dfan14a207142002_05142008.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
SCHEDULE 14A
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14a-101)
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REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
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(Name
of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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|
NANES
DELORME PARTNERS I LP
NANES
BALKANY PARTNERS LLC
NANES
BALKANY MANAGEMENT LLC
JULIEN
BALKANY
DARYL
NANES
LEONARD
TOBOROFF
CLARENCE
COTTMAN III
|
(Name
of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the
Registrant)
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(4) Date
Filed:
On May 7,
2008, Nanes Delorme Partners I LP (“Nanes Delorme Partners”), together with the
other participants named herein, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) a definitive proxy statement and an accompanying GOLD proxy
card to be used to solicit votes for the election of its nominees at the 2008
annual meeting of stockholders of VAALCO Energy Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
Item 1:
The following materials were posted at
http://www.ImproveVaalco.com:
NANES
DELORME PARTNERS I LP
YOUR
VOTE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
May 8,
2008
Dear
Fellow Stockholders,
Nanes
Delorme Partners I LP, with associated entities, currently beneficially owns
4,700,000 of the outstanding shares of VAALCO Energy, Inc., representing
approximately 7.9% of the Company, making us the largest stockholder of
VAALCO.
As
VAALCO’s largest stockholder, we have a substantial interest in seeing that the
management and the directors of the Board of the Company are strongly committed
to maximizing value for all stockholders. Regrettably, we do not
believe that the Board is acting in the best interests of its stockholders, and
believe that immediate changes at the Board level are necessary to unlock value.
We are therefore seeking your support at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
scheduled to be held in Houston to elect our three highly qualified director
nominees, Julien Balkany, Leonard Toboroff and Clarence Cottman III, to the
Board to serve as Class I directors in opposition to the Company’s three
incumbent Class I directors whose terms expire at the Annual
Meeting.
Just so
you know, we have made every effort to work constructively with VAALCO’s
management in the hope of maximizing value for all stockholders. We
met with senior executives of the Company on April 15, 2008. We approached the
meeting with an open mind and the sincere hope that management would consider a
possible turnaround of the strategic direction of the Company in a way that
would have helped reverse management’s prior poor decisions and negative
reputation among its peers, analysts and investors. While the meeting reinforced our
positive view of the Company’s underlying asset value in Gabon and Angola, we
were shocked by what we perceived to be the Board’s lack of sincere interest in
improving the Company’s operating performance, corporate governance structure
and overall lack of commitment to enhancing stockholder
value.
We
foresee this contest as a crucial opportunity to send a strong message to the
remaining incumbent directors that stockholders are not satisfied with the
Company’s current performance, management and corporate governance.
Specifically, our concerns include the following:
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VAALCO’s
disappointing stock performance;
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Management’s
ill-advised oil exploration diversification in the UK North
Sea;
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Vaalco’s
poor operational and technical
capabilities;
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Management’s
failure to retain a first tier investment bank and to consider strategic
alternatives; and
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VAALCO’s
stockholder unfriendly corporate
governance.
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We are
extremely frustrated by the major disconnect that exists between VAALCO’s
depressed stock price and the underlying value of its assets. We estimate the
total Net Asset Value of the Company at approximately $420 million, which
translates into approximately $7.12 per share (please see the NAV analysis table
in our proxy statement for a description of the basis for our estimate of NAV).
Without change to the current Board, we fear that the Company’s intrinsic value
may continue to erode under the continued unchecked stewardship of current
senior management.
VAALCO’s
stock has underperformed by all relevant measures. In 2007, the share price fell
approximately 30%, while the Standard & Poor's Midcap Oil and Gas
Exploration and Production Index climbed nearly 45%. Unsurprisingly the
underperformance has continued in the beginning of 2008 and the share price has
traded as low as $3.99 and has only started to trade higher since we publicized
our concern on March 11, 2008. Since this date VAALCO’s stock has increased by
approximately 33% illustrating what we believe to be the strong expectation by
stockholders of immediate and substantial changes in the Company. A management
team facing such recent market reactions should be hungry for ideas to boost
value. The management’s and Board’s failure to offer any substantive responses
or alternatives to our proposals to unlock stockholder value leave us with no
other choice than to encourage stockholders to elect our Nominees to send a loud
and clear signal to the remaining members of the Board.
VAALCO’s
stock price has continued to trade at a substantial discount to VAALCO’s E&P
peers using virtually all relevant comparable valuation metrics. As illustrated
below, VAALCO recently has traded at a total enterprise value to 2008 estimated
EBITDA of approximately 3.1x, compared to recent multiples of approximately 8.0x
for its selected group of E&P peers. Despite this clear
underperformance by the Company, we are unaware of any new or promising
initiatives commenced by management or the Board to address the depressed stock
price. VAALCO needs new directors who understand the importance of
maximizing stockholder value.
