SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
|X| ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
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|_| TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the transition period from _________ to _________
Commission File Number 0-29796
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada 91-1913992
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of I.R.S. Employer Identification
Incorporation or Organization) No.)
4410 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 529-7498
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Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: None
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share
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(Title of class)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES |X| NO |_|
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. |_|
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the Registrant as of March 22, 1999 was approximately $62,826,216 computed based
on the average bid and asked prices of the Common stock on the OTC Bulletin
Board on such date.
There were 33,707,357 shares of the Registrant's common stock outstanding
as of March 22, 1999.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 1
PART I 3
ITEM 1. BUSINESS 3
General 3
The Market 4
Decommissioning 5
The Offshore Shuttle 6
Business Strategy 8
Strategic Alliances 9
Proprietary Protection 10
Competition 11
Regulation 11
Insurance 12
Employees 12
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 13
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 13
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS 13
PART II 14
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 14
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 15
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 16
General 16
Results of Operations 17
Business Strategy 17
Liquidity and Capital Resources 18
Year 2000 issue 19
Amortization of Goodwill 19
International Operations 20
Holding Company Structure 20
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 20
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 21
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 66
PART III 66
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 66
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 67
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 68
Summary Compensation Table 68
Employment Agreements 68
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 69
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS 70
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON
FORM 8-K 72
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PART I
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (and any other reports issued by the
Company from time to time) contain certain forward-looking statements made in
reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including statements
regarding the capabilities of a Offshore Shuttle, anticipated market size, the
Company's business strategy, and the like are based on current expectations that
involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially
from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as result of various
known and unknown factors including, without limitation, future economic,
competitive, regulatory, and market conditions, future business decisions, the
receipt of financing, construction delays, demand for the Company's services,
and those factors discussed below under Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Words such as "believes,"
"anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," and similar expressions are intended
to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of
identifying such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any
of these forward-looking statements.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General
Marine Shuttle Operations Inc., through its wholly-owned Norwegian
subsidiary, Marine Shuttle Operations AS ("MSOAS"), is seeking to become a
leading player in the market for decommissioning, installing, and transporting
offshore oil and gas structures. The Company is in the development stage, has
not generated any revenues from operations, and does not expect to generate any
significant revenues from operations, until the year 2001, at the earliest.
The Company intends to focus its initial efforts on decommissioning --
i.e., the multi-stage process of removing an offshore oil or gas installation.
Removal typically is accomplished by cutting the particular installation into
many pieces and utilizing crane ships and other support vessels to lift the
pieces onto barges or, in some instances, onto the deck of the crane ships
themselves. Although this procedure may be adequate for the small, shallow water
installations that require relatively little cutting to be removed, the
extensive cutting and lifting required with respect to the larger platforms
situated in deeper waters makes decommissioning such installations using such
procedure difficult, dangerous, time-consuming, and expensive.
Offshore Shuttle AS ("OSAS"), a majority-owned Norwegian subsidiary of the
Company, has designed a new generation of vessel (the "Offshore Shuttle") which
the Company believes will be capable of lifting and carrying most of the largest
installations without extensive cutting or dismantling. MSOAS has entered into a
license agreement with OSAS which gives MSOAS the exclusive right to build and
operate five Offshore Shuttles, and an exclusive option to build and operate an
additional two Offshore Shuttles thereafter.
The Company has formed strategic alliances to test, develop, manufacture,
and commercialize the Offshore Shuttle concept. In particular, the Company will
rely on OSAS with respect to the pre-engineering work necessary to construct the
Offshore Shuttles, Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH with respect to the marketing of its
proposed services, RC Consultants AS with respect to its engineering and
operational activities, and Schuller Industrieentsorgung AG (formerly Schuller
Industrieentsorgung GmbH) with respect to waste management, onshore dismantling,
and oil pollution prevention and cleanup.
The Company was incorporated in Nevada in May 1997 under the name Geoteck
International, Inc. On May 29, 1998, it changed its name to Marine Shuttle
Operations Inc. In 1998, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding
stock of MSOAS in exchange for 7,600,000 shares of the Company's common stock,
par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and acquired 3,291,738 shares
of OSAS (approximately 68% of the outstanding OSAS capital stock) in exchange
for 4,937,607 shares of Common Stock. In addition, the
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Company has entered into two agreements to acquire an additional 686,668 shares
of OSAS (approximately 14.5% of the outstanding OSAS capital stock) in exchange
for 1,030,002 shares of Common Stock (the "Additional OSAS Exchanges"). The
Company expects the Additional OSAS Exchanges to close in the near future,
although there can be no assurance in that regard.
The Company's principal offices in the United States are located at 4410
Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006. Its telephone number is (713)
529-7498. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term "Company" as used
herein includes Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. and its subsidiaries.
The Market
There are now more than 6,500 offshore oil and gas installations worldwide
located on the continental shelf of approximately 53 countries. Of these, there
are approximately 4,000 structures in the Gulf of Mexico, 950 in Asia, 700 in
the Middle East, 400 in Europe, and the balance are scattered throughout the
rest of the world. Of the European total, more than 300 are in the North Sea and
the North East Atlantic.
Many different types of installations exist, each one being uniquely
designed based on the water depth, seabed characteristics, and reservoir, wave,
and current conditions of the site of installation. Of the current installed
base of structures, the vast majority (more than 5,800) are fixed steel
installations. Although most fixed steel installations are situated in shallow
waters (i.e., less than 75 meters), there are three hundred to four hundred
fixed steel installations situated in intermediate water depths (i.e., 75 to 200
meters). These deeper water structures tend to be much larger than their shallow
water counterparts.
Fixed steel installations are comprised of two elements: the topside and
the substructure or "jacket." The topside is the above-water portion of the
installation that contains the processing, drilling, and accommodation
facilities. Topsides vary enormously in size and function. Weights range from a
few hundred tons for small topsides in the Gulf of Mexico to over 50,000 tons
for large topsides in the North Sea. Topsides may be built as separate modules,
as an integrated unit, or as a combination of the two (i.e., an integrated deck
containing process facilities topped by individual modules). The choice of
system depends on the facilities required and the method by which the topside is
installed. Topsides typically are transported offshore either on barges or on
the deck of the crane ships.
A jacket is a lattice-work of steel tubes anchored to the seabed by piles
driven up to 100 meters into the soil. They can weigh over 30,000 tons, have a
wide base (up to 120 meters across), and taper towards the top. The vast
majority of jackets are transported to their offshore site by barge. Small
jackets can be lifted off the barge and placed in the water vertically. Large
jackets, whether barge launched or crane lifted, enter the water horizontally
and are then ballasted by controlled flooding to the vertical position before
being lowered into place. Once the jacket is piled into the seabed, the topside
generally is installed by crane.
In addition to fixed steel structures, the installed base includes
concrete gravity base structures (typically found in shallow and intermediate
water depths), various types of floating structures such as tension leg
platforms, floating production platforms, spars, and floating production,
storage and offloading vessels (typically situated in deep waters -- i.e., more
than 200 meters), and subsea structures which include the equipment needed to
develop satellite fields and the seabed equipment associated with floating
installations.
The Company believes that over the next 30 years, most of the installed
base of structures will have to be decommissioned at an estimated cost of $20
billion to $40 billion. It is anticipated that significant portion of this
amount will be spent on the three hundred to four hundred large, steel,
intermediate depth installations that are substantially more difficult to remove
using existing technology than their shallow water counterparts. This is most
evident in the North Sea and the North East Atlantic where, due to the harsh
environment and the significant number of large, intermediate depth steel
structures, the anticipated decommissioning costs are considerably greater than
in the rest of the world. Indeed, it is estimated that approximately fifty to
sixty percent of worldwide decommissioning costs will be spent in the North Sea
and the North East Atlantic, even though such regions account for just five
percent of the total number of installations. The Company's initial
decommissioning efforts
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will focus on these large, intermediate depth steel structures.
Decommissioning
Decommissioning is the multi-stage process of removing an offshore oil or
gas installation. The process includes planning and engineering the removal of
the installation, obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, removing the
installation, sealing the wells, and transporting the installation for re-use,
recycling, or disposal. Removal costs can range from $2 million for smaller
platforms in shallow waters to more than $140 million for larger ones in deeper
waters.
A number of different methods may be utilized to remove an offshore
installation. Determining which method is most appropriate for a particular
installation is a function of numerous factors, including the installation's
size, weight, construction type, and distance from shore, the water depth,
seabed characteristics, reservoir, wave, and current conditions of the site of
installation, and safety considerations. The typical method of removal involves
cutting the particular structure into many pieces. Crane ships and other support
vessels are used to lift the pieces onto barges or, in some instances, onto the
deck of the crane ships themselves. The cutting is necessitated by the limited
lifting capabilities of existing crane ships. Complications often arise,
however, in determining the maximum lift capability during decommissioning
operations. The largest cranes theoretically are capable of lifting objects up
to 14,000 tons. During an actual lift, however, various factors including safety
and operational constraints (e.g., vertical and horizontal clearance, the
required outreach and/or upreach of the crane boom, anchoring requirements, and
proximity to other facilities, subsea wellheads, and pipelines), location
characteristics, and the size and structural integrity of the pieces to be
lifted all will significantly reduce the theoretical lift capability. This is
best illustrated by the recent removal of the Odin jacket in Norway. Two cranes,
with a combined maximum theoretical lift capacity of 14,000 tons, were engaged
to remove a jacket that weighed approximately 10,000 tons. Despite the
significant disparity between the cranes' maximum theoretical lift capacity and
the weight of the jacket, the jacket had to be cut into four sections, each of
which was lifted separately.
Several companies have offered and/or have proposed solutions for lifting
large platforms in one piece. These involve the use of multiple barges,
twin-hull tankers, split-hull tankers, and U-shaped semi-submersibles. One such
solution, known as Versatruss, is comprised of two barges and an array of booms,
rigging, and winches. The components are assembled together to produce what is
essentially a giant scissors jack. The barges are symmetrically placed around
the platform, and the booms from each barge are placed in receptacles that have
been welded to the platform deck. The barges are pulled together sideways using
winches. This causes the angle of inclination of the booms to increase, forcing
the deck upwards. The Company believes that the utility of Versatruss and most
of these other alternative solutions will be limited to the lifting of topsides
in calm waters. Although some of such lifting systems may be capable of lifting
jackets, the Company believes that the vertical clearance limitations inherent
in each of such systems will inhibit their ability to lift the jackets onshore.
Rather, the Company believes that such systems only will be capable of towing
jackets from one installation site to another. There can be no assurance,
however, that the Company's beliefs will prove to be accurate.
Removal of a few of the larger, older jackets that are equipped with
flotation tanks may be attempted by re-floating them. During installation, the
flotation tanks were used to temporarily float the jackets. Foundation piles
were then added to fasten these structures to the seabed, the flotation tanks
were ballasted, and any temporary buoyancy aids were removed. If the flotation
tanks can be deballasted and the foundation piles can be removed or equipped
with temporary buoyancy aids, then it might be possible to refloat the
structure. Given the age of these structures, however, the condition of the
flotation tanks is questionable. Moreover, transporting the large floating
jacket would create a sizeable wake, thus limiting access to coastal locations.
Certain countries also permit the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas
structures by partially removing them or by toppling the structures and leaving
them on the seabed. Decommissioning guidelines issued by the International
Maritime Organization (the "IMO"), a technical arm of the United Nations dealing
with safety of navigation, provide that certain platforms, depending on their
size and water depth, may be partially removed or toppled provided that the
remains are covered by an unobstructed water column at least 55 meters
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deep to allow for seagoing traffic. Many countries, however, citing
environmental and other concerns, do not allow these forms of decommissioning in
their territorial waters. In July, 1998, the contracting parties to the
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East
Atlantic (also known as the "OSPAR Convention"), which include the United
Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Iceland, the European Union, and
Switzerland, agreed to restrictions more stringent than those set forth in the
IMO guidelines. Based on the premise that reuse, recycling, or onshore disposal
generally will be the preferred options for decommissioning offshore platforms,
the OSPAR Convention provides for a ban, effective February, 1999, on the
dumping and the leaving (wholly or partially) in place of disused offshore
installations located in the North Sea, the North East Atlantic, and certain
other regions. Permits may be issued for alternative means of disposal if
significant reasons can be shown as to why such alternative means are preferable
to reuse, recycling, or onshore disposal.
The Company believes that the Offshore Shuttle will represent a new,
cost-effective alternative for decommissioning offshore oil and gas platforms,
particularly large, intermediate depth structures.
The Offshore Shuttle
Operation. The Offshore Shuttle's design is based on the Archimedes
principle: putting water into a floating object will cause it to submerge, and
letting water out will cause it to rise. In essence, the Offshore Shuttle is
designed to be a large buoyancy tank that can be submerged for placement under
or adjacent to an offshore installation and then elevated to lift the
installation.
The Company envisions a typical platform removal operation commencing with
the preparation of the Offshore Shuttle at its home base and the preparation of
the platform for removal. Pre-removal preparations will include conducting a
detailed analysis and preparing a comprehensive method statement of all of the
tasks to be performed in the removal operation, adjusting the Offshore Shuttle's
lifting frame for the installation to be removed, and equipping the topside
support legs or the underside of the topside deck with specially-prepared
docking connections. Upon completion of the pre-removal preparations, the
Offshore Shuttle will be towed (it is not a self-propelled vessel) to the
offshore site by several vessels, one of which will serve as the control center
for the removal operation.
The topside will be removed first. The Offshore Shuttle will be partially
submerged (i.e., ballasted) and guided into position under the topside by the
use of guidance tugs and/or mooring anchors. The tugs and/or the anchors will
keep the Offshore Shuttle in position while the topside is cut from the jacket
(alternatively, the Offshore Shuttle can be moved into position after cutting
the topside from the jacket). Once cut, the topside and the jacket will be
temporarily secured to each other by clamps that will be designed specifically
for the installation being removed. The Offshore Shuttle will be deballasted,
causing it to rise in the water until the lifting frame on the Offshore Shuttle
connects with the docking connections on the topside. The temporary clamps then
will be unfastened from the jacket. Once the topside is lifted, it can be
seafastened to the Offshore Shuttle for transport to another offshore site, or
to a land site for dismantling or refurbishment.
The Offshore Shuttle then will be towed by tugs to the offshore location
to perform the jacket removal. It will be maneuvered by the tugs and/or mooring
anchors into position. The Offshore Shuttle will be ballasted at one end so that
it is tilted in the water. The tugs and/or the anchors will keep the Offshore
Shuttle in place while the connection to the jacket is made. The jacket will be
connected by tension mechanisms or a lifting frame to the Offshore Shuttle and
the jacket legs will be cut at the seabed (or, for large structures, above the
foundations). Alternatively, the Offshore Shuttle can be moved into position
after part cutting the jacket legs. The Offshore Shuttle will lift the jacket by
deballasting into its original horizontal position. The jacket will be
seafastened to the Offshore Shuttle and transported to another offshore site, or
to a land site for dismantling or refurbishment.
The Company believes the Offshore Shuttle will be able to remove most of
the largest topsides in one piece and also will be capable of diving partly
below the water surface to remove a complete jacket in one operation. The
maximum weight of the structures which can be handled is a matter of design, but
the Company believes that Offshore Shuttle will be capable of lifting most of
the largest structures (i.e., topsides or platforms)
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(up to approximately 25,000 tons) in one piece without the use of large crane
barges.
Once a structure is removed, the Company believes that the Offshore
Shuttle will be able to be used as a barge for transport. It is anticipated that
the removed structure will lie in project-specific cradles on the Offshore
Shuttle to help prevent damage to the object during transportation. This is
particularly important where reuse of the marine structure is of interest. In
addition, the Company believes that it may be possible to design the Offshore
Shuttle with a cover at one end so that by ballasting it 180 degrees into a
vertical position, a very large working deck would be created 50 to 60 meters
above water level. If so, the working deck could be positioned above structures
(e.g., ships) or beneath structures (e.g., bridges) for use as a platform from
which equipment could be operated.
The cost of constructing an Offshore Shuttle is estimated to be around $80
million to $120 million, depending on size, compared to an estimated minimum
cost of $200 million to build a crane ship. Moreover, the Company anticipates
that approximately 20 people will be required for a typical Offshore Shuttle
decommissioning operation compared to the typical crane ship operation that
requires up to 200 people. Additional support vessels are needed for both crane
ship or Offshore Shuttle operations.
The Company believes that the Offshore Shuttle's principal advantage over
existing decommissioning methods will be its ability to remove and carry large
structures in one piece. By eliminating the need to cut installations into many
smaller units, offshore operation time, costs, and risks will be significantly
reduced and reuse of the installation will become a more viable alternative. The
Company believes the Offshore Shuttle's anticipated versatility will make it a
unique alternative for handling marine objects both inshore and offshore.
Dimensions. Based on current designs, each Offshore Shuttle will consist
of six longitudinal tubes, four transverse tubes, and twelve vertical tubes.
Although the dimensions of each Offshore Shuttle will vary based on the average
size installation a particular Offshore Shuttle is designed to handle, it is
anticipated that each Offshore Shuttle will be 130 to 200 meters long, 70 to 95
meters wide, and 60 meters high. The diameter of each tube will be approximately
10 meters. Each tube will be ring-stiffened in order to resist the hydrostatic
pressure associated with installation or retrieval of marine structures. The
longitudinal tubes may be ballasted by letting water in or deballasted by
pumping water out.
There may be a fixed, 4,000 ton ballast in one of the outer transverse
tubes to ensure sufficient stability. In addition, there will be separate
ballasting compartments at one end of the two outer lower longitudinal tubes.
These compartments will enable the Offshore Shuttle to maintain a horizontal
position when the center of gravity of the object being transported or unloaded
is close to the bottom of the Offshore Shuttle.
It is anticipated that the total weight of each Offshore Shuttle will
range from 8,000 tons to 17,000 tons, depending upon the task for which it is
designed. The main dimensions (as described above) may be subject to change
depending on the Company's determination of the number and types of marine
objects which are to be installed or removed in the foreseeable future. It is
the Company's intention to have each Offshore Shuttle built for a dedicated
region.
Testing. The Company believes that the technical risks associated with the
Offshore Shuttle concept have been reduced by extensive model testing and
rigorous calculations. Using a 1:50 scale model of an Offshore Shuttle, motions
in different ballast conditions were tested; ballasting/deballasting sequences
were tested without any marine object, with a 1:50 scale model of 7,000 ton
jacket, and with a 1:50 scale model of an 8,000 ton topside; and hydrodynamics
were tested by examining the motions of the Offshore Shuttle (with and without a
marine object) in different positions and when subjected to wave forces, as well
as its towing resistance in calm water and storm. In addition, based on
engineering documentation, calculations, and model testing, Det Norske Veritas
AS, an internationally-recognized society responsible for classification and
technical inspections of merchant vessels, issued a Statement of Approval
verifying the technical feasibility of the Offshore Shuttle concept for the
transport and removal of certain offshore platform deck structures and jackets.
Despite the testing, documentation, and approval, there can be no
assurance that construction of the
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Offshore Shuttle will be successfully completed or that, if constructed, the
Offshore Shuttle will function properly, will be operationally safe and
environmentally friendly, or will enable the Company to provide decommissioning,
installation, and transportation services in an effective manner or at all. In
addition, it is anticipated that the Offshore Shuttle will be equipped with an
adjustable lifting frame, and specially-prepared docking connections will be
utilized during removal operations. To date, neither the lifting frame nor the
docking connections have been engineered, and there can be no assurance such
engineering will be successfully completed. If the Company is unable to engineer
the lifting frame and/or the docking connections, it could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
Business Strategy
Construction of the first Offshore Shuttle is intended to commence in the
fourth quarter of 1999. The Company does not have the ability to manufacture the
Offshore Shuttle. The Company has received bids from several construction yards
which it believes have the capacity and capability to build an Offshore Shuttle.
