UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant
x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
Check the appropriate box: |
o |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
o |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2)) |
x
|
Definitive Proxy Statement |
o |
Definitive Additional Materials |
o |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to
§
240.14a-12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. |
|
|
(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): |
x |
No fee required. |
o |
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: |
o |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
o |
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11 (a) (2) and identify the filing for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date
of its filing. |
|
(1) |
Amount Previously Paid: |
|
(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
|
(3) |
Filing Party: |
|
(4) |
Date Filed: |
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC.
17 South Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77027
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 10, 2022
To the Shareholders of Adams Resources & Energy,
Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Adams Resources & Energy,
Inc. will be held at 17 South Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 100,
Houston, Texas 77027, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.,
Houston time, to consider the following matters:
1.To
elect a board of seven directors to serve for the next year or
until their successors are elected and qualified;
2.To
consider and act upon an advisory resolution on executive
compensation;
3.To
consider and act upon the Amendment and Restatement of the Adams
Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan;
and
4.To
transact any other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Further information regarding the meeting and the above proposals
is set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement. The close
of business on April 1, 2022 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of
and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s)
thereof.
As part of our precautions regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we
are also planning for the possibility that the annual meeting may
be held solely by means of remote communications. If we take this
step, we will announce the decision to do so in advance, and
details on how to participate will be issued by press release and
filed with the SEC as proxy material.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ David B. Hurst |
|
|
|
David B. Hurst |
|
|
|
Secretary |
|
Houston, Texas |
|
|
|
April 7, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY |
MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING |
TO BE HELD ON MAY 10, 2022.
|
|
OUR PROXY STATEMENT AND 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
|
ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT www.adamsresources.com. |
|
|
|
|
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING. EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND,
YOU ARE URGED TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY.
THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU
ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU CAN VOTE AT THE MEETING OR BY
PROXY. |
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on May 10, 2022
This Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy are being furnished to
our shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies by
the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Adams Resources & Energy,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for use at our 2022
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 17 South Briar Hollow
Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77027, on Tuesday, May 10,
2022 at 11:00 a.m., Houston time, and any and all adjournments
thereof (such meeting or adjournment(s) thereof referred to as the
“Annual Meeting”), for the purposes set forth in the accompanying
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. As part of our
precautions regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we are also
planning for the possibility that the annual meeting may be held
solely by means of remote communications. If we take this step, we
will announce the decision to do so in advance, and details on how
to participate will be issued by press release and filed with the
SEC as proxy material.
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are being mailed to
shareholders on or about April 7, 2022. Unless otherwise
indicated, the terms the “Company,” “our,” “we,” “us” and similar
terms refer to Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. together with our
subsidiaries.
We will pay the cost of solicitation of the proxies. In
addition to solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited
personally by telephone or e-mail by our directors, officers and
employees, and arrangements may be made with brokerage houses or
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies and
proxy material to their principals. We will bear the
compensation and expenses of such firms, if any, which are not
expected to exceed $1,000. Currently, we have not entered into any
arrangements with any firm to aid in the solicitation of
proxies.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
At the close of business on April 1, 2022, the record date of
those entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting, we had outstanding 4,367,866 shares of common stock, $0.10
par value per share (“Common Stock”). The presence, in person
or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock on the record date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the
Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be considered present at the
Annual Meeting and counted toward the quorum, but they will not be
counted as votes cast. Broker non-votes (which are shares
represented by proxies, received from a bank or broker, that are
not voted on a matter because the bank or broker did not receive
voting instructions from the shareholder) will be treated the same
as abstentions. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes will
not have an effect on any of the proposals at this meeting because
they will not be counted as votes cast. Each share of Common
Stock is entitled to one vote on all issues requiring a shareholder
vote at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders may not cumulate
their votes for the election of directors.
The election of directors, the advisory resolution on executive
compensation and the consideration of an amendment to our 2018
Long-Term Incentive Plan are not considered “routine
matters.” Thus, if a shareholder does not vote its shares
with respect to any of these matters, such shareholder’s bank or
broker may not vote such shares and such shares will be left
unvoted on the matter.
All shares represented by properly executed or submitted proxies,
unless previously revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting in
accordance with the directions on the proxies. If no
direction is indicated, the shares will be voted
“FOR”
the election as directors of the nominees listed herein,
“FOR”
the advisory resolution on executive compensation,
“FOR”
the amendment to our 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan and in the
discretion of the persons named in the proxy in connection with any
other business that may properly come before the Annual
Meeting. The enclosed proxy, even though executed and
returned, may nevertheless be revoked at any time before it is
voted by the subsequent execution and submission of a revised
proxy, by written notice of revocation to our Secretary at the
address set forth above or by voting at the Annual Meeting.
However, simply attending the Annual Meeting and not voting will
not revoke a previously submitted proxy.
ITEM 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
A slate of seven directors is presented for election at the Annual
Meeting. The persons named in the enclosed proxy have been selected
by the Board to serve as proxies (“Proxy Holders”) and will vote
the shares represented by valid proxies at the Annual Meeting and
any adjournments thereof. The Proxy Holders have indicated
that they intend to vote “FOR”
each of the persons named as a nominee below under “Nominees for
Director” unless authority to vote in the election of directors is
withheld on each proxy or unless otherwise specified on each
proxy. Each duly elected director will hold office until the
2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his or her successor
shall have been elected and qualified. Although our Board
does not contemplate that a nominee will be unable to serve, if
such a situation arises prior to the Annual Meeting, the Proxy
Holders will vote for the election of such other person as may be
nominated by the Board. Proxies cannot be voted in the
election of directors for more than seven persons, as that is the
number of nominees named herein.
Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the
shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting. Votes that are withheld and broker non-votes
will not be counted in the tabulations of the votes cast on Item 1
and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders
vote “FOR” the election of the nominees listed below to our Board
of Directors.
For each of our directors, the following table sets forth their
names, ages, principal occupations, other directorships of public
companies held by them and length of continuous service as a
director of the Company. Any directorship of public companies
held by the nominees within the last five years is also presented
below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal Occupation |
|
Director |
Nominee |
|
Age |
|
and Other Directorships |
|
Since |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Townes G. Pressler |
|
86 |
|
Chairman of the Board of the Company |
|
2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michelle A. Earley |
|
50 |
|
Partner — Locke Lord LLP |
|
2015 |
|
|
|
|
Director of Murphy Oil Corporation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Murray E. Brasseux |
|
73 |
|
Retired — Former Bank Managing Director of Oil & Gas
Finance |
|
2015 |
|
|
|
|
Director and member of Audit & Conflicts Committee
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
general partner of Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard C. Jenner |
|
60 |
|
Managing Partner — Endeavor Natural Gas, LP |
|
2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W.R. Scofield |
|
69 |
|
President and Chief Operating Officer — KSA Industries,
Inc. |
|
2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John O. Niemann, Jr. |
|
65 |
|
Managing Director — Andersen Tax LLC |
|
2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis E. Dominic |
|
70 |
|
Retired — Former Vice President of Domestic Crude
Supply |
|
2019 |
|
|
|
|
and Trading |
|
|
Townes G. Pressler
Mr. Pressler is Chairman of the Board of
the Company. He was appointed Executive Chairman and Chairman of
the Board in September 2017. Effective December 31, 2019, he
retired from the position of Executive Chairman. Mr. Pressler is
President of Tepee Petroleum Company, an independent oil and gas
producer based in Houston that he founded in 1978. In 1985, he
founded and is currently chairman of VSO Inc. (formerly Pressler
Petroleum Consultants, Inc.), which provides engineering consulting
services. Prior to 1985, Mr. Pressler was President of Philip
Hill Energy, President of Republic Oil and Gas Corp., and Chief
Petroleum Engineer for Barnhart Co. after his initial years with
ExxonMobil. Mr. Pressler holds a Bachelor of Science in
Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas and is a
Registered Professional Engineer.
Mr. Pressler has been nominated to serve on the Board in light of
his extensive business and management experience in the energy
industry and his history with the Company.
Michelle A. Earley
Ms. Earley is a Partner at the law firm of
Locke Lord LLP, having joined the law firm in 1998 and serving as a
Partner since 2008. Ms. Earley has extensive experience in merger,
acquisition and disposition transactions, securities regulation
matters and securities offerings, including representing purchasers
and sellers of publicly-traded and privately-held companies,
representing issuers and selling shareholders in connection with
the public offering and private placement of debt and equity
securities, tender offers, exchange offers and advising management
and boards of directors on general corporate governance
matters. In June 2021, Ms. Earley joined the board of Murphy
Oil Corporation. She holds an undergraduate degree from Texas
A&M University and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law
School.
Ms. Earley has been nominated to serve on the Board in light of her
extensive experience in merger and acquisition transactions,
including representing publicly traded companies for many
years.
Murray E. Brasseux
Mr. Brasseux has extensive commercial and
financial banking experience including energy lending
practices. He retired from Compass Bank in December 2014
after 20 years of service, having most recently served as Managing
Director of Oil & Gas Finance. Following retirement, Mr.
Brasseux served as a consultant to Compass Bank from January 2015
to June 2015 and as a consultant to Loughlin Management Partners (a
restructuring and advisory firm) from June 2015 to December 2017.
In January 2019, Mr. Brasseux joined the board of directors of the
general partner of Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. and currently
serves on its audit and conflicts committee. Mr. Brasseux also
serves on the board of the Rare Book School (an affiliate of the
University of Virginia). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance
and a Master of Science in Finance from Louisiana State
University.
Mr. Brasseux has been nominated to serve on the Board in light of
his extensive commercial and financial experience in the banking
industry, including energy lending practices.
Richard C. Jenner
Mr. Jenner is the managing partner of
Endeavor Natural Gas, LP (“Endeavor”), a private equity backed
upstream energy company with operations throughout Texas and
Louisiana. Mr. Jenner founded Endeavor in November 2001, and held
the position of co-managing partner until September 2020. He has
been active in the oil and gas industry for over 30 years, having
worked for Santa Fe Minerals, Torch Energy Advisors and Tepee
Petroleum Company. His experience throughout his career has touched
on all aspects of managing an independent oil and gas producer,
including operations, engineering, accounting, and mergers and
acquisitions. Mr. Jenner holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum
Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master of
Business Administration from the University of
Chicago.
Mr. Jenner has been nominated to serve on the Board in light of his
extensive experience in the energy industry, including in crude oil
marketing, and his broad management experience.
W. R. Scofield
Mr. Scofield is the President and Chief
Operating Officer of KSA Industries, Inc. (“KSAI”), our affiliate,
having served in this position since April 2015. Mr. Scofield
served as Vice President of Corporate Development and Tax Planning
at KSAI for more than five years prior to 2015. He has extensive
experience with a diverse group of businesses, including oil and
gas, agriculture, automotive, insurance, environmental and
professional sports. Mr. Scofield holds a Bachelor of
Business Administration and a Master of Professional Accounting,
specializing in taxation, from the University of
Texas.
Mr. Scofield has been nominated to serve on the Board in light of
his diversified managerial experience in various
industries.
John O. Niemann, Jr.
Mr. Niemann is a Managing Director of Andersen Tax LLC (formerly
known as WTAS LLC), having served in this position since June 2013.
He also has been the president and chief operating officer of
Arthur Andersen LLP since 2003. He previously served on the
administrative board of Arthur Andersen LLP and on the board of
partners of Andersen Worldwide. Mr. Niemann began his career at
Arthur Andersen LLP in 1978 and has served in increasing
responsibilities in senior management positions since
1992.
Mr. Niemann has served as a director of Professional Asset
Indemnity Limited, a private captive insurance company, since
October 2021. He has also served as a director and chairman of the
audit committee of Hines Global Income Trust, Inc. since August
2014 and as lead independent director since May 2019. Since May
2012, Mr. Niemann has also served as a director of MSC Income Fund,
Inc. (previously known as HMS Income Fund, Inc.). He is a member of
the audit committee (chairman from May 2012 until November 2020),
and in November 2020, he became chairman of the nominating and
corporate governance committee. Mr. Niemann previously served as a
director and chairman of the audit committee of Gateway Energy
Corporation from June 2010 until December 2013 when the company
went private.
Mr. Niemann has served on the board of directors of many Houston
area non-profit organizations, including Catholic Endowment
Foundation of Galveston-Houston, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
School (past chair of the board), The Regis School of the Sacred
Heart (past chair of the board), The Houston Symphony, The
University of St. Thomas, The Alley Theatre, The Houston Youth
Symphony and Ballet and Taping for the Blind, Inc. He holds a
Bachelor of Arts in Managerial Studies and a Master of Accounting
from Rice University, a Juris Doctor from the South Texas College
of Law and a Master of Law in taxation from the University of San
Francisco School of Law.
Mr. Niemann has been nominated to serve on the Board in light of
his extensive business, management and accounting and finance
experience.
Dennis E. Dominic
Mr. Dominic has more than 40 years of experience in the energy
industry in the areas of refining, marketing and trading. He
retired from Valero Energy Corporation (“Valero”) in July 2019
where he served as Vice President of Domestic Crude Supply and
Trading from January 2002 until his retirement. Prior to his more
than 17 years of service at Valero, Mr. Dominic worked at and
enjoyed increasing levels of responsibility at Conoco, Inc.,
Horizon Trading Company and Sigmor Refining Company (“Sigmor”). In
1982, Mr. Dominic joined Diamond Shamrock Refining Company
(“Diamond Shamrock”) when it acquired Sigmor. In 1996, Mr. Dominic
joined Ultramar Diamond Shamrock (“Ultramar”) upon Ultramar’s
merger with Diamond Shamrock. He was with Ultramar from 1996 until
Ultramar was purchased by Valero in 2001. Mr. Dominic holds a
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from Southwest Texas State
University and a Master of Business Administration from Incarnate
Word University.
Mr. Dominic has been nominated to serve on the Board in light of
his extensive experience in the energy industry, including in crude
oil marketing, and his broad management experience.
Director Independence
Our Board is comprised of a majority of independent directors as
defined under NYSE American listing standards. There are no family
relationships among any of our directors or executive
officers. The Board has determined that the following
directors are independent: Messrs. Brasseux, Dominic, Jenner and
Niemann and Ms. Earley. The Board has determined that none of the
designated independent directors have any relationship that, under
NYSE American rules, would preclude their service on any of the
standing committees of the Board. In making its
determination, the Board considered transactions and relationships
between each director or his immediate family and us and our
subsidiaries. The purpose of this review was to determine
whether any such relationships or transactions were material and,
therefore, inconsistent with a determination that the director is
independent. In addition, the Board requires each of its
members and each of the director nominees to disclose in an annual
questionnaire any relationship they or their family members may
have had with us, our subsidiaries, our independent accountants,
directors and officers within the past five years. The Board
considers any such relationship in making its determination.
Mr. Pressler is considered an inside director because of his
previous employment with the Company. Mr. Scofield is considered an
inside director because of his employment with KSAI.
Board Leadership and Governance
Our Board, with the assistance of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, evaluates its size, function, needs and
composition on an annual basis, with the intent that the Board as a
whole collectively possess a broad range of skills, expertise,
industry and other knowledge, and business, diversity and other
experience useful to the effective oversight of our
business.
Our Bylaws provide the Board flexibility to determine the
appropriate leadership of the Board, and whether the roles of
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer should be combined or
separate. The Board believes it is in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders for the Board to determine which
director is best qualified to serve as Chairman in light of the
circumstances at the time, rather than based on a fixed policy.
Currently, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles are
separated, with Mr. Pressler serving as Chairman and Mr. Roycraft
serving as Chief Executive Officer.
During 2021, the Board held executive sessions of independent
directors without the presence of non-independent directors and
management. Mr. Brasseux, as longest serving independent member,
presided at such executive sessions since Mr. Pressler, Chairman
and a non-independent director, was not present.
Meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees
During 2021, the full Board of Directors met seven times and all
director nominees attended all of the meetings of the Board and the
committees on which they served for the period in which they held
office. It is our policy that all persons nominated for
election to the Board at the time of the annual meeting be present
at such meeting. All directors at the time of the 2021 annual
meeting attended the 2021 annual meeting. The Board has four
standing committees – the Audit Committee, the Compensation
Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and
the Investment Committee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Committees |
|
Summary of |
|
Committee |
|
Meetings in |
of the Board |
|
Responsibilities |
|
Members |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit |
|
Retains independent registered public accounting firm and
pre-approves their services. Reviews and approves financial
statements, internal controls and related party
transactions. |
|
Niemann
(1)
|
|
Six |
|
|
|
Brasseux |
|
|
|
|
|
Jenner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
|
Evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and
establishes the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and
other executive officers. |
|
Jenner
(2)
|
|
Four |
|
|
|
Brasseux |
|
|
|
|
|
Niemann |
|
|
|
|
|
Dominic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nominating and Corporate Governance |
|
Identifies, considers and recommends to the Board nominees for
directors. Periodically assesses corporate governance and makes
recommendations to the Board. |
|
Earley
(3)
|
|
One |
|
|
Brasseux |
|
|
|
|
|
Dominic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment |
|
Evaluates, reviews and monitors investment, acquisition and
divestiture transactions. |
|
Dominic
(4)
|
|
Seven |
|
|
|
Earley |
|
|
|
|
|
Jenner |
|
|
|
|
|
Niemann |
|
|
|
|
|
Scofield |
|
|
______________________________
(1)Mr.
