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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. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION
ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12.
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: .......
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ..........
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ............
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ......................
(5) Total fee paid: .......................................................
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid: ...............................................
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: .........................
(3) Filing Party: .........................................................
(4) Date Filed: ...........................................................
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[RANGE RESOURCES LOGO]
Dear Stockholders:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, you are invited to attend Range's
1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Fort Worth Club, 306 West
Seventh Street, 12th Floor, Fort Worth, Texas on Wednesday, May 26, 1999 at 9:00
a.m. local time.
Details of the meeting are given in the enclosed Notice of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. During the meeting, we plan to review the business and
affairs of the Company. In addition, officers and directors of the Company will
be present to respond to your questions.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call
MacKenzie Partners, Inc., who will be assisting in connection with the annual
meeting, at (800) 322-2885 or call collect at (212) 929-5500. We hope you
personally attend the meeting, but whether or not you expect to attend, please
sign and return the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience so that
your shares will be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. You may revoke
your proxy prior to, or at the meeting, and still vote in person if you so
desire. Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own.
Sincerely,
John H. Pinkerton
President and Chief Executive Officer
March 29, 1999
Fort Worth, Texas
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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
500 THROCKMORTON STREET, SUITE 1900
FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 26, 1999
To the Stockholders of Range Resources Corporation:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of Range Resources
Corporation (the "Company") will be held at the Fort Worth Club, 306 West
Seventh Street, 12th Floor, Fort Worth, Texas, on Wednesday, May 26, 1999 at
9:00 a.m. local time. The list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting
will be open to the examination of any stockholder during ordinary business
hours for a period of ten days prior to the Meeting at the Company's
headquarters, 500 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, Texas. Such list will also be
produced at the time and place of the Meeting and be kept open during the
Meeting for inspection by any stockholder who may be present. The purposes for
which the Meeting is to be held are as follows.
1. To elect a board of eight Directors, each for a one-year term.
2. To consider and adopt the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan
providing for the issuance of up to 1,400,000 shares of Common
Stock. The Company's 1989 Stock Option Plan recently expired.
3. To consider and adopt an amendment to the Company's 1997 Stock
Purchase Plan increasing the number of shares in the Plan from
500,000 to 900,000 shares of Common Stock.
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The holders of shares of Common Stock and the $2.03 Convertible
Exchangeable Preferred Stock of record at the close of business on March 29,
1999 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE
AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. ANY PERSON
GIVING A PROXY HAS THE POWER TO REVOKE IT AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE AND,
IF PRESENT AT THE MEETING, MAY WITHDRAW IT AND VOTE IN PERSON.
BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeffery A. Bynum
Secretary
March 29, 1999
Fort Worth, Texas
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RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 26, 1999
The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors (the "Board") of RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held
Wednesday, May 26, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Fort Worth Club, 306
West Seventh Street, 12th Floor, Fort Worth, Texas and any adjournment thereof
(the "Meeting"). The matters to be considered and acted upon at the Meeting are
described in the foregoing Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and this
Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement and the related form of proxy are being
mailed on or about March 31, 1999, to all holders of the Company's Common Stock,
$.01 par value (the "Common Stock") and the Company's $2.03 Convertible
Exchangeable Preferred Stock, $1 par value (the "Preferred Stock") (collectively
the "Stockholders") of record on March 29, 1999. Shares of the Common Stock and
Preferred Stock represented by proxies will be voted as hereinafter described or
as otherwise specified by each Stockholder. Any proxy given by a Stockholder may
be revoked by the Stockholder at any time prior to the voting of the proxy by
delivering a written notice to the Secretary of the Company, by executing and
delivering a later-dated proxy or by attending the Meeting and voting in person.
The persons named as proxies are John H. Pinkerton and Michael V.
Ronca, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, respectively. The
cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy, this Proxy Statement and
the other material enclosed and all clerical and other expenses of solicitation
will be borne by the Company. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use
of the mails, directors, officers and employees of the Company may solicit
proxies by telephone, telegram or personal interview. The Company also will
request brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to
forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of Common Stock and
Preferred Stock held of record by such custodians and will reimburse such
custodians for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials.
VOTING RIGHTS
Only holders of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of record at
the close of business on March 29, 1999 will be entitled to vote at the Meeting.
On March 22, 1999, the Company had 36,297,604 issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock, each such share entitling the holder thereof to one vote on each
matter and 1,149,840 outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, each such share
entitling the holder thereof to one vote on each matter. Holders of shares of
Common Stock and Preferred Stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights.
The presence at the Meeting in person or by proxy of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock in the
aggregate entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the
shares cast at the Meeting and entitled to vote will be required to act on the
election of directors, and the affirmative vote by the holders of a majority of
the shares cast at the Meeting will be required to act on all other matters to
come properly before the Meeting, except for Proposals II and III, as to which
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote at the Meeting shall be required. If a Stockholder, present in
person or by proxy, abstains on any matter, the Stockholder's shares will not be
voted on such matter and will be not treated as a vote against such matter.
Broker non-votes are treated as shares as to which voting power has been
withheld by the beneficial owners of such shares and, therefore, as votes not
cast. A broker non-vote occurs if a broker or other nominee does not have
discretionary authority and has not received instruction with respect to a
particular item.
All shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock represented by properly
executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with
the direction on the proxies. IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE
VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTIONS OF THE NOMINEES NAMED HEREIN AS DIRECTORS. The Company
does not know of any matters, other than those described above, which will come
before the Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented for action at
the Meeting, the persons named in the proxies and acting thereunder will have
discretion to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
This Proxy Statement is dated March 29, 1999 and is first being mailed
to Stockholders on or about March 31, 1999.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth certain information as of March 22, 1999
regarding (i) the share ownership of the Company by each person known to the
Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company, (ii) the share ownership of the
Company by each Director and each of the four Named Executive Officers (as
defined under "Executive Compensation - Summary Compensation Table"), and (iii)
the share ownership of the Company by all Directors and executive officers, as a
group. The business address of each officer and Director listed below is: c/o
Range Resources Corporation, 500 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
COMMON STOCK PREFERRED STOCK
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NUMBER OF SHARES NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY PERCENT BENEFICIALLY PERCENT
OWNER OWNED OF CLASS OWNED OF CLASS
Thomas J. Edelman 1,095,401 (1) 3.00% 0 0%
John H. Pinkerton 537,993 (2) 1.47% 0 0%
Michael V. Ronca 536,899 (3) 1.47% 0 0%
Robert E. Aikman 107,776 (4) 0.30% 0 0%
Anthony V. Dub 90,200 (5) 0.25% 0 0%
Allen Finkelson 54,560 (6) 0.15% 0 0%
Ben A. Guill 108,560 (7) 0.30% 0 0%
Jonathan S. Linker 4,835 (8) 0.01% 0 0%
Steven L. Grose 128,442 (9) 0.35% 0 0%
Herbert A. Newhouse 189,869 (10) 0.52% 0 0%
Catherine L. Sliva 188,407 (11) 0.52% 0 0%
Chad L. Stephens 160,003 (12) 0.44% 0 0%
Thomas W. Stoelk 76,220 (13) 0.21% 0 0%
All Directors and executive officers as a group (14 3,306,792 (14) 9.07% 0 0%
persons)
First Reserve Fund VII Limited Partnership 5,522,798 (15) 15.22% 0 0%
Franklin Resources Inc. 2,226,330 (16) 6.13% 0 0%
Mellon Bank 2,450,368 (17) 6.75% 0 0%
Public Employee Retirement System of Ohio 1,986,096 (18) 5.47% 0 0%
Cincinnati Financial Corporation 0 0% 86,957 (19) 7.56%
Guardian Life Insurance Company of America 0 0% 191,304 (20) 16.64%
Highbridge Capital Corporation 0 0% 75,500 (21) 6.57%
Founders Financial Group 0 0% 187,300 (22) 16.29%
Palisade Capital 0 0% 121,739 (23) 10.59%
Merrill Lynch Asset Management 0 0% 91,304 (24) 7.94%
Pecks Management 0 0% 86,957 (25) 7.56%
Putman Investments 0 0% 52,174 (26) 4.54%
(1) Includes 195,000 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days; 243,592 shares held under IRA, KEOGH and pension plan accounts;
44,116 shares owned by Mr. Edelman's spouse; and 93,250 shares owned by
Mr. Edelman's minor children, to which Mr. Edelman disclaims beneficial
ownership.
(2) Includes 215,000 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days; 119,753 shares held under IRA and pension plan accounts; 4,772
shares owned by Mr. Pinkerton's minor children; and 3,499 shares owned
by Mr. Pinkerton's spouse, to which Mr. Pinkerton disclaims beneficial
ownership.
(3) Includes 204,988 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(4) Includes 36,200 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days; 9,366 shares owned by Mr. Aikman's spouse; and 10,010 shares
owned by Mr. Aikman's minor children, to which Mr. Aikman disclaims
beneficial ownership.
(5) Includes 15,200 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(6) Includes 21,200 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(7) Includes 15,200 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(8) Includes 4,835 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options.
(9) Includes 72,500 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock option or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(10) Includes 136,658 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(11) Includes 68,239 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(12) Includes 72,500 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days; 10,000 shares owned by Mr. Stephens' spouse; and 3,879 shares
owned by Mr. Stephens' minor children, to which Mr. Stephens disclaims
beneficial ownership.