Although there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to negotiate
acceptable contract manufacturing arrangements, the Company anticipates that the
construction of the first Offshore Shuttle will be completed by the third
quarter of 2001, at the earliest. Subject to the receipt of additional
financing, construction delays, market conditions, demand for the Company's
services, and other factors, construction of an additional Offshore Shuttle is
intended to commence in each of the four years after ordering the first Offshore
Shuttle, until a total five Offshore Shuttles are in operation. MSOAS has an
option to build an additional two Offshore Shuttles thereafter. There can be no
assurance, however, as to the time required to complete such construction
efforts or that such efforts can be successfully completed at all.
Subject to market demand, performance results, and other factors, the
Company anticipates that each Offshore Shuttle will conduct one commercial
operation in its first year in service, and will perform up to three operations
in each year thereafter. In making the foregoing forecast, the Company has
assumed that each commercial operation, including all pre-engineering work, will
take up to one year to complete, with the offshore portion calculated on average
to be four weeks.
The Company intends to focus its initial efforts on the decommissioning
market in the North Sea, the North East Atlantic, and other regions where it
anticipates the advantages of using the Offshore Shuttle to decommission large,
intermediate depth structures will be most prominent. The Company estimates that
300 to 400 of such structures currently exist for which use of the Offshore
Shuttle would be ideal. In the North Sea alone, there are approximately 100
steel jackets in water depths greater than 75 meters. The Company ultimately
intends to provide a full range of services, including decommissioning,
installing, transporting, and recycling/disposing of various types of
structures.
Offshore decommissioning and installation activity in the North Sea and
the North East Atlantic is highly seasonal, principally as a result of weather
conditions. Historically, the greatest demand for offshore decommissioning and
installation services in such regions has been during the period from May
through September. The Company may seek to partially offset the anticipated
seasonality of its proposed operations by pursuing other potential opportunities
such as leasing the Offshore Shuttle to third parties for bridge building,
drydocking ships and floating platforms, and other uses. No assurances can be
given that such other opportunities, if successful, will result in the
anticipated offset of the seasonality of the Company's proposed operations.
Strategic Alliances
The Company's business strategy is dependent upon forming strategic
alliances and relationships with joint venture partners, contract manufacturers,
or other third parties, and upon the subsequent success of these parties in
performing their responsibilities. In this regard, MSOAS has entered into
agreements with OSAS with respect to the rights to the Offshore Shuttle design
and the pre-engineering work necessary to construct the Offshore Shuttles,
Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH ("TSU") with respect to the marketing of its proposed
services, RC Consultants AS ("RC") with respect to its engineering and
operational activities, and Schuller Industrieentsorgung
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AG (formerly Schuller Industrieentsorgung GmbH, "Schuller") with respect to
waste management, onshore dismantling, and oil pollution prevention and cleanup.
Offshore Shuttle AS. OSAS was established in November 1996 to develop and
sell specialized technology applicable to the field of marine transportation.
Operating from its premises in Oslo, Norway, OSAS now has three full-time
employees and three independent consultants. In 1998, the Company acquired
3,291,738 shares of OSAS (approximately 68% of the outstanding OSAS capital
stock) in exchange for 4,937,607 shares of Common Stock. In addition, the
Company entered into two agreements to acquire an additional 686,668 shares of
OSAS (approximately 14.5% of the outstanding OSAS capital stock) in exchange for
1,030,002 shares of Common Stock (the "Additional OSAS Exchanges"). The Company
anticipates that the Additional OSAS Exchanges will close in the near future,
although there can be no assurance in that regard.
OSAS is the holder of all licensing and marketing rights to the Offshore
Shuttle. Pursuant to a license agreement between MSOAS and OSAS (the "License
Agreement"), MSOAS was granted the exclusive right to build and operate five
Offshore Shuttles, an exclusive option to build and operate an additional two
Offshore Shuttles thereafter, and a right of first refusal with respect to any
Offshore Shuttle licenses that OSAS may seek to grant during a specified future
period. MSOAS must place an order for the first Offshore Shuttle by June 1,
1999. Subject, in each case, to an option to extend the order dates by twelve
months upon payment of a $900,000 option exercise fee, an order for the second
Offshore Shuttle must be placed no later than six months after successful
testing of the first Offshore Shuttle, and orders for each of the remaining
three Offshore Shuttles must be placed by December 31st of each year after the
year in which the second Offshore Shuttle is ordered. If an order is not placed
on or before the required date, then for the twelve-month period thereafter OSAS
shall be entitled to grant a license to build one Offshore Shuttle to a third
party. No assurance can be given that each Offshore Shuttle will be ordered on
time or that the Company will have the financial resources to extend a
particular order date. If an Offshore Shuttle license is granted to a third
party, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Based on functional specifications for each Offshore Shuttle to be agreed
upon by MSOAS and OSAS, OSAS shall provide MSOAS with the pre-engineering work,
including designs and descriptions of operational procedures, necessary to
construct the Offshore Shuttles. In consideration for the licenses granted and
services to be provided, OSAS shall receive a construction fee equal to ten
percent of the construction price of each of the Offshore Shuttles, an operating
fee equal to sixteen percent of the gross profit for each contract concluded by
MSOAS involving the use of an Offshore Shuttle, and an exclusivity fee equal to
one percent of the aggregate construction price of Offshore Shuttles two through
five ($2,000,000 of which must be remitted to OSAS by June 1, 1999).
In addition, given OSAS's extensive knowledge of and familiarity with the
Offshore Shuttle design, the Company anticipates that OSAS will provide the
Company with various other services including engineering verification,
technical support, and technical supervision of the construction and testing of
the Offshore Shuttle.
Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH. TSU is a subsidiary of Thyssen AG ("Thyssen"), a
conglomerate of more than 323 companies operating worldwide in numerous
industries. In its fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, Thyssen generated sales
of approximately $25.5 billion with a workforce of approximately 120,000 people.
In addition to its activities in the steel industry, TSU offers offshore
technology and services to its clients including jacket concepts, platform
abandonment/removal, and waste management. Pursuant to the its agreement with
MSOAS, TSU will market the Offshore Shuttle on a worldwide basis to major oil
companies, offshore contractors, and others as part of its package of offshore
services. In addition, TSU shall act as a procurement service center for the
steel and equipment to be used in constructing the Offshore Shuttle, and shall
have a right of first refusal to lease the Offshore Shuttle if TSU is engaged in
any decommissioning, transportation, or installation project. TSU shall receive
a commission at a rate to be agreed upon for its marketing services, and shall
be precluded from promoting any products or services competitive with those of
the Company. Jurgen Ternieden, a director of the Company and Chairman of the
Board of OSAS, is an officer and the head of the Pipes, Offshore, Special
Products Department of TSU.
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RC Consultants AS. RC is a Norwegian engineering company with more than
330 skilled offshore engineers. Pursuant to a personnel agreement with MSOAS, RC
will provide MSOAS with the engineers and technicians needed during the design,
engineering, fabrication, and operation of the Offshore Shuttle. Sverre Hanssen,
the Chairman of the Board of Directors of RC, is Chairman of the Board of
Directors of MSOAS.
Schuller Industrieentsorgung AG. Schuller is a service company
specializing in waste management, onshore dismantling, and oil pollution
prevention and cleanup. MSOAS and Schuller have entered into a cooperation
agreement pursuant to which Schuller will provide such services to MSOAS,
subject to the execution of a written agreement on a project-specific basis.
Franz Eder, the President and Chairman of the Board of the Company, and Dr.
Hubert Besner, a director of the Company, are members of the Supervisory Board
and shareholders of Schuller.
In addition, the Company's proposed offshore decommissioning activities
may require the use of large tug boats, unloading docks, subsea specialists,
marine operators, diving support vessels, and various safety and supply boats.
The Company may seek to form strategic alliances and relationships with third
parties who provide these and other services.
The Company believes that the use of these outside parties will help
minimize the Company's fixed costs and increase its flexibility by gaining
access to qualified personnel when needed. There can be no assurance, however,
that such arrangements will be successful. If any of these arrangements are
cancelled and/or are unsuccessful, and if the Company is unable to secure new
alliances in their place, there would be a material adverse effect on the
Company.
Proprietary Protection
OSAS has eight patent applications pending in Norway with respect to
various aspects of the Offshore Shuttle design and operation. Patent
applications also are pending in various other countries pursuant to the Patent
Cooperation Treaty and separately filed patent applications. There can be no
assurance as to whether patents will issue from any of OSAS's patent
applications or, if issued, as to the range or degree of protection such issued
patents will afford. In addition, no assurance can be given that others will not
obtain patents claiming aspects similar to those covered by such patent
applications or patents, as the case may be, or that such patents, if issued,
will not be challenged by third parties, invalidated, rendered unenforceable, or
designed around.
Even if patents issue from such patent applications and a competitor were
to infringe thereon, the costs of enforcing such patent rights may be
substantial or even prohibitive. If OSAS chooses not to defend its patent
rights, if any, then the Company may be forced to expend substantial resources
to do so. No assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in any
action for infringement of the technology licensed to it. In addition, there can
be no assurance that the Offshore Shuttle will not infringe on the patent rights
of others, or that patents do not exist or will not be issued in the future that
would have an adverse effect on the Company's ability to manufacture or operate
the Offshore Shuttle. The Company is aware of the existence of a Norwegian
patent which claims the use of a U-shaped structure designed for removing and/or
installing topsides. Based on the opinion of patent counsel to the Company, the
Company believes that the Offshore Shuttle will not infringe on this Norwegian
patent because, unlike the structure covered by the Norwegian patent, the
Offshore Shuttle does not utilize movable transverse beams mounted to its upper
beams. There can be no assurance, however, that infringement proceedings will
not be brought against the Company.
The Company also may desire or be required to obtain licenses from others
in order to further develop, produce, and market the Offshore Shuttle
effectively. There can be no assurance that such licenses will be obtainable on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all, that the patents underlying such
licenses will be valid and enforceable, or that the proprietary nature of the
unpatented technology underlying such licenses will remain proprietary. In
addition, the Company relies on unpatented proprietary know-how and trade
secrets, and employs various methods including confidentiality agreements with
employees, consultants and marketing partners to protect its trade secrets and
know-how. However, such methods may not afford complete protection and there can
be no assurance that others will not independently develop such trade secrets
and know-how or obtain access
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thereto.
Competition
The Company will face competition from companies which provide
decommissioning, installation, and/or transport services using cranes and
barges. In addition, several companies have offered and/or have proposed
solutions for lifting large platforms in one piece. These involve the use of
multiple barges, twin-hull tankers, split-hull tankers, and U-shaped
semi-submersibles. The Company believes that the utility of most of these other
alternative solutions will be limited to the lifting of topsides in calm waters.
Although some of such lifting systems may be capable of lifting jackets, the
Company believes that the vertical clearance limitations inherent in each of
such systems will inhibit their ability to lift the jackets onshore. Rather, the
Company believes that such systems only will be capable of towing jackets from
one installation site to another. There can be no assurance, however, that the
Company's beliefs will prove to be accurate.
Competition also may arise from vessels, processes, and/or technologies
currently in development, or developed in the future, by other companies. The
development by others of new or improved vessels, processes, or technologies may
make the services to be marketed by the Company less competitive or obsolete. In
addition, many of the Company's current and potential competitors are likely to
have substantially greater financial, managerial, and technical resources than
the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete
successfully in the marketplace, if at all.
Regulation
Decommissioning of facilities is governed by national legislation within
the framework of a rigorous international and regional regulatory regime.
Although details differ, most oil and gas producing countries have adopted a
similar approach to decommissioning. All feasible options for removal and
disposal of offshore installations are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The
offshore platform operator is required to prepare a decommissioning and
abandonment plan which identifies the decommissioning and abandonment options,
evaluates the technical feasibility of each option, assesses impacts on the
environment and on society, and minimizes risks to human health and safety. The
offshore platform operator then recommends to the responsible ministry the
option which best balances the factors involved.
In 1989, the International Maritime Organization, a technical arm of the
United Nations dealing with safety of navigation, issued guidelines (the "IMO
Guidelines") dealing with the removal of offshore platforms. Recognizing the
magnitude and complexity of removal operations, the IMO Guidelines took into
account not only the size of the platforms but also the capabilities of the
removal vessels. The IMO Guidelines provide that installations weighing less
than 4,000 tons that are in less than 75 meters of water must be completely
removed, while bigger and deeper structures need be only partially removed
provided the remains are covered by an unobstructed water column at least 55
meters deep. For structures emplaced on the seabed on or after January 1, 1998,
the water depth threshold increases from 75 meters to 100 meters. In addition,
all platforms installed on or after January 1, 1998 must be designed so that
removal is feasible.
In July, 1998, the contracting parties to the Convention for the
Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (also known as
the "OSPAR Convention"), which include the United Kingdom, Ireland, France,
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Iceland, the European Union, and Switzerland, agreed to
restrictions more stringent than those set forth in the IMO Guidelines. Based on
the premise that reuse, recycling, or onshore disposal generally will be the
preferred options for decommissioning offshore platforms, the OSPAR Convention
provides for a ban, effective February, 1999, on the dumping and the leaving
(wholly or partially) in place of disused offshore installations located in the
North Sea, the North East Atlantic, and certain other regions. Permits may be
issued for alternative means of disposal if significant reasons can be shown as
to why such alternative means are preferable to reuse, recycling, or onshore
disposal.
The Company's proposed operations may be subject to and affected by
various types of national and
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international regulations. Determining the applicable regulatory framework will
depend, in part, on how the Offshore Shuttles are classified (e.g., as "ships,"
"vessels," "installations", etc.), whether (and if so, where) the Offshore
Shuttles are registered or documented, and where the Company's intended
operations are performed. The Company may be required to obtain certain permits,
licenses and certificates with respect to its proposed operations and to comply
with rigorous safety and workplace standards. Moreover, certain employees of the
Company may be covered by laws that operate to make liability limits, if any,
established by state workers' compensation laws inapplicable to these employees
and permit the employees and their representatives to pursue actions against the
Company for job related injuries with generally no limits on the Company's
potential liability.
The Company's proposed operations may be affected by numerous
international and national laws and regulations relating to protection of the
environment. The technical requirements of the various laws and regulations are
complex and stringent, and compliance is often difficult and expensive. Certain
environmental laws provide for strict liability for remediation of spills and
releases of hazardous substances and some provide liability for damages to
natural resources or threats to public health and safety. Sanctions for
noncompliance may include revocation of permits, corrective action orders,
administrative or civil penalties, and criminal prosecution.
Insurance
The Company's proposed operations will be subject to all of the inherent
risks of offshore marine activity, including accidents, environmental mishaps,
mechanical failures, and vessels colliding, capsizing, grounding, or sinking.
These occurrences can result in significant personal injury or loss of life,
severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, pollution or
environmental damage, and suspension of the Company's proposed operations.
Moreover, litigation arising from any such occurrence may result in the Company
being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting large claims.
The Company intends to obtain insurance against some of these types of
risks. It also anticipates that it will be adequately protected by the insurance
policies of the companies that utilize the Company's services, and it intends to
further limit its risk by capping its liability exposure in its service
contracts with such companies. There can be no assurance, however, that the
policies of such companies will cover the Company or, if they do, that such
insurance (or the insurance obtained by the Company, if any) will be sufficient
or effective under all circumstances or against all hazards to which the Company
may be subject. In addition, there can be no assurance that any contractual
limits on liability will be enforceable or will adequately and effectively limit
the Company's liability exposure, or that the companies that utilize the
Company's services will nevertheless seek to be indemnified by the Company with
respect to any and all losses or damages they suffer or incur.
Employees
As at December 31, 1998, the Company (including its subsidiaries) had 7
employees, consisting of three executive officers, one subsidiary executive
officer, and three administrative personnel. These employees are not unionized
or employed pursuant to any collective bargaining agreement or any similar
agreement. The Company believes its relationship with its employees is
satisfactory. The Company also utilizes the services of 19 consultants.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's corporate headquarters in the United States are located in
approximately 500 square feet of office space in Houston, Texas. The Company
occupies these premises pursuant to a lease agreement with an initial term that
ends on April 30, 1999, and thereafter will remain in force on a month to month
basis unless either party gives thirty days prior written notice of
cancellation. The monthly rental is $750.
MSOAS leases 938 square meters of office space in Sandnes, Norway from RC
Group ASA. The lease is for a five-year period at an average annual rent of NOK
1,032,350 (approximately $136,850), and expires in
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2003. RC Group ASA is the sole shareholder of RC. Sverre Hanssen, the Chairman
of the Board of Directors of RC and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
MSOAS, is the principal shareholder and the President of RC Group ASA.
OSAS leases 384 square meters of office space in Oslo, Norway pursuant to
a three-year lease at a annual rental of NOK 652,000 (approximately $86,430)
with adjustments for increases in the consumer price index.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company or its
properties is subject.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Common Stock commenced trading on the OTC Bulletin Board on December
22, 1997 and is traded under the symbol "ZSUB". The following table sets forth
for the periods indicated the high and low bid quotations for the Common Stock
as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board. The quotations reflect inter-dealer
prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission, and may not represent
actual transactions.
Price Range
-----------
High Low
---- ---
Year Ended December 31, 1998
1st Quarter $ 5.75 $ 3.50
2nd Quarter $7.3125 $ 5
3rd Quarter $6.5625 $ 3.50
4th Quarter $6.0625 $ 4
Year Ended December 31, 1997
4th Quarter (from December 22, 1997) $ 4 $ 3
As of March 18, 1999, there were approximately 73 holders of record of the
Common Stock, including record holders which may hold such stock for beneficial
owners and which have not been polled to determine the extent of beneficial
ownership.
The Company has never declared or paid dividends, and does not intend to
pay any dividends in the foreseeable future on shares of Common Stock. Earnings
of the Company, if any, are expected to be retained for use in expanding the
Company's business. The payment of dividends is within the discretion of the
Board of Directors of the Company and will depend upon the Company's earnings,
if any, capital requirements, financial condition, and such other factors as are
considered to be relevant by the Board of Directors from time to time.
In 1998, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of
MSOAS in exchange for 7,600,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to Regulation S
("Regulation S") promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
acquired 3,291,738 shares of OSAS in exchange for 4,937,607 shares of Common
Stock pursuant to Regulation S.
In February, 1999, the Company raised $5,748,460 in gross proceeds from
the sale of approximately 1.15 million shares of Common Stock in an offshore
transaction pursuant to Regulation S. Berliner Effektenbank AG, a German
investment bank, received a fee of $0.575 million for serving as the Company's
placement agent in connection with the transaction.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following data presents for the periods indicated certain consolidated
financial information for the Company. Such data should be read in conjunction
with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the Financial Statements and related notes thereto included
elsewhere in this report.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
May 23, 1997
(inception)
Year ended through
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Consolidated Statements of Operation Data:
Total Revenue $ 16,376 $ --
Total costs and expenses 5,073,076 164,931
Net (loss) (5,042,148) (164,931)
Net (loss) per share $ (0.20) $ (0.01)
------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of common shares
outstanding 25,720,000 18,931,982
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital (deficit) $ (3,588,380) $ (10,931)
Total assets 37,936,227 9,015
Notes payable 3,605,390 --
Total liabilities 4,810,551 19,946
Non-controlling interest 555,417 --
Accumulated deficit (5,207,079) (164,931)
Stockholder's equity (deficiency) $ 32,570,259 $ (10,931)
</TABLE>
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The following information contains forward-looking statements which are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ from those expressed or
implied by the forward looking statements. The following information should be
read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company
and the notes thereto set forth elsewhere herein.
General
Marine Shuttle Operations Inc., through its wholly-owned Norwegian
subsidiary, Marine Shuttle Operations AS ("MSOAS"), is seeking to become a
leading player in the market for decommissioning, installing, and transporting
offshore oil and gas structures.
There are now more than 6,500 offshore oil and gas installations worldwide
located on the continental shelf of approximately 53 countries. The Company
believes that over the next 30 years, most of these structures will have to be
decommissioned at an estimated cost of $20 billion to $40 billion. Offshore
Shuttle AS ("OSAS"), a majority-owned Norwegian subsidiary of the Company, has
designed a new generation of vessel (the "Offshore Shuttle") which the Company
believes will be capable of lifting and carrying most of the largest
installations without extensive cutting or dismantling. MSOAS has entered into a
license agreement with OSAS (the "License Agreement") which gives MSOAS the
exclusive right to build and operate five Offshore Shuttles, and an exclusive
option to build and operate an additional two Offshore Shuttles thereafter.
The Company has formed strategic alliances to test, develop, manufacture,
and commercialize the Offshore Shuttle concept. In particular, the Company will
rely on OSAS with respect to the pre-engineering work necessary to construct the
Offshore Shuttles. In addition, MSOAS has entered into an agreement with Thyssen
Stahlunion GmbH ("TSU") with respect to the marketing of its proposed services.
TSU is a subsidiary of Thyssen AG ("Thyssen"), a conglomerate of more than 323
companies operating worldwide in numerous industries. In its fiscal year ended
September 30, 1998, Thyssen generated sales of approximately $25.5 billion with
a workforce of approximately 120,000 people. MSOAS also has entered into an
agreement with RC Consultants AS, a Norwegian engineering company with more than
330 skilled offshore engineers, with respect to its engineering and operational
activities, and has entered into an agreement with Schuller Industrieentsorgung
AG (formerly Schuller Industrieentsorgung GmbH), a German service company, with
respect to waste management, onshore dismantling, and oil pollution prevention
and cleanup.
The Company's operations are dependent on the rights granted to it
pursuant to the License Agreement and the work to be performed thereunder by
OSAS. The License Agreement can be terminated by either party on written notice
to the other party in the event the other party (i) becomes insolvent or goes
into liquidation, bankruptcy, or receivership, or becomes a party to any
procedure for the settlement of its debts or any dissolution proceedings, or
(ii) breaches any term of the License Agreement and fails to remedy such default
within 45 days after written notice thereof. OSAS has incurred substantial net
losses from operations since its inception, and as at December 31, 1998, had an
accumulated deficit of NOK 17,477,539 ($2,408,378). If the conditions set forth
in the License Agreement are not satisfied, if the License Agreement is
terminated, or if OSAS is unable to perform its obligations under the License
Agreement, it would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The intellectual property rights to the Offshore Shuttle concept (the
"Rights") were transferred to OSAS by Gunnar Foss and Per Bull Haugsoen, the
developers of the Offshore Shuttle concept, pursuant to an Agreement Regarding
Intellectual Property dated March 31, 1998 (the "Intellectual Property
Agreement"). The Intellectual Property Agreement provides that if the License
Agreement is terminated and OSAS shall cease to actively engage in its
activities relating to the Offshore Shuttle concept, then, subject to a
six-month cure period, the Rights shall
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revert back to Messrs. Foss and Haugsoen. In such event, the Company would be
unable to obtain any value from the future sale or exploitation of the Rights.
Results of Operations
The Company is in the development stage and has only generated revenues to
date from study work. From May 23, 1997 (inception) through December 31, 1997,
the Company incurred net losses of $164,931, most of which were attributable to
management fees, consulting fees, and general and administrative expenses.
On December 31, 1997, the Company entered into a securities purchase
agreement with Kaizen Food Corporation ("Kaizen") pursuant to which Kaizen
issued 100 shares of its common stock (constituting a 50% interest in Kaizen) to
the Company for $100,000 (the "Kaizen Agreement"). Pursuant to the Kaizen
Agreement, Kaizen had the right to repurchase the shares for $50,000 if the
Company did not raise $500,000 for Kaizen on or before January 20, 1998. The
Company did not raise the additional capital and Kaizen repurchased the stock
for $10,000 in April, 1998 in full satisfaction of the repurchase price.
In 1998, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of
MSOAS in exchange for 7,600,000 shares of Common Stock, and acquired 3,291,738
shares of OSAS (approximately 68% of the outstanding OSAS capital stock) in
exchange for 4,937,607 shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Company has
entered into two agreements to acquire an additional 686,668 shares of OSAS
(approximately 14.5% of the outstanding OSAS capital stock) in exchange for
1,030,002 shares of Common Stock (the "Additional OSAS Exchanges"). The Company
anticipates that the Additional OSAS Exchanges will close in the near future.
The Company incurred net losses of $5,042,148 for the year ended December
31, 1998, of which $1,882,204 was attributable to the amortization of goodwill
arising from the acquisition of MSOAS as well as other intangibles. The
remainder of the losses were mainly attributable to legal and advisory fees
($695,973), general and administrative expenses ($402,746), marketing
($652,490), financial services ($423,727), and cost of cancelled financing
($606,721). Management anticipates that the Company will continue to incur
losses at least through the year 2001 and there can be no assurance that the
Company will not continue to incur losses thereafter. Accordingly, the
independent accountant's report on the Company's financial statements has an
explanatory paragraph addressing the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern. See Note 1 of the Notes to the Financial Statements.
Business Strategy
Construction of the first Offshore Shuttle is intended to commence in the
fourth quarter of 1999. The Company has received bids from several construction
yards which it believes have the capacity and capability to build an Offshore
Shuttle. The Company anticipates that the construction of the first Offshore
Shuttle will be completed by the third quarter of 2001, at the earliest. Subject
to the receipt of additional financing, construction delays, market conditions,
demand for the Company's services, and other factors, construction of an
additional Offshore Shuttle is intended to commence in each of the four years
after ordering the first Offshore Shuttle, until a total five Offshore Shuttles
are in operation. MSOAS has an option to build an additional two Offshore
Shuttles thereafter.
Subject to market demand, performance results, and other factors, the
Company anticipates that each Offshore Shuttle will conduct one commercial
operation in its first year in service, and will perform up to three operations
in each year thereafter. In making the foregoing forecast, the Company has
assumed that each commercial operation, including all pre-engineering work, will
take up to one year to complete, with the offshore portion calculated to be four
weeks on average. As a result, the Company does not anticipate generating any
significant revenues until the year 2001, at the earliest. There can be no
assurance, however, that the Company's assumptions regarding the number of
operations to be performed will prove to be accurate, or that the Company will
ever achieve commercially significant sales. To date, the Company has not
entered into any contracts for the
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use of its proposed services, and no assurance can be given that any such
contracts will materialize.
The Company intends to focus its initial efforts on the decommissioning
market in the North Sea, the North East Atlantic, and other regions where it
anticipates the advantages of using the Offshore Shuttle to decommission large,
intermediate depth structures will be most prominent. The Company estimates that
300 to 400 of such structures currently exist for which use of the Offshore
Shuttle would be ideal. The Company ultimately intends to provide a full range
of services, including decommissioning, installing, transporting, and
recycling/disposing of various types of structures.
Offshore decommissioning and installation activity in the North Sea and
the North East Atlantic is highly seasonal, principally as a result of weather
conditions. Historically, the greatest demand for offshore decommissioning and
installation services in such regions has been during the period from May
through September. The Company may seek to partially offset the anticipated
seasonality of its proposed operations by pursuing other potential opportunities
such as leasing the Offshore Shuttle to third parties for bridge building,
drydocking ships and floating platforms, and other uses. No assurance can be
given that such other opportunities, if successful, will result in the
anticipated offset of the seasonality of the Company's proposed operations.
Demand for the Company's proposed services also will be affected by the level of
spending by oil and gas companies for decommissioning, installation, and other
similar activities. The expenditures are influenced by the price of oil and gas,
the discovery rates of new oil and gas reserves in offshore areas, local and
international regulations and political and economic conditions, and the oil and
gas industry's access to capital.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On or about June 6, 1997, the Company's four founders contributed $10,000
to the Company in exchange for an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of Common
Stock. On June 15, 1997, the Company sold 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock to
various foreign investors for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000. On August
8, 1997, the Company sold an additional 20,000 shares of Common Stock to various
foreign investors for an aggregate purchase price of $60,000.
As of December 31, 1998, the Company had cash of approximately $903,805,
an accumulated deficit of $5,207,079, stockholders' equity of $32,570,259, and a
working capital deficit of $3,588,380.
The Company entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement"), dated as
of March 12, 1998 and amended as of August 27, 1998 and September 24, 1998, with
ValorInvest Ltd, an investment bank based in Geneva, Switzerland
("ValorInvest"), pursuant to which ValorInvest agreed to lend an aggregate of up
to $3,500,000 to the Company at such times as the Company shall request,
provided that advances were to be made in increments of $250,000 and were not to
exceed $500,000 in any single month. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Company
borrowed an aggregate of $3,500,000 which amount was evidenced by three
non-negotiable promissory notes (the "Bridge Notes") bearing interest at the
rate of 7.5% per annum. In February 1999, the Company repaid all monies due
under the Bridge Notes, including interest, and the Loan Agreement was
terminated.
On March 1, 1999, the Company entered into a new loan agreement (the "New
Loan Agreement") with ValorInvest pursuant to which ValorInvest agreed to lend
an aggregate of up to $6,000,000 to the Company, provided that advances shall be
made in increments of $250,000 and shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any single
month unless agreed to by ValorInvest. In connection with the New Loan
Agreement, the Company issued a non-negotiable promissory note to ValorInvest in
the principal amount of $6,000,000. Any monies advanced under such note shall
bear interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum and shall be due and payable upon
the earlier of December 31, 1999 or the completion of an equity financing for
gross proceeds of at least $10,000,000. As of March 22, 1999, $750,000 has been
advanced under such note.
The Company has insufficient capital to finance its proposed operating
activities. In February, 1999, the Company
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raised $5,748,460 in gross proceeds from the sale of approximately 1.15 million
shares of Common Stock in an offshore transaction pursuant to Regulation S
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Berliner Effektenbank
AG, a German investment bank, received a fee of $0.575 million for serving as
placement agent in connection with the transaction. Additional capital, however,
is needed to finance the Company's proposed operating activities. To address
this concern, the Company intends to raise up to an additional $10 million
through a private placement of Common Stock through Berliner Effektenbank AG.
The Company has also entered into an engagement letter with MFC Merchant Bank
S.A. ("MFC") pursuant to which MFC shall act, on a best-efforts basis, as
exclusive agent for the Company in raising up to DM 215,000,000 (approximately
$126,000,000) (the "MFC Financing"). As consideration for its services, MFC
shall receive a fee equal to five percent of the money raised plus DM 100,000
(approximately $60,000) per month until the completion or termination of the MFC
Financing. In addition, all of MFC's out-of-pocket expenses shall be reimbursed,
and if the Company raises the necessary funds through another source, MFC shall
receive a break-up fee equal to the greater of $1,200,000 or 350,000 shares of
Common Stock. Although the structure of the MFC Financing has yet to be
determined, the Company anticipates that it will be principally through the
issuance of government guaranteed debt.
If funds are raised by issuing equity securities, it may result in
substantial dilution to existing stockholders. If capital is raised through a
debt financing with financial institutions, the Company would likely become
subject to restrictive covenants relating to its operations and finances. There
can be no assurance that the private placement or the MFC Financing will be
consummated on reasonable terms or at all. If either financing is not completed,
the Company may be required to significantly curtail or cease its proposed
activities. Although the Company believes that the proceeds from the MFC
Financing, if completed, will enable it to construct the first Offshore Shuttle,
no assurance can be given in that regard. Moreover, even if the MFC Financing is
consummated, the Company's future capital requirements could vary significantly
and will depend on certain factors, many of which are not within the Company's
control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the need for cash to fund
the construction of additional Offshore Shuttles, greater than anticipated
expenses, and longer engineering, development, and construction times than now
contemplated. If the Company is successful in completing the first Offshore
Shuttle, it believes it will be able to fund the construction of additional
Offshore Shuttles from its future operating cash flows and/or short or medium
term debt financing. However, no assurance can be given in that regard.
Year 2000 issue
Many computer systems record years in a two-digit format. Such systems, if
not modified, will be unable to recognize and properly process information with
dates beyond the year 1999. The potential problems arising out of this inability
commonly are referred to as the "Year 2000 Issue." The Company's current
operations utilize computerized systems in the financial and engineering design
functions. The majority of the computer hardware and software was acquired
during 1997 and 1998 which manufacturers have warranted to be year 2000
compliant.
Since the Company currently does not have any material relationships with
any suppliers or clients, no assessment can be made at this time as to the
effect third party non-compliance will have on the Company's proposed
operations. In the future, the Company intends to verify that any suppliers or
clients with whom it may develop a material relationship are Year 2000
compliant.
Amortization of Goodwill
The Company's consolidated balance sheet includes an amount designated as
"goodwill" that represents approximately 82% of assets and approximately 82% of
total capitalization. Goodwill arises when an acquiror pays more for a business
than the fair value of the tangible and separately measurable intangible net
assets. Generally accepted accounting principles requires that this and all
other intangible assets be amortized over the period benefitted. Management has
determined the period benefitted to be 10 years.
If the benefit period of all or a material portion of the goodwill is, in
fact, less than 10 years, then
-20-
<PAGE>
earnings reported in fiscal periods immediately following the acquisitions would
be overstated. In later years, the Company would be burdened by a continuing
charge against earnings without the associated benefit anticipated by management
in arriving at the consideration paid for the acquired companies. Earnings in
later years also could be significantly affected if management determined then
that the remaining balance of goodwill was impaired and elected to write off.
International Operations
The Company intends to market its services in international markets.
International operations entail various risks, including economic instability
and recessions, exposure to currency fluctuations, difficulties of administering
foreign operations generally, and obligations to comply with a wide variety of
foreign laws and other regulatory requirements. A portion of the Company's
sales, if any, and expenditures may be collected or paid, as the case may be, in
currencies other than U.S. dollar. Therefore, significant exchange rate
fluctuations could have an effect on the Company's results of operations. In
addition, the laws of certain foreign countries may not protect the Company's
proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.
Holding Company Structure
Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. owns all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of MSOAS and, upon consummation of the Additional OSAS Exchanges,
will own approximately 82% of the outstanding capital stock of OSAS. Based on
this ownership structure, any dividends paid by MSOAS or OSAS to Marine Shuttle
Operations Inc. are subject to Norwegian withholding taxes and U.S. income taxes
(which can be offset to the extent of the Norwegian withholding taxes). Thus,
the amount of the funds that may be distributed by such subsidiaries to Marine
Shuttle Operations Inc. for working capital, acquisitions, investments, or other
purposes will be reduced to the extent such taxes are payable.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company anticipates its primary market risks, if any, will be related
to fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates. Interest rate risk may
arise if the Company is successful in obtaining debt financing to finance the
building of the first Offshore Shuttle. In such an event, the Company will
assess the extent of its interest rate risk and may enter into hedging
transactions to reduce its exposure and to ensure its ability to service its
debt. Exchange rate risk may arise if the Company is required to use different
currencies for various aspects of its operations. Although the principal
currency used in the offshore decommissioning industry is the U.S. dollar, the
local expenses of the Company's subsidiaries (e.g., rent, telephone, payroll,
etc.) are likely to be paid in Norwegian Kroner, and it is possible that the
contract for construction of the first Offshore Shuttle will be denominated in a
currency other than the U.S. dollar or the Norwegian Kroner. Based on the
Company's overall exchange rate risk as at December 31, 1998, the Company
believes that a ten percent change in exchange rates would not have a material
adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
The Company intends to monitor its exchange rate risk and take necessary actions
to reduce its exposure. The Company does not intend to purchase and/or sell
derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.
-21-
<PAGE>
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page
----
Financial Statements of Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.:
Independent Auditors'
Report...................................................................22
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and
1997.................................................................... 23
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss for the period
from May 23, 1997 through December 31, 1997, for the year ended
December 31, 1998 and cumulative from date of inception, May 23, 1997
to December 31, 1998.................................................... 24
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period from May 23, 1997
through December 31, 1997, for the year ended December 31, 1998 and
cumulative from date of inception, May 23, 1997 to December 31, 1998.... 25
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the year ended
December 31, 1998 and from date of inception, May 23, 1997 to
December 31, 1997....................................................... 26
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 1998 and 1997..... 27
Financial Statements of Marine Shuttle Operations AS:
Independent Auditors' Report.............................................. 42
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and April 13, 1998 (unaudited)..... 43
Statements of Loss for the period from December 10, 1997 (inception)
through December 31, 1997, for the period from January 1, 1998 to April
13, 1998 (unaudited) and cumulative from inception to April 13, 1998
(unaudited)............................................................. 44
Statements of Cash Flows for the period from December 10, 1997 (inception)
through December 31, 1997, for the period from January 1, 1998 to April
13, 1998 and cumulative from inception to April 13, 1998
(unaudited)............................................................. 45
Statements of Shareholders' Equity from January 1, 1998 to April 13, 1998
(unaudited) and for the period from December 10, 1997 (inception)
through December 31, 1997............................................... 46
Notes to Financial Statements for the period from December 10, 1997
(inception) to December 31, 1997 and for the period from January 1, 1998
to April 13, 1998
(unaudited)............................................................. 47
Financial Statements of Offshore Shuttle AS:
Independent Auditors' Report.............................................. 52
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998..................... 53
Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss for the period from November 29,
1996 (inception) to December 31, 1996, the years ended December 31, 1997
and 1998 and cumulative from inception to December 31, 1998............. 54
Statements of Cash Flows for the period from November 29, 1996 (inception)
to December 31, 1996, the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 and
cumulative from inception to December 31, 1998.......................... 55
Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 1998
and 1997 and from date of inception, November 29, 1996 to December 31,
1996.................................................................... 56
Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1998 and 1997.................. 57
-22-
<PAGE>
Independent Auditors' Report
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Marine
Shuttle Operations Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") as at
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the related consolidated statements of loss
and comprehensive loss, shareholders' equity (deficiency) and cash flows for
the year ended December 31, 1998, the period from May 23, 1997 (inception)
to December 31, 1997, and the period from May 23, 1997 (inception) to
December 31, 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit
to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company as at December 31, 1998
and 1997 and the results of operations and cash flows for the year ended
December 31, 1998, the period from May 23, 1997 (inception) to December 31,
1997, and the period from May 23, 1997 (inception) to December 31, 1998 in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the
financial statements, the Company's negative working capital and deficit raises
substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's
plans concerning this matter are also described in Note 1. The financial
statements do not contain any adjustments that might result from the outcome of
this uncertainty.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE
Chartered Accountants
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
March 18, 1999
-23-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(U.S.Dollars)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, December 31,
1998 1997
-------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current Asset
Cash and cash equivalents $ 903,805 $ 9,015
Restricted cash 128,535 --
Accounts Receivable 16,254 --
Other current receivables 173,577 --
------------ ------------
Total Current Assets 1,222,171 9,015
Pension fund 8,017 --
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,067,287 --
Goodwill, net 31,389,355 --
Patents and agreements, net 3,249,396 --
------------ ------------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 37,936,227 $ 9,015
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liability
Accounts payable $ 963,908 $ 16,092
Notes payable 3,605,390 --
Due to related parted company -- 3,854
Other current liabilities 241,253 --
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 4,810,551 19,946
------------ ------------
Non-controlling interest 555,417 --
------------ ------------
Contingency (Note 1)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Authorized 75,000,000 common shares with a
par value of $0.001. Issued and outstanding
32,557,607 common shares with a par value
of $0.001 at December 31, 1998 and 20,020,000
common shares at December 31, 1997 32,558 20,020
Other paid in capital 37,734,263 133,980
Accumulated deficit (5,207,079) (164,931)
Cumulative foreign exchange adjustment 10,517
------------ ------------
Total shareholders' equity (deficit) 32,570,259 (10,931)
------------ ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) $ 37,936,227 $ 9,015
============ ============
</TABLE>
-24-
<PAGE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-25-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(U.S.Dollars)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative from
date of inception, Period from
May 23, 1997, to Year ended May 23, 1997
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1998 to December 31, 1997
----------------- ----------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating revenues $ 16,376 $ 16,376 $ --
------------ ------------ ------------
EXPENSES
Personnel costs $ 225,494 $ 185,494 $ 40,000
Legal and advisory services 752,890 695,973 56,917
Cost of cancelled financing 606,721 606,721 --
Financial services 439,238 423,727 15,511
General and administrative expenses 455,249 402,746 52,503
Marketing expenses 652,490 652,490 --
Depreciation and amortization 10,467 10,467 --
Depreciation - goodwill and intangibles 1,882,204 1,882,204 --
Loss on investment 90,000 90,000 --
Interest expense 93,269 93,269 --
Currency exchange loss 29,985 29,985 --
------------ ------------ ------------
Total operating expenses 5,238,007 5,073,076 164,931
------------ ------------ ------------
Less: interest income (14,549) (14,549) --
Net loss $ (5,207,079) $ (5,042,148) $ (164,931)
============ ============ ============
Other comprehensive item:
Cumulative foreign exchange
adjustment 10,517 10,517
------------ ------------
Comprehensive loss $ (5,196,562) $ (5,031,631)
------------ ------------
Basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.20) $ (0.01)
============ ============
Weighted average shares outstanding 25,720,000 18,931,982
============ ============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-26-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(U.S.Dollars)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative from Period from
date of inception, Year ended May 23, 1997
May 23, 1997, to December 31, to
December 31, 1998 1998 December 31, 1997
-------------------- ---------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Loss for the period $(5,207,079) $(5,042,148) $ (164,931)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 1,892,671 1,892,671 --
Writedown of investments 90,000 90,000 --
Unrealized loss on foreign currency 32,092 32,092
Accrued interest expenses, net 93,269 93,269 --
Changes in non-cash working capital:
Accounts receivable (16,254) (16,254) --
Other current receivables and restricted cash (86,931) (86,931) --
Accounts payable 963,909 947,817 16,092
Other current liabilities (233,257) (233,257) --
Due to related party -- (3,854) 3,854
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash flow used on operating activities (2,471,580) (2,326,595) (144,985)
----------- ----------- -----------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investments (100,000) (100,000) --
Capital expenditures (715,675) (715,675) --
Proceeds on sale of investment 10,000 10,000 --
Advance to Marine Shuttle Operations AS (249,986) (249,986) --
Acquisition of Marine Shuttle Operations AS 416,635 416,635 --
Advance to Offshore shuttle AS (100,000) (100,000) --
Acquisition of Offshore Shuttle AS 482,476 482,476 --
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash flow used on investing activities (256,550) (256,550) --
----------- ----------- -----------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of capital stock 170,000 -- 170,000
Share issue cost (16,000) -- (16,000)
Note payable 3,500,000 3,500,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash flow provided by financing activities 3,654,000 3,500,000 154,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
Equivalents (22,063) (22,063)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equiv $ 903,805 $ 894,790 $ 9,015
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period -- 9,015 --
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 903,805 $ 903,805 $ 9,015
=========== =========== ===========
Supplemental disclosure of cashflow information
Cash payment for interest -- -- --
Cash receipts for interest $ (14,549) $ (14,549) $ --
----------- ----------- -----------
</TABLE>
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
During the year ending December 31, 1998, the Company acquired all of the
issued and outstanding shares of Marine Shuttle Operations AS (MSOAS), and 68%
of the shares of Offshore Shuttle AS. Consideration consisted of 7,600,000 and
4,937,607 common shares of the Company, respectively. The consideration has been
recorded at $22,800,000 and $14,812,821 respectively. See accompanying notes to
consolidated financial statements.
