<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
STONE ENERGY CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(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:
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(4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE> 2
[STONE ENERGY LOGO]
STONE ENERGY CORPORATION
LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1997
To the Stockholders:
The 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Stone
Energy Corporation (the "Company") will be held on Thursday, May 15, 1997 at
10:00 a.m., local time, in the Denechaud Room of Le Pavillon Hotel, Baronne and
Poydras Streets, New Orleans, Louisiana, for the following purposes:
(1) To elect three directors to serve until the 2000 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders;
(2) To amend and restate the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan;
(3) To ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as independent
auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997;
and
(4) To transact such other business as may properly come before such
meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
The close of business on March 21, 1997, has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote
at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED
PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. A SELF-ADDRESSED, POSTPAID ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ ANDREW L. GATES, III
Andrew L. Gates, III
Secretary
March 31, 1997
<PAGE> 3
[STONE ENERGY LOGO]
STONE ENERGY CORPORATION
625 E. KALISTE SALOOM ROAD
LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA 70508
(318) 237-0410
-------------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
-------------------------------
SOLICITATION AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors
of the Company for use at the Annual Meeting to be held on Thursday, May 15,
1997 at 10:00 a.m., local time, in the Denechaud Room of Le Pavillon Hotel,
Baronne and Poydras Streets, New Orleans, Louisiana, or at any adjournment(s)
thereof. The solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board of Directors") will be conducted primarily by mail. In addition,
officers, directors and employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally
or by telephone, telegram or other forms of wire or facsimile communication. The
Company will reimburse brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for
reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy material to beneficial
owners of common stock of the Company ("Common Stock"). The costs of the
solicitation will be borne by the Company. This proxy statement and the form of
proxy were first mailed to shareholders of the Company on or about April 4,
1997.
The enclosed proxy, even though executed and returned, may be revoked at
any time prior to the voting of the proxy (a) by execution and submission of a
revised proxy, (b) by written notice to the Secretary of the Company or (c) by
voting in person at the Annual Meeting. In the absence of such revocation,
shares represented by the proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting.
At the close of business on March 21, 1997, the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting, there were outstanding 15,015,408 shares of Common Stock, each share of
which is entitled to one vote. Common Stock is the only class of outstanding
securities of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
The Company's annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31,
1996, including financial statements, is being mailed herewith to all
stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The annual report does not
constitute a part of the proxy soliciting material.
ITEM 1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Three directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Company's
Bylaws provide for a classified Board of Directors. Thus, the Board of Directors
is divided into Classes I, II and III, the terms of office of which are
currently scheduled to expire on the dates of the Company's Annual Meetings of
Stockholders in 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. D. Peter Canty, Raymond B.
Gary and David R. Voelker have been nominated to serve in Class I and, if
elected, will serve until the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
until their respective successors shall have been elected and qualified. Each of
the nominees for director currently serves as a director of the Company. The
remaining six directors named below will not be required to stand for election
at the Annual Meeting because their present terms expire in either 1998 or 1999.
A plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy by the holders of Common
Stock is required to elect a
<PAGE> 4
director. Accordingly, abstentions and "broker non-votes" will have no effect on
the outcome of the election of directors assuming a quorum is present or
represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. A broker non-vote occurs if a broker
or other nominee does not have discretionary authority and has not received
instructions with respect to a particular item. Stockholders may not cumulate
their votes in the election of directors.
Unless otherwise instructed or unless authority to vote is withheld, the
enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below.
Although the Board of Directors does not contemplate that any of the nominees
will be unable to serve, if such a situation arises prior to the Annual Meeting,
the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote for the election of such other
person(s) as may be nominated by the Board of Directors.
The following table sets forth information regarding the names, ages as of
March 15, 1997 and principal occupations of the nominees and directors, other
directorships in certain companies held by them and the length of continuous
service as a director of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DIRECTOR
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND DIRECTORSHIPS SINCE AGE
-------------------------------------- -------- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CLASS I NOMINEES
D. Peter Canty....................... President and Chief Operating Officer
of the Company 1993 50
Raymond B. Gary...................... Advisory Director, Morgan Stanley &
Co. Inc. 1993 68
David R. Voelker..................... Private investments 1993 43
CLASS II DIRECTORS
B. J. Duplantis...................... Senior Partner of the law firm of
Gordon, Arata, McCollam & Duplantis 1993 57
Michael L. Finch..................... Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company 1993 41
John P. Laborde...................... Consultant to Tidewater Inc.;
Director, Tidewater Inc., Stewart
Enterprises, Inc., Stolt Comex
Seaway, S.A. and American Bureau of
Shipping 1993 73
CLASS III DIRECTORS
Robert A. Bernhard................... Co-Chairman of Munn, Bernhard &
Associates, Inc., an investment
advisory firm 1993 68
Joe R. Klutts........................ Vice Chairman of the Board of the
Company 1993 62
James H. Stone....................... Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company;
Director, Hibernia Corporation and
Newpark Resources, Inc. 1993 71
</TABLE>
Each of the nominees and directors has been engaged in the principal
occupation set forth opposite his name for at least the past five years except
as described below. The Company was formed in March 1993 to become a holding
company for The Stone Petroleum Corporation ("TSPC") and its subsidiaries and
certain partnership interests in three affiliated limited partnerships.
James H. Stone has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since March 1993, and as Chairman of the Board of TSPC
since 1981 and served as President of TSPC from September 1992 to July 1993.
Joe R. Klutts was named to his present position in March 1994. He has also
served as a Director of TSPC since 1981. He served as President of the Company
from March 1993 to February 1994, and as Executive
2
<PAGE> 5
Vice President-Exploration and President of TSPC from 1981 to 1993 and from July
1993 to May 1994, respectively.
D. Peter Canty has served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company since
March 1993 and also served as an Executive Vice President until he was named as
President of the Company in March 1994. Mr. Canty served as Vice President and
Chief Geologist of TSPC from 1987 to May 1994, when he was named President of
TSPC.
Michael L. Finch has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company since March 1993. From 1988 through July 1993, he was a
partner in the firm of Finch & Pierret, CPAs, which performed a substantial
amount of financial reporting, tax compliance and financial advisory services
for TSPC and its affiliates.
David R. Voelker has served as a Director of TSPC since 1991. He was a
partner of Johnson Rice & Company from 1989 to February 1994.
