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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
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Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
Arabian American Development Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
10830 NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 175
DALLAS, TEXAS 75231
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 29, 2001
To the Stockholders of ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of Arabian
American Development Company (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, will be
held on Tuesday, May 29, 2001, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time, in The Park Room at
Holiday Inn Dallas Central, 10650 North Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas 75231,
for the following purposes:
1. Electing four (4) directors to serve until the next annual meeting
of stockholders and until their respective successors shall have been
elected and qualified.
2. Transacting such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
Information regarding the matters to be acted upon at the annual meeting is
contained in the Proxy Statement attached to this Notice.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2001 are
entitled to notice of, or to vote at, such meeting or any adjournment(s)
thereof. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting
will be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to
the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of 10 days prior to the
meeting at the corporate offices of the Company, 10830 North Central Expressway,
Suite 175, Dallas, Texas.
By Order of the Board of Directors
DREW WILSON, JR., Secretary
Dallas, Texas
April 16, 2001
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PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 29, 2001
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The accompanying proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors of Arabian American Development Company (the "Company") for use at the
annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held at Dallas, Texas, on
May 29, 2001, and at any adjournment(s) thereof, for the purposes set forth in
the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Solicitation of
proxies may be made in person or by mail, telephone or telegram by directors,
officers and employees of the Company. The Company may also request banking
institutions, brokerage firms, custodians, trustees, nominees and fiduciaries to
forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of Common Stock held of
record by such persons, and the Company will reimburse the forwarding expense.
All reasonable costs of preparing, printing, assembling and mailing the form of
proxy and the material used in the solicitation thereof and all clerical and
other expenses of solicitation will be paid by the Company. The approximate date
on which this Proxy Statement and form of proxy will be first sent to
stockholders is April 20, 2001.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report to Stockholders, covering the fiscal year ended December
31, 2000, is enclosed herewith. The Annual Report does not form any part of the
material for solicitation of proxies.
OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK
The close of business on March 30, 2001, is the record date for
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
meeting. The stock transfer books will not be closed. At the record date, there
were outstanding and entitled to be voted 22,788,994 shares of the Common Stock,
$.10 par value, of the Company.
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The following table sets forth, as of March 30, 2001, information as to the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each person known by the
Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the Company's outstanding Common
Stock, by each of the Company's executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table set forth below and by all directors and executive officers
of the Company as a group.
SHARES
NAME AND ADDRESS BENEFICIALLY PERCENT
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED(1) OF CLASS
- ------------------- ------------ --------
Harb S. Al Zuhair........................................... 1,300,000 5.7%
P.O. Box 3750
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Fahad Mohammed Saleh Al-Athel............................... 3,370,000 14.8%
P.O. Box 61659
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz................................. 1,500,000 6.6%
P.O. Box 930
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Salem Ben Mahfouz.................................. 1,500,000 6.6%
c/o National Commercial Bank
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Hatem El-Khalidi............................................ 556,000(2) 2.4%
10830 North Central Expressway
Suite 175
Dallas, Texas 75231
Estate of Kamal Adham....................................... 1,328,000 5.8%
P.O. Box 1528
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
All directors and executive officers as a group (6
person)................................................... 713,150(3) 3.1%
- ---------------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, to the knowledge of the Company, all shares are
owned directly and the owner has sole voting and investment power.
(2) Includes 425,000 shares which Mr. El-Khalidi has the right to acquire
through the exercise of presently exercisable stock options. Excludes
385,000 shares owned by Ingrid El-Khalidi, Mr. El-Khalidi's wife, and
443,000 shares owned by relatives of Hatem El-Khalidi.
(3) Includes 497,000 shares which certain directors and executive officers have
the right to acquire through the exercise of stock options or other rights
exercisable presently or within 60 days. Excludes 385,000 shares owned by
Ingrid El-Khalidi, the wife of Hatem El-Khalidi, the President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director of the Company, and 443,000 shares owned by
relatives of Hatem El-Khalidi.
Based on its stock ownership records, the Company believes that, as of
March 30, 2001, Saudi Arabian stockholders currently hold approximately 62% of
the Company's outstanding Common Stock, without giving effect to the exercise of
presently exercisable stock options held by certain of such stockholders.
