PROSPECTUS
1,100,000 Units
ORYX TECHNOLOGY CORP.
On April 6, 1994, an offering of 1,100,000 Units was underwritten on a
firm commitment basis by J.W. Charles Securities, Inc., J.W. Charles Clearing
Corp. and Corporate Securities Group, Inc. (the "Underwriters") at an offering
price of $7.00 per Unit. Each Unit ("Unit") consisted of two shares of Common
Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and one callable Common
Stock Purchase Warrant (collectively the "Warrants") of ORYX Technology Corp.
(the "Company" or "ORYX"). Each Warrant currently entitles the holder thereof to
purchase 1.9 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.50 per Warrant
which is the equivalent of $1.84 per share of Common Stock (subject to further
adjustment in certain events) until April 6, 1999. The shares of Common Stock
and the Warrants are transferrable separately. The Warrants are callable by the
Company commencing October 6, 1994 based on fulfillment of certain criteria. See
"Description of Securities." This Prospectus also relates to the resale by
certain persons of 37,500 shares of Common Stock underlying certain warrants
(the "Bridge Warrants") issued in connection with a prior interim debt financing
and which were also included in the Prospectus related to the public offering of
the Company's Units. The Bridge Warrants are exercisable at $2.28 per share.
This Prospectus also relates to the Underwriters' Warrants and shares of Common
Stock underlying the Underwriters' Warrants as hereinafter described.
The Common Stock and the Warrants are quoted on the National Association
of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (SmallCap) ("NASDAQ") under the
symbols "ORYX" and "ORYXW," and on the Pacific Stock Exchange ("PSE") under the
symbols "OXT" and "OXTW," respectively. Until June 6, 1994, the Units were
quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol "ORYXU" and on the PSE under the symbol
"OXTU." On November 26, 1996, the closing price on NASDAQ for the Common Stock
was $2.44 and the closing price for the Warrants was $1.63. There have been no
recent reported trades on the PSE.
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THESE SECURITIES ARE SPECULATIVE AND
INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" AT PAGES 5 THROUGH 12.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The original date of this Prospectus is April 6, 1994 This
Prospectus is amended pursuant to a Post-Effective
Amendment dated November 29, 1996
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The Company will pay all offering expenses for the offering, estimated at
approximately $17,000 including (i) legal fees and expenses ($5,000.00); (ii)
blue sky fees ($1,000.00); (iii) accounting fees and expenses ($7,500.00); (iv)
printing expenses ($3,000.00); and (v) miscellaneous expenses ($500.00), but
will not pay any discounts or commissions incurred by selling stockholders in
connection with the sale of their shares of Common Stock.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance therewith files reports,
proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other
information filed by the Company may be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices
at Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661-2511 and 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies
of such material may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
at prescribed rates. The Commission also maintains a Web site that contains
reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding
registrants that file electronically with the Commission at http://www.sec.gov.
This Prospectus, which constitutes part of a Registration Statement filed
by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), omits certain information contained in the Registration Statement
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. Reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits relating thereto
for further information with respect to the Company and the securities offered
hereby.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION......................................... 2
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE............. 4
RISK FACTORS.................................................. 5
THE COMPANY................................................... 12
USE OF PROCEEDS............................................... 14
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.......................................... 14
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES..................................... 15
SALES BY SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS............................. 19
LEGAL MATTERS................................................. 21
EXPERTS....................................................... 21
INDEMNIFICATION............................................... 21
The Company's Common Stock is quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (Small Cap) ("NASDAQ") under the
symbol "ORYX", and on the Pacific Stock Exchange ("PSE") under the symbol "OXT".
On November 26, 1996, the closing price on NASDAQ for the Common Stock was
$2.44. There have been no recent reported trades on the PSE.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations not contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offer
contained in this Prospectus, and if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company
or the Selling Security Holders.
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THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN
THOSE TO WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY, IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN
OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION. THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS AT ANY TIME DOES NOT
IMPLY THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS
DATE.
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The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company has previously and intends to furnish its stockholders with
annual reports containing audited financial statements and may distribute
quarterly reports containing unaudited summary financial information for each of
the first three quarters of each fiscal year.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set
forth in this prospectus, are forward looking and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those
described for a variety of factors. Such factors could include, but are not
limited to, those discussed in "Risk Factors" in this Prospectus and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis" in the Company's Form 10K-SB Annual
Report filed for the fiscal year ending February 29, 1996, as well as those
discussed elsewhere in other public filings made by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially are the following: changes in customer commitments,
maintenance of gross margin levels, market acceptance of new products both
technically and commercially, successful product development efforts, inability
to pass on price increases to customers, unavailability of products, management
of cost controls and cash resources, need for additional financing and strong
competition.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed with the Commission are incorporated herein
by reference:
(a) Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-KSB and as amended by Form
10-KSB/A1 for the fiscal year ended February 29, 1996.
