Blueprint
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UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934
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Filed
by the Registrant [X]
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
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Check
the appropriate box:
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[
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Preliminary Proxy
Statement
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[
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Confidential, for
Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
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[X]
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Definitive Proxy
Statement
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[
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material
Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
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UNITED
STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
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(Name
of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the
Registrant)
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Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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[X]
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No fee
required.
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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N/A
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(2)
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Aggregate number of
securities to which transactions applies:
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N/A
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:
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N/A
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(4)
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Proposed maximum
aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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fee paid:
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box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date
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UNITED
STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
P.O.
Box 643, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873
October
20, 2016
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Dear
Shareholder:
You are
cordially invited to attend the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders
of United States Antimony Corporation. The meeting will
be held at the Ramada Inn at the Spokane International Airport,
8909 Airport Drive, Spokane, Washington, on Saturday, December 10,
2016, at 9:00 a.m., local time.
The
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement
describe the formal business to be transacted at the
meeting.
During
the meeting, we will also report on our
operations. Directors and officers of United States
Antimony Corporation will be present to respond to appropriate
questions from shareholders.
It is
important that your shares are represented, whether or not you
attend the annual meeting in person and regardless of the number of
shares you own. To make sure your shares are
represented, we urge you to promptly vote. You may vote
your shares by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy
card. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person
even if you have previously submitted your proxy. Also, described
in the accompanying proxy information is important information on
how you can vote online.
We look
forward to seeing you at the meeting.
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Sincerely,
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John C.
Lawrence
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Chairman and President
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UNITED
STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
NOTICE
OF 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the Shareholders of United States Antimony
Corporation:
The
2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of United States Antimony
Corporation (USAC or the Company) will be held at the Ramada Inn at
the Spokane International Airport, 8909 Airport Drive, Spokane,
Washington, on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 9:00 a.m., local
time, for the following purposes:
1.
To elect each of
the seven directors named in the Proxy Statement for a term of one
year.
2.
To ratify the
appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S. as USAC’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2016.
3.
To transact any
other business that properly comes before the meeting.
Only
shareholders of record at the close of business on October 20,
2016, or the Record Date, will be entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, the annual meeting. A list of shareholders as of the
Record Date, will be available at the annual meeting for inspection
by any shareholder. Shareholders will need to register at the
annual meeting to attend the annual meeting. If your shares of
common stock or preferred stock are not registered in your name,
you will need to bring proof of your ownership of those shares at
the annual meeting in order to register and to attend and vote. You
should ask the broker, bank or other institution that holds your
shares of common or preferred stock to provide you with a valid
proxy card to permit you to vote at the annual meeting. Please
bring that documentation to the annual meeting.
Your vote is very important. Whether or
not you expect to attend in person, we urge you to vote your shares
at your earliest convenience. Promptly voting your shares by
signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy card will ensure
the presence of a quorum at the meeting. An addressed envelope for
which no postage is required if mailed in the United States is
enclosed if you wish to vote by mail. Submitting your proxy now
will not prevent you from voting your shares at the meeting if you
desire to do so, as your proxy is revocable at your option.
Retention of the proxy is not necessary for admission to or
identification at the meeting.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the annual
meeting to be held on December 10, 2016. The proxy statement and
2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at
htt://www.usantimony.com.
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By Order of the Board of Directors
John C. Lawrence
Chairman and President
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Thompson Falls,
Montana
October
20, 2016
PROXY
STATEMENT
OF
UNITED
STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
47 Cox
Gulch, P.O. Box 643
Thompson Falls,
Montana 59873
(406)
827-3523
2016
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
DECEMBER
10, 2016
The
Board of Directors of United States Antimony Corporation (USAC or
the Company) is using this Proxy Statement to solicit proxies from
our shareholders for use at the 2016 annual meeting of
shareholders. We are first mailing this Proxy Statement and the
form of proxy to our shareholders on or about October 20,
2016.
INFORMATION
ABOUT THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING
Time
and Place of the Annual Meeting
Our
annual meeting will be held as follows:
Date:
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Saturday, December
10, 2016
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Time:
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9:00 a.m., local
time
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Place:
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Ramada Inn at the
Spokane International Airport, 8909 Airport Drive, Spokane,
Washington
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Matters
to Be Considered at the Annual Meeting
At the
meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following
proposals:
Proposal
1.
To elect seven
directors each to serve for a one-year term.
Proposal
2.
To ratify the
selection of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S. as our independent
auditor for 2016.
We also
will transact any other business that may properly come before the
annual meeting. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, we are not
aware of any other business to be presented for consideration at
the annual meeting other than the matters described in this Proxy
Statement.
Who
is Entitled to Vote?
We have
fixed the close of business on October 20, 2016 as the Record Date
for shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at our annual
meeting. Only holders of record of USAC’s common stock and
preferred stock on that date are entitled to notice of and to vote
at the annual meeting. You are entitled to one vote for each share
of USAC common stock and each share of preferred stock you own. On
the Record Date, the following shares were outstanding and entitled
to vote at the annual meeting: (1) 66,316,278 shares of common
stock, (2) 177,904 shares of Series C preferred stock, and (3)
1,751,005 shares of Series D preferred stock. The Company’s
Series B preferred stock does not have voting rights.
How
Do I Vote at the Annual Meeting?
You
have several voting options. You may vote by:
●
Completing your
proxy card over the internet at the following website: http://www.columbiastock.com/voting4;
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Faxing your proxy
card to Columbia Stock Transfer at 855-644-3544, Attention Michelle
Janshen;
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Emailing your proxy
card to Columbia Stock Transfer at
michelle@columbiastock.com;
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Downloading or
requesting a proxy card (as detailed below), signing your proxy and
mailing it to the attention of Alicia Hill, Secretary, at P.O. Box
643, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873;
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Signing and faxing
your proxy card to our Secretary for proxy voting at the number
provided on the proxy card; or
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Attending the
annual meeting and voting in person.
Proxies
are solicited to provide all shareholders of record on the Record
Date an opportunity to vote on matters scheduled for the annual
meeting and described in these materials. You are a shareholder of
record if your shares of USAC common stock and/or preferred stock
are held in your name. If you are a beneficial owner of USAC common
stock or preferred stock held by a broker, bank or other nominee
(i.e., in “street
name”), please see the instructions in the following
question.
Shares
of USAC common stock and preferred stock can only be voted if the
shareholder is present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting.
To ensure your representation at the annual meeting, we recommend
you vote by proxy even if you plan to attend the annual meeting.
You can always change your vote at the meeting if you are a
shareholder of record.
Shares
of USAC common stock and preferred stock represented by properly
executed proxies will be voted by the individuals named on the
proxy card in accordance with the shareholder’s instructions.
Where properly executed proxies are returned to us with no specific
instruction as how to vote at the annual meeting, the persons named
in the proxy will vote the shares "FOR" the election of each of our
six director nominees and "FOR" ratification of the selection of
DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S. as our independent auditor for
2016. If any other matters are properly presented at the annual
meeting for action, the persons named in the enclosed proxy and
acting thereunder will have the discretion to vote on these matters
in accordance with their best judgment. We do not currently expect
that any other matters will be properly presented for action at the
annual meeting.
