directors and officers, as well as beneficial owners of ten
percent or more of the Company's common stock, to report their holdings and
transactions in the Company's securities. To the Company's knowledge, based on
information furnished to it and contained in reports provided pursuant to
Section 16(a), as well as written representations that no other reports were
required, all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied with
during 1996.
8
<PAGE> 12
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
Certain biographical information concerning the executive officers of the
Company is set forth below. Biographical information concerning Raymond Plank
and G. Steven Farris is set forth above under the caption "Information About
Continuing Directors."
H. CRAIG CLARK, 40, has been vice president--North American exploration and
production since May 1996. He was vice president--domestic production from 1994
to 1996, general manager of the Company's southern division from 1993 to 1994,
and production manager of the Company's Gulf Coast Region from 1989 to 1993.
LISA A. FLOYD, 39, has been vice president--technical services since January
1995, having been general manager--technical services since 1994. Ms. Floyd has
held positions of increasing responsibility in the reservoir engineering area
since joining the Company in 1984.
MARK A. JACKSON, 41, was appointed vice president and chief financial officer in
March 1996, having been vice president--finance since May 1994. He was vice
president and chief accounting officer of the Company from January 1994 to April
1994, and vice president and controller of the Company from 1988 to 1993. Prior
to joining the Company, Mr. Jackson was employed by Maxus Energy Corporation, a
Dallas-based oil and gas company, from 1984 to 1988 in various positions, most
recently as assistant controller.
ZURAB S. KOBIASHVILI, 54, has been vice president and general counsel of the
Company since 1994. From 1991 through 1994, he was with Falcon Seaboard
Resources, Inc., a privately-held company involved in the development,
construction and operation of electric cogeneration power plants, and in oil and
gas exploration and production, initially as a legal consultant and from 1993 as
vice president and general counsel. Mr. Kobiashvili was vice president and
general counsel for Conquest Exploration Company, Houston, Texas, from 1984 to
1991.
ANTHONY R. LENTINI, JR., 47, has been vice president--public and international
affairs since January 1995. Prior to joining the Company, he was vice president
of public affairs for Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., The Woodlands, Texas,
from 1988 through 1994.
ROGER B. PLANK, 40, was appointed vice president--planning and corporate
development in March 1996, having been vice president--corporate planning since
1994. He was the Company's vice president--external affairs from 1993 to 1994,
vice president--corporate communications from 1987 to 1993, director--corporate
communications from 1985 to 1987, and an investment representative for Apache
Programs, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, from 1981 to 1985.
Roger Plank is the son of Raymond Plank.
FLOYD R. PRICE, 47, has been vice president--international exploration and
production since December 1994. He served as exploration manager from 1991 to
1994, and geologic manager from 1990 to 1991, for the Company's Midcontinent
Region. Prior to that, Mr. Price was vice president of exploration and
development from 1988 to 1989, and vice president of midcontinent exploration
from 1989 to 1990, for Pacific Enterprises Oil Company, Dallas, Texas.
THOMAS L. MITCHELL, 36, was appointed controller and chief accounting officer in
February 1996. He was director of natural gas marketing for the Company from
August 1990 through January 1996, and served as accounting manager for the
Company's Gulf Coast operations from February 1989 through July 1990. Prior to
joining the Company, Mr. Mitchell was a manager with Arthur Andersen & Co., an
independent public accounting firm, from 1982 through 1988.
CHERI L. PEPER, 43, was appointed corporate secretary of the Company in May
1995, having been assistant secretary since 1992. Prior to joining the Company,
she was assistant secretary for Panhandle Eastern Corporation (now PanEnergy
Corp.) since 1988.
MATTHEW W. DUNDREA, 43, was appointed treasurer in March 1996, having been
assistant treasurer since joining the Company in 1994. Prior to that, he was
assistant treasurer from 1991 to 1994, manager--cash management from 1986 to
1991, and manager--economic analysis from 1984 to 1986, for Union Texas
Petroleum Holdings, Inc., Houston, Texas.
9
<PAGE> 13
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The table below summarizes the annual and long-term compensation paid to
the individuals listed below for all services rendered to the Company and its
subsidiaries during the last three fiscal years, in accordance with Commission
rules relating to disclosure of executive compensation. The persons included in
this table are the Company's chief executive officer and the four other most
highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers of
the Company at year-end 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION ---------------
-------------------------------- AWARDS
OTHER ---------------
ANNUAL SECURITIES ALL OTHER
SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION UNDERLYING COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($)(1) ($) OPTIONS/SARS(#) ($)
--------------------------- ---- ------- ------- ------------ --------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond Plank...................... 1996 750,000 405,900 0 44,800(2) 112,464(3)
Chairman of the Board and 1995 650,016 187,200 0 40,000(2) 120,422(3)
Chief Executive Officer 1994 614,588 353,500 0 30,000(2) 107,495(3)
G. Steven Farris................... 1996 450,000 243,500 0 26,900(2) 66,096(3)
President and Chief 1995 350,016 100,800 0 21,000(2) 61,274(3)
Operating Officer 1994 281,253 160,600 0 65,000(2) 43,852(3)
Mark A. Jackson.................... 1996 222,708 119,600 0 32,600(2) 35,377(3)
Vice President and 1995 195,000 72,100 0 8,000(2) 35,736(3)
Chief Financial Officer 1994 180,000 102,800 0 7,600(2) 31,032(3)
H. Craig Clark..................... 1996 195,000 120,000 0 26,400(2) 38,400(3)
Vice President, North American 1995 182,500 125,000 0 8,500(2) 35,100(3)
Exploration and Production 1994 165,125 110,000 0 7,000(2) 51,159(4)
Floyd R. Price..................... 1996 187,500 130,000 2,246(5) 41,200(2) 59,041(6)
Vice President, International 1995 175,000 120,000 4,047(5) 8,000(2) 54,898(7)
Exploration and Production 1994 143,417 90,000 0 7,000(2) 28,120(3)
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Includes amounts awarded under the Company's incentive compensation plan for
performance in the year indicated.
(2) Shares of the Company's common stock subject to options awarded during 1996,
1995 and 1994. Such stock options were granted on July 11, 1996, April 29,
1996, April 22, 1996, March 14, 1996 and August 23, 1995 under the terms of
the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "1995 Plan"), and on December 8, 1994 and
May 5, 1994 under the terms of the 1990 Stock Incentive Plan. There were no
adjustments or amendments during the last fiscal year to the exercise price
of stock options previously granted to any of the named executive officers.
(3) Represents Company contributions under the Company's Retirement/401(k)
Savings Plan and related Non-Qualified Retirement/Savings Plan.
(4) Includes $31,544 in Company contributions under the Company's
Retirement/401(k) Savings Plan; and $19,615 for accrued, unused vacation.
(5) Reimbursement for the payment of taxes on all reimbursed relocation expenses
and relocation payments.
(6) Includes $36,900 in Company contributions under the Company's
Retirement/401(k) Savings Plan and related Non-Qualified Retirement/Savings
Plan; and $22,141 in aggregate relocation and temporary living expenses
reimbursed in connection with move to Houston, Texas.
(7) Includes $33,072 in Company contributions under the Company's
Retirement/401(k) Savings Plan and related Non-Qualified Retirement/Savings
Plan; $11,225 in aggregate relocation and temporary living expenses
reimbursed in connection with move to Houston, Texas; and $10,601 for
accrued, unused vacation.
10
<PAGE> 14
OPTION/SAR GRANTS TABLE
The table below provides supplemental information relating to the Company's
grants of options during 1996 to the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table above, including the relative size of each grant, and each
grant's exercise price and expiration date. There were no stock appreciation
rights ("SARs") granted during the last fiscal year. Also included in compliance
with Commission rules on disclosure of executive compensation is information
relating to the estimated present value of the options granted, based upon
principles of the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model
utilizes numerous arbitrary assumptions about financial variables such as
interest rates, stock price volatility and future dividend yield. Neither the
option values reflected in the table nor the assumptions utilized in arriving at
the values should be considered indicative of future stock performance.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
--------------------------------------------------------
NUMBERS OF PERCENT OF
SECURITIES TOTAL
UNDERLYING OPTIONS/SARS EXERCISE
OPTIONS/SARS GRANTED TO OR BASE GRANT DATE
GRANTED EMPLOYEES IN PRICE EXPIRATION PRESENT
NAME (#)(1)(2) FISCAL YEAR ($/SH)(3) DATE VALUE($)(4)
---- ------------ ------------ --------- ---------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond Plank.............. 44,800/0 2.21/0 34.000 7/11/2006 577,562
G. Steven Farris........... 26,900/0 1.32/0 34.000 7/11/2006 346,795
Mark A. Jackson............ 25,000/0 1.23/0 25.750 3/14/2006 238,175
7,600/0 0.37/0 34.000 7/11/2006 97,979
H. Craig Clark............. 20,000/0 0.98/0 28.375 4/22/2006 208,860
6,400/0 0.32/0 34.000 7/11/2006 82,509
Floyd R. Price............. 35,000/0 1.72/0 29.500 4/29/2006 382,830
6,200/0 0.31/0 34.000 7/11/2006 79,930
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) There were no SARs granted during 1996. There were no adjustments or
amendments during 1996 to the exercise price of stock options previously
granted to any of the named executive officers.
(2) Number of shares of the Company's common stock subject to options granted
July 11, 1996, April 29, 1996, April 22, 1996 and March 14, 1996, under the
terms of the 1995 Plan. Options are generally nontransferable and become
exercisable ratably over four years. The options were granted for a term of
ten years, subject to earlier termination in certain events related to
termination of employment, and are not intended to qualify as incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. The exercise
price and any withholding tax requirements may be paid by cash and/or
delivery of already-owned shares of the Company's common stock. Options
granted under the 1995 Plan are subject to appropriate adjustment in the
event of a reorganization, stock split, stock dividend, combination of
shares, merger, consolidation or other recapitalization of the Company. If
there is a change in control of the Company, the stock option plan committee
may accelerate the exercise date of any outstanding options; make any
outstanding options fully vested and exercisable; grant a cash bonus award
to any participant in an amount necessary to pay the exercise price of all
or any portion of the options then held by the participant; pay cash to any
or all participants (in exchange for the cancellation of their outstanding
options) in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price of
the options and the greater of the tender offer price for the underlying
stock or the fair market value of the stock on the date of the
cancellations, or make any other adjustments or amendments to the
outstanding options.
A change in control occurs when a person, partnership or corporation acting
in concert, or any or all of them, acquires more than 20 percent of the
Company's outstanding voting securities. A change in control shall not
occur if, prior to the acquisition of more than 20 percent of the Company's
voting securities, the
(footnotes continued on following page)
11
<PAGE> 15
Company's board of directors by majority vote designates the person,
partnership or corporation as an approved acquirer and resolves that a
change in control will not have occurred.
(3) Based on the closing price per share of the Company's common stock on the
date of grant, as reported on The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Composite
Transactions Reporting System.
(4) Based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model adapted for use in valuing
executive stock options, using the following assumptions:
volatility -- 32.73 percent; risk free rate of return -- 6.69 percent;
dividend yield -- 0.82 percent; and expected option life -- five years.
There were no adjustments made to the model for non-transferability or risk
of forfeiture. The actual value, if any, an executive may realize will
depend on the excess of the market price over the exercise price on the date
the option is exercised. There is no assurance the value realized by an
executive will be at or near the value estimated by the Black-Scholes model.
12
<PAGE> 16
OPTION/SAR EXERCISES AND YEAR-END VALUE TABLE
The table below provides supplemental information relating to the value
realized upon the exercise of stock options during the last fiscal year by the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above and the number
and intrinsic value of stock options held at year-end. Year-end values are based
arbitrarily on the closing price of the Company's common stock for December 31,
1996, do not reflect the actual amounts, if any, which may be realized upon the
future exercise of remaining stock options, and should not be considered
indicative of future stock performance.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF VALUE OF
SECURITIES UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING IN-THE-MONEY
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS/SARS
OPTIONS/SARS AT FY-END
AT FY-END(#)(3) ---------------
SHARES ACQUIRED --------------- EXERCISABLE/
ON EXERCISE VALUE REALIZED EXERCISABLE/ UNEXERCISABLE
NAME (#)(1) ($)(2) UNEXERCISABLE ($)(3)(4)
---- --------------- -------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond Plank.................. 35,000 577,500 58,750/101,050 489,375/506,025
G. Steven Farris............... 39,500 720,563 45,250/77,650 373,219/443,669
Mark A. Jackson................ 5,000 110,000 44,800/44,400 719,975/338,525
H. Craig Clark................. 0 0 14,500/37,150 178,390/228,716
Floyd R. Price................. 0 0 15,625/51,575 203,375/289,475
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Number of shares with respect to which stock options were exercised during
1996.
(2) Fair market value on date of exercise minus the exercise price of stock
options.
(3) There were no SARs settled or outstanding at any time during the last fiscal
year for any of the named executive officers.
(4) Based on the closing price of $35.125 per share of the Company's common
stock as reported on The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Composite
Transactions Reporting System for December 31, 1996.
13
<PAGE> 17
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS -- AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS
UNDER NON-STOCK PRICE-BASED PLANS(2)
-------------------------------------------
$50 AND $60
NUMBER OF PERFORMANCE OR $50 THRESHOLD(3) THRESHOLDS(4)
SHARES, OTHER (THRESHOLD) (TARGET/MAXIMUM)
UNITS PERIOD UNTIL ($ OR #) ($ OR #)
OR OTHER MATURATION OR ------------------- ---------------------
NAME RIGHTS(#)(1) PAYOUT $(5) # SHS (6) $(5) # SHS (6)
---- ------------ -------------- ------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond Plank............ 67,500 (1)(2) 450,000 21,000 1,125,000 47,250
G. Steven Farris......... 40,500 (1)(2) 270,000 12,600 675,000 28,350
Mark A. Jackson.......... 20,700 (1)(2) 138,000 6,440 345,000 14,490
H. Craig Clark........... 17,550 (1)(2) 117,000 5,460 292,500 12,285
Floyd R. Price........... 17,100 (1)(2) 114,000 5,320 285,000 11,970
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Conditional grants made October 31, 1996, under the terms of the 1996 Share
Price Appreciation Plan. Benefits will become payable pursuant to these
grants only if (i) the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan is approved by the
Company's shareholders, and (ii) the Company's common stock attains price
thresholds based on $50 and $60 per share, respectively, prior to January 1,
2000. Payment of benefits is further subject to the condition that the
recipient has remained continuously employed full-time with the Company from
the original date of grant through one or more of three vesting dates: the
date of attainment of the relevant price threshold, and the dates 18 months
and 36 months following such date. One-third of the benefits is payable on
each of the three vesting dates. See "Approval of the 1996 Share Price
Appreciation Plan (Proposal No. 2 on Proxy Card)" for the material terms of
the plan and these awards.
(2) No benefits will become payable if neither the $50-per-share nor the
$60-per-share price thresholds are attained prior to January 1, 2000.
(3) These cash amounts and shares are inclusive of the benefits payable upon
attainment of the $50-per-share price threshold prior to January 1, 2000.
(4) These cash amounts and shares are inclusive of the benefits payable upon
attainment of the $50-per-share and $60-per-share price thresholds prior to
January 1, 2000.
(5) The amount of cash is equal to 30 percent of the amount of benefits payable
(subject to increase to no more than 50 percent, with a corresponding
decrease in the percentage of benefits payable in shares).
(6) The number of shares issuable is equal to 70 percent of the amount of
benefits payable (subject to decrease to no less than 50 percent, with a
corresponding increase in the percentage of benefits payable in cash),
divided by $50 per share and $60 per share, respectively.
14
<PAGE> 18
THE MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT
AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This report is issued by the management development and compensation
committee of the board of directors to set out the executive compensation
policies and programs of the Company.
The objective of the Company's executive compensation program is to attract
and retain executives capable of leading the Company in a complex, competitive
and changing industry. A capable, highly-motivated senior management is an
integral part of the Company's continued success. The Company's financial
performance is in large part due to the talent and efforts of the Company's
executive officers. The program ties a significant portion of executive
compensation to the Company's success, and is primarily comprised of a base
salary, an incentive bonus, and a long-term incentive component.
BASE SALARY
The committee believes that the most effective way to compete in the
executive labor market is to offer executives a competitive base salary. To
achieve this balance, the committee analyzes each executive's compensation using
a four-step process. First, the key executive positions within the Company are
defined carefully in terms of scope and responsibility, job complexity,
knowledge and experience required, and other relevant factors. Second, the
positions are ranked internally on the basis of these definitions to establish a
logical relationship among them. Third, the committee identifies the Company's
direct competitors which it believes share comparable operations, employee
composition, and capitalization, and obtains comparative compensation data about
the identified companies from independent, national executive compensation
consultants with expertise in salary and incentive plan structure. Finally,
easily-compared positions are priced in terms of salary ranges by reviewing the
comparative industry data and other surveys, to establish relative salary ranges
for all key executive positions in the Company. Base salaries are targeted to
fall within the 50th to 75th percentiles of executive salaries paid by
comparable companies, and for 1996 they generally correspond to that range. The
committee sets each executive's salary within this range, taking into account
the individual's contribution to the Company's success, how well the
individual's responsibilities are fulfilled, the individual's specific
performance, growth in qualifications for the individual's job, and other
relevant aspects of performance.
Base salaries of all executives are generally reviewed every 12 to 24
months. Salary adjustments are made within updated, market-confirmed salary
ranges according to the committee's assessment of the executive's individual
performance and the performance of the Company as a whole. However, changes in
the circumstances of a particular executive can prompt an interim compensation
adjustment. In 1995, the committee retained the services of an outside
compensation consultant, who was proposed by management and approved by the
committee, to review the base salaries of the Company's executives and confirm
that the salaries correspond to the 50th to 75th percentile target ranges of
comparable companies. Such review included comparative data from part but not
all of the companies comprising the Secondary Oils Index reflected in the stock
performance chart set forth below, as some of those companies have integrated
operations or operate in diversified industries. Based on the factors discussed
above and taking into consideration the outside consultant's October 1995 report
on their review, eight of the Company's officers received increases in
compensation during 1996 to reflect market changes and increased
responsibilities resulting from internal corporate restructuring. Each of the
executives named in the Summary Compensation Table received an increase in base
salary during 1996.
