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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
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 (S)240.14a-12
VAALCO ENERGY, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(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)(1) 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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Last update: 02/22/2002
VAALCO ENERGY, INC.
4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309
Houston, Texas 77027
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of VAALCO
Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held on
Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at the headquarters of the Company, 4600
Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027, for the following purposes:
(1) To elect a Board of Directors as follows:
(a) The holders of Common Stock and Convertible Preferred Stock, Series
A, voting together as a class will elect two Class II directors to
hold office for the ensuing three years; and
(b) The holders of Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, will elect one
Class II director to hold office for the ensuing three years.
(2) To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche as the independent public
accountants to audit the Company's accounts for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003.
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
The holders of record of Common Stock and Convertible Preferred Stock,
Series A, of the Company at the close of business on April 11, 2003 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Gayla M. Cutrer
Gayla M. Cutrer
Secretary
April 21, 2003
IMPORTANT
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO
BE PRESENT, YOU ARE URGED TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY.
IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING YOU CAN VOTE EITHER IN PERSON OR BY YOUR PROXY.
VAALCO ENERGY, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the record holders of common stock, par
value $0.10 per share ("Common Stock") and Convertible Preferred Stock, Series
A, par value $10.00 per share ("Preferred Stock") of VAALCO Energy, Inc. (the
"Company"), in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of
the Company of proxies to be used at the annual meeting ("Meeting") of
stockholders to be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at the
headquarters of the Company, 4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas
77027, and any adjournment thereof.
Matters to be Considered at the Meeting
Unless otherwise indicated, proxies in the form enclosed that are properly
executed, duly returned and not revoked will be voted in favor of:
(1) The election of the Class II director nominees to the Board of Directors
named herein; and
(2) The ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche as the
independent public accountants to audit the Company's accounts for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
The Board of Directors is not presently aware of other proposals that may be
brought before the Meeting. In the event other proposals are brought before the
Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote in accordance with
what they consider to be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
Voting and Revocability of Proxies
Proxies in the form enclosed, properly executed by stockholders and received
in time for the Meeting, will be voted as specified therein. If a stockholder
does not specify otherwise, the shares represented by his or her proxy will be
voted FOR the nominees for election of directors as listed herein and FOR
ratification of Deloitte & Touche as the independent public accountants to
audit the Company's accounts for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. The
giving of a proxy does not preclude the right to vote in person should the
person giving the proxy so desire. Any proxy may be revoked at any time before
it is exercised by delivering written notice of revocation to the Company at or
prior to the Meeting, by duly executing a proxy bearing a later date or by
voting in person at the Meeting. The mailing address of the Company's principal
executive offices is 4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027 (Tel.
No. 713/623-0801). This Proxy Statement is being mailed on or about April 21,
2003 to holders of record of Common Stock and Preferred Stock at the close of
business on April 11, 2003 (the "Record Date").
Voting and Quorum Requirements
At the close of business on the Record Date, there were outstanding and
entitled to vote 21,216,649 shares of Common Stock and 10,000 shares of
Preferred Stock. A complete list of all stockholders entitled to vote at the
Meeting will be open for examination by any stockholder during normal business
hours for a period of ten days prior to the Meeting at the Company's
headquarters.
The holder of the Preferred Stock has the right to vote as a class with the
holders of Common Stock on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of
Common Stock on an "as converted basis." Accordingly, with respect to all
matters to come before the Meeting, other than the election of the Preferred
Stock Nominee (as defined below), each share of Common Stock entitles the
holder to one vote, and each share of Preferred Stock entitles the holder to
2,750 votes so that, as of the Record Date, 48,716,649 shares of Common Stock
are deemed to be outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting. In addition,
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
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provides that one director in each class of directors shall be a designee (a
"Preferred Stock Nominee") of the holders of the Preferred Stock. Accordingly,
the holder of the Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, is entitled to
vote for a Preferred Stock Nominee. With respect to the election of a Preferred
Stock Nominee, each share of Preferred Stock entitles the holder to one vote.
All holders of record of Common Stock or Preferred Stock on the Record Date
shall be entitled to vote at the Meeting.
