US ENERGY CORP - Quarter Report: 2005 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
Quarterly
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of
1934
|
For
the six months and quarter ended June 30, 2005 or
|
|
o
|
Transition
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of
1934
|
For
the transition period from ___________ to
____________
|
Commission
file number 0-6814
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
(Exact
Name of Company as Specified in its
Charter)
|
Wyoming
|
83-0205516
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
|
877
North 8th
West, Riverton, WY
|
82501
|
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
|
Company's
telephone number, including area code:
|
(307)
856-9271
|
Not
Applicable
|
Former
name, address and fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the Company (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Company was required
to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements
for the past 90 days.
YES
x NO
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in
Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES
o NO
x
APPLICABLE
ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS
DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports
required to be filed by Section 12, 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed
by a
court.
YES
o NO
o
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
|
Outstanding
Shares at August 12, 2005
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value
|
18,361,638
|
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. and SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
Page
No.
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Financial
Statements.
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets June 30, 2005 (unaudited) and December
31,
2004 (audited)
|
3-4
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and six months
Ended
June 30, 2005 and 2004 (unaudited)
|
5-6
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three and Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2005 and 2004 (unaudited)
|
7-8
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
9-15
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
16-27
|
ITEM
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
28-29
|
ITEM
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
30
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
31-32
|
ITEM
2.
|
Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
32
|
ITEM
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
32
|
ITEM
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders
|
32
|
ITEM
5.
|
Other
Information
|
33
|
ITEM
6.
|
Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
|
33
|
Signatures
|
34
|
|
Certifications
|
See
Exhibits
|
-2-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
June
30,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Audited)
|
||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
4,703,000
|
$
|
3,842,500
|
|||
Marketable
securities
|
6,215,500
|
--
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable
|
|||||||
Trade,
net of allowance of $111,300
|
150,900
|
797,500
|
|||||
Affiliates
|
28,100
|
13,500
|
|||||
Other
|
50,600
|
52,700
|
|||||
Current
portion of long-term notes receivable, net
|
35,500
|
49,500
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses
|
263,400
|
489,700
|
|||||
Inventories
|
27,600
|
176,100
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
11,474,600
|
5,421,500
|
|||||
INVESTMENTS:
|
|||||||
Non-affiliated
companies
|
14,129,800
|
957,700
|
|||||
Restricted
investments
|
6,838,000
|
6,852,300
|
|||||
Total
investments
|
20,967,800
|
7,810,000
|
|||||
PROPERTIES
AND EQUIPMENT:
|
13,410,600
|
22,088,600
|
|||||
Less
accumulated depreciation,
|
|||||||
depletion
and amortization
|
(7,441,700
|
)
|
(8,322,000
|
)
|
|||
Net
properties and equipment
|
5,968,900
|
13,766,600
|
|||||
OTHER
ASSETS:
|
|||||||
Notes
receivable trade
|
2,979,300
|
2,971,800
|
|||||
Deposits
and other
|
478,200
|
733,800
|
|||||
Total
other assets
|
3,457,500
|
3,705,600
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
41,868,800
|
$
|
30,703,700
|
|||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-3-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|||||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
June
30,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Audited)
|
||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
217,400
|
$
|
1,751,300
|
|||
Income
taxes payable
|
235,000
|
--
|
|||||
Accrued
compensation expense
|
296,100
|
181,700
|
|||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
192,700
|
192,700
|
|||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
144,200
|
3,400,100
|
|||||
Deferred
gain on sale of RMG
|
1,178,600
|
--
|
|||||
Other
current liabilities
|
724,200
|
532,200
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
2,988,200
|
6,058,000
|
|||||
LONG-TERM
DEBT
|
3,230,700
|
3,780,600
|
|||||
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
|
7,602,100
|
7,882,400
|
|||||
OTHER
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
|
1,902,300
|
1,952,300
|
|||||
DEFERRED
GAIN ON SALE OF ASSET
|
1,279,000
|
1,279,000
|
|||||
MINORITY
INTERESTS
|
825,100
|
871,100
|
|||||
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
|||||||
FORFEITABLE
COMMON STOCK, $.01 par value
|
|||||||
442,740
shares issued, forfeitable until earned
|
2,599,000
|
2,599,000
|
|||||
PREFERRED
STOCK,
|
|||||||
$.01
par value; 100,000 shares authorized
|
|||||||
No
shares issued or outstanding
|
--
|
--
|
|||||
SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY:
|
|||||||
Common
stock, $.01 par value;
|
|||||||
unlimited
shares authorized; 17,908,466
|
|||||||
and
15,231,237 shares issued net of
|
|||||||
treasury
stock, respectively
|
179,100
|
152,300
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
63,001,000
|
59,157,100
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(39,696,200
|
)
|
(49,321,700
|
)
|
|||
Treasury
stock at cost,
|
|||||||
977,306
and 972,306 shares respectively
|
(2,800,400
|
)
|
(2,779,900
|
)
|
|||
Accumulated
comprehensive loss
|
--
|
(436,000
|
)
|
||||
Unrealized
gain on securities
|
1,249,400
|
--
|
|||||
Unallocated
ESOP contribution
|
(490,500
|
)
|
(490,500
|
)
|
|||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
21,442,400
|
6,281,300
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$
|
41,868,800
|
$
|
30,703,700
|
|||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-4-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||
Three
months ended June 30,
|
Six
months ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||
2005
|
2004
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES:
|
|||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
$
|
72,100
|
$
|
57,400
|
$
|
157,200
|
$
|
108,600
|
|||||
Management
fees
|
111,400
|
84,200
|
367,700
|
170,200
|
|||||||||
183,500
|
141,600
|
524,900
|
278,800
|
||||||||||
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
|
|||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
67,300
|
60,300
|
135,400
|
137,800
|
|||||||||
Gas
operations
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|||||||||
Mineral
holding costs
|
377,000
|
447,000
|
669,900
|
836,200
|
|||||||||
General
and administrative
|
2,160,100
|
958,900
|
3,324,500
|
2,067,500
|
|||||||||
2,604,400
|
1,466,200
|
4,129,800
|
3,041,500
|
||||||||||
OPERATING
LOSS
|
(2,420,900
|
)
|
(1,324,600
|
)
|
(3,604,900
|
)
|
(2,762,700
|
)
|
|||||
OTHER
INCOME & EXPENSES:
|
|||||||||||||
Gain
on sales of assets
|
--
|
31,800
|
9,500
|
31,800
|
|||||||||
Gain
on sale of investment
|
51,200
|
379,200
|
117,700
|
658,400
|
|||||||||
Interest
income
|
135,500
|
97,100
|
190,400
|
139,600
|
|||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(1,815,700
|
)
|
(49,400
|
)
|
(1,991,500
|
)
|
(235,500
|
)
|
|||||
(1,629,000
|
)
|
458,700
|
(1,673,900
|
)
|
594,300
|
||||||||
LOSS
BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST,
|
|||||||||||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS, AND
|
|||||||||||||
PROVISION
FOR INCOME TAXES
|
(4,049,900
|
)
|
(865,900
|
)
|
(5,278,800
|
)
|
(2,168,400
|
)
|
|||||
MINORITY
INTEREST IN LOSS OF
|
|||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
SUBSIDIARIES
|
307,600
|
2,700
|
361,400
|
6,000
|
|||||||||
LOSS
BEFORE DISCONTINUED
|
|||||||||||||
OPERATIONS
AND PROVISION
|
|||||||||||||
FOR
INCOME TAXES
|
(3,742,300
|
)
|
(863,200
|
)
|
(4,917,400
|
)
|
(2,162,400
|
)
|
|||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS(net of taxes)
|
|||||||||||||
Gain
on sale of discontinued segment
|
14,543,000
|
--
|
14,543,000
|
--
|
|||||||||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
--
|
(746,000
|
)
|
(326,100
|
)
|
(1,221,800
|
)
|
||||||
14,543,000
|
(746,000
|
)
|
14,216,900
|
(1,221,800
|
)
|
||||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-5-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||
(continued)
|
|||||||||||||
Three
months ended June 30,
|
Six
months ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||
2005
|
2004
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||||
GAIN
(LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR
|
|||||||||||||
INCOME
TAXES
|
$
|
10,800,700
|
$
|
(1,609,200
|
)
|
$
|
9,299,500
|
$
|
(3,384,200
|
)
|
|||
PROVISION
FOR INCOME TAXES
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|||||||||
NET
GAIN (LOSS)
|
$
|
10,800,700
|
$
|
(1,609,200
|
)
|
$
|
9,299,500
|
$
|
(3,384,200
|
)
|
|||
NET
GAIN (LOSS) PER SHARE BASIC
|
$
|
0.68
|
$
|
(0.13
|
)
|
$
|
0.62
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|||
NET
GAIN (LOSS) PER SHARE DILUTED
|
$
|
0.70
|
$
|
(0.13
|
)
|
$
|
0.61
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|||
BASIC
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
|||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
15,795,706
|
12,596,426
|
14,896,431
|
12,319,657
|
|||||||||
DILUTED
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
|||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
15,352,966
|
12,596,426
|
15,339,171
|
12,319,657
|
|||||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-6-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||
Six
months ended June 30,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Net
gain (loss)
|
$
|
9,299,500
|
$
|
(1,775,000
|
)
|
||
Adjustments
to reconcile net gain (loss)
|
|||||||
to
net cash used in operating activities:
|
|||||||
Minority
interest in loss of
|
|||||||
consolidated
subsidiaries
|
(361,400
|
)
|
(40,600
|
)
|
|||
Amortization
of deferred charge
|
441,300
|
--
|
|||||
Depreciation
|
189,000
|
288,500
|
|||||
Accretion
of asset
|
|||||||
retirement
obligations
|
183,400
|
71,800
|
|||||
Amortization
of debt discount
|
1,126,500
|
172,400
|
|||||
Noncash
interest expense
|
671,700
|
--
|
|||||
Noncash
services
|
35,600
|
3,300
|
|||||
(Gain)
on sale of investment
|
(14,660,700
|
)
|
--
|
||||
(Gain)
on sale of assets
|
(9,500
|
)
|
--
|
||||
(Gain)
on sale investments
|
(117,700
|
)
|
(279,200
|
)
|
|||
Noncash
compensation
|
216,900
|
157,000
|
|||||
Net
changes in assets and liabilities:
|
185,600
|
95,600
|
|||||
NET
CASH USED IN
|
|||||||
OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
|
(2,799,800
|
)
|
(1,306,200
|
)
|
|||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Sale
of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc.