-27-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
(U.S.Dollars)
Year ended December 31, 1998 and from the date of inception, May 23, 1997,
to December 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative
Foreign Exchange
Adjustment
Common shares Other during the
---------------------------- Paid-in Development Accumulated Equity
Shares Amount Capital stage Deficit (Deficit)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Issued on
incorporation 10,000,000 $ 10,000 $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 10,000
Private placement 10,020,000 10,020 133,980 -- -- 144,000
Net loss -- -- -- -- (164,931) (164,931)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at December 31, 1997 20,020,000 20,020 133,980 -- (164,931) (10,931)
Issued on acquisition
of MSOAS 7,600,000 7,600 22,792,400 -- -- 22,800,000
Issued on acquisition
OSAS 4,937,607 4,938 14,807,883 -- -- 14,812,821
Cumulative foreign
exchange adjustment 10,517 -- 10,517
Net loss -- -- -- -- (5,042,148) (5,042,148)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at December 31, 1998 32,557,607 $ 32,558 $ 37,734,263 $ 10,517 $ (5,207,079) $ 32,570,259
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-28-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
1. CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated under the
name Geoteck International, Inc. on May 23, 1997 in Nevada, U.S.A. The Company
changed its name to Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. on May 29, 1998.
The Company was organized with the intent to be a holding company which
will acquire and/or form joint ventures with corporate entities conducting
various types of businesses throughout the world.
The Company has negative working capital and an accumulated deficit. The
ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent on the
ability of the Company to obtain financing. To address this concern, the Company
intends to raise up to $10 million through a private placement of Common Stock
through Berliner Effektenbank AG, a German investment bank. In addition, the
Company has entered into an engagement letter with MFC Merchant Bank S.A.
("MFC") pursuant to which MFC shall act, on a best-efforts basis, as exclusive
agent for the Company in raising up to DM 215,000,000 (approximately
$126,000,000) (the "MFC Financing"). There can be no assurance that the private
placement or the MFC financing will be consummated on reasonable terms or at
all.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States and reflect the following
significant accounting principles:
(A) PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company,
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Marine Shuttle Operations AS (MSOAS), and its
68%-owned subsidiary Offshore Shuttle AS (OSAS). Intercompany transactions and
balances have been eliminated. The consolidated financial information for the
Company set forth below gives effect to the acquisition of the shares of MSOAS
and OSAS.
The December 31, 1998 consolidated balance sheet represents the
consolidation of the balance sheet of the Company, MSOAS and OSAS. The Company
has entered into an agreement to acquire an additional 14.5% of the shares of
OSAS. Such transaction is expected to close in the near future.
The consolidated statements of net loss for 1998 represent the
consolidation of the Company and MSOAS from acquisition on April 13, 1998. In
1998, the Company acquired 3,291,738 shares of OSAS (approximately 68% of the
outstanding OSAS capital stock) in exchange for 4,937,607 shares of Common
Stock. All of such shares were held in escrow until December 21, 1998. There was
no significant effect on the Company's financial statements during the period
from December 21, 1998 to December 31, 1998.
-29-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
(B) ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(C) EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share (SFAS 128), which established new
standards for computing and presenting earnings per share effective for fiscal
years ending after December 15, 1997. With SFAS 128, primary earnings per share
is replaced by basic earnings per share, which is computed by dividing income
available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares
outstanding for the period. In addition, SFAS 128 requires the presentation of
diluted earnings per share, which includes the potential dilution that could
occur if dilutive securities were exercised or converted into common stock. The
computation of diluted EPS does not assume the conversion or exercise of
securities if their effect is anti-dilutive. Common equivalent shares consist of
the common shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible loan notes and
special warrants (using the if-converted method) and incremental shares issuable
upon the exercise of stock options and share purchase warrants (using the
treasury stock method).
(D) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, deposits in banks and
highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.
(E) INVESTMENTS
The Company carries its investments in private companies at the lower of
cost and net realizable value.
(F) CAPITAL ASSETS
Capital assets are recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided in the
fiscal year subsequent to acquisition. Depreciation is charged to operations
over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Computer equipment ................................................ 35%
Office equipment .................................................. 20-30%
The carrying value of capital assets is reviewed on a regular basis for
any permanent impairment in value. To date, no such impairment has been
indicated.
The building period for each Offshore Shuttle is estimated to be 24
months. All direct costs including interest related to the construction of the
Offshore Shuttle will be capitalized as incurred with amortization commencing
when the shuttle is available for operation.
-30-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
(G) GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES
Goodwill arising on acquisition and other purchased intangibles are
amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 5 to 10 years.
Management regularly reviews the carrying value of goodwill and intangibles
based upon future expected cash flows. To date, no impairment has been
indicated.
Patents are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization, which is
calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset,
when the patent has a defined and measurable relationship to future revenues.
(H) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company estimates that the carrying values of its cash and cash
equivalents, accounts payable, due to related party and note payable approximate
fair value at December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997 due to the short-term to
maturity and the arms-length nature of the transactions.
(I) FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
Transaction amounts denominated in foreign currencies are translated into
U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the transaction dates. Carrying
values of non-U.S. dollar assets and liabilities are adjusted at each balance
sheet date to reflect the exchange rate prevailing at that date. Gains and
losses arising from restatement of foreign currency assets and liabilities are
included in earnings. Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries not reporting in
U.S. dollars are translated into their U.S. dollar equivalents at rates of
exchange prevailing at each balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are
translated at the average exchange rate for the reporting period. Gains and
losses arising from translation of financial statements of subsidiaries not
reporting in U.S. dollars are deferred and disclosed as a separate component of
shareholders' equity. The exchange rate between the Norwegian kroner and US
dollar at December 31, 1998 was 7.6 Norwegian kroner to the US dollar.
(J) RECENT PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 131 (SFAS 131), Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information, which is required to be adopted for fiscal years beginning on or
after December 15, 1997. SFAS 131 establishes new standards for the reporting of
segmented information in annual financial statements and requires the reporting
of certain selected segmented information on interim reports to shareholders.
The impact of SFAS 131 on the Company's financial statements is not material.
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 133 (SFAS 133), Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities, which standardizes the accounting for derivative instruments. SFAS
133 is effective for all fiscal quarters of all fiscal years beginning after
June 15, 1999. The impact on the Company's financial statements has not been
determined.
-31-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
(K) PENSION PLAN
The Company accounts for pension plans in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard No. 87
3. RESTRICTED CASH
Cash and cash equivalent include taxes withheld from employees of the
Norwegian subsidiaries of $72,614 and rental deposit of $55,921 for 1998.
4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value. No allowance for
doubtful account is deemed necessary.
5. OTHER CURRENT RECEIVABLES
1998
--------
Prepaid expenses $ 41,684
VAT receivable 90,775
Other current receivable 41,118
--------
Total other current receivable $173,577
--------
6. LOSS ON INVESTMENT
On December 31, 1997, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase
Agreement ("Agreement") to acquire 100 shares (constituting a 50% interest) of
Kaizen Food Corporation ("Kaizen"), a Canadian private company. Pursuant to the
Agreement the Company purchased 100 shares of Kaizen for $100,000, and was
required to raise $500,000 on or before January 20, 1998 to fund Kaizen's
research and development activities. This requirement was not met by the
Company; therefore, Kaizen had the right to repurchase its stock for $50,000
according to the Agreement. Kaizen repurchased the stock during 1998 for $10,000
in full payment of the repurchase price.
7. ACQUISITION OF MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
On April 14, 1998, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding
stock of Marine Shuttle Operations AS, a Norwegian company ("MSOAS "), in
exchange for 7,600,000 common shares of the Company. The 7,600,000 shares are
held by a trustee pursuant to the terms of a pooling trust agreement. The shares
cannot be sold prior to the release from the trust. The shares are to be
released as to 10% on July 1, 1999, and an additional 30% on each of July 1,
2000, 2001, and 2002. This transaction has been accounted for using the purchase
method and the purchase price has been allocated to the estimated fair value of
net assets acquired as follows:
-32-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
7. ACQUISITION OF MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS (Continued)
Fair value of net assets acquired:
Cash $ 416,635
Current liabilities (181,253)
------------
235,382
Intangibles represented by marketing, engineering and waste
Management agreements 2,281,460
Goodwill 20,533,144
------------
23,049,986
Less: Advances to MSOAS at date of acquisition 249,986
------------
$ 22,800,000
------------
The results of operations of MSOAS have been consolidated from April 14, 1998.
8. ACQUISITION OF OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
In 1998, the Company acquired 3,291,738 shares of Offshore Shuttle AS, a
Norwegian limited company ("OSAS"), representing approximately 68% of the
outstanding OSAS capital stock, in exchange for 4,937,607 shares of the
Company's common stock. In addition, the Company entered into two agreements to
acquire an additional 686,668 shares of OSAS (approximately 14.5% of the
outstanding OSAS capital stock) in exchange for 1,030,002 shares of Common Stock
(the "Additional OSAS Exchanges"). The Company expects the Additional OSAS
Exchanges to close in the near future.
The shares of the Company's common stock that have been issued have been
recorded at a deemed value of $3.00 per share based on the estimated fair value
of the net assets acquired from OSAS.
The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets
acquired has been allocated to goodwill and identified intangibles and is being
amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years. This transaction has been
accounted for using the purchase method and the purchase price has been
allocated to the estimated fair value of net assets acquired as follows:
-33-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
8. ACQUISITION OF OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS (Continued)
Fair value of net assets acquired
Current assets $ 697,658
Capital assets 1,357,486
Current liability (393,257)
------------
1,661,887
Patents 1,310,155
Goodwill 12,396,196
------------
15,368,238
Non-controlling interest, representing
32% of the net assets of OSAS 555,417
------------
$ 14,812,821
============
The assets and liabilities of OSAS have been consolidated into the accounts of
the Company with effect at December 31, 1998.
9. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
---------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Accumulated Net Book Net Book
Cost Amortization Value Value
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Computer and office equipment $ 247,333 $ 10,389 $ 236,944 --
Shuttle construction in progress 1,830,343 -- 1,830,343
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
$ 2,077,676 $ 10,389 $ 2,067,287 $ --
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
10. GOODWILL
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
---------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Accumulated Net Book Net Book
Cost Amortization Value Value
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Goodwill $ 32,929,340 $ 1,539,985 $ 31,389,355 $ --
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
11. PATENTS AND AGREEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
---------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Accumulated Net Book Net Book
Cost Amortization Value Value
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Marketing, engineering and waste
management agreements $2,281,460 $ 342,219 $1,939,241 $ --
Patents 1,310,155 -- 1,310,155 --
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
$3,591,615 $ 342,219 $3,249,396 $ --
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
-34-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
12. OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
1998
--------
Accrued salary and social security cost $ 84,378
Accrued other operating expenses 156,875
--------
Total other current liabilities $241,253
--------
13. NOTES PAYABLE
The Company entered into a Loan Agreement, dated March 12, 1998, as
amended August 27, 1998, and September 24, 1998, with ValorInvest Ltd.
("ValorInvest") whereby ValorInvest agreed to advance the Company up to
$3,500,000. The loan was evidenced by three promissory notes in the aggregate
principal amount of $3,500,000. Interest accrued from the date of each advance
at 7.5% per annum. The loan was due and payable upon the earlier of December 31,
1998 or the consummation of a public offering or debt financing for gross
proceeds of at least USD 100,000,000, unless extended by the Lender. Repayment
of the loan, including interest, was made in February 1999.
14. COMMITMENTS
The Company has entered into the following commitment related to office
leases:
The Company's corporate headquarters in the United States are located in
approximately 500 square feet of office space in Houston, Texas. The Company
occupies these premises pursuant to a lease agreement with an initial term that
ends on April 30, 1999, and will thereafter remain in force on a month by month
basis unless either the Lessor or Lessee gives 30 days prior written notice of
termination to the other.
MSOAS has entered into a new lease agreement, dated January 12, 1999, with
RC Group ASA for 938 square meters of office space in Sandnes. The lease had
retroactive effect from November 1998 and lasts for a period of 5 years at an
average annual rent of $136,850.
In March 1998, OSAS entered into a lease for new office space. The
agreement lasts for three years from May 1, 1998 at an average annual rent of
$85,900 with adjustments for increases in the consumer price index.
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During 1998, the Company leased office space at $750 per month from
Intercap Resource Management U.S., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intercap
Resource Management Corp. ("Intercap"). Effective February 1, 1998, the Company
entered into a six month agreement with a former director of Intercap to provide
consulting services for $10,000 per month ($60,000 was paid during the year
ended December 31, 1998).
MSOAS is a party to a personnel services agreement with RC Consultants AS.
The Chairman of RC Consultants AS is also the Chairman of MSOAS and the
President and principal shareholder of RC Group ASA. As of December 31, 1998,
the Company paid approximately $592,821 to RC Consultants AS for these services.
Compensation for services rendered under such agreement is to be based on normal
trade terms.
-35-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Continued)
MSOAS is a party to a cooperation agreement with Schuller
Industrieentsorgung AG ("Schuller") pursuant to which Schuller shall provide
waste management, onshore dismantling, and oil pollution prevention and cleanup
services. As of December 31, 1998, the Company paid approximately $127,217 to
Schuller for marketing research and other services rendered. The President and a
director of the Company are shareholders and members of the supervisory board of
Schuller.
MSOAS has entered into an agreement with Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH ("TSU")
with respect to the marketing and procurement services. As of December 31, 1998,
approximately $65,126 had been paid to TSU under such agreement. Jurgen
Ternieden, a director of the Company, is an officer and the head of the Pipes,
Offshore, Special Products Department of TSU.
During the period ended December 31, 1998, the Company paid approximately
$103,894 to a law firm, a member of which is a director of the Company.
OSAS has entered into an agreement with P.F. Bassoe & Co., a specialized
shipbroker and consultancy company. Halvor Sveen, an employee of P.F. Bassoe &
Co., is a member of the Board of Directors of OSAS. P.F.Bassoe shall render
services in connection with contract and negotiations with yards regarding
fabrication of the Offshore Shuttle. As compensation P.F.Bassoe shall be
entitled to a commission of one percent of the contract price stipulated in a
fabrication contract between OSAS and a ship yard. Any payment or commission for
services rendered in connection with the conclusion of other contracts shall be
agreed separately.
OSAS has entered into a Consultancy Agreement with Mr. Gunnar Foss, a
shareholder and a former Board member of OSAS. The agreement stipulates that
monthly remuneration shall be paid to Mr. Gunnar Foss for consulting services
provided to OSAS. For the period ended December 31, 1998, OSAS paid NOK 960,000
(approximately $127,265) in accordance with the agreement, and for the period
ended December 31, 1997, OSAS paid NOK 630,000 (approximately $89,679) in
accordance with the agreement. The Board of Directors of OSAS has also decided
that if OSAS successfully sells a license to build a shuttle or builds a shuttle
itself, the amount of remuneration payable under the agreement is subject to
negotiation. According to the agreement, Mr. Gunnar Foss shall have the right to
terminate his engagement with 6 months notice, whereas OSAS shall have the right
to terminate with 12 months notice. In the event that Mr. Gunnar Foss resigns
following a change in control of OSAS which results in significant changes to
its strategy, he shall have the right to remuneration for 12 months following
the termination of contract.
AGREEMENT REGARDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
On March 31, 1998, MSOAS entered into an agreement with Mr. Gunnar Foss
and Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen regarding the intellectual property rights relating to
the Offshore Shuttle concept. The agreement provides for the exclusive transfer
of the patent rights and all other intellectual property rights relating to the
Offshore Shuttle concept to OSAS.
-36-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Continued)
The transfer of the rights is subject to the condition that the Offshore
Shuttle concept be further developed and exploited by OSAS. According to the
agreement, the execution of the head Licence Agreement described in the next
paragraph shall be deemed to constitute such further development and
exploitation. If OSAS for any reason whatsoever should cease to continue in an
active manner its activities related to the concept, Mr. Gunnar Foss and Mr. Per
Bull Haugsoen can request that the patent and all other rights concerning the
concept be transferred back to them against certain compensation. In the event
that OSAS wishes to transfer the rights to a third party, Mr. Gunnar Foss and
Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen shall have the right of first refusal with respect to such
transfer. It is agreed that the Head License Agreement (see below) shall not be
deemed to constitute such transfer.
