DEF 14A 1 proxy_statement-2003.htm LITTLEFIELD CORPORATION, PROXY STATEMENT 3/31/2003 Proxy Statement

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

11:00 AM CDT, May 7, 2003

Littlefield Corporate Headquarters
2501 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78705



The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Littlefield Corporation will be held on May 7, 2003, at 11:00 AM CDT, for the following purposes:

  1. To elect members to our board of directors;

  2. To ratify the appointment of Sprouse & Anderson, LLP as our independent auditors for 2003; and

  3. To consider such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.

Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 5, 2003, will be entitled to notice or to vote at the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting. The stock transfer books will remain open.

You are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete, date and sign the accompanying proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. If you receive more than one proxy card, it is an indication that your shares are registered in more than one account. Please complete, date and sign each proxy card you receive. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted. If your shares are registered in the name of a brokerage firm or trustee and you plan to attend the meeting, please obtain from the firm or trustee a letter or other evidence of your beneficial ownership of those shares to facilitate your admittance to the meeting.

Enclosed with these proxy materials is a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.


BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


/s/ Jeffrey L. Minch
President, Chief Executive Officer, Director


March 5, 2003



PROXY STATEMENT


This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Littlefield Corporation to be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at 11:00 AM CDT, and at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in this Proxy Statement. The meeting will be held at the Littlefield Corporate Headquarters, 2501 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78705.

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy were first mailed to the stockholders on or about April 7, 2003.


VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXY APPOINTMENTS

Each share is entitled to one vote per director in the election of directors and one vote in all other matters to be voted upon at the meeting. Shareholders of record as of the close of business at 5:00 P.M. March 5, 2003, are the only persons entitled to vote at this meeting. At the close of business on March 5, 2003, 8,272,379 shares of our common stock were outstanding, with each share being entitled to one vote. There are no cumulative voting rights. A majority of the outstanding shares of common stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum.

All proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained in the proxies. If no choice is specified, proxies will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the board as set forth in this Proxy Statement, and at the proxy holders’ discretion on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting. Any stockholder may revoke a proxy given pursuant to this solicitation at any time before it is voted. A stockholder may revoke his or her proxy by voting in person at the meeting or submitting to our Secretary at the meeting a subsequently dated proxy. In addition, a stockholder may revoke his or her proxy by notifying our secretary either in writing prior to the meeting or in person at the meeting. Revocation is effective only upon receipt of such notice by the secretary.

We are not aware of any other matter to be presented for action at the meeting other than those mentioned in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and referred to in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters come before the meeting, the proxy holders named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote on such matters in accordance with their judgment.



SOLICITATION

The costs of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy materials will be borne by our Company. Certain of our officers, directors and employees, without additional compensation, may use their personal efforts, by telephone or otherwise, to obtain proxies in addition to this solicitation by mail. We expect to reimburse brokers, banks, custodians and other nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in handling proxy materials for beneficial owners of the common stock.


ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our board currently consists of three directors. All three of the current members of the board have been nominated for re-election. The nominees for election at the meeting shall, if elected, serve on the board for a term of one year until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and have qualified. The board elects our officers annually following the Annual Meeting of stockholders. Officers serve for terms of one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting. A “plurality” means that the individuals who receive the largest number of votes cast are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be elected at the meeting. Consequently, any shares not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) will have no impact on the election of directors. The proxy holders named as proxies in the accompanying proxy intend to vote FOR the election of the nominees identified below. If any nominee is unable or fails to accept nomination or election (which is not anticipated), the proxy holders named in the proxy, unless specifically instructed otherwise in the proxy, will vote for the election of such other person as our existing board of directors may recommend.

The table below sets forth certain information about the nominees, including the nominee’s age, position with our Company and length of time served as a member of the board. All of the nominees are currently serving as directors.

