SCHEDULE 14C
SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. ___)
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| o | Preliminary Information Statement | |
| o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2)) | |
| þ | Definitive Information Statement |
Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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BOWLIN TRAVEL CENTERS, INC.
150 Louisiana N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
NOTICE AND INFORMATION STATEMENT FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2006
To Our Stockholders:
The 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at 10:00 a.m., Albuquerque, New Mexico time, on Friday, September 22, 2006, at the principal executive offices of the Company located at 150 Louisiana N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108 for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect five members to the Board of Directors to serve for one-year terms or until their successors are elected and qualified; |
| 2. | To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP to serve as independent public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2007; and |
| 3. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on Monday, July 24, 2006, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. Shares of Common Stock can be voted at the Annual Meeting only if the holder is present at the Annual Meeting in person or by valid proxy. Management is not soliciting proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting and stockholders are requested not to send proxies to the Company. Management and the Board of Directors cordially invite you to attend the Annual Meeting. Your attention is directed to the attached Information Statement.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | ||
| | | |
| /s/ Michael L. Bowlin | ||
Michael L. Bowlin Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Albuquerque, New Mexico
August 7, 2006
BOWLIN TRAVEL CENTERS, INC.
150 Louisiana N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
INFORMATION STATEMENT
This Information Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company to be held on Friday, September 22, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., Albuquerque, New Mexico time, at the principal executive offices of the Company located at 150 Louisiana, N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, and any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). A copy of the Notice of the Meeting accompanies this Information Statement. It is anticipated that the mailing of the Notice and this Information Statement to stockholders will commence on or about August 7, 2006.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY
AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY
VOTING
Only holders of record of Common Stock $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) at the close of business on July 24, 2006 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. On the Record Date, 4,583,348 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, exercisable in person or by proxy, for each share of Common Stock held of record on the Record Date. Cumulative voting is not permitted.
The Company’s Bylaws provide that a majority of all shares of stock entitled to vote, whether present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in the determination of the number of shares represented for a quorum. In order to vote their shares in person at the meeting, stockholders who own their shares in “street name” must obtain a special proxy card from their broker.
The Board of Directors does not know of any matters other then (i) the election of five (5) members of the Company’s Board of Directors, and (ii) the ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2007 that are expected to be presented for consideration at the meeting.
PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors currently consists of five members. Michael L. Bowlin, William J. McCabe, Nina J. Pratz, David B. Raybould and Kim D. Stäke have been nominated for election at the Annual Meeting. If elected, they would hold office for a period of one year or until the election and qualification of their successors. All of the nominees are currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that the persons named above as nominees for directors will be unable or will decline to serve if elected
Vote Required
The election of the director nominees will require the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote.
Certain directors and executive officers of the Company, together with certain other stockholders, who collectively have voting power over a majority in interest of the Common Stock have advised the Company that they presently intend to vote FOR election of Mr. Bowlin, Mr. McCabe, Ms. Pratz, Mr. Raybould and Ms. Stäke to the Board of Directors. Accordingly, it is expected that such nominees will be elected, although none of the above mentioned stockholders is obligated to vote in favor of any particular nominee.
INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth information regarding director nominees of the Company. A summary of the background and experience of each of these individuals is set forth after the table.
Name | Age | Position | ||
| Michael L. Bowlin | 62 | Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| William J. McCabe | 56 | Senior Vice President - Management Information Systems, Secretary, Treasurer and Director | ||
| Nina J. Pratz | 54 | Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Director | ||
| David B. Raybould | 53 | Director | ||
| Kim D. Stäke | 50 | Chief Administrative Officer, Vice President and Director | ||
| ______________ |
Michael L. Bowlin. Mr. Bowlin has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, President and as a Director of the Company since August of 2000. Mr. Bowlin served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Bowlin Outdoor Advertising and Travel Centers, Inc. (“Bowlin Outdoor”) from 1991 through January of 2001, and as President from 1983 through 1991. Mr. Bowlin had been employed by Bowlin Outdoor since 1968. Mr. Bowlin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University.
