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 (under Rule 14a- 6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to ' 240.14a-11(c) or ' 240.14a-12
Giant Cement Holding, Inc.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fees (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE>
GIANT CEMENT HOLDING, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 13, 1997
To the Stockholders of
GIANT CEMENT HOLDING, INC.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Meeting") of GIANT CEMENT HOLDING, INC. (the "Company") will be held at
the offices of Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn LLP, 1585 Broadway, 23rd
Floor, New York, New York, on May 13, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. (local time).
The Meeting will be held for the following purposes:
(1) To elect five directors.
(2) To ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the
Company's independent auditors for fiscal 1997.
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before
the Meeting and any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
A Proxy Statement describing matters to be considered at the Meeting
is attached to this Notice. Only stockholders of record at the close of
business on March 17, 1997, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Meeting.
You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
TERRY L. KINDER
Secretary
Summerville, South Carolina
March 24, 1997
IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE MARK, DATE
AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE SELF-ADDRESSED, POSTAGE
PREPAID ENVELOPE WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. IN THE
EVENT YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE YOUR
SHARES IN PERSON.
<PAGE>
GIANT CEMENT HOLDING, INC.
320-D Midland Parkway
Summerville, South Carolina 29485
_____________
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 13, 1997
______________
GENERAL
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are furnished in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of
Giant Cement Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for use
at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting"), and any
adjournments thereof. The Meeting is to be held on Tuesday, May 13, 1997,
at 10:00 a.m. (local time) at the offices of Proskauer Rose Goetz &
Mendelsohn LLP, 1585 Broadway, 23rd Floor, New York, New York. The
approximate date of mailing this Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy
card to the Company's stockholders is March 27, 1997.
In an effort to have as large a representation at the Meeting as
possible, proxy solicitations may be made personally or by telephone or
telegram by officers or employees of the Company, without added
compensation, or by Corporate Communications, Inc., the Company's investor
relations firm, which will not receive a separate fee for any such
solicitations. The Company will bear the entire cost of soliciting proxies
hereunder and will reimburse brokers, banks and other custodians, nominees
and fiduciaries for their expenses in sending proxy materials to beneficial
owners.
RECORD DATE AND VOTING SECURITIES
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 1997
(the "Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. As of the
Record Date, the Company had outstanding 9,529,277 shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"). Each share of Common Stock
entitles the record holder thereof to one vote on all matters properly
coming before the Meeting.
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
The following table lists the persons who, to the knowledge of
management of the Company, based upon filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock:
Shares of
Name and Address Common Percent of
of Beneficial Owner Stock (a) Class
- ------------------------- ---------- ----------
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("LS") 498,200(b) 5.3%
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111
Merrill Lynch & Company, Inc. ("ML") 678,500(c) 7.1%
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10281
Morgan Stanley Group Inc. ("MS") 793,800(d) 8.3%
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
The Prudential Insurance Company 1,129,900(e) 11.9%
of America("Prudential")
751 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102-3777
Wellington Management Company ("WMC") 986,800(f) 10.4%
75 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
(a) Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"),
a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if such
person has or shares the power to vote or to direct the voting of such
security, or the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of
such security. A person is also deemed to be the beneficial owner of
any securities of which that person has the right to acquire ownership
within 60 days as well as any securities owned by such person's
spouse, children or other relatives living in the same house. Unless
otherwise indicated, the named persons have sole voting and investment
power with respect to the shares held by them.
(b) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by LS, LS, in its
capacity as investment advisor, may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of these shares, which are owned by numerous investment
counselling clients.
(c) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by ML, the shares shown
as owned by ML are held by subsidiaries of ML. ML disclaims
beneficial ownership of these shares.
(d) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by MS, the shares shown
as owned by MS are held by a subsidiary of MS, which in its capacity
as investment advisor, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of
these shares, which are owned by numerous investment counselling
clients.
(e) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by Prudential, the
shares shown as owned by Prudential include: (i) 51,700 shares held
for the benefit of Prudential's general account and (ii) 1,078,200
shares held for the benefit of Prudential's clients and over which
Prudential may have direct or indirect voting and/or investment
discretion.
(f) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by WMC, WMC, in its
capacity as investment advisor, may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of these shares, which are owned by numerous investment counselling
clients.
