ENERGY VENTURES INC /DE/
8-K, 1997-05-14
OIL & GAS FIELD MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>   1





================================================================================


                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

    
                                 CURRENT REPORT


     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):   MAY 1, 1997



                                   EVI, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



                                                             04-2515019
        DELAWARE                    1-13086               (I.R.S. Employer
(State of Incorporation)     (Commission File No.)       Identification No.)



      5 POST OAK PARK, SUITE 1760,
             HOUSTON, TEXAS                                  77027-3415
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)


      REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (713) 297-8400


                             ENERGY VENTURES, INC.
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

================================================================================





                                     Page 1
                        Exhibit Index Appears on Page 5
<PAGE>   2
ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

         On May 1, 1997, EVI, Inc., a Delaware corporation and formerly known
as Energy Ventures, Inc. (the "Company"), effected the acquisition of GulfMark
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("GulfMark"), through a merger (the
"Merger") of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company with and into GulfMark.
The Merger was effected pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
December 5, 1996, as amended, by and between the Company, GulfMark Acquisition
Co., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company,
GulfMark and GulfMark Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation and prior wholly
owned subsidiary of GulfMark ("New GulfMark").  Approximately 2.2 million
shares (prior to giving effect to a two-for-one stock split that is being
effected by the Company as of May 12, 1997 and described below under Item 5) of
the Company's common stock, $1.00 par value (the "Common Stock"), will be
issued to the prior stockholders of GulfMark as consideration for the
acquisition.  The principle followed in fixing the exchange ratio in the Merger
was based on negotiations between the parties.

         Prior to the Merger, GulfMark contributed its marine transportation
services business to New GulfMark and then effected a spin-off to its
stockholders of the stock of New GulfMark.  Following the spin-off, the
remaining assets of GulfMark (the "GulfMark Retained Assets") consisted of
approximately 2.2 million pre-split shares of the Company's Common Stock,
GulfMark's erosion control business and certain corporate and miscellaneous
assets.  The 2.2 million pre-split shares of Common Stock included in the
GulfMark Retained Assets will be held by the Company as treasury shares.  The
Company currently intends to operate the erosion control business as a separate
division of the Company.

         Information relating to any material relationships existing between
the Company, GulfMark and New GulfMark and any of their respective officers,
directors or affiliates is incorporated herein by reference from the sections
"Background of the Transactions", "Pre-Merger Transactions" and "Interests of
Certain Persons in the Transactions" in the Company's Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus contained within the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-24133), as amended.

         A copy of the press release announcing the closing of the Merger is
filed as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         Name Change

         On May 6, 1997, the stockholders of the Company approved a change of
the name of the Company from Energy Ventures, Inc. to EVI, Inc.

         Stock Split

         On May 6, 1997, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment
(the "Amendment") to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock from 40 million shares
to 80 million shares.  Subject to approval of the Amendment by the Company's
stockholders, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a two-for-one
stock split to be effected





                                     Page 2
<PAGE>   3
through a dividend of one additional share of Common Stock for each issued and
outstanding share of Common Stock as of May 12, 1997.


ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (a)     Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

         The financial statements of GulfMark and the GulfMark Retained Assets
for the periods specified in Rule 3-05(b) of Regulation S-X have been
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-24133), as amended,
and are incorporated herein by reference.

         (b)     Pro Forma Financial Information.

         The pro forma financial information required pursuant to Article 11 of
Regulation S-X has been previously filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as part of EVI's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-
24133), as amended, and are incorporated herein by reference.

         (c)     Exhibits.

         2.1     -   Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 5, 1996,
                     among Energy Ventures, Inc., GulfMark Acquisition Co.,
                     GulfMark International, Inc. and New GulfMark
                     International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                     No. 2.2 to Form 8-K, File 1-13086, filed December 26,
                     1996).

         2.2     -   Agreement and Plan of Distribution dated as of December 5,
                     1996, by and among GulfMark International, Inc., New
                     GulfMark International, Inc. and Energy Ventures, Inc.
                     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 2.3 to Form 8-K,
                     File 1-13086, filed December 26, 1996).