Name Age Position with the Company Director Since
Daniel W. Deloney
71
Chairman of the Board
May 1999
Gordon R. McNutt
59
Vice Chairman of the Board
October 1999
Jeffrey L. Minch
52
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
July 1999



THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE THREE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.


DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY


The following sets forth the name and a brief description of the principal occupation and business experience for at least the preceding five years for each of the three nominees for election to the board of directors and the executive officers of our Company. None of the directors or executive officers is related.

Daniel W. Deloney, 71, is currently our chairman of the board. Mr. Deloney received a Bachelor of Science from Auburn University in 1955 and a Juris Doctor from the Jones Law Institute in 1981. He began his career as a district sales manager for the Ralston Purina Company in 1955. In 1965, he became the regional director for Financial Service Corporation. In 1974, he formed DFA Advisory Corporation, a registered investment advisory company. As an independent certified financial planner, Mr. Deloney’s principal emphasis was on tax and financial planning. In 1986, Mr. Deloney became vice president of Rice Financial Corporation and has served as its President since 1994. He is currently President and chairman of the board of Rice Acceptance Company, Inc. (d/b/a Rice Banking Company) and its parent company Rice Financial Corporation. Mr. Deloney is a member of the American Financial Services Association. He has served as President of the Alabama Financial Services Association and is currently chairman of its Executive Committee. He also serves as Treasurer of the Alabama Independent Automobile Dealers Association.

Gordon R. McNutt, 59, has served as a member of the board of directors since October 1999 and is currently the vice chairman of the board. Mr. McNutt received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1966 and a Master in Business Administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1967. In 1967, Mr. McNutt began his banking career accepting a management position at the financial institution that is now known as SunTrust Bank. By 1973, Mr. McNutt had already held several positions at both SunTrust and Union Bank. In 1973, Mr. McNutt accepted a position with First City Bancorp and rose to the level of executive vice president and was a member of the board of directors. In 1988, Mr. McNutt retired from the public banking industry and became a private investor. Since 1988, Mr. McNutt has primarily focused his attention and financial expertise on real estate transactions and has held numerous financial advisory positions.

Jeffrey L. Minch, 52, is currently serving as a director, president and chief executive officer. Mr. Minch is a distinguished graduate of the Virginia Military Institute in civil engineering with graduate education in Finance. . Minch co-founded, grew and profitably sold a commercial real estate company, Littlefield Real Estate Company. As president and chief executive officer, Mr. Minch planned and executed the strategy that Littlefield Real Estate Company utilized to grow from a start up in 1984 to one of the largest commercial real estate companies in Texas. In 1996, Mr. Minch sold Littlefield’s substantial office, apartment and warehouse portfolios, in three transactions, over a five-month period. From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Minch was a private investor and is now a major shareholder of our Company.



Kathryn L. Scanlon, 48, is currently serving as our secretary, treasurer, and chief financial & administrative officer, our highest financial executive position. Ms. Scanlon graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting in December 1975. She is a certified public accountant and a certified financial planner. She has twenty-six (26) years of combined experience in both industry and public accounting, including seven years as an owner of her own accounting firm, specializing in tax, audit and financial statement preparation. From 1975 to 1979, she was a staff accountant and then partner in the public accounting firm of Groesbeeck & Company in Austin, Texas. From 1979 to 1981 she was the controller for H.L. Chapman Pipeline Construction, Inc., an underground utility contractor. From 1981 to 1987 she owned her own CPA firm in Austin, Texas. From 1987 to 1992 she was the controller for MEDIANET, Inc. a third party cooperative advertising claims processing company. From 1992 to 1994 she again owned her own CPA firm. From 1994 to 1999 she was the chief financial officer for Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. an international sports surfacing company with over $100 million in annual sales. She was hired as the controller for Littlefield in 2000 and was promoted to her current position in 2001. She is currently a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s and the College of Financial Planning. She was a charter member and past President of the American Society of Women Accountants-Austin Chapter and served as a director of the Northwest Austin Chamber of Commerce.


COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTORS

Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation

The following table sets forth for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999 for Jeffrey L. Minch, our president and chief executive officer.


SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE







Long-Term
Compensation


Annual Compensation
Awards
Payouts

Name and Principal
Position


Year


Salary


Bonus

Other Annual
Compensation
Securities
Underlying
Options

All Other
Compensation
Jeffrey L. Minch (1)
Director, President, CEO
2002
$183,000
$300,000(2)
$8,685(3)
$---
$61,125
2001
$100,000
$---
$---
$---
$---
2000
$100,000
$200,000(4)
$---
$---
$---
1999
$ 27,000
$---
$---
$---
$---





  1. Mr. Minch began working with our Company on July 2, 1999, when he was elected as a director to fill a vacancy on the board of directors. On July 8, 1999, Mr. Minch was elected vice chairman of the board. In September 1999, Mr. Minch was hired as our president and chief executive officer.

  2. The bonus Mr. Minch received in 2002 was a performance bonus for 2001. Mr. Minch was not paid that bonus in cash. Instead he took a note for that bonus on which interest only is paid for the next two years at 6.75%.

  3. The Other Annual Compensation Mr. Minch receives includes country club membership, and vehicle allowance.

  4. The bonus Mr. Minch received in 2000 was as a result of the stock price reaching $2.00 pursuant to his employment agreement.

Stock Options

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, we granted options to our employees and directors in the amount of 646,267 shares of common stock. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, we granted options to our employees and directors to purchase 143,000 common shares. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, no options were granted to our employees and directors. None of the options granted in 2001 have been exercised. None of the options granted were granted to Mr. Minch.

Compensation of Directors

Non-employee directors receive an annual retainer of $2,000, a meeting fee of $750 for each meeting attended, and 2,500 stock options each quarter granted at the fair market value of the stock price on the last day of that quarter. We reimburse the directors for travel expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the board and committees. They can also be reimbursed an hourly fee for special projects.

Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change in Control Arrangements

On April 1, 2002, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with President and CEO Jeffrey L. Minch. Mr. Minch has served as President and CEO since October 1999. The agreement replaces an earlier agreement, which had expired. The new agreement began on April 1, 2002, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2005. The agreement provides for us to pay Mr. Minch an annual base salary of $200,000. In addition to his salary, the Company pays Mr. Minch a monthly car allowance of $600 and pays for Mr. Minch’s country club membership fees which are $365 per month.

The agreement also calls for our Board of Directors to nominate Mr. Minch to serve as a director on the board each year he is our President and CEO; however Mr. Minch will not receive any additional compensation for serving as a director.



According to the agreement, Mr. Minch will be entitled to annual consideration for a performance bonus. The bonus, if any, will be decided by the Board and will take into consideration the financial performance and balance sheet of the Company.

As part of the agreement, Mr. Minch was also granted certain stock options, but Mr. Minch voluntarily cancelled his stock option agreement and all of the options that might have been granted under it. Mr. Minch is no longer entitled to any stock options granted by the Company.

The agreement provides that we may terminate the agreement and Mr. Minch’s employment upon written notice to Mr. Minch. In the event we terminate the agreement and Mr. Minch’s employment, we will be obligated to pay Mr. Minch a severance payment equal to one year of his base salary, car allowance, and club dues. The agreement also provides that Mr. Minch may terminate the agreement in his absolute discretion upon ninety days written notice to us.

In the event we are sold to or merged with another company, the agreement will terminate automatically. If such a sale or merger results in our shareholders receiving a value of at least $3.00 per share, the agreement provides that Mr. Minch shall be entitled to receive 500,000 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the consummation of any such sale or merger.

The agreement also contains certain confidentiality and other standard provisions.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors, executive officers; and holders of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, within certain specified time periods, reports of ownership and changes in ownership. Such officers, directors and stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all such reports that they file.

