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ZAP – ‘DEF 14C’ for 11/15/04

On:  Monday, 11/15/04, at 9:34am ET   ·   Effective:  11/15/04   ·   For:  11/15/04   ·   Accession #:  1072613-4-2110   ·   File #:  0-30300

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

11/15/04  ZAP                               DEF 14C    11/15/04    1:26K                                    Express Filing Svcs/FA

Definitive Proxy Information Statement   —   Schedule 14C
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: DEF 14C     Definitive Information Statement                       8     41K 


Document Table of Contents

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================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Check the appropriate box: [_] Preliminary Information Statement [_] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2)) [X] Definitive Information Statement ZAP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box) [X] No fee required. [_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) 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. [_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. 1) Amount Previously Paid: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Filing Party: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Date Filed: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================================
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INFORMATION STATEMENT OF ZAP 501 FOURTH STREET SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA 95401 WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY. This Information Statement is first being furnished on or about November 15, 2004 to the holders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2004 (referred to in this Information Statement as the "Record Date") of the common stock of ZAP (referred to in this Information Statement as "we", "us", "our" or "ZAP"). Our Board of Directors has approved, and a total of nine shareholders owning in the aggregate 13,068,474 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date have consented in writing to, the action described below. Such approval and consent constitute the approval and consent of a majority of the total number of shares of outstanding common stock and are sufficient under the California General Corporations Laws (the "California Corporations Code") and our Bylaws to approve the action. Accordingly, the action will not be submitted to the other shareholders of ZAP for a vote. This Information Statement is being furnished to shareholders to provide you with certain information concerning the actions in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, including Regulation 14C. The date of this Information Statement is November 15, 2004. GENERAL We will pay all costs associated with the distribution of this Information Statement, including the costs of printing and mailing. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending this Information Statement to the beneficial owners of our common stock. We will only deliver one Information Statement to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of this Information Statement to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document was delivered upon oral or written request to: ZAP Attn: Secretary 501 Fourth Street Santa Rosa, California 95401 Telephone No.: 707-525-8658 Shareholders may also address future requests for separate delivery of Information Statements and/or annual reports by contacting us at the address listed above. INFORMATION ON CONSENTING SHAREHOLDERS Pursuant to our Bylaws and the California Corporations Code, a vote by the holders of at least a majority of our outstanding common shares is required to effect the action described in this Information Statement. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. As of the Record Date, we had 25,251,430 voting shares of common stock issued and outstanding of which a majority of such shares voting in favor of the action are required to pass the shareholder resolution for this action. Of the common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the Record Date, 51.75% of such shares were voted in favor of the action. 1
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The following shareholders voted in favor of the action, pursuant to California Corporations Code Section 902, as follows: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME OF COMMON NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES DATE OF WRITTEN -------------- ----------------------- --------------- SHAREHOLDER VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE ACTION CONSENT ----------- ---------------------------- ------- Mercatus & Partners, Ltd. 2,941,176 October 13, 2004 Steven M. Schneider 2,900,000 October 8, 2004 Jeff Banks 2,700,000 October 9, 2004 Daka Development Ltd. 1,176,028 October 14, 2004 Gary Starr 1,034,739 October 8, 2004 Ridgewood ZAP LLC 705,136 October 12, 2004 Atocha Land LLC 611,395 October 22, 2004 Fusion Capital Fund II, LP 500,000 October 12, 2004 Jeff Schneider 500,000 October 14, 2004 ------------------ Total: 13,068,474 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF ACTION APPROVED BY CONSENTING SHAREHOLDERS THE ACTION The Board of Directors of the company has determined to amend and restate the company's Articles of Incorporation to vest in the Board of Directors the right to designate and determine the rights and preferences of any series of preferred stock the company may undertake to issue and sell in the future, without the necessity of obtaining shareholder approval. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the "Amendment and Restatement"), which is the subject of this shareholder action, does not increase the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock available for issuance under the Articles of Incorporation as currently in effect. A copy of the Amendment and Restatement is attached hereto for your reference. REASON FOR AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT Our Board of Directors believes it is in the best interests of the company to provide the Board the right from time to time to create, designate and determine the rights and privileges of one or more new series of preferred stock of the company without the need to obtain further shareholder approvals. One or more new series of preferred stock may be created in connection with fund raising activities or contractual obligations of the company, or for issuances in any circumstance where our Board determines that the issuance of preferred shares benefits the company. Under the Articles of Incorporation as presently in effect, the creation of any new series of preferred stock would require the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the company. The necessity of a shareholder vote at an annual or special meeting in connection with the determination of a new series of preferred stock would, in the view of the Board of Directors, create unnecessary delays and costs, and inhibit the company's ability to act quickly in negotiating and closing on transactions involving a newly authorized series of preferred stock. Under the Amendment and Restatement, the Board of Directors can from time to time create, issue and sell one or more new series of preferred stock of the company without further shareholder action. EFFECT OF THE PROPOSAL/ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES The Amendment and Restatement will permit our Board of Directors from time to time to authorize and create the rights and preferences of one or more series of preferred stock without the necessity and related costs and delays of either calling a special shareholders' meeting or waiting for the regularly scheduled annual meeting of shareholders in order to authorize and create such new series of preferred stock. Our Board believes that eliminating such costs and delays benefits the company in its ability to proceed quickly with opportunities connected with the issuance of preferred stock. The Board of Directors may authorize, issue and sell one or more new series of preferred stock that has rights and preferences superior to that of the common stock, or which could dilute the holdings of the common shareholders if the preferred stock is convertible into common stock. The Board would not require shareholder approval to create such superior rights and preferences. 2
