AMERICAN RIVERS OIL CO
10KSB, 1996-07-15
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                    U. S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   Form 10-KSB

(Mark One)
[X]    Annual report under section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
       1934 (Fee Required) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996
[  ]  Transition   report   under   section  13  or  15(d)  of  the   Securities
       Exchange  Act  of  1934  (No  Fee Required) for the transition period
       from                      to
           ---------------------    -------------------                       

Commission file number: 0-10006
                        -------

                           AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY
                  -------------------------------------------
                 (Name of small business issuer in its charter)

         Wyoming                                             84-0839926
- - ----------------------------                              ---------------
(State or other jurisdiction                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)


700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 106, Denver, CO                          80203
- - --------------------------------------------------                ----------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

Issuer's telephone number: (303) 832-1117

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:  None

Securities  registered  under Section 12 (g) of the Act: Common Stock,  $.01 Par
Value

Check  whether the issuer (1) filed all reports  required to be filed by Section
13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act during the past 12 months , and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No

Check if there is no disclosure  of delinquent  filers in reponse to Item 405 of
Regulation  S-B is not  contained  in  this  form,  and no  disclosure  will  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-KSB
or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB. [X]

Issuer's revenues for fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 were $180,335.

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  based on
the last sale price as quoted by NASDAQ as of June 20, 1996 was $3,854,549.

The number of shares  outstanding  of the  issuer's  Common Stock as of June 20,
1996 was  2,851,770.  The number of shares  outstanding  of the issuer's Class B
Common Stock as of June 20, 1996 was 7,267,820.

Documents incorporated by reference: None

           Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (Check one):
                          Yes            No    X

<PAGE>

                                     PART I

Item 1.  Business
         --------

The Company
- - -----------

American  Rivers Oil Company (the "Company") was originally  incorporated  under
the  laws  of the  State  of  Colorado  on  February  2,  1981  as  Metro  Cable
Corporation.  On March 31, 1992, the Company  reincorporated in the the State of
Wyoming  and  changed its name to Metro  Capital  Corporation.  For the past six
years and until the recent  consummation of the Asset Transfer  described below,
the Company has been principally  engaged in petroleum  operations,  real estate
development and seeking business opportunities.

In October  1995 the  Company  entered  into an Asset  Purchase  Agreement  (the
"Agreement")  with Karlton Terry Oil Company ("KTOC"),  a Colorado  corporation,
pursuant to which KTOC transferred to the Company certain oil and gas properties
in  exchange  for  shares of the  Company's  Class B Common  Stock  (the  "Asset
Transfer").  As a result of the Asset  Transfer and pursuant to the terms of the
Agreement,  the Company  changed its name to American  Rivers Oil Company and is
now  principally  engaged  in the  oil  and  gas  business.  Additional  working
interests in the oil and gas properties transferred to the Company were acquired
in  December  1995 for cash and other  consideration.  The  Company's  executive
offices  are located in Denver,  Colorado.  At March 31,  1996,  the Company had
three full-time employees.

In connection with this transaction,  the Company  transferred to Bishop Capital
Corporation (formerly Bishop Cable Communications Corporation), its wholly-owned
subsidiary (the  "Subsidiary"),  all of the Company's assets except for $700,000
and its working interest in, and its operating agreement with respect to, an oil
property owned by the Company.  The Subsidiary is operated  autonomously  by the
previous management of the Company pursuant to a five year operating  agreement.
In  addition  to being  principally  engaged  in real  estate  development,  the
Subsidiary  has natural gas royalty  interests.  The  Subsidiary  maintains  its
corporate  offices in Riverton,  Wyoming.  At March 31, 1996, the Subsidiary had
four full-time employees.

Operating Strategy
- - ------------------

The Company's objective is to increase value through sustained profitable growth
of its oil and gas reserves and  production  by pursuing a combined  strategy of
focused  acquisitions,  drilling and  developing the reserves  underlying  large
rivers  and  lakes  in  known  oil and  gas  fields  (the  "River  Leases")  and
considering and reviewing other oil and gas opportunities  which will add to the
long-term  stability  of the  Company.  The Company does not intend to conduct a
significant amount of exploratory drilling.

The Company owns  several  River Leases  which  management  believes  provide an
opportunity to develop oil and gas reserves in existing fields which  heretofore
were not fully developed  because of lack of adequate drilling  technology.  The
Company  plans  on  developing  these  River  Leases  by using  directional  and
horizontal  drilling methods,  which are oil and gas developmental  technologies
now in wide use.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

Markets
- - -------

The three principal  products currently produced and marketed by the Company are
crude oil,  natural gas and natural gas liquids.  The Company does not currently
use commodity  futures contracts and price swaps in the marketing of its natural
gas and crude oil.

Crude oil produced from the Company's  properties is generally  sold by truck or
pipeline to unaffiliated  third-party  purchasers at the prevailing  field price
(the "posted price").  Currently,  the three primary purchasers of the Company's
crude oil are Farm Bureau, Total Petroleum and Scurlock Permian.  Together these
three  purchasers buy more than 80% of the Company's annual crude oil sales. The
market for the Company's crude oil is competitive.  The Company does not believe
that the loss of one of its  primary  purchasers  would have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's  business  because other  arrangements  could be made to
market  the  Company's  crude oil  products.  The  Company  does not  anticipate
problems in selling  future oil  production  since  purchases  are made based on
then-current market conditions and pricing.  However,  oil prices are subject to
volatility  due to  several  factors  beyond  the  Company's  control  including
political turmoil,  domestic and foreign  production  levels,  OPEC's ability to
adhere to production quotas and possible governmental control or regulation.

The Company sells its natural gas production at the wellhead to various pipeline
purchasers  or natural gas  marketing  companies.  The wellhead  contracts  have
various terms and conditions,  including contract duration.  Under each wellhead
contract the purchaser is generally  responsible  for  gathering,  transporting,
processing  and  selling the natural gas and natural gas liquids and the Company
receives a net price at the wellhead.

Competition
- - ------------

The  oil  and  natural  gas  industry  is  intensely  competitive.  The  Company
encounters strong  competition from other independent oil companies in acquiring
economically  desirable prospects as well as in marketing  production  therefrom
and obtaining external financing. The Company competes with a substantial number
of other  companies  having larger  technical  staffs and greater  financial and
operational resources.

The  Company's  business is affected not only by such  competition,  but also by
general economic developments,  governmental  regulations and other factors that
affect its ability to market its oil and natural gas  production.  The prices of
oil and natural gas  realized by the Company are highly  volatile.  The price of
oil is  generally  dependent  on world  supply and  demand,  while the price the
Company  receives for its natural gas is tied to the  specific  markets in which
such gas is sold.  Declines in crude oil prices or natural gas prices  adversely
impact the Company's activities.  The Company's financial position and resources
may also adversely affect the Company's competitive position.  Lack of available
funds or financing  alternatives  will prevent the Company  from  executing  its
operating  strategy  and from  deriving  the expected  benefits  therefrom.  For
further information  concerning the Company's  financial  position,  see Item 6.
Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>

Regulation
- - ----------

All aspects of the oil and gas  industry are  extensively  regulated by federal,
state and local  governments  in all areas in which the Company has  operations.
Regulations   govern  such  things  as  drilling   permits,   production  rates,
environmental  protection  and  pollution  control,  royalty  rates and taxation
rates.  These regulations may substantially  increase the cost of doing business
and  sometimes  prevent  or  delay  the  start  or  continuation  of  any  given
exploration or development project.

Regulations  are subject to future  changes by  legislative  and  administrative
action and by  judicial  decisions,  which may  adversely  affect the  petroleum
industry.  In the past few years legislation has been adopted that increases the
authority  granted  to  the  Oil  and  Gas  Conservation   Commission  to  issue
regulations  pertaining  to  surface  damages,  health and  safety  matters  and
environmental issues. Additionally,  certain municipalities have either proposed
or adopted  regulations  that affect oil and gas  operations  within  their city
limits. At the present time, it is impossible to predict what effect current and
future  proposals or changes in existing  laws or  regulations  will have on the
Company's  operations,  estimates  of oil and  natural gas  reserves,  or future
revenues.

The Company believes that its operations comply with all applicable  legislation
and  regulations  in all  material  respects,  and  that the  existence  of such
regulations  has had no more  restrictive  effect  on the  Company's  method  of
operations  than other similar  companies in the industry.  Although the Company
does not believe its business operations presently impair environmental quality,
compliance with federal,  state and local regulations which have been enacted or
adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment could have an
adverse effect upon the capital expenditures,  earnings and competitive position
of the Company,  the extent of which the Company now is unable to assess.  Since
inception,  the  Company  has not made any  material  capital  expenditures  for
environmental  control facilities and is not currently aware of any need to make
any such expenditures in the future.

Regulation of Production. In most areas which the Company may conduct activities
in  the  United  States,  there  may  be  statutory  provisions  regulating  the
production of oil and natural gas, and under which state administrative agencies
may  promulgate  rules in  connection  with the  operation  of both oil and gas,
and/or establish  allowable rates of production.  For wells in which the Company
owns an interest,  such rules may restrict  the oil and gas  production  rate to
below the rate such wells could be produced in the absence of such regulations.

Environmental  Regulations.  Operations  of the  Company are subject to numerous
laws and  regulations  governing the discharge of materials into the environment
or otherwise relating to environmental protection.  The reservoir and the bottom
hole  locations of the  wellbores are deep enough and far enough under the river
(a 4" to 9" diameter hole at depths between 1,500 and 8,000 feet deep) that they
will have no effect on the river or the  river  bottom.  The  Company's  surface
location  will be no closer to the river  that the  vertical  wells  which  have
heretofore been drilled,  and therefore the Company has no increased  liability,
regulation,  or obligation over vertical wells which have locations near rivers.
These laws and  regulations  may  require  the  acquisition  of a permit  before
drilling  commences,  prohibit drilling activities on certain lands lying within
wilderness  areas  or  where  pollution   arises,   and/or  impose   substantial
liabilities  for  pollution  or in offshore  waters or submerged  lands.  Future
regulations may impose additional  restrictions on the Company's activities.  It
is impossible to predict if, or in what form,  the  regulations  will be adopted
and hence their potential impact upon the Company's operations.

                                       -4-

<PAGE>


State  Regulation.  State  regulatory  authorities  have  established  rules and
regulations  requiring  permits for drilling  operations,  drilling bonds and/or
reports concerning operations.

Operations of the Subsidiary
- - ----------------------------

The Company,  Karlton Terry Oil Company and the  Subsidiary  entered into a five
year  operating  agreement  (the  "Operating  Agreement")  pursuant to which the
Subsidiary is operated  autonomously by the previous  management of the Company.
The Operating  Agreement  provides that any  determination  by the  Subsidiary's
Board of Directors  with respect to the business,  operations  and assets of the
Subsidiary will be final,  conclusive and binding and will not be subject to any
modification  whatsoever by the Company's  Board of Directors or its  management
for any reason; provided,  however, that in no event will the Company, its Board
and management be required to breach fudiciary duties owed to the Company or its
shareholders.  The  Company  and its  management  have  agreed to  maintain  the
Operating  Agreement  in effect  for a five year term and not take any action to
interfere,  intervene or disrupt the control and operation of the  Subsidiary by
its management. The Operating Agreement includes a voting agreement enabling the
Subsidiary's  President  to vote shares of the  Subsidiary  owned by the Company
with respect to matters exclusively affecting the Subsidiary.

Real Estate Development
- - -----------------------

In October 1993, the Subsidiary entered into two limited partnership  agreements
to purchase  approximately  90  contiguous  acres of land in  Colorado  Springs,
Colorado. A summary of the Subsidiary's  participation in each partnership is as
follows:

     (1) The Subsidiary contributed $250,000 cash to the first partnership which
purchased  approximately  55  acres  of land  for  commercial  development.  The
Subsidiary,  as general  partner,  has an 81% interest  with the  remaining  19%
interest  held by a limited  partner  who is the  general  partner in the second
partnership.  The  Subsidiary  will be  allocated  100% of the income and losses
until it has been paid $600,000  plus  interest  thereon at 8% per annum (not to
exceed  $100,000) after which the income and losses will be allocated 81% to the
Subsidiary and 19% to the limited partner.

     (2) The  Subsidiary  contributed  $100,000  cash to the second  partnership
which  purchased  approximately  35  acres  of land  for the  construction  of a
recreational  facility  encompassing  a golf driving  range,  miniature golf and
baseball/softball  batting  cages.  This facility  commenced  operations in July
1994.  The  Subsidiary,  as the limited  partner,  has a 19%  interest  with the
remaining 81% interest held by an unrelated  third-party as the general partner.
The  Subsidiary  contributed  an  additional  $250,000  when  certain  financing
requirements in the partnership agreement were fulfilled by the general partner.
The Subsidiary is not a guarantor of any debt in this partnership.

The Subsidiary competes with other commercial real estate development  companies
having greater  financial and  operational  resources and technical  staffs that
plan, supervise,  develop and market the projects.  The Subsidiary's business is
affected  not only by such  competition,  but also by  market  demand,  interest
rates, credit availability and the strength of the economy in general.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>

The undeveloped real estate is subject to local zoning laws and regulations. The
undeveloped  real  estate  must be  surveyed,  designed  and  platted  and  then
submitted to the  appropriate  local  authorities  for approval and  appropriate
permits. Since the undeveloped real estate borders a drainage channel, the local
authorities  may require that certain  improvements  be made along such drainage
channel.   The  Subsidiary  is  in  the  preliminary  planning  stages  for  the
undeveloped real estate.  Accordingly, no plats have been submitted to the local
authorities for approval.

In October 1995 the  Subsidiary  acquired  approximately  5 acres of undeveloped
real estate in Riverton,  Wyoming for $80,000 and is presently  developing  this
parcel into a 15 lot subdivision.  The total  acquisition and improvement  costs
are estimated to be approximately $234,000. The improvements are scheduled to be
completed in July 1996 and the sale of the improved lots should commence shortly
thereafter.

The Subsidiary is not aware of any non-compliance with existing local, state and
Federal  environmental  rules and regulations in regards to the undeveloped real
estate.

Natural Gas Royalty Interests
- - -----------------------------

The  Subsidiary  has  royalty  interests  in the Madden  Unit in  Wyoming  which
produces  natural gas from producing  horizons  between 5,500 and 24,000 feet. A
gas processing plant was completed in February 1995 to treat the "sour gas" from
the Madison  producing  horizon  (24,000 feet).  The Subsidiary has no ownership
interest in the gas processing  plant.  The plant which commenced  operations in
March 1995 is currently  processing 50 MMCFD  (million  cubic feet per day) from
the two completed Madison wells. The plant products include methane,  sulfur and
carbon dioxide.  The Subsidiary's royalty interests in "sour gas" production are
subject  to plant  processing  costs and  severance  and ad valorem  taxes.  The
Subsidiary and other royalty owners are  negotiating  with the plant operator to
eliminate  the  deduction  of  certain  processing  costs  which  may  not be in
accordance with applicable state rules and regulations.

Item 2.  Properties
         ----------

The  Company's  principal  reserves  and  producing  properties  are oil and gas
properties  located  in  Colorado,   Kentucky,   Louisiana  and  West  Virginia.
Subsequent to March 31, 1996,  one of the producing  properties in Louisiana was
pledged as collateral on a loan from the Subsidiary.

The Subsidiary's principal properties consist of undeveloped real estate located
in Colorado and Wyoming and natural gas royalty  interests  in Wyoming.  None of
the properties are held subject to any major encumbrance.

Reserves
- - --------

Information  regarding  the  Company's  proved and proved  developed oil and gas
reserves and the  standardized  measure of discounted  future net cash flows and
changes  therein  is  included  in Note 13 of  Notes to  Consolidated  Financial
Statements.

                                       -6-

<PAGE>

Since  April 1, 1995,  the  Company has not filed any oil or natural gas reserve
estimates or included any such estimates in reports to any Federal  authority or
agency, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Production
- - ----------

The following table sets forth information with respect to the Company's oil and
gas production,  average sales prices and average  production  costs for the two
years ended March 31, 1996:

                                                  1996                1995
                                                 ------             -------
     Quantities Produced and Sold
          Oil  (Bbls)                             6,999               7,979
          Natural Gas (Mcf)                      28,430               7,064

     Average Sales Prices
          Oil(per Bbl)                           $17.53              $16.71
          Natural Gas (per Mcf)                  $ 1.76              $ 1.88

     Average Production Cost per BOE (1)         $ 7.48              $ 5.80

- - ---------------
     (1)  Production  units were  converted to common  units of measure  using a
          conversion  ratio of six Mcf of  natural  gas equals one barrel of oil
          equivalent (BOE).  Production costs exclude depreciation and depletion
          associated with property and equipment.

Productive Wells
- - ----------------

The following  summarizes the Company's total gross and net productive  wells at
March 31, 1996, all of which are in the United States:

                                                   Productive Wells (1)
                                                ---------------------------
                                                Gross (2)           Net (3)
                                                ---------          --------

                  Oil                              17                 3.4
                  Gas                              75                16.3
                                                   --                ----

                    Totals                         92                19.7
                                                   ==                ====

- - ---------------
    (1)  Productive   wells  are  producing  wells  and  wells  capable  of
         production, including wells that are shut-in.
    (2)  A gross well is a well in which a working interest is owned. The number
         of gross wells is the total number of wells in which a working interest
         is owned.
    (3)  A net well is  deemed  to exist  when the sum of  fractional  ownership
         working interests in gross wells equals one. The number of net wells is
         the sum of the  fractional  working  interests  owned  in  gross  wells
         expressed as whole numbers and fractions thereof.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

Developed and Undeveloped Acreage
- - ---------------------------------

At March 31, 1996, the Company held acreage as set forth below. A portion of the
developed  acreage in  Louisiana  is subject to a lien  securing a loan from the
Subsidiary and a portion of the undeveloped  acreage in Kentucky is subject to a
production payment.

                           Developed Acreage (1)      Undeveloped Acreage (2)
                           ---------------------      -----------------------  
                           Gross (3)     Net (4)      Gross (3)         Net(4)

   Colorado                2,840.0       550.8         1,480.0          284.9
   Kentucky                   30.0        21.9         4,381.9        3,985.0
   Louisiana               2,994.0       676.8            50.0            8.5
   West Virginia             153.0        76.5         1,692.0          846.0
                          --------      ------         -------       --------
      Totals               6,017.0     1,326.0         7,603.9        5,124.4
                           =======     =======         =======       ========
- - ----------

(1)  Developed  acres are those acres which are spaced or assigned to productive
     wells.
        
(2)  Undeveloped  acres are considered to be those acres on which wells have not
     been drilled or completed  to a point that would permit the  production  of
     commercial  quantities  of oil or natural gas,  regardless  of whether such
     acreage contains proved reserves.  It should not be confused with undrilled
     acreage held by production under the terms of a lease.
        
(3)  A gross acre is an acre in which a working interest is owned. The number of
     gross  acres is the total  number of acres in which a working  interest  is
     owned.

(4)  A net acre is  deemed  to exist  when the sum of the  fractional  ownership
     working interests in gross acres equals one. The number of net acres is the
     sum of the fractional  working  interest owned in gross acres  expressed as
     whole numbers and fractions thereof.

Drilling Activity
- - -----------------

The Company did not drill any  exploratory  or  development  wells for the years
ended March 31, 1996 and 1995.

Present Activities
- - ------------------

The Company is  presently  permitting  wells to drill in Lake Hatch,  Louisiana,
Smith Mills North Field, Kentucky, Sistersville, West Virginia and Union County,
Kentucky. These wells are planned to be drilled in fiscal year 1997.

Real Estate Development Operations of Subsidiary
- - ------------------------------------------------

The Subsidiary has an 81% interest, as general partner, in a limited partnership
which  owns  approximately  55 acres of  undeveloped  real  estate  in  Colorado
Springs,  Colorado.  The  property  which  is  bounded  by major  east/west  and
north/south  arterials is zoned for most  commercial  and retail uses along with
office complexes.  The Subsidiary is in the preliminary planning stages relative
to the  proposed  program of  development  of such  property.  Accordingly,  the
estimated   costs  for  surveying,   designing  and  platting  the  property  is
unavailable.  These initial costs are expected to be internally financed. When a
proposed plat is submitted to the local authorities for approval and appropriate
permits,  the  Subsidiary  may be  required to post a letter of credit or expend
funds for certain  improvements to a drainage  channel which borders the western
boundary of the property.  The  estimated  costs for such  improvements  are not
known at this time. The property is not subject to any major encumbrance.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>


The  Subsidiary  is  currently  having  discussions  with  several   prospective
purchasers  regarding  retail pad sites. No formal  agreements or contracts have
been entered into as of June 20, 1996.

The property is subject to  competitive  conditions  relating to market  demand,
interest rates, credit availability and the strength of the economy in general.

The  Subsidiary  also  has  a  19%  limited  partnership   interest  in  another
partnership  which  constructed  a  recreational  facility  encompassing  a golf
driving range,  miniature golf and  baseball/softball  batting cages on 35 acres
contiguous to the 55 acres owned by the previously  discussed  partnership.  The
facility commenced operations in July 1994. The Subsidiary is not a guarantor of
any debt in this partnership.