2
<PAGE>
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the
beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of the record date by each director
of the Company, each executive officer of the Company named in the Summary
Compensation Table below and all directors and executive officers as a
group.
Shares of Percent
Name Common Stock (1) of Class
--------------------- ---------------- --------
Gary L. Pechota 154,112(2) 1.6%
Terry L. Kinder 102,209(3) 1.1%
Dean M. Boylan 23,500(4) *
Edward Brodsky 22,500(5) *
Robert L. Jones 25,500(6) *
Richard A. Familia 11,851(7) *
Ronald H. Horst 14,966(8) *
All Directors and Executive 354,638(9) 3.6%
Officers as a group (six
persons)
__________
* Indicates less than one percent
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has both sole voting
and sole investment power with respect to his shares.
(2) Includes 140,000 shares that Mr. Pechota may purchase under presently
exercisable stock options.
(3) Includes 100,000 shares that Mr. Kinder may purchase under presently
exercisable stock options.
(4) Includes 22,500 shares that Mr. Boylan may purchase under presently
exercisable stock options. Does not include 1,000 shares of Common
Stock owned by Mr. Boylan's spouse, as to which shares he disclaims
beneficial ownership.
(5) Represents 22,500 shares that Mr. Brodsky may purchase under presently
exercisable stock options. Does not include 2,000 shares of Common
Stock owned by Mr. Brodsky's spouse, as to which shares Mr. Brodsky
disclaims beneficial ownership.
(6) Includes 22,500 shares that Mr. Jones may purchase under presently
exercisable stock options.
(7) Includes 11,250 shares that Mr. Familia may purchase under presently
exercisable stock options.
(8) Includes 14,250 shares that Mr. Horst may purchase under presently
exercisable stock options.
(9) See Notes (2) through (8 ) above. This total includes 333,000 shares
which such executive officers and directors may acquire upon the
exercise of stock options. (See "Compensation of Directors";
"Executive Compensation - Stock Options").
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting, five directors are to be elected to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected
and qualified.
The Board of Directors has no reason to expect that any of the
nominees will be unable to stand for election. In the event that a vacancy
among the original nominees occurs prior to the Meeting, the proxies will
be voted for a substitute nominee or nominees named by the Board of
Directors and for the remaining original nominees.
3
<PAGE>
Nominees
GARY L. PECHOTA (47) has served as Chairman, President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director of the Company since its inception in
April 1994. Mr. Pechota also has served as Chairman of Giant Cement Company
("Giant") and Giant Resource Recovery Company, Inc. ("GRR") since January
1993, as Chairman of Keystone Cement Company ("Keystone") since September
1992 and as President of Keystone since May 1992. Prior to joining
Keystone, Mr. Pechota served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Dacotah Cement Company, a state-owned cement company, from January 1982 to
May 1992. Mr. Pechota has been employed in the cement industry for over 15
years.
TERRY L. KINDER (38) has served as Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Secretary, Treasurer and a director of the Company since April
1994 and a director of Giant, Keystone and GRR since June 1989. Mr. Kinder
has also served as Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of Giant Group
Ltd. ("GROUP") from June 1986 to September 1994. From June 1989 to
December 1992, Mr. Kinder also served as Chairman of Giant and GRR, and
from June 1989 to August 1992, he served as Chairman of Keystone. Prior to
joining GROUP, Mr. Kinder was a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P. from January 1980 to June 1986.
DEAN M. BOYLAN (70) has been a director of the Company since April
1994. He served as a director of GROUP from 1985 to September 1994 and was
a director of Keystone from 1976 until January 1985 when it was acquired by
GROUP. Mr. Boylan has been an employee and a director of Boston Sand &
Gravel Company, Inc., a publicly-held company since prior to 1985 and is
presently Vice Chairman.
EDWARD BRODSKY (67) has been a director of the Company since April
1994. He served as a director of GROUP from 1986 to September 1994. Mr.
Brodsky has been a partner at the law firm of Proskauer Rose Goetz &
Mendelsohn LLP, New York, New York, which renders legal services to the
Company, since August 1992. Prior thereto, he was a partner at the law
firm of Spengler Carlson Gubar Brodsky & Frischling, New York, New York,
from 1977 to August 1992.
