UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.__)
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation
TO BE HELD ON
June 5, 2025
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., CDT, at the offices of the Company at 9821 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024, for the following purposes:
1. To elect the five (5) director nominees named in this proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”), each to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal;
2. An advisory (non-binding) vote to approve our executive compensation as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement;
3. An advisory (non-binding) vote on the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation, and
4. To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time without other notice than by announcement at the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, and any and all business for which the Annual Meeting is hereby noticed may be transacted at any such adjournment or postponement.
The Board of Directors has fixed April 7, 2025, as the date for the taking of a record of the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Enclosed is a form of proxy solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. Stockholders who do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person are requested to date, sign and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed self-addressed envelope, to which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States. Your proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised and will not be used if you attend the Annual Meeting and prefer to vote in person.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
/S/ VIRGINIA M. FORESE |
Virginia M. Forese |
Corporate Secretary |
April 25, 2025
Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of
Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held on June 5, 2025
The Proxy Statement and other proxy materials for this Annual Meeting and the Company’s 2024 Annual Report
to Stockholders are available at www.proxydocs.com/PNRG
PROXY STATEMENT
PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation
9821 Katy Freeway
Houston, Texas 77024
PROXY STATEMENT
Solicitation by the Board of Directors of Proxies from
Stockholders for Annual Meeting of Stockholders
June 5, 2025
The Board of Directors of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”) solicits your proxy in the enclosed form which, if you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) on Thursday, June 5, 2025, you are requested to fill out, sign as indicated and return to the Company in the enclosed self-addressed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. The approximate date on which the proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) and form of proxy will be sent to security holders is April 25, 2025.
Proxies are being solicited by mail and all expenses of solicitation have been or will be borne by the Company. In addition, arrangements may be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy materials to their principals and the Company will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 7, 2025 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to vote at the 2025 Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. There were 1,672,470 shares of common stock (“Common Stock”) outstanding on the Record Date. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to vote on the proposals presented in this Proxy Statement for each share held, each share entitling the record holder thereof to one vote. For a period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available for inspection by stockholders of record during ordinary business hours at the Company’s principal place of business, and will be available for inspection during the Annual Meeting.
Matters To Be Voted On At The Annual Meeting
There are three (3) proposals that are scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders are being asked to vote on (1) the election of five (5) Directors named herein to the Board of Directors of the Company, (2) the approval of the executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement, and (3) the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation.
All shares of the Company represented by proxies received in time and in proper form and condition and not revoked will be voted as specified in the proxy; or in the absence of specific direction, the proxy will be voted by the person designated therein:
FOR the election as Directors of the Company of the five (5) nominees named herein, to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors shall be duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal;
FOR the advisory approval of executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement; and
FOR “THREE YEARS” as the frequency of future advisory votes to approve executive compensation.
In the event any of the nominees should become unable to serve as a Director, it is intended that pursuant to the accompanying form of proxy, votes will be cast for a substitute nominee designated by the Board of Directors.
Each Director is elected by a plurality of the votes cast. “Plurality” means that the five (5) director nominees who receive the largest number of votes cast “FOR” such nominees are elected as Directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes shall not be counted for the purposes of the election of Directors. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a nominee (such as a broker) holding shares for a beneficial owner abstains from voting on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power for that proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner on how to vote those shares. All other matters shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of the Company’s capital stock present at the Annual Meeting in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. Abstentions will be counted as a vote against proposals other than the election of Directors, and broker non-votes will not be counted.
The Company’s transfer agent will tabulate all votes that are received prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. The Company will appoint two inspectors of election, who may be officers or employees of the Company, to receive the transfer agent’s tabulation, to tabulate all other votes, and to certify the results of the elections.
Quorum
No business may be transacted at the Annual Meeting unless a quorum is present. Holders of a majority of the Company’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business to be considered at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will, and broker non-votes will not, be included in determining whether a quorum is present.
Management of the Company knows of no matters to be submitted to the Annual Meeting with respect to which the stockholders are entitled to vote other than the election of Directors, the advisory approval of executive compensation and the frequency of future advisory votes to approve executive compensation, but if any other matters do properly come before the Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the enclosed proxy and acting thereunder will vote according to their best judgment on such matters.
