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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14a INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
Centex Construction Products, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(4) Date Filed:
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CENTEX CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.
3710 RAWLINS, SUITE 1600, LB 78
DALLAS, TEXAS 75219
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JULY 16, 1998
To The Stockholders:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Centex
Construction Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be
held in the Red Oak Room of the Sheraton Suites Hotel, 2101 Stemmons Freeway,
in the City of Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, July 16, 1998, at 10:00 A.M.
(C.D.T.) for the following purposes:
1. To elect five directors, each to hold office until the annual meeting
of stockholders in 1999 or until his successor shall have been
elected and qualified.
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on June 10, 1998 as
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Only stockholders of record
at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of and to
vote at the meeting. The transfer books will not be closed.
You are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Whether or not you expect
to attend the meeting in person, you are urged to promptly sign, date and mail
the accompanying form of Company proxy, so that your Company shares may be
represented and voted at the meeting. Your Company proxy will be returned to
you if you should be present at the meeting and request such return.
By Order of the Board of Directors
RAYMOND G. SMERGE
Secretary
Dallas, Texas
June 18, 1998
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CENTEX CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JULY 16, 1998
INTRODUCTION
The accompanying proxy, mailed together with this proxy statement, is
solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of Centex Construction
Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on July 16, 1998, and at any
adjournment thereof. The mailing address of the executive offices of the
Company is 3710 Rawlins, Suite 1600, LB 78, Dallas, Texas 75219. The
approximate date on which this proxy statement and accompanying proxy were
first sent to stockholders is June 18, 1998.
PURPOSES OF THE MEETING
At the meeting, action will be taken upon the following matters:
(1) Election of five directors, each to hold office until the next
annual meeting of stockholders in 1999 or until his successor shall have
been elected and qualified.
(2) Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors of the Company does not know of any matters that may
be acted upon at the meeting other than the matter set forth in item (1) above.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ELECTION OF THE
FIVE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY NAMED IN THE ACCOMPANYING COMPANY
PROXY.
RECORD DATE AND VOTING
The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the meeting is the close of business on June 10, 1998. On the
record date, the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled
to vote at the meeting consisted of 21,304,122 shares of Company Common Stock.
The holders of Company Common Stock will be entitled to one vote per share
upon the election of directors, and each other matter that may be properly
brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Neither the Certificate
of Incorporation nor the By-laws of the Company provide for cumulative voting
rights. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is necessary to constitute a
quorum; abstentions and, by definition, broker non-votes will be counted as
present for the purpose of establishing a quorum.
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Shares represented by valid proxies will be voted at the meeting in
accordance with the directions given. If the proxy card is signed and returned
without any direction given, the shares will be voted for election of the five
nominees for director named in the proxy. The Board of Directors does not
intend to present, and has no information that others will present, any
business at the annual meeting other than as set forth in the attached Notice
of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company. However, if other matters
requiring the vote of stockholders come before the meeting, it is the intention
of the persons named in the accompanying form of the Company proxy to vote the
proxies held by them in accordance with their best judgment in such matters.
Any stockholder of the Company has the unconditional right to revoke his
Company proxy at any time prior to the voting thereof by submitting a
later-dated proxy, by attending the meeting and voting in person, or by written
notice to the Company addressed to Raymond G. Smerge, Secretary, Centex
Construction Products, Inc., 3710 Rawlins, Suite 1600, LB 78, Dallas, Texas
75219; however, no such revocation shall be effective until received by the
Company at or prior to the meeting.
The cost of solicitation of proxies for the meeting will be borne by the
Company. Solicitation may be made by mail, personal interview, telephone
and/or telegraph by officers and other employees of the Company, who will
receive no additional compensation therefor. To aid in the solicitation of
proxies, the Company has retained the firm of ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C., which will receive a fee of approximately $4,500 plus out-of-pocket
expenses. The Company will reimburse banks, brokerage firms and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them
in forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners.
ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with the By-laws of the Company, the Board of Directors has
established the number of directors to be elected at the meeting at five, which
shall constitute the entire Board of Directors. Unless contrary instructions
are indicated on the proxy, it is intended that the shares represented by the
accompanying Company proxy will be voted for the election of the five nominees
for director named below or, if any such nominees should become unavailable,
which is not anticipated, for such substitute nominee as the Board of Directors
shall designate. Each director will hold office until the next annual election
of directors or until his successor shall have been elected and qualified,
subject to removal by the vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock. A plurality of votes
cast at the annual meeting, in person or by proxy, is required to elect each
nominee. The Board recommends that stockholders vote FOR the election of such
nominees.
The five persons named below are the Board's nominees for election as
directors at the meeting. All the persons named below are currently directors
of the Company. The information appearing in the following table respecting
the nominees for director has been furnished to the Company by the respective
nominees.
BOARD
POSITIONS AND OFFICES DIRECTOR COMMITTEE
NAME AND AGE WITH THE COMPANY SINCE MEMBERSHIP
------------ ------------------- -------- -----------
O. G. (Greg) Dagnan, 58 . . . . . . Chairman of the Board and 1990 Executive
Chief Executive Officer(1)
Laurence E. Hirsch, 52 . . . . . . None (2) 1985 Compensation*, Executive* &
Stock Option*
David W. Quinn, 56 . . . . . . . . None (3) 1994 Executive & Stock Option
Robert L. Clarke, 56 . . . . . . . None (4) 1994 Audit* & Compensation
Harold K. Work, 65 . . . . . . . . None (5) 1994 Audit & Compensation
____________________
* Chairman of the Committee
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(1) Mr. Dagnan has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since
January 1990, and as Chairman of the Board of the Company since
January 1998. Mr. Dagnan served as President of the Company from
January 1990 through December 1997, and as Senior Vice President --
Operations of the Company from August 1989 to January 1990. From 1980
until 1989, he was employed by Southwestern Portland Cement, where he
served as Vice President from 1982 to 1987 and as Executive Vice
President from 1987 to 1989.
(2) Mr. Hirsch has served as a director of the Company since January 1994
and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company from
January 1994 through December 1997. Mr. Hirsch has served as a
director of Centex Corporation since 1985, as Chief Executive Officer
of Centex Corporation since July 1988 and as Chairman of the Board of
Centex Corporation since July 1991. He also served as President of
Centex Corporation from March 1985 until July 1991. Mr. Hirsch is
also a director of Commercial Metals Corporation and Envoy
Corporation, serves as an advisory director of Heidelberger Zement AG
and is a trustee of Blackrock Assets Investors, a registered
investment company.
(3) Mr. Quinn has served as a director of the Company since January 1994.
Mr. Quinn has served as a director of Centex Corporation since 1989,
was elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Centex Corporation in May
1996, was Executive Vice President of Centex Corporation from February
1987 until May 1996 and Chief Financial Officer of Centex Corporation
from February 1987 until June 1997 and October 1997 to the present.
Mr. Quinn served as a director and Chairman of the Board of Centex
Corporation's former banking subsidiary, Texas Trust Savings Bank,
FSB, from December 1988 to December 1994, and as Chief Executive
Officer of Texas Trust Savings Bank, FSB from December 1988 to
December 1993. Mr. Quinn is also a director of Elcor Corporation.
(4) Mr. Clarke has served as a director of the Company since July 1994.
Mr. Clarke has been a partner in the law firm of Bracewell &
Patterson, L.L.P. from 1971 to December 1985 and since March 1992.
From December 1985 to February 1992, he was Comptroller of the
Currency of the United States. Mr. Clarke is a director of First
Investors Financial Services, Inc.
(5) Mr. Work has served as a director of the Company since July 1994. Mr.
Work has served as a Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Elk Corporation since 1979 and as Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer and President of Elcor Corporation since August
1997. From 1993 until August 1997, Mr. Work served as Executive Vice
President of Elcor Corporation, and from 1982 to 1993, Mr. Work served
as Vice President of Elcor Corporation.
