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                                  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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     [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement       [ ] Confidential, for Use of the
                                               Commission Only (as permitted by
                                               Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
     [X] Definitive Proxy Statement
     [ ] Definitive Additional Materials
     [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec. 240.14a-11(c) or sec. 240.14a-12

                               TYLER CORPORATION
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
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    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
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pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee
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   2
 
LOGO
 
LOGO[TYLER CORPORATION LOGO]
 
                                                                  March 17, 199727, 1998
 
Dear Stockholder:
 
     You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of
Tyler Corporation to be held on Monday,Tuesday, April 28, 1997,1998, at Texas CommerceSan Jacinto Tower,
2200 Ross Avenue, 40th Floor,2121 San Jacinto Street, Suite 2820, Dallas, Texas, commencing at 10:00 a.m. At
this meeting you will be asked to elect fivesix directors for the ensuing year and
to consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Tyler Corporation Stock Option
Plan.
 
     It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting whether or
not you are personally in attendance, and I urge you to sign, date, and return
the enclosed proxy at your earliest convenience.
 
                                                     Yours very truly,
 
                                                    LOGO
                                                    C./s/ LOUIS A. RUNDELL, JR.,WATERS
                                                      LOUIS A. WATERS
                                                   Chairman of the Board
   3
 
                               TYLER CORPORATION
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD APRIL 28, 19971998
 
To the Stockholders of
  TYLER CORPORATION:
 
     Tyler Corporation will hold its annual meeting of stockholders at Texas
CommerceSan
Jacinto Tower, 2200 Ross Avenue, 40th Floor,2121 San Jacinto Street, Suite 2820, Dallas, Texas, on Monday,Tuesday,
April 28, 1997,1998, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time, for the following purposes:
 
     (a) to elect fivesix directors to serve until the next annual meeting of
         stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified;
 
     (b) to consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Tyler Corporation
         Stock Option Plan; and
 
     (c) to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
         or any adjournment thereof.
 
     Only stockholders of record at the close of business on February 27, 1997,March 10, 1998, are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any adjournment thereof. A
list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available for
examination at the offices of Tyler Corporation, 2121 San Jacinto Street, Suite
3200, Dallas, Texas, for ten days before the meeting.
 
     PLEASE DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. No postage is required if the proxy card is mailed in the
United States. Prompt response by our stockholders will reduce the time and
expense of solicitation.
 
                                            By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
                                           LOGO
 
                                                    PATRICIA K. STEWART/s/ JAMES E. RUSSELL
                                                     JAMES E. RUSSELL
                                                         Secretary
 
Dallas, Texas
March 17, 199727, 1998
   4
 
                               TYLER CORPORATION
                            2121 SAN JACINTO STREET
                                   SUITE 3200
                              DALLAS, TEXAS 75201
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                      FOR
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
                           TO BE HELD APRIL 28, 19971998
 
     Tyler Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), furnishes this
Proxy Statement to its stockholders in connection with the solicitation on
behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") of proxies to be
used at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held April 28,
1997.1998 (the "Meeting"). Proxies in the form enclosed will be voted at the meetingMeeting
if properly executed, returned to the Company before the meeting,Meeting, and not
revoked. You may revoke the proxy at any time before it is exercised.exercised by
delivering written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company, by
delivering a subsequently dated proxy, or by attending the Meeting, withdrawing
your proxy, and voting your shares personally. The approximate date on which
this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card will first be sent to
stockholders is March 17, 1997.27, 1998.
 
     The enclosed 19961997 Annual Report of the Company does not form any part of
the proxy solicitation material.
 
                           OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK
 
     The record date for stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
annual meeting of stockholders is the close of business on February 27, 1997.March 10, 1998. At
the close of business on that date, the Company had issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote at the meeting 19,882,921Meeting 33,981,709 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par
value.value ("Common Stock").
 
     As of February 27, 1997,March 10, 1998, the following entities were known by the Company to
own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock of the Company.Company:
 
NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT BENEFICIALLY OF NAME AND ADDRESS BENEFICIALLY NATURE OF PERCENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED(1)OWNED NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF CLASS - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------------------------------------------- -------- William D. Oates 6,565,000 Sole voting and 25.8 2800 West Mockingbird Lane investment power Dallas, Texas 75235 2,200,000(1) Sole voting power Richmond Partners, Ltd. 4,000,000(2) Sole voting and 11.1 10375 Richmond Ave., Suite 1615 investment power Houston, Texas 77042 Gabelli Funds, Inc. 2,438,260(2)2,161,500(3) Sole voting and 12.56.4 One Corporate Center investment power Rye, New York 10580 41,200(2)6,500(3) Sole investment power First Manhattan Company 352,800William H. Oates 2,000,000(1) Sole voting and 6.3 437 Madison Avenue investment power New York, New York 10022 890,998 Shared voting and investment power 16,200 Shared investment power Dimensional Funds Advisors, Inc. 776,800 Sole voting and 5.5 1299 Ocean Avenue investment power Santa Monica, CA 90401 317,100 Shared voting and sole investment power5.9 2800 West Mockingbird Lane Dallas, Texas 75235
- --------------- (1) Each shareVoting power and record ownership of these shares is retained by Mr. Oates pursuant to collateral pledge arrangements securing payment for these shares sold to family members (including William H. Oates) and a former in-law. 5 (2) Includes a warrant to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at $2.50 per share. Louis A. Waters is accompanied by one Preferred Stock Purchase Right. (2)deemed to have beneficial ownership of these shares. (3) Share amounts and percentages of class are as of February 14, 1996.January 27, 1998. Shares are held by Gabelli Funds, Inc. and its affiliates,affiliate, GAMCO Investors, Inc., Gabelli Performance Partnership L.P., Gabelli International Limited and Gabelli International II Limited. Also, Mr. Mario J. Gabelli is deemed to have beneficial ownership of these shares. 5 ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT THE MEETING The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting of stockholders.Meeting. Abstentions shall be treated as shares of the Common Stock that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. In deciding all questions, a holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share held in his name on the record date. The accompanying proxy, unless the stockholder otherwise specifies therein, will be voted (i) for the election as directors of the Company of the fivesix persons designated under the caption "Directors and Executive Officers-NomineesOfficers -- Nominees for Director,"Director", (ii) for the amendment to the Tyler Corporation Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan") and (iii) at the discretion of the proxy holders on any other matter that may properly come before the meetingMeeting or any adjournment thereof. To be elected a director, each nominee must receive a plurality of all the votes cast at the meeting for the election of directors. Any abstentions or broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of directors. Should any nominee become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election, the proxy holders may vote for the election in his stead of any other person the Board of Directors may recommend. Each nominee has expressed to the Board his intention to serve the entire term for which his election is sought. A favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meetingMeeting is required for approval and adoption of the amendment to the Stock Option Plan. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the adoption of the amendment to the Stock Option Plan, while broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote on the amendment to the Stock Option Plan. Where stockholders have appropriately specified how their proxies are to be voted, the proxies will be voted accordingly. If any other matter or business is brought before the meeting,Meeting, the proxy holders may vote the proxies at their discretion. The Board of Directors does not know of any such other matter or business. 2 6 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of February 27, 1997,March 10, 1998, by each director and named executive officer and the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group:
SHARES OF COMPANY NATURE OF PERCENT NAME COMMON STOCK(1) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIPSTOCK OF CLASS - ------------------------------ ----------------- -------------------------------- -------- Ernest H. Lorch 2,000 Sole voting and investment powerLorch............................................ 50,000 * Richard W. Margerison 245,630 Sole voting and investment power 1.2 Joseph F. McKinney(2) 698,251 Sole voting and investment power 3.5 Frederick R. Meyer 217,349 Sole voting and investment power 1.1 C. A. Rundell, Jr. 176,985 Sole voting and investment powerMeyer......................................... 227,349 * James E. Russell 237,543 Sole voting and investment power 1.2 StanleyBrian K. Miller............................................ -- -- William D. Bellowe 1,500 Sole voting and investment powerOates(1)........................................ 8,765,000 25.8 Harold W. Parkison......................................... 12,500 * E. Peter Raisbeck 1,600 Sole voting and investment powerRaisbeck(2)....................................... -- -- C.A. Rundell, Jr........................................... 368,657 1.1 James E. Russell........................................... 257,543 * Louis A. Waters(3)......................................... 4,000,000 11.1 Bruce W. Wilkinson(4)...................................... 133,333 * All directors and executive officers of the Company and executive officers as a group (12(10 persons) 1,622,809 Sole voting and investment power 8.2....................................... 13,814,382 38.1
- --------------- * Less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock (1) Each shareIncludes 2,200,000 shares of Common Stock is accompanied by one Preferred Stock Purchase Right.over which Mr. Oates has sole voting power, but no investment power, pursuant to collateral pledge arrangements securing payment for the sale of such shares to family members and a former in-law. (2) Joseph F. McKinneyUntil June 1997, Mr. Raisbeck served as ChairmanChief Executive Officer and President of Institutional Financing Services, Inc. ("IFS"), a former subsidiary of the BoardCompany which was sold in October 1997. (3) Includes 2,000,000 shares owned by Richmond Partners, Ltd. ("Richmond") and 2,000,000 shares subject to a warrant issued to Richmond at an exercise price of $2.50 per share. Mr. Waters is the sole general partner of Richmond and deemed beneficial owner of these shares. (4) Mr. Wilkinson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until his retirement onfrom March 1997 to October 7, 1996.1997. The number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by some officers and directors of the Company includes certain shares they have the right to acquire pursuant to options granted under the Company's Stock Option Plan.Plan and through a warrant to purchase Common Stock. Shares subject to options and a warrant exercisable within 60 days after February 27, 1997,March 10, 1998, are held by the following persons and group: C.A.Mr. Parkison -- 12,500; Mr. Rundell Jr. -- 94,116; Richard W. Margerison167,288; Mr. Wilkinson -- 57,464;133,333; Mr. Waters -- 2,000,000; and all directors and executive officers and directorsof the Company as a group -- 164,913. 22,313,121. Unless noted above, each director and executive officer of the Company may be deemed to have sole voting and investment power over the shares of Common Stock reflected as beneficially owned. 3 67 DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS A brief description of each nominee for director and of each executive officer of the Company is provided below. Directors hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. Executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting and hold office until its next annual meeting. NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR Ernest H. Lorch. Mr. Lorch, age 64,65, is counsel to the law firm of Whitman, Breed, Abbott & Morgan, a position he has held since December 1992. He retired as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation ("DKM"), a private investment company, in December 1992, a position he held since January 1990. Mr. Lorch was President and Chief Operating Officer of DKM from June 1984 to January 1990. He is also Senior Chairman of the Board of Varlen Corporation and a director of Dorsey Trailers, Inc. Mr. Lorch was elected to the Board of Directors of the Company in October 1993, and is a member of the Compensation Audit Committee and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Richard W. Margerison. Mr. Margerison, age 48, has been President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since May 1994, and was Executive Vice President from January 1989 to April 1994. He was also Interim Chief Executive Officer of Forest City Auto Parts from December 1996 through January 1997. He was Interim Chief Executive Officer of Tyler Pipe Industries, Inc. ("Tyler Pipe"), formerly an operating subsidiary of the Company, from January 1992 to September 1992. Mr. Margerison was Senior Vice President of the Company from February 1988 through January 1989 and Vice President of the Company from April 1985 through January 1988. He has been a director of the Company since May 1990 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Frederick R. Meyer. SinceMr. Meyer, age 70, has since July 1985 Mr. Meyer has been Chairman of the Board of Aladdin Industries, Inc., a diversified company principally engaged in the manufacture of children's lunch kits, thermosware, insulated food delivery systems and related products. He has also been President and Chief Executive Officer of Aladdin Industries, Inc. from October 1995 to present and from May 1987 to September 1994. He was President of Tyler Corporation from August 1983 through December 1986. Mr. Meyer age 69, has been a director of the Company since 1967 and is a member of the Compensation Audit Committee