Edgar Filing: UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORP

FORM 14-A
UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT
Filing Date: XXXX
Commission File No. XXXX
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Filed by Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-12
UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
JOHN C. LAWRENCE, PRESIDENT
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules
14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(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): n/a.
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: n/a
(5) Total fee paid: -0-

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date filed:
1

United States Antimony Corporation
PO Box 643, Thompson Falls, Mt. 59873
JULY 12, 2003
Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of United
States Antimony Corporation, which will be held at 10:00 a.m. on September 12,
2003 at the Ramada Inn at the airport in Spokane, WA.

Those matters expected to be acted upon at the meeting are described in detail
in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement.

The enclosed notice and proxy statement contain details concerning the business
to come before the meeting. We have also enclosed for your information and
review the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2002.

The board of directors recommends a vote FOR each of the proposals below:

"FOR" electing John C. Lawrence, Robert A. Rice and Leo Jackson to our board of
directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly
elected and qualified;

"FOR" the amendment of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, authorizing an
increase of the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 to
50,000,000 shares; and

"FOR" the appointment of the auditors for the year ending December 31, 2003.

All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting in person. Your
participation at this meeting is very important, regardless of the number of
shares you hold. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete,
date, sign and return the accompanying proxy promptly. If you attend the
Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person.
We look forward to seeing you at the Meeting.

Sincerely,

/s/ John C. Lawrence
John C. Lawrence, President, Chief Financial Officer and Director

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to
United States Antimony Corporation shareholders beginning July 12, 2003.
2

UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDER TO BE HELD
ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2003
To our Shareholders:
NOTICE is hereby given that on September 12, 2003 United States Antimony
Corporation will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders at the Ramada Inn at
the airport in Spokane, WA. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time. At
the meeting, shareholders will be asked:

1. To elect John C. Lawrence, Robert A Rice and Leo Jackson to our board of
directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly
elected and qualified.
2. To amend the Company's Articles of Incorporation to increase the number
of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 shares to 50,000,000
shares; and
3. To ratify the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as the
Company's independent auditors to examine the financial statements of the
Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003.

We have enclosed for the review of our shareholders the Annual Report on Form
10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, which was filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2003. The Company is unaware of
any other business to be considered and acted upon at the meeting and any
adjournments thereof. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on
June 16, 2003, or such other date as may be determined as the record date are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. To
assure your representation at the meeting and whether or not you plan to attend
in person, you are urged to mark, sign, and date and return the enclosed proxy
card at your earliest convenience in the self-addressed, stamped envelope. Any
stockholder attending the meeting may revoke their proxy and vote their shares
in person.

Please Sign, Date and Return the Enclosed Proxy Immediately to Assure that Your
Shares are represented at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for
September 12, 2003.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ John C. Lawrence
Chairman, President and Chief Financial Officer
Thompson Falls, Mt. 59873
July 12, 2003
3

UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
------------------------------

This Proxy Statement relates to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of United
States Antimony Corporation Company, (the "Company"), a Montana corporation, to
be held on September 12, 2003, at 10:00 a.m., at the Ramada Inn at the airport,
Spokane, WA., including any adjournments or postponements thereof (the
"Meeting"). This Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy card and the Company's
Annual Report are first being mailed to stockholders of the Company on or about
July 12, 2003. THEY ARE FURNISHED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION BY THE
COMPANY OF PROXIES FROM THE HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE
$0.01 PER SHARE ("COMMON STOCK"), FOR USE AT THE MEETING.

The principal solicitation of proxies is being made by mail; however, additional
solicitation may be made by telephone, facsimile or personal visits by
directors, officers and regular employees of the Company. The Company will
reimburse brokerage firms and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding
soliciting material.

All shares represented by duly executed proxies in the accompanying form
received prior to the Meeting will be voted in the manner specified therein. Any
stockholder granting a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by
filing with the Secretary of the Company either an instrument revoking the proxy
or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Any stockholder present at the
Meeting who expresses a desire to vote their shares in person may also revoke
their proxy. As to any matter for which no choice has been specified in a duly
executed proxy, the shares represented thereby will be voted FOR each proposal
listed herein and in the discretion of the persons named in the proxy in any
other business that may properly come before the Meeting.

STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, TO
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED UPON BY SHAREHOLDERS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
At the Annual Meeting, the holders of our shares of Common Stock will be asked
to vote on the proposals set forth below. An affirmative vote of a majority of
the shares present and voting at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of
all matters. There are no dissenters' rights to appraisal with respect to the
proposals.

PROPOSAL ONE: To elect John C. Lawrence, Robert A Rice and Leo Jackson to our
board of directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are
duly elected and qualified.

Information Concerning Directors: It is proposed that John C. Lawrence, Robert A
Rice and Leo Jackson will be elected at the meeting, each to hold office until
the next annual meeting of shareholders and/or until their successors are duly
elected and qualified. The Company has no reason to believe that any nominee
will be unavailable at the time of election.

PROPOSAL TWO: To amend the Company's Articles of Incorporation to increase the
authorized number of shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 shares to 50,000,000
shares.

The Board of Directors believes that it is in the Company's best interest to
increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock because:

(1) Shares of common stock must be available to meet the respective
conversion and exercise privileges of the Company's convertible Series D
Preferred stock and common stock warrants.
(2) The Company must have additional shares of common stock available to
sell to expand its Bear River Zeolite business and finance its operating
activities.
(3) Additional shares of common stock must be available to issue to
directors and other key employees and consultants in order to attract and retain
competent management for the Company.

By voting "FOR" this proposal, shareholders will be authorizing the amendment of
the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized Common Stock
shares. The reason for the proposals to increase the number of authorized shares
is discussed below.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors: Our Board of Directors recommends that
our shareholders vote "FOR" the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 to
50,000,000 shares.

PROPOSAL THREE: To ratify the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as
the Company's independent auditors to examine the financial statements of the
Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003

Recommendation of the Board of Directors: Our Board of Directors recommends that
the holders of our shares vote "FOR" the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel &
Teague, P.S. as the Company's independent auditors to examine the financial
statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003
5

The enclosed Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the board. We are unaware of
any additional matters not set forth in the notice of Annual Meeting that will
be presented for consideration at the meeting. If any other matters are properly
brought before the meeting and presented for a vote of the shareholders, the
persons named in the proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment upon
such matters, unless otherwise restricted by law.

ITEM 1. DATE, TIME AND PLACE INFORMATION
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
for use at the meeting of shareholders of United States Antimony Corporation
Company to be held on September 12, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Ramada
Inn at the airport in Spokane, WA and at any and all adjournments thereof.

ITEM 2. REVOCABILITY OF PROXY
The accompanying proxy is solicited by our board and is revocable by the
shareholder anytime before it is voted. This proxy statement is first being
mailed to shareholders on or about July 12, 2003.

ITEM 3. DISSENTERS' RIGHT OF APPRAISAL
There is no Dissenters' Right of Appraisal for any proposal set forth in this
proxy statement.

ITEM 4. PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION
This solicitation is made by the Company's board, which unanimously approved the
proposals, by consent and without a meeting, and no director has informed the
Company that he intends to oppose any action intended to be taken by the
Company.

ITEM 5. INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
The following table sets forth information, to the best knowledge of the
Company, as of March 27, 2003, with respect to each person who has been a
director or executive officer of the Company at any time since the beginning of
the last fiscal year or has been nominated for election as a director of the
Company.

Amount of
Beneficial
Title of Class. . ..Name of Beneficial Owner Ownership Percent of Class (1)
Common Stock. . . . . .John C. Lawrence 3,725,311 13.8 (2)
Common Stock. . . . . .Robert A. Rice 217,762 Nil
Common Stock. . . . . .Leo Jackson 60,700 Nil

Preferred Series D. . .John C. Lawrence 925,213 92.8(3)(4)
Preferred Series D. . .Robert A Rice 24,000 25.0
Preferred Series D. . .Leo Jackson 24,000 25.0
_______ ____
Common Stock and Series D Preferred Stock
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group 4,979,986 17.8
========= ====

(1) Based upon 27,027,959 total common stock shares outstanding as of
March 27, 2003.
(2) Excludes 75,000 shares owned by Mr. Lawrence's sister, as to which Mr.
Lawrence disclaims beneficial ownership.
(3) Includes warrants to purchase 901,213 shares of Series D Preferred
Stock.
(4) The outstanding Series D preferred shares carry voting rights.