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SECTION 903 OF THE CALIFORNIA CORPORATIONS CODE Section 903 of the California Corporations Code permits the amendment of a corporation's articles of incorporation to allow for an amendment or restatement of the articles of incorporation so long as the holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote on the action, approve the action. In this instance, the shareholders entitled to vote are the common shareholders. A majority of such shareholders voted in favor of the action. EFFECTIVE DATE The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation will become effective upon the filing of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the California Secretary of State. Under federal securities laws, we cannot file the Restated Articles of Incorporation until at least 20 days after mailing this Information Statement. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth selected information regarding the beneficial ownership of the company's common stock computed as of September 30, 2004, by: each of our "Named Executive Officers"; each of our directors; each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of any class of our securities; and the group comprised of our current directors and executive officers. The term "named executive officer" includes the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. We believe that each individual or entity named has sole investment and voting power with respect to shares of common stock indicated as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable, and except where otherwise noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each shareholder is 501 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, California 95401. Beneficial ownership including the number and percentage of shares owned is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and is generally determined by voting power and/or investment power with respect to securities. COMMON STOCK (VOTING) NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS, -------------------------------- DIRECTORS AND NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AMOUNT % -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steven M. Schneider (1) 14,781,214 39.8% Chief Executive Officer and Director Gary Starr (2) 5,185,081 17.6% Chairman of the Board Renay Cude 343,758 * Secretary and Director William R. Hartman 232,669 * Chief Financial Officer Louis Auletta 27,950 * Director Guy Fieri 15,730 * Director Daka Development Ltd. (3) 4,970,470 17.3% Fusion Capital Fund II, LLC (4) 3,000,000 11.9% Jeff Banks (5) 3,200,000 12.6% Ridgewood ZAP LLC (6) 2,704,287 9.9% Mercatus & Partners, Ltd (7) 2,941,176 11.6% Directors and Executive Officers, as a group (6 members) 20,586,402 57.6% _______________ (1) Includes 11,670,104 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of various warrants and 211,110 shares of stock upon the exercise of stock options. (2) Includes 3,817,535 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of various warrants and 327,778 shares of stock upon the exercise of stock options. 3
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(3) The address for Daka Development is Unit C 8/F Leroy Plaza, 15 Cheung Shun Street, Chung Sha Wan Kin, Hong Kong. (4) Includes 2,500,000 warrants to purchase common stock at an average exercise of $3.70 per share, expiring on or about November 1, 2009. Pursuant to the terms of the warrant, Fusion Capital is not entitled to exercise the warrants to the extent such exercise would cause the aggregate number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Fusion Capital to exceed 9.9% of the outstanding shares of the common stock following such exercise. The address for Fusion Capital is 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 9-112, Chicago, IL 60654. (5) Jeffrey and Karen Banks are Trustees of the Banks Living Trust, and exercise voting and disposition power over these shares. (6) Includes 1,989,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of certain warrants. Robert Swanson exercises voting and investment control over Ridgewood ZAP LLC. The address for Ridgewood ZAP LLC, is 947 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, 07450. (7) Stock was provided as collateral for a working capital loan, which did not fund. In December 2003, the shareholder reported to the Company that the stock certificates were lost which has been reported to the transfer agent. The stock certificates have not been cancelled as of September 30, 2004. Dwight Parscale exercises voting and investment control over these shares. The address for Mercatus & Partners is 188 Green Lane, Northwood, Middlesex, United Kingdom. INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON No director, executive officer, or any associate thereof, or any other person has any interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation referenced herein which is not shared by the majority of the shareholders of the company. AVAILABLE INFORMATION We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and must file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reports, information statements and other information we file with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the Commission Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. The Commission also maintains a Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy, and information statements and other information regarding registrants, like us, which file electronically with the Commission. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Information Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto authorized. By Order of the Board of Directors /s/ Steven M. Schneider ------------------------ Steven M. Schneider, Chief Executive Officer November 15, 2004 Santa Rosa, California 4