INCENTIVE BONUS
Executives are eligible to receive an annual incentive bonus tied directly
to the Company's annual financial performance and achievement of the executive's
personal objectives. In the early months of each year, the committee establishes
specific annual corporate performance factors, and the executive officers submit
personal goals relating to cost reduction, operational improvements or other
objectively determinable
15
<PAGE> 19
goals. Personal goals must be approved by the executive's superior and the
committee as a whole. Corporate performance factors are approved by both the
committee and the full board of directors. In 1996, 75 percent of each
executive's bonus depended upon the Company's achievement of the specified
corporate performance factors, with intermediate factors ranging from zero if
the minimum factors established were not met, to 125 percent if the maximum
performance factors were achieved. The remaining 25 percent of each executive's
bonus depended upon the percentage of the executive's personal goals which were
successfully accomplished, as well as the Company's achievement of the corporate
performance factors. The Company's incentive compensation plans effectively
correlate a large portion of executive compensation to predetermined,
objectively determinable financial and managerial goals designed to translate
into shareholder value. Committee policy provides for bonuses targeted at 50
percent of each executive's base salary, subject to corporate performance.
Executive bonuses paid in 1997 were based on management's achievement
during 1996 of the corporate performance factors established by the committee
relating to earnings per share, cash flow per share, ratio of debt to total
capitalization, and other performance-related measures. The committee set the
performance factors for an achievement level of 100 percent as follows: $.75 per
share for earnings per share; $5.10 per share for cash flow per share; finding
costs of $5.20 or less per barrel of oil equivalent ("boe"); a ratio of debt to
total capitalization of less than 50 percent; and reduction of annualized
general and administrative costs to $97 million or less. The Company reported
earnings of $1.42 per share, cash flow of $5.86 per share, and finding costs of
$5.44 per boe. At year-end 1996, the Company's balance sheet reflected a debt to
total capitalization ratio of 45 percent, and annualized general and
administrative costs at year-end 1996 were $88.5 million. Management's
achievement of these corporate performance factors during the year represented
attainment of 109.6 percent of the corporate performance factors.
In addition to the Company's regular incentive compensation plan, the
committee may elect to award a special achievement bonus to an executive officer
who has rendered services during the year that substantially exceed those
normally required. Special achievement bonuses reflect the committee's decision
to reward any executive who, through extraordinary effort, has substantially
benefited the Company and its shareholders during the year. The bonuses are
awarded only in exceptional circumstances and are in amounts relative to the
benefit provided to the Company. No special achievement bonuses were awarded or
paid during 1996 to any executive officers.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE
Long-term incentives in forms relating to the Company's common stock serve
to align the interests of executive officers with the Company's shareholders by
tying a significant portion of each executive's total long-term compensation to
the continued growth of the Company and appreciation of its common stock. In
1996, the Company's executives received stock option grants under the Company's
1995 Stock Option Plan and, subject to shareholder approval, conditional grants
under the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan. The grants to the Company's
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table presented above are reflected
in the Option/SAR Grants Table and in the Long-Term Incentive Plans Awards
Table.
Stock options and conditional grants awarded to executives are
proportionate to each executive's base salary and benefit them only if
shareholders also benefit from appreciating stock prices. Individual stock
option grants are targeted at the 50th percentile of similar plans maintained by
comparable companies, taking into account options previously granted, vest over
four years, and have an exercise price equal to the per share closing price of
the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Conditional grants are intended
to provide specific individual incentives to focus on achieving significant
share price appreciation for the balance of the decade. Benefits are payable
under the conditional grants only if (i) the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan
is approved by the Company's shareholders, and (ii) the Company's common stock
attains price goals based on $50 and $60 per share, respectively, prior to
January 1, 2000. See "Approval of the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan
(Proposal No. 2 on Proxy Card)".
16
<PAGE> 20
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Raymond Plank, the Company's chief executive officer, directs Apache's
intensive, on-going programs to monitor, analyze and respond creatively to the
changes and new requirements in the oil and gas industry. His activities include
leadership in implementing the Company's capital expenditure programs, and
maintenance of sound business relationships with the management of many of the
nation's large oil and gas companies. These relationships are important to
Apache's strategic alliances and the Company's acquisition approach, which
emphasizes privately negotiated transactions that develop and achieve mutual
business benefits. Mr. Plank has also been responsible for the Company's
developing interest and successful exploration efforts going forward in
international areas such as Egypt, Australia, Indonesia, China, and the Ivory
Coast. As an active chief executive, he oversees all of the Company's major
business units and guides and develops Apache's senior management. Reporting
directly to Mr. Plank are the president, the vice president and chief financial
officer, and the vice president and general counsel.
Mr. Plank's base salary, incentive bonus and long-term incentives are
determined in the same manner as is the compensation for the Company's other
executive officers and are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above.
His last base salary adjustment was effective January 1, 1996; and his bonus
paid in 1997 was based on the Company's 1996 performance, as discussed above.
Mr. Plank, as the Company's most senior executive officer, prepares his personal
goals with the consultation of the committee, and periodically reports to the
committee on his progress toward the achievement of those goals. Mr. Plank's
employment agreement prohibits the reduction of his salary below a specified
amount. See "Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and
Change-in-Control Arrangements."
Mr. Plank's 1996 base salary was within the committee's percentile targets
and took into account the following: Mr. Plank's active role in the Company's
management and leadership of successful acquisitions; the Company's financial
performance during 1995; the challenges and expectations for the Company in
1996; Mr. Plank's recognized stature as a spokesman for the oil and gas
industry; and his role as a Company founder and 42 years of service as the
Company's senior executive officer. Mr. Plank's bonus represented 99 percent of
his eligible bonus amount under the incentive compensation plan, reflecting the
Company's overall achievement of 109.6 percent of corporate performance factors
and the achievement of 95 percent of his personal goals.
OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1993
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 ("OBRA") imposes a limit,
with certain exceptions, on the amount that a publicly held corporation may
deduct in any tax year commencing on or after January 1, 1994, for the
compensation paid or accrued with respect to its chief executive officer and its
four most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief executive
officer). In December 1995, the Internal Revenue Service issued final
regulations implementing the legislation, with the regulations effective as of
January 1, 1994. Certain performance-based compensation is specifically exempt
from the limit if it meets the requirements contained in these final
regulations. The committee continues to review the Company's compensation plans
based upon these regulations and, from time to time, determines what further
actions or changes to the Company's compensations plans, if any, are
appropriate. The Company anticipates no significant loss of deductibility
attributable to compensation paid or accrued in 1996.
Grants of stock options made under the Company's 1990 Stock Incentive Plan
or under the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan qualify as "performance-based"
under the regulations. If the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan is approved by
the Company's shareholders, the conditional awards made under that plan will
also qualify as performance-based. The Company's existing incentive compensation
plans and special achievement bonuses do not currently meet the requirements of
the regulations, although they are designed to reward the contribution and
performance of employees and to provide a meaningful incentive for achieving the
Company's goals, which in turn enhances shareholder value. While the committee
cannot predict with certainty how the Company's compensation policies may be
further impacted by OBRA, it is anticipated that executive compensation paid or
accrued pursuant to any of the Company's compensation plans which do not
17
<PAGE> 21
meet the requirements of the regulations will not result in any significant loss
of tax deductions in the foreseeable future.
SUMMARY
According to information provided to the committee in October 1995 by its
independent compensation consultant, the amount of the Company's cash
compensation paid to all of its executive officers during 1996 was in
approximately the 70th percentile of all comparable companies. As shown on the
Performance Graph following this report, the shareholders have enjoyed a
rewarding cumulative annual return over the last five years, with the Company's
common stock outperforming both the Dow Jones Secondary Oil Stock Index and the
Standard & Poor's Composite 500 Stock Index. These are visible measures of
management's enhancement of shareholder value. Viewed in light of the Company's
performance, the committee believes that its current executive compensation
policy is successful in providing shareholders with talented, dedicated
executives at competitive compensation levels.
March 10, 1997 Management Development and
Compensation Committee
Frederick M. Bohen
Virgil B. Day
John A. Kocur
Joseph A. Rice
18
<PAGE> 22
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following stock price performance graph is included in accordance with
the Commission's executive compensation disclosure rules and is intended to
allow shareholders to review the Company's executive compensation policies in
light of corresponding shareholder returns, expressed in terms of the
appreciation of the Company's common stock relative to two broad-based stock
performance indices. The information is included for historical comparative
purposes only and should not be considered indicative of future stock
performance. The graph compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative
total shareholder return on the Company's common stock with the cumulative total
return of the Standard & Poor's Composite 500 Stock Index and of the Dow Jones
Secondary Oils Stock Index from December 31, 1991 through December 31, 1996.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
S & P'S DJ SECONDARY
APACHE COMPOSITE 500 OILS STOCK
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, CORPORATION STOCK INDEX INDEX
1991 100 100 100
1992 120 108 101
1993 151 118 112
1994 164 120 108
1995 195 165 125
1996 235 203 154
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE> 23
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND TERMINATION OF
EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
Mr. Raymond Plank serves the Company under an employment agreement entered
into in December 1975, amended and restated in December 1990, and amended in
April 1996. The agreement has an undefined term and is terminable at will by the
Company's board of directors. Mr. Plank's annual compensation under the
agreement is determined by the board of directors, but may not be less than
$450,000. If his service as director and chief executive officer is terminated
by the board of directors, Mr. Plank will serve as advisor and consultant to the
Company for the remainder of his life at annual compensation equal to 50 percent
of his then-current annual compensation and will receive health, dental and
vision benefits for himself, his spouse and his eligible dependents during the
remainder of his life. Pursuant to the agreement, and in exchange for
surrendering life insurance coverage, an annuity was purchased for Mr. Plank
which pays $31,500 annually until 2008. Mr. Plank has agreed not to render
service to any of the Company's competitors for the entire period covered by the
agreement. Upon Mr. Plank's death, a total of $750,000 shall be paid to (i) his
designee in equal monthly installments over ten years, or (ii) if he has made no
designation, in a lump sum to his estate.
Mr. Farris serves the Company pursuant to an employment agreement, dated
June 6, 1988, under which he receives a current annual salary of $450,000. The
agreement has an undefined term and may be terminated by either the Company or
Mr. Farris on 30 days advance written notice. If Mr. Farris' employment is
terminated without cause, or if he terminates his employment within 30 days of a
reduction in his salary without a proportionate reduction in the salaries of all
other Company executives, Mr. Farris will receive, for 36 months thereafter, (i)
an amount equal to his base salary as it existed 60 days prior to termination
and (ii) 50 percent of the maximum amount for which he qualified under the
Company's incentive compensation plan, calculated on his base compensation as it
existed 60 days prior to termination. In the event of Mr. Farris' death during
the 36-month period, the amounts described above shall be paid to his heirs or
estate. Mr. Farris has agreed not to render service to any of the Company's
competitors for the term of his employment or, unless he is terminated without
cause, for 36 months thereafter.
In addition to the foregoing, the Company has established an income
continuance plan. The plan provides that all officers of the Company, including
the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, and all employees who have
either reached the age of 40, served the Company for more than ten years, or
have been designated for participation based upon special skills or experience,
will receive monthly payments approximating their monthly income and continued
medical and health benefits from the Company for up to two years, if their
employment is terminated as a result of a "change in control" of the Company, as
defined in the plan.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Frederick M. Bohen, Virgil B. Day, John A. Kocur and Joseph A. Rice served
on the management development and compensation committee of the Company's board
of directors for the past fiscal year.
Mr. Kocur, a member of the committee since September 1991 and a director of
the Company since 1977, retired as an executive officer in June 1991. Pursuant
to the terms of an employment agreement in place at the time of his retirement,
Mr. Kocur and his spouse receive health, dental and vision benefits throughout
his life.
20
<PAGE> 24
CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
The law firm of Vedder, Price, Kaufman, Kammholz & Day ("Vedder, Price")
was retained by the Company during 1996 to provide certain legal services and
was paid approximately $50,000 by the Company during 1996. Virgil B. Day, a
member of the Company's board of directors, is a senior partner of Vedder,
Price.
George D. Lawrence Jr., nominee for re-election to the Company's board of
directors and the former president and chief executive officer of The Phoenix
Resource Companies, Inc. ("Phoenix"), joined Apache's board in conjunction with
the Company's acquisition of Phoenix, an oil and gas company operating primarily
in the Arab Republic of Egypt, by a merger (the "Merger") on May 20, 1996
through which Phoenix became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apache. Merger
consideration totaled $396.3 million, consisting of approximately 12,190,000
shares of the Company's common stock valued at $26.00 per share, $14.9 million
of net value associated with Phoenix stock options assumed by Apache, and $64.5
million in cash.
Upon consummation of the Merger, Apache assumed certain Phoenix stock
options that remained outstanding on May 20, 1996. Such options include those
granted to Mr. Lawrence pursuant to Phoenix's 1990 Employee Stock Option Plan
exercisable for a total of 243,750 shares of Apache common stock at prices
ranging from $3.46 to $24.83 per share.
One of Phoenix's principal assets is its interest in the Qarun oil and gas
concession, located in the Western Desert of Egypt, for which Phoenix is
operator and in which Apache also is a participant. For the portion of 1996
prior to the Merger, the Company received approximately $3,038,100 for its
proportionate share of revenues and paid approximately $5,766,600 for its
proportionate share of capital expenditures and approximately $416,400 for its
proportionate share of operating costs relating to the Qarun concession.
In the normal course of business, Apache paid to Maralo, Inc. ("Maralo")
during 1996 approximately $238,300 for Apache's proportionate share of drilling
and workover costs and routine expenses relating to 16 oil and gas wells in
which Apache owns interests and for which Maralo is operator, and the Company
received approximately $309,700 in 1996 for its proportionate share of revenues
from such wells, of which approximately $49,300 was paid directly to Apache by
Maralo or related entities. During 1996, Apache paid approximately $5,200 to
Maralo relating to four oil and gas wells in which Maralo owns royalty interests
and for which the Company is operator. Mary Ralph Lowe, a member of the
Company's board of directors, is president, chief executive officer and sole
shareholder of Maralo.
Mr. Roger B. Rice, the Company's former vice president-human resources and
administration, resigned in October 1996, and subsequently entered into an
agreement to serve the Company in a non-executive, consulting capacity through
June 1998. He received a non-refundable payment of $70,000 in January 1997, and
will receive $190,000 per year for the term of the agreement, or an aggregate of
approximately $355,000. In addition, Mr. Rice (i) receives medical, dental,
vision, life insurance and disability benefits through June 1998, on the same
terms as are extended to the Company's executives, and (ii) was granted SARs in
January 1997 relating to 17,425 shares of Apache's common stock at SAR prices
ranging from $26.625 to $34.00.
21
<PAGE> 25
APPROVAL OF
THE 1996 SHARE PRICE APPRECIATION PLAN
(PROPOSAL NO. 2 ON PROXY CARD)
The board of directors recommends that the shareholders of the Company
approve the 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan (the "Share Appreciation Plan").
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company's
common stock present, in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote at
the annual meeting is required to approve the Share Appreciation Plan.
The board of directors believes that the Company should focus the energies
of its key employees on achieving significant share price appreciation for the
balance of the decade by providing for a meaningful compensation program tied to
future stock performance. After consideration of a number of alternatives, the
board of directors adopted the Share Appreciation Plan on October 31, 1996,
subject to approval by shareholders at the next annual meeting, and authorized
issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock pursuant
thereto, subject to adjustment by the stock option plan committee of the board
of directors (the "Committee"). The primary purpose of the Share Appreciation
Plan is to provide key employees specific individual incentives to work toward
attainment of a $60 per share price for Apache common stock prior to January 1,
2000, with an intermediate goal of $50 per share. If either of such prices is
attained, the deferred payment of benefits under the Share Appreciation Plan
would also add to existing incentives established by the Company's other benefit
plans for its key employees to continue in the long-term service of the Company.
As of the date hereof, conditional grants under the Share Appreciation Plan
("Conditional Grants") have been made by the Committee to 244 officers and key
employees of the Company, also subject to shareholder approval. Mr. Plank and
Mr. Farris, both of whom serve as executive officers and directors of the
Company, are among the recipients of such Conditional Grants. See the New Plan
Benefits Table below for information concerning Conditional Grants made under
the Share Appreciation Plan to the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table.
The material features of the Share Appreciation Plan are summarized below.
However, such description is entirely subject to the detailed provisions of the
Share Appreciation Plan included herein as Appendix A.
ADMINISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY
The Share Appreciation Plan is administered by the Committee, which is
composed of outside, non-employee directors. The Committee selects the employees
who will receive Conditional Grants, specifies the amounts thereof, and is
authorized to adopt rules, guidelines and practices governing the Share
Appreciation Plan and to interpret the provisions of the Share Appreciation Plan
and any related agreements. The decisions of the Committee are final. The Share
Appreciation Plan empowers the Committee, from time to time until December 31,
1998, unless earlier terminated by the board of directors, to make Conditional
Grants to full-time key employees of the Company and its affiliates upon whose
judgment, initiative and efforts the Company is, or will become, largely
dependent for the successful conduct of its business.
ELEMENTS OF THE SHARE APPRECIATION PLAN
The Share Appreciation Plan provides that recipients of Conditional Grants
will be entitled to receive specified numbers of shares of Apache common stock
(payable in stock and cash) if the Company's common stock closes for any ten of
30 consecutive trading days at or above the prices of $50 and $60 per share,
respectively, prior to January 1, 2000. (Each of the $50- and $60-per-share
trading conditions is herein called a "Price Threshold".)
The number of shares subject to each outstanding Conditional Grant was
determined at the date of grant by the Committee based upon a recipient's annual
base salary, as limited by the terms of the Share Appreciation Plan. For the
$50-per-share Price Threshold, the number of shares was determined by
multiplying a recipient's annual base salary by two, and dividing the product by
$50. For the $60-per-share Price Threshold, the number of shares was determined
by multiplying a recipient's annual base salary by three,
22
<PAGE> 26
and dividing the product by $60. The Committee, in its discretion, is authorized
to reduce future Conditional Grants to pro rate benefits as it deems
appropriate. Approximately 30 percent of each Conditional Grant (subject to
increase, in the discretion of the Committee, to no more than 50 percent to take
into account, among other things, a recipient's tax burdens) will be payable in
cash based upon the market value of the stock on the date of payment and the
remainder by issuance of shares of Apache common stock (not to exceed, in the
aggregate, 2,000,000 shares) with fractional shares being paid in cash. The
value of shares on the dates of their respective issuances may, as a result of
market price fluctuations, be greater or less than $50 or $60, respectively.
If neither Price Threshold is attained prior to January 1, 2000, the
Conditional Grants will lapse without any benefit having been issued and/or paid
to the holders thereof.