John P. Laborde served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
of Tidewater Inc. from 1956 and 1968, respectively, to his retirement in October
1994. Mr. Laborde also served as President of Tidewater Inc. from 1958 to 1981
and from 1988 to his retirement.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth below certain information regarding
beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of March 15, 1997 (unless otherwise
indicated) by (i) each person known by the Company to own beneficially five
percent or more of its outstanding Common Stock, (ii) the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and each of the Company's other four most highly compensated
executive officers, (iii) each of the Company's directors and (iv) all executive
officers and directors of the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(2)
-------------------------
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(1) SHARES PERCENT
--------------------------- ---------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
C.S. McKee & Co., Inc....................................... 1,380,150(3) 9.2
James H. Stone.............................................. 1,615,015(4) 10.7
Joe R. Klutts............................................... 478,270 3.2
D. Peter Canty.............................................. 374,970(5) 2.5
Michael L. Finch............................................ 375,671 2.5
Phillip T. Lalande.......................................... 16,100 *
James H. Prince............................................. 271,522 1.8
David R. Voelker............................................ 719,486(6) 4.8
John P. Laborde............................................. 10,333 *
Robert A. Bernhard.......................................... 151,333(7) 1.0
Raymond B. Gary............................................. 47,592(8) *
B. J. Duplantis............................................. 9,333 *
Executive Officers and Directors as a group (consisting of
14 persons)............................................... 4,093,125 27.0
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) The address of C. S. McKee & Co., Inc. is One Gateway Center, 8th Floor,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. The address of Mr. Stone is LL&E Tower, 909
Poydras, Suite 2650, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.
(2) Under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shares are
deemed to be "beneficially owned" by a person if he directly or indirectly
has or shares the power to vote or dispose of such shares, whether or not he
has any pecuniary interest in such shares, or if he has the right to acquire
the power to vote or dispose of such shares within 60 days, including any
right to acquire such power through the exercise of any option, warrant or
right. The shares beneficially owned by (i) Messrs. Stone, Canty, Klutts and
Finch each include 15,000 shares, (ii) Mr. Prince includes 11,000 shares,
(iii) Mr. Lalande includes 16,000 shares, (iv) Messrs. Voelker, Laborde,
Bernhard, Gary and Duplantis each include 9,333
3
<PAGE> 6
shares and (v) the executive officers and directors as a group includes
156,665 shares that may be acquired by such persons within 60 days through
the exercise of stock options.
(3) Based solely upon oral advice received from C. S. McKee & Co., Inc.
(4) Includes shares owned by two partnerships known as James H. Stone Interests
and James H. Stone Interests II, of which Mr. Stone disclaims any pecuniary
interest with respect to 47,017 and 16,234 shares, respectively. Also
includes 5,200 shares held by Mr. Stone as trustee for the benefit of his
two minor children, to which Mr. Stone disclaims any pecuniary interest.
(5) Includes 200 shares owned by Mr. Canty's wife.
(6) Includes 104,347 shares owned by the KGB Trust, of which Mr. Voelker is the
sole trustee, 72,440 shares owned by two trusts for the benefit of Mr.
Stone's minor children, of which Mr. Voelker is a trustee, and 479,570
shares owned by Frantzen/Voelker Investments, L.L.C. Mr. Voelker disclaims
any pecuniary interest with respect to the shares owned by the trusts for
the benefit of Mr. Stone's children.
(7) Includes 30,000 shares held by the Bernhard Trust "B" of which Mr. Bernhard
is the trustee and a potential beneficiary, and 12,000 shares held by Mr.
Bernhard's wife.
(8) Includes 20,000 shares owned by Mr. Gary's wife.
DIRECTORS' MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors held six meetings and took action by written consent
on two occasions during 1996. Each director attended at least 75% of the
aggregate total meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee on which
such director served. The Company has the following standing committees:
AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee, which currently consists of Messrs.
Bernhard, Duplantis, Gary, Laborde and Voelker, met one time during 1996. Its
principal functions are to recommend to the Board of Directors each year the
engagement of a firm of independent auditors, to review the Company's accounting
and internal control systems and principal accounting policies and to oversee
the entire audit function, both independent and internal.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The Compensation Committee, which currently
consists of Messrs. Bernhard, Duplantis, Gary, Laborde and Voelker, met three
times during 1996. Its principal functions are to review and approve the
compensation of the officers and other employees of the Company. In addition,
the Compensation Committee administers the Company's Stock Option and Incentive
Compensation Plans and has the sole authority to make grants pursuant to such
plans. Members of the Compensation Committee are not eligible to participate in
any of the plans that they administer.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee, which currently consists of
Messrs. Canty, Duplantis, Finch, Klutts and Stone, did not meet during 1996, but
did take action by unanimous written consent on three occasions during 1996. Its
principal function is to aid and assist the Company's management in the
day-to-day operation of the Company.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE. The Investment Committee, which consists of Messrs.
Bernhard, Canty, Finch and Stone, did not meet during 1996. Its principal
functions are to determine the investment objectives for the Company's cash
assets and select and supervise one or more investment managers.
4
<PAGE> 7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth annual and long-term compensation for
services in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 of those persons who were, at
December 31, 1996, the Chief Executive Officer and the other four most highly
compensated executive officers of the Company (collectively, the "named
executive officers").
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
AWARDS
------------------
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS(1) OTHER UNDERLYING OPTIONS COMPENSATION(2)
- --------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ------- ------------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James H. Stone.............. 1996 $145,000 $107,300 $ -- 40,000 $21,160(3)
Chairman of the Board and 1995 145,000 -- -- -- 4,620
Chief Executive Officer 1994 145,000 145,000 50,000(4) -- 4,620
D. Peter Canty.............. 1996 135,000 99,900 -- 25,000 13,902(5)(6)
President and Chief 1995 135,000 -- -- -- 11,472(6)
Operating Officer 1994 135,000 135,000 -- -- 11,472(6)
Michael L. Finch............ 1996 120,000 88,800 -- 25,000 4,500
Executive Vice President
and 1995 120,000 -- -- -- 4,620
Chief Financial Officer 1994 120,000 120,000 -- -- 3,736
Andrew L. Gates, III(7)..... 1996 120,000 72,000 -- 10,000 8,750(8)
Vice President and General 1995 50,000 3,867 -- 25,000 2,250
Counsel 1994 -- -- -- -- --
Phillip T. Lalande.......... 1996 100,000 70,000 15,047(9) -- 10,990(10)
Vice President-Engineering 1995 100,000 7,735 15,793(9) 50,000 10,860(10)
1994 75,000 75,000 14,559(9) -- 4,620
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The amounts reflected in the table for 1994, 1995 and 1996 represent
bonuses paid in March 1995, February 1996 and February 1997, respectively,
which related to performance in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
(2) Except as indicated in the following notes, amounts in all other
compensation reflect amounts contributed or accrued by the Company on
behalf of the named executive officers under the Company's 401(k) profit
sharing plan.