(13) Includes 61,250 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(14) Includes 1,128,610 shares which may be purchased under currently
exercisable stock options or options that are exercisable within 60
days.
(15) Such stockholder's address is c/o William Macaulay 475 Steamboat Road,
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830.
(16) Such stockholder's address is 777 Mariners Island Blvd., 6th Floor,
San Mateo, California 94404.
(17) Such stockholder's address is 1 Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15258
(18) Such stockholder's address is 227 East Town Street, Columbus,
Ohio 43215
(19) Such stockholder's address is 6200 South Gilmore Road, Fairfield,
Ohio 45014-5141.
(20) Such stockholder's address is 201 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10003.
(21) Such stockholder's address is PO Box 30554 Seven Miles Beach, Grand
Cayman Islands.
(22) Such stockholder's address is 53 Forest Avenue Old Greenwich,
Connecticut 06870
(23) Such stockholder's address is One Bridge Plaza, Suite 695, Fort Lee,
New Jersey 07024.
(24) Such stockholder's address is 800 Scuddersmill Road, Plainsboro,
New Jersey 08536.
(25) Such stockholder's address is 1 Rockefeller Place, Suite 320, New
York, New York 10020.
(26) Such stockholder's address is One Post Office Square, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109.
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PROPOSAL I -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board has nominated Messrs. Robert E. Aikman, Anthony V. Dub,
Thomas J. Edelman, Allen Finkelson, Ben A. Guill, Jonathan S. Linker, John H.
Pinkerton and Michael V. Ronca (all of whom are currently members of the Board)
to serve as Directors of the Company for terms of one year expiring at the 2000
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors have been elected and
qualified.
Unless otherwise specified, shares represented by proxies will be voted
in favor of the election of all of the nominees, except that, in the event any
nominee should not continue to be available for election, such proxies will be
voted for the election of such other persons as the Board may recommend.
Management does not presently contemplate that any of the nominees will become
unavailable for election for any reason.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES.
INFORMATION CONCERNING NOMINEES
The following table sets forth the names of the nominees and certain
information with regard to each nominee.
HELD
NAME OF NOMINEE AGE OFFICE SINCE POSITION WITH COMPANY
--------------- --- ------------ ---------------------
Robert E. Aikman 67 1990 Director
Anthony V. Dub 49 1995 Director
Thomas J. Edelman 48 1988 Chairman and Director
Allen Finkelson 52 1994 Director
Ben A. Guill 48 1995 Director
Jonathan S. Linker 50 1998 Director
John H. Pinkerton 45 1988 President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director
Michael V. Ronca 45 1998 Chief Operating Officer and Director
ROBERT E. AIKMAN, a Director, joined the Company in 1990. Mr. Aikman
has more than 40 years experience in petroleum and natural gas exploration and
production throughout the United States and Canada. From 1984 to 1994 he was
Chairman of the Board of Energy Resources Corporation. From 1979 through 1984,
he was the President and principal shareholder of Aikman Petroleum, Inc. From
1971 to 1977, he was President of Dorchester Exploration Inc. and from 1971 to
1980, he was a Director and a member of the Executive Committee of Dorchester
Gas Corporation. Mr. Aikman is also Chairman of Provident Communications, Inc.,
President of OGP Technologies, Inc., and President of The Hawthorne Company, an
entity which organizes joint ventures and provides advisory services for the
acquisition of oil and gas properties, including the financial restructuring,
reorganization and sale of companies. He was President of Enertec Corporation
which was reorganized under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in December 1994.
In addition, Mr. Aikman is a director of the Panhandle Producers and Royalty
Owners Association and a member of the Independent Petroleum Association of
America, Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association and American
Association of Petroleum Landmen. Mr. Aikman graduated from the University of
Oklahoma in 1952.
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ANTHONY V. DUB was elected to serve as a Director of the Company in
1995. Mr. Dub is Chairman of Indigo Capital, LLC, a financial advisory firm
based in New York City. Prior to forming Indigo Capital in 1997, he served as an
officer of Credit Suisse First Boston, an investment banking firm. Mr. Dub
joined Credit Suisse First Boston in 1971 and was named a Managing Director in
1981. Mr. Dub received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Princeton University in
1971.
THOMAS J. EDELMAN, Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors,
joined the Company in 1988. He served as its Chief Executive Officer until 1992.
From 1981 to 1997, Mr. Edelman served as a director and President of Snyder Oil
Corporation ("SOCO"), an independent, publicly traded oil and gas company. In
1996, Mr. Edelman was appointed Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Patina Oil & Gas Corporation. Prior to 1981, Mr. Edelman was a Vice President
of The First Boston Corporation. From 1975 through 1980, Mr. Edelman was with
Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb Incorporated. Mr. Edelman received his Bachelor of
Arts Degree from Princeton University and his Masters Degree in Finance from
Harvard University's Graduate School of Business Administration. Mr. Edelman
serves as a director of Petroleum Heat & Power Co., Inc., a Connecticut-based
fuel oil distributor, Star Gas Corporation, a private company, which is the
general partner of Star Gas Partners, L.P., a publicly-traded master limited
partnership, which distributes propane gas, as well as Paradise Music &
Entertainment, Inc.
ALLEN FINKELSON was appointed a Director in 1994. Mr. Finkelson has
been a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore since 1977, with the exception of the
period from September 1983 through August 1985, when he was a managing director
of Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb Incorporated. Mr. Finkelson was first employed by
Cravath, Swaine & Moore as an associate in 1971. Mr. Finkelson received his
Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Lawrence University and his Doctor of Laws
Degree from Columbia University School of Law.
BEN A. GUILL was elected to serve as a Director of the Company in 1995.
In September 1998 Mr. Guill joined First Reserve Corporation as President of its
Houston, Texas office. First Reserve is a private equity firm, dedicated to the
energy industry. Prior to joining First Reserve, Mr. Guill was a Partner and
Managing Director of Simmons & Company International, an investment banking firm
located in Houston, Texas which focuses on the oil service and equipment
industry. Mr. Guill had been with Simmons & Company since 1980. Prior to that
Mr. Guill was with Blyth Eastman Dillon & Company from 1978 to 1980. Mr. Guill
received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Princeton University and his Masters
Degree in Finance from the Wharton Graduate School of Business at the University
of Pennsylvania.
JONATHAN S. LINKER has served as a Director of the Company since the
merger of Domain Energy Corporation into the Company in August 1998. Mr. Linker
has been a Managing Director of First Reserve Corporation since 1996, the
President and a director of IDC Energy Corporation since 1987, and a Vice
President and Director of Sunset Production Corporation since 1991. Mr. Linker
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from Amherst College, a Master of
Arts degree in Geology from Harvard University and a Master of Business
Administration degree from the Harvard Business School.
JOHN H. PINKERTON, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director,
joined the Company in 1988. He was appointed President in 1990 and Chief
Executive Officer in 1992. Previously, Mr. Pinkerton was Senior Vice
President-Acquisitions of SOCO. Prior to joining SOCO in 1980, Mr. Pinkerton was
with Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Pinkerton received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Business Administration from Texas Christian University and his Master of Arts
Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas. Mr. Pinkerton is
also director of North Coast Energy, Inc., and Venus Exploration, Inc. publicly
traded exploration and production companies in which Range owned 17% and 22%,
respectively, at December 31, 1998.
MICHAEL V. RONCA, Chief Operating Officer and a Director, joined the
Company in 1998. Prior to joining Range, Mr. Ronca served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Domain Energy Corporation. He was the founder and former
President of Tenneco Ventures Corporation. Mr. Ronca was an employee of Tenneco
for over 20 years. Other positions held at Tenneco included Administrative
Assistant to the Chairman and CEO, with focus on acquisition and disposition
analysis, strategic planning and operational issues. Mr. Ronca received his
Bachelor of Arts Degree from Villanova University and his Master of Business
Administration Degree from Drexel University.
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INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
During 1998, the Board met eleven times. During 1998, each Director
attended or participated in at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and of the
Committees on which they served. In addition, management confers frequently with
its Directors on an informal basis to discuss Company affairs.
The committees of the Board, the current members and the primary
functions of the committees are as follows:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee was established in 1994 to
review and authorize actions required in the management of the business and
affairs of the Company, which would otherwise be determined by the Board, where
it is not practicable to convene the full Board. The members of the Executive
Committee are Messrs. Edelman, Finkelson and Pinkerton. During 1998, the
Executive Committee held no meetings.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves
executive salaries and administers bonus, incentive compensation and stock
option plans of the Company. This Committee advises and consults with management
regarding pensions and other benefits and significant compensation policies and
practices of the Company. This Committee also considers nominations of
candidates for corporate officer positions. The members of Compensation
Committee are Messrs. Aikman, Finkelson and Guill. During 1998, the Compensation
Committee held five meetings.
AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee reviews the professional services
provided by the Company's independent public accountants and the independence of
such accountants from management of the Company. This Committee also reviews the
scope of the audit coverage, the annual financial statements of the Company and
such other matters with respect to the accounting, auditing and financial
reporting practices and procedures of the Company as it may find appropriate or
as have been brought to its attention. The members of the Audit Committee are
Messrs. Aikman, Dub and Guill. During 1998, the Audit Committee held one
meeting.
