PANACO INC, PRE 14A, 1996-05-24

PANACO INC
PRE 14A, 1996-05-24
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

CONFIRMING COPY OF PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT FOR PAPER COPY FILED MAY 15,
1996.

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant |X|
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |_|

Check the appropriate box:

|X| Preliminary Proxy Statement
|_| Definitive Proxy Statement
|_| Definitive Additional Materials
|_| Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

Panaco, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Bob F. Mallory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

|X| $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1) or 14a-6(j)(2).
|_| $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
|_| Fee computed on 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:*

_____________________________________________________________________________

4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

_____________________________________________________________________________

|_| 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 No. ______________________________________

3) Filing party: ___________________________________________________________

4) Date filed: _____________________________________________________________

___________
*Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined.

<PAGE>

NOTICE OF 1996 ANNUAL MEETING AND
PROXY STATEMENT

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

To The Shareholders:

The annual meeting of shareholders of PANACO, Inc. (the "Company") will be
held at the Sunset Restaurant, 12921 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri
64145, on ________, 1996 at 10:00 a.m. for the following purposes:

1. To elect three directors for a three-year term ending in 1998;

2. To ratify the appointment of Arthur Anderson LLP as independent accountants
to audit the financial statements of the Company for the year 1996;

3. To vote upon an amendment to the Company Articles of Incorporation to
increase the authorized capital stock; and

4. To act upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on ________, 1996 will be
entitled to vote at the meeting and any adjournment thereof. Please note that
attendance at the Annual Meeting will be limited to stockholders (or their
authorized representatives) as of ________, 1996, the record date, and to guests
of the Company.

The vote of each shareholder is important, whatever the number of shares
held. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please sign and return the
accompanying proxy card promptly in the enclosed envelope. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR
VOTE CANNOT BE COUNTED UNLESS YOU SIGN AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD OR ATTEND THE
MEETING AND VOTE BY BALLOT.

Todd R. Bart
Secretary

________, 1996

<PAGE>

PANACO, Inc.
1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard
PANACO Building
Kansas City, Missouri 64145-1216

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed to
shareholders on or about May , 1996 in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of PANACO, Inc. (the "Company") for use at the
annual meeting to be held ________, 1996.

Shares can be voted at the meeting only if the shareholder is represented
by proxy or is present in person. A shareholder giving a proxy in the
accompanying form retains the power to revoke it by a later appointment received
by the Company or by giving notice of revocation to the Company in writing or in
open meeting. Such later appointments or notices should be directed to Todd R.
Bart, Secretary of the Company, at the address set forth above. Shares
represented by properly executed proxies received in the accompanying form will
be voted in accordance with the instructions contained therein. In the absence
of contrary instructions, such shares will be voted (1) to elect the director
nominees named herein; (2) to ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as
independent accountants of the Company for the year 1996; and, (3) for the
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to increase authorized capital stock.
An abstention from voting on any matter will be tabulated as a vote withheld on
such matter and will be included in computing the number of shares present for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for the shareholder meeting.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Please sign, date and return your proxy card
promptly so that a quorum may be represented at the meeting.

On the record date, ________, 1996, the outstanding voting securities of
the Company consisted of 12,345,361 Common Shares ("Common Shares"), all of one
class. Each Common Share has one vote on each matter presented for action at the
meeting. As of the record date, the Company is aware of two beneficial owners of
more than 5% of the Company's voting securities. See "Stock Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management," herein.

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of
the Company's equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and
greater than 10% shareholders are required by regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received
by it, the Company believes that, during the period commencing January 1, 1995
and ending December 31, 1995, all such persons complied on a timely basis with
the filing requirements of Section 16(a).

<PAGE>

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

General Information

The Board of Directors has the responsibility for establishing broad
corporate policies and for the overall performance of the Company, although it
is not involved in day-to-day operating details. Directors are kept informed of
the Company's business by various reports and documents, as well as by operating
and financial reports presented at Board and committee meetings by the Chairman
and other officers.

Meetings of the Board of Directors are held regularly each quarter and
there is also a meeting following the annual meeting of the shareholders.
Additional meetings, including meetings by telephone conference call, of the
Board may be called whenever needed. The Board of Directors of the Company held
six (6) meetings in 1995, two of which were meetings by telephone conference
call. Each director attended all meetings of the Board, except for the two
telephone conference calls, of which James B. Kreamer was not connected either
time and Allen H. Sweeney and Thomas E. Clark (a then director) were not
connected on one conference call.

Committees of the Board

The committees established by the Board of Directors to assist it in the
discharge of its responsibilities are described below. The biographical
information on each director, including those nominated for election, in this
Proxy Statement, identifies the committee memberships currently held by each
nominee and each incumbent director.

The Executive Committee has two (2) members, both of whom are also officers
of the Company. Mr. Clark, who resigned February 29, 1995 was a member of the
Executive Committee. The Committee meets on call whenever needed and has
authority to act on most matters during the intervals between Board meetings.
The Committee met numerous times in 1995.

The Audit Committee has three (3) members, none of whom is an employee of
the Company. The Committee meets with management to consider the adequacy of the
internal controls of the Company and the objectivity of its financial reporting;
the Committee also meets with the independent accountants concerning these
matters. The Committee recommends to the Board the appointment of the
independent accountants, subject to ratification by the shareholders at the
annual meeting. The independent accountants periodically meet alone with the
Committee and have unrestricted access to the Committee. The Committee met once
in 1995.

