UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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|X| Definitive Proxy Statement
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|_| Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
2911 South County Road 1260
Midland, Texas 79706
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held on June 20, 200619, 2007
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of shareholders of Natural
Gas Services Group, Inc., a Colorado corporation, will be held at the Hilton
Hotel, 117 West Wall Avenue, Midland, Texas 79701 on Tuesday, June 20, 200619, 2007 at
9:00 a.m., Central Time, for the purpose of considering and voting upon
proposals:
o To elect twothree directors to serve until the annual meeting of
shareholders to be held in 2009,2010, or until their successors are elected
and qualify;
o To consider and vote upon a proposal to amendratify the Natural Gas Services
Group, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan to (1) increase the numberreappointment of shares authorizedHein & Associates LLP as independent
auditors for issuance thereunder from 150,000 to 550,000
shares of common stock; (2) extend the time that options can be
granted from December 17, 2008 to March 1, 2016; (3) reduce the
minimum exercise price of incentive stock options from 140% of the
fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant to 100% of
the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant; (4)
eliminate a provision in the plan providing that the number of shares
subject to the plan can be increased up to 400,000 shares without
shareholder approval; and (5) to eliminate a provision authorizing the
right to exchange, in a cashless transaction, all or any part of a
stock option for shares of common stock;2007; and
o To transact such other business as may properly be presented at the
meeting or at any adjournment(s) of the meeting.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 26, 2006May 8, 2007 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and at any adjournment(s) of
the meeting.
The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors
of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. All shareholders are cordially invited to
attend the meeting in person. Whether you plan to attend or not, please date,
sign and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed return envelope, to
which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States. The giving of a
proxy will not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Stephen C. Taylor
Stephen C. Taylor
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Midland, Texas
May 18, 200614, 2007
NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
2911 South County Road 1260
Midland, Texas 79706
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 20, 200619, 2007
This proxy statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc., a
Colorado corporation, to be used at the annual meeting of shareholders to be
held at the Hilton Hotel, 117 West Wall Avenue, Midland, Texas 79701 on Tuesday,
June 20, 200619, 2007 at 9:00 a.m., Central Time, and at any adjournment(s) of the
meeting.
This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy is being mailed to
shareholders on or about May 18, 2006.14, 2007.
Any person signing and mailing the enclosed proxy may revoke it at any time
before it is voted by:
o giving written notice of the revocation to Stephen C. Taylor, our
President, at Natural Gas Services Group, Inc., 2911 South County Road
1260, Midland, Texas 79706;
o voting in person at the meeting; or
o voting again by submitting a new proxy card bearing a later date.
Only the latest dated proxy card, including one which a person may vote in
person at the meeting, will count. If not revoked, the proxy will be voted at
the meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated on the proxy by the
shareholder, or, if no instructions are indicated, will be voted "FOR" the
election of twothree directors to serve until the 20092010 annual meeting of
shareholders and "FOR" the proposal to amendratification of the 1998 Stock Option Plan.reappointment of Hein &
Associates LLP as independent auditors for 2007.
VOTING SECURITIES
Voting rights are vested in the holders of common stock of Natural Gas
Services Group, Inc., with each share entitled to one vote. Cumulative voting in
the election of directors is not permitted. Only shareholders of record at the
close of business on April 26, 2006May 8, 2007 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting or any adjournments of the meeting. On April 26, 2006,May 8, 2007, there were
11,927,94912,069,166 shares of common stock outstanding.
We will make a complete list of shareholders eligible to vote at the annual
meeting available for examination during the ten days prior to the annual
meeting. During such time, you may visit our executive offices during ordinary
business hours to examine the shareholder list for any purpose germane to the
annual meeting.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AT MEETING
The annual meeting has been called by the Board of Directors of Natural Gas
Services Group, Inc. to consider and act upon the following matters:
o To elect twothree directors to serve until the annual meeting of
shareholders to be held in 2009,2010, or until their successors are elected
and qualify;
o To consider and vote upon a proposal to amendratify the Natural Gas Services
Group, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan to (1) increase the numberreappointment of shares authorizedHein & Associates LLP as independent
auditors for issuance thereunder from 150,000 to 550,000
shares of common stock; (2) extend the time that options can be
granted from December 17, 2008 to March 1, 2016; (3) reduce the
minimum exercise price of incentive stock options from 140% of the
fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant to 100% of
the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant; (4)
eliminate a provision in the plan providing that the number of shares
subject to the plan can be increased up to 400,000 shares without
shareholder approval; and (5) to eliminate a provision authorizing the
right to exchange, in a cashless transaction, all or any part of a
stock option for shares of common stock;2007; and
o To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or at any adjournment(s) of the meeting.
Quorum. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock
present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy will constitute a
quorum.
Vote Required. If a quorum is present, directors are elected by a plurality
of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. This means that the twothree nominees receivingfor
election as directors who receive the highestgreatest number of votes cast in favor of
their election will be elected to the Board of Directors. Assuming the presence of a quorum, a majority
of the votes cast is required for approval of the proposal to amend the 1998
Stock Option Plan. All other matters are
approved if the votes cast in favor of the matter exceed the votes cast against
the matter.
Broker Non-Votes. A broker non-vote occurs when a shareholder that owns
shares in "street name" through a nominee (usually a bank or a broker) fails to
provide the nominee with voting instructions, and the nominee does not have
discretionary authority to vote the shares with respect to the matter to be
voted on, or otherwise fails to vote the shares. Broker non-votes are included
in determining whether a quorum is present but are not considered a vote cast.
Broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of a vote on a particular matter.
Abstentions and Withheld Votes. Abstentions and withheld votes with respect
to a proposal are counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is
present, withheld votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote for
directors. Abstentions are not counted as a vote for or against a matter, but
are considered votes cast on a matter.
Other Business at the Meeting. We are not aware of (and have not received
any notice with respect to) any business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting
other than as described in this proxy statement. If any other matters properly
come before the Annual Meeting, Stephen C. Taylor and Richard L. Yadon,Gene A Strasheim, the
named proxies, will vote the shares represented by proxies on such matters in
accordance with their discretion and best judgment.
PROPOSAL 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, each class to be as
nearly equal in number as possible. At each annual meeting of shareholders,
members of one of the classes, on a rotating basis, are elected for a three-year
term. The authorized number of directors is currently set at seven.eight. Our current
directors are listed below by the year in which their terms expire:
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Terms Expiring at the Terms Expiring at the Terms Expiring at the
2006 Annual Meeting 2007 Annual Meeting 2008 Annual Meeting ----------------------------------2009 Annual Meeting
------------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------
John W. Chisholm Charles G. Curtis William F. Hughes, Jr. Richard L. Yadon Charles G. Curtis
Alan A. Baker
Paul D. Hensley Gene A. Strasheim Alan A. Baker
Richard L. Yadon Stephen C. Taylor
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The terms of twothree current directors, Mr. HughesMessrs. Chisholm, Hensley and Mr. Baker,Yadon,
expire at the 20062007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Shareholders will be electing twothree directors at the meeting. The Board is
recommending William F. Hughes, Jr.Mr. Hensley and Mr. Yadon for re-election to the Board of Directors
to serve for a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in
2009.2010. Mr. Hughes wasHensley and Mr. Yadon were previously elected by the shareholders. The
Board is also recommending Alan A. BakerMr. Chisholm for election to the Board of Directors
to serve for a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in
2009.2010. Mr. BakerChisholm was appointed as a director by the Board on March 20,December 19, 2006
to fill a vacancy created by expanding the retirement in December 2005 of Wallace C. Sparkman, our
former Chairmansize of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. Mr.
Sparkman's term would have expired at our 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and, underfrom seven to eight
directors. Under Colorado law, the term of a director who is elected by the
remaining directors to fill a vacancy expires at the next annual meeting of
shareholders. Consequently, Mr. Baker'sChisholm's current term expires at the 20062007
Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote the shares
represented by such proxy for the election of the twothree nominees for director
named above. If, at the time of the meeting, either oneany of these nominees becomes
unavailable for any reason, which is not expected, the persons entitled to vote
the proxy will vote for such substitute nominee or nominees, if any, as they
determine in their sole discretion, or we may reduce the size of the Board.
Biographical information for each person nominated as a director, and for
each person whose term of office as a director will continue after the 20062007
Annual Meeting, is set forth below.
Nominees for Directors for Terms to Expire in 2010
Paul D. Hensley
Paul D. Hensley, 54, was appointed as a director of Natural Gas Services
Group in January 2005 to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors and was first
elected as a director at the annual meeting of shareholders held in June 2005.
He is the founder of and has served as President and as a director of Screw
Compression Systems, Inc., or "SCS", since its inception in 1997. SCS became a
wholly owned subsidiary of Natural Gas Services Group in January 2005 when we
purchased all of the outstanding capital stock of SCS. Mr. Hensley has over 30
years of industry experience.
John W. Chisholm
John W. Chisholm, 52, was appointed as a director of Natural Gas Services
Group on December 19, 2006 to fill a vacancy created by expanding the size of
the Board from seven to eight directors. Mr. Chisholm is the founder of
Wellogix, an oil and gas software company that develops software aimed at
expediting the exchange of enterprise data and communication of complex
engineered services. Mr. Chisholm has served on the Board of Directors of Flotek
Industries, Inc. since 2002 and is a member of its Compensation Committee. Prior
to founding Wellogix, Mr. Chisholm co-founded and served as President of
ProTechnics Company from 1985 until its sale to Core Laboratories in December of
1996. Mr. Chisholm served as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing
of Core Laboratories until 1998, when he started Chisholm Energy Partners, an
investment fund focused on mid-size energy service companies. Mr. Chisholm holds
a Business Administration degree from Fort Lewis College in Colorado. He
currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board on Middle East Technology of
the Oil & Gas Journal.
Richard L. Yadon
Richard L. Yadon, 49, has served as a director since 2003. Mr. Yadon is one
of the founders of Rotary Gas Systems Inc., a former subsidiary of Natural Gas
Services Group, and served as an advisor to the Board of Directors of Natural
Gas Services Group from June 2002 to June 2003. Since 1981, Mr. Yadon has owned
and operated Yadeco Pipe & Equipment. Since December 1994, he has co-owned and
served as President of Midland Pipe & Equipment, Inc. In April of 2007, Mr.
Yadon became the sole owner of Midland Pipe & Equipment, Inc. Both of the
companies Mr. Yadon owns are engaged in the business of providing oil and gas
well drilling and completion services and equipment to oil and gas producers
conducting operations in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and
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Oklahoma. Since 1981, he has owned Yadon Properties, which owns and operates
real estate in Midland, Texas. Mr. Yadon has 26 years of experience in the
energy service industry.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote "for" each of the
three nominees named above.
Continuing Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2009
William F. Hughes, Jr.
William F. Hughes, Jr., 53,54, has served as a director of Natural Gas
Services Group since December 2003. Since 1983, Mr. Hughes has been co-owner of
The Whole Wheatery, LLC, a natural foods store located in Lancaster, California.
Mr. Hughes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the
United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Science degree in Engineering
from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Alan A. Baker
Alan A. Baker, 74, was appointed as a director of Natural Gas Services
Group on March 20, 2006 to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors created by
the retirement on December 31, 2005 of Wallace C. Sparkman, our former Chairman
of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Baker presently
serveswas elected as
a director of Natural Gas Services Group at the 2006 annual meeting of
shareholders to serve a three year term expiring in 2009. Mr. Baker has served
as a consultant to Halliburton Company and previously served as President,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Halliburton Company's Energy Services
Group, Houston, Texas, from 1991 until his retirement in 1995. Mr. Baker joined
Halliburton Services in 1954 after graduating with a degree in petroleum
engineering from Marietta College in Ohio. Mr. Baker has served Halliburton
Services as Senior Vice President for U.S. Operations, Senior Vice President for
International Operations and as President of the Vann Systems Division of
Halliburton Company. Mr. Baker also served as a member of Halliburton's
executive committee. Mr. Baker has served on the Boards of Noble Affiliates,
National Gas and Oil, Crestar Energy of Canada and the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas
Association. He is Trustee Emeritus of Marietta College and is a registered
professional engineer.
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The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote "for" both
nominees named above.
Continuing Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2008
Charles G. Curtis
Charles G. Curtis, 73,74, has served as a director since April 2001. Since
2002, substantially all of Mr. Curtis' business activities have been devoted to
managing personal investments. From 1992 until 2002, Mr. Curtis was the
President and Chief Executive Officer of Curtis One, Inc., a manufacturer of
aluminum and steel mobile stools and mobile ladders. From 1988 to 1992, Mr.
Curtis was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cramer, Inc., a
manufacturer of office furniture. Mr. Curtis has a Bachelor of Science degree
from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science degree in
Aeronautical Engineering degree from the University of Southern California.
Gene A. Strasheim
Gene A. Strasheim, 65,66, has served as a director since 2003. From 2001 to
2005,2004, Mr. Strasheim has beenwas a financial consultant to Skyline Electronics/Products,
a manufacturer of circuit boards and large remotely controlled digital
interstate highway signs. From 1992 to 2001, Mr. Strasheim was the Chief
Financial Officer of Skyline Electronics/Products. From 1985 to 1992, Mr.
Strasheim was the Vice President-Finance and Treasurer of CF&I Steel
Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Strasheim was the Vice President-Finance for two
companies and was a partner with the public accounting firm of Deloitte Haskins
& Sells. Mr. Strasheim has practiced as a certified public accountant in three
states. Mr. Strasheim holds a Bachelor degree in Business from the University of
Wyoming.
Stephen C. Taylor
Stephen C. Taylor, 52,53, was elected by the Board of Directors of Natural Gas
Services Group to assume the position of President and Chief Executive Officer
in January 2005. Mr. Taylor was elected as a Director at the
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annual meeting of shareholders in June 2005. Effective January 1, 2006, Mr.
Taylor was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. Immediately prior to
joining Natural Gas Services Group, Mr. Taylor held the position of General
Manager --- US Operations for Trican Production Services, Inc. from 2002 through
2004. Mr. Taylor joined Halliburton Resource Management in 1976, becoming its
Vice President --- Operations in 1989. Beginning in 1993, he held multiple senior
level management positions with Halliburton Energy Services until 2000 when he
was elected Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Enventure Global
Technology, LLC, a joint-venture deep water drilling technology company owned by
Halliburton Company and Shell Oil Company. Mr. Taylor elected early retirement
from Halliburton Company in 2002 to join Trican Production Services, Inc. Mr.
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas
Tech University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the
University of Texas at Austin.
Continuing Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2007
Richard L. Yadon
Richard L. Yadon, 48, has served as a director since 2003. Mr. Yadon is one
of the founders of Rotary Gas Systems Inc., a former subsidiary of Natural Gas
Services Group, and served as an advisor to the Board of Directors of Natural
Gas Services Group from June 2002 to June 2003. Since 1981, Mr. Yadon has owned
and operated Yadeco Pipe & Equipment. Since December 1994, he has co-owned and
served as President of Midland Pipe & Equipment, Inc. Both companies are engaged
in the business of providing oil and gas well drilling and completion services
and equipment to oil and gas producers conducting operations in Texas, New
Mexico, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Since 1981, he has owned Yadon Properties, which
owns and operates real estate in Midland, Texas. Mr. Yadon has 25 years of
experience in the energy service industry.
Paul D. Hensley
Paul D. Hensley, 53, was appointed as a director of Natural Gas Services
Group in January 2005 to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors and was
elected as a director at the annual meeting of shareholders held in June 2005.
He is the founder of and has served as President of Screw Compression Systems,
Inc., or "SCS", since SCS'
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inception in 1997. SCS became a wholly owned subsidiary of Natural Gas Services
Group in January 2005 when we purchased all of the outstanding capital stock of
SCS. Mr. Hensley has over 30 years of industry experience.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
Natural Gas' Board of Directors held six meetings during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005.2006. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number
of Board meetings held while such person was a director. Each director also
attended at least 75% of all of the meetings held by all committees of the Board
of Directors for which he served (during the periods that he served). The Board
of Directors acts from time to time by unanimous written consent in lieu of
holding a meeting. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005,2006, the Board of
Directors took action by unanimous written consent two times.
We typically schedule a Board meeting in conjunction with our annual
meeting of shareholders. Although we do not have a formal policy on the matter,
we expect our directors to attend each annual meeting, absent a valid reason,
such as illness or an unavoidable schedule conflict. Last year, all but one of the
individuals then serving as directors attended our 2006 annual meeting of
shareholders. The director not in attendance at the annual meeting was
restricted from traveling because of health reasons and was not standing for
re-election at last year's annual meeting.
To assist it in carrying out its duties, the Board has delegated certain
authority to threefour separately designated standing committees. These committees
are described below.
Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee throughout fiscal year 2005through June 19, 2006 were Gene A.
Strasheim (Chairman), Charles G. Curtis, William F. Hughes, Jr. and Richard L.
Yadon.
At the Board of Directors meeting held on June 20, 2006, Messrs. Strasheim
(Chairman), Curtis and Hughes were reappointed to the Audit Committee, and Mr.
Yadon all of whom are currently serving onwas removed from the Audit Committee.
Wallace O.
Sellers also served onThe current members of the Audit Committee until June 2005 when his term as a
director expired. Mr. Sellers did not stand for re-election at the 2005 annual
meeting of shareholders.are Messrs. Strasheim
(Chairman), Curtis and Hughes.
The primary functions of the Audit Committee include:
o assisting the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities as
they relate to our accounting policies, internal controls, financial
reporting practices and legal and regulatory compliance;
o hiring independent auditors;
o monitoring the independence and performance of our independent
auditors;
o maintaining, through regularly scheduled meetings, a line of
communication between the Board, our financial management and
independent auditors; and
o overseeing compliance with our policies for conducting business,
including ethical business standards.
The Audit Committee met foursix times during the last fiscal year.
