ThZeal - The Zeal

PRE 14A 1 doc1.txt FORM 14-A UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT Filing Date: XXXX Commission File No. XXXX SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Filed by 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 Material Pursuant to 240.14a-12 UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) JOHN C. LAWRENCE, PRESIDENT (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) 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: (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 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): n/a. (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: n/a (5) Total fee paid: -0- [ ] 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: 1 United States Antimony Corporation PO Box 643, Thompson Falls, Mt. 59873 JULY 12, 2003 Dear Stockholder: You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of United States Antimony Corporation, which will be held at 10:00 a.m. on September 12, 2003 at the Ramada Inn at the airport in Spokane, WA. Those matters expected to be acted upon at the meeting are described in detail in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement. The enclosed notice and proxy statement contain details concerning the business to come before the meeting. We have also enclosed for your information and review the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. The board of directors recommends a vote FOR each of the proposals below: "FOR" electing John C. Lawrence, Robert A. Rice and Leo Jackson to our board of directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; "FOR" the amendment of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, authorizing an increase of the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares; and "FOR" the appointment of the auditors for the year ending December 31, 2003. All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting in person. Your participation at this meeting is very important, regardless of the number of shares you hold. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete, date, sign and return the accompanying proxy promptly. If you attend the Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person. We look forward to seeing you at the Meeting. Sincerely, /s/ John C. Lawrence John C. Lawrence, President, Chief Financial Officer and Director This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to United States Antimony Corporation shareholders beginning July 12, 2003. 2 UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDER TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2003 To our Shareholders: NOTICE is hereby given that on September 12, 2003 United States Antimony Corporation will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders at the Ramada Inn at the airport in Spokane, WA. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time. At the meeting, shareholders will be asked: 1. To elect John C. Lawrence, Robert A Rice and Leo Jackson to our board of directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. 2. To amend the Company's Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 shares to 50,000,000 shares; and 3. To ratify the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as the Company's independent auditors to examine the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. We have enclosed for the review of our shareholders the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2003. The Company is unaware of any other business to be considered and acted upon at the meeting and any adjournments thereof. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on June 16, 2003, or such other date as may be determined as the record date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof. All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. To assure your representation at the meeting and whether or not you plan to attend in person, you are urged to mark, sign, and date and return the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience in the self-addressed, stamped envelope. Any stockholder attending the meeting may revoke their proxy and vote their shares in person. Please Sign, Date and Return the Enclosed Proxy Immediately to Assure that Your Shares are represented at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for September 12, 2003. By Order of the Board of Directors, /s/ John C. Lawrence Chairman, President and Chief Financial Officer Thompson Falls, Mt. 59873 July 12, 2003 3 UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION PROXY STATEMENT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ------------------------------ This Proxy Statement relates to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of United States Antimony Corporation Company, (the "Company"), a Montana corporation, to be held on September 12, 2003, at 10:00 a.m., at the Ramada Inn at the airport, Spokane, WA., including any adjournments or postponements thereof (the "Meeting"). This Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy card and the Company's Annual Report are first being mailed to stockholders of the Company on or about July 12, 2003. THEY ARE FURNISHED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION BY THE COMPANY OF PROXIES FROM THE HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE ("COMMON STOCK"), FOR USE AT THE MEETING. The principal solicitation of proxies is being made by mail; however, additional solicitation may be made by telephone, facsimile or personal visits by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company. The Company will reimburse brokerage firms and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding soliciting material. All shares represented by duly executed proxies in the accompanying form received prior to the Meeting will be voted in the manner specified therein. Any stockholder granting a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by filing with the Secretary of the Company either an instrument revoking the proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Any stockholder present at the Meeting who expresses a desire to vote their shares in person may also revoke their proxy. As to any matter for which no choice has been specified in a duly executed proxy, the shares represented thereby will be voted FOR each proposal listed herein and in the discretion of the persons named in the proxy in any other business that may properly come before the Meeting. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. We have enclosed for the review of our shareholders the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2003. PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED UPON BY SHAREHOLDERS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS At the Annual Meeting, the holders of our shares of Common Stock will be asked to vote on the proposals set forth below. An affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and voting at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of all matters. There are no dissenters' rights to appraisal with respect to the proposals. PROPOSAL ONE: To elect John C. Lawrence, Robert A Rice and Leo Jackson to our board of directors to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. 