UNITED STATES LIME & MINERALS INC - Annual Report: 2006 (Form 10-K)

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission File Number 000-4197

 

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(972) 991-8400

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

 

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
None

 

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 (d) of the Exchange Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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 a check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K.  þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o     Accelerated filer o     Non-accelerated filer þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates computed as of the last business day of the Registrant’s quarter ended June 30, 2006: $58,703,651.

 

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 13, 2007: 6,229,554.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Part III incorporates information by reference from the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed for its 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Part IV incorporates certain exhibits by reference from the Registrant’s previous filings.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

General.  United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. (the “Company,” the “Registrant,” “We” or “Our”), which was incorporated in 1950, conducts its business through two segments, Lime and Limestone Operations and Natural Gas Interests.

 

The Company’s principal corporate office is located at 5429 LBJ Freeway, Suite 230, Dallas, Texas 75240. The Company’s telephone number is (972) 991-8400, and its internet address is www.uslm.com. The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge on or through the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

Business and Products.  The Company, through its lime and limestone operations, is a manufacturer of lime and limestone products, supplying primarily the construction, steel, municipal sanitation and water treatment, paper and agriculture industries. The Company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and operates lime and limestone plants and distribution facilities in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Arkansas Lime Company, Colorado Lime Company, Texas Lime Company, U.S. Lime Company, U.S. Lime Company — Shreveport, U.S. Lime Company — St. Clair and U.S. Lime Compan — Transportation.

 

The Company extracts high-quality limestone from its open-pit and underground quarries and then processes it for sale as pulverized limestone, quicklime, hydrated lime and lime slurry. Pulverized limestone (also referred to as ground calcium carbonate) is a dried product ground to granular and finer sizes. Quicklime (calcium oxide) is produced by heating limestone to very high temperatures in kilns in a process called calcination. Hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) is produced by reacting quicklime with water in a controlled process. Lime slurry (milk of lime) is a suspended solution of calcium hydroxide produced by mixing quicklime with water in a lime slaker.

 

Pulverized limestone is used primarily in the production of construction materials such as roofing shingles and asphalt paving, as an additive to agriculture feeds, in the production of glass, as a soil enhancement and for mine safety dust in coal mining operations. Quicklime is used primarily in metal processing, the flue gas desulphurization process for utilities, soil stabilization for highway and building construction, the manufacturing of paper products and in sanitation and water treatment systems. Hydrated lime is used primarily in municipal sanitation and water treatment, in soil stabilization for highway and building construction, in the production of chemicals and in the production of construction materials such as stucco, plaster and mortar. Lime slurry is used primarily in soil stabilization for highway and building construction.

 

Product Sales.  In 2006, the Company sold most of its products in the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Sales are made primarily by the Company’s 10 sales employees who call on current and potential customers and solicit orders which are generally made on a purchase-order basis. The Company also receives orders in response to bids that it prepares and submits to current and potential customers.

 

Principal customers for the Company’s lime and limestone products are highway, street and parking lot contractors, steel producers, municipal sanitation and water treatment facilities, paper manufacturers, chemical producers, roofing shingle manufacturers, poultry and cattle feed producers and glass manufacturers. During 2006, the strongest demand for the Company’s lime and limestone products was from steel producers, highway, street and parking lot contractors, and roofing shingle manufacturers.

 

Approximately 900 customers accounted for the Company’s sales of lime and limestone products during 2006. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of such sales. The Company is generally not subject to significant customer risks as its customers are considerably diversified as to geographic location and industrial concentration. However, given the nature of the lime and limestone industry, the Company’s profits are very sensitive to changes in sales volume.

 

Lime and limestone products are transported by truck and rail to customers generally within a radius of 400 miles of each of the Company’s processing plants. All of the Company’s sales are made within the United States.

 

Order Backlog.  The Company does not believe that backlog information accurately reflects anticipated annual revenues or profitability from year to year.

 

Seasonality.  The Company’s sales have historically reflected seasonal trends, with the largest percentage of total annual shipments and revenues being realized in the second and third quarters. Lower seasonal demand normally results in reduced shipments and revenues in the first and fourth quarters. Inclement weather conditions generally have a negative impact on the demand for lime and limestone products supplied to construction related customers, as well as on the Company’s open-pit mining operations.

 

Limestone Reserves.  The Company has two subsidiaries that extract limestone from open-pit quarries: Texas Lime Company (“Texas Lime”), which is located near Cleburne, Texas, and Arkansas Lime Company (“Arkansas Lime”), which is located near Batesville, Arkansas. U.S. Lime Company — St. Clair (“St. Clair”), acquired by the Company on December 28, 2005, extracts limestone from an underground quarry located near Marble City, Oklahoma. Colorado Lime Company (“Colorado Lime”) owns property containing limestone deposits at Monarch Pass located 15 miles west of Salida, Colorado. No mining took place on the Colorado property in 2006. Existing crushed stone stockpiles on the property were used to provide feedstock to the Company’s plants in Salida and Delta, Colorado. Access to all locations is provided by paved roads.

 

Texas Lime operates upon a tract of land containing approximately 470 acres, including the Cleburne Quarry, and owns approximately 2,700 acres adjacent to the Quarry. Both the Quarry and the adjacent land contain known high-quality limestone reserves in a bed averaging 28 feet in thickness, with an overburden that ranges from 0 to 50 feet. Texas Lime also has mineral interests in approximately 560 acres of land adjacent to the northwest boundary of its property. The in-place reserves, as of December 31, 2006, were approximately 31.3 million tons of proven reserves plus approximately 91.0 million tons of probable reserves. Assuming the current level of production and recovery rate is maintained, the Company estimates that these reserves are sufficient to sustain operations for approximately 75 years.

 

Arkansas Lime operates the Batesville Quarry and has hydrated lime and limestone production facilities on a second site linked to the quarry by its own standard-gauge railroad. The active quarry operations cover approximately 725 acres of land containing a known deposit of high-quality limestone. The average thickness of the high-quality limestone deposit is approximately 70 feet, with an average overburden thickness of 35 feet. Arkansas Lime also owns approximately 325 additional acres containing high-quality limestone deposits adjacent to the present quarry, but separated from it by a public highway. The average thickness of this second high-quality limestone deposit is approximately 55 feet, with an average overburden of 20 feet. The in-place reserves, as of December 31, 2006, were approximately 41.6 million tons of proven reserves. During 2005, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary ACT Holdings, Inc., acquired approximately 2,500 acres of land in nearby Izard County, Arkansas. The in-place reserves as of December 31, 2006, were approximately 150.0 million tons of proven reserves on these 2,500 acres. Assuming the current level of production and recovery rate is maintained, and the additional production from the recently completed third kiln, the Company estimates that reserves are sufficient to sustain operations for more than 100 years.

 

St. Clair operates an underground quarry located on approximately 700 acres it owns containing high-quality limestone deposits. It also has the right to mine the high-quality limestone contained in approximately 1,500 adjacent acres pursuant to long-term leases. The in-place probable reserves, as of December 31, 2006 were approximately 27.5 million tons on both the owned and leased land. Assuming the current level of production and recovery rate is maintained, the Company estimates that these reserves are sufficient to sustain operations for approximately 25 years.

 

Colorado Lime acquired the Monarch Pass Quarry in November 1995 and has not carried out any mining on the property. A review of the potential limestone resources has been completed by independent geologists; however, the Company has not initiated a drilling program. Consequently, it is not possible to identify and categorize reserves. The Monarch Pass Quarry, which had been operated for many years until its closure in the early 1990s,

contains a mixture of limestone types, including high-quality calcium limestone and dolomite. The Company expects to continue to utilize remaining crushed stone stockpiles on the property to supply its processing plant in nearby Salida and its Delta, Colorado facility acquired in an asset purchase in September 2005.

 

Mining.  The Company extracts limestone by the open-pit method at its Texas and Arkansas quarries. Monarch Pass is also an open-pit quarry, but is not being mined at this time. The open-pit method consists of removing any overburden comprising soil, trees and other substances, including inferior limestone, and then extracting the exposed high-quality limestone. Open-pit mining is generally less expensive than underground mining. The principal disadvantage of the open-pit method is that operations are subject to inclement weather. The limestone is extracted by drilling and blasting, utilizing standard mining equipment. At its Oklahoma underground quarry, the Company mines limestone using the room and pillar mining.

 

After extraction, limestone is crushed, screened and ground in the case of pulverized limestone, or further processed in kilns and hydrators in the case of quicklime and hydrated lime, before shipment. The Company has no knowledge of any recent changes in the physical quarrying conditions on any of its properties which have materially affected its mining operations, and no such changes are anticipated.

 

Plants and Facilities.  The Company produces lime and/or limestone products at four plants, three lime slurry facilities and one terminal facility:

 

The Cleburne, Texas plant has an annual capacity of approximately 470 thousand tons of quicklime from rotary kilns. The plant also has pulverized limestone equipment which, depending on the product mix, has the capacity to produce approximately 1.0 million tons of pulverized limestone annually.

 

The Arkansas plant is situated at the Batesville Quarry. The plant’s limestone and hydrating facilities are situated on a tract of 290 acres located approximately two miles from the Batesville Quarry, to which it is connected by a Company-owned, standard-gauge railroad. Utilizing three rotary kilns, including two new preheater rotary kilns completed in the first quarter 2004 and December 2006, this plant has an annual capacity of approximately 630 thousand tons of quicklime. The plant also has two grinding systems which, depending on the product mix, have the capacity to produce approximately 400 thousand tons of pulverized limestone annually.

 

The third preheater kiln at the Company’s Arkansas facilities began production in December 2006, and construction of certain ancillary structures is expected to be completed in the first quarter 2007. The third kiln has increased quicklime production capacity at the Arkansas facilities by approximately 50%. The project also includes crushing and stone handling enhancements and additional finished goods silos and load outs. The total cost of the entire project has increased to approximately $30.7 million, excluding capitalized interest, from prior estimates of approximately $26 million. The project experienced delays due to a variety of reasons, including slow equipment delivery and a shortage of skilled labor to construct the kiln and the ancillary facilities. The increase in cost was primarily due to seismic code changes which required additional work and materials, a rock fracture under the stone handling enhancements that required substantial design changes and underground structural work, and increased steel, material and labor costs compared to the original estimate.

 

The St. Clair Marble City, Oklahoma plant has an annual capacity of approximately 180 thousand tons of quicklime from two rotary kilns. The plant also has pulverized limestone equipment which has the capacity to produce approximately 150 thousand tons of pulverized limestone annually.

