e8vk
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
December 4, 2006
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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TEXAS AND VIRGINIA
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
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1-10042
(Commission File Number)
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75-1743247
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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1800 THREE LINCOLN CENTRE,
5430 LBJ FREEWAY, DALLAS, TEXAS
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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75240
(Zip Code) |
(972) 934-9227
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01.
Other Events.
The following information is intended to be responsive to the requirements of Part III of Form
10-K, as applicable to our fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, and is presented in the same order
below as prescribed by such form. This information is intended to supplement the information
currently provided in Part III of our annual report on Form 10-K filed on November 22, 2006. We
intend to include this additional information in substantially the same form in the definitive
proxy statement for our 2007 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Such filing with the Commission will be made within the time prescribed for incorporation by
reference of such information into our annual report on Form 10-K. This information is being
provided in connection with the filing of our registration statement on Form S-3 on the date
hereof.
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Pursuant to our Bylaws, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes, each of which
class consists, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting
the entire Board of Directors. Directors for Class III are to be elected at the 2007 annual
meeting of shareholders for three-year terms expiring in 2010 with Robert W. Best, Thomas J.
Garland, Phillip E. Nichol and Charles K. Vaughan having been nominated to serve as Class III
directors. All nominees were recommended for nomination by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee of the Board of Directors. We did not pay a fee to any third party to identify, evaluate
or assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees for the Board of Directors. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not receive any recommendations from a
shareholder or a group of shareholders who, individually or in the aggregate, beneficially owned
greater than five percent of our common stock for at least one year. Messrs. Best, Garland, Nichol
and Vaughan were last elected to three-year terms by the shareholders at the 2004 annual meeting of
shareholders. The Board is nominating each of these current directors to continue serving as Class
III directors, whose three-year terms will expire in 2010.
The other directors
listed on the following pages, other than Mr. Koonce who will be
retiring as discussed below, will continue to serve in their positions
for the remainder of their current terms. The names, ages and biographical summaries of (i) the
persons who have been nominated to serve as our directors and (ii) the directors who are continuing
in office until the expiration of their terms and the class in which such nominee or other director
has been designated, are set forth in the following table.
Nominees for Directors
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Year in Which |
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Class Designation |
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First Became a |
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and Year of |
Name; Principal Occupation or Employment |
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Director |
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Expiration of |
During Past Five Years; Other Directorships |
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Age |
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of the Company |
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Term |
Robert W. Best |
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60 |
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1997 |
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Class III |
Chairman of the Board, President and |
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2010 |
Chief Executive Officer of the
Company since March 1997 |
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Thomas J. Garland |
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72 |
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1997 |
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Class III |
Senior
Advisor to the Niswonger Foundation since July 2002 and
Chairman of the Tusculum Institute
for Public Leadership and Policy in
Greeneville, Tennessee since 1998 |
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2010 |
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Phillip E. Nichol |
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71 |
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1985 |
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Class III |
Retired.
Formerly Senior Vice President of Central Division Staff
of UBS PaineWebber Incorporated in
Dallas, Texas from July 2001
through July 2003 |
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2010 |
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Charles K. Vaughan |
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69 |
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1983 |
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Class III |
Retired.
Formerly Chairman of the Board of the Company from June 1994
until March 1997 |
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2010 |
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Directors Continuing in Office
The following persons are directors of the Company who will be continuing in office until the
expiration of their terms as set forth below:
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Year in Which |
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Class Designation |
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First Became a |
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and Year of |
Name; Principal Occupation or Employment |
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Director |
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Expiration of |
During Past Five Years; Other Directorships |
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Age |
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of the Company |
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Term |
Travis W. Bain II |
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72 |
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1988 |
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Class I |
Chairman of
Texas Custom Pools, Inc. in Plano, Texas |
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2008 |
since March 1999. Director of
Delta Industries, Inc. |
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Dan Busbee |
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73 |
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1988 |
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Class I |
Adjunct
Professor at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law |
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2008 |
in Dallas,
Texas since February 2003; Professional
Fellow at the SMU Dedman School of Law
Institute of International Banking and
Finance since January 2001 |
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Richard W. Cardin |
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71 |
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1997 |
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Class II |
Retired.
Formerly an audit partner and office managing partner |
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2009 |
of Arthur Andersen
LLP in Nashville, Tennessee from 1968 to
1995.
Director of United States Lime and
Minerals, Inc. and Intergraph Corporation |
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Richard K. Gordon |
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57 |
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2001 |
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Class I |
General
Partner of Juniper Energy LP in Houston, Texas since September 2006. |
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2008 |
General
Partner of Juniper Capital LP and Juniper
Advisory LP in Houston, Texas since March
2003. Formerly Vice Chairman, Investment
Banking, for Merrill Lynch & Co. in Houston,
Texas from October 1994 through March 2003 |
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3
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Year in Which |
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Class Designation |
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First Became a |
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and Year of |
Name; Principal Occupation or Employment |
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Director |
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Expiration of |
During Past Five Years; Other Directorships |
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Age |
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of the Company |
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Term |
Thomas C.
