SCHEDULE 14C
(RULE 14C-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN INFORMATION STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
INFORMATION STATEMENT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(C) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Information Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted
by Rule 14c-5(d)(2))
[X] Definitive Information Statement
PROTEO, INC.
(Name of Registrant As Specified in Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No Fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-1 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] 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:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
Proteo, Inc.
2102 Business Center Drive
Irvine, California 92612
INFORMATION STATEMENT
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND
YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY
GENERAL
This Information Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of
Proteo, Inc. a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), in lieu of an Annual Meeting
in connection with the following proposals (the "Proposals"):
1. To elect four (4) members to the Company' s Board of Directors to
hold office until the Company's annual meeting of stockholders to
be held in 2009 and until their successors are duly elected and
qualified; and
2. To ratify the appointment of Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda &
Williamson, LLP. as independent auditors of the Company for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
This Information Statement is being sent in lieu of an annual meeting.
The Company has adopted the Proposals by the written consent of stockholders
holding a majority of the voting power of the Company.
The Company's Board of Directors approved and recommended, pursuant to
a written consent dated December 18, 2008, that the Proposals be accepted. The
Company's stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of the Company
approved the Proposals, pursuant to a written consent dated December 23, 2008.
If the Proposals were not adopted by written consent, it would have been
required to be considered by the Company's stockholders at a special or annual
stockholders' meeting convened for the specific purpose of approving the
Proposals.
The elimination of the need for a special or annual meeting of
stockholders to ratify or approve the Proposals is authorized by Section
78.320(2) of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the "NRS"), which provides that the
written consent of stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting power
may be substituted for such a special or annual meeting. In order to eliminate
the costs and management time involved in holding a special or annual meeting
and in order to effect or ratify the Proposals as early as possible in order to
accomplish the purposes of the Company as hereafter described, the Board of
Directors of the Company voted to utilize the written consent of stockholders
holding a majority of the voting power of the Company.
Professor Oliver Wiedow, M.D. beneficially owns 10,680,000 shares of
common stock and Ms. Birge Bargmann beneficially owns 2,000,000 shares of common
stock, such that collectively they own 12,680,000 shares of common stock
representing approximately 53.1% of the voting power of the Company. Professor
Wiedow and Mr. Bargmann gave their written consent to the Proposals described in
this Information Statement on December 23, 2008. It is proposed that this
Information Statement will be first sent to the stockholders on or about January
7, 2009. The record date established by the Company for purposes of determining
the number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, and thus the
voting power, is December 29, 2008 (the "Record Date").
The Company is distributing this Information Statement to its
stockholders in full satisfaction of any notice requirements it may have under
the NRS. No additional action will be undertaken by the Company with respect to
the receipt of the written consents, and no dissenters' rights under the NRS are
afforded to the Company's stockholders as a result of the adoption of the
Proposals.
OUTSTANDING VOTING STOCK OF THE COMPANY
As of the Record Date, there were 23,879,350 shares of common stock
outstanding. Each share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote
on all matters submitted to stockholders. Dr. Wiedow and Ms. Bargmann have voted
an aggregate 12,680,000 shares of common stock in favor of the Proposals.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of our Common Stock as of the Record Date, with respect to (i) each
person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the
Company's Common Stock; (ii) each director of the Company; (iii) each person
intending to file a written consent to the adoption of the Proposals described
herein; and (iv) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
This information as to beneficial ownership was furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of the persons named. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address
of each person listed is 2102 Business Center Drive, Irvine, California 92612.
Shares Percent of
NAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED SHARES OUTSTANDING
---- ------------------ ------------------
Prof. Oliver Wiedow, M.D. 10,680,000 44.7%
Birge Bargmann 2,000,000 8.4%
Joerg Alte 140,000 (1) *
Dr. Barbara Kahlke 10,000 *
Holger Pusch 20,000 *
Prof. Hartmut Weigelt 80,000 *
All executive officers and 12,930,000 54.2%
directors as a group
(6 persons)
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* Represents less than 1%.