Participants in the Share Appreciation Plan may hold only one Conditional
Grant at any time. Issuance and/or payment of the shares and cash will be
subject to the condition that the recipient has remained continuously employed
full-time with the Company from the date of the Conditional Grant through the
dates of vesting, which occur upon attainment of the relevant Price Threshold,
and the dates which are 18 months and 36 months following such date,
respectively. If all conditions specified in the Share Appreciation Plan and the
Conditional Grant have been satisfied, the participant will be entitled to
receive on each of such three dates one-third of the total number of shares
and/or amount of cash payable as a result of attainment of the applicable Price
Threshold. If Conditional Grants are made to foreign citizens or residents,
certain additional conditions may be imposed.
In the event of the retirement, death or disability, of a Conditional Grant
recipient following the attainment of a Price Threshold, all benefits will vest
immediately, but payment thereof will not be accelerated. If a Conditional Grant
recipient ceases to be in the continuous, full-time employment of the Company
for any other reason (including discharge with or without cause), all of such
recipient's rights to receive future benefits from a Conditional Grant that have
not vested shall be forfeited. If employment is terminated for any reason
(including discharge, retirement, death or disability) prior to attainment of a
Price Threshold, no benefits will thereafter be payable pursuant to that
recipient's Conditional Grant. Conditional Grants are generally nontransferable.
The Committee may, in its sole discretion, adjust the Price Thresholds and
the shares authorized for issuance pursuant to the Share Appreciation Plan to
take into account any capital restructuring of the Company. In the event of a
reorganization, liquidation or a change in control of the Company, the Committee
may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting and payment of any
Conditional Grant benefits if the relevant Price Threshold has first been
attained. A change in control occurs when a person or group acquires more than
20 percent of the Company's outstanding voting securities without first having
been approved by the Company's board of directors. The change in control
provisions may in certain circumstances discourage a takeover of the Company or
make it more difficult or expensive, and may have a similar effect on removal of
incumbent management. The change in control provisions are not the result of
management's knowledge of any specific efforts to accumulate shares of the
Company's common stock or to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger,
tender offer, solicitation of proxies or consents or otherwise, nor are they
part of a plan to implement a series of anti-takeover measures.
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION OF THE SHARE APPRECIATION PLAN
The board of directors may at any time terminate, and may from time to time
amend or modify the Share Appreciation Plan. No amendment or modification may
become effective without approval by the shareholders, if shareholder approval
is required by statues or regulations, or if the Company, on advice of counsel,
determines that shareholder approval is otherwise necessary or desirable. No
amendment, modification or termination will in any manner adversely affect any
outstanding Conditional Grant without the consent of the recipient holding the
Conditional Grant. Unless earlier terminated, Conditional Grants may be made
under the Share Appreciation Plan until December 31, 1998.
23
<PAGE> 27
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The Company has been advised that participants in the Share Appreciation
Plan will not be subject to tax upon receipt of a Conditional Grant, and the
Company will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction by reason of a
Conditional Grant. When stock and/or cash is issued or paid to a recipient
pursuant to a Conditional Grant, the market value of the shares and the amount
of cash received will be treated as taxable compensation to the recipient, and
the total of such compensation will be subject to applicable tax withholding.
The Company will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction equal to the
amount of the recipient's taxable compensation.
The Share Appreciation Plan and the Conditional Grants made thereunder have
been structured to qualify as "performance-based" pursuant to the regulations
relating to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code as amended by the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
BENEFITS UNDER THE SHARE APPRECIATION PLAN
The following table provides information concerning Conditional Grants
made, subject to shareholder approval, under the Share Appreciation Plan to the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table:
NEW PLAN BENEFITS -- SHARE APPRECIATION PLAN
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE THRESHOLD(S) ATTAINED
PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000 (1)
----------------------------------------------------
$50 THRESHOLD(2) $50 AND $60 THRESHOLDS(3)
----------------------- -------------------------
NAME AND POSITION CASH(4) # SHS.(5) CASH(4) # SHS.(5)
----------------- ---------- --------- ----------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond Plank................................ $ 450,000 21,000 $1,125,000 47,250
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
G. Steven Farris............................. 270,000 12,600 675,000 28,350
President and Chief Operating Officer
Mark A. Jackson.............................. 138,000 6,440 345,000 14,490
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
H. Craig Clark............................... 117,000 5,460 292,500 12,285
Vice President, North American Exploration
and Production
Floyd R. Price............................... 114,000 5,320 285,000 11,970
Vice President, International Exploration
and Production
Executive Officer Group(6)................... 1,750,680 81,698 4,376,700 183,821
Non-Executive Director Group(6).............. 0 0 0 0
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group(6)...... 12,972,705 605,393 32,431,857 1,362,138
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) No benefits will become payable if the $50-per-share Price Threshold is not
attained prior to January 1, 2000.
(2) These share and cash amounts are inclusive of the benefits payable upon
attainment of the $50-per-share Price Threshold.
(3) These share and cash amounts are inclusive of the benefits payable upon
attainment of both the $50-per-share and $60-per-share Price Thresholds.
(footnotes continued on following page)
24
<PAGE> 28
(4) The amount of cash is equal to 30 percent of the amount of benefits payable
(subject to increase, in the sole discretion of the Committee, to no more
than 50 percent, with a corresponding decrease in the percentage of benefits
payable in shares).
(5) The number of shares issuable is equal to 70 percent of the amount of
benefits payable (subject to decrease, in the sole discretion of the
Committee, to no less than 50 percent, with a corresponding increase in the
percentage of benefits payable in cash), divided by $50 per share and $60
per share, respectively.
(6) Upon issuance of shares and payment of cash pursuant to Conditional Grants,
the Company will recognize compensation expense equal to the value of the
stock issued on the date the Price Threshold is attained (i.e., $50 or $60,
as appropriate) and the actual amount of cash paid.
RECOMMENDATION AND REQUIRED AFFIRMATIVE VOTE
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the
Company's common stock voted, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the
1997 annual meeting is required to approve the Share Appreciation Plan. The
Share Appreciation Plan and the Conditional Grants made thereunder are
conditional upon and of no force or effect unless the Share Appreciation Plan
receives approval by the requisite vote of shareholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL
TO APPROVE THE SHARE APPRECIATION PLAN.
25
<PAGE> 29
1996 PERFORMANCE STOCK OPTION PLAN
Concurrent with adoption of the Share Appreciation Plan, the board of
directors adopted the 1996 Performance Stock Option Plan (the "1996 Option
Plan") and authorized issuance of up to 1,300,000 shares of the Company's common
stock pursuant thereto. (Implementation of the 1996 Stock Option Plan did not
require shareholder approval.) Generally, subject to Committee discretion,
employees of Apache who do not receive Conditional Grants under the Share
Appreciation Plan may receive options under the 1996 Option Plan. The 1996
Option Plan provides for issuance of options in two categories. First Category
Options are for 200 shares of the Company's common stock. Second Category
Options are for a number of shares of the Company's common stock calculated to
return to the holder, upon exercise at each of $50 per share and $60 per share,
respectively, benefits approximately equal in value to their annual base salary
(for a total value of approximately two times the holder's annual base salary).
All options under the 1996 Option Plan are for a term of ten years and, upon
satisfaction of all conditions (including employment), become exercisable nine
and one-half years after the date of grant unless exercisability is accelerated.
If all conditions are met and the price of the Company's common stock attains
the $50-per-share Price Threshold, a portion of the options will become
exercisable immediately. The remaining portion of the options becomes
exercisable upon attainment of the $60-per-share Price Threshold. Currently, 931
employees hold options granted under the 1996 Stock Option Plan covering a total
of 1,060,592 shares of the Company's common stock, which includes 797 employees
holding First Category Options covering 159,400 shares, and 134 employees
holding Second Category Options covering 901,192 shares.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Arthur Andersen LLP was the Company's independent public accounting firm
for the fiscal year 1996 and has been selected to continue in that capacity for
1997. Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP will be present at the annual
meeting and will have an opportunity (i) to make a statement if they desire to
do so and (ii) to respond to appropriate questions.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholders are entitled to submit proposals on matters appropriate for
shareholder action consistent with regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Company's bylaws. Should a shareholder wish to have a
proposal appear in the Company's proxy statement for next year's annual meeting,
under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, it must be
received by the Company's corporate secretary (at 2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite
100, Houston, Texas 77056-4400) on or before November 28, 1997.
26
<PAGE> 30
OTHER BUSINESS
All items of business intended to be brought before the meeting are set
forth in this proxy statement. Management knows of no other business to be
presented. If other matters of business not presently known to management are
properly raised at the meeting, the proxies will vote on the matters in
accordance with the best judgment of the proxy holders.
By order of the Board of Directors
APACHE CORPORATION
/s/ C. L. PEPER
-------------------------
C. L. PEPER
Corporate Secretary
NOTE: Shareholders are requested to complete, sign, date and promptly
return the enclosed proxy card, using the postage-paid business reply envelope
provided.
27
<PAGE> 31
APPENDIX A
APACHE CORPORATION
1996 SHARE PRICE APPRECIATION PLAN
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED JANUARY 14, 1997
EFFECTIVE AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1996
A-1
<PAGE> 32
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Section 1 -- Introduction......................................................... A-3
1.1 Establishment...................................................... A-3
1.2 Purposes........................................................... A-3
1.3 Effective Date..................................................... A-3
Section 2 -- Definitions.......................................................... A-3
2.1 Definitions........................................................ A-3
2.2 Headings; Gender and Number........................................ A-4
Section 3 -- Plan Administration.................................................. A-4
Section 4 -- Stock Subject to the Plan............................................ A-5
4.1 Number of Shares................................................... A-5
4.2 Other Shares of Stock.............................................. A-5
4.3 Certain Adjustments................................................ A-5
Section 5 -- Reorganization or Liquidation........................................ A-5
Section 6 -- Participation........................................................ A-6
Section 7 -- Conditional Grants................................................... A-6
7.1 Grants............................................................. A-6
7.2 Conditional Grant Agreements....................................... A-6
7.2.1 Conditional Grant Terms..................................... A-6
7.2.2 Initial Amount Payments..................................... A-6
7.2.3 Final Amount Payments....................................... A-7
7.3 Termination of Employment, Death, Disability, etc.................. A-7
7.4 Transferability.................................................... A-8
7.5 Tax Withholding.................................................... A-8
7.6 Subsequent Conditional Grant Agreements............................ A-8
7.7 Stockholder Privileges............................................. A-8
Section 8 -- Change in Control.................................................... A-8
8.1 In General......................................................... A-8
8.2 Limitation on Payments............................................. A-9
8.3 Definition......................................................... A-9
Section 9 -- Rights of Employees; Participants.................................... A-9
9.1 Employment......................................................... A-9
9.2 Nontransferability................................................. A-9
Section 10 -- General Restrictions................................................ A-9
10.1 Investment Representations......................................... A-9
10.2 Compliance with Securities Laws.................................... A-10
Section 11 -- Other Employee Benefits............................................. A-10
Section 12 -- Plan Amendment, Modification and Termination........................ A-10
Section 13 -- Withholding......................................................... A-10
Section 14 -- Requirements of Law................................................. A-10
14.1 Requirements of Law................................................ A-10
14.2 Federal Securities Laws Requirements............................... A-10
14.3 Governing Law...................................................... A-10
Section 15 -- Duration of the Plan................................................ A-11
</TABLE>
A-2
<PAGE> 33
APACHE CORPORATION
1996 SHARE PRICE APPRECIATION PLAN
SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Establishment. Apache Corporation, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to, together with its Affiliated Corporations (as defined in Section
2.1 hereof) as the "Company" except where the context otherwise requires),
hereby establishes the Apache Corporation 1996 Share Price Appreciation Plan
(the "Plan") for certain key employees of the Company.
1.2 Purposes. The primary purpose of this Plan is to provide the
participating key employees of the Company with added incentives to focus their
energies on achieving significant stock price appreciation for the balance of
the decade by providing a meaningful stock based performance plan which provides
specific incentives to such participants to attain the prices of $50 and $60 per
share of Apache Corporation common stock, respectively, before January 1, 2000.
Additional purposes of this Plan include the retention of existing key employees
and as an additional inducement in the recruitment of talented personnel in a
competitive environment.
1.3 Effective Date. The Effective Date of the Plan (the "Effective Date")
shall be October 31, 1996. This Plan and each Conditional Grant awarded
hereunder is conditioned on and shall be of no force or effect until the Plan is
approved by the stockholders of the Company. The Committee (as defined in
Section 2.1 hereof) may award Conditional Grants, the entitlement to which shall
be expressly subject to the condition that the Plan shall have been approved by
the stockholders of the Company.
SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:
"Affiliated Corporation" means any corporation or other entity
(including but not limited to a partnership) which is affiliated with
Apache Corporation through stock ownership or otherwise and is treated as a
common employer under the provisions of Sections 414(b) and (c) or any
successor section(s) of the Internal Revenue Code.
"Conditional Grant" means the conditional entitlement, evidenced by an
executed Conditional Grant Agreement between the Company and a Participant,
to receive all or a portion of an Initial Amount and Final Amount, subject
to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 and the other
provisions of this Plan.
"Conditional Grant Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section
7.1.
"Base Salary" means, with regard to any Participant, such
Participant's base compensation as an employee of the Company at the date
of award of a Conditional Grant, without regard to any bonus, pension,
profit sharing, stock option, life insurance or salary continuation plan
which the Participant either receives or is otherwise entitled to have paid
on his behalf.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Committee" means a Committee of the Board, which is empowered
hereunder to administer the Plan. The Committee shall be constituted at all
times so as to permit the Plan to be administered by "outside directors"
(as defined in Section 162(m) or any successor section(s) of the Internal
Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) and "non-employee
directors" (as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) and may be the Stock Option Plan Committee of the Board,
provided it meets the aforementioned requirements.
A-3
<PAGE> 34
"Eligible Employees" means those full-time key employees (including,
without limitation, officers and directors who are also employees) of the
Company or any division thereof, upon whose judgment, initiative and
efforts the Company is, or will become, largely dependent for the
successful conduct of its business.
"Fair Market Value" means the closing price of the Stock as reported
on The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Composite Transactions Reporting
System for a particular date. If there are no Stock transactions on such
date, the Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the immediately
preceding date on which there were Stock transactions.
"Final Price Threshold Date" means the last of any 10 trading days
(which need not be consecutive) during any period of 30 consecutive trading
days occurring prior to January 1, 2000, but not thereafter, on each of
which 10 days the closing price of the Stock as reported on The New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. Composite Transactions Reporting System has equaled or
exceeded $60 per share. If the above trading criteria is met more than
once, the first occurrence shall be deemed to be the Final Price Threshold
Date.
"Final Amount" means with regard to any Participant, such number of
shares of Stock (rounded to the nearest full share) which equals three (3)
times such Participant's Base Salary divided by $60, which shall be fixed
and not subject to adjustment due to market fluctuation.
"Initial Price Threshold Date" means the last of any 10 trading days
(which need not be consecutive) during any period of 30 consecutive trading
days occurring prior to January 1, 2000, but not thereafter, on each of
which 10 days the closing price of the Stock as reported on The New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. Composite Transactions Reporting System has equaled or
exceeded $50 per share. If the above trading criteria is met more than
once, the first occurrence shall be deemed to be the Initial Price
Threshold Date.
"Initial Amount" means with regard to any Participant, such number of
shares of Stock (rounded to the nearest full share) which equals two (2)
times such Participant's Base Salary divided by $50, which shall be fixed
and not subject to adjustment due to market fluctuation.
"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it
may be amended from time to time.
"Participant" means an Eligible Employee designated by the Committee
from time to time during the term of the Plan to receive a Conditional
Grant under the Plan.
"Price Threshold Date" means either the Initial Price Threshold Date
or the Final Price Threshold Date, as the context may require.
"Stock" means the $1.25 par value Common Stock of the Company.
2.2 Headings; Gender and Number. The headings contained in the Plan are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
masculine gender shall also include the feminine gender, and the definition of
any term herein in the singular shall also include the plural.
SECTION 3
PLAN ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. In accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, select the
Participants from among the Eligible Employees, determine and approve the
Conditional Grants to be awarded pursuant to the Plan, the time at which such
Conditional Grants are to be awarded, and establish such other terms and
requirements as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable and consistent
with the terms of the Plan. The Committee shall determine the form or forms of
the Conditional Grant Agreements with Participants which shall evidence the
particular provisions, terms, conditions, rights and duties of the Company and
the Participants with respect to Conditional Grants
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awarded pursuant to the Plan, which provisions need not be identical except as
may be provided herein. The Committee may from time to time adopt such rules and
regulations for carrying out the purposes of the Plan as it may deem proper and
in the best interests of the Company. The Committee may correct any defect,
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, or in any
agreement entered into hereunder, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem
expedient and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. No member
of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good
faith. The determinations, interpretations and other actions of the Committee
pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be binding and conclusive for all
purposes and on all persons.
The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162 or any
successor section(s) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 162") as to any
"covered employee" as defined in Section 162, and shall be administered,
interpreted and construed consistently therewith. The Committee is authorized to
take such additional action, if any, that may be required to ensure that the
Plan satisfies the requirements of Section 162 and the regulations promulgated
or revenue rulings published thereunder.
SECTION 4
STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 Number of Shares. Subject to Section 7.1 and Section 4.3, two million
(2,000,000) shares of Stock are authorized for issuance under the Plan in
accordance with its terms and subject to such restrictions or other provisions
as the Committee may from time to time deem necessary. This authorization may be
increased from time to time by approval of the Board and the stockholders of the
Company if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such stockholder approval
is required. Shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to the terms of the
Conditional Grants awarded hereunder shall be applied to reduce the maximum
number of shares of Stock remaining available for use under the Plan. The
Company shall at all times during the term of the Plan and while any Conditional
Grants are outstanding retain as authorized and unissued Stock and/or Stock in
the Company's treasury, at least the number of shares from time to time required
under the provisions of the Plan, or otherwise assure itself of its ability to
perform its obligations hereunder.
4.2 Other Shares of Stock. Any shares of Stock that are subject to a
Conditional Grant which expires, is forfeited, is cancelled, or for any reason
is terminated, and any shares of Stock that for any other reason are not issued
to a Participant or are forfeited shall automatically become available for use
under the Plan.
4.3 Certain Adjustments. If the Company shall at any time increase or
decrease the number of its outstanding shares of Stock or change in any way the
rights and privileges of such shares by means of a Stock dividend or any other
distribution upon such shares payable in Stock, or through a Stock split,
subdivision, consolidation, combination, reclassification or recapitalization
involving the Stock (hereinafter a "capital restructuring"), then for purposes
of determining the entitlement to payments under Section 7, (i) the number of
shares authorized for issuance under this Section 4, and (ii) the $50 per share
amount and $60 per share amount contained, respectively, in Section 7.2.2(c) and
Section 7.2.3(c) shall be, in each case, equitably and, if deemed appropriate,
proportionally adjusted to take into account any capital restructuring. Any
adjustment under this Section shall be made by the Committee, whose
determination with regard thereto shall be final and binding upon all parties.