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ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTIONS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLVED, that the Corporation be and hereby is authorized to create two classes of Stock as follows: Common Stock and Preferred Stock; that the Corporation shall have authority to authorize and issue 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, entitling the holder of such stock to one vote per share; and the Corporation shall have authority to authorize and issue 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock which may be divided and issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to a resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for such issue (authority to do so being hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors); that the Board of Directors is further authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to fix the designations, determinations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, including without limitation authority to fix by resolution or resolutions the dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, redemption price or prices, and liquidation preferences of any such series, and the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation and determination thereof, or any of the foregoing; that the Board of Directors is further authorized to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series previously designated, the number of which was fixed by it, subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series then outstanding, subject to the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof stated in the Articles of Incorporation as amended or the resolution of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares of such series. 5
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ATTACHMENT 2 VOTE OF THE SHAREHOLDERS BY WRITTEN CONSENT WHEREAS, it is deemed to be in the best interests of the Corporation and its Shareholders that the Articles of Incorporation be amended and restated follows: "ARTICLE I: NAME The name of the corporation is ZAP. ARTICLE II: PURPOSE The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the California Corporations Code other than, the banking business, the trust company business, or the practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California Corporations Code. ARTICLE III: AUTHORIZATION OF SHARES The Corporation shall have authority to issue shares as follows: 1. Common Stock. The Corporation may issue 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the shareholders. 2. Preferred Stock. The Corporation may issue 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, which may be divided and issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to a resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for such issue (authority to do so being hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors). The Board of Directors is further authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to fix the designations, determinations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, including without limitation authority to fix by resolution or resolutions the dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, redemption price or prices, and liquidation preferences of any such series, and the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof, or any of the foregoing. The Board of Directors is further authorized to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series previously designated, the number of which was fixed by it, subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series then outstanding, subject to the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof stated in the Articles of Incorporation or the resolution of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares of such series. ARTICLE IV: BYLAWS The Board of Directors of the corporation shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the corporation. ARTICLE V: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless required by law. ARTICLE VI: LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS (A) Limitation of Directors' Liability. The liability of the directors of the Corporation for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under California law. (B) Indemnification of Corporate Agents. The Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of agents (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) to the fullest extent permissible under California law. (C) Repeal or Modification. Any amendment or repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VI by the shareholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification." NOW, THEREFORE BE IT VOTED, that the foregoing amendment and restatement text is hereby approved, adopted and ratified in its entirety. 6
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ATTACHMENT 3 The Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of this corporation shall be amended and restated in full as follows: ARTICLE I: NAME The name of the corporation is ZAP. ARTICLE II: PURPOSE The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of California other than, the banking business, the trust company business, or the practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California Corporations Code. ARTICLE III: AUTHORIZATION OF SHARES The Corporation shall have authority to issue shares as follows: 1. Common Stock. The Corporation may issue 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders. 2. Preferred Stock. The Corporation may issue 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, which may be divided and issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to a resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for such issue (authority to do so being hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors). The Board of Directors is further authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to fix the designations, determinations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, including without limitation authority to fix by resolution or resolutions the dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, redemption price or prices, and liquidation preferences of any such series, and the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof, or any of the foregoing. The Board of Directors is further authorized to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series previously designated, the number of which was fixed by it, subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series then outstanding, subject to the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof stated in the Articles of Incorporation or the resolution of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares of such series. ARTICLE IV: BYLAWS The Board of Directors of the corporation shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the corporation. ARTICLE V: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless required by law. ARTICLE VI: LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS (A) Limitation of Directors' Liability. The liability of the directors of the Corporation for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under California law. (B) Indemnification of Corporate Agents. The Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of agents (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) to the fullest extent permissible under California law. (C) Repeal or Modification. Any amendment or repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VI by the shareholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification." 7

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

Referenced-On Page
This ‘DEF 14C’ Filing    Date First  Last      Other Filings
11/1/095
Filed on / Effective on / For Period End:11/15/042510QSB
10/22/043
10/14/043
10/13/043
10/12/043
10/9/043
10/8/043
9/30/042510QSB
9/28/046
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Filing Submission 0001072613-04-002110   –   Alternative Formats (Word / Rich Text, HTML, Plain Text, et al.)

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