Mexican Restaurants, Inc. Proxy
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 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed
by
the registrant [X]
Filed
by
a party other than the registrant [ ]
Check
the
appropriate box:
[
] Preliminary proxy statement
[
] Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[X]
Definitive proxy statement
[
] Definitive additional materials
[
] Soliciting material pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
Mexican
Restaurants, Inc.
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
[X]
No
fee required.
[
] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1)
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3)
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5)
Total
fee paid:
[
] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[
] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or
the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1)
Amount Previously Paid:
(2)
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3)
Filing Party:
(4)
Date
Filed:
MEXICAN
RESTAURANTS, INC.
1135
Edgebrook Drive
Houston,
Texas 77034
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON MAY 22, 2007
Dear
Shareholder:
You
are
cordially invited to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Mexican
Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”) at the Monterey’s Little Mexico restaurant
located at 270 W. 1st
Street,
Humble, Texas 77338 on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 9:30 a.m., Houston, Texas time,
for the following purposes:
1. |
To
elect three Class II directors, each to serve for a term of three
years,
or until their respective successors shall have been duly elected
and
shall have qualified; and
|
2. |
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
|
Shareholders
of record of the Company’s Common Stock at the close of business on April 9,
2007 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Any
shareholder attending the meeting may vote in person even if he or she
previously returned a proxy. Each share of the Company’s Common Stock entitles
the holder to one vote.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our appreciation
for your continued interest in the affairs of the Company.
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
|
Louis
P. Neeb
|
Chairman
of the
Board
|
April
18,
2007
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT
YOU
ARE URGED TO SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, SO THAT
IF
YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING YOUR SHARES MAY NEVERTHELESS BE VOTED.
EVEN
IF YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR PROXY, THE PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO
EXERCISE BY FILING WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY A WRITTEN REVOCATION,
BY
EXECUTING A PROXY WITH A LATER DATE, OR BY ATTENDING AND VOTING AT THE
MEETING.
MEXICAN
RESTAURANTS, INC.
1135
Edgebrook Drive
Houston,
Texas 77034
PROXY
STATEMENT FOR
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON MAY 22, 2007
This
proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being furnished to
shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the
Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Mexican Restaurants, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the “Company”), for use at the Company’s 2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, to be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 9:30 a.m., Houston, Texas
time, at the Monterey’s Little Mexico restaurant located at 270 W. 1st
Street,
Humble, Texas 77338, and at any adjournment, continuation or postponement
thereof. The Notice of Annual Meeting, this Proxy Statement and the accompanying
proxy, together with the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year
ended December 31, 2006, are first being sent to shareholders on or about April
18, 2007.
At
the
Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders will be asked to consider and vote
upon (i) the election of three Class II directors, and (ii) such other business
as may properly come before the annual meeting.
Solicitation
The
solicitation of proxies is made by and on behalf of the Board. The cost of
the
solicitation will be borne by the Company, including the reasonable expenses
of
brokerage firms or other nominees for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial
owners. In addition to solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by
telephone, telecopy or personally. Proxies may be solicited by directors,
officers and employees of the Company without additional
compensation.
Record
Date, Outstanding Shares and Voting Rights
The
close
of business on April 9, 2007, has been fixed as the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting
(the “Record Date”). On the Record Date, the Company had outstanding 3,460,322
shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (“Common Stock”), each of which will be
entitled to one vote.
In
order
to transact business at the Annual Meeting, a quorum consisting of a majority
of
all outstanding shares entitled to vote on the Record Date must be present.
Abstentions and proxies returned by brokerage firms for which no voting
instructions have been received from their principals will be counted for the
purpose of determining whether a quorum is present, in person or by proxy.
Once
a share is represented for any purpose at the Annual Meeting, it will be deemed
present for quorum purposes for the entirety of the meeting. A plurality of
the
votes cast is required for the election of directors. A majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote that are represented at the meeting in
person or by proxy is required for approval of any other matters that may be
presented at the meeting.
If
the
enclosed proxy is executed and returned, the shares represented thereby will
be
voted in accordance with any specifications made by the shareholder. In
the
absence of any such specification, they will be voted to elect the directors
as
set forth under “Election of Directors” and in the transaction of any other
business that properly comes before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Pursuant to applicable law, broker non-votes and abstaining votes will not
be
counted in favor of or against the election of any nominee for director or
any
other proposal to be presented at the meeting.
The
presence of a shareholder at the meeting will not operate to revoke his proxy.
A
proxy may be revoked at any time insofar as it has not been exercised by giving
written notice of revocation to the Company, executing and returning a proxy
with a later date, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in
person.
If
any
other matters come before the meeting, the persons named in the proxy, or their
substitutes, will vote thereon in accordance with their best judgment. The
Board
does not know of any matters other than the election of directors as described
below that will be presented for action at the meeting, and none of the members
of the Board have informed the Company in writing that they intend to oppose
any
action intended to be taken by the Company.
NO
PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION
OTHER
THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED. THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT SHALL, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES,
CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE
COMPANY SINCE THE DATE OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
Security
Ownership of Principal Shareholders, Directors and
Management
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of April 9, 2007 by each person known
to the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock,
each director, each executive officer and all executive officers and directors
as a group.
Name
of Beneficial Owner
|
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
(1)
|
Percent
of
Class
|
Larry
N. Forehand and Forehand Family Partnership, Ltd. (2)(3)
|
689,463
|
19.9%
|
David
Nierenberg, The D3 Family Funds (4)(5)
19605
N.E. 8th
Street
Camas,
Washington 98607
|
1,210,456
|
34.8%
|
Michael
D. Domec (2)(6)
|
204,305
|
5.9%
|
Louis
P. Neeb (2)(7)
|
126,357
|
3.6%
|
J.J.
