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
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/X/ Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/ / Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Materials Pursuant to ss.240.14a-12
AMEN Properties, Inc.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement
if other than 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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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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AMEN Properties, Inc.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
to be held on Thursday, May 26, 2005
To the Stockholders of AMEN Properties, Inc. April 15, 2005
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of AMEN
Properties, Inc. ("AMEN" or the "Company") will be held at the Corporate Office
of AMEN Properties, Inc., 303 West Wall Street, Suite 2300, Midland, TX 79701,
in the Conference Room, at 8:30 a.m., local time, on Thursday, May 26, 2005 for
the following purposes:
1. To consider and vote upon a proposal to elect six members to the
Company's Board of Directors;
2. Approval by the stockholders of the Company of the issuance and sale
of the Series C Preferred Stock and Common Stock Warrants by the
Company, and the potential issuance of shares of Company Common Stock
upon conversion or exercise of those securities.;
3. Consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Certificate of
Incorporation as to the Certificate of Designation of Series and
Determination of Rights and Preferences of the Series A Preferred
Stock of Amen Properties, Inc. and the Certificate of Designation of
Series and Determination of Rights and Preferences of the Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock of Amen Properties, Inc.;
4. To consider such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting.
Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2005, are
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. A list of
stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for
examination during normal business hours by any of our stockholders, for a
period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting at our principal executive
offices at the address set forth above.
Your vote is important, as is the vote of every stockholder, and the Board of
Directors of AMEN Properties, Inc. appreciates the cooperation of stockholders
who are unable to attend in person in directing proxies to vote at the meeting.
Therefore, it is important that your shares be represented at the meeting in
person or, should you be unable to attend the meeting, by your signing and
returning the enclosed proxy in the accompanying envelope for receipt prior to
the meeting date.
TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND
DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY.
If you have any questions, please contact John M. James, Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary at 432-684-3821.
By order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Eric L. Oliver
------------------
Eric L. Oliver
Chairman of the Board
AMEN Properties, Inc.
PROXY STATEMENT
AMEN Properties, Inc.
303 West Wall Street, Ste. 2300
Midland, TX 79701
This proxy is furnished to AMEN Properties, Inc. ("AMEN" or the "Company")
stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2005 (the
"Record Date"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the
corporate office of the Company, located at 303 West Wall Street Suite 2300,
Midland, TX 79701, in the Conference Room, at 8:30 a.m., local time, on
Thursday, May 26, 2005, and at any adjournment thereof (the "Annual Meeting").
The enclosed proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors of AMEN and is
subject to revocation at any time prior to the voting of the proxy. This proxy,
when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by you, the
stockholder. If no direction is made, a properly executed proxy will be voted
FOR or IN FAVOR of the proposals, in accordance with the instructions on the
proxy card. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card are being sent to
stockholders on or about April 25, 2005. Only stockholders of record as of the
close of business the Record Date may vote at the Annual Meeting. As used
herein, the term "stockholders" includes the holders of the Common Stock of the
Company ("Common Stock") and the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, Series
B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock of the Company (collectively
the "Preferred Stock"), who are eligible to vote on all matters presented to the
stockholders pursuant to the terms of such Preferred Stock; except that the
Series C Preferred Stock will not be entitled (i) to vote with respect to any
approval or ratification by the stockholders of the Company of the designation,
issuance and sale of the Series C Preferred Stock by the Company in accordance
with the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, and (ii) to the number of votes equal
to the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Series C Preferred Stock
is convertible that are in excess of twenty percent of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of the Series C
Preferred Stock unless and until such stockholder approval is obtained. The
holders of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock vote together as a single
class of stock.
VOTING PROCEDURES AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The accompanying proxy card is designed to permit each stockholder of record at
the close of business on the Record Date to vote on matters as described herein
and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and on any
other proposal properly brought before the Annual Meeting. The proxy card
provides space for a stockholder to vote in favor of or to withhold voting for
each nominee for the Board of Directors and vote "for" or "against" the other
matters set forth therein. Votes of stockholders attending the meeting in person
will be taken by written ballots. Stockholder votes by proxy will be tabulated
by ADP Investor Communication Services. The election of directors will be
decided by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting by the
stockholders. The required vote for approval of the amendment to the Certificate
of Incorporation is a majority of votes outstanding and entitled to vote thereon
and at least fifty percent of each of the Series A Preferred Stock and the
Series B Preferred Stock to the extent the amendment effects the certificate of
designation of such security. With respect to the approval by the stockholders
of the Company of the issuance and sale of the Series C Preferred Stock and
Common Stock Warrants by the Company and the potential issuance of shares of
Company Common Stock upon the conversion or exercise of such securities and any
other matters properly brought before the meeting, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes present or represented by proxy and entitled to be cast on
such matter at the Annual Meeting by the stockholders is required to take
stockholder action.
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The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all stockholders will constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. If a quorum is not
present, in person or by proxy, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned until a
later time when a quorum is obtained. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be
counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the
transaction of business. With respect to all matters other than the election of
directors, an abstention will have the same effect as a vote against any
specified proposal. In the election of directors, an abstention will not have
any effect. A broker non-vote will have no effect on the outcome of any vote of
the stockholders. A broker non-vote occurs if a broker or other nominee does not
have discretionary authority and has not received instructions with respect to a
particular item. Stockholders are urged to sign the accompanying proxy card and
return it promptly.
When a signed proxy card is returned with a vote specified, the shares
represented will be voted by the proxies designated on the proxy card in
accordance with the stockholder's instructions. Unless otherwise designated on
the proxy card, the proxies for the stockholders are Eric L. Oliver and Jon M.
Morgan. A stockholder wishing to name another person as his or her proxy may do
so by designating another proxy by inserting the name(s) of such other person(s)
to act as his or her proxy(ies). In that case, it will be necessary for the
stockholder to sign the proxy card and deliver it to the person named as his or
her proxy and for the person so named to be present and vote at the Annual
Meeting. Proxy cards naming other persons as proxy(ies) should not be mailed to
us at our principal executive offices.
