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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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Seabulk International, Inc.
NOTICE OF 20032004 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 16, 200327, 2004
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 20032004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Seabulk International, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at 10:30 a.m. local time on May 16, 2003,27, 2004, at the Port Everglades Administration Building, 1850 Eller Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, for the following purposes:
1. | to elect ten Directors to serve on the Board of Directors for a one-year term; | |||
2. | ||||
to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants for the year ending December 31, | ||||
to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 31, 2003April 5, 2004 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof.
If you plan to attend, please mark the appropriate box on your proxy card to help us plan for the meeting. Because of security requirements at Port Everglades, you should also call Investor Relations at 954-524-4200, ext. 333 and leave your name so that the Port has a list of attendees prior to the Meeting.
Your vote is important to the Company. We encourage you to sign and return your proxy card, or use telephone or Internet voting, before the Meeting, so that your shares will be represented and voted at the Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors, | ||
/ | ||
Alan R. Twaits | ||
Senior Vice President, | ||
General Counsel and Secretary |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
April 18, 200312, 2004
Seabulk International, Inc.
2200 Eller Drive
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
Tel: (954) 523-2200
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE20032004 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of the Common Stock of Seabulk International, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company of proxies to be used in voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 16, 200327, 2004 and any adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”).
The enclosed proxy is for use at the Meeting if the shareholder will not be able to attend in person. Any shareholder who executes a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by delivering to the Secretary of the Company either an instrument revoking the proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. A proxy also may be revoked by any shareholder present at the Meeting who votes his or her shares in person.
The Notice of the 20032004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy, and the 20022003 Annual Report to Shareholders were first mailed to Shareholders on or about April 18, 2003.20, 2004. The cost of soliciting proxies will be paid by the Company. In addition to solicitation by use of the mail, certain officers and employees of the Company may solicit the return of proxies by telephone, telegram, in person, or by electronic mail (e-mail). Arrangements also may be made with brokerage firms, custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to forward soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of Common Stock of the Company and the Company will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
All shares represented by valid proxies received pursuant to this solicitation and not revoked before they are exercised will be voted in the manner specified therein. If no specification is made, the shares will be voted FOR the election of the named nominees for election as Directors and FOR each of the other proposals set forth in the Notice of 20032004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and this Proxy Statement.
A plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting is required for the election of directors. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting is required for approval of all other items being submitted to the shareholders for their consideration. Abstentions will be considered present for purposes of calculating the vote, but will not be considered to have been voted in favor of the matter voted upon, and broker non-votes will not be considered present for purposes of calculating the vote. A Brokerbroker non-vote occurs if a broker or other nominee does not have discretionary authority and has not received instructions with respect to a particular item.
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Only holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on March 31, 2003April 5, 2004 are entitled to vote at the Meeting. On that date, 23,123,93823,407,529 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the Meeting. Holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are required to be represented in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum at the Meeting.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company’s amended Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-Laws provide for one class of Directors each with a term of one year. The Board currently consists of ten members, comprised of Messrs. Benacerraf, Cressy, Durkin, Huseman, Keiser, Kurz, Lapeyre, Leuschen, Moore, and Webster. At the Meeting, all ten directors are to be elected to serve for a term of one year or until their successors are duly elected.
Directors and Nominees
Nominees
The following are the nominees to serve as members of the Board of Directors:
Name | ||||||
Age | Current Position | |||||
Ari J. Benacerraf(1)(4) | 40 | Director | ||||
Peter H. Cressy(2)(3)(4) | 62 | Director | ||||
David A. Durkin | 35 | Director | ||||
Kenneth V. Huseman | 52 | Director | ||||
Robert L. Keiser(1)(2) | 61 | Director | ||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 64 | Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||
Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr.(1)(4) | 41 | Director | ||||
David M. Leuschen(3) | 53 | Director | ||||
Thomas P. Moore, Jr.(2)(4) | 65 | Director | ||||
Steven A. Webster(3) | 52 | Director |
(1) | Member of the Compensation Committee. | |
(2) | Member of the Audit Committee. | |
(3) | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. | |
(3) | Member of the Finance Committee |
Mr. Benacerraf,a director of the Company since September 2002, serves as a Managing Director of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC in the Merchant Banking Group, a position he has held since November 2001. Mr. Benacerraf joined Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation in November 2000 upon the merger with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where he was a Principal in the Merchant Banking Group since 1995. Mr. Benacerraf serves on the boardBoard of directorsDirectors of Frontier Drilling ASA, Localiza Rent-a-Car S.A.Amatek Holdings SA, UAE Holdings Corp., and International Health Services Argentina S.A..American Ref-Fuel Company. Mr. Benacerraf holds an M.B.A. degree from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University.
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Dr. Cressy, a director of the Company since March 2000, has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Inc. (DISCUS) since September 1999. Prior to joining DISCUS, he was Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth for six years. From 1991 to 1993, he was President of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Dr. Cressy, who has a Ed.D. in education from the University of San Francisco and is a Yale graduate, is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral. He joined the Navy in 1963. During his 28-year career, he held senior positions at the State Department, on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon and held major command assignments. He concluded his naval career as Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean and Commander, NATO Air Mediterranean during Operation Desert Storm. Dr. Cressy is a Director of the distilled spirits industry’s educational foundation, The Century Council.
Mr. Durkin,a director of the Company since September 2002, serves as a Director of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC in the Merchant Banking Group, a position he has held since January 2003. Mr. Durkin joined Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation in November 2000 upon the merger with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where he was a Vice President in the Merchant Banking Group since 2000. Prior to that, he served as a Vice President in the Leveraged Finance Group and other roles within investment banking since 1996. Mr. Durkin serves on the boardBoard of directorsDirectors of AKI, Inc., AKI Holdings,Merrill Corporation, and Prometheus Laboratories, Inc. and Merrill Corporation. Mr. Durkin holds an M.B.A. degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Huseman,a director of the Company since September 2002, serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of BASiC Energy Services, a position he has held since April 1999. Prior to that, Mr. Huseman held several executive roles at Key Energy Services and its predecessors, including serving as Chief Operating Officer between 1996 and 1999. From 1978 through 1993, Mr. Huseman held several senior operational positions at Pool Energy Services. Mr. Huseman received a B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas Tech University.
Mr. Keiserhas served as a director since March 2000. He is former Chairman of the Board of the Kerr-McGee Corporation, an international energy concern, from which he retired in 1999. He was previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Oryx Energy Company from 1995 to 1999, and Chief Operating Officer from 1991 to 1994. A graduate of the University of Missouri in Rolla, he joined the Sun Company, Inc. in 1965 and became Vice President of Planning and Development for Oryx when that company was spun off from Sun in 1988. Mr. Keiser is a member of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, is on the Board of Directors of Lone Star Technologies Inc. and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Mr. Kurzhas beenwas elected Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company sincein April 2000, was appointed President in September 2000, and was appointed Chairman in September 2002. He formerly served as President of Mobil Shipping and Transportation Company (MOSAT), a Mobil Oil-affiliated company from which he retired in March 2000. Mr. Kurz joined Mobil in London in 1964 as a Chartering Assistant. In 1965 he was transferred to Mobil’s Marine Division in New York. After a series of assignments, he was named Vice President of Planning, Middle East and Marine Transportation, and then President of MOSAT in 1989. Mr. Kurz is past Chairman of the Marine Preservation Association and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Bureau of Shipping and chairs its Audit Committee. He previously chaired its Finance and Nominating Committees. He also serves on the Boards of the Seamen’s Church Institute, the Coast Guard Foundation, and the Newport News Mariners’ Museum. He is a founding member and Chairman of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s International Business Advisory Council and a member of the International Advisory Board to the Panama Canal Authority. Mr. Kurz is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the International Maritime Hall of Fame Award, the 1999SeaTrade“Personality of the Year” award, the Seamen’s Church Institute Silver Bell Award, the Order of theU.S.S. St. Mary’sMedal from the State University of New York Maritime College, the U. S. Coast Guard Award and Medal for Meritorious
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Medal for Meritorious Public Service, and the Seafarers’ House International Golden Compass Award in 2003.Award. He holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Mr. Lapeyre,a director of the Company since September 2002, is a Founder and Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings LLC, responsible for sourcing and negotiating investments, as well as post-closing financial structuring and monitoring. In addition, he serves on the Fund’s Managing Committee responsible for all portfolio activity. Prior to founding Riverstone in 2000, Mr. Lapeyre was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he spent 14 years in the Global Energy and Power Group. Mr. Lapeyre currently serves on the Board of Legend Natural Gas, Magellan Midstream Partners L.P., CDM Resources, Frontier Holdings, Mariner Energy and InTank Services. Mr. Lapeyre received his B.S. degree in Finance/Economics from The University of Kentucky, and his M.B.A. from The University of North Carolina.
Mr. Leuschen,a director of the Company since September 2002, is a Founder and Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings LLC, responsible for sourcing and negotiating investments, as well as post-closing portfolio company monitoring. In addition, he serves on the Fund’s Managing Committee responsible for all portfolio activity. Prior to founding Riverstone in 2000, Mr. Leuschen spent 22 years with Goldman Sachs. He joined the firm in 1977, founded the firm’s Global Energy and Power Group in 1982, became a Partner in 1986, and remained a Partner with the firm until leaving to found Riverstone in 2000. Mr. Leuschen has served as a Director of Frontier Drilling ASA, Legend Natural Gas, InTank Services, and Mega Energy LLC, as well as a significant number of other industry-related business and nonprofit boardsBoards of directors.Directors. He is also owner and President of Switchback Ranch LLC, an integrated cattle ranching operation in the western U.S. Mr. Leuschen received his A.B. degree from Dartmouth College, and his M.B.A. from Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School of Business.
Mr. Moore,a director of the Company since December 1999, is a Principal of State Street Global Advisors and is a member of the State Street Global Advisors International Equity Team. From 1986 through 2001, he was a Senior Vice President of State Street Research & Management Company and was head of the State Street Research International Equity Team. From 1977 to 1986 he served in positions of increasing responsibility with Petrolane, Inc., including Administrative Vice President (1977-1981), President of Drilling Tools, Inc., an oilfield equipment rental subsidiary (1981-1984), and President of Brinkerhoff-Signal, Inc., an oil well contract drilling subsidiary (1984-1986). Mr. Moore is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Director of First Community Bank in Woodstock, VT. Mr. Moore holds an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Webster, a director of the Company since September 2002, is Chairman of Global Energy Partners, a merchant banking affiliate of CSFB Private Equity that makes investments in energy companies and has served in that capacity since 2000. From 19881998 to 1999, Mr. Webster served as Chief Executive Officer and President of R&B Falcon Corporation, and from 19971988 to 1998,1997, Mr. Webster served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Drilling Corporation, both offshore drilling contractors. Mr. Webster is on the boardBoard of directorsDirectors of Brigham Exploration Company, Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc., a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company,Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, Grey Wolf Inc., a publicly traded land drilling contractor, Camden Property Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, Crown Resources Corporation, a publicly traded precious metals exploration company, and Geokinetics, Inc., a publicly traded geophysical services provider. Mr. Webster is also serves on the boardBoards of directors of Basic Energy Services, Inc., Consort Croup, Ltd., Copano Energy Holdings, LLC, Encore Bancshares, Inc., Frontier Drilling, ASA, (has small public portion in Norway) Laredo Energy, L.P. and Medicine Bow Energy Corp., allseveral privately held companies.companies primarily in the energy industry. In addition, Mr. Webster serves as Chairman of Carrizo Oil & Gas, Crown Resources and Basic Energy.BASiC Energy Services, Inc., a privately held oil and gas service company. Mr. Webster is the founder and an original shareholder of Falcon Drilling Company, Inc., a predecessor to Transocean, Inc., and is a co-founder and original shareholder of Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. Mr. Webster holds a B.S.I.M. from Purdue
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University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Webster serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for Purdue.
4
Certain Board Information
The Board of Directors supervises the management of the Company as provided by Delaware law. The Board of Directors has threefour committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of the committees has a charter, which is available for viewing on the Company’s Web site at www.seabulkinternational.com. The Board has three independent directors, Messrs. Cressy, Keiser and Moore.
The Audit Committee hires the Company’s independent public accountants; oversees the Company’s financial reporting process and reports the results of its activities to the Board; reviews the work of, and approves audit services performed by, the independent public accountants; oversees the work of the Company’s internal audit department; makes recommendations to the Board; and administers the Company’s policy with respect to transactions with affiliated persons and with respect to grievances relating to accounting and controls. The Committee pre-approves the yearly audit plan of the independent public accountants. Its current members are Messrs. Moore (Chairman), Cressy and Keiser. Each member is independent as defined by the Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ. Consequently, the Company is not utilizing Rule 10A-3 exemptions from the SEC’s requirements for Audit Committee member independence. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Moore is a qualified financial expert as defined by the Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ. The Company has a Code of Business Conduct, which includes a hotline number for accounting and controls grievances. The Chairman of the Audit Committee can be contacted directly about such grievances through procedures in the Code of Business Conduct. The Code of Business Conduct is posted on the Company’s Web site and available for viewing at www.seabulkinternational.com.
