UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

 

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xDefinitive Proxy Statement

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PRIMEENERGY CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

PrimeEnergy Corporation

TO BE HELD

May 25, 20112, 2013

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of PrimeEnergy Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on Wednesday,Thursday, May 25, 2011,2, 2013, at 9:00 a.m., EDT, at the offices of the Company, One Landmark Square, 11th Floor, Stamford, CTConnecticut 06901, for the following purposes:

1. To elect a Board of Directors of seven (7) persons as nominated in the accompanying Proxy Statement, such Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected;

2. An advisory (non-binding) vote to approve our executive compensation as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement;

3. An advisory (non-binding) vote on the frequency of future votes on executive compensation, and

2.4. To transact such other procedural business as may properly be brought before the Meeting or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

The Meeting may be adjourned from time to time without other notice than by announcement at the Meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, and any and all business for which the Meeting is hereby noticed may be transacted at any such adjournment.

The Board of Directors has fixed April 7, 2011,March 26, 2013, as the date for the taking of a record of the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. The stock transfer books will not be closed.

Enclosed is a form of proxy solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. Stockholders who do not plan to attend the Meeting in person are requested to date, sign and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope, to which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States. Your proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised and will not be used if you attend the Meeting and prefer to vote in person.

 

 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

/S/ JAMES F. GILBERT

 J/s/ PAMESATRICIA F. GC. DILBERTELANEY
PATRICIA C. DELANEY
 Secretary
April 20, 2011

April 5, 2013

Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of

Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders

to be Heldheld on May 25, 20112, 2013

The proxy material for this Annual Meeting and the Company’s 20102012 Annual Report

to Stockholders are available at www.RRDEZProxy.com/2011/2013/PrimeEnergyCorporation


PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

General InformationGENERAL INFORMATION

   1  

Matters to be PresentedVoted on at the Annual Meeting

   1  

Vote Required

   1  

Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and ManagementSECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN

BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

   2  

Election of DirectorsELECTION OF DIRECTORS

   34  

Directors and Nominees

   3

Committees of the Board of Directors

4  

Executive OfficersTRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

   6  

Transactions With Related PersonsCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

   6  

ExecutiveBoard Independence and Director CompensationComposition

   6

Board Leadership

6

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

6

Board Meetings

6

Board Attendance at Annual Meeting

7

Committees of the Board

7

Executive Committee

7

Audit Committee

7

Compensation Committee

7

The Board as Nominating Committee

8

EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

8

Compensation Overview

8  

Summary Compensation Table

   69  

Director Compensation

7

Compensation Committee Report

7

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

7

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

   810

Unexercised Options

10

Director Compensation

10  

Unexercised Options and Fiscal Year-End Option ValuesADVISORY NON-BINDING VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

   810  

Audit Committee ReportADVISORY NON-BINDING VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF SAY-ON-PAY VOTE

   811  

Code of Business Conduct and EthicsAUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

   911  

Risk OversightCODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

   912  

SectionSECTION 16(a) Beneficial Owner ComplianceBENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

   912  

Independent Public AccountantsINDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS — Fees and ServicesFEES AND SERVICES

   912  

Stockholders’ ProposalsSTOCKHOLDERS’ PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS

   913  

Annual Report and Financial StatementsCOMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   9

Charter and Powers of the Audit Committee

A-1

Compensation Committee Charter

B-113  


PrimeEnergy Corporation

One Landmark Square9821 Katy Freeway

Stamford, Connecticut 06901Houston, Texas 77024

PROXY STATEMENT

Solicitation by the Board of Directors of Proxies from

Stockholders for Annual Meeting of Stockholders

May 25, 20112, 2013

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Board of Directors of PrimeEnergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (hereinafter called the “Company”) solicits your proxy in the enclosed form which, if you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company on Wednesday,Thursday, May 25, 2011,2, 2013, you are requested to fill out, sign as indicated and return to the Company in the enclosed self-addressed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before it is exercised by notice (i) in person by the stockholder’s oral revocation at the Annual Meeting or (2) in writing to the Company.Company at One Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut 06901 (Attention: Corporate Secretary), if the proxy was executed and returned. The approximate date on which the proxy statement and form of proxy will be sent to security holders is April 20, 2010.5, 2013.

Proxies are being solicited by mail and all expenses of solicitation have been or will be borne by the Company. In addition, arrangements may be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy material to their principals and the Company will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 7, 2011,March 26, 2013 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to vote at the 20112013 Annual Meeting. At that date,Meeting and any adjournment thereof. There were 2,501,138 shares of common stock (“Common Stock”) outstanding on the Company had outstanding andRecord Date. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to vote 2,759,555 shares of Common Stock,on the proposals presented in this Proxy Statement for each share held, each share entitling the record holder thereof to one vote.

Matters to be PresentedVoted on at the Annual Meeting

The only matterThere are three (3) proposals that are scheduled to be presentedvoted on at thisthe Annual Meeting isMeeting. Shareholders are being asked to vote on (1) the election of seven (7) Directors named below. Please see “Electionherein to the Board of Directors” at page 3.Directors of the Company, (2) an advisory (non-binding) vote to approve the executive compensation paid as described in this Proxy Statement, and (3) an advisory (non-binding) vote on the frequency of future votes on executive compensation. .

Vote Required

All shares of the Company represented by proxies received in time and in proper form and condition and not revoked will be voted as specified in the proxy; or in the absence of specific direction, the proxy will be voted by the person designated therein:

FOR the election as Directors of the Company of the seven (7) nominees named below,herein, to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors shall be duly elected. elected;

FOR the approval of executive compensation, and

FOR a three year frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

In the event any of the nominees should become unable to serve as a Director, it is intended that, pursuant to the proxiesaccompanying form of proxy, votes will be voted in accordance withcast for a substitute nominee designated by the best judgmentBoard of the person acting under it.Directors.

The election of Directors will require the affirmative votes of a plurality of the shares of the Common Stock voting in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. The Company’s transfer agent will tabulate all votes whichthat are received prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. The Company will appoint two inspectors of election, who may be officers or employees, to receive the transfer agent’s tabulation, to tabulate all other votes, and to certify the results of the elections. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the determination of the number of shares present and voting (i.e., for quorum purposes), but shall not be counted for the purposes of the election of Directors.

As to the advisory vote for the approval of the compensation paid to the named executive officers described in this proxy statement, the approval will be determined by a majority of the votes cast, without regard to broker non-votes or proxies marked “Abstain.” With respect to the advisory vote on the frequency of future votes on executive compensation, a shareholder may vote for 1, 2 or 3 years, or may abstain, and the advisory vote on frequency will be determined by the number of years that receives the most votes cast.