Valid and executed proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting in the manner
specified. If a signed proxy card is returned and the stockholder has made no
voting specification, the shares will be voted:
o for the election of each of the nominees for the Board of Directors
identified herein; and
o for approval by the stockholders of the Company of the designation,
issuance and sale of the Series C Preferred Stock and the Common Stock
Warrants by the Company and the potential issuance of the Company's Common
Stock upon conversion or exercise of those securities and
o to amend the Certificate of Incorporation effecting the Certificate of
Designation of Series and Determination of Rights and Preferences of Series
"A" Preferred Stock of Amen Properties, Inc. and the Certificate of
Designation of Series and Determination of Rights and Preferences of Series
"B" Convertible Preferred Stock of Amen Properties, Inc.
o at the discretion of the proxies, on any other matter that may properly
come before the Annual Meeting.
Any stockholder giving a proxy has the unconditional right to revoke it at any
time before it is voted by either:
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o notifying the Secretary of the Company in writing,
o executing a subsequent proxy, or
o personally appearing at the Annual Meeting and casting a contrary vote.
However, no revocation will be effective unless we, at or prior to the Annual
Meeting, have received notice of such revocation.
As of the Record Date, 2,201,356 shares of Common Stock were issued and
outstanding. In addition, 333,333 shares of Common Stock are deemed outstanding
for voting purposes with respect to the 80,000 shares of Series A Preferred
Stock ("Series A"), 233,317 shares of Common Stock are deemed outstanding for
voting purposes with respect to the 80,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock
("Series B"), and 440,271 shares of Common Stock are deemed outstanding for
voting purposes with respect to the 125,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock
("Series C") (see Proposal Two for a description of the Series C voting rights).
Therefore, there are a total of 3,208,277 voting shares as of the Record Date.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act") and are therefore required to file periodic
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") related to our business, financial statements and
other matters. Such reports, proxy statements and other information are
available for inspection and copying at the Commission's principal office, Room
1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, where
copies may be obtained upon payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Such documents may also be obtained through the Web site
maintained by the Commission at http://www.sec.gov.
PROPOSAL ONE--ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of AMEN has set the number of directors constituting the
Board at six. The following six members, all of whom currently serve as
directors, have been designated by the Board of Directors as nominees for
election as director:
Eric L. Oliver was appointed as a director of AMEN in July 2001, and was
appointed Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer on September 19,
2002. Since 1997, he has been President of SoftSearch Investment, Inc., an
investment firm in Abilene, Texas. Since 1998, he has also served as President
of Midland Map Company LLC, a company that creates hand drafted ownership maps
throughout the Permian Basin. He is on the Board of Directors of the First
National Bank of Midland, and of Love and Care Ministries, an inner city
homeless initiative.
Jon M. Morgan was appointed as a director of AMEN in October 2000, and was
appointed President and Chief Operating Officer on September 19, 2002. Mr.
Morgan has more than 17 years experience in launching and managing successful
businesses in both investment management services and in the energy field. He is
founder of several businesses including Morgan Capital Group, Inc., the Packard
Fund, and is President of J.M. Mineral & Land Co.
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Bruce E. Edgington has been director of AMEN since November 1995. From 1979
through 1988, Mr. Edgington was a registered representative with Johnston Lemon
& Co., a securities broker-dealer, where his responsibilities included the
management of retail securities accounts and administration. In 1988 he founded
and continues to be an officer, director and stockholder of DiBiasio &
Edgington, a firm engaged in providing software to investment firms and money
managers.
Earl E. Gjelde has served as an AMEN director since April 1997. From 1989
through 1993, he was Vice President of Chemical Waste Management, Inc. and from
1991 to 1993 was Vice President of Waste Management Inc. (currently WMX
Technologies, Inc.). Since 1991, Mr. Gjelde has been Managing Director, Summit
Group International, Ltd., an energy and natural resource consulting firm with
Internet based security controlled document systems and Managing Director,
Summit Energy Group, Ltd., an energy development company and since 1996, a
partner in Pipeline Power Partners, LP, a natural gas services company. From
1980 through 1989, Mr. Gjelde held various federal government positions
including Under Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of
Interior from 1985 through 1989 and Special Assistant to the Secretary, Chief
Operating Officer, U.S. Department of Energy from 1982 through 1985. He is a
member of the Board of Directors of The United States Energy Association, The
World Energy Congress, the National Wilderness Institute, Allied Technologies
Group, Inc., and publicly held Electrosource, Inc.
Donald M. Blake, Jr. was appointed to the Board of Directors on February 26,
2003. He is Executive Vice President and Principal of Joseph J. Blake and
Associates, Inc. ("Blake and Associates"), an international commercial real
estate due diligence firm. The company founded by his grandfather specializes in
the valuation of debt and equity and assessment reports for engineering and
environmental issues concerning real property. Over the past 57 years, the firm
has served the nation's leading investors, lenders and owners of real estate.
Blake and Associates maintains operations throughout the United States, Latin
America and Japan. Mr. Blake is a Member of the Appraisal Institute and is
active with a variety of real estate organizations such as the Mortgage Bankers
Association, Pension Real Estate Association, The Commercial Mortgage
Securitization Association and the Urban Land Institute. Former Governor Mario
Cuomo of New York appointed Mr. Blake to the charter advisory board of the New
York State Appraisal Certification Board. The board developed the standards and
ethical standards for all licensing and certification for appraisers in
accordance with state legislation. He was also appointed to the real estate
advisory board of the business school of Babson College, Wellesley,
Massachusetts. Mr. Blake received a BA from Hobart College, Geneva, New York in
1979 and a MSM with a concentration in commercial real estate finance from
Florida International University, Miami, Florida in 1981.