(3) Includes $16,410 of premiums paid by the Company for a life insurance
policy as to which the Company is not a beneficiary.
(4) Reflects amounts paid to Mr. Stone to reimburse him for a portion of the
cost of life insurance policies maintained by him. The Company was not a
beneficiary of such policies.
(5) Includes $2,300 of premiums paid by the Company in 1996 for a life
insurance policy as to which the Company is not a beneficiary.
(6) A predecessor of TSPC entered into deferred compensation agreements with
several of its employees, including Mr. Canty, prior to 1982. TSPC has
purchased split-dollar life insurance policies to fund these agreements. A
substantial portion of the face value of each of the policies is payable to
the beneficiaries of the employees. See "-- Deferred Compensation
Agreements." Of the amounts reflected in the table for each of 1994, 1995
and 1996, $6,852 is attributable to premiums paid by the Company pursuant
to the policy relating to Mr. Canty.
(7) Mr. Gates was employed by the Company on August 1, 1995.
(8) Includes $4,000 of premiums paid by the Company for a life insurance policy
as to which the Company is not the beneficiary.
(9) Reflect amounts paid by a trust formed by the Company for the benefit of
certain employees. Such trust holds net profits interests that burden
properties acquired by the Company prior to July 1993.
5
<PAGE> 8
(10) Includes $6,240 of premiums paid by the Company in each of 1995 and 1996
for a life insurance policy as to which the Company is not a beneficiary.
STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED IN 1996
The following table contains certain information concerning nonqualified
stock options granted to the named executive officers in 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
--------------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
NUMBER OF AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES
SECURITIES PERCENT OF TOTAL OF STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING OPTIONS GRANTED EXERCISE OR FOR OPTION TERMS(3)
OPTIONS TO EMPLOYEES BASE PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------------
NAME GRANTED(1) IN 1996 PER SHARE(2) DATE 5% 10%
---- ---------- ---------------- ------------ ---------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James H. Stone......... 40,000 13.7% $20.3125 8/20/06 $510,977 $1,297,916
D. Peter Canty......... 25,000 8.6 20.3125 8/20/06 319,316 809,322
Michael L. Finch....... 25,000 8.6 20.3125 8/20/06 319,361 809,322
Andrew L. Gates, III... 10,000 3.4 20.3125 8/20/06 127,744 323,729
</TABLE>
(1) The options expire 10 years from the date of grant. Twenty percent of the
options will vest on the first and each succeeding anniversary of the date
of the grant.
(2) The exercise price of the options was based upon the average of the high and
low sales price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the
date of grant.
(3) Calculated based upon the indicated rates of appreciation, compounded
annually, from the date of grant to the end of each option term. Actual
gains, if any, on stock option exercises and Common Stock holdings are
dependent on the future performance of the Common Stock and overall stock
market conditions. There can be no assurance that the amounts reflected in
this table will be achieved. The calculation does not take into account the
effects, if any, of provisions of the option plan governing termination of
options upon employment termination, transferability or vesting.
STOCK OPTION EXERCISES AND FISCAL YEAR-END VALUES
The following table contains certain information concerning the value of
unexercised options at December 31, 1996. None of the named executive officers
exercised any stock options during 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
OPTIONS AT DECEMBER 31, 1996 AT DECEMBER 31, 1996(1)
---------------------------- ----------------------------
NAME EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James H. Stone............................. 15,000 50,000 $262,500 $557,500
D. Peter Canty............................. 15,000 35,000 262,500 414,063
Michael L. Finch........................... 15,000 35,000 262,500 414,063
Phillip T. Lalande......................... 16,000 44,000 280,000 770,000
Andrew L. Gates, III....................... 5,000 30,000 91,563 461,875
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The value of each unexercised in-the-money stock option is equal to the
difference between the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York
Stock Exchange on December 31, 1996 of $29.875 and the per share exercise
price of the stock option.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS
A predecessor of the Company entered into deferred compensation and
disability agreements (the "Deferred Compensation Agreements") with several of
its employees, including D. Peter Canty, prior to 1982. Benefits under the
Deferred Compensation Agreements have become fully vested. Benefits are payable
in a fixed monthly amount at age 65 (or actual retirement, if later) until the
later of the expiration of 180 months or the death of the employee. The Deferred
Compensation Agreements also provide for monthly payments
6
<PAGE> 9
upon total disability until age 65 and certain benefits upon partial disability.
Mr. Canty is entitled to receive on annual benefit at age 65 (or actual
retirement, if later) of $28,500 under his Deferred Compensation Agreement.
The Company has purchased split-dollar life insurance policies to fund its
obligations under the Deferred Compensation Agreements. The policies are
designed to have a cash surrender value at age 65 of the employee sufficient to
fund the Company's obligations. The Company has the right to the cash surrender
value of the policies. A substantial portion of each of the policies is payable
to the beneficiaries of the employees and the remainder is payable to the
Company. Premiums paid by the Company pursuant to the policy relating to Mr.
Canty are included under "All Other Compensation" in the Summary Compensation
Table.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Pursuant to the Company's 1993 Nonemployee Directors' Stock Option Plan
(the "Directors' Plan"), directors of the Company who are not officers or
employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries ("Nonemployee Directors")
will receive, upon the date of their initial election to the Board of Directors
of the Company, a nonqualified stock option to purchase 1,000 shares of Common
Stock. Further, as of the date of each annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Company, each Nonemployee Director who has already received his initial option
grant as described in the preceding sentence will receive a nonqualified stock
option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock. Each option will have an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. The exercise price may be paid in cash, in shares of Common Stock (valued
at fair market value at the date of exercise), or by a combination of such means
of payment. Generally, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on a
particular date is equal to the average of the high and low sales prices of the
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date. Effective as of the
date of the Company's 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each of Messrs. Gary,
Voelker, Duplantis, Laborde and Bernard were granted an option to purchase 5,000
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $17.8125 per share pursuant to
the Directors' Plan.
Except upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the
Directors' Plan), all options granted under the Directors' Plan have a maximum
term of five years and will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on
the first anniversary of the date of grant. Upon the occurrence of a "Change of
Control," each option will be exercisable in full.
Beginning in 1997, Nonemployee Directors are paid $1,500 each quarter, plus
$1,000 for attending each of the four regularly scheduled meetings of the Board
of Directors. Each Nonemployee is also reimbursed for expenses incurred in
attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees thereof.
