History
A shell that abandoned a currywurst van plan became a Utah oil explorer, then leaned on discounted convertible notes to fund drilling it had not yet shown it completed.
2012-2013: From catering vans to a change of plan
The company began as Curry Gold Corp., which planned a currywurst catering-van business. In July 2012 founder Soenke Timm agreed to sell his 2,000,000 shares (60%) to Daniel Ferris, who became president, secretary and treasurer. The van plan was dropped in favour of looking at other opportunities, and Timm forgave $40,062.76 of loans. Shares on issue rose from 3,350,000 to 47,300,000 in 2012, though the beats do not explain that jump.
In October 2013 the company, now Virtus, made its first oil and gas deal: a $460,000 agreement to buy two federal leases in Beaver County, Utah, from Pioneer Oil and Gas. It paid the first $30,000 and then reconsidered.
2014: Utah leases and a new owner
In November 2013 Virtus agreed to buy an 87.5% working interest in about 36,787 acres in Iron County, Utah from bankrupt Tidewater Oil & Gas for $290,000. It committed to pay for an estimated $2.5 million test well or forfeit the leases. It dropped the Pioneer deal, losing the $30,000, and sold 250,000 shares to Fieldstone Industries for $100,000 ($0.40 each).
In May 2014 it pushed the first-well deadline to September 1, 2015 and agreed to buy an 87.5% interest in about 18,690.50 more acres from Tom Johnson and Bill Berryman (TJBB) for $168,215. In July 2014 Ferris sold his 28,000,000 shares to Rupert Ireland for $2,000,000, mostly through a $1,820,000 note due June 26, 2016. Ireland, chief executive since May 2014, became sole director. The Tidewater purchase completed on August 19, 2014. The TJBB leases would transfer only after a final $75,000 payment due September 28, 2014, and the filings do not confirm it was made.
2015-2016: Drilling plans and convertible notes
In April 2015 the TJBB terms changed: a cheaper 7,000-foot initial test well was due by July 30, 2015 or the interests would be forfeited, and TJBB received 50,000 shares. Virtus signed a drilling contract with Energy Drilling, LLC, at $11,900 a day plus mobilization and demobilization fees of $110,000 each.
To fund this, Virtus began borrowing. From May 2015 it sold 7% convertible notes to Himmil Investments, which convert at a discount to market and can dilute shareholders. By August, $800,000 of principal was outstanding after $350,000 was extinguished because registration was completed on time. In October 2015 another investor bought a $600,000 note for $375,000. Shares on issue reached 96,918,006 by the end of 2016's first stretch, though the beats do not itemise the rise.
By May 3, 2016 the company had no revenue, quarterly losses of about $1.1 million and a going-concern warning from its auditors. It had also issued a new 8% note of $73,795 to FirstFire. The filings do not show whether the test well was drilled.
Written from the 10 story beats below (2012 to 14 Oct 2015), which come from the company's own announcements and filings.