You may
receive more than one proxy card depending on how your shares are
held. For example, you may hold some of your shares individually,
some jointly with your spouse and some in trust for your children.
In this case, you will receive three separate proxy cards to
vote.
What
if My Shares Are Held in Street Name?
If you
are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street
name” by a broker, your broker, as the record holder of the
shares, is required to vote the shares in accordance with your
instructions. If you do not give instructions to your broker, your
broker may nevertheless vote the shares with respect to
discretionary items, but will not be permitted to vote your shares
with respect to non-discretionary items, pursuant to current
industry practice. In the case of non-discretionary items, the
shares not voted will be treated as “broker
non-votes.”
If your
shares are held in street name, you will need proof of ownership to
be admitted to the annual meeting. A recent brokerage statement or
letter from the record holder of your shares are examples of proof
of ownership. If you want to vote your shares of common stock or
preferred stock held in street name in person at the annual
meeting, you will have to get a written proxy in your name from the
broker, bank or other nominee who holds your shares.
How
Many Shares Must Be Present to Hold the Meeting?
A
quorum must be present at the meeting for any business to be
conducted. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of
at least a majority of the shares of USAC common stock and
preferred stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting as of the
record date will constitute a quorum. Proxies received but marked
as abstentions or broker non-votes will be included in the
calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the
meeting.
What
if a Quorum Is Not Present at the Meeting?
If a
quorum is not present at the scheduled time of the meeting, a
majority of the shareholders present or represented by proxy may
adjourn the meeting until a quorum is present. The time and place
of the adjourned meeting will be announced at the time the
adjournment is taken, and no other notice will be given unless the
meeting is adjourned for 120 days or more. An adjournment will have
no effect on the business that may be conducted at the
meeting.
Vote
Required to Approve Proposal 1: Election of Directors
Directors are
elected by a majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at
the annual meeting by holders of a plurality of outstanding shares
entitled to vote present in person or by proxy at the annual
meeting. Pursuant to our Bylaws and Montana law, shareholders are
permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
Under cumulative voting, each holder of voting stock has a number
of votes that is equal to the number of shares of voting stock he
or she owns multiplied by the number of directors to be elected.
The holder may cast all of those votes for one nominee or
distribute them among all or less than all of the nominees as the
shareholder sees fit. Since seven directors are to be elected at
the meeting, the total votes which may be cast in the election of
directors is calculated as follows:
Number
of shares of voting stock owned by you [___] x 7 (number of
directors to be elected) = total votes. Shareholders may allocate
their votes among the six nominees described below. Votes may be
cast for or withheld from each nominee.
Vote
Required to Approve Proposal 2: Ratification of the Selection of
the Independent Auditor
Ratification of the
selection of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S. as our independent
auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled
to vote present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting.
Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the
proposal.
May
I Revoke My Proxy?
You may
revoke your proxy before it is voted by:
● submitting
a new proxy with a later date;
● notifying
the Secretary of USAC in writing before the annual meeting that you
have revoked your proxy; or
● voting
in person at the annual meeting.
If you
plan to attend the annual meeting and wish to vote in person, we
will give you a ballot at the annual meeting. However, if your
shares are held in “street name,” you must bring a
validly executed proxy from the nominee indicating that you have
the right to vote your shares.
How
can I obtain a copy of the 2015 Annual Report on Form
10-K?
The
Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, including
financial statements, is available on the internet with this Proxy
Statement at http://www.usantimony.com.
The Form is also available through the SEC’s website at
http://www.sec.gov.
At the written request of any shareholder who
owns shares on the Record Date, the Company will provide to such
shareholder, without charge, a paper copy of the Company’s
2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC, including
the financial statements, but not including
exhibits.
If
requested the Company will provide copies of the exhibits for a
reasonable fee.
PROPOSAL
1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
What
is the current compensation of the Board?
Our
Board of Directors currently consists of seven
members.
Is
the Board divided into classes? How long is the term?
No, the
Board is not divided into classes. All directors serve one-year
terms until their successors are elected and qualified at the next
annual meeting.
Who
is standing for election this year?
The
Board of Directors has nominated the following seven current Board
Members for election at the 2016 annual meeting, to hold office
until the 2017 annual meeting:
What
if a nominee is unable or unwilling to serve?
All of
our nominees currently serve as USAC directors. Each nominee has
consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and has agreed to
serve if elected. If a nominee is unable to stand for election, the
Board of Directors may either reduce the number of directors to be
elected or select a substitute nominee. If a substitute nominee is
selected, the proxy holders will vote your shares for the
substitute nominee, unless you have withheld authority. At this
time, we are not aware of any reason why a nominee might be unable
to serve if elected.
How
are nominees elected?
Directors are
elected by a majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at
the annual meeting by holders of a plurality of outstanding shares
entitled to vote present in person or by proxy at the annual
meeting. Pursuant to our Bylaws and Montana law, shareholders are
permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of
directors.
Board
Recommendation
The Board recommends a vote
FOR each of the seven nominees. All proxies executed and returned
without an indication of how shares should be voted will be voted
FOR the election of all nominees.
INFORMATION
ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to
current directors. The term for each director expires at our next
annual meeting or until his or her successor is appointed and
qualified. The ages of the directors are shown as of December 31,
2015.
Name
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Age
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Affiliation
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Expiration
of Term
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John C.
Lawrence
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77
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Chairman,
President,
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2017
annual meeting
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and
Treasurer; Director
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Gary D.
Babbitt
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70
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Director
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2017
annual meeting
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Hartmut
W. Baitis
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66
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Director
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2017
annual meeting
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Russell
C. Lawrence
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47
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Director
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2017
annual meeting
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Whitney H.
Ferer
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57
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Director
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2017 annual
meeting
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Jeffrey D.
Wright
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47
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Director
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2017 annual
meeting
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Craig W.
Thomas
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41
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Director
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2017 annual
meeting
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Set
forth below is the present principal occupation and other business
experience during the last five years of each of the six nominees
for election.
John C.
Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence has been the president and
a director since the Company’s inception. Mr.
Lawrence was the president and a director of AGAU Mines, Inc., our
corporate predecessor, since the inception of AGAU Mines, Inc. in
1968. He is a member of the Society of Mining Engineers
and a recipient of the Uuno Sahinen Silver Medallion Award
presented by Butte Tech, University of Montana. He holds
a BA degree from Hamilton with course work at the University of
Wyoming, an MA degree from the University of Wyoming and has
completed all course work and thesis at the University of Utah for
a PhD degree. Mr. Lawrence has an extensive background in mining,
milling, smelting, chemical processing and oil and
gas.
Gary D.
Babbitt. Mr. Babbitt, who joined the Board in
1998, has been involved in the formation of the Company’s
Mexican subsidiaries and acquisition of mining concessions and
smelter operations in Mexico, and other business relationships of
the Company domestically and internationally. He currently serves
as secretary/director of USAC’s Mexican Subsidiaries. Prior
to becoming a USAC director, he represented mining companies in a
variety of transactions and cases for more than 30 years in the
Western United States, with an emphasis in mining law and CERCLA.