We
believe responsibility clearly lies with existing management and the current
Board, who have failed to pursue a cohesive expansion plan. We
believe VAALCO should refocus its efforts and resources on the Company’s core
geographical area in West Africa and significantly reduce spending and
management’s efforts in the UK North Sea. We are extremely disappointed by
the Company’s poor operational and financial performance achieved
under the current leadership in 2007. In 2007 the Company sold 1,759,000 million
barrels of oil equivalent (“boe”), a 13% increase compared to 2006. The high oil
price environment has also enabled the Company to sell its oil production at
approximately a 13% premium compared to sales in 2006. In the meantime, the
operating income for the year 2007 is down 8% from 2006 and the net earnings
decrease by more than 50%. We are extremely worried by the 2007
results and the total failure to benefit at all from the continued surge in oil
prices.
Given the
Company’s extremely poor performance viewed in comparison to its oil and gas
exploration and production peers and given the industry’s strong trend towards
consolidation, we have urged the Board, as part of its fiduciary responsibility
of delivering value to stockholders, to retain a first tier investment bank to
evaluate and explore all strategic alternatives instead of continuing its
“business as usual” approach that perpetuates the cycle of value destruction at
VAALCO. We further believe that the NYSE is not the appropriate
exchange to list a company with core assets in West Africa and that VAALCO
should not remain listed on it, but instead should be listed on a more
appropriate exchange.
We also
believe, based on conversations with numerous industry experts, that the Board
and VAALCO’s current management may have rebuffed private inquiries regarding a
potential acquisition of the Company at a significant premium to its current
share price on several occasions. If true, this deepens our concern
that the Board has failed to fully explore all options to maximize value for
stockholders. Stockholders should have the right to decide to take
advantage of a substantial buyout premium that delivers immediate and compelling
value.
In
addition, because VAALCO has consistently maintained poor corporate governance
practices, we believe there is an urgent need to improve the Board’s
accountability to stockholders. These sub-standard corporate
governance practices of the Company include, but are not limited to, (i) a
staggered board, (ii) the consolidated power in the combined role of the
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, (iii) the adoption of a Shareholders
Rights Plan or “poison pill” in September 2007, (iv) anti-takeover provisions
and (v) supermajority voting rules.
If
elected, our Nominees will, subject to their fiduciary duties, lobby the other
members of the Board to implement corporate governance reforms and to
immediately improve the Company’s performance. The Nominees intend to address
the following issues:
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Creation
of an independent special committee to evaluate and explore all strategic
alternatives for maximizing stockholder value, including, but not be
limited to, core asset divestments, alternative listings, mergers and/or
the sale of the entire Company.
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Retain
a top tier investment bank to assist in the above
process;
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Discontinuation
of further expansion in the North Sea Region and refocus VAALCO’s efforts
and resources on the Company’s core assets in Gabon and
Angola;
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Take
all the appropriate measures to reduce the Company’s administrative costs
and close the Company’s office in Aberdeen (UK), relocate the headquarters
in London, Paris or Geneva to be on the same time horizon as Gabon and
Angola;
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Redemption
of the Shareholders Rights Plan and elimination of VAALCO’s anti-takeover
provisions;
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Declassification
of the staggered Board and institution of annual elections for all
directors;
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Separation
of the role of Chairman and CEO;
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Termination
of the supermajority voting provisions;
and
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Commencement
of a process to identify and appoint a qualified Chief Operating Officer
to strengthen management;
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We
believe our Nominees have the experience and oil and gas expertise necessary to
oversee an effort to maximize stockholder value through a change in strategic
direction and corporate governance reforms. VAALCO clearly needs new independent
directors who understand the importance of accountability and who will properly
and carefully review all strategic options to enhance stockholder value in
accordance with their fiduciary duty, instead of the incumbent directors who are
content to maintain the status quo that has led to the underperformance of the
Company.
We note
that five of the Company’s seven incumbent directors actually own 1,000 or fewer
shares each (and three of them actually own no shares). This includes
W. Russell Scheirman, the Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer, and a
director since 1991, who actually owns only 694 shares. We have a clear financial interest
aligned with the interests of all non-insider stockholders.
As the Company’s largest
stockholder, our interests are aligned with yours.
We do not
take lightly an election contest for directors of a public company. It is
unfortunate that the intransigence of the Board and senior management has forced
us to take this action, but we would like to reiterate that as the largest
stockholder of VAALCO, it is crucial that stockholders not let the status quo
continue. Our Nominees will work to maximize value for all
stockholders.
