Definitive Proxy Materials

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(A) of The Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.             )

 

 

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x Definitive Proxy Statement

 

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¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

 

 

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY


(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

 

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CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

3700 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 960

Houston, Texas 77098

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

NOVEMBER 18, 2005

 

Dear Stockholder,

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Contango Oil & Gas Company, which will be held at 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Second Floor, Houston, Texas 77098, on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 9:00 a.m., Central Time.

 

At the Annual Meeting you will be asked to vote on the following matters:

 

  (1) To elect our board of directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2006; and

 

  (2) To conduct any other business that is properly raised at the Annual Meeting.

 

Stockholders who owned shares of Contango Oil & Gas Company’s common stock, par value $0.04 per share, and holders of Series D perpetual cumulative convertible preferred stock, par value $0.04 per share, at the close of business on October 17, 2005 are entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at the meeting.

 

As a stockholder of Contango Oil & Gas Company, you have the right to vote on the proposals listed above. Please read the Proxy Statement carefully because it contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote. Your vote is important.

 

This year, you have two options in submitting your vote prior to the Annual Meeting date:

 

  (1) You may sign and return the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying envelope; or

 

  (2) If your shares are held in “street name”, you can vote over the Internet at the address shown on your proxy card.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card promptly or vote over the Internet. A postage-paid return envelope is enclosed for your convenience. If you decide to attend the Annual Meeting, you can, if you wish, revoke your proxy and vote in person. If you have any questions, please contact us through our Website at www.contango.com, send us an e-mail at contango@contango.com or write us at 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 960, Houston, Texas 77098.

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

/s/ KENNETH R. PEAK

 

Kenneth R. Peak

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

Houston, Texas

October 18, 2005


CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

3700 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 960

Houston, Texas 77098

 


 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

NOVEMBER 18, 2005

 


 

To our Stockholders:

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Contango”), is furnishing you with this Proxy Statement in connection with its solicitation of your proxy, in the form enclosed, for use at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Second Floor, Houston, Texas 77098, on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 9:00 a.m., Central Time, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

We are mailing this Proxy Statement to you on or about October 20, 2005, together with the accompanying proxy card and the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.

 

We cordially invite you to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend, please complete, date and sign the proxy card and return it promptly in the return envelope provided. If your shares are owned in “street name” and you prefer to vote over the Internet, please follow the instructions on the proxy card or other enclosed proxy material.

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

1.   Q:   Who is asking for my proxy?     
    A:   Your proxy is being solicited by our Board for use at our Annual Meeting. Our directors, officers or employees may also solicit proxies on behalf of our Board, in person or by telephone, facsimile, mail or e-mail. If our directors, officers or employees solicit proxies, they will not be specially compensated. Contango will pay all costs and expenses of this proxy solicitation.
2.   Q.   What are stockholders being asked to vote on?
    A:   At our Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to vote:
       

•      To elect our board of directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2006; and

       

•      On any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

 

 

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3.   Q.   Who is entitled to vote?     
    A:   The record of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting was taken at the close of business on October 17, 2005 (the “Record Date”). As of the Record Date, the Company had outstanding 14,716,047 shares of common stock, par value $0.04 per share (the “Common Stock”) and 2,000 shares of Series D perpetual cumulative convertible preferred stock, par value $ 0.04 per share (“Series D Preferred Stock”). Approximately 833,330 shares of Common Stock are currently issuable upon conversion of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock.
4.   Q:   How many shares may vote at the Annual Meeting?     
    A:   Holders of Common Stock and holders of Series D Preferred Stock will vote as one class at the Annual Meeting. Each record holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share of Common Stock owned on the Record Date. Each record holder of Series D Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote per share for each share of Common Stock (including fractional shares) into which each share of Series D Preferred Stock is convertible, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of a share.
5.   Q:   How do I vote my shares?     
    A:   A proxy card is included with the proxy materials being sent to you. The proxy card allows you to specify how you want your shares voted as to each proposal listed. The proxy card provides space for you to:
       

•      Vote for, or withhold authority to vote for, each nominee for director.

        If the proxy card is properly signed and returned to us, shares covered by the proxy card will be voted in accordance with the directions you specify on the card. The person named as proxy on the proxy card is Kenneth R. Peak, the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Any stockholder who wishes to name a different person as his or her proxy may do so by crossing out Mr. Peak’s name and inserting the name of another person to act as his or her proxy. In such a case, the stockholder would have to sign the proxy card and deliver it to the person named as his or her proxy, and that person would have to be present and vote at the Annual Meeting. Any proxy card so marked should not be mailed to the Company.
        If you return a signed proxy card without having specified any choices, Mr. Peak, named as proxy, will vote the shares represented at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof as follows:
       

•      FOR the election of each nominee for director; and

    
       

•      At the discretion of Mr. Peak, as proxy, on any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

6.   Q:   How does the Board recommend I vote?     
    A:   The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “For” each of the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

 