Niemann is an independent director and has served as Chair of the
Audit Committee since May 2019. He has been designated the Audit
Committee financial expert as defined by Item 407(d)-(5) of
Regulation S-K.
(2)Mr.
Jenner is an independent director and has served as Chair of the
Compensation Committee since March 2019.
(3)Ms.
Earley is an independent director and has served as Chair of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since March
2019.
(4)Mr.
Dominic is an independent director and has served as Chair of the
Investment Committee since February 2020.
The responsibilities of the Audit Committee, Compensation
Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the
Investment Committee are described in each of the committees’
respective charters, which were adopted by the respective
committees and the Board. These committee charters are
available on our website at
www.adamsresources.com,
under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance. Copies may
also be obtained by writing to Investor Relations, Adams Resources
& Energy, Inc., 17 South Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 100, Houston,
Texas 77027.
Nomination Policy
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies and
recommends to the Board nominees for directors to be considered at
the Annual Meeting or to serve as replacements in the event of a
vacancy on the Board. Each of the members of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee is independent, as defined in
Section 803A of the company guide of the NYSE American LLC.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also
consider nominees submitted by shareholders to our Secretary if
submitted in accordance with the general notification procedures
set forth in our Bylaws. You may obtain a copy of the Bylaws by
writing to Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., 17 South Briar
Hollow Lane, Suite 101, Houston Texas 77027, Attention:
Corporate Secretary, David Hurst. Our Bylaws can also be found on
our website at
www.adamsresources.com,
under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance.
In identifying and evaluating candidates for nomination to the
Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers
several factors including: education, experience, knowledge,
expertise, independence and availability to effectively carry out
the duties of a Board member. The qualifications and
backgrounds of prospective candidates are reviewed in the context
of the current composition of the Board to ensure the Board
maintains the proper balance of knowledge and experience to
effectively manage our business for the long-term interests of our
shareholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee initially identifies candidates for nomination through
the Committee’s and management’s general industry contacts.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a
policy, nor has it been our practice, to consider for nomination
any specific director candidates recommended by shareholders as no
such request has ever occurred. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will review its policy position if such a
request is received. Shareholders may communicate with the
Board as described below.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee views diversity
expansively and considers, among other things, functional areas of
business and financial expertise, educational and professional
background, and those competencies that it deems appropriate to
develop a cohesive board such as ethics, integrity, values,
practical wisdom, mature judgment and the ability of the candidate
to represent the interests of all shareholders and not those of a
special interest group. Specifically with respect to the
experience and qualifications of each of the persons nominated to
serve on the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee considered the foregoing information to conclude that
each nominee should serve as a director of our Board.
Messrs. Pressler, Brasseux, Dominic, Jenner, Niemann and Scofield
and Ms. Earley have previously stood for election to the Board of
Directors. In connection with the Annual Meeting, the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has recommended the
Directors listed in this Proxy Statement be re-elected to the
Board.
Communications with the Board
Any shareholder or other interested party who wishes to communicate
with the Board, a committee of the Board or any individual director
may do so by contacting David Hurst, Corporate Secretary, Adams
Resources & Energy, Inc., 17 South Briar Hollow Lane, Suite
100, Houston, Texas 77027. Communications will be relayed to
the intended recipient on the Board in accordance with the request
of the shareholder.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The Board’s role in our risk oversight process includes receiving
regular reports from members of our senior management on areas of
material risk to us, including operational, financial, legal,
regulatory and strategic risks.
Mr. Pressler serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Company.
The Board has not designated a lead independent director, but
believes its leadership structure is appropriate given the active
role the independent directors play on the Board’s standing
committees. While the Board is aware of the potential conflicts
that may arise when an interested director serves as Chairman, it
believes these potential conflicts are offset by the Company’s
strong corporate governance practices.
The Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of risks relating
to accounting matters, financial reporting and legal and regulatory
compliance. To satisfy these oversight responsibilities, the
Audit Committee meets regularly with management, our internal
auditor and independent registered public accounting
firm.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing risks
relating to employment policies and our policies on structuring
compensation programs. To satisfy these oversight
responsibilities, the Compensation Committee meets regularly with
management to understand the implications of compensation
decisions, particularly the risks our compensation policies pose to
our finances, human resources and shareholders.
Employee, Officer and Director Hedging
Other than our insider trading policy, which prohibits purchases
and sales of our securities and related derivative securities while
in possession of material non-public information, we do not have
any policies that prevent employees (including officers) or
directors from purchasing financial instruments (including prepaid
variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange
funds), or otherwise engaging in hedging transactions related to
our equity securities.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table provides information regarding our executive
officers as of April 1, 2022. Our officers serve at the
discretion of our Board of Directors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
52 |
|
Chief Executive Officer and President |
|
|
|
|
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
54 |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
62 |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and |
|
|
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Wade M. Harrison |
|
47 |
|
President, Service Transport Company |
|
|
|
|
|
Greg L. Mills |
|
60 |
|
President, GulfMark Energy, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft
currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and President and has
served in these capacities since January 2020. He was previously
Interim President of GulfMark Energy, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, from August 2019 to March 2020, and
President of Service Transport Company, the Company’s other wholly
owned subsidiary, from November 2017 to January 2020. Mr. Roycraft
was previously Executive Vice President at Dana Transport Inc. from
January 2016 through November 2017. From November 2012 through
October 2015, Mr. Roycraft was the President and Chief Executive
Officer of Aveda Transportation and Energy Services. He holds a
Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision
from Purdue University.
Tracy E. Ohmart
currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer and has served in these capacities since June
2018. He was previously with Horn Solutions, Inc. from 2017 to June
2018, and prior to that, served as Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of United Bulk Terminals USA, Inc., a
privately-held subsidiary of Marquard & Bahls AG, from 2012 to
2016. Immediately prior to joining United Bulk Terminals USA,
Inc., he was Assistant Controller for Southwestern Energy
Company from 2010 to 2012. From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Ohmart was
Assistant Controller of EPCO, Inc. Prior to that, he held
various accounting, finance, management and special projects
positions with increasing responsibilities with TEPPCO Partners,
L.P. from 2001 to 2005 and ARCO Pipe Line Company from 1989 to
2001. Mr. Ohmart holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting
and Business Administration from the University of Kansas. He
serves as our principal financial and accounting officer. Mr.
Ohmart is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of
Texas.
Sharon C. Davis
currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer and Chief Accounting Officer and has served in these
capacities since March 2015. She joined the company in 1992 and was
previously employed by Arthur Andersen & Co. Ms. Davis
holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the
University of Houston. Ms. Davis is a Certified Public
Accountant in the State of Texas. On March 21, 2022, Ms. Davis
announced her intention to retire effective July 1,
2022.
Wade M. Harrison
currently serves as President of Service Transport Company and has
served in that capacity since January 2020. Mr. Harrison joined
Service Transport Company in August 2018 as Vice President of Sales
and served in that capacity until his appointment to President of
Service Transport Company. Mr. Harrison has 20 years of experience
in transportation and logistics operations, management and
leadership. Prior to joining Service Transport Company, Mr.
Harrison was with Groendyke Transport, Inc. from January 2010 to
August 2018, where he held positions of increasing responsibility,
culminating in his role as Vice President of Gulf Coast Operations.
He began his career in transportation and logistics in 2003 with
CTL Distribution Logistics, LLC, where he served as Vice President
of National Accounts. Mr. Harrison holds a Bachelor of Business
Administration in Marketing from Sam Houston State
University.
Greg L. Mills
currently serves as President of GulfMark Energy, Inc. and has
served in that capacity since March 2020. Mr. Mills has almost 30
years of experience in the midstream business, including
significant expertise and leadership in crude oil marketing and
related operations. Prior to joining GulfMark Energy, Inc. in March
2020, Mr. Mills was Executive Vice President of Commercial
Operations at Energy Transfer Partners from October 2017 through
December 2019. Prior to joining Energy Transfer Partners, Mr. Mills
was with Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. from 1998 through
October 2017, where he held positions of increasing responsibility
that culminated in his role as Vice President of Crude Oil
Pipelines & Terminals. Mr. Mills holds a Bachelor of Business
Administration in Marketing from Northeastern State
University.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the total compensation of our Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of our other
executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2021,
2020 and 2019 (the “Named Executive Officers”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
All |
|
|
Name and |
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards
(1)
|
|
Other
(2)
|
|
Total |
Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft
(3)
|
|
2021 |
|
400,000 |
|
|
291,046 |
|
|
74,250 |
|
|
31,163 |
|
|
796,459 |
|
Chief Executive Officer and |
|
2020 |
|
400,000 |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
57,133 |
|
|
37,670 |
|
|
794,803 |
|
President |
|
2019 |
|
293,116 |
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
51,000 |
|
|
19,905 |
|
|
589,021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
2021 |
|
309,000 |
|
|
198,160 |
|
|
65,548 |
|
|
19,760 |
|
|
592,468 |
|
Executive Vice President, |
|
2020 |
|
300,000 |
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
48,985 |
|
|
17,122 |
|
|
561,107 |
|
Chief Financial Officer and |
|
2019 |
|
300,000 |
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
51,000 |
|
|
12,885 |
|
|
543,885 |
|
Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
2021 |
|
283,250 |
|
|
176,880 |
|
|
30,083 |
|
|
24,647 |
|
|
514,860 |
|
Executive Vice President, |
|
2020 |
|
275,000 |
|
|
155,000 |
|
|
44,899 |
|
|
22,160 |
|
|
497,059 |
|
Chief Operating Officer and |
|
2019 |
|
275,000 |
|
|
130,500 |
|
|
46,750 |
|
|
20,189 |
|
|
472,439 |
|
Chief Accounting Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wade M. Harrison
(4)
|
|
2021 |
|
230,000 |
|
|
187,926 |
|
|
50,906 |
|
|
25,015 |
|
|
493,847 |
|
President, Service |
|
2020 |
|
223,270 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
39,178 |
|
|
21,630 |
|
|
434,078 |
|
Transport Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg L. Mills
(5)
|
|
2021 |
|
350,000 |
|
|
207,974 |
|
|
63,647 |
|
|
18,033 |
|
|
639,654 |
|
President, |
|
2020 |
|
262,500 |
|
|
235,000 |
|
|
58,598 |
|
|
6,852 |
|
|
562,950 |
|
GulfMark Energy, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
_____________
(1)Amounts
reflect the grant date fair value (computed in accordance with FASB
ASC Topic 718) of restricted stock unit awards and performance
share unit awards granted under the Adams Resources & Energy,
Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2018 LTIP”) in 2021. For a
discussion of the valuations of the restricted stock unit awards
and the performance share unit awards, please see the discussion in
Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021.
(2)All
Other compensation includes employer matching contributions to our
401(k) savings plan, car allowances, reimbursement for club dues,
life and disability insurance premiums and dividends paid under the
2018 LTIP. The Named Executive Officers receive no other
perquisites or personal benefits. For further information, see the
“All Other Compensation” table to follow.
(3)Mr.
Roycraft was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President
effective January 1, 2020. Mr. Roycraft served as President of
Service Transport Company from November 2017 to January 2020 and as
Interim President of GulfMark Energy, Inc. from August 2019 to
March 2020.
(4)Mr.
Harrison was appointed President of Service Transport Company on
January 20, 2020 with an annual salary of $230,000.
(5)Mr.
Mills was appointed President of GulfMark Energy, Inc. on March 30,
2020 with an annual salary of $350,000.
The following table presents the components of “All Other
Compensation” for each Named Executive Officer for the year ended
December 31, 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributions |
|
Paid on |
|
Life and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under |
|
Plan |
|
Disability |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
401(k) |
|
Based |
|
Insurance |
|
Car |
|
|
|
All Other |
|
|
Savings Plan |
|
Awards |
|
Premiums |
|
Allowance |
|
Other |
|
Compensation |
Named Executive Officer |
|
($) |
|
($)
(1)
|
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($)
(2)
|
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
11,600 |
|
|
2,132 |
|
|
5,671 |
|
|
7,200 |
|
|
4,560 |
|
|
31,163 |
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
11,600 |
|
|
2,283 |
|
|
5,877 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
19,760 |
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
11,600 |
|
|
2,094 |
|
|
5,753 |
|
|
5,200 |
|
|
— |
|
|
24,647 |
|
Wade M. Harrison |
|
11,600 |
|
|
358 |
|
|
5,857 |
|
|
7,200 |
|
|
— |
|
|
25,015 |
|
Greg L. Mills |
|
7,144 |
|
|
268 |
|
|
2,791 |
|
|
7,200 |
|
|
630 |
|
|
18,033 |
|
_____________
(1)Reflects
cash payments made to the Named Executive Officer in connection
with dividend equivalent rights issued in connection with the
vesting of awards under the 2018 LTIP.
(2)Amounts
in “Other” relates to the reimbursement for club dues for Mr.
Roycraft, and cell phone allowance for Mr. Mills.
COMPENSATION OVERVIEW
Background
We compete for talent in the Houston, Texas marketplace, which is
heavily tied to the energy industry and related fields. There
is strong demand for executives in the energy industry (and in
Houston in particular). Within the public company community,
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. is consistently listed as one of
the Houston areas’ top 100 companies as ranked by revenues.
As a measure of results, our “Performance Graph” prepared under the
applicable rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) appears in our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The
Performance Graph data indicates that the S&P 500 index had
higher returns than us in each of the past five years while we had
higher returns than our Integrated Oil and Gas peer group in 2017
through 2020.
Role of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee, composed entirely of independent
directors, reviews and approves the executive compensation program
for all of our senior executive officers, including our Named
Executive Officers, to ensure that our compensation program is
adequate to attract, motivate and retain well-qualified senior
executives and that it is directly and materially related to the
short-term and long-term objectives of our Company and our
shareholders. The Compensation Committee annually reviews and
evaluates our executive compensation program to ensure that the
program is aligned with our compensation philosophy. To carry out
its role, among other things, the Compensation
Committee:
•reviews
the major compensation and benefit practices, policies, and
programs with respect to our senior executives;
•reviews
appropriate criteria for establishing performance targets for
executive compensation;
•determines
appropriate levels of executive compensation;
•administers
and determines equity awards to be granted under our long-term
incentive plans; and
•reviews
and recommends to the Board any changes to director
compensation.
The Compensation Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the
Board on all issues pertaining to the compensation of our senior
executive officers, including individual components of total
compensation, goals and performance criteria for incentive
compensation and the grant of equity awards. However, it is the
practice of the Compensation Committee to fully review its
activities and recommendations with the full Board.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Our compensation philosophy, as implemented through the
Compensation Committee, is to match executive compensation with the
performance of the Company and the individual by using several
compensation components for our executive officer group. The
Compensation Committee has adopted the following objectives, and
executive compensation levels are determined in consideration
thereof:
•Establish
and maintain a level of compensation that is competitive within our
industry and region.
•Provide
an incentive mechanism for favorable results.
•Maintain
a compensation system that is consistent with the objectives of
sound corporate governance.
Design of Reward
Our management and the Compensation Committee review the results of
the annual “Say on Pay” vote by shareholders for feedback on our
executive compensation. Our Compensation Committee, which is
responsible for designing and administering our executive
compensation program, has designed our executive compensation
program to provide a competitive and internally equitable
compensation and benefits package that, among other objectives,
reflects Company performance, job complexity and value of the
position, while ensuring long-term retention, motivation and
alignment with the long-term interests of our
shareholders.
Elements of Compensation
We utilize the following four elements of executive compensation to
retain our executive officer group:
•Base
salary
•Discretionary
bonus
•Awards
under our long-term incentive plan
•Benefits
Base Salary
The Compensation Committee considers adjustments to base salary for
our executive officer group on an annual basis and may do so more
frequently upon a change in circumstances. The annual base salary
of our Chief Executive Officer is decided solely by the
Compensation Committee in executive session without management
present. The annual base salaries of the other members of our
executive officer group are determined by the Compensation
Committee with input or recommendations from our Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Board. None of the members of our
executive officer group have employment agreements.
During 2021, the Compensation Committee adjusted the 2021 base
salaries of Mr. Ohmart to $309,000 and Ms. Davis to $283,250. No
other changes were made to any of the other Named Executive
Officers’ base salaries during 2021.
Discretionary Bonus
Discretionary bonuses are used as an incentive for favorable
results. The discretionary bonus may also serve as a
supplement to base salary levels, while allowing the Board
flexibility when results are not consistent with
expectations. Discretionary bonuses are anticipated to
increase or decrease with the prevailing trend for consolidated net
earnings, cash flow and execution of our growth strategy. The
Compensation Committee determined to make cash bonus payments to
our Named Executive Officers for 2021 in light of the operating and
financial results of the Company during the year, the Company’s
safety record and personal performance goals set for the
executives.