Accordingly, if all or any substantial part of the Saudi Arabian stockholders
were considered as a group, they could be deemed to "control" the Company as
that term is defined in regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Although they have orally waived their rights, certain of the
Company's Saudi Arabian stockholders are parties to written agreements providing
them with the right to purchase their proportionate share of additional shares
sold by the Company.
The management of the Company has welcomed the substantial stock investment
by its Saudi stockholders. Saudi investors have contributed vitally needed
capital to the Company since 1974. Whether the Company's Saudi stockholders will
be a continuing source of future capital is not known at this time. In
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confronting the need for additional funds, management of the Company will follow
the policy of considering all potential sources consistent with prudent business
practice and the best interests of all its stockholders. In the course of
considering methods of future financing and other matters relating to the
operations of the Company, management of the Company anticipates that in the
ordinary course of business it will receive recommendations and suggestions from
its principal stockholders.
REVOCATION OF PROXY
The giving of a proxy does not preclude the right to vote in person should
the person giving the proxy so desire, and the person giving the proxy has the
power to revoke the same, at any time before it has been exercised, by notice in
writing to the Secretary of the Company.
QUORUM; VOTING
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote is
necessary to constitute a quorum at the meeting. If a quorum is not present or
represented at the meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present
in person or represented by proxy, have the power to adjourn the meeting from
time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a
quorum is present or represented. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted
in determining the presence of a quorum.
On all matters submitted to a vote at the meeting, or any adjournment(s)
thereof, each holder of Common Stock of the Company will be entitled to one
vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of such stock owned of record at the
close of business on March 30, 2001. Cumulative voting for directors is not
permitted. Directors will be elected by plurality vote at the meeting, and the
four (4) persons receiving the greatest number of votes at the meeting will be
elected as the directors of the Company. Neither abstentions nor broker
non-votes will affect the outcome of the election.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN UNDER THE PROXY
Proxies in the accompanying form which are properly executed and returned
will be voted at the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof and will be voted,
unless the giver thereof specifies otherwise, (1) for the election of the four
(4) persons named in the next succeeding table as nominees for election as
directors of the Company to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until their respective successors shall have been elected and qualified; and
(2) in the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
Should any nominee named herein for the office of director become unwilling
to accept nomination or election, it is intended that the persons acting under
the proxy will vote for the election, in his stead, of such other person as the
management of the Company may recommend. Management has no reason to believe
that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected.
Management knows of no matters, other than the foregoing, to be presented for
consideration at the meeting. If, however, any other matters properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their
judgment on any such matters.
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NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS
Four (4) directors will be elected at the annual meeting. Each director
elected will serve until his successor has been elected and qualified. The four
(4) persons named below are management's nominees for election as directors.
Each nominee named below is presently a director of the Company and has served
as such since the date of election indicated. In connection with an increase in
the number of positions on the Board of Directors in 1993, at the request of
Sheik Fahad Al-Athel, the Company appointed Mohammed O. Al-Omair, who had served
as a director of the Company from November 1989 to March 1991, to fill one of
the newly-created vacancies. Further information with respect to each nominee is
set forth in the following table:
SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK OF
THE COMPANY
OWNED BENEFICIALLY
NAME; BUSINESS EXPERIENCE; DATE OF AT MARCH 30, PERCENT
OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS AGE ELECTION 2001(1) OF CLASS
- -------------------------- --- ---------- ------------------ --------
John A. Crichton.................................. 84 May 1967 17,650(2) *
Chairman of the Board of the Company since 1967;
Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 1967
to February 1994; President, Crichton & Co.
(petroleum and mining consulting and management,
Dallas, Texas)
Hatem El-Khalidi.................................. 76 April 1968 556,000(3) 2.4%
President of the Company since 1975; prior to
1975 Vice President of the Company; Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since February
1994
Mohammed O. Al-Omair.............................. 57 May 1993 35,000(4) *
(Executive Vice President, Saudi Fal Group of
Companies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia since 1985
(investments); President, Advanced Systems Ltd.,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia since 1985 (mainframe
computers)
Ghazi Sultan...................................... 64 Sept. 1993 35,000(5) *
Chairman, Sultan Group of Companies, Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia since 1987 (investments and marble
mining); Director General, Safwah Company,
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since 1987 (investments);
Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Mineral
Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
1966-1987
- ---------------
* Less than 1%
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, all shares are owned directly and the owner has
sole voting and investment power.