The Subsidiary also purchased  approximately 5 acres of undeveloped  real estate
located in Riverton,  Wyoming in October 1995. The property which is not subject
to any major  encumbrance is currently  being  developed as a 15 lot subdivision
and  improvements  (utilities  and street) are estimated to be completed in July
1996.  The  Subsidiary  has  estimated  total  costs  for  the  acquisition  and
improvements to be approximately $234,000.

There have been no sales of real estate and  operating  costs and expenses  have
been immaterial for the years ended March 31, 1996 and 1995.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings
- - --------------------------

The Company is not a party to any pending  legal  proceedings  involving a claim
for damages  which amount  exceeds 10% of the current  assets of the Company and
its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and no such proceedings are known to be
contemplated.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- - -------------------------------------------------------------

No matters were submitted to a vote of the Company's security holders during the
fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.
















                                       -9-

<PAGE>


                                     PART II
                                     -------
                                    
Item 5. Market for the Company's Stock and Related Stockholder Matters
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------


Common Stock
- - ------------

The  Company's  common  stock is traded in the  over-the-counter  market  and is
quoted on the  NASDAQ  SmallCap  Market  System  under the  symbol  "AROC."  The
following  table shows the high and low bids for the common stock of the Company
for the periods  indicated  as  furnished by NASDAQ.  The  quotations  represent
prices  between  dealers  and  do  not  include  retail  mark-up,  markdown,  or
commission and may not reflect actual transactions.

            QUARTER ENDED             HIGH BID              LOW BID

                03/31/94               $1.25                 $1.12
                06/30/94                1.00                   .94
                09/30/94                 .75                   .63
                12/31/94                1.69                   .82

                03/31/95                1.12                   .75
                06/30/95                1.19                   .75
                09/30/95                2.38                  1.00
                12/31/95                2.38                  1.50

                03/31/96                1.75                  1.25

As of June 20, 1996,  there were  approximately  2,100  holders of record of the
Company's common stock (which amount does not include the number of shareholders
whose shares are held of record by brokerage houses).

Class B Common Stock
- - --------------------

The Class B common stock,  which is not traded in any public trading market, was
issued  in  connection  with the  Asset  Transfer  and has all of the  rights of
currently  issued and  outstanding  shares of the Company's  common stock except
that (i) the Class B common  stock shall not be entitled to  participate  in any
distribution  of shares or assets of the Subsidiary and (ii) each share of Class
B common stock shall be entitled to 1.6 votes on all issues  presented  for vote
by the  shareholders.  On June 26, 1996, a Special Meeting of  Shareholders  was
held  and the  shareholders  approved  a  proposal  to  amend  the  Articles  of
Incorporation  to  eliminate  the  super-voting  provision of the Class B common
stock and provide the same voting terms as the Company's common stock, one share
one vote.  The Articles of Amendment  to the Articles of  Incorporation  will be
filed as soon as waivers are obtained from all of the Class B shareholders.  The
Class B  common  stock  is  convertible  on a  one-for-one  share  basis  of the
Company's common stock commencing December 1998.

As of June 20, 1996,  there were 10 holders of record of the  Company's  Class B
common stock.

Dividends
- - ---------

The Company has paid no  dividends  on its common  stock or Class B common stock
and does not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.  Payment of
cash dividends,  if any, in the future will be determined by the Company's Board
of Directors in light of the Company's  earnings,  financial condition and other
relevant considerations.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>


Item 6. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pursuant  to an Asset  Purchase  Agreement  dated  October  19,  1995  among the
Company, Karlton Terry Oil Company ("KTOC"),  Karlton Terry and Jubal Terry (the
"Shareholders"),  the  Company  acquired  certain  oil and gas  properties  (the
"Contributed   Properties")  of  KTOC  and  the  Shareholders  in  exchange  for
"restricted" shares of Class B Common Stock. Additional working interests in the
oil and gas properties (the "Option  Properties") were acquired in December 1995
from  unrelated  third parties for cash and other  consideration.  In connection
with this  transaction  and prior to the closing in December  1995,  the Company
transferred to Bishop Capital Corporation  (formerly Bishop Cable Communications
Corporation), a wholly-owned subsidiary (the "Subsidiary"), all of the Company's
assets  except for $700,000  and its working  interest in an oil  property.  The
Subsidiary  is being  operated  autonomously  by the previous  management of the
Company pursuant to a five year operating  agreement between the Company,  KTOC,
and the subsidiary.

The audited  consolidated  statements of operations  and cash flows for the year
ended March 31, 1996 include the  operations of the  Contributed  Properties for
the fiscal year, the Option Properties from December 1995 and the unconsolidated
operations of the Subsidiary using the equity method of accounting from December
1995. The audited  consolidated  statements of operations and cash flows for the
year  ended  March 31,  1995 only  include  the  operations  of the  Contributed
Properties.  The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction
with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

Results of Operations
- - ---------------------

The Company's  net loss for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 was  $(640,000)
compared to net income of $38,400 for fiscal  1995.  The fiscal 1996 net loss is
primarily  attributable  to costs and expenses of $365,500  related to the Asset
Purchase  Agreement,  an  increase  of  $83,500 in  general  and  administrative
expenses,  a loss of $140,500  on the sale of a  wholly-owned  subsidiary's  oil
property and the Company  recording its equity in losses of $161,800  related to
the  unconsolidated  Subsidiary.  In  fiscal  1995,  the  Company  had a gain on
drilling  arrangements  of  $138,200  which  resulted  in net  income of $38,400
compared to a net loss of $77,600 in fiscal 1994.

Fiscal 1996 Compared to Fiscal 1995
- - -----------------------------------

The Company's oil and gas sales increased by  approximately  18% in fiscal 1996.
Although  the  production  volume for oil  decreased by  approximately  12%, the
Company had a significant  increase in natural gas  production  due primarily to
the  acquisition  of producing  natural gas  properties in the  Denver-Julesburg
Basin in the fourth quarter.  The Company also incurred flooding problems on its
Sistersville  well in January 1996 which resulted in the  curtailment of natural
gas production for approximately  two months.  The decrease in oil production is
attributable  to the  Sparkle  #1 well being  shut-in  for  completion  of water
disposal facilities and normal, anticipated production declines.





                                      -11-

<PAGE>


The  production  volumes and average  sales prices for the years ended March 31,
1996 and 1995 were as follows:

                                             1996                 1995
                                            ------               -------

      Oil production (barrels)               6,999                7,979
      Average sales price (per barrel)      $17.53               $16.71

      Natural gas production (mcf)          28,430                7,064
      Average sales price (per mcf)         $ 1.76               $ 1.88

The average  sales price per barrel of oil  increased  5% in fiscal 1996 but was
offset by a 12% reduction in production volume. Although the average sales price
per mcf of natural gas decreased 6% in fiscal 1996,  production  volume  tripled
over the prior fiscal year.

Oil and gas production  expense  increased by $38,000 in fiscal 1996 compared to
fiscal 1995. On a barrel of oil equivalent (BOE),  production  expense was $7.48
per BOE in fiscal  year 1996  compared  to $5.80  per BOE in  fiscal  1995.  The
increase is attributable to the production  curtailment on the  Sistersville and
Sparkle #1 wells.

General and administrative  expenses increased  approximately  $84,000 in fiscal
1996  compared  to fiscal  1995 due  primarily  to  increases  in  salaries  and
professional fees and other costs and expenses associated with a public company.

Depletion,  depreciation  and  amortization  increased  approximately  $9,100 in
fiscal 1996 compared to fiscal 1995 due to the increase in production.

Professional fees relating to Contributed  Properties of $165,500 in fiscal 1996
are legal,  accounting and consulting fees incurred in connection with the Asset
Purchase Agreement.

Nonemployee  compensatory common stock option expense of $200,000 in fiscal 1996
represents the  difference  between the option price ($1.00) and the fair market
value of the Company's common stock ($1.50) on 400,000 stock options issued to a
non-affiliated  third party for property  acquisition and other services related
to the Asset Purchase Agreement.

The loss of $140,500 on the sale of  property  in fiscal  1996  occurred  when a
wholly-owned  subsidiary sold its only major asset consisting of an oil property
to an unrelated third party for $16,000.

The equity in subsidiary  losses of $161,800  represents the Company's equity in
the operations of Bishop Capital  Corporation,  an  unconsolidated  wholly-owned
subsidiary, for the four months ended March 31, 1996.

Interest  expense  decreased  $4,200 in fiscal 1996  compared to fiscal 1995 due
primarily to a lower average amount of debt outstanding.



                                      -12-

<PAGE>


Fiscal 1995 Compared to Fiscal 1994
- - -----------------------------------

The  Company's  oil and gas sales  decreased  approximately  18% in fiscal  1995
compared to fiscal 1994  primarily due to lower oil and gas  production  volumes
resulting from normal, anticipated

production  declines.  Although the  Sistersville and Sparkle #1 wells commenced
production  in  fiscal  1995,   oil  production  in  fiscal  1995  decreased  by
approximately 20% and natural gas production decreased by approximately 20%. The
average sales price per barrel of oil increased  approximately 4% in fiscal 1995
and the average sales price per mcf of natural gas decreased approximately 11%.

The  production  volumes and average  sales prices for the years ended March 31,
1995 and 1994 were as follows:

                                              1995                 1994
                                             -------              ------

     Oil production (barrels)                 7,979                9,970
     Average sales price (per barrel)        $16.71               $16.15

     Natural gas production (mcf)             7,064                8,866
     Average sales price (mcf)              $  1.88              $  2.12

Oil and gas  production  expense  decreased  $6,200 in fiscal  1995  compared to
fiscal 1994. Production expense computed on a barrel of oil equivalent was $5.80
per BOE in fiscal 1995  compared to $5.18 per BOE in fiscal 1994.  The increased
cost  per  BOE is  directly  attributable  to  fixed  components  of oil and gas
production expense being allocated over a smaller production base.

General and administrative  expenses increased $6,300 in fiscal 1995 compared to
fiscal 1994 due to a general  increase in overhead  associated  with various oil
and gas projects.

Depletion,  depreciation  and  amortization  decreased  $8,400  in  fiscal  1995
compared to fiscal 1994 due to a decrease in production.

Interest  expense  increased  approximately  $1,400 in  fiscal  1995 due to debt
amortization  of 12  months  compared  to 11  months  in  fiscal  1994  when  it
originated.

The Company  realized a gain on drilling  arrangements of $138,200 from the sale
of oil and gas interests on the Sistersville well to industry partners.

Accounting Policies
- - -------------------

In March 1995,  the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 121,  "Accounting  for the  Impairment  of
Long-Lived  Assets and for Long-Lived  Assets to be Disposed Of" (SFAS No. 121).
SFAS No. 121 requires that  impairment  losses be recorded on long-lived  assets
used in operations  when  indicators  of  impairment  are present and either the
undiscounted  future cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets or the
fair market value are less than the assets' carrying  amount.  SFAS No. 121 also
addresses the accounting for long-lived  assets that are expected to be disposed
of. The Company adopted SFAS No. 121 during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996
and the change in the Company's  accounting  policy for impairment of long-lived
assets had no effect on the Company's financial statements.



                                      -13-

<PAGE>

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock Based
Compensation" (SFAS No. 123), was issued by the Financial  Accounting  Standards
Board in  October  1995.  SFAS No.  123  establishes  financial  accounting  and
reporting  standards  for stock  based  employee  compensation  plans as well as
transactions  in which an entity issues its equity  instruments to acquire goods
or services  from  non-employees.  The  Company  will  include  the  disclosures
required by SFAS No. 123 in the notes to future financial statements.

Financial Condition
- - -------------------

At March 31, 1996, the Company had a working capital deficit of $157,300.

The following  summary table reflects the Company's  comparative  cash flows for
the two years ended March 31, 1996:

                                                     1996           1995
                                                    ------        -------

     Net cash used in operating  activities         $ (181,600)    $  (56,500)
     Net cash used by investing activities            (227,600)      (219,800)
     Net cash provided by financing activities         409,400        276,300

Net cash used in operations increased in fiscal 1996 compared to fiscal 1995 due
to a number of factors including lower oil production volumes, higher production
costs and an increase in general and administrative expenses.

Net cash used in investing  activities  of  $(227,600)  in fiscal 1996  resulted
primarily from the  acquisition of additional  working  interests in oil and gas
properties  from unrelated  third parties in connection  with the Asset Purchase
Agreement  for  $668,000,   the  acquisition  of  producing  properties  in  the
Denver-Julesburg  Basin for $264,000 and other capital  expenditures of $11,000.
The  Company  received  $700,000  cash in  connection  with the  Asset  Purchase
Agreement  and proceeds of $16,000  from the sale of an oil property  which were
utilized  to  partially  fund  the  investing  activities.  Additional  cash was
utilized  from the  financing  activities  to fund the balance of the  investing
activities.

Net cash used in investing  activities  of  $(219,800)  in fiscal 1995  resulted
primarily from capital expenditures on the Sparkle #1 well.

Net cash  provided by financing  activities  of $409,400 in fiscal 1996 resulted
from net proceeds of $516,000 from the private  placement and $60,000 in owners'
contributions  which were applicable for the period prior to the contribution of
certain oil and gas properties to the Company in December 1995. In addition, the
Company  borrowed  $95,000  from a major Class B  shareholder  and $17,000  from
Bishop Capital  Corporation.  The Company  repaid the $95,000  borrowings to the
major  Class B  shareholder  and  $184,000 of bank debt which was assumed by the
Company in  connection  with the Asset  Purchase  Agreement.  The  Company  also
utilized noncash  financing in the form of common and Class B common stock and a
production payment obligation as additional  consideration for acquisition costs
of oil and gas properties.

Net cash  provided by  financing  activities  of $276,300 in fiscal 1995 results
primarily from owners' contributions of $319,400 offset by principal payments on
borrowings of $43,100.

The Company's  oil and gas strategy is and will  continue to be the  acquisition
and development of leases underlying large rivers and lakes in known oil and gas
fields (the "River Leases").  The Company also is acquiring  producing cash flow
properties  in the  Denver-Julesburg  Basin in Colorado to augment and diversify
its  strategy on the River  Leases.  The Company  will also review and  consider
acquiring or  participating  in other oil and gas projects which  management may
expect  will  increase  the cash  flow  and/or  add to the  long-term  financial
stability of the Company.
                                      -14-


<PAGE>

A portion of the Company's oil and gas reserves are Proved Undeveloped Reserves.
Successful  development  and  production  of such  reserves  cannot be  assured.
Additional  drilling  will  be  necessary  in  future  years  both  to  maintain
production  levels  and to define  the extent  and  recoverability  of  existing
reserves.  There is no  assurance  that present oil and gas wells of the Company
will continue to produce at current or  anticipated  rates of  production,  that
development  drilling will be  successful,  that  production of oil and gas will
commence when expected,  or that there will be favorable markets for oil and gas
which may be produced in the future.

The Company's  development plans include the drilling of offsets to the existing
river wells as a preliminary  priority while gradually  drilling new wells under
previously undrilled river projects at the rate of three to five wells per year.
It is  estimated  that  capital  of  $1,700,000  will be  required  to: (i) meet
operating capital requirements; (ii) carry out management's plans to drill three
to five development wells in fiscal 1997; (iii) purchase existing  producing oil
and gas wells; and (iv) repay  outstanding  debt. The assets  transferred to the
Subsidiary as part of the Asset Purchase  Agreement are not available for use by
the Company.  To meet these  requirements,  management  is  conducting a private
placement  of up to  1,800,000  shares of the  Company's  common stock for gross
proceeds of $1,800,000.  As of March 31, 1996, the Company received  proceeds of
$520,887  (net of  commissions  and other  offering  expenses).  The offering is
continuing  and the Company may receive up to $1,262,500 of additional  proceeds
(before  deduction of  commissions  and other  offering  costs).  If the maximum
proceeds  from this  offering  are  raised,  the Company  believes  that the net
proceeds would be sufficient to fund planned activities through at least the end
of fiscal  1997.  If the maximum  proceeds are not raised,  management  may seek
alternative financing  arrangements,  including additional bank financing and/or
the  promotion  of drilling  arrangements  to oil  industry  partners  and other
investors.  There is no assurance  that the bank  financing or the  promotion of
drilling  arrangements  to industry  partners and other investors will occur. No
commitments have been received for any such financing or drilling  arrangements.
If such financing is not obtained or alternate drilling arrangements  completed,
the Company could experience  significant cash flow problems.  In such case, the
Company  may have to  promote  a well by  selling  a  portion  of its  leasehold
acreage.  While management believes obtaining financing through industry partner
promotion  is a  viable  means  to fund  development,  it is not  the  preferred
alternative since it results in a lower share of the related proved reserves and
cash flows.

Subsequent to March 31, 1996, the Company borrowed  $100,000 from its Subsidiary
to  pay  various  trade  accounts  payable  and  the  $17,522  note  payable  to
Subsidiary.  In addition,  the Company borrowed $430,000 from a bank to purchase
oil  and  gas  producing  properties  in the  Denver-Julesburg  Basin  and  fund
operating capital requirements.

Impact of Inflation
- - -------------------

The Company  cannot  determine the precise  effects of inflation.  However,  the
impact of general price  inflation has not had a material  adverse effect on the
results of the Company's operations.

Item 7. Financial Statements
- - ----------------------------

Information  with respect to this item appears on page F-1 of this report.  Such
information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item  8.  Changes  in and  Disagreements  with  Accountants  on  Accounting  and
          Financial Disclosure
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     None.

                                      -15-


<PAGE>

                                    Part III
                                    --------

Item 9.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

     a. Identification of Directors and Executive Officers

     The following  are the  directors and executive  officers of the Company at
June 20, 1996, all of whom took office on December 8, 1995:

        Name                Age                     Office
        ----                ---                     ------

     Karlton Terry          42          Chairman of the Board, President and
                                         Chief Executive Officer

     Jubal Terry            38          Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer
                                         and   Chief    Operating Officer

     Denis Bell             62          Director

     Karlton  Terry.  Mr. Terry is a graduate of the University of Colorado with
post graduate work at Brown  University  and has 16 years  experience in the oil
and gas business. He began his career as a landman for Samuel Gary Oil Producer,
and  formed  and  was  president  of  Leed  Petroleum   Corporation   which  was
subsequently sold to Burma Oil of England.  Since the sale of Leed, he has acted
as president of Karlton Terry Oil Company ("KTOC") for the last twelve years.

     Jubal Terry. Mr. Terry is a geologist and attended Western State University
in Colorado.  He has worked as an independent  geologist for Amoco,  Samuel Gary
Oil Producer,  and has a wide range of experience in the Rocky  Mountain  region
and the  Appalachian  Basin. He started working for KTOC in 1986 and became Vice
President of KTOC in 1994.

     Denis Bell.  Mr. Bell is executive  chairman and a founding  shareholder of
Rackwood  Colliery  Company  Limited,  a coal  producing  company  in the United
Kingdom.  He was appointed a director of Rackwood  Colliery  Company  Limited in
1993. His experience in mining, particularly open cast mining, commenced in 1968
when he  established  his own company to operate a number of open cast sites and
two  small  underground  mines.  This  company  was  sold to  Mining  Investment
Corporation Limited,  where he remained a director until 1979. Since then he has
been involved as an Executive Director of a number of private and public mineral
companies,  including NSM PLC (from which he resigned in 1989), Anglo United PLC
(from which he resigned in 1991) and Denis Bell Inc. and its  subsidiaries.  Mr.
Bell,  through  Haddon,  Inc.,  of which he owns  100%,  has  owned  oil and gas
properties in the United States since 1983.

The  directors  of the Company are elected to hold office  until the next annual
meeting of  shareholders  or until a successor  has been elected and  qualified.
Officers of the Company are elected  annually by the Board of Directors and hold
office until their successors are duly elected and qualified.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>

No  arrangement  or  understanding  exists between any of the above officers and
directors  pursuant  to which any one of those  persons  were  selected  to such
office or position.  None of the directors hold directorships in other companies
except as noted above.

     b. Identification of Certain Significant Employees

         Not applicable

     c. Family Relationships

         Karlton Terry and Jubal Terry are brothers.

     d. Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

         Not applicable

     e. Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
executive  officers  and  directors,  and  persons  who own more than 10% of the
outstanding common stock of the Company to file reports of ownership and changes
in ownership  with the SEC and NASDAQ.  Based solely on its review of the copies
of  such  reports  received  by it,  or  written  representations  from  certain
reporting  persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons,  the Company
believes that during fiscal 1996, its executive officers,  directors and greater
than ten percent stockholders complied with all applicable filing requirements.