The management knows of no mattermatters to be submitted to the 20112013 Annual Meeting with respect to which the stockholders are entitled to vote other than the election of Directors and the two (2) advisory (non-binding) votes described above, but if procedural matters do properly come before the Meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote according to their best judgment.


SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN

BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of the Common Stock of the Company owned beneficially by any person, including any “group” as that term is defined in Section 12d(3)12d (3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or more of the Common Stock, as of April 7, 2011.March 26, 2013. Information as to beneficial ownership is based upon statements furnished to the Company by such persons. Except as indicated, all shares are held directly, with full voting and dispositive powers, and percentages are calculated on the basis of the shares issued and outstanding, and with respect to those named persons holding options presently exercisable or within 60 days of April 7, 2011,March 26, 2013, includes the number of shares to be issued upon exercise of such options.

 

Name and

Address of

Beneficial Owner

  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
 Percent
of Class
   Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
   Percent
of Class
 

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.

   1,223,862(1)   35.40     1,223,454(1)    38.25  

One Landmark Square

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

           
        

Amrace, Inc.

   391,422    14.18     391,422     15.65  

1251 Avenue of the Americas

27th Floor

New York, New York 10020

           
        

Gaines Wehrle

   240,000(2)   8.70  

Ebersole Gaines Wehrle

   241,500(2)    9.65  

P.O. Box 2509

Charleston, West Virginia

           
        

Matthias Eckenstein

   224,000(3)   8.12     224,000(3)    8.95  

Solothurner Str 94

4008 Basel, Switzerland

           
        

Clint Hurt

   201,250(4)   7.29     201,250(4)    8.05  

107 North “N”

Midland, Texas 79701

           
        

Jan K. Smeets

   189,500(5)   6.87     184,500(5)    7.38  

9 Locust Avenue

Larchmont, New York 10538

           
        

H. Gifford Fong

   136,941(6)    5.47  

3658 Mt. Diablo Boulevard Suite 200

Lafayette, California 94549

        

 

(1)Includes 526,362525,454 shares held of recordas to which Mr. Drimal has sole voting and beneficially andinvestment power, 697,500 shares subject to options, all presently exercisable.exercisable, and 500 shares as to which Mr. Drimal has no voting or investment power.
(2)Includes 101,500 shares as to which Mr. Wehrle has sole voting and investment power and 140,000 shares ownedheld of record by The Gaines Wehrle 2008 Family Trust.Trust as to which Mr. Wehrle has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to such shares.investment power.

(3)Mr. Eckenstein has sole voting power with respect to these shares, pursuant to voting agreementsagreement dated September 25, 2006,March 2013 with twoBoard of his adult children, who areDirectors of the Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung Foundation, the record ownersowner of such shares. Mr. Eckenstein has no dispositive power with respect to such shares and no pecuniary interest in such shares.
(4)Shares held of record by Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private company controlled by Mr. Hurt.Hurt as to which Mr. Hurt has sole voting and investment power.
(5)Includes 182,000177,000 shares held of record and beneficially andas to which Mr. Smeets has sole voting rights with respectand investment power, and 7,500 shares as to an aggregate of 7,500 shareswhich Mr. Smeets has sole voting power pursuant to voting agreements dated June 29, 2006, as to 2,500 each, between Mr. Smeets and his three sons.sons who are the record owners of such shares. Mr. Smeets has no dispositive power with respect to such 7,500 shares and no pecuniary interest in such shares.

(6)Includes 54,141 shares as to which Mr. Fong has shared voting and investment power and 82,800 shares for which Mr. Fong has sole voting power pursuant to voting agreements dated June 28, 2006, between Mr. Fong and his two sons who are the record owners of such shares. Mr. Fong has no dispositive powers with respect to such 82,800 shares and no pecuniary interest in such shares.

The following table sets forth information at April 7, 2011,March 26, 2013, with respect to the shares of the Company’s Common Stock beneficially owned by the Company’s Directors and nominees and by all Directors andexecutive officers of the Company, individually, and as a group:

 

Name

  Amount
Beneficially
Owned(1)
 Percent of Class (1)  

Amount

Beneficially

Owned(1)

 Percent of  Class(1)

Beverly A. Cummings

   75,000(2)   2.65   75,000(2) 2.92

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.

   1,223,862(3)   35.40   1,223,454(3) 38.25

Matthias Eckenstein

   224,000(4)   8.12   224,000(4) 8.95

H. Gifford Fong

   136,941(5)   4.96   136,941(5) 5.47

Thomas S. T. Gimbel

   47,179    1.71   1,000 0.04

Clint Hurt

   201,250(6)   7.29   201,250(6) 8.05

Jan K. Smeets

   189,500(7)   6.87   184,500(7) 7.38

All Directors and officers as a group

   2,097,732(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)   59.48  

All Directors and executive officers as a group

 2,046,145(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7) 71.06

 

(1)Unless otherwise indicated, all shares are owned directly and the holder thereof has sole voting and investment powers with respect thereto, and percentages are calculated on the basis of the shares issued and outstanding, and with respect to those persons, or group, holding options presently exercisable or within 60 days, includes the number of shares to be issued upon exercise of such options.
(2)Includes 5,000 shares held directlyas to which Ms. Cummings has shared voting and investment power and 70,000 shares subject to options all presently exercisable.
(3)Includes 526,362525,454 shares held of recordas to which Mr. Drimal has sole voting and beneficially andinvestment power, 697,500 shares subject to options, all presently exercisable.exercisable, and 500 shares as to which Mr. Drimal has no voting or investment power.
(4)Mr. Eckenstein has sole voting power with respect to these shares, pursuant to voting agreementsagreement dated September 25, 2006,March 2013 with twoBoard of his adult children, who areDirectors of the Eckenstein-Geigy-Stiftung Foundation, the record ownersowner of such shares. Mr. Eckenstein has no dispositive power with respect to such shares and no pecuniary interest in such shares.
(5)Includes 54,141 shares held of recordas to which Mr. Fong has shared voting and beneficiallyinvestment power and an aggregate of 82,800 shares for which Mr. Fong has sole voting rightspower pursuant to voting agreements dated June 28, 2006, between Mr. Fong and his two sons who are the record owners of such shares. Mr. Fong has no dispositive powers with respect to such 82,800 shares and no pecuniary interest in such shares.
(6)Shares held of record by Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private company controlled by Mr. Hurt.Hurt as to which Mr. Hurt has sole voting and investment power.
(7)Includes 182,000177,000 shares held of record and beneficially andas to which Mr. Smeets has sole voting rights with respectand investment power, and 7,500 shares as to an aggregate of 7,500 shareswhich Mr. Smeets has sole voting power pursuant to voting agreements dated June 29, 2006, as to 2,500 each, between Mr. Smeets and his three sons who are the record owners of such shares. Mr. Smeets has no dispositive power with respect to such 7,500 shares and no pecuniary interest in such shares.