(b) Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended
May 31, 1996.
(c) Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended
August 31, 1996.
All reports and documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13, 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof from the respective date of filing of such
documents. Any statement incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document, which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any statement modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this
Prospectus.
The Company hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of the Prospectus has been
delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or
all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents. Written
requests for such copies should be directed c/o Corporate Secretary, Oryx
Technology Corp. at the Company's principal executive office, 47341 Bayside
Parkway, Fremont, California 94538.
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RISK FACTORS
The securities offered hereby involve a high degree of risk. It is
impossible to foresee and describe all the risks and business, economic and
financial factors which may affect the Company. Prospective investors should
carefully consider the risk and speculative factors, as well as other matters
set forth elsewhere in this Prospectus, before making an investment in the
Company.
HISTORY OF UNPROFITABILITY; SUBSTANTIAL RECENT OPERATING LOSSES AND ACCUMULATED
DEFICIT
Since its initial public offering in April 1994, the Company has not been
profitable on a quarterly or annual basis except for its most recent two
quarters ended May 31, 1996 and August 31, 1996. At August 31, 1996, the Company
had an accumulated deficit of $7,692,000. During the fiscal year ended February
29, 1996, the Company experienced significant delays and additional costs in the
development of its material analysis, electrostatic discharge testing and surge
protection product lines and experienced deterioration of gross margins in the
power products subsidiary, all of which have caused the Company's continuing
losses. There can be no assurance that the Company will be profitable for the
fiscal year ending February 28, 1997 or thereafter.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's working capital was approximately $5,453,000 at August 31,
1996. On February 28, 1996, the Company's line of credit terminated and the
outstanding balance was repaid. The Company's operating losses, increasing
accounts payable, loss of its line of credit and inventory build-up continued or
occurred in the fiscal year ended February 29, 1996, and together with payments
made to Zenith Electronics Corporation ("Zenith") and required payments on
certain short term financings, have further exacerbated the Company's cash flow
needs. The Company is currently pursuing other credit arrangements and hopes to
establish a replacement facility by the end of its current fiscal year. Failure
to obtain a replacement line of credit facility or other financing could have an
adverse impact on the Company. In particular, failure by the Company to
establish a new credit facility could impact the Company's growth and liquidity.
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING
The Company's current financial resources may not be sufficient to enable
it to satisfy all of its anticipated financing needs for the fiscal year ending
February 28, 1997. In the event the Company requires additional equity or debt
financing, or attempts to raise capital through an asset sale, there can be no
assurance that such transactions can be effected in a timely manner to meet all
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the Company's needs, or at all, or that any such transaction will be on terms
acceptable to the Company or in the interest of its stockholders.
RISKS OF NEW PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT
The Company has invested substantially in the development of proprietary
technologies in surface analysis, electrostatic surge testing of integrated
circuits and surge protection, and has shipped two units of its new secondary
ion mass spectrometer as well as completed a licensing agreement for part of its
SurgX technology with an electronic component manufacturer. However, there can
be no assurance that the Company will be successful in further commercializing
these technologies or any other products, or developing financially viable
businesses based on these technologies or products. Results of operations in the
future will be influenced by numerous factors, including technological
developments by the Company, its customers and competitors, increases in
expenses associated with product development and sales growth, market acceptance
of the Company's products, the ability of the Company to successfully control
its costs of development, overhead and other costs and manage its operations,
the capacity of the Company to develop and manage the introduction of new
products, and by competition. There can be no assurance that revenue growth will
be sustained or profitability on a quarterly or annual basis will be achieved.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
implement its business plan, expand its operations and develop and sustain
profitable operations.
SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER DEPENDENCE
For the years ended February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995, sales to
Pitney Bowes accounted for approximately 41% and 27% of consolidated revenues,
respectively. The Company expects a significant reduction in sales to Pitney
Bowes during its 1997 fiscal year. Accordingly, the Company's operating results
may be materially and adversely affected by the loss of business from Pitney
Bowes. There can be no assurance that such customer or any other customers will
in the future continue to purchase products from the Company at levels that
equal or exceed those of prior periods, if at all. While the Company actively
pursues new customers, there can be no assurances that the Company will be
successful in its efforts, and any significant weakening in customer demand
would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH; INTERNAL CONTROL DEFICIENCIES
The Company has recently experienced and may continue to experience
substantial growth in the number of employees and the scope of its operations,
resulting in increased responsibilities for management. To manage growth
effectively, the Company will need to continue to improve its operational,
financial and management information systems and to develop and maintain sound
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internal controls. In connection with the Company's audit for the fiscal year
ended February 28, 1995, the Company's independent accountants identified a
reportable condition in the Company's internal controls with respect to its
inventory management systems as it relates to tracking the movement of costed
inventory which resulted in an adjustment to the fiscal 1995 financial
statements. Another reportable condition was identified with respect to the
Company's record keeping for equity financing and share issuance transactions.