(1) Mr. Alte has loaned all 140,000 shares to a broker.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
NOMINEES AND DIRECTORS
Section 2 of Article III of the Company's Bylaws permits the Board of
Directors to fix the number of directors at not less than one nor more than
seven.
Four directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting. The nominees for
directors will serve until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009
and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Professor Wiedow,
Ms. Bargmann, Mr. Alte, Mr. Pusch and Dr. Weigelt currently serve as directors.
Mr. Alte has informed the Company that he does not wish to stand for reelection
at this Annual Meeting.
All nominees have consented to being named herein and have indicated
their intention to serve as directors of the Company, if elected. In case any of
the nominees become unavailable for election to the Board of Directors, which is
not anticipated, vacancies on the Board may be filled by the remaining director
or directors, even though less than a quorum, for the unexpired term of such
vacant position.
The following persons have been nominated for election to the Board of
Directors:
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Birge Bargmann 47 President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and Director
Professor Oliver Wiedow, MD. 51 Director
Holger Pusch 52 Director
Professor Hartmut Weigelt, Ph.D. 63 Director
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BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.
Birge Bargmann has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer since November 2005 and a Director of the Company since
December 2000. In November 2005, she was appointed CEO and CFO of the Company
and its subsidiary. Ms. Bargmann was a member of the Supervisory Board of Proteo
Biotech AG from 2000 to 2005. Since 1989, Ms. Bargmann has worked as a medical
technique assistant engaged in the Elafin project at the dermatological clinic
of the University of Kiel. She co-developed and carried out procedures to detect
and to purify Elafin.
Prof. Oliver Wiedow, M.D. has served as a Director of the Company since
December 2000. Professor Wiedow served as our President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer from January 2004 to June 2004 and has served as a
member of the Supervisory Board of Proteo Biotech AG since 2000. Since 1985
Professor Wiedow has served as physician and scientist at the University of
Kiel, Germany. Prof. Wiedow discovered Elafin in human skin and has researched
its biological effects.
2
Holger Pusch has served as a Director of the Company since December
2000. For the last 23 years, Mr. Pusch worked in different marketing and sales
functions for major German companies. Mr. Pusch is currently the Managing
Director of Lupus Imaging & Media GmbH & Co. KG, a company in the photo
business, a position he has held since October 2006. From March 1, 2006 to
October 2006, Mr. Pusch worked for Connect Consulting GmbH, in Bonn Germany.
From October 1989 to March 2006 he worked for Agfa Geveart AG and its successor
as a result of a spin-off in November 2004, AgfaPhoto GmbH.
Prof. Hartmut Weigelt, Ph.D. has served as a Director of the Company
since December 2000. Prof. Weigelt was a member of the Supervisory Board of
Proteo Biotech AG from 2000 to 2003. Since 1996, Prof. Weigelt has served as the
managing director of Eco Impact GmbH which he co-founded. Prof. Weigelt was a
co-founder of the first German private university, Witten/Herdecke and he is
currently Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of MedEcon Ruhr GmbH, and head of the
department of Dental Biomedicine at the University of Applied Sciences in Hamm
(Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany) Prof. Weigelt studied chemistry and biology and
graduated with a M.Sc., Ph.D., and D.Sc. in biology.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
During the year ended December 31, 2007 the Company's Board of
Directors held 2 meetings. Each member of the Board participated in each action
of the Board.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Proteo, Inc. is not a "listed company" under SEC rules and is therefore
not required to have an audit committee comprised of independent directors. We
do not currently have an audit committee, however, for certain purposes of the
rules and regulations of the SEC and in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, our board of directors is deemed to be its audit committee and as such
functions as an audit committee and performs some of the same functions as an
audit committee including: (1) selection and oversight of our independent
accountant; (2) establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment
of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters; and
(3) engaging outside advisors. Our board of directors has determined that its
members do not include a person who is an "audit committee financial expert"
within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the SEC.
The board of directors has determined that each of its members is able
to read and understand fundamental financial statements and has substantial
business experience that results in that member's financial sophistication.
Accordingly, the board of directors believes that each of its members has
sufficient knowledge and experience necessary to fulfill the duties and
obligations that an audit committee would have.