The Compensation Committee has three (3) members, none of whom is an
employee of the Company. It makes recommendations to the Board with respect to
the compensation of management of the Company and the PANACO, Inc. Long Term
Incentive Plan (the "Long Term Incentive Plan"). The Committee met two (2) times
in 1995.

Compensation of Directors

Directors receive travel expenses incurred in attending Board of Directors or
committee meetings. Officers of the Company who serve as directors do not
receive special compensation for serving on the Board of Directors or a
committee thereof. However, Messrs. Stautberg, Chesser, Sweeney, Kreamer and
Sieverling, the five non-employee directors, were each issued 1,039 shares of
Common Stock as a $5,000 bonus during 1995. In addition Mr. Chesser was issued
warrants to acquire 25,000 Common Shares at $2.50 per share,

<PAGE>

which expired December 31, 1995, for services performed for the Company in 1991.
See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions," herein.

Newly elected non-employee directors are granted a one time restricted
stock award in Common Shares equal in value to $10,000 upon their being elected
to the Board. See "Management - Long-Term Incentive Plan," herein.

Each non-employee director of the Company who becomes a director will, on
the day after the first meeting of the Board of Directors at which that director
is in attendance, automatically be granted a restricted stock award of the
number of shares of Company Common Stock that have a value of $10,000, which
will be calculated based on the average trading price of the Common Stock during
the 60 days immediately preceding the date of grant. These restricted stock
awards will vest at the rate of one-third annually, with one-third vesting six
months following the date of grant, another one-third vesting on the first
anniversary of the date of grant, and the last one-third vesting on the second
anniversary of the date of grant so long as the non-employee director remains a
director of the Company through those vesting dates.

Each non-employee director will be entitled to vote each share subject to
these restricted stock awards from the date of grant until the shares are
forfeited, if ever. The Long-term Incentive Plan requires each non-employee
director to make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to include the
value of the restricted stock in his income in the year of grant and provides
for cash awards to the non-employee directors in amounts sufficient to pay the
federal income taxes due with respect to the award.

STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information with respect to beneficial
ownership of Company Common Stock by (a) each officer and director of the
Company, (b) all officers and directors of the Company as a group, and (c) for
each person who beneficially owns 5% or more of the Common Stock as of May 1,
1996.

Name and Positions of Beneficial Owners Shares Owned Beneficially
-------------------------
Number Percent
------ -------

H. James Maxwell: Chief Executive Officer,
President, Chairman of the Board & Director ..... 322,971 2.56
Larry M. Wright; Executive Vice President &
Director ........................................ 645,999(1) 5.18
Bob F. Mallory; Chief Operating Officer,
Executive Vice President & Director ............. 233,030 1.84
Robert G. Wonish; Vice President .................. 18,328 .15
William J. Doyle; Vice President .................. 4,405 .04
Todd R. Bart; Controller, Secretary, Treasurer .... 0 .00
A. Theodore Stautberg; Director ................... 6,137 .05
Donald W. Chesser; Director ....................... 1,039 .01
Allen H. Sweeney; Director ........................ 150,137(2) 1.19
James B. Kreamer; Director ........................ 51,055 .40
N. Lynne Sieverling; Director ..................... 8,137 .06

All directors and officers as a group (11 persons) 1,450,238 11.48

Carl C. Icahn .................................. 1,040,000(3) 8.23
c/o Icahn Associates Corp.

<PAGE>

114 West 47th Street, 19th Fl
New York, NY 10036

Richard A. Kayne ................................ 694,047 (4) 5.49
% Kayne Anderson Investment Management, Inc.
1800 Avenue of the Stars, #1425
Los Angeles, CA 90067

- ----------
(1) Includes 250,000 shares issuable pursuant to currently exercisable warrants
which expire thirty days after the effective date of the Company's pending
registration statement.
(2) Mr. Sweeney's shares are held by AHS and Associates, Inc., a corporation of
which he is President and a director.
(3) Mr. Icahn is the sole stockholder of Riverdale Investors Corp, Inc., the
general partner of High River Limited Partnership, the record holder of
these shares.
(4) Mr. Kayne has sole voting power with respect to investments of Kayne,
Anderson Investment Management, Inc., which is the general partner of KAIN
Non-Traditional, L.P., which is the general partner of: Offense Group
Associates Limited; Opportunity Associates, L.P.; ARBCO Associates, L.P.;
and Kayne, Anderson Non-Traditional Investments, L.P.; the record holders
of these shares.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(Item 1 on Proxy Card)

The Board of Directors of the Company presently consists of eight (8)
members, three (3) of whom are officers of the Company. The Company's
Certificate of Incorporation requires that the directors be divided into three
(3) classes. At each annual meeting of shareholders, directors constituting a
class are elected for a three (3) year term. The term of the Class III Directors
expires in 1996. The Board of Directors has nominated James B. Kreamer, A.
Theodore Stautberg, Jr., Mike Springs, and Mark C. Barrett for election as
directors. Mr. Kreamer, Mr. Stautberg and Mr. Springs are nominated for election
as directors in Class III to serve until the 1999 annual meeting of
shareholders. Mr. Barrett is nominated to fill the vacancy left by the
resignation of Thomas E. Clark, Jr. as a Class I Director to serve until the
1997 annual meeting. The two (2) current directors in Class I continue to serve
until the 1997 annual meeting of shareholders and the three (3) directors in
Class II continue to serve until the 1998 annual meeting of shareholders. The
directors of each class will serve until their respective successors are elected
and qualified.

