<PAGE> 1
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 Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[ X ] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(j)(2)
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[ ] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
...............................................................
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
...............................................................
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:(1)
...............................................................
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
...............................................................
5) Total fee paid:
...............................................................
(1) Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined.
[ ] 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
NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.
110 WEST BROADWAY
ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA 73401
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 25, 1995
To the Shareholders of
NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.:
The annual meeting of shareholders of Noble Affiliates, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 1995,
at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the Charles B. Goddard Center, D Street and First
Avenue, S.W., Ardmore, Oklahoma, for the following purposes:
1. To elect the Board of Directors for the ensuing year; and
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 13,
1995 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Only
shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date are entitled
to notice of and to vote at the meeting. A complete list of such shareholders
will be available for examination at the offices of the Company in Ardmore,
Oklahoma, during ordinary business hours for a period of 10 days prior to the
meeting.
A record of the Company's activities during 1994 and financial
statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 are contained in the
accompanying 1994 Annual Report. The Annual Report does not form any part of
the material for solicitation of proxies.
All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting.
SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, TO
COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY AND TO RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE
POSTAGE-PAID RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED. If a shareholder who has returned a
proxy attends the meeting in person, such shareholder may revoke the proxy and
vote in person on all matters submitted at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Orville Walraven
Secretary
Ardmore, Oklahoma
March 23, 1995
<PAGE> 3
NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.
110 WEST BROADWAY
ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA 73401
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 25, 1995
INTRODUCTION
The accompanying proxy, mailed together with this proxy statement, is
solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company for use at
the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on April 25, 1995,
and at any adjournment thereof. The approximate date on which this proxy
statement and the accompanying proxy were first sent to shareholders of the
Company is March 23, 1995.
Shares represented by valid proxies will be voted at the meeting in
accordance with the directions given. If no direction is indicated, the shares
will be voted for election of the nominees for director named in the proxy.
Any shareholder of the Company returning a proxy has the right to revoke the
proxy at any time before it is voted by communicating such revocation in
writing to Orville Walraven, Secretary, Noble Affiliates, Inc., P.O. Box 1967,
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402, or by executing and delivering a proxy bearing a later
date. No revocation by written notice or by delivery of another proxy shall be
effective until such notice of revocation or other proxy, as the case may be,
has been received by the Company at or prior to the meeting.
In order for an item of business proposed by a shareholder to be
considered properly brought before the annual meeting of shareholders, the
By-laws of the Company require that such shareholder give written notice to the
Secretary of the Company. The notice must specify certain information
concerning such shareholder and the item of business proposed to be brought
before the meeting. The notice must be received by the Company not later than
60 days prior to the annual meeting if such meeting is to be held on a day
within 30 days preceding the anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting,
or 90 days in advance of such meeting if it is to be held on or after the
anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting. Accordingly, any such
shareholder notice in connection with the 1996 annual meeting of shareholders
must be received by the Company no later than February 23, 1996.
VOTING PROCEDURES AND TABULATION
The Company will appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the
meeting and to make a written report thereof. Prior to the meeting, the
inspectors will sign an oath to perform their duties in an impartial manner and
according to the best of their ability. The inspectors will ascertain the
number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, determine the shares
represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, count all
votes and ballots, and perform certain other duties as required by law.
The inspectors will tabulate the number of votes cast for or withheld as
to the vote on each nominee for director. With regard to the election of
directors, votes may be cast in favor of or withheld from each nominee. Votes
that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no
effect. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, brokers who hold
shares in street name have the authority to vote on certain "routine" items
when they have not received instructions from beneficial owners. Brokers that
do not receive instructions are entitled to vote on the election of directors.
Under applicable Delaware law and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
and By-laws, a broker non-vote will have no effect on the outcome of the
election of directors.
<PAGE> 4
VOTING SECURITIES
Only holders of record of common stock of the Company, par value
$3.33-1/3 per share ("Common Stock"), at the close of business on March 13,
1995, the record date for the meeting, are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting. The presence of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum. On the record date for the meeting,
there were issued and outstanding 50,024,356 shares of Common Stock. Each
share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following tabulation sets forth as of December 31, 1994 information
with respect to the only persons who were known to the Company to be beneficial
owners of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED (1) OF CLASS
- ------------------- ---------------------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. . . . . . 6,779,220 (2) 13.6%
P. O. Box 2180
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
FMR Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,022,350 (3) 6.0%
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Tiger Management Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . 2,951,700 (4) 5.9%
Panther Partners L.P.
Panther Management Company L.P.
Julian H. Robertson, Jr.
101 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10178
Neuberger & Berman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,589,887 (5) 5.2%
605 Third Ave.
New York, New York 10158-3698
</TABLE>
_______________________
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, all shares listed are directly held with sole
voting and investment power.
(2) Beneficial ownership of such shares was reported in an Amendment No. 4 to
Schedule 13G dated February 7, 1995 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.
(the "Foundation") with respect to its beneficial ownership of the Common
Stock. The Foundation is an Oklahoma not-for-profit corporation
organized in 1952 as successor to a charitable trust formed in 1945. The
Foundation is engaged in basic plant biology research and agricultural
research, consultation and demonstration. From time to time as funds are
available, the Foundation also makes grants to various charitable
organizations. The Foundation organized the Company in 1969. Michael A.