Voting of Proxies by Stockholders of Record
If you were a stockholder of record of the Company’s Common Stock at the close of business on the Record Date, a proxy is enclosed for your use. The Company requests that you vote your shares as promptly as possible by submitting your proxy by mail by using the enclosed self-addressed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. When the accompanying proxy is returned properly executed, the shares of the Company’s Common Stock represented by it will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained in the proxy. If a proxy is returned without an indication as to how the shares of the Company’s Common Stock represented are to be voted with regard to a particular proposal, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors and, therefore, “FOR” the election of the five (5) director nominees named herein, “FOR” the approval of our executive compensation, and “Three Years” for the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.
Voting in Person
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and wish to vote in person, you will be given a ballot at the Annual Meeting. If you are a registered stockholder, please be prepared to provide proper identification, such as a driver’s license, at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in “street name,” you must bring to the Annual Meeting a proxy executed in your favor from the record holder (your broker, bank or other nominee) of the shares authorizing you to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Shares Held in Street Name
If you hold shares of the Company’s Common Stock through a broker, bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial holder” of the shares held for you in what is known as “street name.” The “record holder” of such shares is your broker, bank or other nominee, and not you, and you must provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares. Please follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee. Please note that you may not vote shares held in street name by returning a proxy directly to the Company or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting unless you have a “legal proxy,” which you must obtain from your broker, bank or other nominee. Furthermore, brokers, banks or other nominees who hold shares of the Company’s Common Stock on behalf of their customers may not give a proxy to the Company to vote those shares without specific instructions from their customers. If you are a stockholder of the Company and you do not instruct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares, your broker, bank or other nominee may not vote your shares on the one proposal that is scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
Revocation of Proxy
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before it is exercised by notice (1) in person by the stockholder’s oral revocation at the Annual Meeting or (2) in writing to the Company at 9821 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77024 (Attention: Corporate Secretary), if the proxy was executed and returned. Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you vote again at the Annual Meeting or specifically request that your prior proxy be revoked.
Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other nominee, you must instruct your broker, bank, or other nominee that you wish to change your vote by following the procedures on the voting form provided to you by the broker, bank, or other nominee.
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of the Common Stock of the Company owned beneficially by any person, including any “group” as that term is defined in Section 12d (3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the Common Stock, as of April 7, 2025. Information as to beneficial ownership is based upon statements furnished to the Company by such persons. Except as indicated, all shares are held directly, with full voting and dispositive powers, and percentages are calculated on the basis of the shares issued and outstanding, and with respect to those named persons holding options presently exercisable or within 60 days of April 7, 2025, includes the number of shares to be issued upon exercise of such options.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class |
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Robert de Rothschild |
236,913(1) | 14.16 | % | |||||
224 Bahama Lane, Palm Beach, Florida 33480 |
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Charles E. Drimal, Jr. |
1,218,144(2) | 51.40 | % | |||||
9821 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77024 |
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Gifford Fong |
111,720(3) | 6.68 | % | |||||
3658 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Suite 200 Lafayette, California 94549 |
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Clint Hurt |
125,763(4) | 7.52 | % | |||||
1701 Illinois Street Midland, Texas 79701 |
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(1) |
Includes 236,913 shares as to which Amrace, Inc. and Robert de Rothschild has shared voting and investment power. Robert de Rothchild disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in the shares. |
(2) |
Includes 520,644 shares as to which Mr. Drimal has sole voting and investment power, and 697,500 shares subject to options, all presently exercisable. |
(3) |
Includes 18,758 shares held directly by Timothy Fong and 38,640 shares held directly by Steven Fong, for which exclusive voting rights have been granted to Gifford Fong. Gifford Fong expressly disclaims dispositive power over the shares held by Timothy Fong and Steven Fong. |
(4) |
Includes 300 shares as to which Mr. Hurt has sole voting and investment power and 125,463 shares of record held by Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private company controlled by Mr. Hurt as to which Mr. Hurt has sole voting and investment power. |
The following table sets forth information at April 7, 2025, with respect to the shares of the Company’s Common Stock beneficially owned by the Directors and the executive officers of the Company, individually, and as a group:
Name |
Amount Beneficially Owned(1) |
Percent of Class(1) |