Item 10.  Executive Compensation
- - --------------------------------

     a. Summary Compensation Table

     The  following  table sets  forth the  compensation  received  by the Chief
Executive  Officer for the years ended March 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994.  No other
executive  officer had total annual salary and bonus exceeding  $100,000 for the
year ended March 31, 1996.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                         Long Term
                                        Annual Compensation                          Compensation Awards
                      -------------------------------------------------------    ----------------------------
Name and Principal                                               Other Annual      Restricted        Options
Position              Year         Salary          Bonus        Compensation     Stock Award ($)     SARS (#)
- - ------------------    ----       ---------        -------       --------------   ---------------     --------

<S>                   <C>          <C>              <C>           <C>              <C>                <C>

Karlton Terry         1996        $ 52,083         $    --        $    --          $     --             --
President, Chief
Executive Officer
and Director  (1)

Robert E. Thrailkill  1996        $145,000         $    --        $     --         $  22,500  (3)    25,000 (4)
President,Chief       1995         145,000              --              --            15,500  (5)    50,000 (6)
Executive Officer     1994         145,000           3,000              --                --             --
and Director  (2)


                                                               -17-

<PAGE>

- - ----------

(1)  Karlton Terry became Chief Executive Officer on December 8, 1995.
     
(2)  Robert E. Thrailkill was the  Registrant's  Chief Executive  Officer in the current fiscal year through December 7, 1995. Mr.
     Thrailkill is currently the chief executive officer of Bishop Capital Corporation,  a wholly-owned subsidiary. Mr. Thrailkill
     does not perform any policy making functions for the Registrant.
     
(3)  Consists of 15,000 shares  allocated and issued from the 1987 Stock Bonus Plan with a fair market value of $1.50 per share on
     the award date.
     
(4)  Consists of securities  underlying  options  exercisable on date of grant (October 11, 1995) at a per share exercise price of
     $1.65 and expires five years thereafter.
     
(5)  Consists of 25,000  shares  allocated and issued from the 1987 Stock Bonus Plan with a fair market value of $.62 per share on
     the award date.
     
(6)  Consists of securities  underlying options  exercisable on date of grant (September 6, 1994) at a per share exercise price of
     $.68 and expires five years thereafter.


</TABLE>

The columns for "Long-Term  Incentive Plan Payouts" and "All Other Compensation"
were omitted from the Summary  Compensation Table since there was no information
reportable for the years ended March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.

     b. Option/SAR Grants Table

     The following table provides information with respect to the grant of stock
options  pursuant to the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan to the Chief Executive
Officer  in fiscal  1996.  (See  footnotes  (1) and (2) under Item  10(a)).  The
Company does not have any outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs").

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                 Potential Realizable
                           Number of     % of Total                                Value at Assumed
                          Securities       Options      Exercise                 Annual Rates of Stock
                          Underlying      Granted to    or Base                       Option Term (1)
                           Options        Employees      Price      Expiration    ---------------------    
          Name           Granted (#)   in Fiscal 1996  ($/Share)       Date          5%           10%
- - ---------------------   -----------   --------------   ---------   ------------   --------      -------
<S>                        <C>              <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>

Robert E. Thrailkill       25,000          50.0%         $  1.65    10/11/2000     $11,500      $25,250

     
(1)  The dollar  amounts under these columns  represent the potential  realizable  value of the grant of option  assuming that the
     market  price of the  Company's  common  stock  appreciates  in value from the date of grant at the 5% and 10%  annual  rates
     prescribed by the SEC and therefore are not intended to forecast  possible future  appreciation,  if any, of the price of the
     Company's common stock.
</TABLE>

     c. Aggregated Option Exercise and Fiscal Year-End Option Value Table

     There were no exercise of stock options by the Chief  Executive  Officer in
fiscal 1996.  (See footnotes (1) and (2) under Item 10(a)).  The following table
shows the number of shares covered by both exercisable and non-exercisable stock
options as of March 31,  1996 and their  values at such date.  There are no SARs
outstanding at March 31, 1996.



                                      -18-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Number of Securities                   Value of
                                      Underlying Unexercised           Unexercised In-the-Money
                                       Options at FY-End (#)           Options at FY-End ($)(1)
                                  -----------------------------      ---------------------------
        Name                       Exercisable   Unexercisable       Exercisable   Unexercisable
- - ---------------------------        -----------   -------------       -----------   -------------

<S>                          <C>                      <C>               <C>              <C>              
Robert E. Thrailkill              120,000              --               $43,700            --

- - ----------
(1)  On March 31,  1996,  the last  reported  bid price of the  Common  Stock as quoted on NASDAQ  was $1.50 per  share.  Value is
     calculated  on the basis of the  difference  between the option price and $1.50  multiplied by the number of shares of Common
     Stock granted at that option price.  The exercise  prices for the various options  granted are $1.65 (25,000  options),  $.68
     (50,000 options) and $1.44 (45,000 options). At March 31, 1996, the last reported bid price was lower than the exercise price
     of $1.65 for the 25,000 options and, therefore, no value is ascribed to those options in the above table.


</TABLE>

     d. Compensation of Directors

     During  fiscal  1996,  the  Company   compensated  two  prior  non-employee
directors  $3,300 each for services as directors.  All directors are  reimbursed
for their  travel  expenses  in  connection  with  meetings.  There are no other
arrangements  whereby any of the Company's  directors received  compensation for
services  as a director  during  fiscal  1996 in  addition  to or in lieu of the
amounts stated above.

     e. Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control
         Arrangements.

     In  December  1995,  the  Company  entered  into  an  Executive  Employment
Agreement (the  "Agreement")  with Karlton Terry, the Company's  President.  The
Agreement is for a three year term and is renewable from year to year thereafter
unless terminated prior by either party. Under the Agreement,  Mr. Terry is paid
an annual  salary of  $125,000,  which  salary may be  increased by the Board of
Directors from time to time in accordance with normal business  practices of the
Company;  his expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the Company's  policies
and procedures;  he participates in and receives  established  employee benefits
and he is entitled to  participate  in any future  benefit made available by the
Company to its executives. The Agreement terminates upon death or disability and
may be  terminated by the Company for cause (as defined in the  Agreement).  The
Agreement  may also be  terminated  upon a breach of the  Agreement,  and in the
event there is a change in control of the Company (as defined in the Agreement).
If the  Agreement  is  terminated  because of a breach of the  Agreement  by the
Company or a change in control, the Company shall pay severance pay equal to the
product of (a) the annual salary rate in effect multiplied by (b) the greater of
the  number  of  years  (including  partial  years)  remaining  in the  term  of
employment  or the number one.  The  Agreement  provides  that upon  death,  the
Company shall pay one fourth of the annual salary; upon disability,  the Company
shall pay salary for a  continuous  period of six months  (less  amounts paid by
insurance);  and, upon  termination for cause,  the Company shall pay any salary
due up to the termination date.

                                      -19-

<PAGE>


Item 11.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     a. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

     The following table shows, as of June 20, 1996,  those persons known by the
Company  to be the  beneficial  owners of more than 5% of the  Company's  Common
Stock or Class B Common Stock:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Amount and Nature
                               Name and Address of                        of Beneficial               Percent
    Title of Class              Beneficial Owner                             Ownership                of Class
 ----------------------        --------------------                       -----------------           --------

<S>                            <C>                                           <C>                       <C>  
Class B Common Stock            Karlton Terry                              5,555,522  (1)              76.4%
                                700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 106
                                Denver, CO 80203

Class B Common Stock            Jubal Terry                                1,159,353  (2)              16.0%
                                700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 106
                                Denver, CO 80203

Class B Common Stock            Karlton Terry Oil Company                  4,064,565                   55.9%
                                700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 106
                                Denver, CO 80203

Common Stock                    LMU & Company                                500,000  (3)              15.4%
                                1200 17th Street, Suite 1000
                                Denver, CO 80202

Common Stock                    Robert E. Thrailkill                         444,880  (4)              15.0%
                                716 College View Dr.
                                Riverton, WY 82501

Common Stock                    Francarep, Inc.                              275,000                    9.6%
                                50 Av. des Champs-Elysees
                                75008 Paris, France

Common Stock                    Haddon, Inc.                                 175,000                    6.1%
                                c/o Coal Contractors
                                Gowen Mine
                                Fern Glen, PA 18241-2145

(1)  Includes  1,490,957 shares owned directly and 4,064,565 shares owned indirectly  through Karlton Terry Oil Company,  of which
     Karlton Terry owns 87.5%.

(2)  Does not include any indirect ownership of shares through Karlton Terry Oil Company, of which Jubal Terry owns 12.5%.

(3)  Includes currently exercisable options to acquire 400,000 shares of Common Stock at $1.00 per share.

(4)  Includes currently exercisable options to acquire 120,000 shares of Common Stock.

</TABLE>

                                                               -20-

<PAGE>

     b. Security Ownership of Management

     The following table shows, as of June 20, 1996,  management's  ownership of
the Company's Common Stock and Class B Common Stock:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Amount and Nature
                                      Name and Address                      of Beneficial               Percent
   Title of Class                   of Beneficial Owner                       Ownership                of Class
   --------------                   -------------------                       ---------                --------

<S>                             <C>                                          <C>                          <C>  
Class B Common Stock            Karlton Terry                                5,555,522  (1)              76.4%
                                700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 106
                                Denver, CO 80203

Class B Common Stock            Jubal Terry                                   1,159,353  (2)              16.0%
                                700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 106
                                Denver, CO 80203

Class B Common Stock            Denis Bell                                      192,945  (3)               2.7%
                                700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 1
                                Denver, CO 80203

Class B Common Stock            All officers and directors as a
                                group (three persons)                          6,907,820                  95.1%

Common Stock                    Denis Bell                                       175,000 (3)               6.1%
                                700 East 9th Avenue, Suite 106
                                Denver, CO 80203

Common Stock                   All officers and directors as a
                               group (three  persons)                            175,000                   6.1%


 ----------

(1)  Includes  1,490,957 shares owned directly and 4,064,565 shares owned indirectly  through Karlton Terry Oil Company,  of which
     Karlton Terry owns 87.5%.

(2)  Does not include any indirect ownership of shares through Karlton Terry Oil Company, of which Jubal Terry owns 12.5%.

(3)  All shares are owned indirectly through Haddon, Inc., of which Mr. Bell owns 100%.


</TABLE>

Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     a. Certain Relationships

     Pursuant to an Asset  Purchase  Agreement  dated October 19, 1995 among the
Company, Karlton Terry Oil Company ("KTOC"), Karlton Terry and Jubal Terry ( the
"Shareholders"  of KTOC),  the Company  acquired  on  December 8, 1995,  certain
interests in and to various oil and gas  prospects of KTOC and the  Shareholders
in exchange  for  7,717,820  "restricted"  shares of Class B common stock of the
Company.  At the closing date,  additional working interests in the KTOC oil and
gas  properties  were  acquired  from  Haddon,  Inc.,  Francarep  Inc. and other
non-affiliated  third  parties for cash, a portion of the  "restricted"  Class B
common stock issued in the  transaction,  and other  consideration.  Haddon Inc.
which is owned  100% by Denis  Bell,  a  director,  received  367,945  shares of
"restricted"  Class B common stock of which 175,000  shares were  converted into
Common Stock.  Francarep Inc.  received  605,000 shares of "restricted"  Class B
common stock of which  275,000  shares were  converted  into Common  Stock.  The
Common Stock issued to Haddon,  Inc. and  Francarep,  Inc. is subject to certain
registration rights.

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

     The Company also issued  100,000  shares of Common Stock upon the effective
date of the  Company's  Form S-8 to LMU & Company for property  acquisition  and
other services.  LMU & Company also has currently exercisable options to acquire
400,000 shares of Common Stock at $1.00 per share.

     b. Indebtedness of Management

     No officer or  director  of the  Company  has been  indebted to the Company
directly or indirectly during fiscal year 1996 in an amount exceeding $60,000.

     c. Transactions with Parent of Issuer

         Not applicable

     d. Transactions with Promoters

         Not applicable


















                                      -22-

<PAGE>

                                     PART IV
                                     -------

Item 13.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
- - -------------------------------------------

     a. Exhibits

        3.1    Articles of Incorporation  and Bylaws  (incorporated by reference
               to  Exhibits   2.1  and  2.2  of  the   Registrant's   Form  S-18
               Registration Statement, Registration No. 2-72736-1 filed June 11,
               1981). (1)

        3.2    Articles   of   Incorporation   and  Bylaws  for  Metro   Capital
               Corporation (formerly Metro Cable Corporation)  reincorporated in
               Wyoming from Colorado  effective March 31, 1992  (incorporated by
               reference to Exhibit 3.2 to  Registrant's  Form 10-K for the year
               ended March 31, 1992, File No. 0-10006). (1)

        3.3    Amended Articles of Incorporation for American Rivers Oil Company
               (formerly Metro Capital Corporation).

        10.4   1987 Stock Bonus Plan dated  December 17, 1987  (incorporated  by
               reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Registrant's  Form 10-K for the year
               ended March 31, 1989, File No. 0-10006). (1)

        10.5   Asset  Purchase  Agreement,  dated  October  19,  1995  among the
               Registrant,  Karlton  Terry Oil Company,  Karlton Terry and Jubal
               Terry  (incorporated  by reference to Form 8-K dated  December 8,
               1995, File No. 0-10006). (1)

       10.6     Operating   Agreement   dated   November   30,  1995  among  the
                Registrant,    Karlton   Terry   Oil   Company,   Bishop   Cable
                Communications  Corporation,   Karlton  Terry  and  Jubal  Terry
                (incorporated  by reference to Form 8-K dated  December 8, 1995,
                File No. 0-10006). (1)

        10.7   Management   Agreement   dated   November   30,  1995  among  the
               Registrant, Bishop Cable Communications Corporation and Robert E.
               Thrailkill  (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K dated December
               8, 1995, File No. 0-10006). (1)

        10.8   Voting  Agreement  dated November 30, 1995 among the  Registrant,
               Bishop  Cable  Communications  Corporation,   Karlton  Terry  Oil
               Company, Karlton Terry and Jubal Terry (incorporated by reference
               to Form 8-K dated December 8, 1995, File No. 0-10006). (1)

        10.9   Executive  Employment  Agreement dated December 1, 1995,  between
               the Registrant and Karlton Terry.

        10.10  1995  Stock  Option  and Stock  Compensation  Plan as  adopted on
               December 8, 1995.

        21     Subsidiaries of the Registrant

        27     Financial Data Schedule (submitted only in electronic format).

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

          (1)    Not filed  herewith.  In  accordance  with  Rule  12B-32 of the
                 General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act
                 of 1934,  reference is made to a document previously filed with
                 the Commission.

     b. Reports on Form 8-K

         None



































                                      -24-
<PAGE>
                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                                         PAGE
                                                                         ----

American Rivers Oil Company and Subsidiaries
- - --------------------------------------------

Independent Auditor's Report................................................F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheet - March 31, 1996.................................F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations - For the Years 
         Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995......................................F-4

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - For the 
         Years Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995................................F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - For the Years Ended 
         March 31, 1996 and 1995............................................F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................................F-7


Bishop Capital Corporation and Subsidiaries
- - -------------------------------------------

Independent Auditor's Report................................................F-20

Consolidated Balance Sheet - March 31, 1996.................................F-21

Consolidated Statements of Operations - For the Years Ended 
         March 31, 1996 and 1995............................................F-22

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity - For the
         Years Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995................................F-23

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - For the Years Ended 
         March 31, 1996 and 1995............................................F-24

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................................F-25



                                       F1

<PAGE>



                          INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT




Board of Directors
American Rivers Oil Company
Denver, Colorado



We have audited the accompanying  consolidated  balance sheet of American Rivers
Oil Company and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996, and the related  consolidated
statements of operations,  changes in stockholders'  equity,  and cash flows for
the years ended  March 31, 1996 and 1995.  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.  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 provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of American Rivers Oil Company and
subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for the years  ended  March 31,  1996 and 1995,  in  conformity  with
generally accepted accounting principles.




/s/ Hein + Associates LLP
HEIN + ASSOCIATES LLP

Denver, Colorado
June 5, 1996

                                       F2

<PAGE>



                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                 MARCH 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     ASSETS
<S>                                                                                 <C>        

CURRENT ASSETS:
    Cash ........................................................................   $       275
    Oil and gas sales receivable ................................................        57,795
    Accounts receivable, joint interest owners ..................................         6,978
    Prepaid expenses ............................................................         9,137
                                                                                    -----------
             Total current assets ...............................................        74,185

OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES, at cost, using successful efforts method:
    Proved properties ...........................................................     3,320,659
    Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ...................      (124,630)
                                                                                    -----------
             Net oil and gas properties .........................................     3,196,029
INVESTMENT IN BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION ........................................     2,134,782

OTHER ASSETS ....................................................................         1,137
                                                                                     -----------
TOTAL ASSETS ....................................................................   $ 5,406,133
                                                                                     ===========

                                          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Payable to Class B shareholder ...............................................   $   37,704
    Payables to Bishop Capital Corporation:
         Note ....................................................................       17,522
         Other ...................................................................       23,579
    Current maturities of long-term debt .........................................        6,600
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses ........................................      146,068
                                                                                      ---------
             Total current liabilities ...........................................      231,473

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities ..........................................       70,584

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES ............................................................      251,400

COMMITMENTS (NOTE 8)

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Preferred stock, $.50 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no
         shares issued ...........................................................         --
    Common stock, $.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized;
         3,953,004 shares issued .................................................       39,530
    Class B common stock, $.01 par value; 8,000,000 shares authorized;
         7,267,820 shares issued and outstanding .................................       72,678
    Additional paid-in capital ...................................................    7,071,356
    Accumulated deficit ..........................................................     (594,826)
    Less treasury stock, at cost, 1,101,234 of common shares .....................   (1,736,062)
                                                                                     ----------
             Total stockholders' equity ..........................................    4,852,676
                                                                                     ----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY .......................................  $ 5,406,133
                                                                                     ==========
</TABLE>







       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F3
<PAGE>



                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED
                                                                   MARCH 31,
                                                            -------------------------
                                                                 1996         1995

<S>                                                        <C>            <C>        
                                                            ----------    -----------
REVENUE:
    Oil and gas sales ..................................   $   172,885    $   146,671
    Operator fees ......................................         7,450          4,000
                                                           -----------    -----------
             Total revenue .............................       180,335        150,671

EXPENSES:
    Oil and gas production costs .......................        91,044         53,078
    General and administrative .........................       226,202        142,064
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization ...........        42,513         33,379
                                                           -----------    -----------
             Total expenses ............................       359,759        228,521
                                                           -----------    -----------

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS ...................................      (179,424)       (77,850)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
    Gain on drilling arrangements ......................          --          138,241
    Loss on sale of oil property .......................      (140,451)          --
    Equity in loss of Bishop Capital Corporation .......      (161,799)          --
    Professional fees relating to Contributed Properties      (165,464)          --
    Nonemployee compensatory stock option expense ......      (200,000)          --
    Interest expense ...................................       (17,889)       (22,038)
                                                           -----------    -----------

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES ......................      (865,027)        38,353

DEFERRED INCOME TAX BENEFIT ............................       225,000           --
                                                           -----------    -----------

NET INCOME (LOSS) ......................................   $  (640,027)   $    38,353
                                                           ===========    ===========

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE:
                                                                          
    Common stock .......................................   $      (.15)   $      --
                                                           ===========    ===========
    Class B common stock ...............................   $      (.06)   $       .01
                                                           ===========    ===========
AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING:
    Common stock .......................................     1,640,000           --
                                                           ===========    ===========
    Class B common stock ...............................     7,049,000      6,715,000
                                                           ===========    ===========
</TABLE>






       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F4

<PAGE>

                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                   FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                        
                                                                    Common Stock       Class B Common Stock         Additional
                                                                --------------------   ---------------------          Paid-in
                                                                  Shares     Amount     Shares         Amount         Capital
                                                                ---------   --------   --------       --------      ----------

<S>                                                                   <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>         <C>
BALANCES, April 1, 1994 .....................................        --    $   --      6,714,875   $    67,149    $  (216,817)



   KTOC owners' contributions ...............................        --          --          --            --          319,409

   Net income ...............................................        --          --          --            --             --   
                                                                ---------     --------  ---------    ----------     ---------- 

BALANCES, March 31, 1995 ....................................        --          --     6,714,875        67,149        102,592


   KTOC owners' contributions ...............................        --          --          --            --           60,042

   Net loss prior to reverse acquisition ....................        --          --          --            --             --   

   Consummation of reverse acquisition ......................   2,850,689      28,507        --            --        4,849,785

   Issuance of Class B common stock for 
        Option Properties ...................................      --            --       552,945         5,529        547,416
   Issuance of convertible Class B
        common stock for Option
        Propertiies .........................................      --            --       450,000         4,500        670,500
   Issuance of common stock for services ....................     100,000       1,000        --            --          149,000
   Issuance of common stock for oil and
        gas properties ......................................      14,815         148        --            --           24 852
   Grant of stock options for services ......................       --           --          --            --          200,000
   Issuance of common stock for cash in
        private placement, net ..............................     537,500       5,375        --            --          467,169
   Conversion of Class B common stock .......................     450,000       4,500    (450,000)       (4,500)          --
   Net loss subsequent to reverse acquisition ...............        --          --          --            --             --
                                                                ---------   ----------  ---------    ----------     ---------- 
BALANCES, March 31, 1996 ....................................   3,953,004   $  39,530   7,267,820   $    72,678    $ 7,071,356
                                                                =========   ==========  =========    ==========     ==========
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Treasury Stock
                                                                ----------------------  Accumulated
                                                                 Shares        Amount     Deficit        Total
                                                                --------      --------  -----------    --------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>