BOARD MEETINGS, FEES, COMMITTEES AND ATTENDANCE RECORDS
During the Company's fiscal year ended March 31, 1998 the Board of
Directors held four regularly scheduled meetings. During such fiscal year,
each director attended all of the meetings of the Board and the Board
committees on which he served.
Board members who are not employees of the Company, Centex Corporation or
any of their respective subsidiaries ("Outside Directors") received an annual
retainer of $22,500 for fiscal year 1998. Outside Directors received an
additional annual retainer of $1,000 for each committee on which they served.
In addition, the Company reimburses the directors for reasonable expenses
incurred in attending Board and Board committee meetings.
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, composed of Outside
Directors, which reviews the functions of the Company's management and
independent auditors pertaining to the Company's financial statements and
performs such other duties and functions as are deemed appropriate by the Audit
Committee or the Board. During
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the last fiscal year, the Audit Committee held one meeting, which was attended
by all members. Audit Committee members are paid a fee of $1,000 per year.
The Board has a Compensation Committee, composed of directors who are not
employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which recommends to the
Board the base salaries and incentive bonuses of the officers of the Company.
During the last fiscal year, the Compensation Committee held one meeting, which
was attended by all members. Compensation Committee members who are Outside
Directors are paid a fee of $1,000 per year.
The Board has a Stock Option Committee, composed of directors who are not
employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which administers the
Centex Construction Products, Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan. The
Stock Option Committee is authorized to grant options to acquire Centex
Construction Products, Inc. Common Stock, and to grant awards of restricted
stock. During the last fiscal year, the Stock Option Committee held one
meeting, which was attended by all members. Stock Option Committee members who
are Outside Directors are paid a fee of $1,000 per year.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as of June 10, 1998 with respect
to the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company Common Stock by each
director, nominee for election to the Board of Directors and executive officer
named in the Summary Compensation Table under "Executive Compensation",
individually itemized, and by all directors and executive officers of the
Company as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, all shares are owned
directly and the owner has the sole voting and investment power with respect
thereto.
COMPANY COMMON STOCK (1)
-----------------------------
NUMBER OF PERCENT
NAME SHARES OF CLASS
---- ------------- --------
Robert L. Clarke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,000 *
O. G. (Greg) Dagnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86,387 *
Laurence E. Hirsch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000 *
H. David House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,000 *
Richard D. Jones, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,848 *
David W. Quinn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000 *
Steven R. Rowley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,779 *
Harold K. Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000 *
Arthur R. Zunker, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,472 *
All directors and executive officers
of the Company as a group (9 persons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200,486 *
____________________
* less than 1%
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(1) Shares covered by stock options that are outstanding under the Centex
Construction Products, Inc. Stock Option Plan which are exercisable on
June 10, 1998, or within 60 days thereafter, are included as
"beneficially owned" pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Amounts include the following
shares that may be acquired upon exercise of such stock options: Mr.
Clarke -- 5,000 shares; Mr. Dagnan -- 65,350 shares; Mr. House --
40,000 shares; Mr. Jones -- 16,900 shares; Mr. Rowley -- 15,000
shares; Mr. Work -- 5,000 shares; Mr. Zunker -- 10,650 shares; and all
directors and executive officers of the Company as a group (9 persons)
-- 157,900 shares. In addition, this table includes 2,437, 1,948,
4,822, and 779 shares of Company Common Stock that may be beneficially
owned as of March 31, 1998 by Messrs. Dagnan, Jones, Zunker and
Rowley, respectively, and 9,986 shares of Company Common Stock that
may be beneficially owned as of March 31, 1998 by all directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group (9 persons), pursuant to
the Company Common Stock Fund of the Profit Sharing and Retirement
Plan of Centex Construction Products, Inc., a defined contribution
plan (the "Profit Sharing Plan"). Amounts shown for Mr. Hirsch and
Mr. Quinn do not include 11,962,304 shares of Company Common Stock
owned by Centex Corporation, which shares each of Mr. Hirsch and Mr.