Thank you
for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Julien
Balkany
Nanes
Delorme Partners I LP
ATTENTION
VAALCO STOCKHOLDERS: VOTE THE GOLD PROXY TODAY!
IF
YOU HAVE ALREADY RETURNED A WHITE PROXY, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO CHANGE
YOUR VOTE. TO CHANGE, SIMPLY EXECUTE THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY
CARD.
IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR NEED ASSISTANCE IN VOTING YOUR GOLD PROXY CARD,
PLEASE CONTACT THE FIRM ASSISTING US IN THIS SOLICITATION:
105 Madison
Avenue
New York, New
York 10016
(212)
929-5500 (Call Collect)
proxy@mackenziepartners.com
or
CALL TOLL
FREE (800) 322-2885
|
NANES
DELORME PARTNERS I LP
May 14,
2008
Dear
Fellow Stockholders,
As you
are aware, we are seeking your support to elect Julien Balkany, Leonard Toboroff
and Clarence Cottman III, our three highly qualified, independent director
nominees at VAALCO’s Annual Meeting on June 4. If elected, our
minority slate of directors will represent the interests of all stockholders and
intend to take steps to improve corporate governance and retain a top tier
investment bank to evaluate and explore all strategic alternatives for
maximizing stockholder value, including, but not be limited to, core asset
divestments, alternative listings, mergers and/or the sale of the entire
Company.
VAALCO
HAS MATERIALLY UNDERPERFORMED UNDER THIS BOARD’S LEADERSHIP – STOCKHOLDERS
DESERVE BETTER
We have
been forced into this solicitation because our repeated attempts to ensure that
stockholder concerns about VAALCO’s current strategic direction and recent
disastrous performance have been completely ignored. As you have
probably also realized by now, rather than provide a clear strategic plan to
rebuild shareholder value, management has chosen to evade the critical issues
facing VAALCO and to defend its failures by launching a campaign rooted in
misleading facts and unnecessary scare tactics designed to distract stockholders
from the Company’s poor performance.
Nanes
Delorme Partners I LP is a limited partnership that was formed in January 2008
for the purpose of investing primarily in publicly traded securities of oil and
gas companies. We have no “secret partners” as the Board misleadingly
suggests. In addition to VAALCO, Nanes Delorme Partners holds
significant positions in several other publicly listed
companies. Do not be
fooled by the Board’s scare tactics – if elected we will be a MINORITY of the
Board and our goal is to work with the remaining members of the Board to
increase value for all stockholders.
DO
NOT BE MISLED BY THE COMPANY’S DESPERATE EFFORTS TO DISTRACT YOU FROM THE REAL
ISSUES
We are
also extremely disappointed that the incumbent directors -- most of whom own
little to no stock in the Company -- have displayed a clear lack of interest in
improving the Company’s strategic direction, operating performance and corporate
governance and have shown an overall lack of commitment to enhancing stockholder
value. As VAALCO’s largest stockholder, we have made every effort to
work constructively with current management, but we now believe that change at
the Board level is necessary.
NANES
DELORME PARTNERS’ MINORITY SLATE IS THE
RIGHT
CHOICE FOR CHANGE – LET’S PUT AN END TO THE STATUS QUO
We
believe the current Board will say and do just about anything to entrench its
members, protect its own interests and ignore the concerns of
stockholders. Consider the following:
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The Board offered Julien
Balkany, one of our nominees, a board seat in the hope of convincing us to
abandon our solicitation. On April 21, a mere three days
before it filed its proxy materials, the Company presented us with an
unsolicited
settlement agreement offering to appoint Julien Balkany to the
Board.
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After Nanes DeLorme Partners rejected
the settlement offer, the Board immediately filed false and misleading proxy
material and has been critical of Mr. Balkany. In fact, on May
8, 2008, the Company sent a letter to stockholders outlining certain concerns
with us and with Mr. Balkany in particular. What changed in the two
weeks since the Board offered to appoint Mr. Balkany as a
director? Why is management disparaging a nominee that, a short while
ago, it was all too eager to appoint to the Board if we would abandon our proxy
fight in return? We are confident that stockholders who have suffered through
VAALCO’s consistent poor performance will see through this desperate
ploy.
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The Company claims that no
“bona fide” offers to provide stockholders with “full and fair value” have
been received. We call on the Company to truthfully disclose
whether it has been approached by third parties regarding a corporate
transaction or received any proposals within the last 12
months.
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Stockholders
should determine whether an offer is fair and in their best interests, not a
self-serving Board whose members keep their jobs by rejecting all
offers.
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The Board claims to act in
stockholders best interests, but with a poison pill, a classified
Board, supermajority voting provisions and provisions permitting directors
to only be removed from office for cause, who are these provisions in
place to protect?