Mr. Babbitt has a B.A. from the Albertson College of Idaho, and
earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago.
Hartmut W. Baitis.
Mr. Baitis, who joined the Board in 2011, has more than 35 years of
experience as an exploration geologist in the U.S., Canada, Central
America and Mexico. Since 1995, he has been a consultant to
numerous mining companies, and preparing advanced-stage precious
metal, base metal and industrial metal evaluations. Mr. Baitis is
involved in ownership of several gold and base metal properties and
two producing mines. He has a B.S. and a Ph.D. in Geology from the
University of Oregon.
Russell C.
Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence, who joined the Board in
2007, has experience in the lines of applied physics, mining,
refining, excavation, electricity, electronics, and building
contracting. He graduated from the University of Idaho
with a degree in physics in 1994 and worked for the Physics
Department at the University of Idaho for a period of 10 years. He
has also worked as a building contractor and for USAC at the
smelter and laboratory at Thompson Falls, for USAMSA in the
construction and operation of the USAMSA smelter in Mexico, and for
Antimonio de Mexico, S. A. de C. V. at the San Miguel Mine and the
Cadereyta mill site in Mexico. He also serves as vice
president/director of USAC’s Mexican Subsidiaries. Mr.
Lawrence is the son of John C. Lawrence, the Company’s
Chairman and President.
Whitney H. Ferer.
Mr. Ferer, who joined the Board in 2012, has worked for 34 years
for Aaron Ferer & Sons, or AF&S, headquartered in Omaha,
Nebraska, where he is currently the Vice President of Trading and
Operations and Vice Chairman of the Board. He previously served as
the Vice President of the Lead and Zinc Division of AF&S, and
has been involved in the patenting of various processes for the
breakdown of plastics and metal recovery.
Jeffrey D. Wright.
Mr. Wright, who joined the Board in 2015, most recently was
Managing Director Metals & Mining Research for H.C. Wainwright
from 2013 to 2015. Prior to that, he held a similar position with
Global Hunter Securities commencing in 2011. From 2001 to 2011, Mr.
Wright held a variety of investment banking positions with
Robertson Stephens, Montgomery & Company and Shoreline Pacific,
all based in San Francisco, California. For five years, he served
in the U.S. Navy on the USS Carl Vinson, a $5 billion aircraft
carrier, and the USS John Young, a $500 million destroyer. Mr.
Wright has a B.A. from North Carolina State University and an MBA
from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of
Business.
Craig
W. Thomas. Mr. Thomas, who joined the Board in May 2016, is a
professional investor with fifteen years of investing experience
who has been a portfolio manager at CR Intrinsic Investors and
S.A.C. Capital Advisors and an analyst at Goff Moore Strategic
Partners and Rainwater, Inc. He is currently the
co-founder of Shareholder Advocates for Value Enhancement and the
managing member of various investment
partnerships. Prior to becoming a professional investor,
Mr. Thomas was a consultant at The Boston Consulting
Group. Mr. Thomas is currently a director of Full House
Resorts, Inc. and has served on several other public company boards
where he has experience heading audit, compensation, and nominating
and governance committees. Mr. Thomas earned an A.B. from
Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of
Business at Stanford University.
Family
Relationships
John C.
Lawrence is the father of Russell C. Lawrence.
Other
Directorships
No
directors of the Company are also directors of issuers with a class
of securities registered under Section 12 of the United States
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act,
or which otherwise are required to file periodic reports under the
Exchange Act.
Legal
Proceedings
The
Company is not aware of any material legal proceedings to which any
director, officer or affiliate of the Company, or any owner of
record or beneficially of more than five percent of common stock of
the Company, or any associate of any director, officer, affiliate
of the Company, or security holder is a party adverse to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest
adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
The
Company is not aware of any of its directors or officers being
involved in any legal proceedings in the past ten years relating to
any matters in bankruptcy, insolvency, criminal proceedings (other
than traffic and other minor offenses) or being subject to any of
the items set forth under Item 401(f) of Regulation
S-K.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Board
of Directors
The
Board of Directors conducts its business through Board meetings and
through its committees. The current Board is composed of seven
directors.
Director
Independence
We have
seven directors as of the Record Date, including five independent
directors as follows:
An
“independent” director is a director whom the Board of
Directors has determined satisfies the requirements for
independence under Section 803A of the NYSE MKT Company
Guide.
Meetings
of the Board and Board Member Attendance at Annual
Meeting
During
the year ended December 31, 2015, the Board of Directors held four
(4) regular meetings. Each incumbent director, other than Mr.
Wright who was appointed to the Board in July 2015 and Mr. Thomas
who was appointed to the Board in 2016, attended all of the
meetings of the Board in 2015 and of committees on which such
person served during this period.
Board
members are not required to attend the annual meeting.
Communications
to the Board
Shareholders
who are interested in communicating
directly with members of the Board, or the Board as a group, may do
so by writing directly to the individual Board member c/o Alicia
Hill, Corporate Secretary, at United States Antimony Corporation,
P.O. Box 643, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873. Our Secretary will
forward communications directly to the appropriate Board member. If
the correspondence is not addressed to the particular member, the
communication will be forwarded to a Board member to bring to the
attention of the Board. Our Secretary will review all
communications before forwarding them to the appropriate Board
member.
Committees
and Committee Charters
The
Board of Directors has a standing Executive Committee, Audit
Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance &
Nominating Committee. The Audit Committee was established in
December 2011, and the Compensation and the Corporate Governance
& Nominating Committees were established in 2012.
Executive
Committee
The
Executive Committee consists of two members, John C. Lawrence and
Gary D. Babbitt. During 2015, the Executive Committee met two (2)
times.
Audit
Committee and Audit Committee Financial Experts
We have a standing Audit Committee and audit
committee charter, which complies with Rule 10A-3 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the
requirements of the NYSE MKT. Our Audit Committee was established
in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. Our
Audit Committee is composed of five (5) directors each of whom, in
the opinion of the Board, is independent (in accordance with Rule
10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the requirements of Section 803A of
the NYSE MKT Company Guide) and financially literate (pursuant to
the requirements of Section 803B of the NYSE MKT Company
Guide): Gary D. Babbitt (Chairman), Hartmut W. Baitis,
Whitney H. Ferer, Jeffrey D. Wright and Craig W. Thomas. Each of
Mr. Baitis and Mr. Thomas satisfies
the requirement of a “financial expert” as defined
under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and meets the requirements
for financial sophistication under the requirements of Section 803B
of the NYSE MKT Company Guide.
Our
Audit Committee meets with our management and our external auditors
to review matters affecting financial reporting, the system of
internal accounting and financial controls and procedures and the
audit procedures and audit plans. Our Audit Committee reviews our
significant financial risks, is involved in the appointment of
senior financial executives and annually reviews our insurance
coverage and any off-balance sheet transactions.
Our
Audit Committee monitors our audit and the preparation of financial
statements and all financial disclosure contained in our SEC
filings. Our Audit Committee appoints our external auditors,
monitors their qualifications and independence and determines the
appropriate level of their remuneration. The external auditors
report directly to the Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee has the
authority to terminate our external auditors’ engagement and
approve in advance any services to be provided by the external
auditors that are not related to the audit.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,
the Audit Committee met seven (7) times. A copy of the Audit
Committee charter is available on our website at
www.usantimony.com.