ROBERT L. JONES (60) has been a director of the Company since April
1994. He served as a director of GROUP from 1984 to September 1994. Mr.
Jones has been the Chairman of Davidson-Jones-Beers since February 1995 and
prior thereto was the President of Davidson & Jones Corporation - a
predecessor holding company located in Raleigh, North Carolina, engaged in
general contracting and real estate activities - since prior to 1986. Since
1990, he has been a director of Carolina Power & Light Company (New York
Stock Exchange).
Information About the Board of Directors and Committees of the Board
During 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company held five meetings.
Each of the directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of
Directors and the meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he
served.
The Company has a standing Compensation and Stock Option Committee and
Audit Committee. The members of each committee are appointed by the Board
of Directors to serve until their respective successors are elected and
qualified.
The Audit Committee annually reviews the qualifications of the
Company's independent certified public accountants, makes recommendations
to the Board of Directors as to the selection of such accountants, reviews
the plan, fees and results of the audits performed by such accountants,
receives reports from them and meets with their representatives for
purposes of reviewing and considering questions relating to their
examinations and reports and reviews, either directly or through such
accountants, the internal control and accounting procedures of the Company.
The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Boylan, Brodsky and Jones.
The Audit Committee held one meeting during 1996.
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee, which met twice during
1996, has responsibility for determining the executive compensation and
benefit policies and procedures of the Company, administers the Company's
1994 Employee Stock Option Plan. The members of the Compensation and Stock
Option Committee are Messrs. Boylan, Brodsky and Jones.
There is no standing nominating committee or other committee
performing similar functions.
Compensation of Directors
Each director who is not an employee of the Company is paid an annual
fee of $15,000, plus $500 for each Board of Directors meeting attended. No
additional consideration is paid to directors for committee participation.
Under the 1994 Directors Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, each
non-employee director receives an annual grant of options to purchase 5,000
shares of Common Stock. These options vest 50% on the date of grant and
50% on the first anniversary of that date and expire five years after the
date of grant.
4
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 awarded to or earned by the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and the other executive officers of the
Company whose salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 (the "Named Executive
Officers") for services rendered in all capacities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual
Compensation(1) Long-Term Compensation
--------------- ----------------------
Other
Annual Restricted Securities Other
Compen- Stock Underlying LTIP Compen-
Name and Principal sation Award(s) Options/SARs Payouts sation
Position Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) ($) (#) (#) ($) ($)(2)
- ------------------ ---- ---------- --------- ------ ---------- ------------- ------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary L. Pechota,...... 1996 260,000 160,000 - - 20,000 - 37,514
Chairman of the Board, 1995 250,000 150,000 - - - - 18,125
President and 1994 204,684 50,000 - - 100,000 - 3,616
Chief Executive Officer
Terry L. Kinder,...... 1996 156,000 80,000 - - 10,000 - 28,314
Vice President, 1995 150,000 75,000 - - - - 14,250
Chief Financial Officer 1994 127,200 26,000 - - 75,000 - 8,695
and Treasurer
Richard A. Familia,... 1996 112,300 16,500 - - 2,000 - 15,333
Vice President of 1995 109,263 12,500 - - - - 10,379
Environmental Affairs 1994 103,078 10,400 - - 7,500 - 6,761
Ronald H. Horst,...... 1996 90,950 22,000 - - 2,500 - 9,337
Vice President-Operations 1995 87,687 20,000 - - - - 6,695
Giant Cement Company & 1994 73,872 4,600 - - 10,000 - 1,885
Keystone Cement Company
</TABLE>
_______________
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the Named Executive Officers did not
receive any annual compensation not properly categorized as salary or
bonus, except for certain perquisites and other personal benefits
which are not shown because the aggregate amount of such compensation,
if any, for each of the Named Executive Officers during such fiscal
year did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of total salary and
bonus reported for such executive officer.
(2) Represents amounts contributed by the Company to the Named Executive
Officers pursuant to the Company's Profit Sharing Plans and Special
Retirement Agreements (See Employment Agreements).
Stock Options
The following table contains information concerning the grant of stock
options to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Named
Executive Officers during 1996.