Meredith, Ed. D |
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65 |
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1995 |
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Class II |
Commissioner of Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning in Jackson, Mississippi
since October 2005. Formerly Chancellor of
the University System of Georgia in Atlanta,
Georgia from January 2002 through September
2005. Formerly Chancellor of The University
of Alabama System in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
from June 1997 through December 2001.
Director of American Cast Iron and Pipe
Company |
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2009 |
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Nancy K. Quinn |
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53 |
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2004 |
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Class II |
Principal of Hanover Capital in New York, New York since July 1996. Director of
Endeavor International Corporation |
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2009 |
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Stephen R. Springer |
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60 |
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2005 |
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Class II |
Retired. Formerly Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Midstream Division of
The Williams Companies, Inc. in Tulsa,
Oklahoma from January 1999 to February 2002 |
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2009 |
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Richard Ware II |
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60 |
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1994 |
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Class II |
President
of Amarillo National Bank in Amarillo, Texas since 1981. Member of the Board of Trustees of Southern
Methodist University in Dallas, Texas |
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2009 |
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Retiring Director
Mr. Gene Koonce, one of our directors, will be retiring as a Class I director effective
immediately following the conclusion of the 2007 Annual Meeting, in accordance with the Boards
mandatory retirement policy. Following his retirement, the Board of Directors will consist of 12
members. In connection with Mr. Koonces retirement from the Board, he will also simultaneously
retire as a member of the Executive Committee, the Human Resources Committee and the Work
Session/Annual Meeting Committee of the Board of Directors.
4
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Year in Which |
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Class Designation |
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First Became a |
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and Year of |
Name; Principal Occupation or Employment |
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Director |
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Expiration of |
During Past Five Years; Other Directorships |
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Age |
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of the Company |
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Term |
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Gene C. Koonce |
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74 |
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1997 |
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Class I |
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Retired. Formerly Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of
United Cities Gas Company in Nashville, Tennessee from May 1996 until the merger
of United Cities with the Company in
July 1997. |
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2008 |
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Independence of Audit Committee Members, Financial Literacy and Audit Committee Financial Expert
In addition to being independent based on the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE), applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
require that each member of an audit committee satisfy additional independence and financial
literacy requirements, and at least one of these members must satisfy the additional requirement of
having accounting or related financial management expertise. This additional requirement can be
satisfied if the Board determines that at least one Audit Committee member is an audit committee
financial expert within the meaning of applicable SEC rules and regulations. Generally, the
additional independence requirements provide that (i) a member of the Audit Committee, or his or
her immediate family members, are prohibited from receiving any direct or indirect compensation or
fee from the Company or its affiliates and (ii) he or she may not be an affiliated person of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. An immediate family member is defined by applicable NYSE
rules to include parents, siblings and in-laws of the director, as well as anyone else (other than
domestic employees) who shares such directors home.
Generally, the financial literacy requirements provide that the Board, in its business
judgment, shall determine if each member is financially literate, taking into account factors such
as the members education, experience and ability to read and understand financial statements of
public companies. Also, audit committee financial experts must have five additional attributes,
which are (i) an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial
statements, (ii) the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection
with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves, (iii) experience preparing, auditing,
analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of
accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can
reasonably be expected to be raised by the Companys financial statements, or experience actively
supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities, (iv) an understanding of internal
controls and procedures for financial reporting and (v) an understanding of how audit committees
function.
Based on its review of the independence, financial literacy and financial expert requirements
discussed above as well as its review of their individual backgrounds and qualifications, the Board
of Directors has determined that all members of the Audit Committee meet the additional
independence requirements imposed by the SEC and NYSE for members of an audit committee. The Board
has also designated Ms. Quinn and Messrs. Busbee and Cardin each as an audit committee financial
expert, as such term is defined by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
As provided by the safe harbor contained in applicable SEC rules and regulations, our audit
committee financial experts will not be deemed experts for any purpose as a result of being so
designated, such designation does not impose on such persons any duties, obligations or liabilities
that are greater than the duties, obligations and liabilities imposed on such persons as members of
the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors in the absence of such designation. Such designation
also does not affect the duties, obligations or liabilities of any other member of the Audit
Committee or the Board of Directors.
5
Audit Committee
The Board of Directors has established a separately-designated standing Audit Committee in
accordance with applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee
consists of Ms. Quinn and Messrs. Bain, Busbee, Cardin and Dr. Meredith. Mr. Busbee serves as
chairman of the committee. As discussed above, the Board has determined that each member of the
committee meets the independence requirements of the NYSE and the SEC. The Audit Committee
oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and procedures; reviews the scope and
procedures of the internal audit function; appoints our independent registered public accounting
firm and is responsible for the oversight of its work and the review of the results of its
independent audits. The Audit Committee held five meetings during the last fiscal year. The Audit
Committee has adopted a charter, which it follows in conducting its
activities. The Committees
charter is available on the Corporate Governance page of our Web site at www.atmosenergy.com.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers and persons
who beneficially own more than ten percent of our common stock to file with the SEC and the NYSE
initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in their ownership in our common stock.
