UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

(RULE 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant     √

 

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))

   

Definitive Proxy Statement

   

Definitive Additional Materials

   

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

FUTUREFUEL CORP.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

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:

     
  (2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

     
  (3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

     
  (4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     
  (5)

Total fee paid:

     

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

     

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

   
  (1)

Amount Previously Paid:

  (2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

  (3)

Filing Party:

  (4)

Date Filed:

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

8235 Forsyth Blvd. Suite 400

Clayton, Missouri 63105

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

 

Ju ly 29, 201 6

 

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF FUTUREFUEL CORP.

 

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of shareholders of FutureFuel Corp. will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 8235 Forsyth Blvd., 8 th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105 at 10:00 a.m. local time, for the following purposes:

 

 

(1)

to elect three directors: Donald C. Bedell, Edwin A. Levy, and Terrance C.Z. Egger;

 

 

(2)

to ratify the appointment of RubinBrown LLP as our independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2016; and

 

 

(3)

to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

The record date for the determination of holders of our common stock entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders is July 20, 2016. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof. It is important that your shares be represented at this meeting to help ensure the presence of a quorum and to ensure that your shares are represented.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

                   /s/ Rose M. Sparks                                    

Rose M. Sparks, Chief Financial Officer


IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2016.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules allow us to furnish proxy materials to our shareholders on the Internet. We are pleased to take advantage of these rules and believe that they enable us to provide our shareholders with the information that they need, while lowering the cost of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting. Additionally, and in accordance with SEC rules, you may access our proxy materials at http://www.envisionreports.com/ff , which does not have “cookies” that identify visitors to the site. This notice, the proxy statement attached to this notice, our annual report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2015, and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 are also available free of charge from the “Investors” tab of our website at FutureFuelCorporation .com.


YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, PLEASE VOTE BY TOLL-FREE CALL, VIA THE INTERNET OR BY COMPLETING, SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING A PROXY CARD.

 


 

 
 

 

 

 

 

8235 FORSYTH BLVD., Suite 400

CLAYTON, MISSOURI 63105

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

This Proxy Statement contains information relating to the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders of FutureFuel Corp. (or the Company, we, us, or our). Through this notice and proxy statement , our board of directors is soliciting proxies for this annual meeting. Our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2015 is also made available with this Proxy Statement, as are proxy cards and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. These documents provide important information about our business, including audited financial statements.

 

Date, Time, and Place Information.

 

Date, Time, and Place of the Meeting.

 

The 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders will be held at 8235 Forsyth Blvd., 8 th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105 on Thursday, the 8 th day of September, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., local time, subject to adjournments or postponements.

 

Approximate Date on Which this Proxy Statement Is First Sent to Security Holders.

 

Notice of the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders is first being mailed to shareholders and this Proxy Statement, the form of proxy included herein, our 2015 Annual Report and our March 31, 2016 Report on Form 10-Q are first being made available electronically to shareholders on or around July 29, 2016.

 

Shareholder Proposals for the Next Annual Meeting.

 

Any shareholder desiring to make a proposal to be acted upon at the 2017 annual meeting of our shareholders and to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for that annual meeting, must present such proposal to us at our principal office set forth above by March 31, 2017.

 

In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business properly to be brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder (including business not to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement), our bylaws provide that the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to our corporate secretary. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive office, 8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400, Clayton, Missouri 63105, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than 40 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the 20 th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. To be in proper written form, a shareholder’s notice to our corporate secretary must set forth in writing as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reason for conducting such business at the annual meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they appear on our books, of the shareholder proposing such business; (iii) the class and number of shares of our stock which are beneficially owned by the shareholder; and (iv) any material interest of the shareholder in such business. If a shareholder desires to submit a proposal to be acted upon at our 2017 annual meeting but not included in our proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting, such shareholder must satisfy the advance notice provisions of our bylaws described herein.

 

 
1

 

 

Shareholder nominations for director must comply with the notice and informational requirements described above for other shareholder proposals, as well as additional information that would be required under applicable United States Securities and Exchange Commission (or SEC) proxy rules and the policies of the nominating/corporate governance committee of our board, particularly appendices A, B, and C of our nominating/corporate governance committee charter. A copy of our nominating/corporate governance committee charter may be found on our internet web site at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm . In addition, a copy may be obtained free of charge through a written request to us at our principal executive office set forth above, attention corporate secretary.

 

Matters to Be Voted Upon.

 

The following matters are to be voted upon at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders.

 

PROPOSAL ONE - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Our board has nominated three persons for election to our board at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders: Donald C. Bedell, Edwin A. Levy and Terrance C.Z. Egger, each as a Class A director.

 

Donald C. Bedell  has been a member of our board since March 17, 2008. Mr. Bedell is chairman of the board of privately held Castle Partners and its affiliates, based in Sikeston, Missouri, which operate over 35 skilled nursing, health care, pharmaceutical, hospice, and therapy facilities throughout Missouri and other states. Mr. Bedell is a director of First Community Bank of Batesville, Arkansas and is a member of the executive committee of such bank and its holding company. He is also a director of World Point Terminals, Inc., serving as chairman of World Point’s Corporate Governance and Human Resources Committees. World Point Terminals, Inc. is a Delaware company based in Missouri which is the general partner of World Point Terminals, LP which is a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates petroleum storage facilities in the United States. FutureFuel Corp.’s chairman, Paul A. Novelly, is the chairman of the board of World Point Terminal, Inc. Mr. Bedell is the former chairman of the Missouri Department of Conservation. In the past five years, Mr. Bedell has served on the board of directors of World Point Terminals Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Bedell’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as the chairman at Castle Partners, including experience and understanding of business strategy formation and execution from both a board and management perspective, add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Bedell’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Edwin A. Levy   has been a member of our board since November 2005. In 1979, Mr. Levy co-founded Levy, Harkins & Co., Inc., an investment advisory firm, where, until recently, he served as chairman of the board and individual advisor. Mr. Levy was a director of Traffix, Inc. between November 1995 and 2006, and served as a member of its audit committee and stock options committee. He is also a director of World Point Terminals, Inc. and in the past five years, Mr. Levy was a director of World Point Terminals Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Levy’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise as a member of our board and his knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over his ten-plus years of service to us in that capacity provide valuable perspective to our board and add significant value. Additionally, Mr. Levy’s finance and investment experience from his involvement with Levy, Harkins & Co., Inc. is integral to our board’s assessment of our business opportunities and strategic options. Finally, Mr. Levy’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

 
2

 

 

Terrance C.Z. (Terry) Egger   was appointed as a director by our Board on August 27, 2015. During 2015, Mr. Egger was named publisher and CEO of Philadelphia Media Network, parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com, that region’s largest news company. Mr. Egger oversees all operations of the newspaper and its affiliates. During the past two years, Mr. Egger served as president and CEO of the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, Inc., where he led the successful effort for the City of Cleveland to host the 2016 Republican National Convention. In 2013, Mr. Egger retired as chairman of The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. in Cleveland, parent company of The Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest paper, where he had served in several executive capacities from 2006. From 1996 to 2006, Mr. Egger was the president and publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he supervised all operations, including its website STLtoday.com and Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis. Mr. Egger is a member of the Board of Directors of Medical Mutual of Ohio and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He has a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master's degree in speech communication from San Diego State University. Mr. Egger serves on the Company's Compensation Committee.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Egger’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise, including experience and understanding of business strategy, development, supervision, operations and management add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Egger’s service and experience on other boards, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Under our certificate of incorporation, our directors are divided into three classes, serving staggered three-year terms. Messrs. Bedell, Levy, and Egger are standing for reelection. Mr. Bedell and Mr. Levy were most recently re-elected as Class A directors at our 2013 annual shareholder meeting. Mr. Egger was appointed to serve as a Class A director on August 27, 2015. Each nominee has agreed, if elected at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders, to serve as a Class A member of our board for a three-year term expiring in 2019.

 

The persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the shareholder proxy card electronically available at http://www.envisionreports.com/ff will vote for the election of the nominees listed above as director, unless authority to so vote is withheld. Although our board expects that the nominees will be available for election, in the event a vacancy in the slate of nominees occurs, shares of our common stock represented by proxies will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee selected by the persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the accompanying shareholder proxy card.

 

The names of the nominees for election and the other continuing members of our board, and certain other information with respect to such persons, are set forth below.

 

Nominee s for Election a s a Class A Director for a T hree -Year Term Expiring in 2019

 

Name, Age , and P ositions with the Company

 

Director of the Company Since

Donald C. Bedell, 75; Director

 

2008

Edwin A. Levy, 79; Director

 

2005

Terrance C.Z. Egger, 58; Director

 

2015

 

Continuing Directors

 

Name, Age , and P ositions with the Company

 

Class

 

Term

Expiring

 

Director of the Company Since

             

Paul M. Manheim, 67. Mr. Manheim has been a member of our board since July 15, 2011.

 

B

 

2017

 

2011

             

Jeffrey L. Schwartz, 67. Mr. Schwartz has been a member of our board since August 27, 2015.

 

B

 

2017

 

2015

             

Paul A. Novelly, 72. Mr. Novelly has been our chairman and a member of our board since inception; he has been our chief executive officer since January 2013.

 

C

 

2018

 

2005

             

Paul G. Lorenzini, 77. Mr. Lorenzini has been a member of our board since January 8, 2007.

 

C

 

2018

 

2007

             

Dale E. Cole, 68. Mr. Cole has been a member of our board since August 27, 2015.

 

C

 

2018

 

2015

 

 
3

 

 

OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTOR .

 

 

PROPOSAL T WO - RATIFICATION O F INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

 

RubinBrown LLP has been our independent auditor for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2008 through December 31, 2015. Our board seeks shareholder ratification of its appointment of RubinBrown LLP as our independent auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. A representative from the firm is expected to be present at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders and will have an opportunity to make a statement if the representative desires to do so and to respond to appropriate questions. Additional information regarding our independent auditor is set forth under the caption “Independent Public Accountants” beginning at page 31 below. If our shareholders do not ratify the appointment of RubinBrown LLP, our board will consider the selection of other auditors.

 

In light of the foregoing, we ask our shareholders to vote on the following resolution at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders.

 

RESOLVED, that the shareholders of the Company ratify the selection of RubinBrown LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

 

OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL.

 

Revocability of Proxy.