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options % of Exercise Expiration Potential Value (3)
Name Granted Total Price Date(2) 5% 10%
- ---- ------- ----- -------- ---------- ---- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary L. Pechota 20,000 35.7 $11.88 02/11/01 $ 66,000 $ 145,000
Terry L. Kinder 10,000 17.9 $11.88 02/11/01 $ 33,000 $ 72,000
Richard A. Familia 2,000 3.6 $11.88 02/11/01 $ 7,000 $ 15,000
Ronald H. Horst 2,500 4.5 $11.88 02/11/01 $ 8,000 $ 18,000
All Stockholders(1) N/A N/A N/A N/A $ 31,697,000 $70,062,000
______________
</TABLE>
(1) The potential realizable gain to all stockholders (based on 9,663,677
shares outstanding, at December 31, 1996 an assumed market value of
$11.88 per share and assumed appreciation rates of 5% and 10%, over a
period of five years), is provided as a comparison to the potential
gain realized by the named executive officers at the same assumed
rates of stock appreciation.
5
<PAGE>
(2) One-half of these options vested on February 11, 1996 and one-half
vested on February 11, 1997.
(3) Amounts reported in these columns represent amounts that may be
realized upon exercise of the options immediately prior to expiration
of their term, assuming the specified compounded rates of appreciation
(5%and 10%) on the Company's Common Stock over the term of the
options. These numbers are calculated based on the rules of the SEC
and do not reflect the Company's estimate of future stock price
growth. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercise and Common
Stock holdings are dependent on the timing of such exercise and the
future performance of the Company's Common Stock. There can be no
assurance that the rates of appreciation assumed in this table can be
achieved or that amounts reflected will be received by the option
holder.
Option Exercises and Holdings
The following table sets forth information with respect to the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and the Named Executive Officers
concerning unexercised options held at December 31, 1996.
Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and FY-End Option Values
Number of Options Value of Unexercised
Shares Value Exercisable/ In-The-Money-Options
Name Acquired Realized Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
- ----------- -------- -------- ------------- -------------------------
Gary L. Pechota -0- -0- 110,000/10,000 $255,000 $42,000
Terry L. Kinder -0- -0- 80,000/5,000 $181,000 $21,000
Richard A. Familia -0- -0- 8,500/1,000 $ 20,000 $ 4,000
Ronald H. Horst -0- -0- 11,250/1,250 $ 27,000 $ 5,000
Employment Agreements
Messrs. Pechota and Kinder are employed by the Company pursuant to
employment agreements (the "Employment Agreements"), which commenced on
September 29, 1994 and expire on December 31, 1997. Each Employment
Agreement is automatically renewed for additional one year terms subject to
earlier termination by either the Company or the respective employee. Mr.
Pechota and Mr. Kinder are to be compensated at an annual base salary of
$250,000 and $150,000, respectively, during the term of their Employment
Agreements, subject to annual increases and/or bonuses as determined by the
Compensation and Stock Option Committee. Each of them has agreed not to
compete with the Company for a period of one year following the termination
of his Employment Agreement other than by the Company without cause or by
the employee for good reason, as defined, or as otherwise provided.
Commencing with fiscal year 1996, the Company's Board approved Special
Retirement Agreements ("SRA's") for certain employees participating in the
Company's Profit Sharing Plans and salaried Retirement Plans. Pursuant to
the Internal Revenue Code, the Internal Revenue Service sets a limit
(currently $150,000) on the amount of annual compensation which may be
considered in determining, for the account of an eligible participant, the
Company's contribution to the Profit Sharing Plans or the employees benefit
under the Retirement Plans. The SRA's establish balances for each
participant in an amount equal to that required to provide the actuarial
equivalent benefit, as if the Internal Revenue Service limitations did not
apply.
