TOREADOR ROYALTY CORP
DEFA14A, 1995-05-10
OIL ROYALTY TRADERS
Previous: TOREADOR ROYALTY CORP, DEFA14A, 1995-05-10
Next: TRANSAMERICA CORP, 10-Q, 1995-05-10



<PAGE>   1
 
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
 
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
          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:
     / / Preliminary Proxy Statement       / / Confidential, for Use of the
                                               Commission Only (as permitted by
                                               Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
     / / Definitive Proxy Statement
     /X/ Definitive Additional Materials
     / / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
         Section 240.14a-12
 
                         TOREADOR ROYALTY CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

     /X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2)
         or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
     / / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
         14a-6(i)(3).
     / / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
         0-11.
 
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (5) Total fee paid:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     / / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
 
     /X/ 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:

                                   $125.00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

                                 SCHEDULE 14A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3) Filing Party:
                         TOREADOR ROYALTY CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4) Date Filed:
                                April 21, 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2

                      [TOREADOR ROYALTY CORPORATION LOGO]




May 10, 1995


Dear Fellow Stockholder:

In response to the Boston-based so-called "Committee to Maximize Shareholder
Value," this letter highlights Toreador's achievements and asks you to support
management by voting the enclosed WHITE PROXY CARD.

                       OUR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!

In 1988, Toreador's Board of Directors hired a new CEO and embarked on an
aggressive business plan.  Since then, the Company's oil and gas reserves have
INCREASED 600% to 835,000 barrels of oil equivalents.

Since 1988, 63 wells were drilled on the Company's mineral acreage. This
activity was achieved despite depressed oil and gas prices and a declining U.S.
rig count.  By comparison, only 71 wells were drilled on the Company's acreage
during the 36 years ending in 1987, a period that includes the greatest boom in
the history of the domestic oil and gas industry when domestic oil prices
exceeded $35 per barrel and more than 4,000 rigs were in operation.

At the same time we were increasing our reserves and investing in the future of
the Company's acreage, we were also able to maintain the Company's strong
balance sheet.  At year end 1994, the Company had net working capital of $4.6
million and NO DEBT.  From year end 1988 to year end 1994, stockholder equity
increased from $3.7 million to $7.3 million, A 97% INCREASE.


   TOREADOR'S BOARD VS. THE DISSIDENT GROUP'S NOMINEES:  THE CHOICE IS CLEAR

FACT:       YOUR BOARD IS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL QUALIFIED

            The present Board is composed of members with the background and
            experience to set Toreador's course in the current energy
            environment.  One member directed lending to the independent oil
            and gas sector for a major U.S. bank; another has extensive tenure
            as a senior exploration executive; two were presidents at other
            public oil and gas companies.  One member of the Board is an enegy
            specialist and an executive vice president at an investment
            management firm. Both lawyers on the Board are  prominent members
            of the Texas bar - one is a preeminent energy tax expert and the
            other is highly regarded as both a lawyer and an investor; each
            have represented many clients with mineral interests. WITH SUCH
            HARD-WON EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXAS OIL AND GAS
            BUSINESS, YOUR BOARD'S CREDENTIALS APPEAR FAR SUPERIOR TO THOSE
            OFFERED BY THE OPPOSING COMMITTEE.

FACT:       THE COMMITTEE HAS NO APPARENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TEXAS OIL AND GAS
            BUSINESS

            Don't be misled!  While claiming to be highly qualified, none of
            the so-called "Committee to Maximize Shareholder Value" nominees
            cites any experience in the oil and gas business, yet they claim to
            have the "talent, vision and experience" to run your Company.  NONE
            OF THEIR QUOTED EXPERIENCE APPEARS APPLICABLE TO THE OIL AND GAS
            BUSINESS OR LIKELY TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUES IN YOUR COMPANY'S MINERAL
            ACREAGE, YOUR LARGEST ASSET.
<PAGE>   3
                      ANALYSTS PRAISE TOREADOR MANAGEMENT

"We regard Toreador's CURRENT MANAGEMENT AS BRIGHT, HONEST, AND EXPERIENCED AND
THINK THEIR STRATEGIES ARE SOUND.  We also think that Toreador's shares are
significantly undervalued and that near-term gains are possible from
operational success or corporate developments."

                              --Robert Gillon of Exploration Monthly, April 1995

"Evaluation of [Toreador's] play will take time, and success is not guaranteed.
But the company is going about it in the right way, both from a risk and cost
standpoint.  It has $4 million in assets, no debt, SUPERB MANAGEMENT, and no
obligation to spend money on drilling programs to get acreage evaluated."

                              --Rick Rule in Oil and Gas Investor, November 1994

"Toreador has made progress in the last few years in successfully stimulating
increased exploration and production activity on its mineral acreage and in
developing oil and gas production sufficient to finance its ongoing
operations..."

"With only three full-time employees and two professional consultants... THE
COMPANY IS NOT OVER-STAFFED.  However, the experience of this group is
considerable... Moreover, each of the seven outside DIRECTORS of Toreador
HAS...CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT."

                                           --Philip G. Putnam of Brean Murray,
                                              Foster Securities Inc., April 1995

              THE COMMITTEE'S MR. FALB PRAISES MANAGEMENT TOO !!!

At a Boston meeting with the Company on March 29, 1995, Mr. Falb remarked that:

- -        Peter Vig is good at deals and should be rewarded as they succeed.
- -        He noted that operations of the Company have been very good.
- -        Finally, proposing to take control of Toreador's Board, he emphasized
         that he wanted the process to be painless and wanted to reward Peter
         Vig for good work.