The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors and the Company’s management the compensation and benefits of all executive officers of the Company and reviews general policy matters relating to compensation and benefits of employees of the Company. The Compensation Committee administerssupervises the administration of the Company’s Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan by reviewing and recommending for approval by the Board bonuses consistent with the Plan. The Compensation Committee has oversight responsibility for the Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan. ThePlan and reviews and approves grants under the Plan for review and ratification by the Board. Together with the CEO, the Compensation Committee is also responsible for executive succession planning. Its current members are Messrs. Keiser (Chairman), Benacerraf and Lapeyre.
The Finance Committee was formed in August 2003. The Finance Committee reviews and advises the Board and the Company’s management on the Company’s financial policies, plans and programs, capital structure, tax policies, as well as the Company’s credit facilities, credit ratings, insurance programs, investment management of the Company’s benefit plans and related matters. Its current members are Messrs. Moore (Chairman), Benacerraf, Cressy and Lapeyre.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews and advises the Board and the Company’s management on the Company’s external affairs programs, such as legal and regulatory compliance, communications and crisis planning programs, as well as the Company’s strategic initiatives. It also monitors the Company’s investor relations initiatives, corporate governance procedures, and internal, non-accounting grievance procedures. ItDr. Cressy, the Committee’s chairman, is the only independent member of the Committee. He can be contacted directly through procedures in the Code of Business Conduct for ethics and conflicts of interest grievances. The Committee reviews director qualifications and nominatesperformance on an annual basis and recommends directors for appointment and election to the Board of Directors, subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement among the Company and the Investors dated as of September 13, 2002. Each of
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the Board members up for re-election was found by the Committee to possess appropriate experience and background for the position. The Committee did not receive any other nominees for director from any other shareholders. The Committee does not have a policy with regard to consideration of director candidates recommended by shareholders. The Company does not believe that it is necessary or appropriate for the Committee to have such a policy due to the fact that the Company is controlled by two groups of shareholders who hold approximately 75% of the shares of the Company and that the Stockholders Agreement (see below) provides for selection of a majority of the Company’s directors by the controlling shareholders, as well as provisions governing the remaining directors. The Committee also reviews in detail the qualifications of the chairman of the Audit Committee and its members under SEC and Nasdaq requirements. The Committee has not established a formal process for shareholders to send communications to the Board, other than as set out elsewhere in this proxy. It has not done so due primarily to its status as a controlled company in which the controlling shareholders hold approximately 75% of the shares of the Company. Neither the Board nor the Committee received shareholder recommendations during 2003. Its current members are Messrs. Cressy (Chairman), Leuschen and Webster.
The Board of Directors held twelveten meetings during the year ended December 31, 2002.2003. The Audit Committee held eight meetings; the Compensation Committee held three meetings; the AuditFinance Committee, which was formed in August 2003, held ten meetings;one meeting; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held twothree meetings during 2002. After. The Company’s directors had an average rate of attendance of 91% at the Company’s equity transaction involving a change in control and a reconstitutedmeetings of the Board, 100% attendance at the meetings of Directors which was approved by the then existing shareholders on September 5, 2002,Audit Committee, 100% attendance at the new Board dissolvedmeetings of the Compensation Committee, 75% attendance at the one meeting of the Finance Committee, and External Affairs Committee and established a new89% attendance at the meetings of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Prior to their terminations, the Finance Committee held four meetings and the External Affairs Committee held two meetings during 2002. The Company’s incumbent directorsAnnual Meeting of Shareholders in 2003 was attended 100%by eight of the meetingsten directors. The Company encourages its directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and schedules a Board meeting on the same day. One director, Mr. Durkin, attended fewer than 75% of the Board and committees thereof, with the exception of Mr. Moore who missed the Board meeting of December 10, 2002.meetings.
Change in ControlStockholders Agreement
In September 2002 the Company completed the issuance of 12.5 million shares of common stock at $8.00 per share for $100 million in cash, less transaction expenses, to a group of investors led by entities includingThe Stockholders Agreement among Nautilus Acquisition, L.P., DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, (which we refer to as Nautilus in this proxy statement); C/R Marine Domestic Partnership, L.P., an affiliate of CSFB Private Equity,C/R Marine Non-U.S. Partnership, L.P., C/R Marine Coinvestment , L.P., and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund I,C/R Marine Coinvestment II, L.P., an affiliate of The Carlyle Group of
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Washington, D.C. The stock issuance was previously approved by (which we refer to as the Company’s shareholders at a Special Meeting held on September 5, 2002. The new investors also purchased approximately 5.1 million shares of outstanding Company common stock (including shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants) beneficially owned by accounts managed by Loomis, Sayles & Co., L.P. As a result of the two transactions, the investors owned approximately 72% of the fully diluted shares of common stock of the Company. Pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement with the investors, the Company’s Board of Directors was restructured to permit the investors to designate a majority (six of ten seats) of the Board.
The Shareholders Agreement among the investorsC/R Entities in this proxy statement) and the Company and amendments to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation includedinclude several provisions intended, for certain periods following the closing of the change of control investment transaction completed in September 2002, to ensure independent director oversight of affiliated party transactions and to provide certain protective rights to minority shareholders.
Controlled Company Status
New NASDAQ marketplace rules will require that the board of directors of NASDAQ listed companies consist of a majority of directors who are independent within the meaning of the rules. These rules also impose additional independence requirements on members of certain committees of the board. The Company has determined that, except with respect to the required independence of members of the Audit Committee, it is exempt from the application of these rules as a “controlled company,” as defined in the rules. The Company believes it qualifies as a controlled company under NASDAQ rules because more than 50% of the voting power of its capital stock is held by a single person, Nautilus.
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Director Compensation
Directors not employed by the Company are paid an annual retainer of $24,000;$24,000 plus $1,500 per Board meeting and $1,000 per Committee meeting ($750 and $500, respectively, if telephonic) attended; andattended. They are reimbursed by the Company for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred for attendance at such meetings in accordance with Company policy. All Committee chairmen not employed by the Company are also paid an annual retainer of $5,000.
Under the Stock Option Plan for Directors, each director not employed by the Company is granted annual stock options exercisable for 4,000 shares. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if not an employee of the Company, is entitled to receive annual stock options for 8,000 shares. In 20022003 each of the continuing outside independent directors, Messrs. Cressy, Keiser and Moore, was granted options to purchase 4,000 shares, and each of the four previoussix directors who resigned uponappointed as part of the Company’s equityinvestment transaction in September 2002 were also granted options to purchase 4,000 shares, with the exception of the former chairman, who was granted 8,000 shares.10,000 shares for their initial year of service. In his initial year, a director is granted options to purchase 10,000 shares. The six new directors are eligible for initial grants of options to purchase 10,000 optionsshares on the date of the Annual Meeting date in 2003 andMeeting. Thereafter each director not employed by the continuing directors, with the exception of Mr. Kurz, areCompany is eligible for grants of options to purchase 4,000 shares.shares on every Annual Meeting date.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the election of Messrs. Benacerraf, Cressy, Durkin, Huseman, Keiser, Kurz, Lapeyre, Leuschen, Moore and Webster as Directors to serve for a term of one year.
Election of directors requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Under the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement among the Company; Nautilus Acquisition, L.P. (which we refer to as Nautilus in this proxy statement); C/R Marine Domestic Partnership, L.P., C/R Marine Non-U.S. Partnership, L.P., C/R Marine Coinvestment, , L.P., and C/R Marine Coinvestment II, L.P. (which we refer to as the C/R Entities in this proxy statement); and Mr. Kurz, the parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement, other than the Company, have agreed, subject to the limitations described in the Stockholders’
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Agreement, to vote the shares of our common stock owned by them to cause our Board of Directors to consist of ten members and be constituted as follows:
• | four directors will be designated by Nautilus, | |||
• | two directors will be designated by the C/R Entities, | |||
• | one director will be our Chief Executive Officer, and | |||
• | three directors will be mutually acceptable independent directors. |
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Pursuant to the Stockholders’ Agreement and as recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors, the following personsPersons have been designatednominated to serve as directors:
• | Messrs. Benacerraf, Durkin, Webster and Huseman, as designees of Nautilus, | |||
• | Messrs. Lapeyre and Leuschen, as designees of the C/R Entities, | |||
• | Mr. Kurz, as our Chief Executive Officer, and | |||
• | Messrs. Cressy, Keiser and Moore, as |
Shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of the aforementioned candidates unless authority is withheld. If for any reason any of these directors is not a candidate for election as a director at the Meeting as the result of an event not now anticipated, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted for such substitute as shall be designated by the Board and the Investors pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.
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Executive Compensation
The following table sets forth, with respect to the Chief Executive Officer and each of the four other most highly compensated individuals serving as executive officers whose annual remuneration exceeded $100,000 (the “Named Executives”), the compensation earned for services rendered during the years 20002001 through 2002.2003.
Annual Compensation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Annual | Stock | All Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus | Compensation(1) | Awards(2) | Compensation(5) | ||||||||||||||||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 2003 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 1,167 | $ | 746,750 | (3) | $ | 13,920 | (6) | |||||||||||
President and | 2002 | $ | 394,327 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 1,114 | — | $ | 12,920 | ||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2001 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 315,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 296,250 | (4) | $ | 12,420 | ||||||||||||
Hubert E. Thyssen | 2003 | $ | 285,000 | $ | 46,000 | $ | 332 | $ | 96,900 | (3) | $ | 16,714 | ||||||||||||
Vice President - | 2002 | $ | 256,045 | $ | 60,000 | $ | 420 | $ | — | $ | 17,127 | |||||||||||||
Offshore Division | 2001 | $ | 256,045 | $ | 40,000 | $ | 420 | $ | — | $ | 16,547 | |||||||||||||
Vincent J. deSostoa | 2003 | $ | 215,000 | $ | 46,000 | $ | 167 | $ | 96,900 | (3) | $ | 12,896 | (6) | |||||||||||
Senior Vice President, | 2002 | $ | 116,458 | $ | 41,000 | $ | 12,000 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 2001 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Larry D. Francois | 2003 | $ | 197,051 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 7,827 | $ | 85,900 | (3) | $ | 7,640 | ||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and | 2002 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||
President of Seabulk Offshore, Ltd. | 2001 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Alan R. Twaits | 2003 | $ | 181,000 | $ | 36,000 | $ | 432 | $ | 92,900 | (3) | $ | 15,781 | (6) | |||||||||||
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and | 2002 | $ | 180,250 | $ | 44,000 | $ | 1,190 | $ | — | $ | 11,768 | |||||||||||||
Secretary | 2001 | $ | 170,333 | $ | 30,000 | $ | 175 | $ | — | $ | 6,705 |
Summary Compensation Table
Long-Term Compensation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Compensation | Restricted | All | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Annual | Stock | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus | Compensation(1) | Awards(2) | Compensation(3) | ||||||||||||||||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 2002 | $ | 394,327 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 1,114 | — | $ | 12,920 | ||||||||||||||
President and | 2001 | 350,000 | 315,000 | 1,000 | 75,000 | 12,420 | ||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2000 | 233,333 | 350,000 | 13,268 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Hubert E. Thyssen | 2002 | $ | 256,045 | $ | 60,000 | 420 | — | $ | 17,127 | |||||||||||||||
Vice President– | 2001 | 256,045 | 40,000 | 420 | — | 16,547 | ||||||||||||||||||
Offshore Division | 2000 | 256,045 | 25,000 | 250 | — | 15,390 | ||||||||||||||||||
Alan R. Twaits | 2002 | $ | 180,250 | $ | 44,000 | 1,190 | — | $ | 11,768 | |||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | 2001 | 170,333 | 30,000 | 175 | — | 6,705 | ||||||||||||||||||
Counsel and Secretary | 2000 | 12,424 | 8,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Andrew W. Brauninger(4) | 2002 | $ | 180,000 | $ | 25,000 | — | — | $ | 11,768 | |||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President - | 2001 | 180,000 | 32,000 | — | — | 11,268 | ||||||||||||||||||
Offshore Division | 2000 | 180,000 | 25,000 | 1,553 | — | 11,268 | ||||||||||||||||||
L. Stephen Willrich | 2002 | $ | 174,337 | $ | 30,000 | — | — | $ | 11,768 | |||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President - | 2001 | 172,917 | 22,000 | 2,800 | — | 11,268 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tanker Division | 2000 | 141,667 | 15,000 | 8,400 | — | 10,589 |
(1) | For 2003, reflects club dues in the amount of $1,167 for Mr. Kurz, $332 for Mr. Thyssen, $7,827 relocation expenses for Mr. Francois and professional dues of $167 for Mr. deSostoa and $432 for Mr. Twaits. For 2002, reflects |
8
association dues of $175 for Mr. | ||
(2) | The number and value of the aggregate restricted stock holdings of the Named Executives as of December 31, 2003 was 218,100 shares and $1,422,741, respectively. Of the aggregate, 28,100 shares of restricted stock will become non-forfeitable within three years from grant date, with those shares becoming non-forfeitable ratably in thirds on March 2, 2005, March 2, 2006, and March 7, 2007. Dividends will not be paid on the restricted shares. | |
(3) | For 2003, in addition to cash bonuses, bonuses in the form of restricted stock were granted to the Named Executives as set forth below. For Mr. Kurz, 75,000 shares of restricted stock become non-forfeitable on February 25, 2008; and 20,000 bonus shares become non-forfeitable ratably on March 2, 2005, 2006, and 2007. For each of Messrs. Thyssen and deSostoa, 10,000 shares of restricted stock become non-forfeitable on February 25, 2008; and 2,400 bonus shares become non-forfeitable ratably on March 2, 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively. For Mr. Francois, 10,000 shares become non-forfeitable on February 25, 2008; and 1,300 bonus shares become non-forfeitable ratably on March 2, 2005, 2006, and 2007. For Mr. Twaits, 10,000 shares become non-forfeitable on February 25, 2008; and 2,000 bonus shares become non-forfeitable ratably on March 2, 2005, 2006, and 2007. | |
(4) | For 2001, reflects 75,000 shares of restricted stock in exchange for 75,000 unexercised stock options awarded pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan. | |
For 2003, reflects 401(k) contributions of $12,000 each for Messrs. Kurz and Twaits, $10,750 for Mr. deSostoa, $7,000 for Mr. Francois, retirement plan contributions of $16,714 for Mr. Thyssen and life insurance premiums of $1,920 for Mr. Kurz, $896 for Mr. deSostoa, $640 for Mr. Francois and $768 for Mr. Twaits and $640 for Mr. Francois. For 2002, reflects | ||
Includes employer contributions to the deferred compensation plan of $1,250 for Mr. |
9
Stock Options
The were nofollowing table contains information concerning stock options or restricted stock granted to each of the Named Executives in 2002.2003.