BALANCES, April 1, 1994 .....................................        --     $     --    $    --     $ (149,668)

   KTOC owners' contributions ...............................        --           --         --        319,409
   Net income ...............................................        --           --       38,353       38,353
                                                                ---------   ----------  ---------    ---------- 
BALANCES, March 31, 1995 ....................................        --          --        38,353      208,094

   KTOC owners' contributions ...............................        --          --          --         60,042
   Net loss prior to reverse acquisition ....................        --          --       (45,201)     (45,201)
   Consummation of reverse acquisition ......................   1,101,234  (1,736,062)      6,848    3,149,078
   Issuance of Class B common stock for                        
        Option Properties ...................................        --           --         --         552,945
   Issuance of convertible Class B                             
        common stock for Option                                
        Propertiies .........................................        --           --         --         675,000
   Issuance of common stock for services ....................        --           --         --         150,000
   Issuance of common stock for oil and                        
        gas properties ......................................        --           --         --          25,000
   Grant of stock options for services ......................        --           --         --         200,000
   Issuance of common stock for cash in                        
        private placement, net ..............................        --           --         --         472,544
   Conversion of Class B common stock .......................        --           --         --            --
   Net loss  subsequent to reverse acquisition ..............        --           --     (594,826)     (594,826)
                                                                ---------  -----------  ---------    ---------- 
BALANCES, March 31, 1996 ....................................   1,101,234 $(1,736,062)  $(594,826)  $ 4,852,676
                                                                =========  ==========   =========    ==========
</TABLE>

       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F5

<PAGE>



                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                       FOR THE YEARS ENDED
                                                                                             MARCH 31,
                                                                                      ----------------------
                                                                                        1996           1995
                                                                                      --------      --------
<S>                                                                                <C>            <C>        

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss) ............................................................   $  (640,027)   $    38,353
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in
     operating activities:
          Depreciation, depletion and amortization .............................        42,513         33,379
          Equity in loss of Bishop Capital Corporation .........................       161,799           --
          Nonemployee compensatory stock option expense ........................       200,000           --
          Loss on sale of oil property .........................................       140,451           --
          Deferred income tax benefit ..........................................      (225,000)          --
          Issuance of common stock for services ................................        68,250           --
          Gain on drilling arrangements ........................................          --         (138,241)
          Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
              (Increase) decrease in:
                   Accounts receivable:
                     Joint interest billings ...................................        10,396         (8,434)
                     Oil and gas ...............................................       (25,769)           799
                   Other assets ................................................       (34,468)          --
              Increase in:
                   Payable to Class B shareholder ..............................        37,704           --
                   Payable to Bishop Capital Corporation .......................        23,579           --
                   Accounts payable and accrued expenses .......................        58,986         17,620
                                                                                    ----------      ---------
     Net cash used in operating activities .....................................      (181,586)       (56,524)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Acquisition and development costs for oil and gas properties .................      (943,565)      (219,809)
  Cash obtained in reverse acquisition .........................................       700,000           --
  Proceeds from sale of oil property ...........................................        16,000           --
                                                                                    ----------      ---------
     Net cash used in investing activities .....................................      (227,565)      (219,809)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from borrowings .....................................................       112,522           --
  Principal payments on borrowings .............................................      (279,146)       (43,076)
  Proceeds from private placement of common stock ..............................       537,500           --
  Private placement offering costs .............................................       (21,492)          --
  Owners' contributions ........................................................        60,042        319,409
                                                                                    ----------      ---------
     Net cash provided by financing activities .................................       409,426        276,333
                                                                                    ----------      ---------

INCREASE IN CASH ...............................................................           275           --

CASH, beginning of year ........................................................          --             --
                                                                                   ----------      ---------

CASH, end of year ..............................................................   $       275    $      --
                                                                                   ===========    ===========

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Cash paid for interest .......................................................   $    16,374    $    22,038
                                                                                   ===========    ===========
  Cash paid for income taxes ...................................................   $      --      $      --
                                                                                   ===========    ===========

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND
  FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Issuance of Class B common stock for Option Properties .......................   $   552,945    $      --
  Issuance of convertible Class B common stock for Option Properties ...........       675,000           --
  Production payment obligation incurred for Option Properties .................        77,184           --
  Issuance of common stock for oil and gas properties ..........................        25,000           --
  Issuance of common stock for property acquisition services ...................        81,750           --
  Consummation of reverse acquisition:
     Investment in Bishop Capital Corporation ..................................     2,296,581           --
     Oil property ..............................................................       156,451           --

</TABLE>


       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F6

<PAGE>

                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



1.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION:

General - In October 1995, Metro Capital  Corporation  (Metro) and Karlton Terry
Oil Company (KTOC) entered into an Asset Purchase  Agreement whereby KTOC agreed
to exchange certain oil and gas properties (the "Contributed  Properties") for a
total of 7,717,820  shares of Class B common stock of Metro,  which  represented
80% of the issued and  outstanding  voting  securities of Metro. On November 29,
1995,  the  shareholders  of Metro  approved  this  transaction  and the closing
occurred on December 8, 1995. The shareholders  also approved  changing the name
of the  Company  from  Metro to  American  Rivers  Oil  Company  ("AROC"  or the
"Company").  At the closing date,  additional  working interests in the KTOC oil
and gas properties (the "Option  Properties")  were acquired for cash, a portion
of the Class B common shares issued in the transaction, and other consideration.

The  consolidated  financial  statements  included  herein  give effect to these
transactions  by recording  KTOC's  Contributed  Properties at their  historical
carrying  value  since the KTOC  owners  continue  to  exercise  control  of the
Contributed  Properties through their majority voting interest.  Metro's assets,
except for $700,000 cash and an insignificant oil property,  were transferred at
their  historical  carrying value to a wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Bishop Capital
Corporation,  formerly Bishop Cable Communications  Corporation (Bishop),  where
they are being operated  autonomously by the prior  management of Metro pursuant
to the terms of a five-year operating agreement.  The Option Properties acquired
were  recorded  based on the cash and the fair  value of  securities  and  other
consideration issued.

The consolidated  balance sheet at March 31, 1996 reflects AROC's  investment in
Bishop  using  the  equity  method  (see  Note 3).  The  accompanying  financial
statements  include  the  operating  results  and cash flows of the  Contributed
Properties  for all  periods  presented,  and the Option  Properties  and equity
method operating results of Bishop are included  beginning in December 1995 when
the change of control occurred.

Prior to December 8, 1995, the  accompanying  financial  statements  include the
results of  operations  and cash flows  related to the  Contributed  Properties.
Additionally,  the accompanying  financial  statements  include an allocation of
KTOC's general and administrative expenses based on KTOC's activities related to
the Contributed  Properties compared to its overall activities.  The net amounts
required to fund such  activities are presented as a capital  contribution  from
KTOC.

Continuing Operations - The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
on a going concern basis which  contemplates  the  realization of assets and the
liquidation  of  liabilities  in the ordinary  course of business.  At March 31,
1996,  the Company has a working  capital  deficit of  $157,288,  the  Company's
operating  activities have utilized  significant  amounts of cash in each of the
past two years, and the Company has not yet achieved profitable operations.  The
ability of the  Company to  continue as a going  concern is  dependent  upon the
Company's  ability  to  raise  sufficient   capital  to  enable  the  successful
development of the Company's oil and gas properties.


                                       F7

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Through  February 1996, the Company was successful in selling $537,500 of common
stock in a private  placement and, as discussed in Note 12, the Company obtained
additional  debt  financing  for $530,000 in April and May 1996. As discussed in
Note 6,  management is continuing  efforts to sell the maximum  number of shares
offered in the private placement which, if successful,  would result in proceeds
of $1,262,500.  Additionally,  two officers and directors have provided loans of
$37,704 at March 31, 1996 and have advised the Company  that they would  provide
additional  loans  or  personal  guarantees  of loans  from  third  parties,  if
necessary for the Company to continue.  As discussed in Note 12, after  year-end
such officers personally  guaranteed bank debt of $400,000 and pledged 6,596,375
shares of Class B common stock as collateral for borrowings by the Company.

In addition to the measures discussed above,  management  believes the increased
annual revenues from  acquisitions of oil and gas properties since December 1995
will enable the Company to continue its operations in the forthcoming year.


2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Nature of  Operations  - The Company is  primarily  engaged in the  exploration,
development,  and  production of oil and natural gas in the  continental  United
States.  Most of the  Company's  properties  are located along the Ohio River in
West  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Indiana  and  consist  of  both  developed  and
undeveloped acreage.

Principles of Consolidation - The accompanying  financial statements include the
accounts  of the Company and its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries,  except for Bishop
which is  accounted  for under the equity  method due to the  absence of control
discussed in Note 1. All material  intercompany  transactions  and accounts have
been eliminated in consolidation.

Oil and Gas Producing  Activities - The Company follows the "successful efforts"
method  of  accounting  for its oil and gas  properties.  Under  this  method of
accounting,  all  property  acquisition  costs  and  costs  of  exploratory  and
development  wells are  capitalized  when  incurred,  pending  determination  of
whether the well has found proved reserves. If an exploratory well has not found
proved  reserves,  the costs of drilling  the well are  charged to expense.  The
costs of development wells are capitalized whether productive or nonproductive.

Geological  and  geophysical  costs  and the  costs of  carrying  and  retaining
undeveloped  properties are expensed as incurred.  Depreciation and depletion of
capitalized  costs for  producing oil and gas  properties is provided  using the
units-of-production  method based upon proved reserves for each well. Management
estimates that the salvage value of lease and well equipment will  approximately
offset the future liability for plugging and abandonment of the related wells.


                                       F8

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Gains and losses are generally  recognized  upon the sale of interests in proved
oil and gas  properties  based on the portion of the property sold. For sales of
partial interests in unproved  properties,  the Company treats the proceeds as a
recovery of costs with no gain recognized until all costs have been recovered.

Impairment  of  Long-Lived  Assets - In March  1995,  the  Financial  Accounting
Standards  Board issued  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 121,
"Accounting  for the Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets." SFAS No. 121 changes the
Company's method of determining impairment for all long-lived assets,  including
proved oil and gas properties. During the year ended March 31, 1996, the Company
adopted SFAS No. 121, which requires the Company to assess  impairment  whenever
events or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that the  carrying  amount of a
long-lived  asset may not be  recoverable.  When an assessment for impairment of
oil and gas properties is performed,  the Company is required to compare the net
carrying value of proved oil and gas properties on a  lease-by-lease  basis (the
lowest level at which cash flows can be determined on a consistent basis) to the
related estimates of undiscounted future net cash flows for such properties.  If
the net  carrying  value  exceeds the net cash flows,  then  impairment  will be
recognized  to reduce  the  carrying  value to the  estimated  fair  value.  The
adoption of SFAS No. 121 had no effect on the  Company's  results of  operations
for the year ended March 31, 1996.

Income Taxes - Income taxes are provided  for in  accordance  with  Statement of
Financial  Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." SFAS No.
109 requires an asset and liability  approach in the recognition of deferred tax
liabilities  and assets for the expected  future tax  consequences  of temporary
differences  between the  carrying  amounts  and the tax bases of the  Company's
assets and liabilities.

Revenue  Recognition  - Revenue from oil and gas sales is recorded on an accrual
basis as sales are made and deliveries occur.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share - The  computation of net income (loss) per share is
based on the rights of each class of common  stock.  The Class B common stock is
not entitled to  participate in any  distribution  of shares or assets of Bishop
until such  shares are  converted  into  common  stock  beginning  in June 1998.
Accordingly,  beginning in December  1995, the common shares were allocated 100%
of the subsidiary's loss and a pro rata percentage of the remaining consolidated
loss based on the ratio of common shares outstanding to total common and Class B
shares  outstanding.  The Class B common shares were allocated the remaining pro
rata percentage of the loss.

Accounting  Estimates - The  preparation  of financial  statements in conformity
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to make
estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the amounts  reported in the  financial
statements  and the  accompanying  notes.  The actual  results could differ from
those estimates.


                                       F9

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



The  Company's  financial  statements  are  based  on a  number  of  significant
estimates  including the allowance for doubtful  accounts,  determination of the
estimated fair value of oil and gas properties  acquired for capital stock,  and
oil and gas  reserve  quantities  which  are the basis  for the  calculation  of
depreciation, depletion, and impairment of oil and gas properties. The Company's
reserve  estimates are reviewed by an independent  petroleum  engineering  firm.
However,  management  emphasizes that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise
and that estimates of more recent  discoveries are more imprecise than those for
properties  with long production  histories.  At March 31, 1996, over 80% of the
Company's oil and gas reserves are  attributable  to  non-producing  properties.
Accordingly,   the  Company's   estimates  are  expected  to  change  as  future
information becomes available.

As  mandated  under  SFAS  No.  121,  the  Company  is  required  under  certain
circumstances  to evaluate the possible  impairment of the carrying value of its
long-lived assets. For proved oil and gas properties, this involves a comparison
to the estimated future  undiscounted cash flows, which is the primary basis for
determining  the  related  fair values for such  properties.  In addition to the
uncertainties  inherent in the reserve  estimation  process,  these  amounts are
affected by historical  and projected  prices for oil and natural gas which have
typically been  volatile.  Furthermore,  a substantial  portion of the Company's
reserves  are  considered  proved  undeveloped  reserves,  which  are even  more
difficult to estimate.  It is reasonably possible that the Company's oil and gas
reserve estimates will materially change in the forthcoming year.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting  Standards - In October 1995, the Financial
Accounting  Standards  Board  issued  a new  statement  titled  "Accounting  for
Stock-Based  Compensation" (SFAS 123). The new statement is effective for fiscal
years  beginning  after  December 15, 1995.  SFAS 123  encourages,  but does not
require,  companies to recognize compensation expense for grants of stock, stock
options,  and  other  equity  instruments  to  employees  based  on fair  value.
Companies  that do not adopt the fair value  accounting  rules must disclose the
impact of  adopting  the new  method in the notes to the  financial  statements.
Transactions in equity instruments with non-employees for goods or services must
be accounted for on the fair value method. For transactions with employees,  the
Company  currently does not intend to adopt the fair value accounting under SFAS
123, and will be subject only to the related disclosure requirements.


3. INVESTMENT IN BISHOP:

As  discussed  in Note 1,  Bishop is being  operated  autonomously  by the prior
management of Metro pursuant to the terms of separate Operating, Management, and
Voting  Agreements.  Since  the  Company  does  not  exercise  control  over the
wholly-owned  subsidiary's  operations,  the  investment is accounted for by the
equity method.


                                       F10

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Following is a summary of condensed financial information  pertaining to Bishop.
Results of operations  are  presented  for the period  subsequent to the reverse
acquisition.


                                                       MARCH 31,
                                                         1996
                                                      -----------  
            Balance sheet data:
                Current assets ....................   $ 1,018,000
                Noncurrent assets .................     1,287,000
                Current liabilities ...............      (103,000)
                Unrealized holding gain ...........       (67,000)
                                                      -----------
                     Company's equity in net assets   $ 2,135,000
                                                      ===========


                                                       FOUR MONTHS
                                                          ENDED   
                                                        MARCH 31, 
                                                           1996   
                                                        --------- 
    Operations data:
      Revenue .......................................   $  26,000 
      Costs and expenses ............................    (199,000)
      Gain (loss) on sale of marketable .............       3,000 
           securities
      Other income (expense) ........................       8,000 
                                                        --------- 
           Net loss .................................   $(162,000)
                                                        ========= 
           Company's equity in Bishop's loss ........   $(162,000)
                                                        =========


In October 1995,  Metro awarded 30,000 shares of the Company's common stock from
the 1987 Stock  Bonus Plan to  officers  and  employees  of Metro.  Non-employee
directors  were  awarded an  additional  20,000  shares of Metro's  common stock
outside of the Plan.  The awarded  shares were not issued as of March 31,  1996.
Compensation  related to these awards amounted to $75,000 which is not reflected
in the accompanying  financial  statements since it occurred prior to the change
of control. In October 1995, Metro also granted options to acquire 70,000 shares
of common  stock from the 1992 Stock  Option Plan to  officers,  employees,  and
directors of which 45,000 are exercisable at $1.50 per share and 25,000 at $1.65
per share.


4. INCOME TAXES:

In addition to the  entities  which are  consolidated  for  financial  reporting
purposes,  the  Company  prepares a  consolidated  income tax return with Bishop
Capital Corporation. Additionally, the results of KTOC prior to the closing date
of the reverse  acquisition are excluded from the Company's  consolidated income
tax return.

                                       F11

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



A reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory rate to the income tax benefit
reported in the accompanying financial statements is as follows:

                                                   YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                -------------------------
                                                     1996          1995
                                                    -----        -------

Computed income tax benefit (expense) 
  at the statutory rate ..........................   $ 294,000    $ (13,000)
State income taxes and other .....................      23,000       (1,000)
Nonqualified stock option expense not deductible
  for taxes ......................................     (75,000)         --
Income taxes attributable to KTOC ................     (17,000)      14,000
                                                     ---------      -------
       Total .....................................   $ 225,000    $     --
                                                     =========      =======

Deferred  tax assets  (liabilities)  as of March 31, 1996 are  comprised  of the
following:

     Long-term asset - net operating loss carryforwards ..........    $ 150,000
       (excluding Bishop)

     Long-term liability for oil and gas properties ..............     (401,400)
                                                                       ---------

            Net long-term liability ..............................    $(251,400)
                                                                       ========

At March 31, 1996, the Company has net operating loss  carryforwards  for income
tax purposes of approximately  $900,000,  which expire primarily in 2009 through
2011. Approximately $500,000 of the Company's net operating loss carryforward is
attributable to Bishop pursuant to the Asset Purchase  Agreement.  In connection
with the Asset Purchase Agreement discussed in Note 1, Bishop is entitled to the
economic benefit for net operating loss carryforwards of approximately  $700,000
at the date of closing.  Accordingly,  to the extent that Bishop realizes future
taxable income up to this amount, the Company will be required to either utilize
the net  operating  loss  carryforward  to eliminate the taxes or, if previously
utilized,  the Company  will be  required  to pay the taxes  related to Bishop's
earnings.

For income tax  purposes,  the  acquisition  of the  Option  Properties  and the
Contributed  Properties  discussed in Note 1 were treated as a tax free exchange
and as a result, the carrying value of the properties exceeds the related income
tax basis. Due to these temporary  differences,  the Company recognized deferred
income taxes of $476,400 as part of the purchase price allocation.



                                       F12

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


5. LONG-TERM DEBT:

At March 31, 1996,  long-term debt consists of a production  payment  obligation
that was  incurred in  connection  with the  purchase  of the Option  Properties
discussed in Note 1. As part of the consideration for the Option Properties, the
Company agreed to assign a portion of the oil and gas sales proceeds from one of
the  properties  acquired  until a total of $130,000 is paid to the seller.  The
Company  recorded  this  non-recourse  obligation  at the  present  value of the
expected cash flows from the property of $77,184,  based on a discount factor of
11.5%. The estimated  maturities of the discounted  obligation are approximately
$6,600 per year.


6. COMMON STOCK:

In connection  with the Asset  Purchase  Agreement,  the Company  issued 100,000
shares of common stock to a non-affiliated  third party for property acquisition
services.  These shares were recorded at an estimated fair value of $150,000, of
which $81,750 was capitalized as a property  acquisition  cost and the remaining
$68,250 was charged to operations.

The Company  also  agreed to issue  options to a  non-affiliated  third party to
acquire up to 400,000  shares of common stock at $1.00 per share in lieu of cash
for services to be performed on behalf of the Company.  The  difference  between
the option price of $1.00 and the fair market value of the common stock of $1.50
was recorded as a charge to operations of $200,000 in December 1995.

In connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement,  the Company agreed to grant an
option  (the"Option")  to Bishop to acquire 800,000 shares of common stock to be
distributed  pro rata to the  holders of the common  stock.  The Option  will be
exercisable  for a period  of 120 days at an  exercise  price of $.10 per  share
commencing  December 1998 in the event that one of the following  events has not
occurred by such time:  (a) the Company has a minimum of $16.5 million of proved
and probable reserves as set forth in an independent petroleum engineer's report
prepared  in  accordance  with SEC  pricing  and cost  assumptions;  or, (b) the
average  bid price for the common  stock  shall have been at least $4.00 for two
periods of 20  consecutive  trading days; or (c) cash flow (gross  revenues from
oil and gas production less expenses  directly  charged against such production)
for the Company shall have been greater than $2,000,000 for any fiscal year. The
Option will be distributed to the shareholders, if at all, in December 1998.