Cawley and John F. Snodgrass, directors of the Company, serve on the Board
of Trustees of the Foundation. In addition, Mr. Cawley is President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, and Mr. Snodgrass is President
Emeritus of the Foundation. In the event of a vacancy in a trusteeship of
the Foundation, a majority of the remaining trustees has the power to
elect a successor trustee to fill the vacancy.
(3) According to an Amendment No. 5 to Schedule 13G dated February 13, 1995
filed with the SEC by FMR Corp., FMR Corp. beneficially owns all the
shares with sole dispositive power but has sole voting power with
(footnotes to table continued on following page)
2
<PAGE> 5
respect to only 31,700 of the shares. FMR Corp. indicated in its amended
Schedule 13G that it is a parent holding company that owns the shares
indirectly through two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. According to
the amended Schedule 13G, one subsidiary beneficially owns 2,968,350 of
the shares as a result of its acting as an investment adviser to several
investment companies and one subsidiary beneficially owns 54,000 shares
as a result of serving as an investment manager of several institutional
accounts. FMR Corp. also reported beneficial ownership of such shares by
Edward C. Johnson 3d, the Chairman and controlling shareholder of FMR
Corp.
(4) Beneficial ownership of such shares was reported in an Amendment No. 1 to
Schedule 13G dated February 7, 1995 filed with the SEC by Tiger
Management Corporation ("Tiger"), Panther Partners L.P. ("Panther"),
Panther Management Company L.P. ("PMCLP") and Julian H. Robertson, Jr.,
with respect to their beneficial ownership of the Common Stock. In such
amended Schedule 13G, Tiger reported shared voting and dispositive power
over 2,738,000 of such shares, Panther and PMCLP reported shared voting
and dispositive power over 213,700 of such shares and Julian H.
Robertson, Jr., the ultimate controlling person of Tiger and PMCLP,
reported shared voting and dispositive power over all 2,951,700 shares.
(5) Beneficial ownership of such shares was reported in a Schedule 13G dated
February 10, 1995 filed with the SEC by Neuberger & Berman ("N&B") with
respect to its beneficial ownership of the Common Stock. In its Schedule
13G, N&B reports that it is deemed to be the beneficial owner of such
shares under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), as a result of its shared dispositive power over the
securities of many of its unrelated clients who are the actual owners of
such securities and who have the sole right to receive and the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from or proceeds from the sale of such
securities. N&B is a registered broker dealer under the Exchange Act and
is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nine directors, constituting the entire Board of Directors, are to be
elected at the meeting to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders
and until their successors have been elected and qualified. All nominees for
director were elected directors of the Company by vote of the shareholders at
the 1994 annual meeting with the exception of Mr. Cawley who was elected as
director of the Company by the directors effective January 1, 1995. Generally,
the Company's By-laws provide that a shareholder must deliver written notice to
the Secretary of the Company not later than 90 days prior to the annual meeting
naming such shareholder's nominee(s) for director and specifying certain
information concerning such shareholder and nominee(s). Accordingly, a
shareholder's nominee(s) for director to be presented at the 1996 annual
meeting of shareholders must be received by the Company no later than January
24, 1996.
Directors are elected by plurality vote. All duly submitted and
unrevoked proxies in the form accompanying this proxy statement will be voted
for the nominees selected by the Board of Directors, except where authorization
so to vote is withheld. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF SUCH NOMINEES.
DIRECTORS / NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
ROY BUTLER -- Mr. Butler retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company in 1984 and is currently a private investor. Mr. Butler, age 69,
had served as President of the Company since 1975 and as its Chief Executive
Officer since 1980. He has served as a director of the Company since 1973.
MICHAEL A. CAWLEY -- Mr. Cawley, age 47, has served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Foundation since February 1, 1992, after serving as
Executive Vice President of the Foundation since January 1, 1991. For more
than five years prior to 1991, Mr. Cawley was the President of Thompson &
Cawley, a professional corporation, attorneys at law; and Mr. Cawley currently
serves as of counsel to the law firm of Thompson, Cawley, Veazey & Burns, a
professional corporation, which firm provided certain legal services to the
Company during 1994. Mr. Cawley has served as a trustee of the Foundation
since 1988 and is also a director of Panhandle Royalty Company and Noble
Drilling Corporation.
3
<PAGE> 6
EDWARD F. COX -- Mr. Cox has been a partner in the law firm of Donovan Leisure
Newton & Irvine, New York, New York for more than five years. Mr. Cox, age 48,
has served as a director of the Company since 1984.
JAMES C. DAY -- Mr. Day, age 51, has served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Noble Drilling Corporation since January 1984, and as Chairman of
the Board of Noble Drilling Corporation since October 1992. Prior to 1984, Mr.
Day served as Vice President of Noble Drilling Corporation from January 1983.
Prior to 1983, Mr. Day served as Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the
Company. Mr. Day is also a director of Global Industries, Ltd. He has served
as a director of the Company since 1994.
ROBERT KELLEY -- Mr. Kelley has served as President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company since August 1986, and as Chairman of the Board since October
1992. Prior to August 1986, he had served as Executive Vice President of the
Company since January 1986. Mr. Kelley, age 49, also serves as President and
Chief Executive Officer of Samedan Oil Corporation ("Samedan"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, and he has held such positions since 1984. For more
than five years prior thereto, Mr. Kelley served as an officer of Samedan. Mr.