Potential Realizable Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
at Assumed Annual Rates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Percent Shares | of Stock Appreciation for | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Shares | Underlying | Option Term(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Underlying | Options Granted | Per Share | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Options Granted | to Employees | Exercise Price | Expiration Date | 5% | 10% | ||||||||||||||||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 100,000 | 19.4 | % | $ | 8.00 | 02/25/13 | $ | 503,116 | $ | 1,274,994 | ||||||||||||||
Hubert E. Thyssen | 55,000 | 10.7 | % | 8.00 | 02/25/13 | 276,714 | 701,247 | |||||||||||||||||
Vincent J. deSostoa | 70,000 | 13.6 | % | 8.00 | 02/25/13 | 352,181 | 892,496 | |||||||||||||||||
Larry D. Francois | 60,000 | 11.6 | % | 8.00 | 02/25/13 | 301,869 | 764,996 | |||||||||||||||||
Alan R. Twaits | 60,000 | 11.6 | % | 8.00 | 02/25/13 | 301,869 | 764,996 |
(1) The dollar amounts are the result of calculations at specified rates of appreciation and are not intended to forecast possible future appreciation.
9
The following table contains information concerning the year-end value of unexercised options for each of the Named Executives:
Number of Underlying Unexercised | Value of Unexercised In-the-Money | |||||||||||||||
Options at December 31, 2002 | Options at December 31, 2002 | |||||||||||||||
Name | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 225,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Andrew W. Brauninger(1) | 23,334 | 14,666 | $ | 5,267.72 | $ | 10,532.28 | ||||||||||
Hubert E. Thyssen | 18,668 | 14,332 | $ | 5,793.86 | $ | 11,586.14 | ||||||||||
L. Stephen Willrich | 11,668 | 7,332 | $ | 2,107.72 | $ | 4,212.28 | ||||||||||
Alan R. Twaits | 7,334 | 14,666 | $ | 6,320.00 | $ | 12,640.00 |
Number of Underlying Unexercised | Value of Unexercised In-the-Money | |||||||||||||||
Options at December 31, 2003 | Options at December 31, 2003 | |||||||||||||||
Name | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 225,000 | 100,000 | $ | 429,750 | $ | 16,000 | ||||||||||
Hubert E. Thyssen | 27,001 | 60,999 | $ | 45,739 | $ | 25,191 | ||||||||||
Vincent J. deSostoa | — | 70,000 | — | $ | 11,200 | |||||||||||
Larry D. Francois | — | 60,000 | — | $ | 9,600 | |||||||||||
Alan R. Twaits | 14,667 | 67,333 | $ | 36,413 | $ | 27,807 |
Identification of otherOther Executive OfficersOfficers
Vincent J. deSostoa joinedIn addition to the Named Executives, other executive officers of the Company as Seniorare:
Michael J. Pellicci — Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer in June, 2002.Corporate Controller.
Larry D. Francois joined the Company asKenneth M. Rogers — Senior Vice President and President of Seabulk Offshore in January 2003.Towing.
Michael J. Pellicci joined the Company as Controller in January 2001 and was named Vice PresidentL. Stephen Willrich – Finance in May 2002.
Kenneth M. Rogers joined the Company as Vice President – Marketing, Seabulk Towing in October 2001 and was named Senior Vice President and President of Seabulk Towing in July 2002.Tankers.
10
Certain Transactions with Management and Others, and Certain Business Relationships
On August 5, 2003, the Company completed the offering of $150 million of Senior Notes (“Notes”) due 2013 through a private placement eligible for resale under Rule 144A and Regulation S. Credit Suisse First Boston LLC (CSFB) acted as our financial advisor, an initial purchaser of the Notes and joint-lead manager and sole lead book-running manager of the offering. CSFB received customary fees in the amount of $2 million for these services. CSFB is an affiliate of Credit Suisse First Boston (USA), Inc. One of Credit Suisse First Boston (USA), Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiaries, CSFB Private Equity, Inc., has a partnership interest in Nautilus GP, LLC, a general partnership which owns approximately 50% of the Company. The Company’s independent directors approved this transaction.
As part of the equity investment transaction culminating with the completion of the Stock Purchase Agreement among the investors and the Company oncompleted in September 13, 2002, the investors were paid a fee for participation in the equity transaction. DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P. and Carlyle/Riverstone Energy Partners, LP, affiliates of the investors, received an aggregate fee of $3 million from the Company, which was paid out of the proceeds of the stock sale.
As part of the equity transaction the Company, the investors, Nautilus Acquisition, L.P. (which we refer to as Nautilus in this proxy statement); C/R Marine Domestic Partnership, L.P., C/R Marine Non-U.S. Partnership, L.P., C/R Marine Coinvestment , L.P., and C/R Marine Coinvestment II, L.P. (which we refer to as the C/R Entities in this proxy statement) and Gerhard Kurz entered into a Stockholders Agreement dated as of September 13, 2002, which included provisions relating to the right of the investors to designate the majority of the directors on the Board of Directors, independent director oversight of affiliated party transactions, certain protective rights to minority shareholders, and related amendments to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.
10
Recent Grants in 20032004
On February 25, 2003,March 2, 2004, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors granted stock options for 345,00045,000 shares at $8.00market value of $10.00 per share that vest ratably over fivethree years and restricted stock for 115,00031,400 shares that vest at the end of fivebecome non-forfeitable ratably over three years to fiveeight senior executives of the Company under the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan. In addition, stock options for 175,000102,000 shares were granted on March 2 at market value of $7.29$10.00 that vest ratably over three years to 1913 other management employees.
Employment Agreements
The Company has an employment agreement, as amended, with Mr. Kurz to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer. The agreement, which expires September 13, 2007, provides for an annual base salary of $500,000, subject to annual review by the Board of Directors for possible upward adjustment based on Company policy and contributions made by Mr. Kurz. Mr. Kurz is eligible for a bonus targeted to 100% of his base salary, based upon the Company’s achievement of performance targets agreed upon annually. HeAs part of the employment agreement, he was granted options to purchase 75,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock upon effectiveness of the agreement, and options to purchase an additional 225,000 shares, 112,500 of which vested on January 1, 2001, and 112,500 of which vested on December 31, 2002, which grants were approved by the Company’s stockholders as part ofunder the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan in June 2000. On December 3, 2001 the options for 75,000 shares were cancelled and in exchange Mr. Kurz was granted 75,000 shares of restricted stock pursuant to the Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan. The forfeiture restrictions lapsed as to 25,000 shares of restricted stock on December 4, 2001, and will lapselapsed as to 50,000 shares on December 3, 2003. If Mr. Kurz’s employment is terminated by the Company “without cause” or for “good reason” (each as defined in the agreement), he is entitled to an amount equal to the sum of two times his annual base salary and two times his annual maximum bonus for the year in which termination occurs. His employment agreement was amended in September 2002 to extend the term to September 13, 2007, increase his annual base salary from $350,000 to $500,000, and change his severance from one year annual base salary and bonus for the remainder of the term to two times base salary and two times bonus.
In April 2003 the Company entered into Severance Agreements with four senior executives – Vincent deSostoa, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Larry Francois, Senior Vice President and President of Seabulk Offshore, Hubert Thyssen, Vice President and Senior Vice President –International– International of Seabulk Offshore, and Alan R. Twaits, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary – which would provide for severance payments in the amount of one year’s salary and one year’s bonus in the event of future
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involuntary terminations without cause, including terminations after a change in control. The Agreements have an initial term of two years, with renewals for additional two year terms unless terminated by the Company. The Severance Agreements do not require shareholders’ approval.
Benefits Agreements
In March 2003, the Company entered into a severance agreement with Andrew W. Brauninger in connection with his resignation as Senior Vice President and President of Seabulk Offshore. Under the agreement, the Company agreed to make a severance payment in the lump sum amount of $145,384. The agreement also includes provisions prohibiting Mr. Brauninger for a period from being involved in any business enterprise that competes with the Company and from disclosing or using the Company’s confidential information.
11
In July 2002, the Company entered into an oral severance consulting arrangement with William R. Ludt in connection with his resignation as Senior Vice President and President of Seabulk Towing. Mr. Ludt was paid $37,268 from July 2002 through January 2003 for consulting services provided.
In August 2000, the Company entered into a severance agreement with Eugene F. Sweeney in connection with his resignation as President and Chief Operating Officer. Under the agreement, the Company agreed to make severance payments to Mr. Sweeney aggregating $450,000 over an 18-month period from December 2000 to June 2002. The agreement also includes provisions prohibiting Mr. Sweeney from being involved in any business enterprise that competes with the Company and from disclosing or using the Company’s confidential information.
Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan
TheIn March 2003 the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in March 2003 adoptedrecommended and the Board of Directors approved a Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan for eligible management employees. The Plan establishesestablished a bonus pool for 2003 based on the Company’s targeted budget amounts for EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and for cash flow. Individual awards arewere based on various performance tests including EBITDA versus budget, cash flow versus budget, operating income versus budget, revenue versus budget, safety performance and individual performance, depending on whether the eligible employee is an administrative/corporate employee, operations employee or marketing employee. The purpose of the Plan is to incentivize management employees and align an important element of their compensation with the Company’s performance. The Plan does not require shareholder approval. Pursuant to the Plan the Compensation Committee recommended and the Board of Directors approved cash bonuses to 32 employees in the total amount of $732,500. In addition, seven senior executives were granted restricted stock, becoming non-forfeitable ratably over three years, in the aggregate amount of 31,400 shares, representing one-third of their bonus award and, in one case, two-thirds of his bonus award.
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan
In February 2003 the Company established an Executive Deferred Compensation Plan for highly compensated employees.employees as defined by the IRS. Under the Plan, such an eligible employee may elect to defer up to 50% of his salary and 100% of bonuses and grants of restricted Company stock for periods of at least five years or until retirement. Income tax on deferred amounts is payable when distributed to the employee after such deferral periods. The Company is permitted to make contributions to the Plan but has not to date elected to do so.Plan. Salary, bonus and restricted stock deferred by employees under the Plan are funded by the Company into a trust for the benefit of the eligible employees, whichemployees. The Company together with an outside consultant/administrator administers the Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan does not require shareholder approval.