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Beverly A. Cummings |
75,000(2) | 4.30% | ||||||
Charles E. Drimal, Jr. |
1,218,144(3) | 51.40% | ||||||
H. Gifford Fong |
111,720(4) | 6.68% | ||||||
Thomas S. T. Gimbel |
1,000 | 0.06% | ||||||
Clint Hurt |
125,763(5) | 7.52% | ||||||
All Directors and executive officers as a group |
1,531,627(2)(3)(4)(5) | 62.77% |
(1) |
Unless otherwise indicated, all shares are owned directly and the holder thereof has sole voting and investment powers with respect thereto, and percentages are calculated on the basis of the shares issued and outstanding, and with respect to those persons, or group, holding options presently exercisable or within 60 days, includes the number of shares to be issued upon exercise of such options. |
(2) |
Includes 5,000 shares as to which Ms. Cummings has shared voting and investment power and 70,000 shares subject to options, all presently exercisable. |
(3) |
Includes 520,644 shares as to which Mr. Drimal has sole voting and investment power and 697,500 shares subject to options, all presently exercisable. |
(4) |
Includes 18,758 shares held directly by Timothy Fong and 38,640 shares held directly by Steven Fong, for which exclusive voting rights have been granted to Gifford Fong. Gifford Fong expressly disclaims dispositive power over the shares held by Timothy Fong and Steven Fong. |
(5) |
Includes 300 shares as to which Mr. Hurt has sole voting and investment power and 125,463 shares held of record by Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private company controlled by Mr. Hurt as to which Mr. Hurt has sole voting and investment power. |
Certain Related Person Transactions
On January 24, 2024, the Company purchased an aggregate of 5,000 shares of Common Stock from Jan Smeets in a private transaction at $95.00 per share, for total proceeds of $475,000. As of January 24, 2024, Mr. Smeets ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Company’s shares of Common Stock.
On March 12, 2024, the Company purchased an aggregate of 18,000 shares of common Common stock Stock from Amrace Inc., and Robert de Rothschild in a private resale transaction at $92.00 per share, for total proceeds of $1,656,000.
On May 28, 2024, the Company purchased an aggregate of 17,800 shares of common Common stock Stock from Amrace Inc., and Robert de Rothschild in a private resale transaction at $97.50 per share, for total proceeds of $1,735,500.
[PROPOSAL NO. 1]
The Board of Directors has nominated for election as Directors at the Annual Meeting , the five (5) nominees whose names, together with biographical information and information concerning their qualifications, business experience and skills are set forth below. All of the nominees were elected to their present term of office by the stockholders at the annual meeting last year and are presently serving as Directors of the Company. Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director, if elected, and has served continuously as a Director since the date indicated below and his or her present term will expire at the Annual Meeting. All of the nominees are proposed for election for a one-year term expiring in 2026 and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Three of the nominees for Directors qualify as independent directors within the meaning of applicable regulatory standards. There is no family relationship between any nominee for Director or the executive officers of the Company. In the event any of the nominees shall become unable to serve as a Director, it is intended that the proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee designated by the Board of Directors. Currently, the Board of Directors is not aware of any circumstance that would render any nominee unavailable to serve as a director of the Company’s Board of Directors. Each Director is elected by a plurality of the votes cast. “Plurality” means that the five (5) director nominees who receive the largest number of votes cast “FOR” such nominees are elected as Directors.
Beverly A. Cummings |
Director since February 1988 |
Beverly A. Cummings, age 72, was elected Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company in October, 1987, and Executive Vice President in May, 1991, and serves as the Principal Financial Officer of the Company. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York and a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University. Ms. Cummings holds similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. The attributes that prompted Ms. Cummings’ election to the Board were her significant financial skills and experience, as well as her understanding of oil and gas operations, and in particular those of the Company. Those qualifications continue to contribute to her effective service as a director today.
Charles E, Drimal, Jr. |
Director since October 1987 |
Charles E. Drimal, Jr., age 77, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 1987, and holds the position of Chairman of the Board. He also holds similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. Mr. Drimal is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Samford University School of Law and is a retired member of the New York State Bar. The leadership skills, experience and thorough knowledge of the oil and gas industry that uniquely qualified Mr. Drimal to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 1987 have continued to make him an invaluable member and Chairman of the Board.
H. Gifford Fong |
Director from May 1994 - June 2019 and since June 2020 |
Mr. Fong, age 80, is President of Gifford Fong Associates, an investment technology consulting firm located in Lafayette, California. Mr. Fong holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctor from the University of California. Mr. Fong is the editor of The Journal of Investment Management and is the author and a frequent contributor to numerous trade journal publications. Mr. Fong’s expertise in transaction valuation, portfolio risk management, and asset management is an important resource for the Board. His substantial knowledge and experience in financial matters and business operations fully qualify him to serve as a member of the Board.