HEAD LICENSE AGREEMENT
OSAS entered into a Head License Agreement with MSOAS, dated March 31,
1998, as amended. Pursuant to the Head License Agreement, OSAS granted MSOAS the
exclusive right to build and operate five offshore shuttles, an exclusive option
to build and operate two additional offshore shuttles thereafter, and a right of
first refusal with respect to any offshore shuttle licenses that OSAS may seek
to grant during a specified future period.
Based on functional specifications for each offshore shuttle to be agreed
upon, OSAS shall provide MSOAS with the pre-engineering work, including designs
and descriptions of operational procedures, necessary to construct the Offshore
Shuttles. In addition, OSAS will provide other technical services, in excess of
pre-engineering, in connection with the development, building and operation of
the Offshore Shuttles.
In consideration for the licenses granted and pre-engineering services to
be provided, OSAS shall receive a construction fee equal to ten percent of the
construction price of each of the offshore shuttles, an operating fee equal to
sixteen percent of the gross profit for each contract finalized by MSOAS
involving the use of an offshore shuttle, and an exclusivity fee equal to one
percent of the aggregate construction price of offshore shuttles two through
five. Other services rendered by OSAS will be invoiced to MSOAS on fair market
terms.
The parties have agreed that yard orders for each of the five offshore
shuttles shall be placed in specific order years in the period between 1998
through year 2003. In each such order year the order shall be placed within a
defined order expiry date. The first order shall be placed by June 1, 1999.
Subject, in each case, to an option to extend the order dates by twelve months
upon payment of a $900,000 option exercise fee, an order for the second offshore
shuttle must be placed no later than six months after successful testing of the
first offshore shuttle, and the remaining three offshore shuttles must be
ordered by December 31st of each year thereafter. If an order is not placed on
or before the required date, then for the twelve-month period thereafter OSAS
shall be entitled to grant a license to build one offshore shuttle to a third
party.
The binding nature of the Head License Agreement is conditional upon OSAS
having received payment from MSOAS of the first instalment of the exclusivity
fee of USD 2,000,000 by June 1, 1999, and MSOAS having placed a firm order for
offshore shuttle number one with a construction yard by the same date.
-37-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
16. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
AUTHORIZED
The Company amended the Company's Articles of Incorporation on April 9,
1998 to increase the Company's authorized capital stock from 40,000,000 shares
of common stock to 75,000,000 shares of common stock and to change the name of
the Company to Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
ISSUED
The Company has entered into the following transactions related to its common
shares:
i) On incorporation of the Company, 10,000,000 common shares were
issued at $0.001 per share for proceeds of $10,000.
ii) On June 16, 1997, the Company issued 10,000,000 common shares at
$0.01 per share for proceeds of $100,000.
iii) On August 8, 1997, the Company issued 20,000 common shares at $3.00
per share for proceeds of $60,000.
iv) On April 14, 1998, the Company issued 7,600,000 common shares in
exchange for all of the issued and outstanding shares of MSOAS (see
Note 7).
v) In May 1998, the Company issued 4,937,607 shares of common stock in
exchange for 3,291,738 shares of OSAS. The share exchange was
completed in December 1998.
vi) On May 20, 1998, the Company entered into agreements to issue
1,030,002 common shares pursuant to the acquisition of 686,668
shares of OSAS (see Note 8).
17. STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company has established a Stock Option Plan for employees, officers,
directors, consultants, and advisors. Options granted under the Stock Option
Plan may be either incentive stock option or non-qualified stock options. The
Company has reserved 2,000,000 common shares for issuance under the Stock Option
Plan. Options granted for issuance under the Stock Option Plan generally are not
transferable, and the exercise price of incentive stock options must be at least
equal to 100% (110% in the case of optionees who own more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company) of the fair market
value of the common shares on the date of grant. As of December 31, 1998, no
options were outstanding under the Stock Option Plan.
-38-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
17. STOCK OPTION PLAN (Continued)
The Stock Option Plan may be administered by the Board of Directors or a
committee of the Board (the "Committee"). The Board of Directors or the
Committee, as the case may be, has the power to determine the terms of any
options granted thereunder, including the exercise price, the number of shares
subject to the option, and the exercisability thereof. Each option is
exercisable during the lifetime of the optionee only by such optionee. The term
of any option granted under the Stock Option Plan may not exceed ten years. The
specific terms of each option grant shall be approved by the Board of Directors
or the Committee, as the case may be, and shall be reflected in a written stock
option agreement.
The Stock Option Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on May 11,
1998, and was approved and ratified by the stockholders of the Company as of
July 31, 1998. The Stock Option Plan shall expire at the end of the day on May
11, 2008 (except as to options outstanding on that date).
OSAS adopted a stock option plan (the "OSAS Plan") in 1997 which provides
for the granting of incentive options to employees, board members and
consultants to purchase an aggregate of 220,000 shares of OSAS common stock at
prices and terms to be decided by the Board of Directors. Options granted under
the OSAS Plan may be exercisable for a period of up to three years from the date
of grant. All options granted under the OSAS Plan have exercise prices equal to
the market value of the stock on the date of grant and increasing with one
percent per month.
A summary of activity related to the OSAS Plan is as follows:
Weighted average
Number of shares exercise price
---------------- ------------------
NOK USD
---------------- ------------------
Granted 120,000 21.83 2.87
Exercised 10,000 13.08 1.72
Cancelled 10,000 42.51 5.59
------- ------- -------
Outstanding as of December 31, 1998 100,000 20.53 2.70
------- ------- -------
-39-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
18. PENSION
OSAS has a defined benefit retirement plan which cover all of their
employees. Plan benefits are based on years of service and final salary levels.
The plan is administrated by an insurance company. Contributions to plan are
made in accordance with local laws and regulations.
1998
--------
Net periodic pension cost
Benefits earned during the year $ 27,010
Interest cost on prior period benefit
Obligation 670
Expected return on plan assets (2,118)
--------
Net periodic pension cost $ 25,562
--------
Change in projected benefit obligation (PBO)
Projected benefit obligation at beginning
of year $ 11,163
Benefits earned during the year 27,010
Interest cost on prior period benefit
Obligations 670
--------
Projected benefit obligation at end of the year $ 38,843
--------
Change in pension plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 15,576
Expected return on plan assets 2,102
Company contributions 28,892
--------
Fair value of plan assets at end of the year $ 46,570
--------
Status of pension plans reconciled to balance sheet
Defined benefit plans:
Projected benefit obligation at end of the year $ 38,553
Fair value of plan assets at end of the year (assets) (46,570)
--------
Funded status of the plans at end of year $ (8,017)
--------
Weighted-average assumptions at end of year
Discount rate 7 %
Expected return on plan assets 6 %
Rate of compensation increase 3 %
-40-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
19. INCOME TAXES
The Company has not provided for an income tax liability due to the
availability of operating loss carry-forwards. The Company has net operating
losses which may give rise to future tax benefits of approximately $1,703,282
and $160,000 of December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997, respectively. To the
extent not used, net operating loss carry-forwards expire in varying amounts
beginning in the year 2007. Based on available evidence, including the Company's
history of operating losses, the uncertainty of future profitability and the
impact of tax laws which may limit the Company's ability to utilize such loss
carry-forwards, management has recorded a valuation allowance against the
realization of the deferred tax assets.
Income Tax Computation
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Loss before tax $(5,042,148) ($ 164,931)
Permanent differences 29,420 4,011
Amortization - Goodwill and other intangibles 1,882,204 --
Capital loss -- 90,000
Temporary differences:
Fixed assets (27,031) --
----------- -----------
Loss for tax purpose (3,157,555) (70,920)
U.S Tax rate 30% 30%
Tax at Statutory Rate (947,267) (21,276)
Less effect of lower Norwegian tax rate, 28% 26,901 --
----------- -----------
Tax effect on loss carryforward (920,366) (21,276)
Valuation allowance 920,366 21,276
----------- -----------
Deferred tax benefit $ Nil $ Nil
==============================
Deferred tax is calculated on the basis of the differences
existing as at December 31, 1998 between accounting values
and values for tax purposes. Deferred tax asset is calculated
as follows:
1998 1997
----------- -----------
Accumulated taxable loss, including incurred pre-acquisition
of MSOAS and OSAS $(5,976,217) (70,920)
Fixed assets 42,066 --
----------- -----------
Basis for calculating deferred tax asset (5,934,152) (70,920)
U.S Tax rate 30% 30%
Deferred tax (1,780,246) (21,276)
Less effect on lower Norwegian tax rate, 28% 76,964 --
----------- -----------
Deferred tax (1,703,282) (21,276)
Valuation allowance 1,703,282 21,276
----------- -----------
Deferred tax asset $ Nil $ Nil
==============================
</TABLE>
-41-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
20. SEGMENTED DISCLOSURES
(a) The Company is currently marketing and making preparations for the
construction of its first offshore shuttle for the removal of offshore oil and
gas structures. In accordance with SFAS No. 131 the Company considers its
business to consist of one reportable operating segment.
(b) The Company currently has long-lived assets, other than goodwill and
intangibles, comprising capital assets totalling $2,067,287 at December 31,
1998, all of which are located in Norway.
21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent to December 31, 1998, the Company:
(a) In February, 1999, the Company raised $5,748,460 in gross proceeds
from the sale of approximately 1.15 million shares of Common Stock in an
offshore transaction pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended. Berliner Effektenbank AG, a German investment bank,
received a fee of $0.575 million for serving as placement agent in connection
with the transaction.
(b) The Company entered into a lease agreement, dated as of February 1,
1999, pursuant to which it will lease approximately 500 square feet of office
space in Houston, Texas for $750 per month.
(c) MSOAS entered into a new lease, dated January 12, 1999, with RC Group
ASA. The lease is for 938 square meters of office space in Sandnes, Norway. The
lease is for a five-year period at an average annual rent of NOK 1,032,350
(approximately $136,850). RC Group ASA is the sole shareholder of RC. Sverre
Hanssen, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of RC and the Chairman of the
Board of Directors of MSOAS, is the principal shareholder and the President of
RC Group ASA.
(d) On March 1, 1999, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan
Agreement") with ValorInvest pursuant to which ValorInvest agreed to lend an
aggregate of up to $6,000,000 to the Company, provided that advances shall be
made in increments of $250,000 and shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any single
month unless agreed to by ValorInvest. In connection with the Loan Agreement,
the Company issued a non-negotiable promissory note to ValorInvest in the
principal amount of $6,000,000. Any monies advanced under such note shall bear
interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum and shall be due and payable upon the
earlier of December 31, 1999 or the completion of an equity financing for gross
proceeds of at least $10,000,000. As of March 22, 1999, $750,000 has been
advanced under such note.
-42-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
22. PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The selected pro forma consolidated financial information for the Company
set forth below gives effect to the acquisition of the shares of MSOAS and OSAS,
and presents the results of operations of the Company as if MSOAS and OSAS
acquisitions were combined at the beginning of the respective periods presented.
The pro forma consolidated financial statements are not intended to
reflect the results of operations or the financial position of the Company which
would have actually resulted had the proposed transactions described in Notes 7
and 8 been effected on the dates indicated. Further, the pro forma financial
information is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations or the
financial position that may be obtained in the future.
The following pro forma information presents the result of operations of
the Company as if the MSOAS and OSAS acquisitions were combined at the beginning
of the respective periods presented. The first table presented shows the effect
of acquisition of 68% of the OSAS shares. The second table shows the effect of
acquisition of 82.5% of the OSAS shares, as the case would have been if the
acquisition of these shares were realized by December 31, 1998. (See Note 8)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative from date
of inception, Period from
May 23, 1997, to Year ended May 23, 1997 to
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $ 86,573 $ 29,633 $ 56,940
------------ ------------ ------------
Net loss for the period $(10,971,659) $ (6,029,096) $ (4,942,563)
------------ ------------ ------------
Loss per common share $ (0.19) $ (0.16)
------------ ------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative from date
of inception, Period from
May 23, 1997, to Year ended May 23, 1997 to
December 31, 1998 December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $ 86,573 $ 29,633 $ 56,940
------------ ------------ ------------
Net loss for the period $(11,888,541) $ (6,469,221) $ (5,419,320)
------------ ------------ ------------
Loss per common share $ (0.19) $ (0.17)
------------ ------------
</TABLE>
-43-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
We have been engaged to complete an audit of the balance sheet of Marine Shuttle
Operations AS as of December 31, 1997 and the related statements of income,
shareholder's equity and of cash flows for the period from December 10, 1997
(inception) to December 31, 1997. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We are not the
elected, statutory auditors of the Company.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing
which do not differ materially from United States generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Marine Shuttle Operations AS as of December
31, 1997 and the result of its operations and its cash flows for the period from
December 10, 1997 (inception) to December 31, 1997, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE
25 June 1998
Oslo, Norway
-44-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
BALANCE SHEETS AS OF APRIL 13, 1998 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997
APRIL 13, 1998
(UNAUDITED) DECEMBER 31, 1997
------------------------------------
NOK NOK
------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 3,178,720 998,827
------------------------------------
Total Current Assets 3,178,720 998,827
------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Funding capital (Note 3) 1,907,268 --
Other current liabilities 1,382,871 --
------------------------------------
Total Current Liabilities 3,290,139 --
------------------------------------
Total Liabilities 3,290,139 --
------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Share capital 999,000 999,000
Deficit accumulated during the
development stage (1,110,419) (173)
------------------------------------
Total Shareholders' Equity (111,419) 998,827
------------------------------------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
Equity 3,178,720 998,827
------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-45-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
STATEMENTS OF LOSS FOR THE PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 10, 1997 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997,
FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 1998 TO APRIL 13, 1998 AND CUMULATIVE
FROM INCEPTION TO APRIL 13, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative from Period from Period from
Inception to January 1, 1998 to December 10, 1997 to
April 13, 1998 April 13, 1998 December 31, 1997
NOK NOK NOK
-------------------------------------------------------------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating expenses 1,109,873 1,109,873 --
Financial expenses 546 373 173
-------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating expenses 1,110,419 1,110,246 173
-------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss before income tax (Note 4) (1,110,419) (1,110,246) (173)
Basic and diluted loss per share (1.11) --
----------
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding 999,000 999,000
---------------------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-46-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 10, 1997 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997,
FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 1998 TO APRIL 13, 1998 AND
CUMULATIVE FROM INCEPTION TO APRIL 13, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period from
Cumulative from Period from December 10, 1997
Inception to January 1, 1998 to to
April 13, 1998 April 13, 1998 December 31, 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------
NOK NOK NOK
--------------------------------------------------------------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating activities: (1,110,419) (1,110,246) (173)
Net loss
Working capital changes that
provided (used) cash:
Other current liabilities 1,382,871 1,382,871 --
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating
activities 272,452 272,625 (173)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Financing activities
Funding capital proceeds 1,907,268 1,907,268 --
--------------------------------------------------------------
Proceeds from issuance of shares 999,000 -- 999,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by financing
activities 2,906,268 1,907,268 999,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in cash and cash
equivalents 3,178,720 2,179,893 998,827
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period -- 998,827 --
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
period 3,178,720 3,178,720 998,827
--------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-47-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY FROM JANUARY 1, 1998
TO APRIL 13, 1998 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 10, 1997 (INCEPTION)
TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Deficit
accumulated
during the Total
Number of Share Restricted development shareholders
shares capital reserve stage equity NOK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paid-in capital at inception on
December 10, 1997 999,000 999,000 -- -- 999,000
Net loss 1997 -- -- -- (173) (173)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance December 31, 1997 999,000 999,000 -- (173) 998,827
Net loss January 1-April 13, 1998 -- -- -- (1,110,246) (1,110,246)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance April 13, 1998 (Unaudited) 999,000 999,000 -- (1,110,419) (111,419)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The Company was established on December 10, 1997. At such time, 999,000 shares
were issued for net proceeds of NOK 999,000 cash.
Marine Shuttle Operations AS had authorized, issued and outstanding ordinary
shares having a par value of NOK 1 per share for the period ended April 13,
1998.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-48-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 10, 1997 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 1998 TO APRIL 13, 1998
(INFORMATION AS OF APRIL 13, 1998 AND FOR THE PERIOD THEN ENDED IS UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1--NATURE OF BUSINESS
Marine Shuttle Operations AS (the "Company") was established December 10,
1997. The Company is seeking to become a leading player in the market for
decommissioning, installing and transporting offshore oil and gas structures.
The Company initially intends to concentrate its efforts on decommissioning
fixed steel structures, primarily the several hundred large steel installations
situated in the intermediate water depths. The Company has formed strategic
alliances to test, develop, manufacture and commercialize the shuttle concept.
On April 14, 1998, Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. acquired all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company, consisting of 999,000
shares of voting common stock, in exchange for 7,600,000 shares of common voting
stock of Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
See Note 6--Subsequent events.
NOTE 2--ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, deposits in banks and
highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.
INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability
approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities
for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in
the financial statements or tax returns.
ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
NOTE 3--FUNDING CAPITAL
As of April 13, 1998, the Company had borrowed USD 249,986 (NOK 1,907,286)
from Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. Thereafter, the Company entered into a Loan
Agreement (the "Loan Agreement"), dated May 13, 1998, with Marine Shuttle
Operations Inc. The amounts previously borrowed by the Company from Marine
Shuttle Operations Inc. are subject to the terms of the Loan Agreement. Under
the terms of the Loan Agreement, Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. will provide the
Company a loan of up to USD 1,500,000. The loan bears an interest rate of 6% per
annum.
-49-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 10, 1997 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 1998 TO APRIL 13, 1998
(INFORMATION AS OF APRIL 13, 1998 AND FOR THE PERIOD THEN ENDED IS UNAUDITED)
(Continued)
NOTE 4--INCOME TAX
INCOME TAX COMPUTATION
PERIOD ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997
-----------------
Net loss before tax .............................................. (173)
Tax loss carry forward ........................................... (173)
Current tax payable .............................................. 0
TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997
DECEMBER 31, 1997
-----------------
Tax loss carry forward ........................................... (173)
Net .............................................................. (173)
28% deferred tax asset ........................................... 48
Valuation allowance .............................................. (48)
Deferred tax asset ............................................... 0
The Company's tax loss carry forward expires in 2007.
Based on available evidence, including the Company's history of operating
losses and the uncertainty of future profitability, management has recorded a
valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax asset to zero.
NOTE 5--RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS
ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT, MANAGING DIRECTOR
Mr. Stephen Adshead will act as the Managing Director for a limited period
until a permanent person has been hired for that position. For 1998, Mr. Stephen
Adshead will be paid based on a daily rate of NOK 6,000, limited to NOK 80,000
per month. He will continue as an executive director after the expiration of
this agreement.
ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT, WORKING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Mr. Sverre Hanssen will act as Working Chairman of the Board of the
Company for a limited period until the General Assembly elects another person.
For 1998, Mr. Sverre Hanssen will be paid based on a daily rate of NOK 6,000,
limited to NOK 50,000 per month.
-50-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 10, 1997 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 1998 TO APRIL 13, 1998
(INFORMATION AS OF APRIL 13, 1998 AND FOR THE PERIOD THEN ENDED IS UNAUDITED)
(Continued)
NOTE 5--RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS (Continued)
AGREEMENT WITH AN ENGINEERING COMPANY
The Company has entered into a personnel services agreement and an
accounting services agreement with RC Consultants AS. Mr. Sverre Hanssen, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors of RC Consultants AS, is the Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the Company. Compensation for services rendered under such
agreements is to be based on normal trade terms.
AGREEMENT WITH A SERVICE COMPANY
The Company has entered into an agreement with Schuller Industrietsordnung
GmbH. Mr. Franz Eder, the President and Chairman of the Board of Marine Shuttle
Operations Inc., and Dr. Hubert Besner, a director of Marine Shuttle Operations
Inc., are shareholders and members of the Supervisory Board of Schuller
Industrietsordnung GmbH. Compensation for services rendered under such agreement
is to be based on normal trade terms.