|
(881,800
|
)
|
--
|
||||
Development
of unproved gas properties
|
--
|
(2,000
|
)
|
||||
Acquisition
of producing gas properties
|
--
|
(1,198,000
|
)
|
||||
Acquisition
of undeveloped gas properties
|
--
|
(3,213,000
|
)
|
||||
Development
of unproved mining claims
|
(166,100
|
)
|
158,400
|
||||
Proceeds
on sale of property and equipment
|
9,500
|
--
|
|||||
Proceeds
from sale investments
|
117,700
|
279,200
|
|||||
Escrow
proceeds
|
500,000
|
--
|
|||||
Net
change in restricted investments
|
14,300
|
31,500
|
|||||
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(240,300
|
)
|
(162,900
|
)
|
|||
Net
change in notes receivable
|
(14,000
|
)
|
--
|
||||
NET
CASH USED IN
|
|||||||
INVESTING
ACTIVITIES
|
(660,700
|
)
|
(4,106,800
|
)
|
|||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-7-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||
(continued)
|
|||||||
Six
months ended June 30,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
$
|
1,579,600
|
$
|
350,000
|
|||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock
|
--
|
2,068,700
|
|||||
Proceeds
from long term debt
|
3,700,000
|
3,184,700
|
|||||
Repayments
of long term debt
|
(958,600
|
)
|
(78,300
|
)
|
|||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
|||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
4,321,000
|
5,525,100
|
|||||
NET
INCREASE IN
|
|||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
860,500
|
112,100
|
|||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|||||||
AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
3,842,500
|
4,084,800
|
|||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|||||||
AT
END OF PERIOD
|
$
|
4,703,000
|
$
|
4,196,900
|
|||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES:
|
|||||||
Income
tax paid
|
$
|
--
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Interest
paid
|
$
|
193,300
|
$
|
112,000
|
|||
NON-CASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Issuance
of stock warrants in
|
|||||||
conjunction
with debt
|
$
|
1,226,200
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Issuance
of stock as conversion of
|
|||||||
subsidiary
stock
|
$
|
499,700
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Satisfaction
of receivable - employee
|
|||||||
with
stock in company
|
$
|
20,500
|
$
|
20,500
|
|||
Acquisition
of assets
|
|||||||
through
issuance of debt
|
$
|
50,000
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Issuance
of stock for services
|
$
|
35,600
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Initial
valuation of new asset
|
|||||||
retirement
obligations
|
$
|
--
|
$
|
372,100
|
|||
Acquisition
of assets
|
|||||||
through
issuance of stock
|
$
|
--
|
$
|
1,396,200
|
|||
Issuance
of stock to satisfy debt
|
$
|
--
|
$
|
500,000
|
|||
Unrealized
gain on securities
|
$
|
1,249,400
|
$
|
--
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-8-
U.S. ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1) The
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2005, the Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2005
and
2004 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months
ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, have been prepared by the Company without audit.
The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2004 has been taken
from the audited financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report
on
Form 10-K for the period then ended. In the opinion of the Company, the
accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only
normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position
of
the Company as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the results of operations
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005, and 2004 and cash flows for
the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004.
2) The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of
America, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern.
Although the Company recorded a profit of $9,299,500 during the six months
ended
June 30, 2005, it has sustained substantial losses from operations in recent
years. The profit during the six months ended June 30, 2005 was from the sale
of
Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc., not operations.
In
view
of the matters described in the preceding paragraph, recoverability of a major
portion of the recorded asset amounts shown in the condensed consolidated
accompanying balance sheet is dependent upon continued operations of the
Company, which in turn is dependent upon its ability to meet its financing
requirements on a continuing basis, and to succeed in its future
operations.
To
ensure
that the Company has adequate cash to satisfy our capital requirements, the
Company is working with several different sources for capital resources,
including both strategic and financial investors. Although there is no assurance
that funding will be available; we believe that our current business plan,
if
funded, will significantly improve our operating results and cash flow in the
future.
3) Certain
reclassifications have been made in the December 31, 2004 Financial Statements
to conform to the classifications used in the June 30, 2005 Financial
Statements.
4) Certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested that
these financial statements be read in conjunction with the Company's December
31, 2004 Form 10-K.
5) The
condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include its
majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries: Energx Ltd. ("Energx”)(90%); Crested
Corp. (“Crested”)(70.1%); Plateau Resources Limited (“Plateau”)(100%); Sutter
Gold Mining Inc. (“SGMI”)(65.5%); Yellow Stone Fuels Corp. ("YSFC")(35.9%); Four
Nines Gold, Inc. (“FNG”)(50.9%); and the USECC joint venture (“USECC”), a
consolidated joint venture which is equally owned by the Company and Crested,
through which the bulk of their operations are conducted. Previous consolidated
financial statements of the Company included one additional majority-owned
subsidiary, Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. (“RMG”)(consolidated ownership of 95.6%),
which was sold on June 1, 2005. RMG is therefore no longer included in the
consolidated financial statements of the Company. All material inter-company
profits and balances have been eliminated.
-9-
U.S. ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
(Continued)
6) On
June
1, 2005 Enterra US Acquisitions Inc. (a privately-held Washington corporation
organized by Enterra for purposes of the RMG acquisition, hereafter
"Acquisitions") acquired all the outstanding stock of RMG, for which Enterra
paid $500,000 cash and issued $5,234,000 of Enterra units (the "Enterra Initial
Units"), net of the $266,000 adjustment for the purchase of overriding royalty
interests (effected May 1, 2005); and Acquisitions issued $14,000,000 of class
D
shares of Acquisitions. The Enterra Initial Units and the class D shares were
issued pro rata to the RMG shareholders. USE’s and Crested's participation in
the consideration received was approximately $18,341,600. USE’s consolidated
subsidiary, Yellowstone Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) also received approximately
$296,700.
The
Enterra Initial Units received by the Company, Crested and YSFC are reflected
on
the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as $6,215,500, which included a
unrealized gain of $1,249,900, as current assets - marketable securities and
the
Class D shares of Acquisitions are carried as $13,172,250 as investments in
non-affiliates. The Company is required to hold the class D shares of
Acquisitions for a period of one year from June 1, 2005. After the holding
period is satisfied, the Company can exchange these shares on a one for one
basis for units in Enterra which will then be saleable on the Toronto Stock
Exchange - Vancouver (“TSX-V”).
7) Comprehensive
Income
Unrealized
gains on investments, which consist of Enterra Initial Units are excluded from
net income but are reported as comprehensive income on the Balance Sheet under
Shareholder’s equity. The following table illustrates the effect on net income
and earnings per share if the company had recognized comprehensive
income:
Six
months Ended
|
|||||||
June
30,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Net
Gain (Loss)
|
$
|
9,299,500
|
$
|
(3,384,200
|
)
|
||
Add
: Comprehensive income from unrealized gain on marketable
securities
|
$
|
1,249,400
|
--
|
||||
Comprehensive
Income (loss)
|
$
|
10,548,900
|
$
|
(3,384,200
|
)
|
||
8) Based
on
the provisions of SFAS No. 115, the Company accounts for marketable equity
securities as marketable securities which are available for sale. Available
for-sale securities are measured at fair value, with net unrealized gains and
losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of
comprehensive income until realized.
-10-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
(Continued)
Investments
in marketable securities consisted of the following at June 30,
2005:
Cost
|
Market
Value
|
Unrealized
Gain
|
||||||||
Equity
Securities
|
$
|
4,966,100
|
$
|
6,215,500
|
$
|
1,249,400
|
These
securities were acquired in connection with the Enterra transaction discussed
in
Note 6. In addition to these transactions the Company sold 307,500 shares of
Ruby Mining Company (“Ruby”) common stock and received $117,500 in revenues.
Ruby common stock has no carrying value.
9) The
Company has adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148 "Accounting
for
Stock - Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure" and has elected to
continue to record employee compensation expense utilizing the intrinsic value
method permitted under Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and its related interpretations.