and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. He is also a director of Arvin Industries, Inc., Palm Harbor Homes, Inc., and Southwest Securities Group, Inc. C. A. Rundell, Jr.William D. Oates. Mr. RundellOates, age 58, has been Chairman of the Board and President of Business Resources Corporation ("Resources") since its inception in 1993. From 1987 through 1994, Mr. Oates acquired or formed and served as President or a principal executive officer of American Title Company of Dallas, Austin Title Company, Commercial Abstract and Title Company and other title insurance agencies in Texas, as well as a title insurance underwriting company. Mr. Oates held these companies through American Title Company of Dallas, of which he was the principal owner and President until his sale of the company in November 1994. Mr. Oates was appointed a director of the Company in February 1998 following the Company's acquisition of Resources and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. C. A. Rundell, Jr. Mr. Rundell, age 66, was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in October 1997. From October 1996 to October 1997, Mr. Rundell served as Chairman of the Board and from October 1996 to March 1997 served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 1996.Company. Mr. Rundell ishas also served as President of Rundell Enterprises, a venture capital and investmentsinvestment company, since June 1988 and as Chairman of the Board of NCI Building Systems, Inc. since April 1989. He was Chairman of the Board andMr. Rundell served as Chief Executive Officer of Cronus Industries, Inc. ("Cronus") from April 19871977 to June 1988. He was1988 as well as its President and Chief Executive Officer of Cronus from April 1977 to April 1987.1987 and its Chairman of the Board from April 1987 to April 1988. Mr. Rundell age 65, has been a director of the Company since 1966 and is a member of the Compensation Audit Committee and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. He is also a director of Interra Financial, Inc.Dain Rauscher Corporation and Tandy Brands Accessories, Inc. James E. Russell. Mr. Russell, age 61,62, was elected Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company in October 1997. Mr. Russell has been a director of the Company since May 1990 and has been affiliated with the Company for 28more than 25 years. He served as Vice President of the Company from January 1992 to August 1995 and was Chairman of the Board of Tyler Pipe Industries, Inc. ("Tyler Pipe"), a former subsidiary, until his retirement in August 1995. Mr. Russell has been a director of the Company since May 1990 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Tyler Pipe from December 1988 to December 1991 and was President and Chief Operating Officer of Tyler Pipe from February 1988 to December 1988. 34 7 OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Stanley D. Bellowe.8 Louis A. Waters. Mr. Bellowe,Waters, age 65, has been Co-Chairman59, was elected Chairman of the Board in October 1997 after being appointed a director of the Company in August 1997. Mr. Waters is a member of the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Forest City Auto Parts Company ("Forest City"), a subsidiaryDirectors. Mr. Waters was the founding Chairman of the Company, since December 1996. Prior to that he was a Co-ChiefBoard and Chief Executive Officer of Forest City since 1967. Mr. Bellowe is the brother of Arnold Bellowe, who is the other Co-Chairman of the Board of Forest City. The Company acquired Forest City on February 20, 1991. Arnold E. Bellowe. Mr. Bellowe, age 60, has been Co-Chairman of the Board of Forest City since December 1996. Prior to that he was a Co-Chief Executive Officer of Forest City since 1967. Mr. Bellowe is the brother of Stanley Bellowe, who is the other Co-Chairman of the Board of Forest City. E. Peter Raisbeck. Mr. Raisbeck, age 57, has beenBrowning-Ferris Industries, Inc. ("BFI"). He recently directed BFI's international activities, serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Institutional Financing Services,BFI International, Inc. ("IFS"), a subsidiaryfrom 1991 to March 1997 at which time he retired from full-time employment with BFI. From 1988 to March of 1997 he was Chairman of the Company, since February 1997. HeBFI Finance Committee and from 1980 through 1988 he was PresidentChairman of the BFI Executive Committee. Mr. Waters also served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of BFI from November 19891969 through January 1997. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of IFS from March 1987 to November 1989. The Company acquired IFS on January 7, 1994.1980. OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Harold W. Parkison. Mr. Parkison, age 48,49, has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest City Auto Parts Company ("Forest City") since February 1997. Mr. Parkison had previously been Vice President-International Store Development at Federal-Mogul Corp.Corporation since March 1995. Prior to March 1995, he was Vice President-Merchandise Manager at Auto Express from 1993. From 1991 to 1993 he held the position of Vice President-Automotive for Kmart Corporation. Between 1971 and 1991 he held various management positions at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. James M. Cascino.Brian K. Miller. Mr. Cascino,Miller, age 45, has been President and Chief Operating Officer of IFS since February 1997. He joined IFS in 1987 as Senior Vice President-Sales, and from 1988 to January 1997 he served as Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing. Linda K. Hill. Ms. Hill, age 42, has been Treasurer of the Company since March 1995 and39, has been Vice President and ControllerChief Accounting Officer of the Company since January 1990. SheDecember 1997. From June 1986 through December 1997, Mr. Miller held various senior financial management positions at Metro Airlines, Inc. ("Metro"), a regional airline holding company. Mr. Miller was also Interim Chief Financial Officer at IFSof Metro from AugustMay 1991 to December 1997 and also held the office of President of Metro from January 1993 to December 1997. From March 1994 to February 1995. Ms. Hill was ControllerNovember 1995, Mr. Miller also held the position of the Company from March 1989 through December 1989Vice President and Assistant ControllerChief Financial Officer of the Company from April 1986 through February 1989. 4Lone Star Airlines, a regional airline. 5 89 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE The following table sets forth all compensation paid or accrued for services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries for the last three fiscal years by the Chief Executive Officer, former Chief Executive Officer, retired Chief Executive Officer of a former subsidiary and the fivethree highest-paid executive officers of the Company:
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION -----------------------------------AWARDS ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS PAYOUTS ---------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------------------------- SECURITIES LONG-OTHER RESTRICTED UNDERLYING TERMANNUAL STOCK OPTIONS/ ALL OTHER NAME AND PRINCIPAL OTHER ANNUAL STOCK OPTIONS/ INCENTIVE COMPEN- POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS COMPENSATIONCOMPENSATION(1) AWARDS SARS PAYOUTS SATION(1)COMPENSATION - ------------------------ --------------------------------- ----- -------- -------- --------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------------------- Joseph F. McKinney -- 1996 $161,539(2) $46,154 Chairman of the Board 1995 350,000 28,963 and Chief Executive 1994 350,000 27,167 Officer of the Company C. A. Rundell, Jr. --1997 $ 80,077 $461,250(3) 350,000 President and Chief 1996 0 100,000 0 ChairmanExecutive Officer of the BoardCompany(2) Bruce W. Wilkinson 1997 143,077 $347,180 40,625(5) 666,666 Former President and Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company(3) Richard W. Margerison -- 1996 220,000 0Company(4) James E. Russell 1997 81,409 Vice President and Chief 1995 220,000 26,427 OperatingFinancial Officer of 1994 220,000 25,898 the Company Arnold E. Bellowe -- 1996 93,333 1,800 Co-ChiefCompany(6) Brian K. Miller 1997 10,795 50,000 Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company(7) Harold W. Parkison 1997 183,333 $170,000 75,000 50,000 President and Chief Executive 1995 160,000 $84,375(4) 1,100 Officer of Forest City 1994 160,000 1,700 Stanley D. Bellowe -- 1996 93,333 1,800 Co-Chief Executive 1995 160,000 120,375(4) 1,100 Officer of Forest City 1994 160,000 1,700 E.City(8) Peter Raisbeck --1997 208,719 Chief Executive 1996 320,000 40,980 Chief Executive 1995 305,011 49,412$40,980 Officer and President of IFS, 19941995 305,011 50,61649,412 a former subsidiary(9)
