-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, BorCxEFub1jaOMCo8/cXbofo7V6Dn98Mhf1ffESlu4UPucQsO2uU0Ej2cJY3QlTq kybZP+o3QCdTK/ip7MLe1Q== 0000950129-00-001901.txt : 20000420 0000950129-00-001901.hdr.sgml : 20000420 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950129-00-001901 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEF 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20000525 FILED AS OF DATE: 20000419 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CORE LABORATORIES N V CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001000229 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: OIL, GAS FIELD SERVICES, NBC [1389] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: P7 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-14273 FILM NUMBER: 604688 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1017 BZ AMSTERDAM STREET 2: HERENGRACHT 424 CITY: THE NETHERLANDS STATE: P7 BUSINESS PHONE: 3124203191 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: HERENGRACHT 424 STREET 2: 1017 BZ AMSTERDAM CITY: THE NETHERLANDS STATE: P7 DEF 14A 1 CORE LABORATORIES N.V. 1 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 --------------------- SCHEDULE 14A SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION --------------------- Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Filed by Registrant [X] Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rules 14a-6(e)(2) and 14c-5(d)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy/Information Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12 CORE LABORATORIES N.V. (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CORE LABORATORIES N.V. HERENGRACHT 424 1017 BZ AMSTERDAM THE NETHERLANDS --------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD MAY 25, 2000 --------------------- To The Shareholders: The 2000 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Core Laboratories N.V. (the "Company"), a limited liability company organized under the laws of The Netherlands, will be held at the law offices of Nauta Dutilh, Weena 750, 3014 DA Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on Thursday, May 25, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes: 1. To elect ten members to the Board of Supervisory Directors, consisting of four Class I Supervisory Directors, three Class II Supervisory Directors and three Class III Supervisory Directors, to serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified; 2. To confirm and adopt the Dutch Statutory Annual Accounts of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999; 3. To approve the extension of the authority of the Management Board of the Company to repurchase up to 10% of the outstanding share capital of the Company until November 24, 2001; 4. To approve the extension of the authority of the Supervisory Board to issue and/or to grant rights (including options to purchase) on common and/or preferred shares of the Company until May 24, 2005; 5. To approve the extension of the authority of the Supervisory Board to limit or exclude the preemptive rights of the holders of the common shares of the Company until May 24, 2005; 6. To amend the Company's 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the number of common shares available for issuance under the plan by an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares; 7. To amend the Company's 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan to increase the number of common shares available for issuance under the plan by an aggregate of 500,000 shares; 8. To ratify and approve the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000; and 9. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof. Copies of the Annual Accounts, the report of the Management Board and the list of nominees for the Supervisory Board are open for inspection at the offices of the Company, located at Herengracht 424, 1017 BZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Attention: Mr. Jacobus Schouten, by registered shareholders and other persons entitled to attend meetings of shareholders of the Company. Such copies will be open for inspection from the date hereof until the close of the Annual Meeting. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. THEREFORE, PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY. IF YOU ARE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WISH TO DO SO, YOU MAY REVOKE THE PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON. By Order of the Board of Supervisory Directors, /s/ JACOBUS SCHOUTEN Jacobus Schouten Supervisory Director April 18, 2000 Amsterdam, The Netherlands 3 CORE LABORATORIES N.V. HERENGRACHT 424 1017 BZ AMSTERDAM THE NETHERLANDS --------------------- PROXY STATEMENT --------------------- SOLICITATION AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES The accompanying proxy is being solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Supervisory Directors (the "Supervisory Board") of Core Laboratories N.V. (the "Company") for use at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at the law office of Nauta Dutilh, Weena 750, 3014 DA Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on Thursday, May 25, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., local time. If the accompanying proxy is properly executed and returned, the shares it represents will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the directions noted thereon, or, if no directions are indicated, it will be voted in favor of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement. Any shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it by oral or written notice to the Secretary of the Company at any time before it is voted. The solicitation of proxies by the Supervisory Board will be conducted by mail. In addition, certain members of the Supervisory Board (each, a "Supervisory Director"), officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies in person or by facsimile, telex or telephone. The Company will bear the cost of preparing and mailing proxy materials as well as the cost of soliciting proxies. The Company will reimburse banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the common shares, par value NLG .03 per share, of the Company (the "Common Shares"). At the close of business on March 20, 2000, the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, there were 30,515,616 Common Shares outstanding, each of which is entitled to one vote. The class of Common Shares is the only class of capital stock of the Company outstanding and entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the outstanding Common Shares is required for a quorum. Common Shares abstaining from voting will have the effect of a vote against a proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted to determine the shareholders entitled to vote on a proposal, and will not affect the outcome of the vote on such matter. A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements, schedules and exhibits thereto, may be obtained without charge by written request to John D. Denson, Secretary, in care of Core Laboratories, Inc., 5295 Hollister Road, Houston, Texas 77040. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy were first mailed to shareholders on or about April 18, 2000. ITEM 1. ELECTION OF SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS The articles of association of the Company provide for one or more Supervisory Directors. The Supervisory Directors are proposed by the Supervisory Board and elected at each annual meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares present in person or by proxy. The shareholders may override the proposal of the Supervisory Board by a vote of two-thirds of the votes cast at the meeting if more than one-half of the outstanding share capital is present or represented. The Supervisory Board is divided into Classes I, II and III, the terms of office of which are scheduled to expire on the dates of the annual meeting of shareholders in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. 4 During 1999, the Supervisory Board consisted of eight directors. This year, one of the Supervisory Directors, Mr. James A. Read, is not standing for reelection and the Supervisory Board is proposing three new independent Supervisory Directors for election to the Supervisory Board. Accordingly, the Supervisory Board will consist of ten Supervisory Directors upon their election at the Annual Meeting. Four of the nominees (David M. Demshur, Rene R. Joyce, Timothy J. Probert and Jacobus Schouten) will be elected as Class I Supervisory Directors for a term expiring 2003, three of the nominees (Bob G. Agnew, D. John Ogren and Joseph R. Perna) will be elected as Class II Supervisory Directors for a term expiring 2002 and three of the nominees (Richard L. Bergmark, Alexander Vriesendorp and Stephen D. Weinroth) will be elected as Class III Supervisory Directors for a term expiring 2001. At each future annual meeting of shareholders, the successors to the class of Supervisory Directors whose terms shall expire that year shall be elected to hold office for a term of three years and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. All of the nominees for Supervisory Directors except Mr. Joyce, Mr. Ogren and Mr. Vriesendorp are presently members of the Supervisory Board. Unless otherwise instructed or unless authority to vote is withheld, the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below. If at the time of or prior to the Annual Meeting any of the nominees should be unable or decline to serve, the discretionary authority provided in the proxy may be used to vote for a substitute or substitutes designated by the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board has no reason to believe that any substitute nominee or nominees will be required. No proxy will be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named herein. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE NOMINEES FOR SUPERVISORY DIRECTOR AS SET FORTH ABOVE, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. The following table sets forth the names, ages and titles of the persons who have been nominated for election as Supervisory Directors: CLASS I SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS (TERM EXPIRES 2003)