In connection with the Company's audit for the fiscal year ended February 29,
1996, the Company's independent accountants identified a further reportable
condition relating to physical inventory procedures specifically with regard to
substantial adjustments that resulted from physical inventories taken during the
fiscal year ended February 29, 1996. The resulting adjustments were reflected in
the fiscal 1996 financial statements. A reportable condition indicates that a
material error or irregularity may occur in the Company's quarterly and year-end
financial statements and may not be detected on a timely basis by the Company's
employees, thereby possibly resulting in a misstatement of the Company's
financial statements. While the Board of Directors have instituted action to
correct the preceding conditions, there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to effectively achieve or manage any future growth, or develop and
maintain strong internal controls. Such failure could result in a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations
and could result in a misstatement of operating results.
COST OF POWER CONVERSION PRODUCTS
In July 1995, the Company's contract with Zenith, pursuant to which Zenith
manufactured certain power conversion products for the Company at a fixed price
per unit, expired in accordance with its terms. Since such time, the Company has
manufactured power conversion products at its facility in Reynosa, Mexico, while
purchasing components for such products from various third party manufacturers
and distributors. The Company has purchased many components for power conversion
products from distributors at prices which are higher than those offered
directly from manufacturers, and the current market prices of such components
are substantially higher than the prices of such components anticipated by the
Company at the time it entered into the Zenith contract. Accordingly, the
Company has incurred higher costs in producing its power conversion products and
the Company's per unit profit margin on such products has decreased. There can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to produce such products at a
lower cost or negotiate more favorable, or even as favorable, terms for the
components thereof, in the future and, therefore, the Company's profit margin on
power products may be subject to further erosion, which would have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
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RELIANCE ON THIRD PARTY MANUFACTURERS MAY DISRUPT OPERATIONS
The Company relies on third-party manufacturers for the supply of
substantially all key components for all of its products. The Company's reliance
on outside manufacturers generally, and a sole manufacturer or a limited group
of manufacturers in particular, involves several risks, including without
limitation, a potential inability to obtain an adequate supply of required
components and reduced control over pricing, quality, cost, and timely delivery
of components. Any inability to obtain adequate deliveries or any other
circumstances that would require the Company to seek alternative sources of
supply or to manufacture such components internally could lead to disruption of
the operations of the Company, product deficiencies, unanticipated and
fluctuating expenses, unpredictable revenues, and sales and marketing
dislocations that are beyond the Company's control, and may have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and operations.
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES AFFECTING PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RISKS
The design and manufacture of technologically advanced components and
equipment continually undergo rapid and significant technological change. The
Company's success will depend upon its ability to maintain a competitive
position with respect to its proprietary and other enhanced technology and to
continue to attract and retain qualified personnel in all phases of its
operations. The Company's business is, to a large degree, dependent on the
enhancement of its current products and the development of new products.
Critical to the Company's success and future profitability will be its capacity
to develop new technologies for new product lines and product upgrades. Product
development and enhancement involve substantial research and development
expenditures and a high degree of risk, and there is no assurance that the
Company's product development efforts will be successful, will be accepted by
the market, or that such development efforts can be completed on a
cost-effective or timely basis. There can be no assurance that future
technological developments will not render existing or proposed products of the
Company uneconomical or obsolete or that the Company will not be adversely
affected by competition or by the future development of commercially viable
products by others.
QUARTERLY FLUCTUATIONS OF OPERATING RESULTS
The Company's quarterly operating results have in the past been, and will
in the future be, subject to fluctuation. The Company's operating results are
impacted by numerous factors, such as product introductions or modifications by
competitors, market acceptance of the Company's products and its customers'
products, product price changes, product mix, purchasing patterns of original
equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") and other customers, delays in, or failure to
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receive, orders due to customer financial difficulties, and overall economic
trends. The Company plans to introduce product upgrades or new product lines
from time-to-time, which could generate short-term order fluctuations and have
an adverse impact on sales of certain existing products. In addition, customer
orders may involve competing capital budget considerations for the customer,
thus making the timing of customer orders difficult to predict and uneven. Any
delay or failure to receive anticipated orders, or any deferrals or cancellation
of existing orders, would adversely affect the Company's financial performance.
The Company's expense levels are based in part on its expectations as to future
revenues and, in particular, revenue growth, and the Company may be unable to
adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any revenue shortfall.
Accordingly, operating results in any one quarter could be materially adversely
affected by, among other factors, a failure to receive, ship or obtain customer
acceptance of sufficient orders in that quarter. Any weakening in demand for the
Company's products could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
operating results and the Company's ability to achieve profitability.
