UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Amendment No.
Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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The Goldfield Corporation
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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N/A
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THE GOLDFIELD CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 25, 2017
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To Our Stockholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of The Goldfield Corporation has been called and will be held in the Torcello Room at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne, Florida 32901 on
May 25, 2017
at 9:00 a.m. for the following purposes:
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1.
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To elect
five
directors nominated by the Company’s Board of Directors.
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2.
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To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31,
2017
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3.
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To transact such other business as may lawfully come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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Only stockholders of record at the close of business on
April 5, 2017
will be entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. The transfer books of the Company will not be closed.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials For the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on
May 25, 2017
: Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and our
2016
Annual Report are available at
www.proxydocs.com/GV
By Order of the Board of Directors
Mary L. Manger
Secretary
Melbourne, Florida
April 19, 2017
Your vote is important.
If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you are requested by the Board of Directors of the
Company to date, sign, and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope as soon as possible. No
postage is necessary if mailed in the United States. In the event you later decide to attend the meeting, you
may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person. For information about how to obtain directions to
attend the meeting and vote in person, please contact Investor Relations at 321-308-1190 or
investorrelations@goldfieldcorp.com.
The Goldfield Corporation
1684 West Hibiscus Boulevard
Melbourne, Florida 32901
(321) 724-1700
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May 25, 2017
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of The Goldfield Corporation (the “Company” or “Goldfield”), to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held in the Torcello Room at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne, Florida 32901 on
May 25, 2017
at 9:00 a.m. and at any and all adjournments thereof. The meeting will be held for the purposes set forth in the notice and in this proxy statement. This proxy statement, the form of proxy and the accompanying annual report are being mailed to stockholders on or about
April 19, 2017
.
RECORD DATE, STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND REQUIRED VOTE
Only holders of record of outstanding shares of the Company at the close of business on
April 5, 2017
will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting on
May 25, 2017
. As of
April 5, 2017
the Company had outstanding
25,451,354
shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share (the “Common Stock”). Each outstanding share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the meeting other than the election of directors.
A majority of the stock issued and outstanding shall be requisite at every meeting to constitute a quorum.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting has the right to vote his shares cumulatively for the election of directors; that is, each stockholder will be entitled to cast as many votes as there are directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such stockholder on the record date, and to cast all such votes for one candidate or to distribute such votes among the nominees for the office of director in accordance with his choice. A registered stockholder who wishes to vote by proxy and exercise his cumulative voting rights should indicate in the spaces provided on the proxy card how he wishes to have his votes distributed among the nominees for directors. Beneficial owners must contact the broker, bank, trustee or other nominee through which they own shares in order to obtain directions on how to exercise cumulative voting rights using their voting instruction card or to request a legal proxy in order to vote their shares directly.
For proposal 1, the election of directors requires a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors; accordingly, the
five
directorships to be filled at the Annual Meeting will be filled by the
five
nominees receiving the
five
highest numbers of votes. “Withheld” votes are not counted in determining whether a plurality of votes was received by a director nominee.
For proposal 2, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter.
SOLICITATION, VOTING AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
This solicitation is made on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company.
You are requested to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy in the postage-paid envelope provided. If the proxy is signed with a voting direction indicated, the proxy will be voted according to the direction given. If the proxy is signed and no direction is given with respect to a proposal, the proxy will be voted as follows with respect to any such proposal:
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1.
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FOR
the election of the nominees for director nominated by the Board of Directors; and
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2.
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FOR
the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31,
2017
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In their discretion, John H. Sottile and Mary L. Manger will be authorized to vote in accordance with their own judgment on such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Abstentions will be counted to determine the presence of a quorum. Abstentions will not affect the outcome of the election of directors and will have the effect of a vote against Proposal 2 (the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP).
If you hold shares through an account with a bank or broker, the bank or broker may vote your shares on some matters even if you do not provide voting instructions. Brokerage firms have the authority under applicable rules to vote shares on certain
matters when their customers do not provide voting instructions, such as proposal 2. However, on other matters, when the brokerage firm has not received voting instructions from its customers, the brokerage firm cannot vote the shares on that matter and a “broker non-vote” occurs. This means that brokers may not vote your shares on proposal 1 if you have not given your broker specific instructions as to how to vote. Shares represented by “broker non-votes” will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum. “Broker non-votes” are not counted as voting power present and therefore are not counted in the votes, and will have no effect, with respect to Proposal 1 (the election of directors).
Revocation of Proxy
You may revoke the proxy at any time prior to its exercise by duly executing and returning a later dated proxy or by filing a written revocation bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Company. The proxy will also be revoked if you attend the meeting and vote in person.
PROPOSAL 1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Five
directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting, to serve for a term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified.
Information About Nominees
Reference is made to the information set forth below under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” as to the stock ownership of the nominees. The following information sets forth with respect to each nominee the office presently held by him with the Company or his principal occupation if not employed by the Company, his prior business experience, the year in which he first became a director of the Company, his age and a discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Board of Directors to conclude that he should serve as a director of the Company.
In addition to the specific information presented below regarding each nominee that led the Board of Directors to conclude that he should serve as a director, the Board of Directors believes that all of the director nominees have a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards, and that each has demonstrated business acumen and the ability to exercise sound judgment as well as a commitment of service to the Company and the Board of Directors.
David P. Bicks
,
84
, has been a member of the Board of Directors and has served as Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2012. Mr. Bicks has been an attorney since 2012 with Duane Morris LLP and previously was with Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. Duane Morris in 2012 succeeded Dewey & LeBoeuf as Corporate Counsel to Goldfield, and Mr. Bicks has led this representation for over forty years. He joined the Dewey & LeBoeuf predecessor, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP, in 1966, after having served as a Federal prosecutor in New York (1959-1962) and as Special Counsel to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (1962-1966). He concentrates in corporate and securities law matters and has represented many major corporations in U.S. and international transactions. Mr. Bicks earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Harvard College and his Law Degree from Yale Law School, where he was an Editor of the
Yale Law Journal
.
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Bicks should continue to serve as a director of the Company because of his long-standing knowledge of Goldfield’s operations and the breadth of high-level experience he brings in legal and financial matters. Due to his broad professional experience in corporate and securities law (including financial reporting and disclosure matters), the Board of Directors determined that Mr. Bicks qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules.
Harvey C. Eads, Jr.
,
71
, has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1999. Mr. Eads has served as Chairman of the Benefits and Compensation Committee since 2005. He has served on the Audit Committee since 2000, and was chairman from May 2000 until May 2005. He has been a member of the Nominating and Benefits and Compensation Committees since 2001. Mr. Eads served as City Manager of Coral Gables, Florida from 1988 to 2001 and during his tenure, municipal bonds of Coral Gables earned AAA Bond Ratings from both Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s. He has been a commercial real estate investor since November of 2001. Mr. Eads is a graduate of and certified by the UCLA Director Education and Certification Program accredited by ISS, a unit of RiskMetrics Group. Mr. Eads is a graduate of the University of Miami and earned a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Eads should continue to serve as a director of the Company because of his broad management, financial and leadership skills and that he qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules.