Mr. Drimal is the only Director who has pledged Common Stock as security.

Election of DirectorsELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(PROPOSAL NO. 1)

Directors and Nominees

There will be submitted by the management to the 20112013 Annual Meeting for election as Directors, the seven (7) nominees whose names, together with certain information concerning them, are set out below. All of the nominees are presently serving as Directors of the Company. Each nominee was elected to their present term of office by the shareholders and has served continuously as a Director since the date indicated below. The nominees, whose terms are expiring this year, are proposed for re-election for a one year term expiring in 2014. Four of the Company’s Directors are independent directors within the meaning of applicable regulatory standards. There is no family relationship between any nominee for Director or the executive officers of the Company. In the event any of the nominees shall become unable to serve as a Director, it is intended that the proxy will be voted in accordance withfor a substitute nominee designated by the best judgmentBoard of the person acting under it;Directors; however, no circumstances are at present known which would render any nominee unavailable.

The Board of Directors recommends a voteFOR the election of all Nominees

(Proposal No. 1 on the Proxy)

Nominees

 

NomineeBeverly A. Cummings

    

Age

Principal Occupation

Offices Held

With The

Company

Director

Since

Beverly A. Cummings58Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the CompanyDirector; Executive Vice President and Treasurer since February 1988

Beverly A. Cummings, age 60, is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York and a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University. She was elected Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company in October, 1987, and Executive Vice President and Treasurer in May, 1991, and serves as the Principal Financial Officer of the Company. Ms. Cummings holds similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. The attributes that prompted Ms. Cummings’ election to the Board were her significant financial skills and experience, as well as her understanding of oil and gas operations, and in particular of those of PrimeEnergy. Those qualifications continue to contribute to her effective service as a director today.

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.

    63Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the CompanyChairman of the Board; PresidentDirector since October 1987

Charles E. Drimal, Jr., age 65, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October, 1987, and holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also holds similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. Mr. Drimal is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Samford University School of Law and is a member of the New York State Bar. The leadership skills, experience and thorough knowledge of the oil and gas industry that uniquely qualified Mr. Drimal to become the President and Chief Executive Officer in 1987 have continued to make him an invaluable member and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Matthias Eckenstein

81Architect and Developer, Basel, Switzerland

    Director since August 1989

Mr. Eckenstein, age 83, is a Swiss citizen and a resident of Switzerland. He studied law and architecture in Basel, Switzerland, at the University of Geneva and the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, France. He is a director and principal in several privately held companies providing financial consulting services in construction, hotel management and architectural matters. Mr. Eckenstein brings to the Board a global and varied perspective which stem from his background in managing all phases of numerous successful construction operations in Europe and the United States. Mr. Eckenstein’s valuable first-hand experience in the development, financing and construction of large commercial projects factored into his election to the Board and has proven beneficial to the Board over the last 24 years.

H. Gifford Fong

Director since May 1994

Mr. Fong, age 68, is President of Gifford Fong Associates, an investment technology consulting firm located in Lafayette, California. Mr. Fong holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Business Administration and a Juris

Doctor degree from the University of California. Mr. Fong is the editor of The Journal of Investment Management and is the author and a frequent contributor of numerous trade journal publications. Mr. Fong’s expertise in transaction valuation, portfolio risk management and asset management is an important resource for the Board. His substantial knowledge and experience in financial matters and business operations fully qualify him to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

H. Gifford Fong66Investment Technology Consultant, Lafayette, California

Thomas S. T. Gimbel

    DirectorMay 1994 since March 1989

Thomas S. T. Gimbel, age 58, is the Executive Managing Director of Optima Fund Management LLC, an investment advisory and asset management firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with offices in New York City. He previously served as Managing Director, Business and Product Development of that firm. Prior to joining Optima, he was the Managing Director of Hedge Fund Investments at Credit Suisse Asset Management, New York. In addition, he is Vice President and Director of American Farmland Company, a Maryland Corporation. Mr. Gimbel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Bowdoin College and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. His proven ability to develop successful investment and management strategies for his clients, his keen business acumen, and his knowledge of the financial markets were some of the qualities that first formed the basis for his election to the Board. Those qualities along with his experience in financial analysis continue to make Mr. Gimbel’s participation on the Board efficacious.

Thomas S. T. Gimbel56Managing Director, Business and Product Development, Optima Fund Management LLC, New York, New York

Clint Hurt

    DirectorMarch 1989 since February 1988

Clint Hurt, age 77 is president of Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private oil and gas exploration company located in Midland, Texas. He is past president of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia and is a former director of Chase Bank of Texas, Midland, Texas. Mr. Hurt’s expertise in the oil and gas industry and his unique insight into the trends and developments in the industry made him an excellent candidate for the Board. Those attributes have also enabled him to make an important contribution to the Company in his 25 years of service to the Board.

Clint Hurt75President, Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private oil and gas exploration company, Midland, Texas

Jan K. Smeets

    DirectorFebruary 1988
Jan K. Smeets63Private Investor, Larchmont, New YorkDirector since February 1988

AllJan K. Smeets, age 65, is a citizen of the above-named nominees are currently DirectorsNetherlands and a resident of the United States. Mr. Smeets is a graduate of M.I.T. and holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Business School. Mr. Smeets is the President of Smeets Management, Inc., a privately held company in Larchmont, New York that provides administrative and management consulting services. Prior to that Mr. Smeets was a process engineer at Lago Oil & Transport Company (ESSO) in Aruba, a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in New York and a director of Citco Group, Ltd. His background in assessing and analyzing financial statements and related reports qualify him as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and enable him to fulfill his role as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Smeets’ experience in advising businesses on the development of operational budgets, capital plans, and strategic goals have also resulted in his effectively serving the Board as a director.

Information about the Executive Officers (for information regarding Ms. Cummings and Mr. Drimal, see the description on page 4).

Patricia C. Delaney, age 54, has served as the Secretary of the Company since May 2012, and each hasserves as secretary of the Company’s subsidiaries. She is an attorney in Hauppauge, New York.

Lynne Pizor, age 53, served continuously as Controller of the Company from January 1986 until June 2011, when she resigned.

Mr. Drimal, Ms. Cummings and Ms. Delaney were elected by the Board of Directors to their respective offices in May 2012, at the annual meeting of the Board. Each will hold their respective offices until his or her successor is elected by the Board.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

On April 17, 2012, the Company purchased 45,179 shares of Common Stock from Thomas S.T. Gimbel, for the price of $25 per share. Mr. Gimbel is a Director since the date indicated. There is no family relationship between any nominee forand a Director or executive officerNominee of the Company.

The Company believes thattransaction was approved by the members of our Boardthe Audit Committee.

