SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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| ¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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| ¨ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ¨ | Definitive Additional Materials |
x Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
EL PASO CORPORATION
(Names of Registrant as Specified in Its Charters)
SELIM K. ZILKHA
(Names of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Selim K. Zilkha
Investor Presentation
regarding
El Paso Corporation
May 2003
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking
Information – Additional Information
Some of the statements contained in this presentation may constitute “forward-looking statements,” which for this purpose includes all statements that are not of historical fact. The actual future financial performance of El Paso could differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Particularly given the condition to which El Paso has been reduced under the current Board, there can be no assurance that Mr. Zilkha or the nominees will succeed in their efforts to turn El Paso around.
On May 12, 2003, Selim K. Zilkha filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a definitive proxy statement relating to his solicitation of proxies with respect to the 2003 El Paso annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Zilkha has furnished the definitive proxy statement to El Paso’s stockholders and may file other proxy solicitation materials.
Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement and any other proxy solicitation materials, when they become available, because they contain important information.
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking
Information – Additional Information
Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed by Mr. Zilkha with the Commission at the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also access a copy of Mr. Zilkha’s definitive proxy statement by accessing www.saveelpasonow.com. In addition, you may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement by contacting Innisfree M&A Incorporated toll free at (877) 750-5837 (banks and brokers call collect at (212) 750-5833).
Detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of individuals who may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of El Paso stockholders is included in the proxy statement.
This presentation may quote or refer to independent industry research reports, financial analyst reports and newspaper articles. To the extent such a quote is included in this presentation, Mr. Zilkha has not sought or obtained the consent of the quoted source to the use of such quote as proxy soliciting material.
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Current El Paso Board – Enormous Decline in Shareholder Value
The price of El Paso’s common stock fell by over 90% between April 1, 2002 and February 18, 2003 (the date Mr. Zilkha formally notified El Paso of his intent to replace the board at the Annual Meeting).
El Paso’s debt rating has been downgraded from investment grade to junk. We believe the performance of El Paso’s current Board of Directors and management has been inexcusably poor and that they do not deserve your support and should be replaced.
Less than three years ago, El Paso’s fully integrated core businesses of natural gas exploration combined with nationwide pipeline distribution system and its solid balance sheet made it a very successful commercial enterprise. Since that time, the current Board has led a once-proud company to the point that its very viability is being publicly questioned.
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Current El Paso Board – “Shareholder Scorecard”
Performance v. Amex Natural Gas Index (from April 1, 2002 to February 18, 2003)
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Current El Paso Board – Lack of Focus and Direction
The current board has repeatedly changed El Paso’s business strategy, including pursuing and then abandoning a series of high-risk ventures that proved disastrous.
| • | In 1999, El Paso announced in its annual report that it would enter the telecommunications arena in 2000, stating: “Our physical footprint, risk management capabilities, and Internet trading platform provide us with a strong entry point into this business.” |
| • | By the end of 2001, El Paso had stated that it would no longer participate in the telecommunications market. |
| • | In 2001, El Paso announced in its annual report: “Future growth will be driven by our [liquefied natural gas (LNG)] business, increased market share in North America, expansion of our petroleum business, and the addition of selected power generation assets.” |
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Current El Paso Board – Lack of Focus and Direction (cont.)
| • | On May 2, 2002, El Paso stated during a call with analysts: “The most significant development in merchant energy is our [LNG] business. The board of directors has authorized a major move by the Corporation into [LNG]. We believe we have real competitive advantage in the business and we believe it should be the largest growing subsegment of the energy sector over the next 10 years.” |
| • | On May 29, 2002, El Paso implemented a restructuring plan in which its Merchant Energy Segment was reorganized so that LNG, Petroleum and Energy Trading Businesses would each report separately. El Paso’s stated objective for this restructuring was to “generate better and higher earnings, get the credit profile right.” |
| • | On February 4, 2003, El Paso announced that it was exiting the LNG and Energy Trading Businesses and would seek to sell its petroleum assets. |
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Current El Paso Board – Inability to Execute Current
Business Plan
El Paso’s latest plan calls for “preserving and enhancing the value of El Paso’s core businesses” which, according to El Paso’s SEC filings, include its Pipeline, Production, Midstream and Non-merchant Power Businesses, and “divesting non-core businesses.”