DIVIDEND COMMITTEE. The Dividend Committee was established in late 1997
and is authorized and directed to approve the payment of dividends on all of the
Company's securities at the same rates as were paid by the Company to its
stockholders in the previous quarter. The members of the Dividend Committee are
Messrs. Edelman and Pinkerton. During 1998, the Dividend Committee acted four
times by unanimous consent.
Non-officer Directors receive $25,000 per annum and are reimbursed for
expenses in attending Board and Committee meetings. The Directors receive no
compensation for Committee meetings attended. Directors who are officers of the
Company or its affiliates are not compensated for their Board and Committee
activities.
The Company's 1994 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan (the "Directors
Plan"), which is administered by the Compensation Committee, provides for the
granting of options to purchase shares of Common Stock to outside directors of
the Company. The plan permits optionees to acquire up to 200,000 shares of
Common Stock. All options issued under the plan vest 30% after one year, 60%
after two years and 100% after three years. At December 31, 1998 a total of
140,000 options had been granted under the plan of which 72,800 were exercisable
at that date. The options outstanding at December 31, 1998 were granted at
exercise prices ranging from $7.75 to $16.88 per share. The exercise price of
all such options was equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the
date of grant.
In connection with the merger with Domain Energy Corporation (the
"Merger") the Company adopted the Domain Energy Corporation 1997 Stock Option
Plan for Non-employee Directors (the "Domain Director Plan"). Subsequent to the
Merger, no new options will be granted under the Domain Director Plan. At
December 31, 1998, options to purchase 19,340 shares were outstanding and
exercisable at $11.77 per share.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Set forth below is certain information, as of March 22, 1999, regarding
the executive officers of the Company:
NAME AGE OFFICER SINCE POSITION(S) WITH COMPANY
---- --- ------------- ------------------------
Thomas J. Edelman 48 1988 Chairman
John H. Pinkerton 45 1988 President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael V. Ronca 45 1998 Chief Operating Officer
Steven L. Grose 50 1980 Senior Vice President - Appalachia
Herbert A. Newhouse 53 1998 Senior Vice President - Gulf Coast
Chad L. Stephens 43 1990 Senior Vice President - Southwest
Catherine L. Sliva 40 1998 Senior Vice President - Independent Producer Finance
Thomas W. Stoelk 43 1994 Senior Vice President - Finance and Administration
For biographical information with respect to Messrs. Edelman, Pinkerton
and Ronca, see "Election of Directors - Information Concerning Nominees" above.
STEVEN L. GROSE, Senior Vice President - Appalachia, joined the Company
in 1980. Previously, Mr. Grose was employed by Halliburton Services, Inc. as a
Field Engineer from 1971 until 1974. In 1974, he was promoted to District
Engineer and in 1978, was named Assistant District Superintendent based in
Pennsylvania. Mr. Grose is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and is
currently serving as President of The Ohio Oil and Gas Association. Mr. Grose
received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Marietta
College.
HERBERT A. NEWHOUSE, Senior Vice President - Gulf Coast, joined the
Company in 1998. Prior to joining Range, Mr. Newhouse served as Executive Vice
President of Domain Energy Corporation. He was a former Vice President of
Tenneco Ventures Corporation. Mr. Newhouse was an employee of Tenneco for over
17 years and has 30 years of operational and managerial experience in oil and
gas exploration and production. Mr. Newhouse received his Bachelor's degree in
Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University.
CHAD L. STEPHENS, Senior Vice President - Southwest, joined the Company
in 1990. Previously, Mr. Stephens was with Duer Wagner & Co., an independent oil
and gas producer, since 1988. Prior thereto, Mr. Stephens was an independent oil
operator in Midland, Texas for four years. From 1979 to 1984, Mr. Stephens was
with Cities Service Company and HNG Oil Company. Mr. Stephens received his
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance and Land Management from the University of
Texas.
CATHERINE L. SLIVA, Senior Vice President - Independent Producer
Finance, joined the Company in connection with the Merger in August 1998. Prior
to joining Range, Ms. Sliva served as Executive Vice President and Secretary of
Domain Energy Corporation. She was formerly with Tenneco Ventures Corporation
for 16 years. Ms. Sliva is a registered Petroleum Engineer and has over 18 years
experience in petroleum engineering, economics, producer finance and strategic
planning and analysis. She received her Bachelor's degree in Petroleum
Engineering from Texas A&M University.
THOMAS W. STOELK, Senior Vice President - Finance and Administration,
joined the Company in 1994. Mr. Stoelk is a Certified Public Accountant and was
a Senior Manager with Ernst & Young LLP. Prior to rejoining Ernst & Young LLP in
1986 he was with Partners Petroleum, Inc. Mr. Stoelk received his Bachelor of
Science Degree in Industrial Administration from Iowa State University.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board establishes the general
compensation policies of the Company, establishes the compensation plans and
specific compensation levels for officers and certain other managers and
administers the Company's stock option plan for all employees.
In establishing compensation policies, the Committee believes that the
cash compensation of executive officers, as well as other key employees, should
be competitive with other similar size oil and gas companies while, within the
Company, being fair and discriminating on the basis of personal performance.
Annual awards of stock options are intended both to retain executives and to
motivate them to improve long-term stock market performance.
In establishing total compensation (salary plus bonus) for its
executives, the Company targets the median cash compensation for competitors of
executives having similar responsibilities. Base salaries have historically been
set below the median, so that bonuses, which are primarily determined by
individual performance coupled with the Company's overall performance, will
constitute a larger portion of cash compensation. The base salary for Mr.
Pinkerton was increased 13.6% during 1998. Mr. Pinkerton received no bonus for
1998. In determining Mr. Pinkerton's bonus for 1998, the Committee considered
the Company's overall performance including its poor financial performance. The
bonuses of other executives are influenced by the Company's overall performance,
as well as the performance of the executive's duties and success in attaining
performance goals which are directed toward improving Company performance.
Stock options and bonuses are awarded to Mr. Pinkerton and other
executives and key employees to retain and motivate the grantees and to improve
long-term market performance. The Committee generally determines the number of
options granted and the amount of the bonuses awarded to Mr. Pinkerton and to
other executives and key employees based on how an individual's responsibilities
might affect the long-term price of the Common Stock. The Committee occasionally
grants additional options when the Committee believes additional incentives are
appropriate. To date, options have been granted only at the prevailing market
price and will have value only if the price of the Common Stock increases.
Generally, to provide incentives for its executives to remain with the Company
and to benefit from the improvement in the performance of the Company, options
have a minimum term of five years and vest in no less than three years. An
employee must be employed by the Company at the time of vesting in order to
exercise the options. In addition, officer annual bonuses are awarded whereby no
more than 50% of the amount is payable in the year of the award, with the
remaining 50% vesting over a one to three year period. Generally, bonuses are
payable, at the option of the officer, in cash or shares of the Company's Common
Stock. An officer must be employed by the Company at the time of vesting in
order to receive the vested bonus previously granted to such officer. The stock
issued pursuant to the bonuses represents unregistered shares and therefore
initially cannot be sold by the recipient.
Due to the Company's poor performance, none of the Company's officers,
including the Named Executive Officers, received cash bonuses for 1998.
Additionally, Messrs. Edelman, Pinkerton and Ronca received no cash or stock
bonus in 1998. When the potential future value of stock options are included
(assuming a 10% annual increase in the stock price), approximately 61% of the
total compensation of Mr. Pinkerton for 1998 is from incentives which are linked
to creation of stockholder value.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code") precludes a public corporation from taking a deduction in 1994 or
subsequent taxable years for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to its
chief executive officer or any of its four other highest paid officers. However,
compensation that qualifies under Section 162(m) of the Code as "performance
based" is specifically exempt from the deduction limit. The Company does not
have a policy that requires or encourages the Compensation Committee to qualify
stock options awarded to executive officers for deductibility under Section
162(m) of the Code. However, the Compensation Committee does consider the net
cost to the Company in making all compensation decisions. Further the Committee
has been advised that the Company's ability to deduct compensation income
generated in connection with the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation
rights granted under the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive
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Plan should not be limited by Section 162(m) of the Code. During 1999, no
executive of the Company is expected to receive compensation in excess of $1
million unless a significant number of vested stock options are exercised.
The foregoing report has been furnished by the members of the Committee
Robert E. Aikman
Allen Finkelson
Ben A. Guill
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The voting members of the Company's Compensation Committee consists of
Messrs. Aikman, Finkelson and Guill, none of whom is a former or current officer
or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. No member of the
Compensation Committee had any Compensation Committee Interlocks during the
Company's last fiscal year.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth information for the years ended December
31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 representing all compensation awarded to, earned by or
paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the four highest paid officers (the
"Named Executive Officers").