12
Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee is responsible for supervising the Company’s executive compensation policies and reviewing, recommending and approving for review and ratification by the Board employee stock compensation awards under approved plans,plans. The Committee is also responsible for reviewing and approvingrecommending to the Board officers’ salaries and bonuses under the Company’s Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, approving significant changes in executive employee benefits, recommending to the Board such other forms of remuneration and compensation policies as it deems appropriate, compliance with SEC and reviewingNasdaq rules regarding executive compensation, and executive succession strategies with the CEO for approval by the Board.strategies. The Compensation Committee is composed of three directors who are not employees of the Company.
12
Compensation Philosophy
The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain, and motivate highly qualified and experienced senior management. The Compensation Committee believes that these objectives can best be obtained by directly tying executive compensation to meeting annual and long-term financial performance goals and to appreciation in the Company’s stock price. In accordance with these objectives, the total compensation program for the executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries consists of three components, which are examined and utilized by the Compensation Committee:
(1) | base salary; | |||
(2) | annual performance bonuses based upon achievement of company and business unit financial and operational performance criteria and individual performance | |||
(3) | long-term equity incentives such as stock options and restricted stock grants, which may vest over a period of years. |
To assist in making its decisions, the Committee utilizes outside consultants and data to assure the three components are aligned with the compensation philosophy. During the year the Committee meets with the executives of the Company and reviews Company performance to assist with its review of individual compensation. The Committee also receives detailed performance reviews and recommendations from the CEO on all executives to aid in its determination of individual recommendations to the Board.
Base Salary
The base salaries of the Company’s executive officers are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee and are set at levels reflecting the responsibilities of the position, the level of experience required to effectively perform the requirements of the position, individual performance, and individual performance.industry and comparable company standards. Base salaries are established in conjunction with individual performance evaluations and withon the recommendations of the CEO. The Company’s financial performance is an important factor. To assist in establishing salary levels, the Compensation Committee may from time to time take into consideration salary levels of executives at other comparable companies in the marine transportation industry and at other companies of comparable size in the geographic region of the Company.
Annual Bonus
The Company’s Management Annual Incentive Compensation planPlan is intended to promote superior performance by (i) aligning annual management incentive compensation with financial and operating performance metrics with those that create long term shareholder value and appreciation in the Company’s stock price, and (ii) making management incentive compensation a material and important part of an executive’s total compensation. In calculating such bonuses, the Compensation Committee examines both objective performance, in which a given executive’s performance is measured in terms of Company and business unitsunit financial and operational results compared to budgeted targets, as well as individual goals and subjective
13
performance. Management employees’ annualindividual bonuses are based upon a percentage of their base salaries, whichand can go up or down based on Company and business unit financial and operational performance as well as personal performance. The Company’s budgeted target bonus pool is calculated based upon athe target percentage of eligible executivesexecutives’ current salary, assuming companyCompany and individual performance goals are achieved. The bonus pool
13
amount can go up or down based upon the Company’s performance against budgeted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and cash flow.
For 2003 the Committee recommended and approved, and the Board reviewed and approved bonuses for executives generally below Plan target levels based on the performance of the Company and its business units. For seven key executives a portion of the bonus was paid in restricted stock, becoming non-forfeitable over three years, to further align them with the interests of the shareholders. The restricted stock was granted from shares under the Company’s approved Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan.
Long-Term Incentives
The Compensation Committee believes that it is important to provide executive officers incentive compensation based upon the Company’s stock price performance, thus aligning the interests of its executive officers with those of its shareholders and encouraging them to contribute to the Company’s long-term success. Executive officers are eligible to receive awards of stock options and restricted stock which vest over a period of years. These equity based incentive awards are structured to encourage key employees to remain in the service of the Company.
CEO Compensation
In setting the compensation payable to the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee seeks to achieve two objectives: (i) establish a level of base salary which is (a) competitive with that paid by comparable companies within the industry ; (b) competitive with that paid by companies outside the industry with which the Company competes for executive talent; and (c) commensurate with the high risks inherent in the waterborne transportation of petroleum and chemical products; the strict governmental regulation of such operations and large penalties provided by law in certain instances of groundings, collisions, and spills; and the complexities of the Chief Executive Officer’s duties and responsibilities growing out of the Company’s diverse operations within its three segments; and (ii) make a significant percentage of the total compensation package contingent upon the Company’s performance and financial results. The employment agreement for the Chief Executive Officer provides for base salary compensation and also targets annual bonus to salary. His bonus is also based on the Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan described above. For 2003 the Committee reviewed the Chief Executive Officer’s contribution to the Company’s improved financial and operating performance as well as recognized his efforts and role intogether with the Company’s restructuringfinancial and refinancing completed during 2002.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE | ||
Robert L. Keiser, Chairman | ||
Ari J. Benacerraf | ||
Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr. | ||
March |
14
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2002,2003, the Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Keiser, Benacerraf and Lapeyre. Prior to the equity transaction in September 2002, the Committee consisted of Messrs. Gaffney, Keiser and Shepherd. There were no Compensation Committee interlock relationships or insider participation for the year ended December 31, 2002.2003.
14
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board was composed of three independent directors during the fiscal year 2003. The Audit Committee operates under a charter, which was amended and approved by the Board in October 2003and which is attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement. (The charter is also available for viewing, like our other Committee charters, on our Web site at www.seabulkinterntional.com.) Under the guidelines of the written charter, adopted by the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the accurate preparation of the financial statements and maintaining the reporting process and systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, and the reasonableness of significant judgments.
The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61, and has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. l. In addition, the Committee discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management, the Company and the Board, including the matters in the written disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board.
The Committee engaged the Company’s independent auditors, and discussed with them the overall scope and plans for the audit.audit, and approved their remuneration for 2003. The Committee met with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Committee held teneight meetings during fiscal year 20022003 with the independent auditors.auditors present.
The Committee met with the Company’s management, and an independent accounting firm which was engaged to assist the Company in performing accounting and financial controls reviews and testing, in response to the requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act. In addition, the Committee reviewed with management the elements and compliance requirements of other applicable sections of the Sarbanes Oxley Act, including the independent director requirement for membership on the Audit Committee, the financial expert criteria for the chairman for the Audit Committee, and the disclosure and certification requirements of the CEO and CFO under the Sarbanes Oxley Act in connection with the filing of the Company’s financial reports.
During 2003 the Company also established an audit services department with an internal audit function which reports to the Committee.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the
15
audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20022003 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Committee and the Board havehas also recommended, subject to shareholder approval, the selection of the Company’s independent auditors for fiscal year 2003.
AUDIT COMMITTEE | ||
Thomas P. Moore, Jr., Chairman | ||
Peter H. Cressy | ||
Robert L. Keiser | ||
March |
Relationship with Independent Accountants
Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) is the independent accounting firm that audits the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries.
15Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
In addition to performing Ernst & Young, LLP (“E&Y”) is the independent accounting firm that audits the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and is the principal accountant for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements,Company.
Aggregate fees for professional services rendered for the Company by E&Y provided certainin 2003 and 2002 were:
2003 | 2002 | |||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 1,082,173 | $ | 837,363 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 58,121 | 85,439 | ||||||
Tax Fees | 28,296 | 84,106 | ||||||
Total | $ | 1,168,590 | $ | 1,006,908 | ||||
Audit fees relate to the audit related services and quarterly reviews, as well as the preparation of comfort letters, consents and review of documents filed with the SEC. Audit-related fees relate primarily to the audits of the Company’s benefit plans and accounting research and consultation. Tax fees relate to tax planning and consulting services during 2002. The aggregate fees billed for 2002 for the following categoriesand preparation and review of fees and services are set forth below.
Services | Fees | ||||
Annual Audit Fees | $ | 387,715 | |||
Audit-related Fees | $ | 215,008 | |||
Tax services | $ | 38,079 |
E&Y did not provide any services related to financial information systems design and implementation during 2002.our tax returns.
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit, audit-related, and non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent auditor prior to the engagement of the Company’s Board reviews summariesindependent auditor with respect to such services. In addition to separately approved services, the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policy provides for pre-approval of specifically described audit, audit-related, and non-audit services on an annual basis. The policy authorizes the Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services. None of the services provideddescribed above were approved by E&Y and the related fees and has considered whether the provision for tax services is compatible with maintaining the independence of E&Y.
On recommendation of the Audit Committee under the Board has appointed E&Y to audit the 2003 financial statements. Representatives from this firm will be at the Annual Meeting to make a statement, if they choose, and to answer any questions you may have.de minimisexception provided by Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) under Regulation S-X.
16
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the Company’s Common Stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company believes that each such person complied with such filing requirements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, except that a Form 3 for Hubert E. Thyssen due on August 15, 2002 was inadvertently not filed until February 27, 2003.
Common Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of March 1, 200310, 2004 by (i) each person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director of the Company and each nominee, (iii) each Named Executive, and (iv) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the Company believes that the beneficial owners of the Common Stock listed, based on information furnished by such owners, have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where applicable.
Shares | Percent | |||||||
Name and Address of | Beneficially | Beneficially | ||||||
Beneficial Owner(1) | Owned(2)(3) | Owned(2) | ||||||
Nautilus Acquisition, L.P(4) | 11,820,195 | 50.2 | % | |||||
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking Partners 11 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10010 | ||||||||
C/R Marine Non-U.S. Partnership, L.P.(5) | 3,757,500 | 16.0 | % | |||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19thFloor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
C/R Marine Domestic Partnership, L.P.(5) | 1,219,016 | 5.2 | % | |||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
C/R Marine Coinvestment, L.P.(5) | 512,999 | 2.2 | % | |||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 425,000 | 1.8 | % | |||||
C/R Marine Coinvestment II, L.P.(5) | 368,316 | 1.6 | % | |||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
Hubert E. Thyssen | 55,484 | * | ||||||
Alan R. Twaits | 45,000 | * | ||||||
Robert L. Keiser | 27,000 | * | ||||||
Thomas P. Moore, Jr. | 26,000 | * | ||||||
Peter H. Cressy | 22,000 | * | ||||||
Vincent J. deSostoa | 29,900 | * |
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Shares | Percent | |||||||
Name and Address of | Beneficially | Beneficially | ||||||
Beneficial Owner(1) | Owned(2)(3) | Owned(2) | ||||||
Nautilus Acquisition, L.P(4) | 11,857,405 | 49.9 | % | |||||
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking Partners 11 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10010 | ||||||||
C/R Marine Non-U.S. Partnership, L.P.(5) | 3,731,143 | (5) | 15.7 | % | ||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
Wexford Capital L.L.C | 2,431,801 | 10.2 | % | |||||
411 West Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 | ||||||||
C/R Marine Domestic Partnership, L.P.(5) | 1,210,368 | 5.1 | % | |||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
C/R Marine Coinvestment, L.P.(5) | 509,293 | 2.1 | % | |||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
Gerhard E. Kurz | 380,000 | 1.6 | % | |||||
C/R Marine Coinvestment II, L.P.(5) | 365,845 | 1.5 | % | |||||
c/o Riverstone Holdings LLC 712 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||
Andrew W. Brauninger | 38,000 | * | ||||||
Hubert E. Thyssen | 27,332 | * | ||||||
Alan R. Twaits | 20,666 | * | ||||||
Robert L. Keiser | 19,000 | * | ||||||
Thomas P. Moore, Jr | 18,000 | * | ||||||
Peter H. Cressy | 14,000 | * | ||||||
L. Stephen Willrich | 14,000 | * | ||||||
Ari J. Benacerraf(6) | — | * | ||||||
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking Partners 11 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10010 | ||||||||
David A. Durkin(7) | — | * | ||||||
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking Partners 11 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10010 | ||||||||
Kenneth V. Huseman | — | * | ||||||
Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr | — | * | ||||||
David M. Leuschen | — | * | ||||||
Steven A. Webster(8) | — | * | ||||||
All executive officers and directors | ||||||||
as a group (14 persons) | 525,998 | 2.3 | % |
Shares | Percent | |||||||
Name and Address of | Beneficially | Beneficially | ||||||
Beneficial Owner(1) | Owned(2)(3) | Owned(2) | ||||||
Larry D. Francois | 26,300 | * | ||||||
Ari J. Benacerraf(6) | 10,000 | * | ||||||
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking Partners 11 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10010 | ||||||||
David A. Durkin(7) | 10,000 | * | ||||||
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking Partners 11 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10010 | ||||||||
Kenneth V. Huseman | 10,000 | * | ||||||
Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr. | 10,000 | * | ||||||
David M. Leuschen | 10,000 | * | ||||||
Steven A. Webster(8) | 10,000 | * | ||||||
All executive officers and directors as a group (14 persons) | 716,684 | 3.0 | % |
* | Less than one percent |
17
(1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the persons whose name appears in the table above is: c/o Seabulk International, Inc., 2200 Eller Drive, P.O. Box 13038, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316. | |
(2) | Includes shares issuable upon the exercise of options that have vested and are exercisable within 60 days of the date of the filing of this | |
(3) | Includes shares of restricted stock issued but which only become non-forfeitable in the future. | |
(4) | Includes 11,737,830 shares of our common stock owned by Nautilus Acquisition, L.P. (which we are referring to as | |
(5) | The share numbers in the above table represent the shares of common stock owned by C/R Marine Domestic Partnership, L.P., C/R Marine Non-U.S. Partnership, L.P., C/R Marine Coinvestment L.P., and C/R Marine Coinvestment II, L.P. (collectively referred to |
18
investment discretion and control over the all shares held by the Carlyle/Riverstone Investment Partnerships directly through its capacity as the sole general partner of the Carlyle/Riverstone Investment Partnerships. William E. Conway, Jr., Daniel A. D’Aniello, David M. Rubenstein, Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr., David M. Leuschen and Jim H. Derryberry, as the officers and directors of C/R Marine GP Corp., may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares shown as beneficially owned by the Carlyle/Riverstone Investment Partnerships. Such persons disclaim such beneficial ownership. Each of the Carlyle/Riverstone Investment Partnerships may be deemed to beneficially own the shares by the other the Carlyle/Riverstone Investment Partnerships. Such partnerships disclaim such beneficial ownership. Such entities may be considered a group together with Nautilus and therefore be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned by Nautilus. Such entities disclaim any such beneficial ownership. | ||
(6) | Mr. Benacerraf disclaims any beneficial ownership of the shares referred to in footnote 4 above. | |
(7) | Mr. Durkin disclaims any beneficial ownership of the shares referred to in footnote 4 above. | |
(8) | Mr. Webster disclaims any beneficial ownership of the shares referred to in footnote 4 above. |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
18
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2003 about the shares of the Company’s common stock issuable under the equity compensation plans maintained for employees and directors.