The
Company has two employee stock incentive plans. There were no options granted
to
employees or directors under either employee stock incentive plan during the
six
months ended June 30, 2005. No stock-based employee compensation cost is
reflected in net income, as all options granted under the plans had an exercise
price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date
of
grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings
per
share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of
Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement ("FASB") No. 123, Accounting
for
Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation.
Six
months Ended
|
|||||||
June
30,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Net
Gain (Loss), as reported
|
$
|
9,299,500
|
$
|
(3,384,200
|
)
|
||
Deduct:
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under
fair
value based method for all award, net of related tax
effects
|
(206,200
|
)
|
--
|
||||
Pro
forma net profit (loss)
|
$
|
9,093,300
|
$
|
(3,384,200
|
)
|
||
Earnings
per share:
|
|||||||
Basic
- as reported
|
$
|
0.62
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
||
Basic
- pro forma
|
$
|
0.61
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
||
Diluted
- as reported
|
$
|
0.61
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
||
Diluted
- pro forma
|
$
|
0.59
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
-11-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
(Continued)
10) Components
of Properties and Equipment at June 30, 2005, consist of mining and oil
properties, land, buildings and equipment.
Accumulated
|
||||||||||
Amortization,
|
||||||||||
Depletion
|
||||||||||
Cost
|
and
Depreciation
|
Net
Book Value
|
||||||||
Mining
and oil properties
|
$
|
2,019,700
|
$
|
(1,773,600
|
)
|
$
|
246,100
|
|||
Buildings,
land and equipment
|
11,390,900
|
(5,668,100
|
)
|
5,722,800
|
||||||
$
|
13,410,600
|
$
|
(7,441,700
|
)
|
$
|
5,968,900
|
The
Company has impaired a portion of historical costs associated with its
properties in prior periods. The Company will provide additional impairments
if
necessary in the future. No additional impairments are required at June 30,
2005.
11) Income
Taxes - The components of deferred taxes at June 30, 2005 are as
follows:
June
30, 2005
|
||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
||
Deferred
compensation
|
$
|
519,200
|
Net
operating loss carry-forwards
|
9,165,900
|
|
Nondeductible
reserves and other
|
521,400
|
|
Tax
basis in excess of book basis
|
67,800
|
|
Tax
credits
|
235,000
|
|
Total
deferred tax assets
|
$
|
10,509,300
|
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
||
Book
basis in excess of tax basis
|
$
|
(1,397,900)
|
Development
and exploration costs
|
(109,400)
|
|
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
(1,507,300)
|
|
Net
deferred tax assets - all non-current
|
9,002,000
|
|
Valuation
allowance
|
(9,002,000)
|
|
Net
deferred tax liability
|
$
|
--
|
At
December 31, 2004, the Company had available for federal income tax purposes,
consolidated net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $26,188,300
which expire from 2006 through 2023. Based on anticipated income for the year
ending December 31, 2005, the company expects to utilize approximately
$10,774,300 of this consolidated NOL. The Company has established a valuation
allowance for the full amount of the net deferred tax assets due to the
recurring losses of the Company and the uncertainty of the Company’s ability to
generate future taxable income to utilize the NOL carry-forwards. In addition,
the use of the NOL carry-forwards may be limited by Internal Revenue Service
provisions governing significant change in company ownership.
-12-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
(Continued)
The
income tax provision is different from the amounts computed by applying the
statutory federal income tax rate to income before taxes. The reasons for these
differences are as follows:
Six
Month Ended
|
||||
June
30, 2005
|
||||
Expected
federal income tax expense
|
$
|
3,337,075
|
||
Net
operating loss not previously benefited and other
|
(3,102,075
|
)
|
||
Consolidated
income taxes due
|
$
|
235,000
|
$235,000
in alternative minimum tax due as of June 30, 2005 as a result of the sale
of
RMG to Enterra. For information regarding the tax to book differences and
components of deferred taxes at December 31, 2004, please refer to the Company’s
Form 10-K for that period.
12) The
Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings
per
Share". Basic earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share
is
computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding
adjusted for the incremental shares attributed to outstanding options to
purchase common stock, if dilutive. Potential common shares relating to options
and warrants are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per
share, because they are anti-dilutive. These options and warrants totaled
5,845,733 and 4,446,820 shares at June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Stock
options and warrants have a weighted average exercise price of $3.03 and $2.98
per share at June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Potential common shares
relating to convertible debt are excluded from the computation of diluted loss
per share, because they are antidilutive.
13) Long
term
debt at June 30, 2005 consists of:
Current
portion of long term debt:
|
$
|
144,200
|
||
$3.0
million credit facility with interest at 10%; due July 30,
2006
(less
discount of $194,100 for RMG warrants)
|
2,055,900
|
|||
$4.0
million convertible debentures with interest at 6%; due February
9,
2008
(less
discount of $64,200 for USE warrants)
|
204,000
|
|||
Long
term portion of debt for the purchase of aircraft and equipment at
various
interest
rates
and due dates
|
970,800
|
|||
Long
term portion of debt
|
3,230,700
|
|||
$
|
3,374,900
|
-13-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
(Continued)
14) The
Company has uranium properties that are in a shut-down status in Wyoming and
southern Utah and it is responsible for the reclamation expense. The preparation
of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America, requires management to make estimates
for these reclamation expenses based on certain assumptions. These estimates
and
assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements,
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period.
The
Company accounts for the reclamation of its mineral properties pursuant to
SFAS
No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligation.” Under the provisions of
this accounting statement, the Company records the estimated fair value of
the
reclamation liability on its mineral properties as of the date that the
liability is incurred with a corresponding increase in the property’s book
value. Actual costs could differ from those estimates. The reclamation
liabilities are reviewed each quarter to determine whether estimates for the
total asset retirement obligation are sufficient to complete the reclamation
work required.
The
Company deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation from the asset
retirement obligations during the quarter in which it occurs. As a result of
the
Company taking impairment allowances in prior periods on its shut-down mining
properties, it has no remaining book value for these properties. Any upward
revisions of retirement costs on its mineral properties will therefore be
expensed in the quarter in which they are recorded. Retirement obligations
related to mineral properties, result in increases to the property costs which
are depleted over the economic life of the properties.
The
following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement
obligations (unaudited):
Balance
December 31, 2004
|
$
|
8,075,100
|
||
Addition
to Liability
|
--
|
|||
Liability
Settled
|
--
|
|||
Sale
of RMG
|
(463,700
|
)
|
||
Accretion
Expense
|
183,400
|
|||
Balance
June 30, 2005
|
$
|
7,794,800
|
-14-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
(Continued)
15) During
the six months ended June 30 2005, the Company issued 2,677,229 shares of its
common stock. The following table details the number of shares issued and the
dollar values received.
Additional
|
||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
|||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2004
|
15,231,237
|
$
|
152,300
|
$
|
59,157,100
|
|||||
Conversion
of RMG Investment
|
54,720
|
$
|
600
|
$
|
169,400
|
|||||
Conversion
of 100,000 RMG
|
||||||||||
Series
A Preferred Shares
|
91,743
|
$
|
900
|
$
|
299,100
|
|||||
Dividend
on RMG Series A Preferred Shares
|
44,195
|
$
|
400
|
$
|
99,300
|
|||||
2001
Stock Compensation Plan
|
30,000
|
$
|
300
|
$
|
131,100
|
|||||
Exercise
of Options
|
209,163
|
$
|
2,200
|
$
|
24,800
|
|||||
Exercise
of Warrants
|
423,752
|
$
|
4,200
|
$
|
1,548,500
|
|||||
Outside
Directors
|
11,475
|
$
|
100
|
$
|
35,500
|
|||||
Conversion
of Company debt
|
1,812,181
|
$
|
18,100
|
$
|
4,385,400
|
|||||
Sale
of RMG
|
$
|
(4,075,400
|
)
|
|||||||
Value
of Company warrants issued attached
|
||||||||||
to
new debt
|
$
|
1,111,700
|
||||||||
Value
of Company warrants issued
|
||||||||||
for
professional services
|
$
|
114,500
|
||||||||
17,908,466
|
$
|
179,100
|
$
|
63,001,000
|
||||||
16) Prior
to
the sale of RMG on June 1, 2005, the Company derived revenues from two segments,
1) Coalbed methane (and holding costs for inactive mining properties) and 2)
Commercial real estate. After the sale of RMG the Company only generates
revenues from Commercial real estate, management fees to subsidiary companies
and the sale of various interests in mining claims.
-15-
ITEM
2. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
The
following is Management's Discussion and Analysis of the significant factors
which have affected our liquidity, capital resources and results of operations
during the periods included in the accompanying financial statements. For a
detailed explanation of the Company's Business Overview, it is suggested that
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 be read in
conjunction with the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
The discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Due to uncertainties in our business, actual results may differ
materially from the discussion below.
Overview
of Business
U.S.