Long-term
Annual Compensation Compensation
------------------------------ -------------------
Name and Stock Option All Other
Principal Position Year Salary ($) Bonus($) Awards (#) Compensation ($)(a)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas J. Edelman 1998 $ 196,923 $ -0- 50,000 $ 36,321
Chairman 1997 172,500 125,000 (b) 50,000 39,992
1996 133,333 187,500 (c) 50,000 36,996
John H. Pinkerton 1998 328,846 -0- 50,000 36,321
President & Chief Executive 1997 281,666 250,000 (b) 50,000 39,992
Officer 1996 210,000 375,000 (c) 50,000 23,976
Steven L. Grose 1998 141,923 25,000 (d) 25,000 20,654
Senior Vice President-Appalachia 1997 121,250 60,000 (e) 25,000 20,002
1996 100,417 50,000 (f) 25,000 8,137
Chad L. Stephens 1998 146,923 -0- 25,000 20,928
Senior Vice President-Midcontinent 1997 125,833 50,000 (e) 25,000 21,504
1996 102,917 75,000 (f) 25,000 18,430
Thomas W. Stoelk 1998 146,923 15,000 (d) 25,000 20,950
Senior Vice President-Finance and 1997 126,250 70,000 (e) 25,000 22,102
Administration 1996 105,833 65,000 (f) 25,000 13,863
(a) Represents the Company's contribution to the 401(k) and deferred
compensation plans on behalf of the named executive.
(b) Bonus amounts include $125,000 of contributions made to the
Company's deferred compensation plan on behalf of the named
executive which vest over three years if they remain employed by
the Company.
(c) Messrs. Edelman and Pinkerton bonus amounts include $112,500 and
$225,000, respectively, of contributions made to the Company's
Deferred Compensation Plan on behalf of the named executive and
vest over three years if the individual remains an employee of
the Company.
(d) Bonus amounts include Common Stock contributions made to the
Company's deferred compensation plan on behalf of the named
executive, which vest over three years if they remain with the
Company.
(e) Fifty percent of bonus amounts vest on January 1st of the
following year if the individual remains employed by the Company.
(f) Fifty percent of bonus amounts vest in two equal installments
occurring annually on January 1st if the individual remains
employed by the Company.
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STOCK OPTION GRANTS AND EXERCISES
Range maintains the 1989 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan"), which
is administered by the Compensation Committee, and provides for the granting of
options to purchase shares of Common Stock to key employees and certain other
persons who are not employees but who provide assistance or services to the
Company. The Option Plan permits optionees to acquire up to an aggregate of 3
million shares of Common Stock to be outstanding at any time subject to the
limitation that the outstanding options cannot exceed 10% of all outstanding
Common Stock on a fully diluted basis. Options issued prior to September 1998
vest 30% after one year, 60% after two years and 100% after three years. Options
issued after August 1998 vest 25% per year beginning one year after the grant
date. At December 31, 1998, a total of 2,042,757 options were outstanding under
the plan of which 903,442 were exercisable at that date. The options outstanding
at December 31, 1998 were granted at exercise prices ranging from $3.375 to
$17.75 per share. The exercise price of all such options was equal to the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The Option Plan had a ten
year term which expired in March 1999.
Subsequently, no new options can be granted under the Option Plan.
In connection with the Merger, the Company adopted the Second Amended
and Restated 1996 Stock Purchase and Option Plan for key employees of Domain
Energy Corporation and affiliates (the "Domain Option Plan"). Subsequent to the
Merger, no new options will be granted under the Domain Option Plan. At December
31, 1998, options to purchase 938,976 shares were outstanding and exercisable at
prices ranging from $0.01 to $11.70 per share.
STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table sets forth information for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998, respecting the grant of stock options to the Named Executive
Officers. The stock options were granted at the market price on the date of
grant. No stock appreciation rights have ever been granted by the Company.
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Price Appreciation for
Individual Grants Option Term (a)
--------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Number of Percent of
Securities Total Options
Underlying Granted to
Options Employees in Exercise Expiration
Name Granted (#) Fiscal Year Price Date 5% 10%
- ----------------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
Thomas J. Edelman 50,000 6.0% $ 16.8125 3/12/03 $232,013 $513,622
John H. Pinkerton 50,000 6.0% 16.8125 3/12/03 232,013 513,622
Steven L. Grose 25,000 3.0% 16.8125 3/12/03 116,006 256,811
Chad L. Stephens 25,000 3.0% 16.8125 3/12/03 116,006 256,811
Thomas W. Stoelk 25,000 3.0% 16.8125 3/12/03 116,006 256,811
(a) The assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation used in showing
the potential realizable value of stock option grants are prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual realized value
of the options may be significantly greater or less than assumed
amounts. For options granted in 1998, the values shown for 5% and 10%
appreciation equate to a stock price of $21.45 and $27.08,
respectively, at the expiration date of the options.
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YEAR END OPTION VALUES TABLE
The following table sets forth information at December 31, 1998,
respecting exercisable and non-exercisable options held by the Named Executive
Officers. The table also includes the value of "in-the-money" options which
represents the spread between the exercise price of the existing stock options
and the year end Common Stock price of $3.44.
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying In-the-Money
Unexercised Options at Fiscal
Options at Fiscal Year-End 1998
Shares Year-End 1998 (Unexercisable (U)/
Acquired on Value (Unexercisable (U)/ Exercisable(E))
Name Exercise (#) Realized Exercisable (E))
- -------------------------- -------------- ------------- ----------------------- ----------------------
Thomas J. Edelman -0- $ -0- 105,000 U $ -0-U
195,000 E -0-E
John H. Pinkerton -0- -0- 105,000 U -0-U
221,667 E 4,375 E
Steven L. Grose 7,666 88,197 52,500 U -0-U
72,500 E -0-E
Chad L. Stephens 8,667 99,714 52,500 U -0-U
72,500 E -0-E
Thomas W. Stoelk -0- -0- 52,500 U -0-U
38,250 E -0-E
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STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE PRESENTATION
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the percentage change in the
cumulative total return of the Common Stock, Dow Jones Secondary Oils Index, and
the S&P 500 Index for the five year period ending December 31, 1998. The graph
assumes that $100 was invested in Common Stock and each index on December 31,
1993. Furthermore, dividends are reinvested on the ex-dividend dates.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Range Resources Corporation $100 $ 95 $134 $236 $224 $ 47
DJ Secondary Oils 100 107 121 147 154 108
S&P 500 100 102 135 165 216 275
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
As a result of the Merger, the Company inherited an employment
agreement with Mr. Michael V. Ronca, Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The
employment agreement terminates on December 31, 1999 and provides that if Mr.
Ronca terminates his employment for good reason (as defined in the agreement) or
the Company terminates his employment for any reason other than cause (as
defined in the agreement), Mr. Ronca will receive 1.5 times his base salary of
$260,000 per annum, as well as continuation of all applicable benefit plans for
the remaining term of the employment agreement. Other than the employment
agreement with Mr. Ronca, the Company does not have employment agreements with
any other of its officers or employees.
In 1997 the Board adopted a change in control plan pursuant to which a
key employee group comprised of executive officers and other key employees of
the Company (the "Management Group") will receive a certain level of severance
and vesting benefits if there is a change in control of the Company and all
other employees of the Company (the "Employee Group") will receive more limited
severance and vesting benefits. Upon a change in control of the Company all
non-vested securities of the Company held by persons in both the Management
Group and the Employee Group, including, without limitation, all non-vested
options to purchase Common Stock held by them, will automatically vest.
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If any person in the Management Group is terminated within one year of
such change in control or if job responsibilities or compensation of a person in
the Management Group is materially altered within one year of such change in
control, then such person shall receive a lump sum payment (the "Management
Payment") equal to (i) an amount equal to such person's annual base salary for
the year in which the Management Payment is to be made plus (ii) an amount equal
to the average of such person's bonuses for the two years prior thereto. If any
person in the Employee Group is terminated within one year of such change in
control, then such person shall receive a lump sum payment (the "Employee
Payment") equal to (i) an amount equal to six months of such person's annual
base salary for the year in which the Employee Payment is to be made plus (ii)
an amount equal to one half of the average of such person's bonuses for the two
years prior thereto.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of either the Management
Payment or the Employee Payment (collectively, the "Payment") is dependent upon
the duration of employment with the Company, with each person receiving
one-third of the Payment if they have been employed by the Company for less than
two years, two-thirds of the Payment if they have been employed by the Company
for between two and three years and receiving the full amount of the Payment if
they have been employed by the Company for at least three years.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Mr. Edelman, Chairman of the Company, also serves as an executive
officer and major shareholder of Patina Oil & Gas Corporation. The Company and
Patina have never had common business dealings and have never held interests in
any of the same properties.
PROPOSAL II - ADOPTION OF
THE COMPANY'S 1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The Board of Directors on March 24, 1999 subject to stockholder
approval, adopted the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1999 Incentive
Plan"). A copy of the 1999 Incentive Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit A and is
incorporated by reference. The 1999 Incentive Plan replaces the 1989 Option Plan
which had a ten year term and expired in March 1999.
Pursuant to the 1999 Incentive Plan, employees, directors and
consultants of the Company and its affiliates will be eligible to receive awards
consisting of stock options and stock appreciation rights (collectively the
"Incentive Awards"). The 1999 Incentive Plan does not include restricted stock
awards. The 1999 Incentive Plan is intended as an incentive to attract and
retain key personal and to reward them for making contributions to the success
of the Company. An aggregate of 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued
pursuant to the 1999 Incentive Plan. Further, an aggregate of 250,000 shares of
Common Stock may be subject to Incentive Awards granted to any one individual
during any calendar year under the 1999 Incentive Plan. The preceding numbers
may be adjusted upon a reorganization, stock split, recapitalization, or other
change in the Company's capital structure.