BACKLOG AND INVENTORY
Oryx Power Products Corporation ("Power Products"), the Company's power
products subsidiary, operates with a substantial backlog due primarily to orders
from OEMs for custom power supplies, which generally comprise between 50% to 60%
of the Company's total revenues. However, the Company's backlog at the beginning
of a quarter typically does not include all sales required to achieve the
Company's sales objectives for Power Products for that quarter. Therefore, Power
Products' net sales and operating results for a quarter depend on the Company
shipping orders scheduled to be sold during that quarter and obtaining
additional orders for products to be sold during that same quarter. Moreover,
the terms of customer purchase orders generally provide that the customer may
cancel or reschedule all or a substantial portion of the order with limited
notice and with little or no penalty. The Company has experienced rescheduling
in the past and, to a lesser extent, cancellations, and expects that it will
experience such changes in the future. If the Company is unable to adjust its
parts orders to meet its actual product demand, the result may be that the
Company has a parts or product inventory which is substantially different from
the number and mix of products actually sold. Any such inventory imbalance could
result in inventory write downs or other unexpected charges, contributing to
significant fluctuations in operating results from quarter to quarter.
The Company's other subsidiaries operate with virtually no backlog.
Therefore, because the Company ships most of its current products within a short
period after receipt of an order, the Company's net sales and operating results
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for a quarter depend on the Company's ability to obtain orders for and ship
products within the same quarter. There can be no assurances that the Company
will be able to obtain a sufficient level of orders to obtain annual
profitability.
COMPETITION
The Company is engaged in certain highly competitive and rapidly changing
segments of the electronic components and systems manufacturing industry in
which technological advances, costs, consistency and reliability of supply are
critical to competitive position. In addition, the competition for recruitment
of personnel in the technologically-advanced manufacturing industry is
continuous and highly intense. The Company competes or may subsequently compete,
directly or indirectly, with a large number of companies which may provide
products or components comparable to those provided by the Company. In addition,
many present or prospective competitors are larger, better capitalized, more
established and have greater access to resources necessary to produce a
competitive advantage. In particular, there are a large number of competitors
producing power conversion products, many of which are larger and more
established technology oriented companies in the United States as well as low
cost manufacturers in the Far East who may be expected to introduce more
technologically advanced power conversion products in the future. There can be
no assurance that the Company will be able to compete effectively in some or all
of its markets.
NO ASSURANCES OF PROTECTION FOR PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS; RELIANCE ON
TRADE SECRETS
The Company relies on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and
trade secret laws, non-disclosure agreements and other intellectual property
protection methods to protect its proprietary technology. There can be no
assurance that any existing or subsequently obtained patents will provide the
Company with substantial competitive advantages, or that challenges will not be
instituted against the validity or enforceability of any patents owned by the
Company, or if initiated, that such challenges will not be successful. To the
extent the Company wishes to assert its patent rights, there can be no assurance
that any claims of the Company's patents will be sufficient to protect the
Company's technology, and the cost of any litigation to uphold the validity of a
patent and prevent infringement can be substantial even if the Company prevails.
In addition, there can be no assurance that others will not independently
develop similar technologies, duplicate the Company's technology, or
legitimately design around the patented aspects of the Company's technology.
Competitors or potential competitors may have filed applications for or received
patents, and may obtain additional patents and proprietary rights relating to
technology competitive with that of the Company. Furthermore, if additional
patents do not issue from present or future patent applications, the Company may
be subject to greater competition.
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In certain cases, the Company also relies on trade secrets to protect
proprietary technology and processes which it has developed or may develop in
the future. There can be no assurance that secrecy obligations will be honored
or that others will not independently develop similar or superior technology.
The protection of proprietary technology through claims of trade secret status
has been the subject of increasing claims and litigation by various companies,
both in order to protect proprietary rights, and for competitive purposes, even
where proprietary claims are unsubstantiated. The prosecution of proprietary
claims or the defense of such claims is costly and uncertain given the rapid
development of the principles of law pertaining to this area.
NO DIVIDENDS ON COMMON STOCK
The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock since its
inception and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its Common Stock in
the foreseeable future. Payment of dividends is likely to be restricted under
the terms of any new credit facility. The future payment of dividends is
directly dependent upon future earnings of the Company, its financial
requirements and other factors to be determined by the Company's Board of
Directors, as well as the possible consent of any of its prospective lenders.
For the foreseeable future, it is anticipated that any earnings which may be
generated from the Company's operations will be used to finance the growth of
the Company and will not be paid to holders of Common Stock.
RISK OF SIGNIFICANT DILUTION
As a result of various transactions previously undertaken by the Company
as of August 31, 1996, there were convertible securities and warrants and
options of the Company currently outstanding for the conversion and purchase of
up to approximately 6,200,000 shares of Common Stock, which represent
significant additional potential dilution for existing stockholders of the
Company. These underlying shares of Common Stock are not included in currently
outstanding shares. In addition, as a result of the anti-dilution provisions
included in certain of these derivative securities, there may be further
dilution based on the price that the Company issues other securities in the
future.
VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE
There can be no assurance that the market price of the Common Stock will
not decline below the price at which such shares are being offered pursuant to
this Prospectus, particularly since the market price of the Company's Common
Stock has fluctuated substantially since the Company's initial public offering
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in April 1994. The Company believes that a variety of factors could cause the
price of the Company's Common Stock to fluctuate substantially, including, for
example, the Company's ability to establish a credit facility to replace its
former facility with its bank, announcements of developments related to the
Company's business, liquidity and financial viability, fluctuations in the
Company's operating results and order levels, general conditions in the
Company's industries, the technology industry in general or the United States or
worldwide economy, announcements of technological innovations, new products or
product enhancements by the Company or its competitors, developments in patents
or other intellectual property rights, and developments in the Company's
relationships with its customers, distributors and suppliers. In addition, in
recent years, the stock market in general and the market for shares of small
capitalization stocks in particular has experienced extreme price fluctuations
which have often been unrelated to the operating performance of affected
companies. Such fluctuations could adversely affect the market price of the
Company's Common Stock and the Warrants and ability to obtain additional
financing.
AUTHORIZATION OF PREFERRED STOCK
The Board of Directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock
and to fix the dividend, liquidation, conversion, redemption and the rights,
preferences and limitations of such shares without any further vote or action of
the stockholders. Accordingly, the Board of Directors is empowered, without
stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation,
conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power
of other rights of the holders of the Company's Common Stock. In the event of
issuance, the preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as
a method of discouraging and delaying or preventing a change of control of the
Company. Although the Company has no present intention to issue any additional
shares of its preferred stock, there can be no assurance that the Company will
not do so in the future.
THE COMPANY
Oryx Technology Corp. designs, manufactures and markets specialized
components, analytical equipment and instrumentation products for original
equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") in the information technology industry. This
industry includes office equipment, computers, telecommunications and consumer
electronics. The Company markets or has in product development, technologically-
advanced products which perform diagnostic and analytical functions and address
industry requirements for efficient power conversion, surge protection and
specialized materials technology. The Company has concentrated its product
development programs in critical areas where the larger manufacturers of office
equipment, computers, computer peripherals and other electronic and
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telecommunications products depend upon complementary technology and product
support. The Company operates in three distinct market segments: (i) power
conversion products, (ii) electrical surge protection products, and (iii)
materials analysis and test equipment and specialized materials products.
In November 1995, the Company made a strategic decision to improve
business focus and execution by separating its core businesses and placing
assets for each core business into wholly-owned subsidiaries. Three new
subsidiaries were formed: Oryx Power Products Corporation ("Power Products"),
SurgX Corporation ("SurgX") and Oryx Instruments and Materials Corporation
("Instrument and Materials"). The subsidiaries are intended to provide
additional management and employee motivation to increase the value of each
business through potential equity ownership tied more closely to each business
unit, and to position the Company to be better able to seek financing or equity
investment at the subsidiary level in order to develop the Company's businesses.
Oryx' and its subsidiaries' customer base for their current product lines
includes the following OEMs: Cooper Industries, Pitney-Bowes Corp., Xerox
Corporation, IBM Corporation, Seagate Technology, Inc., Akashic Memories
Corporation, and Western Digital Media Corporation. The Company plans to market
its existing lines, and, possibly additional product lines to these and other
OEMs during fiscal 1997.
Oryx also derives revenues from sales of products based on its patented
IntrageneTM ceramic metallization and joining system and from the design and
fabrication of electromagnet systems. IntrageneTM is a proprietary metallurgical
technology developed by Oryx which affords the Company the capacity to
metallize, solder or braze a comprehensive range of difficult-to-join
engineering ceramics, graphite and refractory metals used in electronic and
structural applications.
The Company's predecessor, Advanced Technology, Inc. ("ATI"), was
incorporated on April 21, 1976 in New Jersey. On July 25, 1993, ATI formed the
Company as a wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary, and on September 29, 1993, ATI
merged into the Company.
The Company's offices are located at 47341 Bayside Parkway, Fremont,
California 94538, and its telephone number is (510) 249-1144.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
In the event all of the Warrants were to be exercised, the Company would
receive net proceeds of approximately $3,775,000, after payment of offering
expenses estimated to be approximately $17,000. No proceeds will be obtained by
the Company from the Warrants except upon the exercise of the Warrants. It is
anticipated that the net proceeds, if any, will be used by the Company for
expansion of operations and product line and for working capital. The actual
allocation of proceeds realized from the exercise of the Warrants will depend
upon the amount and timing of such exercises, the Company's operating revenues
and cash position at such time and its working capital requirements during the
course of such exercise period. There can be no assurances that any of the
Warrants, the Bridge Warrants, or the Underwriters' Warrants will be exercised.
