1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Novatel Wireless, Inc. ---------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock ------------------------------ (Title of Class of Securities) 66987M10 -------------- (CUSIP Number) November 15, 2000 ------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [ ] Rule 13d-1(c) [X] Rule 13d-1(d) 13G
2 CUSIP No. 66987M10 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name of Reporting Persons: I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). Ventures West Capital Ltd. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions): (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC Use Only - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Canada - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Shares 5. Sole Voting Power: Beneficially Owned 4,539,228 By Each Reporting ----------------------------------------------------- Person With 6. Shared Voting Power: 0 ----------------------------------------------------- 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 4,539,228 ----------------------------------------------------- 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 4,539,228 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11): 8.4% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13G Page 2 of 5 pages
3 ITEM 1. (a) Name of Issuer: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 9360 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 110 San Diego, California 92121 ITEM 2. (a) Name of Person Filing: Ventures West Capital Ltd. (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: 1285 West Pender Street, Suite 280 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6E 4B1 (c) Citizenship: Canada (d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock (e) CUSIP Number: 66987M10 ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b) OR 13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act; (b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act; (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act; (d) [ ] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act; (e) [ ] Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940; (f) [ ] Employee Benefit Plan Pension Fund which is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or Endowment Fund; (g) [ ] Parent Holding Company, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G); (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940; (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). 13G Page 3 of 5 pages
4 ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP (a) Amount beneficially owned: 4,539,228 shares, including (i) 2,892,873 shares and warrants to purchase 1,054,275 shares held of record by Bank of Montreal Capital Corporation, which is managed by Ventures West Management TIP, Inc., an entity wholly owned by Ventures West Capital Ltd., and (b) 433,938 shares and warrants to purchase 158,142 shares held of record by Ventures West Investment Ltd., an 85% owned subsidiary of Ventures West Capital Limited. (b) Percent of class: 8.4% (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 4,539,228 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 4,539,228 (iv) Shares power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS If the statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ]. ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON Not applicable. ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY Not applicable. ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP Not applicable. ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP Not applicable. ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION Not applicable. 13G Page 4 of 5 pages
5 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. VENTURES WEST CAPITAL LTD. /s/ HOWARD L. RIBACK ----------------------------------------- By: Howard L. Riback Title: Secretary Date: February 9, 2001 13G Page 5 of 5 pages