The Company does not have a formal compensation committee. The Board of
Directors, acting as a compensation committee, periodically meets to discuss and
deliberate on issues surrounding the terms and conditions of executive officer
compensation.
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The Company does not have a formal nominating committee. The Board of
Directors, acting as a nominating committee, recommends candidates who will be
nominated as management's slate of directors at each annual meeting of
stockholders. The Board of Directors will also consider candidates for directors
nominated by stockholders. A stockholder who wishes to submit a candidate for
consideration at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009, must
notify the Secretary of the Company, in writing, no later than March 13, 2009.
The written notice must include information about each proposed nominee,
including name, age, business address, principal occupation, shares beneficially
owned and other information required to be included in proxy solicitations. The
nomination notice must also include the nominating stockholder's name and
address, the number of shares beneficially owned and a statement that such
stockholder intends to nominate his candidate. A statement from the candidate
must also be furnished, indicating the candidate's desire and ability to serve
as a director. Adherence to these procedures is a prerequisite to a
stockholder's right to nominate a candidate for director at the annual meeting.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The following statement made by the Board of Directors, sitting as a
Compensation Committee, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any
filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and shall not otherwise be
deemed filed under either of such Acts.
The Company does not have a formal compensation committee and the
Company's officers receive no compensation from the Company at this time. Ms.
Bargmann, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
receives compensation from our wholly-owned subsidiary, Proteo Biotech AG. The
Supervisory Board of Proteo Biotech AG entered into an employment contract with
Ms. Bargmann on August 1, 2007. The contract became effective on August 1, 2007
and expires on July 31, 2010. Pursuant to the agreement Ms. Bargmann receives a
salary of 8,000 Euro per month, which amounted to total annual compensation of
$64,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The supervisory Board and Ms.
Bargmann are obliged to negotiate the compensation at any time on the request of
either party taking into consideration of the economic performance of the
company. If no understanding can be reached within one month the requesting
party is allowed to terminate the agreement three months after at months end.
Submitted by the Board of Directors,
Sitting as a Compensation Committee:
/s/ Prof. Oliver Wiedow, M.D.
---------------------------------------
/s/ Holger Pusch
---------------------------------------
/s/ Professor Hartmut Weigelt, M.D.
---------------------------------------
/s/ Birge Bargmann
---------------------------------------
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION.
The current Board of Directors includes Birge Bargmann, who also serves
as an executive officer of the Company. As a result, this director discusses and
participates in deliberations of the Board of Directors on matters relating to
the terms of executive compensation. In this regard, a director whose executive
compensation is voted upon by the Board of Directors must abstain from such
vote.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE.
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's directors and
executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered
class of the Company's equity securities to file with the SEC initial reports of
ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity
securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent
beneficial owners of our common stock are required by SEC regulations to furnish
the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To the Company's
knowledge, based solely on the review of copies of such reports furnished to the
Company and written representations that no other reports were required, the
Company has been informed that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable
to the Company's officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial
owners of our common stock were complied with.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE.
The following table sets forth the overall compensation earned over
each of the past two fiscal years ending December 31, 2007 by each person who
served as the principal executive officer of Proteo during fiscal year 2007.
There were no other executive officers who had compensation of $100,000 or more
during fiscal year 2007.
Non-Equity
Stock Option Incentive Plan All Other
Name and Principal Fiscal Salary Bonus Awards Awards Compensation Compensation
Position Year (US$) (US$) (US$) (US$) (US$) (US$) Total (US$)
-------- ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----------
Birge Bargemann,
President and Chief 2007 $ 64,000 (1) -- -- -- -- -- $ 64,000
Executive Officer 2006 $ 6,000 (1) -- -- -- -- -- $ 6,000
and Chief Financial
Officer
(1) Paid by the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Proteo Biotech AG.
-------------
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OPTION/SAR GRANTS TABLE.
The Company does not have a stock option or equity compensation plan.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUE TABLE.
Not applicable.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS .
The Company does not have a stock option or other equity compensation
plan.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION.
The Directors have not received any compensation for serving in such
capacity, and the Company does not currently contemplate compensating its
Directors in the future for serving in such capacity.