Energy Corp. ("USE" or the "Company") and its subsidiaries historically have
been involved in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of
properties prospective for hard rock minerals including lead, zinc, silver,
molybdenum, gold, uranium, oil and gas and commercial real estate. The Company
manages most of its operations through a joint venture, USECC Joint Venture
("USECC"), with one of its subsidiary companies, Crested Corp. ("Crested")
of
which it owns a consolidated 70.1%. The narrative discussion of this MD&A
refers only to USE or the Company but includes the consolidated financial
statements of Crested, Plateau Resources Ltd. ("Plateau"), USECC and other
subsidiaries.
Prior
filings for previous periods, including the year ended December 31, 2004 which
is included in this filing for the six months ended June 30, 2005, included
the
consolidated financial statements of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. (“RMG”). On June
1, 2005 all of the outstanding stock of RMG was sold to Enterra US Acquisitions
Inc. (“Acquisitions”) (a privately-held Washington corporation organized by
Enterra Energy Trust (“Enterra”) for purposes of the RMG acquisition. The
condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company at June 30, 2005, the
condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six month
ended June 30, 3005 and June 30, 2004 and the condensed consolidated statements
of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004 do not
include the balances of RMG. RMG operations for the six months ended June 30,
2005 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2004 are reflected as
discontinued operations. No operations were recorded from RMG for the three
months ended June 30, 2005 as a result of the sale of RMG having an effective
sale date of April 1, 2005 for operations.
The
Company has entered into partnerships through which it either joint ventured
or
leased properties with non-related parties for the development and production
of
certain of its mineral properties. Due to either depressed metal market prices
or disputes in certain of the partnerships, all mineral properties have either
been sold, reclaimed or are shut down. However, activities have resumed on
a
limited basis in uranium and gold. The Company has had no production from any
of
its mineral properties during the periods covered by this report.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Report on Form 10-Q includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("the Exchange
Act"). All statements other than statements of historical fact included in
this
Report, are forward-looking statements. In addition, whenever words like
"expect", "anticipate”, or "believe" are used, we are making forward looking
statements. Actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking
statements and there is no assurance that the assumptions used will be realized
in fact.
-16-
Critical
Accounting Policies
Asset
Impairments
- We
assess the impairment of property and equipment whenever events or circumstances
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
Oil
Producing Activities and Mineral Claims
- We
follow the full cost method of accounting for oil and mineral properties.
Accordingly, all costs associated with acquisition, exploration and development
of oil and mineral reserves, including directly related overhead costs, are
capitalized and are subject to ceiling tests to ensure the carrying value does
not exceed the fair market value.
All
capitalized costs of oil and mineral properties subject to amortization and
the
estimated future costs to develop proved reserves, are amortized using the
unit-of-production method using estimates of proved reserves. Investments in
unproved properties and major exploration and development projects are not
amortized until proved reserves associated with the projects can be determined
or until impairment occurs. If the results of an assessment indicate that the
properties are impaired, the capitalized cost of the property will be added
to
the costs to be amortized.
Asset
Retirement Obligations
-
The
Company's policy is to accrue the liability for future reclamation costs of
its
mineral properties based on the current estimate of the future reclamation
costs
as determined by internal and external experts.
Revenue
Recognition
-
Revenues are reported on a gross revenue basis and are recorded at the time
services are provided or the commodity is sold. Sales of proved and unproved
properties are accounted for as adjustments of capitalized costs with no gain
or
loss recognized, unless such adjustments would significantly alter the
relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and gas,
in
which case the gain or loss is recognized in income. Abandonments of properties
are accounted for as adjustments of capitalized costs with no loss
recognized.
Use
of Accounting Estimates
-
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions.
These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of
the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
On
December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
FASB
No. 123(R),
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,
which
replaces FASB 123, Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation,
and
supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting
for Stock Issued to Employees,
and its
related implementation guidance. The FASB later extended the effective date
for
implementation for the first annual or interim reporting period after December
31, 2005. The Company will be required to implement FASB 123(R) on the quarterly
report for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. Under the terms of FASB 123(R)
the
Company will be required to expense the fair value of stock options issued
to
employees. The fair value is determined using an option-pricing model that
takes
into account the stock price at the grant date, the exercise price, the expected
life of the option, the volatility of the underlying stock, the expected
dividends on it, and the risk-free interest rate over the expected life of
the
option. The fair value of an option estimated at the grant date is not
subsequently adjusted for changes in the price of the underlying stock or its
volatility, life of the option, dividends on the stock, or the risk-free
interest rate.
-17-
The
Company has reviewed other current outstanding statements from the Financial
Accounting Standards Board and does not believe that any of those statements
will have a material adverse affect on the financial statements of the Company
when adopted.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
During
the six months ended June 30, 2005, the Company recorded a gain of $9,299,500
and generated $860,500 of cash. Financing activities generated $4,321,000
primarily as a result of the exercise of warrants for the Company’s common stock
and third party debt and operating and investing activities consumed $2,799,800
and $660,700 respectively.
On
June
1, 2005 Enterra US Acquisitions Inc. (a privately-held Washington corporation
organized by Enterra for purposes of the RMG acquisition, hereafter
"Acquisitions") acquired all the outstanding stock of RMG, for which Enterra
paid $500,000 cash and issued $5,234,000 of Enterra units (the "Enterra Initial
Units"), net of the $266,000 adjustment for the purchase of overriding royalty
interests (effected May 1, 2005); and Acquisitions issued $14,000,000 of class
D
shares of Acquisitions. The Enterra Initial Units and the class D shares were
issued pro rata to the RMG shareholders. USE’s and Crested's participation in
the consideration received was approximately $18,341,600. USE’s consolidated
subsidiary, Yellowstone Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) also received approximately
$296,700.
The
Enterra Initial Units received by the Company, Crested and YSFC are reflected
on
the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as $6,215,500, which included a
unrealized gain of $1,249,900, as current assets - marketable securities and
the
Class D shares of Acquisitions are carried as $13,172,250 as investments in
non-affiliates. The Company is required to hold the class D shares of
Acquisitions for a period of one year from June 1, 2005. After the holding
period is satisfied, the Company can exchange these shares on a one for one
basis for units in Enterra which will then be saleable on the Toronto Stock
Exchange - Vancouver (“TSX-V”).
The
Company did not receive any cash during the six months ended June 30, 2005
from
the sale of RMG but did receive net proceeds of $512,225 from the sale of 20,922
of its Enterra Initial Units during the month of July 2005. We may sell the
balance of our Enterra Initial Units, 144,738 units, during the third quarter
of
2005. The Company is required to hold the class D shares of Acquisitions for
a
period of one year from June 1, 2005. After the holding period is satisfied,
the
Company can exchange these shares on a one for one basis for units in Enterra
which will then be saleable on the Toronto Stock Exchange - Vancouver (“TSX-V”).
At July 31, 2005, the market price for Enterra units was approximately
$25.
Although
the Company’s cash position increased by $860,500 during the six months ended
June 30, 2005; it will need to continue to sell the Enterra and Acquisition
units as well as seek industry partners or equity financing to fund mine standby
exploration and development costs; limited reclamation and general and
administrative expenses.
The
current market prices for gold, uranium and molybdenum are at levels that will
warrant the exploration and development of the Company’s mineral properties.
Industry projections for all these metals anticipate prices remaining at the
current levels or higher during the next decade. Management of the Company
therefore believes that sufficient capital will be available to develop its
mineral properties. The successful development and production of these
properties will greatly enhance the liquidity and financial position of the
Company.
-18-
Capital
Resources
Sale
of Rocky Mountain Gas
157,896
shares of Enterra Initial Units were pledged to Geddes and Company (“Geddes”) as
collateral on a $3.0 million dollar loan. The note was reduced by $500,000
at
closing of the Enterra purchase of RMG by paying Geddes the cash portion of
the
payment from Enterra to Geddes. The balance of the note was to be retired by
making ten monthly payments of $250,000 each. Upon the receipt of each payment,
Geddes was to release 13,158 of the Enterra Initial Units it held as collateral
and after the seventh and also the final payments are received by Geddes, it
is
to release 26,316 Enterra Initial Units.
Crested
received net proceeds of approximately $2.2 million from the sale of all of
its
Enterra Initial Units during the third quarter of 2005. Crested advanced the
majority of these funds to the Company as repayment of a portion of its debt
which was approximately $11.5 million at June 30, 2005. This debt is eliminated
in the consolidation of Crested into the financial statements of the Company.
The debt has been incurred over time as a result of the Company paying Crested’s
portion of cash requirements to fund various subsidiaries and joint ventures
as
Crested has not had the funds to do so. The monies advanced to the Company
which
Crested received from the sale of its Enterra Initial Units, were paid to Geddes
and the note balance was paid in full by the Company on August 1, 2005. Geddes
has released the entire 157,896 Enterra Initial Units to the Company and the
Company began selling them during the third quarter of 2005. The market value
of
the Enterra Initial Units was approximately $25 per unit on July 31,
2005.
On
June
1, 2006, the 436,586 class D shares of Acquisitions (not traded anywhere) owned
by the Company will be exchangeable, on a one-for-one basis, for additional
Enterra units (the "Enterra Additional Units"); the Enterra Additional Units
will be tradable on the TSX at that time. Although the ultimate value of the
class D shares of Acquisitions will not be determined until they are sold;
the
market value of the shares at July 31, 2005 was approximately $10.9 million.