SECTION 5
REORGANIZATION OR LIQUIDATION
In the event that the Company is merged or consolidated with another
corporation and the Company is not the surviving corporation, or if all or
substantially all of the assets or more than 20 percent of the outstanding
voting stock of the Company is acquired by any other corporation, business
entity or person, or in case of a reorganization (other than a reorganization
under the United States Bankruptcy Code) or liquidation of the Company, and if
the provisions of Section 8 hereof do not apply, the Committee, or the board of
directors of any corporation assuming the obligations of the Company, shall, as
to the Plan and outstanding
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Conditional Grants either (i) make appropriate provision for the adoption and
continuation of the Plan by the acquiring or successor corporation and for the
protection of any such outstanding Conditional Grants by the substitution on an
equitable basis of appropriate stock of the Company or of the merged,
consolidated or otherwise reorganized corporation which will be issuable with
respect to the Stock, provided that no additional benefits shall be conferred
upon the Participants holding such Conditional Grants as a result of such
substitution, or (ii) provided that a Price Threshold Date has occurred, upon
written notice to the Participants, the Committee may accelerate the vesting and
payment dates of the entitlement to receive cash and Stock under outstanding
Conditional Grants so that all such existing entitlements are paid prior to any
such event. In the latter event, such acceleration shall only apply to
entitlements to cash and Stock payable as the result of the occurrence of the
most recent Price Threshold Date and shall not by such acceleration, deem the
occurrence of a Price Threshold Date that has not occurred by the date of the
notice.
SECTION 6
PARTICIPATION
Participants in the Plan shall be those Eligible Employees who, in the
judgment of the Committee, are performing, or during the term of their incentive
arrangement are expected to perform, vital services in the management, operation
and development of the Company or an Affiliated Corporation, and significantly
contribute, or are expected to significantly contribute, to the achievement of
the Company's long-term corporate economic objectives. Upon determination by the
Committee that a Conditional Grant is to be awarded to a Participant, written
notice shall be given to such person, specifying the terms, conditions, rights
and duties related thereto. Conditional Grants shall be deemed to be awarded as
of the date specified in the granting resolution of the Committee, which date
shall be the date of the Conditional Grant Agreement with the Participant. In
the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the Plan and any
Conditional Grant Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.
SECTION 7
CONDITIONAL GRANTS
7.1 Grants. Each Participant may be awarded only one Conditional Grant
under this Plan. Each Conditional Grant awarded by the Committee shall be
evidenced by a written agreement entered into by the Company and the Participant
to whom the Conditional Grant is awarded (the "Conditional Grant Agreement"),
which shall contain the terms and conditions set out in this Section 7, as well
as such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee
may consider appropriate.
7.2 Conditional Grant Agreements. Each Conditional Grant Agreement entered
into by the Company and the Participants shall contain at least the following
terms and conditions.
7.2.1 Conditional Grant Terms. Each Conditional Grant Agreement evidencing
a Conditional Grant shall entitle the Participant to a conditional payment of
cash and issuance of Stock following the occurrence of one or both of the Price
Threshold Dates, as set forth below.
(a) If at any time prior to January 1, 2000, the Initial Price
Threshold Date occurs, the Participant may become entitled to receive a
portion or all of the Initial Amount payable in accordance with the payment
schedule and as otherwise set out in Section 7.2.2.
(b) If at any time prior to January 1, 2000, the Final Price Threshold
Date occurs, the Participant may become entitled to receive a portion or
all of the Final Amount payable in accordance with the payment schedule and
as otherwise set out in Section 7.2.3.
7.2.2 Initial Amount Payments. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3,
the Initial Amount shall be payable in increments strictly in accordance with
the following schedule.
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(a) The entitlement to receive the first one-third ( 1/3) of the
Initial Amount shall vest on the Initial Price Threshold Date and shall be
paid by the Company to the Participant within thirty (30) days of the
Initial Price Threshold Date in the manner set out in Section 7.2.2(c)
below.
(b) The entitlement to receive the remainder of the Initial Amount
shall vest and become payable in equal parts on the dates occurring,
respectively, 18 months and 36 months from the Initial Price Threshold
Date, in the same proportions and amounts as set forth in Section 7.2.2(c)
below. If any of the above dates is not a business day during which the
Company is open for business, the date shall be the first business date
occurring immediately thereafter.
(c) Subject to the last sentence of this clause, each of the above
payments shall be paid approximately seventy percent (70%) in the form of
shares of Stock to be issued to the Participant, with fractional shares
rounded down to a full share. The remainder of the Initial Amount, payable
at such time, shall not be issuable in shares of Stock but shall be paid in
cash based on the Fair Market Value of such shares on the day preceding the
payment date. Such cash shall be withheld by the Company to satisfy
applicable tax withholding requirements with the remainder, if any, paid in
the form of a Company check made to the order of the Participant. The
foregoing percentage allocation between Stock and cash may be increased by
the Committee, in its discretion, to take into account, among other things,
special or additional tax burdens on a Participant but, in no event, shall
the portion of any payment payable in cash exceed fifty percent (50%).
(d) No entitlement shall be payable under this Section 7.2.2 if the
Initial Price Threshold Date has not occurred prior to January 1, 2000.
7.2.3 Final Amount Payments. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, the
entitlement to receive the Final Amount shall be payable in increments strictly
in accordance with the following schedule.
(a) The entitlement to receive the first one-third ( 1/3) of the Final
Amount shall vest on the Final Price Threshold Date and shall be paid by
the Company to the Participant within thirty (30) days of the Final Price
Threshold Date in the manner set out in Section 7.2.3(c) below.
(b) The entitlement to receive the remainder of the Final Amount shall
vest and become payable on the dates occurring, respectively, 18 months and
36 months from the Final Price Threshold Date, in the same proportions and
amounts as set forth in Section 7.2.3(c) below. If any of the
aforementioned payment dates is not a business day during which the Company
is open for business, the payment date shall be the first business date
occurring immediately thereafter.
(c) Subject to the last sentence of this clause, each of the above
payments shall be paid approximately seventy percent (70%) in the form of
shares of Stock to be issued to the Participant, with fractional shares
rounded down to a full share. The remainder of the Initial Amount, payable
at such time, shall not be issuable in shares of Stock but shall be paid in
cash based on the Fair Market Value of such shares on the day preceding the
payment date. The foregoing percentage allocation between Stock and cash
may be increased by the Committee, in its discretion, to take into account,
among other things, special or additional tax burdens on a Participant but,
in no event, shall the portion of any payment payable in cash exceed fifty
percent (50%).
(d) No entitlement shall be payable under this Section 7.2.3 if the
Final Price Threshold Date has not occurred prior to January 1, 2000.
7.3 Termination of Employment, Death, Disability, etc. Except as set forth
below, each Conditional Grant Agreement shall state that each Conditional Grant
and the right to receive any payment thereunder shall be subject to the
condition that the Participant has remained a full-time employee of the Company
from the initial award of a Conditional Grant until the applicable vesting date
as follows:
(a) If the Participant voluntarily leaves the employment of the
Company, or if the employment of the Participant is terminated by the
Company for cause or otherwise, any portion of any Conditional
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Grant not previously vested in accordance with Sections 7.2.2 and 7.2.3
shall thereafter be void for all purposes.
(b) If the Participant retires from employment with the Company on or
after attaining age 60, the retired Participant, or the person designated
in clause (c) in the case of the Participant's death, shall be entitled to
receive the payments in Stock and cash in accordance with Section 7.2.2 and
7.2.3, as applicable, provided that (i) such Participant has certified in
writing to the Committee his commitment not enter into full-time employment
or a consulting arrangement with a competitor of the Company, and (ii) the
applicable Price Threshold Date has occurred prior to his last day of
employment with the Company. Such retired Participant shall not be entitled
to any payment which may arise due to the occurrence of a Price Threshold
Date after the effective date of such Participant's retirement. A failure
of the Participant to comply with the undertaking of clause (i) above shall
void such Participant's right to payments hereunder.
(c) If the Participant dies, or if the Participant becomes disabled
(as determined pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Disability Plan or any
successor plan), while still employed, payment in Stock and cash in
accordance with Section 7.2.2 and 7.2.3, as applicable, shall be made to
the disabled Participant or to those entitled under the Participant's will
or by the laws of descent and distribution, provided that the applicable
Price Threshold Date has occurred prior to the earlier of such
Participant's disability or death. There shall be no entitlement to any
payment which may arise due to the occurrence of a Price Threshold Date
after the earlier of such Participant's disability or death.
7.4 Transferability. Each Conditional Grant Agreement shall state that the
Conditional Grant awarded thereunder is not transferable by the Participant,
except by will or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution, and that
such Conditional Grant is payable during the Participant's lifetime only to him
or her, or in the event of the Participant's disability or incapacity, to his or
her guardian or legal representative.
7.5 Tax Withholding. Each Conditional Grant Agreement shall provide that,
upon payment of any entitlement under a Conditional Grant, the Participant shall
make appropriate arrangements with the Company to provide for the amount of
additional tax withholding required by Sections 3102 and 3402 or any successor
section(s) of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable state income tax laws.
7.6 Subsequent Conditional Grant Agreements. Following the award of
Conditional Grants in 1996, additional Participants may be designated by the
Committee for grant of Conditional Grants thereafter subject to the same terms
and conditions set forth above for initial grants except that the Committee, in
its sole discretion, may reduce the value of the Initial Amount and/or the Final
Amount to which subsequent Participants may become entitled and the applicable
Conditional Grants Agreement shall be modified to reflect such reduction.
7.7 Stockholder Privileges. No Participant shall have any rights as a
stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock covered by a Conditional Grant
until the Participant becomes the holder of record of such Stock. No adjustments
shall be made for dividends or other distributions or other rights as to which
there is a record date preceding the date on which such Participant becomes the
holder of record of such Stock.
SECTION 8
CHANGE IN CONTROL
8.1 In General. In the event of a change in control of the Company as
defined in Section 8.3 hereof, then the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
without obtaining stockholder approval, to the extent permitted in Section 12
hereof, take any or all of the following actions assuming the occurrence of a
Price Threshold Date: (a) accelerate the vesting and payment dates of the
entitlement to receive cash and Stock under any outstanding Conditional Grants
so that all existing entitlements become fully payable, which acceleration may
be conditional upon the occurrence of subsequent events including, without
limitation, a change in control, and may be made irrevocable, either
conditionally or unconditionally; (b) pay cash to any or all Participants in
exchange for the cancellation of their outstanding Conditional Grants in an
amount equal to the cash and the
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<PAGE> 39
Fair Market Value of the Stock to which Participants have a conditional
entitlement under such Conditional Grants at the date of the cancellation of the
Conditional Grants; and (c) make any other adjustments or amendments to the
outstanding Conditional Grants as the Committee deems appropriate.
8.2 Limitation on Payments. If the provisions of this Section 8 would
result in the receipt by any Participant of a payment within the meaning of
Section 280G or any successor section(s) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, and if the receipt of such payment by any
Participant would, in the opinion of independent tax counsel of recognized
standing selected by the Company, result in the payment by such Participant of
any excise tax provided for in Sections 280G and 4999 or any successor
section(s) of the Internal Revenue Code, then the amount of such payment shall
be reduced to the extent required, in the opinion of independent tax counsel, to
prevent the imposition of such excise tax; provided, however, that the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may authorize the payment of all or any
portion of the amount of such reduction to the Participant.
8.3 Definition. For purposes of the Plan, a "change in control" shall mean
any of the events specified in the Company's Income Continuance Plan or any
successor plan which constitute a change in control within the meaning of such
plan.
SECTION 9
RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES, PARTICIPANTS
9.1 Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Conditional Grant
granted under this Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect
to the continuation of his or her employment by the Company or any Affiliated
Corporation, or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any
Affiliated Corporation, subject to the terms of any separate employment
agreement to the contrary, at any time to terminate such employment or to
increase or decrease the level of the Participant's compensation from the level
in existence at the time of the award of a Conditional Grant. Whether an
authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or government service, shall
constitute a termination of employment shall be determined by the Committee at
the time.
9.2 Nontransferability. No right or interest of any Participant in a
Conditional Grant granted pursuant to the Plan shall be assignable or
transferable during the lifetime of the Participant, either voluntarily or
involuntarily, or subjected to any lien, directly or indirectly, by operation of
law, or otherwise, including execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or
bankruptcy. In the event of a Participant's death, a Participant's rights and
interests in a Conditional Grant shall, to the extent provided in Section 7.3
hereof, be transferable by testamentary will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and payment of any entitlements due under the Plan shall be made
to the Participant's legal representatives, heirs or legatees. If in the opinion
of the Committee a person entitled to payments or to exercise rights with
respect to the Plan is disabled from caring for his or her affairs because of
mental condition, physical condition or age, payment due such person may be made
to, and such rights shall be exercised by, such person's guardian, conservator
or other legal personal representative upon furnishing the Committee with
evidence satisfactory to the Committee of such status.
SECTION 10
GENERAL RESTRICTIONS
10.1 Investment Representations. The Company may require a Participant, as
a condition of receiving payment under a Conditional Grant, to give written
assurances in substance and form satisfactory to the Company and its counsel to
the effect that such person is acquiring the Stock subject to the Conditional
Grant for his own account for investment and not with any present intention of
selling or otherwise distributing the same, and to such other effects as the
Company deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with federal and
applicable state securities laws.
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10.2 Compliance with Securities Laws. Each Conditional Grant shall be
subject to the requirement that, if at any time counsel to the Company shall
determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Stock
subject to such Conditional Grant upon any securities exchange or under any
state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental or
regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the
issuance of shares of Stock thereunder, such Conditional Grant may not be
payable in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification,
consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions
acceptable to the Committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the
Company to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration, qualification,
consent or approval.
SECTION 11
OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The amount of any compensation deemed to be received by a Participant as a
result of the payment under a Conditional Grant shall not constitute "earnings"
with respect to which any other employee benefits of such Participant are
determined, including without limitation benefits under any pension, profit
sharing, life insurance or salary continuation plan.
SECTION 12
PLAN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
The Board may at any time terminate, and from time to time may amend or
modify the Plan provided, however, that no amendment or modification may become
effective without approval of the amendment or modification by the Company's
stockholders if stockholder approval is required to enable the Plan to satisfy
any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements, or if the Company, on the
advice of counsel, determines that stockholder approval is otherwise necessary.
No amendment, modification or termination of the Plan shall in any manner
adversely affect any Conditional Grant theretofore awarded under the Plan,
without the consent of the Participant holding such Conditional Grant.
SECTION 13
WITHHOLDING
The Company's obligations to pay cash and deliver shares of Stock pursuant
to the terms of a Conditional Grant shall be subject to the Participant's
satisfaction of all applicable federal, state and local income and other tax
withholding requirements.
SECTION 14
REQUIREMENTS OF LAW
14.1 Requirements of Law. The issuance of Stock and the payment of cash
pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
14.2 Federal Securities Laws Requirements. If a Participant is an officer
or director of the Company within the meaning of Section 16, Conditional Grants
awarded hereunder shall be subject to all conditions required under Rule 16b-3,
or any successor rule(s) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, to qualify the Conditional Grant for any exemption from the
provisions of Section 16 available under such Rule. Such conditions are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and shall be set forth in the agreement with
the Participant which describes the Conditional Grant.
14.3 Governing Law. The Plan and all Conditional Grant Agreements
hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Texas.
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SECTION 15
DURATION OF THE PLAN
The Plan shall terminate at such time as may be determined by the
Committee, and no Conditional Grant shall be awarded after such termination. If
not sooner terminated under the preceding sentence, the Plan shall fully cease
and expire at midnight on December 31, 1998. Conditional Grants outstanding at
the time of the Plan termination shall continue in accordance with the
Conditional Grant Agreement pertaining to such Conditional Grant.
Dated: January 14, 1997, effective as of October 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ATTEST: APACHE CORPORATION
/s/ CHERI L. PEPER /s/ G. STEVEN FARRIS
- ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Cheri L. Peper G. Steven Farris
Corporate Secretary President and Chief Operating Officer
</TABLE>
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================================================================================
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 1, 1997
AND PROXY STATEMENT
[APACHE LOGO]
ONE POST OAK CENTRAL
2000 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 100
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056-4400
[RECYCLED PAPER LOGO] Printed on recycled paper.
================================================================================
<PAGE> 43
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY
APACHE CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned appoints Raymond Plank, John A. Kocur and
Randolph M. Ferlic as Proxies, with the power of substitution, and
authorizes them to represent and to vote at the annual meeting of
shareholders to be held May 1, 1997, or any adjournment thereof,
all the shares of common stock of Apache Corporation held of
record by the undersigned on March 13, 1997, as designated below.
1. Election of directors -- director nominees:
Frederick M. Bohen, A. D. Frazier, Jr., Stanley K. Hathaway,
George D. Lawrence Jr. and Joseph A. Rice
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
[ ] FOR all nominees listed [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
above to vote for all nominees
(except as indicated below)
</TABLE>
Instruction: to withhold authority to vote for any of the
above nominees, write the nominee's name(s) on this line
------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Proposal to approve the Apache Corporation 1996 Share Price
Appreciation Plan.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. The Proxies are authorized to vote in their best judgment
upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 44
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner
directed by the undersigned shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND TO
APPROVE THE APACHE CORPORATION 1996 SHARE PRICE APPRECIATION PLAN.
Please sign exactly as your name appears below. When shares are
held by joint tenants, both should sign. If acting as attorney,
executor, trustee, or in any other representative capacity, sign
name and title.
Dated _______________, 1997
---------------------------
Signature
---------------------------
Signature if held jointly
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS PROXY CARD USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 1
APACHE CORPORATION
96
SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT
OUR 42ND YEAR OF GROWING
SHAREHOLDER VALUE
1954 1996
$10,000 INVESTMENT $3,286,000 MARKET VALUE
CRITICAL MASS FIRSTS
CASH FROM OPERATIONS EXCEEDS HALF-BILLION EARNINGS PASS CENTURY MARK
$503 MILLION $121 MILLION
SUCCESS IS MORE THAN A COMMITMENT; IT'S A PASSION.
1,256 APACHES THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE!
<PAGE> 2
CORPORATE PROFILE
Apache Corporation was built from the ground floor up over the course of
42 years. Founded in 1954 with $250,000 of investor capital, the company's
total assets today exceed $3.4 billion, ranking it among the nation's top
independent oil and gas exploration and production companies.
