SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
|X| Filed by Registrant.
|_| Filed by Party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:
|X| Preliminary Proxy Statement
|_| Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|_| Definitive Proxy Statement
|_| Definitive Additional Materials
|_| Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12
BLACK WARRIOR WIRELINE CORP.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
NOT APPLICABLE
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than Registrant)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
|X| No fee required.
|_| $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: __________________________
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: __________________________
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: _________________________________
5) Total Fee Paid: ______________________________________________________________
|_| Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|_| Check box if any part of the Fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid: _______________________________________________________
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement Number: _________________________________
3) Filing Party: _________________________________________________________________
4) Date Filed: _________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
BLACK WARRIOR WIRELINE CORP.
3748 Highway #45 North
Columbus, Mississippi 39701
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
JANUARY 30, 2001
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Black
Warrior Wireline Corp. (the "Company") will be held at the offices of the
Company at 3748 Highway #45 North, Columbus, Mississippi 39701, on Tuesday,
January 30, 2001 at 10:00 AM local time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect four (4) directors of the Company to hold office until the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are
elected and qualified;
2. To consider and vote on a proposal to approve an amendment to the
Company's 1997 Omnibus Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares
reserved for the grant of options thereunder from 600,000 shares to
1,000,000 shares;
3. To consider and vote on a proposal to approve an amendment to the
Company's 1997 Non-Employee Stock Option Plan to increase the number of
shares reserved for the grant of options thereunder from 100,000 shares
to 300,000 shares;
4. To consider and vote on a proposal to approve the adoption of the
Company's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan pursuant to which 17,500,000 shares
will be reserved for the grant of options thereunder;
5. To consider and vote on a proposal to amend the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company to increase the authorized shares of
Common Stock, par value $.0005 per share, from 12,500,000 shares to
175,000,000 shares; and
6. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Information with respect to the above is set forth in the Proxy
Statement which accompanies this Notice. Only stockholders of record at the
close of business on December 14, 2000 are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Meeting.
<PAGE>
We hope that all of our Stockholders who can conveniently do so will
attend the Meeting. Stockholders who do not expect to be able to attend the
Meeting are requested to mark, date and sign the enclosed Proxy and return the
same in the enclosed addressed envelope which requires no postage and is
intended for your convenience.
Dated: December 29, 2000 Allen R. Neel, Secretary
<PAGE>
BLACK WARRIOR WIRELINE CORP.
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The enclosed Proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Black
Warrior Wireline Corp. (the "Company"), from the holders of shares of Common
Stock, $.0005 par value, to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Meeting") to be held at the offices of the Company at 3748 Highway #45 North,
Columbus, Mississippi 39701, on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 at 10:00AM local time,
and at any adjournments thereof.
The only business which the Board of Directors intends to present or
knows that others will present at the Meeting is (i) the election of four (4)
Directors of the Company to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified, (ii) to
consider and vote on a proposal to approve an amendment to the Company's 1997
Omnibus Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for the grant
of options thereunder from 600,000 shares to 1,000,000 shares, (iii) to consider
and vote on a proposal to approve an amendment to the Company's 1997
Non-Employee Stock Option Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for the
grant of options thereunder from 100,000 shares to 300,000 shares, (iv) to
consider and vote on a proposal to approve the adoption of the Company's 2000
Stock Incentive Plan pursuant to which 17,500,000 shares will be reserved for
the grant of options thereunder, and (v) to consider and vote on a proposal to
amend the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to increase the authorized
shares of Common Stock from 12,500,000 shares to 175,000,000 shares. Management
does not know of any other business to be brought before the Meeting, but it is
intended that as to any other business, a vote may be cast pursuant to the Proxy
in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons acting thereunder. Any
stockholder giving a Proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before the
Proxy is voted by revoking it in writing, by executing a later dated Proxy, or
appearing at the Meeting and voting in person. Any writing revoking a Proxy
should be addressed to Allen R. Neel, Secretary, at the address set forth below.
The Directors to be elected at the Meeting will be elected by a
plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote. Each of the other matters to be submitted to a vote of
stockholders will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast
at the Meeting on the proposal except that the proposal to amend the Certificate
of Incorporation will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. With regard to the election of
Directors, votes may be cast for or withheld from the nominees. Votes that are
withheld will have no effect on the outcome of the election because the
Directors will be elected by a plurality of votes cast.
Abstentions may be specified on all proposals submitted to a
stockholder vote other than the election of Directors. Abstentions will be
counted as present for purposes of determining the
<PAGE>
existence of a quorum regarding the proposal on which the abstention is noted.
However, abstentions on any of the Company's proposals will have no effect on
the outcome of the vote on such proposal where the outcome requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at the Meeting and will have the
effect of a vote against the proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation.
Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, brokers who hold shares
in street name have the authority to vote on certain routine matters on which
they have not received instructions from beneficial owners. Brokers holding
shares of the Company's Common Stock in street name who do not receive
instructions are entitled to vote on the election of Directors. Under applicable
Delaware law, "broker non-votes" on any such proposal (where a broker submits a
proxy but does not vote a customer's shares on such proposal) will be considered
not entitled to vote on that proposal and thus will not be counted in
determining the outcome of such vote. Likewise, where authority to vote for the
election of Directors is withheld by a stockholder, such shares will not be
counted in determining the outcome of such vote. Therefore, broker non-votes
with respect to the election of Directors and stockholders who mark their
proxies to withhold authority to vote their shares will have no effect on the
outcome of such proposal, although broker non-votes and proxies submitted where
the vote for the election of Directors is withheld are counted in determining
the existence of a quorum.
Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 14,
2000 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournments
thereof. On such date, the Company had outstanding voting securities consisting
of 12,496,408 shares of Common Stock, $.0005 par value, each of which shares is
entitled to one vote.
The Company's principal executive office address is 3748 Highway #45
North, Columbus, Mississippi 39701, and the telephone number is (662) 329-1047.
This Proxy Statement and the enclosed Form of Proxy will be mailed to the
Company's stockholders on or about December 29, 2000.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting, it is proposed to elect four (4) Directors to hold
office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective
successors are elected and qualified. It is intended that, unless otherwise
indicated, the shares of Common Stock represented by proxies solicited by the
Board of Directors will be voted for the election as Directors of the four (4)
nominees hereinafter named. If, for any reason, any of said nominees shall
become unavailable for election, which is not now anticipated, the proxies will
be voted for the other nominees and may be voted for a substitute nominee
designated by the Board of Directors. Each
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<PAGE>
nominee has indicated that he is willing and able to serve as a Director if
elected, and, accordingly, the Board of Directors does not have in mind any
substitute. Each nominee is presently a Director of the Company and, except for
Messrs. Underbrink and Mann, was elected a Director at the 1997 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders.
The nominees for Director and their ages are as follows:
NAME AGE
William L. Jenkins 47
Charles E. Underbrink 46
John L. Thompson 41
Alan W. Mann 45
William L. Jenkins has been President, Chief Operating Officer and a
Director of the Company since March 1989. From 1973 until 1980, Mr. Jenkins held
a variety of field engineering and training positions with Welex - A Halliburton
Company, in the South and Southwest. From 1980 until March 1989, Mr. Jenkins
worked with Triad Oil & Gas, Inc., as a consultant, providing services to a
number of oil and gas companies. During that time, Mr. Jenkins was involved in
the organization of a number of drilling and oil field service companies,
including a predecessor of the Company, of which he served as
Secretary/Treasurer until 1988. Mr. Jenkins has over twenty years' experience in
the oil field service business. Mr. Jenkins is Mr. Thornton's brother-in-law.
Charles E. Underbrink was elected a Director on April 1, 1998. For more
than the past five years, he has been employed as the Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of St. James Capital Corp. and SJMB, L.L.C., Houston-based merchant
banking firms. Mr. Underbrink is also a Director of Monorail Computer
Corporation, Somerset House Publishing, HUB, Inc. and Industrial Holdings, Inc.
John L. Thompson has been, since July 1995, employed as a Director and
President of St. James Capital Corp. and SJMB, L.L.C., Houston-based merchant
banking firms. St. James Capital Corp. also serves as the general partner of St.
James Capital Partners, L.P. and SJMB, L.L.C. serves as the general partner of
SJMB, L.P., investment limited partnerships, specializing in merchant banking
related investments. Additionally, he is a Director of Industrial Holdings,
Inc., a publicly-held company. Prior to co-founding St. James Capital Corp. and
SJMB, L.L.C., Mr. Thompson served as a Managing Director of Corporate Finance at
Harris Webb & Garrison, a regional investment banking firm with a focus on
mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring and private placements of debt
and equity issues. Mr. Thompson was elected to the Company's Board of Directors
in June 1997 pursuant to the terms of Agreements between the Company and St.
James Capital Partners, L.P. See "Certain Transactions" for a description of the
transactions.
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<PAGE>
Alan W. Mann was elected a Director effective March 1, 2000. He is
Vice-President of Operations for the Company's Diamondback Directional Division,
having joined the Company with the purchase of Diamondback Directional, Inc. in
1997. Prior to forming Diamondback Directional, Inc. in 1995, Mr. Mann was
employed by Becfield Drilling Services in operations and management. Mr. Mann
was elected a Director pursuant to the terms of an agreement entered into with
the Company in December 1999 resolving certain litigation between Mr. Mann and
the Company.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The current executive officers of the Company are the following:
NAME POSITION
William L. Jenkins President and Chief Operating Officer
Allen R. Neel Executive Vice-President
Danny Ray Thornton Vice-President/Operations
Mr. Jenkins' employment background is described above.
Allen R. Neel is the Executive Vice-President of the Company and has
been employed by the Company since August 1990. He is currently in charge of the
Company's Multishot division and its offshore operations, as well as
administration and legal matters. In 1981, Mr. Neel received his BS Degree in
Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alabama. From 1981 to 1987, Mr.
