3-D GEOPHYSICAL INC
8-K, 1997-10-08
OIL & GAS FIELD EXPLORATION SERVICES
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   ----------

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 23, 1997
                                                 ------------------

                             3-D GEOPHYSICAL, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                     0-27564                   13-3841601
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other Jurisdiction         (Commission               (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)               File Number)            Identification No.)

               8226 Park Meadows Drive, Littleton, Colorado 80124
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 858-0500
                                                    --------------

           7076 South Alton Way, Building H, Englewood, Colorado 80112
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

                       The Exhibit Index appears on Page 5


                                Page 1 of 14 pages.
<PAGE>

Item 5. Other Events.

     a) On September 23, 1997, the Registrant's wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary,
Geoevaluaciones,  S.A. de C.V. ("Geo") was served with notice of a lawsuit and a
complaint (the  "Complaint")  filed in the 10th Federal District Court in Mexico
City by Kelman  Technologies,  Inc., the successor to Capilano  Geophysical Ltd.
("Capilano"),  claiming damages of Cdn $11,215,714  (plus interest and expenses,
including legal fees) based on Geo's alleged  failure to reimburse  Capilano for
Capilano's  outlays and  expenditures  under a letter of intent  between Geo and
Capilano  entered into in June of 1991 (the "Letter of Intent").  The  Complaint
does not name the Registrant as a co- defendant, nor is the Registrant mentioned
in the Complaint.

     On October 6, 1997,  the law firm of Basham,  Ringe Y Correa,  on behalf of
Geo, filed a timely answer to the Complaint (the "Answer"). The Answer denies in
its  entirety  Capilano's  right to any of the  claimed  damages,  interest  and
expenses.  The Answer (1) contests each of the numbered "facts" set forth in the
Complaint  as  either  not  grounded  in fact or as  misconstructions  of actual
events, (2) points out that the last paragraph of the Letter of Intent expressly
states that the letter is non-binding and "is intended to constitute a Letter of
Intention  only,"  and (3)  states  that the  Letter  of  Intent  was  expressly
superseded by a Technical Assistance Agreement duly executed by Geo and Capilano
on June 1, 1992.

     While Geo  currently is not able to estimate  the effect,  if any, on Geo's
results  of  operations  and  financial  position  which  may  result  from  the
resolution of this matter, the Registrant  believes that (1) Geo has meritorious
defenses to each of the allegations  contained in the Complaint,  (2) Geo should
succeed in its defense of the Complaint,  and (3) that the lawsuit will not have
a material adverse effect on the  Registrant's  financial  position.  The former
stockholders of Geo have pledged 60,000 shares of the Registrant's  Common Stock
to provide for any costs  incurred by the  Registrant  in  connection  with this
lawsuit.

     b) The  Registrant  intends to borrow up to  $1,200,000  (the "Loans") from
four persons (collectively,  the Lenders"), including Joel Friedman, Chairman of
the Board ($250,000),  Wayne P. Widynowski ($250,000),  Executive Vice President
and a Director, and Ronald Koons ($100,000),  Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. The Loans will mature in six months, or earlier upon the refinancing of
the  Registrant's  existing loan facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., will bear
interest at 12% per year and will be subordinate to the Registrant's obligations
to Wells Fargo Bank.  To induce the  Lenders to make the Loans,  the  Registrant
will issue five year options to purchase,  at $6.50 per share,  12,500 shares of
Registrant's Common Stock for each $250,000 principal amount of the Loans.


                                Page 2 of 14 pages.
<PAGE>

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

          (a)  Financial Statements.

               Not required.

          (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.

               Not required.

          (c)  Exhibits.

               10.1 Form of Subordinated Promissory Note

               10.2 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement


                                Page 3 of 14 pages.
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                        3-D GEOPHYSICAL, INC.

                                        By: /s/ Joel Friedman
                                           ---------------------------
                                           Name:  Joel Friedman
                                           Title: Chairman

Date:  October 8, 1997


                                Page 4 of 14 pages.
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit                                                                    Page
- -------                                                                    ----


10.1 Form of Subordinated Promissory Note                                    6

10.2 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement                            9


                                Page 5 of 14 pages.