Directors, executive officers and greater-than-ten-percent beneficial shareholders are required by
SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a
review of the copies of such reports furnished to us, we believe that, during the 2006 fiscal year,
all of our directors, executive officers and greater-than-ten-percent beneficial owners were in
compliance with the Section 16(a) filing requirements.
Executive Compensation
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation we have paid for each of the last three
completed fiscal years to Mr. Best, our president and chief executive officer, as well as our four
most highly compensated executive officers other than Mr. Best.
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Annual Compensation |
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Long Term Compensation |
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Restricted |
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Securities |
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Other Annual |
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Stock |
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Underlying |
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All Other |
Name and Principal |
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Salary |
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Bonus |
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Compensation |
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Awards(a) |
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Options/ |
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Compensation |
Position |
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Year |
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($) |
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($) |
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($) |
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($) |
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SARs(#) |
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($) |
Robert W. Best Chairman of the |
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2006 |
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756,877 |
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669,300 |
(b) |
(c) |
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1,503,150 |
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-0- |
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10,892 |
(d) |
Board, President and Chief |
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2005 |
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736,705 |
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494,900 |
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(c) |
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1,407,120 |
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-0- |
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10,053 |
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Executive Officer |
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2004 |
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676,108 |
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563,500 |
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(c) |
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891,360 |
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-0- |
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10,822 |
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R. Earl Fischer(e) Senior Vice |
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2006 |
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384,592 |
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233,800 |
(b) |
79,557(f) |
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683,250 |
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-0- |
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10,892 |
(d) |
President, Utility Operations |
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2005 |
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345,249 |
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188,600 |
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(c) |
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487,080 |
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-0- |
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9,904 |
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2004 |
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289,929 |
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190,200 |
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(c) |
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445,680 |
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-0- |
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10,510 |
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John P. Reddy Senior Vice |
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2006 |
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384,592 |
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233,800 |
(b) |
(c) |
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519,270 |
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-0- |
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10,892 |
(d) |
President and Chief Financial |
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2005 |
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345,249 |
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188,600 |
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(c) |
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487,080 |
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-0- |
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9,904 |
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Officer |
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2004 |
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304,283 |
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190,200 |
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(c) |
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445,680 |
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-0- |
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10,510 |
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6
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Annual Compensation |
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Long Term Compensation |
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Restricted |
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Securities |
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Other Annual |
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Stock |
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Underlying |
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All Other |
Name and Principal |
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Salary |
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Bonus |
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Compensation |
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Awards(a) |
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Options/ |
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Compensation |
Position |
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Year |
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($) |
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($) |
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($) |
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($) |
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SARs(#) |
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($) |
Mark H. Johnson(g) |
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2006 |
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249,617 |
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168,700(b) |
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(c) |
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375,788 |
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-0- |
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9,376(d) |
Senior Vice President, |
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Non-Utility
Operations |
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Louis P. Gregory |
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2006 |
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281,521 |
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140,000(b) |
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(c) |
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243,238 |
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-0- |
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10,465(d) |
Senior Vice President |
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2005 |
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247,102 |
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138,000 |
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(c) |
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232,716 |
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-0- |
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9,364 |
and General Counsel |
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2004 |
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215,151 |
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137,863 |
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(c) |
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212,936 |
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-0- |
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9,983 |
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(a) |
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Dollar amounts shown equal the number of shares of time-lapse restricted stock and number
of performance-based restricted stock units granted multiplied by the closing price on grant
date. The grants in the 2006 fiscal year were comprised of time-lapse restricted shares and
performance-based restricted stock units, both with three-year cliff-vesting periods. This
valuation does not take into account the diminution in value attributable to the restrictions
applicable to the shares and stock units. The number and value of the aggregate restricted
stock holdings at the end of the last fiscal year for each of the executive officers listed
above, based on the closing price of $28.55 per share of our common stock on the NYSE at
September 29, 2006, the last trading day in our 2006 fiscal year, were as follows: Robert W.
Best, 183,423 shares and stock units with a value of $5,236,727 (not including 8,001 shares
that were converted from Mr. Bests bonus awarded November 7, 2006, as discussed in footnote
(b) below); R. Earl Fischer, no shares or stock units, as Mr. Fischer retired from the Company
effective September 30, 2006, at which time all restrictions on 43,000 shares of time-lapse
restricted shares and 18,135 stock units were removed, with Mr. Fischer forfeiting a total of
2,433 stock units attributable to the performance of the Company during our 2005 through 2007
fiscal years; John P. Reddy, 83,811 shares and stock units with a value of $2,392,804 (not
including 11,179 shares that were converted from Mr. Reddys bonus awarded November 7, 2006,
as discussed in footnote (b) below); Mark H. Johnson, 15,957 shares and stock units with a
value of $455,572 (not including 2,017 shares that were converted from Mr. Johnsons bonus
awarded November 7, 2006, as discussed in footnote (b) below) and Louis P. Gregory, 42,315
shares and stock units with a value of $1,208,093 (not including 6,694 shares that were
converted from Mr. Gregorys bonus awarded November 7, 2006, as discussed in footnote (b)
below). Dividends are paid on the time-lapse restricted shares at the same rate they are paid
on all of our common stock, while the dividends on the performance-based restricted stock
units are credited to the recipients account with the payment of such dividends not occurring
until the three-year cumulative earnings per share performance targets are measured and
vesting is completed at the end of each three year performance measurement cycle. |
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(b) |
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The bonuses were actually paid after the end of the fiscal year in which they are reported.