Fitzsimmons (2)(8)
|
26,176
|
*%
|
Curt
Glowacki (2)
|
28,000
|
*%
|
Thomas
E. Martin (2)(9)
|
20,000
|
*%
|
Andrew
J. Dennard (2)(10)
|
78,750
|
2.2%
|
Loic
M. Porry (2)(11)
|
62,500
|
1.8%
|
Dennis
D. Vegas (2)(12)
|
64,500
|
1.8%
|
All
executive officers and directors as a group (ten persons)
(13)
|
2,510,507
|
66.7%
|
*
Less
than 1%
(1)
|
The
named shareholders have sole voting and dispositive power with respect
to
all shares shown as being beneficially owned by them, except as otherwise
indicated.
|
(2)
|
The
business address is 1135 Edgebrook Drive, Houston, Texas
77034.
|
(3)
|
Includes
377,447 shares held directly by Mr. Forehand and 312,016 held by
Forehand
Family Partnership, Ltd., a limited partnership of which Mr. Forehand
is
the sole managing general partner and of which Mr. Forehand and his
spouse
are the sole limited partners.
|
(4)
|
Based
on the Form SC 13D/A filed on July 6, 2006 by David Nierenberg and
The D3
Family Funds with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Form
SC
13D/A discloses that Mr. Nierenberg has sole voting and sole dispositive
power over 1,192,956 shares of Common
Stock.
|
(5)
|
Includes
17,500 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(6)
|
Includes
23,000 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date and 750 shares of restricted
stock.
|
(7)
|
Includes
35,000 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(8)
|
Includes
23,000 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date and 750 shares of restricted
stock.
|
(9)
|
Includes
17,000 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(10)
|
Includes
63,750 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(11)
|
Includes
57,500 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(12)
|
Includes
62,500 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date.
|
(13)
|
Includes an aggregate of 299,250 shares issuable pursuant to the
exercise
of stock options and 1,500 shares of restricted
stock.
|
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
(Proposal
1)
The
Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide for the Board to be divided into
three approximately equal classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class
III, with staggered terms of three years. The persons listed on the table below
have been nominated by the Board of Directors for election as Class II
directors. Unless otherwise indicated, all proxies that authorize the proxy
holders to vote for the election of directors will be voted FOR the election
of
the Class II nominees listed below. If a nominee becomes unavailable for
election as a result of unforeseen circumstances, it is the intention of the
proxy holders to vote for the election of such substitute nominee, if any,
as
the Board may propose. As of the date of this Proxy Statement each of the
nominees has consented to serve and the Board is not aware of any circumstances
that would cause a nominee to be unable to serve as a director.
The
following information is set forth with respect to the persons nominated for
election as a director and each director of the Company whose term of office
will continue after the meeting.
NOMINEES
FOR ELECTION AT THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING
Name
|
Age
|
Director
Since
|
Present
Term
Expires
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
D. Domec
|
61
|
1995
|
2007
|
Curt
Glowacki
|
54
|
2000
|
2007
|
Louis
P. Neeb
|
68
|
1995
|
2007
|
Michael
D. Domec
has
served as President of Magnum Development, Inc., a residential real estate
development company, since 1991. From June 1996 to December 2000 he was
President of Olé Restaurants, Inc., a franchisee of the Company. From
December 1977 until April 1996, Mr. Domec was Vice President of Casa
Olé Franchise Services, Inc. and the majority owner of seven Casa Olé
restaurants.
Curt
Glowacki
is
currently serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
effective from April 4, 2007. Formerly he was President of the Outback
Steakhouse brand for OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. from December 2006 through
March 2007 during which time he continued to serve as a member of the Board
of
Directors of the Company. Mr. Glowacki served as President, Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Mexican Restaurants, Inc. from August
1997 to December 15, 2006, as President since May 1998, and as Chief Executive
Officer since May 2000. From May 1994 to August 1997, he served as Senior Vice
President of Operations of Monterey’s Acquisition Corp., which was acquired by
the Company in July 1997. From June 1989 to May 1994, he served as Vice
President and Director of Operations for Monterey’s Tex-Mex Café, a subsidiary
of CEC Entertainment, Inc. Previously, Mr. Glowacki’s experience included 12
years with Steak & Ale Restaurants, where he held various operating
positions.
Louis
P. Neeb
served
as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company from December 15, 2006 to
April 4, 2007. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the Company since
October 1995, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from April 1996 to
May 2000, and as interim President from August 1997 to April 1998. Since 1982
Mr. Neeb has also served as President of Neeb Enterprises, Inc., a
restaurant consulting company. From July 1991 to January 1994,
Mr. Neeb served as President of Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc. From
September 1989 to June 1991, Mr. Neeb served as President of
Geest Foods USA. From 1982 to 1987, Mr. Neeb served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Taco Villa, Inc. and its predecessors, a publicly held
corporation controlled by W.R. Grace & Co., where he oversaw the development
of the Applebee's restaurant chain, and the operation of the Del Taco restaurant
chain. From 1980 to 1982, Mr. Neeb served as Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of Burger King Corporation. From 1973 to 1980,
Mr. Neeb served in various positions, including President and Chief
Operating Officer of Steak & Ale Restaurants. During that time,
Mr. Neeb directed the development of the Bennigan's restaurant concept.
Mr. Neeb serves as a director of CEC Entertainment, Inc. and of the
privately held Silver Diner, Inc. Mr. Neeb was also a director of Franchise
Finance Corp. of America, an entity that provides financing for real estate,
until its sale to GE Capital in 2001.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF
EACH OF THE NOMINEES ABOVE.
DIRECTORS
WHOSE TERMS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING
Name
|
Age
|
Director
Since
|
Present
Term
Expires
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
J. Fitzsimmons (Class III)
|
59
|
1996
|
2008
|
J.
Stuart Sargent (Class III)
|
57
|
1997
|
2008
|
Cara
Denver (Class I)
|
26
|
2006
|
2009
|
Larry
N. Forehand (Class I)
|
62
|
1995
|
2009
|
Thomas
E. Martin (Class I)
|
65
|
2002
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
J. Fitzsimmons
is
currently a consultant with respect to corporate financial matters. He served
as
Senior Vice President of Finance of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. from
November 1995 to January 2007. From September 1994 to
November 1995, Mr. Fitzsimmons served as Vice President of Finance of
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. From November 1993 to September 1994,
Mr. Fitzsimmons served as Senior Vice President and as a securities analyst
for Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc. From January 1993 to November 1993,
Mr. Fitzsimmons served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of S&A Restaurant Corp. From August 1985 to January 1993,
Mr. Fitzsimmons served as Senior Vice President, Director and Chief
Financial Officer of National Pizza Company.