William J. McCabe. Mr. McCabe has served as Senior Vice President, Management Information Systems, Secretary, Treasurer and as a Director of the Company since August of 2000. Mr. McCabe served as a member of the Board of Directors of Bowlin from 1983 until August 1996. Prior to 1997, Mr. McCabe served as Senior Vice President - Advertising Services from 1993, Vice President of Outdoor Operations from 1988 and as Vice President of Accounting from 1984 to 1987. Mr. McCabe had been employed by the Company since 1976 in such additional capacities as a Staff Accountant and Controller. Mr. McCabe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University.
Nina J. Pratz. Ms. Pratz has served as the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April of 2001. Ms. Pratz has served as a member of the Bowlin Outdoor’s Board of Directors from 1976 until January 2001. Prior to 1997, Ms. Pratz served as Chief Administrative Officer of Bowlin Outdoor since 1988. Ms. Pratz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University.
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David B. Raybould. Mr. Raybould has been employed as a sales professional by Xpedx, a division of International Paper Company from 1995 until June 2002. During his employment with Xpedx, Mr. Raybould was a consultant to small, independent business firms as well as many Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Raybould holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.
Kim D. Stäke. Ms. Stäke has served as Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer since April of 2002. Ms. Stäke has been employed with the Company since December of 1997. Ms. Stäke also serves as Controller and oversees SEC compliance. Ms. Stäke holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company met on three occasions. Each of the Directors attended 100% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the meetings held by such committees of the Board on which he or she serves.
In lieu of an Audit Committee, the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations concerning the selection of outside auditors, reviewing the scope, results and effectiveness of the annual audit of the Company’s financial statements and other services provided by the Company’s independent public accountants. The Board of Directors also reviews the Company’s internal accounting controls, practices and policies. The Board of Directors has determined that Kim D. Stäke qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 401(h)(2)-(3) of Regulation S-K, but that she is not “independent” within the meaning of the Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, as she is an employee of the Company.
The Company promotes accountability for adherence of honest and ethical conduct; endeavors to provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with the Commission and in other public communications made by the Company; strives to be compliant with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; and promotes prompt internal reporting of violations of the code of ethics to an appropriate person or persons. The Company has not formally adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that governs the Company’s employees, officers and directors as the Company is not required to do so.
The Company’s entire Board of Directors performs the functions similar to those of a nominating committee. The Board of Directors believes that given the size of the Company and its operations, it is more efficient for the entire Board to perform this function, rather than delegating this to a committee. The full Board, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, identifies director nominees. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bowlin, owns approximately 61.5% of the Company’s common stock and approved the nomination of the members of the Board identified herein. The Company’s existing directors and officers own a majority of the Company’s common stock, and, as a result, this group’s affirmative vote is sufficient to elect director nominees. Consequently, the Board has not established a procedure for shareholders to nominate potential candidates for director nominees.
The Board will consider, but is not required to approve, nominations for directors by shareholders for any annual meeting of the Company, provided a written recommendation is received by the Company no later than the date shareholder proposals must be submitted for consideration prior to such annual meeting.
In evaluating the suitability of potential nominees for membership on the Board, the Board will consider the Board’s current composition, including expertise, diversity, and balance of inside and outside directors, and consider the general qualifications of the potential nominees, such as:
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| · | Unquestionable integrity and honesty; |
| · | The ability to exercise sound, mature and independent business judgment in the best interest of the shareholders as a whole; |
| · | Recognized leadership in business or professional activity; |
| · | A background and experience that will complement the talents of the other Board members; |
| · | Willingness and capability to take the time to actively participate in Board and Committee meetings and related activities; |
| · | Ability to work professionally and effectively with other Board members and the Company’s management; and |
| · | Lack of realistic possibilities of conflict of interest or legal prohibition. |
The Board will also see that all necessary and appropriate inquiries are made into the backgrounds of such candidates. Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees, although the Board may also consider such other factors as it may deem to be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.
In obtaining the names of possible new nominees, the Board may make its own inquiries and will receive suggestions from the Directors, stockholders and other sources.
Communications to the Board as a whole or to any individual members of the Board can be sent to the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer at Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc., 150 Louisiana, N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108.
In lieu of a Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors is responsible for decisions regarding compensation of the Company’s executive officers.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE COMPANY’S PREVIOUS OR FUTURE FILINGS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 THAT MIGHT INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, THE FOLLOWING REPORT AND THE PERFORMANCE GRAPH WHICH FOLLOWS SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO ANY SUCH FILINGS.