The 1999 Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors, which is constituted so as to comply with Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
constituted solely of two or more outside directors (within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code. Subject to the provisions of the 1999 Incentive
Plan, the Compensation Committee is authorized to determine the type or types of
Incentive Awards made to each participant and the terms, conditions and
limitations applicable to each Incentive Award. In addition, the Compensation
Committee has the power to interpret the 1999 Incentive Plan, to adopt such
rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or appropriate in keeping with
the objectives of the 1999 Incentive Plan. When granting Incentive Awards, the
Compensation Committee considers such factors as an individual's duties and
present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and its
affiliates.
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Employees (including an employee who may also be a director), directors
and consultants of the Company and its affiliates are eligible to participate in
the 1999 Incentive Plan. The selection of participants, from among those
eligible, who will receive Incentive Awards, is within the discretion of the
Committee.
The 1999 Incentive Plan is effective as of March 24, 1999. No further
awards may be granted under the 1999 Incentive Plan after March 24, 2009, and
the 1999 Incentive Plan will terminate thereafter once all Incentive Awards have
been satisfied or expired. The Board of Directors may, however, terminate the
1999 Incentive Plan at any time without prejudice to the holders of any then
outstanding Incentive Awards.
Options are rights to purchase a specified number of shares of Common
Stock at a price fixed at the time the option is granted. Options granted
pursuant to the 1999 Incentive Plan may either be "incentive stock options"
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or options that do not constitute
incentive stock options ("non-qualified stock options") and will become
exercisable on such date or dates as may be established by the Compensation
Committee (but not more than ten years in the case of incentive stock options).
The exercise price of options granted under the 1999 Incentive Plan will be
determined by the Compensation Committee but will be an amount not less than
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant (or, if greater, the
par value thereof). If an incentive stock option is granted to an employee who
then owns, directly or by attribution under the Code, shares possessing more
than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or a subsidiary, the term of the option will not exceed five years,
and the option price will be at least 110% of the fair market value of the
shares on the date that the option is granted. The number of shares for which an
option is granted to an optionee will be determined by the Compensation
Committee. The status of each grant of options as an incentive stock option or
nonstatutory stock option will be designated by the Compensation Committee at
the time of grant. If, however, the aggregate fair market value (determined as
of the date of grant) of shares with respect to which incentive stock options
become exercisable for the first time by an employee exceeds $100,000 in any
calendar year, the options with respect to the excess shares will be
nonstatutory stock options. The option price upon exercise may, at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee, be paid by an optionee in cash, other
shares of Common Stock owned by the employee, or by a combination of cash and
Common Stock. The 1999 Incentive Plan also allows the Compensation Committee, in
its discretion, to establish procedures pursuant to which an optionee may effect
a "cashless" exercise of an option through a brokerage firm. All options will be
evidenced by a written agreement containing provisions consistent with the
Option Plan and such other provisions as the Committee deems appropriate. No
incentive stock option is transferable other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution, and only the employee or his guardian or legal representative
may exercise any option during the employee's lifetime.
Stock appreciation rights are rights to receive, without payment to the
Company, cash or shares of Common Stock with a value determined by reference to
the difference between the exercise or strike price of the stock appreciation
right and the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time of exercise.
Stock appreciation rights may or may not be granted in connection with the grant
of an option. The exercise price of a stock appreciation right will be
determined by the Compensation Committee and will be no less than the fair
market value of a share Common Stock on the date that the stock appreciation
right is granted (or such greater exercise price as may be required with respect
to a stock appreciation right granted in connection with an incentive stock
option). A stock appreciation right may be exercised in whole or in such
installments and at such times as determined by the Compensation Committee.
Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, Incentive
Awards (other than incentive stock options) under the 1999 Incentive Plan that
constitute derivative securities are not transferable except by will or by laws
of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order.
The 1999 Incentive Plan provides that stock options and stock appreciation
rights may be granted in substitution for stock options held by officers and
employees of other corporations who are about to, or who have, become employees
of the Company or an affiliate as a result of a merger, consolidation,
acquisition of assets, or similar transaction by the Company or a subsidiary. On
March 22, 1999, the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange was $3 per share. As of March 22, 1999, the Company has not made any
grants of Incentive Awards under the 1999 Incentive Plan. The amount and type of
Incentive Awards to be granted in the future to the employees, directors and
consultants are not currently determinable.
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The Board of Directors has the right to amend, modify, suspend or
terminate the 1999 Incentive Plan, except that the Board may not, without the
approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend the 1999 Incentive Plan to
increase the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be
issued under the 1999 Incentive Plan or change the class of individuals eligible
to receive Incentive Awards under the 1999 Incentive Plan.
The 1999 Incentive Plan provides that, upon a Change of Control (as
hereinafter defined), and except as provided in any Incentive Award agreement,
outstanding Incentive Awards will immediately vest and become exercisable or
satisfiable, as applicable, and that any Incentive Award that is a stock option
will continue to be exercisable for the remainder of its applicable option term.
However, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may cancel Incentive
Awards and make payments in respect thereof in cash or adjust such Incentive
Awards as appropriate to reflect such Change of Control. The 1999 Incentive Plan
provides that a Change in Control occurs (a) if the Company is dissolved and
liquidated, (b) if the Company is not the surviving entity in any merger or
consolidation, (c) if the Company sells, leases or exchanges or agrees to sell,
lease or exchange all or substantially all of its assets, (d) if any person,
entity or group acquires or gains ownership or control of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares of the Company's voting stock or (e) if after a contested
election of directors, the persons who were directors before such election cease
to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES. The following discussion of
tax considerations relating to options describes only certain U.S. federal
income tax matters. No consideration has been given to the effects of state,
local, or other tax laws on the 1999 Incentive Plan or Incentive Award
recipients. The discussion is general in nature and does not take in to account
a number of considerations which, may apply in light of the particular
circumstances of an optionee.
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. As a general
rule, no federal income tax is imposed on the optionee upon the grant of a
non-qualified stock option such as those under the 1999 Incentive Plan (whether
or not including a stock appreciation right) and the Company is not entitled to
a tax deduction by reason of such a grant. Generally, upon the exercise of a
non-qualified stock option, the optionee will be treated as receiving
compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of exercise in an amount
equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of
exercise over the option price paid for such shares. In the case of the exercise
of a stock appreciation right, the optionee will be treated as receiving
compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of exercise in an amount
equal to the cash received plus the fair market value of the shares distributed
to the optionee. Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option or a stock
appreciation right, and subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code
as discussed below, the Company may claim a deduction for compensation paid at
the same time and in the same amount as compensation income is recognized to the
optionee assuming any federal income tax reporting requirements are satisfied.
Upon a subsequent disposition of the shares received upon exercise of a
non-qualified stock option or a stock appreciation right, any appreciation after
the date of exercise should qualify as capital gain. If the shares received upon
the exercise of an option or a stock appreciation right are transferred to the
optionee subject to certain restrictions, then the taxable income realized by
the optionee, unless the optionee elects otherwise, and the Company's tax
deduction (assuming any federal income tax reporting requirements are satisfied)
should be deferred and should be measured at the fair market value of the shares
at the time the restrictions lapse. The restrictions imposed on officers,
directors and 10% shareholders by Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act is such a
restriction during the period prescribed thereby if other shares have been
purchased by such an individual within six months of the exercise of a
non-qualified stock option or stock appreciation right.
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The incentive stock options under the 1999
Incentive Plan are intended to constitute "incentive stock options" within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive stock options are subject to
special federal income tax treatment. No federal income tax is imposed on the
optionee upon the grant or the exercise of an incentive stock option if the
optionee does not dispose of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise within the
two-year period beginning on the date the option was granted or within the
one-year period beginning on the date the option was exercised (collectively,
the "holding period"). In such event, the Company would not be entitled to any
deduction for federal income tax purposes in connection with the grant or
exercise of the option or the disposition of the shares so acquired. With
respect to an incentive stock option, the difference between the fair
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market value of the stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price must be
included in the optionee's alternative minimum taxable income. However, if the
optionee exercises an incentive stock option and disposes of the shares received
in the same year and the amount realized is less than the fair market value of
the shares on the date of exercise, the amount included in alternative minimum
taxable income will not exceed the amount realized over the adjusted basis of
the shares.
Upon disposition of the shares received upon exercise of an incentive
stock option after the holding period, any appreciation of the shares above the
exercise price should constitute capital gain. If an optionee disposes of shares
acquired pursuant to his or her exercise of an incentive stock option prior to
the end of the holding period, the optionee will be treated as having received,
at the time of disposition, compensation taxable as ordinary income. In such
event, and subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code as discussed
below, the Company may claim a deduction for compensation paid at the same time
and in the same amount as compensation is treated as received by the optionee.
The amount treated as compensation is the excess of the fair market value of the
shares at the time of exercise (or in the case of a sale in which a loss would
be recognized, the amount realized on the sale if less) over the exercise price;
any amount realized in excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time
of exercise would be treated as short-term or long-term capital gain, depending
on the holding period of the shares.
SECTION 162(M) OF THE CODE. Section 162(m) of the Code precludes a
public corporation from taking a deduction for annual compensation in excess of
$1 million paid to its chief executive officer or any of its four other
highest-paid officers. However, compensation that qualifies under Section 162(m)
of the Code as "performance-based" is specifically exempt from the deduction
limit. Based on Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, the
Company's ability to deduct compensation income generated in connection with the
exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights granted under the 1999
Incentive Plan should not be limited by Section 162(m) of the Code.
