UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:
Preliminary Proxy Statement
|
Confidential, for use of the Commission only |
|||||
Definitive Proxy Statement
|
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
|||||
Definitive Additional Materials |
||||||
Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12 |
Centex Construction Products, Inc.
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
No fee required. | ||
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies: |
||
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
applies: |
||
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:* |
||
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | ||
5) Total fee paid: | ||
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | ||
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. |
1) Amount previously paid: | ||
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: | ||
3) Filing party: | ||
4) Date filed: | ||
* Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined.
ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | ||||||||
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS | ||||||||
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | ||||||||
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS | ||||||||
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS | ||||||||
FORM 10-K |
CENTEX CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.
2728 N. Harwood
Dallas, Texas 75201
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held July 16, 2002
To the Stockholders:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of Centex Construction Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), will be held in the Red Oak Room of the Sheraton Suites Hotel, 2101 Stemmons Freeway, in the City of Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. (C.D.T.) for the following purposes:
(1) | To elect seven directors, each to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders 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 of the Corporation has fixed the close of business on June 3, 2002 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 sign, date and mail promptly the accompanying form of proxy so that your shares may be represented and voted at the meeting. Your proxy will be returned to you if you should choose to attend the meeting and request such return.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
||
JAMES H. GRAASS |
||
Secretary |
||
Dallas, Texas June 19, 2002 |
CENTEX CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held July 16, 2002
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 Corporation), for use at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to be held on July 16, 2002, and at any adjournment thereof. The mailing address of the executive offices of the Corporation is 2728 N. Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201. The approximate date on which this proxy statement and accompanying proxy were first sent to stockholders was on or about June 19, 2002.
Purposes of the Meeting
At the meeting, action will be taken upon the following matters:
(1) | Election of seven directors, each to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders 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 Corporation (the Board or Board of Directors) does not know of any matters that may be acted upon at the meeting other than the matters set forth in item (1) above.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Corporation recommends a vote FOR the election of the seven nominees for director of the Corporation named in the accompanying 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 3, 2002. At the close of business on the record date, the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting consisted of 18,536,228 shares of the Corporations common stock, par value $.01 per share (Common Stock).
The holders of Common Stock will be entitled to one vote per share upon the election of directors and each other matter that may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Neither the Certificate of Incorporation nor the Bylaws of the Corporation provide for cumulative voting rights. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of 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.
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 seven 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 is set forth in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, if other matters requiring the vote of stockholders come before the meeting, it is the intention of the
1
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the proxies held by them in accordance with their best judgment in such matters. Any stockholder of the Corporation has the unconditional right to revoke his, her or its 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 Corporation addressed to James H. Graass, Secretary, Centex Construction Products, Inc., 2728 N. Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201. No such revocation shall be effective, however, until received by the Corporation at or prior to the meeting.
The cost of soliciting proxies for the meeting will be borne by the Corporation. Solicitation may be made by mail, personal interview, telephone or other electronic means by officers and other employees of the Corporation, who will receive no additional compensation therefor. To aid in the solicitation of proxies, the Corporation has retained the firm of Mellon Investor Services LLC, which will receive a fee of approximately $5,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Corporation 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 Bylaws of the Corporation, the Board of Directors has established the number of directors to be elected at the meeting at seven, which shall constitute the entire Board of Directors. Unless contrary instructions are indicated on the accompanying proxy, it is intended that the shares represented by the proxy will be voted for the election of the seven 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 then outstanding shares of 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 seven persons named below are the Boards nominees for election as directors at the meeting. All of the persons named below are currently directors of the Corporation. The biographical information appearing below regarding the nominees for director has been furnished to the Corporation by the respective nominees.
Robert L. Clarke, 59, has been a member of the Board since 1994, and serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board and also on the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board. He 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 also a director of First Investors Financial Services, Inc.