It is intended that shares represented by the accompanying form of proxy
will be voted for the election of the nominees, unless contrary instructions are
indicated as provided on the proxy card. (If you do not wish your shares to be
voted for a particular nominee, please so indicate on the proxy card.) The
Common Shares vote as a single class for the election of directors. If one or
more of the nominees should at the time of the meeting be unavailable or unable
to serve as a candidate, the shares represented by the proxies will be voted to
elect the remaining nominees and any substitute nominee or nominees designated
by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors know of no reason why any of
the nominees will be unavailable or unable to serve.

For each director of the Company, including those nominated for election,
there follows a brief listing of principal occupation during at least the past
five years, other major affiliations and age on the date of this Proxy
Statement. When indicating the tenure with the Company of each director, the
"Company" means the present corporation (post-August 1992) and Pan Petroleum MLP
("PAN") (pre-September 1992).

<PAGE>

Director
Name Age Since Position
---- --- ----- --------

H. James Maxwell ............ 51 1992 Chairman of the Board,
President, Chief Executive
Officer, and Director(a)

Bob F. Mallory .............. 63 1992 Chief Operating Officer,
Executive Vice President and
Director(a)

Larry M. Wright ............. 51 1992 Executive Vice President and
Director(b)

A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr ... 49 1993 Director(c)-Compensation
Committee

Donald W. Chesser ........... 56 1992 Director (a )- Audit and
Compensation Committees

Allen H. Sweeney ........... 49 1993 Director(c)-Audit Committee

James B. Kreamer ........... 56 1993 Director(c)

N. Lynne Sieverling ........ 58 1992 Director(b)-Audit and
Compensation Committees
- ---

(a) These persons are designated as Class II directors, with their term of
office expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 1998.

(b) These persons are designated as Class I directors, with their term of
office expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 1997.

(c) These persons are designated as Class III directors, with their term of
office expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 1996.

NOMINEES FOR CLASS III DIRECTORS

James B. Kreamer received his B.S. Degree in Business from the University
of Kansas in 1963 and has been active in investment banking since that time.
Since 1982 he has managed his personal investments.

A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr. has since 1981 been the President and a director
of Triumph Resources Corporation and its parent company, Triumph Oil and Gas
Corporation of New York. Triumph engages in the oil and gas business, assists
others in financing energy transactions, and serves as general partner of
Triumph Production L.P. Mr. Stautberg is also the president of Triumph
Securities Corporation and BT Energy Corporation. Prior to forming Triumph in
1981, Mr. Stautberg was a Vice President of Butcher & Singer, Inc., an
investment banking firm, from 1977 to 1981. From 1971 to 1977, Mr. Stautberg was
an attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Stautberg is a
graduate of the University of Texas and the University of Texas School of Law.

Mike Springs (Biographical material not yet received.)

NOMINEE FOR CLASS I DIRECTOR VACANCY

Mark C. Barrett received his B.S. degree in Business
Administration/Accounting in 1972 and is licensed to practice as a Certified
Public Accountant in both Kansas and Missouri. He was a partner in the firm
Drees Dunn Lubow and Company from 1974 until 1981. He founded Barrett &
Associates in 1981 and is the president and majority shareholder in that
professional association.

<PAGE>

CLASS I DIRECTORS
(Terms Expire in 1997)

Larry M. Wright received his B.S. Degree in Engineering from the University
of Oklahoma in 1966. From 1966 to 1976 he was with Union Oil Company of
California. From 1976 to 1980 he was with Texas International Petroleum
Corporation, ultimately as division operations manager. From 1980 to 1981 he was
with what is now Transamerica Natural Gas Company as Vice President-Exploration
and Production. From 1981-1982 he was Senior Vice President of Operations for
Texas International, and from 1983 to 1985 he was Executive Vice President of
Funk Fuels Corp., a subsidiary of Funk Exploration. From 1985 to 1993 Mr. Wright
was an independent consultant. From 1993 to date he has served as Executive Vice
President of the Company.

N. Lynne Sieverling received his B.S. Degree in Accounting from the
University of Kansas in 1959 and has practiced as a CPA since graduation,
serving 17 years as a partner with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand. Mr.
Sieverling has been actively involved in the oil and gas industry for the past
ten years both as an investor and as an operator of oil and gas leases in
Kansas, Oklahoma and North Dakota. He is a member of the Kansas Division of the
Interstate Oil Compact Commission.

CLASS II DIRECTOR
(Terms Expire in 1998)

H. James Maxwell received a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of
Missouri-Kansas City and received his Law Degree from that same University in
1972. Mr. Maxwell practiced securities law from 1972 to 1984, and was a frequent
author and speaker on oil and gas tax and securities law. He served as a General
Partner of Castle Royalty Limited Partnership from 1984 to 1988, Managing
General Partner of PAN from 1987 to 1992 and President, CEO and Chairman of the
Company from 1992 to date. He is a member of the Executive Committee.

Bob F. Mallory received his PhD in Geology from the University of Missouri
in 1968 and a B.A. in Geology from the University of Wichita in 1961. He began
consulting in the oil industry in 1980. He served as a General Partner of Castle
Royalty Limited Partnership from 1984 to 1988, as a General Partner of PAN from
1987 to 1992 and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company from 1992 to date. He is a member of the Executive Committee.

Donald W. Chesser received his BBA in Accounting from Texas Tech University
in 1963 and has served with several CPA firms since that time, including eight
years with Elmer Fox and Company. From 1977 to 1981 he was with IMCO
Enterprises, Inc. Since 1981 he has practiced accounting in Wichita, Kansas
under the name Chesser and Company.

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
(Item 2 on Proxy Card)

Subject to shareholder ratification, the Board of Directors, upon
recommendation of the Audit Committee, has appointed the firm of Arthur Andersen
LLP as independent accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company
for the year 1996. If the shareholders do not ratify this appointment, other
independent accountants will be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of
the Audit Committee. One or more members of the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP will
attend the annual meeting, will have an opportunity

<PAGE>

to make a statement and will be available to answer questions.

Our Recommendation

Ratification of the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares present or
represented and entitled to vote at the meeting. The Board of Directors
recommends a vote FOR such ratification.

AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK
(Item 3 on Proxy Card)

The Board of Directors is recommending that the shareholders adopt an
amendment to Article V of the Company's Articles of Incorporation ("Articles")
to increase its authorized Common Stock, $.01 par value, from 20,000,000 to
40,000,000 shares and to increase its authorized Preferred Stock, $.01 par value
("Preferred Stock") from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 shares. The relative rights and
limitations of the Common and Preferred Stock would remain unchanged under the
amendment. The Common and Preferred Stock do not have preemptive rights.

At March 31, 1996, the Company had 12,345,361 shares of Common Stock issued
and outstanding; no shares of Preferred Stock have been issued. In addition,
approximately 981,170 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance under the
Company's Long-term Incentive Plan. Thus, at May 15, 1996, there were
approximately 6,673,469 authorized shares of Common Stock unissued and not
reserved for issuance.

The proposed increase in the authorized Common Stock has been recommended
by the Board of Directors to assure that an adequate supply of authorized
unissued shares is available for general corporate needs, such as future stock
dividends or stock splits or issuance under employee benefit plans. The
additional authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock could also be
used for such purposes as raising additional capital for the operations of the
Company, or financing the acquisition of other businesses. The terms of any
series of Preferred Stock to be issued, other than pursuant to the Company's
shareholder rights plan described below, will be dependent largely on market
conditions and other factors existing at the time of issuance and sale. There
are currently no plans or arrangements relating to the issuance of any of the
additional shares of Common Stock proposed to be authorized or any shares of
Preferred Stock other than pursuant to the shareholder rights plan. Such shares
would be available for issuance without further action by the shareholders,
unless required by the Company's Articles or bylaws or by applicable law.

Under Article V of the Articles, the Board of Directors has the authority
to issue authorized shares of the Preferred Stock in series and to fix the
number, designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares
of each series, subject to applicable law and the provisions of Article V. The
authority of the Board includes the right to fix for each series the dividend
rate, redemption price, liquidation rights, sinking fund provisions, conversion
rights, and voting rights.

The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock may, among other things,
have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and on the equity and voting power
of existing holders of Common Stock. Until the Board of Directors determines the
specific rights, preferences and limitations of any shares of Preferred Stock to
be issued, the actual effect on the holders of Common Stock of the issuance of
such shares cannot be ascertained. However, such effects might include
restrictions on dividends on the Common Stock if dividends on Preferred Stock
are in arrears, dilution of the voting power of the Common Stock to the extent
that any series of Preferred Stock has voting rights, and reduction of amounts
available on liquidation as a result of any liquidation preference granted to
any series of Preferred Stock.

<PAGE>

On August 2, 1995, the Board of Directors declared a dividend distribution
of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock of the Company to the
stockholders of record on August 3, 1995, (the "Record Date"). Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of
a share of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"), or in some
circumstances, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets as
summarized below, at a price of $30.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), subject
to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and American Stock
Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent.

Until the earlier to occur of (i) the date of a public announcement that a
person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person")
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock or (ii) ten days following the
commencement or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange
offer that would result in a Person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of
such outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called
the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of
the Company's Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by
such Common Stock certificate. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the
Company's Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record
Date upon transfer or new issuance of the Company's Common Stock will contain a
notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by Reference. Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for
transfer of any of the Company's Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the
Record, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following
the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Company's Common Stock
as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on August 4, 2005, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described
below.

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as may be necessary)
issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time
to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision,
combination or reclassification of the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to
holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for
shares of the Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of
the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
periodic cash dividends out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends
payable in the Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants) other
than those referred to above).

