defc14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant o
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant þ
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
(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):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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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. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
MAXIM TEP LIMITED
12 Red Lion Square
London WC1R 4QD, England
To Fellow Stockholders of the Company:
As the largest shareholder of MAXIM TEP, INC., a Texas corporation (the Company), we, MAXIM
TEP LIMITED, a private limited company formed under the laws of the United Kingdom (the
Shareholder, we, us, our) have been disappointed with the Companys financial results. We
believe that the best way to improve the results of the Company is to remove certain members of the
current board and replace them with our nominees. We believe that our nominees have the solid
experience necessary to maximize the value and productivity of the Companys employees and assets.
We urge you to support their election as directors of the Company.
We urge you to read the enclosed Proxy Statement carefully, as it contains more detailed
information about the nominees we will present at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the
Company to be held on July 25, 2008 (including any adjournments, postponements, reschedulings or
continuations of the meeting, the Special Meeting).
This proxy statement and the enclosed YELLOW PROXY CARD are being furnished to the holders of
the common stock, $0.00001 par value (the Common Stock), and the Series A Preferred Stock, par
value $.0001 per share (the Preferred Stock), of the Company, in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by us for use at the Special Meeting.
We urge you to ignore any requests of the Companys current Board of Directors to revoke or
not to sign the enclosed Yellow Proxy Card. Instead, WE URGE YOU TO SIGN AND RETURN THE YELLOW
PROXY CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING SELF ADDRESSED ENVELOPE OR FAX IT TO 281-569-4180.
This Proxy Statement, together with the enclosed YELLOW PROXY CARD, is first being mailed or
distributed to stockholders of the Company on or about July 15, 2008.
The Meeting
The Company has announced that the Special Meeting will be held on July 25, 2008, beginning at
10:30 a.m. (Central time) at the Companys principal executive offices located at 9400 Grogans
Mill Road, Suite 205, Woodlands, Texas 77381. The Company has announced that the record date for
determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting is June 30, 2008.
As of June 30, 2008 there were 125,365,980 shares of Common Stock outstanding and 3,636,363
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Each share of Common Stock and each share of Preferred
Stock is entitled to one (1) vote on all matters properly brought before the Special Meeting. The
presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common
Stock on the record date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Special Meeting.
The Shareholder
Pursuant to the Companys Form 10 filed on June 11, 2008, the Shareholder beneficially owns an
aggregate of 21,700,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock, representing approximately 17.3% of
the Companys 125,474,313 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of May 31, 2008.
Solicitation of Proxies
This solicitation of proxies is being made by the Shareholder. Currently, the estimated
amount to be spent on this solicitation is approximately $30,000. The expense of the solicitation
of proxies will be born by the Shareholder and will include legal fees, printing fees and other
costs incidental to the solicitation. The Shareholder will not seek reimbursement from the Company
and will not submit such reimbursement to a vote of the shareholders as a sign of its alignment
with fellow shareholders. In addition to solicitation by mail, certain directors, officers and
regular employees of the Shareholder may solicit proxies from shareholders either personally or by
telephone but will not receive any additional compensation for their services. Officers and
employees of the Shareholder will not be specially compensated for their solicitation efforts, but
will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expense incurred by them in connection with such
solicitation. Mr. Robert Johnson and Mr. Andreas Boesenberg may also solicit proxies on behalf of
the Shareholder either personally or by telephone, but will not receive any compensation for their
services.
Reasons for Proxy Solicitation
We are seeking the removal of Mr. W. Marvin Watson, Mr. John Ritota and Mr. Carl Landers (the
Incumbent Directors) after concluding that their leadership is not optimal for the Companys
future success.
We urge you as a fellow stockholder to join us in electing a new Board of Directors of the
Company for the purpose of implementing a plan for change, the first order of business of which
will be the removal of Mr. W. Marvin Watson as acting Chairman of the Board and CEO, Mr. John
Ritota acting as a director and Mr. Carl Landers acting as a director.
Shareholder Objective
The Shareholder wishes to bring to the Company the spirit and leadership needed to become a
successful company.