The 1999 Incentive Plan is not qualified under section 401(a) of the
Code.
INAPPLICABILITY OF ERISA. Based upon current law and published
interpretations, the Company does not believe the 1999 Incentive Plan is subject
to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
REQUIRED VOTE AND RECOMMENDATION
THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES ENTITLED
TO VOTE AT THE MEETING IS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED 1999 INCENTIVE
PLAN. BROKER NON-VOTES ARE TREATED AS SHARES AS TO WHICH VOTING POWER HAS BEEN
WITHHELD BY THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF SUCH SHARES AND, THEREFORE, AS VOTES NOT
CAST. A BROKER NON-VOTE OCCURS IF A BROKER OR OTHER NOMINEE DOES NOT HAVE
DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY AND HAS NOT RECEIVED INSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO A
PARTICULAR ITEM. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF THE 1999 INCENTIVE PLAN IS REQUIRED FOR
LISTING OF THE SHARES FOR TRADING ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE AND AS A
CONDITION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 1999 INCENTIVE PLAN. IN ADDITION, APPROVAL
OF THE 1999 INCENTIVE PLAN IS REQUIRED SO THAT CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS UNDER THE
1999 INCENTIVE PLAN QUALIFY FOR THE APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS PURSUANT TO RULE 16B-3
UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT. RULE 16B-3 PROVIDES AN EXEMPTION FROM THE OPERATION OF
THE "SHORT-SWING PROFIT" RECOVERY PROVISIONS OF SECTION 16(B) OF THE EXCHANGE
ACT WITH RESPECT TO ACQUISITIONS OF STOCK OPTIONS, TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO
CERTAIN STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AND THE USE OF ALREADY OWNED SHARES AS PAYMENT
FOR THE EXERCISE PRICE OF STOCK OPTIONS. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL IS ALSO REQUIRED
SO THAT INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS UNDER THE 1999 INCENTIVE PLAN WILL QUALIFY UNDER
SECTION 422 OF THE CODE AND SO THAT CERTAIN INCENTIVE AWARDS WILL QUALIFY AS
PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION UNDER SECTION 162(M) OF THE CODE. THE BOARD
BELIEVES THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE AND ADVISABLE THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS ADOPT THE
PROPOSED 1999 INCENTIVE PLAN AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSED PLAN.
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PROPOSAL III - APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO
THE COMPANY'S 1997 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
On March 24, 1999, subject to stockholder approval the Board of
Directors approved a proposed amendment to Article IV of the Company's 1997
Stock Purchase Plan (the "1997 Plan"). The proposed amendment to Article IV
would increase the number of shares of the Common Stock reserved under the 1997
Plan from 500,000 to 900,000. The proposed amendment, a copy of which is set
forth in Exhibit B is being submitted to the Meeting for Stockholder approval.
EFFECT OF AND REASONS FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENT
The purpose of increasing the number of shares of Common Stock reserved
under the 1997 Plan is to strengthen the ability of the Company to attract and
to retain the services of experienced and knowledgeable directors and key
employees (the "Participants"), to extend to them the opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company so that they will apply their best efforts
for the benefit of the Company and to provide those individuals with an
additional incentive to continue their position, for the best interest of the
Company and its stockholders. Under the 1997 Plan, Participants may purchase a
specified number of shares at a specified price (ranging from 50% to 85% of
market value) as offered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the
"Compensation Committee").
The 1997 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee which has
the sole authority to determine the terms and conditions (which need not be
identical) of such purchases including the persons to whom, and the time or
times at which, purchase grants will be awarded, the number of shares which may
be purchased by each such person and the exercise price. Payment for stock
purchased must be made in cash on the date of such exercise.
If the amendment to the 1997 Plan is approved by the Stockholders, the
Company will increase the number of shares reserved under the 1997 Plan from
500,000 to 900,000 shares of Common Stock. As of March 22, 1999 398,597 shares
had been sold for a total consideration of $2.5 million equating to an average
cost of $6.32 per share. All shares sold to date under the 1997 Plan have been
priced at 75% of market value at the time of sale.
REQUIRED VOTE AND RECOMMENDATION
THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES ENTITLED
TO VOTE AT THE MEETING IS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1997
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN. BROKER NON-VOTES ARE TREATED AS SHARES AS TO WHICH VOTING
POWER HAS BEEN WITHHELD BY THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF SUCH SHARES AND, THEREFORE,
AS VOTES NOT CAST. A BROKER NON-VOTE OCCURS IF A BROKER OR OTHER NOMINEE DOES
NOT HAVE DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY AND HAS NOT RECEIVED INSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT
TO A PARTICULAR ITEM. THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE AND ADVISABLE
THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS ADOPT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1997 STOCK PURCHASE
PLAN AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires executive
officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of
the Company's stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes
of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NYSE. Copies of
such reports are required to be furnished to the Company.
Based solely on a review of such forms furnished to the Company and
certain written representations from the executive officers and directors, the
Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were
complied with on a timely basis.
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OTHER BUSINESS
Management of the Company knows of no other business which will be
presented for consideration at the Meeting, but should any other matters be
brought before the Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the
accompanying proxy will vote such proxy at their discretion.
It is expected that representatives of Arthur Andersen will be present
at the Meeting with an opportunity to make a statement should they desire to do
so and to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
accompanies this proxy statement. The Annual Report does not constitute a part
of the proxy soliciting material.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2000 ANNUAL MEETING
Any Stockholder desiring to present to Stockholders a Stockholder
proposal at the 2000 Annual Meeting must transmit such proposal to the Company
so that it is received by the Company on or before December 1, 1999. All such
proposals should be in compliance with applicable Securities and Exchange
Commission regulations.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeffery A. Bynum
Secretary
March 29, 1999
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Exhibit A
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
I PURPOSE
The purpose of the RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION 1999 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN (the "PLAN") is to provide a means through which RANGE RESOURCES
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and its affiliates may
attract able persons to serve as directors or to enter the employ of the Company
and its affiliates and to provide a means whereby those individuals upon whom
the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the
Company rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the welfare of
the Company and its affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock
ownership, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company
and its affiliates. A further purpose of the Plan is to provide such individuals
with additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to enhance the
profitable growth of the Company and its affiliates. Accordingly, the Plan
provides for granting Incentive Stock Options (subject to the provisions of
Paragraph VII(c)), options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options,
Stock Appreciation Rights or any combination of the foregoing, as is best suited
to the circumstances of the particular employee, consultant or director as
provided herein.
II. DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan
unless specifically modified by any paragraph:
(a) "AFFILIATE" means any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or partnership, association, trust or other organization in
which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, a 50% or more
beneficial ownership interest.
(b) "AWARD" means, individually or collectively, any Option or Stock
Appreciation Right.
(c) "AWARD AGREEMENT" means any Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation
Rights Agreement.
(d) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means the occurrence of any of the following
events: (i) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in any
merger, consolidation or other reorganization (or survives only as a
subsidiary of an entity other than a previously wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company), (ii) the Company sells, leases or exchanges all or
substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity (other
than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), (iii) the Company is to
be dissolved and liquidated, (iv) any person or entity, including a
"GROUP" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act, acquires
or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to
vote) of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company's
voting stock (based upon voting power), or (v) as a result of or in
connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who were
directors of the Company before such election shall cease to constitute
a majority of the Board.
(f) "CHANGE OF CONTROL VALUE" shall mean (i) the per share price offered to
stockholders of the Company in any merger, consolidation,
reorganization, sale of assets or dissolution transaction, (ii) the
price per share offered to stockholders of the Company in any tender
offer or exchange offer whereby a Change of Control takes place, or
(iii) if the Change of Control occurs other than pursuant to a tender
or exchange offer, the Fair Market Value per share of the shares into
which Awards are exercisable, as determined by the Committee. In the
event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in
a Change of
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Control consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall
determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration
offered which is other than cash.
(g) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference
in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any
amendments or successor provisions to such section and any regulations
under such section.
(h) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the Board which shall
be (i) constituted so as to permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3
and (ii) comprised solely of two or more "outside directors," within
the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and applicable interpretive
authority thereunder.
(i) "COMPANY" means Range Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
(j) "CONSULTANT" means any person who is not an employee and who is
providing advisory or consulting services to the Company or any
Affiliate.
(k) "DIRECTOR" means an individual elected to the Board by the stockholders
of the Company or by the Board under applicable corporate law who is
serving on the Board on the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or is
elected to the Board after such date.
(l) An "EMPLOYEE" means any person (including an officer or a Director) in
an employment relationship with the Company or any Affiliate.
(m) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any specified date, the mean of the
high and low sales prices of the Stock reported on the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Tape on that date, or if no prices are reported on
that date, on the last preceding date on which such prices of the Stock
are so reported. In the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time
a determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the
determination of its fair market value shall be made by the Committee
in such manner as it deems appropriate.
(n) "HOLDER" means an employee, Consultant or Director who has been granted
an Award.
(o) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an incentive stock option within the
meaning of section 422 of the Code.
(p) "1934 ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q) "OPTION" means an Award granted under Paragraph VII of the Plan and
includes both Incentive Stock Options to purchase Stock and Options
that do not constitute Incentive Stock Options to purchase Stock.
(r) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company and a
Holder with respect to an Option.