Quinn may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly because of each of
their positions as a director and an executive officer of Centex
Corporation.
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth information as of June 10, 1998 with respect
to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock who are known to the Company
to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of such shares outstanding.
CENTEX CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.
COMMON STOCK
------------------------------------------
NAME AND ADDRESS OF Number PERCENT
BENEFICIAL HOLDER of Shares OF CLASS
----------------- --------------- -----------
Centex Corporation 11,962,304 56.15%
2728 N. Harwood Street
Dallas, Texas 75201-1516
FMR Corp. 2,045,100 (1) 9.60%
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109-7000
Wellington Management Co., LLP 1,375,700 (2) 6.46%
75 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
------------------------------
(1) Based solely upon information contained in the Schedule 13G/A (Amendment
No. 4) of FMR Corp. ("FMR") filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") on February 14, 1998 with respect to Company Common
Stock owned as of December 31, 1997 (the "FMR 13G"). According to the FMR
13G, FMR may be deemed to own beneficially 2,045,100 shares of Company
Common Stock, acquired solely for investment purposes, as a parent holding
company with respect to holdings of wholly owned investment adviser
subsidiaries of FMR and other entities affiliated with FMR. FMR has sole
dispositive power as to all such shares. FMR stated in the FMR 13G that
it held 188,500 shares of Company Common Stock with sole voting power and
no shares of Company Common Stock with shared voting or dispositive power.
(2) Based solely upon information contained in the Schedule 13G/A (Amendment
No. 4) of Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington") that was filed
with the SEC on January 13, 1998 with respect to Company Common Stock
owned as of December 31, 1997 (the "Wellington 13G"). The Wellington 13G
stated that Wellington, in its capacity as an investment adviser to
clients, may be deemed to own beneficially
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1,375,700 shares of Company Common Stock (representing 6.20% of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock). Wellington has shared
dispositive power as to all such shares. Also, according to the
Wellington 13G, Wellington stated that it held no shares of Company Common
Stock with sole voting or dispositive power and 256,000 shares of Company
Common Stock with shared voting power.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the cash and noncash compensation awarded to
or earned by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the other most
highly compensated executive officers of the Company:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL FISCAL ---------------------------------- ALL OTHER
POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) (1) COMPENSATION
------------------------------ ------ ------------ ------------- -------------
($) (2)
-------
O. G. (GREG) DAGNAN, 1998 $ 282,000 $ 452,477 $ 27,819
Chairman of the Board and 1997 265,000 132,500 27,164
Chief Executive Officer 1996 255,500 69,000 25,344
RICHARD D. JONES, JR., 1998 $ 229,375 $ 316,733 $ 22,459
President and Chief Operating 1997 215,000 100,000 22,154
Officer 1996 210,000 50,000 20,794
ARTHUR R. ZUNKER, JR., 1998 $ 150,000 $ 206,845 $ 15,393
Senior Vice President -- 1997 144,000 72,000 15,228
Finance and Treasurer 1996 138,000 41,000 13,802
H. DAVID HOUSE, (3) 1998 $ 159,000 $ 355,277 $ 7,984
Executive Vice President --
Gypsum
STEVEN R. ROWLEY, (3) 1998 $ 108,550 $ 127,970 $ 11,008
Executive Vice President --
Cement
____________________
(1) Cash bonuses for services rendered in fiscal years 1998, 1997 and 1996 have
been listed in the year earned, but were actually paid in the following
fiscal year.