 

Execution and return of a proxy card will not in any way affect a shareholder’s right to attend and to vote in person at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders. Any proxy may be revoked by the shareholder giving it, at any time prior to its being voted, by: (i) filing a notice of revocation with our corporate secretary at 8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400, Clayton, Missouri 63105; (ii) executing and delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date; or (iii) attending the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders and voting in person. A notice of revocation need not be on any specific form. Attendance at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders will not by itself constitute revocation of a proxy.

 

Dissenters Rights of Appraisal.

 

There are no rights of appraisal or similar rights of dissenters with respect to any matter to be acted upon at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders.

 

Persons Making the Solicitation.

 

The solicitation in this Proxy Statement is being made by us. We will solicit proxies by mail or by telephone, and our directors, officers, and employees also may solicit proxies, without additional compensation, on our behalf. We will not be using any specially engaged employees or paid solicitors. All expenses incurred in this solicitation will be paid by us. Banks, brokerage houses, and other institutions, nominees, and fiduciaries will be requested to forward the proxy materials to beneficial owners and to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. 

 

 
4

 

 

None of our directors has informed us in writing that he intends to oppose any action intended to be taken by us at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders.

 

Interest of Certain Persons in Matters to be Acted Upon.

 

None of our directors, executive officers, the nominees for director, or any of their associates has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders.

 

Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof.

 

Voting Securities.

 

We only have one class of voting stock outstanding, and that is our common stock. As of July 20, 2016 (the record date for our 2016 annual shareholder meeting), there were outstanding 43,721,376 shares of our common stock. Each share of our common stock issued and outstanding on the record date is entitled to one vote on each proposal at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders.

 

Record Date.

 

Our board has fixed the close of business on July 20, 2016 as the record date for the determination of our shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders. Accordingly, only holders of record of shares of our common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders and to attend and vote at such meeting.

 

No Cumulative Voting Rights.

 

Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners.

 

The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of our common stock owned by all persons known by us to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our shares of common stock as of July 20, 2016.

 

 

 

 

Amount of

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

Beneficial

 

 

Common

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

 

Ownership

 

 

Stock

 

Paul A. Novelly, 8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400, Clayton, MO 63105 (a)

 

 

17,725,100

 

 

 

40.5

%

 

 

(a)

Includes 16,999,600 shares of common stock held by St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP, 375,000 shares of common stock held by Apex Holding Co., and 350,500 shares of common stock held by Mr. Novelly personally.

 

 
5

 

 

Security Ownership of Management.

 

The following table sets forth information, as of July 20, 2016, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by each of our directors and executive officers and the executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them and none of such shares have been pledged as security.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Amount of Beneficial

Ownership

 

 

Percent of Common

Stock

 

Paul A. Novelly (a)

 

 

17,725,100

 

 

 

40.5

%

Paul G. Lorenzini ( b )

 

 

719,877

 

 

 

1.6

%

Edwin A. Levy (c)

 

 

288,750

 

 

 

*

 

Paul M. Flynn

 

 

116,821

 

 

 

*

 

Donald C. Bedell (d)

 

 

58,650

 

 

 

*

 

Sam W. Dortch (e)

 

 

56,654

 

 

 

*

 

Rose M. Sparks

 

 

12,290

 

 

 

*

 

Paul M. Manheim

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

*

 

Terrance C.Z. Egger

   

2,000

     

*

 

Dale E. Cole

   

350

     

*

 

Jeffrey L. Schwartz

   

0

     

*

 

All directors and executive officers

 

 

18,982,492

 

 

 

43.4

%

*                     Denotes an ownership percentage of less than 1%.

 

 

(a)

Includes 16,999,600 shares of common stock held by St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP, 375,000 shares of common stock held by Apex Holding Co., and 350,500 shares of common stock held by Mr. Novelly personally. Mr. Novelly is the chief executive officer of both named entities and thereby has voting and investment power over such shares, but he disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of a minor pecuniary interest.

  

(b)

Includes 55,000 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Lorenzini’s spouse; Mr. Lorenzini disclaims beneficial ownership thereof. Includes 5,000 shares owned by the Lorenzini Friends and Family Gift Trust, a trust established by Mr. Lorenzini and his spouse, as to which Mr. Lorenzini and his spouse are the trustees but not the beneficiaries; Mr. Lorenzini disclaims any beneficial interest in the shares of our common stock held by this trust.

  

(c)

Does not include 1,275 shares of our common stock owned by The Edwin A. Levy Charitable Foundation, Inc., a New York not-for-profit corporation as to which Mr. Levy is a founder and director but not a beneficiary. Mr. Levy disclaims beneficial ownership of shares owned by the Foundation.

  

(d)

Includes 2,400 shares of common stock owned by the Alexandra Nicole Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his granddaughter as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust. Includes 2,453 shares of common stock owned by the Ashlyn Tate Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his granddaughter as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust. Includes 2,400 shares of common stock owned by the Hailey Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his granddaughter as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust. Includes 51,197 shares of our common stock held by the Africa Exempt Trust, of which Mr. Bedell is a beneficiary. Includes 200 shares of common stock owned by the Charlie Cash Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his grandson as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust. 

  

(e)

Includes 49,247 shares of common stock held in an IRA established by Mr. Dortch.

 

 
6

 

 

Change in Control.

 

We are not aware of any arrangement (including any pledge by any person of any of our securities) the operation of which may at a date subsequent to the date of this Proxy Statement result in a change in control of us. Further, we are not aware that a change in control of us has occurred since the beginning of our last fiscal year.

 

Restricted Stock Agreement with Paul A. Novelly

 

Paul A. Novelly, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is party to a Restricted Stock Agreement dated May 9, 2014 under which he received 250,000 shares of restricted stock which vest in equal increments on the first through third anniversaries of the agreement. The agreement provides that all unvested shares automatically vest in the event (i) his employment is terminated by reason of his disability; (ii) his employment is terminated by reason of his death; or (iii) a change of control occurs. The triggering events are each as defined in the Incentive Plan.

 

Assuming one of the triggering events occurred on December 31, 2015, Mr. Novelly would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $2,250,000 based on the closing price of our shares on such date of $13.50.

 

Employment Agreement with Paul M. Flynn

 

Paul M. Flynn, FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president of business and marketing, is party to an Employment Agreement dated July 2, 2014 which provides that Mr. Flynn would be entitled to certain payments or benefits, as applicable, upon the occurrence of a triggering event. The receipt of each of these payments or benefits is contingent upon Mr. Flynn executing and delivering to the Company a general release.

 

Upon a termination of Mr. Flynn’s employment for death or disability, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to an immediate full vesting of his remaining unvested restricted shares. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2015, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $1,013,000, based on the closing price of our shares on such date of $13.50.

 

Upon a termination of Mr. Flynn’s employment by Mr. Flynn for good reason, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to (i) an immediate full vesting of his remaining unvested restricted shares; (ii) payment of his base salary for a period of six months; and (iii) to the extent eligible, reimbursement of COBRA premiums for a period of six months. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2015, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $1,013,000, based on the closing price of our shares on such date of $13.50, $104,000 as payment of his base salary for a period of six months, and $6,000 as reimbursement for COBRA premiums for a period of six months.

 

Upon the Company's voluntary termination of Mr. Flynn’s employment, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to (i) an immediate vesting of 50% of the balance of his remaining unvested restricted shares; (ii) payment of his base salary for a period of six months; and (iii) to the extent eligible, reimbursement of COBRA premiums for a period of six months. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2015, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $506,000, based on the closing price of our shares on such date of $13.50, $104,000 as payment of his base salary for a period of six months, and $6,000 as reimbursement for COBRA premiums for a period of six months.

 

Upon a change of control, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to an immediate full vesting of his remaining unvested restricted shares plus payment of the amount, if any, by which $2,500,000 exceeds the value of the restricted shares at the time of the change in control. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2015, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $1,013,000, based on the closing price of our shares on such date of $13.50, plus a cash payment in the amount of $1,488,000.

 

 
7

 

 

Directors and Executive Officers.

 

Material Proceedings.

 

No director, officer, or affiliate of us, no owner of record or beneficially of more than five percent of any class of our voting securities, and no associate of any such director, officer, affiliate, or owner is a party in any material proceeding adverse to us or to any of our subsidiaries.

 

Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters, and Control Persons.

 

Identification of Directors.

 

Our directors are as follows:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Director

Since

 

Term

Expires

Paul A. Novelly, chairman of the board and chief executive officer

 

72

 

2005

 

2018

Edwin A. Levy (a)

 

79

 

2005

 

2016

Paul G. Lorenzini 

 

77

 

2007

 

2018

Donald C. Bedell (a)

 

75

 

2008

 

2016

Paul M. Manheim

 

67

 

2011

 

2017

Dale E. Cole

 

68

 

2015

 

2018

Terrance C.Z. Egger (a)

 

58

 

2015

 

2016

Jeffrey L. Schwartz

 

67

 

2015

 

2017

(a)

Messrs. Bedell, Levy, and Egger are nominated for re-election at the 2016 Annual Shareholders Meeting.

 

There is no arrangement or understanding between any of the above directors and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected as a director.

 

Identification of Executive Officers.

 

The current executive officers of the Company are as follows:

 

Name

 

 

Position

 

Age

 

Officer

Since

Paul A. Novelly

 

Chairman of the board and chief executive officer

 

72

 

2005

Rose M. Sparks

 

Principal financial officer and chief financial officer

 

49

 

2012

Sam W. Dortch

 

Executive Vice President

 

67

 

2015

Paul M. Flynn

 

Executive Vice President

 

49

 

2015

 

There is no arrangement or understanding between any of the above officers and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected as an officer.

 

Identification of Certain Significant Employees.

 

The following individuals are executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company who are expected to make significant contributions to our business.

 

Name

 

 

Position

 

Age

 

Officer

Since

Samuel W. Dortch

 

Executive vice president and general manager

 

67

 

2007

Rose M. Sparks

 

Chief financial officer

 

49

 

2013

Paul M. Flynn

 

Executive vice president of business and marketing

 

49

 

2014

 

 
8

 

 

There is no arrangement or understanding between any of the above officers and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected as an officer.

 

Family Relationships.

 

There is no family relationship between any of our executive officers and directors.

 

Business Experience of Our Directors and Executive Officers.