Compensation Philosophy
The Board of Directors is responsible for setting and administering the Company’s policies regarding annual compensation. In general the Board of Directors compensation philosophies are based upon the following subjective principles:
| — | Compensation programs should reflect and promote the Company’s goals and reward individuals for contributions to the Company’s success in achieving its goals. |
— | Compensation should be related to the value created for the Company and its stockholders. |
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— | Compensation programs should integrate both the long and short term strategies of the Company. |
— | Compensation programs should be designed to attract and retain key executives critical to the long-term success of the Company. |
Total compensation for senior management is set at levels that the Board of Directors believes are competitive in relation to companies of similar type and size; however the Board of Directors has conducted no independent investigation of such levels. Components of executive compensation include base salary and a discretionary bonus program. Executive officers who are also directors have not participated in deliberations or decisions involving their own compensation.
Base Salaries
The Board of Directors establishes base salaries for the Company’s executive officers at levels considered appropriate in light of the duties and scope of responsibilities of each officer’s positions. In this regard, the Board considers the compensation practices and corporate financial performance of similarly situated companies. The Board of Directors takes into account a number of factors, including, but not limited to, management’s efforts to improve levels of sales and profitability and to expand markets into which the Company’s products are distributed and sold. The Board also considers management’s consistent commitment to the long-term success of the Company through developing and implementing strategic business acquisition opportunities.
Based upon its evaluation of these factors, the Board of Directors believes that senior management is dedicated to achieving long-term financial improvements, and that the compensation policies, plans and programs administered by the Board contribute to management’s commitment. The Board of Directors attempts to assimilate all of the foregoing factors when it renders its compensation decision; however, the Board recognizes that its decisions are subjective in nature due to the subjective criteria on which such decision are based. The Board of Directors does not assign any specified weight to the criteria it considers.
Bonus Compensation
Bonus compensation is paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Determination of the Board of Directors with regard to the award of bonus compensation are generally based upon the Board’s evaluation of the same factors previously described above under “Base Salaries” and other subjective criteria.
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Bowlin has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its inception. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bowlin receives a base salary and is eligible to receive bonus compensation at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Board’s evaluation process with respect to the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation is comprised of the same components that are utilized by the Board in evaluating the compensation of other members of senior management. Substantially all of Mr. Bowlin’s professional time is devoted to his duties at the Company.
| Submitted by Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. Board of Directors | ||
Michael L. Bowlin William J. McCabe Nina J. Pratz David B. Raybould Kim D. Stäke | ||
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors who are not employees of the Company are entitled to receive $500 per each meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, attended. Mr. Raybould is the only director who is not also an employee of the Company. Directors do not receive any other compensation for services as directors of the Company.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes all compensation paid by Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. to its Company’s Chief Executive Officer for services rendered to the Company during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004. The Company has no other executive officer whose total annual salary and bonus paid to them exceeded $100,000 for the most recent fiscal year.
Summary Compensation Table
Long Term | ||||||||||||
Compensation | ||||||||||||
Annual Compensation | Awards | |||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary($) (1) | Bonus ($) | Other Annual Compensation ($) | Securities Underlying Options/ SARs (#) | All Other Compensation ($) | ||||||
Michael L. Bowlin Chairman of the Board, President & CEO | 2006 2005 2004 | 97,500 97,500 97,500 | 35,050 35,050 35,050 | 17,526 (2) 17,438 (2) 16,664 (2) | — — — | — — — | ||||||
| _______________ | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Includes amounts deferred at the election of the CEO to be contributed to his 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan account. |
| (2) | Amount for 2006 includes (i) $1,620 of the Company’s discretionary matching contributions allocated to Mr. Bowlin’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan account, (ii) $9,406 for premiums on term life, auto and disability insurance policies of which Mr. Bowlin or his wife is the owner, and (iii) $6,500 for Mr. Bowlin’s use of a Company owned vehicle. Amount for 2005 includes (i) $1,620 of the Company’s discretionary matching contributions allocated to Mr. Bowlin’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan account, (ii) $9,318 for premiums on term life, auto and disability insurance policies of which Mr. Bowlin or his wife is the owner, and (iii) $6,500 for Mr. Bowlin’s car allowance. Amount for 2004 includes (i) $1,620 of the Company’s discretionary matching contributions allocated to Mr. Bowlin’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan account, (ii) $8,544 for premiums on term life, auto and disability insurance policies of which Mr. Bowlin or his wife is the owner, and (iii) $6,500 for Mr. Bowlin’s use of a Company owned vehicle. |
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
No employee or officer of the Company has entered into an employment agreement with the Company, nor does the Company anticipate entering into any employment agreement in the future.