(2) Includes 17,000 shares which Mr. Crichton has the right to acquire through
the exercise of presently exercisable stock options.
(3) Includes 425,000 shares which Mr. El-Khalidi has the right to acquire
through the exercise of presently exercisable stock options. Excludes
385,000 shares owned by Ingrid El-Khalidi, Mr. El-Khalidi's wife, and
443,000 shares owned by relatives of Hatem El-Khalidi.
(4) Includes 10,000 shares which Mr. Al-Omair has the right to acquire through
the exercise of a presently exercisable stock option.
(5) Includes 10,000 shares which Mr. Sultan has the right to acquire through the
exercise of a presently exercisable stock option.
The Board of Directors of the Company has an Audit Committee which is
currently composed of Messrs. Mohammed O. Al-Omair, Ghazi Sultan and Hatem
El-Khalidi. The Audit Committee held one meeting during 2000. The functions
performed by the Audit Committee include (i) recommending the selection and
approval of an independent auditing firm each year, (ii) reviewing and approving
the scope and
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performance of the annual audit of the Company and (iii) periodically
interviewing the Company's independent public accountants in order to review the
results of the audit and to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the
Company's financial staff and systems and the adequacy of its internal controls.
The current members of the Compensation Committee of the Board are Messrs.
Mohammed O. Al-Omair and Ghazi Sultan. The Compensation Committee held two
meetings during 2000. The functions performed by the Compensation Committee
include (i) periodically reviewing the compensation paid to executive officers
and key employees of the Company and making recommendations to the Board of
Directors concerning such compensation and (ii) administering the Company's
Stock Option Plan.
The Board of Directors of the Company has an Executive Committee comprised
of three directors, Messrs. El Khalidi, Al-Omair and Sultan. The Executive
Committee held no meetings during 2000. The Executive Committee is primarily
responsible for overseeing and managing the planning and construction of the Al
Masane mining project in Saudi Arabia.
The Company's Board of Directors held three meetings during 2000. Each
director attended during the year (or the part of the year that he served as a
director or a member of a committee) at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the
total number of meetings held by the Board and (ii) the total number of meetings
held by all committees on which he served.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Each executive officer of the Company serves for a term extending until his
successor is elected and qualified. The current executive officers of the
Company are John A. Crichton, Chairman of the Board, Hatem El-Khalidi, President
and Chief Executive Officer, Drew Wilson, Jr., Secretary and Treasurer, and
Nicholas N. Carter, President of Texas Oil and Chemical Co. II, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("TOCCO"). Mr. Crichton and Mr.
El-Khalidi also serve as directors of the Company. Information concerning
Messrs. Crichton and El-Khalidi is set forth under "Nominees for Election as
Directors." Mr. Wilson is 67 years old and is a certified public accountant. Mr.
Wilson has served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Company since November 1986,
and has worked as an independent public accountant since 1975. Mr. Carter, who
is 54 years old, has been President of TOCCO and its subsidiaries since 1987,
prior to which time he served from October 1983 as Treasurer and Controller of
those companies. Mr. Carter has been employed by TOCCO and its subsidiaries
since 1977.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act 1934 requires the Company's
officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and
greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To the best of the
Company's knowledge, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, all Section
16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than
10% beneficial owners were complied with.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following information summarizes annual compensation for services in
all capacities to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000, 1999
and 1998 of the Chief Executive Officer and the other four most highly
compensated executive officers of the Company:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
RESTRICTED SECURITIES LONG-TERM
OTHER ANNUAL STOCK UNDERLYING INCENTIVE ALL OTHER
NAME AND SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION AWARD(S) OPTIONS/ PLAN COMPENSATION
PRINCIPAL POSITION(1) YEAR ($)(2) ($) ($) ($) SARS(#) PAYOUTS($) ($)(3)
- --------------------- ---- ------- ------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Hatem El-Khalidi, 2000 $72,000 -- -- -- -- -- $8,000
President and Chief 1999 $72,000 -- -- -- -- -- $8,000
Executive Officer 1998 $72,000 -- -- -- -- -- $8,000
Nicholas N. Carter 2000 $83,769 $40,500 -- -- -- -- --
President, Texas Oil and 1999 $84,500 $56,500 -- -- -- -- --
Chemical Co. 1998 $84,500 $54,021 -- -- -- -- --
- ---------------
(1) Except for Mr. Carter, no executive officer of the Company had total annual
salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2000.