The proposed nominees, Mr. Peter ONeill and Mr. Stephen J. Warner (the Nominees) have
demonstrated business experience. The Shareholders slate includes individuals with expertise in
the oil and gas industry and with strength in finance and operations management. More information
about each Nominee is provided below.
If elected, the Nominees will initiate steps to create an effective strategy for the success
and growth of the Company, during the current time of favorable economic conditions for the oil and
gas industry and beyond.
The business strategy also includes constant analysis of market trends and opportunities in
other related oil and gas sectors. These actions are designed to restore investor confidence,
improve earnings and increase stockholder value. These steps are expected to include:
1. Appointment of Mr. Robert Johnson as CEO to capitalize on his leadership experience in
the oil and gas exploration industry. Mr. Johnson has as significant track record as an
entrepreneur in the oil and gas business in the United States.
2. Obtain significant capital from investors to pay accounts payable and invest in the
wells on the Companys properties so as to increase production of oil and gas.
3. Actively explore joint ventures, and the enhancement of existing relationships, with
industry partners.
4. Periodically communicate to shareholders the new board of directors activities and
findings, including its strategic plan for the future development of the Company.
5. Review the Companys existing corporate structure and development of methods for
reducing overhead costs.
6. Actively seek opportunities for additional equity investment in the Company for its
growth. Mr. Peter ONeill has extensive experience in financial matters including the
investment banking experience to help secure capital for the Company which we foresee as
helping to achieve the Companys growth.
7. Align management interests and shareholder interests by compensating Mr. Robert
Johnson without a salary and only with stock options.
We believe that the assets of the Company may have substantial additional value, that the
Company can still be a profitable enterprise, and that the value of the Companys assets can still
be unlocked by means of reasonable additional investment in the Companys oil and gas assets.
However, we also believe that a new management team will best assist in unlocking the value of the
Company by operating on a lean overhead concept and focusing expenses on the development of the
Companys fields. We believe that management and shareholder interests should be aligned by basing
director rewards on results achieved. With the actions described above, we believe the Company
will be able to attract the type of capital infusion needed to unlock the Companys true value
potential.
We believe that our Nominees to the Board of Directors will, if elected, introduce positive
changes to the Company that would benefit the Company and the Companys stockholders. We urge you
to consider carefully this opportunity to bring much-needed experience and expertise to the
Company.
Proposals
In order to facilitate a change in the emphasis, focus and direction of the Company at the
earliest practicable time, the Shareholder proposes that the Incumbent Directors be removed from
office and be replaced by the Nominees. Accordingly, the
Shareholder recommends that you vote for the removal of the Incumbent Directors and to the
election of the Nominees, who are Mr. Peter ONeill and Mr. Stephen J. Warner, to fill two of the
vacancies created by the removal of the existing directors.
The Shareholder is soliciting proxies to take the following action at the Special Meeting:
(1) To remove Mr. W. Marvin Watson, Mr. John Ritota and Mr. Carl Landers as directors.
(2) To elect Mr. Peter ONeill and Mr. Stephen J. Warner to the Board of Directors of the
Company, each to serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
To remove each of the directors and to elect the Nominees requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes cast at the Special Meeting, provided a quorum is present.
The Nominees
The following information, and all other information in this proxy statement about each
Nominee, has been furnished to the Shareholder by the respective Nominees. The Shareholder
proposes the following slate of two candidates for election to the Board of Directors of the
Company.
Peter M. ONeill (59)
Since 2005, Mr. ONeill has been the Chief Executive Officer of Able Global Partners, 641
Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022. From 1997 until 2005, Mr. ONeill was Managing Director
of Corporate Finance at Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., Est. 1842. His responsibilities included
structuring and funding projects in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Canada. Mr.
ONeill has amassed over 30 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry, including
holding the position of President at CM&Ms Municipal Division. From 1983 through 1988, Mr. ONeill
was the Director in Paine Webers Fixed Income Division working on transactions between their
Capital and Consumer Markets Divisions, primarily public and investment banking. While at Paine
Webber and Laidlaw & Company, Mr. ONeill was involved in managing investment banking transactions
ranging in size from $5 to $500 million. Mr. ONeills expertise has focused on transactions
involving convertible debt, consumer finance, equity financing, mergers and acquisitions,
asset-based lending and investment banking. During his career, Mr. ONeill has advised a number of
energy companies. He has also served on the number of boards of directors of private companies,
including Gibbons & Company and Finlay Sports.