Audit Committee Report
Our
Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting process on behalf
of the Board. The Committee has five (5) members, each of whom is
“independent” as determined under Rule 10A-3 of the
Exchange Act and the rules of the NYSE MKT. The Committee operates
under a written charter adopted by the Board.
The
Committee assists the Board by overseeing the (1) integrity of our
financial reporting and internal control, (2) independence and
performance of our independent auditors, (3) and provides an avenue
of communication between management, the independent auditors and
the Board.
In
the course of providing its oversight responsibilities regarding
the 2015 financial statements, the Committee reviewed the 2015
audited financial statements, which appear in the 2015 Annual
Report on Form 10-K, with management and our independent auditors.
The Committee reviewed accounting principles, practices, and
judgments as well as the adequacy and clarity of the notes to the
financial statements.
The
Committee reviewed the independence and performance of the
independent auditors who are responsible for expressing an opinion
on the conformity of those audited financial statements with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and
such other matters as required to be communicated by the
independent auditors in accordance with Statement of Auditing
Standards 61, as superseded by Statement of Auditing Standard
114—the Auditor’s Communication With Those Charged With
Governance, as modified or supplemented.
The
Committee meets with the independent auditors to discuss their
audit plans, scope and timing on a regular basis, with or without
management present. The Committee has received the written
disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required
by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board for independent auditor communications with audit
committees concerning independence, as may be modified or
supplemented.
In
reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the
Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board has approved,
that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual
Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2015. The Committee and the Board have
also recommended the selection of DeCoria, Maichel and Teague P.S.
as independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal year
2016.
Submitted by the 2015 Audit Committee Members
●
Gary D. Babbit (Chairman)
Compensation Committee
We
have a Compensation Committee composed of four (4) directors, each
of whom, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, is independent
(under Section 803A of the NYSE MKT Company Guide): Gary D. Babbitt
(Chairman), Hartmut W. Baitis, Whitney H. Ferer and Jeffrey D.
Wright.
We
have a Compensation Committee charter that complies with the
requirements of the NYSE MKT. Our Compensation Committee is
responsible for considering and authorizing terms of employment and
compensation of executive officers and providing advice on
compensation structures in the various jurisdictions in which we
operate. Our Chief Executive Officer may not be present during the
voting determination or deliberations of his or her compensation;
however, our Compensation Committee does consult with our Chief
Executive Officer in determining and recommending the compensation
of directors and other executive officers.
In
addition, our Compensation Committee reviews both our overall
salary objectives and significant modifications made to employee
benefit plans, including those applicable to executive officers,
and propose awards of stock options, if any. The Compensation
Committee has determined that the Company’s compensation
policies and practices for its employees generally, not just
executive officers, are not reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
The
Compensation Committee does not and cannot delegate its authority
to determine director and executive officer compensation. Due to
budgetary constraints, neither the Company nor the Compensation
Committee has engaged the services of an external compensation
consultant.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,
the Compensation Committee met two (2) times. A copy of the
Compensation Committee charter is available on our website
at www.usantimony.com.
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
We
have a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee composed of
three (3) directors, each of whom, in the opinion of our Board of
Directors, is independent (under Section 803A of the NYSE MKT
Company Guide): Gary D. Babbitt (Chairman), Hartmut W. Baitis and
Whitney H. Ferer. We have a Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee charter that complies with the requirements of the NYSE
MKT.
Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
is responsible for developing our approach to corporate governance
issues. The Committee evaluates the qualifications of potential
candidates for director and recommends to the Board nominees for
election at the next annual meeting or any special meeting of
shareholders, and any person to be considered to fill a Board
vacancy resulting from death, disability, removal, resignation or
an increase in Board size. The Committee has adopted a Director
Nominating Process and Policy which sets forth the criteria the
Board will assess in connection with the consideration of a
candidate, including the candidate’s integrity, reputation,
judgment, knowledge, independence, experience, accomplishments,
commitment and skills, all in the context of an assessment of the
perceived needs of the Board at that time. A copy of the Director
Nominating Process and Policy is available on our website at
www.usantimony.com.
We
do not have a formal policy regarding diversity in the selection of
nominees for directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee does, however, consider diversity as part of its overall
selection strategy. In considering diversity of the Board as a
criteria for selecting nominees, the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee takes into account various factors and
perspectives, including differences of viewpoint, professional
experience, education, skills and other individual qualities and
attributes that contribute to Board heterogeneity, as well as race,
gender and national origin. The Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee seeks persons with leadership experience in a variety of
contexts. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
believes that this conceptualization of diversity is the most
effective means to implement Board diversity. The Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee will assess the effectiveness
of this approach as part of its annual review of its
charter.
The Committee will consider recommendations for
director nominees made by shareholders and others if these
individuals meet the criteria set forth in the Director Nominating
Process and Policy. For consideration by the Committee, the
nominating shareholder or other person must provide the Corporate
Secretary’s Office with information about the nominee,
including the detailed background of the suggested candidate that
will demonstrate how the individual meets our director nomination
criteria. If a candidate proposed by a shareholder meets the
criteria, the individual will be considered on the same basis as
other candidates. No
shareholder or shareholders holding 5% or more of our outstanding
stock, either individually or in aggregate, has recommended a
nominee for election to the Board.
All
of the six nominees included on the proxy card accompanying this
proxy statement were nominated by the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee and were recommended by our current
Board.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,
the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee met one (1) time.
A copy of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee charter
is available on our website at www.usantimony.com.
Board Leadership Structure
The
Board has reviewed our current Board leadership structure in light
of the composition of the Board, our size, the nature of our
business, the regulatory framework under which we operate, our
shareholder base, our peer group and other relevant factors.
Considering these factors we have determined not to have a separate
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, and to have John
C. Lawrence fill both roles. We have determined that this structure
is currently the most appropriate Board leadership structure for
us. The Board noted the following factors in reaching its
determination:
●
The Board acts efficiently and effectively under its current
structure.
●
A structure of a combined Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board is in the best position to be aware of major issues
facing us on a day-to-day and long-term basis, and is in the best
position to identify key risks and developments facing us to be
brought to the Board’s attention.
●
This structure eliminates the potential for confusion and
duplication of efforts, including among employees.
●
Companies within our peer group utilize similar Board
structures.
We
do not have a lead independent director. Given the size of the
Board, the Board believes that the presence of five independent
directors out of the seven directors on the Board, with independent
directors sitting on the Board’s committees, is sufficient
independent oversight of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The independent directors work well together in the current board
structure and the Board does not believe that selecting a lead
independent director would add significant benefits to the Board
oversight role.
The Board of Director’s Role in Risk Management
Oversight
The
understanding, identification and management of risk are essential
elements for the successful management of the Company. Risk
oversight begins with the Board and the Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee consists of Mr. Babbitt (Chairman), and Messrs. Baitus,
Ferer, Wright and Thomas, each of whom is an independent
director.