Timothy R. Eller, 53, has been a member of the Board since May 10, 2001. He was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of Centex Corporation in April 2002. Mr. Eller continues to hold the title of Chairman of Centex Homes where he also previously served as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Eller joined Centex Homes Illinois operations in 1973 and was named Project Manager for the Illinois division in 1975. He became Vice President of the Minnesota division in 1977 and the divisions President in 1981. He was named an Executive Vice President of Centex Real Estate Corporation in 1985 and elected as the companys President and Chief Operating Officer in January 1990. In July 1991, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Centex Homes and assumed his current position as Chairman of Centex Homes in April 1998. In August 1998, Mr. Eller was named Executive Vice President of Centex Corporation. Mr. Eller is the Chairman of the High Production Home Builders Council of the National Association of Home Builders and is a life trustee of the National Housing Endowment. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Policy Advisory Board for Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies, the Advisory Board of JP Morgan Chase Dallas Region and the Board of Trustees of the Nature Conservancy of Texas. Mr. Eller has a B.S. in construction management from the University of Nebraska.
2
Laurence E. Hirsch, 56, has been a member of the Board since 1985, and serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation from January 1994 through December 1997 and from July 1999 to the present. 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 also serves as a director of Belo Corp. and Luminex Corporation, and as an advisory director of Heidelberger Zement AG.
Richard D. Jones, Jr., 56, has been a member of the Board since 1999, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board. He has served as President of the Corporation since January 1998 and as Chief Executive Officer since July 1999. Mr. Jones was Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation from January 1990 until July 1999 and Executive Vice President of the Corporation from January 1990 through December 1997.
Michael R. Nicolais, 44, has been a member of the Board since May 2001, and serves on the Audit Committee and on the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board. He has been a partner in the private investment firm of Olivhan Investments, L.P. since March 2001. From August 1986 to December 2000, he was employed by Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporations Investment Banking Division, most recently in the position of Managing Director and Co-head of the firms Dallas office.
David W. Quinn, 60, has been a member of the Board since 1994, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board. He has served as a director of Centex Corporation since 1989, served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Centex Corporation from May 1996 until March 2002, and as 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 from October 1997 through May 2000. Mr. Quinn is also a director of Elcor Corporation.
Harold K. Work, 69, has been a member of the Board since 1994, and serves as Chairman of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board and also on the Audit Committee of the Board. He is a director of Elcor Corporation, and served as Chairman of the Board from August 1997 until his retirement in March 2002 and as Chief Executive Officer and President of Elcor Corporation from August 1997 to March 2001. He served as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Elk Corporation from 1979 until 1998.
Board Meetings, Fees, Committees and Attendance Records
During the Corporations fiscal year ended March 31, 2002, the Board of Directors held four regularly scheduled meetings. During such fiscal year, each director attended at least 75 percent of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and all committees of the Board of Directors on which such director served, except for Mr. Eller, who missed three meetings of the Board of Directors.
Board members who are not employees of the Corporation, Centex Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries (Non-affiliated Independent Directors) received an annual retainer of $28,000 for fiscal year 2002. Non-affiliated Independent Directors received an additional annual retainer of $1,500 for each committee on which they served. In addition, the Corporation reimburses the directors for reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board and Board committee meetings.
Audit Committee
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, composed of three Non-affiliated Independent Directors, that reviews the functions of the Corporations management and independent auditors pertaining to the Corporations financial statements and performs such other duties and functions as are deemed appropriate by the Audit Committee or the Board. Each member of the Audit Committee is an independent director as defined by applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards. During the last fiscal year, the Audit Committee held three meetings. Audit Committee members are paid a fee of $1,500 per year.
3
The following are the key responsibilities of the Audit Committee:
| recommending the appointment of independent auditors to the Board; | ||
| reviewing the scope of the independent auditors examination and the scope of the activities of the internal audit function; | ||
| reviewing the Corporations basic systems of internal controls regarding auditing, accounting and legal compliance; | ||
| reviewing the Corporations audited financial statements and interim financial statements; | ||
| preparing a report for inclusion in the Corporations proxy statement regarding review of audited financial statements for the last fiscal year, which includes a statement on whether it recommended that the Board include those financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K (the Audit Committees report for fiscal year 2002 is reproduced below); | ||
| reviewing the duties and compensation of the independent auditors and the effect of any such compensation on the auditors independence, including a review of management consulting services provided by the independent auditors; and | ||
| reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the Audit Committees Charter annually and recommending revisions to the Board. |
The Audit Committee meets separately with the independent auditors and with members of the internal audit staff of Centex Corporation (who provide audit services pursuant to the terms of a services agreement between the Corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centex Corporation) outside the presence of the Corporations management or other employees to discuss matters of concern, to receive recommendations or suggestions for change and to exchange relevant views and information. The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors are ultimately responsible for the selection, evaluation and replacement of the independent auditors.