         2.3     -   First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
                     March 27, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3
                     to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-
                     24133)).

         3.1     -   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
                     amended on May 6, 1997.

        23.1     -   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, with respect to the
                     financial statements of GulfMark International, Inc.

        23.2     -   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, with respect to the
                     financial statements of GulfMark Retained Assets.

        99.1     -   Press Release of the Company dated May 1, 1997, announcing
                     the closing of the Merger.





                                     Page 3
<PAGE>   4
                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                                  EVI, INC.
                                                  (formerly known as Energy
                                                  Ventures, Inc.)



Dated: May 13, 1997                                /s/ Frances R. Powell
                                                  ----------------------------
                                                       Frances R. Powell
                                                   Vice President, Accounting
                                                         and Controller





                                     Page 4
<PAGE>   5
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Number                              Exhibit
        ------                              -------
          <S>           <C>
          2.1           Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 5,
                        1996, among Energy Ventures, Inc., GulfMark
                        Acquisition Co., GulfMark International, Inc. and New
                        GulfMark International, Inc. (incorporated by
                        reference to Exhibit No. 2.2 to Form 8-K, File
                        1-13086, filed December 26, 1996).

          2.2           Agreement and Plan of Distribution dated as of
                        December 5, 1996, by and among GulfMark
                        International, Inc., New GulfMark International,
                        Inc. and Energy Ventures, Inc. (incorporated by
                        reference to Exhibit No. 2.3 to Form 8-K, File 1-13086,
                        filed December 26, 1996).

          2.3           First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger
                        dated March  27, 1997 (incorporated by reference to
                        Exhibit 2.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4
                        (Reg. No. 333-24133)).

          3.1           Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
                        as amended on May  6, 1997.

         23.1           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, with respect to the
                        financial statements of GulfMark International, Inc.

         23.2           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, with respect to the
                        financial statements of GulfMark Retained Assets.

         99.1           Press Release of the Company dated May 1, 1997,
                        announcing the closing of the Merger.

</TABLE>





                                     Page 5

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.1
                             ENERGY VENTURES, INC.

                     RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                   (Originally incorporated on July 17, 1980,
                           under the name ENGY, Inc.)

         1.      The name of the corporation is ENERGY VENTURES, INC.

         2.      The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware
is No. 100 West Tenth Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.
The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust
Company.

         3.      The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or
promoted is:

                 To engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations
         may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

         4.      The total number of shares of stock of all classes which the
corporation has authority to issue is Forty-Three Million (43,000,000) shares
of which Forty Million (40,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, with a par
value of one dollar ($1.00) per share ("Common Stock"), and Three Million
(3,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock, with a par value of one dollar
($1.00) per share ("Preferred Stock").

         The designations and the powers, preferences and rights, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares of each class of
stock are as follows:

                                PREFERRED STOCK

                 Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time by the Board
         of Directors as shares of one or more series.  Subject to the
         provisions hereof and the limitations prescribed by law, the Board of
         Directors is hereby vested with the authority and is expressly
         authorized, prior to issuance, by adopting resolutions providing for
         the issuance of, or providing for a change in the number of, shares of
         any particular series and, if and to the extent from time to time
         required by law, by filing a certificate pursuant to the General
         Corporation Law (or other law hereafter in effect relating to the same
         or substantially similar subject matter), to establish or change the
         number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the
         designation and relative powers, preferences and rights and the
         qualifications and limitations or restrictions thereof relating to the
         shares of each such series.  The vested authority of the Board of
         Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be
         limited to, the determination of the following:

                         (a)     the distinctive serial
                 designation of such series and the number of shares
                 constituting such series (provided that the aggregate number
                 of shares constituting all series of Preferred Stock shall not
                 exceed Three Million (3,000,000));
<PAGE>   2
                          (b)     the annual dividend rate, if any, on shares
                 of such series and the preferences, if any, over any other
                 series (or of any other series over such series) with respect
                 to dividends, and whether dividends shall be cumulative and,
                 if so, from which date or dates;