John P. Fazzini
,
73
, has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1984. Mr. Fazzini has served on the Nominating Committee since 1999, the Benefits and Compensation Committee since 1994 and the Audit Committee from 1985 to 2006 and currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee since May 2013. He is a real estate developer and has been President of Bountiful Lands, Inc., a real estate development corporation, since 1980. Mr. Fazzini has actively operated as a real estate broker
for over forty years, and as a mortgage broker and title agent for over thirty years. He currently serves on the United States Department of Agriculture Central Florida Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Polk County Housing Authority for over ten years and has served on the Board of the Anasazi Wilderness Foundation in Mesa, Arizona since 1985. Mr. Fazzini was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to serve on the Family and Human Services Board from 1992 to 1996. He was also appointed by Governor Bob Martinez to serve on the Central Florida Regional Planning Council from 1987 to 1991. Mr. Fazzini attended the University of Florida and the University of Miami.
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Fazzini should continue to serve as a director of the Company because of his extensive knowledge of our business resulting from his long tenure as a director of the Company and his varied business and management experience.
Danforth E. Leitner
,
76
, has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1985. Mr. Leitner has served on the Nominating Committee since 1985 and currently serves as Chairman of this Committee. He has been a member of the Audit Committee since 1998 and the Benefits and Compensation Committee since 2001. Mr. Leitner founded The Leitner Company, a real estate sales and appraisal company in North Carolina, in 1983 and served as President until his retirement in May of 2002. He served on the Board of Equalization and Review in Henderson County, North Carolina for four years from 1999 to 2002. Prior to his move to North Carolina, Mr. Leitner was a Florida real estate broker and commercial real estate investor from 1973 to 1980 and was a designated member of the Appraisal Institute for 14 years. Mr. Leitner attended the University of Florida.
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Leitner should continue to serve as a director of the Company because of his extensive knowledge of our business resulting from his long tenure as a director of the Company and his varied business and management experience.
John H. Sottile
,
69
, who serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer, joined the Company in June of 1971. Before being elected to the Board of Directors and named President and Chief Executive Officer in 1983, Mr. Sottile gained extensive operational experience by managing two of the Company’s former subsidiaries, Tropicana Pools, Inc. and Harlan Fuel Company. In May of 1998, Mr. Sottile was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Sottile should continue to serve as a director of the Company because of his broad experience with the Company and his knowledge of the Company’s strengths, challenges and opportunities. He has been primarily responsible for strategic development opportunities at the Company since 1982.
If any of the foregoing nominees should withdraw or otherwise become unavailable, which the Board of Directors does not presently anticipate, it is intended that proxies will be cast for such person or persons as the Board of Directors may designate in place of such nominee or nominees.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each of the nominees for re-election as a director.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board Leadership Structure
The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer is best suited to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors because he is the director most familiar with the Company’s business and industry, and most capable of effectively identifying strategic priorities for the Company, leading the Board of Directors in discussions regarding the Company’s business and industry, and focusing the Board of Directors on execution of strategy. Independent directors and management have different perspectives and roles in strategy development. The Company’s independent directors bring experience, oversight and expertise from outside the Company and its industry, while the President and Chief Executive Officer brings Company-specific and industry-specific experience and expertise. The Board of Directors believes that the combined role of Chairman and President promotes strategy development and execution, and facilitates information flow between management and the Board of Directors, which are essential to effective governance. In light of the active involvement by all of the Company’s independent directors, the Board of Directors has not named a lead independent director.
Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors primarily is responsible for overseeing the management of the Company’s risk exposure. The Board of Directors regularly discusses with management the Company’s major risk exposures, the potential financial impact such risks may have on the Company, and the steps the Company must take to manage any such risks. The Company believes that this is an effective approach for addressing the risks faced and that the Company’s Board of Directors’ leadership structure, which combines the roles of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, also supports this approach by providing a greater link between the Board of Directors and management.
COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During
2016
, the Board of Directors met
four
times. The Board of Directors has the following committees: an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Benefits and Compensation Committee and a Nominating Committee.
The Executive Committee has and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors, to the extent allowed by law, in the management of the business and affairs of the Company. The members of the Executive Committee are John H. Sottile (Chairman of the Committee), Harvey C. Eads, Jr. and Danforth E. Leitner. During
2016
, the Executive Committee held
one
meeting
.
The Audit Committee is a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, and the annual independent audit of the Company’s financial statements. The Audit Committee also oversees the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence. The Audit Committee reports on such activities to the full Board of Directors. The Audit Committee consists of David P. Bicks (Chairman of the Committee), Harvey C. Eads, Jr., John P. Fazzini, and Danforth E. Leitner, all of whom are independent, as defined by the NYSE MKT LLC listing standards, which include the independence standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter which governs the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee Charter, which the Company is in compliance with, is available in the “Investors—Corporate Governance” section of the Company’s website at www.goldfieldcorp.com. During
2016
, the Audit Committee held
four
meetings
.
Each member of the Audit Committee is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. The Board of Directors has determined that David P. Bicks and Harvey C. Eads, Jr. are “audit committee financial experts,” as defined by the SEC, based on their experience, training and education.
The Benefits and Compensation Committee reviews the compensation of the executive officers and directors of the Company and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding such compensation. The Benefits and Compensation Committee also administers The Goldfield Corporation 2013 Executive Long-term Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) and has complete discretion in determining the number of shares subject to options and other awards granted to an employee eligible under the 2013 Plan and in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such options and awards, consistent with the provisions of the 2013 Plan. In addition, the Benefits and Compensation Committee administers The Goldfield Corporation 2016 Amended and Restated Performance-Based Bonus Plan. The members of the Benefits and Compensation Committee are Harvey C. Eads, Jr. (Chairman of the Committee), John P. Fazzini and Danforth E. Leitner, all of whom are independent, as defined by applicable NYSE MKT LLC listing standards. During
2016
, the Benefits and Compensation Committee held
three
meetings
. The Benefits and Compensation Committee Charter is available in the “Investors—Corporate Governance” section of the Company’s website at www.goldfieldcorp.com.
The Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors has assessed the composition of the Board of Directors and has concluded that the Board of Directors has a wide range of diversity with regard to professional experience, skills, education, and other attributes that contribute to the Board of Directors’ ability to operate in the long-range best interests of the Company’s stockholders, although the Nominating Committee has not adopted a formal policy that addresses the diversity of directors. The Nominating Committee recommends qualified candidates for election or appointment to the Board of Directors of the Company, including the slate of directors that the Board of Directors proposes for election by stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The candidates are evaluated based on their skills and characteristics relative to the skills and characteristics of the current Board of Directors as a whole. The minimum qualifications sought in candidates are integrity, leadership skills and competency required to direct and oversee the Company’s management in the best interest of its stockholders, customers, employees and other affected parties. A third party consultant may be engaged, for a fee, to assist in identifying and evaluating candidates. Additional functions of the Nominating Committee are detailed in the Nominating Committee Charter which is available in the “Investors—Corporate Governance” section of the Company’s website at www.goldfieldcorp.com. The Nominating Committee consists of the following members: Danforth E. Leitner (Chairman of the Committee), Harvey C. Eads, Jr. and John P. Fazzini, all of whom are independent, as defined by the NYSE MKT LLC listing standards. During
2016
, the Nominating Committee held
one
meeting
.
The Nominating Committee will consider written recommendations for nominees from directors, members of management, stockholders or, in some cases, by a third-party firm. There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates nominees for director recommended by stockholders from those recommended by other sources. Such recommendations for the
2018
election of directors, together with a detailed description of the proposed nominee’s qualifications, other relevant biographical information and a method to contact the nominee should the Nominating Committee choose to do so, should be submitted between
January 25, 2018
and
February 24, 2018
to: Mary L. Manger, Corporate Secretary, The Goldfield Corporation, 1684 West Hibiscus Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors who are also employees of the Company are not paid any fees or other remuneration for service on the Board of Directors or on any Board of Directors’ committee. Each non-employee director receives
$1,000
for each Board of Directors meeting attended in person and
$500
for attendance at a Board of Directors meeting by telephone. All non-employee committee members receive
$500
for attendance at a committee meeting in person and
$250
for attendance at a committee meeting by telephone, except for the Executive Committee for which there is no compensation. Directors are also reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket costs associated with their attendance at Board of Directors and committee meetings. Non-employee directors are also paid annual cash retainers of
$36,000
effective
January 1, 2016
. The chairmen of the Audit Committee and of the Benefits and Compensation Committee also received annual cash retainers of
$15,000
effective
January 1, 2016
. Both the director and chairmen retainers are payable in monthly installments.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31,
2016
:
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Name
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Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
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Total
($)
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David P. Bicks
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55,750
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55,750
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Harvey C. Eads, Jr.
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58,250
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58,250
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John P. Fazzini
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42,500
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42,500
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Danforth E. Leitner
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43,500
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43,500
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Communication with Directors
Stockholders may communicate concerns with any director, committee or the Board of Directors by writing to the following address: Mary L. Manger, Corporate Secretary, The Goldfield Corporation, 1684 West Hibiscus Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901. Please specify to whom your correspondence should be directed. The Corporate Secretary has been instructed by the Board of Directors to promptly forward all correspondence to the relevant director, committee or the full Board of Directors, as indicated in the correspondence.
Meeting Attendance
During
2016
, all incumbent directors attended all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees on which they served. Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and all directors attended the last annual meeting.
Transactions with Related Parties
On December 23, 2016, the Company sold a town home to Danforth E. Leitner, Director of the Company, at the current offering price (plus any related upgrades) of
$346,308
for cash. This transaction was made under the same terms and conditions as would have been offered to an unrelated party.
John N. Sottile is the Company’s Vice-President of Real Estate Operations. He also is the son of John H. Sottile, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2016, (i) the Company paid John N. Sottile a salary of $87,561 and other compensation of $14,155 and (ii) John N. Sottile earned a bonus of $31,500 under the 2016 Bonus Plan, which the Company paid in 2017. In 2015, (i) the Company paid John N. Sottile a salary of $72,689 and other compensation of $15,284 and (ii) John N. Sottile earned a bonus of $10,000 under the Company’s Performance-Based Bonus Plan, which the Company paid in 2016. The Company anticipates that John N. Sottile will earn total compensation in excess of $120,000 in 2017.
In
2016
and through the date of this proxy statement, the Company did not have any other related person transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There are no other related person transactions currently proposed for
2017
that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Messrs. Bicks, Eads, Fazzini, and Leitner are all independent as defined by the NYSE MKT LLC listing standards.
PROPOSAL 2.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Company has appointed the firm of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31,
2017
. Although stockholder approval is not required for the appointment of KPMG LLP, the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee have determined that it would be desirable as a good corporate governance practice to request stockholders to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP. If the stockholders should not ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment. KPMG LLP (including a predecessor firm, W. O. Daley & Company) has been serving the Company and its subsidiaries for the past
54
years.
A representative of KPMG LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, at which time the representative will be given an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31,
2017
.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of
April 5, 2017
, Common Stock ownership information regarding (i) the current nominees and directors and (ii) the named executive officers of the Company serving as of December 31,
2016
. As of
April 5, 2017
, two stockholders, Renaissance Technologies, LLC and John H. Sottile, were known by the Company to be beneficial owners of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The address of each of the nominees, directors and named executive officers is c/o The Goldfield Corporation, 1684 West Hibiscus Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901. Except as otherwise noted, each person listed in the following table has sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to the Common Stock beneficially owned by him or it.
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Beneficial Owners
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Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership(1)
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Percent
of Class(2)
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Renaissance Technologies LLC
(3)
800 Third Avenue,
New York, NY 10022
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1,629,599
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6.40
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%
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David P. Bicks
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10,000
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*
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Harvey C. Eads, Jr.
(4)
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31,500
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*
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John P. Fazzini
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21,950
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*
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Danforth E. Leitner
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69,730
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*
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John H. Sottile
(5)
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2,056,934
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8.08
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%
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Stephen R. Wherry
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55,000
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*
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John W. Davis III
(6)
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500
|
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*
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Robert L. Jones
(7)
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275,000
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1.08
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%
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All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (8 in number):
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2,520,614
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9.90
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%
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(1)
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All amounts have been determined as of
April 5, 2017
in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and include holdings of spouses, children, step-children, parents, step-parents, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees) living in the same household, even if beneficial ownership is disclaimed. For purposes of this table, a person or group of persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of any shares of Common Stock which such person has the right to acquire within 60 days after
April 5, 2017
.
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(2)
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In accordance with the rules of the SEC, the percentage shown in this column opposite the name of each person has been computed assuming the exercise of any options held by such person or group and that no exercises by others have occurred.
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(3)
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This information is based upon a Schedule 13G filed by Renaissance Technologies, LLC (“RTC”) and certain of its affiliates with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2017.
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(4)
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Includes 1,130 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Eads’ wife.
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(5)
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Includes 140,400 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Sottile’s wife.
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(6)
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Based on information as of June 14, 2016, the date on which Mr. Davis ceased to be an executive officer of the Company.
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(7)
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Mr. Jones ceased to be an executive officer of the Company effective December 31, 2016.
