SCHEDULE 14A
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [x]
Filed by a 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 Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
EUROPA CRUISES CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[ ] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2)
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[ ] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6 (i)(3).
[ ] Fee computed on the table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(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):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:1
(5) Total fee paid:
[x] 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 No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE>
PRELIMINARY PROXY SOLICITING MATERIAL
EUROPA CRUISES CORPORATION
150 153rd Avenue
Suite 200
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
-------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 18, 1997
-------------
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
EUROPA CRUISES CORPORATION:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Europa
Cruises Corporation (the "Company") will be held on April 18, 1997 at the North
Redington Beach Hilton, 17120 Gulf Boulevard, North Redington Beach, Florida
33708 at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
(1) To elect three directors to hold office until the next annual meeting
of shareholders and until their successors have been duly elected and
qualified.
(2) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournments thereof.
MANAGEMENT'S SLATE FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS ARE MR. LESTER E. BULLOCK, MS.
DEBORAH A. VITALE AND MR. PIERS HEDLEY.
A rival group of persons referring to themselves as "The Committee to
Improve Shareholder Value of Europa Cruises Corporation" (hereafter "the
Catalano Committee"), filed a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on Schedule 14A, soliciting shareholder proxies and stating their
intention to nominate a slate of candidates consisting of Messrs. Peter J.
Catalano, Stephan A. Fitch, John H. Glassey and Paul Wells (hereafter "the
Catalano Slate"), to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU NOT TO VOTE FOR ANY OF THE CATALANO SLATE.
Peter J. Catalano served as General Partner or a Director of six entities
which have, within the last five years, filed for protection under the United
States Bankruptcy Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"). These include Gold Star Cruises
of Galveston, L.C., a cruise ship and gaming operation that is the subject of a
liquidation proceeding under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. In addition,
Peter J. Catalano has also filed a personal bankruptcy action for protection
from his creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Paul Wells, a second
nominee of the Catalano Committee, served as President of Gold Star Cruises of
Galveston, L.C., the same cruise ship and gaming operation with which Peter J.
Catalano was affiliated, and which is the subject of a liquidation proceeding
under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. John H. Glassey, a third nominee of the
Catalano Committee, served as Vice President of Corporate Development from April
1993 through December 1995 of American Gaming Entertainment, Ltd., a corporation
whose subsidiary, AMGAM Associates, doing business in Mississippi as Gold Shore
Casino, was forced into involuntary bankruptcy in May 1995.
The individuals named in the Catalano Committee's proxy statement and their
backgrounds, together with the reason for the Board's rejection of the Catalano
Slate, are further described in the Proxy Statement.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 14, 1997 as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Your shares should be represented at this meeting, whether or not you are
able to attend personally. Therefore, the Company REQUESTS THAT YOU SIGN, DATE
AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE THE WHITE PROXY CARD VOTING FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE COMPANY'S NOMINEES, MR. LESTER E. BULLOCK, MS. DEBORAH A.
VITALE AND MR. PIERS HEDLEY, TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The Annual Report to Shareholders of Europa Cruises Corporation for the
year ended December 31, 1996 will be mailed to you at least 20 days prior to the
Annual Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Lester E. Bullock
President
March , 1997
<PAGE>
EUROPA CRUISES CORPORATION
---------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of
Europa Cruises Corporation (the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, and any adjournments thereof, to be held on April 18, 1997, at the
North Redington Beach Hilton, 17120 Gulf Boulevard, North Redington Beach,
Florida 33708 at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the purposes set forth in the
foregoing Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting").
Shareholders executing proxies may revoke them at any time prior to use by
written notice to the Secretary of the Company, by subsequently executing a
later dated proxy, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. A proxy
when executed and not revoked will be voted and, if it contains any
specifications, it will be voted in accordance therewith. If no choice is
specified, shares covered by the proxy will be voted in favor of the Board's
nominees for election of directors and in the discretion of the proxy holder
upon such other matters as may properly come before such meeting. Abstentions
and broker non-votes will not effect the convening of the Meeting or the conduct
of business thereat, since a quorum is not required. For additional information,
see "Election of Directors--Certain Litigation."
Your shares should be represented at this meeting, whether or not you are
able to attend personally. Therefore, the Company REQUESTS THAT YOU SIGN, DATE
AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE THE WHITE PROXY CARD VOTING FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE COMPANY'S NOMINEES, MR. LESTER E. BULLOCK, MS. DEBORAH A.
VITALE AND MR. PIERS HEDLEY, TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Mr. Lester E. Bullock, Ms. Deborah A. Vitale and Mr. Piers Hedley,
directors of the Company and nominees for election as directors, and Ms. Debra
Gladstone, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, Mr. Andrew Rufo, Director of
Gaming Operations and General Manager, Madeira Beach, Florida, Mr. Michael
Reeves, General Manager, Fort Myers Beach, Florida and Mr. Jim Monninger,
General Manager, Miami Beach, Florida, may solicit proxies and may be deemed to
be participants in the proxy contest. For additional information, see Appendix
A. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Proxy are being mailed to
shareholders on or about March , 1997. A copy of the Annual Report for 1996 will
be forwarded to you at least 20 days prior to the Meeting.