                          (c)     whether the shares of such series shall be
                 redeemable and, if so, the terms and conditions of such
                 redemption, including the date or dates upon and after which
                 such shares shall be redeemable, and the amount per share
                 payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under
                 different conditions and at different redemption dates;

                          (d)     the obligation, if any, of the corporation to
                 purchase or redeem shares of such series pursuant to a sinking
                 fund or purchase fund and, if so, the terms of such
                 obligation;

                          (e)     whether shares of such series shall be
                 convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of stock of any
                 other class or classes or any stock of any series of the same
                 class or any other class or classes or any evidences of
                 indebtedness and, if so, the terms and conditions of such
                 conversion or exchange, including the price or prices or the
                 rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the terms of
                 adjustment, if any;

                          (f)     whether the shares of such series shall have
                 voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by
                 law, and if so, the terms of such voting rights, including,
                 without limitation, whether such shares shall have the right
                 to vote with the Common Stock on issues on an equal, greater
                 or lesser basis;

                          (g)     the rights of the shares of such series in
                 the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
                 dissolution, winding up or distribution of assets of the
                 corporation;

                          (h)     whether the shares of such series shall be
                 entitled to the benefit of conditions and restrictions upon
                 (i) the creation of indebtedness of the corporation or any
                 subsidiary, (ii) the issuance of any additional stock
                 (including additional shares of such series or of any other
                 series) or (iii) the payment of dividends or the making of
                 other distributions on the purchase, redemption or other
                 acquisition by the corporation or any subsidiary of any
                 outstanding stock of the corporation; and





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
                          (i)     any other relative rights, powers,
                 preferences, qualifications, limitations or restrictions
                 thereof relating to any such series.

                 Except where otherwise set forth in the resolution or
         resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the
         issuance of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of shares
         comprising such series may be increased or decreased (but not below
         the number of shares then outstanding) from time to time by like
         action of the Board of Directors.  The shares of Preferred Stock of
         any one series shall be identical with the other shares in such series
         in all respects except as to the dates from and after which dividends
         thereon shall cumulate, if cumulative.

                 Shares of any series of Preferred Stock which have been
         redeemed (whether through the operation of a sinking fund or
         otherwise) or purchased by the corporation, or which, if convertible
         or exchangeable, have been converted into or exchanged for shares of
         stock of any other class or classes shall have the status of
         authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued
         as a part of the series of which they were originally a part or may be
         reclassified and reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
         to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors
         or as part of any other series of Preferred Stock, all subject to the
         conditions or restrictions on issuance set forth in the resolution or
         resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the
         issuance of any series of Preferred Stock and to any filing required
         by law.

                 Subject to the rights of any outstanding shares of any series
         of Preferred Stock, this Certificate of Incorporation may be amended
         from time to time in a manner that would solely modify or change the
         relative powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications and
         limitations or restrictions of any issued shares of any series of
         Preferred Stock then outstanding with the only required vote or
         consent for approval of such amendment being the affirmative vote or
         consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the
         series of Preferred Stock so affected provided that the powers,
         preferences and rights and the qualification and limitations or
         restrictions of such series after giving effect to such amendment are
         no greater than the powers, preferences and rights and the
         qualifications and limitations or restrictions permitted to be fixed
         and determined by the Board of Directors with respect to the
         establishment of any new series of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant
         to the authority vested in the Board of Directors by this Article 4.
         Approval of any such amendment by the holders of the Common Stock
         shall not be required and any such amendment shall be deemed not to
         have affected the holders of the Common Stock adversely.

                 The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be
         increased or decreased by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
         majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote without the
         separate vote of holders of Preferred Stock as a class.