(s) "PLAN" means the Range Resources Corporation 1999 Stock Incentive Plan,
as amended from time to time.
(t) "RULE 16B-3" means SEC Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, as
such may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule,
regulation or statute fulfilling the same or a similar function.
(u) "SPREAD" means, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right, an amount
equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of
Stock on the date such right is exercised over the exercise price of
such Stock Appreciation Right.
(v) "STOCK" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company.
(w) "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" means an Award granted under Paragraph VIII
of the Plan.
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(x) "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between
the Company and a Holder with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right.
III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF THE PLAN
The Plan shall be effective upon the date of its adoption by the Board,
provided the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve
months thereafter. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or in any Award
Agreement, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted on or after the
effective date of the Plan shall be exercisable prior to such shareholder
approval. No further Awards may be granted under the Plan after the expiration
of ten years from the date of its adoption by the Board. The Plan shall remain
in effect until all Awards granted under the Plan have been satisfied or
expired.
IV. ADMINISTRATION
(a) COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
(b) POWERS. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee
shall have sole authority, in its discretion, to determine which
employees, Consultants or Directors shall receive an Award, the time or
times when such Award shall be made, the type of Award, and the number
of shares of Stock which may be issued under each Option or Stock
Appreciation Right. In making such determinations the Committee may
take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective
employees, Consultants or Directors, their present and potential
contribution to the success of the Company and its Affiliates and such
other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.
(c) ADDITIONAL POWERS. The Committee shall have such additional powers as
are delegated to it by the other provisions of the Plan. Subject to the
express provisions of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to construe
the Plan and the respective Award Agreements executed thereunder, to
prescribe such rules and regulations relating to the Plan as it may
deem advisable to carry out the Plan, and to determine the terms,
restrictions and provisions of each Award, including such terms,
restrictions and provisions as shall be requisite in the judgment of
the Committee to cause designated Options to qualify as Incentive Stock
Options, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable
for administering the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in
any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem
expedient to carry it into effect. The determinations of the Committee
on the matters referred to in this Paragraph IV shall be conclusive.
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V. GRANT OF AWARDS;
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
(a) STOCK GRANT AND AWARD LIMITS. The Committee may from time to time grant
Awards to one or more employees, Consultants or Directors determined by
it to be eligible for participation in the Plan in accordance with the
provisions of Paragraph VI. Subject to adjustment in the same manner as
provided in Paragraph IX with respect to shares of Stock subject to
Awards then outstanding, the aggregate number of shares of Stock that
may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed 1,400,000 shares. Shares
shall be deemed to have been issued under the Plan only (i) to the
extent actually issued and delivered pursuant to an Award, or (ii) to
the extent an Award is settled in cash. To the extent that an Award
lapses or the rights of its Holder terminate, any shares of Stock
subject to such Award shall again be available for the grant of an
Award. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the
maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject to Awards granted
to any one individual during any calendar year may not exceed 250,000
shares of Stock (subject to adjustment in the same manner as provided
in Paragraph IX with respect to shares of Stock subject to Awards then
outstanding). The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall
be applied in a manner which will permit compensation generated under
the Plan to constitute "performance-based" compensation for purposes of
section 162(m) of the Code, including, without limitation, counting
against such maximum number of shares, to the extent required under
section 162(m) of the Code and applicable interpretive authority
thereunder, any shares subject to Awards that are canceled or repriced.
(b) STOCK OFFERED. The Stock to be offered pursuant to the grant of an
Award may, at the discretion of the Committee, be authorized but
unissued Stock or Stock previously issued and outstanding and
reacquired by the Company.
VI. ELIGIBILITY
Awards may be granted only to persons who, at the time of grant, are
employees (including officers and Directors who are also employees) Consultants
or Directors. An Award may be granted on more than one occasion to the same
person, and, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, such Award may
include an Incentive Stock Option or an Option that is not an Incentive Stock
Option, a Stock Appreciation Right or any combination thereof.
VII. STOCK OPTIONS
(a) OPTION PERIOD. The term of each Option shall be as specified by the
Committee at the date of grant.
(b) LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE OF OPTION. An Option shall be exercisable in
whole or in such installments and at such times as determined by the
Committee.
(c) SPECIAL LIMITATIONS ON INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. An Incentive Stock
Option may be granted only to an individual who is an employee of the
Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation (as defined in section
424 of the Code) at the time the Option is granted. To the extent that
the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the respective
Incentive Stock Option is granted) of Stock with respect to which
Incentive Stock Options granted after 1986 are exercisable for the
first time by an individual during any calendar year under all
incentive stock option plans of the Company and its parent and
subsidiary corporations exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Stock Options
shall be treated as Options which do not constitute Incentive Stock
Options. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable
provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations and other administrative
pronouncements, which of a Holder's Incentive Stock Options will not
constitute Incentive Stock Options because of such limitation and shall
notify the Holder of such determination as soon as practicable after
such determination. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an
individual if, at the time the Option is granted, such
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individual owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or
subsidiary corporation, within the meaning of section 422(b)(6) of the
Code, unless (i) at the time such Option is granted the option price is
at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the
Option and (ii) such Option by its terms is not exercisable after the
expiration of five years from the date of grant. An Incentive Stock
Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the Holder's
lifetime only by such Holder or the Holder's guardian or legal
representative. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or in any
Option Agreement, (1) no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted after
the expiration of 12 months from the date of the adoption of the Plan
by the Board unless the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of
the Company within such 12-month period in a manner that satisfies the
requirements of section 422 of the Code and (2) any Option granted
prior to the expiration of such 12-month period that was intended to
constitute an Incentive Stock Option shall constitute an Option that is
not an Incentive Stock Option if the Plan has not been approved by the
stockholders of the Company within such 12-month period in a manner
that satisfies the requirements of section 422 of the Code.
(d) OPTION AGREEMENT. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement
in such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan as the Committee from time to time shall
approve, including, without limitation, provisions to qualify an
Incentive Stock Option under section 422 of the Code. Each Option
Agreement shall specify the effect of termination of employment or
membership on the Board, as applicable, on the exercisability of the
Option. An Option Agreement may provide for the payment of the option
price, in whole or in part, (i) in cash or (ii) by the delivery of a
number of shares of Stock (plus cash if necessary) having a Fair Market
Value equal to such option price. Moreover, an Option Agreement may
provide for a "cashless exercise" of the Option pursuant to procedures
established by the Committee (as the same may be amended from time to
time). Such Option Agreement may also include, without limitation,
provisions relating to (1) subject to the provisions hereof
accelerating such vesting on a Change of Control, vesting of Options,
(2) tax matters (including provisions (A) permitting the delivery of
additional shares of Stock or the withholding of shares of Stock from
those acquired upon exercise to satisfy federal, state or local income
tax withholding requirements and (B) dealing with any other applicable
employee wage withholding requirements), and (3) any other matters not
inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Plan that the
Committee shall in its sole discretion determine. The terms and
conditions of the respective Option Agreements need not be identical.
(e) OPTION PRICE AND PAYMENT. The price at which a share of Stock may be
purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the
Committee, but, subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph IX, such
purchase price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share
of Stock on the date such Option is granted. The Option or portion
thereof may be exercised by delivery of an irrevocable notice of
exercise to the Company in a manner specified by the Committee. The
purchase price of the Option or portion thereof shall be paid in full
in the manner prescribed by the Committee. Separate stock certificates
shall be issued by the Company for those shares acquired pursuant to
the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and for those shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise of any Option that does not constitute an
Incentive Stock Option.
(f) SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES. The Holder shall be entitled to all
the privileges and rights of a shareholder only with respect to such
shares of Stock as have been purchased under the Option and for which
certificates of stock have been registered in the Holder's name.
(g) OPTIONS AND RIGHTS IN SUBSTITUTION FOR STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED BY OTHER
CORPORATIONS. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted
under the Plan from time to time in substitution for stock options held
by individuals employed by corporations who become employees as a
result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with
the Company or any Affiliate, or the acquisition by the Company or an
Affiliate of the assets of the employing corporation, or the
acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of stock of the employing
corporation with the result that such employing corporation becomes an
Affiliate.
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VIII. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
(a) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. A Stock Appreciation Right is the right to
receive an amount equal to the Spread with respect to a share of Stock
upon the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right. Stock Appreciation
Rights may be granted in connection with the grant of an Option, in
which case the Option Agreement will provide that exercise of Stock
Appreciation Rights will result in the surrender of the right to
purchase the shares of Stock under the Option as to which the Stock
Appreciation Rights were exercised. Alternatively, Stock Appreciation
Rights may be granted independently of Options in which case each Award
of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by a Stock Appreciation
Rights Agreement which shall contain such terms and conditions as may
be approved by the Committee. The terms and conditions of the
respective Stock Appreciation Rights Agreements need not be identical.
The Spread with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right may be payable
either in cash, shares of Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to the
Spread or in a combination of cash and shares of Stock. Each Stock
Appreciation Rights Agreement shall specify the effect of termination
of employment or membership on the Board, as applicable, on the
exercisability of the Stock Appreciation Rights.
(b) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price of each Stock Appreciation Right
shall be determined by the Committee, but such exercise price (i) shall
not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date
the Stock Appreciation Right is granted (or such greater exercise price
as may be required if such Stock Appreciation Right is granted in
connection with an Incentive Stock Option that must have an exercise
price equal to 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date
of grant pursuant to Paragraph VII(c)), and (ii) shall be subject to
adjustment as provided in Paragraph IX.