Regarding the election of directors, the enclosed form of proxy provides a
means for stockholders to vote FOR the nominees as directed therein, to
withhold authority to vote for one or more of the applicable nominees or to
withhold authority to vote for all of the applicable nominees. When a proxy
votes for one matter, but indicates that the holder does not have the authority
to vote on other matters it is referred to as a "broker non-vote". With respect
to other proposals to be voted upon, stockholders may vote in favor of a
proposal, against a proposal, or may abstain from voting. Unless a holder of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock who withholds authority votes in person at the
meeting or votes by means of another proxy, the withholding of authority will
have no effect upon the election of those directors for whom authority to vote
is withheld because the Company's By-laws provide that directors are elected by
a plurality of the votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes have no effect
on determinations of plurality except to the extent that they affect the total
vote received by any particulate candidate.
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock and, on an as converted basis, the Preferred
Stock, voting together as a class present or represented and entitled to vote
at the Meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of auditors
for the current fiscal year. With respect to the ratification of the
appointment of auditors, abstaining shares will be considered present at the
Meeting for this matter so that the effect of abstentions will be the
equivalent of a "no" vote. With respect to broker non-votes, the shares will
not be considered present at the Meeting for this matter so that broker
non-votes will have the practical effect of reducing the number of affirmative
votes required to achieve a majority vote by reducing the total number of
shares from which the majority is calculated.
The holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Common Stock
together with, on an as converted basis, the issued and outstanding Preferred
Stock, entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person or represented by
proxy, constitutes a quorum for purposes of the Common Stock. The presence in
person or by proxy of the holders of record of one-third of the total number of
shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding and entitled to vote shall be
necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum of holders of Preferred Stock.
Broker non-votes and abstentions count towards the establishment of a quorum.
At the Meeting or at any adjournment thereof, the absence of a quorum of the
holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall not prevent the election of
directors other than those to be elected by the holders of shares of Preferred
Stock, and the absence of a quorum of the holders of shares of the Common Stock
shall not prevent the election of directors to be elected by the holders of
shares of Preferred Stock.
3
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL
STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information with respect to the ownership of
shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock as of the Record Date by (i) each
director and each executive officer of the Company, (ii) all executive officers
and directors of the Company as a group and (iii) each person known by the
Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock or Preferred Stock. Information in the table has been obtained from
filings made with the SEC or, in the case of the Company's directors and
executive officers, has been provided by such individuals. To the Company's
knowledge, the persons indicated below have sole voting and investment power
with respect to the shares indicated as owned by them, except as otherwise
stated. The address for each director and executive officer is 4600 Post Oak
Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027, unless otherwise indicated below or in
the footnotes.
Common Stock Preferred Stock
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Percent of
Class Upon
Conversion of
Percent of Preferred Percent of
Name of Beneficial Owner Amount Class Stock Amount Class
------------------------ ---------- ---------- ------------- ------ ----------
Directors:
Robert L. Gerry III........................ 1,510,000(1) 7.0% 3.1% -- --
Virgil A. Walston, Jr...................... 3,300,082(2) 15.6% 6.8% -- --
W. Russell Scheirman....................... 135,694 * * -- --
Robert H. Allen............................ 125,000 * * -- --
Arne R. Nielsen............................ 1,000 * * -- --
Lawrence C. Tucker......................... 36,513,441(3) 67.7% 67.7% 10,000(3) 100%
T. Michael Long............................ 36,513,441(3) 67.7% 67.7% 10,000(3) 100%
Walter W. Grist............................ -- -- -- -- --
Common Stock owned by all directors and
executive officers as a group (8 persons) 41,585,217(3) 76.1% 76.1% 10,000 100%
5% Stockholders:
Dorothy J. Alcorn.......................... 1,397,032(4) 6.6% 2.9% -- --
26 Meadow View
Victoria, TX 77904
The 1818 Fund II, L.P...................... 36,513,441(3) 67.7% 67.7% 10,000(3) 100%
c/o Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co.
140 Broadway
New York, New York 10005
MetLife, Inc............................... 1,500,000(5) 7.1% 3.1% -- --
One Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Nissho Iwai Corporation.................... 2,250,000(6) 9.6% 4.4% -- --
3-1, Daiba 2-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-8655
JAPAN
Avocet Capital Management L.P.............. 1,361,000(7) 6.4% 2.8% -- --
5508 Highway 290 West
Suite 207
Austin, TX 78735
4
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* Less than 1%.