Thomas S. T. Gimbel |
Director since March 1989 |
Thomas S. T. Gimbel, age 70, is CEO of Gimbel Financial Associates, LLC, a private financial and investment consulting firm. Until June 20, 2022, he was the Executive Managing Director at Optima Asset Management LLC, an investment advisory and asset management firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of American Farmland Company, a REIT listed on the NYSE Market. Prior to that, he served as Vice President and a director of American Farmland Company since its inception in 2009, while at the same time serving in his management role at Optima Fund Management. Prior to joining Optima Fund Management in 2004, Mr. Gimbel was Managing Director for Hedge Fund Investments at Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, an investment management firm. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Mr. Gimbel was head of the Hedge Fund department at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, which provided investment banking and security brokerage services prior to being acquired by Credit Suisse. Earlier in his career, Mr. Gimbel was Vice President and Treasurer of Smith Barney’s real estate acquisition and syndication subsidiary. He is a director of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation and Lighthouse Guild, where he also serves on the Investment Committee, and is a member of other not for profit boards and a member of the Investment Committees. Mr. Gimbel received a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Bowdoin College and a Master of Business Administration in finance from Columbia Business School. His proven ability to develop successful investment and management strategies for his clients, his keen business acumen, and his knowledge of the financial markets were some of the qualities that first formed the basis for his election to the Board. Those qualities along with his experience in financial analysis continue to make Mr. Gimbel’s participation on the Board efficacious.
Clint Hurt |
Director since February 1988 |
Clint Hurt, age 89, is president of Clint Hurt & Associates, Inc., a private oil and gas exploration company located in Midland, Texas. He was the President of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia and is a former advisory director of United Bank of Texas, in Midland, Texas. Mr. Hurt’s expertise in the oil and gas industry and his unique insight into the trends and developments in the industry made him an excellent candidate for the Board. Those attributes have also enabled him to make an important contribution to the Company in his 30+ years of service to the Board.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of all nominees named above.
(Proposal No. 1)
Information about the Executive Officers (for information regarding Ms. Cummings and Mr. Drimal, see the descriptions on page 5).
Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings were elected by the Board of Directors to their respective offices in June 2024, at the annual meeting of the Board. Each will hold their respective offices until his or her successor is elected by the Board.
Board Independence and Composition
The core responsibility of the Board of Directors is to provide objective, independent judgment in its management oversight function and the Board’s composition reflects that principle. The Board is composed of a majority of independent directors. A Director’s independence is determined in accordance with the definition set forth in the Nasdaq listing standards and other pertinent and applicable legal and regulatory standards. The Board of Directors annually reviews the financial and other relationships between non-management Directors and the Company to determine whether those Directors are independent. Applying those standards in 2025, the Board has determined that each of the following Directors meet the independence standards: Clint Hurt, Thomas S.T. Gimbel, and H. Gifford Fong.
The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect a Chairman of the Board. The Chairman leads the Board and presides at all Board meetings and is responsible for delivery of information for the Board’s informed decision-making.
Based upon the structure that best serves the interests of the Company, the Board determines whether the role of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer should be held by one individual or should be separated. Currently, the Board believes that the role of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer should be held by the same person because the combined position has served the Company well in the past and Charles E. Drimal, Jr. is highly qualified to serve in that role.
The Directors have also determined that it is not necessary to appoint a lead independent director at this time.
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The senior management team of the Company is responsible for assessing and managing the Company’s various exposures to risk on a day-to-day basis, including the creation of appropriate risk management policies to identify, manage and mitigate significant risks. The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing management’s execution of its responsibilities and for assessing the Company’s approach to risk management. The Board exercises those responsibilities periodically as part of its meetings by having the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and others in management roles of the Company review with the Board areas of material operational, financial and regulatory risk, the likelihood of such risks coming to fruition and management’s response thereto. This approach provides the Board with a thorough understanding of the relative magnitude of such risks and the ability to assess and influence the management and mitigation strategies undertaken by the Company to address those risks.
The Board of Directors met three (3) times in 2024. All directors attended each of those meetings of the Board of Directors and the committee or committees thereof on which such director served during 2024 in person or by telephone conference.
Board Attendance at Annual Meeting
The Company does not have a policy that requires members of the Board of Directors to attend the Annual Meeting. All members of the Board of Directors are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting. All of the members of the Board of Directors attended the annual meeting of the Company held in June 2024 in person or by telephone conference.
The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee.