The address of the Company's executive offices is 150 153rd Avenue, Suite
200, Madeira Beach, Florida 33708. The Chairman of the Board, Deborah A. Vitale,
can be reached at (703) 683-6800 and the President, Lester E. Bullock, can be
reached at (813) 398-7347.
SHAREHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
At the close of business on March 14, 1997, the record date for determining
the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, there were issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote a total of 27,108,854 shares of the Company's
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), 926,000 shares of
the Company's Series "S" Preferred Stock (the "S Preferred Stock") and 900,000
shares of the Company's Series "S-NR" Preferred Stock (the "NR Preferred
Stock"). The S Preferred Stock and the NR Preferred Stock are collectively
referred to herein as the "Preferred Stock." The Common Stock and Preferred
Stock vote as a single class, and each share is entitled to one vote per share.
The shares of stock represented at the Meeting, either in person or by proxy,
and entitled to vote thereat, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of the
Meeting. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Meeting will be tabulated by
the judge of elections appointed for the Meeting.
<PAGE>
The only persons who owned of record or were known by the Company to own
beneficially on March 14, 1997, more than 5% of any class of the outstanding
voting shares of the Company were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENT OF PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES OWNED CLASS(1) VOTING
---------------- ------------ ---------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Serco International Limited(2)............. 1,490,334 Common 5.04% 10.57%
P.O. Box 15, A-9010 900,000 S-NR Preferred 100.00%
Klagenfurt, Austria 926,000 S Preferred 100.00%
Austroinvest International Limited(2)...... 1,490,334 Common 5.04% 10.57%
P.O. Box 15, A-9010 900,000 S-NR Preferred 100.00%
Klagenfurt, Austria 926,000 S Preferred 100.00%
Gaming Invest Corporation(2)............... 1,490,334 Common 5.04% 10.57%
P.O. Box 15, A-9010 900,000 S-NR Preferred 100.00%
Klagenfurt, Austria 926,000 S Preferred 100.00%
Europa Cruises Corporation(3).............. 4,750,000 Common 16.08% 15.14%
Employee Stock Ownership Plan,
Trust Agreement
150 153rd Avenue East
Madeira Beach, Florida 33708
Lester E. Bullock(3)(4).................... 5,306,270 Common 17.96% 16.91%
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
Deborah A. Vitale, Esquire(3)(4)........... 5,753,500 Common 19.47% 18.34%
1013 Princess Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
ErnstG. Walter(2)......................... 1,490,334 Common 5.04% 10.57%
14700 Gulf Blvd., Apt 401 900,000 S-NR Preferred 100.00%
Madeira Beach, Florida 33708 926,000 S Preferred 100.00%
----------
<FN>
(1) Common Stock and Preferred Stock amounts have been combined for the purpose
of calculating percentages.
(2) Serco International Limited, Austroinvest International Limited and Gaming
Invest Corporation are affiliated entities. The Company understands that
Dr. Ernst Walter is the sole director of each company. The total beneficial
ownership of securities of the Company by the three corporations and Dr.
Walter includes: 900,000 shares of Series S-NR Preferred Stock and
1,090,334 shares of Common Stock owned by Serco International Limited;
926,000 shares of S Preferred Stock owned by Austroinvest International
Limited; 200,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Gaming Invest Corporation;
and 200,000 shares of Common Stock underlying options Dr. Walter has the
current right to exercise.
(3) The Trustees of the Europa Cruises Corporation Employee Stock Ownership
Plan, Trust Agreement ("ESOP") are Lester E. Bullock, President and
director of the Company, and Deborah A. Vitale, Esq., Chairman of the Board
of the Company. The ESOP was established on August 18, 1994. As of March
14, 1997, 250,000 shares of Common Stock have been allocated to
participants in the ESOP, including 6,270 shares of Common Stock allocated
to Mr. Bullock as a participant. The participants in the ESOP are entitled
to direct the Trustees as to the manner in which the Company's allocated
shares are voted. Unallocated shares are voted by the Trustees. The
Trustees are required to vote the ESOP shares in the best interests of the
ESOP beneficiaries. The Trustees will consider, among other matters, the
business backgrounds, integrity and managerial abilities of the Catalano
Committee's nominees for election as directors, and management's nominees
for election as directors, the business plans and goals of all such
nominees, the effect of a change in control on financial operations,
banking and creditor relationships and licensing and regulatory
requirements, as well as the manner in which the ESOP beneficiaries cast
their votes with respect to the allocated shares.