Kelley also serves as a director of Security Corporation of Duncan, Oklahoma
and Exchange National Bank and Trust Company of Ardmore, Oklahoma. He has
served as director of the Company since 1986.
HAROLD F. KLEINMAN -- Mr. Kleinman has been a senior member of the law firm of
Thompson & Knight, A Professional Corporation, Dallas, Texas, counsel for the
Company, for more than five years and is currently a shareholder of such firm.
Mr. Kleinman, age 64, has served as director of the Company since 1985.
GEORGE J. MCLEOD -- Mr. McLeod currently serves as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Geolock Resources Ltd., a company engaged in oil and gas
exploration and production in Canada. Mr. McLeod, age 66, retired as President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 1986, after serving in such
positions since 1984. For more than five years prior thereto, Mr. McLeod
served as President of Samedan. Mr. McLeod also currently serves as a director
of Noble Drilling International Ltd., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
Noble Drilling Corporation, and of Crestar Energy in Calgary, Alberta. He has
served as director of the Company since 1977.
GUY W. NICHOLS -- Mr. Nichols has served as Chairman of the Board of Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution since 1985. Prior to 1984, Mr. Nichols was Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of New England Electric System. Mr. Nichols, age
69, also serves as a director of Nashua Corporation, State Mutual Life
Assurance Company of America and Allmerica Property & Casualty Companies, Inc.
Mr. Nichols has served as a director of the Company since 1986.
JOHN F. SNODGRASS -- Mr. Snodgrass currently serves as a trustee of the
Foundation and has served in such position since 1982. Mr. Snodgrass is also
currently President Emeritus of the Foundation. He retired as President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation effective January 31, 1992, after
serving in such positions since 1982. Prior thereto, Mr. Snodgrass was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Exchange National Bank and Trust
Company of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and until 1984, Mr. Snodgrass was Chairman of the
Board of the bank. Mr. Snodgrass, age 69, also serves as a director of Noble
Drilling Corporation, Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, Exchange National Bank
and Trust Company of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Centaur Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of
Sunnyvale, California. He has served as a director of the Company since 1978.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors held seven meetings in 1994. Each nominee for
director attended every meeting of the Board and every meeting of the Board
committees on which he served, except that Mr. Cox was absent from two Board
meetings and one meeting of the audit committee on which he serves.
4
<PAGE> 7
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The committees of the Board, the current members and the primary
functions of the committees are as follows:
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE -- Roy Butler, Chairman; James C.
Day; George J. McLeod; and John F. Snodgrass. The primary
responsibilities of the compensation and benefits committee are to fix
annual salaries and bonuses of the officers of the Company, including
those officers who are also directors, and to administer the Company's
employee stock option plans. The compensation and benefits committee
held five meetings during 1994.
AUDIT COMMITTEE -- Harold F. Kleinman, Chairman; Edward F. Cox; and Guy
W. Nichols. The primary responsibilities of the audit committee are to
review with the Company's auditors the audit procedures to be applied in
the conduct of the annual audit and the results of the annual audit.
During 1994 the audit committee held four meetings.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE -- Robert Kelley, Chairman; Roy Butler; Harold F.
Kleinman; and John F. Snodgrass. The primary responsibilities of the
executive committee are to exercise the authority of the Board during the
intervals between meetings of the Board. The executive committee held no
meetings during 1994.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE -- George J. McLeod, Chairman; Edward F. Cox; James
C. Day; and Guy W. Nichols. The primary responsibilities of the
nominating committee are to review the role, composition and structure of
the Board and its committees, and advise the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company with respect thereto; and to consider and recommend nominees
for election to the Board. During 1994 the nominating committee held one
meeting.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION. The current
members of the compensation and benefits committee were the only persons who
served on such committee during 1994. Messrs. Butler, Day and McLeod were
formerly officers of the Company. See "Election of Directors" in this proxy
statement for a description of the prior business experience and principal
employment of Messrs. Butler, Day and McLeod.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors who are not officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
receive an annual retainer of $24,000 and a fee of $1,000 for each Board or
committee meeting attended. Each director who is such an officer receives a
fee of $100 for each Board meeting attended. The chairman of each committee
receives an additional annual retainer of $2,500. The Company also reimburses
directors for travel, lodging and related expenses they incur in attending
Board and committee meetings.
STOCK OPTION PLAN. The 1988 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for
Non-Employee Directors provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options to
each director of the Company who is not also either an employee or officer of
the Company and who has not made an irrevocable, one-time election to decline
to participate in the plan. Harold F. Kleinman has elected not to participate
in the plan. The plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in 1988 and
approved by shareholders at the 1989 annual meeting. The plan as originally
adopted provided for the grant of nonqualified stock options and SARs but was
amended during 1993 to eliminate the granting of SARs. An aggregate of 250,000
shares of Common Stock has been reserved for issuance under the plan. The plan
provides generally for a formula grant of options annually on each July 1
during the term of the plan. The formula results in the automatic grant
(unless revoked by the Board in a particular year) to each participating
non-employee director of an option to purchase a number of shares of Common
Stock equal to 30,000 divided by the number of participating non-employee
directors. The purchase price per share of Common Stock under the option is
the fair market value of the share on the grant date of such option.