In December  1995,  the Company  commenced a private  placement  of a minimum of
500,000 shares and a maximum of 1,800,000  shares of the Company's  common stock
for $1.00 per share. In February 1996, the Company issued 537,500 shares and the
offering is continuing. The shares sold in this private placement are subject to
certain registration rights commencing six months after the close of the private
placement.


                                       F13

<PAGE>

                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



In  January   1996,   the  Company   purchased   producing   properties  in  the
Denver-Julesburg  Basin for cash of $90,000 and 14,815  shares of the  Company's
common  stock with an  estimated  fair value of $25,000.  The shares  issued are
subject to certain  registration rights commencing six months after the close of
the private placement.

Outstanding shares of Class B common stock are convertible into shares of common
stock on a one-for-one share basis commencing in December 1998.


7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

In addition to the working  interests in the oil and gas properties  included in
the accompanying financial statements,  KTOC also owns royalty interests in some
of the properties and has rights to reversionary interests.  Revenues related to
these interests are excluded from the  accompanying  financial  statements since
they were retained by KTOC.

In connection with the private  placement  discussed in Note 6, the Company paid
commissions  of $15,000 to an entity that is a shareholder  of the Company.  The
Company also  incurred  legal fees in connection  with the private  placement of
$24,959 to an entity that is a shareholder of the Company.


8. COMMITMENTS:

Leases  - The  Company  leases  its  office  facilities  under a  month-to-month
arrangement  with a major  stockholder.  Total rent expense  under all operating
leases for the period from  December 8, 1995 through  March 31, 1996 amounted to
$8,900.

Employment  Agreements - In December 1995, the Company  entered into  three-year
employment  agreements  with two executive  officers which provide for aggregate
annual  payments of $200,000.  The  agreements may be terminated by the officers
upon 30 days notice or by the Company without cause upon 30 days notice.  In the
event of a  termination  by the Company  without  cause,  the  Company  would be
required to pay the officers  their  respective  salaries  for one year.  If the
termination occurs following a change in control,  the Company would be required
to make  lump  sum  payments  equivalent  to one  year  salary  for  each of the
officers.


9. STOCK OPTIONS:

In  December  1995,  the  Company  adopted  the  1995  Stock  Option  and  Stock
Compensation  Plan reserving  750,000  shares of the Company's  common stock for
issuance to  employees  and  officers  (whether or not they are  employees)  and
consultants.  The  exercise  price  of any  option  will  be  determined  by the
administrators  of the Plan.  The exercise  period of any option will not exceed
five  years  from  the  date of  grant of the  option.  In  connection  with the
acquisition of the Option Properties and the Contributed Properties discussed in

                                       F14

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Note 1, the Company issued 200,000 shares of common stock with an estimated fair
value of $300,000 and the Company granted options to purchase  400,000 shares of
common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share to various  consultants for
services rendered on behalf of the Company.  The Company  recognized a charge to
operations of $200,000  related to the difference  between the fair value of the
common stock and the exercise price of the options.

The  Company  adopted in prior years two other  stock  option  plans under which
options have been or may be granted to  officers,  employees,  and  non-employee
members of the Board of Directors. Under these two plans, options granted may be
either incentive stock options or nonqualified  stock options and are granted at
not less than the fair  market  value of the stock at the time of grant.  One of
the plans expired in January 1992. In November  1995,  the  stockholders  of the
Company approved an increase in the number of shares reserved for issuance under
the other plan to 500,000 shares.

Exercise prices of the options  outstanding at March 31, 1996 range from $.62 to
$1.65.  Expiration dates of these same options range from August 1996 to October
2005. Summarized information for the above plans is as follows:

                                                                 1996      1995
                                                               --------   ------

  Shares under option, beginning of year ...................   170,000    90,000

     Granted ...............................................   470,000    80,000
     Exercised .............................................      --        --
     Cancelled or expired ..................................      --        --
                                                               -------   -------

  Shares under option, end of year .........................   640,000   170,000
                                                               =======   =======

  Shares available for grant at end of year ................   500,000    70,000
                                                               =======   =======

  Shares exercisable at end of year ........................   640,000   152,000
                                                               =======   =======

  Average price of options outstanding at
      the end of the year ..................................   $  1.07   $  1.00
                                                               =======   =======


In December  1987,  the Company  adopted the 1987 Stock Bonus Plan and  reserved
250,000 shares (200,000 of which may be allocated to officers and/or  directors)
for  allocation to  employees.  As of March 31, 1996,  155,160  shares have been
awarded under this plan. See Note 3 for additional information.

During the year ended  March 31,  1992,  the Company  adopted an Employee  Stock
Ownership  Plan (the ESOP) and reserved  250,000  shares for issuance  under the
ESOP.  The ESOP  provides for the  establishment  of a trust to hold ESOP assets
which will  primarily  consist of common stock of the Company.  The ESOP will be
funded by the Company through annual contributions to the trust in amounts which
are  determined by the Board of Directors in its sole  discretion and which will


                                       F15

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



be allocated to each participant's  account in proportion to the ratio that each
participant's  compensation for the fiscal years bears to the total compensation
of all participants for the fiscal year. No contributions  have been made to the
ESOP for the years ended March 31, 1996 and 1995.


10. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

Statement of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 107 requires all entities to
disclose  the fair value of certain  financial  instruments  in their  financial
statements.  Accordingly,  at March 31, 1996, management's best estimate is that
the  carrying  amount  of cash,  receivables,  notes  payable,  long-term  debt,
accounts payable, and accrued expenses  approximates fair value due to the short
maturity of these instruments.


11. SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATIONS:

Substantially all of the Company's accounts receivable at March 31, 1996, result
from crude oil, natural gas sales,  and joint interest  billings to companies in
the oil and gas industry.  This  concentration  of customers and joint  interest
owners may impact the  Company's  overall  credit  risk,  either  positively  or
negatively,  since  these  entities  may be  similarly  affected  by  changes in
economic  or  other  conditions.  In  determining  whether  or  not  to  require
collateral  from a customer or joint interest  owner,  the Company  analyzes the
entity's net worth, cash flows,  earnings,  and credit ratings.  Receivables are
generally not  collateralized;  however,  receivables from joint interest owners
are subject to collection  under operating  agreements  which generally  provide
lien rights.  Historical  credit  losses  incurred on trade  receivables  by the
Company have been insignificant.


12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:

In April 1996,  the Company  borrowed  $30,000  from a bank for working  capital
requirements and an additional $400,000 for the acquisition of producing oil and
gas  properties  in the  Denver-Julesburg  Basin.  The  $400,000  note is due in
October 1996, is  collateralized  by 6,596,375  shares of the Company's  Class B
common stock owned by officers, directors, and KTOC. Additionally,  the $400,000
note is personally  guaranteed by two individuals who are officers and directors
of the Company.

In May 1996, the Company borrowed  $100,000 from Bishop Capital  Corporation,  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary,  for  working  capital  requirements.  The note  bears
interest at 10% and is  collateralized  by producing  oil and gas  properties in
Louisiana.




                                       F16

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



13. SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS DISCLOSURES:

Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Producing  Activities - The following is a summary
of costs incurred in oil and gas producing  activities for the years ended March
31, 1996 and 1995:

                                                      1996             1995
                                                     ------           ------

            Property acquisition costs ...         $2,971,000       $     --
            Development costs ............             17,000          220,000
            Exploration costs ............               --               --
                                                   ----------       ----------
                 Total ...................         $2,988,000       $  220,000
                                                   ==========       ==========

Results  of  Operations  from Oil and Gas  Producing  Activities  -  Results  of
operations from oil and gas producing activities  (excluding operator fees, gain
on drilling  arrangements,  general and  administrative  expense,  and  interest
expense) for the years ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 are presented below.

                                                          1996           1995
                                                         ------         ------

    Oil and gas sales ............................     $ 172,885      $ 146,671
    Production costs .............................       (91,044)       (53,078)
    Depletion, depreciation and amortization .....       (42,513)       (33,379)
    Imputed income tax benefit (provision) .......       (15,000)       (22,000)
                                                       ---------      ---------
    Results of operations from oil and gas
        producing activities .....................     $  24,328      $  38,214
                                                       =========      =========

Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities (Unaudited) - Proved oil and gas reserves are the
estimated  quantities  of crude oil,  natural gas, and natural gas liquids which
geological and engineering  data  demonstrate  with  reasonable  certainty to be
recoverable in future years from known  reservoirs  under existing  economic and
operating  conditions.  Proved developed oil and gas reserves are those reserves
expected to be recovered  through  existing  wells with  existing  equipment and
operating  methods.  The  reserve  data is  based  on  studies  reviewed  by the
Company's independent petroleum engineer.  Reserve estimates require substantial
judgment  on  the  part  of   petroleum   engineers   resulting   in   imprecise
determinations, particularly with respect to new discoveries. Accordingly, it is
expected  that the estimates of reserves  will change as future  production  and
development  information  becomes  available.  A portion of the Company's proved
developed reserves are currently non-producing as one well requires construction
of a water disposal line.  Furthermore,  a substantial  portion of the Company's
proved reserves are undeveloped and the estimated  expenditures to develop these
properties  amount to $1,321,000.  If the Company does not have adequate funding
to carry out these  development  activities,  it may be  necessary to enter into
joint drilling or farm-out arrangements which would result in a reduced interest
in the future net revenues  related to such  properties.  All proved reserves of
oil and gas are  located in the United  States.  The  following  tables  present
estimates of the Company's net proved oil and gas reserves,  and changes therein
for the years ended March 31, 1996.


                                       F17

<PAGE>

                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Changes in Net Quantities of Proved Reserves (Unaudited)

                                                          Oil            Gas
                                                         (Bbls)         (Mcf)
                                                       --------       --------

     Proved reserves, beginning of year ........        318,000         490,000
          Purchase of minerals in place ........        968,000       2,906,000
          Revisions of previous estimates ......         14,000          80,000
          Production ...........................         (7,000)        (28,000)
                                                      ---------      ----------

     Proved reserves, end of year ..............      1,293,000       3,448,000
                                                      =========      ==========

     Proved developed reserves, end of year ....        152,000       1,198,000
                                                      =========      ==========

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows (Unaudited) - Statement
of Financial Accounting  Standards No. 69 prescribes  guidelines for computing a
standardized  measure of future net cash flows and changes  therein  relating to
estimated proved  reserves.  The Company has followed these guidelines which are
briefly discussed below.

Future cash inflows and future  production and development  costs are determined
by applying year-end prices and costs to the estimated quantities of oil and gas
to be  produced.  Estimated  future  income  taxes are  computed  using  current
statutory  income  tax  rates  including   consideration  for  estimated  future
statutory  depletion and tax credits.  The  resulting  future net cash flows are
reduced to present value amounts by applying a 10% annual discount factor.

The assumptions used to compute the standardized measure are those prescribed by
the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board and,  as such,  do not  necessarily
reflect the Company's  expectations for actual revenues to be derived from those
reserves  nor their  present  worth.  The  limitations  inherent  in the reserve
quantity estimation process, as discussed previously,  are equally applicable to
the standardized  measure  computations  since these estimates are the basis for
the valuation process.


                                       F18

<PAGE>


                  AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



The following summary sets forth the Company's future net cash flows relating to
proved  oil and gas  reserves  as of  March  31,  1996  and  1995  based  on the
standardized  measure prescribed in Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards
No. 69.

                                                     1996              1995
                                                   -------           --------

Future cash inflows ........................     $ 33,567,000      $  6,483,000
Future production costs ....................       (9,578,000)       (1,809,000)
Future development costs ...................       (1,321,000)         (315,000)
Future income tax expense ..................       (8,048,000)       (1,613,000)
                                                 ------------      ------------
     Future net cash flows .................       14,620,000         2,746,000
10% annual discount for estimated 
     timing of cash flow ...................       (6,981,000)       (1,284,000)
                                                 ------------      ------------
Standardized Measure of Discounted .........     $  7,639,000      $  1,462,000
                                                 ============      ============
     Future Net cash flows

Changes in  Standardized  Measure  (Unaudited) - The following are the principal
sources  of change in the  standardized  measure of  discounted  future net cash
flows for the year ended March 31, 1996:


   Standardized measure, beginning of year .....................    $ 1,462,000
   Sale of oil and gas produced, net of production costs .......        (82,000)
   Acquisition of reserves in place ............................      9,004,000
   Net changes in prices and production costs ..................        378,000
   Net changes in estimated development costs ..................       (955,000)
   Revisions of previous quantity estimates ....................      1,125,000
   Accretion of discount .......................................        146,000
   Changes in income taxes, net ................................     (3,439,000)
                                                                    -----------

   Standardized measure, end of year ...........................    $ 7,639,000
                                                                    ===========



                                       F19

<PAGE>




                          INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT






Board of Directors
Bishop Capital Corporation
Riverton, Wyoming


We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance sheet of Bishop Capital
Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996, and the related  consolidated
statements of operations, changes in stockholder's equity and cash flows for the
years  ended  March  31,  1996 and  1995.  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.  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 provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated  financial statements referred to above present
fairly,  in all material  respects,  the  financial  position of Bishop  Capital
Corporation  and  subsidiaries  as of March 31,  1996,  and the results of their
operations  and their cash flows for the years ended March 31, 1996 and 1995, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.



/s/ Hein + Associates LLP
HEIN + ASSOCIATES LLP

Denver, Colorado
May 23, 1996

                                       F20

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                 MARCH 31, 1996



                                     ASSETS

<S>                                                                       <C>        

      CURRENT ASSETS:
       Cash and equivalents ...........................................   $    66,770
       Marketable securities ..........................................       844,734
       Receivables:
           Gas royalties ..............................................         9,399
           Interest and other .........................................        13,258
       Receivables from parent:
           Note .......................................................        17,522
           Other ......................................................        23,579
       Notes receivable - officers ....................................        25,000
       Prepaid expenses ...............................................        17,960
                                                                          -----------
                  Total current assets ................................     1,018,222

      PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
       Building .......................................................       212,157
       Furniture and fixtures .........................................        63,969
       Vehicles and equipment .........................................        38,581
                                                                          -----------
                                                                              314,707
       Less accumulated depreciation ..................................      (111,045)
                                                                          -----------
                  Net property and equipment ..........................       203,662

      OTHER ASSETS:
       Undeveloped land ...............................................       411,709
       Investment in limited partnership ..............................       254,112
       Gas royalty interest, net of accumulated amortization
           of $700,245 ................................................       366,806
       Notes receivable ...............................................        46,836
       Other assets, net ..............................................         3,860
                                                                          -----------
                  Total other assets ..................................     1,083,323
                                                                          -----------
      TOTAL ASSETS ....................................................   $ 2,305,207
                                                                          ===========


                               LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY

      CURRENT LIABILITIES -
       Accounts payable and accrued expenses ..........................   $   103,541

      COMMITMENTS (Note 7)

      STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY:
       Common stock, $.01 par value; 15,000,000 shares ................        45,000
           authorized; 4,500,000 shares issued and outstanding
       Capital in excess of par value .................................     2,129,879
       Unrealized holding gain ........................................        66,884
       Accumulated deficit ............................................       (40,097)
                                                                          -----------
                  Total stockholder's equity ..........................     2,201,666
                                                                          -----------
      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY ......................   $ 2,305,207
                                                                          ===========
</TABLE>




       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F21

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                                           FOR THE YEARS ENDED
                                                                 MARCH 31,
                                                            ------------------
                                                             1996        1995
                                                            ------      ------
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>      

 REVENUE -
     Gas royalties ...................................   $  69,931    $  68,176

COSTS AND EXPENSES:
     Gas processing and production taxes .............      19,192        9,549
     General and administrative ......................     581,936      497,694
     Depreciation and amortization ...................     152,718      159,181
                                                         ---------    ---------
                                                           753,846      666,424
                                                         ---------    ---------

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS .................................    (683,915)    (598,248)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
     Interest income .................................      51,094       61,010
     Dividend income .................................      20,061       29,229
     Rental income ...................................      12,686       18,692
     Gain (loss) on sale of marketable securities ....     688,400       (3,222)
     Professional fees relating to reverse acquisition    (150,000)        --
     Equity in limited partnership loss ..............     (54,606)     (41,282)
     Discontinued operations of oil property .........     (25,850)     (24,720)
     Other ...........................................      (1,745)       1,588
                                                         ---------    ---------

NET LOSS .............................................   $(143,875)   $(556,953)
                                                         =========    =========
</TABLE>














       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F22

<PAGE>

                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
                   FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      COMMON SHARES             TREASURY STOCK
                                              --------------------------   --------------------------
                                               NUMBER OF                   NUMBER OF
                                                 SHARES         AMOUNT       SHARES          AMOUNT
                                               ----------     ----------    ---------     -----------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>             <C>          <C>     

BALANCES, April 1, 1994 ...................     2,660,689   $    26,607     1,050,527    $(1,689,583)

   Net change in unrealized holding gain ..          --            --            --             --   
   Stock bonus ............................        40,000           400          --             --   
   Purchase of treasury stock .............          --            --          50,707        (46,479)
   Net loss ...............................          --            --            --             --   
                                              -----------   -----------   -----------    -----------
BALANCES, March 31, 1995 ..................     2,700,689        27,007     1,101,234     (1,736,062)

   Commitment to issue common stock for
        services ..........................       150,000         1,500          --             --   
   Net change in unrealized holding gain ..          --            --            --             --   
   Consummation of reverse acquisition and
        reflect capital structure of Bishop     1,649,311        16,493    (1,101,234)     1,736,062
   Net loss ...............................          --            --            --             --   
                                              -----------   -----------   -----------    -----------

BALANCES, March 31, 1996 ..................     4,500,000   $    45,000          --      $      --   
                                              ===========   ===========   ===========    ===========

<CAPTION>

                                              CAPITAL IN      UNREALIZED    RETAINED
                                               EXCESS OF       HOLDING      EARNINGS
                                               PAR VALUE         GAIN       (DEFICIT)         TOTAL
                                              -----------     ----------   ---------        --------
<S>                                           <C>            <C>            <C>            <C> 
       
BALANCES, April 1, 1994 ...................   $ 3,006,311    $   572,841    $ 2,141,451    $ 4,057,627

   Net change in unrealized holding gain ..          --          (43,905)          --          (43,905)
   Stock bonus ............................        24,400           --             --           24,800
   Purchase of treasury stock .............          --             --             --          (46,479)
   Net loss ...............................          --             --         (556,953)      (556,953)
                                              -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
BALANCES, March 31, 1995 ..................     3,030,711        528,936      1,584,498      3,435,090

   Commitment to issue common stock for
        services ..........................       223,500           --             --          225,000
   Net change in unrealized holding gain ..          --         (462,052)          --         (462,052)
   Consummation of reverse acquisition and
        reflect capital structure of Bishop    (1,124,332)          --       (1,480,720)      (852,497)
   Net loss ...............................          --             --         (143,875)      (143,875)
                                              -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------

BALANCES, March 31, 1996 ..................   $ 2,129,879    $    66,884    $   (40,097)   $ 2,201,666
                                              ===========    ===========    ===========    ===========
</TABLE>




       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F23

<PAGE>

                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of
                          American Rivers Oil Company)
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED
                                                                                                                  MARCH 31,
                                                                                                         ------------------------
                                                                                                           1996             1995
<S>                                                                                                    <C>            <C>         

 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
     Net loss ......................................................................................   $  (143,875)   $  (556,953)
     Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
         used in operating activities:
             Depreciation and amortization .........................................................       155,185        164,041
             Issuance of common stock for services .................................................       225,000           --
             Stock bonus compensation ..............................................................          --           24,800
             Equity in limited partnership loss ....................................................        54,606         41,282
             Write-down of investment ..............................................................        25,000           --
             Abandoned leases ......................................................................          --           13,576
             (Gain) loss on sale of marketable securities ..........................................      (688,400)         3,222
             Gain on sale of property and equipment ................................................          --             (917)
             Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                 (Increase) decrease in:
                     Trade receivables .............................................................         3,655         (5,732)
                     Interest and other receivables ................................................         8,003         15,239
                     Receivables from parent .......................................................       (23,579)          --
                     Prepaid expenses ..............................................................        (1,680)         2,432
                     Other assets ..................................................................        14,126           --
                 Interest (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued
                     expenses .....................................................................         50,770         (8,917)
                                                                                                        ----------     -----------
             Net cash used in operating activities .................................................      (321,189)      (307,927)

 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
     Purchase of marketable securities .............................................................      (169,979)      (335,830)
     Proceeds from sale of marketable securities ...................................................     1,265,512        797,108
     Funds advanced under notes receivable .........................................................       (42,522)        (7,000)
     Proceeds from notes receivable ................................................................        64,461          8,104
     Additions to undeveloped land .................................................................      (133,473)          --
     Proceeds from sale of property and equipment ..................................................          --            2,000
     Purchase of property and equipment ............................................................       (21,274)       (25,129)
     Transfer of cash in reverse acquisition .......................................................      (700,000)          --
                                                                                                       -----------    -----------
             Net cash provided by investing activities .............................................       262,725        439,253

 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
     Proceeds from borrowings ......................................................................        60,000         10,000
     Principal payments on borrowings ..............................................................       (60,000)       (10,000)
     Treasury stock acquired .......................................................................          --          (46,479)
                                                                                                       ------------   -----------
             Net cash used in financing activities .................................................          --          (46,479)
                                                                                                       ------------   -----------

 INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND EQUIVALENTS .......................................................       (58,464)        84,847

 CASH AND EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year ...........................................................       125,234         40,387
                                                                                                       -----------    -----------

 CASH AND EQUIVALENTS, end of year .................................................................   $    66,770    $   125,234
                                                                                                       ===========    ===========
 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
    Cash paid for interest .........................................................................   $       830    $      --
                                                                                                       ===========    ===========
    Non-cash equipment purchases ...................................................................   $      --      $    13,500
                                                                                                       ===========    ===========
</TABLE>





       See accompanying notes to these consolidated financial statements.