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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Company’s officers and Directors and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of the Company’s Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, Directors and greater than ten percent (10%) owners are also required by the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on the Company’s review of the copies of such forms received by it, the Company believes that, during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006, all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent owners were complied with.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of July 31, 2006, the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock of the Company by (i) all persons known by the Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) each Director and Director-Nominee of the Company; (iii) the Executive Officers of the Company; and (iv) all Directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (2) | Percent of Class(3) | ||
Michael L. Bowlin (1)(4) | 2,818,536 | 61.5% | ||
William J. McCabe (1) | 64,548 | 1.4% | ||
Nina J. Pratz (1) | 116,802 | 2.5% | ||
Kim D. Stäke (1) | * | * | ||
David B. Raybould (1) | — | — | ||
Monica A. Bowlin (1)(5) | 2,818,536 | 61.5% | ||
All directors and executive officers as a group (5 persons) | 2,999,886 | 65.4% | ||
| _______________ |
| * | Less than 1.0% |
| (1) | All of the holders have an address at c/o the Company, 150 Louisiana NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87108. |
| (2) | Unless otherwise noted and subject to community property laws, where applicable, the persons named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock as shown beneficially owned by them. |
| (3) | The shares and percentages shown include the shares of Common Stock actually owned as of July 31, 2006. |
| (4) | Includes 425,687 shares held by Mr. Bowlin’s wife and 171,332 shares held by each of three daughters. Mr. Bowlin disclaims beneficial ownership of an aggregate of 513,996 of shares held by three of his daughters. |
| (5) | Includes 1,878,853 shares held by Mrs. Bowlin’s husband and 171,332 shares held by each of her three daughters. Mrs. Bowlin disclaims beneficial ownership of an aggregate of 513,996 of shares held by three of her daughters. |
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STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total return of the Company’s Common Stock with the cumulative total return of Russell 2000 and a Company defined peer group for the period from February 1, 2001 through January 31, 2006 (including the reinvestment of dividends, if any). The following graph assumes a $100 investment on February 1, 2001, the date the Company’s stock began trading on the OTC Bulletin Board. Price data for the Company’s Common Stock is based on the closing bid price for the relevant measurement dates as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board (which quotations represent prices between dealers and do not include retail markup, markdown or commissions and may not reflect actual transactions).
The performance graph below shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under, either the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference.
Comparison of Five Year Cumulative Total Return |
Assumes Initial Investment of $100 |
January 31, 2006 |
02/01/01 | 01/31/02 | 01/31/03 | 01/31/04 | 1/31/05 | 1/31/06 | ||||||||
| Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. | Return% | 12.00 | 4.29 | 23.29 | 5.56 | -15.79 | |||||||
| Cum $ | $ 100.00 | $ 112.00 | $ 116.80 | $ 144.01 | $ 152.02 | $128.01 | |||||||
| Russell 2000 Index | Return% | -3.52 | -21.87 | 58.03 | 8.67 | 18.90 | |||||||
| Cum $ | $ 100.00 | $ 96.48 | $ 75.38 | $ 119.12 | $ 129.45 | $153.92 | |||||||
| Peer Group Only | Return% | 34.25 | 4.41 | 21.32 | 14.37 | 31.70 | |||||||
| Cum $ | $ 100.00 | $ 134.25 | $ 140.16 | $ 170.05 | $ 194.48 | $256.13 |
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DISCLOSURE OF AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT FEES
The Board of Directors approves the fees and other significant compensation to be paid to the independent auditors for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The Company provides appropriate funding, as determined by the Board of Directors, for payment of fees and other significant compensation to the independent auditor. The Board of Directors also preapproves all auditing services and permitted non-audit service (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by its independent auditors, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Neff+Ricci LLP (“Neff+Ricci”) for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006, and for the review of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 were approximately $37,000.
On January 4, 2006, Neff+Ricci combined its practice with Moss Adams LLP (Moss Adams) and therefore resigned as the Company’s registered independent public accounting firm. Neff+Ricci’s audit reports on the Company’s financial statements for the past two years did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. See, also, “CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE”.