- --------------- (1) Other compensationCertain of the Company's executive officers receive personal benefits in addition to salary. The aggregate amount of the personal benefits, however, does not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the total annual salary for the named executive officer and therefore has been omitted. (2) Mr. Rundell has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 1997 at an annual salary of $210,000. From October 1996 for Mr. McKinney represents payment for services renderedto October 1997, he served as a consultantChairman of the Board, and from October 7, 1996. Amounts allocated1996 to the Bellowes represent contributions to a profit-sharing plan on their behalf. Mr. Raisbeck's 1996 other compensation includes $7,743, $12,000 and $21,237 contributed to a defined contribution profit-sharing plan, a defined contribution pension plan and a supplemental executive retirement plan, respectively, in 1996. (2) Compensation paid for services rendered until his retirement in October 1996. (3) Mr. Rundell hasMarch 1997 served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 7, 1996.Company. He has elected not to accept remuneration for his services. The Company expectsservices from October 1996 to hireMarch 1997. (3) On October 8, 1997, Mr. Rundell was granted 125,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock with a newmarket value of $3.69 per share. Mr. Rundell will vest in these shares in increments of 25,000 shares every six months beginning April 8, 1998 and ending April 8, 2000. (4) Mr. Wilkinson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from March 1997 to October 1997. Mr. Wilkinson's other annual compensation includes $260,000 for stock appreciation rights and $87,180 for amounts reimbursed for payment of taxes. (5) In March 1997, Mr. Wilkinson was granted 125,000 shares with a market value of $1.625 per share. The shares were to vest over 30 months. Upon Mr. Wilkinson's resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in earlyOctober 1997, 100,000 shares, the unvested portion of the grant, were forfeited. The 25,000 vested shares were purchased by the Company for $86,250, valued at the market value of $3.45 per share at the time of repurchase. 6 10 (6) Mr. Russell has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since October 1997. (4) Amounts related to achievement of cumulative profit objectives achieved since(7) Mr. Miller joined the acquisitionCompany in December 1997. (8) Mr. Parkison has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest City since February 1997. In connection with his move to Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Parkison was paid $75,000 in February 1991 (See "Certain Transactions.") 5 9compensation for expenses resulting from transportation of household items, disposition of current residence, acquisition of a new residence and other related expenses associated with his move. (9) Mr. Raisbeck retired in June 1997 from IFS, a subsidiary of the Company which was sold in October 1997. OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR The following table shows stock option grants during 19961997 to aany named executive officer:
PERCENT OF NUMBER OF TOTAL SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS EXERCISE UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISEPRICE GRANT DATE OPTIONS/OPTION/SARS EMPLOYEES IN PRICEPER EXPIRATION PRESENT NAME GRANTED FISCAL YEAR PER SHARE DATE VALUE $$(1) ---- ------------ ----------------------- ---------------- --------- ---------- ---------- Joseph F. McKinney C. A. Rundell, Jr. 100,000(2)............... 350,000 23% $3.69 10/07/07 $1.95 Bruce W. Wilkinson(3)............... 666,666 44% $2.125$1.50 03/27/07 $ .79 James E. Russell.................... -- -- -- -- -- Brian K. Miller..................... 50,000 3% $5.25 12/12/06 $1.30(1) Richard11/07 $2.82 Harold W. Margerison Arnold E. Bellowe Stanley D. BelloweParkison.................. 50,000 3% $2.13 02/02/07 $1.11 E. Peter RaisbeckRaisbeck................... -- -- -- -- --
- --------------- (1) The fairpresent value of the option grant was estimated on the date of grantdetermined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:and assuming an expected life of seven years and a dividend yield of 0%;$0. In addition, expected volatility of 37%;and risk-free interest rate of 6.5%rates, respectively, were assumed to be as follows: Mr. Rundell -- .40 and 6.1%; Mr. Wilkinson -- .38 and 6.9%; Mr. Miller -- .42 and 5.8%; and expected lifeMr. Parkison -- .38 and 6.4%. (2) Includes 132,199 options granted as incentive stock options and 217,801 options granted as non-qualified stock options. (3) As a result of 10 years.Mr. Wilkinson's resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in October 1997, he cannot vest in 400,000 options included in his total options granted. OPTION/SAR EXERCISES DURING 19961997 AND YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES The following table shows stock option exercises during 19961997 by each of the named executive officers and the value of unexercised options at December 31, 1996:1997:
NUMBER OF VALUE OF UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/SARS AT OPTIONS/SARS AT SHARES DECEMBER 31, 1996(1)1997(1) DECEMBER 31, 1996(2) SHARES ACQUIRED1997(2) EXERCISED VALUE ------------------------- ------------------------- NAME ON EXERCISE VALUEAS SARS REALIZED EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE ---- --------------- ----------------------- -------- ------------------------- ------------------------- Joseph F. McKinney C. A. Rundell, Jr. 47,058/52,942 (2) RichardC.A. Rundell..................... 137,677/312,323 $396,596/$575,280 Bruce W. Margerison 57,464/0 $97,976 ArnoldWilkinson............... 133,333 $260,000 0/133,333 $ 0/$533,332 James E. Bellowe Stanley D. BelloweRussell................. -- -- Brian K. Miller.................. 0/ 50,000 $ 0/$ 12,500 Harold W. Parkison............... 0/ 50,000 $ 0/$168,750 E. Peter RaisbeckRaisbeck................ -- --
- --------------- (1) As of December 31, 1996,1997, options to purchase an aggregate of 330,269695,933 shares of Common Stock of the Company were outstanding with a weighted-averageweighted average exercise price per share of $1.88$3.04 and expiring between February 1, 1997,January 28, 2003, and December 12, 2006.11, 2007. (2) Amount is based on a year-end market value of Tyler Corporation Common Stock of $1.875$5.50 per share. C. A. Rundell, Jr.'s exercise price exceeded the year-end market value. PENSION PLAN The Company's previous retirement plan provided that an eligible employee received, upon normal retirement at age 65, an annual amount equal to 40% of the average of his final five years' salary and bonus less 50% of his annual primary Social Security benefit, proportionately reduced for less than 30 years of credited service. The Internal Revenue Code imposes a limit on the amount of compensation that can be considered under the plan. For the plan year ended December 31, 1996, the limit was $150,000. Joseph F. McKinney and Richard W. Margerison had 30 years and 15 years, respectively, of credited service under this plan at June 30, 1996, at which time the plan was terminated. The supplemental retirement plan provided a monthly supplement to the benefits under the retirement plan of the Company for certain employees whose benefits were limited by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 and the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (regardless of its effective dates) and who were selected by the Board of Directors or a committee selected by the Board to participate in the supplemental retirement plan. 67 10 The Company's supplemental retirement plan was also terminated in 1996. The following lump-sum settlements were paid from the retirement plan in December 1996 and from the supplemental plan in January 1997:
RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN PLAN ---------- ------------ Joseph F. McKinney $821,233 $671,324 Richard W. Margerison 314,662 64,733 Frederick R. Meyer -- 30,868 James E. Russell -- 47,714
11 COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS Each non-employee director receives an annual fee of $15,000, plus $1,000 for each Board meeting and $500 for each committee meeting he attends.attended. EMPLOYMENT, NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS AND AGREEMENTS WITH NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS On October 8, 1997, the Company entered into an employment agreement with C. A. Rundell, Jr. which provides that the Company will pay Mr. Rundell an annual salary of $210,000 for his services as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and allows him to participate in performance bonus or incentive compensation plans made available to comparable level employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Mr. Rundell will also receive certain other employee benefits and perquisites normally offered to the executive employees of the Company. In addition, the Company granted Mr. Rundell 125,000 shares of Common Stock. He will vest in these shares in increments of 25,000 shares every six months beginning April 8, 1998, and ending April 8, 2000. The agreement also granted him options to purchase 350,000 shares of Common Stock at $3.69 per share, the closing price on October 8, 1997, of which (i) 132,199 incentive stock options of which 23,727 will vest and be exercisable on January 1, 1998, and 27,118 will vest and be exercisable on each of January 1, 1999-2002 and (ii) 217,801 non-qualified stock options, of which 43,561 will vest and be exercisable on October 8, 1997, and 43,560 will vest and be exercisable on each of October 8, 1998-2001. Both the stock grant and the 350,000 stock options to purchase Common Stock fully vest in the event of a change of control of the Company. The Company entered into an employment agreement in February 1997, with Harold W. Parkison which provides that the Company pay Mr. Parkison for his services as President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest City, a salary of $200,000, a guaranteed bonus of $60,000 for 1997 and eligibility for an additional bonus in 1997 if certain profit objectives were achieved. The agreement also provides for a cash payment of $200,000 if during the first three years of his employment there is a change in control of Forest City or the Company. In addition, Mr. Parkison received $75,000 in compensation for expenses that would be incurred in connection with his move to Cleveland, Ohio, such as moving expenses and real estate fees associated with the disposition of his current residence and acquisition of a new residence. Mr. Parkison is also eligible to receive all employee benefits and perquisites normally offered to the executive employees of Forest City. In connection with Bruce W. Wilkinson's resignation as a director and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective October 8, 1997, the Company purchased 447,609 shares of the Company's common stock owned by Mr. Wilkinson for $1,544,000. Mr. Wilkinson purchased these shares in the second quarter of 1997 as a condition of his employment. In addition, the Company also made payments to Mr. Wilkinson of approximately $346,000 relating to various stock compensation plans as provided for under the terms of his resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Wilkinson will continue as an employee until March 31, 1998 (or earlier, if he so elects) at a monthly salary of $8,333. The Company has a consulting agreement with James E. Russell that began in September 1995, part of which expiresexpired in August 1997 and the remainder of which may be terminated upon 30 days' notice. The agreement provides the Company will pay Mr. Russell $20,000 per year through August 1997 and an additional $4,167 monthly for his services to the Company. TheIn October 1997, Mr. Russell assumed the duties of Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company has a terminationand his monthly payment was increased from $4,167 to $8,333 to reflect these additional responsibilities. Effective February 19, 1998, the Company entered into an employment, confidentiality, nonsolicitation and noncompetition agreement with Richard W. Margerison where in the event of his termination for any reason including his voluntary resignation he will receive severance benefits of $220,000 and medical and other insurance benefits for one year. The Company has a consulting agreement with Joseph F. McKinneyWilliam D. Oates which provides that began October 7, 1996, and will continue through October 6, 1997. The agreement provides the Company will pay Mr. McKinney $475,000Oates a salary of at least $200,000 per year for consulting services. Mr. McKinney will reimbursehis services to the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer of Resources. In addition, Mr. Oates is eligible to participate in performance bonus or incentive compensation plans made available to comparable level employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Mr. Oates will also receive all employee benefits and perquisites normally offered to the executive employees of Resources. The employment and confidentiality portions of the agreement expire February 19, 2001, and the nonsolicitation and noncompetition portions of the agreement expire the later of February 19, 2003, or the third anniversary of Mr. Oates' termination. 