Awards Under Long-Term Incentive Plan
Grants of Plan Based Awards
We granted restricted stock unit awards and performance share unit
awards to each executive officer in 2021 under the 2018 LTIP. The
following table presents information concerning each grant of an
equity-based award in 2021 to our Named Executive
Officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Fair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based |
Award Type/ |
|
Grant |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Awards |
Named Executive Officer |
|
Date |
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
($)
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted stock unit awards:
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
1,250 |
|
|
— |
|
|
37,125 |
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
1,104 |
|
|
— |
|
|
32,789 |
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
1,012 |
|
|
— |
|
|
30,056 |
|
Wade M. Harrison |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
857 |
|
|
— |
|
|
25,453 |
|
Greg L. Mills |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
— |
|
|
1,072 |
|
|
— |
|
|
31,838 |
|
Performance share unit awards:
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
625 |
|
|
1,250 |
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
37,125 |
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
552 |
|
|
1,103 |
|
|
2,206 |
|
|
32,759 |
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
506 |
|
|
1,011 |
|
|
2,022 |
|
|
30,027 |
|
Wade M. Harrison |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
429 |
|
|
857 |
|
|
1,714 |
|
|
25,453 |
|
Greg L. Mills |
|
3/1/2021 |
|
536 |
|
|
1,071 |
|
|
2,142 |
|
|
31,809 |
|
_______________
(1)The
grant date fair value presented for the restricted stock unit
awards and the performance share unit awards is based on the
closing price of shares of our Common Stock on March 1, 2021 of
$29.70 per share. For information on the assumptions used in the
valuation of these awards, see Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
(2)Restricted
stock unit awards vest approximately 33 percent annually over a
three-year period, with the first vesting date of March 1, 2022,
and subsequently each of the next two years thereafter. The awards
accrue dividends, if declared by us on shares of our Common Stock,
which will be paid to the recipient upon vesting of the
awards.
(3)These
performance share unit awards vest on March 1, 2024. The awards
accrue dividends, if declared by us on our shares of Common Stock,
which will be paid to the recipient upon vesting of the awards. The
performance factor for these awards was set at 63.1 percent based
upon a comparison of actual results for 2021 to performance
goals.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
Restricted stock unit awards are granted under the 2018 LTIP. A
restricted stock unit award is a grant of a right to receive shares
of our Common Stock in the future at no cost to the recipient apart
from fulfilling service and other conditions once a defined vesting
period expires, subject to customary forfeiture provisions.
Restricted stock unit awards generally vest at a rate of
approximately 33 percent per year beginning approximately one year
after the grant date and are non-vested until the requisite service
periods are satisfied by the recipient. Restricted stock unit
awards were awarded in the number of shares equal to an approved
award dollar value divided by the closing price of shares of our
Common Stock on the NYSE American on the date of grant, rounded up
to the nearest whole share.
If dividends are paid with respect to shares of our Common Stock
during the vesting period, an equivalent amount of dividends will
accrue without interest until the restricted stock unit awards
vest, at which time the amount will be paid to the
recipient.
Performance Share Unit Awards.
Performance share unit awards are granted under the 2018 LTIP.
Performance share unit awards are contingent upon (i) continued
service with the Company for three years after the vesting
commencement date, as defined in the award agreement, and (ii) the
attainment of performance goals during the performance cycle. The
performance goals are pre-established by the Compensation
Committee. Following the end of the performance period, the holder
of a performance-based compensation award is entitled to receive
payment of an amount not exceeding the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to, or the maximum value of, the performance-based
compensation award, based on the achievement of the performance
goals for the performance period. The performance share unit awards
generally vest in full approximately three years after grant date,
and are non-vested until the requisite service period is satisfied
by the recipient.
If dividends are paid with respect to shares of our Common Stock
during the vesting period, an equivalent amount of dividends will
accrue without interest until the performance share unit awards
vest, at which time the amount will be paid to the
recipient.
2019 Performance Share Unit Awards (the “2019
awards”).
The 2019 awards, with a performance period between January 1, 2019
and December 31, 2019, were granted to our Named Executive Officers
on June 3, 2019 and would have vested, to the extent earned, on May
22, 2022. As a result of the Company’s performance for 2019, the
performance factor was set at 0 percent, which effectively
terminated these awards, and no awards were earned in
2019.
The performance share unit award determination was based upon our
performance relative to specified performance goals during the
applicable performance period, as follows: Seventy-five percent of
the target award was subject to adjustment based upon our
attainment of adjusted pre-tax cash flow, as defined in the award
agreement, and twenty-five percent of the target award was subject
to adjustment based on our attainment of adjusted pre-tax earnings,
as defined in the award agreement.
For the 2019 performance year, the following metrics were used to
determine award levels:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
% of Target Performance |
Performance Level |
|
Cash Flow Amount |
|
Earnings Amount |
|
Share Units Earned* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
$40,500,000 |
|
$21,900,000 |
|
200% |
Target |
|
$32,400,000 |
|
$17,500,000 |
|
100% |
Threshold |
|
$24,300,000 |
|
$13,200,000 |
|
50% |
<Threshold |
|
<$24,300,000 |
|
<$13,200,000 |
|
0% |
_______________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Linear interpolation will be applicable to the percentages between
the Performance Levels. |
2020 Performance Share Unit Awards (the “2020
awards”).
The 2020 awards, with a performance period between January 1, 2020
and December 31, 2020, were granted to our Named Executive Officers
on March 10, 2020 and will vest, to the extent earned, on March 1,
2023. As a result of the Company’s performance for 2020, the
performance factor was set at 138.5 percent.
The performance share unit award determination was based upon our
performance relative to specified performance goals during the
applicable performance period, as follows: Seventy-five percent of
the target award was subject to adjustment based upon our
attainment of adjusted pre-tax cash flow, as defined in the award
agreement, and twenty-five percent of the target award was subject
to adjustment based on our attainment of adjusted pre-tax earnings,
as defined in the award agreement.
For the 2020 performance year, the following metrics, which were
revised to include acquisitions that occurred during 2020, were
used to determine award levels:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
% of Target Performance |
Performance Level |
|
Cash Flow Amount |
|
Earnings Amount |
|
Share Units Earned* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
$33,375,000 |
|
$9,875,000 |
|
200% |
Target |
|
$26,700,000 |
|
$7,900,000 |
|
100% |
Threshold |
|
$20,025,000 |
|
$5,925,000 |
|
50% |
<Threshold |
|
<$20,025,000 |
|
<$5,925,000 |
|
0% |
_______________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Linear interpolation will be applicable to the percentages between
the Performance Levels. |
2021 Performance Share Unit Awards (the “2021
awards”).
The 2021 awards, with a performance period between January 1, 2021
and December 31, 2021, were granted to our Named Executive Officers
on March 1, 2021 and will vest, to the extent earned, on March 1,
2024. As a result of the Company’s performance for 2021, the
performance factor was set at 63.1 percent.
The performance share unit award determination was based upon our
performance relative to specified performance goals during the
applicable performance period, as follows: Seventy-five percent of
the target award was subject to adjustment based upon our
attainment of adjusted pre-tax cash flow, as defined in the award
agreement, and twenty-five percent of the target award was subject
to adjustment based on our attainment of adjusted pre-tax earnings,
as defined in the award agreement.
For the 2021 performance year, the following metrics were used to
determine award levels:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
% of Target Performance |
Performance Level |
|
Cash Flow Amount |
|
Earnings Amount |
|
Share Units Earned* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
$35,200,000 |
|
$9,750,000 |
|
200% |
Target |
|
$28,160,000 |
|
$7,800,000 |
|
100% |
Threshold |
|
$21,120,000 |
|
$5,850,000 |
|
50% |
<Threshold |
|
<$21,120,000 |
|
<$5,850,000 |
|
0% |
_______________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Linear interpolation will be applicable to the percentages between
the Performance Levels. |
2022 Performance Share Unit Awards (the “2022
awards”).
The 2022 awards, with a performance period between January 1, 2022
and December 31, 2022, were granted to our Named Executive Officers
on March 1, 2022 and will vest, to the extent earned, on March 1,
2025.
The performance share unit award determination will be based upon
our performance relative to specified performance goals during the
applicable performance period, as follows: Seventy-five percent of
the target award is subject to adjustment based upon our attainment
of adjusted pre-tax cash flow, as defined in the award agreement,
and twenty-five percent of the target award is subject to
adjustment based on our attainment of adjusted pre-tax earnings, as
defined in the award agreement.
For the 2022 performance year, the following metrics will used to
determine award levels:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
Adjusted Pre-Tax |
|
% of Target Performance |
Performance Level |
|
Cash Flow Amount |
|
Earnings Amount |
|
Share Units Earned* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
$34,500,000 |
|
$9,625,000 |
|
200% |
Target |
|
$27,600,000 |
|
$7,700,000 |
|
100% |
Threshold |
|
$20,700,000 |
|
$5,775,000 |
|
50% |
<Threshold |
|
<$20,700,000 |
|
<$5,775,000 |
|
0% |
_______________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Linear interpolation will be applicable to the percentages between
the Performance Levels. |
Vesting of Plan Based Awards
The following table presents the vesting of restricted stock unit
awards to our Named Executive Officers during the year ended
December 31, 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
Value |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Realized on |
|
|
Vesting |
|
Vesting |
Named Executive Officer |
|
(#)
(1)
|
|
($)
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
1,167 |
|
|
32,893 |
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
1,186 |
|
|
33,296 |
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
1,088 |
|
|
30,545 |
|
Wade M. Harrison |
|
351 |
|
|
10,212 |
|
Greg L. Mills |
|
372 |
|
|
11,048 |
|
_______________
(1)Represents
the gross number of shares acquired upon vesting of restricted
stock unit awards before adjustments for associated tax
withholdings.
(2)Amount
was determined by multiplying the gross number of vested restricted
stock unit awards by the closing prices of shares of our Common
Stock on the dates of vesting: $29.70 on March 1, 2021, $27.52 on
May 10, 2021 and $27.28 on May 24, 2021.
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2021
The following table summarizes each Named Executive Officer’s
long-term incentive awards outstanding at December 31,
2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
Number |
|
Value |
|
|
of Shares |
|
of Shares |
|
|
That Have |
|
That Have |
Award Type/ |
|
Not Vested |
|
Not Vested |
Named Executive Officer |
|
(#)
(1)
|
|
($)
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted stock unit awards:
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
2,270 |
|
|
63,130 |
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
2,014 |
|
|
56,009 |
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
1,847 |
|
|
51,365 |
|
Wade M. Harrison |
|
1,473 |
|
|
40,965 |
|
Greg L. Mills |
|
1,817 |
|
|
50,530 |
|
Performance share unit awards:
(4)
|
|
|
|
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
2,385 |
|
|
66,328 |
|
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
2,065 |
|
|
57,427 |
|
Sharon C. Davis |
|
1,892 |
|
|
52,617 |
|
Wade M. Harrison |
|
1,636 |
|
|
45,497 |
|
Greg L. Mills |
|
2,223 |
|
|
61,822 |
|
_______________
(1)Represents
the total number of outstanding awards by award type for each Named
Executive Officer.
(2)The
market values were derived by multiplying the total number of each
award type outstanding for the Named Executive Officer by the
closing price of shares of our Common Stock on December 31,
2021 (the last trading date of 2021) of $27.81 per share. For the
performance share unit awards, the actual performance factor was
used to determine market value of the shares that have not
vested.
(3)Of
the 9,421 restricted stock unit awards presented in the table, the
vesting schedule is as follows: 4,234 in 2022, 3,420 in 2023 and
1,767 in 2024.
(4)Of
the 10,201 performance share unit awards presented in the table,
the vesting schedule is as follows: 6,861 in 2023 and 3,340 in
2024.
Benefits
We also provide employee benefits, primarily consisting of a 401(k)
plan (discussed below) and an employer sponsored medical
plan. The benefits provided to the executive officer group
are no different than those offered to non-executive
employees. At the current time, we do not offer a defined
benefit pension plan nor do we offer deferred
compensation.
Perquisites
We provide the following perquisites:
•Life
and Disability Insurance Premiums
•Automobile
Allowance
•Club
Dues Reimbursement
Club dues reimbursements and automobile allowances are paid to the
executive officers consistent with the payment of these amounts to
non-executive employees. The requirement to pay these amounts
is negotiated with the executive at the time of their initial
employment. Life and disability insurance premiums are paid
on behalf of the executives consistent with the payment of these
insurance premiums for non-executive employees. Perquisite
amounts are not considered annual salary for bonus
purposes.
401(k) Plan
We offer a 401(k) plan to our employees and our executive
officers. As referenced in footnote (2) to the Summary
Compensation Table, we make a matching contribution to the
plan. In 2021, 2020 and 2019, we matched 100 percent of
employee contributions up to 3 percent of compensation and matched
50 percent of employee contributions from 3 percent to 5 percent of
compensation, subject to the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) annual
limits. This level of matching contributions conforms to the
Code’s safe harbor rules for 401(k) plans.
Compensation and Risk
In order to establish and maintain profitability, we become exposed
to risk. The most significant areas of risk involve commodity
price risk, customer credit risk, and safety and security
concerns. Compensation policies for all employees are
designed to promote the provision of management safeguards against
risk and not incentivize excessive risk-taking. Compensation
policies toward this aim include the following:
•generally
short-term contractual obligations with actual results fixed and
determinable prior to the payment of employee bonuses;
and
•a
segregated internal reporting structure that puts the employees
charged with managing and reporting risk on a separate reporting
track from those employees committing us to contractual
obligations, thereby providing independent monitoring of risk
mitigation practices and procedures.
On a scheduled basis over the course of the year, Mr. Niemann,
representing the Audit Committee, conducted interviews with key
non-executive operating and accounting personnel to monitor
compliance with our designed internal control structure and overall
corporate strategies. Management has concluded that compensation
policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
Role of the External Compensation Advisor
In the fall of 2017, the Compensation Committee engaged Meridian
Compensation Partners, LLC to assist the Company with the design of
the 2018 LTIP. The Compensation Committee has not historically used
an external compensation advisor to make year to year compensation
decisions or to set target awards.
Pay Ratio Disclosure Rule
In August 2015, pursuant to a mandate of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), the SEC
adopted a rule requiring annual disclosure of the ratio of the
median employee’s annual total compensation to the total annual
compensation of the principal executive officer (“PEO”). Our
PEO for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 was Mr.
Roycraft. The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a
measure of the equitability of pay within the organization.
We believe our compensation philosophy and process yield an
equitable result and our ratio is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Median Employee total annual compensation |
$ |
75,701 |
|
Mr. Roycraft’s total annual compensation |
$ |
796,459 |
|
Ratio of PEO to Median Employee Compensation |
10.5:1.0 |
For purposes of this calculation, we aggregated Mr. Roycraft’s
annual salary of $400,000 and 2021 bonus amount of $291,046 to
arrive at the total PEO annual compensation for 2021.
In determining the median employee, a listing was prepared of all
employees as of December 31, 2021. Employees on leave of
absence were excluded from the list and wages and salaries were
annualized for those employees that were not employed for the full
year of 2021. The median amount was selected from the
annualized list. For simplicity, in determining the median
employee, the value of our 401(k) plan and medical benefits
provided was excluded as all employees, including the PEO, are
offered the exact same benefits, and we utilize the Internal
Revenue Code safe harbor provision for 401(k) discrimination
testing. At December 31, 2021, we employed 710 persons,
of which 469 were professional truck drivers. We calculated the
2021 annual total compensation for both our median employee and our
PEO using the same methodology we use to determine our PEO’s annual
total compensation for the Summary Compensation Table.
Compensation Practices—Tax Considerations
In establishing total compensation for our executive officer group,
the Compensation Committee considers the accounting treatment and
tax treatment of its compensation decisions, including Section
162(m) of the Code, which limits the deductibility of compensation
paid to each covered employee. Generally, Section 162(m) of the
Code prevents a company from receiving a corporate income tax
deduction for annual compensation paid to the chief executive
officer and the three other most highly compensated officers of a
public corporation in excess of $1 million. Although the
Compensation Committee takes the requirements of Section 162(m)
into account in designing executive compensation, the Compensation
Committee believes that the potential deductibility of the
compensation payable under the Company’s incentive compensation
plans and arrangements should be only one of a number of relevant
factors taken into consideration in establishing those plans and
arrangements for our executive officers and not the sole governing
factor.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
None of the members of the Compensation Committee was an officer or
employee of the Company or any of our subsidiaries, or was formerly
an officer of the Company or any of our subsidiaries or had any
relationship requiring disclosure by the Company during the year
ended December 31, 2021. None of our executive officers
have served as a member of the Compensation Committee (or other
board committee performing equivalent functions) of another entity
that had an executive officer serving as a member of our Board or
the Compensation Committee.
ITEM 2 – APPROVAL OF ADVISORY RESOLUTION ON EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Under the provisions of Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, our shareholders are entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting to approve the compensation of our Named Executive
Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402
of Regulation S-K. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the
shareholder vote on executive compensation is an advisory vote
only, and it is not binding on us or our Board.
Although the vote is non-binding, the Compensation Committee and
the Board value the opinions of our shareholders and will consider
the outcome of the vote when making future compensation
decisions. As described more fully in the “Compensation
Overview” section of this Proxy Statement, our executive
compensation program is designed to provide aggregate compensation
opportunities for our Named Executive Officers that are both
competitive in the business marketplace and are based upon Company
and individual performance.
The advisory vote regarding the compensation of the Named Executive
Officers described in this Item 2 shall be approved if the votes
cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the
proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be
counted as either votes cast for or against Item 2.
If no voting specification is made on a properly returned or voted
proxy card, the persons named as Proxy Holders in the enclosed
proxy have indicated they will vote “FOR”
the approval of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as
disclosed in this Proxy Statement and described in this Item
2.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the
approval of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as
disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of
Regulation S-K.
ITEM 3 – AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE ADAMS RESOURCES &
ENERGY, INC. 2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
We are seeking the approval by our shareholders of an amendment and
restatement of the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) to increase the
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the
plan by 150,000 shares, so that the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock available for issuance under the Incentive Plan is
increased from 150,000 shares to 300,000 shares. We believe the
continued availability of the Incentive Plan is essential to our
ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees in a
competitive environment in which employees view both cash and
equity incentives as an important component of their compensation.