NOTE 6--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
ACQUISITION BY MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
On April 14, 1998, Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. acquired all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company in exchange for 7,600,000
shares of common stock of Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
HEAD LICENSE AGREEMENT
The Company entered into a Head License Agreement with Offshore Shuttle AS
dated March 31, 1998, as amended. Pursuant to the Head License Agreement,
Offshore Shuttle AS granted the Company the exclusive right to build and operate
five offshore shuttles, an exclusive option to build and operate two additional
offshore shuttles thereafter, and a right of first refusal with respect to any
offshore shuttle licenses that Offshore Shuttle AS may seek to grant during a
specified future period.
In addition, based on functional specifications for each offshore shuttle
to be agreed upon, Offshore Shuttle AS shall provide the Company with the
pre-engineering work, including designs and descriptions of operational
procedures, necessary to construct the offshore shuttles.
In consideration for the licenses granted and pre-engineering services to
be provided, Offshore Shuttle AS shall receive a construction fee equal to ten
percent of the construction price of each of the offshore shuttles, an operating
fee equal to sixteen percent of the gross profit for each contract finalized by
the Company involving the use of an offshore shuttle, and an exclusivity fee
equal to one percent of the aggregate construction price of offshore shuttles
two through five. Other services rendered by Offshore Shuttle AS will be
invoiced to the Company on fair market terms.
-51-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 10, 1997 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 1998 TO APRIL 13, 1998
(INFORMATION AS OF APRIL 13, 1998 AND FOR THE PERIOD THEN ENDED IS UNAUDITED)
(Continued)
NOTE 6--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Continued)
The parties have agreed that yard orders for each of the first five
offshore shuttles shall be placed in specific years in the period between 1998
through year 2003. The order for the first offshore shuttle is to be placed by
June 1, 1999. Subject, in each case, to an option to extend the order dates by
twelve months upon payment of a $900,000 option exercise fee, an order for the
second offshore shuttle must be placed no later than six months after successful
testing of the first offshore shuttle, and the remaining three offshore shuttles
must be ordered by December 31st of each year thereafter. If an order is not
placed on or before the required date, then for the twelve-month period
thereafter Offshore Shuttle AS shall be entitled to grant a license to build one
offshore shuttle to a third party.
The binding nature of the Head License Agreement is conditional upon
Offshore Shuttle AS having received payment from the Company of the first
instalment of the exclusivity fee of USD2,000,000 by June 1, 1999 and the
Company having placed a firm order for offshore shuttle number one with a
construction yard by the same date.
LEASE AGREEMENTS
In April 1998, the Company entered into a lease for office space. The
agreement was for six months commencing April 15, 1998 with an option to renew
the agreement for one year at a time. The rent during such six month period is
NOK 84,000. Thereafter, the Company entered into a ten-year lease for new office
space commencing August 31, 1998. The annual lease is NOK 168,000, subject to an
adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index.
THYSSEN STAHLUNION GMBH--STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
Pursuant to a Marketing Agreement dated April 14, 1998, Thyssen Stahlunion
GmbH will market the Offshore Shuttle on a worldwide basis to major oil
companies, offshore contractors, and others as part of its package of offshore
services. In addition, Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH shall act as a procurement
service center for the steel and equipment to be used in constructing the
Offshore Shuttle, and shall have a right of first refusal to lease the Offshore
Shuttle if Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH is engaged in any decommissioning,
transportation, or installation project. Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH shall receive a
commission at a rate to be agreed upon for its marketing services and shall be
precluded from promoting any products or services competitive with those of the
Company.
RC CONSULTANTS AS--STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
Pursuant to a personnel agreement with the Company, RC Consultants AS will
provide the Company with the engineers and technicians needed during the design,
engineering, fabrication, and operation of the Offshore Shuttle. In addition,
pursuant to an accounting services agreement, RC Consultants AS will provide the
Company with bookkeeping assistance.
SCHULLER INDUSTRIEENTSORDNUNG GMBH--STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
Schuller Industrieentsordnung GmbH is a service company specializing in
waste management, onshore
-52-
<PAGE>
dismantling and oil pollution prevention and clean-up. The Company and Schuller
Industrieentsordnung GmbH have entered into a cooperation agreement pursuant to
which Schuller Industrieentsordnung GmbH will provide such services to the
Company, subject to the execution of a written agreement on a project-specific
basis. Compensation for services rendered are based on normal business terms.
-53-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
We have been engaged to complete an audit of the balance sheet of Offshore
Shuttle AS as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the related statements of loss,
comprehensive loss, shareholders' equity and of cash flows for the years ended
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the period from November 29, 1996 (date of
inception) to December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are not the
elected, statutory auditors of the Company.
We conducted our audits in accordance with International Standards on Auditing
which do not differ materially from United States generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Offshore Shuttle AS as of December 31, 1998
and 1997 and the result of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the period from November 29, 1996 (date of
inception) to December 31, 1996, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the
financial statements, the Company's funding requirements for future construction
costs raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
Management's plans concerning these matters are also described in Note 1. The
financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the
outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE AS
March 18, 1999
Oslo, Norway
-54-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, December 31, December 31,
1998 1997 1996
NOK NOK NOK
-----------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 3,666,819 22,155,782 990,540
Restricted cash reserves 918,637 230,627 --
Accounts receivable -- 100,000 --
Short term receivable intercompany 164,869 -- --
Shuttle under construction 9,502,817 -- --
Other short term receivable 551,874 897,862 --
----------- ----------- -----------
Total current assets 14,805,016 23,384,271 990,540
Capital assets
Pension fund 60,928 -- --
Furniture, fixtures and equipment 753,144 398,700 --
Patents 560,814 -- --
----------- ----------- -----------
Total assets 16,179,902 23,782,971 990,540
=========== =========== ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable 1,644,390 2,193,600 --
Other current liabilities intercompany 760,000 -- --
Other current liabilities 584,361 398,314 890,540
----------- ----------- -----------
Total current liabilities 2,988,751 2,591,914 890,540
----------- ----------- -----------
Total liabilities 2,988,751 2,591,914 890,540
----------- ----------- -----------
Shareholders' equity
Share capital 241,600 241,100 100,000
Restricted reserve and other paid in capital 30,427,090 30,296,790 --
Deficit acc. during the development stage (17,477,539) (9,346,833) --
----------- ----------- -----------
Total shareholders' equity 13,191,151 21,191,057 100,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 16,179,902 23,782,971 990,540
=========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
-55-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE PERIOD FROM
NOVEMBER 29, 1996 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1996, FOR THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1998 AND CUMULATIVE
FROM INCEPTION TO DECEMBER 31, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative from December 31, December 31, December 31,
inception 1998 1997 1996
NOK NOK NOK NOK
------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating income (634,040) (234,040) (400,000) --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Operating expenses
Salaries and other personnel expenses 4,267,835 2,721,156 1,546,679 --
Accounting, audit and other financial
services 256,950 180,000 76,950 --
Consulting fees 801,593 531,631 269,962 --
General and administrative expenses 3,486,829 1,561,688 1,925,141 --
Travel expenses 1,461,993 638,612 823,381 --
Marketing expenses 942,464 83,069 859,395 --
Legal 560,122 560,122 -- --
Research & Development 6,913,582 2,444,127 4,469,455 --
Depreciation 342,521 254,221 88,300 --
Interest (income)/expense (951,587) (639,157) (312,430) --
Currency exchange -gain/loss 29,277 29,277 -- --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating expenses 18,111,579 8,364,746 9,746,833 --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net loss before income tax (7,477,539) (8,130,706) (9,346,833) --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net loss / Comprehensive loss (17,477,539) (8,130,706) (9,346,833) --
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Basic and diluted loss per share (1.68) (2.67) --
=========== =========== ===========
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding 4,829,500 3,505,000 3,505,000
=========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-56-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW FOR THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 29, 1996 (INCEPTION)
TO DECEMBER 31, 1996, FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1998 AND
CUMULATIVE FROM INCEPTION TO DECEMBER 31, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative from December 31, December 31, December 31,
inception 1998 1997 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NOK NOK NOK NOK
-------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating activities:
Net loss (17,477,539) (8,130,706) (9,346,833) --
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation 342,521 254,221 88,300 --
Working capital changes that provided
(used) cash:
Accounts receivable -- 100,000 (100,000) --
Other short term receivable and
restricted reserves (1,470,511) (342,022) (1,128,489) --
Short term receivable Intercompany (164,869) (164,869) -- --
Other current liability Intercompany 760,000 760,000 -- --
Shuttle construction in progress (9,502,817) (9,502,817)
Other current liabilities 2,228,752 (363,162) 1,701,374 890,540
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash used by operating activities (25,284,463) (17,389,355) (8,785,648) 890,540
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Investing activities
Patents (560,814) (560,814) -- --
Pension fund (60,928) (60,928) -- --
Purchase of furniture, fixture and
equipment (1,095,665) (608,665) (487,000) --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash used in investing activities (1,717,407) (1,230,407) (487,000) --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of shares 30,668,689 130,799 30,437,890 100,000
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by financing activities 30,668,689 130,799 30,437,890 100,000
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 3,666,819 (18,488,963) 21,165,242 990,540
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of period -- 22,155,782 990,540 --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end
of period 3,666,819 3,666,819 22,155,782 990,540
=========== =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-57-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 AND FROM DATE OF
INCEPTION, NOVEMBER 29, 1996, TO DECEMBER 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Deficit
accumulated
Number of during the Total
Shares Share Restricted Other paid Development Shareholder's
outstanding capital Reserve in capital Stage equity
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOK NOK NOK NOK NOK
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paid-in capital at inception on
November 29, 1996 2,000,000 100,000 100,000
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
Balance, December 31, 1996 2,000,000 100,000 100,000
Share issue, January 6, 1997 1,000,000 50,000 5,950,000 6,000,000
Offering costs (300,000) (300,000)
Share issue, April 7, 1997 222,000 11,100 1,986,900 1,998,000
Share issue, September 8, 1997 1,600,000 80,000 23,920,000 24,000,000
Offering costs (1,260,110) (1,260,110)
Net loss 1997 (9,346,833) (9,346,833)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
Balance, December 31, 1997 4,822,000 241,100 5,650,000 24,646,790 (9,346,833) 21,191,057
Option exercised April 3, 1998 10,000 500 130,300 130,800
Net loss for the year 1998 (8,130,706) (8,130,706)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
Balance, December 31, 1998 4,832,000 241,600 5,650,000 24,777,090 (17,477,539) 13,191,151
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. (see
note 9)
-58-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997.
Note 1 - Nature of Business
Offshore Shuttle AS (the "Company") was established November 29, 1996 in Oslo,
Norway. The purpose of the Company is to commercially exploit the potential of
the Shuttle concept.
Through an agreement with Mr.Gunnar Foss and Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen (see Note
13), the Company has the exclusive rights to the use of the technology related
to the Shuttle concept. Patents related to the Shuttle concept and its
technology are pending approval.
In 1998, Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. acquired 3,291,738 shares of the Company
(representing approximately 68% of the outstanding shares in the Company) in
exchange for 4,937,607 shares of Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. In addition,
Marine Shuttle Operation Inc. entered into two agreements to acquire an
additional 686,668 shares of the Company. It is anticipated that the acquisition
of the additional shares will be completed in the near future.
See Note 14, Significant agreements.
The Company has an accumulated deficit. The ability of the Company to continue
as a going concern is dependent on the ability of Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
to obtain financing. To address this concern, Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
intends to raise up to $10 million through a private placement of Common Stock
through Berliner Effektenbank AG, a German investment bank. In addition, Marine
Shuttle Operations Inc. has entered into an engagement letter with MFC Merchant
Bank S.A. ("MFC") pursuant to which MFC shall act, on a best-efforts basis, as
exclusive agent for Marine Shuttle Operations Inc. in raising up to DM
215,000,000 (approximately $126,000,000) (the "MFC Financing"). There can be no
assurance that the private placement or the MFC Financing will be consummated on
reasonable terms or at all.
Note 2 - Significant accounting principles
Cash and Cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, deposits in banks and highly
liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed when incurred.
Intangible Assets
Patents are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization, which is calculated
on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset, when the
patent has a defined and measurable relationship to future revenues. Accumulated
amortization for all periods is NOK 0.
-59-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 2 - Significant accounting principles (Continued)
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
Furniture, fixture and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided by
the straight line method over the estimated service lives of the respective
assets as follows:
Furniture 20%
Computer equipment 35%
Office equipment 30%
Management periodically reviews the carrying value of furniture, fixture and
equipment to ensure that any permanent impairment in value is recognized and
reflected in the results from operations.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value
based method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No.
25, Accounting for Stock Issued to employees.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Transactions denominated in foreign currency are translated to NOK at the
currency rate at the date of the transaction. Realized and unrealized gains or
losses on monetary assets or liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are
included in net income.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach
that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the
expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the
financial statements or tax returns.
Pension
The Company accounts for pension plans in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 87.
Estimates and assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
Recent pronouncements
In June 1998, Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 133,
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which is required
to be adopted for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 1999. SFAS 133
standardizes the accounting for derivative instruments. The effect on the
Company's financial statements by implementing this standard has not been
evaluated.
-60-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 3 - Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents include taxes withheld from employees of NOK 493,632
as of December 31, 1998 (December 31, 1997: NOK 111,019) and rental deposit of
NOK 425,006 as of December 31, 1998 (December 31, 1997: 119,698).
Note 4 - Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value. No allowance for
doubtful account is deemed necessary.
Note 5 - Other Current Assets
December December
31, 1998 31, 1997
-------- --------
NOK NOK
------- -------
Prepaid expenses 53,205 118,627
VAT receivable 186,169 779,235
Loan to employee 312,500 --
------- -------
551,874 897,862
------- -------
Note 6 - Furniture, Fixture and Equipment
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1997
----------------------------------------------------
Office Computer
Equipment Equipment Furniture Total
----------------------------------------------------
NOK NOK NOK NOK
----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cost of November 26, 1996 -- -- -- --
Additions during the period 60,617 285,839 140,544 487,000
Accumulated depreciation (15,917) (49,839) (22,544) (88,300)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net book value, December 31, 1997 44,700 236,000 118,000 398,700
======== ======== ======== ========
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1998
----------------------------------------------------
Cost of December 31, 1997 60,617 285,839 140,544 487,000
Additions during the period 9,470 385,015 221,093 615,578
Sold furniture during the period (6,913) (6,913)
Accumulated depreciation (35,988) (231,675) (74,858) (342,521)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net book value, December 31, 1998 34,099 439,179 279,866 753,144
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
-61-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 7 - Patents
The Company has eight patents applications pending in Norway with respect to
various aspects of the Offshore Shuttle design and operation. The patent
applications are currently subject to examination by the Norwegian patent
authorities. Six of the applications have been filed pursuant to the Patent
Co-operation Treaty. In addition, certain separate foreign patent applications
have been filed in countries that are not party to the Party Co-operation
Treaty. The authorities in those countries are currently examining all foreign
applications.
Note 8 - Project cost
The building period for each Offshore Shuttle is estimated to be 24 months. All
direct costs including interest related to the construction of the Offshore
Shuttle are capitalized as incurred with amortization commencing when the
shuttle is available for operation.
Note 9 - Shareholders equity
The Company was established November 29, 1996 by means of issuance of 2,000,000
shares in exchange for cash of NOK 100,000. On September 9, 1997 the Company
carried out a share split, reducing the par value from NOK 0.10 to 0.05 per
share. After giving effect of the split the number of shares issued was
2,000,000. This has been presented retroactively from inception.
On January 6, 1997, the Company issued 1,000,000 shares in exchange for cash of
NOK 5,700,000, net of offering costs of NOK 300,000.
On April 7, 1997, the Company issued 222,000 shares in exchange for cash of NOK
1,998,000.
On September 8, 1997, the Company issued 1,600,000 shares in exchange for cash
of NOK 22,739,890, net of offering costs of NOK 1,260,110.
On April 3, 1998, the Company issued 10,000 shares in exchange for cash of NOK
130,799 as a result of the exercising of stock options.
The Company had authorized, issued and outstanding 4,832,000 ordinary shares
having a par value of NOK 0.05 per share for the period ending December 31,
1998.
Share Capital and Restricted Reserves of the Company constitute the
nondistributable portion of shareholders' equity and are not available for
dividend purposes.
-62-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 10-Income Tax
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Income Tax Computation Year ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
1998 1997
NOK NOK
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Loss before tax (8,130,706) (9,346,833)
Offering cost, charged to equity -- (1,560,110)
Other permanent differences 1,061 12,805
Change in temporary differences (65,021) (50,772)
----------- -----------
Tax loss carry forward (8,194,666) (10,944,910)
----------- -----------
Current tax payable -- --
=========== ===========
Temporary Differences as of December 31, 1998
Furniture, fixture and equipment 115,793 50,772
Tax loss carry forward (19,139,576) (10,944,910)
----------- -----------
Net (19,023,783) (10,894,138)
----------- -----------
28% deferred tax asset 5,359,081 3,050,359
Valuation allowance (5,359,081) (3,050,359)
----------- -----------
Deferred tax asset -- --
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
The Company's tax loss carry forward expires in 2007/08. Based on available
evidence, including the Company's history of operating losses and the
uncertainty of future profitability, management has recorded a valuation to
reduce the deferred tax asset to zero.
-63-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 11 - Stock Incentive Plan
In 1997 the Company adopted a stock option plan (the "Plan") which provides for
the granting of incentive options to employees, board members and consultants to
purchase an aggregate of 220,000 shares of common stock at prices and terms to
be decided by the Board of Directors. Options granted under the Plan may be
exercisable for a period of up to three years from the date of grant. All
outstanding options granted under the Plan have exercise prices equal to the
market value of the stock on the date of grant, which exercise prices increase
one percent per month from the time of issuance until the date of exercise.
A summary of activity related to the Plan is as follows:
Number of Weighted average
Shares exercise price
--------- ----------------
Granted 120,000 NOK 21.83
Exercised 10,000 13.08
Cancelled 10,000 42.51
-------- ----------------
Outstanding at December 31, 1997 100,000 NOK 20.53
======== ================
At December 31, 1998, 100,000 options were outstanding, which are summarized in
ranges as follows:
Weighted Number of Weighted
Range of average options average
exercise price exercise price Outstanding remaining life
- -------------- -------------- ----------- --------------
NOK 14.16 NOK 14.16 70,000 1.5 years
NOK 28.75 NOK 28.75 10,000 1.75 years
NOK 34.88 NOK 34.88 10,000 2.25 years
NOK 42.51 NOK 42.51 10,000 2.25 years
-----------
100,000
===========
-64-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 12 - Employee retirement plan
The Company has a defined benefit retirement plan which cover all of their
employees. Plan benefits are based on years of service and final salary levels.
The plan is administrated by an insurance company. Contributions to plan are
made in accordance with local laws and regulations.
1998
--------
Net periodic pension cost NOK
--------
Benefits earned during the year 203,743
Interest cost on prior period benefit obligation 5,052
Expected return on plan assets (15,972)
--------
Net periodic pension cost 192,823
--------
Change in projected benefit obligation (PBO)
Project benefit obligation at beginning of the year
84,206
Benefits earned during the year 203,743
Interest cost on prior period benefit obligation 5,052
--------
Projected benefit obligation at end of the year 293,001
--------
Change in pension plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 118,377
Expected return on plan assets 15,972
Company contributions 219,580
--------
Fair value of plan assets at end of the year 353,929
--------
Status of pension plans reconciled to balance sheet
Defined benefit plans:
Projected benefit obligation at end of the year 293,001
Fair value of plan assets at end of the year (353,929)
--------
Funded status of the plans at end of year (60,928)
--------
Weighted-average assumptions at end of year
Discount rate 7 %
Expected return on plan assets 6 %
Rate of compensation increase 3 %
Note 13 - Related Parties Transactions
Related party transactions and balances include:
Consultancy Agreement
The Company has entered into a Consultancy Agreement with Mr. Gunnar Foss, a
shareholder, former Board member, Technical director and the inventor of the
Shuttle. The agreement stipulates that monthly remuneration shall be paid to Mr.