(4) Includes options to purchase shares of Common Stock exercisable within the
next sixty days. Of such options, 1,000,000 options are held by Ms. Vitale,
550,000 options are held by Mr. Bullock. Also includes, 4,750,000
unallocated shares of Common Stock which will be voted by Ms. Vitale and
Mr. Bullock as Trustees of the ESOP.
</FN>
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth as of March 14, 1997, the beneficial and
record ownership of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company by directors,
nominees, certain executive officers and all directors and executive officers as
a group. It also sets forth as of March 14, 1997, beneficial and record
ownership of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company by each person who may
be deemed to be a participant in the proxy contest and by all such persons as a
group. Each participant is identified by a single asterisk (*) beside their
name.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENT PERCENT
SHARES OF COMMON OF COMMON OF VOTING
NAME AND ADDRESS STOCK OWNED STOCK STOCK(1)
---------------- ---------------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
*Lester E. Bullock, President and director of the............. 5,306,270(3) 17.96% 16.91%
Company and director of Casino World, Inc. and
Mississippi Gaming Corporation(2)
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
*Deborah A. Vitale, Esquire................................... 5,753,500(4) 19.47% 18.34%
Chairman of the Board and Secretary of the
Company and Chairman of the Board of Casino
World, Inc. and Mississippi Gaming Corporation
1013 Princess Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
*Piers Hedley, director....................................... 329,500(5) 1.12% 1.05%
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
*Debra Gladstone, Chief Financial Officer..................... 67,045(6) ** **
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
Charles H. Reddien, President and a director of Casino........ 307,500(7) 1.04% **
World, Inc. and Mississippi Gaming Corporation
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
All directors and executive officers as a group (5 persons)... 7,013,815 23.74% 22.36%
*Andrew Rufo, Director of Gaming Operations................... 50,000(6) ** **
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
*Michael Reeves, General Manager.............................. 50,000(6) ** **
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
*Jim Monninger, General Manager............................... 51,000(6) ** **
150 - 153rd Avenue
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
All participants as a group (7 persons)....................... 6,857,315 23.21% 21.86%
- ----------
<FN>
** Less than one percent (1%)
(1) Common Stock and Preferred Stock amounts have been combined for the purpose
of calculating percentages of Voting Stock. None of the persons listed owns
any Preferred Stock.
(2) Casino World, Inc. and Mississippi Gaming Corporation are wholly owned
subsidiaries of the Company.
(3) Includes options to purchase 550,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable
within the next sixty days and 4,750,000 shares of Common Stock which Mr.
Bullock is authorized to vote as Trustee of the ESOP.
(4) Includes options to purchase1,000,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable
within the next sixty days and 4,750,000 shares of Common Stock which Ms.
Vitale is authorized to vote as Trustee of the ESOP.
(5) Includes options to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock and beneficial
interest in 79,500 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants exercisable
within the next sixty days.
(6) Includes options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable
within the next sixty days.
(7) Includes options to purchase 300,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable
within the next sixty days.
</FN>
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board has fixed the number of directors at three. The term of each
director elected will be until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until
his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Each nominee is, at present,
available for election, but if any nominee should become unavailable, the
persons voting the accompanying proxy may, at their direction, vote for a
substitute. The election of each director requires the vote of holders of a
plurality of the outstanding Common Stock and Preferred Stock, counted as a
single class, present and voting at the Meeting. Certain information concerning
the nominees is set forth below.
CANDIDATES NOMINATED BY THE BOARD
The Board has nominated the following three persons for election at the
Meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in this proxy statement, the business
address of each nominee is the executive offices of the Company.
LESTER E. BULLOCK, 43, has served as President of the Company since July
18, 1994, and has served as a director of the Company since March 1995. Under
the Company's bylaws the President is also the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. He is responsible for the day to day operations of the Company. From
January 1994 to June 1994, Mr. Bullock was Vice President of Operations at the
Company. From January 1, 1992, through December 31, 1993, Mr. Bullock was
General Manager of the Company and was responsible for all port operations. In
1991, Mr. Bullock was Casino Pit Manager in Ft. Myers, Florida for Casinos
Austria Maritime Corporation. From 1989 to 1990, Mr. Bullock was General Manager
of the Sonesta Beach Resort and Crystal Casino in Oranjestead, Aruba. From 1984
through 1989, Mr. Bullock held various managerial and administrative positions
at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Dunes Hotel
Casino and Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Bullock received a B.S. in
Business, from Arizona State University in 1974.