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock of the Company. Copies of all such reports filed with the SEC are required to be furnished to the Company. Based on the Company’s review of the copies of such reports it has received and any written representations that certain reports were not required to be filed, the Company believes that all of its executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the year ended December 31,
2016
, except that one Form 3 filed by Mr. R. Greg Crutchfield was four days late because Mr. Crutchfield received his EDGAR codes after the filing deadline.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Objectives of Executive Compensation Program
Our executive compensation program, under the direction of the Benefits and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”), is designed to achieve the following objectives:
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•
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to align the interests and performance of the executive officers with Company performance and the interests of stockholders;
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•
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to attract, engage and keep key talent;
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•
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to provide competitive total compensation opportunities at acceptable cost, consistent with industry practice; and
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•
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to promote the Company’s vision, values, and business strategies.
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Each year, the Committee conducts a full review of the Company’s executive compensation program. The annual compensation review permits an ongoing evaluation of the link between the Company’s performance and its executive compensation in the context of the compensation programs of other companies.
Benefits and Compensation Committee
The Committee is composed entirely of directors that the Board of Directors, in its judgment, has determined to have no material relationship with The Goldfield Corporation that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment and to be independent under the applicable listing standards of the NYSE MKT LLC. The Committee is responsible for the establishment and oversight of the Company’s executive compensation program.
Internal Pay Equity
We do not use “internal pay equity” as a constraint on compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer or other executives. Such systems typically put a ceiling on part or all of an executive’s compensation based on a specified multiple of compensation awarded to another executive or a class of employees of the company. Management and the Committee do not believe such arbitrary limitations are an appropriate way to make compensation decisions for executives. Instead, we rely on the judgment of the Committee, after considering recommendations from management and, in certain circumstances, compensation consultants, available market data and the evaluations of executive performance, in the context of a program that is weighed heavily in favor of performance-based compensation for executive officers.
Elements of Executive Compensation
Our Company’s executive compensation program is intended to reward achievement of both short and long-term business goals. The key elements of our executive compensation program consist of base salary and the 2016 Amended and Restated Performance-Based Bonus Plan. The Committee’s policies with respect to each of the elements of the executive compensation program, including the basis for the compensation awarded to Mr. Sottile, are discussed below. While the elements of compensation
are described separately below, the Committee considers the total compensation package afforded by our Company when determining each component of the applicable executive officer’s compensation.
Our Company’s executive compensation consists of the following:
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•
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Performance-based bonus plan (the 2016 Amended and Restated Performance-Based Bonus Plan);
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•
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Health and welfare benefits offered to all employees such as health insurance, life insurance and long-term disability;
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•
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Additional life insurance;
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•
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Perquisite compensation including use of company-owned vehicles; and
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•
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Termination benefits (for the CEO only).
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Incentives play an important role in motivating executive performance and in aligning executive pay practices with the interests of stockholders. The incentives used by our Company are based on financial objectives of importance to the Company, including earnings growth and creation of shareholder value, as well as non-quantitative considerations. In addition, we base certain incentives on measures relating to individual performance, which enables the Committee to differentiate among executives and emphasize the link between personal performance and compensation.
Base Salaries.
Executive salaries are designed to attract and retain executive talent and to reward individual performance. Base salaries for new executive officers are determined initially by evaluating the responsibilities of the position held, the experience of the individual and salaries paid in the competitive marketplace for executive talent, including a comparison of base salaries for comparable positions at other companies. Mr. Sottile’s base salary is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s employment agreement with Mr. Sottile, which is described under “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table–Employee Contracts” below.
The 2016 Amended and Restated Performance-Based Bonus Plan.
On March 10, 2016, the Board of Directors amended and restated the Company’s Performance-Based Bonus Plan as the 2016 Amended and Restated Performance-Based Bonus Plan (the “2016 Bonus Plan”), which was effective January 1, 2016. On June 2, 2016, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2016 Bonus Plan. The Company established the 2016 Bonus Plan as a means of enhancing the Company’s continued growth and profitability through a performance-based compensation program that rewards superior performance and to provide that bonus awards under the 2016 Bonus Plan are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation deductible by the Company under the qualified performance-based compensation exception to Section 162(m) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company designed the Bonus Plan to focus the officers of the Company, including Messrs. Sottile and Wherry, and key employees (the “Participants”) on the establishment and implementation of strategic plans that will help ensure the Company’s continued growth, profitability and achievement of superior results by linking a portion of their compensation to the success of the Company.
Under the 2016 Bonus Plan, the Participants are eligible to receive a bonus, the amount of which is dependent upon the achievement of specific performance goals as determined by the Committee. In general, on an annual basis, the Committee (i) establishes the target bonus level for each participant for the performance period, which is conditioned on the achievement of such participant’s performance goals for the performance period, (ii) establishes the performance goals for such participant for the performance period, which are based on one or more performance criteria and (iii) prescribes a formula for determining the percentage of the target bonus level which may be payable based upon the level of attainment of the performance goals for the performance period. Quantitative components may include one or more of the following: shareholder value; earnings per share (with or without extraordinary items); net income (with or without extraordinary items); return on equity; return on assets; net interest income; net interest margin; net interest spread; non-performing assets; total assets; operating expenses; other expenses; other income; loan income; fee income; and any sub-categories or ratios of or between any of the above, in each case on a GAAP basis, tax-equivalent basis or any other regularly-utilized method of financial or regulatory accounting or presentation. For
2016
, Messrs. Sottile and Wherry could earn 150% of their respective
2016
base salaries for their bonus awards. These bonus awards were dependent upon the increase in Goldfield’s net income in
2016
. For additional details on the target levels for the performance-based bonus plans see “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Bonus and Non-Equity Incentive Compensation” below.
Health and Welfare Benefits.
Mr. Sottile, Mr. Wherry, Mr. Jones and Mr. Davis (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”) were eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans. These plans are generally available on the same basis to all of our employees who satisfy minimum eligibility requirements, subject to certain differences in contribution levels applicable to the employees of Power Corporation of America (“PCA”), including Mr. Jones and Mr. Davis. The long-term disability plan
benefits for the Named Executive Officers are similar to the long-term disability plan benefits for officers, full-time corporate headquarters personnel, project managers and operations managers except that the Named Executive Officers receive a benefit percentage of 66 and two-thirds compared to a benefit percentage of 60 for all other eligible employees. Both the life and AD&D insurance plans provide a benefit of $50,000 for all officers, full-time corporate headquarters personnel, project managers and operations managers.
Additional Life Insurance.
In addition to the standard term life insurance benefit provided to all officers, full-time corporate headquarters personnel, project managers and operations managers noted above, the Company has provided a flexible premium adjustable life insurance policy to Messrs. Sottile and Wherry under the terminated Employee Benefit Agreements as further described at “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table— Employee Benefit Agreements” below.
401(k) Match
. The Named Executive Officers participate in the Company’s 401(k) Plan on the same terms and conditions as all other employees. The plan provides for an employer matching contribution of 50 percent of up to six percent of all eligible contributions.