(2) Except as set forth below, the compensation reported in this column
includes fully vested Company contributions to, and forfeitures allocated
to, the account of the recipient under the Profit Sharing Plan. The
compensation reported for fiscal 1998, fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996 also
includes fully vested contributions accrued pursuant to the Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan of Centex Construction Products, Inc. (the
"SERP"), an unfunded, non-qualified plan for certain executives of the
Company (see "Report of Compensation Committee and Stock Option Committee
on Executive Compensation"), in the following amounts: Mr. Dagnan --
$11,600, $11,500 and $10,550, respectively; and Mr. Jones -- $6,250, $6,500
and $6,000, respectively.
(3) Messrs. House and Rowley became executive officers of the Company in fiscal
1998.
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AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
NUMBER OF
UNEXERCISED VALUE OF
OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS AT
SHARES AT FY-END (#)(1) FY-END ($)(3)
ACQUIRED ON VALUE --------------------------- ------------------------------
NAME EXERCISE (#)(1) REALIZED ($)(2) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE (4) UNEXERCISABLE
---- --------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------- --------------- -------------
O. G. (Greg) Dagnan 84,650 $1,992,920 65,350 -- $1,808,228 --
Richard D. Jones, Jr. 83,100 1,298,836 16,900 -- 546,673 --
Arthur R. Zunker, Jr. 39,350 808,332 10,650 -- 329,275 --
H. David House -- -- 40,000 -- 1,199,500 --
Steven R. Rowley 10,000 226,606 15,000 -- 398,461 --
____________________
(1) Amounts set forth in the table reflect the number and value of shares and
options only, as the Company has issued no SARs.
(2) Amounts include the following cash bonuses paid in connection with the
exercise of stock options at the time of exercise: Mr. Dagnan -- $372,295;
Mr. Jones -- $261,342; Mr. Zunker -- $134,995; and Mr. Rowley -- $57,856.
(3) Represents the difference between the closing price of the Company Common
Stock on March 31, 1998 of $36.4375 per share and the exercise price of
such options, and includes maximum cash bonuses payable in connection with
the exercise of such options at the time of exercise described in footnote
4 below.
(4) Amounts include the following maximum cash bonuses payable in connection
with the exercise of stock options at the time of exercise: Mr. Dagnan --
$211,237; Mr. Jones -- $133,679; Mr. Zunker -- $69,016; Mr. House --
$302,000; and Mr. Rowley -- $31,899.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION IN COMPENSATION
DECISIONS
None of the Company's directors, officers or employees has any relationship
requiring disclosure under Item 402(j) of Regulation S-K.
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND STOCK OPTION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Board
concerning the salaries and bonuses of the officers of the Company. The Board
approves those salaries and bonuses. The Stock Option Committee administers
the stock option plan and is specifically authorized under such plan to grant
options to officers and other key employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries, subject to ratification by the Board. The Compensation Committee
and the Stock Option Committee are comprised of three and two non-employee
directors, respectively. This report describes the policies and principles
that shape the structure of the Company's executive compensation program.
The Company's executive compensation program is structured to achieve the
following objectives:
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- - to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified, energetic and talented
executives;
- - to create an incentive to increase stockholder returns by establishing a
direct and substantial link between individual compensation and certain
financial measures that have a direct effect on stockholder values; and
- - to create substantial long-term compensation opportunities for individual
executive officers based not only on long-term corporate performance but
also on sustained long-term individual performance.
To achieve its compensation objectives, the Company has structured an
executive compensation program using a combination of short-term and long-term
elements: (i) annual salary, (ii) annual bonus, and (iii) long-term incentive
compensation in the form of stock options. In addition, the executive officers
of the Company are eligible to receive other benefits such as medical benefits
and profit sharing plan contributions that are generally available to employees
of the Company and contributions under the Company's SERP that are accrued for
the named executive officers and certain other officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
In structuring the specific components of executive compensation, the Company
is guided by the following principles:
- annual compensation should be set within reasonable ranges of the annual
compensation for similar positions with similarly-sized and types of
companies that engage in one or more of the businesses in which the Company
engages;
- bonus payments should vary with the Company's financial performance; and
- a significant portion of compensation should be in the form of long-term
incentive compensation that aligns the interests of executives with those
of the stockholders and that creates rewards for long-term sustained
Company performance and the achievement of the Company's strategic
objectives.