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        Our executive officers and directors who own shares of Common Stock have advised us that they intend to vote their shares in favor of the proposal presented in this Proxy Statement. As of the Record Date, executive officers, and both nominee and retiring directors, collectively owned 3,058,644 shares of Common Stock, representing 19.7% of the total shares entitled to vote. See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”.
7.   Q:   What vote is required?     
    A:   Proposal 1, the election of directors, will require an affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting.
8.   Q:   What is a “quorum”?     
    A:   Presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all record holders of the Company’s Common Stock and Series D Preferred Stock will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned from time to time until a quorum is obtained.
9.   Q:   What is the effect of an abstention or a broker non-vote?
    A:   Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares of the Company’s Common Stock for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Abstentions are counted in tabulations of the votes cast on proposals presented to stockholders as a vote against, whereas broker non-votes are not counted for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.
10.   Q:   What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
    A:   If your shares are registered differently or in more than one account, you will receive more than one proxy card. Sign and return all proxy cards to ensure that all your shares are voted.
11.   Q:   Can I revoke my proxy?     
    A:   You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised at the Annual Meeting by filing with or transmitting to our corporate secretary either a notice of revocation or a properly created proxy bearing a later date. You also may attend the Annual Meeting and revoke your proxy by voting your shares in person.
12.   Q:   How will the Company solicit proxies?     
    A:   Proxies may be solicited in person, by telephone, facsimile, mail or e-mail by directors, officers and employees of the Company without additional compensation. The Company will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to stockholders.
13.   Q:   How can a stockholder communicate with the Company’s independent directors?
    A:   The Audit Committee is authorized to receive communications from stockholders. Mail should be addressed to the Independent Directors in care of the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Contango Oil & Gas Company, 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 960, Houston,

 

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        Texas 77098. Mail will not be opened but will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Audit Committee or the named independent director. Mail addressed to the Board of Directors will be delivered to Kenneth R. Peak, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Mr. Peak is not an independent director.

 

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

At the Annual Meeting, we will present the nominees named below and recommend that they be elected to serve as directors until the next annual stockholders meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected.

 

Your proxy will be voted for the election of the five nominees named below unless you give instructions to the contrary. Your proxy cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.

 

Nominees

 

Presented below is a description of certain biographical information, occupations and business experience for the past five years of each person nominated to become a director. Five directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Three nominees are current directors standing for reelection to the Board. If any nominee should become unavailable for election, your proxy may be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board, or the Board’s size may be reduced accordingly. The Board is unaware of any circumstances likely to render any nominee unavailable. Directors of the Company hold office until the next annual stockholders meeting, until successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.

 

The Company does not have a standing nominating committee or nominating committee charter. Instead, the Board has adopted, by Board resolution, a process of nominating directors wherein nominees must be selected, or recommended for the Board’s selection, by a majority of independent directors as defined in Section 121(A) of the American Stock Exchange listing standards. The Board believes that the independent members of the Board can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving nominees for the Board without the formation of a standing nominating committee. Each Board member other than Kenneth R. Peak is an independent director. The Board will also consider nominees recommended by stockholders. The Company’s Bylaws contain provisions which address the process by which a stockholder may nominate an individual to stand for election to the Board of Directors at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The procedures include a requirement that notices regarding a person’s nomination be received in writing from the stockholder and by the Company’s Secretary not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Moreover, the notice must include such nominee’s written consent to be named in the Company’s proxy statement and to serve if elected. Minimum qualifications include extensive entrepreneurial experience and a solid understanding of financial statements. Each nominee below has been recommended by the Board.

 

Name


   Age

  

Position


   Year First
Became a
Director


Kenneth R. Peak

   60   

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

   1999

Jay D. Brehmer

   40   

Director

   2000

Darrell W. Williams

   62   

Director

   1999

Charles M. Reimer

   61   

Director

   *

Steven L. Schoonover

   60   

Director

   *

* Mr. Reimer and Mr. Schoonover have not previously served on the Board.

 

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Kenneth R. Peak has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Contango since its formation in September 1999. Mr. Peak entered the energy industry in 1972 as a commercial banker and held a variety of financial and executive positions in the oil and gas industry prior to starting Contango in 1999. Mr. Peak served as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971. Mr. Peak received a BS in physics from Ohio University and an MBA from Columbia University. He currently serves as a director of Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a provider of onshore contract drilling services to exploration and production companies in North America.