                              3-D GEOPHYSICAL, INC.

                      FORM OF SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE

US    $250,000.00                                     October __, 1997
                                                      New York, New York

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  3-D GEOPHYSICAL,  INC., a Delaware  corporation
(the "Maker"),  hereby promises to pay to the order of  __________________  (the
"Holder")  the  principal   sum  of   ________________________________   DOLLARS
($__________.00),  together with accrued and unpaid interest  thereon,  on April
__, 1998 (the  "Payment  Date"),  provided  that if such  Payment  Date is not a
Business Day, as defined  below,  payment  shall be made on the next  succeeding
Business Day.

             The payment of this Note is subordinated pursuant to the terms of a
Subordination  Agreement  and  Assignment,  dated as of October __, 1997, by and
among  the  Holder,   the  Maker  and  Wells  Fargo  Bank  (Texas)   N.A.   (the
"Subordination  Agreement") and is subject to all of the terms and conditions of
the Subordination Agreement.

            1.  Interest.  Maker agrees to pay interest  from the date hereof on
the  unpaid  portion  of the  principal  amount  of this  Note from time to time
outstanding  at the rate of 12% per annum  through the  Payment  Date (but in no
event higher than the maximum  rate  permitted by  applicable  law),  compounded
annually  and payable on or before the  Payment  Date and  thereafter  until the
principal  amount of this Note is paid in full,  subject  to the  provisions  of
Section 3 hereof.

            2. Business Day. For the purposes of this Note, the phrase "Business
Day" means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a legal  holiday on which
banks are authorized or required by law to be closed in New York, New York.

            3. Prepayment.  Subject to its obligations  under the  Subordination
Agreement, the Maker may, at its option, on five (5) Business Days notice to the
Holder,  prepay the principal  amount of this Note at any time in whole, or from
time to time in such  part as the  Maker  shall  specify  in such  notice,  with
accrued  interest on the amount prepaid to the date of prepayment,  in each case
without  penalty or premium  therefor.  The Maker shall,  in the event the Maker
refinances  its existing  credit  facility  with Wells Fargo Bank (Texas)  N.A.,
dated May 29,  1996,  as amended  through the date  hereof (the  "Refinancing"),
prepay the entire principal amount of this Note within ten (10) Business Days of
the  consummation  of the  Refinancing,  together  with accrued  interest on the
amount prepaid to the date of prepayment.
<PAGE>

            4.  Method and Place of  Payment.  All  payments  of  principal  and
interest on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer in lawful money of
the United  States of America at such address as the Holder  shall  designate in
writing to the Maker.

            5.  Defaults.  Any of the  following  shall  constitute  an event of
default (an "Event of Default") hereunder:

            (a) If the Maker shall fail to pay any  principal  or  interest  due
hereunder, which failure shall remain uncured for a period of five (5) days; or

            (b) If any  voluntary  proceeding  shall be  commenced  by the Maker
under any  chapter  of the  Federal  Bankruptcy  Code or other law  relating  to
bankruptcy,  bankruptcy reorganization,  insolvency or relief of debtors, or any
such  proceeding  is  commenced  against  the Maker and such  proceeding  is not
dismissed  within  sixty  (60)  days  from  the  date on  which  it is  filed or
instituted; or

            (c) If the Maker becomes  insolvent or is unable to pay its debts as
they become due or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

            (d) The dissolution or other winding up of the Maker; or

            (e) In the event that the holders of any indebtedness of the Company
in excess of $50,000 shall  accelerate the maturity of any such  indebtedness or
shall  declare  such  indebtedness  to be due and  payable  prior to the  stated
maturity thereof.

            Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default the unpaid  principal of
this Note and any  accrued  and unpaid  interest  hereunder  shall,  at the sole
option of the Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon the occurrence of
any Event of Default  the Holder may  exercise  any and all rights and  remedies
available  to the Holder at law or in equity;  however the failure of the Holder
to exercise the option described in the preceding  sentence or any such right or
remedy  at any time  shall not  constitute  a waiver  of the  Holder's  right to
exercise  such  optionor any such right or remedy at any other time,  subject in
any such case to the provisions of the Subordination Agreement.