NAME AGE POSITION - ---- --- -------- David M Demshur................... 45 President, Chief Executive Officer and Supervisory Director Rene R. Joyce..................... 52 Supervisory Director Timothy J. Probert................ 48 Supervisory Director Jacobus Schouten.................. 45 Supervisory Director
CLASS II SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS (TERM EXPIRES 2002)
NAME AGE POSITION - ---- --- -------- Bob G. Agnew...................... 69 Supervisory Director D. John Ogren..................... 56 Supervisory Director Joseph R. Perna................... 56 Supervisory Director
2 5 CLASS III SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS (TERM EXPIRES 2001)
NAME AGE POSITION - ---- --- -------- Richard L. Bergmark............... 46 Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Supervisory Director Alexander Vriesendorp............. 47 Supervisory Director Stephen D. Weinroth............... 61 Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Supervisory Director
Set forth below is a brief description of the business experience and length of service of the Supervisory Directors. Bob G. Agnew, until his retirement in 1994, was Manager of Drilling for International Operations for Exxon Company International (a division of Exxon Corporation) and a member of the Production Advisory Committee of Exxon Production Research Company. Mr. Agnew is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and has served on its Drilling Technical Committee. He has served as a Supervisory Director since 1995. Richard L. Bergmark joined Western Atlas International, Inc. ("Western Atlas") as Treasurer in 1987. In 1991, he became the Area Manager for Finance and Administration for Europe, Africa and the Middle East operations of Western Geophysical. From 1994 until 1999, he served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and in 1999 he was appointed Executive Vice President. Mr. Bergmark presently serves as Executive Vice President, Treasurer and a Supervisory Director of the Company. He has served as a Supervisory Director since 1995. David M. Demshur joined the Company in 1979 and has held various operating positions since that date, including Manager of Geological Sciences, Vice President of Europe, Africa and the Middle East in 1989, Senior Vice President of Petroleum Services in 1991 and President in 1994. Mr. Demshur presently serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Supervisory Director of the Company. He has served as a Supervisory Director since 1994. Mr. Demshur is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain and the Society of Core Analysts Section of the Society of Professional Well Loggers Association. Rene R. Joyce served as President of Energy Services of Coral Energy, LLC from its acquisition by Shell Oil Company in 1998 until his retirement at the end of 1999. From 1980 until 1998, Mr. Joyce served as President of the operating companies of Tejas Gas Corporation, Coral's predecessor, and a New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") listed company. Mr. Joyce is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and recently served on the Boards of the Southern Gas Association and Shell CO2 Company Ltd. He is also a member of other industry associations. D. John Ogren served as the President of Production Operators, Inc. from 1994 until 1999. Production Operators was listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market prior to its acquisition by Camco Int. in 1997 and Schlumberger's acquisition of Camco Int. in 1998. From 1992 until 1994, Mr. Ogren served as Senior Vice President of Conoco Inc. Mr. Ogren is currently a director of Visual Intelligence Systems, Inc. and an Advisory Director of Intrepid Energy (U.K.) Ltd. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and is a registered professional engineer. Joseph R. Perna joined the Company as General Manager in 1985. In 1991, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, with responsibility for certain laboratory services operations and the Technology Products Division, a position he held until his retirement from the Company on March 31, 1998. Mr. Perna has served as a Supervisory Director since 1995. Timothy J. Probert has served as the President of Input/Output, Inc. since March 2000. From September 1995 until December 1999, Mr. Probert served as President of Baker Hughes Inteq (a business unit of Baker Hughes Inc., a diversified oil service company ("Baker Hughes") and Vice President of Baker 3 6 Hughes from March 1994 until December 1999. He joined Baker Hughes in 1972, where he has held various management positions, including Vice President of Drilling and Evaluation Technology for Baker Hughes Inteq, President of Eastman Teleco, President of Milpark Drilling Fluids and Vice President of Marketing for Baker Sand Control. Mr. Probert has served as a Supervisory Director since 1995. Jacobus Schouten has been an executive officer of First Britannia since 1989. Mr. Schouten has served as a Supervisory Director of the Company since 1994, and he is a member of the board of directors of various European companies, including CB Holdings SA. Alexander Vriesendorp has been a principal since 1996 of Shamrock Partners B.V. which serves as the manager for the Vreedenlust venture capital funds. Since 1998, Mr. Vriesendorp has served as Chief Executive Officer of RMI Holland B.V. in The Netherlands. From 1991 until 1995, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Nienhuis Group in The Netherlands. Mr. Vriesendorp serves on the Supervisory Boards of various European companies. He is also a member of the board of the Leiden University Fund. Stephen D. Weinroth is a managing partner of Andersen, Weinroth & Co., L.P., an investment firm, and a managing director of First Britannia Mezzanine N.V. ("First Britannia"). Mr. Weinroth has been a Supervisory Director of the Company since 1994, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board since 1995 and is a Director of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a publicly held home builder and The Central Asian-American Enterprise Fund, an instrumentality of the U.S. Government funded by the Agency for International Development. He is also a Director of Elig Media, a European internet content provider. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The executive officers of the Company currently are David M. Demshur, Monty L. Davis, Richard L. Bergmark, John D. Denson and Randall D. Keys. Biographical information regarding Messrs. Demshur and Bergmark is set forth above. The following biography describes the business experience of the remaining executive officers. The executive officers are not Managing Directors of the Company for purposes of Dutch law. Monty L. Davis, who is 45 years of age, joined Western Atlas in 1977 holding various management positions including Atlas Wireline Division Financial Controller for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Core Laboratories N.V. Division Vice President of Finance, and Atlas Wireline Division Vice President of Finance and Administration. In 1993, Mr. Davis joined Bovar Inc. of Calgary, Canada, as Chief Financial Officer, then Chief Operating Officer, and in 1995 President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Davis joined the Company as Senior Vice President in 1998, and subsequently was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. John D. Denson joined Western Atlas as Division Counsel in 1992, with responsibility for the Core Laboratories division. Mr. Denson, who is 42 years of age, presently serves as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. Mr. Denson is a member of the State Bar of Texas. Randall D. Keys, who is 40 years of age, joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in July 1999, upon its acquisition of Coherence Technology Company, Inc., where he had served as Chief Financial Officer since 1998. During 1998, Mr. Keys served as Chief Financial Officer of Consolidated Graphics, Inc., a NYSE-listed printing company. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Keys was Chief Financial Officer of 3DX Technologies, Inc. a NASDAQ-listed seismic technology company and from 1994 to 1997 Mr. Keys was Treasurer for Norcen Explorer, Inc., a Canadian-based exploration and production company. Mr. Keys is a certified public accountant. SECURITY OWNERSHIP BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The table below sets forth certain information, as of December 31, 1999, with respect to the Common Shares beneficially owned by (a) each person known by the Company to own beneficially five percent or more of the Common Shares, (b) each Supervisory Director and nominee for Supervisory Director, (c) each of the 4 7 executive officers and (d) all Supervisory Directors, nominees for Supervisory Director and executive officers as a group.