G. Randy Nicholson was appointed to the Board of Directors on February 26, 2003.
He graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1959. From 1959 to 1971, Mr.
Nicholson was self-employed in Abilene as a CPA. In 1971, he established E-Z
Serve, Inc., a gasoline marketing company. Mr. Nicholson has served as Chairman
of the Board of Auto-Gas Systems, Inc. since 1987. AutoGas developed the
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pay-at-the pump technology processing paperless credit and debit card
transactions at the fuel island. Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, AutoGas
continues to introduce innovative technological advancements in the automated
fueling industry, most recently with loyalty products such as DIGITAL REWARDS(R)
and Quantum 360sm. He joined the Board of Trustees of Abilene Christian
University in 1981. Mr. Nicholson is a member of the Texas Society of Certified
Public Accountants and was recently named an honorary member of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) having been member for 40
years. He is presently serving as Chairman of the Technology Committee for the
City of Abilene.
If elected, each director will hold office until the annual meeting of
stockholders in 2006 or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. The
election of directors will be decided by a plurality of the votes cast at the
meeting by the stockholders, and accordingly, abstentions and "broker non-votes"
will have no effect on the election of directors. Stockholders may not cumulate
their votes in the election of directors. All nominees have consented to serve
if elected, but if any nominee becomes unable to serve, the persons named as
proxies may exercise their discretion to vote for a substitute nominee.
Management has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable to
serve.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR SET FORTH ABOVE
PROPOSAL TWO - APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK
AND COMMON STOCK WARRANTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE POTENTIAL ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK UPON CONVERSION OR EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES
On March 1, 2005 the Company closed the sale and issuance of the Series C and
Warrants pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, as amended, between the
Company and certain accredited investors, including Eric Oliver, Jon Morgan and
Bruce Edgington, officers and directors of the Company. The purchase price
consisted of a total of $2,000,000 in cash and limited guaranties from the
investors in favor of Western National Bank covering the Company's Revolving
Line of Credit in an amount of $5,000,000. It is intended that the proceeds from
the sale of the Series C and Warrants and the availability under the Western
National Bank loan will be used to fund potential capital requirements related
to the growth of the Company's retail electricity provider, W Power and Light,
LP, ("W Power"), and for general corporate purposes.
The Series C Preferred ranks equally to the Company's outstanding Series A and
the outstanding Series B and prior to the Common Stock upon liquidation of the
Company. The liquidation preference is based upon the purchase price per share
of each series of Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock are
equal as to the payment of dividends. Each share of Series C is convertible into
four shares of Common Stock, for a total of 500,000 shares, subject to
adjustment pursuant to anti-dilution provisions. The Series C is redeemable at
the option of the Company three years after the initial issuance date. The
Warrants are exercisable into a total of 250,000 shares of Common Stock at an
initial exercise price of $4.00 (also subject to adjustment pursuant to
anti-dilution provisions), and expire three years from the date of issuance.
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The holders of the Series C are entitled to vote together with the other
Preferred Stock and the Common Stock on matters presented for a vote by the
stockholders of the Company, and together with the Series A and Series B with
respect to certain matters specified in the Certificate of Designations of the
Series C. Pursuant to rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, such voting rights of
the Series C are equal to the number of shares of Common Stock the Series C
would be convertible into if the conversion rate was $4.25 per share (instead of
the actual conversion rate), because the actual conversion rate of $4.00 per
share was less than the market price of the Common Stock on the date of the
Securities Purchase Agreement (which was $4.25 per share). Also in accordance
with NASDAQ rules, the Series C voting rights are initially limited to a number
of votes no more than twenty percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
at the time the transaction closed, which limitation will terminate upon
stockholder approval of the transaction.
Because the conversion rate and exercise price for the Series C and the
Warrants is $.25 per share less than the market price for the Common Stock on
the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the rules of the NASDAQ Stock
Market require stockholder approval of the transaction (i) before the conversion
and exercise rights can be exercised for more than 20% of the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding at closing of the transaction, and (ii) with respect
to the participation of officers and directors in the transaction. To assure
that the Company is in full compliance with Nasdaq rules, (i) the conversion of
the Series C and the exercise of the Warrants are subject to a cap in the number
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion or exercise equal to
twenty percent (20%) of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the
closing date unless and until the issuance and sale of the Series C and the
Warrants are approved by the stockholders of the Company under such rules of the
Nasdaq Stock Market, and (ii) the officers and directors who purchased the
Series C and Warrants (being Eric Oliver, Jon Morgan and Bruce Edgington) are
further restricted from converting or exercising the purchased securities until
the transaction is approved by the stockholders of the Company or they exchange
the purchased securities for similar securities with a greater
conversion/exercise price. The approval sought by this Proposal Two is in full
satisfaction of the foregoing requirements.
Approval of this Proposal Two will allow the holders of the Series C and
the Warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock at a conversion rate/exercise
price that is $.25 per share less than the market price for the Common Stock on
the date the investors agreed to purchase the Series C and Warrants. Holders of
Common Stock did not have the opportunity to acquire shares of Common Stock on
that date at the same price as the investors, and may be diluted upon conversion
or exercise of the Series C or Warrants on that basis. The Company believes that
the slight discount to market price assisted the Company in raising needed
capital for the Company and in obtaining from the investors the limited
guaranties of the Western National Bank loan in addition to the cash purchase
price. Such guaranties may not have been available in other stock offering
contexts.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE
ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SERIES "C" PREFERRED STOCK AND COMMON STOCK WARRANTS BY
THE COMPANY AND THE POTENTIAL ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UPON CONVERSION
OR EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES.
PROPOSAL THREE - AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION EFFECTING THE
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK OF AMEN PROPERTIES, INC. AND THE CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF THE SERIES
B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF AMEN PROPERTIES, INC.
