CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Transactions with Management and Others
With the exception of Messrs. Joseph F. Langston Jr. and Paul D. Watson, the members of our board of directors and the members of the audit committee are independent, as that term is defined in section (a)15 of Rule 4200 of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
On October 7, 2005, Lothian Oil Inc., formerly our largest shareholder, entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with us. Pursuant to this agreement, Lothian purchased 1,093,333 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase an additional 2,906,666 shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $3,444,000, or $3.15 per share, in cash. The warrants have a term of five years and were issued as follows: (i) a warrant for the purchase of 953,333 shares with an exercise price of $3.15 per share; (ii) a warrant for the purchase of 1,000,000 shares with an exercise price of $3.36. per share; and (iii) a warrant for the purchase of
953,333 shares with an exercise price of $3.75 per share.
Proceeds from the sale of the securities were used to repay a line of credit made to us by Almac Financial Corporation, a corporation wholly-owned by Mr. Walter G. Mize, our former chief executive officer, president and chairman of our board of directors.
As part of the Agreement, Lothian entered into a series of agreements with us, including Development and Exploration Agreements relative to certain properties belonging to our subsidiaries, UHC Petroleum Corporation and UHC New Mexico Corporation, documents titled Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement and Financing Statement, which created an assignment and assumption interest relative to a portion of our working interest in those properties, promissory notes in the amount of $4,000,000 (later increased to $8,000,000) and $2,500,000 and a Credit Agreement and Secured Credit Agreement, setting forth the terms of the
loans.
On October 7, 2005 Lothian also entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain of our shareholders, including Mr. Mize. Mr. Mize, together with six other shareholders, sold a total of 2,666,665 shares of common stock to Lothian. (Together, Mr. Mize and the other selling shareholders are referred to in this discussion as the Selling Shareholders.) Lothian paid an aggregate purchase price of $10,651,000 or $3.99 per share for the common stock. On the date of the sale, Mr. Mize owned a total of 1,709,863 shares of common stock, of which 1,693,530 shares were sold. Mr. Mize retained 16,333 issued and outstanding shares of common
stock as well as an option to purchase 333,333 shares of common stock at a price of $1.50 per share. If not exercised, this option will expire on March 31, 2009.
Lothian paid the purchase price to the Selling Shareholders with a promissory note dated October 7, 2005 (the Acquisition Date). The promissory note accrued interest at the prime rate plus 1%. The promissory note was to be paid in installments. The first installment of $3,500,000 was paid on December 20, 2005, the second installment of $2,383,666 was paid on October 7, 2006, the third installment of $2,383,666 was due and payable on the second anniversary of the Acquisition Date and the promissory note was to mature and an installment equal to the remaining unpaid principal amount and all accrued but unpaid interest was to be due and
payable on the third anniversary of the Acquisition Date.
On February 22, 2006, Lothian executed an amendment to the promissory note whereby it agreed to pay $1,000,000 of the principal amount on or before June 30, 2006.
To secure payment of the purchase price, on October 7, 2005 Lothian executed a Stock Pledge Agreement in favor of the Selling Shareholders. As the anniversary installments required by the promissory note were paid, 933,333 shares, 577,777 shares and 1,155,555 shares of common stock, respectively, were to be released.
On November 3, 2006, Mr. Mize loaned $1,000,000 (the Interim Loan) to Lothian. The loan was allegedly secured by the guarantees of, among others, Messrs. Bruce Ransom and Kenneth Levy, who were directors. According to its terms, a default of the Interim Loan resulted in a default of the promissory note issued to the Selling Shareholders. The Interim Loan was not repaid by Lothian within the terms of the agreement, and Mr. Mize declared the Interim Loan and the promissory note issued to the Selling Shareholders in default and therefore due and payable.