UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
RULE 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
TRAVLANG, INC
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[x] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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3) Filing Party:
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4) Date Filed:
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TRAVLANG, INC.
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
AND
PROXY STATEMENT
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2003
AT 10:00 A.M.
AT THE OFFICES OF TRAVLANG, INC.
2 HASHILOACH ST.
PETACH TIKVA, ISRAEL 49170
TRAVLANG, INC.
2 HASHILOACH ST.
PETACH TIKVA, ISRAEL 49170
March 5, 2003
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, I cordially invite you
to attend a Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Monday, March 24, 2003
at 10 a.m. Israeli Time, at the offices of the Company at 2 Hashiloach St.,
Petach Tikva, Israel 49170.
The notice of meeting and proxy statement accompanying this letter describe
the specific business to be acted upon.
In addition to the specific matters to be acted upon, there will be a
report on the progress of the Company and an opportunity for questions of
general interest to the stockholders.
It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting. Whether or
not you plan to attend in person, you are requested to vote, sign, date and
promptly return the enclosed proxy in the self-addressed envelope provided.
Sincerely,
Lucien Geldzahler
President
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TRAVLANG, INC.
2 HASHILOACH ST.
PETACH TIKVA, ISRAEL 49170
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2003
To the Stockholders of Travlang, Inc.:
Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Stockholders of Travlang,
Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the offices of the Company, located at 2
Hashiloach St. Petach Tikva, Israel 49170 on March 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m.
Israeli Time for the following purposes:
1. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation in order to effect a reverse stock split pursuant to
which the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock would be
exchanged for new shares of common stock in an exchange ratio to be
approved by the Board of Directors, ranging from one (1) newly issued
share for each fifty (50) outstanding shares to one (1) newly issued
share for each two hundred (200) outstanding shares;
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on January 27, 2003
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting and any
adjournments thereof.
WHETHER YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING OR NOT, PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE
AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED AS
PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR SHARES IN
PERSON, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SIGNED AND RETURNED YOUR PROXY.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Lucien Geldzahler
President
Dated: March 5, 2003
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TRAVLANG, INC.
2 HASHILOACH ST.
PETACH TIKVA, ISRAEL 49170
March 5, 2003
PROXY STATEMENT
GENERAL INFORMATION
-------------------
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Travlang, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), to be used at a Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special
Meeting") to be held at the offices of the Company 2 Hashiloach St., Petach
Tikva, Israel 49170, on Monday, March 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m., Israeli Time, and
all adjournments thereof.
The cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy material and of
reimbursing brokers, nominees, and fiduciaries for the out-of-pocket and
clerical expenses of transmitting copies of the proxy material to the beneficial
owners of shares held of record by such persons will be borne by the Company.
The Company does not intend to solicit proxies otherwise than by mail, but
certain officers and regular employees of the Company, without additional
compensation, may use their personal efforts, by telephone or otherwise, to
obtain proxies. The Proxy Statement and form of proxy/voting instruction card
(the "proxy card" or "proxy") are being mailed to the Company's stockholders of
record at the close of business on January 27, 2002. These documents shall be
mailed on or about March 6, 2003.
A stockholder signing and returning a proxy on the enclosed form has the
power to revoke it at any time before the shares subject to such proxy are voted
by notifying the Secretary of the Company in writing. If a stockholder specifies
how the proxy is to be voted with respect to any of the proposals for which a
choice is provided, the proxy will be voted in accordance with such
instructions.
OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES
Only holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Common Stock") and Series B Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock") of
record at the close of business on January 27, 2003 are entitled to vote at the
Special Meeting. On that day, there were 49,946,927 shares of Common Stock
outstanding and 80,379 shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding. Each
share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into 1,000 shares of Common
Stock (which ratio shall adjust accordingly in proportion to a stock split).
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The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and
Series B Preferred Stock, on an as-converted basis, voting together as a single
class shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote by the holders of a
majority in interest of the shares of Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock
entitled to vote is required to approve the amendments to the Company's
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Certificate of Incorporation described in Proposal 1.
Abstentions may be specified on all proposals submitted to a stockholder
vote herein. Abstentions will be counted as present for purposes of determining
the existence of a quorum regarding the proposal on which the abstention is
noted. Abstentions on Proposals No. 1 will have the effect of a vote against
such proposal.
Brokers holding shares of the Company's Common Stock in street name who do
not receive instructions are entitled to vote on routine proposals. Under
applicable Delaware law, "broker non-votes" on any other non-routine proposal
such as Proposal No. 1 (where a broker submits a proxy but does not have
authority to vote a customer's shares on such proposal) would not be considered
entitled to vote on that proposal and will, therefore, have no legal effect on
the vote of that particular matter.
