SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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One Oxford Centre
Suite 3300
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To Be Held May 16, 2002
The annual meeting of shareholders of Equitable Resources, Inc. will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. We will be in the Allegheny Room of the Omni William Penn Hotel located at 530 William Penn Place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. If you owned common stock of Equitable Resources at the close of business on March 7, 2002, you may vote at this meeting.
At the meeting, we plan to:
Your Board of Directors recommends that you vote for all director nominees and for ratification of the independent auditors.
Please consider the issues presented in this proxy statement, and vote your shares as promptly as possible by signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided.
On behalf of the Board of Directors | |
JOHANNA G. O'LOUGHLIN Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
March 29, 2002
This booklet and proxy card contain information about the items you will vote on at the annual meeting and about the voting process.
Who is entitled to vote, and how many votes do I have?
You can vote if you held common stock of Equitable Resources at the close of business on March 7, 2002. For each item presented for vote, you have one vote for each share you own. In addition, in the election of directors, you may cumulate votes by multiplying your shares by the number of directors to be elected and casting all of your votes for a single candidate or by distributing them among any two or more candidates.
How do I vote?
You may vote:
For both Internet and telephone voting you will need to enter the control number from your proxy card. If you vote your proxy by Internet or telephone, you do not need to mail back the proxy card. Your proxy will be voted in accordance with your selections on the card, Internet site or telephone instructions. If you do not indicate any selections, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote by proxy as soon as possible.
If your broker holds your shares in "street name," your broker will contact you for voting instructions as to how to vote those shares. If you want to vote those shares in person at the meeting, you need to obtain a proxy from your broker.
Can I change my vote?
You can revoke your proxy before the time of voting at the meeting by:
What shares are included on my proxy card?
If the name on the accounts is the same, the shares on your proxy card may represent (i) shares for which you have a certificate; (ii) shares that you hold in book-entry form; or (iii) shares that you have in a dividend reinvestment account of the Equitable Resources Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. Shareholders owning both certificated shares and shares in book-entry form will receive a proxy card for the certificated and book-entry shares. If you separately own shares through your broker, you will receive separate voting instruction cards from the broker. Employees holding stock in the Employee Savings Plan, the Employee Savings and Protection Plan, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and/or as restricted shares under Equitable Resources Long-Term Incentive Plans will receive separate voting instruction cards for those plans. The trustee or administrator of the plans will vote the shares in accordance with the instructions on the returned instruction cards or as recommended by the
Board of Directors if you provide no instructions on the instruction form. The trustee of the savings plans will vote plan shares for which it does not receive instructions in proportion to the way other plan participants voted their shares.
What if I receive more than one proxy card?
Except as discussed in "What shares are included on my proxy card," if you receive more than one proxy card, you have shares registered differently in more than one account. We encourage you to have all accounts registered in the same name and address whenever possible. You can do this by contacting our transfer agent, Mellon Investor Services LLC, at P.O. Box 3312, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606, at their toll free number (800-589-9026) or on their web site at www.mellon-investor.com.
How will my shares be voted on other matters that may be presented to the meeting?
Since no shareholder has indicated an intention to present any other matter to the annual meeting in accordance with the advance notice provision in the company's by-laws, the Board is not aware of any other proposals for the meeting. If another proposal is presented, the persons named as proxies will vote your proxy in their discretion.
Who can attend the annual meeting, and how do I obtain an admission ticket?
You may attend the meeting if you were a shareholder on March 7, 2002. Seating is limited and will be offered on a "first come, first served" basis. If you plan to attend the meeting, you will need an admission ticket, which you can obtain by checking the appropriate box on your proxy card or by writing to the corporate secretary of Equitable Resources at One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 3300, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219. If a broker holds your shares, please include a copy of your brokerage account statement or an omnibus proxy, which you can get from your broker, and we will send you an admission ticket.
What constitutes a "quorum" for the meeting?
A majority of the outstanding shares, present or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum. A quorum is necessary to conduct business at the annual meeting. You are part of the quorum if you have voted by proxy. Abstentions, broker non-votes and votes withheld from director nominees also are counted in determining whether a quorum is present.
What is the total number of outstanding shares?
At the close of business on March 7, 2002, the record date for the meeting, Equitable Resources had 63,438,673 shares of common stock outstanding.
How are the votes counted?
Director candidates who receive the highest number of votes cast will be elected. Approval of each other item requires a majority of the votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted in the voting results. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker or other nominee who holds shares for another does not vote on a particular item because the nominee does not have discretionary voting authority for that item and has not received instructions from the owner of the shares.
Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?