Since January 1, 2002 approximately 72% by value of El Paso’s asset dispositions have been in core (not non-core) areas as identified by El Paso.
Since January 1, 2003 over 50% by value of El Paso’s asset dispositions have been in core (not non-core) areas.
In El Paso’s May 1 preliminary proxy statement, it once again changed its business plan by removing Non-merchant Power Business from the definition of its core areas.
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Core v. Non-Core Divestitures – Our Analysis
| As defined in April 24, 2003 Preliminary Proxy Statement filed by El Paso[1] |
||||||
| ($ millions) |
||||||
| Core Assets |
Non-core Assets |
|||||
| 2002 as reported in Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 |
||||||
| Cove Point LNG contract |
— |
|
210 |
| ||
| 2002 as reported in Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 |
||||||
| Pipeline Segment |
303 |
|
— |
| ||
| Production Segment |
1,297 |
|
— |
| ||
| Field Services Segment (Midstream) |
1,513 |
|
— |
| ||
| Merchant Energy Segment |
— |
|
161 |
| ||
| Corporate and Other |
— |
|
57 |
| ||
| Total 2002 |
3,113 |
|
428 |
| ||
| 2003 as reported in Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 |
||||||
| Pipeline Segment |
43 |
|
— |
| ||
| Production Segment |
687 |
|
— |
| ||
| Field Services Segment (Midstream) |
35 |
|
— |
| ||
| Merchant Energy Segment |
— |
|
813 |
| ||
| Corporate and Other |
— |
|
89 |
| ||
| 2003 as reported in Preliminary Proxy Statement on May 7, 2003 |
||||||
| European natural gas trading book |
— |
|
82 |
| ||
| Other, including ECK generating project in Prague, Czech Republic |
— |
|
78 |
| ||
| Other, including Enerplus Global Energy Management Company |
— |
|
65 |
| ||
| East Coast Power L.L.C. |
456 |
|
— |
| ||
| North Louisiana and Mid-Continent field service |
120 |
|
— |
| ||
| Unspecified additional asset sales |
— |
|
79 |
| ||
| Eagle Point refinery and related pipeline assets |
— |
|
130 |
| ||
| Total 2003 |
1,341 |
|
1,336 |
| ||
| Total 2002 and 2003 |
4,454 |
|
1,764 |
| ||
| 72 |
% |
28 |
% | |||
| 1 | For more detailed information see Schedule II of the proxy statement filed by Selim K. Zilkha on May 12, 2003. |
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Current El Paso Board – Credibility, Disclosure & Debt
According to a recent report by a Goldman Sachs analyst, “One of El Paso’s key challenges is restoring management credibility.” The same report noted that their hiring a new CEO could help restore credibility.
A recent report published by Morgan Stanley concludes that it is not possible to determine from El Paso’s SEC filings whether its total debt level is $25 billion or $29 billion.
The same Morgan Stanley report concludes that the maximum prudent debt level for El Paso is $11 billion—in other words, the incumbent directors have permitted El Paso to become seriously over-leveraged.
Following the Board’s high-risk business strategies, such as venturing into telecommunications, energy trading and LNG, as well as off-balance sheet financing transactions, and particularly because of the excessive levels of debt it authorized, El Paso’s financial condition continued to decline, leading it to fall into its current severe liquidity crisis.
The Board’s failure to act quickly and decisively almost certainly made the liquidity crisis worse than it otherwise would have been since earlier action could have reduced El Paso’s expenses and debt.
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Current El Paso Board – Severance & Compensation
The current board has insisted on retaining outrageously expensive golden parachutes and other related self-enrichment devices. Now they are threatening shareholders with the additional expenses associated with a novel change of control scheme, as a means of coercing you into retaining the current management and board.
According to El Paso’s public filings, the severance arrangements are only payable if there is a change in control, which happens if, over two years there is a change in a majority of the board, “unless the election or nomination for the election by El Paso Corporation’s stockholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds ( 2/3) of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period.”
In other words, El Paso’s current board could prevent the payment of at least $75 million and an obligation to set aside at least $165 million (which El Paso has now changed to $123 million) by simply letting shareholders pick a Board of their choosing without the threat of a financial payout to current management if you elect our nominees. (We believe El Paso has in any event exaggerated the possible size of these payouts, which become due only if there is a change in control and a termination of employment—and although we plan to dismiss Mr. Kuehn, we are not planning mass firings.)