Neel worked in engineering and sales for Halliburton Services. From 1987 to
1989, he worked as a District Manager for Graves Well Drilling Co. When the
Company acquired the assets of Graves in 1990, Mr. Neel assumed a position with
the Company.
Danny Ray Thornton is a Vice-President of the Company and has been
employed by the Company since March 1989. From 1982 to March 1989, Mr. Thornton
was the president and a principal stockholder of Black Warrior Mississippi, the
Company's operational predecessor. Mr. Thornton has been engaged in the oil and
gas services industry in various capacities since 1978. His principal duties
with the Company include supervising and consulting on wireline and workover
operations. Mr. Thornton is Mr. Jenkins' brother-in-law.
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<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION - GENERAL
The following table sets forth the compensation paid or awarded to the
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and each other executive
officer of the Company who received compensation exceeding $100,000 during 1999
for all services rendered to the Company in each of the years 1999, 1998 and
1997.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
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BONUS/ANNUAL SECURITIES LONG-TERM
NAME AND INCENTIVE UNDERLYING INCENTIVE ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY AWARD OPTIONS PAYOUTS COMPENSATION
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William L. Jenkins 1999 $137,140 -0- -0- $1,216(1)
President 1998 $146,275 -0- 200,000 -0- $1,216(1)
1997 $110,000 -0- -0- -0- $1,216(1)
Allen R. Neel 1999 $92,761 -0- -0- $8,400(2)
Executive Vice President 1998 $131,334 -0- -0- $8,400(2)
1997 $78,500 -0- 80,000 -0- -0-
---------------------------------
(1) Includes the premiums paid by the Company on a $1,000,000 insurance policy on the life of Mr. Jenkins which names his wife
as beneficiary and owner of the policy.
(2) Automobile allowance paid to Mr. Neel.
</TABLE>
STOCK OPTION HOLDINGS AT DECEMBER 31, 1999.
The following table provides information with respect to the above
named executive officers regarding Company options held at the end of the
Company's year ended December 31, 1999 (such officers did not exercise any
options during the most recent fiscal year).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED OPTIONS IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
AT DECEMBER 31, 1999 AT DECEMBER 31, 1999 (1)
NAME EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William L. Jenkins 100,000 100,000 -0- -0-
Allen R. Neel 80,000 -0- -0- -0-
</TABLE>
----------------------------
(1) Based on the closing sales price on December 31,1999 of $0.625.
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<PAGE>
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has entered into an Employment Agreement, dated January 1,
1998, with William L. Jenkins, to serve as its President, Chief Executive
Officer and a Director of the Company. The Employment Agreement, which
terminates on December 31, 2001, provides for an annual base salary of $225,000.
The Employment Agreement provides for certain increases in Mr. Jenkins base
compensation in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 if the Company meets certain
performance objectives. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Jenkins was granted a
ten-year option to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an
exercise price of $6.6875 per share, the fair market value of the stock on
January 1, 1998, the date the option was granted. With certain exceptions, the
agreement restricts Mr. Jenkins from engaging in activities in competition with
the Company during the term of his employment and, in the event Mr. Jenkins
terminates the agreement prior to its termination date, for a period of eighteen
(18) months thereafter and also in the event he terminates the agreement, from
soliciting for employment any employee of the Company for a period of two years
after termination.
The Company has entered into three-year employment agreements
terminating on April 1, 2003 with each of Allen R. Neel, Executive
Vice-President and Danny R. Thornton, Vice-President, Operations, of the
Company. Mr. Neel receives base compensation of $135,000 per year. Mr. Thornton
receives base compensation of $75,000 per year. On each anniversary date of the
agreements, the Company and the employee agree to renegotiate the base salary
taking into account the rate of inflation, overall profitability and the cash
position of the Company, the performance and profitability of the areas for
which the employee is responsible and other factors. The agreements contain
restrictions on such persons engaging in activities in competition with the
Company during the term of their employment and for a period of two years
thereafter. In addition, the agreements provide for the grant to such employees
of options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock on execution
of the agreements and 10,000 shares on each of the first three anniversary dates
of the agreements, provided such persons continue to be employed by the Company,
exercisable at a price of $2.625 per share.
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<PAGE>
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
St. James Transactions
Commencing in June 1997 through February, 2000, the Company entered
into a series of transactions with St. James, its affiliates, and partners,
whereby the Company sold on the following dates for an aggregate purchase price
of $24.2 million, the following securities:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DATE SECURITY PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
June 6, 1997 9% Convertible Promissory Note $2.0 million (1)
October 9, 1997 7% Convertible Promissory Note $2.9 million (2)
January 23, 1998 8% Convertible Promissory Note $10.0 million(3)
October 30, 1998 10% Convertible Promissory Note $2.0 million (4)
February 18, 1999 10% Convertible Promissory Note $2.5 million (5)
December 17, 1999 10% Convertible Promissory Note $3.1 million (6)
February 14, 2000 15% Convertible Promissory Notes $1.7 million (7)
DATE NUMBER OF WARRANTS (8)(9) EXPIRATION DATE
------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------
June 6, 1997 2,442,000 June 5, 2002
October 9, 1997 4,478,277 October 10, 2002
January 23,1998 16,200,000 January 23, 2003
October 30, 1998 4,000,000 October 30, 2003
February 18, 1999 4,150,000 February 18, 2004
December 17, 1999 12,710,000 December 31, 2004
February 14, 2000 6,970,000 December 31, 2004
</TABLE>
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(1) Convertible at a current conversion price of $0.75 per share, as adjusted
through December 17, 1999 pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, into an
aggregate of 2,666,667 shares of Common Stock.
(2) Convertible at a current conversion price of $0.75 per share, as adjusted
through December 17, 1999 pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, into an
aggregate of 3,866,667 share of Common Stock.
(3) Convertible at an exercise price of $0.75 per share, as adjusted through
December 17, 1999 pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, into an aggregate
of 13,333,333 shares of Common Stock.
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<PAGE>
(4) Convertible at a current conversion price of $0.75 per share, as adjusted
through December 17, 1999 pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, into an
aggregate of 2,666,666 shares of Common Stock.
(5) Convertible at a current conversion price of $0.75 per share, as adjusted
through December 17, 1999 pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, into an
aggregate of 3,333,333 shares of Common Stock.
(6) Convertible at a current conversion price of $0.75 per share, subject to
anti-dilution adjustments, into an aggregate of 4,133,333 Shares of Common
Stock.
(7) Convertible at a current conversion price of $0.75 per share into an
aggregate of 2,266,667 shares of Common Stock.
(8) Each warrant represents the right to purchase one share of Common Stock at
$0.75 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments.
(9) As adjusted and subject to further anti-dilution adjustment.
On each of June 6 and October 9, 1997, January 23 and October 30, 1998,
February 18, 1999, December 17, 1999 and through February 14, 2000, the Company
entered into Purchase Agreements, and related notes, warrants and security
documents (the "Agreements") with St. James or certain affiliated entities and
partners (collectively referred to as "St. James") regarding the purchase of the
securities described in the tables above. Except for those terms relating to the
amounts of securities purchased, maturity and expiration dates, interest rates,
and conversion and exercise prices, each of such Agreements contained
substantially identical terms and conditions relating to the purchase of the
securities involved. Payment of principal and interest on all the notes is
collateralized by substantially all the assets of the Company, subordinated, as
of November 30, 2000, to borrowings by the Company from Coast in the maximum
aggregate amount of $25.0 million. The notes mature and are due and payable on
various dates commencing January 1, 2001 through June 1, 2002. The notes are
convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock at the conversion prices
set forth in the tables above, subject to anti-dilution adjustments for certain
issuances of securities by the Company at prices per share of Common Stock less
than the conversion price then in effect in which event the conversion price is
reduced to the lower price at which such shares were issued. Pursuant to the
Agreements, the Company agreed to issue to St. James for nominal consideration
warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company exercisable at the
prices set forth in the tables above, subject to anti-dilution adjustment for
certain issuances of securities by the Company at prices per share of Common
Stock less than the exercise prices then in effect in which event the exercise
price is reduced to the lower price at which such shares were issued. The shares
issuable on conversion of the notes and exercise of the warrants have demand and
piggy-back registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933. The Company
agreed that one person designated by St. James will be nominated for election to
the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. John L. Thompson, currently a Director of
the Company, serves in this capacity. The Agreements grant St. James certain
preferential rights to provide future financings to the Company, subject to
certain exceptions. The notes also contain various affirmative and negative
covenants, including a prohibition against the Company consolidating, merging or
entering into a share exchange with another person, with certain exceptions,
without the consent of St. James. Events of default under the notes include,
among other events, (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest; (ii)
a default under any of the notes and the failure to cure such default for five
days, which will constitute a cross default under each of the other notes; (iii)
a breach of the Company's covenants, representations and warranties under any of
the Agreements; (iv) a breach under any of the Agreements between the
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<PAGE>
Company and St. James, subject to certain exceptions; (v) any person or group of
persons acquiring 40% or more of the voting power of the Company's outstanding
shares who was not the owner thereof as of October 30, 1998, a merger of the
Company with another person, its dissolution or liquidation or a sale of all or
substantially all its assets; and (vi) certain events of bankruptcy. In the
event of a default under any of the notes, subject to the terms of a
subordination agreement between St. James and Coast, St. James could seek to
foreclose against the collateral for the notes.