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We wonder, what purposes do these
provisions serve, other to ensure the entrenchment of the Board and block
legitimate corporate action?
THIS
BOARD WANTS IMMUNITY – NOT ACCOUNTABILITY!
This is a
Board that will seemingly say and do anything to remain entrenched in office,
even if its actions come at the expense of stockholders’ best
interests. Other than to distract stockholders from its own failures,
why else would the Board and management choose to waste its time and effort
delivering letters to stockholders describing people and events that have little
to nothing to do with us, our Nominees, or more importantly, the Company’s poor
performance under this Board and management!
VAALCO’S
DISMAL PERFORMANCE NUMBERS TELL THE TRUE STORY
The Board
presents itself over the last six month, one, three and five year periods as a
“consistent outperformer” of both its peer group and the S&P 500
Index. We believe this statement to be blatantly
misleading. What about oil prices? What about the S&P 500 Oil
& Gas E&P Index? The truth is, VAALCO has significantly underperformed
all the relevant benchmarks.
Until
Nanes Delorme Partners’ public involvement in March of this year, VAALCO’s stock
performance was extremely disappointing. In fact,
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In
the one year
period ending on March 11, the date we went public with our
concerns, VAALCO’s stock was
down 7% while the S&P 500 Oil and Gas Exploration and
Production Index was up 62%.
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In
the eighteen
month period ending on March 11, VAALCO’s stock was
down 32% while the S&P 500 Oil and Gas Exploration and
Production Index was up 70%.
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In
the two year
period ending on March 11, VAALCO’s stock was
down 22% while the S&P 500 Oil and Gas Exploration and
Production Index was up 74%.
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*
All data through market close on March 11, 2008. Source: Capital IQ
Since March 11, the date our
investment and interest in VAALCO was first publicly announced, VAALCO’s stock
is up approximately 44%. Also since March 11, the Company has
made three public announcements, (i) on March 13th to release its year end
earnings for 2007 which are down more than 50% compared to its net earnings in
2006; (ii) on May 8th to offer stockholders a collection of scattered,
unsubstantiated points and unwarranted attacks on us; and (iii) on May 9th to
announce that the Company missed 1Q08 earnings by 17 cents, which represent a
decrease of approximately 60% compared to its net earnings in
2007. We believe the increase is clearly not based on Company
developments, but rather on the strong hope by stockholders that new board
members will work to cause immediate and substantial changes in the
Company.
VAALCO
claims that we have attempted to use “complicated formulas and analyses to imply
that the Company’s stock price and EBITDA have underperformed;” and instead
suggests that the Company is one whose growth should be measured through the
drill bit.
In fact,
according to management, over the last 18 months, “your Board and management team have
laid the foundation necessary for significant increases in reserves and
production.” However, it seems to us that no complex formulas
or analyses are needed to see that during
the past 18 months prior to our involvement, despite strong conditions in the
oil and gas business, VAALCO’s stock was down an astonishing
32%.
VAALCO’S
1Q 2008 REINFORCES THE FACT THAT CHANGE IS NECESSARY –
THE
COMPANY MISSED ITS NET EARNINGS PER SHARE BY 17 CENTS
VAALCO
claims that it is exceptionally well-positioned for continued growth and
success, yet first quarter results show that net income decreased from $4.6
million or 8 cents per share, on revenue of $29.1 million in first quarter 2007
to $1.8 million, or 3 cents per share, on revenue of $42.2 million in first
quarter 2008, a decrease of approximately 60%. In an era where the
price of oil has reached record levels, and where the Company sold its
production for a 65% higher price, we are very frustrated by a nearly 60% decline in net
income.
In light
of such failure, how can the Board and management claim with a straight face
that they have a pattern of delivering consistent growth in revenues, cash flows
and earnings? Once again, the Board and management have demonstrated
that they are willing to say anything regardless of the underlying
facts.
In the
1Q08 earnings call, the Chairman and CEO of Vaalco noted: “our earnings per
share fell a little short of what we had hoped for” and blamed the results on
“high tax.” The excuses offered by management are never
ending. What counts is performance.
MAYBE
THIS EXPLAINS WHY SO MANY OF THE INCUMBENT BOARD MEMBERS CHOOSE NOT TO INVEST IN
VAALCO SHARES
Why
should stockholders believe management’s pronouncements that the Company is in
good hands when W.
Russell Scheirman, the President and CFO since 1992, owns only 694 shares,
and in the past two years has exercised options to acquire a total of
approximately 530,000 shares over 18 separate occasions, and has sold each share
purchased, keeping not one share?