Because their payment relates to services rendered in the fiscal year prior to payment, we
have consistently reported bonus payments in such prior fiscal year. Certain named executive
officers elected to convert all or a portion of their 2006 fiscal year bonuses to shares of
time-lapse restricted stock under our 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) with a conversion
date of November 7, 2006, which elections by Messrs. Best, Reddy, Johnson and Gregory are not
reflected in the table above. Mr. Best elected to convert 25% of his bonus of $669,300, or
$167,325, to shares of restricted stock valued at 150% of the converted amount of the bonus,
or $250,988, divided by the mean of the high and low stock price of $31.37 on the NYSE on the
conversion date, or 8,001 shares of restricted stock. Mr. Reddy elected to convert 100% of his
bonus of $233,800 to a total of 11,179 shares of restricted stock. Mr. Johnson elected to
convert 25% of his bonus of $168,700 to a total of 2,017 shares of restricted stock. Mr.
Gregory elected to convert 100% of his bonus of $140,000 to a total of 6,694 shares of
restricted stock. |
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(c) |
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The total dollar value of perquisites and other personal benefits for the named executive
officer was less than the reporting thresholds established by the SEC. |
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(d) |
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This amount reflects the amount of Company matching contributions made during the 2006 fiscal
year to the named executive officers account pursuant to our Retirement Savings Plan and
Trust (RSP) and the amount of premiums paid by the Company during the 2006 fiscal year with
respect to the purchase of term life insurance for the benefit of the named executive officer.
The amounts paid during the 2006 fiscal year for each named executive officer were as follows:
Mr. Best, $8,708 in Company matching contributions made pursuant to the RSP and $2,184 in term
life insurance |
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premiums; Mr. Fischer, $8,708 in Company matching contributions made pursuant to the RSP and
$2,184 in term life insurance premiums; Mr. Reddy, $8,708 in Company matching contributions made
pursuant to the RSP and $2,184 in term life insurance premiums; Mr. Johnson, $7,785 in Company
matching contributions made pursuant to the RSP and $1,591 in term life insurance premiums; and
Mr. Gregory, $8,708 in Company matching contributions made pursuant to the RSP and $1,757 in
term life insurance premiums. |
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(e) |
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Mr. Fischer retired from the Company in his position as Senior Vice President, Utility
Operations, effective September 30, 2006. |
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(f) |
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In connection with his retirement from the Company, Mr. Fischer received relocation
benefits, including the reimbursement of moving costs of $33,662, home sales commission and
closing costs of $25,308 and federal income tax gross up of $13,508 on federal income taxes
payable on the amount of such reimbursed expenses, as well as other relocation benefits of
$7,079. |
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(g) |
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During the period October 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006, Mr. Johnson served as Vice
President, Nonutility Operations and became an executive officer of the Company on April 1,
2006, when he was named Senior Vice President, Non-Utility Operations. Accordingly, no
compensation is reportable for Mr. Johnson for the two previous fiscal years. |
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
During the last fiscal year, no stock options were granted under our LTIP to any of the named
executive officers to purchase our common stock nor did any of the named executive officers receive
any stock options through the conversion of a portion of their bonuses for the 2006, 2005 or 2004
fiscal years.
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values
No options were exercised by any of the named officers during the 2006 fiscal year.