                                       F24

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION:

In October 1995, Metro Capital Corporation (Metro) and Karlton Terry Oil Company
(KTOC) entered into an Asset Purchase  Agreement whereby KTOC agreed to exchange
certain oil and gas properties  (the  "Contributed  Properties")  for a total of
7,717,820 shares of Class B common stock of Metro,  which represented 80% of the
issued and  outstanding  voting  securities of Metro.  On November 29, 1995, the
shareholders  of Metro  approved this  transaction  and the closing  occurred on
December  8, 1995.  The  shareholders  also  approved  changing  the name of the
Company from Metro to American Rivers Oil Company (AROC).

Metro's assets, except for $700,000 cash and an insignificant oil property, were
transferred at their  historical  carrying  value to a wholly-owned  subsidiary,
Bishop Capital  Corporation,  formerly Bishop Cable  Communications  Corporation
("Bishop" or the "Company"),  where they are being operated  autonomously by the
prior management of Metro pursuant to the terms of separate five-year  Operating
and Voting Agreements. The Operating Agreement provides that Bishop's management
will  have  sole  authority  and  discretion   with  respect  to  the  business,
operations,  and  assets of  Bishop.  The  Voting  Agreement  appoints  Bishop's
president as attorney and proxy to vote in his sole and absolute discretion, all
of the shares of all classes of the common stock of AROC and/or  Bishop owned by
them with respect to any matter brought before the  shareholders  of AROC and/or
Bishop relating to or involving exclusively Bishop.

Accordingly,  the  accompanying  financial  statements  include the consolidated
operating results and cash flows of Metro until December 8, 1995 when the change
of control  occurred.  Beginning in December  1995, the  accompanying  financial
statements reflect only the operations of Bishop.

Bishop's   subsidiaries  consist  of  Bishop  Powers,  Ltd.  and  Bridger  Creek
Partnership in which the Company holds general partner interests of 81% and 80%,
respectively.


2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Nature of  Operations  - The  Company is  primarily  engaged in the  development
and/or  sale of real  estate and also has a royalty  interest  in a natural  gas
property.

Principles of Consolidation - The accompanying  financial statements include the
accounts of the Company and both majority-owned  partnerships  discussed in Note
1. All material  intercompany trans actions and accounts have been eliminated in
consolidation.

Property,  Equipment  and  Depreciation  - Property and  equipment are stated at
cost.  Depreciation is being provided by the straight-line method over estimated
useful lives of three to thirty-one years.


                                       F25

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and expenditures for
major  improvements  are  capitalized.  When  assets are  retired  or  otherwise
disposed  of,  the  property  accounts  are  relieved  of costs and  accumulated
depreciation.

Undeveloped  Land -  Undeveloped  land is stated at cost and consists  solely of
acquisition costs at March 31, 1996.

Impairment  of  Long-lived  Assets - The Company  periodically  compares the net
carrying  value of long-lived  assets to the related  estimates of  undiscounted
future  cash  flows for such  assets.  If the net  carrying  value  exceeds  the
estimated cash flows,  then impairment will be recognized to reduce the carrying
value to the estimated fair value.

Gas Royalty  Interests  - The  Company  amortizes  gas  royalty  interests  on a
straight-line basis over eight years.

Cash Equivalents - The Company  considers  highly liquid  temporary  investments
with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Marketable  Securities - Marketable  securities  are accounted for in accordance
with Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standard (SFAS) No. 115 "Accounting for
Certain  Investments in Debt and Equity  Securities."  Pursuant to SFAS No. 115,
the  Company's  securities  are  classified  as   available-for-sale   based  on
management's intent.  Investment securities classified as available-for-sale are
stated at market  value,  with  unrealized  gains and losses,  net of applicable
income taxes,  reported as a separate component of stockholder's  equity. If the
decline in market value of a security is determined to be other than  temporary,
the loss in  value  is  charged  to  earnings.  Realized  gains  or  losses  are
determined on a specific identification method.

Investments - The Company's 19% ownership in a limited  partnership  (Z-H, LTD.)
is stated at cost,  adjusted  for its  equity in  undistributed  earnings  since
acquisition.

Income Taxes - Income taxes are  provided for in  accordance  with SFAS No. 109,
"Accounting  for Income  Taxes."  SFAS No. 109  requires an asset and  liability
approach in the  recognition  of  deferred  tax  liabilities  and assets for the
expected future tax consequences of temporary  differences  between the carrying
amounts and the tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities. AROC includes
the Company's operations in its consolidated income tax return. Income taxes are
allocated  between  AROC  and  the  Company  as if the  Company  was a  separate
taxpayer.

Accounting  Estimates - The  preparation  of financial  statements in conformity
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to make
estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the amounts  reported in the  financial
statements  and the  accompanying  notes.  The actual  results could differ from
those estimates.


                                       F26

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



The  Company's  financial  statements  are  based  on a  number  of  significant
estimates  including  the  amortization  period  for the gas  royalty  interest,
realizability  of the  carrying  value  of  undeveloped  land  and  the  limited
partnership  investment discussed in Note 5, and the determination of other than
temporary  impairment of  marketable  securities.  The  Company's  estimates are
expected  to  change  as  additional  information  becomes  available  and it is
reasonably   possible  that  such  estimates  will  materially   change  in  the
forthcoming year.


3. MARKETABLE SECURITIES:

The cost and  estimated  fair market value of  available-for-sale  securities at
March 31, 1996 were as follows:

                                                Gross       Gross
                                             Unrealized  Unrealized       Fair
                                               Holding     Holding       Mareket
                                   Cost          Gains      Losses        Value
                                   ----      ----------  ---------     --------

     U.S. Treasury securities    $ 466,357   $   6,078    $ (11,427)   $ 461,008
     Redeemable preferred
            securities .......     136,955       8,297         --        145,252
     Equity securities .......     174,538      89,057      (25,121)     238,474
                                 ---------   ---------    ---------    ---------
                                 $ 777,850   $ 103,432    $ (36,548)   $ 844,734
                                 =========   =========    =========    =========

The cost and estimated fair market value of  available-for-sale  securities with
contractual  maturities  (U.S.  Treasury and redeemable  preferred) at March 31,
1996, by contractual maturity periods, were as follows:

                                                                        Fair
                                                                       Market
                                                           Cost         Value
                                                           ----        -------

Due in one year or less ..........................       $232,105       $232,029
Due after one year through five years ............        210,902        211,679
Due after five years through ten years ...........         90,953         97,031
Due after ten years ..............................         69,352         65,521
                                                         --------       --------
                                                         $603,312       $606,260
                                                         ========       ========

                                       F27

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Cash proceeds from the sale of  available-for-sale  securities  during the years
ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 were  $1,265,512 and $797,108,  respectively.  Net
gains from  available-for-sale  securities sold in the year ended March 31, 1996
amounted to $688,400 (gross gains of $701,152 and gross losses of $12,752).  Net
losses from  securities sold in the year ended March 31, 1995 were $3,222 (gross
gains of $23,638 and gross losses of $26,860).


4. GAS ROYALTY INTERESTS:

In  December  1990,  the  Company  purchased  a royalty  interest in certain gas
properties located in Wyoming for approximately  $1,067,000.  At March 31, 1996,
the net carrying value of this interest amounts to $367,000. Revenues related to
this royalty interest are affected by local gas transportation,  processing, and
marketing arrangements. Reserve disclosures relating to the gas royalty interest
are not included because the information is unavailable from the operator of the
properties.

In connection  with the purchase,  the Company formed a tax  partnership,  which
allocates  to the  Company  the first  $40,000  of annual  net  income  from the
partnership and 80% of annual net income in excess of $40,000. After the Company
has  received  cumulative  net  income of  $1,050,000,  plus  interest  at prime
adjusted semi-annually, the Company will receive 60% of the annual net income in
the partnership.


5. PARTNERSHIPS:

In October 1993, the Company became the general partner of a limited partnership
to develop or sell 55 acres of undeveloped real estate. The Company  contributed
$250,000  cash for its 81%  general  partnership  interest.  The  remaining  19%
interest  is held by the  limited  partner  who is the  general  partner  in the
partnership  described  below.  The Company will be allocated 100% of the income
and losses until it has been paid $600,000 plus interest at 8% per annum (not to
exceed  $100,000)  after which the allocation  will be apportioned  according to
ownership.

The  Company  also  became a limited  partner  in a limited  partnership,  which
purchased  approximately  35  acres of  undeveloped  land  adjacent  to the land
mentioned  above.  The partnership  constructed a golf driving range,  miniature
golf,  and  batting  facility  which was  completed  in July 1994.  The  Company
contributed $350,000 cash for its 19% partnership interest, which is reported on
the equity method of accounting.


                                       F28

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



Following is a summary of condensed  financial  information  pertaining  to this
limited partnership:


Balance sheet data at March 31, 1996:
    Current assets ...........................................      $     8,327
    Noncurrent assets ........................................        1,129,394
    Current liabilities ......................................           31,622
    Noncurrent liabilities ...................................        1,160,774
    Company's equity in net assets ...........................          254,112

                                                       YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                     ------------------------
                                                      1996              1995
                                                      ----              ----
Operations data:
    Revenue ................................     $    261,526       $   121,961
    Costs and expenses .....................          548,928           339,236
                                                  -----------       -----------
    Net loss ..............................      $  (287,402)      $  (217,275)
                                                  ===========       ===========

    Company's equity in limited partners...      $   (54,606)      $   (41,282)
                                                  ===========       ===========


The land  owned by the  partnerships  discussed  above is  located  in  Colorado
Springs,  Colorado and,  accordingly,  the value of these properties is directly
affected by local economic and operating conditions.


6. INCOME TAXES:

The items that give rise to the  components  of the net deferred tax asset as of
March 31, 1996, are as follows:

          Gas royalty interest  ...................   $  227,000
          Net operating loss carryforward  ........      231,000
                                                        --------
              Deferred tax asset  .................      458,000
          Less valuation allowance  ...............     (458,000)
                                                       ---------
              Net deferred tax asset ..............   $    --
                                                       =========  

As of March 31, 1996,  AROC has net  operating  loss  carryforwards  for Federal
income tax purposes,  of which  approximately  $500,000 is  attributable  to the
Company  pursuant  to the  Asset  Purchase  Agreement  and,  if  not  previously
utilized, will expire in the years 2009 and 2010.



                                       F29

<PAGE>


                   BISHOP CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
           (A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of American Rivers Oil Company)

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



7. COMMITMENTS:

Effective December 1995, a five-year  management agreement (the "Agreement") was
entered into between the Company,  the Company's president (the "Executive") and
the parent  company.  The  Agreement,  which  supersedes  a previous  employment
agreement,  provides for minimum annual  compensation  of $145,000 plus employee
benefits. On the last day of September of each year thereafter,  the term of the
Agreement shall be  automatically  extended an additional year unless,  prior to
such last day of September,  the Company or the Executive  shall have  delivered
written notice that the term of employment  will not be extended.  The Agreement
may be  terminated  by the  Company  only  upon the death or  disability  of the
Executive  or for cause.  If the  Executive is  terminated  without  cause,  the
Company  would  be  required  to pay as  severance  pay an  amount  equal to the
Executive's  salary in effect as of the date of  termination  multiplied  by the
greater number of years remaining in the term of employment or the number three.

The Company also entered into a three-year employment agreement in December 1995
with two other  officers  which provide for  aggregate  annual  compensation  of
$85,000 plus employee benefits.  The agreements shall be automatically  extended
an additional year on September 30 of each year thereafter unless written notice
is given by either party that the term of employment  will not be extended.  The
agreements  may be terminated  upon the death or  disability  of the  individual
officer or for cause.


8. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

Statement of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 107 requires all entities to
disclose  the fair value of certain  financial  instruments  in their  financial
statements.  Accordingly,  at March 31, 1996, management's best estimate is that
the  carrying  amount of cash and  equivalents,  notes  and  other  receivables,
accounts payable and accrued expenses  approximates  fair value due to the short
maturity  of  these  instruments.  Due to the  short  operating  history  of the
business  owned by the limited  partnership  discussed in Note 5,  management is
unable to estimate the fair value of the Company's 19% limited partner interest.
However, management believes that fair value exceeds the carrying value at March
31, 1996.


9. SUBSEQUENT EVENT:

In May 1996,  the Company loaned an additional  $100,000 to the parent  company.
The note bears  interest at 10% and is  collateralized  by oil and gas producing
properties in Louisiana.



                                       F30

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                     AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY
                                     (Registrant)


Date:  June 20, 1996                 By:  /s/ Karlton Terry
                                         -------------------
                                          Karlton Terry
                                          President



     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.


Date:  June 20, 1996                       /s/ Karlton Terry
                                          -------------------
                                          Carlton Terry
                                          Chairman of the Board  of Directors
                                          (Principal Executive Officer)



Date: June 20, 1996                        /s/ Jubal Terry
                                          -----------------
                                          Jubal Terry
                                          Vice President and Acting Chief
                                          Financial Officer
                                          (Principal Financial Officer)

Date:  June 20, 1996                       /s/ Denis Bell
                                          ----------------
                                          Denis Bell
                                          Director




                                      -25-



                                  

                                  Exhibit 3.3

                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            METRO CAPITAL CORPORATION

     Article I shall be revised as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                      NAME

     The name of the corporation shall be:

                           American Rivers Oil Company

     This  Amendment was approved by written  consent of all of the directors of
the Company on October  19, 1995 and by a majority of votes  entitled to be cast
at a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Company held on November 27, 1995 As
of November 6, 1995, the record date for the Special Meeting, the Company's only
authorized class of voting  securities was its Common Stock,  $.01 par value, of
which 6,000,000  shares were authorized and 1,599,455  shares were  outstanding.
880,960 votes were indisputably represented at the Special Meeting and 1,599,455
votes  were  entitled  to be cast.  The  total  number of votes  cast  "for" the
Amendment  was 871,173 . The total number of votes cast  "against" the Amendment
was 9,787 . The total number of votes cast "for" the  Amendment  was  sufficient
for the approval of the Amendment.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned certifies under penalty of perjury that
the execution of this  instrument is the  undersigned's  act and deed,  that the
undersigned has read these Articles of Incorporation and all attachments thereto
and knows the contents thereof and the facts stated therein are true.

     Date: Nov. 29 ,1995



                                       /s/ John A. Alsko
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      John A. Alsko, Assistant Secretary



<PAGE>
                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            METRO CAPITAL CORPORATION

     Article II shall be revised to read as follows:

                                   ARTICLE II
                                     CAPITAL

     The total  number  of shares of all  classes  of  capital  stock  which the
corporation  shall  have  authority  to issue  is  33,000,000  shares,  of which
5,000,000 shares shall be shares of Preferred Stock, $.50 per share;  20,000,000
shares shall be shares of Common  Stock,  $.01 par value per share and 8,000,000
shares shall be shares of Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value per share.

     (a) Preferred  Stock.  The  designations  and the powers,  preferences  and
rights,  and the  qualifications,  limitations or  restrictions of the Preferred
Stock, the  establishment of different series of Preferred Stock, and variations
in the relative  rights and  preferences  as between  different  series shall be
established in accordance with the Wyoming Business Corporation Act by the Board
of Directors.

     (b) Common  Stock.  The holders of Common  Stock shall have and possess all
rights as  shareholders  of the  corporation,  including  such  rights as may be
granted elsewhere by these Articles of Incorporation,  except as such rights may
be  limited  by  the  preferences,   privileges  and  voting  powers,   and  the
restrictions and limitations of the Preferred Stock.

     Subject to preferential  dividend rights,  if any, of the holders Preferred
Stock, dividends upon the Common Stock may be declared by the Board of Directors
and paid out of any funds legally  available  therefor at such times and in such
amounts as the Board of Directors shall determine.

     (c) Class B Common  Stock.  The  holders of the Class B Common  Stock shall
have and possess the same rights as the holders of the Common Stock except that:
(i) the Class B Common will not be entitled to participate  in any  distribution
of shares or assets  of the  Subsidiary;  and (ii) each  share of Class B Common
will  be  entitled  to 1.6  votes  on  all  issues  presented  for  vote  by the
shareholders.  The Class B Common will be  convertible  on a  one-for-one  share
basis into the  Company's  Common Stock  commencing  36 months from the Closing.
Commencing 30 months from the Closing, the Class B Common will be convertible on
a one to one share basis,  provided that the number of shares so converted until
the date 36 months after the Closing will be limited to that number of shares of
Common Stock that may be sold by an affiliate  pursuant to the volume limitation
provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     The capital stock, after the amount of the subscription price has been paid
in, shall not be subject to assessment to pay the debts of the corporation.

<PAGE>

     Any stock of the  corporation may be issued for money,  property,  services
rendered, labor done, cash advances for the corporation, or for any other assets
of value in  accordance  with  the  action  of the  Board  of  Directors,  whose
judgement as to value  received in return  therefor shall be conclusive and said
stock, when issued, shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

     This  Amendment was approved by written  consent of all of the directors of
the Company on October  19, 1995 and by a majority of votes  entitled to be cast
at a Special  Meeting of  Shareholders of the Company held on November 27, 1995.
As of November 6, 1995, the record date for the Special  Meeting,  the Company's
only authorized class of voting securities was its Common Stock, $.01 par value,
of which 6,000,000 shares were authorized and 1,599,455 shares were outstanding.
880,  960  votes  were  indisputably  represented  at the  Special  Meeting  and
1,599,455  votes were entitled to be cast.  The total number of votes cast "for"
the  Amendment  was  871,173 . The  total  number of votes  cast  "against"  the
Amendment  was 9,787 . The total  number of votes cast "for" the  Amendment  was
sufficient for the approval of the Amendment.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned certifies under penalty of perjury that
the execution of this  instrument is the  undersigned's  act and deed,  that the
undersigned has read these Articles of Incorporation and all attachments thereto
and knows the contents thereof and the facts stated therein are true.

Date: November 29 1995
      -----------------


                                          /s/  John A. Alsko
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          John A. Alsko, Assistant Secretary




                                  Exhibit 10.9

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS  AGREEMENT  made as of this 1st day of  December,  1995,  by and among
AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY, a Wyoming corporation (the "Company"),  and KARLTON
TERRY ("KT") (the "Executive").

     Beginning  December 1, 1995 Karlton  Terry shall be employed by the Company
as President. This Agreement shall describe the terms and conditions under which
such employment shall be undertaken.

     Pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement,  dated October 19th, 1995, between
the  Company  and  Karlton  Terry Oil  Company,  Karlton  Terry and Jubal  Terry
(collectively "KTOC"), KTOC will be obtaining control of the Company.

     The Company recognizes (i) that the Executive's  contribution to the growth
and success of the  Company  will be  substantial,  and (ii) the  Executive  has
experience in the management of the oil and gas business The Company  desires to
provide for the  continued  employment  of the  Executive  by the Company and to
encourage the Executive's continued attention and dedication to the Company. The
Executive  is  willing to commit  himself to serve the  Company on the terms and
conditions herein provided.

     In order to effect the  foregoing,  the Company and the  Executive  wish to
enter into a  management/employment  agreement on the terms and  conditions  set
forth below.  Accordingly,  in  consideration of the promises and the respective
covenants and  agreements of the parties  herein  contained,  the parties hereto
agree as follows:

     1. Employment.  The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive,  and the
Executive  hereby  agrees to serve the Company on the terms and  conditions  set
forth herein.

     2. Term.  The  employment  of the  Executive  by the Company as provided in
Section 1 will commence on the date hereof and continue for three (3) years from
the date hereof,  unless sooner terminated as hereinafter  provided. On December
1, 1995, and on the first day of December of each year  thereafter,  the term of
the Executive's  employment shall be  automatically  extended an additional year
unless, prior to such first day of December, the Company shall have delivered to
the  Executive or the  Executive  shall have  delivered  to the Company  written
notice  that  the  term of the  Executive's  employment  hereunder  will  not be
extended.

     3.  Position  and Duties.  Karlton  Terry shall serve as  President  of the
Company,  his powers and duties in that capacity to be such as may be determined
from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company.

     The Company  agrees to  headquarter  the Executive in the Denver,  Colorado
area except for required travel on the Company's business.