Number of | ||||||||||||
securities | ||||||||||||
Number of securities to | Weighted average | remaining | ||||||||||
be issued upon exercise of | exercise price of | available for | ||||||||||
Plan category | outstanding options | outstanding options | future issuance | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 1,203,000 | $ | 7.35 | 1,203,164 | ||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | |||||||||
Total | 1,203,000 | $ | 7.35 | 1,203,164 | ||||||||
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the performance of the Company’s Common Stock to the cumulative total return to shareholders of (i) the stocks included in the NASDAQ National Market –— United States Index and (ii) the Company’s Peer Group Index for the same period, in each case assuming the investment of $100 on January 1, 1998.1999. The Company’s Peer Group Index consists of Kirby Corp., Maritrans, Inc., Seacor Smit, Inc., Stolt-Nielsen, S.A., Tidewater, Inc., and Trico Marine Services.
19
19
12/31/98 | 9/28/99 | 12/31/00 | 12/31/01 | 12/31/02 | 12/31/03 | |||||||||||||||||||
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC. | 100.00 | 10.62 | 182.50 | 71.00 | 110.60 | 163.20 | ||||||||||||||||||
PEER GROUP INDEX | 100.00 | 109.44 | 176.60 | 150.36 | 141.40 | 145.29 | ||||||||||||||||||
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX | 100.00 | 123.55 | 114.69 | 91.42 | 63.77 | 95.88 |
2. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC.AMENDED AND RESTATED EQUITY OWNERSHIP PLAN
Upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors unanimously approved, subject to the consideration and approval of the shareholders of the Company, an amendment of the Seabulk International, Inc. Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares of Common Stock (“Stock”) available for issuance under the Plan from 1,300,000 to 2,300,000. The Plan was originally approved by the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company in June 2000. Essentially all of the 1,300,000 shares currently in the Plan have been awarded, either as stock options or as restricted stock. The Board of Directors believes that the success of the Company depends in part upon its ability to attract and retain highly qualified and competent officers and employees. The Board of Directors believes that incentive-based compensation enhances that ability and provides motivation to such persons to advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Also upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors unanimously approved, subject to the consideration and approval of the shareholders of the Company, an amendment of the Plan to modify the current definition of “Change in Control”. The revised definition would add acquisition of 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company by means of a private equity or public equity offering to the definition. The dissolution or liquidation of the Company would also be added to the definition. The Board of Directors believes that this definition, as amended, will provide a more common definition of “Change in Control” customarily seen in employee stock compensation plans and will provide additional protection to employees in the event of a change in control through a private equity placement, public equity offering, dissolution or liquidation. An employee’s unvested stock options vest and restricted stock becomes non-forfeitable if an employee is terminated within two years after a change in control under the Plan.
A copy of the revised Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A. The following is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Plan, which summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan. Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this section shall have the same meaning given to such term in the Plan. The Board’s approval of the amendment to the Plan and recommendation that the shareholders adopt it follows the summary.
Material Features of the Plan
Administration of the Plan. The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”). The Committee has full authority to determine the officers and employees of the Company or its affiliates to whom awards will be granted and the terms and provisions of such awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee has full authority to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of the respective stock agreements issued under the Plan and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). The Committee’s decisions are final and binding on all participants in the Plan.
Participation in the Plan. Participants in the Plan are selected from among the officers and employees of the Company and its affiliates who, in the opinion of the Committee, are in a position to contribute
20
materially to the Company’s continued growth and development and to its long-term financial success. As of March 1, 2003, approximately 68 persons participate in the Plan.
Awards Under the Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards (collectively, “Awards”): (i) stock options, including “incentive stock options,” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and non-qualified stock options; (ii) stock appreciation rights, freestanding or granted in connection with all or any portion of a previously or contemporaneously granted Award; (iii) restricted stock; (iv) dividend equivalent rights; (v) performance awards; and (vi) phantom shares. Awards may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Subject to the Plan, the Committee generally has the authority to fix the terms and number of Awards to be granted under the Plan.
The exercise price for any option may be paid as follows: (a) in cash; (b) with Stock that has been owned by the holder for at least six months prior to the date of exercise having an aggregate fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price; (c) by tendering a combination of cash and Stock; and/or (d) in any other form of valid consideration that is acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion.
Stock Subject to the Plan. With the addition of the 1,000,000 new shares which are being requested herein for approval by the stockholders added to the 1,300,000 shares currently authorized and reserved, an aggregate of 2,300,000 shares of Stock will be authorized for issuance under the Plan, subject to adjustments as are appropriate to reflect any stock dividend, stock split or increase or decrease in shares of Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company. As 1,604,000 options and restricted stock have been granted to date under the Plan as of March 1, 2003, and 260,165 unexercised options have been returned to the Plan through retirements, terminations, or exchanges, 956,165 shares will be available for issuance under the Plan upon approval by the stockholders of this Amendment. Grants made above 1,300,000 shares were made contingent upon shareholder approval of the Plan amendment.
Effect of Certain Corporate Events. In the event of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company or tender offer for shares of Stock, the Committee may make adjustments with respect to awards and take such other action as it deems necessary or appropriate to reflect in anticipation of such merger, consolidation, reorganization or tender offer, including the substitution of new Awards, the termination or adjustment of outstanding Awards, the acceleration of Awards or the removal of restrictions on outstanding Awards.
Summary of Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Plan
Incentive Stock Options. No taxable income is realized by a participant and no tax deduction is available to the Company upon either the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. If a participant holds the shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option for more than one year after the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the incentive stock option and more than two years after the date of the grant of the incentive stock option (the “ISO Holding Period”), the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon the sale of the shares will be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss and no deduction will be available to the Company. If the shares are transferred before the expiration of the ISO Holding Period, the participant will realize ordinary income and the Company will be entitled to a deduction on the portion of the gain, if any, equal to the difference between the incentive stock option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise or, if less, the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the adjusted basis of the stock; provided, however, that the deduction will not be allowed if such amount exceeds an applicable deduction limitation and does not satisfy an exception to such deduction limitation. Any further gain or loss from an arm’s-length sale or exchange will be taxable as a long-term or short-term capital
21
gain or loss, depending upon the holding period before disposition. Certain special rules apply if an incentive stock option is exercised by tendering stock.
The difference between the incentive stock option exercise price and the fair market value, at the time of exercise, of the Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option may give rise to alternative minimum taxable income subject to an alternative minimum tax. Special rules also may apply in certain cases where there are subsequent sales of shares in disqualifying dispositions and to determine the basis of the stock for purposes of computing alternative minimum taxable income on subsequent sale of the shares.
Non-Qualified Stock Options.No taxable income generally is realized by the participant upon the grant of a non-qualified stock option, and no deduction generally is then available to the Company. Generally, upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be taxable to the participant as ordinary income. Such amount will also be deductible by the Company (assuming any Federal income tax reporting requirements are satisfied) unless such amount exceeds an applicable deduction limitation and does not satisfy an exception to such deduction limitation. The tax basis of shares acquired by the participant will be the fair market value on the date of exercise. When a participant disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option, any amount realized in excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise generally will be treated as a capital gain and will be long-term or short-term, depending on the holding period of the shares. The holding period commences upon exercise of the non-qualified stock option. If the amount received is less than such fair market value, the loss will be treated as a long-term or short-term capital loss, depending on the holding period of the shares. The exercise of a non-qualified stock option will not trigger the alternative minimum tax consequences applicable to incentive stock options.
Stock Appreciation Rights.No taxable income will be realized by a participant upon the grant of a stock appreciation right and no deduction will be available to the Company. Generally, upon the exercise of the stock appreciation right, the participant will realize taxable income equal to the cash or the fair market value (on the date of exercise) of the shares, or both, received, and the Company will be entitled to a deduction (assuming any Federal income tax reporting requirements are satisfied) unless such amount exceeds an applicable deduction limitation and does not satisfy an exception to the deduction limitation. The tax basis in any shares received will be the fair market value on the date of exercise and, if shares received are held for more than one year, the participant will realize long-term capital gain or loss upon disposition.
Restricted Stock.Unless a participant otherwise elects to be taxed upon receipt of shares of restricted stock under the Plan, the participant must include in his or her taxable income the difference between the fair market value of the shares and the amount paid, if any, for the shares, as of the first date the participant’s interest in the shares is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or such shares become transferable. A participant’s rights in restricted stock awarded under the Plan are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture if the rights to full enjoyment of the shares are conditioned, directly or indirectly, upon the future performance of substantial services by the participant. Where shares of restricted stock received under the Plan are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant can elect to report the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of receipt and the amount paid, if any, for the stock as ordinary income in the year of receipt. To be effective, the election must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days after the date the shares are transferred to the participant. The Company is entitled to a federal income tax deduction equal in amount to the amount includable as compensation in the gross income of the participant, unless such amount exceeds an applicable deduction limitation and does not satisfy an exception to such deduction limitation. The amount of taxable gain arising from a participant’s sale of shares of restricted stock acquired pursuant to the Plan is equal to the excess of the amount realized on such sale over the sum of the amount paid,
22
if any, for the stock and the compensation element included by the participant in taxable income. For stock held more than one year, the participant will realize long-term capital gain or loss upon disposition.
Dividend Equivalent Rights, Performance Awards and Phantom Shares.A participant who has been granted a dividend equivalent right, performance award or a phantom share award under the Plan generally will not realize taxable income at the time of grant, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction at that time. Whether a dividend equivalent right, performance award or phantom share award is paid in cash or shares of Common Stock, the participant will have taxable compensation and, subject to an applicable deduction limitation, the Company will have a corresponding deduction. The measure of such income and deduction will be the amount of any cash paid and the fair market value of any shares of Common Stock either at the time the award is paid or at the time any restrictions on the shares (including restrictions under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act) subsequently lapse, depending on the nature, if any, of the restrictions imposed and whether the individual elects to be taxed without regard to any such restrictions.
Effect of Termination of Employment. The Plan provides that in the event of termination of a participant’s service with the Company any Award under the Plan may be canceled, accelerated, paid or continued, as provided in the Stock Agreement or, in the absence of such provision, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine.
Termination and Amendment of the Plan. The Board of Directors may at any time amend or terminate the Plan. The Plan provides that no termination or amendment without the consent of the holder of an Award will adversely affect the rights of the participant under such Award.
Approval of the Proposed Amendment of the Plan
The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company have unanimously approved the amendments of the Plan. Amendments of the Plan require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Meeting.
The Board unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the adoption of the proposed amendments of the Seabulk International, Inc. Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan.