Audit-Related Fees
None.
Tax Fees
None
All Other Fees
None.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006, the Company did not engage its independent public accountants to perform financial information systems design and implementation.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Wholesale gasoline distribution sales were sold to a Stuckey’s franchise travel center not owned by the Company. The travel center is owned by the niece of Michael L. Bowlin.
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In October 2005, this wholesale gasoline location elected early termination of their wholesale agreement. The agreement was terminated within the original ten year term which resulted in a termination penalty of $100,000 that was offset by the disposal or equipment of approximately $47,194 resulting in an overall non-operating gain of approximately $52,806 as well as gross margin of $12,098 the Company would have received from gasoline sales had the agreement continued for the remainder of the term.
The sales with the associated cost of goods and gross profit consist of the following the year ended January 31:
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||
| Gross sales | $ | 1,137,523 | 1,333,324 | 1,399,527 | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 1,109,490 | 1,288,990 | 1,355,553 | |||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 28,033 | 44,334 | 43,974 | ||||||
PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO:
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has appointed Moss Adams as independent public accountants to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2007, and to perform other accounting services as requested by the Company. Although not required to do so, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of that firm for ratification at the Annual Meeting. A representative of Moss Adams is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock is required to approve the proposed ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams as the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2007.
Certain directors and executive officers of the Company together with certain other stockholders, who collectively have voting power over a majority in interest of the Common Stock, have advised the Company that they presently intend to vote FOR the approval of the ratification of Moss Adams as independent accountants. Accordingly, it is expected that such proposal will be approved, although none of the above mentioned stockholders is obligated to vote in favor of any proposal.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
On January 4, 2006, Neff+Ricci LLP (“Neff+Ricci”) notified the “Company” that it combined its practice with Moss Adams LLP (“Moss Adams”) and therefore resigned as the Company’s registered independent public accounting firm. According to the information provided to the Company by Neff+Ricci, all of the partners of Neff+Ricci have become partners of Moss Adams. Neff+Ricci’s audit reports on the Company’s financial statements for the past two years did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period preceding the replacement of Neff+Ricci, there were no disagreements with Neff+Ricci 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 Neff+Ricci, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports; and there were no reportable events as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K (“Regulation S-K”) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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The Company requested that Neff+Ricci furnish it with a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether or not Neff+Ricci agrees with the statement set forth above. A copy of that letter, dated January 9, 2006, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Form 8-K filed January 9, 2006.
On January 5, 2006, the Company engaged Moss Adams LLP (“Moss Adams”) as its registered independent public accounting firm. The Company’s Board of Directors recommended and approved the engagement of Moss Adams.
During the Registrant’s two most recent fiscal years and through the date of the report on the Form 8-K filed January 9, 2006, the Company did not consult Moss Adams with respect to 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 Registrant’s financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events listed in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or (ii) of Regulation S-K.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the Company no later than April 17, 2007, to be evaluated by the Board for inclusion in the information or proxy statement for that meeting. Such proposals should be addressed to the Corporate Secretary, Bowlin Travel Centers Inc., 150 Louisiana N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108. If a stockholder proposal is introduced at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders without any discussion of the proposal in the Company’s proxy statement, and the Stockholder does not notify the Company on or before June 30, 2007, as required by Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 14a-4(c)(1), of the intent to raise such proposal at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, then proxies received by the Company for the 2005 Annual Meeting will be voted by the persons named as such proxies in their discretion with respect to such proposal. Notice of such proposal is to be sent to the above address.
OTHER MATTERS
The Annual Meeting is being held for the purposes set forth in the Notice that accompanies this Information Statement. The Board of Directors is not presently aware of any business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in such Notice.
2006 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
The Company files annual reports on Form 10-K with the SEC. A copy of the annual report for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 (except for certain exhibits thereto) may be obtained, free of charge, upon written request by any stockholder to The Miller Group, 4909 E. McDowell Road, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85008, Attention: Bowlin Shareholder Relations. Copies of all exhibits to the annual report are available upon a similar request, subject to payment of a charge to reimburse the Company for its expenses in supplying any exhibit.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | ||
| | | |
| /s/ Michael L. Bowlin | ||
Michael L. Bowlin Chairman of the Board | ||
August 7, 2006
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