How can
stockholders trust that the Board’s and management’s interests are aligned with
stockholders when five of the seven incumbent directors actually own 1,000 or
fewer shares each? Where is the Board’s faith in the Company if three
incumbent directors actually own no shares?
AS
THE COMPANY’S LARGEST STOCKHOLDER, OUR GOALS ARE COMPLETELY ALIGNED WITH YOURS –
TO CREATE VALUE FOR ALL STOCKHOLDERS
As the
Company’s largest stockholder, our interests are clearly aligned with yours in
our efforts to elect a minority slate to the VAALCO Board. Our three
nominees are all highly successful business people with deep expertise and
knowledge of the oil and gas industry who are committed to oversee an effort to
maximize stockholder value. We do not intend to acquire the
Company. If elected, our nominees will work diligently with
management and the remaining members of the Board to:
·
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Create
an independent special committee, assisted by a top tier investment bank,
to evaluate and explore all strategic alternatives for maximizing
stockholder value, including, but not be limited to, core asset
divestments, alternative listings, mergers and/or the sale of the entire
Company.
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Discontinue
further expansion in the North Sea Region and refocus VAALCO’s efforts and
resources on the Company’s core assets in Gabon and
Angola;
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Take
all the appropriate measures to reduce the Company’s administrative costs
and close the Company’s office in Aberdeen
(UK);
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Improve
the Company’s corporate governance by redeeming the Shareholders Rights
Plan, eliminating VAALCO’s anti-takeover provisions, declassifying the
staggered board and separating the role of Chairman and
CEO;
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Commence
a process to identify and appoint a qualified Chief Operating Officer to
strengthen management; and
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Tie
management compensation more directly to the creation of stockholder value
and hold management and the Board more accountable for the Company’s
performance.
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If
elected, our nominees will represent a minority of the VAALCO Board and cannot,
by themselves, force the implementation of any one strategic
alternative.
WE
BELIEVE THE STATUS QUO IS ERODING STOCKHOLDER VALUE
SEND
THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE UNWILLING TO LET YOUR INVESTMENT SUFFERS FROM
IRRESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT
We
urge to you sign, date and return the enclosed GOLD proxy card
today. Even if you have already voted for the Company’s slate, you
have every right to change your mind. Simply sign and date the GOLD
proxy card, - only the latest dated proxy card you return will be
counted.
Your vote is very important,
regardless of how many shares you own. If you have any
questions or need assistance in filling out your GOLD proxy card, please call
our proxy solicitors, Mackenzie Partners, Inc., toll free at (800)
322-2885.
We thank
you for your consideration and look forward to the responsibility of maximizing
value for all VAALCO stockholders.
Sincerely,
/s/ Julien Balkany
Julien
Balkany
Nanes
Delorme Partners I LP
ATTENTION
VAALCO STOCKHOLDERS: VOTE THE GOLD PROXY TODAY!
IF
YOU HAVE ALREADY RETURNED A WHITE PROXY, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO
CHANGE
YOUR VOTE. TO CHANGE,
SIMPLY EXECUTE THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY CARD.
IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR NEED ASSISTANCE IN VOTING YOUR GOLD PROXY
CARD,
PLEASE CONTACT THE FIRM ASSISTING US IN THIS SOLICITATION:
105
Madison Avenue
New
York, New York 10016
(212)
929-5500 (Call Collect)
proxy@mackenziepartners.com
or
CALL
TOLL FREE (800) 322-2885
|
IMPORTANT
NOTICE
This
Website http://www.ImproveVAALCO.com (the “Site”), sponsored
by Nanes Delorme Partners I LP (the “Sponsor”), is for informational purposes
only. You may use the Site for non-commercial, lawful purposes only. Your
access to and use of the Site is subject to and governed by the Terms and
Conditions set forth on the Terms and Conditions page here. By accessing
and browsing the Site, you accept, without limitation or qualification, and
agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions set forth here and the Privacy
Policy set forth here.
This Site
includes, refers to or incorporates by reference certain statements that are
"forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, in this website that address activities, events or
developments, proposed acquisitions, dispositions and financings that may occur
in the future, including the future growth, results of operations, performance
and business prospects and opportunities, and the assumptions underlying any of
the foregoing, of VAALCO Energy, Inc. ("VAALCO"), are
forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified
by use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate",
"anticipate", "believe", "project", "should", or "continue" or the negative
thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements are based upon
a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Sponsor's control, that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or
implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties
include, among other things, risks related to: business risks; cost of fuels to
produce electricity, legislative or regulatory developments, competition, global
capital markets activity, changes in prevailing interest rates, currency
exchange rates, inflation levels, plant availability, and general economic
conditions. There can be no assurance that the expectations of the Sponsor will
prove to be correct.