Other Perquisite Compensation.
Other perquisite compensation, which includes use of a company-owned vehicle, are provided to executive officers based on their travel requirements and business development responsibilities. The Committee and the Board of Directors believe that given the diverse locations of our electrical construction offices, projects and customers, use of a company-owned vehicle for specified employees, including the Named Executive Officers, is important to achieving our business objectives. The full cost of the company-owned vehicles, including the depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance costs, registration and title fees is reported in the
2016
Summary Compensation Table and the value of this benefit (based upon rates established by the Internal Revenue Code) is imputed as income to each of the Named Executive Officers.
Termination Benefits.
Our severance arrangement included in the employment agreement with Mr. Sottile is intended to provide compensation and a fair financial transition for the Chief Executive Officer when an adverse change in his employment status is required due to the needs of the Company or as a result of certain unexpected corporate events. This arrangement also recognizes past contributions by the Chief Executive Officer, who is a long-tenured employee, if he should be asked to leave. These arrangements are intended to allow the Chief Executive Officer to focus on performance, and not on his personal financial situation, in the face of uncertain or difficult times or events beyond his control. If the Chief Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, or if he terminates his employment for good reason (as defined by the employment agreement), our Chief Executive Officer is entitled to receive, in addition to other benefits, a lump sum cash amount equal to 2.999 times his average W-2 compensation for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year of termination, a lump sum cash payment of a prorated portion of his annual award under the Bonus Plan or Amended Bonus Plan (“Performance-Based Bonus”) and continued health care benefits, consistent with the Company’s current health care plan, for Mr. Sottile, his spouse and dependents for three years after his termination. In the event of his permanent disability, we may terminate the Chief Executive Officer’s employment upon at least thirty days advance written notice, and in the event of his death, the Chief Executive Officer’s employment shall be deemed terminated on the date of his death. In the case of such a termination of employment due to his death or permanent disability, the Chief Executive Officer or his estate will be entitled to receive, in addition to other benefits, a lump sum cash amount equal to one times his average W-2 compensation for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year of his death or disability, a lump sum cash payment of a prorated portion of his annual Performance-Based Bonus and continued health care benefits, consistent with the Company’s current health care plan, for Mr. Sottile, his spouse and dependents for three years after his termination. Any compensation waived by Mr. Sottile will be included for purposes of calculating his average W-2 compensation under his employment contract. In the event that the payments and benefits Mr. Sottile is entitled to receive in connection with a change of control of the Company would be subject to certain excise taxes pursuant to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, then the amount of such payments would be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent necessary so that no portion of such payments would be subject to the excise taxes.
Compensation Decisions and Results.
For the year ended December 31,
2016
, the Committee conducted its annual compensation review, which included a review of compensation information disclosed in proxy materials by other companies and the general knowledge of the market by each member of the Committee.
Compensation reviews for all executive officers, including Mr. Sottile, are conducted annually and compensation adjustments are made based upon the performance of the Company and of each executive officer, the executive officer’s potential, the scope of the executive officer’s responsibilities and experience, and base salaries for comparable positions at other companies. In assessing the factors described above when making salary adjustments, the Committee considers both financial and non-financial measures.
The Committee developed the individual and corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of each of the Company’s executive officers in
2016
, including Mr. Sottile, evaluated the executive officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and recommended to the Board of Directors the appropriate
2016
compensation on the basis of those evaluations.
The total compensation of Mr. Sottile and the Company’s other Named Executive Officers is detailed in the Summary Compensation Table below. This process is designed to ensure consistency throughout the executive compensation program.
The specific criteria used by the Committee for
2016
with respect to the total compensation of executive officers were shareholder value, as measured by the Company’s earnings performance, and overall executive performance, a non-quantitative factor which the Committee assessed for each executive officer based upon the officer’s achievement of non-financial goals. Messrs. Sottile, Wherry and Jones earned bonus awards in the amounts of
$810,000
,
$395,857
and
$328,903
, respectively, during
2016
. Mr. Davis did not earn a bonus award for 2016. Bonuses for Messrs. Sottile, Wherry and Jones were paid in
2017
.
The criteria and methodology for determining Messrs. Sottile’s and Wherry’s
2016
bonuses were approved at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on
March 10, 2016
. The bonus awards for Messrs. Sottile and Wherry were earned based upon the Committee’s assessment of the performance goals established in and for
2016
.
The criteria and methodology for determining Mr. Jones’ bonus was approved at the meeting of the Committee held on June 12, 2016 and ratified by the Board of Directors on June 14, 2016. The bonus award for Mr. Jones was earned based upon the Committee’s assessment of the performance goals established in and for 2016.
The criteria and methodology for determining Mr. Davis’ 2016 bonus was approved at the meeting of the Committee held on March 13, 2016. Mr. Davis did not earn a bonus award because he resigned from the Company on July 14, 2016.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain compensation information for the Named Executive Officers:
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Name and Principal Position
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Year
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Salary
($)
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Bonus (3)
($)
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Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation (3)
($)
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All Other
Compensation
($)
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Total
($)
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John H. Sottile
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2016
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541,015
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—
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810,000
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41,121
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(4)
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1,392,136
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
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2015
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506,367
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(2)
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—
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483,704
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41,294
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(5)
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1,031,365
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Stephen R. Wherry
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2016
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265,033
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—
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395,857
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29,509
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(4)
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690,399
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Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
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2015
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258,829
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(2)
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—
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263,905
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24,695
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(5)
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547,429
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John W. Davis III
(6)
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2016
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130,769
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(1)
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—
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—
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166,460
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(4)
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297,229
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President of Power Corporation of America and Southeast Power Corporation
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2015
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191,106
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—
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390,329
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24,476
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(5)
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605,911
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Robert L. Jones
(7)
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2016
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107,837
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—
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328,903
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10,762
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(4)
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447,502
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Interim President of Power Corporation of America and Southeast Power Corporation
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2015
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25,480
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—
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—
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764
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(5)
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26,244
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(1)
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During 2016 annual compensation includes salary through date of resignation July 14, 2016.
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(2)
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Excludes one week salary withheld upon payroll system change.
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(3)
|
For a discussion of the compensation reported in the Bonus and Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation columns, see “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Bonus and Non-Equity Incentive Compensation” below. Bonuses and Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for Messrs. Sottile, Wherry and Jones earned in
2016
were paid in
2017
. Bonuses and Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for Messrs. Sottile, Wherry and Davis earned in
2015
were paid in
2016
.