In March 1998, St. James agreed to certain amendments to its agreements
with the Company in connection with the borrowings made at the time by the
Company from Fleet Capital Corporation ("Fleet") to finance the completion of
the acquisition of assets from Phoenix Drilling Services, Inc. Among other
things, these amendments required St. James to extend the maturity date of $10.0
million of indebtedness owing to it from maturing in 18 months to maturing in 36
months, required St. James to fully subordinate the payment of principal and
interest on the indebtedness owing to it to the prior payment in full of the
Company's indebtedness to Fleet, and required St. James to refrain from selling
shares of Common Stock of the Company below certain percentage levels of the
Company's shares outstanding so long as the indebtedness remained owing to
Fleet. In consideration for these amendments, the Company agreed to reduce the
exercise and conversion prices of the common stock purchase warrants and note
issued to St. James in January 1998 to $5.50 per share and to provide that in
the event shares were issued by the Company thereafter at a price less than
$5.50 per share such exercise and conversion prices will be reduced to a price
equal to the price at which the shares are issued. The $5.50 price was based on
a price at which the Company issued shares of Common Stock in a private
placement in March 1998, at the time St. James agreed to the amendments to its
agreements.
On October 30, 1998, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated
Loan Agreement with Fleet pursuant to which, among other things, Fleet waived
any and all defaults which existed under the prior loan agreement. Under the
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, Fleet agreed to loan to the Company up to
an additional $1.2 million, subject however to the Company borrowing an
additional $1.5 million subordinated to the Company's borrowings from Fleet and
an additional $500,000 borrowed by the Company from St. James in July 1998 being
converted into a loan subordinated to the Company's indebtedness owing to Fleet.
In order to obtain the additional $1.5 million of subordinated
borrowings necessary to complete the closing of the Company's Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement with Fleet, on October 30, 1998, the Company entered
into an agreement with St. James Merchant Bankers, L.P. ("SJMB") whereby SJMB
agreed to purchase up to $2.0 million principal amount of the Company's
convertible promissory note due on March 16, 2001. Such amount included a
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<PAGE>
refinancing of the $500,000 loaned in July 1998 and provided $750,000 to the
Company on October 30, 1998 to close the amended loan agreement with Fleet.
Subject to the Company meeting certain conditions, SJMB agreed to loan an
additional $750,000 to the Company, which funds were loaned on December 1, 1998.
The note issued to SJMB is convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock
at an original conversion price of $2.25 per share, subject to anti-dilution
adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the Company at prices per
share of Common Stock less than the conversion price then in effect, in which
event the conversion price is reduced to the lower price at which such shares
are issued. The Company also agreed to issue to SJMB warrants to purchase shares
of Common Stock exercisable at a price of $2.25 per share, subject to
anti-dilution adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the Company at
prices per share of Common Stock less than the exercise price then in effect, in
which event the exercise price is reduced to the lower price at which such
shares are issued and the number of shares issuable is adjusted upward. Under
the agreement with SJMB, warrants to purchase 1,333,333 shares of Common Stock
were issued.
On February 18, 1999, in order to obtain the additional $2.5 million of
borrowings necessary to complete the closing under an agreement with Fleet, the
Company entered into an agreement with SJMB to purchase up to $2.5 million
principal amount of the Company's convertible promissory note due on March 16,
2001. The note is convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock at an
original conversion price of $1.50 per share, subject to anti-dilution
adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the Company at prices per
share of Common Stock less than the conversion price then in effect, in which
event the conversion price is reduced to the lower price at which such shares
are issued. The Company also issued warrants to purchase 2,075,000 shares of
Common Stock exercisable at a price of $1.50 per share, subject to anti-dilution
adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the Company at prices per
share of Common Stock less than the exercise price then in effect, in which
event the exercise price is reduced to the lower price at which such shares are
issued and the number of shares issuable is adjusted upward.
In January 2000, the Company refinanced its indebtedness owing to Fleet
and entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with Coast Business Credit, a
division of Southern Pacific Bank ("Coast"). Under the agreement with Coast, the
Company is able to borrow, subject to meeting certain conditions, up to $25.0
million, of which $20.6 million was outstanding on September 30, 2000. Principal
and interest of up to $5.0 million outstanding under the loan agreement has been
guaranteed, subject to certain limitations, by St. James and SJMB, and Charles
Underbrink, a principal of St. James and a Director of the Company. In addition,
St. James has guaranteed all of the Company's obligations under the Loan
Agreement, subject to certain limitations. The guaranty of St. James is backed
by a pledge of certain securities owned by it, subject to certain limitations.
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<PAGE>
During the period through February 14, 2000, the Company sold $7.0
million principal amount of convertible promissory notes due on January 15, 2001
and warrants to purchase 28.7 million shares of Common stock. The purchasers
were primarily partners in investments of St. James. Payment of principal and
interest on the Notes is collateralized by substantially all the assets of the
Company, subject, however, to the terms of a subordination agreement between the
Purchasers and Coast. The Notes bear interest at 10% per annum through September
30, 2000 and thereafter at the rate of 15% per annum and are convertible into
shares of the Company's Common Stock at a conversion price of $0.75 per share,
subject to anti-dilution adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the
Company at prices per share of Common Stock less than the conversion price then
in effect, in which event the conversion price is reduced to the lower price at
which such shares were issued. the Warrants are exercisable at a price of $0.75
per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustment for certain issuances of
securities by the Company at prices per share of Common Stock less than the
exercise price then in effect, in which event the exercise price is reduced to
the lower price at which such shares were issued and the number of shares
issuable is adjusted upward.
As a consequence of the issuance of the convertible notes and warrants
to SJMB and other purchasers during December 1999 through February 2000 with
conversion and exercise prices of $0.75, under the terms of the anti-dilution
provisions of the Company's previously issued and outstanding convertible notes
and warrants held by St. James, its affiliates and assignees, the conversion
prices and exercise prices of those securities were reduced to $0.75 per share
with the total number of shares issuable on conversion and exercise being
adjusted upward to 58,936,942 shares.
The ability of St. James, its affiliates, assignees and certain of its
limited partners to fully exercise or convert their warrants and notes is
dependent upon an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue
from 12,500,000 shares to 175,000,000 shares at this Meeting. See proposal 5.
Subject to the adoption by stockholders of this amendment at this Meeting, in
the event St. James, its affiliates, assignees and certain of its limited
partners convert their notes and exercise their warrants, they would hold in the
aggregate 96,062,041 shares of the Company's Common Stock. This change in the
stockholdings of the Company would result in a change in control of the voting
power of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock.
During the year ended December 31, 1998, the Company paid $902,012, to
St. James Capital Corp. for consulting fees.
On December 14, 2000, St. James converted $1,750,000 principal amount
of a note and $2,013,110 of accrued interest on indebtedness owing to it into
5,017,481 shares of the Company's Common Stock at a conversion price of $0.75
per share. St. James has advised the
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Company that it intends to vote these shares at the Meeting for the four persons
nominated to serve as Directors and in favor of the other proposals described in
this proxy statement.
Other Transactions
At December 31, 1999 SJMB held a significant ownership interest in
Collins & Ware, Inc., which was a customer of the Company. Sales to Collins &
Ware during 1999 were $2,993,470. The Company's sales to Collins & Ware, Inc.,
were no less favorable to the Company than its sales to other customers.
On June 17, 1999, the Company sold approximately $329,000 of trade
accounts receivable, which was fully reserved due to the customer declaring
bankruptcy, to RJ Air, LLC, an entity partially owned by John L. Thompson, a
member of the Company's Board of Director's, for $200,000. As of September 30,
2000, the Company has collected $100,000 of the sale price and the remaining
$100,000 is included in deferred revenue on the balance sheet.
On December 22, 1999, the Company entered into a Compromise Agreement
with Release with Bendover Company ("Bendover") whereby the parties compromised
and settled their disputes arising out of the Company's acquisition of the
assets of Diamondback Directional, Inc. in October 1997. Pursuant to the
agreement, Bendover returned to the Company promissory notes aggregating $2.0
million principal amount and received in exchange 2,666,666 shares of the
Company's Common Stock and a promissory note in the principal amount of
$1,182,890 due on January 15, 2001, bearing interest at 10% per annum. The note
is collateralized by the same assets of the Company as collateralize the notes
owing to St. James and is subject to a subordination agreement with Coast. The
shares of Common Stock issued to Bendover have demand and piggyback registration
rights pursuant to an agreement entered into with the Company. The agreement
also provided for the election of Alan W. Mann, a principal stockholder of
Bendover, as a Director of the Company, the payment of approximately $26,000 to
Mr. Mann on account of outstanding claims against the Company, and the dismissal
of the lawsuit between the Company and Bendover.
On November 20, 2000, the Company entered into a capital lease
agreement for approximately $539,000 with Big Foot Rental Tool Service, L.L.C.,
which is owned partly by two employees of the Company, one of which is Allen
Neel who is an officer of the Company.
Pursuant to agreements entered into in November 1995 by Mr. Neel and
two other former employees with the Company (the "Employee Group"), such persons
agreed to convert secured loans to the Company aggregating $297,131 into shares
of the Company's Common Stock on the basis of one share of Common Stock for each
$2 of indebtedness exchanged and sell their shares in accordance with the terms
of the agreement. Mr. Neel held $42,447 of such indebtedness. The
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Employee Group agreed to sell the shares they received through Monetary
Advancement International, Inc. ("MAII") at a price of $2 per share during the
twelve months following the closing under the agreements. In addition, the
Employee Group and the Company entered into a supplemental agreement pursuant to
which, among other things, the Company guaranteed that MAII or another purchaser
would purchase the shares issued to them at a price of $2 per share during the
twelve months following the closing. It was further agreed in the supplemental
agreement that if the shares were not purchased within such twelve month period,
the Employee Group would suffer damages which were stipulated to be $.71942 per
share with maximum liquidated damages of $100,000. The Company collateralized
its guarantee with a pledge of all its accounts receivable with the Company's
liability limited to the first $100,000 of receivables collected. Subsequently,
the Employee Group delivered certificates and stock powers for an aggregate of
148,565 shares to MAII to be sold in accordance with the terms of the agreements
and the supplemental agreement. The Employee Group received payment from MAII
for an aggregate of 26,234 shares and an aggregate of 122,331 shares were
transferred by MAII into its name (and subsequently transferred into a street
name) without paying for such shares. MAII refused to either return or pay for
such shares.