(1) Includes 500,000 shares of Common Stock that may be acquired within sixty
days upon the exercise of options and 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock held
in a trust of which Mr. Gerry is a trustee and beneficiary.
(2) Excludes 148,700 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Walston's sons in
which Mr. Walston disclaims beneficial ownership. Includes 177,500 shares
of Common Stock owned by V.A. Walston & Associates, Inc.
(3) Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. ("BBH&CO") is sole general partner of 1818
Fund II, L.P. (the "Fund"). Lawrence C. Tucker and T. Michael Long are
general partners of BBH&CO. BBH&CO, Lawrence C. Tucker and T. Michael Long
may be deemed to beneficially own all shares reported by the Fund. The
shares reported by the Fund include 27,500,000 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and 5,250,000 shares of
Common Stock that may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of
warrants. The address of Messrs. Long and Tucker and BBH&CO is 140
Broadway, New York, NY 10005.
(4) Includes 177,500 shares of Common Stock held by Alcorn Production Company,
a company controlled by Mrs. Alcorn.
(5) Based on a Schedule 13G, filed February 14, 2001, by MetLife, Inc.
("MetLife") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company ("MLIC") which states MetLife and MLIC both have shared voting and
investment power over 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock. In the Schedule
13G, MetLife and MLIC state that the shares were acquired for the benefit
of separate account customers of MetLife and MLIC by their affiliate, State
Street Research & Management Company, Inc., an investment advisor
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act. Both MetLife
and MLIC disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares in the Schedule 13G.
(6) Consists of 2,250,000 shares of Common Stock that may be acquired within
sixty days upon the exercise of warrants to purchase Common Stock at $0.50
per share.
(7) Based on Schedule 13G, filed November 19, 2002 by Avocet Capital Management
L.P. ("ACM"), Avocet Investment Partners, L.P. ("AIM"), Blackpool
Enterprises, LLC ("LLC") and Raymond S. Ingelby ("Ingelby"), which states
that ACM, LLC and Ingelby have shared voting and dispositive power over
1,361,000 shares of Common Stock and AIM has shared voting and dispositive
power over 1,185,125 shares of Common Stock. In the Schedule 13G ACM, LLC
and Ingelby disclaim beneficial ownership of the Common Stock except to the
extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein. The filing states
that AIP is filing jointly with the other filers, but not as a member of a
group, and expressly disclaims membership in a group. In addition the
Schedule 13G states that the filing on behalf of AIP should not be
construed as an admission that AIP is, and it disclaims that it is, the
beneficial owner of any of the Stock covered by the statement.
5
PROPOSAL 1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees
Pursuant to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board
of Directors is divided into three classes. Directors are elected for staggered
three-year terms and hold office until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. The term of the Class I directors, currently comprised of Messrs.
Nielsen, Scheirman and Tucker, expires in 2005. The term of the Class II
directors, currently comprised of Messrs. Walston, Allen and Long, expires at
the Meeting. The term of the Class III directors, currently comprised of
Messrs. Gerry and Grist, will expire at the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders.
The Class II nominees for election at the Meeting, other than the Preferred
Stock Nominee, are Messrs. Walston and Allen. These nominees will be elected by
both the holders of the Common Stock and, on an as converted basis, the holder
of the Preferred Stock. The holders of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock
will vote together as a class.
The Company's Certificate of Designation, pursuant to which the Preferred
Stock was issued on April 21, 1998, provides that the holders of the Preferred
Stock have the right to appoint three directors to the Company's Board of
Directors, voting together as a class. Messrs. Tucker, Long and Grist were
elected as directors by the holders of the Preferred Stock as Class I, Class II
and Class III directors, respectively. Each director elected by the holders of
shares of Preferred Stock shall, unless his term shall expire earlier in
accordance with the provisions thereof, hold office until the annual meeting of
stockholders at which directors of the class to which he has been elected stand
for election or until his successor, if any, is elected and qualified. Mr.
Long, whose term expires at the Meeting, has been nominated as the Class II
Preferred Stock Nominee (together, with Messrs. Walston, and Allen, the
"Nominees").
If any director elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall cease to
serve as a director before his or her term shall expire (except by reason of
the termination of the voting rights accorded to the holders of Preferred Stock
in accordance with the Certificate of Designation), the holders of the
Preferred Stock then outstanding and entitled to vote for such director may, by
written consent, elect a successor to hold office for the unexpired term of the
director whose place shall be vacant. Any director elected by the holders of
shares of Preferred Stock voting separately as a single class may be removed
from office with or without cause by the vote or written consent of the holders
of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, at the
time of removal.