In the event that the Company were acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction of 50% or more of its assets or earning power were sold,
proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than of
Rights that are or were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (which will
thereafter be void) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of
shares of Common Stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such
transaction would have a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right. In the event that an Acquiring Person becomes the beneficial owner of 20%
or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, proper provision shall be
made so that each holder of a Right, other than of Rights that are or were
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to

<PAGE>

receive upon exercise that number of shares of the Common Stock (or in certain
other circumstances, assets or other securities) having a market value of two
times the exercise price of the Right.

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares will be issued (other than fractional
shares which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred
Stock) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Stock on the last Trading Date prior to the date
of exercise.

At any time prior to 5:00 P.M. Kansas City time on the tenth calendar day
after the first date after the public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or
more of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company (the "Shares
Acquisition Date"), the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $0.005 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). Following the Shares
Acquisition Date, but prior to an event listed in Section 13(a) of the Rights
Agreement, the Company may redeem the Rights in connection with any event
specified in Section 13(a) in which all shareholders are treated alike and which
does not include the Acquiring Person or his Affiliates or Associates.
Thereafter, the Company's right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring
Person reduces his beneficial ownership to 10% or less of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the
Company. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to redeem the Rights, the Company shall make announcement thereof, and
upon such election, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

The provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of
Directors in order to cure any ambiguity or correct any defect or inconsistency,
extend the Redemption Period and, prior to the Distribution Date, to make
changes deemed to be in the best interests of the holders of the Rights or,
after the Distribution Date, to make such other changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (excluding the interests of
any Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates).

A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
August 21, 1995. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from
the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock by the Company also may
potentially have an anti-takeover effect by making it more difficult to obtain
shareholder approval of various actions, such as a merger or removal of
management. Issuance of authorized shares of Preferred Stock could also make it
more difficult to obtain shareholder approval of such actions as a merger, bylaw
changes, removal of a director, or amendment to the Articles, particularly in
light of the power of the Board of Directors to specify certain rights and
preferences of the Preferred Stock, such as voting rights, without shareholder
approval. All series of the Preferred Stock having voting rights and the Common
Stock would vote together as one class, unless otherwise required by law. The
holders of Preferred Stock would generally be entitled to vote separately as a
class upon any proposed amendment to the Articles or other corporate action,
such as a merger, which would effect an exchange, reclassification or
cancellation of all or a portion of such Preferred Stock or otherwise affect the
preferences or relative rights of the Preferred Stock.

<PAGE>

The increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock has
not been proposed for an anti-takeover-related purpose and the Board of
Directors and management have no knowledge of any current efforts to obtain
control of the Company.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposed
increase in the authorized capital stock. The affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will be required for
adoption of the proposed amendment.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The overall goals of the Company's executive compensation program are: (i)
to encourage and provide an incentive to its executive officers to achieve the
Company's strategic business and financial goals, both short-term and long-term,
and thereby enhance shareholder value, (ii) to attract and retain well-qualified
executive officers and (iii) to reward individuals for outstanding job
performance in a fair and equitable manner when measured not only with respect
to the Company's internal performance goals but also the Company's performance
in comparison to its peers. The components of the Company's executive
compensation are salary, incentive bonuses and awards under its Long Term
Incentive Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, each of which assists in
achieving the program's goals.

The Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for the granting, to
certain officers and key employees of the Company and its participating
subsidiaries, incentive awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation
rights ("SARS"), stock, and cash awards. The Long-Term Incentive Plan is
administered by a committee of independent members of the Board of Directors
(the "Plan Committee") with respect to awards to certain executive officers of
the Company but may be administered by the Board of Directors with respect to
any other awards. Except for certain automatic awards, the Plan Committee has
discretion to select the employees to be granted awards, to determine the type,
size, and terms of the awards, to determine when awards will be granted, and to
prescribe the form of the instruments evidencing awards.

Options, which include nonqualified stock options and incentive stock
options, are rights to purchase a specified number of Common Shares at a price
fixed at the time the option is granted. Payment may be made with cash or other
Common Shares owned by the optionee or a combination of both. Options are
exercisable at the time and on the terms that the Plan Committee determines. The
payment of the option price can be made either in cash or by the person
exercising the option turning in to the Company, Common Shares presently owned
by him, which would be valued at the then current market price. SARs are rights
to receive a payment, in cash or Common Shares or both, based on the value of
the Common Shares. A stock award is an award of Common Shares or denominated in
Common Shares. Cash awards are generally based on the extent to which
pre-established performance goals are achieved over a pre-established period but
may also include individual bonuses paid for previous, exemplary performance.
The Plan Committee determines performance objectives and award levels before the
beginning of each plan year.

The Long-Term Incentive Plan allows for the satisfaction of a participant's
tax withholding with respect to an award by the withholding of Common Shares
issuable pursuant to the award or the delivery by the participant of previously
owned Common Shares, in either case valued at the fair market value, subject to
limitations the Plan Committee may adopt.

Awards granted pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan may provide that,
upon a change of control of the Company, (a) each holder of an option will be
granted a corresponding SAR (b) all outstanding SARs and stock options become
immediately and fully vested and exercisable in full, and (c) the restriction
period on any restricted stock award shall be accelerated and the restriction
shall expire.