Retirement Plans
The Company has two retirement plans (the "Retirement Plans") for
salaried employees under which a salaried employee (but not a director as
such) who retires at age 65 or thereafter, or an employee who retires prior
to reaching age 65 but after age 55 and who has completed ten or more years
of continuous service at retirement, may be eligible at retirement to
receive during his lifetime an annual pension equal to the sum of the
following:
(a) for each eligible year beginning on or after October 1, 1989,
1-1/4% of the salaried employee's annual base wages (subject to
certain limitations) from the Company, plus 1/4% of such salary in
excess of Social Security Covered Compensation, plus
(b) for the period October 1, 1987, to October 1, 1989, 1-1/4% of
the salaried employee's annual base wages (subject to certain
limitations) from the Company, plus 1/4% of such salary in excess of
the Social Security Wage Base plus
(c) for each eligible year beginning prior to October 1, 1987, 1-
1/2% of the first $15,000 of salary and 1% of such base wages over
$15,000 (using annual rate of salary as of October 1, 1987, for years
before 1987)
6
<PAGE>
for each year of service after the employee's first year of service after
the employee attains the age of 21. For the Named Executive Officers,
annual base wage would be the amount shown as salary in the Summary
Compensation Table (subject to certain limitations.) The amount of
benefits payable to each recipient is not reduced by the amount of Social
Security benefits payable to such recipient. For purposes of illustration,
pensions estimated to be payable upon retirement at normal retirement age
under the Retirement Plans to persons in specified salary classifications
are shown in the following table:
Annual Pension Based on Specified Years of Employment
Assuming Retirement at Age 65
Current Salary (1) 10 years 20 years 30 years 40 years
------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ 5,000............... $ 650 $ 1,300 $ 2,000 $ 2,650
10,000............... 1,300 2,650 3,950 5,300
20,000............... 2,500 5,000 7,550 10,050
40,000............... 4,350 8,700 13,000 17,300
50,000............... 5,300 10,500 15,700 20,900
96,000............... 9,850 19,150 28,450 37,750
125,000............... 12,700 24,600 36,450 48,350
150,000............... 15,200 29,300 42,400 57,500
_________
(1) A retrospective salary scale of 6% has been assumed. Current IRS
Regulations limit eligible compensation for qualified defined benefit
plans to $150,000 per annum.
These benefits are expressed in terms of life annuities. In general,
benefits will be paid in the form of joint and 50% survivor benefits to the
employee and his or her spouse unless elections are made to the contrary.
The maximum annual pension payable under the Retirement Plans to a
retired employee is $120,000. Messrs. Pechota, Kinder, Familia and Horst
have four, ten, four and twenty years, respectively, of credited service
under the Retirement Plans.
Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors
consists of Dean M. Boylan, Edward Brodsky and Robert L. Jones. Mr.
Brodsky is a partner of the law firm of Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn
LLP, which provides legal services to the Company.
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee is responsible for
developing and making recommendations to the Company with respect to
executive officer compensation policies addressing such matters as
salaries, bonuses, incentive plans, benefits and overall compensation. The
Committee, subject to the terms of his Employment Agreement, determines the
compensation to be paid to the Chief Executive Officer, and in consultation
with the Chief Executive Officer, determines the compensation of each of
the other executive officers of the Company.
The objectives of the Committee in determining the type and amount of
executive officer compensation are to provide a level of base compensation
which allows the Company to attract and retain competent personnel.
The only salaried executive officers of the Company are Gary Pechota,
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and President, Terry L.
Kinder, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
and Richard Familia, Vice President of Environmental Affairs.
The Company's compensation program for executive officers consists of
three key elements: a base salary, a discretionary annual bonus and
periodic grants of stock options. The committee believes that this
approach best serves the interests of stockholders by ensuring that
executive officers are compensated in a manner that advances both the short-
and long-term interests of stockholders. Thus, compensation for the
Company's executive officers involves a high proportion of pay which is at
risk: the variable annual bonus (which permits individual performance to be
recognized on an annual basis, and which is based, in part, on an
evaluation of the contribution made by the executive officer to Company
performance) and stock options (which directly relate a significant portion
of the executive officer's long-term remuneration to stock price
appreciation realized by the Company's stockholders).
In evaluating executive officer compensation, the Compensation and
Stock Option Committee considers the executive officer's length of service
to the Company, the Company's performance, including its financial
condition, net income and net income per share, the executive officer's
performance and the range of compensation of executive officers with
similar responsibilities in comparable
7
<PAGE>
companies, including those companies in the peer group used to construct
the Company's stock price performance graph, but assigns no particular
weight to any of these factors.
The Chief Executive Officer's base salary is established under his
Employment Contract. The Compensation and Stock Option Committee
determined the amount of his bonus for 1996 and the number of options he
has been granted based on an evaluation of the factors described above and,
with respect to the number of options, the relationship of the number of
options granted to him to the number of options available under the
Employee Plan and the number of options granted to subordinate executive
officers and other employees of the Company. The committee considers Mr.