J.
Stuart Sargent
is the
President and Founder of Truluck’s Steak & Stone Crab Restaurants, a
position held since June 1991. He served as President of Monterey’s Acquisition
Corp. from May 1994 to July 1997. He conceived and opened the first Studebaker’s
in 1981, and later formed Studebaker’s of America, where he opened or franchised
22 Studebaker’s throughout the United States. He also served as President and
CEO of Entertainment One, Inc., a Houston-based company providing management
and
support services for 18 food and beverage operations including Houston
Intercontinental Airport, several Studebaker’s and Chili’s, and theme-oriented
restaurants from St. Louis, Missouri (Big Kahuna) to Waikoloa, Hawaii (Big
Island Steak House).
Cara
Denver is
the
Vice
President of Strategy and Investments at Nierenberg Investment Management
Company, which manages The D3 Family Funds, a private investment partnership
which seeks long-term capital gain through investment in undervalued micro-cap
domestic public equities. Ms. Denver has held the position since July
2002. She is also General Partner of The D3 Family Funds and has held that
position since January 2006. Prior to 2002, Ms. Denver earned her BA in
Economics from Yale University.
Larry
N. Forehand
is the
founder of the Company and has served as Vice Chairman of the Company's Board
since October 1995 and as Franchise Director since September 1997. From
December 1973 to March 1995, Mr. Forehand served as President of
the Company. In 1997, Mr. Forehand served as the President of the Texas
Restaurant Associations, a state trade association for the restaurant
industry.
Thomas
E. Martin
is the
Chairman of the Board of Best Friends Pet Care, Inc., a private animal boarding
company, and he has held this position since April 1999. He was also Chief
Executive Officer of that company from April 1999 until December 2001. Since
January 1997, Mr. Martin has also been a self-employed financial consultant.
From February 1990 through March 1997 Mr. Martin held various positions with
the
Elsinore Corporation, a gaming company, including President from January 1993
to
May 1996 and Chief Executive Officer from May 1995 to August 1996. Mr. Martin
is
also a past member of the Board of Directors for Ramada, Inc. where he was
a
corporate Executive Vice President, and President of its Marie Callender
restaurant chain.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS OTHER THAN DIRECTORS
Set
forth
below is the name, age, current positions with the Company, the principal
occupation, and the year of becoming an executive officer of the Company for
the
executive officer who is not a director of the Company.
Andrew
J. Dennard,
age 48,
has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
since May 2004. From September 1998 to May 2004, Mr. Dennard served as Senior
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Mexican Restaurants,
Inc. From July 1997 to September 1998 Mr. Dennard served as Vice President,
Controller & Treasurer of Mexican Restaurants, Inc. From September 1994 to
July 1997 he served as Vice President of Finance for Monterey’s Acquisition
Corp. From July 1989 to September 1994, Mr. Dennard held various positions
with
Rosewood Property Company. Previously, he served as an auditor with KPMG LLP.
Mr. Dennard’s early career was on the operations side of the restaurant
industry, working for five years with Steak & Ale Restaurants and four years
with Houston’s Restaurants.
Dennis
Vegas,
age 55,
joined the Company in January 2003 as Vice President, Marketing. In November
2005, he was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President.
Prior to joining Mexican Restaurants, Inc. he served as Vice President, Brand
Management from November 2000 to December 2001 and Senior Director, Public
Relations, Caribbean/Latin America, from October 1998 to December 2000 for
Enron
Corp. In addition, Mr. Vegas held numerous leadership positions from 1987
through 1998 for AT&T Corp in Marketing and Communications. During his
tenure with AT&T, he was responsible for building brands and leading
consumer-marketing organizations in the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico markets.
Mr.
Vegas’s early career was in public relations, community relations and human
resources for ITT Corp.
Loic
M. Porry,
age 54,
is Chief Operating Officer of the Company, a position held since December 2006.
Mr. Porry has served in various positions with the Company and its predecessors
since 1985, and for the last 15 years has served as a director of operations
for
the Company’s Monterey’s, Tortugas and Casa Olé concepts.
INFORMATION
REGARDING THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES
The
mission of the Board is to provide strategic guidance to the Company’s
management, to monitor the performance and ethical behavior of the Company’s
management, and to maximize the long-term financial return to the Company’s
shareholders, while considering and appropriately balancing the interests of
other stakeholders and constituencies. The Board is constituted of eight
directors.
Four
regularly scheduled meetings of the Board were held during 2006. In addition,
there was one special meeting held in November 2006. Mr. Martin and Mr. Sargent
each were unable to attend one meeting of the Board. All directors
attended each of their respective committee meetings.
The
Board
has an Audit Committee, the members of which are Messrs. Martin, Fitzsimmons
and
Domec; Mr. Martin serves as Chairman. Mr. Neeb was a member of the Committee
until December 2006 at which time he became interim CEO and was replaced on
the
Committee by Mr. Domec. The members of the Audit Committee are all independent
directors under the NASD’s listing standards applicable to members of audit
committees. The Audit Committee held four meetings during 2006. The Board of
Directors has reviewed the qualifications of the members of the Board of
Directors and determined that Mr. Martin is the “audit committee financial
expert” as defined by applicable SEC rules. In accordance with the written
charter adopted by the Board, the Audit Committee is responsible for
the
oversight of (i) the integrity of the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures; (ii) the integrity of the Company’s internal controls over
financial reporting; and (iii) the qualifications, independence,
appointment, compensation and performance of the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm. It is also responsible for administering
the
Company’s Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, applicable to the Company’s
principal executive officer, principal financial officer and other members
of
the Company’s management, the establishment of “whistle-blowing” procedures; and
oversight of certain other compliance matters.