The Company submits the following Amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation
for approval by the stockholders as to (i) the conversion rights of the Series B
and (ii) the anti-dilution adjustments of both the Series A and Series B. The
purpose of the amendment is to clarify that the conversion rights of the holders
of the Series B is not subject to a three year limitation, and allow the Company
to issue shares of Common Stock as compensation with triggering the
anti-dilution adjustments. Numbers of shares of Common Stock and conversion
prices set forth below reflect adjustments to give effect to the reverse stock
split effected in January 2003.
I. Section 6 (a) and Section 6 (d) (i) (E) of the Certificate of Designation of
Series and Determination of Rights and Preferences of Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock of Crosswalk.com, Inc. (now Amen Properties, Inc), as previously
amended, is amended in its entirety as follows:
(a) Each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the
option of the holder thereof, at any time and from time to time, into such
number of fully paid and nonassaessable shares of Common Stock as is determined
by dividing the Original Series B Issue Price by the Conversion Prices in effect
at the time of the Conversion. The Series B Preferred stock is convertible into
an aggregate of 233,317 shares of Amen Properties, Inc. common stock. Consistent
with the offering memorandum, Conversion Prices for the three tranuches received
are $3.244, $3.424, and $4.00,or an initial average Conversion Price of $3.428
per share. The Conversion Prices are the prices at which shares of Common Stock
shall be deliverable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock, without the
payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof. Such initial
Conversion Prices and the rate at which shares of Series B Preferred Stock may
be converted into shares of Common Stock shall be subject to the adjustment as
provided below......
(d)...
(i) ...
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(E) "Reserved Employee Shares" shall mean shares of Common Stock issued to
employees, officers, directors, shareholders and executives of, and consultants
or vendors to, the Company upon the exercise of options granted under the
Company's employee stock option plus, which plans have been approved by the
Company's stockholders, or as payment of compensation.
II Section 6(d)(i)(E) of the Certificate of Designation of Series and
Determination of Rights and Preferences of Series A Preferred Stock of
Crosswalk.com, Inc (now Amen Properties, Inc.) as previously amended, is amended
in its entirety as follows:
(d)...
(i) ...
(E) "Reserved Employee Shares" shall mean shares of Common Stock issued to
employees, officers, directors, shareholders and executives of, and consultants
or vendors to, the Company upon the exercise of options granted under the
Company's employee stock option plus, which plans have been approved by the
Company's stockholders, or as payment of compensation.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE
AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION EFFECTING THE CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF THE SERIES
A PREFERRED STOCK OF AMEN PROPERITES, INC. AND THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF
SERIES AND DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF THE SERIES B CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED STOCK OF AMEN PROPERTIES, INC.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
General. The Company's voting securities include both the Common Stock and the
Preferred Stock. The holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to vote
together with the holders of the Common Stock as a single class on the basis of
a number of votes equal to a number of shares of Common Stock determined in
accordance with the Certificates of Designation for each series of the Preferred
Stock. Because the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock vote together as a
single class and because the Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock,
the beneficial ownership of the voting securities of the Company is set forth in
the following tables reflecting beneficial ownership of Common Stock, and no
separate Preferred Stock ownership tables are provided. Please note that that
number of votes held by the holders of Series B is the same as the number of
shares into which the Series B is convertible, and the number of votes held by
the holders of the Series A is approximately one-half of the number of shares of
Common Stock into which the Series A is convertible. Additionally, the number of
votes held by the holders of Series C is currently limited to twenty percent
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(20%) of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the closing date,
March 1, 2005, (such limitation will change in the event the issuance and sale
of the Series C Preferred and the Warrants are approved by the stockholders of
the Company). Therefore, in the footnotes to the following ownership tables, the
number of votes attributable to the ownership of Series A and Series C is set
forth in parenthesis following the number of shares into which such Series A and
Series C are convertible.
Unless otherwise noted, all persons named in the following ownership tables have
sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares of voting stock
beneficially owned by them, and no persons named in the table are acting as
nominees for any persons or otherwise under the control of any person or group
of persons. As used herein, the term "beneficial ownership" with respect to a
security means the sole or shared voting power (including the power to vote and
direct the vote) or sole or shared investment power (including the power to
dispose or direct the disposition) with respect to the security, including a
right to acquire any such power during a period of sixty (60) days from the
Record Date. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based upon 2,201,356 shares
of Common Stock outstanding as of March 15, 2005 and for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership of certain persons or groups, the shares of
Common Stock that the person has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days of
March 15, 2005 (whether upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, exercise of
vested stock options, exercise of warrants or otherwise), are deemed to be
outstanding as of that date. Such shares deemed to be outstanding as to one
person are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners. The following table and
accompanying notes contain information about any person (including any "group")
who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of AMEN's Common
Stock as of March 15, 2005, based upon copies of Schedule 13Ds and Schedule 13Gs
received by the Company.
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership Percent Beneficially Owned
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
John Norwood
303 W. Wall Suite 2300
Midland, TX 79701 190,160 (a) 8.2%
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Frosty Gilliam, Jr.
4840 E. University, Suite 200
Odessa, TX 79762 161,299 (b) 7.0%
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Steve Wike
8701 Interlachen Circle
Wilmington, NC 28411 121,250 5.5%
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Moriah Investment Partners
P.O. Box 5562
Midland, TX 79704 150,000 (c) 6.4%
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
McGraw Brothers Investments
P.O. Box 7515
Midland, TX 79708 150,000 (c) 6.4%
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Dodge Jones Foundation
P.O. Box 176
Abilene, TX 79604 226,358 (d) 9.5%
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
(a) Includes 50,000 shares upon conversion of Series C (representing 44,027
voting shares), 25,000 shares upon the exercise of outstanding warrants and
25,428 share upon conversion of Series A (representing 13,750 voting
shares).