The description below summarizes the reasons for the amendment and
the material provisions of the Incentive Plan. The description of
the Incentive Plan is qualified entirely by reference to the full
text of the plan, as amended by our Board and subject to
shareholder approval, as set forth in Appendix A. Appendix A
presents a marked version of the Incentive Plan, showing all of the
changes between the original plan and the proposed amendment and
restatement.
Reasons for the Amendment to the Incentive Plan
On February 23, 2022, our Board voted, subject to shareholder
approval, to amend and restate the Incentive Plan to increase the
aggregate number of shares of our Common Stock available for awards
under such plan by an additional 150,000 shares to an aggregate of
300,000 shares, subject to adjustment for stock-splits and similar
capital changes. The amended and restated Incentive Plan also makes
several immaterial or technical amendments, including clarifying
that dividends or dividend equivalents may not be paid under the
terms of any award agreement under the Incentive Plan prior to the
vesting of the applicable award. In addition, the effect of the
amendment and restatement will be to extend the termination date of
the Incentive Plan until February 23, 2032. Apart from these
changes, the amended Incentive Plan does not vary from the previous
version of the plan in any other material respect. Approval of this
amendment is required by the rules of the NYSE American and so that
any options granted with respect to the additional plan shares
under the Incentive Plan will qualify as incentive stock
options.
We believe that the share increase is necessary and appropriate to
enable us to attract and retain employees with the skills necessary
to support our business and strategic plans, including employees of
companies acquired by us. We believe that participation in the
Incentive Plan provides employees with additional incentives that
promote loyalty, dedication and attention to our long-term
strategies that promote increased stockholder value. Furthermore,
we believe that the increase of 150,000 shares available for
issuance, out of a total of 4,367,866 shares of Common Stock issued
and outstanding as of April 1, 2022, or 3.4 percent of the
total shares of Common Stock outstanding, is not likely to result
in material dilution to our stockholders and will be sufficient to
meet anticipated awards under the Incentive Plan for the next four
years. However, a change in business conditions or our strategy
could alter any of these projections.
As of December 31, 2021, 55,809 shares remained available for
issuance under the Incentive Plan. As of that date, 38,265
restricted stock unit awards and 21,492 performance stock unit
awards were outstanding and subject to vesting conditions. No stock
options, stock appreciation rights or other forms of awards have
been issued to date under the Incentive Plan. We do not make
discretionary grants of equity awards under any plan other than the
Incentive Plan.
The increase in shares reserved for issuance under the Incentive
Plan is necessary to allow us to provide customary levels of equity
incentives to employees, including without limitation the long-term
equity incentive awards that the Compensation Committee of the
Board has historically granted to certain essential employees and
non-employee directors on an annual basis. Our Board believes that
the increase in the share reserve is necessary to assure that a
sufficient reserve of Common Stock remains available for issuance
as equity awards to attract and retain the services of individuals
essential to our long-term growth and financial success. We rely
significantly on equity incentives in order to attract and retain
employees, consultants, and non-employee directors, and believe
that such equity incentives are necessary for us to remain
competitive in the marketplace for executive talent and for other
key individuals.
Summary of the Incentive Plan
General
The Incentive Plan is intended to foster and promote the long-term
financial success of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and its
affiliates; to reward performance and to increase shareholder value
by providing participants appropriate incentives and rewards; to
enable us to attract and retain the services of outstanding
individuals upon whose judgment, interest and dedication the
successful conduct our businesses are largely dependent; to
encourage participants’ ownership interest in us; and to align the
interests of management and directors with that of our
shareholders.
Our Board originally adopted the Incentive Plan on February 27,
2018, and it became effective upon the approval of our shareholders
on May 8, 2018. The Board adopted and approved the amendment and
restatement of the Incentive Plan, subject to shareholder approval
at the Annual Meeting, on February 23, 2022.
Administration
The Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee,
which is and will be composed of independent directors. The
Compensation Committee has full authority, subject to the terms of
the Incentive Plan, to establish rules and regulations for the
proper administration of the Incentive Plan, to select the
employees, consultants and directors to whom awards are granted,
and to set the date of grant, the types of award that shall be made
and the other terms of the awards.
Eligibility
All of our employees and non-employee directors who provide
services to us are eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan.
The selection of those employees and non-employee directors, from
among those eligible, who will receive awards is within the
discretion of the Compensation Committee. At December 31,
2021, we employed 710 persons. Each of our seven (7) non-employee
directors is eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan. Except
as noted below under “—New Plan Benefits”, it is not possible at
this time to determine the benefits or amounts that will be
received by or allocated to participants under the Incentive
Plan.
Term of the Plan
The amended and restated Incentive Plan, if approved by our
shareholders, will terminate on February 23, 2032, after which
time no additional awards may be made under the Incentive
Plan.
Share Counting; Award Limits
Any shares that are tendered or withheld as full or partial payment
of withholding or other taxes or as payment for the exercise or
conversion price of an award under the Incentive Plan shall not be
added back to the number of shares available for issuance under the
Incentive Plan. Whenever any outstanding option or other award (or
portion thereof) expires, is cancelled or forfeited or is otherwise
terminated for any reason without having been exercised or payment
having been made in the form of shares, the number of shares
available for issuance under the Incentive Plan shall be increased
by the number of shares allocable to the expired, forfeited,
cancelled or otherwise terminated option or other award (or portion
thereof). To the extent that any award is forfeited, or any option
or stock appreciation right terminates, expires or lapses without
being exercised, the shares subject to such awards will not be
counted as shares delivered under the Incentive Plan.
No Participant may receive awards with respect to more than 20,000
shares in any calendar year. The maximum value for any award issued
to a director during any calendar year, determined on the date of
grant, may not exceed $100,000. The limitations described in the
preceding two sentences may be adjusted upon a reorganization,
stock split, recapitalization or other change in our capital
structure.
Types of Awards
The Incentive Plan permits the granting of any or all of the
following types of awards (“Awards”): (1) stock options, (2)
restricted stock awards, (3) restricted stock units, and (4) stock
appreciation rights.
Stock Options
The term of each option shall be as specified by the Compensation
Committee at the date of grant, but in no event shall an option be
exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date of
grant. An option shall be exercisable in whole or in such
installments and at such times as determined by the Compensation
Committee.
The Compensation Committee shall specify whether a given option
shall constitute an incentive stock option or a non-statutory stock
option. An incentive stock option may be granted only to an
individual who is employed by us or our affiliates at the time the
option is granted.
Each option shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Award Agreement in
such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Incentive Plan as the Compensation Committee from
time to time shall approve, including, without limitation,
provisions to qualify an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422
of the Code, if applicable. Each Stock Option Award Agreement shall
specify the effect of termination of employment, the consulting or
advisory relationship, or membership on the Board, as applicable,
on the exercisability of the Option. The terms and conditions of
the respective Award Agreements need not be identical. The
Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend an
outstanding Stock Option Award Agreement from time to time in any
manner that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Incentive Plan (including, without limitation, an amendment that
accelerates the time at which the option, or a portion thereof, may
be exercisable), subject to the consent of the participant if the
participant’s rights would be adversely affected.
The option price will be determined by the Compensation Committee
and will be no less than the fair market value of the shares on the
date that the option is granted, except for adjustments for certain
changes in our Common Stock. The Compensation Committee may
determine the method by which the option price may be paid upon
exercise. Moreover, a Stock Option Award Agreement may provide for
a “cashless exercise” or “net exercise” of the option by
establishing procedures satisfactory to the Compensation Committee
with respect thereto. Further, a Stock Option Award Agreement may
provide for the surrender of the right to purchase shares under the
option in return for a payment under a Stock Appreciation
Right.
Except in connection with certain recapitalizations or
reorganizations as contemplated by the Incentive Plan, the
Compensation Committee may not, without approval of our
shareholders, amend any outstanding Stock Option Award Agreement to
lower the option price.
Restricted Stock Awards
Awards may be granted in the form of restricted stock (a
“Restricted Stock Award”). Shares of Common Stock that are the
subject of a Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to
restrictions on disposition by the participant and an obligation of
the participant to forfeit and surrender the shares to us under
certain circumstances (the “Forfeiture Restrictions”). The
Forfeiture Restrictions shall be determined by the Compensation
Committee in its sole discretion, and the Compensation Committee
may provide that the Forfeiture Restrictions shall lapse upon (i)
the attainment of one or more performance goals, (ii) the
participant’s continued employment with us or continued service as
a consultant or director for a specified period of time, (iii) the
occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition
specified by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, or
(iv) a combination of any of the foregoing. Each Restricted Stock
Award may have different Forfeiture Restrictions, in the discretion
of the Compensation Committee.
Common Stock awarded pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall be
represented by a stock certificate registered in the name of the
participant. Unless provided otherwise in an Award Agreement, the
participant shall have the right to vote Common Stock subject
thereto and to enjoy all other stockholder rights, except that (i)
the participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock
certificate until the Forfeiture Restrictions have expired, (ii) we
shall retain custody of the stock until the Forfeiture Restrictions
have expired, (iii) the participant may not sell, transfer, pledge,
exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the stock until the
Forfeiture Restrictions have expired, and (iv) a breach of the
terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee
pursuant to the Award Agreement shall cause a forfeiture of the
Restricted Stock Award.
Restricted Stock Awards shall not receive dividends during any
forfeiture restriction period. Any accrued dividends will be paid
to the participant at the time the Forfeiture Restrictions for the
underlying Restricted Stock Award expire, if the Compensation
Committee so provides in the applicable Award. At the time of such
Award, the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion,
prescribe additional terms, conditions or restrictions relating to
Restricted Stock Awards, including, but not limited to, rules
pertaining to the termination of employment or service as a
consultant or director (by retirement, disability, death or
otherwise) of a participant prior to expiration of the Forfeitures
Restrictions. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions
shall be set forth in an Award Agreement made in conjunction with
the Award. The terms and provisions of Restricted Stock Award
Agreements need not be identical.
The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion and as of a date
determined by the Compensation Committee, fully vest any or all
Common Stock awarded to a participant pursuant to a Restricted
Stock Award and, upon such vesting, all restrictions applicable to
such Restricted Stock Award shall terminate as of such date. Any
such action by the Compensation Committee may vary among individual
participants and may vary among the Restricted Stock Awards held by
any individual participant.
Restricted Stock Units
Restricted Stock Units are rights to receive shares of Common Stock
(or the fair market value thereof), which vest over a period of
time as established by the Compensation Committee and/or with the
satisfaction of certain performance criteria or objectives. The
Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, require payment or
other conditions of the participant respecting any Restricted Stock
Unit. The Compensation Committee shall establish, with respect to
and at the time of each Restricted Stock Unit, a period over which
the award shall vest with respect to the participant.
Following the end of the vesting period for a Restricted Stock Unit
(or at such other time as the applicable Restricted Stock Unit
Agreement may provide), the holder of a Restricted Stock Unit shall
be entitled to receive one share of Common Stock for each
Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise able to be
settled on such date. Cash dividend equivalents will not be paid
during the vesting period but may be accrued to the extent provided
for in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement and paid in cash at the
time the underlying shares of Common Stock are
delivered.
A Restricted Stock Unit shall terminate if the participant does not
remain continuously in our employ or does not continue to perform
services as a consultant or a director for us at all times during
the applicable vesting period, except as may be otherwise
determined by the Compensation Committee. The terms and provisions
of Restricted Stock Unit Agreements need not be
identical.
Stock Appreciation Rights
A Stock Appreciation Right is an award that may or may not be
granted in tandem with an option, and entitles the holder to
receive an amount equal to the difference between the fair market
value of the shares of Common Stock at the time of exercise of the
Stock Appreciation Right and the base amount, subject to the
applicable terms and conditions of the tandem options and the
Incentive Plan.
A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the holder to receive,
upon the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right, shares of Common
Stock (valued at their fair market value at the time of exercise),
cash, or a combination thereof, in the discretion of the
Compensation Committee, in an amount equal in value to the excess
of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to
the Stock Appreciation Right as of the date of such exercise over
the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right. If granted in
tandem with an option, the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right
will result in the surrender of the related option and, unless
otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee in its sole
discretion, the exercise of an option will result in the surrender
of a related Stock Appreciation Right, if any. The terms and
provisions of Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreements need not be
identical.
The “expiration date” with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right
shall be determined by the Compensation Committee, and if granted
in tandem with an option, shall be not later than the expiration
date for the related option. If the right is not exercised before
the end of the day on which the right ceases to be exercisable,
such right shall be deemed exercised automatically if the exercise
price of the Stock Appreciation Right is less than the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock on that date, and payment shall be
made to the holder in cash.
Performance Grants
The Incentive Plan provides the Compensation Committee the ability
to grant Awards as performance-based compensation. An award granted
as performance-based compensation shall be awarded to a participant
contingent upon attainment of our future performance goals during a
performance cycle. The performance goals shall be pre-established
by the Compensation Committee. Performance goals determined by the
Compensation Committee may include, but are not limited to, revenue
and income measures (including revenue, return on revenue growth,
gross margin, income from operations, adjusted net income, earnings
per share, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA), profit, and economic value added); expense
measures (including costs of goods sold, selling, loss or expense
ratio, general and administrative expenses and overhead cost);
operating measures (including productivity, operating income,
operating earnings, cash flow or adjusted cash flow, funds from
operations, cash from operations, after-tax operating income,
expenses, and margins); liquidity measures (including earnings
before or after the effect of certain items such as interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization and free cash flow); leverage
measures (including debt to equity ratio and net debt); market
measures (including market share, stock price, growth measure,
total stockholder return and market capitalization measures);
return measures (including book value, return on capital, return on
assets or net assets, return on stockholders’ equity, and
stockholder returns, which may be risk-adjusted); corporate value
and sustainability measures which may be objectively determined;
and other measures determined by the Compensation Committee in its
discretion. The Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may
adjust or modify the calculation of performance goals during a
period in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of
participants, including in response to extraordinary or
unanticipated events.
Following the end of the performance period, the holder of a
performance-based compensation award shall be entitled to receive
payment of an amount not exceeding the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to, or the maximum value of, the performance-based
compensation award, based on the achievement of the performance
measures for such performance period, as determined and certified
in writing by the Compensation Committee. Payment of a
performance-based compensation award shall be made no later than 90
days after the end of the performance period and certification by
the Compensation Committee.
Effect of a Change of Control
Under certain circumstances, accelerated vesting, exercise or
payment of awards under the Incentive Plan in connection with a
“change of control” of us might be deemed an “excess parachute
payment” for purposes of the golden parachute payment provisions of
Section 280G of the Code. To the extent it is so considered, the
participant holding the award would be subject to an excise tax
equal to 20 percent of the amount of the excess parachute payment,
and we would be denied a tax deduction for the excess parachute
payment.
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the
amount of compensation that we may deduct in any taxable year with
respect to each “covered employee” within the meaning of Section
162(m) of the Code.
Miscellaneous
The Board may amend or modify the Incentive Plan at any time;
provided, however, that stockholder approval will be obtained for
any amendment (1) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply
with any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, (2) to
change the number of shares available for issuance as incentive
stock options, (3) to change the class of employees eligible to
receive incentive stock options or (4) to permit the exercise price
of any outstanding option or stock appreciation right to be reduced
to be below fair market value as of the grant date.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a brief summary of the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the grant, vesting and exercise of awards under the
Incentive Plan. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive, and,
among other things, does not describe state, local or non-United
States tax consequences, or the effect of gift, estate or
inheritance taxes. Individuals receiving option awards under the
Incentive Plan should rely upon their own tax advisors for advice
concerning the specific tax consequences applicable to them,
including the applicability and effect of state, local and foreign
tax laws.
Options granted under the Incentive Plan may be either incentive
stock options, which satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code, or non-statutory stock options, which are not intended to
meet such requirements. The federal income tax treatment for the
two types of options differs, as described below.
Incentive Stock Options
An optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time of
the award of an incentive stock option. In addition, an optionee
will not recognize any taxable income at the time of the exercise
of an incentive stock option (although taxable income may arise at
the time of exercise for alternative minimum tax purposes) if the
optionee has been our employee at all times beginning with the
option award date and ending three months before the date of
exercise (or twelve months in the case of termination of employment
due to disability). If the optionee has not been so employed during
that time, the optionee will be taxed as described below for
non-statutory stock options. If the optionee disposes of the shares
purchased through the exercise of an incentive stock option more
than two years after the option was granted and more than one year
after the option was exercised, then the optionee will recognize
any gain or loss upon disposition of those shares as capital gain
or loss. However, if the optionee disposes of the shares prior to
satisfying these holding periods (known as a “disqualifying
disposition”), the optionee will be obligated to report as taxable
ordinary income for the year in which that disposition occurs the
excess, with certain adjustments, of (i) the fair market value of
the shares disposed of on the date of exercise over (ii) the
exercise price paid for those shares. Any additional gain realized
by the optionee on the disqualifying disposition would be capital
gain. If the total amount realized in a disqualifying disposition
is less than the exercise price of the incentive stock option, the
difference would be a capital loss for the optionee. We will,
subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, generally be entitled at the
time of the disqualifying disposition to a tax deduction equal to
that amount of ordinary income reported by the
optionee.
Non-Statutory Options
An optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time of
the award of a non-statutory option. The optionee will recognize
ordinary income in the year in which the optionee exercises the
option equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
purchased shares on the exercise date over the exercise price paid
for the shares, and the optionee will be required at that time to
satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income.
Any appreciation or depreciation in the fair market value of those
shares after the exercise date will generally result in a capital
gain or loss to the optionee at the time he or she disposes of
those shares. We will, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code,
generally be entitled to an income tax deduction at the time of
exercise equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the
optionee at that time.
Restricted Stock Awards
The recipient of shares of restricted stock will not recognize any
taxable income at the time of the award so long as the shares of
Common Stock are not transferable and are subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture. Accordingly, we are not entitled to a
compensation deduction at that time. The recipient will have to
report as ordinary income as and when those shares of Common Stock
subsequently vest, that is, when they either become transferable or
are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, an
amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the
shares upon vesting over (ii) the cash consideration (if any) paid
for the shares. We will, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code,
then be entitled to a corresponding compensation deduction. All
dividends and distributions (or the cash equivalent thereof) with
respect to a restricted stock award paid to the employee before the
risk of forfeiture lapses will also be compensation income to the
participant when paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the recipient
of a restricted stock award may elect under Section 83(b) of the
Code to be taxed at the time of grant of the restricted stock award
based on the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the
date of the award, in which case (1) subject to Section 162(m) of
the Code, we will be entitled to a deduction at the same time and
in the same amount, (2) dividends which accumulate during the
period the forfeiture restrictions apply and are paid to the
recipient when the shares of Common Stock vest will be taxable as
dividends and will not be deductible by us, and (3) there will be
no further federal income tax consequences when the risk of
forfeiture lapses. In such case, any appreciation or depreciation
in the fair market value of those shares of Common Stock after
grant will generally result in a capital gain or loss to the
recipient at the time he or she disposes of those shares. This
election must be made not later than thirty days after the grant of
the restricted stock award and is irrevocable.
Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units are not subject to taxation at the time of
grant, and we will not be entitled to a deduction at that time,
assuming that the restrictions constitute a substantial risk of
forfeiture for federal income tax purposes. On the date a
restricted stock unit is settled through the actual or constructive
delivery of shares of Common Stock to the participant, the
participant will realize ordinary income in an amount equal to the
fair market value of the shares received in settlement for the
units at such time over the amount, if any, paid for the shares,
and subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, we will be entitled to a
corresponding deduction.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The recipient of a stock appreciation right will not recognize
taxable income at the time of the award. The recipient will
recognize ordinary income when the stock appreciation right is
exercised in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market
value of the underlying shares of Common Stock on the exercise date
over (ii) the base price in effect for the stock appreciation
right, and the recipient will be required to satisfy the tax
withholding requirements applicable to such income. We will,
subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, generally be entitled at the
time of exercise to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of
ordinary income recognized by the recipient in connection with the
exercise of the stock appreciation right.
New Plan Benefits
If the amended and restated Incentive Plan is approved, our Board
and Compensation Committee will be able to grant awards to eligible
participants under the plan at their discretion through the plan’s
termination date. Consequently, it is not possible to determine at
this time the amount or dollar value of awards to be provided under
the amended and restated Incentive Plan.
Vote Required and Recommendation
Approval of the amended and restated Incentive Plan requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter in
person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. As a result, abstentions,
broker non-votes and the failure to submit a proxy or vote at the
Meeting will have no effect on the outcome. Proxies solicited by
management for which no specific direction is included will be
voted “FOR” the approval of the amended and restated Incentive
Plan.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the
approval of the amendment and restatement of the Adams Resources
& Energy Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance by 150,000
shares.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation
Plans
The following table sets forth information
as of December 31, 2021, with respect to compensation plans
under which shares of our Common Stock may be issued:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
remaining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
available for |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
equity |
|
|
securities to |
|
Weighted- |
|
compensation |
|
|
be issued |
|
average |
|
plans (excluding |
|
|
upon exercise |
|
exercise price |
|
securities |
|
|
of warrants |
|
of outstanding |
|
reflected in |
Plan Category |
|
and rights |
|
rights |
|
column (a)) |
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
59,757 |
|
|
— |
|
|
55,809 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by security holders |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
59,757 |
|
|
— |
|
|
55,809 |
|
2021 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors who are our employees do not receive fees or any other
compensation for their services as directors. Directors who are not
employees received cash compensation as presented in the table
below. Director fees are based on a flat amount and are paid on a
quarterly basis. Directors are also reimbursed for direct
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with travel associated with
meeting attendance. Directors also receive an annual grant under
the 2018 LTIP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
Cash fees |
|
Stock Awards
(1)
|
|
Compensation
(2)
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Murray E. Brasseux |
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
$ |
15,919 |
|
|
$ |
356 |
|
|
$ |
76,275 |
|
Dennis E. Dominic |
|
70,000 |
|
|
15,919 |
|
|
356 |
|
|
86,275 |
|
Michelle A. Earley |
|
70,000 |
|
|
15,919 |
|
|
356 |
|
|
86,275 |
|
Richard C. Jenner |
|
70,000 |
|
|
15,919 |
|
|
356 |
|
|
86,275 |
|
John O. Niemann, Jr. |
|
75,000 |
|
|
15,919 |
|
|
356 |
|
|
91,275 |
|
Townes G. Pressler |
|
90,000 |
|
|
15,919 |
|
|
2,743 |
|
|
108,662 |
|
W.R. Scofield |
|
60,000 |
|
|
15,919 |
|
|
356 |
|
|
76,275 |
|
_______________
(1)Represents
the grant date fair value of grants of 536 restricted stock unit
awards to each director on March 1, 2021. The grant date fair value
of restricted stock unit awards is based on the grant date market
price of our shares of Common Stock of $29.70 per share (computed
in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718). For a discussion of the
valuation of restricted stock unit awards, please see the
discussion in Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, each of
our directors held 536 restricted stock unit awards that vested on
March 1, 2022.
(2)Amounts
represent the distribution equivalents paid during 2021 upon
vesting of restricted share unit awards.
On March 1, 2022, each of the above directors received a restricted
stock unit award grant of 500 shares, with a vesting date of March
1, 2023.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
KPMG LLP served as our independent registered public accounting
firm, providing audit and financing services since their
appointment in June 2017.
Fees for professional services provided by KPMG LLP in each of the
last two years in each of the following categories were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees
(1)
|
|
$ |
963,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,031,500 |
|
Audit-related Fees
(2)
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
25,000 |
|
Tax Fees |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
All Other Fees |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,063,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,056,500 |
|
_______________
(1)Audit
fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered in
connection with the audit of our annual financial statements,
review of our quarterly financial statements, and services that are
normally provided by our independent registered public accounting
firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements for those fiscal years.
(2)Audit-related
fees represent amounts billed for assurance and related services
that are reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit
or quarterly reviews. This category primarily includes fees for
services normally provided in connection with regulatory filings or
engagements including comfort letters and other services related to
SEC matters.
The scope and all fees associated with audit and other services
performed by KPMG LLP are pre-approved by the Audit Committee on an
annual basis. The Audit Committee, established in accordance
with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, has the
responsibility to assist our Board in fulfilling its fiduciary
responsibilities as to accounting policies and reporting our
practices and those of our subsidiaries and the sufficiency of the
audits of all of our activities. The Audit Committee is the
Board’s agent in ensuring the integrity of our financial reports
and those of our subsidiaries, and the adequacy of disclosures to
shareholders. The Audit Committee is the focal point for
communication between other directors, the independent auditors and
management as their duties relate to financial accounting,
reporting and controls. The Audit Committee is also responsible for
reviewing our financial transactions involving any related
parties.
Appointment of Auditors
The present intention of the Audit Committee of the Board is to
appoint KPMG LLP, independent registered public accountants, to
audit our financial statements for the year ending December 31,
2022. KPMG LLP was first appointed as our auditors in
2017. A representative of KPMG LLP will be present at the
Annual Meeting and will be given an opportunity to make a statement
if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies
The Audit Committee has established a policy intended to clearly
define the scope of services performed by our independent
registered public accountants. This policy relates to audit
services, audit-related services, tax and all other services that
may be provided by our independent registered public accountants
and is intended to ensure that such services do not impair the
auditor’s independence. The policy requires the pre-approval
by the Audit Committee of all services to be provided by our
independent registered public accountants. Under the policy,
the Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the
services that may be provided by the independent registered public
accountants. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval
authority to one or more of its members. The member or
members to whom such authority is delegated is required to report
to the Audit Committee at its next meeting any services that such
member or members has approved. The policy also provides that
the Audit Committee will pre-approve the fee levels for all
services to be provided by the independent registered public
accountants.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
To the Board of Directors:
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors currently consists of
Messrs. Niemann, Brasseux and Jenner. Mr. Niemann has served as
Chair of the Audit Committee since his appointment in May 2019. The
duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in
a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of
which is available on our website at
www.adamsresources.com
under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance. Each member
of the Audit Committee is independent, as defined in Section 803A
of the NYSE American LLC Company Guide, and the Board has
determined that Mr. Niemann is an “audit committee financial
expert” as defined by the SEC.
We have reviewed and discussed with management the audited
consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2021.
The Audit Committee received from and discussed with KPMG LLP the
written disclosure and the letter required by applicable
requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the
“PCAOB”) regarding KPMG LLP’s communications with the audit
committee concerning independence and has discussed with KPMG LLP,
the auditors’ independence. These items relate to that firm’s
independence from us. In addition, the Audit Committee has
also discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required to be
discussed by applicable accounting standards and the PCAOB.
The Audit Committee monitored auditor independence, reviewed audit
and non-audit services performed by KPMG LLP and discussed with the
auditors their independence. All of the services
provided by our principal accounting firm described in this proxy
statement were approved in accordance with this policy, and the
Audit Committee has determined that the independent registered
public accountants’ independence has not been compromised as a
result of providing these services and receiving the fees for such
services as noted above.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we
recommend to the Board of Directors that the financial statements
referred to above be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2021.
John O. Niemann, Jr., Chairman
Murray E. Brasseux
Richard C. Jenner
The
information contained in the report above shall not be deemed to be
“soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such
information be incorporated by reference into any future filing
under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as amended, except to
the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such
filing.
Review, Approval, or Ratification of Transactions with Related
Persons
The Board of Directors has adopted a written policy for approval of
transactions between the Company and its related parties, defined
in the policy as its directors, director nominees, executive
officers, greater than 5 percent beneficial owners, each of their
respective immediate family members, and any firm, corporation or
other entity in which of any of the foregoing persons is employed
as an officer, general partner or principal or in a similar
position or in which such person has a 10 percent or greater
beneficial ownership interest. Pursuant to the policy, all
transactions involving the company and a related party shall be
subject to pre-approval or ratification by the Audit Committee
after consideration of the material facts of the transaction. In
determining whether to approve or ratify a related party
transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account, among
other factors it deems appropriate, whether the related party
transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally
available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar
circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in
the transaction.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
We enter into certain transactions in the normal course of business
with affiliated entities, including direct cost reimbursement for
shared phone and administrative services. For the year ended
December 31, 2021, we billed affiliated entities approximately
$1,000 on a net basis.
We also lease our corporate office space in a building operated by
17 South Briar Hollow Lane, LLC, an affiliate of KSA Industries,
Inc., which is our largest stockholder. The lease rental rate
was determined by an independent appraisal. Rental expense
paid to the related party for 2021 totaled
$0.6 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we paid West Point
Buick GMC, an affiliate of KSA Industries, Inc., a total of
approximately $0.5 million (net of trade-in values) for the
purchase of twelve pickup trucks.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding the number of
shares of our Common Stock held of record on April 1, 2022,
(i) by the Named Executive Officers, directors and nominees for
director, (ii) by beneficial owners of more than five percent of
our Common Stock, and (iii) by all officers and directors as a
group. Unless otherwise stated below, the address of each
beneficial owner listed on the table is c/o Adams Resources &
Energy, Inc., 17 South Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 100, Houston,
Texas 77027. Unless otherwise indicated, each person named
below has sole voting and investment power over all shares of
Common Stock indicated as beneficially owned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficially |
|
|
|
Percent |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
|
Owned |
|
|
|
of Class |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Murray E. Brasseux |
|
3,280 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Dennis E. Dominic |
|
1,730 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Michelle A. Earley |
|
1,780 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Richard C. Jenner |
|
2,280 |
|
|
|
|
* |
John O. Niemann, Jr. |
|
4,001 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Townes G. Pressler |
|
7,482 |
|
|
|
|
* |
W.R. Scofield |
|
2,280 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Sharon C. Davis |
|
2,287 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Wade M. Harrison |
|
726 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Greg L. Mills |
|
1,123 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Tracy E. Ohmart |
|
3,578 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Kevin J. Roycraft |
|
4,424 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KSA Industries, Inc. |
|
1,644,275 |
|
|
(1)
|
|
37.8% |
Barclay Cunningham Adams |
|
1,731,041 |
|
|
(1)
|
|
39.7% |
Kenneth Stanley Adams, IV |
|
1,730,442 |
|
|
(1)
|
|
39.7% |
Susan Cunningham Lewis |
|
1,654,901 |
|
|
(1)
|
|
38.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amy Adams Strunk |
|
1,755,159 |
|
|
(1)
|
|
40.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP |
|
315,306 |
|
|
(2)
|
|
7.2% |
6300 Bee Cave Road |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Austin, Texas 78746 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Renaissance Technologies LLC and |
|
255,056 |
|
|
(3)
|
|
5.9% |
Renaissance Technologies Holdings Corporation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
800 Third Avenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York, New York 10022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FMR, LLC |
|
219,114 |
|
|
(4)
|
|
5.0% |
245 Summer Street |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boston, Massachusetts 02210 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officers and Directors |
|
34,971 |
|
|
|
|
0.7% |
as a group (12 persons) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
___________________________
* Less than 1 percent.
(1)Based
in part on information contained in Schedule 13D/A filings with the
SEC on November 1, 2017 and February 2, 2021. Mr. Barclay Adams,
Mr. Kenneth Stanley Adams, IV, Ms. Susan Cunningham Lewis and
Ms. Amy Adams Strunk are shareholders of KSA Industries, Inc. and
share voting and dispositive power of 1,644,275 shares held
directly by KSA Industries, Inc. In addition to their
indirect holding through KSA Industries, Inc., Mr. Barclay Adams
holds 86,766 shares directly, Mr. Kenneth Stanley Adams, IV holds
86,167 shares directly, Ms. Lewis holds 10,626 shares directly, and
Ms. Strunk holds 110,884 shares directly, for which they each
respectively hold sole voting and dispositive power.
(2)Based
solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the
SEC on February 18, 2022 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, whereby
Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP reported that it has sole voting
power with respect to 307,707 shares and sole dispositive power
with respect to 315,306 shares. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, an
investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment
Advisors Act of 1940, furnishes investment advice to four
investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, and serves as investment manager or sub-adviser to certain
other commingled funds, group trusts and separate accounts (such
investment companies, trusts and accounts, collectively referred to
as the “Funds”). In certain cases, subsidiaries of
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP may act as an adviser or sub-adviser
to certain Funds. In its role as investment advisor,
sub-adviser and/or manager, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP or its
subsidiaries (collectively, “Dimensional”) may possess voting
and/or investment power over these securities that are owned by the
Funds, and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such
securities held by the Funds. However, all securities
reported herein are owned by the Funds. Dimensional disclaims
beneficial ownership of such securities.
(3)Based
solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the
SEC on February 11, 2022 by Renaissance Technologies LLC, whereby
Renaissance Technologies LLC reported that it has sole voting power
with respect to 237,756 shares and sole dispositive power with
respect to 255,056 shares.
(4)Based
solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the
SEC on February 9, 2022 by FMR, LLC, whereby FMR, LLC reported that
it has sole voting power with respect to 27,024 shares and sole
dispositive power with respect to 219,114 shares.
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who
beneficially own more than 10 percent of a registered class of our
Common Stock (“reporting persons”), to file with the SEC initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our
Common Stock. These reporting persons are required by SEC
regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms
they file.
To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of reports
and amendments thereto on Forms 3, 4 and 5 furnished to us by
reporting persons and forms that we filed on behalf of certain
directors and officers, during, and with respect to, our fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021, and on a review of written
representations from reporting persons to us that no other reports
were required to be filed for such fiscal year, all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to our reporting persons were
satisfied in a timely manner.
CODE OF ETHICS
We have adopted a code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that
applies to all officers, directors and employees, including our
principal executive officer, principal financial and accounting
officer, and persons performing similar functions (the “Principal
Officers”). A copy of the Code of Ethics is posted on our
website at
www.adamsresources.com
under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance, and we intend to
satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K
regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code
of Ethics with respect to our Principal Officers by posting such
information on this Internet website.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Shareholder Proposals
Under the rules of the SEC, in order to be considered for inclusion
in next year’s proxy statement, all shareholder proposals must be
submitted in writing by December 8, 2022 to Adams Resources
& Energy, Inc., c/o Investor Relations, 17 South Briar Hollow
Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77027. The notice should
contain the text of any proposal, the name and address of the
shareholder as it appears in our books, the number of our shares of
Common Stock that are beneficially owned by the shareholder, and
any material interest of the shareholder in such business. If
a shareholder submits a proposal for consideration at the 2023
Annual Meeting after December 8, 2022, our proxy for the 2023
Annual Meeting may confer discretionary authority to vote on such
matter without any discussion of such matter in the proxy statement
for the 2023 Annual Meeting.