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Our Board of Directors has determined that Gene A. Strasheim is qualified
as an "audit committee financial expert" as that term is defined in the rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Our common stock is listed for trading on the American Stock Exchange.
Under rules of the American Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee is to be
comprised of three or more directors, each of whom must be "independent". Our
Board has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are
independent, including Mr. Strasheim, as defined in the listing standards of the
American Stock Exchange, or "AMEX", and the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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The Board of Directors has adopted an Audit Committee Charter. A copy of
the charter can be found on our website (www.ngsgi.com).at www.ngsgi.com.
Compensation Committee
During 2005,Through June 19, 2006, the Compensation Committee was comprised of William
F. Hughes, Jr. (Chairman), Charles G. Curtis, Gene A. Strasheim and Richard L.
Yadon. On June 20, 2006, Messrs. Hughes (Chairman) and Yadon all
of whom are currently serving on the Committee. Wallace O. Sellers also served
onwere reappointed to
the Compensation Committee, for a portionand Messrs. Strasheim and Curtis were removed from
the Compensation Committee. In addition, on June 20, 2006, Alan A. Baker was
appointed to the Compensation Committee. Mr. John W. Chisholm was appointed to
the Compensation Committee on December 19, 2006.
The current members of 2005.the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Hughes
(Chairman), Baker, Yadon and Chisholm.
Our Board has determined that all of the members of the Compensation
Committee are independent, as defined in the listing standards of AMEX and the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Compensation Committee assists the Board in overseeing:
o the management of our human resources, including compensation and
benefits programs, and the evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer's
performance and compensation; and
o the evaluation of management.
The Compensation Committee's policy is to offer the executive officers
competitive compensation packages that will permit us to attract and retain
individuals with superior abilities and to motivate and reward such individuals
in an appropriate fashion in the long-term interests of Natural Gas Services
Group and its shareholders. Currently, executive compensation is comprised of
salary and cash bonuses and other compensation that may be awarded from time to
time such asawards of long-term incentive opportunities in the
form of stock options under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
During the last fiscal year there were sixseven meetings of the Compensation
Committee.
Our Board has determined that all of the members of the Compensation
Committee are independent, as defined in the listing standards of AMEX and the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A current copy of our Compensation Committee Charter is available on our
website (www.ngsgi.com).at www.ngsgi.com.
Governance, Personnel Development, and Nominating Committee
During 2005,Through June 19, 2006, the Governance, Personnel Development and Nominating
Committee was composed of Charles G. Curtis (Chairman), William F. Hughes, Jr.,
Gene A. Strasheim and Richard L. Yadon.
At our Board of Directors meeting held on June 20, 2006, this committee was
dissolved and two new committees were created in its place, the Governance and
Personnel Development Committee and the Nominating Committee.
On June 20, 2006, Messrs. Curtis (Chairman) and Yadon and Alan A. Baker
were appointed to serve on the Governance and Personnel Development Committee.
On December 19, 2006, John W. Chisholm was appointed to serve on the Governance
and Personnel Development Committee. The current members of the Governance and
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Personnel Development Committee are Messrs. Curtis (Chairman), Yadon, Baker and
Chisholm.
Messrs. Yadon, Strasheim and Curtis were appointed on June 20, 2006 to
serve on the Nominating Committee, all of whom are currently serving oncompose the current members of
the Nominating Committee. Wallace O. Sellers also served onMr. Yadon serves as Chairman of the Governance, Personnel
Development, and Nominating
Committee for a portion of 2005.
TheCommittee.
Prior to its dissolution, the functions of the Governance, Personnel
Development, and Nominating Committee include:included:
o identifying individuals qualified to become board members, consistent
with the criteria approved by the Board;
o recommending director nominees and individuals to fill vacant
positions;
o assisting the Board in interpreting the Governance Guideline, the Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics and any other similar governance
documents adopted by the Board;
o overseeing the evaluation of the Board and its committees;
o generally overseeing the governance of the Board; and
o overseeing executive development and succession and diversity efforts.
The functions above are now carried out by the Governance and Personnel
Development Committee and the Nominating Committee. The Governance and Personnel
Development Committee primarily focuses on overseeing the governance of the
Board and its committes and interpreting the Governance Guidelines, the Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics and other governance documents adopted by the Board.
The Nominating Committee concentrates its efforts on identifying potential board
members and recommending director nominees and individuals to fill vacant
positions.
The Governance, Personnel Development, and Nominating Committee met fivetwo
times duringthrough June 20, 2006.
The Governance and Personnel Development Committee and the last fiscal year.
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Nominating
Committee each met two times from June 20, 2006 through December 31, 2006.
The charter adopted by the Board of Directors has adopted a Corporatefor the Governance, Charter for this
Committee.Personnel
Development and Nominating Committee remains in place and is the charter under
which the Governance and Personnel Development Committee and the Nominating
Committee are currently operating. A current copy of the charter is available on
our website (www.ngsgi.com).at www.ngsgi.com. The Governance and Personnel Development Committee
and the Nominating Committee are in the process of preparing charters specific
to each of such Committees. Once completed and adopted, the charters will be
made available through our website.
Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the Governance and
Personnel Development Committee and Nominating Committee members is
"independent", as defined under the applicable rules and listing standards of
AMEX.
Our Governance, Personnel Development, and Nominating Committee will consider a director candidate recommended by
a shareholder. A candidate must be highly qualified in terms of business
experience and be both willing and expressly interested in serving on the Board.
A shareholder wishing to recommend a candidate for the Committee's consideration
should forward the candidate's name and information about the candidate's
qualifications to Natural Gas Services Group, Inc., Nominating Committee, 2911
South County Road 1260, Midland, Texas 79706, Attn.: Charles G. Curtis,Richard L. Yadon, Chairman.
Submissions must include sufficient biographical information concerning the
recommended individual, including age, employment history for at least the past
five years indicating employer's names and description of the employer's
business, educational background and any other biographical information that
would assist the
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Committee in determining the qualifications of the individual. The Committee
will consider recommendations received by a date not later than 120 calendar
days before the date our proxy statement was released to shareholders in
connection with the prior year's annual meeting for nomination at that annual
meeting. The Committee will consider nominations received after that date at the
annual meeting subsequent to the next annual meeting.
The Committee evaluates nominees for directors recommended by shareholders
in the same manner in which it evaluates other nominees for directors. Minimum
qualifications include the factors discussed above.
Director Independence
Our business, property and affairs are managed by or under the direction of
the Board of Directors. Members of the Board are kept informed of our business
through discussions with Mr. Taylor, our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer and President, and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to
them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. Four
non-employee directors, Charles G. Curtis, William F. Hughes, Jr., Gene A.
Strasheim and Richard L. Yadon, served on our Board of Directors throughout
fiscal year 2006, and two other non-employee directors, Alan A. Baker and John
W. Chisholm, served as directors for a portion of the year.
Messrs. Curtis, Hughes, Strasheim, Yadon, Baker and Chisholm have been
determined to meet the definition of an "independent director" under rules of
the American Stock Exchange, the independence standards applicable to us. These
determinations are based primarily on responses of the Directors to questions
regarding employment and compensation history, affiliations and family and other
relationships, comparisons of the independence criteria under the AMEX rules to
the particular circumstances of each Director and on discussions among the
Directors.
In considering and determining the independence of Mr. Curtis and Mr.
Yadon, the Audit Committee reviewed and took into account their exercise of
warrants as described below.
In March 2001, we issued to Richard L. Yadon, a Director, a warrant to
purchase 9,365 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $2.50 per
share, and expiring on December 31, 2006. In April 2002 we issued another
warrant to Mr. Yadon to purchase 5,318 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $3.25 per share, and expiring on April 23, 2007. Both of these warrants
were issued to Mr. Yadon as consideration for his guarantee of payment of a
portion of our bank debt. On November 30, 2006, Mr. Yadon exercised all of his
warrants with a cash payment to us in the aggregate amount of approximately
$41,000. The common stock was issued in reliance upon the exemptions from
registration contained in Section 3(a)(9) and Section 4(2) of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
In February and May 2001, Charles G. Curtis, a Director, purchased from us
in a private placement a warrant to purchase 16,000 shares of our common stock
and a warrant to purchase 24,000 shares. The exercise price of both warrants was
$3.25 per share and the expiration date of the warrants was December 31, 2006.
Utilizing a "cashless exercise" feature in the warrants, Mr. Curtis exercised
the warrants on November 21, 2006 and a total of 30,857 shares of common stock
were issued to him. The common stock was issued in reliance upon the exemptions
from registration contained in Section 3(a)(9) and Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
CODE OF ETHICS
Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,
or "Code", which is posted on our website (www.ngsgi.com).at www.ngsgi.com. You may also obtain
a copy of our Code by requesting a copy in writing at 2911 SCR 1260, Midland,
Texas 79706 or by calling us at (432) 563-3974.
Our Code provides general statements of our expectations regarding ethical
standards that we expect our directors, officers and employees, including our
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to adhere to while acting
on our behalf. Among other things, the Code provides that:
o we will comply with all laws, rules and regulations;
8
o our directors, officers and employees are to avoid conflicts of
interest and are prohibited from competing with us or personally
exploiting our corporate opportunities;
o our directors, officers and employees are to protect our assets and
maintain our confidentiality;
o we are committed to promoting values of integrity and fair dealing;
and that
o we are committed to accurately maintaining our accounting records
under generally accepted accounting principles and timely filing our
periodic reports.
Our Code also contains procedures for our employees to report, anonymously
or otherwise, violations of the Code.
7
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Biographical information for the executive officers of Natural Gas Services
Group who are not directors is set forth below. There are no family
relationships between any director or executive officer and any other director
or executive officer. Executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board of
Directors and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified,
unless sooner removed by the Board of Directors. Officers are elected by the
Board of Directors annually at its first meeting following the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
Earl R. Wait, 62,63, became Vice President --- Accounting in January 2006. He
served as our Chief Financial Officer from May 2000 to January 2006. He has also
served as our Treasurer since 1998. Mr. Wait was our Chief Accounting Officer
from 1998 to May 2000. During the period from 1993 to 2003, he also served as an
officer or director of our former subsidiaries. Mr. Wait is a certified public
accountant, has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M
University --- Kingsville and holds a Master of Business Administration degree
from Texas A&M University --- Corpus Christi and has more than 25 years of
experience in the energy industry.
S. Craig Rogers, 43,James R. Hazlett, 51, has served as Vice President -- Operations since June
2003. He served as Operations Manager for a former subsidiary from 1995 to
December 31, 2003, and Vice President of the former subsidiary from April 2002
to December 31, 2003. From March 1987 to January 1995, Mr. Rogers was the Shop
Manager for Compressor Systems, Inc., a major manufacturer of natural gas
compressors. Mr. Rogers has over 25 years of industry experience.
William R. Larkin, 40, has served as Vice President -- Sales and Marketing
since June 2004. He held various positions with Compressor Systems, Inc. from
1993 until his employment with Natural Gas Services Group. Mr. Larkin's
positions with Compressor Systems, Inc. included those of Business Unit Manager,
Manager of Engineering, Asset Manager and Regional Sales Manager. Mr. Larkin
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University
of Texas at Austin and has over 19 years of industry experience.
James R. Hazlett, 50, has served as Vice President --- Technical Services
since June 2005. Mr. Hazlett has also served as vice president of sales for
Screw Compression Systems, Inc. since 1997, a position he continues to hold. Mr.
Hazlett holds an Industrial Engineering degree from Texas A&M University and has
over 27 years of industry experience.
8
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC., THE
AMEX COMPOSITE INDEX AND THE
S&P 500 ENERGY EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES INDEX
Base
Period
10/21/02 12/31/02 12/31/03 12/31/04 12/31/05
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. $100 $ 91.29 $130.59 $221.88 $399.06
AMEX Composite Index $100 $101.54 $144.55 $176.67 $216.67
S&P 500 Energy Equipment & Services Index $100 $108.38 $129.59 $175.41 $263.05
- ----------
* Assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock and each index
was $100 on October 21, 2002, the date of our initial public offering, and
that all dividends were reinvested. Historical stock performance during
this period may not be indicative of future stock performance.
9
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Report of theCompensation Discussion and Analysis
Introduction and Overview
The Compensation Committee Compensation Policy
Our philosophy is to use a comprehensive compensation program consisting of
short and long term incentives for executive officers that aligns executive
compensation withor, the interests of our shareholders and enhances the Company's
profitability. The goal of our compensation policy is to provide a cash and
stock based compensation package that attracts and retains executive officers,
that is competitive with companies of similar size in the oilfield services
sector and that is based on corporate and individual performance. The
Compensation Committee"Committee," of the Board of Directors
reviewsis responsible for determining the types and amounts of compensation we pay to
our executives. The Committee operates under a written charter that you can view
on our website at http://www.ngsgi.com. The Board of Directors has determined
that each member of the Committee meets the independence requirements of the
American Stock Exchange. The Board determines, in its business judgment, whether
a particular Director satisfies the requirements for membership on the Committee
set forth in the Committee's charter. None of the members of the Committee are
current or former employees of Natural Gas Services Group or any of its
subsidiaries.
The Committee is responsible for formulating and administering our overall
compensation principles and plans. This includes establishing the compensation
paid to our Chief Executive Officer, meeting and consulting with our Chief
Executive Officer to establish the compensation paid to our other executive
officers, counseling our Chief Executive Officer as to different compensation
approaches, administering our stock option plan, monitoring adherence to our
compensation philosophy and conducting an annual, and sometimes more frequent,
review of our compensation programs and philosophy regarding executive
compensation.
The Committee periodically meets in executive session without members of
management or management directors present and reports to the Board of Directors
on its actions and recommendations.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Our compensation philosophy is to provide an executive compensation programs annuallyprogram
that:
o rewards performance and talents necessary to ensure these programs are competitiveadvance our company
objectives and further the interests of our stockholders;
o is fair and reasonable and to ensure the programs are appropriately applied to each executive
officer.officer; and
o is competitive with compensation programs offered by our competitors.
The fiscal year 2005 reviewoverall objectives of our compensation philosophy are to:
o provide a competitive level of current annual income that attracts and
retains qualified executives at a reasonable cost to us;
o retain and motivate executives to accomplish our company goals;
o provide long-term incentive compensation opportunities at levels
appropriate for the respective responsibilities and performance of
each executive;
o align compensation and benefits with our business strategies and
goals;
o encourage the application of a decision making process involved, among other things,that takes into
account both short-term and long-term risks and the Compensation Committee's examination of:sometimes volatile
nature of our industry; and
o each executive's performance comparedalign the financial interests of our executives with those of our
stockholders through the potential grant of equity based rewards.
10
Our Committee supports these objectives by emphasizing compensation
arrangements that we believe are reasonable and will attract and retain
qualified executives and reward them for their efforts to further our long-term
growth and success. At the same time, we remain cognizant of and aim to balance
our executive compensation arrangements with the interests and concerns of our
stockholders.
We feel that our compensation philosophies and practices are more fully
understood when viewed in the context of certain specific aspects of our history
as a public company. Our initial public offering occurred in October 2002. Our
market capitalization did not exceed $75.0 million until mid 2006. Given our
small size in our earlier years as a public company, we chose to implement a
relatively simple compensation framework for our executives. This framework
consisted primarily of base salaries, cash bonuses and stock options. We have
currently chosen to continue a relatively simple compensation framework for our
executives and believe that by doing so we are able to establish a higher degree
of understanding and certainty for our executives as well as the investing
public, while at the same time avoiding complex benefit packages and agreements
that can be, in some ways, difficult to understand and require significant time
and cost to properly administer. In the end, we believe our compensation
arrangements provide the desired results: fair and reasonable pay for
achievements beneficial to Natural Gas Services Group and its stockholders.
Assistance Provided to the goals and objectives forCommittee
The Committee makes all compensation decisions regarding our executive
officers. Stephen C. Taylor, our Chief Executive Officer, annually reviews the
executive;
o the nature, scope and levelperformance of the Executive's responsibilities; and
o each executive's contribution to the Company's financial results and
effectiveness in exemplifying and promulgating the Company's core
values - safety, service and integrity.
Based upon this review, the Compensation Committee found the total
compensation of our executive officers (other than the Chief Executive
Officer whose performance is reviewed by the Committee) and presents
recommendations to the Committee with respect to salary and cash bonus
percentage adjustments and stock option grants for our executives (other than
the Chief Executive Officer whose salary, cash bonus percentage adjustments and
stock option grants are determined solely by the Committee). The Committee may
exercise its discretion in modifying any recommendations made by our Chief
Executive Officer.
The Committee also seeks the input and insight of Mr. Taylor concerning
specific factors that Mr. Taylor believes to be appropriate for the Committee's
consideration and which the Committee may not be aware of, such as extraordinary
efforts or accomplishments of our executive officers. Mr. Taylor also advises
the Committee on general topics such as the morale of our executives.
Mr. Earl R. Wait, our Vice President - Accounting, assists the Committee in
the compensation process by gathering and organizing data for their review.
Compensation Components
We base our decisions regarding executive compensation primarily on our
assessment of company performance, and each executive officer's leadership,
performance and individual contributions to our business. The accounting and tax
treatment of different elements of compensation has not to date had a
significant impact on our use of any particular type of compensation. In
reviewing the overall compensation of our officers, we have historically
considered and used a mix of the following components or elements of executive
compensation:
o base salary;
o cash bonuses under our incentive cash bonus program;
o stock option grants;
o retirement and other benefits generally available to all of our
employees; or
o limited perquisites.
11
We do not presently and have not in the past used any of the following
types of executive compensation:
o stock awards;
o defined benefit pension plans;
o tax gross-ups;
o employee stock purchase/ownership plans;
o supplemental executive retirement plans/benefits; or
o deferred compensation plans.