The
Audit Committee reviews and discusses policies with respect to risk
assessment and risk management. The Audit Committee also has
oversight responsibility with respect to the integrity of our
financial reporting process and systems of internal control
regarding finance and accounting, as well as its financial
statements.
At
the management level, an internal audit provides reliable and
timely information to the Board and management regarding our
effectiveness in identifying and appropriately controlling risks.
Annually, management presents to the Audit Committee a report
summarizing the review of our methods for identifying and managing
risks.
Additionally,
our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the risks
related to succession planning and the independence of the Board.
The Compensation Committee reviews the risks related to our various
compensation plans.
In
the event that a committee is allocated responsibility for
examining and analyzing a specific risk, such committee reports on
the relevant risk exposure during its regular reports to the entire
Board to facilitate proper risk oversight by the entire
Board.
Based
on a review of the nature of operations, we do not believe that any
areas of the Company are incentivized to take excessive risks that
would likely have a material adverse effect on our
operations.
DIRECTORS’
COMPENSATION
Following is a
summary of fees, cash payments, stock awards, and other
reimbursements to Directors during the year ended December 31,
2015:
Directors
Compensation
|
|
|
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
Fees Earned or paid in Cash
|
|
Total Fees, Awards, and Other Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
John C. Lawrence,
Chairman
|
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
Gary D. Babbitt,
Director
|
$36,000
|
$25,000
|
$61,000
|
Russell C.
Lawrence, Director
|
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
Hartmut W. Baitis,
Director
|
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
Whitney H. Ferrer,
Director
|
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
Jeffrey D. Wright,
Director
|
|
$12,500
|
$12,500
|
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation
Table
The
following summary compensation table sets forth information
concerning the annual compensation for services to the Company for
the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 paid by the
Company to its executive officers.
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Stock
Awards (1)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
John C.
Lawrence, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
$
|
141,000
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
166,000
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
141,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
166,000
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
126,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
151,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John C.
Gustaven, Executive Vice President
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Russell
C. Lawrence, Vice President for Latin America
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
$
|
120,000
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
145,000
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
105,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
130,000
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
(1)
|
These
figures represent the fair values, as of the date of issuance, of
the annual director's fee payable to John C. Lawrence and Russell
C. Lawrence in the form of shares of USAC's common
stock.
|
|
Compensation for
all executive officers, except for the President/CEO position, is
recommended to the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
by the President/CEO. The Compensation Committee makes the
recommendation for the compensation of the President/CEO. The
Compensation Committee has identified a peer group of mining
companies to aid in reviewing the President’s compensation
recommendations for executives, and for reviewing the compensation
of the President/CEO. The full Board approves the compensation
amounts recommended by the Compensation Committee. Currently, the
executive management’s compensation only includes base salary
and health insurance. The Company does not have annual performance
based salary increases, long term performance based cash
incentives, deferred compensation, retirement benefits, or
disability benefits. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Russell
C. Lawrence (VP) received an increase in base compensation of
$15,000 annually. The Board of Directors determined that Mr.
Lawrence’s compensation for the prior years was not adequate
for the duties assigned to him as the Vice President for Latin
America, and that a raise was appropriate to compensate him for
management of the Company’s Latin American
operations.
|
|
Two
executive officers, the President/CEO and the Vice-President for
the Latin American operations, receive restricted stock awards for
their services as Board members.
|
Equity
Compensation Awards
The
following table sets forth information concerning the outstanding
equity awards at December 31, 2015, held by our principal executive
officer. There were not any other outstanding equity awards or plan
based awards to officers or directors as of December 31,
2015.
|
|
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards
at
Fiscal
Year End
|
|
|
Name
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
|
Number
of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John C.
Lawrence
|
250,000
|
0
|
0
|
$0.25
|
None
|
(Chairman of the
Board Of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Chief
Executive
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation
Committee Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This
discussion and analysis provides you with an understanding of our
executive compensation philosophy, plans and practices, and gives
you the context for understanding and evaluating the more specific
compensation information contained in the tables and related
disclosures set forth above.
United
States Antimony Corporation (USAC or the Company) mines and
processes zeolite, antimony and precious metals. A wholly owned
subsidiary, Bear River Zeolite, operates a zeolite mine and plant
near Preston, Idaho. Wholly owned subsidiaries in Mexico operate
the Los Juarez antimony mine in the state of Queretaro, Mexico, a
mill in Guanajuato, Mexico, an antimony smelter in Coahuila,
Mexico, and mines in Guadalapana, Guadalupe, Soyatal and Wadley.
The Company headquarters, primary smelter and refinery are located
in Thompson Falls, Montana.
In
analyzing executive compensation the committee recognized the
hardship and risk which the CEO, John Lawrence, and the Executive
Vice Presidents, John Gustaven and Russell Lawrence, faced and
continue to endure in working in Mexico. Employment at the senior
management level has been static from 2013 through 2016, both in
the Company and all of its subsidiaries.
Oversight
of the Executive Compensation Program
Role of the Compensation Committee. The
Compensation Committee (Committee) oversees the compensation
programs. The Committee recommends the compensation level for the
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and it recommends the compensation
levels of the other Company executives. The independent Directors
of the Board then consider the recommendations and vote on them.
The Compensation Committee also makes recommendations to the Board
concerning salary guidelines and reviews compensation matters
concerning all other executive officer and director compensation,
including salaries, bonuses, stock-based awards and grants, and the
terms and conditions of employment contracts.
The
Compensation Committee meets at least twice annually to consider
recommendations to the Board. Typically, the CEO of the Company
makes recommendations to the Committee concerning individual salary
levels and other compensation for the executives based on his
knowledge of the work requirements and their effort and success.
The CEO does not make any recommendation concerning his salary or
compensation. The Compensation Committee, as noted, makes its own
recommendation concerning the CEO’s salary or other
compensation. The Compensation Committee balances the
Company’s compensation levels with the present operational
goals and objectives of the Company.
The
Compensation Committee is currently comprised of Hart Baitis,
Whitney Ferer, Jeffrey Wright and Gary Babbitt, Chairman. The
Compensation Committee did not engage a compensation consultant in
either the preparation or review of this report. The Board of
Directors fixes director compensation based on the
Committee’s market analysis and, most importantly, the
Company’s financial situation.
Role
of Executive Officers
The
Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Committee
concerning executive officers’ total
compensation.
The
executive officers may make recommendations concerning any
qualified or non-qualified stock plan which the Company may have.
At this time, the Company does not have a qualified or
non-qualified stock plan.
The
Committee reviews the executive officer recommendations for
compensation and exercises its discretion in amending, accepting or
modifying the recommendations for compensation.
Executive
Compensation Principles
The
following principles assist and guide the Committee in fulfilling
its responsibilities as set forth in the Compensation Committee
Charter and administration of the continuing executive compensation
program:
●
Compensation should be transparent so that both the Company
shareholders and executives understand the executive compensation
program.
●
Compensation programs should correspond with the Company’s
long-term financial interest as well as the interests of
shareholders.
●
Compensation should be flexible and rational in cyclical or
volatile commodity markets.
●
Compensation should account for the inherent risks in certain
geographical environments.