Other Matters
We know of no matters to be presented for consideration at the
Annual Meeting other than those described above. If other
matters are properly presented to the meeting for action, it is
intended that the persons named in the accompanying proxy, and
acting pursuant to authority granted thereunder, will vote in
accordance with their best unanimous judgment on such
matters.
Number of Proxy Statements and Annual Reports
Only one copy of this Proxy Statement and the Annual Report
accompanying this Proxy Statement will be mailed to shareholders
who have the same address unless we receive a request that the
shareholders with the same address are to receive separate Proxy
Statements and Annual Reports. These additional copies will be
supplied at no additional cost to the requesting shareholder.
Shareholders who share an address and receive only one copy, or
shareholders who share an address and receive two copies, may
notify us that they wish to receive separate Annual Reports or
Proxy Statements, or wish to receive only one Annual Report and
Proxy Statement, as applicable, may notify us of such request by
calling (713) 881-3600 or sending a written request to 17 South
Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77027.
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
THEY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING, AND YOU ARE RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTED TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE
PROVIDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ David B. Hurst |
|
|
|
David B. Hurst |
|
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
Houston, Texas |
|
|
|
April 7, 2022 |
|
|
|
Appendix A
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(Amended and Restated as of February 23, 2022)
(Effective as of May 8, 2018)
1.PURPOSE
This Plan is intended to foster and promote the long-term financial
success of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and its Affiliates
(the “Company Group”); to reward performance and to increase
shareholder value by providing Participants appropriate incentives
and rewards; to enable the Company Group to attract and retain the
services of outstanding individuals upon whose judgment, interest
and dedication the successful conduct of the Company Group’s
businesses are largely dependent; to encourage Participants’
ownership interest in Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.; and to
align the interests of management and directors with that of the
Company’s shareholders.
This Plan has been amended and restated by the Board of Directors
as of February 23, 2022, to be effective as of the Effective
Date.
2.DEFINITIONS
(a)“Affiliate”
means any entity (whether a corporation, partnership, joint venture
or other form of entity) that directly, or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by or is under
common control with, the Company, except solely with respect to the
issuance of Incentive Stock Options, the term “Affiliate” shall be
limited to any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of
the Company, as such terms are defined in Code Sections 424(e) and
424(f) respectively.
(b)“Award”
means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of
Non‑Statutory Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Restricted
Stock, Restricted Stock Units,
and
or
Stock Appreciation Rights.
(c)“Award
Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement evidencing and
setting forth the terms of an Award.
(d)“Board
of Directors” means the board of directors of the
Company.
(e)“Cause”
means, with respect to the termination of a Participant by the
Company or another member of the Company Group, that such
termination is for “Cause” as such term (or word of like import) is
expressly defined in a then-effective written employment or other
agreement between the Participant and the Company or such other
member of the Company Group. In the absence of such then-effective
written agreement and definition, “Cause” means, unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a
Participant:
(i)a
material breach by the Participant of the Participant’s duties and
obligations, including but not limited to gross negligence in the
performance of his duties and responsibilities;
(ii)willful
misconduct by the Participant which in the reasonable determination
of the Board of Directors or Committee has caused or is likely to
cause material injury to the reputation or business of the
Company;
(iii)any
act of fraud, material misappropriation or other dishonesty by the
Participant; or
(iv)Participant’s
conviction of a felony.
A Participant shall be considered to have been discharged for Cause
if the Company determines within 30 days after his resignation or
discharge that discharge for Cause was warranted.
(f)“Change
in Control” means the first to occur of any of the following
events:
(i)any
“Person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), except for (A) any of
the Company’s employee benefit plans, or any entity holding the
Company’s voting securities for, or pursuant to, the terms of any
such plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) (the “Benefit
Plan(s)”), or (B)
any acquisition by
KSA Industries, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “KSA”), is
or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of the
Company’s securities representing 51% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other
than pursuant to a transaction excepted in Clause
(ii);
(ii)the
consummation of a merger, consolidation, or other reorganization of
the Company, unless:
1.under
the terms of the agreement providing for such merger,
consolidation, or reorganization, the shareholders of the Company
immediately before such merger, consolidation, or reorganization,
will own, directly or indirectly immediately following such merger,
consolidation, or reorganization, at least 51% of the combined
voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company
resulting from such merger, consolidation, or reorganization (the
Surviving Company) in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership of the voting securities immediately before such merger,
consolidation, or reorganization;
2.the
individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to the
execution of such agreement constitute at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors of the Surviving Company after
such merger, consolidation, or reorganization; and
3.no
Person (other than (A) the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, (B) any Benefit Plan, (C) KSA, (D) the Surviving Company
or any Subsidiary of the Surviving Company, or (E) any Person who,
immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, or reorganization
had beneficial ownership of 51% or more of the then outstanding
voting securities) will have beneficial ownership of 51% or more of
the combined voting power of the Surviving Company’s then
outstanding voting securities;
(iii)during
any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who,
at the beginning of such period, constituted the Board cease for
any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board unless
the election, or the nomination for election by the Company’s
shareholders, of each new director was approved by a vote of at
least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of the period.
Notwithstanding Clause (i), a Change in Control shall not be deemed
to have occurred if a Person becomes the beneficial owner, directly
or indirectly, of the Company’s securities representing 51% or more
of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding
securities solely as a result of an acquisition by the Company of
its voting securities which, by reducing the number of shares
outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares
beneficially owned by such Person to 51% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
provided, however, that if a Person (other than KSA) becomes a
beneficial owner of 51% or more of the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities by reason of share purchases
by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the
Company, become the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
any additional voting securities of the Company (other than as a
result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction),
then a Change in Control of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred with respect to such Person (other than KSA) under Clause
(i).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, in any circumstance or
transaction in which compensation resulting from or in respect of
an Award would result in the imposition of an additional tax under
Code Section 409A if the foregoing definition of “Change in
Control” were to apply, but would not result in the imposition of
any additional tax if the term “Change in Control” were defined
herein to mean a “change in control event” within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5), then “Change in
Control” shall mean a “change in control event” within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5), but only to the
extent necessary to prevent such compensation from becoming subject
to an additional tax under Code Section 409A.
(g)“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(h)“Committee”
means the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
(i)“Common
Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value, $.10 per
share.
(j)“Company”
means Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of Delaware, and all successors to it.
(k)“Date
of Grant” means the date when the Company completes the corporate
action necessary to create the legally binding right constituting
an Award, as provided in Code Section 409A and the regulations
thereunder.
(l)“Disability”
means a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
is of such permanence and degree that it can be expected to result
in death or that a Participant is unable, because of such
impairment, to perform any substantial gainful activity for which
the Participant is suited by virtue of such Participant’s
experience, training or education and which would entitle the
Participant to benefits under the Employer’s long-term disability
plan, if any, or to Social Security disability benefits as
evidenced by a disability award letter.
(m)“Effective
Date” means
the date the Plan, as amended and restated, is approved by the
stockholders of the Company. The original effective date for the
Plan was
May 8, 2018.
(n)“Employee”
means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. Directors
who are employed by the Company or an Affiliate shall be considered
Employees under the Plan.
(o)“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(p)“Exercise
Price” means the price at which a Participant may purchase a share
of Common Stock pursuant to an Option, or, in the case of Stock
Appreciation Rights, the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation
Right upon the Date of Grant.
(q)“Fair
Market Value” on any date means the market price of Common Stock,
determined by the Committee as follows:
(i)if
the Common Stock is listed on one or more established stock
exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation
the New York Stock Exchange,
the NYSE American or the Nasdaq Stock Market,
its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such
stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on
the principal exchange or system on which the Common Stock is
listed (as determined by the Committee) on the date of
determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was
reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such
closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported
in
The Wall Street Journal
or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
(ii)if
the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation
system (including
any market operated by OTC Markets Group, Inc.
the OTC Bulletin Board)
or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall
be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system
or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if
selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share
of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low
asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or,
if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such
prices were reported), as reported in
The Wall Street Journal
or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
or
(iii)in
the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the
type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value
thereof shall be determined by the Committee in good
faith.
The Committee’s determination of Fair Market Value shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons.
(r)“Incentive
Stock Option” means a stock option granted to a Participant
pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan that is intended to meet the
requirements of Code Section 422.
(s)“Non-Statutory
Stock Option” means a stock option granted to a Participant
pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan that is not intended to qualify,
or does not qualify, as an Incentive Stock Option.
(t)“Option”
means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock
Option.
(u)“Outside
Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company
or an Affiliate who is not also an Employee of the Company or an
Affiliate.
(v)“Participant”
means any person who holds an outstanding Award.
(w)“Performance
Criteria” means the criteria the Committee selects for purposes of
establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a
Participant for a Performance Period, which need not be the same
for each Participant. The Performance Criteria include, but are not
limited to, the following:
(i)revenue
and income measures (which include revenue, return or revenue
growth, gross margin, income from operations, adjusted net income,
net sales, earnings per share, earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), achievement of profit,
economic value added (“EVA”), and price per share of Common Stock),
each of which may be subject to adjustment as provided under the
terms of an Award Agreement;
(ii)expense
measures (which include costs of goods sold, selling, loss or
expense ratio, general and administrative expenses and overhead
costs);
(iii)operating
measures (which include productivity, operating income, operating
earnings, cash flow (including adjusted cash flow), funds from
operations, cash from operations, after-tax operating income,
market share, expenses, margins, operating efficiency); cash flow
measures;
(iv)liquidity
measures (which include earnings before or after the effect of
certain items such as interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization, and free cash flow);
(v)leverage
measures (which include debt-to-equity ratio and net
debt);
(vi)market
measures (which include market share, stock price, growth measure,
total stockholder return and market capitalization
measures);
(vii)return
measures (which include book value, return on capital, return on
net assets, return on stockholders’ equity; return on assets;
stockholder returns, and which may be risk-adjusted);
(viii)corporate
value and sustainability measures which may be objectively
determined (which include compliance, safety, environmental and
personnel matters);
(ix)other
measures such as those relating to acquisitions or dispositions
(which include proceeds from dispositions); and
(x)such
other measures as determined by the Committee in its
discretion.
Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such
Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be: (i) expressed on a
corporate-wide basis; with respect to one or more business units,
divisions, subsidiaries or business segments, or any combination
thereof; (ii) in either absolute terms or relative to the
performance of one or more comparable companies or an index
covering multiple companies; (iii) absolute or based on change in
the Performance Criteria over a specified period of time and such
change may be measured based on an arithmetic change over a
specified period (e.g., cumulative change or average change), or
percentage change over a specified period (e.g., cumulative
percentage change, average percentage change or compounded
percentage change), (iv) based on GAAP or non-GAAP calculations; or
(v) any combination of the foregoing. The Committee shall establish
Performance Goals for each Performance Period prior to, or as soon
as practicable after, the commencement of such Performance Period.
The Committee, in its discretion, may adjust or modify the
calculation of Performance Goals for each Performance Period in
order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of
Participants (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any
unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event, or
development; (ii) in the event of, or in connection with, any
acquisition or divestiture of a portion of the Company’s business
or operations; or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of,
any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or
the financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in
anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations,
accounting principles, or business conditions.
(x)“Performance
Period” means the designated period during which the Performance
Goals must be satisfied with respect to the Award to which the
Performance Goals relate
(y)“Permitted
Transferees” means with respect to a Participant, any child,
stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse,
former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law,
father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or
sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing
the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a
trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the beneficial
interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant)
control the management of assets, and any other entity in which
these persons (or the Participant) own more than 50% of the voting
interests.
(z)“Plan”
means this Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.
Amended and Restated
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(aa)“Restricted
Stock” means one or more Shares granted to a Participant pursuant
to Section 9 of the Plan.
(bb) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a
bookkeeping unit that represents a right to receive Shares upon the
completion of a vesting period and/or the satisfaction of a
designated Performance Criteria, which shall be granted to a
Participant pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan.
(cc) “Share” means a share of Common
Stock.
(dd) “Termination of Service” shall mean the
termination of employment of an Employee by the Company and all
Affiliates or the termination of service by an Outside Director as
a member of the board of directors of the Company and all
Affiliates. A Participant’s service shall not be deemed to have
terminated because of a change in the entity for which the
Participant renders such service, provided that there is no
interruption or termination of the Participant’s service.
Furthermore, a Participant’s service with the Company Group shall
not be deemed to have terminated if the Participant takes any
military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence
approved by the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that
unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if any such leave
exceeds 90 days, on the 91st day of such leave the Participant’s
service shall be deemed to have terminated unless the Participant’s
right to return to service with the Company Group is guaranteed by
statute or contract. Unless the Participant’s leave of absence is
approved by the Committee, a Participant’s service shall be deemed
to have terminated upon the entity for which the Participant
performs service ceasing to be an Affiliate (or any successor).
Subject to the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, shall
determine whether a Participant’s service has terminated and the
effective date of such termination.
4. ADMINISTRATION
The Committee shall administer the Plan. The Committee shall
consist of two or more disinterested directors of the Company, who
shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. A member of the Board
of Directors shall be deemed to be “disinterested” only if he
satisfies (i) such requirements as the Securities and Exchange
Commission may establish for non-employee directors administering
plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its
successor) under the Exchange Act and (ii) such rules for an
“independent director” as the principal U.S. national securities
exchange on which Shares are traded may require. The Board of
Directors may also appoint one or more separate committees of the
Board of Directors, each composed of one or more directors of the
Company or an Affiliate who need not be disinterested, that may
grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to Employees,
Outside Directors, and other individuals who are not considered
officers or directors of the Company under Section 16 of the
Exchange Act.
(a)The
Committee shall have the sole and complete authority
to:
(i)determine
the individuals to whom Awards are granted, the type and amounts of
Awards to be granted and the time of all such grants;
(ii)determine
the terms, conditions and provisions of, and restrictions relating
to, each Award granted;
(iii)interpret
and construe the Plan and all Award Agreements;
(iv)prescribe,
amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the
Plan;
(v)determine
the content and form of all Award Agreements;
(vi)determine
all questions relating to Awards under the Plan, including whether
any conditions relating to an Award have been met;
(vii)determine
the duration and purpose of leaves of absence that may be granted
to a Participant without constituting termination of the
Participant’s employment for the purpose of the Plan or any
Award;
(viii)maintain
accounts, records and ledgers relating to Awards;
(ix)maintain
records concerning its decisions and proceedings;
(x)employ
agents, attorneys, accountants or other persons for such purposes
as the Committee considers necessary or desirable; and
(xi)do
and perform all acts which it may deem necessary or appropriate for
the administration of the Plan and to carry out the objectives of
the Plan.
The Committee’s determinations under the Plan shall be final and
binding on all persons.
(b)Each
Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such
provisions as may be approved by the Committee. Each Award
Agreement shall constitute a binding contract between the Company
and the Participant, and every Participant, upon acceptance of the
Award Agreement, shall be bound by the terms and restrictions of
the Plan and the Award Agreement. The terms of each Award Agreement
shall be in accordance with the Plan, but each Award Agreement may
include such additional provisions and restrictions determined by
the Committee, in its discretion, provided that such additional
provisions and restrictions are not inconsistent with the terms of
the Plan. In particular, and at a minimum, the Committee shall set
forth in each Award Agreement (i) the type of Award granted, (ii)
the Exercise Price of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (iii)
the number of Shares
subject to the Award; (iv) the expiration date of the Award, and
(v) the restrictions, if any, placed upon such Award, or upon
Shares which may be issued upon exercise of such
Award.
(c)The
Chairman of the Committee and such other directors and officers as
shall be designated by the Committee is hereby authorized to
execute Award Agreements on behalf of the Company and to cause them
to be delivered to the recipients of Awards.
(d)The
Committee in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions
as it may provide may delegate all or any part of its authority and
powers under the Plan to one or more members of the Board of
Directors and/or officers of the Company.
(e)The
Committee in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions
as it may provide may delegate all authority for: (i) the
determination of forms of payment to be made by or received by the
Plan and (ii) the execution of any Award Agreement. The Committee
may rely on the descriptions, representations, reports and
estimates provided to it by the management of the Company or an
Affiliate for determinations to be made pursuant to the
Plan.
4. TYPES OF AWARDS AND RELATED
RIGHTS
The following types of Awards may be granted under the
Plan:
(a)Non-Statutory
Stock Options;
(b)Incentive
Stock Options;
(c)Restricted
Stock;
(d)Restricted
Stock Units; and
(e)Stock
Appreciation Rights
(“SARs”).
5. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
(a)Dedicated
Shares.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section
1716
below, the total number of shares of Stock with respect to which
Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be
300,000
150,000shares.
The shares of Stock may be treasury shares or authorized but
unissued shares. The numbers of shares of Stock stated in this
Section 5(a) shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the
provisions of Section
1716
below.
(i)In
connection with the granting of an Award, the number of shares of
Stock available for issuance under this Plan shall be reduced by
the number of shares of Stock in respect of which the Award is
granted or denominated. For example, upon the grant of
stock-settled SARs, the number of shares of Stock available for
issuance under this Plan shall be reduced by the full number of
SARs granted, and the number of shares of Stock available for
issuance under this Plan shall not thereafter be increased upon the
exercise of the SARs and settlement in shares of Stock, even if the
actual number of shares of Stock delivered in settlement of the
SARs is less than the full number of SARs exercised.
(ii)Any
shares of Stock that are tendered by a Participant or withheld as
full or partial payment of withholding or other taxes or as payment
for the exercise or conversion price of an Award under this Plan
shall not be added back to the number of shares of Stock available
for issuance under this Plan.