Compensation Evaluation Factors
We continue, as we have in the past, to rely on the following factors in
evaluating and determining the amount of compensation we pay our executives:
o our general knowledge of executive compensation levels in the
natural gas compression industry;
o each executive's individual performance and the overall
performance of Natural Gas Services Group; and
o specific company financial metrics and the application of
specific weights to such metrics.
The applicability of these factors varies depending on the type of compensation
being evaluated and determined. For instance, we do not rely on weighted company
financial metrics to evaluate and determine base salary levels, but such factor
is the primary means through which we evaluate and determine the amount of the
cash bonuses we award to our executives. Below is a more detailed discussion of
how these factors apply to the different types of compensation we utilize.
Executive Compensation Levels of other Companies in the Natural Gas Compression
and Related Businesses
Historically, we have not focused on a specific peer group to evaluate and
establish the compensation of our executive officers. We do, however, have some
general knowledge of the executive compensation paid by certain of our
competitors and general industry peers. These competitors include public and
privately held companies in the natural gas compression business, industry
partners and related businesses, such as natural gas well servicing. In order to
maintain a compensation package that is competitive, we have considered, and
continue to consider, the executive compensation paid by these companies in
evaluating and establishing the compensation we pay our executive officers. Our
competitors in the natural gas compression industry that are public companies
are considerably larger than we are, and for this reason, we have not in the
past and do not currently consider the specific amounts of executive
compensation paid by such companies when evaluating or determining our executive
compensation. We do, however, from time to time, consider the types of executive
compensation offered by our competitors that are public companies and the annual
increases or decreases on a percentage basis in such compensation
Individual and Company Performance - Base Salary and Stock Options
We also evaluate compensation, particularly base salary levels and stock
option awards, through an analysis of each executive officer's individual
performance and the overall performance of Natural Gas Services Group, our goal
being to strengthen the link between what we pay our executives and the
performance of Natural Gas Services Group. Factors we consider in our analysis
include:
12
o the individual performance, leadership, business knowledge
and level of responsibility of our officers;
o the particular skill-set and longevity of service of the
officer;
o the effectiveness of the officer in implementing our overall
strategy;
o the general level of competitive compensation packages;
o cash flows from operations;
o earnings per share;
o our market share in the rental of natural gas compression
units; and
o the market value of our common stock.
Specific Company Financial Metrics - Cash Bonuses
With respect to compensation we pay in the form of cash bonuses, the
Committee sets target performance levels for three specific company financial
metrics. The Committee relies on whether these targets are achieved and the
individual performance of our executive officers to bedetermine whether cash
bonuses are awarded and the amounts of such bonuses. The three financial metrics
the Committee considers are:
o total revenues;
o EBITDA; and
o net income before taxes.
EBITDA is calculated from our audited consolidated financial statements by
adding to net income, or loss, (1) amortization and depreciation expense, (2)
interest expense and (3) provision for income tax expense.
We believe that our core executive compensation mix of base salary, cash
bonuses and stock options, while fairly limited, presently provides enough
diversity for us to link executive compensation to our short-term and long-term
objectives. For instance, base salaries and cash bonuses are closely linked to
the short-term objectives of providing reasonable bothand competitive levels of
current annual income, while stock options are more closely linked to the
long-term objectives of earnings per share and increased market value of our
common stock.
Base Salary
We provide our executive officers and other employees with base salary to
compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. Each year the
Committee receives base salary recommendations from our Chief Executive Officer
for all of our executive officers (other than our Chief Executive Officer whose
base salary is evaluated by the Committee on an annual basis). The Committee
reviews comparative salary data and information gathered by the Committee
relative to certain of our competitors and industry peers to gain some general
knowledge of what our competitors pay their executive officers. The competitors
are certain privately held companies in the aggregate and on an individual basis.
Compensation Policy Components
Base Salary. Base salariesnatural gas industry that are
competitive with thosecomparable in size to us. We do not consider the specific amounts of the
compensation packages offered by our competitors that are public companies
of similar size in the oilfield services sector. Individual salaries, which are
reviewed annually, are based on individual skills and performance and market
comparisons. Based upon its analysis, the Compensation Committee approved the
increasebecause of the considerable size difference between those companies and us, but
we do from time to time consider the types of compensation offered by such
competitors and the annual increases or decreases on a percentage basis in such
compensation. The Committee determines base salariessalary levels by considering the
comparative salary data and information gathered by the Committee in conjunction
with the factors described under the caption "Individual and Company Performance
- - Base Salary and Stock Options" on page 12. We do not give specific weights to
any of the Company'sfactors the Committee considers in determining base salary levels or
adjustments thereto. Based on our criteria for base salary level determinations,
each executive officersofficer identified below received an increase in annual base
salary for fiscal
year 2005. In establishing2006 as follows:
13
Mr. Taylor - from $155,000 to $175,000;
Mr. Wait - from $100,000 to $112,500; and
Mr. Hazlett - from $105,000 to $115,000.
The base salaries for our executives, we rely upon our
judgment and not specific measurements or benchmarks. We consider historical salaries of our officers salaries being paid by our competitors, the
contributions made by the individual officers to the Company's growth and
performance, levels of responsibility and executionfor 2006 are reflected in column (c) of
the Company's strategy."Summary Compensation Table" on page 18.
Short-Term Incentives - Incentive Bonus.Cash Bonus Program
The Compensation Committee has adopted aan incentive cash bonus program or, the "IBP,"
that provides guidelines for the calculation of annual non-equity incentive
based compensation in the form of cash bonuses to provide each executive officer withour executives, subject to
Committee oversight and modification. The bonuses awarded under the potential to earn a cash bonus expressed
as a percentage of salary. The amountIBP are
short-term awards in recognition of the bonus paid to each executive
officer for fiscal year 2005 was determinedoverall performance and efforts made by
the Compensation Committee.our executives during a particular year. Each year, we establishthe Committee approves the
group of executives eligible to participate in the IBP and establishes target
award opportunities for such executives, excluding our Chief Executive Officer,
whose employment agreement provides for a maximum potential cash bonus amount for each executive,
which is expressed as a percentagetarget award opportunity of each executive'sup to 50%
of base salary. Last year,
these potential cash bonus amounts rangedTarget award opportunities for our executives range from 20% to
45%50% of base salaries. We
then compare the Company's actual performance against targeted amounts forsalary.
In 2006, 90% of an executive officer's IBP award was based on achievement
of company financial objectives relating to:
o total revenues, EBITDArevenues;
o EBITDA; and
o net income before taxes.
In determining each executive's
cash bonus, we assign a weight to eachEach of these three components accounts for 30% of the total company
financial objective portion of the IBP. The remaining 10% of an executive
officer's IBP award is based upon individual performance measures and
we also weight a fourthas evaluated by our
Chief Executive Officer (except with respect to our Chief Executive Officer
whose individual performance measure that we refer to as
"personal/other"is evaluated by the Committee).
LastEach year, the CompanyCommittee sets a target level for each component of the
company financial objective portion of the IBP. The payment of awards under the
IBP is based upon whether these target levels are achieved for the year. If we
achieve the target levels for all components of the company financial object
portion of the IBP, an executive with a base salary of $100,000 and a target
award opportunity of 40% will receive a cash bonus of $40,000, assuming the
executive receives the full amount (10%) of the individual performance portion
of the IBP. If we do not achieve the target levels for all of the components,
the target award opportunity for each executive officer is decreased by 30% for
each component in which there is a shortfall. For instance, if we meet all
target levels except the target level for EBITDA, the executive's award
opportunity is decreased by 30%. With respect to the executive described above,
the award opportunity for such executive would be reduced from 40% to 28% (the
target bonus of 40% multiplied by 70%) and the executive would receive a cash
bonus of $28,000, assuming the executive receives the full amount of the
individual performance portion of the IBP.
In 2006, we met or exceeded itsall of our targets and each of our executives
received the maximum bonus amount thatthey could be awarded. Stock Option Grants. The use of stock options is considered to be an
important incentivecash awards made to
our executive officers under the IBP for working2006 are included in column (g) of the
"Summary Compensation Table" on page 18.
14
Long-Term Incentives - Stock Option Grants
We consider stock options to be a type of long-term incentive compensation
that motivates our executive officers to work toward our long term
growth. We believe that stocklong-term growth and
allows them to participate in the growth and profitability of Natural Gas
Services Group. Stock options providealign the interests of our executive officers with
aour stockholders in that our executive officers will benefit that will increasefrom the options
only to the extent that the value of our common stock increases. The number of
options granted to an executive officer is based on an officer's individual
performance and his current contributions and potential for future contributions
to the officers' achievements in increasing the valueoverall performance of Natural Gas Services Group.
All stock options are granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan, except one
stock option was granted outside of the Company'splan to Stephen C. Taylor, our Chief
Executive Officer, under the terms of his employment agreement. We do not grant
discounted options and exercise prices are not based on a formula. Options
granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan are "at-the-money." In other words, the
exercise price of the option equals the closing price of the underlying stock on
the actual date of grant.
On November 21, 2006, the Committee granted stock options to two executive
officers. Mr. Taylor was granted an option to purchase 15,000 shares of common
stock, and Mr. Wait was granted an option to date, competitive market data for each officer position, and on the executive
officer's ability to impact overall performance.purchase 5,000 shares. The options
granted are subject
to vesting over a three year period and have an exercise 10
prices equal toprice of $14.22 per share, the market valueclosing price of ourNatural Gas
Services Group's common stock on the date of the grant. In
fiscal year 2005,The option granted to Mr.
Taylor receivedis exercisable in two equal annual installments commencing on November
21, 2007 and the option granted to Mr. Wait is exercisable in three equal annual
installments commencing on November 21, 2007. The options expire ten years from
the grant date. These option grants are reflected in column (j) of the "Grants
of Plan-Based Awards Table" on page 19.
The Compensation Committee does not have any specific program or plan with
regard to the timing or dating of option grants, except that it has been the
Committee's practice to grant options within thirty days after the latest
quarterly or annual earnings release by Natural Gas Services Group. The
Committee's practice as to when options are granted has historically been made
at the discretion of the Committee. Generally, option grants to executives and
other employees have been made at the same time. We have not and do not plan to
purposefully time the release of material non-public information for the purpose
of affecting the value of executive compensation.
Other Compensation
We maintain a grant of 45,000 shares of common stock401(k) retirement plan in accordance with his employment agreement.
Retirement Savings Program. Our 401(k) savings plan provideswhich our executives and employees
includingparticipate. We match executive officers, the opportunity to defer a portion of their salary
on a pre-tax basis throughand employee contributions to our 401(k) plan,
on an account from which the employee
may direct how the funds are invested. We match fifty percent of the first six
percent of such employee contributions,equal percentage basis, with a maximum match of three percentcash contributions. The Company matching
portion is equal to one-half of the employee's compensation. Employees vestcontribution up to a maximum of
3% of the employee's salary. Our matching amounts for our executive officers are
included in column (i) of the Company's contribution over
six years, based"Summary Compensation Table" on lengthpage 18.
Other than the reductions that can occur with respect to the target award
opportunities of employment.
Fiscal Year 2005 Compensation forour executives under the PresidentIBP, we do not have a written policy
or formula regarding the adjustment, reduction or recovery of awards or payments
if company performance measures are restated or adjusted in a manner that would
reduce the award or payment. However, the Committee does consider compensation
realized or potentially realizable from prior compensation awards in setting new
types and Chief Executive Officeramounts of compensation, the result of such consideration being
varying increases in annual salaries and cash bonuses, with some increases being
smaller than previous years.
Employment Agreements
We currently have written employment agreements with three of our executive
officers, including Stephen C. Taylor, Paul D. Hensley and James R. Hazlett. We
do not have written employment agreements with any of our other executive
officers. We employed Mr. Taylor our Chief Executive Officer, joined the Company in January 2005. HisMr. Taylor's employment was
governed by a verbal arrangement until August 2005 when we negotiated and
entered into a written employment agreement with the Company covers a periodMr. Taylor. We negotiated and
entered into written employment agreements with Messrs. Hensley and Hazlett in
January 2005 in connection with our acquisition of three years.
In fiscal year 2005,SCS.
15
The employment agreements of Messrs. Taylor, Hensley and Hazlett provide
for, among other things, base salary, incentive cash bonuses under the terms ofIBP, and
insurance, medical and other benefits generally available to our other
employees. Mr. Taylor's employment agreement he received a base salaryalso contains change of $155,000. His targeted bonus was 45%control and
severance provisions, as referenced under the caption "Change of this base
salaryControl and
Severance Arrangements" on page 22 and more particularly described under the
caption "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control" on page 22.
More information regarding the above-referenced employment agreements is
provided under the heading "Compensation Agreements with Management" on page 26.
Allocation of Amounts and Types of Compensation
Other than the stock options we grant to our executives from time to time
and the determinations made by the Committee as to specific target award
opportunities under our IBP, the allocation of different amounts and types of
compensation has not been a consideration for us. The Committee has not adopted
a specific policy or target for the allocation between either amounts or types
of compensation. However, since our initial public offering in October 2002, the
compensation we have paid to our executive officers has emphasized the use of
cash rather than non-cash compensation. We have chosen to do this in order to
maintain and continue our practice of having a simplified, but effective and
competitive, compensation package.
Assistance of Compensation Consultants
Although the Committee awarded him $69,750,has the authority to retain, at the expense of
Natural Gas Services Group, compensation consultants, the Committee has not in
the past sought or 100%relied on an outside compensation consultant to evaluate or
establish the compensation we pay our executives. While the Committee believes
the executive compensation we pay is fair and generally competitive within the
natural gas compression industry, the Committee tends to target pay within
approximately 20% of what it believes to be the industry median. This approach
helps ensure that our executive compensation remains reasonable and lessens the
need for an outside consultant to validate such compensation. Our Committee,
nevertheless, understands the value of an outside compensation consultant, and
in light of our growth over the last three years and the increased level of
competition within the natural gas compression industry for attracting and
retaining talented executives, is considering retaining a compensation
consultant to help the Committee better evaluate our executive compensation.
Change of Control and Severance Arrangements
Our 1998 Stock Option Plan contains change of control provisions. In
addition, Mr. Taylor's employment agreement contains change of control and
severance provisions. Information regarding these provisions is provided under
the caption "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control" on page
22.
Stock Ownership/Retention Guidelines
We have not in the past had written guidelines or policy statements that
required our executives to maintain specified levels of stock ownership or
adhere to specified "holding" practices with regard to our common stock.
Perquisites
General Perquisites
We provide limited perquisites to our executives. The primary perquisites
are allowing our executives a choice of receiving an automobile allowance or
personal use of a company-provided automobile, and to a lesser extent, the
reimbursement of dues for club memberships. In 2006, we reimbursed club
membership dues to one of our executive officers, William L. Larkin, Vice
President - Sales and Marketing. Mr. Larkin ceased to be employed by Natural Gas
Services Group as of October 31, 2006. Although we provide Mr. Taylor with one
club membership, since his use of the targeted amount. In accordanceclub is limited solely for business
entertainment, we have not considered it to be a perquisite and have not valued
it as such for inclusion in column (i) of the Summary Compensation Table on page
18. We do not currently have any executive officers that are reimbursed for club
membership dues.
16
Our executives also participate in the same medical, dental and life
insurance plans as other employees. However, we pay a greater percentage of the
premiums for health insurance for our executives than we do for our other
employees.
Cash Payment to Chief Executive Officer Upon Exercise of Stock Option
As part of the negotiations with the terms ofMr. Taylor as to his compensation under
his employment agreement and as an inducement to Mr. Taylor was grantedto join our
employment, we agreed to make a cash payment to Mr. Taylor upon his exercise of
the stock option granted to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock. In
addition, the Company made matching contributionshim under his employment agreement in an amount
sufficient to place Mr. Taylor's 401(k)
account.
Mr. Taylor's compensation was determined using substantiallyTaylor in the same criteria utilized to determine compensation for our other executive officers, as
described earlierafter-tax position he would be in this report.if
the income recognized by Mr. Taylor's 2005 bonus amount was in
recognitionTaylor upon his exercise of the Company's performance in fiscal year 2005 andstock option were
taxed at the then applicable Federal capital gains tax rate. Mr. Taylor's
contributionsTaylor is
responsible for all tax due with respect to that performance. In January 2006, Mr. Taylor's base salary was
increased to $175,000 as a resultthis cash payment.
Limit on Deductibility of theCertain Compensation
Committee's annual review
required by Mr. Taylor's employment agreement.
Compensation Deductions Limitations
Section 162(m)Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code as amended, limitsthat restrict the deductibility of
certain compensation expensesover one million dollars per year have not been a factor in
excessour considerations or recommendations. Section 162(m) of $1,000,000the Code currently
imposes a $1 million limitation on the deductibility of certain compensation
paid to any
one individual in any fiscal year. Compensationspecified executives. Excluded from the limitation is compensation that
is "performance based" is
excluded from this limitation.based." For compensation to be "performanceperformance based," it must meet
certain criteria, including certainbeing based on predetermined objective standards
approved by stockholders. We believe that maintainingThe Committee has not taken the discretion to evaluate
the performance of our management is an important part of our responsibilities
and benefits the Company's stockholders. We periodically assess the potential
applicationrequirements of
Section 162(m) on incentiveinto account in designing executive compensation. If the
compensation awards and other
compensation decisions.
Summary
In making decisions regardinglevel of any executive compensation,officer approaches $1.0 million for purposes
of Section 162(m), the Committee compares current levels with thosewill assess the implications of our companies within the oilfield services
sector.Section 162(m)
and determine what action would be appropriate, which may be influenced by
factors other than full tax deductibility.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Committee useshas reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis with management.
Based on its discretionreview and discussions, the Committee recommended to determine a comprehensive
compensation packagethe Board
of short and long term incentives that are competitive
within the industry. In conclusion, it is our opinionDirectors that the compensation
programs are appropriately applied toCompensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's executive officers,
competitiveyear ended December 31, 2006 and reasonable. In addition,in our compensation programs are necessary
to attract and retain executive officers who are essential toproxy
statement for the continued
development and success2007 annual meeting of shareholders.