In 1996, Apache posted records in total net income, cash from operating
activities, well completions, oil and gas reserves and production. With a solid
foundation of production and acreage in five North American regions, the
company expanded its profile overseas, adding Egypt to Western Australia as a
second international core area.
Apache's strategies have changed over the years in an effort to stay a
step ahead in one of the nation's most volatile and unpredictable industries.
But one thing remains constant: growth. Apache has increased production for 19
consecutive years and reserves for nine straight years.
Having assembled a worldwide property base that holds significant
opportunities for continued growth and financial progress, Apache has the
resources and focus to continue a record of growth and to generate superior
results for its shareholders.
Headquartered in Houston, Apache is publicly traded on the New York and
Chicago stock exchanges under the symbol APA.
CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Letter to Shareholders .................................................... 2
Company Review ............................................................ 6
Financial Report .......................................................... 9
North American Operations ................................................. 10
International Operations .................................................. 20
Selected Financial Statements ............................................. 27
Eleven-year Statistical Summary ........................................... 34
</TABLE>
GLOSSARY
The following abbreviations are used in this report:
Mcf Thousand cubic feet (of gas)
MMcf Million cubic feet
MMcf/d Million cubic feet per day
Bcf Billion cubic feet
Bcfe Billion cubic feet (of gas) equivalent
Tcf Trillion cubic feet
Boe Barrel of oil equivalent
Mboe Thousand barrels of oil equivalent
Mboe/d Thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day
Mbbls Thousand barrels
Mbbls/d Thousand barrels per day
MMboe Million barrels of oil equivalent
MMbbls Million barrels
NGLs Natural gas liquids
One barrel of oil is the energy equivalent of six Mcf of natural gas.
<PAGE> 3
Apache Worldwide
Western - Apache's largest oil-producing region includes the Permian Basin in
West Texas and New Mexico, the Green River Basin of Colorado and Wyoming, and
the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. First of seven large-scale CO2 enhancement
projects slated for 1997. Headquarters: Houston.
1996 Daily Production: 19 Mbbls 53.7 MMcf
Reserves: 104.1 MMbbls 199.5 Bcf
Acreage (gross): 1.1 million
1996 Wells Drilled/Productive: 128/103
Canada - Exploration and development activity concentrated in Alberta and
British Columbia's Western Sedimentary Basin, North America's largest
gas-bearing geologic province. Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta.
1996 Daily Production: 2 Mbbls 74.6 MMcf
Reserves: 10.4 MMbbls 280.4 Bcf
Acreage (gross): 617,000
1996 Wells Drilled/Productive: 77/50
Offshore - Apache is one of the largest independent gas producers in the Gulf
of Mexico. The company's fastest-growing region since 1993 accounts for
approximately one-third of Apache's gas production. Activity is in relatively
shallow waters on the continental shelf, where the company has 7,000 square
miles of seismic data. Headquarters: Houston.
1996 Daily Production: 4.2 Mbbls 168.2 MMcf
Reserves: 5.2 MMbbls 243.9 Bcf
Acreage (gross): 737,000
1996 Wells Drilled/Productive: 19/10
Midcontinent - Encompasses Western Oklahoma's Anadarko Basin and parts of
Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. Apache's largest gas-producing region,
accounting for approximately one-third of total volumes. The company is
Oklahoma's largest independent gas producer and one of the state's largest
leaseholders. Headquarters: Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1996 Daily Production: 3.4 Mbbls 173.9 MMcf
Reserves: 11.6 MMbbls 569.3 Bcf
Acreage (gross): 877,000
1996 Wells Drilled/Productive: 103/85
Ivory Coast - Apache operates offshore Block C-27, with a 24 percent interest.
The company has commercial quantities of natural gas in the block's Foxtrot
field, but development is dependent upon obtaining a marketing contract. Head-
quarters: Abidjan.
Acreage (gross): 198,000
[MAP]
o Core Areas
o Project Area
<PAGE> 4
Gulf Coast - Operations extend from extreme South Texas, across Louisiana, into
Mississippi and Alabama. Most leaseholdings are Apache-operated, with nearly 80
percent of acreage held by production. Working interests averaged 80 percent
for wells drilled in 1996. Headquarters: Houston.
1996 Daily Production: 14 Mbbls 76.4 MMcf
Reserves: 38 MMbbls 188.8 Bcf
Acreage (gross): 429,000
1996 Wells Drilled/Productive: 43/31
Indonesia - Apache operates and has a 39 percent interest in a shallow gas play
in Central Sumatra. Development is dependent upon securing a gas contract.
Headquarters: Jakarta (managed from Perth, Australia).
Acreage (gross): 722,000
China - Apache operates the offshore Zhao Dong Block in Bohai Bay, with a 50
percent working interest. Reserves discovered thus far remain unbooked until a
development plan is implemented. Headquarters: Beijing.
Acreage (gross): 49,000
Western Australia - Apache holds sizable offshore acreage in the under-explored
Carnarvon Basin (an area two-thirds the size of the Gulf of Mexico), which has
yielded a half-billion barrels of oil and 4.1 Tcf of gas from fewer than 1,000
wells. Apache has extensive production and processing facilities on Varanus
Island and the world's first unmanned production buoy, which automatically
monitors and controls subsea facilities. Headquarters: Perth.
1996 Daily Production: 2.3 Mbbls 13.9 MMcf
Reserves: 19.4 MMbbls 71.2 Bcf
Acreage (gross): 3.1 million
1996 Wells Drilled/Productive: 12/5
Egypt - Apache is the nation's largest independent operator and the largest
leaseholder with holdings roughly the size of Pennsylvania. The company has
embarked on an aggressive drilling program, with 62 wells planned for 1997.
Extensive production facilities are in place, and a major pipeline project is
under way to link Apache's Western Desert gas production to Egypt's energy
grid. Headquarters: Cairo.
1996 Daily Production: 8.3 Mbbls 0.3 MMcf
Reserves: 46.6 MMbbls 72.2 Bcf
Acreage (gross): 28 million
(includes 8.6 million pending government approval and 7.7
million obtained in early 1997)
1996 Wells Drilled/Productive: 23/19
[MAP]
o Core Areas
o Project Area
<PAGE> 5
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In millions of dollars except per-share data) 1996 1995 1994
-------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Revenues $ 977.2 $ 750.7 $ 592.6
Net income 121.4 20.2 45.6
Per common share 1.42 .28 .65
Cash provided by operating activities:
Cash provided before changes in working
capital and other adjustments (cash from operations) $ 503.0 $ 356.3 $ 339.1
Changes in working capital and other adjustments (12.5) (24.2) 18.7
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 490.5 $ 332.1 $ 357.8
======== ======== ========
Total assets $3,432.4 $2,681.5 $2,036.6
Long-term debt 1,235.7 1,072.1 719.0
Shareholders' equity 1,518.5 1,091.8 891.1
Dividends per share $ .28 $ .28 $ .28
Average shares outstanding 85.8 71.8 69.7
OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Capital expenditures (millions) $ 939.9 $1,133.1 $ 524.9
Natural gas production (MMcf/d) 560.9 577.1 483.3
Oil and condensate production (Mbbls/d) 53.2 50.2 37.8
Proved reserves (MMboe) 506.2 420.6 330.0
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
STOCK PRICE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars per Share)
Year Low Year High Year End
-------- --------- --------
<C> <C> <C> <C>
94 22 1/4 29 1/4 25
95 22 1/4 31 29 1/2
96 24 5/8 37 1/4 35 1/8
</TABLE>
NET INCOME
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Millions of Dollars)
<C> <C>
94 46
95 20
96 121
</TABLE>
1
<PAGE> 6
TOTAL ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Millions of Dollars)
<C> <C>
94 2,037
95 2,681
96 3,432
</TABLE>
CASH FROM OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Millions of Dollars)
<C> <C>
94 339
95 356
96 503
</TABLE>
FELLOW APACHE SHAREHOLDERS:
In its 42nd year Apache achieved milestones enabling adaptation of strategies
for further growth of shareholder value over the years ahead. First, a growth
context:
An investment of $10,000 in Apache in 1954 has grown through 1996 to
$3,286,000 in value. For shareholders who reinvested their dividends, the
compounded annual growth rate of Apache's stock over 42 years has averaged 14.8
percent. This return is nearly double that of the Dow Jones Industrial Average
and the Standard & Poor's 500 index over the same period.
Through a number of economic and industry cycles, Apache has more than
kept pace. In 1954, we started near the bottom of approximately 16,000 oil and
gas exploration companies. Today, with fewer than half remaining following
failures and amalgamations, Apache ranks 27th, according to Oil & Gas Journal's
September 1996 listing of the world's 200 largest petroleum companies that are
not government-owned.
In order to amass a base to leverage growth in per-share value, Apache has
actively sought critical mass. In 1996, we achieved several milestones in this
regard, which we see as building blocks upon which to construct future growth:
o Cash from operations passed the half-billion-dollar mark;
o Net income exceeded $120 million, reaching $1.42 per share;
o We reduced debt to 45 percent of total capitalization, extended our
average debt maturities from 4.4 years to 21.6 years and, as a result
of upgrades by three major rating agencies and initiatives by our
corporate financing group, kept our average interest rate below 7.5
percent;
o Reserves increased 20 percent to more than half a billion equivalent
barrels, balanced 54 percent gas and 46 percent oil, compared to our
1990 mix, which was weighted 80 percent toward gas, the most
price-volatile commodity of all. Our reserve life rose by more than a
year to nine-plus years, primarily as a result of booking several
international discoveries.
Perhaps the most significant event of 1996 was the strategic merger of The
Phoenix Resource Companies, which established Egypt as Apache's second
international core area, in addition to Western Australia's Carnarvon Basin. We
have substantial infrastructure and operational capabilities in both areas and
an extensive inventory of exploratory and development prospects. Because both
core areas access large populations and growing economies that are dependent
upon reliable sources of energy, investment is encouraged through long-term gas
2
<PAGE> 7
contracts and stable prices. Such is not the case in North America; that is one
reason why we have endeavored to build a balanced, international asset
portfolio for our shareholders.
Nevertheless, North America remains our foundation for growth, where four
of our five regions each generated more than $100 million in lease-level income
during 1996. Our strategy is to continue building on that strong base, both
through the drillbit and through acquisitions.
To the direct benefit of our shareholders, Apache has compiled a record of
adding value to properties we have acquired. We believe new opportunities for
expanding Apache's North American core assets will arise as the major
integrated oil companies continue to reallocate their human and capital
resources to areas which best match their strengths. We expect their
down-sizing of traditional North American investment areas to continue, if not
accelerate. We believe our proven niche strengths compliment their objectives,
providing possible opportunities for Apache to operate properties jointly owned
through alliances, regional "farm-ins," and/or joint ventures to the greater
potential benefit of both sets of shareowners. We intend to pursue such
opportunities.
Obviously, while we seek to grow shareholder value, such undertakings will
require both innovation and funding. If Apache's convertible debentures do, in
fact, convert on a timely basis, additional capital will become available to
take advantage of strategic opportunities within acceptable debt parameters.
It is our strategy to accelerate utilization of advances emanating from
the technological revolution sweeping our industry and the world. Most
significant have been advances in 3-D seismic technology, horizontal and
high-angle drilling and massive hydraulic fracture treatment of
Apache Chairman Raymond Plank (left) meets with
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.
[PICTURE]
3
<PAGE> 8
tight-rock formations. In addition, computer-driven sub-surface imaging has
helped reduce risks, lower costs and increase profit margins in older
productive fields. Tertiary recovery techniques also can contribute to
share-price appreciation. In 1997, Apache plans to initiate CO2 injection to
maximize reserve recoveries in the first of seven very large old Permian Basin
oil fields.
Apart from core properties in North America, Egypt and Western Australia,
we have operations in three project areas internationally:
o In Bohai Bay, People's Republic of China, our 11,571-barrel-per-day
oil discovery has increased the likelihood of moving to the
commercial development phase. We would like to drill three additional
exploration tests on separate prospective structures, plus an
appraisal well in 1997;
o In Indonesia, we have sizable unbooked gas reserves and high
deliverability from several shallow gas wells. We recently acquired
an additional concession in this vibrant economic and population
growth area. While we can envision the possibility of Indonesia
eventually becoming a core area, we first need to secure a term gas
marketing agreement;
o Offshore West Africa's Ivory Coast, we have up to half-a-trillion
cubic feet of reserves to be booked at such time as we obtain a gas
contract.
Integral to our success over the last 42 years and critical to shareholder
value growth in the future are capable, creative, motivated people. The
contraction of our industry has been accompanied by a two-thirds reduction in
the number of students pursuing undergraduate and advanced degrees in petroleum
geology, geophysics and engineering. The reason for this phenomenon is simple:
Ambitious, bright young people seek opportunity in growing areas. Would-be
petroleum science majors have witnessed more than a decade of major layoffs and
cutbacks and an industry that has shrunk by more than 50 percent.
Apache's aggressive, purposeful growth, credible culture and
pay-for-performance incentive plans have enabled us to attract and largely
retain very capable, experienced, motivated men and women from among the
talented personnel of down-sizing companies. What we have achieved over the
last 42 years is to their credit.
Apache's overriding mission is to build shareholder value, and that means
increasing production, reserves, cash flow and net income on an absolute and a
per-share basis. It means reducing our finding costs, balancing risk over a
portfolio of core areas around the world, maintaining and strengthening our
North American base, and driving the stock price forward.
One last point illustrates how far we've come in a short time: We entered
the 1990s with the Midcontinent region accounting for 50 percent of Apache's
total reserves. Today, that
4
<PAGE> 9
region holds about one-fifth of our reserves, yet it has grown by more than 100
percent. The growth continuum drives our culture and translates into increased
wealth for our shareholders.
We appreciate your continued confidence in Apache.
/s/ RAYMOND PLANK /s/ G. STEVEN FARRIS
- ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
RAYMOND PLANK G. STEVEN FARRIS
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer President and Chief Operating Officer
[PICTURE]
President Steve Farris (center) with
Apache staff in Perth, Western Australia.
5
<PAGE> 10
COMPANY REVIEW
Apache again achieved growth in its primary areas of operations, ramping up
equivalent production for the 19th consecutive year and increasing reserves for
the ninth straight year. The company has doubled its reserves at an average
pace of every three years over the past decade, employing an active acquisition
and drilling strategy.
With an emphasis on drilling during 1996, Apache replaced 257 percent of
the year's production and increased reserves 20 percent to a record 506.2
MMboe. Exploration and development activity alone, which included 303 new
producers of 406 wells drilled and 448 production-enhancement projects,
including 201 recompletions, replaced 158 percent of 1996 production.
While production and reserves increased, gross productive well count was
reduced nine percent to 9,160 wells. The attendant economies of scale are
bringing improved efficiencies, lower administrative costs and wider margins at
today's oil and gas prices.
In 1997, Apache plans to participate in more than 500 wells and 550
production-enhancement projects, with drilling-related expenditures budgeted to
increase by about one-half. The largest increases in activity are planned for
the Midcontinent region, Egypt and Western Australia.
A key to maximizing value from the company's North American property base
will be the effective application of advanced technology, including 3-D
seismic, horizontal drilling and fracture stimulation techniques.
Oil and Gas Reserves Hit Record Levels
Propelled by drilling results, Apache's oil and gas reserves increased 20
percent to a record 506.2 MMboe, with 139.9 MMboe of new reserves booked during
the year. Oil reserves rose 38 percent to 235.3 million barrels, while gas
reserves increased eight percent to 1.6 Tcf.
Reserves added through drilling, workovers, recompletions and
production-enhancement projects generated 61 percent, or 85.7 MMboe, of the
year's reserve additions. Acquisitions, net of property dispositions,
contributed 30 percent of the year's added reserves, while upward revisions
resulting from higher oil and gas prices and better-than-expected well
performance made up the balance.
Apache has attained a more balanced mix of oil and gas in its reserve
base. At year end,
PROVED RESERVES (MMBOE)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Natural Gas Liquid Hydrocarbons Total
<S> <C> <C> <C>
94 219 111 330
95 251 170 421
96 271 235 506
</TABLE>
PRODUCTION (MMBOE)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Natural Gas Liquid Hydrocarbons Total
<S> <C> <C> <C>
94 29 15 44
95 35 19 54
96 34 20 54
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE> 11
oil represented 46 percent of the company's total reserves compared with 40
percent at the end of 1995. The company also extended the estimated life of its
reserves which, at year end, stood at 9.3 years compared with 7.8 years at the
close of 1995.
Equivalent Production Reaches All-time High
A nearly 3,000-barrel-per-day increase in daily oil production more than
offset a three percent decline in daily gas production, and equivalent
production for the year rose to a record of 54.4 MMboe. The properties added
through the Phoenix merger, coupled with successful drilling on Egypt's Qarun
Concession and an active production-enhancement program in the Permian Basin,
pushed average daily oil production to 53,182 barrels, up six percent from the
prior-year level. At year end, oil production was running at an all-time high
of approximately 60,000 barrels per day.
In addition, Apache's gas processing activity in 1996 generated 713,395
barrels of natural gas liquids, or 1,949 barrels per day, one-third of which
came from Canadian operations.
Oil and Gas Prices Strengthen
Spot-market gas prices in the fourth quarter rose to their highest levels
in more than a decade, and Apache's average realization for the year jumped 29
percent to $2.02 per Mcf, up from $1.57 in 1995. The price improvement added
$93.4 million to the company's annual gas-revenue total. Large draw-downs from
storage during 1995's relatively harsh winter kept gas in storage at
historically low levels during much of 1996, mitigating the price downturns
that typically occur with slack seasonal demand in the spring and fall.
Apache's crude oil price averaged $20.84 per barrel in 1996, up 22 percent
from the prior year's $17.09. Contributing to the company's improved average
price was increased production from Egypt, where the sweet crude sold at a
higher average price in 1996 than U.S. sweet-and-sour blend.
Marketing Efforts Increase Margins
Apache sold 420 MMcf of gas per day, or three-quarters of its total net
gas production, under spot-market index-based contracts during 1996; the
balance was sold under term contracts at premium prices. Due to improved spot
market prices, Apache limited its participation
7
<PAGE> 12
in price-hedging arrangements.
ProEnergy (Producers Energy Marketing, LLC), the joint-venture natural gas
marketing company Apache formed with Oryx and Parker & Parsley, began marketing
operations in the second quarter of 1996. ProEnergy marketed an average 1.8 Bcf
of daily gas production in 1996 and steadily improved both margins and volumes
during the course of the year, reaching more than 2 Bcf per day at year end.