But for the Company's guarantee and the understanding that MAII would
purchase all their shares at $2 per share within twelve months of the closing of
the agreements, the Employee Group advised the Company that they would not have
agreed to convert their secured indebtedness into shares of the Company's Common
Stock and requested that the Company reimburse them for the entire amount of
their loss or an aggregate of $244,662. The Company believed that the Employee
Group had meritorious claims against MAII to recover either the shares not paid
for or their value. The Employee Group successfully pursued those claims, and
the Company paid for the legal fees and expenses they incurred.
On March 9, 1998, in order to complete the secured borrowing from Fleet
described above, the Employee Group agreed to release their lien on the
Company's receivables in exchange for confirmation of the Company's agreement
that it would reimburse such persons for their legal fees and expenses incurred
in connection with their efforts to recover from MAII.
In March 1995, the Company received a letter from the District Director
of the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") in which he formally notified the
Company that the IRS had preliminarily calculated deficiencies of $35,057 and
$541,727 in federal taxes for the years ended December 31, 1989 and December 31,
1990, respectively. The adjustments proposed by the IRS included the valuation
of 600,000 shares of common stock issued as bonus compensation to William L.
Jenkins, President of the Company, as well as certain other items. As part of
its agreement to pay the bonus, the Company agreed to pay whatever personal tax
liability was determined to be owing by Mr. Jenkins related to the bonus stock.
In June 1996, the Company settled deficiency claims with the IRS on terms which,
among other things, resulted in an
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additional tax liability to Mr. Jenkins in the amount of $98,524 for taxes,
penalties and interest related to the bonus stock. The Company reimbursed Mr.
Jenkins for this sum on January 23, 1997 and has agreed to further reimburse Mr.
Jenkins for the tax liability resulting from this payment and any further tax
reimbursement payments made to Mr. Jenkins in future years.
2. AMENDMENT TO 1997 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company's Board of Directors adopted, subject to stockholder
approval, proposed amendments to the 1997 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "Omnibus
Plan") to increase the number of shares reserved for the grant of options
thereunder from 600,000 shares to 1,000,000 shares. Stockholders are being asked
to approve the amendments to the Omnibus Plan at the Meeting. A general
description of the Omnibus Plan is set forth below.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2
General Description. The Omnibus Plan provides for compensatory awards
(each an "Award") representing or corresponding to up to, as proposed to be
amended, 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company. Awards may be granted
for no consideration and consist of stock options, stock awards, stock
appreciation rights ("SARs"), dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards
(such as phantom stock) and performance awards consisting of any combination of
the foregoing. The Omnibus Plan is designed to provide an incentive to the
officers and certain other key employees of the Company by making available to
them an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest or to increase their
proprietary interest in the Company. Any Award issued under the Omnibus Plan
which is forfeited, expires or terminates prior to vesting or exercise will
again be available for Award under the Omnibus Plan.
The Directors or a Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
administers the Omnibus Plan. The Directors or, if appointed, Compensation
Committee has the full power and authority, subject to the provisions of the
Omnibus Plan, to designate participants, grant Awards and determine the terms of
all Awards. The Directors or, if appointed, Compensation Committee has the right
to make adjustments with respect to Awards granted under the Omnibus Plan in
order to prevent dilution of the rights of any holder. Members of the
Compensation Committee, if appointed, are not eligible to receive Awards under
the Omnibus Plan.
Stock Awards. The Directors or, if appointed, Compensation Committee
has the right to grant Awards of shares of Common Stock which are subject to
such restrictions (including restrictions on transferability and limitations on
the right to vote or receive dividends with respect to the restricted shares)
and such terms regarding the lapse of restrictions as are deemed appropriate.
Generally, upon termination of employment for any reason during the restriction
period, restricted shares shall be forfeited to the Company.
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SARs. An Award may consist of SARs. Upon exercising a SAR, the holder
will be paid by the Company an amount in cash equal to the difference between
the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of exercise, and
the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of the grant of
the SAR, less applicable withholding of Federal and State taxes. In no event may
(i) an aggregate payment by the Company during any fiscal year upon the exercise
of SARs exceed $250,000 without board approval, or (ii) a holder of a SAR, who
is also an employee of the Company, exercise an SAR if the aggregate amount to
be received as a result of his or her exercise of SARs in the preceding twelve
month period exceeds such employee's current base salary.
Options Issued Under Omnibus Plan. The terms of specific options will
be determined by the Directors or, if appointed, Compensation Committee.
Generally, options will be granted at an exercise price equal to the lower of
(i) 100% of fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of grant
or (ii) 85% of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date
of exercise. Each option will be exercisable after the period or periods
specified in the option agreement, which will generally not exceed 10 years from
the date of grant. Options may be issued in tandem with SARs ("Tandem Options")
as a performance award.
Shares of Common Stock received upon exercise of options are not
transferable for a period of six months following exercise (other than in the
case of death). In the event the employment of an optionee is terminated during
such period (other than in the case of death or disability), the Company shall
have the right to repurchase shares during such six month period in exchange for
the payment of an amount equal to the exercise price. Upon the exercise of an
option, the option holder shall pay to the Company the exercise price plus the
amount of the required Federal and State withholding taxes, if any. The
unexercised portion of any option granted under the Omnibus Plan will generally
be terminated (a) thirty (30) days after the date on which the optionee's
employment is terminated for any reason other than (i) Cause (as defined in the
Omnibus Plan), (ii) mental or physical disability, or (iii) death; (b)
immediately upon the termination of the optionee's employment for Cause; (c)
three months after the date on which the optionee's employment is terminated by
reason of retirement or mental or physical disability; or (d)(i) 12 months after
the date on which the optionee's employment is terminated by reason of the death
of the employee, or (ii) three months after the date on which the optionee shall
die if such death shall occur during the three-month period following the
termination of the optionee's employment by reason of retirement or mental or
physical disability.
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Performance Awards Consisting of Options and SARs Issued in Tandem
Under Omnibus Plan. Upon exercise of a Tandem Option, the optionee will be
entitled to a credit toward the exercise price equal to the value of the SARs
issued in tandem with the option exercised, but not to exceed the amount of the
Federal income tax deduction allowed to the Company in respect of such SAR and
not in an amount which would reduce the amount of payment by the optionee below
the par value of the shares being purchased. Upon exercise of a Tandem Option,
the related SAR shall terminate, the value being limited to the credit which can
be applied only toward the purchase price of shares of Common Stock. In all
cases, full payment of the net purchase price of the shares must be made in cash
or its equivalent at the time the Tandem Option is exercised, together with the
amount of the required Federal and State withholding taxes, if any. When a SAR
issued as part of a Tandem Option is exercised, the option to which it relates
will cease to be exercisable to the extent of the number of shares with respect
to which the SAR was exercised, and that number of shares will thereafter be
available for issuance as an Award under the Omnibus Plan.
Other Performance Awards Issued Under the Omnibus Plan. The Omnibus
Plan authorizes the Directors or, if appointed, Compensation Committee to grant,
to the extent permitted under Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and applicable
law, other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued by reference to, or
otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock of the Company.
Furthermore, the amount or terms of an Award may be related to the performance
of the Company or to such other criteria or measure of performance as the
Directors or, if appointed, Compensation Committee may determine.
As of December 14, 2000, subject to shareholder approval of the
adoption of the amendment to the Omnibus Plan, options to purchase an aggregate
of 716,500 shares of Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.50 to $8.01
per share had been granted to 27 employees under the Omnibus Plan. Included
among such options are options to purchase 200,000 shares granted in January
1998 to Mr. Jenkins and options to purchase 80,000 shares granted to each of
Messrs. Danny Ray Thornton and Allen Neel.
In the event proposal number 5, the proposal to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue, is not approved by
stockholders, proposal number 2 will be withdrawn from consideration by
stockholders.
ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSAL REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS
OF A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE MEETING.
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3. AMENDMENT TO 1997 NON-EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN.
The Company's Board of Directors adopted, subject to stockholder
approval, proposed amendments to the 1997 Non-Employee Stock Option Plan (the
"Non-Employee Plan") to increase the number of shares reserved for the grant of
options thereunder from 100,000 shares to 300,000 shares. Stockholders are being
asked to approve the amendment to the Non-Employee Plan at the Meeting. A
general description of the Non-Employee Plan is set forth below.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 3
General Description. The Non-Employee Plan provides a means by which
non-employee directors of the Company and consultants to the Company can be
given an opportunity to purchase stock in the Company, thus assisting the
Company to retain the services of non-employee directors and consultants, to
secure and retain the services of persons capable of serving in such positions
and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the
success of the Company. The stock options granted under the Non-Employee Plan
will not be eligible for the tax treatment accorded "incentive stock options"
under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
The Plan provides that, as proposed to be amended, a total of 300,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock may be issued pursuant to options granted
under the Non-Employee Plan, subject to certain adjustments described below. If
options granted under the Non-Employee Plan expire or otherwise terminate
without being exercised in full, the stock not purchased pursuant to such
options again becomes available for issuance pursuant to exercises of options
granted under the Non-Employee Plan.
Eligibility for Grant of Options. Options may be granted under the
Non-Employee Plan only to non-employee directors of the Company and consultants
to the Company.