Members of the Company, to compensate those executive officers
for their contributions and to enhance shareholder value. Compensation Committee
William F. Hughes, Jr., Chairman
Charles G. Curtis
Gene (Chairman)
Alan A. StrasheimBaker
John W. Chisholm
Richard L. Yadon
1117
Summary of AnnualExecutive Compensation
The following table below sets forth information regarding the compensation we
paid for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 to (1) each
person who served asearned by our Chief Executive
Officer, during 2005Stephen C Taylor, and (2) each of our other four most highly compensatednamed executive officers in 2005 (collectively,for services
rendered to Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries for the "named executive officers").fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006.
Summary Compensation Table
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation Awards
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Other Annual Restricted Securities- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Year Salary Bonus Stock Option Non-Equity Change in All Other Salary BonusTotal
and ($) ($) Awards Awards Incentive Pension Value Compensation Stock Underlying Compensation
Name and($)
Principal Position Year($) ($) Plan and ($)(7)
(3) Compensation Nonqualified
(6) Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen C. Taylor 2006 $175,350 $0 - $215,550(4) $87,500 - $ 7,259 $485,659
Chairman,
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Earl R. Wait 2006 $102,769 $0 - $0 $39,375 - $16,490 $158,634
Vice President -
Accounting
Paul D. Hensley 2006 $133,110 $0 - $0 $50,680 - $10,941 $194,731
Director,
President of SCS
James R. Hazlett 2006 $107,715 $0 - $0 $40,250 - $ 5,623 $153,588
Vice President -
Technical Services
S. Craig Rogers((1)) 2006 $ 93,846 $0 - $0 N/A - $ 8,074 $101,920
Vice President -
Operations
William R. Larkin((2)) 2006 $ 90,769 $0 - $ 18,240(5) N/A - $13,887 $122,896
Vice President -
Sales and Marketing
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Mr. Rogers ceased serving as Vice President-Operations on November 10,
2006.
(2) Mr. Larkin ceased serving as Vice President-Sales and Marketing on October
31, 2006.
(3) The amounts in column (f) reflect the dollar amounts recognized for
financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2006, in accordance with FAS 123(R), associated with stock option
grants under our 1998 Stock Option Plan and the stock option grant to Mr.
Taylor under his employment agreement and thus include amounts associated
with grants made in 2006 and prior to 2006. Assumptions used to calculate
these amounts are included in footnote 10 to our audited consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. There
were no stock options exercised or stock awards that vested during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 with respect to any named executive
officer.
(4) This amount reflects the dollar amount recognized for financial statement
reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, in
accordance with FAS 123(R), for 15,000 shares that vested on January 13,
2006 under the stock option granted to Mr. Taylor in August 2005 under his
employment agreement.
(5) This amount reflects the dollar amount recognized for financial statement
reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, in
accordance with FAS 123(R), for 4,000 shares that vested on August 26, 2006
under the stock option granted to Mr. Larkin under our 1998 Stock Option
Plan.
18
(6) The amounts in column (g) reflect the cash bonus awards to the named
executive officers under our IBP, which is discussed in further detail on
page 14 under the caption "Short-Term Incentives - Incentive Bonus
Program."
(7) The amounts shown in column (i) include matching contributions made by
Natural Gas Services Group to each named executive officer under our 401(k)
plan and the aggregate incremental cost to Natural Gas Services Group of
perquisites provided to our named executive officers as follows:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Automobile Personal Use of Reimbursement Additional Incremental 401(k) Total
Allowance Company of Club Dues Portion of Health Plan
Provided Insurance Premiums
Automobiles Paid for Officers Only
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen C. Taylor $ - $ 4,566 $ - $ 927 $1,766 $ 7,259
Earl R. Wait 9,000 - - 4,581 2,909 16,490
Paul D. Hensley - 3,464 - 2,895 4,582 10,941
James R. Hazlett - 1,041 - 4,582 - 5,623
S. Craig Rogers - 3,865 - 3,279 930 8,074
William R. Larkin 7,547 - 2,879 513 2,948 13,887
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $16,547 $12,936 $2,879 $16,777 $13,135 $62,274
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grants of Plan Based Awards
The table below sets forth the estimated future payouts under non-equity
incentive plan awards and stock option awards granted and the grant date fair
value of the stock option awards.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Future Estimated Future Payouts All All Exercise Grant
Payouts Under Non-Equity Under Equity Incentive Other Other or Date
Incentive Plan Awards(1) Plan Awards Stock Option Base Fair
-----------------------------------------------------
Name Grant Threshold Target Maximum Threshold Target Maximum Awards: Awards: Price Value
Date ($) ($) ($) Awards($(#) (#) (#) Number Number of of
of Shares of Securities Option Stock and
or Units Option ($/Sh) Awards
($) Options/SARS($) (#) (#) (#) (#)(2) ($)(1)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l)
- ----------------------------- ------ -------- ------- --------------- ---------- ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen C. Taylor ........... 2005(2) 149,462 69,750 34,172(3) -- 45,000 3,726
Chairman, President
and Chief Executive
Officer
Wallace C. Sparkman ......... 2005(4) 121,027 44,000 5,253(3) -- -- --
Former Director, 2004 120,000 53,500 -- -- -- --
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer11/21/06 - - - - - - - 15,000 $14.22 $108,150
N/A - - - - - - - -
$105,00 $105,000
Earl R. Wait 11/21/06 - - - - - - - 5,000 $14.22 $36,050
N/A - $ 39,375 $ 39,375 - - - - - - -
Paul D. Hensley ............. 2005(5) 129,681N/A - $ 50,680 6,202(3) -- -- 6,772
Director, President of SCS
Earl R. Wait ................ 2005 94,720 35,000 18,600(3) -- -- 4,326
Vice President$ 50,680 - 2004 90,000 40,250 -- -- -- 6,135
Accounting 2003 90,000 41,256 -- -- -- 3,600- - - - - -
James R. Hazlett ............ 2005(6) 105,000 36,750 9,600(3) -- -- --
Vice PresidentN/A - Technical Services$ 40,250 $ 40,250 - - - - - - -
S. Craig Rogers ............. 2005 98,764 35,000 9,465(3) -- -- 4,270
Vice PresidentN/A - 2004 95,000 42,750 -- -- -- 3,980
Operations 2003 88,500 37,669 -- -- -- 3,444- - - - - - - - -
William R. Larkin N/A - - - - - - - - - -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------19
(1) No amounts are shown in column (c) because there is no minimum bonus amount
under our Incentive Bonus Program. The amounts shown in this column represent voluntary contributions(d) reflect
the product of the target award opportunity for each executive under our
Incentive Bonus Program, times the executive's base salary and are based on
the assumption that all three components of the company financial objective
portion of the IBP (total revenues, EBITDA and net income before taxes)
will be met and each executive will receive the full amount of the
individual performance portion of the IBP. The amounts shown in column (e)
match the amounts shown in column (d) because there are no circumstances
under which any executive would be entitled to a cash bonus award under the
Incentive Bonus Program that exceeds the target amount. These amounts are
based on each executive's current salary and position.
(2) All of the awards reflected in column (j) were made byunder our 1998 Stock
Option Plan.
Incentive Cash Bonus Program
Our Incentive Cash Bonus Program or, the "IBP," provides for annual
non-equity incentive based compensation in the form of cash bonuses to our
executive officers. Our Compensation Committee or, the "Committee," administers
and determines from year to year the executives that are eligible to participate
in the IBP. The Committee establishes target award opportunities for the
executives eligible to participate in the plan. These target award opportunities
are expressed as a percentage of an executive's base salary. An executive's
target award opportunity is the maximum cash bonus an executive is eligible to
receive in any one year under the IBP.
The Committee establishes annual target levels for Natural Gas Services
Group's total revenues, EBITDA and net income before taxes and assigns a weight
of 30% to each of these components. The executive's individual performance is
assigned a weight of 10%. If during the year Natural Gas Services Group achieves
all of the target levels established by the Committee for total revenues, EBITDA
and net income before taxes, and it is determined by the Committee that an
executive is entitled to the 401(k) Plan in which all employees are
generally eligiblefull 10% weight assigned to participate.
(2) Mr. Taylor was first employed by us on January 13, 2005.
(3) Theindividual performance,
the executive officers named aboveis entitled to receive various perquisites provided by
or paidthe maximum cash bonus amount for by Natural Gas Services Group pursuant to company policies. SEC
rules require disclosure of perquisites and other personal benefits,
securities or propertythe
executive for a named executive officer unless the aggregate
amount of that type of compensation is the lesser of either $50,000 or 10%year. If any one of the total annual salary andtarget levels is not met or it is
determined that an executive is not entitled to the full 10% weight assigned to
individual performance, the cash bonus reportedaward for that namedthe executive officer. SEC rules also require us to disclose, via footnote or otherwise,
each perquisite or other personal benefit exceeding 25% of the total
perquisites and other personal benefits reported for a named executive
officer. Although the perquisites received by the named executive officers
in 2005 did not meet the disclosure threshold, in an effort to promote
greater transparency and disclosureis reduced
accordingly. More information regarding the compensation of the named
executive officers, we have determined to start providing, beginning with
the 2005 fiscal year, perquisite information even though the thresholds
have not been met.
12
Perquisites received are as follows:
Health Personal Use
Automobile Insurance of Company
Allowance Premiums Automobiles Other Total
Year ($) ($)(a) ($) ($) ($)
-------- ------------- ----------- -------------- ----------- ----------
Stephen C. Taylor 2005 -- 3,032 1,476(b) 29,664(c) 34,172
Wallace C. Sparkman 2005 9,000 5,253 -- -- 14,253
Paul D. Hensley 2005 -- 6,202 -- -- 6,202
Earl R. Wait 2005 9,000 9,600 -- -- 18,600
James R. Hazlett 2005 -- 9,600 -- -- 9,600
S. Craig Rogers 2005 -- 8,630 835(b) -- 9,465
----------
(a) This compensation represents annual premiums paid by Natural Gas
Services Group for health insurance provided to officers.
(b) Such amount has been calculated in accordance with Internal Revenue
Service requirements.
(c) When we hired Mr. Taylor in January 2005, and as provided in our
employment agreement with Mr. Taylor, we agreed to provide certain
"one-time" benefits to him in order to retain his services. These
benefits included allowing Mr. Taylor to select a company vehicle,
payment of relocation expensesIBP and the reimbursement to himcalculation of an
amount equal to three regularly scheduled mortgage payments on his
prior residence. Such amount includes the reimbursement to Mr. Taylor
of $20,000 for his relocation expenses and $9,664 in reimbursement of
three mortgage payments made by Mr. Taylor for his prior residence.
(4) On January 1, 2004, we employed Mr. Sparkman as our Director of Investor
Relations. He served in this capacity until March 2004 when he was elected
to serve as interim President and Chief Executive Officer following the
death of Wayne L. Vinson, our former President, Chief Executive Officer and
a director. The salary paid to Mr. Sparkman during 2004 was paid under an
oral arrangement between Mr. Sparkman and us. As a result of Mr. Taylor's
employment by us and the increase in his responsibilities following his
employment, Mr. Sparkman's annual salary was reduced to $110,000 in August
2005. Mr. Sparkman retired from his employment with us and as Chairman
effective as of December 31, 2005.
(5) When we acquired SCS on January 3, 2005, Mr. Hensley retained and has
continued in his position as President of SCS.
(6) Mr. Hazlett became an executive officer in June 2005.
Bonus Program
We have established a cash bonus program for our officers and selected
senior managers. For annual periods beginning after December 31, 2004, program
participants are eligible for cash awards based upon the attainment of certain
pre-determined financial, operational and personal performance parameters. Our
Compensation Committee will review our operating history, each participant's
bonus-based performance and the recommendations of the President and determine
whether or not any bonuses should be paidis
provided under the program. If so, the Board of
Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, will determine the
amounts to be paid, with any bonus being paid after the completion of the final
audit of the fiscal year. The Board of Directors may change or discontinue the
bonus program at any time.
13
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Although we use stock options as part of the overall compensation of
Directors, officers and employees, Stephen C. Taylor was the only named
executive officer that was granted a stock option during 2005. In the following
table, we show certain information about the stock option granted to Mr. Taylor.
Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Potential Realizable
Individual Grants Value at Assumed
-------------------------------------------------- Annual Rates of
Number of Percent of Total Stock Price
Securities Options/SARs Appreciation for
Underlying Granted to Exercise or Option Term(1)
Options/Sars Employees in Base Price Expiration -----------------------
Name Granted (#) Fiscal Year ($/Sh) Date 5% 10%
- ---- -------------- ----------------- ----------- --------------- --------- ---------
Stephen C. Taylor .... 45,000(2) 100% 9.22 August 24, 2015 $260,929 $661,244
caption "Short-Term Incentives - ----------
(1) These amounts are calculated basedIncentive Cash Bonus
Program" on the indicated annual rates of
appreciation and annual compounding from the date of grant to the end of
the option term. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are
dependent on the future performance of the common stock and overall stock
market conditions. There is no assurance that the amounts reflected in this
table will be achieved.
(2) A nonstatutory stock option to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock was
granted to Mr. Taylor on August 24, 2005. The option is exercisable in
three equal annual installments, commencing on January 13, 2006. For
additional information about the stock option granted to Mr. Taylor and our
compensation agreement with him, you should refer to "- Compensation
Agreements with Management" below.
Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option Values
The following table sets forth, as of and for the year ended December 31,
2005, information pertaining to stock option exercises and fiscal year end
values of stock options held by the named executive officers.
Number of Unexercised Value of Unexercised
Securities Underlying In-the-Money
Shares Options/SARs at Options/SARS at
Acquired Fiscal Year End Fiscal Year End ($)(2)
On Value ------------------------------- -----------------------------
Name Exercise Realized($)(1) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- ------------------------ ---------- -------------- ------------ --------------- ----------- --------------
Stephen C. Taylor ...... -- -- -- 45,000 -- 348,300
Wallace C. Sparkman .... -- -- -- -- -- --
Paul D. Hensley ........ -- -- -- -- -- --
Earl R. Wait ........... -- -- 15,000 -- 205,650 --
James R. Hazlett ....... -- -- -- -- -- --
S. Craig Rogers ........ -- -- 12,000 -- 164,520 --
- ----------
(1) The value realized is equal to the fair market value of a share of common
stock on the date of exercise, less the exercise price of the stock options
exercised.
(2) The value of unexercised in-the-money options is equal to the fair market
value of a share of common stock at fiscal year-end ($16.96 per share),
based on the closing price of the common stock, less the exercise price.
14
Compensation of Directors
Our Directors who are not employees are paid $2,500 per quarter, and the
Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional $1,250 per quarter. As
additional compensation for their services during the preceding year, our
non-employee Directors are also granted, on or about December 31 of each year, a
non-statutory stock option to purchase 2,500 shares of our common stock at the
then market value. Under this stock option policy, on December 30, 2005, we
granted to each of our four non-employee Directors a stock option to purchase
2,500 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $16.96 per share, the
fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The stock options
granted on December 30, 2005 are exercisable immediately and expire ten years
from the date of grant. We also reimburse our Directors for accountable expenses
incurred on our behalf.page 14.
1998 Stock Option Plan
Our 1998 Stock Option Plan provides for the issuance of stock options to
purchase up to 150,000550,000 shares of our common stock. The purpose of thethis plan is
to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility and to provide additional incentivelong-term incentives to employees and consultants
and to promote the long-term growth and success of our business. The plan is
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. At its
discretion, the Compensation Committee may determine the persons to whom stock
options may be granted and the terms upon which such options will be granted. In
addition, the Compensation Committee may interpret the plan and may adopt, amend
and rescind rules and regulations for its administration. Option awards are
granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock at
the date of grant and generally vest based on three years of continuous service
and have ten-year contractual terms.
On June 20, 2006, the 1998 Stock Option Plan was amended and approved by
our stockholders. The number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance
under the 1998 Plan was increased from 150,000 to 550,000. The last date that
grants could be made was extended from December 17, 2008 to March 1, 2016. The
exercise price of incentive stock options granted to employees who do not own
more that 10% of our common stock was changed from not less than 140% of the
fair market value per share of our common stock on the date of grant to not less
than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. A
provision allowing the Committee to increase, without stockholder approval, the
number of shares of stock subject to the 1998 Plan from 150,000 shares to
400,000 shares was eliminated. Also eliminated was a provision allowing the
Committee, in its sole discretion, to provide an optionee with the right to
exchange, in a cashless transaction, all or part of a stock option for shares of
our common stock on terms and conditions determined by the Committee.
20
At May 1, 2006,March 12, 2007, stock options to purchase a total of 101,002158,000 shares of
our common stock were outstanding under the 1998 Stock Option Plan, which
includes 10,00015,000 shares underlying stock options granted on December 30, 200529, 2006 to
our foursix non-employee Directors under the compensation arrangements described
above under "-- Compensationthe caption "Compensation of Directors."Directors" on page 25. As described below under "-- Compensationthe
caption "Compensation Agreements with Management", on page 26, one additional
stock option to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock, which was not granted
under the 1998 Stock Option Plan, and which was granted on August 26, 2005
without stockholder approval, was also outstanding at that same date.
A total of 9,500360,000 shares of common stock were available at May 1,December 31,
2006 for future grants of stock options under the 1998 Stock Option Plan.