All
forward-looking statements in this website speak as of May 14, 2008. The Sponsor
shall have no duty and does not undertake to update any such forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. The information concerning VAALCO contained in this website has
been taken from or is based upon publicly available documents or records on file
with United States securities regulatory authorities and other public
sources. The Sponsor is not soliciting any action based upon the Site, is
not responsible for any decision by any stockholder and the Site should not be
construed as a solicitation to procure, withhold or revoke any proxy. Any
such solicitation, if made, will be made only in compliance with applicable
law.
NANES
DELORME PARTNERS I LP ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF VAALCO TO READ ITS PROXY
STATEMENT, PROXY CARD AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE
SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, NANES DELORME PARTNERS I LP AND THE
PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY
STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
THE PARTICIPANTS' PROXY SOLICITOR, MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC., AT ITS
TOLL-FREE NUMBER: (800) 322-2885.
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS
This
Website http://www.ImproveVAALCO.com
(the "Site"), sponsored by Nanes Delorme Partners I LP (the "Sponsor"), is for
informational purposes only. You may use the Site for non-commercial, lawful
purposes only. Your access to and use of the Site is subject to and governed by
the Terms and Conditions set forth below. By accessing and browsing the Site,
you accept, without limitation or qualification, and agree to be bound by, the
Terms and Conditions set forth below and all applicable laws.
Nothing on this Site is
intended to be, nor should it be construed or used as, investment, tax, legal or
financial advice, a recommendation whether or how to vote any proxy or
any other kind of recommendation, an opinion of the appropriateness of any
security or investment, nor intended to be an offer, or the solicitation of any
offer, to buy or sell any security or investment. The Sponsor is not
soliciting any action based upon the Site, is not responsible for any decision
by any stockholder and the Site should not be construed as a solicitation to
procure, withhold or revoke any proxy. Any such solicitation, if made,
will be made only in
compliance with applicable law.
1. You
should assume that everything you see or read on the Site is material owned or
exclusively represented by the Sponsor and protected by copyright unless
otherwise expressly noted, and may not be used except as provided in these
Terms and Conditions or in the text of the Site without the Sponsor’s written
permission. The Sponsor expressly neither warrants nor represents that your use
of materials displayed on the Site will not infringe rights of third
parties not owned by or affiliated with the Sponsor.
2. While
the Sponsor endeavors to ensure that only accurate and up to date information is
on the Site, the Sponsor makes no warranties or representations as to the
accuracy of any of the posted information. Although the forward-looking
statements contained in this website are based upon what the Sponsor believes
are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will
be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The Sponsor
assumes no liability
or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of the
Site.
3. The
Site is provided "AS IS." The Sponsor does not make any representations or
warranties, whether express or implied, regarding or relating to the Site or any
associated hardware or software, including the content or operations of
either.
4. YOU
EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT USE OF THE SITE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. NEITHER THE
SPONSOR OR ITS AFFILIATED COMPANIES NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES,
AGENTS, THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS OR LICENSORS (COLLECTIVELY THE "SPONSOR
PARTIES") WARRANT THAT THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE, NOR DO THEY
MAKE ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE SITE,
OR AS TO THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY OR CONTENT OF ANY INFORMATION, SERVICE, OR
MERCHANDISE PROVIDED THROUGH THE SITE. THE SITE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS
WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OTHER THAN THOSE WARRANTIES WHICH ARE IMPLIED
BY AND INCAPABLE OF EXCLUSION, RESTRICTION OR MODIFICATION UNDER THE LAWS
APPLICABLE TO THIS AGREEMENT.
THIS
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY APPLIES TO ANY DAMAGES OR INJURY CAUSED BY ANY FAILURE
OF PERFORMANCE, ERROR, OMISSION, INTERRUPTION, DELETION, DEFECT, DELAY IN
OPERATION OR TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER VIRUS, COMMUNICATION LINE FAILURE, THEFT OR
DESTRUCTION OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO, ALTERATION OF, OR USE OF RECORD, WHETHER
FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORTIOUS BEHAVIOR, NEGLIGENCE, OR UNDER ANY OTHER CAUSE
OF ACTION. YOU SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SPONSOR IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE
DEFAMATORY, OFFENSIVE OR ILLEGAL CONDUCT OF OTHER USERS OR THIRD-PARTIES AND
THAT THE RISK OF INJURY FROM THE FOREGOING RESTS ENTIRELY WITH YOU.
IN NO
EVENT WILL THE SPONSOR, THE SPONSOR PARTIES, OR ANY PERSON OR ENTITY INVOLVED IN
CREATING, PRODUCING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SITE BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF
OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE. YOU HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION SHALL APPLY TO ALL CONTENT ON THE SITE.
