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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential for Use of Commission Only
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| ☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement
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| ☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Materials Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12
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No Fee Required
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$125 per Exchange Act Rules-O-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules14A-6(i)(4) and O-11.
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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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.
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| (1) |
Amount Previously Paid:
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| (2) |
Form Schedule or Registration No.:
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| (3) |
Filing Party:
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| (4) |
Date Filed:
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| 1. |
To elect Matthew K. Behrent, Peter E. Salas, and Richard M. Thon to the Board of Directors to hold office until their successors shall have been elected and qualify;
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| 2. |
To ratify the appointment by the Board of Directors of Moss Adams LLP to serve as the independent certified public accountants for the current fiscal year;
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| 3. |
To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s executive officers;
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| 4. |
To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the frequency of future votes to approve compensation of the Company’s executive officers; and
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Dated: November 1, 2019
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By Order of the Board of Directors
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/s/ Michael J. Rugen
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Michael J. Rugen, Chief Executive Officer
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Name and Address
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Title
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Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
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Percent of Class
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Dolphin Offshore Partners, L.P.
c/o Dolphin Mgmt. Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 16867
Fernandina Beach, FL 32035
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Stockholder
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5,295,7411
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49.7%
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Name
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Positions Held
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Date of Initial Election or Designation
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Matthew K. Behrent
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Director
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3/27/07
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Peter E. Salas
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Director;
Chairman of the Board
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10/8/02
10/21/04
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Richard M. Thon
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Director
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11/22/13
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| • |
The Director is, or has been during the last three years, an employee or an officer of the Company or any of its affiliates;
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| • |
The Director has received, or has an immediate family member2 who has received, during any twelve consecutive months in the last three years any compensation from the Company in excess of $120,000, other than compensation
for service on the Board of Directors, compensation to an immediate family member who is an employee of the Company other than an executive officer, compensation received as an interim executive officer or benefits under a tax-qualified
retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation;
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| • |
The Director is a member of the immediate family of an individual who is, or has been in any of the past three years, employed by the Company or any of its affiliates as an executive officer;
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The Director, or an immediate family member, is a partner in, or controlling shareholder or an executive officer of, any for-profit business organization to which the Company made, or received, payments (other than those arising
solely from investments in the Company’s securities) that exceed 5% of the Company’s or business organization’s consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000, whichever is more, in any of the past three years;
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| • |
The Director, or an immediate family member, is employed as an executive officer of another entity where at any time during the most recent three fiscal years any of the Company’s executives serve on that entity’s compensation
committee; or
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The Director, or an immediate family member, is a current partner of the Company’s outside auditors, or was a partner or employee of the Company’s outside auditors who worked on the Company’s audit at any time during the past three
years.
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| • |
The Director directly or indirectly accepts any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
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The Director is an affiliated person3 of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or
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The Director participated in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements at any time during the past three years.
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| • |
To review with management and the Company’s independent auditors the scope of the annual audit and quarterly statements, significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s
financial statements;
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To review major changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices suggested by the independent auditors;
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•
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To monitor the independent auditor's relationship with the Company;
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| • |
To advise and assist the Board of Directors in evaluating the independent auditor's examination;
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To supervise the Company's financial and accounting organization and financial reporting;
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To nominate, for approval of the Board of Directors, a firm of certified public accountants whose duty it is to audit the financial records of the Company for the fiscal year for which it is appointed; and
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To review and consider fee arrangements with, and fees charged by, the Company’s independent auditors.
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Members of the Audit Committee
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Matthew K. Behrent
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Richard M. Thon
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| • |
Any shareholder, officer, or director may recommend for nomination any person for the slate of candidates for membership on the Company’s Board of Directors to be presented to the shareholders at the Company’s annual meeting of
shareholders. Such recommendations must be furnished in writing addressed to the Company’s Board of Directors at the Company’s principal offices. All such nominations will be furnished to the Board which may conduct interviews,
investigations or make other determinations as to the qualifications of such recommended persons.
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| • |
Any then-current members of the Board of Directors desiring to stand for re-election may be placed on the slate of directors for re-election without further inquiry as to their qualifications.
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The Board will determine the slate of candidates for the Board in such a manner and at such a time so as not to delay either the mailing of the proxy statement to the Company’s shareholders or the annual meeting of shareholders.
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The adopted procedures apply only to the determination of the slate of directors to be presented for election at the annual meeting of the shareholders. Any vacancies on the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of
shareholders may be filled in the manner currently applicable under the Company’s Charter, Bylaws, and applicable law.
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The procedures adopted may be amended from time to time by the Board of Directors in order to comply with any applicable provision or interpretation of any rule, statute, or stock exchange rule of the exchange on which the Company’s
stock may be listed.