Outstanding Equity Compensation PlansAwards at Fiscal Year-End
The following is a table with information regarding our equity compensation
plansshows outstanding stock option awards classified as
exercisable and unexercisable as of December 31, 2005:2006 for our Chief Executive
Officer, Stephen C. Taylor, and each other named executive officer.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
(c)- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Option Awards Stock Awards
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Number of Number of Option Option Number Market Equity Equity
Securities Securities Exercise Expiration of Value of Incentive Incentive Plan
Underlying Underlying Price Date Shares Shares Plan Awards: Awards:
Unexercised Unexercised that of Stock Number of Market or
Options (#) Options (#) Have that Unearned Payout Value
Exercisable Unexercisable Not Have Not Shares or of Unearned
Vested Vested Other Rights Shares or
(#) that Have Other Rights
Not Vested that Have
Not Vested
(a) (b) Number of Securities
Number of Securities Weighted-average Remaining Available for
to be Issued Upon Exercise Price of Future Issuance Under Equity
Exercise of Outstanding Compensation Plans
Outstanding Options, Options, Warrants (Excluding Securities
Plan Category Warrants and Rights and Rights Reflected in Column (a))(c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
- ----------------------------- ----------------------- -------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders ............ 101,668 $7.01 9,500
Equity compensation
plans not approved by
security holders ............ 99,028 $5.61 --
Stephen C. Taylor 15,000 30,000 $ 9.22 8/06/2015 - - - -
- 15,000 $14.22 11/21/2016
Earl R. Wait 15,000 - $ 3.25 4/12/2012 - - - -
- 5,000 $14.22 11/21/2016
Paul D. Hensley - - - - - - -
James R. Hazlett - - - - - - -
S. Craig Rogers(1) 12,000 - $ 3.25 2/08/2007 - - - -
William R. Larkin(2) 4,000 - $ 7.50 1/29/2007 - - - -
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Before leaving our employment, Mr. Rogers held a fully-vested stock option
to purchase 12,000 shares of our common stock. The expiration date of Mr.
Rogers' stock option was April 12, 2012; however, under our 1998 Stock
Option Plan, upon Mr. Rogers' departure from our employment, the stock
option became subject to an accelerated ninety-day expiration period. This
accelerated expiration period was February 8, 2007 and Mr. Rogers exercised
his stock option in full on January 26, 2007.
(2) Before leaving our employment, Mr. Larkin owned a stock option to purchase
8,000 shares of our common stock, 4,000 of which had vested. The expiration
date of Mr. Larkin's stock option was August 26, 2014; however, under 1998
Our Stock Option Plan, the unvested portion of the stock option (4,000
shares) immediately expired and the vested portion (4,000 shares) became
subject to an accelerated ninety-day expiration period. This accelerated
expiration period was January 29, 2007 and Mr. Larkin exercised his stock
option with respect to the vested portion on January 26, 2007.
21
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control
Our 1998 Stock Option Plan contains "change of control" provisions. These
provisions are designed to provide some assurance that we will be able to rely
upon each executive's services and advice as to the best interests of Natural
Gas Services Group and our stockholders without concern that the executive might
be distracted by the personal uncertainties and risks created by any proposed or
threatened change of control and to promote continuity of our executive team.
Under our stock option plan, the Committee may adjust the stock options
held by our executives upon the occurrence of a change of control. With this
authority, the Committee may in its discretion elect to accelerate the vesting
of any stock options that were not fully vested and allow for the exercise of
such options as to all shares of stock subject thereto.
Mr. Taylor and Mr. Wait are our only executive officers that hold stock
options granted under our stock option plan that have not fully vested. Mr.
Taylor holds an option to purchase 15,000 shares of stock, none of which had
vested as of December 31, 2006. Mr. Wait holds two stock options to purchase our
common stock, one covering 15,000 shares and the other covering 5,000 shares. As
of December 31, 2006, Mr. Wait's option to purchase 15,000 shares had fully
vested and none of the shares underlying the option to purchase 5,000 shares had
vested. The stock options held by Mr. Taylor and Mr. Wait and the exercise price
for each of the options are set forth in the "Outstanding Equity Awards at
Fiscal Year-End" table on page 21.
Mr. Taylor' option to purchase 15,000 shares of stock and Mr. Wait's option
to purchase 5,000 shares, each having an exercise price of $14.22 per share,
could have become fully exercisable on December 31, 2006 assuming a change of
control were to have occurred on that date. In this event, Mr. Taylor would have
had to pay approximately $213,000 and Mr. Wait would have had to pay
approximately $71,000 to purchase the shares. The closing price of our common
stock on December 31, 2006, was $13.90 per share. Accordingly, at December 31,
2006, the aggregate value of the shares covered by Mr. Taylor's and Mr. Wait's
options were approximately $209,000 and $70,000, respectively, and both Mr.
Taylor's and Mr. Wait's options were "out-of-the money." As a result, at
December 31, 2006, and assuming the vesting of the options had been accelerated
by the Compensation Committee, there was no potential for Mr. Taylor or Mr. Wait
to realize any immediate value upon exercise of their respective options at such
date.
Change of Control and Severance Arrangements- Stephen C. Taylor's Employment
Agreement
As described under "Employment Agreements" on page 15 and under
"Compensation Agreements With Management" on page 26, we have written employment
agreements with three of our executive officers: Stephen C. Taylor, our Chief
Executive Officer, Paul D. Hensley, President of SCS and a Director, and James
R. Hazlett, Vice-President-Technical Services. Mr. Taylor's employment agreement
contains change of control and severance provisions. These provisions were
included in Mr. Taylor's employment agreement as part of our negotiations with
Mr. Taylor as to the terms of his employment and as an inducement for Mr. Taylor
to join Natural Gas Services Group. The change of control and severance
provisions are designed to promote stability and continuity with respect to Mr.
Taylor's employment as our Chief Executive Officer and President. Our employment
agreements with Messrs. Hensley and Hazlett do not contain change of control or
severance provisions.
Mr. Taylor's employment agreement provides that he is entitled to certain
severance benefits if his employment is terminated as the result of a
"fundamental change" or for any other reason, but excluding the following:
o for "cause";
o the mental or physical incapacity or inability of Mr. Taylor to
perform his duties for a period of 120 or more consecutive days
or for multiple periods totaling 180 or more days during any
twelve-month period;
o the death of Mr. Taylor; or
22
o the voluntary retirement or resignation of Mr. Taylor.
Generally, a "fundamental change" is defined in Mr. Taylor's employment
agreement as the occurrence of any of the following:
o the dissolution, merger or consolidation of Natural Gas Services
Group;
o the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Natural Gas
Services Group;
o the recapitalization or any other type of transaction which
results in 51% or more of the common stock of Natural Gas
Services Group being changed into, or exchanged for, different
securities of Natural Gas Services Group, or other securities in
other entities; or
o any change in the duties, functions, responsibilities or
authority of Mr. Taylor or any decrease in his base salary.
The severance benefits provided to Mr. Taylor upon the occurrence of a
fundamental change include:
o a single lump sum cash payment equal to 200% of his base salary;
o immediate vesting of all unvested stock options;
o continued health care and insurance benefits and premium payments
for a period of 18 months from the date of termination;
o bonuses or individual incentive compensation not yet paid but
earned prior to the year of termination;
o bonuses or individual incentive compensation earned during the
fiscal year, prorated to reflect the date of termination; and
o immediate vesting of 100% of all other compensation plans or
bonus or incentive plans that Mr. Taylor contributed to at the
date of termination, except to the extent covered by the benefits
listed above.
In connection with this employment agreement, Mr. Taylor was granted a
stock option to purchase 45,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price
of $9.22 per share. Unlike his employment agreement, the stock option agreement
provides that upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (without the
termination of Mr. Taylor) or the termination of Mr. Taylor as a result of his
incapacity or inability to perform his duties, the voluntary retirement or
resignation of Mr. Taylor, or the death of Mr. Taylor, the stock option vests in
full on the date immediately prior to the effective date of the occurrence of
any of these events. These provisions were negotiated by Mr. Taylor and us and
were included in Mr. Taylor's compensation package as an additional inducement
for him to join our employment.
23
The table below shows the potential payments to Mr. Taylor under the change
of control and severance provisions contained in his employment agreement and
the stock option agreement entered into in connection with his employment
agreement. The potential payments are based on Mr. Taylor's salary level and
compensation package as of December 31, 2006, and the assumption that the change
of control or severance event occurred on December 31, 2006.
Chief Executive Officer Potential Payments Table
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potential Payments Fundamental Termination Voluntary Death Incapacity Termination Termination
and other Benefits Change Upon Resignation or for Cause Without Cause
upon a Change of Control Fundamental or Inability
or Severance Change Retirement to Perform
Duties
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compensation:
Salary - $350,000 - - - - $350,000
Short-Term Incentive
Compensation-Cash
Bonus Under IBP - $ 87,500 - - - - $ 87,500
Long-Term Incentive
Stock Option Grants $215,550 $215,550 $215,550 $215,550 $215,550 - $215,550
Benefits:
401(k) Plan - $ 8,583 - - - - $ 8,583
Medical Benefits - $ 5,209 - - - - $ 5,209
Life Insurance Benefits - $ 1,135 - - - - $ 1,135
Other - - - - - -
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total ....................... 200,696 $6.32 9,500$215,550 $667,977 $215,550 $215,550 $215,550 - $667,977
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24
Compensation of Directors
We use a combination of cash and equity-based incentive compensation to
attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on our Board of Directors. In
setting compensation for our Directors, we consider the substantial amount of
time that Directors expend in fulfilling their duties to Natural Gas Services
Group and our shareholders, as well as the skill-sets required to fulfill these
duties.
The following table discloses the cash, equity awards and other
compensation earned, paid or awarded, as the case may be, to each of our
non-employee Directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Director Compensation Table
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Fees Stock Option Non-Equity Change in All Total
Earned Awards Awards Incentive Pension Value Other ($)
Or ($) ($)(3)(4) Plan and Compensation
Paid Compensation Nonqualified ($)
($) ($) Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles G. Curtis $12,500 - $34,750 - - - $47,250
Gene A. Strasheim(1) $17,500 - $34,750 - - - $52,250
William F. Hughes $12,500 - $34,750 - - - $47,250
Richard L. Yadon $12,500 - $34,750 - - - $47,250
Alan A. Baker $12,500 - $34,750 - - - $47,250
John W. Chisholm(2) $ 3,750 - $34,750 - - - $38,500
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Mr. Strasheim served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee in 2006, and as
a result, he received an additional cash fee of $1,250 per quarter.
(2) Effective December 19, 2006, the Board of Directors voted to increase the
number of Directors constituting our Board of Directors from seven to eight
and appointed Mr. Chisholm to fill the vacancy created by the increase in
the number of Directors.
(3) On December 29, 2006, each of our non-employee Directors was granted a
stock option to purchase 2,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price
of $13.90 per share, the closing price of our common stock on December 29,
2006. Initially, the stock options were exercisable for a term of ten years
from the date of grant. On January 15, 2007, the Compensation Committee
unanimously consented to an amendment to the stock options, making the
stock options exercisable for a term of ten years from January 1, 2007,
rather than from the date of grant.
(4) The amounts set forth in column (d) represent the dollar amounts we
recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for 2006 in
accordance with FAS 123R with respect to the stock options granted to our
non-employee Directors. The grant date fair value, as calculated in
accordance with FAS 123R, for the stock options granted to our non-employee
Directors in 2006 was $38,000 for each option.
Cash Compensation Paid to Directors
We pay our non-employee Directors a quarterly cash fee for their attendance
at each meeting at our Board of Directors. Until July 1, 2006, the quarterly
cash fee payable to each of our non-employee Directors was $2,500 per quarter.
On June 21, 2006, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the cash fees
payable to our non-employee Directors. Effective July 1, 2006, the quarterly
cash fees payable to our non-employee Directors were increased from $2,500 to
$3,750 per quarter.
25
In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee is entitled to an
additional quarterly cash fee in the amount of $1,250.
Equity Based Compensation Paid to Directors
Each non-employee Director is entitled to receive an annual stock option
covering 2,500 shares of our common stock for their services as a Director. The
options granted to our non-employee Directors are granted under our 1998 Stock
Option Plan. The options typically vest immediately and are exercisable for a
term of 10 years from the date of grant, subject to earlier termination pursuant
to the terms of the standard non-statutory stock option agreement under our 1998
Stock Option Plan. The options issued to our non-employee Directors have an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of
grant.
Directors who are employees of Natural Gas Services Group do not receive
any compensation for their services as Directors.
Other
All Directors are reimbursed for their expenses incurred in connection
with attending meetings.
Natural Gas Services Group provides liability insurance for its directors
and officers. The cost of this coverage for 2006 was approximately $129,000.
We do not offer non-employee Directors travel accident insurance, life
insurance or a pension or retirement plan.
Compensation Agreements with Management
On August 24, 2005, we entered into a three year employment agreement with
Stephen C. Taylor to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The
employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $155,000; an annual
bonus of up to 45%50% of Mr. Taylor's annual base salary; four weeks of vacation
each year; a
15
vehicle allowance; moving expense reimbursement of up to $20,000;
reimbursement for three monthly mortgage payments made by Mr. Taylor for his
prior residence in Houston, Texas; and standard medical and other benefits
provided to all of our employees. The agreement contains provisions restricting
the use of confidential information, requiring that business opportunities and
intellectual property developed by Mr. Taylor become our property; and
prohibiting Mr. Taylor from competing with us during his employment and for the
two years following the date he ceases to be employed by us within the areas
consisting of Midland and Ector Counties, Texas, Tulsa County, Oklahoma and all
adjacent counties. The agreement is subject to termination upon certain
"fundamental changes;" the death or mental or physical incapacity or inability
of Mr. Taylor; the voluntary resignation or retirement of Mr. Taylor; or the
termination of Mr. Taylor's employment for "cause", within the meaning of the
agreement. If Mr. Taylor's employment is terminated as the result of a
fundamental change or other than for cause, he is entitled to receive a single
lump sum cash payment equal to 200% of his base salary. As an inducement to
obtain Mr. Taylor's services, we also agreed to grant to Mr. Taylor a stock
option to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock. We granted the option to Mr.
Taylor, without stockholder approval, on August 24, 2005. The option is
exercisable in three equal annual installments, commencing on January 13, 2006.
The per share exercise price of the optionoptions is $9.22, the fair market value of our common
stock on January 13, 2005, the date we initially hired Mr. Taylor. The option
expires ten years from the date of grant. Mr. Taylor's base salary increased to
$210,000 on January 15, 2007.
When we acquired SCS on January 3, 2005, Paul D. Hensley, one of the former
stockholders of SCS, entered into a three year employment agreement with SCS to
serve as the President of SCS. Mr. Hensley is also currently a director of SCS
and a Director of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. The employment agreement
provides for an initial annual base salary in the amount of $126,700 and
participation by Mr. Hensley in our employee benefit plans.plans as in effect from
time to time. The agreement also contains provisions restricting the use of
confidential information; requiring that business opportunities and intellectual
property developed by Mr. Hensley become the property of SCS; and prohibiting
Mr. Hensley from competing with us within an area consisting of Tulsa County,
Oklahoma and all adjacent counties. The agreement may be terminated by us for
"cause", within the meaning of the agreement, and automatically terminates upon
the occurrence of any "fundamental change" with respect to SCS or
26
Natural Gas Services Group. The agreement also automatically terminates upon the
death, voluntary resignation or retirement of Mr. Hensley or the inability of
Mr. Hensley to perform his duties for a consecutive period of 120 days or a
non-consecutive period of 180 days during any twelve month period.
On January 3, 2005, James R. Hazlett, one of the former stockholders of
SCS, also entered into a three year employment agreement with SCS to continue in
his position as a Vice President of SCS. In June 2005, Mr. Hazlett also became
Vice President-Technical Services of Natural Gas Services Group. The employment
agreement provides for an initial annual base salary in the amount of $105,000
and participation by Mr. Hazlett in our employee benefit plans. The agreement
contains provisions restricting the use of confidential information; requiring
that business opportunities and intellectual property developed by Mr. Hazlett
becomebecomes the property of SCS; and prohibiting Mr. Hazlett from competing with us
within an area consisting of Tulsa County, Oklahoma and all adjacent counties.
The agreement may be terminated by us for "cause", within the meaning of the
agreement, and automatically terminates upon the occurrence of any "fundamental
change" with respect to SCS or Natural Gas Services Group. The agreement also
automatically terminates upon the death, voluntary resignation or retirement of
Mr. Hazlett or the inability of Mr. Hazlett to perform his duties for a
consecutive period of 120 days or a non-consecutive period of 180 days during
any twelve month period. On October 13, 2003, we entered into an employment agreement with William
R. Larkin. The contract's initial term of employment was from October 13, 2003
to April 13, 2005, and currently continues until terminated by either party upon
thirty days advance written notice. The contract provides for an annualMr. Hazlett's base salary increased to $115,000 on
December 1, 2006.
Limitations on Directors' and Officers' Liability
Our Articles of not less than $90,000 per year, participationIncorporation provide our officers and directors with
certain limitations on liability to us or any of our stockholders for damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer involving certain acts or
omissions of any such director or officer.
This limitation on liability may have the effect of reducing the likelihood
of derivative litigation against directors and officers and may discourage or
deter shareholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors and
officers for breach of their duty of care even though such an action, if
successful, might otherwise have benefited our stockholders and us.
Our Articles of Incorporation and bylaws provide certain indemnification
privileges to our directors, employees, agents and officers against liabilities
incurred in legal proceedings. Also, our bonus program and
other normal company benefits. In additiondirectors, employees, agents or
officers who are successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any
proceeding to customary confidentiality
provisions, the contract further provides that any and all inventions, designs,
improvements and discoveries made by Mr. Larkin will belong to us. If
terminated, Mr. Larkin iswhich he or she was a party, are entitled to severance payreceive
indemnification against expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in
an amount equal to three
months of base salary.
On January 1, 2004, we employed Wallace C. Sparkman as our Director of
Investor Relations. Upon the death of Wayne L. Vinson in March 2004, Mr.