(2) Includes $40,064, $38,004 and $44,904 compensation for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 1998, December 31, 1999 and December 31, 2000,
respectively, that was deferred at the election of Mr. El-Khalidi. All
present deferred compensation owing to Mr. El-Khalidi aggregating $589,489
is considered, and future deferred compensation owing to Mr. El-Khalidi, if
any, will be considered, a demand obligation payable to Mr. El-Khalidi.
(3) Includes $8,000 in termination benefits for each of the fiscal years ended
December 31, 1998, December 31, 1999 and December 31, 2000, respectively,
that was accrued for Mr. El-Khalidi in accordance with Saudi Arabian
employment laws.
In accordance with Saudi Arabian employment laws, the Company is required
to accrue termination benefits for Mr. El-Khalidi. The amount accrued for the
benefit of Mr. El-Khalidi is based on the number of years of service and
compensation. Accrued benefits are payable upon termination of employment.
The Company has engaged in other transactions and entered into other
arrangements, directly or indirectly, with its officers and directors, the
primary purpose of certain of which was to provide additional compensation to
such persons. See "Other Matters."
The Company is authorized to pay its non-employee directors a fee of $200
for each Board meeting and $100 for each committee meeting which they attend, in
addition to reimbursing them for expenses incurred in connection with their
attendance.
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AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
The following table shows information concerning the exercise of stock
options during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 by the executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table and the estimated value of unexercised
options held by such individuals at year-end:
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS/SARS AT OPTIONS/SARS AT
SHARES FY-END(#) FY-END ($) (1)
ACQUIRED ON VALUE EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($) UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ---- ------------ ------------ --------------- ---------------
Hatem El-Khalidi....................... 0 0 425,000/0 $0/0
Nicholas N. Carter..................... 0 0 10,000/0 $0/0
- ---------------
(1) Based on the closing price of $.31 of the Company's Common Stock on the OTC
Bulletin Board on December 29, 2000.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed entirely
of independent outside directors. The Board of Directors has delegated to the
Compensation Committee the authority to review, consider and determine the
compensation of the Company's executive officers and key employees. The
Compensation Committee also sets overall compensation policies for the Company
and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
COMPONENTS OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company has purposely limited the components in the compensation
program for executive officers to base salary, bonus and stock options. In
addition to these components, there are several standard benefit plans available
to all employees of South Hampton Refining Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TOCCO ("South Hampton").
BASE SALARY
In determining base salary for the Company's executive officers, including
the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee takes into account the
responsibilities being undertaken by and the experience of an executive, in
addition to various confidential and/or subjective considerations. The
Compensation Committee also takes into consideration the fact that the Company
does not maintain a pension plan, a restricted stock plan, a supplemental
retirement benefit plan, a retirees' health plan, a short-term disability
insurance plan, a group health plan, a group life insurance plan, a long-term
disability insurance plan or Section 401(k) plan.
The Board of Directors, at its May 16, 2000 regular meeting, upon
recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the base salaries for
those named executive officers whose compensation is detailed in this Proxy
Statement. In addition to various confidential and/or subjective factors, the
Compensation Committee took into consideration the longevity of the named
executive officer's service to the Company as well as an assessment of his
individual performance. With regard to those executives whose compensation is
detailed in this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee also considered, in
no particular order and with no particular weight, such factors as overall
success of the Company in meeting its annual objectives; managing to or
bettering annual operating and capital budgets; undertaking new
responsibilities; maintaining proper financial, budgetary, legal and procedural
controls; and the executive's contribution to the overall
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governance and management of the Company. The Compensation Committee did not
establish the relative importance of each factor.