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3. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC.STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
Upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors unanimously approved, subject to the consideration and approval of the shareholders of the Company, an amendment of the Seabulk International, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Directors (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares of Common Stock (“Stock”) available for issuance under the Plan from 175,000 to 360,000. The Plan was originally approved by the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company in June 2000. Most of the 175,000 shares currently in the Plan have been awarded. The Plan currently does not have enough shares remaining to grant awards to the Directors after the Annual Shareholders Meeting as set forth in the Plan. The Board of Directors believes that incentive-based stock compensation provides additional motivation to Directors to advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Also upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors unanimously approved, subject to the consideration and approval of the shareholders of the Company, an amendment of the Plan to modify the current definition of “Change in Control”. The revised definition would add acquisition of 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company by means of a private equity or public equity offering to the definition. The dissolution or liquidation of the Company would also be added to the definition. The Board of Directors believes that this definition, as amended, will provide a more common definition of “Change in Control” customarily seen in stock compensation plans and will provide additional protection in the event of a change in control through a private equity placement, public equity offering, dissolution or liquidation. Directors’ unvested stock options vest upon a change in control under the Plan.
A copy of the revised Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix B. The following is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Plan, which summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan. Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this section shall have the same meaning given to such term in the Plan. The Board’s approval of the amendment to the Plan and recommendation that the shareholders adopt it follows the summary.
Material Features of the Plan
Administration of the Plan. The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee has full authority to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of the respective Stock Agreements issued under the Plan; and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). The Committee’s decisions are final and binding on all participants in the Plan.
Awards Under the Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of non-qualified stock options (“Awards”). The exercise price for any option may be paid as follows: (a) in cash; (b) with Stock that has been owned by the holder for at least six months prior to the date of exercise having an aggregate fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price; (c) by tendering a combination of cash and Stock; and/or (d) in any other form of valid consideration that is acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion.
24
Stock Subject to the Plan. With the addition of the 185,000 new shares which are being requested herein for approval by the stockholders to be added to the 175,000 shares currently authorized and reserved, an aggregate of 360,000 shares of Stock will be authorized for issuance under the Plan, subject to adjustments as are appropriate to reflect any stock dividend, stock split or increase or decrease in shares of Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company. As 144,000 options have been granted under the Plan as of March 1, 2003, and 31,000 shares currently remain to be granted and issued under the Plan, 216,000 shares will be available for issuance under the Plan upon approval by the stockholders of this Amendment.
Effect of Certain Corporate Events. In the event of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company or tender offer for shares of Stock, the Committee may make adjustments with respect to awards and take such other action as it deems necessary or appropriate to reflect in anticipation of such merger, consolidation, reorganization or tender offer, including the substitution of new Awards, the termination or adjustment of outstanding Awards, the acceleration of Awards or the removal of restrictions on outstanding Awards.
Effect of Cessation as Director. The Plan provides that in the event of cessation of a Director’s service with the Company, Awards shall be exercised within twelve months unless cessation is due to certain enumerated circumstances, including change in control, in which case they may be exercised until the expiration of the options.
Federal Income Tax Consequences.Under present federal income tax laws the grant of an option will create no federal income tax consequences for an optionee or the Company. Upon exercising an option, the optionee must recognize ordinary income equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise and the Company will be entitled to a deduction for the same amount.
Amendment of the Plan. The Plan provides that no termination or amendment without the consent of the holder of an Award will adversely affect the rights of the participant under such Award.
Approval of the Proposed Amendment of the Plan
The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company have unanimously approved the amendments to the Plan. Amendments of the Plan require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Meeting.
The Board unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote for the adoption of the proposed amendments of the Seabulk International, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Directors.
25
4.2. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2003.2004. The appointment of independent public accountants by the Audit Committee is submitted annually for ratification by the shareholders. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to respond to appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so.
Ratification of the selection of the Company’s independent public accountants requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the meeting. The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote forFOR the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2003.2004.
5.3. OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any additional business to be presented for consideration at the Meeting. Should any such matters properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will have discretionary authority to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such other matters and with respect to matters incident to the conduct of the Meeting. Certain financial and other information regarding the Company, including audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the last fiscal year, is included in the Company’s 20022003 Annual Report to Shareholders mailed with this Proxy Statement.
Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the schedules thereto by writing to Alan R. Twaits, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Seabulk International, Inc., 2200 Eller Drive, P.O. Box 13038, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33316. Additional copies of this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy also may be obtained from Mr. Twaits.
A list of shareholders of record entitled to be present and vote at the Meeting will be available at the offices of the Company for inspection by the shareholders during regular business hours from April 30, 2003May 3, 2004 to the date of the Meeting. The list will also be available during the Meeting for inspection by shareholders who are present. Votes will be tabulated by an automated system administered by Mellon Investor Services, LLC, the Company’s transfer agent.
In order to assure the presence of the necessary quorum at the Meeting, please vote by phone or Internet or sign and mail the enclosed proxy promptly in the envelope provided. No postage is required if mailed within the United States. Signing and returning the proxy will not prevent you from attending the Meeting and voting in person, should you so desire.
2621
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE20042005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Any shareholder who wishes to present a proposal for consideration at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 20042005 must submit such proposal in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In order for a proposal to be included in the proxy materials relating to the 20042005 Annual Meeting, it must be received by the Company no later than December 10, 2003.2004. If a shareholder intends to submit a proposal at the 20042005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders that is not eligible for inclusion in the proxy materials relating to that meeting, the shareholder must do so no later than February 28, 2004.2005. If such shareholder fails to comply with the foregoing notice provision, the proxy holders will be allowed to use their discretionary voting authority when and if the proposal is raised at the 20042005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Such proposals and notice should be addressed to Alan R. Twaits, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Seabulk International, Inc., 2200 Eller Drive, P.O. Box 13038, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33316.
27
APPENDIX A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EQUITY OWNERSHIP PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||||
SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||||||||
1.1 | Definitions | 1 | ||||||||
SECTION 2 GENERAL TERMS | 4 | |||||||||
2.1 | Purpose of the Plan | 4 | ||||||||
2.2 | Stock Subject to the Plan | 4 | ||||||||
2.3 | Administration of the Plan | 4 | ||||||||
2.4 | Eligibility and Limits | 4 | ||||||||
SECTION 3 TERMS OF AWARDS | 5 | |||||||||
3.1 | Terms and Conditions of All Awards | 5 | ||||||||
3.2 | Terms and Conditions of Options | 5 | ||||||||
(a) Option Price | 5 | |||||||||
(b) Option Term | 6 | |||||||||
(c) Payment | 6 | |||||||||
(d) Conditions to the Exercise of an Option | 6 | |||||||||
(e) Termination of Incentive Stock Option | 6 | |||||||||
(f) Special Provisions for Certain Substitute Options | 6 | |||||||||
3.3 | Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights | 7 | ||||||||
(a) Payment | 7 | |||||||||
(b) Conditions to Exercise | 7 | |||||||||
3.4 | Terms and Conditions of Stock Awards | 7 | ||||||||
3.5 | Terms and Conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights | 7 | ||||||||
(a) Payment | 7 | |||||||||
(b) Conditions to Payment | 7 | |||||||||
3.6 | Terms and Conditions of Performance Unit Awards | 8 | ||||||||
(a) Payment | 8 | |||||||||
(b) Conditions to Payment | 8 | |||||||||
3.7 | Terms and Conditions of Phantom Shares | 8 | ||||||||
(a) Payment | 8 | |||||||||
(b) Conditions to Payment | 8 | |||||||||
3.8 | Treatment of Awards Upon Termination of Employment | 8 | ||||||||
SECTION 4 RESTRICTIONS ON STOCK | 9 | |||||||||
4.1 | Escrow of Shares | 9 | ||||||||
4.2 | Forfeiture of Shares | 9 | ||||||||
4.3 | Restrictions on Transfer | 9 |
Page | ||||||||||
SECTION 5 GENERAL PROVISIONS | 10 | |||||||||
5.1 | Withholding | 10 | ||||||||
5.2 | Changes in Capitalization; Merger; Liquidation | 10 | ||||||||
5.3 | Compliance with Code | 11 | ||||||||
5.4 | Right to Terminate Employment | 11 | ||||||||
5.5 | Restrictions on Delivery and Sale of Shares; Legends | 11 | ||||||||
5.6 | Non-alienation of Benefits | 11 | ||||||||
5.7 | Termination and Amendment of the Plan | 11 | ||||||||
5.8 | Stockholder Approval | 11 | ||||||||
5.9 | Choice of Law | 12 | ||||||||
5.10 | Effective Date of Plan | 12 |
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EQUITY OWNERSHIP PLAN
Seabulk International, Inc. hereby establishes this Plan to be called the Equity Ownership Plan to encourage certain employees of the Company to acquire Common Stock of the Company, to make monetary payments to certain employees based upon the value of the Common Stock, or based upon achieving certain goals on a basis mutually advantageous to such employees and the Company and thus provide an incentive for continuation of the efforts of the employees for the success of the Company, for continuity of employment and to further the interests of the shareholders. This Equity Ownership Plan amends and restates in its entirety the Seabulk International, Inc. Stock Option Plan dated December 15, 1999.
SECTION 1 — DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include the feminine, the singular to include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and the following capitalized words and phrases are used herein with the meaning thereafter ascribed:
(a) “Award” means any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Performance Unit Award, Dividend Equivalent Right, or Phantom Shares granted under the Plan.
(b) “Beneficiary” means the person or persons designated by a Participant to exercise an Award in the event of the Participant’s death while employed by the Company, or in the absence of such designation, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate.
(c) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) “Cause” means conduct by the Participant amounting to (1) fraud or dishonesty against the Company, (2) willful misconduct, repeated refusal to follow the reasonable directions of the Board of Directors of the Company, or knowing violation of law in the course of performance of the duties of Participant’s employment with the Company, (3) repeated absences from work without a reasonable excuse, (4) repeated intoxication with alcohol or drugs while on the Company’s premises during regular business hours, (5) a conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving dishonesty, or (6) a breach or violation of the terms of any employment or other agreement to which Participant and the Company are party.
(e) “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) a tender offer shall be made and consummated for the ownership of 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors generally, (ii)the Company shall be merged or consolidated with another entity, or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall be sold or transferred to another entity if, in any such case, as a result of such merger, consolidation or sale, less than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the resulting entity eligible to vote in the election of directors generally (or comparable governing body) shall be owned in the aggregate by the former shareholders of the Company, (iii) a person, including a “group” (other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any member of the Existing Group), within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) or of Section 13(d)(3) (as in effect on the date hereof) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, shall acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors generally (whether
1
directly, indirectly, beneficially or of record), or (iv) the Company is to be dissolved or liquidated. For purposes hereof, ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include ownership as determined by applying the provisions of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) (as in effect on the date hereof) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For the purpose of this definition, a “member of the Existing Group” means any person or entity controlled by, or under common control with, any of Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity, Carlyle Group or Riverstone Holdings, LLC.
(f) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
(h) “Company” means Seabulk International Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(i) “Disability” has the same meaning as provided in the retirement plan maintained by the Company. In the event of a dispute, the determination of Disability shall be made by the Committee. In making its determination the Committee may, but is not required to, rely on advice of a physician competent in the area to which such Disability relates. The Committee may make the determination in its sole discretion and any decision of the Committee will be binding on all parties.
(j) “Disposition” means any conveyance, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation, whether outright or as security, inter vivos or testamentary, with or without consideration, voluntary or involuntary.
(k) “Dividend Equivalent Rights” means certain rights to receive cash payments as described in Plan Section 3.5.
(l) “Fair Market Value” means, for any particular date,(i) for any period during which the Stock shall not be listed for trading on a national securities exchange, but when prices for the Stock shall be reported by the National Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) or the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board Market (“OTCBB”), the last transaction price per share as quoted by the National Market of NASDAQ or the OTCBB, (ii) for any period during which the Stock shall not be listed for trading on a national securities exchange or its price reported by the National Market of NASDAQ or the OTCBB, but when prices for the Stock shall be reported by NASDAQ or the OTCBB, the closing bid price as reported by NASDAQ or the OTCBB, (iii) for any period during which the Stock shall be listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the closing price per share of Stock on such exchange as of the close of such trading day, or (iv) the market price per share of Stock as determined by a qualified valuation expert selected by the Board in the event neither (i), (ii), or (iii) above shall be applicable. If the Fair Market Value is to be determined as of a day when the securities markets are not open, the Fair Market Value on that day shall be the Fair Market Value on the next succeeding day when the markets are open.
(m) “Incentive Stock Option” means an incentive stock option, as defined in Code Section 422, described in Plan Section 3.2.
(n) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means a stock option, other than an option qualifying
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as an Incentive Stock Option, described in Plan Section 3.2.
(o) “Option” means a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option.