HOW YOU CAN VOTE
You may vote your shares by signing the enclosed proxy or voting
instruction card and returning it in a timely manner. Please mark the
appropriate boxes on the card and sign, date and return the card promptly. A
postage-paid return envelope is enclosed for your convenience.
STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS FOR NEXT SPECIAL MEETING
Stockholders' proposals intended to be presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders (to be held in 2003) must be received by the Company no later
than November 5, 2002 for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and form of
proxy for that meeting.
EXECUTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD WILL NOT AFFECT A STOCKHOLDER'S
RIGHT TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON. ANY STOCKHOLDER GIVING A PROXY
HAS THE RIGHT TO REVOKE IT BY GIVING WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION TO THE
SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE PROXY IS VOTED.
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OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial
ownership of shares of Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of January
15, 2003 for (i) each person or entity who is known by the Company to
beneficially owns five percent or more of the common stock; (ii) each director
and executive officer of the Company; and (iii) all directors and executive
officers of the Company as a group.
NUMBER OF
SHARES OF PERCENTAGE OF
NUMBER OF SHARES OF PREFERRED OF VOTING
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER (1) (2) OF COMMON STOCK STOCK SECURITIES(3)
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Shmuel Weiss -- 19,769 15.3%
Lucien Geldzahler -- 19,769 15.3%
Yehuda Biron -- 19,769 15.3%
All Directors and Executive Officers -- 39,538 30.6%
as a group(2 persons)
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* Less than one percent
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each named individual or group
is in care of Travlang, Inc., 2 Hashiloach St., Petach Tikva, Israel 49170.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, the Company believes that all persons named in
the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
of common stock beneficially owned by them. A person is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such person within
60 days upon the exercise of options, warrants or convertible securities
(in any case, the "Currently Exercisable Options"). Each beneficial owner's
percentage ownership is determined by assuming that the Currently
Exercisable Options that are held by such person (but not those held by any
other person) have been exercised and converted.
PROPOSAL 1
AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO AUTHORIZE
A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK
GENERAL
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The Company's Board of Directors has unanimously adopted resolutions
proposing, declaring advisable and recommending that the stockholders of the
Company authorize an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
(the "Amendment") to effect a reverse stock split (the "Reverse Split") and to
provide for the issuance of one whole share in lieu of fractional shares
otherwise issuable in connection with the Reverse Split. There will be no change
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in the number of the Company's authorized shares of Common Stock and no change
in the par value of the Common Stock as a result of the Reverse Split.
If the Reverse Split is approved, the Board of Directors will have the
authority, without further stockholder approval, to effect the Reverse Split,
pursuant to which each of the Company's presently outstanding shares (the "Old
Shares") of Common Stock would be exchanged for new shares (the "New Shares") of
Common Stock in an exchange ratio to be approved by the Board of Directors,
ranging from one (1) New Share for each fifty (50) Old Shares to one (1) New
Share for each two hundred (200) Old Shares. The number of Old Shares for which
each New Share is to be exchanged is referred to as the "Exchange Number". The
Reverse Split will be effected simultaneously for all Common Stock and the
Exchange Number will be the same for all Common Stock.
In addition, the Board of Directors will also have the authority to
determine the exact timing of the Reverse Split, which may be at any time on or
prior to September 6, 2003, without further stockholder approval. The timing and
the Exchange Number will be determined in the judgment of the Board of
Directors, with the intention of maximizing the Company's ability to meet the
listing requirements for inclusion on the Nasdaq SmallCap Stock Market
("Nasdaq"), the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX") or the Boston Stock Exchange
("BSE") and provide more options for potential investment in the Company and
other intended benefits of the Reverse Split to stockholders and the Company.
See the information below under the caption "Purpose of the Reverse Split." The
text of the proposed Amendment is set forth in Exhibit A to this Proxy
Statement.
The Board of Directors also reserves the right, notwithstanding stockholder
approval and without further action by stockholders, to not proceed with the
Reverse Split, if, at any time prior to filing the Amendment with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors, in its sole
discretion, determines that the Reverse Split is no longer in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders. The Board of Directors may consider a
variety of factors in determining whether or not to implement the Reverse Split
and in determining the Exchange Number, including, but not limited to, overall
trends in the stock market, recent changes and anticipated trends in the per
share market price of the Company's Common Stock, business and transactional
developments and the Company's actual and projected financial performance.
Except for changes due to the issuance of one whole additional share in
lieu of fractional shares, the Reverse Split will not change the proportionate
equity interests of the Company's stockholders, nor will the respective voting
rights and other rights of stockholders be altered. The Common Stock issued
pursuant to the Reverse Split will remain fully paid and non-assessable. The
Company will continue to be subject to the periodic reporting requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
PURPOSES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT
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The Company's Common Stock is quoted on NASD Over The Counter Bulletin
Board (the "OTCBB"). The Company desires to be listed on Nasdaq, AMEX or BSE. In
order for Common Stock to initially be listed on Nasdaq, AMEX or BSE, the
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Company and the Common Stock are required to meet certain eligibility
requirements established by both the Nasdaq, AMEX and Boston stock exchanges.