In January of 2008, Mr. ONeill entered into an engagement letter with the Company for
services to the Company related to the loan made by the Shareholder to the Company. It is Mr.
ONeills understanding that he is still owed the fee according to the fee letter, which would be
the equivalent of approximately $600,000, by the Company for such services. Mr. ONeill has no
other arrangements with the Company. As part of a Transfer Agreement entered into in April 2008 by
the Shareholder and the Company with respect to repayment of loans made by the Shareholder to the
Company, the Shareholder has agreed that until April 25, 2009 it will vote its shares in the manner
directed by Mr. ONeill with respect to election of directors of the Company.
Stephen J. Warner (68)
Since 1998, Mr. Warner has been Managing Director and Co-Founder of Crossbow Ventures Inc.,
400 N Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, where he has managed $100 million of private equity
money and $60 million of U.S. government funds and has invested in early and expansion state
technology companies in Florida and the southeast. Additionally, since 2004, Mr. Warner has been on
the board of directors of two private companies, AOI Medical, Inc., a medical devices company, and
UCT Coatings, Inc. which is in the business of environmentally friendly metal finishing technology,
and two public companies, Dyadic International, Inc., a biotechnology company and Rock Energy
Resources, an oil and gas company. In the course of his career, Mr. Warner has also served as
President and CEO of Merrill Lynch Venture Capital Inc., which managed over $225 million and has
directly participated in over 100 investments in venture capital situations. Mr. Warner was
previously served as Chairman of the Board of the Company and as director to the Company until
April of 2007.
Each Nominee has agreed to serve if elected, and the Shareholder does not know of any reason
why any of the Nominees will not stand for election or serve if elected.
There are no other arrangements or understandings between any Nominee and any other person or
entity (1) pursuant to which he was selected as a Nominee or is proposed to be elected or (2) with
respect to the Companys securities.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE TO REMOVE MR. W. MARVIN WATSON, MR. JOHN RITOTA AND MR. CARL
LANDERS, AND TO ELECT MR. PETER ONEILL AND MR. STEPHEN J. WARNER TO THE COMPANYS BOARD OF
DIRECTORS BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED YELLOW PROXY CARD IN THE
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
Revocation of Proxy
You have the power to revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by executing a
subsequently dated proxy, by submitting a notice of revocation to the Shareholder, or by attending
the Special Meeting and voting in person.
Information Concerning Participants in the Solicitation
The Shareholder may be deemed to be a participant because of its solicitation of proxies from
the shareholders of the Company. The Shareholder is in the business of private equity investments
which business is currently conducted principally at 12 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4QD, England,
United Kingdom. In 2006, the Shareholder loaned the Company approximately $37,400,000. In April
2008, the Shareholder and the Company entered into an arrangement in which the Shareholder received
some cash in partial repayment of the principal of the loans and 21,700,000 shares of Common Stock
of the Company as repayment of the remainder of the principal and the accrued interest of the loan.
Under the Transfer Agreement, until April 25, 2009, subject to the Shareholder being able to ask
questions and receive information about the business and affairs of the Company, the Shareholder
has agreed to vote its shares with respect to the election of directors of the Company in the same
manner as Mr. ONeill. The Shareholder is also a party to a Registration Rights Agreement that
provides that the Shareholder may have its unregistered Common Stock registered if and when the
Company registers Common Stock in the future, provided such registration form proposed by the
Company would permit such registration of the Shareholders Common Stock. In the past 10 years, the
Shareholder has not been convicted of a criminal proceeding. Neither the Shareholder nor its
associates have any other arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to future
employment by the Company or with respect to future transactions with the Company.
Mr. ONeill may be deemed to be a participant in this solicitation as a Nominee. Mr. ONeills
background and current employment are described above. In the past 10 years, Mr. ONeill has not
been convicted of a criminal proceeding. Mr. ONeill does not have any other arrangement or
understanding with any person with respect to future employment by the Company or with respect to
future transactions with the Company.