While the intended use of proceeds is consistent with the Company's
current business plan objectives, the Company reserves the right to change the
use of proceeds depending on working capital requirements and opportunities
afforded to the Company. Pending utilization of the proceeds as described above,
the net proceeds of the offering will be deposited in interest bearing accounts
or invested in money market instruments, government obligations, certificates of
deposits or similar short-term investment grade interest bearing investments.
The net proceeds of approximately $6,000,000 realized by the Company from
the public offering of the Units consummated in April 1994 were utilized by the
Company to acquire from Zenith certain assets of its power conversion products
group, for product development, expansion of sales and marketing programs of the
Company, relocation of power conversion manufacturing equipment, repayment of
promissory notes, acquisition of an interest in DAS Devices, Inc. and for
working capital purposes.
While the intended use of proceeds is consistent with the Company's
current business plan objectives, the Company reserves the right to change the
use of proceeds depending on working capital requirements and opportunities
afforded to the Company. Pending utilization of the proceeds as described above,
the net proceeds of the offering will be deposited in interest bearing accounts
or invested in money market instruments, government obligations, certificates of
deposits or similar short-term investment grade interest bearing investments.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
On April 6, 1994, an offering of 1,100,000 Units was underwritten on a
firm commitment basis by J.W. Charles Securities, Inc., J.W. Charles Clearing
Corp. and Corporate Securities Group, Inc. at an offering price of $7.00 per
Unit. Each Unit consisted of two shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per
share, and one callable Common Stock Purchase Warrant of ORYX Technology Corp.
Each Warrant currently entitles the holder thereof to purchase 1.9 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.50 per Warrant which is the equivalent
of $1.84 per share of Common Stock (subject to further adjustment in certain
events) until April 6, 1999. The shares of Common Stock and the Warrants are
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transferrable separately. The Warrants are callable by the Company commencing
October 6, 1994 based on fulfillment of certain criteria. See "Description of
Securities." This Prospectus also relates to the resale by certain persons of
37,500 shares of Common Stock underlying certain warrants issued in connection
with a prior interim debt financing and which were also included in the
Prospectus related to the public offering of the Company's Units. The Bridge
Warrants are exercisable at $2.28 per share. This Prospectus also relates to the
Underwriters' Warrants and shares of Common Stock underlying the Underwriters'
Warrants as hereinafter described.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
The Company is currently authorized to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of
Common Stock par value $.001 per share, of which 10,533,572 shares were
outstanding as of August 31, 1996. The Company is also authorized to issue up to
3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, of which 7,500
shares of Series A Preferred Stock were outstanding as of August 31, 1996.
COMMON STOCK
Each share of Common Stock entitles the holders thereof to one vote.
Holders of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights which means that
the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of directors
can elect all of the directors if they choose to do so, and in such event, the
holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any directors. The
ByLaws of the Company require that only a majority of the issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock of the Company need be represented to constitute a quorum
and to transact business at a stockholders' meeting.
Subject to the dividend rights of the holders of any outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to share, on a
ratable basis, such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out
of funds legally available therefor. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Company, after payment to creditors and holders of any outstanding shares
of preferred stock, the assets of the Company will be divided pro rata on a per
share basis among the holders of the Common Stock. The Common Stock has no
preemptive, subscription or conversion rights and is not redeemable by the
Company. The shares of the Company's Common Stock which may be issued upon
exercise of the Company's Warrants, the Underwriters' Warrants issued in the
Company's previous public offering and other warrants and options issued by the
Company when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS
The Warrants were issued in registered form pursuant to an Agreement,
dated April 6, 1994 (the "Warrant Agreement"), between the Company and North
American Transfer Co., as Warrant Agent (the "Warrant Agent"). The following
discussion of certain terms and provisions of the Warrants is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of the Statement of Rights,
Terms and Conditions for the Warrants which forms a part of the Warrant
Agreement.
Each of the Warrants currently entitles the registered holder to purchase
1.9 shares of Common Stock. The Warrants are exercisable at $3.50 per Warrant
which is the equivalent of $1.84 per share of Common Stock, subject to certain
further adjustments. The Warrants are entitled to the benefit of adjustments in
their exercise prices and in the number of shares of Common Stock or other
securities deliverable upon the exercise thereof in the event of a stock
dividend, stock split, reclassification, reorganization, consolidation or
merger.
The Warrants may be exercised at any time commencing October 6, 1994 and
continuing thereafter until April 6, 1999, unless such period is extended by the
Company. After the expiration date, Warrant holders shall have no further
rights. Warrants may be exercised by surrendering the certificate evidencing
such Warrant, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side of such
certificate properly completed and executed, together with payment of the
exercise price and any transfer tax, to the Warrant Agent. If less than all of
the Warrants evidenced by a warrant certificate are exercised, a new certificate
will be issued for the remaining number of Warrants. Payment of the exercise
price may be made by cash, bank draft or official bank or certified check equal
to the exercise price.