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(4)
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Amounts include (a) employer matching contributions to the Company’s Cash Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (“401(k) Plan”) (
$7,950
for Mr. Sottile;
$7,950
for Mr. Wherry;
$7,950
for Mr. Davis; and
$3,152
for Mr. Jones), (b) cost for use of a company-owned vehicle (
$20,556
for Mr. Sottile;
$18,675
for Mr. Wherry;
$8,510
for Mr. Davis; and
$7,610
for Mr. Jones), (c) the economic benefit related to the life insurance policies as described in Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Employee Benefit Agreements below (
$12,391
for Mr. Sottile; and
$2,190
for Mr. Wherry). Starting in 2000, the Company no longer pays the premiums on these life insurance policies referenced in clause (c) above. Instead,
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the portion of the premium related to the cost of life insurance is satisfied from the existing cash surrender value of the policies and (d) severance payment to Mr. Davis in the amount of $150,000.
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(5)
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Amounts include (a) employer matching contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plan (
$7,950
for Mr. Sottile;
$7,950
for Mr. Wherry
$7,950
for Mr. Davis; and
$764
for Mr. Jones), (b) cost for use of a company-owned vehicle (
$20,710
for Mr. Sottile;
$14,512
for Mr. Wherry and
$16,526
for Mr. Davis), and (c) the economic benefit related to the life insurance policies under the Employee Benefit Agreements as described in “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table—Employee Benefit Agreements” below (
$12,634
for Mr. Sottile; and
$2,233
for Mr. Wherry).
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(6)
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Mr. Davis ceased to be an executive officer of the Company effective June 14, 2016 and resigned from the Company on July 14, 2016.
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(7)
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Mr. Jones ceased to be an executive officer of the Company effective December 31, 2016.
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Messrs. Sottile, Wherry, Davis and Jones are all of the Company’s Named Executive Officers. Biographical information for Mr. Sottile may be found in “Information About Nominees.” Mr. Wherry,
59
, has served as Treasurer, Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 1988, Vice President of the Company since 1993 and Senior Vice President of the Company since 2006. Mr. Wherry is a certified public accountant.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Employee Benefit Agreements.
Beginning in 1989, the Company entered into Employee Benefit Agreements (each, a “Benefit Agreement”) with Messrs. Sottile and Wherry and certain employees of the Company. Under the terms of each Benefit Agreement, the Company owned life insurance policies that accumulated cash surrender value for the retirement of the employee, at age 65, while also providing a life insurance benefit for the employee. Under the terms of each Benefit Agreement, the Company was entitled to a refund of the lesser of the previously paid premiums or the cash surrender value of the insurance policy, either upon retirement of the employee, the death of the employee or upon the termination of the Benefit Agreement. In 2000, the Company terminated the Benefit Agreements to eliminate the annual insurance premium obligations. Although the Company does not anticipate making any further cash premium payments, the Company will continue to own the policies and has granted each employee the right to name the beneficiary for the death benefits in excess of premiums previously paid by the Company, less any outstanding loans.
Employee Contracts
.
As of December 31,
2016
, Mr. Sottile was the only Named Executive Officer who had an employment agreement with the Company. Mr. Sottile’s employment agreement dated as of November 1, 2001, as restated and amended to date, currently provides for a base salary of
$551,203
, subject to increase in an amount equal to the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (the “CPI”). As of December 31,
2016
, the agreement provided for continuous employment through January 31, 2016 and automatically extends for an additional three months on the last day of each three-month period, unless Mr. Sottile or the Company gives notice that the employment period shall no longer so extend. For information as to Mr. Sottile’s compensation upon termination of employment, see “Compensation Upon Termination” below.
Base Salaries.
Effective January 1,
2017
, Mr. Sottile’s annual base salary increased from
$540,000
to
$551,203
, as the result of the CPI adjustment referred to above. Effective January 1,
2017
, Mr. Wherry’s annual base salary increased from
$263,905
to
$273,397
.
Bonus and Non-Equity Incentive Compensation.
Salaries for Named Executive Officers are set each year by the Committee. In addition, the Committee sets the specific criteria for bonuses and non-equity incentive compensation during the year.
For
2016
, Mr. Sottile’s non-equity incentive compensation and bonus award limitations were a maximum of 150% of his base salary, as approved by the Board of Directors in
March 2016
and was dependent based entirely upon the increase in the Company’s net income in
2016
. The bonus award is classified as non-equity incentive compensation on the Summary Compensation Table.
For
2015
, Mr. Sottile’s non-equity incentive compensation and bonus award limitations were a maximum of 100% of his base salary, as approved by the Board of Directors in
March 2015
. It was dependent upon the following three factors: (1) a target increase in Goldfield’s share price of 20% (weighted 25%); (2) a target improvement in Goldfield’s net income (loss) of 15% (weighted 25%); and (3) his overall executive performance (weighted 50%), a non-quantitative factor incorporating an evaluation by the Committee of Mr. Sottile’s leadership, strategic planning, relationship management and human resources management. The award related to factors (1) and (2) is classified as non-equity incentive compensation on the Summary Compensation Table and the award related to factor (3) is classified as bonus on the Summary Compensation Table.
For
2016
, Mr. Wherry’s non-equity incentive compensation and bonus award limitations were a maximum of 150% of his base salary, as approved by the Board of Directors in
March 2016
and was dependent based entirely upon the increase in the
Company’s net income in
2016
. The bonus award is classified as non-equity incentive compensation on the Summary Compensation Table.
For
2015
, Mr. Wherry’s non-equity incentive compensation and bonus award limitations were a maximum of 100% of his base salary, as approved by the Board of Directors in
March 2015
. It was dependent upon the following two factors: (1) a target improvement in Goldfield’s net income (loss) of 15% (weighted 50%); and (2) his overall executive performance (weighted 50%), a non-quantitative factor incorporating an evaluation by the Committee of Mr. Wherry’s contributions with respect to financial management, Goldfield’s reporting and internal controls and other compliance initiatives. The award related to factor (1) is classified as non-equity incentive compensation on the Summary Compensation Table and the award related to factor (2) is classified as bonus on the Summary Compensation Table.
For
2015
, Mr. Davis’ non-equity incentive compensation award was calculated as 3.50 percent of the pre-tax earnings of PCA and its subsidiaries (Southeast Power and C and C Power Line, Inc.), subject to adjustment for certain specified items, and was not dependent upon any other factors. The entire award to Mr. Davis is classified as non-equity incentive compensation for
2015
on the Summary Compensation Table.
For 2016, Mr. Jones’ non-equity incentive compensation award was calculated as 3.50 percent of the pre-tax earnings of PCA and its subsidiaries (Southeast Power and C and C Power Line, Inc.), subject to adjustment for certain specified items, and was not dependent upon any other factors. The entire award to Mr. Jones is classified as non-equity incentive compensation for 2016 on the Summary Compensation Table.
For 2015, Mr. Jones did not receive a non-equity incentive compensation award.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
As of December 31,
2016
, we have one equity compensation plan, the 2013 Plan, which was previously approved by our stockholders. No shares have been issued under this plan and there are no outstanding options, warrants or rights. 1,250,000 shares remain available for future issuances. We do not have any equity compensation plans not previously approved by our stockholders.