 

 

Paul A. Novelly   has been our chairman of the board since inception and chief executive officer since January 2013. Mr. Novelly is chairman and chief executive officer of Apex Oil Company, Inc., a privately-held company based in St. Louis, Missouri engaged in the trading, storage, marketing, and transportation of petroleum products, including liquid terminal facilities in the Midwest and Eastern United States, and towboat and barge operations on the inland waterway system. Mr. Novelly is president and a director of AIC Limited, a Bermuda-based oil trading company, chairman, president, chief executive officer and a director of World Point Terminals, Inc., a Delaware company based in Missouri which is the general partner of World Point Terminals, LP which is a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates petroleum storage facilities in the United States, and chief executive officer of St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP, which provides corporate management services. He currently serves on the board of directors at Boss Holdings, Inc., a distributor of work gloves, boots and rainwear, and other consumer products, and FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., a holding company whose material subsidiary is Florida Community Bank. Within the past five years, Mr. Novelly also served on the board of directors of World Point Terminals Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Novelly’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise as our chairman since 2005 and his knowledge of our operations and effectiveness of our business strategies provide valuable perspective to our board and add significant value. Additionally, Mr. Novelly’s experience as the chief executive officer of Apex Oil Company, Inc., AIC Limited, and St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP and as the chairman of World Point Terminals, Inc., as well as a number of executive positions with other oil refining, terminalling, storage, and transportation companies, are integral to our board’s assessment of our business opportunities and strategic options. Finally, Mr. Novelly’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Paul G. Lorenzini   has been a member of our board since January 2007 and served as our chief operating officer from April 21, 2008 through August 27, 2015. In January 1970, Mr. Lorenzini co-founded Packaging Consultants, Inc., a distribution business supplying packaging materials to the food industry. In 1983, Bunzl PLC, a supplier of supermarket and food service packaging, acquired Packaging Consultants, Inc. Mr. Lorenzini continued to work for Bunzl PLC and in 1986 became president of Bunzl USA. He subsequently became the chief executive officer and chairman of Bunzl North America and grew Bunzl North America to the largest food packaging distributor in North America and retired in July 2004 with the title of chairman emeritus. Mr. Lorenzini served as a director of Bunzl PLC between 1988 and 1991 and between 1999 and 2004.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Lorenzini’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise as our chief operating officer and his knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over his eight-plus years of service as chief operating officer provide valuable perspective to our board and add significant value. Additionally, Mr. Lorenzini’s operational and management experience with Bunzl PLC, Bunzl USA, and Bunzl North America is integral to our board’s assessment of our business opportunities and strategic options. Finally, Mr. Lorenzini’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Edwin A. Levy   has been a member of our board since November 2005. In 1979, Mr. Levy co-founded Levy, Harkins & Co., Inc., an investment advisory firm, where, until recently, he served as chairman of the board and individual advisor. Mr. Levy was a director of Traffix, Inc. between November 1995 and 2006, and served as a member of its audit committee and stock options committee. He is also a director of World Point Terminals, Inc. and in the past five years, Mr. Levy was a director of World Point Terminals Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

 

 
9

 

 

Our board believes that Mr. Levy’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise as a member of our board and his knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over his ten-plus years of service to us in that capacity provide valuable perspective to our board and add significant value. Additionally, Mr. Levy’s finance and investment experience from his involvement with Levy, Harkins & Co., Inc. is integral to our board’s assessment of our business opportunities and strategic options. Finally, Mr. Levy’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Donald C. Bedell  has been a member of our board since March 17, 2008. Mr. Bedell is chairman of the board of privately held Castle Partners and its affiliates, based in Sikeston, Missouri, which operate over 35 skilled nursing, health care, pharmaceutical, hospice, and therapy facilities throughout Missouri and other states. Mr. Bedell is a director of First Community Bank of Batesville, Arkansas and is a member of the executive committee of such bank and its holding company. He is also a director of World Point Terminals, Inc., serving as chairman of World Point’s Corporate Governance and Human Resources Committees. World Point Terminals, Inc. is a Delaware company based in Missouri which is the general partner of World Point Terminals, LP which is a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates petroleum storage facilities in the United States. FutureFuel Corp.’s chairman, Paul A. Novelly, is the chairman of the board of World Point Terminal, Inc. Mr. Bedell is the former chairman of the Missouri Department of Conservation. In the past five years, Mr. Bedell has served on the board of directors of World Point Terminals Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Bedell’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as the chairman at Castle Partners, including experience and understanding of business strategy formation and execution from both a board and management perspective, add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Bedell’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Paul M. Manheim  has been a member of our board since July 15, 2011. Mr. Manheim is currently the President and CEO of HAL Real Estate Inc., which develops and owns a portfolio of real estate in the Pacific Northwest consisting of multi-family, office, and mixed-use assets. HAL Real Estate Inc. is a subsidiary of HAL Holding N.V. Mr. Manheim joined Holland America Line, N.V., the predecessor of HAL Holding N.V., an international holding company traded on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, in 1982 and filled various positions in the financial and corporate development areas. From 2005 to 2015, Mr. Manheim was the chairman of the board of Shanghai Red Star Optical Company, which owns a portfolio of optical retail outlets in China and is affiliated with Europe’s largest optical retailer. Mr. Manheim has served as a director and chairman of the audit committee of WPT GP, LLC, the general partner of World Point Terminals, LP and its predecessor since 2009. Mr. Manheim received a bachelor of commerce degree with honors from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1976.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Manheim’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as the president and chief executive officer at HAL Real Estate Inc., including experience and understanding of business strategy formation and execution from both a board and management perspective, add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Manheim’s service and experience as a director for other boards, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board. Finally, Mr. Manheim’s experience as the chairman of the audit committee of WPT GP, LLC and his experience as a chartered accountant add significant value to our board.

 

Dale E. Cole  was elected as a director on August 27, 2015 at our annual shareholders' meeting. Mr. Cole's career in banking began in 1974 with Texas Bank and Trust Company in Dallas, TX. He then worked with First National Bank in Marshal, TX, and became President of Banc Texas McKinney in McKinney, TX in 1983. In 1988, Mr. Cole became Chairman and CEO of Worthen Banking Corporation, with two banks in Batesville and Newark, AR. Mr. Cole founded First Community Bank in 1997. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of First Community Bank and its holding company. As of June 30, 2016, First Community Bank had 18 branch locations in Northeast Arkansas and Southwest Missouri and maintained assets of $1.108 billion. Mr. Cole previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Barret School of Banking in Memphis, TN, the Board of Visitors of the University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville, AR, the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Foundation in Batesville, AR, Lyon College Advisory Counsel, and the board of White River Medical Center in Batesville, AR.

 

 
10

 

 

Mr. Cole's extensive career in banking built in him a strong foundation in business, regulatory environments, and corporate governance. Having served on numerous committees throughout his career, including compensation, trust, executive, asset/liability, investment, and many others, Mr. Cole's well-rounded experience and exposure in banking and regulatory environments will strengthen the governance function of our board. Additionally, Mr. Cole’s service and experience as chairman for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Terrance C.Z. (Terry) Egger   was appointed as a director by our Board on August 27, 2015. During 2015, Mr. Egger was named publisher and CEO of Philadelphia Media Network, parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com, that region’s largest news company. Mr. Egger oversees all operations of the newspaper and its affiliates. During the past two years, Mr. Egger served as president and CEO of the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, Inc., where he led the successful effort for the City of Cleveland to host the 2016 Republican National Convention. In 2013, Mr. Egger retired as chairman of The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. in Cleveland, parent company of The Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest paper, where he had served in several executive capacities from 2006. From 1996 to 2006, Mr. Egger was the president and publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he supervised all operations, including its website STLtoday.com and Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis. Mr. Egger is a member of the Board of Directors of Medical Mutual of Ohio and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He has a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master's degree in speech communication from San Diego State University. Mr. Egger serves on the Company's Compensation Committee.


Our board believes that Mr. Egger’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise, including experience and understanding of business strategy, development, supervision, operations and management add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Egger’s service and experience on other boards, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

 

Jeffrey L. Schwartz  was appointed as a director by our Board on August 27, 2015. Since 2008, Mr. Schwartz has been a founder and principal of Digital Direct Ventures (DDV), which partners with companies seeking to create a digital presence for their companies. He also started Old Pro Inc. (OPI) which invests in and provides financial and technical consulting to early stage technology companies, including successes like DraftStreet.com and JW Player Incorporated. From 1995 to 2008, Mr. Schwartz was the chief executive officer of Traffix, Inc. and its predecessor, Quintel Communications, Inc., a NASDAQ listed company and leading digital marketer. Mr. Schwartz has been involved in all aspects of web-based and technology commerce, including online and search engine marketing, interactive games, list brokerage and creative services. Mr. Schwartz will serve on the Company's Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

 

Our board believes that Mr. Schwartz’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise, including experience and understanding of business strategy, development and marketing add significant value to our board and the company.

 

Samuel   W.   Dortch  was the vice president - operations services of FutureFuel Chemical Company between July 30, 2007 and October 14, 2007 and senior vice president - operations between October 15, 2007 and August 30, 2010. On August 30, 2010, Mr. Dortch became FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president and general manager. In 1972, Mr. Dortch joined Eastman Chemical Company’s technical services division in Kingsport, Tennessee as a development chemical engineer. He has served in numerous management positions in Kingsport, Batesville and at Eastman Kodak’s Kirby, England facility. In 2004, Mr. Dortch became manager of research and development at the Batesville plant and director of research and development in December 2006.

 

 
11

 

 

Our board believes that Mr. Dortch’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as the executive vice president and general manager of FutureFuel Chemical Company, and his knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over his nine years of service to us in various roles and his years of service to Eastman Chemical Company, including his knowledge of the chemical business, are of significant value to the company.

 

Rose   M.   Sparks  has been our principal financial officer, treasurer, and principal accounting officer since November 8, 2012, and our chief financial officer since June 1, 2013. Prior to June 1, 2013, Mrs. Sparks served as the controller of FutureFuel Chemical Company since its acquisition in 2006 and has over twenty years of experience at the Batesville facility. Prior to our acquisition of FutureFuel Chemical Company, Mrs. Sparks worked for Eastman Chemical as the controller at the Batesville plant. Mrs. Sparks is a certified public accountant.

 

Our board believes that Mrs. Sparks’ experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as controller of FutureFuel Chemical Company, and her knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over her years of service in that role, as well as experience as certified public accountant, add significant value to us.

 

Paul   M.   Flynn  became FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president of business and marketing on September 2, 2014. Mr. Flynn is a veteran business executive with 25 years in the chemical and biotech industries. After joining Monsanto Company in 2008 as Director of Strategic Alliances, he spent six years developing corporate strategy, and recently led its development of a new biologicals growth platform. Prior to Monsanto, Mr. Flynn was global business manager for automotive and electrical products for Eastman Chemical Company. He eventually led the strategy development and execution for transforming Specialty Plastics into a profitable growth division for Eastman. He has extensive global experience, including prior relocations to Japan and Singapore. He received an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and graduated from Athlone Institute in Ireland with a B.S. in Polymer Technology. 