 

Jay D. Brehmer has been a director of Contango since October 2000. Mr. Brehmer is Managing Director of Catalina Capital Advisors LP, a boutique financial advisory, merger and acquisition investment bank. From November 2002 until August 2004, he advised various energy and energy-related companies on corporate finance and merger and acquisition activities through Southplace, LLC. From May 1998 until November 2002, Mr. Brehmer was responsible for structured-finance energy related transactions at Aquila Energy Capital Corporation. Prior to joining Aquila, Mr. Brehmer founded Capital Financial Services, which provided mid-cap companies with strategic merger and acquisition advice coupled with prudent financial capitalization structures. Mr. Brehmer holds a BBA from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

 

Darrell W. Williams has been a director of Contango since 1999. Mr. Williams is Managing Director of Catalina Capital Advisors LP, a boutique financial advisory, merger and acquisition investment bank. From 1993 until 2002, Mr. Williams was associated with the German firm of Deutag Drilling, GmbH in both marketing and operations positions. Prior to joining Deutag, Mr. Williams was in senior executive positions with Nabors Drilling (1988-1993), Pool Company (1985-1988), Baker Oil Tools (1980-1983), SEDCO (1970-1980), Tenneco (1966-1970), and Humble Oil (1964-1966). Mr. Williams graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1964. Mr. Williams is past Chairman of the Houston Chapter of International Association of Drilling Contractors, a life member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a registered professional engineer in Texas.

 

Charles M. Reimer has not previously served as a director of Contango, and is nominated for election at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Reimer is President of Freeport LNG Development, L.P, has experience in exploration, production, liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) and business development ventures, both domestically and abroad. From 1986 until 1998, Mr. Reimer served as the senior executive responsible for the VICO joint venture that operated in Indonesia, and provided LNG technical support to P. T. Badak. Additionally, during these years he served, along with Pertamina executives, on the board of directors of the P.T. Badak LNG plant in Bontang, Indonesia. Mr. Reimer began his career with Exxon Company USA in 1967 and held various professional and management positions in Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Reimer was named President of Phoenix Resources Company in 1985 and relocated to Cairo, Egypt, to begin eight years of international assignments in both Egypt and Indonesia. Prior to joining Freeport LNG Development, L.P. in December 2002, Mr. Reimer was President and Chief Executive Officer of Cheniere Energy, Inc.

 

Steven L. Schoonover has not previously served as a director of Contango, and is nominated for election at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Schoonover is President and Chief Executive Officer of CellXion, L.L.C., which specializes in site development, shelter and tower construction and radio equipment integration for the wireless telecommunications industry. From 1990 until its sale in November 1997 to Telephone Data Systems, Inc., Mr. Schoonover served as President of Blue Ridge Cellular, Inc., a full-service cellular telephone company. From 1983 to 1996, he served in various positions, including President and Chief Executive Officer, with Fibrebond Corporation, a firm involved in construction, installation and management of cellular telephone and personal communications systems.

 

All directors and nominees for director of the Company are United States citizens. There are no family relationships between any of our directors, executive officers or nominees for director. Mr. Reimer and Mr. Schoonover, who are each standing for election to the Board for the first time, were recommended as nominees by Mr. Peak, Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, and approved by all of the independent directors.

 

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Retiring Director

 

Joseph S. Compofelice has been a director of Contango since 2002. Mr. Compofelice is Managing Director of Catalina Capital Advisors LP, a boutique financial advisory, merger and acquisition investment bank. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trico Marine Services, Inc., a provider of marine support vessels serving the international natural gas and oil industry, and a member of the Board of Advisors of Courtland Inc., a privately held investment management firm. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Compofelice was Chief Executive Officer of Aquilex Services Corp., a provider of services and equipment to the power generation and heavy processing industries. For the period 1998 through 2002, Mr. Compofelice was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CompX International Inc., a producer of hardware for the office furniture industry. From 1994 through 1997, Mr. Compofelice was a Director and Chief Financial Officer of NL Industries Inc., a chemical producer, and Director and Chief Financial Officer of TIMET, a producer of titanium metal principally for the aerospace industry. Mr. Compofelice received his BS at California State University at Los Angeles and his MBA at Pepperdine University.

 

Board Operations and Organization

 

Mission Statement. The Company’s primary objective is to maximize stockholder value, while at all times observing the highest ethical standards. The Company will pursue this objective through participation in the energy industry.

 

Corporate Authority & Responsibility. All corporate authority resides in the Board, as the representative of the stockholders. Authority is delegated to management by the Board in order to implement the Company’s mission. Such delegated authority includes the authorization of spending limits and the authority to hire employees and terminate their services. The independent members of the Board retain responsibility for selection, evaluation and the determination of compensation of the chief executive officer of the Company, oversight of the succession plan, approval of the annual budget, assurance of adequate systems, procedures and controls, and all matters of corporate governance. Additionally, the Board provides advice and counsel to senior management.

 

Compensation of Directors. Directors are compensated in the form of both a cash payment and Company equity. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, each outside director received a quarterly retainer of $5,000 and a quarterly stock option grant to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock. Each outside director also receives a $1,000 cash payment for each board meeting and separately scheduled Audit Committee meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional quarterly stock option grant to purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock.

 

Board Size. In general, smaller to mid-size boards are more cohesive, work better together and tend to be more effective monitors than larger boards. Our Bylaws currently provide for at least three and not more than seven directors.

 

Annual Election of Directors. In order to create greater alignment between the Board’s and our stockholders’ interests and to promote greater accountability to the stockholders, directors shall be elected annually.

 

Meetings. Our Board has meetings as necessary. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, the Board held six meetings. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, the Board passed resolutions by unanimous written consent on nine occasions.