The
Board
has a Compensation/Stock
Option Committee,
the
members of which are Messrs. Sargent and Domec and Ms. Denver, each of whom
is
an independent director under applicable NASD rules. The Compensation/Stock
Option Committee held two meetings during 2006. The Compensation/Stock Option
Committee is responsible for determining the compensation of the officers of
the
Company and granting options under the Company’s 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan
(the “2005 Incentive Plan”), the 1996 Casa Olé Long Term Incentive Plan and the
1996 Managers Stock Option Plan as well as granting restricted stock awards
under the 1999 Restricted Stock Plan.
The
Board
has an Executive Committee, the members of which are Messrs. Neeb, Forehand
and
Glowacki; Mr. Neeb serves as Chairman. There was one meeting of the Executive
Committee during 2006. The Executive Committee has the authority, between
meetings of the Board, to take all actions with respect to the management of
the
Company’s business that require action by the Board, except with respect to
certain specified matters that by law must be approved by the entire
Board.
The
Board
does not have a nominating committee or any committee performing a similar
function. All matters that would be considered by such a committee are acted
upon by the independent members of the full Board. The Board will consider
recommendations by shareholders of the Company with respect to the election
of
directors if such recommendations are submitted in writing to the secretary
of
the Company and received not later than the end of the Company’s preceding
fiscal year. Such recommendations should be accompanied by a full statement
of
qualifications and confirmation of the nominee’s willingness to
serve.
Copies
of
the Company’s Audit Committee Charter and Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct are
available free of charge to any shareholder who submits a request to the
Company’s Corporate Secretary or at the Company’s executive office set forth on
the Notice of Annual Meeting and at the end of this proxy
statement.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
Each
director who is not an employee
of the Company receives a retainer of $2,500 per fiscal quarter, plus $1,250
per
meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives a quarterly
retainer of $6,250 and is not paid any other meeting fees. In 2006, the Chairman
of the Board of Directors received a fee of $75,000 and received no other
meeting fees.
The
Company does not, and has not since the third quarter of fiscal year 2002,
make
stock awards to its non-employee directors. The Company does not pay
compensation to individuals serving on the Board who are employees of the
Company for their service as directors.
Director
Compensation
The
following table provides information regarding compensation paid to our
non-employee directors for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2006.
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash
(1)
|
|
Stock
Awards
(2)
|
|
Option
Awards
(3)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
(4)
|
|
Total
|
|
Louis
P. Neeb (5)(6)
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
9,870
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
84,870
|
|
Cara
Denver (7)
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
Michael
D. Domec
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
36,810
|
|
|
3,030
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
54,840
|
|
Joseph
J. Fitzsimmons
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
36,810
|
|
|
2,974
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
54,784
|
|
Thomas
E. Martin
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
3,223
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
28,223
|
|
J.
Stuart Sargent
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
David
Nierenberg
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
3,058
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
3,058
|
|
(1) |
During
2006, each of the Company’s non-employee directors (with the exception of
the Chairman and the Chairman of the Audit Committee) received $2,500
quarterly retainer fees plus $1,250 for each Board of Directors meeting
attended in person or by telephone. The Chairman received an annual
fee of
$75,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee received a fee of
$6,250
per quarter. Ms. Denver receives no director compensation. See note
(7)
below.
|
(2) |
The
aggregate number of stock awards held by each non-employee director
is
6,000.
|
|
(3)
|
Amounts
calculated utilizing the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R, “Share-based Payment”. See note 5 of the
consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report for the
year ended December 31, 2006 regarding assumptions underlying valuation
of
equity awards. During 2006, no awards of stock or options were made
to our
non-employee directors. The aggregate number of stock options held
by each
non-employee director is 117,500. The amounts above represent the
2006
compensation cost related to stock options awards, granted in prior
years
that vested during fiscal year
2006.
|
(4) |
All
other compensation consists of automobile allowances. If the total
aggregate perquisites are less than $10,000, they are not
disclosed.
|
(5)
Mr. Neeb also served as interim chief executive officer from December 2006
until
April 2007. Effective January
1, 2007, the Chairman’s fee was increased to $125,000 per year to
reflect these additional responsibilities. Effective
April 4, 2007, Mr. Neeb’s annual fee reverted to $75,000 in conjunction with
Mr.
Glowacki resuming his position as CEO.
(6)
If terminated as Chairman of the Board, the Company has agreed to continue
Mr.
Neeb’s compensation until
the
first to occur of one year after termination or his securing an alternative
position.
(7)
At
her
request, Ms. Denver receives no director compensation.
No
Material Proceedings
As
of
April 18, 2007, there are no material proceedings to which any director,
executive officer, or affiliate of the Company or any owner of more than five
percent of the Common Stock, or any associate of any of the foregoing, (i)
is a
party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) has a material
interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act (“Section 16(a)”) requires the Company’s directors and
executive officers, and certain persons who own more than ten percent of the
Company’s Common Stock, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common
stock. Directors, executive officers, and greater than ten percent shareholders
are required by applicable securities regulations to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
In
September 2006, the Company filed, on behalf of Chief Marketing Officer and
Senior Vice President Dennis Vegas, one report on Form 4 relating to an exercise
and sale of 1,000 shares of Common Stock in June 2006. To the Company’s
knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished
to
the Company and written representations that no other reports were required
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, all other Section 16(a) filing
requirements were complied with, as applicable to its directors, executive
officers and greater than ten percent owners.
Compensation/Stock
Option Committee
The
primary duties of the Compensation/Stock Option Committee are to assist the
Board of Directors in establishing remuneration arrangements for executive
officers and directors and to administer our executive compensation programs.
The members of the Compensation/Stock Option Committee are Messrs. Sargent
(Chairman) and Domec and Ms. Denver.