Accordingly, the following table provides information concerning only the number and value of
unexercised options to purchase common stock under our LTIP held by each named executive officer as
of the end of the last fiscal year. The options previously granted have a term of ten years and may
be exercised as follows: one-third after one year from the date of grant, another one-third after
two years from the date of grant and the remaining one-third after three years from the date of
grant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
In-the-Money |
|
|
Options/SARs at Fiscal |
|
Options/SARs at Fiscal |
|
|
Year-End (#) |
|
Year-End ($)(a) |
Name |
|
Exercisable/Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable/Unexercisable |
Robert W. Best (b) |
|
|
448,492/-0- |
|
|
|
3,061,944/-0- |
|
R. Earl Fischer(c) |
|
|
44,400/-0- |
|
|
|
266,548/-0- |
|
John P. Reddy |
|
|
108,400/-0- |
|
|
|
601,988/-0- |
|
Mark H. Johnson |
|
|
-0-/-0- |
|
|
|
-0-/-0- |
|
Louis P. Gregory (d) |
|
|
9,965/-0- |
|
|
|
71,603/-0- |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
Based on a price for our common stock of $28.55 per share, which was the closing trading
price on the NYSE on September 29, 2006, the last trading day of our 2006 fiscal year. |
|
(b) |
|
The number of securities underlying unexercised options for Mr. Best reflects his election to
convert 25% of each of his bonuses received on November 6, 2001 and November 12, 2002 to
options to purchase 62,282 and 48,310 shares, respectively, of common stock. |
|
(c) |
|
In accordance with the provisions of the LTIP and related stock option award agreements,
unexercised options to purchase 12,000 shares of common stock will expire on September 30,
2007, one year after the effective date of Mr. Fischers retirement, while the remaining
unexercised options will expire on September 30, 2009, three years after the effective date of
his retirement. |
8
|
|
|
(d) |
|
The number of securities underlying options for Mr. Gregory includes unexercised options to
purchase 3,832 shares of common stock remaining from his election to convert 25% of his bonus
received on November 12, 2002 to options to purchase a total of 11,497 shares of common stock. |
Retirement Plans
Until January 1, 1999, Messrs. Best and Fischer were covered by the Employees Retirement Plan
of Atmos Energy Corporation (the Retirement Plan), a defined benefit pension plan pursuant to
which all participants automatically accrued pension credits after completing one year of service
with the Company. Since January 1, 1999, commencing with their employment, the executive officers
listed in the Summary Compensation Table above have been covered by the Companys Pension
Account Plan, which covers substantially all employees of the Company. The executive officers who
were employed by the Company on January 1, 1999 had an opening account balance established for them
as of January 1, 1999 equal to the then present value of their respective benefits earned under the
Retirement Plan as of December 31, 1998. The present value factor was based on average life
expectancy, retirement age of 62 and a discount rate of seven percent. The Pension Account Plan
credits an allocation to each participants account at the end of each year according to a formula
based on age, service and eligible compensation.
The Pension Account Plan provides for an additional annual allocation based upon a
participants age as of January 1, 1999 for those participants who were participants in the
Retirement Plan. The Pension Account Plan will credit this additional allocation each year through
December 31, 2008. In addition, at the end of each year, a participants account will be credited
with interest on the participants prior year account balance. A special grandfather benefit also
applies through December 31, 2008, for participants who were at least age 50 as of January 1, 1999,
and who were participants in the Retirement Plan on December 31, 1998. All participants are fully
vested in their account balances after five years of eligible service and may choose to receive
their account balances in the form of a lump sum or an annuity.
Messrs. Best and Fischer also participate in the Companys Supplemental Executive Benefits
Plan, while Messrs. Reddy, Gregory and Johnson participate in the Companys Performance-Based
Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan (collectively, the Supplemental Plans), which provide
retirement benefits (as well as supplemental disability and death benefits) to all officers and
division presidents of the Company. A participant in the Supplemental Plans who has been an officer
or division president for at least two years, has five years of vesting service under the Pension
Account Plan, and has attained age 55 is entitled to a supplemental pension in an amount that, when
added to his or her pension payable under the Pension Account Plan, equals 60% of his compensation
(75% of compensation in the case of Messrs. Best and Fischer), subject to reductions for less than
ten years of vesting service and for retirement prior to age 62.
Prior to 2006, the benefit payable from the Companys Performance-Based Supplemental Executive
Benefits Plan upon an executives retirement was a variable amount that, when added to his or her
pension payable under the Pension Account Plan, ranged from 50% to 100% of his or her compensation
depending on the Companys performance relative to an industry peer group. In 2006, the plan was
amended to eliminate the variable aspect of the plan and reset the target benefit amount to a fixed
percentage of compensation. The benefit payable from the Companys Performance-Based Supplemental
Executive Benefits Plan is an amount that, when added to his or her pension payable under the
Pension Account Plan, equals a fixed 60% of his or her compensation. This amendment affected the
supplemental pension benefit of Messrs. Reddy, Gregory and Johnson and other participants in the
plan, but had no effect on the supplemental pension benefit of Messrs. Best and Fischer.
The following tables illustrate the estimated combined annual benefits payable under the
Pension Account Plan and the Supplemental Plans upon retirement at age 62 or later to persons in
specified compensation categories and years-of-service classifications as determined in such
persons last year of employment. In the tables below, the total amount payable to participants
under the Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan equals 75% of the total compensation at retirement,
and the total amount payable to participants under the Performance-
9
Based Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan equals 60% of compensation at retirement. The benefit
amounts payable in the Pension Plan tables are not subject to any reduction for Social Security or
any other offset amounts and are computed based upon payment as a joint and 50% survivor annuity.