It is intended that all shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
represented by the proxies will be voted for the election of the Nominees,
except where authority to vote in the election of directors has been withheld.
Should the Nominees become unable or unwilling to serve as directors at the
time of the Meeting, the person or persons exercising the proxies will vote for
the election of substitute Nominees designated by the Board of Directors, or
the Board of Directors may choose to reduce the number of members of the Board
of Directors to be elected at the Meeting in order to eliminate the vacancy.
The Nominees have consented to being nominated and have expressed their
intention to serve if elected. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe
that the Nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected. Only the
Nominees or substitute Nominees designated by the Board of Directors will be
eligible to stand for election as directors at the Meeting. See "Stockholders'
Proposals for Next Annual Meeting" for a description of when the names of
director nominees for next year's annual meeting must be submitted.
6
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table provides information with respect to the Nominees, all
current directors and all present executive officers of the Company. Each
executive officer has been elected to serve until his successor is duly
appointed or elected by the Board of Directors or his earlier removal or
resignation from office.
Class I Directors, Age and Position with the Company Company Position Since
- ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Arne R. Nielsen, 76, Director............................................. 1989
W. Russell Scheirman, 47, President, Chief Financial Officer and Director. 1991
Lawrence C. Tucker, 60, Director.......................................... 1998
Class II Directors, Age and Position with the Company Company Position Since
- ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Virgil A. Walston, Jr., 68, Vice Chairman of the Board (Nominee).......... 1989
Robert H. Allen, 75, Director (Nominee)................................... 2003
T. Michael Long, 59, Director (Nominee)................................... 1998
Class III Directors, Age and Position with the Company Company Position Since
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------
Robert L. Gerry III, 65, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 1997
Walter W. Grist, 62, Director............................................. 1998
The following is a brief description of the background and principal
occupation of each director (including each Nominee) and each executive officer:
Arne R. Nielsen--Mr. Nielsen has been a Director of the Company since March
1989. He is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shiningbank
Energy Income Fund, a position he has held since 1996. He served as the
Chairman of the Board of Serenpet, Inc. from April 1995 through July 1996,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Poco Petroleums
Ltd. from January 1992 through May 1994, and President and Chief Executive
Officer of Bowtex Energy (Canada) Corporation from July 1990 through January
1992. Mr. Nielsen also served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Mobil Oil Canada from April 1986 to January 1989.
W. Russell Scheirman--Mr. Scheirman has served as the President of the
Company since 1992, and as Chief Financial Officer and a Director of the
Company since 1991. From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Scheirman was Executive Vice
President of the Company. He was an Associate at McKinsey & Company, Inc. from
1989 to 1991, an investment banker with Copeland, Wickersham and Wiley from
1984 to 1989, and a Petroleum Reservoir Engineer for Exxon Company, U.S.A. from
1978 to 1984. Mr. Scheirman holds a B.S. (Summa Cum Laude) and M.S. in
Mechanical Engineering from Duke University (1977 and 1978, respectively) and
an M.B.A. from California Lutheran University (1984).
Lawrence C. Tucker--Mr. Tucker is a general partner of BBH&CO, a private
banking company, and has been with BBH&CO for 35 years. Mr. Tucker currently
serves as a member of the Steering Committee of BBH&CO. With T. Michael Long,
Mr. Tucker is responsible for the corporate finance activities of BBH&CO,
including management of the 1818 Fund's private equity investing partnerships
which has committed capital exceeding $1 billion. Mr. Tucker is a director of
Riverwood International Corporation, National Healthcare Corporation, US
Unwired, Inc., Z-Tel Technologies, Inc., Xspedius Communications, Inc. Mr.
Tucker has a B.S. degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from
the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Virgil A. Walston, Jr.--Mr. Walston, a co-founder of the Company, has been
the Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Company since 1989. From 1985 to 1989 Mr. Walston was Chief Operating Officer
of Alcorn International, Inc., which was acquired by the Company in 1989. Mr.