As of July 1, 1994, each of Messrs. Butler, Cox, Day, McLeod, Nichols and
Snodgrass was granted an option under the plan covering 5,000 shares of Common
Stock at the exercise price of $30.00 per share. The period within
5
<PAGE> 8
which a non-employee director's option may be exercised commences at the close
of such director's first year of service as a director after the grant date of
such option and ends ten years after such grant date, unless expiring sooner
due to termination of service or death, or unless such option is fully
exercised prior to the end of such ten-year period.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The tabulation below sets forth as of December 31, 1994, beneficial
ownership of shares of Common Stock by the nine nominees for director and each
named executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table included
elsewhere in this proxy statement. The tabulation also sets forth the number
of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned as of that date by all directors
and executive officers of the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK
BENEFICIALLY OWNED (1)
--------------------------------------------
NUMBER PERCENT OF
NAME OF SHARES CLASS (2)
---- ----------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Director
Roy Butler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,377 (3) --
Michael A. Cawley . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,779,720 (4) 13.6%
Edward F. Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,000 (3) --
James C. Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 --
Robert Kelley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88,031 (3) .2%
Harold F. Kleinman . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 (5) --
George J. McLeod . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,054 (3) --
Guy W. Nichols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,000 (3) --
John F. Snodgrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,807,075 (3)(4)(6) 13.6%
Named Executive Officers (excluding
any director named above) and Group
William D. Dickson . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,984 (3) --
Boyce Perry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,083 (3) --
W. A. Poillion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,168 (3) .1%
James C. Woodson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,394 (3) .1%
All directors and executive
officers as a group (16 persons) . . . . 7,311,487 (7) 14.6%
</TABLE>
_________
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, all shares are directly held with sole
voting and investment power.
(2) Less than one-tenth of one percent unless otherwise indicated.
(3) Includes shares not outstanding but subject to currently exercisable
options, as follows: Mr. Butler -- 16,000 shares; Mr. Cox -- 28,000
shares; Mr. Dickson -- 44,725 shares; Mr. Kelley -- 81,958 shares; Mr.
McLeod -- 16,000 shares; Mr. Nichols -- 26,000 shares; Mr. Perry --
26,159 shares; Mr. Poillion -- 45,763 shares; Mr. Snodgrass -- 23,000
shares; and Mr. Woodson -- 58,802 shares.
(4) Includes 6,779,220 shares held of record by the Foundation. Under the
rules and regulations of the SEC, such shares are required to be
included in the foregoing table as "beneficially owned" because such
person possesses shared voting and investment power with respect
thereto as one of nine trustees of the Foundation. As with other
corporate action, the voting of the shares held by the Foundation
requires a majority vote of its trustees at a meeting at which a
quorum of trustees is present. Accordingly, such person does not
represent sufficient voting power on the Foundation's board of
trustees to determine voting or investment decisions with respect to
the 6,779,220 shares. Both Mr. Cawley and Mr. Snodgrass disclaim any
pecuniary interest in the 6,779,220 shares.
(footnotes to table continued on following page)
6
<PAGE> 9
(5) Consists of 200 shares held as joint tenant with Mr. Kleinman's
spouse.
(6) Includes 460 shares held as joint tenant with Mr. Snodgrass' spouse.
(7) Includes 461,842 shares not outstanding but subject to currently
exercisable options and 6,779,220 shares held of record by the
Foundation, as to which Mr. Cawley and Mr. Snodgrass possess shared
voting and investment power as trustees of the Foundation and in which
they disclaim any pecuniary interest. In addition, includes shares
held by two executive officers included in the group, which persons
became executive officers of the Company on January 31, 1995.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following report of the compensation and benefits committee of the
Board of Directors and the information herein under "Performance Graph" shall
not be deemed to be "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the SEC or
subject to the SEC's proxy rules, except for the required disclosure herein, or
to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and such information
shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing made by the
Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
To the Shareholders
of Noble Affiliates, Inc.:
As members of the compensation and benefits committee (the
"Committee") of the Board of Directors, we have responsibility for
administering the executive compensation program of the Company. All decisions
by the Committee relating to the compensation of executive officers are
reviewed by the full Board, except for decisions about grants or awards under
the 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan of the Company, which must be
made solely by the Committee in order to satisfy the condition of disinterested
administration of such plan under the applicable Federal securities laws and
regulations.
COMPENSATION POLICIES
The executive compensation policy of the Company, which is endorsed by
the Committee, is to provide a compensation program that will attract,
motivate, and retain persons of high quality and will support a long-standing
internal culture of loyalty and dedication to the interests of the Company. In
administering the executive compensation program, the Committee is mindful of
the following principles and guidelines which are supported by the full Board.
Base salaries for executive officers should be competitive. A
sufficient portion of annual compensation should be at risk in order to align
the interests of executives with those of shareholders of the Company. This
variable part of annual compensation should reflect both corporate and
individual performance. As a person's level of responsibility increases, a
greater portion of total compensation should be at risk and the mix of total
compensation should be weighted more heavily in favor of stock-based
compensation. The Committee has not established objective, arbitrary
percentages of the mix of total compensation that should be fixed versus at
risk for any executive officers of the Company. Stock options provide
executives long-term incentive and are beneficial in aligning the interests of
executives and shareholders in the enhancement of shareholder value.