IN
ADDITION TO THE TERMS SET FORTH ABOVE, NEITHER THE SPONSOR NOR THE SPONSOR
PARTIES SHALL BE LIABLE REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE OR DURATION, FOR ANY ERRORS,
INACCURACIES, OMISSIONS, OR OTHER DEFECTS IN, OR UNTIMELINESS OR UNAUTHENTICITY
OF, THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THE SITE, OR FOR ANY DELAY OR INTERRUPTION
IN THE TRANSMISSION THEREOF TO YOU, OR FOR ANY CLAIMS OR LOSSES ARISING
THEREFROM OR OCCASIONED THEREBY. NONE OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES SHALL BE LIABLE
FOR ANY THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS OR LOSSES OF ANY NATURE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, LOST PROFITS, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES AND THE AGGREGATE, TOTAL
LIABILITY OF THE SPONSOR PARTIES TO YOU OR ANY END USER FOR ALL DAMAGES, INJURY,
LOSSES AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING
FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE
SHALL BE LIMITED TO PROVEN DIRECT DAMAGES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED
DOLLARS ($100).
SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT
ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN LIABILITY OR WARRANTIES SO SOME OF
THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. In such jurisdictions, the
Sponsor’s liability is limited to the greatest extent permitted by law. You
should check your local laws for any restrictions or limitations regarding the
exclusion of implied warranties.
5.
Artwork, images, names, and likenesses displayed on the Site are either the
property of, or used with permission by, the Sponsor. The reproduction and use
of any of these by you is prohibited unless specific permission is provided on
the Site or otherwise. Any unauthorized use may violate copyright laws,
trademark laws, privacy and publicity laws, and/or communications regulations
and statutes.
6. The
trademarks, service marks, logos, and other indicia, including of the Sponsor
(collectively the "Trademarks") which appear on the Site are registered and
unregistered trademarks of the Sponsor and others. Nothing contained on the Site
should be construed as granting, by implication or otherwise, any right, license
or title to any of the Trademarks without the advance written permission of the
Sponsor or such third party as may be appropriate. All rights are expressly
reserved and retained by the Sponsor. Your misuse of any of the Trademarks
displayed on the Site, or any other content on the Site, except as provided in
these Terms and Conditions, is strictly prohibited. You are also advised that
the Sponsor considers its intellectual property to be among its most valuable
assets, and will aggressively enforce its intellectual property rights to the
fullest extent of the law.
7. For
your convenience, the Site may contain links to the websites of third parties on
which you may be able to obtain content and/or download software. Except as
otherwise noted, such websites, and such content and software are provided by
companies which are not affiliated with and independent of the Sponsor. The
Sponsor does not endorse or make any representations or warranties concerning
such websites, and may have not reviewed such content or software. As such, the
Sponsor makes no representation as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the
information contained in or on such sites, sources or servers, nor does the
Sponsor necessarily endorse such sites or sources.
8. If any
provision of the Terms and Conditions or any application thereof is held to be
invalid or unenforceable for any reason, that provision shall be deemed
severable and the remainder of the Terms and Conditions and the application of
that provision in other situations shall not be affected.
9. YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY,
DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS THE SPONSOR FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL THIRD
PARTY CLAIMS, DEMANDS, LIABILITIES, COSTS OR EXPENSES, INCLUDING REASONABLE
ATTORNEYS’ FEES, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO ANY BREACH BY YOU OF ANY OF THE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OR APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING THOSE REGARDING INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY.
10. The
Sponsor may at any time revise these Terms and Conditions by updating this
posting. You are bound by any such revisions and should therefore periodically
visit the "Terms and Conditions" page to review the then current Terms and
Conditions to which you are bound.
11. The
Sponsor knows that the privacy of your personal information is important to you.
Therefore, the Sponsor has established a Privacy Policy governing the use of
this information, which is located at here and is part of
this Agreement.
12. The
Sponsor owns, protects and enforces copyrights in its own creative material and
respects the copyright properties of others. Materials may be made available on
or via the Site by third parties not within the control of the Sponsor. It is
our policy not to permit materials known by us to be infringing to remain on the
Site. You should notify us promptly if you believe any materials on the Site
infringe a third party copyright. Upon our receipt of a proper notice of claimed
infringement under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"), the Sponsor
will respond expeditiously to follow the procedures specified in the DMCA to
resolve the claim between the notifying party and the alleged infringer who
provided the content in issue, including, where applicable, removing, or
disabling access to material claimed to be infringing or by removing or
disabling access to links to such material. Pursuant to the DMCA 17 U.S.C.
