SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Information Statement
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14c-5(d)(2))
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Mar Ventures Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
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previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
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<PAGE>
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY
AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY
INFORMATION STATEMENT
MAR VENTURES INC.
1675 Broadway, Suite 1150
Denver, Colorado 80202
Telephone: (303) 825-3748
October 21, 1997
This Information Statement is being mailed to the stockholders of Mar
Ventures Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), on or about October 21,
1997 to inform them of actions that have been approved by written consent of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.
Pursuant to Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the state of Delaware
and the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, action by stockholders may
be taken without a meeting by written consent of stockholders holding a majority
of the outstanding shares. The actions set forth below have been approved by
written consent of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares and
will occur on or about November 11, 1997. These actions are as follows:
1. Amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to change the
Company's name from "Mar Ventures Inc." to "PYR Energy Corporation";
2. Approval of the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan; and
3. To ratify the selection of Wheeler Wasoff, P.C. to serve as the
Company's independent certified accountants for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 1997.
In addition to sending this Information Statement to all stockholders of
record as of October 10, 1997 (the "Record Date"), the Company will make
arrangements with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to forward copies of this Information Statement to beneficial owners
of the shares held of record by those persons. The Company may reimburse those
persons for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in so doing. All
the expenses involved in preparing, assembling and mailing this Information
Statement will be paid by the Company.
As used herein the "Company" means Mar Ventures Inc. and its subsidiary,
PYR Energy LLC ("PYR Energy"), unless the context requires otherwise.
BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
General
PYR Energy is an independent exploration company that applies advanced 3-D
seismic and computer aided exploration ("CAEX") technology to systematically
explore for and exploit onshore domestic natural gas and oil accumulations in
the western United States. With a primary technical focus, the Company has
ongoing exploration and exploitation activities in the San Joaquin basin of
California, the Denver basin of Colorado and Nebraska, the Big Horn basin of
Wyoming, and the central Montana trough of Montana.
<PAGE>
Since its inception in 1996, PYR Energy has developed a portfolio of
exploration and exploitation projects that conform to its goal of a critical mix
of high-potential, high-risk exploration targets combined with
moderate-potential, moderate-risk exploitation plays. The Company generates most
of its exploration projects internally, and therefore, has the ability to retain
a sizeable working interest in each project based on associated project risk and
financial leverage through industry joint ventures. The Company attempts to
limit financial exposure on a project by project basis by forming industry
partnerships where the Company's technical expertise can be complemented with
the financial resources and operating expertise of established companies.
PYR Energy has successfully assembled a highly motivated technical and
management team with extensive technical experience, as well as a proven track
record of resource exploitation and business development. The Company was
founded by a geophysicist who had previously been a founder of a 3-D seismic
consulting firm in the Rocky Mountain region and by a geologist who had worked
for a number of exploration and production companies for an aggregate of over 30
years. The Company's technical/management team of geophysicists and geologists
brings together more than 110 years of combined experience in exploration,
exploitation, and the application of applied technology. With historical
exposure to over 100 3-D seismic projects, PYR Energy's experiences have
resulted in the development of substantial expertise in the application of
seismic technology for exploration and exploitation.
Business Strategy
- -----------------
PYR Energy holds the core belief that systematic application of advanced
3-D seismic imaging and visualization can significantly reduce drilling risk and
enhance financial results. PYR Energy's business strategy is to continue to
enhance stockholder value by leveraging its technical experience and expertise
with 3-D seismic to identify exploration and exploitation projects with
significant potential reserves and economic results based on the application of
appropriate technology and suitable project risk management.
PYR Energy's exploration and exploitation activities currently are focused
solely in two mature hydrocarbon provinces: the San Joaquin basin of California,
and the Rocky Mountain region, where PYR Energy management believes that the
historical under-utilization of seismic technology creates tremendous
opportunities. The Company currently has interests covering approximately 35,600
gross and 26,750 net acres in the San Joaquin basin and approximately 10,880
gross and 2,960 net acres in the Rocky Mountain region. (The Company currently
has no producing acreage.) It plans to commence drilling on its San Joaquin
acreage in late 1997 or early 1998.