COMMON SHARES OF PERCENTAGE OF CORE LABORATORIES N.V. COMMON SHARES NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(1) BENEFICIALLY OWNED OUTSTANDING - --------------------------- ---------------------- ------------- First Britannia Mezzanine N.V.(2).......................... 4,202,534 13.8% Lord, Abbett & Co.(3)...................................... 2,190,520 7.2% Franklin Resource, Inc.(4)................................. 1,726,800 5.7% Stephen D. Weinroth**(5)................................... 441,500 1.5% David M. Demshur**......................................... 319,113 1.1% Richard L. Bergmark**...................................... 197,219 * Joseph R. Perna**.......................................... 116,744 * John D. Denson**........................................... 54,909 * Timothy J. Probert**....................................... 25,000 * Bob G. Agnew**............................................. 24,600 * Rene R. Joyce.............................................. 20,000 * Monty L. Davis**........................................... 19,012 * Randall D. Keys**.......................................... 1,234 * D. John Ogren.............................................. 1,000 * Jacobus Schouten........................................... -- * Alexander Vriesendorp...................................... -- * All Supervisory Directors, nominees for Supervisory Director and executive officers as a group............... 1,220,406 4.0%
- --------------- * Represents less than 1%. ** Includes the following shares which may be acquired within 60 days through the exercise of stock options: Mr. Weinroth, 44,000; Mr. Demshur, 88,750; Mr. Bergmark, 102,000; Mr. Perna, 10,000; Mr. Denson, 33,000; Mr. Probert, 24,000; Mr. Agnew, 24,000; Mr. Davis, 15,000; Mr. Keys, 718; Total, 341,468. (1) Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the Common Shares listed. (2) The business address of First Britannia is de Ruyterkade 62, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. (3) As reported on Schedule 13G dated February 2, 2000. The business address of Lord, Abbett & Co. is 90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302. (4) As reported on the Schedule 13G/A dated January 20, 2000, the shares reported by Franklin Resource, Inc. ("Franklin Resource") are beneficially owned by one or more open or closed-end investment companies or other managed accounts which are advised by direct or indirect investment advisory subsidiaries of Franklin Resource. Such advisory contracts grant to the advisory subsidiaries all investment and/or voting power over the shares. Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (the "Principal Shareholders") each own in excess of 10% of the outstanding common stock of Franklin Resource and are the principal shareholders of Franklin Resource. Franklin Resource and the Principal Shareholders may be deemed to be, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act, the beneficial owner of securities held by persons and entities advised by Franklin Resource subsidiaries. Franklin Resource, the Principal Shareholders and each of the advisory subsidiaries disclaim economic interest or beneficial ownership in any of the shares. The business address of Franklin Resource is 777 Mariners Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404. (5) Mr. Weinroth is a Managing Director of First Britannia, and the numbers above do not reflect any Common Shares owned by First Britannia. 5 8 COMMITTEES OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD The Supervisory Board has two standing committees, the identities, memberships and functions of which are described below. Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee of the Supervisory Board are Messrs. Agnew and Weinroth. The Audit Committee's functions include making recommendations concerning the engagement of independent accountants, reviewing with the independent accountants the plan and results of the auditing engagement, approving professional services provided by the independent accountants and reviewing the adequacy of the Company's internal accounting controls. Compensation Committee. The members of the Compensation Committee of the Supervisory Board (the "Compensation Committee") are Messrs. Perna, Probert and Weinroth. The Compensation Committee's functions include a general review of the Company's compensation and benefit plans to ensure that they are properly designed to meet corporate objectives. The Compensation Committee reviews the Chief Executive Officer's recommendations on (a) compensation of the senior executive officers of the Company, (b) granting of awards under the Company's stock option and other benefit plans and (c) adopting and changing major compensation policies and practices of the Company. In addition to reviewing the compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee reports its recommendations to the whole Supervisory Board for approval. The Compensation Committee also oversees the Company's 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Incentive Plan") and the 1995 Nonemployee Directors Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Nonemployee Director Plan"). INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS The Supervisory Board held four meetings in 1999, the Audit Committee held two meetings in 1999 and the Compensation Committee held two meetings in 1999. Each Supervisory Director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Supervisory Board and of the committees (if any) on which such person serves, with the exception of Mr. Read, who attended no meetings. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION Each Supervisory Director who is not a full-time employee of the Company is paid (a) an annual retainer of $24,000, payable semiannually in arrears, (b) $1,000 per meeting of the Supervisory Board at which such individual is present in person, (c) $750 per meeting of any committee thereof at which such individual is present in person, (d) an additional $500 per meeting for each committee meeting for which the individual is chairperson and (e) reimbursement for all out of pocket expenses incurred in attending any meeting of the Supervisory Board or any committee thereof. Supervisory Directors who are full-time employees of the Company receive no compensation for serving as Supervisory Directors. The Nonemployee Director Plan provides for the issuance of up to 200,000 Common Shares to eligible Supervisory Directors of the Company. As of March 16, 2000, options exercisable for substantially all the approved amount of 200,000 Common Shares had been issued or awarded pursuant to the Nonemployee Director Plan since 1995. If the amendment to the Nonemployee Director Plan proposed in Item 7 is approved by the requisite number of shareholders, an additional 500,000 Common Shares will be available for issuance to eligible Supervisory Directors. Under the Nonemployee Director Plan, each eligible director is generally granted an option to acquire 1,000 Common Shares on the date such individual first becomes an eligible director. In addition, an option to acquire 10,000 Common Shares will be granted yearly to each nonemployee Supervisory Director and an option to acquire 20,000 Common Shares will be granted to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board on the first date in the calendar year set by the Supervisory Board for the issuance of stock options to more than 10 employees under the Company's 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The options will be exercisable for a period of up to ten years and will vest one year following the date of grant. The exercise price of options granted under the Nonemployee Director Plan equals the market price of the Common Shares on the date of grant. 6 9 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The following table summarizes, with respect to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers whose salary and bonus compensation from the Company exceeded $100,000 in 1999 (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers"), certain information relating to the compensation earned for services rendered in all capacities during fiscal years 1997 through 1999. SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION ------------ SECURITIES ANNUAL COMPENSATION(1) UNDERLYING FISCAL ----------------------- OPTIONS ALL OTHER NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS (NUMBER) COMPENSATION(2) - --------------------------- ------ --------- --------- ------------ --------------- David M. Demshur................... 1999 $400,000 $ 65,000 80,000 $16,150 President and 1998 317,539 230,000 35,000 21,583 Chief Executive Officer 1997 246,529 252,800 55,000 16,431 Richard L. Bergmark................ 1999 $222,019 $ 30,000 40,000 $16,150 Executive Vice President and 1998 196,846 94,886 20,000 20,874 Treasurer 1997 171,019 130,300 96,000 15,428 Monty L. Davis..................... 1999 $214,039 $ 45,000 40,000 $18,317 Chief Operating Officer and 1998 145,730 90,573 30,000 17,592 Senior Vice President John D. Denson..................... 1999 $184,039 $ 25,000 25,000 $17,632 Vice President, General Counsel 1998 156,692 51,750 10,000 21,876 and Secretary 1997 128,026 64,600 16,000 15,418 Randall D. Keys.................... 1999 $128,385 $ 20,000 10,000 $ 6,948 Chief Financial Officer(3) 1998 12,769 -- 2,875 --
- --------------- (1) During the years ending December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, perquisites for each individual named in the Summary Compensation Table aggregated less than 10% of the total annual salary and bonus reported for such individual in the Summary Compensation Table. Accordingly, no such amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table. (2) Consists of matching contributions and contributions by the Company through its retirement plans, amounts paid under certain insurance plans and a transportation allowance. (3) Includes amounts paid by Coherence Technology Company, Inc. ("Coherence") which was acquired by the Company in July 1999. Mr. Keys joined Coherence in November 1998. 7 10 STOCK OPTION GRANTS The following table sets forth certain information with respect to stock option grants made to the Named Executive Officers during 1999 under the Incentive Plan.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR INDIVIDUAL GRANTS POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE ------------------------------------- AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL OF STOCK PRICE SECURITIES OPTIONS APPRECIATION FOR OPTION UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OF TERM(1) OPTIONS EMPLOYEES BASE PRICE --------------------------- NAME GRANTED IN 1999 ($/SH) EXPIRATION DATE 5% 10% - ---- ---------- ---------- ----------- --------------- ------------ ------------ David M. Demshur......... 80,000 12.1 13.0625 April 7, 2009 1,702,195 2,710,461 Richard L. Bergmark...... 40,000 6.0 13.0625 April 7, 2009 851,097 1,355,230 Monty L. Davis........... 40,000 6.0 13.0625 April 7, 2009 851,097 1,355,230 John D. Denson........... 25,000 3.8 13.0625 April 7, 2009 531,936 847,019 Randall D. Keys.......... 10,000 1.5 14.0000 July 1, 2009 228,045 363,124
- --------------- (1) The dollar amounts under these columns represent the potential realizable value of each grant of options assuming that the market price of Common Shares appreciates in value from the date of grant at the 5% and 10% annual rates prescribed by the SEC and therefore is not intended to forecast possible future appreciation, if any, of the price of Common Shares. 1999 OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END VALUE TABLE The following table sets forth for the Named Executive Officers in the Summary Compensation Table above information regarding options held by them at December 31, 1999.