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS
Set forth below is a description of certain transactions entered into
between the Company and certain of its officers, directors and stockholders.
James H. Stone and Joe R. Klutts collectively own 9% of the working
interests in the Weeks Island Field. These interests were acquired at the same
time as the Company's predecessor acquired its interests in the Weeks Island
Field. In their capacity as working interest owners, they are required to pay
their proportional share of all costs and are entitled to receive their
proportional share of revenues.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee's principal duties are to review and approve the
compensation of the officers and other employees of the Company. In addition,
the Compensation Committee administers the Company's Stock Option Plan and has
the sole authority to make grants pursuant to such plan. Members of the
Compensation Committee are not eligible to participate in any of the plans that
they administer.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. The Committee believes that compensation of
executive officers should not only be adequate to attract, motivate and retain
competent executive personnel, but should also serve to align the interests of
executive officers with those of stockholders. To achieve these ends, in
addition to a
7
<PAGE> 10
competitive yet modest base salary, the Company has adopted both short-term and
long-term incentive compensation plans that are dependent upon the Company's
performance. The Compensation Committee does not currently intend to award
levels of compensation that would result in a limitation on the deductibility of
a portion of such compensation for federal income tax purposes pursuant to
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
however, the Compensation Committee may authorize compensation that results in
such limitations in the future if it determines that such compensation is in the
best interest of the Company.
Base Salary. While the Committee believes it is crucial to provide salaries
within a competitive market range in order to attract and retain personnel who
are highly talented, the Committee has established a philosophy of generally
providing more conservative base salaries and more aggressive incentive
compensation opportunities than the market in order to strongly emphasize
pay-for-performance. The specific competitive markets considered depend on the
nature and level of the positions in question and the labor markets from which
qualified individuals would be recruited. In 1995, the Committee concluded that
1995 and 1996 base salary compensation for each member of the executive group
did not require adjustment because total compensation for each such member,
including salary, bonus and other benefits, was near the average for companies
primarily engaged in oil and gas exploration of comparable size in revenues to
the Company. The Committee intends to review the executive group's salaries on a
biannual basis and adjust them if they deviate substantially from the average
for other companies, including the Peer Group, and salary levels implied by
other market data.
Incentive Compensation. The Company's Annual Incentive Compensation Plan
was terminated in 1996 and, in lieu thereof, the Committee adopted a
discretionary bonus program that ties bonuses to several performance criteria,
including the annual return on the Company's Common Stock (including dividends
and price appreciation), how such return compares to the average annual return
on the common stock of the Peer Group, and the annual increase in earnings and
cash flow per share and in the net asset value of the Company. The Peer Group
consists of the companies named under the heading "Stockholder Return
Performance Presentation." To the extent that performance criteria are met, an
incentive pool is generated. The amount of the incentive pool, however, may not
exceed the aggregate base salary of all eligible employees for the relevant plan
year, and no individual award to an eligible employee may exceed such employee's
base salary for the relevant plan year.
The Committee is responsible for determining the participants, performance
criteria to be used, award levels and allocation of generated incentives. Any
allocated incentives are awarded to individuals, including executive officers,
based upon a combination of group and individual performance factors. It is the
overall objective of the Company that the Incentive Plan not reward employees
until the Company's stockholders have been appropriately rewarded for investing
in the Company. The Committee is not required to grant awards for all amounts
available under the Incentive Plan. For the 1996 performance year, a total of
$2.1 million was available for awards and $1.7 million was paid. Awards granted
to the named executive officers for the 1996 performance year are presented
under "Bonus" in the Summary Compensation Table.
Stock Option Plan. Assuming that Item 2 is approved at the Annual Meeting,
the Company's Stock Option Plan will authorize the Committee to award stock
options to purchase up to 1,170,000 shares of Common Stock to employees of the
Company. The Committee determined that this number was comparable, as a
percentage of outstanding stock, to the number of shares available for grant
under stock option plans of the companies comprising the Peer Group. The
Committee generally grants non-statutory options at an exercise price equal to
the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant.
Options generally have ten-year terms, with exercise restrictions that lapse
over a five-year period.
Stock option grants are designed to align the long-term interests of the
Company's employees with those of its stockholders by directly linking
compensation to stockholder return, as well as by enabling employees to develop
and maintain a significant, long-term equity ownership position in the Company.
Awards of stock options to the named executive officers in 1996 pursuant to
the Stock Option Plan are presented under "Long-Term Compensation Awards" in the
Summary Compensation Table. Such awards were granted in order to provide the
named executive officers with further incentive with respect to the
8
<PAGE> 11
Company's future performance, to further align the interests of such executive
officers with those of the Company's stockholders, to provide additional
incentive for such executive officers to continue in their positions with the
Company and to award such executive officers for their contribution to the
Company's performance in 1996. In considering the grants to the named executive
officers, the Compensation Committee noted that no options had been granted to
three of the four officers receiving grants since the Company's initial public
offering in July 1993.
401(k) Plan. Under the Company's 401(k) profit sharing plan, eligible
employees are permitted to defer receipt of up to 15% of their compensation
(subject to certain limitations imposed under the Code). The plan provides that
a discretionary match of employee deferrals may be made by the Company in cash
or shares of Common Stock. The amounts held under the plan are to be invested
among various investment funds maintained under the plan in accordance with the
directions of each participant.
Salary deferral contributions are 100% vested. Matching contributions are
vested over a period of five years at the rate of 20% per year. If a participant
terminates employment with the Company after attaining age 65 or by reason of
death or disability, however, the participant will be fully vested in his or her
share of Company matching contributions. Participants or their beneficiaries are
entitled to payment of vested benefits upon termination of employment. In
addition, hardship distributions to participants from the plan are available
under certain conditions. The amount of benefits ultimately payable to a
participant under the plan depends on the level of the participant's elective
deferrals under the plan, the amount of Company matching contributions made to
the plan and the performance of the investment funds maintained under the plan
in which contributions are invested.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION. As described above, the Company's
executive compensation philosophy, including the compensation of the Company's
Chief Executive Officer, James H. Stone, is a competitive, but conservative,
base salary and incentive compensation based upon the Company's performance.
Base Salary. Mr. Stone's base salary for 1996 remained unchanged from 1995
for the reasons described under "Executive Compensation -- Base Salary," above.
Incentive Compensation. Mr. Stone was awarded a $107,300 bonus for the 1996
performance year. This award was based upon the criteria set forth above under
"Executive Compensation -- Incentive Compensation."
