Information
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
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appropriate box:
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Information Statement
[ ] Confidential,
for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14c-5(d)(2))
[ ] Definitive
Information Statement
WORLD
RACING GROUP, INC.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)
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computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11
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WORLD
RACING GROUP, INC.
7575-D
WEST WINDS BLVD.
CONCORD,
N.C. 28927
(704)
795-7223
March __, 2009
Dear
Stockholders of World Racing Group, Inc.:
This
Information Statement is being furnished to you, as a holder of common stock,
par value $0.0001 ("Common Stock"), of World Racing Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company" or "we"), on February 13, 2009, to inform you of (i)
the approval on February __, 2009 of resolutions by our Board of Directors (the
"Board") proposing amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate of Incorporation") to effect a reverse stock split of our Common
Stock (the "Reverse Stock Split") and (ii) our receipt of written consents dated
February 16, 2009, approving such amendments by stockholders holding 54.1% of
the voting power of all of our stockholders entitled to vote on the matter as of
February 13, 2009 (the "Record Date"). The resolutions adopted by the Board and
the written consents of the stockholders give us the authority to file a
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate
of Amendment"). As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, as described
in more detail below, stockholders owning fewer than 101 shares of our Common
Stock will be cashed out at a price of $0.10 per pre-split share.
WE
ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A
PROXY.
This
Information Statement is dated March __, 2009 and is first being mailed to our
stockholders on or about March __, 2009.
NEITHER
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS:
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE TRANSACTION; PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS
OF THE TRANSACTION; OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN
THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
All
necessary corporate approvals in connection with the Reverse Stock Split have
been obtained. This Information Statement is being furnished to all of our
stockholders pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Exchange Act, the rules
promulgated thereunder and the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, solely for the purpose of informing stockholders of the Reverse Stock Split
before it takes effect.
This
Information Statement shall serve as notice to our stockholders who did not
consent to action of our stockholders taken without a meeting, pursuant to
Section 228(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
This
Information Statement is being furnished to you, as a holder of common stock,
par value $0.0001 ("Common Stock"), of World Racing Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company" or "we"), on February 13, 2009, to inform you of (i)
the approval on February 13, 2009 of resolutions by our Board of Directors (the
"Board") proposing amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate of Incorporation") to effect a reverse stock split of our Common
Stock (the "Reverse Stock Split") and (ii) our receipt of written consents dated
February 16, 2009, approving such amendments by stockholders holding 54.1% of
the voting power of all of our stockholders entitled to vote on the matter as of
February 13, 2009 (the "Record Date"). The resolutions adopted by the Board and
the written consents of the stockholders give us the authority to file a
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate
of Amendment"). The Certificate of Amendment shall be filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware on or after the expiration of 20 calendar days
following the date this Information Statement is first mailed to our
stockholders and will become effective immediately thereafter (the "Effective
Date"). As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, as described in more detail
below, stockholders owning fewer than 101 shares of our Common Stock will be
cashed out at a price of $0.10 per pre-split share.
Although
the Reverse Stock Split has been approved by the requisite number of
stockholders, the Board reserves the right, in its discretion, to abandon the
Reverse Stock Split prior to the proposed Effective Date if it determines that
abandoning the Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests of the
Company.
The
intended effect of the Reverse Stock Split is to reduce the number of record
holders of our Common Stock to fewer than 300 so that we will be eligible to
terminate the public registration of our Common Stock under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Provided that the Reverse
Stock Split has the intended effect, we will file to deregister our Common Stock
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and to terminate
the listing of shares of our Common Stock on the Over the Counter (“OTC”)
Bulletin Board. In such case, we will no longer be required to file
periodic reports with the Commission.
WE
ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A
PROXY.
This
Information Statement is dated March __, 2009 and is first being mailed to our
stockholders on or about March __, 2009.
NEITHER
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS:
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE TRANSACTION; PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS
OF THE TRANSACTION; OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN
THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
All
necessary corporate approvals in connection with the Reverse Stock Split have
been obtained. This Information Statement is being furnished to all of our
stockholders pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Exchange Act, the rules
promulgated thereunder and the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, solely for the purpose of informing stockholders of the Reverse Stock Split
before it takes effect.
This
Information Statement shall serve as notice to our stockholders who did not
consent to action of our stockholders taken without a meeting, pursuant to
Section 228(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Pursuant
to the Reverse Stock Split, each 101 shares of Common Stock registered in the
name of a stockholder immediately prior to the effective time of the Reverse
Stock Split will be converted into one share of Common
Stock. Interests in fractional shares owned by stockholders owning
fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock, whose shares of Common Stock would be
converted into less than one share in the Reverse Stock Split, will instead be
converted into the right to receive a cash payment of $.10 per share owned by
such stockholders prior to the Reverse Stock Split.
We
intend for the Reverse Stock Split to treat stockholders holding Common Stock in
street name through a nominee (such as a bank or broker) in the same manner as
stockholders whose shares are registered in their names, and nominees will be
instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their beneficial holders.
However, nominees may have different procedures, and stockholders holding shares
in street name should contact their nominees. Stockholders may continue to sell
their shares of the Company's Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board until the
Effective Date, which is the twentieth (20th)
calendar day following the date this Information Statement is first mailed to
our stockholders.
As
soon as practicable after the Effective Date, Mountain Share Transfer, our
exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”), will send all stockholders with stock
certificates representing rights to receive cash payments a letter of
transmittal to be used to transmit Common Stock certificates to the Exchange
Agent. Upon proper completion and execution of the letter of transmittal, and
the return of the letter of transmittal and accompanying stock certificate(s) to
the Exchange Agent, each stockholder entitled to receive payment will receive a
check for such stockholder's stock. In the event we are unable to locate certain
stockholders or if a stockholder fails properly to complete, execute and return
the letter of transmittal and accompanying stock certificate to the Exchange
Agent, any funds payable to such holders pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split
will be held in escrow until a proper claim is made, subject to applicable
abandoned property laws.
The
following is a summary of the material terms of the proposed Certificate of
Amendment and the Reverse Stock Split.
This
Information Statement contains a more detailed description of the terms of the
proposed Certificate of Amendment and the Reverse Stock Split. We encourage you
to read the entire Information Statement and the documents attached
as an annex to this Information Statement carefully.
The
Board has authorized a 1-for-101 Reverse Stock Split. See
also the information under the captions "Special Factors - Reasons for and
Purposes of the Reverse Stock Split" and "Recommendation of the Board;
Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split" in this Information
Statement.
·
The
Board has determined that the Reverse Stock Split is fair to and in the
best interest of all of our unaffiliated stockholders including those
stockholders owning shares being cashed out pursuant to the Reverse Stock
Split and those who will retain an equity interest in our Company
subsequent to the consummation of the Reverse Stock Split. See also the
information under the caption "Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of
the Reverse Stock Split" in this Information
Statement.
·
Certain
executive officers have voted, or caused to be voted, all shares which
they directly or indirectly control in favor of the Reverse Stock Split.
The shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock held by our directors
and executive officers represent approximately 1.41% of our voting power.
See also the information under the caption "Description of the Reverse
Stock Split – Vote Required" in this Information
Statement.
·
When
the Reverse Stock Split becomes effective, if you hold fewer than 101
shares of Common Stock, you will receive a cash payment of $0.10 per
pre-split share. Additionally, as the Company will not be issuing
fractional shares, you will also receive a cash payment of $0.10 per
pre-split share if your pre-split holdings would not result in the
issuance of whole shares. For example, assuming you owned 200
pre-split shares, you would be issued one share of Common Stock, and $0.10
for each pre-split share that otherwise would have resulted in a
fractional share, or $9.90. As soon as practicable after the
Effective Date, you will be notified and asked to surrender your stock
certificates to the Exchange Agent. Upon receipt of your stock
certificates by the Exchange Agent, you will receive your cash payment.
See also the information under the caption "Description of the Reverse
Stock Split - Exchange of Certificates for Cash Payment or Shares" in this
Information Statement.
·
The
Reverse Stock Split is not expected to affect our current business plan or
operations, except for the anticipated cost and management time savings
associated with termination of our obligations as a public company. See
also the information under the captions "Special Factors - Effects of the
Reverse Stock Split”, "Special Factors - Financial Effect of the Reverse
Stock Split" and "Conduct of the Company's Business After the Reverse
Stock Split" in this Information Statement.
·
When
the Reverse Stock Split becomes effective, we will be eligible to cease
filing periodic reports with the Commission and we intend to cease public
registration and terminate the listing of our Common Stock on the OTC
Bulletin Board. Once we cease public registration and terminate the
listing of our Common Stock, our stockholders will not be provided with
periodic or other reports regarding the Company. See also the information
under the captions "Special Factors - Reasons for and Purposes of the
Reverse Stock Split" and "Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the
Reverse Stock Split" in this Information
Statement.
·
Neither
the Company nor the Board, nor any committee of the Board, has solicited
or obtained any appraisal, report or opinion by any outside party
regarding the fairness of the Reverse Stock Split. The Board
chose not to retain the services of an independent advisor because it
believes the cost of such services would be excessive relative to the size
and cost of the Reverse Stock Split. See also the information under the
caption "Special Factors -- Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split to
Stockholders – Absence of a Fairness Opinion" in this Information
Statement.