 

Committee Structure. It is the general policy of the Company that the Board as a whole will consider all major decisions. As a consequence, the committee structure of the Board is limited to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is composed solely of independent directors. The Board may form other committees as it determines appropriate.

 

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee was established by the Board for the purpose of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of the financial

 

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statements of the Company. The Audit Committee recommends the appointment of independent public accountants to conduct audits of our financial statements, reviews with the accountants the plan and results of the auditing engagement, approves other professional services provided by the accountants and evaluates the independence of the accountants. The Audit Committee also reviews the scope and adequacy of our system of internal controls and procedures over financial reporting. Members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Compofelice (Audit Committee Chairman), Brehmer and Williams. The Audit Committee met formally four times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. The Board has determined that each of Messrs. Compofelice and Brehmer is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Mr. Brehmer, if elected to the Board, will serve as Audit Committee Chairman following this meeting. Messrs. Reimer and Schoonover, if elected to the Board, will also serve as Audit Committee members.

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE FIVE

NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS OF CONTANGO, TO SERVE UNTIL THE NEXT

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OR UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS

ARE DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIED.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

We believe that good corporate governance is important to assure that the Company is managed for the long term benefit of its stockholders. The Board and management are committed to good business practices, transparency in financial reporting and the highest level of corporate governance and ethics. During the past year, the Board has reviewed existing corporate governance policies and practices of other public companies. It has specifically reviewed the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules of the SEC and the listing standards and rules of the American Stock Exchange.

 

The Board has reaffirmed existing policies and initiated actions adopting policies consistent with the new rules and listing standards. In particular, we have:

 

    A majority of independent directors.
    An Audit Committee consisting solely of independent directors.
    Adopted a formal Audit Committee Charter in May 2000, which is reviewed annually by the Audit Committee.
    An Audit Committee empowered to engage independent auditors.
    Provided the Audit Committee with access to independent auditors, legal counsel and all management and employee levels.
    Established executive sessions for the Board of Directors consisting exclusively of independent directors.
    Adopted a formal code of ethical conduct for management, a copy of which was filed as an exhibit to our Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 2003.
    Adopted a formal whistleblower protection policy.
    Adopted a formal process for stockholders to communicate with the independent directors.
    Expanded disclosures regarding critical accounting policies.
    Determined chief executives officer’s compensation by the independent directors.
    No history of personal loans to officers and directors.
    Taken appropriate Board and management action to achieve timely compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 regarding controls and procedures over financial reporting.

 

More information about the Company’s corporate governance practices and procedures will be available on the Company’s website at www.contango.com.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following tables show the ownership of our Common Stock as of October 17, 2005 by (i) each person known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each of our non-employee directors and nominees, (iii) our executive officers and (iv) our executive officers, directors and nominees taken together as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, each person named in the following table has the sole power to vote and dispose of the shares listed next to his name. The address of the members of the Board and our executive officers is 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 960, Houston, Texas 77098.

 

Our 5% Stockholders

 

To the Company’s knowledge, Mr. Peak was the only stockholder who beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, as set forth below, as of October 17, 2005.

 

Directors and Nominees Who Are Not Employees

 

     Common Shares Beneficially Owned

   Percent
of Total
Common
Stock
Outstanding


 
     Outstanding

   Issuable
Upon Exercise
of Stock
Options (1)


   Total

  

Jay D. Brehmer

   6,000    34,500    40,500    *  

Joseph S. Compofelice

   41,534    13,500    55,034    *  

Charles M. Reimer

   235,001    —      235,001    1.6 %

Steven L. Schoonover

   226,300    —      226,300    1.5 %

Darrell W. Williams

   157,678    9,000    166,678    1.1 %

 

Executive Officers

 

     Common Shares Beneficially Owned

   Percent
of Total
Common
Stock
Outstanding


 
     Outstanding

   Issuable
Upon Exercise
of Stock
Options (1)


   Total

  

Kenneth R. Peak, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

   2,344,149    456,667    2,800,816    18.5 %

Lesia Bautina, Senior Vice President and Controller

   46,882    85,000    131,882    *  

Marc Duncan President and Chief Operating Officer, Contango Operators, Inc.

   600    —      600    *  

David L. Holcombe, Assistant Treasurer

   500    1,667    2,167    *  

 

Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers Together

 

     Common Shares Beneficially Owned

   Percent
of Total
Common
Stock
Outstanding


 
     Outstanding

   Issuable
Upon Exercise
of Stock
Options (1)


   Total

  
All current and nominee directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons)    3,058,644    600,334    3,658,978    23.9 %

* Less than 1%.
(1) Includes shares underlying options to purchase shares that currently are vested and exercisable or will vest or be exercisable within 60 days.

 

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of our Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based on our review of the copies of such reports, we believe that all such filing requirements were complied with during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

We lease our corporate offices at 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 960, Houston, Texas 77098. Our agreement provides for a monthly rental of $9,970 per month through October 2006. Effective June 1, 2004, two of our directors began using one of our offices and certain common areas for activities unrelated to the Company for which they reimburse the Company $1,000 per month. Effective June 30, 2005, the agreement had been terminated and services discontinued. The office space has since been occupied with Company employees.