We are soliciting proxies primarily by use of the mails. However, we may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, by facsimile, by courier or by electronic means. To the extent that our directors
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and officers participate in this solicitation, they will not receive any compensation for their participation, other than their normal compensation. Equitable Resources pays for the cost of soliciting proxies from shareholders. Mellon Investor Services LLC assists Equitable Resources with the solicitation for a fee of $5,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Equitable Resources also reimburses brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for sending proxy materials to shareholders and obtaining their proxies.
May I nominate someone to be a director of Equitable Resources?
If you are a shareholder entitled to vote at an annual meeting, you may nominate one or more persons for election as directors of Equitable Resources at that meeting. You may do this by sending a written notice to the corporate secretary at One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 3300, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219. The notice must include certain information about the persons you nominate. To be included in next year's proxy statement, according to the company's by-laws, we must receive the notice not less than 90 but not more than 120 days before May 16, 2003, the anniversary date of this year's annual meeting. For complete details, contact the corporate secretary.
When are the 2003 shareholder proposals due?
Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, eligible shareholders can submit proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement for our 2003 annual meeting. You must submit shareholder proposals in writing to the corporate secretary at the address above by November 18, 2002 for them to be considered for inclusion in the 2003 proxy statement.
For proposals which will not be included in the proxy statement of the 2003 annual meeting, if you are a shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting, you may present one or more proposals at the meeting. The corporate secretary must receive any proposals to be raised, which will not be included in next year's proxy statement, not less than 90 but not more than 120 days before May 16, 2003, the anniversary date of this year's annual meeting, according to the company's by-laws. No proposals received outside that time period may be raised at the annual meeting.
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STOCK OWNERSHIP AND PERFORMANCE
Significant Shareholders
The following shareholders reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that they owned more than 5% of Equitable Resources common stock on December 31, 2001:
Name and Address |
Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percent of Common Stock Outstanding |
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Prudential Financial, Inc. 751 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102-3777 |
3,802,685(1 | ) | 6.00 | % |
Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth the number of shares of Equitable Resources common stock owned by nominees for director, directors and executive officers as of January 31, 2002, including shares they had the right to acquire within 60 days.
Name |
Exercisable Stock Options(1) |
Number of shares owned(2) |
Restricted Stock Held(3) |
Deferred share equivalent units(4) |
Percent of Class(5) |
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Murry S. Gerber(6) | 993,334 | 58,138 | 116,737 | 115,175 | 1.96 | |||||
Phyllis A. Domm | 3,000 | 8,876 | 0 | 3,998 | 0.02 | |||||
E. Lawrence Keyes, Jr. | 14,000 | 4,400 | 0 | 12,968 | 0.05 | |||||
Thomas A. McConomy(6) | 14,000 | 4,400 | 0 | 10,482 | 0.04 | |||||
George L. Miles, Jr. | 0 | 2,048 | 0 | 154 | 0.00 | |||||
Donald I. Moritz(6)(7) | 5,000 | 175,062 | 0 | 12,968 | 0.29 | |||||
Malcolm M. Prine | 14,000 | 3,936 | 0 | 12,968 | 0.05 | |||||
James E. Rohr | 13,000 | 14,600 | 0 | 3,998 | 0.05 | |||||
David S. Shapira(8) | 14,000 | 5,150 | 0 | 12,968 | 0.05 | |||||
J. Michael Talbert | 13,000 | 2,000 | 0 | 5,295 | 0.03 | |||||
James M. Funk | 66,668 | 10,967 | 12,480 | 43,136 | 0.20 | |||||
Joseph E. O'Brien | 145,258 | 2,141 | 17,510 | 14,177 | 0.27 | |||||
Johanna G. O'Loughlin | 132,666 | 9,897 | 12,360 | 3,940 | 0.24 | |||||
David L. Porges | 441,333 | 37,316 | 65,609 | 54,694 | 0.91 | |||||
Directors and executive officers as a group (16 individuals) | 2,092,260 | 366,572 | 262,564 | 316,747 | 4.63 |
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Compliance with Section 16(a) Reporting
The Securities and Exchange Commission rules require that we disclose late filings of stock ownership reports by directors, executive officers and all persons who beneficially own more than 10% of Equitable Resources' common stock. Due to the complexity of the reporting rules, the company has assumed certain responsibilities for filing compliance and has instituted procedures to assist directors and officers with these obligations.
Based solely upon the company's review of the copies of the filings or written representations from the reporting persons, we believe that all reporting persons made all filings required by Section 16(a) on a timely basis.
Stock Performance Graph
This graph compares the most recent five-year performance of Equitable Resources' common stock with the S&P 500 Index and a self-constructed peer group consisting of companies whose principal businesses are gas exploration and production and natural gas distribution. The graph assumes a $100 investment made on December 31, 1996 and the reinvestment of all dividends.