To our knowledge, based solely upon a review of copies of such reports furnished to us and representations by certain officers and directors that no other reports were required with respect to the year ended December 31, 2002, all persons subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) filed the required reports on a timely basis with respect to 2002 except that one director failed once to file a Form 4 which was subsequently corrected by the filing of a Form 5.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT


The following table sets forth the number and percentage of outstanding shares of our common stock beneficially owned as of March 5, 2003, by:

  1. each executive officer, including the executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table above;

  2. each director and nominee for director;

  3. all of the executive officers and directors as a group; and,

  4. each person or entity known to us to own more than five percent of the outstanding common stock.


Name of Beneficial Owner
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned

Number of
Exercisable Option
Percent of
Class (1)
Jeffrey L. Minch (2)
2,948,165

0
35.6%
Daniel Deloney (3)
817,750
(6)
7,500
9.9%
Kathryn Scanlon (4)
43,521
(7)
37,500
*
Gordon R. McNutt (5)
42,500
(8)
7,500
*
Executive officers and directors of the Company as a group (4 persons)


3,851,936



52,500


46.9%

 

  1. Under SEC rules, we calculate the percentage ownership of each person who owns exercisable options by adding the number of exercisable options for that person to the number of total shares outstanding, and dividing that result into the total number of shares and exercisable options owned by that person. On March 5, 2003, we had 8,272,379 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. An asterisk (*) indicates less than 1% ownership.

  2. Address is 2501 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705.

  3. Address is 109 South Court Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104.

  4. Address is 2501 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705.

  5. Address is 7035 Bee Caves Road, Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78746.

  6. Includes 552,700 shares owned by Rice Acceptance Company, Inc., 197,300 shares owned by Rice Financial Corporation, 10,000 shares owned by Southern Warehouse Partners and 2,750 shares held in Mr. Deloney’s IRA, in which shares Mr. Deloney possesses sole voting and investing power, and 25,000 shares held in his daughter’s IRA, in which Mr. Deloney shares voting and investing power.

  7. The total above also includes 42,021 shares which have not yet been issued by the Company and in which Ms. Scanlon does not have voting power. Of the 42,021 shares not yet issued, 25,000 are deferred compensation, 10,254 shares are to be issued to Ms. Scanlon’s 401K, and 6,767 shares were purchased by Ms. Scanlon as part of the Company’s stock purchase plan.

  8. Includes 2,000 shares held in the name of his children in which shares Mr. McNutt holds voting and investing power.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS


The President and CEO of the Company, Jeffrey Minch, has personally guaranteed two notes payable to a third party lender and a letter of credit, in the total amount of $952,500. One note in the amount of $552,500 is for a three (3) year period at 7% annual interest and is secured by a note receivable of ours, which is in turn secured by a deed of trust on real estate. The second liability is a letter of credit for $500,000, of which Mr. Minch guarantees, $300,000, securing a note payable to the seller of one of our acquisitions. Mr. Minch has guaranteed $300,000 of this letter of credit, with the other $200,000 secured by a cross-collateral position with the note receivable. Subsequent to the balance sheet date Mr. Minch also personally guaranteed another $270,000 note payable to a third party lender. This note was to finance the acquisition of El Bingo Grande bingo hall, and is for a term of five years at prime lending rate.

The Company paid Mr. Minch a fee for each of the notes he personally guaranteed. The fee is equal to 5% of the amount he guarantees and totals $61,125. This amount owed was added to a note held by Mr. Minch of $300,000 for his 2000 performance bonus. This note also includes $105,650 owed by the Company for purchasing the office furniture located in Mr. Minch’s office. This furniture had previously been owned by Mr. Minch. The total amount of this note is $479,186 which includes accrued interest.