For
those stockholders who receive a cash payment in the Reverse Stock Split
and cease to hold, either directly or indirectly, shares of post-split
Common Stock, you will need to recognize a gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes for the difference between the amount of cash received and
the aggregate tax basis
in your shares of Common Stock. For those stockholders who retain Common
Stock incident to the Reverse Stock Split, you will not recognize any gain
or loss for federal income tax purposes. See also the information under
the caption "Special Factors - Federal Income Tax Consequences of the
Reverse Stock Split" in this Information Statement. You are urged to
consult with your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the
Reverse Stock Split in light of your own particular
circumstances.
·
You
are not entitled to appraisal rights under either our governance documents
or the Delaware General Corporation Law. See also the information under
the caption "Description of the Reverse Stock Split - Appraisal Rights" in
this Information Statement.
·
We
currently anticipate having the financial resources to complete the
Reverse Stock Split, the costs of which we anticipate to be approximately
$58,000, which includes $8,000, which is the approximate cost to satisfy
the Company’s obligation to pay cash for each fractional share resulting
from the Reverse Stock Split.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT
The
following questions and answers briefly address some commonly asked questions
about the Reverse Stock Split that are not addressed in the "Summary Term
Sheet." They may not include all the information that is important to you. We
urge you to read carefully this entire Information Statement, including our
financial statements and the annex attached hereto.
Q: What
are some of the advantages of the Reverse Stock Split?
A: Our
Board believes that the Reverse Stock Split will have, among others, the
following advantages:
·
we
will terminate the registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange
Act, which will eliminate the significant tangible and intangible costs of
our being a public company, with tangible cost savings of an estimated
$300,000 annually;
·
we
will be able to reduce the expense associated with maintaining stockholder
accounts for numerous stockholders with small
accounts;
·
we
will be able to achieve the overhead reduction associated with the Reverse
Stock Split without negatively affecting our business
operations;
·
our
senior management will be able to focus their efforts solely on operations
without having the burden of addressing issues relating to being a
publicly held company;
we
will be able to provide complete liquidity for the relatively large number
of unaffiliated stockholders holding fewer than 101 shares where liquidity
has been extremely limited in the public market, and we will be able to do
so through a transaction in which such unaffiliated stockholders generally
will be eligible to receive capital gains tax treatment for their proceeds
and avoid paying brokerage commissions and fees. See also
information under the caption "Special Factors - Reasons for and Purposes
of the Reverse Stock Split" in this Information Statement;
and
·
we
will be able to more successfully compete for sponsorship, advertising and
other revenue generating opportunities as a private
company.
Q: What
are some of the disadvantages of the Reverse Stock Split?
A: Our
Board believes that the Reverse Stock Split will have, among others, the
following disadvantages:
·
stockholders
owning fewer than 101 shares of our Common Stock will not have an
opportunity to liquidate their shares at a time and for a price of their
choosing; instead, they will be cashed out, will no longer be stockholders
of our Company and will not have the opportunity to participate in or
benefit from any future potential appreciation in the value of our Common
Stock;
·
the
public market for shares of our Common Stock, which has been extremely
limited to date, will cease to
exist;
·
stockholders
holding our Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split will no longer
have readily available to them the legally mandated information regarding
our operations and results that is currently available in our filings with
the Commission;
·
the
elimination of the trading market for our Common Stock may result in us
having less flexibility in attracting and retaining executives and
employees since equity-based incentives (such as stock options) tend to be
less valuable in a private company;
and
·
it
will be more difficult for us to access the public equity
markets. See also information under the captions "Special
Factors - Effects of the Reverse Stock Split,""Special Factors -
Financial Effect of the Reverse Stock Split" and "Recommendation of the
Board; Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split" in this Information
Statement.
Q: What
are some of the factors that the Board considered in approving the Reverse Stock
Split?
A: The
Board considered several factors in approving the Reverse Stock Split.
Importantly, the Board considered the relative advantages and disadvantages
discussed above and under the captions "Special Factors -Reasons for and
Purposes of the Reverse Stock Split,""Special Factors - Strategic Alternatives
Considered,"“Special Factors - Background of the Reverse Stock Split" and
"Special Factors - Effects of the Reverse Stock Split" in this Information
Statement. The Board also considered numerous other factors,
including:
the
Board's discussions and conclusions about the fairness of the price of
$0.10 per pre-split share of Common Stock to be paid following
the Reverse Stock Split to our stockholders owning fewer than 101
shares;
·
the
projected tangible and intangible cost savings to us by terminating our
status as a public company;
·
that
attempts by our stockholders to achieve liquidity in the public trading
market have been frustrated due to the low average daily trading volume of
our Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board as only a small number of
shares could be sold on the OTC Bulletin Board without risking a
significant decrease in the trading price. See also information
under the captions "Special Factors -- Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split
to Stockholders" and "Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Reverse
Stock Split" in this Information Statement;
and
·
the
Board’s discussion and conclusion that terminating its status as a
publicly held corporation will allow management to focus on operations to
a greater extent than it is currently
able.
Q: What
are the interests of directors and executive officers in the Reverse Stock
Split?
A: As
a result of the Reverse Stock Split, our directors and executive officers,
collectively, will beneficially own 1.41% of our common stock, or approximately
the same amount that such directors and executive officers owned prior to the
Reverse Stock Split. See also information under the captions "Special
Factors - Effects of the Reverse Stock Split" and "Special Factors – Potential
Disadvantages of the Reverse Stock Split to Stockholders; Accretion in Ownership
and Control of Certain Stockholders" in this Information Statement. See also
information under the captions "Special Factors - Financial Effect of the
Reverse Stock Split" and "Costs of the Reverse Stock Split" in this Information
Statement.
Q: How
will I be affected if I own more than 101 shares of Common Stock?
A: You
will receive one share of Common Stock for each 101 shares owned by you, and
$0.10 for each pre-split share that otherwise would have resulted in a
fractional share. For example, if you owned 500 shares of Common
Stock, you would receive four shares of Common Stock upon consummation of the
Reverse Stock Split, and $9.60 representing the value of 96 pre-split shares
times $0.10 per share.
Q: Will
I be entitled to vote on the Reverse Stock Split?
A: No. We
have received the written consent of stockholders holding in aggregate __% of
the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. No special meeting of
stockholders is required under Delaware law, because the requisite vote for
adoption of the Reverse Stock Split has been obtained and the vote of other
stockholders is not necessary.
Q: Will
I be entitled to appraisal rights if I object to the Reverse Stock
Split?
A: No. You
are not entitled to appraisal rights under either our governance documents or
the Delaware General Corporation Law. See also the information under the caption
"Description of the Reverse Stock Split - Appraisal Rights" in this Information
Statement.
Our Common Stock trades on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the symbol "WRGI.OB." The following is a schedule of the
reported high and low closing bid quotations per share for our Common Stock
during the period from January 1, 2007 through March __, 2009, all of
which quotations represent prices between dealers, do not include retail
mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual
transactions:
Bid
Quotations (rounded to nearest cent)
2009
High
Low
1st Quarter
$
-
$
-
2008
4th Quarter
$
0.10
$
0.02
3rd
Quarter
$
0.15
$
0.03
2nd
Quarter
$
0.40
$
0.10
1st Quarter
$
0.52
$
0.22
2007
4th Quarter
$
0.85
$
0.30
3rd
Quarter
$
1.25
$
0.40
2nd
Quarter
$
2.05
$
0.86
1st Quarter
$
2.57
$
1.62
The
source of the foregoing quotations was www.yahoo.com/finance and www.
nasdaq.com.
Since
inception, we have not paid any cash dividends to our stockholders. Any future
declaration and payment of cash dividends will be subject to the discretion of
the Board, and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition,
cash requirements, future prospects, changes in tax legislation and other
factors deemed relevant by our Board.
On
February 17, 2009, the last trading day prior to the initial announcement of the
Reverse Stock Split, our Common Stock's closing price per share was $0.035. On
March __, 2009, the last practicable trading day prior to the date this
Information Statement was mailed to stockholders, our Common Stock's closing
price was $__.
See
also information under the caption "Financial Statements" in this Information
Statement.
This
Information Statement contains forward-looking statements. The words "believe,""expect,""anticipate,""estimate,""project" and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Information
Statement. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and
uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events
and actual results could differ materially from those made in, contemplated by,
or underlying the forward-looking statements. For these reasons, you should not
place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this
Information Statement.
Reasons for and Purposes of the Reverse Stock Split
The
primary purpose of the Reverse Stock Split is to reduce the number of record
holders of our Common Stock to fewer than 300, so that we can terminate the
registration of our Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. The
Reverse Stock Split is expected to result in the elimination of the expenses
related to our disclosure and reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and
to decrease the administrative expense we incur in servicing a large number of
record stockholders who own relatively small numbers of our shares.
As
discussed further in this Information Statement under the caption "Special
Factors - Background of the Reverse Stock Split," the Board initiated its
consideration of the Reverse Stock Split at a meeting on May 22,2008. At that meeting, in connection with its regular review of
strategic issues confronting the Company, management expressed concern about the
expense of remaining a public company and with the continuing obligations to
comply with the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, in light of
its belief that the Company was not able to take advantage of the benefits of
being publicly held due to the declining price of the Company’s Common Stock as
reported on the OTC Bulletin Board. Management also expressed its
concerns that continued reporting under the Exchange Act placed the Company at a
competitive disadvantage to securing sponsorship and advertising revenue in
today’s competitive market where sponsorship and advertising budgets are
contracting significantly. As a result of management’s
concerns, the Board decided to consider whether it should remain a publicly held
company.