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1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
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EQUITABLE RESOURCES INC. | 100.00 | 123.58 | 106.03 | 126.20 | 258.91 | 269.21 | ||||||
S&P 500 | 100.00 | 133.36 | 171.47 | 207.56 | 188.66 | 166.24 | ||||||
SELF-CONSTRUCTED PEER GROUP(1) | 100.00 | 130.50 | 131.63 | 102.80 | 195.88 | 173.85 |
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ITEM NO. 1ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(Item No. 1 on the proxy card)
The Board of Directors of Equitable Resources currently has 10 members, who are divided into three classes. The term of one class expires each year. Directors are elected for three-year terms. The terms of three directors expire at this annual meeting. At the annual meeting, Phyllis A. Domm, Ed.D., James E. Rohr and David S. Shapira will stand for election. The shareholders previously elected all of these nominees to serve until the 2002 annual meeting. A fourth director, Donald I. Moritz, is retiring effective at the annual meeting. Mr. Moritz's service with the company spans over 40 years, including 16 years as chief executive officer and 30 years as a director. The company is grateful to Mr. Moritz for his dedicated service and his many contributions to the company's success. David L. Porges has been nominated to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Moritz's retirement.
The persons named as proxies will vote for the nominees named, as more fully discussed in the "About the Meeting" section of this proxy statement, unless you withhold authority to vote for any one or more of them. The votes represented by any proxy may be cumulated and voted at the discretion of the persons named as proxies in favor of any one or more of the nominees, unless otherwise indicated on your proxy card. The effect of this discretionary authority may be to offset the effect of your having withheld authority to vote for individual nominees because the persons named as proxies will be able to allocate votes of shareholders who have not withheld authority to vote those nominees. If a nominee becomes unavailable for election, the persons named as proxies intend to vote for substitute nominees proposed by the Board, unless the Board decides to reduce the number of directors. The four individuals who receive the largest number of votes cast will be elected directors for a three-year term expiring in 2005.
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR all Nominees for the Board of Directors.
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NOMINEES TO SERVE FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING IN 2005
PHYLLIS A. DOMM, Ed.D. | Age 55 | Director since May 1996 | ||||
Vice President, Human Resources, Intermountain Health Care (health care services), since June 2000; Vice President, Human Resources, MedStar Health (health care services), March 1998 through May 2000; President, Management and Marketing Solutions, Inc. (marketing, public relations and human resources consulting), July 1997 through March 1998; Senior Vice PresidentHealth Care Services, Intracoastal Health Systems, Inc., April 1995 through June 1997. |
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Member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. |
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DAVID L. PORGES | Age 44 | |||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Equitable Resources, since February 2000; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, July 1998 through January 2000; Managing Director, Bankers Trust Company (financial services company), December 1992 through June 1998. Also a director of Westport Resources Corporation. |
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JAMES E. ROHR | Age 53 | Director since May 1996 | ||||
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (financial services company), since May 2001; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., May 2000 through May 2001; President and Chief Operating Officer of PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., April 1998 through April 2000; President of PNC Bank Corp. (the predecessor of PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.), January 1992 through March 1998. Also a director of Allegheny Technologies, Inc., BlackRock, Inc. and Water Pik Technologies, Inc. |
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Chairman of the Executive Committee and member of the Compensation Committee. |
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DAVID S. SHAPIRA |
Age 60 |
Director since May 1987 |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Giant Eagle, Inc. (retail grocery store chain), since February 1994. Also a director of Mellon Financial Corporation. |
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Member of the Audit and Executive Committees. |
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DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2003
E. LAWRENCE KEYES, Jr. | Age 72 | Director since May 1988 | ||||
Partner, the Fortune Group, LLC (management consulting and investment banking firm), since January 1987. |
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Member of the Compensation Committee. |
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THOMAS A. McCONOMY | Age 68 | Director Since May 1991 | ||||
Director, Calgon Carbon Corporation (manufacturer and marketer of activated carbon and related products and services), since April 1985; Chairman of the Board, Calgon Carbon Corporation, April 1985 through April 1999; Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Calgon Carbon Corporation, February 1998 through April 1999. |
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Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee and member of the Compensation Committee. |
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MALCOLM M. PRINE | Age 73 | Director since May 1982 | ||||
Chairman of the Board, Core Materials Corp. (manufacturer of plastics molding), since January 1997; President, Malcar, Inc. since 1990. |