Pension Plan Tables
Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years of Service |
Compensation |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
25 |
|
30 |
|
35 |
500,000 |
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
600,000 |
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
700,000 |
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
800,000 |
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
900,000 |
|
|
675,000 |
|
|
|
675,000 |
|
|
|
675,000 |
|
|
|
675,000 |
|
|
|
675,000 |
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
825,000 |
|
|
|
825,000 |
|
|
|
825,000 |
|
|
|
825,000 |
|
|
|
825,000 |
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
900,000 |
|
1,300,000 |
|
|
975,000 |
|
|
|
975,000 |
|
|
|
975,000 |
|
|
|
975,000 |
|
|
|
975,000 |
|
1,400,000 |
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
1,500,000 |
|
|
1,125,000 |
|
|
|
1,125,000 |
|
|
|
1,125,000 |
|
|
|
1,125,000 |
|
|
|
1,125,000 |
|
1,600,000 |
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
1,700,000 |
|
|
1,275,000 |
|
|
|
1,275,000 |
|
|
|
1,275,000 |
|
|
|
1,275,000 |
|
|
|
1,275,000 |
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
1,350,000 |
|
|
|
1,350,000 |
|
|
|
1,350,000 |
|
|
|
1,350,000 |
|
|
|
1,350,000 |
|
|
Performance-Based Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan |
|
|
|
Years of Service |
Compensation |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
25 |
|
30 |
|
35 |
300,000 |
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
350,000 |
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
400,000 |
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
450,000 |
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
500,000 |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
600,000 |
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
700,000 |
|
|
420,000 |
|
|
|
420,000 |
|
|
|
420,000 |
|
|
|
420,000 |
|
|
|
420,000 |
|
800,000 |
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
900,000 |
|
|
540,000 |
|
|
|
540,000 |
|
|
|
540,000 |
|
|
|
540,000 |
|
|
|
540,000 |
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
The Pension Account Plan includes W-2 earnings, 401(k) deferrals and Internal Revenue Code
(Code) Section 125 (cafeteria plan) reductions while it excludes incentive pay and expense
reimbursements (pay is subject to the maximum covered compensation limit of $220,000 as of January
1, 2006 established by the Code for qualified plans). The Supplemental Plans cover compensation,
including amounts payable under the Pension Account Plan, in an amount equal to the sum of (a) the
greater of the participants annual base salary at the date of termination of employment or the
average of the participants annual base salary for the highest of three calendar years (whether or
not consecutive) of employment with the Company; and (b) the greater of the amount of the
participants last award under any of the Companys annual performance bonus or incentive plans or
the average of the participants highest three performance awards under such plans (whether or not
consecutive). The amount of current compensation covered by the Supplemental Plans as of the end of
the 2006 fiscal year for each of the
10
executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation table is as follows: Robert W. Best,
$1,433,130; R. Earl Fischer, $621,925; John P. Reddy, $621,925; Mark H. Johnson, $448,700; and
Louis P. Gregory, $424,108. Each of such executive officers has the following approximate number
of years of credited service under the retirement plans: Mr. Best, nine years; Mr. Fischer, 44
years; Mr. Reddy, eight years; Mr. Johnson, one year; and Mr. Gregory, six years.
Each of the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation table has also entered into
a Participation Agreement with the Company as required by the Supplemental Plans. Each of the
Supplemental Plans provides that the accrued benefits, as calculated pursuant to the plan, of each
participant will vest if: (a) the plan is terminated by the Company; (b) the plan is amended by the
Company, resulting in a decrease in the benefits otherwise payable to the participant; (c) the
participants employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause; (d) the
participants participation in the plan is terminated by the Company for any reason other than
cause prior to the participants termination of employment; (e) within any time during the three
year period following a change of control of the Company (as such term is defined in the plan)
(i) the participants employment is terminated involuntarily by the Company for any reason other
than cause; or (ii) the participant is demoted or reassigned to a position that would cause him
to cease to be eligible for participation in the plan; or (f) in anticipation of a change in
control (whether or not a change in control ever occurs), (i) the participants employment is
terminated involuntarily by the Company for any reason other than cause at the request of a party
to a pending transaction that would constitute a change in control, if and when the transaction
were consummated, or (ii) the participants participation in the plan is terminated for any reason
other than cause prior to the participants termination of employment. The approval by the
shareholders on November 12, 1996 of the Companys merger with United Cities Gas Company
constituted a change in control as defined in the Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan, and as a
result, Mr. Fischer, who was a participant in such plan as of November 12, 1996, is entitled to
receive unreduced supplemental pension benefits. The Participation Agreements set forth the
specific rights of the participants to their accrued benefits upon the occurrence of the events
described above and constitute enforceable contracts separate from the provisions of the
Supplemental Plans.
Directors Fees. As compensation for serving as a director, each of the non-employee
directors receives an annual retainer of $35,000. Each non-employee director receives a fee of
$1,500 per meeting for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or Board committee as
well as any other Company-related business meeting (excluding telephone conference meetings). The
fee paid to non-employee directors for participation in any telephonic conference meeting is
one-half of the regular meeting fee. Committee chairpersons are also paid an additional annual fee
of $5,000 for additional work done in connection with their committee duties and responsibilities.