7
<PAGE> 10
COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR 1994
For 1994, the executive compensation program consisted of three
principal elements, which are discussed below: base salary, an annual incentive
bonus plan, and stock options that are exercisable over a ten-year period.
BASE SALARY: Base salary for executive officer positions is
determined principally by competitive factors. The Company obtains
information through participation in oil and gas industry compensation
surveys which are conducted by independent compensation consultants,
including William M. Mercer, Incorporated ("Mercer") and KPMG Peat
Marwick, and others. One such survey includes information on an
industry group called the Energy 27 Group comprised of corporations in
the same industry as the Company. Twelve of the 16 companies included
in the Dow Jones Total Return Index for Secondary Oil Companies
referenced in the performance graph contained elsewhere in this proxy
statement are included in the Energy 27 Group. The Committee analyzes
the information and makes annual adjustments effective January 1st
based on performance, incumbent length of service in the executive
position and cost of living. The policy of the Committee generally is
to establish base salary levels that approximate survey averages, and
as such, the salary level for each executive officer for 1994 was
within six percent, plus or minus, of the applicable average.
ANNUAL INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN: The annual incentive bonus plan
in which executive officers participate is available to all full-time
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (except those geologists
employed by the Company who choose to be covered by the geological
incentive plan) who have completed one year of service at the close of
the plan year (December 31). The target bonus for an employee is the
base salary at year end of such employee multiplied times the
percentage factor assigned to such employee's salary classification.
Target percentage factors range from 5 to 40 percent, with factors of
40 percent for the CEO and 30 to 35 percent for operating committee
members of Samedan, the principal operating subsidiary of the Company.
An aggregate pre-adjustment bonus pool is determined for each division
and department.
Annual performance goals for the Company and its divisions are
weighted with respect to four criteria as follows: cost of finding and
developing new reserves (40 percent), new reserves added (40 percent),
cash flow from operations (20 percent for division; 10 percent for
Company) and consolidated net income (10 percent for Company). The
annual performance goals for cost of finding and developing new
reserves, new reserves added, and cash flow from operations are
established based upon financial budgets and forecasts approved
initially by the operating committee of Samedan at the beginning of
each year and then reviewed and finally approved by the full Board.
Annual performance goals are subject to revision, in the discretion of
the full Board in the event of changed conditions since December of
the preceding goal year, provided any such revision is made no later
than the date of the Board of Directors meeting regularly held the day
preceding the Company's annual meeting of shareholders in the plan
year. At its April 1994 meeting, the Board revised the annual
performance goals in accordance with the revised financial budget for
1994, which reflected a decrease in the Company's estimated forecast
of the average price of oil from $17.65 to $12.83 per barrel. As a
result, the 1994 annual performance goals were revised as follows: new
reserves added (12 percent increase); cash flow from operations (21
percent decrease); and consolidated net income (60 percent decrease).
Each goal weighting percentage is subject to adjustment within
a range of zero for achievement of less than 75 percent of the goal to
200 percent for achievement of greater than 135 percent of the goal.
The combined, weighted goal achievement is then determined within a
range of zero for achievement of less than 65 percent of the goal to
200 percent for achievement of more than 160 percent of the goal. The
target bonus for employees of divisions is also adjusted to reflect
the combined percentage of achievement of all assigned goals using the
ratio of 75 percent for division goal achievement and 25 percent for
Company goal achievement. The bonus amount is then determined by
multiplying the target bonus times the applicable multiplier. Using
these percentages, the bonus received by an executive officer will not
exceed 80 percent of his salary, in the case of the CEO, and from 60
to 70 percent of his salary, in the case of operating committee
members of Samedan.
8
<PAGE> 11
1992 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN (THE "OPTION
PLAN"): The Option Plan is designed to align a significant portion of
the executive compensation program with shareholder interests. The
Option Plan, which was approved by shareholders in 1992, permits the
use of several different types of stock-based grants or awards:
nonqualified, incentive, or discount stock options (with or without
stock appreciation rights) and restricted stock. To date only
nonqualified stock options have been granted under the Option Plan.
The options represent the right to purchase shares of Common
Stock over a ten-year period at the fair market value per share as of
the date the option is granted. The options vest at the rate of
one-third per year commencing on the first anniversary of the grant
date.
During 1991, the Company engaged Mercer to advise the
Committee as to appropriate grant guidelines. Mercer based its
recommendations as to appropriate grant guidelines on an analysis of
average annual stock grants over a three-year period as disclosed in
publicly available proxy statements of 16 companies it considered
comparable to the Company in business and scope. The recommendation
of Mercer ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 at the lower levels of employees,
from 1.2 to 2.1 for vice presidents and from 1.5 to 2.6 at the CEO
level. On the basis of the recommendation of Mercer, the Committee in
1991 adopted grant multiples that ranged from 0.3 to 2.0, which fell
approximately in the middle of the Mercer recommended range, with
multiples of 2.0 for the CEO and 1.5 for other executive officers.
Four of the companies included in Mercer's analysis are four of the 16
companies included in the Dow Jones Total Return Index for Secondary
Oil Companies referenced in the performance graph contained elsewhere
in this proxy statement. The Committee believes that the grant
multiples adopted by it remain appropriate, although it has not
undertaken since 1991 to formally reassess the adopted grant
multiples.