DEBORAH A. VITALE, 46, was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in
March 1995 and was appointed Secretary of the Company in November 1994. She has
been a director since December 1992. On February 14, 1997, Ms. Vitale was
appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Casino World, Inc. and Chairman
of the Board of Directors of Mississippi Gaming Corporation. She is in charge of
managing all legal activity of the Company including the retention and direction
of outside counsel in connection with the Company's various pending cases,
appeals, legal proceedings, permits and licenses, and is also actively involved
in the day to day business operations of the Company. Ms. Vitale is responsible
for all negotiations to date with Hilton Gaming Corporation ("Hilton") and
supervises the Company's responses to Hilton's due diligence inquiries regarding
the Mississippi property. Ms. Vitale is a trial attorney with nineteen years of
experience handling complex civil litigation and is licensed to practice law in
Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. Ms. Vitale was a partner in the firm of
Miller & Vitale, P.C., from November 1990 to September 1992. From 1986 to 1990,
Ms. Vitale was of Counsel to the firm of Jacobi & Miller in Alexandria,
Virginia. Ms. Vitale has, in the past, served as a staff attorney at the Federal
Communications Commission and has served as Listing Official for the
Environmental Protection Agency
PIERS HEDLEY, 40, has served as a director of the Company since November
1995. Mr. Hedley is an Executive Managing Director of the investment banking
firm of Peerless Associates Limited in Europe. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Hedley
served as the Managing Director of the U.K. investment banking firm,
Multinational Capitol Services Limited. Mr. Hedley has also served as a
consultant to NWCM Limited, a foreign securities firm. NWCM Limited served as an
underwriter for a Regulation S offering made by the Company in 1994.
The Board held fourteen meetings during 1995 and twelve meetings during
1996. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of Board meetings
held during the period for which he or she was a director. The Board does not
have an audit, compensation or nominating committee.
4
<PAGE>
STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT AT DIAMONDHEAD, MISSISSIPPI
PERMITS. On June 15, 1995, the Mississippi Gaming Commission granted site
approval for the Diamondhead casino resort site plan. On July 16, 1996, the
Mississippi Commission on Marina Resources granted approval to Casino World,
Inc. and the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission for a change in the
Coastal Use Plan and associated permit to develop the approved site plan for the
Diamondhead resort. Local community organizations opposed to the granting of
this change and permit have appealed to the Mississippi courts. The appeal is
now pending and the permit remains subject to the appeal. On January 9, 1997,
the Mississippi Commission of Environmental Quality approved the issuance of the
Water Quality Certification by the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality, Office of Pollution Control to Casino World, Inc. and to the Hancock
County Port and Harbor Commission. Local community organizations opposed to the
granting of this Certification have requested an evidentiary hearing on this
matter which is currently scheduled to be held in April 1997. On January 22,
1997, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a Construction
Storm Water General (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES))
permit to Casino World, Inc. The Company is in the process of obtaining the
final approval needed to begin development of the site from the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers. There can be no assurance that such approval will be forthcoming.
Any modification of the approved site plan may require resubmission to and
reapproval by the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Mississippi Department of
Marine Resources, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and/or the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In addition to the foregoing, on or about January 16, 1997, the Hancock
County Board of Supervisors adopted a county wide zoning plan. The Company's 404
acre site was zoned as a Special Use District Waterfront Gaming District. The
zoning designation comports with the Diamondhead Casino Resort site plan
approved by the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Mississippi Commission of
Marine Resources, the Hancock County Planning Commission and the Hancock County
Board of Supervisors.
HILTON GAMING CORPORATION. On January 31, 1997, the Company entered into an
agreement with Hilton Gaming Corporation, the world's largest gaming company,
which gave Hilton the exclusive right to negotiate a joint venture agreement
with the Company for 180 days with respect to the development of the Company's
Diamondhead, Mississippi property. In exchange for the exclusive right to
negotiate, Hilton paid the Company a nonrefundable fee of $400,000. The joint
venture agreement to be negotiated between Hilton and the Company, if reached,
would be formed for the purpose of developing a destination casino resort and
hotel at the Company's 404 acre site in Diamondhead, Mississippi. The 404 acre
site, located immediately off Interstate 10, is adjacent to a site on which
Circus Circus Enterprises, Inc, also intends to develop a destination casino
resort and hotel. The Company's destination casino resort is expected to include
a luxury hotel and spa, a sports and entertainment center, 120,000 square feet
of casino space, and a golf course. The Company believes Mississippi represents
the most significant opportunity for an increase in shareholder value.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Based solely upon its review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto
furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, all of such forms were filed on a timely basis by reporting
persons during 1996 except for the one filing in 1996 by each of Mr. Bullock,
Ms. Vitale, Mr. Reddien, Mr. Hedley and Ms. Gladstone of a Form 4 to report
stock options granted in April 1996.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table provides information concerning the compensation of
certain executive officers of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries
Casino World, Inc. and Mississippi Gaming Corporation. No other person serving
as an executive officer on December 31, 1996, received cash compensation in
excess of $100,000 during any of the last three fiscal years.