 

Charles M. Reimer, a director nominee, is President of Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (“Freeport LNG”), a limited partnership formed to develop a 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (“Bcf/d”) liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) receiving terminal in Freeport, Texas. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, the Company invested approximately $0.7 million in Freeport LNG. As of June 30, 2005, the Company had invested a total of $3.0 million and owned a 10% limited partnership interest in Freeport LNG. The Company expects to invest an additional $1.7 million during the remainder of calendar year 2005.

 

Equity Compensation Plans and Other Compensation Arrangements

 

The following table provides information as of June 30, 2005 about our Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of stock options and warrants under (i) all compensation plans previously approved by stockholders and (ii) individual compensation arrangements not approved by stockholders.

 

Plan Category


  

(a)

Number of
securities to be
issued upon

exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights


  

Weighted-average
exercise price

of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights


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


Plans approved by stockholders (1)

   1,176,000    $ 6.74    716,083

Other compensation arrangements not approved by stockholders (2)

   135,500    $ 3.47    —  
    
         

Total

   1,311,500    $ 6.40    716,083
    
         

(1) Other than indicated, the Company has no other equity compensation plans that have not been approved by the stockholders.
(2) Consists of various stock options and warrants granted by the Company’s Board of Directors, including stock options to purchase 10,500 shares of Contango Common Stock granted for services as a director of the Company and stock options and warrants to purchase 125,000 shares of Contango Common Stock granted in connection with business transactions.

 

9


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES

 

The following sets forth the names, ages and positions of our executive officers together with certain biographical information:

 

Name


   Age

  

Position


Kenneth R. Peak

   60    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Lesia Bautina

   34    Senior Vice President and Controller

Marc Duncan

   52    President and Chief Operating Officer of Contango Operators, Inc.

David L. Holcombe

   40    Assistant Treasurer

 

Kenneth R. Peak has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Contango since its formation in September 1999 and serves as chairman of the Board. Further information about Mr. Peak is provided above under “Election of Directors – Nominees”.

 

Lesia Bautina joined Contango in November 2001 as Controller and was appointed Vice President and Controller in August 2002. In July 2005, Ms. Bautina was promoted to Senior Vice President. Prior to joining Contango, Ms. Bautina worked as an auditor for Arthur Andersen LLP from 1997 to 2001. Her primary experience is accounting and financial reporting for exploration and production companies. Ms. Bautina received a degree in History from the University of Lvov in the Ukraine in 1990 and a BBA in Accounting in 1996 from Sam Houston State University, where she graduated with honors. Ms. Bautina is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the Petroleum Accounting Society of Houston.

 

Marc Duncan joined Contango Oil & Gas Company in June 2005 as President and Chief Operating Officer of Contango Operators, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Contango. Mr. Duncan has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry and has held a variety of domestic and international engineering and senior-level operations management positions relating to natural gas and oil exploration, project development, and drilling and production operations. Prior to joining Contango, Mr. Duncan served as senior operations manager for USENCO International, Inc. from 2000-2004 and as a senior project and drilling engineer for Hunt Oil Company from 2004-2005. He holds an MBA in Engineering Management from the University of Dallas, an MEd from the University of North Texas and a BS in Science and Education from Stephen F. Austin University.

 

David L. Holcombe joined Contango in November 2004 as Assistant Treasurer. Prior to joining Contango, Mr. Holcombe spent three years as a financial consultant preceded by a career in treasury, international finance, mergers and acquisitions and project finance for several energy companies. From 2000 to 2001, Mr. Holcombe was Manager, Corporate Finance for Ocean Energy, Inc. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Holcombe worked as a senior financial analyst for EGL Eagle Global Logistics, Inc. and from 1996 to 1998 was a financial analyst with the Pennzoil Company. Mr. Holcombe’s energy career began with Transco Energy Company, where he was an environmental engineer from 1990-1994. Mr. Holcombe received an MBA from Rice University in 1996 and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University in 1990.

 

Our executive officers are elected annually by the Board and serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. All executive officers of the Company are United States citizens. There are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers.

 

10


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Tables

 

The following tables and discussion below set forth information about the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our executive officers during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

     Fiscal
Year


   Annual Compensation

   Shares
Underlying
Options


Name and Principal Position


      Salary

   Bonus

   Other

  

Kenneth R. Peak (1)

   2005    $ 150,000    $ 500,000    $ 125,000    250,000

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,

   2004    $ 150,000    $ 100,000    $ —      400,000

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

   2003    $ 150,000    $ —      $ —      100,000

Lesia Bautina

   2005    $ 90,000    $ 110,000    $ —      85,000

Senior Vice President and Controller

   2004    $ 90,000    $ 100,000    $ —      15,000
     2003    $ 90,000    $ 76,000    $ —      100,000

Marc Duncan (2)

   2005    $ 12,314    $ —      $ —      50,000

President and Chief Operating Officer,

                              

Contango Operators, Inc.