VALUE OF SECURITIES SECURITIES UNDERLYING UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED SHARES UNEXERCISED OPTIONS HELD AT OPTIONS HELD AT ACQUIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1999(1) EXERCISE VALUE --------------------------- --------------------------- NAME OF OPTION REALIZED EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE - ---- ----------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- David M. Demshur.......... -- -- 66,250 133,750 $743,571 $806,479 Richard L. Bergmark....... -- -- 73,000 103,00 834,737 843,807 Monty L. Davis............ -- -- 7,500 62,500 11,018 304,312 John D. Denson............ -- -- 26,500 40,500 316,928 272,307 Randall D. Keys........... -- -- 718 12,157 -- 58,440
- --------------- (1) Computed based on the difference between aggregate fair market value and aggregate exercise price. The fair market value of the Common Shares on December 31, 1999 was based on the average of the high and low sales prices on the NYSE on such date. SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") requires the Supervisory Directors, executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of the Common Shares of the Company to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership (Forms 3, 4, and 5) of Common Shares with the SEC and the NYSE. Supervisory Directors, executive officers and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all such forms that they file. To the Company's knowledge based solely on its review of the copies of such reports received by it and on written representations by certain reporting persons that no reports on Form 5 were required, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999, its Supervisory Directors, executive officers and ten percent shareholders complied with the applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements. 8 11 TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN SHAREHOLDERS Set forth below is a description of certain transactions entered into between the Company and certain of its Supervisory Directors and shareholders. Transactions with Shareholders The Company and the holders of Common Shares prior to the initial public offering of the Company are parties to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1995 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"). Upon the request from one or more shareholders holding at least 15% of the then outstanding Common Shares (the "Requesting Holders"), the Company is required to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") to register the Common Shares held by the requesting holders and any other shareholders who are parties to the Registration Rights Agreement and who desire to sell Common Shares. The holders of Common Shares who are parties to the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to a maximum of two requests in total as well as a maximum of one request in any three-month period. Subject to certain conditions and limitations, the Registration Rights Agreement provides that holders of registrable Common Shares may participate in a registration by the Company of any of its Common Shares in an underwritten offering. In the case of both types of registration, the number of Common Shares that may be registered is subject to limitation if the managing underwriter determines that market conditions require such a limitation. The rights conferred by the Registration Rights Agreement are transferable to transferees of the Common Shares. The Company is generally required to bear all registration expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) in connection with these registrations. No shareholder subject to the Registration Rights Agreement owns greater than 15% of the Company's outstanding Common Shares. During the year ended December 31, 1999, the Company purchased computer equipment and software development and implementation services totaling $1,127,000 from a company whose sole owner is a family member of an officer of the Company. Services under this arrangement were completed during the third quarter of 1999 and there were no amounts outstanding as of December 31, 1999. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION During 1999, no executive officer served as (a) a member of the Compensation Committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a Supervisory Director or (b) a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Supervisory Board or the board of directors of a subsidiary of the Company. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The Compensation Committee's responsibilities are (a) to oversee the development of the compensation program for the Company's officers and managerial employees, (b) to administer the incentive and stock option plans, including approval of grants and awards under these plans and (c) to establish the compensation program for the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers. During 1999, the Compensation Committee was comprised of the following Supervisory Directors, all of whom were non-employee Supervisory Directors of the Company: Joseph R. Perna, Timothy J. Probert and Stephen D. Weinroth. Executive Compensation Philosophy The objective of the compensation program for officers and managers is to create strong financial incentives for corporate and division officers and managers to increase profits, revenues and operating efficiency, which are expected to lead to an increase in shareholder value. The following objectives guide the Compensation Committee in its deliberations: - Provide a competitive compensation program that enables the Company to attract and retain key executives and Supervisory Board members. 9 12 - Ensure a strong relationship between the performance results of the Company and its divisions and the total compensation received. - Balance both annual and longer term performance objectives of the Company. - Encourage executives to acquire and retain meaningful levels of Common Shares. - Work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to ensure that the compensation program supports the management style, objectives and culture of the Company. In addition to normal employee benefits, the executive total compensation program includes base salary, annual cash incentive compensation and longer term stock-based grants and awards. Market Comparisons. Primary market comparisons for executive compensation are made to other oilfield service companies, adjusted for size and job responsibilities. The companies used for market comparisons in the development of the compensation program are broader than those used in the performance graph presented elsewhere in this proxy statement and are used because they are more representative of the market in which the Company competes for executive talent. Data sources include oilfield industry surveys, national survey databases and general trend data provided by consultants. Variable Incentives. Variable incentives, both annual and longer term, are major components of the program and are used to link pay with performance results appropriate to each executive officer or manager. Variable incentive awards and performance objectives are calibrated such that total compensation will approximate the market 50th percentile when the Company's performance plans are achieved and exceed the 50th percentile when the Company's performance plans are exceeded. Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) imposes a $1,000,000 limit, with certain exceptions, on the deductibility of compensation paid to each of the five highest paid executive officers. In particular, compensation that is determined to be "performance based" is exempt from this limitation. To be "performance based", incentive payments must use predetermined objective standards, limit the use of discretion in making awards and be certified by the Compensation Committee made up of "outside directors." The Compensation Committee will continue to monitor these issues and will take appropriate action if it is warranted in the future. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM The following is a discussion of each of the principal components of the executive total compensation program. Base Salary. The base salary program targets the median of the primary comparison group for corporate and divisional officers and managers. Each executive is reviewed individually on an annual basis. Salary adjustments are based on the individual's experience and background, the individual's performance during the prior year, the general movement of salaries in the marketplace and the Company's financial position. As a result of these factors, an executive's base salary may be above or below the targeted median at any point in time. Annual Incentive Compensation. The Company administers an annual incentive plan for its corporate and divisional officers and managers. The goal of the plan is to reward participants in proportion to (a) the performance of the Company as a whole and the division for which they have direct responsibility and (b) their individual contributions to the Company's success. For 1999, corporate participants were measured on earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT") and earning per share, while division participants were also measured on working capital management. In addition, a discretionary component was included as part of the plan to recognize outstanding effort and dedication. The measures were weighted substantially equally. 10 13 If budgeted performance is achieved, the resulting incentive awards, in combination with base salary, are targeted at the 50th percentile of the market. The actual corporate performance results and executive total cash compensation levels for 1999 were below this level. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans. The Company has adopted the Core Laboratories Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "Group SERP"), effective January 1, 1998, and as amended July 29, 1999, for the benefit of certain key employees and outside directors of the Company. The Group SERP was established to provide additional retirement income to the participants and death benefits to the participants' designated beneficiaries as a reward for the participants' contributions to the success and growth of the Company. The four participants in the Group SERP are Richard L. Bergmark, David M. Demshur, Joseph R. Perna and Stephen D. Weinroth. Each participant is entitled to receive a retirement benefit of $250,000 per year, which begins on the participant's retirement date and is paid in annual installments until the participant's death. If a participant dies on or after his retirement date and prior to receiving 15 annual installments of his retirement benefit, then the participant's designated beneficiary is entitled to receive $250,000 each year until such payments have been made for an aggregate of 15 years to both the participant and such designated beneficiary. If the participant dies before his retirement date, the designated beneficiary of the deceased participant is entitled to receive $225,000 each year for 15 years. Each participant's benefit under the Group SERP is fully vested and fully accrued. Benefits under the Group SERP may be forfeited only in the event of a participant's termination for cause. The Company has also adopted the Core Laboratories Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Monty L. Davis and the Core Laboratories Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for John D. Denson, each as amended and effective January 1, 1999 (the "Individual SERPs"). The Individual SERPs were established to provide additional retirement income for Mr. Davis and Mr. Denson and death benefits for their designated beneficiaries as a reward for Messrs. Davis' and Denson's contributions to the success and growth of the Company. Each participant in an Individual SERP is entitled to receive a retirement benefit commencing on his retirement date. The amount of the participant's retirement benefit under an Individual SERP is determined using