5
<PAGE>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG TERM COMPENSATION
--------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
AWARDS PAYOUTS
OTHER ------------------- ---------------------
ANNUAL RESTRICTED ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL COMPEN- STOCK LTIP COMPEN-
OCCUPATION YEAR SALARY BONUS SATION AWARDS OPTIONS PAYOUTS SATION
------------------ ---- ------ ----- ------ ---------- ------- ------- ---------
($) ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($) ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Lester E. Bullock(1) 1996 $134,000 None None None 400,000(2) None None
President of the Company 1995 $100,000 $29,000 None None None None None
1994 $ 85,352 $16,500 $2,100(3) None 100,000 None None
Deborah A. Vitale, Chairman of 1996 None(4) None None None 800,000(5) None None
the Board and Secretary of the 1995 None(4) None None None None None None
Company and Chairman of the 1994 None(4) None None None 100,000 None None
Board of Casino World, Inc., and
Mississippi Gaming Corporation
1013 Princess Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Charles H. Reddien, 1996 $125,000 None $7,500(6) None 200,000 None None
President of Casino World, Inc. 1995 $125,000 None None None None None None
and Mississippi Gaming 1994 $125,000 None $ 216(7) None None None None
Corporation(1)
- ----------
<FN>
(1) On July 18, 1994, Mr. Bullock became President of the Company and Mr.
Reddien resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Mr. Reddien remained President of Casino World, Inc. and Mississippi Gaming
Corporation, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company.
(2) Mr. Bullock was granted options to purchase 400,000 shares of Common Stock
exercisable at $.75 per share of which 250,000 were granted for service on
the Board not traditionally provided by a director.
(3) Automobile allowance.
(4) Ms. Vitale received no cash compensation during 1995 or 1996 as an
executive officer of the Company. The Board will consider what, if any,
payments should be made to Ms. Vitale for services rendered to the Company.
(5) Ms. Vitale was granted options to purchase 800,000 shares of Common Stock
exercisable at $.75 per share for service on the Board not traditionally
provided by a director.
(6) Relocation Reimbursement.
(7) Includes insurance premiums paid by the Company on a policy in excess of
$50,000.
</FN>
</TABLE>
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table provides information regarding stock options granted to
the executive officers and directors during the year ended December 31, 1996.
None of the following options are "incentive stock options" within the meaning
of Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES % TOTAL
UNDERLYING OPTIONS
OPTIONS GRANTED TO
GRANTED EMPLOYEES IN EXERCISE EXPIRATION
NAME IN 1996 FISCAL YEAR PRICE ($/SH) DATE
- ---- ---------- ------------ ------------ ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Lester E. Bullock........... 400,000 21.62% $.75 April 18, 2001
Deborah A. Vitale........... 800,000 43.24% $.75 April 18, 2001
Piers Hedley................ 250,000 13.51% $.75 April 18, 2001
Charles H. Reddien.......... 200,000 10.81% $.75 April 18, 2001
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table shows stock option exercises by certain executive
officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. In addition, this table
includes the number of shares covered by both exercisable and non-exercisable
stock options as of December 31, 1996. None of the following options are
"incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES VALUE OPTIONS AT YEAR-END AT YEAR-END(2)
ACQUIRED REALIZED --------------------------- ---------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE (1) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ---- ----------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Lester E. Bullock.......... None None 550,000 None $0 --
Deborah A. Vitale.......... None None 1,000,000 None $0 --
Charles H. Reddien......... None None 300,000 None $0 --
- ----------
<FN>
(1) The "value realized" reflects the appreciation on the date of exercise
(based on the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of
exercise over the exercise price). However, because the officer may keep
the shares acquired upon the exercise of options or sell them at a
different price, this amount does not necessarily reflect cash realized
upon the sale of those shares.
(2) "In-the-Money Options" are options outstanding at the end of the last
fiscal year for which the fair market value of the Common Stock at the end
of the last fiscal year ($.75 per share) exceeded the exercise price of the
options.
</FN>
</TABLE>
DIRECTORS COMPENSATION
As of January 1, 1995, each director is paid $1,500 per month for serving
as a director of the Company. The Company reimburses directors for their
expenses of attendance at Board and committee meetings and for travel expenses
incurred in connection with Company business. In 1996, Lester E. Bullock was
awarded 400,000 stock options exercisable at $.75 per share, Piers Hedley was
awarded 250,000 stock options exercisable at $.75 per share, and Deborah A.