                              

David L. Holcombe (3)

   2005    $ 46,875    $ —      $ —      20,000

Assistant Treasurer

                              

(1) Mr. Peak received in fiscal year 2005 a golf club membership worth $125,000.
(2) Mr. Duncan joined Contango in June 2005.
(3) Mr. Holcombe joined Contango in November 2004.

 

The following table shows certain information about the number of stock options granted to named executive officers during the year ended June 30, 2005.

 

Name


   Number of
Shares
Underlying
Options
Granted (1)


   % of Total
Options
Granted
During
Year


    Exercise
Price (2)


   Expiration
Date


   Grant Date
Value (3)


Kenneth R. Peak

   250,000    55.0 %   $ 10.23    06/20/10    $ 3.48

Lesia Bautina

   85,000    18.7 %   $ 9.30    06/20/10    $ 3.78

Marc Duncan

   25,000    5.5 %   $ 7.75    06/06/10    $ 3.15

Marc Duncan

   25,000    5.5 %   $ 9.30    06/20/10    $ 3.78
    
  

                 
     50,000    11.0 %                  

David L. Holcombe

   5,000    1.1 %   $ 6.75    11/15/09    $ 2.03

David L. Holcombe

   20,000    4.4 %   $ 9.30    06/20/10    $ 3.78
    
  

                 
     25,000    5.5 %                  

1. The options granted are exercisable 1/4 on the one-year anniversary from the date of grant and 1/4 on each of the following three year anniversaries from the date of grant.
2. Options are granted at an exercise price equal to the closing price of Contango’s Common Stock on the day of the grant; except, that, the exercise price of Mr. Peak’s grants is at 110% of the closing price of Contango’s Common Stock on the day of the grant because he is a greater than 10% beneficial owner of Contango Common Stock.

 

11


3. The grant date values are based on a Black-Scholes valuation per option utilizing the exercise price, the life of the grant, price volatility, the risk free interest rate and the dividend yield associated with each individual grant at the date of the grant.

 

The following table shows certain information about the number of stock options and warrants exercised during the year ended June 30, 2005 and the number of stock options and warrants owned by the named executive officers at June 30, 2005. Options in the columns marked “unexercisable” are subject to vesting and will be forfeited if a named executive officer’s employment with us is terminated for certain reasons.

 

     Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise


   Value
Realized (1)


   Number of Unexercised
Options and Warrants at
June 30, 2005 (2)


  

Value of Unexercised
In-the-Money

Options and Warrants

at June 30, 2005 (2)


Name


         Exercisable

   Unexercisable

   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

Kenneth R. Peak

   727,584    $ 3,434,662    366,667    443,333    $ 1,468,067    $ 793,033

Lesia Bautina

   55,271    $ 315,283    75,000    110,000    $ 380,500    $ 139,000

Marc Duncan

   —      $ —      —      50,000    $ —      $ 36,250

David L. Holcombe

   —      $ —      —      20,000    $ —      $ 12,250

(1) The value realized upon the exercise of a stock option is equal to the difference between the closing price of our Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the stock option or warrant multiplied by the number of shares acquired.
(2) The value of each unexercised in-the-money stock option is equal to the difference between the closing price of our Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on June 30, 2005 of $9.20 per share and the exercise price of the stock option or warrant.

 

Employment Agreements

 

We have no employment agreement with any executive officer.

 

Executive Compensation

 

The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain highly qualified executives and to motivate them to maximize stockholder return. It is intended to provide overall competitive compensation levels and incentive pay levels that vary based on corporate and individual performance. The compensation package for Kenneth R. Peak, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is determined by the independent directors on the Board. The compensation packages for other executive officers are determined by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the Board.

 

There are three basic components to the Company’s current compensation system: base pay, annual incentive compensation in the form of a cash bonus, and the grant of stock options. Each component is addressed in the context of individual and Company performance and competitive conditions. In determining competitive compensation levels, the Company analyzes data that includes information regarding the general natural gas and oil exploration and production industry.

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The independent members of the Board retain responsibility for selection, evaluation and the determination of compensation of the chief executive officer. The independent directors have set Mr. Peak’s base salary at $150,000 per year.

 

Based on the Company’s performance, the independent directors awarded Mr. Peak a $500,000 cash bonus and granted him a stock option to purchase 250,000 shares of Contango Common Stock for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. The recommendation was made in recognition of the performance of the Company during the 2005 fiscal year from an operating, liquidity and balance sheet perspective. The independent members of the Board cited as their bases for compensation, the net income and EBITDAX results of the Company for the fiscal year ended 2005, the strengthening of the balance sheet following the $50 million property sale and the significant exploration prospects generated during the fiscal year. The

 

12


independent members of the Board cited these achievements as being reflected in the change in the valuation and stock price over the last several years. Mr. Peak also received as compensation in fiscal year ended 2005, a golf club membership worth $125,000. In addition, the Company is paying monthly membership dues of approximately $632 per month.