Compensation Upon Termination
Mr. Sottile is the only Named Executive Officer with an employment contract as of December 31,
2016
. Under Mr. Sottile’s employment contract, he will receive certain compensation in the event the Company terminates his employment without cause or if Mr. Sottile terminates his employment for good reason, which per the contract means (i) the Company fails to provide the compensation or benefits provided for under his employment contract, (ii) a material diminution of Mr. Sottile’s position or title or in the nature of his responsibilities, (iii) a successor fails to assume the contract, (iv) the Company materially breaches the contract, (v) the relocation of Mr. Sottile, or (vi) a change in control of the Company. A change in control, as defined in the employment contract, means (i) the acquisition by an individual, entity, or group of 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Common Stock, (ii) consummation of a merger or similar transaction or a sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, unless the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the transaction beneficially own at least 80% of the outstanding Common Stock and voting power of the resulting corporation in substantially the same proportions as before the transaction, or (iii) a change in a majority of the Board of Directors who were neither nominated by a majority of the directors on the Board of Directors as of November 30, 2001 nor appointed or endorsed by directors so nominated. Specifically, in any of these events, Mr. Sottile is entitled to receive a lump sum cash amount equal to 2.999 times his average W-2 compensation for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year of termination, a lump sum cash payment of a prorated portion of his annual award under the Bonus Plan (“Performance-Based Bonus”) and continued health care benefits for three years after termination. In the event of his permanent disability, the Company may terminate Mr. Sottile’s employment upon at least thirty days advance written notice, and in the event of his death, Mr. Sottile’s employment shall be deemed terminated on the date of his death. In the case of such a termination of employment due to his death or permanent disability, Mr. Sottile or his estate will be entitled to receive a lump sum cash amount equal to one times his average W-2 compensation for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year of his death or disability, a lump sum cash payment of a prorated portion of his annual Performance-Based Bonus and continued health care benefits for three years after termination. Any compensation waived by Mr. Sottile will be included for purposes of calculating his average W-2 compensation under his employment contract. In the event that the payments and benefits Mr. Sottile is entitled to receive in connection with a change of control of the Company would be subject to certain excise taxes pursuant to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, then the amount of such payments would be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent necessary so that no portion of such payments would be subject to the excise taxes.
If the Company had terminated Mr. Sottile’s employment without cause or if Mr. Sottile had terminated his employment for good cause on December 31,
2016
, Mr. Sottile would have received the following severance benefits under his employment agreement: (1) a lump sum payment of
$2,200,765
, consisting of his average W-2 compensation for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year of termination (including any waived compensation) times 2.999, (2) a lump sum payment of
$810,000
, consisting of his current year Performance-Based Bonus, (3) a lump sum payment of
$51,923
consisting of his accrued vacation and one
week salary withheld upon payroll system change, and (4) continued health care benefits for his spouse and dependents for three years following termination valued at approximately
$59,099
.
If the Company had terminated Mr. Sottile’s employment due to disability on December 31,
2016
, Mr. Sottile would have received the following severance benefits under his employment agreement: (1) a lump sum payment of
$744,218
, consisting of his average W-2 compensation for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year of termination (including any waived compensation), times one, (2) a lump sum payment of
$810,000
, consisting of his current year Performance-Based Bonus, (3) a lump sum payment of
$51,923
consisting of his accrued vacation and one week salary withheld upon payroll system change, (4) continued health care benefits for his spouse and dependents for three years following termination valued at approximately
$59,099
, and (5) long-term disability insurance payments until age 70 of $15,000 per month.
If Mr. Sottile’s employment was terminated due to death on December 31,
2016
, Mr. Sottile’s estate would have received the following benefits under his employment agreement: (1) a lump sum payment of
$744,218
, consisting of his average W-2 compensation for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year of termination (including any waived compensation), times one, (2) a lump sum payment of
$810,000
, consisting of his current year Performance-Based Bonus, (3) a lump sum payment of
$51,923
consisting of his accrued vacation and one week salary withheld upon payroll system change, (4) continued health care benefits for his spouse and dependents for three years following termination valued at approximately
$59,099
, (5) a lump sum payment of
$50,000
in Company provided life insurance, and (6) a lump sum payment of
$1,164,200
in additional life insurance.
Mr. Wherry does not have an employment contract. As of December 31,
2016
, Mr. Wherry was eligible for certain benefits upon termination due to death or disability. If the Company had terminated Mr. Wherry’s employment due to disability on December 31,
2016
, Mr. Wherry would have received the following severance benefits: (1) a lump sum payment of
$395,857
, consisting of his current year Performance-Based Bonus, (2) a lump sum payment of
$25,727
consisting of his accrued vacation and one week salary withheld upon payroll system change, and (3) long-term disability insurance payments until age 70 of $15,000 per month.
If Mr. Wherry’s employment was terminated due to death on December 31,
2016
, Mr. Wherry’s estate would have received the following benefits: (1) a lump sum payment of
$395,857
, consisting of his current year Performance-Based Bonus, (2) a lump sum payment of
$25,727
consisting of his accrued vacation and one week salary withheld upon payroll system change, (3) a lump sum payment of
$50,000
in Company provided life insurance, and (4) a lump sum payment of
$919,717
in additional life insurance.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT AND FEE INFORMATION
Audit Committee Report
The Board of Directors appoints an Audit Committee each year to review the Company’s financial matters. Each member of the Company’s Audit Committee meets the independence requirements set by NYSE MKT LLC.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31,
2016
. The Audit Committee also discussed all the matters required by professional auditing standards to be discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301,
Communications with Audit Committees
, issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. In addition, the Audit Committee has received from the independent registered public accounting firm written disclosure required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence from the Company and its management. Based on its review and discussions, including discussions without management or members of the independent registered public accounting firm present, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31,
2016
.
David P. Bicks, Chairman
Harvey C. Eads, Jr.
John P. Fazzini
Danforth E. Leitner
Audit Fees
The total fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of the Company annual financial statements included in the Form 10-K and the reviews of the quarterly financial statements included in the Forms 10-Q for the years ended December 31,
2016
and
2015
and for the separate audit for certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, aggregated to
$255,000
and
$246,800
, respectively.
Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services rendered by KPMG LLP were
$4,400
and
$4,200
for the years ended December 31,
2016
and
2015
, respectively. The
2016
and
2015
fees were comprised of a CFO Financial Assurance letter for the United States Environmental Protection Agency and a state licensure audit report.
Tax Fees
There were no professional tax services rendered by KPMG LLP during the years ended December 31,
2016
or
2015
.
All Other Fees
There were no other fees billed by KPMG LLP during the years ended December 31,
2016
or
2015
.