9
(b) Includes 50,000 shares upon conversion of Series C (representing 44,027
voting shares), 25,000 shares upon the exercise of outstanding warrants and
30,822 share upon conversion of Series A (representing 16,667 voting
shares).
(c) Represents 100,000 shares upon conversion of Series C (representing 88,054
voting shares) and 50,000 shares upon the exercise of outstanding warrants.
(d) Includes 107,878 shares upon conversion of Series A (representing 58,333
voting shares) and 77,056 shares upon conversion of Series B, owned by
Dodge Jones Foundation.
Security Ownership of Management. The following table and accompanying notes
contain information about the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of March
15, 2005 by each of AMEN's (a) directors and director nominees, and (b)
executive officers as defined in Item 402(a)(2) of Regulation S-B, and (c) all
of AMEN's executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group.
Name and Address of Amount and Nature of Percentage
Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership Beneficially Owned
---------------- -------------------- ------------------
Eric Oliver (Current Chairman, CEO)
400 Pine Street
Abilene, TX 79601 322,403 (1) 13.3%
Jon Morgan (Current Pres., COO, Director)
303 W. Wall St., Ste. 2300
Midland, TX 79701 308,578 (2) 12.5%
Bruce Edgington (Current Director)
7857 Heritage Drive
Annandale, VA 22003 245,974 (3) 10.4%
Earl E. Gjelde (Current Director)
42 Bristlecone Crt.
Keystone, CO 80435 53,027 (4) 2.3%
John M. James (Current CFO)
303 W. Wall St., Ste. 2300
Midland, TX 79701 1,100 .05%
Donald M. Blake, Jr. (Current Director)
298 Fifth Ave., 7th Floor
New York, NY 10001 43,404 (5) 1.9%
G. Randy Nicholson (Current Director)
1202 Estates Drive, Ste. D
Abilene, TX 79602 3,281 (6) .15%
All Current Directors and Officers as a Group 977,767 40.6%
(1) Includes 76,813 shares beneficially owned by Softvest L.P. Mr. Oliver is
General Partner and lead investment officer of Softvest L.P. Also includes
77,056 shares issuable upon conversion of Series A (representing 41,667 voting
shares) and 38,528 shares issuable upon conversion of Series B, all beneficially
owned by SoftOP, L.P. Mr. Oliver is General Partner of SoftOP, L.P. Also
includes 10,273 shares issuable upon conversion of Series A (representing 5,556
voting shares) owned by Lighthouse Partners, L.P. Mr. Oliver is a Limited
Partner of Lighthouse Partners, L.P. Also includes 5,193 shares issuable upon
exercise of currently exercisable stock options. Also includes 56,252 shares
issuable upon conversion of Series C (representing 48,430 voting shares) and
28,126 upon exercise of currently exercisable warrants.
10
(2) Includes 61,645 shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A
(representing 33,333 voting shares), beneficially owned by the Jon M. Morgan
Pension Plan. Mr. Morgan is trustee of the Jon M. Morgan Pension Plan. Also
includes 61,645 shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A (representing
33,333 voting shares), beneficially owned by J.M. Mineral and Land Co., Inc. Mr.
Morgan is President of J.M. Mineral and Land Co, Inc. Also includes 38,528
shares issuable upon conversion of the Series B, and 9,493 shares issuable upon
exercise of currently exercisable stock options. Also includes 56,248 shares
issuable upon conversion of Series C (representing 48,430 voting shares) and
28,124 upon exercise of currently exercisable warrants.
(3) Includes 50,000 issuable upon conversion of the Series B, 57,892 shares
issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options and 34,321 shares
issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable warrants. Also includes 12,500
shares issuable upon conversion of Series C (representing 13,208 voting shares).
(4) Includes 29,206 shares issuable upon conversion of the Series B, and 18,836
shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options.
(5) Includes 2,000 shares held in a grantor trust of which Mr. Blake is the
trustee, and 3,281 shares issuable upon exercise of a currently exercisable
stock option.
(6) Represents shares issuable upon exercise of a currently exercisable stock
option.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, requires that our executive officers and
directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of
AMEN's equity securities (collectively, the "Reporting Persons") to file reports
of ownership and changes in ownership with the Commission and to furnish the
Company with copies of these reports. The Company believes that all filings
required to be made by the Reporting Persons during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 were made on a timely basis.
MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of the executive
officers, directors and director nominees of the Company as of the date of the
Annual Meeting. The respective backgrounds of the directors are set forth above
under "Proposal One", and Mr. James' background is set forth following the
table:
11
Name Age Title
---- --- -----
Eric L. Oliver 46 Chairman of the Board of
Directors & Chief
Executive Officer
Jon M. Morgan 46 President, Chief Operating
Officer & Director
John M. James 40 Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary
Bruce E. Edgington (1) (2) (3) 47 Director
Earl E. Gjelde (1) (3) 60 Director
Donald M. Blake (2) (3) 49 Director
G. Randy Nicholson (1) (2) 67 Director
____________
(1) Members of Compensation Committee
(2) Members of Audit Committee
(3) Members of Nominating Committee
John M. James was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company in September
2003. He graduated from University of the Permian Basin in Odessa, TX with a
degree in accounting and information systems in 1995. He spent eight years with
Johnson, Miller & Co. where he focused on tax and the design and implementation
of accounting systems. Prior to attending college he was honorably discharged
from the United States Army after serving nearly eight years on active duty.
The Board has determined that Messrs. Edgington, Gjelde, Blake and Nicholson, in
excess of a majority of the Board, are independent directors under the
guidelines established by the Commission and the Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq").
It is anticipated that such independent directors will have meetings at which
only independent directors are present as required by the Nasdaq rules. Each
director serves until the next annual meeting of stockholders and the election
and qualification of their successors.