Vitale was awarded 800,000 stock options exercisable at $.75 per share.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
On August 18, 1994, the Company established the Europa Cruises Corporation
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP"). This ESOP, which is a qualified
retirement plan under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code and an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of Section
4975(e)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, was established primarily to invest in
stock of the Company. All employees as of December 31, 1994, and subsequent new
employees having completed 1,000 hours of service are eligible to participate in
the ESOP. The Company also established a trust called the Europa Cruises
Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Trust Agreement to serve as the
funding vehicle for the ESOP. The Trustees of this trust are Deborah A. Vitale
and Lester E. Bullock. As of March 14, 1997, 250,000 shares of Common Stock have
been allocated to participants in the ESOP. Unallocated shares are voted by the
Trustees. The Trustees are required to vote the ESOP shares in the best
interests of the ESOP beneficiaries. The Trustees will consider, among other
matters, the business backgrounds, integrity and managerial abilities of the
Catalano Committee's nominees for election as directors, and management's
nominees for election as directors, the business plans and goals of all such
nominees, the effect of a change in control on financial operations, banking and
creditor relationships and licensing and regulatory requirements, as well as the
manner in which the ESOP beneficiaries cast their votes with respect to the
allocated shares.
On August 21, 1994, the Company loaned $4,275,000 to the ESOP in exchange
for a ten-year promissory note bearing interest at eight percent per annum. On
August 24, 1994, the ESOP purchased 2,880,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock with the proceeds of the loan. On August 25, 1994 the Company loaned an
additional $3,180,000 to the ESOP in exchange for a ten year promissory note
bearing interest at eight percent per annum. On August 26, 1994, the ESOP
purchased an additional 2,120,000 shares of the Company's
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Common Stock with the proceeds of the loan. The shares of Common stock were
pledged to the Company as security for the loans. The promissory notes will be
repaid with the proceeds of annual contributions made by the Company to the
ESOP. In April of 1995, the Company agreed to extend the maturity of the loans
to twenty years. Through December 31, 1996, the Company paid $1,518,308 to the
ESOP which was used to repay principal and interest on the promissory notes.
The Board of Directors of Casino World, Inc. ("CWI") granted options to
purchase common shares of CWI to current and former officers and directors of
CWI, exercisable at $1.00 per share. These options expired in March, 1997.
During 1996, the Company completed three separate offerings of its stock in
Europe in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933 and in
connection therewith paid commissions in Common Stock to Peerless Associates
Limited ("Peerless"), an investment banking firm located in Europe. Piers
Hedley, a director of the Company, serves as an Executive Managing Director and
consultant for Peerless. In connection with the Regulation S offerings the
Company issued: 331,360 shares of Common Stock at $.65 per share on February 26,
1996, of which shares Peerless received 23,668 as a commission; 704,348 shares
of Common Stock on July 18, 1996, at $.46 per share of which shares Peerless
received 52,174 as a commission; and 469,566 shares of Common Stock on May 13,
1996, at $.46 per share of which shares Peerless received 34,783 as a
commission. In addition, the Company completed several other Regulation S
offerings in 1996 with unrelated third parties and received aggregate net
proceeds of $574,000 from the sale of 1,182,752 shares of Common Stock at prices
ranging from $.44 to $.67 per share. The proceeds from each of the Regulation S
offerings described above (approximately $1,500,000) were used primarily to pay
costs associated with the drydocking of the Company's vessels to comply with
U.S. Coast Guard regulations and safety requirements.
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has selected BDO Seidman, LLP, as the Company's
auditors for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 1997. BDO Seidman, LLP,
has served as independent auditors for the Company since 1990, and
representatives of that firm are expected to be present at the Meeting and shall
have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond
to appropriate questions.
CERTAIN LITIGATION
On January 8, 1997, Dana V. Catalano filed an action against the Company in
the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, New Castle County, Civil Action
No. 15455 seeking an order pursuant to 8 Del. C. 211(c) scheduling an annual
meeting for the election of directors of the Company. The Board had previously
voted on December 11, 1996, to hold the next annual meeting at which an election
of directors would take place on June 4, 1997. The Company advanced the date of
the annual meeting to April 18, 1997 and set the record date as March 14, 1997.
The Stipulation and Order entered to that effect also provided "that the shares
of stock represented at such meeting, either in person or by proxy, and entitled
to vote thereat, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of such meeting,
notwithstanding any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of
the Company to the contrary."
MANAGEMENT'S COMMENTS REGARDING THE CATALANO SLATE
WHO IS THE CATALANO SLATE?
IS IT REALLY QUALIFIED TO MANAGE YOUR COMPANY?
The following information may be helpful to you in considering the
questions above.