Under Nasdaq's initial listing requirements, among other things, the
Company is required to meet a minimum bid price of at least $4.00 per share, to
have public float in the amount of 1,000,000 shares and must satisfy any of the
following: stockholders' equity of at least $5,000,000, market capitalization
totaling $50,000,000 or net income in the latest fiscal year or two of the last
three fiscal years totaling $750,000. Once listed on Nasdaq, the Company will be
required to satisfy Nasdaq's listing maintenance standards.
Under the AMEX listing guidelines for U.S. companies, the Company can meet
the AMEX listing by satisfying requirements under either of three standards.
Under Standard 1, among other things, the Company must have stockholders' equity
of at least $4,000,000, pre-tax income of at least $750,000 in the latest fiscal
year or two of the last three fiscal years, it must meet the minimum bid price
of $3.00 per share and the market value of its public float must be at least
$3,000,000. Under Standard 2, among other things, the Company does not have to
meet a minimum pre-tax income, however, it must have stockholders' equity of at
least $4,000,000, a minimum bid price of $3.00 per share, the market value of
its public float must be at least $15,000,000 and it must have an operating
history of at least two years. Under Standard 3, among other things, the Company
does not have to meet a minimum pre-tax income, however, it must have
stockholders' equity of at least $4,000,000, a minimum bid price of $3.00 per
share, the market value of its public float must be at least $15,000,000 and it
must have a total market capitalization of $50,000,000.
Under the BSE initial listing requirements, the Company must have tangible
assets of $3,000,000 or intangible assets of $2,000,000, $100,000 net income for
two of the past three years or $2,000,000 net tangible assets, a public float of
at least 750,000 shares, the market value of its public float must exceed
$1,500,000 and a minimum bid price of $2.00 per share.
One purpose of the Reverse Split Proposal is to increase the market price
of the Company's Common Stock to approach the Nasdaq, AMEX or BSE minimum bid
requirement. While there can be no assurance that after effectuating the Reverse
Split, the Company's stock price will increase to meet the minimum bid price or
other requirements of Nasdaq, AMEX or BSE for inclusion for trading on either of
their stock exchanges or maintain such price, the Company intends to be in
compliance with those requirements.
In addition, based upon the current operations, the Company does not
believe it can satisfy its cash requirements for the next twelve (12) months,
therefore, the Company will be required to raise additional funds in the very
near future. During the next few months, the Company will consider raising
additional funds through equity or debt offerings. The Company believes that the
Reverse Stock Split Proposal will provide the Company with additional equity
financing options.
Giving the Board authority to implement the Reverse Split will avoid the
need to call a special meeting of, or seek consents from, stockholders under
time constraints to authorize a reverse split should it become necessary in
order to seek to meet Nasdaq's, AMEX's or BSE's initial listing criteria or
execute a reverse split before the closing of a financing. The Company also
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believes that establishing its Common Stock on Nasdaq, AMEX or BSE may provide
the Company with a broader market for its Common Stock and facilitate the use of
the Common Stock in financing and other transactions in which the Company may
engage.
CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE REVERSE SPLIT
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The following table illustrates the principal effects of the Reverse Split
on the Company's Common Stock.
Number of Shares Prior to the Reverse Split Subsequent to 50-for-1 Split
- ---------------- -------------------------- ----------------------------
Authorized 50,000,000 50,000,000
Outstanding(1) 49,946,927 998,938
Available for Future Issuance 53,073 49,001,062
(1) Gives effect to the Reverse Split as if it occurred on the Record Date,
subject to adjustment resulting from the issuance of whole shares in lieu of
fractional shares.
Stockholders should recognize that if the Reverse Split is effectuated they
will own a fewer number of shares than they presently own (a number equal to the
number of shares owned immediately prior to the filing of the Amendment divided
by the Exchange Number, after adjustment for fractional shares, as described
below). While the Company expects that the Reverse Split will result in an
increase in the market price of the Common Stock, there can be no assurance that
the Reverse Split will increase the market price of the Common Stock by a
multiple equal to the Exchange Number or result in the permanent increase in the
market price (which is dependent upon many factors, including, but not limited
to, the Company's performance and prospects). Also, should the market price of
the Common Stock decline, the percentage decline may be greater than would
pertain in the absence of a Reverse Split. Furthermore, the possibility exists
that liquidity in the market price of the Common Stock could be adversely
affected by the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the
Reverse Split. In addition, the Reverse Split will increase the number of
stockholders of the Company who own odd-lots (less than 100 shares).