In August 1998, the Board of Directors adopted our Equity Incentive and Deferred Compensation
Plan for Non-Employee Directors, representing an amendment to our Deferred Compensation Plan for
Outside Directors that was originally adopted in May 1990. This amended plan became effective when
our shareholders approved such amendment at the Annual Meeting in February 1999 and replaced the
annual pension formerly payable to our non-employee directors under our Retirement Plan for
Non-Employee Directors. Under the terms of this plan, each non-employee director is allowed to
defer receipt of his annual retainer and meeting fees and to invest his deferred compensation into
either a cash account or a stock account. In addition, each non-employee director has received
under this plan an annual grant of share units along with dividend equivalents on such units. Since
the 2004 fiscal year, when no share units remained available for crediting under the plan, each
non-employee director has continued to receive an annual grant of share units, along with dividend
equivalents, under our LTIP. Certain of the directors have also continued to defer receipt of his
or her annual retainer and meeting fees and to invest his or her deferred compensation into either
a cash account or a stock account under our LTIP. The specific unit amounts credited to each
director are shown in the Security Ownership table in Item 12 below.
In November 1994, the Board of Directors adopted the Outside Directors Stock-for-Fee Plan,
which plan was approved by our shareholders in February 1995. The plan permits non-employee
directors to receive all or part of their annual retainer and meeting fees in our common stock
rather than in cash. An election by a director to receive his or her fees in stock does not alter
the amount of fees payable but results in the deferral of payment of
11
the stock portion of the fees until after the end of each quarter in which the fees were earned.
The number of shares of common stock issued at such time will be equal to (a) the dollar amount of
the fees to be paid in stock divided by (b) the fair market value of our common stock on the last
day of the applicable quarter. The fair market value is the closing price of a share of our common
stock during that day, as reported by the NYSE. Only whole numbers of shares are issued; fractional
shares are paid in cash. All such shares issued to non-employee directors are reflected in the
Security Ownership table in Item 12 below.
Other Compensation for Non-Employee Directors. We provide business travel accident
insurance for non-employee directors and their spouses. The policy provides $100,000 coverage to
directors and $50,000 coverage to their spouses per accident while traveling on Company business.
Employment Severance Compensation Agreements and Change-in-Control Arrangements. The
Company has entered into severance agreements with each of the executive officers named in the
Summary Compensation table to provide certain severance benefits for them in the event of the
termination of their employment within three years following a change in control (as defined in
the agreements) of the Company. Under each of the severance agreements, a change in control of
the Company is deemed to occur if, among other things, the shareholders of the Company approve a
merger or other similar transaction, whereby the shareholders prior to the transaction will not own
at least 60% of the voting power of the Company after the transaction.
The severance agreement for each such executive officer provides that the Company will pay
such executive officer a lump sum severance payment equal to 2.5 times such executive officers
total compensation, comprised of the annual base salary and Average Bonus, as such term is
defined in the agreement. However, if an executive officer is terminated by the Company for cause
(as defined in the agreement), or his employment is terminated by retirement, death, or disability,
the Company is not obligated to pay such officer the lump sum severance payment. Further, if an
executive officer voluntarily terminates his employment except for constructive termination (as
defined in the agreement), the Company is not obligated to pay such officer the lump sum severance
payment. If the total of such lump sum severance payment plus all other payments, distributions or
benefits of any type made to or on behalf of the executive officer results in the imposition of the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, the lump sum severance payment will be increased in
an amount required for the executive officer to pay any such excise taxes or any resulting income
or other taxes due the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, such executive officer will be
entitled to all rights and benefits, if any, provided under any other plan or agreement between him
and the Company.
Human Resources Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation. The members of the Human
Resources Committee during the last fiscal year were Messrs. Bain, Busbee, Garland, Gordon, Koonce
and Nichol. None of such persons was, during the 2006 fiscal year, or previously, an officer or
employee of the Company or any of our subsidiaries, other than Mr. Koonce, who was formerly
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of United Cities Gas Company from May 1996 until its merger with the Company in
July 1997. There were no interlocking relationships between any executive officer of the Company
and any other corporation during the 2006 fiscal year.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table lists the beneficial ownership, as of November 15, 2006, with respect to
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of any class of our
voting securities.
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Address |
|
Nature of |
|
|
Percent |
|
Title of Class |
|
|
of Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficial Ownership |
|
|
of Class |
|
Common stock |
|
Franklin Resources,
Inc.(a) One
Franklin Parkway
San Mateo, CA 94403 |
|
4,070,300 |
|
|
5.0%(b) |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
Based solely upon information contained in the most recently filed Schedule 13G/A with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2006, which was jointly filed by Franklin
Resources, Inc. and its affiliates, Franklin Advisers, Inc., Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H.