8 12 In December 1997, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Brian K. Miller which provides that the Company pay Mr. Miller a salary of $140,000 for office space, secretarialhis services as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for the Company. In addition, Mr. Miller will participate in performance bonus or incentive compensation plans made available to comparable level employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and receive all employee benefits and perquisites normally offered to the executive employees of the Company. The agreement also provides for a severance payment equal to one year of his current base salary if he is terminated for any reason other services.than cause, as specified in the agreement. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION Members of the Compensation Audit Committee are Ernest H. Lorch, Frederick R. Meyer C.and Louis A. Rundell, Jr. and Ernest H. Lorch.Waters. Mr. Meyer and Mr. Rundell werewas previously officers of the Company, and Mr. Rundell is currently an officer of the Company. REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The Compensation Audit Committee, a committee of the Board of Directors, has the responsibility for final approval for all compensation to officers and directors of the Company including, primarily, the duty to ensure that compensation paid to executive officers does not exceed reasonable amounts and is based on objective standards. The Compensation Committee approves or disapproves the recommendations of management regarding compensation according to the guidelines set forth below. Salaries, bonuses and other compensation of executive officers are determined by reference to nationwide comparisons for the industries in which the Company operates. The Executive Compensation Service (a division of Wyatt Data Services) "Top Management Report" is used as a guideline. This survey is segmented for both particular industries and sizes of companies within those industries. The compensation information is then further divided into quartiles. After establishing an appropriate total compensation range for each executive officer, placement within that range is based on both company and individual performance. Company performance is measured primarily by return on net assets employed and secondarily by earnings growth. Individual performance is measured by both qualitative and quantitative criteria in each job description. Certain employees have employment agreements which define compensation. Where these agreements were negotiated as part of an acquisition agreement, compensation may not be consistent with market comparisons. 7 11 The Company's personnel policy is to employ outstanding management in order to obtain outstanding results. To attract and retain high-level individuals, the Company may pay above-median compensation or provide stock ownership and stock option incentives to its executive officers. From time to time, salaries, bonuses and other compensation of executive officers are evaluated by reference to nationwide comparisons for the industries in which the Company operates. A substantial portion of each executive officer's potential total compensation is in the form of bonuses and options which are awarded only when indicated by superior accomplishment. The Company feels very strongly that bonuses must be earned, and when results are not superior, no bonuses are paid. The primary criterion for bonus payment is return on net assets. Net assets are defined as average total assets less average accounts payable and accrued liabilities of the operating companies on a historical cost basis, therefore excluding write-up of assets, goodwill or other intangibles arising from acquisitions by Tyler Corporation. Chief executive officers of subsidiary companies are measured only on that subsidiary's results, and corporate officers are measured on the overall returns of the operating companies. In order to get maximum bonus, the applicable operation(s) must earn 30% or more return on net assets. The minimum threshold for bonus is 20% return on net assets and solid growth. Below that level, no bonuses are paid. If a new executive officer is hired for a subsidiary operation which is not performing at the minimum level, a lower standard may be set for the first few years. The lower standard allows the new executive to earn bonuses provided that the subsidiary company is making measurable progress toward a satisfactory return on net assets. Occasionally, bonuses are paid when specific return targets are not met. These cases are based on particular contributions to shareholder value or company performance. Such bonus payments are not the rule and are generally associated with increases in shareholder value which the Compensation Audit Committee deems should be recognized with an out-of-the-ordinary bonus. In eightnine of the past twelvethirteen years, including 1997, no bonuses have been paid to corporate officers as results have not warranted payment of such bonuses. As a result of excellent performance and based on the purchase contract, Forest City officers received bonuses for 1991, 1992 and 1993 and an additional bonus in 1996 for cumulative operating profits achieved since 1991. DueIn addition, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest City received a bonus for 1997 in accordance with the terms of his employment and in recognition of 1997 performance. For 1998, executive officers of operating subsidiaries will be measured on the results of that subsidiary and, in the case of Resources, The Software Group, Inc. and Interactive Computer Designs, Inc., will be measured on the combined results of those companies. The primary criteria for bonus payments for subsidiary companies in 1998 will be achievement of certain levels of operating income, which will be evaluated relative to the factoperating plan established in December 1997 and approved by Tyler's Board of Directors. In order to be eligible to receive the maximum bonus, the applicable operation(s) must earn 130% of par (plan operating income plus bonuses). The minimum threshold for bonuses is 90% of par. Below that level, no bonuses will be paid. The Company is in the process of redesigning the bonus program for corporate officers for 1998 in recognition of recent changes in the Company's business, particularly its entry into the information management services business. The new program, which must be approved by the Compensation Committee, is expected to be based on different criteria for measuring the Company's performance than those previously used, although return on net assets (the primary factor historically used in determination of bonuses) may still be one of the criteria considered. Occasionally, bonuses are a large portion of each executive officer's potential compensation, executives may have significant decreasespaid when specific return targets are not met. These cases are based on particular contributions to shareholder value or Company performance. Such bonus payments are not the rule 9 13 and are generally associated with increases in total compensation when results do not meet bonus criteria.shareholder value which the Compensation Committee deems should be recognized with an out-of-the-ordinary bonus. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION C. A.C.A. Rundell, Jr., was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective October 8, 1997, upon the resignation of Bruce W. Wilkinson. Mr. Rundell had previously served as Interim Chief Executive Officer without salary from October 1996 through March 1997. Effective October 8, 1997, Mr. Rundell's compensation consists of Tyler Corporation, is serving in that post without salary. He was granted a ten-year 100,000-share option on December 13, 1996, at $2.125. This option is approximately 95% vested at this time and will be completely vested on January 1, 1998. This option was granted in recognitionbase annual salary of the time and effort$210,000. Mr. Rundell is expending as Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Audit Committee believes that the option aligns the interests of management with those of the shareholder. Mr. Rundell did not participate in the Compensation Audit Committee deliberations to grant him options. The compensation for a permanent Chief Executive Officer expected to be hired in 1997 will most likely consist of base salary, eligibility for annual bonus, shares under option, andalso receives certain health and insurance benefits. It is also expected that the individual hired will make a significant investment in the sharesbenefits provided to executive officers of the Company's Common Stock.Company. In determining the baseMr. Rundell's salary, for the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Audit Committee will consider the survey described aboveconsidered several factors, including Mr. Rundell's experience and other factors, such as the experience brought to the position by the hired individual. A key performance measure the committee will use in determining Chief Executive Officer compensation will be its assessment of the individual'shis ability to enhance the long-term value of the Company.Company, particularly in light of the Company's strategic plan to grow through acquisitions in the information management services business. The factors describedcommittee also considered Mr. Rundell's considerable experience with acquisitions. Mr. Rundell was granted options to purchase 350,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock on October 8, 1997, which options vest over a period of 48 months. In addition, Mr. Rundell was granted 125,000 shares of the Company's Common stock on October 8, 1997, with a market value on that date of $3.69 per share. Mr. Rundell will vest in these shares in increments of 25,000 shares every six months beginning April 8, 1998 and ending on April 8, 2000. Including stock options granted in 1996, Mr. Rundell has a total of 450,000 stock options which combined with his stock grant of 125,000 shares and his direct ownership of 76,369 shares give him a total potential ownership of 651,369 shares once he completes all respective vesting requirements. The Compensation Committee believes that the options and grant align the interest of management with those of the shareholders. As noted above, the Company is in the process of redesigning the bonus program for corporate officers. The new program, which must be approved by the Compensation Committee, will be usedeffective for 1998. Mr. Rundell will participate in determiningthat program. By making a substantial portion of the Chief Executive Officer's salary. As with all executive officers of Tyler Corporation, a large portion of potential total compensation will be provided byin the form of bonuses which will be paidthat are based on objective performance measures, the criteria described above.Compensation Committee believes that it will provide for rewards only when indicated by superior accomplishment. Mr. Rundell did not receive a bonus for 1997. This report is submitted by the Compensation Audit Committee:Committee Ernest H. Lorch Frederick R. Meyer C.Louis A. Rundell, Jr. 8Waters 10 1214 STOCK PERFORMANCE CHARTS The following two charts compare the return on the Company's Common Stock for the last five and ten years with the S&P 500 Index and the S&P Consumer Cyclicals-500 Index. In prior yearsAlthough Tyler's principal subsidiary from October 15, 1997 to December 31, 1997, was a retailer of automotive parts and supplies, the Company has used the S&P Conglomerates Index which was deleted from the S&P industry sector in 1996. The S&P Consumer Cyclicals-500 Index was selected because ofit represents Tyler's past philosophy of diversification. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 19911992 and December 31, 19861987 in the Company's Common Stock and in each of the foregoing indices and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. FIVE-YEAR CHART
CONSUMER MEASUREMENT PERIOD CYCLICALSConsumer Measurement Period Cyclicals - (FISCAL YEAR COVERED) TYLER(Fiscal Year Covered) Tyler S&P 500 500 19911992 100 100 100 1992 161 107.62 136.35 1993 183 118.46 156.02113.51 110.08 114.43 1994 113 120.03 142.4670.27 111.53 104.49 1995 96 165.13 176.3059.46 153.45 129.3 1996 65 203.05 203.6740.54 188.68 149.37 1997 118.92 251.63 204.45
TEN-YEAR CHART
CONSUMER MEASUREMENT PERIOD CYCLICALSConsumer Measurement Period Cyclicals - (FISCAL YEAR COVERED) TYLER(Fiscal Year Covered) Tyler S&P 500 500 19861987 100.00 100.00 100.00 1987 88.00 105.25 99.49 1988 134.00 122.73 122.63152.31 116.61 123.26 1989 348.00 161.62 141.87394.69 153.56 142.60 1990 343.00 156.60 126.44389.38 148.79 127.09 1991 341.00 204.31 188.76387.05 194.12 189.73 1992 549.00 219.88 257.37622.65 208.91 258.69 1993 623.00 242.04 294.50706.8 229.97 296.02 1994 386.00 245.24 268.91437.54 233.00 270.30 1995 326.00 337.39 332.78370.23 320.56 334.50 1996 222.00 414.86 386.30252.43 394.16 388.28 1997 740.45 525.67 531.47
911 1315 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE SECTION 16(A) Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company's directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of the Company's Common Stock to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and New York Stock Exchange initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the Company's Common Stock. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file with the SEC. Based solely on the Company's review of the copies of such forms it has received during the year, the Company believes that during the year ended December 31, 1997, all the Company's directors, officers, and holders of more than 10% of the Company's Common Stock complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements. CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS In 1991 Stanley Bellowe, Arnold BelloweSeptember 1997, Richmond Partners, Ltd., a Houston-based investment partnership of which Louis A. Waters is the managing general partner, invested $3,500,000 in a package of Tyler securities consisting of 2,000,000 common shares and Jill Bellowe,a warrant to acquire 2,000,000 common shares with an exercise price of $2.50 per common share. Mr. Waters is currently Chairman of the wifeBoard of Arnold Bellowe, all of whom were principal shareholders of Forest City, as well as Gary Bellowe, the son of Stanley Bellowe, a small minority holder under a previous trust agreement (the "Shareholders"), received an aggregate of $24,400,000 inCompany. In connection with the Company's acquisitionpurchase of Forest City.Resources on February 19, 1998, William D. Oates received approximately $15,250,000 in cash and 8,765,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. In connection with the acquisition, the Company paid $1,185,000 in the first quarter of 1996addition, pursuant to the shareholders as the result of achieving certain cumulative profit objectives, some of which was paid as bonuses. In addition the Company has paid $660,000 in 1994 for 1993 performance, $660,000 in 1993 for 1992 performance and $660,000 in 1992 for 1991 performance for a total of $3,165,000 since the acquisition. The portionterms of the payments representing bonuses to Stanley and Arnold Bellowe is includedmerger in the Summary Compensation Table. The Company also entered into noncompetition agreements with key employees of Forest City. Pursuant to the 1994 IFS acquisition agreement, E. Peter Raisbeck received payment of $617,320. The Company also entered into employment and noncompetition agreements with key employees of IFS, includingwhich Resources was acquired, Mr. Raisbeck. The Company has a consulting agreement with James E. Russell that began in September 1995, part of which expires in August 1997 and the remainder of whichOates may be terminated upon 30 days' notice. The agreement provides the Company will pay Mr. Russell $20,000 per year through August 1997 andentitled to receive additional merger consideration of up to an additional $4,167 monthlyaggregate $4,500,000 in cash if certain contingencies are achieved on or before December 31, 1999 relating to acquisitions of specified businesses for his services to the Company. The Company has a termination agreement with Richard W. Margerison where in the eventpurposes of his termination for any reason including his voluntary resignation he will receive severance benefits of $220,000 and medical and other insurance benefits for one year. The Company has a consulting agreement with Joseph F. McKinney that began October 7, 1996, and will continue through October 6, 1997. The agreement provides the Company will pay Mr. McKinney $475,000 for consulting services. Mr. McKinney will reimburse the Company for office space, secretarial services and other services.geographic expansion. PROPOSAL FOR APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO AND RESTATEMENT OF STOCK OPTION PLAN The proposed amendment to and restatement of Thethe Tyler Corporation Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan") areis intended to enable the Company to provide additional incentives to selected key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries whose substantial contributions are important to the continued growth and profitability of the Company's business. Stock options are designed to strengthen the commitment of those key employees to the Company, its subsidiaries and its stockholders, to motivate those key employees to perform their assigned responsibilities diligently and skillfully, and to attract and retain competent entrepreneurial-type management dedicated to the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. The Company believes this can best be accomplished by tying a portion of compensation to appreciation in the market value of the Company's stock so that the management and key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are rewarded under the Stock Option Plan only if the value of the stockholders' investment in the Company has appreciated. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN On March 13, 1990, the Company established the Stock Option Plan, pursuant to which options maycould be granted to eligible employees for the purchase of a maximum of 1,100,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company. The Stock Option Plan was amended effective February 7, 1997, to increase the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that may be granted to eligible employees to a maximum of 1,800,000. AMENDMENT SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL The Board of Directors is submitting for stockholder approval an amendment to and restatement of the Stock Option Plan, effective October 8, 1997, (i) to (i) increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that 10 14 may be purchased pursuant to options granted to eligible employees under the Stock Option Plan from 1,100,0001,800,000 shares to 1,800,0003,300,000 shares and (ii) extendto provide that any eligible employee may be granted options up to the expiration datemaximum number of shares authorized under the Stock Option Plan from MarchPlan. 