The Executive Committee, composed of Messrs. Drimal, Jr., Hurt, and Ms. Cummings, is empowered to exercise all the authority of the Board between Board meetings, in the business and affairs of the Company, except as limited by applicable law. The Executive Committee met three times during 2024 in person or by telephone conference and informally, by telephone conference, on a nearly monthly basis during the year.
The Audit Committee, composed of Messrs. Fong, Gimbel and Hurt, met twice in 2024. All members of the Audit Committee are independent under Nasdaq listing standards and other pertinent legal and regulatory standards. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Fong meets the qualifications of an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Nasdaq listing standards. The Audit Committee selects the independent auditors to audit the financial statements of the Company and approves the scope of the services to be provided by the auditors for the upcoming year. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing reports of the Company’s results, audits, financial policies and internal control procedures. The report of the Audit Committee is included in this Proxy Statement on page 13.
The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee have adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which is available under the “Company Information” tab on our website at www.primeenergy.com.
The Compensation Committee, composed of Messrs. Gimbel and Hurt, met one time in 2024. All members of the Compensation Committee were independent under Nasdaq listing standards and other pertinent legal and regulatory standards. The charter of the Compensation Committee requires that members of the Compensation Committee also qualify as “non-employee” directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee annually reviews the Company’s goals, objectives and policies relevant to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers and directors. The Compensation Committee evaluates the performance of the executive officers in light of those goals, objectives and policies and makes its recommendations to the Board of Directors for the salaries, bonuses and other compensation to be paid to the executive officers. The Compensation Committee also recommends to the Board of Directors the compensation to be paid to members of the Board of Directors. Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings participate in discussions with the Compensation Committee and make recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of executive officers and directors. Neither Mr. Drimal nor Ms. Cummings participates in the deliberations or approval of the Compensation Committee concerning their respective compensation.
The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain outside compensation consultants to advise the Compensation Committee on market practices and the compensation policies of the Company. The Compensation Committee has not engaged any outside consultants or advisors for such services, nor have such services been engaged by the Company’s Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee have adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, a copy of which is available under the “Company Information” tab on our website at www.primeenergy.com.
The Board as Nominating Committee
The Company does not have a standing nominating committee. The Board of Directors acts as the nominating committee, with Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings abstaining. The majority of the Directors of the Company, Messrs. Fong, Gimbel and Hurt, who function as a nominating committee, are believed to satisfy applicable regulatory requirements for director independence. Those Directors are responsible for collecting and analyzing information with regard to directors’ “independence” as defined by Nasdaq listing standards and other pertinent legal and/or regulatory standards in effect at the time. They are also responsible for making recommendations concerning committee membership and ensuring that committee members satisfy the criteria for membership on a particular committee and have the skills to effectively participate in a particular committee.
The Directors who function as the nominating committee are also responsible for identifying and evaluating prospective nominees for vacancies on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will consider meritorious director candidates submitted to it by members of the Board and by stockholders of the Company, without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin or disability. The Board does not have a formal policy with regard to considering diversity in its evaluation of director nominations. Candidates for election must be willing to devote the time necessary to serve as a director and must possess the level of education, experience, and expertise, both with respect to financial matters and the oil and gas industry in general, necessary to effectively perform the duties of a member of the board of directors of a public company, and in particular of the Company. The Board of Directors strive to recommend candidates that further its objective of having a Board that draws from a broad range of talents and expertise and reflects a diversity of background, experience, and perspectives. The procedure to be followed by a stockholder to submit a nominee to the Board of Directors is set forth in “Stockholder Proposals and Nominations” in this Proxy Statement.
The Board of Directors believes that this procedure is adequate in the process of selecting persons for election as Directors of the Company. All of the Directors of the Company currently serving as Directors, are designated as nominees for re-election at the Annual Meeting.
ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
[PROPOSAL NO. 2]
As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules, we are seeking an advisory stockholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers for 2024 as disclosed under SEC rules in this Proxy Statement. This is commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote. The stockholder vote approving executive compensation is advisory only, and the result of the vote is not binding upon the Company or the Board of Directors. Although the resolution is non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the advisory vote when making future compensation decisions. We are required to hold a say-on-pay vote at least once every three years, and, subject to the vote outcome on Proposal 3, we have determined to continue our practice of holding a say-on-pay vote every three years. Unless the Board of Directors modifies its policy on the frequency of holding say-on-pay votes, the next say-on-pay vote after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders is expected to occur in 2028.
Our executive compensation program and compensation paid to our named executive officers are described below under “Executive and Director Compensation.” The Compensation Committee oversees the program and compensation awarded, adopts changes to the program, and awards compensation as appropriate to reflect the Company’s circumstances and to promote the main objectives of the program.