Base Salary
The Compensation Committee is responsible for recommending at the beginning
of each fiscal year the base salary levels for the five named executive
officers. In developing salary compensation amounts for fiscal 1998, the
Compensation Committee reviewed the salaries for similar positions in
similarly-sized companies which engage in one or more of the principal
businesses of the Company: the manufacture and sale of cement, gypsum wallboard
and readymix concrete and aggregates. Included within the survey were those
companies which comprise the peer group in the Comparative Cumulative Total
Stockholder Return graph on page 10. The Compensation Committee confirmed that
the base salaries of the named executives were consistent with its objective of
setting base salaries within reasonable ranges for similar positions in
competitive companies. In setting base salary levels, the Compensation
Committee also considers the executive's experience level and potential for
significant contributions to the Company's profitability. After completing its
review and decision-making process, the Compensation Committee submitted its
decision as to base salary levels to the entire Board of Directors, which
confirmed the Compensation Committee's decision.
Incentive Bonus
The Compensation Committee is also responsible for developing recommendations
for the incentive bonuses awarded to the named executives at the end of each
fiscal year. The annual incentive bonus program for the executive officers has
been structured to create financial incentives and rewards that are directly
related to corporate performance during the fiscal year. In particular, the
Compensation Committee weighs heavily certain financial measurements that are
directly related to stockholder returns such as net earnings, earnings growth,
return on net assets, return on equity and other factors. In fiscal 1998 the
Compensation Committee restructured the annual incentive bonus program of the
Company so that a percentage of potential earnings is designated for bonuses
and, provided that established targets are achieved in the applicable fiscal
year, such pool is divided, and bonuses are
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paid, among the employees participating in the plan. The amount of the bonus
paid to an employee is based on the earnings of the division in which such
employee is employed, the percentage of the pool designated for such employee
and an objective assessment of such employee's achievement of his or her
established performance goals.
Long-term Compensation
Consistent with the Company's effort to increase the proportion of management
compensation which is tied to the Company's performance, the Compensation
Committee in fiscal 1995 structured certain of its stock option programs to
link the vesting of stock option grants to the achievement by the Company of
certain specific performance targets during the ten years following the stock
option grant. Beginning in fiscal 1999, under the terms of the stock options,
the number of shares that "vest" or which become exercisable by the optionee
depends upon the achievement of specific financial goals by the Company and,
for a portion of such options, the passage of time after the achievement of
such goals. These financial goals are tied to the Company's operating earnings
and return on average net assets and are structured to reward the optionee for
superior long-term operating performance of the Company. Failure to meet the
specified goals results in those shares not "vesting or becoming exercisable"
until the end of the full ten-year term. The Compensation Committee believes
that these programs properly align the interests of the Company's officers and
managers with the interests of the stockholders by linking a majority of their
long-term compensation with goals that have a direct and positive effect on
stockholder value. Except for certain grants of stock options made in fiscal
1995 in connection with the Company's initial public offering, all of the stock
options granted by the Company to its officers and key employees were granted
under these performance programs.
Commencing with fiscal year 1995, the Company's Board approved the SERP for
certain employees participating in the Profit Sharing Plan. Pursuant to the
Internal Revenue Code, the Internal Revenue Service sets a limit (currently
$160,000) on the amount of annual compensation which may be considered in
determining, for the account of an eligible participant, the Company's
contribution to the Profit Sharing Plan. The SERP establishes balances for
each participant in an amount equal to the additional contribution which he or
she would have received under the Profit Sharing Plan had 100% of his or her
annual salary been eligible for a profit sharing contribution. Contributions
accrued under the SERP for the benefit of the named executive officers vest
under the same terms and conditions as the Profit Sharing Plan. Bonuses paid
to participants are not included in making calculations for contributions made
or accrued to recipients' accounts under either the Profit Sharing Plan or the
SERP.