ITEM 6. VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on June 12, 2003, the
record date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. At the
record date, there were 27,027,959 shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding. Each shareholder of record on the record date is entitled to one
vote per share on each proposal presented at the meeting, (other than the
election of directors) exercisable in person or by proxy. With respect to the
election of directors, such stockholders are entitled to vote cumulatively,
meaning that each holder of voting shares is entitled to cast the number of
votes equal to the number of his shares multiplied by the number of directors to
be elected, an may cast all of such votes for a single nominee or distribute
them among two or more nominees as he sees fit.

The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the meeting. Assuming a
quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares issued and outstanding present in person or represented by proxy is
required for approval of each proposal to be voted upon at the meeting.

..
ITEM 7. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

NAME . . . . . . AGE AFFILIATION WITH REGISTRATION EXPIRATION OF TERM
---------------- --- ----------------------------- ------------------
John C. Lawrence 64 President, Director Annual meeting
Robert A. Rice . 78 Director Annual meeting
Leo Jackson. . . 61 Director Annual meeting

The Company is not aware of any involvement by its directors or executive
officers during the past five years in certain legal proceedings that are
material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of such director or
executive officer.

The following information with respect to the principal occupation or
employment, other affiliations and business experience of each member of the
board of directors during the last five years.

John C. Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence has been the president and a Director of the
------------------
Company since its inception. Mr. Lawrence was the President and a Director of
AGAU Mines, Inc., the predecessor of the Company, since the inception of AGAU
Mines, Inc., in 1968. He is a member of the Society of Mining Engineers and a
recipient of the Silver Medallion Award from the University of Montana.

Robert A. Rice. Mr. Rice is a metallurgist, having been employed by the Bunker
----------------
Hill Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf Resources and Chemical
Corporation at Kellogg, Idaho, as Senior Metallurgist and Mill Superintendent
until his retirement in 1965. Mr. Rice has been a Director of the Company since
1975.

Leo Jackson. Mr. Jackson is a resident of El Paso, Texas. He is currently the
-------------
President of Production Minerals, Inc., and has been involved in the production
and marketing of industrial minerals such as fluorspar and celestite in the
United States and Mexico for 25 years. Mr. Jackson speaks fluent Spanish and has
a BBA degree from the Sul Ross State University in Texas. Mr. Jackson has been a
Director of the Company since 1999.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING:

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that the Company's
directors and executive officers and the holders of 10% or more of the Company's
Common Stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the
Securities and "Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and stockholders
holding more than 10% of the Company's common stock are required by the
regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
have filed.

Based solely on our review of copies of Forms 3, 4, and 5 furnished to us, Mr.
Lawrence timely filed Form 4 reports during 2002. We do no know if Mr. Rice and
Mr. Jackson timely filed Form 4 or Form 5 reports during 2002. We do not know if
A.W. Dugan, a shareholder who became a 10% beneficial owner during 2002 timely
filed Form 3, Form 4, or Form 5 reports during 2002.

ITEM 8. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Securities and Exchange Commission requires the following table setting
forth for fiscal years ending December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000; the
compensation paid by USAC to its principal executive officer.

Annual Compensation Long-Term Compensation
Awards Payouts
Restricted Securities
Name and Other annual Options/ Underlying All Other All Other
Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation(1) Awards(2) LTIP SARs Payouts Compensation
-------------------- ------- --------- -------- ------------- ---------- ---------- ------- ------------
John C. Lawrence, President 2002 $ 96,000 N/A $ 5,538 $ 2,400 None None None
John C. Lawrence, President 2001 $ 96,000 N/A $ 5,538 $ 0 None None None
John C. Lawrence, President 2000 $ 81,000 N/A $ 4,673 $ 3,250 None None None

(1) Represents earned but unused vacation.
(2) These figures represent the fair values, as of the date of issuance, of
the annual Director's fee payable to Mr. Lawrence in the form of shares of
USAC's restricted Series D Preferred stock or Common Stock.