(iii)Whenever
any outstanding Option or other Award (or portion thereof) expires,
is cancelled or forfeited or is otherwise terminated for any reason
without having been exercised or payment having been made in the
form of shares of Stock, then (A) the number of shares of Stock
available for issuance under this
Plan shall be increased by the number of shares of Stock allocable
to the expired, forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated Option
or other Award (or portion thereof); and (B) the shares of Stock
subject to such Awards will not be counted as shares delivered
under this Plan.
(iv)Awards
valued by reference to Stock that may be settled in equivalent cash
value will count as shares of Stock delivered to the same extent as
if the Award were settled in shares of Stock.
(b)Award
Limits.
Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the
contrary:
(i)The
maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject to Awards
granted to any one Employee during any calendar year may not exceed
20,000 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in
Section
1716
below); and
(ii)The
maximum dollar value of shares of Stock that may be subject to
Awards granted to any individual Outside Director during any
calendar year may not exceed $100,000 (subject to adjustment as
provided in Section
1716
below), as determined on the date of grant for such
Awards.
(c)Substitute
Awards.
The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for
stock and stock based awards held by service providers of another
corporation in connection with a merger or consolidation of the
service recipient corporation with the Company or an Affiliate or
the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of property or stock
of the service recipient corporation. The Committee may direct that
the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as
the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances. Such
substitution of any outstanding Stock Option must satisfy the
requirements of Treasury Regulation § 1.424-1 and Code Section
409A. Any substitute Awards granted under the Plan shall not count
against the share limitations set forth in Sections 5(a) or 5(b),
nor shall such Shares subject to substitute awards again be
available for grant under the Plan to the extent of any forfeiture,
expiration, or cash settlement.
(d)Source
of Shares.
Shares issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued
Shares, authorized Shares previously issued held by the Company in
its treasury which have been reacquired by the Company, or Shares
purchased by the Company in the open market.
6. ELIGIBILITY
Subject to the terms of the Plan, all Employees and Outside
Directors shall be eligible to receive Awards under the
Plan.
7. NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS
The Committee may, subject to the limitations of this Plan and the
availability of Shares reserved but not previously awarded under
the Plan, grant Non-Statutory Stock Options to eligible individuals
upon such terms and conditions as it may determine to the extent
such terms and conditions are consistent with the following
provisions:
(a)Exercise
Price.
The Committee shall determine the Exercise Price of each
Non‑Statutory Stock Option. However, the Exercise Price shall not
be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date
of Grant.
(b)Terms
of Non-Statutory Stock Options.
The Committee shall determine the term during which a Participant
may exercise a Non‑Statutory Stock Option, but in no event may a
Participant exercise a Non‑Statutory Stock Option, in whole or in
part, more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee
shall also determine the date on which each Non‑Statutory Stock
Option, or any part thereof, first becomes exercisable and any
terms or conditions a Participant must satisfy in order to exercise
each Non-Statutory Stock Option. Shares underlying each
Non-Statutory Stock Option may be purchased, in whole or in part,
by the Participant at any time during the term of such
Non‑Statutory Stock Option, after such Option becomes exercisable.
A Non‑Statutory Stock Option may not be exercised for fractional
shares. If, on the date when a Non‑Statutory Stock Option would
otherwise terminate or
expire the Exercise Price of the Non‑Statutory Stock Option is less
than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the
Non‑Statutory Stock Option on such date but any portion of the
Non‑Statutory Stock Option has not been exercised, then the
Non‑Statutory Stock Option shall automatically be deemed to be
exercised as of such date with respect to such portion by means of
a “net exercise” as described in Section 7(g). An Award Agreement
with respect to a Non‑Statutory Stock Option may also provide for
an automatic exercise of the Non‑Statutory Stock Option on an
earlier date.
(c)Termination
of Service.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination of
Service for any reason other than Termination for Cause, the
Participant may exercise only those Non‑Statutory Stock Options
that were vested and immediately exercisable by the Participant at
the date of such termination and only for thirty (30) days
following the date of such termination, or, if sooner, the
expiration of the term of the Non‑Statutory Stock
Option.
(d)Extension
of Term of Option.
The period during which a Non‑Statutory Stock Option is to remain
exercisable following a Participant’s Termination of Service shall
be extended if the exercise of the Non‑Statutory Stock Option would
violate an applicable Federal, state, local, or foreign law
until
thirty (30)
days after the exercise of the Non‑Statutory Stock Option would no
longer violate applicable Federal, state, local, and foreign laws,
but not beyond the original term of the Non‑Statutory Stock Option
pursuant to Section 7(b).
(e)Settlement.
Upon exercise, a Non‑Statutory Stock Option shall be settled in
Shares.
(f)Vesting.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement evidencing an Award, a Non‑Statutory
Stock Option shall vest in accordance with Sections 12(a) and
12(b), unless faster vesting is required by the forgoing provisions
of this Section 7.
(g)Method
of Exercise of Options.
Subject to any applicable Award Agreement, any Option may be
exercised by the Participant in whole or in part at such time or
times, and the Participant may make payment of the Exercise Price
in such form or forms, including, without limitation, payment by
delivery of cash or Common Stock owned by the Participant having a
Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the total Exercise
Price, or by any combination of cash and Shares, including exercise
by means of a cashless exercise arrangement with a qualifying
broker-dealer or a “net exercise.” The Participant may deliver
shares of Common Stock either by attestation or by the delivery of
a certificate or certificates for shares duly endorsed for transfer
to the Company. A “net exercise” means the delivery of a properly
executed notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (i) the
Company will reduce the number of Shares otherwise issuable to a
Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole
number of Shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed
the aggregate Exercise Price for the Shares with respect to which
the Option is exercised, and (ii) the Participant shall pay to the
Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate Exercise
Price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole Shares
to be issued. Shares will no longer be outstanding under an Option
and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A)
Shares are used to pay the Exercise Price pursuant to a “net
exercise,” (B) Shares are delivered to the Participant as a result
of such exercise, and (C) Shares are withheld to satisfy tax
withholding obligations.
8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
The Committee may, subject to the limitations of the Plan and the
availability of Shares reserved but not previously awarded under
this Plan, grant Incentive Stock Options to Employees upon such
terms and conditions as it may determine to the extent such terms
and conditions are consistent with the following
provisions:
(a)Exercise
Price.
The Committee shall determine the Exercise Price of each Incentive
Stock Option. However, the Exercise Price shall not be less than
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant;
provided, however, that if at the time an Incentive Stock Option is
granted, the Employee owns or is treated as owning, for purposes of
Code Section 422, Common Stock representing more than 10% of the
total combined voting securities of the Company (“10% Owner”), the
Exercise Price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant.
(b)Amounts
of Incentive Stock Options.
To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with
respect to which Incentive Stock Options that are exercisable for
the first time by an Employee during any calendar year under the
Plan and any other stock option plan of the Company or an Affiliate
exceeds $100,000, or such higher value as may be permitted under
Code Section 422, such Options in excess of such limit shall be
treated as Non‑Statutory Stock Options. Fair Market Value shall be
determined as of the Date of Grant with respect to each such
Incentive Stock Option.
(c)Terms
of Incentive Stock Options.
The Committee shall determine the term during which a Participant
may exercise an Incentive Stock Option, but in no event may a
Participant exercise an Incentive Stock Option, in whole or in
part, more than 10 years from the Date of Grant; provided, however,
that if at the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted to an
Employee who is a 10% Owner, the Incentive Stock Option granted to
such Employee shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five
years from the Date of Grant. The Committee shall also determine
the date on which each Incentive Stock Option, or any part thereof,
first becomes exercisable and any terms or conditions a Participant
must satisfy in order to exercise each Incentive Stock Option.
Shares underlying each Incentive Stock Option may be purchased, in
whole or in part, at any time during the term of such Incentive
Stock Option, after such Option becomes exercisable. An Incentive
Stock Option may not be exercised for fractional shares. If, on the
date when an Incentive Stock Option would otherwise terminate or
expire the Exercise Price of the Incentive Stock Option is less
than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Incentive
Stock Option on such date but any portion of the Incentive Stock
Option has not been exercised, then the Incentive Stock Option
shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with
respect to such portion by means of a “net exercise” as described
in Section 7(g). An Award Agreement with respect to an Incentive
Stock Option may also provide for an automatic exercise of the
Incentive Stock Option on an earlier date.
(d)Termination
of Employment.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination of
Service for any reason other than Termination for Cause, the
Participant may exercise only those Incentive Stock Options that
were immediately exercisable by the Participant at the date of such
termination and only for thirty (30) days following the date of
such termination, or, if sooner, the expiration of the term of the
Incentive Stock Option.
(e)Extension
of Term of Option.
The period during which an Incentive Stock Option is to remain
exercisable following a Participant’s Termination of Service shall
be extended if the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option would
violate an applicable Federal, state, local, or foreign law
until
thirty (30)
days after the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option would no
longer violate applicable Federal, state, local, and foreign laws,
but not beyond the original term of the Incentive Stock Option
pursuant to Section 8(c). Any extension of the term of an Incentive
Stock Option pursuant to this Section 8(e) may cause the Option to
be treated as a Non-Statutory Stock Option.
(f)Settlement.
Upon exercise, an Incentive Stock Option shall be settled in
Shares.
(g)Disqualifying
Dispositions.
Each Award Agreement with respect to an Incentive Stock Option
shall require the Participant to notify the Committee of any
disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of such
Option under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b)
(relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), within 10 days of
such disposition.
(h)Vesting.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement evidencing an Award, a Non‑Statutory
Stock Option shall vest in accordance with Sections 12(a) and
12(b), unless faster vesting is required by the forgoing provisions
of this Section 8.
9. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
The Committee may, subject to the limitations of the Plan and the
availability of Shares reserved but not previously awarded under
this Plan, grant Restricted Stock to eligible individuals upon such
terms and conditions as it may determine to the extent such terms
and conditions are consistent with the following
provisions:
(a)Payment
of the Restricted Stock.
Awards of Restricted Stock may only be made in whole
Shares.
(b)Terms
of the Restricted Stock.
The Committee shall determine the dates on which Restricted Stock
granted to a Participant shall vest and any specific conditions or
performance goals which must be satisfied prior to the vesting of
any installment or portion of the Restricted Stock. The Committee
may issue Restricted Stock that is immediately vested and not
subject to any specific conditions or performance goals.
Notwithstanding other paragraphs in this Section 9, the Committee
may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any
Restricted Stock. The acceleration of any Restricted Stock shall
create no right, expectation or reliance on the part of any other
Participant or that certain Participant regarding any other
Restricted Stock.
(c)Termination
of Service.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination of
Service for any reason, the Participant’s unvested Restricted Stock
as of the date of termination shall be forfeited and any rights the
Participant had to such unvested Restricted Stock shall become null
and void.
(d)Dividends
and Other Distributions.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall not be paid any
dividends or other distributions with respect to Restricted Stock
until the Restricted Stock has become vested, and at the time of
such vesting, the Participant shall receive a cash payment equal to
the aggregate cash dividends (without interest) and the number of
Shares equal to any stock dividends that the Participant would have
received if the Participant had owned all of the Shares that vested
for the period beginning on the Grant Date, and ending on the date
of vesting. No dividends shall be paid to a Participant with
respect to any Restricted Stock that is forfeited by the
Participant.
(d)(e) Voting
of Restricted Stock.
After a Restricted Stock Award has been granted, but for which
Shares covered by such Restricted Stock have not yet vested, the
Participant shall be entitled to vote such Shares subject to the
rules and procedures adopted by the Committee for this
purpose.
(e)(f) Restrictive
Legend.
Each certificate issued in respect of a Restricted Stock shall be
registered in the name of the Participant and, at the discretion of
the Board, each such certificate may be deposited in a bank
designated by the Board. Each such certificate shall bear the
following (or a similar) legend:
“The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock
represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions
(including forfeiture) contained in the Adams Resources &
Energy, Inc.
Amended and Restated
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan and an agreement entered into between
the registered owner and Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. A copy
of such plan and agreement is on file at the principal office of
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.”
(f)(g) Transfers
of Unrestricted Shares.
Upon the vesting date for a Restricted Stock, such Restricted Stock
will be transferred free of all restrictions to a Participant (or
his or her legal representative, beneficiary or heir).
(g)(h) Vesting.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement evidencing an Award, Restricted Stock
shall vest in accordance with Sections 12(a) and 12(b), unless
faster vesting is required by the forgoing provisions of this
Section 9.
10. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
The Committee may, subject to the limitations of the Plan and the
availability of Shares reserved but not previously awarded under
this Plan, grant Restricted Stock Unit Awards to eligible
individuals upon such terms and conditions as it may determine to
the extent such terms and conditions are consistent with the
following provisions. A “Restricted Stock Unit” Award is the grant
of a right to receive Shares in the future.
(a)Settlement
of Restricted Stock Unit Award.
A Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be settled either by the
delivery of whole Shares or by the payment of cash based upon the
Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares, in the
discretion of the Committee, subject to the terms of the applicable
Award Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and
evidenced in an applicable Award Agreement, any stock
certificate
evidencing the Shares payable under a Restricted Stock Unit Award
will be issued (or cash paid) within an administratively reasonable
period after the date on which the Restricted Stock Unit vests so
that the payment of Shares qualifies for the short‑term deferral
exception under Code Section 409A.
(b)Terms
of Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
The Committee shall determine the dates on which Restricted Stock
Units granted to a Participant shall vest and any specific
conditions or performance goals which must be satisfied prior to
the vesting of any Award. Notwithstanding other paragraphs in this
Section 10, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate
the vesting of any Restricted Stock Units. The acceleration of any
Restricted Stock Unit Award shall create no right, expectation or
reliance on the part of any other Participant or that Participant
regarding any other Restricted Stock Unit Award.
(c)Termination
of Service.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination of
Service for any reason, the Participant’s unvested Restricted Stock
Units as of the date of termination shall be forfeited and any
rights the Participant had to such unvested Awards shall become
null and void.
(d) Dividends and Other
Distributions.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement, cash dividend equivalents with respect
to any Restricted Stock Unit Award and any other property (other
than cash) distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to
the number of Shares covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award that
vests based on achievement of performance goals shall be
accumulated and shall be subject to restrictions and risk of
forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock Units with
respect to which such cash, Shares or other property has been
distributed and shall be paid at the time such restrictions and
risk of forfeiture lapse.
(d)(e) Deferral.
Unless expressly permitted by the Committee in the Award Agreement,
a Participant does not have any right to make any election
regarding the time or form of any payment pursuant to a Restricted
Stock Unit Award. To the extent permissible under applicable law,
the Committee may permit a Participant to defer payment under a
Restricted Stock Unit to a date or dates after the Restricted Stock
Unit vests, provided that the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit
and any deferral satisfy the requirements to avoid imposition of
the “additional tax” under Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B).
(e)(f) Vesting.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement evidencing an Award, a Restricted Stock
Unit shall vest in accordance with Sections 12(a) and 12(b), unless
faster vesting is required by the forgoing provisions of this
Section 10.
11. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
The Committee may, subject to the limitations of the Plan and the
availability of Shares reserved but not previously awarded under
this Plan, grant Stock Appreciation Rights to eligible individuals
upon such terms and conditions as it may determine to the extent
such terms and conditions are consistent with the following
provisions. A Stock Appreciation Right is an award that entitles
the holder to receive an amount equal to the difference between the
Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time of exercise of the
Stock Appreciation Right and the Exercise Price on the Date of
Grant, subject to the provisions of this Section 11.
(a)Exercise
Price.
The Committee shall determine the Exercise Price of each Stock
Appreciation Right. However, the Exercise Price shall not be less
than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of
Grant.
(b)Terms
of Stock Appreciation Rights.
The Committee shall determine the term during which a Participant
may exercise a Stock Appreciation Right, but in no event may a
Participant exercise a Stock Appreciation Right, in whole or in
part, more than
ten (10)
years from the Date of Grant. The Committee shall also determine
the date on which each Stock Appreciation Right, or any part
thereof, first becomes exercisable and any terms or conditions a
Participant must satisfy in order to exercise each Stock
Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised
for fractional shares. If, on the date when a Stock Appreciation
Right
would otherwise terminate or expire the Exercise Price of the Stock
Appreciation Right is less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares
subject to the Stock Appreciation Right on such date but any
portion of the Stock Appreciation Right has not been exercised,
then the Stock Appreciation Right shall automatically be deemed to
be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion. An Award
Agreement with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right may also
provide for an automatic exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right
on an earlier date.
(c)Termination
of Service.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement, upon a Participant’s Termination of
Service for any reason other than Termination for Cause, the
Participant may exercise only those Stock Appreciation Rights that
were immediately exercisable by the Participant at the date of such
termination and only for thirty (30) days following the date of
such termination, or, if sooner, the expiration of the term of the
Stock Appreciation Right.
(d)Extension
of Term of Stock Appreciation Right.
The period during which a Stock Appreciation Right is to remain
exercisable following a Participant’s Termination of Service shall
be extended if the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right would
violate an applicable Federal, state, local, or foreign law
until
thirty (30)
days after the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right would no
longer violate applicable Federal, state, local, and foreign laws,
but not beyond the original term of the Stock Appreciation Right
pursuant to Section 11(b).
(e)Settlement.