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Current El Paso Board – Severance & Compensation (cont.)
The current board has condoned and, in fact, rewarded management despite poor performance.
William Wise, the CEO of El Paso until he was recently jettisoned, received compensation in excess of $37 million between 2001 and 2003, including $9.4 million in severance and a lump sum retirement benefit of $15.3 million, but not including a $9 million loan, while El Paso’s stock price dropped from a high of over $75 to a low of $3.33.
Brent Austin, who as El Paso’s CFO had direct responsibility for the series of financing transactions including the off-balance sheet transactions that led to El Paso’s current sorry state, was promoted to President in late 2002. El Paso announced his termination shortly after Mr. Zilkha criticized his performance and promotion.
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Current El Paso Board – Lack of Accountability
The current board has failed to act proactively and instead acts principally in response to outside pressure – it belatedly fired Mr. Wise and added a few new directors almost immediately after Mr. Zilkha announced he would seek to replace the Board, demanded Mr. Wise be fired and criticized the Board’s lack of energy industry experience.
The current board makes excuses for poor performance, rather than taking responsibility for it.
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Our Nominees – Industry-Specific Experience and Credibility
Our nominees are a world-class group with a vast wealth of industry-specific experience and expertise.
They have a genuine personal commitment to rolling up their sleeves and working long and hard to achieve a successful turnaround.
They are not burdened by the lack of credibility or history of failed business initiatives that afflicts the current board.
They are not beholden to anyone.
As securities analyst John Olson stated: “We have known several of these individuals for 10-20 years, and would suggest that this proposed Board is as deep a bench of energy talent available in Houston at large.”
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Our Nominees’ Philosophy
| • | El Paso must return to good basic management. |
| • | The El Paso Board defines the corporate culture. |
| • | El Paso should only own assets whose return exceeds the company’s cost of capital. |
| • | El Paso must have a solid financial structure and competent and reliable personnel. |
| • | El Paso has enormous assets burdened by enormous debt, no recent earnings, inadequate equity and is beset by internal turmoil. |
We will work hard to analyze El Paso, sell underperforming assets, and reorganize its culture.
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Our Nominees’ Management Plan
| • | Elect John J. Murphy Chairman of the Board of Directors. |
| • | Elect Stephen D. Chesebro’ Chief Executive Officer as a replacement for the current CEO. |
| • | Retain all qualified members of management who are committed to rebuilding El Paso. |
| • | Build a cohesive team of employees to maximize stockholder value. |
| • | Aggressively review all existing management compensation arrangements. |
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Our Nominees’ Business Plan
| • | Immediately focus on core assets to maximize fundamental cash earnings and improve return on equity. We define core assets as Exploration and Production, Pipeline, and Midstream assets. |
| • | Exit non-core assets and related direct and indirect overhead costs on sound economic terms. |
| • | Aggressively reduce administrative costs to be equal to, or below, industry norms. |
| • | Set reasonable, but aggressive, operating and financial targets for each business unit, and hold them accountable for their performance. Reward exceptional performance. |
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Our Nominees’ Business Plan (cont.)
| • | Maintain adequate pipeline expenditures to ensure safe, reliable, efficient operations. |
| • | Enhance capital available for Exploration and Production through partnerships, farm-outs, and other financial arrangements. |
| • | Seek to reduce El Paso’s leverage. |
| • | Seek to restructure existing debt to consolidate and to extend maturities where practicable. |
| • | Immediately implement plans to enhance El Paso’s financial and business disclosure. |
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Our Nominees’ Approach to Compensation
If elected by El Paso’s shareholders, these are the compensation plans and policies that we intend to implement.
Director Compensation:
| • | Annual retainer of $80,000 payable entirely in shares of El Paso common stock. Committee chairpersons will receive additional $15,000 in El Paso common stock. The shares are payable only at the time the director leaves the Board and cannot be sold before that time. |
| • | Meeting fees of $2,000 in cash per board or committee meeting plus reimbursement of out of pocket expenses in cash for additional board meetings after a combination of 12 board and/or committee meetings. |
| • | Upon becoming a director, a one-time grant of options to acquire shares of El Paso common stock with an aggregate market value equal to 50% of the annual retainer and an exercise price equal to market price on date of grant. |
| • | All stock awards and stock options based on a market value at the date of grant—no discount feature. |
| • | Mr. Zilkha will waive all rights to director compensation. |
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Our Nominees’ Approach to Compensation (cont.)