(c) EXERCISE PERIOD. The term of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be as
specified by the Committee at the date of grant.
(d) LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT. A Stock
Appreciation Right shall be exercisable in whole or in such
installments and at such times as determined by the Committee. In the
case of any Stock Appreciation Right that is granted in connection with
an Incentive Stock Option, such right shall be exercisable only when
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock exceeds the price specified
therefor in the Option or the portion thereof to be surrendered.
IX. RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION
(a) The shares with respect to which Awards may be granted are shares of
Stock as presently constituted, but if, and whenever, prior to the
expiration of an Award theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a
subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a
stock dividend on Stock without receipt of consideration by the
Company, the number of shares of Stock with respect to which such Award
may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, as applicable, (i) in the
event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares shall be
proportionately increased, and the purchase price per share shall be
proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the
number of outstanding shares shall be proportionately reduced, and the
purchase price per share shall be proportionately increased. Any
fractional share resulting from such adjustment shall be rounded up to
the next whole share.
(b) If the Company recapitalizes, reclassifies its capital stock, or
otherwise changes its capital structure (a "recapitalization"), the
number and class of shares of Stock covered by an Award theretofore
granted shall be adjusted so that such Award shall thereafter cover the
number and class of shares of Stock and other securities to which the
Holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the
recapitalization if, immediately prior to such recapitalization, the
Holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Stock
then covered by such Award.
(c) In the event of a Change of Control, and except as provided in any
Award Agreement, outstanding Awards shall immediately vest and become
exercisable or satisfiable, as applicable, and any Awards that are
Options shall continue to be exercisable for the remainder of the
applicable Option term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee,
in its discretion, may determine that upon the occurrence of a Change
of Control, each Award
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outstanding hereunder shall terminate within a specified number of days
after notice to the Holder, and such Holder shall receive, with respect
to each share of Stock subject to such Award, cash in an amount equal
to the excess, if any, of the Change of Control Value over the exercise
price, if applicable, under such Award for such share. The provisions
contained in this paragraph shall not terminate any rights of the
Holder to further payments pursuant to any other agreement with the
Company following a Change of Control.
(d) In the event of changes in the outstanding Stock by reason of
recapitalization, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations,
combinations, split-ups, split-offs, spin-offs, exchanges, a Change of
Control or other relevant changes in capitalization or distributions to
the holders of Stock occurring after the date of the grant of any Award
and not otherwise provided for by this Paragraph IX, any outstanding
Awards and any Award Agreements shall be subject to adjustment by the
Committee at its discretion as to the number and price of shares of
Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards. In the event of
any such change in the outstanding Stock or distribution to the holders
of Stock, the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan (and
the aggregate number of shares that may be granted to any one
individual) may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose
determination shall be conclusive.
(e) The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not
affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders
of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization,
reorganization or other change in the Company's or any Affiliate's
capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the
Company or any Affiliate, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead
of or affecting Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or
liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate or any sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or
business or any other corporate act or proceeding.
(f) Any adjustment provided for in the above Subparagraphs shall be subject
to any required shareholder action.
(g) Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company
of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares
of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon
direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe
therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company
convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case
whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by
reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of
Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per
share, if applicable.
X. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with
respect to any shares of Stock for which Awards have not theretofore
been granted. The Board shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan
or any part thereof from time to time; provided that no change in any
Award theretofore granted may be made that would materially impair the
rights of the Holder without the consent of the Holder and provided,
further, that the Board may not, without approval of the stockholders,
amend the Plan (a) to increase the maximum aggregate number of shares
of Stock that may be issued under the Plan or (b) to change the class
of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.
XII. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) NO RIGHT TO AN AWARD. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Company
nor any action of the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give an
employee or Director any right to be granted an Award or any other
rights hereunder except as may be evidenced by an Option Agreement or
Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement duly executed on behalf of the
Company, and then only to the extent and on the terms and conditions
expressly set forth therein. The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company
shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to
make any other segregation of funds or assets to assure the payment of
any Award.
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(b) NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CONFERRED. Nothing contained in the Plan shall (i)
confer upon any employee any right with respect to continuation of
employment with the Company or any Affiliate or (ii) interfere in any
way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate his or
her employment at any time. Nothing contained in the Plan shall confer
on any Director any right with respect to continuation of membership on
the Board.
(c) OTHER LAWS; WITHHOLDING. The Company shall not be obligated to issue
any Stock pursuant to any Award granted under the Plan at any time when
the shares covered by such Award have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 and such other state and federal laws, rules or
regulations as the Company or the Committee deems applicable and, in
the opinion of legal counsel for the Company, there is no exemption
from the registration requirements of such laws, rules or regulations
available for the issuance and sale of such shares. No fractional
shares of Stock shall be delivered. The Company shall have the right to
deduct in connection with all Awards any taxes required by law to be
withheld and to require any payments required to enable it to satisfy
its withholding obligations.
(d) NO RESTRICTION ON CORPORATE ACTION. Nothing contained in the Plan shall
be construed to prevent the Company or any Affiliate from taking any
corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be
appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would
have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No
employee, Director, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim
against the Company or any Affiliate as a result of any such action.
(e) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. An Award (other than an Incentive Stock
Option, which shall be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth
in Paragraph VII(c)) shall not be transferable otherwise than (i) by
will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) pursuant to a
"qualified domestic relations order" as defined by the Code or Title I
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or
the rules thereunder, or (iii) with the consent of the Committee.
(f) RULE 16B-3. It is intended that the Plan and any grant of an Award made
to a person subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act meet the requirements
of Rule 16b-3 so that any transaction under the Plan involving a grant,
award, or other acquisition from the Company or disposition to the
Company is exempt from Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act. If any provision
of the Plan or any such Award would result in any such transaction not
being exempt from Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, such provision or
Award shall be construed or deemed amended so that such transaction
will be exempt from Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.
(g) FACSIMILE SIGNATURE. Any Award Agreement or related document may be
executed by facsimile signature. If any officer who shall have signed
or whose facsimile signature shall have been placed upon any such Award
Agreement or related document shall have ceased to be such officer
before the related Award is granted by the Company, such Award may
nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such
person were such officer at the date of grant.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. This Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware.
26
29
Exhibit B
WITH RESPECT TO THE
COMPANY'S 1997 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
RESOLVED, that the plan agreement of the Company's 1997 Stock Purchase
Plan, as amended, be further amended by deleting Article IV thereof and
substituting the following therefore:
ARTICLE IV
SHARES
------
There shall be 900,000 shares of Common Stock reserved under the Plan,
subject to adjustment in accordance with Article XIV hereof. The shares of
Common Stock subject to the Plan shall be either shares of authorized but
unissued Common Stock or shares of Common Stock reacquired on the open market or
otherwise for the account of the Participants. The Committee shall determine
from time to time whether the shares of Common Stock shall be authorized or
unissued shares or reacquired shares.
27
30
Form of proxy card
FRONT:
- ------
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal Nos. 2 and 3
1. Election of Directors For Withheld For All
(see reverse) All All Except _________________ 2. To consider and adopt
the Company's 1999 For Against Abstain
Stock Incentive Plan ___ ___ ___
providing for the issuance
of up to 1,400,000 shares
of Common Stock. The
Company's 1989 Stock Option
Plan recently expired.
3. To consider and adopt an For Against Abstain
amendment to the Company's ___ ___ ___
Area reserved for 1997 Stock Purchase Plan
Name & Address increasing the number of
shares in the Plan from
500,000 to 900,000 shares of
Common Stock.
Date: _____________________________________________, 1999
Signature(s) ____________________________________________
Signature(s) ____________________________________________
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY
THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES NAMED. In accordance with their judgement the
proxies are authorized to vote upon any other matters that may properly come
before the meeting. The signer hereby revokes all proxies heretofore given by
the signer to vote at said meeting or any adjournments thereof. NOTE: Please
sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign.
When signing as attorney, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full
title as such.
BACK:
- -----
PROXY PROXY
RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - MAY 26, 1999
The undersigned hereby appoints John H. Pinkerton and Michael V. Ronca, and each
of them, his/her true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of
substitution and revocation, to vote, as designated on the reverse side hereof,
all the Common and Preferred stock of Range Resources Corporation which the
undersigned has power to vote, with all powers which the undersigned possess if
personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Range Resources
Corporation to be held on May 26, 1999, and at any adjournments thereof.
1. To elect a board of eight Directors, each for a one-year term: The nominees
of the Board of Directors are: Robert E. Aikman, Anthony V. Dub, Thomas J.
Edelman, Allen Finkelson, Ben A. Guill, Jonathan S. Linker, John H.
Pinkerton and Michael V. Ronca.
2. To consider and adopt the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan and providing
for the issuance of up to 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock. The Company's
1989 Stock Option Plan recently expired.
3. To consider and adopt an amendment to the Company's 1997 Stock Purchase
Plan increasing the number of shares in the Plan from 500,000 to 900,000
shares of Common Stock.
You are encouraged to specify your choice by marking the appropriate boxes, SEE
REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance
with the Board of Directors' recommendations. Your shares cannot be voted unless
you sign and return this card.
PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)