Grants. As of December 14, 2000, subject to shareholder approval of the
adoption of the amendment to the Non-Employee Plan, options to purchase an
aggregate of 107,000 shares of Common Stock have been granted to 14 persons
under the Non-Employee Plan exercisable at prices ranging from $2.63 to $4.63
per share.
Terms of Options. The exercise price for each option granted under the
Non-Employee Plan will be not less than the fair market value of the Common
Stock underlying the option on the date of grant. The purchase price of stock
acquired pursuant to options granted under the Non-Employee Plan must be paid
either: (i) in cash, (ii) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock of
the Company that has been held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a
charge to the Company's reported earnings and valued at the fair market value on
the date of exercise or (iii) by a combination of such methods of payment.
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Each option granted under the Non-Employee Plan will become exercisable
upon the date of grant, provided that as of each vesting date and during the
exercise period the option holder remains a director, employee or consultant to
the Company. The term of each option granted under the Non-Employee Plan is 10
years after the date of grant.
Options granted under the Non-Employee Plan may not be transferred
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and may be exercised
during the lifetime of the person to whom the option is granted only by such
person.
Adjustment Provision. The Non-Employee Plan provides that, if there is
any change in the stock subject to the Plan or subject to any option granted
under the Non-Employee Plan (through merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock
split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change
in corporate structure, or otherwise), then the Non-Employee Plan and options
outstanding thereunder will be appropriately adjusted as to the class(es) and
the maximum number of shares subject to the Non-Employee Plan, and the
class(es), number of shares and price per share of stock subject to such
outstanding options.
Effects of Certain Corporate Events. The Non-Employee Plan provides
that, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, specified
type of merger or other corporate reorganization, any outstanding options under
the Non-Employee Plan will terminate unless the Board of Directors determines in
its sole discretion that: (i) another corporation will assume such options or
substitute similar options therefor; or (ii) such options will continue in full
force and effect.
Administration. The Non-Employee Plan is administered by the Board of
Directors of the Company. The Board has the power to construe and interpret the
Non-Employee Plan. The Board of Directors may delegate administration of the
Non-Employee Plan to a committee composed of not fewer than three members of the
Board. The Board may abolish any such committee at any time and re-vest in the
Board the administration of the Non-Employee Plan.
Duration, Amendment and Termination. The Board may suspend or terminate
the Non-Employee Plan without stockholder approval or ratification at any time
or from time to time. Unless sooner terminated, the Non-Employee Plan will
terminate in April 2007.
The Board may also amend the Non-Employee Plan at any time or from time
to time. However, no amendment will be effective unless approved by the
stockholders of the Company within twelve months before or after its adoption by
the Board if the amendment would: (i) increase the number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Non-Employee Plan; or (ii) modify
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the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Non-Employee Plan,
to the extent that such modification requires stockholder approval under Rule
16b-3; or (iii) modify the Non-Employee Plan in any other way to the extent that
such modification requires stockholder approval under Rule 16b-3.
Federal Income Tax Information. Options granted under the Plan are
"non-statutory stock options" for federal income tax purposes. There are no tax
consequences to the optionee or the Company by reason of the grant of a
non-statutory stock option. The material U.S. federal income tax implications to
those persons granted options under the Plan are that upon exercise of a
non-statutory stock option, the optionee normally will recognize taxable
ordinary income equal to the excess of the stock's fair market value on the date
of exercise over the option exercise price. Subject to the requirement of
reasonableness and the satisfaction of any withholding obligation, the Company
will be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary
income realized by the optionee. Upon disposition of the stock, the optionee
will recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the
selling price and the sum of the amount paid for such stock plus any amount
recognized as ordinary income upon exercise of the option. Such gain or loss
will be long or short term depending on whether the stock was held for more than
one year.
As a result of the promulgation of regulations in 1991 under Section 16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and under Section 83 of the
Code, shares acquired upon the exercise of a non-statutory stock option by an
optionee subject to Section 16(b) will be deemed to be subject to a risk of
forfeiture only if the option is exercised within six months of the date of
grant of the option. Generally, if shares are subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture, the date on which ordinary income is measured and recognized is
delayed until the risk of forfeiture lapses, unless, within 30 days of exercise,
the optionee elects otherwise. Because options granted under the Plan generally
can be exercised earlier than six months after the date of grant, shares
acquired under the Plan could be treated as being subject to a risk of
forfeiture. Although it is unclear, it appears that the Internal Revenue Service
takes the position that shares acquired more than six months after the option is
granted are not treated as subject to a risk of forfeiture even if the shares
cannot be sold immediately, due to a prior "purchase" under Section 16(b).
The foregoing discussion is not intended to be a complete description
of the federal income tax aspects of options granted under the Plan, however, it
is believed to include all material U.S. federal income tax implications. In
addition, the administrative and judicial interpretations of the application of
the federal income tax laws are subject to change. Furthermore, no information
is given with respect to state or local taxes that may be applicable.
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In the event proposal number 5, the proposal to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue, is not approved by
stockholders, proposal number 3 will be withdrawn from consideration by
stockholders.
ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSAL REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS
OF A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE MEETING.
4. PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On February 11, 2000 the Company's Board of Directors adopted, subject
to stockholder approval, the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2000 Plan")
pursuant to which 17,500,000 shares of Common Stock would be reserved for the
issuance of options to be granted under the 2000 Plan. A general description of
the 2000 Plan is set forth below.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 4
Under the 2000 Plan, 17,500,000 shares of Common Stock have been
reserved for issuance on exercise of options that may be granted under the 2000
Plan. The 2000 Plan is divided into five separate components: (i) the
Discretionary Option Grant Program under which eligible individuals in the
Company's employ or service (including officers and consultants) may, at the
discretion of the 2000 Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to not less than the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, (ii) the Stock Issuance Program
under which such individuals may, in the 2000 Plan Administrator's discretion,
be issued shares of Common Stock directly, through the purchase of such shares
at a price not less than their fair market value at the time of issuance or as a
bonus tied to the performance of services, (iii) the Salary Investment Option
Grant Program which may, in the 2000 Plan Administrator's sole discretion, be
activated for one or more calendar years and, if so activated, will allow
executive officers and other highly compensated employees the opportunity to
apply a portion of their base salary to the acquisition of special below-market
stock option grants, (iv) the Automatic Option Grant Program under which option
grants will automatically be made at periodic intervals to eligible,
non-employee members of the Board of Directors to purchase shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price equal to their fair market value on the grant date
and (v) the Director Fee Option Grant Program which may, in the 2000 Plan
Administrator's sole discretion, be activated for one or more calendar years
and, if so activated, will allow non-employee Board members the opportunity to
apply a portion of any annual retainer fee otherwise payable to them in cash
each year to the acquisition of special below-market option grants.
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The Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Stock Issuance Program
initially will be administered by the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors, as 2000 Plan Administrator, will have the discretion to determine
which eligible individuals are to receive option grants or stock issuances under
those programs, the time or times when such option grants or stock issuances are
to be made, the number of shares subject to each such grant or issuance, the
status of any granted option as either an incentive stock option or a
non-statutory stock option under the federal tax laws, the vesting schedule to
be in effect for the option grant or stock issuance and the maximum term for
which any granted option is to remain outstanding. Factors the Board of
Directors will consider in determining whether to award options or stock are
expected to include, among others, the nature and quality of services provided,
the value of those services to the Company, the compensation of the individual,
and inducements to continue the person's services. The Board of Directors will
also have the authority to select the executive officers and other highly
compensated employees who may participate in the Salary Investment Option Grant
Program in the event that program is activated for one or more calendar years,
but the Board of Directors will not exercise any administrative discretion with
respect to option grants made under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program
or under the Automatic Option Grant Program or Director Fee Option Grant Program
for the non-employee Board members. All grants under those three latter programs
will be made in strict compliance with the express provisions of each such
program.
The exercise price for the shares of Common Stock subject to option
grants made under the 2000 Plan may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock
valued at fair market value on the exercise date. The option may also be
exercised through a same-day sale program without any cash outlay by the
optionee. In addition, the 2000 Plan Administrator may provide financial
assistance to one or more optionees in the exercise of their outstanding options
or the purchase of their unvested shares by allowing such individuals to deliver
a full-recourse, interest-bearing promissory note in payment of the exercise
price and any associated withholding taxes incurred in connection with such
exercise or purchase.
Stock appreciation rights are authorized for issuance under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program which provide the holders with the election
to surrender their outstanding options for an appreciation distribution from the
Company equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the vested shares of
Common Stock subject to the surrendered option over (ii) the aggregate exercise
price payable for such shares. Such appreciation distribution may be made in
cash or in shares of Common Stock.
In the event that the Company is acquired by merger or sale of
substantially all of its assets or securities possessing more than 50% of the
total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities, each
outstanding option under the Discretionary Option Grant Program which is not to
be assumed by the successor corporation or otherwise continued in
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effect will automatically accelerate in full, and all unvested shares under the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs will immediately vest,
except to the extent the Company's repurchase rights with respect to those
shares are assigned to the successor corporation or otherwise continued in
effect. The 2000 Plan Administrator will have complete discretion to grant one
or more options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program which will become
exercisable on an accelerated basis for all of the option shares upon (i) an
acquisition or other change in control of the Company, whether or not those
options are assumed or continued in effect, or (ii) the termination of the
optionee's service within a designated period (not to exceed 18 months)
following an acquisition or other change in control in which those options are
assumed or continued in effect. The vesting of outstanding shares under the
Stock Issuance Program may be accelerated upon similar terms and conditions. The
2000 Plan Administrator is also authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant
and Stock Issuance Programs to grant options and to structure repurchase rights
so that the shares subject to those options or repurchase rights will
immediately vest in connection with a change in the majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company by reason of one or more contested elections for Board
membership, with such vesting to occur either at the time of such change in
control or upon the subsequent termination of the individual's service within a
designated period following such change in control.