This proposal allows our stockholders to express their opinions regarding the decisions of the Compensation Committee on the prior year’s annual compensation to our named executive officers. You may vote for or against the following resolution, or you may abstain.
RESOLVED, that the stockholders of PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation (the “Company”) approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the foregoing resolution.
ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON FUTURE VOTES TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
[PROPOSAL NO. 3]
In accordance with Section 951 of the Dodd-Frank Act and the corresponding SEC rules, we are seeking a non-binding advisory vote as to the frequency with which the approval of executive compensation vote be included as a proposal in the Proxy Statement and an agenda item at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders may cast a vote for every one, two or three years, or abstain from voting on this proposal.
Consistent with our historic practice, PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation believes that a triennial vote is most appropriate given the Company’s size and the simple nature of our compensation program. Accordingly, our Board of Directors recommends that future advisory votes to approve executive compensation continue to be held every three years.
You may elect to have the vote held annually, every two years or every three years, or you may abstain. You are not voting to approve or disapprove the Board of Director’s recommendation but for one of the four specified choices. The vote is advisory and non-binding. The Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote, along with other relevant factors, in recommending a voting frequency to the Board for its adoption.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote for THREE YEARS on the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation.
EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The Company has been guided by its Chief Executive Officer, Charles E. Drimal, Jr., and Chief Financial Officer, Beverly A. Cummings since 1987. The Board of Directors attributes much of the success of the Company to Mr. Drimal’s and Ms. Cummings’ leadership, skills and their dedication to the Company and its stockholders. In order to retain such highly skilled and experienced professionals for its senior management team, the Board of Directors must offer highly competitive compensation packages. At the same time, the Board of Directors is mindful that the primary goal of the Company is to build long-term stockholder value. Therefore, the alignment of the executive officers’ compensation with the Company’s performance results is a critical component of the analysis made by the Compensation Committee in recommending, and the Board of Directors in approving, the executive officers. compensation each year.
The Board of Directors believes that the Compensation Committee’s approach in determining the compensation paid to the named executive officers has been endorsed by the stockholders, who in 2022 supported the vote to approve the executive compensation paid in the prior year. In light of those positive endorsements, the Compensation Committee has continued to adhere to the same approach to determine executive compensation, including for this past year.
There are three elements of annual compensation paid or awarded to the executive officers, to wit: (i) base salary; (ii) bonus (cash incentive) compensation, and (iii) equity awards. The base salaries paid to the executive officers are based upon a number of considerations including each executive officer’s level of responsibility, changes in their responsibilities from year to year, experience, skills and leadership ability. The Compensation Committee reviews the base salary paid in the most recent years and approves any percentage change in salary from year to year. The Compensation Committee uses their judgment and discretion rather than relying on any specific numerical metrics formula for results. The Compensation Committee also assesses the challenges faced and overcome by the executive officers in advancing the Company through the year. In light of these considerations, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved, that each of the executive officers receive an 3.2% increase to each of their salaries for 2024 over 2023 levels. The base salary paid to each executive officer in 2024 is set forth in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table set forth in this Proxy Statement.
Executive officers are also eligible to participate in the Company’s broad-based, defined contribution retirement plan, the PrimeEnergy Corporation Employees 401(k) Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). Participants may defer eligible compensation into the 401(k) Plan up to Internal Revenue Service limits, and the Company provides a safe harbor matching contribution equal to 100% of the first 4% of eligible compensation each participant defers. Matching contributions are fully vested at all times.
The Company awarded options to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock to the executive officers in May 1989. The objective of the award was to retain high level officers and to motivate them to continue their relationship with the Company and thereby align their interests with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. The options that were awarded have been fully exercisable by the executive officers since May 1994 and have no expiration date. The Compensation Committee believes the options awarded to the executive officers continue to represent a significant stake in the Company. The Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that no additional options or other types of equity compensation be awarded to the executive officers in 2024 and no stock options or other equity awards of any type were awarded to any Company service providers in 2024.
The following table discloses compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, received by the Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, who were the only executive officers of the Company during 2024 and thus comprise the Company’s only named executive officers for 2024 (1)(2).