<PAGE>

The Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of a maximum number
of Common Shares equal to 20% of the total number of Common Shares outstanding
from time to time. Unexercised SARs, unexercised options, restricted stock, and
performance units under the Long-Term Incentive Plan are subject to adjustment
in the event of a stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or combination
of the Company, merger or similar transaction and are not transferable except by
will and by the laws of descent and distribution. Except when a participant's
employment terminates as a result of death, disability, or retirement under an
approved retirement plan or following a change in control in certain
circumstances, an award generally may be exercised (or the restriction thereon
may lapse) only if the participant is an officer, employee, or director of the
Company, or subsidiary at the time of exercise or lapse or, in certain
circumstance, if the exercise or lapse occurs within 180 days after employment
is terminated.

Under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan all full time employees share
a bonus equal to 5% of the Company's pre-tax net income, in accordance with
GAAP, exclusive of extraordinary and non-recurring items. The bonuses will be
paid to all full time (1,000 + hours) employees at December 31. The bonus will
be paid upon delivery of the independent audit. The Bonus shall be allocated to
the full time employees based upon their salary at December 31.

The Long-Term Incentive Plan may be amended by the Board of Directors,
except that under current law no amendment that materially increases Common
Shares subject to the Long-Term Incentive Plan or that makes certain other
material changes may be made without stockholder approval. No grants or awards
may be made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan after the tenth anniversary of
the plan. No stockholder approval will be sought for amendments to the Long-Term
Incentive Plan except as required by law (including Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act) or the rules of any national securities exchange on which the
Common Shares are then listed.

There were no incentive awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan
outstanding at December 31, 1995.

EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

In 1994, the Company adopted the Panaco, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan
("ESOP"). Pursuant to the terms of the ESOP, the Company may contribute up to
fifteen percent (15%) of the participant's annual compensation to the ESOP. ESOP
assets are allocated in accordance with a formula based on participant
compensation. In order to participate in the ESOP, a participant must complete
at least one thousand (1,000) hours of service to the Company within twelve (12)
consecutive months. A participant's interest in the ESOP becomes one hundred
percent (100%) vested after three (3) years of service to the Company. Benefits
are distributed from the ESOP at such time as a participant retires, dies or
terminates service with the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the ESOP. Benefits may be distributed in cash or in shares of the Company's
common stock. No participant contributions are allowed to be made to the ESOP.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

I. Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the annual compensation paid to the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and each executive officer whose compensation
exceeds $100,000 during 1995.

<PAGE>

Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Long-Term Incentive Plan
--------------------------------

Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
------------------- ----------------------- -------
Securities
Other Restricted Underlying LTIP All
Name and Principal Salary Bonus Annual Stock Options Payouts Other
Position Year ($)(1) ($) Comp.($) Award(s)($) (#) ($) Comp.($)(2)
- --------------------- ---- ------- ----- ------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
H. James Maxwell 1995 153,500 0 0 0 24,615 0 22,500
President and Chief 1994 120,000 0 0 0 147,472 0 18,000
Executive Officer 1993 80,000 0 0 0 0 0 0

Larry M. Wright 1995 147,300 0 0 0 0 0 22,100
Executive Vice 1994 134,000 0 0 0 100,000 0 20,000
President 1993 120,000 0 0 0 250,000 0 0

Robert G. Wonish 1995 92,100 0 0 0 0 0 13,800
Vice President 1994 78,800 0 0 0 50,000 0 11,800
1993 77,000 0 0 0 0 0 0

</TABLE>

(1) The 1993 salary figures for Messrs. Wright and Wonish include payments made
to them as independent consultants before becoming employees of the Company
in that year.

(2) The other compensation figures for 1995 and 1994 represent contributions to
the accounts of the employees under the Company's Employee Stock Ownership
Plan. The Plan was adopted in 1994.

II. Grants of Stock Option and Warrants

The following table identifies the grants of stock options made to the
named executive officers in 1995.

Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Number of Percent of
Securities total options
Underlying granted to Exercise or Market price
Options employees Base price at date Expiration Grant Date
Name Granted in fiscal year ($/Share) of grant($) Date Value($)
- ------------------------ ---------- -------------- ----------- ----------- ---------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
H. James Maxwell 24,615 33% 2.03125 4.0625 12/31/95 50,000
Larry M. Wright -0- -0- N/A N/A N/A N/A
Robert G. Wonish -0- -0- N/A N/A N/A N/A

</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Mr. Maxwell's options were exercised in 1995.

III. Aggregate Option and Warrant Exercises

The following table provides information relating to the number and value
of Common Shares subject to options exercised during 1995 or held by the named
executive officers as of December 31, 1995.

<PAGE>

Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year End Option Values
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Number of
securities underlying Value of unexercised
Securities unexercised options in-the-money
acquired Value at fiscal year-end ($) options at year-end($)(2)
Name on Exercise (#) Realized ($)(1) Exercisable/unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
- ----------------- --------------- --------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
H. James Maxwell 250,972 410,129 -0- / -0- -0- / -0-
Larry M. Wright 0 0 250,000 / -0- 549,375 / -0-
Robert G. Wonish 0 0 -0 -/ -0- -0- / -0-
</TABLE>
- ----------

(1) Value realized is calculated based upon the difference between the options
exercise price and the market price of the Company's Common Stock on the
date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares to which the exercise
price relates.

(2) Value of unexercised in-the-money options is calculated based on the
difference between the option exercise price and the closing price of the
Company's Common Stock at year-end, multiplied by the number of shares
underlying the options. The closing price on December 29, 1995 of the
Company's Common Stock was $4.4375.