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Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Corporate Governance and Executive Committees. |
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DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2004
MURRY S. GERBER | Age 49 | Director since May 1998 | ||||
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Equitable Resources, since May 2000; President and Chief Executive Officer, Equitable Resources, June 1998 through April 2000; Chief Executive Officer, Coral Energy, L.P. (an energy marketing and services company), November 1995 through May 1998 Also a director of Westport Resources Corporation and BlackRock, Inc. |
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Member of the Executive Committee. |
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GEORGE L. MILES, JR. | Age 60 | Director since July 2000 | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer, WQED Pittsburgh (public broadcasting), since 1994. Also a director of WESCO International, Inc. |
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Member of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committees. |
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J. MICHAEL TALBERT | Age 55 | Director since May 1995 | ||||
Chief Executive Officer and Director, Transocean Sedco Forex Inc. (owner and operator of mobile offshore drilling rigs), since December 2001; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Transocean Sedco Forex Inc., December 1999 through December 2001; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Transocean Offshore, Inc. and Sonat Offshore Drilling, Inc. (predecessors of Transocean Sedco Forex Inc.), September 1994 through December 1999. |
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Chairman of the Compensation Committee and member of the Executive Committee. |
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Transactions With Directors' Companies
During 2001, Equitable Resources conducted business with PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. ("PNC"), where Mr. Rohr serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The company paid PNC a total of $521,675 in fees in 2001 for various services, including commitment fees for a line of credit in which PNC participates, treasury management fees and trust fees. Also during 2001, Equitable Resources' pension plan for hourly employees paid BlackRock, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of PNC, $117,555 in fees for investment management services. All of these transactions were on arms-length terms we believe to be fair and Mr. Rohr did not have a direct or indirect material interest in these transactions.
In the course of ordinary business, Equitable Resources may have other transactions with companies and organizations for which an Equitable Resources director serves as an officer. Those directors did not have a material interest in any such transaction and none of those transactions exceeded 5% of the gross revenues of either Equitable Resources or the other organization. Moreover, any such transactions were entered into on arms-length terms we believe to be fair.
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Board of Directors and Committees
The Board of Directors held seven regular meetings and no special meetings during 2001. The attendance at the Board and committee meetings during 2001 averaged 94%. The standing committees of the Board are the Audit, Compensation, Corporate Governance and Executive Committees:
Audit Committee
Compensation Committee
Corporate Governance Committee
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Executive Committee
Directors' Compensation and Retirement Program
In May 2001, an external compensation consultant reviewed the total compensation for directors. The retainer fees, meeting fees and stock ownership opportunities were determined to be competitive with compensation paid to directors of S&P 500 companies of similar revenue size.
Cash Compensation
Equity Compensation
Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors
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Life and Travel Accident Insurance
The following tables contain information concerning the compensation of the Equitable Resources chief executive officer and each of the other four most highly compensated executive officers of the company in 2001.
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Annual Compensation |
Long-term Compensation |
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Awards |
Payouts |
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Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($)(1) |
Other Annual Compensation ($)(2)(3) |
Restricted Stock ($) (4)(5)(6) |
Securities Underlying Options/SARs # |
LTIP Payouts ($)(7) |
All Other Compensation ($)(8) |
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Murry S. Gerber Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer |
2001 2000 1999 |
578,853 557,696 500,000 |
650,000 1,000,000 900,000 |
411,477 198,558 142,187 |
0 0 1,653,410 |
400,000/0 360,000/0 300,000/0 |
0 4,314,900 0 |
39,695 34,486 44,714 |
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David L. Porges Executive V.P. & Chief Financial Officer |
2001 2000 1999 |
327,693 308,465 270,000 |
325,000 500,000 457,000 |
211,326 126,258 126,658 |
126,960 0 871,798 |
200,000/0 120,000/0 160,000/0 |
0 2,330,044 0 |
30,217 26,634 24,240 |
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Johanna G. O'Loughlin Senior V.P., General Counsel & Secretary |
2001 2000 1999 |
227,697 213,083 190,000 |
225,000 250,000 230,000 |
0 0 0 |
0 288,372 0 |
60,000/0 60,000/0 40,000/0 |
0 1,639,670 0 |
21,032 18,322 16,858 |
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Joseph E. O'Brien Vice President |
2001 2000 1999 |
249,995 249,995 187,000 |
180,000 230,000 80,000 |
0 0 0 |
0 414,375 0 |
28,000/0 203,888/0 0/0 |
0 0 0 |
15,636 10,558 0 |
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James E. Funk Senior Vice President |