 

Our board believes the experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise Mr. Flynn established in Monsanto Company’s corporate strategy division adds significant, strategic value to the company. Additionally, Mr. Flynn’s experience with Eastman’s Specialty Plastics division and as a global business manager provides to the company a fresh perspective and practical insight to the regional and global chemical industry.

 

 

Transactions with Related Persons.

 

From time to time, we enter into transactions with companies affiliated with, or controlled by, Mr. Novelly, who is the chairman of our board, chief executive officer and a significant shareholder as set forth above, and in which Mr. Novelly has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Revenues, expenses, prepaid amounts, and unpaid amounts related to these transactions during 2015 are summarized in the following table and are further described below.

 

 
12

 

 

Related party balance sheet accounts

 

 

 

 

As of

December 31, 201 5

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

Biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends and other petroleum products

 

$

10,000

Total accounts receivable

 

$

10,000

Prepaid expenses

 

 

 

Administrative services and other

 

$

35,000

Total prepaid expenses

 

$

35,000

Accounts payable

 

 

 

Natural gas and fuel purchases

 

$

233,000

Travel and administrative services

 

$

11,000

Total accounts payable

 

$

244,000

Accrued liabilities

 

 

 

Travel and administrative services

 

$

-

Total accrued liabilities

 

$

-

 

Related party income statement accounts

 

 

 

Year Ended

December 31, 201 5

Revenues

 

 

 

Biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends and other petroleum products

 

$

64,981,000

Total revenues

 

$

64,981,000

Cost of goods sold

 

 

 

Biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends, and other petroleum products

 

$

2,412,000

Natural gas purchases

 

 

4,190,000

Income tax, consulting services and other

 

 

60,000

Total cost of goods sold

 

$

6,662,000

Distribution

 

 

 

Distribution and related services

 

$

405,000

Total distribution

 

$

405,000

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

 

Commodity trading advisory fees

 

$

143,000

Travel and administrative services

 

 

72,000

Total selling, general, and administrative expenses

 

$

215,000

 

 

Biodiesel, petrodiesel and blends

 

FutureFuel enters into agreements to buy and sell biofuels (biodiesel, petrodiesel, biodiesel/petrodiesel blends, RINs, and biodiesel production byproducts) and other petroleum products such as gasoline with an affiliate from time to time. Such agreements are priced at the then current market price of the product, as determined from bids from other customers and/or market pricing services. Cost of goods sold related to these sales includes variable costs and allocated fixed costs.

 

Natural gas purchases

 

FutureFuel utilizes natural gas to generate steam for its manufacturing process and to support certain of its air and waste treatment utilities. This natural gas is purchased through an affiliate provider of natural gas marketing services. Expenses related to these purchases include the cost of the natural gas only; transportation charges are paid to an independent third party.

 

 
13

 

 

Income tax and consulting services

 

An affiliate provides professional services to FutureFuel, primarily in the area of income tax preparation and consulting. FutureFuel also receives certain finance and accounting expertise from this affiliate as requested. Expenses related to these services are comprised of an agreed quarterly fee plus reimbursement of expense, at cost.  

 

Distribution and related services

 

Distribution and related services are comprised of barge transportation and related unloading charges for petrodiesel that were arranged and paid by an affiliate and subsequently rebilled to FutureFuel. Additionally, FutureFuel leases oil storage capacity from an affiliate under a storage and throughput agreement. This agreement provides for the storage of biodiesel, diesel or biodiesel/petrodiesel blends, methanol, and biodiesel feedstocks in above-ground storage tankage at designated facilities of the affiliate. Expenses related to this agreement include monthly lease charges, generally on a per barrel basis, and associated heating, throughput, and other customary terminalling charges.

 

 

Commodity trading advisory fees

 

FutureFuel entered into a commodity trading advisory agreement with an affiliate. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, the affiliate provides advice to FutureFuel concerning the purchase, sale, exchange, conversion, and/or hedging of commodities as FutureFuel may request from time to time.

 

Travel and administrative services

 

FutureFuel reimburses an affiliate for travel and other administrative services incurred on its behalf. Such reimbursement is performed at cost with the affiliate realizing no profit on the transaction.

 

Review, Approval, or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons.

 

Any transaction in which we (or one of our subsidiaries) are a participant, the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of our net income, total assets, or total capital, and in which any party related to us has or will have a direct or indirect material interest must be approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our board of directors as fair to us and our shareholders. This policy was adopted by our board on January 8, 2007 and amended on February 3, 2011, and can be found through the “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance” section of our internet website (http://www.FutureFuelCorporation.com). All of the agreements described above in this section been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our board of directors.

 

In addition, we adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which sets forth legal and ethical standards of conduct for our directors, officers, and employees and the directors, officers, and employees of our subsidiaries. This Code is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote: (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by us; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code to appropriate persons identified in this Code; and (v) accountability for adherence to this Code. This Code was adopted by our board on February 3, 2011 and was last amended on January 1, 2016, is in writing, and can be found on our website at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm . Note : Each of the transactions described above (under the caption “Transactions with Related Persons”) was undertaken in compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our board of directors.

 

 
14

 

 

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

Based solely upon a review of Forms 3 and Forms 4 and amendments thereto furnished to us under the rules of the SEC promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and Forms 5 and amendments thereto furnished to us with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, as well as any written representation from a reporting person that no Form 5 is required, we are not aware that any officers, members of our board of directors and/or beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock failed to file on a timely basis, as disclosed in the aforementioned forms, reports required by Section 16 of the Exchange Act during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Standing Audit Committee.

 

We have a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The members of our audit committee are: Paul M. Manheim (chairman), Donald C. Bedell, and Dale E. Cole.

 

Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Our board has determined that each member of our audit committee is an audit committee financial expert. During 2015, each such member of our audit committee was independent, as independence for audit committee members is defined in the listing standards applicable to us and in the rules of the SEC.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight.

 

Board Leadership Structure.

 

We have a board currently comprised of eight members. Our chairman and chief executive officer is Mr. Novelly. Our chairman presides over all meetings of our board and at all meetings of our shareholders. He provides strategic leadership and guidance to our board and management, he advises and consults with our chief financial officer and other executive officers, and he works with management and other committees of our board regarding strategies, risks, opportunities, and other matters.

 

Six of the seven remaining members of our board are independent as described below, and these independent members comprise the membership of our board’s audit committee, nominating/corporate governance committee, and compensation committee. We have not designated any of these individuals as a lead independent director and there are no plans to do so.

 

We believe that consolidation of the offices of chairman and chief executive officer in Mr. Novelly is the appropriate leadership structure for us at this time. His breadth of experience and expertise in both capacities qualifies him for such service. Given his constant communication with executive management, this provides for adequate linkage between the board and management.

 

Role in Risk Oversight.

 

Our board as a whole is ultimately responsible for our risk management oversight. Our board is assisted by its committees, including our audit committee and compensation committee, whose duties are described in more detail below.

 

The board’s oversight of our material risks is undertaken through, among other things, various reports and assessments that management presents to our board or to committees of our board, and the related board or committee discussions and decisions. The committees of our board report to our board about their meetings.

 

Our chief executive officer addresses risk matters at regular and special board meetings. In addition, other members of senior management regularly provide reports directly to our board. Finally, our audit committee works closely with our independent public accountants in their review of risk and controls.

 

 
15

 

 

Corporate Governance/Director Independence.

 

Our board has adopted corporate governance guidelines which incorporate certain rules of the SEC and U.S. securities exchanges for use by our board when determining director independence. These guidelines include the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Policy for Approving Transactions with Related Parties, and Insider Trading Policy, copies of which may be found on our website at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm . Our board also broadly considers all other relevant facts and circumstances that bear on the materiality of each director’s relationship with us, including the potential for conflicts of interest, when determining director independence.

 

The nominating/corporate governance committee of our board evaluates each incumbent director and all new director nominees based on applicable law, regulations, and rules and makes a recommendation to the full board as to the independence of directors and director nominees. Our board has determined that, of the eight current members of the board, the following six directors have no disqualifying relationships with us or our subsidiaries and are, therefore, independent: Edwin A. Levy, Donald C. Bedell, Paul M. Manheim, Dale E. Cole, Terrance C.Z. Egger, and Jeffrey L. Schwartz. In 2015, each of our board’s compensation, audit, and nominating/corporate governance committees was comprised of directors who were independent under such definitions. Our nominating/corporate governance committee has determined that, if elected, each of Messrs. Bedell, Levy, and Egger will qualify as an independent director under the applicable SEC and stock exchange regulations. Accordingly, if the proposed slate of nominees is elected, our board will continue to maintain a majority of independent directors. The guidelines referenced above, as well as other corporate governance initiatives adopted by us, are also available to any shareholder free of charge upon request to our corporate secretary at our principal executive office set forth above.

 

Our independent directors meet in executive sessions (without our management) generally before or after meetings of the directors, and will meet more often as the need arises. None of our non-management directors presides at meetings of our non-management directors. Rather, a chairman is chosen at the beginning of each meeting.

 

Any interested party (and not just our shareholders) may make their concerns known to our non-management directors through our website at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/contactus.cfm . In the “comment” section on this page, please indicate that the message is for our non-management directors, and the message will be provided to them.

 

Board Meetings and Committees; Annual Meeting Attendance.

 

Directors are expected to attend all meetings of our board and assigned committee meetings. Our board held four formal meetings during 2015 and took two actions by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting. Two meetings were attended by all but one director, and two meetings were attended by all directors. Our directors are not required to attend annual shareholder meetings. The 2015 annual meeting of our shareholders was held on August 27, 2015 and one director (Mr. Novelly) attended the annual shareholder meeting.

 

Our board maintained the following committees during 2015: audit committee, compensation committee, and nominating/corporate governance committee. The 2015 members of each of these committees, a summary of the responsibilities and authority of each of the committees, and the number of meetings held by each committee in 2015, follow.