4
Report of Audit Committee
To the Board of Directors of Centex Construction Products, Inc.:
We have reviewed and discussed with management Centex Construction Products, Inc.s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended March 31, 2002.
We have discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90, Audit Committee Communications, by the Auditing Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
We have received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independence Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, as amended, by the Independence Standards Board, and have discussed with the auditors the auditors independence. We have also considered whether the auditors provision of non-audit services to Centex Construction Products, Inc. and its affiliates is compatible with the auditors independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommend to the Board of Directors that the financial statements referred to above be included in Centex Construction Products Inc.s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002.
Audit Committee of the Centex Construction Products, Inc. Board of Directors
Robert L. Clarke, Chairman
Michael R. Nicolais
Harold K. Work
June 3, 2002
Compensation and Stock Option Committee
The Board has a Compensation and Stock Option Committee composed solely of Non-affiliated Independent Directors. This committee recommends to the Board the base salaries and incentive bonuses of the executive officers of the Corporation and administers the Centex Construction Products, Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (the Stock Option Plan) and the Centex Construction Products, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan. The Compensation and Stock Option Committee is authorized to grant options to acquire Common Stock and to grant awards of restricted stock under both plans. During fiscal year 2002, the Compensation and Stock Option Committee held one meeting. Compensation and Stock Option Committee members who are Non-affiliated Independent Directors are paid a fee of $1,500 per year.
Nominating Committee
The Board of Directors does not have a standing nominating committee or a committee performing similar functions.
5
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Management
The following table sets forth information as of June 3, 2002 with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by each director (each of whom is a 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 Corporation as a group (10 persons). Except as otherwise indicated, all shares are owned directly, and the owner has the sole voting and investment power with respect thereto.
Common Stock (1) | ||||||||
Number of Shares | Percent | |||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner | Beneficially Owned | of Class | ||||||
Robert L. Clarke |
15,710 | * | ||||||
Timothy R. Eller |
| * | ||||||
Laurence E. Hirsch |
10,000 | * | ||||||
H. David House |
71,959 | * | ||||||
Richard D. Jones, Jr. |
125,756 | * | ||||||
Michael R. Nicolais |
| * | ||||||
David W. Quinn |
2,000 | * | ||||||
Steven R. Rowley |
73,116 | * | ||||||
Harold K. Work |
12,710 | * | ||||||
Arthur R. Zunker, Jr. |
61,830 | * | ||||||
All directors and executive officers of
the Corporation as a group (10 persons) |
373,081 | 2.01% |
* | Less than 1%. | ||
(1) | Shares covered by stock options that are outstanding under the Stock Option Plan which are exercisable on June 3, 2002 or within 60 days thereafter are included as beneficially owned pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Amounts include the following shares that may be acquired upon exercise of such stock options: Mr. Clarke 12,710 shares; Mr. House 71,959 shares; Mr. Jones 123,300 shares; Mr. Rowley 71,959 shares; Mr. Work 12,710 shares; Mr. Zunker 56,653 shares; and all directors and executive officers of the Corporation as a group (10 persons) 349,291 shares. In addition, this table includes shares of Common Stock that are deemed to be beneficially owned as of June 3, 2002, pursuant to the Common Stock Fund of the Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan of Centex Construction Products, Inc., a defined contribution plan (the Profit Sharing Plan), as follows: Mr. Jones 2,456 shares; Mr. Rowley 1,157 shares; Mr. Zunker 5,177 shares; and all directors and executive officers of the Corporation as a group (10 persons) 8,790 shares. Amounts shown for Messrs. Eller, Hirsch and Quinn do not include 11,962,304 shares of Common Stock owned by Centex Corporation, which shares each of Messrs. Eller, Hirsch and Quinn may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly because of their positions as directors and/or executive officers of Centex Corporation. |
6
Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth information as of June 3, 2002 with respect to the holders of shares of Common Stock who are known to the Corporation to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of such shares outstanding.