512(c), the Sponsor
has designated Adam Finerman, as its agent for notification of claims of
copyright infringement with respect to information residing, at the direction of
a user, on the Site. The contact information is: Adam Finerman, c/o Olshan
Grundman, et al, Park Avenue Tower, 65 East 55th Street, New York, New
York 10022, Tel: (212) 451-2300.
Copyright © 2008 Nanes
Delorme Partners I LP. All rights reserved. The Site is the property of
Nanes Delorme Partners I LP and is protected by United States and
international copyright, trademark, and other applicable laws. This
includes the content, appearance, and design of the Site, as well as the
trademarks, product names, graphics, logos, service names, slogans, colors, and
designs.
PRIVACY
POLICY
Our
Commitment to Privacy.
Nanes
Delorme Partners I LP (the "Sponsor"), the sponsor of this Website
http://www.ImproveVAALCO.com. (the "Site"), respects and values your privacy.
This statement outlines our privacy policies (the "Privacy Policy") which is
designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard
information you provide to us or we collect and to assist you in making informed
decisions when using the Site. The core of our Privacy Policy is this: We will
not release, sell, rent, or trade your Personal Information (as defined below)
to any third party without your permission, except when we believe in good faith
that the law requires it, or to protect our own rights and
properties.
We want
you to feel safe and comfortable when you use the Site, and we are dedicated to
developing and upholding high standards for protecting your privacy and securing
your Personal Information. You should read and familiarize yourself with this
Privacy Policy and with our Terms and Conditions. When you use the Site, you
agree to abide by these terms.
What Information Do We
Collect?
When you
visit any website you may provide two types of information: personal information
you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis, and
website use information collected on an aggregate basis as you browse the
website.
Personal Information You Choose to
Provide.
In order
to allow you to send us any comments you may have or to request printed copies
of documents posted on the Site, we ask you to provide certain personal
information consisting of your name, e-mail address, telephone number, company,
mailing address, whether you are a shareholder of VAALCO Energy, Inc. and your
comments (the "Personal Information"). We do not share or otherwise disclose any
Personal Information except as otherwise set forth herein. Only the staff and
authorized agents of the Sponsor have access to the Personal Information. We do
not knowingly lease, rent, or sell the Personal Information we collect. People
who affirmatively submit their contact information through the Site may be
contacted by or receive information from us or our authorized agents. We may
also compile and maintain lists of Personal Information affirmatively provided
through the Site.
Although
we will protect your privacy on the Site as described in this Privacy Policy,
you should keep in mind that if you voluntarily disclose Personal Information
online, it is possible that despite our efforts that information may be accessed
by others. You can help guard against this by not giving anyone else access to
your personal computer, such as an employer or family member.
Website Use
Information.
Our Site
utilizes "cookies" solely as a means of determining whether an individual
visitor has previously visited the Site. The "cookies" are not used in any way
to store personal information
Clickstream Data.
As you
use the Internet, a trail of electronic information is left at each website you
visit. This information, which is sometimes
referred to as "clickstream data,w can be collected and stored by a website’s
server. Clickstream data can tell us the type of computer and browsing software
you use and the address of the website from which you linked to our Site.
We may use clickstream data as a form of non-personally identifiable
information to anonymously determine how much time visitors spend on each page
of the Site, how visitors navigate throughout the Site and how we may tailor our
web pages to better meet the needs of visitors. This information will only be
used to improve the Site. Any collection or use of clickstream data will be
anonymous and aggregate.
Do We Disclose Information to Outside
Parties?
We may
provide aggregate information about our users, Site traffic patterns and related
Site information to our affiliates or reputable third parties, but this
information will not include Personal Information, except as otherwise provided
in this Privacy Policy.
What About Legally Compelled
Disclosure of Information?
We may
disclose information when we, in good faith, believe that the law requires it or
for the protection of our legal rights.
What About Other Websites Linked to
Our Site?
We are
not responsible for the practices employed by websites linked to or from our
Site nor the information or content contained therein. Often links to other
websites are provided solely as pointers to information on topics that may be
useful to the users of our Site.
Please remember that your
browsing and interaction on any other website, including websites which
have a link on our Site, is subject to that website’s own rules and policies.
Please read over those rules and policies before proceeding.
Your Consent.
By using
the Site you consent to our collection and use of your Personal Information as
described in this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to make changes to this
Privacy Policy from time to time. Revisions will be posted on this page. We
suggest you check this page occasionally for updates.
Contacting Us.
If you
have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of the Site, or your
dealings with the Site, you can contact:
Tracy
Greenberger
Sard
Verbinnen & Co
(212)
687-8080