Stock Option Plan. Mr. Stone was granted options to purchase 40,000 shares
of Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Option Plan in 1996. These awards were
based on the factors described above under "Executive Compensation -- Stock
Option Plan."
Compensation Committee
David R. Voelker
John P. Laborde
Robert A. Bernhard
Raymond B. Gary
B. J. Duplantis
9
<PAGE> 12
STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE PRESENTATION
As required by applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
the performance graph shown below was prepared based upon the following
assumptions:
1. $100 was invested in the Company's Common Stock, the S&P 500 and
the Peer Group (as defined below) on July 8, 1993 at the initial public
offering price of the Company's Common Stock of $12 per share and the
closing price of the stocks comprising the S&P 500 and the Peer Group,
respectively, on such date. The Company's Common Stock began trading on the
New York Stock Exchange on July 9, 1993.
2. Peer Group investment is weighted based upon the market
capitalization of each individual company within the Peer Group at the
beginning of the period.
3. Dividends are reinvested on the ex-dividend dates.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Measurement Period
(Fiscal Year Covered) SGY Peer Group S&P 500
<S> <C> <C> <C>
07/08/93 100.00 100.00 100.00
12/31/93 112.50 91.89 103.97
12/31/94 160.42 81.34 102.37
12/31/95 128.12 99.04 137.29
12/31/96 248.96 164.56 165.11
</TABLE>
The companies that comprise the Company's current Peer Group are as
follows: Barrett Resources Corporation, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, Clayton
Williams Energy, Inc., Cross Timbers Oil Company, Devon Energy Corporation,
Newfield Exploration Company, Nuevo Energy Company, Pogo Producing Company,
Snyder Oil Corporation, Southwestern Energy Company, Tom Brown, Inc., United
Meridian Corporation, Vintage Petroleum, Inc. and The Wiser Oil Company.
10
<PAGE> 13
ITEM 2.
AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE COMPANY'S 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will be asked to approve an
amendment and restatement (the "Restatement") of the 1993 Stock Option Plan (the
"1993 Plan"). The primary purposes of the Restatement are to qualify income
generated in connection with the exercise of stock options as
"performance-based" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code (as described
below) and to increase the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued
pursuant to the 1993 Plan by an amount equal to 10% of the shares issued by the
Company in its secondary public offering in November 1996. At the time of
adoption of the 1993 Plan and the Directors' Plan, such plans provided for the
issuance in the aggregate of up to approximately 10% of the number of shares of
Common Stock to be outstanding immediately after the Company's initial public
offering in July 1993.
The primary amendments to be effected by the Restatement are (a) the number
of shares of Common Stock subject to the 1993 Plan will be increased by 320,000
and (b) a limit of 100,000 shares will be imposed on the number of shares of
Common Stock that may be subject to options granted under the 1993 Plan to any
one individual during a calendar year. The Restatement was unanimously approved
by the Board of Directors on March 21, 1997, subject to stockholder approval at
the Annual Meeting. If the Restatement is not approved by the stockholders of
the Company at the Annual Meeting, then no further options will be granted under
the 1993 Plan from and after the date of the Annual Meeting.
The 1993 Plan is designed to provide a means whereby certain employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries may develop a sense of proprietorship and
personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Company,
and to encourage them to remain with and devote their best efforts to the
business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
Set forth below is a summary of the terms of the Restatement, which summary
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Restatement, a
copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix A.
NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO THE 1993 PLAN
The aggregate maximum number of shares authorized to be issued under the
1993 Plan pursuant to grants of stock options is 1,170,000 shares of Common
Stock. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be the subject of
stock options granted under the 1993 Plan to any one individual during any
calendar year may not exceed 100,000 shares. In each case, these numbers may be
adjusted upon a reorganization, stock split, recapitalization or other change in
the Company's capital structure. As of March 14, 1997, 9,000 shares of Common
Stock have been issued under the 1993 Plan in connection with the exercise of
stock options, and 630,000 shares of Common Stock are subject to options
currently outstanding.
ADMINISTRATION
The 1993 Plan is administered by a committee (the "Committee") of, and
appointed by, the Board of Directors, and such committee must be comprised
solely of two or more directors who are both (a) outside directors (within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) and nonemployee directors (within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")). No member of the Committee is eligible to receive a stock
option under the 1993 Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
currently serves as the Committee.
The Committee has full authority, subject to the terms of the 1993 Plan, to
establish rules and regulations for the proper administration of the 1993 Plan,
to select the persons to whom stock options are granted, and to set the date of
grant and the other terms of the options. When granting options, the Committee
considers such factors as an employee's duties and present and potential
contributions to the Company's success.
The Board of Directors may from time to time amend the 1993 Plan; however,
no amendment which modifies the class of eligible employees or increases the
number of shares of Common Stock authorized or available under the 1993 Plan may
be adopted without the prior approval of the stockholders of the Company.
11
<PAGE> 14
ELIGIBILITY
All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (including an
employee who may also be an officer or director of any such company) are
eligible to participate in the 1993 Plan. The selection of employees, from among
those eligible, who will receive stock options is within the discretion of the
Committee.
TERM OF 1993 PLAN
The 1993 Plan was originally effective as of July 8, 1993. The Restatement
will be effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting if it is approved by the
Company's stockholders. No further options may be granted under the 1993 Plan
after July 8, 2003, and the 1993 Plan will terminate thereafter once all options
have been exercised or expired. The Board of Directors may, however, terminate
the 1993 Plan at any time without prejudice to the holders of any then
outstanding options.
STOCK OPTIONS
GENERAL. The 1993 Plan provides for granting (a) "incentive stock options"
as defined in Section 422 of the Code and (b) stock options that do not
constitute incentive stock options ("non-statutory stock options"). The status
of each grant of options will be designated by the Committee at the time of
grant. All options will be evidenced by a written contract containing provisions
consistent with the 1993 Plan and such other provisions as the Committee deems
appropriate. The term of each option will be as specified by the Committee at
the date of grant (but not more than 10 years in the case of incentive stock
options). The effect of an employee's termination of employment by reason of
death, retirement, disability or otherwise will be specified in the option
contract that evidences each option grant.
SIZE OF GRANT; OPTION PRICE. The number of shares for which an option is
granted to an employee will be determined by the Committee. The option price
will also be determined by the Committee and will be no less than the fair
market value of the shares on the date that the option is granted. The option
price upon exercise may, at the discretion of the Committee, be paid by an
employee in cash, other shares of Common Stock owned by the employee, or by a
combination of cash and Common Stock. Additionally, stock appreciation rights
may be granted to eligible employees, in conjunction with incentive stock
options or non-statutory stock options. Stock appreciation rights give the
holder, among other things, the right to a payment in cash, Common Stock, or a
combination thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between the fair
market value of the Common Stock at the date of exercise and the option exercise
price. The 1993 Plan also allows the Committee, in its discretion, to establish
procedures pursuant to which an optionee may effect a cashless exercise of an
option through a brokerage firm.