Clint Hurt, a director of Directors,the Company, is a member of Hurt Interest LLC, a company owned by Mr. Hurt and nominees,a family member. In the normal course of their businesses, Mr. Hurt and our management, have individual skills and experiences, whether in financial matters, business operations and relationships, orHurt Interest LLC make investments in oil and gas operations,producing properties, some of which are operated by the Company’s subsidiary, Prime Operating Company. They receive, like the other interest owners in the properties operated by Prime Operating Company, including the Company, revenue payments from the sale of oil and gas produced by the properties. In 2012, Mr. Hurt and Hurt Interest LLC received approximately $699,000 from the Company for their interests in properties operated by the Company of which Mr. Hurt received $419,500.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board Independence and Composition

The core responsibility of the Board of Directors is to provide objective, independent judgment in its management oversight function and the Board’s composition reflects that principle. The Board is composed of a majority of independent directors. A director’s independence is determined in accordance with the definition set forth in National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASDAQ”) listing standards and other pertinent and applicable legal and regulatory standards. The Board of Directors annually reviews the relationships between directors or members of their immediate families and the Company, within order to make recommendations to the knowledgefull Board for its determination regarding the independence of each director. As a result of this review, the Board has determined that the following directors are independent directors: Matthias Eckenstein, H. Gifford Fong, Thomas S.T. Gimbel, and ability necessary for our business and operations. FiveJan K. Smeets.

Board Leadership

The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect a Chairman of the Company’s seven Directors mayBoard. The Chairman leads the Board and presides at all Board meetings, and is responsible for delivery of information for the Board’s informed decision-making.

Based upon the structure that best serves the interests of the Company, the Board determines whether the role of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer should be deemed toheld by one individual or should be “independent,” withinseparated. Currently, the meaningBoard believes that the positions of applicable regulatory standards, eachChairman of themthe Board and Chief Executive Officer should be held by the same person because this combination has served as such for over fifteen yearsthe Company well in the past and theycontinues to work well today, by providing unified leadership and direction. The Directors have a close relationship to each other. These Directors havealso determined that it is not necessary to appoint a “leadlead independent director.”director at this time.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Company’s risk management efforts are the responsibility of the Board of Directors. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer review with the Board areas of material operational, financial and regulatory risks and the likelihood of the risks coming to fruition, to enable the Board to understand the relative magnitude of such risks and the management and mitigation strategies undertaken by the Company.

Board Meetings

The Board of Directors met fourthree times in 2010. All2012. Each director attended 75% or more of the incumbent Directors attended allaggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors except Mr. Eckenstein who was unableand the committee or committees thereof on which such director served during 2012.

Board Attendance at Annual Meeting

The Company does not have a policy that requires members of the Board of Directors to attend one meeting. Directors are reimbursed for travel and related expenses in connection with attendance atthe Annual Meeting. All members of the Board and Committee meetings.of Directors are encouraged to attend the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. SixAnnual Meeting. All of the seven incumbentmembers of the Board of Directors attended the Company’s 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.

Your Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” eachAnnual Meeting of the above nominees for election as a Director.Company held in May 2012 except Matthias Eckenstein and Thomas S. T. Gimbel.

Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee.

Executive Committee but no other standing committees. All Committee members attended all meetings of their respective Committees, except Mr. Eckenstein, who was unable to attend the meeting of the Audit Committee.

The Executive Committee, composed of Messrs. Drimal, Jr., Hurt, Smeets and Ms. Cummings, is authorized to exercise all the authority of the Board in the business and affairs of the Company, except as limited by applicable law. The Executive Committee met sixthree times during 2010,2012, and informally, by telephone or office conference on a regular basis, usually weekly, during the year.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, composed of Messrs. Eckenstein, Hurt and Smeets, met once in 2010. The Board2012. All members of Directors has determined that each member satisfies applicable requirements for independencethe Audit Committee were independent under NASDAQ listing standards and financial literacy.other pertinent legal and regulatory standards. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Smeets meets the qualifications of an audit“audit committee financial expert as defined byexpert” within the meaning of the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.Commission and NASDAQ listing standards. The Committee selects and engages independent auditors to audit the books, records and accounts of the Company, determines the scope of such audits, and reviews the financial policies and control procedures of the Company. The report of the Audit Committee is included in this Proxy Statement on page 8.11. The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee have adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which iswas attached as Annex A to thisthe Company’s 2011 Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Hurt no longer meets the criteria for director independence under NASDAQ listing standards. The Board will select another member of the Committee during 2013.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee, composed of Messrs. Hurt, Gimbel and Smeets, met oncetwice in 2010.2012. All members of the Compensation Committee were independent under NASDAQ listing standards and other pertinent legal and regulatory standards. The charter of the Compensation Committee also requires that members of the Committee also qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue and as “non-employee” directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Committee annually reviews and evaluates the Company’s compensation policies and establishes salaries, bonuses and other compensation for the Company’s executive officers. The Board of Directors believes thatofficers and directors. Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings participate in discussions with the Compensation Committee members satisfy applicable regulatory requirements for independence. Theand make recommendations to the Committee with respect to the compensation of executive officers and directors. Neither Mr. Drimal nor Ms. Cummings participates in the deliberations or approval of the Committee concerning their respective compensation. Although the Compensation Committee has the authority, it has not engaged any outside compensation consultants to assist the Committee in determining the compensation policies of the Company, and no such outside consultants have been engaged by the Company or the Board of Directors. The reportBoard of Directors has determined that Mr. Hurt no longer meets the criteria for director independence under NASDAQ listing standards. The Board will select another member of the Compensation Committee is included in this Proxy Statement on page 7.during 2013. The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee have adopted a written charter, a copy of which iswas attached as Annex B to thisthe Company’s 2011 Proxy Statement.

The Board as Nominating Committee

The Company does not have a standing nominating committee. The Board of Directors of the Company acts as the nominating committee, with Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings abstaining, in the review and selection of Directors for election at the annual meetingabstaining. The majority of the Company’s stockholders. The remaining Directors of the Company, Messrs. Eckenstein, Fong, Gimbel Hurt and Smeets, who function as a nominating committee, and are believed to satisfy applicable regulatory requirements for independence. Those Directors are responsible for collecting and analyzing information with regard to directors’ “independence” as defined by NASDAQ listing standards and other pertinent legal and/or regulatory standards in effect at the time. They are also responsible for making recommendations concerning committee membership and ensuring that committee members satisfy the criteria for membership on a particular committee for independence and have the skills to effectively participate on a particular committee. The Directors who function as the nominating committee are also responsible for identifying and evaluating prospective nominees for vacancies on the Board of Directors believes that this procedure is adequate in the process of selecting persons for elections as Directors of the Company. The seven Directors of the Company currently serving as Directors were designated as nominees for re-election at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. No other nominees were considered and no nominations were proposed by any stockholder or group.Directors. The Board of Directors will consider meritorious director candidates submitted to it by members of the Board and by stockholders of the Company, without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin or disability. The Board does not have a formal policy with regard to considering diversity in its consideration of director nominations. Candidates for election must be willing to devote the time necessary to serve as a director and must possess the level of education, experience, and expertise, both with respect to financial matters and the oil and gas industry in general, required to perform the duties of a member of the board of directors of a public company, and in particular of the Company. Submission mustThe Board of Directors strive to recommend candidates that further its objective of having a board that encompasses a broad range of talents and expertise and reflects a diversity of background, experience and viewpoints. The procedure to be accompaniedfollowed by biographical materiala shareholder to submit a nominee to the Committee is set forth in “Stockholder Proposals and Nominations” in this Proxy Statement.