●
Compensation should be responsive to retaining qualified, high
caliber executives and management.
Executive
Management receives only a base salary and health insurance. The
Company does not have annual performance based salary plans, or
long term performance based cash incentives, deferred compensation,
retirement benefits or disability benefits. The CEO, John Lawrence,
and Russell Lawrence, the Vice President of Latin American
Operations, are Board members and receive compensation in the form
of Company common stock for serving on the Board.
While
the Company has identified a peer group, the Committee recommends
not to change the Executive Management base salaries in 2016-2017
and the salaries have remained static from the 2013 level except
for a modest increase of CEO’s salary from $126,000 to
$141,000, and the CFO’s compensation from $75,000 to $90,000.
Moreover, the Board of Directors rescinded the historical annual
permitted grant of 26,000 shares of restricted common stock to the
directors as of May 13, 2012. The directors’ new compensation
was limited in the future not to exceed a value of $25,000 unless
circumstances otherwise permit a different award. The Company does
not have percentile projections, incentives or goals of
compensation for any executive officers or directors of the
Company. The Board of Directors will wait to consider any changes
in compensation for the 2017 calendar year.
Market
Assessments
The
Committee reviews market compensation levels for the Board of
Director and Executive compensation. At the present time the
continuing development of the Mexican program requires that changes
in base salary of the executives and compensation of directors will
be carefully determined and on a case by case basis
annually.
Peer
Group for 2016 Compensation
The
Committee identified the following mining companies for the peer or
comparison group for compensation analysis comparisons and are
listed in order of their 2016 market capitalization. These
companies are all operating mining companies, as exploration
companies are not considered to be peers for compensation purposes.
The following list shows available compensation information on
management.
|
|
MKT CAP
|
CEO/PRES
|
COO
|
EX VP
|
CFO
|
TREAS/SEC
|
1.
Klondex Mines
|
|
880M
|
915,000
|
406,000
|
NA
|
393,000
|
NA
|
370,000
|
|
513M
|
367,000
|
|
NA
|
296,000
|
NA
|
563,000
|
|
239M
|
|
409,000
|
240,000
|
330,000
|
NA
|
4.
Polymet Mining
|
|
229M
|
812,000
|
NA
|
355,000
|
367,000
|
NA
|
5.
Midas Gold
|
|
188M
|
320,000
|
NA
|
301,000
|
248,000
|
NA
|
6.
Avino Gold & Silver
|
|
109M
|
604,000
|
211,000
|
NA
|
132,000
|
NA
|
7.
Impact Silver
|
|
94M
|
187,000
|
NA
|
78,000
|
NA
|
NA
|
360,000
|
|
73M
|
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
9.
Northern Vertex
|
|
44M
|
167,000
|
NA
|
NA
|
169,000
|
NA
|
10.
USAC
|
|
22M
|
141,000
|
NA
|
120,000
|
90,000
|
50,000
|
The
compensation numbers are from public documents from the most recent
financial quarter available in August of 2016.
Personal
Benefits for Executives
The
Company does not have:
●
Change in control agreements;
●
Supplemental compensation policies;
●
Separation or Severance Agreements; or
●
Other types of compensation agreements.
Executive
Compensation for 2015
The
following compensation table is for the fiscal years ending
December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, for the CEO, Vice Presidents,
CFO, and Secretary-Treasurer/Controller:
Name and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary (2)
|
Bonus
|
Stock Awards (1) (3)
|
All Other Compensation
|
Total
|
John C. Lawrence,
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
2016
2015
2014
|
$141,000
$141,000
$141,000
|
N/A
|
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
|
|
$166,000
$166,000
$166,000
|
John C. Gustaven,
Executive Vice President
|
2016
2015
2014
|
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
|
N/A
|
|
|
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
|
Russell Lawrence,
Vice President for Latin America
|
2016
2015
2014
|
$120,000
$105,000
$105,000
|
N/A
|
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
|
|
$145,000
$130,000
$130,000
|
Matt Keane,
Vice President of Marketing
|
2016
2015
2014
|
$65,000
$50,000
$50,000
|
N/A
|
|
|
$65,000
$50,000
$50,000
|
Dan Parks,
Chief Financial Officer
|
2016
2015
2014
|
$90,000
$90,000
$75,000
|
N/A
|
|
|
$90,000
$90,000
$75,000
|
Alicia Hill, Secretary-
Treasurer and Controller
|
2016
2015
2014
|
$50,000
$50,000
$50,000
|
N/A
|
|
|
$50,000
$50,000
$50,000
|
1.
In August of 2012
the Board of Directors changed the maximum award of stock to the
Directors to be not more than $25,000 per director in value unless
circumstances otherwise permitted a different amount. Thus, the
stock awards for 2012 and 2013 are authorized for the Directors and
shall be delivered at a subsequent date with a value not to exceed
$25,000 as authorized or as circumstances may merit. All stock
awards for John Lawrence and Russell Lawrence for 2014 through 2016
were included in this compensation report as part of executive
salary to follow industry custom and to make the comparisons with
the peer group more consistent, even though the stock was not
delivered at that time.
2.
The
Directors received their 2014 stock in the second quarter of 2015.
There has been no decision on the award of director shares for
2015.
Expatriate
Compensation
The
Company pays for lodging, food, and transportation both
domestically and internationally as needed and required in the US
and Mexico. Security issues influence transportation in
Mexico.
Compensation
of Independent Directors
The
following table sets forth information concerning the compensation
of the Company Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2016. The table lists all compensation received by the independent
directors. The stock received by executives who were also
directors, John Lawrence and Russell Lawrence, was counted under
executive compensation.
Projected Director
Compensation for 2016 and 2017(1)
|
|
Stock
Awards(2)
Compensation
|
|
|
Gary Babbitt
(1)
|
$36,000
|
$25,000
|
0
|
$61,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hart
Baitis
|
0
|
$25.000
|
0
|
$25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whitney
Ferer
|
0
|
$25,000
|
0
|
$25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
Wright
|
0
|
$25,000
|
0
|
$25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Craig W.
Thomas(2)
|
0
|
$25,000
|
0
|
$25,000
|
1.
Gary Babbitt
presently serves as Chairman of
the Audit, Compensation, and Governance & Nomination
Committees. He also serves on the Corporate Executive
Committee and is a board member and Secretary of USAMSA, the
Company’s wholly owned Mexican subsidiary. Hart Baitis and
Whitney Ferer are members of the Audit, Compensation, and
Governance & Nomination Committees. Jeffrey Wright serves on
the Compensation Committee and Audit Committee. Craig Thomas serves
on the Audit Committee
2.
Mr. Thomas was
appointed to the Board in May 2016.
The
director compensation will remain at the same level in 2017 unless
circumstances permit a change in director
compensation.
The
Company does not have an executive or director compensation
program. The Company has a measured compensation approach
consistent with its growth. In short, compensation will be reviewed
annually.
Committee
Recommendations for 2017 Compensation of Officers and Independent
Directors
The
Committee recommends that the Executive Pay for 2017 for John
Lawrence, CEO, John Gustaven and Russell Lawrence, Executive VPs,
remain the same as 2016 as noted above. The Committee recommends
that Chairmanship fees for the Audit, Compensation and
Governance/Nomination Committees be accepted as set forth in this
report and that Director’s fees shall be $25,000 or the
equivalent amount in USAC common stock, restricted under Rule 144,
for 2017 or as circumstances otherwise permit.