CEO Compensation
The Chief Executive Officer of the Company participates in the same
compensation programs as the other executive officers with each component of
his compensation determined by the Compensation Committee according to the same
criteria. The base salary and incentive bonus of the Chief Executive Officer
for fiscal 1998 were consistent with the Compensation Committee's salary range
guidelines and objectives for all officers. Because the Company achieved
record financial performance targets for fiscal year 1998, and the Chief
Executive Officer's performance was deemed superior by the Compensation
Committee, the incentive bonus granted to the Chief Executive Officer for
fiscal 1998 was higher than the prior fiscal year's incentive bonus, and was
determined in accordance with the compensation program initiated in fiscal year
1998.
In accordance with recently enacted federal income tax legislation, beginning
in 1994, the Internal Revenue Service limited the deductibility for federal
income tax purposes of certain executive compensation payments in excess of $1
million. Because the Company's stockholders approved the stock option plan,
and therefore option exercises and sales are not included in the computation of
compensation under the Internal Revenue Code for these purposes, it is not
expected that any individual executive officer's compensation will exceed the
$1 million limit this year or in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the
Compensation Committee has taken no special action to revise its compensation
programs or otherwise address this issue except that, at last year's annual
meeting the Company's stockholders approved, at the Board's recommendation, the
amendment and restatement of the Company's stock option plan in order to
satisfy certain of the IRS requirements of the performance-based exception with
respect to
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executive compensation. The Compensation Committee will continue to review
this matter and will take appropriate action in the future as it determines to
be advisable.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE STOCK OPTION COMMITTEE
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Laurence E. Hirsch, Chairman Laurence E. Hirsch, Chairman
Robert L. Clarke David W. Quinn
Harold K. Work
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the yearly change in the cumulative total
stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock during the fiscal year ended
March 31, 1998 with the S&P 500 Index and a peer group composed of companies
with businesses in one or more of the Company's primary lines of businesses:
cement, gypsum wallboard and concrete/aggregates. The companies comprising the
peer group are weighted by their respective market capitalizations and include
the following: Lafarge Corporation, Lone Star Industries, Inc., Medusa
Corporation, Southdown, Inc. and USG Corporation. The comparison assumes $100
was invested on April 19, 1994 in the Company's Common Stock and in each of the
S&P 500 Index and the peer group, and assumes reinvestment of dividends.
COMPARATIVE CUMULATIVE TOTAL STOCKHOLDER RETURN
4/19/94 3/31/95 3/31/96 3/31/97 3/31/98
Centex Construction Products, Inc. $100 $ 90 $ 97 $131 $266
S&P 500 Index $100 $116 $154 $184 $272
Peer Group $100 $ 90 $103 $131 $232
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SECTION 16(a) COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
the Company directors and officers, and persons who beneficially own more than
10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file initial
reports of ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports of
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the New
York Stock Exchange. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish
the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file with the SEC.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it with
respect to fiscal 1998, or written representations from certain reporting
persons, the Company believes that all filing requirements required by Section
16(a) for fiscal 1998 applicable to its directors, officers and persons who
beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company's equity
securities have been complied with, except each of Messrs. Jones and Zunker
filed late one Form 4 to report a purchase of Company Common Stock, and each of
Messrs. House and Rowley filed late one Form 3.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Centex Service Company ("CSC"), a subsidiary of Centex Corporation, provides
the Company with employee benefit administration, legal, public/investor
relations and certain other services. These services are provided by CSC
pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement which will expire on March 31,
1999, unless earlier terminated at the option of the Company. Commencing April
1, 1997, this agreement was amended to reduce the annual payment for such
services rendered for the remainder of the term of the agreement to $95,000.
Messrs. Hirsch and Quinn, who are directors of the Company, are directors and
executive officers of CSC.