Gunnar Foss for consulting services provided to the Company. For the period
ended December 31, 1998, the Company paid NOK 960,000, and for the period ended
December 31, 1997 the Company paid NOK 630,000 in accordance with the agreement.
-65-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 13 - Related Parties Transactions (Continued)
The board also decided that if the Company successfully sells a license to build
a shuttle or builds a shuttle itself, the amount of remuneration payable under
the agreement is subject to negotiation. According to the agreement, Mr. Gunnar
Foss shall have the right to terminate his engagement with 6 months notice,
whereas the Company shall have the right to terminate with 12 months notice. In
the event that Mr. Gunnar Foss resigns following a change in control of the
Company which results in significant changes made to its strategy, he shall have
the right to remuneration for 12 months following the termination of contract.
In accordance with a decision made by the General Assembly in January 1997, the
Company paid NOK 650,000 to Mr. Gunnar Foss for costs incurred and services
provided to the Company prior to January 1997.
Engagement Agreement, Managing Director
Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen is engaged as Managing Director of the Company. He is also
a shareholder in the Company. The Managing Director has an engagement agreement
based on normal employment terms in Norway. In 1998 his remuneration was NOK
1,046,000, and in 1997 his remuneration was NOK 609.000. The agreement states
that Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen shall have the right to terminate his engagement with
6 months notice, whereas the Company shall have the right to terminate with 12
months notice. In the event that Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen resigns following a
change in control of the Company which results in significant changes made to
its strategy, he shall have the right to salary/remuneration for 12 months
following his resignation.
Agreement regarding Intellectual Property
On March 31, 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with Mr. Gunnar Foss
and Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen regarding the intellectual property rights relating to
the Offshore Shuttle concept. The agreement provides for the exclusive transfer
of the patent rights and all other intellectual property rights relating to the
Offshore Shuttle concept to the Company. The transfer of the rights is subject
to the condition that the Offshore Shuttle concept be further developed and
exploited by the Company. According to the agreement, the execution of the Head
Licence Agreement described in the next paragraph shall be deemed to constitute
such further development and exploitation. If the Company for any reason
whatsoever should cease to continue in an active manner its activities related
to the concept, Mr. Gunnar Foss and Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen can request that the
patent and all other rights concerning the concept be transferred back to them
against certain compensation. In the event that the Company wishes to transfer
the rights to a third party, Mr. Gunnar Foss and Mr. Per Bull Haugsoen shall
have the right of first refusal with respect to such transfer. It is agreed that
the Head License Agreement (see below) shall not be deemed to constitute such
transfer.
Agreement with a Ship Brokering Company
Offshore Shuttle has entered into an agreement with P.F. Bassoe & Co., a
specialized ship brokering and consultancy company. Halvor Sveen, an employee of
P.F. Bassoe & Co., is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
P.F.Bassoe shall render services in connection with contract and negotiations
with yards regarding fabrication of the Offshore Shuttle. As compensation
P.F.Bassoe shall be entitled to a commission of one percent of the contract
price stipulated in a fabrication contract between the Company and a ship yard.
Any payment or commission for services rendered in connection with the
conclusion of other contracts shall be agreed separately.
-66-
<PAGE>
OFFSHORE SHUTTLE AS
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE ENTERPRISE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 1998 AND 1997. (Continued)
Note 14 - Significant agreements
Head License Agreement
The Company entered into a Head License Agreement with Marine Shuttle Operations
AS on March 31, 1998. Pursuant to the Head License Agreement, the Company
granted Marine Shuttle Operations AS the exclusive right to build and operate
five offshore shuttles, an exclusive option to build and operate two additional
offshore shuttles thereafter, and a right of first refusal with respect to any
offshore shuttle licenses that the Company may seek to grant during a specified
future period.
Based on functional specifications for each offshore shuttle to be agreed upon,
the Company shall provide Marine Shuttle Operations AS with the pre-engineering
work, including designs and descriptions of operational procedures, necessary to
construct the Offshore Shuttles. In addition, the Company will provide other
technical services, in excess of pre-engineering, in connection with the
development, building and operation of the Offshore Shuttles.
In consideration for the Head License Agreement granted and pre-engineering
services to be provided, the Company shall receive a construction fee equal to
ten percent of the construction price of each of the offshore shuttles, an
operating fee equal to sixteen percent of the gross profit for each contract
finalized by Marine Shuttle Operations AS involving the use of an offshore
shuttle, and an exclusivity fee equal to one percent of the aggregate
construction price of offshore shuttles two through five. Other services
rendered by the Company will be invoiced to Marine Shuttle Operations AS on fair
market terms.
The parties have agreed that yard orders for each of the five offshore shuttles
shall be placed in specific order years in the period between 1999 through year
2004. In each such order year the order shall be placed within a defined order
expiry date. The first order shall be placed by June 1, 1999. Subject, in each
case, to an option to extend the order expire date upon payment of USD 900,000
option exercise fee, an order for the second offshore shuttle must be placed no
later than six months after successful testing of the first offshore shuttle and
the remaining offshore shuttle must be ordered by December 31st of each of the
years 2001-2003. If an order is not placed on or before the required date, then
for the twelve-month period thereafter Offshore Shuttle shall be entitled to
grant a license to build one offshore shuttle to a third party. The binding
nature of the Head License Agreement is conditional upon the Company having
received payment from Marine Shuttle Operations AS of the first instalment of
the exclusivity fee of USD 2,000,000 by June 1, 1999, and Marine Shuttle
Operations AS having placed a firm order for offshore shuttle number one with a
construction yard by the same date.
Lease Agreement
In March 1998, the Company entered into a lease for new office space. The
agreement lasts for three years from May 1, 1998 with a yearly lease of NOK
692,200 (1997: NOK 481,129).
-67-
<PAGE>
ITEM 9 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of the
executive officers and directors of the Company:
Name Age Position with Company
- ---- --- ---------------------
Franz Eder 38 President and Chairman of the Board
Iqbal Akram 55 Vice President and a Director
George Wilfred Norman Wareham 46 Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and
Secretary
Jurgen Ternieden(1) 56 Director
Hubert Besner(1) 36 Director
- ----------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee
Franz Eder has been President and the Chairman of the Board of the Company
since April 14, 1998, and a director of MSOAS since December, 1997. He has been
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Schuller Industrieentsorgung AG (formerly
Schuller Industrieentsorgung GmbH, "Schuller") since May, 1998, and served as
the general manager of Schuller from July, 1997 through May, 1998. From 1992 to
1997, Mr. Eder was General Manager at CETEM Industrieentsorgung und
Wiederverwertung GmbH, a German company engaged in waste management. From 1990
to 1991, he was a consultant to several companies, and from 1989 to 1990, he was
the head of the trade finance department at AMRO Handelsbank AG in Munich,
Germany. Mr. Eder received a Masters of Business degree from Business University
of Vienna in 1985.
Iqbal Akram has been a Director of the Company since April 14, 1998. He
has been a Vice President of the Company since February 19, 1998 and served as a
consultant to the Company for a period of approximately two weeks prior thereto.
Since 1992, he has been the managing director and a partner in Peregrine
Consultants, S.A., a Luxembourg management consulting firm. He has also been the
sole principal of Peregrine Consultants, United Kingdom since 1998. From
February 1996 through March 1998, he served as a Group Finance and Corporate
Director of the House of Habib, a Pakistani industrial, manufacturing, and
financial services group. In 1995, he served as Group Financial Advisor to the
Southern Electric Group in the implementation of a power project in Pakistan. He
is currently a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and the Institutes of
Chartered Accountants in England, Canada, and Pakistan. He received a Bachelor
of Science Honour degree from the London School of Economics and Political
Science in 1965.
George Wilfred Norman Wareham has been Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer,
and Secretary of the Company since January 1998, and was a director of the
Company from January 1998 through April 14, 1998. Since May, 1996, Mr. Wareham
has been an owner and operator of Wareham Management Ltd., a management
consulting and accounting services firm servicing a number of American and
Canadian public companies, including the Company. From April 1995 to April 1996,
he was employed on a contract basis as an accountant
-68-
<PAGE>
with Wanzel Sigmund & Overes, a public practice accounting firm. From April 1993
to February 1995, he was the President of Global Financial Corporation, an
investment company located in the British West Indies. Mr. Wareham is the
Secretary, a director, and a member of the audit and compensation committees of
ZMAX Corporation; the Secretary and a director of Solar Energy Limited; a
director and a member of the audit committee of Orko Gold Corporation; the
Secretary and a director of Cybernet Internet Services International, Inc., the
Treasurer and director of AquaPlan Inc., the Secretary and director of
WattMonitor Inc., a director of Viper Resources Inc., British Brasses Inc. and
Anthian Resources Inc. Mr. Wareham graduated from Carson Graham High School in
Vancouver, Canada in 1971, and completed a certified general accountants course
in 1976.
Jurgen Ternieden has been a director of the Company since April 14, 1998,
Chairman of the Board of OSAS since March 1998, and an officer and the head of
the Pipes, Offshore, Special Products Department of Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH
("TSU") since 1991. From 1981 to 1990, he was a senior sales manager and head of
the Pipes Department at TSU. Mr. Ternieden received his intermediate high school
certificate from Realschule Muelheim in 1959.
Hubert Besner has been a director of the Company since May 6, 1998. Since
1994, he has been a partner in the law firm of Besner Kreifels Weber, Munich,
Germany. From 1992 to 1994, he was the head of the legal department of Schneider
AG, a German real estate development company. He currently is the head of the
Supervisory Boards of Cybernet Internet-Dienstleistungen AG and PIPECAD
Integrierte Softwaresysteme AG, a director of Cybernet Internet Services
International, Inc. and AquaPlan Inc., and a member of the Supervisory Boards of
Schuller, Vianet Telekommunikations AG, Typhoon Networks AG, and IPO
Beteiligungen. Dr. Besner received his First State Exam in Law from
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in 1986, and his doctorate magna cum laude from
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in 1988.
No family relationship exists between any director or executive officer
and any other director or executive officer.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
The Company's executive officers, directors, and beneficial owners of more
than 10% of any class of its equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are
required under the Exchange Act to file reports of ownership and changes in
beneficial ownership of the Company's equity securities with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Copies of those reports must also be furnished to the
Company. Based solely on a review of the copies of reports furnished to the
Company pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company believes that during the year
ended December 31, 1998 all filing requirements applicable to the Reporting
Persons were complied with, except that the Company's executive officers and
directors, as well as BEG Berliner Effektenbeteiligungsgesellschaft AG, the
owner of more than 10% of the Common Stock, were late in filing their initial
reports on Form 3.
-69-
<PAGE>
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information with respect to the
compensation paid by the Company to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and to
each executive officer of the Company (other than the Chief Executive Officer)
who received salary and bonus payments in excess of $100,000 during the year
ended December 31, 1998 (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Compensation Long Term Compensation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awards Payouts
------ -------
Restricted
Other Annual Stock Options/ LTIP All Other
Fiscal Salary Bonus Compensation Award(s) SARs Payouts Compensations
Name and Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($) ($)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Franz Eder, Chairman of the
Board and President 1998 58,333 -- -- -- -- -- --
1997 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
Employment Agreements
On June 1, 1998, the Company entered into a two-year employment agreement
with Franz Eder, the President and Chairman of the Board of the Company.
Pursuant to such agreement, Mr. Eder shall devote at least 75% of his
professional and business time to the Company and shall receive a salary of
$100,000 per annum.
-70-
<PAGE>
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, certain information as of March 18, 1999,
regarding beneficial ownership of the Common Stock by (i) each stockholder known
by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) each director of the Company; (iii)
each Named Executive Officer of the Company; and (iv) all of the Company's
executive officers and directors as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Shares of Common Percentage of Class
Number of Shares of Common Percentage of Class
Name of Beneficial Holder Stock Beneficially Owned Beneficially Owned
- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Franz Eder 7,600,000(1) 22.5%
Iqbal Akram 0 0%
Jurgen Ternieden 332,499 *
Hubert Besner 0 0%
BEG Berliner Effektenbeteiligungsgesellschaft AG (2) 3,950,000(3)(4) 11.7%
Kurfurstendamm 119
10711 Berlin, Germany
All officers and directors as a group (5 persons) 7,932,499 23.5%
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Such shares are being held by a trustee pursuant to the terms of a pooling
trust agreement. Such shares may not be disposed of by Mr. Eder until they
are released to him by the trustee. Mr. Eder shall receive ten percent of
such shares on July 1, 1999, an additional thirty percent of such shares
on July 1, 2000, an additional thirty percent of such shares on July 1,
2001, and the balance of such shares on July 1, 2002. The trustee shall
seek instructions from Mr. Eder before taking any action as a stockholder
with respect to any of the shares held in trust.
(2) A 40%-owned subsidiary of Berliner Freiverkehr (Aktien) AG ("BFAG"). BFAG
also owns 40% of Berliner Effektenbank AG.
(3) Does not include 800,000 shares of Common Stock owned by BFAG.
(4) In 1997, BEG Berliner Effektenbeteiligungsgesellschaft AG ("BEG"), BFAG,
an officer/principal stockholder of BFAG, and various parties related to
such officer/principal stockholder acquired an aggregate of 4,750,000
shares of Common Stock (800,000 of which were acquired by BEG) from a
founder of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $104,500. At the
time of such acquisition, there was no public market for the Common Stock.
The 3,150,000 shares of Common Stock held by such officer/principal
stockholder and the various parties related to such officer/principal
stockholder subsequently were sold to, and are now owned by, BEG. The
3,950,000 shares owned by BEG as well as the 800,000 shares of Common
Stock owned by BFAG, are being held by a pooling trustee pursuant to the
terms of a pooling trust agreement and will not be released until August
3, 2001. During such time, the trustee shall seek instructions from BEG
and BFAG, respectively, before taking any action as a stockholder with
respect to any of such shares.
* Less than 1%
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
On April 14, 1998, the Company issued 7,600,000 shares of Common Stock to
Franz Eder, the President
-71-
<PAGE>
and the Chairman of the Board of the Company, in exchange for the 999,000 shares
of MSOAS capital stock (constituting all of MSOAS's issued and outstanding
capital stock) held by Mr. Eder. The stock certificate evidencing the shares of
Common Stock that were issued to Mr. Eder is being held by a trustee pursuant to
the terms of a pooling trust agreement. Such shares may not be disposed of by
Mr. Eder until they are released to him by the trustee. Mr. Eder shall receive
ten percent of such shares on July 1, 1999, an additional thirty percent of such
shares on July 1, 2000, an additional thirty percent of such shares on July 1,
2001, and the balance of such shares on July 1, 2002. The trustee shall seek
instructions from Mr. Eder before taking any action as a stockholder with
respect any of the shares held in trust.
In 1998, the Company acquired 3,291,738 shares of OSAS (approximately 68%
of the outstanding OSAS capital stock) in exchange for 4,937,607 shares of
Common Stock. In connection therewith, the 221,666 OSAS shares held by Jurgen
Ternieden, a director of the Company, were exchanged for 332,499 shares of
Common Stock.
The Company entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement"), dated as
of March 12, 1998 and amended as of August 27, 1998 and September 24, 1998, with
ValorInvest Ltd, an investment bank based in Geneva, Switzerland
("ValorInvest"), pursuant to which ValorInvest agreed to lend an aggregate of up
to $3,500,000 to the Company at such times as the Company shall request,
provided that advances were to be made in increments of $250,000 and were not to
exceed $500,000 in any single month. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Company
borrowed an aggregate of $3,500,000, which amount was evidenced by three
non-negotiable promissory notes (the "Bridge Notes") bearing interest at the
rate of 7.5% per annum. In February 1999, the Company repaid all monies due
under the Bridge Notes, including interest, and the Loan Agreement was
terminated.
On March 1, 1999, the Company entered into a new loan agreement (the "New
Loan Agreement") with ValorInvest pursuant to which ValorInvest agreed to lend
an aggregate of up to $6,000,000 to the Company, provided that advances shall be
made in increments of $250,000 and shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any single
month unless agreed to by ValorInvest. In connection with the New Loan
Agreement, the Company issued a non-negotiable promissory note to ValorInvest in
the principal amount of $6,000,000. Any monies advanced under such note shall
bear interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum and shall be due and payable upon
the earlier of December 31, 1999 or the completion of an equity financing for
gross proceeds of at least $10,000,000. As of March 22, 1999, $750,000 has been
advanced under such note.
During 1998, the Company leased its office space in the United States from
Intercap Resource Management U.S., Inc. ("Intercap U.S."), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intercap Resource Management Corp. ("Intercap"). Intercap is an
oil and gas exploration, development, and production company traded on the
Vancouver Stock Exchange. Jim Ford, the former President and a former director
of the Company, was the President and a director of Intercap and Intercap U.S.;
George Wilfred Norman Wareham, the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and
Secretary of the Company, was the Secretary, Treasurer, and a director of
Intercap and the Treasurer, a Vice President, and a director of Intercap U.S.;
and Shafiq Nazerali, a former consultant to the Company, is a former director of
Intercap. A lease agreement, dated as of February 1, 1999, for the same office
space has been entered into with the new owner of the building.
In 1998, the Company had paid approximately $127,217 to Schuller for
marketing research and other services rendered. In addition, MSOAS has entered
into an agreement with Schuller with respect to waste management, onshore
dismantling, and oil pollution prevention and cleanup. In 1998, no monies were
paid to Schuller under such agreement. Franz Eder and Dr. Hubert Besner are
shareholders and members of the Supervisory Board of Schuller.
MSOAS has entered into an agreement with TSU with respect to the marketing
of its proposed services. In 1998, approximately $65,126 had been paid to TSU
under such agreement. Jurgen Ternieden, a director of the Company, is an officer
and the head of the Pipes, Offshore, Special Products Department of TSU.
In 1998, approximately $103,894 had been paid to the law firm of Besner
Kreifels Weber for legal services rendered. Dr. Hubert Besner, a director of the
Company, is a member of Besner Kreifels Weber.
-72-
<PAGE>
MSOAS has entered into an agreement with RC with respect to its
engineering and operational activities. In 1998, approximately $592,821 had been
paid to RC under such agreement. Sverre Hanssen, the Chairman of the Board of
RC, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MSOAS. In addition, MSOAS
leases office space in Sandnes, Norway pursuant to a lease agreement with RC
Group ASA. The lease agreement provides for an average annual rent of NOK
1,032,350 (approximately $136,850), and expires in 2003. RC Group ASA is the
sole shareholder of RC, and Sverre Hanssen is the President and the principal
shareholder of RC Group ASA.
In February, 1999, the Company raised $5,748,460 in gross proceeds from
the sale of 1.15 million shares of Common Stock in an offshore transaction
pursuant to Regulation S. Berliner Effektenbank AG, a German investment bank,
received a fee of $0.575 million for serving as placement agent in connection
with the transaction. Berliner Effektenbank AG is a 40%-owned subsidiary of
Berliner Freiverkehr (Aktien) AG ("BFAG"). BFAG also owns 40% of BEG Berliner
Effektenbeteiligungsgesellschaft AG, the holder of more than 5% of the Common
Stock.
The Company believes that the transactions set forth above were made on
terms no less favorable to the Company then could have been obtained from
unaffilated third parties.