Each of the members of the Board of Directors were awarded 24,000 shares of
Series D Preferred stock of the United States Antimony Corporation for their
participation in the meeting of the Board of Directors for the year ending
December 31, 2002.

ITEM 9. INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Company engaged the independent public accounting firm of DeCoria, Maichel &
Teague, a Professional Services corporation, with offices in Spokane, WA, to
conduct the audits for the Company's fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and
2001.

The financial statements of the Company for 2001 through 2002 were audited by
DeCoria, Maichel & Teague. During the two most recent fiscal years or during any
subsequent interim period, there were no other independent accountants engaged
by the Company nor did any other independent accountants resign, decline to
stand for re-election or was dismissed by the Company. Audit fees paid to the
firm of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague in connection with the December, 2002 and 2001
audits were $33,000. No fees were paid for financial information systems or
other services other than the audit and income tax preparation fees.

A representative of the Company's independent public accounting firm of DeCoria,
Maichel and Teague P.S. is expected to be in attendance at the annual meeting
and will be available to answer shareholder questions.

ITEM 10. FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2002
(including financial statements by excluding exhibits) is enclosed with this
Proxy Statement. Stockholders may obtain, without cost, a copy of any exhibits
to the Form 10-KSB by writing U.S. Antimony Corporation at its principal
executive office located at PO Box 643, Thompson Falls, Mt. 59873 or calling the
Company's Secretary at (406) 827-3523.

The Company files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any report, statement or
other information we file at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth
Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also
available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the
web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

ITEM 11. AMENDMENT OF CHARTER, BYLAWS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS.

The Company is asking the shareholders to ratify the Amendment of the Articles
of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock
from 30,000,000 shares to 50,000,000 shares.

ITEM 12. VOTING PROCEDURE
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares
of outstanding common stock of the Company entitled to vote is necessary to
constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. The affirmative vote of a majority of
the shares of common stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote is
required for each proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included
in the determination of the number of shares present at the meeting for purposes
of determining a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes have no effect on
determinations of plurality, except to the extent that they affect the total
votes received by any particular candidate.

PROXY CARD
Proposal 1. Election of Directors (by cumulative voting rights)

The Board of Directors is elected by cumulative voting:
Each holder of Voting Stock has a number of votes that is equal
to the number of shares of Voting Stock he owns multiplied by the
number of Directors to be elected. The holder may cast all of
those votes for one nominee or distribute them among two or three
of the nominees as the shareholder sees fit. Since three
Directors are to be elected at the meeting, the total votes which
may cast in the election of Directors is calculated as follows:
Number of Shares (___) x 3 (number of Directors to be elected) =
Total Votes. Allocate those votes among the following three
nominees:

Nominees Number of Votes Cast

For Against Abstain
John C. Lawrence _____ _____ _____
Walter L. Maguire, Sr. _____ _____ _____
Robert A. Rice _____ _____ _____

With respect to each of Proposals 2 and 3, mark the
appropriate box with an "X".

Proposal 2. Approval of amendment of Articles of Incorporation
to increase authorized shares of Common Stock

[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain

Proposal 3. Ratification of independent auditors

[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain

Sign and date proxy card on reverse side

UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION - PROXY
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - September 12, 2003

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THIS PROXY, IF PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION
IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS
AND FOR PROPOSITIONS 2 and 3.

This proxy confers on the proxy holder discretionary authority to
vote the undersigned's shares of Voting Stock on any other
matters which may properly be presented at the Annual Meeting.

PLEASE VOTE (on reverse side) AND DATE AND SIGN YOUR NAME(S)
EXACTLY AS PRINTED ON THIS PROXY, indicating (where applicable)
official position or representative capacity.

/s/ John C. Lawrence
--------------------
Signature

June 3, 2003
--------------------
Date