PYR Energy believes that significant exploration opportunities exist for
independents in mature domestic basins located onshore. This is based on the
realization that major oil and gas companies, long the dominant players in these
mature basins, must focus increasingly on larger reservoir and production
targets in large international frontier concessions to replace their annual
production. PYR Energy's strategy is to focus on applying 3-D seismic technology
to explore properties that lie within these mature basins and offer quantities
of oil and gas reserves that are materially significant to the Company. The
various advanced techniques that the
Company intends to utilize include 3-D seismic visualization, attribute
analysis, geostatistical modeling, pre-stack depth migration, and the
integration of geological and engineering data in support of reservoir
characterization.
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<PAGE>
PYR Energy has a three-pronged corporate approach for the application of
exploration technology in these mature basins. The three components of this
strategy are set forth below:
o Internal generation of exploration and exploitation prospects with
special emphasis on 3-D seismic application to stratigraphic play
concepts.
o Identification and exploitation of non-performing and under-utilized
existing 3-D seismic surveys and acreage positions in which the
application of technical expertise, and advanced interpretation and
visualization methodologies significantly impact drilling results.
o Development of partnerships with exploration and production
companies that lack advanced technical resources and expertise.
The Company's future growth is anticipated to be driven by the systematic
focus on building a reserve base through the application of 3-D seismic
exploration methods and the drilling of significant, high-potential wells. PYR
Energy is currently focusing its 3-D seismic activity in a limited number of
geologic provinces where it is convinced that the seismic technology can
dramatically impact the finding cost of hydrocarbon reserves. The Company has
not yet established any oil and gas production, nor has it booked any proved
reserves.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The Record Date has been fixed by the Board as the record date for
determination of stockholders entitled to receive this Information Statement. On
that date, 9,154,804 shares of the Company's $.001 par value common stock (the
"Common Stock") were issued and outstanding. Each stockholder is entitled to one
vote for each share of Common Stock standing in his or her name on the books of
the Company. For specific information concerning shares of the Common Stock
owned by the officers and directors as well as any other person owning more than
five percent of the outstanding Common Stock, see "SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT" below.
CHANGES IN CONTROL OF THE COMPANY
The Company, on August 6, 1997, purchased all the ownership interests of
PYR Energy in exchange for 4,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. As a
result of this transaction, PYR Energy, which is an oil and gas exploration
company, became wholly owned by the Company, and the owners of PYR Energy
obtained 43.7 percent of the Company's outstanding Common Stock. The owners of
PYR Energy immediately prior to this transaction consisted of D. Scott
Singdahlsen, Dirk MeDermott, Gregory B. Barnett, Tommye Barnett, Interactive
Earth Sciences Corporation, and PinOak Inc.
In connection with its purchase of PYR Energy, the Company agreed to
appoint each of D. Scott Singdahlsen, Gregory B. Barnett and Keith F. Carney as
directors of the Company. The three directors of the Company immediately prior
to consummation of the transaction with PYR Energy have resigned, and the Board
now consists solely of Messrs. Singdahlsen, Barnett and Carney.
3
<PAGE>
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The directors and executive officers of the Company, their respective
positions and ages, and the year in which each director was first elected, are
set forth in the following table. Each director has been elected to hold office
until the next annual meeting of stockholders and thereafter until his successor
is elected and has qualified. Additional information concerning each of these
individuals follows the table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position with the Company Director Since
---- --- ------------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
D. Scott Singdahlsen 39 Chief Executive Officer, 1997
President, and Chairman
of the Board
Gregory B. Barnett 36 Director 1997
Keith F. Carney 41 Director 1997
Robert B. Suydam 59 Secretary ---
Andrew P. Calerich 33 Chief Financial Officer ---
</TABLE>
D. Scott Singdahlsen has been the Chief Executive Officer, President and
Chairman of the Board of the Company since August 1997. Since May 1996, Mr.