Management of the Company is exploring means of monetizing these shares prior
to
the expiration of the twelve month holding period.
RMG’s
minority equity ownership of Pinnacle Gas Resources, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) was not
included in the disposition of RMG, but was assigned to the Company and Crested
in proportion to their ownership of RMG. The Company therefore received 65%
ownership of the Pinnacle equity and Crested 35%. Enterra is entitled to be
paid
an amount of up to (but not more than) $2,000,000, if proceeds from a future
disposition by the Company and Crested to a third party of their minority equity
interest in Pinnacle exceeds $10,000,000. Currently, we have no information
about whether or when Pinnacle might become a public company or might be
purchased by third parties. The value of the minority equity position upon
a
future disposition could be more or less than $10,000,000. The boards of
directors of the Company and Crested determined that the value of RMG’s minority
equity interest in Pinnacle is approximately $6,250,000, based only upon
Pinnacle’s recent sales of equity to its shareholders (RMG did not participate
in those sales). Management of the Company anticipates selling its equity in
Pinnacle at such time as Pinnacle is either sold or becomes a public company.
-19-
Joint
Venture with Uranium Power Corp.
As
of
April 11, 2005, the Company and Crested (as the USECC Joint Venture) signed
a
Mining Venture Agreement with Uranium Power Corp. (“UPC,” formerly Bell Coast
Capital Corp.) to establish a joint venture, with a term of 30 years, to
explore, develop and mine the properties being purchased by UPC under the
December 8, 2004 Purchase and Sale Agreement, and acquire, explore and develop
additional uranium properties. The Company and Crested received an additional
$500,000 cash in July, 2005 and 1,000,000 shares of UPC common stock. The
remaining $3.2 million and 3 million shares of UPC common stock are to be
received in four equal payments every six months beginning June 2006. UPC has
also agreed to fund up to $10 million in exploration projects by funding the
first $500,000 of each of 20 projects. If any of the scheduled payments or
delivery of stock are not made by UPC the property ownership will revert back
to
the Company and Crested.
In
addition to these payments, UPC is to pay the Company and Crested an additional
$3.0 million in two equal payments of $1.5 million after the price for uranium
oxide exceeds $30.00/lb for four consecutive weeks. This provision of the
contract was met during the six months ended June 30, 2005. The Company and
Crested will therefore be receiving $1.5 million on April 26, 2006 and October
29, 2006.
The
initial participating interests in the joint venture (profits, losses and
capital calls) are 50% for the USECC Joint Venture and 50% for UPC. A budget
of
$567,842 for the seven months ending December 31, 2005 has been approved,
relating to reclamation work at the Sheep Mountain properties, exploration
drilling, geological and engineering work, and other costs. During July 2005,
UPC funded $342,200 of this initial budget.
The
manager of the joint venture is the USECC Joint Venture; the manager will
implement the decisions of the management committee and operate the business
of
the joint venture. UPC and the USECC Joint Venture each have two representatives
on the four person management committee, subject to change if the participating
interests of the parties are adjusted. The manager is entitled to a management
fee from the joint venture equal to a minimum of 10% of the manager’s costs to
provide services and materials to the joint venture (excluding capital costs)
for field work and personnel, office overhead and general and administrative
expenses, and 2% of capital costs. The manager may be replaced if its
participating interest becomes less than 50%.
Issuance
of senior convertible debentures
On
February 9, 2005, the Company closed a financing pursuant to a securities
purchase agreement with seven accredited investors (“Investors”) for the
issuance of $4,720,000 in face amount of debentures maturing February 4, 2008,
and three year warrants to purchase common stock of the Company. The debentures
were unsecured. The face amount of the debentures includes simple annual
interest at 6%; the investors paid $4,000,000 for the debentures. A commission
of 7% on the $4,000,000 was paid by the Company to HPC Capital Management (a
registered broker-dealer) in connection with the transaction, and the Company
paid $20,000 of the investors’ counsel’s legal fees, resulting in net proceeds
to the Company of $3,700,000. Net proceeds have and will continue to be used
by
the Company for general working capital.
-20-
During
the quarter ended June 30, 2005 the Company issued 1,812,181 shares of it common
stock to the Investors at their request to convert and retire $3,732,000 of
the
debt and $671,600 of the related discount. The balance of $268,000 of the debt
and $48,400 in related discount was retired during the month of July 2005 by
the
Company issuing 130,206 shares of its common stock to the Investors at their
request of debt conversion. The entire debt of $4,720,000 was therefore retired
at the end of July 2005 by the issuance of 1,942,387 shares of common
stock.
The
Company issued warrants to the investors, expiring February 4, 2008, to purchase
971,193 shares of restricted common stock, at $3.63 per share (equal to 110%
of
the NASDAQ closing price for the company’s stock on February 3, 2005). The
number of shares underlying the warrants equals 50% of the shares issuable
on
full conversion of the debentures at the set price (as if the debentures were
so
converted on February 4, 2005).
Warrants
to purchase 100,000 shares, at the same price and for the same term as the
warrants issued to the investors, have been issued to HPC Capital Management
as
additional compensation for its services in connection with the transaction
with
the investors.
The
Company filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission to cover the future sale by the investors of the shares issued for
payment and/or conversion of the debentures, and the shares issued on exercise
of the warrants and the future sale by HPC Capital Management of the shares
issuable on exercise of the warrants issued to HPC in connection with the
transaction. The registration statement became effective June 13,
2005.
Other
During
the six months ended June 30, 2005, the Company received $1,552,661 from the
exercise of 423,752 warrants and $27,000 from the exercise of 12,000 employee
options. An additional 402,334 shares underlying employee options were issued
to
the employees by the surrender of 205,171 shares of the Company’s common stock
directly owned by the employees.
In
2003
the Company sold its interests in the town site operations in southern Utah
to a
non-affiliated entity, The Cactus Group ("Cactus"). The Company carried the
loan
which had a balance due at June 30, 2005 of approximately $3.0 million at 7.5%
annual interest. Cactus is to make payments of $24,000 per month until August
2008 at which time a balloon note in the amount of $2.8 million is due. At
June
30, 2005, Cactus was $74,000 in default on its cash payments as well as its
contractual covenants to maintain the properties and equipment. During July
2005, Cactus brought its monthly cash payments current but remained in default
in its maintenance and other requirements of the loan agreements. A notice
of
default has been sent to Cactus who has 45 days from July 6, 2005 to correct
the
default. Due to the defaults and continued lateness of payments from Cactus
the
cash resources from the payments on the Cactus note and the balloon payment
are
suspect.
The
Company and Crested jointly had a line of credit with a commercial bank in
the
amount of $750,000 which expired on June 30, 2005. Management has requested
that
the line of credit be reinstated and is awaiting the decision of the bank’s loan
committee. As the line of credit has been in place for over 5 years and has
always been in good standing, it is anticipated that it will be renewed. The
line of credit is secured by certain real estate holdings and equipment jointly
owned with Crested. This line credit is used for short term working capital
needs associated with operations.
-21-
The
Company and Crested continue to pursue the settlement of a long standing
arbitration/litigation regarding the Sheep Mountain Partnership (“SMP”). The
litigation involves Nukem, Inc. (“Nukem”) and its subsidiary Cycle Resource
Investment Corp. of Danbury Connecticut. The case is currently on remand to
the
arbitration panel following Nukem’s third appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of
Appeals. Prior to the remand, there was a $20 million judgment entered by the
U.S. Federal District Court of Colorado in favor of the Company and Crested.
The
timing and cost of achieving final resolution cannot be predicted. Management
of
the Company believes that the ultimate outcome will be positive and in favor
of
the Company.
Capital
Requirements
The
capital requirements of the Company during 2005 remain its General and
Administrative costs and expenses; permitting and development work on its gold
property, and the ongoing maintenance, exploration and potential development
of
its uranium and other mineral properties.
As
a
result of the RMG disposition, the Company no longer directly holds coalbed
methane properties. The Company therefore is no longer liable to fund drilling
programs and lease holding costs related to those properties. The Company will
however continue to participate in the coalbed methane business through its
equity holdings in securities of Enterra, Acquisitions and
Pinnacle.
Maintaining
Mineral Properties
SMP
Uranium Properties
As
stated
above, the Joint Venture with UPC will fund the majority of the expenses
associated with maintaining the uranium properties in central Wyoming and
performing exploration drilling on them. A
budget
of $567,842 for the seven months ending December 31, 2005 has been approved,
relating to reclamation work at the Sheep Mountain properties, exploration
drilling, geological and engineering work, and other costs. UPC has agreed
to
fund the first $500,000 of all approved projects up to a total of $10,000,000.
The average care and maintenance costs associated with the SMP uranium mineral
properties in Wyoming is approximately $200,000 per year.
Plateau
Resources Ltd. Uranium Properties
Plateau
owns and maintains the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill (the “Shootaring Mill”).
Due to increases in the market price for uranium during the last six months
of
the year ended December 31, 2004 and the first six months of 2005, the Company
reconsidered its prior decision to reclaim the Shootaring Mill property. In
March 2005, Plateau filed an application with the State of Utah to restart
the
Mill. (See the Form 8-K report filed March 31, 2005). Therefore, the Company
will not expend any capital resources in the reclamation of the Mill during
calendar 2005.