 

Based on the Company’s performance, the independent directors awarded Mr. Peak a $100,000 cash bonus and granted him a stock option to purchase 400,000 shares of Contango Common Stock in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, the Company reported a loss for the year under the successful efforts method of accounting; and, therefore, Mr. Peak did not receive a cash bonus. He did, however, receive a stock option grant for 100,000 shares of Contango Common Stock during the year.

 

Executive Officers. Mr. Peak has set the base pay for Lesia Bautina, Senior Vice President and Controller, Marc Duncan, President and Chief Operating Officer of Contango Operators, Inc., and David L. Holcombe, Assistant Treasurer at $90,000, $170,000, and $75,000 per year, respectively. Cash bonuses and/or stock option grants are available annually at the discretion of Mr. Peak in consultation with the Board. Factors used in determining the grant of a cash bonus and/or stock option grant include, among others individual and Company performance and competitive conditions. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003, Ms. Bautina received cash bonuses of $110,000, $100,000 and $76,000, respectively, and received stock option grants to purchase 85,000, 15,000 and 100,000 shares of Contango Common Stock, respectively. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, Mr. Duncan received stock option grants to purchase 50,000 shares of Contango Common Stock. Mr. Duncan joined Contango in June 2005. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, Mr. Holcombe received stock option grants to purchase 20,000 shares of Contango Common Stock. Mr. Holcombe joined Contango in November 2004.

 

The Company may periodically grant additional cash bonuses and/or new stock option grants to provide continuing incentive for future performance. In making the decision to make additional grants, the independent directors and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer would consider factors such as the size of previous grants and the number of stock options already held and the degree to which increasing that ownership stake would provide the additional incentives for future performance, the likelihood that the grants would encourage the executive officer to remain with the Company and the value of the executive’s service to the Company.

 

The Independent Directors of the Board of Directors

 

Jay D. Brehmer

Joseph S. Compofelice

Darrell W. Williams

 

13


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

The Board has selected Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the current fiscal year. Contango expects that representatives of Grant Thornton LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to appropriate questions

 

Fees

 

Aggregate fees for professional services rendered to us by Grant Thornton LLP for the years ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were:

 

     Year Ended June 30,

Category of Service


   2005

   2004

Audit

   $ 112,500    $ 113,500

Audit-Related

   $ 9,000    $ —  

Tax

     90,000      75,475

All Other

     —        —  
    

  

     $ 211,500    $ 188,975
    

  

 

The Audit Fees for the years ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were for professional services rendered in connection with the consolidated financial statements of the Company, statutory and subsidiary audits, issuance of consents, and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

 

The Audit-Related Fees for the years ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were for due diligence related to the $50 million property sale approved by a majority of the Company’s stockholders at a Special Meeting of Stockholders on December 29, 2004, accounting consultations and attest services that were not required by statute or regulation, and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

 

Tax Fees for the years ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were for services related to tax compliance, including the preparation of tax returns and claims for refund; and tax planning and tax advice, including assistance with tax audits, tax advice related to the property sale, and technical advice from tax authorities.

 

Grant Thornton LLP did not provide us any financial information systems design or implementation services during years ended June 30, 2005 and 2004.

 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

The 2005 audit and non-audit services provided by Grant Thornton LLP were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The non-audit services which were pre-approved by the Audit Committee were also reviewed to ensure compatibility with maintaining the accounting firm’s independence.

 

The Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies and procedures related to the provision of audit and non-audit services. Under these procedures, the Audit Committee selects and appoints outside auditors, considers the independence and effectiveness of the outside auditors, approves the fees and other compensation to be paid to the outside auditors and is responsible for oversight of the outside auditors and reviews any revisions to the estimates of audit and non-audit fees initially approved. The Audit Committee receives the written disclosures required by generally accepted auditing standards. The Audit Committee annually requires the outside auditors to provide the Audit Committee with a written statement delineating all relationships between the outside auditors and the Company. The Audit Committee actively engages in a dialogue with the outside auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the outside auditors. The Audit Committee recommends that the Board of Directors take appropriate action in response to the outside auditors’ report to satisfy itself of the outside

 

14


auditors’ independence. The scope of services and fees are required to be compatible with the maintenance of the accounting firm’s independence, including compliance with SEC rules and regulations.

 

The Audit Committee, as permitted by its pre-approval policy, from time to time delegates the approval of certain permitted services or classes of services to a member of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee then reviews the delegate’s pre-approval decisions on an annual basis.

 

15


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The Audit Committee is a standing committee of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee consists of three members, Joseph S. Compofelice (Chairman), Jay D. Brehmer and Darrell W. Williams, each of which is independent as defined in Section 121(A) of the American Stock Exchange listing standards. The Board of Directors has designated Mr. Compofelice as the “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC rules. The Audit Committee assists, advises and reports regularly to the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities related to:

 

    The integrity of the Company’s financial statements
    The Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
    The independent auditor’s qualifications and independence
    The performance of the Company’s outside auditors

 

In meeting its responsibilities, the Audit Committee is expected to provide an open channel of communication with management, the outside auditors and the Board. The Audit Committee’s specific responsibilities are set forth in its charter, as amended. The Audit Committee Charter was amended September 21, 2004 to provide a process for stockholders to communicate with the independent directors.