IV. Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards Table

No awards were outstanding under the Long-Term Incentive Plan at December
31, 1995.

V. Defined Benefit or Actuarial Plan Disclosure

No information has been included, because the Company does not have such a
pension plan.

Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-In-Control
Arrangements

None of the officers or directors served pursuant to employment contracts.

Shareholder Rights Plan

The Shareholder Rights Plan was designed to reduce the likelihood of
inadequate bids, partial bids, market accumulations and front-end loaded offers
to acquire the Company's Common Shares, which are not in the best interest of
all the Company's shareholders. The adoption of the Plan communicates the
Company's intention to resist such actions as are not in the best interest of
all shareholders, provides time for the Board of Directors to consider any offer
and seek alternative transactions to maximize shareholder value. The Plan was
adopted upon the advice of the Company's investment bankers in 1995 when there
were numerous

<PAGE>

statements in the media that the Company might be the target of a takeover
attempt, which never materialized.

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on August 4, 2005, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described
below.

<PAGE>

the last Trading Date prior to the date of exercise.

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

Certain Anti-takeover Provisions

The provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws
summarized in the following paragraphs may be deemed to have an anti-takeover
effect and may delay, defer, or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that
a stockholder might consider to be in that stockholder's best interests,
including attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the
shares held by stockholders. In addition, certain provisions of Delaware law and
the Company's Long-term Incentive Plan may be deemed to have a similar effect.

Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. The Board of Directors of the
Company is divided into three classes. The term of office of one class of
directors expires at each annual meeting of stockholders, when their successors
are elected and qualified. Directors are elected for three-year terms.
Stockholders may remove a director only for cause. In general, the Board of
Directors, not the Company's stockholders, has the right to appoint persons to
fill vacancies on the Board of Directors.

Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Board
of Directors, by resolution, may establish one or more classes or series of
preferred stock having the number of shares, designation, relative voting
rights, dividend rates, liquidation and other rights, preferences, and
limitations that

<PAGE>

the Board of Directors fixes without any stockholder approval. Any rights,
preferences, privileges, and limitations that are established could have the
effect of impeding or discouraging the acquisition of control of the Company.

The Company's Certificate of Incorporation contains a "fair price"
provision that requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of
the voting stock of the Company and the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds
of the voting stock of the Company not owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Related Person (hereafter defined) to approve any merger, consolidation, sale or
lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or certain other
transactions involving any Related Person. For purposes of the fair price
provision, a "Related Person" is any person beneficially owning 10% or more of
the voting stock of the Company who is a party to the Transaction at issue, a
director who is also an officer of the Company and is a party to the Transaction
at issue, an affiliate of either such person, and certain transferees of those
persons. The voting requirement is not applicable to certain transactions,
including those that are approved by the Company's Continuing Directors (as
defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) or that meet certain "fair price"
criteria contained in the Certificate of Incorporation.

The Company's Certificate of Incorporation further provides that
stockholders may act only at annual or special meeting of stockholders and not
by written consent, that special meetings of stockholders may be called only by
the Board of Directors, and that only business proposed by the Board of
Directors may be considered at special meetings of stockholders.

The Company's Certificate of Incorporation also provides that the only
business (including election of directors) that may be considered at an annual
meeting of stockholders, in addition to business proposed (or persons nominated
to be directors) by the directors of the Company, is business proposed (or
persons nominated to be directors) by stockholders who comply with the notice
and disclosure requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation. In general, the
Certificate of Incorporation requires that a stockholder give the Company notice
of proposed business or nominations no later than 60 days before the annual
meeting of stockholders (meaning the date on which the meeting is first
scheduled and not postponements or adjournments thereof) or (if later) 10 days
after the first public notice of the annual meeting is sent to common
stockholders. In general, the notice must also contain information about the
stockholder proposing the business or nomination, his interest in the business,
and (with respect to nominations for director) information about the nominee of
the nature ordinarily required to be disclosed in public proxy solicitations.
The stockholder must also submit a notarized letter from each of his nominees
stating the nominee's acceptance of the nomination and indicating the nominee's
intention to serve as director if elected.

The Certificate of Incorporation also restricts the ability of stockholders
to interfere with the powers of the Board of Directors in certain specified
ways, including the constitution and composition of committees and the election
and removal of officers.

The Certificate of Incorporation provides that approval by the holders of
at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock is required to amend the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation discussed in the preceding
paragraphs and certain other provisions, except that approval by the holders of
at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company, together with
approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock
not owned, directly or indirectly, by the Related Person, is required to amend
the fair price provisions and except that approval of the holders of at least
80% of the outstanding voting stock is required to amend the provisions
prohibiting stockholders from acting by written consent.

Delaware Anti-takeover Statute. The Company is a Delaware corporation and
is subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general,
Section 203 prevents an "interested stockholder"

<PAGE>

(defined generally as a person owning 15% or more of the Company's outstanding
voting stock) from engaging in a "business combination" (as defined in Section
203) with the Company for three years following the date that person became an
interested stockholder unless (a) before that person became an interested
stockholder, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the transaction in
which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder or approved
the business combination, (b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted
in the interested stockholder's becoming an interested stockholder, the
interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the voting stock of the Company
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding stock held by
directors who are also officers of the Company and by employee stock plans that
do not provide employees with the right to determine confidentially whether
shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer),
or (c) following the transaction in which that person became an interested
stockholder, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors of
the Company and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote
of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock of the
Company not owned by the interested stockholder.