a formula that takes into consideration the participant's compensation, years of employment, and a five year vesting schedule, and is paid in annual installments until the participant's death. Vesting in this retirement benefit is accelerated upon a "change in control." If a participant dies on or after his retirement date and prior to receiving 15 annual installments of his retirement benefit, then the designated beneficiary of the deceased participant is entitled to receive the payments the deceased participant would have received if the participant's death had not occurred. Such payments will continue until payments for an aggregate of 15 years have been made to both the participant and his designated beneficiary. If a participant dies prior to his retirement date, the designated beneficiary of the deceased participant is entitled to receive annual payments for 15 years, and the amount of such payments is determined using a formula similar to that described above. Benefits under an Individual SERP may be forfeited upon a participant's termination for cause. The Company has purchased insurance coverage on the lives of Messrs. Bergmark, Davis, Denson, Demshur and Perna to assist it in providing benefits under the Group SERP and Individual SERP's. The Company is the owner and beneficiary of the insurance coverage. The Company is obligated to pay the total premium of $319,500 and $82,191 each year for the Group SERP and the Individual SERPs, respectively, until the policies are paid up (which is anticipated to be in 2005). Based on actuarial calculations (including a 12% interest rate assumption), the Company expects that the death benefits paid to the Company under the insurance policies will be sufficient to cover the costs of the Group SERP and Individual SERP's benefits and the policy premium payments. However, to the extent the death benefits under the policies are insufficient to cover those costs, the Company is obligated to pay the remainder out of its other general assets and absorb any shortfall. In the event of a "change of control," the Company is obligated to fully fund the amount of the retirement benefits and death benefits of all six participants in the Group and Individual SERPs and their designated beneficiaries. The amount of the "change of control" contribution is the lesser of (i) the total amount due under the terms of the Group and Individual SERPs, or (ii) the amount of unpaid premiums on any insurance policies held by the trust through the seventh anniversary of the date of the purchase of each such policy. 11 14 Deferred Compensation Plan. Core Laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, has adopted a deferred compensation plan that allows certain officers, including all of the Named Executive Officers, to defer a portion of their salary, bonus, and commissions, as well as the amount of any reductions in their deferrals under the Core Laboratories, Inc. Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan (the "401(k) Plan") due to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The plan also provides for employer contributions to be made on behalf of participants equal in amount to certain forfeitures of, and/or reductions in, employer contributions that participants could have received under the 401(k) Plan in the absence of certain limitations imposed by the Code. These employer contributions vest gradually over a period of five years. Discretionary employer contributions may also be made on behalf of participants in the plan and are subject to discretionary vesting schedules determined at the time of such contributions. Vesting in all employer contributions is accelerated upon the death of the participant or a "change in control." Employer contributions under the plan are forfeited upon a participant's termination of employment to the extent they are not vested at that time. Stock Based Compensation. Stock ownership by corporate and divisional management is encouraged through the use of the Incentive Plan which provides for the award of Common Share options and awards. The Compensation Committee and management believe that widespread Common Share ownership by key employees is an important means of encouraging superior performance and employee retention. Common Share option grants are considered annually based on competitive multiples of base salary. Senior executives typically have a higher multiple and, as a result, have a greater portion of their total compensation linked to the longer term success of the Company. In determining the appropriate grant multiples, the Company targets the market median among publicly-held oilfield service companies of similar size. COMPENSATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER The Chief Executive Officer, David M. Demshur, participates in the executive compensation program described above. In establishing the base salary for Mr. Demshur, the Compensation Committee assessed the pay levels for chief executive officers in similar companies in the oilfield service industry and the profit performance of the Company. In 1999, Mr. Demshur's base salary was $400,000. He will also receive an annual incentive award of $65,000. This award was granted on a discretionary basis by the Compensation Committee for his extraordinary efforts in a challenging and difficult industry environment. Mr. Demshur received 80,000 stock options in 1999. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Timothy J. Probert Joseph R. Perna Stephen D. Weinroth 12 15 SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE PRESENTATION The following performance graph compares the performance of the Common Shares to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the Standard & Poor's Oil Well Equipment and Services Index (the "New Peer Group") for the period beginning September 20, 1995 and ending January 31, 1999 . Data for the Company's previous peer group (which included Input/Output Inc., Newpark Resources, Inc., Baker Hughes, Inc. and Varco International Inc.) is also presented (the "Old Peer Group"). The Company is using a new index (the New Peer Group) that it believes better reflects the overall performance of the industry in which the Company competes. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Common Shares and each index was $100 at September 20, 1995 (using the initial public offering price of $6.00 for the Common Shares, after giving effect to the 2 for 1 stock split in December 1997) and that all dividends were reinvested. The Common Shares began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market in September 1995. In July, 1998 the Common Shares ceased trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Prior to September 1995 there was no market in the Common Shares and, accordingly, full five year data is unavailable. COMPARISON OF QUARTERLY CUMULATIVE RETURNS AMONG CORE LABORATORIES N.V., PEER GROUP INDICES AND THE S&P 500 INDEX PERFORMANCE GRAPH
9/20/95 12/21/95 3/31/96 6/30/96 9/30/96 12/31/96 3/31/97 6/30/97 9/30/97 12/31/97 ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -------- Core Laboratories. N.V. 100.00 100.00 102.08 120.45 129.07 135.42 141.39 187.87 222.49 225.70 Old Peer Group....... 100.00 131.98 145.36 158.77 152.07 146.90 150.20 167.89 198.54 194.20 New Peer Group....... 100.00 109.33 125.54 129.10 128.04 142.17 148.29 164.61 193.01 190.58 S&P 500 Index........ 100.00 104.97 109.77 113.66 116.15 123.93 126.14 143.05 150.07 152.51 3/31/98 6/30/98 9/30/98 12/31/98 3/31/99 6/30/99 9/30/99 12/31/99 ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -------- Core Laboratories. N.V. 260.65 249.37 229.13 240.00 231.84 211.55 245.93 252.24 Old Peer Group....... 190.08 155.47 118.26 107.65 131.70 155.94 146.39 123.12 New Peer Group....... 188.07 178.69 148.61 142.31 172.63 186.23 179.45 173.95 S&P 500 Index........ 166.04 164.59 152.35 173.84 184.45 191.16 184.61 199.15
The foregoing stock price performance comparisons shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this graph by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts. There can be no assurance that the Common Share performance will continue into the future with the same or similar trends depicted in the graph above. The Company will not make or endorse any predictions as to future performance of the Common Shares. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF ANNUAL ACCOUNTS At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders of the Company will be asked to approve the Dutch Statutory Annual Accounts of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999, as required under Dutch law and the articles of association. In accordance with Article 408 of the Dutch Civil Code, the Annual Accounts are the annual accounts of the Company and its participation and do not represent the consolidated accounts 13 16 of the Company and all of its subsidiaries as presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report of the Company for the year ending December 31, 1999. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to adopt the Annual Accounts. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. ITEM 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF MANAGEMENT BOARD UNTIL NOVEMBER 24, 2001 TO REPURCHASE SHARES Under Dutch law and the current articles of association, the Company, subject to certain Dutch statutory provisions, may repurchase up to 10% of the Company's outstanding share capital in open market purchases at any price not to exceed $200.00 or its equivalent in other currencies. Any such purchases are subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board and the authorization of shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders, which authorization may not continue for more than 18 months. In connection with the initial public offering of the Company's Common Shares in September 1995, the shareholders authorized the Management Board to make such repurchases for a period of 18 months. At each annual meeting of the shareholders subsequent to 1995, the shareholders have extended the period such that the current period is set to expire on November 26, 2000. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve a further extension of this authority for an additional 18-month period from the date of the Annual Meeting until November 24, 2001. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Company's Common Shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to extend the authorization of the management board to repurchase up to 10% of the outstanding share capital of the Company for an additional 18-month period from the date of the Annual Meeting. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE EXTENSION OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD TO REPURCHASE UP TO 10% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY UNTIL NOVEMBER 24, 2001 AT A PRICE OF NOT MORE THAN $200.00 PER SHARE, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. ITEM 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SUPERVISORY BOARD TO ISSUE SHARES OF CORE LABORATORIES N.V. UNTIL MAY 24, 2005 Under Dutch law and the articles of association, the Company's Supervisory Board has the power to issue shares of the Company's share capital if and insofar as the Supervisory Board has been designated at the annual meeting of shareholders as the authorized body for this purpose. A designation of the Supervisory Board to issue shares may be effective for a specified period of up to five years and may be renewed on an annual rolling basis. In connection with the initial public offering of the Company's Common Shares in September 1995, the shareholders authorized the Supervisory Board to issue shares and/or rights on shares for five years. At each annual meeting of the shareholders subsequent to 1995, the shareholders have extended the period such that the current period is set to expire on May 26, 2004. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve a further extension of this authority for a five-year period from the date of the Annual Meeting until May 24, 2005. The Company is listed on the NYSE and accordingly, the issuance of additional shares will remain subject to the rules of the NYSE. In particular, the NYSE requires shareholder approval for the issuance of shares of common stock in excess of 14 17 twenty percent of the outstanding shares except for public offerings for cash or bona fide private offerings at a price greater than both the book and market value of a company's common stock. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to extend the authority of the Supervisory Board to issue and/or to grant rights (including options to purchase) on common and/or preferred shares of the Company for a five-year period from the date of the Annual Meeting. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE EXTENSION OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD TO ISSUE AND/OR TO GRANT RIGHTS (INCLUDING OPTIONS TO PURCHASE) ON COMMON AND/OR PREFERENCE SHARES OF THE COMPANY UNTIL MAY 24, 2005, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. ITEM 5. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SUPERVISORY BOARD TO LIMIT OR ELIMINATE PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS UNTIL MAY 24, 2005 Holders of Common Shares (other than employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who are issued Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the Incentive Plan or the Nonemployee Director Plan) have a pro rata preemptive right of subscription to any Common Shares issued for cash unless such right is limited or eliminated. Holders of Common Shares have no pro rata preemptive subscription right with respect to any Common Shares issued for consideration other than cash. If designated for this purpose at the annual meeting of shareholders, the Supervisory Board has the power to limit or eliminate such rights. A designation may be effective for up to five years and may be renewed for successive five-year periods. In connection with the initial public offering of the Company's Common Shares in September 1995, the shareholders authorized the Supervisory Board for a five-year period to limit or eliminate from time to time the preemptive rights of holders of such Common Shares. At each annual meeting subsequent to 1995, the shareholders have extended the period such that the current period is set to expire on May 26, 2004. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve a further extension of this authority for a five-year period from the date of the Annual Meeting until May 24, 2005. As long as the Company remains listed on the NYSE, the issuance of Common Shares by the Company will remain subject to the rules of the NYSE including limitations on the ability of the Company to issue shares without shareholder approval. See Item 4 for a discussion of the NYSE rules regarding stock issuance. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to extend the authority of the Supervisory Board to limit or eliminate the preemptive rights of holders of Common Shares for a five-year period from the date of the Annual Meeting. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE EXTENSION OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD TO LIMIT OR ELIMINATE PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES UNTIL MAY 24, 2005, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. ITEM 6. AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve an amendment to the Incentive Plan to increase the number of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Incentive Plan by 2,500,000 shares. As of March 16, 2000, substantially all the previously approved amount of 2,900,000 Common Shares had been issued since 1995. The increase in Common Shares sought represents approximately 8% of the Company's outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis. The Supervisory Board approved the amendment on February 24, 2000, subject to shareholder approval at the Annual Meeting. Set forth below is a summary of the principal features of the Incentive Plan. The summary, however, does not purport to be a 15 18 complete description of all the provisions of the Incentive Plan. Any shareholder of the Company who wishes to obtain a copy of the actual plan document may do so upon written request at the Company's principal offices at Herengracht 424, 1017 BZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Attention: Mr. Jacobus Schouten. GENERAL The Incentive Plan is designed to retain selected employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and reward them for making significant contributions to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries. These objectives are to be accomplished by making awards under the Incentive Plan and thereby providing participants with a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the Company and its subsidiaries. Accordingly, the Incentive Plan provides for granting (a) "incentive stock options" as defined in Section 422 of the Code, (b) stock options that do not constitute incentive stock options ("nonqualified stock options") and (c) "restricted shares" that are either (1) Common Shares that are restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions or (2) a credit of units to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company evidencing accrual to a participant of unsecured and unfunded conditional rights to acquire Common Shares. NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO THE INCENTIVE PLAN Currently, the aggregate maximum number of Common Shares authorized to be issued under the Incentive Plan pursuant to grants of stock options and restricted shares is 2,900,000 Common Shares. As of March 16, 2000, substantially all of the previously approved amount of 2,900,000 Common Shares had been issued or awarded since 1995. If the proposed amendment to the Incentive Plan is approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders, a maximum of 2,500,000 additional Common Shares will be authorized to be issued pursuant to grants of stock options and restricted shares under the Incentive Plan. In each case, these numbers may be adjusted upon a reorganization, stock split, recapitalization, or other change in the Company's capital structure. Common Shares related to awards under the Incentive Plan that are forfeited or terminated or that expire unexercised will again become available for the granting of awards under the Incentive Plan. Additionally, subject to adjustment upon a reorganization, stock split, recapitalization, or other change in the Company's capital structure, the number of Common Shares that may be the subject of awards granted under the Incentive Plan to any one individual during any calendar year may not exceed 1,600,000 Common Shares. ADMINISTRATION The Incentive Plan is administered by a committee (the "Committee") of, and appointed by, the Supervisory Board, and such committee must be comprised solely of two or more directors who are both (a) outside directors (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) and (b) nonemployee directors (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act). No member of the Committee is eligible to receive an award under the Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee currently serves as the Committee. The Committee has full authority, subject to the terms of the Incentive Plan, to establish rules and regulations for the proper administration of the Incentive Plan, to select the persons to whom awards are granted and to set the date of grant and the other terms of the awards. The Committee may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer and to other senior officers of the Company its duties under the Incentive Plan pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish, except that the Committee may not delegate to any person the authority to grant awards to, or take other action with respect to, participants in the Incentive Plan who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. ELIGIBILITY All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (including an employee who may also be an officer or director of any such company) are eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan. The selection of employees, from among those eligible, who will receive awards under the Incentive Plan is within the discretion of the Committee. 16 19 EFFECTIVE DATE; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE INCENTIVE PLAN The Incentive Plan was originally effective as of September 1, 1995. The Incentive Plan was amended and restated effective as of May 29, 1997. No further incentive stock options may be granted under the Incentive Plan on or after May 29, 2007. The Supervisory Board may from time to time amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Incentive Plan for any purpose except that (a) no amendment or alteration that would impart the rights of a holder of an award under the Incentive Plan may be made without the holder's consent, (b) no amendment or alteration will be effective prior to approval of the shareholders of the Company, to the extent such approval is then required pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or to the extent shareholder approval is otherwise required by applicable law, and (c) no amendment which materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Incentive Plan or that increases the total number of Common Shares authorized or available under the Incentive Plan may be adopted without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company. STOCK OPTIONS Option Contract; Status of Option; Term. All options will be evidenced by a written contract containing provisions consistent with the Incentive Plan and such other provisions as the Committee deems appropriate. The status of each grant of an option as an incentive stock option or a nonqualified stock option will be designated by the Committee at the time of grant. The term of each option will be as specified by the Committee at the date of grant (but not more than ten years in the case of incentive stock options). The effect of an employee's termination of employment will be controlled by the terms of the option contract that evidences each option grant. Size of Grant; Option Price. The number of shares for which an option is granted to an employee will be determined by the Committee. The option price will also be determined by the Committee, and, in the case of an incentive stock option, such option price will be no less than the fair market value of the Common Shares on the date that the option is granted. The option price upon exercise may be paid by an employee in cash, or, at the discretion of the Committee, in other Common Shares owned by the employee, by surrendering all or part of that or any other award under the Incentive Plan, or by any combination thereof. RESTRICTED SHARES An award of restricted shares may consist of Common Shares or may be denominated in units of Common Shares. All or part of any such award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee and set forth in the written agreement evidencing such award, which conditions may include, but are not limited to, (a) the attainment of one or more performance targets established by the Committee that are based on (1) the price of a Common Share, (2) the Company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, (3) the Company's earnings per share, (4) the total return to holders of Common Shares based upon price appreciation and dividends paid, (5) the Company's market share, (6) the market share of a business unit of the Company designated by the Committee, (7) the Company's sales, (8) the sales of a business unit of the Company designated by the Committee, (9) the Company's cash flow or (10) the return on shareholders' equity achieved by the Company; (b) the award recipient's continued employment with the Company and its subsidiaries for a specified period of time; (c) the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the Committee in its sole discretion; or (d) a combination of any of the foregoing. Each award of restricted shares may have