TRANSFERABILITY. No option is transferable other than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order,
and only the employee or his guardian or legal representative may exercise any
option during the employee's lifetime.
CORPORATE CHANGE
The 1993 Plan provides that, upon a Corporate Change (as hereinafter
defined), the Committee may accelerate the vesting of options, cancel options
and make payments in respect thereof in cash, adjust the outstanding options as
appropriate to reflect such Corporate Change, or provide that each option shall
thereafter be exercisable for the number and class of securities or property
that the optionee would have been entitled to had the option already been
exercised. The 1993 Plan provides that a Corporate Change occurs (a) if the
Company is dissolved and liquidated, (b) if the Company is not the surviving
entity in any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (or survives only as
a subsidiary of an entity), (c) if the Company sells, leases or exchanges all or
substantially all of its assets, (d) if any person, entity or group acquires or
gains ownership or control of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the
Company's voting stock or (e) if, after a contested election of directors, the
persons who were directors before such election cease to constitute a majority
of the Board of Directors.
12
<PAGE> 15
FEDERAL INCOME TAX ASPECTS OF THE 1993 PLAN
NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. As a general
rule, no federal income tax is imposed on the optionee upon the grant of a
non-statutory stock option such as those under the 1993 Plan (whether or not
including a stock appreciation right) and the Company is not entitled to a tax
deduction by reason of such a grant. Generally, upon the exercise of a
non-statutory stock option, the optionee will be treated as receiving
compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of exercise in an amount
equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of
exercise over the option price paid for such shares. In the case of the exercise
of a stock appreciation right, the optionee will be treated as receiving
compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of exercise in an amount
equal to the cash received plus the fair market value of the shares distributed
to the optionee. Upon the exercise of a non-statutory stock option or a stock
appreciation right, and subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code
as discussed below, the Company may claim a deduction for compensation paid at
the same time and in the same amount as compensation income is recognized to the
optionee assuming any federal income tax withholding requirements are satisfied.
Upon a subsequent disposition of the shares received upon exercise of a
non-statutory stock option or a stock appreciation right, any appreciation after
the date of exercise should qualify as capital gain. If the shares received upon
the exercise of an option or a stock appreciation right are transferred to the
optionee subject to certain restrictions, then the taxable income realized by
the optionee, unless the optionee elects otherwise, and the Company's tax
deduction (assuming any federal income tax withholding requirements are
satisfied) should be deferred and should be measured at the fair market value of
the shares at the time the restrictions lapse. The restrictions imposed on
officers, directors and 10% stockholders by Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act is
such a restriction during the period prescribed thereby if other shares have
been purchased by such an individual within six months of the exercise of a
non-statutory stock option or stock appreciation right.
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS The incentive stock options under the 1993 Plan are
intended to constitute "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code. Incentive stock options are subject to special federal income
tax treatment. No federal income tax is imposed on the optionee upon the grant
or the exercise of an incentive stock option if the optionee does not dispose of
shares acquired pursuant to the exercise within the two-year period beginning on
the date the option was granted or within the one-year period beginning on the
date the option was exercised (collectively, the "holding period"). In such
event, the Company would not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax
purposes in connection with the grant or exercise of the option or the
disposition of the shares so acquired. With respect to an incentive stock
option, the difference between the fair market value of the stock on the date of
exercise and the exercise price must be included in the optionee's alternative
minimum taxable income. However, if the optionee exercises an incentive stock
option and disposes of the shares received in the same year and the amount
realized is less than the fair market value of the shares on the date of
exercise, the amount included in alternative minimum taxable income will not
exceed the amount realized over the adjusted basis of the shares.
Upon disposition of the shares received upon exercise of an incentive stock
option after the holding period, any appreciation of the shares above the
exercise price should constitute capital gain. If an optionee disposes of shares
acquired pursuant to his or her exercise of an incentive stock option prior to
the end of the holding period, the optionee will be treated as having received,
at the time of disposition, compensation taxable as ordinary income. In such
event, and subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code as discussed
below, the Company may claim a deduction for compensation paid at the same time
and in the same amount as compensation is treated as received by the optionee.
The amount treated as compensation is the excess of the fair market value of the
shares at the time of exercise (or in the case of a sale in which a loss would
be recognized, the amount realized on the sale if less) over the exercise price;
any amount realized in excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time
of exercise would be treated as short-term or long-term capital gain, depending
on the holding period of the shares.
SECTION 162(M) OF THE CODE. Section 162(m) of the Code precludes a public
corporation from taking a deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million
paid to its chief executive officer or any of its four other highest-paid
officers. However, compensation that qualifies under Section 162(m) of the Code
as "performance-based" is specifically exempt from the deduction limit. Based on
Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder, the Company
believes that the income generated in connection with the
13
<PAGE> 16
exercise of stock options granted under the 1993 Plan should qualify as
performance-based compensation and, accordingly, the Company's deduction for
such compensation should not be limited by Section 162(m) of the Code.
The 1993 Plan is not qualified under section 401(a) of the Code. Based upon
current law and published interpretations, the Company does not believe the 1993
Plan is subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974.
The comments set forth in the above paragraphs are only a summary of
certain of the federal income tax consequences relating to the 1993 Plan. No
consideration has been given to the effects of state, local, or other tax laws
on the 1993 Plan or option recipients.
Approval of the Restatement shall be effective upon receiving the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock present or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Under Delaware
law, an abstention would have the same effect as a vote against this proposal,
but a broker non-vote would not be counted for purposes of determining whether a
majority had been achieved.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE
RESTATEMENT.
ITEM 3.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Pursuant to the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of
Directors appointed Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, to
audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ending
December 31, 1997. The Company is advised that no member of Arthur Andersen LLP
has any direct or material indirect financial interest in the Company or, during
the past three years, has had any connection with the Company in the capacity of
promoter, underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer or employee.
Ratification of this appointment shall be effective upon receiving the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock present or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Under Delaware
law, an abstention would have the same effect as a vote against this proposal,
but a broker non-vote would not be counted for purposes of determining whether a
majority had been achieved.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION
OF THIS APPOINTMENT.