Walston was a Manager-Middle East/Far East Operations for Occidental Petroleum,
Inc. from 1983 to 1985. He was a General Manager for Cities East Asia from 1980
to 1983, a Manager of Exploration Operations for Cities Eastern
7
International in 1979, a New Ventures Manager for Cities International from
1976 to 1979, an Exploration Manager for Cities Service Indonesia in 1976, a
Geological Manager for Cities Service Philippines in 1975, a Senior Project
Manager for Cities Service East Asia in 1974, and a Petroleum Geologist for
ESSO Libya and ESSO Eastern from 1963 to 1974. Mr. Walston holds a B.S. in
Geology from the University of Texas (1959) and an M.S. in Geology from Texas
Tech University (1963).
T. Michael Long--Mr. Long is a general partner of BBH&CO and has been with
BBH&CO for over 30 years. With Mr. Tucker, Mr. Long is responsible for the
corporate finance activities of BBH&CO, including management of the 1818 Fund's
private equity investing partnerships which has committed capital exceeding $1
billion. Mr. Long received a B.A. degree from Harvard College in 1965 and he
received an MBA from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business in
1971. Mr. Long is a director of HCA Healthcare Company, Computerized Medical
Systems, Inc., PICIS, Inc., Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., and MedSource
Technologies, Inc.
Robert H. Allen--Mr. Allen is the managing partner of Challenge Investment
Partners, which is active in mining ventures in Canada, Greenland, South
America and Indonesia. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the
Texas Society of CPA's. He is the past Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a
Director of Gulf Resources and Chemical Corporation from which he retired in
1982. In the more recent past he has served as a Director and as Chairman of
the Audit Committee of Gulf Canada Resources Ltd., and as Chairman of the Board
of The University of Texas Investment Management Company and Gulf Indonesia
Resources Ltd. Prior to serving as Chairman of each of these companies he was
Chairman of the Audit Committees. He presently serves on the Board of Trustees
of Baylor College of Medicine where he also serves as Chairman of the Audit
Committee, and he is Chairman of the Audit Committee at the Brown Foundation.
Mr. Allen is Regent Emeritus of Texas A&M University where he received his BBA
degree in 1951.
Robert L. Gerry III--Mr. Gerry has been Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since August 1997. Until August 1997, Mr.
Gerry had been Vice-Chairman of Nuevo Energy Company ("Nuevo") since February
1994. Prior to being appointed Vice-Chairman of Nuevo, Mr. Gerry had served as
President and Chief Operating Office of Nuevo since its formation in March
1990. Mr. Gerry had been Senior Vice President of Energy Assets International
Corporation ("EAIC") since January 1989. For ten years prior to joining EAIC,
Mr. Gerry was active as an independent investor concentrating on energy
investments. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Nuevo, a position
he has held since 1990, and serves as a Trustee of Texas Children's Hospital.
Walter W. Grist--Mr. Grist has been with BBH&CO for over 30 years. Mr. Grist
is one of several managers of the 1818 Fund's private equity investing
partnerships which has committed capital exceeding $1 billion. Mr. Grist
received his B.S. degree in Business Administration at New York University in
1965. Mr. Grist is a director of Computerized Medical Systems and Western Oil
Sands, Inc.
Mr. Nielsen is a Canadian citizen. All other officers and directors of the
Company are United States citizens.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
the Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than
ten percent of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file
with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership
of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors
and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by the SEC's regulations
to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they filed with
the SEC.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other
reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, the
Company's officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders
complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements.
8
Information Concerning the Operation of the Board of Directors
The business of the Company is managed under the direction of the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors meets on a quarterly basis to review
significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters requiring
Board approval. The Board of Directors may also hold special meetings when an
important matter requires Board action between regularly scheduled meetings.
Directors are not compensated for service on the Board of Directors or any
committee thereof. During 2002, the Board of Directors of the Company met
formally two (2) times and executed two (2) unanimous consents. All of the
Company's directors attended the meetings of the Board of Directors.