Warrant holders do not have any voting or any other rights as stockholders
of the Company. The Company has the right at any time beginning October 6, 1994
to repurchase the Warrants, at a price of $.05 per Warrant, by written notice to
the registered holders thereof, mailed 30 days prior to the repurchase date. The
Company may exercise this right only if the closing bid price for the Common
Stock for 20 trading days during a 30 consecutive trading day period ending no
more than 10 days prior to the date that the notice of repurchase is given,
equals or exceeds $4.50 [129% of the offering price per share attributing no
value to the Warrants] (subject to adjustment) during the exercise period
commencing October 6, 1994 through October 6, 1996, and equals or exceeds $5.10
per share [146% of the offering price per share, attributing no value to the
Warrants] (subject to adjustment) thereafter. Any such repurchase shall be for
all outstanding Warrants. If the Company exercises its right to call Warrants
for repurchase, such Warrants may still be exercised until the close of business
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on the day immediately preceding the date fixed for repurchase. If any Warrant
called for repurchase is not exercised by such time, it will cease to be
exercisable, and the holder thereof will be entitled only to the repurchase
price. Notice of repurchase will be mailed to all holders of Warrants of record
at least thirty (30) days, but not more than sixty (60) days, before the
repurchase date. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company may not call the
Warrants at any time that a current registration statement under the Act is not
then in effect.
The Warrant Agreement permits the Company and the Warrant Agent, without
the consent of Warrant holders, to supplement or amend the Warrant Agreement in
order to cure any ambiguity, manifest error or other mistake, or to address
other matters or questions arising thereunder that the Company and the Warrant
Agent deem necessary or desirable and that do not adversely affect the interest
of any Warrant holder. The Company and the Warrant Agent may also supplement or
amend the Warrant Agreement in any other respect with the written consent of
holders of not less than a majority in the number of the Warrants then
outstanding; however, no such supplement or amendment may (i) make any
modification of the terms upon which the Warrants are exercisable or may be
redeemed; or (ii) reduce the percentage interest of the holders of the Warrants
without the consent of each Warrant holder affected thereby.
In order for the holder to exercise a Warrant, there must be an effective
registration statement, with a current prospectus, on file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission covering the shares of Common Stock underlying the
Warrant, and the issuance of such shares to the holder must be registered,
qualified or exempt under the laws of the state in which the holder resides. If
required, the Company will file a new registration statement with the Commission
with respect to the securities underlying the Warrants prior to the exercise of
such Warrants and will deliver a prospectus with respect to such securities to
all holders thereof as required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933.
PREFERRED STOCK
The Company is authorized to issue 3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
par value $.001 per share, issuable in such series and bearing such voting,
dividend, conversion, liquidation and other rights and preferences as the Board
of Directors may determine. Of such shares, 45,000 shares were designated Series
A $25 2% Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred
Stock"), and 7,500 shares were outstanding as of August 31, 1996.
Shares of Series A Preferred Stock accrue cumulative preferred cash
dividends at the annual rate of 2% or $0.50 per share, payable semi-annually
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commencing November 1, 1993. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock have no
right to have the Company redeem such shares, and the Company is not obligated
to redeem such shares under any circumstances. The holders of Series A Preferred
Stock are entitled to receive, upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Company, $25.00 per share plus an amount equal
to all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any.
At the election of the holder thereof, each share of Series A Preferred
Stock is convertible into 11.6666 shares of Common Stock, subject to certain
adjustments. If all 7,500 shares of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock were
converted, there would be issued approximately 87,500 shares of Common Stock of
the Company. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock have one vote per share on all
matters submitted to the stockholders of the Company. In addition, the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred
Stock is required to approve any adverse change in the preferences, rights or
limitations with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock.
INTERIM FINANCING SECURITIES
In March 1994, the Company issued $150,000 principal amount of 9%
Promissory Notes (the "Interim Notes") and bridge warrants to purchase 37,500
shares of Common Stock. The Interim Notes were retired from the proceeds of the
Company's public offering in April 1994.
Each bridge warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common
Stock at an exercise price of $2.28 per share on or prior to March 31, 1999. The
resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the bridge
warrants has been registered in a separate public offering, and the Company has
agreed to maintain an effective registration statement and current prospectus
concerning the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the bridge warrants
during their term.
The Company has also issued warrants in various private offerings and
commercial transactions as described under "Selling Security Holders."