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Audit Committee

During 2002, our audit committee met once during the year with our independent auditors. This committee was comprised of Dan Deloney and Gordon McNutt, the two non-employee directors, and has the responsibility for reviewing the financial condition and accounting controls and determining that all audits and examinations required by law are performed. The committee recommends to the board the appointment of the independent auditors for the next fiscal year, reviews and approves the auditors’ audit plans and reviews with the independent auditors the results of the audit and management’s response to the audit. A complete copy of the audit committee’s charter is included at the end of this proxy statement.

The audit committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management as well as our independent public accountants. The audit committee has received from the independent accountants a formal written statement regarding the auditors' independence and has discussed with the independent accountant matters relating to their independence. The audit committee has satisfied themselves as to the auditors' independence. The audit committee has discussed with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, which includes, among other items, matters related to the audit of our financial statements.

The audit committee has recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for 2002 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Nominating Committee

Our nominating committee, comprised of all directors, did not meet during 2002. This committee is responsible for nominating individuals for election to our board. The nominating committee welcomes recommendations made by our stockholders for individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election at the annual meeting of stockholders. Any recommendations for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders should be made in writing addressed to our board of directors, 2501 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, and Texas, 78705. Under our Certificate of Incorporation, any such recommendations must be delivered to us in writing not less than sixty days prior to the meeting date or, if less than seventy days’ notice of the meeting date is given, ten days after notice of the meeting date is given by public disclosure.

The board of directors held five meetings during the year ended December 31, 2002. All of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of such board meetings and the meetings of each committee on which they served.

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Subject to ratification by the stockholders, the board of directors has appointed Sprouse & Anderson, L.L.P. as independent auditors to audit the financial statements of the Company for the 2003 fiscal year. Sprouse & Anderson, L.L.P. served as the independent auditors to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000.

A representative of Sprouse & Anderson, L.L.P. is expected to be present at the meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if the representative so desires, and will be available to respond to any appropriate questions stockholders may have.

Audit Fees

Fees paid to our auditors' firm were comprised of the following:

Financial Statements Audit Fees and Quarterly Review of 10Q-SB for 2002 (billed through March 5, 2003) totaled $60,142.

Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees provided in 2002 totaled $0.

All Other Fees, including tax preparation, tax consulting and other accounting services provided in 2002 totaled $17,600.

The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote is required for the ratification of the appointment of Sprouse & Anderson, L.L.P. as the Company’s independent auditors for the 2002 fiscal year. With respect to this vote, abstentions will have the effect of a “no” vote and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF SPROUSE & ANDERSON, L.L.P. AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS


Notices of stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the meeting must have been provided in writing to us by no later than March 5, 2003, in order to be voted on at the meeting. With respect to stockholder proposals for which notices were not provided to us by March 5, 2003, the person or persons designated as proxies in connection with our solicitation of proxies shall have the discretionary voting authority to vote the shares of our common stock represented by the proxy cards returned to us in accordance with their judgment on such matters when such proposals are presented at the meeting.

Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and included in our Proxy Statement and form of proxy for that meeting must be received by us in writing by no later than December 31, 2003. Any stockholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be voted on at that meeting, which proposal is not included in our Proxy Statement, must deliver written notice of such proposal to us by no later than sixty days prior to the meeting date or, if less than seventy days’ notice of the meeting date is given, ten days after notice of the meeting date is given by public disclosure. If the proposing stockholder fails to deliver written notice of such proposal to us by such date, then the person or persons designated as proxies in connection with our solicitation of proxies shall have the discretionary voting authority to vote the shares of our common stock represented by the proxy cards returned to us in accordance with their judgment on such matters when such proposals are presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting. Any such notice of a stockholder proposal must be made in writing addressed to secretary, Littlefield Corporation, 2501 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78705.



OTHER MATTERS


The board of directors knows of no other business other than that set forth above to be transacted at the Meeting, but if other matters requiring a vote of the stockholders arise, the persons designated as proxies will vote the shares of common stock represented by the proxy cards in accordance with their judgment on such matters.


BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

/s/ Jeffrey L. Minch
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director



March 5, 2003