As a result of the Company's initial public offering, the Company is no
longer included in Centex Corporation's consolidated federal tax return.
Accordingly, approximately $34.3 million of deferred income taxes became
payable by the Company to Centex Corporation pursuant to a Tax Separation
Agreement entered into by the Company and Centex Corporation in connection with
the Company's initial public offering in April 1994. During fiscal 1996,
Centex refunded to the Company approximately $2.9 million of the payments made
for these deferred taxes because of an overpayment on the returns filed with
the applicable taxing authorities.
The Company does not sell any of its products directly to Centex Corporation
or to any of its affiliates. Certain of the Company's customers purchase
readymix concrete and gypsum wallboard from the Company for resale to
subsidiaries of Centex Corporation and others. Although the Company does not
track the volume of such indirect sales to subsidiaries of Centex Corporation
or to any of its affiliates, the Company believes that such sales account for
less than 5% of its total sales volume.
Robert L. Clarke, a director of the Company, is a partner in the law firm of
Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P., which law firm provides legal services to
certain subsidiaries of the Company.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Arthur Andersen LLP acted as the Company's independent public accountants for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998. The Company's independent public
accountants are selected annually by the Board of Directors at its meeting held
immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders. It is anticipated
that the Board of Directors will select Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent public accountants for the current year.
Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP are expected to be present at the
meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and
will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Company's 1999 annual meeting of stockholders is scheduled to be held on
July 15, 1999. In order to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy
material for that meeting, stockholder proposals must be received at the
Company's executive offices, addressed to the attention of the Secretary, not
later than February 18, 1999.
FORM 10-K
STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE MEETING MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THE
COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1998,
INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON REQUEST TO CENTEX CONSTRUCTION
PRODUCTS, INC., ATTENTION: RAYMOND G. SMERGE, SECRETARY, 3710 RAWLINS, SUITE
1600, LB 78, DALLAS, TEXAS 75219.
By Order of the Board of Directors
RAYMOND G. SMERGE
Secretary
Dallas, Texas
June 18, 1998
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CENTEX CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS-JULY 16, 1998
The undersigned hereby appoints O.G. (Greg) Dagnan and Richard D. Jones, Jr.,
(acting unanimously or, if only one be present, by that one alone), and each of
them, proxies, with full power of substitution to each, to vote, as specified
on the reverse side, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Centex
Construction Products, Inc. to be held July 16, 1998, or any adjournment
thereof, all shares of Common Stock of Centex Construction Products, Inc.
registered in the name of the undersigned at the close of business on June 10,
1998.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED ON THE BALLOT ON
THE REVERSE SIDE, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED, THEN THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR ITEM 1. THE PROXIES WILL USE THEIR DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO ANY
MATTER REFERRED TO IN ITEM 2.
By execution of this proxy, you hereby acknowledge receipt herewith of Notice
of Meeting and Proxy Statement dated June 18, 1998.
READ, EXECUTE AND DATE REVERSE SIDE AND MAIL IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
PLEASE MARK
YOUR VOTE AS
INDICATED IN [X]
THIS EXAMPLE
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL THE
NOMINEES IN ITEM 1.
1. Election of directors listed to the right.
FOR all nominees WITHHOLD
listed to the right AUTHORITY
(except as marked to vote for all
to the contrary). nominees listed
to the right.
[ ] [ ]
(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, WRITE
THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.)
Robert L. Clarke, O.G. (Greg) Dagnan, Laurence E. Hirsch, David W. Quinn,
Harold K. Work
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
2. In their discretion, on such other business as may properly be brought
before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEM 1 AND, IN THE
DISCRETION OF THE NAMED PROXIES, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY BE
BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. BY EXECUTING THIS PROXY,
THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REVOKES PRIOR PROXIES RELATING TO THE MEETING.
Dated , 1998
------------------------
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Signature
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Signature
NOTE: Please sign as name appears
hereon. Joint owners should each
sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title.
FOLD AND DETACH HERE