12 2000 to February 6, 2007. 16 The approval of the amendment to the Stock Option Plan requires the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.Meeting. Stockholder approval is required in order for the options to constitute performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code (as defined below). Management recommends voting in favor of the amendment to the Stock Option Plan. If the amendment to the Stock Option Plan is not approved by the stockholders, the Company will maintain the Stock Option Plan without giving effect to the amendment.amendment, and any options for shares not available for grant prior to the amendment will terminate. Copies of the Stock Option Plan may be obtained from the Company upon request. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN, AS AMENDED The Stock Option Plan is designed to permit the appropriate administering committee to grant options to key employees of the Company or its subsidiaries to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company. The Stock Option Plan requires that the purchase price under each option will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of the grant of the option. The fair market value per share is the reported closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of the grant of the option, or if no sale of Common Stock shall have been reported on such date of grant, on the next preceding day or the last day prior to the date of grant when the sale was reported. The option period may not be more than ten years from the date the option is granted. Except with respect to options granted to officers and directors, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company grants options to eligible employees, determines the purchase price and option period at the time the option is granted, and administers and interprets the Stock Option Plan. The Compensation Audit Committee of the Board of Directors grants options and administers the Stock Option Plan with respect to officers and directors of the Company. Options may be exercised in annual installments as specified by the administering committee. All installments that become exercisable are cumulative and may be exercised at any time after they become exercisable until expiration of the option. The administering committee may accelerate or terminate any or all outstanding options in the event the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets or all or substantially all of the outstanding Common Stock is sold or exchanged for or converted into securities of another corporation or in the event of some other material corporate restructuring. The exercise price of options is paid in cash or by check at the time of exercise. Shares of Common Stock deliverable upon exercise of the options may be transferred from treasury or issued from authorized but unissued shares. The Stock Option Plan provides that an option agreement may include a provision granting stock appreciation rights ("SARs") to the optionee. If this provision is in the option agreement, the administering committee may determine upon the exercise of an option whether to issue the number of shares of Common Stock called for by the option agreement after payment of the purchase price or to pay cash, Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common Stock to the optionee pursuant to the SAR'sSARs provision. Payment in accordance with the SAR'sSARs provision would be in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock covered by the option or portion thereof being exercised over the aggregate option price of the shares. In addition, the Stock Option Plan provides that the administering committee may offer to the holder of an option that does not contain a SAR'sSARs provision the right to receive cash, Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common Stock in the amount of such excess rather than the number of shares of Common Stock called for by the option agreement. Unless sooner terminated by action of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Stock Option Plan will terminate on February 6, 2007, and no options may thereafter be granted under the Stock Option Plan. The Stock Option Plan may be amended, altered or discontinued by the Board of Directors without the approval of the stockholders, except that the Board of Directors does not have the power or authority without stockholder approval to change the employees or class of employees who are eligible to receive options or the aggregate number of shares that may be issued under options. The administering committees,committee, however, may make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares covered by the Stock Option Plan and the outstanding options, and in the option prices, to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, share combination or other 1113 1517 recapitalization and, with respect to outstanding options and option prices, to reflect any merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or the like, of or by the Company. Options may be granted under the Stock Option Plan only to key employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. Key employees are defined in the Stock Option Plan to be those employees whose performance and responsibilities are determined by the appropriate administering committee to be influential to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries. Approximately 90Currently approximately 70 employees are eligible to receive stock options under the Stock Option Plan. Directors who are not employees of the Company or one of its subsidiaries are not eligible. Additional options may be granted to persons to whom options have previously been granted. There is no restriction in the Stock Option Plan on the maximum or minimum number of shares of Common Stock covered by options that may be granted to any person. Both incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options may be granted under the Stock Option Plan. Incentive stock options are options which meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and nonqualified options are options which do not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. No incentive stock option, however, may be granted under the Stock Option Plan to an employee who owns more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock unless the option price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of grant and the option is not exercisable more than five years after it is granted. There is no limit on the fair market value of incentive stock options that may be granted to an employee in any calendar year, but no employee may be granted incentive stock options that first become exercisable during a calendar year for the purchase of stock with an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date of grant of each option) in excess of $100,000. An incentive stock option (or an installment thereof) counts against the annual limitation only in the year it first becomes exercisable. The administering committee may provide for termination of options granted under the Stock Option Plan in case of termination of employment, dishonesty or any other reason the appropriate committee determines. If an option under the Stock Option Plan expires or terminates before it has been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of that option may be made the subject of future grants of options under the Stock Option Plan. Upon termination of the employment of an optionee holding an option under the Stock Option Plan, his option is exercisable for a period of 30 days after termination, and thereafter his option terminates. Options may not be transferred other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the lifetime of the optionee, may be exercised only by him. If the optionee dies before the termination of his right to exercise his option, the legal representatives of his estate may exercise his option provided the option is exercised prior to the date of expiration of the option period or one year from the date of the optionee's death, whichever first occurs, and the option may be exercised only as to those shares the optionee could have purchased under the option on the date of death or other termination. TAX STATUS OF OPTIONS All stock options that qualify under the rules of Section 422 of the Code will be entitled to "incentive stock option" treatment. To receive incentive stock option treatment, an optionee must not dispose of the acquired stock within two years after the option is granted or within one year after the exercise. In addition, the individual must have been an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries for the entire time from the date of granting of the option until three months (one year if the employee is disabled) before the date of the exercise. The requirement that the individual be an employee and the two-year and one-year holding periods are waived in the case of death of the employee. If all such requirements are met, no tax will be imposed upon exercise of the incentive stock option, and any gain upon sale of the stock will be entitled to capital-gaincapital gain treatment. The employee's gain on exercise (the excess of the fair market value at the time of exercise over the exercise price) of an incentive stock option is a tax-preferencetax preference item and, accordingly, is included in the computation of alternative minimum taxable income. If an employee does not meet the two-year and one-year holding requirement (a "disqualifying disposition"), but does meet all other requirements, tax will be imposed at the time of sale of the stock. In such event, the employee's gain on exercise will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction at the time of sale. Any remaining gain on sale will be 1214 1618 short-term, mid-term or long-term capital gain, depending on the holding period of the stock. If the amount realized on the disqualifying distribution is less than the value at the date of exercise, the amount includable in gross income, and the amount deductible by the Company, will equal the excess of the amount realized on the sale or exchange over the exercise price. An optionee, upon exercise of a nonqualified stock option that does not qualify as an incentive stock option, recognizes ordinary income in an amount equal to the gain on exercise. If the optionee receives cash or stock upon the exercise of an SAR, instead of paying the exercise price for the shares of Common Stock called for by his option agreement, the amount of cash or value of stock he receives is ordinary income to him. The exercise of a nonqualified stock option or SAR entitles the Company to a tax deduction in the same amount as is includable in the income of the optionee for the year in which the exercise occurred. Any gain or loss realized by an optionee on subsequent disposition of shares generally is a capital gain or loss and does not result in any tax deduction to the Company. The optionee has no taxable income, and the Company is not entitled to a deduction, at the time of the grant of an option. The foregoing statements are based upon present federal income tax laws and regulations and are subject to change if the tax laws and regulations, or interpretations thereof, are changed. OUTSTANDING OPTIONS Options may be exercised in annual installments as specified by the administering committee. All installments that become exercisable are cumulative and may be exercised at any time after they become exercisable until expiration of the option. The administering committee may grant either nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. The following table shows, as to certain executive officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries and as to all executive officers as a group, the following information with respect to stock options and SARs in tandem therewith:
ALL EXECUTIVE C.A. BRUCE W. BRIAN K. HAROLD W. OFFICERS AS A COMMON STOCK C. A. RUNDELL, JR. WILKINSON MILLER PARKISON GROUP - ------------ ------------------------------ --------- -------- --------- ------------- Granted -- January 1, 19951996 to December 31, 1996............................... 100,000 175,0001997.............................. 450,000 666,666* 50,000 50,000 1,216,666 Number of options with SAR's.......... 100,000 175,000SARs.......... 450,000 666,666* 50,000 50,000 1,216,666 Weighted average price per share......share..... $ 2.1253.47 $ 1.911.50 $ 5.25 $ 2.13 $ 2.90 Exercised -- January 1, 19951996 to December 31, 1996...............................1997.............................. -- 4,829133,333 -- -- 133,333 Market value of shares less exercise price or cash received.............received............ -- $260,000 -- -- $ 9,658260,000
- --------------- * Includes 400,000 options to purchase Common Stock which terminated as a result of Mr. Wilkinson's resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in October 1997. During the period from January 1, 1995,1996, to December 31, 1996,1997, employees of the Company exercised options and SAR'sSARs with a net value (market value of shares less exercise price or cash received) of $24,040.$792,045. As of December 31, 1996,1997, options to purchase an aggregate of 330,269695,933 shares of Common Stock of the Company were outstanding, with a weighted average exercise price per share of $1.88$3.04 and expiring between February 1, 1997,January 28, 2003, and December 12, 2006. 1311, 2007. 15 1719 COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors of the Company has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Audit Committee to assist the Board in carrying out its duties. The Executive Committee has authority, as delegated by the Board, of Directors, to act for the Board but may not commit the Company to an expenditure in excess of $10,000,000 without Board approval. The Audit Committee's duties include considering the independence of the independent auditors before the Company engages them; reviewing with the independent auditors the fee, scope and timing of the audit; reviewing the completed audit with the independent auditors regarding any significant accounting adjustments, recommendations for improving internal controls, appropriateness of accounting policies, appropriateness of accounting and disclosure decisions with respect to significant unusual transactions or material obligations and significant findings during the audit; reviewing the Company's financial statements and related regulatory filings with the independent auditors; and meeting periodically with the Company's management to discuss internal accounting and financial controls. The Compensation Audit Committee has final authority on all executive compensation and periodically reviews compensation, employee benefit plans and other fringe benefits paid to or provided for officers and directors of the Company. This committee approves annual salaries and bonuses for Company officers to ensure that the recommended salaries and bonuses are not unreasonable. The Company has no nominating committee; the entire Board of Directors is responsible for selecting nominees for election as directors. During 19961997, the Board of Directors of the Company met a total of sixeight times. The Executive Committee met three times,once, the Audit Committee met twice and the Compensation Audit Committee met once.three times. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS Any proposals that stockholders of the Company desire to have presented at the 19981999 annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices not later than November 12, 1997.17, 1998. 16 20 MISCELLANEOUS Ernst & Young LLP acted as the Company's independent auditors for 1996.1997. One or more representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will attend the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement and will respond to appropriate questions from stockholders. The Audit Committee has not yet appointed the independent auditors for 1997.1998. The accompanying proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company will bear the expense of preparing, printing and mailing the proxy solicitation material and the form of proxy. In addition to use of the mail, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone and telegram by directors and regular officers and employees of the Company. The Company may also engage the services of a proxy solicitation firm to assist in the solicitation of proxies. The Company estimates that the fee of any such firm will not exceed $5,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Arrangements may also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such persons, and the Company may reimburse them for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith. By Order of the Board of Directors, /s/ PATRICIA K. STEWART PATRICIA K. STEWART,JAMES E. RUSSELL JAMES E. RUSSELL Secretary Dallas, Texas March 27, 1998 17 1997 14 1821 PROXY TYLER CORPORATION THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY The undersigned hereby (1) acknowledges receipt of the Notice dated March 17, 1997,27, 1998 of the annual meeting of stockholders of Tyler Corporation (the "Company") to be held in the Texas Commerceat Suite 2820, San Jacinto Tower, 40th Floor, 2200 Ross Avenue,2121 San Jacinto Street, Dallas, Texas, on MondayTuesday, April 28, 1997,1998, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time, and the proxy statement in connection therewith, and (2) appoints Louis A. Waters and C.A. Rundell, Jr. and Richard W. Margerison,, and each of them, his proxies with full power of substitution and revocation, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to vote upon and act with respect to all of the shares of Common Stock of the companyCompany standing in the name of the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned is entitled to vote and act at said meeting and at any adjournment thereof, and the undersigned directs that his proxy be voted as indicated on the reverse side hereof. If only one of the above proxies shall be present in person or by substitute at such meeting ar ator any adjournment thereof, that proxy so present and voting, , either in person or by substitute, shall exercise all of the powers hereby given. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore given to vote upon or act with respect to such stock and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said proxies, their substitutes or any of them may lawfully do by virtue hereof. (Continued and to be signed on reverse side) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------SEE REVERSE SIDE SEE REVERSE SIDE CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE [X] Please mark votes as in this examplePLEASE MARK VOTE AS IN THIS EXAMPLE. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED BELOW. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE MATTERS SPECIFICALLY REFERRED TO BELOW. 1. Election of Directors Nominees:Directors: NOMINEES: Lorch, Margerison, Meyer, Oates, Rundell, Russell, WITHHOLDWaters [ ]FOR ALL NOMINEES [ ]WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL FOR ALL NOMINEES NOMINEES [ ] [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------ I-------------------------------------------------- TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY NOMINEE(S), MARK X ABOVE AND WRITE NOMINEESNOMINEE'S NAME(S) IN SPACE PROVIDED. 2. Approval of Tyler Corporation Stock FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN Option Plan, as amended and [ ] [ ] [ ] restated as of February 7, 1997.19, 1998. [ ]For [ ] AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN 3. In thetheir discretion, of the proxies on anyare authorize to vote upon such other matter thatbusiness as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournmentadjournments thereof. MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE [ ] AND NOTE AT LEFT [ ] Please date this proxy and sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. Where there is more thenthan one owner, each should sign. When signing as an attorney, administrator, executor, guardian or trustee, please add your title as such ifsuch. If executed by a corporation, the proxy should be signed by a duly authorized officer. Please sign this proxy and return it promptly whether or not you expect to attend the meeting. You may nevertheless vote in person if you do attend. Signature Date ------------------------------------------------ ---------------- Signature Date ------------------------------------------------ ---------------- Tyler Corporation Proxy Job-FINAL: 3/5/97 2 ProposalsSignature: Date: --------------------- --------- Signature: Date: --------------------- ---------