-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, MHuzpQC3hgLC3kV0XNAY81P2wNBt5aiy8mBuzjP9T/W3PXVAnSf+odtlAYDICTHA C4U83R3EKsYd6Li5E9raew== 0000950129-06-007301.txt : 20060726 0000950129-06-007301.hdr.sgml : 20060726 20060726172830 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950129-06-007301 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060720 ITEM INFORMATION: Changes in Registrant.s Certifying Accountant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20060726 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060726 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CYGNUS OIL & GAS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001162721 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 330967974 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-50228 FILM NUMBER: 06982408 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH STREET STREET 2: SUITE 5100 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: (713) 784-1113 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH STREET STREET 2: SUITE 5100 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TOUCHSTONE RESOURCES USA, INC. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20040518 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: COFFEE EXCHANGE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20011127 8-K 1 h38118e8vk.htm FORM 8-K - CURRENT REPORT e8vk
 

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT: July 20, 2006
(Date of earliest event reported)
Cygnus Oil and Gas Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
         
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  000-50228
(Commission File Number)
  33-0967974
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
         
1600 Smith Street, Suite 5100
Houston, Texas

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
      77002
(Zip Code)
(713) 784-1113
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
     
o
  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
   
o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
   
o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
   
o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

Item 4.01 Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
On July 20, 2006, Cygnus Oil and Gas Corporation (the “Company”) appointed UHY LLP (“UHY”) as its new independent public accounts for fiscal year 2006, effective immediately. The Company’s decision to engage UHY as its independent public accountants was made based upon the approval by the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors of UHY as the Company’s new independent public accountants following interviews with a number of accounting firms.
L J Soldinger Associates LLC (“LJSA”) previously served as the Company’s independent public accounts. LJSA’s reports on the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal 2004 and 2005 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle, except for an explanatory paragraph indicating substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in the audit report for the fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and through the effective date of UHY’s appointment, there were no disagreements with LJSA on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of LJSA, would have caused them to make reference thereto in their reports on the financial statements of the Company for such years.
During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and through the effective date of UHY’s appointment, the Company did not have any reportable events within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K except that the Company reported certain deficiencies in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting in (i) the Company’s Form 10-QSB for the period ended September 30, 2005, (ii) the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005, and (iii) in the subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2006. The significant deficiencies noted were: (a) an inability to timely and accurately close books and records at the end of each reporting period; (b) insufficient number of accounting and financial personnel; (c) deficiencies in the recording and classification of unproved and proved oil and gas properties and in the calculation of the working percentage interests in or impairments of certain of wells; (d) insufficient procedures to detect errors in the books of the limited liability companies and limited partnerships in which the Company has an equity interest; (e) improper or lack of accounting for and/or failure to identify transactions; (f) inadequate controls relating to the receipt and disbursement of cash received in accordance with joint interest agreements; and (g) weakness in the process and tools used to consolidate the financial statements of the Company and our subsidiaries.
Before the appointment of UHY, neither the Company nor anyone on behalf of the Company consulted with UHY during the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and through July 20, 2006, in any manner regarding: (A) either the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither was a written report provided to the Company nor was oral advice provided that UHY concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, except as described below or (B) the subject of either a disagreement or a reportable event, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and (v), respectively, of Regulation S-K.
During the course of the 2005 audit, L J Soldinger Associates LLC (“LJSA”) notified the company of guidance issued by the SEC Division of Corporation Finance on December 1, 2005 titled “Current Accounting and Disclosure Issues in the Division of Corporation Finance”. LJSA indicated that certain topics of the SEC guidance pertained to the Company — particularly relating to accounting for penalties contained in registration rights agreements the company had previously entered into. LJSA also provided copies of accounting literature including Emerging Issues Task Force 05-04 Issues Summary No. 1, FASB Statement No. 133, FASB Statement 150, EITF Issue No. 00-19 and EITF Issue No. 01-6 amongst others.
The Company retained UHY LLP to advise it with implementing the proper accounting treatment relating to the penalty to be recorded. UHY advised the Company that the amount of penalty to be recorded should only reflect the actual registration rights penalty amount incurred to the date of the balance sheet. UHY did not render an opinion on the final accounting treatment as described below nor did they calculate the amount of the penalty.
After consulting with LJSA the Company decided to calculate the penalty being calculated using fair value. Using fair measurement the Company reflected an additional $760,000 of penalty expense in the December 31, 2005 financial statements and the financial statements for the third calendar quarter of 2005 were restated to also reflect the registration rights penalty.
The Company has furnished a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K to UHY and to LJSA and requested that UHY and LJSA furnish the Company with letters addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether each such firm agrees with the above statements and, if not, stating the respects in which they do not agree.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
     