In order to facilitate the various functions of the Board of Directors, the
Board of Directors has created a Compensation Committee comprised of T. Michael
Long and Lawrence C. Tucker, both of whom are non-employee directors. The
Compensation Committee establishes and approves the terms of employment of
executive officers and reviews and approves management's recommendations
concerning compensation of certain other employees. During 2002, the
Compensation Committee held one meeting. All directors who were members of the
Compensation Committee were present at the committee meeting. The Company does
not have a nominating committee.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
responsibility for overseeing the quality and integrity of the Company's
accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices. In carrying out this
responsibility, the Audit Committee (i) reviews with the Company's independent
auditors the scope of the annual audit, (ii) reviews the independent auditors'
management letter and (iii) meets with the Company's internal auditors. The
Board of Directors has not adopted an audit committee charter. The Audit
Committee is comprised of Mr. Allen (Chairman), Mr. Nielsen and Mr. Grist. The
board of directors believes that the members of the Company's Audit Committee
are independent based on the definition of independence in the New York Stock
Exchange's listing standards. During 2002, the Audit Committee held one meeting
at which all members were present. Mr. Allen was appointed to the Committee in
January 2003.
The Company's management is responsible for preparing the Company's
financial statements and implementing its internal accounting controls.
Deloitte & Touche, LLP ("Deloitte & Touche") the Company's independent public
accountants, are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the
Company's audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting
principles. In carrying out its responsibility to oversee these processes, the
Audit Committee has reviewed the audited financial statements in the Company's
Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2002 and discussed these
financial statements with management and Deloitte & Touche. The Audit
Committee's discussions with management and Deloitte & Touche included a review
of the quality of the accounting principles used to prepare the Company's
financial statements. The Audit Committee also discussed with Deloitte & Touche
such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Company's
independent auditors under generally accepted auditing standards, including
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61.
Audit Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2002, the aggregate fees billed
to the Company by its principal accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche, for
services related to Deloitte & Touche's audit of the Company's financial
statements and reviews of its Form 10-QSBs for 2002 were $103,200.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees. The Company
was not billed any amounts during 2002 by Deloitte & Touche for operating or
supervising its information system, or designing a hardware or software system
that aggregates data for, or generates information that is significant to, the
Company's financial statements.
All Other Fees. The aggregate amount of all other fees Deloitte & Touche
billed to the Company during 2002 was $124,300 including $91,000 for audit fees
for the 2001 audit not billed until 2002.
9
After reviewing the non-audit services provided by Deloitte & Touche and
engaging in discussions with Deloitte & Touche regarding their independence,
the Audit Committee determined that the non-audit services provided to the
Company by Deloitte & Touche were not inconsistent with Deloitte & Touche's
status as independent auditors. The primary non-audit service provided by
Deloitte & Touche was the preparation of the Company's tax returns. The Audit
Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte &
Touche required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1.
Based on its reviews of the Company's audited financial statements and the
discussions with management and Deloitte & Touche described above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company's audited
financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the year ended December 31, 2002 for filing with the SEC.
Robert H. Allen (Chairman)
Arne R. Nielsen
Walter W. Grist
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
On April 21, 1998 VAALCO consummated the acquisition of 1818 Oil Corp. from
the Fund in exchange for 10,000 shares of Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock
is convertible into 27.5 million shares of VAALCO Common Stock. In connection
with the acquisition of 1818 Oil Corp., the Company issued to the Fund Common
Stock and Preferred Stock which votes as a class with the Common Stock on an as
converted basis. This Common Stock and Preferred Stock represents approximately
64% of the outstanding voting power of the Company on an as converted basis
(excluding options and warrants). In addition, the terms of the Preferred Stock
acquired by the Fund provide that while the Preferred Stock is outstanding, the
holders of Preferred Stock, voting together as a class, are entitled to elect
three directors of the Company. Messrs. Grist, Long and Tucker were appointed
to the Board of Directors as the Fund's nominees.
To fund a portion of its share of the development costs of the Etame Field
offshore Gabon, on April 19, 2002 the Company entered into a $10.0 million
credit facility with the International Finance corporation ("IFC"), a
subsidiary of the World Bank. The IFC credit facility required that the Company
provide $10.0 million of cash collateral to secure borrowings under the
facility. The Company borrowed the $10.0 million that is used as cash
collateral for the IFC loan from the 1818 Fund II, L.P., which owns
approximately two-thirds of the Company's Common Stock on a fully diluted
basis. In connection with the 1818 Fund loan, the Company issued warrants to
purchase 15.0 million shares of its Common Stock to the 1818 Fund (9.75 million
of these warrants terminated when the loan was repaid on April 1, 2003). The
loan agreement was subsequently amended to add an additional lender not related
to the company, and to increase the amount the Company was entitled to borrow
under the facility to $13.0 million. After the other lender was added, the
Company had borrowed $10.0 million under the loan, $7.0 million funded by the
1818 Fund II, L.P. and $3.0 million by the other lender. The Company issued the
other lender warrants to purchase 4.5 million shares of Common Stock on the
same terms as the warrants issued to the 1818 Fund II, L.P. (2.25 million of
these warrants terminated when the loan was repaid on April 1, 2003).