As
a result of the factors discussed further in this Information Statement under
the caption "Special Factors - Background of the Reverse Stock Split," the Board
believes that any material benefit derived from continued registration under the
Exchange Act is outweighed by the cost and burdens. We have been unable to
provide increased value to our stockholders as a public company, and the price
of our Common Stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board has substantially
decreased. In addition, as a result of the increased cost and
tangible and intangible burdens associated with being a public company following
the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act"), we do
not believe that continuing our public company status is in the best interest of
the Company or our stockholders given the current size of the Company as
measured by our total revenue and market capitalization.
The
Board also believes that the significant tangible and intangible costs of our
being a public company are not justified because we have not been able to
realize many of the benefits that publicly traded companies sometimes realize.
The Board does not believe that we are in a position to continue to use our
status as a public company to raise capital through sales of securities in a
public offering, or otherwise to access the public markets to raise equity
capital. In addition, our Common Stock's extremely limited trading volume and
public float have all but eliminated our ability to use our Common Stock as
acquisition currency or to attract and retain employees.
Our
Common Stock's extremely limited trading volume and public float have also
impaired our stockholders' ability to sell their shares, which has prevented
them from realizing the full benefits of holding publicly traded stock. Our low
market capitalization has resulted in limited interest from market makers or
financial analysts who might report on our activity to the investment
community. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, our
stock traded infrequently, with reported trades occurring on only 134 days, and
with an average daily trading volume of 8,564 shares for such 12-month period.
Because the Common Stock has been thinly traded, entering into a large purchase
or sale, to the extent possible, would risk a significant impact on the market
price of our Common Stock. The Board believes that it is unlikely that our
market capitalization and trading liquidity will increase significantly in the
foreseeable future.
Our
status as a public company has not only failed to benefit our stockholders
materially, but also, in the Board's view, places an unnecessary financial
burden on us. That burden has only risen in recent years, since the enactment of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As a public company, we incur direct costs associated
with compliance with the Commission's filing and reporting requirements imposed
on public companies. To comply with the public company requirements, we incur an
estimated $465,000 annually in related expenses, as follows:
Audit
Fees
$
125,000
Internal
Control Compliance
$
50,000
Stockholder
Expenses
$
50,000
Filing
Fees
$
15,000
Legal
Fees
$
175,000
Investor
Relations
$
25,000
Miscellaneous
Expenses
$
25,000
Total
$
465,000
The
estimates set forth above are only estimates, and would not all be eliminated
when the Company terminates its obligations under the Exchange
Act. We estimate that the actual savings will approximate $300,000,
as the Company will continue to incur audit and related fees incurred to prepare
its financial statements for dissemination to stockholders; however, such fees
and expenses are anticipated to substantially decrease as a result of
consummation of the Reverse Stock Split. The actual savings that we may realize
may be higher or lower than the estimate set forth above. In light of our
current size, opportunities and resources, the Board does not believe that such
costs are justified. Therefore, the Board believes that it is in our best
interests and the best interests of our stockholders to eliminate the
administrative, financial and additional auditing burdens associated with being
a public company by consummating the Reverse Stock Split at this time rather
than continue to subject the Company to these burdens.
The
substantial costs and burdens imposed on us as a result of being public are
likely to continue to increase significantly as a result of the burdens placed
on smaller reporting companies caused by the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act,
and the implementation of the regulatory reforms adopted by the Commission. The
overall executive time expended on the preparation and review of our public
filings will likely continue to increase substantially in order for our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to certify the financial
statements in each of our public filings as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act. Since we have few executive personnel, these indirect costs can be
significant relative to our overall expenses and, although there will be no
direct monetary savings with respect to these indirect costs when the Reverse
Stock Split is effected and we cease filing periodic reports with the
Commission, the time currently devoted by management to our public company
reporting obligations could be devoted to other purposes, including operational
concerns to further our business objectives and the interests of our
stockholders. Additionally, the application of certain provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act to smaller reporting companies, and the additional time and
resources required for compliance may make it difficult for us to attract and
retain independent directors without increasing director compensation and
obtaining additional directors’ and officers' liability insurance.
See
also information under the caption "Special Factors – Strategic Alternatives
Considered" in this Information Statement for an additional description of the
reasons why our Board approved the Reverse Stock Split instead of another
alternative transaction structure.
The
Reverse Stock Split will terminate the equity interests in the Company of
approximately 244 record holders of Common Stock; as of December 31, 2008, each
of these record holders held fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock. We intend
for the Reverse Stock Split to treat stockholders holding Common Stock in street
name through a nominee (such as a bank or broker) in the same manner as record
holders. Nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their
beneficial holders. However, nominees may have different procedures and
stockholders holding shares in street name should contact their
nominees.
The
Reverse Stock Split is expected to relieve us of the administrative burden, cost
and other disadvantages associated with filing reports and otherwise complying
with the requirements of registration under the federal securities laws and the
listing requirements of the OTC Bulletin Board by deregistering and delisting
our Common Stock. Additionally, the Reverse Stock Split will provide small
stockholders a beneficial mechanism to liquidate their equity interest at a fair
price for their shares without having to pay brokerage commissions, particularly
in light of the limited liquidity available to holders of our Common Stock in
the open market.
Based
on information available to us, we presently have an aggregate of approximately
439 record holders and 239 beneficial holders of our Common Stock (collectively,
"holders"), of which approximately 375 holders each own 100 shares or less. In
the aggregate, the shares held by these small holders comprise less than 1% of
our outstanding shares of Common Stock. The administrative burden and cost to us
of maintaining records with respect to these numerous small accounts and the
associated cost of preparing, printing and mailing information to them is, in
the Board's view, excessive given our limited size and the nature of our
operations. These expenditures result in no material benefit to us. The Reverse
Stock Split will enable us to eliminate much of these costs.
When
the Reverse Stock Split is consummated, stockholders owning fewer than 101
shares of Common Stock will no longer have any equity interest in the Company
and will not participate in our future earnings or any increases in the value of
our assets or operations. Thus, only our employees, executive officers,
directors and continuing stockholders will benefit from any future increase in
our earnings. The stockholders who will continue to hold an equity interest in
the Company after the Reverse Stock Split will own a security, the liquidity of
which will be severely restricted. See also information under the captions
"Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split" and "Special
Factors -- Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split to Stockholders" in this
Information Statement.
The
Reverse Stock Split will (i) cause us to cash out shares held by any stockholder
holding fewer than 101 shares, and (ii) change the percentage of Common Stock
held by the remaining stockholders to 100%. However, the Board reserves the
right, in its discretion, to abandon the Reverse Stock Split prior to the
proposed Effective Date if it determines that abandoning the Reverse Stock Split
is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
In
making the determination to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split, the Board
evaluated a number of other strategic alternatives. In evaluating the risks and
benefits of each strategic alternative, the Board determined that the Reverse
Stock Split would be the simplest and most cost-effective means to achieve the
purposes described above. These alternatives were:
Self-tender offer.
The Board considered a self-tender offer by which we would offer to repurchase
shares of our outstanding Common Stock. The results of an issuer tender offer
would be unpredictable, however, due to its voluntary nature. The Board was
uncertain whether this alternative would result in shares being tendered by a
sufficient number of record stockholders so as to permit us to reduce the number
of record stockholders below 300 which would allow us to terminate our public
reporting requirements. The Board believed it unlikely that many holders of
small numbers of shares would make the effort to tender their shares. In
addition, the Board considered that the estimated transaction costs of
completing a tender offer would be similar to or greater than the costs of the
Reverse Stock Split transaction, and these costs could be significant in
relation to the value of the shares purchased since there could be no certainty
that stockholders would tender a significant number of shares.
Purchase of shares in the
open market. The Board also considered purchasing our shares in the open
market in order to reduce the number of our record stockholders to fewer than
300. However, given the low daily trading
volume of our Common Stock, there was no
assurance that purchasing shares in isolated transactions would reduce the
number of stockholders sufficiently to permit us to terminate our public
reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and deregister in a reasonable
period of time, without substantially increasing the price of the shares to the
Company, given the low daily trading volume.
Selling the Company.
The Board considered a sale of the Company. However, in light of the general
macro-economic environment, including the adverse state of the current credit
and financing markets, the Board determined that a sale was not practical, or in
the best interest of our stockholders, at this time.
Maintaining the status
quo. The Board also considered taking no action to reduce the number of
our stockholders. However, due to the significant and increasing costs of being
a public company, and the competitive disadvantage facing the Company in
competing with private companies for advertising and sponsorship dollars, the
Board believed that maintaining the status quo would be detrimental to all
stockholders. We would continue to incur the expenses of being a public company
without realizing the benefits of public company status, and we would remain at
a competitive disadvantage compared to private companies in competing for
limited sponsorship and advertising dollars in today’s competitive
marketplace.
At
its stockholders’ meeting on January 22, 2008, the Company’s stockholders
approved a proposal to authorize the Board, in its sole discretion, to amend our
Certificate of Incorporation to implement a reverse stock split of our Common
Stock at a ratio of not less than one for three and not greater than one for
ten, at any time prior to December 31, 2009, with the exact ratio to be
determined by the Board. The primary objective of the proposal was to
attempt to increase the per share trading price of our Common Stock in an effort
to gain listing on NASDAQ. Since the January 22, 2008 stockholders’
meeting, the closing bid price of the Company’s Common Stock, as reported on the
OTC Bulletin Board, has decreased, from $0.45 on January 1, 2008 to $0.17 on May22, 2008, when the Board met to consider the proposed reverse stock split
approved by the stockholders, and review strategic alternatives. As a
result of the decrease in the price of the Company’s Common Stock, and the
Board’s belief that the share price was not likely to recover sufficiently in
the near-term given the general lack of interest in micro cap securities, and
the Company’s continuing requirement for financing to satisfy its working
capital requirements, the Board determined to stay any decision to act on the
authority provided to the Board at the January 22, 2008 meeting of
stockholders.