In the event the 2000 Plan Administrator elects to activate the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program for one or more calendar years, each executive
officer and other highly compensated employees of the Company selected for
participation may elect, prior to the start of the calendar year, to reduce his
or her base salary for that calendar year by a specified dollar amount not less
than $12,000 nor more than $60,000. If such election is approved by the 2000
Plan Administrator, the individual will automatically be granted, on the first
trading day in January of the calendar year for which that salary reduction is
to be in effect, a non-statutory option to purchase that number of shares of
Common Stock determined by dividing the salary reduction amount by two-thirds of
the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the grant date. The option
will be exercisable at a price per share equal to one-third of the fair market
value of the option shares on the grant date. As a result, the total spread on
the option shares at the time of grant (the fair market value of the option
shares on the grant date less the aggregate exercise price payable for those
shares) will be equal to the amount of salary invested in that option. The
option will become exercisable for the option shares in a series of 12 equal
monthly installments over the calendar year for which the salary reduction is to
be in effect and will be subject to full and immediate vesting upon certain
changes in the ownership or control of the Company.
Under the Automatic Option Grant Program, each individual who first
becomes a non-employee Board member at any time after the January 1, 2000,
whether by appointment by the Board of Directors or election of the
stockholders, will automatically receive an option grant for 50,000 shares as of
the date such individual joins the Board, provided such individual has not been
in the prior employ of the Company. In addition, on the date of each Annual
Stockholders
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<PAGE>
Meeting of the Company held after the 2000 Plan Effective Date, each
non-employee Board member who is to continue to serve as a non-employee Board
member will automatically be granted an option to purchase 5,000 shares of
Common Stock, provided such individual has served on the Board for at least six
months. Each automatic grant for the non-employee Board members will have a term
of 5 years, subject to earlier termination following the optionee's cessation of
Board service. Each automatic option will be immediately exercisable for all of
the option shares; however, any unvested shares purchased under the option will
be subject to repurchase by the Company, at the exercise price paid per share,
should the optionee cease Board service prior to vesting in those shares. The
shares subject to each initial 50,000-share automatic option grant will vest
over a three-year period in successive equal annual installments upon the
individual's completion of each year of Board service measured from the option
grant date. Each 5,000-share automatic option grant will vest upon the
individual's completion of one year of Board service measured from the option
grant date. However, the shares subject to each automatic grant will immediately
vest in full upon certain changes in control or ownership of the Company or upon
the optionee's death or disability while a Board member.
Should the Director Fee Option Grant Program be activated in the
future, each non-employee Board member will have the opportunity to apply all or
a portion of any annual retainer fee otherwise payable in cash to the
acquisition of a below-market option grant. The option grant will automatically
be made on the first trading day in January in the year for which the retainer
fee would otherwise be payable in cash. The option will have an exercise price
per share equal to one-third of the fair market value of the option shares on
the grant date, and the number of shares subject to the option will be
determined by dividing the amount of the retainer fee applied to the program by
two-thirds of the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the grant date.
As a result, the total spread on the option (the fair market value of the option
shares on the grant date less the aggregate exercise price payable for those
shares) will be equal to the portion of the retainer fee invested in that
option. The option will become exercisable for the option shares in a series of
12 equal monthly installments over the calendar year for which the election is
to be in effect. However, the option will become immediately exercisable for all
the option shares upon (i) certain changes in the ownership or control of the
Company or (ii) the death or disability of the optionee while serving as a Board
member.
The shares subject to each option under the Salary Investment Option
Grant and Automatic Option Grant and Director Fee Option Grant Programs will
immediately vest upon (i) an acquisition of the Company by merger or asset sale,
(ii) the successful completion of a tender offer for more than 50% of the
Company's outstanding voting stock or (iii) a change in the majority of the
Board effected through one or more contested elections for Board membership.
Limited stock appreciation rights will automatically be included as part of each
grant made under the Automatic Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant and
Director Fee Option Grant Programs and may be granted to one or more officers of
the Company as part of their option
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<PAGE>
grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. Options with such a limited
stock appreciation right may be surrendered to the Company upon the successful
completion of a hostile tender offer for more than 50% of the Company's
outstanding voting stock. In return for the surrendered option, the optionee
will be entitled to a cash distribution from the Company in an amount per
surrendered option share equal to the excess of (i) the highest price per share
of Common Stock paid in connection with the tender offer over (ii) the exercise
price payable for such share.
The Board of Directors of the Company may amend or modify the 2000 Plan
at any time, subject to any required stockholder approval. The 2000 Plan will
terminate on the earliest of (i) 10 years after the 2000 Plan Effective Date,
(ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the 2000 Plan
have been issued as fully-vested shares or (iii) the termination of all
outstanding options in connection with certain changes in control or ownership
of the Company.
Options granted under the 2000 Plan could have the effect of
discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition of the Company that
a stockholder may consider favorable.
As of December 14, 2000, subject to shareholder approval of the
adoption of the 2000 Plan, options to purchase an aggregate of 9,562,000 shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.75 per share have been granted to 162
employees and non-employee consultants, including options to purchase 625,000
shares granted to each of Mr. Neel and Mr. Thornton.
In the event proposal number 5, the proposal to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue, is not approved by
stockholders, proposal number 4 will be withdrawn from consideration by
stockholders.
ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSAL REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS
OF A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE MEETING.
5. PROPOSAL TO AMEND CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
The Board of Directors of the Company has recommended an amendment to
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock, $.0005 par value, from 12,500,000 shares to
175,000,000 shares. The proposed form of the Certificate of Amendment respecting
the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock authorized is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
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<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 5.
The amendment has received the unanimous approval of the Company's
Board of Directors and will be adopted by shareholders upon receiving the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon
at the Meeting.
The Company is currently authorized to issue 12,500,000 shares of
Common Stock, of which 12,496,408 shares were outstanding at the close of
business on December 14, 2000. Also at December 14, 2000, the Company had both
reserved for issuance and was contractually committed to reserve for issuance an
additional 124,855,600 shares under the terms of outstanding options, warrants
and convertible securities, after reflecting all adjustments required to be made
to the exercise and conversion prices and numbers of shares issuable under the
terms of the anti-dilution provisions of such securities and including options
granted subject to shareholder approval of amendments to the plans or adoption
of the plan under which they were granted. Accordingly, at December 14, 2000,
the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance and which the Company
was contractually committed to reserve for issuance, together with the number of
shares outstanding on that date, exceeded the number of shares the Company is
authorized to issue under its Certificate of Incorporation by 125,422,939
shares.
In addition, the Company is seeking at the Meeting stockholder approval
of proposals to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under the
terms of its 1997 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 1997 Non-Employee Stock Option Plan
and to approve the adoption of the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan all of which will
result in an additional 18,200,000 shares to be reserved under those plans.
In order for the Company to fulfill its commitments regarding the
reservation of shares under outstanding options, warrants and convertible
securities, to make available a sufficient number of shares for issuance on
exercise of options that may be granted under the amended terms of its 1997
Omnibus Incentive Plan, the 1997 Non-Employees Stock Option Plan and the 2000
Stock Incentive Plan proposed to be approved, as well to have approximately
37,000,000 shares unreserved and available for issuance for other corporate
purposes, the Company is seeking stockholder approval of an amendment to its
Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock
the Company is authorized to issue to 175,000,000 shares from 12,500,000 shares.
Background
At December 31, 1997, the Company had outstanding 2,990,254 shares of
Common Stock, and had reserved an aggregated of 3,737,256 shares for issuance on
exercise of outstanding warrants, options and convertible securities and under
the terms of the 1997 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 1997 Non-Employee Stock Option
Plan, including 2,744,256 shares issuable on exercise or conversion of warrants
and notes held by St. James.
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<PAGE>
On January 23, 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with St.
James pursuant to which it sold its $10.0 million principal amount of its 8%
convertible note and warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of common stock. The
per share conversion price of the note and the exercise price of the warrants
initially was $7.00 and $6.75, respectively. Accordingly, an aggregate of
3,428,571 shares were reserved in January 1998 for issuance on exercise and
conversion of the note and warrants.
On March 16, 1998, the Company entered into a Loan and Security
Agreement with Fleet pursuant to which the Company was able to borrow up to an
aggregate of $19.0 million, subject to certain conditions. Fleet conditioned its
agreement to lend the money to the Company on St. James agreeing to certain
amendments to the terms of the convertible notes of the Company issued to St.
James. Among other things, these amendments required St. James to extend the
maturity date of $10.0 million of indebtedness owing to it from maturing in 18
months to maturing in 36 months, required St. James to fully subordinate the
payment of principal and interest on the indebtedness owing to it to the prior
payment in full of the Company's indebtedness to Fleet, and required St. James
and its affiliates to refrain from selling shares of Common Stock of the Company
below certain percentage levels of the Company's shares outstanding so long as
the indebtedness remains owing to Fleet. In consideration for these amendments,
the Company agreed to reduce the exercise and conversion prices of the common
stock purchase warrants and note issued to St. James in January 1998 to $5.50
per share and to provide that in the event shares of Common Stock were issued by
the Company thereafter at a price less than $5.50 per share such exercise and
conversion prices would be reduced to a price equal to the price at which the
shares were issued. The $5.50 price was based on a price at which the Company
issued shares of Common Stock in a private placement in March 1998, at the time
St. James agreed to the amendments to its agreements.