Under Section 203, these restrictions also do not apply to certain business
combinations proposed by an interested stockholder following the announcement or
notification of one of certain extraordinary transactions involving the Company
and a person who was not an interested stockholder during the previous three
years or who became an interested stockholder with the approval of a majority of
the Company's directors, if that extraordinary transaction is approved or not
opposed by a majority of the directors who were directors before any person
became an interested stockholder in the previous three years or who were
recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of
such directors then in office.

Long-term Incentive Plan. Awards granted pursuant to the Company's
Long-term Incentive Plan may provide that, upon a change in control of the
Company, (a) each holder of an option will be granted a corresponding stock
appreciation right, (b) all outstanding stock appreciation rights and stock
options become immediately and fully vested and exercisable in full, and (c) the
restriction period on any restricted stock award shall be accelerated and the
restrictions shall expire.

Debt. Certain provisions in the Primary and Secondary Loans may also impede
a change in control, in that they provide that the loans become due if there is
a change in the management of the Company or a merger with another company.

PERFORMANCE GRAPHS

The following Performance Graph compares the quarterly percentage change of
the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's Common Shares with the
cumulative total return assuming reinvestment of dividends, of the NASDAQ Index
of U.S. Companies.

<PAGE>

THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A GRAPH IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.

COMPARISON OF QUARTERLY PANACO
CUMULATIVE RETURN WITH
NASDAQ INDEX OF US COMPANIES

PANACO NASDAQ
------ --------
1990
4th Quarter 100.00 100.000
1991
1st Quarter 109.09 129.918
2nd Quarter 72.73 128.414
3rd Quarter 209.09 143.303
4th Quarter 209.09 160.564
1992
1st Quarter 236.36 165.601
2nd Quarter 181.82 154.282
3rd Quarter 181.82 160.622
4th Quarter 118.18 186.866
1993
1st Quarter 145.45 190.371
2nd Quarter 190.91 194.026
3rd Quarter 177.31 210.382
4th Quarter 190.91 214.511
1994
1st Quarter 231.85 205.488
2nd Quarter 309.09 195.885
3rd Quarter 300.00 212.104
4th Quarter 290.91 209.686
1995
1st Quarter 313.64 228.493
2nd Quarter 309.09 261.361
3rd Quarter 345.45 292.820
4th Quarter 322.73 296.304
1996
1st Quarter 272.73

<PAGE>

PANACO began trading on NASDAQ September 21, 1989. The closing bid of the last
trading day in December 1990 was used to establish the base line for PANACO's
quarterly cumulative total return figures. The dramatic increase in the 3rd
quarter of 1991 reflects the increased stock price in response to the
acquisition of the West Delta properties, offshore Louisiana.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in next year's proxy statement
should be sent to Investor Relations, PANACO, Inc., 1050 West Blue Ridge
Boulevard, PANACO Building, Kansas City, Missouri 64145-1216, and must be
received by February 28, 1997. Any such proposal must comply with Rule 14a-8
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

At the time this Proxy Statement was released for printing on ________,
1996, the Company knew of no other matters which might be presented for action
at the meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is
intended that the Common Shares represented by proxies will be voted with
respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting them.

The costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition
to this solicitation by mail, directors, officers and regular employees of the
Company may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, make additional requests
for the return of proxies and may receive proxies on behalf of the Company.
Brokers, nominees, fiduciaries and other custodians will be requested to forward
soliciting material to the beneficial owners of shares and will be reimbursed
for their expenses.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE

Financial statements for the Company were included in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the
year 1995, and were previously mailed to shareholders. Additional copies will be
furnished without charge, on request directed to Investor Relations, PANACO,
Inc., 1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard, PANACO Building, Kansas City, Missouri
64145-1216.

By order of the Board of Directors

Todd R. Bart
Secretary

________, 1996

<PAGE>

PANACO. Inc.

This Proxy is solicited on behalf of Management

The undersigned hereby appoints H. James Maxwell and Todd R. Bart or either
of them as Proxy with power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes him
to represent and to vote as designated on the reverse side of this Proxy Card,
all shares of Common Stock of PANACO, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on
_____________________, 1996, for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held_____________, 1996 or any adjournment thereof.

(TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)

<PAGE>

[X] Please mark your votes as this example

1. Election of Directors:

[ ] FOR All Nominees [ ] WITHHOLD All Nominees

Nominees: James B. Kreamer; A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr.; Mike Springs;
Mark C. Barrett

INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE PLACE AN
"X" IN THE "FOR" BOX AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME LISTED ABOVE.

2. To approve the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as auditors for the Company
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996.

FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]

3. To approve Amendment of Articles of Incorporation to increase authorized
capital stock.

FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is given, this Proxy will be voted
"FOR" proposals 1,2 and 3.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.

SIGNATURE(S)______________________________________ Date:______________________

NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears above. When shares are held as joint
tenants both should sign. 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 partner.