At the May22, 2008 meeting of the Board, in which all directors were present, management
also began expressing to the Board its belief that the Company’s ongoing
financing requirements, together with the declining share price, may be a factor
in achieving the Company’s objective of attracting major corporate sponsors and
advertisers to the Company. As a result, the Board discussed the
possibility of taking the Company private, as well as various potential
strategic alternatives in order to grow the Company’s revenue, and reduce
operating and other costs and expenses. During this review, the Board
directed management to quantify the general and administrative expenses
associated with our reporting and filing requirements as a public company, to
determine whether continued reporting under the Exchange Act provided a
quantitative or qualitative benefit to the Company’s stockholders, or otherwise
achieved the Corporation’s business and operating objectives.
At a meeting
of the Board held on July 23, 2008, in which all members of the Board were in
attendance, management reviewed the potential options available to the Company
to substantially reduce operating and other costs, and to address the concerns
regarding substantially increasing sponsorship and advertising
revenue. Again, management discussed the Company’s competitive
disadvantage in securing advertising and sponsorship dollars in today’s
competitive marketplace where advertising and sponsorship budgets are
contracting significantly. In addition to other measures
designed to achieve a reduction in costs and expenses, the Board discussed the
potential benefits resulting from the termination of the Company’s obligations
to continue reporting under the Exchange Act, as both a way to substantially
reduce operating costs and expenses, as well as to allow the Company to execute
its business plan and compete for advertising and sponsorship dollars with
companies who are not otherwise required to publicly disclose their financial
condition and results from operations. The Board discussed options to
take the Company private, including a reverse stock split, self-tender offer,
open market purchases, as well as the sale or merger of the
Company. The Board discussed the financing requirements associated
with each option, and directed management to review the legal and other
requirements of taking the Company private.
Following
the July 23, 2008 meeting of the Board, management considered the various issues
raised, and summarized its findings at a regular meeting of the Board held on
October 10, 2008. At that meeting, management discussed the
advantages and disadvantages, as well as the legal and regulatory issues
associated with taking the Company private, focusing on the Reverse Stock Split
due to its relative simplicity and certainty of outcome. Management
also reemphasized its belief that remaining public was likely placing the
Company at a competitive disadvantage with private companies who are not
required to publicly report their financial condition and results from
operations. The Board reviewed management’s estimate of the
costs and benefits of proceeding with a going-private transaction, specifically,
the Reverse Stock Split. The Board also noted management’s assessment
that a large percentage of the Company’s shares of Common Stock are held by a
relatively small number of stockholders, and that a significant number of our
stockholders have few shares of Common Stock. As a result, according
to management, the administrative burden and costs to the Company of maintaining
its public company status, including the cost of maintaining records with
respect to numerous small accounts and the associated costs of preparing,
printing and mailing information to stockholders, was excessive given our
resources and operations. The Board took no formal action following
the October 10, 2008 meeting, pending further input from management regarding
the proposed terms of the Reverse Stock Split. All directors were
present at the October 10, 2008 meeting, except Cary Agajanian, who was unable
to attend due to illness.
At a special
meeting of the Board held by telephone on December 22, 2008, the Board, with all
directors in attendance, again met to consider the potential Reverse Stock
Split. Mr. Rumsey addressed the questions and concerns of the Board
regarding the Reverse Stock Split, and again reviewed the various alternatives
to the Reverse Stock Split, and advised the directors of their fiduciary
obligations. In its discussion, the Board also discussed in detail
how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules and regulations promulgated by the
Commission and the burden of complying with the periodic reporting requirements
of the Exchange Act had increased substantially the cost of remaining a public
company and would further increase this cost in the near future upon application
of certain provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to smaller reporting companies.
The Board's view was that these costs outweighed any benefits we or our
stockholders received from our status as a public company. The Board also
discussed that, as a result of these dramatically increased compliance costs,
they believed that many similarly situated, small companies would undertake
similar transactions.
Following
a discussion of the various alternatives to take the Company private, the Board
reaffirmed its prior determination that going private pursuant to the Reverse
Stock Split would be the most desirable strategic alternative, given the
relative certainty of the outcome, and cost of completion, provided that it was
effected at a price and on terms fair to all of our stockholders. The Board
instructed management to make a recommendation regarding the terms of the
Reverse Stock Split, including the specific ratio and the price to be paid for
fractional shares. Management was also directed to draft the
necessary documents to comply with the reporting and disclosure requirements of
the Exchange Act. Lastly, the Board instructed management to
determine whether a going private transaction would be supported by the
Company’s largest stockholders.
Management
met with representatives of several of the Company’s largest stakeholders,
including Vicis Capital Master Fund, prior to its January 30, 2009 meeting of
the Board to determine whether they would support going private through a
Reverse Stock Split, and received their support. At its January 30,2009 meeting, the Board reviewed management’s conclusions and
recommendations. Management indicated that the Reverse Stock Split
would find support among the Company’s largest stakeholders, and recommended
that the Reverse Stock Split ratio should be approximately 1-for-101, and that
holders of fractional shares should be paid between $.06 and $.10 per
share. In accepting management’s recommendation regarding the ratio,
the Board balanced the Company's desire to reduce the number of record
stockholders and the Company's desire to minimize the cost of the Reverse Stock
Split. As a result, according to management, following consummation of the
Reverse Stock Split on the basis of 1-for-101, the Company would have
approximately 195 holders of record, and 115 beneficial owners of
record.
Regarding the
price to be paid for fractional shares, management discussed the additional debt
of approximately $15.0 million incurred since the beginning of the Company’s
last fiscal year when its Common Stock was trading on the OTC Bulletin Board at
$0.45 per share, and that the Company had issued Preferred Stock with a
liquidation preference of approximately $3.5 million since that
date. These factors, together with the macro-economic conditions
generally, and the substantial erosion of the stock prices of micro-cap
companies specifically, supported the current price of the Company’s Common
Stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board relative to the historical price of
the Company’s Common Stock.
In supporting
management’s recommendation regarding the range of possible prices to be paid
for each fractional share, the Board considered the fact that the price range
recommended by management in each case represented a premium to the price at
which shares of the Company’s Common Stock were trading on January 30,2009. As a result of its desire to provide holders of small numbers
of shares a substantial premium over recent market prices, the Board determined
to pay the Company’s stockholders $0.10 per fractional share of Common
Stock.
The Board did
not consider establishing a special committee to consider the Company's
strategic alternatives or the terms of the Reverse Stock Split, nor did it
consider retaining independent counsel. Establishing a special
committee would have created another protection of the procedural fairness of
the transaction; however, following discussion, the Board determined that, in
view of the limited number of independent directors and the cost of retaining
separate independent counsel relative to the size of the transaction
contemplated, the Board itself would ensure the procedural fairness of the
transaction. Further, the Board determined that the procedural
fairness of the Reverse Stock Split was protected through the representation on
the Board of directors whose only interests in the Reverse Stock Split was
ensuring the fairness of the transaction to all stockholders, since they would
neither be cashed out in connection with the Reverse Stock Split, nor would they
remain stockholders after the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, the
procedural fairness to unaffiliated stockholders was supported by the fact that
stockholders could decide whether to remain a stockholder or be cashed out by
buying or selling shares in the stock market so as to hold more or less than 101
shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock
Split.
On
the basis of management’s recommendations, the Board’s independent analysis, its
extended deliberations since January 22, 2008, and the factors described
elsewhere in this Information Statement in the sections entitled "Special
Factors - Reasons for and Purpose of the Reverse Stock Split,""Special Factors
- Strategic Alternatives Considered" and "Special Factors -- Fairness of the
Reverse Stock Split to Stockholders," by unanimous written consent dated
February 13, 2009, the Board resolved that a 1-for-101 Reverse Stock Split, with
a purchase price per pre-split share equal to $0.10, be paid to holders of fewer
than 101 pre-split shares. The Board further resolved that the
Reverse Stock Split was fair to all unaffiliated stockholders, including those
whose shares would be cashed out pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split and those
who would retain an equity interest in the Company subsequent to the
consummation of the Reverse Stock Split. Lastly, the Board approved
the Certificate of Amendment and authorized management to file the necessary
documentation with the Commission and to seek approval of the Reverse Stock
Split from holders of a majority of the Company's outstanding Common
Stock. However, the Board also reserved the right, in its discretion,
to abandon the Reverse Stock Split prior to the proposed Effective Date if it
determined that abandoning the Reverse Stock Split was in the best interests of
the Company and its stockholders.
If
effected, based on information available to us, the Reverse Stock Split will
reduce the number of record stockholders of our Common Stock from approximately
439 to approximately 195. This reduction in the number of our stockholders will
enable us to terminate the registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange
Act, which will substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by
us to our stockholders and to the Commission. Additionally, certain provisions
of the Exchange Act will no longer apply, such as the short-swing profit
recovery provisions of Section 16(b).
For
a total expenditure by the Company of up to approximately $50,000 in transaction
costs (including legal, financial, accounting, printing, mailing and other fees
and costs) and approximately $8,000 in purchase costs for fractional shares, we
estimate that we will realize an estimated $300,000 in cost savings on an annual
basis by terminating our public company status. We intend to apply for
termination of registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange Act as soon
as practicable following completion of the Reverse Stock Split. However, the
Board reserves the right, in its discretion, to abandon the Reverse Stock Split
prior to the proposed Effective Date if it determines that abandoning the
Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
The
effect of the Reverse Stock Split on each stockholder will depend on the number
of shares that such stockholder owns. Registered stockholders and stockholders
holding shares of Common Stock in street name through a nominee (i.e., a broker
or a bank) holding fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock will have their shares
converted into the right to receive a cash amount equal to $0.10 per
share.