Upon exercise, a Stock Appreciation Right shall be settled in cash
or Shares, or both, in the discretion of the Committee, subject to
the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
(f)Vesting.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and evidenced in an
applicable Award Agreement evidencing an Award, a Stock
Appreciation Right shall vest in accordance with Sections 12(a) and
12(b), unless faster vesting is required by the forgoing provisions
of this Section 11.
12. VESTING
(a)General.
The Committee shall establish the vesting schedule to apply to any
Award of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Stock
Appreciation Rights. Each such Award issued under this Plan’s terms
shall have a vesting period of not less than 1 year; provided,
however, that, as determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion, up to five percent (5%) of the Shares authorized for
issuance under Section 5(a) are not required to have such minimum
vesting period.
(b)Performance
Vesting.
The Committee may designate that an Award will become vested based
on attainment of designated Performance Goals over a designated
Performance Period (a “Performance Award”).
(i)Procedures
with Respect to Grants.
The Committee shall, in writing, (i) designate one or more
Participants to receive Performance Awards, (ii) select the
Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance Period, (iii)
establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as
applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period, and
(iv) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the
Performance Goals and the amounts to be earned by each Participant
for such Performance Period. The Performance Goals and Performance
Period for a Performance Award generally shall be selected by the
Committee in its sole discretion and,
with the exception of Performance Awards issued during the period
between May 1, 2018 and July 31, 2018,
shall be designated within the first ninety (90) days of the
Performance Period.
(ii)Committee
Certification.
Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Committee
shall determine whether the applicable Performance Goals have been
achieved for such Performance Period. No Performance Award or
portion thereof that is subject to the satisfaction of any
condition shall be considered to be earned or vested until the
Committee certifies in writing that the conditions to which the
distribution, earning or vesting of such Award is subject have been
achieved.
(iii)Payment
and Limitations.
Performance Awards shall be paid on or before the 90th day
following both (i) the end of the Performance Period, and (ii)
certification by the Committee that the Performance Goals and any
other material terms of the Award and the Plan have been satisfied,
or as soon thereafter as is
reasonably practicable. A Performance Award may be paid in Stock,
cash, or a combination of Stock and cash, in the sole discretion of
the Committee, which shall be determined in the applicable Award
Agreement. If paid in whole or in part in Stock, the Stock shall be
valued at Fair Market Value as of the date the Committee directs
payments to be made in whole or in part in Stock. However, no
fractional shares of Stock shall be issued, and the balance due, if
any, shall be paid in cash. The maximum amount which may be paid to
any Participant pursuant to one or more Awards under this Section
12 for any single Performance Period shall not exceed the
limitations provided in Section 5(b) above.
(iv)Effect
on Other Plans and Arrangements.
Nothing contained in the Plan will be deemed in any way to limit or
restrict the Committee from making any award or payment to any
person under any other plan, arrangement or understanding, whether
now existing or hereafter in effect.
(c)Effect
of “Change in Control.”
(i)Unless
otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event
of a Change in Control of the Company in which the successor
company assumes or substitutes for an Option, Stock Appreciation
Right, Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Unit Award (or in
which the Company is the ultimate parent corporation and continues
the Award), if a Participant’s employment with such successor
company (or the Company) or a subsidiary thereof is terminated
without Cause within
twelve (12)
months after such Change in Control (or such other period set forth
in the Award Agreement):
1.Options
and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the date of such
Change in Control (or Termination of Service, if later) will
immediately vest upon the Change in Control (or Termination of
Service, if later), become fully exercisable, and may thereafter be
exercised for two years (or the period of time set forth in the
Award Agreement), or, if sooner, the expiration of the term of the
Award; and
2.The
restrictions, limitations and other conditions applicable to
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units outstanding as of the
Change in Control (or Termination of Service, if later) shall lapse
and the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall become
free of all restrictions, limitations and conditions and become
fully vested.
For the purposes of this Section 12(cb),
an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, or
Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be considered assumed or
substituted for if following the Change in Control the Award
confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to
the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, or
Restricted Stock Unit immediately prior to the Change in Control,
the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or
property) received in the transaction constituting a Change in
Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective
date of such transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if
such consideration received in the transaction constituting a
Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor
company, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor
company, provide that the consideration to be received upon the
exercise or vesting of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Unit Award, for each Share
subject thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor
company substantially equal in fair market value to the per Share
consideration received by holders of Shares in the transaction
constituting a Change in Control. The determination of such
substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the
Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be
conclusive and binding.
(ii)Unless
otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event
of a Change in Control, to the extent the successor company does
not assume or substitute for an Option, Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Unit Award (or in which the
Company is the ultimate parent corporation and does not continue
the Award), then as of the Change in Control:
1.Those
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the date of
the Change in Control that are not assumed or substituted for (or
continued) shall immediately vest and become fully
exercisable;
2.Restrictions,
limitations and other conditions applicable to Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units that are not assumed or substituted for (or
continued) shall lapse and the Restricted Stock and Restricted
Stock Units shall become free of all restrictions, limitations and
conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full
extent of the original grant; and
3.Any
Award subject to performance criteria shall be prorated based on
the performance from the Award Date to the date of the Change in
Control. The proration shall be based upon the method set forth in
the Award Agreements evidencing the applicable Awards, or if no
method is specified, based upon the total number of days during the
performance period prior to the Change in Control in relation to
the total number of days during the performance
period.
(d)Cause
Termination. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, all
of a Participant’s unvested and/or unsettled Awards shall be
forfeited on the date the Participant’s employment or service is
terminated for Cause.
13. RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS
No Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect
to any Shares covered by an Award until the date of issuance of a
stock certificate for such Common Stock. Nothing contained in this
Plan or in any Award Agreement confers on any person any right to
continue in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate or
interferes in any way with the right of the Company or an Affiliate
to terminate a Participant’s services.
14. LIMITATIONS ON DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND
EQUIVALENTS
The Committee may provide that Awards under this Plan shall earn
dividends or dividend equivalents; provided, however, that no
portion of such dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid prior
to vesting or during the forfeiture restriction period. Prior to
payment, such dividends or dividend equivalents shall be credited
to an account maintained on the books of the Company. Any crediting
of dividends or dividend equivalents will be subject to such terms,
conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Committee may
establish, from time to time, including, without limitation,
reinvestment in additional shares of Common Stock or common share
equivalents. Dividend or dividend equivalent rights shall be as
specified in the Award Agreement, or pursuant to a resolution
adopted by the Committee with respect to outstanding Awards. No
dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid on Options or Stock
Appreciation Rights.
1514. DESIGNATION
OF BENEFICIARY
A Participant may, with the consent of the Committee, designate a
person or persons to receive, in the event of death, any Award to
which the Participant would then be entitled. Such designation will
be made upon forms supplied by and delivered to the Company and may
be revoked in writing. If a Participant fails to designate a
beneficiary, then the Participant’s estate will be deemed to be the
beneficiary.
1615. TRANSFERABILITY
OF AWARDS
(a)General
Rule.
Except as provided in Section
1615(b)
below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned,
alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or
encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution, and any such purported prohibited
assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or
encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company
Group.
(b)Non-Statutory
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
With the approval of the Committee, a Participant may transfer a
Non‑Statutory Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right for no
consideration to or for the benefit of one or more Permitted
Transferees subject to such limits as the Committee may establish,
and the Permitted Transferee shall remain subject to all the terms
and conditions applicable to the Award prior to such transfer. The
transfer of an Award pursuant to this Section shall include a
transfer of the rights of a Participant under this Plan to consent
to certain amendments to the Plan or an Award Agreement and, in the
discretion of the Committee, shall also include transfer of
ancillary rights associated with the Award.
1716. ADJUSTMENTS
UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR A CHANGE OF CONTROL
(a)Adjustment
Clause.
In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend, split,
spinoff, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination,
extraordinary dividend, exchange of shares or other change
affecting the outstanding shares of Common Stock as a class without
the Company’s receipt of consideration, or other equity
restructuring within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718,
Stock Compensation
(formerly, FASB Statement 123R),
appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the terms and the
number of Shares and/or the Exercise Price per Share of any
outstanding Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted
Stock and Restricted Stock Units, and (ii) the share limitations
set forth in Section 5 hereof. The Committee shall also make
appropriate adjustments described in (i)-(ii) of the previous
sentence in the event of any distribution of assets to shareholders
other than a normal cash dividend. Adjustments, if any, and any
determination or interpretations, made by the Committee shall be
final, binding and conclusive. Conversion of any convertible
securities of the Company shall be deemed to have been effected for
adequate consideration. Except as expressly provided herein, no
issuance by the Company of shares of any class or securities
convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the
number or price of Shares subject to an Award.
(b)Change
in Control.
If a Change in Control occurs, the Committee may, in its discretion
and without limitation:
(i)cancel
outstanding Awards in exchange for payments of cash, property or a
combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of
such Awards, as determined by the Committee or the Board in its
sole discretion (it being understood that if shareholders receive
consideration other than publicly traded equity securities of the
surviving entity, any determination by the Committee that the value
of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall equal the
excess, if any, of the value of the consideration being paid for
each Share in such transaction over the Exercise Price of such
Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall conclusively be deemed
valid. Accordingly, if the Exercise Price of the Shares subject to
a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the Fair Market
Value of such Shares, then such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation
Right may be cancelled without making a payment to the holder of
the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right);
(ii)substitute
other property (including, without limitation, cash or other
securities of the Company and securities of entities other than the
Company) for Shares subject to outstanding Awards;
(iii)arrange
for the assumption of Awards, or replacement of Awards with new
awards based on other property or other securities (including,
without limitation, other securities of the Company and securities
of entities other than the Company); and
(iv)may,
after giving Participants an opportunity to exercise their
outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, terminate
any or all unexercised Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
Such termination shall take place as of the date of the Change in
Control or such other date as the Committee may
specify.
(c)Section
409A Provisions with Respect to Adjustments.
Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any adjustments made pursuant to
this Section to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation”
within the meaning of Code Section 409A shall be made in compliance
with the requirements of Code Section 409A unless the Participant
consents otherwise; (ii) any adjustments made to Awards that are
not considered “deferred
compensation” subject to Code Section 409A shall be made in such a
manner as to ensure that after such adjustment, the Awards either
continue not to be subject to Code Section 409A or comply with the
requirements of Code Section 409A unless the Participant consents
otherwise; and (iii) the Committee shall not have the authority to
make any adjustments under this Section to the extent that the
existence of such authority would cause an Award that is not
intended to be subject to Code Section 409A to be subject
thereto.
1817. TAX
WITHHOLDING
The Company or any of its Affiliates is authorized to withhold from
any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or
from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the
amount (in cash, Shares, or other property) of any applicable taxes
required to be withheld by the Company or such Affiliate in respect
of the Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or
any payment or transfer under the Award and to take such other
action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy
all of its obligations for the payment of such taxes. In addition,
the Committee may provide, in an Award Agreement, that the
Participant may make direct payment of any applicable taxes
directly to the Company or may direct the Company to satisfy such
Participant’s tax withholding obligations through the withholding
of Shares otherwise to be acquired upon the exercise or payment of
such Award, but only to the extent such withholding does not cause
a charge to the Company’s financial earnings.
1918. CLAWBACK/RECOVERY
All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in
accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to
adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities
exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are
listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In
addition, the Committee may impose such other clawback, recovery or
recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Committee
determines necessary or appropriate, including, but not limited to,
a recovery right in respect of previously acquired shares of Stock
and/or a repayment right with respect to previously acquired cash
or property, including the proceeds of any shares of Stock received
under this Plan’s terms.
2019. AMENDMENT
OF THE PLAN AND AWARDS
(a)The
Board of Directors may at any time, and from time to time, modify
or amend the Plan in any respect, prospectively or retroactively;
provided; however, (i) provisions governing grants of Incentive
Stock Options shall be submitted for shareholder approval to the
extent required by applicable law or regulation; (ii) except as
permitted by Section
1716,
no amendment may increase the share limitations set forth in
Section 5 or decrease the minimum Exercise Price for Stock Options
or Stock Appreciation Rights set forth in Sections 7(a), 8(a) and
11(a), unless any such amendment is approved by the Company’s
shareholders within 12 months before or after such amendment; and
(iii) the provisions of Section
2019(b)
(relating to Option repricing) may not be amended, unless any such
amendment is approved by the Company’s shareholders. Failure to
ratify or approve amendments or modifications by shareholders shall
be effective only as to the specific amendment or modification
requiring such approval or ratification. Other provisions of this
Plan will remain in full force and effect. No such termination,
modification or amendment may adversely affect the rights of a
Participant under an outstanding Award without the written
permission of such Participant.
(b)The
Committee may amend any Award Agreement, prospectively or
retroactively; provided, however, that no such amendment shall
adversely affect the rights of any Participant under an outstanding
Award without the written consent of such Participant; provided,
however, that repricing of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation
Rights shall not be permitted. For this purpose, a repricing means
any of the following (or any other action that has the same effect
as any of the following): (i) changing the terms of an Option or
Stock Appreciation Right to lower its Exercise Price; (ii) any
other action that is treated as a repricing under generally
accepted accounting principles; and (iii) canceling an Option or
Stock Appreciation Right at a time when its exercise price is equal
to or greater than the fair market value of the underlying stock in
exchange for cash or for another Option, Stock Appreciation Right
or other Award, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in
connection with an event
set forth in Section
1716.
Such cancellation and exchange would be considered a repricing
regardless of whether it is treated as a repricing under generally
accepted accounting principles and regardless of whether it is
voluntary on the part of the Participant.
2120. RIGHT
OF OFFSET
The Company will have the right to offset against its obligation to
deliver shares of Common Stock (or other property) under the Plan
or any Award Agreement any outstanding amounts (including, without
limitation, travel and entertainment or advance account balances,
loans, repayment obligations under any Awards, or amounts repayable
to the Company pursuant to tax equalization, housing, automobile or
other employee programs) that the Participant then owes to the
Company and any amounts the Committee otherwise deems appropriate
pursuant to any tax equalization policy or agreement; provided,
however, that no such offset shall be permitted if it would
constitute an “acceleration” of a payment hereunder within the
meaning of Code Section 409A. This right of offset shall not be an
exclusive remedy and the Company’s election not to exercise the
right of offset with respect to any amount payable to a Participant
shall not constitute a waiver of this right of offset with respect
to any other amount payable to the Participant or any other
remedy.
2221. ELECTRONIC
DELIVERY AND SIGNATURES
(a)Any
reference in an Award Agreement or the Plan to a written document
includes without limitation any document delivered electronically
or posted on the Company’s or an Affiliate’s intranet or other
shared electronic medium controlled by the Company or an
Affiliate.
(b)The
Committee and any Participant may use facsimile and PDF signatures
in signing any Award or Award Agreement, in exercising any Option
or Stock Appreciation Right, or in any other written document in
the Plan’s administration. The Committee and each Participant are
bound by facsimile and PDF signatures, and acknowledge that the
other party relies on facsimile and PDF signatures.
2322. EFFECTIVE
DATE OF PLAN
The Plan
was originally
shall be
effective
upon
May 8, 2018,
if it shall have been approved by at least a majority of
shareholders voting in person or by proxy with respect to the Plan
at a duly held shareholders’ meeting.
The Plan shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Date,
provided such amendment and restatement is approved by at least a
majority vote of shareholders voting in person or by proxy with
respect to the Plan at a duly held shareholders’ meeting.
No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan after the tenth
(10th) anniversary of the Plan’s effective date.
2423. TERMINATION
OF THE PLAN
The right to grant Awards under the Plan will terminate
ten (10)
years after the
earlier of (i) the date the Plan is adopted by the Board of
Directors or (ii) the
Effective Date. The Board of Directors has the right to suspend or
terminate the Plan at any time, provided that no such action will,
without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect a
Participant’s rights under an outstanding Award.
2524. APPLICABLE
LAW; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
The Plan will be administered in accordance with the laws of the
state of Delaware and applicable federal law. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no liability to
issue any Shares under the Plan unless such issuance would comply
with all applicable laws and the applicable requirements of any
securities exchange or similar entity. Prior to the issuance of any
Shares under the Plan, the Company may require a written statement
that the recipient is acquiring the shares for investment and not
for the purpose or with the intention of distributing the
shares.
2625. PROHIBITION
ON DEFERRED COMPENSATION
It is the intention of the Company that no Award shall be “deferred
compensation” subject to Code Section 409A unless and to the extent
that the Committee specifically determines otherwise, and the Plan
and the terms and conditions of all Awards shall be interpreted
accordingly. The terms and conditions governing any Awards that the
Committee determines will be subject to Code Section 409A,
including any rules for elective or mandatory deferral of the
delivery of cash or Shares pursuant thereto, shall be set forth in
the applicable Award Agreement, and shall comply in all respects
with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the
contrary, any Award issued under the Plan that constitutes a
deferral of compensation under a “nonqualified deferred
compensation plan” as defined under Code Section 409A(d)(1) and is
not specifically designated as such by the Committee shall be
modified or cancelled to comply with the requirements of Code
Section 409A, including any rules for elective or mandatory
deferral of the delivery of cash or Shares pursuant
thereto.
2726. NO
GUARANTEE OF TAX TREATMENT
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Participant
shall be solely responsible for the taxes relating to the grant or
vesting of, or payment pursuant to, any Award, and none of the
Company, the Board of Directors or the Committee (or any of their
respective members, officers or employees) guarantees any
particular tax treatment with respect to any Award.
Adams Resources and Energy (AMEX:AE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2023 to Mar 2023
Adams Resources and Energy (AMEX:AE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2022 to Mar 2023