 

 
16

 

 

Name of Committee and

Members during 201 5

Functions of the Committee

Number of Meetings in

201 5

Audit:

 

Paul M. Manheim (chair) (a)

Donald C. Bedell

Dale E. Cole (b )

Thomas R. Evans (chair) (a)

Edwin A. Levy (b )

 

-   Appoints, compensates, and oversees the work of any public accounting firm employed by the Company;

-   Resolves any disagreements between management and the auditor regarding financial reporting;

-   Pre-approves all audit and non-audit services;

-   Retains independent counsel, accountants, or others to advise the committee or assist in the conduct of an investigation;

-   Seeks any information it requires from employees, all of whom are directed to cooperate with the committee’s requests;

-   Meets with the Company’s officers, external auditors, or outside counsel, as necessary; and

-   Oversees that management has established and maintains processes to assure compliance by the Company with all applicable laws, regulations, and corporate policies.

Five

 

(all members attended each meeting, except Mr. Levy, who was absent from one meeting)

 

 

Compensation:

 

Donald C. Bedell (chair)

Edwin A. Levy

Terrance C.Z. Egger (c )

William J. Doré (c )

 

-   In consultation with the Company’s management, establishes the Company’s general policies relating to compensation of the Company’s officers and directors and the directors and executive officers of the Company’s subsidiaries, and oversees the development and implementation of such compensation programs;

-   Approves the annual and long-term performance goals for the Company’s incentive plans (including incentive plans for the Company’s subsidiaries);

-   Annually reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers and annually evaluates such officers’ performance in light of those goals and objectives and sets such officers’ compensation levels based on this evaluation;

-   As required under applicable securities laws and rules, reviews the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section (CD&A) to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement or other reports or filings with the SEC or other governmental authorities and stock exchanges, discusses the CD&A with the Company’s management, and recommends to the board that the CD&A be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, proxy statement on Schedule 14A or any other filing with the SEC and stock exchanges;

-   Reviews and makes recommendations to the board periodically with respect to the compensation of all non-employee directors, including any compensation under the Company’s equity-based plans, monitor ownership compliance of its directors as required by under the Company’s stock ownership guidelines;

-   Evaluates the committee’s performance and the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis and recommends any proposed changes to the board for approval; and

-   With respect to Company directors and officers and executive officers of Company subsidiaries: review and approve base salary adjustments, managerial recommendations under Company’s annual bonus and incentive compensation plan; review and approve managerial recommendations of performance share awards and participants under Company’s stock option plan; review and approve managerial recommendations for new and modified compensation and benefit programs; and monitor ownership compliance as required by Company’s stock ownership guidelines.

One

 

 (all members attended)

 

 

 

 
17

 

 

Name of Committee and

Members during 201 5

Functions of the Committee

Number of Meetings in

201 5

Nominating/Corporate Governance:

 

Edwin A. Levy (chair)

Paul M. Manheim (d )
Jeffrey L. Schwartz (d )

Thomas R. Evans (d )

William J. Doré (d )

-   Assists the board by identifying qualified candidates for director, and recommends to the board the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders;

-   Leads the board in its annual review of board performance;

-   Recommends to the board director nominees for each board committee;

-   Oversees the annual process of evaluation of the performance of the Company’s management; and

-   Develops and recommends to the board corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company.

Three

 

(all members attended each meeting)

 

(a ) Mr. Manheim became chair of the audit committee upon resignation of Mr. Evans on August 27, 2015.

(b) Mr. Levy was replaced by Mr. Cole on the audit committee on August 27, 2015.

(c )   Mr. Egger was appointed to the compensation committee on August 27, 2015 upon the expiration of Mr. Doré’s tenure at the end of the 2015 annual meeting of the shareholders.

(d )   Messrs. Manheim and Schwartz were appointed to the nominating/corporate governance committee on August 27, 2015 upon the resignation of Mr. Evans and the end of tenure of Mr. Doré.

 

 

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

 

Our board has a nominating/corporate governance committee. That committee has a charter, a copy of which may be found at our internet web site at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm . A copy may also be obtained free of charge by written request to our corporate secretary at our principal executive office set forth above.

 

Our nominating/corporate governance committee will consider director candidates recommended by our shareholders. To facilitate such nominations, our board has adopted Procedures for Shareholders Submitting Nominating Recommendations, which is Appendix B to our nominating/corporate governance committee charter. Those Procedures set forth the procedures for a shareholder to submit a director nominee recommendation, the timelines for receiving such nominations, and the information required on each director nominee. Our board has also adopted a Policy on Shareholder Recommendation of Candidates for Election as Directors, which is Appendix C to our nominating/corporate governance committee charter. This Policy sets forth the evaluation process adopted by our board. Any shareholder desiring to submit a director nominee for consideration by the nominating committee of our board for the 2017 annual meeting of our shareholders must do so in accordance with our bylaws and policies described under “Shareholder Proposals for the Next Annual Meeting” beginning at page 1 above. Director nominations should be submitted in writing to our corporate secretary, acting as agent for the nominating/corporate governance committee, at FutureFuel Corp., 8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400, Clayton, Missouri 63105. A copy of such Procedures and Policy is available free of charge to any shareholder and may be obtained from our corporate secretary at our principal executive office set forth above.

 

 
18

 

 

Once a director nominee has been recommended, whether by a shareholder or otherwise, the nominating committee reviews the background and qualifications of the nominee in accordance with the Policy Regarding Qualifications of Directors adopted by our board, which Policy is Appendix A to our nominating/corporate governance committee charter. A copy of such Policy is available free of charge to any shareholder and may be obtained from our corporate secretary at our principal executive office set forth above. In selecting the slate of nominees to be recommended by the nominating/corporate governance committee to our board, and in an effort to maintain a proper mix of directors that results in a highly effective governing body, the nominating/corporate governance committee also considers such factors as the occupational, geographic, and age diversity of all director nominees; the particular skills and ability of each nominee to understand financial statements and finance matters generally; and the independence status of each nominee in accordance with our corporate governance guidelines, SEC rules, and other applicable laws and regulations. Our nominating/corporate governance committee does not differentiate in its evaluation of nominees as directors depending upon whether a nominee is recommended by one of our shareholders.

 

The nominating/corporate governance committee reports its recommendations concerning each director nominee to our board. Our board then considers the nominating/corporate governance committee’s recommendations and selects those director nominees to be submitted to the shareholders for approval at the next annual meeting of shareholders. Our board may, as a part of its consideration, request the nominating/corporate governance committee to provide it with such information pertaining to a director nominee as our board deems appropriate to fully evaluate the qualifications of the nominee.

 

The slate of nominees for directors for the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders consists of Donald C. Bedell, Edwin A. Levy, and Terrance C.Z. Egger. All such nominees are standing for reelection.

 

Audit Committee.

 

As noted above, our board has a standing audit committee. The audit committee members during 2015 were: Paul M. Manheim (chair), Donald C. Bedell, Dale E. Cole, Thomas R. Evans, and Edwin A. Levy (see the footnotes to the chart beginning on page 17 above for an explanation of the timing of service of the audit committee members). All members of our audit committee are independent as determined in accordance with the listing standards applicable to us.

 

We have adopted an audit committee charter. A copy of this audit committee charter may be accessed on our internet website at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm . A copy may also be obtained free of charge from us by written request to our corporate secretary at our principal executive office set forth above.

 

The primary duties and responsibilities of the audit committee are to monitor: (i) the integrity of our financial statements, including the financial reporting process and systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting; (ii) our compliance with related legal and regulatory requirements; and (iii) the independence and performance of our external auditor. The audit committee also selects our independent registered public accounting firm. Management of the Company is responsible for designing and implementing the internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and issuing a report thereon. The audit committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.

 

In the performance of its oversight function, the audit committee has performed the duties required by its charter, and it has reviewed and discussed our consolidated financial statements for 2015 with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The audit committee also has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards Number 61, Communication with Audit Committees , as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (or PCAOB) in Rule 3200T.

 

 
19

 

 

The audit committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with our audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence. The audit committee also has received confirmations from management and has considered whether the provision of any non-audit services by the independent registered public accounting firm to us is compatible with maintaining the independence of the auditors.

 

Based upon a review of the reports by, and discussions with, management and the independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee’s review of the representations of management and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, the audit committee recommended to our board to include the audited financial statements in our Form 10-K and Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Paul M. Manheim, Donald C. Bedell, and Dale E. Cole

 

Compensation Committee.

 

Our board has established a compensation committee. The compensation committee has a charter which may be found at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm at our internet web site. In addition, a copy will be provided free of charge by written request to our corporate secretary at our principal executive office set forth above. Our processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation are described in “Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers” beginning below.

 

Shareholder Communications.

 

Any shareholder who wishes to contact our board or any individual director serving on our board may do so by written communication mailed to: Board (Attention: Name of Director(s), if appropriate), Corporate Secretary, FutureFuel Corp., 8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400, Clayton, Missouri 63105. A shareholder may also contact our board through the Investors Relations – Contact Us page of our internet site, http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/contactus.cfm . A shareholder choosing to contact us through our website must complete his or her name, email address, the subject he or she wishes to address, and any comments he or she wishes to make. In addition, the number seen at the bottom of the page must be entered. This security requirement prevents automated submissions.

 

Any proper communication received will be processed by our corporate secretary as agent for our board. A copy of the communication will be promptly forwarded to each member of our board or, if appropriate, to the member(s) of our board named in the communication. The original shareholder communication will be maintained on file in our corporate secretary’s office and made readily available to any director who should wish to review it.

 

Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers.

 

General

 

Our board of directors has established a compensation committee. The compensation committee’s responsibilities include, among other things, determining our policy on remuneration to our (that is, FutureFuel Corp.’s) officers and directors and the executive officers and directors of FutureFuel Chemical Company. Our directors receive an annual stipend of $30,000, but the stipend is prorated if their service was for less than the full year. Committee heads receive an additional $10,000 on an annual basis, again prorated if serving as committee chairman for less than the full year. The compensation committee also approved the payment to our directors of $2,000 for each board and committee meeting attended in person and $1,000 for each board and committee meeting attended telephonically. During 2015, the compensation committee reviewed and approved this fee schedule as reasonable and appropriate compensation to our directors and has determined to use the same fee structure for 2016.

 

We determined for 2015 not to pay salaries, bonuses, or other forms of cash compensation to any of our board members that serve as executive officers (in their capacities as such). Executive officer compensation will be monitored during 2016 and set or adjusted as the board deems appropriate.

 

 
20

 

 

In 2015, we paid salaries, bonuses, and other forms of compensation to the officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company as described below.

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

The objectives of our compensation program are to provide a competitive compensation package that rewards sustained financial and operating performance that creates long-term value for our shareholders. Our compensation programs are intended to meet the goals of attracting and retaining qualified personnel; motivating these individuals to achieve short-term and long-term corporate goals without undue risk-taking and to promote equity among executive officer positions, while considering external competitiveness and differences in job responsibilities.