            6.  Expenses.  The  Maker  agrees  to pay  all  reasonable  expenses
incurred by the Holder in connection with the collection and enforcement of this
Note,   including,   without   limitation,   reasonable   attorneys'   fees  and
disbursements.

            7.  Waiver of Notice,  etc.  The Maker  hereby  waives  presentment,
notice of demand for payment,  protest,  notice of dishonor and any other notice
of any kind with respect to this Note.

            8. Successors and Assigns. This Note shall be binding upon the Maker
and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Holder, its
personal representatives and successors and assigns.


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

            9.  Governing  Law.  This Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance  with  the laws of the  State  of New  York,  without  regard  to the
principles of conflict of laws thereof.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Maker has caused this instrument to be duly
executed this ___ day of October, 1997.

                                   3-D GEOPHYSICAL, INC.

                                   By:
                                      --------------------------------
                                   Name:
                                   Title:


                                       -3-



                              3-D GEOPHYSICAL, INC.

                  FORM OF NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

            NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
October  __,  1997,  between  3-D  GEOPHYSICAL,  INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation
(the"Company"), and _______________ (the "Optionee").

            The Company's  Board of Directors (the "Board") has determined  that
the  objectives  of the Company  will be furthered by granting to the Optionee a
stock option in partial  consideration  of the  Optionee's  making a loan to the
Company  in  the  principal  amount  of  $250,000  (the  "Loan")  pursuant  to a
Subordinated  Promissory  Note of the Company in that  principal  payable to the
order of the Optionee, dated the date hereof.

            In consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual undertakings set
forth in this Agreement, the Company and the Optionee hereby agree as follows:

            SECTION 1. Grant of Option.

            1.1 The Company  hereby  grants to the  Optionee a stock option (the
"Option") to purchase 12,500 shares, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"), of
common stock of the Company  ("Common  Stock") at a purchase  price of $6.50 per
share (the "Exercise  Price").  It is intended that the Option shall not qualify
as an "incentive stock option" as defined in section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.

            1.2 In the event of any  change  in the  outstanding  shares  Common
Stock by reason of a stock dividend,  split-up,  recapitalization,  combination,
exchange  of shares or  similar  transaction,  the type and  number of shares or
securities  subject to the Option,  and the exercise  price  therefor,  shall be
adjusted  appropriately,  and proper  provision  shall be made in the agreements
governing such transaction,  so that Optionee shall receive upon exercise of the
Option the same class and number of  outstanding  shares or other  securities or
property  that  Optionee  would have  received in respect of Common Stock if the
Option had been exercised  immediately  prior to such event,  or the record date
therefor, as applicable. After any such adjustment, the number of shares subject
to the Option shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

            1.3 In the event that Company  shall enter into an agreement  (i) to
consolidate with or merge into any person,  other than one of its  subsidiaries,
and shall not be the continuing or surviving  corporation of such  consolidation
or merger,  (ii) to permit any person,  other than one of its  subsidiaries,  to
merge into the Company  and the Company  shall be the  continuing  or  surviving
corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of
the Company or any other person or cash or any other property or the shares of
<PAGE>

Common Stock outstanding  immediately before such merger shall after such merger
represent  less than 50% of the  outstanding  common  shares  and  common  share
equivalents  of the  Company,  or (iii)  to sell or  otherwise  transfer  all or
substantially  all  of  its  assets  to  any  person,  other  than  one  of  its
subsidiaries,  then,  and  in  each  such  case,  the  Option  shall,  upon  the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein,  be converted  into, or exchanged  for, an option to purchase the number
and kind of shares of stock or other securities, cash or any other property that
the Optionee  would have been  entitled to receive as a result of such merger or
sale  of  assets  had  the  Optionee  fully  exercised  the  Option  and  been a
stockholder of record prior to such merger or sale of assets,  and the agreement
governing such transaction shall make proper provisions to so provide.

            SECTION 2. Exercisability.

            The Option shall become  exercisable in full on the date the Company
receives the principal amount of the Loan. The unexercised portion of the Option
shall expire and cease to be exercisable at 12:01 a.m. on the 5th anniversary of
the date of this Agreement.

            SECTION 3. Method of Exercise.