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
                                  COMMON STOCK

                 Subject to all of the rights of the Preferred Stock, and
         except as may be expressly provided with respect to the Preferred
         Stock herein, by law or by the Board of Directors pursuant to this
         Article 4:

                          (a)     dividends may be declared and paid or set
                 apart for payment upon Common Stock out of any assets or funds
                 of the corporation legally available for the payment of
                 dividends and may be payable in cash, stock or otherwise;

                          (b)     the holders of Common Stock shall have the
                 exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on
                 all other matters requiring stockholder action, each share
                 being entitled to one vote; and

                         (c)     upon the voluntary or
                 involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
                 corporation, the net assets of the corporation shall be
                 distributed pro rata to the holders of Common Stock in
                 accordance with their respective rights and interests to the
                 exclusion of the holders of the Preferred Stock.

         5.      The corporation is to have perpetual existence.

         6.      In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred
by statute, the board of directors is expressly authorized:

                 To authorize and cause to be executed mortgages and liens upon
         the real and personal property of the corporation.

                 To set apart out of any of the funds of the corporation
         available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose
         and to abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

                 By a unanimous vote of the whole board, to designate one or
         more committees, each committee to consist of at least two directors
         of the corporation.  Any such committee, to the extent provided in the
         resolution of the board of directors, or in the by-laws of the
         corporation, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority
         of the board of directors in the management of the business and
         affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the
         corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no
         such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to
         amending the certificate of incorporation (except that a committee
         may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions
         providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the board of
         directors as provided in Section 151(a) of the Delaware General
         Corporation Law, fix any of the preferences or rights of such shares
         relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of
         assets of the corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of
         such shares for, shares of any other class or classes, or any other
         series of the same





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
         or any other class or classes of stock of the corporation), adopting
         an agreement of merger or consolidation under Section 251 or 252 of
         the Delaware General Corporation Law, recommending to the stockholders
         the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the
         corporation's property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a
         dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or
         amending the bylaws of the corporation; and, unless the resolution,
         bylaws or certificate of incorporation expressly so provides, no such
         committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, to
         authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership
         and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation
         Law.

                 When and as authorized by the stockholders in accordance with
         statute, to sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the
         property and assets of the corporation, including its good will and
         its corporate franchises, upon such terms and conditions and for such
         consideration, which may consist in whole or in part of money or
         property including shares of stock in, and/or other securities of, any
         other corporation or corporations, as its board of directors shall
         deem expedient and for the best interest of the corporation.

         7.      Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless
the by-laws of the corporation shall so provide.

         Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of
Delaware, as the by-laws may provide.  The books of the corporation may be kept
(subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside the State of
Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
board of directors or in the by-laws of the corporation.

         Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this
corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary
way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under
the provisions of section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the
application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers
appointed for this corporation under the provisions of section 279 of Title 8
of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors,
and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the
case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs.  If a
majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or
class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this
corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to
any reorganization of this corporation as consequence of such compromise or
arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization
shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made,
be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the
stockholders or class of stockholders, of this corporation, as the case may be,
and also on this corporation.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
         8.      The corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in this certificate of incorporation, in the
manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon
stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided, that
until the sooner of (i) the termination of that certain Stockholders Agreement
dated June 25, 1984 between the Appalachian Company and Apco Oil Corporation
Liquidating Trust in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of such
agreement, a copy of such agreement being on file and available for copying and
inspection during business hours at the principal office of the corporation, or
(ii) June 25, 1986, no amendments to this Certificate of Incorporation may be
adopted without the approval, by vote or consent, of the holders of at least
70% of the shares of common stock of the corporation outstanding on the date of
such adoption.

         9.      Until the sooner of (i) the termination of that certain
Stockholders Agreement dated June 25, 1984 between The Appalachian Company and
Apco Oil Corporation Liquidating Trust in accordance with the provisions of
section 4 of such agreement, a copy of such agreement being on file and
available for copying and inspection during business hours at the principal
office of the corporation, or (ii) June 25, 1986, no amendments to the Bylaws
of the corporation may be adopted without the approval, by vote or consent, of
the holders of at least 70% of the shares of common stock of the corporation
outstanding on the date of such adoption.