4 Information Concerning Directors: It is proposed that John C. Lawrence, Robert A Rice and Leo Jackson will be elected at the meeting, each to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and/or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Company has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unavailable at the time of election. PROPOSAL TWO: To amend the Company's Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 shares to 50,000,000 shares. The Board of Directors believes that it is in the Company's best interest to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock because: (1) Shares of common stock must be available to meet the respective conversion and exercise privileges of the Company's convertible Series D Preferred stock and common stock warrants. (2) The Company must have additional shares of common stock available to sell to expand its Bear River Zeolite business and finance its operating activities. (3) Additional shares of common stock must be available to issue to directors and other key employees and consultants in order to attract and retain competent management for the Company. By voting "FOR" this proposal, shareholders will be authorizing the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized Common Stock shares. The reason for the proposals to increase the number of authorized shares is discussed below. Recommendation of the Board of Directors: Our Board of Directors recommends that our shareholders vote "FOR" the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares. PROPOSAL THREE: To ratify the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as the Company's independent auditors to examine the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003 Recommendation of the Board of Directors: Our Board of Directors recommends that the holders of our shares vote "FOR" the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. as the Company's independent auditors to examine the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003 5 The enclosed Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the board. We are unaware of any additional matters not set forth in the notice of Annual Meeting that will be presented for consideration at the meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting and presented for a vote of the shareholders, the persons named in the proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment upon such matters, unless otherwise restricted by law. ITEM 1. DATE, TIME AND PLACE INFORMATION This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the meeting of shareholders of United States Antimony Corporation Company to be held on September 12, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Ramada Inn at the airport in Spokane, WA and at any and all adjournments thereof. ITEM 2. REVOCABILITY OF PROXY The accompanying proxy is solicited by our board and is revocable by the shareholder anytime before it is voted. This proxy statement is first being mailed to shareholders on or about July 12, 2003. ITEM 3. DISSENTERS' RIGHT OF APPRAISAL There is no Dissenters' Right of Appraisal for any proposal set forth in this proxy statement. ITEM 4. PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION This solicitation is made by the Company's board, which unanimously approved the proposals, by consent and without a meeting, and no director has informed the Company that he intends to oppose any action intended to be taken by the Company. ITEM 5. INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON The following table sets forth information, to the best knowledge of the Company, as of March 27, 2003, with respect to each person who has been a director or executive officer of the Company at any time since the beginning of the last fiscal year or has been nominated for election as a director of the Company.

6 (1) Based upon 27,027,959 total common stock shares outstanding as of March 27, 2003. (2) Excludes 75,000 shares owned by Mr. Lawrence's sister, as to which Mr. Lawrence disclaims beneficial ownership. (3) Includes warrants to purchase 901,213 shares of Series D Preferred Stock. (4) The outstanding Series D preferred shares carry voting rights. ITEM 6. VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on June 12, 2003, the record date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. At the record date, there were 27,027,959 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Each shareholder of record on the record date is entitled to one vote per share on each proposal presented at the meeting, (other than the election of directors) exercisable in person or by proxy. With respect to the election of directors, such stockholders are entitled to vote cumulatively, meaning that each holder of voting shares is entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of his shares multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, an may cast all of such votes for a single nominee or distribute them among two or more nominees as he sees fit. The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the meeting. Assuming a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares issued and outstanding present in person or represented by proxy is required for approval of each proposal to be voted upon at the meeting. . ITEM 7. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Company is not aware of any involvement by its directors or executive officers during the past five years in certain legal proceedings that are material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of such director or executive officer. The following information with respect to the principal occupation or employment, other affiliations and business experience of each member of the board of directors during the last five years. 7 John C. Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence has been the president and a Director of the ------------------ Company since its inception. Mr. Lawrence was the President and a Director of AGAU Mines, Inc., the predecessor of the Company, since the inception of AGAU Mines, Inc., in 1968. He is a member of the Society of Mining Engineers and a recipient of the Silver Medallion Award from the University of Montana. Robert A. Rice. Mr. Rice is a metallurgist, having been employed by the Bunker ---------------- Hill Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf Resources and Chemical Corporation at Kellogg, Idaho, as Senior Metallurgist and Mill Superintendent until his retirement in 1965. Mr. Rice has been a Director of the Company since 1975. Leo Jackson. Mr. Jackson is a resident of El Paso, Texas. He is currently the ------------- President of Production Minerals, Inc., and has been involved in the production and marketing of industrial minerals such as fluorspar and celestite in the United States and Mexico for 25 years. Mr. Jackson speaks fluent Spanish and has a BBA degree from the Sul Ross State University in Texas. Mr. Jackson has been a Director of the Company since 1999. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING: Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that the Company's directors and executive officers and the holders of 10% or more of the Company's Common Stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and "Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and stockholders holding more than 10% of the Company's common stock are required by the regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they have filed. Based solely on our review of copies of Forms 3, 4, and 5 furnished to us, Mr. Lawrence timely filed Form 4 reports during 2002. We do no know if Mr. Rice and Mr. Jackson timely filed Form 4 or Form 5 reports during 2002. We do not know if A.W. Dugan, a shareholder who became a 10% beneficial owner during 2002 timely filed Form 3, Form 4, or Form 5 reports during 2002. ITEM 8. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The Securities and Exchange Commission requires the following table setting forth for fiscal years ending December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000; the compensation paid by USAC to its principal executive officer.