Pechota's bonus for 1996 to be within the range of bonuses granted to chief
executive officers of comparable companies, as described above.
Compensation and Stock Option Committee:
Dean M. Boylan
Edward Brodsky
Robert L. Jones
Stock Price Performance
The following graph compares the cumulative total return to
stockholders of the Company from the date its Common Stock commenced
trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market to December 31, 1996,
to the cumulative total returns on the S&P 500 Index and the securities of
a Peer Group made up of Centex Construction Products, Lafarge Corporation,
Lone Star Industries, Medusa Corporation and Southdown, Inc. Under the
rules of the SEC, this graph is not deemed "soliciting material" and is not
incorporated by reference in any filings with the SEC under the Securities
Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
COMPARATIVE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG GIANT CEMENT HOLDING, INC.,
S&P 500 INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
9/30/94 12/31/94 12/31/95 12/31/96
------- -------- -------- --------
GIANT CEMENT HOLDING, INC. 100.00 84.82 82.14 115.18
PEER GROUP 100.00 88.31 101.14 128.25
S&P 500 INDEX 100.00 99.98 137.56 169.15
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON SEP. 30, 1994, ASSUMES DIVIDENDS REINVESTED,
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1996
8
<PAGE>
EMPLOYMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors
has selected the firm of Coopers & Lybrand LLP, Certified Public
Accountants, as independent auditors to examine the consolidated financial
statements of the Company for the year 1997.
A representative of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. is expected to be present
at the Meeting to respond to appropriate questions, and such representative
will have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do
so.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the Company's 1998
annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the Company for
inclusion in its proxy statement and form of proxy no later than November
24, 1997.
VOTING PROCEDURES
At the Meeting, stockholders will be requested to act upon the matters
set forth in this Proxy Statement. If you are not present at the Meeting,
your shares can be voted only when represented by proxy. The shares
represented by your proxy will be voted in accordance with your directions
if the proxy is properly signed and returned to the Company, at or before,
the Meeting. If no instructions are specified in the proxy with respect to
any proposal, the shares represented thereby will be voted for the nominees
for the Board of Directors listed in this Proxy Statement and for the
ratification of Coopers & Lybrand as the Company's independent auditors for
fiscal 1997. If any other matters shall properly come before the Meeting,
the enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of
the persons voting such proxy.
A proxy may be revoked at any time prior to it being voted at the
Meeting by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a signed writing
revoking the proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by
attending the Meeting and voting in person. The mere presence at the
Meeting of a person appointing a proxy does not revoke the appointment.
All executed proxies not revoked will be voted at the Meeting in
accordance with the instructions contained therein.
A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock represented at
the Meeting, in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum. The votes of
stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting will
be tabulated by an inspector of election appointed by the Company. The
five nominees for directors of the Company who receive the greatest number
of votes cast will be elected directors of the Company. The affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or
represented by proxy at the Meeting is required to ratify the appointment
of the independent auditors.
Abstentions or withholding of votes will have no effect on the outcome
of the vote for the election of directors, but will have the effect of
being cast against the proposal to ratify the appointment of the
independent auditors even though the stockholder so abstaining intends a
different interpretation. Shares of Common Stock held of record by
brokers, or other nominees which are present but not to be voted on a
proposal, will not be counted as part of the shares present and voting on
such proposal.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented
for action at the Meeting other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement.
If any other business should properly come before the Meeting, the persons
named in the proxy intend to vote thereon in accordance with their best
judgment.
The Company's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders is being furnished
with this Proxy Statement. Reference is made to such Annual Report for
financial information of the Company.
Upon the written request of any stockholder of record as of March 17,
1997, a copy of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to the Securities and
Exchange Commission on Form 10-K (excluding exhibits) will be provided
without charge. Requests should be directed to: Terry L. Kinder,
Secretary, Giant Cement Holding, Inc., 320-D Midland Parkway, Summerville,
South Carolina 29485.
By Order of the Board of Directors
TERRY L. KINDER,
Secretary
Summerville, South Carolina
March 24, 1997
9
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