Potential Disadvantages of the Reverse Stock Split to
Stockholders; Accretion in Ownership and Control of Certain
Stockholders
Stockholders
owning fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the effective
time of the Reverse Stock Split will, after giving effect to the Reverse Stock
Split, no longer have any equity interest in the Company and therefore will not
participate in our future potential earnings or growth. It is expected that 375
holders will be fully cashed out in the Reverse Stock Split. It will not be
possible for cashed out stockholders to re-acquire an equity interest in the
Company unless they purchase an interest from the remaining
stockholders.
The
Reverse Stock Split will require stockholders who own fewer than 101 shares of
Common Stock involuntarily to surrender their shares for cash. These
stockholders will not have the ability to continue to hold their shares. The
ownership interest of these stockholders will be terminated as a result of the
Reverse Stock Split, but the Board has concluded that the completion of the
Reverse Stock Split overall will benefit these stockholders because of, among
other reasons, the liquidity provided to them by the transaction at a price
determined by the Board to be fair to these stockholders.
The
percentage of beneficial ownership of each of the officers, certain of the
directors, as well as major stockholders of the Company will remain virtually
unchanged as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Based on an assumed
cash-out of approximately 35,000 shares, the percentage ownership of each holder
remaining after the Reverse Stock Split will increase by 0.001%. By way of
example, if a holder held 10% of the outstanding Common Stock prior to the
Reverse Stock Split, such holder would hold approximately 10.001% after the
Reverse Stock Split. See also information under the caption "Security Ownership
of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in this Information
Statement.
Potential
disadvantages to our stockholders who will remain as stockholders after the
Reverse Stock Split include decreased access to information and decreased
liquidity as a result of the termination of the listing of our Common Stock on
the OTC Bulletin Board. When the Reverse Stock Split is effected, we intend to
terminate the registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange Act. As a
result of the termination, we will no longer be subject to the periodic
reporting requirements or the proxy rules of the Exchange
Act. The Company currently intends to continue to make
financial information available to market makers in its stock, and to provide
financial information to at least one service such as Standard & Poor’s or
Moody’s, so that its shares may continue to trade in those states which
recognize the “standard manual exemption” for trading under the state blue sky
laws.
Effect of the Reverse Stock Split on Option Holders, Holders of
Purchase Warrants
Regardless
of whether an outstanding stock option, or purchase warrant, provides a right to
purchase less than, equal to or greater than 101 shares, the number of shares
underlying each such outstanding stock option granted by the Company under its
stock option plan and each purchase warrant will be automatically adjusted on
the Effective Date.
Completion
of the Reverse Stock Split will require approximately $58,000 of cash, which
includes $50,000 for legal, financial, accounting, printing, mailing, and other
fees and costs related to the transaction. As a result, we will have decreased
working capital following the Reverse Stock Split which may have a material
effect on our capitalization, liquidity, results of operations and cash flow.
The payments to holders who receive cash in lieu of fractional shares will be
paid out of working capital.
Based
upon analysis of the share ownership distribution among the Company's
stockholders, the Board chose to limit the scope of the Reverse Stock Split to
1-to-101 in light of the Company's continuing working capital needs. See also
the information under the caption "Financing of the Reverse Stock Split" in this
Information Statement.
The
consummation of the Reverse Stock Split will have virtually no impact on the
interests of executive management in the net book value and net earnings of the
Company, as their stockholdings in the Company will only
fractionally increase from approximately 1.41% of the outstanding shares of
the Company's Common Stock prior to the consummation of the Reverse Stock
Split.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock
Split
The
following is a summary of the material federal income tax consequences of the
Reverse Stock Split to holders of Common Stock and to the Company. This summary
is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
regulations, rulings and judicial decisions currently in effect, all of which
are subject to change. The summary does not address all aspects of federal
income taxation that may apply to a stockholder because of his particular
circumstances, and it does not discuss any special rules that may be applicable
to some types of investors (for example, estates, trusts, individuals who are
not citizens or residents of the United States, foreign corporations, insurance
companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations and dealers
in securities). The discussion assumes throughout that stockholders have held
the shares of the Company’s Common Stock subject to the Reverse Stock Split as
capital assets at all relevant times. The summary does not cover the
applicability and effect of any state, local or foreign tax laws on the Reverse
Stock Split, and investors should accordingly consult their own tax advisors for
information about the state, local and foreign tax consequences of the
transaction.
THE
FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SUMMARIZING CERTAIN FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES IS BASED ON
CURRENT LAW. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX EFFECTS OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT IN
LIGHT OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
Stockholders
who receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, and who do not
receive any whole shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split (because they
have fewer than 101 pre-split shares), will be treated as receiving cash as
payment in exchange for their fractional shares of new Common Stock, and they
will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between
the amount of cash received and the adjusted basis of the fractional shares
surrendered for cash.
Stockholders
who receive only Common Stock in exchange for their existing shares as a result
of the Reverse Stock Split, and do not receive payment for any fractional
shares, will not recognize gain or loss. Their adjusted tax basis of their new
Common Stock will be the same as their adjusted tax basis in their existing
Common Stock. The holding period of new Common Stock received as a result of the
Reverse Stock Split will be the same as holding period for the stockholder's
existing Common Stock.
Where a
stockholder receives both Common Stock and a cash payment in lieu of fractional
shares, the new Common Stock in the hands of a stockholder will have an
aggregate basis for computing gain or loss equal to the aggregate basis of
shares of old Common Stock held by that stockholder immediately prior to the
Reverse Stock Split reduced by the amount of proceeds he receives in lieu of his
fractional shares and increased by any gain recognized on those fractional
shares.
The
reverse split will be a tax-free recapitalization to the Company under the
Internal Revenue Code. The Company will not recognize any gain or loss as a
result of the Reverse Stock Split. There will not be any other material tax
consequences to the Company from the transaction.
Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split to
Stockholders
The
Board determined that the Reverse Stock Split, including the proposed cash
payment of $0.10 per pre-split share to stockholders whose shares will be cashed
out, is substantively fair, from a financial point of view, to all of our
unaffiliated stockholders, including those whose shares will be cashed out and
those who will be continuing stockholders of the Company.
With
respect to the stockholders whose shares would be cashed out, neither the
Company nor the Board of Directors retained the services of a financial advisor
with respect to the Reverse Stock Split and neither the Company's Board of
Directors nor the continuing stockholders received a fairness opinion from a
financial advisor in reaching its decision regarding the fairness of the Reverse
Stock Split.
With
respect to the fairness of the Reverse Stock Split to the stockholders whose
stock would not be cashed out in the Reverse Stock Split, the Board also relied
on the fact that stockholders whose stock would be cashed out would not
participate in the future growth of the Company, therefore justifying the
payment of $0.10 per share in the Reverse Stock Split, compared to the fair
market value of each share of Common Stock, as of March __,
2009. In addition, the Board noted that voting control of over
54.1% of the shares held by stockholders who would remain stockholders after the
Reverse Stock Split approved the terms of the Reverse Stock Split, and that
therefore the interests of such holders were aligned with the interests of the
members of the Board.
The
Board also considered certain factors related to the Company’s financial
position in determining the fairness of the Reverse Stock Split to all of our
unaffiliated stockholders, including, but not limited to:
Balance
Sheet and Liquidation value analysis. The Board considered analyzing the balance
sheet and liquidation value of our assets but determined that either analysis
would almost surely value a pre-split share of the Company's Common Stock at
less than the value of a fractional share of Common Stock and understate the
value per pre-split share of the Company's Common Stock. The Board
therefore concluded that upon liquidation of the Company and after repayment of
indebtedness, the value of shares of the Company's Common Stock would likely be
zero.
The
Board determined that the primary additional factor supporting the fairness of
the Reverse Stock Split to those unaffiliated stockholders who will be
continuing stockholders of the Company is the cost reduction anticipated as a
result of the transaction, as well as the anticipated ability to more
effectively compete for sponsorship and advertising dollars. Stockholders who
continue to hold an equity interest in the Company will benefit from the future
cost savings expected to be realized from the termination of our public company
status, estimated to be not less than $300,000 annually.
The
Board determined that certain additional factors supported the fairness of the
Reverse Stock Split to those unaffiliated stockholders whose shares will be
cashed out, including, but not limited to:
·
Immediate
cash payment. Those stockholders who own less than 101 shares of our
pre-split Common Stock will receive an immediate cash payment of $0.10 per
pre-split share and will not pay the commissions that such stockholders
would have to pay if they attempted to sell their shares in the open
market.
·
Current
and historical market prices for our Common Stock. The proposed
transaction price of $0.10 per pre-split share of Common Stock compares
favorably to the bid prices of our Common Stock over the past six months,
as well as to the bid price of our Common Stock prior to the public
announcement of the Reverse Stock Split on February 18, 2009. Our Common
Stock bid price is the highest price that a buyer will pay at any given
time to purchase a specified number of shares of our stock. As discussed
above, in addition to receiving a substantial premium to the trading price
of our Common Stock on any shares cashed out as a result of the Reverse
Stock Split, such stockholders will achieve liquidity without incurring
brokerage costs. Furthermore, the Board considered that, with extremely
limited liquidity in the public market for our Common Stock, only a small
portion of our unaffiliated stockholders would have been able to attain
the bid prices before the stock price decreased
measurably.