The
Board
of Directors, in its reasonable business judgment, has determined that all
three
members of the Compensation/Stock Option Committee are independent under the
listing standards of the NASD and the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No
member
of the Company’s Compensation/Stock Option Committee: (i) was, during the last
fiscal year, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or
(ii) was formerly an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The
Company engaged in a related party transaction related to Messrs. Forehand
and
Domec, which concluded in February 2004. For a complete description of this
transaction see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”
Pursuant
to Item 402 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K, no executive officer of the Company
served as a member of the Compensation/Stock Option Committee (or other board
committee performing similar functions or, in the absence of any such committee,
the entire Board of Directors) of another corporation, one of whose executive
officers served on the Company’s Compensation/Stock Option Committee. No
executive officer of the Company served as a director of another corporation,
one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation/Stock Option
Committee. No executive officer of the Company served as a member of the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee (or other board committee performing
equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board
of Directors) of another corporation, one of whose executive officers served
as
a director of the Company.
Compensation
Committee Report
The
Company’s Compensation/Stock Option Committee determines the objectives for the
Company’s executive compensation and benefit programs and discharges the
responsibilities relating to the compensation of executive officers. The
specific duties of the Compensation/Stock Option Committee are set forth in
its
charter, which was adopted by the Board of Directors.
The
Compensation/Stock Option Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis ("CD&A") contained on pages 8 through 11 of this
proxy statement with management, and based upon this review and discussion,
the
committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board approved, that
the CD&A be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference
into the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2006.
Submitted
by the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors.
J.
Stuart
Sargent
Michael
D.
Domec
Cara
Denver
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis.
The
Company’s Compensation/Stock Option Committee is empowered to review and
approve, or in some cases recommend for the approval of the full Board of
Directors, the annual compensation and compensation procedures for the four
executive officers and the Chairman of the Company: the Chairman, the President
and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer, and the Chief Marketing Officer.
Objectives
of Compensation Program
The
primary objective of our compensation program, including our executive
compensation program, is to attract and retain qualified, energetic employees
who are enthusiastic about the Company’s mission and culture. A further
objective of our compensation program is to provide incentives and reward
employees for their contribution to the Company. In addition, we strive to
promote an ownership mentality among key employees. Finally, we endeavor to
ensure that our compensation program is perceived as fundamentally fair to
all
shareholders.
What
Our Compensation Program is Designed to Reward
Our
compensation program is designed to reward each key employee’s contribution to
the Company. In measuring the executive officers’ contribution to the Company,
the Compensation/Stock Option Committee considers numerous factors, including
the Company’s growth and financial performance, individual performance, scope of
responsibility, prior experience, breadth of knowledge and comparison against
the competitive practices of relevant comparative companies of similar size,
as
well as indicators derived from published compensation surveys of companies
in
the Company’s industry.
Regarding
most compensation matters, including executive compensation, our management
provides recommendations to the Compensation/Stock Option Committee; however,
the Committee does not delegate any of its functions to others in setting
compensation. We do not currently engage any consultant related to executive
and/or director compensation matters.
Elements
of Company’s Compensation Plan and Why We Chose Each (How It Relates to
Objectives)
The
compensation policies and programs of the Company are considered by the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee within the context of an integrated total
rewards framework. Within this framework, the committee considers and determines
various components of “pay” - base salary, annual incentive compensation,
long-term equity incentive compensation, benefits and perquisites. As incentive
compensation, Company executives are eligible to receive annual cash bonus
awards based in part on a formula of profits, same-store sales growth and cash
flow relative to financial plan. It is through the considered combination of
these programs that the committee believes it can most effectively support
and
facilitate the ultimate creation of value for shareholders.
It
is the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee’s intention to set total executive cash
compensation sufficiently high to attract and retain a strongly motivated
leadership team, but not so high that it creates a negative perception to our
other shareholders.
In
2005,
the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company approved the Mexican
Restaurants, Inc. 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. The 2005 Incentive Plan
authorizes the granting of up to 350,000 shares of Common Stock in the form
of
incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options and restricted stock
awards to key executives and other key employees of the Company, including
officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, of which shares are subject to
presently outstanding awards. The 2005 Incentive Plan will terminate on November
8, 2015. It is anticipated that the shares authorized under the 2005 Plan will
enable the Company to provide sufficient grants of awards for the foreseeable
future. Also, the inclusion of authority to grant various forms of equity
compensation in addition to stock options, including restricted stock, will
allow the Company to tailor future awards to the Company’s specific needs and
circumstances at that time.
In
fiscal
year 2006, no options were granted by the Company from the 2005 Incentive Plan.
On May 23, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a restricted stock
grant of 3,000 shares to each of the outside directors with ten years of
service, with such grants vesting over a four year period. Messrs. Domec and
Fitzsimmons qualified for this restricted stock grant. On December 15, 2006
the
Company awarded Mr. Dennard 10,000 shares of restricted stock, and awarded
Mr.
Porry 5,000 shares of restricted stock. The shares will vest 20% per year over
five years. The Company has also agreed to make awards for 5,000 additional
shares of restricted stock to each officer, with the same five year vesting
schedule, during fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
The
1996
Incentive Plan authorized the reservation of 500,000 shares of Common Stock
to
be used for stock options, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock, of
which 197,000 shares are subject to presently outstanding awards. The Incentive
Plan terminated on December 31, 2005.
Change
of Control
Messrs.
Porry, Dennard and Vegas were granted Performance
Unit Awards in 2005. The awards will vest, if at all, only if, on or before
August 16, 2010, there is a Business Combination (as defined in the awards),
and
then the percentage of the award that becomes vested will be determined based
upon the Fair Market Value Per Share (as defined in the awards) of the Company
on the last business day immediately preceding the Business Combination. If
the
Fair
Market Value Per Share is less than $20, none of the units will vest. If it
is
$20 or greater, 100% will vest. In the event of termination of any of these
three executives, the award shall be forfeited in its entirety.
Accounting
and Tax Considerations
Our
stock
option grant policies have been impacted by the implementation of SFAS No.
123R,
which we adopted in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. Under this accounting
pronouncement, we are required to value stock option grants using the fair
value
method, and to expense the value of our option grants in the income statement
over the stock option’s vesting period.