DID YOU KNOW:
PETER J. CATALANO
o FILED BANKRUPTCY last July as an individual
o Was a director of Gold Star Cruises of Galveston, L.C. which FILED
BANKRUPTCY in 1994
o Was General Partner in 1412 Broadway Associates which FILED BANKRUPTCY
in December 1995
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o Was General Partner in 24 East 23rd Street Association, L.P. which
FILED BANKRUPTCY in October 1994
o Was a General Partner in 14 West 23rd Street Associates which FILED
BANKRUPTCY in October 1994
o Was a General Partner in 304 Park Avenue Associates which FILED
BANKRUPTCY in November 1993
o Was a General Partner in Grammercy Twin Associates which FILED
BANKRUPTCY in August 1992
o OWNS NO STOCK OF RECORD and disclaims ownership of stock held by his
wife
JOHN H. GLASSEY
o Was Vice President of Corporate Development from April 1993 through
December 1995 of American Gaming Entertainment, Ltd., a corporation
whose subsidiary AMGAM Associates doing business in Mississippi as
Gold Shore Casino, was FORCED INTO INVOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY by its
creditors in May 1995
o OWNS NO STOCK OF RECORD OR BENEFICIALLY
PAUL WELLS
o Was President of Gold Star Cruises of Galveston, L.C. which FILED
BANKRUPTCY in 1994
o OWNS NO STOCK OF RECORD OR BENEFICIALLY
STEPHAN A. FITCH
o OWNS NO STOCK OF RECORD
o Claimed beneficial ownership of 145,000 warrants to purchase shares of
Common Stock issued to NWCM Limited, not to him personally. THESE
WARRANTS EXPIRED ON FEBRUARY 28, 1997.
o Claims a beneficial interest in the Company through warrants to
purchase 69,500 shares of Common Stock issued to NWCM Limited, a
company which served as an underwriter for a 1994 Regulation S
offering by the Company and with which Mr. Fitch was associated. These
warrants are exercisable at $1.93 per share and EXPIRE on June 30,
1997.
o ARE THESE THE PEOPLE YOU WANT TO MANAGE YOUR COMPANY?
o HOW WILL THE COMPANY'S LENDERS REACT TO THE CATALANO SLATE WHOSE
MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 7 BANKRUPTCIES IN THE PAST 5 YEARS?
o WHAT EFFECT WILL THE CATALANO SLATE HAVE ON A HILTON AGREEMENT?
o DO THE MEMBERS OF THE CATALANO SLATE HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD
OF SUCCESS?
o DO YOU WANT EUROPA CRUISES CORPORATION TO BE MANAGED BY PEOPLE
WHOSE ONLY IDENTIFIED EXPERIENCE IN THE CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY
ENDED IN BANKRUPTCY?
o DO THE MEMBERS OF THE CATALANO SLATE HAVE PERSONAL LONG-TERM
ECONOMIC STAKES IN THE COMPANY?
o HOW MUCH COMPENSATION WILL THE CATALANO SLATE AWARD ITSELF?
o THE CATALANO SLATE CLAIMS IT WILL "EXPLORE" A VAGUE SET OF
SO-CALLED "GOALS":
DON'T YOU DESERVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING THE COMPANY FOR
MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND THUS HAS A TRACK RECORD?
o CAN THE COMPANY AFFORD TO LOSE ITS TOP FIVE OFFICERS AND
MANAGERS?
The Catalano Committee has stated its intention to invite Lester E. Bullock
and Charles Reddien to serve on the Board of Directors if the Catalano Slate is
successful. LESTER E. BULLOCK AND CHARLES REDDIEN have not consented to be
included among the Catalano Slate, and thus neither is a bona fide nominee of
the Catalano Committee. Mr. Bullock has informed the Company that if the
Catalano Slate is successful, he will refuse their planned invitation to serve
on the Board. Mr. Bullock also has advised the Company that he will not serve as
a director if there is a change in control of the Board. Mr. Reddien has not
consented to serve if asked by the
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Catalano Committee and has refused to inform the Company whether he will do so.
Further, senior management employees of the Company, including Debra Gladstone,
Chief Financial Officer; Andrew Rufo, Director of Gaming Operations and General
Manager, Madeira Beach, Florida; Michael Reeves, General Manager, Ft. Myers
Beach, Florida; and Jim Monninger, General Manager, Miami Beach, Florida, have
informed the Company that they WILL NOT serve under a Board that does not
include Lester E. Bullock.
THE BOARD URGES YOU NOT TO VOTE FOR THE CATALANO SLATE
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COST OF PROXY SOLICITATION
The Catalano Committee's initiation of a proxy contest will materially
increase the Company's normal cost of proxy solicitation. Although no precise
estimate can be made at this time, the Company currently estimates that its
expenses (exclusive of litigation and amounts normally paid in the absence of a
contest and salaries paid to officers and employees) are estimated at $250,000,
of which approximately $125,000 has been incurred to date.
The Company has retained D.F. King & Co. ("King") to provide proxy
solicitation, press, investor relations and consulting services in connection
with the election of the Company's nominees to the board of directors. The
Company has agreed to pay King a fee not to exceed $125,000 and to reimburse it
for its out-of-pocket expenses. Approximately 50 persons will be used by King in
connection with its solicitation efforts. In addition, the Company's directors,
nominees, officers, and certain regular employees, without additional
remuneration, may solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph, telefax, personal
interviews and over the Internet. The persons who may solicit proxies and may,
therefore, be deemed to be participants are identified on Appendix A hereto.