The number of shares granted is determined by dividing (i) the
sum of the optionee's annual base salary plus target bonus multiplied
times the applicable grant multiple by (ii) the fair market value per
share of the underlying Common Stock on the calculation date. The
Committee, in its discretion, can adjust the number of shares granted
under this plan from the number determined under the grant guidelines.
Options granted to executive officers in 1994 were based on the
guidelines described above using a fair market value on grant date of
$27.25.
1994 COMPENSATION OF CEO
The 1994 salary of Mr. Kelley was determined in January 1994 as a
function of performance and competitive factors at that time. Mr. Kelley's
1994 salary was increased 14 percent over his 1993 salary, reflecting
consideration of competitive data provided by Mercer and the assessment by the
Committee and the Board of the Company's 1993 results of operations under Mr.
Kelley's leadership. As a result, Mr. Kelley's 1994 salary fell within the
range discussed above in the last sentence under "Compensation Program for 1994
- - Base Salary" in this report.
In determining the amount of bonus paid to Mr. Kelley for 1994, the
Committee applied the performance goals' criteria discussed above under
"Compensation Program for 1994 - Annual Incentive Bonus Plan" which resulted in
an applicable multiplier under the plan of 1.4. This factor of 1.4 multiplied
times the target bonus for Mr. Kelley produced a calculated bonus of $201,600.
In 1994, the Committee granted Mr. Kelley an option to purchase 33,027
shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Option Plan. In granting this option,
the Committee used a grant multiplier of 2.0 (see "Compensation Program for
1994 - 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan" above), which took into
account Mr. Kelley's level of responsibility and was based on the
recommendation of Mercer.
9
<PAGE> 12
PARTICIPATION IN MINERAL, ROYALTY AND OVERRIDING ROYALTY ACQUISITIONS
In addition to the executive compensation policies and programs
described above, the Company has a long- standing policy pursuant to which
directors, officers and key employees of the Company and Samedan are permitted
to acquire interests in minerals, royalties, and overriding royalties purchased
from time to time by Samedan (or its subsidiaries). When this participation is
offered, usually up to one-half of the interests acquired by Samedan (or its
subsidiaries) is made available to be acquired by the participants in the
aggregate. A participant is required to purchase his or her interest for cash
on the same cost basis as Samedan and is responsible for obtaining any required
financing. In certain instances, the Company or Samedan has assisted
participants in obtaining financing from a third party lender and/or provided a
guarantee of the amount financed by a participant. This policy applies only
with respect to mineral, royalty, and overriding royalty interests acquired by
Samedan (or its subsidiaries) and does not apply to the acquisition of working
interests, even though a group of oil and gas properties acquired by Samedan
(or its subsidiaries) includes both working interests and mineral, royalty, and
overriding royalty interests.
The policy was initiated to serve as an incentive for employees in
connection with the acquisition of oil and gas properties by Samedan and for
directors to continue in the service of the Company. The Board of Directors of
the Company believes the policy to be in the best interests of the Company and
its shareholders and, because the participant purchases the interest for fair
value and shares the same risk as Samedan, does not consider the operation of
the policy to be compensatory in nature. The Committee has responsibility for
administering the policy.
TAX DEDUCTIBILITY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 contains provisions
which limit the tax deductibility of executive compensation in excess of $1
million per year, subject to certain exceptions. The policy of the Company is
to design its compensation programs to preserve the tax deductibility of
compensation paid to its executive officers and other members of management.
However, the Committee could in the future determine, taking into consideration
the relevant factors then in existence, to make awards or approve compensation
that does not qualify for a compensation deduction for tax purposes, if the
Committee believes it is in the Company's interest to do so.
SUMMARY
The Committee believes that linking executive compensation to
corporate performance results in a better alignment of compensation with
corporate goals and shareholder interests. As performance goals are met or
exceeded, resulting in increased value to shareholders, executive officers are
rewarded commensurately. The Committee believes that compensation levels
during 1994 adequately reflect the compensation goals and policies of the
Company.
March 23, 1995 Roy Butler, Chairman
James C. Day
George J. McLeod
John F. Snodgrass
10
<PAGE> 13
The following table sets forth certain summary information concerning
the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company and each of the four most highly compensated executive officers
of the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer (collectively, the "named
executive officers") for the years indicated.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long Term
Compensation
Annual Compensation Awards
----------------------------------------------------
Name and Other
Principal Annual Stock All Other
Position Compen- Options Compen-
-------- sation (number of sation
Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) ($) shares) (1) ($)
---- ---------- --------- ----- ----------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert Kelley, Chief 1994 360,000 201,600 2,187 33,027 23,045(2)
Executive Officer 1993 315,000 94,500 2,739 31,875 8,994
1992 300,000 115,000 1,992 44,000 8,728
James C. Woodson, Vice 1994 186,000 91,140 2,187 12,798 12,689(3)
President - Exploration and 1993 180,000 54,000 1,932 13,662 9,916
Operating Committee member of 1992 173,400 52,020 1,961 20,322 9,605
Samedan
W.A. Poillion, Vice President 1994 180,000 88,200 2,187 12,387 11,548(4)
- Production and Drilling and 1993 149,750 44,924 1,943 11,367 8,976
Operating Committee member of 1992 141,750 42,526 1,900 16,611 8,284
Samedan
William D. Dickson, Vice 1994 175,000 73,500 2,187 12,042 11,050(5)
President - Finance and 1993 142,000 44,080 1,974 10,347 6,097
Treasurer 1992 137,000 57,880 1,914 15,414 5,762
Boyce Perry, Vice President - 1994 140,000 58,800 2,187 9,636 11,321(6)
Marketing and Operating 1993 129,800 38,940 1,979 9,852 10,120
Committee member of Samedan 1992 124,800 62,440 1,900 14,625 9,691
</TABLE>
_________
(1) Options represent the right to purchase shares of Common Stock at a
fixed price per share.