Exhibit No.   Description
 
   
99.1
  Memorandum Regarding Liquation Damages of Registration Rights Agreements

2


 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  Cygnus Oil and Gas Corporation
 
 
Date: July 26, 2006  By:   /s/ Stephen C. Haynes    
    Stephen C. Haynes   
    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   

3

EX-99.1 2 h38118exv99w1.htm MEMORANDUM RE LIQUATION DAMAGES OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1
Touchstone Resources
Liquation Damages of Registration Rights Agreements
Facts: Touchstone Resources USA, Inc. (the “Company”) offered Units to be sold for $11.00 and comprised of (i) one share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, convertible into 10 shares of common stock, and (ii) one warrant to purchase 5 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share over a 36 month period, in a “Confidential Private Placement Memorandum” dated February 22, 2005.
The offering included separate “Registration Rights” provision agreement for both the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the warrants in which the Company was to use “its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC, within 60 days of the date the Offering is completed, a Registration Statement under the Act to permit the public sale of the Restricted Stock, and to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective within 150 days of the date the Offering is completed”.
As noted in “Section 4 Delay of Registration” of the Registration Rights agreement “subsection (a)” states, “The Company and the Selling Stockholders Agree that the Selling Stockholders may suffer damages if the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the date that is 90 days after the date the Offering is completed (the “Target Filing Date”) and maintained in the manner contemplated herein. The Company and the Selling Stockholders further agree that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, if the Registration Statement is note filed on or prior to the Target Filing Date, the Company shall pay in cash or in shares of Common Stock (at the Company’s option) as liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty to the Selling Stockholders, an amount equal to two percent of the purchase price for the Units set forth on the signature page to the Selling Stockholder’s Subscription Agreement (the “Purchase Price”) and an additional amount equal to one percent of the Purchase Price at the end of each subsequent 30-day period during which the Registration Statement is not filed (“the Late Filing Damages”).”
Further “subsection (b)” states “The Company and Selling Stockholders agree that the Selling Stockholders may suffer damages if the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date that is 180 days after the date the Offering is completed (the “Effectiveness Deadline”). The Company and Selling Stockholders further agree that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, if the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the Effectiveness Deadline, the Company shall pay in cash or in shares of Common Stock (at the Company’s option) as liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty to the Selling Stockholders, an amount equal to two percent of the Purchase Price and an additional amount equal to one percent of the Purchase Price at the end of each subsequent 30-day period during which the Registration Statement is not declared effective (the “Non-Effectiveness Damages”).

 


 

Note that although the Company has the option to settle the liquidation damages by their choice of net-share settlement or net-cash settlement, analysis of the issue must take into consideration as to whether the Company has an adequate amount of authorized shares available to issue for settlement of all the damages.
Issue: What is the effect of the Late Filing Damages and Non-Effectiveness Damages (considered to be liquidated damages) for the registration rights of the two freestanding financial instruments, Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the warrants?
Discussion: “Current Accounting and Disclosures Issues in the Division of Corporate Finance” issued on December 1, 2005 and prepared by the Accounting Staff Members in the Division of Corporate Finance U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission discussed the guidance regarding classification (asset or liability vs. equity) and measurement of warrants and instruments with embedded conversion features. The publication cited that the most common reason that warrants (or instruments with conversion features) should be accounted for as liabilities are (1) required cash settlement if certain events occurred (such as delisting from primary stock exchange or a registration statement not being declare effective); and (2) warrants (or instrument with conversion features) contained registration rights where significant liquidated damages could be required to be paid to the holder of the instrument in the event the issuer fails to register the shares under a preset timeframe (or registration statement fails to remain effective for a preset time period). The publication cited the guidance of EITF 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock”, to determine accounting treatment.
Further the December 1, 2005 publication indicated for convertible preferred stock instruments, one of the most common causes improper accounting was registration agreements which might require settlement of liquidated damages. The publication indicated that again EITF 00-19 should be evaluated for proper treatment.
Per paragraph 7 of EITF 00-19, “The initial balance sheet classification of the contracts addressed in this Issue generally is based on the concept that contracts that require net-cash settlement are assets or liabilities and contracts that require settlement in shares are equity instruments...If the contract provides the company with a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares, the Model assumes settlement in shares; if the contract provides the counterparty with a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares, the Model assumes net-cash settlement.”
EITF 05-04 “The Effect of a Liquidated Damages Clause on a Freestanding Financial Instrument Subject to Issue No. 00-19” further addresses the treatment of a liquidated damages. However, the Task Force has discussed views for the treatment of liquidated damages but has not reached a consensus and decided in their September 15, 2005 meeting to postpone further deliberations on the issue until the FASB addressed whether a separate registration rights agreement, as discussed in the EITF, is a freestanding