Increased Drilling Activity Drives 1996 Capital Program
A total of $463 million was invested in exploration, development and
production-enhancement activities during 1996, a 58 percent increase over the
prior-year level. Of this total, $344 million was incurred in North America and
$119 million was used for international operations, nearly double the amount
spent overseas a year earlier. Most of the costs associated with bringing on
production from Egypt's Qarun field and Western Australia's East Spar field
were incurred in 1996.
Apache continues to find opportunities to acquire oil and gas properties
that strengthen its existing asset base, bring economies of scale and offer
opportunities for adding value through drilling and production-enhancement
activity. In 1996, the $396 million merger of The Phoenix Resource Companies
provided Apache with critical mass in Egypt and a second international core
area holding considerable reserve potential.
In addition to the Phoenix merger, Apache closed 62 tactical acquisitions
during the year, garnering 74 properties in the company's existing focus areas.
In aggregate, these properties added 18.9 MMboe of oil and gas reserves at a
cost of $115 million. In a continuing effort to shed under-performing and
non-core assets, Apache sold 991 properties for approximately $30 million
during 1996.
In 1997, North American exploration and development expenditures will
increase along with drilling activity, while international expenditures will
nearly double to fund an aggressive drilling program and several production
projects, including construction of a natural gas pipeline from the Khalda
Concession to Egypt's energy grid.
AVERAGE OIL PRICE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars per Barrel)
<C> <C>
94 15.65
95 17.09
96 20.84
</TABLE>
AVERAGE NATURAL GAS PRICE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars per Mcf)
<C> <C>
94 1.78
95 1.57
96 2.02
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE> 13
FINANCIAL REPORT
Developments in 1996 have placed us in our strongest financial position to
date. Providing a springboard for the year's progress were upgrades on our
long-term debt by the industry's three most recognized rating agencies:
Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Duff & Phelps. In granting these upgrades, the
agencies cited Apache's lower debt-to-equity ratio, increased earnings and cash
flow, higher interest-expense coverage, successful expansion in Egypt and
Western Australia, and the company's emphasis on drilling to increase reserves.
Apache took advantage of these upgrades and historically low interest
rates to issue $280 million of 30-year debt and $150 million of 100-year debt,
thus becoming the first oil and gas company ever to successfully place
non-callable "century bonds." In total, $430 million of long-term debt was
placed during the year with an average maturity of 54 years and at an average
interest rate of 7-3/4 percent.
We also created a $1 billion global credit facility which significantly
reduces our borrowing costs, increases debt capacity and provides a more
efficient tax structure for borrowing outside the United States. Separately, we
established a $300 million commercial paper program, further reducing the cost
of our short-term debt. Debt to capitalization was reduced to 45 percent from
50 percent during the year due to record earnings and cash flows and the
issuance of equity in connection with the Phoenix merger.
As a result of the foregoing accomplishments, Apache is benefiting from a
stronger capital structure, lower short-term borrowing costs and greater
financial and operating flexibility. Looking to 1997, we have the financial
strength to support an aggressive drilling effort while retaining flexibility
to take advantage of new investment opportunities.
Apache's financial and operational progress has been recognized by the
investment community the past several years. According to Nelson's, an
institutional research firm, we were the 14th most closely watched company on
Wall Street in 1996 with 55 investment firms following our stock.
/s/ MARK A. JACKSON
MARK A. JACKSON Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
9
<PAGE> 14
NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS
Apache's North American properties encompass five core regions: the
Midcontinent (primarily the Anadarko Basin of western Oklahoma); Offshore (the
Gulf of Mexico); the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana; the Western region
(primarily the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico and the Green River
Basin of Colorado and Wyoming); and western Canada, (the Western Sedimentary
Basin).
In 1996, Apache restructured the management of its exploration and
production operations at the regional level, with each of the company's five
North American regions managed as an autonomous profit center. The
Midcontinent, Offshore, Gulf Coast and Western regions each generated more than
$100 million in lease-level income during 1996, providing them with the
capability to fund their own exploration and production programs with
internally generated cash flow.
This management approach accommodates an accelerated level of exploration
and development activity in each region. During 1996, Apache posted its most
active drilling year, completing a record 279 producers of 370 North American
wells drilled. The company continues to pursue a growing list of opportunities
to add production and reserves and anticipates an even more active year in
1997.
OIL AND GAS SALES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Millions of Dollars)
Natural Gas Liquid Hydrocarbons Total
<C> <C> <C> <C>
94 314 224 538
95 331 322 653
96 416 417 833
</TABLE>
MIDCONTINENT REGION REPORT
STRENGTHS
o Largest independent gas producer in Oklahoma, the nation's
third-largest gas-producing state.
o Recognized leader in fracture-stimulation technology.
o One of Oklahoma's largest leaseholders with nearly three-quarters of
a million gross acres.
o One of Oklahoma's most-active operators in terms of total footage
drilled.
o Consistently achieving favorable drilling results -- attained an
all-sources finding cost of $3.63 per boe in 1996.
1997 OBJECTIVES
o Economically increase production and reserves, primarily through the
drillbit.
o Expand exploration of higher-risk, high-potential reservoirs.
o Pursue tactical acquisitions that complement existing operations and
increase future drilling opportunities.
10
<PAGE> 15
The Midcontinent region has long been a cornerstone of Apache. With more
than 40 years of operating experience in Oklahoma, we've built a substantial
base of reserves and acreage that would be difficult to match in today's
competitive industry environment.
Our region has been the largest contributor to the company's natural gas
production, accounting for approximately one-third in 1996. Our record of
consistent growth has been geared to a strategy of exploiting the gas-bearing
formations of the multiple-pay Anadarko Basin and using superior
fracture-stimulation techniques to maximize production rates and reserve
recoveries. The resulting higher cash flow has enabled fast reinvestment and
accelerated growth.
The foundation of our reserves and production has been built around the
Cherokee formation, from which we've generated 290 producers and 165 Bcf of net
gas reserves over the past eight years. During that period, our productive
ratio from Cherokee drilling has averaged 90 percent. We drilled 47 Cherokee
wells in 1996 with daily production rates averaging 2 MMcf of gas per well and
plan to drill 54 more in 1997. This horizon provides predictable, economically
attractive production results and a solid revenue stream, allowing for
additional reinvestment opportunities in other areas and in other formations.
Our most exciting new drilling play the past three years has been the Deep
Springer in southern Oklahoma. Back in the 1970s, the Deep Springer yielded
favorable investment returns when federally deregulated deep gas fetched a
price of more than $8.00 per Mcf, justifying the cost of drilling these
three-mile-deep wells. But when gas prices collapsed in the mid-1980s, drilling
to the Deep Springer was essentially abandoned.
As gas prices recovered from their historic lows and more efficient
drilling and completion methods brought down well costs, the Deep Springer
became economically viable again. Apache was among the first to revisit the
formation, employing the fracture-stimulation methods the company had pioneered
in the Cherokee. In 1990, we performed a massive fracture stimulation during
the recompletion of a Deep Springer gas well that raised daily production from
300 Mcf to 10,000 Mcf. We followed that by building a sizable Deep Springer
acreage position through acquisitions and an aggressive leasing program. With
additional opportunities contained in our held-by-production acreage, we
assembled a strong portfolio of Deep Springer drilling locations. In 1996, we
completed seven new Deep Springer gas wells that averaged 7 MMcf in initial
daily production and added 19 Bcf of reserves net to Apache's interests. Over
the past three years, we have completed 28 producers of 30 Deep Springer wells
drilled, with initial daily production rates averaging greater than 5 MMcf of
gas per well and reserves averaging more than 6 Bcf per well. In 1997, we plan
to drill 13 wells to the formation.
MIDCONTINENT PRODUCTION (MBOE/D)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
94 22.0
95 30.3
96 32.7
</TABLE>
MIDCONTINENT RESERVES (MMBOE)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
94 75.6
95 100.5
96 106.5
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE> 16
[MIDCONTINENT REGION MAP]
We're developing similar opportunities in the Anadarko Basin's Upper
Morrow formation, where our past drilling has encountered average reserves of
more than 10 Bcf of gas per well. We have a seven-well Upper Morrow drilling
program planned for 1997, a portion of which will incorporate the use of 3-D
seismic surveys in an effort to reduce the risk associated with these
18,000-foot wells.
With our progress in the Anadarko Basin, we've expanded our regional focus
to East Texas and North Louisiana. In East Texas, we drilled 11 Bossier Sand
wells during 1996, of which nine were productive, yielding average daily rates
of 2 MMcf of gas per well. We plan to drill 24 Bossier Sand wells in East Texas
during 1997.
Another high-potential reservoir in our region is the Cotton Valley Reef
formation, considered by many to be the most prospective exploratory play in
the Lower 48, with potential gross reserves of 20 Bcf to 80 Bcf of gas per
well. We plan to participate in four of these wells in East Texas during 1997.
On acreage we acquired in North Louisiana, we have plans to drill six Cotton
Valley wells.
In total, our region plans to drill 163 wells in 1997, 93 of which we'll
operate. That means 1997 will be our busiest drilling year ever.
/s/ JAMES K. BASS
JAMES K. BASS Region Vice President - Midcontinent
12
<PAGE> 17
OFFSHORE REGION REPORT
STRENGTHS
o One of the largest independent gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico.
o 3-D seismic data covering 7,000 square miles.
o Strong base of producing and non-producing acreage spread throughout
the region's focus trends.
o Access to latest technology to aid in prospecting and risk
evaluation.
o An established network of production platforms.
1997 OBJECTIVES
o Concentrate exploration efforts on larger, high-potential prospects
that allow for significant reserve and production growth.
o Enhance acreage position through active bidding at state and federal
lease sales.
o Increase drilling activity within established field areas so that new
wells can be quickly connected to existing production platforms and
pipelines.
o Pursue tactical acquisitions that build on existing strengths and
enhance drilling inventory.
Well before today's rush to enter the Gulf of Mexico, Apache established a
strong offshore position through acquisitions and drilling. The improved
reliability of 3-D seismic in the Gulf and our increased access to advanced
technology offer ongoing opportunities in North America's largest gas-producing
province.
We have been Apache's fastest growing region since 1993, and currently
account for about
[OFFSHORE REGION MAP]
13
<PAGE> 18
OFFSHORE PRODUCTION (Mboe/d)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 31.2
95 35.0
96 32.3
</TABLE>
OFFSHORE RESERVES (Mmboe)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 48.1
95 41.9
96 45.8
</TABLE>
one-third of the company's total gas output. We expect to be the largest
gas-producing region in 1997. Large reserve targets and high production rates
in the Gulf provide us the opportunity to significantly impact the company's
overall performance.
Our operations in 1996 centered around drilling opportunities in
Miocene-age and Plio-Pleistocene-age sands off the coast of Louisiana and
Texas. As the majors are moving to deeper waters, we're finding additional
opportunities on the Gulf's continental shelf.
Just a few years after coming on the scene as a breakthrough technology,
3-D seismic has become an important tool in the Gulf, not only for exploration
but for development drilling as well. We've arranged three large-scale 3-D
seismic joint ventures for 1997 from which we'll acquire new data covering 450
offshore blocks. From the 3-D seismic data on these blocks, we expect to
generate a significant number of high-potential prospects.
Our focus in 1997 is to significantly increase reserves and production
through a drilling program driven by 3-D seismic. We expect to double our
drilling pace to 42 wells, focusing on both exploratory prospects with large
reserve targets and development drilling on our base properties.
We've also identified a number of high-potential production-enhancement
projects for 1997. These operations will be geared toward maximizing output
from our base properties, utilizing 3-D seismic and well data to determine the
best course of action to increase production, including horizontal drilling,
sidetracks, recompletions and multiple completions.
/s/ JON A. JEPPESEN
JON A. JEPPESEN Region Vice President - Offshore
GULF COAST REGION REPORT
STRENGTHS
o Sizable acreage position in large old fields holding meaningful deep
drilling potential.
o Large, mostly operated leaseholdings in multiple-pay region.
o Nearly 80 percent of acreage is held by production, reducing overall
lease costs.
o Strong working-interest position, averaging 80 percent in wells
drilled during 1996.
o Higher product prices than in other parts of the country.
o High level of low-cost production-enhancement activity -- completed
an enhancement project every one and one-half days in 1996.
14
<PAGE> 19
GULF COAST PRODUCTION (Mboe/d)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 21.2
95 31.2
96 27.2
</TABLE>
GULF COAST RESERVES (MMboe)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 43.0
95 66.5
96 69.5
</TABLE>
1997 OBJECTIVES
o Accelerate moderate-risk drilling and production-enhancement activity
to increase production at low cost.
o Complement moderate-risk drilling with high-impact exploratory wells
that utilize 3-D seismic in established focus areas.
o Pursue tactical acquisitions that contain upside drilling potential.
Since the 84,000-barrel-per-day discovery of Spindletop field in 1901, the
Gulf Coast has been a primary source of the nation's oil and gas supply and
remains one of the most actively drilled regions in the Lower 48. Our charge
has been to utilize advanced exploration and production techniques to get more
out of a mature region.
In 1996, we generated new production and reserves through an active
production-enhancement program and moderate-risk drilling. We have efficient
cost-control management systems in place that help to improve our margins. We
operate 84 percent of our production and have the control to make operational
decisions quickly in order to get the most out of our fields.
Our experience has been that the more we invest in operations, the greater
our rate of return. In 1997, we plan to increase the number of
production-enhancement projects and step up infill drilling operations. Our
exploration effort will also pick up, with about one-third of our 1997 drilling
budget directed toward exploratory wells. We will focus on exploratory
prospects on which we hold 250 square miles of 3-D seismic coverage.
We recently acquired 98 percent to 100 percent working interests in
southern Mississippi's Tiger field, a new area for Apache, and plan to drill
eight wells there in 1997. This
[GULF COAST REGION MAP]
15
<PAGE> 20
field was discovered in the early 1970s and produced from the Lower Hosston
formation at a depth of about 14,900 feet. During the fourth quarter of 1996, we
drilled below the Lower Hosston to 15,900 feet and discovered new-field pay in
the Cotton Valley Reef formation. Now with both formations proven to be
productive, a single well can develop both horizons.
/s/ JON A. GRAHAM
JON A. GRAHAM Region Vice President - Gulf Coast
WESTERN REGION REPORT
STRENGTHS
o Brought net oil production to more than 20,000 barrels per day, the
highest level since Apache's return to the Permian Basin in 1991.
o High working-interest position in mostly Apache-operated acreage.
o Numerous production-enhancement, tertiary and secondary recovery
opportunities.
o Track record of highly successful exploitation programs.
1997 OBJECTIVES
o Increase oil production at low cost through drilling and secondary
recovery methods, including a large-scale CO2 project in West Texas.
o Emphasize exploratory and development drilling using 3-D seismic
interpretations.
o Capitalize on the multiple-pay potential of the Permian Basin.
The Permian Basin of West Texas and eastern New Mexico has made its mark
as one of the world's oldest and most prolific geologic provinces. Despite
years of prodigious oil output, the Basin's oil reservoirs have yielded, on
average, less than one-fifth of their in-place reserves. As the industry's
technology and efficiency have improved, so has the output of the Basin's
oil-bearing formations.
We are Apache's largest oil-producing region, accounting for more than
one-third of the company's crude-oil volumes and more than one-half of its
North American oil reserves. We increased production during 1996 at low cost
through the collective results of numerous production-enhancement projects and
low-risk drilling.
The acquisitions from Amoco and Texaco in 1991 and 1995, respectively,
together brought Apache more than a billion dollars of properties, including
large blocks of producing
16
<PAGE> 21
[WESTERN REGION MAP]
acreage in the Permian Basin. Focusing on these properties, we drilled 128
wells during 1996, double the number in the previous year.
In 1997, we plan to drill nearly 200 wells -- a number that would resemble
a company-wide total as recently as two years ago -- with more development and
exploratory drilling and fewer infill wells. We plan to obtain 550 square miles
of 3-D seismic coverage to provide the foundation for stepped-up exploration in
West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
As part of an aggressive production-enhancement program, during 1997 we
expect to implement a large carbon dioxide (CO2) injection project at our 80
percent-owned Cogdell Canyon Reef Unit in West Texas. By injecting
high-pressure CO2 gas into the unit's producing reservoir, we intend to improve
the oil field's ultimate recoveries by 15 percent (more than 20 MMboe) at an
estimated cost of less than $2.00 per barrel. Given that this old field has
produced less than half its estimated 500 million barrels of oil in place, this
project holds the potential of making a meaningful impact on Apache. Pending
the results of this initial CO2 injection project, we'll pursue similar
projects at six other fields. CO2 floods are currently responsible for
approximately 20 percent of the Permian Basin's daily oil production.
/s/ RODNEY J. EICHLER
RODNEY J. EICHLER Region Vice President - Western
WESTERN PRODUCTION (Mboe/d)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 29.4
95 33.5
96 28.5
</TABLE>
WESTERN RESERVES (MMboe)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 91.8
95 134.3
96 137.4
</TABLE>
17
<PAGE> 22
CANADIAN REGION REPORT
STRENGTHS
o Brought daily gas and oil production from base properties to all-time
highs of 80 MMcf and 2,000 barrels, respectively. Gas production was
up 11 percent from 1995 levels.
o Increased production and leasehold position in British Columbia.
o Expanded infrastructure of gas gathering and processing facilities to
accommodate rising production and to generate revenue from
transporting and processing third-party gas.
1997 OBJECTIVES
o Focus on increasing gas production at low cost through low-risk
development drilling while also testing deeper, high-potential
formations.
o Increase oil production, primarily through drilling in British
Columbia and western Alberta.
o Pursue tactical acquisitions that provide future drilling
opportunities.
The Western Sedimentary Basin of Canada is North America's largest
gas-bearing geologic province. While Canadian gas historically has sold for a
much lower price than U.S. gas, the region's shallow reservoirs offer low
finding costs and favorable economic returns.
We became Apache's fifth North American region with the DEKALB Energy
merger in 1995. In a short time, we've incorporated the Apache culture that
promotes a sense of urgency,
[CANADIAN REGION MAP]
18
<PAGE> 23
a strong work ethic and the drive to succeed.
Early in 1996, we brought on stream 20 MMcf of net daily gas production in
northeastern British Columbia, raising our region's gas output by one-third.
All of this new production came from gas reservoirs at depths shallower than
4,000 feet. With a 14-week window imposed by winter-access-only requirements,
we had to work fast to complete five producers of six wells drilled, connect to
pipeline four additional wells that were drilled earlier, install four
compressor stations and lay 22 miles of pipeline.
We're one of the first companies in Canada to use under-balanced
"coiled-tubing" drilling technology and, in doing so, we set a vertical depth
record for a horizontal well. With an objective of increasing production and
reducing costs, we utilized this process as an alternative to conventional
procedures to drill a horizontal well in the under-pressured Harmattan gas
field in Alberta. The end result was that the well produced at more than twice
the rate that had been anticipated if we'd used conventional drilling methods.