 

The Company maintains lime hydrating equipment and limestone drying and pulverizing equipment at the Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma plants. Storage facilities for lime and pulverized limestone products at each plant consist primarily of cylindrical tanks, which are considered by the Company to be adequate to protect its lime and limestone products and to provide an available supply for customers’ needs at the existing volume of shipments. Equipment is maintained at each plant to load trucks, and at the Arkansas and Oklahoma plants to load railroad cars.

 

Colorado Lime Company operates a limestone drying, grinding and bagging facility, with an annual capacity of approximately 50 thousand tons, on eight acres of land in Salida, Colorado. The property is leased from the Union Pacific Railroad for a five-year term, ending June 2009, with a renewal option for an additional five years. This plant’s facilities also include a small rotary lime kiln which is not permitted for operation, and is presently dormant. A mobile stone crushing and screening plant is also situated at the Monarch Pass Quarry to produce

agricultural grade limestone, with an annual capacity of up to 40 thousand tons. In September 2005, Colorado Lime Company acquired a new limestone grinding and bagging facility with an annual capacity of approximately 125 thousand tons, located on approximately three and one-half acres of land in Delta, Colorado.

 

U.S. Lime Company uses quicklime to produce lime slurry and commenced operations in 2004 to serve the Greater Houston area construction market. During 2006, U.S. Lime Company expanded by acquiring the assets of a lime slurry operation with two lime slurry facilities in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. In 2007, the Company established U.S. Lime Company — Transportation primarily to deliver lime slurry produced by U.S. Lime Company to customers in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.

 

U.S. Lime Company-Shreveport operates from a distribution terminal in Shreveport, Louisiana, which is connected to a railroad, to provide lime storage, hydrating and distribution capacity to service markets in Louisiana and East Texas. This terminal began operations in December 2004.

 

The Company believes that its processing plants are adequately maintained and insured. Both the Texas and Arkansas plants have recently been modernized and expanded. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Financial Condition.”

 

Employees.  The Company employed, at December 31, 2006, 317 persons, 33 of whom are engaged in administrative and management activities, and 10 of whom are engaged in sales activities. Of the Company’s 274 production employees, 132 are covered by two collective bargaining agreements. The agreement for the Arkansas facility expires in January 2008, and the agreement for the Texas facility expires in November 2008. The Company believes its employee relations are good.

 

Competition.  The lime industry is highly regionalized and competitive, with quality, price, ability to meet customer demand, proximity to customers, personal relationships and timeliness of deliveries being the prime competitive factors. The Company’s competitors are predominantly private companies.

 

The lime industry is characterized by high barriers to entry, including: the scarcity of high-quality limestone deposits on which the required zoning and permits for extraction can be obtained; the need for lime plants to be located close to markets and railroad networks to enable cost-effective production and distribution; clean air and anti-pollution legislation which has made it more difficult to obtain permitting for new sources of emissions, such as lime kilns; and the high capital cost of the facilities. These considerations reinforce the premium value of operations having permitted, long-term, high-quality mineral reserves and good locations relative to markets.

 

Producers tend to be concentrated on known limestone formations where competition takes place on a regional basis. The industry as a whole has expanded its customer base and, while the steel industry is still the largest market sector, it also counts environmental-related users, chemical users and other industrial users, including pulp and paper producers and road builders, among its major customers.

 

There is a continuing trend of consolidation in the lime and limestone industry, with the three largest lime companies now accounting for more than two-thirds of North American lime production capacity. In addition to the consolidations, and often in conjunction with them, many lime producers have undergone modernization and expansion projects to upgrade their processing equipment in an effort to improve operating efficiency. The Company’s Texas and Arkansas modernization and expansion projects, including the construction of the third kiln at Arkansas, and its recent acquisition of the St. Clair operations in Oklahoma should allow it to continue to remain competitive, protect its markets and position itself for the future. In addition, the Company will continue to evaluate additional external and internal opportunities for expansion. However, the Company may have to revise its strategy, or otherwise find ways to enhance the value of the Company, including entering into strategic partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, or other transactions.

 

Impact of Environmental Laws and Liabilities.  The Company owns or controls large areas of land, upon which it operates limestone quarries and/or processing plants, with inherent environmental responsibilities and environmental compliance costs, including capital, maintenance and operating costs with respect to pollution control facilities, the cost of ongoing monitoring programs and other similar costs.

 

The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the environment, health and safety, and other regulatory matters, including the Clear Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as well as the Toxic Substances Control Act (“Environmental Laws”). These Environmental Laws grant the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and state governmental agencies the authority to promulgate regulations that could result in substantial expenditures on pollution control and waste management. The rate of change of Environmental Laws has been rapid over the last decade, and compliance can require significant expenditures. For example, federal legislation required the Company’s plants with operating kilns to apply for “Title V” operating permits that have significant ongoing compliance monitoring costs. In addition to the Title V permits, other environmental operating permits are required for the Company’s operations, and such permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation. Also, raw materials and fuels used to manufacture lime and calcium contain chemicals and compounds, such as trace metals, that may be classified as hazardous substances. The EPA implemented the maximum achievable control technology (“MACT”) regulations for lime plants on January 5, 2004 to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from lime plants. The MACT regulations required existing plants to determine how the rules apply and, where the MACT regulations do apply, to develop and implement a plan to achieve compliance by January 5, 2007. The Company believes that it has timely complied with these new requirements. The MACT regulations require additional performance testing, monitoring of operations, reporting, and development and implementation of startup, shutdown and malfunction plans for most of the Company’s lime plants.

 

The EPA has adopted a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”) for ozone. Pursuant to the new standard, Johnson County, Texas, in which Texas Lime Company is located, is now identified as part of the Dallas-Fort Worth (“DFW”) nonattainment area for ozone. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has proposed regulations to limit emissions of nitrogen oxides (“NOx”) from lime kilns located in the DFW area that, if adopted as proposed, could result in substantial expenditures on pollution control measures and emissions monitoring systems. EPA has recently published a paper recommending an even more stringent NAAQS for ozone that, if promulgated, could also affect the Company’s operations in other areas of the country and require additional controls.

 

Carbon dioxide (“CO₂”) emission reductions remain an issue for the Company and other similar manufacturing companies. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Although no restrictions have yet been imposed under U.S. federal laws, it is possible that lime plants will be subject to CO₂ emission reduction measures in the future. The consequences of CO₂ reduction measures are potentially significant, as the production of CO₂ is inherent in the manufacture of lime (through the calcination of limestone). The Company and other lime manufacturers, through the National Lime Association, the leading industry trade association, committed to the Department of Energy (“DOE”) and EPA to reduce the production of greenhouse gases, such as CO₂. The commitment focuses on achieving energy-related reductions in emissions intensity, as it was understood that the lime industry cannot reduce emissions from the calcination of limestone. Although the DOE’s and EPA’s current efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions are voluntary, there is no assurance that a change in the law will not be adopted, such as the imposition of a carbon tax or limitations on raw materials use, fuel use, or production rates, that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and competitive position.

 

In part in response to requirements of environmental regulatory agencies, the Company incurred capital expenditures related to environmental activities of approximately $400 thousand in 2006 and $390 thousand in 2005. The Company’s recurring costs associated with managing and disposing of potentially hazardous substances (such as fuels and lubricants used in operations) and maintaining pollution control equipment amounted to approximately $690 thousand in 2006 and $455 thousand in 2005. The Company has not been named as a potentially responsible party in any federal superfund cleanup site or state-lead cleanup site.

 

The Company recognizes legal reclamation and remediation obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets at their fair value at the time that the obligations are incurred (“Asset Retirement Obligations” or “AROs”). Over time, the liability for AROs is recorded at its present value each period through accretion expense, and the capitalized cost is amortized over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the Company either settles the ARO for its recorded amount or recognizes a gain or loss. AROs are estimated based on studies and the Company’s process knowledge and estimates, and are discounted using an appropriate interest rate. The AROs are adjusted when further information warrants an adjustment. The Company believes that its accrual of $990 thousand for AROs at December 31, 2006 is reasonable.

Natural Gas Interests

 

Interests.  The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, U.S. Lime Company — O & G, LLC (“U.S. Lime O & G”), has a 20% royalty interest and a 20% working interest, resulting in a 36% interest in revenues, with respect to oil and gas rights on the Company’s approximately 3,800 acres of land located in Johnson County, Texas, in the Barnett Shale Formation. These interests are derived from the Company’s May 2004 oil and gas lease agreement (the “O & G Lease”) with EOG Resources, Inc. (“EOG”) with respect to oil and gas rights on its Cleburne, Texas property, that will continue so long as EOG is continuously developing the leased property as set forth in the Lease. Pursuant to the lease, the Company received lease bonus payments totaling $1.3 million, which were reflected in other income for 2004. During the fourth quarter 2005, drilling of the first natural gas well under the O & G Lease was completed, and natural gas production began in February 2006. As a result, the Company began reporting revenues and gross profit for natural gas production from its Natural Gas Interests in the first quarter 2006.

 

In November 2006, through O & G, the Company entered into a drillsite and production facility lease agreement and subsurface easement (the “Drillsite Agreement”) with XTO Energy, Inc., which has an oil and gas lease covering approximately 538 acres of land contiguous to the Company’s Johnson County, Texas property. Pursuant to the Drillsite Agreement, the Company received a 3% royalty interest and a 12.5% working interest in any wells drilled from two pad sites located on the Company’s property.

 

U.S. Lime O & G has no direct employees and is not the operator of any wells drilled, or to be drilled, on the properties subject to either the O & G Lease or the Drillsite Agreement (the “O & G Properties”). The only decision the Company makes is whether to participate as a nonoperating working interest owner and pay its proportionate share of drilling, completing and operating a well.

 

Regulation.  Many aspects of the production, pricing and marketing of natural gas are regulated by federal and state agencies. Legislation affecting the natural gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion, which frequently increases the regulatory burden on affected members of the industry.

 

Exploration and production operations are subject to various types of regulation at the federal, state and local levels which may impact our working and royalty interests. Such regulation includes:

 

 

Customers and Pricing.  The pricing of natural gas sales is primarily determined by supply and demand in the marketplace and can fluctuate considerably. As the Company is not the operator, it has limited access to timely information, involvement, and operational control over the volumes of natural gas produced and sold and the terms and conditions on which such volumes are marketed and sold. Although the Company has the right to take its production in kind, it currently has elected to have its natural gas production marketed by the operator. The operator sells to various end users, and frequently reviews alternative gas purchasers.

 

Drilling Activity.  During 2006, the Company participated as a royalty interest and working interest owner in 8 gross natural gas wells located on lands owned by the Company. These wells are located in Johnson County, Texas. As of December 31, 2006, all of these wells had been completed as producing natural gas wells. In addition to its 20% royalty interest, the Company has a 20% working interest in the 8 gross wells, resulting in a 36% interest in revenues.