Stockholders who hold odd-lots typically will experience an increase in the cost
of selling their shares, as well as greater difficulty in effecting such sales.
There can be no assurance that the Reverse Split will achieve the desired
results that have been outlined above.
PROCEDURE FOR EFFECTING REVERSE SPLIT AND EXCHANGE OF STOCK CERTIFICATES
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If the Amendment is approved by the Company's stockholders, and if the
Board of Directors still believes that the Reverse Split is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders, the Company will file the
Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware at such time as
the Board has determined the appropriate Exchange Number and the appropriate
effective time for the Reverse Split. The Board may delay effecting the Reverse
Split until September 6, 2003 without resoliciting such stockholder approval.
The Reverse Split will become effective on the date of filing the Amendment (the
"Effective Date"). Beginning on the Effective Date, each certificate
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representing Old Shares will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence
ownership of New Shares.
Promptly after the Effective Date, stockholders will be notified that the
Reverse Split has been effected and of the exact Exchange Number. The Company's
transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, will act as
exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") for purposes of implementing the exchange
of stock certificates. Holders of Old Shares will be asked to surrender to the
Exchange Agent certificates representing Old Shares in exchange for certificates
representing New Shares in accordance with the procedures to be set forth in a
letter of transmittal to be sent by the Company. No new certificates will be
issued to a stockholder until such stockholder has surrendered such
stockholder's outstanding certificate(s) together with the properly completed
and executed letter of transmittal to the Exchange Agent. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD
NOT DESTROY ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY CERTIFICATES UNTIL
REQUESTED TO DO SO.
FRACTIONAL SHARES
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No scrip or fractional certificates will be issued in connection with the
Reverse Split. Stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive
fractional shares because they hold a number of Old Shares not evenly divisible
by the Exchange Number, will be entitled, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent
of certificates representing such shares, to the issuance of one whole
additional share for the fractional share the stockholder would have otherwise
received.
NO DISSENTER'S RIGHTS
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Under Delaware law, stockholders are not entitled to dissenter's rights
with respect to the proposed Amendment.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT
- ----------------------------------------------------
The following is a summary of certain material federal income tax
consequences of the Reverse Split, and does not purport to be complete. It does
not discuss any state, local, foreign or minimum income or other U.S. federal
tax consequences. Also, it does not address the tax consequences to holders that
are subject to special tax rules, such as banks, insurance companies, regulated
investment companies, personal holding companies, foreign entities, nonresident
alien individuals, broker-dealers and tax-exempt entities. The discussion is
based on the provisions of the United States federal income tax law as of the
date hereof, which is subject to change retroactively as well as prospectively.
This summary also assumes that the Old Shares were, and the New Shares will be,
held as a "capital asset," as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (generally, property held for investment). The tax treatment of a
stockholder may vary depending upon the particular facts and circumstances of
such stockholder.
EACH STOCKHOLDER SHOULD CONSULT WITH SUCH STOCKHOLDER'S OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH
RESPECT TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT.
No gain or loss should be recognized by a stockholder of the Company upon
such stockholder's exchange of Old Shares for New Shares pursuant to the Reverse
Split. The aggregate tax basis of the New Shares received in the Reverse Split
(including any fraction of a New Share deemed to have been received) will be the
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same as the stockholder's aggregate tax basis in the Old Shares exchanged
therefor. The stockholder's holding period for the New Shares will include the
period during which the stockholder held the Old Shares surrendered in the
Reverse Split.
REQUIRED VOTE
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The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock entitled to vote on the Amendment will be required to approve Proposal No.
1.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE
COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO AUTHORIZE A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF THE
COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors is not
informed of any matters, other than those stated above, that may be brought
before the meeting. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy or their
substitutes will vote with respect to any such matters in accordance with their
best judgment.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. WE URGE YOU TO FILL IN, SIGN
AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING FORM OF PROXY IN THE PREPAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED, NO
MATTER HOW LARGE OR SMALL YOUR HOLDINGS MAY BE.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Lucien Geldzahler
President
Dated: March 5, 2003
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EXHIBIT A
PROPOSED TEXT OF AMENDMENT OF
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended to
date, is to be further amended by adding the following paragraph immediately
after the present first paragraph of ARTICLE FOURTH thereof:
"Effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Amendment of the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, each ____
shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share, of the Corporation
then issued and outstanding or held in the treasury of the Corporation
automatically shall be combined into _____ share(s) of Common Stock of
the Corporation. There shall be no fractional shares issued. Each
holder of shares of Common Stock who otherwise would be entitled to
receive a fractional share shall be entitled to receive one whole
additional share for the fractional share the stockholder would have
otherwise received."
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