Common Stock | ||||||||
Number of Shares | Percent | |||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Beneficially Owned | of Class | ||||||
Centex Corporation |
11,962,304 | 64.54 | % | |||||
728 N. Harwood Dallas, Texas 75201 |
||||||||
Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Artisan Investment Corporation Andrew A. Ziegler Carlene Murphy Ziegler (1) |
1,423,983 | 7.68 | % | |||||
1000 North Water Street, #1770 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 |
||||||||
FMR Corp (2) |
935,280 | 5.05 | % | |||||
82
Devonshire Street Boston, MA 02109 |
(1) | Based solely upon information contained in the Schedule 13G of Artisan Partners Limited Partnership (Artisan Partners), Artisan Investment Corporation (Artisan Corporation), Andrew A. Ziegler and Carlene Murphy Ziegler filed with the SEC on February 13, 2002 with respect to shares of Common Stock owned as of December 31, 2001 (the Artisan 13G), but calculating the percentage shown by dividing the number of such shares by the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the record date. According to the Artisan 13G, such number represents shares acquired on behalf of discretionary clients of Artisan Partners, an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, none of whom has an economic interest in more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. According to the Artisan 13G, Artisan Partners, Artisan Corporation, in its capacity as corporate general partner of Artisan Partners, and Andrew A. Ziegler and Carlene Murphy Ziegler, in their capacity as principal stockholders of Artisan Corporation, had shared power to vote or to direct the vote and shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of such shares. | ||
(2) | Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13G of FMR Corp. filed with the Commission on February 14, 2002 with respect to shares of Common Stock owned as of December 31, 2001 (the FMR 13G), but calculating the percentage shown by dividing the number of such shares by the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the record date. According to the FMR 13G, FMR Corp. had sole dispositive power over such shares. |
7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the cash and noncash compensation for each of the last three fiscal years awarded to or earned by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and the three other most highly compensated executive officers of the Corporation.
Summary Compensation Table
Long-Term | |||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Compensation | Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
Name and | Fiscal | Securities Underlying | All Other | ||||||||||||||||||
Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) (1) | Options/SARs (#) | Compensation ($) (2) | ||||||||||||||||
Richard D. Jones, Jr., |
2002 | $ | 415,000 | $ | 370,243 | | $ | 39,576 | |||||||||||||
President and |
2001 | 350,000 | 530,693 | 60,000 | 32,498 | ||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
2000 | 258,750 | 809,333 | 60,000 | 25,418 | ||||||||||||||||
H. David House, |
2002 | $ | 225,000 | $ | 139,085 | | $ | 21,028 | |||||||||||||
Executive Vice President - |
2001 | 176,800 | 217,720 | 28,000 | 17,230 | ||||||||||||||||
Gypsum and Paperboard |
2000 | 170,000 | 808,895 | 28,000 | 16,568 | ||||||||||||||||
Steven R. Rowley, |
2002 | $ | 190,000 | $ | 401,047 | | $ | 17,758 | |||||||||||||
Executive Vice President - |
2001 | 154,900 | 414,194 | 28,000 | 15,019 | ||||||||||||||||
Cement and |
2000 | 143,900 | 426,030 | 28,000 | 13,836 | ||||||||||||||||
Concrete/Aggregates |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Arthur R. Zunker, Jr., |
2002 | $ | 190,000 | $ | 180,606 | | $ | 18,275 | |||||||||||||
Senior Vice President - |
2001 | 165,900 | 271,244 | 28,000 | 16,426 | ||||||||||||||||
Finance and Treasurer |
2000 | 160,300 | 404,671 | 28,000 | 15,853 |
(1) | Cash bonuses for services rendered in fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000 have been listed in the year earned but were paid in the following fiscal year. | |
(3) | The compensation reported represents the Corporations contributions to, and forfeitures allocated to, the account of the recipient under the Profit Sharing Plan and contributions to the account of the recipient pursuant to the Centex Construction Products, Inc. Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the SERP), an unfunded, non-qualified plan for certain executives of the Corporation. See Report of Compensation and Stock Option Committee on Executive Compensation. All of such amounts are fully vested in the recipient unless otherwise noted. The compensation for the named executive officers for fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, includes contributions accrued pursuant to the Profit Sharing Plan in the following amounts: Mr. Jones $16,792, $16,779 and $15,762; Mr. House $16,733, $16,720 and $15,703 , which accrued amounts are 80% vested in Mr. House as of March 31, 2002; Mr. Rowley $16,782, $15,019 and $13,836; and Mr. Zunker $16,978, $16,426 and $11,608. The compensation for the named executive officers also includes contributions accrued pursuant to the SERP in the following amounts: Mr. Jones $22,604, $15,719 and $9,656 for fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively; Mr. House $4,295, $510 and $865 for fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, which accrued amounts are 80% vested in Mr. House as of March 31, 2002; Mr. Rowley $976 for fiscal year 2002; and Mr. Zunker $1,297 for fiscal year 2002. |
8
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values (1)