It
will
cost at least $25 million to modify the Mill’s tailings cell to Utah standards;
post additional reclamation bonding, and complete other mill upgrades before
production can begin. Additionally, a circuit to process vanadium which is
contained in almost all of the mineralized material found in nearby mines,
is
planned to be added to the Mill. When refurbished and the operational license
is
issued, the Mill will have the capacity to produce up to 1.5 million pounds
of
uranium concentrates annually depending on the grade of material fed to the
Mill.
The
Company and Crested have agreed to place their rights and ownership in Plateau
and other uranium assets into a newly formed entity, U.S. Uranium Ltd. (“USUL”).
In order to fund the refurbishment of the Mill and acquire additional uranium
properties from which to produce uranium bearing ores, USUL is seeking joint
venture partners or equity participants and is exploring the possibility of
becoming a public company.
-22-
Should
Cactus remain in default, as discussed above, on its commitments or the note,
Plateau would receive back the real estate which consists of a motel, boat
storage, a C-Store, restaurant - lounge, trailer and home sites. In that event,
the Company would be responsible for the costs associated with the returned
properties including remediation and operations. Until an actual detailed
inspection of the properties is made it is not possible to estimate what the
remedial costs and expenses will be. We are currently anticipating what will
be
done with the property. We will either operate it, sell it or place the assets
up for auction.
Sutter
Gold Mining Inc. (SGMI) Properties
Because
of the recent increase in the price of gold, management of Sutter Gold has
decided to place the properties controlled by it into production. No extensive
development work or mill construction will be initiated until such time as
funding from debt and or equity sources is in place. The goal of the Company’s
management is to have the SGMI properties be self supporting and thereby not
requiring any capital resource commitment from the Company. On December 29,
2004, SGMC merged with Globemin Resources, Inc., a Canadian company, and changed
its name to Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (“SGMI”). SGMI is traded on the TSX Venture
Exchange. SGMI has sufficient capital to pay for the anticipated work which
will
be done on the properties during calendar 2005. Additional financing is being
sought by SGMI.
Mt.
Emmons Molybdenum Property
On
February 4, 2005, the U.S. District Court in Colorado entered Findings and
Fact
and Conclusions of Law and ordered that the conveyance of the Mt. Emmons
properties by Phelps Dodge to the Company and Crested include the transfer
of
ownership and operational responsibility for the Water Treatment Plant. The
Company, Crested and Phelps Dodge are currently discussing how the water
treatment plant will be transferred and what costs, if any, Phelps Dodge will
be
reimbursed for.
The
Company does not know what the annual holding costs of the water treatment
plant
are but management of the Company has been told that the costs approximate
$1.0
million per year. Another commitment of cash resources that the Company is
exploring with Phelps Dodge is the bonding commitment. The ultimate transfer
of
the water treatment license to operate the water treatment plant is subject
to
the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (“CDPHE”). The
timing and scope of responsibilities for maintaining and operating the plant
will be addressed by the CDPHE later in 2005.
The
Company does not have the required capital resources to maintain and operate
the
water treatment plant long term and develop the Mt. Emmons molybdenum property.
Management of the Company is therefore aggressively pursuing industry partners
and other avenues of financing for the property.
Debt
Payments
During
the six months ended June 30, 2005, the Company repaid $3,732,000 in debt to
certain Investors who advanced $4,000,000, $3,700,000 net, plus prepaid interest
of $720,000 during the first quarter of 2005. The sale of RMG also resulted
in
the repayment by Enterra of approximately $3,500,000 to Petrobridge Investment
Management, a mezzanine credit facility. RMG’s
wholly owned subsidiary, RMG I, had used the Petrobridge loan to finance a
portion of its purchase of Hi-Pro Production, a Gillette, Wyoming coal bed
methane company. The debt to Geddes of $3,000,000 and debt for equity financings
was reduced by cash payments of $750,000 and $208,600 respectively.
-23-
Debt
to
non-related parties at June 30, 2005 was $3,374,900 which is net of discounts
of
$258,300. This debt consists of debt related to the purchase of vehicles and
a
corporate aircraft of $1,115,000; senior convertible debentures of $204,000,
net
of discount of $64,200 for commissions paid and warrants to purchase the
Company’s common stock; and $2,055,900 net of a discount of $194,100 to Geddes
at 11% per annum. The entire debt to Geddes and the senior convertible
debentures were repaid in full during July 2005.
Reclamation
Costs
The
asset
retirement obligation on the Plateau uranium mining and milling properties
in
Utah at June 30, 2005 was $5,341,700, which is reflected on the Balance Sheet.
This liability is fully funded by cash investments that are recorded as long
term restricted assets. Due to the increased market price of uranium, the
reclamation of this property has been delayed significantly and is not
anticipated to commence until 2032.
The
asset
retirement obligation of the Sheep Mountain uranium properties in Wyoming at
June 30, 2005 is $2,430,700 and is covered by a reclamation bond which is
secured by a pledge of certain real estate assets of the Company and Crested.
It
is anticipated that $192,700 of reclamation work on the SMP properties in
Wyoming will be performed during 2005.
The
asset
retirement obligation for SGMI is $22,400 which is covered by a cash bond.
No
cash resources will be used for asset retirement obligations at SGMI during
the
year ended December 31, 2005.
Other
The
employees of the Company are not given raises on a regular basis. In
consideration of this and in appreciation of the work it took to develop and
sell RMG, management of the Company accepted the recommendation of the
Compensation Committee to pay all employees and directors a bonus upon the
closing of the sale of RMG to Enterra. The board of directors has granted
similar bonuses in the past. In addition, there have been informal discussions
between some officers and directors regarding the possible payment of bonuses
to
some of the key individuals involved over the past 14 years in the Nukem case
once it is settled. However, the board of directors has not determined whether
such bonuses will be paid.
Results
of Operations
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2005 compared with the Six Months Ended June 30,
2004
During
the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 the only revenues recorded
by the Company were from real estate operations and management fee charged
for
management services provided for various subsidiary companies and fees
associated with the management of three oil wells in Montana which are owned
by
the Assoiniboine and Souix tribes. Also included in management fees are revenues
received from UPC during the six months ended June 30, 2005 in the amount of
$175,000. The payment of cash from UPC is classified as management fees because
title to the properties, which have no book basis, is retained by the Company
and Crested until UPC makes all the contractually scheduled payments of cash
and
stock. The receipt of the funds from UPC is the primary reason that management
revenues increased by $197,500 during the six months ended June 30, 2005 when
compared with management revenues recognized during the six months ended June
30, 2004. Other increases in management fee revenues for the six and three
months ended June 30, 2004 and 2005 are as a result of increased activity at
the
subsidiary companies.
-24-
Costs
and
expenses incurred in operations during the six and three months ended June
30,
2005 increased $1,088,300 and $1,138,200 respectively over the costs and
expenses recognized from operations during the comparative periods of the prior
year. Expenses from real estate operations remained constantant during the
six
and three months ended June 30, 2005 when compared with those recorded during
the six and three months ended June 30, 2004. Mineral holding costs decreased
during both the six and three months ended June 30, 2005 by $166,300 and $70,000
respectively. These decreases were as a result of holding costs at both the
uranium properties in Wyoming and Utah as well as those at the California gold
mine being reduced due to cost cutting measures.
General
and administrative costs and expenses increased by $1,257,000 during the six
months ended June 30, 2005 when compared to the general and administrative
costs
and expenses recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2004. The general
and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2005 also
increased by $1,201,200 over those recognized during the quarter ended June
30,
2004. The primary reasons for these increases were; costs associated with a
$4,000,000 convertible debt financing in February of 2005 - commissions of
$280,000, legal fees of $20,000 along with $114,500 of expenses recorded for
the
issuance of warrants granted to seven accredited investors; $160,600 in expenses
for legal and accounting services to comply with Sarbanes Oxley; increased
activity levels at Sutter which increased general and administrative costs
and
expenses by $70,000; and a bonus paid to directors, officers and employees
of
the Company after the close of the sale of RMG to Enterra.
One
outside director of RMG was paid a bonus of $10,000 and another RMG director
was
paid a bonus of $5,000 for their work on the development of RMG, and the four
outside directors of USE were paid $5,000 each for a total bonus to the
directors of $35,000. The employees were paid a total bonus of $435,750 at
the
close of the sale of RMG. All employees of the Company and USE participated
in
the bonus which was paid at the close of the sale of RMG. The bonus was paid
in
consideration for the dedicated work put forth by the employees in the
development of RMG and due to the fact that many of the employees have not
received increases in compensation for a number of years.
Officers
of the Company, USE and RMG received the following bonuses: Mark Larsen,
President of RMG $140,000, officers of the Company and USE - Keith Larsen and
Scott Lorimer $40,000 each, and John L. Larsen, Daniel P. Svilar and Harold
F.
Herron $20,000 each. In addition to these Officers, Mr. Steve Youngbauer who
serves as Assistant General Counsel to Mr. Svilar, received a bonus of $40,000.
There were two additional members of John L. Larsen’s family who received
bonuses for a total compensation amount of bonuses to Mr. Larsen’s family of
$226,000. The total amount paid in bonuses to the directors, officers and
employees for extraordinary work in closing the Enterra purchase of RMG was
$470,750 which represents 2.5% of the total consideration received by the
Company and its affiliates from the sale of RMG to Enterra.