(2) Consists of $600 of directors' fees and Company contributions of
$9,000 to a defined contribution plan and $13,445 to a nonqualified
contribution plan.
(3) Consists of Company contributions of $9,000 to a defined contribution
plan and $2,727 to a nonqualified contribution plan and term life
insurance premiums of $962.
(4) Consists of Company contributions of $9,000 to a defined contribution
plan and $2,333 to a nonqualified contribution plan and term life
insurance premiums of $215.
(5) Consists of Company contributions of $8,833 to a defined contribution
plan and $2,013 to a nonqualified contribution plan and term life
insurance premiums of $204.
(6) Consists of Company contributions of $8,400 to a defined contribution
plan and $364 to a nonqualified contribution plan and term life
insurance premiums of $2,557.
11
<PAGE> 14
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to
options to purchase Common Stock granted during the year ended December 31,
1994 to each of the named executive officers.
OPTION GRANTS IN 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of
Stock Price
Appreciation
Individual Grants for Option Term
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Number of Securities % of Total
Underlying Options Options Exercise
Granted Granted to or Base
(number of shares) Employees Price Expiration
Name (1) in 1994 ($/sh) Date 5%($)(2) 10%($)(3)
---- -------------------- ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert Kelley . . . . 33,027 12.1% $27.25 7/26/04 566,083 1,434,363
James C. Woodson. . . 12,798 4.7% $27.25 7/26/04 219,358 555,817
W.A. Poillion . . . . 12,387 4.5% $27.25 7/26/04 212,313 537,967
William D. Dickson. . 12,042 4.4% $27.25 7/26/04 206,400 522,984
Boyce Perry . . . . . 9,636 3.5% $27.25 7/26/04 165,161 418,491
</TABLE>
_______________
(1) Options represent the right to purchase shares of Common Stock at a
fixed price per share. The options vest at the rate of one-third per
year commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.
(2) Represents an assumed market price per share of Common Stock of
$44.39.
(3) Represents an assumed market price per share of Common Stock of $70.68.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
exercise of options to purchase Common Stock during the year ended December 31,
1994, and the unexercised options held at December 31, 1994 and the value
thereof, by each of the named executive officers.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1994
AND 12/31/94 OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Unexercised
Options at Value of Unexercised
December 31, 1994 In-the-Money Options
(number of shares) at December 31, 1994 ($)
--------------------------- ------------------------------
Shares
Acquired
on Value
Name Exercise Realized($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- --------------------- -------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert Kelley . . . . . -- -- 81,958 68,944 659,247 115,503
James C. Woodson . . . 4,300 80,887 58,802 28,680 537,378 53,345
W.A. Poillion . . . . . -- -- 45,763 25,502 445,896 43,604
William D. Dickson . . 1,000 15,625 44,725 24,078 410,174 40,462
Boyce Perry . . . . . . -- -- 26,159 21,079 265,641 38,391
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE> 15
DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS
The defined benefit plans of the Company that cover its executive
officers provide the benefits shown below. The estimates assume that benefits
are received in the form of a ten-year certain and life annuity.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement at Age 65
After Completion of the Following Years of Service
60 Month Average ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Compensation 15 20 25 30 35
------------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 100,000 . . . . . . $ 24,427 $ 40,000 $ 40,711 $ 48,853 $ 48,853
150,000 . . . . . . 37,552 60,000 62,586 75,103 75,103
200,000 . . . . . . 50,677 80,000 84,461 101,353 101,353
250,000 . . . . . . 63,802 100,000 106,336 127,603 127,603
300,000 . . . . . . 76,927 120,000 128,211 153,853 153,853
350,000 . . . . . . 90,052 140,000 150,086 180,103 180,103
400,000 . . . . . . 103,177 160,000 171,961 206,353 206,353
500,000 . . . . . . 129,427 200,000 215,711 258,853 258,853
600,000 . . . . . . 155,677 240,000 259,461 311,353 311,353
700,000 . . . . . . 181,927 280,000 303,211 363,853 363,853
</TABLE>
Upon vesting, the amount of retirement benefit depends on an
employee's final average monthly compensation, age and the number of years of
credited service (maximum of 30 years). Final average monthly compensation is
defined generally to mean the participant's average monthly rate of
compensation from the Company for the 60 consecutive months prior to retirement
which give the highest average monthly rate of compensation for the
participant. Compensation covered by the defined benefit plans is defined
(with certain exceptions) to mean the compensation actually paid to a
participant as reported on the participant's federal income tax withholding
statement for the applicable calendar year. Accordingly, the amounts reported
in the Summary Compensation Table included elsewhere herein under "Annual
Compensation" approximate covered compensation for 1994. The amount of benefit
shown in the above table is not subject to any deductions for social security
or any other offset amounts.