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary($) |
Bonus($) |
All Other Compensation($) |
Total($) |
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Charles E. Drimal, Jr. Chairman, Chief Executive |
2024 |
842,317 | 4,000,000 | 82,219 | (3) | 4,924,536 | |||||||||||
Officer and President; Principal Executive Officer |
2023 |
816,200 | 3,700,000 | 89,362 | (5) | 4,605,562 | |||||||||||
Beverly A. Cummings Executive Vice President, |
2024 |
842,317 | 1,800,000 | 81,861 | (4) | 2,724,178 | |||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; Principal Financial Officer |
2023 |
816,200 | 1,500,000 | 73,552 | (6) | 2,389,752 |
(1) |
Columns for “Stock Awards”, “Option Awards”, “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” and “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” are omitted as the Company has no such compensation awards or plans for the covered years. |
(2) |
Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings hold similar positions with the Company’s subsidiaries and also serve as directors of each of the subsidiaries. |
(3) |
Includes $30,000 Director’s fees; $13,200 as the Company’s contribution to the 401(k) plan; club dues $24,400; long term disability insurance premium $3,567; and life insurance premiums $11,052. |
(4) |
Includes $30,000 Director’s fees; $13,200 as the Company’s contribution to the 401(k) plan; club dues, $12,400; long term disability insurance premium $17,609; and life insurance premiums $8,652. |
(5) |
Includes $30,000 Director’s fees; $13,200 as the Company’s contribution to the 401(k) plan; club dues $24,400; long term disability insurance premium $10,710 and life insurance premiums $11,052. |
(6) |
Includes $30,000 Director’s fees; $13,200 as the Company’s contribution to the 401(k) plan; club dues, $12,400; long term disability insurance premium $9,428 and life insurance premiums $8,624. |
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
There were no equity awards granted by the Company to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and no options were exercised by any such persons during the year. The following table sets forth information with respect to all unexercised options held by the named executive officers at December 31, 2024. All unexercised options are fully exercisable. There are no options which are not fully exercisable, nor are there any unearned options, stock awards or equity incentive plan awards.
Option Awards |
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Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable(1) |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
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Name |
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Charles E. Drimal, Jr. |
523,125 | $ | 1.00 |
Non-expiring |
|||||
174,375 | $ | 1.25 |
Non-expiring |
||||||
Beverly A. Cummings |
52,500 | $ | 1.00 |
Non-expiring |
|||||
17,500 | $ | 1.25 |
Non-expiring |
(1) |
All options described in this table fully vested in May 1994. |
The Company’s Directors each receive $10,000 for each Board of Directors meeting, but do not receive any fee for attending Committee meetings. The Directors are reimbursed for travel and related expenses in connection with attendance at Board and Committee meetings. All Directors as a group of five (including the named executive officers) received an aggregate of $150,000 as Directors’ fees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The Directors do not receive any equity compensation, nor do they participate in any Non-Equity Incentive Compensation or Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation plans. None of the Directors received compensation or other payment from any person or entity other than the Company for their services as a director of the Company. For information on the Directors fees received by Mr. Drimal and Ms. Cummings, see the Summary Compensation Table above.
Name |
Fees earned or paid in cash ($) |
All other compensation ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||
H. Gifford Fong |
30,000 | — | 30,000 | |||||||||
Thomas S. T. Gimbel |
30,000 | — | 30,000 | |||||||||
Clint Hurt |
30,000 | — | 30,000 |
Value of Initial |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year |
Summary Table Total |
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (1) |
Average Summary Table Named Officers (2) |
Average Compensation Executive |
Total Shareholder Return |
Net Income |
||||||||||||||||||
2024 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
2022 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
(1) |
Because our named executive officers have not received any equity awards, or held any unvested equity awards, in each of the years presented in the table, total Compensation is equal to Compensation actually paid, therefore, no reconciliation is presented. |
(2) |
The Non-PEO Named Executive Officers for each year shown include Ms. Cummings as she was the only executive officer other than our Chief Executive Officer for each year shown. |
The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management including a discussion of the quality and the acceptability, the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The Audit Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. These include, but are not limited to, those matters under Auditing Standard No. 1301, as amended and adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management and the Company including the matters in the written disclosures required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Company’s auditors do not perform financial information system design and implementation services, internal audit or tax services for the Company.
The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their audits. The Audit Committee meets with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Audit Committee |
H. Gifford Fong, Chairman |
Thomas S. T. Gimbel |
Clint Hurt |
This report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
The Company is committed to observing sound, ethical principles in the conduct of its business and operations and by our officers and employees in the course of their duties. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) adopted by the Company was last amended in December, 2011. The Code, as amended, is available at the Company’s website at www.primeenergy.com. The Code is applicable to the Company’s operations and to all of its employees, including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and Directors. Any amendments to or waivers of the Code, to the extent applicable to the Company’s principal executive officers, will be posted on the Company’s website.