different conditions and restrictions, in the discretion of the Committee. Dividends or dividend equivalent rights may be extended to and made part of any award denominated in Common Shares or units of Common Shares, subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee may establish. TRANSFERABILITY Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in an award agreement, awards under the Incentive Plan are generally not transferable except (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee 17 20 Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), or the rules thereunder (a "QDRO") or (iii) with the consent of the Committee. The preceding sentence notwithstanding, no award of an incentive stock option under the Incentive Plan will be assignable or otherwise transferable, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a QDRO. CHANGE IN CONTROL The Incentive Plan provides that each stock option will become fully exercisable and the restrictions on restricted shares will lapse upon a change in control of the Company. A "change in control" is generally deemed to have occurred if (a) an event occurs that requires reporting under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, (b) any person other than a Supervisory Director or any person controlled by a Supervisory Director becomes a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of equity securities of the Company representing 51% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities without prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Supervisory Board, (c) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Supervisory Board immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Supervisory Board thereafter or (d) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Supervisory Board (or who were subsequently elected with the approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Supervisory Board still in office who were members at the beginning of the period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Supervisory Board. Under certain circumstances, participants may be entitled to additional payments from the Company under the Incentive Plan in order to keep them whole with respect to certain golden parachute excise taxes imposed by the Code. UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX ASPECTS OF THE INCENTIVE PLAN Nonqualified Stock Options. As a general rule, no federal income tax is imposed on the optionee upon the grant of a nonqualified stock option such as those granted under the Incentive Plan, and the Company is not entitled to a tax deduction by reason of such a grant. Generally, upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the optionee will be treated as receiving compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of exercise in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option price paid for such shares. Upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, and subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code as discussed below, the Company may claim a deduction for compensation paid at the same time and in the same amount as compensation income is recognized to the optionee, assuming any federal income tax reporting requirements are satisfied. Upon a subsequent disposition of the shares received upon exercise of a nonqualified stock option, any appreciation after the date of exercise should qualify as capital gain. If the shares received upon the exercise of a nonqualified stock option are transferred to the optionee subject to certain restrictions, then the taxable income realized by the optionee, unless the optionee elects otherwise, and the Company's tax deduction (assuming any federal income tax reporting requirements are satisfied) should be deferred and should be measured at the fair market value of the shares at the time the restrictions lapse. The restrictions imposed on officers, directors and 10% shareholders by Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act is such a restriction during the period prescribed thereby if other shares have been purchased by such an individual within six months of the exercise of a nonqualified stock option. Incentive Stock Options. The incentive stock options under the Incentive Plan are intended to constitute "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive stock options are subject to special federal income tax treatment. No federal income tax is imposed on the optionee upon the grant or the exercise of an incentive stock option if the optionee does not dispose of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise within the two-year period beginning on the date the option was granted or within the one-year period beginning on the date the option was exercised (collectively, the "holding period"). In such event, the Company would not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes in connection with the grant or exercise of the option or the disposition of the shares so acquired. With respect to an incentive stock option, the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and the exercise price must 18 21 be included in the optionee's alternative minimum taxable income. However, if the optionee exercises an incentive stock option and disposes of the shares received in the same year and the amount realized is less than the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, the amount included in alternative minimum taxable income will not exceed the amount realized over the adjusted basis of the shares. Upon disposition of the shares received upon exercise of an incentive stock option after the holding period, any appreciation of the shares above the exercise price should constitute capital gain. If an optionee disposes of shares acquired pursuant to his or her exercise of an incentive stock option prior to the end of the holding period, the optionee will be treated as having received, at the time of disposition, compensation taxable as ordinary income. In such event, and subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code as discussed below, the Company may claim a deduction for compensation paid at the same time and in the same amount as compensation is treated as received by the optionee. The amount treated as compensation is the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise (or in the case of a sale in which a loss would be recognized, the amount realized on the sale if less) over the exercise price; any amount realized in excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise would be treated as short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on the holding period of the shares. Restricted Shares. An employee who has been granted restricted shares under the Incentive Plan consisting of Common Shares that are subject to forfeiture provisions will not realize taxable income at the time of grant, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction at that time, assuming that the forfeiture provisions constitute a substantial risk of forfeiture for federal income tax purposes. Upon expiration of the forfeiture restrictions (i.e., as shares become vested), the employee will realize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid for such shares, and, subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code as discussed below, the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. Dividends paid to the holder during the period that the forfeiture restrictions apply will also be compensation to the employee and deductible as such by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the recipient of such restricted shares may elect to be taxed at the time of grant of the restricted shares based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of the award, in which case (a) subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company will be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount, (b) dividends paid to the recipient during the period the forfeiture restrictions apply will be taxable as dividends and will not be deductible by the Company and (c) there will be no further federal income tax consequences when the forfeiture restrictions lapse. An employee who has been granted restricted shares under the Incentive Plan consisting of a credit of units to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company evidencing accrual to such employee of unsecured and unfunded conditional rights to acquire Common Shares will not realize taxable income at the time of grant, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction at that time. Upon expiration of the restrictions applicable to such restricted shares, the employee will realize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the property distributed to the employee by the Company at that time over the amount, if any, paid by the employee for such property, and, subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code as discussed below, the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. Section 162(m) of the Code. Section 162(m) of the Code precludes a public corporation from taking a deduction for annual compensation in excess of $1 million paid to its chief executive officer or any of its four other highest-paid officers. However, compensation that qualifies under Section 162(m) of the Code as "performance-based" is specifically exempt from the deduction limit. Based on Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder, the Company believes that the income generated in connection with the exercise of stock options granted by the Committee under the Incentive Plan that have an option exercise price that is at least equal to the fair market value of the shares subject to the option on the date of grant should qualify as performance-based compensation, and, accordingly, the Company's deductions for such compensation should not be limited by Section 162(m) of the Code. However, Section 162(m) of the Code could limit the Company's deduction with respect to compensation income generated in connection with the exercise of an option granted by the Committee that had an option exercise price less than the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. The Incentive Plan has been designed to provide flexibility with respect to whether restricted shares awarded by the Committee will qualify as performance-based compensa- 19 22 tion under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Company believes that certain awards of restricted shares by the Committee under the Incentive Plan will so qualify and the Company's deductions with respect to such awards should not be limited by Section 162(m). However, certain awards of restricted shares made by the Committee and all awards of options and restricted shares made by a delegate of the Committee will not qualify as performance-based compensation, and, therefore, the Company's compensation expense deductions relating to such awards will be subject to the Section 162(m) deduction limitation. The Incentive Plan is not qualified under section 401(a) of the Code. The comments set forth in the above paragraphs are only a summary of certain of the United States federal income tax consequences relating to the Incentive Plan. No consideration has been given to the effects of foreign, state, local, or other tax laws on the Incentive Plan or award recipients, or the application of Dutch tax law to the Company. INAPPLICABILITY OF ERISA Based upon current law and published interpretations, the Company does not believe the Incentive Plan is subject to any of the provisions of ERISA. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the Common Shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the proposed amendment of the Long-Term Incentive Plan. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. ITEM 7. AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve an amendment to the Nonemployee Director Plan, to increase the number of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Nonemployee Director Plan from 200,000 to 700,000. The Supervisory Board approved the amendment on February 24, 2000, subject to shareholder approval at the Annual Meeting. Set forth below is a summary of the principal features of the Nonemployee Director Plan. The summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of the Nonemployee Director Plan. Any shareholder of the Company who wishes to obtain a copy of the actual plan document may do so upon written request at the Company's principal offices at Herengracht 424, 1017 BZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Attention: Mr. Jacobus Schouten. OPTION GRANTS Pursuant to the Nonemployee Director Plan, each Supervisory Director who is not an employee of the Company is automatically granted nonqualified options ("Director Options") to purchase 1,000 Common Shares, generally on the date such person first becomes a nonemployee Supervisory Director. In addition, an option to acquire 10,000 Common Shares will be granted yearly to each nonemployee Supervisory Director and an option to acquire 20,000 Common Shares will be granted to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board on the first date in the calendar year set by the Supervisory Board for the issuance of stock options to more than 10 employees under the Incentive Plan. The purchase price of each Common Share that is subject to a Director Option granted pursuant to the Nonemployee Director Plan is equal to 100% of the fair market value of a Common Share on the date the Director Option is granted, which, so long as the Common Shares are quoted on the NYSE, will be the final closing sales price per Common Share on the date of the grant. The exercise price of the Director Options is payable in cash or in previously owned Common Shares held by the 20 23 optionee for more than six months, valued at fair market value on the date of exercise, or any combination thereof. NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO THE NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR PLAN Currently a maximum of 200,000 Common Shares may be issued pursuant to Director Options, subject to certain antidilution adjustments. As of March 16, 2000, options exercisable for substantially all the approved amount of 200,000 Common Shares had been issued or awarded pursuant to the Nonemployee Director Plan since 1995. If the proposed amendment to the Nonemployee Director Plan is approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, an additional 500,000 Common Shares will be available for issuance pursuant to Director Options, subject to certain antidilution adjustments. Additionally, Common Shares subject to Director Options that are forfeited or terminated or expire unexercised without the issuance of Common Shares to a nonemployee Supervisory Director will again become available for grant. VESTING OF OPTIONS; CHANGE IN CONTROL Director Options are exercisable commencing on the first anniversary date following the date of grant. Upon a change in control of the Company, all outstanding Director Options will become immediately exercisable in full. A "change in control" is generally deemed to have occurred if (a) an event occurs that requires reporting under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, (b) any person other than a Supervisory Director or any person controlled by a Supervisory Director becomes a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of equity securities of the Company representing 51% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities without prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Supervisory Board, (c) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Supervisory Board immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Supervisory Board thereafter or (d) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Supervisory Board (or who were subsequently elected with the approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Supervisory Board still in office who were members at the beginning of the period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Supervisory Board. STATUS AND TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS None of the Director Options may be exercised after ten years from the date of grant. Director Options are not transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, pursuant to a QDRO or with the consent of the Supervisory Board. In the event of termination of service as a Supervisory Director, the outstanding Director Options held by the Supervisory Director will expire one year after termination and may be exercised only to the extent that they were exercisable on the date of termination. EFFECTIVE DATE; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR PLAN The Nonemployee Director Plan was originally effective as of September 1, 1995, and was amended effective as of May 29, 1997, and January 1, 1998. The proposed amendment to the Nonemployee Director Plan will be effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting if it is approved by the shareholders. The Supervisory Board has the right to amend, alter or discontinue the Nonemployee Director Plan at any time, except that (i) without the consent of the affected optionee, no amendment or alteration may be made that would impair the rights of any optionee under any Director Option theretofore granted and (ii) no amendment will be effective prior to approval of the shareholders of the Company, to the extent such approval is then required pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or to the extent shareholder approval is otherwise required by applicable legal requirements. Director Options are intended to be nonqualified stock options for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For a description of the federal income tax consequences of nonqualified stock options, see "United States Federal Income Tax Aspects of the Incentive Plan -- Nonqualified Stock Options" above which provides a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to the Nonemployee Director Plan. No 21 24 consideration has been given to the effects of foreign, state, local or other tax laws on the Nonemployee Director Plan or award recipients, or the application of Dutch tax law to the Company. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the Common Shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the proposed amendment to the Nonemployee Director Plan. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN, AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. ITEM 8. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF THE COMPANY FOR 2000 The Supervisory Board has appointed the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's independent public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2000 subject to ratification by the shareholders. Arthur Andersen LLP has acted as the Company's auditors since inception. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the Common Shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's independent public accountants for 2000. In the event the appointment is not ratified, the Supervisory Board will consider the appointment of other independent accountants. The Supervisory Board may terminate the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's independent accountants without the approval of the shareholders of the Company whenever the Supervisory Board deems such termination necessary or appropriate. Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP are not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP'S APPOINTMENT AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR 2000 AND PROXIES EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON. ITEM 9. OTHER MATTERS The Supervisory Board does not know of any other matters that are to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof, it is intended that the enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxy. 22 25 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Any proposals of holders of the Company's Common Shares intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held in 2001 must be received by the Company, addressed to the Secretary of the Company at its principal executive offices, no later than December 18, 2000 to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. By Order of the Board of Supervisory Directors /s/ JACOBUS SCHOUTEN Jacobus Schouten Supervisory Director Amsterdam, The Netherlands April 18, 2000 23 26 CORE LABORATORIES N.V. THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS OF CORE LABORATORIES N.V. FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2000. P The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Jacobus Schouten and John D. Denson, and each or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and proxies with full power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to attend the Annual R Meeting of Shareholders of Core Laboratories N.V. to be held at the at the law offices of Nauta Dutilh, Weena 750, 3014 DA Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on May 25, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., local time, and any adjournment(s) thereof, with all powers the undersigned would possess O if personally present and to vote thereof, as provided on the reverse side of this card, the number of shares the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR X DISCRETION, SAID ATTORNEYS AND PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER GUISES AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. Y THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE TEN NOMINEES AND FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 AND 8. (To be signed and continued on the reverse side.) 27 Please mark your vote as in this [X] example. FOR WITHHELD Supervisory Directors 1. Election of Supervisory Directors. [ ] [ ] Recommended: A vote for election of the following Supervisory Directors: Nominees: David M. Demshur Rene R. Joyce Timothy J. Probert Jacobus Schouten Bob G. Agnew D. John Ogren Joseph R. Perna Richard L. Bergmark Alexander Vriesendorp Stephen D. Weinroth For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s) - ----------------------------- FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 2. Approval of Annual Accounts. [ ] [ ] [ ] FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 3. Approval of extension of authority of [ ] [ ] [ ] Management Board to repurchase up to 10% of the outstanding share capital of the Company until November 24, 2001. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 4. Approval of extension of authority of [ ] [ ] [ ] Supervisory Board to issue and/or to grant rights (including options to purchase) on common and/or preference shares of the Company until May 24, 2005.
28 FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 5. Approval of extension of authority of [ ] [ ] [ ] Supervisory Board to limit or eliminate preemptive rights of holders of common shares until May 24, 2005. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 6. Approval of Amendment to the Company's [ ] [ ] [ ] 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase the number of common shares available for issuance under the plan by an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 7. Approval of Amendment to the Company's [ ] [ ] [ ] 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan to increase the number of common shares available for issuance under the plan by an aggregate of 500,000 shares. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 8. Ratification of Appointment of Arthur [ ] [ ] [ ] Andersen LLP as independent public accountants of the Company for 2000. NOTE: SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF SHALL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DISCRETION OF THE ATTORNEYS AND PROXIES APPOINTED HEREBY. SIGNATURE: DATE: SIGNATURE: ---------------------------- --------------- -------------------------------- DATE: ------------------ NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears thereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.
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