The Company's policy on compensation attempts to show consistent
application for all executive officers, with variations given to differences in
the level of responsibility for certain areas of corporate management, or in the
nature of the functions performed by particular individuals. The goals of the
compensation program include creating a relationship between business objectives
and performance, which will encourage the creation of value for stockholders.
Pursuit of such goals requires the establishment of compensation policies which
will enable the Company to attract, retain and reward executive officers who can
effectively contribute to the long-term success of the Company. No particular
attempt is made to differentiate the Chief Executive Officer for compensation
purposes. The Compensation Committee views the Chief Executive Officer as one
member of the senior management team and applies compensation criteria evenly
among them.
BONUS
Employees of South Hampton have an opportunity to earn an annual bonus
based entirely upon the performance of the refinery. A bonus is awarded based
upon the refinery's financial performance. If minimum performance levels have
not been achieved, no bonus is earned. As a result of South Hampton's financial
performance during 2000, Mr. Carter was awarded the bonus set forth in the
Summary Compensation Table.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Compensation Committee believes that the purpose of stock options for
executive officers is to align their interests with those of the stockholders of
the Company and to create stockholder value. The Compensation Committee believes
that option grants will serve as a performance incentive to the executive
officers.
In 2000, the Compensation Committee did not make use of the Company's Stock
Option Plan as an incentive to the named executive officers.
While the value realizable from exercisable options is dependent upon the
extent to which the Company's performance is reflected in the market price of
its Common Stock at any particular point in time, the decision as to whether
this value will be realized in any particular year is primarily determined by
each individual executive. Accordingly, in analyzing annual compensation levels,
the Compensation Committee does not consider gains realized during any
particular year by any executive officer as a result of individual decisions to
exercise stock options received in previous years.
CEO COMPENSATION
Mr. El-Khalidi's base salary has remained unchanged for several years. The
Compensation Committee did not award Mr. El-Khalidi any bonus or stock options
during 2000.
Respectfully submitted,
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Mohammed O. Al-Omair, Chairman
Ghazi Sultan
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to the
Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000. Management of the Company has the primary responsibility for the financial
statements and the reporting process. The Company's independent auditors are
responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company's audited
financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the
Company's audited financial statements. The Audit Committee has discussed with
Grant Thornton LLP, the Company's independent accountants, the matters required
to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication With
Audit Committees. The Audit Committee also has received from Grant Thornton LLP
the written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, which relates to the accountant's independence from the Company
and its related entities, and has discussed with them their independence from
the Company. The Audit Committee has considered whether Grant Thornton LLP's
provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining
its independence.
The Audit Committee acts pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter, a copy of
which is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. Each of the members of
the Audit Committee, other than Mr. El-Khalidi, qualifies as an "independent"
director under the current NASD listing standards.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Company's Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors
approved, that the Company's audited financial statements be included in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000.
Respectfully submitted,
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Ghazi Sultan, Chairman
Mohammed O. Al-Omair
Hatem El-Khalidi
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the annual cumulative total stockholder return
on an investment of $100 on December 31, 1995 in the Company's Common Stock,
based on the market price of the Common Stock and assuming reinvestment of
dividends, with the cumulative total return of a similar investment in companies
on the CRSP Total Return Index for The Nasdaq Stock Market (US) and the Nasdaq
Non-Financial Stocks Index. The historical stock price performances shown on the
graph are not necessarily indicative of future price performance.