Although we do not have a formal policy related to hedging transactions, we discourage our management and directors from engaging in hedging and monetization transactions in connection with our securities. Further, any such transactions would need to comply with our insider trading policy, as applicable.
The Company has
an Insider Trading Policy governing the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of our securities by our directors, officers, employees, and other covered persons, as well as the Company itself, that we believe is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules, and regulations and the exchange listing standards applicable to us. A copy of our Insider Trading Policy was filed as Exhibit 19 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, officers, and persons that own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors, and greater than 10% shareholders are required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, based on our review of the copies of such filings and based on written representations, we believe that all reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the year ending December 31, 2024 were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a timely basis. With respect to the year ending December 31, 2025, one Form 4 for Robert De Rothschild was filed late, due to an administrative error, which was subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS—FEES AND SERVICES
The Company engaged Grassi & Co., CPA, P.C. (“Grassi & Co.”) as the principal accountants for the Company with respect to the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. There were no disagreements with Grassi & Co on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures in connection with their audits. Representatives of Grassi & Co are not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, but will be available by speaker telephone during the meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and to answer stockholders’ questions.
The audit fees for professional audit services provided by Grassi & Co, for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were $353,000 and $333,000, respectively. No fees were billed or paid by the Company for internal audit, tax or other services for the years ended December 31, 2024 or 2023.
The Audit Committee has delegated to the Audit Committee Chair the authority (within specified limits) to preapprove services if it is not practical to wait until the next Audit Committee meeting to seek such approval. The Audit Committee Chair must report any services it preapproves to the Audit Committee at its next meeting.
STOCKHOLDERS’ PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy and for consideration at its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders by submitting their proposals to the Company in a timely manner. In order to be so included for the 2026 annual meeting, stockholder proposals must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices at 9821 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024, no later than December 26, 2025, and must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8.
In addition, our Amended and Restated Bylaws contain notice procedures for stockholders to nominate a person as director and to propose business to be considered at an annual meeting when such matter is not submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement. Generally, notice of such a nomination or proposal must be delivered to the Company no later than the 90th day nor earlier than the 120th day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Accordingly, Stockholder proposals and nominations of directors to be brought before the 2026 annual meeting, made outside the Rule 14a-8 processes, must be submitted to the Company pursuant to Rule 14a-8, no earlier than February 5, 2026 and no later than March 7, 2026 or will be considered untimely and entitle the Company to refuse to acknowledge or include such matters for consideration, at the 2026 meeting. [If a stockholder intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees submitted under these advance notice provisions, then the Company must receive proper written notice that sets forth all information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act at our principal executive offices by April 6, 2026.]
If a stockholder desires to recommend an individual as a nominee for director to the Board of Directors, the stockholder shall mail the recommendation to the Secretary of the Board of Directors. The recommendation must include the name, address (business and personal) and the occupation of the nominee. The recommendation must also include such other information regarding the nominee as may reasonably be required by the Company.
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stockholders may communicate with the members of the Board of Directors by mailing their communications to the Company, at PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, 9821 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024. All communications addressed to the attention of a particular director shall be forwarded to the director.
HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION
Unless we have received contrary instructions, we may send a single copy of this Proxy Statement to any household at which two or more stockholders reside. This process, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information received at any one household, helps to reduce our expenses, and benefits the environment. However, if stockholders prefer to receive multiple sets of our disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the stockholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another stockholder and, together, both of the stockholders would like to receive only a single set of our disclosure documents, the stockholders should follow these instructions: If the shares are registered in the name of the stockholder, the stockholder should notify us in writing at PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, 9821 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024 (Attention: Corporate Secretary) or by phone at 713-735-0000 to inform us of his or her request. If a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other nominee holds the shares, the stockholder should contact such bank, broker or other nominee directly.
It is important that proxies be returned promptly. Stockholders are requested to date, sign and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope, to which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person if you so desire, otherwise your proxy will be voted for you.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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/s/ Virginia M. Forese |
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VIRGINIA M. FORESE |
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Corporate Secretary |
Houston, Texas
April 25, 2025
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, including the financial statements and the financial statement schedules required to be filed with the SEC for the Company’s most recent fiscal year, is available without charge upon written request to: PrimeEnergy Resources Corporation, 9821 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024 (Attention: Corporate Secretary).