The Board of Directors believes that this procedure is adequate in the process of selecting persons for elections as Directors of the proposed candidate and such other information as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Submissions should be forwarded to the SecretaryCompany. The seven Directors of the Company at One Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut 06901, in compliance with the procedures described under “Stockholders’ Proposals” set out below.

The principal occupation and employment for the past five years of each of thecurrently serving as Directors andwere designated as nominees for Director and of each of the executive officers of the Company is as follows:

Ms. Cummings is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York and a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University. She was elected Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of the Company in October, 1987, and Executive Vice President and Treasurer in May, 1991, and serves as the Principal Financial Officer of the Company. Ms. Cummings holds similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. She has served as a Director of the Company since February, 1988.

Mr. Charles E. Drimal, Jr. has served as a Director and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October, 1987, and holds the position of Chairman of the Board. He also holds similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. Mr. Drimal is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Samford University School of Law and is a member of the New York State Bar.

Mr. Eckenstein is a Swiss citizen and a resident of Switzerland. He studied law and architecture in Basel, Switzerland, andre-election at the University2013 Annual Meeting of GenevaStockholders. No other nominees were considered and the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, France. He is a director and principal in several privately held companies providing financial consulting services in construction, hotel management and architectural matters. He was elected a Director of the Company in August, 1989.

Mr. Fong is president of Gifford Fong Associates, investment technology consultants, Lafayette, California. He holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Business Administration and law degrees from the University of California. He is the editor of The Journal of Investment Management and is the author and contributor of numerous trade journal publications. Mr. Fong was elected a Director of the Company in May, 1994.

Mr. Gimbel is the Executive Managing Director of Optima Fund Management LLC, New York, prior to which he was Managing Director, Business and Product Development of that firm since July, 2004. Prior to that date, and from February, 1999, he was the Managing Director of Hedge Fund Investments at Credit Suisse Asset Management, New York. Mr. Gimbel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Bowdoin College and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He was elected a Director of the Company in March, 1989.

Mr. Hurt is president of Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private oil and gas exploration company located in Midland, Texas. He is past president of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia and is a former director of Chase Bank of Texas, Midland, Texas. He was elected a Director of the Company in February, 1988.

Mr. Smeets, a citizen of the Netherlands and a resident of the United States, is a private investor in Larchmont, New York. He was elected as a Director of the Company in February, 1988. He is a graduate of M.I.T. and holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Business School.

Ms. Pizor has served as Controller of the Company since January, 1986, and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company since September, 2008. She also holds similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. She is a graduate of Wagner College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Gilbert has been Secretary of the Company from March, 1973, and serves as secretary of the Company’s subsidiaries. He is an attorney in Dallas, Texas.

Executive Officers

The executive officers of the Company, together with certain information concerning them, are set out below.

Officer

Age

Offices Held With the Company

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.63Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Beverly A. Cummings58Executive Vice President and Treasurer
Lynne Pizor51Controller
James F. Gilbert78Secretary

        Each of the above officersno nominations were electedproposed by the Board of Directors to their respective offices in May, 2010, at the annual meeting of the Board. Each will hold their respective offices until his successor is elected by the Board. Mr. Drimal, as President and Chief Executive Officer, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Company believes that the combination of chief executive officer and chairman is appropriate for the size and nature of the Company.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

On April 3, 2008, Prime Offshore L.L.C, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Twenty Million Dollar ($20,000,000) subordinated debt facility with Artic Management Corporation, an entity controlled by Matthias Eckenstein, a Director and Director Nominee of the Company. Mr. Eckenstein’s ownership interest in the Company is set out on pages 2 and 3 of this Proxy Statement. The credit facility matures November 1, 2014, and bears an annual interest rate of ten percent (10%). As of the date of this Proxy Statement, $16,000,000 of the principal of the subordinated debt facility is outstanding. For the year ended December 31, 2010, $2,000,000 interest was paid.any stockholder or group.

EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Compensation Overview

The Company has been guided by its Chief Executive Office, Charles E. Drimal, Jr., and Chief Financial Officer, Beverly A. Cummings since 1987. The Board of Directors attributes much of the success of the Company to Mr. Drimal’s and Ms. Cummings’ leadership, skills and dedication to the Company and its shareholders. In order to retain such highly skilled and experienced professionals for its senior management team, the Board of Directors must offer highly competitive compensation packages. At the same time, the Board of Directors is mindful that the primary goal of the Company is to build long-term shareholder value.

There are three elements of the compensation paid to the senior management team, to wit: (i) base salary; (ii) bonus (cash incentive) compensation, and (iii) equity awards. The base salaries that were provided to the senior management team were based upon a number of considerations including each executive officer’s level of responsibility, changes in their responsibilities from year to year, experience, skills and leadership ability. Additionally, the Compensation Committee gave consideration to the executive officer’s ability to be awarded additional compensation in the form of a bonus which compensation was more directly tied to the Company’s performance. After discussing all of those considerations, the Compensation Committee recommended the same percentage increase in each of the executive officer’s salary. The base salary paid to each executive officer in 2012 is set forth in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table set forth in this proxy statement.

The cash incentive bonus compensation awarded to each executive officer is intended to correlate to the Company’s performance. The Compensation Committee focused on performance measures such as the increase in oil and gas reserves, debt level, growth in the Company’s well servicing subsidiaries and growth in the

Company’s oil and gas operations. The Compensation Committee believes this combination of metric categories is the important measurement necessary for increasing shareholder value and growing the Company. As a result, the Compensation Committee awarded each of the executive officers a cash incentive bonus. The cash bonus paid to each executive officer in 2012 is set forth in the “Bonus” column of the Summary Compensation Table set forth in this proxy statement.

The Company awarded options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to the executive officers in May 1989. The objective of the award was to retain high level officers and to motivate them to continue their relationship with the Company and thereby align their interests with the long term interests of its shareholders. The options that were awarded have been fully exercisable by the executive officers since May 1994. The Compensation Committee believes the options awarded to the executive officers represent a significant stake in the Company and determined not to award any more options or other types of equity compensation to the executive officers in 2012.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table discloses compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20102012 and 2009,2011, received by the Company’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer(1)Officer (1) (2).