 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed Contango’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2005 and 2004 and consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the three years ended June 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003 with Contango’s management. The Audit Committee has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, Contango’s independent auditors, the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61 (concerning the accounting methods used in the financial statements).

 

The Audit Committee has also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Grant Thornton LLP required by Independent Standards Board No. 1 (concerning matters that may affect an auditor’s independence), and has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP their independence.

 

Based on the foregoing review and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in Contango’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2005 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

This report is submitted on behalf of the Audit Committee.

 

Joseph S. Compofelice, Chairman

Jay D. Brehmer

Darrell W. Williams

 

16


PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The following graph compares the yearly percentage change from June 30, 2000 until June 30, 2005 in the cumulative total stockholder return on our Common Stock to the cumulative total return on the Russell 2000 Stock Index and a peer group of five independent oil and gas exploration companies selected by us. The companies in our selected peer group are Brigham Exploration Company, Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc., Edge Petroleum Corp., Goodrich Petroleum Corp. and PetroQuest Energy, Inc. Our Common Stock began trading on the American Stock Exchange on January 19, 2001 and previously traded on the Nasdaq over-the-counter Bulletin Board. The graph assumes that a $100 investment was made in our Common Stock and each index on June 30, 2000 and that all dividends were reinvested. The stock performance for our Common Stock is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

 

LOGO

 

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

   2005

Contango Oil & Gas Company

   100    191    167    205    333    460

Russell 2000 Stock Index

   100    99    90    87    115    124

Peer Group Composite

   100    169    122    130    258    364

 

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING

OF STOCKHOLDERS IN 2006

 

Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders must be received by Kenneth R. Peak at Contango Oil & Gas Company’s principal office located at 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 960, Houston, Texas 77098 no later than September 19, 2006. If the date of the annual meeting for 2006 is moved by more than 30 days from the date of this year’s Annual Meeting, then the deadline for receiving stockholder proposals shall be a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail the proxy statement for the 2006 annual meeting.

 

17


ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR NEXT YEAR’S ANNUAL MEETING

 

The Company advises stockholders that, until further notice, September 9, 2006 is the date after which notice of a stockholder-sponsored proposal submitted outside the processes of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i.e. a proposal to be presented at the next annual meeting of stockholders that has not been submitted for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement) will be considered untimely under the SEC’s proxy rules.

 

OTHER PROPOSED ACTIONS

 

The Board is not aware of any other business that will come before the Annual Meeting, but if any such matters are properly presented, the proxies solicited hereby will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the persons holding the proxies. All shares represented by duly executed proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting.

 

AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO HEREIN

 

THIS PROXY STATEMENT REFERS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTS OF THE COMPANY THAT ARE NOT PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. SUCH DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, TO WHOM THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS DELIVERED, UPON ORAL OR WRITTEN REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, DIRECTED TO KENNETH R. PEAK, CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY, 3700 BUFFALO SPEEDWAY, SUITE 960, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77098, TELEPHONE NUMBER (713) 960-1901. IN ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE DOCUMENTS, SUCH REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE BY NOVEMBER 8, 2005.

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

/s/ KENNETH R. PEAK

 

Kenneth R. Peak

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

18


[Form of Proxy]

 

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS CALLED FOR NOVEMBER 18, 2005

 

The undersigned stockholder(s) of CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, having received the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement dated October 20, 2005, hereby appoints Kenneth R. Peak as Proxy, with the power to appoint a substitute and hereby authorizes him to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY to be held on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 9:00 a.m., Central Time, at 3700 Buffalo Speedway, Second Floor, Houston, Texas 77098, and at any adjournments thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote thereat on all matters set forth below, as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

 

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL OF THE DIRECTORS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD. THE PERSON NAMED AS PROXY WILL USE HIS DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER REFERRED TO IN PROPOSAL 2. THIS PROXY IS REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS EXERCISED.

 

IMPORTANT – PLEASE SIGN ON THE OTHER SIDE


(1) THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

   ¨ FOR all nominees listed
below, except as indicated to
the contrary below.
   ¨ AUTHORITY WITHHELD
to vote for all nominees listed
below.

 

Nominees:

   Kenneth R. Peak    Charles M. Reimer    Darrell W. Williams
     Jay D. Brehmer    Steven L. Schoonover     

 

(Instruction: To vote against any nominee, write that nominee’s name in the space provided below.)

 

 

(2)    IN HIS DISCRETION, THE PROXY IS AUTHORIZED
TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING

     PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS
PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING PREPAID
ENVELOPE.
 
     Dated:         , 2005
 
                
     Signature
 
                
     Signature
 
    

(Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When joint tenants hold shares, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please set forth your full title. If signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.)