Mr. Warner may also be deemed to be a participant in this solicitation as a Nominee. Mr.
Warners background and current employment are described above. In the past 10 years, Mr. Warner
has not been convicted of a criminal proceeding. Mr. Warner owns of record 725,000 shares of the
Companys Common Stock. Mr. Warner beneficially owns 1,025,000 shares of the Companys Common
Stock, which includes 300,000 stock options for the Companys Common Stock. Mr. Warners
associates, Powersearch LLC, 400 N Flagler Dr, Suite 1601, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, and Bioform
LLC, 400 N Flagler Dr, Suite 1601, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, own 1,600,000 and 1,760,000 shares of
the Companys Common stock, respectively. Mr. Warner does not have any other arrangement or
understanding with any person with respect to future employment by the Company or with respect to
future transactions with the Company.
Mr. Johnson may also be deemed a participant if he solicits proxies on our behalf. Mr.
Johnson joined the Company in May of 2008 as director and President and Chief Operating Officer at
the principal executive offices of the Company located at 9400 Grogans Mill Road, Suite 205,
Woodlands, Texas 77381. He brings with him approximately 40 years of experience in the oil and gas
sector. Mr. Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering from
Louisiana State University in 1969. He joined Amoco Production Company upon leaving school. In
1970, he entered the United States Army and served for nearly two years. He rejoined Amoco in 1971
and rose rapidly through the ranks. His final position was Regional Engineering Manager over 250
engineers. He left Amoco in 1980 and joined Superior Oil Company as Division Drilling Engineering
Manager for the Western half of the United States. In 1981, he left Superior and formed Conquest
Petroleum Incorporated as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer. After securing funding to
acquire 68,000 acres of leases in the Texas State Waters and promoting the acreage on 27 prospects
to outside 3rd parties, he divested the assets and dissolved the company in 1985. He formed Bannon
Energy Incorporated in 1986. During the next 10 years, Bannon acquired 12 sets of producing
properties and drilled over 284 development wells. He sold the assets of the Bannon in 1996 for
$38,000,000 and other considerations. Mr. Johnson dissolved Bannon in 2001. From February of 2001
until May of 2008 when he joined the Company, he was in retirement. Mr. Johnson current owns
beneficially 1,695,768 shares of Common Stock, which includes 547,456 shares issuable pursuant to
options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2008. Mr. Johnson owns of record 1,148,312 shares of
Common Stock. Mr. Johnson has not in the past 10 years been convicted in a criminal proceeding.
Mr. Boesenberg is currently employed by Wermuth Asset Management GmbH, Mainzer Landstrasse 47,
60329 Frankfurt am Main, Amtsgericht Frankfurt HRB 51884, which company is an advisor to one of the
Shareholders shareholders. Mr. Boesenberg has not in the past 10 years been convicted in a
criminal proceeding. Mr. Boesenberg does not own, of record or beneficially, and stock of the
Company. Mr. Boesenberg is not and has not within the past year, been a party to any contract,
arrangement or understanding with
respect to any securities of the registrant. Mr. Boesenberg does not have any arrangement or
understanding with any person with respect to future employment by the Company or with respect to
future transactions with the Company.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Information provided in this Proxy Statement about the Company is based upon the information
contained in the Companys various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Accordingly, the reference is herein made to such filings for information concerning the incumbent
directors of the Company, the beneficial ownership of the Companys shares of stock by directors,
management and principal stockholders of the Company, compensation and other benefits afforded
directors and certain members of management of the Company, and the procedures for submitting
stockholder proposal for consideration at the next annual meeting of the Companys stockholders.
Subject to the foregoing, the following Table sets forth information with respect to each
person known to the Shareholder to be a beneficial owner of more than five percent of the
outstanding common stock of the Company, each known director and all directors and executive
officers of the Company, as a group. Information with respect to the Nominees is set forth
elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.