 

The elements of our compensation program include base salary, bonuses, and certain retirement, insurance, and other benefits generally available to all employees. In addition, our board adopted an Omnibus Incentive Plan (or the “Incentive Plan”) which was approved by our shareholders at our 2007 annual meeting on June 26, 2007. The Incentive Plan provides equity-based compensation to our executive officers and our directors. Our compensation committee, and the company generally, makes decisions with respect to each compensation element paid or payable to our personnel on an individual-by-individual basis and does not necessarily take into account decisions made with respect to other elements of compensation that may be paid to such individual. The overall goal of our compensation program, however, is to achieve the goals described above.

 

Cash Salaries and Bonuses

 

We determined not to pay cash salaries or bonuses to Messrs. Novelly, Lorenzini, or Mikles for 2015. Our chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Novelly, receives compensation from an affiliate, St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP. Our former president, Mr. Mikles, receives compensation from existing business enterprises and investments, none of which are affiliated with us. None of Messrs. Novelly, Lorenzini, or Mikles received any increase in their salary, bonus, or other income to compensate them for their services to us. As to our other executive officers, the base salary for Mr. Dortch was not materially adjusted in 2015. The base salary for Mrs. Sparks was increased approximately 10% in 2015 as we determined that base salaries for 2015 should be competitive with current market levels, sufficient for the services provided, and sufficient to motivate these individuals to aid in the achievement of short-term and long-term corporate goals. Mr. Flynn was hired in 2014, with a base salary set largely in line with our other executives at FutureFuel Chemical Company and commensurate with his experience.

 

For the year 2015, we established a bonus pool for the employees of our subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company. The total bonus target amount was determined by our chief executive officer in consultation with our other executive officers. Eligible FutureFuel Chemical Company employees hired after January 1, 2015 received $250. Eligible employees hired prior to January 1, 2015 received approximately 110 hours of pay at their normal hourly rate. Salaried employees of FutureFuel Chemical Company received an additional bonus amount ranging from $0 to $92,000. Bonuses to FutureFuel Chemical Company’s managers other than the lead executive team were determined by Future Fuel Chemical Company’s board of directors. Bonuses in 2015 for Mr. Dortch, Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Sparks, and other lead executives of FutureFuel Chemical Company were recommended by our chief executive officer, then reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee of our Board after considering several factors, including our overall financial performance and comparative information regarding the executive pay practices of our competitors. Such bonus distributions were designed to be sufficient compensation for the services rendered, competitive with market rates for similar services, and sufficient to motivate these individuals to aid in our achievement of short-term and long-term corporate goals.

   

We expect to establish an annual cash bonus program for fiscal years commencing after 2015 with a target of 10% of after-tax earnings of FutureFuel Chemical Company, subject to certain adjustments, but solely on a discretionary basis. In determining actual bonus payouts for such years, we expect that the compensation committee will consider performance against performance goals to be established by us, as well as individual performance goals. We expect that this annual cash bonus program will apply to certain key employees of FutureFuel Chemical Company in addition to the executives whose compensation is described herein. The actual amount of bonuses, if any, will be determined near the end of our fiscal year.

 

 
21

 

 

Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

Our board of directors adopted the Incentive Plan, which was approved by our shareholders at our 2007 annual shareholder meeting on June 26, 2007. The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to:

 

 

encourage share ownership by key personnel whose long-term employment with or engagement by

us or our subsidiaries (including FutureFuel Chemical Company) is considered essential to our

continued progress and, thereby, encourage recipients to act in our shareholders’ 

interests and share in our success;

 

encourage such persons to remain in our employ or in the employ of our subsidiaries; and

 

provide incentives to persons who are not our employees to promote our success.

 

The Incentive Plan authorizes us to issue stock options (including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options), stock awards, and stock appreciation rights. To date, options for 1,060,500 shares of stock and awards of 414,800 shares of stock have been made. Please see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of 2015 stock based compensation awards.

 

Eligible participants in the Incentive Plan include (i) members of our board of directors and our executive officers; (ii) regular, active employees of us or of any of our subsidiaries; and (iii) persons engaged by us or by any of our subsidiaries to render services to us or our subsidiaries as an advisor or consultant.

 

Awards under the Incentive Plan are limited to shares of our common stock, which may be shares reacquired by us, including shares purchased in the open market, or authorized but un-issued shares. Awards are limited to 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock in the aggregate, or 2,670,000 shares, as of the date of adoption of the Incentive Plan. Taking into account the prior grants of stock options and stock awards, there are 1,194,700 shares remaining to be issued under the Incentive Plan.

 

The Incentive Plan is administered by our board’s compensation committee (or “Administrator"). The Administrator may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Incentive Plan. The Administrator may delegate to one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the Incentive Plan and any of the functions assigned to the Administrator in the Incentive Plan. Such delegation may be revoked at any time. All decisions, determinations, and interpretations by the Administrator regarding the Incentive Plan and the terms and conditions of any award granted thereunder will be final and binding on all participants.

 

The Administrator may grant a stock option or provide for the grant of a stock option either from time to time in the discretion of the Administrator or automatically upon the occurrence of events specified by the Administrator, including the achievement of performance goals or the satisfaction of an event or condition within the control of the participant or within the control of others. Each option agreement must contain provisions regarding (i) the number of shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the option; (ii) the type of option; (iii) the exercise price of the shares and the means of payment for the shares; (iv) the term of the option; (v) such terms and conditions on the vesting or exercisability of the option as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator; (vi) restrictions on the transfer of the option and forfeiture provisions; and (vii) such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the plan as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Administrator or otherwise set forth in the Incentive Plan, the vesting of an option will occur only while the participant is employed or rendering services to us or one of our subsidiaries, and all vesting will cease upon a participant’s termination of employment for any reason.

    

The Administrator may grant annual performance vested options. Performance will be tied to annual cash flow targets (our consolidated income plus depreciation plus amortization) in amounts to be determined. Annual performance vested options will vest 25% for each year that the annual cash flow target is achieved (with provisions for subsequent year catch-ups). Neither our management nor our compensation committee, however, has through the year ended December 31, 2015 made any awards that were contingent upon the achievement of specified performance goals or that were otherwise performance-vested. Rather, through 2015, all grants were made in the discretion of our compensation committee based upon their authority under the Incentive Plan.

 

 
22

 

 

The Administrator may grant cumulative performance vested options. Performance will be tied to cumulative cash flow in amounts to be determined for periods to be determined.

 

The Administrator may issue other options based upon the following performance criteria either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, applied to either us as a whole or to a business unit, subsidiary, or business segment, either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Administrator: (i) cash flow; (ii) earnings (including gross margin, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, and net earnings); (iii) earnings per share; (iv) growth in earnings or earnings per share; (v) stock price; (vi) return on equity or average shareholders’ equity; (vii) total shareholder return; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on assets or net assets; (x) return on investment; (xi) revenue; (xii) income or net income; (xiii) operating income or net operating income; (xiv) operating profit or net operating profit; (xv) operating margin; (xvi) return on operating revenue; (xvii) market share; (xviii) overhead or other expense reduction; (xix) growth in shareholder value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or a peer group index; (xx) strategic plan development and implementation; and (xxi) any other similar criteria.

 

Such options will vest and expire (including on a pro rata basis) on such terms as may be determined by the Administrator from time to time consistent with the terms of the Incentive Plan.

 

The Administrator may award our common stock to participants. The grant, issuance, retention, or vesting of each stock award may be subject to such performance criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria as the Administrator determines, which criteria may be based on financial performance, personal performance evaluations, or completion of service by the participant. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, upon the participant’s termination of employment other than due to death or retirement, the unvested portions of the stock award and the shares of our common stock subject thereto will generally be forfeited. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, if a participant’s termination of employment is due to death or retirement, all outstanding stock awards will continue to vest provided certain conditions to be determined are met. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, if a participant’s termination of employment is due to his death, a portion of each outstanding stock award granted to such participant will immediately vest and all forfeiture provisions and repurchase rights will lapse as to a prorated number of shares of common stock determined by dividing the number of whole months since the grant date by the number of whole months between the grant date and the date that the stock award would have fully vested.

 

The Administrator may grant stock appreciation rights either alone or in conjunction with other awards. The Administrator will determine the number of shares of common stock to be subject to each award of stock appreciation rights. The award of stock appreciation rights will not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant except as the Administrator may otherwise determine in the event of death, disability, retirement, or voluntary termination of employment of the participant. Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, the award of stock appreciation rights will not be exercisable unless the person exercising the award of stock appreciation rights has been at all times during the period beginning with the date of the grant thereof and ending on the date of such exercise, employed by or otherwise performing services for us or one of our subsidiaries.

 

In the event there is a change in control of the Company, as determined by our board, our board may, in its discretion: (i) provide for the assumption or substitution of, or adjustment to, each outstanding award; (ii) accelerate the vesting of awards and terminate any restrictions on cash awards or stock awards; and (iii) provide for the cancellation of awards for a cash payment to the participant.

 

Retirement Benefits

 

We adopted a 401(k) plan for FutureFuel Chemical Company which is generally available to all of its employees.

 

 
23

 

 

Say-on-Pay

 

At our 2014 annual meeting of shareholders held on September 3, 2014, we submitted a proposal to our shareholders regarding the 2013 compensation awarded to our executive officers (commonly known as a “say-on-pay” vote). Our shareholders approved the proposal. We hold our say-on-pay votes every three years. Our next say-on-pay vote and advisory vote on the frequency of say-on-pay votes (commonly known as “say-when-on-pay” vote) will be held at the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

The Compensation Committee considers the results of our say-on-pay vote as one factor in evaluating our executive compensation practices.

 

Life Insurance and Other Employee Benefits

 

Our executive officers other than Mr. Novelly participate in employee welfare plans (life insurance, medical insurance, disability insurance, vacation pay, and the like) maintained by FutureFuel Chemical Company for all of its employees.

 

The Compensation Committee

 

Our compensation committee currently consists of Donald C. Bedell (Chair), Edwin A. Levy, and Terrance C.Z. Egger. Each of these individuals is an “independent director” under the rules of the NYSE, a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and an “outside director” within the meaning of §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  

 

The following additional information regarding the Incentive Plan is as of December 31, 2015:

 

Plan Category

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))

 

(a)

(b)

(c)

Equity compensation plans

approved by security holders

250,000

$12.05

1,194,700

 

 

Recommendations from Management

 

Our chairman and chief executive officer makes recommendations to the compensation committee as to salaries and bonuses for executive officers, as well as awards under the Incentive Plan. The compensation committee takes these recommendations into consideration in approving all such salaries, bonuses, and awards.