EMPLOYMENT AND CONSULTING AGREEMENTS.
The Company has no employment contracts with any of its officers or
directors and maintains no retirement, fringe benefit or similar plans for the
benefit of its officers or directors, however, Ms. Bargmann does have an
employment contract with the Company's wholly owned subsidiary Proteo Biotech AG
which is described above. The Company may, however, enter into employment
contracts with its officers and key employees, adopt various benefit plans and
begin paying compensation to its officers and directors as it deems appropriate
to attract and retain the services of such persons. The Company does not pay
fees to directors for their attendance at meetings that are not executive
officers of the Board of Directors or of committees; however, the Company may
adopt a policy of making such payments in the future. The Company will reimburse
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by directors in attending Board and committee
meetings.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
Pursuant to a 30-year license agreement we have agreed to pay Dr.
Wiedow three percent of the gross revenues of the Company from products based on
patents where he was the principal inventor. Furthermore, we agreed to pay
licensing fees of 110,000 Euro per year, for a term of six years through the
year ending December 31, 2006, for a total of 660,000 Euros. This equated to
annual license fees of approximately $130,000 for the year ending December 31,
2005 and $140,000 for the year ending December 31, 2006. We also agreed to
refund all expenses needed to maintain such patents (e.g., patent fees, legal
fees, etc).
At December 31, 2007, we have accrued $927,900 of licensing fees
payable to Dr. Wiedow. During 2004, the licensing agreement was amended to
require annual payments of 30,000 Euros, to be paid on July 15 of each year,
beginning on July 15, 2004. Such amount can be increased up to 110,000 Euros by
June 1 of each year based on an assessment of the Company's financial ability to
make such payments. The annual payments will continue until the entire
obligation of 660,000 Euros has been paid. In December 2007, the Company paid to
Dr. Wiedow 30,000 Euros (approx. $43,000). No other payments have been made to
4
Dr. Wiedow as of December 31, 2007, which is a technical breach of the
agreement. Dr. Wiedow waived such breach and deferred the prior year payments to
2008.
On September 28, 2006, Dr. Wiedow entered into an agreement to
contribute 50,000 Euros (approximately $63,000) to PBAG for a 15% non-voting
interest in PBAG, in accordance with certain provisions of the German Commercial
Code.
Dr. Wiedow will receive 15% of profits, as determined under the
agreement, not to exceed in any given year 30% of the capital contributed.
Additionally, he will be allocated 15% of losses, as determined under the
agreement, not to exceed the capital contributed. Dr. Wiedow is under no
obligation to provide additional capital contributions to the Company. During
the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, losses of $3,978 and $59,026,
respectively, were allocated against the contributed capital account, which is
presented as minority interest in the profits and losses of Proteo Biotech on
the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
The disclosure requirements of Item 407(a) of Regulation S-B are not
applicable to this filing.
PROPOSAL 2
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF SQUAR, MILNER, PETERSON,
MIRANDA & WILLIAMSON, LLP.
AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM THE COMPANY
Pursuant to a written consent, a majority of the Company's stockholders
ratified the Board of Directors' engagement of Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda
& Williamson, LLP. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
FEES TO AUDITORS.
Audit Fees: We were billed approximately $84,000 and $70,000 for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for professional
services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the our annual
consolidated financial statements and the review of our quarterly unaudited
consolidated financial statements.
Tax Fees: We were billed approximately $6,000 and $6,000 for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for professional services
rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance and tax advice.
All Other Fees: There were no other professional services rendered by
our principal accountant during the two years ended December 31, 2007 that were
not included in the two categories above.
All of the services provided by our principal accountant were approved
by our Board of Directors. No more than 50% of the hours expended on our audit
for the last fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than
full-time employees of our principal accountant.
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of stockholders of the Company which are intended to be
presented by such stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held
in 2009 must be received by the Company no later than March 13, 2009, in order
to have them included in the information statement and form of information
statement relating to that meeting.
ACCOMPANYING REPORTS
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended, including
audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the years ended December
31, 2007 and 2006 accompany this information statement.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Birge Bargmann
----------------------------------
Birge Bargmann, President
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