         10.     A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable
to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware, or (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which
only restates and integrates and does not further amend the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation as heretofore amended or
supplemented, there being no discrepancies between those provisions and the
provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and it having been
duly adopted by the corporation's Board of Directors in accordance with Section
245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, has been executed
by its duly authorized officer this 8th day of May, 1996.


                                          ENERGY VENTURES, INC.



                                          By:  /s/ James G. Kiley        
                                             --------------------------
                                                   James G. Kiley
                                               Vice President-Finance,
                                               Treasurer and Secretary





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
                             ENERGY VENTURES, INC.

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION


         Energy Ventures, Inc. (the "Company"), a corporation organized and
existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware ("DGCL"), does hereby certify:

         FIRST:       That the Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting
held on March 9, 1997, unanimously adopted resolutions proposing and declaring
advisable the following amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company and directed that such amendments be considered at the next
annual meeting of stockholders of the Company:

         To amend Article 1 of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its
entirety to read as follows:

                "1.      The name of the corporation is EVI, Inc."

         To amend the first paragraph of Article 4 of the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation in its entirety to read as follows:

                "4.  The total number of shares of stock of all classes which
         the corporation has authority to issue is Eighty-Three Million
         (83,000,000) shares of which Eighty Million (80,000,000) shares shall
         be Common Stock, with a par value of one dollar ($1.00) per share
         ("Common Stock"), and Three Million (3,000,000) shares shall be
         Preferred Stock, with a par value of one dollar ($1.00) per share
         ("Preferred Stock")."

         SECOND:      That at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company
duly called and held on May 6, 1997, in accordance with Section 222 of the
DGCL, the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock of the Company
entitled to vote on such amendments voted in favor of such amendments.

         THIRD:       That the aforesaid amendments were duly adopted in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the DGCL.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be
signed on May 6, 1997, by James G. Kiley, its Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer.


                                            ENERGY VENTURES, INC.



                                            By:   /s/ James G. Kiley
                                               ----------------------------
                                                      James G. Kiley
                                                    Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report dated February 26, 1997 included in
GulfMark International, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996,
into this Form 8-K of EVI, Inc. (formerly known as Energy Ventures, Inc.) and
into EVI Inc.'s previously filed Registration Statement File Nos. 33-31662,
33-56384, 33-56386, 33-65790, 33-77960, 33-64349, 333-03407, 333-12367 and 333-
13531.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Houston, Texas
May 12, 1997






<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2


                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report dated February 26, 1997 of our audits
of the financial statements of GulfMark Retained Assets (a business segment of
GulfMark International, Inc.) at December 31, 1996 and 1995 and each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, included in the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-24133) of EVI, Inc. (formerly known as
Energy Ventures, Inc.), into this Form 8-K of EVI, Inc. and into EVI Inc.'s
previously filed Registration Statement File Nos. 33-31662, 33-56384, 33-56386,
33-65790, 33-77960, 33-64349, 333-03407, 333-12367 and 333-13531.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Houston, Texas
May 12, 1997






<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

[ENERGY VENTURES, INC. LETTERHEAD]



May 1, 1997, Houston, Texas - Energy Ventures, Inc. (NYSE-EVI) today announced
the completion of the previously announced acquisition GulfMark International,
Inc.  Prior to the acquisition, GulfMark International distributed to its
stockholders the stock of a newly formed company, GulfMark Offshore, Inc.,
which includes the marine transportation services business previously owned by
GulfMark International.  There will be no effect on the number of outstanding
shares of EVI common stock as a result of the acquisition of GulfMark
International.

EVI is an international manufacturer of engineered oilfield products.  The
Company manufactures drilling tools, premium tubulars and production equipment.


Contact:
James G. Kiley
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(713) 297-8400







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