 

       All  Other
Compensation)($)
  Total
($)
 
  Annual Compensation    

Name and Principal Position(2)

  Year   Salary($)   Bonus($)    

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.

   2010     360,500     1,000,000     48,873(3)   1,409,373  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President; the Principal Executive Officer

   2009     360,500     -0-     53,300(4)   413,800  
         

Beverly A. Cummings

   2010     360,500     400,000     31,211(5)   791,711  

Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Director; the

Principal Financial Officer

   2009     360,500     -0-     24,989(6)   385,489  
         
         

Lynne Pizor

   2010     180,250     40,000     9,657(7)   229,907  

Controller; the Principal Accounting Officer

   2009     180,250     -0-     7,485(8)   187,735  
         
    Annual Compensation 

All Other

Compensation)($)

 

Total

($)

Name and Principal Position(2)  Year Salary($)  Bonus($)  

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President; Principal Executive Officer

  2012 400,000  2,000,000 52,388(3) 2,452,388
  2011 371,107  1,800,000 48,194(4) 2,219,301
             

Beverly A. Cummings

Executive Vice President, Treasurer

and Director; Principal Financial Officer

  2012 400,000  800,000 30,726(5) 1,230,726
  2011 371,107  720,000 30,311(6) 1,121,418
             

Lynne Pizor(7)

Controller; Principal Accounting

Officer

  2012     
  2011 126,410   8,009(8) 134,419

 

(1)Columns for “Stock Awards”, “Option Awards”, “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” and “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” are omitted as the Company has no such compensation awards or plans.
(2)Each of the named officersMr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings hold similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries and Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings also serve as directors of each of the subsidiaries. Ms. Pizor held similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries until her resignation in June 2011.
(3)Includes $1,500 Director’s fees; $10,000 as the Company’s contribution to its 401(k) plan; club dues $20,635; automobile allowance $7,834; long term disability insurance premium $6,647; and life insurance premiums $5,772.
(4)Includes $2,000 Director’s fees; $9,800 as the Company’s contribution to its 401(k) plan; club dues, $19,521;$21,496; automobile allowance $5,625;$5,375; long term disability insurance premium $6,755;$6,751; and life insurance premiums $5,172.$2,772.
(4)(5)Includes $1,000$1,500 Director’s fees; $9,800$10,000 as the Company’s contribution to its 401(k) plan; club dues $18,120;$6,300; automobile allowance $5,625;$4,375; long term disability insurance premium $6,755;$6,745; and life insurance premiums $12,000.
$1,806.

(5)(6)Includes $2,000 Director’s fees; $9,800 as the Company’s contribution to its 401(k) plan; club dues $5,235;$5,585; automobile allowance $5,625;$4,375; long term disability insurance premium $6,745; and life insurance premium, $6,745.
(6)Includes $1,000 Director’s fees; $5,180 as the Company’s contribution to its 401(k) plan; club dues, $9,720; automobile allowance, $2,344; and long term disability insurance premium, $6,745.premiums $1,806.
(7)Ms. Pizor resigned from her position in June 2011.
(8)Includes $7,600 as the Company’s contribution to its 401(k) plan; club dues, $1,200; and life insurance premium $857.$409.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

There were no stock options granted by the Company to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, no options were exercised by any of such persons and there were no stock awards to such persons. The following table sets forth information with respect to all unexercised options held by the named executive officers of the Company at December 31, 2012. All unexercised options are fully exercisable. There are no options which are not fully exercisable. References relating to options which are unexercisable, equity incentive plan awards, unearned options and stock awards are omitted in the table below.

Unexercised Options

   

Number of
Unexercised Options at

Fiscal Year-End(1)

  

Option

Exercise Price

  

Option

Expiration

Date

Name All Exercisable        

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.

 523,125  $1.00  Non-expiring
  174,375  $1.25  Non-expiring
         

Beverly A. Cummings

 52,500  $1.00  Non-expiring
  17,500  $1.25  Non-expiring

(8)(1)Includes $7,485 as the Company’s contribution to its 401(k) plan.All options described in this table vested in May 1994.

Director Compensation

The Company’s Directors each receive $500 for each Board of Directors meeting, but do not receive any fee for attending Committee meetings. The Directors are reimbursed for travel and related expenses in connection with attendance at Board and Committee meetings. All Directors as a group of seven received an aggregate of $14,000$10,500 as cash Directors’ fees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.2012. No reference is made for “Stock Awards”, “Option Awards”, “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” or “Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” as the Company has no such Director awards or compensation.

ADVISORY NON-BINDING VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

(Proposal No. 2 on the Proxy)

The Compensation CommitteeBoard of Directors believes that the Company’s compensation programs and policies are centered on a pay for performance culture and are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of shareholders.

The Board of Directors is asking shareholders to vote in an advisory, non-binding manner on the compensation paid to our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”), as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K (including the compensation tables and accompanying narrative discussion). Item 402 of Regulation S-K is the SEC regulation that sets forth what companies must include in their proxy statement as to compensation.

This proposal, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” proposal, gives you as a shareholder the opportunity to vote on the Company’s executive pay program. In proposal no. 3, the Board of Directors consists of Messrs. Gimbel, Hurt and Smeets, none of whom is an employee of the Company. The Company believes that each member of the Compensation Committee meets applicable regulatory independence requirements. The Compensation Committee makes all decisions concerning compensation of executive officers who receive salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 annually and determines the total amount of bonuses to be paid annually. The Compensation Committee’s policy is to offer executive officers competitive compensation packages that will permit the Company to attract and retain highly qualified individuals and to motivate and reward such individuals seeking your advice

on the basis of the Company’s performance.

The compensation of the Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer is largely dependent upon the overall performance of the Company. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the base salary of the Principal Executive Officer of the Company, Charles E. Drimal, Jr., is $371,315, the base salary of the Principal Financial Officer, Beverly A. Cummings, is $371,315, and the base salary of the Principal Accounting Officer of the Company, Lynne Pizor, is $185,698. Cash bonuses for the year ended December 31, 2010, were paid to Mr. Drimal, $1,000,000; to Ms. Cummings, $400,000; and to Ms. Pizor, $40,000.

Compensation Committee

Clint Hurt, Chairman

Thomas S.T. Gimbel

Jan K. Smeets

This report of the Compensation Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, Messrs. Clint Hurt, Thomas S.T. Gimbel and Jan K. Smeets served as members of the Compensation Committee. Nonefrequency of such persons was, duringvotes in the fiscal year, or was formerly, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. There are no committee interlocks with other companies within the meaningfuture. Pursuant to section 14A of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules.

Act of 1934, which is applicable to smaller reporting companies this year, the Board of Directors is requesting shareholders to cast a non-binding advisory vote on the following resolution:

“Resolved, that the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED.”