<PAGE>

     4. Extent of Services The  Executive  shall devote his time,  attention and
energies to the  business of the Company and shall not,  during the term of this
Agreement,  be  engaged  in any other  business  activity,  whether  or not such
business  activity is pursued  for gain,  profit or other  pecuniary  advantage,
unless prior approval  therefor has been obtained from the Board of Directors of
the Company.  This provision  shall not be construed as preventing the Executive
from  investing his assets in such form or manner as will  minimize  services on
the part of the  Executive in the  operation of the affairs of the  companies in
which such investments are made.

     5. Compensation and Related Matters. The Executive's  compensation,  as set
forth below, is to be provided by the Company.

        a. Salary.  During the period of Karlton Terry's  employment  hereunder,
the  Company  shall  pay to  Karlton  Terry a salary  at a rate of not less that
$125,000 per annum.

     The  Executive's  salary shall be paid in equal  installments  as nearly as
practicable  on the  15th  and the  last  days of each  month  in  arrears.  The
Executive's  salary may be increased  from time to time (i) in  accordance  with
normal  business  practices  of the  Company,  (ii) based  upon the  Executive's
performance  and/or  (iii)  to  reflect  increases  in the cost of  living.  The
Executive's salary, if so increased, shall not thereafter during the term of the
Agreement be decreased.  Compensation  of the Executive by salary payments shall
not be deemed  exclusive and shall not prevent the Executive from  participating
in any other  compensation  or benefit plan of the Company.  The salary payments
(including any increased salary  payments)  hereunder shall not in any way limit
or reduce  any  other  obligation  of the  Company,  and no other  compensation,
benefit or payment  hereunder shall in any way limit or reduce the obligation of
the Company to pay the Executive's salary hereunder.

        b. Expenses.  During the term of the Executive's  employment  hereunder,
the  Executive  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  prompt  reimbursement  for all
reasonable  expenses incurred by the Executive in performing services hereunder,
including  all  expenses of travel and living  expenses  while away from home on
business or at the request of and in the service of the Company,  provided  that
such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and
procedures established by the Company.

        c. Other Benefits.  The Company shall maintain in full force and effect,
and the Executive  shall be entitled to continue to  participate  in, all of its
employee  benefit  plans  and  arrangements  in  effect  on the date  hereof  or



<PAGE>



effective  concurrent herewith in which the Executive  participates or plans and
arrangements   providing  the  Executive  with  at  lease  equivalent   benefits
thereunder  (including  without  limitation each stock option plan,  stock bonus
plan,  life  insurance and  health-and-accident  plan and  arrangement,  medical
insurance plan,  disability plan and vacation plan).  The Company shall not make
any  changes in such plans or  arrangements  which  would  adversely  affect the
Executive's rights or benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to
a program  applicable to all  executives of the Company and does not result in a
proportionately  greater reduction in the rights of or benefits to the Executive
as compared with any other of the executives of the Company. The Executive shall
be entitled to  participate in or receive  benefits  under any employee  benefit
plan or  arrangement  made  available by the Company in the future to executives
and key  management  employees,  subject to and on a basis  consistent  with the
terms,  conditions and overall  administration  of such plans and  arrangements.
Nothing paid to the Executive under any plan or arrangements presently in effect
or made  available  in the future  shall be deemed to be in lieu of the salaries
payable to the Executive pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section. Any payments
or benefits  payable to the Executive  hereunder in respect of any calendar year
during  which the  Executive is employed by the Company for less than the entire
such  year  shall,   unless  otherwise   provided  in  the  applicable  plan  or
arrangement,  be prorated in accordance with the number of days in such calendar
year during which the Executive is so employed.

        d. Vacations.  The Executive shall be entitled to the number of vacation
days in each calendar year, and to  compensation in respect of earned but unused
vacation days,  determined in accordance  with the Company's  vacation plan. The
Executive  shall also be entitled to all paid  holidays  given by the Company to
its executives.

        e. Services  Furnished.  The Company  shall  furnish the Executive  with
office space and such other  facilities and services as shall be suitable to the
individual  Executive's positions and adequate for the performance of his duties
as set forth in Section 3 hereof.

     6. Disclosure of  Information.  The Executive  recognizes and  acknowledges
that the operation of the Company's businesses and know how as it may exist from
time to time, and the Company's  trade secrets are valuable,  special and unique
assets of the Company's  business.  The Executive will not,  during or after the
term of his  employment,  disclose  such  information  and  know how or any part
thereof, or any trade secrets, to any person, firm, corporation,  association or
other entity for any reason or purpose  whatsoever.  In the event of a breach or
threatened  breach by an  Executive of the  provisions  of this  paragraph,  the
Company  shall be entitled  to an  injunction  restraining  the  Executive  from
disclosing  in whole or in part such  information  or any trade  secrets or from
rendering any services to any person,  firm,  corporation,  association or other
entity to whom such  information  in whole or in part has been  disclosed  or is
threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the
Company  from  pursuing  any other  remedies  available  to the Company for such
breach  or  threatened  breach,  including  the  recovery  of  damages  from the
Executive.

     7.  Termination.  The individual  Executive's  employment  hereunder may be
terminated only by the Company under the following circumstances:


<PAGE>





        a. Death. The Executive's  employment hereunder shall terminate upon his
death.

        b.  Disability.  If, as a result of the  Executive's  incapacity  due to
physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from his duties
hereunder on a full-time basis for the entire period of six consecutive  months,
and within thirty (30) days after written  Notice of Termination is given (which
may  occur  before or after the end of such  six-month  periods)  shall not have
returned to the performance of his duties  hereunder on a full-time  basis,  the
Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder

        c. Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder
for Cause.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  the Company  shall have "Cause" to
terminate  the  Executive's  employment  hereunder  upon  (A)  the  willful  and
continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder
(other than any such failure  resulting from the  Executive's  incapacity due to
physical  or mental  illness),  after  demand  for  substantial  performance  is
delivered by the Company that  specifically  identifies  the manner in which the
Company believes the Executive has not  substantially  performed his duties,  or
(B) the willful  engaging by the  Executive in  misconduct  which is  materially
injurious  to the  Company,  monetarily  or  otherwise.  For  purposes  of  this
paragraph,  no act,  or  failure  to  act,  on the  Executive's  part  shall  be
considered  "willful"  unless  done,  or omitted to be done,  by him not in good
faith and without  reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best
interest of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not
be deemed to have been terminated for Cause without (i) reasonable notice to the
Executive setting forth the reasons for the Company's intention to terminate for
Cause; (ii) an opportunity for the Executive,  together with his counsel,  to be
heard before the Board of Directors  of the Company,  and (iii)  delivery to the
Executive of a Notice of  Termination  as defined in subsection  (e) hereof from
the Board of Directors of the Company  finding that in the good faith opinion of
such Board the  Executive was guilty of conduct set forth above in clause (A) or
(B) of the preceding sentence, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

        d.  Termination  by the  Executive.  The  Executive  may  terminate  his
employment  hereunder  (i) for Good Reason or (ii) if his health  should  become
impaired  to an  extent  that  makes his  continued  performance  of his  duties
hereunder  hazardous to his physical or mental health or his life, provided that
the Executive  shall have furnished the Company with a written  statement from a
qualified doctor to such effect.

<PAGE>

     For purposes of this  Agreement,  "Good  Reason" shall mean (A) a change in
control of the Company (as defined below) which is not approved by a majority of
the shares of the Company owned by the Executives,  (B) a failure by the Company
to comply with any material provision of this Agreement which has not been cured
within  ten days  after  notice  of such  noncompliance  has  been  given by the
Executive to the Company as the case may be, or (C) any purported termination of
the  Executive's  employment  which is not  effected  pursuant  to a  Notice  of
Termination  satisfying  the  requirements  of  paragraph  (e)  hereof  (and for
purposes of this Agreement no such purported termination shall be effective).

     For purposes of this Agreement,  a "change in control of the Company" shall
mean a change in control of a nature  that would be  required  to be reported in
response to Item 5(f) of schedule 14A of Regulation  14A  promulgated  under the
securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange  Act");  provided that,  without
limitation, such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any
"person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act),
other than the Company or any  "person"  who on the date hereof is a director or
officer of the Company of any  "person"  who on the date hereof is a director or
officer of the Company, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange  Act),  directly or  indirectly,  of  securities of the
Company  representing  20% of more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding securities,  or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years
during the term of this  Agreement,  individuals  who at the  beginning  of such
period constitute the Board of the Company cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority  thereof,  unless the  election of each  director who was not a
director  at the  beginning  of such  period  has been  approved  in  advance by
directors  representing at least  two-thirds of the directors then in office who
were directors at the beginning of the period.

        e. Any  termination of the  Executive's  employment by the Company or by
the Executive (other than termination pursuant to subsection (a) above) shall be
communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other parties  hereto.  For
purposes of this Agreement,  a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which
shall indicate the specific termination  provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances  claimed to
provide  a  basis  for  termination  of the  Executive's  employment  under  the
provision so indicated.

        f. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment is
terminated  by his  death,  the  date  of his  death,  (ii)  if the  Executive's
employment is terminated  pursuant to subsection (b) above, 30 days after Notice
of Termination is given  (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to
the  performance of his duties on a full-time basis during such 30 days period),
(iii) if the  Executive's  employment is terminated  pursuant to subsection  (e)
above,  the  date  specified  in the  Notice  of  Termination,  and  (iv) if the
Executive's  employment is terminated for any other reason,  the date on which a
Notice of Termination is given; provided that if within 30 days after any Notice
of Termination is given the party receiving such Notice of Termination  notifies
the other party that a dispute exists  concerning the  termination,  the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either
by mutual written  agreement of the parties,  by a binding and final arbitration
award  or  by a  final  judgment,  order  or  decree  of a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction  (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).

<PAGE>

     8. Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability.

        a. If the  Executive  is unable to  perform  his  services  by reason of
illness or  incapacity  for a period of more than six months,  the  compensation
otherwise  payable  to him  during  the  continued  period  of such  illness  or
incapacity shall be reduced by the amount of any insurance  benefits provided by
the  Company.  The Company may  terminate  this  Agreement at any time after the
Executive  shall be  absent  from  his  employment  for  whatever  cause,  for a
continuous period of more than six months and all obligations of the Company and
shareholders hereunder shall cease upon such termination.

        b. If the Executive's employment is terminated by his death, the Company
shall pay to the Executive's  spouse,  or if he leaves no spouse, to his estate,
commencing on the next  succeeding  day which is the 15th day or last day of the
month, as the case may be, and semi-monthly thereafter on the 15th and last days
of each  month,  until a total of 6 payments  have been made,  an amount on each
payment date equal to the  semi-monthly  salary payment payable to the Executive
pursuant to Section 5 (a) hereof at the time of his death.

        c. If the  Executive's  employment  shall be terminated  for Cause,  the
Company shall pay the Executive his full salary  through the Date of Termination
at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given and the Company
shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.

        d. If (A) in breach of this  Agreement,  the Company shall  terminate an
Executive's  employment  other than  pursuant to Section 7(b) or 7(c) hereof (it
being understood that a purported  termination  pursuant to Section 7(b) or 7(c)
hereof which is disputed and finally determined not to have been proper shall be
a termination  by the Company in breach of this  Agreement) or (B) the Executive
shall terminate his employment for Good Reason, then

            (i) the Company shall pay the Executive his full salary  through the
Date of  Termination  at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is
given;

            (ii) in lieu of any further  salary  payments to the  Executive  for
periods  subsequent  to the  Date  of  Termination,  the  Company  shall  pay as
severance  pay to the  Executive  an  amount  equal  to the  product  of (A) the
Executive's  annual  salary  rate  in  effect  as of the  Date  of  Termination,
multiplied by (B) the greater of the number of years  (including  partial years)
remaining in the term of  employment  hereunder or the number one, such payments
to be  made  in a lump  sum on or  before  the 5th  day  following  the  Date of
Termination.

<PAGE>

            (iii) if termination of the Executive's  employment  arises out of a
breach by the Company of this Agreement, the Company shall pay all other damages
to which the  Executive  may be entitled as a result of such  breach,  including
damages for any and all loss of benefits to the  Executive  under the  Company's
employee  benefit plans which the  Executive  would have received if the Company
had not breached this Agreement and had the Executive's employment continued for
the full term  provided in Section 2 hereof,  and  including  all legal fees and
expenses incurred by him as a result of such termination.

        e. If the Executive shall terminate his employment  under clause (ii) of
Section 7(d) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive his full salary through
the Date of  Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination
is given  together  with  such  reasonable  severance  payment,  if any,  or the
Company's Board of Directors may determine.

        f. Unless the  Executive  is  terminated  for Cause,  the Company  shall
maintain in full force and effect,  for the  continued  benefit of the Executive
for the greater of the number of years  (including  partial years)  remaining in
the term of employment hereunder or the number three, all employee benefit plans
and  programs in which the  Executive  was entitled to  participate  immediately
prior  to the  Date of  Termination  provided  that  the  Executive's  continued
participation  is possible  under the general terms and provisions of such plans
and programs.  In the event that the Executive's  participation in any such plan
or program is barred,  the Company shall  arrange to provide the Executive  with
benefits substantially similar to those which the Executive would otherwise have
been  entitled to receive under such plans and programs from which his continued
participation is barred.

        g. The  Executive  shall not be required  to mitigate  the amount of any
payment provided for in this Section 8 by seeking other employment or otherwise.

<PAGE>

     9. Successors: Binding Agreement.

        a. The Company will require any successor  (whether  direct or indirect,
by purchase, merger,  consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business  and/or  assets of the Company,  by agreement in form and substance
satisfactory  to the  Executive,  to expressly  assume and agree to perform this
Agreement  in the same manner and to the same  extent that the Company  would be
required to perform it if no such  succession  had taken  place.  Failure by the
Company  to  obtain  such  agreement  prior  to the  effectiveness  of any  such
succession shall be a breach of the Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to
compensation  from the  Company  in the same  amount and on the same terms as he
would be entitled to hereunder if he terminated  his employment for Good Reason,
except that for purposes of  implementing  the foregoing,  the date on which any
such succession  becomes  effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.  As
used in the Agreement,  "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined
and any successor to its business  and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and
delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes
bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.

        b. This Agreement and all rights of the Executive  hereunder shall inure
to the  benefit  of and be  enforceable  by the  Executive's  personal  or legal
representatives,  executors,  administrators,  successors,  heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.  If an Executive should die while any amounts would still
be payable to him  hereunder  if he had  continued  to live,  all such  amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein,  shall be paid in accordance with the terms of
this  Agreement to the  Executive's  devisee,  legatee or other  designee or, if
there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.

     10. Notice. For purposes of this Agreement,  notices, demands and all other
communications  provided for in the  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when  delivered or (unless  otherwise  specified)
mailed by United States  registered  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  postage
prepaid, addressed to the Company, and the Executive at the following addresses:


            (i) If to the Company:

                Karlton Terry, President
                American Rivers Oil Co.
                700 E. 9th Ave., #106
                Denver, CO 80203

            (ii) If to the Executive

                 Karlton Terry
                 American Rivers Oil Co.
                 700 E. 9th Ave., #106
                 Denver, CO 80203

Any party to this Agreement may change the address for giving notices by written
notice to the other party in conformity with the foregoing,  except that notices
of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

<PAGE>

     11. Miscellaneous.  No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived
or  discharged  unless such  waiver,  modification  or discharge is agreed to in
writing  signed  by the  Executives  and such  officers  as may be  specifically
designated  by the  Company.  No waiver  by any party  hereto at any time of any
breach by any other  party  hereto of, or  compliance  with,  any  condition  or
provision of this  Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same ar at any
prior or subsequent  time. No  agreements or  presentations,  oral or otherwise,
express or implied,  with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
any party which are not set forth  expressly in this  Agreement.  The  validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of the State of Colorado.

     12.  Validity.  The  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of any  provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not effect the validity or  enforceability of
any other  provision  of this  Agreement,  which shall  remain in full force and
effect.

     13.   Counterparts.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  one  or  more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

     14. Governing Law. This  interpretation and construction of this Agreement,
and all matters relating  hereto,  shall be governed by the internal laws of the
State of Colorado.

     15. Arbitration.  Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection
with this  Agreement  shall be settled  exclusively  by  arbitration,  conducted
before a panel of three arbitrators, in Denver, Colorado, in accordance with the
rules of the American  Arbitration  Association then in effect.  Judgment may be
entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction.  The expense
of such arbitration shall be borne by the Company.

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

                                     AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY

                                     By  /s/  JUBAL S. TERRY
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Jubal S. Terry


                                     By  /s/  KARLTON TERRY
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                          Karlton Terry





Exhibit 10.10

                           AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY
                  1995 STOCK OPTION AND STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN

     1.  Purposes of and  Benefits  Under the Plan.  This 1995 Stock  Option and
Stock Compensation Plan (the "Plan") is intended to encourage stock ownership by
employees and officers (whether or not they are employees) of and consultants to
American  Rivers Oil Company  (the  "Corporation"),  so that they may acquire or
increase  their  proprietary  interest  in the  Corporation,  and is intended to
facilitate the  Corporation's  efforts to (i) induce qualified persons to become
employees or officers of or  consultants  to the  Corporation;  (ii)  compensate
employees,  officers and consultants for services to the Corporation;  and (iii)
encourage  such  persons  to remain  in the  employ  of or  associated  with the
Corporation and to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Corporation.
The Plan also  provides the  Corporation  the  opportunity  to  compensate  such
persons  through the  issuance of shares of its Common  Stock,  in lieu of cash,
therefore allowing the Corporation to preserve its cash for other purposes.

     2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall
have the meanings indicated:


        (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

        (b) "Committee" shall mean the Compensation  Committee  appointed by the
Board, if one has been appointed.  If no Committee has been appointed,  the term
"Committee" shall mean the Board.

        (c) "Common  Stock" shall mean the  Corporation's  $.01 par value common
stock.

        (d)  "Employee"  means  any  person  or entity  that  renders  bona fide
services  to  the  Corporation,  including,  without  limitation:  (i) a  person
employed by the  Company;  (ii) an officer or director of the  Company,  (iii) a
person or company  engaged by the Company as a  consultant  or  advisor;  (iv) a
lawyer, law firm,  accountant or accounting firm, engaged by the Company; or (v)
any other person defined as an "employee" herein.

        (e)  "Recipient"  means any person  granted an Option or awarded a Award
hereunder.

<PAGE>

     3. Administration.
        ---------------

        (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall
have the authority in its discretion,  subject to and not inconsistent  with the
express  provisions of the Plan, to administer  the Plan and to exercise all the
powers and authorities either specifically conferred under the Plan or necessary
or advisable in the  administration  of the Plan,  including the  authority:  to
grant  Options  and  Awards;   to  determine  the  vesting  schedule  and  other
restrictions,  if any, relating to Options and Awards; to determine the purchase
price of the shares of Common Stock covered by each Option (the "Option Price");
to determine  the persons to whom,  and the time or times at which,  Options and
Awards shall be granted; to determine the number of shares to be covered by each
Option or Award;  to interpret the Plan;  to prescribe,  amend and rescind rules
and  regulations  relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of
the Option agreements  (which need not be identical)  entered into in connection
with Options granted under the Plan; and to make all other determinations deemed
necessary or advisable  for the  administration  of the Plan.  The Committee may
delegate  to  one or  more  of  its  members  or to  one  or  more  agents  such
administrative duties as it may deem advisable,  and the Committee or any person
to whom it has  delegated  duties as aforesaid may employ one or more persons to
render  advice with respect to any  responsibility  the Committee or such person
may have under the Plan.

        (b) Options and Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by duly
adopted  resolutions of the Committee  included in the minutes of the meeting at
which they are adopted or in a unanimous written consent.

        (c) The  Committee  shall  endeavor  to  administer  the Plan and  grant
Options and Awards hereunder in a manner that is compatible with the obligations
of persons  subject to Section 16 of the U.S.  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934
(the "1934 Act"),  although  compliance with Section 16 is the obligation of the
Recipient,  not the  Corporation.  Neither  the  Committee,  the  Board  nor the
Corporation  can assume any legal  responsibility  for a Recipient's  compliance
with his obligations under Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

        (d) No member of the  Committee  or the  Board  shall be liable  for any
action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
Option or Award granted hereunder.

     4. Eligibility.

        (a) Subject to certain  limitations  hereinafter set forth,  Options and
Awards  may be  granted  to  employees  and  officers  (whether  or not they are
employees) of and consultants to the Corporation.  In determining the persons to
whom  Options or Awards  shall be granted and the number of shares to be covered
by each Option or Award, the Committee shall take into account the duties of the
respective persons, their present and potential  contributions to the success of
the Corporation,  and such other factors as the Committee shall deem relevant to
accomplish the purposes of the Plan.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

        (b) A Recipient shall be eligible to receive more than one grant of
an Option or Award during the term of the Plan,  on the terms and subject to the
restrictions herein set forth.

     5. Stock Reserved.

        (a) The stock subject to Options or Awards  hereunder shall be shares of
Common Stock.  Such shares,  in whole or in part, may be authorized but unissued
shares  or  shares  that  shall  have  been or  that  may be  reacquired  by the
Corporation.  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as to which Options
and  Awards  may be  granted  from time to time  under the Plan shall not exceed
750,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6(f) hereof.