The IFC loan provided that when the Etame Field reached the "project
completion date" the $10 million would be released from escrow and returned to
the Company. The project completion date occurred on March 31, 2003, at which
time the $10 million was returned to the Company. The Company used the $10
million cash collateral released from escrow under the IFC loan to repay the
loan from the 1818 Fund II, L.P. and the other lender.
10
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth all compensation, for each executive officer
of the Company, including salaries, fees, bonuses and deferred compensation,
paid or accrued for the account of such persons for services rendered in all
capacities during the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. The Company
does not maintain any pension plans for the persons named below or any other
employees of the Company domiciled in the United States.
Annual Compensation
-------------------
Name and All Other
Principal Position Year Salary Bonus(1) Compensation
------------------ ---- -------- -------- ------------
Robert L. Gerry III................... 2002 $225,000 $150,000 0
Chief Executive Officer and 2001 225,000 95,000 0
Chairman of the Board 2000 225,000 110,000 0
Virgil A. Walston, Jr................. 2002 $175,000 $ 25,000 0
Vice Chairman of the Board 2001 199,000 25,000 0
2000 144,000 0 0
W. Russell Scheirman.................. 2002 $160,000 $135,000 0
President and Chief Financial Officer 2001 160,000 55,000 0
2000 160,000 60,000 0
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(1) Fifty percent of the 2002 bonus amount for Mr. Gerry and Mr. Scheirman was
not paid until March 2003, and one hundred percent of the 2002 bonus to Mr.
Walston was not paid until 2003.
The aggregate amount of perquisites and other personal benefits paid to each
executive officer has not exceeded the lesser of ten percent of such officer's
annual salary and bonus or $50,000 during the past three years. No other
compensation has been awarded to the Company's executive officers. The Company
has not awarded any long-term compensation during the three years ended
December 31, 2002 and none of the executive officers currently hold any
restricted stock.
Option/SAR Grants in 2002
No option grants or SAR grants were awarded to any executive officer during
2002.
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in 2002 and Option/SAR Values At December 31,
2002
The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2002, certain information
concerning options to purchase Common Stock and SARs granted to the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. Such persons exercised no
stock options or SARs in 2002.
Number of
Securities Value of
Underlying Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money
Options at Options at
Fiscal Year Fiscal Year
End End(1)
------------- -------------
Shares Acquired Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name on Exercise (#) Value Realized ($) Unexercisable Unexercisable
- ---- --------------- ------------------ ------------- -------------
Robert L. Gerry III. -- -- 500,000 $422,500
W. Russell Scheirman -- -- 480,000 $382,000
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(1) Based on a stock price of $1.47 per share of Common Stock at December 31,
2002.
Long-Term Incentive Plans
At this time, the Company has no long-term incentive plans.
11
PROPOSAL 2.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Deloitte & Touche has been selected by the Company as its principal
independent public accountants for the Company's fiscal year ending December
31, 2003. Deloitte & Touche served in such capacity for the Company's fiscal
year ended December 31, 2002. The Board recommends that the stockholders vote
FOR the ratification of the appointment by the Board of Directors of Deloitte &
Touche to serve as the Company's principal independent auditors for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2003. Unless otherwise indicated, all properly
executed proxies received by the persons named in the enclosed proxy will be
voted for such ratification at the Meeting.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are expected to be present at the
Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do
so, and such representatives are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions. If the stockholders do not ratify the selection of this
firm, the Board of Directors will consider the selection of another firm of
independent certified public accountants in the following year.
STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Any proposals of holders of Common Stock intended to be presented at the
annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held in 2004 must be
received by the Company at its principal executive offices, 4600 Post Oak
Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027, no later than December 23, 2003, in
order to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that
meeting. If the date of the 2004 annual meeting of stockholders is changed by
more than 30 days from the date of the 2003 annual meeting of stockholders, the
deadline for submitting proposals is a reasonable time before the Company
begins to print and mail its proxy materials for its 2004 annual meeting of
stockholders.