Since your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

The Board of Directors recommends a voteFOR this Resolution.

(Proposal No. 2 on the Proxy)

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-ENDADVISORY NON-BINDING VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF SAY-ON-PAY VOTES

There were no stock options granted by(Proposal No. 3 on the CompanyProxy)

Pursuant to Section 14A of the named executive officers duringExchange Act, which is applicable to smaller reporting companies this year, our shareholders are being asked to vote, on an advisory basis, on how frequently our shareholders should have a “Say on Pay” vote in the fiscalfuture. Although this frequency vote is advisory and is not binding on the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering how frequently to hold Say on Pay votes. You may choose from the following alternatives: every year, ended December 31, 2010, no options were exercised by any of such persons and there were no stock awards to such persons.every two years, every three years or you may abstain. The following table sets forth information with respect to all unexercised options held by the named executive officersDirectors of the Company will ask you to vote on an advisory basis on the frequency of Say on Pay votes at December 31, 2010. All unexercised options are fully exercisable. There are no options whichleast once every six years. Shareholders are not fully exercisable. References relatingvoting to optionsapprove or disapprove the Board of Director’s recommendation.

The Board of Directors believes and recommends that the Say on Pay vote should be conducted every three years so that shareholders may express their views on the Company’s executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee, which are unexercisable, equity incentive plan awards, unearned optionsadministers the Company’s executive compensation program, values the opinions expressed by shareholders in these votes and stock awards are omittedwill continue to consider the outcome of these votes in the table below.making its decisions on executive compensation.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote to conduct future Say on Pay votes everyUnexercised Options and Fiscal Year-End Option Valuesthree years.

Number of
Unexercised Options at
Fiscal Year-End
Option
Exercise Price

Option(Proposal No. 3 on the Proxy)

Expiration

Date

Value of
Unexercised In-the-Money Options
at Fiscal Year-End(1)

Name

All Exercisable

Charles E. Drimal, Jr.


523,125

174,375


$1.00

$1.25

Non-expiring

Non-expiring

$

$

9,594,113

3,154,444


Beverly A. Cummings


52,500

17,500


$1.00

$1.25

Non-expiring

Non-expiring

$

$

962,850

316,575


(1)The average bid price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2010, as reported in the over-the-counter market, was $19.34.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

The Audit 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 Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. These include, but are not limited to, those matters under Statements on Auditing Standards.Standards No. 61, as amended and adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management and the Company

including the matters in the written disclosures required by the Independence StandardsPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Company’s auditors do not perform financial information system design and implementation services, internal audit or tax services.services for the Company.

The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their audits. The Audit Committee meets 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.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010,2012, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Committee has also recommended the selection of the Company’s independent auditors for 2011.2013.

Audit Committee

Audit Committee

Jan K. Smeets, Chairman

Matthias Eckenstein

Clint Hurt

This report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

The Company is committed to observing sound, ethical principles in the conduct of its business and operations and by our officers and employees in the course of their duties. The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics whichadopted by the Company was amended in December, 2011. The Code, as amended, is available at the Company’s web-site www.primeenergy.com. These provisions areatwww.primeenergy.com. The Code of Conduct is applicable to the Company’s operations and to all of its employees, including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and principle accounting officer.Directors. Any amendments to or waivers fromof the Code, to the extent applicable to the Company’s principal executive officers, will be posted on the Company’s web-site.

The Company believes that a majority of its Directors, and nominees, are “independent”, within the meaning of applicable regulatory standards.

RISK OVERSIGHT

The Company’s risk management efforts are the responsibility of the Board of Directors. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer review with the Board areas of material risk, both operational and financial, which may affect the Company, to enable the Board to understand such risks and the management and mitigation strategies undertaken by the Company.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNEROWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

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 a registered class of the Company’s equity securities (collectively, “Reporting Persons”), to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of such securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to furnish the Company with copies of such reports. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, all required2012, no Reporting Persons failed to file reports wereon a timely filed by such persons.basis during the most recent fiscal year.

INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS — FEES AND SERVICES

The Company engaged Grassi & Co. (of which Pustorino, Puglisi & Co. LLPLLC is a division) as the principal accountants for the Company with respect to the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 20102012 and 2009.2011. There were no disagreements with Pustorino, PuglisiGrassi & Co., LLPCo on any matters of accounting

principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures in connection with their audits. Representatives of Pustorino, PuglisiGrassi & Co. LLPCo are not expected to be present at the 20112013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but will be available by speaker telephone during the Meetingmeeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to answer stockholders’ questions.

The audit fees for professional audit services provided by Pustorino, PuglisiGrassi & Co., LLP,Co, for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2010,2012, and December 31, 2009,2011, were $295,517$309,500 and $337,000.$295,500. No fees were billed or paid by the Company for internal audit, tax or other services for the years ended December 31, 2010,2012 or 2009.2011.

STOCKHOLDERS’ PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS

Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy and for consideration at its annual meeting of stockholders by submitting their proposals to the Company in a timely manner. In order to be so included for the 2012 annual meeting,2014 Annual Meeting, stockholder proposals must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices One Landmark Square, 11th Floor, Stamford, Connecticut 06901,at 9821 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024, no later than December 22, 2011,6, 2013, and must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8.

Stockholder proposals to be brought before the 2012 annual meeting,2014 Annual Meeting, made outside the Rule 14a-8 processes, must be submitted to the Company pursuant to Rule 14a-8, no later than March 7, 2012,February 19, 2014, or will be considered untimely and entitle the Company to discretionary voting under Rule 14a-4.

If a stockholder desires to recommend an individual as a nominee for director to the Board of Directors, the stockholder shall mail the recommendation to the Secretary of the Board of Directors. The recommendation must include the name, address (business and personal) and the occupation of the nominee. The recommendation must also include such other information regarding the nominee as may reasonably be required by the Company.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Shareholders may communicate with the members of the Board of Directors by mailing their communications to the Company, at PrimeEnergy Corporation, 9821 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024. All communications addressed to the attention of a particular director shall be forwarded to the director.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Annual Report of the Company for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2010,2012, accompanies this Proxy Statement. The audited financial statements of the Company are included in such Annual Report.