In order to obtain the additional $1.5 million of subordinated
borrowings necessary to complete the closing of the Company's Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement with Fleet, in October 1998, the Company entered into an
agreement with SJMB, whereby SJMB agreed to purchase up to $2.0 million
principal amount of the Company's convertible promissory note due on March 16,
2001. The note issued to SJMB was originally convertible into shares of the
Company's Common Stock at a conversion price of $2.25 per share, subject to
anti-dilution adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the Company at
prices per share of Common Stock less than the conversion price then in effect,
in which event the conversion price is reduced to the lower price at which such
shares are issued. The Company also agreed to issue to SJMB warrants to purchase
an aggregate of 1,333,333 shares of Common Stock exercisable at a price of
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<PAGE>
$2.25 per share. Such warrants are subject to anti-dilution adjustment for
certain issuances of securities by the Company at prices per share of Common
Stock less than the exercise price then in effect, in which event the exercise
price is reduced to the lower price at which such shares are issued and the
number of shares issuable is adjusted upward.
As a consequence of the issuance on October 30, 1998 of the convertible
note and warrant to SJMB with conversion and exercise prices of $2.25, under the
terms of the amended anti-dilution provisions of the other convertible notes and
warrants held by St. James, including certain of its affiliates and assignees,
the conversion prices and exercise prices of those securities were reduced to
$2.25 per share with the total number of shares issuable on conversion and
exercise being adjusted to 13,817,870 shares from 6,562,440 shares.
In February 1999, in order to enter into a forbearance agreement with
Fleet, the Company entered into an agreement with two affiliates of St. James,
to purchase up to $2.5 million principal amount of the Company's convertible
promissory note due on March 16, 2001. The note is convertible into shares of
the Company's Common Stock at an original conversion price of $1.50 per share,
subject to anti-dilution adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the
Company at prices per share of Common Stock less than the conversion price then
in effect, in which event the conversion price is reduced to the lower price at
which such shares are issued. The Company also issued warrants to purchase
2,075,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable at a price of $1.50 per share,
subject to anti-dilution adjustment for certain issuances of securities by the
Company at prices per share of Common Stock less than the exercise price then in
effect, in which event the exercise price is reduced to the lower price at which
such shares are issued and the number of shares issuable is adjusted upward.
As a consequence of the issuance of the convertible note and warrant to
SJMB in February 1999 with conversion and exercise prices of $1.50, under the
terms of the anti-dilution provisions of the outstanding convertible notes and
warrants held by St. James, including certain of its affiliates and assignees,
the conversion prices and exercise prices of those securities were reduced to
$1.50 per share with the total number of shares issuable on conversion and
exercise being adjusted upward to 29,468,471 shares.
On January 24, 2000, the Company entered into a Loan and Security
Agreement with Coast pursuant to which it is enabled to make secured borrowings
in the aggregate amount of up to $25.0 million subject to certain limitations in
the amount able to be borrowed under a receivables loan and two term loans. On
February 15, 2000, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $15.6 million under the
Loan and Security Agreement. The proceeds were used to repay Fleet in the amount
of $13.5 million, which indebtedness was then in default, to repay other
indebtedness aggregating $1.5 million, and the balance was used for general
corporate purposes, including the payment of outstanding accounts payable.
Borrowings under the Loan and Security Agreement with Coast were conditioned
upon the Company receiving proceeds of at least $5.0 million in additional
equity or debt subordinated to the borrowings from Coast.
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<PAGE>
In order to meet the condition to the borrowings from Coast under the
Loan and Security Agreement, during the period December 17, 1999 through
February 14, 2000, the Company sold pursuant to Note Purchase Agreements dated
December 17, 1999 (the "Note Purchase Agreements") $7.0 million principal amount
of convertible promissory notes (the "Notes") due on January 15, 2001 and
warrants ("Warrants") to purchase 28.7 million shares of Common Stock. Payment
of principal and interest on the Notes is collateralized by substantially all
the assets of the Company, subject, however, to the terms of a subordination
agreement between the purchasers and Coast. The Notes bear interest at 10% per
annum through September 30, 2000 and thereafter at the rate of 15% per annum and
are convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock at a conversion price
of $0.75 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustment for certain issuances of
securities by the Company at prices per share of Common Stock less than the
conversion price then in effect, in which event the conversion price is reduced
to the lower price at which such shares were issued. The Warrants are
exercisable at a price of $0.75 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustment
for certain issuances of securities by the Company at prices per share of Common
Stock less than the exercise price then in effect, in which event the exercise
price is reduced to the lower price at which such shares were issued and the
number of shares issuable is adjusted upward. The average of the bid and asked
prices for the Company's Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board during the
months of December 1999 through February 2000 was $0.65 per share. The shares
issuable on conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants have demand and
piggy-back registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933. The Notes
contain various affirmative and negative covenants, including, among others, a
prohibition against the Company consolidating, merging or entering into a share
exchange with another person, with certain exceptions, without the consent of
the purchasers. Events of default under the Notes include, among other events,
(i) a default in the payment of principal or interest on the Notes; (ii) a
default in the performance of any covenant of the Note Purchase Agreements or
other agreement entered into in connection therewith and the failure to cure
such default; (iii) any representation or warranty of the Company in the Note
Purchase Agreements or other agreement entered into in connection therewith
being untrue in any material respect and such default remains uncured; (iv) the
Company defaults in the payment when due or by acceleration of any other
indebtedness having an aggregate principal amount outstanding in excess of
$100,000 and such default remains uncured; (v) a judgment for the payment of
money in excess of $100,000 is entered against the Company; and (vi) the
commencement of certain bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. If an event of
default occurs, the Notes may, at the option of the holders, become immediately
due and payable.
As a consequence of the issuance of the Notes and Warrants in late 1999
and early 2000 with conversion and exercise prices of $0.75, under the terms of
the anti-dilution provisions of
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<PAGE>
other outstanding convertible notes and warrants held by St. James, including
certain of its affiliates and assignees, the conversion prices and exercise
prices of those securities were reduced to $0.75 per share with the total number
of shares issuable on conversion and exercise being adjusted upward to
21,611,596 shares, in addition to the 9,768,298 shares reserved for issuance on
conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants.
On December 15, 1998, the Company entered into a joint operation and
option agreement with Measurement Specialists, Inc. ("MSI"), which is engaged in
the oil and gas well servicing business, resulting in the operation by the
Company of MSI's assets. The option relates to the acquisition of MSI's assets.
In consideration for the option, the Company has issued to MSI 50,000 shares of
Common Stock and has agreed to issue to MSI an additional 94,445 shares.
An offering of shares of Common Stock of the Company to persons who
asserted that excessive delays were encountered in effecting the registration of
their shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that therefore
such persons were unable to liquidate their securities expired on May 28, 1999
and the Company issued an aggregate of 744,644 shares to the persons who
accepted the offer. The Company disagreed with those assertions but agreed to
the issuance of the shares to resolve any claims, subject to the release by such
persons of their claims.
Other than as described above, the Company has no present specific
plans to issue any additional shares of its Common Stock or other options,
warrants or convertible securities requiring the issuance, on exercise or
conversion, any additional shares of Common Stock. The Company may, however,
seek to raise additional capital to support its operations and improve its
liquidity.
Reasons for the Proposed Increase in Authorized Shares.
THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE
OF THE NOTES IN FEBRUARY 2000 CONTAIN A COVENANT WHEREBY THE COMPANY HAS AGREED
THAT AT OR BEFORE THIS MEETING IT WILL SECURE AN AMENDMENT TO ITS CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES THAT IT IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE TO
A NUMBER SUFFICIENT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF ITS CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING
SHARES AND ALL SHARES THAT ARE ISSUABLE UPON THE CONVERSION OF ALL ITS
OUTSTANDING CONVERTIBLE NOTES AND SECURITIES AND UPON THE EXERCISE OF ANY
WARRANTS OR OPTIONS TO PURCHASE THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK. ACCORDINGLY, THE
FAILURE OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO APPROVE AT THE MEETING THE
PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK THE COMPANY IS
AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE WILL BE
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<PAGE>
A BREACH OF A COVENANT UNDER THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND A DEFAULT UNDER
THE NOTES. THE DEFAULT UNDER THE NOTES COULD RESULT, AT THE OPTION OF THE
HOLDERS, IN THE NOTES BECOMING IMMEDIATELY DUE AND PAYABLE AND WOULD ALSO LEAD,
UNDER THE CROSS DEFAULT PROVISIONS OF THE INSTRUMENTS UNDER WHICH SUCH
INDEBTEDNESS WAS INCURRED, TO A DEFAULT UNDER ALL THE COMPANY'S OTHER
OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS AGGREGATING $49.2 MILLION AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. UNDER
SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE HOLDERS OF SUCH INDEBTEDNESS, INCLUDING COAST WHICH
HOLDS $20.6 MILLION AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 OF INDEBTEDNESS SECURED BY A SENIOR
LIEN ON THE COMPANY'S ASSETS, COULD ACCELERATE THE MATURITY OF THE INDEBTEDNESS
THEY HOLD AND FORECLOSE ON SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE COMPANY'S ASSETS. THIS COULD
RESULT IN THE LOSS OF A STOCKHOLDER'S INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY.
ST. JAMES HAS ADVISED THE COMPANY THAT IT INTENDS TO VOTE THE 5,017,481
SHARES, CONSTITUTING APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THE SHARES OUTSTANDING, IN FAVOR OF
THE PROPOSAL.
The Board of Directors recommends an increase in the number of
authorized shares of the Company's Common Stock from 12,500,000, to 175,000,000.
The Board of Directors believes it is desirable to increase the
authorized shares of Common Stock in order to avoid a default under its
outstanding indebtedness and to meet its existing contractual obligations under
outstanding options, warrants and convertible securities. The amendment will
make available sufficient number of shares available for exercise of options
that may be granted under the amended terms of its 1997 Omnibus Incentive Plan
and 1997 Non-Employee Stock Option Plan, and its newly adopted 2000 Stock
Incentive Plan, as well as for future use for other transactions such as
possible acquisitions, financings, stock dividends or other corporate purposes.
