Devon shareholders approve all company-sponsored motions

Devon held its annual meeting Wednesday morning. All company proposals passed while the shareholder proposal failed.
by Adam Wilmoth Published: June 7, 2012

A series of bold steps has allowed Devon Energy Corp. to transition into one of the country's largest independent oil producers while keeping debt levels low, CEO John Richels told shareholders at the company's annual meeting Wednesday.

“In 2011, we completed our strategic positioning,” he said. “We sold our international and Gulf of Mexico assets, creating a balance sheet that is one of the best in the country and allowing us to focus on areas we thought would generate the best results for the company.”

A strong balance sheet will allow the company to remain competitive in the future, Richels said.

“Particularly today, when you look at the uncertainties in the financial markets and the world economy and our own economy and in the industry, having that strong balance sheet coupled with a very deep opportunity of inventories is a very strategic advantage because it gives us the financial flexibility to develop our properties on a pace where we want to develop them,” Richels said.

8 directors re-elected

Shareholders re-elected all eight directors and approved all proposals sponsored by the company: executive compensation, appointment of the company's auditors, allowing stockholders to call a special meeting, and approving the company's incentive compensation plan and the long-term incentive plan.

The measures each passed with at least 86 percent of the vote except for the vote for executive compensation, which had 59 percent of the vote.

Shareholder Julie Skye, of Tulsa, spoke before the vote was announced, urging shareholders to withhold their vote.

by Adam Wilmoth
Energy Editor
+ show more

Trending Now


  1. 1
  2. 2
    Man fatally stabbed in west Tulsa early Sunday
  3. 3
    How brain imaging can be used to predict the stock market
  4. 4
    Bridenstine tours Fort Sill, satisfied with facility's transparency
  5. 5
    10 Most Popular Wedding 'First Dance' Songs
+ show more