Executive officers are appointed by the Board of Directors annually and serve at
the discretion of the Board. There are currently no employment agreements
between the Company and any of its officers. While the officers of the Company
devote such time as they determine to be necessary to the management of the
Company, they and their affiliates are also engaged in other business
activities, including those which are the same as or similar to the business of
the Company. The officers receive compensation from such other activities which
is not borne directly or indirectly by the Company and which is not related to
any services provided to the Company. The Company does not currently pay any
salaries to its officers, except for Mr. James. See "Executive Compensation and
Other Information".
MEETING ATTENDANCE AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
AMEN's business is managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The
Board meets during our fiscal year to review significant developments and to act
on matters requiring Board approval. The Board of Directors held four formal
meetings and acted by unanimous written consent on other occassions during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. One director attended fewer than 75% of the
aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and their
respective committee meetings held subsequent to their election to the Board in
2004.
12
The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee, and a Nominating Committee to devote attention to specific subjects
and to assist the Board in the discharge of its responsibilities. Beginning
after the first quarter of 2004, the Board committees were comprised of
independent directors in accordance with the Nasdaq rules. For continuity in the
performance of the functions of these committees related to the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2003 and the 2004 Annual Meeting, the composition of the
committees through the first quarter of 2004 had a majority of independent
directors in accordance with Nasdaq rules for small business filers in effect at
that time. The functions of these committees and their members as of the date of
the Annual Meeting are described below.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. Edgington (Chair), Nicholson, and
Blake, all of whom are independent directors. The Audit Committee held four
meetings during 2004. The Audit Committee, among other things, oversees the
accounting and financial reporting practices of the Company and reviews the
annual audit with the Company's independent accountants. In addition, the Audit
Committee has the sole authority and responsibility to select, evaluate, and
where appropriate, replace the independent auditors. The general
responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in the Audit Committee
Charter, a copy of which was attached to the Company's 2004 Proxy Statement as
Appendix I. The Board has determined that no member of the Committee meets all
of the criteria needed to qualify as an "audit committee financial expert" as
defined by the Securities Exchange Commission regulations. The Board believes
that each of the current members of the Committee has sufficient knowledge and
experience in financial matters to perform his duties on the Committee.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT. The Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting,
internal controls and audit functions on behalf of the Board of Directors. In
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee has reviewed the
audited consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
with management including discussions of accounting principles, reasonableness
of judgments, and the clarity of financial disclosures. The Committee also
reviewed with the independent auditors their assessment of financial statements
and of management's judgments in deriving the financial statements. In addition,
the Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required
by SAS 61 and the matters in the written disclosures required by the
Independence Standards Board and discussed with the independent accountant the
independent accountant's independence. The Committee also met with the
independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss their
examinations, evaluations of our internal controls and the overall quality of
our financial reporting. The Committee held four meetings in 2004.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended
to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be
included in AMEN's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Bruce Edgington, Audit Committee chair
Randy Nicholson, Audit Committee member
Donald M. Blake, Jr., Audit Committee member
Nominating Committee
13
The Nominating Committee is comprised of Messrs. Blake, Jr.,(chair), Edgington
and Gjelde, all of whom are independent directors. The Nominating Committee met
one time during 2004. The Nominating Committee operates pursuant to a Nominating
Committee Charter which was attached to Company's 2004 Proxy Statement as
Appendix II. The Company does not have a Web site, and therefore the Nominating
Committee Charter is not available on such a Web site.
The Nominating Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the current
members of the Nominating Committee willing to continue in service. If any Board
member does not wish to continue in service, if the Nominating Committee decides
not to nominate a member for re-election or if the Board desires to increase the
size of the Board by adding new director positions, then the Nominating
Committee establishes a pool of potential director candidates from
recommendation from the Board, senior management and stockholders, who are then
evaluated through the review process outlined below.
The Nominating Committee reviews the credentials of potential director
candidates (including potential candidates recommended by stockholders),
conducts interviews and makes formal nominations for the election of directors.
In making its nominations, the Nominating Committee considers a variety of
factors, including the following factors: integrity, high level of education,
skills, background, independence, financial expertise, experience or knowledge
with businesses relevant to the Company's current and future business plans,
experience with business of similar size, all other relevant experience,
understanding of the Company's business and industry diversity, compatibility
with existing Board members, and such other factors as the Nominating Committee
deems appropriate in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Proposed nominees are not evaluated differently depending upon who has made the
proposal. The Company has not to date paid any third party fee to assist in this
process. The Company will consider proposed nominees whose names are submitted
to the Nominating Committee, by stockholders. Proposals made by stockholders for
nominees to be considered by the Nominating Committee with respect to an annual
stockholders meeting must be received by the Company prior to the end of the
fiscal year preceding such annual meeting.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Gjelde (Chair), Edgington and
Nicholson, and met two times during 2004. The Compensation Committee was
established to advise the Board and consult with management concerning the
salaries, incentives and other forms of compensation for the officers and other
employees of the Company. The committee also administers the Company's stock
option plans. Currently, none of the officers of the Company are paid any
compensation, except for Mr. James, the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATION
Stockholders may send other communications to the Board of Directors, a
committee thereof or an individual Director. Any such communication should be
sent in writing addressed to the Board of Directors, the specific committee or
individual Director in care of the Company's Secretary at the address on the
front of this Proxy Statement. The Company's Secretary is responsible for
determining, in consultation with other officers of the Company, counsel and
other advisers, as appropriate, which stockholder-communications will be relayed
to the Board, committee or individual Director. The Secretary may determine not
to forward any letter to the Board, committee or individual Director that does
not relate to the business of the Company.