CEO Compensation:
| • | Annual base salary of $900,000. |
| • | Annual incentive award based on achieving defined objectives determined by a compensation committee of the board comprised exclusively of independent directors. This award will not exceed 1.5x base salary. |
| • | Long term incentive compensation in the form of stock options or restricted stock grants. |
| — | Initial grant of options for 400,000 shares and 100,000 restricted shares, both vesting ratably over three years. No additional stock or stock options will be granted to the CEO during the first three years. |
| — | Option exercise price will be market value on the grant date. |
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Our Nominees’ Approach to Compensation (cont.)
Director and Executive Minimum Share Ownership Policies:
| • | Each director will be expected, within 3 years of being seated, to own El Paso stock (including annual retainer shares) with an aggregate value of 3x the annual retainer. |
| • | The CEO will be expected, within 5 years of taking office, to own El Paso stock with an aggregate value of 5x the annual retainer. |
| • | All other officers will be expected, within 3 years of taking office, to own El Paso stock with an aggregate value of 3x the annual retainer. |
| • | When options are exercised, El Paso stock representing 25% of the gain attributable to the options exercised must be held for 2 years. For example, if an option is exercisable at $5 and the stock price at the time of exercise is $15, the executive would have to hold stock worth $2.50 (25% of the $10 gain) for 2 years. |
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Our Nominees’ Approach to Compensation (cont.)
Other Actions:
| • | The El Paso Retirement Plan for Directors will be terminated. |
| • | The existing El Paso Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan will be reviewed and any changes will be submitted for shareholder approval. |
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Smooth Management Transition
We believe the management transition to the new board will be a smooth one because of the broad energy industry expertise that exists within the slate and the personal knowledge of significant portions of El Paso’s core businesses and assets.
| • | Mr. Chesebro’ was CEO of Tenneco Energy, which is an important part of El Paso’s natural gas transmission system. Tenneco Energy owned and operated a large portion of El Paso’s current Midstream Business. Mr. Chesebro’ established the base for most of El Paso’s international operations including Australia, Indonesia and Brazil. In addition, Mr. Chesebro’ managed South Texas exploration and production activities for both Tenneco Oil Company and Pennzoil. Mr. Chesebro’ was operations manager for Tenneco’s Gulf of Mexico operations when it was the largest and most active in the industry. |
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Smooth Management Transition (cont.)
| • | Mr. Murphy has worked with most, if not all of the major pipeline and Exploration and Production companies building refineries, providing pipeline components, or directly contributing to the exploration, production, and processing of oil and gas. |
| • | Mr. Zilkha owned and operated a significant part of what is now El Paso’s Exploration and Production Business Segment. |
| • | Mr. Burns and Mr. Bennett both have extensive experience directly related to El Paso’s natural gas business, including trading. |
| • | Mr. Davis has extensive Exploration and Production plus Midstream experience, and like Mr. Black and Mr. Bowman has led successful Exploration and Production organizations in the United States and worldwide. |
We also expect a smooth transition because we do not plan mass firings.
Given the current management turmoil at El Paso, we believe that far from bringing disruption, we will help stabilize the situation.
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Summary
| Issue |
Current Board |
Our Nominees | ||
| Planning |
Strategy du jour
Constant changes and repeated reversals |
Strategy based on developing sustainable operating earnings and reasonable financial leverage | ||
| Execution |
Recurring writedowns
Cannot define core and non-core assets
Asset sales mostly core |
History of success in running successful operating companies | ||
| Credibility |
“One of El Paso’s key challenges is restoring management credibility” (Goldman Sachs) |
“this proposed board is as deep a bench of energy talent available in Houston at large” (John Olson) | ||
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Summary (cont.)
| Issue |
Current Board |
Our Nominees | ||
| Experience |
Less industry-specific
Less operational
Proud to point out they’ve been on boards of other public companies outside the energy sector |
More industry-specific
More operational
Not distracted by service on public company boards outside the energy sector | ||
| Disclosure |
Morgan Stanley can’t tell if debt is $24b or $29b |
Committed to transparency | ||
| Corporate culture |
Generous severance and compensation for inferior results
Outrageous “Change of Control” scheme |
Committed to fiscal prudence | ||
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Conclusion
Our nominees have superior experience.