 

 
24

 

 

Summary Compensation Table.

 

Our executive officers were paid the following compensation for the three-year period ended December 31, 2015.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

 

Option

 

 

Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

Person

Year

 

Salary

 

 

Bonus

 

 

Awards   (d)

 

 

Awards   (d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Paul A. Novelly (a) (b)

2015

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

870

,000 

 

$

0

 

 

$

33,000

 

 

$

903,000

 

Chairman and Chief executive

2014

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

903

,000 

 

$

0

 

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

938,000

 

officer FutureFuel Corp.

2013

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

37,000

 

 

$

37,000

 

Lee A. Mikles (a) (b) (c)

2015

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

35,000

 

Former Director and

2014

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

35,000

 

Former President of FutureFuel Chemical Company

2013

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

36,000

 

 

$

36,000

 

Paul G. Lorenzini (b) (e)

2015

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

35,000

 

Former chief operating officer

2014

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

35,000

 

FutureFuel Corp.

2013

 

$

0

 

 

$

100,000

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

31,000

 

 

$

131,000

 

Samuel W. Dortch (a)

2015

 

$

220

,000 

 

$

92,000

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

19,000

 

 

$

331,000

 

Executive vice president and general manager,

2014

 

$

209

,000 

 

$

70,000

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

42,000

 

 

$

18,000

 

 

$

339,000

 

FutureFuel Chemical Company

2013

 

$

207

,000 

 

$

93,000

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

20,000

 

 

$

320,000

 

Rose M. Sparks (a)

2015

 

$

170

,000 

 

$

75,000

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

17,000

 

 

$

261,000

 

Chief financial officer, principal financial

2014

 

$

146

,000 

 

$

70,000

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

42,000

 

 

$

14,000

 

 

$

272,000

 

officer, and treasurer, FutureFuel Corp.

2013

 

$

145

,000 

 

$

63,000

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

15,000

 

 

$

222,000

 

Paul M. Flynn (a) (f)

2015

 

$

218

,000 

 

$

92,000

 

 

$

245

,000 

 

$

0

 

 

$

19,000

 

 

$

573,000

 

Executive vice president of business and marketing, FutureFuel Chemical Company

2014

 

$

59

,000 

 

$

31,000

 

 

$

349

,000 

 

$

0

 

 

$

983,000

 

 

$

1,442,000

 

   

 

(a)

Executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company for the years indicated.

 

 

(b)

For Messrs. Novelly, Mikles, and Lorenzini, includes $33,000, $35,000, and $35,000, respectively, in director fees for 2015. Includes $35,000 and 37,000 in director fees for Mr. Novelly, $35,000 and $36,000 for Mr. Mikles, and $35,000 and $31,000 for Mr. Lorenzini, respectively, in 2014 and 2013. For executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company, includes our contributions (including accrued contributions) to vested and unvested defined contribution plans, HSA matching contributions, and the dollar value of any insurance premiums paid by, or on behalf of, us during or for the covered fiscal year with respect to life and disability insurance for the benefit of the named person. The above amounts do not include travel expenses reimbursed pursuant to Company policy. 

 

 
25

 

 

 

(c)

Mr. Mikles resigned as President of FutureFuel effective January 31, 2015 and resigned as a director effective February 11, 2016.

    

 

(d)

 Represents the grant date valuation of the awards under FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used for determining the value of option awards reported here are set forth in Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

(e)

Mr. Lorenzini resigned as Chief Operating Officer of FutureFuel Corp. effective August 27, 2015.

 

 

(f)

Mr. Flynn became FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president of business and marketing effective September 2, 2014. He was awarded 125,000 shares of our common stock, of which 25,000 vested immediately and 25,000 are to vest in each of the following four years.

 

 
26

 

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards.

 

In December 2015, we granted a total of 30,000 stock options to our new board members. The options awarded have an exercise price equal to the mean between the highest and lowest quoted sales prices for FutureFuel’s common stock as of the grant date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. The options awarded vested immediately and expire on December 18, 2020. Please see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the company’s plan-based awards.

 

No options or stock awards were granted under a plan to executive officers in 2015.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End.

 

The following table sets forth certain information concerning unexecuted options, stock that has not vested and equity incentive plan awards as of December 31, 2015 with respect to our executive officers:

 

 

 

 

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Name

 

Number of

Securities Underlying Unexercised

Options (#) Exercisable

 

 

Number of

Securities Underlying Unexercised

Options (#) Unexercisable

 

 

Equity

Incentive

Plan

Awards:

Number of

Securities Unexercised Unearned

Options (#)

 

 

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

 

Number
of Shares
 or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested (#)

 

 

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)

Paul A.

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12.74

 

4/29/16

 

 

166,667

 

 

 

2,250

,000 

 

 

Novelly (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lee E.

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12.74

 

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mikles (f)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul G.

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12.74

 

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lorenzini (e)

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

10.62

 

4/10/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam W.

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12.74

 

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dortch (b)

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

10.62

 

4/10/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

11.34

 

12/2/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rose M.

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12.74

 

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sparks (b)(c)

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

10.62

 

4/10/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

11.34

 

12/2/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

75,000

 

 

 

1,013

,000 

 

 

Flynn (a) (d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (a)

 

The company issued restricted stock awards to Messrs. Novelly and Flynn on May 9, 2014 and September 2, 2014, respectively. Mr. Novelly’s 250,000 share award vests in three annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the reward was $4,195,000 and will be recognized into expense equally over those three years. 20% of the 125,000 shares awarded to Mr. Flynn vested immediately, with the remaining 100,000 shares vesting equally over four years. The total expense for the reward was $2,136,000 with 20% recognized immediately.

 

 
27

 

 

 (b)

 

The option awards to Mrs. Sparks and Mr. Dortch that expire on December 19, 2019 vest annually over three years and have an exercise price equal to the mean between the highest and lowest quoted sales prices for the company’s common stock as of the grant date. For a discussion of assumptions to estimate fair value, see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements.

 

 (c)

 

Ms. Sparks became our Chief Financial Officer and treasurer effective June 1, 2013.

 

 (d)

 

Mr. Flynn became our Executive Vice President of business and marketing effective September 2, 2014.

 

 (e)

 

Mr. Lorenzini resigned as Chief Operating Officer of FutureFuel Corp. effective August 27, 2015.

 

 (f)

 

Mr. Mikles resigned as President of FutureFuel effective January 31, 2015 and resigned as a director effective February 11, 2016.

 

 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested.

 

The following table sets forth the number of options exercised by each of our executive officers in 2015, and stock awards which vested in such individual in 2015.

 

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

Number   of Shares Acquired on Exercise

(#)

 

 

Value Realized on Exercise

($)

 

 

Number of   Shares Acquired on Vesting

(#)

 

 

Value Realized on Vesting

($)

 

Paul A. Novelly (a)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

83,333

 

 

 

870,000

 

Lee E. Mikles (b)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul G. Lorenzini (c)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel W. Dortch

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rose M. Sparks

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul M. Flynn (a)   (b)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

245,000

 

 

 

(a)

The company issued restricted stock awards to Messrs. Novelly and Flynn on May 9, 2014 and September 2, 2014, respectively. Mr. Novelly’s 250,000 share award vests in three annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the reward was $4,195,000 and will be recognized into expense equally over those three years. 20% of the 125,000 shares awarded to Mr. Flynn vested immediately, with the remaining 100,000 shares vesting equally over four years. The total expense for the reward was $2,136,000 with 20% recognized immediately.

  

(b)

Mr. Mikles resigned as President of FutureFuel effective January 31, 2015 and resigned as a director effective February 11, 2016.

  

(c)

Mr. Lorenzini resigned as Chief Operating Officer of FutureFuel Corp. effective August 27, 2015.

  

(d)

Pursuant to Mr. Flynn’s restricted stock award, 25,000 shares vested. In 2015, 10,000 shares were withheld in payment of tax liability for a net exercise of 15,000 shares.

 

 

 

Compensation of Directors.

 

Our directors receive an annual stipend of $30,000, but prorated if their service was less than the full year. Committee heads receive an additional $10,000 on an annual basis, again prorated if serving as committee chairman for less than the full year. The compensation committee approved payment to our directors of $2,000 for each board and committee meeting attended in person and $1,000 for each board and committee meeting attended telephonically. During 2015, the compensation committee reviewed and approved this fee schedule as reasonable and appropriate compensation to our directors and has determined to use the same fee structure for 2016.

 

 
28

 

 

The following is the compensation our directors earned for 2015.

 

Director

 

Fees

Earned

or Paid in

Cash

($)

 

 

Stock

Awards

($)

 

 

Option

Awards

($)

 

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

 

 

Change in

Pension Value

and Non-Qualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings ($)

 

 

All Other

Compensation

($)

 

 

Total   ($)

 

Paul A. Novelly  (a )

 

 

33

,000 

 

 

870,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

903

,000 

Lee E. Mikles (b)

 

 

35

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

35

,000 

Edwin A. Levy

 

 

51

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

51

,000 

Paul G. Lorenzini

 

 

35

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

35

,000 

Donald C. Bedell

 

 

50

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

50

,000 

Paul M. Manheim

 

 

41

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

41

,000 

Dale E. Cole (c)

 

 

13

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

13

,000 

Terrance C.Z. Egger (c)

 

 

13

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

13

,000 

Jeffrey L. Schwartz (c)

 

 

12

,000 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

12

,000 

 

 

(a)

The company issued 250,000 restricted stock awards to Mr. Novelly on May 9, 2014. Mr. Novelly’s 250,000 share award vests in three annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the reward was $4,195,000 and will be recognized into expense equally over those three years.

 

 

(b)

Mr. Mikles resigned as President of FutureFuel effective January 31, 2015 and resigned as a director effective February 11, 2016.

 

 

(c)

Messrs. Cole, Egger, and Schwartz began their service as directors on August 27, 2015.

 

 
29

 

 

The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised options, stock awards that have not vested and equity incentive plan awards as of December 31, 2015 with respect to our directors. 

 

   

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Name

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Unexercised Unearned Options (#)

Option Exercise Price ($)

Option Expiration Date

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)

Paul A.

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

12.74

4/29/16

 

166,667

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

 

Novelly (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lee E. Mikles (a) (b)

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

12.74

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul G.

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

12.74

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lorenzini (a) (c)

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

10.62

4/10/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald C.