OTHER MATTERS
The management is not aware of any matters not referred to in the attached
Notice of Meeting which will be presented for action at the Meeting. If any
other matters come before the Meeting, it is intended that the shares
represented by the proxy will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with
the judgment of the persons voting them.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1998 ANNUAL MEETING
Proposals which shareholders intend to present at the 1998 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders must be received by Europa Cruises Corporation no later than
February 1, 1998, to be eligible for inclusion in the proxy material for the
meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Lester E. Bullock
President
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APPENDIX A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The information contained in this Appendix A is in response to the
preliminary soliciting material filed by the Catalano Committee. By reason of
the solicitation by the Catalano Committee, the Company is required to furnish
certain additional information to its stockholders pursuant to rules and
regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The information contained
in this Appendix must be read together with the attached Proxy Statement in
determining whether to return the Company's Proxy.
The following sets forth as of March 17, 1997, certain information known to
the Company with respect to transactions in the Company's securities in the past
two years by each of the nominees, participants in the proxy contest and each of
the current directors of the Company.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AND PARTICIPANTS
LESTER E. BULLOCK. As set forth in the Proxy Statement, Mr. Bullock
received an option grant from the Company on April 18, 1996 for 400,000 shares
of Common Stock exercisable at $.75 per share.
DEBORAH A. VITALE. As set forth in the Proxy Statement, Ms. Vitale received
an option grant from the Company on April 18, 1996 for 800,000 shares of Common
Stock exercisable at $.75 per share.
PIERS HEDLEY. As set forth in the Proxy Statement, Mr. Hedley received an
option grant from the Company on April 18, 1996 for 250,000 shares of Common
Stock exercisable at $.75 per share. In addition, Mr. Hedley also has a
one-third beneficial interest in shares of Common Stock underlying certain
warrants issued to NWCM Limited as a result of a Regulation S offering completed
in 1994. Mr. Hedley has served as a consultant to NWCM Limited. A total of
383,500 warrants were issued to NWCM Limited. Of these, 145,000 expired on
February 28, 1997. Of the remaining 238,500 warrants issued to NWCM Limited,
69,500 are exercisable at $1.93 and expire on June 30, 1997; 139,000 are
exercisable at $1.93 and expire on June 30, 1997; and 30,000 are exercisable at
$1.80 and expire on June 30, 1997.
DEBRA GLADSTONE. Ms. Gladstone received an option grant from the Company on
April 18, 1996 for 50,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable at $.75 per share.
Ms. Gladstone was also issued 17,045 shares of Common Stock at $.88 per share,
on February 27, 1996, as deferred compensation for the period September 1995
through September 1996. The issuance price of $.88 per share reflects the
average fair market value of the shares over the period for which the
compensation was paid.
ANDREW RUFO. Mr. Rufo received an option grant from the Company on April
18, 1996 for 50,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable at $.75 per share.
MICHAEL REEVES. Mr. Reeves received an option grant from the Company on
April 18, 1996 for 50,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable at $.75 per share.
JIM MONNINGER. Mr. Monninger received an option grant from the Company on
April 18, 1996 for 50,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable at $.75 per share.
Except for the information disclosed herein or in the Proxy Statement, to
the Company's knowledge, none of the Company's nominees, the other current
directors or their associates) has any contract, arrangement or understanding
with any person with respect to the Company's securities, any future employment
with the Company or its affiliates, any future transactions to which the Company
or any of its affiliates will or may be a party, or any material interest,
direct or indirect, in any transaction which has occurred since December 31,
1995 or any proposed transaction to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
was or is to be a party.
<PAGE>
EUROPA CRUISES CORPORATION
This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned, revoking any prior proxies or consents, hereby appoints as
his or her proxies with full power of substitution and revocation Lester E.
Bullock and Deborah A. Vitale, or either of them, to vote all shares of Common
Stock or S Preferred Stock or S-NR Preferred Stock of the undersigned in Europa
Cruises Corporation with all of the powers that the undersigned would have if
personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Europa Cruises
Corporation, to be held on Friday, April 18, 1997 at the North Redington Beach
Hilton, 17120 Gulf Boulevard, North Reddington Beach, Florida 33708 at 9:00 a.m.
local time and at any and all adjournments thereof and to take the actions
specified in item 2 below.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 1
1. To elect three Directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
o FOR all nominees listed below
o WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below
Lester E. Bullock
Deborah A. Vitale
Piers Hedley
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s) write
such nominee's name in the space below
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2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and
any adjournments thereof.
(Continued and to be signed and dated on reverse side)
<PAGE>
(Continued from previous side)
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this Proxy will
be voted in favor of each of the nominees in Proposal 1 set forth above.
Please sign exactly as name
appears below. When shares are
held by joint tenants, both should
sign. When signing as attorney,
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: , 1997
----------------------------------
Signature
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Signature, If Held Jointly
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