            The Option or any part thereof may be  exercised  only by the giving
of written  notice to the  Company on such form and in such  manner as the Board
shall prescribe.  Such written notice must be accompanied by payment of the full
purchase  price for the number of shares  being  purchased.  Such payment may be
made by one or a  combination  of the  following  methods:  (a) by  certified or
official bank check (or the equivalent  thereof  acceptable to the Company);  or
(b) by such other method as the Company may  authorize.  The date of exercise of
the Option shall be the date on which: (a) written notice of exercise shall have
been duly given as provided in Section 7 of this Agreement;  and (b) the Company
shall have received  payment of the full purchase price for the number of shares
being purchased.

            SECTION 4. Death.

            If the  Optionee  dies  during  the  period in which  the  Option is
exercisable the Option shall be exercisable  until the earlier of the expiration
date of the  Option  (specified  in Section 2 of this  Agreement)  and the first
anniversary of the date of the Optionee's death.

            SECTION  5.   Investment   Representations.   The  Optionee   hereby
represents and warrants to and agrees with the Company as follows:

            5.1 Acquisition of Shares for Own Account. The Optionee will acquire
the Shares, if at all, pursuant to this Agreement with the Optionee's own funds,
and not with the funds of anyone else.  The Shares will be acquired,  if at all,
for the  Optionee's  own  account,  not as a  nominee  or agent  and not for the
account of any other person or firm,  and for investment and without any view to
the distribution  thereof or of any portion thereof or interest therein.  No one
else has or will have on any  exercise of the Option or any portion  thereof any
interest, beneficial or otherwise, in any of the Shares to be acquired on such


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

exercise.  The Optionee is not, and prior to any exercise of the Option will not
be,  obligated  to  transfer  any of the  Shares or any  portion  thereof or any
interest  therein to anyone else and the Optionee does not and will not have any
agreement or understandings to do so. The Optionee does not, and on any exercise
of the Option will not,  intend to subdivide the  Optionee's  acquisition of any
Shares with anyone.

            5.2  Agreement to Refrain from  Resales.  The Optionee  agrees that,
notwithstanding  any provision of this  Agreement to the contrary,  the Optionee
shall in no event make any  disposition of all or any part of or interest in the
Shares and that such Shares shall not be encumbered, pledged, hypothecated, sold
or transferred by the Optionee nor shall the Optionee receive any  consideration
for such Shares or for any interest  therein  from any person,  unless and until
prior to any proposed transfer, encumbrance,  disposition, pledge, hypothecation
or sale of any Shares,  either: (1) a registration  statement on Form S-1 or S-8
(or any other form replacing such form or appropriate for the purpose) under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Act"),  with respect to such shares
proposed to be transferred or otherwise disposed of shall be then effective;  or
(2) (i) the Optionee shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition
and  shall  have  furnished  the  Company  with  a  detailed  statement  of  the
circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, (ii) the Optionee shall have
furnished  the  Company  with  an  opinion  of  counsel  in form  and  substance
satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such disposition will not require
registration  of any such  Shares  under  the Act or  qualification  of any such
Shares under any other  securities law, (iii) such opinion of counsel shall have
been  concurred  in by counsel for the  Company and (iv) the Company  shall have
advised the Optionee of such concurrence.

            5.3 Shares May Be "Restricted Securities"; Certificates Representing
Shares May Be Legended.

            The Optionee understands and agrees that:

            5.3.1  the  Shares,   if  and  when  issued,   may  be   "restricted
securities," as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Act and, accordingly,
the  Optionee  may be required to hold the Shares  indefinitely  unless they are
registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is available;

            5.3.2 the Company is not under any obligation to register the Shares
under the Act or to comply with any exemption thereunder; and

            5.3.3 certificates  representing any Shares received by the Optionee
on  exercise  of the  Option  may bear a legend on the face  thereof  (or on the
reverse   thereof  with  a  reference  to  such  legend  on  the  face  thereof)
substantially  in the form set forth  below,  which legend  restricts  the sale,
transfer or  disposition of the Shares  otherwise  than in accordance  with this
Agreement:

            THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS
            CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
            SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE


                                       -3-
<PAGE>

            ENCUMBERED,  PLEDGED,  HYPOTHECATED,  SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE
            DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF AN  EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT
            UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL  SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY
            AND CONCURRED IN BY THE COMPANY'S  COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS
            NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR SUCH TRANSACTION  COMPLIES WITH RULES
            PROMULGATED  BY THE SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  UNDER SAID
            ACT.