Principal Stockholders of the Company(1)
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Name and Address of |
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Beneficial Owner |
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Beneficially Owned |
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Common Stock |
Maxim TEP Limited
1 London Wall
London EC 2Y 5AB |
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21,700,000 |
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17.3 |
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Harvey Pensack(2)
7309 Barclay Court
University Park, FL 34201 |
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12,352,421 |
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9.6 |
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Carl Landers(3)
141 S. Union Street
Madisonville, KY 42431 |
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7,275,000 |
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5.7 |
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Roert McCann(4)
160 Yacht Club Way
Hypoluxo, FL 33462 |
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6,618,334 |
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5.3 |
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Information derived from the Company Form 10 filed June 11, 2008. |
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Includes (1) 1,216,250 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding warrant, (ii) 450,000
shares issuable pursuant to option exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2008, and (iii) 1,818,182
shares of voting preferred stock. Also includes 3,983,779 shares held by Harvey Pensack Revocable
Living Trust of which Mr. Pensack is a trustee, and 2,228,042 shares held by Joan Pensack, Mr.
Pensacks wife. |
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Includes 600,000 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of May
31, 2008. |
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Includes 150,000 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of May
31, 2008. |
Please sign, date and return the enclosed YELLOW PROXY CARD to us in the envelope provided.
Also, to ensure that your proxy is received in time, please FAX your proxy card to 281-569-4180.
If your shares of the Companys stock are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank or
nominee, only they can vote for or against the proposals and only upon receipt of your specific
instructions. Accordingly, please contact the person responsible for your account and give
instructions for such shares immediately.
PROXY CARD
The undersigned hereby appoints Mr. Andreas Boesenberg and Mr. Robert Johnson, or either of
them, with full power of substitution, to vote the proxies for the undersigned and authorizes him
to represent and vote, as designated, all of the full and fractional shares of common stock or
Series A Preferred Stock of Maxim TEP, Inc., held of record by the undersigned on June 30, 2008 at
the Special Meeting of the Shareholder of Maxim TEP, Inc. to be held on July 25, 2008, beginning at
10:30 a.m. (Central time) at the Companys offices located at 9400 Grogans Mill Road, Suite 205,
Woodlands, Texas 77381 and at any adjournments, postponements, reschedulings or continuations of
such meeting for the purposes identified in this proxy and with discretionary authority as to any
other matters that may properly come before the Special Meeting, including substitute nominees if
any of the named nominees for director should be unavailable to serve for election, in accordance
with and as described in the Shareholders Proxy Statement. This is not a solicitation on behalf
of, or in support of, the Board of Directors of Maxim TEP, Inc.
THE SHAREHOLDER STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY VOTE FOR
EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TWO PROPOSALS:
Instructions: To vote for, against or abstain for each proposal, check the
appropriate box below. To withhold a vote for the removal or election of any director(s), write
the name(s) of such director(s) in the space provided below.
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No. |
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Proposal |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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Vote withheld for the following director(s): |
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1 |
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That Mr. W. Marvin
Watson, Mr. John
Ritota and Mr. Carl
Landers are hereby
removed, without
cause, as directors
of the Company
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That the following
persons are hereby
elected as
directors of the
Company, each to
serve until his
successor is duly
elected and
qualified: Mr.
Peter ONeill and
Mr. Stephen J.
Warner |
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Note: Proxies which are properly executed and returned, will be voted at the Special
Meeting in accordance with the instructions thereon. If no box is marked above with respect to any
Proposal, the undersigned will be deemed to vote for such proposal, except that with respect to
each of Proposals 1 and 2, the undersigned will not be deemed to consent to the Proposal as to the
individual whose name is written in the space provided below the Proposal.
The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any particular provision of this Proxy shall
be construed in all respects as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision were omitted
without the validity, legality or unenforceability of the remaining provisions hereof. This card
revokes all prior proxies or revocations of proxies with respect to shares held by the undersigned
as of the record date.
Please sign, date and return this consent promptly, using the enclosed envelope.
Please sign exactly as the name appears on this Proxy. If shares are registered in more than
one name, the signatures of all such persons are required. A corporation should sign in its full
corporate name by a duly authorized officer, stating his/her title. Trustees, guardians, executors
and administrators should sign in their official capacity, giving their full title as such. If a
partnership, please sign in the partnership name by authorized persons.
Dated: July , 2008
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(Joint Signature, if held jointly) |
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(Signature)
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(Title or authority, if applicable) |
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(Please Print Name) |
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