Singdahlsen has been the General Manager of PYR Energy. From July 1992 until
April 1996, Mr. Singdahlsen served variously as President and Vice President of
Interactive Earth Sciences Corporation, a 3D seismic consulting firm in the oil
and gas industry. Mr. Singdahlsen received a B.A. Degree in Geology from
Hamilton College in New York in 1981, and a M.S. Degree in Geology from Montana
State in 1986.
Gregory B. Barnett has been a director of the Company since August 1997.
Since February 1994, Mr. Barnett has been the President of Denver-based EnerCOM
Incorporated, a firm with emphasis in financial communications for several
industries, including oil and gas. From April 1993 until February 1994, Mr.
Barnett served as Director of Investor Relations of Gerrity Oil Corporation.
From April 1988 until April 1993, Mr. Barnett served as Director of Investor
Relations of Maxus Energy Corporation. Mr. Barnett received a Bachelor of
Business Administration Degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at
Arlington in 1989.
Keith F. Carney has been a director of the Company since August 1997. Since
July 1996, Mr. Carney has been the Chief Financial Officer of Cheniere Energy,
Inc., a Houston based exploration company traded on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market
under the symbol CHEX. From July 1992 until April 1996, Mr. Carney was a
Securities Analyst with Smith Barney. Mr. Carney received a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Geology and a Master of Science Degree in Geology from Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1978 and 1981, respectively.
Robert B. Suydam has been the Secretary of the Company since August 1997.
Since May 1996, Mr. Suydam has been the Manager--Geology of PYR Energy. From
July 1994 until December 1995, Mr. Suydam served as Senior Geologist of Snyder
Oil Corporation. From March 1992 until July 1994, Mr. Suydam served as Senior
Geologist of Gerrity Oil & Gas Corporation. Mr. Suydam received a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Geology and a Master of Arts Degree in Geology from the
University of Wyoming in 1961 and 1963, respectively.
4
<PAGE>
Andrew P. Calerich has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Company
since August 1997. From June 1993 until August 1997, Mr. Calerich was a business
consultant specializing in internal accounting system controls and efficiencies,
management reporting systems, and budgeting. From May 1990 until June 1993, Mr.
Calerich served as Corporate Controller for Tipperary Corporation, a company
engaged in the business of exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and
natural gas. Mr. Calerich is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Calerich
received a Bachelor of Science Degree in each of Accounting and Business
Administration from Regis College in Denver, Colorado in 1986.
Committees and Meetings
- -----------------------
The Board formed a Compensation Committee in August 1997. There is not an
audit committee, a nominating committee, or other committee performing similar
functions. The Compensation Committee has the authority to establish policies
concerning compensation and employee benefits for employees of the Company. The
Compensation Committee reviews and makes recommendations concerning the
Company's compensation policies and the implementation of those policies and
determines compensation and benefits for executive officers. The Compensation
Committee currently consists of Messrs. Barnett and Carney. During the fiscal
year ended August 31, 1997, the Compensation Committee, which was formed in
August 1997, met one time.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 the Board of Directors met
three times and acted by written consent without a meeting four times. Each
director participated in at least 75 percent of the aggregate of the total
number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of all Committees of the Board
of Directors on which that director served during the year ended August 31,
1997.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
- -------------------------------------------------------
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% 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 and other
equity securities of the Company. The Company believes, based on representations
of the Company's prior management, that during the fiscal year ended August 31,
1997, its officers, directors and holders of more than 10% of the Company's
Common Stock complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements. In making
these statements, the Company has relied upon the written representations of the
former directors and officers of the Company with respect to matters occurring
prior to August 6, 1997.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
As of October 6, 1997, there were 9,154,804 shares of the Company's $.001
par value common stock (the "Common Stock") outstanding. The following table
sets forth certain information as of October 6, 1997, with respect to the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each director, by all
executive officers and directors as a group, and by each other person known by
the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's Common
Stock:
5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address of Number of Shares Percentage of
Beneficial Owner Beneficially Owned (1) Shares Outstanding
- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
D. Scott Singdahlsen 2,000,000 21.8%
1675 Broadway, Suite 1150
Denver, Colorado 80202
Robert B. Suydam 1,300,000(2) 14.2%
1675 Broadway, Suite 1150
Denver, Colorado 80202
Gregory B. Barnett 200,000 2.2%
1675 Broadway, Suite 1150
Denver, Colorado 80202
Keith F. Carney 200,000 (3) 2.2%
915 Bay Oaks Road
Houston, Texas 77008
All Officers and Directors as a group 3,700,000 40.0%
(five persons)
PinOak Inc. 1,300,000 (2) 14.2%
5037 South Oak Court
Littleton, Colorado 80127
Bernard Young and Rebecca Young 556,988(4) 6.1%
as trustees for the Young Family Trust
dated October 1992
5269 Amestoy Avenue
Encino, California 91316
</TABLE>
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(1) "Beneficial ownership" is defined in the regulations promulgated by the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as having or sharing, directly or
indirectly (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct
the voting, or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose
or to direct the disposition, of shares of the common stock of an issuer.
Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has sole voting and
investment power.
(2) The shares shown for Mr. Suydam are owned of record by PinOak Inc.
("PinOak"). These shares are included twice in the table. They are listed
as being held beneficially by both PinOak and Mr. Suydam. PinOak is owned
by Mr. Suydam's wife and Mr. Suydam is the President of PinOak.
(3) The number of shares indicated includes 100,000 shares underlying warrants
currently exercisable.
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<PAGE>
(4) The number of shares indicated does not include 40,000 shares owned by Mr.
and Mrs. Young and an aggregate of 16,917 additional shares held by the son
and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Young and their spouses for themselves and as
custodians for their children. Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4), Mr. and Mrs.
Young disclaim beneficial ownership of shares held by their children and
the spouses of their children.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Acquisition Of PYR Energy
- -------------------------
The Company acquired all the ownership interest in PYR as a result of the
transactions described in "CHANGES IN CONTROL OF THE COMPANY". Mr. Singdahlsen
received 2,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock in that transaction in
exchange for the 50 percent of PYR that he owned immediately prior to the
transaction. PinOak, a company of which Mr. Suydam is the President and whose
sole shareholder is Mr. Suydam's wife, received 1,300,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock in that transaction in exchange for PinOak's ownership of
32.5 percent of the ownership interests in PYR immediately prior to the
transaction. In connection with that transaction, the Company agreed to appoint
each of Messrs. Singdahlsen, Carney and Barnett to constitute all the members of
the Company's Board Of Directors.
Loan To PYR Energy
- ------------------
In June 1997, PYR Energy borrowed $275,000 from the Company in order to
fund certain of PYR Energy's obligations pursuant to PYR Energy's lease and
seismic option in the San Joaquin basin. See "BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY". PYR
Energy secured that loan with a pledge of PYR Energy's interest in the lease and
seismic option. The loan accrues interest at a rate of eight percent per annum
which is payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar quarter.
Sale Of Assets To Former Director And Officer
- ---------------------------------------------
Effective as of August 6, 1997, the Company sold all the assets not related
to the Company's business of oil and gas exploration, development, and
consulting or to the Company's principal office in Denver, Colorado to Buddy
Young, a principal stockholder and a former director and officer of the Company.
The purchase price for the assets was $32,000, which was paid in the form of a
release from Mr. Young to the Company of the Company's obligation to repay the
$32,000 it owed to Mr. Young. The Company's approximate $32,000 obligation to
Mr. Young had been incurred through advances from Mr. Young to the Company for
working capital purposes. There currently are outstanding $17,852 of accounts
receivable related to the assets that Mr. Young obtained the right to receive.
Mr. Young also assumed all liabilities related to the assets. The Company also
assigned to Mr. Young the lease for the Company's office in Encino, California
and Mr. Young assumed the Company's obligations under the lease. The Company
obtained a release from the landlord for additional obligations under the lease.