·
Undiscounted
Price. The proposed transaction price of $0.10 per pre-split share does
not include any discount for the lack of liquidity of our Common Stock or
for the minority status of the shares of our Common Stock owned by
unaffiliated stockholders.
The
Board determined that certain additional factors supported the fairness of the
Reverse Stock Split to all of our unaffiliated stockholders, including, but not
limited to:
·
Purchases
to continue stock ownership. Stockholders may, depending on the
availability of shares for purchase and the number of shares they
currently hold, elect to remain stockholders of the Company by acquiring
sufficient additional shares so that they will hold at least 101 shares of
Common Stock in their account immediately prior to the Reverse Stock
Split, which allows them to control the decision to remain stockholders
after the Reverse Stock Split is effected or to receive cash consideration
offered in connection with the Reverse Stock
Split.
·
Sales
or transfers to discontinue stock ownership. Stockholders who would
otherwise retain an equity interest in the Company after the completion of
the Reverse Stock Split may, depending on the demand for their shares,
have some control as to whether they will retain an interest in the
Company by selling or transferring shares of Common Stock prior to the
effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split to bring their equity interest to
below 101 shares, and, therefore, be in a position to be cashed out
pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split. However, stockholders contemplating
such sales or transfers should note that, although the Reverse Stock Split
has been approved by the requisite number of stockholders, the Board
reserves the right, in its discretion, to abandon the Reverse Stock Split
prior to the proposed Effective Date if it determines that abandoning the
Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
No
firm offers to acquire control of the Company. We have not received,
during the past two years any firm offers for the merger or consolidation
of the Company with or into another company, or vice versa, or the sale or
transfer of all or substantially all of our assets to another company, or
a purchase of our securities by another person that would involve a change
in control of the Company.
·
Stockholder
rights. The Reverse Stock Split will not materially change the rights,
preferences or limitations of those stockholders who will retain an
interest in the Company subsequent to the consummation of the Reverse
Stock Split.
Neither the Company nor the stockholders solicited or retained the
services of a financial advisor with respect to the Reverse Stock Split and
neither the Company's Board nor the stockholders received a fairness opinion
from a financial advisor in reaching its decision to consummate the Reverse
Stock Split. The Board chose not to retain the services of an
independent advisor because it believes the cost of such services would be
excessive relative to the size and cost of the Reverse Stock
Split. In this regard, the total expected payment to be made for
fractional shares cashed out in connection with the Reverse Stock Split is
$8,000. In light of the relative small size of this payment, the
Board did not seek a fairness opinion, since the cost of the fairness opinion
would likely have cost several times the value of the transaction.
The
Board determined that the Reverse Stock Split is procedurally fair to all
unaffiliated stockholders, including both stockholders who will receive cash
payments in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and will not be continuing
stockholders of the Company, as well as stockholders who will retain an equity
interest in the Company, because the Reverse Stock Split is being effected in
accordance with all requirements under Delaware law, and because before the
Reverse Stock Split becomes effective, all stockholders will have a chance to
buy or sell enough shares so that stockholders who would otherwise be cashed out
will not be, and stockholders who want to be cashed out, can be. In
addition, because we have three disinterested directors, none of whom own shares
of Common Stock, and therefore are not affected as a result of the consummation
of the Reverse Stock Split, the Board determined, together with the foregoing
factors, that the proposed Reverse Stock Split was procedurally fair to all
stockholders.
The Board did not create a special
committee of the Board to approve the Reverse Stock Split, nor did it hire
independent counsel. In the view of the Board, creating a special
committee was not necessary since a majority of the Board was disinterested, and
retaining independent counsel for such a committee would significantly increase
the cost of the Reverse Stock Split, which could in turn reduce the amount
available to pay stockholders who receive cash following the Reverse Stock
Split. In light of its determination that the interests of unaffiliated
stockholders were protected by (i) the representation on the Board of three
disinterested directors who do not have any interest in the proposed Reverse
Stock Split, (ii) the ability of unaffiliated stockholders to decide whether or
not to remain stockholders following the Reverse Stock Split by buying or
selling shares of Common Stock in the stock market, and (iii) the Company’s
compliance with all requirements of Delaware law, the Board did not create a
special committee or retain independent counsel.
The
Board determined not to condition the approval of the Reverse Stock Split on
approval by a majority of unaffiliated stockholders for several reasons. First,
the Board believes that any such vote would not provide additional protection to
those unaffiliated stockholders who will be cashed out in the transaction
because __% of the shares held by unaffiliated stockholders are held by
stockholders who would not be cashed out in the Reverse Stock Split and who may
therefore have different interests from the unaffiliated stockholders who would
be cashed out in the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, based on information
available to us, approximately 57% of our holders hold fewer than 101
shares of our Common Stock, and approximately 84% of our holders hold fewer than
1,000 shares of our Common Stock. Because of the small number of shares that
they hold, the Board believes that these stockholders have historically been
inactive and have not consistently voted their shares at meetings of the
stockholders. The Reverse Stock Split is also a matter that could not be voted
on by brokers without instruction from the beneficial owners of the shares so
even shares beneficially owned by holders of small numbers of shares held in
brokerage accounts might be unlikely to be voted. Finally, the Board also noted
that the vote of a majority of unaffiliated stockholders was not required under
Delaware law.
Further,
the Board did not retain an unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf
of the unaffiliated stockholders, since a majority of our Board consists of
disinterested directors whose sole interest in the Reverse Stock Split is to
ensure the fairness of the transaction to all holders of our Common
Stock. In addition, retaining an unaffiliated representative on
behalf of the unaffiliated stockholders would be an added expense of the Reverse
Stock Split and would not affect the outcome of the transaction because a
majority vote of the unaffiliated stockholders is not required under applicable
law.
The
Board did not grant stockholders access to our corporate files, except as
provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor did it extend the right
to retain counsel or appraisal services at our expense. The Board
determined that this Information Statement, together with our other filings with
the Commission, provide adequate information for all of our stockholders. The
Board also considered the fact that under the Delaware General Corporation Law
and subject to specified conditions set forth under Delaware law, stockholders
have the right to review our relevant books and records of account. In deciding
not to adopt these additional procedures, the Board also took into account
factors such as our size and financial capacity and the costs of such
procedures.
Because
of the wide variety of factors the Board considered in rendering the substantive
and procedural fairness of the Reverse Stock Split, taken as a whole, the Board
did not find it practicable to assign relative weights to factors it considered
in deciding that the transaction is fair and in the best interests of
unaffiliated stockholders. If any factor assisted the Board in its
determination on the fairness of the transaction, the Board did not assign a
relative weight to that factor and did not make a determination as to why a
particular factor should be assigned any weight.
Fairness Determination by Vicis Capital Master
Fund
Vicis
Capital Master Fund, who has been deemed a “filing person" for purposes of
Schedule 13E-3, has adopted the analysis and conclusions of our Board regarding
the material factors upon which it was determined that the Reverse Stock Split
is procedurally and substantively fair to our unaffiliated stockholders, both to
stockholders who will receive cash payments in connection with the Reverse Stock
Split and will not be continuing stockholders of the Company and to stockholders
who will retain an equity interest in the Company.
Our
Common Stock is currently registered under the Exchange Act and quoted on the
OTC Bulletin Board. We are permitted to terminate such registration if there are
fewer than 300 record holders of outstanding shares of our Common Stock. As of
February 13, 2009, we had approximately 439 record holders of our Common Stock.
Upon the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split, we expect to have
approximately 195 record holders of our Common Stock. We intend to
terminate the registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange Act and to
delist our Common Stock from the OTC Bulletin Board as promptly as possible
after the Effective Date.
Termination
of registration under the Exchange Act will substantially reduce the information
which we will be required to furnish to our stockholders. After we become a
privately-held company, our stockholders will have access to our corporate books
and records to the extent provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law, and
to any additional disclosures required by our directors' and officers' fiduciary
duties to us and our stockholders. In addition, the Company currently
intends to continue to make financial information available to market makers in
its stock, and to provide financial information to at least one service such as
Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, so that its shares may continue to trade in
those states which recognize the “standard manual exemption” for trading under
the state blue sky laws.
Termination
of registration under the Exchange Act also will make many of the provisions of
the Exchange Act no longer applicable to us, including the short-swing profit
provisions of Section 16, the proxy solicitation rules under Section 14 and the
stock ownership reporting rules under Section 13. In addition, affiliate
stockholders may be deprived of the ability to dispose of their Common Stock
under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). Furthermore, there will no longer be a public market for our
Common Stock, and market makers will not be able to make a market in our Common
Stock.
We
estimate that termination of registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange
Act will save us an estimated $300,000 per year in legal, accounting, printing
and other expenses, and will also enable our management to devote more time to
our operations. See also information under the caption "Special Factors -
Reasons for and Purposes of the Reverse Stock Split" in this Information
Statement.
The
Board determined that it is advisable to amend our Certificate of Incorporation
to effect a 1-for-101 Reverse Stock Split of Common Stock, and to provide for
the cash payment of $0.10 per pre-split share in lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock that would otherwise be issued following the Reverse Stock
Split.
We
have received the written consent of stockholders holding in aggregate 54.1% of
the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. No special meeting of
stockholders is required under Delaware law, because the requisite vote for
adoption of the Reverse Stock Split has been obtained and the vote of other
stockholders is not necessary.