            SECTION 6. Nonassignability.

            The Option shall not be assignable or  transferable,  voluntarily or
involuntarily,  other than by will or by the laws of descent  and  distribution.
The Option  shall be  exercisable  during the life of the  Optionee  only by the
Optionee or the Optionee's legal representative.

            SECTION 7. Notices.

            Any notice to be given to the Company  hereunder shall be in writing
by either express delivery,  registered or certified mail or confirmed facsimile
transmission and shall be addressed to 3-D Geophysical,  Inc., 8226 Park Meadows
Drive, Littleton, CO 80124, Attn: Secretary (Facsimile Number: 303-708-8941), or
at such other address, facsimile number or person's attention as the Company may
hereafter designate to the Optionee by notice as provided in this Section 7. Any
notice to be given to the Optionee  hereunder shall be addressed to the Optionee
at the address or facsimile number set forth beneath his signature hereto, or at
such other address or facsimile  number as the Optionee may hereafter  designate
to the Company by notice as provided  herein.  A notice  shall be deemed to have
been duly given when  personally  delivered  or, if mailed,  five days after the
date the  notice  was so  mailed.  Notices  which  are  delivered  by  confirmed
facsimile  transmission  shall be deemed to have been duly  given on the date of
delivery.

            SECTION 8. Successors and Assigns.

            This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties  hereto and the  successors and assigns of the Company and the heirs and
personal representatives of the Optionee.

            SECTION 9. Governing Law.

            This Agreement shall be interpreted,  construed and  administered in
accordance  with the laws of the State of  Delaware  as they apply to  contracts
made, delivered and performed entirely within such state.


                                     -4-

            SECTION 10. Severability.

            If any  provision of this  Agreement  shall  hereafter be held to be
invalid,  unen-  forceable or illegal in whole or in part,  in any  jurisdiction
under any circumstances for any reason,  (i) such provision shall be reformed to
the minimum extent  necessary to cause such  provision to be valid,  enforceable
and legal while  preserving  the intent of the parties as expressed  in, and the
benefits to the parties  provided by, this  Agreement or (ii) if such  provision
cannot be so reformed,  such provision  shall be severed from this Agreement and
an equitable  adjustment  shall be made to this  Agreement  (including,  without
limitation, addition of necessary further provisions to this Agreement) so as to
give effect to the intent as so expressed  and the  benefits so  provided.  Such
holding shall not affect or impair the validity,  enforceability  or legality of
such  provision  in any other  jurisdiction  or under  any other  circumstances.
Neither such holding nor such  reformation  or severance  shall affect or impair
the  legality,  validity  or  enforceability  of any  other  provision  of  this
Agreement.

            SECTION 11. Authority.

            This Agreement has been duly  authorized on behalf of the Company by
the Board of Directors.  The Optionee  represents  that he is free to enter into
this  Agreement and that his entering into this  Agreement  does not violate any
obligation that he has to any other person or legal entity.

            SECTION 12. Counterparts.

            This Agreement may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  all of
which taken together shall be deemed one original.

            SECTION 13. Specific Performance.

            The  Optionee  agrees  that,  without  prejudice  to the  rights and
remedies  otherwise  available to the parties  hereunder,  the Company  shall be
entitled to specific performance or equitable relief by way of injunction of all
of the Optionee's  obligations  hereunder,  without posting any bond and without
proving that damages would be inadequate.

            SECTION 14. Entire Agreement.

            This  Agreement sets forth the entire  understanding  of the Company
and the Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof and cannot be amended
or modified, nor can any provision hereof be waived by the Company,  except by a
writing signed by both parties.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]


                                       -5-
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
as of the date and year first written above.

                                        3-D GEOPHYSICAL, INC.
                                   
                                   
 ATTEST:                                By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
- -----------------------                 Title:

                                        OPTIONEE:


                                        By
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Address:

                                        Facsimile Number:
                                        Social Security Number:


                                       -6-


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