 

2006 Production.  During 2006, the Company’s natural gas production volume totaled approximately 601 thousand MCF, which was sold for an average price of approximately $7.61 per MCF. Total costs of revenues (including taxes other than income taxes) for its natural gas interests averaged approximately $1.21 per MCF in 2006.

 

Present Activity.  There were three wells being drilled at December 31, 2006. One well, related to the O & G Lease, was completed as a producing natural gas well in the first quarter 2007. The other two wells, related to the Drillsite Agreement, are nearing completion. Drilling of an additional well under the O & G Lease began in February 2007.

 

Delivery Commitments.  There are no delivery commitments for the Company’s natural gas production.

 

Natural Gas Reserves.  The following table reflects the proved developed, proved undeveloped and total proved reserves (all of which are located in Johnson County), future net revenues and SEC PV-10 at December 31, 2006. The reserves and future net revenues are based on the reports of the independent petroleum engineering consulting firm of DeGolyer and MacNaughton. Proved undeveloped reserves represents reserves for six wells yet to be drilled. Other than these six wells, the data included in the tables does not include any potential wells that may be drilled on the Company’s undeveloped acreage. The Company’s estimated proved reserves have not been filed with, or included in, any reports to any federal agency, other than those filed with the SEC.

 

 

 

 

Undeveloped Acreage.  Based on discussions with the operators and the number of wells included in the table above as proved developed reserves, the Company estimates that approximately 60% of the 3,800 gross acres covered by the O & G Lease, and all of the 538 gross acres covered by the Drillsite Agreement are considered undeveloped acreage because no wells have yet been drilled thereon. As noted above, the six wells that compose our proved undeveloped reserves are part of this undeveloped acreage. We estimate that these six wells will develop approximately 15% of the 3,800 gross acres covered by the O & G Lease and approximately 50% of the 538 gross acres covered by the Drillsite Agreement. The total number of wells ultimately drilled under the O & G Lease and the Drillsite Agreement has not yet been determined, and could be more or less than the number that could be inferred from the estimated undeveloped acreage due to, among other factors, irregularities in formations and spacing decisions made by the operators.

 

Glossary of Certain Oil and Gas Terms.  The definitions set forth below shall apply to the indicated terms as used in this document. All volumes of natural gas referred to herein are stated at the legal pressure base of the state or area where the reserves exist and at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and in most instances are rounded to the nearest major multiple.

 

“Depletion” means (a) the volume of hydrocarbons extracted from a formation over a given period of time, (b) the rate of hydrocarbon extraction over a given period of time expressed as a percentage of the reserves existing at the beginning of such period, or (c) the amount of cost basis at the beginning of a period attributable to the volume of hydrocarbons extracted during such period.

 

“Future Estimated Net Revenues” means the result of applying current prices of oil and natural gas to future estimated production from oil and natural gas proved reserves, reduced by future estimated expenditures, based on current costs to be incurred, in developing and producing the proved reserves, excluding overhead.

 

“Formation” means a distinct geologic interval, sometimes referred to as the strata, which has characteristics (such as permeability, porosity and hydrocarbon saturations) which distinguish it from surrounding intervals.

 

“MCF” means one thousand cubic feet under prescribed conditions of pressure and temperature and represents the basic unit for measuring the production of natural gas.

 

“Operator” means the individual or company responsible for the exploration, development, and production of an oil or natural gas well or lease.

 

“Proved developed reserves” means reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery are included as “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.

 

“Proved reserves” means the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future conditions.

 

(i) Reservoirs are considered proved if economic production is supported by either actual production or conclusive formation test. The area of a reservoir considered proved includes (a) that portion delineated by drilling and defined by gas-oil and/or oil-water contacts, if any; and (b) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons controls the lower proved limit of the reservoir.

 

(ii) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the “proved” classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based.

 

(iii) Estimates of proved reserves do not include the following: (a) oil that may become available from known reservoirs but is classified separately as “indicated additional reserves” (b) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, the recovery of which is subject to reasonable doubt because of uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors; (c) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may occur in undrilled prospects; and (d) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, that may be recovered from oil shales, coal, gilsonite and other such sources.

 

“Proved undeveloped reserves” means reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undeveloped acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Proved undeveloped reserves on undeveloped acreage is limited (i) to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled and (ii) to other undrilled units where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation.

 

“Royalty” means an interest in an oil and gas lease that gives the owner of the interest the right to receive a portion of the production from the leased acreage (or of the proceeds of the sale thereof), but generally does not require the owner to pay any portion of the costs of drilling or operating the wells on the leased acreage.

 

“SEC PV-10” means the pretax present value of future estimated net revenues to be generated from the production of proved reserves calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, net of estimated production and future development costs, using prices and costs as of the date of estimation without future escalation, without giving effect to non-property related expenses such as general and administrative expenses, debt service and depreciation, depletion and amortization, and discounted using an annual discount rate of 10%.

 

“Severance tax” means an amount of tax, surcharge or levy recovered by governmental agencies from the gross proceeds of oil and natural gas sales. Production tax may be determined as a percentage of proceeds or as a specific amount per volumetric unit of sales. Severance tax is usually withheld from the gross proceeds of oil and natural gas sales by the first purchaser (e.g. pipeline or refinery) of production.

 

“Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows” (also referred to as “standardized measure”) means the SEC PV-10 defined above, less applicable income taxes.

 

“Undeveloped acreage” means lease acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of oil and natural gas regardless of whether such acreage contains proved reserves.

 

“Working interest” means a real property interest entitling the owner to receive a specified percentage of the proceeds of the sale of oil and natural gas production or a percentage of the production, but requiring the owner of the working interest to bear the cost to explore for, develop and produce such oil and natural gas. A working interest owner who owns a portion of the working interest may participate either as operator or by voting his percentage interest to approve or disapprove the appointment of an operator and certain activities in connection with the development and operation of a property.

 

General

 

During the last few years, we have borrowed additional money to pay for our modernization and expansion projects, our expansion into the lime slurry business and the acquisitions of St. Clair and the Delta, Colorado facilities. Therefore, we have increased our total indebtedness compared to prior years.

 

As of December 31, 2006, our total consolidated bank debt was $64.6 million. Our indedebtedness represented approximately 47% of our total capitalization at December 31, 2006. As a result of our total indebtedness, a large portion of our cash flows from operations will be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on indebtedness. Our ability to service our debt and to comply with the financial and restrictive covenants contained in our credit facilities is subject to financial, economic, competitive and other factors. Many of these factors are beyond our control. In particular, our ability to service our debt will depend upon our ability to sustain current levels of revenues and cash flows from operations as a result of the modernization and expansion projects and recent acquisitions.

 

Remaining funds available under our $30 million revolving credit facility and funds generated from operations should allow us to meet current liquidity demands. Should we have to obtain additional financing, there is no assurance that we will be able to do so at a favorable rate, given our current level of indebtedness.

 

Lime and Limestone Operations

 

In the normal course of our business operations, we face various business and financial risks that could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and competitive position. Not all risks are foreseeable or within our ability to control.

 

These risks arise from factors including, but not limited to, fluctuating demand for lime and limestone products, including as a result of downturns in the economy and specific industries and changes in legislation and regulations, our ability to produce and store quantities of lime and limestone products sufficient in amount and quality to meet customer demands, the success of our modernization and expansion strategies, including our ability to execute the strategies and complete projects on time and within budget, our ability to integrate, refurbish and/or improve acquired facilities, our access to capital, increasing costs, especially fuel, electricity and transportation costs, inclement weather, and the effects of seasonal trends.

 

We receive most of our coal and coke by rail, so the availability of sufficient solid fuels to run our plants could be diminished significantly in the event of major rail disruptions. In addition, our freight costs to deliver our products are high relative to the value of our products and have increased significantly in recent years. If we are unable to continue to pass along our increasing freight costs, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or competitive position could be materially adversely affected.

 

We incur environmental compliance costs, including capital, maintenance and operating costs with respect to pollution control facilities, the cost of ongoing monitoring programs, the cost of reclamation and remediation efforts and other similar costs and liabilities relating to our compliance with Environmental Laws, and we expect these costs and liabilities to continue to increase.

 

The rate of change of Environmental Laws has been rapid over the last decade, and compliance can require significant expenditures. We believe that our expenditure requirements for future environmental compliance will continue to increase as operational and reporting standards increase. Discovery of currently unknown conditions and unforeseen liabilities could require additional expenditures.

 

The potential regulation of carbon dioxide CO₂ emissions remain an issue for the Company and other similar manufacturing companies. Although no restrictions have yet been imposed under U.S. federal laws, many bills have been filed at the federal and state levels that could impose CO₂ emission reduction measures on lime plants in the future. The consequences of CO₂ reduction measures are potentially significant, as the production of CO₂ is inherent in the manufacture of lime (through the calcination of limestone). There is no assurance that a change in the law will not be adopted, such as the imposition of a carbon tax or limitations on raw materials use, fuel use, or production rates, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or competitive position.

 

We intend to comply with all Environmental Laws and believe that our accrual for environmental costs at December 31, 2006 is reasonable. Because many of the requirements are subjective and therefore not quantifiable or presently determinable, or may be affected by future legislation and rulemaking, it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate future costs of compliance and their effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or competitive position.

 

In order to maintain our competitive position, we may need to continue to expand our operations and production capacity and to sell the resulting increased production.

 

We may initiate various capital projects and acquisitions. These would most likely require that we incur additional debt. Notwithstanding current demand for lime and limestone products, we cannot guarantee that any such project or acquisition would be successful, that we will be able to sell any resulting increased production or that any such sales will be profitable.

 

The lime industry is highly regionalized and competitive.

 

Our competitors are predominately private companies. The primary competitive factors in the lime industry are quality, price, ability to meet customer demand, proximity to customers, personal relationships and timeliness of deliveries, with varying emphasis on these factors depending upon the specific product application. To the extent that one or more of our competitors becomes more successful with respect to any key competitive factor, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or competitive position could be materially adversely affected. Although demand and prices for lime and limestone have been improving in recent years, we are unable to predict future demand and prices, and cannot provide any assurance that current levels of demand and prices will continue or that any future increases in demand or price can be sustained.

 

Natural Gas Interests

 

Historically, the markets for natural gas have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future.

 

Various factors that are beyond our control will affect the demand for and prices of natural gas, such as:

 

 

 

Lower natural gas prices may reduce the amount of natural gas that is economic to produce and thus reduce our revenues and operating income.

 

We do not control operations and development of the O & G Properties, which could impact our natural gas interests.

 

As the owner of non-operating working interests and royalty interests, our ability to influence development of the O & G Properties is severely limited. All decisions related to development on the O & G Properties will be made by the operators and may be influenced by factors beyond our control, including but not limited to natural gas prices, interest rates, budgetary considerations and general industry and economic conditions.

 

The occurrence of an operational risk or uncertainty which materially impacts the operations of the operators of the O & G Properties could have a material adverse effect on the amount that we receive in connection with our interests in production from our properties, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Income is affected by production and other costs, some of which are outside of our control.

 

The income that comes from our working interests, and to a lesser extent, our royalty interests, is directly affected by increases in production costs and other costs. Some of these costs are outside our control, including costs of regulatory compliance and severance and other similar taxes. Other expenditures are dictated by business necessity, such as drilling additional wells to increase recovery rates.

 

Our natural gas reserves are depleting assets, and our ability to replace them is limited to development of the remaining undeveloped acreage subject to the O & G Lease or the Drillsite Agreement.

 

Our revenues from our natural gas interests depend in large part on the quantity of natural gas produced from the O & G Properties. Our producing natural gas wells over time will experience declines in production due to depletion of their natural gas reserves. Any increases in our reserves will come from the operators’ drilling activities on the remaining undeveloped acreage of the O & G Properties. The timing and number of development wells to replace natural gas produced depends on the market prices of natural gas and on other factors beyond our control.

 

Drilling activities on the O & G Properties may not be productive, which could have an adverse effect on future results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

 

Drilling involves a wide variety of risks, including the risk that no commercially productive natural gas reservoirs will be encountered. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain and drilling operations may be delayed or canceled as a result of a variety of factors, including:

 

 

Future drilling activities on the O & G Properties may not be successful. If these activities are unsuccessful, this failure could have an adverse effect on our future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

A natural disaster or catastrophe could damage pipelines, gathering systems and other facilities that service wells on the O & G Properties, which could substantially limit our operations and adversely affect our financial condition and cash flows.

 

If gathering systems, pipelines or other facilities that serve our properties are damaged by any natural disaster, accident, catastrophe or other event, revenues from our natural gas interests could be significantly interrupted. Any event that interrupts the production, gathering or transportation of our natural gas, or which causes us to share in significant expenditures not covered by insurance, could adversely impact gross profit from our natural gas interests. We do not carry business interruption insurance on our natural gas interests.

 

The O & G Properties are geographically concentrated, which could cause net proceeds to be impacted by regional events.

 

The O & G Properties are all natural gas properties located exclusively in the Barnett Shale Formation. Because of this geographic concentration, any regional events, including natural disasters, that increase costs, reduce availability of equipment or supplies, reduce demand or limit production may impact our gross profit more than if the properties were more geographically diversified.

 

The number of prospective natural gas purchasers and methods of delivery are considerably less than would otherwise exist from a more geographically diverse group of interests.

 

Governmental policies, laws and regulations could have an adverse impact on our business.

 

Our business and the properties in which we hold interests are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the oil and natural gas industry, as well as regulations relating to safety matters. These laws and regulations can have a significant impact on production and costs of production.

 

Environmental costs and liabilities and changing environmental regulation could adversely affect our financial condition and cash flows.

 

As with other companies engaged in the ownership and production of natural gas, we always expect to have some risk of exposure to environmental costs and liabilities. The costs associated with environmental compliance or remediation could reduce the amount we would receive from our interests. The O & G Properties are subject to extensive federal, state and local regulatory requirements relating to environmental affairs, health and safety and waste management. Governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance with applicable regulations and permits, which could increase production costs on our properties and adversely affect their cash flow. Third parties may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance. It is likely that expenditures in connection with environmental matters, as part of normal capital expenditure programs, will affect the net cash flow from the O & G Properties. Future environmental law developments, such as stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies, could significantly increase the costs of production from the O & G Properties and reduce our cash flows.

 

Not Applicable

 

Reference is made to Item 1 of this Report for a description of the properties of the Company, and such description is hereby incorporated by reference in answer to this Item 2. As discussed in Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s plant facilities and mineral reserves are subject to encumbrances to secure the Company’s loans.

 

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is hereby incorporated by reference in answer to this Item 3.

 

The Company did not submit any matters to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter 2006.

 

The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market^® under the symbol “USLM.” As of March 13, 2007, the Company had approximately 500 stockholders of record. The Company did not pay any dividends during 2006 and does not plan on paying dividends in 2007.

 

As of March 13, 2007, the Company had 500,000 shares of $5.00 par value preferred stock authorized; however, none has been issued.

 

The low and high sales prices for the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated were:

 

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The graph below compares the cumulative five-year total shareholders’ return on the Company’s Common Stock with the cumulative total return on The NASDAQ Stock Market Index and a peer group consisting of Eagle Materials, Inc., Monarch Cement, U.S. Concrete, Inc., Florida Rock Industries, and Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. The peer group was revised because shares of previously included companies Lafarge North America, Inc. (bought out) and Oglebay Norton Company (deregistered) are no longer traded on a public stock exchange. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company’s Common Stock and each index was $100 on December 31, 2001, and that all dividends have been reinvested.

 

COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG U.S. LIME & MINERALS, INC.,
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX

 

 

 

ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON JAN. 1, 2002
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any statements contained in this Report that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this Report, including without limitation statements relating to the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions, and adequacy of resources, are identified by such words as “will,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “schedule,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” and “project.” The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including without limitation the following: (i) the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, and intentions are subject to change at any time in the Company’s discretion; (ii) the Company’s plans and results of operations will be affected by its ability to manage its growth; (iii) the Company’s ability to meet short-term and long-term liquidity demands, including servicing the Company’s debt; (iv) inclement weather conditions; (v) increased fuel, electricity and transportation costs; (vi) unanticipated delays or cost overruns in completing construction projects; (vii) the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired operations; (viii) reduced demand for the Company’s lime and limestone products, including the additional lime production from the Company’s third kiln in Arkansas; (ix) the uncertainties of development, recovery and prices with respect to the

Company’s natural gas interests; and (x) other risks and uncertainties set forth in this Report or indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

General.  

 

We have two business segments: Lime and Limestone Operations and Natural Gas Interests. Our Lime and Limestone Operations represent our principal business. Our National Gas Interests consist of royalty and working interests under a Lease Agreement and a Drillsite Agreement with two separate operators related to our Johnson County, Texas property, located in the Barnett Shale Formation, on which Texas Lime conducts its lime and limestone operations. We reported our first revenues and gross profit for natural gas production from our Natural Gas Interests in the first quarter 2006.

 

Management’s principal operational focus is on managing our Lime and Limestone Operations. We have little control over the two operators that explore, drill, and produce natural gas on our Johnson County property. Our principal management decisions related to our Natural Gas Interests involve whether to participate as a working interest owner by contributing our proportional costs for drilling proposed wells under the O & G Lease (20% working interest at approximately $400 to 450 thousand per well to date) and the Drillsite Agreement (12.5% working interest at approximately $250 thousand per well to date). While we intend to continue to participate in future natural gas wells drilled on our Johnson County property, we are not in the business of exploring for natural gas, have no personnel expert in that field and currently believe that we have no other properties that may have significant recoverable natural gas reserves.

 

We do not allocate our interest expense or public company costs to either of our segments. In the next two years, we anticipate incurring additional corporate governance compliance costs resulting from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and associated regulatory requirements. We have already begun to incur costs in connection with preparing for the first audit of our internal control over financial reporting which, given current requirements, will apply to our fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

 

Lime and Limestone Operations.  

 

In our Lime and Limestone Operations, we produce and sell pulverized limestone, quicklime, hydrated lime and lime slurry. The principal factors affecting our success are the level of demand for our products, and whether we are able to maintain sufficient production levels and product quality while controlling costs.

 

Inclement weather conditions generally reduce the demand for lime and limestone products supplied to construction-related customers that account for a significant amount of our revenues. Inclement weather also interferes with our open-pit mining operations and can disrupt our plant production, as in the case of flooding and winter ice storms in Texas in recent years.

 

Demand for our products in our market areas is also affected by general economic conditions, the pace of home construction and the demand for steel, as well as the level of governmental funding for highway construction. In recent years, the demand and prices for lime and limestone products have remained strong, although during the second half 2006, demand for our pulverized limestone (“PLS”) declined significantly, primarily due to reduced reroofing demand in our markets. PLS demand for reroofing has increased slightly in the first two months of 2007, but is still substantially below the level of demand we had during the first two months of 2006. Additionally, demand for lime by the steel industry declined beginning in mid-May 2005 and through the end of 2005. Steel industry demand improved in 2006 but softened again towards the end of the fourth quarter 2006 and into 2007. We are now starting to see some improvement in demand for lime by the steel industry.

 

In August 2005, President Bush signed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Equitable Transportation Equity Act (“SAFETEA”) which reauthorizes the federal highway, public transportation, highway safety, and motor carrier safety programs for fiscal years 2005 through 2009. SAFETEA provides nearly a 40% increase in funding over the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. As a result, we believe there will be a continuing strong level of demand for lime and limestone products used in highway construction for the next several years.

 

Our recent modernization and expansion projects in Texas and Arkansas, including the construction of a third kiln at Arkansas that was completed in December 2006, our December 28, 2005 acquisition of St. Clair and our expanded slurry operations, have positioned us to meet the increasing demand for high-quality lime and limestone products in our markets, with our lime out-put capacity more than doubling since 2003 and our limestone production capacity increasing more than 50% since 1998. In addition, our distribution terminal in Shreveport, Louisiana expanded our market area for this additional output. Our modernization and expansion projects have also equipped us with up-to-date, fuel-efficient plant facilities, which should result in lower production costs and greater operating efficiencies, thus enhancing our competitive position. In order for our plants to operate at peak efficiency, we must meet operational challenges that arise from time to time, including bringing new facilities on line and refurbishing and/or improving newly acquired facilities, such as St. Clair, as well as operating existing facilities efficiently.

 

Our primary variable cost is energy. Natural gas prices remain high, and fuel, electricity, freight and transportation costs have also increased significantly. In addition, due to mine and rail delivery problems, we sometimes have to purchase higher priced coal and coke from sources other than our normal provider. In addition, our freight costs to deliver our products are high relative to the value of our products and have increased significantly in recent years. We have been able to mitigate to some degree the adverse impact of these cost increases by varying the mixes of fuel used in our kilns, and by passing on some of our increased energy costs to our customers through higher prices and/or surcharges on certain products. We have not, to date, engaged in any significant hedging activity in an effort to control our energy costs. In the past, we have, however, entered into forward purchase contracts for natural gas for the winter months in order to provide greater predictability to this cost component, and we may do so again in the future.

 

We financed our recent modernization and expansion projects and acquisitions through a combination of debt financing, including the issuance in August 2003 of $14.0 million of unsecured subordinate notes, which have been fully repaid, and cash flows from operations. We financed our $14.0 million acquisition cost for the St. Clair acquisition primarily from a new long-term loan. During 2007, we anticipate increasing our debt in the first few months, primarily due to the seasonality of our business and the payment of costs for the third kiln project in accounts payable or accrued expenses at December 31, 2006, and reducing it during the remainder of the year. Given our increased level of debt, we must generate sufficient cash flows to cover ongoing capital and debt service needs. All of our long-term debt becomes due in 2015.

 

As a result of our Texas and Arkansas modernization, acquisitions and expansion projects, our yearly depreciation, depletion and amortization expense included in cost of revenues increased from $6.2 million in 2002 to $9.8 million in 2006, while our gross profit increased from $9.5 million to $28.0 million over the same period. Our construction of the third kiln project at Arkansas will further increase our depreciation expense. In addition, even though the amount of our borrowings has increased since 2002, our interest expense has decreased slightly from $4.3 million in 2002 to $4.2 million in 2005 (excluding approximately $9 thousand of interest capitalized in 2005) and $3.1 million in 2006 (excluding approximately $940 thousand of interest capitalized in 2006). The decrease resulted from our refinancing our bank debt in 2004 and 2005, reducing our interest rate to approximately 6.76% for 2006 from approximately 9.25% prior to the refinancing. However, we expect our interest expense in 2007 to be higher due to our increased debt levels and the approximately $940 thousand of interest that was capitalized in 2006 as part of the Arkansas third kiln project.

 

In order for us to continue to increase our profitability in our Lime and Limestone Operations in the face of these increased fixed and variable costs, we must maintain our revenues and cash flows and continue to control our operational and selling, general and administrative expenses. We also continue to explore ways to expand our operations and production capacity through additional capital projects and acquisitions.

 

We believe the enhanced production capacity resulting from our modernization and expansion efforts at the Texas and Arkansas plants, including the third kiln at Arkansas, our recent acquisitions, and the operational strategies that we have implemented have allowed us to increase production, improve product quality, better serve existing customers, attract new customers and control our costs. There can be no assurance, however, that demand and prices for our lime and limestone products will remain strong, that our production will not be adversely affected by weather-related or other operational problems, that we can successfully invest in improvements to our existing

facilities, that our results will not be adversely affected by continued increases in fuel, electricity, freight and transportation costs or new environmental requirements, or that our production capacity, revenues, net income and cash flows will continue to be strong.

 

Natural Gas Interests.  

 

In 2004, we entered into the O & G Lease with respect to oil and gas rights on our Cleburne, Texas property, located in the Barnett Shale Formation. Pursuant to the lease, we received lease bonus payments totaling $1.3 million, and retained a 20% royalty interest in oil and gas produced from any successful wells drilled on the leased property and an option to participate in any well drilled on the leased property as a 20% working interest owner, resulting in a 36% interest in revenues with respect to those wells which we elect to participate as a working interest owner.

 

During 2006, our capital expenditures totaled approximately $3.4 million (including approximately $300 thousand that was included in accounts payable or accrued expenses at December 31, 2006) for eight wells drilled and/or completed under the lease, and gas production from the first well began in February 2006. Estimated drilling costs for our 20% working interest are approximately $400 to $450 thousand per well. Our gross profit from these wells totaled approximately $3.5 million in 2006.

 

In November 2006, we also entered into a new Drillsite Agreement with an oil and gas company that has an oil and gas lease covering approximately 538 acres of land contiguous to our Johnson County, Texas property. Pursuant to this agreement, we have a 3% royalty interest and an optional 12.5% working interest in any wells drilled from two padsites. At December 31, 2006, two wells were being drilled under this Drillsite Agreement that are expected to be completed in the first half 2007. Estimated drilling costs for our 12.5% working interest are approximately $250 thousand per well.

 

We currently intend to participate in additional wells expected to be drilled under both Agreements in 2007 and thereafter, but cannot predict the number that will be drilled or their results.

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates and judgments under different assumptions or conditions and historical trends.

 

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant management judgments and uncertainties and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies require the most significant management estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Accounts receivable.  We are required to estimate the collectability of our trade receivables. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the ultimate realization of these receivables and determining our allowance for doubtful accounts. The majority of our trade receivables are unsecured. Payment terms for our trade receivables are based on underlying purchase orders, contracts or purchase agreements. Credit losses relating to these receivables consistently have been within management expectations and historical trends.

 

Revenue recognition.  We recognize revenue for our Lime and Limestone Operations in accordance with the terms of purchase orders, contracts or purchase agreements, which are upon shipment, and payment is considered probable. Revenues include external freight billed to customers with related costs included in cost of revenues. Sales taxes billed to customers are not included in revenues. For our Natural Gas Interests, we recognize revenue in the month of production.

 

Successful-Efforts Method used for Natural Gas Interests.  We use the successful-efforts method to account for oil and gas exploration and development expenditures. Under this method, drilling and completion costs for

successful exploratory wells and all development well costs are capitalized and depleted using the units-of-production method. Costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves are expensed.

 

Reserve Estimates.  Proved reserves are estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. Proved developed reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery are included as “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved. Proved undeveloped reserves are reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undeveloped acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Proved undeveloped reserves on undrilled acreage is limited (i) to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled and (ii) to other undeveloped units where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. We emphasize that the volume of reserves are estimates that, by their nature are subject to revision. The estimates are made using geological and reservoir data, as well as production performance data. These estimates will be reviewed annually and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional performance data. If the estimates of proved reserves were to decline, the rate at which we record depletion expense would increase.

 

Long-lived assets.  We review long-term assets for impairment in accordance with the guidelines of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”). SFAS 144 requires that, when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, we should determine if impairment of value exists. If the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment exists and an impairment loss must be calculated and recorded. If an impairment exists, the impairment loss is calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over the asset’s fair value. Any impairment loss is treated as a permanent reduction in the carrying value of the asset.

 

Deferred tax assets.  We consider future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need, if any, for a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In the event that we determine that all or part of the net deferred tax assets would not be realizable in the future, an adjustment to deferred tax assets would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.

 

Environmental costs.  We record environmental accruals in other liabilities, based on studies and estimates, when it is probable that we have incurred a reasonably estimable liability. The accruals are adjusted when further information warrants an adjustment. Environmental expenditures that extend the life, increase the capacity or improve the safety or efficiency of Company-owned assets or are incurred to mitigate or prevent future possible environmental contamination are capitalized. Other environmental costs are expensed when incurred.

 

Contingencies.  We are party to proceedings, lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business relating to regulatory, labor, product and other matters. We are required to estimate the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as potential ranges of probable losses. A determination of the amount of reserves required, if any, for these contingencies is made after careful analysis of each individual issue, including coverage under our insurance policies. This determination may change in the future because of new developments.

 

Derivatives.  We record the fair value of gas forward purchase contracts on our balance sheet, with the offsetting entry to other operating expense. Any subsequent mark-to-market adjustments result in an increase or decrease of other operating expense. We record the fair value of our interest rate hedge on our balance sheet and include any changes in fair value in other comprehensive income (loss).

 

Warrant share put liability.  Prior to its waiver in August 2005, we estimated the fair value of our warrant share put liability quarterly based on the per share average closing price of our common stock for the last 30 days of

the quarter compared to the $3.84 per share exercise price. The difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the warrant share put liability was being accreted, and the effect on fair value of future changes in the repurchase price for each share was accreted or decreted, over the five-year period from the date of issuance to August 5, 2008, after which the warrant holders could have required us to repurchase any or all shares acquired through exercise of the warrants. Therefore, prior to the waiver, increases in our per share common stock prices resulted in an increased liability and increased interest expense from accretion.

 

Pension plan.  We have one noncontributory defined benefit pension plan. All benefits for participants in the plan were frozen as of July 31, 1997. Our costs, credits and funded status for this plan are developed from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are key assumptions, including discount rates and expected long-term return on plan assets. Future costs, credits and funded status for this plan may change should conditions warrant changes in the assumptions.

 

The following table sets forth certain financial information expressed as a percentage of revenues for the periods indicated:

 

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Revenues for 2006 increased to $118.7 million from $81.1 million in 2005, an increase of $37.6 million, or 46.4%. Revenues from our Lime and Limestone Operations increased $33.0 million, or 40.7%, in 2006 compared to 2005, including $17.0 million of revenues from our St. Clair operations acquired at the end of 2005. Revenues from our Natural Gas Interests totaled $4.6 million in 2006. No revenues were reported from our Natural Gas Interests in 2005.

 

Our gross profit increased to $28.0 million for 2006, from $19.4 million for 2005, an increase of $8.6 million, or 44.8%. Gross profit for 2006 for our Lime and Limestone Operations was $24.5 million, including $1.6 million from the St. Clair operations. In 2006, we had a gross profit of $3.5 million from our Natural Gas Interests. Production volumes for our 36% revenue interests in natural gas wells in 2006 totaled approximately 601 thousand MCF, and we received average prices per MCF of approximately $7.61.

 

The increases in revenues and gross profit from our Lime and Limestone Operations were primarily due to average price increases for products of approximately 7.1% in 2006, compared to 2005, and increased sales volumes from our Arkansas and Texas plants, as well as the revenues and gross profit from the St. Clair operations. These increases were partially offset by significantly reduced pulverized limestone (“PLS”) sales volumes in the second half 2006 due reduced reroofing demand, increased fuel, electricity and transportation costs and increased depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”), primarily resulting from our acquisitions and expanded business operations in our Lime and Limestone Operations ($9.4 million), and our new Natural Gas Interests segment ($327 thousand).

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased to $7.0 million in 2006 from $5.5 million in 2005, an increase of $1.5 million, or 27.0%. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A declined to 5.9% in 2006 from 6.9% in 2005. The increases in SG&A in 2006 were primarily attributable to the Company’s additional operations (approximately $1.0 million) and the recognition of stock-based compensation ($294 thousand).

 

Interest expense in 2006 decreased to $3.1 million from $4.2 million in 2005, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 25.6%. The decrease in interest expense for 2006 compared to 2005 primarily resulted from (a) the elimination of the Company’s warrant share put liability effective August 31, 2005 (which accounted for $798 thousand of interest expense in 2005) and (b) the prepayment of the $7.0 million then-remaining principal balance of our subordinated notes (the “Sub Notes”) in August 2005, resulting in a $280 thousand prepayment penalty and the expensing of approximately $164 thousand of unamortized prepaid financing costs, and $92 thousand of unaccreted debt discount in 2005. These were partially offset by interest on the additional borrowings under our credit facilities, primarily for the St. Clair acquisition and to fund construction of the third kiln project at our Arkansas facilities. Approximately $940 thousand of interest was capitalized in 2006, as part of the construction of the third kiln project, compared to approximately $9 thousand in 2005.

 

Income tax expense increased to $4.9 million in 2006 from $1.8 million in 2005, an increase of $3.1 million, or 168.0%. The increase in income tax expense and effective income tax rate in 2006 compared to 2005 were primarily due to the increases in income before taxes and the fact that our 2005 income tax expense was reduced for the recognition of previously reserved deferred tax assets, principally alternative minimum tax credits.

 

Net income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle increased to $13.3 million ($2.11 per share diluted) in 2006, compared to $7.9 million ($1.31 per share diluted) for 2005, an increase of $5.3 million, or 66.7%. As a result of the required adoption of an accounting change for deferred stripping costs as discussed in Note 1(l) of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we expensed $740 thousand of capitalized deferred stripping costs in the first quarter 2006, net of $190 thousand income tax benefit, resulting in $550 thousand ($0.09 per share diluted) cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. Net income after the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle was $12.7 million ($2.02 per share diluted) for 2006, compared to net income of $7.9 million ($1.31 per share diluted) for 2005, an increase of $4.8 million, or 59.8%.

 

2005 vs. 2004

 

Revenues increased to $81.1 million in 2005 from $71.2 million in 2004, an increase of $9.9 million, or 13.8%. The increase in revenues for 2005 compared to 2004 was primarily due to average price increases for our products of 9.0%, and increased sales volumes to our construction customers during the fourth quarter 2005 due in part to unseasonably dry weather in the South Central Region. In addition, higher than normal levels of rainfall in our Texas market area in the third quarter 2004 resulted in reduced construction demand for products from our Cleburne, Texas plant. These 2005 improvements were partially offset by reduced sales volumes in 2005 compared to 2004 to our steel customers and to our largest Colorado customer, a coal mine, which was shut down due to a methane fire for most of the fourth quarter 2005 and January 2006.

 

Our gross profit increased to $19.4 million for 2005 from $17.0 million for 2004, an increase of $2.4 million or 13.8%. Compared to 2004, gross profit increased in 2005 primarily due to the 9.0% average price increases for the Company’s products, partially offset by increased fuel, electric and transportation costs in 2005 compared to 2004 and a $458 thousand increase in DD&A, primarily attributable to depreciation on the Shreveport facilities which

began operations in December 2004 and a full year of depreciation on the second Arkansas kiln which came on line in late February 2004.

 

SG&A increased to $5.5 million in 2005 from $5.0 million in 2004, an increase of $0.5 million, or 9.6%. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A declined to 6.9% in 2005 from 7.1% in 2004. The increase in SG&A in 2005 was primarily attributable to increases in employee compensation and benefits, and increased audit and other professional fees.

 

Interest expense in 2005 decreased to $4.2 million from $5.6 million in 2004, a decrease of $1.4 million or 25.9%. Interest expense decreased in 2005 principally due to our August 2004 debt refinancing which resulted in reduced interest rates for all of 2005, as well as a $235 thousand prepayment penalty and the expensing of $632 thousand unamortized prepaid financing costs included in 2004 interest expense. Interest expense in 2005 was negatively impacted by a $280 thousand prepayment penalty and the expensing of approximately $164 thousand of unamortized prepaid financing costs and $92 thousand of unaccreted debt discount, all of which resulted from the prepayment in August 2005 of the then-remaining $7.0 million principal amount of our Sub Notes. The decrease in interest expense would have been greater except for the fact that $445 thousand of interest expense was capitalized in 2004 as part of our Arkansas expansion project compared to only $9 thousand of capitalized interest in 2005.

 

Also, due to an increase of more than 95% in the per share average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the last 30 trading days ended August 30, 2005, compared to the last 30 trading days ended December 31, 2004, interest expense in 2005 included a $798 thousand non-cash charge to interest expense for a mark-to-market adjustment on the warrant share put liability, compared to a $210 thousand charge in 2004. Effective August 31, 2005, the holders of our warrants agreed to waive their warrant share put rights. The warrant share put liability was $1.3 million as of August 31, 2005, which was eliminated by the waiver agreements. Pursuant to accounting requirements, we increased stockholders’ equity by the $1.3 million which represented non-cash charges to interest expense previously expensed, including the $798 thousand charged in 2005.

 

Other, net was $101 thousand in 2005, compared to $1.4 million in 2004. In 2004, the receipt of oil and gas lease bonus payments totaling $1.3 million ($1.1 million or $0.18 per share diluted, net of income taxes) for the lease of our oil and gas rights on our Johnson County, Texas property was the primary other income.

 

Income tax expense increased to $1.8 million in 2005 from $1.4 million in 2004, an increase of $440 thousand or 31.8%, primarily due to the increase in income before taxes.

 

Net income increased to $7.9 million ($1.31 per share diluted) in 2005 from net income of $6.3 million ($1.07 per share diluted) for 2004, an increase of $1.6 million or 25.6%.

 

Capital Requirements.  We require capital primarily for seasonal working capital needs, normal recurring capital and re-equipping projects, expansion projects and acquisitions. Our capital needs are met principally from cash flows from operations, our $30 million revolving credit facility and our long-term debt.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources.  Net cash provided by operations was $25.9 million in 2006, compared to $17.2 million in 2005, an increase of $8.7 million, or 50.8%. Our cash provided by operating activities is composed of net income, DD&A, other non-cash items included in net income and changes in working capital. In 2006, cash provided by operating activities was principally composed of $12.7 million net income, $10.1 million DD&A and $1.8 million deferred income tax expense. The improvement in 2006 compared to 2005 was primarily the result of the $4.8 million increase in net income, a $1.9 million increase in DD & A, a $2.0 million increase in deferred income taxes and $395 thousand non-cash stock-based compensation recognized in the 2006 period. Other than DD&A, the primary non-cash expense in 2005 was non-cash interest expense of $1.2 million discussed above in “RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.” The most significant changes in working capital items during 2006 were a $1.6 million net increase in trade receivables, a $1.8 million net increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses and $871 thousand net increase in inventories, all primarily resulting from the Company’s expanded operations, including its Natural Gas Interests, and a $704 thousand decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets primarily resulting from the receipt of the $821 thousand working capital adjustment on the St. Clair purchase price. The largest changes in working capital items in the 2005 period were a $1.2 million net increase in inventories and a

$915 thousand net increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, both of which also resulted from expanded operations.

 

Banking Facilities and Debt.  On October 19, 2005, we entered into an amendment to our credit agreement (the “Amendment”) primarily to increase the loan commitments and extend the maturity dates. As a result of the Amendment, our credit agreement now includes a ten-year $40.0 million term loan (the “New Term Loan”), a ten-year $20.0 million multiple draw term loan (the “Draw Term Loan”) and a five-year $30.0 million revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Facility”) (collectively, the “New Credit Facilities”). The proceeds from the New Term Loan were used primarily to repay the outstanding balances on the term loan and revolving credit facility under the credit agreement prior to the Amendment. In December 2005, we drew down $15.0 million on the Draw Term Loan primarily to acquire St. Clair. We drew down the remaining $5.0 million in the second quarter 2006, which was primarily used to pay construction costs of the third kiln project at our Arkansas plant. We had $252 thousand of letters of credit issued and $8.0 million outstanding on the New Revolving Facility at December 31, 2006. The $8.0 million of net draws on the New Revolving Facility during 2006 were also used primarily to pay construction costs for the third kiln.

 

The New Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments of $833 thousand, which began on March 31, 2006, equating to a 12-year amortization, with a final principal payment of $7.5 million due on December 31, 2015. The Draw Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments of $417 thousand, based on a 12-year amortization, with a final principal payment on December 31, 2015 equal to any remaining principal then-outstanding. The New Revolving Facility is scheduled to mature on October 20, 2010. The maturity of the New Term Loan, the Draw Term Loan and the New Revolving Facility can be accelerated if any event of default, as defined under the New Credit Facilities, occurs.

 

The New Credit Facilities continue to bear interest, at our option, at either LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 2.50%, or the bank’s Prime Rate plus a margin of minus 0.50% to plus 0.50%. The margins are determined quarterly in accordance with a defined rate spread based on the ratio of our average total funded senior indebtedness for the preceding four quarters to EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization) for the 12 months ended on the last day of the most recent calendar quarter.

 

Through a hedge, we fixed LIBOR at 4.695% on the $40.0 million New Term Loan for the period December 30, 2005 through its maturity date, resulting in an interest rate of 6.445% based on the current LIBOR margin of 1.75%. Effective December 30, 2005, we also entered into a hedge that fixes LIBOR at 4.875% on the $15.0 million then outstanding on the Draw Term Loan through its maturity date, resulting in an interest rate of 6.625% based on the current LIBOR margin of 1.75%. Effective June 30, 2006, we entered into a third hedge that fixes LIBOR at 5.50% on the remaining $5.0 million of the Draw Term Loan through its maturity date, resulting in an interest rate of 7.25% based on the current LIBOR margin of 1.75%. We designated all of the hedges as cash flow hedges, and as such, changes in their fair market value will be included in other comprehensive income (loss). We will be exposed to credit losses in the event of non-performance by the counterparty to the hedges.

 

On August 25, 2004, we had entered into a credit agreement with a bank (the “Lender”) that, prior to the Amendment, included a five-year $30.0 million term loan (the “Term Loan”) and a three-year $30.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) (collectively, the “Credit Facilities”). At the closing of the Credit Facilities, we borrowed $37.8 million (the entire Term Loan, and $7.8 million on the Revolving Credit Facility) to repay the outstanding balances, including a prepayment penalty and accrued interest, on the Company’s previous bank term loan and revolving credit facility. Pursuant to a security agreement, also dated August 25, 2004 (the “Security Agreement”), the Credit Facilities were, and the New Credit Facilities are, secured by our existing and hereafter acquired tangible assets, intangible assets and real property. The Company paid the Lender an origination fee equal to 0.25% of the total amount committed under the Credit Facilities.

 

The Term Loan required a principal payment of $200 thousand on September 30, 2004 and quarterly principal payments of $625 thousand thereafter, which equated to a 12-year amortization, with a final principal payment of $17.9 million due on August 25, 2009. The Credit Facilities bore interest at rates determined under the same provisions as described above for the New Credit Facilities. In conjunction with the Credit Facilities, we entered into a hedge to fix LIBOR for the Term Loan at 3.87% on $25.0 million for the period September 1, 2004 through the maturity date, and on the remaining principal balance of approximately $4.7 million for the period December 31,

2004 through the maturity date, resulting in an interest rate of 5.62% for the Term Loan based on the then-existing margin of 1.75%. The hedges were designated as cash flow hedges, and as such, changes in their fair market value were included in other comprehensive income or loss.

 

The New Credit Facilities and Security Agreement contain, as did the Credit Facilities, covenants that restrict the incurrence of debt, guarantees and liens and place restrictions on investments and the sale of significant assets. The Company is also required to meet a minimum debt service coverage ratio and not exceed specified leverage ratios. The New Credit Facilities provide that we may pay annual dividends, not to exceed $1.5 million, so long as after such payment, we remain solvent and the payment does not cause or result in any default or event of default as defined under the New Credit Facilities.

 

On August 5, 2003, the Company had sold $14.0 million of subordinated notes (the “Sub Notes”) in a private placement to three accredited investors, one of which is an affiliate of Inberdon Enterprises Ltd. (“Inberdon”), our majority shareholder, and another of which is an affiliate of Robert S. Beall, who owns approximately 11% of the Company’s outstanding shares. We believe the terms of the private placement were more favorable to the Company than proposals previously received. Frost Securities, Inc. (“Frost”) provided an opinion to the Board of Directors that, from a financial point of view, the private placement was fair to the unaffiliated holders of the common stock in relation to other potential subordinated debt transactions then available to the Company. We paid Frost an aggregate of $381 thousand for its advice, placement services and opinion.

 

The net proceeds of approximately $13.5 million from the private placement were primarily used to fund the Phase II expansion of our Arkansas facilities. Terms of the Sub Notes included: a maturity date of August 5, 2008, subject to acceleration upon a change in control; no mandatory principal payments prior to maturity; an interest rate of 14% (12% paid in cash and 2% paid in cash or in kind at our option); and, except as discussed below, no optional prepayment prior to August 5, 2005 and a 4% prepayment penalty (2% in certain specified circumstances prior to August 5, 2005) if repaid before maturity. The terms of the Sub Notes were identical to one another, except that the Sub Note for the affiliate of Inberdon did not prohibit prepayment prior to August 5, 2005 and did not require a prepayment penalty if repaid before maturity, resulting in a weighted average prepayment penalty of approximately 2.4% if the Sub Notes were repaid before maturity. The Sub Notes required compliance with our other debt agreements and restricted the sale of significant assets. In August 2005, the then-remaining $7.0 million principal amount of Sub Notes was repaid along with a $280 thousand prepayment penalty.

 

The private placement also included six-year detachable warrants, providing the Sub Note investors the right to purchase an aggregate of 162 thousand shares of our common stock, at 110% of the average closing price of one share of common stock for the trailing 30 trading days prior to closing, or $3.84. The fair value of the warrants was recorded as a reduction of the carrying value of the Sub Notes and was accreted over the term of the Sub Notes, resulting in an effective annual interest rate of 14.44%. After August 5, 2008, or upon an earlier change in control, the investors could have required us to repurchase any or all shares acquired through exercise of the warrants (the “Warrant Shares”). The repurchase price for each Warrant Share was equal to the average closing price of one share of our common stock for the 30 trading days preceding the date the Warrant Shares were put back to us. Changes in the repurchase price for each Warrant Share were accreted or decreted to interest expense over the five-year period from the date of issuance to August 5, 2008. The investors are also entitled to certain registration rights for the resale of their Warrant Shares.

 

Effective August 31, 2005, the holders of the warrants agreed to waive their Warrant Share put rights. Warrant Share put liability was $1.4 million as of August 31, 2005, which was eliminated by the waivers. Pursuant to accounting requirements, we increased stockholders’ equity by the $1.4 million, which represented non-cash charges to interest expense previously expensed, including a $798 thousand charge to interest expense in the first eight months 2005. As a result of this waiver, we no longer have any liability to repurchase any Warrant Shares and will have no further charges or credits to interest expense for fluctuations in the price of our common stock related to the Warrant Shares.

 

All of the warrants have been exercised as follows:

 

a) In October 2005, R.S. Beall Capital Partners L.P., the affiliate of Mr. Beall, exercised its warrant for 34,714 shares of common stock pursuant to the cashless exercise option. The market value of a share of common stock on the exercise date was $32.541, resulting in the issuance of 30,617 shares of common stock.

 

b) In February 2006, Credit Trust S.A.L. (“Credit Trust”), the affiliate of Inberdon, exercised for cash its warrant to acquire 63,643 shares of common stock. The exercise price was $3.84 per share of common stock, and Credit Trust paid the Company $244 thousand. The Company issued 63,643 shares of common stock to Credit Trust.

 

c) In February 2006, ABB Finance Inc. exercised for cash its warrant to acquire 63,643 shares of common stock. The exercise price was $3.84 per share of common stock, and ABB Finance Inc. paid the Company $244 thousand. The Company issued 63,643 shares of common stock to ABB Finance Inc.

 

As of December 31, 2006, we had approximately $64.6 million in total principal amount of debt outstanding, compared to approximately $55.0 million at December 31, 2005, an increase of $9.6 million or 17.5%, primarily due to the third preheater kiln construction project at our Arkansas facilities.

 

Capital Expenditures.  Prior to 2004, we modernized and expanded our Cleburne, Texas production, storage and distribution facilities, with the final project being the construction of additional PLS storage in 2003.

 

The first of two phases of our Arkansas modernization and expansion project began in the fourth quarter 1999. Phase I involved the redevelopment of the quarry plant, rebuilding of the railroad to standard gauge, the purchase of a facility to establish an out-of-state terminal in Shreveport, Louisiana, the installation of a rotary kiln with preheater and increased product storage and loading capacity. We completed Phase I in the second quarter 2001.

 

Phase II doubled the Arkansas plant’s quicklime production capacity through the installation of a second preheater rotary kiln and additional kiln-run storage capacity substantially identical to the kiln system built in Phase I. Construction of the second kiln system commenced in the third quarter 2003 and was completed with lime production from the new kiln beginning in February 2004. Phase II also included refurbishing the distribution terminal in Shreveport, Louisiana, which is connected to a railroad, to provide lime storage, hydrating and distribution capacity to service markets in Louisiana and East Texas. This terminal began operations in December 2004.

 

Construction of the third preheater kiln project at the Company’s Arkansas facilities commenced in October 2005, and the kiln began production in December 2006, with construction of certain ancillary structures is expected to be completed in the first quarter 2007. The third kiln has increased quicklime production capacity at the Arkansas facilities by approximately 50%. The project also includes crushing and stone handling enhancements and additional finished goods silos and load outs. The total cost of the entire project has increased to approximately $30.5 million, excluding capitalized interest, from prior estimates of approximately $26 million. The project experienced delays due to a variety of reasons, including slow equipment delivery and a shortage of skilled labor to construct the kiln and the ancillary facilities. The increase in cost was primarily due to seismic code changes which required additional work and materials, a rock fracture under the stone handling enhancements that required substantial design changes and underground structural work, and increased steel, material and labor costs compared to the original estimate.

 

The cost of this project was, and will continue to be, funded from draws on the Draw Term Loan and/or the New Revolving Facility and funds generated from operations. As of December 31, 2006, we had contractual commitments of approximately $2.1 million for the third kiln project at Arkansas.

 

We invested $37.4 million in capital expenditures in 2006, compared to $27.5 million in capital expenditures in 2005. Included in the capital expenditures during 2006 was approximately $25.7 million for the third kiln project at Arkansas and approximately $3.1 million for drilling and completion costs for the Company’s 20% working interest in natural gas wells. Capital expenditures in 2006 also included $1.9 million for acquisitions of businesses, primarily for the acquisition of the assets of a lime slurry operation in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.

 

Capital expenditures in 2005 included approximately $2.3 million related to the refurbishing of the Shreveport, Louisiana terminal and the installation of a new kiln baghouse at our Cleburne, Texas plant, of which $1.4 million was accrued at December 31, 2004 and paid in 2005, approximately $2.3 million for the acquisition of land near our Arkansas facilities for possible future expansion, and $938 thousand related to the construction of the third kiln project at Arkansas. In September 2005, we spent approximately $2.8 million for the acquisition, in an asset purchase, of a new limestone grinding and bagging facility located in Delta, Colorado to process mine safety dust used in coal mining operations. In addition, on December 28, 2005, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of O-N Minerals (St. Clair) Company, renamed U.S. Lime Company — St. Clair, from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oglebay Norton Company for approximately $14.3 million in cash, including transaction costs.

 

We expect to spend approximately $5.0 to $6.0 million per year over the next several years for normal recurring capital, environmental compliance and re-equipping projects at the plant facilities to maintain or improve efficiency, ensure compliance with Environmental Laws and reduce costs. We also expect to continue to participate as a working interest owner in future natural gas wells to be drilled on our Johnson County, Texas property, but we are unable to predict the number or results of wells to be drilled.

 

Contractual Obligations.  The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2006 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Liquidity.  At December 31, 2006, we had drawn $8.0 million (approximately $14.2 million at March 13, 2007) on our $30 million New Revolving Credit Facility. We believe that cash on hand, funds generated from operations and remaining amounts available under the New Revolving Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet our operating needs, ongoing capital needs and debt service for 2007. Additionally, with our increase in cash flows from our Lime and Limestone Operations following the completion of our modernization and expansion projects, including the third kiln at Arkansas, and the acquisition of St. Clair, our cash flow from our Natural Gas Interests, and remaining funds available from our $30.0 million New Revolving Credit Facility, we believe we will have sufficient capital resources to meet our liquidity needs for the near future.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.  We do not utilize off-balance sheet financing arrangements; however, we lease some of our equipment used in our operations under non-cancelable operating lease agreements. As of December 31, 2006, the total future lease payments under various operating and mineral leases totaled $5.1 million and are due in payments as summarized in the table above.

 

Stock-Based Compensation.  On December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments” (“SFAS 123(R)”) which is a revision of SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”). SFAS 123(R) supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”) and amends SFAS No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” Generally, the approach in SFAS 123(R) is similar to the approach described in SFAS 123. However, SFAS 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock, to be recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosures are no longer an alternative.

 

We adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006 using the modified prospective method in which compensation cost is recognized beginning with the effective date based on the requirements of SFAS 123(R) for all share-based awards granted after the adoption date and based on the requirements of SFAS 123 for all awards granted to employees prior to the effective date of SFAS 123(R) that remain unvested on the adoption date. Had we adopted SFAS 123(R) in prior periods, the impact would have approximated the impact of SFAS 123 as described in the pro forma net income and earnings per share disclosures in Note 1(o) of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Stripping Costs in the Mining Industry.  The FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus that stripping costs incurred after a mine begins production are costs of production and therefore should be accounted for as a component of inventory costs (EITF Issue No. 04-6). Prior to 2006, we capitalized certain stripping costs as deferred stripping costs, attributed them to the reserves that had been exposed and amortized them into cost of revenues using the units-of-production method. As of December 31, 2005, we had $740 thousand of capitalized deferred stripping costs. The EITF stated that the new required accounting for stripping costs would be effective for years beginning after December 15, 2005. As a result of adopting this accounting change, we wrote off the $740 thousand capitalized deferred stripping costs in the first quarter 2006.

 

Fair Value Accounting.  In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 creates a single definition of fair value, along with a conceptual framework to measure fair value. SFAS 157 defines fair value 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.” SFAS 157 will require the Company to apply valuation techniques that (1) place greater reliance on observable inputs and less reliance on unobservable inputs and (2) are consistent with the market approach, the income approach, and/or the cost approach. The Statement will also require the Company to include enhanced disclosures of fair value measurements in its financial statements.

 

SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and for interim periods that fall within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the impact SFAS 157 will have on its financial statements, but does not anticipate being required to recognize any new instruments at fair value.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”), which allows measurement at fair value of eligible financial assets and liabilities that are not otherwise measured at fair value. If the fair value option for an eligible item is elected, unrealized gains and losses for that item shall be reported in current earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to draw comparison between the different measurement attributes a company elects for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS 159 on its financial statements.

 

Defined Benefit Pension Accounting.  In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans: an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” (“SFAS 158”). SFAS 158 requires the Company to recognize the funded status of its defined benefit postretirement plan in the Company’s statement of financial position. SFAS 158 does not change the accounting for the Company’s defined contribution plan. Effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008, SFAS 158 also removes the existing option to use a plan measurement date that is up to 90 days prior to the date of

the statement of financial position. The adoption of SFAS No. 158 did not affect the Company’s accounting for its defined pension plan.

 

Income taxes.  In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes: an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48, which clarifies SFAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” establishes the criterion that an individual tax position has to meet for some or all of the benefits of that position to be recognized in the Company’s financial statements. On initial application, FIN 48 will be applied to all tax positions for which the statute of limitations remains open. Only tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the adoption date will be recognized or continue to be recognized. The cumulative effect of applying FIN 48 will be reported as an adjustment to retained earnings at the beginning of the period in which it is adopted.

 

FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, and was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 will not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial statements or its ability to comply with its current debt covenants.

 

COMMODITY PRICE RISK.

 

We are exposed to commodity price risk related to the price volatility of natural gas utilized at our plants. From time to time, we enter into forward purchase contracts for the delivery of a portion of our natural gas requirements. At December 31, 2006, we had committed to purchase 10,000 MMBTU per month for January and February 2007 at a price of $6.95 per MMBTU. As of December 31, 2006, the market prices for deliveries in January and February 2007 were approximately $5.84 and $6.30, respectively. We recorded a mark-to-market adjustment resulting in an increase of $18 thousand in labor and other operating expenses at December 31, 2006. See Note 1(p) of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

INTEREST RATE RISK.  

 

We are exposed to changes in interest rates, primarily as a result of floating interest rates on our New Term Loan, Draw Term Loan and New Revolving Credit Facility. At December 31, 2006, we had $64.6 million of indebtedness outstanding under floating rate debt. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to swap floating rates for fixed rates at 4.695%, plus the applicable LIBOR margin, through maturity on the New Term Loan balance of $36.7 million, and 4.875% and 5.50% on $15.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively, plus the applicable LIBOR margin, through maturity on the $20.0 million Draw Term Loan balance. Our $8.0 million borrowings, at December 31, 2006, under the New Revolving Credit Facility are subject to interest rate risk. Assuming no additional borrowings or repayments on the New Revolving Credit Facility, a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would result in an increase in interest expense and a decrease in income before taxes of approximately $80 thousand per year. This amount has been estimated by calculating the impact of such hypothetical interest rate increase on our non-hedged, floating rate debt of $8.0 million outstanding under the New Revolving Credit Facility at December 31, 2006 and assuming it remains outstanding over the next twelve months. Additional borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility would increase this estimate. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.  

 

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 1(l) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 04-6, “Accounting for Stripping Costs Incurred During Production in the Mining Industry” as of January 1, 2006. As discussed in Notes 1(o) and 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” on a modified prospective basis as of January 1, 2006.

 

 

Dallas, Texas

March 14, 2007

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

We have audited the consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.

 

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

 

Dallas, Texas

March 17, 2005

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

 

 

 

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. (the “Company”) is a manufacturer of lime and limestone products, supplying primarily the construction, steel, municipal sanitation and water treatment, paper and agriculture industries. The Company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and operates lime and limestone plants and distribution facilities in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Arkansas Lime Company, Colorado Lime Company, Texas Lime Company, U.S. Lime Company, U.S. Lime Company — Shreveport, U.S. Lime Company — St. Clair and U.S. Lime Company — Transportation. In addition, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, U.S. Lime Company — O & G, LLC, has royalty and non-operating working interests in natural gas wells located in Johnson County, Texas, in the Barnett Shale Formation.

 

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and judgments.

 

 

For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company considers all certificates of deposit and highly-liquid debt instruments, such as U.S. Treasury bills and notes, with maturities, at the time of purchase, of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair market value.

 

Supplemental cash flow information is presented below (in thousands of dollars):

 

 

 

The Company recognizes revenue for its Lime and Limestone Operations in accordance with the terms of its purchase orders, contracts or purchase agreements, which are upon shipment, and when payment is considered probable. Revenues include external freight billed to customers with related costs in cost of revenues. The Company’s returns and allowances are minimal. External freight billed to customers included in revenues was $26,479, $16,902 and $15,552 for 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, which approximates the amount of external freight billed to customers included in cost of revenues. Sales taxes billed to customers are not included in revenues. For its Natural Gas Interests, the Company recognizes revenue in the month of production.

 

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

 

 

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments. See Note 3 for discussion of debt fair values, which also approximate carrying values. The Company’s gas forward purchase contracts and interest rate hedges are carried at market value at December 31, 2006 and 2005. See Notes 1(p) and 3.

 

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and derivative financial instruments. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions and its derivative financial instruments with financial institutions and other firms that management believes have high credit ratings. For a discussion of the credit risks associated with the Company’s derivative financial instruments, see Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities in Note 1(p) and Banking Facilities and Other Debt in Note 3.

 

The majority of the Company’s trade receivables are unsecured. Payment terms for all trade receivables are based on the underlying purchase orders, contracts or purchase agreements. Credit losses relating to trade receivables consistently have been within management expectations and historical trends. Trade receivables are presented net of the related allowance for doubtful accounts, which totaled $366 and $312 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Additions and write-offs to the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts during the years ended December 31 are as follows (in thousands of dollars):

 

 

 

Inventories are valued principally at the lower of cost, determined using the average cost method, or market. Costs for finished goods include materials, labor and production overhead.

 

A summary of inventories is as follows (in thousands of dollars):

 

 

 

For major constructed assets, the capitalized cost includes the cash price paid by the Company for labor and materials plus interest and internal and external project management costs that are directly related to the constructed assets. Machinery and equipment at December 31, 2006 included approximately $10,500 of construction in

 

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

progress, primarily for ancillary structures that are part of the third kiln construction project at the Company’s Arkansas facilities. Total interest costs of $940, $9 and $445 were capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is being provided for by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:

 

 

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred; renewals and betterments are capitalized. When units of property are retired or otherwise disposed of, their cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to income.

 

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with the guidelines of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”). SFAS 144 requires that, when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, the Company should determine if impairment of value exists. If the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment exists and an impairment loss must be calculated and recorded. If an impairment exists, the impairment loss is calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over the asset’s fair value. Any impairment loss is treated as a permanent reduction in the carrying value of the asset. Through December 31, 2006, no events or circumstances have arisen which would require the Company to record a provision for impairment of its long-lived assets.

 

 

The Company uses the successful-efforts method to account for oil and gas exploration and development expenditures. Under this method, drilling and completion costs for successful exploratory wells and all development well costs are capitalized and depleted using the units-of-production method. Costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves are expensed.

 

 

In accordance with the guidelines of SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” the Company recognizes legal obligations for reclamation and remediation associated with the retirement of long-lived assets at their fair value at the time the obligations are incurred (“AROs”). Over time, the liability for AROs is recorded at its present value each period through accretion expense, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the Company either settles the AROs for the recorded amount or recognizes a gain or loss. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company’s AROs included in other liabilities were $990 and $1,079, respectively. An ARO of $618 was recorded upon the acquisition of St. Clair (see Note 10), with no related asset. The remaining related asset associated with the Company’s AROs has been fully depreciated. During 2006 and 2005, the Company spent $125 and $39, respectively, on its AROs.

 

The AROs were estimated based on studies, the Company’s process knowledge and estimates, and are discounted using an appropriate interest rate. The AROs are adjusted when further information warrants an adjustment. The Company estimates annual expenditures of approximately $220 in 2007 and 2008 and $50 in years 2009 through 2011 relating to its AROs.

 

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

 

 

Other assets consist of the following (in thousands of dollars):

 

 

Through December 31, 2005, the Company capitalized certain stripping costs as deferred stripping costs, all of which related to Arkansas Lime Company, which were attributed to reserves that had been exposed and amortized using the units-of-production method. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus that stripping costs incurred after a mine begins production are costs of production and therefore should be accounted for as a component of inventory costs (EITF Issue No. 04-6). The EITF stated the new required accounting for stripping costs would be effective for years beginning after December 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted. As a result of adopting the new standard, the Company wrote off the $740 of previously capitalized deferred stripping costs in the first quarter 2006.

 

Deferred financing costs are expensed over the life of the related debt.

 

Intangible assets are amortized over their expected useful lives. Amortization expense for these assets totaled $125, $21 and $4 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Accumulated amortization at December 31, 2006 that was netted against the intangible assets was $168.

 

 

Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to current or future revenue generation, are expensed. Liabilities are recorded at their present value when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Generally, the timing of these accruals will coincide with completion of a feasibility study or the Company’s commitment to a formal plan of action.

 

In part in response to requirements of environmental regulatory agencies, the Company incurred capital expenditures related to environmental matters of approximately $400 in 2006 and $390 in 2005.

 

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)