CAPITALIZATION OF SUBSIDIARIES
In November 1995, the Company restructured its operations and organized
three wholly-owned subsidiaries into which the Company placed its core
businesses and related assets. The three subsidiaries formed were Oryx Power
Products Corporation, SurgX Corporation and Oryx Instruments and Materials
Corporation (collectively the "Subsidiaries"). Each of the Subsidiaries was
organized under the laws of Delaware with authorized capitalization of
20,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 5,000,000 shares of Class B Common
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Stock and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock for all subsidiaries except SurgX
Corporation. The Class B Common Stock will be used to fulfill options granted to
members of management and other key employees of the Subsidiaries. The Class A
Common Stock was issued to the Company in exchange for all assets and
liabilities including intellectual property associated with the respective
businesses. The Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are identical
except that the Class A Common Stock possesses a liquidation preference. As of
the date hereof, each of the Subsidiaries has 10,000,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock issued and outstanding and held by the Company. No shares of Class
B Common Stock or Preferred Stock has been issued. However, Power Products has
granted options to purchase 1,145,000 shares of its Class B Common Stock,
Instruments and Materials have granted options to purchase 920,000 shares of its
Class B Common Stock and SurgX has granted options to purchase 280,000 shares of
its Class B Common Stock to management and key employees which will vest ratably
over a period of five years.
TRANSFER AGENT
The transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock is North American
Transfer Co., 147 West Merrick Road, Freeport, New York 11520.
SALES BY SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS
The resale of 37,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
the Bridge Warrants has also been registered in connection with this offering
and are covered by this Prospectus. The Bridge Warrants have been issued to the
private investors listed below (the "Bridge Investors") in connection with the
Company's interim debt financing completed in March 1994, in which the Company
agreed to register the resale of the shares concurrently with its public
offering and pay all expenses in connection therewith (other than brokerage
commissions and fees and expenses of counsel). The Company has agreed to
maintain an effective registration statement and current prospectus covering the
issuance and public sale of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Bridge Warrants during their term. The Bridge Warrants are exercisable at $2.28
per share, and the Company will receive an aggregate of $85,500 if all of the
Bridge Warrants are exercised. Such shares have been included in the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to such
investors. The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of shares by
the Bridge Investors.
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Beneficial
Ownership
of Shares of Beneficial
Common Stock Ownership
Prior to Sale(1) After Sale(2)
---------------- -------------
Anthony R. Fischer, Jr.
812 N. Linden Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90201...................... 18,750
Judith A. Schindler
2255 Glades Road
#324A
Boca Raton, FL 33431......................... 89,166 79,791
Northlea Partners Ltd.
2365 N.W. 41st Street
Boca Raton, FL 33431......................... 514,183 504,808
- ------------------
(1)Assumes all of the Bridge Warrants are exercised and no additional shares or
Units are acquired.
(2)Assumes all of the shares subject to Bridge Warrants are sold by each
investor.
Mrs. Schindler is the wife of Mr. Bruce L. Schindler, a former Director of
the Company. Northlea Partners, Ltd. is a partnership of which Dr. John Abeles,
the Chairman of the Board of the Company, is the General Partner. Mr. Fischer
has not ever held any position or office with the Company or had any other
material relationship with the Company.
The Common Stock issuable to the investors upon exercise of the Bridge
Warrants may be offered and sold from time to time as market conditions permit
in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise, at prices and terms then
prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price, or in
negotiated transactions. Such shares offered hereby may be sold by one or more
of the following methods, without limitations: (a) a block trade in which a
broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the
transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such
broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus; (c) ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
and (d) face-to-face transactions between sellers and purchasers without a
broker-dealer. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the investors
may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Such brokers or dealers
may receive commissions or discounts from the investors in amounts to be
negotiated. Such brokers or dealers and any other participating brokers or
dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities
Act, in connection with such sales.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the securities being offered
hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Atlas, Pearlman, Trop & Borkson,
P.A., 200 East Las Olas Boulevard, Suite
1900, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to
the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A1 for the year ended February 29, 1996, have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an explanatory
paragraph relating to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern as
described in Note 1 to the financial statements) of Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, under which
jurisdiction the Company is incorporated, empowers a corporation to indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that he or she
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation or enterprise. A corporation may indemnify against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) and, other than in respect of an action by
or in the right of the corporation, against judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit
or proceeding if the person indemnified acted in good faith and in a manner he
or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of an
action by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification of expenses may
be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent
that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action was brought shall
determine that, despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem
proper. Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware further provides
that to the extent a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has
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been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to
above or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall
be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.
The By-laws of the Company require the Company to indemnify its directors
and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended maybe permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the
Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
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No dealer, salesperson or any other person
has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations
not contained in this Prospectus in
connection with this offer made hereby. If
given or made, such information or 1,100,000 UNITS
representations must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by the Company or
any Underwriter. This Prospectus does not
constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of any offer to buy any of ORYX TECHNOLOGY CORP.
the securities offered hereby in any
circumstance in which such offer or
solicitation would be unlawful. Neither
the delivery of this Prospectus nor any
sale made hereunder shall under any
circumstances create an implication that
information herein is correct at any time
subsequent to the date of this Prospectus.
--------------
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PROSPECTUS
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November 29, 1996
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