Chief
Executive Officer Compensation
The
Compensation Committee’s general approach in reviewing the annual compensation
of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, is to seek to be competitive with
other companies of a similar size in the Company’s industry, to recognize and
reward initiative, overall corporate performance and managerial ability, and
to
provide long-term incentive to increase shareholder value. Mr. Glowacki, the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer, terminated his employment effective December
15, 2006. Subsequently, in April 2007, Mr. Glowacki resumed his employment
as
Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Glowacki’s base salary for fiscal
year 2006 was $253,085. The
Committee believes that the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer and its other executives during fiscal 2006 was consistent with the
objectives of the Company’s executive compensation program.
General
Messrs.
Dennard and Vegas received annual base salaries for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006 of $155,000 and $175,000, respectively. Upon his return to
the
Company in April 2007, Mr. Glowacki was granted an annual base salary of
$275,000. The Compensation/Stock Option Committee will evaluate Mr. Glowacki’s
compensation in May 2007 and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors.
Regarding
most compensation matters, including executive and director compensation, our
management provides recommendations to the Compensation/Stock Option Committee;
however, the committee does not delegate any of its functions to others in
setting compensation. We do not currently engage any consultant related to
executive and/or director compensation matters.
At
the
March 2007 Board meeting the Chairman of the Compensation /Stock Option
Committee reported that his committee had approved the fiscal year 2006
executive bonus plan payouts. The performance bonuses paid in 2007 were based
on
fiscal year 2006 actual performance results compared to the budgeted performance
targets and same-store sales increases. These combined calculations formed
a
pool that was used for discretionary awards to the named executive officers,
with the exception of the then interim CEO, as determined by the Compensation
Committee and reported to the Board.
Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally limits the
corporate income tax deduction for compensation paid to each executive officer
shown in the summary compensation table in the proxy statement of a public
company to $1 million, unless the compensation is "performance-based
compensation" and qualifies under certain other exceptions. Our policy is
primarily to design and administer compensation plans which support the
achievement of long-term strategic objectives and enhance shareholder value.
Where it is consistent with our compensation philosophy, the Committee will
also
attempt to structure compensation programs that are tax-advantageous to us.
There were no stock option awards in 2006.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
The
following table includes information concerning compensation for the one year
period ended December 31, 2006 in reference to our executive officers.
Name
& Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
|
Bonus
|
Stock
Awards
(4)
|
Option
Awards
(5)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensa-tion (6)
|
Change
in
Pension
Value
and
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
|
All
Other Compen-
sation
(2)
|
Total
|
Louis
P. Neeb, Interim Chief
Executive
Officer
(1)
|
2006
|
$ --
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
$
--
|
Curt
Glowacki
President,
Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Operating Officer
(1)
|
2006
|
$253,085
|
--
|
--
|
$15,618
|
$160,000
|
--
|
$608,764
(3)
|
$1,037,467
|
Andrew
J. Dennard
Exec.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
2006
|
$155,000
|
--
|
$105,000
|
$
2,458
|
$
37,500
|
--
|
$
12,000
|
$
311,958
|
Dennis
D. Vegas
Sr.
Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
|
2006
|
$175,000
|
--
|
--
|
$
2,100
|
$
43,000
|
--
|
--
|
$
220,100
|
Loic
M. Porry, Sr. Vice
President
and Chief
Operating
Officer
|
2006
|
$ 74,616
|
--
|
$52,500
|
$
1,400
|
$
76,967
|
--
|
--
|
$
205,483
|
(1)
Mr.
Glowacki’s employment terminated effective December 15, 2006, at which time Mr.
Neeb began serving as interim
chief executive officer.
(2) All
other
compensation consists of automobile allowances, except in the case of Mr.
Glowacki. See note (3). If the total aggregate perquisites are less than
$10,000, they are not disclosed.
(3) Incident
to Mr. Glowacki’s termination of employment during December 2006, the Company
paid Mr. Glowacki $596,764 for his vested stock options pursuant to a separation
agreement.
(4)
On
December 15, 2006, the Company awarded Mr. Dennard 10,000 shares of restricted
stock, and awarded Mr. Porry
5,000 shares of restricted stock. The shares will vest 20% per year over five
years. The Company has also agreed to make awards for 5,000 additional
shares of restricted stock to each officer, with the same five-year vesting
schedule, during fiscal years 2007 and 2008. This column represents the dollar
amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to
the
2006 fiscal year for the fair value of restricted stock awards in 2006 as well
as prior fiscal years, in accordance with FAS 123R. Pursuant to SEC rules,
the
amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to vesting
conditions. For additional information, refer to notes 1 and 5 to our financial
statements in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as filed
with
the SEC.
(5)
In
fiscal year 2006, the Company did not award stock options to its executive
officers. This column represents the
dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect
to the 2006 fiscal year for the fair value of stock options awarded in 2006
as
well as prior fiscal years, in accordance with FAS 123R. Pursuant to SEC rules,
the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to vesting
conditions. For additional information, refer to note 1 to our financial
statements in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as filed
with
the SEC.
(6)
The
performance bonuses paid in 2006 were based on fiscal year 2005 actual
performance results compared to the
budgeted performance targets and same-store sales growth. These combined
calculations form a pool in which at least 60 percent of the pool is paid to
the
CEO and the remaining 40 percent is to be used for discretionary awards
determined by the Compensation/Stock Option Committee and reported to the Board.
The Committee increased the pool amount to reflect the committee’s evaluation of
management’s efforts in accelerating the Company’s recovery from the effects of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Compensation/Stock Option Committee’s report of
recommended bonuses is presented to the Board before any payments are made.
Mr.
Vegas’ bonus was calculated based on same-store sales growth and control over
the advertising budget.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2006
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the value of
outstanding equity awards held by
our
named executives at December 31, 2006. The table shown below is presented on
an
award-by-award basis.
|
Option
Awards
|
Stock
Awards
|
Name
&
Principal
Position
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
|
Option
Exercise Price
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
Number
of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
|
Market
Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
(1)
|
Louis
P. Neeb
Interim
Chief Executive Officer
|
35,000
|
--
|
$
3.07
|
01/08/12
|
--
|
--
|
Curt
Glowacki
President
Chief
Executive Officer
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Loic
M. Porry
Sr.