During
the six and three months ended June 30, 2005 other income and expenses resulted
in increased income of $12,509,800 and $12,690,300. Both these increases are
as
a result of increased income from the gain on sale of investments which are
offset by increased Interest expenses.
The
gain
on the sale of investment recorded during the six and three months ended June
30, 2005 increased by $14,237,300 and $14,450,000. The amount of increase in
the
gain on sale of investment for both periods is as a result of the sale of RMG
to
Enterra. Actual consolidated income recognized by the company for the sale
of
RMG was $14,778,000. Of this amount the Company recorded $9,680,800, Crested
recorded $5,458,000 and YSFC recorded a loss on the transaction of $360,800.
These amounts are derived by the receipt of $500,000 cash and the Enterra
Initial Units and the Class D shares of Acquisitions discussed above under
Liquidity and Capital Resources less the Company and its affiliates basis in
the
RMG ownership and other costs associated with the closing of the RMG
sale.
-25-
Interest
expense increased from $235,500 during the six months ended June 30, 2004 by
$1,756,000 to $1,991,500 during the six months ended June 30, 2005. Interest
expense during the quarter ended June 30, 2005 increased by a similar amount,
$1,766,300, over the amount of interest expense recorded during the quarter
ended June 30, 2004. The reason of these increases in interest expense is
related directly to the senior convertible debentures which were issued in
February 2005 in the amount of $4,000,000 with $720,000 of prepaid interest.
(Please see Capital Resources above). As discussed above only $268,000 in
principal and $48,400 in interest remained outstanding at June 30, 2005. The
payment of the interest of $671,600 plus the amortization of virtually all
of
the discount taken for the issuance of warrants in the amount of $1,016,700
during the six and three months ended June 30, 2005 were the primary factors
which resulted in the increase in interest expense.
All
previously reported operations of RMG are reported on this filing as
discontinued operations. There are no discontinued operations for the three
months ended June 30, 2005 as a result of the Enterra transaction having an
effective date of April 1, 2005.
After
a
provision of alternative minimum taxes due in income recognized during the
six
months ended June 30, 2005 the Company recognized a net gain of $9,299,500
or
$0.62 per share as compared to a net loss of $3,384,200 or $0.27 per share
for
the six months ended June 30, 2004. During the quarter ended June 30, 2005
the
Company recognized a net gain of $10,800,700 or $0.68 per share as compared
to a
net loss of $1,609,200 or $0.13 per share.
Three
and Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 compared to the Three and Six Months ended
June 30, 2003
During
the three and six months ended June 30, 2004, the Company recorded operating
losses of $1,324,600 and $2,762,700 as compared to operating losses of
$1,765,000 and $700,200 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003.
Revenues
from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2004, were $278,800 as
compared to $386,500 for the six months ended June 30, 2003. This decrease
in
revenues of $107,700 was as a result of reduced revenues from real estate
transactions and reduced management fees. The reduction in management fees
was
due to reduced activity in the Company subsidiary companies.
Other
income and expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2004, increased by
$778,400 over the same period of the previous year primarily as a result of
the
sale of Ruby Mining stock for $410,400 and a gain on the sale of certain real
estate investments of $248,000.
All
operations previously reported from RMG have been reclassified to discontinued
operations of $(1,221,800) for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and $(746,000)
for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. Discontinued operations from RMG for the
three and six months ended June 30, 2003 are $(1,510,700) and $(1,595,900)
respectively.
The
Company recorded non-cash income of $1,615,600 during the six months ended
June
30, 2003, as a result of the implementation of SFAS No. 143. There was no
similar non-cash income during the six months ended June 30, 2004.
-26-
During
the six months ended June 30, 2004, the Company recognized a net loss of
$3,384,200 or $0.27 per share as compared to a net loss of $1,922,800 or $0.18
per share during the six months ended June 30, 2003. The primary reduction
in
the loss for the six months ended June 30, 2004 over the loss for the six months
ended June 30, 2003 is the recognition of $1,615,600 in non-cash income as
a
result of an accounting change in 2003.
Contractual
Obligations
The
Company has two divisions of contractual obligations as of June 30, 2005: debt
to third parties of $3,374,900, and asset retirement obligations of $7,794,800
which will be paid over a period of five to seven years. During the six months
ended June 30, 2005, the Company incurred new debt of $4,720,000, including
interest at 6% or $720,000, to private lenders. At June 30, 2005, all but
$268,000 plus $48,400 in interest of this new debt had been retired at the
lenders’ option of converting the debt and prepaid interest into shares of the
Company’s common stock. The following table shows the schedule of the payments
on the debt, and the expenditures for budgeted asset retirement
obligations.
|
|
Less
|
|
One
to
|
|
Three
to
|
|
More
than
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
than
one
|
|
Three
|
|
Five
|
|
Five
|
|
|||||
|
|
Total
|
|
Year
|
|
Years
|
|
Years
|
|
Years
|
||||||
Long-term
debt obligations
|
$
|
3,374,900
|
$
|
144,200
|
$
|
3,218,500
|
$
|
12,200
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
7,794,800
|
192,700
|
471,100
|
1,946,100
|
5,184,900
|
|||||||||||
Totals
|
$
|
11,169,700
|
$
|
336,900
|
$
|
3,689,600
|
$
|
1,958,300
|
$
|
5,184,900
|
||||||
-27-
ITEM
3. Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Risk
Factors
The
following risk factors should be considered in evaluating the information in
this Form 10-Q.
We
have a history of operating losses, and our working capital needs have primarly
come from the receipt of funds from liquidating investments. These sources
of
capital may not be sufficient to develop our mineral properties, none of which
have proved reserves.
Working
capital and future receipt of proceeds from liquidating the Enterra securities
are expected to be sufficient to fund general and administrative expenses,
service a portion of the debt owed to USE, and conduct exploration and a limited
amount of development work on the mineral properties, through 2006. However,
putting mineral properties into production (constructing and operating mines
and
processing facilities) requires very substantial amounts of capital. We are
seeking financing sources or large-company industry partners for our uranium,
gold and molybdenum properties (assuming we receive back the molybdenum
properties), but have not entered into final agreements therefore. The
development of some or all of the properties will likely be delayed to the
extent and for so long as we are unsuccessful in obtaining financing, either
in
direct capital or through arrangements with industry partners.
Uncertainties
in the value of the mineral properties.
While
we believe that our mineral properties are valuable, substantial work and
capital will be needed to establish whether they are valuable in fact.
· |
The
profitable mining and processing of uranium and vanadium at and in
the
vicinity of Plateau’s properties in Utah will depend on many factors:
Obtaining properties in proximity to the Shootaring Mill to keep
transportation costs economic; delineation through extensive drilling
and
sampling of sufficient volumes of mineralized material with sufficient
grades, to make mining and processing economic over time; continued
sustained high prices for uranium oxide and vanadium; obtaining the
capital required to upgrade the Shootaring Mill and add a vanadium
circuit; and obtaining and continued compliance with operating permits.
|
· |
The
profitable mining at the Sheep Mountain properties in Wyoming will
depend
on: Evaluations of existing data to define sufficient volumes of
mineralized material, with sufficient grades, to make mining and
processing economic over time; continued sustained high prices for
uranium
oxide and UPC and the Company having sufficient capital to complete
the
drilling and sampling work. In addition, there is no operating mill
near
Sheep Mountain. The ultimate economics of mining the Sheep Mountain
properties will depend on access to a mill or sufficiently high uranium
oxide prices to warrant shipments to faraway mills.
|
· |
The
profitable mining and processing of gold by Sutter Gold Mining Inc.
(in
which the Company owns a substantial stake) will depend on many factors,
including receipt of final permits and keeping in compliance with
permit
conditions; delineation through extensive drilling and sampling of
sufficient volumes of mineralized material, with sufficient grades,
to
make mining and processing economic over time; continued sustained
high
prices for gold; and obtaining the capital required to initiate and
sustain mining operations and build and operate a gold processing
mill.
|
-28-
· |
We
have not yet obtained feasibility studies on any of our mineral
properties. These studies would establish the economic viability,
or not,
of the different properties based on extensive drilling and sampling,
the
design and costs to build and operate gold and uranium/vanadium mills,
the
cost of capital, and other factors. Feasibility studies can take
many
months to complete. These studies are conducted by professional third
party consulting and engineering firms, and will have to be completed,
at
considerable cost, to determine if the deposits contain proved reserves
(amounts of minerals in sufficient grades that can be extracted profitably
under current pricing assumptions for development and operating costs
and
commodity prices). A feasibility study usually must be completed
in order
to raise the substantial capital needed to put a property into production.
We have not established any reserves (economic deposits of mineralized
materials) on any of our uranium/vanadium or gold properties, and
future
studies may indicate that some or all of the properties will not
be
economic to put into production.
|
· |
The
molybdenum property (in which the Company will have a substantial
interest
at such time as Phelps-Dodge conveys the Mt. Emmons properties back
to the
Company and Crested) has had extensive work conducted by prior owners,
but
this data will have to be updated to the level of a current feasibility
study to determine the viability of starting mining operations. Obtaining
mining and other permits to begin mining the molybdenum property
may be
very difficult, and, like any mining operation, capital requirements
for a
molybdenum mining operation will be
substantial.
|
Compliance
with environmental regulations may be costly.