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
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12/31/95 12/31/96 12/31/97 12/31/98 12/31/99 12/31/00
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arabian American Development
Company 100 261 384 169 119 38
CRSP Total Return Index for The
Nasdaq Stock Market (US) 100 123 151 213 395 238
Nasdaq Non-Financial Stocks 100 121 142 209 409 238
OTHER MATTERS
The Company directly owns approximately 51% of the outstanding capital
stock of Pioche-Ely Valley Mines, Inc. ("Pioche"), a company that owns a mill
and 128 inactive mining claims covering approximately 3,500 acres located in
southeast Nevada. Mr. John A. Crichton is currently a director and President of
Pioche, and Mr. Hatem El-Khalidi is currently a director and Executive Vice
President of Pioche. The Company is providing the funds necessary to cover the
Pioche operations. During 2000 and 1999, the Company made payments of
approximately $22,900 and $22,100, respectively, for such purposes. As partial
consideration for the forgiveness of indebtedness, in July 1990 Pioche granted
the Company an option to purchase an additional 720,000 shares of its Common
Stock at an exercise price of $.20 per share, which option is exercisable until
June 1, 2002. As of December 31, 2000, Pioche owed the Company $177,057 as a
result of advances made by the Company. The indebtedness bears no interest.
Pursuant to a sharing arrangement, the Company and its subsidiaries share
personnel, office space and other overhead expenses in Dallas, Texas with a
company wholly-owned by Mr. John A. Crichton, Chairman of the Board of the
Company. Monthly rental on the office space is approximately $2,100. The Company
pays $1,100 per month for rent and $880 per month for personnel and other
overhead expenses pursuant to such arrangement.
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During 2000, South Hampton incurred product transportation costs of
approximately $391,000 with Silsbee Trading and Transportation Corp. ("STTC"), a
private trucking and transportation carrier in which Nicholas N. Carter, the
President of TOCCO, and Richard Crain, Vice President of TOCCO, each have a 50%
equity interest. Pursuant to a lease agreement, South Hampton leases
transportation equipment from STTC at a rate of approximately $34,500 per month,
subject to adjustment. Under the lease arrangement, STTC provides the
transportation equipment and all normal maintenance on such equipment and South
Hampton provides the drivers, fuel, management of transportation operations and
insurance on the transportation equipment. Approximately 95% of STTC's income
will be derived from such lease arrangement. The Company believes that the terms
of the lease arrangement are no less favorable in any material respect than
those which could be obtained from an unaffiliated third party. The lease
agreement is currently operating on a month-to-month basis while renewal options
are being evaluated.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Company has selected Grant
Thornton LLP to audit and report on the financial statements of the Company for
the current fiscal year. The Company paid Grant Thornton LLP $64,000 in fees for
the audit of the Company's annual financial statements for the most recent
fiscal year and the reviews of the financial statements included in the
Company's Forms 10-Q for that fiscal year. The Company did not pay Grant
Thornton LLP any other fees during the most recent fiscal year. Representatives
of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the annual meeting with an
opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and they are expected to be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS
A stockholder who intends to have a proposal considered for inclusion in
the Company's proxy materials for presentation at the 2002 annual meeting of
stockholders, which is currently scheduled for May 17, 2002, must submit the
proposal to the Company at its principal executive office no later than December
5, 2001. Any such proposal must also comply with the other requirements of the
proxy solicitation rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. A
stockholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2002 annual meeting of
stockholders without inclusion of such proposal in the Company's proxy materials
is required to provide notice of such proposal to the Company at its principal
executive office no later than February 18, 2002. If the stockholder does not
comply with the requirements of applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Company may exercise discretionary voting authority granted
under any proxy which is executed and returned to the Company on any matter that
may properly come before the 2002 annual meeting of stockholders.
At the date of this Proxy Statement, management of the Company is not aware
that any matters not referred to in this Proxy Statement would be presented for
action at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof, the persons named in the accompanying
form of proxy will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies in
accordance with their judgment, unless otherwise restricted by law.
By Order of the Board of Directors
DREW WILSON, JR., Secretary
THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2000, UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST
OF ANY PERSON WHO WAS A STOCKHOLDER (OF RECORD OR BENEFICIALLY) AT THE CLOSE OF
BUSINESS ON MARCH 30, 2001. REQUESTS FOR SUCH REPORT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE
COMPANY AT 10830 NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 175, DALLAS, TEXAS 75231,
ATTENTION: SECRETARY.