2001 2000 1999 |
279,995 139,998 0 |
170,000 265,000 0 |
69,043 0 0 |
0 438,750 0 |
100,000/0 100,000/0 0/0 |
0 0 0 |
26,096 10,500 0 |
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Name |
Number of Shares |
Value |
|||
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Murry S. Gerber | 116,737 | $ | 3,977,230 | ||
David L. Porges | 65,609 | 2,235,299 | |||
Johanna G. O'Loughlin | 12,360 | 421,105 | |||
Joseph E. O'Brien | 17,510 | 596,566 | |||
James M. Funk | 12,480 | 425,194 |
|
Life Insurance |
Savings Plan Contribution |
Deferred Compensation Plan |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Murry S. Gerber | $ | 1872 | $ | 12,738 | $ | 25,085 | |||
David L. Porges | $ | 1059 | $ | 13,927 | $ | 15,231 | |||
Johanna G. O'Loughlin | $ | 735 | $ | 14,181 | $ | 6,116 | |||
Joseph E. O'Brien | $ | 810 | $ | 4,442 | $ | 10,384 | |||
James M. Funk | $ | 907 | $ | 11,943 | $ | 13,246 |
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Individual Grants |
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Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for The Option Term(3) |
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% of Total Options/SARs Granted to Employees In 2001 |
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Exercise or Base Price Per Share ($/sh) |
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Name |
Options/ SARs Granted(1) |
Expiration Date(2) |
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5% |
10% |
|||||||||||
Murry S. Gerber | 400,000 | 23.60 | 31.50 | 3/14/2011 | 8,042,239 | 20,271,686 | ||||||
David L. Porges | 200,000 | 11.80 | 31.50 | 3/14/2011 | 4,021,120 | 10,135,843 | ||||||
James M. Funk | 100,000 | 5.90 | 31.50 | 3/14/2011 | 2,010,560 | 5,067,921 | ||||||
Johanna G. O'Loughlin | 60,000 | 3.54 | 31.50 | 3/14/2011 | 1,206,336 | 3,040,753 | ||||||
Joseph E. O'Brien | 28,000 | 1.65 | 31.50 | 3/14/2011 | 562,957 | 1,419,018 |
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in 2001 & Year-End 2001 Option Values
Name |
Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized ($) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/SARs at Year End 2001 (#) Exercisable/ Unexercisable |
Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options/SARs at Year-End 2001 ($)(1) Exercisable/ Unexercisable |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Murry S. Gerber | 0 | 0 | 740,000/740,000 | 13,094,094/6,258,413 | ||||
David L. Porges | 0 | 0 | 334,666/333,334 | 6,228,435/2,627,589 | ||||
Johanna G. O'Loughlin | 0 | 0 | 92,666/113,334 | 1,703,231/963,731 | ||||
Joseph E. O'Brien | 0 | 0 | 67,963/163,925 | 868,225/1,805,025 | ||||
James M. Funk | 0 | 0 | 33,334/166,666 | 319,506/883,994 |
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Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
Our Compensation Committee determines compensation for the executive officers of Equitable Resources. All Committee members are independent directors who have never been employees of Equitable Resources. Our decisions are based upon our understanding of Equitable Resources' businesses and strategy, as well as our knowledge of the capabilities and performance of the company and its executives.
Compensation Philosophy
Our goal is to create value for the shareholders of Equitable Resources by providing the company with a long-term perspective while striving to deliver consistently profitable annual results. We emphasize variable compensation and favor equity compensation to the extent possible because of our commitment to pay-for-performance. The Committee believes that the close linkage between executive and shareholder interests, resulting from our increased emphasis on compensation that varies with financial and stock price performance, has had an especially positive impact on the company's business and financial performance in recent years.
To support these objectives, executives participate in compensation programs that focus on achieving annual business objectives and creating long-term value for the stockholders. This total compensation program, which is designed to attract, motivate and retain high-performing executives who can consistently deliver results for our shareholders, includes salary, annual cash incentives, long-term, stock-based incentives, employee benefits and perquisites.
We determine compensation based on the following objectives and guidelines:
Base Salaries
Because Equitable Resources favors a pay-for-performance approach, the base salary levels are generally targeted at the 50th percentile of a survey group consisting of general industry companies of similar revenue size. Individual performance, taking into account competitive salaries, is the basis for
15
individual salary increases. General economic conditions and marketplace compensation trends also are evaluated with the assistance of independent compensation consultants.
Annual Incentive Opportunities
Participants in the company's short-term incentive plan have a bonus target equal to a percentage of their annual salary, which is established based on market competitive data. This plan is designed to provide cash bonus payments once Equitable Resources has met pre-established, Board-approved financial goals. Depending on the level of performance, a bonus pool is funded for each of headquarters and the business units based on a multiple of the sum of the targets for all participants. The actual multiple is determined by the level of achievement of net income and key value driver measures for the business units. The headquarters multiple is determined by earnings per share growth and return on total capital performance. We make adjustments in all plans to eliminate the effect of weather, commodity prices, acquisitions/divestitures and extraordinary items as presented by management and approved by this Committee. The maximum multiple of the sum of participant bonus targets is 200%. Awards are based on the size of the bonus pool and performance against individual financial, strategic, operational and organizational objectives.