-73-
<PAGE>
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
1. Financial Statements (included in Part II, Item 8)
Page
----
Financial Statements of Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.:
Independent Auditor's Report.............................................. 22
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and 1998.............. 23
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss for the period from
May 23, 1997 through December 31, 1997, for the year ended December 31,
1998 and cumulative from date of inception, May 23, 1997 to December 31,
1998..................................................................... 24
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period from May 23, 1997
through December 31, 1997, for the year ended December 31, 1998 and
cumulative from date of inception, May 23, 1997 to December 31,
1998..................................................................... 25
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the year ended
December 31, 1998 and from date of inception, May 23, 1997 to December
31, 1997................................................................. 26
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 1998 and 1997...... 27
Financial Statements of Marine Shuttle Operations AS:
Independent Auditor's Report............................................... 42
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and April 13, 1998
(unaudited).............................................................. 43
Statements of Loss for the period from December 10, 1997 (inception)
through December 31, 1997, for the period from January 1, 1998 to April
13, 1998 (unaudited) and cumulative from inception to April 13, 1998
(unaudited).............................................................. 44
Statements of Cash Flows for the period from December 10, 1997 (inception)
through December 31, 1997, for the period from January 1, 1998 to April
13, 1998 and cumulative from inception to April 13, 1998
(unaudited).............................................................. 45
Statements of Shareholders' Equity from January 1, 1998 to April 13, 1998
and for the period from December 10, 1997 (inception) through December
31, 1997 (unaudited)..................................................... 46
Notes to Financial Statements for the period from December 10, 1997
(inception) to December 31, 1997 and for the period from January 1, 1998
to April 13, 1998........................................................ 47
Financial Statements of Offshore Shuttle AS:
Independent Auditor's Report............................................... 52
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998...................... 53
Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss for the period from November 29,
1996 (inception) to December 31, 1996, the years ended December 31, 1997
and 1998 and cumulative from inception to December 31, 1998.............. 54
Statements of Cash Flows for the period from November 29, 1996 (inception)
to December 31, 1996, the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 and
cumulative from inception to December 31, 1998........................... 55
Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 1998
and 1997 and from date of inception, November 29, 1996 to December 31,
1996..................................................................... 56
Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1998 and 1997................... 57
-74-
<PAGE>
2. Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule and Report of Independent
Auditor (included in part II, Item 8)*
Schedule
II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
3. Exhibits included herein:
See Exhibit index below for exhibits filed as part of this Form 10-K.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K. No reports on Form 8-K were filed in the last quarter
of the period covered by this report.
- ---------
* Financial statement schedules other than those listed are omitted because
they either are not applicable or not required, or because the information
sought is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes
thereto.
-75-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
/s/ Franz Eder
---------------------------------------------------
Date: March 26, 1999 Franz Eder, Chairman of the Board and President
(principal executive officer)
/s/ G.W. Norman Wareham
---------------------------------------------------
G.W. Norman Wareham, Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
/s/ Franz Eder
- -------------------------
Franz Eder Director March 26, 1999
/s/ Iqbal Akram
- -------------------------
Iqbal Akram Director March 26, 1999
/s/ Jurgen Ternieden
- -------------------------
Jurgen Ternieden Director March 26, 1999
/s/ Hubert Besner
- -------------------------
Hubert Besner Director March 26, 1999
-76-
<PAGE>
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A development stage company)
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Balance Additions Write-off Balance,
Beginning of During During End of
Period Period Period Period
------ ------ ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Accumulated depreciation of capital assets
Year ended December 31, 1998 -- $ 342,219 -- $ 342,219
Year ended December 31, 1997 -- -- -- --
Accumulated amortization of goodwill
Year ended December 31, 1998 -- $1,539,985 -- $1,539,985
Year ended December 31, 1997 -- -- -- --
Deferred Income Tax Valuation Allowance
Year ended December 31, 1998 $ 48,000 $1,655,282 -- $1,703,282
Year ended December 31, 1997 -- $ 48,000 -- $ 48,000
</TABLE>
-77-
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit # Document Page
- --------- -------- ----
2.1 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated February 19, 1998, between the
Registrant and Franz Eder. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
2.1 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
2.2 Agreement Regarding Exchange of Shares between the Registrant,
SPAX Holding AS, et. al. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
2.2 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
2.3 Form of Agreement Regarding Exchange of Shares between the
Registrant and various stockholders of Offshore Shuttle AS
(including schedule of omitted documents pursuant to Item 601(a)
of Regulation S-K). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to
the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No. 333-58465.
2.4 Stock Exchange Agreement, dated May 20, 1998, between the
Registrant and G. Foss Beheer B.V. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2.5 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
2.5 Stock Exchange Agreement, dated May 20, 1998, between the
Registrant and Per Bull Haugs0en. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2.6 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
Registration on Form S-1, File No. 333-58465.
3.2 Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration on Form
S-1, File No. 333-58465.
4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
10.1 Head License Agreement between Marine Shuttle Operations AS and
Offshore Shuttle AS dated March 31, 1998, amended as of
September 1, 1998 and as of November 20, 1998. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Registration on Form
S-1, File No. 333-58465.
10.2 Co-operation Agreement between Marine Shuttle Operations AS and
Schuller Industrieentsorgung AG. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
10.3 Personnel Services Contract between RC Consultants AS and Marine
Shuttle Operations AS dated February 26, 1998. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 the Company's Registration on Form
S-1, File No. 333-58465.
10.4 Accounting Services Contract between RC Consultants AS and
Marine Shuttle Operations AS dated February 26, 1998.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's
Registration on Form S-1, File No. 333-58465.
10.5 Loan Agreement, dated as of March 1, 1999, between the
Registrant and ValorInvest Ltd. (including promissory note dated
March 1, 1999).
10.6 Marketing Agreement between Marine Shuttle Operations AS and
Thyssen Stahlunion GmbH, dated April 14, 1998. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Registration on Form
S-1, File No. 333-58465.
10.7 The Registrant's 1998 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Registration on Form
S-1, File No. 333-58465.
10.8 Employment Agreement, dated as of June 1, 1998, between the
Registrant and Franz Eder. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.8 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
10.9 Employment Agreement, dated as of April 14, 1998, between the
Registrant and Iqbal Akram. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.9 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File No.
333-58465.
-78-
<PAGE>
10.10 Agreement, dated as of April 14, 1998, between the Registrant,
Wareham Management, Ltd., and George Wilfred Norman Wareham.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's
Registration on Form S-1, File No. 333-58465.
10.11 Lease, dated as of February 1, 1999, by and between the
Registrant and 4410 Montrose Partnership.
10.12 Loan Agreement, dated May 13, 1998, between the Registrant and
Marine Shuttle Operations AS. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File
No. 333-58465.
11. Computation of Net Earnings (loss) per share
21. List of the Registrant's Subsidiaries. Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 21 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File
No. 333-58465.
27. Financial Data Schedule
99.1 Statement of Approval from Det Norske Veritas AS regarding the
technical feasibility of the Offshore Shuttle concept.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's
Registration on Form S-1, File No. 333-58465.
99.2 Engagement letter, dated October 26, 1998, between the
Registrant and MFC Merchant Bank S.A. Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's Registration on Form S-1, File
No. 333-58465.
-79-
LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated as of March 1, 1999, between
ValorInvest Ltd., an Irish Corporation ("Lender") and Marine Shuttle Operations,
Inc., a Nevada corporation ("Borrower").
The parties agree as follows:
1. Loan. Lend will provide the Borrower with a loan in the amount of up to
US$6,000,000 (the "Loan") payable to the Borrower in instalments as mutually
agreed upon by the parties in US$250,000 increments not to exceed US$1,000,000
per month unless agreed to by the Lender. The Loan shall be evidenced by
Borrower's non-negotiable promissory note containing terms mutually agreed to by
the parties.
2. Interest. The Loan shall bear interest at a rate of seven and one half
percent (7,5%) per annum.
3. Term and Termination. The term of the Loan shall commence on the date of the
first payment of the Loan to Borrower and will be due and payable upon the
earlier of December 31, 1999 or the consummation of an equity financing for
gross proceeds of at least US$10,000,000, unless extended by the Lender.
4. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications required
or permitted hereunder must be in writing and deemed given and effective
when personally delivered or send by facsimile with confirmation of
receipt or when deposited in the mail with postage prepared to the party
to which the same is directed at the following addresses (or at such other
addresses as will be given in writing by the parties to one another):
To the Borrower:
Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
Attention: Mr. Franz Eder
4410 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77006
Tel: 713-5297498
Fax: 713-5293332
with copy to: Besner Kreifels Weber
Dr. Hubert Besner
Widenmayerstr. 41, 80538 Munich - Germany
Tel: 49-89-2199920
Fax: 49-89-21999233
-80-
<PAGE>
To the Lender: ValorInvest Ltd.
Attention: Mr. Pierre Besuchet
29 Quai des Bergues
1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: 41-22-7325355
Fax: 41-22-7325695
with copy to: Michael H. Chanin, Esquire
Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Suite 600
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202) 624-7235
Fax: (202) 624-7222
5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Assignment. The parties may not assign any rights or delegate any
duties they have assumed hereunder without the prior written consent of the
other party. This Agreement is personal to the parties.
(b) Governing Law an Choice of Forum. This Agreement will be governed by
and construed in accordance with the internal law of Switzerland. The parties
agree that any appropriate court located in Geneva will have exclusive
jurisdiction of any case or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement and will be a proper forum in which to adjudicate such case or
controversy. The parties expressly consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in
such courts.
(c) Entire Agreement / Admendement. This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all oral agreements, and to the extent inconsistent with the terms
hereof, all other written agreements. This Agreement may not be modified,
amended, supplemented or terminated except by a written instrument executed by
all parties hereto.
(d) Severability. Each of the covenants and agreements herein above
contained will be deemed separate, severable and independent covenants, and in
the event that any covenant will be declared invalid by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity will not in any manner affect or impair the
validity or enforceability of any other part or provision of such covenant or of
any other covenant contained herein.
(e) Captions and Section Headings. Captions and section headings used
herein are for conveniece only an dare not a part of this Agreement and will not
be used in construing it.
(f) Fax Execution. This Agreement may be executed by delivery of executed
signature pages by fax and such fax execution will be effective for all
purposes.
-81-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE
-82-
<PAGE>
EXECUTED AS OF MARCH 1, 1999
VALORINVEST LTD.
-------------------------------------
By: Pierre Besuchet
Title: Director and Secretary
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS, INC.
-------------------------------------
By: Franz Eder
Title: President
-83-
<PAGE>
NON-NEGOTIABLE PROMISSORY NOTE
U.S. $6,000,000.00
March 1, 1999
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS, INC.
("Borrower"), does hereby promise to pay to the order of VALORINVEST LTD.
("Lender"), with offices at 29 Quai des Bergues, Geneva, Switzerland 1201, and
at said offices or at such other place or places as the holder hereof may from
time to time designate in writing, the principal sum of SIX MILLION AND 00/100
UNITED STATES DOLLARS (U.S. $6,000,000), or so much thereof as shall have been
advanced hereunder by Lender to Borrower together with interest thereon as
provided below.
1. Interest. Interest will accrue on the outstanding principal amount of
this Note at the rate of seven and one half percent (7.5%) per annum from the
date of each advance, and until all amounts outstanding under this Note have
been paid in full.
2. Payments. Interest, principal and all other sums payable hereunder
(collectively, the "Obligations") shall be payable, without any offset,
reduction, counterclaim or recoupment whatsoever, in lawful money of the United
States of America which shall be legal tender in payment of all debts and dues,
public and private, at the time of payment, and shall be due and payable as
follows unless extended by the Lender:
(a) The Obligations shall be repaid in full with the first gross proceeds
from any Borrower equity financing generating at least Ten Million Dollars
($10,000,000); or
(b) If not sooner paid (whether by acceleration or otherwise), the entire
balance of the Obligations shall be due and payable on December 31, 1999,
(collectively, the "Maturity Date").
3. Advances. Upon receiving a properly executed original of this Note and
upon the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to any advance as set forth
herein, Lender shall make available the proceeds of the loan. Advances shall be
made available in $250,000 increments upon three (3) days written notice of
demand by Borrower; provided, however, that Lender is not required to advance
more than $1,000,000 in any single month. Advances are limited in the aggregate
to the stated principal amount of this Note; this is not a revolving line of
credit. The following shall be conditions precedent to any advance hereunder
(except to the extent and in the manner expressly waived by Lender, and any such
conditions waived by Lender may be reimposed as a condition of subsequent
advances):
(a) Borrower shall have executed and delivered this Note to the Lender.
(b) All representations and warranties made by Borrower in this Note shall
be true, complete and correct on and as of the date of the making of any
advance hereunder as though such representations and warranties were made
anew on such date.
-84-
<PAGE>
(c) There shall not have occurred and be continuing any default in the
performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements, or
conditions to be performed or observed by Borrower under this Note or in
connection with any other obligations of Borrower to Lender, nor shall
there have occurred and be continuing any event, condition, or
circumstances which, with notice or the passage of time, or both, would
constitute a breach in any material respect of any representation,
covenant, or warranty by Borrower or a default under this Note or in
connection with any other obligations of Borrower to Lender.
4. Application of Payments. All payments shall be applied first on account
of late charges, if any, then to Lender's costs of collection (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), if any, then, to
accrued and unpaid interest, and the balance to the reduction of principal. For
the purposes of computing interest on the debt evidenced hereby, interest shall
be calculated on the basis of a year consisting of three hundred sixty (360)
days, and shall be charged on the basis of the actual number of calendar days
that the principal amount advanced remains unpaid to the Lender.
5. Default; Remedies. If default be made in the performance of any term,
condition or covenant contained in this Note, or in connection with any other
obligations of Borrower to Lender, and such default shall not have been cured
under any cure provisions applicable to such default, then and in any such
event, the Obligations, in their entirety, shall at once become due and payable
at the option of the Lender without further notice. Failure of the Lender to
exercise the option to accelerate payment in the event of any default shall not
constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the same in the event of any
subsequent default.
6. Prepayment. The privilege is reserved to Borrower to prepay the
indebtedness evidenced hereby, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to
time, without prepayment premium or penalty, provided, however, that Borrower
shall provide prior written notice to Lender of the intent to prepay ten (10)
business days in advance of such prepayment.
7. Attorney's Fees. In the event counsel is employed by the Lender to
enforce the provisions of this Note, Borrower shall pay upon demand reasonable
attorneys' fees so incurred by Lender, and all other costs and expenses
connected with such enforcement.
8. Waivers. The Borrower hereby waives presentment, protest and demand,
notice of protest and notice of dishonor of this Note.
9. Notices. All notices hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be
effective (a) five (5) days after being mailed by first class and certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, with proper postage prepaid or (b)
two (2) business days after being delivered to an established over-night
delivery service, with costs for "next day" delivery prepaid, addressed in
either case, if to the Borrower at the address provided at the end of this Note;
and addressed if to the Lender at ValorInvest Ltd., 29 Quai des Bergues, Geneva,
Switzerland 1201, Attention: Mr. Pierre Besuchet, with a copy to Powell,
Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Suite 600,
Washington, DC 20004, attention: Michael H.
-85-
<PAGE>
Chanin, Esquire, or in either case to such other address as such party may from
time to time designate to the other by like written notice given at least ten
(10) days prior to the date such change becomes effective.
10. Severability. In the event any provision (or any part of any
provision) contained in this Note shall for any reason be finally held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any
other provision (or remaining part of the affected provision) of this Note; but
this Note shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable
provision (or part thereof) had never been contained herein, but only to the
extent it is invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
11. Successors and Assigns. This Note shall apply to and bind the Borrower
and the Lender and each of their respective successors. This Note is
non-negotiable and may not be assigned by Lender.
12. Commercial Purpose. The Borrower warrants that the loan evidenced by
this Note is being made solely to acquire or carry on a business or commercial
enterprise, and that the Borrower is a business or commercial organization. The
Borrower further covenants that the loan evidenced by this Note shall be
construed for all purposes as a commercial purpose loan.
13. Time is of the Essence. Time is of the essence as to each and every
provision of this Note.
14. Governing Law and Choice of Forum. This Note will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of Switzerland. The Borrower
agrees that any appropriate court located in Geneva will have exclusive
jurisdiction of any case or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Note and will be a proper forum in which to adjudicate such case or controversy.
The Borrower expressly consents to personal jurisdiction and venue in such
courts.
SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE
WITNESS the execution hereof by the Borrower on the date first hereinabove
written, with the intent that this shall be an instrument under seal.
-86-
<PAGE>
BORROWER:
WITNESS: MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS, INC.
4410 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77006
By: (SEAL)
- ------------------------ --------------------------------------------
Name Name: Franz Eder
Title: President
Bank Wiring Instructions
-87-
LEASE AGREEMENT
This Lease Agreement (Agreement) is made effective as of the 1st day of February
1999 by and between 4410 Montrose Partnership (Lessor) and Marine Shuttle
Operations Inc., a Nevada corporation (Lessee).
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties
agree as follows:
1. Lease: The Lessor herewith leases to Lessee for the business use of the
Lessee a furnished office of approximately 400-500 square feet at 4410
Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006.
2. Rent: The Lessee shall pay to the Lessor a monthly rent of US$750,00
payable in advance on the first business day of each month to the account
as indicated by the Lessor to the Lessee.
3. Term and Termination: The term of the Lessee shall commence on February
1st 1999 and will continue until April 30th 1999 (the Term). At the end of
the Term this Agreement shall remain in force on a month by month basis
unless either the Lessor or Lessee given 30 days prior written notice of
termination to the other. In addition the Lessor or Lessee may terminate
this lease prior to the end of the Term by given 60 days prior written
notice of termination to the other.
4. Notice: All notices, requests, demands and other communications required
or permitted hereunder must be in writing an deemed given and effective
when personally delivered or sent by facsimile with confirmation of
receipt or when deposited in the mail with postage prepaid to the party to
which the same in directed at the following addresses (or at such other
addresses as will be given in writing by the parties to one another):
To the Lessor:
--------------------------------
4410 Montrose Partnership
Houston, Texas 77006
To the Lessee: Marine Shuttle Operations Inc.
4410 Montrose boulevard
Houston, Texas, 77006
5. Miscellaneous:
a) Assignments: The parties may not assign any rights or delegate any
duties they have assumed hereunder without the prior written
consents of the other party.
-88-
<PAGE>
This Agreement is personal to the parties. The Lessee is not
entitled to grant a sublease to any third party.
b) Governing Law and Choice of Forums: This Agreement will be governed
by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State
of Texas. The parties agree that any appropriate court located in
Houston, Texas will have exclusive jurisdiction of any case or
controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement and
will be a proper forum in which to adjudicate such case or
controversy. The parties expressly consent to personal jurisdiction
and venue in such courts.
c) Entice Agreement / Amendments: This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement of the party's hereto relating to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all oral agreements. These Agreements may not
be modified, amended, supplemented or terminated except by a written
instrument executed by all parties hereto.
d) Severability: Each of the covenants and agreements herein above
contained will be deemed separate, saveable and independent
covenants. In the event that any covenant will be declared by any
court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity will not in any
manner affect or impair the validity or enforceability of any other
part of provision of such covenant or of any other covenant
contained herein.
e) Captions and Section Headlines: Captions and section headings are
for convenience only and are not a part of this Agreement and will
not be used on construing it.
f) Fax Execution: This Agreement may be accented by delivery of
executed signature pages by fax and such fax execution will be
effective for all purposes.
EXECUTED AS OF: February 1999
(Lessor)
----------------------------------------
By:
Title:
(Lessee)
----------------------------------------
By: Franz Eder
Title: President
-89-
MARINE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS INC.
COMPUTATION OF LOSS PER SHARE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997
-----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Net income (loss ) for the period attributable to
basic earning (loss) per share $ (5,042,147) $ (164,931)
Net income (loss) for the period attributable to
diluted earnings per share $ (5,042,147) $ (164,931)
Weighted average shares outstanding 25,720,000 18,931,982
Dilutive stock options -- --
Total shares for primary and fully diluted earnings
per share 25,720,000 18,931,982
Primary earnings (loss) per share $ (0.20) $ (0.01)
Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share $ (0.20) $ (0.01)
</TABLE>
-90-
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