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

12.74

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bedell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edwin A.

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

12.74

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Levy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul M.

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

12.74

4/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manheim

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

10.62

4/10/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dale E.

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

13.99

12/18/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cole (d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrance

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

13.99

12/18/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.Z. Egger (d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey L.

10,000

 

0

 

0

 

13.99

12/18/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schwartz (d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

These options are also included in the table set forth above regarding our executive officers.

 

(b)

Mr. Mikles resigned as President of FutureFuel effective January 31, 2015 and resigned as a director effective February 11, 2016.

 

(c)

Mr. Lorenzini resigned as Chief Operating Officer of FutureFuel Corp. effective August 27, 2015.

 

(d)

In December 2015, we granted a total of 30,000 stock options to our new board members. The options awarded have an exercise price equal to the mean between the highest and lowest quoted sales prices for FutureFuel’s common stock as of the grant date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. The options awarded vested immediately and expire on December 18, 2020. Please see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the company’s plan-based awards.

 

No options were exercised by executive officers in 2015. 

 

 
30

 

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.

 

The members of our compensation committee during 2015 were Donald C. Bedell, Edwin A. Levy, Terrance C.Z. Egger, and William J. Doré (see the footnotes to the chart beginning on page 17 above for an explanation of the timing of service of the compensation committee members). The committee was chaired by Mr. Bedell. None of such individuals are or have been an officer or employee of the Company, nor did we enter into any transactions with such individuals during 2015 (other than the payment of director’s fees and other compensation, as noted above, solely in their capacity as directors).

 

Mr. Novelly, Mr. Levy (one of our directors and a member of our compensation committee), Mr. Bedell (one of our directors and a member of our compensation committee), and Mr. Manheim (one of our directors and a member of our audit committee) are directors of World Point Terminals, Inc.; World Point Terminals, Inc. does not have a separate compensation committee.

 

Compensation Committee Report.

 

The compensation committee of our board has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above with our management. Based on this review and discussions, the compensation committee recommended to our board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this annual proxy statement:

 

Donald C. Bedell, Edwin A. Levy, and Terrance C.Z. Egger

 

Independent Public Accountants.

 

The following table shows the aggregate fees billed to us by RubinBrown LLP for professional services attributable to 2014 and 2015.

 

   

2014

   

2015

 

Audit Fees

  $ 260,000     $ 260,000  

Audit-Related Fees

    10,836       17,990  

Tax Fees

    27,000       -  

All Other Fees

    -       -  

Total

  $ 297,836     $ 277,990  

 

Audit fees include professional services rendered by RubinBrown LLP to us for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in our Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for 2014 and 2015. Audit related fees include assurance and related services provided by RubinBrown LLP to us that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not included in audit fees. In 2014 and 2015, Audit-related fees were incurred for employee benefit plan audits and comfort letter procedures provided by RubinBrown LLP. Tax fees include professional services rendered by RubinBrown LLP for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. These services include a review and preparation of our federal income tax return and several state income tax returns. All other fees include any services provided by RubinBrown LLP to us that are not otherwise included in the other three categories. RubinBrown LLP did not provide any other services to us in 2014 or 2015.

 

Our audit committee approves the engagement of our independent auditors prior to their rendering audit or non-audit services and sets their compensation. Pursuant to SEC regulations, our audit committee approves all fees payable to the independent auditors for all routine and non-routine services provided. Our audit committee considers and approves the budget for the annual audit and financial statement review services prior to the initiation of the work. Non-routine services in the ordinary course of business which are not prohibited under SEC regulation, such as tax planning, tax compliance, and other services generally are pre-approved on a case-by-case basis.

 

None of the hours expended on RubinBrown LLP’s engagement to audit our financial statements for 2015 were attributed to work performed by persons who were not RubinBrown LLP’s full-time, permanent employees.

 

 
31

 

 

Our audit committee is also required to consider the independence of RubinBrown LLP when engaging the firm to perform audit-related and other services. It was determined by our audit committee that audit-related and other services provided and the fees paid for those services for 2015 were compatible with maintaining the independence of RubinBrown LLP.

 

Financial Information - Annual Report.

 

Our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2015 is made available in connection herewith. We will provide without charge additional copies of our Annual Report upon written request. Requests and related inquiries should be directed to Corporate Secretary, FutureFuel Corp., 8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400, Clayton, Missouri 63105.

 

Other Proposed Actions.

 

Our board knows of no other matter to come before the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders. However, if any other matter requiring a vote of the shareholders arises, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying shareholder proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment.

 

Voting Procedures.

 

Required Vote.

 

In accordance with Delaware law and our bylaws, our directors will be elected at the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders by a plurality of the votes cast by shareholders. “Plurality” means that the nominees receiving the largest number of votes cast are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be elected at the meeting. Any other matter on which shareholders vote at the 2016 annual meeting, including ratification of the appointment of RubinBrown LLP as our independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2016, will be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast.

 

Quorum.

 

The presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders owning shares of our common stock representing a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by shareholders at the 2016 annual meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting for which shareholders have the right to vote. Shareholders who deliver valid proxies or vote in person at the annual meeting will be considered part of the respective quorums. Once a share is represented for any purpose at the annual meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the annual meeting and for any adjourned meeting. We will count abstentions as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the applicable quorum.

 

Proxies and Voting.

 

Shares of our common stock represented by properly executed proxies will, unless the proxies have been properly revoked, be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on the proxies or, if no instructions are indicated, will be voted FOR the: (i) election of Donald C. Bedell, Edwin A. Levy, and Terrance C.Z. Egger as Class A directors of the Company; and (ii) approval of the appointment of RubinBrown LLP as our independent auditor for 2016. You can vote for approval of a particular proposal by marking the shareholder proxy card enclosed herewith or available at http://www.envisionreports.com/ff with an “X” in the box under “FOR” for such proposal. If you do not wish to vote “FOR” the election of Donald C. Bedell, Edwin A. Levy, and Terrance C.Z. Egger, you can mark such shareholder proxy card with an “X” in the box under “WITHHOLD” for Item 1 on the card next to their respective names, and you can vote against approval of any of the other proposals by marking such shareholder proxy card with an “X” in the box under “AGAINST” for such proposal. Abstentions (other than with respect to the election of directors) may be specified with respect to any of the resolutions by properly marking with an “X” in the box under “ABSTAIN” on the shareholder proxy card, and will be counted as present for the purpose of determining the existence of a shareholder quorum.

 

 
32

 

 

If you own shares in “street name” in an account at a bank or brokerage firm, we generally cannot mail our proxy materials directly to you. You may instead receive a voting instruction form with this Proxy Statement that you should use to instruct how your shares are to be voted, and you should also vote your shares by completing, signing, and returning the voting instruction form in the envelope provided. Many brokerage firms have arranged for internet or telephonic voting of shares and provide instructions for using those services on the voting instruction form. If your shares are held by a brokerage firm, the brokerage firm may under certain circumstances vote your shares. Such entities may have authority to vote their customers’ shares on certain routine matters, including the ratification of auditors. When a firm votes its customers’ shares on routine matters, those shares are also counted for the purpose of establishing a quorum to conduct business at the meeting. A brokerage firm cannot vote its customers’ shares on non-routine matters without instructions from the customers. Accordingly, those shares are not counted as votes against a non-routine matter, but rather are not counted at all for such a matter. Proposal 1 (election of directors) is not considered routine matters under New York Stock Exchange rules, so brokers do not have discretionary authority to vote shares held in street name on those items. If you hold your shares in street name and wish for your shares to be voted on these matters, you must provide your broker with voting instructions.

 

You also may attend the 2016 annual meeting of our shareholders and vote your shares. We encourage you to vote your shares by proxy even if you plan to attend the annual meeting. If you do attend the annual meeting, you will be asked to present valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. If you hold your stock in an account at a brokerage firm or bank (in nominee name), you will need to bring a copy of an account statement reflecting such ownership on or after the July 20, 2016 record date for the meeting.

 

Delivery and Availability of Documents to Security Holders Sharing an Address.

 

Our Annual Report, Proxy Statement, and Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials are being delivered or made available to each shareholder of record, even if two or more shareholders of record share an address. Shareholders sharing an address can request delivery of a single copy of our Annual Reports, Proxy Statements, and Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by requesting the same to our corporate secretary at 8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400, Clayton, Missouri 63105.

 

Directions to the Annual Meeting

 

From North of St. Louis (Clayton, MO)

Follow I-70 East to I-170 South. Take Exit 1F for Ladue Road. Turn right on Ladue Road. Road name changes to Maryland Avenue. Follow to Forsyth Boulevard. 8235 Forsyth (Merrill Lynch Building) is at Maryland and Forsyth. Garage parking is available behind the building. The meeting entrance is from the main entry way of the 8235 Forsyth building. Take elevator to the 8 th floor, Goldstein Conference Room.

 

From East of St. Louis (Clayton, MO)

Follow I-64/40 West. Take Exit 31A to I-170 North to Ladue Road exit 1F. Turn right on Ladue Road. Road name changes to Maryland Avenue. Follow to Forsyth Boulevard. 8235 Forsyth (Merrill Lynch Building) is at Maryland and Forsyth. Garage parking is available behind the building. The meeting entrance is from the main entry way of the 8235 Forsyth building. Take elevator to the 8 th floor, Goldstein Conference Room.

 

From West of St. Louis (Clayton, MO)

Follow I-64/40 East toward St. Louis. Take Exit 31A to I-170 North to Ladue Road exit 1F. Turn right on Ladue Road. Road name changes to Maryland Avenue. Follow to Forsyth Boulevard. 8235 Forsyth (Merrill Lynch Building) is at Maryland and Forsyth. Garage parking is available behind the building. The meeting entrance is from the main entry way of the 8235 Forsyth building. Take elevator to the 8 th floor, Goldstein Conference Room.

 

From South of St. Louis (Clayton, MO)

Follow I-270 North. Take I-64/40 East. Take Exit 31A to I-170 North to Ladue Road exit 1F. Turn right on Ladue Road. Road name changes to Maryland Avenue. Follow to Forsyth Boulevard. 8235 Forsyth (Merrill Lynch Building) is at Maryland and Forsyth. Garage parking is available behind the building. The meeting entrance is from the main entry way of the 8235 Forsyth building. Take elevator to the 8 th floor, Goldstein Conference Room.

 

 
33

 

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  Rose M. Sparks

 

 

 

Rose M. Sparks, Chief Financial Officer

 

July 29, 2016

 

 

 

 

 
34

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

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