Compensation
Committee Report
We, as
members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors,
have reviewed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
Based upon our independent review and discussions with management,
we recommend that the Board of Directors accept this report and
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis of 2016 be included
in the 2016 Proxy Statement for filing with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gary D.
Babbitt, Chairman
Hartmut
W. Baitis
Whitney
H. Ferer
Jeffrey
D. Wright
OTHER
GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Code
of Business and Ethical Conduct
We
have adopted a corporate Code of Business and Ethical Conduct
administered by our President/CEO, John C. Lawrence. We believe our
Code of Business and Ethical Conduct is reasonably designed to
deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct, to provide
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in
public reports, to comply with applicable laws, to ensure prompt
internal reporting of code violations, and to provide
accountability for adherence to the code. Our Code of Business and
Ethical Conduct provides written standards that are reasonably
designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
●
Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of
actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and
professional relationships;
●
Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in
reports and documents that are filed with, or submitted to, the
Commission and in other public communications made by an
issuer;
●
Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and
regulations;
●
The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an
appropriate person or persons identified in the code;
and
●
Accountability for adherence to the code.
Our Code of Business and Ethical Conduct is
available on our web site at www.usantimony.com.
A copy of the Code of Business and Ethical Conduct will be provided
to any person without charge upon written request to us at our
executive offices: United States Antimony Corporation, P.O. Box
643, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873. We intend to disclose any
waiver from a provision of our code of ethics that applies to any
of our principal executive officer, principal financial officer,
principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing
similar functions that relates to any element of our code of ethics
on our website. No waivers were granted from the requirements of
our Code of Business and Ethical Conduct during the year ended
December 31, 2015, or during the subsequent period from January 1,
2016 through the date of this proxy statement.
Compensation Interlocks and Insider Participation
There
were no compensation committee or board interlocks among the
members of our Board.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
our officers, directors, and persons who beneficially own more than
10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Such
officers, directors and 10% shareholders are also required by SEC
rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that
they have filed.
Based
solely on our review of the copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5 furnished to
us, Mr. Babbitt, Mr. Baitus, Mr. Ferer and Mr. Russell Lawrence did
not file timely Forms 3, 4 or Form 5 reports during 2015 and
2014.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Described below are
transactions during the last two years to which we are a party and
in which any director, executive officer or beneficial owner of
five percent (5%) or more of any class of our voting securities or
relatives of our directors, executive officers or five percent (5%)
beneficial owners has a direct or indirect material interest. See
also transactions described in notes 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 19 to
our Financial Statements as of December 31, 2015.
On
December 30, 2015, the Company declared, but did not issue,
approximately 147,000 shares of unregistered common stock to be
paid to its directors for services during 2015, having a fair value
of $125,000, based on the stock price at the date
declared.
During
the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company issued 105,000 shares
of common stock to Herbert Denton for investor relations services
provided. The estimated fair value of the shares at the time of
issue was approximately $27,950. The Company also forgave a $30,000
note due from Mr. Denton for the purchase of common stock, and
reduced additional paid in capital by that amount.
On
December 30, 2014, the Company declared but did not issue 183,825
shares of unregistered common stock to be paid to its directors for
services during 2014, having a fair value of $125,000, based on the
current stock price at the date declared. These shares were issued
on March 23, 2015.
During
the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company issued 24,000 shares
to Herbert Denton for investor relations services provided. The
shares estimated fair value at the time of issue was approximately
$39,000.
On
December 27, 2013, the Company declared, but did not issue, shares
of unregistered common stock to be paid to its directors for
services during 2013, having a fair value of $150,000, based on the
current stock price at the date declared. During the nine months
ended September 30, 2014, the Company issued 83,334 shares in
satisfaction of the obligation.
During
2013, the Company awarded, but did not issue, common stock with a
value at December 31, 2013 of $150,000 to its Board of Directors as
compensation for their services as directors. In connection with
the issuances, the Company recorded $150,000 in director
compensation expense. At a closing price of $1.80 per share on June
28, 2014, the directors were issued 83,334 shares in
2014.
We
reimbursed John C. Lawrence, a director and Chief Executive
Officer, for operational and maintenance expenses incurred in
connection with our use of equipment owned by Mr. Lawrence,
including welding trucks, backhoes, and an aircraft. Reimbursements
for 2015 and 2014 totaled $32,397 $30,651,
respectively.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information regarding beneficial
ownership of our common stock as of March 30, 2016, by (i) each
person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our
Series B, C, and D preferred stock or common stock; (ii) each of
our executive officers and directors; and (iii) all of our
executive officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise
stated, each person's address is c/o United States Antimony
Corporation, P.O. Box 643, 47 Cox Gulch, Thompson Falls, Montana
59873.
Title
of Class
|
Name
and Address of
Beneficial
Owners (1)
|
|
Amount
and
Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
|
Percent
of
Class
(1)
|
|
|
Percent
of all
Voting
Stock
|
|
Common
Stock
|
Cardinal Capital
Management LLC
Four
Greenwich Office Park
Greenwich CT
06831
|
|
|
4,008,694
|
|
|
6.07
|
%
|
|
|
5.87
|
%
|
Common
Stock
|
Reed
Family Limited Partnership
328
Adams Street Milton, MA
02186
|
|
|
4,018,335
|
|
|
6.09
|
%
|
|
|
5.88
|
%
|
Common
Stock
|
The
Dugan Family
c/o
A.W.Dugan
1415
Louisana Street, Suite 3100
Houston, TX
77002
|
|
|
6,362,927
|
(3)
|
|
9.64
|
%
|
|
|
9.32
|
%
|
Series
B Preferred
|
Excel
Mineral Company
P.O.
Box 3800
Santa
Barbara, CA 93130
|
|
|
750,000
|
(5)
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Series
C Preferred
|
Richard
A. Woods
59 Penn
Circle West
Penn
Plaza Apts.
Pittsburgh, PA
15206
|
|
|
48,305
|
(4)
|
|
27.10
|
%
|
|
|
*
|
|
Series
C Preferred
|
Dr.
Warren A. Evans
69
Ponfret Landing Road
Brooklyn, CT
06234
|
|
|
32,203
|
(4)
|
|
18.10
|
%
|
|
|
*
|
|
Series
C Preferred
|
Edward
Robinson
1007
Spruce Street, 1st floor
Philadelphia, PA
19107
|
|
|
32,203
|
(4)
|
|
18.10
|
%
|
|
|
*
|
|
Series
C Preferred
|
All
Series C Preferred Shareholders as a Group
|
|
|
177,904
|
(4)
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
*
|
|
Common
Stock
|
John C.