The persons named in the Company's form of proxy for the 2004 annual meeting
of stockholders will have discretionary authority to vote any proxies they hold
at such meeting on any matter for which the Company does not receive timely
notice by March 14, 2004, unless the Company changes the date of its 2004
annual meeting of stockholders by more than 30 days from the date of the 2003
annual meeting of stockholders, in which case the Company will be able to
exercise discretionary authority if notice of the matter has not been received
in a reasonable time before the Company mails its proxy materials for the 2004
annual meeting of stockholders.
If the date of the 2004 annual meeting of stockholders is advanced or
delayed by more than 30 calendar days from the date of the 2003 annual meeting
of stockholders, the Company shall, in a timely manner, inform stockholders of
such change, by including a notice under Item 5 in its earliest possible
quarterly report on Form 10-QSB. The notice will include the new deadline for
submitting proposals to be included in the Company's proxy statement and the
new date for determining whether the Company may exercise discretionary voting
authority because it has not received timely notice of a matter.
In order to avoid controversy as to the date on which the Company receives
any such proposal, it is suggested that stockholders submit their proposals by
certified mail, return receipt requested.
OTHER MATTERS
The management of the Company knows of no other matters that may come before
the Meeting. However, if any matters other than those referred to above should
properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in
the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment.
The Company will pay all costs incurred in the solicitation of proxies. In
addition to solicitation by use of the mails, certain officers or employees of
the Company may solicit the return of proxies by telephone, telefax or personal
interview. Arrangements may be made with brokerage firms or other custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries to send proxy materials to the beneficial owners of
the voting securities of the Company.
12
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company will provide without charge to any stockholder as of the Record
Date a copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002, upon written or oral request to the Investor Relations
Department, VAALCO Energy, Inc., 4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas
77027, telephone (713) 628-0801, or it may be downloaded from the Company's
internet website at www.vaalco.com.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Gayla M. Cutrer
Gayla M. Cutrer
Secretary
April 21, 2003
13
REVOCABLE PROXY
VAALCO Energy, Inc.
[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
JUNE 4, 2003
This Proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of VAALCO Energy, Inc.
(the "Company") for the Annual Meeting of Stockholder on June 4, 2003.
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Robert L. Gerry, III and W.
Russell Scheirman, or either of them, with full power of substitution and
revocation to each, the and lawful attorneys and proxies of the undersigned at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of VAALCO Energy, Inc. to be held on June 4,
2003, at 10:00 a.m., Houston time, at the headquarters of the Company at 4600
Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027 or any adjournment thereof (the
"Annual Meeting") and to vote the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $.10
par value per share ("Shares") standing in the name of the undersigned on the
books of the Company on the record date for the Annual Meeting, with all powers
the undersigned would possess if personally present at the Annual Meeting:
Please be sure to sign and Date
date this Proxy in the box below.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockholder sign above------------------Co-holder (if any) sign above-----------
With- For All
For hold Except
1. PROPOSAL TO ELECT AS DIRECTORS of the [ ] [ ] [ ]
Company two nominees for the Class lI
position for a three-year term.
Directors will hold office for the stated term or until their successors
are elected and shall qualify. Nominees: Class II:V. A.Walston, Jr. and
Robert H. Allen. In addition to the nominees listed herein, the holders of
Preferred Stock, Series A, will be voting as a class for the election of
one Class II director. This will result in a total of three directors being
elected to the Board of Directors.
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark
"For All Except" and write that nominee's name in the space provided below.
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For Against Abstain
2. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF [ ] [ ] [ ]
DELOITTE & TOUCHE as the Independent
auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003.
3. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of the nominees
and FOR the foregoing proposals and if no specification is made, the Shares will
be voted for said nominees and proposals.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges previous receipt of the Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement and hereby revokes any
proxy or proxies heretofore given by the undersigned.
Signature should agree with name printed herein. Shares are held in name of
more than one person EACH joint owner should sign. Executors, administrators,
trustees, guardians and attorneys should indicate the capacity in which they
sign. Attorneys should submit powers of attorney.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Detach above card, sign, date and mail in postage paid envelope provided.*
VAALCO Energy, Inc.
4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE STAMPED
PRE-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE ENCLOSED.
IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED, PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED
BELOW AND RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
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