Pre-approval Policy
To safeguard the continued independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee has established a policy which requires all audit and non-audit services, subject to a de minimis exception pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C), to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee prior to such services being performed. The policy also prohibits the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm from providing any services which would impair the accounting firm’s independence. The Audit Committee has delegated the pre-approval authority to the Audit Committee Chairman. The Chairman or member(s) to whom authority is delegated is to report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee does not delegate to management its responsibilities to pre-approve services.
All audit services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm during the year ended December 31,
2016
were approved by the Board of Directors following recommendation of such approval by the Audit Committee.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company will pay the cost of soliciting proxies and will reimburse all bankers, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for forwarding proxies and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the shares. In addition to solicitation by mail, solicitation of proxies may be made personally or by telephone, facsimile or other means by regular employees of the Company with no specific additional compensation to be paid for such services. Morrow Sodali LLC, 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902, has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies at a cost not to exceed
$20,000
plus out-of-pocket expenses.
OTHER MATTERS
Neither the Board of Directors nor management intends to bring before the meeting any business other than the matters referred to in the Notice of Meeting and this Proxy Statement. If any other business should come properly before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, the proxyholders will have the discretion to vote on such matters according to their best judgment.
2018
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
To be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the
2018
Annual Meeting, stockholder proposals must be received by the Company no later than
December 20, 2017
, unless the Company changes the date of the
2018
Annual Meeting by more than 30 days from the date of this year’s meeting, in which case the Company will provide a revised deadline in one of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K.
In addition, the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, require timely advance written notice to the Company by any stockholder who intends to nominate a director to the Company’s Board of Directors or to bring any other business before any meeting of the stockholders of the Company. Notice will be considered timely for the
2018
Annual Meeting if it is submitted not earlier than
January 25, 2018
and not later than
February 24, 2018
.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING DELIVERY OF SECURITY HOLDER DOCUMENTS
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted rules that allow us to deliver a single annual report, proxy statement, proxy statement combined with a prospectus, or any information statement to any household at which two or more shareholders reside who share the same last name or whom we believe to be members of the same family. This is known as “householding.”
If you share the same last name and address with one or more shareholders, from now on, unless we receive contrary instructions from you (or from one of these other shareholders), you and all other shareholders who have your last name and live at the same address will receive only one copy of any of our annual report, proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders, proxy statement we file and deliver in connection with any other meeting of shareholders, proxy statement combined with a prospectus or information statement. We will include with the householded materials for our annual meetings, or any other shareholders’ meeting, a separate proxy card for each registered shareholder who shares your last name and lives at your address.
If you do not wish to participate in the householding program, please contact our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, at 1-800-937-5449 to “opt-out” or revoke your consent. If you “opt-out” or revoke your consent to householding, each primary account holder residing at your address will receive individual copies of the Goldfield proxy statement, annual report and other future stockholder mailings. If you receive multiple copies of our annual report to stockholders and proxy statement, you can request householding by contacting our transfer agent in the manner described above.
If you do not object to householding, (1) you are agreeing that your household will only receive one copy of future Goldfield stockholder mailings, and (2) your consent will be implied and householding will start 60 days after the mailing of this notice, to the extent you have not previously consented to participation in the householding program. Your affirmative or implied consent to householding will remain in effect until you revoke it. Goldfield shall begin sending individual copies of applicable security holder communications subject to householding rules to a security holder within 30 days after revocation by the security holder of prior affirmative or implied consent. Your participation in the householding program is encouraged. It will reduce the volume of duplicate information received at your household as well as the cost to us of preparing and mailing duplicate materials.
Most banks and brokers are delivering only one copy of the annual report and proxy statement to consenting street-name stockholders (stockholders who own shares in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record on the books of our transfer agent) who share the same address. Those street-name stockholders who wish to receive separate copies may do so by contacting their bank or broker or other holder of record.
We hereby undertake to deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the annual report to stockholders and proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. Stockholders can make such request by contacting our transfer agent in the manner described above.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Mary L. Manger
Secretary
Dated:
April 19, 2017
* * *
The Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31,
2016
, which includes financial statements, is being mailed concurrently to stockholders. The Annual Report does not form any part of the material for the solicitation of proxies.
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2016
, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available without charge to those stockholders who would like more detailed information concerning the Company. If you would like a copy of the Form 10-K, please write to: The Goldfield Corporation, 1684 West Hibiscus Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901. You may also obtain the Form 10-K and other recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from the “Investors—SEC Filings” section of our website, www.goldfieldcorp.com.
Under rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are providing access to our proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet. You may access the following information as of the date the proxy materials are first sent to our stockholders at
www.proxydocs.com/GV
, which does not have “cookies” that identify visitors to the site: Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and our
2016
Annual Report.
Additional information about the Company, including its Code of Ethics for its executive officers and Business Conduct policies for all of its officers, directors and employees, is available in the “Investors—Corporate Governance” section of the Company’s website at www.goldfieldcorp.com.
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THE GOLDFIELD CORPORATION
P R O X Y
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 25, 2017
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints John H. Sottile and Mary L. Manger, and each of them, jointly and severally, proxies, with full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes each or either of them to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this proxy, all shares of common stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Goldfield Corporation to be held at the Torcello Room at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne, FL 32901 on May 25, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, and confers discretionary authority upon each such proxy to vote upon any other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting. (THIS PROXY REVOKES ALL PRIOR PROXIES GIVEN BY THE UNDERSIGNED.)
This proxy card, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein.
If this proxy card is returned executed with no direction given, the proxies will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors on all matters listed on this proxy card, and at their discretion on any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
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14475
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
THE GOLDFIELD CORPORATION
May 25, 2017
GO GREEN
e-Consent makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy material, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and paper waste. Enroll today via www.astfinancial.com to enjoy online access.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON
May 25, 2017
:
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and
2016
Annual Report are available at www.proxydocs.com/GV
Please sign, date and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
For information about how to obtain directions to attend the meeting and vote in person,
please contact Investor Relations at 321-308-1190 or investorrelations@goldfieldcorp.com.
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.
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20500300000000000000 7
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052517
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PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
x
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Your Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees for director listed below, which have been proposed by The Goldfield Corporation.
If no direction is given, the proxy will be voted FOR all nominees for director listed below.
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Your Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2 which has been proposed by The Goldfield Corporation.
If no direction is given, the proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 2.
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1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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NOMINEES:
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2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2017
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¨
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¨
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¨
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¨
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FOR ALL NOMINEES
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David P. Bicks
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Harvey C. Eads, Jr.
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¨
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES
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John P. Fazzini
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Danforth E. Leitner
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John H. Sottile
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¨
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FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See instructions below)
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To cumulate votes, place the number of votes for a nominee on the line provided after the nominee's name.
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INSTRUCTIONS:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here:
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NOTE: In their discretion, the proxies named on the reverse side are authorized to vote in accordance with their own judgment on such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
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To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.
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¨
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Signature of Stockholder
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Date:
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Signature of Stockholder
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Date:
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Note:
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Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
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