The
Board determined not to condition the approval of the Reverse Stock Split on
approval by a majority of unaffiliated stockholders for several reasons. First,
the Board believes that any such vote would not provide additional protection to
those unaffiliated stockholders who will be cashed out in the transaction
because __% of the shares held by unaffiliated stockholders are held by
stockholders who would not be cashed out in the Reverse Stock Split and who may
therefore have different interests from the unaffiliated stockholders who would
be cashed out in the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, based on information
available to us, approximately 57% of our holders hold fewer than 101 shares of
our Common Stock, and approximately 84% of our holders hold fewer than 1,000
shares of our Common Stock. Perhaps because of the small number of shares that
they hold, the Board believes that these stockholders have historically been
inactive and have not consistently voted their shares at meetings of the
stockholders. The Reverse Stock Split is also a matter that could not be voted
on by brokers without instruction from the beneficial owners of the shares so
even shares beneficially owned by holders of small numbers of shares held in
brokerage accounts might be unlikely to be voted. Finally, the Board also noted
that the vote of a majority of unaffiliated stockholders was not required under
Delaware law.
Holders as of Effective Date; Net Effect After Reverse Stock
Split
Stockholders
holding fewer than 101 pre-split shares of Common Stock will be cashed out at a
price of $0.10 per share, and the holdings of all other stockholders will be
reduced on a 1-for-101 basis. Any stockholders whose shares are cashed out will
have no continuing equity interest in the Company.
NOMINEES
AND BROKERS ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP POSITIONS THEY HOLD. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE A BENEFICIAL OWNER OF COMMON
STOCK WHO IS NOT THE RECORD HOLDER OF THOSE SHARES AND WISH TO ENSURE THAT YOUR
OWNERSHIP POSITION IS ACCURATELY DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY'S EXCHANGE AGENT, YOU
SHOULD INSTRUCT YOUR BROKER OR NOMINEE TO TRANSFER YOUR SHARES INTO A RECORD
ACCOUNT IN YOUR NAME. NOMINEES AND BROKERS MAY HAVE REQUIRED PROCEDURES
THEREFORE, SUCH HOLDERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR NOMINEES AND BROKERS TO DETERMINE
HOW TO EFFECT THE TRANSFER IN A TIMELY MANNER PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
REVERSE STOCK SPLIT.
The
proposed Certificate of Amendment is attached as Annex A to this Information
Statement. The Reverse Stock Split will become effective upon the filing of the
proposed Certificate of Amendment with the Office of the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware.
Exchange of Certificates for Cash Payment or
Shares
We
will file the Certificate of Amendment with the Office of the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware and effect the amendment set forth in Annex A to this
Information Statement. The Reverse Stock Split will become effective at the
times set forth in the Certificate of Amendment. Mountain Share
Transfer of Broomfield, Colorado, has been appointed as the Exchange Agent to
carry out the exchange of certificates for cash.
As
soon as practicable after the Effective Date, record holders holding fewer than
101 shares will be notified and asked to surrender their certificates
representing shares of Common Stock to the Exchange Agent. Record holders owning
fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock on the Effective Date will receive in
exchange a cash payment in the amount of $0.10 per pre-split share.
If
the Reverse Stock Split is effected, any stockholder owning fewer than 101
shares of the currently outstanding Common Stock will cease to have any rights
with respect to our Common Stock, except to be paid in cash, as described in
this Information Statement. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash
payable to holders of fewer than 101 shares after the Reverse Stock Split is
effected.
No
service charges will be payable by stockholders in connection with the exchange
of certificates for cash, all expenses of which will be borne by the
Company.
Nominees
(such as a bank or broker) may have required procedures, and a stockholder
holding Common Stock in street name should contact his, her or its nominee to
determine how the Reverse Stock Split will affect them. The Exchange Agent
appointed by us to carry out the exchange has informed us that nominees are
expected to provide beneficial ownership positions to them so that beneficial
owners may be treated appropriately in effecting the Reverse Stock Split.
However, if you are a beneficial owner of fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock,
you should instruct your nominee to transfer your shares into a record account
in your name in a timely manner to ensure that you will be considered a holder
of record prior to the Effective Date, which is anticipated to be on or after
March __, 2009, the date twenty (20) calendar days after the date we anticipate
that this Information Statement will first be mailed to our stockholders. A
stockholder holding fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock in street name who
does not transfer shares into a record account in a timely manner may not have
his or her shares cashed out in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. For
instance, such stockholder's shares may not be cashed out if such stockholder's
nominee is a record holder of an aggregate of 100 or more shares of Common
Stock, holds shares for multiple stockholders in street name and does not
provide such beneficial ownership positions in a timely manner to the Exchange
Agent.
In
the event that any certificate representing shares of Common Stock is not
presented for cash upon request by us, the cash payment will be administered in
accordance with the relevant state abandoned property laws. Until the
cash payments have been delivered to the appropriate public official pursuant to
the abandoned property laws, such payments will be paid to the holder thereof or
his or her designee, without interest, at such time as the shares of Common
Stock have been properly presented for exchange.
Completion
of the Reverse Stock Split will require approximately $58,000 which includes, in
addition to the cost to cash out fractional shares of Common Stock, advisory,
legal, financial, accounting, printing, mailing and other fees and costs related
to the transaction. As a result, we will have decreased working capital
following the Reverse Stock Split which may have a material effect on our
capitalization, liquidity, results of operations and cash flow. The costs of the
transaction and related fees and expenses will be paid from currently available
cash held by us. You should read the discussion under the caption "Costs of the
Reverse Stock Split" below for a description of the fees and expenses we expect
to incur in connection with the transaction.
The
following is an estimate of the costs incurred or expected to be incurred by us
in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Final costs of the transaction may
be more or less than the estimates shown below. We will be responsible for
paying these costs. Please note that the following estimate of costs does not
include the cost of cashing out fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to
the Reverse Stock Split.
The
Company pays Daniel W. Rumsey, a member of our Board of Directors, $60,000 per
year to provide certain legal and related services to the Company, and to serve
as the Company’s Secretary. In addition, during 2008, the
Company paid SEC Connect, LLC, an EDGAR filing agent founded by Mr. Rumsey,
$3,800, and anticipates paying SEC Connect $7,000 for EDGAR filing services
during 2009.
On
December 31, 2008, the Company entered into a Series A Preferred Purchase
Agreement with Vicis Capital Master Fund (“Vicis”), pursuant to which we issued
350 shares of our 10% Cumulative Perpetual Series A Preferred Stock
(“Series A Shares”) for $10,000 per Series A Share, resulting in gross proceeds
to the Company of $3.5 million. In addition, the Company issued
28,500 shares of its Common Stock to Vicis for each Series A Share purchased,
resulting in the issuance of 9,975,000 shares of Common Stock in the
aggregate. As a result of the issuance, together with Vicis’ other
holdings of Common Stock, Vicis owns approximately 13.8 million shares of our
Common Stock, representing approximately 32.5% of our Common Stock issued and
outstanding.
We
expect our business and operations to continue as they are currently being
conducted and, except as disclosed in this Information Statement, the Reverse
Stock Split is not anticipated to have any effect upon the conduct of our
business. We expect to realize time and cost savings as a result of terminating
our public company status. When the Reverse Stock Split is consummated, all
persons owning fewer than 101 shares of Common Stock at the effective time of
the Reverse Stock Split will no longer have any equity interest in, and will not
be stockholders of, the Company, and therefore will not participate in our
future potential earnings and growth.
When
the Reverse Stock Split is effected, we believe that, based on our stockholder
records, approximately 195 record holders will remain as record holders of
Common Stock, beneficially owning 100% of the outstanding Common Stock.
Stockholders who currently beneficially own approximately 99.99% of the
outstanding Common Stock will beneficially own 100% of the outstanding Common
Stock after the Reverse Stock Split. See also information under the caption
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in this
Information Statement. When the Reverse Stock Split is effected, our executive
officers will beneficially own approximately 1.41% of the outstanding Common
Stock.
We
plan, following the consummation of the Reverse Stock Split, to become a
privately-held company. The registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange
Act will be terminated and our Common Stock will cease to be listed on the OTC
Bulletin Board. In addition, because our Common Stock will no longer be publicly
held, we will be relieved of the obligation to comply with the proxy rules of
Regulation 14A under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and our officers and
directors and stockholders owning more than 10% of our Common Stock will be
relieved of the stock ownership reporting requirements and "short swing" trading
restrictions under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Further, we will no longer be
subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and will
cease filing information with the Commission. Among other things, the effect of
this change will be to enable us to realize time and cost savings from not
having to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
Other
than as described in this Information Statement, neither we nor our management
has any current plans or proposals to (i) effect any extraordinary corporate
transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation; (ii) to sell or
transfer any material amount of our assets; (iii) to change our Board or
management; (iv) to change materially our indebtedness or capitalization; or (v)
otherwise to effect any material change in our corporate structure or
business.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD; FAIRNESS OF THE REVERSE STOCK
SPLIT
The
Board believes that the Reverse Stock Split is fair to our unaffiliated
stockholders, including those whose interests are being cashed out pursuant to
the Reverse Stock Split and those who will retain an equity interest in the
Company subsequent to the consummation of the Reverse Stock Split. The
discussion set forth in this Information Statement under the captions "Special
Factors - Reasons for and Purposes of the Reverse Stock Split,""Special Factors
- Strategic Alternatives Considered,""Special Factors - Background of the
Reverse Stock Split" and "Special Factors - Effects of the Reverse Stock Split"
summarizes the material factors, both positive and negative, considered by the
Board in reaching their fairness determination. For the reasons
described above under the caption "Special Factors - Fairness of the Reverse
Stock Split to Stockholders - Procedural Fairness to All Stockholders," the
Board also believes that the process by which the transaction has been approved
is fair to all unaffiliated stockholders, including those whose interests are
being cashed out pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split and those who will retain
an equity interest in the Company subsequent to the consummation of the Reverse
Stock Split.