Number of Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underlying Unexercised | Value of Unexercised | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Options/SARs | In-the-Money Options/SARs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
at Fiscal Year-End (#) | at Fiscal Year-End ($) (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquired on | Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Exercise (#) | Realized ($) | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||||||||||
Richard D. Jones, Jr. |
900 | $ | 10,375 | 109,768 | 54,332 | $ | 885,999 | $ | 572,349 | |||||||||||||||
H. David House |
| | 57,472 | 26,528 | 439,472 | 270,888 | ||||||||||||||||||
Steven R. Rowley |
| | 72,472 | 26,528 | 856,172 | 270,888 | ||||||||||||||||||
Arthur R. Zunker, Jr. |
| | 57,472 | 26,528 | 439,472 | 270,888 |
(1) | Amounts set forth in the table reflect the number and value of shares and options only. The Corporation has issued no SARs. | |
(2) | Represents the difference between the closing price of the Common Stock on March 28, 2002 of $39.78 per share and the exercise price of such options. |
Compensation and Stock Option Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation Decisions
None of the Corporations directors, officers or employees has any relationship requiring disclosure under Item 402(j) of Regulation S-K.
Report of Compensation and Stock Option Committee on Executive Compensation
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board (the Committee) provides advice and recommendations to the Board concerning the salaries and bonuses of the executive officers of the Corporation. The Board approves those salaries and bonuses. The Committee also administers the Corporations stock option plans and is authorized under such plans to grant options to Non-affiliated Independent Directors, officers and other key employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Committee is comprised of three Non-affiliated Independent Directors. This report describes the policies and principles that shape the structure of the Corporations executive compensation program.
The Corporations executive compensation program is structured to achieve the following objectives:
| 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 Corporation 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 Corporation are eligible to receive other
9
benefits, such as medical benefits and Profit Sharing Plan contributions, that are generally available to employees of the Corporation and contributions under the Corporations SERP that are accrued for the named executive officers and certain other officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.
In structuring the specific components of executive compensation, the Corporation 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 Corporation engages; | ||
| bonus payments should vary with the individuals performance and the Corporations 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 corporate performance and the achievement of the Corporations strategic objectives. |
Base Salary
The Committee is responsible for recommending the base salary levels for the named executive officers. In developing salary amounts for fiscal year 2002, the Committee based its recommendations for salary levels on (i) the review conducted last year of salaries for similar positions in similarly-sized companies that engage in one or more of the principal businesses of the Corporation: the manufacture and sale of cement, gypsum wallboard, recycled paperboard, and readymix concrete and aggregates, and (ii) the executives level of responsibility, experience level and potential for significant contributions to the Corporations profitability. These recommendations were then approved by the entire Board of Directors.
Incentive Bonus
The Committee is also responsible for developing recommendations for the incentive bonuses awarded to the named executive officers 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 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. Under the Corporations annual incentive bonus program, a percentage of potential earnings in each fiscal year is designated as a pool for bonuses, and, provided that established targets are achieved for such fiscal year, the pool is divided, and bonuses are paid, among the employees participating in the program. 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 employees achievement of his or her established performance goals.
Long-term Compensation
To increase the proportion of management compensation that is tied to the Corporations performance, the Corporations stock option programs have been structured to link the vesting of option grants to the achievement by the Corporation of certain specific performance targets during the ten years following the dates on which such options are granted. Under the terms of options granted since fiscal year 1998, the number of shares that vest or which become exercisable by the optionee depends upon the achievement of specific financial goals by the Corporation and, for a portion of such options, the passage of time after the achievement of such goals. These financial goals are tied to the Corporations operating earnings and return on average net assets and are structured to reward the optionee for superior long-term operating performance of the Corporation. Failure to meet the specified
10
goals results in those shares not vesting until the end of the ten-year term. The Committee believes that these programs properly align the interests of the Corporations directors, 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 options granted in fiscal 1995 in connection with the Corporations initial public offering, all of the options granted by the Corporation to its directors, officers and key employees have been granted under performance programs.