Sparkman was elected to serve as our interim President and Chief Executive
Officer. Mr. Sparkman served as our President and Chief Executive Officer until
January 13, 2005, when we hired Stephen C. Taylor to serve in these capacities.
After January 13, 2005, Mr. Sparkman assisted usconnection with the transitionproceeding.
We are not aware of Mr.
Taylor intoany pending litigation or proceeding involving any of
our directors, officers, employees or agents as to which indemnification is
being or may be sought, and we are not aware of any other pending or threatened
litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any of our
directors, officers, employees or agents.
Even though we maintain directors and officers' liability insurance, the
rolesindemnification provisions contained in the Articles of PresidentIncorporation and Chief Executive Officerbylaws
of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. remain in place.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to our directors, officers and resumed his
investor relations
16
duties. On June 14, 2005, Mr. Sparkman was electedcontrolling persons pursuant to
replace Wallace O. Sellers
as Chairmanthe foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion
of the Board of Directors following Mr. Seller's retirement. Under
our oral arrangement with Mr. Sparkman, he servedSecurities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as an at-will employee with a
base salary of $120,000 per year. This arrangement was terminated on December
31, 2005 when Mr. Sparkman retired from employment with us and as Chairman of
the Board and a member of our Board of Directors. Upon the announcement of his
retirement, we entered into a Retirement Agreement with Mr. Sparkman. Under this
agreement, we agreed that Mr. Sparkman would remain eligible for the 2005 fiscal
year for participation in our cash bonus program. We also agreed to pay Mr.
Sparkman a one-time cash bonusexpressed in the amount of $30,000,Securities Act and pay six months of
insurance premiums to maintain supplemental Medicare insurance coverage for
himself and his wife. We estimate that the amount of these insurance premium
reimbursements will be approximately $4,700. Having expressed interest in
pursuing other business ventures, we requested, and Mr. Sparkman agreed, that he
would not compete with us for a period of one year following the date he retired
within the areas consisting of Midland and Ector Counties, Texas, Tulsa County,
Oklahoma and all adjacent counties.
Certain Relationships andis, therefore, unenforceable.
Related Person Transactions
Acquisition of Screw Compression Systems, Inc.
In October 2004, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Screw
Compression Systems, Inc. or "SCS", and the three stockholders of SCS, Paul D.
Hensley, James R. Hazlett and Tony Vohjesus. Under this agreement, we purchased
all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of SCS from Messrs. Hensley,
Hazlett and Vohjesus. Mr. Hensley is currently the president of SCS and a
Director of Natural Gas Services Group. Mr. Hazlett became Vice President -
Technical Services of Natural Gas Services Group in June 2005 and also continues
to serve as a vice presidentPresident of SCS. Mr. Vohjesus remains employed by SCS as a
vice president. The acquisition was
27
completed on January 3, 2005 and SCS is now operated as a wholly owned
subsidiary of Natural Gas Services Group.
Under terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, we appointed Mr. Hensley as a
Director of Natural Gas Services Group in January, 2005 to fill a vacancy existing on its Board
of Directors, to hold office until the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr.
Hensley was nominated for election as a Director at the
2005 annual meeting of shareholders and was elected as a Director at the annual meeting of shareholders held in
June 2005.
Based on Mr. Hensley's pro rata ownership of SCS, he received $5.6 million
in cash; 426,829 shares of Natural Gas Services Group common stock; and a
promissory note issued by Natural Gas Services Group in the original principal amount of
$2.1 million, bearing interest at the rate of 4.00% per annum, maturing January
3, 2008 and secured by a letter of credit in the initial aggregate face amount
of $1.4 million. Mr. Hazlett received $800,000 in cash; 60,976 shares of Natural
Gas Services Group common stock; and a promissory note in the original
principal amount
of $300,000, bearing interest at the rate of 4.00% per annum, maturing January
3, 2008 and secured by a letter of credit in the initial aggregate face amount
of $200,000. Mr. Vohjesus received $1,600,000$1.6 million in cash; 121,951 shares of
Natural Gas Services Group common stock; and a promissory note in the principal
amount of $600,000, bearing interest at the rate of 4.00% per annum, maturing
January 3, 2008 and secured by a letter of credit in the initial aggregate factface
amount of $400,000. The promissory notes are payable in three equal annual
installments, with the first installments beinginstallment due and payable on January 3, 2006.
Subject to the consent of the holder of each respective note, principal payments
may be made by Natural Gas Services Group in shares of common stock valued at
the average daily closing prices of the common stock on the American Stock
Exchange for the twenty consecutive trading days commencing thirty days before
the due date of the principal payment, or by combination of cash and shares of
common stock. On January 3, 2006, Mr. Hensley received $700,000 in principal and
$84,000 in interest; Mr. Hazlett received $100,000 in principal and $12,000 in
interest; and Mr. Vohjesus received $200,000 in principal and $24,000 in
interest. On January 3, 2007, Mr. Hensley received $700,000 in principal and
$56,000 in interest; Mr. Hazlett received $100,000 in principal and $8,000 in
interest; and Mr. Vohjesus received $200,000 in principal and $16,000 in
interest.
Excluding accrued and unpaid interest, at March 12, 2007, we were indebted
to Mr. Hensley in the aggregate principal amount of $700,000, which is secured
by a letter of credit in the amount of $700,000; we were indebted to Mr. Hazlett
in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000, which is secured by a letter of
credit in the amount of $100,000; and we were indebted to Mr. Vohjesus in the
aggregate principal amount of $200,000, which is secured by a letter of credit
in the amount of $200,000.
Under terms of a Stockholders' Agreement entered into as required by the
Stock Purchase Agreement, for a period of two years following the closing, each
of Messrs. Hensley, Hazlett and Vohjesus hashad the right, subject to certain
limitations, to include or "piggyback" the shares of common stock he received in
the transaction in any registration statement we filefiled with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Stockholders' Agreement also provides that Messrs.
Hensley, Hazlett and Vohjesus will not for a period of three years acquire or
agree, offer, seek or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of any assets or
businesses or any additional securities issued by us, or any rights or options
to acquire such ownership; contest any election of directors by the stockholders
of Natural Gas Services Group; or induce or attempt to induce any other person
to initiate any shareholderstockholder proposal or a tender offer
17
for any of our voting
securities; or enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements or
understandings with any third party with respect to any of the foregoing.
GuaranteesProcedures for Reviewing Certain Transactions
On March 7, 2007, we adopted a written policy for the review, approval or
ratification of Indebtedness
In March 2001, we issued warrants that will expire on December 31, 2006 to
purchase sharesrelated party transactions. All of our common stock at $2.50 per shareofficers, directors and
employees are subject to the following personspolicy. Under this policy, the Audit Committee will
review all related party transactions for guaranteeing the amountpotential conflict of interest
situations. Generally, our debt indicated:
Number of Shares Amount of Debt
Name Underlying Warrants Guaranteed
---- ----------------------- -------------------
Wallace O. Sellers(1) .................................... 21,936 $548,399
Wallace C. Sparkman(2) ................................... 21,467 $536,671
CAV-RDV, Ltd.(3) ......................................... 15,756 $393,902
Richard L. Yadon ......................................... 9,365 $234,121
----------
(1) Mr. Sellers servedpolicy defines a "related party transaction" as a
Director from December 1998 until June 2005
after declining to stand for re-election at the 2005 annual meeting of
shareholders because of health reasons.
(2) Mr. Sparkman transferred such warrants to Diamond S DGT Trust,transaction in which we are a trust
ofparticipant and in which Mr. Sparkman's son, Scott W. Sparkman, is the trustee and a beneficiary. Scott W. Sparkman served as Secretary of Natural Gas
Services Group from 1998 until his resignation on April 3, 2006.
(3) CAV-RDV, Ltd. isrelated party has an
interest. A "related party" is:
o a limited partnership that was controlled by Wayne L.
Vinson, our former President, Chief Executive Officer and a director.
All of the guaranties were released by our bank lender upon completion of
our initial public offering in October 2002.
In April 2002, we issued five year warrants to purchase shares of our
common stock at $3.25 per share to each of the following persons for
guaranteeing a portion of our bank debt as follows:
Number of Shares Amount of Debt
Name Underlying Warrants Guaranteed
---- ----------------------- -------------------
Wallace O. Sellers ....................................... 9,032 $451,601
CAV-RDV, Ltd. ............................................ 2,122 $106,098
Richard L. Yadon ......................................... 5,318 $265,879
All of the guaranties were released by our bank lender in June 2003.
During the period from March 2001 to September 2005, Wayne L. Vinson, Earl
R. Wait and Wallace C. Sparkman also guaranteed payment of approximately
$197,000, $84,000 and $92,000, respectively, of additional obligations to third
party vendors when we acquired vehicles, equipment and software. The last of
these obligations was satisfied in September 2005, and none of the guaranties
remain in effect. No warrantsdirector, officer or other consideration was given by us to Messrs.
Vinson, Wait or Sparkman in exchange for their guaranties of these vendor
obligations.
Consulting Fees
During 2002 and 2003, we paid management consulting fees to LaSabre
Services, Inc., a corporation owned and controlled by Wallace C. Sparkman, our
former Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. We paid
approximately $109,000 for these services in 2003. We terminated these payments
to LaSabre at the end of December 2003 when Mr. Sparkman became an employee of Natural Gas Services Groupor a nominee
to become a director;
o an owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock;
28
o certain family members of any of the above persons; and
o any entity in January 2004,which any of the above persons is employed or is a
partner or principal or in which such person has a 5% or greater
ownership interest.
Approval Procedures
Before entering into a related party transaction, the related party or the
department within Natural Gas Services responsible for the potential transaction
must notify the Chief Executive Officer or the Audit Committee of the facts and
circumstances of the proposed transaction. If the amount involved is equal to or
less than $100,000, the proposed transaction will be submitted to the Chief
Executive Officer. If the amount involved exceeds $100,000, the proposed
transaction will be submitted to the Audit Committee. Matters to be submitted
will include:
o the related party's relationship to Natural Gas Services and interest
in the transaction;
o the material terms of the proposed transaction;
o the benefits to Natural Gas Services of the proposed transaction;
o the availability of other sources of comparable properties or
services; and
o whether the proposed transaction is on terms comparable to terms
available to an unrelated third party or to employees generally.
The Chief Executive Officer or the Audit Committee, as applicable, will
then consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available, including
the matters described above and, if applicable, the impact on a director's
independence. Neither the Chief Executive Officer nor any member of the Audit
Committee is permitted to participate in any review, consideration or approval
of any related party transaction if such person or any of his or her immediate
family members is the related party. After review, the Chief Executive Officer
or the Audit Committee, as applicable, may approve, modify or disapprove the
proposed transaction. Only those related party transactions that are in, or are
not inconsistent with, the best interests of Natural Gas Services and its
stockholders will be approved.
Ratification Procedures
If an officer or director of Natural Gas Services becomes aware of a
related party transaction that has not been previously approved or ratified by
the Chief Executive Officer or the Audit Committee then, if the transaction is
pending or ongoing, the transaction must be submitted, based on the amount
involved, to either the Chief Executive Officer or the Audit Committee and the
Chief Executive Officer or the Audit Committee will consider the matters
described above. Based on the conclusions reached, the Chief Executive Officer
or the Audit Committee, as applicable, will evaluate all options, including
ratification, amendment or termination of the related party transaction. If the
transaction is completed, the Chief Executive Officer or the Audit Committee
will evaluate the transaction, taking into account the same factors as described
above, under
"-Compensation Agreements With Management."
18to determine if rescission of the transaction or any disciplinary action
is appropriate, and will request that we evaluate our controls and procedures to
determine the reason the transaction was not submitted to the Chief Executive
Officer or the Audit Committee for prior approval and whether any changes to the
procedures are recommended.
29
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of April 26, 2006,May 8, 2007, the beneficial ownership
of our common stock by (i)(1) each of our directors (and nominees for director),
(ii)(2) each of our executive officers; (iii)(3) all of our executive officers and
directors (and nominees) as a group; and (iv)(4) each person known by us to
beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock.
Except as
otherwise indicated below, each of the individuals named in the table has sole
voting and investment power, or shares such powers with his spouse, with respect
to the shares set forth opposite his name.
Percent
Name and Address Amount and Nature Percent
Of
of Beneficial Owner of Beneficial Ownership(1) ClassClass(2)
------------------------------ --------------------------- ------------
Alan A. Baker -- --2,500(3) *
2702 Briar Knoll Court
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
John W. Chisholm 2,500(4) *
539 Green Isle Beach
Montgomery, Texas 77356
Charles G. Curtis 83,000(2)76,357(5) *
1 Penrose Lane
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
Paul D. Hensley 326,829 2.74%2.71%
3005 N. 15th Street
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012
William F. Hughes, Jr. 199,500(3)202,000(6) 1.67%
42921 Normandy Lane
Lancaster, California 93536
Gene A. Strasheim 8,500(4)11,000(7) *
165 Huntington Place
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
Stephen C. Taylor 15,000(5)31,000(8) *
2911 South County Road 1260
Midland, Texas 79706
Richard L. Yadon 276,683(6) 2.32%278,683(9) 2.31%
4444 Verde Glen Ct.
Midland, Texas 79707
William R. Larkin -- --
2911 South County Road 1260
Midland, Texas 79706
S. Craig Rogers 14,125(7) *
2911 South County Road 1260
Midland, Texas 79706
Earl R. Wait 45,520(8)45,870(10) *
2911 South County Road 1260
Midland, Texas 79706
James R. Hazlett 50,97651,976 *
2911 South County Road 1260
Midland, Texas 79706
30
Westcliff Capital Management, LLC 927,150(11) 7.68%
200 Seventh Avenue, Suite 105
Santa Cruz, California 95062
Keeley Asset Management Corp. 755,000(12) 6.26%
401 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Wellington Management Company, LLP 1,328,000(13) 11.00%
75 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Mazama Capital Management, Inc. 1,028,600(14) 8.52%
One Southwest Columbia Street, Suite 1500
Portland, Oregon 97258
All directors (and nominees) and executive
officers as a group (11(10 persons) 1,020,133(9)1,028,715(15) 8.46%
19
- ------------------------------------------
* Less than one percent.
(1) The number of shares listed includesUnless otherwise indicated, all shares of common stock are held
directly with sole voting and investment powers. None of the shares of
common stock beneficially owned by or which mayour officers and directors have
been pledged as security.
(2) Securities not outstanding, but included in the beneficial ownership
of each such person, are deemed to be acquired within 60 daysoutstanding for the purpose of
April 26, 2006 uponcomputing the exercisepercentage of warrants and stock options held by the shareholder (or group).
Beneficial ownership is calculated in accordance with the rulesoutstanding securities of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) Includes 40,000 sharesclass owned
by such person, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose
of computing the percentage of the class owned by any other person.
Shares of common stock that may be acquired within sixty days of May
8, 2007 upon the exercise of warrants and 10,000outstanding stock options are deemed to be
outstanding.
(3) All of such shares of common stock may be acquired upon exercise of a
stock option granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(4) All of such shares of common stock may be acquired upon exercise of a
stock option granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(5) Includes 12,500 shares of common stock that may be acquired upon the
exercise of stock options granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(3)(6) Includes 190,500 shares of common stock indirectly owned by Mr. Hughes
through the William and Cheryl Hughes Family Trust and 7,50010,000 shares
that may be acquired upon the exercise of stock options granted under
our 1998 Stock Option Plan. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are co-trustees of the
William and Cheryl Hughes Family Trust and have shared voting and
investment powers with respect to the shares held by the trust. Mr.
and Mrs. Hughes are beneficiaries of the trust along with their two
children.
(4)(7) Includes 5,0007,500 shares of common stock that may be acquired upon
exercise of stock options granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(5)(8) Includes 15,00030,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired upon
exercise of a stock option granted to Mr. Taylor as an inducement for
his employment.
(6)31
(9) Includes 14,68310,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired upon the
exercise of warrants and 7,500 shares that may be acquired upon the
exercise of stock options granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(7)(10) Includes 12,00015,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired upon the
exercise of a stock option granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(8) Includes 15,000 shares(11) As reported in Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 6, 2007, Westcliff Capital Management, LLC has
shared voting and dispositive powers with respect to such shares.
Westcliff, as investment manager of common stock thatvarious client accounts, and
Richard S. Spencer III, as Westcliff's manager and majority owner, may
be acquired upon exercisedeemed to beneficially own the stock owned by such accounts, in
that they may be deemed to have the power to direct the voting or
disposition of a stock option granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(9)that stock.
(12) As reported in Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 13, 2007, Keeley Asset Management Corp., an
investment adviser, and Keeley Small Cap Value Fund, Inc., an
investment company, have shared voting and dispositive powers with
respect to such shares.
(13) As reported in Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2007, Wellington
Management Company, LLP, in its capacity as investment adviser, may be
deemed to beneficially own such shares and has shared voting powers
with respect to 758,000 shares and shared dispositive powers with
respect to 1,328,000 shares.
(14) As reported in Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 8, 2007, Mazama Capital Management, Inc., in
its capacity as an investment adviser, may be deemed to beneficially
own such shares and has sole voting power with respect to 560,900
shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,028,600 shares.
(15) Includes 72,00090,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired upon the
exercise of stock options and 54,683 shares that may be acquired upon the
exercise of warrants to purchase common stock.options.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
our Directorsdirectors and officers to file periodic reports of beneficial ownership with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports show the Directors'directors' and
officers' ownership, and the changes in ownership, of common stock and other
equity securities of Natural Gas Services Group.
Based solely on a review of the Forms 3, 4 and 5 and amendments thereto
furnished to us for 2005,2006, certain of our Directorsdirectors and officers did not file on
a timely basis reports of transactions in our equity securities required by
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These transactions and
related reports are described in the following paragraphs.