In the event the appointment is not ratified, the Board of Directors will
consider the appointment of other independent auditors. A representative of
Arthur Andersen LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will be
offered the opportunity to make a statement if such representative desires to do
so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
ITEM 4.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any other matters that are to be
presented for action at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters
properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof, it is
intended that the enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgment
of the persons voting the proxy.
14
<PAGE> 17
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any stockholder who wishes to submit a proposal for inclusion in the proxy
material and for presentation at the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must forward such proposal to the Secretary of the Company at the
address indicated on the second page of this proxy statement, so that the
Secretary receives it no later than November 30, 1997.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Andrew L. Gates, III
Secretary
March 31, 1997
15
<PAGE> 18
APPENDIX A
STONE ENERGY CORPORATION
1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
[AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE AS OF MAY 15, 1997]
I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The STONE ENERGY CORPORATION 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN (the "Plan") is
intended to provide a means whereby certain employees of STONE ENERGY
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its subsidiaries may
develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development
and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to remain with and
devote their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the
interests of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Company may
grant to certain employees ("Optionees") the option ("Option") to purchase
shares of the common stock of the Company ("Stock"), as hereinafter set forth.
Options granted under the Plan may be either incentive stock options, within the
meaning of section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), ("Incentive Stock Options") or options which do not constitute
Incentive Stock Options.
The Plan as set forth herein constitutes an amendment and restatement of
the Plan as previously adopted by the Company, and shall supersede and replace
in its entirety such previously adopted plan. This amendment and restatement of
the Plan shall be effective as of May 15, 1997, provided this amendment and
restatement of the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company on such
date at the Company's 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If this amendment and
restatement of the Plan is not so approved by the stockholders, then no Options
shall be granted under the Plan on or after May 15, 1997.
II. ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the "Committee") of, and
appointed by, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), and the
Committee shall be comprised solely of two or more directors who are both (a)
outside directors (within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and
applicable interpretive authority thereunder), and (b) nonemployee directors
(within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, as currently in effect or as hereinafter
modified or amended ("Rule 16b-3"), promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act")). The Committee shall have sole
authority to select the Optionees from among those individuals eligible
hereunder and to establish the number of shares which may be issued under each
Option; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to
the contrary, the maximum number of shares that may be subject to Options
granted under the Plan to an individual Optionee during any calendar year may
not exceed 100,000 (subject to adjustment in the same manner as provided in
Paragraph VIII hereof with respect to shares of Stock subject to Options then
outstanding). The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall be
applied in a manner which will permit compensation generated under the Plan to
constitute "performance-based" compensation for purposes of section 162(m) of
the Code, including, without limitation, counting against such maximum number of
shares, to the extent required under section 162(m) of the Code and applicable
interpretive authority thereunder, any shares subject to Options that are
canceled or repriced. In selecting the Optionees from among individuals eligible
hereunder and in establishing the number of shares that may be issued under each
Option, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered
by such individuals, their present and potential contributions to the Company's
success and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem
relevant. The Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan and may from time to
time adopt such rules and regulations, consistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as it may deem advisable to carry out the Plan. All decisions made by the
Committee in selecting the Optionees, in establishing the number of shares which
may be issued under each Option and in construing the provisions of the Plan
shall be final.
<PAGE> 19
III. OPTION AGREEMENTS
(a) Each Option shall be evidenced by a written agreement between the
Company and the Optionee ("Option Agreement") which shall contain such terms and
conditions as may be approved by the Committee. The terms and conditions of the
respective Option Agreements need not be identical. Specifically, an Option
Agreement may provide for the surrender of the right to purchase shares under
the Option in return for a payment in cash or shares of Stock or a combination
of cash and shares of Stock equal in value to the excess of the fair market
value of the shares with respect to which the right to purchase is surrendered
over the option price therefor ("Stock Appreciation Rights"), on such terms and
conditions as the Committee in its sole discretion may prescribe; provided,
that, except as provided in Subparagraph VIII(c) hereof, the Committee shall
retain final authority (i) to determine whether an Optionee shall be permitted,
or (ii) to approve an election by an Optionee, to receive cash in full or
partial settlement of Stock Appreciation Rights. Moreover, an Option Agreement
may provide for the payment of the option price, in whole or in part, by the
delivery of a number of shares of Stock (plus cash if necessary) having a fair
market value equal to such option price. Further, an Option Agreement may
provide for a "cashless exercise" of the Option pursuant to procedures
established by the Committee (as the same may be amended from time to time).
(b) For all purposes under the Plan, the fair market value of a share of
Stock on a particular date shall be equal to the mean of the high and low sales
prices of the Stock (i) reported by the National Market System of NASDAQ on that
date or (ii) if the Stock is listed on a national stock exchange, reported on
the stock exchange composite tape on that date; or, in either case, if no prices
are reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such prices of
the Stock are so reported. If the Stock is traded over the counter at the time a
determination of its fair market value is required to be made hereunder, its
fair market value shall be deemed to be equal to the average between the
reported high and low or closing bid and asked prices of Stock on the most
recent date on which Stock was publicly traded. In the event Stock is not
publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made
hereunder, the determination of its fair market value shall be made by the
Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate.
(c) Each Option and all rights granted thereunder shall not be transferable
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules
thereunder, and shall be exercisable during the Optionee's lifetime only by the
Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or legal representative.
IV. ELIGIBILITY OF OPTIONEE
Options may be granted only to individuals who are employees (including
officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or any parent or
subsidiary corporation (as defined in section 424 of the Code) of the Company at
the time the Option is granted; provided, however, that members of the Committee
shall not be eligible to be granted Options. Options may be granted to the same
individual on more than one occasion. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted
to an individual if, at the time the Option is granted, such individual owns
stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporation, within the
meaning of section 422(b)(6) of the Code, unless (i) at the time such Option is
granted the option price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the Stock
subject to the Option and (ii) such Option by its terms is not exercisable after
the expiration of five years from the date of grant. To the extent that the
aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the respective Incentive
Stock Option is granted) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options
are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year
under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its parent and
subsidiary corporations exceeds $100,000, such excess Incentive Stock Options
shall be treated as Options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options. The
Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code,
Treasury Regulations and other administrative pronouncements, which of an
Optionee's Incentive Stock Options will not constitute Incentive Stock Options
because of such limitation and shall notify the Optionee of such determination
as soon as practicable after such determination.