As of December 31, 1994, the named executive officers had the
following approximate number of years of credited service for retirement
purposes: Mr. Kelley--19; Mr. Woodson--20; Mr. Poillion--18; Mr. Dickson--16;
and Mr. Perry--29.
13
<PAGE> 16
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph sets forth the cumulative total stockholder return
for the Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Total Return Index
for Secondary Oil Companies for the years indicated as prescribed by the SEC's
rules.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN (1)
AMONG NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC., S&P 500 INDEX
AND DOW JONES TOTAL RETURN INDEX FOR
SECONDARY OIL COMPANIES (2)
[GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Company 100 85 83 109 164 154
S&P 500 Index 100 97 126 136 150 152
Dow Jones Total Return Index for Secondary 100 83 82 82 91 88
Oil Companies (3)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Total return assuming reinvestment of dividends. Assumes $100
invested on January 1, 1990 in Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index and the
Dow Jones Total Return Index for Secondary Oil Companies.
(2) Fiscal year ending December 31.
(3) Comprised of the following companies: Amerada Hess Corporation,
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Ashland Oil, Inc., Burlington
Resources Inc., Kerr-McGee Corporation, The Louisiana Land and
Exploration Company, MAPCO Inc., Murphy Oil Corporation, Noble
Affiliates, Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Oryx Energy
Company, Pennzoil Company, Quaker State Corporation, Santa Fe Energy
Resources, Inc., Union Texas Petroleum Holdings, Inc. and Valero
Energy Corporation.
14
<PAGE> 17
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
SECTION 16(A) REPORTING DELINQUENCIES
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires directors and officers of
the Company, and persons who own more than 10 percent of the Common Stock, to
file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in
ownership of the Common Stock. Directors, officers and more than 10 percent
shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies
of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Under the Section 16(a) rules as they
apply to trustees, the trustees of the Foundation are themselves deemed to be
more than 10 percent beneficial owners of the Company because such trustees
possess shared voting and investment power with respect to the securities of
the Company held by the Foundation.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of
such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other
reports were required, during the year ended December 31, 1994, all Section
16(a) filing requirements applicable to its directors, officers and more than
10 percent beneficial owners were complied with, with the exception that Rusty
Noble, a trustee of the Foundation, has not filed an initial statement of
beneficial ownership on Form 3 or a Form 5 for the year ended December 31,
1994.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The appointment of the accounting firm selected to audit the Company's
financial statements is subject to ratification by the Board of Directors and
will not be submitted to shareholders for ratification or approval. It is the
present intention of the Company's management to recommend to the Board of
Directors the re-appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP, which has audited the
Company's financial statements since 1989, to audit the financial statements of
the Company for 1995. Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP are expected to
be present at the meeting to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders
and will be given the opportunity to make a statement at the meeting should
they desire to do so.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND OTHER MATTERS
Shareholder proposals intended to be included in the Company's proxy
statement relating to the 1996 annual meeting of shareholders, which is
currently scheduled to be held on April 23, 1996, must be received by the
Company at its office in Ardmore, Oklahoma, addressed to the Secretary of the
Company, no later than November 24, 1995.
The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company.
Solicitation may be made by mail, personal interview, telephone or telegraph by
officers and regular employees of the Company, who will receive no additional
compensation therefor. To aid in the solicitation of proxies, the Company has
employed the firm of Georgeson & Co., Inc., which will receive a fee of
approximately $7,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Company will bear the
reasonable expenses incurred by banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees
and fiduciaries in forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners.
The Board of Directors does not intend to present any other matter at
the meeting and knows of no other matters that will be presented. However, if
any other matter comes before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed
proxy intend to vote thereon in accordance with their best judgment.
Ardmore, Oklahoma NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.
March 23, 1995
William D. Dickson
Vice President-Finance and Treasurer
15
<PAGE> 18
<TABLE>
<C> <S>
NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Robert Kelley and William D. Dickson,
and either of them, proxies with power of substitution in each, and
hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated below,
all shares of common stock of Noble Affiliates, Inc. standing in the
name of the undersigned on March 13, 1995 at the annual meeting of
shareholders to be held on April 25, 1995 at Ardmore, Oklahoma, and at
any adjournment thereof and especially to vote on the items of
business specified below, as more fully described in the notice of the
meeting dated March 23, 1995, and the proxy statement accompanying the
same, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
1. Election of Directors
FOR ALL NOMINEES WITH EXCEPTIONS NOTED / / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES / /
</TABLE>
Roy Butler, Michael A. Cawley, Edward F. Cox, James C. Day, Robert Kelley,
Harold F. Kleinman,
George J. McLeod, Guy W. Nichols, John F. Snodgrass
(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, WRITE
THAT NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business or matters as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
This proxy when duly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the
undersigned shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
PROPOSAL 1.
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)
The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore given to
represent or vote such common stock and hereby ratifies and confirms all action
that said proxies, their substitutes, or any of them, might lawfully take in
accordance with the terms hereof.
Dated: , 1995
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
Signature(s) of Shareholder(s)
This proxy should be signed
exactly as your name appears
hereon. Joint owners should both
sign. If signed as attorney,
executor, guardian, or in some
other representative capacity,
or as an officer of a
corporation, please indicate
your capacity or title.
Please complete, date and sign
this proxy and return it in the
enclosed envelope, which
requires no postage if mailed in
the United States.