        (b) If any Option  outstanding  under the Plan for any reason expires or
is terminated  without having been exercised in full, or if any Award granted is
forfeited because of vesting or other restrictions imposed at the time of grant,
the shares of Common Stock allocable to the  unexercised  portion of such Option
or the  forfeited  portion of the Award shall become  available  for  subsequent
grants of Options and Awards under the Plan.

     6. Terms and  Conditions of Options.  Each Option  granted  pursuant to the
Plan shall be evidenced by a written Option  agreement  between the  Corporation
and the Recipient, which agreement shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit
A hereto as modified from time to time by the Committee in its  discretion,  and
which shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

        (a) Number of Shares.  Each Option  agreement  shall state the number of
shares of Common Stock covered by the Option.

        (b) Option Price.  Each Option  agreement  shall state the Option Price,
which  shall  be  determined  by the  Committee  subject  only to the  following
restrictions:

            (1) The Option Price shall be subject to  adjustment  as provided in
Section 6(f) hereof.

            (2) The date on which the  Committee  adopts a resolution  expressly
granting an Option shall be considered  the day on which such option is granted,
unless a future date is specified in the resolution.

        (c) Term of Option.  Each Option agreement shall state the period during
and times at which the  Option  shall be  exercisable,  in  accordance  with the
following limitations:

            (1) The date on which the  Committee  adopts a resolution  expressly
granting an Option shall be considered  the day on which such Option is granted,
although  such grant shall not be effective  until the Recipient has executed an
Option agreement with respect to such Option.

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

            (2) The  exercise  period of any Option  shall not exceed five years
from the date of grant of the Option.

            (3) The  Committee  shall have the authority to accelerate or extend
the  exercisability  of any  outstanding  Option  at such  time and  under  such
circumstances  as it, in its sole  discretion,  deems  appropriate.  No exercise
period may be so extended to increase  the term of the Option  beyond five years
from the date of the grant.

        (d) Method of Exercise and Medium and Time of Payment.

            (1) An Option  may be  exercised  as to any or all  whole  shares of
Common  Stock as to which it then is  exercisable,  provided,  however,  that no
Option may be  exercised as to less than 100 shares (or such number of shares as
to which the Option is then  exercisable  if such  number of shares is less than
100).

            (2) Each exercise of an Option granted  hereunder,  whether in whole
or in part,  shall  be  effected  by  written  notice  to the  Secretary  of the
Corporation  designating  the  number of shares as to which the  Option is being
exercised,  and shall be  accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price for
the  number  of shares  so  designated,  together  with any  written  statements
required by, or deemed by the Corporation's counsel to be advisable pursuant to,
any applicable securities laws.

            (3) The Option  Price shall be paid in cash,  or in shares of Common
Stock having a fair market value equal to such Option  Price,  or in property or
in a combination  of cash,  shares and property and,  subject to approval of the
Committee,  may be  effected  in whole or in part with funds  received  from the
Corporation at the time of exercise as a compensatory cash payment.

            (4) The  Committee  shall have the sole and absolute  discretion  to
determine whether or not property other than cash or Common Stock may be used to
purchase the shares of Common Stock hereunder and, if so, to determine the value
of the property received.

            (5) The Recipient  shall make provision for the withholding of taxes
as required by Paragraph 8 hereof.



                                      -4 -

<PAGE>

        (e) Transferability Restriction.

            (l)(A) As a condition  to the transfer of any shares of Common Stock
issued upon exercise of an Option granted under this Plan, the  Corporation  may
require an opinion of counsel,  satisfactory to the  Corporation,  to the effect
that such  transfer will not be in violation of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act") or any other  applicable  securities  laws or that such
transfer has been registered  under federal and all applicable  state securities
laws.  (B)  Further,  the  Corporation  shall  be  authorized  to  refrain  from
delivering or  transferring  shares of Common Stock issued under this Plan until
the  Committee  determines  that such  delivery  or  transfer  will not  violate
applicable securities laws and the Recipient has tendered to the Corporation any
federal,  state or local tax owed by the Recipient as a result of exercising the
Option  or  disposing  of any  Common  Stock  when the  Corporation  has a legal
liability  to  satisfy  such tax.  (C) The  Corporation  shall not be liable for
damages due to delay in the  delivery or issuance of any stock  certificate  for
any reason whatsoever,  including, but not limited to, a delay caused by listing
requirements of any securities  exchange or any registration  requirements under
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, or under any other state, federal or provincial law,
rule or  regulation.  (D) The  Corporation  is under no  obligation  to take any
action or incur any  expense in order to  register  or qualify  the  delivery or
transfer  of shares of  Common  Stock  under  applicable  securities  laws or to
perfect any exemption from such  registration or qualification  unless otherwise
provided in a separate written agreement. (E) Furthermore,  the Corporation will
not be liable to any  Recipient  for  failure to deliver or  transfer  shares of
Common Stock if such failure is based upon the provisions of this paragraph.

        (f) Effect of Certain Changes.

            (1) If there is any  change in the  number of shares of  outstanding
Common  Stock  through  the  declaration  of  stock  dividends,   or  through  a
recapitalization  resulting in stock splits or combinations or exchanges of such
shares,  the number of shares of Common  Stock  available  for  Options  and the
number of such shares covered by outstanding Options, and the exercise price per
share of the  outstanding  Options,  shall be  proportionately  adjusted  by the
Committee to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of issued  shares of
Common Stock; provided,  however, that any fractional shares resulting from such
adjustment shall be eliminated.

            (2) In the event of the proposed  dissolution  or liquidation of the
Corporation, or any corporate separation or division, including, but not limited
to,  split-up,  split-off  or  spin-off,  or a merger  or  consolidation  of the
Corporation with another corporation,  the Committee may provide that the holder
of each Option then exercisable shall have the right to exercise such Option (at
its then current Option Price) solely for the kind and amount of shares of stock
and other securities,  property, cash or any combination thereof receivable upon
such dissolution,  liquidation,  corporate separation or division,  or merger or
consolidation by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which such
Option  might  have  been  exercised  immediately  prior  to  such  dissolution,
liquidation,  corporate separation or division, or merger or consolidation;  or,
in the  alternative the Committee may provide that each Option granted under the
Plan shall  terminate as of a date fixed by the  Committee;  provided,  however,
that not less than 30 days'  written  notice of the date so fixed shall be given
to each  Recipient,  who shall  have the  right,  during  the  period of 30 days
preceding such termination,  to exercise the Option as to all or any part of the
shares of Common Stock covered thereby, including shares as to which such Option
would not otherwise be exercisable.

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

            (3)  Paragraph  (2) of this Section 6(f) shall not apply to a merger
or  consolidation  in which the  Corporation  is the surviving  corporation  and
shares of Common Stock are not converted into or exchanged for stock, securities
of any other corporation,  cash or any other thing of value. Notwithstanding the
preceding  sentence,   in  case  of  any  consolidation  or  merger  of  another
corporation  into the  Corporation  in which the  Corporation  is the  surviving
corporation  and in which there is a  reclassification  or change  (including  a
change to the right to receive  cash or other  property) of the shares of Common
Stock  (excluding a change in par value,  or from no par value to par value,  or
any change as a result of a subdivision or combination, but including any change
in such shares into two or more classes or series of shares),  the Committee may
provide that the holder of each Option then exercisable  shall have the right to
exercise such Option solely for the kind and amount of shares of stock and other
securities  (including  those  of any  new  direct  or  indirect  parent  of the
Corporation),  property,  cash or any combination  thereof  receivable upon such
reclassification, change, consolidation or merger by the holder of the number of
shares of Common Stock for which such Option might have been exercised.

            (4) To the extent that the foregoing  adjustments relate to stock or
securities of the Corporation,  such adjustments shall be made by the Committee,
whose determination -in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.

            (5) Except as expressly  provided in this Section 6(f) the Recipient
shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or  consolidation of shares of
stock of any class,  or the payment of any stock  dividend or any other increase
or decrease  in the number of shares of stock of any class,  or by reason of any
dissolution,  liquidation,  merger,  or consolidation  or spin-off.of  assets or
stock  of.another  corporation;  .and any issue by the  Corporation of shares of
stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class,
shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect
to, the  number or price of shares of Common  Stock  subject  to an Option.  The
grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or
power of the Corporation to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations
or changes of its capital or business structures, or to merge or consolidate, or
to dissolve,  liquidate,  or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
assets.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

        (g) No Rights as Shareholder - Non-Distributive Intent.

            (1)  Neither a  Recipient  of an Option nor such  Recipient's  legal
representative,  heir, legatee or distributee,  shall be deemed to be the holder
of, or to have any rights of a holder  with  respect  to, any shares  subject to
such Option until after the Option is exercised and the shares are issued.

            (2)  No  adjustment  shall  be  made  for  dividends   (ordinary  or
extraordinary,  whether in cash,  securities or other property) or distributions
or other  rights  for which  the  record  date is prior to the date  such  stock
certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 6(f) hereof.

            (3)  Upon  exercise  of  an  Option  at a  time  when  there  is  no
registration  statement  in effect  under the 1933 Act  relating  to the  shares
issuable  upon  exercise,  shares  may be  issued to the  Recipient  only if the
Recipient  represents and warrants in writing to the Corporation that the shares
purchased  are  being  acquired  for  investment  and  not  with a  view  to the
distribution thereof and provides the Corporation with sufficient information to
establish an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

            (4) No shares shall be issued upon the exercise of an Option  unless
and until there shall have been compliance with any then applicable requirements
of the U.S.  Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory agencies
having jurisdiction over the Corporation.

        (h) Other Provisions.  Option  Agreements  authorized under the Plan may
contain such other provisions as the Committee shall deem advisable,  including,
without limitation, the imposition of restrictions upon the vesting and exercise
of an Option.

     7. Grant of Stock  Awards.  In addition  to, or in lieu of, the grant of an
Option, the Committee may grant Awards.

        (a) At the time of grant of a Award,  the Committee may impose a vesting
period  of up to  five  years,  and  such  other  restrictions  which  it  deems
appropriate.  Unless otherwise directed by the Committee at the time of grant of
a Award,  the Recipient  shall be considered a shareholder of the Corporation as
to the Award shares which have vested in the grantee at any time  regardless  of
any forfeiture provisions which have not yet arisen.

        (b) The  grant of a Award and the  issuance  and  delivery  of shares of
Common Stock pursuant thereto shall be subject to approval by the  Corporation's
counsel of all legal matters in connection therewith,  including compliance with
the  requirements  of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act,  other  applicable  securities
laws,  rules and  regulations,  and the requirements of any stock exchanges upon
which the Common Stock then may be listed. Any certificates prepared to evidence
Common  Stock  issued  pursuant  to a Award  grant  shall  bear  legends  as the
Corporation's counsel may seem necessary or advisable.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

     8.  Agreement by Recipient  Regarding  Withholding  Taxes.  Each  Recipient
agrees that the  Corporation,  to the extent permitted or required by law, shall
deduct a sufficient  number of shares due to the Recipient  upon exercise of the
Option  or the  grant  of a Award  to  allow  the  Corporation  to pay  federal,
provincial,  state and local  taxes of any kind  required  by law to be withheld
upon the  exercise  of such  Option or payment of such Award from any payment of
any kind otherwise due to the Recipient.  The Corporation shall not be obligated
to advise any  Recipient  of the  existence  of any tax or the amount  which the
Corporation will be so required to withhold.

     9. Term of Plan.  Options  and Awards  may be granted  under this Plan from
time to time  within a period of five years from the date the Plan is adopted by
the Board.

     10.  Amendment and  Termination  of the Plan. The Committee at any time and
from  time to time  may  suspend,  terminate,  modify  or  amend  the  Plan.  No
suspension,  termination,  modification  or amendment of the Plan may  adversely
affect any Option or Award previously granted, unless the written consent of the
Recipient is obtained.

     11.  Assumption.  Subject  to Section  6, the terms and  conditions  of any
outstanding  Options  granted  pursuant  to this Plan  shall be  assumed  by, be
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor  corporation to the
Corporation and shall, to the extent applicable,  continue to be governed by the
terms and conditions of this Plan. Such successor corporation may, but shall not
be obligated to, assume this Plan.

     12. Termination of Right of Action. Every right of action arising out of or
in  connection  with  the Plan by or on  behalf  of the  Corporation,  or by any
shareholder of the Corporation against any past, present or future member of the
Board or the  Committee,  or against  any  employee,  or by an  employee  (past,
present or future) against the  Corporation,  irrespective of the place where an
action may be brought  and of the place of  residence  of any such  shareholder,
director or employee,  will cease and be barred by the expiration of three years
from the date of the act or omission in respect of which such right of action is
alleged to have arisen or such shorter period as may be provided by law.

     13. Tax  Litigation.  The  Corporation  shall  have the right,  but not the
obligation,   to  contest,   at  its  expense,   any  tax  ruling  or  decision,
administrative or judicial,  on any issue which is related to the Plan and which
the Board  believes to be important to holders of Options or Common Stock issued
pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan and to conduct any such contest or any
litigation arising therefrom to a final decision.

     14.  Adoption.  This Plan was  approved  by the Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation effective November ---, 1995.



                                      -8-

<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit A
                                                                      ----------

                         FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                         ------------------------------

     STOCK OPTION  AGREEMENT  made as of this  ----------  day of -------- , 199
- - -----,   by  and  between   American   Rivers  Oil   Company,   a  Wyoming  (the
"Corporation"), and (the "Recipient").

     In accordance with the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan
(the "Plan"),  a copy of which is attached hereto and is incorporated  herein by
reference,  the  Corporation  desires,  in  connection  with the services of the
Recipient, to provide the Recipient with an opportunity to acquire shares of the
Corporation's  $.01 par value common stock ("Common  Stock") on favorable  terms
and thereby increase the Recipient's proprietary interest in the Corporation and
incentive  to put forth  maximum  efforts for the success of the business of the
Corporation.  Capitalized  terms used but not defined herein are used as defined
in the Plan.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises  and mutual  covenants
herein set forth and other good and valuable consideration,  the Corporation and
the Recipient agree as follows:

     1.  Confirmation  of Grant of Option.  Pursuant to a  determination  of the
Committee  or, in the absence of a  Committee,  by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation made on --------- , 19 ---- (the "Date of Grant"),  the Corporation,
subject  to the  terms  of the  Plan and of this  Agreement,  confirms  that the
Recipient  has been  irrevocably  granted  on the Date of Grant,  as a matter of
separate inducement and agreement,  a Stock Option (the "Option") exercisable to
purchase  an  aggregate  of shares  ---------  of Common  Stock on the terms and
conditions  herein set forth,  subject to  adjustment as provided in Paragraph 8
hereof.

     2. Option Price.  The Option Price of shares of Common Stock covered by the
Option will be -------- per share (the "Option  Price") subject to adjustment as
provided in Paragraph 8 hereof.

     3. Exercise of Option.  Except as otherwise provided herein or in Section 6
of the Plan,  the Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during
the term of the Option.  The Option may not be  exercised  at any one time as to
fewer than 100  shares (or such  number of shares as to which the Option is then
exercisable  if such  number  of shares is less than  100).  The  Option  may be
exercised by written notice to the Secretary of the  Corporation  accompanied by
payment in full of the Option Price as provided in Section 6(d) of the Plan.

     4. Term of Option.  The term of the Option  will be  through  ----------  ,
- - -------,  subject to earlier  termination  or  cancellation  as provided in this
Agreement. The holder of the Option will not have any rights to dividends or any
other rights of a shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject
to the Option  until such  shares  shall have been issued (as  evidenced  by the
appropriate  transfer  agent of the  Corporation)  upon  purchase of such shares
through exercise of the Option.

<PAGE>

     5.  Adjustments.  The  Option  shall  be  subject  to  adjustment  upon the
occurrence of certain events as set forth in Section 6(f) of the Plan.

     6. No Registration Obligation. The Recipient understands that the Option is
not registered under the 1933 Act and, unless by separate written agreement, the
Corporation  has no obligation to so register the Option or any of the shares of
Common Stock subject to and issuable  upon the exercise of the Option,  although
it may from time to time  register  under the 1933 Act the shares  issuable upon
exercise of Options granted pursuant to the Plan. The Recipient  represents that
the Option is being  acquired  for the  Recipient's  own account and that unless
registered by the Corporation,  the shares of Common Stock issued on exercise of
the Option will be acquired  by the  Recipient  for  investment.  The  Recipient
understands that the Option is, and the underlying  securities may be, issued to
the Recipient in reliance upon  exemptions  from the 1933 Act, and  acknowledges
and agrees that all  certificates  for the shares  issued  upon  exercise of the
Option will bear the following  legends unless such shares are registered  under
the 1933 Act prior to their issuance:

     The shares  represented by this  Certificate have not been registered under
     the  Securities  Act  of  1933  (the  "1933  Act"),   and  are  "restricted
     securities"  as that term is  defined  in Rule 144 under the 1933 Act.  The
     shares may not be offered for sale,  sold or otherwise  transferred  except
     pursuant  to an  effective  registration  statement  under  the 1933 Act or
     pursuant  to an  exemption  from  registration  under  the  1933  Act,  the
     availability  of  which is to be  established  to the  satisfaction  of the
     Company.

     The  Recipient  further  understands  and  agrees  that the  Option  may be
exercised  only if at the  time of  such  exercise  the  underlying  shares  are
registered  and/or the Recipient and the  Corporation  are able to establish the
existence of an exemption  from  registration  under the 1933 Act and applicable
state or other laws.

     7. Notices.  Each notice  relating to this Agreement will be in writing and
delivered in person or by certified mail to the proper  address.  Notices to the
Corporation  shall be addressed to the  Corporation,  attention:  President,  at
- - ------------------   ,  or  at  such  other  address  as  may   constitute   the
Corporation's  principal  place  of  business  at the  time,  with  a  copy  to:
- - ----------  , -  -------------.  Notices  to the  Recipient  or other  person or
persons then entitled to exercise the Option shall be addressed to the Recipient
or such other  person or persons at the  Recipient's  address  below  specified.
Anyone to whom a notice may be given under this  Agreement  may  designate a new
address by notice to that effect given pursuant to this Paragraph 10.


                                      A-2

<PAGE>

     8.  Approval of Counsel.  The  exercise of the Option and the  issuance and
delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto shall be subject to approval
by the  Corporation's  counsel  of all legal  matters in  connection  therewith,
including  compliance  with the  requirements  of the 1933 Act,  the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  applicable  state and other  securities laws,
the rules and  regulations  thereunder,  and the  requirements  of any  national
securities exchange(s) upon which the Common Stock then may be listed.

     9. Benefits of Agreement.  This  Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon each successor and assignee of the Corporation.  All obligations
imposed upon the Recipient and all rights granted to the Corporation  under this
Agreement will be binding upon the Recipient's heirs, legal  representatives and
successors.

     10.  Effect of  Governmental  and Other  Regulations.  The  exercise of the
Option and the  Corporation's  obligation  to sell and  deliver  shares upon the
exercise  of the Option are  subject to all  applicable  federal and state laws,
rules and  regulations,  and to such approvals by any regulatory or governmental
agency which may, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, be required.

     11. Incorporation of the Plan. The Plan is attached hereto and incorporated
herein by reference. In the event that any provision in this Agreement conflicts
with a provision in the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.

     Executed  in the name and on behalf of the  Corporation  by one of its duly
authorized officers and by the Recipient all as of the date first above written.

                                       AMERICAN RIVERS OIL COMPANY

Date                 , 19              By
     ----------------    ----             --------------------------------------
                                                                   , President
                                          -------------------------


                                      A-3

<PAGE>


     The undersigned Recipient has read and understands the terms of this Option
Agreement and the attached Plan and hereby agrees to comply therewith.

Date                   , 19           
    -------------------    ----               ----------------------------------
                                              Signature of Recipient


                                             Tax ID Number:
                                                            --------------------
                                             
                                             Address:
            
                                             -----------------------------------


                                             -----------------------------------





                                      A-4




                                   EXHIBIT 21

                         Subsidiaries of the Registrant

                                                            State of          
           Name                                          Incorporation
- - -------------------------------                          -------------

Bishop Capital Corporation  (1)                              Wyoming
MCC Cablevision, Inc.                                        Wyoming
Metro Minerals Corporation                                   Wyoming
Charter American Corporation                                 Wyoming


  (1)   Since the  subsidiary  is being  operated  autonomously  by the previous
        management of the Company  pursuant to a five year operating  agreement,
        the  Company's  investment  in the  subsidiary  is accounted  for by the
        equity method.




















<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                             275
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   64,773
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                74,185
<PP&E>                                       3,320,659
<DEPRECIATION>                                 124,630
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,406,133
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          231,473
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                       112,208
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,740,468
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,406,133
<SALES>                                        172,885
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               180,335
<CGS>                                           91,044
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  359,759
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               667,714
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              17,889
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (865,027)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   225,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (640,027)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (640,027)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.15)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.15)
        

</TABLE>


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