                DO DANE FALB'S CLIENTS KNOW SOMETHING TOREADOR'S
                           STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD KNOW?

Messrs. Dane and Falb, the Committee's leaders, are the principals of Dane,
Falb, Stone & Co., Inc., a Boston investment advisor.  According to filings
with the SEC, during the current long-running bull market, Dane Falb's assets
under management have fallen dramatically -- from $233 million at the end of
1989 to $96 million at the end of 1994.  During the same period, the number of
client portfolios managed by the firm declined from 307 to 155, A DROP OF 49%.

From December 31, 1991 to December 31, 1994, Dane Falb's retained earnings have
DECLINED BY 32%.  In 1993 Dane Falb had a loss of $41,185.

In May 1991, Financial World published ratings of 538 pension managers, based
on the previous quarter's performance of their domestic stock portfolios.  In
that article, Dane Falb is listed among the "BOTTOM FIFTY PENSION ADVISORS".
In March 1992, in an article entitled, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly",
Financial World INCLUDED DANE FALB IN ITS LIST OF THE "25 WORST INVESTMENT
ADVISORS", based on its previous year's performance.
<PAGE>   4
              HERE'S HOW DANE FALB'S MANAGED ASSETS HAVE DROPPED

                                    [GRAPH]


                    DANE FALB'S MANAGED ASSETS VS. THE DJIA


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      DANE        DJIA
                                    -------     -------
              <S>                   <C>         <C>
              Dec-89                232,959     2,344.1
              Dec-90                231,600     2,645.5
              Dec-92                119,400     3,187.2
              Dec-94                 95,765     3,866.4
</TABLE>
                       

                   HERE'S HOW TOREADOR HAS GROWN YOUR ASSETS!


                                    [GRAPH]


        TOREADOR'S NET RESERVES ON BOE BASIS VS. U.S. ACTIVE RIG COUNT

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Net Reser     Rigs
                                  ----------    -----
              <S>                   <C>         <C>
              1988                    936       117,585
              1989                    869       130,413
              1990                  1,010       306,198
              1991                    860       335,787
              1992                    722       518,740
              1993                    754       699,324
              1994                    775       834,815
</TABLE>

               NOW, WITH NO APPARENT OIL AND GAS BACKGROUND, THE
                     COMMITTEE WANTS TO MANAGE YOUR ASSETS!
<PAGE>   5

FACT:       COMMITTEE'S OWN PROXY SOLICITOR ENDORSES SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLANS

            The Rights Plan prevents a sneak attack by any takeover group
            trying not to pay full price for the assets of your Company.  A
            1989 article in The New York Times noted that Georgeson & Co.,
            which the Committee has hired as its proxy solicitor, "has
            concluded that companies with poison pills received higher takeover
            premiums than companies without."  A Georgeson executive described
            criticism of his firm's studies as "just so much nit-picking by
            zealots." Toreador's Board considered Georgeson's studies carefully
            in its deliberations prior to adoption of the Rights Plan.
            Approximately one half of Americas major public companies have
            Rights Plans.  THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE OF THE BOARD IN ADOPTING
            THE RIGHTS PLAN WAS, AND CONTINUES TO BE, THE PRESERVATION AND
            MAXIMIZATION OF THE COMPANY'S VALUE FOR ALL STOCKHOLDERS.


       THE COMMITTEE'S AGENDA IS A SHORT-TERM EXPEDIENT, AND COULD DAMAGE
                       STOCKHOLDER VALUE IN THE LONG RUN

Mr. Falb has suggested  an overhead reduction of $150,000 per year in selling
and general and administrative costs.  For the first year, this would add 2.5
cents per share after tax to asset value.  The aggressive management of
Toreador's minerals is a necessary investment in order to realize their value.
Toreador's management believes that its general and administrative expenses are
not discretionary and that reductions can only have a negative impact on the
Company's ability to realize the potential that exists in its mineral acreage.
THUS, THE COMMITTEE'S CONTROL OF TOREADOR WOULD, IN OUR OPINION, ACTUALLY
RETARD DEVELOPMENT OF ITS MINERALS, ULTIMATELY DIMINISHING STOCKHOLDER VALUE.


We believe the facts demonstrate that your present Board is clearly the better
choice for the future of your Company.  Please show your support by SIGNING,
DATING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD, and DISREGARDING ANY BLUE
PROXY CARD sent to you by the dissidents.


Very Truly Yours,


/s/ PETER R. VIG
Peter R. Vig
Chairman and President

                              EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

   PLEASE VOTE FOR MANAGEMENT'S NOMINEES BY SIGNING, DATING, AND MAILING THE
ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY IN THE POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED, BECAUSE
ONLY THE LATEST DATED PROXY WILL COUNT.

   We urge you NOT TO RETURN ANY BLUE PROXY CARDS sent to you by the so-called
"Committee to Maximize Shareholder Value."  If you accidentally vote on a later
dated BLUE PROXY CARD, please sign and date a new WHITE PROXY CARD or call us
for assistance.  If your shares are held with a brokerage firm, your broker
cannot vote your shares unless he receives your specific instructions.

   If you have any questions about how to vote your shares, please call our 
proxy solicitor at:

                    CORPORATE INVESTOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                               111 COMMERCE ROAD
                              CARLSTADT, NJ  07072
                                 (800) 346-7885


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission