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PURE CYCLE CORP - Quarter Report: 2011 May (Form 10-Q)

Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: May 31, 2011
or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number 0-8814
PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Colorado   84-0705083
     
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
     
1490 Lafayette Street, Suite 203, Denver, CO   80218
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
(303) 292 – 3456
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller Reporting Company þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of July 6, 2011:
     
Common stock, 1/3 of $.01 par value   24,037,596
     
(Class)   (Number of Shares)
 
 

 

 


 

PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
INDEX TO May 31, 2011 FORM 10-Q
         
    Page  
 
       
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
       
    3  
 
       
       
May 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010
    3  
 
       
       
For the three months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010
    4  
 
       
For the nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010
    5  
 
       
       
For the nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010
    6  
 
       
    7  
 
       
    20  
 
       
    30  
 
       
    30  
 
       
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
       
    30  
 
       
    31  
 
       
 Exhibit 31
 Exhibit 32

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
                 
    May 31, 2011     August 31, 2010  
    (unaudited)        
ASSETS:
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 541,697     $ 12,017  
Marketable securities
    4,583,176       1,435,054  
Trade accounts receivable
    60,992       71,155  
Prepaid expenses
    222,563       236,627  
Current portion of construction proceeds receivable
    64,783       64,783  
 
           
Total current assets
    5,473,211       1,819,636  
 
               
Investments in water and water systems, net
    106,542,965       102,931,347  
Land — Sky Ranch
    3,738,955        
Construction proceeds receivable, less current portion
    314,502       351,791  
Note receivable — related party:
               
Rangeview Metropolitan District, including accrued interest
    528,839       519,834  
Escrow and other items related to the Sky Ranch acquisition
          735,000  
Other assets
    17,979       20,146  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 116,616,451     $ 106,377,754  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES:
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 70,661     $ 44,818  
Accrued liabilities
    92,167       70,704  
Deferred revenues
    55,800       55,800  
Deferred oil and gas lease payment
    414,480        
 
           
Total current liabilities
    633,108       171,322  
 
               
Deferred revenues, less current portion
    1,348,454       1,390,305  
Deferred oil and gas lease payment, less current portion
    742,610        
Participating Interests in Export Water Supply
    1,213,647       1,214,799  
Tap Participation Fee payable to HP A&M, net of $49.1 million and $52.0 million discount, respectively
    64,004,329       61,141,329  
 
           
Total liabilities
    67,942,148       63,917,755  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and Contingencies
               
 
               
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Preferred stock:
               
Series B — par value $.001 per share, 25 million shares authorized; 432,513 shares issued and outstanding
(liquidation preference of $432,513)
    433       433  
Common stock:
               
Par value 1/3 of $.01 per share, 40 million shares authorized; 24,037,596 and 20,206,566 shares outstanding, respectively
    80,130       67,360  
Additional paid-in capital
    103,151,357       92,341,555  
Accumulated comprehensive loss
    (5,238 )     (1,580 )
Accumulated deficit
    (54,552,379 )     (49,947,769 )
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    48,674,303       42,459,999  
 
           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 116,616,451     $ 106,377,754  
 
           
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
                 
    Three months ended:  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010  
Revenues:
               
Metered water usage
  $ 31,968     $ 27,269  
Wastewater treatment fees
    17,719       16,744  
Recognition of deferred revenues:
               
Special facility funding
    10,377       10,377  
Water tap fees
    3,574       3,574  
 
           
Total revenues
    63,638       57,964  
 
           
 
               
Cost of revenues:
               
Water service operations
    (11,370 )     (7,763 )
Wastewater service operations
    (4,913 )     (5,763 )
Depletion and depreciation
    (22,113 )     (22,102 )
 
           
Total cost of revenues
    (38,396 )     (35,628 )
 
           
Gross margin
    25,242       22,336  
 
               
Expenses:
               
General and administrative expenses
    (481,248 )     (387,344 )
Depreciation
    (53,020 )     (74,593 )
 
           
Operating loss
    (509,026 )     (439,601 )
 
               
Other income (expense):
               
Oil and gas lease
    95,637        
Interest income
    14,483       18,211  
Other
    5,067       12  
Interest imputed on the Tap Participation Fee payable to HP A&M
    (969,000 )     (912,000 )
 
           
 
               
Net loss
  $ (1,362,839 )   $ (1,333,378 )
 
           
 
               
Net loss per common share — basic and diluted
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.07 )
 
           
 
               
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic and diluted
    24,037,596       20,206,566  
 
           
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
                 
    Nine Months Ended:  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010  
Revenues:
               
Metered water usage
  $ 93,569     $ 76,664  
Wastewater treatment fees
    53,157       50,232  
Recognition of deferred revenues:
               
Special facility funding
    31,131       31,131  
Water tap fees
    10,722       10,722  
 
           
Total revenues
    188,579       168,749  
 
           
 
               
Cost of revenues:
               
Water service operations
    (33,079 )     (33,182 )
Wastewater service operations
    (14,329 )     (16,202 )
Depletion and depreciation
    (66,313 )     (66,256 )
 
           
Total cost of revenues
    (113,721 )     (115,640 )
 
           
Gross margin
    74,858       53,109  
 
               
Expenses:
               
General and administrative expenses
    (1,669,813 )     (1,327,520 )
Depreciation
    (159,214 )     (223,883 )
 
           
Operating loss
    (1,754,169 )     (1,498,294 )
 
               
Other income (expense):
               
Oil and gas lease
    95,637        
Interest income
    41,577       55,384  
Gain on sale of land
          9,404  
Other
    27,012       1,143  
Interest expensed on Convertible Note — Related Party
    (151,667 )      
Interest imputed on the Tap Participation Fee payable to HP A&M
    (2,863,000 )     (2,694,000 )
 
           
 
               
Net loss
  $ (4,604,610 )   $ (4,126,363 )
 
           
 
               
Net loss per common share — basic and diluted
  $ (0.20 )   $ (0.20 )
 
           
 
               
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic and diluted
    22,875,551       20,206,566  
 
           
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
                 
    Nine months ended:  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net loss
  $ (4,604,610 )   $ (4,126,363 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operating activities:
               
Imputed interest on Tap Participation Fee payable to HP A&M
    2,863,000       2,694,000  
Interest expensed on Convertible Note Payable — Related Party
    151,667        
Depreciation, depletion and other non-cash items
    227,680       291,373  
Stock-based compensation expense included with general and administrative expenses
    69,300       55,867  
Interest income and other non-cash items
    (32,542 )     (28,510 )
Gain on sale of land
          (9,404 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Trade accounts receivable
    10,163       7,518  
Interest receivable and prepaid expenses
    14,064       (64,995 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    34,810       29,033  
Deferred revenues
    (41,851 )     (41,852 )
Deferred oil and gas lease bonus payment
    1,157,090        
 
           
Net cash used by operating activities
    (151,229 )     (1,193,333 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Maturities of marketable securities
    2,470,679       975,804  
Purchase of marketable securities
    (5,622,460 )      
Investments in water and water systems
    (6,820,409 )     (19,649 )
Proceeds from sale of land
          10,000  
Other investments
          (10,000 )
 
           
Net cash (used) provided by investing activities
    (9,972,190 )     956,155  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Net proceeds from equity offering
    5,401,606        
Issuance of Convertible Note — Related Party
    5,200,000        
Arapahoe County construction proceeds
    54,798       61,647  
Payments to contingent liability holders
    (3,305 )     (2,218 )
 
           
Net cash provided by financing activities
    10,653,099       59,429  
 
           
 
               
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    529,680       (177,749 )
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of year
    12,017       705,083  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents — end of year
  $ 541,697     $ 527,334  
 
           
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
NOTE 1 — PRESENTATION OF INTERIM INFORMATION
The May 31, 2011 balance sheet, the statements of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, and the statements of cash flows for the nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, have been prepared by Pure Cycle Corporation (the “Company”) and have not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at May 31, 2011, and for all periods presented have been made appropriately.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 12, 2010. The results of operations for interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year. The August 31, 2010 balance sheet was taken directly from the Company’s audited financial statements.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company’s cash equivalents are comprised entirely of money market funds maintained at a high quality financial institution in an account which as of the end of the fiscal quarter did not exceed federally insured limits. However, as of May 31, 2011, the Company’s main operating account exceeded federally insured limits by approximately $290,000.
Financial Instruments — Concentration of Credit Risk and Fair Value. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company places its cash equivalents and investments with high quality financial institutions. At various times throughout the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, cash deposits have exceeded federally insured limits. The Company invests its excess cash primarily in certificates of deposit, money market instruments, commercial paper obligations, corporate bonds and US government treasury obligations. To date, the Company has not experienced significant losses on any of these investments.
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.
Current Assets and Liabilities
The amounts reported on the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables/payables and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments.
The amounts reported on the balance sheets for marketable securities are the fair values of the instruments as reported by the financial institutions where the funds are held as of May 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010. The Company has recorded net unrealized losses of approximately $5,200 and $1,600 at May 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010, respectively. These securities include only federally insured certificates of deposit.
Notes Receivable and Construction Proceeds Receivable
The amounts reported on the balance sheet for the Company’s notes receivable and construction proceeds receivable approximate their fair values as they bear interest at rates which are comparable to current market rates.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
Long-term Financial Liabilities
The Comprehensive Amendment Agreement No. 1 (the “CAA” as defined in Note 5 below) is comprised of a recorded balance and an off-balance sheet or “contingent” obligation. The amount payable is a fixed amount but is repayable only upon the sale of “Export Water” (defined in Note 4 in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Because of the uncertainty of the sale of Export Water, the Company has determined that the contingent portion of the CAA does not have a determinable fair value.
The recorded balance of the “Tap Participation Fee” liability (as described below) is its estimated fair value determined by projecting new home development in the Company’s targeted service area over an estimated development period
Tap Participation Fee. Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Arkansas River Agreement”) dated May 10, 2006, the Company granted High Plains A&M, LLC (“HP A&M”) the right to receive ten percent (10%) of the Company’s gross proceeds, or the equivalent thereof, from the sale of the next 40,000 water taps sold by the Company from and after the date of the Arkansas River Agreement (the “Tap Participation Fee”). As a result of land sales in 2006 and 2009 and the sale of unutilized water rights owned by the Company in the Arkansas River Valley in 2007, at May 31, 2011, there remain 38,937 water taps subject to the Tap Participation Fee.
The Tap Participation Fee is due and payable once the Company has sold a water tap and received the consideration due for such water tap. The Company did not sell any water taps during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 or 2010.
At the acquisition date, the Company valued the Tap Participation Fee at approximately $45.6 million using a discounted cash flow analysis of the projected future payments to HP A&M. The $64.0 million balance at May 31, 2011, includes approximately $19.3 million of imputed interest, recorded using the effective interest method. The value of the Tap Participation Fee is estimated by projecting new home development in the Company’s targeted service area over an estimated development period. Projecting new home development in the Company’s targeted service area involved the utilization of third party historical and projected housing and population growth data for the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area, which was applied to an estimated development pattern, supported by historical development patterns of certain master planned communities in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. This development pattern was then applied to projected future water tap fees which were estimated using historical water tap fees. Based on the weak new home construction market in the Denver metropolitan area, the Company updated its estimated discounted cash flow analysis as of February 28, 2009. Further details of this update can be found in Note 7 to the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company completed an update to its analysis of the fair value of the Tap Participation Fee as of August 31, 2010, at which time it determined that changes in the projected estimated discounted cash flows did not materially impact its February 28, 2009 fair value analysis. Based on a lack of material changes, no update was deemed necessary at May 31, 2011.
Actual new home development in the Company’s service area and actual future tap fees inevitably will vary significantly from the Company’s estimates which could have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as well as its results of operations. An important component in the Company’s estimate of the value of the Tap Participation Fee, which is based on historical trends, is that the Company reasonably expects water tap fees to continue to increase in the coming years. Tap fees are market based and the continued increase in tap fees reflects, among other things, the increasing costs to acquire and develop new water supplies. Tap fees thus are partially indicative of the increasing value of the Company’s water assets. The Company continues to assess the value of the Tap Participation Fee liability and updates its valuation analysis whenever events or circumstances indicate the assumptions used to estimate the value of the liability have changed materially. The difference between the net present value and the estimated realizable value will be imputed as interest expense using the effective interest method over the estimated development period utilized in the valuation of the Tap Participation Fee.
The Company imputes interest expense on the unpaid Tap Participation Fee using the effective interest method over the estimated development period utilized in the valuation of the liability. The Company imputed interest of approximately $969,000 and $2.9 million during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, respectively. The Company imputed interest of approximately $912,000 and $2.7 million during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
After August 30, 2011 (five years after the acquisition date), under circumstances defined in the Arkansas River Agreement, the Tap Participation Fee can increase to 20% of the Company’s water tap fees and the number of water taps subject to the Tap Participation Fee would be correspondingly reduced by half. Payment of the Tap Participation Fee may be accelerated in the event of a merger, reorganization, sale of substantially all assets, or similar transactions and in the event of bankruptcy and insolvency events.
Revenue Recognition. The Company’s revenue recognition policies have not changed since August 31, 2010, and are more fully described in Note 2 to the financial statements contained in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In August 2005, the Company entered into the Water Service Agreement (the “County Agreement”) with Arapahoe County (the “County”). In fiscal 2006, the Company began recognizing water tap fees as revenue ratably over the estimated service period upon completion of the “Wholesale Facilities” (defined in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) constructed to provide service to the County. The Company recognized approximately $3,600 and $10,700 of water tap fee revenues during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The water tap fees to be recognized over this period are net of the royalty payments to the State of Colorado Board of Land Commissioners (the “Land Board”) and amounts paid to third parties pursuant to the CAA as further described in Note 5 below.
The Company recognized approximately $10,400 and $31,100 of “Special Facilities” (defined in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) funding as revenue during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. This is the ratable portion of the Special Facilities funding proceeds received from the County pursuant to the County Agreement as more fully described in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
As of May 31, 2011, the Company has deferred recognition of approximately $1.4 million of water tap and construction fee revenue from the County, which will be recognized as revenue ratably over the estimated useful accounting life of the assets constructed with the construction proceeds as described above.
Royalty and other obligations. Revenues from the sale of Export Water are shown net of royalties payable to the Land Board. Revenues from the sale of water on the “Lowry Range” (defined in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) are shown net of the royalties to the Land Board and the amounts retained by the Rangeview Metropolitan District (the “District”).
Oil and Gas Lease Bonus Payment. As further described in Note 3 below, on March 10, 2011, the Company entered into a Paid-Up Oil and Gas Lease (the “O&G Lease”) and a Surface Use and Damage Agreement (the “Surface Use Agreement”) with Anadarko E&P Company, L.P. (“Anadarko”) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Company. Pursuant to the O&G Lease, during the three months ended May 31, 2011, the Company received bonus payments of approximately $1,243,400 from Anadarko for the purpose of exploring for, developing, producing and marketing oil and gas on approximately 634 acres of mineral estate owned by the Company at its Sky Ranch property. The Company began recognizing the bonus payments as income on a straight-line basis over three years (the initial term of the O&G Lease) on March 10, 2011. During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, the Company recognized approximately $86,400 of income related to the O&G Lease.
As of May 31, 2011, the Company has deferred recognition of approximately $1,157,100 of income related to the O&G Lease.
Water and Wastewater Systems. If costs meet the Company’s capitalization criteria, costs to construct water and wastewater systems are capitalized as incurred, including interest, and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the water and wastewater systems. The Company capitalizes design and construction costs related to construction activities and it capitalizes certain legal, engineering and permitting costs relating to the adjudication and improvement of its water assets.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
Depletion and Depreciation of Water Assets. The Company depletes its water assets that are being utilized on the basis of units produced divided by the total volume of water adjudicated in the water decrees. Water systems are depreciated on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives of up to thirty years.
Share-based Compensation. The Company maintains a stock option plan for the benefit of its employees and directors. The Company records share-based compensation costs as expense over the applicable vesting period of the stock award using the straight-line method. The compensation costs to be expensed are measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. The Company has adopted the alternative transition method for calculating the tax effects of share-based compensation which allows for a simplified method of calculating the tax effects of employee share-based compensation. Because the Company has a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets, at this time the granting and exercise of stock options has no impact on the income tax provisions.
The Company recognized approximately $25,300 and $69,300 of share-based compensation expense during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, respectively. The Company recognized approximately $13,600 and $55,900 of share-based compensation expense during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively.
Income taxes. The Company follows a “more-likely-than-not” threshold for the recognition and de-recognition of tax positions, including any potential interest and penalties relating to tax positions taken by the Company. The Company does not have any significant unrecognized tax benefits or liabilities.
The Company files income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Colorado. The tax years that remain subject to examination are fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2010. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.
The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. At May 31, 2011, the Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits, nor was any interest expense recognized during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 or 2010.
Loss per Common Share. Loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. Common stock options and warrants aggregating approximately 280,100 and 250,100, common share equivalents as of May 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and approximately 1.9 million shares underlying the Convertible Note (defined in Note 3 below), prior to conversion, have been excluded from the calculation of loss per common share as their effect is anti-dilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. The Company continually assesses any new accounting pronouncements to determine their applicability. Where it is determined that a new accounting pronouncement affects the Company’s financial reporting, the Company undertakes a study to determine the consequence of the change to its financial statements and assures that there are proper controls in place to ascertain that the Company’s financials properly reflect the change. A variety of proposed or otherwise potential accounting standards are currently under study by standard-setting organizations and various regulatory agencies. Because of the tentative and preliminary nature of these proposed standards, the Company has not determined whether implementation of such proposed standards would be material to the Company’s financial statements. New pronouncements assessed by the Company recently are discussed below:
In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-09 which requires that an SEC filer, as defined, evaluate subsequent events through the date that the financial statements are issued. The update also removed the requirement for an SEC filer to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in originally issued and revised financial statements. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements” (ASU 2010-06). This update requires additional disclosure within the roll forward of activity for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, including transfers of assets and liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and the separate presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements of assets and liabilities within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. In addition, the update requires enhanced disclosures of the valuation techniques and inputs used in the fair value measurements within Levels 2 and 3. The new disclosure requirements are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosure of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements of Level 3 measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 (September 1, 2011 for the Company). As ASU 2010-06 only requires enhanced disclosures, the Company does not expect that the adoption of this update will have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-13 “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — a Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force” (“ASU 2009-13”) which updates ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition.” ASU 2009-13 provides another alternative for determining the selling price of deliverables and will allow companies to allocate arrangement consideration in multiple deliverable arrangements in a manner that better reflects the transaction’s economics and could result in earlier revenue recognition. ASU 2009-13 was effective for the Company for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified on or after October 1, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In June 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-17, “Consolidations: Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities.” ASU 2009-17, which amends ASC 810-10, “Consolidation", prescribes a qualitative model for identifying whether a company has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and eliminates the quantitative model. The new model identifies two primary characteristics of a controlling financial interest: (1) the interest provides a company with the power to direct significant activities of the VIE, and (2) the interest obligates a company to absorb losses of and/or provides rights to receive benefits from the VIE. ASU 2009-17 requires a company to reassess on an ongoing basis whether it holds a controlling financial interest in a VIE. A company that holds a controlling financial interest is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and is required to consolidate the VIE. ASU 2009-17 is effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, which for the Company was September 1, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
Reclassifications. Certain amounts in the May 31, 2010 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
NOTE 2 FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. The Company uses a fair value hierarchy that has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable, with use of the lowest possible level of input to determine fair value.
Level 1 — Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange. The Company had none of these instruments at May 31, 2011.
Level 2 — Valuations for assets and liabilities obtained from readily available pricing sources via independent providers for market transactions involving similar assets or liabilities. The Company had one Level 2 asset at May 31, 2011, its marketable securities. The Company’s principal markets for these securities are the secondary institutional markets and valuations are based on observable market data in those markets.
Level 3 — Valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived from other valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker traded transactions. Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities. The Company had one Level 3 liability at May 31, 2011, the Tap Participation Fee liability, which is described in greater detail in Note 1 above.
The Company maintains policies and procedures to value instruments using the best and most relevant data available.
The Company applied the new accounting guidance issued by the FASB for all non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at September 1, 2009. The Company’s non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis consist entirely of its investments in water and water systems and other long- lived assets. Since the Company performed its annual impairment analyses of its long-lived assets as of August 31, 2010, with no indicators of impairment, and since no impairment trigger event occurred during the first nine months of fiscal 2011, the adoption of the new FASB standard for non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
Level 2 Asset — Marketable Securities Measured on a Recurring Basis. The Company’s marketable securities are the Company’s only financial assets measured on a recurring basis. The fair values of the marketable securities are based on the values reported by the financial institutions where the funds are held. These securities include only federally insured certificates of deposit.
Level 3 Liability — Tap Participation Fee. The Company’s Tap Participation Fee liability is the Company’s only financial liability measured on a non-recurring basis. As further described in Note 1 above, the Tap Participation Fee liability is valued by projecting new home development in the Company’s targeted service area over an estimated development period.
The following table provides information on the assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of May 31, 2011:
                                                 
    Fair Value Measurement Using:  
                    Quoted Prices                    
                    in Active     Significant              
                    Markets for     Other     Significant     Total  
                    Identical     Observable     Unobservable     Unrealized  
            Cost / Other     Assets     Inputs     Inputs     Gains and  
    Fair Value     Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)     (Losses)  
Marketable securities
  $ 4,583,200     $ 4,588,400     $     $ 4,583,200     $     $ (5,200 )
Tap Participation Fee liability
  $ 64,004,300     $ 64,004,300     $     $     $ 64,004,300     $  
Although not required, the Company deems the following table, which presents the changes in the Tap Participation Fee for the nine months ended May 31, 2011, to be helpful to the users of its financial statements:
                         
    Fair Value Measurement using Significant Unobservable  
    Inputs (Level 3)  
                    Discount - to be  
                    imputed as  
    Gross Estimated     Tap Participation     interest expense  
    Tap Participation     Fee Reported     in future  
    Fee Liability     Liability     periods  
Balance at August 31, 2010
  $ 113,147,700     $ 61,141,300     $ 52,006,400  
Total gains and losses (realized and unrealized):
                       
Imputed interest recorded as “Other Expense”
          2,863,000       (2,863,000 )
Increase in estimated value (to be realized in future periods)
                 
Purchases, sales, issuances, payments, and settlements
                 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
                 
 
                 
Balance at May 31, 2011
  $ 113,147,700     $ 64,004,300     $ 49,143,400  
 
                 
The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value are discussed above. The methodologies for other financial assets and liabilities are discussed below.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are reported using the values as reported by the financial institution where the funds are held. These securities primarily include balances in the Company’s operating and savings accounts. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value.
Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable: The carrying amounts of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity for these instruments.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
Notes Receivable and Construction Proceeds Receivable: The carrying amounts of the Company’s notes receivable and construction proceeds receivable approximate fair value as they bear interest at rates which are comparable to current market rates.
Off-Balance Sheet Instruments: The Company’s off-balance sheet instruments consist entirely of the contingent portion of the CAA (described further in Note 5 below). Because repayment of this portion of the CAA is contingent on the sale of Export Water, the Company has determined that the contingent portion of the CAA does not have a determinable fair value.
NOTE 3 — INVESTMENTS IN WATER AND WATER SYSTEMS
The Company’s water rights and current water and wastewater service agreements are more fully described in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. With the exception of the Sky Ranch acquisition which is described below, there have been no significant changes to the Company’s water rights or water and wastewater service agreements during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011.
The Company’s water and water systems consist of the following approximate costs and accumulated depreciation and depletion as of May 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010:
                                 
    May 31, 2011     August 31, 2010  
            Accumulated             Accumulated  
            Depreciation             Depreciation  
    Costs     and Depletion     Costs     and Depletion  
Arkansas River Valley assets
  $ 81,318,700     $ (1,101,200 )   $ 81,318,700     $ (972,400 )
Rangeview water supply
    14,295,800       (6,300 )     14,285,700       (6,000 )
Paradise water supply
    5,540,200             5,536,500        
Sky Ranch water rights and other costs
    3,915,200       (14,500 )     100,000        
Fairgrounds water and water system
    2,899,900       (424,400 )     2,899,900       (358,400 )
Rangeview water system
    167,700       (61,100 )     167,700       (57,200 )
Water supply — other
    25,700       (12,700 )     25,700       (8,900 )
 
                       
Totals
    108,163,200       (1,620,200 )     104,334,200       (1,402,900 )
 
                       
Net investments in water and water systems
  $ 106,543,000             $ 102,931,300          
 
                           
Capitalized terms in this section not defined herein are defined in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Depletion and Depreciation. The Company recorded less than $100 and approximately $300 of depletion charges during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. This related entirely to the use of the Rangeview Water Supply. No depletion is taken against the Arkansas River water, the Paradise Water Supply or Sky Ranch water because these assets have not been placed into service as of May 31, 2011. The Company recorded approximately $75,000 and $225,200 of depreciation expense during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, respectively. The Company recorded approximately $96,600 and $289,800 of depreciation expense during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively.
Acquisition of Sky Ranch. Effective July 30, 2010, the Company entered into a Loan Sale and Assignment Agreement (the “Loan Sale Agreement”) with the Bank of America, N.A. (“BofA”), to acquire from BofA, loan instruments secured by approximately 940 acres of undeveloped land located in unincorporated Arapahoe County and known as Sky Ranch. The Company acquired the promissory note payable by Sky Ranch, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Neumann Homes, Inc.) and the deed of trust granted by Sky Ranch, LLC to secure the promissory note from BofA for cash payments totaling $7.0 million. The Company made a $700,000 escrow payment to BofA on July 30, 2010 and paid the remaining $6.3 million of the purchase price on October 18, 2010. On October 26, 2010, the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois, entered an order granting the Company’s motion requesting that title to the Sky Ranch property be deeded to the Company. Pursuant to the order, title to the Sky Ranch property was conveyed to the Company on November 2, 2010.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
The property includes approximately 820 acre feet of water, 89 acre feet of which were previously purchased by the Company pursuant to agreements with the former developer.
Total consideration for the land and water included the approximately $7.0 million purchase price, plus direct costs and fees of approximately $554,100. The Company allocated the total acquisition cost to the land and water rights based on estimates of each asset’s respective fair value, as described in the table below. Because the total acquisition cost was less than the total estimated fair value of the assets acquired by the Company, the relative values assigned to the land and water have been ratably reduced (allocated values are detailed in the table below). The estimated fair value of the land and water rights were determined by internal analysis of estimated future cash flows from land and water rights sales and supplemented with an external appraisal of the land acquired.
The following table presents the allocation of the acquisition costs (and the relative fair values of each asset), including professional fees and other costs related to the acquisition, to the land and water based on their relative fair values:
                                                 
                                            Total Values  
                                            Assigned to  
    Estimated Fair     % of Total     Allocable     Fair Value     Costs Specific     Identifiable  
Asset   Value     Fair Value     Acquisition Costs     Allocation     to Land 1     Assets  
Land
  $ 10,637,900       48.13 %   $ 7,187,900     $ 3,459,800     $ 279,100     $ 3,738,900  
Water 2
    11,462,700       51.87 %     7,187,900       3,728,100             3,728,100  
 
                                     
 
  $ 22,100,600       100 %           $ 7,187,900     $ 279,100     $ 7,467,000  
 
Costs of acquisition 3
                                            87,100  
 
                                             
Total capitalized costs related to Sky Ranch
                                          $ 7,554,100  
 
                                             
Table Notes
1.  
Includes approximately $71,000 of property taxes.
 
2.  
The water rights value does not include the $100,000 of costs already capitalized on the Company’s balance sheet related to the 89 acre feet of water acquired from the prior owner of the land and not pursuant to the Loan Sale Agreement.
 
3.  
The amounts recorded as costs of acquisition consist of professional fees and other related costs. Approximately $12,500 of the acquisition costs are unpaid as of May 31, 2011, and are therefore included in the accrued liabilities account at May 31, 2011.
The assets acquired by the Company are being depleted and depreciated consistent with the Company’s depletion and depreciation policies.
The funding for this acquisition was completed in September 2010, when the Company entered into the $5.2 million Convertible Negotiable Promissory Note (the “Convertible Note”) with PAR Investment Partners, L.P. (“PAR”), a 5% or greater shareholder of the Company, and sold approximately 1.8 million shares of its common stock for approximately $5.5 million. Both financing transactions are described below, including the conversion of the Convertible Note on January 11, 2011. Of the combined $10.7 million raised by the Company, $6.3 million was used to complete the Loan Sale Agreement with BofA and the remaining funds, approximately $4.4 million, are being used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Issuance and Conversion of the Convertible Note
The Company issued the $5.2 million Convertible Note to PAR on September 28, 2010. The Company’s shareholders authorized conversion of the Convertible Note at the January 11, 2011 annual shareholders’ meeting. Following the meeting, PAR surrendered the Convertible Note for conversion and the Company issued 1,982,099 unregistered shares of its common stock to PAR. From issuance until conversion, the Convertible Note accrued interest at a rate of 10% per annum. During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, the Company accrued approximately $0 and $151,700 of interest on the Convertible Note, respectively. The number of shares issued was based on the outstanding balance of approximately $5.35 million (principal and accrued interest) divided by a conversion rate of $2.70. Since the Convertible Note included a conversion feature that was a standard conversion feature not subject to change, the Company determined this was not an embedded derivative. Additionally, at the date of issuance, the market price of the Company’s common stock was less than the conversion price; therefore, the Company determined that the instrument did not contain a beneficial conversion feature. In conjunction with the Convertible Note, the Company granted PAR one demand right and piggyback rights to register the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
Sale of common stock pursuant to the shelf registration statement
On September 29, 2010, the Company sold 1,848,931 shares of its common stock for approximately $5.5 million or $3.00 per share. These shares were sold pursuant to a $10.0 million shelf registration statement (Registration Number 333-168160) filed with the SEC which became effective on July 28, 2010. The Company may issue up to an additional $4.45 million of its common stock pursuant to this shelf registration statement. Approximately 930,600 shares of common stock sold in this offering were sold to PAR, a related party, for approximately $2.8 million or $3.00 per share.
Oil and Gas Lease
As described in Note 1 above, on March 10, 2011, the Company entered into the O&G Lease and the Surface Use Agreement with Anadarko. In addition to the approximately $1,243,400 upfront fee, the Company will receive, as a royalty, 20% of the gross proceeds (less certain taxes) from the sale of any oil and gas produced from the Company’s property.
The O&G Lease has a term of three (3) years commencing on March 10, 2011, which can be extended by two (2) years at Anadarko’s sole discretion. If Anadarko wishes to extend the O&G Lease for an additional two (2) years, the Lease requires Anadarko to pay the Company another bonus payment equal to the initial bonus payment noted above.
Pursuant to the Surface Use Agreement, Anadarko can drill up to three wells on the Sky Ranch property covered under the O&G Lease. Additionally, the Company will receive $3,000 per acre that is permanently disturbed for use in the oil and gas exploration and production.
NOTE 4 — HP A&M PROMISSORY NOTES
Certain of the properties acquired from HP A&M are subject to outstanding promissory notes with principal and accrued interest totaling approximately $10.6 million at May 31, 2011 and $11.0 million at August 31, 2010. Additional information regarding these promissory notes, the circumstances under which the Company would be required to make payments pursuant to these notes and the accounting treatment of these notes are more fully described in Note 7 to the financial statements contained in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
NOTE 5 — PARTICIPATING INTERESTS IN EXPORT WATER
The Company acquired its Rangeview Water Supply through various amended agreements entered into in the early 1990’s. The acquisition was consummated with the signing of the Comprehensive Amendment Agreement No. 1 (the “CAA”) in 1996. Upon entering into the CAA, the Company recorded an initial liability of approximately $11.1 million, which represents the cash the Company received and used to purchase its Export Water, which is described in greater detail in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In return, the Company agreed to remit a total of $31.8 million of proceeds received from the sale of Export Water to the participating interest holders. The obligation for the $11.1 million was recorded as debt, and the remaining $20.7 million contingent liability was not reflected on the Company’s balance sheet because the obligation to pay this is contingent on sales of Export Water, the amounts and timing of which are not reasonably determinable.
The CAA obligation is non-interest bearing, and if the Export Water is not sold, the parties to the CAA have no recourse against the Company. If the Company does not sell the Export Water, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are also not entitled to payment of any dividend and have no contractual recourse against the Company.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
As the proceeds from the sale of Export Water are received and the amounts are remitted to the external CAA holders, the Company allocates a ratable percentage of each payment to the principal portion (the Participating Interests in Export Water Supply liability account) with the balance of the payment being charged to the contingent obligation portion. Because the original recorded liability, which was $11.1 million, was approximately 35% of the original total liability of $31.8 million, 35% of each payment remitted to the CAA holders is allocated to the recorded liability account. The remaining portion of each payment, or approximately 65%, is allocated to the contingent obligation, which is recorded on a net revenue basis.
From time to time, the Company repurchases various portions of the CAA obligations in priority. The Company did not make any CAA acquisitions during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 or 2010.
As a result of the CAA acquisitions, and due to the sale of Export Water, as detailed in the table below, the total remaining potential third party obligation as of May 31, 2011 is approximately $3.5 million:
                                         
    Export Water     Initial Export     Total Potential     Paticipating        
    Proceeds     Water Proceeds     Third party     Interests        
    Received     to Pure Cycle     Obligation     Liability     Contingency  
Original balances
  $     $ 218,500     $ 31,807,732     $ 11,090,630     $ 20,717,102  
Activity from inception until August 31, 2010:
                                       
Acquisitions
          28,077,500       (28,077,500 )     (9,789,983 )     (18,287,517 )
Option payments — Sky Ranch and The Hills at Sky Ranch
    110,400       (42,280 )     (68,120 )     (23,754 )     (44,366 )
Arapahoe County tap fees *
    532,968       (373,078 )     (159,890 )     (55,754 )     (104,136 )
Export Water sale payments
    60,584       (42,408 )     (18,176 )     (6,340 )     (11,836 )
 
                             
Balance at August 31, 2010
    703,952       27,838,234       3,484,046       1,214,799       2,269,247  
Fiscal 2011 activity:
                                       
Export Water sale payments
    11,016       (7,711 )     (3,305 )     (1,152 )     (2,153 )
 
                             
Balance at May 31, 2011
  $ 714,968     $ 27,830,523     $ 3,480,741     $ 1,213,647     $ 2,267,094  
 
                             
*  
The Arapahoe County tap fees are less $34,522 in royalties paid to the Land Board.
The CAA includes contractually established priorities which call for payments to CAA holders in order of their priority. This means the first three payees receive their full payment before the next priority level receives any payment and so on until full repayment. The Company will receive approximately $5.1 million of the first priority payout (the remaining balance of the first priority payout totals approximately $7.3 million as of May 31, 2011).

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
NOTE 6 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The table below summarizes the significant changes in the Company’s equity accounts during the nine months ended May 31, 2011:
                                         
                    Additional     Accumulated        
    Common Stock     Paid-in     Comprehensive     Accumulated  
    Shares     Par Value     Capital     Income (loss)     Deficit  
August 31, 2010 balance:
    20,206,566     $ 67,360     $ 92,341,555     $ (1,580 )   $ (49,947,769 )
Sale of common stock, less fees and expenses of approximately $120,200
    1,848,931       6,163       5,395,442              
 
                                       
Issuance of restricted common stock upon conversion of Convertible Debt
    1,982,099       6,607       5,345,060              
Share-based compensation
                69,300              
Unrealized loss on investments
                      (3,658 )      
Net loss
                            (4,604,610 )
 
                             
May 31, 2011 balance:
    24,037,596     $ 80,130     $ 103,151,357     $ (5,238 )   $ (54,552,379 )
 
                             
Sale of common stock and issuance of common stock upon conversion of Convertible Note. See Note 3 above regarding the issuance of the common stock and the issuance of stock upon conversion of the Convertible Note, both done in connection with the Sky Ranch acquisition.
Equity Compensation Plan. The Company maintains the 2004 Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), which was approved by stockholders in April 2004. Executives, eligible employees and non-employee directors are eligible to receive options and restricted stock grants pursuant to the Equity Plan. Pursuant to the Equity Plan, options to purchase shares of stock and restricted stock awards can be granted with exercise prices and vesting periods determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Company initially reserved 1.6 million shares of common stock for issuance under the Equity Plan. As of May 31, 2011, the Company has 1,285,811 common shares that can be granted to eligible participants pursuant to the Equity Plan.
The Company is required to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model and to expense the fair value over the vesting period of the grant. For additional information on the Equity Plan, including a summary of the significant assumptions, refer to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2010.
The following table summarizes stock option activity for the Equity Plan for the nine months ended May 31, 2011:
                                 
                    Weighted-        
                    Average     Approximate  
            Weighted-     Remaining     Aggregate  
    Number of     Average     Contractual     Instrinsic  
    Options     Exercise Price     Term     Value  
Oustanding at beginning of period
    262,500     $ 6.26                  
Granted
    17,500     $ 3.67                  
Exercised
        $                  
Forfeited or expired
        $                  
 
                             
Outstanding at May 31, 2011
    280,000     $ 6.10       6.2     $ 30,400  
 
                       
 
                               
Options exercisable at May 31, 2011
    214,500     $ 6.97       5.5     $ 16,500  
 
                       
The approximate aggregate intrinsic value represents the value of the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the fiscal period in excess of the weighted-average exercise price multiplied by the number of options outstanding or exercisable. The aggregate intrinsic value excludes the effect of stock options that have a zero or negative intrinsic value.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
The following table summarizes the activity and value of non-vested options as of and for the nine months ended May 31, 2010:
                 
            Weighted-  
            Average Grant  
    Number of     Date Fair  
    Options     Value  
Non-vested options oustanding at beginning of period
    60,500     $ 2.67  
Granted
    17,500       3.11  
Vested
    (12,500 )     2.49  
Forfeited
           
 
           
Non-vested options outstanding at May 31, 2011
    65,500     $ 2.82  
 
           
The total fair value of options vested during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, was approximately $0 and $31,200. The total fair value of options vested during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, was approximately $0 and $36,300.
Stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, was approximately $25,300 and $69,300, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, was approximately $13,600 and $55,900, respectively.
At May 31, 2011, the Company has unrecognized expenses relating to non-vested options that are expected to vest totaling approximately $117,800. The weighted-average period over which these options are expected to vest is approximately two years. The Company has not recorded any excess tax benefits to additional paid in capital.
There were no options exercised during the three or nine months ended May 31, 2011.
In January 2011, the Company granted its directors options to purchase a combined 17,500 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Equity Plan. 12,500 of the options vest one year from the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant. 5,000 of the options vest one-half at the first anniversary of the grant date and one-half at the second anniversary of the grant date. The Company calculated the fair value of these options at approximately $54,500 using the Black-Scholes model with the following variables: weighted average exercise price of $3.67 (which was the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant); estimated option lives of ten years; estimated dividend rate of 0%; weighted average risk-free interest rate of 3.37%; weighted average stock price volatility of 84.7%; and an estimated forfeiture rate of 0%. The $54,500 of stock-based compensation is being expensed monthly over the vesting periods.
In January 2010, the Company granted its directors options to purchase a combined 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Equity Plan. The options vest one year from the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant. The Company calculated the fair value of these options at approximately $31,200 using the Black-Scholes model with the following variables: weighted average exercise price of $2.88 (which was the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant); estimated option lives of ten years; estimated dividend rate of 0%; weighted average risk-free interest rate of 3.74%; weighted average stock price volatility of 88.4%; and an estimated forfeiture rate of 0%. The $31,200 of stock-based compensation was expensed monthly over the vesting period.

 

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PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY 31, 2011
Comprehensive Loss. In addition to net loss, comprehensive loss includes the unrecognized changes in the fair value of marketable securities that are classified as available-for-sale as noted in the following table:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010  
Net loss
  $ (1,362,800 )   $ (1,333,400 )   $ (4,604,600 )   $ (4,126,400 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on
                               
marketable securities
    (100 )     200       (3,600 )     (3,800 )
 
                       
Comprehensive loss
  $ (1,362,900 )   $ (1,333,200 )   $ (4,608,200 )   $ (4,130,200 )
 
                       
NOTE 7 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In 1995, the Company extended a loan to the District, a related party. The loan provided for borrowings of up to $250,000, is unsecured, bears interest based on the prevailing prime rate plus 2% (5.25% at May 31, 2011) and matures on December 31, 2011. The approximately $528,800 balance of the note receivable at May 31, 2011 includes borrowings of approximately $229,300 and accrued interest of approximately $299,500.
See also Note 3 above regarding the sale of common stock and the issuance and conversion of the Convertible Note to a related party.
NOTE 8 — SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER
The Company had accounts receivable from one customer that accounted for approximately 81% and 82% of the Company’s trade receivables balances at May 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010, respectively. The Company earned revenues from the same customer that accounted for approximately 60% and 62% of the Company’s total revenues for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, respectively. The Company earned revenues from the same customer that accounted for approximately 58% and 63% of the Company’s total revenues for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively. That customer was the Ridgeview Youth Services Center.
NOTE 9 — ACCRUED LIABILITIES
At May 31, 2011, the Company had accrued liabilities of approximately $92,200, of which approximately $52,500 was for costs associated with the Sky Ranch acquisition as well as accrued property taxes on the Sky Ranch property, approximately $33,600 was for professional fees with the remainder related to operating payables. At August 31, 2010, the Company had accrued liabilities of approximately $70,700, of which $65,000 was for professional fees with the remainder relating to operating payables.
NOTE 10 — SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES
                 
    Nine months ended:  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010  
 
               
Issuance of shares of restricted common stock upon conversion of the Convertible Note — Related Party
  $ 5,351,700     $  
             
*****

 

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Item 2.  
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements that are not historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from projected results. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations will be realized. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the timing of new home construction and other development in the areas where we may sell our water, which in turn may be impacted by credit availability; population growth; employment rates; general economic conditions; the market price of water; changes in customer consumption patterns; changes in applicable statutory and regulatory requirements; uncertainties in the estimation of water available under decrees; costs of delivery of water and treatment of wastewater; uncertainties in the estimation of costs of construction projects; the strength and financial resources of our competitors; our ability to find and retain skilled personnel; climatic and weather conditions, including flood and droughts; labor relations; availability and cost of material and equipment; delays in anticipated permit and construction dates; environmental risks and regulations; our ability to raise capital; our ability to negotiate contracts with new customers; and uncertainties in water court rulings.
Overview
The following sections focus on the key indicators reviewed by management in evaluating our financial condition and operating performance, including the following:
   
Revenue generated from providing wholesale water and wastewater services;
   
Expenses associated with developing our water assets; and
   
Cash available to continue development of our water rights and service agreements.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements and the notes thereto and the financial statements and the notes thereto contained in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. This overview summarizes the MD&A, which includes the following sections:
Our Business — a general description of our business, our services and our business strategy.
Results of Operations — an analysis of our results of operations for the periods presented in our financial statements.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Position — an analysis of our cash position and cash flows, as well as a discussion of our financing arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — a discussion of our critical accounting policies that require critical judgments, assumptions and estimates.
Our Business
We are a Colorado corporation that provides wholesale water and wastewater services to our customers which are local governmental entities that provide water and wastewater services to their end-use customers located in the greater Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. Services we provide include designing, constructing, operating and maintaining wholesale water and wastewater systems using our balanced water portfolio consisting of surface water and groundwater supplies, surface water storage, aquifer storage, and reclaimed water supplies. We generate cash flows and revenues from our wholesale operations by (i) selling taps (connections) to our systems and/or (ii) charging monthly service fees and consumption charges based on metered deliveries.

 

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Results of operations
Executive Summary
The results of our operations for the three months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:
                                 
Summary Table 1  
    Three Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
Millions of gallons of water delivered
    6.4       5.6       0.8       14 %
Water revenues generated
  $ 32,000     $ 27,300     $ 4,700       17 %
Operating costs to deliver water
(excluding depreciation and depletion)
  $ 11,400     $ 7,800     $ 3,600       46 %
Water delivery gross margin %
    64 %     71 %                
 
                               
Wastewater treatment revenues
  $ 17,700     $ 16,700     $ 1,000       6 %
Operating costs to treat wastewater
  $ 4,900     $ 5,800     $ (900 )     -16 %
Wastewater treatment gross margin %
    72 %     65 %                
 
General and administrative expenses
  $ 481,200     $ 387,300     $ 93,900       24 %
 
                               
Net losses
  $ 1,362,800     $ 1,333,400     $ 29,400       2 %
The results of our operations for the nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:
                                 
Summary Table 2  
    Nine Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
Millions of gallons of water delivered
    17.5       13.7       3.8       28 %
Water revenues generated
  $ 93,600     $ 76,700     $ 16,900       22 %
Operating costs to deliver water
(excluding depreciation and depletion)
  $ 33,100     $ 33,200     $ (100 )     0 %
Water delivery gross margin %
    65 %     57 %                
 
                               
Wastewater treatment revenues
  $ 53,200     $ 50,200     $ 3,000       6 %
Operating costs to treat wastewater
  $ 14,300     $ 16,200     $ (1,900 )     -12 %
Wastewater treatment gross margin %
    73 %     68 %                
 
                               
General and administrative expenses
  $ 1,669,800     $ 1,327,500     $ 342,300       26 %
 
                               
Net losses
  $ 4,604,600     $ 4,126,400     $ 478,200       12 %
Wholesale Water and Wastewater Usage Revenues
Water service charges include a base monthly fee and a usage fee which is based on a tiered pricing structure that provides for higher prices as customers use greater amounts of water. Our rates and charges are established based on the average of three surrounding water providers.
Wastewater customers are charged flat monthly fees based on their number of tap connections.
Water deliveries increased approximately 14% and 28% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively. This was mainly a result of the Denver metropolitan area experiencing less precipitation during the start of fiscal 2011 compared to 2010 which resulted in more water being used for irrigation purposes. Water revenues increased 17% and 22% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively. This was mainly a result of increased usage and increases in water usage fees effective July 1, 2010. The water delivery gross margin decreased 7% during the three months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three months ended May 31, 2010. The water delivery gross margin increased 8% during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2010. Changes in the gross margins were due to timing of quality testing procedures as well as continued cost cutting efforts during the non-irrigation season.

 

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Wastewater fees increased approximately 6% during each of the three and nine month periods ended May 31, 2011 compared to the three and nine month periods ended May 31, 2010, which is a result of increased monthly fees effectively July 1, 2010. The wastewater gross margin increased 7% during the three months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three months ended May 31, 2010. The wastewater gross margin increased 5% during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2010. These increases were due mainly to increased fees but also due to decreased testing fees during fiscal 2011.
Tap Fees
In August 2005, we entered into the Water Service Agreement (the “County Agreement”) with Arapahoe County (the “County”). In fiscal 2006, we began recognizing water tap fees as revenue ratably over the estimated service period upon completion of the “Wholesale Facilities” (defined in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) constructed to provide service to the County. We recognized approximately $3,600 and $10,700 of water tap fee revenues during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The water tap fees to be recognized over this period are net of the royalty payments to the State of Colorado Board of Land Commissioners (the “Land Board”) and amounts paid to third parties pursuant to the “CAA” as further described in Note 5 to the accompanying financial statements.
We recognized approximately $10,400 and $31,100 of “Special Facilities” (defined in the our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) funding as revenue during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. This is the ratable portion of the “Special Facilities” funding proceeds received from the County pursuant to the County Agreement as more fully described in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
As of May 31, 2011, we have deferred recognition of approximately $1.4 million of water tap and construction fee revenue from the County, which will be recognized as revenue ratably over the estimated useful accounting life of the assets constructed with the construction proceeds as described above.
General and Administrative and Other Expenses
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010, were impacted by share-based compensation expenses as follows (amounts are approximate):
                                 
Table 2 - G&A Expenses  
    Three Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
G&A expenses as reported
  $ (481,200 )   $ (387,300 )   $ (93,900 )     24 %
Share-based compensation expenses
    25,300       13,600       11,700       86 %
 
                       
G&A expenses less share-based compensation expenses
  $ (455,900 )   $ (373,700 )   $ (82,200 )     22 %
 
                       
                                 
Table 2a - G&A Expenses  
    Nine Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
G&A expenses as reported
  $ (1,669,800 )   $ (1,327,500 )   $ (342,300 )     26 %
Share-based compensation expenses
    69,300       55,900       13,400       24 %
 
                       
G&A expenses less share-based compensation expenses
  $ (1,600,500 )   $ (1,271,600 )   $ (328,900 )     26 %
 
                       

 

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G&A expenses as reported increased approximately 24% during the three months ended May 31, 2011, as compared to the three months ended May 31, 2010. G&A expenses as reported increased approximately 26% during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, as compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2010. G&A expenses, excluding share-based compensation expenses, increased approximately 22% during the three months ended May 31, 2011, as compared to the three months ended May 31, 2010. G&A expenses, excluding share-based compensation expenses, increased approximately 26% during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, as compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2010. The increases are mainly due to $180,000 of bonuses paid in fiscal 2011, increases in professional fees and the accrual of property taxes on Sky Ranch (refer to Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements regarding the acquisition of Sky Ranch). The significant components of our G&A expenses for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:
                                 
Table 3 - Signficant Balances in G&A  
    Three Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
Salary and salary related expenses:
                               
Including share-based compensation
  $ 154,300     $ 146,700     $ 7,600       5 %
Excluding share-based compensation
  $ 129,100     $ 133,100     $ (4,000 )     -3 %
FLCC water assessment fees
  $ 84,400     $ 83,800     $ 600       1 %
Professional fees
  $ 81,300     $ 58,300     $ 23,000       39 %
Public entity related expenses
  $ 32,700     $ 11,000     $ 21,700       197 %
Directors fees (including insurance)
  $ 11,400     $ 13,700     $ (2,300 )     -17 %
                                 
Table 3a - Signficant Balances in G&A  
    Nine Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
Salary and salary related expenses:
                               
Including share-based compensation
  $ 653,900     $ 438,800     $ 215,100       49 %
Excluding share-based compensation
  $ 584,600     $ 383,000     $ 201,600       53 %
FLCC water assessment fees
  $ 255,300     $ 271,400     $ (16,100 )     -6 %
Professional fees
  $ 264,300     $ 144,300     $ 120,000       83 %
Directors fees (including insurance)
  $ 120,100     $ 106,100     $ 14,000       13 %
Public entity related expenses
  $ 80,600     $ 58,700     $ 21,900       37 %
Salary and salary related expenses including share-based compensation increased 5% and 49% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively. The increase is primarily due to the payment of $180,000 of bonuses to company employees and management as a result of the successful acquisition of Sky Ranch and the successful completion of the stock offering and issuance and conversion of the Convertible Negotiable Promissory Note (the “Convertible Note”) (see Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements). The increase is also a result of the addition of a farm manager to our payroll on January 1, 2010. Pursuant to the agreement with High Plains A&M, LLC (“HP A&M”) as described in Note 4 to the financial statements included with the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we pay 50% of the farm manager’s salary and HP A&M pays the other 50%. Prior to January 1, 2010 our portion of his salary was included with the farm management expenses, which is also a component of G&A expense. It is now included in our salary account because effective January 1, 2010, the farm manager became an employee of Pure Cycle and HP A&M now reimburses us 50% of his salary.
The Fort Lyon Canal Company (“FLCC” — defined in Note 4 to the financial statements for the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) water assessment fees are the fees we pay for our share of the maintenance of the Fort Lyon Canal in the Arkansas River Valley. The fees are approved by the shareholders of the FLCC and changes during the years presented are a result of approved fee changes by the FLCC shareholders. As of May 31, 2011, we hold approximately 26% of the voting shares of the FLCC. The decrease during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, is a result of the FLCC acquiring additional water in 2010 which was passed through to the FLCC shareholders in 2010 via a special assessment.
Professional fees (legal and accounting) increased 39% and 83% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively. The increases are mainly due to additional legal and consulting fees related to our water rights at the Lowry Range, a 26,000 acre property owned by the Land Board located approximately 15 miles southeast of Denver (the “Lowry Range”) and the potential development at the Lowry Range, as well as costs related to the acquisition of Sky Ranch which were not capitalized.

 

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Costs associated with being a publicly traded entity increased 197% and 37% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively. The increases were primarily due to additional filings and press releases issued related to Sky Ranch and the related financing as well as additional fees paid to NASDAQ as a result of the additional shares outstanding.
Costs associated with corporate governance (mainly directors fees and insurance) decreased 17% and increased 13% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, respectively. The increase in the nine months ended May 31, 2011, is due mainly to additional meetings of our board of directors held to evaluate the Sky Ranch acquisition. The decrease in the three months ended May 31, 2011, amount is due to a decrease in the number of board meetings held following the completion of the acquisition.
Other income and Expense Items
Significant items included in other income/expense for the three months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010 included:
                                 
Table 4 - Other Items  
    Three Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
Other expense items:
                               
Depreciation and depletion expense
  $ 75,100     $ 96,700     $ (21,600 )     -22 %
Imputed interest expense
  $ 969,000     $ 912,000     $ 57,000       6 %
 
                               
Other income items:
                               
Oil and gas lease payments
  $ 95,600     $     $ 95,600       100 %
Interest income
  $ 14,500     $ 18,200     $ (3,700 )     -20 %
Significant items included in other income/expense for the nine months ended May 31, 2011 and 2010 included:
                                 
Table 4a - Other Items  
    Nine Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
Other expense items:
                               
Depreciation and depletion expense
  $ 225,500     $ 290,200     $ (64,700 )     -22 %
Imputed interest expense
  $ 2,863,000     $ 2,694,000     $ 169,000       6 %
Interest expense on Convertible Note
  $ 151,700     $     $ 151,700       100 %
 
                               
Other income items:
                               
Oil and gas lease payments
  $ 95,600     $     $ 95,600       100 %
Interest income
  $ 41,600     $ 55,400     $ (13,800 )     -25 %
Depreciation and depletion decreased 22% during both the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010. The decrease was entirely due to the Arkansas River water acquisition costs being fully depreciated during a prior period.
Imputed interest expense represents the expensed portion of the difference between the relative fair value of the Tap Participation Fee (as defined in Note 1 to the accompanying financial statements) liability payable to HP A&M and the net present value of the liability recognized under the effective interest method. Recognition of interest under the method is the reason for the 6% increase during both the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011.
Interest was expensed on the Convertible Note (as defined in Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements) during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, which bore simple interest at 10% per annum. This will not be a recurring expense item for the remainder of fiscal 2011, because as discussed in Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements, we issued approximately 1.9 million unregistered shares of common stock upon conversion of the Convertible Note on January 11, 2011.

 

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The $95,600 of oil and gas lease payments are due to the March 10, 2011, signing of the Paid-Up Oil and Gas Lease (the “O&G Lease”) and Surface Use and Damage Agreement (the “Surface Use Agreement”) with Anadarko E&P Company, L.P. (“Anadarko”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Company. During the three months ended May 31, 2011, we received bonus payments of approximately $1,243,400 from Anadarko for the purpose of exploring for, developing, producing and marketing oil and gas on approximately 634 acres of mineral estate owned by the Company at its Sky Ranch property. The oil and gas rights under the remaining approximately 304 acres at Sky Ranch are already owned by Anadarko. We have deferred recognition of the bonus payments and beginning March 10, 2011, we began recognizing the bonus payments to income over the initial three year term of the O&G Lease. During both the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, we recognized approximately $86,400 of other income related to the O&G Lease. We also received approximately $9,300 from Anadarko pursuant to the Surface Use Agreement. As of May 31, 2011, we have deferred recognition of approximately $1,157,100 of income related to the O&G Lease.
Interest income represents interest earned on the temporary investment of capital in cash equivalents or available-for-sale securities, interest accrued on the note payable by the Rangeview Metropolitan District (the “District”) and interest accrued on the Special Facilities construction proceeds receivable from the County. The decreases of 20% and 25% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2010, are due to a significant decline in interest rates as a result of the recessionary economy and decreasing levels of cash investments. In addition, the continued payments from the County reduce the outstanding balance due, which results in lower effective interest income being recognized on the remaining payments.
Acquisition of Sky Ranch
As described in Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements, during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, we acquired approximately 940 acres of undeveloped land located in unincorporated Arapahoe County known as Sky Ranch. We acquired the land and water rights for payments totaling approximately $7.0 million, with acquisition costs totaling approximately $554,100. The identifiable assets that we acquired included the undeveloped land, which is zoned for residential and commercial development, and approximately 820 acre feet of water, 89 acre feet of which we previously purchased pursuant to agreements with the former developer. Consideration for the land and water and the costs of the acquisition were paid in cash which was raised through sale of common shares pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement and the issuance of the Convertible Note. Both financing transactions are described below and in Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements.
Issuance and conversion of the Convertible Note
We issued the $5.2 million Convertible Note to PAR on September 28, 2010. Our shareholders authorized conversion of the Convertible Note at the January 11, 2011 annual shareholders’ meeting. Following the meeting, PAR surrendered the Convertible Note for conversion and we issued 1,982,099 unregistered shares of our common stock to PAR. From issuance until conversion, the Convertible Note accrued interest at a rate of 10% per annum. During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011, we accrued approximately $60,700 and $151,700 of interest on the Convertible Note, respectively. The number of unregistered shares issued was based on the outstanding balance of approximately $5.35 million (principal and accrued interest) divided by a conversion rate of $2.70.
Sale of common stock pursuant to the shelf registration statement
On September 29, 2010, we sold 1,848,931 shares of our common stock for approximately $5.5 million or $3.00 per share. These shares were sold pursuant to a $10.0 million effective shelf registration statement. Following this issuance, we may issue up to an additional $4.45 million of common stock pursuant to the shelf registration statement.
Oil and Gas Lease with Anadarko
As noted above, on March 10, 2011, we entered into the O&G Lease with Anadarko. The O&G Lease has a term of three (3) years commencing on March 10, 2011, which can be extended by two (2) years at Anadarko’s sole discretion. If Anadarko wishes to extend the lease for an additional two (2) years, Anadarko would be required to pay us another bonus payment equal to the initial bonus payment noted above.
In addition to the upfront fee we received as described above, we will receive, as a royalty, 20% of the gross proceeds (less certain taxes) from the sale of any oil and gas produced from our Sky Ranch property.

 

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Pursuant to the Surface Use Agreement, Anadarko is restricted to drilling three wells on our Sky Ranch property which will minimize the oil and gas exploration and extraction footprint when we are ready to develop the Sky Ranch Property.
Liquidity, capital resources and financial position
At May 31, 2011, our working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, was approximately $4.8 million. As of May 31, 2011, we had approximately $5.1 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. As of the date of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, we have an effective shelf registration statement pursuant to which we may elect to sell up to another $4.45 million of stock at any time and from time to time. We believe that as of the date of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and as of May 31, 2011, we have sufficient working capital to fund our operations for the next fiscal year.
Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement dated May 10, 2006 (the “Arkansas River Agreement”), we agreed to pay HP A&M 10% of the tap fees we receive from the next 40,000 water taps we sell from and after the date of the Arkansas River Agreement. As of May 31, 2011, we have estimated the value of the Tap Participation Fee at approximately $64.0 million based on a discounted cash flow valuation analysis, which was originally prepared at August 31, 2006, and was updated as of November 30, 2007, and February 28, 2009. See Note 7 to the financial statements contained in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the impact of the revaluation. The actual amount to be paid will inevitably differ from our estimates. Tap participation payments are not payable to HP A&M until we receive water tap fee payments. We did not sell any taps during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 or 2010. As of May 31, 2011, there are 38,937 taps that remain subject to the Tap Participation Fee.
FLCC water assessment fees are payable to the FLCC each calendar year. In December 2010, the board and shareholders of the FLCC voted to keep the calendar 2011 assessments at $15.50 per share.
Pursuant to agreements we entered into with HP A&M, described in greater detail in Note 7 to the financial statements contained in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, our farm leases are being managed by HP A&M through August 30, 2011 (which must be extended until the earlier of 60 days after the date the HP A&M pays certain outstanding promissory notes (described below in the Obligations Payable by HP A&M section) or September 23, 2014 under circumstances defined in the Arkansas River Agreement). After that date the management services agreement may be extended by the mutual agreement of us and HP A&M or we may assume management of the farms. Pursuant to the management services agreement, while HP A&M is managing the farm leases, HP A&M is responsible for all expenses associated with maintaining the leases with the exception of the water assessment fees paid to the FLCC, which fees are borne by us. As compensation for their management responsibilities, HP A&M retains all lease and certain other non-crop income associated with the farms and the water used thereon.
Summary Cash Flows Table
                                 
Table 5 - Summary Cash Flows Table  
    Nine Months Ended:     Change  
    May 31, 2011     May 31, 2010     $     %  
Cash (used) provided by:
                               
Operating acitivites
  $ (151,200 )   $ (1,193,300 )   $ 1,042,100       -87 %
Investing activities
  $ (9,972,200 )   $ 956,200     $ (10,928,400 )     -1143 %
Financing activities
  $ 10,653,100     $ 59,400     $ 10,593,700       17835 %
Changes in Operating Activities
Operating activities include revenues we receive from the sale of water and wastewater services to our customers, costs incurred in the delivery of those services, G&A expenses, and depletion/depreciation expenses.
Cash used by operations decreased approximately 87% during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, mainly as a result of the receipt of approximately $1.3 million from Anadarko pursuant to the O&G Lease, increased revenues due to increased water usage and increased water and wastewater usage fees, which were offset partially by higher G&A expenses due to employee bonuses.
We will continue to provide domestic water and wastewater service to customers in our service area and we will continue to operate and maintain our water and wastewater systems with our own employees.

 

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Changes in Investing Activities
We continue to incur legal and engineering fees associated with our water rights, and we continue to pay the right-of-way permit fees to the Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management and legal and engineering costs for our Paradise Water Supply (defined in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K).
Investing activities during the nine months ended May 31, 2011, consisted of the use of approximately $6.8 million for the acquisition of Sky Ranch (approximately $12,000 of costs are accrued but unpaid at May 31, 2011), and we invested approximately $5.6 million into certificates of deposit which was offset partially by the sale or maturity of approximately $2.5 million of certificates of deposit.
Changes in Financing Activities
Financing activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2011 consisted mainly of the issuance of the $5.2 million Convertible Note, the sale of approximately $5.4 million of common stock (net of issuance costs) and the receipt of approximately $54,800 from the County related to the County Agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.
The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of our financial statements include estimates associated with the timing of revenue recognition, the impairment analysis of our water rights, management’s valuation of the Tap Participation Fee, and share-based compensation. Below is a summary of these critical accounting policies.
Revenue Recognition
Our revenues consist mainly of tap fees and monthly service fees. As further described in Note 2 to the accompanying financial statements, proceeds from tap sales are deferred upon receipt and recognized in income based on whether we own or do not own the facilities constructed with the proceeds. When we construct the infrastructure to be owned by the customer, we recognize tap fees pursuant to the percentage-of-completion method. The percentage-of-completion method requires management to estimate the percent of work that is completed on a particular project, which could change materially throughout the duration of the construction period and result in significant fluctuations in revenue recognized during the reporting periods throughout the construction process. We did not recognize any revenues pursuant to the percentage-of-completion method during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2011 or 2010.
Tap fees derived from agreements for which we own the infrastructure are recognized as revenue ratably over the estimated service life of the assets constructed with said fees. Although the cash will be received up-front and most construction will be completed within one year of receipt of the proceeds, revenue recognition may occur over 30 years or more. Management is required to estimate the service life, and currently the service life is based on the estimated useful accounting life of the assets constructed with the tap fees. The useful accounting life of the asset is based on management’s estimation of an accounting based useful life and may not have any correlation to the actual life of the asset or the actual service life of the tap. This is deemed a reasonable recognition life of the revenues because the depreciation of the assets constructed generating those revenues will be matched with the revenues.
Monthly water usage fees and monthly wastewater service fees are recognized in income each month as earned.

 

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Impairment of Water Assets and Other Long-Lived Assets
We review our long-lived assets for impairment at least annually or whenever management believes events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We measure recoverability of assets to be held and used by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated future undiscounted net cash flows we expect to be generated by the eventual use of the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired and therefore the costs of the assets deemed to be unrecoverable, the impairment to be recognized would be the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.
Our water assets will be utilized in the provision of water services which inevitably will encompass many housing and economic cycles. Our service capacities are quantitatively estimated based on an average single family home utilizing .4 acre-feet of water per year. Our water supplies are legally decreed to us through the water court. The water court decree allocates a specific amount of water (subject to continued beneficial use) which historically has not changed. Thus, individual housing and economic cycles typically do not have an impact on the number of connections we can serve or the amount of water legally decreed to us.
We report assets to be disposed of at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. We have no assets to be disposed of at May 31, 2011.
Our Front Range and Arkansas River Water Rights
We determine the undiscounted cash flows for our Denver based assets and the Arkansas River assets (defined below in the Tap Participation Fee section)by estimating tap sales to potential new developments in our service area and to communities along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, in the area extending essentially from Ft. Collins on the north to Colorado Springs on the south, generally referred to as the “Front Range,” using estimated future tap fees, less estimated costs to provide water services, over an estimated development period. Actual new home development in our service area and the Front Range, actual future tap fees, and actual future operating costs, inevitably will vary significantly from our estimates, which could have a material impact on our financial statements as well as our results of operations. We performed an impairment analysis as of August 31, 2010, and determined that our Rangeview Water Supply (defined in Note 4 to the financial statements contained in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) and Arkansas River water assets were not impaired and their costs were deemed recoverable. Our impairment analysis is based on development occurring within areas in which we have service agreements (e.g. Sky Ranch and the Lowry Range) as well as in surrounding areas, including the Front Range and the I-70 corridor. We estimate that we have the ability to provide wholesale water service to approximately 180,000 Single Family Equivalents (“SFE’s”) using our combined Rangeview Water Supply and Arkansas River water assets which have a carrying value of approximately $104.7 million as of May 31, 2011. Based on the carrying value of our water rights, the long term and uncertain nature of any development plans, current tap fees of $22,500 and estimated gross margins, we estimate that we would need to sell the following number of new water connections to recover the costs of our Rangeview Water Supply and our Arkansas River water assets:
   
At current tap fees: we estimate we would need to add approximately 8,600 new wholesale water connections, requiring approximately 5.1% of our water portfolio
   
If tap fees increase 5.0%: we estimate we would need to add approximately 8,200 new wholesale water connections, requiring approximately 4.8% of our water portfolio
   
If tap fees decrease 5%: we estimate we would need to add approximately 9,100 new wholesale water connections, requiring approximately 5.4% of our portfolio.
Although changes in the housing market throughout the Front Range have delayed our estimated tap sale projections, these changes do not alter our water ownership, nor our service obligations to existing properties or the number of SFE’s we can service.
Our Paradise Water Rights
Every six years the Paradise Water Supply is subject to a finding of reasonable diligence review by the water court and the State Engineer. For a favorable finding we must demonstrate that we are diligently pursuing the development of the water rights. If we do not receive a favorable finding of reasonable diligence, our right to the Paradise Water Supply would be lost and we would be required to impair the Paradise Water Supply asset. The most recent diligence review was started in our fiscal 2005 and was completed in 2008, but not without objectors and not without us having to agree to certain stipulations to remove the objections. In order to continue to maintain the Paradise water right, during the six year period from 2008 to 2014 we must (i) select an alternative reservoir site; (ii) file an application in water court to change the place of storage; (iii) identify specific end users and place(s) of use of the water; and (iv) identify specific source(s) of the water rights for use.

 

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For our Paradise Water Supply, we determined the undiscounted cash flows by estimating the proceeds we could derive from the leasing of the water rights to commercial, industrial, and agricultural users along the western slope of Colorado, and based on the impairment analysis we completed at August 31, 2010, we believe at May 31, 2011, the Paradise Water Supply is not impaired and the costs are deemed recoverable.
Tap Participation Fee
In 2006 we acquired approximately 17,500 acres of irrigated land together with approximately 60,000 acre-feet of Arkansas River water rights from HP A&M. Along with common stock issued to HP A&M, we agreed to pay HP A&M 10% (this may increase to 20% under circumstances described in Note 7 to the financial statements contained in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K) of tap fees we receive from the next 40,000 water taps we sell from and after the date of the Arkansas River Agreement, of which 38,937 water taps remain to be paid as of August 31, 2010. The Tap Participation Fee is payable when we sell water taps and receive funds from such water tap sales or other dispositions of property purchased in the HP A&M acquisition. The Tap Participation Fee liability is valued by estimating new home development in our service area over an estimated development period. This was done by utilizing third party historical and projected housing and population growth data for the Denver metropolitan area applied to an estimated development pattern supported by historical development patterns of certain master planned communities in the Denver metropolitan area. This development pattern was then applied to projected future water tap fees determined by using historical water tap fee trends. Based on updated new home activity in the Denver metropolitan area, we updated the estimated discounted cash flow analysis as of February 28, 2009. We completed an update to our analysis of the fair value of the Tap Participation Fee as of August 31, 2010. We determined that changes in the projected estimated discounted cash flows did not materially impact our February 28, 2009 fair value analysis. Actual new home development in our service area and actual future tap fees inevitably will vary significantly from our estimates which could have a material impact on our financial statements as well as our results of operations. An important component in our estimate of the value of the Tap Participation Fee, which is based on historical trends, is that we reasonably expect water tap fees to continue to increase in the coming years. Tap fees are market based and the continued increase in tap fees reflects, among other things, the increasing costs to acquire and develop new water supplies. Tap fees are thus partially indicative of the increasing value of our water assets. We continue to assess the value of the Tap Participation Fee liability and update its valuation analysis whenever events or circumstances indicate the assumptions used to estimate the value of the liability have changed materially. The difference between the net present value and the estimated realizable value will be imputed as interest expense using the effective interest method over the estimated development period utilized in the valuation of the Tap Participation Fee.
Obligations Payable by HP A&M
60 of the 80 properties we acquired pursuant to the Arkansas River Agreement are subject to outstanding promissory notes with principal and accrued interest totaling approximately $10.6 million and $11.0 million at May 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010, respectively. These notes are secured by deeds of trust on the properties. We did not assume any of these promissory notes and are not responsible for making any of the required payments under these notes. This responsibility remains solely with HP A&M. However, in the event of default by HP A&M, we may make payments on any or all of the notes and cure any or all defaults. If we do not cure the defaults, we will lose the properties securing the defaulted notes and the water rights associated with said properties. If HP A&M defaults on any of the promissory notes, we can foreclose on a defined amount of Pure Cycle common stock issued to HP A&M being held in escrow and reduce the Tap Participation Fee by two times the amount of notes defaulted on by HP A&M. Although the likelihood of HP A&M defaulting on the notes is deemed remote, which is the primary reason these notes are not reflected on our balance sheet, we continue to monitor the status of the notes for any indications of default. We are not aware of any defaults by HP A&M as of May 31, 2011.
Share-based compensation
We estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards made to key employees and directors on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. We then expense the fair value over the vesting period of the grant using a straight-line expense model. The fair value of share-based payments requires management to estimate/calculate various inputs such as the volatility of the underlying stock, the expected dividend rate, the estimated forfeiture rate and an estimated life of each option. These assumptions are based on historical trends and estimated future actions of option holders and may not be indicative of actual events which may have a material impact on our financial statements. See Note 8 to the financial statements contained in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on share-based compensation expense.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Our off-balance sheet arrangements consist entirely of the contingent portion of the CAA, which is more fully described in Note 5 to the accompanying financial statements.
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to the accompanying financial statements for a discussion of recently adopted and issued accounting pronouncements.
Item 3.  
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
General
Pure Cycle has limited exposure to market risks from instruments that may impact the Balance Sheets, Statements of Operations, and Statements of Cash Flows, such exposure is due primarily to changing interest rates.
Interest Rates
The primary objective for our investment activities is to preserve principal while maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk. This is accomplished by investing in diversified short-term interest bearing investments. As of May 31, 2011, the majority of our capital is invested in certificates of deposit with stated maturities and locked interest rates and, therefore, is not subject to interest rate fluctuations. We have no investments denominated in foreign country currencies and, therefore, our investments are not subject to foreign currency exchange risk.
Item 4.  
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission’s rules and forms, and that information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and financial officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. The President and Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures as of May 31, 2011, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. A system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the system of controls are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No changes were made to our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II
Item 6.  
Exhibits
         
Exhibits  
  31    
Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
  32    
Certification pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
*  
Filed herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
     
PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
   
 
   
/s/ Mark W. Harding
 
Mark W. Harding
   
President and Chief Financial Officer
   
 
July 8, 2011
   

 

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