It is important that proxies be returned promptly. Stockholders are requested to date, sign and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope, to which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States. If you attend the 20112013 Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person if you so desire, otherwise your proxy will be voted for you.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

/S/ JAMES F. GILBERT

JAMES F. GILBERT
Secretary
Stamford, Connecticut
April 20, 2011

ANNEX A/s/    PATRICIA C. DELANEY

PRIMEENERGY CORPORATIONPATRICIA C. DELANEY

CHARTER AND POWERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEESecretary

RESOLVED, that the charter and powers of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) shall be:Houston, Texas

Overseeing that management has maintained the reliability and integrity of the accounting policies and financial reporting and disclosure practices of the Company;

Overseeing that management has established and maintained processes to assure that an adequate system of internal control is functioning within the Company;

Overseeing that management has established and maintained processes to assure compliance by the Company with all applicable laws, regulations and Company policy;

RESOLVED, that the Audit Committee shall have the following specific powers and duties:

1.Holding such regular meetings as may be necessary and such special meetings as may be called by the Chairman of the Audit Committee or at the request of the independent accountants;

2.Creating an agenda for ensuing year;

3.Reviewing the independence and performance of the independent accountants and making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the appointment or termination of the independent accountants;

4.Conferring with the independent accountants concerning outside auditor’s accountability to the Board of Directors and the audit committee, and the scope of their examinations of the books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries; reviewing and approving the independent accountants annual engagement letter; directing the special attention of the auditors to specific matters or areas deemed by the Committee or the auditors to be of special significance; and authorizing the auditors to perform such supplemental reviews or audits as the Committee may deem desirable;

5.Reviewing with management and the independent accountants significant risks and exposures, audit activities and significant audit findings;

6.Reviewing the range and cost of audit and non-audit services performed by the independent accountants;

7.Reviewing the Company’s audited annual financial statements and the independent accountants’ opinion rendered with respect to such financial statements, including reviewing the nature and extent of any significant changes in accounting principles or the application therein;

8.Reviewing the adequacy of the Company’s systems of internal control;

9.Obtaining from the independent accountants their recommendations regarding internal controls and other matters relating to the accounting procedures and the books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries and reviewing the correction of controls deemed to be deficient;

10.Providing independent, direct communication between the Board of Directors and independent accountants;

11.Reviewing with appropriate Company personnel the actions taken to ensure compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct and the results of confirmations and violations of such Code; and

12.Reviewing the programs and policies of the Company designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and monitoring the results of these compliance efforts.

ANNEX B

PRIMEENERGY CORPORATION

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

The Compensation Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors to discharge the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of the Company’s directors and officers. The Committee has overall responsibility for approving and evaluating the director and officer compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for producing an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement.

The Compensation Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members. The members of the Compensation Committee: will meet the requirements that he/she is a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; will satisfy the requirements of an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code; will meet the independence requirements of the applicable regulatory standards; will be appointed by the Board; and may be replaced by the Board.

The Compensation Committee shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant to be used to assist in the evaluation of director, CEO or senior executive compensation and shall have sole authority to approve the consultant’s fees and other retention terms. The Compensation Committee shall also have authority to obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting or other advisors.

The Compensation Committee shall annually review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and recommend to the Board the CEO’s compensation levels based on this evaluation.

The Compensation Committee shall annually review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of all directors, officers and other key executives, including incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans.

The Compensation Committee shall annually review and approve, for the CEO and the senior executives of the Company, (a) the annual base salary level, (b) the annual incentive opportunity level, (c) the long-term incentive opportunity level, (d) employment agreements, severance arrangements, and change in control agreements/provisions, in each case as, when and if appropriate, and (e) any special or supplemental benefits.

The Compensation Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees when appropriate.

The Compensation Committee shall make regular reports to the Board, review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval and annually review its own performance.April 5, 2013

LOGO

PrimeEnergy Corporation

  
PrimeEnergy CorporationIMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION    

LOGO
LOGO

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an Xas shown  in

this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.

 x 

 

 

Annual Meeting Proxy Card

 

 

q  PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  

q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.q

  A Election of Directors

 

1. Nominees:

ForElection of Directors

Withhold

For

Withhold

For

Withhold

+
    01 - Beverly A. Cummings¨¨02 - Charles E. Drimal, Jr.¨¨03 - Matthias Eckenstein¨¨
    04 - H. Gifford Fong¨¨05 - Thomas S. T. Gimbel¨¨06 - Clint Hurt¨¨
    07 - Jan K. Smeets¨¨
         
In their discretion, the proxies appointed herein are authorized to vote upon any other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.ForWithholdForWithholdForWithhold

+

Nominees:         

01 - Beverly A. Cummings

¨¨

02 - Charles E. Drimal, Jr.

¨¨

03 - Matthias Eckenstein

¨¨

04 - H. Gifford Fong

¨¨

05 - Thomas S. T. Gimbel

¨¨

06 - Clint Hurt

¨¨

07 - Jan K. Smeets

¨¨

The Board recommends a vote FOR all Nominees.

  For    Against    Abstain  

2.  An advisory (non-bonding) vote to approve our executive compensation as described in the proxy statement.

¨¨¨

  1 Year    2 Years    3 Years    Abstain  

3.  An advisory (non-binding) vote on the frequency of future votes on executive compensation.

¨¨¨¨

The Board recommends a vote FOR item 2 and FOR a three year frequency on item 3.

In their discretion, the proxies appointed herein are authorized to vote upon any other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Non-Voting Items

Change of Address —Please print new address below.Meeting Attendance 
  B  Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote

Mark box to be counted. — Date and Sign Belowthe right if

you plan to attend the

Annual Meeting.

¨

NOTE: Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign yourexactly as name(s) EXACTLY as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy. All joint holders mustappears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or corporate officer,custodian, please provide your FULLgive full title.

 

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
    /      /      

 

¢ 1 U P X                 P E C 1+
O1LW4C   

+

¢

1  U  P  X        1  1  4  4  8  0  2

                                     01BBQA


q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.q

 

 

Proxy — PrimeEnergy Corporation

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned shareholder of PrimeEnergy Corporation (the “Company”), revoking all prior proxies, does by these presents name, constitute and appoint Charles E. Drimal, Jr. and Patricia C. Delaney, and each of them, the true and lawful proxy and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of the Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company standing in the name of the undersigned on the books of the Company at the close of business on March 26, 2013, or in respect of which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 9:00 a.m., EST, at the offices of the Company, One Landmark Square, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901, and at any and all adjournments of said meeting, hereby granting to said proxies and attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to vote in the name of the undersigned at said meeting, and at any and all adjournments thereof, on the matters set forth on reverse side.

PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.

(Continued and to be signed and dated on reverse side.)

Proxy — PrimeEnergy Corporation

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned shareholder of PrimeEnergy Corporation (the “Company”), revoking all prior proxies, does by these presents name, constitute and appoint Charles E. Drimal, Jr. and James F. Gilbert, and each of them, the true and lawful proxy and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of the Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company standing in the name of the undersigned on the books of the Company at the close of business on April 7, 2011, or in respect of which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., EDT, at the offices of the Company, One Landmark Square, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901, and at any and all adjournments of said meeting, hereby granting to said proxies and attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to vote in the name of the undersigned at said meeting, and at any and all adjournments thereof, on the matters set forth on reverse side.

PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY

(Continued and to be signed and dated on reverse side.)