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| (1) |
Filed a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law, nor had a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he or
she was a general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he or she was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing; provided
however that:
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(a)
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the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Michael J. Rugen during 2007 through mid-2009 was Vice President of Accounting and Finance for Nighthawk Oilfield Services in Houston, Texas
(Nighthawk); Nighthawk filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy laws on July 10, 2009 and such fact was affirmatively disclosed to the Company’s Board before Mr. Rugen was appointed to the position of Chief
Financial Officer of the Company in September 2009, and the Board determined that the circumstances surrounding bankruptcy filing did not disclose any reason to question the integrity or qualifications of Mr. Rugen for the position of
Chief Financial Officer of the Company; and
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(b)
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Peter E. Salas, a director of the Company, Chairman of the Board of the Company, and a nominee for reelection as a director of the Company was the chief executive officer of Boston Restaurant Associates, Inc.
when that company filed a Chapter 11 reorganization plan under federal bankruptcy laws on May 20, 2015. The plan of reorganization became effective on August 31, 2015 and Mr. Salas has remained the chief executive officer and sole
director of that company since the reorganization.
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| (2) |
Was convicted in a criminal proceeding or named the subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
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| (3) |
Was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from or otherwise limiting the following activities:
(a) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or
an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or
insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity; (b) engaging in any type of business practice; or (c) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any
security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws or federal commodities laws;
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| (4) |
Was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting him for more than 60 days from engaging in any activity
described in paragraph 3(a) above, or being associated with any persons engaging in any such activity;
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| (5) |
Was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed,
suspended, or vacated;
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| (6) |
Was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) to have violated any federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the CFTC
has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated;
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| (7) |
Was the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of: (i) any
federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation; (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including but not limited to a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or
restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease and desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity;
or
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| (8) |
Was the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)], any
registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29)], or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated
with a member.
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Name and Address
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Title
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Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned4
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Percent of
Class5
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Matthew K. Behrent6
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Director
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65,525
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Less than 1%
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Michael J. Rugen7
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Chief Executive Officer;
Chief Financial Officer
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61,880
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Less than 1%
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Peter E. Salas8
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Director;
Chairman of the Board
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5,298,866
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49.7%
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Cary V. Sorensen9
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Vice President; General
Counsel; Secretary
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23,623
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Less than 1%
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Richard M. Thon10
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Director
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33,625
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Less than 1%
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All Officers and Directors
as a group11
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5,483,519
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51.4%
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Salary
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Bonus
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Stock
Awards |
All Other
Compensation1 |
Total
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Name and Principal Position
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Year
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($)
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($)
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($)
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($)
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($)
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Michael J. Rugen,
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2018
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184,213
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21,821
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15,097
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7,482
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228,613
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Chief Financial Officer
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2017
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163,857
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19,276
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9,149
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6,673
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198,955
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Chief Executive Officer (interim)2
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Cary V. Sorensen,
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2018
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87,050
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—
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—
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3,550
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90,600
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General Counsel
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2017
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81,900
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—
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—
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3,454
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85,354
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| (1) |
The amounts in this column consist of the Company’s matching contributions to its 401 (k) plan and the portion of company-wide group term life insurance premiums allocable to these named executive
officers.
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| (2) |
Mr. Rugen was appointed interim Chief Executive Officer on June 28, 2013. The bonus and stock award information for Mr. Rugen for 2018 and 2017 represents his compensation for his services as CEO.
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL 2018 YEAR-END
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OPTION AWARDS
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||||
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Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised options
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Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised options
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Option
exercise
price
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Option
expiration date
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|
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exercisable
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unexercisable
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|||
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Michael J. Rugen
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0
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0
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-
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-
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Cary V. Sorensen
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0
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0
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-
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-
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Name
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Fees earned or
paid in cash
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Stock awards
compensation
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Total
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Matthew K. Behrent
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$
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12,012
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$
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2,300
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$
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14,312
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Richard M. Thon
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$
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12,012
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$
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2,300
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$
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14,312
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Peter E. Salas
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$
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12,012
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$
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2,300
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$
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14,312
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2017
Moss Adams
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2017
Hein
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2018
Moss Adams
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Audit Fees
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$
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73,500
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$
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37,800
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$
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117,600
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Audit-Related Fees
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—
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—
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—
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Tax Fees
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—
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—
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—
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|||||||||
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All Other Fees
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—
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—
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3,599
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Total Fees
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$
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73,500
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$
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37,800
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$
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121,199
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By Order of the Board of Directors
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/s/ Cary V. Sorensen
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Cary V. Sorensen, Secretary
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| ☐ |
VOTE FOR all nominees named above except those who may be named on these two lines:
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| ☐ |
VOTE WITHHELD as to all nominees named above.
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FOR
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☐ |
AGAINST
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☐ |
ABSTAIN
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☐ |
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EVERY YEAR ☐ | EVERY 2 YEARS ☐ | EVERY 3 YEARS ☐ |
ABSTAIN ☐
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FOR
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☐ |
AGAINST
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☐ |
ABSTAIN
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☐ |
| Dated: | |
, 2019 | ||
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X
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Signature
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X
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Print Name(s)
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