Lawrence
Russell
Lawrence
Hart
Baitis
Gary
Babbitt
Whitney
Ferer
Jeffrey
Wright
Mathew
Keane
Daniel
Parks
|
|
|
4,281,107
280,654
171,180
169,254
119,704
50,000
10,300
40,000
|
(2)
|
|
83.35
5.46
3.33
3.29
2.33
*
*
1.05
|
%
%
%
%
%
%
|
|
|
6.66
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
|
%
|
Common
Stock
|
All
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
|
|
|
5,136,199
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
7.53
|
%
|
Series
D Preferred
|
John C.
Lawrence
Leo
Jackson
Gary
Babbitt
|
|
|
1,590,672
102,000
58,333
|
(4)
|
|
90.80
5.80
3.40
|
%
%
%
|
|
|
2.40
*
*
|
%
|
Series
D Preferred
|
All
Series D Preferred Shareholders as a Group
|
|
|
1,751,005
|
(4)
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
2.70
|
%
|
Common
Stock and
Preferred Stock
w/voting rights
|
All
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
All
preferred Shareholders that are officers or directors
|
|
|
5,136,199
1,751,005
|
(2)
(4)
|
|
72.55
27.45
|
%
|
|
|
7.53
2.56
|
%
|
Common
and Preferred Voting Stock
|
All
Directors and Executive
Officers as a
Group
|
|
|
6,887,204
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
10.09
|
%
|
(1)
|
Beneficial
Ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or
investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock
subject to options or warrants currently exercisable or
convertible, or exercisable or convertible within 60 days of March
30, 2016, are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of
the person holding options or warrants but are not deemed
outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.
Percentages are based on a total of 66,316,278 shares of common stock, 750,000
shares of Series B Preferred Stock, 177,904 shares of Series C
Preferred Stock, and 1,751,005 shares of Series D Preferred Stock
outstanding on March 30, 2016. Total voting stock of 68,245,187
shares is a total of all the common stock issued, and all of the
Series C and Series D Preferred Stock.
|
(2)
|
Includes 4,031,107
shares of common stock and 250,000 stock purchase warrants.
Excludes 183,324 shares owned by Mr. Lawrence's sister, as to which
Mr. Lawrence disclaims beneficial ownership.
|
(3)
|
Includes shares
owned by the estate of Al W. Dugan and shares owned by companies
owned and controlled by the estate of Al W. Dugan. Excludes 183,333
shares owned by Lydia Dugan as to which the estate of Mr. Dugan
disclaims beneficial ownership.
|
(4)
|
The
outstanding Series C and Series D preferred shares carry voting
rights equal to the same number of shares of common stock.
|
(5)
|
The
outstanding Series B preferred shares carry voting rights only if
the Company is in default in the payment of declared dividends. The
Board of Directors has not declared any dividends as due and
payable for the Series B preferred stock.
|
PROPOSAL
2 – RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT
AUDITOR
What
am I voting on?
The
Board of Directors and the Audit Committee have selected DeCoria,
Maichel & Teague P.S. as our independent auditor for the year
ending December 31, 2016 and that selection is being submitted to
shareholders for ratification. Although ratification is not
required by our bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the
selection of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S. to our shareholder
for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the
selection is not ratified, the Board will consider whether it is
appropriate to select another registered public accounting firm.
Even if the selection is ratified, the Board in its discretion may
select a different registered public accounting firm at any time
during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the
best interests of USAC and our shareholders. DeCoria, Maichel &
Teague P.S. served as our independent auditor for the year ended
December 31, 2015.
Recommendation
of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors
unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the
ratification of the appointment of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague
P.S. as our independent auditor for 2016.
Accountant
Fees and Services
The
following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to the Company
by DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S. for professional services
rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and
2014.
|
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
$151,741
|
$149,168
|
Tax
Fees
|
$10,115
|
$24,323
|
Other
Fees
|
--
|
--
|
Totals
|
$161,856
|
$173,491
|
Audit
Fees
Audit
fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for
the audit of our financial statements and review of interim
consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and
services that are normally provided by the principal accountants in
connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements.
Tax
Fees
Tax
fees consist of fees billed for professional services for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
Audit-Related
Fees
There
were no other fees billed by DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S.
during the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services
that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or
review of the Company's financial statements and not reported under
"Audit Fees" above.
The
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors determined that all of
the services performed by DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S. in
fiscal year 2015 were not incompatible with DeCoria, Maichel &
Teague P.S. maintaining its independence.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Proposals of
shareholders intended to be presented at our annual meeting to be
held in 2017 must be received by us no later than July 20, 2016 to
be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials and form of
proxy relating to that meeting. Any such proposals shall be subject
to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities
Exchange Act.
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John C.
Lawrence
Chairman and
President
Thompson Falls,
Montana
October
20, 2016
REVOCABLE
PROXY
UNITED
STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
DECEMBER
10, 2016
The
undersigned hereby appoints John C. Lawrence and Gary D. Babbitt,
and each of them, with full powers of substitution to act as
attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, to vote all shares of
common stock of United States Antimony Corporation
(“USAC”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at
the annual meeting of shareholders, to be held at the Ramada Inn at
the airport, 8909 Airport Drive, on Saturday, December 10, 2016, at
9:00 a.m., local time, and at any and all adjournments thereof, as
indicated.
|
|
FOR
|
VOTEWITHHELD
|
1.
|
The
election as director of the nominees listed below
(except
as marked to the contrary below)
John C.
Lawrence
Gary D.
Babbitt
Harmut
W. Baitis
Russell
C. Lawrence
Whitney
H. Ferer
Jeffrey
D. Wright
Craig
W. Thomas
Note:
shareholders have the discretionary authority to cumulate votes
unless a different distribution of votes is indicated by marking
after the nominee’s name.
|
[ ]
|
[ ]
|
|
|
FOR
|
ABSTAIN
|
AGAINST
|
2.
|
The
ratification of the selection of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague,
P.S. as the independent auditor for the year ending December 31,
2016.
|
[ ]
|
[ ]
|
[ ]
|
This
proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
by the undersigned stockholder. If no specification is made, this
proxy will be voted FOR the election of the six named nominees as
directors and FOR Proposal 2, and at the discretion of the proxy on
any other matter that may properly come before the
meeting
If
any other business is presented at the annual meeting, the proxies
will vote your shares in accordance with the directors’
recommendations. At the present time, the Board of
Directors knows of no other business to be presented at the annual
meeting. This proxy card also confers discretionary
authority on the Board of Directors to vote with respect to the
election of any person as director where the nominees are unable to
serve or for good cause will not serve and on matters incident to
the conduct of the annual meeting.
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Should
the undersigned be present and elect to vote at the annual meeting
or at any adjournment thereof and after notification to the
Secretary of USAC at the annual meeting of the shareholder’s
decision to terminate this proxy, then the power of said attorneys
and proxies shall be deemed terminated and of no further force and
effect.
The
undersigned acknowledges receipt from USAC prior to the execution
of this proxy of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and the Proxy Statement dated October 20, 2016.
Dated:
, 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRINT
NAME OF SHAREHOLDER
|
|
PRINT
NAME OF SHAREHOLDER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SIGNATURE OF
SHAREHOLDER
|
|
SIGNATURE OF
SHAREHOLDER
|
|
Please
sign exactly as your name appears on the enclosed
card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give your full title. If
shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.
PLEASE
COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.