20
On June 14, 2005, James R. HazlettDecember 29, 2006, a stock option to purchase 2,500 shares of our common
stock was appointed Vice President - Technical
Services. Agranted to each of our six non-employee directors, including Richard
L. Yadon, Charles G. Curtis, William F. Hughes, Jr., Gene A. Strasheim, Alan A.
Baker and John Chisholm. Form 3 Report4 reports for each Director reflecting Mr. Hazlett's appointment as an officer wasthese
option grants were filed on OctoberJanuary 5, 2005,2007, or 103two days late.
On August 4, 2005, S. Craig Rogers exercised a warrant to purchase 1,000
shares of common stock. A Form 4 Report reflecting the exercise of the warrant
was filed on September 29, 2005, or 52 days late.
On September 1, 2005, William R. Larkin exercised an option to purchase
4,000 shares of common stock. On September 6, 2005, 3,000 of such shares wereMarch 8, 2006, Mr. Hensley and Mr. Hughes sold in open market transactions,100,000 and the remaining 1,000 shares were sold in an
open market transaction on September 7, 2005. Mr. Larkin reported these
transactions in a Form 4 Report filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on September 29, 2006. The report of the option exercise was 24 days
late; the report of the sale of 3,00050,000 shares
of common stock, respectively, in our underwritten public offering. Form 4
Reports reporting theses sales were filed on September 6,
2005 was 21 days late; and the report of the sale of 1,000 shares of stock on
September 7, 2005 was 17March 30, 2006, or twenty days
late.
On August 29, 2005, William F. Hughes exercisedDecember 19, 2006, Mr. Chisholm was appointed as a warrant to purchase
60,000 sharesDirector of common stock.Natural
Gas Services Group, Inc. A Form 4 Report reporting the exercise of the
warrant3 report reflecting Mr. Chisholm's appointment
as a Director was filed on September 6, 2005,January 3, 2007, or 6five days late.
32
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Our Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the integrity of Natural
Gas' financial statements; financial reporting processes; compliance with legal
and regulatory requirements; the independent auditor's qualifications and
independence; and the performance of Natural Gas' internal accounting functions
and independent auditors.
Our independent accountants are responsible for performing an
independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with
auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and
issuing an independent accountants' report on such financial statements. The
Audit Committee reviews with management our consolidated financial statements;
reviews with the independent accountants their independent accountants' report;
and reviews the activities of the independent accountants. The Audit Committee
selects our independent accountants each year. The Audit Committee also
considers the adequacy of our internal controls and accounting policies. The
chairman and members of the Audit Committee are all independent directors of our
Board of Directors within the meaning of Section 121(A) of the listing standards
of the American Stock Exchange.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial
statements with management of Natural Gas Services Group. The Audit Committee
has discussed with our independent auditors the matters required to be discussed
by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit
Committees), as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90 (Audit
Committee Communications). In addition, the Audit Committee has received the
written disclosures and the letter from our independent accountants required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees), and has discussed with the independent accountants matters
pertaining to their independence. Based upon the reviews and discussions
referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors
that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form
10-K for 20052006 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit
Committee and Board of Directors has also selected Hein & Associates LLP as our
independent accountantsauditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.2007.
Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee,
Gene A. Strasheim, Chairman
Charles G. Curtis
William F. Hughes, Jr.
Richard L. Yadon
2133
APPOINTMENTPROPOSAL 2 - RATIFICATION OF REAPPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Audit Committee has reappointed the firm of Hein & Associates LLP as
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.2007. If the
shareholders do not ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee may consider
other independent public accountants or continue the appointment of Hein &
Associates LLP. Shareholder ratification of the appointment is not required
under the laws of the State of Colorado, but the Board believes it is important
to allow the shareholders to vote on this proposal.
Representatives of Hein & Associates LLP are expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and will have an opportunity to make a statement
at the annual meeting if they desire to do so. It is expected that such
representatives will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote "for" the
ratification of the reappointment of Hein & Associates LLP as Natural Gas'
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.
Principal Accountant Fees
Our principal accountant for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20052006 and
20042005 was Hein & Associates LLP.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Hein &
Associates LLP for the audit of our financial statements for our fiscal years
ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and 2004 and for the review of ourthe financial statements in ouron
Forms 10-Q and 10-QSB, respectively, for the fiscal quarters in such fiscal
years were $177,278approximately $265,000 and $82,172,$177,000, respectively. These fees also
include update audit procedures performed by Hein & Associates LLP for the
issuance of consents for the inclusion of their audit opinions in various registration
statements we filed with the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission during these
years.
Audit-Relatedyears and consultation regarding Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls
implementation.
Audit Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by Hein &
Associates LLP during theour fiscal years ended December 31, 20052006 and 20042005 were
approximately $154,851$50,000 and $67,000,$155,000, respectively. These fees were mainly related
to the audits for ourthe acquisition of Screw Compression Systems, Inc.,SCS, and procedures performed in connection
with a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and consultation regarding Sarbanes-Oxley
internal controls implementation.Commission.
Tax Fees
The aggregate feesWe were not billed for professional services rendered by Hein & Associates LLP for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 forany tax compliance,
tax advice and tax planning were $18,330. The nature of the services comprising
these fees included the review of our 2004 tax return. We were not billed for
such services during the
year ended December 31, 2005.2005 or December 31, 2006.
All Other Fees
No other fees were billed by Hein & Associates LLP during our fiscal years
ended December 31, 20042005 and 2005.2006.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
As of the date of this proxy statement, our Audit Committee had not
established general pre-approval policies and procedures for the engagement of
our principal accountant to render audit or non-audit services. However, in
accordance with Section 10A(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and because we do not have a general pre-approval policy, our Audit
Committee, as a whole, specifically pre-approves each audit or non-audit service
before our accountant is engaged to provide those services.
34
Certain rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission provide that an
auditor is not independent of an audit client if the services it provides to the
client are not appropriately approved, subject, however, to a de minimus
exception contained in the rules. The Audit Committee pre-approved all services
provided by Hein & Associates LLP in 20052006 and the de minimus exception was not
used.
22
PROPOSAL 2 - AMENDMENT OF THE 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Description of the Proposed Amendments
On December 18, 1998, the Board of Directors adopted the 1998 Stock Option
Plan of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (the "1998 Plan"), and directed that
the 1998 Plan be submitted to the shareholders for approval. The 1998 Plan
became effective when it received such approval on December 18, 1998.
On May 9, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors voted
to amend the 1998 Plan and on May 9, 2006, the Board of Directors directed that
such amendments be submitted for the approval of shareholders at the 2006 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. Such amendments will become effective if a majority of
the votes cast are in favor of the proposal. If the amendments are not approved,
the 1998 Plan will remain in force as originally adopted.
The proposed amendments change the 1998 Plan in five principal respects as
follows:
1. The number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the
1998 Plan will be increased from 150,000 to 550,000 shares of common stock.
2. The Compensation Committee will have a longer period during which it may
grant options. The 1998 Plan, prior to amendment, provided that no grants could
be made after December 17, 2008. As provided in the amendment, options can be
granted until March 1, 2016.
3. The 1998 Plan, prior to amendment, provided that the exercise price of
incentive stock options granted to employees who do not own more than 10% of our
common stock would be not less than 140% of the fair market value per share of
our common stock on the date of grant. The amendment provides that the exercise
price of incentive stock options granted to such employees under the 1998 Plan
will be not less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the
date of grant.
4. The 1998 Plan, prior to amendment, contained a provision allowing the
Compensation Committee to increase, without shareholder approval, the number of
shares of stock subject to the 1998 Plan from 150,000 shares to 400,000 shares.
This provision of the 1998 Plan is eliminated in the amendment.
5. The 1998 Plan, prior to amendment, provided that the Compensation
Committee, in its sole discretion, could provide an optionee with the right to
exchange, in a cashless transaction, all or part of a stock option for shares of
our common stock on terms and conditions determined by the Compensation
Committee. This provision of the 1998 Plan could potentially result in adverse
accounting consequences under FASB Statement No. 123(R), which was recently
adopted by Natural Gas Services Group. Therefore, this provision of the 1998
Plan is eliminated in the amendment.
The purposes of the 1998 Plan, which are unchanged by the proposed
amendment, are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions
of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to employees and
consultants and to promote the success of our business.
Summary Description of the 1998 Plan
The following summary of the 1998 Plan, as amended, is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the text of the 1998 Plan, as amended, which is
attached as Exhibit A. The 1998 Plan has been and will continue to be
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The
Compensation Committee has full and final authority, in its discretion, to grant
incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options, to select the persons who
would be granted stock options and determine the number of shares subject to
each option, the duration and exercise period of each option and the terms and
conditions of each option granted.
23
The major provisions of the 1998 Plan as amended are as follows:
Eligibility. The Compensation Committee is authorized to grant stock
options to any person selected by the Compensation Committee, including
employees, officers who are also directors of Natural Gas Services Group,
directors who are not employees of Natural Gas Services Group and
consultants. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of
Natural Gas Services Group.
Option Price. The option exercise price for shares of common stock
issued upon exercise of an option is such price as is determined by the
Compensation Committee. However, for incentive stock options granted to
employees the option price will be not less than 100% of the fair market
value of the Company's common stock on the date the option is granted,
except that if an incentive stock option is granted to an employee who owns
more than 10% of Natural Gas' outstanding common stock, the option price
will be not less than 110% of the fair market value of the common stock on
the date of grant. Fair market value for purposes of the 1998 Plan is the
closing price of the common stock as reported on the American Stock
Exchange on the relevant date.
Duration of Options. Each stock option will terminate on the date
fixed by the Compensation Committee, which shall be not more than ten years
after the date of grant. However, in the case of an incentive stock option
granted to an employee who, at the time the option is granted, owns stock
representing more than 10% of the outstanding stock of Natural Gas Services
Group, the term of the option will be five years from the date of grant or
such shorter time as may be provided in the stock option agreement.
Exercise Period. In the case of incentive stock options, if an
optionee's employment is terminated for any reason, except death or
disability, the optionee has three months in which to exercise an option
(but only to the extent exercisable on the date of termination) unless the
option by its terms expires earlier. If the employment of the optionee
terminates by reason of total and permanent disability, the option may be
exercised during the period of twelve months following termination of
employment. If an optionee dies while an employee or within three months
from the date of termination, the right to exercise shall terminate twelve
months from the date of death. The options terminate immediately prior to
the dissolution or liquidation of Natural Gas Services Group, unless the
Compensation Committee gives each optionee the right to exercise his option
as to all or any part of the option, including shares as to which the
option would not otherwise be exercisable. If Natural Gas Services Group
sells all or substantially all of its assets or merges with or into another
entity in a transaction in which it is not the survivor, options will be
assumed or an equivalent option will be substituted by the successor
corporation, unless the Compensation Committee determines that the optionee
has the right to exercise the option as to all of the shares, including
shares as to which the option would not otherwise be exercisable. The
Compensation Committee has the right to alter the terms of any option at
grant or while outstanding pursuant to the terms of the 1998 Plan.
Payment. Payment for stock purchased on the exercise of a stock option
must be made in full at the time the stock option is exercised. The
Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, permit payment for the
exercise price to be made in cash, check, other shares of common stock
having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate
exercise price of the shares as to which the option is exercised, or any
combination of such methods of payment, or such other consideration and
method of payment for the issuance of shares as permitted under the
Colorado Business Corporation Act. Additionally, the Compensation Committee
may permit the exercise of an option as a "net issuance" or "cashless"
transaction on terms and conditions established by the Compensation
Committee.
Shares That May Be Issued under the 1998 Plan. A maximum of 550,000
shares of Natural Gas' common stock, as may be adjusted as described below,
may be issued upon exercise of stock options granted under the 1998 Plan.
This number includes the number of shares of Natural Gas' common stock
originally authorized in 1998 (150,000 shares). Consequently, a total of
400,000 additional shares will be authorized pursuant to the proposed
amendment. The 400,000 additional shares available represent approximately
3.35% of Natural Gas' common stock issued and outstanding on April 26,
2006. At the date of this proxy statement, 140,500 shares of common stock
have already been issued or are subject to currently outstanding stock
options, leaving 9,500 shares of common stock available from the 150,000
24
shares originally authorized. The number of shares available under the 1998
Plan is subject to adjustment in the event of any stock split, stock
dividend, recapitalization, spin-off or other similar action. If any stock
option terminates or is canceled for any reason without having been
exercised in full, the shares of stock not issued will then become
available for additional grants of options.
Estimate of Benefits. The number of stock options that will be awarded
to Natural Gas' Chief Executive Officer and the other four most highly
compensated executive officers of Natural Gas Services Group under the 1998
Plan are not currently determinable. Information regarding awards to
Natural Gas' Chief Executive Officer and the other four most highly
compensated executive officers in 2005 is provided on page 14 of this proxy
statement. In addition, stock options to purchase a total of 10,000 shares
were granted in December 2005 to directors who are not employees.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Incentive Stock Options. Some of the options granted under the 1998 Plan
may constitute "incentive stock options" ("ISOs") within the meaning of Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Under present
federal tax regulations, there will be no federal income tax consequences to
either Natural Gas Services Group or an optionee upon the grant of an ISO, nor
will an optionee's exercise of an ISO result in federal income tax consequences
to Natural Gas Services Group. Although an optionee will not realize ordinary
income upon his exercise of an ISO, the excess of the fair market value of the
common stock acquired at the time of exercise over the option price may
constitute an adjustment in computing alternative minimum taxable income under
Section 56 of the Code and, thus, may result in the imposition of the
"alternative minimum tax" pursuant to Section 55 of the Code on the optionee. If
an optionee does not dispose of common stock acquired through an ISO within one
year of the ISO's date of exercise, any gain realized upon a subsequent
disposition of common stock will constitute long-term capital gain to the
optionee. If an optionee disposes of the common stock within such one-year
period, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value
of the common stock on the date of exercise over the option price or (ii) the
actual gain realized upon such disposition will constitute ordinary income to
the optionee in the year of the disposition. An additional gain upon such
disposition will be taxed as short-term capital gain. Natural Gas Services Group
will receive a deduction in the amount equal to the amount constituting ordinary
income to an optionee.
Nonstatutory Options. Certain stock options which do not constitute ISOs
("nonstatutory options") may also be granted under the 1998 Plan. Under present
federal income tax regulations, there will be no federal income tax consequences
to either Natural Gas Services Group or the optionee upon the grant of a
nonstatutory option. However, the optionee will realize ordinary income upon the
exercise of a nonstatutory option in an amount equal to the excess of the fair
market value of the common stock acquired upon the exercise of such option over
the option price, and Natural Gas Services Group will receive a corresponding
deduction. The gain, if any, realized upon a subsequent disposition of such
common stock will constitute short- or long-term capital gain, depending on the
optionee's holding period.
The federal income tax consequences described in this section are based on
laws and regulations in effect on the date of this proxy statement, and there is
no assurance that the laws and regulations will not change in the future and
affect the tax consequences of the matters discussed in this section.
Termination of and Amendments to the 1998 Plan
The Board of Directors may terminate or amend the 1998 Plan from time to
time in any manner permitted by applicable laws and regulations, except that no
additional shares of common stock of Natural Gas Services Group may be allocated
to the 1998 Plan and no change in the class of employees eligible to receive
incentive stock options or any other material amendment to the 1998 Plan may be
made without the approval of the shareholders.
Market Price of the Company's Common Stock
The closing market price of Natural Gas' common stock as reported on the
American Stock Exchange for May 9, 2006 was $17.56 per share.
25
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board believes the proposed amendments to the 1998 Plan are in the best
interests of Natural Gas Services Group and its shareholders, as the
availability of an adequate number of shares reserved for grant under the 1998
Plan and the other amended terms described above will assist in the recruitment
and retention of the best available personnel.
The Board of Directions of Natural Gas Services Group recommends a vote FOR
the proposal to amend the 1998 Stock Option Plan. Proxies received by the Board
of Directors will be so voted unless shareholders specify in their proxies a
contrary choice.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Under SEC Rule 14a-8, if a shareholder wants us to include a proposal in
our proxy statement and form of proxy for presentation at our 20072008 annual
meeting of shareholders, the proposal must be received by us at our principal
executive offices at 2911 South County Road 1260, Midland, Texas 79706 by
January 13, 2007,18, 2008, unless the date of our 20072008 annual meeting of shareholders is
more than 30 days from the anniversary date of our 20062007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, in which case the deadline is a reasonable time before we print
and mail our proxy materials for the 20072008 annual meeting of shareholders. The
proposal should be sent to the attention of the Secretary of Natural Gas
Services Group.
The SEC also sets forth procedures under which shareholders may make
proposals outside of the process described above in order for a shareholder to
introduce an item of business at an annual meeting of shareholders. A proposal
may not be presented at the 20072008 annual meeting and no persons may be nominated
for election to the Board at that meeting unless we receive notice of the
proposal or nomination no later than March 29, 2007.April 3, 2008. Your notice should be
addressed to President, Natural Gas Services Group, Inc., 2911 South County Road
1260, Midland, Texas 79706. Your notice must comply with the requirements set
forth in our bylaws, a copy of which may be obtained from the Secretary of
Natural Gas Services Group.
In order to curtail controversy as to the date on which a proposal was
received by us, it is suggested that proponents submit their proposals by
certified mail-return receipt requested. Such proposals must also meet the other
requirements established by the SEC for shareholder proposals.
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Because of Natural Gas' small size, to date we have not developed formal
processes by which shareholders may communicate directly with directors.