Our
business is intensely regulated by government agencies. Permits are required
to
explore for minerals, operate mines, build and operate processing plants, and
handle and store waste. The regulations under which permits are issued change
from time to time to reflect changes in public policy or scientific
understanding of issues. If the economics of a project would not justify the
changes, we might have to abandon the project.
The
Company must comply with numerous environmental regulations on a continuous
basis, to comply with the United States Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act,
the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), and the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act ("CERCLA"). For example,
water
and dust discharged from mines and tailings from prior mining or milling
operations must be monitored and contained and reports filed with federal,
state
and county regulatory authorities. Additional monitoring and reporting is
required by the Utah Division of Radiation Control for uranium mills even if
not
currently operating (like the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill at Ticaboo, Utah).
The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act in Wyoming and similar laws in other states
where we have properties impose reclamation obligations on abandoned mining
properties, in addition to or in conjunction with federal statutes.
Failure
to comply with these regulations could result in substantial fines and
environmental remediation orders. Failure to obtain required permits to start
operations at a project could cause the failure the project and cause a write
off of the investments therein.
-29-
ITEM
4. Controls and Procedures
Management
of the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of our
President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), has evaluated the effectiveness
of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Securities
and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the
period covered by this Report. Based upon that evaluation, management has
concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective
to
ensure that information it is required to disclose in reports that it files
or
submits under the Securities Exchange Act is communicated to management,
including the President and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and
forms.
During
the six months covered by this Report, there have been no significant changes
in
internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or
are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
-30-
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Legal
Proceedings
Sheep
Mountain Partners
On
February 24, 2005, a three judge panel of the 10th
Circuit
Court of Appeals (10th
Circuit)
vacated the judgment of the U.S. District Court of Colorado of $20,044,183
and
remanded the case to the Arbitration Panel for clarification of its 1996 Order
and Award. In remanding this case, the 10th
Circuit
stated: "The arbitration award in this case is silent as to the definition
of
'purchase rights' and the 'profits there from,' including the valuation of
either. Also unstated in the award is the duration of the constructive trust
and
whether and what costs should be deducted when computing the value of the
constructive trust. Further, the arbitration panel failed to address whether
prejudgment interest should be awarded on the value of the constructive trust.
As a result, the district court's valuation of the constructive trust was based
upon extensive guesswork. Therefore, a remand to the arbitration panel for
clarification is necessary, despite the long and tortured procedural history
of
this case." Thereafter, the U.S. District Court remanded the case to the
arbitration panel.
The
three
member arbitration panel has scheduled a hearing for August 26, 2005, to
consider the procedures, schedule and scope of the remand.
The
timing and ultimate outcome of this litigation is not predicted. We believe
that
the ultimate outcome will not have an adverse affect on our financial condition
or results of operations.
Phelps
Dodge
The
Company and Crested were served with a lawsuit on June 19, 2002, filed in the
U.S. District/ Court of Colorado (Case No. 02-B-0796(PAC)) by Phelps Dodge
Corporation (“PD”) and its subsidiary, Mt. Emmons Mining Company (“MEMCO”),
seeking declaratory judgment over contractual obligations in USECC’s agreement
with PD’s predecessor companies, concerning mining properties on Mt. Emmons,
near Crested Butte, Colorado.
The
case
was tried starting on November 29, 2004. On February 4, 2005, the Court entered
Findings and Fact and Conclusions of Law and ordered that the conveyance of
the
Mt. Emmons properties under Paragraph 8 of the 1987 AMAX Agreement includes
the
transfer of ownership and operational responsibility for the Water Treatment
Plant, and that PD does not owe USECC any advanced royalty payments. However,
the Order did not address the NPDES permit. NPDES permits are administered
and
regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment
(“CDPHE”). The timing and scope of responsibilities for maintaining and
operating the plant will be addressed by the CDPHE later in 2005.
USECC
has
filed a motion with the Court to amend the Order to determine that the decreed
water rights to PD on the Mt. Emmons properties from the Colorado Supreme Court
opinion (decided in 2002, finding that the predecessor owners of the Mt. Emmons
property had rights to water to develop a mine), and any other appurtenant
water
rights, be conveyed to USECC. The motion is pending.
PD
and
USECC have been engaged in settlement discussions in an attempt to resolve
the
remaining issues and avoid an appeal of the District Court’s Judgment. In view
of the ongoing discussions and in the interest of conserving judicial and party
resources, on April 5, 2005, the parties filed a Joint Motion to Stay Ruling
on
Motion to Amend Judgment and to Extend Stay of Execution Pending Appeal. On
April 7, 2005, the Court granted the motion and entered an order as follows:
(1)
the ruling on USECC’s Motion
-31-
to
Amend
Judgment is stayed until ten days after filing of written notice by PD that
settlement has not been achieved; and (2) the March 8, 2005 Order on stay of
execution and enforcement of the Judgment is extended for 30 days after the
Court issues a ruling on USECC’s Motion to Amend.
Coastline
Capital Partners
On
May
16, 2005, Coastline Capital Partners (“Coastline”) filed a complaint against
U.S. Energy Corp. (“USE”) in Wyoming Federal District Court, Case NO.
05-CV-0143-J for breach of contract. Coastline is claiming partial performance
fees for a private placement that was unsuccessful. Coastline and USE had
entered into an engagement letter on July 22, 2004. USE filed an answer and
counterclaims on June 22, 2005. A pretrial conference is scheduled for August
11, 2005.
ITEM
2. Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds
During
the six months ended June 30, 2005, the Company issued a total of 2,677,229
shares of its common stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants (424,641);
options (208,274); the 2001 stock compensation plan, as compensation (30,000);
to outside directors (11,475); conversion of subsidiary (Rocky Mountain Gas,
Inc.) common stock (54,720); conversion of RMG Series A Preferred shares
(91,743) and the payment of dividends on those RMG preferred shares (44,195)
and
the conversion of debentures entered into by the Company during the first
quarter of calendar 2005 (1,812,181). As of the date of this report an
additional 130,206 of the Company’s common stock was issued for the final and
complete retirement of the debentures above. All shares were issued to
accredited investors under the Section 4(2) exemption from
registration.
ITEM
3. Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
Not
Applicable - All previously disclosed defaults on debt instruments have been
mediated as of June 30, 2005.
ITEM
4. Submission
of Matter to a Vote of Shareholders
On
July
22, 2005, the annual meeting of shareholders was held for the election of three
directors. Michael H. Feinstein, H. Russell Fraser and Don C. Anderson were
elected for a term expiring on the third succeeding annual meeting and until
their successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified. With respect to
the
election of the directors, the votes cast were as follows:
Name
of Director
|
Votes
For
|
Abstain
|
|||||
Michael
H. Feinstein
|
13,767,094
|
975,893
|
|||||
H.
Russell Fraser
|
13,762,724
|
984,263
|
|||||
Don
C. Anderson
|
13,765,224
|
977,763
|
The
Company's board consists of seven members being Messrs. Don C. Anderson, Michael
Feinstein, H. Russell Fraser, John L. Larsen, Keith G. Larsen, Michael Anderson
and Harold F. Herron.
The
shareholders also voted on two additional items:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||||||
Appoint
Epstein, Weber and Conover, PLC as Independent Auditors for
2005
|
14,559,707
|
80,970
|
2,310
|
-32-
ITEM
5. Other
Information
Not
Applicable
ITEM
6. Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
(a)
Exhibits.
31.1
|
Certification
under Rule 13a-14(a) Keith G. Larsen
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
under Rule 13a-14(a) Robert Scott Lorimer
|
|
32.1
|
Certification
under Rule 13a-14(b) Keith G. Larsen
|
|
32.2
|
Certification
under Rule 13a-14(b) Robert Scott
Lorimer
|
(b)
Reports
on Form 8-K.
The
Company filed four reports on Form 8-K for the quarter ended June 30, 2005
as
follows:
1.
|
The
report filed on April 13, 2005, under Item 1.01 referenced the Company
and
Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. (“RMG”) entering into a binding agreement for the
acquisition of RMG by Enterra Energy Trust.
|
||
2.
|
The
report filed on April 13, 2005, under Item 1.01 referenced the Company
and
U.S. Energy Corp. signing a Mining Venture Agreement with Uranium
Power
Corp.
|
||
3.
|
The
report filed on May 24, 2005, under Item 1.01 was an amendment to
the
report filed April 13, 2005 referencing the acquisition of RMG by
Enterra.
|
||
4.
|
The
report filed on June 7, 2005, under Item 2.01 and 9.01 referenced
the
Completion of the Acquisition of RMG by
Enterra.
|
-33-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has
duly
caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto
duly authorized.
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||
(Company)
|
||||
Date:
August 12, 2005
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
||
KEITH
G. LARSEN,
|
||||
President
|
||||
Date:
August 12, 2005
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Scott Lorimer
|
||
ROBERT
SCOTT LORIMER
|
||||
Principal
Financial Officer and
|
||||
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
-34-