(p) “Over 10% Owner��� means an individual who at the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted owns Stock constituting more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Company or one of its Parents or Subsidiaries, determined by applying the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d).
(q) “Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, at the time of granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the company owns stock constituting 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
(r) “Participant” means an individual who receives an Award hereunder.
(s) “Performance Unit Award” refers to a performance unit award described in Plan Section 3.6.
(t) “Phantom Shares” refers to the rights described in Plan Section 3.7.
(u) “Plan” means the Seabulk International Inc. Amended and Restated Equity Ownership Plan.
(v) “Retirement” means a Participant’s termination of employment after attaining age 62.
(w) “Stock” means the Company’s common stock.
(x) “Stock Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and a Participant or other documentation evidencing an Award.
(y) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a stock appreciation right described in Plan Section 3.3.
(z) “Stock Award” means a stock award described in Plan Section 3.4.
(aa) “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, at the time of the granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock constituting 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
(ab) “Termination of Employment” means the termination of the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Company and its affiliates regardless of the fact that severance or similar payments are made to the Participant, for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a
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termination by resignation, discharge, death, Disability or Retirement. The Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Termination of Employment, including, but not by way of limitation, the question of whether a leave of absence constitutes a Termination of Employment, or whether a Termination of Employment is for Cause. In the event that a Participant who has been granted a Non-Qualified Stock Option hereunder ceases to be an employee but remains a member of the Board, no Termination of Employment shall be deemed to have occurred until the Participant ceases to be a member of the Board.
(ac) “Vested” means that an Award is nonforfeitable and exercisable with regard to a designated number of shares of Stock.
SECTION 2 — GENERAL TERMS
2.1 Purpose of the Plan. The Plan is intended to (a) provide incentive to officers and employees of the Company and its affiliates to stimulate their efforts toward the continued success of the Company and to operate and manage the business in a manner that will provide for the long-term growth and profitability of the Company; (b) encourage stock ownership by officers and employees by providing them with a means to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company by acquiring shares of Stock or to receive compensation which is based upon appreciation in the value of Stock; and (c) provide a means of obtaining and rewarding personnel.
2.2 Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.2, 2,300,000 shares of Stock (the “Maximum Plan Shares”) are hereby reserved and subject to issuance under the Plan. At no time shall the Company have outstanding Awards and shares of Stock issued in respect to Awards in excess of the Maximum Plan Shares. To the extent permitted by law, the shares of Stock attributable to the nonvested, unpaid, unexercised, unconverted or otherwise unsettled portion of any Award that is forfeited, canceled or expires or terminates for any reason without becoming vested, paid, exercised, converted or otherwise settled in full shall again be available for purposes of the Plan.
2.3 Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full authority in its discretion to determine the officers and employees of the Company or its affiliates to whom Awards shall be granted and the terms and provisions of Awards, subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and conclusive authority to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of the respective Stock Agreements and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). The Committee’s decisions shall be final and binding on all Participants.
2.4 Eligibility and Limits. Participants in the Plan shall be selected by the Committee from among those employees of the Company and its affiliates who, in the opinion of the Committee, are in a position to contribute materially to the Company’s continued growth and development and to its long-term financial success. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as at the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted) of Stock with respect to which Stock Options intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422 that become exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries shall not exceed $100,000;
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provided further, that if the limitation is exceeded, the Incentive Stock Option(s) which cause the limitation to be exceeded shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Option(s).
SECTION 3 — TERMS OF AWARDS
3.1 Terms and Conditions of All Awards.
(a) The number of shares of Stock as to which an Award shall be granted shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.2 and 2.4 as to the total number of shares available for grants under the Plan.
(b) Each Award shall be evidenced by a Stock Agreement in such form as the Committee may determine is appropriate, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
(c) The date an Award is granted shall be the date on which the Committee has approved the terms and conditions of the Stock Agreement and has determined the recipient of the Award and the number of shares covered by the Award and has taken all such other action necessary to complete the grant of the Award.
(d) The Committee may provide in any Stock Agreement a vesting schedule. The vesting schedule shall specify when such Awards shall become Vested and thus exercisable. Notwithstanding any vesting schedule which may be specified in a Stock Agreement, in the event of any Termination of Employment other than by reason of death or Disability within 2 years following a Change in Control the Awards granted under the Plan shall become 100% Vested and exercisable except to the extent that the exercisability of any such Award would result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(e) Awards shall not be transferable or assignable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant, or in the event of the Disability of the Participant, by the legal representative of the Participant.
3.2 Terms and Conditions of Options. At the time any Option is granted, the Committee shall determine whether the Option is to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option, and the Option shall be clearly identified as to its status as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. At the time any Incentive Stock Option is exercised, the Company shall be entitled to place a legend on the certificates representing the shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the Option to clearly identify them as shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option may only be granted within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date the Plan, as amended and restated, is adopted or approved by the Company’s stockholders.
(a) Option Price. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.2 and the other provisions of this Section 3.2, the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) per share of the Stock purchasable under any Option shall be as set forth in the applicable Stock Agreement. With respect to each grant of an Incentive Stock Option to a Participant who is not an Over 10% Owner, the Exercise Price per share shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date the Option is granted. With respect to each grant for an
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Incentive Stock Option to a Participant who is an Over 10% Owner, the Exercise Price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date the Option is granted.
(b) Option Term. Any Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who is not an Over 10% Owner shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the date the Option is granted. Any Incentive Stock Option granted to an Over 10% Owner shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the date the Option is granted. In either case, the Committee may specify a shorter term and state such term in the Stock Agreement.
(c) Payment. Payment for all shares of Stock purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be made in any form or manner authorized by the Committee in the Stock Agreement or by amendment thereto, including, but not limited to, cash or, if the Stock Agreement provides, (i) by delivery to the Company of a number of shares of Stock which have been owned by the holder for at least six (6) months prior to the date of exercise having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or (ii) by tendering a combination of cash and Stock. Payment shall be made at the time that the Option or any part thereof is exercised, and no shares shall be issued or delivered upon exercise of an option until full payment has been made by the Participant. The holder of an Option, as such, shall have none of the rights of a stockholder.
(d) Conditions to the Exercise of an Option. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times or upon the occurrence of such event or events, and in such amounts, as the Committee shall specify in the Stock Agreement; provided, however, that subsequent to the grant of an Option, the Committee, at any time before termination of such Option, may accelerate the time or times at which such Option may be exercised in whole or in part, including, without limitation, upon a Change in Control and may, except as provided in Section 3.2(e), permit the Participant or any other designated person to exercise the Option, or any portion thereof, for all or part of the remaining Option term notwithstanding any provision of the Stock Agreement to the contrary.
(e) Termination of Incentive Stock Option. With respect to an Incentive Stock Option, in the event of Termination of Employment of a Participant, the Option or portion thereof held by the Participant which is unexercised shall expire, terminate, and become unexercisable no later than the expiration of three (3) months after the date of Termination of Employment; provided, however, that in the case of a holder whose Termination of Employment is due to death or Disability, one (1) year shall be substituted for such three (3) month period. For purposes of this Subsection (e), Termination of Employment of the Participant shall not be deemed to have occurred if the Participant is employed by another corporation (or a parent or subsidiary corporation of such other corporation) which has assumed the Incentive Stock Option of the Participant in a transaction to which Code Section 424(a) is applicable.
(f) Special Provisions for Certain Substitute Options. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.2, any Option issued in substitution for an option previously issued by another entity, which substitution occurs in connection with a transaction to which Code Section 424(a) is applicable, may provide for an exercise price computed in accordance with such Code Section and the regulations thereunder and may contain such other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe to cause such substitute Option to contain as nearly as possible the same terms and conditions (including the applicable vesting and termination provisions) as those contained in the previously issued option being replaced thereby.
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3.3 Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted in connection with all or any portion of a previously or contemporaneously granted Award or not in connection with an Award. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant to receive the excess of (1) the Fair Market Value of a specified or determinable number of shares of the Stock at the time of payment or exercise over (2) a specified price which, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option, shall be not less than the Exercise Price for that number of shares. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Award may only be exercised to the extent that the related Award has not been exercised, paid or otherwise settled. The exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Award shall result in a pro rata surrender or cancellation of any related Award to the extent the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised.
(a) Payment. Upon payment or exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Company shall pay to the Participant the appreciation in cash or shares of Stock (valued at the aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of payment or exercise) as provided in the Stock Agreement or, in the absence of such provision, as the Committee may determine.
(b) Conditions to Exercise. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be exercisable or payable at such time or times, or upon the occurrence of such event or events, and in such amounts, as the Committee shall specify in the Stock Agreement; provided, however, that subsequent to the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee, at any time before termination of such Stock Appreciation Right, may accelerate the time or times at which such Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised or paid in whole or in part.
3.4 Terms and Conditions of Stock Awards. The numbers of shares of Stock subject to a Stock Award and restrictions or conditions on such shares, if any, shall be as the Committee determines, and the certificate for such shares shall bear evidence of any restrictions or conditions. Subsequent to the date of the grant of the Stock Award, the Committee shall have the power to permit, in its discretion, an acceleration of the expiration of an applicable restriction period with respect to any part or all of the shares awarded to a Participant. The Committee may require a cash payment from the Participant in an amount no greater than the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock awarded determined at the date of grant in exchange for the grant of a Stock Award or may grant a Stock Award without the requirement of a cash payment.
3.5 Terms and Conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights. A Dividend Equivalent Right shall entitle the Participant to receive payments from the Company in an amount determined by reference to any cash dividends paid on a specified number of shares of Stock to Company stockholders of record during the period such rights are effective. The Committee may impose such restrictions and conditions on any Dividend Equivalent Right as the Committee in its discretion shall determine, including the date any such right shall terminate and may reserve the right to terminate, amend or suspend any such right at any time.
(a) Payment. Payment in respect of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be made by the Company in cash or shares of Stock (valued at Fair Market Value on the date of payment) as provided in the Stock Agreement or, in the absence of such provision, as the Committee may determine.
(b) Conditions to Payment. Each Dividend Equivalent Right granted under the Plan shall be payable at such time or times, or upon the occurrence of such event or events, and in such amounts, as the Committee shall specify in the Dividend Equivalent Right; provided, however, that subsequent to the grant of a
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Dividend Equivalent Right, the Committee, at any time before termination of such Dividend Equivalent Right, may accelerate the time or times at which such Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid in whole or in part.
3.6 Terms and Conditions of Performance Unit Awards. A Performance Unit Award shall entitle the Participant to receive, at a specified future date, payment of an amount equal to all or a portion of the value of a specified number of units (stated in terms of a designated dollar amount per unit) granted by the Committee. At the time of the grant, the Committee must determine the base value of each unit, the number of units subject to a Performance Unit Award, the performance factors applicable to the determination of the ultimate payment value of the Performance Unit Award and the period over which Company performance shall be measured. The Committee may provide for an alternate base value for each unit under specified conditions.
(a) Payment. Payment in respect of Performance Unit Awards may be made by the Company in cash or shares of Stock (valued at Fair Market Value on the date of payment) as provided in the Stock Agreement or, in the absence of such provision, as the Committee may determine.
(b) Conditions to Payment. Each Performance Unit Award granted under the Plan shall be payable at such time or times, or upon the occurrence of such event or events, and in such amounts, as the Committee shall specify in the Performance Unit Award; provided, however, that subsequent to the grant of a Performance Unit Award, the Committee, at any time before complete termination of such Performance Unit Award, may accelerate the time or times at which such Performance Unit Award may be paid in whole or in part.
3.7 Terms and Conditions of Phantom Shares. Phantom Shares shall entitle the Participant to receive, at a specified future date, payment of an amount equal to all or a portion of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock at the end of a specified period. At the time of the grant, the Committee shall determine the factors which will govern the portion of the rights so payable, including, at the discretion of the Committee, any performance criteria that must be satisfied as a condition to payment.
(a) Payment. Payment in respect of Phantom Shares may be made by the Company in cash or shares of Stock (valued at Fair Market Value on the date of payment) as provided in the Stock Agreement or, in the absence of such provision, as the Committee may determine.
(b) Conditions to Payment. Each Phantom Share granted under the Plan shall be payable at such time or times, or upon the occurrence of such event or events, and in such amounts, as the Committee shall specify in the Phantom Share; provided, however, that subsequent to the grant of a Phantom Share, the Committee, at any time before complete termination of such Phantom Share, may accelerate the time or times at which such Phantom Share may be paid in whole or in part.