Vice President &
Chief
Operating Officer (2)
|
2,500
5,000
50,000
|
--
--
--
|
$
4.625
$
2.70
$12.00
|
11/03/08
12/05/11
11/08/15
|
5,000
|
$
55,000
|
Dennis
D. Vegas
Sr.
Vice President &
Chief
Marketing Officer
|
5,000
60,000
|
2,500
--
|
$
3.56
$12.00
|
01/07/13
11/08/15
|
--
|
--
|
Andrew
J. Dennard
Exec.
Vice President &
Chief
Financial Officer (2)
|
2,500
2,500
60,000
|
--
1,250
--
|
$
2.70
$
3.64
$12.00
|
12/05/11
11/06/12
11/08/15
|
10,000
|
$110,000
|
(1)
|
Based
on the closing price per share of Common Stock on December 29, 2006
(the
last day the stock traded in fiscal year 2006) of $11.00 as reported
by
the NASDAQ Small Cap Market. The shares will vest 20% per year over
five
years.
|
(2)
|
The
remaining vesting period for Mr. Dennard’s options is 20% over one year
and for Mr. Vegas’ options is 20% per year for the next two
years.
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested in 2006
The
following table includes certain information with respect to options exercised
by our executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006.
|
Option
Awards
|
Stock
Awards
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
Number
of Shares Acquired on Exercise
|
Value
Realized on Exercise
|
Number
of Shares Acquired on Vesting
|
Value
Realized
on
Vesting
|
Louis
P. Neeb,
Interim
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board
|
--
|
$
--
|
--
|
--
|
Curt
Glowacki,
President
and Chief
Executive Officer (1)
|
30,875
102,903
|
$169,157
$596,764
|
--
|
--
|
Loic
M. Porry,
Sr.
Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer
|
12,500
|
$
26,067
|
--
|
--
|
Dennis
D. Vegas,
Sr.
Vice President and Chief
Marketing Officer
|
2,500
|
$
16,408
|
--
|
--
|
Andrew
J. Dennard,
Exec.
Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
|
18,750
|
$
70,743
|
--
|
--
|
(1) |
Mr.
Glowacki exercised options for 30,875 shares during the second and
third
quarters and options for 102,903 shares in the fourth quarter pursuant
to
the Separation Agreement dated December 1,
2006.
|
Potential
Payments Upon Termination
Employment
agreements are in effect for Messrs. Porry, Dennard and Vegas. The employment
agreements are automatically renewed bi-annually unless a specific action is
taken to terminate the agreement. The agreement provides salary compensation
protection for up to a period of two years following the termination of
employment without cause during the term by the Company. If an executive is
terminated, he will receive base salary only for the earlier of the remainder
of
the contract or until the executive accepts new employment. The agreement
requires a minimum of one year’s notice of intent to resign from the Company. If
there is failure to provide such minimum notice, the executive forfeits any
then-unexercised stock options, unvested restricted shares, and unpaid bonuses
or other compensation as of the date of such resignation.
The
compensation that would become payable under the employment agreements and
other
arrangements if the named executive’s employment had terminated on December 31,
2006 would be limited to the employee’s base salary for the earlier of two years
or until such time as they accept new employment. Those two year amounts would
be $360,500 for Mr. Dennard, $360,500 for Mr. Vegas and $300,000 for Mr. Porry.
Due to the number of factors that affect the amount of any benefits provided
upon the events discussed above, actual amounts paid or distributed may be
different.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Related
party transactions are subject to the review and approval of the Company's
Audit
Committee, which is comprised exclusively of independent directors who are
not
otherwise involved in the day-to-day management of the Company or officers
of
the Company, and who do not have a personal financial interest in the matter
in
which they are acting.
Lease
of Headquarters Building
Prior
to
February 20, 2004, the Company leased its executive offices in Houston, Texas
from CO Properties No. 3, a Texas partnership owned by Larry N. Forehand
and Michael D. Domec. The lease, which was originally set to expire in
December 2006, was a gross lease (where the landlord pays utilities and property
taxes) with monthly rental payments of $10,416 per month in 2004. In 2004 the
Company leased 10,015 square feet under the lease for aggregate rental payments
of $10,416. The Company believes that this lease is on terms at least as
favorable as could be obtained from an unrelated third party.
On
February 20, 2004, CO Properties No. 3 sold the executive offices to a third
party. In exchange for two months of free rent, the Company exercised one of
its
options, extending the office lease through December 2009. In 2006 the Company’s
monthly rental payments were $11,000 per month.
Report
of the Audit Committee
The
Audit
Committee serves an independent oversight role by consulting with and providing
guidance to management and the external auditors on matters such as accounting,
audits, compliance, controls, disclosure, finance and risk management. The
Board
has affirmatively determined that all Audit Committee members are financially
literate and possess “financial sophistication” as defined by Nasdaq listing
standards. The Board of Directors has designated the Chairman of the Audit
Committee, Thomas E. Martin, as the audit committee “financial expert” under the
SEC’s guidelines.
The
three
members of the Board’s Audit Committee, Thomas E. Martin, Joseph J. Fitzsimmons
and Michael D. Domec, are all independent within the meaning of applicable
NASD
listing standards and the applicable independence standards of the SEC. The
Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting
process on behalf of the Board and operates under a written charter adopted
by
the Board. The Audit Committee annually recommends to the Board the selection
of
the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. For the fiscal year
2006, UHY
LLP
was
the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
Management
is responsible for the Company’s financial statements and the financial
reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. The independent
registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent
audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards and expressing an opinion on the
conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted
accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the
acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant
judgments and the clarity of disclosure in the financial statements.
The
Audit
Committee reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm the
Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be
discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards,
as required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, “Communication with Audit
Committees”. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent
registered public accounting firm the auditors’ independence from management and
the Company and has received the written disclosures and the letter from the
independent registered public accounting firm required by the Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees).