In
consideration of the factors discussed under the captions "Special Factors -
Reasons for and Purposes of the Reverse Stock Split,""Special Factors -
Strategic Alternatives Considered,""Special Factors - Background of the Reverse
Stock Split,""Special Factors - Effects of the Reverse Stock Split" and
"Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Reverse Stock Split" in this
Information Statement, the Board approved the Reverse Stock Split by a unanimous
vote of the Board, submitted the Reverse Stock Split to a vote of the requisite
number of stockholders holding sufficient shares to approve the transaction and
recommended that such stockholders vote for approval and adoption of the
Certificate of Amendment and the payment of cash of $0.10 per pre-split share to
record holders who hold fewer than 101 shares as described
above. Brian M. Carter, the only member of the Board who owns, or
controls directly or indirectly, shares of our Common Stock, as well as Vicis
Capital Master Fund, has voted their shares, or caused all such controlled
shares to be voted, in favor of the Reverse Stock Split.
Fairness Determination by Vicis Capital Master
Fund
Vicis
Capital Master Fund who has been deemed a "filing person" for purposes of
Schedule 13E-3, has adopted the analysis and conclusions of our Board regarding
the material factors upon which it was determined that the Reverse Stock Split
is procedurally and substantively fair to our unaffiliated stockholders, both to
stockholders who will receive cash payments in connection with the Reverse Stock
Split and will not be continuing stockholders of the Company and to stockholders
who will retain an equity interest in the Company.
Although
the Reverse Stock Split has been approved by the requisite number of
stockholders, the Board reserves the right, in its discretion, to abandon the
Reverse Stock Split prior to the proposed Effective Date if it determines that
abandoning the Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders.
The
Board presently believes that the Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests
of the Company, our stockholders being cashed out pursuant to the Reverse Stock
Split and our stockholders who will retain an equity interest in the Company
subsequent to the consummation of the Reverse Stock Split, and thus recommended
a vote for the proposed Certificate of Amendment. Nonetheless, the Board
believes that it is prudent to recognize that, between the date of this
Information Statement and the date that the Reverse Stock Split will become
effective, factual circumstances could possibly change such that it might not be
appropriate or desirable to effect the Reverse Stock Split at that time or on
the terms currently proposed. Such factual circumstances could
include a superior offer to our stockholders, a material change in our business
or litigation affecting our ability to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split. If
the Board decides to withdraw or modify the Reverse Stock Split, the Board will
notify the stockholders of such decision promptly in accordance with applicable
rules and regulations.
We
“incorporate by reference” in this Information Statement certain documents that
the Company has filed with the Commission. This means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed
separately with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is
considered to be a part of this Information Statement, except for any
information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this
document or in a more recent incorporated document. Any statement
contained in a document incorporated by reference in this Information Statement
will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Information
Statement to the extent that a statement contained in this Information Statement
or in any other subsequently filed document that also is incorporated in this
Information Statement modifies or replaces such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Information Statement. We incorporate by
reference the documents listed below:
•
Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007;
and
•
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30,2008.
These
incorporated documents are available without charge to stockholders upon written
or oral request to the Company. Please see the caption “Available
Information” below for information on requesting these documents.
Price Range of Common Stock; Dividends; Trading
Volume
Our
Common Stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "WRGI.OB." The
following is a schedule of the reported high and low closing bid quotations per
share for our Common Stock during the period from January 1,2007 through March __, 2009, all of which quotations represent prices
between dealers, do not include retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may
not necessarily represent actual transactions:
On
February 17, 2009, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Reverse
Stock Split, our Common Stock's closing price per share was $0.035. We have not
paid or declared any dividends on our Common Stock since inception. Any future
declaration and payment of cash dividends will be subject to the discretion of
the Board, and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition,
cash requirements, future prospects, changes to tax legislation, and other
factors deemed relevant by our Board. We do not intend to pay cash dividends on
our Common Stock in the immediate future.
During
the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, our stock traded infrequently, with
reported trades occurring on only 134 days, and with an average daily trading
volume of 8,564 shares for such 12-month period.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information, as of February 6, 2009, concerning
beneficial ownership of Common Stock, our only class of equity securities
currently outstanding, by (i) the only persons known to the Company to be
beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) all
directors, (iii) all named executive officers and (iv) all directors and named
executive officers as a group.
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Commission. Shares
of common stock subject to options, warrants or other derivative instruments,
such as convertible preferred stock, currently exercisable or exercisable within
60 days of February 6, 2009 are deemed to be outstanding for calculating
the percentage of outstanding shares of the person holding these options,
warrants or other derivative instruments, but are not deemed outstanding for
calculating the percentage of any other person. Percentage of beneficial
ownership is based upon (i) 42,521,734 shares of common stock outstanding
and (ii) 50,000 shares of Series E Preferred outstanding as of February 6,2009, as the case may be. To our knowledge, except as set forth in the footnotes
to this table and subject to applicable community property laws, each person
named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to
the shares set forth opposite such person’s name. Except as otherwise indicated,
the address of each of the persons in this table is c/o World Racing Group,
Inc., 7575-D West Winds Boulevard, Concord, North Carolina28027.
Shares
represent restricted Common Stock granted to the named executive officer
in connection with each such officer’s employment agreement.
(2)
Unless
otherwise indicated, the business address for each of the Directors and
Officers is 7575 West Winds Blvd, Suite D, Concord NC 28027.
(3)
In
its Schedule 13G/A filed on January 26, 2009, Vicis Capital LLC reported
sole voting and dispositive power over all reported shares, due to its
capacity as the investment advisor for Vicis Capital Master Fund, which
holds all shares directly.
(4)
In
its Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2008, SDS Capital Group SPC, Ltd.
reported sole voting and dispositive power over all reported
shares. SDS Management, LLC, the investment manager of SDS
Capital Group SPC Ltd. and Mr. Steven Derby, the sole managing member of
SDS Management, LLC, reported shared voting and dispositive power over all
reported shares. Excludes 362,900 shares
issuable upon exercise of convertible preferred stock convertible into
Common Stock that are subject to so-called 'blocker' provisions
prohibiting the holder from converting the convertible preferred stock
when the beneficial owner owns more than 9.99% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(5)
In
its Schedule 13G filed on May 23, 2008, Trellus Management reported it has
shared voting and dispositive power over all reported shares with Mr. Adam
Usdan, the President of Trellus Management.
Under
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, we can indemnify our
directors and officers against liabilities they may incur in such capacities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our Certificate of Incorporation
provides that we will indemnify and hold harmless our directors, officers,
employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
In
addition, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our directors shall not
be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for
any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not eliminate the duty
of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive
or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under the Delaware
General Corporation Law. The provision also does not affect a director's
responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal or state securities or
environmental laws.
There
is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer, employee
or other agent of ours as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we
aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for
indemnification by any director, officer, employee or other agent.
The
following documents that we filed with the Commission, File No. 0-18045, are
incorporated by reference in this Information Statement, except for any
discussion therein of the "safe harbor" protections for forward-looking
statements provided under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
(i) the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31,2007; and (ii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
September 30, 2008.
All
documents and reports that we filed with the Commission under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Information
Statement are not incorporated by reference into this Information Statement. New
material information, if any, will be provided in an amended Information
Statement.
Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Information Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein (or
in any other subsequently filed documents which also is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes the statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Information Statement.
We
are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and in
accordance with the Exchange Act file reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Commission. These reports, proxy statements and other
information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of
the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of this
material can also be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. In addition, these reports, proxy statements and other information are
available from the EDGAR filings obtained through the Commission's Internet
Website (http://www.sec.gov).
Our
financial statements incorporated herein by reference may be viewed over the
Internet at the Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov)
or, if you request them in writing, we will send them to you. Please address any
request to Daniel Rumsey, the Company’s Secretary, at the following address:
World Racing Group, Inc. 7575 Westwinds Boulevard, Suite D, Concord, North
Carolina 28927, 704.795.7223.
SECOND:
The terms and provisions of this Certificate of Amendment have been duly adopted
in accordance with Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware and shall become effective at , Eastern Time, on ,
2009.
THIRD:
Article 4 of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended by deleting the
first full paragraph in its entirety and replacing it with the
following:
The
aggregate number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall have
authority to issue is One Hundred Ten Million (110,000,000), of which One
Hundred Million (100,000,000) shall be shares of Common Stock,
having a par value of $0.0001 per share, and Ten Million (10,000,000)
shall be shares of Preferred Stock, having a par value of $0.01 per
share. Upon the effectiveness (the "Effective Time") of this
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation adding this
paragraph, each One Hundred and One (101) issued shares of Common Stock, par
value $0.0001 per share, shall be combined and reclassified into One (1)
fully-paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share,
of the Corporation; provided,
however, that in lieu of any fractional interests in shares of
Common Stock to which any stockholder would be entitled, the Corporation shall
pay in cash for such fractional interest $0.10 per share held by such
stockholder immediately prior to the Effective Time.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be
signed by its officers thereunto duly authorized this day
of ,
2009.
By:
Name: Brian
M. Carter
Title:
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Dates Referenced Herein and Documents Incorporated by Reference