At the beginning of the year, we set the bonus targets for the executive officers and the performance requirements for the multiples used to calculate the bonus pool, based on the 2001 business plan. We also approve the actual bonus payments made based on the individual performance for all officers.
Long-Term Incentives
Stock-based awards are made on a market competitive basis, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The size of prior grants or the amount of stock held by employees to whom awards are made is not considered when determining the amount of individual awards. The 1999 Equitable Resources Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for a variety of stock-based incentive awards, including stock options (with or without reload rights), restricted stock, performance awards and other stock-based awards.
Other Compensation
We provide a competitive level of employee benefit programs along with perquisites that we deem appropriate and competitive for each executive's position.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
To promote stock ownership by management, the Committee, in 1998, approved personal stock ownership guidelines for executives. These guidelines require that an executive retain a minimum of 50% of the net shares received from the exercise of an option until the executive's stock holdings meet a predetermined value. This value is defined as follows:
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Four times base salary |
|
Direct Reports to Chairman |
Three times base salary |
Once the required value has been reached, the executives may sell shares from company stock-based awards that are in excess of the targets listed above. In calculating stock ownership, the company considers stock held, stock option value (vested and unvested), restricted stock grants, stock units held in the company's deferred compensation plan and stock in the 401(k) and employee stock purchase plans.
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The company's long-term performance ultimately determines compensation from stock options, since gains from stock option exercises are entirely dependent on the long-term growth of the company's stock price. Comparing current performance to performance in 1998, the company has demonstrated significant improvement as measured by return on investment, return on equity, total shareholder return, stock price increase and increase in market capitalization. As a result of this performance and the emphasis on equity compensation and stock ownership, executives have earned and now hold a significant amount of company stock. Equitable executives own more than the guideline number of shares for their positions, and their holdings exceed the averages for general industry companies.
Recognizing that equity holdings represent compensation for past services and that executives may need to take steps to diversify their portfolios, we anticipate that executives may, from time to time, exercise options or sell shares. In order to ensure compliance with insider trading regulations, executives will be encouraged to take advantage of the new rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission providing for the use of trading plans for transactions in company stock.
Compensation of Executive Officers in 2001
In March 2001, our Committee increased salary and annual cash incentive targets for executive officers, reflecting similar increases in the comparison group. Annual incentive payouts to executive officers for 2001 averaged 151% of target based on attainment of pre-established corporate, business unit and individual value drivers.
Equitable Resources also granted stock options to executive officers at or above the target levels for their positions. Above-target grants were made to individuals when necessary to adjust for below-market base salary. Restricted stock grants also were made to one executive officer consistent with market competitive survey information.
Compensation of the Chief Executive OfficerEquitable Resources bases the chief executive officer's compensation on the same philosophy and policies as for all executive officers. This compensation includes base salary, annual cash incentives and stock option awards commensurate with his achievements and consistent with our objective to continue to provide appropriate performance incentives.
The Corporate Governance Committee of the Board meets annually without the chief executive officer present and evaluates his performance compared with previously established financial and non-financial goals. That Committee reports performance levels achieved to our Committee, and we then make any appropriate compensation adjustments. Finally, we report in full to the other members of the Board for their consideration and agreement. This meeting is an executive session of non-employee directors only.
Murry S. Gerber currently serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Equitable Resources. In March 2001, we increased Mr. Gerber's base salary from $575,000 to $580,000. We also granted him a stock option with reload rights of 400,000 shares. Finally, in February 2002, we awarded Mr. Gerber a bonus payment of $650,000. We based this amount on the superior performance of the company in 2001, as reflected in:
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Tax Deductibility of Executive Officer Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally limits the corporate tax deduction for compensation paid to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table to $1,000,000 each, unless certain requirements are met. We have carefully considered the impact of this tax code provision and strive in our compensation decisions to balance this with the need to provide compensation programs that motivate and retain high-performing executives.
This report has been furnished by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
J.