The Board of Directors generally will have the power to issue the additional
authorized shares without shareholder approval. All newly authorized shares
would have the same rights as the presently authorized shares, including the
right to cast one vote per share and to participate in dividends when and to the
extent declared and paid. Under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation,
stockholders do not and will not have preemptive rights. Accordingly, the
issuance of additional shares of Common Stock might dilute, under certain
circumstances, the ownership interest and voting rights of existing
shareholders. The issuance of additional shares would result in an increase in
the Company's total number of shares outstanding. Thereby, the holders of shares
of Common Stock of the Company on December 14, 2000 would, following such share
issuance, hold a lesser percentage of the shares outstanding. Such share
issuances could be the result of efforts by the Company to raise additional
capital, acquisitions by the Company of other assets or business, or the grant
of options or issuance of convertible securities or warrants. The Board of
Directors is not presently considering any of such transactions.
The Company believes that it may be required to issue or reserve for
issuance additional shares of Common Stock in connection with raising additional
capital so as to meet obligations in
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<PAGE>
the future to lenders and others. The Company does not at present have under
consideration any specific plans or proposals to issue any additional shares of
Common Stock for this purpose. However, the Company believes it prudent to have
shares authorized for issuance if the need to issue or reserve shares for
issuance for this purpose materializes. Except for the additional shares
proposed to be reserved under the amended terms of the 1997 Omnibus Incentive
Plan and the 1997 Omnibus Non-Employee Plan and the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan,
the Company has no other plans to issue or reserve for issuance any additional
shares of Common Stock. Management of the Company believes that having
175,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized should be adequate to meet the
Company's needs to raise additional capital and for other purposes in the
foreseeable future.
ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSAL REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS
OF A MAJORITY OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
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<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL AND OTHER STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of December 14, 2000 (a) by each
person who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent
(5%) of the Company's Common Stock, (b) by each of the Company's Directors and
officers, and (c) by all Directors and officers as a group. As of December 14,
2000, the Company had 12,496,408 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENTAGE OF
NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING SHARES(3)
NAME AND ADDRESS (1)(2) OWNED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
William L. Jenkins 410,000 (4) 3.2%
Danny R. Thornton 705,666 (5) 5.3%
Allen R. Neel 705,000 (5) 5.3%
Charles E. Underbrink 4,346,667 (9) 25.8%
John L. Thompson
777 Post Oak Blvd.
Suite 950
Houston, TX 77056
St. James Capital Partners, L.P.
and affiliates(6)
777 Post Oak Boulevard - Suite 950
Houston, Texas 77056 96,062,041 88.5%
Bendover Corp. (7) 3,814,235 23.4%
Alan W. Mann
M. Dale Joers
1053 The Cliffs Blvd
Montgomery, TX 77356
All Directors and Officers as a Group
(5 persons including the above) (8) 106,043,609 (4)(5)(6) 89.5%
</TABLE>
(1) This tabular information is intended to conform with Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to the
determination of beneficial ownership of securities. The tabular
information gives effect to the exercise of warrants or options
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<PAGE>
exercisable within 60 days of the date of this table owned in each case
by the person or group whose percentage ownership is set forth opposite
the respective percentage and is based on the assumption that no other
person or group exercise their option.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the above is c/o
Black Warrior Wireline Corp., 3748 Highway #45 North, Columbus,
Mississippi 39701.
(3) The percentage of outstanding shares calculation is based upon
12,496,408 shares outstanding as of December 14, 2000, except as
otherwise noted.
(4) Includes 200,000 shares issuable on exercise of an option.
(5) Includes 80,000 shares issuable on exercise of an option at a price of
$2.625 per share and 625,000 shares issuable on exercise of an option
at a price of $0.75 per share.
(6) Includes shares issuable to St. James Capital Partners, LP and its
affiliates on conversion of notes and exercise of warrants. See
"Certain Transactions."
(7) Based on information contained in the Schedule 13D dated October 9,
1997. On October 9, 1997, the Company issued 647,569 shares and paid
$586,000 in cash to purchase substantially all the assets of
Diamondback Directional, Inc. (which corporation subsequently changed
its name to Bendover Corp.). As of December 22, 1999, the Company
issued an additional 2,666,666 shares to Bendover Corp as part of the
consideration paid to resolve certain litigation. Messrs. Mann and
Jowers each own approximately 42.5% of the outstanding capital stock of
Bendover Corp. Also includes shares issuable at a price of $0.75 on
exercise of an option.
(8) Also includes the shares held by St. James and the shares issuable on
exercise of the vested portion of the options held by Messrs. Thornton
and Neel.
(9) Includes 4,075,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by
Messrs. Thompson and Underbrink as tenants in common and 271,667 shares
issuable to Mr. Underbrink upon exercise of an option.
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Commencing in June 1997, St. James and affiliated entities entered
into a series of transactions with the Company to purchase an aggregate of $24.2
million of convertible promissory notes and warrants. See "Election of Directors
- Certain Transactions" for a description of the Company's transactions with St.
James and its affiliated entities. In addition, two of the four nominees for
election as a Director of the Company are affiliates of St. James. As of
December 14, 2000, St. James holds 5,017,481 shares of the Company's Common
Stock. In the event St. James, its affiliated entities, assignees and certain of
its limited partners should convert all of their notes and exercise all of their
warrants, St. James, its affiliated entities, assignees and its limited partners
would then hold an aggregate of 96,062,041 shares of Common Stock. Subject to
shareholder approval of the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number
of shares of Common Stock authorized, this would constitute approximately 88.5%
of the shares outstanding, without giving effect to the issuance of any shares
on conversion or exercise of any other outstanding convertible securities,
warrants or options. The ability of St. James, its affiliated entities,
assignees and its limited partners to exercise and convert in full the warrants
and notes is dependent upon the adoption of the amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation described in Proposal 5. Accordingly, by virtue of
the foregoing transactions with St. James and the election of Messrs. Thompson
and Underbrink as Directors of the Company, a change of control of the Company
may be deemed to have occurred.
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<PAGE>
CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
The Board of Directors has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. as
the Company's independent auditors for 2000. The Company expects a
representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. to be present at the Meeting and
to be available to respond to appropriate questions or make a statement if they
desire to do so.
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS FOR 2002 ANNUAL MEETING
Any proposals which Stockholders intend to present for a vote of
Stockholders at the Company's 2001 Annual Meeting, and which such Stockholders
desire to have included in the Company's Proxy Statement and Form of Proxy
relating to that Meeting, must be sent to the Company's executive office and
received by the Company on or before September 1, 2001.
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GENERAL
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In
addition to solicitation by use of the mails, certain officers and regular
employees may solicit proxies personally and by telephone, and the Company will
request banks, brokerage houses and nominees and fiduciaries to forward
soliciting material to their principals and will reimburse them for their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
The Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December
31, 1999, including financial statements, is being mailed to Stockholders
herewith. Such Annual Report is not, however, a part of this proxy statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Dated: December 28, 2000 /s/ Allen R. Neel, Secretary
35
<PAGE>
Exhibit "A"
RESOLVED, that Article Fourth of the Certificate of Incorporation of
this corporation be hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
FOURTH. The total number of shares of capital stock of all classes
which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is One Hundred
Seventy-Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand (177,500,000) shares, of
which One Hundred Seventy-Five Million (175,000,000) shares, of a par
value of $.0005 per share, shall be designated "Common Stock," and Two
Million Five Hundred Thousand (2,500,000) shares, of a par value of
$.01 per share, shall be designated "Preferred Stock."
<PAGE>
APPENDIX: FORM OF PROXY
BLACK WARRIOR WIRELINE CORP.
3748 Highway #45 North
Columbus, Mississippi 39701
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints William L. Jenkins and Danny Ray
Thornton, and each of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his
substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated
below, all the shares of common stock of Black Warrior Wireline Corp. held of
record by the undersigned on December 14, 2000 at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on January 30, 2001 or any adjournment thereof.
<TABLE>
<S><C>
1. Election of Directors
|_| For all nominees listed below (except as marked to contrary below)
|_| Withhold Authority to vote for all nominees listed below
INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH
THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.
</TABLE>
William L. Jenkins
Charles Underbrink
John L. Thompson
Alan W. Mann
2. In Favor of |_| Against |_| Abstain |_|
A proposal to approve an amendment to the Company's 1997 Omnibus
Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for the grant of
options thereunder from 600,000 shares to 1,000,000 shares.
3. In Favor of |_| Against |_| Abstain |_|
A proposal to approve an amendment to the Company's 1997
Non-Employee Stock Option Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for the
grant of options thereunder from 100,000 shares to 300,000 shares.
<PAGE>
4. In Favor of |_| Against |_| Abstain |_|
A proposal to approve the adoption of the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.
5. In Favor of |_| Against |_| Abstain |_|
A proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to
Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock from 12,500,000 to
175,000,000.
6. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other business as may properly come before the meeting.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS BELOW. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND
RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
WHEN SHARES ARE HELD BY JOINT TENANTS, BOTH SHOULD SIGN. WHEN SIGNING
AS ATTORNEY, AS EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, TRUSTEE, OR GUARDIAN, PLEASE GIVE FULL
TITLE AS SUCH. IF A CORPORATION, PLEASE SIGN IN FULL CORPORATE NAME BY PRESIDENT
OR OTHER AUTHORIZED OFFICER. IF A PARTNERSHIP, PLEASE SIGN IN PARTNERSHIP NAME
BY AUTHORIZED PERSON.
Dated: _______________, 2001 ____________________________________
Signature
Title (if required)
____________________________________
Signature (if held jointly)
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