We plan to apply the technology elsewhere in Canada, and Apache's other regions
are evaluating it as well.
In 1997, we'll continue our emphasis on drilling for shallow gas reserves
while also testing deeper gas-bearing structures in western Alberta and
northeastern British Columbia using 3-D seismic interpretations. We also plan
to increase our focus on oil plays, particularly those in British Columbia. Our
objective of maximizing production rates will be geared toward fracture
stimulation, infill drilling and horizontal drilling. We will continually
pursue innovative ways to reduce operating costs in order to enhance our profit
margins.
In addition, we plan an active production-enhancement program that will
include improving oil recovery, recompleting wells in multiple-pay fields, and
expanding our pipeline and gas processing infrastructure.
/s/ DWAYNE E. SCHULTZ
DWAYNE E. SCHULTZ Region Vice President - Canada
CANADA PRODUCTION (Mboe/d)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 12.0
95 13.7
96 15.0
</TABLE>
CANADA RESERVES (MMboe)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 60.7
95 57.9
96 57.1
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE> 24
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
As Apache has grown, the company has increased its exposure to larger
reserve targets in order to develop a greater base of production and to foster
opportunities for continued growth. The international drilling arena offers
high-potential reserve targets and, for Apache, the most attractive regions at
present are the Western Desert and the Gulf of Suez in Egypt and the Carnarvon
Basin offshore Western Australia.
Exploration success in 1995 generated numerous development opportunities
for 1996, and Apache ended the year with 36 international wells drilled, equal
to the total number the company drilled during its first seven years overseas.
With this active drilling pace, Apache's international reserves at year end
rose to 18 percent of the company's total, up from five percent a year earlier.
The company anticipates international drilling activity to more than double in
1997.
Apache currently is working on nine international development projects
that will significantly add to the company's worldwide production over the next
three years.
EGYPT REPORT
STRENGTHS
o Country's largest leaseholder.
o Ramped up daily net oil production during the year to more than
14,400 barrels, compared to less than a thousand barrels at the start
of 1996.
o Finding cost from drilling of $1.90 per boe.
o Signed $1.2 billion long-term gas contract, covering 200 MMcf of
daily gas production from the Khalda Concession beginning in
mid-1999.
o Favorable cost-recovery provisions that enable the company to recoup
virtually all of its exploration, development and operating
expenditures on several concessions.
1997 OBJECTIVES
o Further increase oil production through additional development
drilling.
o Complete construction of Qarun production facilities.
o Expand exploratory drilling near existing production facilities and
in new prospective areas.
o Participate in construction start-up of 145-mile natural gas pipeline
from the Khalda Concession to Egypt's energy grid.
20
<PAGE> 25
Although Egypt has a long history of oil and gas exploration and
production, it remains a vast under-explored region with excellent
opportunities and large upside reserve potential.
Spurred by our 11,957-barrel-per-day oil discovery on the Qarun Concession
in 1995, we've gone full-throttle in establishing Egypt as Apache's second
international core area. During the latter parts of 1996, we had five rigs
running on our Qarun Concession, where we drilled 12 productive development
wells within three separate field-discovery areas. As these wells were
completed, we trucked the crude oil to market at daily rates beginning at 2,000
barrels and increasing to 12,000 barrels by year end, thus monetizing the value
of our reserves while permanent production facilities were being built. We
completed construction of a 30-mile pipeline on the Qarun Concession in
November and were moving approximately 25,000 barrels of oil per day from the
block by year end. That equates to about 9,600 barrels net to our interests.
Development is ongoing, and we anticipate that production will increase to
35,000 barrels per day around mid-1997.
We also drilled eight exploratory wells on the Qarun Concession, which
yielded three discoveries. In addition to the two oil discoveries that were
tied in to the Qarun pipeline, we drilled a remote wildcat on the southern edge
of the concession, the Wadi El Rayan-1, that tested 950 barrels of oil per day.
Appraisal drilling is under way.
The Phoenix merger in May tripled our contractor interest in the Qarun
Concession from 25 percent to 75 percent and added a 40 percent contractor
interest in the Khalda Concession, which has been producing at an average rate
of 32,000 barrels of oil per day, or about 4,800 barrels net to our interests.
EGYPT PRODUCTION (MBOE/D)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 0
95 0
96 8.3
</TABLE>
EGYPT RESERVES (MMBOE)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 0
95 0
96 58.6
</TABLE>
[EGYPT MAP]
21
<PAGE> 26
Development of Egypt's gas reserves has been hampered by the lack of
access to markets and the correlative difficulty of arranging gas sales
contracts. The Egyptian government, however, has stated its intention to
displace more of its domestic oil consumption with natural gas for
environmental reasons and to increase oil exports to boost revenue. We're
playing a part in this national energy policy by helping to develop Egypt's
large, under-developed gas reserves. During 1996, we participated in several
world-class gas wells on the Khalda Concession, including the Tut-22X that
tested 90 MMcf of gas and 4,000 barrels of condensate per day and two other
discoveries that each flowed in excess of 45 MMcf and 2,000 barrels of
condensate per day. Gas wells in this area have a propensity for high liquids
production which further improves revenues. Collectively, 14 wells drilled to
date have tested more than 450 MMcf of gas and 31,000 barrels of condensate per
day, with two more wells awaiting testing at year end.
The value of these gas reserves was recognized at year end with the
signing of a long-term take-or-pay gas sales contract with the Egyptian General
Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) covering 200 MMcf of gas per day from the Khalda
Concession, beginning May 1, 1999. The term of the contract coincides with the
reserve life of the Khalda Concession, estimated at 25 years. With the
contract, we booked 85 Bcfe of reserves from the concession in 1996 and expect
to book an additional 315 Bcfe as development continues. Construction of two
gas processing plants capable of processing a combined 300 MMcf of gas per day
and a 34-inch, 145-mile pipeline to transport the gas to the Egyptian energy
grid is scheduled to begin in 1997. The Khalda Concession has reserved pipeline
capacity of 325 MMcf of gas per day.
Unlike gas prices in the United States, those in Egypt are tied to the
heating equivalency of certain grades of crude oil, which ultimately translates
into more attractive, stable prices. Based on oil prices at the time the
contract was signed, Apache would receive a gas price above $3.00 per Mcf, and
its share of future deliveries from Khalda would approximate $1.2 billion, 75
percent of which would be contracted under take-or-pay provisions.
Subsequent to year-end, we negotiated two transactions that will make us
the largest leaseholder in Egypt. With the first one, we will assume
non-operating interests in 7.7 million acres covering three concessions
situated between our Qarun and Khalda concessions. The second transaction,
which is pending government approval, would add approximately 8.6 million gross
acres contiguous with our existing leaseholdings. Completion of this
transaction would bring our total position in Egypt to 28 million gross acres,
an area roughly equivalent in size to the state of Pennsylvania.
With our sizable leaseholdings and growing production, we'll embark on an
aggressive exploration and development program in 1997. Our current plans call
for a total of 62 wells,
22
<PAGE> 27
including 19 exploratory wells and six development wells on the Qarun
Concession. We plan to drill 12 exploratory wells and 15 development wells on
the Khalda Concession, many of which will target gas-bearing formations. In the
Gulf of Suez on the Darag Concession, where we obtained a 50 percent contractor
interest in 460,000 acres in early 1996, we're participating in a 3-D seismic
survey and plan to drill two exploratory wells during 1997. We also plan to
participate in two exploratory wells on the 6.8-million-acre East Beni Suef
Concession, where we acquired a 50 percent contractor interest last February.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA REPORT
STRENGTHS
o Existing infrastructure of facilities and pipelines, including
operatorship of one of the few production facilities offshore Western
Australia.
o Large acreage position in the under-explored Carnarvon Basin.
o Expanding domestic markets for natural gas.
1997 OBJECTIVES
o Bring on production from our Stag and Agincourt oil discoveries.
o Appraise our Wonnich gas and oil field discovery.
o Accelerate exploratory drilling in the Carnarvon Basin.
o Obtain additional long-term gas contracts in the expanding Australian
gas market.
The Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia is considered by some to be
at a similar stage of development as the Gulf of Mexico 40 years ago. About
two-thirds the size of the Gulf, the Basin to date has yielded a half-billion
barrels of oil and 4.1 Tcf of gas from fewer than 1,000 wells. This compares to
the Gulf of Mexico's 30,000 wells and cumulative production of 8.7 billion
barrels of oil and 103 Tcf of gas.
In 1996, the industry drilled 15 wildcats in the Carnarvon Basin. Apache
alone plans to drill 17 wildcats there in 1997.
While development of Western Australia's gas reserves has been restricted
by limited markets, the situation is changing rapidly. Due largely to our
ability to capture new markets in the mining industry, we've secured three
large sales contracts involving the long-term supply of an aggregate 260 Bcf of
gas. Additional gas marketing opportunities are expected to arise as Western
Australian gas demand is forecast to double over the next decade.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA PRODUCTION (Mboe/d)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 4.5
95 4.7
95 4.6
</TABLE>
WESTERN AUSTRALIA RESERVES (MMboe)
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
94 10.8
95 19.6
96 31.3
</TABLE>
23
<PAGE> 28
We're finding innovative ways to add value in Western Australia. During
1996, we signed an agreement under which the Apache-operated Harriet Joint
Venture will provide gas transportation and liquids storage services for the
East Spar Joint Venture, which we also operate. It is the first agreement of
its kind for operations offshore Western Australia.
The agreement represents a win-win situation for both joint ventures.
Harriet secures increased utilization of and additional revenues from its
existing oil and gas facilities on Varanus Island while East Spar achieves
lower full-cycle project costs, having eliminated major capital expenditures
for a gas export pipeline and storage tanks for the liquids. Gas customers also
should benefit because the two joint ventures are able to provide appropriate
back-up supply for consumers. The agreement also enhances the commercial
viability of any small- to medium-size gas discoveries in this part of the
Carnarvon Basin. Apache owns a 22.5 percent working interest in Harriet and a
20 percent working interest in East Spar.
Production from East Spar field began in November 1996 at an average daily
rate of 30 MMcf of gas and 2,000 barrels of condensate from two subsea wells.
Daily production is expected to increase to 40 MMcf of gas and 3,000 barrels of
condensate by mid-1997.
Apache and its partners claimed a world-first in 1996 with the
installation of an unmanned production buoy approximately 36 miles from our
production and processing facilities on Varanus Island. The buoy automatically
controls and monitors the production of the East Spar gas field's subsea
facilities. The innovation is estimated to have saved $15 million in
construction and labor costs.
During 1996, we awarded contracts for the construction of production
facilities at the Stag oil field in the Carnarvon Basin. It is anticipated that
production from the field's five hor-
[WESTERN AUSTRALIA MAP]
24
<PAGE> 29
izontal wells will begin around year-end 1997 at an initial daily rate of
approximately 25,000 barrels of oil, or about 8,000 barrels per day net to our
interest.
By mid-1997, we expect to bring our Agincourt oil field on line at an
initial rate of 7,000 barrels per day, or 1,600 barrels net to our interest,
from a single horizontal well.
In addition to developing gas reserves at Wonnich field, currently proven
to contain 65 Bcf and estimated to hold a total of 200 Bcf, we plan to appraise
the field's oil leg. Production from Wonnich field will be tied in to our
Varanus Island facilities, located within about 20 miles, enhancing the value
of both Wonnich and Varanus.
We plan to step up both exploratory and development drilling in the
Carnarvon Basin during 1997. Our exploration efforts will target deeper
objectives around our existing production infrastructure, and we will continue
to apply innovative concepts to reduce costs and discovery-to-production lag
times.
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS REPORT
At year end 1996, we drilled an exploratory well on the Zhao Dong Block in
Bohai Bay, offshore People's Republic of China, that tested at a combined rate
of 11,571 barrels of oil per day. It is believed to be one of the highest flow
rates ever recorded in Bohai Bay. While the four previous wells drilled on this
block tested low-gravity crude oil at daily rates averaging 3,200 barrels per
well, this deeper test yielded high-gravity crude from a higher-pressured
reservoir, greatly improving the potential and economic viability of this area.
25
<PAGE> 30
We operate the Zhao Dong Block, holding a 50 percent working interest, and
plan to drill one appraisal well and three exploratory wells on the block in
1997.
In Indonesia's Central Sumatra, we developed shallow gas production at
about 1,000 feet on our Bentu Segat Block and are pursuing gas marketing
contracts for these reserves. We operate and hold a 39 percent interest in the
block. Shortly after year end, we negotiated a production sharing agreement for
the adjacent Korinci Baru Concession.
We continue to negotiate gas sales agreements for our Foxtrot gas field
offshore the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Apache operates the field, holding a
24 percent working interest. Foxtrot field has been estimated to contain up to
one-half Tcf of gross gas reserves.
/s/ FLOYD R. PRICE
FLOYD R. PRICE Vice President - International Exploration and Production
The foregoing discussions contain certain "forward-looking
statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 including, without limitation , expectations, beliefs, plans and
objectives regarding Apache's reserves and production. Any matters that
are not historical facts are forward-looking and, accordingly, involve
estimates, assumptions and uncertainties. There is no assurance that
Apache's expectations will be realized, and actual results may differ
materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.
26
<PAGE> 31
The following financial statements and supplementary disclosures are qualified
in their entirety by the Company's complete financial statements and related
information contained in the 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
APACHE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER COMMON SHARE DATA) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
--------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUES:
Oil and gas production revenues $ 833,164 $ 653,144 $ 538,389
Gathering, processing and
marketing revenues 142,868 97,207 44,287
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates (281) -- 459
Other revenues 1,400 351 9,491
--------- --------- ---------
977,151 750,702 592,626
--------- --------- ---------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 315,144 297,485 257,821
Impairments -- -- 7,300
Operating costs 225,527 211,742 149,474
Gathering, processing and
marketing costs 138,768 91,243 37,866
Administrative, selling and other 35,911 36,552 38,729
Merger costs -- 9,977 --
Financing costs:
Interest expense 89,829 88,057 37,838
Amortization of deferred loan costs 5,118 4,665 3,987
Capitalized interest (30,712) (19,041) (6,034)
Interest income (2,629) (3,121) (1,048)
--------- --------- ---------
776,956 717,559 525,933
--------- --------- ---------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 200,195 33,143 66,693
Provision for income taxes 78,768 12,936 21,110
--------- --------- ---------
NET INCOME $ 121,427 $ 20,207 $ 45,583
--------- --------- ---------
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE $ 1.42 $ .28 $ .65
--------- --------- ---------
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING 85,777 71,792 69,715
========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
27
<PAGE> 32
APACHE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS) DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------
1996 1995
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 13,161 $ 13,633
Receivables 234,646 175,949
Inventories 13,963 9,764
Advances to oil and gas ventures and other 6,386 8,990
----------- -----------
268,156 208,336
----------- -----------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Oil and gas, on the basis of full cost accounting:
Proved properties 4,713,113 3,956,833
Unproved properties and properties under development, not being amortized 388,872 335,842
International concession rights, not being amortized 99,000 --
Gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities 121,446 33,088
Other 58,882 51,341
----------- -----------
5,381,313 4,377,104
Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization (2,281,252) (1,975,543)
----------- -----------
3,100,061 2,401,561
----------- -----------
OTHER ASSETS:
Deferred charges and other 64,213 71,553
----------- -----------
$ 3,432,430 $ 2,681,450
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
28
<PAGE> 33
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS) DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------
1996 1995
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 2,000 $ 3,000
Accounts payable 174,941 138,269
Accrued operating expense 17,263 26,863
Accrued exploration and development 76,465 30,251
Accrued compensation and benefits 12,262 9,733
Other accrued expenses 26,726 22,233
----------- -----------
309,657 230,349
----------- -----------
LONG-TERM DEBT 1,235,706 1,072,076
----------- -----------
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes 254,789 181,575
Advance from gas purchaser 51,798 60,338
Other 61,964 45,307
----------- -----------
368,551 287,220
----------- -----------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, $1.25 par, 215,000,000 shares authorized,
91,224,028 and 78,498,892 shares issued, respectively 114,030 98,124
Paid-in capital 1,002,540 687,465
Retained earnings 432,588 335,470
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,165,231 and 1,119,934 shares, respectively (15,152) (13,478)
Currency translation adjustments (15,490) (15,776)
----------- -----------
1,518,516 1,091,805
----------- -----------
$ 3,432,430 $ 2,681,450
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
29
<PAGE> 34
APACHE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
--------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $ 121,427 $ 20,207 $ 45,583
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 315,144 297,485 257,821
Impairments -- -- 7,300
Amortization of deferred loan costs 5,118 4,665 3,987
Provision for deferred income taxes 61,336 29,382 24,385
Other deferred credits -- 4,584 --
Other -- -- 46
Cash distributions less than earnings of affiliates (163) -- (459)
Gain on sale of stock held for investment and other (770) (906) (2,108)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Increase in receivables (55,645) (64,399) (12,128)
(Increase) decrease in advances to oil and gas ventures and other 5,737 (189) (2,281)
Increase in product inventory (1,487) -- --
Increase in deferred charges and other (1,834) (1,294) (3,238)
Increase (decrease) in payables 35,998 37,254 (17,288)
Increase (decrease) in accrued operating expenses (3,433) 15,236 541
Increase (decrease) in advance from gas purchaser (8,540) (7,038) 67,376
Increase (decrease) in deferred credits and noncurrent liabilities 17,616 (2,864) (11,768)
--------- --------- ---------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 490,504 332,123 357,769
--------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Exploration and development expenditures (493,695) (312,168) (344,125)
Acquisition of oil and gas properties (114,971) (820,918) (180,742)
Purchase of premium gas contract -- (28,700) --
Gathering, transmission and processing expenditures (33,355) (6,700) --
Non-cash portion of net oil and gas property additions 46,268 5,092 5,480
Investment in ProEnergy (4,430) -- --
Acquisition of Phoenix, net of cash acquired (43,294) -- --
Purchase of AERC stock, net of cash acquired -- -- (13,885)
Purchase of stock held for investment -- (307) (5,051)
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties 30,144 271,937 19,525
Prepaid acquisition cost -- 25,377 (25,377)
Proceeds from sale of stock held for investment 7,193 2,835 6,640
Other capital expenditures, net (9,375) (9,859) (11,968)
Other, net (2,712) 3,307 (1,716)
--------- --------- ---------
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (618,227) (870,104) (551,219)
--------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Long-term borrowings 765,895 856,159 244,058
Payments on long-term debt (615,765) (500,579) (38,019)
Net decrease in short-term borrowings -- -- (5,478)
Dividends paid (23,420) (18,915) (17,131)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 8,145 197,006 4,599
Payments to acquire treasury stock (1,698) (26) (3,389)
Cost of debt and equity transactions (5,906) (12,074) (875)
--------- --------- ---------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES 127,251 521,571 183,765
--------- --------- ---------
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (472) (16,410) (9,685)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 13,633 30,043 39,728
--------- --------- ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR $ 13,161 $ 13,633 $ 30,043
========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
30
<PAGE> 35
APACHE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
FUTURE NET CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS)
DECEMBER 31, United States Canada (1) Egypt Australia Total
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1996
Cash inflows $ 8,839,819 $ 761,657 $ 1,272,104 $ 553,781 $ 11,427,361
Production and development costs (2,542,757) (204,610) (484,143) (240,451) (3,471,961)
Income tax expense (1,751,611) (148,745) (260,598) (83,593) (2,244,547)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash flows 4,545,451 408,302 527,363 229,737 5,710,853
10-percent annual discount rate (1,928,723) (182,645) (208,272) (71,696) (2,391,336)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Discounted future net cash flows(2) $ 2,616,728 $ 225,657 $ 319,091 $ 158,041 $ 3,319,517
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
1995
Cash inflows $ 5,617,297 $ 550,627 $ -- $ 287,817 $ 6,455,741
Production and development costs (2,126,984) (186,388) -- (99,345) (2,412,717)
Income tax expense (753,425) (82,124) -- (53,520) (889,069)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash flows 2,736,888 282,115 -- 134,952 3,153,955
10-percent annual discount rate (1,105,629) (124,835) -- (53,932) (1,284,396)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Discounted future net cash flows (2) $ 1,631,259 $ 157,280 $ -- $ 81,020 $ 1,869,559
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
1994
Cash inflows $ 3,401,300 $ 536,463 $ -- $ 163,303 $ 4,101,066
Production and development costs (1,294,801) (156,589) -- (68,217) (1,519,607)
Income tax expense (376,932) (91,740) -- (27,910) (496,582)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash flows 1,729,567 288,134 -- 67,176 2,084,877
10-percent annual discount rate (628,408) (128,558) -- (15,366) (772,332)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Discounted future net cash flows(2) $ 1,101,159 $ 159,576 $ -- $ 51,810 $ 1,312,545
============ ============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
(1) Included in cash inflows is approximately $16.2 million, $25.3 million and
$25.7 million ($5.3 million, $9.8 million and $9.8 million after discount
at 10 percent per annum) for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively, of
Canadian provincial tax credits expected to be realized beyond the date at
which the legislation, under its provisions, could be repealed.