In fiscal year 1995, the 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 $200,000) on the amount of annual compensation that may be considered in determining, for the account of an eligible participant, the Corporations contribution to the Profit Sharing Plan. The SERP was established to eliminate the adverse treatment that higher-salaried employees receive under such rule by funding balances for each participant in an amount equal to the additional contribution that 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 Corporation participates in the same compensation programs as the other executive officers, and each component of his compensation is determined by the Committee according to the same criteria. The base salary and incentive bonus of the Chief Executive Officer for fiscal year 2002 were consistent with the Committees compensation range guidelines and objectives for all officers, and the incentive bonus was determined in accordance with the existing incentive bonus program.
Compensation and Stock Option Committee
Harold K. Work, Chairman
Robert L. Clarke
Michael R. Nicolais
11
Performance Graph
In fiscal year 2001, the Corporation changed the peer group of companies that it uses to measure performance. The change was necessitated by acquisitions of certain companies within the old peer group that caused financial data for such companies to no longer be available on a stand-alone basis and/or comparisons to such companies to be less relevant due to changes in the geographic area of operations, capitalization and structure of the successor entities as a result of such acquisitions.
The old peer group consisted of five companies with businesses in one or more of the Corporations primary lines of business. The new peer group consists of three such companies. The companies comprising the old and new peer groups are the following:
Old Peer Group | New Peer Group | |||||
Lafarge Corporation |
Caraustar Industries, Inc. |
|||||
Lone Star Industries, Inc. |
Lafarge Corporation |
|||||
Medusa Corporation |
USG Corporation |
|||||
Southdown, Inc. |
||||||
USG Corporation |
Lone Star Industries, Inc., Medusa Corporation and Southdown, Inc. were removed from the peer group, and Caraustar Industries, Inc. was added to the peer group. Caraustar Industries, Inc.s principal manufacturing activity is the production of uncoated and clay-coated recycled paperboard. Lafarge is engaged primarily in the production and distribution of construction materials, including cement, ready-mix concrete, gypsum wallboard, aggregates, cementitious materials and concrete products. USG Corporation is engaged in the production and distribution of building materials, primarily gypsum wallboard and related products. These companies are included in the peer group because they each engage in one or more activities that are comparable to one or more of the Corporations business segments.
Lone Star Industries, Inc. was acquired by Dyckerhoff AG, and Medusa Corporation was acquired by Southdown, Inc., which, in turn, was acquired by CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. Dyckerhoff and CEMEX are large foreign companies with significant operations outside the United States; accordingly, the Corporation believes that the new peer group presents a more logical basis for comparison than the old peer group in terms of geographic area, capitalization and structure.
The following graph compares the yearly change in the cumulative total stockholder return on the Common Stock during the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2002 with the S&P 500 Index and the new and old peer groups described above. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on March 31, 1997 in each of the Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index and the peer groups and assumes reinvestment of dividends. The returns of the companies comprising the peer groups are weighted by their respective market capitalizations. Lone Star Industries, Inc., Medusa Corporation and Southdown, Inc. have been assigned a market capitalization of zero in the year they were acquired, as described above (1999 for Medusa Corporation, 2000 for Lone Star Industries, Inc. and 2001 for Southdown, Inc.), and each subsequent year presented for the old peer group, and the remaining members of the old peer group are weighted accordingly.
12
Comparative Cumulative Total Stockholder Return
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Corporations directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of the Corporations equity securities, to file initial reports of ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports of ownership with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Corporation with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file with the SEC.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it with respect to fiscal year 2002 or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Corporation believes that its directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of the Corporations equity securities, have complied with all filing requirements required by Section 16(a) for fiscal year 2002 applicable to such persons.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Centex Service Company (CSC), a subsidiary of Centex Corporation, provides the Corporation with employee benefits administration, legal, public/investor relations and certain other services. These services are provided by
13
CSC pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement which will expire on March 31, 2003, unless earlier terminated at the option of the Corporation. For fiscal year 2002, the payment by the Corporation to CSC for services rendered under this agreement was $220,000. Messrs. Hirsch and Eller, who are directors of the Corporation, are directors and executive officers of CSC.