Michael Talbert, Chair
Phyllis A. Domm
E. Lawrence Keyes, Jr.
Thomas A. McConomy
James E. Rohr
Employment and Non-Competition Agreements
We entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Gerber and Porges in connection with their appointments as President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. The term of the agreements automatically extends each month so that they effectively have a perpetual one-year term, unless either party gives notice of a desire not to extend the term, in which case the agreement expires one year after the notice. The agreements provide for payment to the executive of a base salary, which is reviewed and adjusted annually by the Compensation Committee based on individual performance and base salaries at peer companies, and participation by the executive in other incentive and benefit plans of the company, including participation in the company's short-term and long-term incentive plans. Under the agreements, the company also agrees to (1) grant to the executive a minimum number of stock options annually through 2002 (60,000 in the case of Mr. Gerber, 30,000 in the case of Mr. Porges), (2) provide a supplemental life insurance benefit (equal to two times base salary in the case of Mr. Gerber, one times base salary in the case of Mr. Porges), (3) provide a split dollar life insurance benefit (with a $2.0 million death benefit in the case of Mr. Gerber, $1.0 million in the case of Mr. Porges), and (3) provide certain perquisites to the executive. If Equitable Resources terminates the executive's employment without cause, the executive is entitled to one year's base salary, reduced by amounts received under the non-competition and change in control agreements described below.
In connection with the employment of Mr. Gerber, we entered into a supplemental retirement agreement with him which is intended to make up the difference, if any, between the $211,500 per year early retirement benefit to which he would be entitled from his prior employer and the retirement benefit to which he is entitled under Equitable Resources' employee savings plan and deferred compensation plan. This benefit is payable to Mr. Gerber from age 55 to age 65, but only if he terminates employment after age 55 (or age 52 in the case of involuntary termination without cause).
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We have also entered into non-competition agreements with the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. Under these agreements, the executives agree not to compete with Equitable Resources for 12 months (24 months in the case of Mr. Gerber, except that the duration is reduced to 12 months in the case of involuntary termination or termination within 24 months of a change in control) after the termination of their employment for any reason. The executives also agree to keep information confidential and not to solicit employees of the company after their termination. Under these agreements, the company agrees to pay the executives a severance benefit of 24 months salary and benefits continuation, in consideration of their confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. This severance benefit is in addition to any other severance benefit to which the executive may be entitled. These agreements terminate and do not apply if the executive is entitled to severance benefits under the change in control agreements described below.
We have entered into change in control agreements with the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. These agreements provide severance benefits in the event of a change in control of Equitable Resources. The purpose of the agreements is to foster the continued dedication of key executives in the face of the uncertainties that accompany a possible change in control. For purposes of these agreements, a change in control includes the following: (1) the sale of all or substantially all of Equitable Resources' assets, unless the company's shareholders prior to the sale own at least 80% of the company's stock after the sale; (2) the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of Equitable Resources' common stock; (3) the termination of the company's business and the liquidation of the company; (4) consummation of a merger or consolidation of Equitable Resources, unless shareholders of voting securities immediately prior to the merger or consolidation continue to hold 60% or more of the voting securities of the resulting entity and a majority of the company's Board does not change; or (5) a change in the composition of the Board, so that existing Board members and their approved successors do not constitute a majority of the Board. The agreement has an automatic renewal feature, meaning that the agreements will continue in effect unless either Equitable Resources or the executive elects not to extend the agreement, in which case the agreement expires 36 months after the notice.
Under the agreements, severance benefits are payable if the executive is involuntarily terminated (other than for cause) or terminates employment for good reason within two years following a change in control. Good reason to terminate employment exists if there are significant changes in the nature of employment following the change in control, including, for example, a reduction in compensation, a change in responsibility or relocation of the place of employment. Severance benefits payable under the agreements include: (1) a cash payment equal to three times the executive's annual base salary, (2) a cash payment equal to three times the executive's highest annual bonus earned in the three years prior to termination; (3) continuation of medical, disability, dental and life insurance benefits for three years following termination; and (4) payment of the company match benefit and retirement contribution under the company's savings plan for three years after termination. The agreements also provide for the payment to the executive of a "gross-up" payment for all income taxes and any excise taxes payable by the executive with respect to payments they receive in connection with a change in control of the company.
All executive officers participate in a defined contribution plan under the company's 401(k) Employee Savings Plan. Under the Employee Savings Plan, the company contributes an amount equal to a percentage of each employee's base salary to an individual investment account for the employee.
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Our Committee, the Equitable Resources Audit Committee, is comprised of four independent members.
In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding audit committees, we have adopted a formal, written charter, which was approved by the Board of Directors of Equitable Resources on April 25, 2000. As set forth in the charter, management is responsible for the internal controls and financial reporting process of Equitable Resources. The independent auditors perform an independent audit of Equitable Resources' consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in the United States and issue a report. Our responsibility includes monitoring and overseeing these processes.
In the performance of our oversight function, we have reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 with the management of Equitable Resources. We have discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, the company's independent auditors, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees). We also have received the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and have discussed the independence of Ernst & Young LLP with that firm. In doing so, we considered whether the provision of non-audit services to the company was compatible with maintaining their independence. We also reviewed the amount of fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP for both audit and non-audit services.