3.8 Treatment of Awards Upon Termination of Employment. Except as otherwise provided by Plan Section 3.2(e), any award under this Plan to a Participant who suffers a Termination of Employment may be canceled, accelerated, paid or continued, as provided in the Stock Agreement or, in the absence of such provision, as the Committee may determine. The portion of any award exercisable in the event of continuation or the amount of any payment due under a continued award may be adjusted by the Committee to reflect the Participant’s period of service from the date of grant through the date of the Participant’s Termination of Employment or such other factors as the Committee determines are relevant to its decision to continue the award.
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SECTION 4 — RESTRICTIONS ON STOCK
4.1 Escrow of Shares. Any certificates representing the shares of Stock issued under the Plan shall be issued in the Participant’s name, but, if the Stock Agreement so provides, the shares of Stock shall be held by a custodian designated by the Committee (the “Custodian”). Each Stock Agreement providing for transfer of shares of Stock to the Custodian shall appoint the Custodian as the attorney-in-fact for the Participant for the term specified in the Stock Agreement, with full power and authority in the Participant’s name, place and stead to transfer, assign and convey to the Company any shares of Stock held by the Custodian for such Participant, if the Participant forfeits the shares under the terms of the Stock Agreement. During the period that the Custodian holds the shares subject to this Section, the Participant shall be entitled to all rights, except as provided in the Stock Agreement, applicable to shares of Stock not so held. Any dividends declared on shares of Stock held by the Custodian shall, as the Committee may provide in the Stock Agreement, be paid directly to the Participant or, in the alternative, be retained by the Custodian until the expiration of the term specified in the Stock Agreement and shall then be delivered, together with any proceeds, with the shares of Stock to the Participant or the Company, as applicable.
4.2 Forfeiture of Shares. Notwithstanding any vesting schedule set forth in any Stock Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or its affiliates, in the event that the Participant violates a non competition agreement as set forth in the Stock Agreement, all Awards and shares of Stock issued to the holder pursuant to the Plan shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Company shall return to the holder the lesser of any consideration paid by the Participant in exchange for Stock issued to the Participant pursuant to the Plan or the then Fair Market Value of the Stock forfeited hereunder.
4.3 Restrictions on Transfer. The Participant shall not have the right to make or permit to exist any Disposition of the shares of Stock issued pursuant to the Plan except as provided in the Plan or the Stock Agreement. Any Disposition of the shares of Stock issued under the Plan by the Participant not made in accordance with the Plan or the Stock Agreement shall be void. The Company shall not recognize, or have the duty to recognize, any Disposition not made in accordance with the Plan and the Stock Agreement, and the shares so transferred shall continue to be bound by the Plan and the Stock Agreement.
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SECTION 5 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.1 Withholding. The Company shall deduct from all cash distributions under the Plan any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state or local government. Whenever the Company proposes or is required to issue or transfer shares of Stock under the Plan or upon the vesting of any Stock Award, the Company shall have the right to require the recipient to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares or the vesting of such Stock Award. A Participant may pay the withholding tax in cash, or, if the Stock Agreement provides, a Participant may also elect to have the number of shares of Stock he is to receive reduced by, or with respect to a Stock Award, tender back to the Company, the smallest number of whole shares of Stock which, when multiplied by the Fair Market Value of the shares determined as of the Tax Date (defined below), is sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local, if any, withholding taxes arising from exercise or payment of an Award (a “Withholding Election”). A Participant may make a Withholding Election only if both of the following conditions are met:
(a) The Withholding Election must be made on or prior to the date on which the amount of tax required to be withheld is determined (the “Tax Date”) by executing and delivering to the Company a properly completed notice of Withholding Election as prescribed by the Committee; and
(b) Any Withholding Election made will be irrevocable; however, the Committee may in its sole discretion approve and give no effect to the Withholding Election.
5.2 Changes in Capitalization; Merger; Liquidation.
(a) The number of shares of Stock reserved for the grant of Options, Dividend Equivalent Rights, Performance Unit Awards, Phantom Shares, Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Awards; the number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise or payment, as applicable, of each outstanding Option, Dividend Equivalent Right, Performance Unit Award, Phantom Share and Stock Appreciation Right and upon vesting or grant, as applicable, of each Stock Award; the Exercise Price of each outstanding Option and the specified number of shares of Stock to which each outstanding Dividend Equivalent Right, Phantom Share and Stock Appreciation Right pertains shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock resulting from a subdivision or combination of shares or the payment of a stock dividend in shares of Stock to holders of outstanding shares of Stock or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Stock outstanding effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.
(b) In the event of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company or tender offer for shares of Stock, the Committee may make such adjustments with respect to awards and take such other action as it deems necessary or appropriate to reflect or in anticipation of such merger, consolidation, reorganization or tender offer, including, without limitation, the substitution of new awards, the termination or adjustment of outstanding awards, the acceleration of awards or the removal of restrictions on outstanding awards. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section 5.2 may provide, in the Committee’s discretion, for the elimination without payment therefor of any fractional shares that might otherwise become subject to any Award.
(c) The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, reclassification,
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reorganization or other change in its capital or business structure, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities having preferences or priorities as to the Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or any part of its business or assets, or any other corporate act or proceeding.
5.3 Compliance with Code. All Incentive Stock Options to be granted hereunder are intended to comply with Code Section 422, and all provisions of the Plan and all Incentive Stock Options granted hereunder shall be construed in such manner as to effectuate that intent.
5.4 Right to Terminate Employment. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue as an employee or officer of the Company or any of its affiliates or affect the right of the Company or any of its affiliates to terminate the Participant’s employment at any time.
5.5 Restrictions on Delivery and Sale of Shares; Legends. Each Award is subject to the condition that if at any time the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares covered by such Award upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law is necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with the granting of such Award or the purchase or delivery of shares thereunder, the delivery of any or all shares pursuant to such Award may be withheld unless and until such listing, registration or qualification shall have been effected. If a registration statement is not in effect under the Securities Act of 1933 or any applicable state securities laws with respect to the shares of Stock purchasable or otherwise deliverable under Awards then outstanding, the Committee may require, as a condition of exercise of any Option or as a condition to any other delivery of Stock pursuant to an Award, that the Participant or other recipient of an Award represent, in writing, that the shares received pursuant to the Award are being acquired for investment and not with a view to distribution and agree that shares will not be disposed of except pursuant to an effective registration statement, unless the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel that such disposition is exempt from such requirement under the Securities Act of 1933 and any applicable state securities laws. The Company may include on certificates representing shares delivered pursuant to an Award such legends referring to the foregoing representations or restrictions or any other applicable restrictions on resale as the Company, in its discretion, shall deem appropriate.
5.6 Non-alienation of Benefits. Other than as specifically provided with regard to the death of a Participant, no benefit under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge; and any attempt to do so shall be void. No such benefit shall, prior to receipt by the Participant, be in any manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of the Participant.
5.7 Termination and Amendment of the Plan. The Board of Directors at any time may amend or terminate the Plan without stockholder approval; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may condition any amendment on the approval of stockholders of the Company if such approval is necessary or advisable with respect to tax, securities or other applicable laws. No such termination or amendment without the consent of the holder of an Award shall adversely affect the rights of the Participant under such Award.
5.8 Stockholder Approval. The Plan shall be approved by the holders of a majority of the Shares of Stock entitled to vote represented in person or by proxy at a meeting duly called.
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5.9 Choice of Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the Plan, to the extent not preempted by federal law.
5.10 Effective Date of Plan. The Plan, as amended and restated, shall become effective upon the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company.
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC. | |||||||
By: | /s/ Alan R. Twaits | ||||||
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APPENDIX B
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
FOR DIRECTORS
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
Article I
Establishment, Purpose and Effective Date of Plan
1.1 Establishment.
1.2 Purpose.
1.3 Effective Date.
Article II–Definitions
2.1 Definitions.
Whenever used herein, the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include the feminine, the singular to include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and the following capitalized words and phrases are used herein with the meaning thereafter ascribed:
1
2
Article III – Eligibility and Participation
3
Article IV – Administration
Article V – Stock Subject To Plan
5.1 Number.
5.2 Unused Stock.
5.3 Adjustment in Capitalization.
4
Article VI – Duration of Plan
Article VII – Terms of Options
7.1 Grant of Options.
7.2 Stock Option Agreement.
7.3 Exercise Price.
7.4 Duration of Options.
5
7.5 Vesting of Options.
7.6 Nontransferability of Options.
7.7 Restriction on Stock Transferability.
7.8 Exercise of Options.
7.9 Purchase for Investment.
6
Article VIII – Cessation As Director
Article IX – Amendment, Modification and Termination of Plan
7
Article X – Tax Withholding
Article XI – Unfunded Plan
Article XII – No Right To Remain A Director
Article XIII – Requirement of Law
13.1 Requirement of Law.
13.2 Governing Law.
8
922
EXHIBIT A
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Organization
This charter governs the operations of the Audit Committee. The Committee shall review and reassess the charter annually and obtain the approval of the Board of Directors for any revisions. The Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall comprise at least three directors, each of whom is independent of management and the Company. Members of the Committee shall be considered independent if they have no relationship that may interfere with the exercise of their independence from management and the Company and if they are otherwise in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, SEC rules, and NASDAQ rules. All Committee members shall be financially literate, or shall become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after appointment to the Committee, and at least one member shall have accounting or related financial and/or financial management expertise in order to qualify as a financial expert under SEC rules.
Statement of Policy
The Audit Committee shall provide assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility to the shareholders, the investment community, and others. This oversight responsibility relates to the Company’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, the internal audit function, the annual independent audit of the Company’s financial statements, and the legal compliance and ethics programs, including employee complaint and grievance procedures relating to internal financial controls and accounting as established by management and the Board and reviewed and monitored by the Committee. In so doing, it is the responsibility of the Committee to maintain free and open communication among its members, the independent auditors, the internal auditors and management of the Company. In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access to all books, records, facilities, and personnel of the Company and the power to retain independent outside counsel, consultants, or other experts for this purpose.
Responsibilities and Processes
The primary responsibility of the Audit Committee is to oversee the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board and report the results of its activities to the Board. Management is responsible for preparing the Company’s financial statements, and the independent auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Committee, in carrying out its responsibilities, believes its policies and procedures should remain flexible, in order to best react to changing conditions and circumstances. The Committee should take the appropriate actions to set the overall corporate “tone” for quality financial reporting, sound business risk practices, and ethical behavior. Additionally, the Audit Committee shall have responsibility for hiring and firing the Company’s independent external auditors, and for fee arrangements with the independent external auditors.
23
The following shall be the principal recurring processes of the Audit Committee in carrying out its oversight responsibilities. The processes are set forth as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may supplement them as appropriate.
24
[card front]
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SEABULK INTERNATIONAL, INC. — COMMON STOCK PROXY — for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:30 a.m. local time, Friday,Thursday, May 16, 200327, 2004 at the Port Everglades Administration Building, 1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The undersigned hereby appoints Gerhard E. Kurz and Alan R. Twaits, or either of them, with full power of substitution, as Proxies to represent and vote all of the shares of Common Stock of Seabulk International, Inc. held of record by the undersigned at the above-stated Annual Meeting, and any adjournments thereof, upon the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated April 18, 2003,12, 2004, as follows:
1. | ELECTION OF TEN DIRECTORS FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM | |||
Nominees: Ari J. Benacerraf, Peter H. Cressy, David A. Durkin, Kenneth V. Huseman, Robert L. Keiser, Gerhard E. Kurz, Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr., David M. Leuschen, Thomas P. Moore, Jr. and Steven A. Webster |
/ / | FOR all Nominees | / / | WITHHELD as to all Nominees |
FOR, except vote withheld as to the following nominee(s): |
/ / |
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, |
/ / | FOR | / / | AGAINST | / / | ABSTAIN |
TO TRANSACT SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF. |
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted as specified.If no specification is made, it will be voted for Messrs. Benacerraf, Cressy, Durkin, Huseman, Keiser, Kurz, Lapeyre, Leuschen, Moore and Webster as Directors, for proposalsproposal 2, 3 and 4, and in the discretion of the Proxy or Proxies on any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
[card reverse]
Joint owners must EACH sign. Please sign EXACTLY as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy. When signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian or corporate officer, please give your FULL title.
MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING / / CALL 954-524-4200, x333 TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE.
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE BELOW / /
Any proxy heretofore given by the undersigned with respect to such stock is hereby revoked. Receipt of the Notice of the 20032004 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and 20022003 Annual Report to Shareholders is hereby acknowledged. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
SIGNATURE | DATE | SIGNATURE | DATE |
Vote by Internet or Telephone or Mail
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
Internet: http://www.proxyvote.com — Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the Web site. You will be prompted to enter your control number, located in the box below, to create and submit an electronic ballot.
OR
Telephone: 1-800-840-1208 – Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you call. You will be prompted to enter your control number, located in the box below, and then follow the directions given.
OR
Mail: Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone,
you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.