11
14
APPENDIX A
ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
ORGANIZATION
There shall be a committee of the board of directors to be known as the
audit committee. The audit committee shall be composed of directors who are
independent of the management of the corporation and are free of any
relationship that, in the opinion of the board of directors, would interfere
with their exercise of independent judgment as a committee member. All audit
committee members shall be financially literate, or shall become financially
literate within a reasonable period of time after appointment to the audit
committee, and at least one member shall have accounting or related financial
management expertise as required by the rules of any stock exchange.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
The audit committee shall provide assistance to the corporate directors in
fulfilling their responsibility to the shareholders, potential shareholders, the
investment community, and others relating to the accounting and reporting
practices of the corporation, and the quality and integrity of the financial
reports of the corporation. In so doing, it is the responsibility of the audit
committee to maintain free and open means of communication between the audit
committee, directors, the independent auditors, the internal auditors, and the
financial management of the corporation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
In carrying out its responsibilities, the audit committee believes its
policies and procedures should remain flexible, in order to best react to
changing conditions and to ensure to the directors and shareholders that the
accounting and reporting practices of the corporation are in accordance with all
requirements and are of the highest quality.
In carrying out these responsibilities, the audit committee will:
- Review the audit committee charter annually and update it when advisable.
- Review and recommend to the directors the independent auditors to be
selected to audit the financial statements of the corporation and its
subsidiaries.
- Meet with the independent auditors and financial management of the
corporation to review the scope of the proposed audit of the financial
statements for the current year and the audit procedures to be utilized,
and at the conclusion thereof, review such audit, including any comments
or recommendations of the independent auditors.
- Review with the independent auditors, the company's internal auditor and
financial and accounting personnel, the adequacy and effectiveness of the
accounting and financial controls of the corporation, and elicit any
recommendations for the improvement of such internal control procedures
or particular areas where new or more detailed controls or procedures are
desirable. Particular emphasis should be given to the adequacy of such
internal controls to expose any payments, transactions, or procedures
that might be deemed illegal or otherwise improper. Further, the
committee periodically should review company policy statements to
determine their adherence to the code of conduct.
- Review the financial statements contained in the annual report to
shareholders with management and the independent auditors to determine
that the independent auditors are satisfied with the disclosure and
content of the financial statements to be presented to the shareholders.
Any changes in accounting principles should be reviewed.
- Provide sufficient opportunity for the internal and independent auditors
to meet with the members of the audit committee without members of
management present. Among the items to be discussed in
A-1
15
these meetings are the independent auditors' evaluation of the
corporation's financial, accounting, and auditing personnel, and the
cooperation that the independent auditors received during the course of
the audit.
- Submit the minutes of all meetings of the audit committee to, or discuss
the matters discussed at each committee meeting with, the board of
directors.
- Investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its
duties, with the power to retain outside counsel for this purpose if, in
its judgment, that is appropriate.
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16
ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
P R O X Y
The undersigned hereby (1) acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (the "Company")
to be held on May 29, 2001, and the Proxy Statement in connection therewith, and
(2) appoints John A. Crichton and Hatem El-Khalidi, and each of them (acting
jointly, or if only one be present, then by that one alone), his attorneys and
proxies, with full power of substitution to each, to vote all shares of Common
Stock of the Company of the undersigned at said meeting and at any adjournment
thereof, as designated below.
Please complete, date, sign and mail this Proxy promptly in the enclosed
envelope. No postage is required for mailing in the United States.
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SEE REVERSE
SIDE
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17
ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
PLEASE MARK VOTE IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY. [X]
[ ]
FOR WITHHELD FOR ALL
1. Election of Directors, Nominees: ALL ALL EXCEPT
J.A. Crichton, H. El-Khalidi, M. O. Al-Omair, [ ] [ ] [ ] -------
G. Sultan Nominee
Exception
IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE
MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED ABOVE.
IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 1.
IMPORTANT: You are encouraged to attend this
meeting in person, but if you cannot do so, please
complete, date and sign this Proxy and mail it
promptly in the enclosed return envelope.
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
----------------------- -----------
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
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IMPORTANT: Please date this Proxy and sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. Where there is more than one owner, each should
sign. When signing as an agent, attorney, administrator, executor, guardian or trustee, please add your title as such. If executed
by a corporation, the Proxy should be signed by a duly authorized officer who should indicate his title. Please date, sign and mail
this Proxy as soon as possible. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.