In addition to the accounts receivable described above, the assets sold to
Mr. Young consisted primarily of the Company's interests in three television
programs, "Heartstoppers . . . At The Movies", a two-hour television program
hosted by George Hamilton, "Christmas At The Movies", a one-hour television
program hosted by Gene Kelly, and "It's A Wonderful Life - A Personal
Remembrance", an approximately 15-minute television program hosted by Frank
Capra, Jr., and the office furniture and supplies in the Company's former office
in Encino, California. The television programs previously had been held by the
Company for licensing to various television and cable television operators.
During the year ended August 31, 1997, the Company received licensing
7
<PAGE>
fees of $15,216 for the television programming assets sold to Mr. Young. The low
revenue amount was mainly due to the programs' previously having been licensed
in most major territories. Because, as a result of the Company's acquisition of
PYR Energy LLC, the Company determined to focus its activities on oil and gas
exploration, development and consulting and to locate its principal office in
Denver, Colorado, the Company determined that it was in its best interests to
sell the assets of the Company that were not related to this business and to
assign its office lease in Encino, California.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Summary Compensation Table
- --------------------------
The following table sets forth in summary form the compensation paid to the
Company's current and former President during the period from the Company's
inception on July 2, 1996 until its fiscal year ended August 31, 1996, and
during the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997. No employee of the Company
received total salary and bonus exceeding $100,000 during either of the fiscal
years ended August 31, 1996 and 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Compensation
Name and Fiscal Long-Term Other Annual
Principal Position Year Ended Salary ($)(1) Bonus ($) Compensation Options Compensation ($)
- ------------------ ---------- ------------- --------- -------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
D. Scott Singdahlsen, 1997 $6,250 -0- -0- -0-
President 1996 $ -0- -0- -0- -0-
Buddy Young, 1997 $-0- -0- -0- 15,800 (2)
Former President 1996 $-0- -0- -0- 14,000 (2)
</TABLE>
- ---------------------
(1) The dollar value of base salary (cash and non-cash) received.
(2) The amount shown represents a consulting fee paid to Mr. Young.
CHANGE IN THE NAME OF THE COMPANY TO PYR ENERGY CORPORATION.
The Board of Directors and the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock have approved an amendment to the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation to change the name of the Company to PYR Energy Corporation.
The Board of Directors believes it is in the best interests of the Company to
change the name of the Company to PYR Energy Corporation because this reflects
the nature of the Company's business and will maintain the business reputation
previously developed by PYR Energy, LLC. The approval of the change of the name
of the Company by the Company's stockholders will become effective on or about
November 11, 1997.
1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Board of Directors and the holders of a majority of the Company's
outstanding common stock have approved the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan (the
"1997 Plan"). Approval of the 1997 Plan by the Company's stockholders will
become effective on or about November 11, 1997. No options granted under the
1997 Plan may be exercised until approval of the Plan by the Company's
stockholders has become effective.
8
<PAGE>
Options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be granted
pursuant to the 1997 Plan. These Options may be either Incentive Options or
Non-Qualified Options. The 1997 Plan is intended to provide incentives to key
employees and other persons who have or are contributing to the success of the
Company by offering them Options to purchase shares of the Company's Common
Stock. The effect of the adoption of the 1997 Plan will be to allow the Company
to grant options from time to time and thereby augment its program of providing
incentives to employees and other persons. The terms of the 1997 Plan concerning
Incentive Options and Non-Qualified Options are substantially the same except
that only employees of the Company or its subsidiaries are eligible for
Incentive Options, and employees and other persons who have contributed or are
contributing to the success of the Company are eligible for Non-Qualified
Options. The number of Options authorized is a maximum aggregate so that the
number of Incentive Options granted reduces the number of Non-Qualified Options
that may be granted and vice versa. There currently are five employees eligible
to receive Incentive Options and an unspecified number of persons eligible to
receive Non-Qualified Options.
Options granted under the 1997 Plan, which cannot be exercised until the
stockholders' approval of the 1997 Plan is effective, are disclosed below under
the heading "New Plan Benefits".
The 1997 Plan will be administered by the Option Committee, which may
consist of either (i) the Company's Board of Directors, or (ii) a committee,
appointed by the Board of Directors, of two or more non-employee directors. A
non-employee director is a director who (i) is not currently an officer or
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) does not receive
compensation from the Company in excess of $60,000 for services rendered other
than as a director; and (iii) is not involved in a transaction that is required
to be disclosed in the Company's Form 10-KSB and proxy reports as a related
party transaction. The Board of Directors has determined that the Compensation
Committee will act as the Option Committee at all times that the members of the
Compensation Committee meet these criteria. The Option Committee has discretion
to select the persons to whom Options will be granted ("Optionees"), the number
of shares to be granted, the term of each Option and the exercise price of each
Option. However, no Option may be exercisable more than 10 years after the
granting of the Option, and no Options may be granted under the 1997 Plan after
August 13, 2007.
The 1997 Plan provides that the exercise price of Incentive Options granted
cannot be less than the fair market value of the underlying Common Stock on the
date the Options are granted. In addition, the aggregate fair market value
(determined as of the date an Option is granted) of the Common Stock underlying
the Options granted to a single employee which become exercisable in any single
calendar year may not exceed the maximum permitted by the Internal Revenue Code
for incentive stock options. This amount currently is $100,000. No Incentive
Option may be granted to an employee who, at the time the Option would be
granted, owns more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the Company
unless the exercise price of the Options granted to the employee is at least 110
percent of the fair market value of the stock subject to the Option, and the
Option is not exercisable more than five years from the date of grant.
All options granted under the 1997 Plan will become fully exercisable upon
the occurrence of a change in control of the Company or certain mergers or other
reorganizations or asset sales described in the 1997 Plan.
9
<PAGE>
Options granted pursuant to the 1997 Plan will not be transferable during
the Optionee's lifetime. Subject to the other terms of the 1997 Plan, the Option
Committee has discretion to provide vesting requirements and specific expiration
provisions with respect to the Options granted.
It currently is anticipated that the exercise of the Options will be
covered by an effective registration statement, which will enable an Optionee
exercising Options to receive unrestricted stock that may be transferred or sold
in the open market unless the Optionee is a director, executive officer or
otherwise an "affiliate" of the Company. In the case of a director, executive
officer or other affiliate, the Common Stock acquired through exercise of the
Options may be reoffered or resold only pursuant to an effective registration
statement or pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or another exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. It is anticipated that
sales by affiliates also will be covered by an effective registration statement.
In the event a change, such as a stock split, is made in the Company's
capitalization which results in an exchange or other adjustment of each share of
Common Stock for or into a greater or lesser number of shares, appropriate
adjustment shall be made in the exercise price and in the number of shares
subject to each outstanding Option. In the event of a stock dividend, each
Optionee shall be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the Option, the
equivalent of any stock dividend that the Optionee would have received had he or
she been the holder of record of the shares purchased upon exercise. The Option
Committee also may make provisions for adjusting the number of shares subject to
outstanding Options in the event the Company effects one or more
reorganizations, recapitalizations, rights offerings, or other increases or
reductions of shares of the Company's outstanding Common Stock.
The Board of Directors may at any time terminate the 1997 Plan or make such
amendments or modifications to the 1997 Plan that the Board of Directors deems
advisable, except that (i) no amendments may impair previously outstanding
Options, and (ii) amendments that materially modify eligibility requirements for
receiving Options, that materially increase the benefits accruing to persons
eligible to receive Options, or that materially increase the number of shares
under the 1997 Plan must be approved by the Company's stockholders.
The Incentive Options issuable under the 1997 Plan are structured to
qualify for favorable tax treatment provided for "incentive stock options" by
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). All
references to the tax treatment of the Options are under the Code as currently
in effect. Pursuant to Section 422 of the Code, Optionees will not be subject to
federal income tax at the time of the grant or at the time of exercise of an
Incentive Option. In addition, provided that the stock underlying the Option is
not sold less than two years after the grant of the Option and is not sold less
than one year after the exercise of the Option, then the difference between the
exercise price and the sales price will be treated as long-term capital gain or
loss. (A more favorable long-term capital gain rate is available if the stock
underlying the Option is held for at least 18 months after exercise of the
Option.) An Optionee also may be subject to the alternative minimum tax upon
exercise of his Options. The Company will not be entitled to receive any income
tax deductions with respect to the granting or exercise of Incentive Options or
the sale of the Common Stock underlying the Options.
Non-Qualified Options will not qualify for the special tax benefits given
to Incentive Options under Section 422 of the Code. An Optionee does not
recognize any taxable income at the time he is granted a Non-Qualified Option.
However, upon exercise of the Option, the Optionee recognizes ordinary income
for federal income tax purposes measured by the excess, if any, of the then fair
market value of the shares over the exercise price. The ordinary income
recognized by the Optionee will be treated as wages and will be subject to
income tax withholding by the Company. Upon an Optionee's sale of shares
acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Non-Qualified Option, any difference
between the sale price and the fair market value of the shares on the date when
the Option was exercised will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain
or loss. Upon an Optionee's exercise of a Non-Qualified Option, the Company will
be entitled to a tax deduction in the amount recognized as ordinary income to
the Optionee provided that the Company effects withholding with respect to the
deemed compensation.
10
<PAGE>
In August 1997, the Company granted options pursuant to the 1997 Plan that
will become exercisable when the stockholders' approval of the 1997 Plan becomes
effective. The following table sets forth information concerning the portion of
these conditional grants of stock options made pursuant to the 1997 Plan to all
current executive officers as a group and to all employees, including all
current officers who are not executive officers, as a group. No grants of
options were made under the 1997 Plan to the Company's President or any current
directors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
New Plan Benefits
1997 Stock Option Plan
Aggregate Exercise Number Of Shares
Name And Position Price Of Options ($)* Underlying Options
----------------- --------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
All Current Executive Officers as a Group $112,500 75,000
(Three Persons)
All Employees as a Group (Excluding $144,000 96,000
Executive Officers; Two Persons)
</TABLE>
- -----------
* The dollar value shown is the aggregate exercise price of all options
granted to the person or group indicated as of August 13, 1997.
The closing bid price of the Company's Common Stock, as quoted on the OTC
Bulletin Board, at the close of business on October 16, 1997 was $1.4375 per
share.
The approval of holders of shares representing a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock was necessary to approve the
1997 Plan.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
On August 13, 1997, the Company engaged Wheeler Wasoff, P.C. of Denver,
Colorado as the Company's independent accountant to replace Farber & Hass of
Oxnard, California, which was dismissed on that date. This decision was approved
by the Board of Directors of the Company, and ratified by holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock. The Board of Directors
believes it is in the best interests of the Company for its accountant to be
located in the same city as the Company's principal executive offices.
As the auditors of the Company, Wheeler Wasoff, P.C. will audit financial
statements, review tax returns, and perform other accounting and consulting
services for the Company for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997 or until the
Board of Directors, in its discretion, replaces them.
11
<PAGE>
The approval of holders of shares representing a majority of the
outstanding shares was necessary to ratify the selection of auditors. There is
no legal requirement for the stockholders to ratify the selection of auditors,
however, the Board of Directors believes that it is of sufficient importance to
seek ratification. The ratification by the Company's stockholders of the
selection of the auditors will become effective on or about November 11, 1997.
The Board at any time may reconsider its selection of Wheeler Wasoff, P.C.
The independent auditor's report of Farber & Hass with respect to the
Company's (i) balance sheet as of August 31, 1996, and (ii) statements of
operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the period from July 2, 1996
(the date of the Company's inception) to August 31, 1996, was modified as to the
uncertainty about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Farber &
Hass's report did not otherwise contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of
opinion, and it was not qualified or modified as to audit scope or accounting
principles. There have not been any disagreements with Farber & Hass on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statements disclosure or
auditing scope or procedure.
This Information Statement is sent by the order of the Board of Directors.
Dated: October 21, 1997 /s/ D. SCOTT SINGDAHLSEN
---------------------------
D. Scott Singdahlsen
President
12