Our nominees have superior credibility.
As the largest individual shareholder in El Paso, Mr. Zilkha is committed to maximizing the value of your and his investment.
Only fundamental change can fix El Paso’s problems!
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Follow Up Questions and Information
Investor Questions should be addressed to Alan Miller or Jennifer Shotwell at Innisfree.
| Alan Miller: |
(212) 750 5831 |
(amiller@innisfreema.com) | ||
| Jennifer Shotwell: |
(212) 750 5808 |
(jshotwell@innisfreema.com) |
Media Questions should be addressed to Larry Rand or Victoria Weld at Kekst & Company.
| Larry Rand: |
(212) 521 4834 |
(lar@kekst.com) | ||
| Victoria Weld: |
(212) 521 4849 |
(victoria-weld@kekst.com) |
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The Nominees
| Name, Age and Business Address |
Principal Occupation and Other Selected Information Concerning Nominees for Director | |
| R. GERALD BENNETT
Age: 61
Business Address: 11111 Wilcrest Green Suite 300 Houston, TX 77042 |
Since July 2000, Mr. Bennett has been the Chairman, President and CEO of Total Safety, Inc., the principal business of which is providing safety solutions to industrial and energy markets. From January 1999 to June 2000, Mr. Bennett was involved in the operations of G&S Bennett, Ltd., the principal business of which was investments, and of which he was the owner. From 1996 to December 1998, Mr. Bennett served as a Senior Vice President of Equitable Resources, Inc. and President of that company’s ERI Supply and Logistics Group, the principal business of which is natural gas distribution and production. Mr. Bennett has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, gathering, transportation and storage of natural gas, marketing and regulatory affairs. Mr. Bennett is currently a director of TransTexas Gas Corporation. Mr. Bennett was asked to serve on the TransTexas board by a number of TransTexas’ senior bondholders and became a director after TransTexas first filed for federal bankruptcy protection in 1999. TransTexas filed for federal bankruptcy protection again in 2002. | |
|
C. ROBERT BLACK
Age: 67
Business Address: 116 Applehead Island P.O. Box 7907 Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 |
Mr. Black currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Regents of Texas Tech University. He spent 41 years with Texaco, Inc., retiring in May 1999. From January 1997 to January 1998, Mr. Black served as President of the Worldwide Exploration and Production division of Texaco, the principal business of which is oil and gas exploration and production. From January 1998 to May 1, 1999, he served as Senior Vice President in the office of Chairman of Texaco. Mr. Black also served on Texaco’s Executive Council, which has the responsibility for setting corporate strategies and priorities, and served as Texaco’s Corporate Compliance Officer. |
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| CHARLES H. BOWMAN
Age: 67
Business Address: 13350 Hopes Creek Road College Station, TX 77845-9250 |
Mr. Bowman, Professor Emeritus of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University, is currently retired. From July 1997 to November 2001 he served as Professor and Head of the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University. Prior to joining Texas A&M University, Mr. Bowman served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BP America, Inc. from January 1994 to August 1996. Mr. Bowman spent 36 years in the international oil industry. From 1990 through 1993, he was the Managing Director of BP Australia Limited and Chief Executive Officer of BP Oil Australasia. He moved to Australia from London, where he was General Manager – Europe for BP Oil International. | |
|
RONALD J. BURNS
Age: 51
Business Address: 27890 North 100 Way Scottsdale, AZ 85262 |
Since 1997, Mr. Burns has been the Chairman of Burns Capital Partners LP, the principal business of which is private equity investments. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Burns has also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Entergy Corporation, which is an electric utility. From 1989 until 1994, Mr. Burns was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Enron Gas Pipeline Group and had management responsibility for all of Enron’s natural gas pipeline subsidiaries. During 1994 and 1995 Mr. Burns was also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Enron North America; Enron’s natural gas and electricity marketing, trading and finance subsidiary. During 1995 and 1996, Mr. Burns was President and Chief Executive Officer of Union Pacific Railroad. |
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| STEPHEN D. CHESEBRO’
Age: 61
Business Address: 1330 Post Oak Boulevard Suite 1600 Houston, TX 77056 |