The Audit Committee further considered whether the provision by UHY
LLP
of
the
non-audit services described elsewhere in this proxy statement is compatible
with maintaining the auditors’ independence.
Based
upon (i) the Audit Committee’s review and discussion of the audited financial
statements with management and the independent registered public accounting
firm, (ii) the Audit Committee’s review of the representation of management, and
(iii) the disclosures by the independent registered public accounting firm
to
the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the
Company’s audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2006,
for
filing with the SEC. The
Company's Audit Committee periodically considers the selection of the Company's
independent registered public accounting firm.
Audit
Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The
Audit
Committee requires that each engagement of the Company’s independent auditor to
perform auditing services and permitted non-audit services must be approved
by
the Audit Committee in advance, including the fees and principal terms thereof.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE
Thomas
E.
Martin
Joseph
J. Fitzsimmons
Michael
D.
Domec
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees and Services
The
firm
of UHY LLP ("UHY") acts as our principal independent registered public
accounting firm. Through December 31, 2006, UHY had a continuing relationship
with UHY Advisors, Inc. (“Advisors”) from which it leased auditing staff who
were full time, permanent employees of Advisors and through which UHY’s partners
provide non-audit services. UHY has no full time employees and therefore, none
of the audit services performed were provided by permanent full-time employees
of UHY. UHY manages and supervises the audit services and audit staff, and is
exclusively responsible for the opinion rendered in connection with its
examination.
The
following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by UHY
LLP
for
2006
for audit and non-audit services and by KPMG LLP for fiscal year 2006 and fiscal
year 2005 for audit and non-audit services (as well as all “out-of-pocket” costs
incurred in connection with these services) and are categorized as Audit Fees,
Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees, Tax-Related Fees, and All Other Fees. The nature
of the services provided in each such category is described in the following
table:
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
fees
|
$216,935
|
82.94%
|
|
$172,185
|
98.9%
|
Audit-related
fees
|
11,301
|
4.32
%
|
|
1,983
|
1.1%
|
Tax
fees
|
31,085
|
11.88%
|
|
--
|
--
|
Tax-related
fees
|
2,254
|
.86%
|
|
--
|
--
|
All
other fees
|
--
|
--
|
|
--
|
--
|
Total
|
$261,575
|
100.00%
|
|
$174,168
|
100.00%
|
The
Audit
fees for the years ended December
31, 2006
and
January 1, 2006, respectively, were for professional services rendered for
the
audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and statutory
audits, income tax provision procedures, and assistance with review of documents
filed with the SEC. Audit-related expenses are primarily reimbursement for
out-of-pocket expenses.
The
Audit
Committee of the Board has considered whether provision of other services is
compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s
independence and discussed these services with the independent registered public
accounting firm and with the Company’s management, and has determined that such
services have not adversely affected UHY LLP’s independence and are permitted
under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated
by
the SEC to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the rules and
regulations of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants.
UHY
LLP
has
served as the Company’s independent public accountants since the Company’s
second quarter of fiscal 2005. Prior to that, KPMG LLP had served as the
Company’s auditors since the 1996 initial public offering. Representatives of
UHY
LLP are
expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate
questions. Consistent with the Company’s policy, the auditors for each fiscal
year are selected annually by the Board.
T.
R.
Moore & Company P.C., an independent publicly registered accounting firm,
was paid $46,853 in fiscal 2005 for preparation of the Company’s 2004 federal
and state tax returns.
ANNUAL
REPORT
A
copy of
the Company’s Annual Report on the Company Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31,
2006
is
enclosed with this proxy statement. The Company will also send you, at no
charge, any other document which it refers to in this proxy statement, if
requested in writing by a person who was a shareholder (of record or
beneficially) at the close of business on April 20, 2007. You should send your
request to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at the address listed
below.
INFORMATION
If
you
have questions or need more information about the Annual Meeting, you may write
to or call the Company at:
Corporate
Secretary
Mexican
Restaurants, Inc.
1135
Edgebrook Drive
Houston,
Texas 77034
713-943-7574
Attn:
Mr.
Andrew J. Dennard
HOUSEHOLDING
INFORMATION
Unless
the Company has received contrary instructions, the Company may send a single
copy of this proxy statement, notice of annual meeting and the Annual Report
to
any household at which two or more shareholders reside if the Company believes
the shareholders are members of the same family. Each shareholder in the
household will continue to receive a separate proxy card. This process, known
as
“householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information received at any one
household and helps to reduce the Company’s expenses. The Company will deliver
promptly upon request a separate copy of the proxy statement or Annual Report
to
a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was
delivered. Such requests should be delivered to the Company's address or made
by
telephone, as set forth below. In addition, if shareholders prefer to receive
multiple sets of the Company’s disclosure documents at the same address this
year or in future years, the shareholders should follow the instructions
described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another shareholder
and
together both of the shareholders would like to receive only a single set of
the
Company’s disclosure documents, the shareholders should follow these
instructions:
If
the
shares are registered in the name of the shareholder, the shareholder should
contact the Company at its offices at 1135 Edgebrook Drive, Houston, Texas
77034, Attention: Andrew J. Dennard, telephone number: 713-943-7574, to
inform the Company of their request. If a bank, broker or other nominee holds
the shares, the shareholder should contact the bank, broker or other nominee
directly.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Any
shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2007
Annual
Meeting of Shareholders for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy
relating to that meeting is advised that the proposal must be received by the
Company at its principal executive offices not later than December 31,
2006.
The
Company will not be required to include in its proxy statement or form of proxy
a shareholder proposal which is received after that date or which otherwise
fails to meet requirements for shareholder proposals established by regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Board
of Directors knows of no other matters to be acted upon at the meeting, but
if
any matters properly come before the meeting that are not specifically set
forth
on the proxy card and in this proxy statement, it is intended that the persons
voting the proxies will vote in accordance with their best
judgments.
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
|
Louis
P. Neeb
|
Chairman
|
April
18, 2007
ALL
SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY OR VOTING
INSTRUCTION FORM.