14
ATTENDANCE OF DIRECTORS AT ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
The Corporation expects all Board members to attend the annual meeting of
shareholders, but from time to time, other commitments may prevent all directors
from attending each meeting. All directors attended the most recent annual
meeting of shareholders, which was held on May 10, 2004.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth all compensation paid in
2002, 2003 and 2004 to the Company's Chief Executive Officer in office at the
end of 2004. The Company did not have any officers during 2004 whose total
annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
---------------------- ------ ------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- --------------
Long-Term Compensation
---------------------- ------ ------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- --------------
Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
---------------------- ------ ------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- --------- --------------
Securities
Name and Principal Other Annual Restricted Underlying LTIP All other
Position Year Salary $ Bonus $ Compensation $(2) Stock Options/SARS Payouts Compensation
---------------------- ------ ----------- ---------- ------------------- ------------ --------------- --------- --------------
Eric L. Oliver (1) 2002 - - - - 3,522 - -
Chairman of the Board
of Directors & Chief 2003 - - - - - - -
Executive Officer
2004 - - - - - - -
---------------------- ------ ----------- ---------- ------------------- ------------ --------------- --------- --------------
(1) Mr. Oliver became the Company's Chief Executive Officer on September 19,
2002. He did not receive any salary or bonus during 2002, 2003 or 2004, and is
not currently paid a salary.
Mr. Morgan became the Company's Chief Executive Officer on September 19, 2002.
He did not receive any salary or bonus during 2002, 2003 or 2004, and is not
currently paid a salary. Mr. James became the Company's Chief Financial Officer
on September 1, 2003 and was paid $67,343 in salary and bonuses in 2004.
The following table sets forth information with respect to stock options held by
the executive officer named in the "Summary Compensation Table", and the
potential realizable value at assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation
as indicated, over the option term.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXCERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES(1)
------------------------- ------------------ --------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------
Number Value of Unexercised
Shares Number of Unexercised Securities In-The-Money Options
Acquired on Underlying Options at 12/31/04 at 12/31/04
Name Exercise Value Realized Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
------------------------- ------------------ --------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------
Eric L. Oliver --- --- 5,193/0 $0/$0
------------------------- ------------------ --------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------
15
(1) The option values above are based on the difference between the option
exercise price and the market price for the Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market on December 31, 2004.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
We do not provide directors who are also officers of AMEN additional
compensation for their service as directors. All non-employee directors receive
reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board and Committee
meetings.
The Board compensation for the year 2004 consisted of the following:
o Each director was granted 1,500 shares of restricted stock at a value
of $4.30 per share.
o Each Committee Chairman received an additional 500 shares of
restricted stock at a value of $4.30 per share.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In October 2002, the Company completed the purchase of approximately 64.9% of
the limited partnership shares of TCTB Partners, Ltd. ("TCTB") Eric Oliver,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Jon Morgan, President
and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, either directly or beneficially
owned interests in TCTB. Mr. Morgan is also President of TCTB Company, Inc., the
general partner of TCTB that controls its daily operations. Mr. Oliver sold all
his LP Interest in TCTB totaling 7.94% (which he owned beneficially through a
limited partnership), and Mr. Morgan sold all his LP Interest in TCTB totaling
10.54%. The Company did not acquire any interest in TCTB Company, Inc., which is
primarily owned by the original limited partners of TCTB, but has the authority
to change the general partner of TCTB due to its ownership of approximately
71.385% of the LP Interests of TCTB. Both Mr. Oliver and Mr. Morgan retained
their proportionate share of their interest in TCTB Company, Inc. Assuming the
conversion of their Preferred Stock, Mr. Oliver and Mr. Morgan beneficially own
13.3% and 12.5%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of the Company. Other
preferred and common shareholders of the Company also sold their 21.14% total LP
Interest in TCTB to the Company.
The TCTB acquisition was funded with $1,945,874 in cash and the creation of
$2,789,087 in Promissory Notes between AMEN and the selling partners ("the TCTB
Notes"). The TCTB Notes totaling $2,789,087 stipulate a floating interest rate
of 15 basis points above the prime lending rate, beginning at 4.9% and never to
exceed 6%. The interest rate is adjusted every October 1. The TCTB Notes are
payable in consecutive annual installments, the first of which is due and
payable on or before April 1, 2005, and one of which becomes due and payable on
or before the same day of each succeeding year until the entire unpaid principal
balance and all accrued and unpaid interest is fully paid. The amount of each
annual payment is based upon the Net Operating Loss Benefit we realize, defined
as the dollar value of the federal income tax benefit to the Company in
utilizing the Company's net operating loss carry forward as defined in the
Internal Revenue Service Code. The Company elected to forgo the calculation of
16
the required payment that was due on or before April 1, 2005 and paid one half
of the outstanding principal balance and the balance of the accrued interest as
of December 31, 2004. This payment was made due to the distribution and sale of
the Lubbock building on December 31, 2004. Future payments will be based on the
Net Operating Loss Benefit as discussed above. If the TCTB Notes are not paid
prior to May 31, 2009 they become fully due and payable.
Prior to Amen Properties, Inc. acquiring a limited partnership interest in TCTB,
TCTB had entered into an agreement with Priority Power Management, Ltd ("PPM"),
a local aggregator, to provide aggregation and consulting services in the
management of TCTB's electricity use and costs. The Company's Chief Operating
Officer has an indirect 18% ownership in PPM and the Company's wholly owned
subsidiary W Power expects to be acquiring customers though PPM. During January
2005, TCTB began purchasing their electricity for the Bank of America Tower and
the Century Plaza Tower through W Power due to the expiration of the agreement
between TCTB and PPM which expired on December 31, 2004.
During 2004, the Company, through its subsidiary Amen Minerals, LP, purchased a
percentage of two certain royalty interests with certain individuals and related
parties acquiring the remaining percentages. Effective April 1, 2004, the
Company purchased a 25% interest in a Texas oil and gas royalty for a purchase
price of $102,519 along with the Chief Operating Officer, Eric Oliver, directly
acquiring a 10.625% interest and the Chief Executive Officer, Jon Morgan,
indirectly acquiring 22.5% interest. Effective April 2, 2004 the Company
purchased a 20% interest in an Oklahoma oil and gas royalty for a purchase price
of $60,335 along with the Chief Operating Officer, Eric Oliver, directly
acquiring a 8.5% interest and the Chief Executive Officer, Jon Morgan, acquiring
an indirect 20% interest.