The members of our Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting. The Audit Committee's considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of the company's financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that the company's auditors are in fact "independent."
Based on the review of the report of the independent auditors to the Audit Committee and discussions with the management and the independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the financial statements be included in the Equitable Resources Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This report has been furnished by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Malcolm
M. Prine, Chair
Phyllis A. Domm
George L. Miles, Jr.
David S. Shapira
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ITEM NO. 2RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
(Item No. 2 on the proxy card)
The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, has reappointed Ernst & Young LLP, certified public accountants, as independent auditors to examine the consolidated financial statements of the company and its subsidiaries for the calendar year 2002. Ernst & Young LLP, and its predecessor, have acted as auditors for the company since 1950. Although shareholder approval is not required for the appointment of auditors, the Board of Directors believes the shareholders should participate through ratification. If such ratification is not obtained, the Board will consider the appointment of other auditors for the following year.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP expect to be present at the annual meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if they desire to do so.
Audit Fees
Equitable Resources paid $578,136 to Ernst & Young LLP for the 2001 annual audit including the full audit and review of the financial statements included in the company's first, second and third quarter Form 10-Q for 2001.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees
Equitable Resources did not pay any financial information systems design and implementation fees to Ernst & Young LLP during 2001.
All Other Fees
Equitable Resources paid $1,368,264 to Ernst & Young LLP for all other services rendered during 2001. These services included:
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP.
ITEM NO. 3ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Other Matters
No matters other than those listed in the notice of meeting accompanying this proxy statement are expected to be presented to shareholders for action at the annual meeting. However, should other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote in a manner as they may, in their discretion, determine.
Annual Report and Form 10-K
The Annual Report of the company to shareholders and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 are enclosed with this proxy statement.
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Item 1 and Item 2
Please mark your votes as indicated in this example ý
1. Election of Directors
FOR | WITHHELD | |
o | o |
Nominees: | 01 Phyllis A. Domm, Ed.D., 02 David L. Porges, 03 James E. Rohr, and 04 David S. Shapira |
2. Ratify Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||
o | o | o |
Mark here if you plan to attend the meeting.
Please send Admittance Card.
o
By checking the box below, I consent to view Annual Reports and Proxy Statements electronically via the Internet. I understand that the Corporation may no longer distribute printed materials to me for any future shareowner meetings until my consent is revoked. I understand that I may revoke my consent at any time by contacting the Corporations transfer agent, Mellon Investor Services LLC, Ridgefield Park, NJ and that costs normally associated with electronic delivery such as usage and telephone charges as well as any costs I may incur in printing documents, will be my responsibility.
o
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees in Item 1 above and FOR the ratification of auditors in Item 2 above. The proxies are authorized, in accordance with their judgment, to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.
THIS PROXY SHOULD BE SIGNED EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS HEREON.
Signature | Signature | Date | ||||||||
Executors, administrators, trustees, etc. should give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by a duly authorized officer. |
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
Vote by Internet or Telephone or Mail
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Internet and telephone voting is available through 4PM Eastern Time
the business day prior to annual meeting day.
Your Internet or telephone 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.eproxy.com/eqt |
Telephone 1-800-435-6710 |
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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 | 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 | Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
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If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone,
you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.
To view the Annual Report and Proxy Materials online, go to:
http://www.eqt.com
One Oxford Centre
Suite 3300
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
Johanna G. O'Loughlin and
Jean F. Marks are each hereby appointed as proxies of the undersigned to vote all shares which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on Thursday, May 16, 2002, at
10:00 a.m. local time, in the Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at any adjournment of such meeting. Where a vote is not specified, the proxies will vote the shares represented by
this Proxy FOR the election of directors and FOR the ratification of Ernst & Young, LLP as auditors and will vote in their discretion on such other matters that may properly come before the meeting.
A vote FOR the election of nominees listed on the reverse side includes discretionary authority to cumulate votes selectively among the nominees as to whom authority to vote has not been withheld and
to vote for a substitute nominee if any nominee becomes unavailable for election for any reason. This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company and may be revoked prior to its exercise. The Board of Directors recommends
votes FOR the election of all nominees for director and FOR ratification of Ernst & Young, LLP as auditors.
Please sign and date on the reverse side and return the proxy card promptly using the enclosed envelope.
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2002
10:00 A.M.
THE OMNI WILLIAM PENN HOTEL
530 William Penn Place
Pittsburgh, PA
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
You can vote by Internet, telephone or mail.
See the instructions of the other side of this proxy card.