Certain of the Corporations subsidiaries in the readymix concrete and wallboard businesses may, from time to time, sell their respective products directly to a subsidiary of Centex Corporation. Although the Corporation does not track the volume of such sales to subsidiaries of Centex Corporation, the Corporation believes that such sales account for less than five percent of its total sales volume.
Robert L. Clarke, a director of the Corporation, is a partner in the law firm of Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P., which law firm provides legal services to certain subsidiaries of the Corporation.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
On March 23, 2002 the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young) as the Corporations independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2002, to replace Arthur Andersen LLP (Arthur Andersen), who were dismissed as auditors effective as of that date. This action followed the Audit Committees decision to seek proposals from independent accountants to audit the Corporations financial statements.
In addition to retaining Ernst & Young to audit the Corporations consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2002, the Corporation retained Ernst & Young to provide various other services with respect to fiscal year 2002. The aggregate fees for the various professional services by Ernst & Young for fiscal year 2002 were:
| Audit Fees: $155,000; | ||
| Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees: None; and | ||
| All Other Fees (including fees for tax compliance and consultation, accounting consultation, internal audit support and benefits plans audits): None. |
Representatives of Ernst & Young are expected to be present at the Annual 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.
Arthur Andersens audit reports on the Corporations financial statements as of and for fiscal years ended March 31, 2000 and 2001, respectively, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the Corporations fiscal years ended March 31, 2000 and 2001, respectively, and the subsequent interim period through March 23, 2002:
(i) | there were no disagreements between the Corporation and Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to Arthur Andersens satisfaction, would have caused Arthur Andersen to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports; | ||
(ii) | none of the reportable events described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K occurred; and | ||
(iii) | the Corporation did not consult with Ernst & Young regarding any of the matters or events described in item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K. |
14
Arthur Andersen provided a letter, which the Corporation has filed with the SEC, agreeing with the foregoing statements.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Next years annual meeting of stockholders is scheduled to be held on July 15, 2003. In order to be considered for inclusion in the Corporations proxy material for that meeting, stockholder proposals must be received at the Corporations executive offices, addressed to the attention of the Secretary, not later than February 19, 2003.
For any proposal that is not submitted for inclusion in the Corporations proxy material for the 2003 annual meeting of stockholders but is instead sought to be presented directly at that meeting, Rule 14a-4(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 permits the Corporations management to exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies it solicits unless the Corporation is notified about the proposal on or before May 6, 2003, and the stockholder satisfies the other requirements of Rule 14a-4(c). However, except with respect to stockholder proposals included in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Corporations Bylaws provide that, to be considered at the 2003 annual meeting, a stockholder proposal must be submitted in writing and received by the Secretary at the executive offices of the Corporation during the period beginning on January 7, 2003 and ending April 16, 2003, and must contain the information specified by and otherwise comply with the Corporations Bylaws. Any stockholder wishing to receive a copy of the Corporations Bylaws should direct a written request to the Secretary at the Corporations principal executive offices.
FORM 10-K
Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting may obtain a copy of the Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002, including the financial statements required to be filed with the SEC, without charge, upon written or verbal request to Centex Construction Products, Inc., Attention: James H. Graass, Secretary, 2728 N. Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201, (214) 981-5000.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
||
JAMES H. GRAASS |
||
Secretary |
||
Dallas, Texas June 19, 2002 |
15
Please mark your vote as indicated in this example |
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of all of the nominees in Item 1. | |||||
1. | Election of directors listed below. | FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary). |
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below. |
2. | In their discretion, on such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write the nominee's name in the space provided below.) | UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEM 1 and, at 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. | ||||
01 Robert L. Clarke, 02 Timothy R. Eller, 03 Laurence E. Hirsch, 04 Richard D. Jones, Jr., 05 Michael R. Nicolais, 06 David W. Quinn and 07 Harold K. Work | |||||
THIS PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. | |||||
Dated____________________________, 2002 | |||||
Signature | |||||
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. |
CENTEX CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Annual Meeting of Stockholders July 16, 2002
The undersigned hereby appoints Laurence E. Hirsch 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, 2002, 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 3, 2002.
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 Annual Meeting
and Proxy Statement dated June 19, 2002.
READ, EXECUTE AND DATE REVERSE SIDE AND MAIL IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.