Since June 2001, Mr. Chesebro’ has served as the non-executive Chairman of the Board of Harvest Natural Resources, Inc., the principal business of which is international oil and gas exploration and production. Mr. Chesebro’ served as a director of Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. from October 2000 to June 2001. From January 1999 to September 1999, Mr. Chesebro’ served as a director, President and Chief Executive Officer of PennzEnergy, the principal business of which was oil and gas exploration and production. From February 1997 to December 1998, Mr. Chesebro’ served as a director, President and Chief Operating Officer of Pennzoil Company, the principal business of which was integrated oil, including exploration, production, refining, marketing and retail services. Prior to joining Pennzoil, Mr. Chesebro’ served 32 years with Tenneco, Inc., where he retired in 1996 as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tenneco Energy. | |
|
TED EARL DAVIS
Age: 63
Business Address: 55 Mott Lane Houston, TX 77024 |
Mr. Davis has been a consultant for the energy industry (self-employed) since July 2000. From 1997 to 2000, he served as the President, Exploration Production, for international operations of Conoco, Inc., the principal business of which is oil and gas exploration and production, in Africa, Mid-East and Asia-Pacific. Mr. Davis also served as President of Conoco’s Upstream North America division with responsibilities for exploration, production, natural gas and gas products, pipeline and gas processing operations, LPG supply, marketing and distribution, business development, commercial, legal, business and regulatory activities. He was also a corporate vice-president at E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company, the principal business of which is high-performance materials and specialty chemicals, from 1986 to 1999, when E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company was Conoco’s parent corporation. Mr. Davis is currently a director of Total Safety, Inc. and TransTexas Gas Corporation. Mr. Davis was asked to serve on the TransTexas board by a number of TransTexas’ senior bondholders and became a director after TransTexas first filed for federal bankruptcy protection in 1999. TransTexas filed for federal bankruptcy protection again in 2002. |
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| JOHN J. MURPHY
Age: 71
Business Address: 5500 Preston Road Suite 210 Dallas, TX 75205 |
Mr. Murphy is currently retired. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Murphy served as a Managing Director of SMG Management L.L.C., a privately owned investment group. Mr. Murphy is currently a director of CARBO Ceramics Inc., W.R. Grace & Co. and ShawCor Ltd. Mr. Murphy began his career with Dresser Industries, Inc., a provider of products and services to the energy industry, in 1952 as an engineer and he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in August 1983. He remained Chief Executive Officer until 1995 and Chairman of the Board until his retirement in November 1996. During his tenure with Dresser, Murphy successfully guided the company through years of both industry decline and rebirth. He negotiated a number of strategic and successful acquisitions and joint-ventures including Wheatly TXT, Baroid Corporation, M-1 Drilling Fluids Co., Western Atlas International and M.W. Kellogg, one of the major refinery construction companies in the world. At his retirement, Dresser had become one of the largest oilfield services company in the world, employing over 31,000 employees in fifty countries. | |
|
JOHN V. SINGLETON
Age: 85
Business Address: 314 N. Post Oak Lane Houston, TX 77024 |
Judge Singleton is a retired United States Federal District Judge. During his tenure, Judge Singleton served as the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and was elected to serve as the District Judge Representative from the Fifth Circuit to the Judicial Conference of the United States by all of his fellow Judges of the Fifth Circuit. In addition, all of the District Judge Representatives elected Judge Singleton to be their Chairman during his tenure at the Judicial Conference. Judge Singleton served on the State Bar of Texas’ Administration of Justice Committee, served as a member of the American Arbitration Association, Large Complex Case Panel, and was an Advisory Member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration. Judge Singleton currently does arbitration and litigation counseling. |
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| SELIM K. ZILKHA
Age: 76
Business Address: 1001 McKinney Suite 1740 Houston, TX 77002 |
Mr. Zilkha is a 50% owner of Zilkha Renewable Energy, LLC, the principal business of which is wind energy generation, located at 1001 McKinney, Suite 1740, Houston, TX 77002. Mr. Zilkha is also the owner of Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, Inc., the principal business of which is vineyards and a winery, located at 453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. He was the majority owner of Zilkha Energy Company, L.L.C. for several years prior to that company’s acquisition by Sonat, Inc. Mr. Zilkha served as a director of El Paso Energy Corporation from November 1999 to February 2001, and as an advisory director from February 2001 to June 2002. From January 1998 to November 1999, Mr. Zilkha was a director of Sonat, Inc., an energy holding company whose subsidiaries operated in the oil and natural gas industries. |
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