On March 1, 2005 the Company closed the sale and issuance of the Series C and
Warrants pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement as amended, between the
Company and certain accredited investors, including Eric Oliver, Jon Morgan and
Bruce Edgington, officers and directors of the Company.
Additionally, during 2003 and 2004, certain parties related to the officers and
directors of the Company were tenants in a building owned by TCTB in Midland,
TX. TCTB received rental income from these related parties of approximately
$260,000 in 2003 and $264,000 in 2004.
We may in the future enter into other transactions and agreements incident to
our business with directors, officers, principal stockholders and other
affiliates. We intend for all such transactions and agreements to be on terms no
less favorable than those obtainable from unaffiliated third parties on an
arm's-length basis. In addition, the approval of a majority of the AMEN
directors will be required for any such transactions or agreements.
PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION
17
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of AMEN. We
will pay the cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying form. We may solicit
proxies by email, mail, telephone and delivery service by officers, directors
and our employees. We may also request banking institutions, brokerage firms,
custodians, and trustees, or their nominees and fiduciaries to forward
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the common stock that those
companies or persons hold of record. We will pay for reasonable costs of the
solicitation and will reimburse forwarding expenses.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
We have provided a copy of our annual report on Form 10-KSB together with this
proxy Statement, additional copies of which are available, without charge, by
contacting us at the address provided herein.
EXTERNAL AUDITOR INFORMATION
Effective September 30, 2002, Johnson, Miller & Co. was engaged as the
independent accountant for the Company and has been selected as the Company's
principal accountants for 2005. The decision to engage Johnson, Miller & Co. was
approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Audit Fees: The aggregate fees paid to Johnson Miller & Co. for the audit of the
financial statements and for reviews of the report on 10-Q during 2003 was
$71,219, and for 2004 was $ 70,817.
Audit Related Fees: None.
Tax Fees: During 2003 the company paid its principal account $9,669 for tax
related matters. During 2004 the Company paid its principal accountant $2,413
for tax related matters.
All Other Fees: The aggregate other fees paid to Johnson Miller & Co. during
2003 was $8,069. The 2003 fees mainly represent due diligence efforts on various
acquisitions opportunities the Company pursued. The Company did not pay any
other aggregate fees to its principal accountant during 2004.
The Company expects that representatives of Johnson Miller & Co. will be present
at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make a
statement if they desire to do so.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any matter to be presented for action at
the meeting other than the matters set forth herein. Should any other matter
requiring a vote of stockholders arise, the proxies in the enclosed form confer
upon the person or persons entitled to vote the shares represented by such
proxies discretionary authority to vote the same in accordance with their best
judgment in the interest of AMEN.
18
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
All stockholder proposals submitted for inclusion in the Company's proxy
statement and form of proxy for the Annual Meeting of Stockholder of the Company
to be held in 2006 must be received at the Company's principal executive
offices, 303 West Wall Street, Suite 1700, Midland, Texas 79705, Attention: John
M. James, by December 30, 2005. Such proposals must also comply with the
applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Notice to the
Company of all other stockholder proposals (not submitted for inclusion in the
Company's proxy statement and form of proxy) for the 2006 Annual Meeting will
not be considered timely unless received at the Company's principal executive
offices as set forth above on or before March 15, 2006.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO
ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN THE
PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID, ADDRESSED ENVELOPE.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
/s/ John M. James
-----------------
JOHN M. JAMES
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND SECRETARY
19
AMEN PROPERTIES, INC.
303 WEST WALL STREET, STE. 1700
MIDLAND, TX 79701
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMEN PROPERTIES INC. FOR
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON MAY 26, 2005
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Eric L. Oliver and Jon M.
Morgan, and each of them, his true and lawful agents and proxies with full power
of substitution in each, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held at the Corporate Office, located at 303 West Wall Street
Suite 2300, Midland, TX 79701, in the Conference Room, at 8:30 a.m., local time,
on Thursday, May 26, 2005, and at any adjournments thereof, on all matters
coming before said meeting.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE: /X/
1. ELECTION OF, ERIC L. OLIVER, JON M. MORGAN, BRUCE E. EDGINGTON, EARL E.
GJELDE, DON BLAKE AND G. RANDY NICHOLSON TO THE AMEN PROPERTIES, INC.BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
IN FAVOR OF ALL NOMINEES [ ]
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES [ ]
WITHHOLD THE FOLLOWING: ______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
write that nominee's name in the space provided above.)
2. ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK AND COMMON STOCK
WARRANTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE POTENTIAL ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
UPON CONVERSION OR EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES
[ ] FOR
[ ] AGAINST
3. AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION EFFECTING THE CERTIFICATE
OF DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF THE
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK OF AMEN PROPERTIES, INC. AND THE CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF THE SERIES
B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF AMEN PROPERTIES, INC.
[ ] FOR
[ ] AGAINST
20
4. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will
be voted IN FAVOR of the election of the directors named in this proxy card, FOR
the issuance and sale of the Series C Preferred Stock and Common Stock Warrants
by the Company and the potential issuance of shares of Common Stock upon
conversion or exercise of such securities and FOR the Amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation.
TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT
PROMPTLY
THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND PROXY
STATEMENT FOR THE
MAY 26, 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND THE COMPANY'S
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB
Stockholder Signature(s): _______________________ _________________________
Date: __________________________________
Stockholder Printed Name(s): ____________________ _________________________
Please sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. Joint owners must each sign.
When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please
give your full title as it appears thereon. If a corporation, please sign in
full corporate name as President or other authorized officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
21