 


 

financial instrument. Further discussion by the Task Force is anticipated when the FASB provides implementation guidance as to whether separate a registration rights agreement is a freestanding instrument.
EITF 05-04 Issue Summary No. 1 identifies four views on how to account for registration rights penalties. Views regarding net-cash settlement are documented in paragraphs 15 to 20 of EITF 05-4 Issue Summary No. 1. Views regarding net-share settlement are document in paragraphs 30 to 35.
[Note: Refer to EITF 05-4 Issue Summary No. 1 for discussion of arguments and considerations for each of the views.]
Conclusion: As noted above, the EITF has postponed further deliberations on this issue until the FASB addresses whether a separate registration rights agreements is a freestanding financial instrument. Until further guidance is provided, it is at Management’s discretion to determine which of the four views discussed above is the appropriate treatment for the registration rights agreement and related liquidated damages. Management has elected to implement View C in which it would:
  •   Consider the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, the preferred stock registration rights, the warrants, and the warrant registration rights agreement to be separate, freestanding financial instruments, for a total of four financial instruments under consideration. (Based on arguments documented in paragraph 24 of EITF 05-4 Issue Summary No. 1.)
 
  •   The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the warrants, per the terms of the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum, are contracts that are indexed to and potentially settled in the Company’s own stock by either physical or net-share settlement. As indicated under the guidance of EITF 00-19, if the settlement is physical or net-share settlement the instrument is classified as equity. As such, the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the warrants should be classified as equity. (Paragraph 25 of EITF 05-4 Issue Summary No. 1)
 
  •   The treatment of the registration rights agreements as each being freestanding instruments would be dependent upon whether there are enough common shares authorized and available to be issued.
  •   If there are adequate shares authorized and available for issuance for settlement of the liquidation damages (net-share settlement), then liquidated damages would be accounted for as a liability, in accordance with paragraph 12(b) of FAS 150. (Paragraph 34 of EITF 05-4 Issue Summary No. 1)
 
  •   If there are not enough shares authorized and available for issuance for settlement of the liquidated damages (net-cash settlement), the liquidated damages would be accounted for as a liability, within the scope of FAS 133*. (Paragraph 25 of EITF 05-4 Issue Summary No. 1)
*Under the guidance of paragraphs 17 & 18 of FAS 133, “All derivative instruments shall be measured at fair value...The gain or loss on a derivative insturment not designated as a hedging insturment shall be recognized currently in earnings.”

 


 

As such, the Company will evaluate the fair value of the penatly (per the terms of the registration rights agreement) and recognize a liablity, with the effect of the penalty being recognized in the currnet period’s earnings. Such evaluation of fair value should be performed for each reporting period (i.e. quarterly).
The fact pattern discussed in the “Facts” portion of this memo specifically addresses the registration rights of the “Confidential Private Placement Memorandum” dated February 22, 2005. To the extent the Company has additional registration rights agreements outstanding with liquidated damages clauses, the arguments and conclusion above can be utilized in the event the Company’s settlement terms are of a similar nature.
See the attached calculation indicating that there are adequate common stock shares authorized and available for issuance for settlement of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the warrants, thus allowing for physical or net-share settlement and classification as equity.

 

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