Johnson, Jr., reflecting beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2005. According to this
Schedule 13G/A, Franklin Advisers, Inc. possessed sole voting and dispositive power over
4,030,000 of these shares with no shared voting or dispositive power and Fiduciary Trust
Company International had sole voting and dispositive power over the remaining 40,300 shares
with no shared voting or dispositive power. Neither Franklin Resources, Inc. nor any of its
affiliates has subsequently filed any Schedules 13G or amendments thereto with respect to
their beneficial ownership of the Companys securities. |
|
(b) |
|
The percent of our voting securities is based on the number of outstanding shares of our
common stock as of November 15, 2006. |
Security Ownership of Management and Directors
The following table lists the beneficial ownership, as of the close of business on November
15, 2006, of our common stock, the only class of securities issued and outstanding, with respect to
all our directors and nominees for director, our executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table above and all our directors and executive officers as a group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and |
|
|
|
|
Nature of |
|
Percent of |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficial Ownership |
|
Class |
Travis W. Bain II |
|
|
29,332 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Robert W. Best |
|
|
732,268 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(c) |
Dan Busbee |
|
|
31,411 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Richard W. Cardin |
|
|
20,678 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
R. Earl Fischer |
|
|
112,575 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(c) |
Thomas J. Garland |
|
|
29,668 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Richard K. Gordon |
|
|
18,349 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Louis P. Gregory |
|
|
58,852 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(c) |
Mark H. Johnson |
|
|
11,198 |
|
|
|
(a |
) |
Gene C. Koonce |
|
|
45,654 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Thomas C. Meredith |
|
|
24,340 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Phillip E. Nichol |
|
|
34,946 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Nancy K. Quinn |
|
|
5,186 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
John P. Reddy |
|
|
189,875 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(c) |
Stephen R. Springer |
|
|
3,046 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Charles K. Vaughan |
|
|
65,143 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
Richard Ware II |
|
|
39,289 |
|
|
|
(a |
)(b) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (19 individuals) |
|
|
1,573,322 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
% |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
The percentage of shares beneficially owned by such individual does not exceed one percent of
the class so owned. |
|
(b) |
|
Includes cumulative share units credited to the following directors under our Equity
Incentive and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors and LTIP in the following
respective amounts: Mr. Bain, 23,986 units; Mr. Busbee, 24,411 units; Mr. Cardin, 17,178
units; Mr. Garland, 22,265 units; Mr. Gordon, 8,349 units; Mr. Koonce, |
13
|
|
|
|
|
30,608 units; Dr.
Meredith, 17,349 units; Mr. Nichol, 24,946 units; Ms. Quinn, 4,186 units; Mr. Springer, 2,046
units; Mr. Vaughan, 25,434 units and Mr. Ware, 16,068 units. |
|
(c) |
|
Includes shares issuable upon the exercise of options held by the following executive
officers under our LTIP within 60 days of November 15, 2006 in the following respective
amounts: Mr. Best, 448,492 shares; Mr. Fischer, 44,400 shares; Mr. Gregory, 9,965 shares and
Mr. Reddy, 108,400 shares. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Mr. Ware is the president and a shareholder of Amarillo National Bank, Amarillo, Texas,
which bank provides an $18 million short-term line of credit to us, serves as a depository bank for
us and is the trustee for our LTIP. We paid a total of $373,844 for these services to Amarillo
National Bank during our 2006 fiscal year, which are reasonable and customary for these types of
services.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Audit and Related Fees
Fees for professional services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm,
Ernst & Young LLP, in each of the last two fiscal years, in each of the following categories are:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Audit Fees |
|
$ |
2,523 |
|
|
$ |
2,891 |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
242 |
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fees |
|
$ |
2,756 |
|
|
$ |
3,284 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees. Fees for audit services include fees associated with the annual audit, the
audit of managements assessment of internal control over financial reporting, the assessment by
the firm of our design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
the reviews of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, comfort letters and consents related to debt and
equity offerings.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees principally include fees relating to employee
benefit plan audits and accounting consultations.
Tax Fees. Tax fees include fees relating to reviews of tax returns, tax consulting and
assistance with sales and use tax filings.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
The Audit Committee has adopted a pre-approval policy relating to the provision of both audit
and non-audit services by our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP. Our
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy provides for the pre-approval of audit, audit-related, tax and
other services specifically described in appendices to the policy on an annual basis. Such services
are pre-approved up to a specified fee limit. All other permitted services, as well as proposed
services exceeding the pre-approved fee limit, must be
separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Requests for services that require separate
approval by the Audit Committee must be submitted to the Audit Committee by both our Chief
Financial Officer and the independent auditor and must include a joint statement as to whether, in
their view, the request is consistent with
14
the SECs rules on auditor independence. The policy
authorizes the Audit Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority
with respect to permitted services. The Audit Committee did not delegate any such pre-approval
authority in the 2006 fiscal year. The Audit Committee pre-approved all of the audit,
audit-related and tax fees for services performed by Ernst & Young LLP in fiscal 2006, as described
above, in accordance with such pre-approval policy. The Audit Committee further concluded that the
provision of these services by Ernst & Young LLP was compatible with maintaining its independence.
The Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy is available on the Corporate Governance page of our Web
site at www.atmosenergy.com.
15
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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|
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|
|
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
(Registrant)
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|
DATE: December 4, 2006 |
By: |
/s/ LOUIS P. GREGORY
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|
Louis P. Gregory |
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|
Senior Vice President
and General Counsel |
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