(2) Estimated future net cash flows before income tax expense, discounted at
10 percent per annum, totaled approximately $4.6 billion, $2.3 billion and
$1.6 billion as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
FUTURE NET CASH FLOWS - Future cash inflows are based on year-end prices except
in those instances where the sale of natural gas or oil is covered by physical
or derivative contract terms providing for higher or lower amounts. Operating
costs, production and ad valorem taxes and future development costs are based
on current costs with no escalation.
The table above sets forth information concerning future net cash flows
from oil and gas reserves, net of income tax expense. Income tax expense has
been computed using expected future tax rates and giving effect to tax
deductions and credits available, under current laws, and which relate to oil
and gas producing activities. This information does not purport to present the
fair market value of the Company's oil and gas assets, but does present a
standardized disclosure concerning possible future net cash flows that would
result under the assumptions used.
31
<PAGE> 36
APACHE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
OIL AND GAS RESERVE QUANTITIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Crude Oil, Condensate and Natural Gas Liquids
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Thousands of barrels)
United
States Canada Egypt Australia Total
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total proved reserves:
Balance December 31, 1993 83,723 13,234 -- 6,000 102,957
Extensions, discoveries and other additions 9,669 690 -- 349 10,708
Purchases of minerals in-place 9,232 83 -- -- 9,315
Revisions of previous estimates 5,347 (2,239) -- 273 3,381
Production (12,418) (962) -- (1,159) (14,539)
Sales of properties (1,108) (90) -- -- (1,198)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Balance December 31, 1994 94,445 10,716 -- 5,463 110,624
Extensions, discoveries and other additions 6,685 306 -- 3,058 10,049
Purchases of minerals in-place 99,148 119 -- -- 99,267
Revisions of previous estimates 12,172 (388) -- 10 11,794
Production (17,011) (937) -- (1,139) (19,087)
Sales of properties (42,318) -- -- -- (42,318)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Balance December 31, 1995 153,121 9,816 -- 7,392 170,329
Extensions, discoveries and other additions 9,065 1,123 18,909 14,562 43,659
Purchases of minerals in-place 3,547 128 30,706 -- 34,381
Revisions of previous estimates 12,547 320 -- (1,679) 11,188
Production (15,338) (955) (3,036) (849) (20,178)
Sales of properties (4,019) (66) -- -- (4,085)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Balance December 31, 1996 158,923 10,366 46,579 19,426 235,294
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Proved developed reserves:
December 31, 1993 74,288 13,221 -- 5,113 92,622
December 31, 1994 84,085 10,612 -- 5,322 100,019
December 31, 1995 123,726 9,597 -- 4,141 137,464
December 31, 1996 129,551 10,351 38,213 5,106 183,221
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
OIL AND GAS RESERVE INFORMATION - Proved oil and gas reserve quantities are
based on estimates prepared by the Company's engineers in accordance with
guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The
Company's estimates of proved reserve quantities of its U.S., Canadian and
international properties are subject to review by independent petroleum
engineering firms retained by the Company.
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved
reserves and projecting future rates of production and timing of development
expenditures. The reserve data above represents estimates only and should not
be construed as being exact.
32
<PAGE> 37
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Natural Gas
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Millions of cubic feet)
United
States Canada Egypt Australia Total
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total proved reserves:
Balance December 31, 1993 814,859 277,411 -- 33,360 1,125,630
Extensions, discoveries and other additions 190,386 44,912 -- 408 235,706
Purchases of minerals in-place 158,309 2,710 -- -- 161,019
Revisions of previous estimates (21,937) 6,880 -- 1,114 (13,943)
Production (152,994) (20,491) -- (2,911) (176,396)
Sales of properties (4,335) (11,526) -- -- (15,861)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Balance December 31, 1994 984,288 299,896 -- 31,971 1,316,155
Extensions, discoveries and other additions 85,032 26,488 -- 42,332 153,852
Purchases of minerals in-place 335,865 4,662 -- -- 340,527
Revisions of previous estimates 56,281 (18,141) -- 2,342 40,482
Production (182,661) (24,485) -- (3,486) (210,632)
Sales of properties (138,464) -- -- -- (138,464)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Balance December 31, 1995 1,140,341 288,420 -- 73,159 1,501,920
Extensions, discoveries and other additions 140,208 44,584 59,329 8,346 252,467
Purchases of minerals in-place 88,023 3,039 12,964 -- 104,026
Revisions of previous estimates 35,026 (25,747) -- (5,276) 4,003
Production (172,815) (27,303) (111) (5,076) (205,305)
Sales of properties (29,231) (2,576) -- -- (31,807)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Balance December 31, 1996 1,201,552 280,417 72,182 71,153 1,625,304
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Proved developed reserves:
December 31, 1993 696,421 263,070 -- 24,251 983,742
December 31, 1994 888,039 274,611 -- 22,265 1,184,915
December 31, 1995 1,003,853 274,306 -- 20,308 1,298,467
December 31, 1996 1,087,694 274,498 6,977 66,174 1,435,343
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
33
<PAGE> 38
APACHE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ELEVEN-YEAR STATISTICAL SUMMARY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE INDICATED) RESTATED FOR POOLING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1994 1993
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FINANCIAL DATA
Oil and gas sales 833.2 653.1 538.4 481.8 493.5 437.3
Other revenues 144.0 97.6 54.2 30.8 52.1 29.3
Consolidated revenues 977.2 750.7 592.6 512.6 545.6 466.6
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 121.4 20.2 45.6 41.4 42.8 37.3
Income from discontinued operations -- -- -- -- -- --
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle -- -- -- 5.4 -- --
Extraordinary item -- -- -- -- -- --
Net income (loss) 121.4 20.2 45.6 46.8 42.8 37.3
Net cash provided by operating activities 490.5 332.1 357.8 256.0 335.6 225.1
Oil and gas expenditures (including acquisitions) 939.9 1,133.1 524.9 564.5 482.5 543.5
Total assets 3,432.4 2,681.5 2,036.6 1,759.2 1,879.0 1,592.4
Long-term debt 1,235.7 1,072.1 719.0 504.3 657.5 453.0
Shareholders' equity 1,518.5 1,091.8 891.1 868.6 816.2 785.9
Shares outstanding 90.1 77.4 69.7 69.5 61.4 61.1
Amortization of oil and gas properties-recurring 296.0 288.4 249.3 192.5 224.1 170.5
Effective tax rate (benefit) 39.3% 39.0% 31.7% 34.0% 33.5% 35.9%
Future cash inflows 11,427.4 6,455.7 4,101.1 3,889.0 3,564.6 3,217.0
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
SHAREHOLDER DATA
Average number of shares outstanding 85.8 71.8 69.7 62.0 61.3 53.5
Earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations 1.42 0.28 0.65 0.67 0.70 0.70
Net income (loss) 1.42 0.28 0.65 0.75 0.70 0.70
Dividends per share 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Shareholders' equity per share 16.86 14.11 12.78 12.50 13.28 12.86
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
OPERATIONS DATA
Natural gas production (Bcf) 205.3 210.6 176.4 131.6 155.9 110.6
Oil and condensate production (MMbbls) 19.5 18.3 13.8 13.0 13.1 12.3
Average price of natural gas (per Mcf) 2.02 1.57 1.78 1.94 1.81 2.03
Average price of oil (per barrel) 20.84 17.09 15.65 16.74 15.66 16.78
Oil reserves (MMbbls)
Proved developed 183.2 137.5 100.0 92.6 89.4 79.4
Proved undeveloped 52.1 32.8 10.6 10.4 10.5 10.3
Natural gas reserves (Bcf):
Proved developed 1,435.3 1,298.5 1,184.9 983.7 910.3 720.7
Proved undeveloped 190.0 203.4 131.2 141.9 106.0 127.5
Total proved (MMboe) 506.2 420.6 330.0 290.6 269.3 231.1
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
34
<PAGE> 39
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS ORIGINALLY REPORTED BEFORE RESTATEMENT FOR POOLING
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FINANCIAL DATA
Oil and gas sales 394.6 316.1 234.6 199.9 119.2 92.3 93.3
Other revenues 59.7 40.8 38.8 47.0 22.5 6.2 9.2
Consolidated revenues 454.3 356.9 273.4 246.9 141.7 98.5 102.5
Net income (loss) from continuing
operations 47.8 34.6 40.3 22.1 5.4 (80.0) (14.5)
Income from discontinued operations -- -- -- -- 2.6 7.9 3.6
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Extraordinary item -- -- -- -- 1.0 1.1 --
Net income (loss) 47.8 34.6 40.3 22.1 9.0 (71.0) (10.9)
Net cash provided by operating
activities 194.4 156.6 189.4 168.1 90.9 57.6 39.9
Oil and gas expenditures (including
acquisitions) 199.6 679.9 182.3 126.6 268.8 62.5 266.5
Total assets 1,218.7 1,209.3 829.6 764.4 701.7 503.4 643.4
Long-term debt 454.4 491.0 194.8 195.6 309.1 235.8 258.8
Shareholders' equity 475.2 439.9 386.8 350.3 206.9 128.8 207.4
Shares outstanding 46.9 46.9 44.7 43.9 33.0 20.1 20.3
Amortization of oil and gas
properties-recurring 153.8 129.1 113.3 92.5 57.9 49.9 48.1
Effective tax rate (benefit) 33.4% 29.0% 33.8% 32.8% 22.9% (43.2%) (49.2%)
Future cash inflows 2,798.6 2,587.3 1,697.2 1,324.9 1,162.8 642.0 854.8
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
SHAREHOLDER DATA
Average number of shares outstanding 46.9 45.8 44.7 34.7 23.8 20.3 20.4
Earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations 1.02 0.76 0.90 0.64 0.23 (3.94) (0.71)
Net income (loss) 1.02 0.76 0.90 0.64 0.38 (3.50) (0.53)
Dividends per share 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
Shareholders' equity per share 10.13 9.39 8.65 7.97 6.28 6.42 10.21
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
OPERATIONS DATA
Natural gas production (Bcf) 96.0 104.6 94.6 85.0 53.0 40.9 38.7
Oil and condensate production (MMbbls) 12.1 7.8 3.4 3.1 2.3 2.0 2.0
Average price of natural gas (per Mcf) 1.76 1.58 1.71 1.64 1.68 1.49 1.73
Average price of oil (per barrel) 18.16 18.40 21.07 17.24 13.19 15.39 12.44
Oil reserves (MMbbls)
Proved developed 73.1 69.2 19.4 15.6 16.1 10.1 10.1
Proved undeveloped 7.6 10.6 3.4 1.6 .5 1.2 1.3
Natural gas reserves (Bcf):
Proved developed 585.4 549.7 472.8 424.8 391.4 239.8 256.7
Proved undeveloped 57.9 52.3 27.6 47.3 33.9 30.2 40.6
Total proved (MMboe) 187.9 180.2 106.1 95.5 87.4 56.3 60.9
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
35
<PAGE> 40
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS
<S> <C>
FREDERICK M. BOHEN (3)(5) RAYMOND PLANK
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
The Rockefeller University
G. STEVEN FARRIS
VIRGIL B. DAY (3) President and Chief Operating Officer
Senior Partner
Vedder, Price, Kaufman, Kammholz & Day H. CRAIG CLARK
Vice President - North American Exploration and Production
G. STEVEN FARRIS
President and Chief Operating Officer LISA A. FLOYD
Apache Corporation Vice President - Technical Services
RANDOLPH M. FERLIC, M.D. (1)(2)(4) MARK A. JACKSON
Founder and Former President Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Surgical Services of the Great Plains, P.C.
ZURAB S. KOBIASHVILI
EUGENE C. FIEDOREK (2) Vice President and General Counsel
Managing Director
EnCap Investments L.C. ANTHONY R. LENTINI, JR.
Vice President - Public and International Affairs
W. BROOKS FIELDS (1)(2)(4)
Former President and Chief Executive Officer ROGER B. PLANK
Minnesota Racetrack, Inc. Vice President - Planning and Corporate Development
ROBERT V. GISSELBECK (2) FLOYD R. PRICE
President Vice President - International Exploration and Production
Gisselbeck & Associates
MATTHEW W. DUNDREA
STANLEY K. HATHAWAY (2) Treasurer
Senior Partner
Hathaway, Speight, Kunz & Trautwein THOMAS L. MITCHELL
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
JOHN A. KOCUR (1)(3)(4)
Attorney at Law CHERI L. PEPER
Former Vice Chairman of the Board Corporate Secretary
Apache Corporation
GEORGE D. LAWRENCE JR. (1)(4)
Private Investor
Former Chief Executive Officer
The Phoenix Resource Companies, Inc.
MARY RALPH LOWE (2)(4)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Maralo, Inc.
RAYMOND PLANK (1)(4)
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Apache Corporation
JOSEPH A. RICE (3)(5)
Former Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
Irving Bank Corporation and Irving Trust Company
</TABLE>
(1) Executive Committee
(2) Audit Committee
(3) Management Development & Compensation Committee
(4) Nominating Committee
(5) Stock Option Plan Committee
36
<PAGE> 41
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Stock Data
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dividends
High Low Per Share
------- ------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1996
First Quarter $29 1/2 $24 3/8 $ .07
Second Quarter 33 1/2 26 3/8 $ .07
Third Quarter 34 5/8 27 3/4 $ .07
Fourth Quarter 37 7/8 29 1/2 $ .07
1995
First Quarter $27 3/8 $22 1/4 $ .07
Second Quarter 31 25 3/8 $ .07
Third Quarter 30 1/4 25 3/4 $ .07
Fourth Quarter 29 5/8 23 1/8 $ .07
</TABLE>
Absent significant events, the company expects the current dividend level to be
maintained. Apache common stock is listed on the New York and Chicago stock
exchanges (symbol APA). At December 31, 1996, the company's shares of common
stock outstanding were held by approximately 11,000 shareholders of record and
37,000 beneficial owners. The company's 9.25-percent notes, due in 2002 (symbol
APA 02), are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
CORPORATE OFFICES
One Post Oak Central
2000 Post Oak Boulevard
Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77056-4400
(713) 296-6000
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Arthur Andersen LLP
711 Louisiana
Suite 1300
Houston, Texas 77002
STOCK TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
161 North Concord Exchange
P.O. Box 738
South St. Paul, Minnesota 55075
(612) 450-4064
(800) 468-9716
Communications concerning the transfer of shares, lost certificates, dividend
checks, duplicate mailings or change of address should be directed to the stock
transfer agent.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
Shareholders of record may invest their dividends automatically in additional
shares of Apache common stock at the market price. Participants may also invest
up to an additional $5,000 in Apache shares each quarter through this service.
All bank service fees and brokerage commissions on purchases are paid by
Apache. A prospectus describing terms of the Plan and an authorization form may
be obtained from the company's stock transfer agent, Norwest Bank Minnesota,
N.A.
ANNUAL MEETING
Apache will hold its annual meeting of shareholders on Thursday, May 1, 1997,
at 10 a.m. in the Ballroom, Doubletree Hotel at Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak
Boulevard, Houston, Texas.
STOCK HELD IN "STREET NAME"
The company maintains a direct mailing list to ensure that shareholders with
stock held in brokerage accounts receive information on a timely basis.
Shareholders wanting to be added to this list should direct their requests to
Apache's Public and International Affairs Department, 2000 Post Oak Boulevard,
Suite 100, Houston, Texas, 77056-4400, or call (713) 296-6157.
FORM 10-K REQUEST
Shareholders interested in obtaining, without cost, a copy of the company's
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission may do so by
writing to Cheri L. Peper, Corporate Secretary, 2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite
100, Houston, Texas, 77056-4400.
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Shareholders, brokers, securities analysts or portfolio managers seeking
information about the company are welcome to contact Robert J. Dye, Director of
Investor Relations, at (713) 296-6662.
Members of the news media and others seeking information about the company
should contact Apache's Public and International Affairs Department at (713)
296-6107.
Web site: http://www.apachecorp.com
<PAGE> 42
APACHE CORPORATION
One Post Oak Central
2000 Post Oak Boulevard
Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77056-4400
Web site: http://www.apachecorp.com