8 (1) Represents earned but unused vacation. (2) These figures represent the fair values, as of the date of issuance, of the annual Director's fee payable to Mr. Lawrence in the form of shares of USAC's restricted Series D Preferred stock or Common Stock. Each of the members of the Board of Directors were awarded 24,000 shares of Series D Preferred stock of the United States Antimony Corporation for their participation in the meeting of the Board of Directors for the year ending December 31, 2002. ITEM 9. INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS The Company engaged the independent public accounting firm of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, a Professional Services corporation, with offices in Spokane, WA, to conduct the audits for the Company's fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001. The financial statements of the Company for 2001 through 2002 were audited by DeCoria, Maichel & Teague. During the two most recent fiscal years or during any subsequent interim period, there were no other independent accountants engaged by the Company nor did any other independent accountants resign, decline to stand for re-election or was dismissed by the Company. Audit fees paid to the firm of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague in connection with the December, 2002 and 2001 audits were $33,000. No fees were paid for financial information systems or other services other than the audit and income tax preparation fees. A representative of the Company's independent public accounting firm of DeCoria, Maichel and Teague P.S. is expected to be in attendance at the annual meeting and will be available to answer shareholder questions. ITEM 10. FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2002 (including financial statements by excluding exhibits) is enclosed with this Proxy Statement. Stockholders may obtain, without cost, a copy of any exhibits to the Form 10-KSB by writing U.S. Antimony Corporation at its principal executive office located at PO Box 643, Thompson Falls, Mt. 59873 or calling the Company's Secretary at (406) 827-3523. The Company files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any report, statement or other information we file at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. ITEM 11. AMENDMENT OF CHARTER, BYLAWS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS. The Company is asking the shareholders to ratify the Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 shares to 50,000,000 shares. 9 ITEM 12. VOTING PROCEDURE The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of outstanding common stock of the Company entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote is required for each proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the determination of the number of shares present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes have no effect on determinations of plurality, except to the extent that they affect the total votes received by any particular candidate. 10 PROXY CARD Proposal 1. Election of Directors (by cumulative voting rights) The Board of Directors is elected by cumulative voting: Each holder of Voting Stock has a number of votes that is equal to the number of shares of Voting Stock he owns multiplied by the number of Directors to be elected. The holder may cast all of those votes for one nominee or distribute them among two or three of the nominees as the shareholder sees fit. Since three Directors are to be elected at the meeting, the total votes which may cast in the election of Directors is calculated as follows: Number of Shares (___) x 3 (number of Directors to be elected) = Total Votes. Allocate those votes among the following three nominees: Nominees Number of Votes Cast For Against Abstain John C. Lawrence _____ _____ _____ Walter L. Maguire, Sr. _____ _____ _____ Robert A. Rice _____ _____ _____ With respect to each of Proposals 2 and 3, mark the appropriate box with an "X". Proposal 2. Approval of amendment of Articles of Incorporation to increase authorized shares of Common Stock [ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain Proposal 3. Ratification of independent auditors [ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain Sign and date proxy card on reverse side 11 UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION - PROXY ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - September 12, 2003 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS PROXY, IF PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS AND FOR PROPOSITIONS 2 and 3. This proxy confers on the proxy holder discretionary authority to vote the undersigned's shares of Voting Stock on any other matters which may properly be presented at the Annual Meeting. PLEASE VOTE (on reverse side) AND DATE AND SIGN YOUR NAME(S) EXACTLY AS PRINTED ON THIS PROXY, indicating (where applicable) official position or representative capacity. /s/ John C. Lawrence -------------------- Signature June 3, 2003 -------------------- Date