A-2
<PAGE> 20
V. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
The aggregate number of shares which may be issued under Options granted
under the Plan shall not exceed 1,170,000 shares of Stock. Such shares may
consist of authorized but unissued shares of Stock or previously issued shares
of Stock reacquired by the Company. Any of such shares which remain unissued and
which are not subject to outstanding Options at the termination of the Plan
shall cease to be subject to the Plan, but, until termination of the Plan, the
Company shall at all times make available a sufficient number of shares to meet
the requirements of the Plan. Should any Option hereunder expire or terminate
prior to its exercise in full, the shares theretofore subject to such Option may
again be subject to an Option granted under the Plan to the extent permitted
under Rule 16b-3. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued under the
Plan shall be subject to adjustment in the same manner as provided in Paragraph
VIII hereof with respect to shares of Stock subject to Options then outstanding.
Exercise of an Option in any manner, including an exercise involving a Stock
Appreciation Right, shall result in a decrease in the number of shares of Stock
which may thereafter be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale to
any one individual, by the number of shares as to which the Option is exercised.
Separate stock certificates shall be issued by the Company for those shares
acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and for those
shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of any Option which does not constitute
an Incentive Stock Option.
VI. OPTION PRICE
The purchase price of Stock issued under each Option shall be determined by
the Committee, but such purchase price shall not be less than the fair market
value of Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted.
VII. TERM OF PLAN
The Plan originally became effective on July 8, 1993 (the "Original
Effective Date"). This amendment and restatement of the Plan shall be effective
as provided in Paragraph I. Except with respect to Options then outstanding, if
not sooner terminated under the provisions of Paragraph IX, the Plan shall
terminate upon and no further Options shall be granted after the expiration of
ten years from the Original Effective Date.
VIII. RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION
(a) The existence of the Plan and the Options granted hereunder shall not
affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the
Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or
other change in the Company's capital structure or its business, any merger or
consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities, the
dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate
act or proceeding.
(b) The shares with respect to which Options may be granted are shares of
Stock as presently constituted, but if, and whenever, prior to the expiration of
an Option theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or
consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a stock dividend on Stock
without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of shares of Stock
with respect to which such Option may thereafter be exercised (i) in the event
of an increase in the number of outstanding shares shall be proportionately
increased, and the purchase price per share shall be proportionately reduced,
and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding shares shall
be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per share shall be
proportionately increased.
(c) If the Company recapitalizes, reclassifies its capital stock, or
otherwise changes its capital structure (a "recapitalization"), the number and
class of shares of Stock covered by an Option theretofore granted shall be
adjusted so that such Option shall thereafter cover the number and class of
shares of stock and securities to which the Optionee would have been entitled
pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to the
recapitalization, the Optionee had been the holder of record of the number of
shares of Stock then
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covered by such Option. If (i) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in
any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (or survives only as a
subsidiary of an entity), (ii) the Company sells, leases or exchanges all or
substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity, (iii) the Company
is to be dissolved and liquidated, (iv) any person or entity, including a
"group" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act, acquires or gains
ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than
50% of the outstanding shares of the Company's voting stock (based upon voting
power), or (v) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of
directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such election
shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board (each such event is referred
to herein as a "Corporate Change"), no later than (a) ten days after the
approval by the stockholders of the Company of such merger, consolidation,
reorganization, sale, lease or exchange of assets or dissolution or such
election of directors or (b) thirty days after a change of control of the type
described in Clause (iv), the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without
the consent or approval of any Optionee, shall act to effect one or more of the
following alternatives, which may vary among individual Optionees and which may
vary among Options held by any individual Optionee: (1) accelerate the time at
which Options then outstanding may be exercised so that such Options may be
exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date
(before or after such Corporate Change) fixed by the Committee, after which
specified date all unexercised Options and all rights of Optionees thereunder
shall terminate, (2) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected
Optionees of some or all of the outstanding Options held by such Optionees
(irrespective of whether such Options are then exercisable under the provisions
of the Plan) as of a date, before or after such Corporate Change, specified by
the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Options
and the Company shall pay to each Optionee an amount of cash per share equal to
the excess, if any, of the amount calculated in Subparagraph (d) below (the
"Change of Control Value") of the shares subject to such Option over the
exercise price(s) under such Options for such shares, (3) make such adjustments
to Options then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such
Corporate Change (provided, however, that the Committee may determine in its
sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Options then outstanding) or
(4) provide that the number and class of shares of Stock covered by an Option
theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Option shall thereafter cover
the number and class of shares of stock or other securities or property
(including, without limitation, cash) to which the Optionee would have been
entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger, consolidation or sale
of assets and dissolution if, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or
sale of assets and dissolution, the Optionee had been the holder of record of
the number of shares of Stock then covered by such Option.
(d) For the purposes of clause (2) in Subparagraph (c) above, the "Change
of Control Value" shall equal the amount determined in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the per share price offered to
stockholders of the Company in any such merger, consolidation, reorganization,
sale of assets or dissolution transaction, (ii) the price per share offered to
stockholders of the Company in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a
Corporate Change takes place, or (iii) if such Corporate Change occurs other
than pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, the fair market value per share of
the shares into which such Options being surrendered are exercisable, as
determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the
date of cancellation and surrender of such Options. In the event that the
consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction
described in this Subparagraph (d) or Subparagraph (c) above consists of
anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent
of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash.
(e) Any adjustment provided for in Subparagraphs (b) or (c) above shall be
subject to any required stockholder action.
(f) Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company
of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock
of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the
exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of
shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other
securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and
no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of
shares of Stock subject to Options theretofore granted or the purchase price per
share.
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IX. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with respect
to any shares for which Options have not theretofore been granted. The Board
shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part thereof from time to
time; provided, that no change in any Option theretofore granted may be made
which would impair the rights of the Optionee without the consent of such
Optionee; and provided, further, that the Board may not, without the approval of
the stockholders of the Company, make any alteration or amendment which would
(a) increase the aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan or (b) change the class of individuals eligible to
receive Options under the Plan.
X. SECURITIES LAWS
(a) The Company shall not be obligated to issue any Stock pursuant to any
Option granted under the Plan at any time when the offering of the shares
covered by such Option have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933
and such other state and federal laws, rules or regulations as the Company or
the Committee deems applicable and, in the opinion of legal counsel for the
Company, there is no exemption from the registration requirements of such laws,
rules or regulations available for the offering and sale of such shares.
(b) It is intended that the Plan and any grant of an Option made to a
person subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3
so that any transaction under the Plan involving a grant, award, or other
acquisition from the Company or disposition to the Company is exempt from
Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act. If any provision of the Plan or any such Option
would result in any such transaction not being exempt from Section 16(b) of the
1934 Act, such provision or Option shall be construed or deemed amended so that
such transaction will be exempt from Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.
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