Instead, we believe that our informal process permitting communications to be
sent to the Board of Directors either generally or in care of a corporate
officer, has served the shareholders' needs. Until formal procedures are
developed and posted on our website (www.ngsgi.com), any communication to the
Board of Directors may be mailed to the Board, in care of the President of
Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. at 2911 South County Road 1260, Midland, Texas
79706. Shareholders should clearly note on the mailing envelope that the letter
is a "Shareholder-Board Communication." All such communications should identify
the author as a shareholder and clearly state whether the intended recipients
are all members of the Board of Directors or just certain specified individual
directors. The Secretary of Natural Gas Services Group will make copies of all
such communications and circulate them to the appropriate director or directors.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The cost of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing, assembling
and mailing this proxy material to shareholders, will be borne by Natural Gas
Services Group. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, Natural Gas Services
Group and its directors, officers and regular employees may also solicit proxies
personally, by telephone or by other appropriate means. No additional
compensation will be paid to directors, officers or other regular employees for
such services. Banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
will be requested to 26
forward the proxy soliciting material to the beneficial
owners of shares of Natural Gas'
sharesGas Services Group held of record by such persons
and Natural Gas Services Group will reimburse them for their charges and
expenses in this connection.
35
OTHER MATTERS
Our Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented at
the meeting other than the matters set forth herein. If any other business
should come before the meeting, the person's namesnamed in the enclosed proxy card
will vote such proxy according to their judgment on such matters.
You may obtain our 20052006 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 20052006 without charge upon written request to Stephen C.
Taylor, President, at Natural Gas Services Group, Inc., 2911 South County Road
1260, Midland, Texas 79706. In addition, the exhibits to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20052006 may be obtained by any
shareholder upon written request to Mr. Taylor.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/Stephen C. Taylor
Stephen C. Taylor
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Midland, Texas
May 18, 2006
2714, 2007
36
Exhibit A
NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(as amended onLYNCH, CHAPPELL & ALSUP
The Summit, Suite 700
300 North Marienfeld
Midland, Texas 79701
(432) 683-3351
Facsimile (432) 683-8346
May 9, 2006)
1. Purposes of this Plan. The purposes of this 1998 Stock Option Plan are to
attract14, 2007
Securities and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants and
to promote the success of the Company's business. Options granted hereunder may
be either "incentive stock options," as defined in Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or "nonstatutory stock options," at the
discretion of the Board and as reflected in the terms of the written stock
option agreement.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
a. "Board" shall mean the Committee, if one has been appointed, or the
Board of Directors of the Company if no Committee is appointed.
b. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
c. "Common Stock" shall mean the $0.01 par value common stock of the
Company.
d. "Company" shall meanExchange Commission
100 F Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20549-7010
Re: Natural Gas Services Group, Inc., a Colorado
corporation.
e. "Committee" shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board in
accordance with paragraph (a) of Section 4 of this Plan, if one is appointed, or
the Board if no committee is appointed.
f. "Consultant" shall mean any person who is engaged by the Company or by
any Parent or Subsidiary; Definitive Proxy Material
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to render consulting servicesRule 14a-6(a) and is compensated for
such consulting services, but does not include a director of the Company who is
compensated for services as a director only with the payment of a director's fee
by the Company.
g. "Continuous Status as an Employee" shall mean the absence of any
interruption or termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an
Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military
leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Board, provided that such
leave is for a period of not more than 90 days or reemployment upon the
expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute.
h. "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and directors,
employed by the Company or by any Parent or Subsidiary. The payment of a
director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment"
by the Company.
i. "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean an Option which is intended to
qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code and which shall be clearly identified as such in the written Stock Option
Agreement provided by the Company to each Optionee granted an Incentive Stock
OptionRegulation 14A under this Plan.
j. "Non-Employee Director" shall mean a director who:
(i) Is not currently an officer (as defined in Section 16a-1(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Company or of a Parent
or Subsidiary or otherwise currently employed by the Company or by a Parent
or Subsidiary.
(ii) Does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly,
from the Company or from a Parent or Subsidiary, for services rendered as a
Consultant or in any capacity other than as a director, except for an
amount that does not exceed the dollar amount for which disclosure would be
required pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K adopted by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission.
(iii) Does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which
disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K
adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
k. "Nonstatutory Stock Option" shall mean an Option granted under this Plan
which does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option and which shall be clearly
identified as such in the written Stock Option Agreement provided by the Company
to each Optionee granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option under this Plan. To the
extent that the aggregate fair market value of Optioned Stock to which Incentive
Stock Options granted under Options to an Employee are exercisable for the first
time during any calendar year (under this Plan and all plans of the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as
Nonstatutory Stock Options under this Plan. The aggregate fair market value of
the Optioned Stock shall be determined as of the date of grant of each Option
and the determination of which Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as
qualified incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code and which
Incentive Stock Options exercisable for the first time in a particular year in
excess of the $100,000 limitation shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options
shall be determined based on the order in which such Options were granted in
accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code.
l. "Option" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock
Option or both as identified in a written Stock Option Agreement representing
such stock option granted pursuant to this Plan.
m. "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option.
n. "Optionee" shall mean an Employee or other person who is granted an
option.
o. "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation" of the Company, whether now
or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
p. "Plan" shall mean this 1998 Stock Option Plan.
q. "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock of the Company, as
adjusted in accordance with Section 11 of this Plan.
r. "Stock Option Agreement" shall mean the agreement to be entered into
between the Company and each Optionee which shall set forth the terms and
conditions of each Option granted to each Optionee, including the number of
Shares underlying such Option and the exercise price of each Option granted to
such Optionee under such agreement.
s. "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company,
whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Stock Subject to this Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of this
Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold
under this Plan is 550,000 shares of Common Stock. The Shares may be authorized,
but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. If an Option should expire or become
unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, the
unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless this Plan shall have
been terminated, become available for future grant under this Plan.
4. Administration of this Plan.
a. Procedure. This Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee
appointed by the Board consisting of two or more Non-Employee Directors to
administer this Plan on behalf of the Board, subject to such terms and
conditions as the Board may prescribe.
(i) Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to serve until
otherwise directed by the Board (which for purposes of this paragraph
(a)(i) of this Section 4 shall be the Board of Directors of the Company).
From time to time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and
appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause)
and appoint new members in substitution
2
therefor, fill vacancies however caused, or remove all members of the
Committee and thereafter directly administer this Plan.
(ii) Members of the Board who are granted, or have been granted,
Options may vote on any matters affecting the administration of this Plan
or the grant of any Options pursuant to this Plan.
b. Powers of the Board. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Board
shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) To grant Incentive Stock Options, in accordance with Section 422
of the Code, and Nonstatutory Stock Options or both as provided and
identified in a separate written Stock Option Agreement to each Optionee
granted such Option or Options under this Plan; provided however, that in
no event shall an Incentive Stock Option and a Nonstatutory Stock Option
granted to any Optionee under a single Stock Option Agreement be subject to
a "tandem" exercise arrangement such that the exercise of one such Option
affects the Optionee's right to exercise the other Option granted under
such Stock Option Agreement;
(ii) To determine, upon review of relevant information and in
accordance with Section 8(b) of this Plan, the fair market value of the
Common Stock;
(iii) To determine the exercise price per Share of Options to be
granted, which exercise price shall be determined in accordance with
Section 8(a) of this Plan;
(iv) To determine the Employees or other persons to whom, and the time
or times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of Shares to be
represented by each Option;
(v) To interpret this Plan;
(vi) To prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
this Plan;
(vii) To determine the terms and provisions of each Option granted
(which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the holder thereof,
modify or amend each Option;
(viii) To accelerate or defer (with the consent of the Optionee) the
exercise date of any Option, consistent with the provisions of Section 7 of
this Plan;
(ix) To authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any
instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Option previously granted
by the Board; and
(x) To make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Plan.
c. Effect of Board's Decision. All decisions, determinations and
interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any
other permissible holders of any Options granted under this Plan.
5. Eligibility.
a. Persons Eligible. Options may be granted to any person selected by the
Board. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. An Employee,
who is also a director of the Company, its Parent or a Subsidiary, shall be
treated as an Employee for purposes of this Section 5. An Employee or other
person who has been granted an Option may, if he is otherwise eligible, be
granted an additional Option or Options.
b. No Effect on Relationship. This Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee
any right with respect to continuation of employment or other relationship with
the Company nor shall it interfere in any way with his right or the Company's
right to terminate his employment or other relationship at any time.
3
6. Term of Plan. This Plan, as amended, became effective on June 21, 2006. It
shall continue in effect until March 1, 2016, unless sooner terminated under
Section 13 of this Plan.
7. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be 10 years from the date of
grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Stock Option
Agreement. However, in the case of an Option granted to an Optionee who, at the
time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary, if the Option is an Incentive Stock Option, the term of the Option
shall be five years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter time as may
be provided in the Stock Option Agreement.
8. Exercise Price and Consideration.
a. Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued
pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the
Board, but the per Share exercise price under an Incentive Stock Option shall be
subject to the following:
(i) If granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such
Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary,
the per Share exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the fair market
value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii) If granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise price
shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value per Share on the date
of grant.
b. Determination of Fair Market Value. The fair market value per Share on
the date of grant shall be determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the
American Stock Exchange or such other securities exchange designated by the
Board, or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on any such exchange, or
if the Common Stock is quoted on a National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. system that reports closing prices, the fair market value
shall be the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by such exchange
or system on the day the fair market value is to be determined, or if no
such price is reported for such day, then the determination of such closing
price shall be as of the last immediately preceding day on which the
closing price is so reported;
(ii) If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted to unlisted
trading privileges or so quoted, the fair market value shall be the average
of the last reported highest bid and the lowest asked prices quoted on the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations
System or, if not so quoted, then by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. on
the day the fair market value is determined; or
(iii) If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted to unlisted
trading privileges or so quoted, and bid and asked prices are not reported,
the fair market value shall be determined in such reasonable manner as may
be prescribed by the Board.
c. Consideration and Method of Payment. The consideration to be paid for
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of
payment, shall be determined by the Board and may consist entirely of cash,
check, other shares of Common Stock having a fair market value on the date of
exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said
Option shall be exercised, or any combination of such methods of payment, or
such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the
extent permitted under the Colorado Business Corporation Act.
9. Exercise of Option.
a. Procedure for Exercise: Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted
hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as
determined by the Board, including performance criteria with respect to the
Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of this
Plan.
4
An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
An option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such
exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Stock
Option Agreement by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment
for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received
by the Company. Full payment, as authorized by the Board, may consist of a
consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(c) and this
Section 9(a) of this Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate
entry on the books of the Company or of the duly authorized transfer agent of
the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote
or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with
respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. No
adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date
is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in
Section 11 of this Plan.
Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of this
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.
b. Termination of Status as an Employee. In the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, if any Employee ceases to serve as an Employee, he may, but only within
such period of time not exceeding three months as is determined by the Board at
the time of grant of the Option after the date he ceases to be an Employee of
the Company, exercise his Option to the extent that he was entitled to exercise
it at the date of such termination. To the extent that he was not entitled to
exercise the Option at the date of such termination, or if he does not exercise
such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate.
c. Disability of Optionee. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option,
notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above, in the event an Employee
is unable to continue his employment with the Company as a result of his total
and permanent disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), he may,
but only within such period of time not exceeding 12 months as is determined by
the Board at the time of grant of the Option from the date of termination,
exercise his Option to the extent he was entitled to exercise it at the date of
such termination. To the extent that he was not entitled to exercise the Option
at the date of termination, or if he does not exercise such Option (which he was
entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate.
d. Death of Optionee. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, in the
event of the death of the Optionee:
(i) During the term of the Option if the Optionee was at the time of
his death an Employee and had been in Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant since the date of grant of the Option, the Option may be
exercised, at any time within 12 months following the date of death, by the
Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the
Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that the right to
exercise would have accrued had the Optionee continued living and remained
in Continuous Status as an Employee 12 months after the date of death; or
(ii) Within such period of time not exceeding three months as is
determined by the Board at the time of grant of the Option after the
termination of Continuous Status as an Employee, the Option may be
exercised, at any time within 12 months following the date of death, by the
Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the
Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that the right to
exercise had accrued at the date of termination.
10. Nontransferability of Options. Unless permitted by the Code, in the case of
an Incentive Stock Option, the Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned,
hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime
of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.
11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Merger. Subject to any
required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered
by each outstanding Option, and the number of Shares which have been authorized
for issuance under this Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or
which have been returned to this Plan upon cancellation or expiration of any
Option, as well as the price per Share covered by each
5
such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or
decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common
Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of
Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided,
however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not
be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration." Such
adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall
be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no
issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment
by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares
subject to an Option.
In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the
Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
action, unless otherwise provided by the Board. The Board may, in the exercise
of its sole discretion in such instances, declare that any Option shall
terminate as of a date fixed by the Board and give each Optionee the right to
exercise his Option as to all or any part of the Optioned Stock, including
Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In the event
of the proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
or the merger of the Company with or into another entity in a transaction in
which the Company is not the survivor, the Option shall be assumed or an
equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent
or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Board determines, in the
exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution,
that the Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option as to all of the
Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be
exercisable. If the Board makes an Option fully exercisable in lieu of
assumption or substitution in the event of such a merger or sale of assets, the
Board shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a
period of 30 days from the date of such notice, and the Option will terminate
upon the expiration of such period.
12. Time of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option shall, for all
purposes, be the date on which the Board makes the determination granting such
Option. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or other
person to whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date
of such grant. Within a reasonable time after the date of the grant of an
Option, the Company shall enter into and deliver to each Employee or other
person granted such Option a written Stock Option Agreement as provided in
Sections 2(r) and 16 hereof, setting forth the terms and conditions of such
Option and separately identifying the portion of the Option which is an
Incentive Stock Option and/or the portion of such Option which is a Nonstatutory
Stock Option.
13. Amendment and Termination of this Plan.
a. Amendment and Termination. The Board may amend or terminate this Plan
from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable; provided
that, the following revisions or amendments shall require approval of the
shareholders of the Company in the manner described in Section 17 of this Plan:
(i) Any change in the designation of the class of Employees eligible
to be granted Incentive Stock Options; or
(ii) Any material amendment under this Plan that would have to be
approved by the shareholders of the Company for the Board to continue to be
able to grant Incentive Stock Options under this Plan.
b. Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or termination of
this Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such Options shall remain
in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated,
unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which
agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.
14. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to
the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance
and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, applicable state securities laws, and the
requirementstransmitted herewith on behalf of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and
shall be further subject to the approval of legal counsel for the Company with
respect to such compliance.
6
As a condition to the existence of an Option, the Company may require the
person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such Shares and such other
representations and warranties which in the opinion of legal counsel for the
Company, are necessary or appropriate to establish an exemption from the
registration requirements under applicable federal and state securities laws
with respect to the acquisition of such Shares.
15. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at
all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Plan. Inability of the Company to
obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authorityNatural Gas Services
Group, Inc. (the "Company") is deemed by the Company's legal counseldefinitive proxy statement
(including the form of proxy card) to be necessary for the lawful issuance
and sale of any Share hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability
relatingsent to the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite
authority shall not have been obtained.
16. Stock Option Agreement. Each Option granted to an Employee or other persons
shall be evidenced by a written Stock Option Agreement in such form as the Board
shall approve.
17. Shareholder Approval. Continuance of this Plan, as amended, shall be subject
to approval by the shareholders of the Company
on or before July 31, 2006.
18. Information to Optionees. The Company shall provide to each Optionee, during
the period for which such Optionee has one or more Options outstanding, copies
of all annual reports and other information which are provided to all
shareholders of the Company. The Company shall not be required to provide such
information if the issuance of Options under this Plan is limited to key
employees whose dutiesabout May 14, 2007 in connection with the Company assure their access to
equivalent information.
19. Gender. As used herein, the masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be
deemed to include the others in all cases where they would so apply.
20. CHOICE OF LAW. ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND
INTERPRETATION OF THIS PLAN AND THE INSTRUMENTS EVIDENCING OPTIONS WILL BE
GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW, AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS, OF THE STATE OF
COLORADO.
7
NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
[ ] Mark this box with an X if you have made
changes to your name or address details above.
================================================================================
Annual Meeting Proxy Card
================================================================================
A ElectionCompany's annual meeting of
Directors
1. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the listed nominees.
For Withhold
01 - William F. Hughes, Jr. [ ] [ ]
For Withhold
02 - Alan A. Baker [ ] [ ]
B Proposal
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following proposal.
2. Approval of the amendment of the Natural Gas For Against Abstain
Services Group, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan. [ ] [ ] [ ]
C Authorized Signatures - Sign Here - This section must be completed for your
instructions to be executed.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, and the Proxy Statement and Annual Report furnished therewith.
Signature(s) should agree with the name(s) stenciled hereon. When signing as
attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian or
custodian, please give full title. Attorneys should submit powers of attorney.
Signature 1 - Please keep signature within the box Signature 2 - Please keep signature within the box Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
================================================================================
Proxy - NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
================================================================================
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 20, 2006
The undersigned hereby appoints Stephen C. Taylor and Richard L. Yadon, and
each of them, proxies, with full power of substitution, for and in the name,
place and stead of the undersigned, to vote all of the undersigned's shares of
common stock in Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholdersshareholders scheduled to be held at the Hilton Hotel, 117 West Wall Avenue, Midland,
Texas 79701 on June 20, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time, and at19, 2007.
If the Staff has any adjournment(s) thereof for the purposes stated on the reverse side.
The undersigned hereby revokes any proxies as to said shares heretofore given
byquestions, it would be appreciated if they would call
the undersigned and ratifies and confirms all that said proxies lawfully
may do by virtue hereof.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED. IF NO
SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THEN THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
AT THE MEETING FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS AND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE
AMENDMENT OF THE 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN.
It is understood that this proxy confers discretionary authority with respect
to matters not known or determined at the time of the mailing of the Notice of
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to the undersigned. The proxies will vote the
shares represented by this proxy at their discretion on any other matters that
may properly come before the meeting.(432) 683-3351.
Very truly yours,
/S/ Thomas W. Ortloff
TWO/lhc